The Sun. — London, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY)• The LORD OHANCELtOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock: The Earl of Albemarle presented a petition from Norwich in favour of the Thames Watermen and Lightermen's Bill. SECOND READINGS. The following bills were read a second time :—Banff and Macduff and Tnrriff Junction Railway, Formartin and Buchan Railivay, Great Northern Railway, Great Western and Brentfoid Railway, London and North Western Rail way, and Wirral Railway. THIRD READINGS. - - - - - - - The following bills were read a third time and passed : Dublin and Drogheda Railway; London (City) Gas; Ulster. Wimbledon, and Dorking, and Epsom and Leatherhead Railway ; Norwich (City) Water ; Falmouth Dock and Harbour Bill. EAST INDIA LOAN BILL. The Earl of DERBY rose and said—My lords, in moving the second reading of this bill I presume that your lord ships would hardly wish me again to go over the ground which I traversed a few days ago, when I gave to your lord ships the revised estimate of the Indian finances, and stated the increased amount of the deficiency which it was then calculated would have to be provided for in the course of the ensuing year. I stated then to what amount that defi ciency would in all probability extend, and what were the means relied on by the Indian Government for reducing the deficiency of £11,500,000 estimated for that year, so as to require only partial assistance from her Majesty's Go vernment, amounting to something like £4,000,000. Your lordships will also bear in mind that on the present occa sion, though I seek your sanction to the second reading of this bill, I am, in fact, asking for what may be regarded as a grant on account, for I have already mentioned that it will be necessary at a future period to ask for a further sum of £5,000,000 to make up the whole amount required. It was thought better, looking to the approaching dissolution of Parliament, that no time should be lost in passing this bill, and your lordships the other day kindly showed your willingness to - suspend the standing orders to allow the Royal assent to be given to it before the next mail goes out. I do not on this occasion wish to make a lengthened state ment on the subject, but I wish to give an answer to ques tions that were put to me on a former evening by different noble lords. I have been asked by the noble lord opposite (Lord Monteagle) whether it is the intention of the Govern.. meat to propose a vote of thanks to the Governor-General of India, the commander-in-chief of the army, and the offi cers of the military and civil services, by whose exertions and the blessing of Providence the mutiny was suppressed and peace restored to India. With regard to that point I have to state that on Monday next I shall call your lordships' attention to the subject, and move a vote of thanks in the usual form. On the same occasion I was asked by the noble duke below me (the Duke of Marlborough) whether it was intenesd by any public religious manifestation to testify the thanks of the nation for the blessing vouchsafed to its arms. In answer to that question I may state that her Ma jesty will be advised to issue her Royal command fora form of prayer to be drawn up and used in all churches on such days as her Majesty may think fit to appoint. I now come to tke question of the noble earl (Ellenborough), who felt some difficulty in comprehending the statement as to the system of deposits for Indian railways made in this coun try, and the manner in which those deposits are expended in India. The subject, though somewhat complicated, is a question rather of account than revenue, and I hope I shall be able to make it clear to my noble friend and to the house. From the great number of shares in Indian railways taken in this country, the amount of the calls made is very large. In the course of the next year the amount of those salts will not be less than £6,800,000, or, in round numbers, £7,000,000. The general course of proceeding with regard to these railway calls is this,—the amount of the calls is not transmitted to India ; it is, in the first instance, paid into the Indian Treasury in this country. Of these shares 96 per cent, are held in England ; of every million, therefore, £960,000 are paid up on account of persons in this country. Of this £960,000 there are required to be paid for services and work done here about £400,000, leaving £560,000 to be expended for works in India. With regard to the £400,000 required for ex penses incurred in this country, it is, of course a matter of convenience that should never be transmitted to India at all. With regard to the other £560,000 the course is this : Your lordships are aware that on all Indian railways the Government guarantees to make up all the interest that may fall short of 5 per cent. on the capital expended. When a railway is completed, and returns more than 5 per cent, profit, the surplus above that amount is divided be tween the shareholders and the Government in repayment of its guarantee. For all works done in India to the extent of £550,000 is a charge on the finances of India, and the Indian Government in the meantime take in hand all the receipts of the railway. There is a running ac count kept from month to month between the Govern ment in India and the Indian Government here ; the sums expended in India are placed against the sums raised in this country, and the result is that neither money nor bullion is remitted from either side, but the accounts between the two Governments are squared every month. The esti mate of the sum to be received in the next year, 1859-60, is £6,844,000; on the 7th of April the balance in the home treasury will be £4,366,000 ; there will, therefore, be in the course of the year £11,210,000 applicable to the service of railway companies in both countries. Of this sum £4,445,000 will be required for works in India ; and there will be a balance for Indian railway purposes in England of, in round numbers, £6,000,000. I now come to a different but equally important subject ; the noble earl opposite (Earl Grey) has asked what steps have been or will be taken to reduce our great military expenditure in India. I need hardly say that in India the state of things during the war was exceptional ; we cannot found upon it any judgment for the future. But I am quite willing to admit that, among all the modes of redressing the financial balance, none is so absolutely ne cessary as a reduction of our military expenditure. (Hear.) The military forces at present employed in India amount to 112,000 Europeans and 320,000 native troops, including the native police. At this moment the number of native troops in the employ of the Government exceeds by 50,000 the number of the native army at the commencement of the mutiny. The native army at the commencement of the mu tiny consisted of 260,000 men ; it now consists of 320,000. The reduction of this force must be a gradual operation. The mode in which an immediate saving can be effected is by the discontinuance of the large field establishments, ex traordinary commands, and staff appointments. There may also be a considerable reduction of the troops of the line sent from this country to India. At the present moment there are in India no less than 85 English regiments. In the course of the present year the Governor-General has inti mated his intention of returning ten regiments of the line which have been the longest in India and have suffered the most severely from the recent calamity. And I must call your lordships' attention to this, that the sending back of regiments to this country is an operation which is not quite of a simple character, but which has to be considered in two different bearings—first, as it bears upon the expen diture of India, and, next, as it bears—as it must, if not conducted under a regular system—upon the accounts of the Army Department in this country; because as soon as these regiments return from India they cease to be a charge upon the revenues of India, and become a charge upon the home service of this country. Consequently, when a large number of them returns from India without previous notice and , without previous concert with the War-office here, the effect must be to disarrange the estimates which have been sub mitted to Parliament, and to cause a very large increase in the military establishment of this country. It is of the most essential importance that an understanding should be come to, and at no distant period, with regard to the permanent peace establishment of India. (Hear.) It is also necessary that it should be distinctly understood that upon these points there are great controversies between the most experienced authorities. There was great difference of opinion upon these points between the members of the military commis sion, the evidence given before which commission has not yet been printed, nor has the report yet been laid on the table of your lordships' house. 1:pon some points there have been very great differences of opinion in that commis sion. Upon one point, however, the commission appeared e unanimous, but I must say that it will be ab so l u t e ly ssary, consistantly with a due regard to the service and e revenue of India, not to follow up the recommenda tion of the commission upon it, because it was the opinion of the commission, and probably a very sound opinion, that at all times the European troops of all arms in India should be at least in the proportion of one to two, and in some dis tricts of one to three, to the native troops. The estimate formed by that commission required a permanent European force in India of 80,000 men of all arms. Now, my lords, a European force of 80,000 men of all arms and a corre sponding number of native troops—say of 200,000, instead of the 320,000 now on service—would require an annual expenditure upon the revenue of India very little short of £15,000,000. (Hear, hear.) It is quite obvious to your lordships and to the country that India, possessing alto gether, a net revenue of about £26,000,000, cannot afford an expenditure of £15,000,000 upon her army alone—(hear, hear) —without estimating any of the contingencies arising out of a state of war, or any other extraordinary expenses which it may be necessary to incur. That estimate was taken '..;or an ordinary state of peace, and it is quite clear that if no reductions are to be made in the expenditure of India, it is impossible for the revenue of India to bear it. (Hear.) Then, my lords, there is another very important question, upon which, as I before stated, there are differences of opinion in the commissio; namely, the question as to the character of the European force in that country. It was the, opinion of those who were connected with the Queen's service that the whole of the European force for the ser- vice"of India should be taken from the regular forces of her Majesty, that the line and the other corps should serve by turns in India, and that the European force in India should, consequently, be supplied in ordinary course from this country. On the other hand, all those connected with the Indian service, and most of those who had experience in India, were very strongly in favour of maintaining not very large, but considerable local European forces, and I must say the arguments which they brought forward in favour of local European forces, commanded by officers brought up in that service, and acquainted with the man ners and habits of the people, and the mode of living in India, were of great weight There is this further to be considered—that although a local European force is, no doubt, on the one hand, subject from long residence in India to a certain amount of deterioration in point of dis cipline and in point of effectiveness, yet, on the other hand, a local corps in India does not require that system of relief which would be required if the whole of the European forces were to be wholly supplied from this country, and if the existing system of relief were continued, it would be necessary to maintain here several regiments which would not be wanted for the home service, but merely for supply ing the place of re g iments that had been returned t o thi s country. I do not presume on this subject to express any strong opinion. I have certainly formed my own opinion, that a certain local force is, in point of fact, exceedingly de sirable for India, would be a considerable saving of expen diture, and, moreover, would be exceedingly useful in form ing a species of link between the native armies and those troops sent from this country with no previous knowledge of the country, and no previous knowledge of the habits and discipline of the army. I think, however, if I may venture to pronounce an opinion, that jf a local force is to be main tained, it must be maintained subject to the existing en gagements with the present officers, aiid . subject to . the au thority to which a local corpsin India hliso-thbleectlf there is to be a local corps, there . oupc , think,. . . every facility for the purpose of assimilating the drill, discipline, and everything pertaining to the internal management of that corps, as between the localaco s and the line. I think, gamoYer i though this i ll a a point of groat dill culty, that facilities ought to be given not only for the re turn home of regiments from India, but also for exchanges between officers of the line andofficers of the local European service, in order, as far as possible, to keep -a esprit de corps between them, and to prevent the formati, n of an in jurious rivalry, but at the same time not to rep: ess an hon ourable competition and emulation between ri em. How ever, I only mention these subjects beca e they have engaged the serious attention both of Gov nment and of Parliament. They are questions upon whichlhere have been very great differences of opinion between high authorities. It has been a question between them whether there should be a local corps at all, and if there should be, what propor tion it should bear to the European force. My opinion un doubtedly is that that proportion should be defined and fixed, and that this country should be guaranteed against an in tolerable evil, viz., that of the Indian Government calling in an extraordinary emergency upon this country for 30 , 0 00 men one year, for 20,000 an other year, and for 25,000 ano ther year thereby altogether deranging and disorganising, the whole system of reliefs in the British army. Upon the question as to what proportion the local corps should bear to the European force there arose considerable difficulty, and I think there will be considerable difficulty in settling points of detail, upon which it will be absolutely necessary that we should have the opinion and advice of the Governor- General and of officers of Indian experience. But that is not the point which presses at the present moment. It is in the military expenditure of India that we hope to be able to effect the greatest amount of reduction, and in order to arrive at an opinion of what that expenditure may be reduced to, it would be necessary to come, at the earliest possible period, to a distinct understanding both with regard to the numbers of the military forces and their respect ive proportions to each other, as an ordinary peace establishment in India, apart from any extraordinary emergency such as lately happened, and such as, I trust, may not happen again. I think I have given, as far as I could, an answer to the noble earl opposite with regard to the steps that have been taken for the reduction of this expenditure when I stated that, first, there will be a reduction in the extraordinary commands, next that there will be a reduction in the staff ; thirdly, that there will be a reduction of the British force in India, and a return of a considerable portion of that force to this country; and, fourthly, that there will shortly be, as I hope, largereductions in the over grown native army by which the finances of India are now so heavily burdened. lam not able to state to the noble earl how far these reductions have been carried into effect. All I can say is that the attention of the Governor- General is anxiously devoted to this subject. He is making every effort in his power to effect reductions, but at the same time I think that reductions, more especially as regards the European force, ought to be made with considerable caution, and not with too great haste. Although I hope that peace is now permanently established, yet I think it is very desirable that we should for some time maintain a considerable and imposing Euro pean force to keep the peace and to assert the predominant authority of this country in India. (Hear, hear.) My lords, I am not aware of any other points upon which any question was put to me the other day. If there are any I hope I may be able to answer them, but, as your lordships are aware, I am not very familiar with these subjects of Indian detail. I shall be very happy to give such informa tion as is in my power, and now, without further occupying your lordships' time, I beg to move the second reading of this bill. (Hear, hear.) The Duke of ARGYLL hoped that in the future settle ment of the question of Indian finance a sound and mate rial basis would be decided upon, but at the present time there were certain questions upon which it was of the utmost importance that all parties should arrive at a satisfactory understanding. He wished to know whe ther it was true or not that the British Exchequer was liable for the debt that had been contracted for the sup pression of the mutiny. He was fully convinced of the vast resources of Hindostan, and that they would in course of time yield sufficient to liquidate all the immense outlay, but that circumstance would not justify a profuse and extravagant expenditure being main tained. He believed that this country had a deep sense of the obligations under which they were to the people of India, and they felt it was impossible that these obligations could be discharged under the present state of things. They felt that under the present state of the finances of India that expenditure was begrudged, and he should have occasion next week to speak with reference to this in connection with the education of the people of India. Although they were most anxious and desirous of taking advantage of the op portunity afforded them, he believed it to be true that, in the present state of things, we could not expend for the purposes of a most wise benevolence even the most trifling sums without feeling that it was adding to the embarrassments of India, and there was a just conviction that, apart from this altogether, by those laws of political economy that regulate wealth, and by that wealth that secures the prosperity and happiness of a people, these embarrassments, if not guarded against and grappled with in time, might become, with their attendant evils, a permanent embarrassment to the Government. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH deprecatedany guaran tee, in conjunction with his noble friend, to the loan raised in India for the service of that country. (Hear, hear.) He did not think the time had yet arrived for a settlement of that question. He deprecated it not so much on the part of England as on the part of India. He did not think that a general guarantee would lead to any extravagance on the part of the officers employed in India, from a consideration that their expenditure there would practically be defrayed here. There would be a danger of constant interference on the part of Parliament with the Government of India, of a reduction of the establishment and of salaries, which would be, he was convinced, utterly fatal to the whole Govern ment of the country, and on that account he deprecated it as a general measure. But there was one point he should wish to bring under the consideration of the house and of her Majesty's Government as worthy of consideration, as to whether it might not be advisable in particular cases, and in exceptional circumstances, to extend the guarantee. Their lordships were aware that the revenues of India were burdened with a permanent payment of £630,000 a year to the proprietors of East India Stock. At the time the bill was passed for the government of India in 1833, a sum of £2,000,000 was set apart, which was to accumulate, and it was expected that at the end of 40 years that accumulation would produce a sum of £12,000,000, which would be equal to the amount of the capital stock of the East India Com pany, and enable the Government in time to pay off that stock. The calculations that were made did not appear to be extremely correct, or at least circumstances had occurred since that period which were not calculated to bear them out, for instead of there being any probability of raising a sufficient fund by the year 1873 for the purpose of paying off these £12,000,000 by the calculations the other day it appeared that, supposing the average price of the funds to remain for the future as they had been for the past, that sum would not be raised before the year 1887. It was therefore a matter for consideration whether it might not be desirable for the Government of this country to extend its guarantee to the payment of the capital stock of the late East India Company, taking, of course, the £630,000 a year, and having a claim to that ex tent on the revenues of India. By a measure of that kind, which he thought it impossible for the Government, under the circumstances, to reject, the difficulty, might be sur mounted, and it would at once set free the whole of the sum now accumulated under the head of guarantee fund, which amounted to £4,000,000, and it would at once re lieve the revenues of India from the necessity of having any loan this year, or relieve us from raising any additional loan to that which was now under the consideration of the house. He threw out this suggestion for the consideration of her Majesty's Government. Whatever the Government might do in India for the general benefit of the people of India, they might rest assured that one thing which it was absolutely necessary to do in the first instance was to give them the most absolute security with respect to their reli gion. Their apprehension on the subject of religion was the cause of the war in India. Nothing could exceed the propriety and policy of the sentiments expressed in her Majesty's proclamation ; and if the Government determined to carry that proclamation into effect in all its spirit, and compelled those who acted under the Government to do so, they might be assured that at no distant period they would be able to look with satisfaction on the state cf India, and not with feelings of repentance and regret. After some observations from the Earl of ALBEMARLE and Lord MONTEAGLE, The bill was read a second time, and the standing orders being suspended, went through committee, was read a third time, and passed. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third tine and passed : Great Western Railway, North British and Selkirk and Galashiels Railway Companies, and Tyne Improvement (verbal amendment to be proposed). The following bills were considered and ordered for third reading :—Portsmouth and London and South Western Railway Companies; South Wales, Pembroke, and Tenby Junction Railway ; Wear Navigation and Sunderland Docks ; Hereford and Brecon Railway ; and Lymiugton Railway. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented against any alteration in the hop duty ; the continuance of the present ecclesiastical courts in Ireland ; and the endowed schools bill. STATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Lord PALMERSTON gave notice that, on the motion for adjournment to-morrow, he would make some ob servations on the present state of our foreign relations, and ask the Government to state, if they could do so consistently with the public service, in what position this country stood with regard to the discussion that was going on at Paris. (Hear, hear.) IMPRISONMENT bF COUNTY COURT DEBTORS Mr. B. HUGHES asked the Attorney-General what steps (if any) had been taken to prevent the practice of im prisoning debtors who were confined under judgments of County Courts in a remand ward; and if any incon venience would arise by making the rule applicable to fraudulent debtors, and not to mere cases of contempt for non-payment. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that since the ques tion was brought before the house the other evening he had looked into the act bearing on the subject, and he found it was provided that County Court debtors were not to be im prisoned except it had been proved that they were guilty of fraudulent practices. However, a power was vested in the county court judges to commit del;tors if they did not give satis factory answers to questions that might be asked of them. The subject was being inquired into, and if it was found that the judges, in the exercise of their power, had acted improperly, an alteration in the law would be proposed. TENANTS COMPENSATION (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. GREED. asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether the proposed Tenants Compensation Bill for Ire land would be laid on the table of the house before the pro rogation of Parliament ; and also whether he had obtained any explanation with regard to the eviction of the Rev. Dr. 0' Fay P Lord NAAS said that two bills on the subject were pre pared, but it could not be expected that they would be laid on the table during the present Parliament ; but imme diately after the meeting of next Parliament they would be introduced. A letter had been received from the rev. gen tleman alluded to, in which he stated that he had received no communication to the effect that the eviction which was apprehended would be carried out. In reply to Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD, Lord N AAS said that the bills would be much the same as those which had been previously introduced. He could not then state in what particulars they would differ from them. I _ ECCLESIASTICAL REGISTRATION BILL. ▪ - - In reply to▪ LEFROY, Lord AAS said it was not intended to proceed with this bill at present. MANOR COURTS, &c. (IRELAND) BILL. The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and agreed to, and the bill was ordered for third reading. of The report suppl SUPPLY. y was brought up. On the resolution for a vote of £2,000,000 for Exchequer bonds Sir , G. C. LEWIS asked some questions in reference to the same, The CIIANCELI4OII, at the ZXCILFAVIA mid it THE was his intention to have made a financial statement to the house on Monday next, but, of course, from what had oc curred, it could not be expected that he would do so. With reference to the particular item of £2,000,000 Exchequer bonds, arrangements had been made, and it was his mten tention to pay off the whole deficiency, not to renew those bonds, or to borrow money for that purpose. The other resolutions were agreed to, and the house went into committee of supply. The following votes on account were agreed to : £450,000 for wages of artificers, &c., in the naval estab lishments at home ; £15,000 forwages of artificers, &c., in the naval estrblish ments abroad ; £700,000 for naval stores for building and outfit of the fleet, for steam machinery, &c.; £lBO,OOO towards the expense for new works, &c., in the naval department ; £15,000 for medicines, medical stores, &c., in the naval department ; £22,000 towards the expense for miscellaneous services in the naval department. On the vote of £350,000, " on account" towards defraying the half-pay retirement, &c., in the navy, Mr. LINDSAY said that the First Lord of the Admiralty had intimated his intention of bringing forward some plan dealing with the retirement list, and he wished to know whether anything had been done in respect to that plan. Sir J. PAKINGTON said he had a plan before him with respect to naval promotion and retirement, but he could not venture to carry it into effect without considerable consul tation and the most mature deliberation. He had it, how , ever, in contemplation, and he was convinced that great improvements might be effected, and must ere long be effected. _ _ _ Sir C. NAPIER said that Parliament had been extremely liberal already in respect to retirement ; and the conse quence was that a great many good officers, some much younger than others remaining in the service, had been put out of commission. He, of course, could not tell what the First Lord of the Admiralty contemplated, but he hoped that the House of Commons would not agree to give more money for retirement, because the steps taken already were ample. The vote was then agreed to, as were also the following votes " on account :" £204,000 for military pensions and allowances in the naval department • £BO,OOO for civil pensions and allowances in the naval department ; £70,000 for freighting ships for the conveyance of troops, &c. On the vote of £300,000 "on account" for the packet service. Sir C. NAPIER inquired whether there was any inten tion to take this vote from the navy estimates altogether. The affairs of the packets would be better arranged if left entirely to the Post-office. Sir J. PAKINGTON certainly thought that this vete ought not to belong to the navy estimates, but ought to form part of the Post-office estimates, as formerly. Mr. WILSON said that the vote had nothing to do with the naval service, and ought not to be mixed up with it; but the Admiralty, having the management of the packets, should have the control of the vote. Sir J. PAKINGTON said that of course he must sub mit if there was a reason for attaching this vote to the navy estimates, which must then continue to be swelled out by an expenditure with which the naval service had nothing to do. Mr. B. MOORE hoped to see the day when contract packets would no longer be maintained, but when ships be longing to the Royal navy would be employed in the mail service under the command of meritorious officers, to whom such employment would be a reward, and a nucleus would thus be formed for keeping up an efficient force of seamen, who would be available in case of necessity. No less than £1,000,000 was now expended annually upon the mail con tract service, which might be employed in such a manner as to secure a reserve of able and experienced seamen, who might at once be available in case of emergency. One of the conditions of the mail contracts was, that the ships employed in that service should be fitted in such a manner and should be of such strength as to be capable of carrying the heaviest guns used in her Majesty's navy, but he believed that out of the immense fleet of vessels em ployed as contract packets there was not one which was fitted for carrying guns according to the contract. He hoped this subject would receive the attention of the right hon. baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty, and that an end would be put as soon as possible to the pre sent system of contracts. Such contracts might be advan tageous in establishing new communications, but he held that when trade was once opened to any part of the world the continuance of a system of subsidies was most injurious to the public interests. He believed that not one of the com panies who supplied contract packets paid back to the Post office in revenue the amount they received for the contracts. He had seen it stated that £30,000 was paid annually for carrying the South American mails, and that the revenue returned was £32,000, but this contract was merely a rider to another contract of £240,000 for carrying the West India mails, and he should like to know what were the postal re turns upon that contract. Sir C. NAPIER did not concur in the views of the hon. gentleman, for if our men-of-war were devoted to the con veyance of letters alone to different parts of the world, the expense of the service would be much greater than under the contract system ; while if they were also required to carry passengers, the consequence would be that the packets would become floating hotels and naval officers would be turned into hotelkeepers. This had been the case under the old system, but he hoped it would never occur again. Sir G. PECHELL called the attention of the First Lord of the Admiralty to the valuable invention of Captain Ky naston, R.N., for lowering boats from the quarter and stern of ships when going fast through the water, by which means many lives might be saved. I'he value of the invention had lately been demonstrated on board her Majesty's ship Euryalus (the vessel in which Prince Alfred was serving), when, a seaman having fallen overboard off Alexandria, the boat was lowered in a strong wind and heavy sea, the ship going eight knots through the water, and the man was saved. He (Sir G. Pechell) wished the right hon. baronet to obtain a report of the different trials made of Captain Ky naston's disengaging hooks, and, as rewards were given for valuable inventions for the destruction of life by means of explosive materials and large guns—as baronetages, and perhaps peerages, were the rewards of such inventions, it was certainly expedient that some due acknowledgment should be awarded to those who had projected the means of saving life. Captain Kynaston was suffering from wounds sustained in the Crimea, and his case was in every way de serving of consideration. Sir J. PAKINGT ON could only repeat what he had said yesterday—that the experimental trials of the invention were not completed, and that the Admiralty were not yet in possession of any report on the subject. He sympathised most sincerely with Captain Kynaston under his sufferings, which were the result of valuable services rendered to his country, and he also felt grateful to that gallant officer for the endeavours he had made to bring to perfection a most useful invention for the preservation of hfe. He heartily hoped, for the sake of the gallant officer, that his invention might prove successful, but he was not at present in a posi tion to produce the report for which the hon. and gallant member for Brighton had asked. On the vote of £150,000 on account of the charge for clothing and necessaries for the army, Mr. WILLIAMS called attention to the expenditure in curred for the clothing of the Guards as compared with the regiments of the line. The annual cost of the clothing of the Horse Guards was £8 lbs. 2d. per man, while the cost of cavalry of the line was £5 Bs. per man. The annual cost of clothing for the Foot Guards was at the rate of £4 2s. Bd. per man, and for the line of £2 6s. 6d. per man. The cost of the Guards was, therefore, very nearly double that of regiments of the line, and although he wished to see the army properly clothed, he thought the committee ought to know the reason of this difference. General PEEL said that there was no difference what ever in the clothing of the Guards for this as compared with previous years ; but there had been a reduction of £5,000 under this head. He did not think much fault could be found with the cost of the clothing of the army when the Line were supplied at only £2 6s. 6d. per man per annum. (Hear.) On the whole vote there was a de crease this year of £289,460 as compared with 1858-9. A portion of this decrease was occasioned by the fact that they were enabled to dispense with the large store which was formerly necessary, and that the number of free kits now issued was much less than formerly. The only differ ence between the present and the old system was that the clothing was supplied by the War-office instead of by the " clothing colonels." The same contractors were engaged, and the cloth was of very good quality. Gen. CODRINGTON had heard an hon. gentleman, a member of the contracts' committee, say that the change to what was called the Weedon system had cost this country at least £lOO,OOO a year, besides destroying the responsibi lity which used to prevail in regard to the clothing. But the system had again been changed ; the War-office now made the contracts direct with the different firms, and the responsibility, instead of attaching as formerly to the "clothing colonels," devolved ou those contractors, whose good name would of course suffer if any complaints were found necesssary. The vote was then agreed to, as were also the following : £12,000 on account of rewards for military service, £35,000 on account of pay of general officers, £240,000 on account of pay of reduced and retired officers, £90,000 on account of widows' pensions and compassionate allowances, £20,000 on account of pensions and allowances to wounded officers, £13,000 on account of in-pensions at Chelsea and Kil mainham Hospitals, £550,000 on account of out-pensions, and £66,000 for superannuation allowances, &c. General PEEL said he had now to propose a supplemental estimate of £30,000 for the establishment of a manufactory of Sir William Armstrong's guns at Woolwich to be under the immediate superintendence of that gentleman. Lord PALMERSTON asked what had been done with regard to the large mortar invented and, made by Mr. Mallet. He understood that there had been several trials of this weapon, that in the main it had succeeded, and that, though parts of the mortar had at different times given way, these defects had been on each occasion remedied. At the last experiment one of the stays which held together the segments of which the mortal; was compounded, being more tightened than the other stays, and having therefore to bear the whole strain of the explosion, gave way, but another stay was ready, and that accident was no proof whatever of failure. Hitherto, he understood, the mortar had not been tried with a full charge calculated to produce the greatest range of flight, and as yet no experiment had been made, by burying one of the shells to the depth to which it would probably penetrate when falling loaded at the end of its flight, and then exploding it while so buried, in order to see what would be the extent of the crater which the explosion would produce. He thought it exceedingly important that the weapon should be tried to the utmost, and he wished to know, therefore, whether these trials had been made, and, if not, what reason existed for not carry qig the experiments further, so as to ascertain the applica bility of the mortar for warlike purposes. General PEEL said he had had no notice of the question, and therefore could only speak from memory, but as far 0.8 he recollected an expense of nearly £13,000 had been al ready incurred in the trial of this mortar, and the last re port of the Ordnance Committee was to the effect that they did not consider it advisable to continue these experiments. He did not say that the experiments should not be renewed, but at the present moment the Ordnance Committee did not think it advisable to incur any further expenditure in this way. Captain VIVIAN asked whether the Government in tended to persevere in their determination to send out 12 European batteries of artillery to India ? The noble lord (Lord Stanley) bad stated the other night that this was the intention of the Government, but he had given no sufficient reason for sending out such a large force at a very great expense at a moment when the rebellion was at an end, when there was no enemy to meet in the field, and when there was scarcely a fortification standing. General PEEL said that the requisition for the 12 bat teries to which the hon. and gallant gentleman referred had emanated from the Indian Government. His noble friend the Secretary for India had, however, informed him that only one-half of the number which had been originally asked for would be required. C9ltual DYKES 9bscrywl that whoa the rectilitim ittir SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1859, those batteries had been made the rebellion was raging in India, and that there was no prospect of its being imme diately quelled. Now, however, that India lay prostrate at our feet and that her financial embarrassments were so great, it was, he thought, highly inexpedient to encumber her with an additional force of 3,000 men, who would be obliged to go into cantonments and would be insufficiently pro vided with barrack accommodation. (Hear, hear.) Sir H. WILLOUGHBY thought great care should be taken not to throw any unnecessary expense on the finances of India. Sir DE L. EVANS wished to know what was the date of the requisition which had been referred to. For his own part, he was of opinion that even one-half of the 12 batteries in question ought not to be sent out to India. (Hear, hear.) Nobody who was acquainted with the subject could for one moment doubt the efficiency of the artillery employed by the East India Company, to the admirable quality of which both the late Lord Hardinge and Sir C. Napier had. borne testimony. He could not help thinking under those circumstances that there were strong objections to the dis continuance of the local artillery in India. (General Peel. —" Nobody proposes to do that.") He was under the im pression that it was proposed to discontinue the European artillery now in India, and if he were right in that view he should beg the gallant general to bear in mind that any artillery force which might ba sent out from England to supply its place must for a time be comparatively inefficient,. owing to the non-acquaintance of the officers and men with. the language and habits of the natives. He might also ob- - serve that during the recent rebellion 400 pieces of cannon and about 1,000,000 stand of arms had been taken from the enemy, that 800 forts had been destroyed—so that the fact, in reality was that the artillery in India was in excess of what was required. That being so, it would, he thought, be a most unwise proceeding at a moment when the aspect of Europe was so ominous to send out even the reduced number of 36 guns, as he understood was now proposed. For his own part, he strongly objected to the diminution of the artillery force in this country by even a single gun. (hear, hear), and he should suggest the expediency of post poning compliance with the requisition of the Indian Go vernment on the subject until the report of the commio sioners on army organisation had been received and cons i dered. (Hear.) If her Majesty's Ministers were to act otherwise, and carry out their present intention, he must say that they would, in his opinion, commit a great blun der. Having said thus much on that point, he might be permitted to draw the attention of the Government to the circumstance that the policy of establishing, at a great ex pense, an iron foundry at Woolwich for the manufactinv of large cannon was open to much doubt. There was a ( ;on siderable number of similar establishments in the cow atry which furnished excellent cannon of that description at a fair price, and, besides, there was a large number of t hose guns in store. The foundry to which he alluded was, therefore, unnecessary, and he should suggest that in: stead of being maintained for the present purpose, at an expense of £150,000, it should be handed over to the use of Sir W. Armstrong. (Hear, hear.) Lord STANLEY said he thought some misapprehension prevailed as to the reason why it was in contemplation to send out the artillery in question to India. It seemed to be supposed that it was intended to send it out as a force in excess of that which had existed in that country before the mutiny. Such, however, was not the case. The fact was, that a large portion of the native artillery of Bengal had mutinied during the recent outbreak. A deficiency had therefore been created in that province in that particular arm of the service, and in August last Lord Canning had written home a statement of his opinions as to what ought. to be the amount of the artillery force which sl iould be maintained in India. Now, if there was one point in refer ence to which there was a greater concurrence of opinion among military authorities both at home and in In dia than another, that point was that the great bulk of the artillery in that country should be European, and not native. It was necessary to fill up the void caused by the destruction of the native artillery of Bengal. There was no question that that would be filled up by Europeans, but there was a ques tion whether it should be supplied by a local European ar tillery or by a reinforcement of the artillery of the. line. So far from prejudging the report of the commission the course which was pursued had been expressly intended to avoid Prejudging the matter. There was already a certain amount of the Royal Artillery serving in India, and to increase the force to some extent was not at all introducing a new prin ciple, and the only question was whether the addition should be local or Royal Artillery, or how much of each. Pending the report of the commission it was determined in a manner to compromise the matter, and to supply the immediate and at that time pressing demand of the Indian Government by sending out a nearly equal proportion of artillery of the line. Since that time, however, the state of India had so improved beyond what could have been expected in August last, and the military condition of India was very satisfactory, while, he regretted to say, the financial condition was just the contrary. For both these reasons the Government had determined, al. though their decision had not yet been announced to the Indian Government, to reduce the number of artillery to be sent out by one half. With respect to the guns, he might observe that they were not to be sent out. The guns were in India and would be handed over to the troops on arrival in that country. Sir DE L. EVANS asked the date of the requisition. Lord STANLEY said it was a minute of the Governor- General, dated in August last. Sir E. PERRY had heard with the deepest regret that the noble lord did not intend to comply with what was the real requisition of the Governor-General—viz, to recruit the local European Artillery from this country. (Hear, hear.) It was quite true that a large portion of the native artillery mutinied and had disappeared, but the officers still remained. (Hear.) If six batteries of Royal Artillery were sent out the officers would, of course, accompany their men, and thus an additional and unnecessary charge would be imposed upon the finances of India, besides which the younger officers sent out would pass over the heads of the older officers of the native artillery and stop their promo tion. (Hear, hear.) Lord STANLEY observed that even if the 12 batteries originally intended had been sent out the force of artillery in India would still be below the usual amount before the rebellion. Colonel SYKES reminded the noble lord that the void caused in,the Bengal army by the destruction of the native artillery had been already supplied. He hoped for the sake of the finances of India that the Government would not persevere in their intention. Sir DE L. EVANS wished to hear the opinion of the right hon. and gallant general on the Treasury bench. General PEEL hoped that he should be able to lay upon the table of the house before its prorogation the report of the commission on the re-organisation of the army in India. (Hear, hear.) IHe thought it would not be right to prejudge the question by entering into details before they had seen the report. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the hon. and gallant general's proposition to hand the Woolwich gun factory to Sir W. Armstrong he (General Peel) could not give his assent. So far from there being an excess of guns on hand, he could assure the committee that requisitions for 68-pounders from many of our most important garrisons still remained unfulfilled. Sir DE L. EVANS thought the Government was prac tically prejudging the question by sending out artillery before the report of the commission had been presented. (Hear.) The requisition of the Governor-General was made in August, when India was in the midst of a fearful struggle, and the Government were now going to comply with it to the extent of one half when the war had corn pletely ceased. There were some persons who desired to get rid of the local force altogether, and the public could not help thinking the Government must have some other rea sons for the course they were taking than those which had been stated. General PEEL thought the hon. and gallant member had no right to impute improper motives to the Government. Let the gallant general wait until he saw the report of the commissioners before he accused the Government of acting in defiance of it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. KINNAIRD wished to know what was to be done with the officers of the late Bengal Native Artillery ? Lord STANLEY was not aware that there was at pre sent any considerable number of unemployed officers. He apprehended that most of the officers referred to had found employment, some in the new levies and some in civil employ. Col. FRENCH asked whether it was intended to break up the fine artillery service of the late East India Company. General PEEL replied in the negative. Sir E. PERRY appealed to the Government to suspend their order for the embarkation of the six batteries until the whole question had been considered and decided. The vote was then agreed to ; the CHAIRMAN reported progress, and the house resumed. MEDICAL ACT (1858) AMENDMENT BILL. The Lords' amendments to this bill were taken into con siderable, and some of them agreed to and others dis agreed to. TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. SUPERANUATION BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BILL. • This bill was read a second time. PAUPERS MAINTENANCE BILL. This bill was read a second time. NAVAL MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUND SOCIETY ANNUITIES &•., ACT CONTINUANCE BHA This bill also was read a second time. EVIDENCE BY COMMISSION BILL. The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and agreed to. RAILWAY TICKET TRANSFER BILL. This bill was read a second time. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The order for the resumption of the adjourned debate on the second reading of this bill was read and discharged, and the bill was withdrawn. NEWSPAPERS, &c., BILL. The house having gone into committee on this bill, Mr. S. ESTCOURT said that the provisions of the several statutes which it was intended to repeal might be divided into two classes—those which referred to security, and those which provided for registration. The Solicitor- General had on a previous evening stated that he was per fectly ready to agTee to the repeal of the statutes, or parts of statutes, which referred to security. With regard to registration, all persons were agreed that it should only be maintained so far as it protected the public against the pub lication of blasphemous, indecent, slanderous, or libellous matter ; and that all provisions referring to special circum stances, such as those directed against Jacobins, which had now become obsolete, should be repealed. He was, there fore, prepared to propose to the hon. member for the Tower Hamlets that this bill should be withdrawn, and that during the recess the Government would consider the matter, and would in the next session of Parliament pro-• prose or agree to the repeal of all Acts or parts of Acts which were not essential to the protection of the public against publications which all admitted to be centre tones mores, and pernicious to public morals.; Mr. E JAMES said that the only security required by the public was that which was provided for by the 6th and 7th of William IV., chap. 76, which rendered necessary registration, and that the name of the printer should be printed upon every newspaper, and he suggested that appending the name of the printer to each publication would be amply sufficient. In all cases of criminal infor mations he was the party who was made amenable and re sponsible. Mr. M. GIBSON said there was nothing novel in the proposition before the house. In 1855 the right hon. mem ber for Oxford University proposed a bill, with the consent of the then Government, to abolish the security and re gistration required of newspapers. No rule should be applied to newspapers that was not to be applied to all other publications. Mr. AYRTON said that, after the offer which had been made to him by the Home Secretary, he would not press the bill further. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL observed that all parties were agreed that tho statutes which required security to be given ought to be repealed, and that those which required the printer's name to be attached should be retained. The only point for consideration was, whether the law which required newspapers to be registered at Somerset-house ought to be repealed or not. He a d m itt e d th a t th ere were no means of enforcing that law ; but, on the other hand, it wa possible to provide goo better MOBS of registzatioa• The hon. and learned gentleman concluded by movin g that the chairman should leave the chair, which, he said, would terminate the bill for the present session. The motion was agreed to, and the bill acco)rdingly allowed to drop. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BILL. . ' This bill was passed through committee. THE IRISH .YACHT CLUB. Mr. COGAN rose to call attention to a matter which, he said, involved the very existence of the Roya 1 Western Yacht Club of Ireland. That club consisted of nearly 400 members, and posessed about 130 yachts. In 1 832 it was authorised by Royal warrant to wear the white ensign, but by a letter from the Admiralty, dated the 26 th of June, 1858, that privilege was withdrawn, on the ground that the white ensign was restricted to the Royal Yacht Squadron. He denied, however, on the authority of the right hon. gentleman the member for Carlisle, that the Royal Yacht Squadron ever had the exclusive right of using the white ensign, and what he wanted to know was, why the Admiralty had revoked the warrant of 1832. Ho thought that after all that had taken place it was a harsh proceeding to withdraw the white ensign from the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland. It might appear ridiculous to make so much fuss about the matter, but it should be borne in mind that this was a point of honour with. yachts men. He trusted that the Admiralty would, on reconsidera tion, revoke the decision at which they had arrivl3d. The hon. member concluded by moving for copies of correspon dence and memorials relating to the warrant granted to the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in reference to the permission to wear the white ensign. Lord BURGHLEY expressed a hope that the Admiralty would reconsider their decision in this matter. Mr. LYGON said that the Admiralty had no objection to the production of the correspondence moved for, and though he:could hardly say that they were prepared to reverse the decision arrived at, they would be anxious to meet the views of the hon. gentleman as far as they could consistently with their duty. (Hear, hear.) Sir J. GRAHAM said that when at the Admiralty in 1832 he advised that the white flag should be extended to the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland, and he was sorry that the decision then come to had been revoked with out any allegation of improper conduct on the part of the club being borne out. If the Admiralty reconsidered the matter he hoped that the flag would be given back. Colonel FRENCH said that no reason had been assigned for revoking the permission granted to the Royal "Western Yacht Club of Ireland, and he trusted that the white ensign would be restored to them. The motion was agreed to. The house then adjourned. EXECUTION OF THE MURDERER PRENTICE AT MAIDSTONE. The last penalty of the law was yesterday car ried into effect in the front of the county gaol at Maidstone, upon Frederick Prentice, who was con victed at the late assizes for the county of Kent, before Mr. Baron Martin, of a very cruel murder, committed upon a young girl, named Emma Cop pins, by cutting her throat with a razor. The facts will be fresh in the recollection of the public. The prisoner was a labouring man, only just 20 years of age, and the deceased was only 17 years old at the time she came to her untimely end. She was the daughter of poor but respectable people living at Queenborough, in Kent, and she had for merly been servant at a public-house at that, place, which the prisoner was in the habit of frequenting, and it seemed that he became very much attached to her, and his companions frequently joked him upon the subject. The young woman, however, did not seem to desire to have anything to do with him, and it appears that she left her place princi pally. on his account, and went to live in a private family at Queenborough, and here she was followed by the prisoner, who continued to force his atten tions upon her. It was her habit to go to a public house every evening about half-past eight o'clock, to fetch the beer for supper, and the prisoner way laid her and cut her throat with a razor in such a fearful manner that her death must have been instantaneous. After the commission of the dreadful act the prisoner wandered about the neighbour hood, and he was taken into custody three miles off, and he at once avowed his guilt ; and, when he was brought up for trial he resolutely pleaded guilty to the charge of wilful murder, and was thereupon sentenced to death. He appears to have behaved exceedingly well since he has been in confinement, and it was evident that from the moment of his committal he did not entertain the slightest hope of escaping the forfeit of his life for the crime he had committed; and in the repeated conversations he has had with the Rev. Watson King, the chaplain of the prison, he always expressed himself to the effect that his life was justly forfeited, and that he was perfectly ready to meet the fate which he knew inevitably awaited him. Yesterday morning at eight o'clock the culprit got up, and the chaplain was very soon afterwards with him, and they both prayed together for a considerable time. At the request of the pri soner the chaplain wrote a letter to a friend at Queenborough, in which he requested him to exhort his companions and associates to avoid drunkenness and Sabbath-breaking, also not to go poaching, all which acts he said he had himself been guilty of, and he believed they had been the means of placing him in his present position. It appears that the name of the prisoner is not Prentice, but he told the chaplain shortly before 'his execution his real name, and where he came from ; and it appears that he is a native of the county of Essex. He first came to Queenborough about two years and a half ago, and was originally employed as a farm labourer, but subsequently he was engaged as a " navvy," and he was engaged in that occupation at the time the crime was committed. The prisoner was engaged on Wednesday even ing in reading and p ra y ing un til a l ate h our , an d at his request he was permitted to leave his cell, to take a last look, as he said, of the heavensby night. He shortly afterwards undressed himself and retired to rest, and slept soundly until seven o'clock in the morning. Mr. C. Palmer, the acting under sheriff, arrived at the prison shortly before twelve o'cock, accom panied by the usual officials, and they proceeded to the prisoner's cell, where the ceremony of pinion ing was performed by Caicraft, the executioner, and while it was going on the prisoner exhibited the same calm and composed demeanour that cha racterised him during the whole period that he has been in the prison. He had in his hand a Prayer book, which he retained until he mounted the scaffold, and he prayed audibly until the drop fell. He appeared to die almost immediately, and the body, after hanging the usual time, one hour, was cut down and removed into the prison, where it was shortly afterwards buried, according to the terms of the sentence. The County Quarter Sessions were being held at the time the execution was proceeding. It has been customary to adjourn the court when an exe tion has happened to be appointed for the same day, but on this occasion the justices proceeded with the business before them. A considerable crowd was present to witness the execution, and among them were a good many women and chil dren, principally of the lower classes ; but through the excellent arrangements made by the borough police, under the direction of Mr. Blundell, the head constable, more than the usual decorum on such occasions was preserved. ASTOUNDING FEAT AT NIAGARA. (From the Hew, York Spirit of the Times.) Since the fatal leap of the famous Sam Patch, no feat of daring has equalled the one recently accom plished at Niagara by Andrew Greenleaf, of Con necticut. A correspondent gives the following graphic account of it : " One evening, about a week ago, while sitting in the saloon of the International Hotel, I became interested in an animated conversation which was in progress between two persons, of whom one seemed to be a Southerner and the other an Italian. The latter had registered bis name as Signor Morelli, but I have since learnt that he is really a Yankee boy ; that he was born and raised near Stonington, Connecticut, and dubbed by his affectionate parents Andrew Greenleaf. As he grew older he was afflicted with an intense desire to become a circus performer, and finally ran away from home to connect himself with some strolling company. He was for a while a member of Barnum's immense 'show,' and his astonishing performances upon stilts will be remembered by thousands. He had before this time assumed the name he now bears, as well to escape recognition as to avoid the fate of a prophet in his own coun try.' He is a handsome, frank-looking man, of about 25, has a fair complexion, and wears a small black moustache. At present he is staying here without an engagement. The conversation referred to was a discussion upon the possible feats which might be accomplished by a man upon stilts. Signor Morelli (as I will call him), asserted his ability to do many things, a belef in which required considerable faith. The Southerner, who is a well known sporting gentleman of New Orleans, evidently thought the Sig nor was lying pretty hard, and at his last announcement he laughed long and loud. Morelli had, in fact, expressed his conviction that he could cross the Niagara river, walking upon stilts, amid the foaming and unsounded rapids that whirl be tween Goat Island and the Falls. " I'll bet you a thousand dollars to fifty it can't be done,' exclaimed the Southerner. " I accept the challenge,' answered Morelli, quietly. " The astonishment of his hearers at this reply may be imagined. " When do you propose to attempt it P' inquired the challenger. " On Saturday- morning, the 12th of February,' tranquilly replied. Morelli. " The assurance with which he spoke filled every one with surprise, which was not lessened when he produced the money for his deposit. The stakes were handed over to Mr. Augustus Train of Baltic', and the company separated t o awa it the result of this singular wager. The interval was spent by Morelli in constant exercise, for the pur pose of strengthening his limbs, somewhat relaxed by a season of rest. His friends expostulated in vain against the apparently insane hazard, and even proposed to return to him the amount he would be compelled to forfeit. He seemed sure of winning, and would listen to no one. To avoid a crowd it was announced that the attempt would be made upon the 14th (Monday), instead of to-day, so that at seven this morning there were only about 30 persons by the river bank. Punctually at that hour Morelli appeared in fine health and spirits. " He had with him a pair of stilts about 12ft. long, made of wrought iron, flat, sharp-edged, and ppinted —shaped, in fact, almost precisely like a double edged dagger. These were firmly lashed to his legs, and he walked towards the river with a confident smile. The morning was clear and cold, but he was attired very lightly, in a dress usually worn by professional gymnasts. At 10 minutes past 7he stepped into the water, which in another moment was boiling, surging, and rushing beneath his feet. The boldest of the lookers-on held his breath in suspense as the daring man receded from the shore. He alone seemed unmoved, and passed on slowly and carefully, avoiding the larger rocks which were made apparent by the eddying cur rent. His steps at first wore very short and carefully made, but afterwards became bolder and longer. The stilts, of course, were so placed that the current struck only against their sharp edges, and produced but little effect ; but the danger from sunken rocks and the conviction that a single false step would send him to death produced a feeling which was horribly painful. Once or twice he seemed to lose his balance, and a sicken ing shudder ran through each one of the beholders. Recovering himself, he still kept on—still receded, until, to our straining eyes, he could scarcely be distinguished from the foaming waters. " The middle of the river was attained at last ; hours seemed to have fled, but it was barely 17 minutes since he left the shore. " As he approached the deepest and most danger ous part of his route, the suspense became more fearfully intense. No word was spoken, except that one man offered another 5 dol. for a moment's use of his lorgnette, which offer passed unheeded. Just as Morelli reached the swiftest and deepest part of the current, ho seemed to totter—sink—he threw up his arms ! I closed my eyes. Opening them a moment after, I saw that he was still stand ing. A few moments more, and he had reached the Canadian bank—he was safe, and fell exhausted into the arms of two men who were waiting to receive him. "At this hour (3 p.m.) he has nearly recovered, and, though still in bed, received the congratula tions of dozens of visitors who came pouring in. He left the American shore 950 feet above the fall, and came out about 1,000 feet above the Canadian. The money has already been handed over to him, and all will agree that it has been fairly won. His generous opponent is able to afford his loss, and speaks in praise of Morelli more enthusiastically than ever." MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-April 8. PUBLIC HOUSE LICENSES. The Court sat to-day to hear appeals against the refusals of justices in petty sessions to grant and renew public house licenses—Present : Mr. Pashley, Q.C., Assistant Judge, presiding; Mr. Pownall, Mr. Kemshead, Mr. Goodhart, Mr. W. P. Bodkin, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Baylis, Mr. Burslem, Mr. Healey, Mr. Simpson, Baron de Bliss, Sir J. Scott Lillie, Sir John Hansler, Capt. Hansler, Mr. C. Woodward, Col. Elsey, Mr. Arthur Ballantine, Mr. Halswell, Mr. T. Cotterell (ex-sheriff) Mr. Valentine Knight, Mr. Hill, M r . St orey , M r . Wyatt, Mr. S. Phillips, Mr. H. Warner, Mr. 0. B. B. Woolsey, Mr. Reed, Mr. Baker, Capt. Hamilton, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Bird, Major Reed, Capt. Morley. Mr. Henry Dunne appealed against a refusal of the Marylebone division to renew a license under the 9th Geo. IV., c. 61, to the house called the Three Compasses, in Little Marylebone-street. Mr. Cooper was counsel for the appellant; Mr. Bodkin supported the decision of the Court below. After a long discussion as to the grounds upon which the re newal of the license was refused at Petty Sessions the Court reversed the decision and granted the license. Mr. Samuel Hill appealed against the refusal of the justices of the Finsbury division to grant a new license to the Albert, in St. Paul's-road, Canonbury, Islington. Mr. Bodkin, in a lengthy and able ad dress, set forth the claims of Mr. Hill ; Mr. Poland supported the original decision. The Court dis missed the appeal by 11 to 6. The refusal of the justices of the Finsbury divi sion to grant a new license to the Whittington Stone, Holloway-hill, was reversed, and the license granted. Mr. Bodkin for the appellant ; Mr. Poland supported the decision of the magistrates. The refusal of the justices of the division of St. James', Wesininster, to renew a license to the King of Prussia, Lower John-street, Golden-square, was confirmed, the house having, it was alleged, been so misconducted as to become a nuisance to the neigh bourhood. Mr. Bodkin for the appellant ; • Mr. Poland for the respondents. Mr. Frederick Frampton appealed against the refusal of the justices of the St. Pancras division to grant a license to the Lord Nelson, Duke's-row, New-road, St. Pancras. Mr. Bodkin appeared for the appellant; Mr. Metcalfe for the magistrates. After a long discussion the court granted the license to Mr. Frampton. Mr. W. Smith appealed against the refusal of the St. Pancras justices to grant a license to the house and premises situated at 78, Park-street, Camden-town. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Poland sup ported the appeal ; Mr. Metcalfe was counsel for the magistrates. The license was granted. Mr. G. Griffiths appealed against the refusal of the justices of the Holborn division to renew a license to the Union Arms, Union-court, Holborn. This house was complained of as grossly miscon ducted by the late tenant ; that it was the resort of thieves, smashers, and every other class of bad characters, for which the locality of Field-lane is famous ; and there was a recommendation from Mr. Tyrwhitt, the police magistrate, to the licensing justices below, that this house ought not to have the privilege of a license. It was urged that a new proprietor was now in, that the court had the guarantee of .its being is Meux's trade, and that in future it would be very differently conducted by the present applicant, a very respectable and responsible person. Mr. Cooper appeared for the appellant; Mr. Metcalfe in support of the decision of the petty sessions. The license was unanimously refused. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-April 7. GUILDHALL.—Don Juan Floran, Marquis de Tabuerniga, Consul General for Spain, and Mary Drayton, a disreputable and repulsive-looking woman, were charged with indecent conduct in a court in Paternoster-row, on the previous night, between 11 and 12. After the officer had made his statement, Mr. Freeman, on behalf of the Marquis, called the alderman's attenti o n t o th e di scre p anc y between the statement made by the girl to the inspector and the evidence of the officer, and asked the court if they could rely upon such testimony, particularly when a gentleman holding a high position in society like the Marquis gave a total denial to the whole charge, He submitted that the time of night and the relative positions of the parties implicated were quite sufficient to render the identification of per sons under such circumstances extremely doubtful, and the indecent posture described most impro bable. He therefore urged the alderman to take into his most serious consideration the Marquis's rank and position in society, and Five him the benefit of any doubt which might arise, supposing there was a case strong enough against him to admit of a doubt. Alderman Rose (addressing the Marquis) -....I have considered the matter very anxiously, Of course, it is a very painful thing to see a gentleman of your station in society in such a position ; but I am bound to say the case is proved, and, decision,that being so, position must make no difference in and I must deal with you as I would with any other case. I observed some discrepancies in the officer's evidence at first which have since been cleared up, and his testimony has not been shaken in the least. The case is therefore proved, and I must bind you over in your own recognizances in £lOO to be of good behaviour for the next six months. The Marquis (rather excited)—But you have not heard me yet. I have not said one word. The Chief Clerk—Your solicitor thinks it better you should not make any statement. The Mar I am innocent. c luL'But I wish to make a statement. Alderman Rose—The law of this country allows every one accused to make a defence in person or by counsel. I have heard your advocate, and I cannot therefore hear you. With regard to you, Mary D ra yt on , I shall require you to find one surety of .£5 to be of good behaviour for one month. The Marquis then retired into an adjoining room, where he entered into the required recogni zances, but the prisoner Drayton not having given any address, her friends were not aware she was in custody, and she was therefore locked up in de fault. WORSHIP-STREET.—George Still, describing himself as a sporting man, frequenti ng a ll th e races, and residing in Arlington-street, New North road, way charged with bon concerned with two other men not in custody in coanmittiug the fol lowing fraud. Mr. Louis Davis, pawntroker and silversmith of Coleshill-street, Birmingham, stated—l came to town yesterday by express train, and made my way from Euston-square to Moorgate-street, where at half-past 12 I was looking about for Little Coleman-street, to find out the premises of a mer chant I had to call upon, when a young man, who must have noticed that I was searching for something, asked me whnt I wanted. I told him, and he replied, "That's; very strange, as I am placed just like yourself ; I come from Leicester shire, and am trying to find a person who owes my , father between £4OO and £5OO, and have not suc ceeded. I think we had better go to some tavern, have a glass of ale, and look at the Directory." I thought so too, and we went to some - house in Barbican, but neither could find the place he wanted, and we therefore left together, and he pre sently proposed that we should have another glass of ale. I said I could not, as I was not in the habit of drinking, but I had n o objection to a glass or gingerbeer, and We therefo re went into another house to procure it, when a gentleman entered, bowed, and wished " Good mo rning" to my friend, and then asked us if we had. seen a lady there in a black dress and silk bonnet. We both said we had not, and, some conversation ensuing, it got directed into facts upon personal prowess and feats of strength, and the gentleman, who seemed to pride himself in that way, said he :himself could throw a stone or ball of 101 b. weight a. distance of 40 yards. My Leicestershire friend doubded that he could do so, but the gentleman offered. to wager two new hats, at 13s. 6d. each, and a bottle of wine upon his ability, which was accepted, an d my friend pro posed and took us to the It. eehive beershop, in Britannia-street, Hoxton. The re we each placed the amount of our wager in the l lands of the Leices tershire gentleman, and, the other r gentleman ha v i ng thrown the ball dropped it 80111 i 3what short of the mark, my friend said, " It's all -e ight, we have won ; but I'll keep the money, as he hvs thousands." The gentleman then said he found that we could not have any wine there, but we could have • some ale, of which some was called for, a nd I was handed a glass, but as soon as I had drun; k a part of it I felt myself getting singularly stupei led, and I am now convinced that something must have been put into it. It was then that the prisoner • came in, and after some conversation he offered to play the loser for £5, and asked me to lend him two sovereigns to do so. I told him I had not g•ot them, but after some more conversation about the play I was at last induced to consent to pledge my watch and diamond ring, and did so at a place in the Caledonian-road. for £l3 in gold, the prisoner going with me. On getting back to the house I found the same two men there, and two bets of £3 each were then pro posed and made that I could not knock all the skittles down in six times, while the prisoner would do so in three. I deposited my money and lost it, as I also did other small bets, to the amount of about £B, when the prisoner proposed a fresh wager of £5, and showed a not e as th e s t a k e f or i t. I t struck me that the note was spurious ' and I said, , " I should very much like t o see that bank-note," but that was objected to, and a disturbance was immediately got up, and the landlord entered and asked me what business I had there. I said I only wanted my:money back, and he threatened to send for the police, which I told him to do, but before the officer came all the men had disappeared. The disturbance was so great that I was afraid of my life, and I repeat that I had only had between one and two glasses of ale, and yet felt so very strange ' as I tell you. Leveridge, 84 N—l took the prisoner this morning opposite the Star publichouse, in the City-road, and directly he saw me crossing to him he went aside, and I followed him. On searching him I found these three papers upon him, one a printed list of bankers, the second a paper of the " St. Evidor Consolidated Copper and Lead Mining Company, capital £12,000, in shares of £1 each; five shares, all paid up," and signed " L. Ashmore ;" and. the third was an admission for five to the North Wool wich Gardens. Prisoner—l am as innocent of all knowledge o f this as a child, and can prove that I was at another end of London at the time it is alleged to have occurred. Prosecutor—l am quite certain about him, and the pawnbroker with whom I pledged my watch and ring can identify him too. Mr. Hammill (to the prisoner)—l shall remand you at present, but will accept two sureties in £4O each'and yourself in £BO for your appearance at the next examination. _ _ The prisoner could not find the bail at the close of the court, and was therefore taken to prison. COUNTRY MARKETS. _ MANCHESTER•—APRIL 7. Wheat was only in moderate demand at the rates of this day se'nnight. No disposition to buy flour, and as holders did not press sales we merely repe,ac previous quotations. Other articles sold slowly without change in prices. BIRMINGHAM—A.PtuL 7. We continue to be fairly supplied with wheat ; there is no great activity in the trade, but a dull business pa lm i ng at late rates. No change is made in the price of b ean ,. More doing in oats and peas. Barley in retail demand, in , favour of buyers. BOSTON--APRIL 6. At this corn market to-day there was a very large (l b w of wheat, and the prices of all descriptions of grain were at a slight decline on last week. A fair inquiry for Indian corn, at late rates. Rye e ........................ for ci:; . t , h a e t ..w ... e .. e .. k .. Wheat 22s 8d 8ar1ey...." • • 25 I, 33s Od Oats 442 Beans 295 Peas 3l ........383 • LOUTH- There was a poor supply of trade at market to-day. wh, Barley easier to buy. Wheat ... 398 to 438 Oats.... 2ss to 29s White do .43s to 478 Beans ......... ---8 to —§ Barley .35s to 396 Ditt o , old ........42s to 46a •APRIL 6. cheat and barley, and a small at fully supported late rates. EDINBURGH GRAIN —APRIL 6. Grain was rather lower to-day, and sales were dull. Wheat on the top Os 6d down average Os 8d down. Barley on the top is 6d down average Os 3d down. Oats on the top is 6d down average Os Id down. Beans on the top is Od down.... —average Os 3d down. Averages per Imperial quarter.' Wheat.... Barley 1 12 6 11-12ths Oats -12ths Beans Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ...1361 qrs Sold 875 qrs 8ar1ey........1038 qrs Sold 741 qrs Oats .1821 qrs Sold 1047 qrs Beans 225 qrs Sold 177 qrs GLASGOW-APRIL 6. Miderate imports of grain from the coast and by railway this week. The wheat trade is dull to-day, and the busi ness done was very limited, at previous rates. Beans rather lower. Fine barley fully as dear. Other articles without change in value. O u 2 A ot a s P t R i 'n tos 6. The following were this morning : —R e d s wheat, 21s Od to 22 white, 4d23s 6d; barley 13 s Od C ; cr 3 ittheCORK—APRIL to 16s Od; oats, 12s Od to 14s Od. DERBY SMITHFIELD —APRIL 5. The supply of beasts to-day was large; the demand was good, and sales effected at high prices. Calves plentiful, but prices lower. Sheep in large supply, and in request. Beef 7d to 71d Veal 6d to 6fd Mutton .... ....... 8d to 9d Pork Lamb Od to —d Rough fat, 5s Od per stone. Hides, 4d to sd; calf skins, sfd to 6d. IRTEL Anse. --On the 4th inst., at CuLzean Castle, the Marchio ness of Ailsa, of a son. BOUSFIELD.—On the 7th inst., at Brixton, the wife of Ed ward H. B ous fi e ld, of Canterbury-road, and Coleman street, city, of a daughter. BURROUGHES.—On the sth inst., at 10, Grosvenor-place, the Hon. Mrs. Thomas Henry Burroughes, of a daugh• ter. - - - PEAOCKE.—On the 6th inst., at 17, Park-lane, Mrs. Pea cocke, of a daughter. MARRIAGES - - CAMPBELL--FELL.—On. the 7th inst., at St. George's, g a nover-square, Thos. Campbell, Esq., of Mawdeiley, n ear Ormskirk, to Ann, second daughter of John Fell, Esq.,Yll°DGi n the 6th i ns t . , at L ewes, Edward Fry—, of Lancaster.LincolnofiNO — 's-i ER nn, barrister-at-law, son of Joseph Fry, of Bristol, to Mariabella, eldest daughter of George Hodgkin, of Barcombe House, near Lewes, late of Lin coln's-inn, barrister-at -law. DEATHS. BARKER.—On the 3d inst., at Birkdault, Lowwood, Lan cashire, Daye Barker, Esq., aged 67. BOWER.—On the 3d inst., at Barinston R,ectory,Yorkshire, the Rev. J. W. Bower, aged 69. CANNON.—On the 6th inst., at 2, Picton Villas, Holloway', Mr. Robert Cannon, fo r many years principal Clerk in the office of tho " Times," aged 66. CRUIKSHANK.—On the 9th Feb., at Melbourne, Victoria, Andrew Rose Cruikshank, Esq. EDWARDS.—On the 6th inst., Thomas Edwards, Esq., of Axminster, Devon, aged 81. HORSFALL.—On the 3d inst., Wm. Horsfall, Esq„ of Oak House, Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire, aged N. O'MEARA.—On the 2d inst., suddenly, Charles Frederick O'Meara, 4th Light Dragoons. He served through the Crimean war, and was one of the glorious 600. PoLwAnzn.—On the 2d inst., at Nice, the Lady Polwarth. RAE.—On the 2d inst., at 31, Paterson-street, Glasgow, Catherine, eldest daughter of Mr. Robert Rae, of the " Commonwealth," aged 9 years and 10 months. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county oi Middlostis, Friday, 'April 5 3 18094 r Trier mat feet The pla, and 9;< eves that Lea a-pi arti IN Hat ten Ball Roo Ai Lect Dorn and Wh( Curt and The - . TWC the: end QIJI Gra, peri Man squF TN p.m. Gall duce been print nom RASO lisks in It Imp , raltn MIS Intel GE( RAI SUm of Part cons injn of lu Sidi --_ Am 200 81st and so be 1