The Sun. — London, England, 1860-05-15 00:00:00

.MPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Coln River Water Bill was read a second time. The following bills were read a third time and passed . Midland Great Western Railway (Ireland), Great Southern of India Railway, Chard Railway, Midland Railway (Bur ton-upon-Trent Branches and Deviation), Wednes Gas and Water, Midland Railway (Rowsley and Beaton. Lines), Midland Railway (Station in St. Pancras). THE EXPEDITION FROM GENOA. The Marquis of NORMANBY said he hail given notice privately to the noble lord that it was his intention this evening to ask a question relative to the departure of an armed expedition from the waters of Genoa. He, wished to know whether the Government would lay upon the table any report they might have received from Sir J. Hudson. The expedition left . the place notoriously for the purpose of carrying on military operations in Sicily. He had no wish to rais9 the question as to the policy which had been adopted by the Government, but he simply wished for any information that was in the possession of the Government, and which could be given without detriment to the public service. Lord WODEHOUSE said there was no objection to lay ing the report that had been received from Sir J. Hudson on the table. He must however state, for the information of the noble marquis, that some time since a remonstrance had been addressed by this Government to the Government of Piedmont against any such expedition as that which hotd taken place. NAVAL RESERVES. 1 Lord CHELMSFORD, in the absence of his 110b6 and learned friend (Lord Lyndhurst), moved for returns mentioned by the noble and learned lord in speech the other evening. He understood there would no objection to the returns alluded to. 1 The returns were ordered. THE DECAYED GUNBOATS. The Earl of HARDWICKE rose for the purpose of moving for a return of all the vessels or gunboats beige. , 1,000 tons burden built by contract since the year 18512, with the names and residences of the contractors of ea h vessel, showing at the sometime the year of their cons - tion, the price contracted for, together with their pre y t t i condition as to seaworthiness. He w a s i n d uce d t o m e this motion in consequence of a report w hich h a d b een r a ome time current that a number of small vessels built in the last four or five years, under the sanction of the CroWn, had turned out to be in such a decayed condition that they were not supposed to be fit for any operation until they should undergo further repair. This report had naturally produced in the country a feeling of indignation, becaUse it was felt that some neglect existed, either on the part i of the Government who made the contract, or on the part or the contractors, or on the part of both combined, where y a large sum of money had bee n l os t t o th e coun t ry; a d the hope and belief that the maritime defences of the coun try were daily strengthening and improving had at once been destroyed. This was a matter of very grave conside ration. (Hear, hear.) He was bound to say that the pre sent Government were not iraplicated in this matter, as the contracts occurred before theytame into office, and he had no doubt that the noble duke at the head of the Admiralty felt as much disposed as himself to remedy so great a grie vance. The contractors, no doubt, undertook to perform that of which notice was given them, by the document known as the specification of work. That document 'he had not moved for, though it would be necessary, if the return he now asked far were granted, to enable their lord ships to judge of the case ; and he should, therefore, on a future oceasion move for it. From what had passed in another place he understood that it was well known to the Government at the time the contract was made that there was in the merchants' building-yards no timber of a de scription fit for the intended work, but only such timber as was described as unseasoned. If it turned out to be the case that the contractors made the agreement with the clear engagement to perform the very best work at the very best price, and that the specification contained words to that effect, while, at the same time, the Government were aware that the timber was unfit for use, then the Government were more to blame in the transaction than the contractors ; be cause, if it was necessary to run up a number of vessels for temporary use, it would have been easy to have framed such a specification as would have allowed of vessels being Wilt for a temporary purpose at a moderate cost. Nevertheless, the contractors theraselves were also blameable if they gave their names out to the public as agreeing to use the best material and perform the best work. The great difficUlty was to know who was the responsible party. He was aware that the Board of Admiralty was responsible its a board, but it almost always happened that the country had net got what it wanted—knowledge combined with responsi bility. There was really no sound responsibility where the responsible party did not know his business. While a civi lian was at the head of the Board of Admiralty there was always difficulty in grappling with questions connected with the management of the maritime forces of the country. How ever, he apprehended that in this case the real party respon sible was the Surveyor of the Navy, who had, since these boats had rotted, changed his name, and become " Control ler." He wanted to know whether the Controller was re sponsible for what had taken place. That functionary was bred a seaman, and was a highly respectable officer, and he was placed in the position of Surveyor of the Navy, for which situation a person should be selected who was brought up from his earliest life, as apprentiee in the building-yard, to the use of the adze. Formerly Surveyors of the Navy knew something of their business ; they were thoroughly acquainted with shipbuilding in all its details; but Sir James Graham introduced a new sys'em, and as one re sult of Whig jobbery Sir William Symonds was made Surveyor of the Navy. Sir William was an ex cellent' officer and a worthy man, but he was quite igno rant of shipbuilding, and in his new office proved an entire failure. He was succeeded by Sir Baldwin Walker, who might be an able naval officer and an admirable ad ministrator, but who knew nothing of construction. The consequence was that knowledge and responsibility did not exist together ; but he trusted that what had occurred would induce the Board of Admiralty to give the office of Sur veyor of the Navy to some man who was practically ac quainted with shipbuilding,. He was told that a few gun boats had been examined and found in a decayed state, and that two had been actually broken up ; but he was afraid that the whole were more cr less worthless. Information had reached him to the effect that the 16 which hid been put upon the slip at Portsmouth were utterly rot ten, and that the repair of the remainder would cost as much as I heir original construction. The fact that the gunboats were built of green timber was not the only one deserving of at tention. Evidence had been given as to the fastenings, which he could not help saying was of the most frightful description. He hoped the house would grant his return, which he protnistrl to follow up by an attempt to discover the guilty parties ; for the matter was too serious a one to be overlooked, whether the blame lay at the door of a ras cally contractor or an ignorant surveyor. The Duke of SO?' ERSET—There can be no object ion to give The information which the noble earl desires, asd which, indeed, has already been moved for in the other House of Parliament. One part of the return, however, it would be very difficult to make. We have at present no fewer than 162 gunboats, and to be able to give an account of their seaworthiness we would require to have them brought into dock, stripped, and examined. That cannot be done with regard to the whole of them, as your lordships will see when I state how they are distri buted. There are 53 divided into three divisions in dif ferent ports at home—at Hasler, 45 ;in commission at Pem broke and elsewhere, 8 ; in China, 21; North America, 3; Mediterranean, 3; south-east coast of America, 2; con nected with the Coastguard, 14 ; in course of construction, 10. When the present Board of Admiralty came into office we heard a great deal about the gunboats, particularly those at 'Lagar, and we thought it our duty to have the n inspected. Certainly a considerable amount of decay was found in them. I believe, indeed, the defect had been dis covered some months before, and at the time of our inspec tion some workmen were already engaged In repairing them. More hands were put on, and during the whole of the sum mer there were 100 men employed. Of the 45 gunboats at Hasler 23 have been thoroughly repaired ; six more are in hand; so that 29 are either repaired or in a state of pro gress. We have been told that it was a mistake to keep the gunboats out of the water, but some of those afloat are quite as much decayed as those at Hasler. The one class does not seem to be more exempt from decay than the other. At the same time we have had gunboats constantly at work in China and with our coastguard, and, as far as we know, thEry have been, and are, perfectly efficient; so that the matter is not quite so serious as some people suppose, nor is it correct to say that no reliance whatever can be placed upon any of _ . the gunboats. I admit, however, that great blame rest somewhere for the mode in which these vessels were eon strutted. But we must look back to the circumstances which then existed. We commenced the Russian war with no gunboats. We were then engaged in repairing ships and replacing sailin g by steam vessels. Your lordships may be aware that in the private builders' yards there is at any moment but a small stock of timber, and therefore when this pressure arose the builders had great difficulty in obtaining timber, and when they did get it it was very small. Under these circumstances the G overnmentoffered not only the con tract price, but also a bonus for each gunboat that was com pleted within a certain time; so th 4. the builders had the advantage not only of the contract, but also of the bonus. however, was not much to their profit, because the shipwrights in the Thames, being bound by no engage • ments, demanded an increase of wages ; and this, combined with the rise in the price of timber, led to the ruin of many of the contractors. As regards what took place in 1854-55, I speak quite independently. lamin no way re sponsible for what the Government did then, but I have inquired into what occurred, and I have been told that in many of these yards there were two inspectors, a chief inspector, and a leading man tinder him, to watch the pro. gress of the work. They ware, however, working day and night, it was during the winter, in many cases snow Was upon the ground, and thus under this pressure opportuni ties wire offered to dishonest workmen to commit the fraud which has been referred to by cutting off the bolts. What makes that offence more flagrant is that the copper was supplied ii log langths by the Achuiralty to be cut up for bolts as it was required by the builders. So far as we have gone we have found only two or three vessels in which this fraud has been committed, and Tani" therefore disposed to attribute it not to the contractors, but to some o' the work men who may have been introduced into the ards under the pressure of the period. That question of he bolts was broUght under the notice of the Admiralty , my about two months ago, since which time I have ins uted inquiries with a view to taking such legal proceed • gs as may raise the whole question, and, if possible, bring to light the guilty parties. What the noble earl said about the Surveyor of the Navy is not applicable to this case. At that time great exertions were being made in our dockyards to fit out ves sels rapidly; there were a number of vessels to be built, and contracts and specifications to be drawn up, and the Sur veyor of the Navy, as he was then called, could not himself visit the private yards and inspect the works which were going on there. He was much more usefully employed in overlooking the great works which were going on in our dockyards. 411 he could do was to employ the best men he could get as inspectors. With the advice and concurrence of the superintendents of the different yards he took the best leading men and workmen, and sent them to the dif ferent contractors' yards to inspect the work which was going on there. That I believe is the system which has always prevailed, and I know no better one which could be adopted. If you are building a house you must trust to the clerk of the works, and if he chooses to connect him self with the contractor and permit him to put in bad tim ber, you are quite helpless until you find it out some time afterwards. In the same manner, in the case of build ing a ship, if the man or men whom you appoint at inspec tors enter into connivance with the builders—l do not say that that was the case in this instance—but, if they do, I do not see what resource you have or by what means you can protect yourselves. The noble earl complains that the Surveyor of the Navy :s not a practical shipwright. That question has been discussed over and over again. We have had shipbuilders as surveyors of the navy, and naval men have complained of them, that thougk they could build a ship they knew nothing about fitting it, and that the vessels which they constructed were not suited to go to sea. In the last arrangement which has been madethe Ad miralty took this course. They appointed a practical ship-. builder to attend to the construction of the hulls, a practical engineer to look after the machinery, and a naval man to act with them and to be guided by their advice. So far as I can learn, although, of course, great improvements may still be made, and I think naval architecture is making very rapid progress, the ships which have been built under this system are very satisfactory. The Channel fleet has, as your lordships are aware, been at sea in one or two gales, and it has been tried, although not very seriously, yet enough to enable naval officers to judge of the qualities of the ships of which it is composed. As soon as it arrived in port I wrote to the captain of each vessel, and asked him t 3 tell me what he thought of her and of her behaviour while she had been under his command, and what, if any, improvements he could suggest in her build. Upon the whole, the reports which I have received in reply are most satisfactory, and do great credit to the builders of these vessels, because they show that they are very efficient ships and have under somewhat diffi cult circumstances behaved very well. Therefore, I think, in opposition to the view of the noble earl, that the system which we have got is, upon the whole, a good system. The reason for changing the title of the Surveyor of the Navy to that of "Controller of the Navy" is, to show that he is not actually a shipbuilder, but that he is to overlook the other two departments, and to bring the practical knowledge of a seaman to the technical information of the shipbuilder and the scientific information of the engineer, and by the combination of the three to give to naval men the assurance that they will have placed under their command the best ships that can be constructed. It is impossible that any of these officers should give to the dockyards the practical in spection which is necessary, and, therefore I had intended to connect with the department of the Controller an officer who should visit the dockyards, see what is going on, and communicate with the Admiralty more readily than can be done under the existing system. The reason why I have yet made no such appointment is, that a commission upon this subject has been moved for in another place, and I thought that it would be better and more respectful to Par liament to wait for its report than at once to carry out my own idea. (Hear.) It has been said that many of these gun boats were constructed of green wood. That, however, is not the worst, for in many cases not only was the wood which was used green, but the sap was not properly re moved from it. That was a much greater fault, because it was hardly to be expected that in private yards there should be a proper supply of seasoned timber; but the material which was used might in all cases have been properly pre pared for use. In order to prevent similar occurrences in future, we have laid down a rule that when any builder ap plies to the Board of Admiralty for a contract for building ships, the Board shall send a person to visit his yard to see what stock of timber and what slip accommodation he has got. By watching the quantity of timber they kept, and by giving the contracts to those builders who kept the largest quantity of suitable timber, the Admiralty hoped to secure the use of proper materials in the construction of their vessels. The iron-coated vessels which are now being built are not vessels in which the green wood materially enters, the timber that is used for their sides being foreign timber. The gunboats to be put up this year will be sound anal well-ssasoned and of a somewhat better class than those we now possess. They will be able to take a part in our colonial service, in which their employment will often save the country the expense of maintaining the larger vessels. Reference has been made to the timber in our dockyards. To a great extent that timber consists of foreign oak and teak, which are all well seasoned. Of gnglish oak there is not a suffieient supply in the market to meet the wants of the dockyards ; but there are certain purposes for which we are obliged to use that article. We are anxious to obtain timber from all parts of the world. Your lordships may not all be aware that last year there were added to our navy 17 ships of the line, nine frigates, three corvettes, and seven sloops. If we had gone on building at that rate the whole of our seasoned timber would have been exhausted. But as regards our present operations, we are putting vessels on the frames rather to season them than to launch them with the ra ,idity we have lately done. My lords, I know of no other point to which I need now advert. I have statedwhy we cannot give the information now asked for with respect to every gunboat, but only as to those of them that have been examined. But in the statement which will be pro duced the words " not examined" will be entered against those vessels which have not undergone inspection. One half of the mortar-boats are built of iron. As to the wooden mortar-boats, we have not yet gone over the whole of them, and are not, therefore, able to state what is their condition. The Marquis of TOWNSHEND said it had been reported ' that the workmen, in driving the copper bolts through the timber of the gunboats, had cut off the middles of the bolts, put them in their pockets, and sold them for Gd. or ls. apiece. It anything could make our seamen tremble on board ship it would be the suspicion that they had beensent to sea in vessels made of rotten timber, and held together by such deceptive fastenings. If we must continue liable to such frauds, it would be better to dispense with copper bolts altogether, and revert to the old trenail. He trusted that a searching inquiry would be instituted into these disgraceful transactions, and that somebody would be made responsible for t hem. The Earl of HARDWICKE was understood to agree to the verbal amendment of his motion, as suggested by the First Lord of the Admiralty. After a few words from the Earl of SUREWSBURY and TALBOT, The Duke of SOMERSET said there was a Board of Construction in former years, but it did not exist now. The members of the Board of Admiralty used to take part in the construction of ships, but that system was not found at all to work well, and it was then determined to make the sur veyor responsible for giving aslvico in such matters. At present, when the board thought more line-of-battle ships or other vessels were required, they sent to the surveyor, who called in the practical men under him to prepare the lines, and then his advice, together with the, plans, was submitted to the approval of the board. The motion as amended was then agreed to. ROAD ACROSS HYDE PARK. Earl DtCIE presented a petition from many inhabitants of the districts north and south of Hyde-park, to the west of Edgeware-road in the former ca se , an d o f Sl oane - street i n . . _ - the latter, begging for some more direct communication than at present existed between the districts lying to the north and south of Hyde -park. He said the grievance of which the petitioners complained, the want of any such communi, cation other than Park-lane, and especially the want of a carriage -road open at all hours of the day or night, was a subject which had frequently been brought before the House of Commons, and in 1855 a committee which sat upon the subject of metropolitan communications reported in favour of such a road, placing it in the first class of the schemes they recommended fur adoption. The evidence of Mr. Pen nithorno Wore the committee was strongly in its favour. Since that time an enormous increase had been made to the population on both sides of Hyde -park, and on the enuth side many important public institutions had been erected. There was the South Kensiiigton Museum, there was the new garden of the Horticultural Society now progressing, the projected Exhibition of 18G2, and various hospitals. The Petitioners now abstained from suggesting any particular plan, regarding that function as one properly belonging to the board which had charge of such matters. They were anxious, however, that, whatever was done, the sanctity of Rotten- row should be preserved, and that nothing should be done to interfere with that ride. Every plan that he had yet heard suggested included a tunnel under Rotten row. It was, moreover, not desirable to make a public road in two close vicinity to Kensington-gardens. Lord EBURY thought everybody would concur that this road across Hyde-park was absolutely necessary; and the necessity of a more direct communication between he north and south sides of St. James's Park was also quite evident. At present the whole traffic which caraefroto Piccadilly or Oxford-street, stied went to Belgravia, had to go round by Charing-cross, and there to encounter all the traffic coming from the east end of London, and all that was going over `Westminster-bridge. lle regretted that when the footbi idge was made in St. James's Park, two or three years ago, a carriage Toad was not constructed, which might have done without injury to the gardens. Lord LLANOVER said it must bo admitted that there were hardly any of the great throughfarcs in the metro polis capable at present of accommodating suffi- ciently the traffic that had to pass through them, and seri ous inconvenience was felt from this cause. But there were great difficulties in the way of extensive metropolitan im provements. On the ono hand, it was often urged that Parliament ought not to grant money for such objects, but that they should be wholly provided for out of the local taxation. That might be fair if the metropolis were on the same footing as the ether great towns of the empire. But this was not the case ; for whilst in other cities and bo roughs the municipalities had large funds, derived from various tolls and dues, applicable to the improvements of the town, here the whole of these coal dues and revenues from other articles was levied by the Corporation of the City of London, who expended that vast sum of money wi4in the City, leaving to the rest of the metropolis no other resource than to impose a local rate. He did not know how this matter was dealt with in the bill now be fore the House of Commons for the reform of the London corporation, but it was a point to which the attention of their lordships ought to be directed with a view to enabling metropolitan improvements to be carried out. The widening of the south end of Park-lane, only as far as from Piccadilly up to Holderness-house, would cost no less than £lOO,OOO, and it was impossible that such improvements could be effected out of a local rate. SELLING AND HAWKING OF GOODS ON SUN- DAY BILL. Upon the motion for the recommittal of this bill, Lord TEYNHAM implored their lordships not to pro ceed with the bill, on the ground that they ought to see how far public and private efforts could succeed in putting down needless Sunday trading before they attempted to legislate upon the subject. Lord CHELMSFORD said that, on a former occasion, the principle of the bill was fully discussed, and upon a di vision, at the instance of the noble lord , was recognised by a majority. Under these circumstances, he felt he ought to do no more on the present occasion than move that the house should resolve itself into committee. Their lordships then went into committee upon the Upon the first clause, Lord TEYNHAM said the noble and learned lord prohi bited the sale of vegetables on Sunday, while he permitted fish, bread, and fruit to be sold ; and observed that if he left out of the exception list anything material which was required by people on Sunday, the want of it would be felt by the community until parliament met again. He might mention that many horses were kept in a very unnatural state in London ; and if, for instance, bran happened to be absolutely required for one of rheso animals on Sunday, the selling of it would, under the bill, be treatel as a cri minal act. But he also objected to the bill because it was not general in its application. Sunday trading was car ried on both in Liverpool and Birmingham, and what was good for the metropolis was surely also good for those towns. He also objected to a fine not exceeding 10s. nor less than 55., believing that in nine out of every ten cases it could not be recovered without levying a distress, the result of which would be to deprive many poor persons of all the property they possessed in the world. (Hear.) _ _ Lord CHELMSFORD contended that the noble lord had treated him unfairly by saying that ho wished, by the bill, to oppress the poor trader. He had introduced the bill for no other object than to meet the-wishes of thousands of tradesmen who had petitioned their lordship? house upon the subject. The clause was then agreed to. On clause 2, The Duke of SOMERSET thought that it would be a great hardship if poor people were not allowed to buy a loaf of bread after nine o'clock, while newspapers could be pur chased up to ten o'clock. The Earl of EGLINTON suggested that the hour should be ten instead of nine for closing all shops. The amendment was adopted, and the clause as amended agreed to. Clause 3 was agreed to. On clause 4, Lord WODEHOUSE said it seemed to him a harsh measure that people hawking fruit in the streets should not be allowed to cry their goods. Lord CHELMSFORD said that in the particular part of the metropolis where these cries mostly occurred they were regarded by the inhabitants as one of the greatest nuisances possible. The Bishop of CARLISLE said, that having had ex perience of London for some 15 years, and knowing how far these public cries affected congregations, he felt bound to say that on many occasions he had had to send out of church during the administration of the Lord's Supper to stop the cries of fruit. The clause was then agreed to, as was also clause 5. Lord CHELMSFORD said that his noble and learned friend (Lord Wensleydale), who was not now present, wished to introduce a clause after the sth, ° "e effect that the term for which a person guilty of a first offence against the act should be imprisoned should not exceed one calen dar month. He saw no objection whatever to the proposed clause. The clause was accordingly inserted. Clauses 6,7, 8, and 9, were agreed to. Lord TEYNHAM gave notice that lie should take the sense of the house upon the third reading. BANKRUPT LAW (SCOTLAND) AMENDMENT BILL. In committee on this bill; Lord CHELMSFORD expressed a hope that their lord ships would resist the temptation which the abuse of the present law held out to them to make the bill retrospective. With a view to prevent such a step, he would move to omit the words " has been or." The LORD CHANCELLOR defended the clause in which these words occurred. The committee divided— Contents Non-contents 6-1 The words were therefore retained, and the house re• surned. THE COMMON LODGING HOUSES (IRELAND; BILL. This bill was read a second time. Offences against the Person Bill was read a third time and passed. The Larceny Bill, the Forgery Bill, the Malicious In juries to Property Bill, the Coinage Offences Bill, the Ac cessories and Abettors Bill, and the Criminal Statute Re peal Bill were read a third time and passed. The Exchequer Bills Bill and the Customs Bill were read a third time and passed. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Abergavenny Improvement, Consett District Water, Leeds Township, and Sovereign Life Assurance Company. The following bills were considered and ordered for third reading :—Banbridge Junction Railway; Belfast and County Down Railway; Belfast, Holywood, and Bangor Railway; Buildings Improvement Company; Dublin and Kingstown, and Dublin and Wicklow Railway Companies ; Egleston Roads; Keith and Dufftown Railway; Mersey Ducks and Harbour Board ; Upper Mersey Dues, changed from "Upper Mersey Dues, Purchase, and Conservancy." The Monklan 1 Railways Bill and the Symington, Biggar, and Broughton Railway Bill were read a second time. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented against the Wine Licences Bill, in favour of an alteration in the Irish Poor Law, in favour of the Metropolitan Gas Bill, against the Highways Bill, &c. SHOT-BOATS, &c. Sir C. NAPIER gave notice that he would ask to-mor row a question relative to the building of the shot-boats as well as the reserve vessels. THE INSURRECTION IN SICILY. Mr. HENNESSY gave notice that he would draw the attention of the house to the money raised for the purpose of carrying out the insurrection in Sicily. NEWSPAPERS CONVEYANCE BILL. Mr. BAINES asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intended to proceed that evening with the order of the day which stood on the paper for the second reading of the Newspaper Conveyance Bill The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The Newspaper Conveyance Bill has not yet been printed, and has been reserved for the purpose of submitting to the house at the same time the regulations to be made by authority of the Treasury, which the adoption of such a bill would re quire. But lam obliged to my hon. friend for putting this question, because it will enable me to state what appears to be the convenient course to take with respect to the mea sure. The reasons on which the bill is founded are chiefly or entirely departmental and administrative reasons ; but a portion of the parties affected by it are disposed to contest those reasons, and to urge that the present system of a stamp on superficiA instead of a simple stamp on weight, with the privilege of retransmission, is accompanied by certain incidents which make it a beneficial and an economical ar rangement for the public. That is an allegation which, howevarit may be opposed to the view of the authorities in the Post-office department, is yet a fair subject for inquiry, and I should not like to urge the disposal of a subject of this kind, without attending to such a fair allegation, which it is competent for these parties to make, and fairly within the province of the House of Commons to consider. We are, however, met by this difficulty. Sir Rowland Hill, the Secretary to the Post-office, I regret to say, has been labouring under a severe illness, and an intima tion has been made to him on medical authority that it is absolutely requisite, in order to the public retain ing his invaluable services, that ho should have leave of absence for no less than six months. I think it will be im possible for the department to state its case on a subject of this kind in the absence of one who, I may say, has been the life and soul of all the post-office arrangements in this country for the last 20 years. Under these circumstances I have no alternative but to pos inquiry which I admit to be fairly demanded, and as it is uncertain whether or not Sir Rowland Hill may recover before the end of the session, I think it best to drop the bill—(ironical cheers) — reserving to myself the renewal of it at a future period, after this inquiry shall have been made. I would therefore move that the order of the day for the second reading of the THE SUN, LONDQI4; TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 15, 1860 Newspapers Conveyance, etc. Bill be read for the purpose of being cancelled. The order for the second reading of the bill was then dis charged. THE COLLECTION, &c., IN IRELAND FOR TIIP A POPE. Mr. A. STEUART asked the Chief Secretary for Ire land whether Government had turned their attention to col lections of money being made, there chiefly, as w ell as in other parts of the empire, for the use of the sovere' A g,n of the Papal States ; whether they believed such might 'be used, or means adopted otherwise, for enlisting subject& of her Ma jesty for the army of that foreign Power ; wail whether, if such be illegal or irregular, Government would take mea sures to check any agents in the matter, or 'to warn those who may enter into such engagements. Mr. CARD WELL said that accord ing to the Foreign Enlistment Act such enlistment was illegal. The atten tion of the Irish Government had been diyeeted to tho sub ject, and they were determined to enforce the law in regard to persons engaged on enlisting for the I papal service. CUSTOMS' ACT. In reply to Mr. DISRAELI, IC was not proposed to g oLordinto c P O A m L m I k i I t t E e e R o S n T t O h N e C s u a id t ins ha i Act this night. THE NEW BRON:zE PENNY. Mr. BLACK asked the C l aancellor of the Exchequer when the new bronze penr.y Would be ready for issue; and, if the distribution was to be made in England and Ireland by the national banks of, these kingdoms, by what machi nery the distribution - would be made in Scotland. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that all the arrangements were made for striking the penny coin, which would shortly be issued. The delay that had taken place arose from what might be called the fine arts depart ment, but this difficulty was now being surmounted, At first copper coin would be issued only from the Mint, but when the demand occurred for a more extensive issue the Government would then have recourse to the services of contractors. Arrangements would also be made with the Bank of England, and the Banks of Ireland and Scotland, by which they would be rendered centres of distribution for the new coin. With reference to the collection of the old coin, it would not be deemed advisable to have any special machinery, because it was considered there was sufficient inducement held forth to persons to bring in the old coin to the Mint. THE REFRESHMENT HOUSES AND WINE LICENCES BILL—IRREGULARITY OF PRO ' CEEDING. Lord PALMERSTON said that in redemption of a pledge he had given on Friday night, be wished to call attention to an irregularity en Thursday, when the house went into committee of ways and means, and agreed to resolutions on which to found the bill. These resolutions were reported the same evening contrary to the usage of the house. On that occasion, as his right honourable friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought there was no difference of opinion, he appealed to the house to allow the resolutions to be reported at once, and it was done, but upon consideration it struck every'ono that that proceeding was a departure from the usage of the house. It was the practice that resolutions for grants of money in supply should not be reported the same day they were agreed to, but on some subsequent day. There was only one instance, namely, in 1797, during the mutiny at the Nore, that the usage was departed from. The forms of the house were sometimes accompanied by delay, but they were all founded on reason and good sense, and their tendency was to guard against accidental decisions, arrived at under the influence of feeling or by accident. In other countries, where these forms did not prevail, great interests were often affected by sudden resolutions. The object of all their forms was to guard the house against precipitancy of decision. It was important, there fore, to preserve the character of the house, and there were two ways in which this irregularity could be corrected— the one was, that what was done should not stand as a pre cedent, and the other was that the practice should not be departed from in future ; but the latter course might be at tended with some inconvenience, as circumstances might arise which would render such an act indispensable. There was no doubt but that what had been done was a valid act, but for the reasons he had mentioned he thought the best course was to move that what had been done should be deemed null and void, and that the resolutions agreed to in committee of ways and means should be reported to-mor row. The noble viscount then moved a resolution to the ' effect, "That notice be taken that the resolutions had been reported the same evening they were agreed to without urgent necessity, and that as such report was contrary to usage it be deemed null and void, and that the resolutions be reported to-morrow." Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said it appeared to him there was a double irregularity in going into committee, for clauses 1 and 2 of the sill were agreed to, and which being founded on an invalid resolution the clauses also were in valid. How would they retrace their second false step ? lite considered this a most important question in a consti tutional point of view, as it was intended to give time to reflect before imposing a public tax._ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there could be no doubt but that there had been a double irregu larity. The resolutions would be as if not reported, and therefore these clauses must be brought up again. He moved the committee of ways and means without the slightest idea that the resolutions- would be reported, but coming out of committee the chairman asked whether he would have the committee forthwith. He inquired whe ther that could be so, and was answered in the affirmative. Believing that some alteration had been made in the forms of the house he assented to that assurance, and acted ac cordingly. After a few observations from Mr. WALPOLE the mo tion was agreed to. BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL. Mr. BOUVERIE inquired when this important mea sure was to be proceeded with. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that was a very cruel question—(a laugh) —as he saw no probability of being able to fix any day. He had appealed to the head of the Government for that day week to go into committee and make some progress, but at present there appeared no her e of furthering the bill on that day. REFRESHMENT HOUSES AND WINE LICENSES BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Clauses 12, 13, 14, and 15 were agreed to. On clause 16, Mr. Alderman SALOMONS moved, page 8, line 1, after "Act," insert . "and that shall be kept open after nine of the clock in the evening." He expjained that the object of his amendment would be to exempt refreshnient houses from the visitation of the police unless in cases where they were kept open after nine o'clock. He contended that houses which closed before the latter hour should not be treated in the same way as night houses, from which they were totally different. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he saw no reason why the class of house/Sin question should be exempted from the same visitation to which public houses were exposed under the existing laW. Mr. E. JAMES said that the practical effect of the clause would be to invest the police with a very arbitrary power in respect to those refreshment houses. It was a fact that the police levied black mail at the west end, and on the unfortunate females who frequented them. Mr. HARDY considered that this bill would ultimately have to be revised. After some conversation the amendment was withdrawn, and the clause was agreed to. On clause 17, Mr. AYRTON suggested that, according to the bill, there was nothing to define what was the constituent of foreign wine, in order to enable the dealer to discriminate between it and any home compound. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was impossible to give any such definition as the hon. member (Mr. Ayrton) seemed to desire, With re gard to discriminating between what was foreign wine and what was not, it was a mere matter to be determined by taste or chemical skill. What was pro posed by this particular clause was to prohibit persons sell ing wino without a license. The clause was agreed to. The remaining clauses to 20 were agreed to. After some discussion, clauses 21, 22, and 23 were also agreed to. On clause 24, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed an amendment, the object of which was to assimilate the hours of opening and closing wine houses to those which now regulate the opening and closing of beer houses. Mr. SPOONE Et asked if the right hon. gentleman in tended by this clause to authorise the opening of refresh ment houses on Sundays, which were not allowed to remain open at present. He thought the clause a most objection able one, and trusted that the right hon. gentleman would seriously consider the effect it was likely to produce. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there was no intention to alter the present law, or to authorise any house to open on Sunday which was not Authorised to be opened at present. The clause as it now stood would impose all the restraints upon wine houses which were now applicable to licensed victuallers. Mr. SPOONER wished to know N';'histther these parties were fable to penalties, for following their calling on Sundays. :Hear.) What exempted these pastry- 000 ks and others from prosecutions ? He thought they were now liable for . _ Following their calling on Sundays. But if the committee agreed to the clause, they would give a legal right to all parties to do that which they could not do at present. Sir G. GREY said that practically the act of Charles 11. was inoperative. The fact was a number of refreshment houses and others were open on Sundays, but the parties wore not prosecuted for following their calling. There was no doubt a law in existence, but it was not, or only very partially enforced. (Hear, hear.) Mr. S. ESTCOURT hoped the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the 'Exchequer would consent to alter the clause in such a minat as that the committee might have ,he satisfaction of knowing that while they had acted-in accordance with the right hon. gentleman's recommenda tion in opening new places where persons might obtain re - freshment, they w ere no t go i ng to open a new class of re freshment houses on Sundays. After some further discussion, the committee divided on the question that the word Sunday be inserted. For the amendment R9 Against ll7-35 Clause 25 was agreed to. On clause 26, Mr. AYRTON suggested that the refreshment houses having wine licenses should be closed during the hours of divine service as well as the public-houses and beer-houses. Mr. Griffith,Mr. Crossley, Mr. James, and Mr. Hardy supported the same view. " The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the clause as drawn ran upon all fours with the words of the Beer Act. The schedule at the end of the bill restricted them from the sale of refreshments and wino. He had no objection, therefore, to introduce into the clause those words—" Nor shall any such house open for the sale of wine or any article whatever." (Hear, hear.) The clause as amended was agreed to. On clause 27, Mr. CROSSLEY proposed an amendment to the effect that no license should be grantable to any person occupying such house, in which a third offence shall have been com " mated, to sell wine by retail under this act in such house for the space of five years next ensuing such conviction. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had himself prepared an amendment which he thought would meet the case. The words he proposed to insert were, "or shall knowingly sell or offer for sale any wine so mixed, diluted, or adulterated." After a short conversation the amendment proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was agreed to. Clauses 27, 28, 29, and 30 were ordered to stand part of the bill. Clause 31 was negatived. Clauses 32, 33, and 34 were agreed to.' On clause 35, providing for the exemption from the general operation of the bill to certain places, Mr. HARDY saicithe Vintners' Company could, without taking out a license, open a place for the sale of wine, and that ought not to be allowed. He would, therefore, move an amendment to the effect that they be not allowed any exemption from the operation of this bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that as regarded St. Albans the Mayor and Corporation claimed under an ancient charter to enjoy the licensing power which was ordinarily lodged in the hands of the jus tices, and consequently it was now proposed to exempt them. To adopt the amendment of the hon. member for Leomin ster (Mr. Hardy) would be granting too much or too little, and the effect would be to leave the law in a state of ambi guity. Mr. W. MARTIN said it would be hardly fair to take away the privilege without notice to the free vintners. The committee divided— For Mr. Hardy's amendment. 9O Against it 97 Majority Tho announcement was received with laughter. The clause was then agreed to. On clause 36, Mr. AYRTON moved to leave out the word " Scotland." He believed there was no part of her Majesty's dominions which required a bill to promote temperance so much as Scotland. (Laughter.) It was a remarkable fact that of all the shops of £2O in value, one-half of them were public houses. He could not conceive why Scotland should not come within the operation of the bill. Lord FERMOY wished to know why Ireland was left out of the operation of the measure. Of late years the people of the sister island had become moderate in their potations, and if this bill were extended to that country French wines would no doubt be used to a considerable ex tent. He saw no reason why they should not have their cheap claret in Ireland as well as in England. (Hear.) Mr. BLACK said that Scotland did not consume all the spirits made in Scotland ; a good deal of it was sent across the border to England. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the ...Secretary and Attorney-General for Ireland had told him that there would be little difficulty in adapting the bill to Ireland, but with respect to Scotland the case was different. A commission had been sitting on the trade of that country; that commission had reported, but its roport had not as yet been printed. Under these circumstances he thought it would be premature to legislate for Scotland. Mr. M'CANN hoped there would be no delay in extend ing the bill to Ireland, as he believed it would be as benefi cial for that country as for England. He thought there would be no difficulty in introducing the word " Ireland" into the bill. Colonel DUNNE was opposed to the extension of this or of any other of the Government measures to Ireland, as he considered them all to be rash, impolitic, and inexpedient. Sir E. GROGAN said that when it was thought the bill was to extend to Ireland, a considerable agitation was got up in that country' against it. It was then intimated that Ireland was to be excluded from the bill, and the agitation subsided. Under these circumstances he thought it would be a breach of faith to include Ireland in the bill. Mr. M'CANN persisted in asserted that the feeling of Ireland was in favour of the bill. He moved that the words " or Ireland" be inserted in the clause. Sir G. C. LEWIS said the discussion was wholly irrele-. vant. If the provisions of the bill were to bo extended to Ireland, it would be necessary to bring up an entire new set of clauses, as it had been framed exclusively with a view to English trade and customs. After a few words from Mr. M'CANN, Mr. HENLEY thought he might assure the members for Dublin and Drogheda that, as in the case of the income tax, the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer would oblige his Irish friends by early assimilation with England. The amendmext was withdrawn and the clauge agreed to. The committee then proceeded with the postponed clauses. Clauses 12 and 13 were negatived. The CHANCELLOR :of the EXCHEQUER brought up a clause in lieu of clause 12. A question had been raised on the last discussion as to whether the veto in the license should be vested in the Middlesex or the police magistrates, in the case of the metropolis. The Government were of opinion that it should be vested in the police magistrates. Mr. AYRTON protested against placing the metropolis under a despotism which didnot exist in other parts of the country. Sir G. C. LEWIS said the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets was quite in error in supposing that the position of the stipendiary magistrates in London were the same as that of stipendiary magistrates in Manchester, Liverpool, and other places. In London the power of the police ma gistrates was exclusive in their own districts. They did not sit with the other magistrates. But in Liverpool, Manchester, and elsewhere the stipendiary magistrates sat with the others, and exercised a concurrent jurisdiction with them. The clause was prepared with a view of meet ing this difference of circumstances. The hon. gentleman said that the stipendiary magistrates in. Middlesex were in the power of the Crown, and seemed to think that it was the constant habit of the executive to interfere with their functions. He (Sir G. C. Lewis) was not aware of any instance in which the Secre tary of State had interfered with the stipendiary magis trates. (Hear, hear.) As to the notion of the commis sioners of the metropolitan police having any control over the stipendiary magistrates it was a perfect chimera. The title of inspectors of police might have a formidable sound in the ears of the committee, but they were only officers over the main body of the police ; and they possessed no control over the magistrates. He thought there was no ground for the objection of the hon. gentleman. After a few words from several hon. members in opposi tion to the transferring this duty to the police magistrates, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER tie, d the Government had but one wish, and that was that the duty should be placed in the hands of those who would discharge it with efficiency. He understood it would be little better than a sinecure if left in the hands of the Middlesex magis trates, but as the feeling of the house seemed to be in the opposite direction he had no hesitation in giving way to that feeling. (Hear, hear.) But he must ask for some time to amend that part of the clause, as a great many words would have to be altered. He would amend it on bringing up the report. Mr. HENLEY considered it would be better to adopt in this bill the machinery recommended by the public-houses committee. As the clause now stood the proof required was all negative. The party was to prove that he was not an eating-house keeper, a coffee-house keeper, &c. He considered that it would be much better if the party proved all that was required before the magistrates in an affirma tive way, and by witnesses of character, and if the party made out his claim the magistrates would certify the fact to the excise, and the license would issue. It seemed to him that would be an easy and sure mode of proceeding. For the purpose, therefore, of raising this question, he would move that all the words after the word " aforesaid," in line 20, be left out, because all the latter part of the clause re quired to be recast. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEUQER said he should be very glad to hear the suggestion of the right hon. gentleman more fully discussed by the committee. The advantage of hearing the views of his right hon. friend was very great, but they did not bring conviction to his mind. He did not think the Government had done wrong in giv ing the structure they had to the clause, and he did not con sider the reasons of the right hon. gentleman were such as to induce them to accede to his motion. Mr. S. ESTCOURT suppprted the amendment. If they wished the magistrate to express an opinion he must do it affirmatively. The house then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment Against it .. 124-20 The Chaiiman then reported progress, and the house re sumed. NUISANCES REMOVAL AND DISEASES PRE VENTION BILL. The house then went into committee on this bill. Mr. LO WE explained that the measure did not increase the power of the central or local boards of health. Lord FERMOY moved to report progress, which was consented to, and the house resumed. The Oxford Un versity Bill, with the Lords' Amend ments, was considered. The Marriages in Extra Parochial Places 13111, and the Malicious Injuries to Property Act Amendment Bill; were read a third time and passed.' On the motion of Mr. AYRTON, the report of the select committee on masters and.bperatives of 1856 was referred to the select committee now sitting. Mr. LAING moved to discharge an order of the house, dated April 19, for papers with regard to the case of Mr. Drought, late surveyor of the Post-office in Ireland, and in stead of it to order copies of correspondence between the Yost-offico and the Treasury relative to Mr. Drought's superannuation allowance. Mr. HENNESSY was muoh -surprised that the Secre tary to the Treasury should have made this motion. The house had sanctioned a return relative to Mr. Drought's case on the 19th of April, but since then the Post-office au thorities bad come to the conclusion that they would not like to have both sides heard. The result would be to make known the charge against Mr. Drought, and not his de- fence. Mr. LAING said this motion had been taken as unop posed at an early part of the evening, and, as the corre spondence was confidential, it would not be for the benefit of the public service that it should 6e published. Lord FERMOY moved the adjournment of the debate until this day. After a fe sr words from Mr. MALINS, The motion for the adjournment of the debate was agreed to. Tho house adjourned at a quarter after one o'clock. CENTRAL CRIMI AL C'O - URT.-31(ty 14. OLD COURT. THE CASE OF TIIE REV. MR. HATCH. (Continued from The Sun of yesterday.) The summing; up of the learned j u d ge occup i e d seven hours aathree-quarters in its delivery, and at a quarter to six o'clock the jury retired to deli berate. They returned into court at eight o'clock and gave a verdict of guilty. The foreman of the jury at the same time handed to the learned judge a written paper, which his lordship directed to be read. It was in the follow ing terms :—" We find the prisoner, Mary Eugenia Plummer, guilty, and while we recommend her to the utmost extent of mercy, we venture at the same time to express a hope that your lordship, if you have the power to do so, will direct that any im prisonment to which she may be subjected may be accompanied by a proper course of training and education of which she has hitherto been deprived, and probably would still be deprived at home." There was a burst of applause when the verdict was delivered, and it was not without difficult: that it was, stopped by the officers of the court. A great number of persons had assembled outside the building, and the result of the case was received with loud cheering. Baron Channell said he should consult Mr. Justice Keating with regard to the sentence to be pro nounced, and, in the meantime, the defendant might go at large upon the same recognisances as before. The father of the defendan t was called upon to give the required recognisances, but he was not in attend ance; and eventually agentleman connected with the, solicitors for the defence entered into a recognizance in the sum of £5OO for the defendant's appearance, and she left thq court with him. NEW COURT. (Before the. Recorder.) The trial of William Cox, William Lehmann, Johan Ferdin and Beschott,..William Hauschildt, and Johan Poll was resumed this morning at the sitting of the Court. The Recorder then proceeded to.sum up the evi dence, and, after referring to the nature of the in dictment, told the jury that the question which the jury would have to decide was whether the state ments of the prisoners were true or false, for there could not be any mistake about the character of the charge as set out on the depositions. The jury would also take into their consideration that Leh mann, Beschott, and Cox were, according to their own statement, mere accomplices in the crime which they charged the captain and mate with. The pri soners had never made any statement or suggestion while on board the Nicholas Wood, nor at New port, and it was not until after there had been some difference about the wages that the charge was made. The prisoners who admitted taking part in the offence with which they charged the captain and the mate excused themselves by saying that they being the superior officers the prisoners were bound by their laws to obey them ; which seemed to him rather strange when the prisoners knew the act they were engaged in was an illegal one. Much -had been said by the defence about the discrepancies in the statement of the captain and the report and the protest about the day when the vessel went down ; that he thought must have been a mistake, as all the people on the Nicholas Wood knew the day to be the 6th, and then the boats - had been one night at sea. This charge was not a question of the captain's seamanship, but a question as to whe ther what he was charged with was true. With regard to the captain throwing away the log, it was true that if he had thrown it away to shield Maisel' that would tell strongly against him ; but all agree that it was not until after the Nicholas Wood had passed the boat without seeing them, and they bad given themselves up for lost, that the captain threw over his sextant, worth £4O, and his bag of clothes, and the question was whether he was justified in doing-So. The prisoners said there was nothing in the weather to cause him to do so, but the black -cook, who all agreed was the _witness of truth, said it was stormy weather and tempestuous. Others /who were in the boats spoke of the tempestuous state of the weather and corroborated the testimony of the captain, and it was not likely that they would favour a man who had placed their lives in danger, The captain's statement about the leak was corroborated by the cook, who also spoke of the tempestuous state of the weather, and to his . having first discovered the fissure which he men tioned to Lehmann, the carpenter, and yet he and the other prisoners had said there were no leaks save those made by the captain. Persons were sel dom known to commit offences withouf a motive, and there was nothing to show but that the insu• rances, with all their risks, would more than cover the loss of the owners, while the captain would lose £lOO. It was clear they were in great danger in the open boat, and would have been lost if not picked up, and the captain's party were not picked up for two hours after the passengers' boat, one being at sea 14 and the other 16 hours. The Recorder then referred to the other portions of the evidence, and dwelt upon those where Lehmann had said that thefe had been no foul play by the captain, and that he had been put over the ship's stern to help to stop the leak. The Recorder then proceeded to com ment upon the evidence as affecting the different prisoners, and pointed out that the evidence did but slightly implicate Poll and Hauschildt. The jury, after an absence of about two hours, returned a verdict of not guilty against Poll and Hauschildt, and found the others guilty. Just as the Court was about to rise the prisoners were brought up for sentence. The Recorder said the case against the defend ants had been proved upon the clearest testimony. Beschott, who had been the principal in the mat ter, he sentenced to two years', and Lehmann and Cox to 12 months' imprLonment. James Schlegel, 32, mason, was indicted for a burglary in the dwellinghouse of B. Benjamin Norden, and stealing therein a gold cup and other articles, his property, and also with woundin g Moses Levy. Mr., Metcalfe and Mr. F. H. Lewis prosecuted ; Mr. T. Atkinson defended. It appeared from the evidence that the prosecu tor is a gentleman living in York-place, Portman square, and on the night .of the 17th of March, shortly after 12, Levy, the prosecutor's butler, was awoke with a noise, and went down to the dining room, and he there saw . a man who had the things wrapped up in a table cover. Levy, who had armed himself with an old dress sword, instantly made a thrust at the man, which broke the point off, and he then cut at and seizedlim. The pri soner then came behind him and pulled him off th e man whom he first - seized. Levy then cut at the prisoner, and cut him on the check, and then seized him; the prisoner, however, managed to get through the window at the back, and on to the leads, followed by Levy, who most gallantly stuck to the prisoner, who was stabbed four times in the shoulder. Prisoner finally got away, but the police coming up, they found that the prisoners in their flight had thrown away a handsome gilt vase, an inkstand, and other property belonging to the pro secutor. The prisoner had been seen on the evening of the robbery, and - at that time had no scar on his face. He was taken into custody on the 21st of March by Inspector Bryant in Arlington-street, Clerkenwell, and upon being placed among a num ber of other persons Levy was brought to the place where he was, and at once recognised him. Prisoner then had a scar on his cheek. For the defence a most impudent attempt was made to prove an alibi, and that th 3 scar on the prisoner's cheek was got on the night of the 17th of March at tho Alma beer-shop, in the Caledonian- road, where he lodged. The landlord of this place, who was examined for the defence, admitted that he had been tried for receiving stolen goods, and had been upon more oc casions than ono in the hands of the police for as saulting them, and also ror harbouring thieves. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the sen tence of death was recorded. ---- The Recorder said that the conduct of Levy had been very commendable, and ordered him an award of £5. THIRD COURT. (Before the Common Sergeant.) George Briggs, 41, labourer, was indicted for cutting and wounding Robert Styles upon the head, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Mr. Platt appeared for the prosecution; the pri soner was defended by Mr. Sleigh. It appeared that the prisoner, a man of respect able appearance, whose wife is a laundress at Wal worth, in a fit of violent jealousy, and suspecting, although the prosecutor denied it upon his oath, ,that too great a familiarity existed between the latter and the prisoner's wife, attacked him with a poker and inflicted some very serious wounds on the prosecutor. Mr. Sleigh addressed the jury, commenting on the evidence, and suggesting that prisoner had acted under a reasonable suspicion. The Common Sergeant having summed up, the jury found the prisoLer not guilty. FOURTFI COURT. (Before Mr, Commissioner Kerr.) Jacob Philip Meade, 46, shoemaker, was indicted for conspiracy with others to defraud Wilhelm Weisenbach of £5O. Mr. Gent prosecuted, and Mr. Dickie was for the prisoner. - The parties are both Germans, and the trick played on the prosecutor was the old one of being met by two persons, apparently both strangers to each other, one of whom had come into property, and then getting the victim to stake his property. In this instance the prosecutor was met by the prisoner and another man near the British Museum, as far back as the 9th of January. They got him into a public-house, and induced him to stake a gold snuffbox and some articles of jewellery, to the value of £5O, against some nearly worthless articles, after which they got away, and the prisoner was not taken until the end of April. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and, there being another charge for a like offence, where be got *.£24 from another German, he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Geo. Taylor was indicted for receiving a quantity of silk, the property of Joseph Surr, value £95. The prosecutor is a warehouseman in King-street, Cheapside, and the silk was stolen in August last, and a few days after the silk was traced to the pri soner, who at that time got away, but was retaken in March last by Knight and Funnel, the City de tectives, the latter of whom he severely injured. Verdict, guilty ; sentence, 15 years' penal servi tude. POLYTECHNIC'INSTITUTION I=l An influential public meeting, convened by the directors to give to the patrons and promoters of art, science, and industry, and the public generally, an opportunity of assisting in preserving this ad mirable place of instruction from extinction, was held yesterday in the large theatre of the institu tion. The Earl of Shaftesbury occupied the chair, and amongst those present were Mr. R. Hanbury, M.P. ; Mr. Slaney, M.P.; Mr. Gre r ,o•son, M.P. ; the Hon. Captain F. Maude, Captain Jones, the Rev. C. Mackenzie, the Rev. J. Owen, the Rev. Mr. Sherman, and Messrs. J. Weylland, Joseph Payne, W. J. Maxwell, James Bell, J. S. Phene, Futvoye• F. Gaussen, A. Greatorex, and W. Spottiswoode. The Rev. J. B. Owen read the report, which stated that the.old Polytechnic Institution did not fail, nor had it any signs of failure as an institu tion ; but the compulsory closing of it was entirely owing to the costly legal proceedings consequent upon the lamentable accident which occurred in January, 1859. In pursuance of a resolution passed at a previous meeting the committee com menced a vigorous canvas for shares, and were ul timately enabled to register the company under the Limitid Liability Act. A general meeting having authorised the initiation of operations, the direc tors agreed to pay the sum of £4OOO to the official managers appointed by the Court of Chancery to wind up the affairs of the late Polytechnic Institu tion. There were certain alterations to the insti tution which were estimated at £4OOO more, mak ing a total of £BOOO required. Towards this earn there had been 900 shares subscribed, which, at £lO per share, made £9OOO, but as it was proposed to call up only £7 per share, the present capital available would be £6300. Donations £600; and guaranteed loan £650, leaving a deficiency of only £450. If only 200 more shares wore subscribed the directors would have no difficulty in carrying out this very desirable project. Mr. It. Hanbury, M.P., moved, and Mr. SlaneYr M.P,, seconded, the adoption of the report. The Chairman, before putting it, said that the average number of visitors year by year to the old institution had been no less than 250,000, and to show how the people from the provinces appreci ated it, no less than £11,190 was taken a t the doors in 1851, during the Great Exhibition, and in no other year did they exceed £6000.. The motion was then put and carried unani mously. Other resolutions in favour of the objects of the meeting having been carried, the proceedings ter ,r minuted. ,ca COUNTRY MARKETS. COLIICES.T A fair supply of wheat, 'a prices. Barley comes scarce, the turp. dearer. No peas. Wheat, white sos to 56s Beans, Mazagan..34s to 37 8 I red 46s to 52s Middle & small 36s to 42a Barley 36s to 50a I White peas 36s to 3 84 Oats 2os to 28s Grey.. .. 36s to 40i 'ER-MAY 12. .t is per qr above last week's and is fully as dear. Beaus CIitLAISFO: There was a fair supply of samples readily realised late x a dull trade. Peas and beam Is dearer. EtD—MAY 11. f wheat to-day, and the belt sates ; inferior is cheaper, with a firm. Oats and barley were Wheat, white....43s to 57s red 428 to 518 Barley 36s to 46s Chevalier 4OB to 508 Grinding 30s to 35s Malt 608 to 66s Chevalier 638 to 68s Oats 30s to 30s Peas Partridge 403 to 4 11 White 4 0 3 to 42 5 Boiling 403 to 43 1 Dun 363 to 38 1 Beans, Tick 403 to 4 3 1 Harrow Ticks 43s to 46 1 Alazagan 37s to 391 KIRKA Here 10-day we have small of barley, and model dine on late rates. Wheat Barley Oats First.... 48s Od 33s Od 26s -Ad Second.. 52s Od 38s Od 30s Od Third .. sis Od —s Od 31s 6d LDY-MAY 12. had very fair supplies of wheat, rate of oats. Sales ready, at a de' ET—MAY 14. the close of the market.) Walls End. 0. cl;, Hough Hall ' 7 16 Framwellgafe l6 9 Whitworth ..15 6 Eden l6 . 9 , Braddyll's Hetton 17, ° Thorpe Russell's Helton 17 Gosforth 16 3 Eden Main l7 0 Harton South Hetton 18 u South Durham .17 0 South Hartlepool...... 17 3 , K elloe .. 17 " Carway and Duffryn ~ Malting 22 ° ,t, 95—Sold, 56. COAL MARK (Prices of Coal per Ton at a. d. Howard's West Hart- ley 15 9 Wylam 16 6 Tanfield Moor Butes-13 3 Bell's Primrose l3 0 Byass's Bebside West - Hartley - '' '' 7.15 9 Davison's We s t Hart- ley ....15 9 Walker Primrose 13 3 Walli End. Acorn Close 113 9 Llangennech 2l 0 South Hartlepool. 17 3 Hunwick Haswell..... 18 A Helton.... Ships at market TILE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and. Mauritius (via South ampton).. .. June 10. Do. (via Marseilles) June 4. Bahamas and Havana (via New York) J une 7. Canada, &c. (via Cork) - .. May 16. Cape of Good Hope, &c. June 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) May 13. Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. May 19. India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) May 13. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. May 25. Do. (via Marseilles) • . .. May 19. Lisbon, Brazils, Buenos Ayres, &c. J une 5. Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto .. • • • . May 11. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) .. May 13. United States, California, &c. (s is C or k) May 16. Western Coast of Atrica, Madeira, Teneriffe .. May 10 West Indies and Pacific, Carthgeria, Cuba, & - c p. May 14. BIRTHS. ERSKINE.—On the 12th inst., at Hollybrook, Lady Erskine, of Cambo, of a son. JACKSON.—On the 13th inst., at 53, Notting-hill-square, Notting-hill, the wile of Robert Jackson, M.D., of a daughter. MACDONALD.—On the 13th inst., at the Ranger's Lodge, Hyde-park, the Hon. Mrs. Macdonald, prematurely, of a' son, stillborn. MARRIAGES. GIPPS—STANSPELD.—On the 9th inst., at St. Helier's, Jersey, George Western Gipps, Esq , youngest son of the late Rev. Henry Gipps, to Charlotte, third surviving daughter of the late Thomas IVoolrich Stansfeld ; Esq. DEATHS. BARRY.—On the 12th inst., at his residence on Clapham common, Sir Charles Barry, RA., F.R.S., aged 65. BURGESS.—On. the 10th inst., at Bath, Hugh William Burgess, Esq., aged 64. COLYER.—On the 12th inst. ; at Greenhithe, Thos. Colyer, Esq., aged 39. COOK.—On the 10th inst., at 91, Albert-streot, Morning ton'-crescent, the Rev. W. A. Cook, M.A., aged 56. DE SAMPAYO.—On the 11th inst., at Elm-grove, Barnes common, Baron de Sampayo, Attache at the Portuguese Embaisy in London. POWELL.—On the 10th inst., at the Queen's Hotel, Nor wood, Rosa Edwyna, wife of Lieut.-Col. Powell ; M.P., of Nanteos, Cardiganshire, aged 42. LONDON: Printod and Published by 1111.1RDO YOUN(. , , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of bliddlesox, Tuesday, May 15, 1860,