The Express. — London, England, 1866-06-01 00:00:00

F 4 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT• HOUSE OF LORDS.—ThussDAY, MAT 31. The Loki) CHANCZLIAZ took his scot co the Imams& at 5 o'clock. LAW OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AMENDKEN'T - - - BILL On the motion of the LORD Ceertcruent their lord went into committee on this WI. Clauses 1 2 and 3 were agreed tu. On clause 4, Earl GREY moved that the clause be emitted, on the vound that it would establish t wo de g rees of murder. He should have no objection to the establishment of two degrees of manslaughter, but he thought it better to retain the punishment of death for murder in acoordance with theetistinkstate of the law. The LORD CHANCELLOR defended the clause, which be said had received the approval of the great majority of the judges. He thought it essential that a distinction should be drawn between murder of an aggravated de scription and murder that was committed without preme ditation, such as where a shepherd took the life of a thief who broke into his master's sheepfold in the night. The Earl of LONGFORD supported the amendment. Earl RUSSELL entirely agreed with his noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor, in dividing murder into two classes, and he hoped that in time capital puniah meat would be abolished. Lord ROMILLY opposed the clause on the round that it would tend to diminish in the public estimation the high degree of culpability which attached to murder. It would be quite as consistent to divide manslaughter into two classes. The LORD CHANCELLOR said there were many eases of murder in which the culpability was not so great as when the original intention was to take away life. These crimes should still be called murder, but the punishment would not be capital if the clause were passed. If they were known as aggravated manslaughter, there might not be the same degree of horror attaching to them. - - • --- Their lordships divided, when there appeared— For the clause Against it The CHAIRMAN of the COJIMITTEE, Lord Redes dale, declared that the non-contents had it, and the clause was consequently rejected. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that, as the adoption of the amendment would render necessary considerable further alterations in the bill, he thought it better to ad journ the discussion. After a few words from the Duke of RlCHnosp, The house resumed, and the bill Mr 3 ort:ered to be re committed on Thursday next. ECCLESIASTICAL LEASES (ISLE OF MAN) BILL. This bill pared through committee. BOP TRADE BILL. This bill passed through committee. COMPANIES ACT 08621 AMENDMENT BILL. This bill was read a second time. - • • • Their lordships adjourned at a quarter after six o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY, hay 31. The SPRAYER took the chair s few minutes before 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Bodmin Roads, Caledonian Railway (Greenock and Gou rock Extensions), East Barnet Gas and Water, Glasgow and South Western Railway (Ayrshire Lines), Grange and Cartmel District Gas and Water, Great Western Railway, Greenwich and Woolwich Lower Road. London and North Western and Cockermouth and Workington Railway Companies, London and North Western and Whitehaven Junction Railway Companies, Manchester Division Petty Sessions Court, iSouth Essex Estuary and Reclamation, and Tema Valley Railway Bills. NOTICES. The Hermits BILL—Mr. SAMUELSON, in the event of Sir 8.. Knightley's clauses on bribery being carried, to move that in cases where coercion has been practised by land lords, or where there has been interference by peers of the realm, in any county or division of county, the election for that constituency shall be by ballot. (Hear, hear.) Mr. I)oiLTON to move that the borough of Lambeth shall be divided, and shall be increased by the addition of Cam berwell ; and that each division shall have two members, the two extra ones to be taken from boroughs which have apopnlation of less than 10,000,and in which bribery and corruption have been reported extetsively to prevail. (Hear, hear.) THE MERCANTILE MABINE.—Mr. GRAVEN to move on the 12th instant, " That a humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to issue a royal commission to inquire into the present condi tion of the seamen of the mercantile manse, with the view of ascertaining whether within the last 20 years the supply of British seamen has or has not fallen off either in point of numbers or of efficiency, and if in either respect a continuous decline should be apparent, to ascertain what are the causes which have led to such decline, and whether any milady can be suggested." MARITIME LAW. Mr. GREGORY asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Austria, by an imperial decree a.t«t May 1 3. Prussia by a decree natal rab, agreed, in case of war, to confer on the enemy's merchant ships at sea the same immunities as have been granted to Neutral vessels by the declaration of Paris GS.%) : whether this principle was set forth in the Italian Maritime Code. so that no new declaration was required from Italy ; and whether her Majesty's government had received any re cent communication from foreign powers on the subject Mr. LAYARD said the hon. gentleman seemed to have confounded two very different things in his question. There was so declaration of Paris on the subject of the immunity of neutral vessels, the declaration having regard to neutral goods on board enemy's vessels. Austria hail Notified that they were willing not to touch enemy's pro perty on board neutral vessels, provided that there was reciprocity on the part of other powers. Ile could not And that there was anything of the kind in the Maritime Code of Italy, but he would cause further inquiry to be made into the matter. The only communications her Majesty's government had received were the two decrees mentioned by the hon. gentleman. CHILI. Mr. LIDDELL asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it was true that the Chiliar. minister had demanded his passport ; and, if so, what were the grounds for this rupture of friendly relations with that government! Mr. LAY IRD—The Chilian minister br-s not asked for Lis passport ; he has delivered letters of recall, but no reasons are stated for it. From despatches received only yesterday from Chili there is no reason to fear that there will be any interruption of the friendly relwtione between the two countries. (Cheers.) THE CHINESE VISITORS. Colonel SYKF.`: asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Pim and his son Yo.ho— (a la•:ghi —end their Tartar and Mongol friends from Pekin, who bad accompanied Mr. Hart, the Imperial Inspector of Customs, and were now in England. were accredited to the British government in any official cw , acity, or were merely recommended to its courtesies as travellers from China! _ Mr. LAI AHD said that these Chinese gentlemen, with their Tartar and Mongol friends, as the hon. member willed them, bad not been officially azcre,iited to us, but they had come to England with letters of recommendation from the Chimme govenuaent, in order to :see the country. Ho need hardly say that her Majesty's mosornment would do all in their power to render their visit iseftd and agree able. (Hear, Lear.) He had every reas( n to hope thAt this preliminary visit would lead to a mor, Connal miAsion, and would tend greatly to improve the relations between the two countries. (Cheers.) Se HLEIWIG-HOLSTEIN. Mr. WATKIN asked the Under S,cretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, under the treaty of navigation between her Majesty and the King of Prussia, signed Goatein the 16th clay of August, 1865. it was intended to include the shipping of the territory ei.1.2 . ...red by Prussia sod Austria. Mr. LAYARD did not quite understand the question, but presumed that it referred to Schleswig and liolsteiu. He would remind the hon. gentlemanth at neither Schleswig nor Holstein had yet been assigned to Austria or l'russia, and that the treaty referred exclusively to those two powers. THE REFORM RILL. Sir W. JOLLIFFE presented a petition from PetersSeld against the bill. The debate on Captain Hayter's amendment on the mo tion for going into committee, cis.:—" That this house. although desirous that the subjects of the franchise and of the redistribution of seats should be considered toge ther, is of opinion that the system of grouping proposed in the present bill for the redistribution of seats is neither convenient nor equitable, and that the scheme of her Ma esty's government is not sufficiently matured to form the basis of a satisfactory measure," was resumed by Mr. GOLDSMID, who objected to the mode in which the proposed grouping of boroughs was to be effected, and contended that boroughs which had a population of be tween 8,000 and 10,000, and now returr.,d two members. should hereafter return one only, and that all groups of boroughs the combined population of which was above 10,000 should return two members. If this were done the borough of Honiton, which he represented, would be pre. pared to sacrifice one of Its seats, and he would give his support to the bill. Mr. GOSCHEN said he would not follow the hon. and gallant member for Wells through the ano malies be had pointed out, but ha was confident that no scheme could be devised which would give satisfaction to those who were to be disfranchised under it. (Hear, hear.) The anomalies were so great that if they were all dealt with in a single bill it would be im possible to pus it. (Hear, hear.) Were hon. gentlemen who proposed to draw the line at 15,000 prepared to go further in disfranchisement than the government had gone It ap peared from their silence that they were not, and yet they were going to vote for the amendment. They would not embody their views in an amendment ; they would not fight t he government upon a single point of principle ; but they united in • general and sweeping condemnation. (Opposition cheers.) He wmi glad they pleaded guilty to It was, however, a fitting occa.ionlto refer to the position in which the house stood in respect to the subject of reform. In the month of March the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated as the reason why the government had introduced a franchise bill by itself, that it would be ima; lilac during the session to dispose of more that part of the scheme. In that view he thought they were quite right ; and he believed that their present diffi culties were mainly owing to their departure from their original policy. (Hear, hear.) It was quite true that they had removed one objection—it could no longer be said that the country had not the whole of the scheme before it — hut they had thrust their heads into a hornets' nest in attempting to settle the redistribution of seats. It was no use disguising the fact that they would never induce the house to sit through the autumn ; for gentlemen could not be prevailed upon to forego their shooting except under pressure of a great public emergency; and as to carryingthe bill in the next two months, there was little hope of that after the remarkable exhibition which had been made by the great party opposite. True to their ancient tra ditions, the conservatives were evidently determined to oppose in every form and shape this very moderate scheme. In taking that course he had no doubt that they were committing a grave mistake, not only with regard to their interests as a party, but with regard to the interests of °ousel-mum. It was not probable that they would ever again have a similar opportunity of settling the question upon terms so advantageous to themselves. Mr. SIOWIIRAY said that when the hon. member for that charge. and acknowledged that such were their tac tics. They thought that the right thing to do was to gain as many recruits as they could from the liberal party— (hear. hear)—under something like false pretence.s— (oh, oh)—and to vote with those with whose speeches they did not agree. They were not united with gentlemen on that (the government) Ride of the house—with the liberal party on the general question of reform—and if they ventured to propose a resolution they would find very few of that party to vote with them. (Hear, hear.) It was said that the government scheme was immature, but in what respect was it so! Hon. gentlemen opposite had contended that counties ought to be loom largely repre• Rented than they were atpresent. The present bill increased the representation of counties, but were hon. gentlemen opposite satisfied! No. What they wanted was not an in creased representation of the populous counties, but an in creased representation of the agricultural interest. The counties were fairly dealt with by the bill. (" No. no.") IVity then did they not propose anainenalinent?(" Wait.") They preferred to take issue upon the question of proe„edure, and to state that the government scheme was inexpedient, without saying in what respect it was inexpedient ; that it was inequitable without saying how ; and that it WAS mature, without saying what a matured scheme would be. (Hear, hear.) Those were the tactics adopted; and it was natural that hon. gentlemen opposite should follow those tactics. But was it natural that members of the liberal party sliculd! He did not see why the case of the lace-makers of Moulton and the rope-makers of Bridport should be allowed to stand in the way of the enfranchisement of 400,000 of their fellow subjects. The government had proposed a reduction of the franchise and a redistribution of seats. To meet the wish of the house those bills had been united, and it would he unworthy of the liberal party if upon subsidiary questions as to geographical proximity and local interests — questions which could best be discussed in committee — they should allow the whole bill to be thrown out ; be cause everyone must see that the adoption of the amend ment of the hon. and gallant member fur Wells would be fatal to the bill. There could be no doubt that its object Was to condemn the whole scheme. The word " otherwise " was intended to catch anybody who had any objection whatever to the united bill. The government could not accept defeat on that amendment. The question of grouping was a question for committee ; but it was not a question for committee whether the whole scheme was immature, unjust, and inconvenient. On that point the government were prepared to take issue, and he trusted that the members of the liberal part; who were disposed to reduce the franchise from 101. to ai. would not be led away because a case was made out that the dis tance between certain towns was too large, and that on that account they would not refuse to sup port the united scheme of the government. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the house would not consent to have a measure for the reduction of the franchise and for the re distribution of seats, and which affected large classes of the people and several very important places, relegated to a future session in order that hon. gentlemen opposite might unite in defeating the government upon this question. (Hear, hear.) Sir J. I'AKINGTON desired to hear some independent unofficial member say that, now that the house had the whole reform scheme of the government before it, he con sidered it worthy of acceptance as an improvement of the representation of the people. But no speech had been made by any such member in favour of those measures. Turning to a general consideration of the subject of re form, he said he was sincerely desirous to settle this ques tion this session ; but that had been rendered im possible by the course taken by the government, who had entered on the subject precipitately, and had preduced only vague and immature mea sures. The government having culled for electoral sta tistics, for which they did not wait before they prepared their measures, should have carefully considered the whole questiou, and presented a comprehensive proposal to parliament next year. The right hon. gentleman proceeded to argue that the statistics in question had shown that a large proportion of the working classes already possessed the franchise ; that the reduction of the franchise to 71. would add 200,000 of that class to the registry ; and this would render that class half the electors in boroughs ; and this would give them a preponderance over the other half, which represented property, and to this he objected. He argued generally against the go vernment proposition as novel and dangerous. In regard to the Distribution Bill, he objected to giving a third member to large constituencies ; while as to the system of grouping proposed, that he wholly condemned, especially objecting to the giving away of seven English seats to Scotland. He urged that the house should not submit to be dictated to by the government in regard to sitting till October in order to pass these bills. He was of opinion that the whole question of parliamentary reform might be advantageously considered by royal commission, with a view to enable the government of the day to found a measure on the result of its inquiry. He thought it pre mature and useless to send these bills to committee. Mr. J. S. MlLL—Many hon. members of this house have shown so great a desire to talk of what I may have written or said on the subject of the franchise, and have expressed so much anxiety that I should explain the course I am going to take, that I should be sorry to dis appoint their reasonable desire for information. But, in the first place, I must correct the right hon. baronet who has just spoken as to the reasons why I did not allow myself to be persuaded to ate sas.se....siess tho motion of the hon. member 11. for Hu My reason—and it was one which would be appreciated by both sides of the house—was that I had a decided objection to being made a catspaw of. (Cheers and laughter.) What other reasons I may have had will appear in the observations I am about to make, and which will, I trust, satisfy all those honourable members who are so anxious about my constituency. No doubt a man ought to feel much flattered at having his writings so fre quently referred to as mine have been in this and other debates, but my gratification is, I must confess, somewhat dashed at finding that the knowledge of the honourable members who quote me, seems to be strictly limited to the pewees they quote. (Laughter.) I suppose the books :,re too dull to permit of their reading any more, and if they had done me the honour to read a little further they would have known more about my opinions. (Hear, hear.) They scent to think I have recommended plurality of votes, anal many other things as suitable to, or at least discus sible in connection with, the present measure ; but I do not know where they find I recommend them in connec tion with a 71. franchise. (Hear, hear.) The propositions I made had reference to universal suffrage, of which I am a most strenuous advocate, and towhich it seemed necessary to have some cheek to prevent the suffrage from securing ascendancy to a class. Under a 71. franchise there is no danger of such an ascendancy ; the notion is absolutely ridiculous ; the effect would be, instead of creating the ascendancy of a class, in some degree at least to weaken it. With plurality of votes one thing must be accepted, :and that is the representation of minorities—(hear, hearl— and I congratulate the right hon. baronet on the limited adhesion he has given to that principle. (Hear, hear.) That is not intended as a check to democracy ; it is in tended as a check on whichever may be the strongest party in the constitution, or the abuse of power by whoever may be uppermost. I think that a reasonable corollary on the principle of democracy, because thus all the people would have votes, and all votes would he of equal value. Without the representation of minorities all votes have not an equal value, for prac tically nearly one-half of the constituency is disfranchised. (Hear, hear.) Suppoae the legislature, that is to sae, the Hoese of Commons, elected by a bore majority of the people, and that the house so elected should pass mea sures by bare majorities of itself, the minorities in both cases must be agreed, and a minority of one-fourth (so we understood) would outvote three-fourths of the cont ermity. Therefore it scents to me that voting by mino rities must form partof any sy,tem of representation that is t ) work welLand if the right hon. gentleman will move the adoption of the principle he shall have my cordial support. I wish, to make a brief explanation of a passage which the right hon. baronet has quoted front one of my writings, which has some appearance of being less polite in its lan guage than I should wish always to be in speaking of a great party. The passage he quoted is one where I stated that the conservative party was, by the law of its consti tution, necessarily tile stupidest party. (Laughter.) I never meant to say that the conservatives are generally stupid. What I meant to say was, that stupid persons are generally conservative. (Loud laughter.) I believe that is an obviously and undeniably admitted a principle that I hardly think any hon. gentleman will deny it. Suppose any party. in addition to whatever share it may possess of the ability of the community, has nearly the whole of its stupidity, that party, I apprehend, insist by the law of its constitution be the stupidest party. (Laughter.) And I do not see why hon. gentlemen should feel that position at all offensive to them. It ensures their being always an extremely powerful party. (Great and continued laughter.) I know lam liable to a retort, and an obvious one enough, and as I do not mean to allow any hon. gen tleman to have the credit of making it, I make it myself. (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) It may be said that if stupidity has a tendency to conservatism, scioninn and half-knowledge have a tendency to liberalism. Something might be said for that—(hear, hear)—but it is not at all so clear as the other. (Laughter.) There is an uncertainty about it. We cannot count upon it. We cannot tell what the way of thinking may be. It varies from day to day with the last book, but in any case it cannot be equally relied upon, and there fore they are the less dangerous class. They are an uncertain class. But there is a dense solid force in sheer stupidity—(laughter)—and any body of able men with that force pressing behind them may secure victory in many a struggle, and many a victory the conservative party have gained through that power. (Hear, hear.) I only rose for the purpose of making this personal explanation, and I do not intend to enter into the merits of the amendment, especially as I concur in all that has been said by the right hon, member for London (Mr. Goschen) in his admi rable speech. (Cheers.) Mr. SCOURFIELI) believed that the inevitable result of the grouping scheme of the government must be greatly to increase the expense of the elections, and that connecting together places many miles apart which were disconnected in interests, and between which great rivalry might exist, could only tend to produce irritation. Mr. BAXTER 'aid it was hardly worth while to go back to the question of statistics, or of the admission of the working-classes, which had been so thoroughly debated ; and he hoped that the government would never consent to send the British constitution before a royal commission. Montrose rose he expected to hear an independent sup porter of the government, but lie was disappointed in that expectation. The hon. gentleman delivered a speech which ought to have been delivered when it was proposed to unite the two bills together. He said that the conserva tive party would never have such an opportunity again, for such moderate term would never again be proposed for their acceptance. But in 18.52 a bill proposing a 51. franchise had been rejected, in 1860 a bill proposing a 61. franchise had been rejected. And in 1866 they had a TI. franchise proposed, which it was quite possible might be rejected ulso. The conservative party, therefore, had no reason to fear that they would lose by rejecting this proposition of the government. Lord F. CAVENDIsH said the amendment proposed by the hon. member for Wells was somewhat ambiguous— (" oh, oh" from the opposition)--for it was not clear whether it was directed against the part of the bill relating to the redistribution of seats, or against that portion of the measure which related to the fran chise; yet, after the remarks that bad fallen from the leader of the opposition it might be fairly assumed that those on whose support the carrying of that amendment must depend regarded it as directed against the entire scheme. (Hear, hear.) He did not complain of this, for it seemed only fair and naturaLbecause the govern ment seemed to have followed the same principles and sought the same object in both parts of the measure. That object seemed to be to adapt the institutions of the coun try to the changes which had been brought about by time. He (Lord F. Cavendish) hoped the power would not be given to leaders and demagogues to say to the people that although their claim was acknowledged to be lust and right, that ground was not considered sufficient by the House of Commons ; that they must not look to the wisdom and justice of parliament for redress, but must be content to wait until they were pressed to urge their claims by arguments, to which he would not further allude. He trusted the house would nossao deal with the question as that in time of trouble and difficulty they would leave every class end every interest able and willing to support the government of the country. (Cheers.) Mr. DC CANE spoke in support of the government. Mr. Li )WE complained of the government that they were continually bringing in measures attacking the vital and fundamental institutions of the country, and always ab stained from telling the house what was the principle upon which they were founded. But if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not inform bim what the principle of the present bill was, he must endeavour to puzzle it out for himself. There was one principle upon which a redistri bution of scats ought not to be based, and that was the abstract right to equality of representa tion and an approximation to electoral districts. To adopt &principle like that must result in makingrepresenta fives the slaves of niece numbers. A reasonable view of a redistribution bill would be that it should be a measure that would make the house more perfectly than it was at present a reflection of the opinion of the country. He admitted that there was now a tendency to a great uniformity and monotony of representation, and a redis tribution bill should remedy this tendency. Another object should be enfranchisement, by which he meat not the aggregation of fresh members to already existing constituencies, but the enfranchisement of fresh constituencies, thus giving more variety of life to the representation of the country and making the house a collection of persons of infinite diver sity of pursuits and habits. And another object might well be to diminish the expense of elections by reducing the size of electoral districts. Passing, then, to the con sideration of the bill before the house ; he regarded it in two aspects. One was the male of grouping ; the other, the manner in which a third member was added to some of the constituencies. Although it had never yet been ex plained, he assume! there was some good and cogent reason for disfranchising the small boroughs ; but if there were, why give them back as a friction that which had been taken away as an integer? These small boroughs were at present of great value as a means of sending able men, who could not afford a costly contest, into the House of Commons at a small expense. But group them in the way proposed by the bill; and they would beat ouceconverted into most expensive constituencies. The members elected for them would have to subscribe to three times the number of local charities, schools, and volunteer carps. In fact, it was nothing but a polygamous arrangement. It asked a man to marry three or four wives. Nay, worse, it was an aggravated polygamy, for it asked him to marry three or four widows. In the grouping of these boroughs some principle should have been observed • but upon examining the details of this measure it seemed to be stamped throughout with gross injustice, and it could not therefore be satisfactory to the boroughs concerned. In short, the principle of the thing was so bad that it would be impossible to deal with it in committee at all. hissing, then, to the second part of the measure, he would assume that there was a good case for disfranchising a certain number of seats ; but the question was, how did the government propose to distribute them? The counties to which they gave them were really groups of towns, and the principle upon which a third member was to be con ferred upon sonic of the larger towns seemed to be simply the worship of mere numbers. Adopt that principle, and they would be making an approach to electoral districts. There was no doubt that the tendency of the age was towards democracy. In these circumstances what was the duty of a statesman ? Surely not to stimulate this ten dency, but rather to seek for some palliative, and if obliged to change, to make it as smooth as possible ; but the whole of this bill tended to overwhelm the present state of society and government in this country. The right hon. gentleman then canvassed the arguments which had been brought forward in support of the Franchise Bill. The " flesh and blood" and rights of man" argument of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the stand upon the old line of the constitution argument of Mr. Bright, and de clared that this portion of the scheme was the work of men who had set themselves to " mend the parts by ruin of the whole." It was a medley which showed great veneration for numbers and a certain amount of veneration for the old boroughs, which were to be preserved after everything beneficial had been ex tracted from them ; and it was evident that it had been prepared without information, and was a measure of an ill-considered, inadequate, and mischievous nature. If they abandoned the existing settlement, so far as the pecuniary amount of the franchise was concerned, the result would he that they must go down to where the Attorney-General had pointed on the previous day, household suffrage, and from that it might be down to universal suffrage. The hon. gentleman continued : The matter is inexpressibly important, for any error will be irremediable. The matter is the last thing that ought to be dealt with rashly or incautiously. We are dealing not merely with an administration or a party, not even with a constitution or a kingdom. To our hands is entrusted the noble and sacred future, free self-government all over the world. We are about to exchange certain good for more than doubtful change—we ore about to barter maxims and traditions which have never failed, for theories tind doctrines which have never succeeded. (Loud cheers.) Democracy you may have at any time. Night and day the gate is open that leads to that bare and level plain, where every ant's nest is a mountain, and every thistle a forest tree. But a government such as that of England is the work of no human hand. It has grown up imperceptibly. It is a creation of centuries. It is a thing which we onlyenjoy, we cannot impart to other countries, and which we could not recover for ourselves. (Cheers.) Because you have con trived to be at once dilatory and hasty heretofore, it is no reason for pressing forward rashly and improvidently. To precipitate a decision even in the case of a single human life would be crueL It is more than cruel, it is parricide in the case of a constitution which is the life and soul of this great nation. If it is to perish—as all mortal things must perish—give it, at any rate, time to gather its robe around it, that it may fall with decency and deliberation. " To-morrow ! That is sudden. 0, spare it' spare it. It ought not so to die r —(Loud and long continued cheers.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the resolution, and went into an elaborate comparison of the expressed opinions of the leaders of the opposition to show that they were all agreed that the subject must be dealt with, but that they differed widely as to the mode of settling lt. He argued that the 71. franchise would admit the upper stratum of the working classes, and need create no alarm ; and denying that it would be impossible to take a stand on household suffrage, he showed that the educa tional testa and lateral franchises advocatel on the other side were more likely to lead to universal suffrage, and ex pressed the opinion that probably the next stags would be the ancient constitutional rated household suffrage. The redistribution scheme, he maintained, was more in harmony with the theory of the constitution than Mr. Disraeli's plan of eliminating the urban element from the counties. What is the consequence (added the learned gentleman) of the rejection of these bills, if they are to be rejected? What will the govern- ment which succeeds us have to do ? One thing lam per fectly sure of, that whatever government succeeds the present they must attem to settle the ques tion of reform—(hear, hear)-and that it cannot be settled wthout some considerable reduction of the franchise. (Hear, hear.) If hon. gentlemen opposite EXPRESS,' kfiIDAY EVENING, - JUNE 1, 1866. think they have a favourable prospect of settling the ques tion, I congratulate them ; but I think that with all the different opinions we kave heard expressed, by the noble lord the member for Ring's Lynn, the hon. member for Stamford, and the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxfordahire, they willhave some difficulty in satisfying the indispensable conditions of any settlement of this question. I think that the time hu come for the settlement of the question, and that we should seise the opportunity offered, not to meet the proposal of the government with motions which are illusive, and tend merely to delay, but if pos sible to obtain that settlement. Having read those two bills a second time, I think it would be for the advantage of all parties to go at once to the consideration of their detail'. Even if the bills should pass without amendment—and far be it from me to say they are not susceptible of amend ment—it would still be a great advantage for all parties to obtain a settlement which would fix for a whole human generation the all-important question of the franchise, without in the slightest degree disturbing the present bases of political power. Much better to settle the question w hilst you have its control in your own hands than to leave it for a time when such control would be impossible. (Hear.) Sir H. CAIRNS moved the adjournment of the debate. Agreed to. CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL. On the order for the third reading, Mr. LAWRENCE objected to the mode in which the bill proposed to rearrange the timber duties. The bill was read a third time and passed. INDUSTRIAL AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS. In committee of the,whole house resolutions were passed to enable the Treasury to contribute, out of monies pro vided by parliament for the purpose, to the expenses of the maintenance of children in certified industrial and re formatory schools. - ----------- LUNACY ACTS (SCOTLAND) AMENDMENT BILL. This bill was considered as amended, and ordered for third reading• GLEBE LANDS (SCOTLAND) BILL This bill passed through committee. The Marriages (Sydmonton) Bill was read a second time. BRIDGWATER WRIT. Colonel TAYLOR moved a new writ for the election of a member for Bridgwater, in the room of Mr. Henry Westrop, whose election has been determined to be void. Sir H. VERNEY observed that the committee had re ported that at the last election for Bridgwater corrupt practice did extensively prevail, and adopting the usual course upon such a conclusion, he moved, as an amend ment, an address to the crown for the appointment of a commission to inquire further into the case. After some discussion, The house divided — For the motion Against The writ was therefore ordered. REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE BILL. 120 12-111 Mr. DISRAELI thought it would be well to come to some understanding with respect to the adjourned debate. So many gentlemen might wish to address the house that it might not be possible to close the discussion to-morrow, but he hoped it might be concluded on Monday. He could undertake, on the part of his friends, to say that they did not wish to continue the debate beyond Monday. Sir G. GREY had hoped that the debate might have been brought to a conclusion to-morrow, but as the right hon. gentleman had expressed the opinion that it would be possible to conclude it on Monday, he hoped it would not be carried beyond that day. Leave was given to Sir J. Fergusson to bring in a bill to reduce the municipal franchise in burghs and populous places in Scotland. The house adjourned at 15 minutes past 2 o'clock. llabal an Military. ADMIRALTY, MAY 31. APPOINTMENTS. —Staff Commander G. H. Blakey, to the Saturn. Surgeon Dr. H. Gimlett, to the Lord Clyde. Assistant Surgeons A. G. Colquhoun, to the Lord Clyde; W. S. Fisher. to tho Fisgard, for service in Marine In firmary at Woolwich. Naval Cadets (nominated) A. C. Middlemaas, W. J. Anton, and W. H. Edyvean. Chief Engineer W. Gill, to the Lord Clyde. Engineers W. Giles and G. W. Robins, to the Lord Clyde ; G. Deans (additional), from the Caledonia, for the Trinculo. First Class Assistant Engineers R. Anderson (B), G. Bartlett, and J. R. Ecroyd, to the Clyde ; J. F. K. Hat tersley (additional), from the Caledonia, for the Trinculo. DEPTFORD, MAT 31. LAUNCH OF THE IC rusk. —H er Majesty's 4 gun screw despatch vessel Niobe was launched in a most suc cessful manner at Deptford Dockyard this afternoon at three o'clock, in the presence of a large number of specta tors, those provided with tickets being accommodated with seats on a raised platform erected on the building slip at the bow of the vessel, and the band of the Dockyard Rifle Volunteers wu in an orchestra at the side. Amongst those present were Mr. Reed, chief constructor of the Royal Navy ; Captain Wilmot, superintendent of the Royal Victoria Dock and Victualling Establishments, and several naval officers from Woolwich and Chatham. The ceremony of christening the vessel wu performed by Miss blends, daughter of Admiral Mends ; immediately after which the dog shores were removed, and the Niobe glided from the slip into the river amidst the repeated cheers of the spectators. She is ordered to be removed to Woolwich to be completed for commission. The Niobe was desicned by Mr. Reed, chief constructor to the navy, and is in some respects similar to the Pallas, but as she is not intended for purposes of warfare, she will not be armour-plated. She haa a projecting bow, and i constructed with a view to obtain a high rate of speed. The Nymph, a small vessel of exactly similar dimensions, is now building at Deptford, and will shortly be launched. elniberditg intelligence. OXFORD, MAT 31: TRINITY COLLEGE. —Mr. William Samlay, 8.A., scholar of Corpus Christi College, was this morning elected to the vacant fellowship at Trinity College, the examination having lasted five days. Mr. Sanday obtained a first class in classics in the first public examination, Michaelmas term, 1863, and the second publicexamination, Michsehnas term, 1865. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. After our report left yesterday, the court pro ceeded with the adjourned debate upon the question of purchasing Southwark-bridge, and throwing it open to the public. It will be remembered that at the last court a report was brought up by Mr. Robert Taylor, the chairman of the Bridge-house Estates Committee, recom mending that Southwark-bridge should be purchased for 200,000 i., the bridge company being willing to dispose of it to the corporation for that amount. In the course of the discussion that then ensued a question arose as to the extent of the property included in the purchase of the bridge for the sum mentioned. The comptroller, being ap pealed to, said that all the property he understood to be included in the purchase was the bridge itself, a small freehold house that was used as the offices of the bridge company, and a little piece of land railed in at the corner of Pinion-street and the Southwark-bridge-road. Upon a division the motion for purchasing the bridge was speed I to by a majority of 40, the numbers being, for the motion, 79 ; against it, 39. SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 31.—The . North German Lloyd's steamer New York has arrived here with 323 passengers for this port, Havre, and Bremen, '230,000 dole. in specie for England, 150,000 dole. for France, and 15,000 dol. for Bremen. She left New York at 5 p.m. on the 19th May, and experiencedstrong easterly winds throughout her passage. SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 31. The North American Lloyd's steamer Merrimac, from New York on the 17th instant, has arrived here. She brings 26 passengers for this port, Havre, and Bremen, but no s pec ie. On the 27th she signalled the English barque Jen kins . On the 28th she spoke a Bremen barque, showing a white flag with a red border, No. 76 in the centre. On the 29th the French brig Ente rprise, and on the 31st, off St. Alban's Head, she signalled the barque Heroine. It wished to be reported. The Merrimac experienced easterly winds throughout her voyage. BROMPTON HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DMUS'S or THE Caren.—The annual court of governors was held yesterday in the board-room of the hospital, the Marquis of Westminster in the chair. Previous to the commencement of the proceedings it was stated that 18 of the 20 male patients who were sent to Madeira in Novem ber last had returned that day in a state of health which most favourably contrasted with their bodily condition prior to their departure from the hospital. One of the patient' suddenly died in Madeira, and another remains iu the island suffering from inflammation of the lungs. The report stated that an increased amount of relief had been administered during the year. No fewer than 1,259 per sons had enjoyed the benefits of the hospital as in patients during the year, the number relieved in the previous year being 1,201. In the out-pa tients department the number of new cases coming under treatment had continued to increase year by year. In the past year the new out-patients prescribed for had increased in a remarkable degree, the number being 8,386. It appeared by the statement of **counts that the gross receipts of the charity from all sources during the year had been 14,885/. Os. 4d., which shows an increase of 1,3661. 14s. 10d. as compared with the receipts of the pro n.:Ms year, which were 13,5181. ss. 6d. The income was composed of the following items : annual subscriptions, 5,3671. 3s. 6d. ; donations, 4,8851. la. Bd. ; legacies, 2,7831. Is. 6d. ; church collections, 7801. 15e. Bd. A long discussion took place in reference to a motion made by Mr. Rose proposing an alteration of the rule regulating the admission of patients. The meeting *AS adjourned for • month, when the subject will be again brought forward. COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. lath Nuttßisme. MAT 31. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) WILSON v. WILSON, THE Q111122e8 PRocron INTEETZEINO. After our report left yesterday, Mr. Thomas Lyttelton Holt was examined. He said— lam a newspaper editor, at present in Birmingham. My daughter went to play in that town in 1863. In the fol lowing year she spoke to me on the subject of taking proceedings against her husband. We consulted Mr. Smith on the subject. I have known him for more than 23 years ; during which time we have been exactly like brothers, and something more. Mrs. Wilson is about twenty-seven years o: age. Mr. Smith used to be con stantly with my children. My daughters never saw him without kissing him, and if I had not seen him for five years I should kiss hint myself. (Laughter.) Dr. Swabey—And these familiarities took place in your presence? Witness—They are not familiarities. Last August I went to Cefn, in North Wales, and found my daughter (the petitioner) there. By the Solicitor-General—Mr. Smith used to come up to town in 1845 twice a week. We were both engaged in pro ' meting a system of railways. When my children were little I lived in London or in Essex. Mr. Smith used frequently to come and stay with me in Essex three or four days or a week at a time. I was proprietor of the Iron Times, and I promoted lines which brought me and Mr. Smith a good deal together. I have four children, of whom the eldest is the petitioner. I have two sons, one in Vancouver's Island and the other in London. I have two daughters, of whom one is married and the other is being unmarried. (A laugh.) During the last twenty years Mr. Smith visited me perhaps twenty times. The Solicitor-General—That is about once a year. Witness—lt might be twenty times or it might be sixty, or it might be a hundred. There ! What does it matter ? (Laughter.) At Palmer's trial, when Mr. Smith came to town, he was a great deal with me. He was guardian of a young gentleman who has since married my daughter, an I I saw him a great deal. You press me a good deal ; but tell me your motive for putting these questions, and I will answer them to meet your views. (Laughter.) My daughters used to kiss Mr. Smith after they grew up just as if they were his nieces. They used to run at him and kiss him ; and I hope they will always do so. The Solicitor-General—ls there any other gentleman not a relative whom you wish your daughters to run at and kiss? Witness—ln trouble you, sir, not to put such questions to me. They cannot be in your brief. (A laugh.) I am not here to be insulted, and I will not be Insulted. The Solicitor-General—My lord will judge whether my questions are improper. Witness—And I shall appeal to the court if such things are asked me. There are other persons not relatives whom I should be willing. for my daughters to kiss. When I found how the petitioner was worried, and when I found that this story was getting up, I resolved to go down and live at Birmingham. I accordingly started a paper there, which has been very successful. My daughter's case was conducted by Mr. Smith's London agent. I advised with him ; for, though I have never been called to the bar, : was a member of Gray's-inn, and know pretty well what am about. The Solicitor-General—There is one more question whicL I must ask you. Surely you did not approve of your daughter kissing Mr. Smith after her marriage? , Witness—That is a matter for her husband ; but as far lasl am concerned I should certainly approve of it. Why should the fact of her marrying any man affect private friendship? She always did kiss him. She would take a stool and sit by his side, and lay her head on his knees, just as when she was a child. He has no children of Ins own. My wife cannot attend,as her health hasbeen broken down by this suit. Mr. Preston, of Gresham-street, the agent of Mr. Smith, corroborated the allegation of his having been consulted about the suit. Mr. Smith confirmed what Mr. Holt had said respecting his great friendship for the petitioner, and her brother and sister. After some further evidence the case was adjourned. WOOL AND WORSTED.—BRADFORD, MAT 3k The improvement in cotton and the alight ease in t money market have so far been without any effect up, this market. There is no inclination to do business in al quarter. Although the growers of wool in the country in many instances holding out for high prices, the genet. opinion seems to be that, if the present stagnation in yarns and pieces continues, wocl will have to go lower still. Spinners are looking round. Purchasers are very scarce. There are some scarce sorts, such as superior matching, which maintain steady rates. There is no improvement ; yarns. A great many frames are standing, and wh( orders run out machinery is brought to a stand-still. Spi nets receive no new orders, and find it difficult induce merchants to give the particulars for orders already placed. The only trade doing is for hoi sorts, and that is on the most restricted scale. Pri( which are hardly tested, are very irregular. There stocks in the bands [of many spinners, and accumulatit are prevented by the precaution of curtailing productio to the utmost. The business doing in pieces is very unim portant. A few small orders have been placed for Americ' The American merchants are waiting for advices from 1 United States as to the effect which the recent suspensi in London may have had upon the trade of that count The home houses are not doing any business at presen. The cold weather interferes with the sale of light fabrics. Prices are again lower. The business done is very unit+ portant, and scarcely serves to test prices. LACE AND HOSIERY.—NorrnwHA., MAT 31. During the last week all departments of the lace trade have become extremely quiet. The fashions are against any very extensive employment of lace trimmings, while curtains and other goods of that kind are a slow sale. There is hardly anything doing with the Continent, and the home trade is also depressed. Some few small orders are being made up for America ; but generally speaking, the buyers for all markets are very wise" abstaining from business as much as possible, owing to t' tightness of money, and the still unsettled range of prig —ln the hosiery warehouses employment is more genet and prospects are rather brighter than in the lace trade and though there are fewer inquiries than last week, tb is a fair amount of business doing. Yarns are firmer, the impression prevails that prices have touched the bott for some time to come.—One or two failures have been ported during the week, but the amount of liabilities is very large.—Nottingeans Journal. CORY.—BIRMINGHAM, MAY 31.—At this day's mal there was a short supply of wheat, but previous rates barely maintained. Barley of all kinds scarce, and _ as dear. Oats only taken in limited quantities. Beam again rather higher. Peas less in request. Battrrol., MAY 31.—0 n our market to-day there was moderate supply of English wheat, which sold 21010- barely last week's values. For foreign scarcely any inqi and prices were nominal. Barley freely offered, and to Is. per qr. lower, most buyers holding off in expectat of a further reduction. Oats slow at about last we quotations. Maize in fair retail demand, at a declint lid. per qr. Beans qui eas dear. Davizaa, MAT 3L —We had a fair attendance at market to-day, and about an average supply of wl Trade opened dull, and only the very best samples last week's rates, but there was a little more doing at close. Inferior sorts were decidedly easier to purchase. A short supply of other grain. Oats Is. per qr. k In beans and peas no change. Beet white wl 245. to 255. ; best red, ditto, 245. to 245. 6d. ; sorts, 21s. to 235. ; best barley, 38s. to 40s. ; oats, to 328.; beans, 21s. to 'life.; peas, 19s. to 235. ; wing vetches, 245. to 28e. ; rye, 16s. to 175.; fine flour, 355. 375.; best sesonds, 325. to 345. MANCHESTER, MAT 31.—Our market this morning fairly attended. Wheat andflour were in exceedingly limit request, and had sales been pressed lower prices must 1 - been submitted to ; but sellers preferred waiting the ._ of events. Oats and oatmeal were fully as dear. Beans and peas ruled firm. In Indian corn no change ',- observable. MIWATIC, MAT 30.—We had a tolerable supply wheat. Buyers purchased sparingly, and recent p may be quoted. For barley late prices were realised. show of oats was scanty, and prioea were unchanged. Beans met a ready sale at quite late currency. NrWBORY, MAY 31.—Our market was well iruppl with wheat this day the trade very dull, at a reduct of 2s. per qr. upon llst week's prices. Oats and beans before. No barley offered. 366. tato Nuttllfs rs ence. Srocarroi-oN.Tins, MAT 30.-A moderate max. .i . farmers' grain, and wheat only sold slo w l y ex 144 1 - vrw • -..---- prices. Barley in good request ; also Gate and ises:l l 00'. • COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. without any change in price. The pri ma en Wheat per qr. of 631 b. to the bushel- n : Zn, : MAT 31. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) country red, 495. to 51s. ; ditto, white, 56 5. ; well shire red, 49a. to 51s. ; ditto, whit s , 5 44. to uti. .15 to ar • IKON if. WILSON, THE QIIIEY'S PROCTOR unrithirgNlNO. barley, grinding, per imperial qr., m a , t o 36 -d; :. i after our report left yesterday, fee d, new,. 265. to Ms. ; ditto, potato, 4211 x pe, i 2 , 61 I ---.--."-"'---."'....- ili.. Thomas Lyttelton Holt was examined. He said - 30s. to 31 1 . ; berme, new, 464 . to 48s. ; ditto' '' ,a,,, n a newspaper editor, at present in Birmingham. My to 49e. `e• St . ighter went to play in that town in 1863. In the to UXBRIDGE, MAT 3L-The market is well sn o w . ........... .---.... 'big year she spoke to me on the subject of taking wheat, the trade dull, And to effect sales lower 0w.... *I gelll4 oeedings against her husband. We consulted Mr. taken, is. to 2s. per qr. The ample@ of sp r i atu r" - ',..„.. ens - - ith on the subject. I have known him for more than ins are very short. Beans, 465. to 50s. ; p eas, - I_,Mer. i ..; 1: • I years ; during which time we have been exactly like 345. to 38s. ; oats, 225. to 28e. per qr. ; en% 1 PIIIIIAD •thers, and something more. Mrs. Wilson is about Eum„nott, MAT 30.-A4 compared with he .. the 17. enty-seven years of age. Mr. Smith used to be con - wheat was 6d. down on top, and id. downy ""w - ntly with my children. My daughters never saw him Barley was 9d. up on top, and 6d. down on s ~.....w e ela • thout kissing him, and if I had not seen him for fi ve were same on top, and Bd. down on av T--e`• On e . to I should kiss hint myself. (Laughter.) same on top, and Id. down on average. Ima. • Asa . 'We Dr. Swabey-And these familiarities took place in your 5 2 5. 6d . ; b ar l ey, 35 5. 9d . to 404 ; oats; ellreh fi t i o aa a evey W asence? 32e. 9cl. ; beans, 46e. 61. to 50s. IA s i , 044 n Witness-They are not fami li arities. Last August I 17, and ' rut to Cefn, in North Wales, and found my daughter CATTLE.-BrunnanAn, Mar 31.-Ths at i " Agif to petitioner) there. on offer was moderate in number, the guard ~...a . . ..... ' . ' I. By the Solicitor-General-Mr. Smith used to come up to prime . The demand was fair, in a few i n , """witt L , L lb. was realised, the general top price wee 7ld, .11,7 111 MACEY, • , vrn tin i g n alt.4B)s„ttewincel ofa w ra ee ii. k. ay * , :e m w . c h re en ho m th y e ply of sheep and lambs was larger than on th sie s, s , - "Lle• Ile I lived in London or in Essex. Mr. Smith usede trade ruled steady at about late -- 1 N..," . AR li equently to come and stay with me in Essex three or four e n h g li ng dr ed en in w P e cn re li moderate supply, full rates obtaining. p a t s i ss - •714 su•mly. Reef, 64d. to 7id. per lb. ; metIOT el AVERT s Admiralty i ,y ,, s ,a o , r a a nd we l e p k r a o t in a ote ti a me lbe t ween proprietorbrought ofm me t a h n e d l b rim r. , 8.41. ; lambs, 365. to 43e. each ; veal, 6d, --- a• • to Mel w w h as ich nith a goal deal together. I have four children, of lb .; bacon pigs, 10a. to lls. per score ; - 4 or v. pcd. born the eldest is the petitioner. I have two sons, one ~.! les. 66 . to lls. :r1 Fr e i c • - . Vancouver's Island and the other in London. I havese • • d d the other is ro daughters, of whom one is marri n g the :mg unmarried. (A laugh.) During the last twenty from Ireland this week, and though there, fa, Marred of Devon, and other descriptions from th e "I CH tars Mr. Smith visited me perhaps twenty times.• beardish , The Solicitor-General-That is about once a year. the supply was again short. Trade was me n) i. i . i . JAY last week, and the animals on offer were • - 7dia pear(e-mo. Witness-It might be twenty times or it might be sixty, off at an advance on last week's pri ; h o STa.2_,!• ol 4 'un wine. rit might be a hundred. There ! What does it matter" realised from 68s. to 71s .,an d ' - "°"1 111 • ; sewed an in one Or *A11a...- . ,aughter.) At l'ahner ' s trial, when Mr. Smith came to• •08.- a trifle more money obtained, • - -- wel iwn, he was a great deal with me. He was guardian of was Wink sup. A... M. thin* young gentleman who has since married my daughter, samples obtained from 63e. to 66e. per cwt. 147:7 : . C.4 . large supply of sheep, and trade showed nes a 1 I saw him a great deal. You press me a good deal ; than it exhibited . _ • more salm i • it s f or several wee ks past ; . pa essiab _ .. ut tell me your motive for putting these questions, and I 1 has ill answer them to meet our views. (Laughter.) quent y an upward tendency,best deft-Appea l rut, ' • aughters used to kiss Mr. your after they grew up just My from 7 id. to 84.1., but it was only in a few cases that --.‘ • * N V nu% to • kid r sif they were his nieces. They used to run at him and which isa sold at Is. per lb. The supply of store s a 5 axg. reel. The Solicitor-General-Is there any other gentleman not West-street yards was not so large as last 11 17 . wall wi• few having come over from Ireland ; the demur!. it gm i relative whom you wish your daughters to run at and limite d, rather but holders giving way a little, .....A. - • • dill • las?••••argi Witness-171 trouble you, sir, not to put such questions whole on offer changed hands at a slight Muses ;' hen p o me. They cannot be in your brief. (A laugh.) lam P • . Price. There was a moderate supply of pigs, ib i s h .., Rd tot here to be insulted, and I will not be insulted. trade was done • prices showed a downward Us* The Solicitor-General-My lord will judge whether my ich, 6,1 • from 10. . 3d. to .., being about an army g rei 1 0 ••'' muttons are impro per. We had a very good show of horses ; there was A h! 1 lands Witness-And I shall appeal to the court if such things inquiry than we have had here for several we,, el, TAVIEM, ire asked me. There are other persons not relatives whom moderate business was done. should be willing. for my daughters to kiss. When I NoTrisonAn, MAY 30.-The show of beef thee 'trend how the petitioner was worried, and when I found was but small, and the average quality only as& ;hat this story was getting up, I resolved to go down and Best beef sold at B s. 6 d. and B s. 9 d. the carcase 147 4 . • - lye at Birmingham. I accordingly started a paper there, 6s. 64. to 7s. 6d. The show of sheep was nthw hig, i which has been very successful. My daughter's case was consequence of the dry weather, and best mattes htii 1••• G : ronducted by Mr. Smith's London agent. I advised with from 9d. to gid. per lb. ; inferior, 711 to &L Bides. 1 I -amid •• him ; for, though I have never been called to the bar , I Bs. to Bs. 61. per stone ; bacon pigs, 7s. 6d. te It ii • • terfaini. was a member of Gray's-inn, and know pretty well what I rather scarce, at from 9d. to 10d. per lb. Stock s n ea k . o Magas am about. -Wednesday-Sheep, 956 ; pigs, 16. Saturday- pi t * The Solicitor-General-There is one more question which EDINBURG H , MAY 30.-The number of cat& it j I must ask you. Surely you did not approve of your morning was leas than at last market, there beiag A, daughter kissing Mr. Smith after her marriage? decrease of 64 head. Sales were easily efiectedst lei Witness-That is a matter for her husband ; but as far considerably higher as compared with those ob•Waei as lam concerned I should certainly approve of it. Why day se•nnight. Top price, 9s. 7d. ; current pia as sM • AR I• in • should the fact of her marrying any Mall affect private 9s, 3d. ; middling and inferior, Bs. to Bs. 6i me w theLo friendship? She always did kiss him. She would take a The number of sheep and lambi was 2,284, being ink ddifilbeal stool and sit by his side, and lay her head on his knees, just than last week. Blackhead wethen in the wea,m s ..preteni . as when she was a child. He has no children of his own. 10id. ; Cheviot do. 10id. to 11d. ,• rough hag, lye as My wife cannot attend, her health hasbeen broken down Ilia. ; clipt do. ' B id. to gid. per lb. igalw. tip* . by this suit. 465., 425., 40 5., 38e., 365., and downwards yd ag_ PT Mr. Preston, of Gresham-street, the agent of Mr. Smith, brought se. 6d. to 6e. Gd. per stone. Nunikusia Mil Ih." corroborated the allegation of his having been consulted -Fat cattle, 221 ; sheep, 2,284 ; pigs, 34. about the suit. T ILE • Mr. Smith confirmed what Mr. Holt had said respecting TRAFFIC RETURNS. NO his great friendship for the petitioner, and her brother and GEN L sister. RAILWAYS Miles ran- men Ng IN , cant e After some further evidence the case was adjourned. open. 'engem shasaiu lift 0 Tsui% •• • Week ending March 24. L L A I DA Y; Mee Great Southern of India 79 410 262 M g COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. - MAY 31 . Week ending April 15. pups= of at an. t East Indian 11291 11,181 33,937 SAM g• mid . , (Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.) Week ending May 12. IN RE O'ROURKE, OTHERWISE FALCONER. Grand Trunk of Canada _1377 9,313 14,010 BAB U ;S ta ' a ig g a Week ending May 18. The bankrupt in this case was one of the lessees of Dublin and /death Drury-lane Theatre. The particulars of the failure were Week „ ding stay 25. - published at length a few days ago. Notice had been given Limerick and Ennis „_s y l e ed e to renew the application for release from custody, but it Limerick and Fu ea appearing that there were some trifling inaccuracies in the Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 153 341 Ili 5 three days' statement, it was found necessary first to have Waterford and Limerick,- 77 508 756 LSI 111 Week ending May bd. T ) 1 V it amended. Week Eastern 12071 21,166 51,021 71,111 11,11 Mr. Bagley, on behalf of the bankrupt, now asked for Week en di ng 544 y V N the leave of the court to make those alterations. The in- &ju st an d County w on _ tei 4.19 Ix se • Of the • accuracies were of trifling amount-in no case over 2UI. Bristol and Exeter Mr. Lewis, for the assignees, consenting, the requisite London, Chatham, & Dover the MI . authority w given. & Met. Ex & Branches .MI 11,229" 1,486 1;715 IM Edrenenee. Metro. Ex. of L. C. & D l2l s.o,ir 1161 US 10 Itir efre„ • " - - - theta Coast Branch .... 27 I.BBo' lle 170 1 21 :1••d North British MARKETS. - Includes Whit Monday. • ..... tOf the receipts for both weeks the Londos,Clattiosi 1108. -By • TALLOW. -TrlnrianAY EVENING. -The market was DOver Railway Company are entitled to retain • pawn lit steady to-day, at the following prices :-June, 425. Cal. to working the traffic. • 425. 9.1. ; July, 435. 6d. to 435. 9d.; October to December. 465. 9d. to 478. INFANT ORPHAN ASYLUM, WAN6IIO. -51 , OE ..--- COTTON.-LIVERPOOL, MAY 31.-Steady market at annual meeting of this charity was held year:rib/nu the London Tavern • Mr. John Deana, de las. Tda , yesterday's prices. Sales to-day 15,000 bales , including rug at roccupied the chair. ' The report stated Win WWI- .. 3,000 for speculation and export. 7,000 American, ' 9d . sure were 's43in the asylum , and that the ism/ ; 11 Lee to 18d. ; 1,300 Pernam, he., 12id. to 15id. • 200 Man'''.the c hildren had been 19 '2V is. 54. It addedgeries r l ham, 14.1. to 14 id. ; 200 Msceio and Bahia, llAd. to 12d. ; past year ,b ~ , , BMW* 400 Egyptian, 174. to 24d. ;50 Smyrna, 9a. to 10d. • was scarcely a county or a respectable InIP• 5,650 Surat, 6id. to 11 id. ; Madras, 94. to 10d. ; Bengal, ' rented in the institution. After the pz b.... .v.. deposed of , the election of forty ad Xitaildnia, Scinde, &c., 64d. to Bd. ; China, lid . ; 200 Peru, 14d. w as g wed •. 13; se to 14id. from a • t of 150 candidates, co aad skit one o'clock. . WOOL AND WORSTED.-BRADFORD, MAT 31.- Tll¢ IRON TRADE. -BIRMINGHAM, MAT 31.410 It . The improvement in cotton and the slight ease in the was a large attendance of the ironmastersof Sarthigsfel. ._,...,_ _ money market have so far been without any effect upon shire and Fait Worcestershire in the Knauer ha a O m " 0 " . "• this market. There is no inclination to do business in any day, but the business transacted was monad. 51 Ore* quarter. Although the growers of wool in the country are branch of the trade of this district is in a very bale; Woe • in many instances holding out for high prices, the general and no pia, i ,..at of improvements visible. At mg( .." opinion seems to be that, if the present stagnation in yarns the works they are not more than half employed, sir L 0 and pieces continues, wool will have to go lower still. ducers of all but the best brands of finished ingot Spinners are looking round. Purchasers are very scarce. gladly accept orders at prices much below than aquae . There are some scarce sorts, such as superior matchings, day. L° . which maintain steady rates. There is no improvement in RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLiI BEFORE Palk yarns. A great many frames are s t an ding, and where NENT. -Yesterday, in the House of Lords (Loa hie 71 °A.11 , orders run out machinery is brought to a stand-still. Spin- dale's) committee, the Llynvi Valley Railway sal • II • a ners receive no new or ders, an d fi n d it difficult to Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, and Bristol an d her induce merchants to give the particulars for old Railway Bills passed through, and the fielhaa sad Me II orders already placed. The only trade doing is for home dale Railway Bill was postponed ;as were 5 I gam y , sorts, and that is on th e mos t res t r i c t e d scale. Prices, Room C, those of the London and North Western Belo which are hardly tested, are very irregular. There are (new lines), and the Uxbridge and Rickmanner• Im‘ It t stocks in the bands [of many spinners, and accumulations way. In the House of Commons yesterday, in Gill .. are prevented by the precaution of curtailing production the attention of the committee was again aro* ,' as to the utmost. The business doing in pieces is very unim- whole day with the consideration of the South Brawn livable. portant. A few small orders have been placed for America. London, Chatham, and Dover (London, here. • Mod ..• The American merchants are waiting for advice.; from the Brighton) Railways. In Group 14, the !baud it • Raw lb., I United States as to the effect which the recent suspensions (Ashby and Nuneaton, &c.), was further preuerhe B. in London may have had upon the trade of that country, an d again adjourned. The committee in Group ble. pri,, • The home houses are not doing any business at present. the preamble of the Pembroke and Tenby Railway hA• • 1 The cold weather interferes with the sale of light fabrics. the case of the Swansea and Clydech Railinjulluos4l6 Bee • Prices are again lower. The business done is very unim- opened and proceeded with. In Group l7 th e rare via,. portant, and scarcely serves to test prices, and Taff Vale Junction Railway was proceeded , . LACE AND HOSIERY.-NoTrixotrur, M adjourned. In Groups 1 8 , 1 8 A, and 19, the AT 31.- and Scottish North Eastern Railway Compazuskiwe , During the last week all departments of the lace trade ledonian Railway (Edinburgh Station), and tin Cslsl t wad i have become extremely quiet. The fashions are against Ra i lway (Lanarkshire, &c., Branches), were mWe,.• sae any very extensive employment of lace trimmings, while proceeded with and adourned ; and in the latter riff epee . curtains and other goods of that kind are a slow sale.for Ayr Harbour Bill, unopposed, was referred 9 0 There is hardly anything doing with the Continent , - 1 • being site. • netters committee. waxed I and the home trade is also depressed. Rome few small - . ~ ft te orders are being made up for America ; but generally [Advertisement.' TT ,--OLLOWAI d mINTIILW ~. per 1• the sore canner . • .. . . ' speaking, the buyers for all markets are very wisely PILLS .- Iles lines in the Health ..-With - r Ti n 'ith health la ufr a at abstaining from business as much as possible, owing to the L i ons , . litie and mosdritsm daily y n e t n to en d ang ering at band tome Wo o tor • tightness of money, and the still unsettled range of prices. stopp i ng s the budding evil, for the longer His neettelni i t..l Ikons., , -In the hosiery warehouses employment is more general, widespread is the generation. Houoway's medicangt.z.q 3 and prospects are rather brighter than in the lace trade ; this great want, they are inexpensive, purthaseahls Ile;iy e and though there are fewer inquiries than last week, there can be readily used, are safe In inexpert ear... r) I era and purifiers. Holum , ' or , l is a fair amount of business doing. Yarns are firmer, and terlir i reliabie i as hea t , a en d w o wing% ' the impression prevails that prices have touched the bottom " I f i a n cii i ii li tltt e rt2 g uro ° • fer ,' e I t I for some time to come.-One or two failures have been re- y . ------- t ' 6 l ported during the week, but the amount of liabilities is not BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND D KAM a 0 .• very large.-Nottinsrauts Journal. 1 , . i b CORN.-BritmiscilAn, MAY 31.-At this day's market BIRTHS. lo t 9 _ _. 4 0 .. N , r . there was a short supply of wheat, but previous rates were BOULTON.-May 2 9 . at Spring fi eld, Old Clara°. . h I barely maintained. Barley of all kinds scarce, and fullylioulton. of a son. /in 14 °ea 4-eguare, the Hoe. has dear. Oats only taken in limited quantities. Wens HARE -- May 28 ' at St' ---square, • 111, W4 H. Hare, a ughter. the efts e` the a again rather higher. Peas less in request. - Ma yHARKER2B. at Upholds, Sydenbam , the l'' h BRISTOL, MAT 31.-On our market to-day there was a Harker Encl., of a son. key I. in 110 Asia 1, moderate supply of English wheat, which sold slowly, at LE MEAVRILIL-May 28, the wife of the • i. barely l as t week's values. For foreign scarcely any in q uiry, PIT K I I=l l o N. L ht of a daughter. l i s i l a e o;9lVaiii Sutton Orange. St Min . _,',. i 'r and prices were nominal. Barley freely offered, and 6d. shire, t h e wife of 4', W. pilkington. NA., Esl .. Of alt a TA , i .• . to Is. per qr. lower, most buyers holding off in expectation SCON , E.LL. -May 20, at Zeelestonequare, the ira• Is .. O of a further reduction. Oats slow, at about last week's Boswell, Kew, of a daughter . .• h'M rs quotations. Maize in fair retail demand, at a decline of MAktRIAIDFS. . , pen • ' Mirawn et l 44 o •. "I is 64. per qr. Beans qui eas dear. CONNINGTON-HEANE.-may 29, at EA n John C. ie DAYIng, MAT 3L-We had a fair attendance at our Pimlico, by the Rev. E. C. Brace , Cap_is_l , Hew , sia ,4l i , f market to-day, and about an average supply of wheat. lath Regiment, to Comte, daughter of n •. : , Shropshire. e....i. OP 1 hTrade opened dull, and only the very best samples made BAIT NE.K.R.S-KDOAIt. -May 49, at Trinity ‘,,...;,-_,..,. a st I last week's rates, but there was a little more doing at the Norwich, by the Rev. C. T. Rust, Edward u.'" n il 1 7,17 el close. Inferior sorts were decidedly easier to purchase. H. 0. Saunders, Faq., J.F... of Kitimat'. _ ow . lii. . ... to A short supply of other grain. Oats Is. per qr. lower. Tipperary, to Mien, daughter of the late IL n• FrrY7 um In beans and peas no change. Best white wheat, Norwich. muck 11 til me 245. to 25e. ; best red, ditto, 24e. to 24a. 6d. ; other TRITTON O - 7 _ Way 30, at To r nth -__„„ a ille ea. , ne rilrlwall,.-hy the Rev. H Sar. ot In sorts, 21s. to 235. ; best barley, 38s. to 40s. ; oats, 26a. cplrig Do t, Henry John eldest eon of Buff nr i jes... a a. . er to 325.; beans, 21s. to Me.; peas, 19e. to 21e. ; winter o f lieddington, Surrey, to Anna Isabella, Jonah "m" vetches, 24e. to 28s. • rye, 1 6s. to 175.; fi ne flour, 355. to the Rev. Richard Buller, Rector of Laiir , satt_,, mote in 375.; best seconds, 32. to 345. TUCK-BCDD.-May 2 9 at St. Andrew ' + c_ap,,:: go it . I a- the Rev. It Smith, William Henry, lon et the g Ain • MANCHIMMIL, MAT 31.-Our market this morning was 'ack, M.A., R. Tostock.house, Suffolk. lo ."-- IS fa i r l y attended. Wheat and fi our were in exoeedingly limited daughter of J. W. Budd. M.D., of Moue*. • ' neer 1.4 request, and had sales been pressed lower prices must have DEATHS. _..., 6. been submitted to ; but sellers preferred waiting the turn oargs. -m ay s. at B arns b or y Vines, literPeol's - ^ of events. Oats and oatmeal were fully as dear. Beans M ee . M ar tha Gates, aged 82. eland peas ruled firm. In Indian corn no change was HAMILTON .- May 29, Francis Follett, son o f F. A. observable. Esq., of Brent lodge, Flnchley. _,, 4 s i B. A ' ~ of , SEYMOUR -May 99 at Norwood, DAY. ~" la. 7 1 •o. NIWATIC, MAT 30.-We had a tolerable supply or matic..4.,Sd 61 . ' 11 9 ' o WIIMA oak ' aa wheat. Buyers purchased sparingly, and recent prices WA LLACK -M y 27, at Brought • 01 7. is may be quoted. For barley late prices were realised. The Captain .I. Witllsoe_. of Old ' ' .' 6 "" of A. O. Wean , . , 4 : show of oats was scanty, and prima were unchanged. WF.ALE.-May 29, Frances. wife , • Dig Beans met a ready male at quite late currency. road, sired 40. g, 1 : wil y, _, 14 by NEWBURY, MAT 31.-Our market was well supplied Printed and Pubalsbed by WILMA" , Kri s "---- ,• . I Sold ing with wheat this day, the trade very dull, at a reduction Lombardsteeea. In the ci ty of Ludes. 0 , viaidee . or ,of 2s. per qr. upon last week's prices. Oats and beans as cxn ee i n L on ,b ne d. s teeet, to the Pf•dues : d. I before. No barley offered. FRIDAY. JONI 1.1805 • . I : 0 : 1 .111