The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-04 00:00:00

PABLIAMINTART REFORM. MEETING AT NORWICH. A great meeting in favour of parliamentary re form was held in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, on Titeeday evening. The spacious hall was we'll filled, and the platform was crowded. Mr. Osborn WSpringfield, of the firm of Springfield, Son, and i ta r i ' row was called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN said the object of the meeting as to show Lord Palmerston and tl:e government abet the people were wide awake to the importa , uce of parliamentary reform, and that they were pre pared to support an honest and proper measure of reform if it was brought forward. Their object was also to show Lord Palmerston and the men that no sham would pass current—(hear, govern hear)—and that the people expecte,d, a l F =lo l w r as efor c m x. , - not a mere "delusion and anare•ttendance in the tremely glad to see such a body of the meeting, and rohrgebserve on the plat form that moral weight whuicatli°sotraitiliorn—aandgalTheeitfirg w al h w i a ih is ii(era'l3-eeliteove6d7iwt o a uldh edlop fortci sthhoewptehoaptlenoo-f no thing but real reform would this country. (Cheers.) e J. H. TILLE TT moved the first resolution : M That this meet i n g declares its satisfaction at the promise given by Lord Palmerston that the govern ment will this session propose an adequate measure of parliamentary reform, and expresses its earliest h o pe that the government, in determining on the provisions of the promised measure, will be duly mindful of the rights of the numerous class who are yet un-enfranchised ; and, therefore, that it will include a real and substantial extension of the franChise, that electors will have the much-needed protection of the ballot, and that i nomination stricts and boroughs will give place to important districts towns at present unrepresented in Mr. Tillett observed that he remembered_P isaliament." when in the days of his childhood some of playmates_ they had some sweet things to give away would say to him, Open your mouth and shut your eyes, and see what I will send you." Anxious to have the sweet things, he opened his mouth and shat his eyes, and a bard crust would be put in, or something not even so agreeable as that. So, when again they repeated the formula to him, he said, " No, I will open my mouth with pleasure, but I will keep my eyes open at the same time." (Laughter.) This was precisely what Lord Palmer ston was doing to John Bull. He said, "John, open your mouth and shut your eyes, and see what I will send you." (Laughter.) John should reply, "No, thank you my lord; I'll open my mouth wide enough, but I'll keep my eyes open too." If Lord Palmerston had some sweet thing to give the people —something really acceptable—let them keep their eyes open, and they would theu be able to appre ciate his goodness. (Laughter.) With this simple illustration to explain his meaning, he thought it was very proper that the people should show the Government that they were wide awake ; that they were quite willing to accept any good thing that might be proposed, but that they did not mean to be imposed upon, for they were not children to be sported and trifled with. He knew that he was looked upon as an extreme man. Well, in point of principle he was an extreme mai, but in point of action he was opposed to any revolutionary or violent measures. (Rear, hear.) When he said he was an extreme man iu point of principle, he meant to say that every honest, intelligent and in dustrious man should be a freeman, and have all the rights which appertain to freemen ; and he should never be content till this principle was embodied in the legislation of , the country. He considered, moreover, that every vote given to a man ought to have such accompaniments as would make it really a Tots ; and that, therefore, every elector should be protected by the ballot. he believed also that every elector in Norfolk, Norwich, or elsewhere should have as nearly as possible an equal power in his vote with other electors in other parts of the kingdom. An elector of Thetford had now 39 times the power in regard to the creation of a member of Parlia ment as an elector of West Norfolk, 26 times the power of an elector of Norwich, and 117 times the power of an elector of the great borough of the Tower Hamlet. This was a monstrous anomaly; and he, therefore, advocated the 'rarest possible approximation to an equal division of electoral power. These might be extreme opinions, but he was content to take what he could get as an instal- , meat of them ; and he thought this should b 3 the " course of all true reformers. Everything in nature was gradual ; and he believed by a gradual exten sion of popular rights, by the power of the people becoming day by day stronger and stronger, that the institutions of the country would ultimately become democratic, and that the people would rise to the glorious realisation of the ideal of all govern caents---the government of all by all, and for the good of all. (Sear.) Then all questions of class legislation would be utterly lost sight of ; every man would stand as a man, with the rights of man given him by the constitution of the land, and all the interests of the nation would be promoted by the laws resulting from the action of the legislature, The important question of legislating for India would come before the next session of Parliament ; the legislature would be called upon to prescribe fur 150,000_,000 of men in the east; and he con sidered that before we assumed to govern other people we ought to show to the world that we knew how to govern ourselves. (Hear, hear.) Let the Ethish constitution be purged of the anomalies which were a disgrace to it; let the working classe=, who produced the wealth of the country, be recog nised as voting members of the commonwealth ; and we should then be fully prepared to do justice to the millions of the far Eist. (Cheers.) Sir W. FOSTER, Bart., briefly seconded the reso lution, and expre. sed his opinion that Lord Pal merston would bring forward a measure which would be acceptable to the reformers of England. Mr. SCHNEIDER, M. P. (who was present with his colleague, Lord Bury, M.P.), next addressed the meeting, and was received with loud cheers. The hon. gentleman said he still continued to hold the opinions which he stated to the constituency when he was a candidate for the representation of the city in March last ; and he trusted that he might be per mitted to express those opinions for the benefit of his constituents in another place. He stated in March that he was in favour of an eaten-ion of the franchise, andhe further stated in plain business-like language, which no one could misunderstand, that the measure which he proposed to his own mind was a 5/s. franchise for cities and boroughs, and a 101. franchise for counties. These opinions he still con tinued to hold ; but at the same time he felt, as a man of business—and he was sure they would agree Rita him, that, in being prepared to carry out these opinions to the fullest extent, he should still not neglect the interests of his constituents, if he took a less extended measure proposed by the government as an instalment—and an instalment only—of their just rights. In supporting the measure which he trusted Lord Palmerston would bring in, he should only support it if it was a real and substantial mea sure of reform. If it was not a substantial measure, be should be prepared to record his vote against it. At the same time, if it was a substantial measure, he would take it, if he could get no better, as an in stairnent of the rights to which the people were justly entitled. He wished he could add that the government would go in every case to the extent to which he was prepared to follow any man who would, lead. Upon one point he feared Lord Pal merston was not prepared to go to the full extent, anu he mentioned the matter because he knew that the question of church rates was one which those present had much at heart. He was prepared to go for the entire and absolute abolition of church rates. They were promoting by t',eir cheers the cause - which they had at heart, and declaring their opinion that church rates ought to be totally abolished, and that they called upon the Govern -merit to introduce ameasure for that purpose. (Cheers.) u -port one minit point he feared he should have _to ms oppose the r iT l ee t i t o h • the n a i r ): d ti I bo t to the p re p n a e r w e dßteo -13in—he iefer that; the Governmeat He fo.lrc,l bring forward the b.allwototil would He of their Reform Bill, and he censideredmtehaseetTe most form an essen tial element of that or the lasllot he whoever might itbt:ingoye forward in the would vote, Government did not Hoose of Commons, and if the Ch ou bring it forward the question s which he would opp ose t h em. At the sani on et e- upon , a man of business, if he cou ld not get all he wanted - lie would take what he could ge t ; and h e tniste-d -,by their encouraging him and producing an elfect upon the Government that they might by degrees obtain all they desired and all that was requisite to aasure them that fair proportion of the franchi se t o which they were justly entitled. He would just drew one fine distinction as an illust ration. H e was in favour.of a 5/. franchise for cities and boroughs, but if Lord Palmerston proposed a 61. franchise he wonid accept it rather than vote against the bill. He felt that in pursuing this course he should be acting in accordance with their wishes, doing what his convictions assured hirn was right, and carrying out to the fullest extent those pledges and pro mizes which be made in presenting himself as a candidate for their suffrages. Although many matters of great importance would occupy the next session of Parliament, still Lord Palmerston was a man who, though old in years, was juvenile in ac tion. ; he bad the power of bearing an immense weight upon his shoulders; he had energy, deter mination, and a firm and united party round him, and he could apply himself to the question of re form as well as to the question of India, in the same session of Parliament. It was seldom that one could find a wan who had the energy, courage, coolness, and perseverance, which Lord Palmer ton displayed in carrying measures which he had honestly at heart; and nothing much S T H. E duce Lord Palmerston to carry out a reform bill as for the people to tell kim that they required it of him, that they would support him in it, and that m th i e , y ht w h e a re ve d h et e e e r n m a in d e o d u t h o t. l i a n av t e he it. mi A na lt s h o o f u g s sh om th e er a e s to the propriety of holdin the mting, it could p h r e e people ss thei o r f England to as nevehrledo.bagneythhcraranm sem dforextsentiments hon estly, fairly, and wit h moderation, as they were expressed in the resolution proposed—a resolution in which no true reforme r could fail to g o heart and s oul, and which he should have most heartfelt plea sure in supporting in his place iu the house in the ensuing session. (The lion. member resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.) Lord BURY, M.P., who experienced an equally cordial reception, said he could not better state his sentiments on the present occasion than by refer ring to his previous addresses. He had told them that he was in favour of an extensive measure of reform, and by that he meant that he considers d there was a large unenfranehised class in the corn ia mincle I the franchise, that he wished to extend the franchise to this class, and take in, in different and collateral branches, many who had not now a vote. He stated, also, that, for the protection of the voters thus created, he considered that the ballot would be necessary ; that it would be the only protection that could be afforded to the voter ; that it was a mockery to give a vote, and not to protect it ; and that, therefore, he would unhesitatingly vote for the ballot. (Cheers.) With regard to a more equal division o f electoral districts, he thought, as Mr. Tillett had very ably demonstrated, that some places enjoyed a very undue share of the represen tation. He considered that electoral districts ought to be much more equalised, and that this could be best accomplished by doing away with the system of rotten boroughs which had hitherto existed. (Hear.) With regard to church rates, he feared, from the terms of the deputation which lately waited upon Lord Palmerston, and from the terms of his lordship's reply, that no measure origi nating with the Government would be presented to the House of Commons next session ; but he be lieved the subject was in able and experienced hands, and that it would be brought to a satisfac tory conclusion. For his own part, ho should have much pleasure in exercising the trust reposed in him as one of their representatives, by voting for the total and unconditional abolition of church rates. (Cheers.) In regard to the Reform B 11, they must remember that union was strength, and that the foundation of all society was mutual concession for the mutual good. The more they could unite all classes of the community in demanding reform, the more pressure they could bring to hear upon the Government the better reform they would have. The pressure to which he referred was nume rical pressure after all. No one section could make any definite impression on the Government, but all must unite. He would get the nearest possible approach to his opinions he could, but if any sec tion arose in the House of Commons, as they some times did with impracticable suggestions, he thought they would merely obstruct the question, retard the efforts of those who had reform, as Vie had, really at heart, and perhaps drive them into the anomalous position of voting with the tories. This was a position in which he thought the repreienta• ti ves of Norwich should never be, and whsle he was one of those representatives he would never occupy it. After a few further observations, the noble lord retired amid much applause. The resolution, on being put, was carried unani mously. Mr. J. J. COLMAN, in an able address, moved that a petition to Parliament, founded on the reso lution, should be signed by the chairman on behalf of the meeting, that the city members be requested to present it, and also to transmit a copy of the resolution to Lord Palmerston. Mr. C. N. BOLINGBROKE seconded the resolu tion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. BUNTING moved the thanks of the meeting to Lord Bury and Mr. Schneider for their attend ance. The IRev. J. CROMPTON seconded the proposi tion, which was cordially agreed to, and suitably acknowledged. MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM. A meeting in furtherance of the reform move meet was held in the Town-hall, Birmingham, on ‘, Tuesday night. About 4,000 persons were present. The MA.YOR (John Ratcliffe, Esq.) presided ; the meeting having been convened by his worship upon a requisition presented to him. After some letters expressive of regret at being being unable to attend had been read by Mr. J. S. Wright, Mr GEORGE EDMONDS, the clerk of the - peat?, read the following letter from Mr. J. Bright, M.P. : " Rochdale, Feb. 1. "My dear Sir,—Altho ug h I am unable to be upon your platform to-morrow, be a3sured that I shall be with you in spirit, and that I wish every succeos to your reform movement. May I intrude on you wi h a few lines ou the great topic you are about to discuss " I observe in the first paragraph of your circu lar you ask the aid of your townsmen in the endea vour to obtain an ' extension of the suffrage.' Afterwards you insert the propositions of the Lon don committee, which I am very glad to see yuu have adopted ; but you are probably looking to " the extension of tue suffrage' as the main point and principal demand of the new agitation. I am as much fur this extension as you cau ba, and there fore I can, without suspicion as to my wishes with regard to it, the more frankly warn you of a danger which I see before us. " Twenty-liva years ago the Tory party, and th• Whigs almost as much so, were gre atiy afraid of an extension of the suffrage ; now very few persons of any intelligence, even among the Conservatives, are afraid of it. The propositions made some time ago by the Governments of Lord J. Russell and Lord Aberdeen showed clearly that the franchise is no longer the dread of the aristocratic and ruling classes ; an' it is not unlikely that L :rd Palmer ston, if he produce a Reform Bill, will go a long way in the direction in which we wish to go, so far as the franchise is concerned. We can easily understand this. The franchise itself gives no real power unless accompanied by the right, on the part of all the possessors of it, to elect ;something like an equal number of represen tatives. I could easily fr a m e a bill w hi ch would give ' universal suffrage in its widest sense, an'i wilich would confirm more strongly than ever the supremacy of the English oligarchy over the English people. If your great city, with its great constituency, is only to send two men to Parl a meat, while an equal population and property in some othcs part or parts of the kingdom is to send 20 men to Parliament, then, I say, your franchise is of little avail. The man who can merely shout at the hustings or contribute to the show of hands, is, in reality, in almost as good a position as the man who votes, if the value of votes is rendered so unequal, or is nearly destroyed, by the unequal distribution of representativJs among the whole body of electors. " Tha Government and the Parliament, even the House of Lord, will consent to a large increase of electors, and men who have not considered the sub ject fully will imaLine they have gained much by the concave ' Lord J. Russell, in his many speeches on a further measure of reform, generally, if not always, confines himself to an extension of the franchise,' and his last bill, although it would have added largely to the number of electors throughout the kingdom, would have done absolutely nothing to lessen the power of the order to which he belongs, or to increase that of the nation as distinguished from its privileged and aristocratic class. , - " It is not a matter of opinion, or of doubt, that I am discussing ; it is a question of fact and of arithmetic, and therefore I wish to urge it strongly upon your attention. The contest in the question rif reform will bl on the distribution of the seat. Ain the great norough of the Tower klainkts, with its half a million of population, be content to return only two members t . Parliament ? Will Finsbury, Marylebone, Lambeth, and the other London boroughs ? Will Glasgow and Manchester, and Liverpool, and Birmingham, and the other leading cities of the United Kingdom, be content to dwarf themselves, politically, to the size of boroughs whose whole pop ulati n would sc.ircely people one of their inferior streets ? Sh ill it be admitted that the_ mor e men come toget h er, th e more th e y ara in dustriou3, skilful, i n t e lli gen ' and pow, , rful in every other respe c t, th e l es , shall b ' e their influence in the Government of their country ? This is the great ques t t io o n c i o an m d u i e t h r t %st l w v i e tl i i . , t . he people of Birming ham " Any Reform Bill which is wor th a momen t' s hou:_;ht, or the smallest effort to car, y it, must at cl ic ) i u n bl g aeon l.thean.r least double, and it t up o t to do much more than actliltetdhosigtranet_ t of . the metropolitan irleteoPfUrescllo ct r tics of the United horoug ' hs, A ti m ii3 eri . ca and BA gium and Sardinia comprehendcso tion. A year ago, I was in the cit of , GTIo PIe , a ci n u d es i found that it returned seven ' r 3 re s y e se v n en ,a b tiv .es to the Sardinian_ Parliament at Turin P it fair hire, calcula'.ed according to the populationeng various cities and districts of the Sardinian of -Ll' : dom. In this country, throughout Grea rkiitnaru. and Ireland, you will find that property r e at e ed to the reli e f o f the poor follows very closely of populati on; and the only just principle of rep sentation is th a t o f i n d us t ry, property, intelligence, and population of th e coun t ry s h ould be as nearly as may be equally represented wherever they are to Ibe found. lam not erguing for any matematical precision in this matter, but for such a change as NIIALI really give the HOMO of Commons to the na- LONDON, THURSDAY EVENT-NG, tion. T:le'we , rd proposition in your list adopt s thi s principle, an' .1 I only dwell upon it be c a use I k now Its are too much accustom e d t o l oo k t i h ri e n t ci i p t l e e f , er:ki e rage as if it were the all imp or t an t , aportant point in their creed. ‘' W rd to the ballot it is w or thy o f remar k that no With n o u r po th n e the e nl s y u l e ,l .g has been held f or many years i n i reg.a eetil favour of Retort'mat which the ballot h as no t b een I on. If Reform i s to be granted to hant Reformers ; if th e i r ju d gmen t and unanimity sire sufficient to justify or t o force strongly gratify i and i i e l ': , ? 1. ,. i its concession, s len, surely, the ballet canuct be denied to us, an i I feel certain it will not long be refused. The ball 'at is not so much a principle as a convenience. It c lees not bestow the franchise ; it only guarantees th at which the law has already con fen ed. A voter gee le to the poll in a cab because it is easier and sometime es safer for him than to struggle through an excited , Trowd on foot ; why should he not be allowed to von a by ballot, to shelter him from the more serious arm° Vance he may be, and is now, often subjected to, fro m the importunity, or threats, of his landlord, his cr, sthtor, or his reen•einer ? " When toe 200 me ti now iu the House of Com mons who are pledged t 0 support the ballot, or when 100 of them, or when 5i ri of them are in earnest, and . tell the Government th ey are resolved to have it, and that they will leave any Government that will not grant it in the hands of the Philistines on the opposite side of the house --then, and probably not till then, the ballot will No conceded. I dread to think of the consequences of a wide extension of the suffrage in our manufacturing districts should it be obtained without the ballot. It will tempt employers * of labour to a hateful tyranny, and it will doom multitudes of the employed, I fear, to a not less hateful condition of political 'degradation. " I write this letter chiefly that I may warn you against the pitfalls that are in your path. Your cause is not in the hands of friends. Your forces in the Parliamentary field are commanded by men takeu from, or chosen by, your constant and natu ral opponents ; and they lead them, not for your purposes, but for their own. I beseech you to watch well what" is proposed and what is done. Be the measure great or small, let it be honest in every part. Include as many as you can in the right of the franchise. Insist neon such a distribution of seats as shall give the House of Commons fairly to the industry, the property, the intelligence ' and the population of the country. Demand the ballot as the undeniable right of every man who is called to the poll ; and take special care that the whole constitutional rule and principle by which majori ties alone shall decide in Parliamentary elections shall not be violated. " I give my hearty support, as I have heretofore done, to the prop isitions contained in your circu lar. I lament that I cannot join you in your meet ing to-morrow, for I esteem it a great honour to be permitted to act with the inhabitants of Birming ham on that question which a quarter of a century ago they did so much to advance, and on which their potent voice is once more about to be hoard. " I am very sincerely yours, " JOHN BRIGHT. "To George Edmonds, Esq., Birmingham." The reading of the letter was followed by great cheering, and Mr. Edmonds' call for " three cheers for John Bright" was heartily and with a good will responded to. Mr. Edmonds afterwards real a letter fr. Mr. Joseph Sturgis, excusing his absence, but conveying his pleasure to find the people of Bir mingham again moving in the cause of obtaining for non-electors their political right, and his un changed conviction of the right of every man to a vote in the selection of those who made the laws he was bound to obey. (Cheers.) Mr. EDMONDS afterwards proceeded to say that it now became his duty to fulfil the task imposed on him of reeving the first resolution. It was to the followieg effect :—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, the time has arrived when a large and liberal measure of reform should be conceded bythe legislature, in which the claims of the industrial population should be prominently recognised. That patient, temperate, and wise conduct of the people proves them capable of using the fi anchise so as to advance the general welfare of the nation, and greatly augment the security of the State ; and this • meeting, therefore, declares that no reform will be efficient or satisfactory, unless it shall include :- 1. Tile extension of the borough franchise in Eng land and \Vales to ' every male person of full age and not subject to any legal incapacity,' who shall occupy, as owner or tenant, in part or in whole, any premises within the borough. The extension of the county franchise in England and Wales to all 101. occupiers at least. The assimilation as far as possible of the franchise in Scotland and Ireland to those of England and Wales. 2. Protection to voters by ballot, on a plan similar to that adopted in the Australian coloni,es. '3. A re-appointment of seats that shall make such an approach to an equalisation of constitktencies as shall give in the United Kingdom a majority of members to a majority of electors. 4. Abolition of property qualification for members. 5. The calling of a new Parliament every three years," (Loud cheers.) With respect to Mr. Bright's letter, he said he could not allow it to pass without saying that a more clear-sighted document he had never read. It brought before them the greatest point that could possibly engage their attention—ho meant the insisting upon such a redistribution of seats as should correspond with the numbers that formed the constituencies. "Upon this great question he would read to them a statis tical statement which they could rely upon. He found that seven beronghs—namely, Chippenham, Marlborough, Richmond, linareshoreugh, Har wich, Deptford, and :Tavistock, which comprised 2,000 voters, returriel no less than 14 members to Parliament, whilst Manchester, Liverpool, Bir mingham, and Bristol, containing altogether 45,060 electors, only sent eight.l (Shame.) This showed the unjust operation of the present system. (Hear.) What was the use of giving the suffrage to these 45,000, when in fact, it they deducted 12,000 who sent 14 members, there would be left 33,000 prac tically and entirely unenfranchised ; for, although they appeared to exercise the electoral right, the utmost they could do was to return eight members, to be outvoted by the 14 members sent by the 2,000. (Cheers.) Did not that demonstrate the absurdity of an extension of suffrage, without insisting on a redistribution of electoral districts. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Edmohds then quoted from a speech made by Lord J. Russell in 1832, which, ho said, went to prove that in proportion as the constituencies are numer sus the members sent by those constituen cies were proportionately economical and protective of the interest of the people ; and added that he amt re r - g a u dje e e n t e i a e s n t t o e t f h e t h overwhelming e i i e m s . t. or tan (c c h e brought this to thei r no ti ce as a ff ord i ng another e e o r f s . a ) r.a gentleman s i A l efttteerr to o ls 3f o 1 r r. e fe l at v r i i i n i i g a tu t o p, a in pas w s h ag ic e l ili th l‘ a l t combatted thAnotion that if the whole of the rate payers were admitted to the franchise the country would be subjected to " the tyranny of the million," he concluded by calling uponthemen of Birmingham to adopt the same policy they did in supporting the old Reform Bill, namely, whilst claiming what was their right, to throw aside petty personalities, and to take care, as they did nuder the wholesome ad vice of Thomas .Atwood, to insist only upon what was legal and peaceful, the Government would yield to the omnipotent voice of the people. (Cheers.) Thank God wo had a free press, and the press and the people, if they were unanimous, firm, and peaceful, might do all they chose to attempt, and he wished them success in then. present movement. Mr. J. A. LANGFORD seconded the resolution. He observed that it had been with much propriety arranged that old Birmingham should move the first resolution on that occasion, and he supposed it had been thought right that young Birmingham should follow. (A laugh.) However that might be, one thing was very certain, it was an answer to those who said that England did not want reform. (Hear.) It might seem at:singe that at this time of day they should be found supporting a programme of reform such as that embodied in the resolution, but it was the character of the English nation that they cover made 'sups and stares--they went on gradually step by step, holding their way inch by inch, and never retrogradinee (Cheers.) The Re form Bill was a step, and they - had never gone b ick from it. (Rear.) Had it not been for the Reform Bill they never would have got the repeal of the corn laws, nor of the Test Acts, nor a free press, nor would Birmingham have had a representative. (Hear, bear.) These were things worth working for, though it was now found that more was re quired. Still let them advance by degrses, and if the new programme now submitted did not go far enough to please them all, let them not forget the past ' but accept it as as an instalment, and then go for afart her one at some future time. (Loud cheers.) On this ground he should advise that, if Lord Pal merston's promised bill was not so comprehensive as they could desire—if it embrace I any feesh ele ments of reform—let them be content with it for the present. Let there s',t, ad. finite object before them, and let not their efforts relax until they at tained it ; and though they might perhaps succeed only by degrees, the end would be at last achieved. (Cheers.) Having commented upon the different clauses of the programme, he said there was enough in it to unite them on the grand question of reform. He urged the reformers of the town to be unanimous, as any difference would he taken advantage of to withhold even a measure of conces- Sion ; and concluded by expressing his conviction that if they persisted fi rm ly and unitedly iu dr 'alrg what was embodied in the resolution, they should au ^ ' Mr. SenoLEF three times three an d the subject calline ono of deep jin cected. (Loud cheers.) Biriminghana and a M.P., who was greeted with and prolosged acclamation, said g them together that evening was pottanco to the political interests of her o large towns in the kingdom. 1 If they had any expectation that Lord Palmeraton wa s about to introduce an efficient Reform Bill there might be some reason for waiting for that bill to come ; but those who anticipated that Lord Pal merston would bring forward such a measure would he thought, find themselves greatly mistaken. (Cheers.) Mr. Bright,. in the admirable l e tt er which th ey had just heard read, did not deem it at all impossible that Lord Palmerston might propo se a large addition to thefranchise. He(Mr. Scholefield) confessed he did not share in any such an ti c i pat i on. Re did not believe that either Lord Palmerston or Lord John Russell were prepared to make any very large addition to the franchise, and he therefore thought it of the utmost importance that they should meet to lay down some principles on which they considered a new reform bill ought •o be based. At the same time he would repeat what he had before said, and what had been urged eith great force and clearness by M r . L angford, that in proposing this large measure of reform, which they considered should be the standard of a ilew la', 113 was not prep-trod to -ay be would abide by that or nothing, but if he could ge t a goo d mea sure of reform short of this he would aecspt it grate fully, and would, with their kind assistance, exert himself afterwards to get more. (Cheers.) He did not know that ho need enlarge materially on the subject calling them together that evening, for they had heard in the first place the admirable letter of Mr. Bright, and the excellent addresses of Mr. Edmonds and Mr. Langford, and they had gone over the ground so completely that little was left for Lim to add. Thirteen years ago he told th em what his political opinions were on the various points referred to in the resolution ; and h e s t oo d there now with those opinions ervirely unchaeged, and he said this despite that which might in the mind of some men less attached to reform have shaken their convictions. Some recent experience he had had in the United States. There he found that a want of a well regulated system of registration, a loose mode of administering the law of elections, and a loose method of taking the votes, had led to a state of things as, he confessed, was conducive neither to the character or dignity of the American people o and he for one would not exchange the liberty we en joyed in this couetry, imperfect as it was, for the much vaunted and superficial liberty of the United States. He firmly believed we bad one great ad vantage over America—perfect freedom of opinion. As regarded the first point referred to he the pro gramme—the extension of the franchise—he need not say it had his entire concurrence. It was pre cisely the shape in which Mr. Sturge advocated re form many years ago. He never doubted that it was the proper basis of the franchise, and although he would takeless, he would never d o less thancon ' tend for that. With regard to the assimilation as far as possible of the Scotch and Irish franchises to those of England and Wales, he knew that the effects of the 40s. freehold movement originated by their friend Mr. Jas. Taylor, had in this country been great and important, and when it had been proposed to him in the last session of Parliament to lend his name to a similar movement in Scotland and Ire land, he readily concurred. And now, with refer ence to the protection of the voter by the ballot, he had always been favourable to it, and whenever the question had been brought before Parliament he had always voted in its favour, and always should. But as he had told them before, he could not regard the vote by ballot as that large and important question which some reformers thought it, with the present restricted right o f voting for mem bers of Parliament. But give him a large extension of the franchise, and th ere wou ld b e no firmer sup porter of the ballot than be would be. As regarded the appointment of seats, that had been so well argued by Mr. Bright, and illustrated by Mr. Ed monds, as to leave him but little to say, more than that he was decidedly in favour of such a step. With regard to property qualification, he quite agreed with the remarks of Mr. Langford, who pre ceded. At the same time let him (Mr. Scholefield) assure them that the property qualification was a mere sham, for there was no man in that assembly who, if he were put forward as a candidate for Bir minglitm, could not obtain a property qualification to-morrow. It was the easiest thing in the world for a man who bad not sixpence of his own 'o ob tain a qualification by having ono lent him. (Laughter.) And though this step might deter an upright sold conscientious man, it never kept back an unconscientious one. Moreover, in Scotland there was no property qualification, and there could not possibly be men sent to Parliameut more intel lectually cr socially qualified than those members who came from Scotland. (Applause.) He bad now come to the last proposition, viz., the duration of Parliaments. He had never advocated shorter Par liaments than three years; for his own conviction was, that if they were to elect a man every year, they would have representatives who would not know their duty. The year was. not sufficient to enable a man to become sufficiently acquainted with the routine of thehouse. If they could notelect men whom they could trust for 3 years it was a poor case, and he must say their choice was very limited. In conclusion, he said that neither be nor Mr. Bright would ever shrink from an avowal of opinion which they knew the people of Bircuingli ins had adopted, and which they believed the people would permanently stand upon. (Loud cheers.) Mr. BEDDOWS also spoke in support of the reso lution. He was extremely gratified to seo so large a number of his fellow-townsmen there that even ing. It showed that the men of Birmingham had not lest the love of reform, but were s till prepare d to advocate it fully and to itsproper degree. The proposition before them contained all that they could desire. If there was one thing m ore th an another that they should strive after, it was the recons tit u tion of the House of Commons. (Che ers .) When the people neglected their duty the H ouse of Commonspeople grewranpant, and hen ce it was neces sary for rampant, be always o n th e i r guard. In speaking of the ill-adjustment of rewards, the speaker said lie would be the last todyenryexreawrcairtdos to such men as General Havelock, and th e o th er gallant men who had fought and saved Indi a t o Butwhohad only family connections to lie would de n y an this those nation.m k After an allus ion t o the manner in which petitions, &c., were treated by Lord recommend them. Pal merston and the House of Commons, he hoped the vote of the meeting would be one of unity and not disunion, and that no man would come fo rwar d with any single ideas regarding different d egrees o f suffrage, for the great question of union ; and he trusted they would not be bothered with amend ments upon a question which the goo d sense of every man there would tell him was properly and fully treated in the resolution. (A pp l ause.) He would, in conclusion, put it to tue good sense of the meeting, if the basis proposed was not one which would meet all classes --the higher as well as the lower. The MAYOR then put the resolution, and it was carried. Mr. J. S. WRIGHT, in a forcible speecij, moved the next resolution :—" That a p e titi on to the House of Commons be signed by th e M ayor, on behalf of the meeting, and that our borough mem bers be requested to present th e same, and support the prayer thereof." Mr. Wright then read the petition, which was based upon the resolutions. He was favourable to manhood suffrage, but thought the most direct means of obtaining it was by the course they had adopt A. He next remarked upon the re-distribution of the seats, and said that if Bi rm i ng h am had the number of tneraheis her popu lation entitled her to, she would have six repre sentatives. After some re:narks upon tho general necessity tythfeowilling exertion by the people themselves an earnest and in st tae cause of reform, Mr. Wright concluded by p roposing the resolution, amidst loud chee Is. Mr. McCAItmE seconded the resolution. An amendment was moved in favour of " man hood suffrage," but it was not seconded. Mr. Alderman BALnwi N deprecatedCOW any division. (,11,1(rman - Bald yin) had he did not believe P a l merston to be an honest t clan, but at that ti me Mr. Scholofield thought dif ferently. (Hear.) If gentlemen like Mr..Schok field gave way in th e slightest degree they would never carry the inn sur e they wanted. (Hear.) Ho (Mr. Baldwin) h a d always been, and was still, an advocate for th e charter, but he knew that a large number of people troughout the country would be satisfied if th ey got the measure (Cheer 4.) pro pounded that ev en i ng. Ho hoped, thtrcfore, the. chartists would join heartily in at temp'ing to get it. Mr. JAMEZ TAYLOI. denied that any gentlemen had been in favour of th e c h arier. No one h a d spoken in f avour o f annual parliaments, or p meat of mewi nfs . (Hear.) Mr. Hayward said the measure now p n posed was not extensive enough. Why it would take in 32,000 of the 40,000 adults Of Birmingham. (Cheers.) What was the good of the .e p,rpetqal amendments ? Were they any nearer the chatter than they were 15 ye - irs age ? Pahnersten was one of the grea'eA humbugi of the present day, and they need only expect from him as much reform as be was compelled to give in obelience to the will of the nation. (Cheers.) The resolution was carried. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the Mayor. POLYTECIINIC.—The approae iag solar eclipse fur nishes Mr. Pepper an opportunity of explaining in a ver3r iut._resting lecture the leading phenomena cf the solar system, which he also illustrated by a number of admirable dissolving views, The subject is ono that admits of being well treated in this manner • and. Mr. P2pper's astronomical lecture will no doubt at this junctora prove a consi lerablc addition to the attractiono, of tho establishment, FEBRUARY 4, 1858, CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.--Eeb, 23, OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Williams and Mr. Baron Bramwell.) Jeremiah Callagher, 25, and Patrick Murphy, 22, two Irish labourers, were iudicted for the wilful murder of Henry Morgan. _ Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clerk conducted the prose. cution. Mr. Sleigh defended Callagher, and Mr, Laxton appeared for Murphy. _ . The !acts of the case have appeared very recently in the report of the proceedings that took place before the magistrate and the coroner. The de ceased was a police-constable, and it appeared that on Boxing-day there was a great disturbance in the Commercial-road, at the East end of the town, in which the prisoners and a number of other Irish men were engaged and fighting with each other. In the course of the fight the prisoner Gallagher was seen to strike a man named M'Carthy a violent blow, and a police constable, named Filler, seeing this, end (Nerving that M‘C:lrtliy and apparently severely injured, he laid hold of Callagher, and attempted to take him to the sta tion, but the mob interfered, and forcibly dragged the prisoner away. The deceased and some other constables went after Callagher, and again at tempted to secure him, but his companions resisted them in the most desperate manner, and the police were struck and pelted with stones, and several of them severely injured. During these proceedings the prisoner Murphy seized hold of the staff of the deceased and pulled him round, and Callagher Was then seen to strike him a violent blow with the fist on the head. The matter at first appeared to have been viewed in the light of an assault, but the deceased very soon afterwards became para lysed, and he died on the 2d of January, and upon a post mortem examination, the brain was found to be in an extreme state of congestion, and the in juries he received upon the occasion in question were alleged to have bean the cause of death. The jury retired to deliberate upon their verdict,- and in about half an hour they returned into court, and found both prisoners guilty of manslaughter, but recommended Murphy to mercy, on the ground that he did not appear to have committed any actual violence upon the deceased. Mr. Justice Williams sentenced Callagher to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two yearn, and Murphy for one year. Patrick Riley, 36, was indicted for the murder of David Tarbitt. Mr. 11-)binion prosecuted. Mr. Plait defended the prisoner. The deceased, it appeared, was a private soldier in the Scots Fusilier Guards, and on the 28th of December was walking along Rosemary-lane, ac• campanied by one of his comrades named Robert Steel, when he observed two women, one of whom had a child in her arms, about to fight, when the companion of the deceased interfered and told them not to do so. The consequence of this lat Mane proceeding, it appeared, was, that the crowd sot upon the two soldiers and ill-used them bola, and the prisoner came out of a shop where he was at work and threw a small h immer at the deceased, and it struck him on the head and knocked him down. At first it was not thought that the injury was of a dangerous character, but on the 4th of January it was found necessary to take the deceased to the hospital, whore it was discovered that his skull was fractured, and it WAS found necessary to trepan it. He died ou the 26th of January of the injuries he had received. When the prisoner was taken into custody he at first denied that he had used any violence to the deceased, but he after wards said that the soldier had interfered with the wife of his mate, and ho gave him a cut with the hammer. Mr. Platt.made an able speech to the jury on behalf of the prisoner • and he called a witnes s wh o swore that the deceased struck one of the women, who was the wife of the prisoner, in the face with a cane, and that the ptismer seeing this throw the hammer at him. The jury, after some deliberation, found the pri soner guilty of manslaughter • and, in ausw o r to a question put by Mr. Baron liramwell, the foreman stated that the majority of the jury were of opinion that it was not true that the wife of the prisoner had been assaulted before the prisoner throw the hammer at deceased. PRICES 0.11 SHARES. Prom the Official "mt. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY EVENINt. LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 1858. CANALS t.'; ' Dividend Names of P, Divideadl Price. Names of ..) - ~.. per Companies. A per Companies. . Price. . Annum. cr., Annum. cn £ 1 X Ashtn &Oldh 93 71. p. et. Peak Forest. 78 5/. Os. Birmingham 40 4l: 9114 'Regext's •• • • 30 17s 161 A Coventry.. • • 100 111. 193 'Rochdale.... 85 4/. 80 Derby ..•• •• 100 6/. 15s. &lard &Won (40 281. GrandJunctn 100 21. pr. ct. 50 ,Stourbridge. 1 45 121. 10s. Do., 6 pr. Ct. 10 6/. pr. ct. 1 Severn an d Grand - Union 100 73. 6d I Wy e R a il. 26 •11. 16s. Kennt & Avr 40 63. f4( 3 Warwick &1 2/. 24 Leeds &Livrp ¶OO 251. 501 , Binning. j 100 Leicester.... 00 51. !Warwick & 1 21. 9 Leicstr &Nth 83 1/.55. 13 1 Napton.. j 100 Loughborogb 143 701. Worestr 81 78 10s. 19 Macclesfield. 100 2/. 10s. , Birming. Neath •••• .• 100 161. Wilts & Britt 7s. Od. Oxford.. •• • • 100 105}. Name of Company. Berlin ..•• • ......... East London Do. 4 per Cent. Pref. Do. 5 per Cent. Pref. Grand Junction •• Do. New ••• • • • Kent. • • .......... Lambeth . ..... • • New River Company.. Southwark & Vauxhall West Middlesex .. • • .. Do. Do, .. •• • • WATER-WO Dividend per Annum. 51. per cnt. 61. per cat. 41. per cent. 51. per cent. 4i. pc': cat. ...... SI. per cnt. it. per cent BRIDG Dividend per Name of Company. Annum. 103 per cent! Ti. 12s. Od. 11. ids. Od. 28s. IRKS. Amount Share. X s. d. 10 0 0 Stock. 25 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 too 0 0 61 0 0 5 1 8 Paid. X s. d 100 all Amount of Share. raid. Price 414 I 02 ki Price. DOCKS. Dividend per s. d. 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 'lOO 0 0 6000 40 0 0 70 10 3 Annum. 51. pr cent. X s. d , Amount of Share. Paid. X s. d. Stock. 61. pr cent. 41. per cent. too 0 0 too 0 0 5 0 o stock. 51. pr cent. 4%1. per cnt. 4 per cent. 5/. Os per c. Prico. 50 " 0 0 20 0 0 14 0 0 - Price. 49% 364 y<,, 7% 274 240 POLICE I TEL LIG MN E—Feb. 3. WORSHIP-STREET. ---- EXTRAORDINARY OUT RAWL —Henry Williams, a well-dressed youth, about 16 years of age, was charged, before Mr. Hammill, with having wantonly fired a loaded pis tol at Mr. Frederick Beale French, a solicitor, having offices in Crutcbed-friars, and residing in Amherst-road, Stoke Newington, whereby he had sustained grievous personal injury. Police-constable Pocock, 432 N, stated that, while on duty at Dalston-rise, between seven and eight o'clock, on the previous evening, he suddenly heard the report of a pistol, and on hastening to the spot from whence it proceeded, he met the pri son,,r running at the top of his speed, and pursued by the prosecutor. Witness intercepted the pri soner, and detained him until the arrival of Mr. French, who at onca charged him with having deliberately shot him. The prosecutor, who was bleeding profusely from the mouth, and in a state of greet excitement, then gave the prisoner into custody upon the charge of having deliberately shot him. The prisoner, who made no answer to the accusation, wag conveyed to the station-house, where witness proceeded to search him, and found in his possession the pocket-pistol, together with the percussion-cap , : and looc,e gunpowder, which he now produced. The injured gentleman, who' was in a manifest state of extreme suffering, was then con veyed to his residence, on reaching which he was promptly attended by bis family surgeon, who dis covered the marks of no fewer than 16 small shots, which had penetrated the lower jaw, and forced out three of his teeth. The officer added, that the prc secutor was at present in such a dangerous state as to preclude hia attendance, and that he was wholly at a loss to account for the outrage, as the prisoner was a perfect stranger to him. The prisoner, who made no observation in an swer to the charge, was ordered to be remanded. SOUTHWARK. —ALDERMAN EfUMPHREY OB STRUCTING THE THOROUGHFARE.—AIderman Hum phery, the owner of Hibernia Wharf, and other extensive premises under the archway of London bridge' on the Surrey side of the Thame?, was sum moned before Mr. Burcham for causing an obstruc tion in the public street, by placing a ,large number of oil casks on the foot pavement. Mr. Errington, the Sanatory Inspector of St. Saviour's district, said, that for some time past, the servants of Alderman Humphery have been in the habit of placing oil casks on the foot pavement under the archway of London-bridge, thereby com pelling the public to walk in the roadway, which was generally scattered with oil. Complaints were made to the vestry, and witness at one time saw sixty-eight casks of oil on the pavement, where they remained several hours. A gentleman who attended for the Alderman said that he paid considerable runt for the premises ' under the dry arches of London-bridge, and stored oil there. There was a difficulty in getting the casks, and they remained only a sufficient time to ' store them. The place was not much used by the public, as there were gates at the end, which were closed at night time. Mr. ErringtDn said it was a public street leading to Moat tgue-close, much frequented by the public. Mr. Burcharn said that such obstructions could not be allowed in the public streets. The defend ant must pay ss. and 2s. costs. ANOTHER OBSTRUCTION.—Messrs. Moser and Sons, the extensivo iron merchants, High-street, Son h wark, were likewise summoned for obstruct ing the public street, by allowing one of their vans to stand forty minutes in the roadway. Peher, 93 M, said be was nn duty trar Saint George's Church, whin he saw one of the defen dant's,vans standing forty minutes iu the s' reet, near their gite.way. It completely blocked up the thoroughfare. One of the firm who was in attendance fold the magistrate that their business was so extensive that they could hardly avoid the obstruction. They had room for two vans to load and unload up the gateway, and while they were there other vehicles waiting for a similar purpose were obliged to remain in the street. Mr. Bnrcham told him that he could not be allowed to obstruct the street any more than any other person. If their busines3 was so extensive Ley must make some alteration in their means of leading and unloading. Ho should not inflict any penalty that time, but they must pay the casts. SALE OF PICTURES.—Tne second day's rale of Air. Wallis'e pictures took place yesterday. The pictures soil r at el 3,0547., which, together with the amount of the lint day's rale, gives a gross total of 7,8101. 7s 6J. [ADVRRTISEHENT.]-11 - ollaWay g Ointment and Pills a sovereign remedy for diseases of the skin.—Ringworm, scurvy, leprosy, jaundice, scrofula, or king's evil, sore head, and the most inveterate skin disease to which the human race is subject, cannot be treated with a In - re certain, safe, and speedy remedy for their cure than Holloway's Ointment and Pills, which act so peculiarly on the cinstitution, and se effectually purify the blooJ, that those diseases are quickly and permanently eradi cated, thiis proving their superiority. overall other re . medics. They are Equally efficacious in curing tumours, burns, scalds, glandular s wellings, ulcercu; wounds, rheumatism, an.' contra e t e d and stiff joints.—Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the world ; at Professor Ifelloway EA,AbliBhmente, 244 , Strand, London ; and 80, Mai,;en-lane, New York ; by A Stampa; Constantinople; A, Guidicy, Smyrna; and E. Muir, Malta, GAS-LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES. Dividend Amount Name of Company. I per of Paid. Price, Annum. Share. ---- - £ s. d. Z s. d. British Provincial •• •• 71. per cent. 20 0 0 all - gh ...... •• •• .. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 - - C B l r t i yo t f on London ...... 2/. per cent. 150 0 0 160 e 0 - 11. 50 0 0 a ll Equitable.. •• •• •• •• •• - European .... . •..... 6/. per cent. 23 0 0 - _ Great Central .. •• .. . . 8/. per ebitt 10 0 0 - 10% Imperial ............ 10/. per cent. 50 0 0 - 71 Ditto New - 50 0 0 12 10 6 21 Ditto Debentures - Stock 100 0 0 - Do. Continental Ist Cap. 31 ss. 50 0 0 42 15 0 50 Do. Do. 2(1 Cap. 4/. 15s. 50 0 0 41 0 0 - 1)o. Do. 3d Cap. 4!. 10s. 50 0 0 43 10 0 - 1)o. Do. 4th Cap. 31. 50 0 0 41 0 0 - independent - Londov Part Preferen 6l, per cent. 25 0 0 - 271.1 Pheenix .•• - Rateliff..... - Surrey Consumers - United General - 19% Westminster Chartered , 7 per cent. 50 0 0 - - Ditto, New .... - 50 0 0 10 0 0 - Western A. .. Ditto 13 , •••• 10 0 0 4 0 0 3 MISCELLANEOUS. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per et Paid. Price, Annum. Share. -- - - £ s. d. .£ s. d. Acadian Charcoal 'lron .. 10 0 0 2 0 0 African Steam Ship .. .. 20 0 0 10 0 0 - .......... o'. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 0 - Assam A. lea etion 3.tart........ ttilper cent. 50 0 0 - - - Australian A2rieulturl2s 0 0 19 0 0 23 Australian Trust •• .. 81. pr cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 - Austrwian Royal Mail - 10 0 0 all Anglo-Mexican Mint.. 11. 10s• 10 0 0 all 4. _ - British American Land 5/. per cent. 50 0 0 40 0 0 125 Canada . •• .• „„ _ • • .. 61.pereent. 100 0 0 32 10 0 Do. 5 per cent Bonds 51. pet cent Stook 100 0 0 Ditto, 5 per cent bds 5/.per cent. Stock 100 0 0 - Ditto, 6 per cent. .. 6/. per cent. Stock 100 0 0 Ditto, 6p c. bds 1874 81. per cent. Stock 100 0 0 Ditto, 6p c. bds 1876 6/. per sent. St oc k 100 0 0 -- Crystal Palace ...... 21. per cent. 4 5 0 0 0 0 all aii Ik, Ditto Preference.... 71 pr. cent. 50 0 50 0 4 1 A Crys. Palace of France - city Navigation Bonds 3%1. per cen t - - glectric Telegraph .. 61. per cent. Stock. 100 0 0 105 Eng. &Airs. Cop. Smelt. - 50 0 a ll % Eng.&lris, Slag. T. Co. - 50 0 5 all _ equitable Reversionry 5/per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 - Date New .•...... - 50 0022 10 0 - Gen. Revers. & Invest. 51. p c and 1/. ,00 0 0 iOO 0 0 - Gen. I. Sc. Col. (Lim.) - 25 0 0 all - Gen•SteaniNavigation 10/. per ct. &150014 0 0 - London Gen. Omnibus 12/. per cent. 40 0 all 3% Hudson's 8ay........ 5/. per cent. Stock Stock llungerford .......... 2/. ss. 100 0 0 all - Lon. NC. &Na. Mauso. - 10 0 0 all - London Reversionary 5/, per cent. 15 01 , all Mex. &S. American - 10 0 0 all Nat. Discount Comp.. - 25 0 0 5 0 0 N.S.W. Go v .s p.e, Deb. Si. per cent. - 100 0 0 - - Nor. llri. Australasian 6d. 10 0 all _ Norilt cf Europe, Stm. 81. per cent. 20 0017 10 0 - P rice'sPatentCand. Co - 21 0 0 all 20% I'eel Iliver.Land&Min. - 50 0 all - Pen. & Ori en t a l S team 71. per cent. 50 0 0 all . 79y 2 Ditto New ...... .. - 50 0010 0 0 Reversionary Int. Soc. 4% 1. pr cent 100 0 0 all Ditto New .......- 41. 2 /. pr cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 Royal Mail Steam.... 4/. p. share. 100 0 0 tie . 0 0 55 Scottish A 11.3. Invest 15/. per cent. 10 0 An South Australian Land 71. per cent. 25 0 0 all - Trust and Loin Comp. 7%.• pr cent. 20 0 0 50 0 Vas Diemen's Land.. 105. 100 00,28 10 0 10% per cent, Bonds .... 6 per cent. , flungerfard....•• .... Southwark ...... •• .. Ditto New of 7% p.c. Waterloo...., .... • • • • Ditto Old Ann. of $l. Ditto Nw ditto of Ti. Vauxhall ...... _ .... Name of Company Commercial .......... Do. Preference East and West India.. Grand Surly D. & Canal Do. Loan Notes .. .. Do. 5 per cent. Pref. London .•• • • •• • •• • • it. Katharine ........ ionthampton ........ Victoria ...• ...• •• •• Ditto New ...... •• Name of Company. Albion .... • • ...• •• •• Alban a Brit. and For. Ditto Marine....... atheneum •• • • •• •• • • ktlas .• 00000000 • • •• •• A.rgus Life .........•• British Commercial .. Church of England .. City of London .• •• • • C1eric1.13,113184 Gen. Life County • • Crown .... • • • . •• Eagle .. Equity and Law.. • • •• European Life......... Family Endowment •• Ueneral•• .• •• •• •• •• •• Globe ...... .• .• •• •• •• Gresbarn:Life . ..... Do. D 0...... Guardian .......... • • Imperial Fire....• • Imperial Life Indemnity Marine Law Fire • • • • • • • • • • • • Law Lite. • ... • • • • Legal and General Life London ..... London & Prov. Law • • Marine... • • • • • • • • • • • . Nled. Invlid & Gen. Life Minerva •• .. .• • • Monarch • • • • New Equitable Pelican •• •• • • •• •• •• •• Pho3nix Professiona Life • • . • .. Provident Life Rock Life.... • . Royal Exchange Bun Fire...... • • ...... Ditto Life ..... United Xingdom Universal Life . • • ..... Victoria Life Name of Company. Bank of Egypt .... Rank of London ...... British North American Ch. Bk. Ind. Aust & Ch City . Colonial Commercial of London. Eng. Scot. & Aust. Ch. Lond. Char. Bk. of Aus. Do. New London and County Lon. & Eastn. Bnkg. C. London Joint-Stock Londn dad Westminstr sat. Provincial of Eng. Ditto, Ne.r Ditto ditto Natio.aril Bank New oath Wales •~. Oriental Bank Corpora. Ottoman Bank .... Provincial of Ireland.. Ditto, New..;;;;:.. lonian .. .......... south Australia Union of Australia.... Union of Hamburg.... Union of London.-- Unity Mutual • . Western Bank or Londn, rRANCE CO. Dividend per Annum. 71. per c. 71. 14s. 6d. IL p.c. & bs. 155. Od. 41. per cent. 71. 105. 71. 1 05. 5/. 5 pr ct.& bs. 41. per share ll 18s. ss. 5 1 ,4 per cent. 11. 41. per cent. 6 per cent. bLper cent. 57. per cent 121. per cent - 14 a. 5/. p. ct. &bs. 2s & 2s bons 2 3. perll. per shun 4( 18s.ba US. 414 per cent 56. per cent. 51. per cent. 6% per cent 51 p. et. 5/. per coat. 51. per cent. 12% per c. 7s. p. c. & bs 4 1 / 1 p. e & bs Li. 14s. 4/. & bonus. 5/. & bonus. 5/. & bonus. TINT-S TOCK Dividend . per Annum. la per cent. 51. per cent. 9 per cent. V. per cent. 51. per cent. Ti. p. C. Sc be. 41. per cent. 5/. per cent. SI 181. per cent. 61. per cent. 28 per cent. 18'. per cent. 16pc.&bs f t il.per cent. 20'. per cent. 101. per cent. g.'. P. ct.&bs. 81. per cent. 51. per cent. 10/. per cent. 111. per cent. 151. per cent, s. d. Stock. Stock. Stock. 100 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 Stock. 3tock. 50 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 ,PANIEB. Amount of Share. X s. d. 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 0 50 0 iOO 6 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 20 0 0 ICO 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 0 G 5 0 100 0 0 5 0 0 Stock. 20 0 0 100 0 0 Paid. 4 a . d. 50 0 0 11 0 0 25 0 0 al 5 15 0 25 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 47 5 50 0 0 20 0 0 30 0 0 2 10 0 13 0 0 2 10 0 12 10 0 0 0 12 10 0 0 0 20 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 o 10 0 10 0 0 0 10 0 5 10 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 ANKS. Amount of Share. s. d. 40 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 120 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 100 P 0 SO 0 0 108 0 0 . 100 0 0 20 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 1 15 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 Paid. X s. d. all 18 15 0 50 0 0 all 6 0 0 BO 0 0 25 0 0 20 0 0 all 20 0 0 50 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 35 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 22 10 0 15 0 0 25 0 0 2 10 0 1 0 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 LIST OF SCOTTISR COMPANIES' PRICES. Name of Company. Dividend per Amouat of Share. An - num. Price. Bank of Scotland •• British Linen Company Caledonian Bank .. •• . City of Glasgow Bank Clydesdale Bank .... Commercial Bank • • Eastern Bank.. • ..• •• Edinb. ga Glasgow.. • • National Bank • • • • • • North of Scotland Bank Royal Bank of S cotl. Union Bank of Scot. •• Western Bank • • ...... Alliance Firs and Life.. British Guarantee . Caledonian Fire fluor . City of Glasgow Lite.. Colonial Life ....• .. Edinburgh Life Insur. Eng. & Scot, Law Life Life Assoc. of Scotland Nationai Fire and Life North British Incur... Northern Assurance Co. Scottish Provincial .... Scottish Union Insrne. Standard Life ...... • . 71. per cent. 81. per cent 8/. per cent 5/. per cent. 5 1. p tent. 71. per cent. 61. per cent. 3341. p cent. 6% per cent. 51. per cent 51. per cent. 81. per cent. 71. per cent. 8 1 A /.pr cent. 41. per cent. Wt. per cont. 61. per cent. 5/. per cent. 61. per cent. 51. per cent. 61. per cent. Gt. per cont. 71. per colt. 7}6/. precut. 51. per cent. X a. d. 100 C 0 I 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 500 0 0 25 0 0 5 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 100 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 10 0 0 200 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 Paid, X 8. d. 100 0 0 100 0 0 2 10 0 10 0 0 to 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 5 0 0 100 0 0 2 10 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 11 0 0 2 0 0 10 0 0 2' 0 0 3 0 0 15 0 0 3 5 0 3 0 0 1 4 0 20 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 7 0 0 _PHIPPS'S DIARY. (From Punch.) January, 1858.—Up betimes to Breakfast to read the News, and to be in the Presence by 10 of the Clock, much too early, and they do work me from Morning to Night, which is severe, but I hope I shall be rewaried for it in the End. To my Break fast I did have a Bloater, cost me 11c1., and also an Egg, cost me 2d., which is now dear. At Breakfast read the Newspapers, and did cram the News and my Breakfreetbotli together, which spoiled my Break fast, and I fear my Digestion also, and an Article in the Times against Advancement by Interest did go still more against my Stomach and trouble me. Off at half-past 9tobe in reiclinese for the Presence, where my Lord Pamm was in Audience, and had to wait a quarter of an Hour in the Ante-room, where a now Footman, with shining Shoes, and a Pair of pretty Brilliant Buckles in them, pleased me mightily. Comes in presently Goldatick and after him Black Rod, with whim Discourse about the Weather, mighty dull. Presently the Door of the Piesence Chit:el:cat cpcn, and out come my Lord Panon looking mighty jolly, who bid us good Morning, and put his Finger to the Side of his Nose, winked on me as much as to say All Right, which comforted me. So, in and before the Presence did rehearse the News, and all the Rogueries inlthelPapers, made them laugh heartily. Which ended, his Royal Highness did command me to attend him a Shooting, and so behind the Prince to the Palace Gardens, where little Sport, the Sparrows being mighty wild. His Royal High ness lack to the Palace tit 2 o'clock to Lunch, I after him, and stood in Waiting, where all the German Princes come to attend the Wedding of the Princess. After Luuch danced Attendance again in the Ante-room with the Lords in Waiting, but no Ladies, whom I had a great Deal rather have had to dance with, contrary to Mr. Spurgeon. At last, Word came that the Royal Pari were ready, and so after the Royal Carriage to Studd. and Facet's the jewellers, where they go to examine the new casket for the Wedding-Present, cost 1,0001. Then in the same carriage to Hyde Park, with three of the Maids of Honour and Gibbs ; and Gibbs and I did make Jokes of one another, wherein Gibbs had the best of it, but all mighty merry, and laughed heartily. After a drive round about the Palk, back to the Palace, when an Hcur allowed me to get my Dinner, and collect the News. So away in a Cab, as fast as I was able ana to the Clubs, gathering at each all the Talk I could hear, and lastly to the Civil and Military Service, where I dived off a Basin of Mulligatawney Soop, cost me is., hastily, for Lack of Time, and in my Haste did scald my Mouth, which vexed me. My little Dinner concluded, back again to the Palace, to dress and attend them all to the Opera House, be hind in another Carriage, mighty stately and stiff, old Dowager Lady Buckram for my Companion, and the Hon. Miss Crynolyn by the side cf Gibbs, whom I would fain have changed Places with. The Play "Macbeth," a mighty foolish Piece, but the Music not so bad, and to see how all the Pit kept staring at the Court and the Foreign Princes, and paid no Attention at alt to the performances. At last the Play over, at which I was heartily glad, and so returned to the Palace, and by and by sent for again to the Presence a little before Supper to re late all the News of the Day, where I opened my Budget, and delivered the Contents the best Way I could to give them satisfaction ; but, though I tried with all my heart to acquit myself in gocd Style, they did yawn several Times in the Course of my Naitrative, which put me out and troubled me. At last dismissed, with Leave to go about my Business, which was to get my own Supper and to Bed as soon as possible, and his Royal Highness did wish me a good Night's Rest, and say he hoped I should sleep well, which I took for _a mighty great H onour , f or he spoke as thou g h he meant Something, though I could not well divine what. So to my Chamber, where off a Rump Sneak, being mighty Hungry, I did make a great Supper, with a Pot of Half-and- Half, for which I sent out, cost me Bd. While I was at Supper, and thinking over the Day, and con sidering in my Mind whe her I had wade any Mis take or no, comes a Mi ssenger with a Letter from my Lord Pamm, telling me I was to be made a Knight Cotnmauder of the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath for my . dis tinguished Services, which caused me to leap out of my Chair for Joy, and to dance several Times about the Table. Good lack, to consider what Sort of Service I have done in kicking my Heels in the Ante-room, and rehearsing the News in the Pre sence, and riding with the Maids of Honour after the Royal Carriage, and now to think of the State and Dignity lam in. I ton advanced to almost as much Honour as Havelock was, and to live to en joy it, so that I am the better off, and the other Indian Generals, almost every one, are in a lower Degree, , and now I shall held my Head above them, and crow over G i bb s. G ood lack, to think what it is to have a Marquis for a near Relation, and Friends at Court, and to have seen the Ser vice I have seen, and to be made a Knight Com mander of the Bath with all my Limbs and Bones eniire in a whole Skin. So having finished my Steak and Half-and-Half with a good Appetite, to 13,c1 with great Content, and mighty pleasant Dreams of Stars and Ribauds, and my name in the Gazette the next Morning. Country► IViarkets. EDINBURGH BA.Y AND STRAW MARKET FEL, Supplies of all kinds these last six days large. Oat straw, from 5s 6d. to Os Od per kemplo of 16 stoner troll ; wheat do., 5s Od to 7s 6d ; barley do., 5i 01 to 7 ,1 Od. Hay from 10d to 12d. EDINBURGII ME AL—FEB. 2. There were iu the market today 14 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801 b imperial, which sold at 33s Od and —B. DALKEITH MEAL A I ARKET—FEB. I. There were in the market to-day 5 bags of oatmeal, oof barleymeal, and 0 pot barley. Sales dull. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Second. Third. imperial Barleymeal, per ditto -s Od ,—s Od —s Od Peasemoal, per ditto Flour, new, per ditto. Pot -barley, new, per ditto., —a Od B Od —s Od We hav e an DUBLIN, FEB. 2. to-da b again to report an ext reme l y d epresse d mar k e t y. Wheat was 6d lower than on Tuesday, and oats supported that day's cur reneies. Barley was fully Gd to 10 cheaper. Indian coin in merely retail transactions, at fully our last quotations. White wheat, 26s 6,1 to 28s 03 ; red ditto, 23s Od to 26s Gd; ditto new, —s Od; barley, malting, 13a to 18s Od; grind' ing, —a to —a ; oats, old, 11s Od to 14s; ditto, new, Od to —s 01 ; oat mea l , H s to 15s Od; bere, new, Hs to 150 Od ; rapesc, d, 23a Od t o 25 s Od per brl ; bakers' flour, 15s Od to 20a oa per cwt; Indian corn, 31e 01 to 33s Od per 480 lbr. COAL MARKICT.—PRD. 1. Prices of Coals per ton at' the close of the market s. . Bates's West H ar tl ey l3 df. Huddle W. Hartley l4 3 Bell's Primrose l2 0 Bebside's Hartley l4 S Holywell ........ ..... l5 0 Davison's West Hartley 14 C Howard's West Hartley Netherton ~14 C Longridge's Wst Hartley 14 3 Morpeth West Hartley 14 0 ranueld Moor l2 C Ships at market Taufleld Moor Butes 12 6 Ward's West Hartley _l3 6 Wes t Hartley l4 6 Ws &c. lebburn l5 0 Walker Primrose _l2 6 Northumberland l4 0 Eden Main l7 0 Shinelitre 15 6 Cowpen Hartl e y l4 3 tlepseott , 77—Sold, 51. A WOMAN KILLED BY DER HIIBI3AND.—An inquest was held yesterday at the Prince's Head, Westminster, on the body of Charlotte Law, aged 29, who was killed by being struck on the Lead with a saucepan by her husband. The evidence was to the same effect as that which appeared in our police rt-port of the case yester day, The jury found a verdict of "Manslaughter" against Francis Henry Law, the husband. LONDON GENERAL 031BNIBUS COMPANY.—TRArria RECEIPTS.—Week ending January 30, 1858, 10,306/. BRTHS. Aallor,n--- 7 0n the Ist in st . I , at Kingston-on-Thames tho wife of the Rev. F. M ontagu Arnold, of a daughter. Cnuacinn—On the 2d lint ., at 1.6, Rutland- ga t e, th e Lad,' Alfred Chur c hill , o f a daughter. ELLLIOTT—On the 2d inst., Mrs. James Elliott, of 9, AMOY' court-yard, of a aon. Nus—On the 2d in -Upper Church-street, Bath, the wife of Rear-Admiral Nias, C. 8., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. GRANT—CHADWICK —Oll the 2d inst., at the parish church, Prestwich, Capt. John Grant, late 42d R,,ya,l Highlanders, eldest sou of James Murray Grant, Esq., of Glcamoriston , Inverness-shire, to Anne, second daughter of Ilobt. Chad" wick, Esq., of High Bank, Manchester ; also, at the ear" time and place, Sainsbury Gillies Payne, Esq. only son of Sir Charles Gillies Payne, Burt., of BluuhamHouse, Bei• fordshire, to Cath er i ne Anne, oungest daughter of Robt. Chadwick, Esq., of High Bank, Manchester. HOPKINS GOWLAND —Ou the 2(1 iust., at St. Peter's-upon' Cornhill, Mr. Freicri Bishopsgat e : s street within, to Eliza c U k et i l l i ° Nt l a d ff n Oi ' d, la t t h e e o e f id s e ' st daughter of Mr. Thomas Lowland, of Leadcuhall-street. DEATHS. 13AcoN—On the 13th Dec., at Houg Kong, Henry Edmun d Bacon, Ist Lieutenant of H.M.S. Inflexible, youngest son of Charles Basil Bacon, Esq., of Moor-park, and Culver lands, Farnham, Surrey, aged 27. klAmftrox—On the let inst., at Dover, Captain Sir John Hamilton, Kt., &c., aged 93. PAVE —On the 2d Dec., Hen r y G . P ayne, Lieut. R.- 74. •' of 11.N1.5. Hecate, Coast of Afriet, youngest sou of the late Admiral Charles Payne, of Weymouth. MEr.m.usu On the 2d inst., Mr. Jacob Melhuish, of the firm of Turner and Co., Kennin g t on B rewery, Clapham -r" aged LONDON : Printed and Put,flailed by MURDO YOUN C ° of No, 112, Strand, Priutor, at Tits Sun Office, It 112, Strand, in the Precinct, of the Savoy, in the c° lll3l ' of Middlcoex, Thunday, February 4, 1858. • Price