The Express. — London, England, 1850-03-06 00:00:00

IMP E RIAL PA RL LAMENT. HOUSE OF WEI/S.-TUESDAY, MARCH 5. The Lotto CIiAaCSLLOS tack his seat at 6 o'elock. INQUEST ON A SOLDIERS WIFE AND CHILD IN GUERNSEY. TM Dike of WELLINGTON moved for • copy of the =tal order which applied to the eases of the wives of MI is the 16th Regiment. —Ordered. COMMONS INCL.:MITRE BILL. EMI GRANVILLE wed the second reading of this bill. Lord PORTMAN would avail himself of that opportunity In state that be hoped the government would consider of semi plan for obtaining ageisultural statistic*. Great Mem• wasience had arisen from the want of them, and they were Some moreregained than at present. Earl GRANVILLE weed in the opinion that such gapes would be wry immtant, and stated that the subject was sew under the coessiMretioa of the Board of Trade. CHARGE AGAINST THE BELFAST GUARDIANS. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL, alluding to the recent eases of ill-treatment and misenanagesamt of emigrant Mips, moved fur papers relating to the Earl Grey essipent TOMO. Eel GREY consented to the production of the papers, bat enplaned :hat many of the alleged mem of miseceduet abseiled limiest the uttisers of emigrant ships had been die proved. In one instance, he confessed. the complaints had been substantiated, and the owners fined 5001. The Earl of MOUNICASHELL asked it the muter was Abed 50W. Lord BROUGHAM —No, not the master, the owners. I rise to order—(the Roil of blountoestiell still retaining his positios)—sed wins one noble lord rites to order all other sable lords sit down. A discussion on a notice of motion is qliw new to this house. The Earl of MOUNTCASHELL —The noble and learned lord sets unfairly ; no me has brokea through tbe roles ot this house so often as the nolge sad learned lord ; it ia notorious. (" Hear, hear ' " and laughter.) The noble lord proceeded to say that it the owners had been fined NU, the surgeon, who behaved worm than my of the other 0111- ten, lad received • gratuity of 1001. The soma was then withdrawn. REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS IN CORN TRADE (...COILAND) BILL (No. 2). Lord BROLO HAM moved the second reading of thisbill. The Earl of ABERDEEN hoped the emanates would be appointed fur some day next week, The bill was then read • second time, and the bows ad. ;mined at six o'clock. SOUSE OF COMMONS.—TVEsDAT, MARCH 5. The Brannon took the chair at 4 °Vent. PUBLIC BUSINESS. PETITIONS PRESENTED. TAINS ON Knowinnon—B Mr. W. 3. FOX (4), from Oldham and other towns is ire; Mr. J. WIL SON. from Westbury; Mr. IiUME, trom the copper-pia • printers of Sheffield; Mr. B. OSBORNE, from parWtes in the metropk.lis, tor the abolition of taxes on knowledge. DUTY ox PAYsa.—By Mr. A. EALITIE, from Glasgow, for • reduction of the duty on paper. Drn or Tsa.—By Mr. HENRY (10), from Lancashire ; Mr. W. 3. FOX, from Oldham ; Mr. C. LEIGH (eiveral) tram Nona Cbeeuire, in favour of • lap redaction of the duty oa tea. Tax novae Ettz.t..—By Sir R. INOLIS. from • factory In Osteetiabire, in favour of an efficient ten hours' bill. Corm BO•hoe.—By Mr. HUME (2), from Barnard Coati* board of guardians; Mr. M. GIBSON (2), from Wiltshire ard Yorkshire, in favour of the estaashment of county flasocial baud', as • check on local expenditure. Cason RATIS.—By Mr. TRELAWNY, from Tavis cock, for the abolition of church rates. Illaiwoons BILL.—By Mr. W. 3. FOR, from Oldham, In Leos, of this bal. By Sir R. INGLIS, from the clergy olds's:aria in Oxfordshire; Sir F. TERMER. from Don taster—against the bill. NEW BIEMBEIt. Cal ROMILIT took the oaths awl his ,eat for Canterbury, fa the room of Lord Albert Denison, promoted to the upper horse. The hon. sod gallant member nu introtumid by Sir J. Remaly Om Solicitor•Oenersl) sad Mr. Ord. NOTICE OF MOTION. Oth? 0111INISB; liAlllO 7/11:Mr.IliiCICINNON, on Out day ketrupht. to 'acme /or a ocansaittee to investigate tbe eondition mad expenditure of the harbour of Great Grimsby. NOTICES OF NOTION POSTPONED. Tan IL; not i ce that he would on that day fortnight submit the motion rebates to the slave Made, which stood on the paper for binds, seat. CIERCE Rants, Mr. TRELAWNY postponed his motion relative to church rates want/tat day fortnight. LORD.LizETZT/ANCT or I —Mr. HUME pest. 'lntim relative to the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ire- Lad that day fortnight. RELIEF OF THE POOR.—Mr. ADAIR pcstponed his bill JkE the more effectual relief of the poor until Taanday aut. THE POST-OFFICE. Mr. WILLIAMS hailed else to nth the right hon- gee Wean the Seeretary to the Yrimeary • question. Her Majesty's government, I. the year 1848, having appointed is auditor in the City to wait the accounts of the Money order OSee of the Pust-cffice, that gentleman had been engaged for a pert Hi of four months in making the naves nary investigation, and at length he submitted a plan, in which he advised a reduction of the number of duke la the Dial from 212 to 130. He wished to know what had been done respecting th et plan—whether it had been placed he fore two diantereeted parties, or before the official authorities of the Post-effice ? 11r. HAYTER said he had no information on the first psi of the question. With reference to the second part of It, namely, whe.her the Post-Ake had been indonedto adopt the plan of sawed improvements suggested by the person referred to, he (Mr. Raptor) would Teter to a litter which had been written bythe direction of the Postmaster-General to his hon. friend (31r. Williams) last August, In that letter It was stated that the Postatester-G-neral, alter • careful ex amination of the plea, was of opinion that it was decidedly inferior to the one sow in operation, it being deficient in providieg against fraud, and it being also imposabh to work It without a very mach larger number of hands than was suggested. Hs (Mr. Haver) hoped the house wouldooneider that the Postmaster acted correctly in not adopting a plan which had nothing to recommend it, but a diminution of oseority against fraud and an increase of expanse. (Hsu, hoar) WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The ATTOR N EY:(7l)iiiiii.,l72riiiTio sir W. Moles worth, stated that under the act 10 Oeo. IV., e. 2, powers were conferred upon the Queen and privy reancil to levy tares in South Australia. On the hon. baronet panning his isterroptories, *be Attomey-G,neral declined to make any farther reply, except to questions categorioally pat to ham in writing, sad with dee notice. THE ST. PATRICK'S FIIND. Colonel CHATTERTON begged to ask the right hon. gentleman. the Secretary at Wort, if a fund, cat d the 81. Patrick's Fund, in the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, had been arranged ; and if ao, if he had any orjection to lay e• the table the of that arrangement, and bow the aim of 3, and upwards, belonging to that fund, had been divided sod disposed of ? Mr. F. MAULS said that, with reference to this and other funds in art - in regiments of the line, the house would recollect that an set of parliament had been passed last year, appointing a e - =minion, consisting of the Secre• Lary at War, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the exiimandtirin chief, to examine into the nature of thou funds, into their amount, and to settle in an equitable manner the way in which they should be distrl listed monied that presently entitled to their advantage. That sommirsion bad lately met; they had revised the varietal hinds of the benefit societies, end, among the r. at, the fend belonging to the 4th Royal Irish DIII7OOII Guards. They had maimed the mode of d• 'bating all those funds equitably among those entitled to claimanythiag from them, and as soon their report should have been adjusted. and pat is lona, they would have no objection to lay it on the table of the heuse, whereby the public would know the mode is which it was proposed to distribute eons benefit fetich. He might add that, from the mare of the act of parliament, and the instructions from the eommaadexin-chiet, nubentflt soeiety of any kind would be permitted to exist in fetus in any regiment of the lice. (Hear, hear.) THE WORKING CLASSES. ____ . _ Mr. SLANEY moved for the appointment of a standing committee or unpaid commission, to consider and report on practical plans (not connected with political changes) for the social improvement of the working and poorer classes. He mid that this subject was of considerable interest, inasmuch as the reports of sanative commissions clearly showed that the working cleans were greatly depressed in a social point I of view. Toe increase of workmen in towns had, in this course of the last 50 year,, doubled the increase of workmen resident in the rural districts, and their condition, so far as health, cleanliness, comfort, and ventilation were concerned, wee deplorable. The handloom weavers wad railway la bourers suffered severely in these respects; and this state et things led to an immense increase of crime, passperlam, dines*, and death throughout the country. The average el the atonality in England was little more than 2 per cent. In five of the neglected towns it was 3 per cent. ; sad the avenge of deaths in one of those towns was 5 per OW. The merclunes,on =average, lived 37 years, the mid• elle dames 27 yeare,aed the lower duns 20 years in the towns. He metered new to came to what should be a fearful mot'. tloa to that house, sad that was the state of crime. The ensiaak a madurd is England and Wales were in 1801 4,000; is 1816, 7,800; Ia 1821, 16,600; in 1831, 19,600• In 1841, 27.000 sad upward s; la 1847, 27,800 ; and in 184 8. 30,300, Was it sot a serious feet that the committals for aims had increased sin times as feet as the increase of popu lation, in spite of all the increase of wealth ? Summary convictions in England and Walie had also increased from 14,800 in 1805 to 3.5,700 in Is4B. Then the returns of pri, Vein brought beft re the justices la the second seaport is the kingdom showed that the numbers wen is IMO, 17,400; in 1846, 16,000; in 1847, 19,000; and fa 1848, 11,000. la the metropolitan district the number of eons- Initials was is 11138, 3,400; in 1840, 4,000; iu 1844, 4,300; km 1846 4,100; and in 1847, 4,900. Therefore, whatever part either kingdom they took, whether they took the me tropolitan district or the second seaport is the kingdom, or whether they looked to summary convictions, they found that crime bad increased three times as fiat an the population. Me would now cell the attention of the house to a'rettun which he thought would lict interesting t-sgentlemen opposite,, who might imagine that crime wu confined to towns. tom 1806 to 1641, is de agricultural maiden, with en Wormed population of 65 per mat., the heneeet is crime wmal i l i al to th at of six nuniafeatariag tows wiii an iscrisma ,e latices of 92 per cent. A calcolatkeiliad bees Naas by a anawittee of the house as to *deed Maims 10/101Vemled, end, tilting that u a data %Tr podineulting dine allow seen be ventured to Sts mot of edam would be , foiled to amount to seines 14 . = =Min a year. This, with the poor rate, the • to berpitak,sthe losses from illness arising free preveadlis eausm, made together • total cost of 22 millions and aMN psi awn for Engtatid sad - Wales; and it fev- Scotland sad Ireland, they balm a Isla Mal of so less thin 40 millions, which woo toloselimiaisheff. ell he llamas effectaally, by mesas takes he Improviag Um hi ps of the working classes of this team. They might say, m What is your remedy ?" He mid the 11111110611111 of the walking classes had sot boss looked Web, gavessmeat. The mea sures for odaostion, for the inmenensent of their health, every IMMO of that Mad that be sad& recollect, had been brought forward by eau private sirdlobeit nasmisted by go- vernment. Hitherto government MI illOissiaing ; but in his opinion it was the duty of gewevamest to look to the son. *den of this large class. There were three thins which he thong* Wyss their duty to do. Ose was to afford instructioa to the eliadren of the working claws ; soother was to abed protection to their health ; and the third was to afford them fair play and reasonable facilities to aid their fore thought and triathlete their industry. With respect to public health, a measure had been carried which be trusted would do a gnat deal of good • bet if they had had • stud- WI coommince taken from each side of the bowie, they would Iwo had remedies for these great evils that he had spoken of long before. And with respect to due eneourege mint to industry, he Raked for a standing committee in order that they might inquire what practical measures might he brought forward from time to time for the improvement of **condition of the workirg classes. The bon. gentleman esiedaded by moving the resolution. Mr. TRELAWNY said it was impossible not to feel that this motihn had bees brought forward from motives of benevolence, but he should oppose it on this ground, that he wee afraid it would tend to disappoint the expectations of the working classes. He valued the working elegem ea much as any member in that house ; the more be had known them the more he had admired them, and the more he had felt disposed to extend the franchise. At the MOO time he would not be a party to practising a deception upon them ; and be thought such a measure as this would have no other effect than that of deception. The bon member talked of interfering in all sorts of cases wb misery existed. Ii that awn anything, it meant that as soon as a grievants existed the legislature should interfere. But the hon. gen tleman did not give them anything like a plan to remove thus groat grievaacee. The hon. member begged the whole question in making it a function of the government. Mr. SLANEY—I never said that, I spoke only of remedial meanies. Mr. TRELAWNY said it amounted to the same= He wee ens of those that wished the people not to upon government. Sir G. GREY maid he was fully convinced of dm bomb volent motives which bad induced the hon. member for Shrewsbury to bring froward this motion. He was boned also to testify, from the private communications he bad had with the hon. member on this subject, to the liberality of his intentions with regard to defraying any expense which might I be incurred in improving the condition of the working classes. The hon. gentlest* bad given ample proofs of bas readioess to devote nis time, attention, and property, to that great object. (Hear, beer.) But he did not think that the meager, he had propounded to the house would be a prac tical plan. The proposal itself was very vague and inde finite; and, after listening to the hon. gentleman's state ment, he had been unable to aseertoin what was the precise nature of the duties which be proposed to devolve on this standing committee, or unpaid commis don. He presumed that by a standing committee was meant a committee to act continuously during the rooms ; or if a commission, that it should be seleved by the crown from the various parties in that house, without any exclusive political complexion—that it should not be en exclusive body in sny sense, but should merely retain; suggestions with regard to the improvement of the working demos, and consider any plans that might be suggested by others for that object—ail object 111011ttWOOTt•lit is itself, but which would sot be in any degree aided or promoted by the pro- posal of the hon. gentleman. It would only lead to the collection of a large number of blue books, whereby parliament would be overwhelmed with information of which they were in possession of a great deal at the present moment, and would be no better able than now to remove the causes of the distress. The hon. gentleman was wrong in supposing that parliament had the power of removing many at the causes of those evils which he had enumerated. He proposed that the body whom he would constitute should consult as to public health, education, industry, crime, emigration, and the poor laws ; I and he presumed they would have to recommend any changes which might be deemed expedient in the laws affecting thew' subjects. Was it possible that a committee of five or six gentlemen, taken from the different parties in th at hotter, I could, with any practical benefit to the public, devote so much of their time to the consideration of extensive absiges of the law oa those subj its as their importance re quired ? There was much force is the objection taken by the honourable member (Mr. Trelawny) as to the undefiord expectation of great legislative changes, which would be excited in the working classes, by the ap pointment of such a committee or commistion. With regard to tome of the objects, means were al ready provided, as far as could be done by the legislature, for their attainment. There was now a bard of health, which combined with its deliberate functions the executive powers that had been confided to it by parliameat, and which he believed had been exercised with benefit to all classes of the onninunity. The hen gen tleman proposed that this committee should be altogether excluded from considering any measures connected with political changes. How the line was to be drawn, he confessed he Gould not see. litany of the subjects which the hon. gentlemen had alluded to were political questions; sad it was absolutely impossible to drawl the distinction, unless by political m sssss es were meant only thou affecting the campositioa of parliament, or the exercise of the franchise. H. looped his hon. friend would not press his motion to a division; is in that ease, while giving him full credit for the benevolence of his views, and admitting the importance of the subject, but differing from him widely in the mesas which he proposed for attaining the end, he Mould be obliged to vote against it. Mr. SOTHERON considered that the measures alluded to would be much better carried into effect by private benevolence, than by the operation of say parliamentary committee or commission. Mr. IIUME said there was a precedent the hon. srentle man might tallow with greet advantage— that of Sir Thomas Barnard, in an association which he formed for improving the condition of the working classes. That object could not be so well attained by a parliamentary committee, as by an association of benevolent Individuals. Mr. M. MILNES believed that a commission of this na ture would tend to relieve the government from some of their respoasibility. He hoped the discussion would sug gest to the government the duty of amistiorg benevolent individuals in their exertions for the relief of distress. Mr. H. HERBERT said he had a petition, which he should short y present, from Rochdale, atoned by about 3,000re/eons, who had eus'eined an enormous loss by the failure et an institution which they believed to have the =of government. (Hear, hoer.) He should tiring this subject again when the right hon. the Chimisellor of the Exchequer introduced his measure on eavioge banks. Mr. CAMPBELL objected to this =emote, first, because it Male *nate so unpaid commission, and the working of each sestmlosions had not been at all favourable to them. The =would be much better accomplished by a paid eons . Last autumn a searching inquiry had been hied laud into the condition of the working classes by the pro pristan of the Morning Chronick ; the result had been the collection of more valuable information than could ever have been brought together by an unpaid commission. Mr. STANFORD said he had long taken an interest in improving the condition of the working classes, and he felt that it was impossible for any individual to urge too this homes measures of improvement with such effect as might be doss by a commission duly appointed for the purpose of drawling up such measures. On two subjects, public loathe and wash. Imam sad model lodging houses, some legislative measure WOO y desirable, especially in the metropolis. He no that the house had not listened with greater attonw to the proposal of the hon, member for Shrewsbury. Lord R. GROSVENOR, highly apprcving of the motives which had actuated the hon. member in submitting this mo dem, thought it would not be advisable to prose it to a division. Mr. SLANEY said that after the expression of opinion which he had elicited from the _goveromeut, he would not press his motion to a division. (Hear, hear.) The motion was then by leave withdrawn. THE FRANCHISE. Lord J. RUSSELL said that as the motion which his hon. friend the member for Westminster had on the paper related to a subject which had already been fully disused, on the motion of the hon. member fur Montrose, and as there was a bill before the house with regard to the franchise In Ire lead, he would out it to his hon. friend whether it would not be inexpedient to provoke • general debate on the subject before that bill was decided. (Hear, hear.) Sir D. L. EVANS said that, although the motion which stood in his name was deeply interesting to many members of that house and to the people generally out of doors, be would not on the ground stated by the node lord, namely, that it was desirable to hate the question of the franchise for Ireland disposed of in the first instance, press his motion that night; but he would certainly bring it forward on the first opportunity after that bill was disposed of. (Hear.) I'OSLAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LONDON AND PARIS. Mr. MACKINNON, after presenting petitions from Lon don and Manchester, in favour of his motion, proceeded to move fur a " select eoesenittee to ',certain the moat expedi tious and lout ',pensive mode of pastel communication be tween London and retie." The importance of establishb.g the quickest communication between London and Paris— the capitals of the two most civilisedcountries in the timid— he need not dwell rpm. The reason why he brought it beton the house was, that in the early pert of January last, an express which had been sent to the Times °Mos from Pane, had reached London yin Boulogne ia shout eight hours, and was printed and cir culated here at 8 o'clock in the morning, whilst a despatch which had been sent at the same hour end by the same snail from Paris via Calais did not reach L'indon till 4 in the afternoon. Eight hours elapsed between the two arrivals, SO that it appeared private communication" took precedence of the public information. In m.king this motion he did not desire to be understood as casting the least blame on thu Post-office authorities, fur nothing could give THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1850. greeter eHicfastioa than the manner in which the Paitsaraters sad the secretary ecembarkal that de mu, Imr i g 11 4 114, 41 1 =019 Nate by WNW 'odliar i es• tbsee noasblie d Om. of ""- eloolosbat had , um& the par 1(131' no lees thadaidPiO Per ^ who IPS& Deem to Didaloll,lloo Devoe itatt Bat in Ikr. IVA went by seales... al by Calais. so that it appeared, mos deepness, be rosatouni seam wen established from Folkelesekalloadepto, nearly the whole stream of private to allay wen{ that way. That was • Wong argument why the mils dwitil be also sent through Boslogne; because if tabards was head to prefer one tine to another, it was us* Ilk* tiny did so locum they found it themes% upedltienessodo of travelling. Since the year 1848 they seat the mails by Calais to Paris. In doing so they went sixty-eight miles out of their way, and thus sixty-right mike made a difference in the oennutalostion between the two capitals of two hours. If the communication by Folkston, and Boulogne were adopted, these two hours would be gained, which is smatter of the atmest importance. He saw the hon. member for Dover (Mr. Rise) taking notes, but he begged to assure him that he did not mesa to wake this a question between Dover and Folkstooe. (Hew, hear.) It wit of very little impor tame, he believed. whether they went by the Gael or the other, but he wanted to show that two hours wuld be saved by sending the mails via Boulogne. The principal argument against the adoption of this route wan that when the wind was westerly or south. westerly there was great difficulty in making Boulogne harbour. But on refac ing to tUt number of times that the boats had missed that bar mut, he found that they had missed it only thirtj eight times in the year. Between Dover and Calais the boats held missed twenty -six times, so that the difference in the gaining or miming a one barb Our more than the other, wee as nothing compared with the advantage of gain ing two hours. (Hear, hear.) Then it was to be considered that when • south-westerly wind (smelled, the boat that missed Boulogne could make Calais . But the boat that could not make Calais when a north easterly wind prevailed would be obliged to return back to Dover. (No, ao.) He begged to move for • committee to investigate the subject. Mr. BROTHERTON seconded the motion. Mr. COWPER said he had no objection to the committee which the honourable gentleman moved tor, but he did not anticipate from it any great mutt except, perhaps, that man of the statements put forward by the hon. gentleman would be sifted end examined. The bon. gentleman attached wadi to the dogma& on which he founded his Sildern t tat be (Mr. Cowper) believed that the persons who osaduseed the other expeese would show before a committee that It arrived within 18 minutes after that on which the hots. gentleman so meek relied. (Hear.) He would only observe at present that the point to be considered in making postal arrangements was not so much what route could be travelled over with the greatest expedition and rapidity, but on which could the greatest amount of speed be permanently maintained for • whole year. (Hear, hear.) It appeared after the experience of one year, which they had of the route by Boulogne, that, from certain peculiarities of that port, it was attended by greater uacertainty and irregularity than the other—(hear, 11460—and it was surely a greater evil that correspone ems should arrive at different and various hours than that it should arrive at a flied hour, though it might be a little later than if it were canied by the more Tapia route. (Hear, hear.) He had one suggestion to make to the hon. gentleman, namely, that if this committee should be appointed they should take into their consider& tion, in addition to the question of the mail•puket service between Dover and Calais, the subject of the service between Dover and Ostend, with • view of ascertaining *hither mails for the north of Europe could not be carried through Franco without any loss in point of time. In that Oleo s the expense occasioned by a second line of transit would be saved. (lieu, hear.) He would, thereon, beg of the hen. gentlemen to add to his motion the words, "and the north of Europe" altar " Paris." Sir 0. CLERK said that as the hon. gentleman had stated, on the part of the government, he would offer no opposition to the motion, it was not hie intention to eject to it. At the same time, he considered this .question as one which could be more satisfactorily settled by the government than by a committee. (Heat.) He agreed with the bon. gentleman that • fixed time for delivery- was of more importance than the receiving of their letters a little earlier but with greater irregularity. He wished to throw no impediment in the way of a lair, full, and impar. tial inquiry. Whatever question might arise as to the superiority of Boulogne or Calais, there could be ho doubt that the port of Dover offered national advantages and facilities as the port of departure from this country which no other could afford. (" Hear" and a laugh.) The great works which were now going on at Dover would, when completed, give that port advantages peculiar to itself, and would render it superior as a harbour to any other on the south eastern coast. Mr. HUME aid that anything which would facilitate and expedite the postal communication between the two countries would be of great importance to the °Gist:tercel and every other isterest in the country. But he rose on the regent occasion to suggest that the advantages of the penny pest should be extended to the communications between this country and the colonies. (Hear, hear.) Mr. RICE said that he did not attach much im portance to the motion of his hon. friend, and when he had been conducting the e)menittee for some time he thought he would see reuse, to change the opinion which he appeared at present to en tertain. His hon. triend said that the communication would be shortened two hours. He believed it would be shown that the real difference between the two routes of communi cation was 42 minutes, and not two hours. The reason why so msny persons went formerly by Boulogne instead of Cattle was that they avoided the three hours' journey by diligence between Celais and Boulogne. But it war different now that the railway from Calais was opened. The fact was there had been a constant syst m of puffing, in the public pap.rs, and in pamphlet", in favour of the route by Boulogne. But if they wished to shorten the transit Letween London and Paris they must facilitate the makiug of • direct railway between London and D ver. He believed that all the landlords in the county of Kent were prepared to support such a line, and he hoped that in another union it would be carried out. After a few words from Sir Ds LACY lEVANd and Mr. BROTNEUTON, Mr. RICE said two hours might be saved by an early ex press from Lover. Mr. MACKINNON Denied to add to his motion, after the words " Loudon and Paris," and the northern parts of Europe." (Hess, hear.) The motion wee then agreed to as amended. ABOLITION OF CORPORATE FINES AND DUTIES. _ _ - • Mr. Alderman SIDNEY row to move for leave to bring in a bill "to abolish the payment of fines and stamp duties on the admission of freemen into corpwations of cities and boroughs in England an I Wales." lie asked the house to consider the privileges the burgesses enjoyed. Every person who served an apprenticeship was compellable to be enrolled by the town clerk. The flan oa that enrolment were very serious, amounting from 6e. to 38.. and 401 , and that merely for servitude. He asked the house to consider was that • matter of justice to thou persons, many of whom were extremely poor, after bavir g I an apprenticeship to an humble calling, to be required on attain log their majority to pay for enrolment some 38e. or 40.. / (Hear, hear) He (Alderman Sidney) had heard in that house many denunciations of the corruption of the old burgesses connected with the boroughs. But there could be no doubt whatever, if they charged persons 38s. and 40s. forth , it freedom by way of enrolment, they taught them in effect the way to sell their votes, as well u to purchare their freedom. (Hear, hear.) He had no hesitation what ever in saying that it was owing to that system, the old burgesses were called the corrupt burgesses, and said to be purehaseable. Now that principle still existed in the City of London, because, though abolished elsewhere by the Municipal Act of 1835, it was not touched in the City of London. (Hear, hear.) The Municipal Act bad abolished all hats upon residence in every city with the exception of Lendon ; and it was most unjust and impolitic not to have included Landon also. (Hear t hear.) In London the lowest and poorest persons who got into business —whether retail shopkeeper, tailor, greengrocer, or publican —all were alike compellable to take out th eir freedom, and pay down • sum of money before they were permitted to become inhabitant households!. of the city. (Hear, lieu.) If the practice hat the merit of uniformity it might 041 en titled to some support. But the wealthy merchants, profes sional men, and bankers, as well as wealthy private luoividuals, put to scorn all attempts to impose fines on them for residence. (Heir, hear.) ine question was not of small importance or insignihcance as regarded either in a pecuniary or political sense. (Hear, hear.) He (Alderman Sidney) might state that the city solicitor had lately pron. gutted upwards of 3,000 persons for not paying up their enrolment fees, and there were at present before the Court of Aldermen 2,000 persons who refused to pay the fine of residence, (Hear, hear.) Now, he conceived such proceedings as thew were contrary to the spirit of the ancient charters of London; because by the ancient charters occupiers were entitled to residency and citizenship. (Hear, hear.) He did not ask the house for power to bring in a bill which would have the effect of depriving the City of London of an iota of the property poesessed by its corpora -1 tie. or that would in any way curtail its privileges; but be Uked permission to bring In a bill which would have the effect of removing • great injustice from many poor voters of several cities in the kingdom at large. (Hear, hear.) If the house considered it of small importance that these pasties should pay 21. to obtain their freedom, why let it be pronounced, that it might go forth that they should pay for the privilege of exercising an in dependent trust, and that they were to be mulcted for the benefit of other claws ; at the same time he cau tioned them they would be teaching these persons how to sell their votes. (Hear, hear.) In London the matter was of more importance than a pecuniary fine involved. They had had for centuries a constituency of municipal voters of 50,000 nr 60.000, with a parliamentary constituency of some 30,000 or 40,000 voters ; whilst at the percent moment he believed they bad not more than 5.000 or 6,000 persons en titled to exercise the civic franchise in London, with • parliamentary constituency ranging over 20,000 voters. (Mew, hear.) As regarded the perliamentary con stituency they voted in one unbroken stream, whilst the municipal constituency was divided into 25 wards five of which wards averaged between 70 and 100 persons. (Hear, hear) Now, be asked was that right, in such a c•tminunity as the inhabitant's of the city of Leadoes—the wealthiest in tl.e world 1 (Hear, hear.) If he were given the opportunity of bringing is the bill, hon. gentleman would see that he sought nothing but the removal of a very crest injustice. (Hear, boar.) Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the rat. ti m. On the question being put, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he teght he could satiety the house that it would be a waste of time to allow the hill to he laid en tie table. Moreover, the members of her Maleity's government had reams to complain of the muses adopted loy the hon. gentleman who sought to introduce the wawa The hon. gentleman admitted that his object heretofore bad boon to remove the fines within the city of London, and for that purpose he submitted a bill to the right has. speaker; but finding from his opiates that the bill was a private one, and that new notice should be given in order that the oorpsestion of London, wham interests were cer tain to be affected by it, might be nude aware, the ho.. gentleman renewed his motion and embraced within it other cities and towns in England and Wales, with a view to the wholesale confiscation of their corporate fonds. I Laughter, and hear, bear.") The hon. gentleman assigned as a reinon that the municipal constituency of London decreased in pro portion aethe parliamentary oonstitnenq' increased ; whereas the fact was, that in Liverpool and other places the municipal franchise bad increased to proportion to the par• liamentary. But this remedy for the city of London was simple, and might be effected hr a short bill to be laid before that home. Maar, hear.) What was to prevent the cor poration of the city of London bringing in a municipal reform bill if they saw the necessity *Rh ? But surely it was no reason for the abolition if municipal fines, ;because the municipal constituency did not keep pace with the parlia. mentary. (Hear.) The motion of the honlurible gentlemen went directly to touch the property of the corporations of England and Wales: and he (tree Atiorney•General) wished to know what right the hon. gentleman had to interfere to such an extent without the consent of these corporations, and without even having made application to a single member of the London corporation to inform him of his intention to endeavour to abolish these ...v.-- fines The hon. gentleman said hie bill would merely affect fines and stamps; but if he prop , sad to abs. lish the creation of freemen by purchase he TIRO taking a strong measure wherewith to altar the entire constitution of the corporation of the City of London, without even the justification of an application on their part. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman bad else stated that the question did not involve more than about 6001. a year, which was a mistake, se the amount would teach buween 2,4001. and 3.0001, no inconsiderable sum. There was no comp.aint on the put of the citirin as regarded the corporation ; and therefore, he thought the corporation =mull be left to effect such change as they deemed improvements, particularly when they ponened the power within themselves to do so. He should therefore oppose the Introduction of the bill. (Hear, hear.) Mr. FORSTER considered there should be a thorough and searching reform in all corporations. The hon, and learned Attorney-General asked why not leave these reforms to the corporation itself t Now he (Mr. Forster) was certain that the hon. and learned gentleman was the last man that ex pected they would ever do so. (Laughter.) Colonel BIBTHORP supported the bill, and expressed his opinion that they never could obtain an inquiry into the City of London municipal body, as long es it was represented in that house by a prime minister, who sat on the treasury bench. (Laughter.) Mr HUME confined that he wished to see the citi zens of London placed on a footing =miler to that enjoyed by the inhabitants of ether corporate localities. (Hear, hear.) Sir B. HALL clearly recollected when the reform bill, from which the City of London was excluded, passed that house ; and on that occasion the g,vernment promised they would, without delay, introduce a measure for the reform of the City of London corporation. He was glad the present motion had been made by the hon. alderman, as it would have the effect of rousing public attention. (Hear, hear.) - , Mr. Alderman SIDNEY replied. The corporation as a body was anxious for retorts, consistent with the privileges they enjoyed. The bon. and learred AtturneyHeaeral stated that the present measure would interfere with the legitimate powers enjoyed by corporations; but if these gentlemen inflicted fines not consistent with justice, was not that house the tribunal to stop in and rectify such ? (Hear, hear.) He did not seek by that bill to invalidate the property of corporations in England and Wales, be only asked to be allowed to introduce the bill that and unjust burdens might be removed. (Hear, hear) However, as certain re- turns Witt yet to he laid on the table, he would not hesitate to withdraw the bill, promising that he should again seek to introduce it after these returns had been laid before the house. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated his determination to object in the strongest manner to such a tonne. (User, hear.) Mr. Alderman SIDNEY would not withdraw the bill. Mr. REYNOLDS considered it an anomaly, that, in the City of London, rated to the maintenance of the poor ►t over a million of year, ratepayers should be without a vote for municipal representatives. (lieu.) The motion was then negatived without a division. TIMBER USED IN SHIPBUILDING. Mr. MITCHELL moved, "That this home do re solve into a committee to take into consideration the duties on wood, with the view of remitting the duty on all wood used in shipbuilding." In timing to bring forward this mo tion he must express his extreme retest at the state of the benches opposite. (Hear, hear.) [There were not above ten bran. gentlemen present on the Opposition side of the house.] When the question of the repeal of the navigation laws was under discussion, they heel heard eloquent harangues from the leaders of that party, stating that the effect of that measure would be to throw the whole of oar shipbuilding trade into the hands of f Termer. He deeply regretted, therefore, that those hon. gentlemen were not present upon this occasion, because he could assure them that this was a question which affected the shipbuilders and shipwrights of England alone, and not the weed merchants of England. He was himself a wood merchant, and he would at once state a fact to the house to demonstrate that position. In the wther of 1842, previous to the first proposal of the right hoe. gentleman the member for Tamworth, tor the reduction et the timber duties, he received 105 s. a load for his timber. At this moment he was selling exactly the same timber at 665. a load ; the deity previous to the right hon. baronet's orow sal was 655., and now it was 15s , so that the consumer in this country had reaped the entire benefit of every shilling of du'y that had been remitted on foreign timber. ( Hear.) The house was, doubtless, aware that by the bill of last year the duty on all foreign ships—the manufactured article —admitted to home registration, was entirely taken off ; but upon foreign timber—the raw material—used in the manu facture of ships, there were three descriptions of duty ; first, upon hewn timber. 15.. per load; second, upon all sawn timber, such as planks, dens, he , 20s. per load; thirdly, upon masts and spars, on the smaller sort, 249., and on the larger description, 4is. a load. Every new ship built in this country was "placed" by Lloyd's surveyor, who marked it as A 1 for a certain number of years veining from 13 A to 4 A—the highest class having a right to remain 13 years on the first letter, and the lowest class four yean—the difference arising entirely from the materials of what the ship were composed In stating, as he was about to do, what per centage the duty on foreign timber formed on the gross cost of building a ship, he assumed the entire cost to be 21. a ton more than the number of years for which It was entitled to stand A 1 ; allowing 141. a ton for a 12 A ship, 101. • ton for an 8 A ship, and so on. He had also taken the duty upon the different descriptions of lumb.r, and as be had betore stated it, and in every case he had assumed that as much foreign timber had been employed in each class as would be permitted in accordance with Lloyd's rules. Based upon these assumptions, he found that the per centage of duty levied on theforeign timber used. upon the gross east of the vessel, was—on a 12 A ship, 9-IGths ; on • 11 A ship, 5-Bths; on • 10 A ship II ; on • 9 A ship, 44 ; on an 8 A ship, 61; on a 7 A sbir, 12; on a 6 A, 131; on a 5 A, 151 ; on a 4 A, 17. Ile was ready to admit that this country was mainly adapted to the building of the English class of ships, being able to obtain English oak, and deal, African oak, and other hard woods, from Jamaica; but he divided English A 1 ships into three different classes, having three different purposes. The first class, from 12 Ato 9A, were ships tit to carry on trade with the East Indies and China—such as were built by Green, Wigram, Smith of Newcastle, and others. They were adapted for cargoes which laid a high freight, and, being built altogether regardless of expense, to them the per centage on the foreign timber was a perfect bagatelle. The second class comprised 8 A, 7 A, and 6 A vessels, which were employed to brig g corn from the Mediterranean, hemp, flax, and corn from the Baltic, and, above all, cotton from the United States. It was notorious that two.thieds of the cotton now imported from the United States came over in American bottoms, and these ships, therefore, or which was levied a duty from Cl to 131 p!r cent., were thrown into direct competition with the Baltic and United States' ships. Ile now came to the 6 A and 4 A ships, and here a most enormous premium was given to the foreigner. Those ships were employed principally in the timber trade, and he admitted that they competed with Canada, but he could not conceive upon what principle the mother country was to be taxed to the extent of 15 and 17 per cent. in order to enable our colonic a successful) yto compete with us. (Hear.) With regard to the highest class of ships, he did not think that it was the interest of this country to encourage their too profuse building. He did not think that the repeal of the naviga tion laws had been productive of injury to the shipping in tens's, but it was the fact that they were exposed to that severe competition, and while labouring under the most pressing diffleulies; for parliament ;had not thought fit to reduce or abolish the duties on the most indispensable rir tielea in the building and fhting vessels. What he now asked was, whether for so small a sum as 35,0001. they should continue to do great injury to one of the most valuable classes in the country. He hoped that the right hon. the President of the Board of Trade would not in replying quote the ease of ships bought in the northern ports of the country by foreigners, although he (Mr. Mit chel) was rejoiced to think that the measure, in the passing of which he hail co-operated during the last a ersion, hail not produced the injurious effects prophesied by hon. gentlemen on the opposite side of the house. l'he prices of the raw mate rials had been reduced most materially; timber had fallen from 30 to 40 per cent. ; flax from 30 to 40 per cent. ; cables 20 per cent., and iron and copper in similar proportion. Taken altogeth. r there never was a period when they were eo cheap as they had been recently. That was the reason why some few foreigners and many home owners had gone into the market and purchased ships; but it did not follow that that state of threw' would continue. lie hoped the house would agree to the motion which he begged to submit. Mr. HEADLAU seconded the motion. It was quite true, as his honourable friend had stated, that the ship ping interest was not in that depressed condition which had been predicted as the result of the repeal of the navigation laws, but it was also true that it was subjected to the most severe competition. He did think that the ship owners hid a right at the present moment to press their very alb ong claims upon the house. Mr. LA lIOUCHEIth; did not rise to complain that the gentlemen connected with the ports of the country should thus early in the merlon have been desirous of ceiling the attentbin of the house and the government to the important subject which the hon. member for Dridport had brought forward, nor did he complain of the manner in which that hon. gentleman had fulfilled the task. The subject had been introduced to the notice of the house with very considerable ability and gnat clearness, the result of a thorough know- ledge of it in all its bearings. He (Mr. Labouchere) was not disposed to enter into any thatrouray with regard to the general principles of the motion. The circumstance of the government intending to !propose the budget at so early • period of the present session, did render it most unadvieable for a minister of the crown to express any opinion as to the reduction in abolition of any duty until tnat statement should have been =ads, or that permission should be given to bring in shill and the sees. of the house be taken on such a motion. He hoped his hon. friend would consider this • sufficient reason for requiting the house not to agree to the motion. There was no reason, if it was consistent with other Interests, why It would not be desirable that the duty on the materials of shipbuilding should be removed. He had no begin. Lion in saying that he should be very glad to see them removed. Ail he meant to say was, that he did not believe, taking into consideration the duty, that with regard to any class of vessels our shipwrights were un able successfully to compete with the foreign shipwright, althouph it was quite true that, with regard to the timber, our shipwrights were at a disadvantage compared with the timber producing countries. He had stated last year that a ship built in • Prussian port paid far more on account of the duty imposed on iron than the Runtish shipwright paid on account ofthetimberdaty. He would say nothing about the higher class of ships, because there had been no discussion upon that subject, but he must say his opinion was that we had a very great advantage over other countries, from the choice of timber being so much greeter. He would not detain the house any longer, but he hoped they would con slier how soon his right hon. friend the Councilor of the Exchequer would make the annual finaneiel statement, and that they would see the propriety and prudence of not e'- pressing any opinion at present on this subject, fur if the practice were once commen..ed of selecting particular duties, and of coming to a decision,upos them previous to the budget having been laid before the house, it must result in the very greatest inconvenient.: to the government and the country. lie hoped that fur the reasons which he had stated, the house would not support the motion of the hon. member for Bridport, and he hoped that that hon. gentleman would rec. satisfied with having made his motion, and that he would not press it toe division. _ _ Mr. CARDWELL congratulated the hon. gentleman op posite upon having eo cleverly maintained that equipoise which, when he rem, he intimated that he saould endeavour to do, for the right hon. gentleman had certainly not lifted the veil which hung over the intentions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The veil of futurity was thrown more impenetrably ever any government measure than over the budget. The otservatioos of tne right hon. gentleman bad certainly net lilted the veil ; but he (Mr. Cardwell) understood from the right hon. gentleman's speech that be was not unfavourable to the motion of his honour ' able friend (Mr. Mitchell). He rejoiced to learn that the English shipbuilders were able in their pre ' sent position to compete successfully with the foreigner. Mr. HUME did not agree with the right hon. gentleman in the view which he took of the imprupru ty of the house expressing any opinion on the subject at this mo ment. On the contrary, he thought the house was hound to do so. The ehjict of the budget was to bring before the house and the country, a general view of the taxation of the country, for the purpose of removing any injustice or injury that might be inflicted by it. Mr. HENLEY said that hon. gentlemen opposite talked very much about particular inter,sts, and the necessity of rem vying the burthen of taxation from them ; he wanted to know where that Wa. to stop. What was to become of the national creditor if burthens on all particular interests were to be removed ? 11 the present proposition were allowed, there was no knowing to what extent it would go. After a few words from Mr. J. SANDALS and Mr. CLAY, Mr. WYLD said that the mining intents wu exposed to as great an irjastice. They were exposed to a competition with the whole world, and were compelled to pay on timber • heavy duty. Some years ago they were allowed to receive timber without duty, and they now paid a duty of 31. a load on the timber. Mr. MITCHELL thought that that case didnot apply. lie should have been unwilling to press the house to a division after what had fallen from the Vice President of the Mardi of Trade; at the same time there was a strong feeling that great injustice hart been done. A large body of representa tives had incurred obloquy last year by voting for the repeal of the navigation laws, and they were only doing right now in showing that they were desirous to remove every species of injustice. The house divided. For going iWo committee Against it On the motion of Mr. MITCHELL, it was ordered that the house would resolve itself into toe said committee this day three weeks. AUDIT OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS. Mr. STANFORD moved for leave to bring in • bill for the more effectual audit of railway accounts. lie had been given to understand that a bill had been brought into the other houso last night, and he was happy to find that this was a bill to which probably he should he able to give his support. lie was glad that government had abandoned the idea of interfering themselves and appoint ing themselves auditors for carrying out the audit of railway accounts. It was high time that some steps were taken for carrying out en efficient audit. It was a matter of surprise and wonder with every commercial man, and every person wbuhad paid any attention to business, that some measures had not already been passed to protect the bolui fide investors in railway companies. There was hardly a family, and pro ' bably but • few members in the house, that had not suffered by investments, by extravagance, by shares, and by mort gage securities. He believed that any system of rail say audit would be ineffectual, unless it published half-yearly the accounts of all railway companies. It was his intention to have asked the permission of the house to have brought in • bill which had been the result of six or seven years' experience, not as a director, but as u • shareholder, and which showed that in mt of the lar e te influential railways there had been a want of sufficient con trol. lie had applied himself to the subject with care and attention for a lonic period, and had framed a bill which he now skid to lay upon the table of the house. He thought that any bill to be effectual should be courteous towards the directors, although undoubtedly in many companies there had been a system of great fraud. It should be remembered, however, that the directors were a body intrusted with vast inures.. Tile bid should he strictly confined to the question of audit, and not be mixed up wish any other point. Here an Hot.. MEYBER moved that the house be counted, and 31 members only being present, the house adjourned at a few minutes after 10 o'clock. ERILATA.—In our parliamentary report of yesterday, in Mr. Sanders 's duration respecting the Northern Armistice, " RUS4i4 " ie printed tsr " Prussia ; " and in Lord Palmer ston's reply, " six months " instead of " six weeks." ghe entirtoo. OUTGOING MAILS. The mails for Lisbon, Spain, and Gibraltar will be made ap to morrow morning. The mails via Marseilles, to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Ct yloa, India, Hong-liong, dtc.,will be made ap to-morrow evening. The mail. for British North America and the United States will be made up ott the evening of March 8. The West India Mails, excludieg Bermuda, flavannah, Nassau, Iln..duras, New Orleans, and Mexico, and including th,ae for Madeira, St. Juan•de-Nicareaua, New Granada, Chili, and Pcru,will be made up on the 17th inst. Tho mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, Ceylon, India, and Chine, via Southampton, will be made up on the morning of March 2d. The mails fur Maderis, the Brasile, and Buenos Ayres, will Ile made up on the evening el April 4. REM WATER AT LONIIM HMI DOR. Ten DA, .0 . 4000• A. 1 . 601 .........Artt•mom. 71 4 Twna..w-7b'~fY. NG. 14..... LONDON, WEDYESDAT, .31.1RC11 6. SOME progress has at length been made in the Franchise Restoration Bill for Ireland. The tory tactics of indefinite delay having failed, the details cf the existing system have been, one by one, exposed, and the urgency of the claim fur instant and ade quate redress has been made palpable and plain. Every hour which has been spent in the discussion of the bill in committee has rendered the injustice and impolicy of ;the present state of things more Ha -1 grant, and has necessarily tended to strengthen the hands of those, who are sincerely desirous of seeing the proposed measure of relief curled during the present session. At each step of this legislative progress, the courage of the Obstructive' seems to have sunk more and more. Convicted of faction, and conscious of the utter hollowness of their case, they appear to have lost all hope of making even a show of argumentative resistance ; and weakened in numbers by the significant desertion of the ablest sophists, as well as by the more fastidious members of their party, they have failed in every instance, save one, to do any effectual mischief, or to interpose any effectual obstacle in the way of constitutional justice and national equity. To that exceptional instance we cannot refrain from making some allusion. The bill as introduced by ministers, consists of two parts. The one relatii.g to the emnty franchise has met with very general ap proval. It asserts the invaluable principle, that the franchise ought to rest upon liability to taxation, rather than upon any accident of tc.ure or scale of rent. It professes to aim at the creation in the !esti counties of constituencies similar in point of extent to those hitherto existing in the counties of Great Britain. We, who contend that even in the latter the number of electors is far too limited, cannot affect to be altogether satisfied with a proposition which confessedly goes only the length of assimilating the proportions In counties lying on dif. ferent aides of the Channel. Bat we are not therefore precluded from expressing outeaT ili that much is likely to be gain e d. T hus reinforced, the united popular party in the two countries will be all the better able to struggle for the acquisition of the remainder. The 8/. rating franchise for counties in Ireland is a definite, clear, and precr;„ l good. Comparatively, i it is not a ga i n to b e contented with ; bat positively, t is an unqualified and valu a bl e addition to the strength a n d power of the peeve Every liberal, whether whi g or radical, whole; English or Irish, who was present on Friday laat in the House of Commons voted for the hi. county ir aa , chime clause. But nearly every liberal, whether whig or radi ca l whether English, Scotch, or Irish, who was presen t voted against the 81, franchise cluselee twns. The division of last Monday night upon this portion of the bill was not a little caucus. Eighty tortes and thirty. three officials voted for the retention it the fit quii. fleation in the cities and boroughs of Ireland; there were consequently but twenty-nire indepsndein liberals to be found willing to sustain the prop:,sieec. Against it were arrayed, in about e qua l sections, whigs and radicals, including many ot the warmest friends of the government, and hest mu of the party. If any one asks for an expl anation of this singular array of con fl icting opinions, we p er& do better than refer him to the di bate which t enn i: nated in the vote we have adverted to, if debate can be called. Not an attempt was mule to d e f end as by argument the clause it stood. Every Irish te well as every English member who spoke upre the subject, with the exception of Lord irm ‘ ltesseu and Sir Wituam SOMEMILLE, declani his belief that the effect of an 8/. rating feinchise is towns would be—in some vexes to C4rtait th e existing euffrege very materially, and for he rest - 1 leave matters unamended, and as they row are. Far from denying this allegation, the Chief Secretary for Ireland seemed content with saying that the case I the boroughs was not quite so bad as that of th e counties, and that therefore no remedy ought to be applied. It would be as hiii hto the purpose to say that because 1 , .p coy, i s not so formidable an evil as starvation the leperi shell never be cleansed, because the hungry e re going to be fed. The reasoning of the l'rem.er was very different, but we are co m p e ll e d to say tot less discouraging. Nlinisters had made up their minds on the question. They relied upon the advice of vet. tain persons whom they did not choose to name. 11 the House of Commons thought fit to alter or vary the measure in any important particular, they wou,d abandon the bill. Nlt' pr, We regret exceedingly this decision. Hut we can not allow oureelves on this account to relax in any degree our earnest recommendation that, notwith standing its incompleteness in certain respects, every triend at progress should remain at his poet until the measure shalt b come the law of the land. It :s great step in advance. Ic is an earn , e of better wings to come. Sixty-four out of the la 3 .embers for Ireland are elected by the count e-. an 81. rating franchise there ought no doubt or difficulty any Linger in the c-es the people's power in these. Vie shall , make .he boroughs next time. But by s tactr,s .e• to 1 that we are no longer standing stilt or r. l :r- 4 .. ing. " Onwards—ouwards:" is the ev..ilastir.; of the popular cause. With respect to the boroughs, another 'ltem still remains. Why not group together tv-A or small towns, so that a hotsr constitt: rir be formed, without re-opening I r sent the question of the anima of r: which shall qualify each individual to This expedient is not subject to the ix tion of novelty. It has been for 18 years tee stitutional law and practice of Stvotlind. A- !!-.e of the Reform Bill many of the Scottish 'y were found to be too small to insure the es rc adequately numerous electoral bodies. _ suggested of forming districts, or, mu:, reedy speaking, clusters of burghs, bv it was believed that peculiar loea; or The idea; sonal influences would be neutralised, end a compromise of petty prejudices effecte J. The Ware wisely consented to the proposii, std ing the vapid and tirannic rule of mere uniformity's s.ke, gave to Scotlciiii that she desired, although nothing of the k'nel had enacted or was asked for England. We trust not be too late to apple the same p'. to Ireland. Its well-working in Seoland is : tioned. It is obviously no party expedient. 1: afford great and just satisfaction to the Irian and rescue many of the small urban commuLi:: the degradation and detriment of corruption. might with advantage be coupled al. ' burn. Ballioasloe might, with equ.ll be added to Athlone. And Fermoy, is might be usefully allowed to share choosing a fit burgess to sit in parliam,nt 's. neighbour Youghal. We do not pretend to &ay in every instance it would be found r4b.e be geographic good luck to constitute gnaps pr,cist of a given size either as regards rateab.e pr, ikrty population. But that is not necessary. lu some it stances no addition of the s.rt is regais.te. Thin may possibly be some where, however desirable, the difficulties of distance could not be overtone. But in ten or a dozen eases, at the leas•, no real obstacle exists ; and we shall therefore cherish the hope that so easy and excellent a specific for great and glaring evils may not be left untried. tre IP the Railway Audit Bill intro:l:iced into is e House of Lords be merely meant to cm ter to "e public the views of the Railway C.,muitioi.t.:s (whose measure it is) on the question, there can be '3 objection to this mode of giving authoritative pa: city to their views. But it it be intended a. a which the government have serious intinti,rs ' asking the House of Cam noun (the Rouse cf 1 : i will of course do anything Lord GRANVILLI: r,: ..• i with it) to adopt, the sooner railway staaeto,der;...: at its propositiocs the better. It is introduced, says Lord GRAN Vi 1.1..:. bNI.:-. "as it did not appear likely that any large r.4mb.r : railway proprietors would combine to brie: :a a of that kind during the present sess•on. ti ii d 7. i appear right to the government to dt! tY al :r: informing the public the course whic h h. r ' . 1...:,*•.• • ministers proposed to adopt." If the 11 , J.L \ .., President of the Board of Trade rtaliv did ii...i.e . . . statement, wo can only say that he 'is ~.-,,.....••.:, .' ignorance and in error. S ) far from its being unlikely that rti;'.v:y ~:7. holders will not this session present t.) i .: ...,::: ::: ..; audit bill for its consideration, it i. tio:.-r,•.:-;-- 1 such a bill is actually in preparation by r. , prietors wholly unconnected with rail :.1 and that at every railway meeting h: :.1 ...-t. .. c o-operativa committees were ap,eii:::: - ,1 to .u>... • its preparation: two facts which 1..0:d ti.:is. in order to have a locus stoodi in the I l •.;s: .1 1. r. ignored. • • .. lite shareholders so engaged are no! 4•'••• large number of persons ; for this since . :,.i, ii•:... neither in the Board of 'trade , nor ou: o! .:.,.1 of parliament be drawn up by crowds. .: ...: •-•c ' 1: ties thus occupied represent and !,:- . deuce of all the railway companto in r: ;.: , . solutions passed at public meeting-A CA ~,:. . :.A:.I !..:, • repr..s. motion, or convey such eng1,1::.„.. somewhat too supercilious 10 r 1..,rd l 4 \ N% ::... affect ignorance of these a march on railway shareholders tor the Ita Ist-ay t missioners' Bill. 1 en t: Though very . di ff erent in Corm an" 04:i a, opposed in principle, to Lord MoNt e.l.i. •• . • meted:rig-. :I: ..rd.r to •• measure of last sessioe, the preeent bid star. the same vicious point—viz. , that co ea . ,Ay ,” tion contains within itself the et.cract . .. , ' A '•'. auditsy stein. Now this, we appre!l•"- I .i' 3' ,' Lain wholly untenable and utt.upport.tl,:' bY i position of these companies. If t-elt-•:.:ers , . ligenrc , if necessity afford any or the In :.:t of a goad audit system,there (snot a ra.. , 1!, that does not possess them in abundi: ..... needful t , put these elements iu moon :. : (Jive railway companies the frames .11: audit sstem, by diminishing the po , s e and inc y retsing the power of shari• w h,i.d. working may be safely left to the iIY. , I . :. tiun of the shareholders of each company. There is now scarcely a radw.ty t. ne kingdom the affairs of which, fron t :t• niencement down to the close of IS ii: . . hit ono ehape or other, undergone the s i .•:..,. and the severest investigation by a se,tc:::::: . holders made by the genera l body. A:ol i ,, 2. and investigation which have been tlin , lx%:• 11, continued, if the independent action of :art:"' " not interfered with. Now, it is in 1 1 le terest taken by shareholders , in this euititat.a Ver