The Sun. — London, England, 1858-03-31 00:00:00

THE NEW GOTERNMENT OF INDIA BILL. (p ro m, the Daily News.) The , partisans of the late Ministry have opened in full cry upon the scent of the Government of India Bill, No. 2." They declare that it is bad, and that it is incapable of being mended. They proclaim its approaching rejection, and the conse quent resignation of its authors. And this is the secret of their clamour. They care not for India ; the India Bills are for them only so much political capital. The lowing herd who were driven with so much reluctance and recalcitration from the fat pastures of Downing-street already fancy they see the gates of these rich fields again opened to them, and give vent to their joy in sufficiently characteris tic utterances. But the people of England feel that legislation which is to decide the future fate of the millions of Hindostan is a matter of too vital consequence to be staked on the dice of political hazard. The in terest which England has in the prosperity of India, the deep national responsibility incurred by assuming the empire of so vast a region, render the decision of the question how it is in future to be governed one of the most anxious problems ever submitted for solution to a nation or its legislators. TLe task of legislating for India must be approacbe I in dispassionate mood, under that deep sense of moral responsibility which befits so momentous an undertaking. The bill presented to the House of Commons by Lard Palmerston is the first that calls for notice. The radical vice of that measure is the immense amount of irresponsible power and patronage which it entrusts to the Ministers of the Crown for the time being and the inadequate security it affords f or the appointment of capable men in India. The b ill proposes that the Home Government of lndi ashall be exclusively vested in a Council, composed of a President and eight members, nominated by tl e Crown—the Presi lent to hold office during pleasure, the other Councillors for a certain- term of years. This Council and its President are to be a corpora tion for the management of Indian affairs. In them are to becombined all the power at present exercised by the Directors of the East India Company and. the Board of Control conjointly. Except with re gard to suck affairs as are at present conducted by the Secret Committee, all business is to be ti ans acted in Council. But when the President is pre sent he may disregard the opinion of the majority of the Council, and follow his own if in opposition to it. And he may do the same with regard to any resolution adopted by a majority of the Council in his absence, on the condition of putting his own and their reasons upon record. In two cases only is it necessary that his determination should be sanc tioned by the assent of -four other members of Council; when matters of finance, or when the exercise of patronage is in question. Thus, the - whole administration and patronage of India— with some inconsiderable exceptions—is proposed to be vested in nine nominees of the Crown, one holding office so long as it suits the arrangements of his political party, the rest for a term of year.. Neither the public of India nor of England are t• have any voice in the nomination of this Council. It is indeed liable to be called to account for its actions in Parliament, and with a view to this it is proposed that the President and one Secretary ap pointed by him may have seats in the House of Commons. gut Parliament Ins always had the power of examining into and controlling the Go vernment of India ; and how many days of each session, on an average, have been given to the affairs of India since India was ours 1 It is an arrant farce to speak of the dread of Parliamentai y responsibility as likely in the slightest degree to in fluence the proceedings of the proposed Council for India. The common sense of the nation has de clared that the only way to prevent the President and his Council from becoming mere tools of the Crown and its Ministers is to resort to the elective principle for the appointment of at least a moiety of the Council. It is also felt that for the purposes of intelligent and independent deliberation—as also for an adequate supply of working committees —eight Councillors and a President are too few. These defects the Government, which has suc ceeded Lord Palmerston's profess to have remedied in their amended bill. They certainly have recog nised the principle of election by an independent constituency as regards a moiety of the Council, and they have increased the numlur of Councillor , . So far good ; but they have at the same time en grafted other modifications on the original bill which more than neutralise the benefits of these concessions. The Council for India, according to Lord Palmerston's bill, however objectionable the mode of its appointment, would have been a reality. It would have had duties to perform and power to perform them. But the Council for India, accord ing to the " Government of I n dia Bill, No. 2," is a mere excrescence. Lord Palmerston proposed to vest the government of India in a President and Council. The President could only act in Conned. Lord Ellenborough proposes to vest the govern ment of India in a fifth Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can act without the Council . The Council in fact can only assemble when he summons it, or complies with its petition to allow it to meet ; and when met it can only talk. Tha Secretary of State does not need to be supported by a majority of ita members even on questions of finance or patronage. Indeed, whereas the greater part of the patronage is by Lord Palmerston's bill vested in the President and Council, the whole of the patronage is by Lord Ellenborough's bill vested in the Crown—that is, in the Secretary of State for India and his colleagues of the Cabinet. It is alio worthy of remark that while provision is made in Lord Palmerston's bill for the presence of an accre dited mouthpiece of the Council for India in the House of Commons—a member who can be inter rogated as to its doings, and compelled to explain or defend them—nothing of the kind is to bb found in Lord Ellenborough's. The latter bill declares that of the five principal Secretaries of State, only four can sit at one time in the House of Commons. The Secretary for India may therefore be at any time excluded from that house, and no substitute is provided for him when that shall happen. It is a trifle, and yet worthy of note, that while Lord Palmer ston's bill declares that the President and Council may sue and be sued, Lord Ellenborough's Bill exempts the Secretary of State from this conjoint liability with the Council. The inference we draw from this review of the two measures is, that it would be dangerous to allow Lord Palmerston's Bill to become law, be cause it vests the entire power and patronage of India in a small and manageable body of nominees of the Crown ; and that it would be equally dan gerous to allow Lord Ellenborough's to become law, because it vests the whole power and patronage of India in a Secretary of State, whose tenure of office depends upon that of his party—the Council attached to him, although in part the offspring of popular election, being utterly powerless to do or prevent anything. Both of the Cabinets who have tried their hands at the experiment of constructing a good Government for India have lamentably failed. Were the issue in our power we should say to Parliament, postpone legislation till a really unexceptionable measure shall be submitted to you. You already have a Government in India which all parties concur in saying has worked not amiss. Why change it before you have a tolerable certain' y of obtaining something decidedly better in lieu of it ? But we are told that Parliament, having already declared that it will legislate for India this session, must keep its word. The declaration ap pears to belong to the rash and ill-considered class which there is more in abandoning than in adhering to. But if Parliament will fetter itself by a mis taken pride in unreasonable consistency, let it a,'; least avoid adopting an objectionable bill for no other reason than that it is offered as a sub stitute for another equally objectionable. The treat fault of Lord Palmerston's bill is. that it places India at the mercy of a few irresponsible nominees. The great fault of Lord,Ellenborough's bin is, that th e Council, though sufficiently nu 111ftous and not exclusively composed of nominees, 1$ utterly po wer l ess . If no party i n the House .or Commons i s prepare d to offer a third and better bin, let the house at least make an attempt to combine the other better features of both the bills before it in one. Let the two bills be re mitted to a Select Committee, with instructions to retain that part of Lord Palmerfton's Bill which delegates the Government of India to a President and a real council ; to enlarge the council to the number proposed in Lord Ellenborougb.'s Bill • to adopt th e e l e ctive p r i nc i p l e embodied in Lord Ellenborough's Bill, with an improved consti tuency; to retain the provisions in Lord Palmer ato4's Bill for enuring the prer.ence of an official representative of the Council of India in the House of Commons ; and to make whatever amen t s on thin tornbinat',, best puts of both n of the ;Mu:Z. appear to the said Committee (Fr om . 44 --`,...----- nugroatidalLe LIZ that the Lord Derby' s -- D .," :::"t, in , il new India Bill ° lii n tiVi - t a 4. caj a a, et provement upon the me - ,;: vi `Narded Palmerston. In all its deilisitr tiedgi,i7it'iniu: with such prominence and b o i chl a %"tau‘s ° „:" l attempt to struggle against it becomes possible. Doubtless censorious critics Wil i r lt o to any lengths, and hazard assertions of the meat . z _ traordinary character in order to prop up their de clining cause, as well as to gratify their resent ment. Of this we have abundant evidence in the nature of the objections urged against a e new India Bill. One authority gravely assures tl e public that it is tao popular, and that it ought to be resisted becaure it is a fair and judicious settle- Meat of au extremely difficult question. This is I not, of course, set forth in plain and intelligible language, but such are the legitimate conclusions to be derived from the arguments employed. Another sapient commentator upon public men and Parliamentary measures declares that Lord Derby and his colleagues have no right whatever to govern upon sound principles, and. to administer the affairs of the country with credit and success. Certain favoured individuals are, according to the views of this luminary of the nineteenth century, alone entitled to hold office. If, when in posses sion of the same, they show themselves arroga l t and incompetent, ' a reprimand is considered suf ficient punishment, and they are on no acc.ount whatever to be dismissed and replaced. " Ministers have played out their trump card," cries another caviller, " and have done so well in this matter that it is necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible. As they have displayed statesmanship and impartiality in their proposal for the settlement of the Indian difficulty, the House of Commons must reject their budget. It is utterly impossible for the country to go on much longer with a Government that works harmoniously and with such remarkable ability." Such objections—and the above are, in honest truth, all that have hitherto been urged against the new India Bill—will not carry much weight. The public perceive plainly enough that opponents who cannot adduce more substantial grounds for oppo sition are merely seeking to throw obstructions in the way of the Government, to gratify personal animosity and to further factious aims. Office is not the heritage or the right of any particular party. The Whigs have during the last twenty years been tried in every conceivable way, and failure and disaster have been the results. The Conservatives, during short intervals of power, have managed to do much good, and their interference once more restores confidence at home and abroad. Aware of this, their antagonists desire to thrust them from their present position before the benevolent charac ter of their policy is thoroughly established, and all grades and classes of the community perceivJ more fully who are their real friends, and who aro the best protectors of national interests in their various ramifications. Hence the vials of wrath at e poured out upon the heads of the new ministers. First it was stated that Lord Derby could not form a Go vernment. Then followed a rumour respecting dis sensions in the Cabinet. This was succeeded by ominous whispers, to the effect that ministers would not face Parliament. All these idle predictions have been disproved. Lord Derby and his colleagues have not only triumphed over opposition, but they have gained respect, and ,re popular in the country. In five weeks they have accomplished more than their predecessors did in as many months. It is, therefore, vain for calumniators to assert that they are unable to govern with dignity and success ; the results furnish the best refutation to such a charge. Consequently a dif ferent line of argument is attempted, and the public are assured that the new Ministers are doing their duty bravely, but that such conduct is against their antecedents. It was never intended —that is to say by their opponents—that they should discharge their functions so happily, and detractors endeavour, with a wonderful display of sophistry, to show that the Conservatives oulht to be obstructions, and not that which they have always been—temperate yet earnest and enlight ened reformers. The new India Bill is in all respects an admirable solution of a difficult problem, and we are not in the least degree surprised at the straits to which cavillers are reduced. The first thing that must strike most people is its thorough honesty. There is not the slightest attempt at the evasion of a diffi culty or the introduction of a deceit in one of its provisions. The authors have evidently laboured to do a great act of justice. In their measure both power and patronage are placed beyond the reach of arrogant officials, and while the most practical form of government is secured for India the object is achieved in the best manner possible. Nor is this accomplished by any improper sacrifices. The re sponsibility of the Ministers of the day is quite as direct in this measure as in its predecessor ; and while they are rendered fully amenable for every thing that is done or left undone, proper guaran tees have been introduced to guard against abuses both in the appointment of councillors and the dis tribution of patronage. The balance is adjusted with admirable skill, and rulers will have every in centive to administer the affairs of India with dili gence and impartiality. Lord Palmerston's council was objected to both from the smallness of the num ber of the members of which it was compose 1, and the absolute power which, as regarded their ap pointment, was vested in the hands of the minister. Both of these defects are remedied in the new mea sure. The council will consist of 18 membe s, and the method of their appointment leaves nothing to be desired. The nine members to be nominated by the Crown will be required to possess distinct and special , qualifications. Each nominee will re present an important interest connected with o*r Indian empire. Four more, to be elected by the Indian constituency, must either have served ten years in some official capacity in India, or have been fifteen years resident in that country. The remaining five members of the council will receive their appointment from the Parliamentary consti tuencies of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glas gow, and Belfast. No person will be eligible as a candidate unless he has been durin g five years at least engaged in commerce between England and. India, or in the manufacture of goods for exporta tion to India, or has been ten years at least resi dent in India. A council thus constituted will be fully competent to deal with every branch of Indian legislation. Some objections have been raised in interested quarters against what, is termed the re presentative element in this new scheme. One would have thought that in days when so much is spoken and written about Parliamentary reform and an extension of the suffrage, that advocates of the popular cause would have hesitated ere they denounced this as one of the worst means of obtain ining honest and useful administrators. If it would be dangerous to allow five members out of eighteen of which the Council for India is to be composed to be chosen in this manner, what shall be said of a House of Commons of which all the members are elected by popular vote ? The argument cuts both ways. Those who contend that it would be un wise to have five legislators for India thus elected must admit that it is equally unwise to have a House of Commons created by such means. It is impossible for Parliamentary reformers, and advo cates of popular changes, to escape from this dilemma. They must either allow that the element is healthy and beneficial in both cases, or renounce all kinds of agitation for its extension in Parlia mentary government. Some have rased objections because the cuancil does net possess, as they pretend, sufficient power. It was, however, essential to render Ministers solely responsible, in order to do away with that much maligned system, the double govern ment. Had Ministers attempted to retain the slightest semblance of this system, which has been most perseveringly denounced in all quarters, they would have been charged with proposing mockery of a change instead of an honest and a thorough reform. In fact, we imagine that censo rious critics are sorely disappointed at the discri mination shown upon this point. They hoped that some scheme for retaining the double government in reality, though perhaps not in name, would have afforded them the opportunity for which they long. In the constitution of the council the elective an i the representative elenaents are both called into operation. Thus the selection of the ablest and best qualified men, without reference to party or government influences, will be secured. Members of a council thus constituted will be really inde pendent men ; not, as under Lord Palmerston's bill, the creatures of the Minister of the dey. Moreover, by proposing to include the names of the first council in the bill itself, Ministers obtaie all the weight and influence of Parliamentary sanc tion in their favour. Instead, therefore, of denouncing a Conserva tive Cabinet for framing and bringing before Par liament an impartial, stat-smanlike, and complete settlement of the Indian question, the people of this country will receive the boon with acclama tion. They understand its real value, and are not to be deluded by the shallow diatribes of interested critics. Freedom of action is one of the great safe guards of our representative institutions ; and the doctrine that a party in power are only to do exactly what the party in opposition desires, is quite a new theory. The Conservatives are no', and never have been, obstructives. Narre 4.- minded opponents have described them as such, but their object was self-evident. The Conerva tives are, indeed, the only true and clnstitutional reformer., because with them reform does not mean destruction, but progression. They know ho 'V to protect tlia,t which is valuable in our free insti tutions, and, while discarding what is bad, do net seek to undermine foundations. Had it not been for their interference our time-honoured c •nstta tion must long since have been destroye I. Against agitators and demagogues the y have ever lna;11 tattled a hold front, and have always oppose 1 i e z a ug t :s t w e = i originated in an uneasy Lye ef change, and which co Ull n ot . _ ______ by any possibility Great c.O (Prom, the Morn servatii . ree, : t a IV by the Con /movie:Lens in l ou ibera j ean : l t l :: In n :ll3g the Palmeraton Whip , at 'aft:ream°, exist s Chronicle) Bill. The speerZein constituency of 5,000 progosition—t o el cr r e riew India or to give to five great towns, n cm ' a ".' lOral 4 new b i 4 .19,--- aierce with India, the right t e co ° :l n ee e t et fi d 131 Icclrc. Tors—does not so much really ozeupy theei:nre". ads, as might be inferred from their frequent attacks. What they regard with alarm is the spirit of bold innovation implied by such proposals, when coming from a Conservative Ministry. They ask themselves —cc Are we about to be deprived of our monopoly of public virtue ?" They need not fear. Their turn will come round again. But they must submit, with a good grace, to a suspension, for a time, of their functions. Such political offences as were committed by Lord Pal merston's Ministry must in some way or other be expiated. A great nation like the English cannot submit to be trifled with. The whole country was convulsed to give to a particular statesman a grea`, majority, but it was accompanied, in the return of Lord John Russell for London, with a warning. The power was given to Lord Palmerston, not to be abused vaingloriously, but for the advancement of the great interests of progress. He was also plainly told, that he must propose a thorough mea sure of Parliamentary Reform. No sooner was he installed, with his great majority cheering at his back, than he began to show his contempt for the previous compact. Towards the House of Commons he conducted himself as no minister has ever done, within historical memory. " L'Etat, c'est Mei !" was stamped on every word, act, and gesture. His measures—when he offered them—were conceived in any spirit rather than that of progress ; the question of Parliamentary Reform he treated with cool contempt. Now, it may be a very bad state of things, in the eyes of those who sit to the left of the Speaker's chair, that a Conservative Ministry should be in office, but they will have to perform quarantine some considerable time, ere they regain the other side. Of this they appear to be secretly conscious, and hence their dread of certain symptoms in the tactics of the Ministers. For, suppose the Conservatives should have found wisdom in misfortune. Suppose they have not either " learned nothing," or forgotten no thing ;" and that they have the sense to see that their Restoration is anything but the result of Re action. Charges of tergiversation of principle they can afford to despise. The majority by which their opponents believe themselves able, at any moment, to turn them out, could not be got to act together except at sacrifices of principle quite as glaring. There is more congeniality of sentiment and simi larity of opinion between the advanced Conserva tive Chiefs and the Whig Leaders of the Opposition, than there is between the latter and certain sec tions of their followers. Assume, then, that the " cold shade of opposition" has taught its lessons —that during the last eight or ten years the Con servatives have been in the position of the man with the turned head, marching one way but look ing the other—that while the "Protection" con ferred by monopoly of office has rendered their antagonists indolent and forgetful, Competition has sharpened their own powers and appetites. If they be allowed, under such circumstances, to get warm in their seats, it is impossible to say what might happen. Think of the frightful blow to vested interests, if "the Tories," as oblivious enemies still call them, should become the " popu lar" party in the State ! The crowning sin of the new India Government Bill appears to be, that it throws open the choice of Councillors to a species of popular election, and confers the right of nominating five of the number on certain great commercial towns. This is obvi ously a fault in the Now Ministers. They had no right to poach on their antagonists' peculiar manor. They had no right to be untrue to the traditions of their party, but ought to have acted exactly in the spirit of Lord Castlereagh or Lord Liverpool. We do not stop to argue whether the proposed change is the best that could have been made, but only amuse ourselves with noticing its effect on the friends of Lord Palmerston. They are indignant at such innovations on established custom. At first they tried to laugh at the new measure, but they met with no sympa , hisers ; and now they devote, ins'ead, columns of heavy argument to the annihi lation of the monstrous propositions of Lord Ellen borough and Mr. Disraeli. This is all promiQing enough. It shows that certain Whigs and others, who had begun to forget that they were trustees for the public, and only thought of their class in terests, ara at last aroused to muse of their danger, if not of their duty. Conscience evidently has something to do with the metmorphosis. They lou sly complain that the Conservatives are going to give one-fourth of the Indian patronage for the purpose of corrupting five great Parliamentary cons ituencies. This is a touching sensitiveness. We were not aware that large constituencies were so easily corrupted, and had rather supposed that the applications for places came from members re turned by the small boroughs, where a narrow-cast majority carries the day, and every individual voter is known to the representative. _ Covert threats of ejection are renewed against the Ministers, upon the strength of the supposed wildness and impracticability of the scheme of elec tion proposed by the India Bill. Mr. Bright struck the key-note, when he said the Parliamentary-con atitueney election of councillors savoured. of " clap trap," and those who need the hon. gentleman's support, in order to form a Liberal majority, have carefully sung since t. the same tune. There must have been some peculiar motive for a lino of con duct so opposed to Mr. Bright's usually liberal views. Birmingham is not among the " favoured five" towns representative of Indian commerce. Strange to say, this eminently " popular" proposal of the Government, which is certainly gaining favour with the public, is also considered as fatal to the prospect of a good budget from Mr. Disraeli. Surely this is rather too bad. A Mi nistry, seemingly powerful, makes an unheard-of mess of its afftirs, and is suddenly driven with ignominy from the helm. Its successor is compelled to take up its fragments of legislation, and to fulfil pledges against which it had vainly protested. It converts an arbitrary scheme into a constitutional measure of government, and because that measure has struck the public with surprise, and secured some favour, its authors are to be ob structed in their endeavours to arrange the finances of the country. Considering the state of involve ment in which these finances were left by the late Government, and the difficult task they have im po2ed on the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, common decency would have suggested the choice of 5 , 1113 other battle-field. If, however, the Con aervaHves have really resolved on abandoning their traditional policy, and mean to place themselves in the van of national sentiment, they ought to hail with welcome the angry strictures bestowed on the novelties of their India Government Bill. If they have not, it will be a matter of very little conse quence to the nation whether they are fairly or un fairly treated on bill or budget, because they must speedily pass from the scene, after having done enough to deitroy their distinctive political charac ter, without having laid the foundation on which they might constitute themselves a really national party. HEALTH OA LONDON DURING VIE WEEK, (Prom the Report of the Registrar General.) Under the influence of fine weather the mortality is much reduced. The deaths in London were in two previous weeks 1,487 and 1,431 ; last week they fell to 1,268. In the ten years 1848-57 the average number of deaths in the weeks correspond ing with last week was 1,217; but as the deaths returned for last week returned in - an increased population, they should be compared with the aver age after that latter is raised in proportion to the increase, a correction which will make it 1,339. The present return is, therefore, so far favourable, that it shows the number of deaths loss by 71 than that which the average rate of mortality towards the end of March would have produced. There is a decrease of the deaths of last week as compared with these of the preceding week, in each of the five classes of disease to which they are re ferred, pith the exception of the last class. Zymotic diseases were fatal in the two weeks in 286 and 270 cases ; constitutional in 281 and 217 ; the local (which include bronchial affections) i n 628 and 566, and developmental disease in 170 and 145. Deaths by violence, the registration of which b comes more active towards the end of the quarter, increased from 35 to 50. Of these 50, 39 were accidental, and we chi( fly from fractures and burns, and suffoca tion of children in bed ; 4 were cases of infanticide, and 7 of suicide. Bronchitis has declined in the number of fatal cases from 192 to 152—the corrected average for last week is 137. Peeumonia, from which 109 persons died, slinws little excess on the average. Whooping-cough declined from 83 to 7.2 in the two weeks ; scarlatina from 40 to 29 ; typhus with common fever from 41 to 26. Tly , ire were 12 deaths last week from diarrhces (all, exc3pt 4, amongst Maws) ; and a young worn in died in Pent• riville from "eho era biliosa," after 5 days' illness. 'Arco e'dldren died of measles in the workhouse, Gray's Inn-lane. Ten cases of cliptheria are recorded, in which it was either the primary or the snondary cause of death. Seven persons, the victims of intem perance, are included in this r e• urn, besides 3 who died of (I_l ritrna tremens. Four women and a man had arrived at the advanced age of 90 years or up- ward smAagst whom was a widow whose years had been extended to 97. Lis` week the birth of 1,000 boys and 924 girls, in all 1,924 children, were registered in London, In the ten corresponding 'weeks of the years 1848-57, the average number was 1,610. The Scinde Railway Company have paid to the East Pn Company 350,000/. on accunt of capital for tile wahitailway from Mooltan t o Lahore and Ualritalr THE S N, LONDON, JIDNEStAV EVENING, MARCH 31, 1858. THE LATE DISASTROUS FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE IN BLOOMSBURY. [The following appeared in a portion of our impression of yesterday : This morning at 11 o'clock Mr. Wakley, coroner for the Western Division of Middlesex, opened an inquiry at the Fox Tavern, Duke-street, Bloomsbury, into the cause of death of the unfortunate individuals who lost their lives at the late calamitous fire in Gilbert-street, Museum-street, on Sunday morning. Previous to swearing the jury, The Coroner addressed the gentlemen summoned, saying he intended sitting to-day until 3 o'clock, and if they did not conclude the enquiry by that time he should adjourn it till Thursday morning and sit till 3 o'clock. If not then concluded, he should adjourn the enquiry over for a week or ten days. It may be a very brief enquiry, or it may be a very protracted one, and he men tioned it that no gentleman might be sworn on the jury and bound over to appear day after day to whom it might be inconvenient to attend. If any gentleman was likely to be out of town, or wished, or was likely to be called away by business engagements on Thursday, or the early part of next week, he would advise him at once to name it, in order that he might be excused from further attend ance, because it would be awkward for gentlemen to be bound over to appear and incur heavy penalties for not attending. Mr. Cooper asked if the enquiry extended over a month or six weeks the jury would be bound over to attend ? The Coroner said—Yes. His knowledge of the cir cumstances was at present limited, and he could form no opinion until after he had heard the evidence on oath. It was an awful calamity, and it was one of the most horrid sights he had ever reen. No time would be mis spent to endeavour to discover the naive, and to pre vent, if possible, the recurrence of a similar calamity, Mr. Cooper said he believed tho whole of the proposed jurymen were tradesmen, and it would be exceedingly inconvenient for them to attend for three month?. He instanced the protracted inquiry in Tottenham-court road. The Coroner said even in that case the jury would be bound to attend. Ile took it there were no gentlemen summoned on the jmy connected in any way with the proprietor of the premises. The jury were then sworn, Mr. Marv, churchwarden of St. Giles's, being relented as foreman. The Rev. Horace Roberts, and several of the pa rishioners were present during the enquiry. Mr. Sampson Low and Mr. Inspector Badderley at tended to watch the proceedings on behalf o[ the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire. The jury then proceeded to inspect the premises, and aho to view the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers, fourteen in number, which were lying in the dead house of St. Giles's Workhouse. Their appearance has already bee❑ minutely descnbed. The young man Smith, who jumped out of the window, is lying at University College Hospital. The names and ages of the 14 persons on whom the inquiry was held were—Richard Smith, 40 ; Harriett, his wife, 41 ; Alfred, 15 ; Harriett, 13 ; Harvey, 11 ; Walter, 9 ; Thomas, 7; Maria, 5 ; and Jesse, 2 years of age, children of the first two named ; Jas. Hedger, 53 ; Eliza, his wife ; William, 20 ; and John, 13 years of age, children of Hedger and his wife. On the return of the jury, the Foreman and others re marked they had never witnessed such a horrible sight, and said to the Coroner, " Did you ever in your expe rience witness such a horrible sight ?” The Coroner—l certainly never did. A Juryman—Covent -garden Theatre was burnt down without a single life baing lost, and here a miserable hovel takes fire and all these lives are lost. The Coroner —I really cAnnot understand it. The first witness called was Alfred Chilman, No, 6, Graham-street, Walworth road, porter, who deposed he was brother to the de ceased Mrs. Smith. He identified her body and that of her husband and children, now lying at St. Giles's Work house. His brother-in-law was a porter. He was a poor labouring man, and ho and his family were in great distress,. He never knew him or his sister.attempt or threaten to commit suicide. At times, he regretted to say, he was given to drink. He was not aware if any of the children were in burial clubs, The last time he saw his sister alive was at his house at Walworth ; she then complained that the house was unfit for them to live in, and that as soon as she could get apartments she should leave; she wai then looking out for apartments in Pied Bull-yard ; he knew nothing of the fire except from general report. He had been to the house where they occupied two rooms, a front room and a back room on the second floor. Tha rooms adjoined and opened into one another. There was no back window to the house, and the family had to come from the hack-I-a-ma to the front-room before they could get to the landing. There was a skylight ; but he did not know if there was a means of egress from it. There were four rooms on each floor. He did not know who else lived in the house. There was no venti lation or light for the back-rooms but that borrowed from the staircase. By a Juryman—His sister's reason for wishing to leave was the dilapidated state of the house, the rain came in from the skylight and made the room so damp that it wai unfit for the children to sleep in. Ills brother-in-law had not been in constant work for some time. His sister had complained of a carpenter's shop under the dwelling which she considered dangerous and that she would leave. Her reason for not leaving was that she could get no one to take her in. The shop was opened about Christmas last. There was an outlet from the back-gimund floor before it was turned into a carpenter's shop. The deceased Smith and his family had resided in the house about six years. Eliza Sarson, 10, Richards-place, Haggerstone, wife of a labourer, deposed—l am the daughter of William and Elie s Hedger and sister to the children. I identify three of the bodice , . My brother John is so much disfigured that I cannot identify him, My father was a journey man biscuit baker and confectioner ; he lodged on the second floor and occupied two rooms. lam not aware if my father and mother had attempted suicide ; they were not in distress. I last saw them in the house last Sunday ,week ; they had lived iu the house nearly three years. The Coroner—Do you know where the fire broke out ? Halo (the beadle)—Yes, sir, in the carpenter's shop. The Coroner—And where then ? Hain—l have a witness who knows all about it. Witness continued—They had a front and back room. By the Jury—l don't know anything that compelled them to live there ; they only owed a fortnight's rent. She never heard them make any complaint about the house ; but her father frequently said that if a fire took place they would all be burnt to death. They had never exp,rieneerl any fears as to the stability cf the house. James George Fleming, No. 11 Fire Brigade, deposed —I belong to the Cleandos-etreet Fire Engine Station ; I was at the fire, and got there fourth, arriving at about half-past 3 o'clock. After the fire was over I assisted out the whole of the b o di es . Th e young man in getting man was found found near the front wall, and near the window at tee east of the building on the second floor. The floor ha I fallen, and the front wall before the bodies were found. From the position of the body I cannot say where it must have been. When I arrived there I saw the front would fall, and I gave an elem. It then immediately fell, roof and all, and we bad a narrow escape. The walls, floor, roof, and all fell in a second. After cooling the ruins, and whilst the ruins were still burning, I went by direction of my foreman into the ruins, where I found a young man near the front wall of the east end ; his father was underneath him. We then cleared away the ruins further, when we found eight children, males and females. Then we f and Mr. and Mrs. Smith—they were all one on top of each other, as it were. By a Juryman—The Smiths were in the back part. Some of the children had fallen with their heads down wards, and I had to pull them up by the legs. I took out 14. The first we found about 10 minutes past 4. 'ley were all dead. Toe pressure was enough to kill any one. They had only their night cloches on, which were much burnt. One body had his trousers pertly on, and he must have been in the act of pulling them on when the house fell. He was least burnt of all. I heard no cries nor saw any person at the windows when I came up with my engine. By a Juryman—The house was in flames from the bottom to the top when I arrived. The alarm of fire was given at the station by a stranger. I saw the breseemer giving way in the centre, which dre v the ends from the wall. I saw it bend and the wall gave way. I gave an el em. By the Cs,roner—We are supposed to be called by the police, who we give a trifle for doing so. Mr. Goff, of the brigade, said he was called by a policeman on Rleckfriars-bridge before the last witness was called ; the policeman on the bridge was attracted by the light. By a Juryman —I have:seen hundreds of houses on fire and seen them fall. I never saw a hou , e fall so quickly as this. Since the fire I find the timber had not much hold. If the front bressemer had not given way I think the frost wall would not have given. Police -constable 34 E, Daniel Brown Sulli van, I gave the first a'artn of fire by springing my rattle at a quarter past cr 20 minutes past 2 o'clock on Sdnlty morning the 23th. The Caronsr—Are you sure of that ? Because the Chandos street men did not get there with the engine till half-past 3 o'clock. A Juryrcan—l saw it at half-past 2 o-c1,:c1;. The Coroner—Yes, but the Chandos-street man was in the imuudiate neighbourhood. Juryman--yes, and thus was there before him. Tue Curoner—lt seems there is no organised system f ,r calling the engines. Witness—When at the o ,rner of Montague and Rus sell-streets, I heard a, cry and ran towards the house ; just as I turned the corner I saw the fire rushing out of the window on the basement. The door, I believe, was fastened, but the fire was so strong I could not approach the door. I looked up to the front of the house, where I saw a man at the second floor f ont window on the west side over the shop, above where the flames were gushing out. Ire cried out, and I to!cl him to hold hard where he was. At this moment flames ruched out, and there was great cracking of glass. I stooped down to avoid the broken glass when a young man jumped out and knocked me down. The young man was not killed at the time, but he was seriously injured. The man Eastwood, his wife, and three children got out of the window by means of a ladder which the police put up to the window. A stranger went up the ladder and brought down one of the children ; at that time a fire-escape bad not arrived. Five persons were got out safely. No engine. bad arrived at that time. I can't recollect when the first engine arrived. Policeman 56 E first name to my assistance. We sprang our rattles almost together and I sent him for the fire-escaps, but not to the engine station. Toe Coroner—Are the fire escape and the engine station connected ? Mr. Gaff (fire brigade)—No, they are not. Witness continued—The only persons we saw were those we took out and the young man who jumped out, he came from the second floor window. I did not see the other window touched. I saw no other living person but those I have named at any of the windows. When the last person was taken from the window, the flames and smoke were so great from the basement that I could not see the second window. It was about five minutes after the last person was saved that thefire escape came. It was there before either of the engines. I cannot say which fire engine arrived first. The front door was burning at tho time. By a Juryman—The fire when I first saw it was burning the Museum-street end of the building. I knocked at the door and sprung my rattle. One part of the door was burning at the time. The whole of the lower part of the premises was on fire when I saw it, but more towards Museum-street than the other. lam sure the door was burning when I first saw the fire. I can't say if the shutters were up in front of the shop. Tne flames were rushing out in a body at the time. By the Coroner—l was at the fire about two minutes before the young man jumped out. During that time I sprang my rattle, sent for the escape, and went back to the young► man to desire him not to jump out, the glass and flames rushed out against me, and at the same moment the young man jumped out, fell on me, knocked me down, and stunned me. My instructions with reference to giving information to the fire engine sta tions and escapes are to go to all the nearest stations and give an alarm. When the a cape arrived it could not be used. It was higher than the windows, and the flames from below prevented its use. It was put against the adjoining house, and the fire-escape man went to the roof. By the Foreman—lt was about ten or twelve minutes after I discovered the fire that the fire-escape came. By a Juryman•-1 ktioN nothing of a boy giving in formation to the station ❑ear the church. By the Coronc , r —I think most (,1 the delay in the arrival el the eec ipo aro,;ti from the beanie of timber across the street, to support the building, impeding its progress, By a Juryman—l think the cries proceeded from the man who jumped out of the window. Ido not know if the occupants of the adjoining houies were screaming. .Tohn Curie, 8, Bury-street, Bloomsbury, painter and 'glazier —I was at the fire on Sunday morning about 20 mien es or half past two o'eloc. I was first alarmed by the cry of murder and the sound of a policeman's rattle, which occurred simultaneously. I had just returned home, and had passed the end of Gil bert-street about five inmutes pas' 2. I immediately wont to the fire, where I found two poiceinen, one of whom was springing his rattl.., and the other was close against the door. I don't think the door was on tire, but the flames were coining through the shop window. It was not great at first, though it was rasher a large flans that came out of so small a shop; the door and window ap peared to join. I can't say if the door was broken open, but I think not. I heard several calls or screeches. Taere can be no doubt they came from the sec ind floor window. I saw an arm put out of the window, and pulled back again. It was not the man who jumped out. The hand and arm were put out of the window nearest Bury-street ; the party appeared to be in their shirt or night dress. Rev. R - . - Long, curate of Bloomsbury, said he had often visited the house, and could state it was impossible for any one to get out of the windows, because boards were placed across them. Witness continued—Mr. Eastwood was at the window when I put the ladder up, about three or four minutes after I got there. I saw the Land and arm before I saw Mr. Eastwood at the window. I did not see it afterwards. I went up the ladder and bropg'ot down a little girl about nine or ten years of age. Mr. Eastwood then went back into the room. After that I brought down Mrs. Eastwood and an infant in her arms. Mr. East wood went back a second time, and got a little boy put, and then came down the ladder himself. Mr. Eastwood went in and brought them as cairn and as co.l as if ho was following his ordinary employ ; but when ho came down he was overcome—he fell into my arms and said, " Ob, my dear boy,-I have not a rag left." Neither fire escape nor engine had then arrived. It was a quarter of an hour or so after Mr. Eastwood was got out that the fire-escape or engine came. Had the ladder been long enough I could and should have gorse to the second floor wredow ; but when the fire-escape arrived, it was impossible for them to render the inmates any aid— all chance was gone. The fire-escapernau was willing t: go up, but I put my hand upon his shoulder, and said, "You can't live up there," and he then put the escape against the adjoining house and went on the roof. When the escape arrived, the flames were rushing out of the sky light. The poor man,who jumped out was first laid on the opp , site side of the street. By a Juryman—When I took out the chill the flames were issuing from the shop window, but net from the door. I did no t see t h e d oor opened. When the police came we were all driven back for the firemen to work, and I can't say what was done then. Nu flame at first issued fro:u the first or second floor window. Wben I mounted the ladder and looked in at the window there was no fire in the first floor. Mr. Eastwood was burnt coming down the ladder. After the policemen drove me back I stood on the buildings opposite, and saw the walls at first ft 1 course by course. If the fire-escape had arrived earlier, or I had had a longer ladder, more lives could have been saved. The ladder was so hot that I could not hold the sides in my hand as I went up and down. A policeman knocked at the door violently, and pulled the bell. John Eastwood, one of the occupiers of the house, whose life was providentially saved by the last witness, deposed—l am now living at 42, ;Iluseurn•street. I itin a carpenter by trade. I occupied a front and back room on the first floor, under those occupied by the Hedgers. I was fir.,t awoke by my wife. She said, "John, there's a row; what is that crackling noise?" I got up and said, "Dear ine, the pace is full of smoke." I slept in the back room with my wife and one child, and the other two children in the front room. I jumped out of be 4, opened the door bet Neen the two rooms, and, saw the racction of a fire in Gilbert-street. I then went to the front window and looked through it, and saw the flamed curling up over the front of the adjoining window, which wes immediately oirer the carpenter's shop. There was flame at the landing,and ruching up the staircase. I shut the front room door and locked it, to prevent my wife i❑ a moment of excitement attempting to escape that way. It was impossible to escape by the stairs at that time. I then rushed to the front window, opened it, got out side on to the shallow bale my, and called for as istance. I heard the policeman's rattle immediately after my wife awoke me. I called for assistance, and pointed to a ladder at the new buildings opposite. I kept my wife back from the window till the ladder was brought there. I then handed my eldest daughter to the last witness. We all fortunately got out without. injury. At the time of my escape the room was nearly full of smoke, and was accumulating. When I got ray last child out I could scarcely see, but by stooping down I was able to look as it were under it. The flame were just coming through the front window as I got my little boy out. I lived at 20, Gilbert-street about three mouths. No one slept on the ground floor. There was no haSement. The rooms adjoining mine on the first floor were unoccupied. I can't say when a person with a candle was last in the carpenter's shop, I saw no light there on Saturday night when I went to bed about eleve . o'clock. By the Coroner—Have you formed any opinion as to the cause of the fire Witness-1 can't imagine. The Coroner—You cannot conjecture ? Witness -I have not the slightest idea. I saw nothing to excite my vpicion. _ By the Jury—l smelt Lothirg burning en Saturday evening. No ono was at %yolk there whe❑ I went home on Saturday. I have known the occupier of the shop to be at work there so late as 7 o'clock, but I never knew him to be there with any one smoking. I don't know what time the shop closed on Saturday night. The carpenter's shop was kept locked in the absence of the occupier. If any one had been there to work on Saturday night after I returned home I might have heard it. I had no means of communicating with the persons above. My the,tights ware directed to saving my own family. We had made our escape by the ladder before the fire-escape had arrived. The Coroner—Yon have formed an opinion whence the fire began ? Witness - --I am certain it was in the carpenter's shop, hut when I can't say. The flames were rushing up the stairs and out of the shop windows at the same time. By a Juryman—l don't think the fire could have originated in the dust bin ; there was too much water used there. I firmly believe it was in the carpenter's shop. If it had originatel in the dust bin it would have been under my bedroom. By the Coroner--I heard no movement or screaming overhead. The Coroner proposed to examine Mrs. Eastwood, hut the witness said she was in such an excited state that he thought it would be dangerous for her to be called'. Thomas StulJbs, occepier of the carpenter's shop, was next called. Ho said, I reside at 3, Little Russell street, and am a carpenter by trade. I rented the house 20, Gilbert-street, and undeilet it in tenements. Three portions of it were occupied when the fire occurred. No one was at work on Saturday, and the last time I was there was between half-past 9or 10 o'clock en Saturday morning ;no light was used then. I began work about half-past 8 o'clock and left about half-past 9 o'clock. I was called away by Mr. Taylor to the Caled“nian road, and did not retr rn again for the day. I have kept no combustibles there. There was an accu mulation of shavings there at the time of the fire, The shutters were down except one. Some glass without a sbn! ter behind it was brolc , n near some shavings. Any one might have thrown a light amongst them. He had many times omitted to shut up the shop, He was not insured, and be knew of no one who had threatened to do him an injury. There was an opening in the staircase through which a light might be thrown on the shavings. He could only account fur the fire from an accident arising from the inmates going up and down the staircase with a lighted candle. Mrs. Hedger was not a sober woman, and there were rumours she was out as late as one o'clock that morning. I have reason to believe that one of Smith's sons was out equally late. Policeman 56 E (William Soar) was at the fire on Sunday morning. I saw Smith the deceased on Satur day night about a quarter or 20 minutes to 12 o'clock go into his house. He bad been drinking, but he was not drunk. The Coroner—Not helplessly drunk ? Witness—No. By a Juryman—He could walk up stairs. Witness—Yes. The Coroner—•Do you recollect if he was smoking ? Witness—l did not see him smoking. By a Juryman—Do you know if he was in the habit of smoking ? Witness—l don't. By a Juryman—Did he tell you what publichouse he came from ? • Witness,--No. He went into the house alone, but I can't say if he opened the door himself. I did not go for the fire-escape. Mr. S. tow (Secretary of the Fire-escape)---The former policeman said he sent this man for the fire escape. Citrle—Tfis man assisted me to get out the inmates. The Ccroner—l intend to go on with that pact of the ca , e at our next meeting. Mr. S. Low—This is a matter of great public im portance. The fire escape might have been brought . within 5 minutes. Inspector Pethers, E division, said there were two policemen in the room who fetched the fire engine and the escape. Witness said it was a usual circumstance for the shut ters to be down. At 2 o'clock he passed the house, and there was not the least appearance of the fire. After wards, when he came up, the flames were rushing out. The Coroner said they had now been three hours in examining the causa of the Sre, and they were no nearer now in ascertaining that fact than they were when they commenced. It was a very extraordinary case, and it appeared to him to be surrounded by a great deal or mystery of an exceedingly disagreeable character. He wished to state that one of the objects of the adjourn ment was to have one or two of the bodies opened,- which he thought absolutely necessary, because it was a remarkable case that eleven persons should have been smothered—if that be the fact—in one room whilst other persons immediately below them escaped. There was something remarkable, he. thought, also about the bead and arms only being seen for an instant. No noise was heard from that part of the premises, save from one individual, who, it was believed, was so injured that he was unable to speak afterciards ; and under those 'cir cumstances, he thought it his duty to have two or more of the bodies opened. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, that the coroner might confer privately with the jury and the authoritie9. The public inqu'xy wag accordingly adjourned till Thursday next. From the London Gazette of Last bright. INDIA BOARD, MArtini 29. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to pass the Great Seal of . the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, nominating the Rev. George Ed ward Lynch Cotton, D.D., Master of Arts, to the Bishopric of Calcutta, voil by the death of the Right Rev. Daniel Wilson, D.D. FOREIGN-OFFICE, MARCH 21 The Queen has been pleased to approve of Don Gioac chino de Zugasti as Consul-General at Sierra Leone for the Duchess Regent of Parma. CROWN-OFFICE, MARCH 30. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THE PRESENT PARLIAMENT. College of the Holy Trinity of Dublin.—Anthony Le froy, Esq., Master of Arts, in the room of the Right Hon, Joseph Napier. who has accepted the office of Lord High Chancellor of Ireland. WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, MARCH 30. 3d Regiment of Light . Dragoons—Sergeant-Major Charles E. Nettles to be Cornet, without purchase. 9th Light Dragoons—Charles Browne Bashford, Gent., to be Cornet, without purchase, in succession to Lieut. A. S. Jones, promoted in the 18th Light Dragoons. 11th Light Dragoons—John Coare Swains, Gent. to be Cornet, by purchase, vice J. A. Stewart, promoted. 16th Light Dragoons—Richard F. Morrison, Gent., to bo Cornet, by purch use, vice C or b a lli s , promoted. 18th Light Dragoons—Captain William Batson, fiona half-pay as Quartermaster 15th Light Dragoons, to be Paymaster. Military Train—Captain John McCourt to be Major, by purchase, vice Brevet-Lieutenant Colonel Heylan, who retires. Royal Regiment of Artillery—Sergeant-Major William Norton of the Royal Horse Artillery to be Riding- Master. Corps of Royal Engineers—Lieutenant Edward Loftus Bland to be Second Captain, vice Neville, killed in action. Ist Regiment of Foot--Brevet-Major F. R. Mein to be Major, by purchase, vice Marindin, who retires; Lieut. Henry G. White to be Captain, by purchase, vice Mein; Lieutenant R. L. S. Curtois to be Captain, by purchase, vice Thursby, who retires. 2d Foot—Lieut. William Henry Spencer to be Captain, without purchase; vice Brevet-Major Lowe, appointed to 74th Foot; Francis Charles Marhall Griffith, Gen'., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Gosset, promoted. 3d Foot—Ensign R. B. Morony to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Smelt, promoted in 21st Foot. 4th Foot--Lieutenant Thomas B. Houston, from 54th Foot, to be Captain, without purchase, vice Reid, ap pointed to the 23d Foot ; Paul Bridson, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice W. C. Vyvyan, who resigns; James Browne, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchaie, vice Liston, whose ta:pointmenr. has been cancelled. sth Foot—To be Ensigns, without purchase—John John son Bradshaw, Gent. ; Francis Heathcoto Denny Brome, Gent. ; Frederick Arthur Forsyth, Gent. Bth Foot—Charles Dudley Ryder Mad ton, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Kinsman, whose appoint ment has been cancelled. 10th Foot—Lieut. W. H. P. Gordon Bluett to be Captain, without purchase, vice Fresson, appointed to the 21st Foot. To be Ensigns, without purchase—Hargood Thomas Snooke, Gent. ; William Perry James, Gent. ; Charles James Barnett, Gent. ; Ernest Archibald Bur ger,,Gant.. 11th Foat—To be Ensigns, without purchase—James Far quhar Oliver, Gent. ; William Arthur Irwin, Gent. 12th Foot--To be Ensigns, without purchase—Edward Fiddes, Gent. ; Townsend George Gan, Gent. ; Henry J. MacDonuell, Gent. 13th Foot—To be Ensigns, without purehase—g r Alexander Maemanus Rowan,Gent. ; Arthur McGillicu , tdy Denny, Gent. 14th Foot—Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James E. Alexander, from-23d Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Bel!, who exchanges. The second Christian name of Ensign Frizell is Bruekfield, and not Brickfield, as stated in the Gazette of the 26th instant. 15th Foot—Lieut. Robert Thomas P. Cuthbert to be In structor of Musketry ; Horatio George Maunsell, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase. 17th Foot--To be Ensigns, without' purchase—Henry Scrymgeour Wodderburn, Gent. ; Thomas Braddell, Gent. 18th Foot—Captain Bentinck H. Cumberland, from half pay, Neuron Regiment, to be Captain, vice Aldridge, appointed to the 20th Foot; Lieutenant John Robert Blacker to be Captain, by purchase, vice Cumberland, who retires. 19th Foot—Quartermaster John James Macdonald, late of the 2d Jager Corps, British German Legion, to be Quar termaster. 20th Foot—Lieut. Charles Gustavus Rochfort to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel Le Cou teur, who retires ; Ensign Conroy Fahie to be Lieu tenant, without purchase, vice Vaughan, promoted ; Lieut. C. F. Houghton, from the sth Foot, to be Lieu• tenant, without purchase. 21st Foot—Ensign W. H. Ker to be Lieutendit, without purchase, vice Clerke, promoted. To be Ensigns, with: out purchase—F.. G. Jackson, Gent.,; S. H. Hayes, Gent. ; E. Bussel, Gent., vice Ler. 2.3 d Foot —Captain 0. G. De Lancey, from half-pay Un attached, to be Captain, without purchase ; A. G. D. Pocock, Gent., to be Ensign without purchase, vice Patton promoted ; Cornet G. Wohlmano, from half-pay of the late Land Transport Corps, to be Quartermaster. 231 Foot—Lieut.-Col. Edward W. D. Bell, from the 14th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Sir Janes E. Alexander who exchanges; Ensign J. H. Welwyn to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Monsen, pro• meted ; Frederick Gerard, Gent., to be Ensign without purchase, vice Welwyn. 21th Fuot—Brevet-Colonel Augustus G. Blachford, to be Lieut.-Colonel, without purchase. To be Majors with out purchase—Captain Louis Howe Bazalgette, vice Blachford; Captain and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Henry Laye, from 581 Foot. 29th Foot— Alfred Fawcett, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, in succession to Lieutenant Valpy, promoted in 21st Feet. 36th Foot—Cyrus Day, Gent., to be Ensign, without par- chase, vice Scott, promoted ; Paymaster William Cau sabon Freud, late of the 4th Middlesex Militia, to be Paymaster, vice Stuart, who retires on half-pay. 47th Foot —Captain Sir W. Henry Clerke, Bart., from half-pay, 42d Foot, to be Captain, vice Brevet- Major Charles Elgee, whose Brevet 'Rank has been converted into Substantive Rank under tho Royal Warrant of 6th October, 1851 ; Lieutenant E !ward Croker to be Captain, by purchase, vice Sir W. H. Clerke, Bart., who retires ; Ensign John James Scott to bejLieutenant, by purchase, vice Croker. 48th Foot.—Pulteney Edward. Bowlby, Gent., to be En sign, without purchase, in succession to Lieut. Coventry, appointed to the 15th Foot. 51st Foot--Empson Edward Middleton, Gant., to be Eosigu, without purchase, vice Crowe, promoted ; Dud , Gent., oted. 53d to ,be E ns i gn , w i t h out ley Villiers Stuart, Gent. , to be Ensign, without pur chase, oot —vice o 19 1 ea a r l k er Brown, prm purchase, in succession to Lieutenant Davern, promoted in 22d Foot. 55th Foot—The third Christian name of Ensign Riley is Daniel. tthfoot—Ensign D. Gardiner to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Ryan, promoted. 67th Foot—Miles Charles Sston, Gent.,- . to b 3 Eusign, w ith ou t purchase, vice Munro, p romo t e d . 74th Foot—To be Ensigns, without purchase—Chas. John Rolleston, Gent., in succession to Lieut. Stoddart, pro moted in 18th Foot; Norman Magnus MacLeod, Gent., in succession to Lieutenant Davies, promoted in the 21;th Foot, 78th BOot—Ensign R. Clay to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Gillinora, promoted in 231 Foot ; James Baron Baillia, Gant., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Clay. 80th F-oot—Lieut. J. J. Dudgeon to be Captain, without purchase, vice Brevet-Lieut.-Col. Holdich, promoted in the 20th Foot; Ensign W. B. B. Christie to be Veil tenant, without purchase, vice Dudgeon; Ensign Wil liam Maclean to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Fraser, promoted in the 23d Foot. To be Ensigns, with out purchase—Clements Moffatt Bond, Gent., vice Christie; Walter Philip Walshe, Gent., vice Maclean. 81st Foot—Cowper Rochfort, Gent., to be Ensign, with out purchase, in succession to Lieut. King, promoted in 21st -Foot. 82,1 Foot—To bo Ensrgns, without purchase—John Butler M`Kenna, Gent., vice Ryan, promoted ; Win, Reeves Bunbury, Gent., vice Moseley, appointed to the 60th Foot. 83d =Foot—To b© Ensigns, without purchase—James Edmund Brymer, Gent., in succession to Lieutenant Marsh, promoted in the 21st Foot. 86th Foot—Matthew Edward Leadbitter, Gent., . to be Ensign, without purchase, in succession to Lient. E. M. Jones, promoted in 20th Foot. 8 'th Foot—To bo Ensigns, without purchase—George Robert Storey, Gent.; in succession to Lieutenant G. G. G. Munro, promoted in the 20th Foot ; Adrian Augustus Von Beverhondt, Gent., in succession to Lieutenant Shad well, promoted in 23d Foot. 94th Foot—Ensign R. J. M. St. George to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Lewis promoted in the 20th Foot ; John Hunter Kn ox , GeKit., to be Ensign, with. out purchase, vice St. George. 96th Foot —Ensign E. Johnston, to be Lieutenant, with out purchase, viva Lees, promoted in 23d Foot. Rifle Brigade—Charles Francis Blackett, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Ames, promoted.- Ceylon Rifle Regiment--Ensign S. Halahan to be Lieu tenant, without purchase, vice Sharpe, promoted in 20th Foot ; John James, Gent,_ to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Halahan. Cape Mounted Riflemen—Ensign H. R. M. Humphreys to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Palmer; prOMoted in 21st Foot. Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—To be Ensigns, without purchase---Ensign- T. C. Wilson, from the 74th Foot, vice Barrow, promoted; Edward Whyte, Gent., vice Savage, promoted ; Samuel Rennalla Jackson, Gent., vice Onion, promoted; Frederick John Atkinson Dunn, Gent., vice Armstrong, promoted. DEPOT BATTALION. —Major and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel William Devenish Deverell to be Lieutenant-Colonel, without purchase, vice Brevet-Colonel Eyre, appoint e d Commandant at Chatham. STAFF.—Brevet-Colonel Charles Bingham, Assistant Ad jutant-General of the Royal Artillery, to be Deputy Adjutant-General of the Royal Artillery. • UNATTACHED.—Brevet-Major Francis Locker Whitmore, of the Ist Foot, to have his Bre vet converted into Sub. Stan Live Rank, under the Royal Warrant of 6th October, 1854. lIOSPITAL STAFF. - Staff-Surgeon of the First Class Ed ward John Burton, M.D., from half-pay, to be Staff-Surgeon of the First Class, upon full pay and attached to the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury. To be Acting Assistant-Surgeons—Peru Lee, Gent. ; Joseph Thomas Mitchell,- Gent. ; William War man Coleman, Gent. The appointment of Acting Assistant-Surgeon J. J. Brown, M.D., as stated in the Gazette of 12th February, has been cancelled. - BREVET. - Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel the Son. F. Colborne, C. 8., upon half•pay as Major, - Unattached, Assistant Quarter master-General at Gibraltar, having completed three years' actual service in the rank of Lieutenant•Celonel, to be Colonel in the Army, under the Royal Warrant of 6th October, 1854. • • Captain Sir W. H. Clerke, Bart., 47th Foot,•4o — be Major in the Army. Brevet-Major SIC William Henry Clerke, Bart., 47th Foot, to be Liont—Colonel in the Army. Captain Henry Boutin& H. Cumberland, 18th Foot, to be Major in the Army. Brevet-Major Bentinck H. Cumberland, 18th Foot, to be Lieut,-Colonel in the Army. Captain John Summerfield Hawkins, of the Royal Engineers, to have the local rank of Major in North Ame rica, while employed on a particular service. Paymaster Wm. T. Stuart, having retired upon half pay 36th Foot, to have the honorary rank of Captain. The under-mentioned promotions to take place cone. quent on the death of Major-General Frederick C. Griffiths, on 15th March,.lBsB.: _ _ . . , Brevet-Colonel Joseph Clarke, upon half-p a y as Li eut.- Colonel Unattached, to be Major:General. Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Edgar Gibson, upon half-pay as Major Unattached, to be Colonel. Brevet-Major Archibald Campbell, 30th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Co onel. Captain Alexander Cunningham Robertson, Bth Foot, to be Major. The undermentioned promotions to take place eons°. quent on the death of Major-General Cecil Bisshopp, C. 8., Colonel of the 16th Foot, on 21st March, 1838 : Brevet-Colonel Sir J. Gaspard Le Marchant, upon half. pay as Lieutenant-Colonel Unattached, to_ be Major. General. Lieut.-Colonel Edward Last, 21st Foot, to be Colonel. Brevet-Major Mortimer R. S. Whitmore, upon half-pay, as Captain of the late 19th Light Dragoons and Staff Offioer of Pensioners, to be Lieuten an t-C o l one l. Captain Edwin Gream Daniell, Sth Foot, to be Major. The promotion of Capt. A. C. Robertson, Bth Foot, to be Major in the Army, on 24th inst., has been cancelled, he having been promoted on the 16th inst., in succession to the late Major-General Griffiths. For Capt. Richard Chas. German , Bengal Native Infan try, to be Major in the Army, as stated in the Supplemen• tary Gazette of the 24th inst., read Capt. Richard Charles German, &c. _ For Captain James Francis Eaton Travers, of the Royal Artillery, to be Major in the Army, as stated in the sup piementary Gazette of the 24th inst., read, Captain Fre• derick John Travers, &c. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS.LIEUTENANT. Tower Hamlets—John Godfrey Bellingham Hudson, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, County of Norfolk—Stephens Lyne Stephens, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant. 2d Regiment of King's Own Staffordshire Militia—John Wallace Pilkington Lowe, Gent., to be Ensign,, vice Bulkeley, resigned; Clement John Sneyd, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Cooper, promoted. Shropshire Regiment of Militia—Henry :W.. Coyne, Gent., to bo Ensign. Worcestershire Regiment of Militia--Ensign Edward James Pasmore to be Lieutenant, vice Parke, resigned; Ensign Thomas Lyford Champion to be Lieutenant,; vice William Joseph Tibbs, appointed to the 11th Foot. , Bedfordshire Regiment of Militia=-Major Robert Hind. ley Wilkinson to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Higgins, resigned ; Captain William Cooper Cooper to be Major, vice Wilkinson, promoted ; Lieutenant William Pritzler Newland to be Captain, vice Cooper, promoted ; Ensign Robert Macdonald Chambers to be Lieutenant, vice Meux Smith, promoted; Richard Sambrook Crawley, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice Newland, promoted. Light Infantry Battalion of the Royal Sussex Militia. —Charles Hamilton Bell, Gent., to , be Ensign, vice Charles Wolfinger, resigned. West Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry.—Cornet Edward Godman Kirkpatrick to be Lieutenant, vice•Har• dingo, resigned , John William Roper, Gent., tO be - Cori net, vise Kirkpatrick, promoted. - BANKRUPTS. Urbain Brizard, tailor, Sherrard-street, Golden-scriare, to surrender April 16, at half-past eleven, and May 10, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. George Armitage, iron merchant, Clement's-lane, City, April 15 and May 11, at el e v en , a t th e C our t o f Bank. r uptcy. Joseph Mitchell, builder, Sheffield, April 17, and May 29, at ten, at the Council-hall, Sheffield. George Li3ett, busk manufacturer, Sheffield, April 1.7, and May 29, at ten, at the Council-hall, Sheffield. - - George Friend, bookseller, Kidderminster, April 9; and 29, at half-past e l even, at the Birmingham District Court. Joshua Hanson and James Hanson, woollen spinners, Huddersfield, April 20 and May 24, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. William Powell, grocer, Lowestoft, April 16, at half past eleven, and May 11, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. _ _ John Vales and Banjul:lin Dales, builders, George street, Westminster, April 12, and 'May 7, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Charles Holder, carpenter, Great Winchester.street,CitY, April 13 at two, and May 11, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. IVaher Jones- and Charles Jones, tallow chandlers, Fligh-street, Islington, April 13, at one, awl May 8, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Peter Dallas, grocer, Inverness. George Forbes, wine merchant, Edinburgh. John Bachanan and Robert Lockhart, wine merchants, Glasgow. John Daley, watch dealer, Grangemouth. John Russell, Wright, Poockshaws. Country IVlaritets. O LEEDS:—Mende 30. There is a good show of wheat fresh up this morning, which meets a fair sale at Friday's full rates. Barley i• also very plentiful, 'and b es t sorts difficult of sale, while inferior are neglected. Beans s t ea dy. Oth er articles un changed. Averages for the week : Wheat, 44s lOd I Oats, 25s 3id I Peas, 461 91d. Barley, 36s 7d 1 Beans, 39s `lid 1 Rye, —a Od. • NE WOASTLE—MARCH 30. Our market this morning was poorly attended, and in wheat a short supply. In South country and foreign more offering. Trade heavy, and former prices scarcely obtain• ed. Flour a drug. Barley not quito so brisk. Oats are steady at full rates. Beans quiet, and peas scarce and much wanted. NORWICH CATTLE —MARcu 27; There was a small show of store cattle to-day, but buyers were not numerous, and only a limited business was done. Fat beasts,.7s to 7s 6d ; prime, 8s Od per stone ; bein/ about same as last week. Sheep, 42s to 443 per head, and good store pigs 15s to 255. Fat.pork, 6s to 63 6d ; primes 8s 6d per stone of 141bs. COURSE OF EXCHANGE. —YZSTERDAY. _ Amnerclam •• •• •• •••••• 11 15 Gibraltar ••••• .••••• •s•• IDitto, three months .. 11 17% Leghorn 29 72% Rotterdam •• •• •• •• •• 11 17% Genoa ****** •• •• •• •• •• 60 B A r n u t s w se e i r s p 1T 3 7 7 t v id e i n lir ce Ilamburgh •• •• •• •• 23 6 •••• 13. Napieg A Rena •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• Palermo •••• 125 25 X l5 , Messina Do. three months .. 25 40 'Lisbon .. Marseilles ••••••••• • •• 25 40 Oporto .• •• •• •• ••• .. 51% Bourdeaux ...• Rio Janeiro.... ..... Frankfort-on-Maine .• .. 118 Buenos Ayres ..... ••• •-• Berlin New York,6o days' sight Vienna.. •• •• •• •• •• •... 10 . 35 Philadelphia •••••• .• ,• rrieste.... ..... - 10 36 PRICES OF BULLION, PER OS: Petersbarg ............ 35 1 ,6 Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 9 Idairid •••••• • •• 1.• • • 49 Portugal Gold Coin 0 0 0 Cadiz .......• 49% Vexican Dollars .... 0 0 It ircelona • • New Dollars .• .• •• 0 Seville.• •• .. Silver in bars ...... 0 5 170 BIRTHS. BALFOUR—On the 29th inst., at 20, Wilton-street, Bel grave-square, the wife of Commander C. J. Balfour R.N., of a daughter. - - FRANCIS—On the 29th inst., at Cambridge, the wife of Clement Francis, Esq., of a son. VEREKER—On the 27th inst., at 10, Warwiok-square , the Hon. Mrs. Vereker, of a son. Oxford- G i c itE r Y c — h CR Winchester, OSniE O t r . h o A 1 2 f 9 r e th a o i i s b t . o , y , a o t f MARRIAGES.ISt.T,Thomas's street, London, to Agnes, second daughter of Mr. Wm. Crosbie, of Winchester. MALTBY —BuTTERKELD—On the 29th inst., at St. Mary% Islington, Mr. Thomas Maltby, of Islington, to Julia, widow of the late S. B. W. Butterfield, Eeq, DEATHS. BOUGIITON—On the 28th inst., Edward Oakley, only eon ,f di. [ 3 _ .b , n , B . sq ,of the S tock Exchange, and of Adino boughtoo, 2, Park-place, Maze-bill, Greenwich, aged 16 months. iORBES—On the 29th inst., at Malkin-place, Belgrave square, Bartholomew Forbes, Esq., aged 88. Park-road, Clapham - roai Fox— i,s On oyth.9 2 8th inst , at 4 , DoloN—On th e 27th inst., Florence, the infant c hild of Mr. Mark Lemon. L0171:1011: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , of N o . 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun - Office, No• 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the counlY of Kidd'esext Wednesday, March 31, 1858. I