The Sun. — London, England, 1862-02-12 00:00:00

MPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at fivPJ o'clock. THE EDUCATIONAL MINUTE. Lord BELPER. presented petitions against the new educational minute from Derby and other places. THE VOLUNTEERS. Lord TRURO gave notice that on that day fortnight he should call attention to the state of the volunteer move ment, and he should also ask whether it was the intention of the Government to afford any further, and, if so, what assistance. HER MAJESTY'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS. Earl ST. GERMANS brought up her Majesty's most gracious answer to the address of their lordships on the opening of Parliament, which was as follows :—" I return you my most sincere thanks for your affectionate and dutiful address, and specially for the manner in which you have assured me of your feeling for the irreparable loss which has been sustained by myself and country in the afflicting dispensation of Providence which bows me to the earth," Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Several private bills were introduced and read a first time. ..„, PETITIONS. Petitions were presented against the revised code of edu cation, complaining of the present mode of taxing fire in surance, on the subject of the right of search, &c. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. BRAND, a writ was ordered to issue for the borough of Leicester, vacant by the resigna tion of Mr. Biggs. DUDE. On the motion of Colonel FRENCH an address for COPies of a letter from the Governor-General of India, dated Sept. 7, 1861, on the subject of certain claims against the State of Oude was agreed to. SUGAR &e. Mr. MOFFAT r moved for , returns relative to the im portation of sugar and other articles of foreign and colonial produce. A P 4) LICATION OF MONEY VOTED BY PARLIA• MENT. Lord R. MONTAGU repeated the notice which he gave yesterday for the appointment of a committee to whom should be referred the consideration of all sums of money voted for public purposes by the house, in order to secure the proper application of the same. THE COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH BELGIUM, Mr. FORSTER gave notice that on going into commit tee of supply, he would ask the Under -Secretary of State fer Foreign Affairs whether any new commercial treaty had been concluded with Belgium P PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. Mr. WILLIAMS gave notice that on Tuesday, the 18th inst., he would ask whether it was the intention of Government to introduce any bill on the recommendation of the committee on the subject of public expenditure in POOR LAW (IRELAND). Sir It. PEEL gave notice that on Friday next he would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to the relief of the poor in Ireland. THE MURDER OF MR. WINCOTT. Mr. LEWIS asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention had been directed to the recent murder of Mr. Wincott, in South-street, Manches ter-square, and to the investigation consequent thereon at the Marylebone Police Court on Wednesday, the 6th Feb ruary ; and, if so, whether he intended to make any inquiry into the reasons which induced the presiding magistrate to sentence three of the men aiding and abetting in the murder to the punishment of six weeks' and one month's imprisonment respectively ? Sir G. GREY said he knew nothing of the matter re lating to the murder of Mr. Wincott, except from what he saw in the newspapers, but he supposed the magistrate before whom the parties accused were brought slid not con sider he was justified in committing more than one of them on the charge of wilful murder. However, as he was informed the coroner's jury who investigated the case had returned their verdict, the persons accused would have to be tried, and under the circumstances he thought it would be mostlmproper, for obvious reasons, to say anything calculated to prejudice this case. CANDIDATES FOR CIVIL SERVICE (INDIA.) Mr. STACPOOLE asked the Secretary of State for India 'whether it was coneiderednecessary that the successful:can didates for Civil Service (India), residing in Ireland and Scotland, should be required, as heretofore, to remain seve ral weeks in London, or to retu rn thi ther from their re spective places of abode, to be inspected by a medical prac. titioner in London ? Sir C. WOOD said that it was thought necessary that the existing practice should be adhered to, and the candi dates for appointments in India were paid very liberally for their expenses. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Mr. WRITE moved that, so soon as the estimates are ready, one night in each week be given to their considera tion ; motions on going into committee of supply being on that day not permitted, except by express permission of the house. The hon. member entered at some length into de tails to show the necessity for an alteration in the present mode of conducting the business of the huuse. Since 1835 the estimates for the army had doubled, and the naval and civil service had trebled. He did hot wish to interfere with the right of ample discussion on matters which private members might deem expedient to bring forward; but he contended that the alteration he proposed would not in the slightest degree curtail the means of such discussion. Having laid down the position that the house was entitled to a greater control over public expenditure than it pos messed under the existing system, he urged some additional arguments in support of his motion. Mr. EWART seconded the motion, and considered that the alteration suggested would effect the object proposed. Whatever contributed to the despatch of business in that house must be a public advantage. Sir G. GREY said that although he voted against the resolution brought forward last session on the subject, and which embodied the views of the hon. member (Mr. White), he agreed to the present motion in substance. He thought that when motions for the discussion of the public estimates stood on the paper, the Speaker should leave the chair with out any subject being brought forward, as at present on the motion for that purpose. At the same time exceptions might be made, and therefore any rule such as that pro posed by the motion of the hon. member (Mr. White) ought not to be a dh ere d to invariably. He repeated that he ob jected to the form of the motion, which would not practi cally secure what the hon. member desired, but with some modification it should have his support. (Hear, hear.) Mr. PAULL objected to any alteration in the existing practice on constitutional grounds, the theory of the con stitution being that grievances should be discussed before pUllic money was voted. He drew attention to the fact hat the subject was considere i before four committees, but none of them had recommend e d th e alteration proposed by the hon. member for Brighton (Mr. White). Mr. WILLIbIS supported the motion. He contended that, according to the present practice, the interest of the public was sacrificed, the time which should be devoted to the consideration of public expenditure being too frequently consumed in the discussion of subjects of a private character, and in many instances of interest only to the priva' e members who brought them forward. The fact was, that these motions of private business very frequently occupied the greater part of the evening, and votes involving millions of expenditure were agreed to when rho house was worn out, and perhaps only 20 mem bers present. (Hear.) He suggested also that the esti mates should be brought forward at an early period of the session, and an early hour of the evening, which would secure their full discussion. TIIE ANSWER OF HER MAJESTY TO THE ADDRESS. Lord PROM', the Comptroller to the Royal Household, brought up the reply of her Most Gracious Majesty to the Address voted by the house, which was as follows :—" I thank you sincerely for your loyal and dutiful Address, and especially for your expression of condolence in the loss I have sustained." ~.,, THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. 4 he debate on this subject was resumed. Ms mr..14441.LLp1E opposed the motion. the m OLE said that the hon, member who pro posedmotion was motion apologised for doing so, but when the hon. gentlsrouePtiPrcl by the approving cheers of so many stead of b e i ng ' ee a d was quite sure that that apology, in who opposed the motion. opinion rather to be offered by those opinion on the subject, is. Entertaining as he did a strong mo o ' the house to be a little on its guard before it would a i ny motion affecting their course , of proceeding which the niithe least degree diminish that i check and control W hi ch %unofficial members of the house ought to have over executive government. (Hear.) That was the main reaseo g been, nututlZhY he would and uwritten, but the un preserve that which had alway of that house— namely, itten and prescriptive law Government desired namely, that on all occasions when thseteo yougrbzot any point to have money the unofficial members should be. entitled to put any question to the Government, to which required an answer, to suggest an demanded a remedy, and to obtain some aasureaance Whichth Government with respect to those matters befor e : the com e —e mittee granted the money which would enable the Govern meatc"l to bring the session to a close without such matters being attended to. (Hear.) He quite agreed with the hon, member who seconded the motion, and also with the right hon. baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, that they would ensure greater certainty and regula rity in theft proceedings by going at once into committee of supply. That was the only advantage they would gain by the adoption of such a course ; but what would they lose? (Hear.) If they went at once into committee of supply, the first estimates taken would be those on the army and navy. The estimates, then, for the great ser vieee of the country they would be asked to go into com mittee upon without any previous discussion whatever. (Wear, hear.) If they went into committee at five o'clock without any previous discussion upon those estimates, he 1 would venture to say that the tlvo great Votes et the esti mates, viz., the number of men and the money required for them, would be taken at Otte, and the only questi e a left for discussion would be those details. If that were se, where would they be P They would have parted, in the early part of the session, with that control which they ought to have over the public expenditure, because, by their first votes, r they would give up the main substance upon which all their other votes hung. (Hear.) The hon, members for Lambeth and Brighton thought they would get greater control over the expenditure by the altered form of proceeding which they attempted to introduce. But how were they to do that? They would go into committee at 5 o'clock, When was the dull time in the house ? From 7 o'clock to 10. Hon. mem • bers might no doubt argue particular votes, but they could not travel one inch beyond them, and none of the collateral questions connected with them could be discussed. If the hon. members for Lambeth and Brighton were really deaf rims of controlling and checking expenditure, he was confi dent they would do it better by adhering to the old rule of the house rather than by giving up that usage, which ena bled them to exercise a control which the House of Com mons should never abandon. But was there nothing else which they ought to consider ? For many years they had been trying to improve the course of procedure in the house, and they had succeeded in improving it. Many 'suggestions were made by different speakers, and by the Speaker as much as any, because he presided over the committee which sat in 1848, and made recommendations considered with the greatest care and prudence. The two last committees which sat upon the forms and procedure of the house in regard to public business had this particular question referred to them, and both had refused to recommend such a change as that proposed. Those committees were composed of most in fluential members of the house, and their opinions were confirmed by the house when the question was brought be• fore it P But had committees done nothing to diminish the opportunities which unofficial and independent members had for bringing forward questions when and how they pleased P They had shut up almost all the avenues to inde pendent members, and they would shut up nearly everyone if they gave up this power. (Hear, hear.) On the order of the day for committee of supply they might challenge the minister upon any subject they wished. Those members unconnected with office had two days on which they could bring forward notices of motion ; one of those days had been taken from them. He did not complain of that. He believed it was even right to do so; but they must bear in mind their opportunities for independent action were taken away from them one after another, and now it was sought to take away that opportunity which the House of Com mons possessed for exercising one of its fundamental powers —namely, not to grant a shilling of money until the people of the country had had an opportunity of laying their griev ances and complaints before the house. He did not wish to travel any further in that direction, because he thought the hon, gentleman would hardly, after the intimation of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, persevere with his motion as it now stood, and if that were so, it was desirable to see the form of the right hon. baronet's pro posal before they were asked to express an opinion upon it. (Hear, hear.) He could not part with the subject without requesting hon. gentlemen to read the report made by the committee of last year—a report drawn up by a man whose grave authority,whose wise administration, whose thorough knowledge of the business of the house and of the constitu tional principles upon which they were to act, rendered his judgment and opinion of the utmost value. The voice of that man was no longer in that house, but his report was there, and he knew, from conversations with him, that if there was one point more than another on which he was anxious, it was that they should not part without the greatest deli beration with any of those powers and authorities which the house as an independent body ought to exercise. Sir James Graham was unfortunately taken from among them. (Hear, hear.) The gap which he had made in the house was a gap not easily supplied. (Hear, hear.) He felt that the whole house subscribed to that opinion, and he would say no more upon the subject. He would only once more entreat them to bear in mind that almost the last words Sir J, Graham addressed to the house were those contained in that valuable report, in every part of which he (Mr. Walpole) most heartily concurred, and to the conclusions of which he was only endeavouring to give a most feeble, but warm and earnest support. (Cheers.) Sir G. C. LEWIS said the right hon. gentleman had put the question on a fair issue when he said that the point they had to decide was whether the adoption of the rule now proposed would or would not facilitate the ample and free discussion of the estimates. Upon that issue he was perfectly willing that the question should be tried. In his opinion the adoption of that rule would facilitate the dis cussion of the estimates. Some gentlemen had expressed a wish that their orders should be altered in the manner pointed out, and he concurred with them in that opinion. He would shortly state his 'reasons. It must be remem bered that, when the House of Commons made orders for the conduct of public business, those orders should not be evaded. By the present rules, one night (Tuesday) was entirely devoted to the notices of motions of unofficial members. One day of the week (Wednesday) was devoted entirely to the orders of unofficial members. There was another night (Friday) which was practically devoted to n ()ties., of linnffloial man)hara. T}..4 right hou.ourublo sett tleman took an inaccurate -view of the change made last session when he said that Friday was taken away from in dependent members. The change from Thursday to Friday was only nominal. . Instead of speeches being made on the question of adjournment from Friday till Monday, they were now made on the motion for going into supply, the order of supply being invariably placed first on that day. Therefore, he contended that, practically, two notice nights and one order day were exclusively at the disposal of non official members, namely, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Fri day. It was a rule of the house that government orders should have precedence on Thursdays and Mondays, and he presumed that it must be the intention of the house that, practically speaking, the government orders should come on first on those days. But it was well known that before Easter the irst order was generally supply, and the rule which enabled hon. members to antici pate that motion practically converted those two night s into notice nights. That was the practical effect produced in the business of the house before Easter, and the conse quence was that the discussion on the estimate was greatly delayed and impeded, and the legislative business thrown to the end of the session. (Hear, hear.) Now the proposal submitted to the house, he confessed, seemed a reasonable one. It was important that members should not be left in a state ;of uncertainty on Thursday. The abject of the motion, as he understood it, was that members should not be in a state of uncertainty, but that when they came down and the committee of supply was called, they should know it would occupy all night, whereas if they saw a string of notices relating to a number of miscellaneous subjects, it was uncertain how long they would occupy. Perhaps they came and found that supply had come on in their absence, and that they had lost their opportunity, and great incon venience was the result. What was proposed was that on Thursday nights supply should come on first, which did not seem an unreasonable proposition to make, and he thought it would not be attended with these dan gerous consequences which his right hon. friend spoke of, because there would be an opportunity on other supply nights, or on Tuesdays, to make motions. If he house would look to this matter in a dispassionate man ner they would see that this alteration would tend, not to the inconvenience of members of the Government, because they had to attend every night, and it was to them a matter of indifference what time the orders came on, but it was a serious matter for unofficial members to know for a certainty when supply v. Quid come on. Mr. DISRAELI—I do not clearly understand the right hon. gentleman whether he supports or opposes the motion of the hon. member. In case he is supporting the motion it is inconvenient, on this occasion, to be discussing another motion which is not before us. I will first dispose of the motion of the hon, member for Brighton, and that motion I have no hesitation, as far as I am concerned, in opposing. The motion is, that immediately after the estimates are brought in a day should be fixed in each week when griev ances may not be discussed before supply is granted. Now, great inconvenience might arise from a resolution of that kind. It may be that the Government might be inconve nienced by such a course. They might not want supply. Suppose they brought forward a great measure, and wanted to proceed with that measure continuously, it might inter fere to have a committee of supply regularly on one night every week. Supposing a great measure were before thehouse committees might be sitting in celebrated localities without the walls of the Houses of Parliament, and could the hon. gentleman the member for Brighton, in the midst of his enthusiasm, wish that the house should, under such circum stances, formally go on a certain night every week into committee of supply ? lam sure that the hon. gentleman is of too ardent a temperament to submit to such control, and therefore he will see that managing affairs in Parliament is not so methodical a matter after all when Sou have to deal with the passions and prejudices of a large body of men. I take it for granted that the house will never agree to this-- that immediately after the estimated are laid en the table we should proceed compulsorily to vote supplies. That is the proposition we are called to decide upon to-night, and therefore I anticipate that the motion of the hen, gentleman will be negatived. It would have been much better if the discussion had closed with that result, but after the obser vations from the Treasury bench we cannot let the matter rest there, because we have a counter proposition—l will not say proposed, but recommended by the Government-- that there should be one day every week set apart, if neces sary—not a compulsory, but an optional arrangement—for voting supplies. There appear to me the gravest objections in fixing one day in the week, even if optional, for voting supplies, without previous consideration of grievances. I have nuvuvve dhneieretshtahaterade t ha t t heard a a ny answer from the right hon, gentleman to the o b servations of the hon. member for Inverness. Do I to prevent motions coming irrelevantto te s nd up e p d ly ? lar Sir G . ° REY—Thos e w hi c h d o no t re f er t o th e pa r ti cu - vote Mr. D ISItAILIYes but they may refer to the parti cular subject tow hich the • the house will submit votes refer. Ido not think that w to a resolution of that kind, but the question is, what do tions in rules r egulatin e g g th ai e n by these considerable revolu only argument in favour of ditis.cussions of the house. The s i l t s th th e at certain members who are interested in certainvo t areto enjoy the oppor tunity of discussing those votes rau e Y su b mit .to the . unheard of and unjustifiable inconvenience of be i ng in their places. Tnn SIN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENI*3t, FEBRUARY 12, 1862. (Laughter.) if that be the Only reason, I confess it does not weigh with me, having generally to be in my place, As to the argument of the hon. member for Brighton, it does not refer to the question. The hon. member says that since the passing of the Reform l3ill some years ago the expen diture hats greatly increased ; but does the hon. gentleman really mean that if one day in the Week is devoted to sup ply he will have a better opportunity than he had before of controlling the expenditure ? The honourable member is always in his plan. His observations en expenditure have been Well considered both by the house and the coun try, and if after 25 years of continued exertion he has not succeeded in reducing the expenditure a single sliver, I say that is absolute proof that the administration of the country has been conducted in a more business-like manner than the hon. gentleman would lead us to believe. (Laughter.) Then we are told that the great advantage of the proposed change is that it would ensure regularity and cer tainty in Mir proceedings. Regularity and certainty are no doubt estimable qualities, but in a popular assembly like this there are other advantages to be obtained which are greater than regularity and certainty. The function of the House of Commons is hot merely to transact business, but to represent public opinion, and of those two functions the representation of public opinion is more important. You will never get a large body of men like this popular assem bly, of which it is our pride to be members, who will con • duct business with the precision and regularity of a public office, but in an assembly constituted like this you will find that sensibility to public feeling, that quickness and appre ciation of the public desire, that determination to represent the grievances of the people, and that resolution to vindicate the rights and privileges of the people, that only can be found in a numerous assembly, constituted as we are, and elected as We are. And we must look to these higher duties and these more important qualities of the House of Com mons when we consider the programme by which the pro ceedings of this house are regulated. It is very possible that time may be wasted, but however you may change your rules and regulations time must necessarily be wasted in an assembly constituted as this is. But do you obtain the great results for which you meet? Is the country satisfied that there is a large body of men of considerable eminence inthe country who are watching over their rights and interests ? They are, and they care not for the forms of the house in comparison with the great considerations which I have named. They care nothing for the lesser point, but the other is one which if you tamper with and trench upon you will ultimately find you will raise in this country a spirit of discontent and just dissatisfaction which you will hereafter have much to regret. But I ask you frankly, what are we to gain by all this pedantic change ? I do not think that the sessions of Parliament are too long. I think, compared with the business of the country, and the wants of the coun try, the House of Commons ought to sit at least six months every year. But the legislative business, it is said, is hur ried at the end, The legislative business is very often given up at the end, and very wisely, I think. I say that the sessions of this house are not too long, that the average session is not too long to represent the wants and the feel. ings of the people. I say that if you were to succeed in cutting down the sitting of Parliament a mouth in a year, as you were told last year we should, you would lose your influence in the country. Why, many things are happening when Parliament is not sitting which are to be regretted. I do not want to give an opinion of the new minute on educa tion, but if that minute had been laid on the table of the house when the house was sitting, its production would have been of great advantage. And there is the Moorish treaty. I should have liked very much for the house to have been sitting when the Moorish treaty was being nego tiated. Things happen in every recess when the public think it would be well if Parliament were sitting. If we are to have a proposition of this kind, I hope the house will take a large view. I hope they will not let the praiseworthy efforts of the hon. member to save time tamper with their privileges. Last year we made several changes ; the sub• ject was elaborately examined, and I do not question their propriety. They were considerable changes, in my opinion, and if more changes are to be made, they should be made gradually. So far as lam at present advised, I think we had better !remain where we are, Let us see how the changes made last session will work. My right hon. friend has referred to the eminent individual who presided over the commiteee which recommended those changes. It was to me a source of the greatest satisfaction to sit by his side during the whole of that committee. I believe I was acquainted with all that passed in kis mind, but I am sure we are doing no great respect to his memory, if after the labour which he endured in presiding over that com mittee within a few months only of his lamentable de cease, we do not give the recommendations of the report which he himself drew even the courtesy of fair play; but the very first day en which the house meets again the house is met by a crude proposition, so crude that before the hon. gentleman had been ten minutes on his legs he found that what he proposed was perfectly untenable ; and then her Majesty's Government came forward to saythat they will if necessary produce another proposition which will accomplish the same purpose, but not in so absurd a manner. lam sure the house will never consent that we should come to any determination on this subject without great considera tion, and I entreat gentlemen on both sides of the house to guaTd their priTilegee, and if they are lost you rimy depend upon it that the people will look upon you as false to their interests. (Hear, hear.) Lord PALMERSTON—The right hon. gentleman has discussed the question whether the sessions of this house are too long or too short, Now the natural feeling, I ap prehend, is, on that side of the house, that a long session is desirable, and on this side of the house, so far, at least, as those on this bench are concerned, that a short session is desirable. (Laughter.) The former is no doubt the feeling with which hon. gentlemen opposite, fresh from the recrea tions of the recess, come to the session of Parliament. It is during the session of Parliament that they are best able to criticise the acts of the Government, to influence the march of public affairs, and to take that prominent part in the business of the country which naturally belongs to men of their eminent character. But I think, if we are to judge men by their actions rather than by their language, if we look back to what happened towards the conclusion of the session we may be led to think that gentlemen on this side of the house are more tenacious and persevering and less sensible of tke inconvenience of the length of the session than gentlemen on that side, because it usually happens towards the end of the session that those benches get very thin indeed, while the faithful corps on this side of the house maintain their post ; and it is often made a reproach to the Government that they are urging measures of importance at a late period of the session, when they have a strong body of adherents in office, and when those whose duty it is to oppose them aro resting from the fatigues of the session, and have retired to a more easy posi tion. (Laughter.) However, I will not dilate upon that. With regard to the motion of my hon. friend, I should think after what has passed this evening he will feel he has satis fied his own feelings, and that ho will not press the motion to a division. With regard to the general question I agree very much with the right hon. gentleman who spoke from the upper bench (Mr. Walpole), and the right hon. gentle man who spoke below (Mr. Disraeli). I stated in the com mittee that one of the most important functions of this house was to represent the opinion of the country, to be the organ of the country with regard to anything which they considered a grievance, and that it was very inexpedient by any regulation which we might think conducive to the despatch of business, to gag as it were that organ, and to prevent its expressing the opinion of the country in matters that might arise. Therefore, I was against the sweeping proposal which was made by some members last session to curtail entirely those discussions which take place on going into committee of supply. It is undoubtedly the opinion of some that some restriction might be put on the latitude of discussion; that whereas till last year there were two days in the week on which supply might stand, and on which motions might be made, there are now three, and therefore one might be withdrawn with out curtailing materially those opportunities which hereto fore have been enjoyed. My right hon. friend the Secretary for the Home Department has intimated an arrangement by which the object might be accomplished, leaving always the same amount of freedcm of discussion on Mondays and Fridays which has hitherto been enjoyed. It is quite true, as stated by the right hon. gentleman, that this house is not merely a department for the purpose of examining es timates and passing accounts. It has higher functions much more important to the interests of the country. But it is a fair subject for consideration whether such an ar rangement as that intimated by my right hon. friend might not be adopted without injuriously restricting the oppor tunities which members have on going into committee of supply. At the same time I a hould feel that no arrange ment of that kind ought to be adopted, except with the general concurrence of the house, and that it would not be fitting that a bare majority should impose restrictions which a large minority might think inconsistent with con stitutional principles ; and therefore I would suggest t hat hon. gentlemen should turn this matterover in their minds, and that on some future occasion the matter might be pre sented for their consideration in a way less liable to objec tion than the proposition of my hon. friend the member for Brighton. Mr. WHITE replied, complaining of the terms in which his motion had been met by the right hon. member for Bucks. But there was nothing surprising in hearing an ingenious speech from that right hon. member. The right hon. member could make an ingenious speech on any or on evety subject. He knew that the right hon. member could prove— " That right was wrong and wrong was right, That white was black, and black was white." (Laughter.) He (Mr. White) was quite willing to accept the suggestion of the right hon. Secretary for the Home Department, and trusted he should have that right hon. gentleman's support on a future occasion. COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS. Mr. AYRTON moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to the recot ery of damages by work men and servants, and of compensation by the families of workmen and servants, for accidents. Formerly masters were not held responsible in case of accidents, but by a re cent decision the judges had shown a disposition to remedy the hardship of the case, and make the rule less oppressive. He thought, however, that the legislature should settle the matter, and with that view he asked leave to introduce the bill, which could be then printed and its provisions care fully canvassed by hon. members. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL quite felt the importano. of the subject, and did not meau to offer any opposition to the introduction of the bill, Leave given. MARRIAGES OF AFFINITY, Mr. M, MILNES, in asking leave to introduce the bill of which ho had given notice, observed that the bill of last year was lost on an amendment which was carried by a ttla , jority of file. The purport of that amendment was that it ivas impolitic to make any further disparity between the laws affecting Marriage in the throe kingdoms. After that amendment the bill was withdrawn, so that it never Came to a second reading. The house would therefore bear in mind that if the bill this year reached a second reading, it would be the first decision taken On the ptintiple. This year the bill would include Scotland and Ireland, its pit.; motets being very mach fortified by the goodwill with which its principles had been teceived in the latter coun try. lie believed he should be able to present a peti= tion from the City of Dublin, signed by a large Manz ber of the Protestant clergy of that city and almost all the principal Inhabitants. In fact, he was informed that half the Protestant bench of Ireland was in favour of the motion; and with regard to the Roman Catholics, after the evidence of Cardinal Wiseman, it was needleSs to allude to their views. A recent decision, the state of the law in some of our colonies, and the position of hundreds of families, rendered it most important that this question should be settled. Mr. WALPOLE, although not opposing the bill in its present stage, saw little in it to alter the opinion he bad expressed last year. There was one objection to it, and that the strongest, that it would be most unjust to permit a man to marry two sisters, so long as a woman was pro hibited from marrying two brothers. (Hear.) Until that was settled any change in the law would be merely provid ing different marriage privileges for the two sexes. Leave given. __ IRELAND. DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING. The Court-martial on Captain Robertson was re stirtied yesterday at the Royal Barracks. Captain Robertson, who Wore his full-dress uniform, was accompanied by his counsel. The President, the Hon. A. Gordon, Brigadier-General, directed that the witnesses on both sides should leave the court. The charges having been read over by the Judge- Advocate, the accused was asked to plead guilty or nut, He pleaded " Not guilty," but asked to put in writteti pleas, that they might appear as part of the proceedings. After ornsideration the pleas were received, and read as follows : " With regard to the first charge, I respectfully submit that the 17th Article of War, on which this charge purports to be founded, is not inundatory in its provisions, and does not create or point at any offence for which I can be tried by Court-martial, and that non-compliance with the course to which approbation is thereby accorded in the case stated on the said charge does not and cannot constitute conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and to the prejudice of good order and military disci pline. And I further respectfully submit that the charge as now preferred is vague and uncertain, and not within the 3d Article of War; but, inas much as I am most anxious that my defence on this trial should not rest on any matter having even the appearance of technicality, I invite the fullest in vestigation into every circumstance connected with the transactions out of which the said charge has arisen, and I therefore say that I am not guilty of it. " And with respect to the second charge now pre ferred against me, which, for the first time, I was informed of yesterday (Sunday), the 9th day of February, 1862, I respectfully submit that the same is not within any of the Articles of War, and is not cognisable by Court-martial, and that the same is so vague and uncertain as to render it unfairly embar rassing to the person charged therewith, but for the reasons already stated by me in my answer to the first charge, that I am not guilty of it. " And to the third charge, I say that I am not guilty of it. " ARTHUR A. ROBERTSON, Captain, 4th Dragoon Guards." Colonel Brownrigg, Adjutant-General, as prose cutor, having given a statement of the circumstances which led to the prosecution, insults offered by Col. Dickson, and the steps taken to induce Captain Robertson to vindicate his honour, called as the first witness Colonel Bentinck, of the 4th Dragoon Guards. When the witness was sworn, the charges against the prisoner were read aloud by the Judge- Advocate. Colonel Bentinck then made the following state ment "On the 9th of May, 1861, I was walking in Rotten-row, when I met Colonel Dickson, whom I was previously acquainted with. In course of con versation he told me that he had occasion, publicly, in the Army and Navy Club, on or about the 19th of October, 1860, in the presence of Capt. Durant, to demand satisfaction of Captain Robertson. He threatened to come down to Birmingham and horse whip him in front of his regiment when certain legal proceedings between them were ended. He also spoke of his cowardly and blackguard conduct. He also made use of expressions which, being of a private nature, Ido not wish to repeat. Colonel Dickson at the time he made that statement re quested that I would consider it confidential. I told him it was a matter for consideration ; and fortu nately meeting him again on the same evening, I begged him to repeat to me the observations which he had made in the morning, which he did. I then told him that I should consider it my duty to call on the prisoner for an explanation. On my return to my regiment, in a few days afterwards, at Bir mingham, I discovered that Major Jones and Capt. Gunter were already acquainted with the circum stances. On the morning of the 15th of May,lB6l, I called upon the prisoner, in presence of Major Jones, for an explanation. I informed him of the expressions which Colonel Dickson stated he had used towards him, and desired him to give me a written explanation of what had occurred between him and Colonel Dickson on the 17th of October. He forwarded to me the explanation about the 22d of May. I beg to hand in that explanation." The statement was then read. It was to the fol- lowing effect : " That Captain Robertson saw Colonel Dickson at the Army and Navy Club on Oct. 17, 1860; that he requested an interview with him, which he de clined ; that he afterwards went up to Col. Dickson as he was leaving the club, and, having apologised to him for interrupting him while at dinner, began to speak to him about some legal proceeding which had been going on for a long period ; and that Col. Dickson said to him, When I settle with you legally I will settle with you otherwise.' There was no person present at that interview, but in a few seconds afterwards he called him over, and said to Capt. Durant, ' This is Capt. Robertson, and I will horsewhip him in the presence of his regiment.' He answered that two could play at that game, and walked away. Col. Dickson had frustrated his mar riage settlement. The next morning he gave in structions to Capt. Henry to act as his friend, and he was then quite willing and ready to resent the insult offered to him, but Col. Dickson declined to have anything whatever to do with him. His firm conviction was that Col. Dickson had been, and was at that time, sheltering himself under his legal con nexion and was spreading these false reports with the view of prejudicing him in public opinion. However, he was now determined either to have an ample apology or obtain satisfaction in full. On receipt of that letter (said the witness) I forwarded these two letters and other correspondence to the General commanding the northern district at Man chester, requesting that an inquiry might be insti tuted. The answer I received from the Adjutant- General was that they could not grant me a court of inquiry, inasmuch as the witnesses were civilians. I, on receiving that letter, forwarded it to Colonel Dickson, and received a reply from him." The reply was read. He stated that,— " He had never refused to meet Captain Robert son, and that he never called him out through his friend Captain Henry, He was only asked to withdraw his insulting language and threat, ( . which he declined to do, and he waited for ulterior proceedings on the part of Captain Ro bertson for several days. On the 17th of October, 1860, Captain Robertson persisted three times in seeing him when he was at dinner at the Army and Navy Club, and waylaid him in the ball, when he was going with some friends to the opera. He told Captain Robertson that he would horsewhip him before his regiment, and that he was a blackguard and coward, and shook his fist in his face. Captain Durant was present on the occasion, and he called on him to bear witness to what he had done. It was a deliberate falsehood to say he was screening himself by any connection. He never offered any such excuse, and it was a subterfuge and after thought on his part to state so. The next of the allegations was wilfully false, and he treated it with contempt, coming from such a quarter as it did. Captain Durant had advised him, and he refused to see Mr. Owen, after such a lapse of time. (The letter was signed ' Dickson, late Colonel command ing the Swiss Legion.')" Colonel Bentinck, cross-examined by Captain Robertson : " When was the first communication yon had with me relative to Colonel Dickson's affairs P—To the best of my belief it was on the morning.of the 15th May, 1861. I think I may have had a con versation with him on the evening of the 14th of May. " Did you tell me to write out a statement of the matter P-1 did. " Is the statement which has been banded into court by you the statement I made in consequence? —He commenced to make a verbal statement tome, but I requested bim to put it in writing, and the statement I received from him is the one which I have given in. I gave him a week to send in the statement, and requested him in the interval to avoid as much as possible intercourse with the offi cers, and not to attend the news-room. " Is that written statement I referred you to Captain Henry's statement, and the letter of Mr. Owen's, the one which you gave in, that which is referred to by me ? —That is the only statement I ever saw of Captain Henry. I received no other statement. _ " Was Mr. Owen's letter enclosed in or appended to my statement ?—No. "Did I on that occasion state to you that I had placed myself in the hands of Captain Henry, and had been guided by his advice P—l believe you did. " After reading that statement which I handed to you, did you not tell me that You were not satis fied with Captain Henry, and that he did not act with sufficient energy, or words to the like purport or effect ?—I told him I considered the explanation not satisfactory. Capt. Robertson--That is not an answer to my question. "Colonel Brownrigg objected to the opinion of the witness being given as to whether Capt. Henry had acted with energy. _ " President—The .witness is merely giving evi dence as to what took place at the time. " Witness--I have no recollection of having said that Captain Henry had not used sufficient energy. " Question from Prisoner—Did you then say to me that I would have insisted on Captain Henry sending a challenge to Col. Dickson on my behalf, or any words to a like purport or effect P " Prosecutor—l protest against the witness being pressed to answer that question. " The court was then cleared to consider whether the question might be put. " It was decided that the question might be put, but the witness was at liberty to answer it or not as he pleased. "The witness stated that he had no distinct re collection of having made use of the expressions used in the question. " Captain Robertson—He said distinct recollec tion.' I want to know if he has any recollection. Have you any recollection of having told me that ' I would have insisted on Captain Henry sending a challenge to Col. Dickson on my behalf ?' " President—The witness answered the former question, though he need not have answered it. " Witness—l have answered the question before." The Court then adjourned till this morning. CHURCH RATES. Sir C. DOUGLAS, in the absence of Sir J. Trelawny, moved for leave to bring in a bill to abolish . church rates. Mr. S, ESTCOURT gathered tbit the 'll was a coun terpart of that which had been rejected ear, and there fore he did not think that introducing it making any real progress. He sincerely wished to see the question set tled. (Hear, hear.) He would not meet the present mo tion with a direct negative, but on the second reading would move a resolution objecting to the crude character of the proposed measure, and pledging the house to some principle upon wtich final and satisfactory legislation might be founded. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GRIFFITH heard with great pleasure the ot serve tions of the right hon. member who had just sat down, and was sure that all moderate men on both sides of the house were most anxious for a settlement of the question. (Hear, hear.) He believed that fanaticism on the one side and high-church feeling on the other would now be found in the minority, and that the majority would gladly seize the opportunity for settling the question. The SPEAKER pointed out the irregularity of introduc ing a measure which was likely to be opposed by deputy. The indulgence was only granted in the case of unopposed motions. Leave was then given. METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACTS AMENDMENT. Mr. BRISTOW moved for leave to re-introduce his bill of last session on this subject. Mr, LOCKE observed that since the introduction of the bill last year the report had been published of a very im portant committee which had sat on the local taxation of the metropolis. Amongst other questions which that com mittee had considered was one connected with the Metro politan Board of Works, and the mode of electing its mem bers. It would be a moot point whether the board repre sented the ratepayers at all, for it was elected, not by them, but by the vestries. It was true that the vestries them selves were chosen by the ratepayers, but the mode Of election at second hand had been found defective in every case in which it had been adopted. Ho hoped, therefore, that during the progress of the bill through the house either the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets or himself would be prepared to introduce provisions for establishing a direct representation of the ratepayers. Leave was then given. CONVEYANCE OF VOTERS. Mr. COLLIER obtained leave to bring in a bill to pro hibit the payment of the expenses of conveying voters to the poll in boroughs. The hon. gentleman stated that his pro posed measure was founded upon the report of a select committee. i n two successive sessions he had introduced it before, but he had been asked to withdraw it in cense. quence of a statement from the right hon: gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the effect that he was about to bring in a more comprehensive mea sure. That comprehensive measure, however, had never been passed ; and he begged to say, therefore, without the slightest disrespect or discourtesy to the right hon. gentle man, that it was his intention to press the bill irrespective of any more comprehensive one. (Hear, hear,) CHURCH RATES COMMUTATION. Mr. NEWDEGATE obtained leavo to introduce abill to establish a charge in lieu of church rates, for the commuta tion thereof, and to afford facilities for the provision of other funds applicable to the purposes of church rates. TIIE PRILTTINO Or THE HOUSE. Mr. PEEL moxed for a select committee "to assist Mr Speaker in all matters which relate to the printing executed by order of this house, and for the purpose of selecting and arranging for printing returns and papers presented in pursuance of motions made by members of this house." Sir J. Pakington, Sir F. Baring, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Henley, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. S. Estcourt, Mr. Bonham-Carter, Mr. Divett, Mr. Gaskell, Sir S. Northcote, Mr. Greene, Mr. Peel, and Mr. H. Russell. Three to be the quorum. Agreed to. RETURNS ORDERED. UNIONS (ENGLAND AND WALES).--On the motion of Mr. ANGERSTEIN, returns of the unions in England and Wales, giving their names and population, which have acceded to the non-separation of aged couples beyond sixty years of age, and the number of instances in each union in which this has been permitted ; and, of the number of unions in England and Wales in which the sane are not intermixed with the insane,-ct.nd where lunatic wards have been estab lished ; the number of lunatics in each separate ward, to gether with the number of lunatics received into all unions, from January, 1861, to January, 1862. EDUCATION (REVISED CODE).—On the motion of Mr. PULLER, addreess for copies of all memorials and letters which have been addressed to the Lord President of the Coun cil or to the Secretary of the Committee of Council on Educa tion, on the subject of the revised code by the authorities of any educational society, board, or committee, or of any train ing school ; of any correspondence between the Committee of Council on Education and any of her Majesty's inspectors of schools, or any managers or teachers of schools, on the subject of the revised code : of any correspondence between the Committee of Council on Education and the Lords of the Treasury, or the Civil Service Commissioners, respect ing candidates for employment in the public service who have been in receipt of public payments as Queen's scholars in training schools, and of two circulars addressed by the Committee of Council on Education to training schools (males), dated respectively the 14th day of April, 1859, and the 23d day of Nov., 1860, on the same subject. And of the correspondence which passed in January, 1861, between Mr. Holland Echersby and the Committee of Council on Educ tion, and in April, 1861, between Mr. John G. Bell and the Committee of Council on Education, relative to their respective applications for permission to accept ap pointments in the public service. The house rose at a quarter past seven o'clock. NEW BILLS IN PARLIAMENT. Ycsterd3y copies of several bills already intro duced in Parliament were issued. ' Two bills have been presented in the House of Lords by Lord Ebury. One of them proposes to amend the law respecting the declaration of assent to the use of the Book of Common Prayer requried of ministers and others of the Established Church, by making it lawful for every person required to make a declaration, to do se either according to the form at present in use or according to the follow ing one—" I, A, 8., do declare that the Book of Common Prayer [stating the full title of the book] may be lawfully used as such ; [adding, if he be in holy orders] and that I will myself in public prayers and in the administration of the Sacrament use the form in the said book prescribed, and none other." The other bill of his lordship is entitled, i; An Act to amend the regulations for the pub lic worship, rites, and ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland. In a schedule consisting of twenty-one clauses are numerous alterations referring to the distribution and order of the services of the church, and the use, omission, or curtailment of some of the forms. The directions in this schedule it is proposed shall be deemed to form pars of the Book of Common Prayer. Lord Redesdale has brought in a bill intended to protect certain garden or ornamental grounds in cities and boroughs. It is proposed that gardens in squares, &c., of 60 years' standing, shall be freed from neglect, encroachments, &c., and vested in a committee of rated inhabitants, or, if such decline, in the Metropolitan Board of Works, or the cor porate authority. Mr. Hadfield's bill rendering it needless to make and subscribe certain declarations as a qualification for offices and employments is very brief, and was sufficiently described by the hon. gentleman on the first night of the session. It bears the names of Mr. A bill has bee n i ntro d uce d to a b o li s h w hi pp i ng for Hadfield, Sir X P eto, M r. Ba i nes, an d M r. K ers h aw . offences committed by criminal prisoners, and pro viding in the case of juvenile offenders that the convicting justices shall specify in the sentence which they pass the instrument to be used and the num ber of strok es to b e i nflicted. The bill i s pre pared and brought i n b y M r. H adf i e ld, M r . Kin naird, Dlr. Briscoe, and Sir F. Smith. FROM THE GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT. DOWNING-STREET, FEB. 8. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Edward Barnett Anderson Taylor, Esq., to be Police Magistrate of New Providence, one of the Bahama Islands. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL,_FEB. 11. The Right Honourable 'the Lords of the 'Committee of Privy Council for Trade give notice, that the Moniteur of the Bth inst., contains a French Imperial Decree, according to sea-going vessels. , built in Canada, the privilege of ad mission to registry in Francs on the following conditions : —Sea-going vessels of wood, 25f. per French ton ; ditto of iron, 70t. Hulls of vessels of wood, 15f. per French ton; ditto of iron, 50f. Machinery fixed in Ober of the above, 25f. per ]OO kilogrammes. WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, FEB. 11. 2d Regiment of Life Guards—Cornet Nassau Clark, from the 4th Hussars, to be Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant, by purchase, vice rakenham, promoted. sth Dragoon Guards—Paymaster William George Proctor has been removed from the army, her Majesty having no further occasion for his services; Nathaniel Eyre Rob bins, Esq., late 2d Dragoon Guards, to be Paymaster, vice William George Proctor, removed from the service. 6th Dragoon Guards—Cornet Cecil Edward Martyn, from the 9th Lancers, to be Cornet, vice Marryat, promoted. 7th Hussars—Cornet Edward Metcalfe to be Lieute nant, by urchase vice the lion. Auberoa Edward Mo p lyneuxHerbert, who retires. Bth Hussars—Lieutenant George Campbell Ross to be Captain, by purchase, vice Brevet-Maior George Gooch Clowes, who retires ; Cornet Lachlan Foster Jamieson to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Ross. 11th Hussars—Comet Robert Henry Verschoyle to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Wastel Brisco, who re tires. 12th Lancers—Captain Robert Herbert Heath Jary to be Major, by purchase,lviceCureton, promoted, by purchase, to an Unattached Lieut.-Colonelcy ; Lieut. George F. Morant to be Captain, by purchase, vice Jary ; Cornet Thos. Edmund Houghton to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Morant. 18th Hussars—Lieut. William Henry O'Shea to be Captain, by purchase, vice Brevet-Major Henry Scott, who retires; Cornet William Owen Whiteside to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice O'Shea. Royal Artillery—Captain Reginald Onslow Farmer to be removed from the supernumerary to the effective list; Staff-Assistant-Surgeon Andrew Knox Rickards to be Assistant• Surgeon, vice Sharp, resigned. Royal Engineers—Lieutenant Charles Edmund Webber, Instructor in Military, Drawing, and Surveying at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, to be placed on the supernumerary list; Second Captain and Brevet- Major Francis Horatio De Vere, to be Captain, vice William L. Morrison, placed on the amended list; Lieu tenant William Adolphus Frankland to be 2d Captain, vice Brevet-Major. De Vere. Ist Regiment of Foot—Captain and Brevet-Major William Temple Parrett, from 90th Foot to be Captain, vice Albert Seagrim, removed to the 90th Foot, Gentleman Cadet Charles Henry Sandford, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Moberley, promoted. 6th Foot—Staff-Surgeon George Edwin Gains to be Sur geon, vice`Miller, appointed to the Staff. 7th Foot—Ensign Robert Fowler Butler to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Henry John Barnird, who retires ; Henry Burton Winter, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Butler. 10th Foot—Ensign Robert Munro Dickinson to be Lieu. tenant, by purchase, vice Sir Samuel Hercules Hayes, Bart., removed to a Cornetcy and Sub-Lieutenancy in the 2d Life Guards ; John Smfth O'Brien Blake, Gent., (late Second Lieutenant, Antrim Artillery Militia), to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Dickinson. 12th Foot—Ensign Robert Baynes Reed to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Thomas George D. Latouche, who re tires; John Whetham Boddam, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Reed. 17th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Stuart Lloyd Richards, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without pur chase, vice Savage, promoted. 20th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Edward Primrose Tregurtha Goldsmith, from the Royal Military College, to be En sign, without purchase 21st Foot—Ensign John Hornby Conor to Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Alfred William Channer, who retires; Albert Augustus Pollard, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur chase, vice Conor. 23d Foot—Captain Tyssen Sowley Holroyd, from the 34th Foot, to be Captain, vice Hill, who exchanges. 24th Foot—William Thomas Much, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Arkwright, appointed to the 84th Foot. 34th Foot—Captain Arthur Hill, from the 23d Foct, to be Captain, vice Holroyd, who exchanges. 43d Foot—Major Henry Jackson Parkin Booth to be Lieu tenant-Colonel, by purchase, vice Brevet-Colonel George Talbot, who retires; Captain Fiennes Middleton Colvile to be Major, by purchase, vice Booth ; Lieutenant Her bert Johnes Berners to be Captain, by purchase, vice Colvile; Ensign Arthur Brett Onslow to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Berners ; Gentleman Cadet William Clark, from the Royal Military College, to bo Ensign, by purchase, vice Onslow. 47th Foot—Staff-Surgeon Major Alexander Smith, M.D., to be Surgeon, vice Singleton, dismissed the service by the sentence of a General Court Martial. 49th Foot—Lieutenant Henry James Davies to be Captain, by purchase, vice Henry Dalton Scoones, who retires; Ensign Edwin Glass Fenn to be Lieutenant, by pur chase, vice Davies; William James Fisher, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Fenn. 50th Foot—Captain? Montague Cholmeley Morris,from the 75th Foot, to „be Captain, vice Edward Cliffe, who ex changes. 62d Foot—Arthur Farquhar, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur chase, vice Jules Victor Le Blond, who retires. 66th Foot—Lieutenant William Saunders, from 86th Foot, vice Thomas Gambell, who exchanges. 72d Foot—Gentleman Cadet James Foord Hilton, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Tomkinson, who retires. 73d Foot—Major Hugh Maurice Jones to be Lieut.-Colonel, by purchase, vice Brevet-Colonel George Hankey Smith, who retires; Capt. Godfrey James Burne to be Major, by purchase, vice Jones ; Lieut. Wm. Mitford to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Burne ; Ensign Thomas Nepean Edward Kenny to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Mit ford ; Edward Joseph Jekyll, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Kenny. 75th Foot—Captain Edward Cliffe, from 54th Foot, to be Captain, vice Montague Cholmeley Morris, who ex changes. 84th FOOt—Ensign Richard Hebden O'Grady Haly to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice John Henry Bradshaw Isherwood, who retires; Ensign Arthur Chandos Ark wright, from 24th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Halsy. 86th Foot—Lieutenant Thomas Gambell, from 66th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice William Saunders, who exchanges. 87th Foot—Lieutenant Rentone George Felix Poynter to be Captain, by purchase, vice Edmund Henry John Me•. redyth, who retires; Ensign Ernest Augustus Dundas Widdrington to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Poyn ter; William Wynne Jendwine, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Widdrington. 90th Foot—Captain Albert Seagrim, from Ist Foot, to be Captain, vice Brevet-Major William Temple Parratt, re moved to the Ist Foot. 97th Foot—Ensign Thomas C. Wharton to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Fits Gerald, promoted, by purchase, to an Unattached Company ; Gentleman Cadet John Archi bald Murray, from• the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Wharton. 100th Foot—Staff Assistant-Surgeon Thomas Michael O'Brien to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Thomas Liddard, who resigns. DEPOT BATTALION. Captain James Williamson, 23d Foot, to be Instructor of Musketry, vice Captain Edward Herrick, 12th Foot, the Depot of which Regiment has been removed to Chatham. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals, Thomas David Hume, M.D., to be Inspector-General, vice John Forrest, M.D., C. 8., placed upon half Tay. Surgeon Colin Matheson Milne Miller, M.D. from the 6th Foot, to be Staff Surgeon, vice Gains, appointed to the 6th Foot. TO RE STAFF ASSISTANT -SURGEONS. Staff Assistant-Surgcon Patrick Quinlan, from half-pay, vice Rickards, appointed to the Royal Artillery. Staff Assistant-Surgeon Samuel Gamble White, M.D., from half-pay. Staff Assistant-Surgeon Henry Lamb, from half-pahvice O'Brien, appointed to the 100th Foot. COMMISSARIAT DEPARTMENT. - Ensign John Tremenhere Johnston, 41st Foot, Acting Deputy Assistan t - Commissary-General, having completed the prescribed peri o d o f probation, to be Deputy Assistant- Commissary-Gen era l , under the provisions of the Royal Warrant of 28th October, 1858. &OAS Deputy Aeolliant Commissary-Qmerai AIWA- der William Anderson to be Deputy Assistant Commissarr General, - - CHAPLAINS' DEPARTMENT. The Rev. James Daly to be Chaplain of the 4th Class. The Rev. T.W. Burridge to be Chaplain of the 4th Class. BREVET. Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Budd, having completed five years' service as Lieutenant-Colonel 14th Foot, to be Colonel in the Army under the provisions of the Bth clause of the Royal Warrant of the 14th October, 1858. Lieutenant Francis Freeman White, Paymaster 24th Foot, to have the honorary rank of aptain under the Royal Warrant of 27th January, 1860. Lieutenant and Riding Master Wm. Everett, of the Royal Horse Artillery, to have the honorary rank of Cap tain. Surgeon-Major James Webster Winchester, retired om full-pay from her Majesty's Indian Military Forces, to have the honorary rank of Depu t y Inspector-General of Hospitals. • Major-General , Arthur Mitford Becher, C. 8., Bengal Infantry, to take rank from the 27th instead of the 24th of April, 1861. The Commission, as Makr, of Captain avd Brevet-Majo William Gray, of the Ist Boin.kmy Fusiliers, has been ante r dated to the 4th of November, 180. The undermentioned officers, serving As . Ass n• specters of Volunteers in Great Britain, to titcve the local and honorary rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the Army Xbilo.f.il employed : Major Gustavus Hume, half Tay Unattached. Major George Byng Harman, half- pay Unattached. Major Herbert Russell Manners, half-pay late Depot Battalion. Major John Simeon Francis Dick, half-pay Unattached. Brevet •Major Douglas Jones, Captain half-pay Un attached. Major Richard Young. half-pay late Depot Battalion. Major Richard Roney, half-pay late Depot Battalion. Henry Large, farmer, Red Lion-square, Holborn. John Shepherd, coach proprietor, Church-street, Cam berwell. Henry Ogle Holmes, gentleman, 20, Southampton-ter - race, Waterloo-road. William Lancefield, late of Camberwell. Francis William Smith, fishmonger, Holborn George Irlam Higginson, dealer in glass; Pantheon, Oxford-street. BANKRUPTS. Arthur Powsell, commercial traveller, Dalston Wm. Richmond, coal merchant, Great Scotland-yard Rebecca Bonny, wholesale and retail confectioner, Rei gate Josiah Henry Neville, leather merchant, New Oxford - et Geerge F. A. Mulley, innkeeper, Ipswich Edward Barcham, farmer, Horsey-next-the-Sea,Norfolk James Devereux, farmer, High Wycombe George Hibbart, bricklayer, King's-road, Saint Pancrai William Harris, dealer in boots and shoes, Hampstead John Booth, clothier, Bermondsey Thomas Brown Payne, plumber, Deptford Charles J. Julius Forster, merchant, Gracechurch-street John Whatmough, straw hat presser, Clerkenwell James Herds, harness maker, Regent-street, Lambeth. Smith Allen Jeffs and Augustus Jeffs, carpenters, Corn wall-road, Lambeth. Robert Duff Ironside, provision merchant, Fenchurch street James Brown, flour merchant, Peckham Rye Wm. Wilkins, farmer, Horsey-next-the-Sea, Norfolk Wm. Meihuish, carpenter, Malden-road, Kentish-town Horatio Kemp, auctioneer, Woolwich Henry Fitt, farmer, Lakenham, Norwich SCOTCH BANKRUPTS. J. Baillie, draper, Kilmarnock J. Yates, draper, Leith D. Brown and J. Smith, general merchants, Greenock J. Gardner, farmer, Brownside Mills, near Airdrie J. M'Harg, fruit merchant, Glasgow It. Wilson, butcher, Edinburgh J. W. Patullo, wholesale booiZnaker, Edinburgh N. C. Duff, provision merchant, :Edinburgh G. Anderson, horse dealer, Beith IL Sloan, merchant, Kilmarnock D. Strachan, hosier, Paisley COUNTRY MABEL A 5. %bi- BRISTOL—FEB, 11. At this market to-day there was an average attendance, and the demand was fair for good sweet wheats; inferior and stale sorts almost unsaleable. SHEFFIELD—FEB. 11. Our market this morning was moderately supplied with grain, which met a dull demand ; and prices were at the reduced rates of last week. Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels...2os Od to 228 Od I White ~ ...22s 6d to 23s Od New red , , ...228 Od to 23s 6cl New white „ ~ ...24s Od to 268 Od Beans If If ... 188 Od to 198 Od Peas, per qr 548 Od to 55s Od Grinding barley, per qr 32s Od to 36s Od Malting ditto, „ 3Bs Od to 40s 04 Oats 2ss 6d to 34s Od Millers' prices f or flour-2s 2d, 2s 4d, and 2s 6d per 141 b. LEEDS—FEB. 11. We have a moderate show of grain. There is a limited demand to-day for wheat at about Tuesday's rates. Beang and oats firm. Of barley the sale was slow, at previoo prices. MARKET HARBOROUGH—FEB. 11. At this market to-day there was a fair trade, and only a limited show of wheat. For inferior sorts prices were ' cheaper—old, 50s to 59s ; new, 60s to 64s per 3 6 ston e. Barley at about the rates of the week previous, malting selling at 34s to 37s per qr., grinding 32 s to 338 per 30 st. Oats, 23s to 32s per 24 et. ; beans, 41s to 465; new, 38s to 46s per qr. NORWICH CATTLE. The show of store cattle to-day was one of the largest and best this season, consisting of Scots, shorthorns, and Irish. The attendance of buyers was tolerable, with sales in favour of purchasers. Scots, 4s to 4s 6d ; shorthorns, 3s 6d to 4s Od ; Irish, 3s Od to 38 6d; Devons, 4s to 4s 6d (estimated weight when fat). Fat beasts a small show and sales slow, at 7s Od to 75. 6 a per 141 b. Sheep—There was a good supply of sheep in the VW , and a fair sale. Fat sheep, 8s Od to 88 6d per stone ; prime, Os Cd. Pigs—A fair supply. Store pigs, 16s to 20s; fat porky 7s Od to 7s 6d per stone. FOREIGN MAIL .P.ACKET _UST. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Feb. 18. via Marseilles .. Feb. 13. Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. March 6 . Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.. March 3 . China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Feb. 18. via Marseilles ...Feb. 13. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton .... Feb 10. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Feb. 18, via Marseilles Feb. 13. India (Bombay), via Southampton Feb. 1 0 . via Marseilles Feb. 4. Lisbon Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Feb. 1 0 0 via Marseilles Feb. 4. Newfoundland .. Feb. 6 , Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet Feb. 5. by U.S. packet by Canadian packet. Feb. --'. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe Feb. 10. Bahamas, via New York Feb. 13' Mexico • . • . Feb. 28. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, j Feb. 13. California, and British Columbia. FATAL ACCIDENTS IN COAL MlNES.—Yesterdal an abstract was published of a return of the number of fatal accidents which havo occurred in coal mines in the 'United Kingdom since the system of colliery inspection came into operation. We gather from these tables the following facts :—The total number of tons of coal raised in the ten years ending 1860 was 605,154,940. The total number of lives lost in the same period was 8,466. The average ton nage of coal raised to each life lost was 71,480 tons. BENSON'S WATCHES AND CLOCKS..^" Perfection' a mechanism."—Morning Post. Gold watches, 5 to ICO guineas; silver watches, 2 to 50 guineas. Benson's new Illustrated Pamphlet, free for two stamps, descriptive of every construe . Lion of watch, enables persons in any part of the world to select with the greatest certainty the watch best adapted to their use. Watches sent free and safe by post on receipt of a remittance. —J. W. Benson, 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, 46 and 47, Cornhill, London, E.C.—Established 1741. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pills.—Dyspepsia, digestion, flatulency, heartburn, biliousness, nausea, want of appetite.—French philosphers trace the moral feelings of the mind to the state of the stomach ; and there is much wisdom in the assertion ; the stomach to the human body is more than the kitchen to the establishment—ever 0 0 little disordered, the whole internal economy is deranged. The young may smile at the simile, and disbelieve the trfr* mendous sacrifice indigestion extracts from its victim. The day will come when they will lament over their dyspepsial . as thousands stronger than themselves have done, when it it will be well for their comfort and happiness if they only remember these prophetic words ; and hold in readiness Holloway's Pills, a certain safeguard. BIRTHS. BOYLE.—On the 10th inst., at 13, Hanover-square, V 1 countess Boyle, of a son. GowEß.—On the 10th inst., at 22, Hill-street, the Hon' Mrs. Leveson Gower, of a daughter. GATTox.—On the 9th inst., at Peckham, tho wife of capt• Chas. Gayto n , R . N ., of a son. MTO RQUODALE.—On the 10th inst., at Newton, Mrs. 0. M‘Corquodale, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. DE SALTS—TOWERS--On the 11th inst., at Ivor, Bucks, John Francis W. De Solis, Esq., of Hillingden-pla ces near Uxbridge, the eldest son of the Count de Salis, Amelia Sophia Towers, of Huntsmore-park, her. WALE—BULL.—On the 11th inst., at Christ Church , Turnham-green, G. H. Harding, youngest son of Rob Weale, Esq., of the Elms, Biggleswade, to Helen, second daughter a J. P. Bull, Esq., of Arlington House, all' Hyde-park-street. DEATHS. BINGHAM.—On the 10th inst., Mr. George Bingham, ° f 29, Conduit-street, aged 61. DOWLER.—On the 9th inst., at 126, Camden-road Vi lloso N.W., late of Piazzas, Covent-garden, Mr. Jos. Dewier , aged 60. PERRIN.—On the 4th inst, at Morden College, Blackheath? John Perrin, Esq., aged 95. PLATT.—On the 10th inst., ats9, Portland-place, thellon• Sir Thomas Joshua Platt, Knight, formerly one of Oa Barons of the Court of Exchequer, aged 73. RAvEY.—On the 10th inst., Mr. Charles Ravey, of 4, Col l ' duit-street, aged 68. SnAttr.—On the 7th inst., at Camberwell, Mr. Samuel Sharp, formerly a nd for ma n y years in the bank of S ir James Esdaile and Co., aged 81. LONDON : Printed and Published b y MURD O YOUNG ot No. 112, Strand, Printer, at T HE S un Ofll ce, N o. 112,Stran a in the Precinct of the Savoy I n th e County 01 illicit/I'w „s Tecbleficiah February 12, 1862.