The Sun. — London, England, 1859-04-01 00:00:00

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—(Tins EVENING). The LORD CHANCELLOR took hi seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The East Suffolk, the Weymouth and Ikleleombe Regis Markets and Pier, Wimbledon and Dorking, and Epsom and Leatherhead Railway bills. THIRD READINGS. The Newry and Armagh Railway, Shepton Mallet Water, Swansea Vale Railway, and Kirkwall Harbour bills were severally read a third time and passed. SALE OF GAS. Lord REDESDALE laid on the table a bill to regulate the sale of gas. The bill was read a first time. EDUCATION IN INDIA. . The Duke of ARGYLL, who had a notice on the paper on this subject, said, owing to the present position of pub lic affairs, he should postpone for the present proceeding with a subject so important. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any instructions had been sent to the Earl of Elgin to negotiate with the Chinese Government respecting the admission of British salt into that empire, and also wh e th er any communication had been received by him on the subject ? The noble lord also in quired whether any instructions had been given to the Hon. F. Bruce, her Majesty's ambassador at Pekin, direct ing him .to press this matter on the attention of the Chi nese Government. The Earl of MALMESBURY said the question of the noble, lord could not be embarrassing either to her Majesty's Government or the Opposition. (Hear, hear, a n d a l augh. No instructions had been given to the Earl of Elgin ; but the Hon. Mr. Bruce, previous to his departure to Pekin, had had his attention drawn to the subject, in order that he might press the matter on the at tention of the Chinese Government. THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS. The Earl of DERBY, in moving the adjournment of the house, said he trusted that his silence would not be misconstrued, with reference to the vote of last evening, and that their lordships would suppose him wanting a due sense of the importance of their present position. On the contrary, he considered he should best consider the conveni ence of the public, and best show his conviction of the im portance of the present state of affairs by postponing for the present any reference to the course the Go vernment had deemed it their duty to pursue. He had, in consequence of the vote of last night, thought it advisable to hold a consultation with his colleagues that morning, and he had since had an interview with her Majesty. He had not the sanction of her Majesty to make any communi cation to their lordships with reference to the course the Government int6nded to adopt. He thought, however, as the House of Commons stood adjourned until Monday next, that he should be acting in a manner most conducive to the public advantage, by postponing, until that evening, any explanation with regard to the course the Government intended to pursue. On that evening, how ever, he should be in a position to give their lordships a full explanation of the advice which he and his colleagues had tendered to her Majesty, and the course they intended to follow. Their lordships then adjourned. RECRUITING THE ARMY. (From the Gazette of this evening.) WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, MARCH 29. The Queen has been pleased to issue a Commission under her Royal sign manual, of which the following is a copy, to inquire i n t o t h e present system of Recruiting the Army, Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, To our right trusty and well-beloved Beaumont, Baron Hothani, of that part of our United Kingdom called Ire land, Major-General of our Forces •, Our trusty and well. beloved Sir Alexander Murray Tul loch, Colonel in our Army, Knight Commander of our Most Ho noura bl e Order of the Bath, Military Superinten dent of Out-Pensioners of our Army; Our trusty and well-beloved William Frederick Forster, Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Gnelphic Order, Major- General of our Forces ,• Our trusty and well-beloved David Russell, Esq., Colonel in our Army, Companion of our Most Honourable Order of the Bath Our trusty and well-beloved John Thomas Leslie, Esq., Colonel in ou r I n di an Forces, Companion. of our Most' Honourable Order of the Bath ; Our trusty and well-beloved John George Smyth, Esq., Colonel in the 2d Regiment of West York Militia ; and Our trusty and well-beloved Peter Blackburn, Esq., one of the Lords Commissioners of our Treasury, Greeting : Whereas we deem it expedient, that a Commission should issue for the purpose of inquiring into the present system of Recruiting our Army : Now know ye, that we, reposing great trust and confi dence i n y our zeal, discretion, and ability, have authorised and appointed, and by these presents do authorise and ap point, you the said Beaumont, Baron Hotham, Sir Alexander John Thomas Leslie, John George Smyth, and Peter Blackburn, to be our Commissioners, to enquire into the present system of recruiting our army, with the view of suggesting such changes in the existing regulations and organisation of the recruiting department, as may tend to facilitate the raising of men in a more expeditious, satisfac tory, and eeonomical manner, and to prevent desertion, and fully and carefully to consider these important subjects, and all matters relating thereto, which may appear to you to be necessary. And for the better discovery of the truth in the premises, We do, by these presents, give and grant unto you,or s trn e r , three or mo re o f you , f u ll power and authority to m inquiry as aforesaid, either i n Lo n d on or at to the ako such inquiryrecruiting Kingdom,depots, or other places of the United as your judgments m a y s ee m b es t, an d i n th e manner which you may deem most expedient, and to call before you, or any three or more of you, such persons as you shall judge neces sary, by whom you may be the better informed of the truth of the premises, and to inquire of the said premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And we do further, by these presents, give and part unto you, or any three or more of you, full power and our thority, where the same shall appear to be requisite, to administer an oath or oaths to any person or persons whom soever, to be examined before you, or any three or more of you, touching or concerning the premises. And we do further, by these presents, give and grant unto you, or any, three or more of you, full power and authority, to cause all persons to bring and produce before you, or any three or more of you, all and singular records, ooks, papers, and other writings, touching the premises, which shall be in the custody of any of them. And our further will and pleasure is, that you, or any three or more of you, upon due inquiry into the premises, do certify to us from time to time, under your hands and seals; your several proceedings as the same shall be com plet6d, and do within the space of one year after the date of these pres en t s , or sooner, if the s ame can reasona b ly b e, Certify to us in like manner the whole of your proceedings, under and by virtue of these presents, together with what you shall find, touching or concerning the premises, upon such inquiry as aforesaid, accompanied by such suggestions for the amendment of the system at present in existence, for recruiting our army, and the means by which recruits may be more easily raised, and desertion prevented, as you may have to offer. And we further will and command, and by these pre sents ordain, that this our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that our said Commissioners, or any .three or more of you, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein mentioned, although the same be not con tinued from time to time by adjournment. And we do hereby command, all and singular, and Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Mayors, Bailiff s , Constables, Officers, Ministers, an d all other our living subjects whom soever, as well within liberties as without, to be assistant to you, and eac h of you, in the execution of these presents. And . for y our assistance in the due execution of this Our Commission, We have made choice of Our trusty and well beloved John Milton, Esquir e , t o b e S ecretary to this Our Commission, and as well to attend y ou , w h ose services and assist and other perzintshe services an d ass i stance of such clerks use bay appe ar t o you to b e necesswa require. r y , We require you t o use from time to time, as occasion shall Given at Our Court at Osborne, this twenty-third day of March, one thousand eight h d .un red and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Our reign. By Her Majcsty's Comman' (Signed) J. PEEL. by purchase, vice Wheeley, promoted ; Ensign William James Watson to be Instructor of Musketry. 10th Foot—Robert Munro Dickinson, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Phillips, promoted ; Samuel Pre • derick Poole, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Brouncker, appointed to the 24th Foot. 11th Foot -- Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Moore to be Lieutenant-Colonel, without purchase, vice Brevet- Colonel Henry Keane Bloomfield, who retires upon half . pay ; Captain Thomas Peebles to be Major, without pur chase, vice Moore. 15th Foot—Lieutenant Walter G. Hawkins to be Captain, without purchase, vice Fry, deceased ; Ensign Stewart Davies D. Cartwright to be Lieutenant, without pur - chase, vice Hawkins ; Serjeant-Major Joseph M'Murray to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Cartwright 17th Foot--Lieut. Charles Gramme Grant to be Captain, without purchase, vice Walton, deceased ; Ensign Robert G. W. Wrench to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Grant. 22d Foot—Louis Richard Grismond Vaughan, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase. 23d Foot—Lieut. James De Vic Tupper to be Captain, by purchase, vice Gillmore, who retires ; • Henry Francis Hutton, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Gerard, promoted. 24th Foot—Henry Albert Harrisson, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice O'Mahony, promoted. 38th Foot—Captain W. de W. Roche Thackwell, from the 39th Foot, to be Captain, vice Brevet-Major A. C. Snod grass, who exchanges. 39th Foot—Brevet-Major A. Campbell Snodgrass, from the 38th Foot, to be Captain, vice Thackwell, who exchanges. 51st Foot—Lieut. Charles James Hughes to be Captain, by purchase, vice Mitford, who retires; Ensign Robert Norton Cobb to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Hughes. 62d Foot—The Christian name of Captain Hunter is Ed ward only, and not Henry, as hitherto stated. 69th Foot—Ensign George Edward Bruce to be Instructor of Musketry, vice Bulger, promoted in the 10th Foot. 71st Foot—Lieutenant John C. H. Poyer Callen to be Captain, by purchase, vice Denny, who retires ; Ensign John Henry Leslie to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Callen. 73c1 Foot—Ensign James Trench Turner to be Instructor of Musketry. 78th Foot—Lieutenant R. Cuninghame C. Graham, from the 80th Foot, to be Lieutenant, Tice Ewing, who ex changes. 80th Foot—Lieutenant Alexander Ewing, from the 78th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Graham, who exchanges. 85th Foot—George Robert Somerville Ramsbottom, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase. 94th Foot—Lieutenant William Plumer Gaskell to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Buchanan, who has retired. 96th Foot—Lieutenant George Kerr Ilallett to be Captain, by purchase, vice Lowry, who retires; Ensign James Morrison Kirkwood, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Hallett. Rifle Brigade—Sergeant-Major Christopher Johnston to be Ensigo without purchase. 3d West India Regiment—Ensign John Moore to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Landon, who retires. Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Ensign Ernest C. Wil ford to be Instructor of Musketry. CAVALRY DEPOT.—Cornet Edward Pulleyne, of the Bth Light Dragoons, to be Instructor of Musketry. RECRU ITINGDISTRICT.—BreVet-COlOrtelChas.Franklyn, from the 84th Foot, to be Inspecting Field Officer, vice Macpherson, promoted to the rank of Major •General. ROYAL HOSPITAL (Kilmainham).—Assistant-Surgeon Wm. Carte, from the 4th Light Dragoons, to be Physician and Surgeon, with the local rank of Staff-Surgeon, vice Dr. Macaulay. PURVEYOR'S STAFF.--Purveyor's Clerk of the First Class Edward Simpson to be Purveyor to the Forces, vice Dalton, deceased. CHAPLAINS DEPARTMENT.—To be Chaplains of the Fourth Class.—The Revs. Frederick James Abbot, Michael Cuffe, Thos. Malony, John O'Flaherty, Joseph M'Sweeney, Joseph O'Dwyer, William George Morley, Robert Shep herd, James Hamilton, John Francis Browne, Thomas Coghlan, Charles Morgan, Edmond Butler, Michael Hogan, James Carey, and Richard Blake. BREVET.—Captain Thomas Rattray, of the 6th Bengal Native Infantry, to be Major in the Army. COMMISSIONS BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT. West Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry—Lieutenant Oswald Augustus Smith to be Captain, vice Berens, de Ceased ; Comet Charles Lawrie to be Lieutenant, vice Smith, promoted ; Richard Benyon Berens, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Lawrie, promoted. West Kent Light Infantry Regiment of Militia—George A'Court Webb, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice Thompson, resigned ; Markland Barnard, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice Hodges, resigned. 3d Regiment or King's Own Staffordshire Militia— Charles Donaldson, Gent., to be Ensign. Forfar and Kincardine Regiment of Militia Artillery— Second Lieutenant Augustus Walter Cruikshank to be First Lieutenant, vice John Clervaux Chaytor, promoted. City of Edinburgh Regiment of Artillery Militia—First Lieutenant Herbert Jones Hughes to be Captain, vice Home, struck off the strength of the establishment ; First Lieutenant George Roland, jun., to be Captain, vice Fraser, resigned ; Second Lieutenant Robert Nicol to be First Lieutenant, vice Hughes, promoted; George Finlay, Gent., to be First Lieutenant, vice Roland, promoted ; George Bowman, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, vice Bruce, re signed. LONDON GAZETTE—(Tzas zy 'WAR• OFFICE, MARCIT 31. Order of or ekthe The Queen has been graciously pleased to make dab a Special Statute of the Most Honourable Or Bath, for appointing the Right Honourable Viscount ning, Governor-General of India, and the Right Honour able Lord Elphinstone, Governor of the Presidency of B ona : bay, to be Extra Members of the Civil Division of e First Class, or Knights Grand. Cross, of the said Most Honou r .. able Order. WAR-OFFICE, MARCH 31. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Captain Frederic Sayer to be Police Magistrate for Gibraltar. WHITEHALL, Marten 25. The Queen has b een pleased to appoint George Rither don, Gent., to be Lieutenant in the Artillery Companyof London, for th e t erm of five years from the date hereof WHITEHALL, APRIL 1. The Queen has been pleased to constitute and appoint Major-Ge nera l M arcus John Slade to be Lieutenant-Go vernor of the Island of Guernsey. DOWNING STREET, MARCH 31. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Edward John Eyre, Esq., now Lieutenant -Governor of Antigua, in the absence of the Governor. .Her Majesty has further been pleased to appoint Wil liam Charles Sargeaunt, Esq., to be Administrator of St. Vincent, during the absence of the Lieutenant -Governor. FOREIGN-OFFICE, MAR= 30. Notice is hereby given, that the Earl of Malmesbury has appointed John Preston, E sq ., to b e agent at Belfast for the issue of Foreign-Office Passports. WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, ARIL 1. Royal Regi ment of Horse Guards—Lieutenant William r nartopp to be Captain, by purchase, vice Sir H. rtenniker, Bart.Adderl , who re ti res ; C ornet M. B. Bowyer John Robert ey to be L ieutenant, by pu rc h ase , v i ce H artopp ; Heron ey Maxwell, Gent., t o b e C ornet b y purchase, vice Adderl. 3d Dragoon Guards —Major Fenwidk Boyce Barron to bo Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase, vice Brevet-Colonel, Dyson, who retires ; Captain Frank Chaplain to be Major, by purchase vice Barron. Scots Fusilier Guard's—The Christian names of Ensign and Lieutenant Ram are Stephen James, and not James Stephen, as s t a t e d i n Gazette of 18th March, 1859. 4th Regiment of Foot—Herbert John Mainwaring Wil liams, Gent., to be Ensi gn , w ith out purchase. 6th Foot —Ensign Henry Mahony, from the Kerry Militia, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Oliver Robinson, superseded, being absent without leave. 7th Foot —Ensign C. Houstoun liempson to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Rumbold, who retires. Bth Foot—Theodore Henry Skinner, Gent., to be Ensign, BANKRUPTS. Jonathan Mort Haslam, cotton doubler, Portwood, Stock port, county of Chester, to surrender April 14 and May .5, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Thomas Druce, butcher, Weymouth-street, Portland place, April 11 and May 16, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. aolin Frampton, butcher, Poole, April 12, at half-past one, and May 17, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Marmadake Foster, bill broker, Bradford, April 19 and May 16, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. James Camp, boot and shoe maker, Chesterfield, April 16 and May 7, at ten, at the Leeds District Court. William Barnes, miller, Uldale, Cumberlandshire, April 12, at half-past eleven, and May 17, at twelve, at the New castle-upon-Tyne District Court. Richard Hawkins, cattle dealer, Carmarthen, April 12, and May 10, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. John Morgan, cattle dealer, Cardiff, April 12, and May 10, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Thomas llaywood, grocer, Homerton, April 14 and May 12, at the Court of Bankruptcy. John Shepherd, tile manufacturer, King's Lynn, Nor folk, April 15 and May 13, at the Court of Bankruptcy. George Frederick Ruhl, merchant, Crutched Friars April 9. at half-past twelve, and May 14, at twelve, at th Court of Bankruptcy. Thomas Wood, cowkeeper, Granville place, Bagnigge wells-road, April 13, at half-past one, and May 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Benjamin Longridge Barnett, shipowner, Gracechurch street, April 11, at one, and May 16, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Robert Ford, grocer, High-street, Marylebone, April 11, at two, and May 16, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. William Aishen, baker, Hanley Castle, near Upton-upon- Severn, Worcestershire, April 14 and May 7, at eleven, at the Eirmingham District Court. Herbert Redgate and John Redgate, lace manufacturers Nottingham, Ap r il 19 an d May 3, at eleven, at the Bir mingham District Court. SCOTCH BANKRUPTS. Robert Mackinlay, drysalter, Glasgow. John Strathern, farmer, Marlee, Perthshire. Isabella Allan or Hay and John Hay, farmers. Duni) blae and Fauldhead, Kirkintilloch. Daniel Robb, victualler, Glasgow. Ezekiel Hill, boot and shoe maker, Dumbarton. Peter M'Donald and Co., tailors, Aberdeen. BANK OF ENGLAND. An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 32, for the week ending on Wednesday, the 30th day of March, 1859: ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Notes issued £33,404,950 Government Debt £11,015,100 Other Securities .. 3,459,900 Gold Coin & Bullion 18,929,950 Silver Bullion .... X 33,404,950: RANKING D: Proprietors' Capi-__ 533,104,950 gPARTMENT. Government Secu rities (including Dead NI , eight A nnuity) £11,703,353 Other Securities 17,357,488 Notes Gold and Silver Coin 700,520 tal Rest £14,553,000 658, Public Deposits (in- 3,339 cluding Exche quer, Savings' Banks, Commis - missioners of Na tional Debt, and Dividend Ac- counts) 9,346,914 Other Deposits 13,879,985 Seven Day and other Bills . 744,853 £42,183,091 £42,183,091 .11,811 ALL, Chief Cashier. bated March 31,1839. AVERAGE PRICE OF SUGAR. The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from Returns made in' the week ending the 29th day of March, 1859, exclusive of the duties of Customs paid or payable thereon, on the importation thereof into Great Britain : Pt. From the Briti s h p ossess i ons i n A mer i ca 2B ser ew od. Muscovado, the produce of the Mauritius 28s 10d Muscovado, the produce of the East Indies 18s Oid Average price of the foregoing 27s 6id COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—This DAY, AmDittosterdam 3 Months. 11 16f, 11 1 Rotterdam — 11 16-i 11 16 Antwerp Brussels — 25 0 25 15 Pari s . Ramburgh Mano .. Short. 25 2/ 25 10 r . s .. * * *** ** ******* :*: * : arseill — 25 27/ 25 32/ Frankfort on . M** tin . ° ** -- 1171 117$ Vienna ...... Trieste .. . Fetershurgh Madrid - 49* 494 Cadiz 29 80 29 90 25 37/ 25 45 40i 40$ 121 1214 1211 1211 52 52, 52 53$ Leghorn Genoa Naples Palermo Messina ............ Lisbon ............ Oporto ............ Rio Janeiro ........ 60 days at New York .......... E.'. C 26 Ms. Muse bis. 603 Calcutta, Co.'s rupee Bombay ditto , — 261 241 Madras ditto — 26 241 241 East India Company s Bills drawn, from the 18th ult. to the 25th ult. __ Bengal Madras Bombay.: £343 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £3 , 13 19 0 CROXTON RACES. (THIS DAY). [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] GRANBY fIANDICAP. Zuyder Zee 1 Mr. Sykes Lazy Lass Nine ran. r 1 THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL -1, 1859. SIONEY MARE ET AND CITY NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocx. More activity has been apparent in the Foreign and Colonial produce markets during the last few o t Amberg., Notting. Bost. days, and some of the principal staples have slightly - and Eastern Jun^fion improved in value. For tea there has been a steady 13.1 4 I r it if lc o a l id a l o 3R d ll , - i i ' r n `,!:i: inquiry, and at public sale a large quantity has )4( dirk., Lane., and Chesh been disposed of at fully late rates. The better 25 Bl j a l c i lg u ti g descriptions of British West India sugars Stool: Ni i 4s ti t ' ol m an d d i r e St ter . ' have improved about 6d . to ls. p er cw t ., an d Stock Caledonian other qualities, both Colonial and Foreign, stf :) ,::fic C C .,o h r ep c t a e n r c itrgl al l i T d o o lread have fully supported previous rates. Coffee 20 ) ;' o ot rl , ll ß a l i l l trock,&Pas sag , has been in active demand, and, owing to 10 Do. A A rcves. no div. the small quantity on offer, Plantation Cey- 10 Do. B g n u s ti tM' c i l: i er to a l 3 ) : lon has been at high quotations. Native Ce Y - g RV= Li, nt Wune r.Junc. lon sold readily at fully fo rmer pr i ces. Ri ce has Stour East'Anoli;tn been rather inactive, but in some in s t ances a slight Stock Eastern Stock Eastern Union A Stock improvement has taken place. For rum the de- s tock : Do. o do. 11 Stock (Ite.E.U3ds) mand was inactive, with littl e or no a lt era ti on t o a. ugl a ip ire a 25 East' Dent report in values. Spices have b een i n li m it e d re- S 2O >, EaEastquest, at about previous rates ; and th e t ransac ti ons 10 Do A Stock Edinburcr and Glaszow Stock t , ' u or im th es t Clyde Junction in saltpetre and cochineal have been of a very Stock Edin.,Peilh, & Dundee. limited character at previous prices. Tallow has 100 exhibited rather more firmness ; P.Y.C., on the Stock a r la e s a r i a ti loth Westn. spot, having advanced to 535. 3d. ; J une d e li very, Stoc k G reat Nort h ern Scot land 535. to 535. 3d., and last thre. months, 535. 9d. to Ma ' Do. do. i J ', NZ ' : 545. per cwt. At public sale- Australian tallow gloct'a r t. e s m ou4m Wstn.(lreld) realised full rates, viz., sheeps', Ms. 6d. to 525. 9d., Stock oc Do.Str.Vl.R e aTl i Gna.Stk. and beef, 51s. to 51s. 3d. per cw 12 Trish South Eastern 5o Lancaster and Carlisle Letters from Liverpool mention that the Cotton 161 1 Do. Thirds Market yesterday closed with a. very steady appear- Tt l o 3 eil YorkshireEa o n .l\ e - a e l T re h . i tt rCl ante, and 10,000 bales were disTosed of at previous ig Do. o go o : ; ' 9 sli 6 ares quotations. The Railway Sheire Market was very 20 Do. 3 Do. Wes tthpo Riding Union Sourt... . ... . . inactive, and prices were depressed. Stock London and Blackwall. About £60,000 in gold was - withdrawn from the St — ock , Pon N Tlri• s lifo t n 2u°. 4S.Co ast sh Bank of England yesterday for exportation to the 6rck t i o o np i( n y, / . li l :l\ l " s orth Westn continent. The specie by the Europa, viz., £114,197, Stock Loinl ' oii& South-westn 25 T,'derry & Coleraine.. has been taken for the same purpose. 25 L'derry & Enniskillen The Silver Market is quiet but firm ; bars are stock Man., Slief, & Lincoln, 10 Metropolitan In at 622 d. per ounce. Stock M M idland tan In the general money market the demand is still 8 t s o o ck p r z. l. l3lrm 6 re4Bz. (IDrgabnyd: tolerably active, but the preparation for the bills 12 Nel . l4l, S s i tTe and res Carlisle. due on the 4th of the month. have created very 25 New., Aber., & ITerefd. little effect upon the terms charged for negociating 10 :, 14-'ee,s,v,i.T&WAarrpnrgh&(lll4‘ first-class bills. The Bank mirdmum of 21 per cent. Stock Norfolk is still enforced in the general market, and the Stock No l ' ' ' r o i l ti nion n s ties U applications at that establishn lent are consequently Stock p;o o rpg ic. Rai l l i . r t e D n k o . S d t v k : more numerous, ung s r,p.casheenpdP stock I T S ? The Copenhagen has been announced thi s morn - o o r . tl ) l:ltt o ts t t c n.—Berwick Do. do. G ing from Australia, with 21 , 954 ounces o f gold, ,2 , tock s Do. Leed.N.E.Purchases valued at £87,816. Stock Do. York ck The impending Indian loan still forms a sub j ect 1 Stock North London The impending Indian loan still forms a subject 10 North London Nand &S.Westn., Hampstd,et n of anxious consideration in Sto c k E xc h ange c i rc l es. 20 North C Pa r io i r " dsh i rre The latest impression is that an imperial guarantee 20 North-Westernj . Will be obtained. Such a course might be con- to iLcifo&rd',o*P:orW.,.&J4toicitrieorn. sidered a bad precedent ; but, the affairs of India 10 Peeblesiortsmouth being now in the hands of Government, the con- 10 Ohymney cession, after all, would make very little difference, Stock z 0 ,; t 1i . 5 . 4 . V . , n t ral Aber. Stock for it can scarcely be presumed that the resources g 1 o m e t z r . o s p c s o h t i t r i e s h u t f l i o d n . stock of India, now that tranquillity again prevails, will 10 Sittinbourne & Sheer. at any time prove insufficient to provide for the gt.ocet'S7Eiounthi-lEeaysotenrn necessary expenditure. Stock South wales 20 SouthYorks.&.Riv.Dun. There is very little variation to report in the 20 Do. do English Stock Market, where operations continue 20 gt,,,izroil',.:roi;',irlifirg-7,k ". limited and quotations firm. At one moment an 25 D. g 0... itg,,s 8 improving tendency was observable, and a frac- Stockton & Hartlepool tional rise took place, but it was not maintained. Stock L a o ff . l lT r a e l f e erence, No. 1 . The result of the Reform Bill has created no effect, Mock, ~r,laTemoefsgeitanDk&Rail and the revenue statement appears to have given stock Waterford & Kilkenny satisfaction. Consols are 951 ; 1 ,- * for money, and 95& . 2 5( 0 ) sWaterfordornval, Cornwall 96 for May. East India Stock is steady at 221 ; 10 W-end Lon. & Cry. Pal. o.A.— ha A recy.no ditto Loan Debentures are heavy at 981 ; and the 5 D 7 p.c. s been p dill d. to 13 j Bonds are at 10s. prem. Exchequer Bill s ar e 20 West ; London marked 355. prem4 and Bank Stock, for account, 10 Do. Ist Class • 228, ex div. 20 ID°. 2d Class PREFERENCE SHARES. A very moderate business is recorded in Foreigi. Securities and prices remain without any material alteration, Turkish 6 per Cents. being 93 to 931 ; and Blythe and Tyne 11 per c. pref. (issued at £5O) ditto, New Loan, 791 to 791 ; Dutch 21 per Cents. i Stk Bris. & Exet.4p.ct.Stock are steady at 651; and Brazilian 41 per Cents. at 947 4 ; Mexican Stock is firm, at 211 ! ; Spanish 3 12.10 Do. Quar. Shares, No. 2 Sir 2 o o ck P:leddOndog,h4a i rpeser cent Stock Chester & Folyhd, 51 pc per Cents. at 45 ; and ditto Certificates at 51; Stock Do. do. sp. et. Peruvian 3 per Cents. are flat, at 73 ex div. The 61 Dun. Pe rth n ti! ie Nt l e i: New Austrian Loan is 11 to 1 dis. Stoik E.Angn. Class A 7& spc Stock Do. do. Class B 6 pc The committee of Spanish American bondholders Stock Do. do. Class C 7 pc have received advises from Mr. Mocatta, dated the stock E. Coon. Ex. 5 pct. 1 1' , ' 0 0 :, 1 3d of March, from which it appears that the state Stock per ct. c , t i . Stock of Venezuelan aff a i rs i s no t very f avoura bl e, as the Stock iast e llne. 6 per p er c 1C gi c sr w lii p io e 5 E.& W. Yo'rk. :rm. fifths following letter will show :- s'tock Edin.&Glas. 5 pc shares " Two days after the arrival of the Government here the Stock Edin. Perth,& Dun. 4 pc. Ministers resigned. After a lapse of a week a new Ministry Stock Furness, 5 per cent was formed, composed of—General Soublette, Foreign °e ,i in a s- f . 4 .',Z i f i g e t r ;-': '' r , s r :;: Affairs; Senor P. de las Casas, Finance; Senor Rafael Stock stok- Do. re 5 ' pc - Redm Northern, Arsels, Interior ; Senor Correa, Sub-Secretary of War, Stock Do. 4f p. c. do. do. ad interim. On the Ist instant large groups of people as- 100 no.6p.e. Redm..s'pe. pm sembled in theprincipal market-place. A fire was discovered 10 Gt. Nh. of Scotid, let pf in a large provision store adjoining the Government-house, Stock r Gt. Sn.& w (Ireland)4 doubtless the act of an i ncen di ary, an d t h ere b y furnishing l p. ct. pref. Stock a motive for the a ssem bl age . 50 Great West. (Berke and " The President, G enera l C as t ro, or d ere d Ext. 5 p.ct.. out the troops, Stock Hants) Do. Redeemable, 41 p c . t. and dispersed the mob. Last night there was again an Stock Do. Redeemable, 4p. ct. alarm, but nothin transpired. Stock Do. Irredeemable, do "A revolutionary movement has occurred at Coro. The Stock Do. sp. ot. Redeem. Pref pretence is, to proclaim federation, but it is considered to 0 Do. firm. Shares 1 have another object. Th e G overnment have despatched shares troops to suppress it. 10 Do. do. 5 . ct. pref " Mr. Mocatta f ur th er says th a t h e w il l awa i t the arrival Stock Do Birming. guar. stock of the next packet before determining to return to Eng- 261 Do. Chesterguar.shares land." 131 Do. do. do do. A moderate am o u n t o f business hits been trans- Stock L D an. & Yo k 6 p.c. stock acted in the Railway Share Market, and prices in Stock oc b c o n . . 4 1 1- 5 cr.5Pc.1411.1c. 2 K 7 7., la) . 'O .. * et c. , several instances have slightly improved. Caledo- Stock I? o c o . . do e 5 . p. c." P. N0 . ..4 nian, North British, North Eastern (Berwick), Stock Lon.& N.W.Cov.&Nun- North Eastern (York), and South. Western ad- stock Lo e n a li n S , . s liv p ,.p t ict. stock, vanced ss. ; North Western, 10s. ; and Great late 3d shares 12k Londondy & E nn is she Western, £l. Brighton, Manchester Sheffield, 12; Londondy.& Eis Ish and Lincoln, and South Eastern. declined ss. ; Stock 6 N n angh., & Lin., 6p. ct Blackwall, £1 ; and V a l e o f N ea th, £1 10 s . Stock Do. 1 per cent. 1 Maort & 4 In the Forei gn M ar k e t L om b ar d o -V ene ti an are 12 Do. r 4 y per cent. o ar., .. .. p.c 4 1 steady, at 97 4 91 for the old shares, and at 81 87 4 Stock Mi. Con. 6 p. c. Stock . for the new; Paris and Lyons declined to 33,1-. ' Stock Do.Con.Bris..tpir.6p,ct. The Colonial undertakings are a shade firmer. Stok Do. .P.in.l li h c o . p j go e n t til l 1860 Great Western of Canada advanced to 16k 161, ; Stock Do._ e Le r ic t .l i v. be llit t a . r p e ,. f. er st ti Great 'lndian Peninsula to 101 1 • •Ind East Indian .5" 2 ' = 10 f '`' i pc. redeem, at 5 p.c.n m ` 10 Do. Perpet, 6p. c. with 43 1021 103 . option till 1866 tare! Railways. Joint Stock Bank and Miscelleneaus Shares show very little variation from previous rates. London si Chartered of Australia, Oriental Bank, and Otto man Bank brought former rates, and Red Sea g; Telegraph improved to 10-a. si si opt, 10 Norfolk Deb. 4 p.c. sh ares sock Do. .S p. c. Ext.Stock,lB46 ock Do. 54 p. c. Pref. do. 1847 sock Do. Way.ral.Ex.Sk 1847 Lock North British, 5 per cent rock Do. New, eua. 5 per cent Lock Nth.Dev.T!ail.& Ditk.Co. tock N-East. irred. 4 p.c. Deb. took Do. Berwick, 4 p. c. Pref. 17 Do. do. do. 20 Do. Leeds, 6p. c. No. 1 124 Do. do. Quarters, 1846 25 100. York, If. kS. Purch 20 North Staffordshire tock Ox. wr. & Wol. 5 pc. Ist g tock Do. do. do., 2d irlin .. kick Do. 44 p.c. Db. stk.in perp 84 Scottish Central, new pt ,ock Scottish N.-Eastern deb sock Do. 34 per c. pref. stock ock Do.Aberdeen.gua.6 pc. ock Do. 7p. c. pref. stock. 10s. South Devon, Ann. 10s. 10 Do. Fixed 44 percent. .0.6. South Eastern (Reading Ann., 1 0 6 ) sock Do .44 per cent ok Do. Fixed 44 p.c. Ist Is ,ock Do. New do., 'AI issue ock South Wales, gun. 4 p.c 'ock Do. 44 per cent 0 S.-Yorkshire, 4 p.c. ua 151 Stockton and Dar. 5 p.a >i( Do. per cent ock Waterford & Kilkenny, 6 per cent. BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES. 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities • 951 i 1 India Stock Ditto Debentures 9B I Ditto Bonds, £l,OOO Ditto under £l,000 Bank Stock for Account . 225 x d onsols for Account 95/. _ _ Ma rub. Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 2d. & lid.. 25 J FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING :PRICES. Brazilian 5 per Cent. Ditto 1858, 41 per Cent. 4 )41 Danish, 1825, 3 per Cent. Grenada New Active, 3 per Cent. Mexican 3 per Cent. -- Ditto Account .. 2ll i Peruvian 4i per Cent — Ditto 3 per Cent. - -- Ditto Account Spanish 3 per Cent. 4 5 Spanish Com. Cert. of Coup. not funded 5,- 5 Turkish 6 per Cent. K.• :a- 3 Ditto New Loan Ditto Account Dividends on the above payable in Lo ndon. Dutch Exchange, 12 Guil. 21 per Cent 656 THREE O'CLOCK. - 5 line. Consols, Money 9.5 Consols for Account (April 7) E.', 71 THE RIBBON TRIALS AT BELFAST.- —BELFAST, Thursday.—At the sitting of the court this m orning Henry Smith, Bernard Smith, James Donaghy, Fran cis M'Gowan, William Laverty, William •Funnigan, James 1K .elly, Patrick Kelly, David McVeigh, Hugh Finlay, John Ffinlay, Daniel M'Kenna, Daniel Barr, and William John Ms cauley, were put on their trial for being members of an :illegal secret society. Sir Thomas Staples, Q.C., Mr. Rol.). ertson, Q.C., Mr. Joy, Q.C., and Mr. M'Kernan representec 1 the Crown; Messrs. Ferguson and Hamil defended the prisoners. Sir Thomas Staples stated the case for the Crown. Hugh Ca rolin and John Kelly, the informers, were ezc - mined, and their statements went to show that they were members of Lodge No. 12, meeting in Belfast, and that all the pri soners were members,' with the exception of l'llcauley, a member of No. 13, who was present :ts a visiting member when the arrests were made. They detailed th e constitu tion and objects of the society, and repeated the declaration of secrecy and brotherhood made on the admission. of a mem ber, and gave an account of the secret signs and Tasswords which were in use amongst the members, and Yhich were changed yearly. They deposed that they had no t held any communication with each other, or any Ilferili3ers .9f the Lodge No. 12, since their arrest. The witnesses were cross examined at great length by counsel for the defence. — Belfast News _Letter. .SUICIDE AT TIIE BANK OF ENGLAND.--INQUEST. — Yesterday, Mr. Sergeant Payne held an inqtbost at the Ward School-room, London Wall, on the body of John Bancott, aged 59 years, 23 years porter at the Ban2c of Eng land, who committed self-destruction by cutting his throat. It appeared from the evidence of several witnesses, that the previous morning, about h a lf-p as t seven o ' clock, the . water closet door was fastened, and on breaking it open - the de ceased was found on his knees, with his throat cut„ and a razor lying by his side. He had lately been in alo w state of mind, in conseeuence of a desk belonging to the sc cretary of the Bank of England having been broken open.. The deceased hid the key of the office on the night of the rob bery/ but no suspicion rested on him. The incident I .ressed on his mind, and no doubt led him to destroy himself:. The j ur y returned a verdict, " That the deceased destroyed..hira vif while in a state of temporary insanity." St.G Stoc) Ste St 100 100 100 100 an Paid. / Closing Price. 49 hl 95 97 Imo lot 98 101 112 110 108 112 114 116 112 114 130 132 82 84 71 73 1110 112 117 119 1110 112 103 105 63, 65 11 111 all }lOO 9(3 98 87 P 9 88 00 1 100 102 110 10 164 17. Igo. 10 72 74 181 19} 91 9E 14} 141 140 142 118 120 160 165 123 125 70 72 1139 141 1101_ 103 94 96 9/ 10 llf 111 9 9f IloBi 1093 97 98 I id p '24 23/ 123 125 118 120 99 101 lot 24 24i 102 104 102 104 28 29A 3'21 1 334 53 55 LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Railways. l Redford and Bletchley Bucki,whamshire Clydesitile Junction Colchester. Stour Val E Unionjf‘rwichShs Do. Airooo'bridge GI s.Barr.&Neils,Drct. Do. New Gloster& Dean Forest Trartlpool.Dck - .&11ail lluli apdSelby Ln& N.W iLn & N.W I Caledonin ,E.U.&E C I Gt.North. lE.Counts. CtifedOfi in ' Do. Gt. West. Yk.N.&llr Yk.N.Md. Do. Do. S. East Do. Peto &Co Do. Norfolk , Do EN W&M Stk.& Dar Midland . E.Counts. Do. Do. Do. LAL N W) & L. Yk. Do. Gt.Nortli Lan.& Yk T Bra ssoy- M'Clean . Stk.& Dar Do. Gt. West L.&Brgtn Do. Shares Do. 4 Shores Londort&Greenwich Do. Preference Lon.,TillYy.&Soutend. Do. Barking Shares Lowestoft, gar.. 4p. et Do. 6 per cent Manc.,Buxtn. &.Matk Midsb.& Iteder, Dlid.BradfordPrf. Stk. Newmarkt.,BuryEx I guaranteed 5 p. e. Northn.& East n. 5 p.c. Do. do. 6 per cent Do. Fixed 5 per cent Preston and Wyre. Do. Shares ....A. Rovstn,lliteh..& Shop Shf. ltotb.&Gol.g.sp.e. Shrewsbrv& Hc;retord South Staifordshire Wear Valley, g. 6 p. c. Do. do. Wilts and Somerset.. Wimbledon& Croydn. 5. 5.0. all all all all all 100 18 11 6 all all all all 100 all DOCKS. Paid. I Leasing I Closing! Business Co.'s. Price. Done. - - PS 100 102 104 17 18 142 144 41 1109 111 64 66 115 120 93 94 z};3 96 OS 57 59 90 92 8 9 - - Paid Closing I Business Price. Done. 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 8 110' _ 104 ' 103 1 125 90i 90 are Docks. i Stock 1 Commercial Stock 1204 perCent.Pref.Min Stock Egot and West India Stock Lon, ion Stock §Cicatharine Stock Southa mpton Stock Victoria ti k:o Do New • ............. SILARB 718" DAY.) ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS. ,are! ll I Railwa Paid I . s y 1 Closing_ Business ,'' • Price. 12. 0 Amberg., Notting. Bost. • and Eastern Junr 4 lon 10 6 61 6 50 Belfast and Ball:, men a all 13.14 Bir., Wol., and Sir. Val all 71 81 i Stook Birk., Lane., and Chesh Junction lOO 62 64 25 Blackburn 25 Blyth and Tyne all 32 85 Stock Bristol and Exeter Stock Caledonian Stock Chester and ITolyhead - 50 Cork and Bandon all - • 20 Cork, Blkrock,&Passagc all 20 Cornwall all 5 61 10 Do. A A roves. no div. f all 10 Do. B u ntil 6 p.c.per an. all hasbeen pd.toll. 50 Dublin andßelfastJunc. all -- 25 Dun.,Perth,& Abr.Junc all 8 9 toe'r East Anolian lOO 15 161 ;lock Eastern Counties lOO 59 601 591 CO ;took Eastern Union A Stock 100 45 47 'took Do. do. B Stock 100 30 32 25 Do.Nw.A.(lte.E.U3ds) 81 25 East Kent all 13 15 >took East Lancashire lOO 92 93 20 East Suffolk all 10 Do tock Edinburg* and Glasgow 100 72 73 • tock Edin.,Perth, & Dundee. 100 27 274 10 Forth & Clyde Junction all lock Furness lO9 tock Glasgow & South Westn l6b 93 94 10 Great North of Scotland all 10 101 took Great Northern lOO 102 103 took Do. do. A. Stock lOO 86 88 86 7 took Do. do. 11 Stock lOO 132 133 133 tock'Gt. South.& Vrtitn.(lreld) 100 105 106 took Great Western lock Do.Str.Vl.Rail Gua.Stk lOO 56 58 12 Trish South Eastern all so Lancaster and Carlisle all 83 8 7 164 Do. Thirds 13 4 Do. New Thirds l6 11 121 p lock Lancashire & Yorkshire 100 94 9 5 91 1 I 16 Do. do. F £l6 6 fd 9 Do. do. .£9 shares 7 Ed 3 Do. West Riding Union 1 20 Do. Southport .. . ... . . all ock London and Blackwell. all 66 68 66 4 ' Do.Newiss.at 2510sp.sh. nck Lon.,Brighton 4S.COStRi 100 112 113 1121 12 .ock London & North Westn 100 944 t 5 'JS 141 121 Do. Eigi.ths Dck London& South-Westn lOO 921 93: 93 21 ' 15 L'derry & Coleraine 15 L'derry & Enniskillen all ock Man., Shef., & Lincoln lOO 38 381 38 .0 Metropolitan Da Midland lOO 1011 1011 10l 21 11 oak Do. firming. & Derby lOO 75 ;7 761 O Mid. Gt. West. (Ireland) all 5 Do.} Shares all O Neutastle and Carlisle all 5 New., Aber., & ITerefd all 11 12 O Newry & Armagh (def.' 9 0 Newry, Warpt., & Ros all )ck Norfolk lOO 60 62 I North. Counties Union 3l 31 3 d ck North British lOO 581 681 584 1 ck Nor.Dev.Rail.&Dk. Stk lOO —, ok Do.A Stk.— A rec.no div until 6p.o.hasbeenpdf 100 ek Do. 11 Stock - a North-F.astn.—Berwick 100 92 921 921 1 i Do. do. G.N.E.Purchase 1613 4 lf 11 d , d ck Do. Leeds lOO 464 171 47 ck Do. York lOO 76 704 761 ck North London lOO 102 104 N. &S.Westn., Tiampstd and City Junction 23 ls. North Staffordshire l7l 41 41 d 131 13 North-Western No. & Son. W. Junction all 7 is 31: Oxford, Wor.,& Wolver lOO 331 341 • Peebles all -- Portsmouth inymnev lO k SciAtish Central k South. N. E., Aber. Stock 100 261 27 i k Do. Scottish Mid. Stock 100 82 83 1 k Shropshire Union ' lOO 45 47 Sittim,thonme & Sheer all 31 21 d • k South Devon lOO 40 42 o k South-Eastern lOO 71.1 104 701 k South wales SouthYorks.&Riy.Dun all 64 68 . Do. do lB --: 1 Staines, Wok., & Wok all 8 11 Stockton & Darlington all 36 37 361 • Do. do. 18 55 - -- c Do. do. 18r , 8 7 t Stockton & Hartlepool 161 1 Taff Vale lOO c Do. Preference, No. 1 ( ThamesTravenDk3,:Rail 22 c Vale of Neath lOO 65 68 651 4 d [ Waterford & Kilkenny 100 a Waterford & Limerick all _ e West Cornwall W-end Lon. & Cry. Pal all . 1 Do.A.—Arecv.nodiy.till f• 7 p.c. has been pd. to B all 2 3 I Do. B all 6 61 B.}o West London Do. Ist Class • all —' h iDo. 2d Class Business Done. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. THE REFORM BILL. THE ADJOURNED DEBATE. - - Sir R. PEEL said he rose for the purpose of making a few observations on the important subject under discussion, and considering the number of gentlemen who were still desirous of addressing the house he certainly thought that the time for making long speeches had well-nigh gone by. (Hear, hear.) At all events, if any gentleman desired to . . address the house before the conclusion of the debate, he trusted the house would accord to them, as it had done to those who preceded, its kind and courteous attention. After this protracted discussion, after the very satisfactory man ner in which this bill had been debated; after every part of it had been dissected and disembowelled, to use the expres sion of his right hon. friend the member for Ashton, after the very admirable manner in which the question had been treated in the able speech of the right hon. baronet the member for Carlisle, he did not propose to enter into any lengthened disquisitions upen the subject of the franchise, nor on the philosophy which the right hon. gentleman the Secretary for the Colonies had introduced into the discus sion of this middle-class bill. (Hear, hear.) He should not enter upon a discussion of the Grey letter, or of the misgivings of the hon. member for Cambridge town. Neither should he quote Clarendon, ,Mackintosh, or De Tocqueville, or the Athiest friends of the Under Secretary for India. (Laughter.) He was surprised that the noble lord had quoted the opinions of a man like Mr. Holyoake. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord ought to recollect that this was a man who went about the country lecturing against the Bible. (Hear, hear.) He attempted to do so lately at Doncaster, but the feeling against him was so strong that the mayor who had given the building was obliged to with draw his permission. (Hear, hear.) At that stage of the debate they could scarcely hope to introduce any fresh materials of criticism, but they might still derive some ad vantage from looking with a critical eye on the debate which had taken place. They might follow the example of the First Lord of the Admiralty, and discuss the question with out any asperity, as he did—'hear, hear)—or discuss it with the modest mildness of the Solicitor-General. (Hear, hear.) ale would ask—where were they? (Laughter.) Hon. gentlemen might laugh, he did not mean in what part of that assembly of 600 palpitating members—he meant, where were they in the discussion of this great and serious ques tion ? He had sat there almost without solution of con tinuity. (Laughter.) They had sat there since Monday week listening to the opinions and sentiments expressed, and membersmight well be astonished and bewildered, notes to how they would vote, but by the opinions they had heard expressed. It was said of the celebrated John Wilkes that when asked what his politics were, he replied, " I never was a Wilkesite." A great many hon. gentlemen were in that position ; they had heard opinions from that side which ought to have come from the other, and from the other side opinions which ought to have come from that ; they had,' heard from Conservative members not only Liberal, but Radical sentiments—(hear, hear)—whilst on that side they had heard hon. gentlemen endeavouring to throw dissent among their ranks, and holding opinions which might very well come from the right hon. member for Cambridge and the right hon. gentleman who sat beside him. Those two gentlemen had left the Government with great dignity. (Hear, hear.) Lord Derby had said he had lost two Radical colleagues; that was a new name for the right hon. mem ber for Oxfordshire—(a laugh)—and it must have struck dismay into the heart of many an Oxford squire to hear him qualified by the Prime Minister as a Radical. (Laughter.) An hon. gentlemen asked him if he was afraid of the people ? I am not afraid of the people, says that burly country gen tleman, the junior member for Dorsetshire. (Great laughter.) The right hon. member for Stroud has been styled a pala din. (Laughter.) He certainly had galloped very freely through the rank s , b u t h app il y h e bad got a fall—(hear, hear)—and his passion must have since been somewhat sub dued by the ample dose of Dover Powder he had received. (Great laughter.) As for theright hon. gentleman who ad dressed the house on Tuesday, that ornament of the assembly, such was his power of debate, such his excellent eloquence, that he must be a bold man who did not hesitate to rise after he had addressed himself to any subject. They hied also heard the right hon. gentleman the member for Dublin University. Some one had called him a windy orator. (Laughter.) He must say that if the debate had commenced on Monday week very windy, they had since had the cataract and the volcano—" the torrent and tem pest of passion." The hon. gentleman who had just re moved from his seat, said he had not entirely given up the opinions he advocated last year. They were certainly rather strong. Perhaps the hon. gentleman did not know exactly what they were. When it was proposed to entend the fran chise and increase the number of electors in the counties, the hon. gentleman said, "Their sense of honour, and love of fair play would not let them look tamely on and see such great mischief done." He was glad to find the hon. gen tleman had not entirely given up these opinions. (Hear.) He was not surprised if members could not make up their minds—what with resolutions, counter-resolutions, pro posals, and propositions. He would like to ask the Chan cellor of the Exchequer what will be the fate of the bill, or, in the language of the fashionable novelist who sat beside him, what will he do with it ? (Laughter and cheers.) The right hon. member for Dublin University had likened the noble lord and the noble viscount and a third to the witches round a cauldron of incantation. The Chancellor reminded him of Hamlet soliloquising : " To be, or not to be, that is the question : Whether 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer The sling and arrows of outrageous fortune ; Or to take arms against the sea of troubles, And, by opposing, end them 7—To die,—" To die ; not at all. (Cheers and laughter.) The noble lord the member for Tiverton told the Government they had much better go on, and if the resolution was adopted, in corporate it with the bill. The First Lord of the Admiralty told them it was an offensive and factious resolution. (Hear.) He thought such an expression of opinion was not at all justified. (Hear, hear.) Let them consider what this bill was? It was r reposed to amend the laws relating to the re presentation of the people ; every single portion of it had been objected to, and universal fault and dissatisfaction ex pressed against it, but if adopted they would have this ad vantage, that it might lead almost immediately to some prac tical legislation, which would be an advantage to the house and the country. What was the resolution ? At first sight, but at first sight only, it seemed open to the objection that it was a mere abstract proposition, and one hon. member said he could not determine to vote for it,' as it did not state the exact opinions and intentions of the noble lord. The Solici tor General and the First Lord of the Admiralty had told them the resolution was most irregular; but they were now positively assured that the resolution was quite regular, quite Parliamentary, and quite consistent. (Hear, hear.) The ex-commissionerimperial—(laughter)—told them there was no precedent for such a resolution being moved on the second reading, which selected the important points of the bill for objection. The Solicitor-General said such a course was unprecedented in the Parliamentary annals of the ceun try. In 1844 when the Bark Charter Act was before the house, an amendment in the shape of a resolution was in oved by Mr. Hawes, and the numbers were ayes 185, noes 30. On that occasion there voted for the resolution the right hon. member for Oxford University and the present Mi nister for War. (Hear, hear.) Hon. gentlemen complain that they do not know what are the intentions of the noble lord. If the resolution werecarried and the Government de feated, and if they relinquished office, he believed the noble lord would be prepared, without delay, to lay a bill on the table. (Hear, hear.) He believed the noble lord would be ready to pledge himself to do so, if the house sanctioned his resolution. (Hear, from Lord J. Russell.) He would treat the subject in a statesmanlike and straightforward manner. (Hear, hear.) The resolution involved every serious issue. They were told that if adopted it would be tantamount tea defeat of the Government. He for one did not see that would be a very great or serious inconvenience. (Hear, hear.) It was not the first time they had got rid of a weak Government and substituted a strong one to deal with a great question. As regarded the question of reform, he did not think it would be any very serious inconvenience if the Government was defeated, and the discussion ad journed, perhaps for a year or two, as suggested by the hon. members for Birmingham and Ashton. (An HoN. Mtm mut—Five years.) Let the question be adjourned even for five years, and let a little healthy agitation take place. (Hear.) A full and free discussion of the great principles involved could not but be advantageous, and could not but tend to exercise a wholesome and legitimate influence on their debates. (Hear.) The noble lord had been the object of the sneering observations of the Solicitor-General. It was quite true the learned gentleman had that evening given a tardy expression of his regret—(" oh," "hear") — but he had taunted the noble lord, and urged him to give some expression of his intention. (Hear.) He thought he had found a vulnerable point, and came down with extracts from country papers, showing that somebody said some where that Lord John and John Bright had come to an understanding; he imputed to the noble lord most unworthy motives of private advantage—('c no, no," and cheers)—he did impute them. (" No, no," and cheers.) The noble lord, however, had treated the hon. and learned gentleman's ex planation with so much kindness, that he would not further allude to it. (Hear, hear.) The hon. and learned gentle man should recollect that those who live in glass-houses— (oh, oh)—he would say it, those who lived in glass-houses should not throw stones ; he had tried a dodge to injure the noble lord, but it had recoiled on himself, and lie might now go and philosophise with the Secretary for the Colonies on this middle-class bill. (Laughter.) The Secretary for the Colonies said the mainspring and backbone of the bill was the preservation to the middle classes of the political power which for twenty years they had exercised so much to the advantage of the state. The whole inside of the bill had been disembowelled by the right hon. member for Stroud, and had neither principle nor backbone. The bill had excited nothing but dissatisfaction, it did nothing but unsettle existing. arrangements. He maintained it did not admit any considerable portion of the working classes to the enjoyment of their rights ; it admitted some new classes, but it deprived the borough freeholders of their ancient rights it maintained all the small boroughs, and (what was one of th e most objectionable parts) it proposed to introduce voting papers. The small number of electors voting at the late election for Marylebone was urged as an argument for their introduction; but it proved nothing, as, of course, with two Liberal candidates in the field, the Conservative hectors would not care to vote. T hese voting papers, like those used in the election of guardians by parishes, would be liable to a great amount of fraud. He did not want to see any serious displacement of the present system ; he wasnot in favour of electoral districts, or of uniformity of suffrage ; he very much adhered to the opinion of the right hon. member for Carlisle, who said a few evenings no, "I will say. that a bill, taking as the new point of departure the £lO franchise for counties, lowering to a considerable extent the borough franchise—prohibiting the payment of travell'ng expenses, multiplying polling places, disfranchising within moderate limits the smaller boroughs, and enfranchising, with strict impartiality, the larger counties and the larger cities—l say that even now, at this moment, my belief is that a bill so framed would command support on each side of the house. To such a measure he would be disposed to give his cordial adhesion. He trusted he should see this principle soon embraced in a bill which might load to a satisfactory issue. He trusted that this year, next year, or perhaps in two or three years, they would have a measure which might l ea d t o a satisftictory settlement, instead of this crude and ill-digested bill. The right hon. member for Cambridge had said it was crude and ill-digested. The House of Commons had said so, and had been almost unani mous in the condemnation of the Governnient bill. In doing so they had shown Ministers a faithful mirror of the public mind out of doors, by giving echo to the sentiments expressed on the platform of every meeting which had been held. They could not conceal from themselves there wasa great and growing desire to give the franchise ftAti ?those classes who, by their intelligence and social posifien, were justly entitled to the right. The House of Cox - nnias would 'listen to that appeal, but not by adopting this bastard system of legislation. He trusted this question ward eon pass into abler and better hands—into those of the aline lord, who had an hereditary claim, or those of. the hon. member for Birmingham, who represented the feelipg out of doors. It was said the noble lord was actuated by Pal ty motives, and this was a subtle party move to disPllce the Government. He for one would support the resolution, but not on party or on factious grounds, but on - public grounds. He for one was no enemy to party connexions ; by party the house was governed. He should vote with the noble lord and the noble viscount, bemuse he believed that on this occasion their conduct was governed - by the purest motives. As far as he was individually concerned, he had shown he was not prepared to give up to party liis right to judgment on important questions. On two very great occasions, he had assisted as much individually as any man to displace the Government, although lie had felt the deepest regret at being obliged to separate himself from a statesman for whom he entertained the wannest sym pathy on public grounds, and towards whom he felt the warmest feelings of personal attachment. They had been taunted with the difference of opinion on that sale of the house, but they would see that in the moment of a great crisis they could be united. with the exception of two or three deserters. They would not hesitate to stand faithful to the principles which had made the great Liberal party be recognised as the organ of public opinion ; they would re main true to their colours, and stand faithfully to their principles, and look forward with proud confidence to the result of the division, with the hope that the ultimate re sult would justify them, and that in the triumphant ma jority which would welcome the success of the resolution, the people would recognise the wisdom and the justice of that house. (Cheers.) Mr. GASKELL would have been content to give a silent vote if he could entirely concur either with the Government or with the noble lord. There were some parts of the bill he did not approve of; but he could not vote for the reso lution ' • it appeared to hi m t o ra i se a false issue. (Hear.) Mr. SLANEY said ho should vote for the resolution, not because he wished to destroy the bill, but because he hoped to see it amended. Mr. E. C. EGERTON trusted that the Government would see the necessity of reducing the borough franchise, and would not allow the carrying of the resolution to pre vent them from proceeding with the bill at a period which was so favourable for the settlement of the question. Mr. COBBETT wished to state his reasons for voting in. &Tour of the second reading of the bill. He did not ap prove of the whole bill; on the contrary, there were many of its details of which he disapproved; but there were a variety of new franchises which had occupied public atten tion almost ever since the passing of the Reform Bill of 1632, and ho thought it very desirable that the bill should be read a second tune, in order that they might.be considered in committee. The bill was wide enough in its scope to allow of the opening of the question of the ballot. The re gistration of votes was included in the very title of the bill; and the hon. member for Bristol (Mr. H. Berkeley) might take advantage of that to propose in committee a clause em bodying the principle of vote by ballot. lie did not call him self a man of the people, but from long habit and from the education he received in his early days—(cheers) —he had a very strong desire to see those who laboured, whether at the loom or on the land, in r far better position than they now were. (Hear, hear.) lie knew there wpre those among them who suffered greatly, and he thought the house ought to give their attention to this. His own conviction was that if they attended to this more than they did they would find the working class not so anxious for these changes, which seine called organic, but that they would find that class satisfied with the efforts of the house, while the house would better represent the working men than it did at present. (Cheers.) 'Mr. COLLINSsaid he concurred with those who thought that something ought to lie done to settle this question ; and holding that view, he should give his vote against the resolution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WESTERN objected to the transfer of the county voters to the borough, even in those cases where the bill would fairly operate as a transfer. The mischief would be that those voters in most cases would be non-residents. This effect would result—the resident electors having =interest in the affairs of the borough would be swamped by the non resident voters. (Hear.) There were other portions of the bill equally objectionable, but after the lo ng an d a bl e d e b ate which had take n pl ace , he would not further obtrude on the attention of the house. lie approved of the principle enunciated in the resolution of the noble lord the member for London, and should accordingly give it the support of his vote. Mr. HODGSON would vote against the resolution of the noble lord. He could not but think that the house had not treated the Government with the forbearance which, under the circumstances attending this question, they deserved. With respect to the bill, he did not mean to say that he en tertained no objections which might not easily be removed in committee. It was his intention to vote against the re solution, and in favour of the Government bill. Mr. WYVILL intended to support the second reading of the bill, because he thought it might be made a good bill in committee, and also because he believed that, if they rejected it, it would be impossible to pass any measure of reform during the present session. Mr. G. HUDSON complained that the resolution of the noble lord, besides being unparliamentary was an unusual proceeding on the second reading of a, bill. He (Mr. Hudson) should vote against the resolution, because he believed that it was not intended to advance reform, but to be used as a mere clap-trap for the purpose of defeating the bill. The noble lord refused everything, and pledged himself to nothing. He should not again follow the noble lord into the lobby for the sole purpose of turning out a ministry, to whose admirable manner of conducting the business of the country every man who had risen in that debate had borne testimony. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WALTER said that he fully agreed with the de scription which had been given by the right hon. member for South Wiltshire, that this bill would require to be gutted before it was rendered passable; whilst of the resolution it might with equal justice be said that it committed nobody, and meant nothing precise. This was a very disagreeable predicament for the house to be placed in. With the per mission of the house lie \ would state the reasons why he should vote against the secend leading, and also abstain from voting in favour of the noble lord's resolution. Con sidering all the circumstances of Lord Derby's Govern ment, he (Mr. Walter) had been of opinion that refoun was a question with which he should not have meddled at all. Had Lord Derby openly taken that course, the country would have been perfectly satisfied with him, but, like other imprudent people, he accepted a bill without considering how he was to meet it. Beside all this, he might have known that, however liberal might be the measure he brought in, it would fail to satisfy the Opposition, as the temptation to them to outbid him would be too great to be resisted. (Hear.) With regard to the identification of the suffrage, there had been a great deal of discussion, as hon. gentlemen seemed to confound equality with identity, whereas the two things were perfectly distinct. Equality of suffrage was a question of degree, whereas identity was a confusion of qualifications ; and here he had to express his approval of the bill, inasmuch as it preserved the va riety in the qualifications. For his own part he was an ad vocate for an equal franchise in boroughs and in counties, and on this point he thought the hon. gentleman the mem ber for Oldham had done more for the Government than any of the Government's own members had done in defend ing that portion of the bill which had been most attacked by the other speakers in the course of the debate. Should the resolution be adopted, which was likely to be the case by a small majority, he did not see why Government might not withdraw the bill and bring in another based upoit'what were now understood to be the views of the house. Itti*y.' took that course he would willingly give them his support. But the worst course they could pursue was to dissolve, foe it would be :highly improper for them, a Conservative Government, to go to the country on a Reform Bill. If the Government were to dissolve, they might possibly gain some strength ; but they would in that case fling upon the floor of the political arena a bill which would become,:tbe subject of a squabble among the most radical and *lent classes in the community. Mr. GREENATL said he had come to the conclusion that his vote ought to be against the r eso l u ti on o f thenelile lord the member for London; for although the noble:lord might possibly carry that resolution by a small majeritK. still he did not believe that he would be able to produce' a better measure than that into which the bill of the Govern ment might be converted if th e h ouse were t o go i nto com mittee upon it. Mr. GILPIN was willing to state at once that lie was prepared to vote for the resolution of the noble lord the member for the City of London; and if he had no other reason for doing so, it would be that which the right hop.. gentleman the member for Oxford gave upon a notable oc casion, viz., that every word of the resolution was as true as Gospel. (Hear, hear.) He was convinced that to givothe franchise to the working classes was the best means to make them feel they had an interest in their country. (Hear.) Mr. HENLEY would not have thought it necessar, under ordinary circumstances, to have addressed any obser vations to the house ; but it was known that he, in common with his late right; hen. colleague (Mr. Walpole), was unable to give his assent to the bill of the Government. He had listened with great attention to the whole of this debate, and if he had heard anything which in any degree shook the opinion he had formed of it, he should not have had the least hesitation in saying so. (Hear, hear.) He thought the bill was somewhat underrated. It was in his opinion, a very large measure, not only in what it did, but still more in the principles it contained. Now, according to the most moderate computation it increased the constituencies by one-half. (Hear, hear.) The mea sure that did this could not be a very small one. (Hear, hear.) Various reasons had been put forward for the equa lisation of the occupation franchise in town and county. The noble lord the Secretary for India had said how absurd it was that a man living on one side of a street should have a vote for the county, and a man living on the other side should not. That might be very well if there were not other anomalies of a still larger character. The hon. member the Under-Secretary for the Home Department (Mr. Hardy) justified this measure upon what seemed to him to be a rather extraordinary mode of reasoning. He said that this was not a change in the principle of the county suffrage, because an occupation franchise was introduced into coun ties by the Reform Act of 1832. But the great question was how the principle had been applied. No one could say that the introduction of the county occupation franchise by the Act of 1832 had at all altered the fact of property being the basis of the county qualification; (Hear, hear.) It added perhaps a fifth or sixth to the number of voters. But what did the present bill do ? The present number of county voters was estimated at 500,000. The bill proposed to let m 300,000 occupation voters. But what did it do be sides ? For some purpose which it was not easy to under stand they took out of the county representation 100,000 freehold voters and added them to the towns. The result would be that property would be sure to be overwhelmed, and the whole electoral powers of the counties would be in the occupation voters. That would be the plain result of the measure. He would not say anything whether £lO oc cupation was a proper or an improper limit; but the vast majority of the voters would belong to that class. Power would be completely in their hands. A great many argu ments had been used against lowering the franchise in towns; but no one had pointed out the danger of reducing the county franchise so as to put the whole power into the hands of one class. The bill had been spoken of as a mea sure dealing with a subject that had never been dealt with before. The counties contained upwards of 10 millions of people, and they were about to vastly en large the constituencies. But while there were 10 mil lions of population in the counties there were between seven and eight millions in the boroughs. For the 10 millions in the counties there were 500,000 voters, and for the seven millions in the boroughs there were 430,000 voters. It was proposed to take 100,000 from counties, and put them into the boroughs. He was not touching now on the fancy franchises. That gave 500,000:in the boroughs and 700,060 in the counties. But what was to be done with regard to members ? You were going largely to in cerase the voters in counties, with scarcely any addition to the members. The measure now proposed proceeded on the basis that there was not to be any great redistribution of seats. But could any one suppose that if' you C. - ere going to add 300,000 voters t o the counties they would be long con tent without a redistributio n of seats ? It was impossible to suppose such a thing. If the constituencies were the same and the quality of voters the same, and the fen millions had only IGO representatives, and the seven millions 330, could such a strange state of things exist for a moment? He might be met from the Treasury bench by the argument that ho must not complain because the counties had always had a less number of representatives than boroughs, and that that • was the old stat e o f thi ngs. H e did not complain,' but if the answer was a good one , what became of th e equa l ity of the £lO franchise, for there hadalwrys been a diference between the county and b oroug h voters ? If you created equality of voting, it was impossible to keep off redistribution of seats, and you must give the counties their just 'share of the let re sentation. The noble lord the Secretary for India said that the Government bill was just the thing to smooth down that difficulty. If so, how can those who were averse to a redis tribution of seats think the measure so geed a one? What would become of the exist:ng Vetere. in counties ? It could not be said exactly how it would work; but it was clear that the present constituencies would be swamped. If you brought in at once a number of new voters equal to three to four, it was clear that the old voters would stand in a dif ferent position to that in which they now stood. • Ho came now to the extension of the suffrage in boroughs The ques tien had been argued on that the (Ministerial) side of the house, and the hon. and learned member for Cambridge borough had given a distinct definition of what was in tended when he said that we should no longer have a rough and clumsy mode of letting in people to the franchise, that the old-fashioned system of letting them in in the gross was no longer to exist; the principle must be that of mice , tion. The hon. and learned member gave a curious illustra tion of the principle. He said when a man was tried for his life, or for his character, which was dearer than his life, by a jury, for any such purpose any 12 men were sufficient, but when you com e t o th e more responsible matter of elect ing a member of Parliament, by the 19-1000th part of the electors of Marylebone or the Tower Hamlets, you could not trust to the same rough process, but you must have the principle of selection. It was said that you would rot the best of the working classes by the new franchises proposed. He (Mr. Henley) wished to examine them, and see how you would get the best of that class. It was not pretended (he was not speaking of that portion of the working classes who were humbler than those who had £lO houses)—it was not asserted—that the franchise, which took in doctors, and lawyers, and schoolmasters, would affect them—they were , the gems of the collection. (Hear, and a laugh.) The next class were the lodgers. He did not apprehend that men who paid Ss. a week for lodgings, or ss. a wee k f or unfur nished room s wou ld b e of a lower class than £lO house holders. Then, the cnly thing which remained was the sav ings bank franchise. They were told that you would not reduce the £lO franchise on account of the anomaly i 1 IliCh would arise ' • but he should lik e t o k now how the anomaly between the franchise for £3OO iii-the Three per Cent. Con sols and the £63 savings bank franchise was to be recon ciled. Both were to be money or money's worth in Govern ment securities, and how £6O in one Government security, and £3OO in another, could be equality, he could not com prehend. (Hear.) Was £6O in a savings bank a fair test by which you could say that a man among the working classes who did not possess it was not as respectable and trustworthy as a man who did? (Hear, hear.) He said that it was no such test at all. He was ready to admit that a man who had £6O in the savings bank might be, and probably was, a most respectable person ; but what were the circumstances under which one man had it and another did not possess it—for that was the real point? (Hear, hear.) It was said that you wanted to measure a man's prudence, self-respect, and care, and that was the security But there was a difference between a married man and a single man, and between a man with a large and a man with a small family. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Henley) happened to be a man with a large family. A man might be respectable and trustworthy among the working classes, although he might not be able to put money in the savings bank. There was such a thing as putting children to school among the humbler as well as the higher classes. There were thousanas of children run ning about the streets who did not go to school, and if a man with four or five children let them run about the streets, and sent his wife to work in a factory, if he was a money-mak ing man he might get £6O in the savings bank, but he was not a more respectable member of society than a man who put his children to school and let his wife attend to his family, and therefore did not make money. (Hear.) There fere £6O in the savings bank was not a fair test of a mem ber of the working classes having a right to the franchise. He did not admit that the savings bank franchise standing alone was a criterion of the right of a working man to the franchise. The right hon. gentleman the Secretary for the Colonies spoke of the danger of the extension of the fran chise in that direction. His right hon. friend nearhim (Mr. Vi 7 alpole) spoke of a £6 franchise. That would admit 100,001 voters, not more; but if you made that alteration in the borough franchise, which was now 400,000, would that compare with what was proposed by the bill, namely to let in 300,000 or 400,000 ? He would now say a word or two on the amendment of the noble lord. That was the question before the house, and which bore on the vote of every mem ber. He agreed with what had been said, that they had not got the issue fairly before them. It was not the question of the second reading of the bill simply and purely. They had got on the one hand the amendment of the noble lord, and, on the other, the declaration of the Government. He should have occasion to notice both. What did the noble lord's amendment secure—for that was the first question ? It secured, certainly, to those who affirmed it, that there would be no transfer of the freehold franchise in boroughs. The great part of that was completely met by the clauses which had been somewhat irregularly put into the bill by the Government. What did the last part of the amendment do ? It was as vague as anything could be—so vague that no human being could assign any definite mean ing to it. If the Government was to reduce the lodger fran chise fromSs. to 7s. 6d., it \muld satisfy the noble lord's amendment. Was it worth while to meet such a measure by such an amendment; arid he asked himself why it had been done. It seemed to him to have but one object. He did not deal with men's motives ; he had nothing to do with them, and he thought they would be better without them. (Laughter.) The only object was to get the votes of many inemburs of the house, who did not like to vote against the ; second reading of the Reform Bill; and it was a kind of means of kicking out the bill without that inconvenience_ (Hear.) That seemed to be the object of the amendment. He, for one, could not join in that process. (Hear.) He (Mr. Henley) was one of those who thought it very de sirable this question should, if possible, be settled. There were two things which he had gathered hon . ' this debate. One was, that a very considerable number of members of the house, if not the majority, were anxious that the thing should be settled this year. (Cheers.) Ho also believed the larger number were quite disposed to say that in its present shape the Government bill would not settle this question. (Cheers.) Of those two points anybody who had attended to the debate must be pretty well aware. He, then, for one, was ready to go into committee on the bill ; and lie hoped when they got into committee, the deliberations of the house would have their due weight with the Government, and induce them, if possible, to get the bill into such a shape as to afford reasonable ground of satisfying the more moderate people. It was quite out of the question to satisfy all. (Cheers.) Do what they would, they could not do that. He quite aereed in thinking that it did not matter one farthing what bill the Government brcught forward. (Cheers.) He believed whatever it was, it would have been pulled about and torn to pieces, and a party would have been formed against it, just as much as had now been done. (Hear, hear.) This was very natural, and he blamed nobody for it. It was very natural on a subject which was one of such enormous diffi culty that hardly any two persons in private conversation s oould agree upon it ; and, the Government not having a ma jority in the house, it was a very tempting opportunity for the gentlemen opposite to exercise what was their perfect right, and tear any measure of the Government to pieces. It was something more than their right—he did not know that :it was not their duty—to tear it to pieces, if it was capable of being torn, because, no doubt, by that means, we might get a better measure. (Hear, hear.) But he would also say to the Government that, considering the position they were kavhen they took office, and that they were now bringing forward a bill under such known and vast difficulties, that did not place them in the same position with regard to making alterations which they could not agree to, as if they had a great majority at their beck, and their own friends 'hid not been divided in opinion. He would venture in all humility to say that this was an important consideration for the Government, with respect to their own followers in going into committ ee . Th e s i tuation was a peculiar one, .and must be judged of by its peculiar circumstances ; and those rules could not be applied to it which probably would otherwise, in a general way, be applied in a case where the Government had a majority at its beck, instead of being in a known minority, with a great number of its own friends differing in opinion. He had stated frankly his objections to this measure, and he now stated, equally frankly, why he could not support the motion of the noble lord, which would do no good, but hang up the subject for another year, and give more opportunity for that agitation which some persons would be glad enough to create. Those per sons, indeed, if a Reform Bill was brought forward with the provisions of which they could not agree, would use it as additional fuel for the fire, and no good would come of that but exasperation of feeling, and setting one class against another. He was, therefore, very anxious, as rapidly as possible, to settle this question. Many members had said that if we took one step downwards, we must go to the last step at once, with no resting place between. He doubted that very much; he did not think the people of this coun try were unreasonable. (Cheers.) He believed we could go down by steps, and go safer by steps. His great objec tion to this bill was that it laid' down a principle which would prevent our going down by steps, because equalising the occupation franchise throughout the whole country would to a great degr ee h ave t h a t effect. (Hear, hear.) Equality of franchise, in his opinion, was dangerous. Two examples had been quoted to frighten the house—those of France and America.. He did not want either of them, but our own mixed constitution, in which each part of the com munity should have its due share. Classes of people as well as individuals were likely to be £4l6sh if they got all the power into their own hands. Our constitution, with its ins and outs, and what people might call its absurdities, had contrived to stand for hundreds of years, and it was remarked by Lord Macaulay that it had stood because the people, when they wanted any improvement, did not look about for any new-fangled fashions, but proceeded to get what they wanted by the old ways. He believed that con- • stitution afforded more liberty, more security for life and property, than any other; and though he wished, if ho ' could, to amend it, he wished to do so by an extension of its old principles. (Cheers.) Mr. ROEBUCK—Sir, no one estimates morehighly than I do the importance of the subject we are now discussing. In the many years I have been in Parliament no such great subject has occupied our attention. Other matters may have had a momentary importance, but they have been cir cumscribed in point of time, and in the extent of their ope rations. But the alteration you seek now to effect is an altra tion in the constitution of this country. The acts of' this house influence the destinies of the whole world, and there fore the act which we are now about considering is an act that influences the happiness of mankind. This is why I wish, if possible--not to put an end to this subject, for an end to it we cannot put ; but I want to go forward. My object is to obtain what reform I can ; and the question that I ask myself is, in what way can I best obtain that reform ? There is, sir, a matter now before the house, and that mat ter is twofold. What is it that we are about ? We are about to reform the Reform Act. Then we have got two inquiries to make—what is it that requires reform ? and, what means shall we take to attain the end we desire ? Now, sir, I will at once apply myself to those two matters ; and I have too much respect for the house to occupy their attention for a long time at this period of the debate ; - I will study brevity as much as I can. The House of Commons, from the very day of its establishment, has been in a state of constant its fluctuation and change. Now it has changed as rega rds the persons who elect it. For many years Lords. own influence in the state; now it has chang t e h d c " Ho re uVo; But the e n u s wa ous s e th o c i i . tu a r d l s s I( t ' ott n t d o m th ai e d ra o se f t l h v e es ii t o h u e s p e altte of. 1137 140 9i 10/ 11 124} 5