The Express. — London, England, 1864-04-22 00:00:00

ob."aod " Hear, hear.") They ought to confine themselves to approoriatiog the sum, which it was undentood was in f the palmation of the house, in dismember facet caknistal to carry out the views which the house had adopted, and though he should vote for the amendment of the hoe. gen tlemen in cam that was carried, he should mom when it became • substantive motion that the wade " Is. per amt." be omitted. After • few words from Mr. T. Baring, Sir & Hartle:ate. sir H. Willoughby, and the Speaker as to the form of putting the smeedment, The house divided— For going into committee Against Me Sheridan's emeortreeot was consequently lost. The house then resolved itself into committee. Po the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the FaCHE qI" ER, "that in lieu of the duty now chargeable in respect o f tire insurances, the duty chargeable upon insurances on goods, wares, and merchandise, being stock in trade, or upon any ma:hoary, implements, fixtures, and utensils used for the purpose of rotnufacture or weak. Mall be la. &L for every NW. i Sir H. WrI T ITGHBY moved as an amendment to lame out the wards "goods, wares, and merchandise, being stock in trade, or upon any machinery, implements, natures, or utensils used for the purpose of any maculae. tare or trade," and to insert "houses and buildings." He stud if there was to be • reduction of the duty, he thoagbt houses and buildings should have the preference over stock in trade. Houses, besides paying the house duty to the government, bore • greet portion of the burden of local taxation, which amounted to near 20,000,0001. • year. He believed that Louses and buildings paid four-tenths of the local taxation. Then if it were a question how they were to recover the amount of duty remitted, the opinion of the best authorities was that the largest amount of insurable property not insured was houses and The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said what the hon. baronet proposed was a better division of the sum of from 190,000/. to 200,000/., which it was proposed to remit this year on the duty on fire insurances. Now, first of all the hon. baronet's premed would have to be adjusted to the finances of the country, and there were two ways of doing that. One would be to postpone the remis sion, the other would be to reduce the amount of the re misioo. With regard to the postponement of the re moors the house should recollect that already his (the Chancellor of the Exchequer's) proposal was only to take three fourths of it this year, so that the full price of the remission would not be felt till next year, but if he were to take off la rid., and apply the reduction of Is. 6d. to twice the amount of insurances, then it was evident that his post. ponetueut must be of • different character. It would not be possible to make the reduction till next year. It would be said with perfect justice, that wishing to do • popular thing by their constituents, and not having the money to do it out of the resources of the present year, which alone were properly at their dimmest, they voted the reduction and got the credit of it by postponing the burden till next year. That would be dealing with the finances of next year, a mode of proceeding which he thought fundamentally objection able. He knew of no one in which that had been doom If that mode of proceeding were objectionable, the only other mode of remission would be, instead of taking Is. 64 off stock in trade that be mast halve it sad take 98. off stock in trade and 9d. off houses and buildings. Now, ought that proposal to be adopted or ought it not! The boes member for Dudley fairly quoted the insurance offices against him. They were against him on this point, that they very much preferred a uniform duty to • differing duty. Both his proposal and the proposal of the hon. were for a differing duty, and they consequently loth fell foul of the insurance offices. Then, again, the ton. baronet raised the question about the definition of stock in trade. No doubt there were certain points, not very numerous, that had to he considered on that questioe, as to tenants' fixtures and landlords' fixtures, and as to occupations that were trading occupations and those that were not. But difficulties of that kind would operate uader the proposal of his boo. friend as well at under his. If his proposition were adopted everybody would prove that he was a trader ; but if the hon. baronet's proposition were adopted everybody would prove that be was not a trader. The boo baronet said there was nothing so mach burdened as houses and buildings. He was not quite sure about that. What was his hon. friend's opinion on the succession duty? Dal he think that the succession duty was more severe than the legacy duty or the package duty! The somession duty levied on the some pee osotage as the probate duty ; but whereas the legacy duty was levied on the capital in full, the succession duty wee levied on the life interest, and houses and buildings did not fall ander the legacy duty but under the successioe duty. Freehold houses were exempt till the succession duty act was passed. They were brought by the succession duty under the operation of the charge. but at the same time leasehold houses were taken out of the category of property liable to legacy duty, and were made liable to succession duty. Therefore they had a large concession granted to them in being liable to the me mo on duty, which was light as compared with the legacy duty, which fell upon moveable property. Was it tree, however, that nothing bad been done for hones and buildings' Houses and buildings were liable some time ago to the brick duty. That had been entirely re pealed, and the duty on foreign and colonial timber bad been redu,ol from an enormous to • nominal rate. He doubted also whether there was any elms in the country, professioaal men only excepted, to whom the reduction of the lemon tax this year was so acceptable as to the owners of houses and buildings, especially with respect to the owners of in ferior tenements, upon whom the income tax preened with the greatest severity, through the payments being made upon the gross rents, of which 25 per mot was frequently expended in repairs. The question was really between • reduction of la bd. on stock in trade and Od, in houses and buildings. And here he fell beck upon his old doctrine, that it was mach better not to tooth a tax at all if they were not able to make a liberal reduction ; that it was better to give a telling reduction upon • smaller part than an inappreciable reduction upon a large part. (Hear, bear.) The boo. baronet had said that in the use of stock in trade the subject was generally folly insured, while houses and buildings were only insured in part. No Omni ries. however, that be (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had been able to make showed that there woe • larger uncovered margin in the come of houses than stock in trade, but rather the reverse. In certain trades and amoopt aortae desaijitioas of traders the stock was not fully insured. S ery large traders in the higher trades were folly insured, and for the reason that when • Ire came upon their stock it spared very little, whereas in the case of houses there was nearly always something of volute left, and in the case of furniture • good deal of it was commonly carried out. People made allow ance for what they expected to save, and would do so if there was no duty at all. In the metropolitan district, from the beet information he had been able to obtain from the insurance offices and the fire brigade, it appeared that out of 1,746 properties affected by fire in 1863 there was only information with respect to 750, of which 682 were insured and 73 uninsured. With respect to the insurance of matron, there were known to be insured 963, sad uninsured 517. As to the unknown cases, the best estimate that could be made showed that about one-half were insured. Sup posing the other half to be ell uninsured, the effect would he that 500 would have to be added to the number he had mentioned of buildings insured, which would bring the total up to 1,182, cad 500 would have also to be added to the number insured, which would thee nand at 7.73. With respect to the margin in the cam of nook is trade, the largest traders were commonly fully insured, bat in the smaller trades the information he bad obtained Went to show that traders were deterred from by the amount of the duty. He amid mot concur with the hooourable baronet the& houses were unfairly dealt with. He did not say that they were too fairly dealt with, but our system of taxatioa, with all the alleviations that had been given, still bore with quite as much bantams as it ought upon the consumer, and espe cmlly the poorer classes of the people. In an interview he had recently had with the boo. member for Bradford, is the Presence of the representatives of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the hoo. member stated to him th►t from his own :uowledge he was convinced the reduction of the ditty to Is. would pay itself in the cosine of three or four years. lie .the Chancellor of the Exchequer) desired to move charge, from trade, but be denied that taking • tax off trade was a concession to a particular class. When. t►x was taken off trade an obstruction was removed from the chanoels which united production and oonsumptioo, and it was not the interest of the trader only, but of the whole oomismaity, that these channel/ should be free. (Hear, hear.) This was the broad ground upon which be thought his proposal ought to be supported. He thought that a reduction of Is. 6d. was better than a reduction of ffd.; bat still he did sot stand upon that alone, but upon the ground that, though a relief to houses and buildiogs might be • very desirable thing, still it was • relief to a class, while relieving trade was not re lieving a clam, but all those who consumed the article that the trade produced. Sir F. GOLDSMI.D said that as far as he could learn the average rate of insurance upon stack in trade was consider. :Lir higher thee the average rate of insurance upon houses, and a reduction in the former case was far lees likely to rim.lace an increase of iasurance than a like reduction in the latter. 11r. HUBBARD was disappointed at the way in which the decision of the holies upon the subject of are insurance •Llts had been treated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer his budget. Reductions of the income tax, and of the duties. which had not been naked for, were proposed, 1... when they oame to the insnranoe duty, on which a distuict o .,:sion had been pronounced by the bonne, the proposal 1, de was nothing but • delusion soda snare. Stork in trade v. subject to considerably higher rates than other Property, varying from as. in the best docks aod swam i `.es to 21s. in the warehouses generally round London. .1 , -, the medium charge, and it would be seen how corn. , r.tively unimportant a consideration was the whole 3s. v charged by the government. But whatever money ssa spent in the insurance of stock in trade was but one the elements of the price paid by the consumer, and that so, traders did not abstain from insuring. The c. ~f stock in trade was not therefore so powerful as t!•„t of houses and buildings, in the insurance of which :4. paid to the government for the permission to lay out • v hereon in the clue of stock in trade 3s. only was f , ul upon an outlay of at might be 21s. That the tax upon was a tax upon property was one strong , u , lemnation of the proposal of the government for a tax property ought to be au equitable charge upon all I ierty ; but this tax applied only to such property as insured. And the houses insured were not the houses ~ s f• the rich, for the rich could afford not to insure, and with ‘!..osive property it was cheaper not to jostles. He had •-• .11 recently that A noble duke had issued orders to his 'A+ t..alKtain . from making any insurances on his pro -I,rtv, in Collie;ueoce of which a policies were cancelled, THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY on the grouod that be would sot pay to the government % the shape of insurance what the 01110001.10 t of the Exchequer admitted to be • second property sax. So far from the lose oe the duty remitted upon stock in trade being rapidly reeovershie, he believed that it was precisely lb. lam which would be mast slowly made up to the Ex chequer. He bad received • letter hom a clergymen who was wholy dependent lima pew rents, and who Aided that the duty paid ma the Insurasee of his church was equiveleet in his case to as additiooal income tax of two per cent. He believed the Chancellor of the Exchequer had under. estimated the reeeipta front theist:me tax this year to the extent of half • million, and that the right boo. gentle man had, therefore, ample means to make the redaction general He would not, however, Mast on that, bat he must earnestly protest against the idea that the preaert proposal was any settlement of the question, or any suf. tioent ompliaties with the resolution of the house corns to in two ooesecutive years. Meer, hoar.) Sir F. CROSSLEY made • point of supporting the budget as a whole whim its leading features were, as was now the case, satisfactory to him. At the same time he could not help regarding the manner in which the right hoe. gentleman treated the question of fire insurance as the weak point in his financial scheme for the comsat year. He (the honourable baronet) was himself a large insurer of stock In trade. la fact, that was • thing which people must insure; but when he found that upon his private houses he should have to give the government 3s. per 100/., and an one la. lid., which was sufficient to pay a large profit, he had come to the omielusioo that to insure his own pro perty was about the best investment he could find for his money. (Haar, hear.) He hoped that the right hon. gentleman woul d next year be able to redoes the duty to la. per cent. on all property. (Hear, hear.) Sir. SHERIDAN .: th r ougit that the ultimate reduction of the duty would not be advanced by a division upon this motion ; but he hoped that there would be such further agitation on the question that the relief might next year be extended to booms and furniture. The amendment was then negatived without • division, •nd the resolution wee agreed to. SCHOOL OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. AIIGIJSTITS SMITH asked the Secretary to the Ad miralty if a omesennioatiou had been received by the Board of Admiralty from Sir W. Snow Harris respecting the orga nisation of the proposed School of Naval Architecture, and whether he would commit to ley the same oa the table of the house. runs were open to Ids. This. sans a Mr. 011M1111411 who ' declared the Admiralty had violated his patent. (" Hear, hear" from the ) It might be that tier persons had made some mild iaventions, and something similar , may have been introduced into their vessels ; but it did not follow that there was any infringement. He hoped the ; home would not agree to the matron. I The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that he was counsel for the Admiralty in Mr. (,lava's mos, and he would take upon himself the reepousibility which was 'bared by the law allows of the mown in advising the Admiralty to resist the petition, for • claim more unfounded and preposterown, he would venture to my, was never brought into a court of I justice. Yr. Clan's first demand wee in r sped of an alleged contract with the Admiralty, upon the terms of his hamar a per mintage upon all the ship. built, amount . ing to 200,00t.i1. Then he further claimed some 400.0001. or 500,000/. for a supposed infringement of his patent. The ease came on to be tried, and the evidence in support of the ! claim consisted of about 100 letters written by him to the Ad . mireity, to which he believed only two replies were sent, the subsidises of them being this—" Sir. webers 000aiderod your applioatioo, sod cannot comply with it ; and you cannot be employed." Them was no pretence, on Hr. Clare's own 'showing, of there having been any contract. The rest of the case, u to the infringement of the patent, was equally groundless. Mr. Clare sever built a ship, and never Lid down the lines of one. The supposed patent contained nothing new, and there was no pretence for its having been infringed in themes of the Warrior. The ease was tried before the Lord Chief Justies sad • special jury. It had bees said that the Lord Chief Justice had summed up the case not as a jades, but as an advocate. That was a serious imputation, which ought not to be made lightly or loosely. He amertad that the imputation was wholly unfounded, and never ought to have been made. The Lard Chief Justice summed up in a perfectly impartial and judicial manner. The jury did not hesitate; they found that Mir. Clare had no case, and no pretence of a case. That an eminent ship-builder's evidence was not to be traded be cause he had once held a government contract was an imps.- taboo that no counsel would venture to make in a court of justice, and which never ought to have been made in that house, No cue was ever more fairly tried. A motion was afiererards made before the fall court, and they entirely con curred in the summing up of the judge. He trusted the house would not reopen the question, that they would be satisfied with the results of the trial, and not interfere with the action of courts of justice. (Ha r, hear. ) . _ . . . - Mr. DENMAN said he had been strongly urged to take part in this discussion, but as he had been one of Mr. Clare's counsel, he refrained from doing so, If he were to declare his opinion in Mr. Clare's favour, it might be said that he was speaking as an advocate ; and if he gave an opinion against the claim, it might be objected that he had made use of some confidence or trust reposed in him, to the pre judice of the limiest., of the person by whom he had been engaged as couuseL (Hear, beta.) Mr. HENNESSY maid that Mr. Clare bad received seven letters from the Admiralty, not two, as the Solicitor-Geoeral had stated. The Solicitor-General had also said that the Admiralty refused to con sider Mr. Clare's claim. But amongst those seven letters wee one addreesed by the Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Clare, which ran thee:—' • If you have anything new to swuggggessst, and you will forward it to this office, it will be co • sred." That was sent 000sistent with the state ment they had heard . He f y what had beim said about the high and imp charseter of the Lord Chief Justice ; but in a parings of his summing up the learned judge observed " Mr. Glare was evidently • disappointed man. He was disappointed at not having his plans d speci- Bestial§ adopted by the Admiralty. He had impressed up= the Admiralty the great importance of the subject of iron ship-building, and it was not till some years afterwards that at was taker. up." When the history of this great change in our naval architecture came to be written, it would have to be said that Mr. Clara impreased the subject on the Admiralty, that the Admiralty refused to take it up, sod that Mr. Clare appealed to them in vain. He trusted that Mr. Clare would not appeal to that house in vain. This was no technical question as to the specifica tion. He trusted that the committee would be granted to Mr. Clan. Yr. H. BAILLIE observed that as matters now stood the question was no loapr one between the Admiralty and Clare, but between Mr. Clare and the Lx:ourta of justice. The admiralty, Beamed, had nothing more to do with the affair. Sir J. PAKINGTON said he felt bound to state—though with every wish to do justice to this unfortunate man, for he believed he might speak of him in those terms—that the house would make a great mistake if, after the decision in a court of justice, they were to pass this vote. It was an un founded assertion to state that the Warrior was built after the designs of Mr. Clare. The feats of the ease were that, in the discharge of a very important duty, the Board of Ad miralty called upon eminent shipbuilders, and invited them to offer suggestions as to how the board ought to proceed in reference to the construction of iron-plated ships, and he now declared nothing more than the truth when he stated that Mr. Clare had nothing to do with the Warrior. HengeetMd that Mr. Clare should think that he had been field with injustice by say department of the government, end neatly he last year—after repeated applications as to w ther he had any grounds for comma 'sties or not—aaked Mr. Clare to state his nese to him, end he (ttir J. Pakington) heard him throughout, and then en deavoured to enter into a conversation with him, but he fond that to be impossible, in consequence of his state of escitameet, and therefore he retired. With regard to the proposed school of naval architecture, he might mete that he had long had the plea . sure of the acquaintance of Sir W. Snow Harris. • gentleman very well known, but after seeing his paper he thought he had talks into • serious mistake, for he seemed to believe that this school originated with the Board of Ad miralty, but the suggestion for it came from the Institution of Naval Architects. Perhaps it might be some satisfaction to the hon. member for Truro—after the refusal of the noble lord to print this paper of Sir W. Snow Harris at the public expense—to elate that the eminent naval architects were of opinion that the proposed school should be erected in the metropolis, and that the arrangement made by the government was the most advisable one. and would afford the best prospect of bringing the new school to a successful issue. The motion was then nesrativnil without a division. THE CHANNEL FLEET. Sir J. PA./EMOTION rose to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty as to the present state of the Channel fleet, and also as to the reserves in the home porta, end the right bon baronet stated that he had been led to infer from the information which he had reed, that the Channel fleet was not in that state of efficiency which it might to be, and he wished to know whether the noble lord could remove that impression; and be would also like to know whether it wan desirable under existing circumetances that the fleet should remain for so long a period in Portland.roads. The Channel fleet returned in the month of March, after a cruise of three months in the Atlantic. and it had not yet been sent to any arsenal for the purpose of having the repairs oemeary effected. He had heard several suggestions made, and some in high places, that looking at the Danish war the fleet might be ordered off at short notice, and if it should be, it would not be in a condition to perform the important duties which it might be ordered to undertake. When the fleet returned to Portland it required, as he had been in formed, 900 tone of coals, and there were only 90 tons at hand, and it would take three weeks to obtain a further supply. Provisions were also required, and it was more than a week before any could be obtained. After a delay of three weeks 2110 tow of coals only had been placed on board. He would also siege that the repairs required could not be carried out, in consequence of the harbour being so small. Now, the majority of the ships were of iron, and it was notorious that they became very fold titer being a short time at sea, and he believed that if they should be )rdered to proceed upon foreign service they would not he able to go. If that should be so there would be considerable delay. He hoped the noble lord would be able to snide whether the reports which he (Sir J. Peking too) had received were correct. The other gnostical which he desired to address; to the noble lord was founded upon an answer given by the noble lord to a question put by the right hon. member for Tyrone. The noble lord stated that the reserve at the home ports was not in a utiafactory coo ditioo, and he (Sir J. Pakingtool wanted to know what steps had been taken to remedy that orisatisfactory condi tion. Was that house to infer from the noble lords stele meet that the Admiralty had determined to raeglect our wooden fleet? He believed that the time had not yet arrived when our wooden fleet might be considered useless. At this moment they had not an iron fleet sufficient to carry on a maritime war, and ooasequently they would have to protect our commerce and poseeesions in all parte of the world by our wooden ships, therefore it would be a great mistake to allow these ships to fall into decay. He should be glad to bear whether the Admiralty intended to main tain three ships in a stated efficiency, so that if they should be required for service they would be ready to under asks it. (Hear, hear.) Lord C. PAaET wished his right hoe. friend had put his questions in a more specific manner, because it was not likely that he mild be prepared to state the quantity of coals which had been phieed on beard the ships without first making an inquiry ; but so far as be could answer the ques tions he would do so,and he might state that be had been ia formed that the squadron was ordered to be ready both in provision and coeds by the 15th of April. (Hear, hear.) He believed there had been no Inneoesary delay in the coallog or provisioniug of the ships, but would make inquiry into the matter. In reference to some remarks which had been made in the course of the discussion, he had to state that iron-bottomed ships required constant docking. That wu their greet defect. The Admiralty had been taunted with the present state of the steam reserve ; but though it wu not in as satisfactuy a condition as could be desired, it was in ae efficient a state 51 when his right hon. friend was in office. They had now as first-clue steam reserve three iron-plated armour ships, two line-of-battle ships, two frigatee, three corvette., and three doors ; es compared , with four linwor-bettle ships, three sloops, and three frigate. when his right hon. friend was at the Admiralty. Sir J. YAXINGTON—They were ready for service. Lord C. PAGET --Our reserve is quite as ready. (A laugh.) Hr. CORRY said that the Admiralty ought to place the ships paid off on the steam reserve, and to have the ships forming the reserve ready for service whenever required. Oue arm of the service ought not to be neglected because attention was directed to another. His right boo. friend (Sir J. Pakingtoo) had found the reserve in a bed state, and be left it in a much better state, although he bad not been long enough in office to render it as efficient as he de sired to see it. The subject then dropped. CORK HARBOUR. Mr. MAGUIRE, who had a motion co the paper rain the attention of the Admiralty to the advantages afforded by Cork harbour for the establishment of a naval dockyard there, said that he did not intend to press his motioe, but he asked the government to refer the subject to the Dock- yard Committee now sitting. IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SHIP BUILDING.— CLAIMS OF MR, J. CLARE Colonel DICKSON, in movies for a 'elect eatomittee to inquire into the daunt of Mr. John Clare, junior, on the government for compensation for inventions and designs supplied to the Admiralty in C01211411i011 with iron ship build ing and the construction of gunboats, said that be was afraid that he should have some difficulty in bringing this matter forward on account of some eccentricity manifested by Mr. Clare in endeavouring to enforce his claims • but there was eo questiou that be had suffered lajtlltiOS aid (Tweaks at the hands of the Admiralty. He disclaimed all political motives in besieging the matter forward, for be had to complain of the department when presided over by Drab the present and the former government, sod he would read extracts from this correspondence which would show that Mr. Clare had been unjustly treated by both sides. Mr. Clare had his attention called to the subject of improving iron ships as long ago as 1853, and in December of that year brought certain negations before the Secretary of the Admiralty, then Mr. Bernal Osborne. Sabesqueutly he communicated with Sir H. Berkeley, Mr. Phinn, and Sir C. Wood. He had especially called the attention of the right hoe. baronet to the ulefficieocy of the gunboats on strained in 1854 and 1855 ; and he (Colonel Dickson) asked the house whether the opinion Mr. Clare then expressed respecting those pinata had not bees amply justified He would only trouble the house with another Ist*, which was to Sir J. Pskiegton to which Mr. Corry replied that the board had limited the reception of plans to their own officer, or to ponces who would build their own boats; but that any suggestions would be received from him. The with the Admiralty extended over en yeses. The aid models of Mr. Clare were sent in in 1854 and 1855 ; they were in the office of Sir B. Welker in 1857 ' and the Warrior was built in 1859, entirely on Mr. Clara's Oleo, to the merits of which it was a signal recognition. He knew he should be told the matter had been the subject of au ' action in a court of law, sod he bad no intention whatever to attempt to disparage our courts of law, nor did he accuse either judge or jury of bias. It could not be denied either that Mr. Clare had the advantage of the best legal advice, I but his case was snot wretchedly put into the hand of counsel the evidence that ought to have been produced was not produced, and if a committee were granted he should be prepared to prove that the evidence of the Ad miralty was utterly illusory and could be contradicted in ' every particular. He proceeded to quote the evidence of Sir C. Fox, which was contradicted by an affidavit of Mr. Morrison, who stated that no ship was constructed with ' longitudinal and vertical frame works before the Warrior was built, it being stated by Sir C. Fox that such construe- ' Lion (the principle of which was claimed by Mr. Clare) was previously knows and adopted. Other witnesses who could haveproved Mr. Clare's case were absent, and the result was that the verdict was given against him. No doubt the extra swan demand of that gentleman and his eccentric conduct bed a considerable effect upon the result. The verdict was, however, not entirely against Mr. Clare, but the jury had expressed an opinion that the patent had not been infringed in the construction of the bull, and that the petitioner's specification did not show longitudinal vertical framing separate from the plates. They desired to be excused alto gether from answering the question of novelty- The model of one side of the Warrior was made entirely from Mr. Clare's specifications, which were 'in possession of the Ad miralty for upwards of six years. If, then, Mr. Clam did not design the Warrior, who did? It was not built till 1 839 , and no ens except the officials of the Ad. miralty claimed the invention of the longitudinal and vertical construction of iron ships. Was it not palpable that with the drawings and specificatioes at the Admiralty, and the attention of all concerned being con stantly drawn to them, the Warrior was designed from them ? Under these circumstances he thought some com pensatioa was due to Mr. Clare. He believed that Captain Cooper Coles took the idea of his cupola coven from Mr. Clare, and that gentlemen received 6001. a year salary, be sides W. 3a. a day, and 4001. • year for travelling aspenaes, with a bonus for every cupola cover which he constructed. He appealed to the character of the noble lord as a frank sod generous naval officer, and to the justice of the House of Commons to grant this committee. (Hear, hear.) Lord C. PAGED said, in reply to the question which had been put to him by the hon. member for Duogarvau (Mr. Maguire), he begged to state that the order of reference to the committee would enable them to go into the question as to the capabilitivw of Cork harbour--(heir, bear)—and be had no doubt it would receive a fall and fair investigation. His hon. !Amid the member for Team had asked him whether there would be any objection to lay on the table the paper which Sir Snow Harris had communicated to the government on the subject of schools for naval architects. Now he had the greatest obis:time to withhold any informa tine which hos. members desired, and for Sir S. Harris he had the highest newt. Sir S. Harris had contributed au invention of the greatest value to the navy in his applica tion of lightning conductors—(hear, hear)—but he was not aware that Sir S. Harris had had any experience on the subject of the duration of naval architects; and if he were asked to lay on the table this communication, be should be called upon to do the same with a multitude of similar communications. He should reooenwend Sir S. Harris to publish the paper as a pamphlet, and circulate it amongst boo. members. !be noble lord the member for Huntiogdon had also communicated a very interesting paper on this sub ject ; and there were others; and he thought itscarody fair that Sir S. Harris's paper should be selected from them and pub lished at the public impious. His hon. irked had 'eked him what comae the government intended to adopt with re gard to the school of naval architecture. Bat to rescind the vote that bad been agreed to on this subject, and to transfer this school to the dockyards, would be imposeible. They bad already very good dockyards school—{hear, hear) —but the system of education in these schools was not of that high order that was requisite for naval architects. He trusted that the cost of the school of naval architecture would not cost the country more than 4,C001. a year. Some persons were sanguine enough to suppose that it would be come self eupportiog ; and though he (Lord C. Paget) did not share in this view, be thought there need be no alarm of its becoming a costly establishment. He now came to the motion of his hon. and gallant friend (Col. Dickson). In the first place he must say he thought it highly undesirable that the House of Commons should constitute Heel( a court of appeal from the courts of law. He was not about to defend the course which previous governments had taken with regard to Mr. Clare ; be would *Defies himself to what had taken piece since he bad the honour of being a member of the pre. sent government. Mr. Clare had besieged the Admiralty with all sorts of determinations to try his claim. He had Bled a petition of right, which was tried before the Chief I Justice and a jury in the Queen's Bench. His hon. and gal lant friend bad declared that the summing up of the Chief Justice rather resembled the address of an advocate thee the speech of au impartial judge. The Solicitor-General, who was present at the trial, would probably give a different version of that trial. But his bon. and ga lla nt friend bad insinuated that the witnesses were mostly official men. Was Sir C. Fox an official man? or Mr. Carpenter or Mr. Samuda (Colonel Dicgsog—Mr. Hamada had held con tracts under government.) Mr. Saniuda was an independent shipbuilder, and was it to be supposed that he or any other gentleman in his position would give any other than camel entious evidence, bemuse he had held a contract under government! (Hear, hear.) He should he ashamed if any of our shipbuilders were open to such an insinuation. Another witness was Kr. Eday—he at any rate could not be thought too favourable to the Admiralty. Then his bon. and gallant friend bad said that the trial was not a fair one. Did he mean to say the jury were packed ' Colonel DICKSON declared that he had spoken in the highest possible terms of the judge and jury. O. PAGET said that if the boa. and gallant member did not intend to use the expressions he had let fall, he was glad of it. The result of the verdict was that the jury found the Admira/y had not infringed any of Mr. Clare's patent*. Mr. Clare had threatened to prosecute the wit tiest* for perjury. Then why bad he not done so? The EVENING, APRII(Af, 1864. SUPPLY. The house Uses west mu committee of supply. Lord C. PAOET proposed& proceed with the remaining YA eetiaestet (*Alin TALBOT said it was understood that the navy estimate would not be proposed after 10 o'clock, end Is cosesqueron several hon. members Wei left the house.. After some conversation it was arranpd that the aslant* s►oald be moved as Boeday next The haw then mums& HIGH COURT AT BOIIRAY. This bill was read a third time and pained. COURT OF JUSTICIARY (SCOTLAND) BILL. The house ►aslet goes into wmintittse au :hi; bill. The LORD.ADVOCATE explained that the object of the bill wss to remove doubts as to the power of the to : e s : w iz council to regulote the distribution of circuits ia is the same way as le England. The bill thew passed through committee. FISH TENDS (SCOTI ANDI BILL. This bill passed through committee. SUMMARY PROCEDURE (SCOTLAND) BILL. This bill pared through committee. CHARITABLE ASSURANCES ENROLMENTS BILL This bill wm read a moved time. BRIDGES (IRELAND) BILL. The boom having gobs into committee on this bill, Mr. BUTT objected to its further progress, on the grotiod that it would alter the whole system of greed jury militias is Ireland, and moved that the chairman do leave the chair. Mr. GEORGE defended the bill. The sole object of the bill was to suable the county of Kilkenny to contribute • moiety towards the building of tbis bridge. After a few words from Mr. ficLuvag also in support of the Mt i . II +7HITESIDE raid this was as useful • bill u could be promoted to the boom. Sir R. PEEL said there Gould be no doubt that this was a poem! bill, and might be applied to the whole of Ireland. As it altered the fuodamental primiple of the jury laws of Irel►od, he thought it would be bettor to wait until mo ther erosion, in order to iatroduce it es a private measure only. Mr. O'HAGAN also thought that, u a public bill, it °unlit not to pan. The committee theft divided upon the motion that the chairman do leave the chair : For the motios Agelost it The oliatrmaa left the chair. GOVERNMENT iNNUMES BILL 128 b 5-43 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER loosed that the following members be nominated on the select com mittee on Cioveromeot Aoouities :—The eliminator of the Exchequer, Mr. Sotheroo Esmourt, Mr. IL Gibers', Mr. Henley, Sir X. Farquhar, Sir S. Northoote, Mr. Hoyden, Mr. Goodson, Mr. C. Turner, Mr. Hubbard, Mr. H. B. Sheridan, If r. Ayrton, Mr. fiodgkinson, XL Herbert, Led Mr. Paget. Agreed to. Sir M. FARQUFIAR moved that the committee should have power to mod for perms, papers, and records. He sad his object was to have the subject more folly iequired into, sad the real object of the promoters of the bill ascer tained. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in opposing the motion, said the inquiry proposed by the hoe. member could not be entered upon without involving these two consequences. Friendly societies would be entitled to show how they would be injured by the bill, and in that case it w ou ld b e impossible to stop short of inquiring how far their modes of proceeding, rules, and oonatitutious were sound. The government was respon sible for the bill, but himself more than any other member of it, and he was prepared to defend the measure, but it would be impossible for him to go into the totally undefined in quiry the hon. member proposed. The committee world, if this motion were carried, not be • committee on the clauses of the bill, but would amount to the rejection of the bill for the present session. If they were to have • committee to inquire into the subject up stain it would be impossible to carry the bill into a law this session. This bill had been care fully and minutely considered in parliament, and the effect had been that bodies of panting, not got together by agents, but acting spontaneously, had sent petitions in favour of the bill. He had to-day received • statement from all the life insurance cans in Scotland, in which they said that parlia ment must deal with the question how far government should interfere io • matter of this kind, but they believed it would be a bill that would be beneficial to the country. He objected to Sir Alexander Spearman and lir. Scndszeore being examined by the committee. They could not speak one word nannies was responsible for it. He had suggested that the machinery of the bill, whatever it was, should be laid on the table of both houses of parliament for a cer tain number of days, during which it might be made the subject of discussion, end that it should not be brought isto operation until after it bad Famed the ordeal ; but empower ing the committee to inquire into the effect of the bill on friendly societies was only a mode of postponing the bill to • future session, and, in point of fact, indefinitely poet potting it. Mr. 80THERON-ESTOOURT said be had told his hon. friend that the regular course of proceeding was not to move this motion now. The renter course was that the com mittee should go up stairs and examine the clauses, and if in the course of the examination they should require evi deuce, then they should come down to the hones and make a motion to he allowed to seed for papers and persons. That was the lionise that had &Ivey' been pursued, and it was followed in & committee of which he was chairman in 1830, and which relatof to friendly societies. If they were to go into that committee at all, be apprehended they were to have the same power. The committee ought to have exactly the same control over its own proceedings as other select committees, and on that nederstanditghe should recommend his boo. friend to withdraw his motion. On the other hand, he hoped be would not do so miles' they had a distinct under that when they got into committee, and it should be the assure of the committee to require evidence, nothing that had hitherto passed, or which should peas, would prevent the chairman from coming down and making the same motion. There were three points to which their attention must be drawn ; first, whether it was porible by any machinery that could be ap plied to carry out the benevolent ixtentioee of this bill • secondly , whether the machi ner y em pl oye d wou ld b e likely to affect other institutions ; and thirdly, and which was by far the hardest to get over, they ought to satisfy themselves with regard to the risk which the government would run by carrying out this bill. If they could not make inquiry into these points they ought not to go into the committee at all, and he thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer ought to depend on the di s cretion of the com mittee. Mr. T. HANKY hoped his hon. friend would not with draw his motion without • distinct understanding to the effect suited by the last speaker. lie had objected to the committee being appointed at all, but it it were appointed they ought to have power to take evidence. Sir M. FARQUHAR would withdraw hie make, if it were understood that evidence would be taken before the committee if required. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought It was understood that the general practice might be followed of calling officials to give information with respect to the daunt, but they would go before the committee merely as the assristants of the responsible minister. He mast, how. ever, entirely decline to give any expectation that the government could, under any I:imamate/ices, be parties to an examination into the subject of friendly societies by this committee, which would be destructive to the bill. Mr. AYRTON wanted an amurance from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that this committee would go upstairs, as any other committee, perfectly free and unfettered, to decide for itself whether it would require evidence or not. If the pledge were given, there would probably be co mine. tams to withdraw the motion ; but if it were refused, he should support the motioa, for as it appeared to him the right both gentleman bad preferred a claim to the house which, if allowed, would be fatal to its character and self r".l.*et kV ROEBUCK wanted to know wh►t form there could be in a declaration from the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; far when the committee met it would be for the majority to decide whether they should uk for power to call witnesses. (Bear, haw.) Lord J. MANNERS thought the boo. and learned gentle mac rather undervalued the force of the declaration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for as he understood it the right boo. gentleman would employ the whole force of the government to defeat any application the committee might make to take evidence. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had promised himself to give them all the information they required, but they had heard enough from him as to the merit. of the bill, and might sow desire other evidemee upon questions of detail. (Hear, hear.) Y. GIBSON said that it would he a oamplete de parture from the general nil* if. epos a bill being referred to a select committee with a view of settling clauses, the principle having been affirmed at the second reading—(oh, oh,)—they were to take independent evidence on the whole merits of the queatioe. Mr. WEI FTBSIDE said that both the right boo. gentle men opposite agreed in this, that if the committee wished for independent evidence the Chancellor of the Exchequer was rmsly, on the part of the government, to give it. (Hear, hear.) But if the committee wished for really independent • evidence they were not ho have it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. VIVIAN said that if the motion of the hoe, baronet were agreed to, the effect of it would he to postpone the question for the present session. (Cries of " Divide.") Lord PALMERSTON said the house ought to know the true ground on which they were going to vote. The ques tion was whether this bill was to be thrown over entirely for the present session. (" Hear, bear,' and" No, no.") That was the real e ff ect of the mot ion. ("No. no.") It mss evident if any one thought of the matter for a moment. What was the object of the inquiry! Why it necessarily involved, as his right boo. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, the going into the affairs of all those who wanted to prevent the hill pass* into a law, and who would for that purpose choose to go before the committee to make statement.. (Hear, hear.) It would have been much more fair to move that the bill be read that day six months. The effect of the motion would be to render it perfectly impossible that the bill should pass into a law this session. (Hear, hear.) Sir W. rOLLIFFE mid they had just heard from the noble lord that the effect of this motion, if carried, would be to defeat the bill. (In the other hand, they had received the assurance of his right hon. friend (Mr. Eatootirt), to which he wished to add his owe, that there was tie *tontine no the part of his hon. friend to emcee the principle of the bill. (Hear, hem.) As far se be could understand, the house mad take their choice between theirs two atstements. (Haar. Mier.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ( who was met by cries of " Spoke ") said he hoped he might be allowed to add a few words by way of explanatios. He was sorry that what he had mid had boon miennd•reMwi. It woo a tablas to appose be had totoodod that hie voice Jose obould its board up the wonoontdo. It would oe per fecUy oreapehint to the isommittee and be should desire that they should be enabled to hear explanations from those who were the official advisers of lb* government— (ironicel cheers from the opposition)—bat not that they should do foto general evidence. (Divide.) Mr. BUCHANAN observed that there would he no rvriovt Woad by the committee. He wished to ask, was it likely is the present excited sista of feeling on the subject, that this result would give satisfaction to the country : (Crum of " Divide.") The home then divided, and the members were. For the motion lO4 Against The motion ems ooasequently lost. (The artoonncement was received with loud mieisterial cheers.) The committee was then nominated. LAW LIFE SOCIETY. On the mottos of Mr. Ouooiy, A relent wee ordered of all civil bill ejectment& entered at the snit of the Law Life Society is Ireland, in the counties of Mayo and Galway, since Hilary Quarter Ses sions, 1832. _ BANKRUPTCY ACT. The select committee on this act was nominated. COUNTY BRIDGES. Mr. REYGATE obtained leave to bring in ► bill to pro ride for the erection of county bridges in Eogland and Wales, sad the bill was read a first time. JUDGMENT, &C.—LAW AMENDMENT BILL. On the motioa of Mr. HAMELD, the select committee on this bill was nominated. The house adjourned at lO minutes to 1 o'clock. PAZLIANZNYARY BUSINESS. ROUSE OP COMMONS.—True DAT. ORDERS OF THE DAY. Supply—committee Ways and meaus—report : cr y Custom and Inland Revenue HUI--secood reading : Court of . Chan y botch of Bush:wee 11111—conuelttee Civil BID Courts Ireton& Bill - c•mmittee : Court of Justiciary (Sootlandl Bill—.. amended to he conedered : Visit Telnde l&ntlanci) Bill—as amended to be considered .• Ways and Means—committee : Partnership Law Amendment Blll—committee; Charitable Assurance. Enrolments' Bill--commatee. NOTICE'S OF MOTIONS, Mr. WMAROII—To ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the Breton Lowe, new in course of arrangement and translation, will be published. Mr. WTLD—To ask the rnderßeeretary of State for War If her ll•reety's government have received the sanction of the Danish government for the publication by the to pogr aphical department of a detailed pion of the fortifications of riedericia. Lord erAxiar—TO ask the Secretary of State for India whether the territory of Dhar, confiscated during the war of 1857 3, and promised to he restored to its native ruder, has been so restored : and, if not, when the amnion will take effect. Lord Bustiv—To ask the secretary of State for India whether it Is true that the government of Bengal has issued an order prohibiting the harnint of dead bodies on the hanks of the Hooshly river: whether the terms of that order, and the TI.OOII on which It to based, have been made known to him . and, if so, whether there is an y ü bj ect l oo to make them lICBBIAD ...On mooed mama of Partnenihip law •mendment Bill. to move that it be read a second time upon that day six months. Mr. LIDDELL.—To move that to the opinion of this house farther interference on the pan of this country In the civil war in China to impolitic and unnecessary. FALMOUTH AND THE MALL PACKET QUESTION. A deputation had an interview with her Majesty's Postmaster-General, Lord Stanley of Alderley, on Tuesday, at the House of Lords, on the ouljoa of making Falmouth the port of oil for the West Ines mail steamers. The following noblemen sad gsutlemeo were members of the deputation :—The Earl of St. Germans, Lord Workhouse, Mr. G. J. Comber, M.P. ; Mr. Robert DeWitt', IL P. ; Mr. W. Buchanan, M.P. ; Mr. H. B. Crum Ewing, President of the Glasgow West lathe Association ; Mr. A. Black, M.P. ; Colima Sykes, M.P. ; Mr. A. IL Dunlop, 14. P. ; Sir T. E. Cole brooks, Bert., M.P. ; Sir M. Shaw Stewart, Bart., Y.P. ; Mr. E. H. J. Cmnftud. jun., Y.P. ; Mr. E. Potter, M.P. ; Mr. H. Pease, M.P. ; Ron. A. Egert on , M.P. ; Mr. Bremley Moore. M.P. ; Mr. J. Pakiogton, M.P. ; Mr. G. S. Beeeratt. Y.P. ; Mr. H. R. Gres:loll,lE P. ; Sir A. Hood, Bart., M.P. ; Mr. L. L. Dillwyo, M.P. ; Mr. J. W. Buller, MP., Chair man of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company ; Mr. T. J. A. Robartee, M.P. ; Mr. Nichols. Kendall, M.P. ; Mr. litiehard Davey, M.P. ; Mr. John St. Aubyn, M.P. ; Mr. T. G. Baring, Y.P. ; Mr. M. E. Smith, ILP. ; Mr. H. Paull, ILP. ; Hon . F. L. G ower , M . P . ; Mr. Grainger, President of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce ; Mr. Fleming, Secretary Mencheater Chabiber of Commerce ; Mr. Potter, Chairman of the Greet Western Railway Conway ; Mr. Bruce and Mr. M ea d e King, Directors Bristol aed Exeter Railway Company ; Mr. Robert Tweedy, Chairmen Cornwall Railway Company ; Mr. Alfred Fox, Chairman Falmouth Docks Company, and others. The de putation was introduced by the Fial of St. Germans. Mr. Gamboa having presented - a memorial, signed by a large number of merchant., bankers, and others of the City of LaMar. is favour of the object of the deputation, Mr. Delgliols, Mr. Grunt Ewing, and other members from the north, set before his lordship the 'great inconvenience sus tained by the northern commercial interests from the short time M present allowed for the replies to letters, and the advantage of having an earlier delivery by landing the mails at Falmouth, from which a t least 24 hours would be pined by the public. Mr. Grainger, President of the Liver pool chamber, stated the strong interest felt at that port on ' the subject, and asked his lordship what additional subsidy was required by the Royal Mail Company for landing and ' embark ieg the mails at Falmouth. His lordship replied, about 3,5001., sad made some remarks on the time occupied between Falmouth and Plymouth, and between Falmouth sad Loudon , by the preset mail service. Mr. Potter, Chairman of the Great Western Railway Company, stated ULM special mail service from Falmouth to Loudon might be performed in from eight to nine hours. Mr. Brumley Moore, Mr.' St. Aubyn, Mr. Coaches, Mr. Abernethy, and other*, having addressed his lordahip, his lordship stated that he was sot at present prepared to recommend the governateet to incur the additional expense which the alto- ratios wield involve, bat that the whole subject wee now nadir consideration. ROYAL ASYLUM OP ST. ANN'S SOCIETY. The Mini feetival of this society was cele brated yesterday at London Tams, Biehopegate-dreet, the LORD MAYOR presiding, supported by the Right Hoe. Lord H. Gordon, Sir P. Can Notion Pok, Bart., Sir Felix Agar, Mr Robert Sydney, Colocel J. Sidney North, M.P., Mattliaa Wolverley Attwood, Esq. (treasurer), Claptain Clarke', R.N. T. H. Lowry, Esq.. M.D., Oaptain R. PrtOldershier, the Rev. Jordan Palmer Y.A., F.S.A., s., chaplain ; Samuel Pegg, Eq., .1. Giles Filcher, J.P., J. Knowles, Fasq., Rev, B. Belcher, ILA., E. Haswell, Esq., Re. The loyal toasts having been disposed of, and the usual formalities having been gone through, the children of the asylum passed round lb. room, and one of the senior boys having recited an address on the subject of oervereranco, es illustrated by the career of Richard Whittington, The Criantnax proposed the toast of the evening, "Pros perity to the Royal Asylum of St. A nt e s Society. It was mart gratify*, he said, to feel that this great city ( w h ere wealth and commerce were fostered and encouraged to an extent which gave it an enviable plans among the nations of the world) should at the same time be the centre, and indeed the main starting point, of every public inetitutioa of a charitable nature. In the midst of their successes the great merchants and traders of thin city never forgot their poorer brethren ; and the iostitutiou which they were now assembled to support was one of those which especially commended itself to their notice. The society, as must now be well known, was established for the purpose of bringing up in a sphere of rmpectability the children of those whq though once moving in a prosperous position, might, through reverse of fortune, be prevented from oonferring upon them that greatest of all benefits—a monad and liberal • education. For many years past the institution had had the high privilege of sending forth to the world a large number of girls and boys, many of whom had been an honour and credit to the society. The institution was sooooducted that religious education was made an important element in its observances. It stood upon no narrow bads, and was governed by no restricted raW such as might interfere with a liberal administration of its benefit.. It was entitled to the tallest measure of encouragement, and he could 000eeive ' no greater pleasure than that of making e Wort in their Power to do that which would enable the of the institution to increase the sphere of its usefoloess. The toad was responded to with the warmest acclamation, ' and was followed by others, in which the merits of the society ware serology expatiated upon. One of the speakers, is proposing the health of the Lord Mayor, stated that the interest he felt in the charity was testified by the fact that. although he had been invited to dine with the Fishmongers' Company (of whose court he was a member), to meet Gari baldi, he bad resolved to abide by his promise to take the chair on this occasion. le the course of the evening. Mr. Luis. the Mderatien ble secretary, read list of subscriptions, =meting to lase thee 7004, a small Sem conaidering the many legitimate claims which this society prorate to public etymon. The vocal part of the entertainmeat was ably euetained by Medlin Game. and Wadlle. Goaetenoe Georg'. hire Fumy Haldane, sod Mee. Fowler, mid the putarafore aroma ' te were perforated by Mr. W. H. Adams. Mr. Harker. junior, was the toastmaster. SOCIETY FOE TIE ENCOEILAOLKOTT or THE FINE Aare.—Last evening this society we a special ectertain meat in commemoration of the Tercentenary of Shake speare, consisting of retdings from his plays Miss Heeled and Herr Kruger, a selection from Sh akespe arean manic by Stevens, Arne, Purcell, Clifton. Bishop, and Madarren ; aa ori ginal ode (htS4, poetry by Mrs- E- Thome., the music composed expressly for the occasion by Mr. Alfred Gilbert. The Shakespeare readings of Miss Reread. ably supported by Mr. Kruger, were marked throughout by intelligence and good tuts, and met with the warm appreciation of a numerous auditory. The vocal portions were given with excellent effect by the Poly hymnist) choir. The new occasional ode consisting succes sively of an introduction, recitative, chorus, quartett, chorus, solo, and chorus is a work of considerable merit, both in respect to the poe repeated pla try and setting, and was greeted with loud and udits. IRELAND. (nom 008 OWX — OOIII.OP3NLIN T. ) DUBLIN, Aram 20. The Dai/y Eris ess of to-day contradicts officially a rumour publish, d by the Brining Mail, to the effect that Lord Carlisle was not about to return to this oouutry as iceroy. The contradiction was scarcely neoessat7. No one believed the rumour. It is perfectly well known that Lord Carlisle is supremely happy in his office. He has made him self, personally, a favourite with all classes of Irish- 'Heil by hie unvarying courtesy and good nature. The only possible objection to him u a governor is his policy. In this respect he has been a shining addition to the rather long list of "our failures." The faction to which, in a reck less spirit of conziliation, he has sacrificed so much, seems only to have become exasperated by all the good thhls it has s wa ll owe d. Th e T or i es have been furnished with an undeniable grievance which has rendered them more active and united than ever. The only party which has not strength ened its position, or marshalled its forces to better advantage during Lord Carlisle's protracted regime, is the liberal party per et simpk. Lord Carlisle and his advisers have succeeded, no doubt, in ap peasing the mutual hostility of our two most violent [actions. The tory-ultramontane alliance is an accomplished fact ; but it is an "offensive" alliance, and Lord Carlisle himself is its object. The liberal party in Ireland has never been less powerful or well-organised than it is now. If you need evidence look over the list of our hundred and five repres sentatives.ts-Scarcely the "odd five" deserve the name liberal. Tins is a beggarly account after such a succession of so-called liberal administrations ; and it behoves the party of progress on your side of the channel to investigate carefully the causes which have made Ireland a log about their neck. To change a painful subject, let me say a wonl on behalf of a little institution here which lifts nothing to recommend it but its bumble prac tical utility. The Irish Academy of Music (founded some few years ago) aims at opening up a profitable but long neglected avenue to employment by placing a sound musical educa tion within the reach of the poorer classes. Your Loudon Academy of Music is, it seems, to receive a giant this year of some 5001., and it was hoped that a similar bounty, though of course to a much smaller amount, would have been exteuded to us. The application, however, Las been met by s very polite refusal, which I cannot but consider both impolitic and ill-timed. A SaI ►xyBPEARE MEDAL. —Malin. Hunt and Baikal!, the well-known jewsillenaadsilvenmitbs, have bad a large medal struck to commemorate the celebration of t:s tercentenary of Shakespeare's birth. It is designed be Mr. John Bell, the sculptor, and the die Las been engraved by Mr. L. C. Wpm, the medalist to the Royal Mint. It is • handsome looking medal. ►aving on the obverse a ' , mall profile bust of the poet, surrounded by the names of all his works, arracged in what the artist is pleased to call a glory of his works, that is to say, the names of the plays simply radiate from the I centre of the medal towards the rim. The effect of this is not bad, although the device is not strikingly ornamental. As to the likeness to the great original, we can only say that it 'Jae much like him as any of these productions, and still more like the he►l of the statics which Mr. Bell de sigeed. The reverse bears • subject representing Shakes peare seated crowned be the present century, personated by a semi-angelic personage in long drapery, while other two centuries, baring deposited their wreaths upon his knees, are floating away, se they look back fondly torrents the object of their worship. Below is • wreath of the dowers mentioned by the poet in his writings. A medal is • most appropriate mark of an event, as being less liable to decay and injury. This e•e may be acceptable whim a better is not to be STRATFORD-ON-AVON SHARD:FRAME Thai ESTE ! FART FESTIVAL—The prat Pavilion will be fully completed and oat of the decorator's hoods m a few hours. The Exhi , bitiau of Watts of Art has received two valuable acquisi- Lions in the shape of paintings —me of J. P. Kimble in the character, of Runlet, from her Majesty the Queen ; and another of Charles Young, in the same character, from the South lieosingt-o Gallery ; and the whole coll.ction ' contains genie from t'Le canal's of the leading private col lectors in the country. Very few banquet tickets remain unsold, and those for the MeasiaA, and the dramatic per formances, are in rapid demand. The whole aspect of affairs indicates a highly successful festival in every department of the labours of the committee. The railway arrangements from London to Stratford by the Great Western line are in every way complete. Special trains will run as follows :—On Saturday the 23rd, from Paddington at 9.25 a.m., reaching Stratford at 12.40, or at 12 from London, due at Stratford at 3.50, nearly one hoar after the banquet (the great inaugural event of the festival) has commenced. On Monday the trains from Paddington run at 6.30, 12. sad 1.30, arriving at Stratford, 10, 3.50, and '5. Up trains to Loadoe, Lc., at 4.10 and 1230 (night) ; arrivals in London, 7.40 and 4 (mot nog). On Tues day, We dnesday, and Thursday, April 36th, 27th, and :Nth, massagers may leave Paddington at 12 (noon) and I.3o(after. moon), and return from Stratford at 12.30 (midaight), reach lug town at 4 in the morning. On Friday, the 29th, there will be two service,, one at 12 (sous), and the other at 1.30 (afternoon), from Paddington, arriving at Stratford at 3.b0 and 5. No return trains except by the ordinary one, leaving Stratford at 710 p.m. On Saturday, the 30th, there are no special trains from London, but the ordinary coos at 6 a.m., 9.30 a.m., 12 (nom). and 2 p.m. ; and from Stratford as early as 4 in the morning, to convey runt.", from the Lusty ball on the Friday evening. thus enabling Loodonets to psrttcipate in the gaieties of that assembly and reach Paddington at 7.30 the next morning (Saturday). COFRT OF COMMON COUNCIL—A Court of Cool - Council was held meterds at Guildhall ; the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor p The Rernembrucer re ported that a bill was before parliament affecting the ern servancy of the river Thames, and the privileges of the ' corporation which be proposed to refer to the City Lands Committee. Alderman Rose, IL P., conaklered the proposed bill was moot dasgerous in its character, and be moved that a copy of it be sent to every member o f the court, in order that they might hare an opportunity of cemeideriog its pro visions and deciding what steps should be take, in the matter. Mr. Thorp, the deputy chairman of the board of conservancy of the corporation, seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr. Lawley brought forward • motion " That this corporation, highly appreciating the municipal institutions which it has enjoyed for so many centuries, and believing that the time has arrived when the privileges of self-government should be extended to those portions of the metropolis not yet entreated with the ameagement of their own load affairs, and desiring to aid in the accomplishment of that result, is prepared to contribute the sum of 5,0001. as the nucleus of a borough fond to each of the parliamentary boroughs of Southwark. Westminster, Marylebone. Lam beth, - Finsbury, and tie Tower Hamlets, to be paid to them when those boroughs shall have obtained their barters of incorporation under the provisions of the Municipal Cor porations Act, the sth and 6th Wm. IV., c. 76." This ques tion wu discussed etconsiderable length, bat ultimat e ly the motion's, withdrawn. A report was brought up from the Coal, Corn, and Finance Committee in the reference of the 19th November last, on the petition of the ratepayers of the Ward of Bisbopegate frr an inquiry into the best means to be adopted for securing the economic and profitable utiliza tion of the metropolitan sewage with a view to the reduc tion of the local taxation. The report stated that having made every investigation the committee were of opinion that it was a very important matter, and although they could not recommend any particular scheme they worn , weeded the representatives of the corporation at the Metropolitan Board of Works should be requested to use their best endeavoais to promote moth a plea as in their opinion might appear best for securing tie desired end, and they also recommended that a petition should be presented to the Home of Consumes, before whom it appears the question is shortly to be brought, for their moisten°, in pro moting such a plea. The report was agreed to, and a draft of • petition ordered to he drawn according to the term of the report. The court then adjourned. CONVOCATION. —Yesterday morning the Upper House of Convocation aseemblad at Queen Anne's Bousty office, Westminster, the Archbishop of Canterbury in the gair. The Bishop of St. David's renewed the debate on the Bishop of Oxford's motion for appointing • committee to ;omits into the desirableness of proceeding to • synodal judgment on the book called " Boom and Reviews." His lordship opposed the motios, and was followed by the Bishop of Loadoe, who fdefesded the declaim of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (of which he is a member), and severely denounced the conduct of those who by siltation were keeping alive religions bitterness..s in the church. Several other bishops followed, and the discussion was kept up with great briskness for five hosts. On a division the Bishops of Oxford, Llaedaff, Salisbury, Glousester, and Bangor voted for the motion ; roman it, the !hoboes of Loney', St. David's, Lichaeld. Linoo/r, and Ely. The number being equal, the Archbishop of Canter bury gave his casting vote in tamer of the motion, and a committee, consioting of the whoie of the bishops of the province of Canterbury WAS appointed to examine the hook and draw up a report upon it, with • view, if desirable, to a sr oodal judgment. EM RATION To Qr RENSLAN D.—The ship Fusilier. 2,000 tons burden, brimming to Mews. T. M. Mackay and Co., sailed as the 20th of April from Gravesead for Quensland, Captain Cornet°, commander. The Fusible is the fortieth vessel that has sailed on the land order system of eraigratioe, under the immediate dietetical of the Queens land government. She contain 256 souls, divided into paying, assisted, and free passengers, and consisting of I ' I members of (amides, single men 100, single females 44. 1