The Sun. — London, England, 1860-08-22 00:00:00

house. cellor was appointed, those judges should sit in turn in chambers, in which case the business would be thoroughly EX - raUTION - A Z' CAE.LLSLE. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF L9RDS—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CUANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. CONJUGAL RIGHTS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR gave notice that on Thurs day next he should ask their lordships to take into conside ration the amendments made by the Commons to this bill. The advice he should give to their lordships on that evening was they should not agree to the so •called amendments. The Commons had rejected two clauses which he thought most material, and what he should re commend was that their lordships should give their reasons why they could not agree to the Commons' amendment bill RIFLE VOLUNTEER CORPS BILL. This bill, on the motion of Earl DE GREY, was read a third time and pissed. CROWN DEBTS AND JUDGMENTS BILL. The Commons' amendments to this bill were considered, and agreed to. LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of the Duke of ARGYLL, this bill was read a third time and passed. FORTIFICATIONS (PROBILL VISIONS FOR EX ENSES) . This bill was read a third time and passed. CUSTOMS (No. 2) BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. STAMP DUTIES (No. 2) BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. DEFENCE OF THE REALM BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. EXCISE DUTIES BILL. This bill, on the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, was read a second time, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (IRELAND) BILL. The Commons' amendments to this bill were considered and agreed to. _ _ COUNTY CORONERS BILL. he Commons' reasons for disagreeing to the Lords' amendments to this bill were considered, and their lord ships agreed not to insist on their amendments. EAST INDIA LOAN BILL. The Duke of ARGYLL moved the first reading of this bill, which was to raise a certain sum of money (£3,000,000) to meet the deficit and outgoing in the construction of rail ways in India. The expenditure in India was very great, and until the military expenses were reduced, he Ldid not see any prospect of having the income of that country brought to a balance with the expen diture. The mutiny in India had mainly led to the deficit being made an addition to the Indian debt to the amount of £40,000,000. Previous to the outbreak the debt of India stood at £59,000,000 at 2i per cent., but owing to the outbreak and expenses of the sup pression, it now amounts to £97,851,000, and would, he thought, very shortly amount to £100,000,000. Without they took active steps to reduce the expenses of India, and place the expenditure on a more satisfactory basis, it would saddle that country with a debt, which would be a very serious matter. This bill was read a first time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YEsTERDIt.) The SPEA.KER entered the house at 12 o'clock, and prayers having been read there were six members present, all of these occupants of the Ministerial bench. Members gradually came in until half-past 12, when a house was made. IRISH EDUCATION. Mr. MONSELL gave notice that on Thursday he should ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland the names of those commissioners who authorised the omission from Mr. Kina han's report of the children who attended Roman Catholic schools. TRALEE SAVINGS BANK. Captain STACPOOLE, for Mr. O'Connell, asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would introduce a bill this session for the purpose of distributing the balance of funds belonging to the late Tralee Savings Bank among its depositors ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that there was a certain balance of money which was the un doubted property of the depositors, but the Commissioners of the National Debt had no authority to direct a distribu tion. Under these circumstances it would appear proper that some measure should be adopted for the relief of the parties, but the question had been started at too late a'period of the present session to enable anything to be done. THE STATUTE BOOK. Mr. BAGWELL moved for copy of letters from Mr. James Bigg to the Treasury, dated the 20th day of March, the 3d of May, the 13th of June, and the 21st of July last, respecting the reformation of the statute .book by the pub lication of an edition of existing statutes.—The return was ordered. IMPERIAL GUARANTEES. Mr. HUBBARD moved for an address for return of the unexpired imperial liabilities arising under either of the following heads :—Guarantee of loans made by foreign countries or colonial dependencies ; guarantees of interest on railway, telegraphic, or other undertakings, specifying the extent of the loans and the rates of interest ; also the amounts already paid under such guarantees, and the amount still depending. The motion was agreed to. CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION: BILL. This bill was read a second time. EXCHEQUER BONDS (£2,000,000) BILL This bill was read a second time. ENDOWED CHARITIES BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Clauses 1 to 17 were agreed to with one or two verbal amendments. On the motion of Mr. LYGON clause 18 was struck out. Clauses 19 and 20 were agreed to. On clause 21, there was a long discussion, in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lowe, Mr. Henley, Sir It. Bethell, Mr. Rolt, Mr. Ayrton, and other gentlemen took part, relative to salaries to be granted to official trustees of charitable funds. It resulted in the promise that a clause should be brought up on the report, on the condition that it should be a temporary measure preliminary to a general in vestigation of the whole subject of salaries under the Charity Commission next session. Clause 22, which provides that clerks and accountants under the commission should not be liable to serve on juries was objected to by I\lr. HENLEY. He had no objection to the commissioners and secretary being exempt, but he thought that clerks and accountants should be liable as other people are. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there would be no objection to amending the clause as suggested. The clause having been so amended was agreed to. Mr. HADFIELD moved a clause, which provided that where, under the deed or instrument constituting or regu lating any parochial charity, administered by the in cumbent, churchwardens, or other persons appointed by the vestry of a parish, no auditor is appointed, it shall be law ful for the commissioners of charities to appoint an inspec tor of accounts. The committee divided— , For the clause 6 Against Majority —37 The clause was negatived, and the bill was reported to the MILITIA PAY BILL. This bill passed tbrough committee. MILITIA BALLOT BILL. The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and agreed to. NE `V ZEALAND. BILL. The order for the second reading of this bill was post poned until the evening sitting. TIIE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT (1855) AMEND MENT (No. 2) BILL. This bill passed ,through committee, and the standing orders having been suspended, was read a third time and passed. NAVAL DISCIPLINE BILL. The order for going into committee on this bill was pose poned until the evening sitting. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES BILL. The adjourned debate on the amendment on consideration as amended was postponed until the l ast sitting. COURT OF CHANCERY BILL. On the motion for going into committee on this bill, Mr. HADFIELD adverted at some length to the clauses of which he had given notice, providing for the appoint ment of additional chief clerks to the Master of the Rolls and the Vice-Chancellors. Sir J. GRAHAM said the bill had come down on high authority from the House of Lords, but he hoped the House o f Commons would pay some respect to a committee of its Othwelhwet had considered and rejected the clauses to which member for Sheffield had referred. 011 ;7, house went into committee on the bill, and the vari ous were agreed to with some slight amendments. which i his sp eech r i . :" - - A-I)2I .ELD then moved the first of the clauses on was founded, namely that an additional r c ec i o e in c in e e r n k ti b ei a lVointed for the Master of the Rolls, and office of 0ne1f141,,,1% John Arthur Buckley, late chief in the Masters in Ordinary, for the appoint ment. Sir J. GRAHAAt 'nosed the clause. He had a high re gard for the great ability and 0 respectability of Mr. Buckley, and he .!hould be sorry th the Master of the Rolls and o her high j udicial o fer ~ ite were said to have re contmendcd the a ; p ointment, committee to whom he 3 forlt seenth ion of the office of had referred had recommended the Master in Chancery , although it wa transacted in by be productive of some difficulty, on thee at it might ound that the chamber practice of ate judges would clerks, who were inferiox in ability to thei\tast whose office had been obsolete. The Mat i s i ter ha now of t t n h h e e . Rolls had two chief clerks an d inferior clerks, and preposition was that the Master of the Rolls should have a third chief clerk. If that point Were conceded, Parliament might reckon upon it with a certainty that an appeal would be made by the threeVi.:l;-Chancellors for additional clerks. The time had come for the appointment of a new equity judge, whose establishn sent would not amoun t to more than Zl,OOO a y ear than womld be incurred by the p roposed chief clerks. He rem:omen dudthat When, a fourth Vic©-Chain) THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 22, _lB6O, which had been taken respecting the bill. lie could only ' say that as soon as the Governmentohad decided upon with drawing the, bill a telegram was sent to the right hon. gentleman, acquainting him with the fact. Mr. ADDERLEY expressed his gratification at the with drawal of the bill, but he thought it of great importance that the statement of the Government in withdrawing it transacted. Mr. ROLT agreed with the right hon. baronet in the im portance of having judicial matters disposed of by jnd ges, and introducing such legislative provision as would pre vent, as far as possible, referring such questions to the offi cers of the court. He did not think the equity judges could satisfactorily preside at chambers disposing of accounts, which would unfit themfor theirjudicial business. If a ques tion of law were at chambers the chief clerk might express an opinion, and if the parties were dissatisfied they might appeal to the judge. He did not think the time had arrived when a new judge would be necessary, for although the judges were fully occupied there were no arrears, and he was not aware that any business had been referred to cham bers which ought not to have been transacted there. Mr. \Buckley had been acting with the Mast er of the Rolls for three years, and if they did not acce de to the clause pro posed by Mr. Hadfield they would be limiting his judicial staff. It should be remembered , t oo, that the Master of the Rolls had strongly recommended this appointment, and that representation he thought should be attended to. Sir J. GRAHAM said he should like to know in what manner the Master of the Rolls has obtained the assistance of Mr. Buckley during the last three years. Mr. MALINS agreed in the main with Sir J. Graham, and said that unless it could be shown that an additional clerk was necessary for the Vice-Chancellor, he could not agree that it was necessary to give another clerk to the Master of the Rolls. The Vice-Chancellor's clerks did quite as much work as a single judge could superintend, and if another chief clerk were appointed for each of the courts there would be more work than the Vice-Chancellor could adequately supervise. He was not of opinion the time had come for the appointment of a new judge, but he did not mean to say that it was far distant, inasmuch as by a bill now be • fore the house, which would enable viva voce evidence to be taken, the Chancery Court business would greatly increase. In reply to Sir J. Graham's question, the hon. and learned gentleman had said that Mr. Buckley was clerk to Master Blunt, who died in 1856. He was entitled to £l,OOO a-year as such clerk, and three years ago one of the clerks of the Master of the Rolls having become ill, Mr. Buckley offered his services without any additional salary. Since that he had discharged the duties, and if he continued to discharge them he would not receive any additional salary to that to which he was at present entitled. He thought that under the circumstances the services of Mr. Buckley might be re tained. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, from the language he frequently heard in the courts he could not help think ing that a portion of the duty of the courts strictly judicial was transferred from the judges to the chief clerks, and he should object therefore to adding another chief clerk to the establishment of the Master of the Rolls. But the Master of the Rolla, having pledged himself to the performance of certain duties, he was disposed on that ground, and that ground alone, to assent to his continuing to receive Mr. Buckley's assistance, so long as the Lord Chancellor might think fit, on the condition that if the business de creased he should be dismissed, and have no claim to compensation, and if business increased he might be trans ferred to the office of one of the Vice-Chancellors if neces sary. The hon. and learned gentleman moved a clause, in which he embodied those views, as an amendment to the clause proposed by Mr. Hadfield. Mr. HENLEY thought all judicial business of import ance should be transacted under the immediate supervision of the judges. He suggested that the Attorney-General should allow Mr. Hadfield's clause to be negatived, and then to have his own printed, in order that it might be brought up with the report. . Sir J. GRAHAM said he viewed the amended clause with great jealousy. He thought it would be well to add to the clause that if a fourth judge were appointed Mr. Buck ley should be transferred to him as his chief clerk. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he should have no objection. It being 10 minutes to four, the Cualumirr reported progress. The other orders on the paper were postponed, and the sitting was suspended at four o'clock. At six o'clockjthe house resumed. RETIRING ALLOWANCES IN THE NAVY. Sir J. PAKINGTON asked the Secretary of the Admi ralty whether it was true that the officers on the 14s. 6d. list were to be exempted from the application of the system of retirement which applied to the other lists, and if so, what was the reason of that exemption, and also whether the noble lord had received any representation from the officers of the navy on the subject ? Lord C. PAGET said the captains on the 14s. 6d. list had the alternative given them of remaining in the same position as they were then, or accepting the permanent al lowance. In the 10s. 6d. list retirement was compulsory. CORPORATION OF WESTMINSTER. Sir J. SHELLEY gave notice that early in the next ses sion he would move for leave to bring in a bill to form a corporation for the city and liberties of Westminster, and also that he would ask for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Gas Clauses Act of 1847. ROMAN CATHOLICS IN PRISONS AND WORK HOUSES. _ _ should have been more explicit. The colony ought to know distinctly whether the bill had only been dropped with the intention of introducing it another session, or whether it had been abandoned because it failed to command the sup port of the House of Commons. His own impression was that it would have been impossible to have carried such a bill, than which a more dangerous measure could not have been devised. It dealt with local questions, which ought to be settled on the spot, and he did not believe that any man who had the slightest knowledge of colonial matters would martial. be found willing to support it. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER entirely concurred with the right hon. gentleman in the necessity of applying the principle of self-government, so far as our colonies were concerned, in as large a sense as possible. Indeed he was not aware that any Government had ever committed any error in making that principle too large. His right hon. friend seemed to apprehend that the bill being dropped might be resumed at an early date next ses sion. He thought from that remark that his right hon. friend had not understood the effect of the statement of his hon. friend the Under-Secretary for the Colonies. His hon. friend certainly surrendered none of the rights of the Go vernment to renew any application to Parliament which they might think to be required by their public duties, but he pointed out quite clearly that he had no such intention as his right hon. friend opposite seemed to suppose, tecause his hon. friend said that the Government would frankly en deavour to apply the powers of the constitutional act and proceed in the spirit of those powers, and that they would endeavour to obtain their obj set by a judicious use of those powers in connection with the Colonial Government. (Hear.) When, therefore, the declaration of his hon. friend was read in the colony of Now Zealand it would afford no ground for uneasiness. (Hear.) The order was then discharged. NAVAL DISCIPLINE BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. On clause 1, Lord C. PAGET said that the house having permitted him to read this bilra second time without giving any ex planation of its object, he should avail himself of the pre sent opportunity to do so. He believed that no measure could be considered of greater importance than one which affected the well-being and discipline of the navy. (Hear.) The act of Parliament which he trusted this bill would supersede, and which at present regulated the discipline of the navy, was as old as the reign of Charles II , and although some amendments had been introduced in the reign of Geo. 11., he thought it would be admitted that it was high time to consider whether this old act of Parliament might not be remodelled, and a more merciful code of regulations adopted for the discipline of her Majesty's navy. The first great de fect of the present act was that it was extremely difficelt to hold courts-martial under it, because as the law stood no court-martial could be held unless five ships were in presence. This had also the disadvantage of keeping ships together when it might be for the goodof the public service that they should be dispersed. Another incenvenienc,e was that how ever large the fleet was, a second court-martial could not be held till the first was concluded. They proposed to remedy both of these inconveniences by providing that the presence of three ships would 'oe sufficient for the holding of a court martial, and by allowing the lieutenants, who were hitherto excluded, to sit upon such courts. (Hear, hear.) It would be impossible to ever-estimate the importance of this one improvement, because it continually happened in the navy, that prisoners had to wait for months for their trial in con sequence of the difficulty of getting a sufficient number of ships together. With regard to the punishments to be in flicted on the men, he begged the committee to bear in mind that many of the men whom they had to deal with in the navy were men without morals or principle, that they were confined in a small space—in a kind of box, for so he might call a ship—and that, unless they maintained the discipline of the fleet, the fleet would no longer do honour to the coun try. (Hear.) Their first object was to make a classification of crimes, and the bill gave the court-martial power to lessen the degree of punishment wherever they might think fit to do so, without detriment to the public service. As the law stood at present, crimes were dealt with without reference to the motives with which they were committed. Every person would remember the trial of the unfortunate Admi ral Byng. The court-martial which tried him . acquitted him of cowardice and disaffection, and found him guilty of only an error of judgment ; and although they sent a peti tion to the Admiralty conveying their sense of the enormity of the punishment to which he was liable he suffered capital punishment, and it was not till many years afterwards that courts-martial got the power of inflicting a lesser punish ment. By the present bill they went farther than that, and did not permit the court to award the extreme punishment of death, except the motives of the crime were such as de served capital punishment. They proposed to deal with the three categories of oflences " before the enemy." The first was that of treachery, and to that they awarded the penalty of death. Ho believed that no ono would object to the penalty of death for treachery before the enemy. For the crime of cowardice they said that the person guilty of it might be either sentenced to death or imprisoned or dismissed from the service. But if the person had been guilty from negligence or drunkenness, or from other kinds of circumstances which might incapacitate him from doing his duty, they awarded him a punishment of a lesser degree. His hon. friend the member for Lambeth said that there was nothing but death, death in the code. But if he looked into the bill he would find that there were only three cases in which they proposed to inflict the penalty of death. Under the present law the courts-martial, though they had the power of awarding the punishment of death, had no power of awarding the punishment of penal servitude, which he considered to be a great anomaly. They accord ingly proposed to give courts-martial the power of inflicting the penalty of death or penal servitude, and a variety of other punishments, which might be seen by looking to the category of punishments in the bill. The next point had reference to the crime of mutiny. The legal authorities had some difficulty in defining what mutiny was ; whether it was an offence that could be committed by one individual or required a combination of more than one person to constitute the offence. He admitted that the bill as it originally stood attempted to define the crime of mutiny, but after the bill had been long and carefully considered in the House of Lords and by a select committee of the other house, it was consi dered better not to define the crime. But every mutinous act was dealt with under the head of mutiny and insubordination, and various punishments were awarded for the offences under that head. The next part had reference to desertion. There was to doubt that a man might have left his ship with the intention of deserting, and be brought back the next day; whereas another man who had been absent from his ship for 20 or 30 days might have the intention of re turning. The present bill gave the court power to take all such circumstances into their consideration. In one in stance the present bill proposed to give the court greater power than they had at present. At present the courts martial had no power of dealing with offences committed on share within her Majesty's dominions. This led to great inconvenience, and officers who had taken their men on shore might be charged with an infringement of the law. Power was given in the present bill to remedy this defect, which, he believed, would prove of great advantage to the men. The bill gave the court power not only of finding the prisoner guilty of a lesser offence, but of inflict ing a lesser punishment. These were the principal provi sions of the bill with regard to the greater crimes. He now wished to say a few words with regard to the punishment of flogging, which he knew excited a great deal of int crest in the country and in the house. In the navy, he need scarcely say, that there was not an officer who did not suffer personal pain when he felt himself bound to award the pu nishment of flogging. But considering the class of men who entered the navy, that many of them belonged to the lowest grade of society, who were operated on solely by the prin ciple of fear, he did not believe it possible to do away with the punishment of flogging altogether. The house was aware that the Duke of Cambridge established a new sys tem in the army by which every soldier was considered a first-class min, and it was only after being degraded from that first class by misconduct that he became liable to cor poral punishment. They proposed to copy that principle in the navy. (Hear, hear.) And every man who now entered the navy knew that in doing so he was not liable to corpo ral punishment till he forfeited his place as a first-class man. (Hear.) He begged that hon. gentlemen would not run away with the idea that because there had been unfortu nate disturbances in the fleet the discipline of the navy was gone. No such thing. So far from it, their fleet, which had been cre tted in a marvellously short space of time, got 10,000 men within the last year, and he maintained that so far from their being cause for alarm at the disturbance; which had taken place, it was most creditable to the offi cers that the fleet was in so good and so admirable a state as it was. (Hear, hear.) Ii this bill they proposed that whenever a sailor or marine should be accused of such an offence as would make it necessary on conviction to subject him to corporal punishment, there should be an inquiry by one or more officers of the ship into the guilt or innocence of the party. The captain would still have power to over rule the decision of the officers whichever way it went. This was perhaps an extrenie power, and could only be exerci-ed in case of open mutiny, when it was necessary that the captain of a ship should possess the most undis puted power. In connexion with this measure he had the pleasure of reading "a few statistics respecting capital punishment, which would show that this degrading custom MO year by year dying away at such a rate that if the house continued to give its support to the Government as it had done, he felt sure that it would soon disappear alto gether. In 1855 there were 55,000 men in the navy liable to be flogged, and the number who underwent the punish ment was 1,307, being about 1 to 39; in 18:6 it was 1 in 42 ; in 1857, in 48 ; and in 1859, out of 61,000 men only 951 were punished, being lin 67. (Hear, hear ) They were now educating boys for the service, who would be attached to it, and they wore improving the pay and comforts of the men, so that taking everything together he thought that the total abolition of flogging would be an affair of no dis tant date. He felt great confidence in ',leaving the bill in the hands of the house. Sir J. PAKINGTON said that he bad listened to the statement of his noble friend with the greatest pleasule. Sir J. ACTON gave notice that early next session he would call the attention of the house to the condition of Roman Catholic inmates of prisons and workhouses in England. NEW ZEALAND BILL. On the order for the second reading of this bill, Lord PALMERSTON said it was not the intention o. her Majesty's Government to press this bill any further at this late period of the session. (Hear.) It was not that they were doubtful, if there was time for a fair and full discussion of the measure, that they should succeed in re moving the objections which many hon. gentlemen felt to the proposed bill, but the present state of the session prevented that ; and therefore the object of the bill having been to protect the interests of the aborigines of New Zea land, her Majesty's Government were of opinion that the powers which the constitution. of New Zealand gave to the Crown of making regulations bearing upon those interests, would, if properly used, be sufficient for the accomplishment of the objects which her Majesty's Government had in view; but if it should appear that those powers were inadequate it would then re main for the Government at some future period to have re course to further legislation on the subject. He begged therefore to move that the order far the second reading of the bill should be discharged. Sir J. PAKINGTON regretted that he could not say of this bill, "De mortuis nil nisi bonum." He thought that both personally and politically he had very great reason to complain of the conduct of the Government in respect to it. He had come up from Worcestershire that morning, having received a letter from the Secretary to the Treasury on the subject, stating that the noble lord at the head of the Go vernment was quite determined to proceed with the bill. Under these circumstances he felt he had some reason to complain of the conduct of the Government in this matter, and that they could not have made up their minds a little sooner on the subject. He had reason to believe that even in the present state of the House of Commons the Govern ment found they could not pass this bill, and he believed that was the reason why the noble lord had taken the un expected course which he had taken that evening. He was the more surprised at the conduct of the noble lord after having received a despatch within the last few days from the Governor of New Zealand, in which his excellency referred to three memoranda, from the bishop of the colony, the late Chief Justice, and Mr. Swainson, on the policy which ought to be pursued in the future management of the Maori race. The opinions of those gentlemen were adverse to the bill. The despatch referred to was received on the 10th August, and ordered to be printed on the 15th. The letter f o the Secretary of the Treasury w hi c h summoned him (Sir J. Pakington) to town was dated the 17th, so that the Government ought by that time to have made up their minds as to what course they intended to pursue in regard to the bill. He could hardl y conceive any great department of the country venturing to proceed with the bill after having received such a despatch. He was con vinced that if the noble duke the Secretary for the Colonies were now in England he would not, after having seen that despatch, have ventured to press this measure forward. It would not, however, now be becoming in him (Sir J. Pak ington), after the bill had been withdrawn, to enter at any length into it ; but he would observe that it would be im possible for the legislative council which the bill proposed to work with the present legislative body. The bill would create a bad feeling between the colonists and the colonial Government, and the colonists and the Imperial Govern ment, and the Europeans and natives. Mr. HADFIELD wanted to know why the right hon. baronet was absent when this bill was under discussion be fore the house, considering the very small borough which he represented. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He (Mr. Hadfield) had been there day by day, and he could not see that the right hon. baronet had any right to complain. (Hear.) He had read this bill, and he honoured the noble lord for introducing it. ( Hear, hear.) It was a good bill, and was calculated to confer great benefit. He only hoped the noble lord would not listen to the bishops and clergy — (a laugh)—but that in all parts of her Majesty's dominions he would restrain that political ecclesiastical dominion which was calculated to endanger the safety of the colo nies. We had enough to do with ecclesiastical quarrels in this country ; let us not transplant them to New Zealand or Tndia. Mr. C. FORTESCUE was sorry that the right hon. gen tleman (Sir J. Pakington) should have any reason to com plain on this subject o n the ground of perso nal inconve nience ; but if he had been in the position of the Govern ment he would have better understood the difficulty which the Government found in making up their minds upon this subject. He denied that the bill violated in the slightest degree the spirit of the New Zealand constitution. The only question was whether the colonists should govern themselves or should govern others. The only object of introducing the present measure was to enable the Crown, without the violation of existing rights, to deal with very dangerous and delicate questions, but it had been found thAt the powers now existing were ample for that purpose without any further , _! e gialatien, and therefore the Government had come to the Qb,....at"mr_oneltmtthetil'of withdrawing the bill. °lr L + . C. LEWIS said he was sorry the right hon. ember for Droitwich should have been put to " Y P ers °" l inconvenience in consequence of the ere. He approved of the proposed changes in nasal courts-mar tial, the present constitution of which was very defective. He bad hime lf, when in office, requested Sir Richard Dun das to draw a scheme of revision, and he had no doubt his noble friend had also availed himself of the talent and ex- perience of t hat distinguished officer. He did trust that henceforth :03 naval officers would be released from the hardships whdch arose from the present system of courts- Mr. VII ,lAMS regretted that so important a subject should have I seen brought forward at so late a period of the session, and :dso that the question of flogging had not been more directly dealt with. They should not forget that in the last nave I war one of our frigates was taken by an ........ ____ ___ . enemy's ship, manned by Englishmen, all of whom had left our servie in consequence of having been flogged. Sir C. NA.I 'IER could not agree with all the points stated by the noble. lord. His noble friend told them that the discipline of il le navy was as good now as it had ever been, if not better. He must give a direct contradiction to that statement. II e believed the discipline of the navy was very much r 6 taxed indeed. Drunkenness had increased largely, and ha had been told that the drunkenness which had gone on cue. board the Edinburgh was shocking. He thought, how e ver, what the Admiralty had done now in bringing forwn rd these new articles of war would tend more than anythinu: else to improve the discipline of the navy. The manner En which punishment had been changed by the bill would. .have a most excellent effect—substituting penal punish nents for various other punishments would check offences to an extraordinary degree. He was not, however, prep mt ed to say that corporal punishment could safely be entir el y done away with, and he would even go further, and s ay that if it were abolished the discipline of the navy would be altogether destroyed. At the same time he thought cor porel punishment ought not to be inflicted upon petty °Rem, who would feel a penal punishment much more. Clauses from a to 4 inclusive were agreed to. On clause 5, which was to the effect that every person subject to the a et, and not being a commanding officer, who should not use luis utmost exertions to carry out the orders of his superiors when preparing for action, or who was guilty of cowardice, should suffer death, Sir C. NAPIER said he could not conscientiously ap prove of the whole of this clause. He held that it was unjust and improper, after having pressed a man one day into the service, to hang him perhaps the next day on going into action because his nerves were not strong enough to allow of his fighting the enemy. He thought this was con trary to common sense, as well as to religion. He should move that the words " death for cowardice " be left out of the clause. There was not the smallest necessity for their insertion, for if there was no fight in a man, the fear of being hanged would not make him fight. Mr. WILLIAMS thought it was so difficult to define what was cowardice that in his opinion the penalty ought to be struck nut of the clause. Lord C. PAGET said that although it was probably only in an extreme case that the court would inflict death for cowardice, yet such cases might arise, and he did not see how they could exclude that penalty from this clause. Sir J. PAKINGTON hoped his hon. and gallant friend would accept the answer given by the noble lord. The amendment was negatived without a division, and the clause was agreed to, as were clauses 6,7, and 8. On clause 9, which was to the effect that any person found asleep at, or deserting from, his post, should be dismissed the service, Sir C. NAPIER said he was disposed to think that the punishment of death ought to attach to the offence of leav ing one's post. There was no knowing what frightful consequences might result from sleeping at or deserting an important post. Sir J. PAKINGTON said it seemed to him that what ever their maximum punishment ought to be, that maxi mum punishment should be inflicted upon a man who de serted his post. Sir F. SMITH said they had a very serious and a very slight offence placed in the same clause. He wished to know what description of punishment would be awarded for the offence of sleeping at one's pelt. Sir M. SEYMOUR was disposed to adhere to the penal ties under the old code for these two offences, namely, pain of death, or such other punishment as the Admiralty might award. After some further discussion, the clause was agreed to, as also were the subsequent clauses up to 21 inclusive. On clause 22, which provided that the punishment for the offence of absence without leave should be imprison ment for a period not exceeding ten weeks, with or without hard labour, or " such other punishment as the case might reqr;re," Mr. W. 'WILLIAMS complained of the wide discretion which was given by the last words as to the nature of the punishment to be inflicted. Sir C. NAPIER said that desertion had got to such a pitch in the Bi:ash navy that it was absolutely necessary some severe punishment should be imposed in order to cor rect the evil. Now that such reat outcry was made against corporal punishment, he believed that nothing less than penal servitude would deter seamen from deserting, and enable officers to preserve discipline in their ships. He therefore hoped that Government would consent to that punishment being adied. Lord C. PAGET observed that, in addition to imprison ment, there was stoppage of pay, and the court had also power to award corporal punishment. Sir C. NAPIER was opposed to corporal punishment, E and felt it his duty is m ove th e i nser ti on i n the clause of the words, " and penal serv it u d e. " Sir G. C. LEWIS remi n d e d th e ga ll an t a d m i ra l th a t sea men wero, after all, but h uman b e i ngs, and t h at i t was very important to have a grad ua t e d sca l e o f pun i s h ment accord ing to the degree of crim e w hi c h th ey m i g h t h ave comm i t t e d . If they imposed the sam e p un i s h men t f or a b sence w i t h out leave as they did for desertion, they destroyed all the ordi nary motives for abstaini ng f rom t h e wors t cr i mes. (H ear. ) He trusted the hon. acid gallant gentleman would not per severe with his amendm en t, After a few words from Mr. AYILTOIV, Sir C. N AP to i an gain urged the necessity of adopting his order to p u t a s t o p t o d ese rtion, which had amendmentreached in R alarminga extent, and said that although penal servitude might le inserted in the clause, that punish ment need not be inflicted unless the other punishments should prove ineffectual. The amendment wag, however, negatived without a divi sion, and the clause wa s agreed to. Clauses up to 38 inclusive were also adopted. Mr. AYRT ON observed that clauso 39 appeared to make a serious hasd change o,im in tt e the law, com mander to send his warrant ashore to apprehend a sailor who s offence on land; and the man o can for it would enable a naval d jurisdiction instead of being brought before the ordinary civil This extend to the colonies, so that if a tribunals.a k i leonr (m board ship for trial under his summary went ashore an d committed an assault would be t s a upon a shopkeeper it the town of Sydney, the captain might man bycourt-martial, and oblige theboard the ship to give evidence. It would be convenient to put in a clause at the end of the bill, providing th at wh erever civil courts existed, they shopkeeper insist opkeep o e n r t tryingo go on the should have the primary jurisdiction ov©r offences com mitted on land. Lord C. PAGET said that such was the intention of the Government, and within the United Kingdom the power of dealing by court-martial with offenders on land would only apply to military offences, such as mutiny ; but out of the United Kingdom to other offences also. He was obliged to the hon. gentleman for hie valuable suggestion. Sir G. C. LEWIS observed that a similar question might arise in foreign countries with respect to consular jurisdic tion, but if any other than military offences were committed by a sailor on land, of coarse the tribunals of the country would have jurisdiction. Clauses 39 to 44 were agreed to. On clause 45, Mr. BRADY said he sllculd like to have some assurance that corporal punishment would be limited to a certain number of stripes, as it was in the army. Lord C. PAGET said he would agree to limit the punish ment to fifty lashes. Mr. WILLIAMS understood that by the existing rule it was limited already to 48 lashes in the navy, but from the mode in which the lashes were laid on, it was much mere severe than in the army. It was usual to strike w th greater force, and take time between the lashes. He had been told that 50 lashes in the navy were equal to 200 in the army. Sir C NAPIER did not see why two more lashes should be added to the 48. It was true, as the hon. member for Lambeth had said, that the flogging was much more severe in the navy. The clause was agreed to. On clause 46, Mr. HADFIELD said the system of corporal punishment was altogether a great mistake, and contrary to the spirit of the age and the present state of society. It was'not now so much inflicted by the civil magistrates as formerly, and milder punishments were found to operate better. In the county of York it had been abolished, and the cat was never used there, but in Lancashire, he regretted to say, it was still prevalent ; and he would produce some returns to show the comparative results. In schools too, flogging, which was formerly practised to a shameful extent, was now less resorted to. lie found in the clauses of this bill much con fusion as to the infliction of corporal punishment, and he wished to provide more distinctly against repeated floggings for o ne and the same offence. Lord C. PAGET said the punishment for one offence would be limited to 43 lashes, by a proviso which he would insert at the end of the clause. It was a mistake to suppose that the Government were about to extend the sphere of corporal punishment by this bill. They only intended to control it, and to define the cases*. which it might be awarded. Mr. WILLIAMS objected to that portion of the clause which allowed judgment of death to be given by a majority consisting of four-firths of the members of tho court-mar tial. What he desired was, that in order to pass judgment of death the court should be unanimous, as in the criminal procedure in our courts of common law the whole of the jurymen were required to agree in their verdict. He would, therefore, move that the second paragraph of clause 46 be struck out. Lord C. PAGET said it was a mistake to propose, with the m philanthropic views, to strike out this part of the Mr. AYRTON said that the proposal of Mr. Williams was utterly impracticable. The amendment of Mr. Williams was negatived without a division, and the clause was agreed to. On clause 50, Lord HOT II AM said that much inconvenience might re sult from there being no one on the spot qualified to con vene a court-martial. Lord C. PAGET said that the commanding officer of any squadron or detachment would have that authority. Wherever there were three ships under one command, there would be power to order a court-martial. Clauses 50 to 69 were agreed to. Upon clause 70, Mr. HENLEY said he hoped some provision would be wade for the case of the gaols being full. At present a governor was under a penalty of £lOO for refusing to receive a prisoner, to be recovered in a summary manner. Mr. JAMES recommended the insertion of the words " without lawful excuse" after the word " refuse." Mr. lIENLEY said that in country prisons they were in this difficulty —governors of prisons were obliged to have single cells for each prisoner, whereas formerly they were enabled to double . axdtreble the number of occupants of each cell. The amendment was agreed to, and the words added to the clause. The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill passed through committee. The house resumed. ROMAN CATHOLIC CIIARITIES BILL. This bill was ordered for a third reading to-morrow (this day. COURT OF CHANCERY BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Mr. iIADFIELD moved the insertion of the following clause, in reference to the salary of the chief clerks ap pointed since Nov. 2, 155 : "As regards the said John Arthur Buckley and the chief clerks to be appointed under this act, and also as regards the chief clerks of all the judges of the said court, appointed since the second day of Novem ber one thousand eight, hundred and fifty-five, and to be hereafter appointed, it shall be lawful for the Lord Chan cellor, if he shall so think fit, upon the certificate mentioned in the 44th section of the said act of the 15th and 16th years of her Majesty, chapter 80, to order and direct their salaries clause, for then the matter would be left as it now stood, respectively to be increased to the full amount authorised and sentence of death might be given by the decision of a by such act at any one period." bare majority of the court. It was therefore from motives Mr. MALINS opposed the amendment. of humanity that this clause, as he proposed it, required The committee then divided, — that where the court-martial did not exceed five members, For the clause four of them should concur in the judgment of death, or Against it 32 five if the court consisted of seven, Majority The amendment was negatived without a division, and a The clause was accordingly added to the bill. proviso was added, that in any case of corporal punishment ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION, &c., BILL. not more than 48 lashes should be inflicted. Upon the order of the day being read for considering the Mr. WHITE still thought it was repugnant to civilised Lords' amendments to this bill, nations that a man should be put to death without the una-' Mr. B. OSBORNE complained that those amendments nimous judgment of the court which tried him, had the effect of increasing and perpetuating the power of The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was not required the Ecclesiastical Commission, which the other night in a court-martial that the members should be unanimous, h a d run a great chance of being, abolished by a vote of the in the same manner as a jury were required to be. It would house. It was notorious that under the commission there be impossible to maintain dis c ipli ne on b oar d a ship if they had been a great waste of church property. The salaries were required to be unanimous, of rich deans had been increased, while the claims of the The clause was then agreed to, as was also clause 47. working clergy had been overlooked. (Hear, hear.) If On clause 48, the house wanted any proof of that fact it need only refer to Sir J. GRAHAM said he had hitherto abstained from the blue-book of seventy pages which had been laid on the discussing any of the clauses of this bill, because he felt table. It there appeared that on the occasion of the pay with Sir John Pakington that this was a matter that was ment of £5,000 on the renewal of a tithe rent-charge within much better leftto those who had professional experience and the living of Whitby, the ineurebent, whose income was legalknowledge; but having been somewhat conversant with only £2OO a year, with a population over 12,000, applied to naval affairs and taking the deepest interest in the welfare the commission for a small augmentation of his salary. and prosperity of that noble profession, and entertaining an Although his application was supported by the late Arch opinion, which he was afraid would not be acceptable to the bishop of York, it was unsuccessful, and the result was a committee generally with regard to a portion of the clause strong feeling of irritation in the parish. There were they were now discussing, he should fail in his duty if he hundreds of cases to show that the Ecclesiastical C,.rarnis did not express that opinion. So far as his sympathies went sioners paid no attention to the augmentation of poor liv he should wish the utmost limit to be put upon the inflie- ings. But the great job which they had recently performed tion of corporal punishment. lie would not discuss the was to raise the salary of the Dean of York. That was a question in the abstract, because the committee had adopted transaction which marked the character of the Ecclesiastical corporal punishment. He thought Lord Melbourne and Commission. By an Act of Parliament passed some time the late Sir George Cockburn introduced a most salutary ago the salaries of those deans, with some special excep check on corporal punishment in the navy, by issuing a tions, were fixed not to exceed £l,OOO a year. Two years regulation that it should not be inflicted, except in the ago, when the deanery was vacant, some objection was case of mutiny, until 48 hours after the offence, and taken in the House of Commons to the appointment of an that there must be a record in the shape of a war- excellent gentleman, the present dean, than whom a better rant of each punishment, which warrant was sent to the man did not exist, and who had expended large sums of Admiralty. And one of the most important duties of the money for the benefit of the church and people. The Board of Admiralty was carefully to revise that list of right hon. gentleman, then Home Secretary, however, then I punisisments, and if there was any ground for believing stated that this gentleman was appointed because he was a that it had been inflicted unnecessarily or on unjust grounds, man of very large property, the income of the deanery the Admiralty could call for an explanation. If the ship being limited to £l,OOO a year. That statement wa's was in good order and the infliction of the punishment of accepted. Now, the Dean of York has made no applica flogging :was unFrequent, they might conclude that the tion to have his salary raised above £l,OOO a year ; he capta'n was a good captain, but if the infliction of the had taken nu part in the matter, and stood fully ac punishment was frequent, and the explanation of the cap- quitted. But the Ecclesiastical Commission had gone to Min was not satisfactory, in his humble judgment that cap- the Home-office with a memorial, and got an order in tain ought to be superseded without paying off the ship. council passed, by which the income of the Deanery of Saving only the non-exercise of this power, he did not York was raised to £2,000 a year. This had been done think that any check was wanting against any abuse of the without the consent of Parliament, and contrary to the power of the commanding officer. Now, this clause three— settlement made by Parliament. He doubted whether such The CHAIRMAN here observed that they were upon an act was legally done. Instead of such an act being done clause 48, and the right hon. baronet sat down. by the will of an irresponsible body, the correct thing would Clause 48 was then agreed to. have been to have come before Parliament for a declare- On clause 49, tory act. It was a matter which required explanation. Sir J. GRAHAM said at present, saving the restriction The SPEAKER said the question before the house was he had already mentioned, the commanding officer alone the consideration of the Lerds' amendments to this bill. had the power of inflicting corporal punishment. In most Mr. B. OSBORNE intended to move an amendment. cases he proceeded on the report of an inferior officer ; but No explanation had yet been given of that order in council ; by this clause an investigation was required, except in the but when this bill was before the House of Lords, notice of case of mutiny. The effect of this, he thought, wou'd be an amendment was given by Lord Stanley of Alderley, prejudicial to discipline. If a captain saw an offence corn- which was approved by Lord Derby, and which he was mitted he could not act on his own judgment and know- surprised not to see now among the Lords' amendments to ledge, but must delegate the inquiry to inferior officers, and the bill. He would now move the same amendment as if those officers should wish to gain popr'arity in the ship addition to one of the clauses of the bill :—" That in a. at the commanding officer's expense they could do so, and cases where any schemes are proposed by the Ecclesiastica. the commanding officer would have to inflict the punish- Commission, by which the income of any ecclesiastical dig ment against their opinion, which world d es t ro y hi s i n - nitaries are altered or increased, the same shall be laid before fluence over the crew. If they made this concession once the two Houses of Parliament six weeks at least before they it was irrevocable, and it might have a fatal effect, but are submitted to her Majesty in Council." he had the greatest cor fidenee in the noble duke at Sir G. C. LEWIS objected that this amendment could not the head of the Admiralty, and in the noble lord the be moved. The rule was, in amending the Lords' amend- Secretary. Ms judgment would be materially influenced by meats, that the amendments so made by this house should the opinion of the two admirals sitting below the gangway. be relevant to the words which were amended. Now, the Sir C. NAPIER said he looked upon this clause as the clause to which the hon. gentleman would append this pro most important in the bill. A captain was now the judge, vise related of the elatedsitzips on theplloytothea avoidance djustme oftheir nt of the estates or in t]) e jury, and the executioner. If an officer complained to co Mr. KINNAIRD regretted that the Hom e Secretary es had him, he had always a feeling towards the officer and against not condescended to give some explanation of the a ff a i r o f the man, and if he did not take the part of the officer the men believed that he did. The inferior officers were always the Deanery of York alluded to by the hon. member for more inclined to severity than the captain. He thought Liskeard. That was a case which, taken in contrast with that if there were courts-martial the capta i n ought to award the case of Whitby, supplied an excellent specspecjmqu of the rooeedings of the Ecclesiastical Commission. Was it cor the punishment, exactly as a judge did, and that he ought p not to bo present when the punishment was inflicted, but rect that applications had been made for the increase of the that it ought to be inflicted under the superintendence of stipends of the two deaneries. the second officer. The SPEAKER was of opinion that the amendment was Sir M. SEYMOUR suggested that the proposed regula- not relevant to the amendment of the Lords, and could not, tions should be accompanied by rules for the guidance of the therefore, be put. officers who would have to carry them into effect. He sub- Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to know who was to mitted, also, that in small vessels, gunboats, for instance, pay the expenses of the arbitrations that would be re there would be great difficulty in forming a court, quired to settle the value of the estates to be assigned to Sir J. GRAHAM said the hon. and gallant member for sees ? The Lords' amendment appeared to him to exagge rate the mischief. Southwark evidently contemplated a court-martial, sworn Sir G. C. LEWIS said the Lords' amendment applied evidence, and a decision that would be binding upon the only to disputes, on the avoidance of a see, as to the value captain ; whereas the clause provided for none of those of the estates which should be allotted to it. things. Again, the gallant admiral did not seem to bear in The first amendment was then agreed to. mind the possibility of the captain himself witnessing a On the second, man's misconduct, as, for example, if with his own eyes he Mr. OSBORNE wished to know whether he could now saw a sailor skulking in a gale of wind when he ought to be move his amendment ? He was very anxious to bring it going aloft. In a case like that the commanding officer forward. (A laugh.) himself would he the best judge of the offender's culpability. The SPEAKER ruled that he could not. He (the right hon. baronet) altogether dissented from the Mr. AYRTON moved that the amendment be not reasons given by the gallant admiral why the captain should acsreed to. not be present at the infliction of the punishment. Surely After a few words from Mr. Whalley, Lord Palmerston, a man ought not to be compelled to undergo an amount of Mr. Craufurd, and Sir G. C. Lewis, pain which the captain, had he been present, would have The house divided on the question of agreeing to the thought unnecessarily severe. (Hear, hear.) Lords' amendment— Sir J. PAKINGTON could not forget that the clause For the amendment 35 came before the house recommended by a Board of Admi- Against it rally, which comprised several eminent officers, and by the Majority —l7 noble lord who had himself had practical experience of The remaining amendments were agreed to. commanding ships. The object of the proposed regulation PARTY EMBLEMS (IRELAND) BILL. was, he presumed, to give the captain every possible moral This bill was ordered to be read a third time to-day. support in the discharge of his difficult and important DEBTORS AND CREDITORS ACT AMENDMENT duties; and at the same time to hold out to the sailor the BILL. utmost possible guarantee for his being treated with jus- This bill passed through committee. tics. He believed that the clause would tend to secure The following bills also passed through committee : I , both those objects, but he would suggest that its details Coast of Africa, &c., Act Amendment Bill; Offences within should be carefully reconsidered before the report. her Majesty's Possessions Abroad Bill. Sir C. NAPIER thought that if there was not to be CHANCERY EVIDENCE COMMISSION BILL. a regular court-martial the inquiry had better be dispensed The bill passed through committee, and was read a third with, for it would be regarded by the men as little better time and passed. than a farce. As for offences committed under the personal TENURE AND IMPROVEMENT OF LAND cognisance of the captain, he had to remark that a colonel (IRELAND) BILL. had no power to flog a soldier for anything that he might Some of the Lords' amendments to this bill were agreed to. see him do. GAS (METROPOLIS) BILL. Mr. W. WILLIAMS begged to move the omission of The Lords' amendments were agreed to. this part of the clause, in order to substitute a provision for NEW BILLS. a proper court martial. Mr. CARDWELL obtained leave to bring in bills relat- Sir J. GRAHAM observed that the language of the ing to fisheries in Ireland and county surveyors. clause was certainly very ambiguous, the pronoun " his" The house adjourned at ten minutes to two o'clock. being sometimes so used as to render it doubt:ul whether it -,..--- applied to the captain or to the offender. Lard C. PAGET admitted the importance of the sugges tion,of Sir James Graham and the grave difficulty of the question. Ile should be sorry to take away from the cap tain of a ship the least responsibility. Were this done there would be an end of discipline. Supposing a captain to notice a man not laying out as he ought, he would send for his second in command and direct inquiry to be made so as to aseer;,ain whether the man was guilty of the offence wil fully Ho did not think that the responsibility of the cap tain would Le in the least affected by the course proposed by this clause. He would still have the power of over ruling the opinion expressed by the officers.. There was great difficulty in dealing with this question; but he was convinced that the alteration proposed would operate to the improvement of discipline. The restriction referred only to corporal punishment, and in any serious cases, such as mutiny, the captain had the power of setting aside the de cision of the other officers. . Mr. W. WILLIAMS moved the omission of certain words from the clause, Kith the view to the adoption of a court-martial in all cases of punishment. Sir G. C. LEWIS recommended the hon. member to pro pose a new clause of his own on the bringing up of the report. IRELAND. DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING. THE CONVICT HOLDEN. A deputation waited on the Lord Lieutenant yesterday, and presented memorials praying for a commutation of the sentence of death passed on Holden, who was convicted at the last Donegal assizes of the wilful murder of head constable M'Clelland. His Excellency stated that he appre ciated the motives of the memorialists, but he would consider what it was his duty to do, and prayed he might be guided to perform it aright. His Excel lency afterwards most kindly admitted to an audi ence the wife of the unfortunate man, who carried her infant child in her arms. One of the memorials presented in favour of Holden is signed by ten out of the twelve jurymen vt ho tried him, and the other two only withheld their signatures on the ground that the jury having unanimously recommended the prisoner to mercy, there was no need for any memorial from them. George Cass was executed at Carlisle gaol yester day at noon, for the wilful murder of Ann Sewell, at Embleton, on the 26th of March last. The cir- cumstances of the case have before appeared in The sun. At the end of last week the prisoner made another statement, which, though of a somewhat unsatisfactory character, tends to clear up some doubts as to the manner in which the murder was committed, and what was the motive for such an atrocious crime. It will be remembered that in the prisoner's original statement he said that the girl had asked him to mend her clog; he refused to do so, and she threw a knife at him ; he threw it back at her, and it stuck in her throat, and then, after she had requested him to " put her away altogether," he went and inflicted the wounds which caused her death. He now states that a quarrel arose between him and the girl, in the kitchen, about a half-crown which he had lent her ; he rushed at her in a passion, and pursued her along the passage to the outer door, where he caught her. A scuffle ensued at the door, he then dragged her down the passage (which accounts for the streaks of blood found on the wall), and at the end of the passage, where the body was afterwards found, murdered his victim. Yesterday morning, three or four hours before the time of execution, groups of people —men, women, and children—assembled in front of the scaffold, which was erected at an angle of the gaol wall. Trains from the west, the district in which the murder was committed, brought a great number of people ; but excursion trains from the town were run at cheap rates to induce as many persons as possible to be absent during the execution, and to these a remarkably fine day served as an additional in ducement. Soon after 11 o'clock the number of people in front of the gaol began to increase greatly ; the windows commanding a view of the scaffold were occupied, and children of the tenderest years might be seen mingling in the crowd. At a quar ter before 12 thousands had assembled. They di vided themselves into two portions, one on each side of the scaffold, the scaffold having been so placed behind a projecting parapet of the gaol wall that the gallows could not be well seen from the front. When the clock struck twelve a still ness seemed to come upon the spectators ; children who had been running about in the open space in the centre ranged themselves with the crowd; the chapel bell began to toll, and amid the most pro found silence the criminal, accompanied by the chaplain and the hangman Calcraft, ascended the platform. The chaplain read the usual texts of Scripture, the hangman placed the white cap upon the head of the unfortunate criminal, and, having shaken hands with him, adjusted the rope and re tired ; the chaplain also shook hands with him and left the platform. About five minutes past 12 the bolt was drawn, and the criminal was launched into eternity. At the same instant a loud moan passed through the whole crowd. The murderer struggled but for a few seconds, and the crowd then began to disperse immediately. While the body hung only the head and shoulders were visible from the street. and COUNTRY MARKETS. NEWCASTLE-UNDER •LYNE—Auct. 20. At this corn market there was but a small show of wheat for the season, but the 'demand was firm, and prices advanced is per quarter—white making 63s to 68s, and red 58s to 645. The samples of barley shown were few, but prices held firmly. Oats in small supply, and the turn dearer, from 29s to 34s per 24 stone. Beans made is over former values. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. The accounts from all quarters as to the weather and the condition of the crops continue to be of the most disheartening character. In several of the city churches on Sunday prayers were offered up for fine weather. If there should be even now b. favourable change, and a moderate portion of heat and sunshine, an average harvest might still be saved ; but if, on the contrary, the wet cold weather continues, the prospect is most appaling. From Clonmel we learn the continued wet is the cause of great alarm at this continued season to farmers. The lowlands are all flooded ; the harsh ness of the weather has been decidedly injurious to the grain crops in general. The wheat and oats in many places are lodged, and cut and standing meadows are at present in a very precarious state. We learn that a great deal of damage has been done by the mountain floods, consequent on the late violent rain and storm, in portions of the adjacent districts of the county Waterford ; nor is there, we are sorry to state it, any doubt whatever of the appearance of the fatal blight in the potato crop. The gardens and fields in this locality are to a slight extent affected, but great damage has been done by the blight along the sea coast, in Tramore and other parts of the county Waterford. It has also appeared in the vicinity of Tipperary and Cashel, but hopes are entertained that the loss will not be so serious as in former years, especially as the early planted tubers have attained to maturity, and are of fine quality this season. In Cork the weather still retains its wintryas pect. Dining the early hours of Saturday morning the wind blew heavily from the south-west, and at intervals showers of rain came down. Saturday. was cold and wintry. A few bright g leams_ of sunshine threw a little cheerfulness over parthe forenoon, of forenoon, but they were transient, and their rapid disappearance only made the day a ppear drearie r still. THE METROPOLITAN BUILDING ACT.— The Me tropolitan Building Act (1855) is amended by a l a t e act, declaring that the rules prescribed as to cubical dimension of the recited act are not to apply to buildings to be used for the manufactory of machinery and boilers of steam vessels, provided that such buildings do not consist of one floor only. When the buildings are of greater dimensions than 216,000 cubic feet, they are to be approved of by the ' Metropolitan Board of Works, BRISTOL—Auo. 21. A•dull business passing in wheat to-day, with a fair at tendance of buyers. Holders firm, and late rates were ex ceeded by is to is 6d per qr. Grinding barley is to 2s up. Oats, beans, and peas against buyers. LEEDS, AUG. 21. We have a fine day, which has its influence on the trade. The business in wheat is not on so large a scale as of late, but where sales are made is advance on last week's prices were realised. Barley unaltered. Beans are fully as dear. Oats and other articles do not vary in price. Arrivals this week :-:. Wheat 2,372 qrs. Barley Oats Rapeseed 1,921 Peas .. 411 Linseed 1,921 Flour Averages for the week : Wheat 3,055 qrs., at 60s 4id Peas.. .... —s Od Beans — -s —d Barley Oats Rye —a --d —8 Od —8 Od LIVERPOOL—Aua. 21. We have had a large attendance of millers and dealers at this morning's market, but a very small business doing in wheat, at 2d per cental over the rates of Friday last. Flour in firm consumptive inquiry at an improvement of is 6d per barrel and sack. Indian corn was held for the advance of from 6d to is per qr. made yesterday, with a re tail sale. Oats and oatmeal bring full prices. Beans, peas, and barley have each advanced is per qr. The mar closed without animation. SLEAFORD-AuG. 20. A moderate show of wheat at market to-day, for which the trade was steady for most samples, at an advance of Is to 2s per qr. Barley rather dearer, and oatetending up wards. White ruled at 65s to 68s, red 62s to 64s per qr. Barley, 29s to 455; oats, 28s to 345; beans, 38s to 50s; peas, —s to —s. THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) .. Sept. 18. Do. (via Marseilles) Sept. 12. Bahamas and Havana (via New York) .. Aug. 30. Canada, &c. (via Liverpool) .. Aug. 22. Cape of Good Hope, &c. _ Sept. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) Sept. 1. Do. (via Marseilles) Aug. 26. Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. .. Aug. 25. India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) Sept. 1. Do. t(via Marseilles) Aug. a India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. .. Aug. 25. Do. (via Marseilles) .. .. Aug. 19. Lisbon, Brazils, Buenos Ayres, &a. ' .. Sept. 5. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. Aug. 25. Do. (via Marseilles) Aug. 19. Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto .. Aug. 21. United States, Jalifornia, &c. Aug. 22. Western Coast of Atrica, Madeira, Tencriffe .. Sept. 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, &c. Aug. 28. [ADVERTISEMENT.)—We have read with much pleasure Du Barry's Report on the curo of diseases NI ith o ut medi cine by Du Barry's Rovalenta Arabica Food. The follow ing are a few extracts which appear to merit the attention of many :—Cure No. 47,121—" Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of ex tremeNazin g ne V rv i o c u a s r n agn ess , , and Waltham-cross, nervous fancies." Cure No. 62,612 —The Dowaer Countess e l L ert gs s , : lo a w e s ur pi e rit o s f , of Castlestuart, of many years nervous irritability, bile, and indigestion. Cure 64,812 —Miss Virginia Zeguers, cured of consumption, after her medical adviser had abandoned all hopes of recovery. Cure 180—Of W. B. Reeves, 181, Fleet street, London, •f " Twenty-five years nervousness, constipation, indigestion, and debility." Avoid Pills and Medicines : they invariably aggravate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance, disappointment, and expense may be avoided by using Du Barry's Food which, at a few pence per day, saves 50 times its cost in other remedies, removing effectually, without purging, constipation, indigestion (dyspepsia) nervous, bilious and liver complaints and all their consequences. Certificate No. 33,418. We find it the safest remedy. Andrew 'lire, MD., F.R.S., Dr Harvey, Dr. Wurzer, Dr. Shorland, Dr. Campell. Let invalids avoid the fearful dangers of spu rious and injurious imitations offered under a variety of false pretences. Nevill's imitations are prohibited by the high Court of Chancery under a penalty of £5,000 against Alfred Hooper Nevill and his agents ; and the pretences that Nevill has a patent for Arabica Food and that Du Barry's are connected with such patent are utterly false. No canister is genuine without the name Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, in full, ontheseal and wrapper. Shopkeepers who attempt imposition in one article must expect to be distrusted in all others. Packed in tins 1112. 2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 6d. ; 61b. lls. ; 121 b. 225. ; 241 b. 408. The 121 b. and 241 b. canisters are sent carriage free on receipt of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, R? gent-street, London ; Fortnum Mason, and Co. ; Abbla, 60, Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 62 and 150, Ox ford-street ; 330 and 451, Strand ; 49 and 60, Bisholoi a ," street ; Batty, 16, Finsbury Pavement ; Phillips an'-,i `A.'t tea-dealers; Petty, Wood, and Co., King William-street, City ; at 127, High Holborn ; and all grocers. BIRTHS. of dauhte - -- - -- AINSLIE.—On the 18th inst., a t Row an a tree, Edmonton, the wife of Charley Ainslie, Esq., gr. COBBETT.--On the 20th inst. i n Grafton-street, Mayfair, the wife of John M. Cobobet,dEasucig.h, tITr..P., of a son. FRY.— On the 18th inst., t he wife of Jo hn T. Fry, Esq., solicitor, of Dane's-inn, of s : id A It It I A ci E 8 • COCKS—MooRE. — O n the 18th i nst. , at St. John's, Hack ney, Fred. Cocks, of Clapham, to Matilda, the youngest daughter of Fred erick B olland Moore, Esq., Park-road, __. Dalkon. Ti soN —Sco'r r T.—Ou th e 16 t h i nst., at Ski pton par i s h Robert Thomps on , E sq., o f S ta di s h , L ancas hi re, is Mary Steer Read, young es t d aug ht er o f Mrs. Scott, o f Close House, Skipt on. crhouurio, DEATHS. EASTON.—On the 19th inst., at Stone House, Bradford, near Taunton, John Easton, Esq., aged 73. JEKYLL.-07) the 20th inst., at Weston, near Bath, Joseph 11. S. Jekyll, Esq., of York -terrace, Regent's-park, Lon don, Youngest son of the late Captain Jekyll, R.N., of Roundhill, Somerset. MOSTYN.—On the 19th inst., at Upper Norwood, Henry Mostyn, Esq., of 10, Portman-square. SHORE.—On the 21st inst., the Rev. William Henry Shore, LL.B., incumbent of All Saints' Church, Child's-hill. SMYTHE.— On the 17th inst., at Wootton Hall, Warwick shire, the Dowager Lady Smythe, aged 70. TANCRED.—On the 20th inst., at Margate, Henry William Tancred, Esq., Q.C., 13encher, of Lincoln's-inn, and late M.P. for Banbury. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Bun jflice, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of Middlesex', Weduesdt4y, August 22, 1860• -----' .