The Sun. — London, England, 1860-01-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. DEVONPORT. The SPEAKER announced the recept of a letter to the effect that it was not intended to proceed with the Retition against the return of the member for the borough of Devon port HYDE PARK. Mr. E. JAMES gave notice that on the motion for the adjournment of the house on Friday evening, he wo uld ask the First Lord of the Treasury a question in reference to the removal of the shrubs from II yde Park. DETENTION OF A BRITISH SUBJECT. Sir A. AGNEW gave notice that he would ask a question of the Government in regard to the recent detention of a British subject in CHURCH RATES. Mr. PACKE moved for an address for return of all the parishes in England and Wales where church rates have ceased to be collected ; what sum was collected by a rate to keep the church in repair during the last seven years before the rate ceased ; and what sum had been raised by voluntary contributions for that purpose since the rate ceased. Sir C. LEWIS said that he thought the best course in reference to this question would be to direct churchwardens to supply the house with an annual return of the amount of church rates in the same way that returns were made in re gard to highway rates. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES. In reply to Mr. NEWDEGATE 7 Sir G. C. LE WIS said a bill on the subject was under the consideration of Government. He mentioned that matter with a view to ascertain the feeling of the house, and if that feeling were in favour of the introduction of such a bill he would bring it forward. CHURCH RATES ABOLITION. Sir J. TRELAWNY moved for leave to introduce a bill to abclish church-rates, and said he did not apprehend after what had already taken place that there would be any op position to his motion. The motion was agreed to. CONSOLIDATED FUND. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved that the house should resolve itself into a committee to con sider the acts relating to the Consolidated Fund to-morrow. CRIMINAL APPEAL Mr. M'MAIION moved for leave to bring in a bill to secure the right of appeal in criminal cases. Sir G. C. LEWIS said there was no intention on the part of the Government to oppose this bill, the object of which relatednot to a political matter, but to a question which had attracted the greatest attention on the part of all classes. It certainly was a subject of considerable importance, but he wished to be understood as not pledging himself to the principle of any bill on the matter to which it re ferred. The motion was agreed to. ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN. The report on the Address, in reply to her Majesty's most gracious speech was brought up, and, on the motion for its adoption, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said that he would have adopted the usual course with regard to this motion, which was to allow it to pass silently, but he thought that there should have been some explanation afforded by Govern ment with regard to China. As related to Italy, he had no observation to offer, as England was not committed to interference in the affairs of that =ni fty. He was sorry that there was not in the Royal Speech some expression of regret that it had been found necessary to send out a hostile expedition against China ; for he thought the interests of civilisation and commerce would not be promoted by adopting that course. They were dealing with. 3,000,000 of people in that country, who would consider that they were not properly treated, and in whose minds hostile feeling s would be ex cited by the proceedings they had taken. He deprecated most strongly the expenditure of life and money that re sulted from the recent hostilities in which this country had been engaged, and illustrated his position by referring to the Affghan war. He complained of the omission from the Royal Speech of any allusion to economy, and repeated his opposition to the fitting out of a hostile expedition against a civilised people. , • Admiral WALCOTT said he indulged the confident hope that the house would not think he ought te offer any apo logyfor rising, as a naval officer, to speak on a subjectvery nearly affecting a brother seaman and the reputation of the profession. He would, however, first express his satisfaction with the gracious passage in the Speech of the Sovereign relating to the action on the Peiho, and with the graceful and generous tribute paid by the right hon. gentleman the member for Buckinghamshire and by the noble lord at the head of the Government. He rejoiced that this country had not reversed its ancient judgment, and that a forlorn hope - was not fatuity and a dishonour to those engaged in it. He doubted not that the sight of the heroic admiral, stretched on the deck, wounded and bleeding, but still undaunted, under a terrific fire and heavy responsibility, exercised a moral influence on his officers as well as on the service at large—(hear, hear)—and produced an effect which far out weighed any impression which the most complete success would have carried without it. (Hear, hear.) The tempo rary victory, it was true, remained with the Chinese, but the conduct of the admiral in that hour of bitter trial was never to be forgotten—(hear, hear) —for the sight of a brave man suffering adversity, if the saddest, was the grandest spectacle under Heaven. " What will they think in Eno , land P" was a thought which perplexed the we ak but nerve's] and animated the brave heart. He expressed a hope that the breasts of the men who accompanied the admiral would not remain without decoration. That we owed alike to the memory of the dead and to those who should bear the arms of England in the future. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the story of the struggle through the treacherous marsh, the bold passage in the moat, the attempted escalade in the face of the sweeping cannonade, would be recorded in a page as honourable as that which commemorated the ride of the immortal 600 into the valley of death at Balaklava. (Cheers.) Upon the graves of those who fell might be writ ten the epitaph of old—" We could not conquer, but we died." The bravery of the survivors of that blood-stained day had not been in vain. It did not terminate with their slow and sullen retreat, when comrade after comrade who had fallen was raised on the shoulders of comrades and borne to the boats. The memory of their daring, when de feat trembled on the verge of annihilation, survived, and would in the coming hour of retribution s trike dismay into the heart of the enemy. He would only add a hope that the house and the country at large would adopt as their own the sentiment - of the illustrious soldiers of Rome—" It was ordained that the winning cause should rest with our foes ; but that which lost commends itself to us." (Hear, hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON—I am desirous of putting a ques tion to her Majesty's Government in reference to the com mercial treaty recently concluded between this country and France; but before doing so I cannot refrain from express ing my concurrence in the remarks just made by my hon. and gallant friend behind me (Admiral Walcott), and the satisfaction I feel that justice has been at last done—l must say rather late in the day—(hear, hear)—to the conspicuous gallantry displayed by Admiral Hope in the action on the Peiho. (Hear, hear.) lam glad that the distinguished and heroic bravery of those who served with him has been recognised. Ido not believe that more heroic conduct than that displayed by Admiral Hope ever did honour to the navy of England. (Cheers.) I shall not now enter into the question of our present relations with China. I regard the state of those relations with the greatest possible anxiety, and I trust the day is not far distant when her Majesty's Government will state the course they intend to take on that important subject. (Hear, hear.) My imme diate object, however, in addressing the house is to express a hope, on behalf of those tradeswhich are interested in the approaching changes in our commercial relations with France, that the Government will at the earliest possible period state to Parliament and the country what are the precise alterations contemplated under the new state of things. (Hear, hear.) It is represented to me that those trades the interests of which are to be affected are already experiencing great difficulty from the present uncer tainty which prevails on the subject. 1 have myself al ready received a communication from Worcester to the effect that the trade there is completely paralysed ; that goods to a very large amount have been arrested at Folke stone ; and that the manufacturers know not what course to take under the circumstances. It is most important to that and other interests that the house should be apprised without delay of the intentions of the Government on the subject—(hear, hear)—and I take the earliest opportunity of expressi ng a h o p e th a t th e grea t i n t eres ts of the coun try will be speedily relieved from the injurious uncertainty which now prevails. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HADFIELD disapproved of the war with China, and denounced the Affghan war as being impolitic. Sir. H. SEYMOUR bore testimony to the gallant con duet of the force in China during the late hostilities, and contended that it would be impossible to deal with the Chinese except by force. Lord FERMOY said he could not allow the present op portunity to pass without entering his protest at the delay which would take place in the introduction of the proposed Reform Bill. Instead of allowing a month to have elapsed before it was brought before the house, it should have been submitted to the consideration of-members within a fortnight of their assembling. Ho could account only for the delay by the fact that the Government were not agreed among themselves with regard to the measure, or that they were indifferent to a waste of time. He thought, also, that the Reform Bill for Ireland should have been alluded to, and that other bills in regard to that country should have been brought forward. He complained also that Ireland had not receNed encouragement in respect to the volunteer movement, and contended that notwithstanding the Ultra montane party in that country, there was a large body of the Roman Catholics there who would not be instructed by Rome. The moderate Protestants had received great pro vocation, but had behaved with much forbearance, which he thought should have entitled them to be sustained by Government instead of having their enthusiasm damped. The fact was that the Government was afraid to arm the people of Ireland, because they were discontented. But • why were they discontented ? Because they had ground of complaint, which, as statesmen, the Government of the - country should investigate. Mr. CARDWELL said that the absence of any allu • _ sion to Ireland in the Royal Speech must be considered as a ground for congratulation. Though no measures for that country were mentioned, there were several bills prepared, which •aST he would introduce during the present session. regard to the volunteer movement, the law of this country was not applicable to Ireland, so far as concerned the formation of a rifle corps. There were not many appli cations on the subject from Ireland, which, however, was try. n ot to (lbiaeeatr, trhuted to any want of patriotism in that coun education in hear . )lrel a nd As related to the question of mixed session that Governild, he thought he had stated clearly last and as concern e d th e Irish intended to adhere to that system, duced shortly after ah Reform Bill, it would be intro hear.) the Engli s h R e f orm Bill. (Hear, Mir, EWART said, with refer ence to the commercial ifFrenehsines were introduced into this t rea ty wictohnln'rtryan.ciet,wthat l oni licensing s system in this country. necess itate the alte r ati on o f the Mr. S. Fa7ZGERALD had hoped that the disc -4 without the commercial treaty with France, any allu s i ons to disc ussion would have clos. and in that case h e would not have _ thought it his dirty to address the house ; but as the hon. gentleman who had just spoken, as a fr ee t ra d er, had congratulated the ,house on the commercial alliance with France, and tends. td his-thanks to the Government for entering into a treaty es reciprocity, he, as one wh o fa ,the policy of the free trail e certainly had always concult re.:l adopted by this country, i must enter' his protest against such a treaty as one of then Loot objectionable measures that had ever come before Perlis krae.nt• (Hear.) Es had always thought it a principle of ;free trade to distrust treaties ,of this kind. They had bees n. told tbat reciprocid he ty was thought groun tection in its worse guise, as ad on t h at anything more objectionable than th is treaty of reciprocity c0u. 1 4 hot well be thaagm d Yerwaen ta If the Go • t had ried this out as a treaty of reciprocity, then they had done itin the mast clumsy and objectionable manner ; and if it was not a treaty of reciprocity, then they had taken a course most adverse to the interests of this country. He IN ould view it as a treaty of reciprocity, and it was on this ground that the noble lord recommended it last night to the house. He said it was necessary to enter into a treaty, as otherwise it would be impossible to secure those advantages which were offered. Now, let the house understand exactly how the matter stood. They were going to make immediate con cessions of a very important kind, and they were told that in return they were to receive certain advantages at the dis tant period of 18 months. But how stood the case in refe rence to this very question of the wine duties as regarded other nations of Europe ? It had always been the great object of thb commercial classes in this eountry that there should be a large reduction of duty in some articles of British produce, with a view to obtaining the wines of Spain, 'Portugal, and Austria. Communications had passed between our Government and those countries with regard to the admission of articles of British commerce ; and their answer had been that they had no objection to admit them, provided that we in return reduced the duties upon their wines. To that proposition the reply of . England had 'been that these duties were not protective, but for the purposes of revenue, and that, consequently, we could not enterinto any reciprocal arrangements which would involve the sacri fice of a large amount of revenue, even for the sake of secur ing, to a certain extent, the admission of our own produc tions. The consequence had been that there was no treaty of reciprocity with Austria, Spain, or Portug al. He could perfectly understand the position of the Government, if they had declined from beginning to end to enter into a treaty of reciprocity, as being inconsistent with the great principles of free trade which this country had adopted with so much success. But, instead of employing an argument of that kind, the Government were actually claiming credit to themselves for having effected -this reci procal convention. The result of that treaty, if carried out, would be the reduction of the duties upon all foreign wines in return for the substitution in France of protective duties on certain articles of British commerce, but without any return from Spain, Portugal, Naples, or Austria. Look ing at the convention as a reciprocal treaty, it certainly ap peared to him, as a firm adherent of the principles of free trade, that the Government had clearly abandoned that free trade policy upon which they before prided themselves so much. The treaty was an anachronism, a retrograde i measure, and met with his most decided disapproval. As a reciprocity treaty it was clumsy in the extreme, because it reduced the wine duties without receiving from the various foreign nations interested in the matter those tangible bene fits which they were willing to afford, and on the promise only of some return from Franco 18 months hence. He was afraid that the delay of 18 months in admitting articles of British commerce into France was likely to create misap prehension and irritation. No doubt, if the duty on French wines alone were reduced at once, a considerable increase in the consumption over here would follow, and the French producers would find their account in that result, but if the duty on all foreign wines was to be reduced at the same time, then there seemed to him a high probability that as regarded France the consumption would remain much as it was / for by far the larger increase would ta k e p lace in the use of those wines to which the people of this country were most accustomed—the wines of Spain and Portugal, the greater strength and body of which were perhaps better adapted to our atmosphere and climate. If that turned out to be the case, he feared that when the time came for France to do her part of the agreement the producers in France, disap pointed in their experience during the 18 months, would be apt to charge us with having promised them more than they had obtained, and to regard with irritation and alarm the establishment of a system which would, in the opinion of the French themselves, blow out all the forges in the north of France. Me must confess he could not see the slightest necessity, in a commercial sense, for making im mediate concessions to France for the sake of a prospective return at the end of 18 months. And when he came to re gard the question as one of revenue the position of the Government appeared to him infinitely more objectionable and unjustifiable. The position of Parliament and of the country, they must remember, was entirely changed since the adoption of the policy of free trade. In the days when it was considered part of the duty of the Executive to watoh ever the industry of the country and to promote this, to re press the other branches of trade, the Government were, no doubt, at liberty to enter into any commercial treaty by which certain restrictions on articles of foreign commerce were modified in return for concessions from abroad ; but the position of the Government was entirely changed when it was laid down as a rule that there should be no duties in this country save for the purposes of revenue. And yet, within a week of the meeting of Parliament, the Govern ment had thought proper to enter into a treaty which would affect the permanence of revenue to the amount of three millions of money. Supposing a deficiency should occur under the new system--and whatever it might be ulti mately, that could hardly be avoided during the first year —some new tax must be imposed to make up for it. It might be perfectly true that the wine duties were a tax not in the beat state ; but it was quite clear that if there was to be any considerable reduction in these duties, they must be replaced by some new tax. What was that tax to be ? The wine duties were a tax that pressed upon the rich, who could afford to indulge in such luxuries—was there to be an increase or continuance of income tax in or der that the wine duties might be reduced ? Were those who did not drink wine to be taxed for the benefit of those who did ? They had duties on tea and sugar—were they going to recluse the duty on stimulants, and tax the beve rage of the poor and temperate ? (Hear.) These questions ought to have been brought before the house before the Government embarrassed Parliament, and, to a certain ex tent, the Crown, by entering upon a treaty which, subject, of course, to the approval of Parliament, involved a reduc tion of revenue duties. It was quite possible that the duty on wine at the present moment might not be in the best state, and that when reduced the increased consumption might lead to ajarger revenue. It was an experiment, how ever, that they could only conjecture what the result would be. But in entering into a commercial treaty of this sort they prevented any return to an increased rate, should there be a falling off. They had often before had deficiencies of the revenue which rendered it necessary to put an additional 10 or 15 per cent. upon the customs' duties ; but the result of this commercial arrangement would be to throw the addi tional percentage, if found necessary, upon all articles except wine, to raise the price of articles of ordinary consumption among the poorer classes of the community, and to exempt one of the chief luxuries of the rich. (Hear.) These were the main objections to the treaty ; but beyond these he could not help thinking there was some special reason iwhy the treaty was to be entered into just then, and he felt as confi dent as he could be upon any subject where he had no docu mentary evidence that it was with a political, and not a com mercial object, that the convention had been got up. It was done with the object of diverting the attention of this coun try from the political relations of her Majesty's Govern ment with the Government of France, and it was assumed, no doubt, that as a nation of shopkeepers we should at once become engrossed in anything which wore a commercial aspect, and give no heed to what required the closest and most anxious scrutiny—the political relations of the noble viscount's Government and the Government of France. (Hear, hear.) No man was more desirous than himself of maintaining the most intimate relations between Eng land and France. He believed that an intimate alliance was for the interest of both countries, and necessary for the peace of Europe and the world ; but there was a difference between mutual friendship and intimacy, and an understanding between the two Governments which should amount to an identity of policy, and he was afraid it was the latter which the noble lord had in view. He be lieved that the language which the noble lord was disposed to hold to Europe was that England and Franco were of one mind, and that the rest might do what they liked. The result of that could only be a combination of the other Powers with a different view, the division of Europe into two camps, and the maintenance of peace solely by the preponderance of power on the part of England and France In his opinion, that would be a most objectionable state of things, for many reasons. If he understood the feeling of this country at all, it was that we were not to engage need lessly in hostilities; and this feeling arose not from mere commercial reasons, but he hoped and trusted from a higher and Christian view of our national responsibility. If, however, this entente cordials?, this identity of policy between the two Governments of France and England, were to continue, it must end in the more active military Power leading the way, and leaving England to follow humbly in its wake—a position inconsistent both with the interest and dignity of our country. (Hear.) He was per fectly convinced that it was possible fortis country to maintain the most amicable relations with France and tho rest of Europe, and to hold her position and exercise her in fluence as a liberal and enlightened nation; but if there was one policy more than another calculated to injure her inte rests and lessen her influence it was the adoption of an identity of policy with France. (Hear.) There were many reasons why no such identity ought to exist. The English were not the people to go to war for an " idea," and re garded the necessity of going to war in a very different light from their neighbours. Bu b t, without going into all the many points of difference which subsisted between them in form of government and in the spirit and genius of the people, he maintained that, while it was their interest and within their power to hold the most intimate and friendly alliance with France, they would only jeopardise the prestige, hen our, and influence of England, as well as the alliance itself. , by attempting to preserve that identity of policy which he believed it was the object of the noble lord to establish. Mr. W. EWART explained that he would agree with the commercial treaty only if it proved consistent with the principles of free trade. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said,—l must first notice the observation of the right hon. baronet (Sir J. Pakington) that he 'was glad justice had at length been done by the Government to the gallantry of our naval forces in the contest at the mouth of the Pella°, because it appeared to him that other and earlier occasions of doing so had been allowed to pass without advantage being taken of them. On the part of the Government I may venture to say that they have always entertained the feeling of un qualified admiration expressed by my noble friend last night. I am not aware of any occasion that we have lost of giving expression to that sentiment ; but if the right hon. baronet will bring it to our knowledge, we shall at once express our regret at having overlooked it. (Hoar, hear.) Of course, I rise particularly for the purpose of following the hon. gentleman who has just sat down, and who has discussed very much at large the treaty which is not yet on the table of the house. The first question I think in the mind of any gentleman who has listened to the hon. member must be, how in the world is itt hat this sin g l e and fortunate member of the House of Commons has attained to that minute and correct knowledge of the character of the treaty which has enabled him, before it is produced to the world, to express his opinions upon it in so copious a man ner and in every possible point of view. Though my hon. friend is incapable of a dishonourable action, his conduct leads to a suspicion that he must have secreted himself, after the ancient fashion, behind the tapestry in the room where the negotiations were going on, and that itwas in that extra ordinary and not creditable manner he obtained the know ledge of which he has been giving the advantage to the house. (A laugh.) In one respect lam really sorry for my bon. friend. He has, I think, put himself at a disadvantage in having anticipated the occasion for his objections, inasmuch as those sweeping denunciations of his against that unfor tunate agreement, that disastrous convention, would have come with greater force, because his audience would have been better prepared to receive them, had my hon. friend been able to exercise a greater degree of self-control, and to wait for a few days till the treaty was before the house. He must have now emptied eat the budget of his objet tions, and when the treaty is on the table he will have no more objections to produce; or, at least, if his ingenuity is able to supply them the bloom and freshness will have been taken o ff hi s criticism, and the edge of his advice will have lost a great portion of its sharpness. The hon. gentleman narahmalasilohwn gbthuenettGvery gross al lt d nd lle serious as regards the rates of duty, that has been guilty of some not well-defined prudence, seeing that my ions infringement of your constitu tional rights, the treaty had been fro: s ue d :7 notie t f h r a temi t wit s h ta m ted ore las f t uln ni e g s h s t t t h h a a n t right n e . privilege of the house, sO intact and entire every s uch :td a manner as to preserve that it can only take effect in v irtue of your vote and deci- sion. (Hear, hear.) I cannot but feel, though I am unwil ling to say it, that there really is a certain degree of adverse prepossession about my hon. friend which will prevent him from delivering a perfectly impartial judgment on the sub ject. The hon. gentleman has shown you what an objec tionable document tbis treaty is with regard to the princi • pies of free trade, and I regret to say I am not at liberty to follow him in his discussion. I must be content to wait, as I hope the house will do also, until, in com pliance with the necessary forms of diplomatic proceeding and the principles of the constitution, which I can assure my hon. friend the Government have not altogether for gotten, the treaty can be produced, and we can have ample discussion of its merits, not in our present state of ignorance as to what it really is, but in the clear light of day and in the full knowledge of all its particulars. (Hear, hear.) For the present I must keg to adjourn the defence of the principles of free trade and the establishment of the relation in which this treaty stands to them. Notwith standing the denunciations of the hon. gentleman, I can assure him that I entertain a full and perfect confidence that when Parliament shall have obtained a knowledge of the subject on which it is to pass judgment, and when on one side and on the other we have come to a clear and com prehensive understanding of what the treaty is to effect, the verdict of Parliament will be favourable to the pro ceedings that have been concluded. (Hear, hear.) My hon. friend tells us the treaty is bad as regards free trade and commerce, but far worse as regards revenue. It is monstrous, he says, to take up a subject of this kind after we have declared that we have no duties but those for the purposes of revenue. I must confess my ignorance of the time when we made any such assertion. I should like to know whether my hon. friend will pledge himself to the fact that we have no duties but those of revenue, and whe ther he will maintain that the 15s. a-gallon on brandy, com• pared with Bs. on spirits, is a duty solely for revenue. If he will, I must join issue with him upon that matter. In point of fact, it is not true that we have no duties but those of re venue. (Hear, hear.) We have been engaged for many years in a gradual and, I am thankful to say, sweeping pur gation of our tariff ; but, though that process has gone far, it has not yet been fully accomplished, mad I shall invite the hon. gentleman by and by, as a man ardently attached to the principles of free trade to join with us in congratu lating the country on the great step which has just been made towards its completion. lam afraid that my hon. friend who has been so learned in the things that are to be, has not taken adequatepains to inform himself in the things that have beeu. My hon. friend went back to the history of the foreign negotiations for the reduction of the tariff which were conducted in formeryears, but abandoned, he says, on the ground that, as the duties which we were desired to re duce were levied as revenue, we could not make any con cessions in regard to them. I took an active part in these negotiations myself, as did also my noble friend beside me, and so far from its being the fact that we always reserved our wine duties, and were unwilling to touch them as being collected for revenue, there was not one of the negotiations, whether with France, Portugal, or Spain, in which we did nit offer large reductions of those very duties on wine. The negotiations failed just because the two parties looked at the matter from different points of view, and could not agree as to the relative value of the concessions to be made on either side. (Hear, hear.) Probably they did not pro ceed on that broad and firm basis on which such arrange ments alone can be carried out. Then, said the hon. gen tleman, perhaps the wine duties of England are not in the best state ; but that is a very mild statement of the case. The hon. gentleman did not show why the wino duties were not in the best state, but told us what, if it were true, would be a very high eulogy to pass on a duty which pro duces some £170,000 or £lBO,OOO a-year. He said that the wine duties pressed upon the rich mainly, if not exclusively. But why is that ? Simply because these duties prohibit wine to the poor. The wine duties do not press upon the poorer classes, because the wines never come within their reach. (Hear, hear.) The duty stands like a wall of brass between the poor man and a glass of wine, Bad, however, as is the treaty with regard to free trade, infinitely worse as it is in regard to revenue, to say nothing of its being a breach of the constitutional privileges of this house, the climax of the accusation is not reached till we come to the political cha racter of the measure. There is a secret intention of draw ing closer, in some mysterious way, the relations between this country and - France—the weightiest and most dange rous offence of all. My hon. friend says it would be most objectionable to maintain the peace of Europe by the pre ponderating influence of England and France. He is afraid we are bent upon an identity of policy in all cases between the two countries, and he thinks that the object of the treaty is to divert attention from the st ate of the rela tions between the Government and the - Emperor. If it is, the plot has signally failed, for on the very first day of the session comes down one hon. member, than whom no one is more eompetent, to denounce us, to disclose tho clandes tine proceeding in the face of the world, and to blast what ever hope we might have had of concealing our infamous intentions. In former times there have been individuals and parties in this house who have felt an ineradicable and incurable jealousy of a close amity between France and England. I had hoped those times had passed, but cannot feel well assured after listening to the speech of the hon. gentleman. He says he wishes for an intimate alliance with France, but not too intimate—he is afraid of identity of policy P Is there any other man in this house who is afraid of identity of policy ? Is there another member who believes in the possibility of an iden tity, in all cases, at all times, between the policy of England and France ? The practical question is, whether we believe there can be, in the nature of things, too close an understanding between the two countries. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman believes there can. To my mind there cannot, because in the nature of the case, in the relations of the two countries, and in the circumstances of Europe, there is hardly anypossible contingency in which they could ever be associated in policy, except for objects honourable in themselves and beneficial to mankind. (Cheers.) On no occasion in our own day or in history have they ever been combined for a bad object as regards the politics of Europe ; and therefore I trust that alliance, as I hope we all do, and wish it may be drawn closer and closer, not only on account of its intrinsic value, but because it contains nothing in itself which can by any possibility be hostile to the interests of the other Powers of Europe. And the best proof of this is • —as my hon friend easmot have failed to observe—that no association between the Governments of France and Eng : land has ever awakened the jealousy or suspicion of the ' other Powers, because it is knownto be an association which can only be applied to good ends. (Hear.) As to the period at which it will be practicable to submit the treaty to the consideration of the house, I have to say that the treaty was signed the day before yesterday, that the ratifications are to be exchanged within ten days—a very short, but it is hoped a sufficient, time for the review of so important an instrument,—and that, therefore, we shall to able to present the treaty to the house about the end of next week. The Government have felt that as these propositions have an i.n partant connection with the revenue, and enter into the general financial arrangements of the year, full justice would not be done to the house, unless the financial state ment of revenue and expenditure for the year were brought up at the same time. Impressions have gone abroad, whether well or ill founded, which are exercising a paralyzing effect on certain important branches of trade, and though we shall have to consider some questions connected with the forms of the house, and the relations between the different modes of proceeding in regard to votes of money and supply, I hope we shall be able to lay the treaty on the table and submit the general financial statement for the year on next Monday week, the 6th of February. (Hear, hear.) It is our desire that not a moment may be lost in bringing these questions forward, and that there may be the fullest discussion in regard to them. (Hear, hear.) After a few remarks from Mr. NEWDECIATE and Mr. HORSMAN, Sir DE LACY EVANS said he thought the Chinese question should have been brought before the house with out delay, in order to enable the country to see its position with regard to China. They would then be in a position to decide to what extent they should proceed, or whether they should not discontinue any further hostile preparations. He had heard with great pleasure what the noble lord at the head of the Government had stated last night on this subject, but it did not go to the extent of satisfying him. He eulogised the conduct of Admiral Hope and the officers under his command, and thought that an early opportunity should be afforded of expressing the feeling of the country towards them. 'Mr. EDWIN JAMES complained of the delay in bring ing forward the Reform Bill which he considered should have been submitted immediately to the house. There was no great difficulty in bringing forward such a measure if the Government were agreed among themselves, for it might be introduced in a short speech, and then the coun try would consider its details. That course would give the house time to discuss other pressing and important sub jects; but 1y delaying the Reform Bill they might practi cally be promoting the views of those who wished to ob struct reform. (Hear, hear.) It was clear that there would be a debate on the Chinese question, and if the Government were defeated and resigned, the Reform bill might be lost altogether. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LOCKE considered that it was hypercritical to con demn Government for the delay in introducing the measure. Lord PALMERSTON said—l will not detain the house more than a few moments. With regard to the observa tions of the right hon. gentleman the member for Stroud as to the period when notice has been given for introducing the Reform Bill, I would just remind him that it is impos sible for the Government to satisfy the wishes and opinions of all the members as to the course of public business. The right hon. gentleman and others who agree with him are desirous that the Reform Bill should be the first measure proposed. The hon. and gallant member for Westminster attaches great importance to an early discussion of questions connected with China. Othermembers think that the treaty concluded with France, involving the interests of our com mercial system, ought to be the first measure taken in this house. Other members attach great importance to the general review of our finances, and :hope the Chancellor of the Exchequer will take an early opportunity to bring on his budget. (Hear, hear.) It is impossible for her Majesty's Government to satisfy equally the wishes and opinions of all, and the chances are that it will be found that the course we have pursued is the one which, on the whole, is best suited to bring the deliberations of the house to a satisfactory and usefulresult. (Hear.) I can only amuse) the right hon. gentleman that there is no reason whatever fey supposing that the Reform Bill being introduced on the 20th of February there will not be ample time for discussing all its details, and, as I hope, passing it into law in the course of the present session of Parliament. The right hon. gentle man has to some degree promised—l do not know whether he intended to do so—that until that measure is disposed of we are not to expect from him any vote of hostility which will at all affect the position of the Government. (Laughter.) I am much obliged to him for that intimation, and, although it might be ungenerous to hold him to the strict letter of what he has said, I hope it indicates a disposition to give us fair play until the measure of reform is safely harboured in the receptacle of the statutes at large. (Cheers.) 'With re gard to China, I will not follow the gallant general into any argument upon those transactions. The papers will he laid upon the table at an early period, and then will be the proper time.to enter into a detailed examination of the course which her Majesty's Government have pursued. My hon. friend behind me has expres ed a wish to know whether we are at war with China or not. Ile has stated very correctly, in reference to the relations of the Queen with the Emperor of China, that we never have been at war—that is to say, that the Emperor of China never has chosen to consider the operations at Canton to obtain satisfaction for the out rages there committed as a rupture of the relations between the two empires. Accordingly trade has gone on contem poraneously at Shanghai and , the other ports ; and that is the condition of things .at the present moment. If the treaty had been ratified, it would have placed the relations 1 of the two countries upon a much more satisfactory footing than that upon which they have hitherto stood. But the I ratification not having taken place, we are exactly in the same situation in which we were before Lord Elgin nego tiated the treaty, and the Emperor of China has made known that he does not wish the commercial relations to be inter rupted in consequence of that which happened at the Peiho, or any antecedent transaction at Cantons If a declaration of war issued, it would be impossible for us to carry on at Shanghai or Hong . Kong commercial relations, and I think the house will see that it is a matter for grave considera tion isefeTQ Ive b 7 an 7 overt act disturb those relations THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENINGP JANUARY 26, 1860. which it is impOrtantrshould be carried on as long as is consistent with national advantage. (Hear, hear.) The report was then read a second and third time, and agreed to. • APPEAL IN CRIMINAL CASES. Mr. M'MAHON introduced a bill ro secure a right of appeal in criminal 09SEM, which was read a first time. CHURCH RATES. Sir J. TRELAWNY introduced a bill to abolish church rates, which was read a first time. The house adjourned at half-past three o'clock. VINE-PRODUCING COUNTRIES AND THE VINE DISEASE, The Blue-book just published contains reports on the wine trade of five countries. That from the pen of Mr. Lumley, her Majesty's Secretary of Legation at Madrid, gives a very interesting his tory of the vine disease in Spain, and its effects on the immense wine trade of that country. This re port is based on the provincial reports of the various English Consuls. It appears that the more viru lent and extensive prevalence of the vine disease in France gave rise to an extraordinary demand for the wines of Spain. The cellars of Navarre, for example, were quite emptied by the exportation to the French markets, and the price of wine in that province was tripled in •onsequence. The Pyrenean frontier has for the present virtually disappeared, and, finding the passage free, the wine growers of Arragon and Navarre have effected an importation into France far beyond what has ever been the case "in the memory of man," and realizing incredible profits. The report from Navarre states that, if the frontier be again closed, or if any restrictive import duties be levied in France on the wines of Spain, (the latter of which is to be feared from the circum stance of the disease being on its decline in that country, with a prospect of complete extinction), that province will be absolutely drowned in wine -partly from the glut of the market, and partly from the extensive plantations of new vines of late years. Mr. Lumley hints that the wine trade of France for the last five or six years has been as much indebted to Spain for its existence as that of Portugal or the Douro, and that there is no doubt that :large quantity of the new wine recently ex ported to all parts of the world as wine of the vintages in France, and as such bought up at fa bulous prices by gullible gourmets, was little better than Spanish wine duly doctored and flavoured. The following receipt for manufacturing Bordeaux out of Spanish wine is given P-- " To one-third of the strong black Arragonese wine-Carinena, Ribeira do Ebro, or others of that class, the price of which is about 5 sous a bottle add one-third of the light yin de Cahors and one third water; the requisite flavour is given to it by the addition of a little orris-root, and the wine thus manufactured, when sent back to Spain, sells readily at 50 sous a bottle." Some idea may be formed of the increase-of the wine trade of Spain with France from the follow ing facts :-The exportation of Spanish wine into France, which in 1851 amounted to 35,881 arrobas, or about 1,198 pipes, value 1,451,809 reals, equal to £14,082 sterling, chiefly for port, sherry, and Ma laga, had increased in 1855 to 18,335 pipes, value £394,965, of which the sum of £351,801 was for the common _wine from Navarre and Arragon ; in 1856 the exportation to France increased to 49,491 pipes, value £311,651, of which £270,889 was for common wine ; while in 1857 France took from Spain no less than 100,392 pipes, value £654,663, of which the large proportion of £629,053 was for common wine. It is supposed that as three butts of Malaga (against 10 of French) will yield one butt of brandy, it may have been found worth while to buy up Arragonese wine for the manufacture of spirits in France. It is certain that a new and lu crative market has been opened for Spanish wines, which still continues to benefit the growers ofArragon and Navarre. The abundant nature of the vin tages of Spain is almost incredible. A proprietor of vineyards on the Huesca, in Arragon, assured Mr. Lumley that the drought of the preceding sum" er was so great and the vintage so plentiful that it would have been easier for him to irrigate his vineyards with wine than with water ! Again, unable to find room for his new stock of wine, or to get rid of it at even one real per cantaro (about a halfpenny a gallon), and there being a scarcity of earthen jars or vats, he was obliged to throw away the whole of that year's vintage ! Many of the districts of Old Castile are equally prolific ; wine, in fact, is cheaper than water, and it is not unusual for bricklayers to mix their mortar with wine in stead of water ! The wine trade of Spain with America has received a great stimulus during the prevalence of the vine disease in France and Ger many : in 1850 the export to that continent was 69,281 pipes, value £242,675; in 1857 it was 124,796, value £966,352. From the increased export of Spanish wines to France, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Portugal during the same period, some idea may be formed of the progress of the disease in those countries. The dif ference as regards France (1852 and 1857) was 1,506 and 100,392 pipes; Portugal nil, and 2,351 pipes • and Tuscany 894 and 22,410 pipes. The ex port of wine to England was 39,407 pipes in 1850, value £811,841, and in 1857 42,853 pipes, value £1,164,861. In fine, it appears that the total ex portation of wine from Spain to Europe increased from 58,964 pipes, value £917,576, in 1850, to 216,829 pipes, value £2,602,876, in 1857-giving an increase for 1857 of 157,865 pipes, value £1,685,300, or 183 per cent. ; to England from 39,407 pipes, value £811,841, in 1850, to 42,853 pipes, value £1,164,861, in 1857, giving an increase for 1857 of 3,446 pipes, value £353,020, or 43 per cent. ; to France, from 1,500 pipes, value £7,006, in 1850, to 100,392 pipes, value £663,661 in 1857, giving an increase for 1857 of 98,386 pipes, value 1;656,655, or 9,372 per cent. ; to Tuscany, from 894 pipes, value £2,713, in 1850, to 22,410 pipes, value £144,285, in 1857, giving an in crease for 1857 of 21,516 pipes, value £141,572, or 5,217 per cent. The greatest exportation of wine from Spain to Sardinia was in 1855, when it rose to 20,062 pipes, value £142,943, having been, in 1850, 2,466 pipes, value £6,685, giving an in crease for 1855 of £17,596 pipes, value £136,258, or 2,038 per cent. The importation of brandy into Spain has, on the other hand, increased from 123 to 4,787 pipes, including 921 pipes from England and Gibraltar. The increased imports of brandy from France are very significant in more than one sense. The brandy is probably manufactured in France from Spanish wines, and used, when, reimported, to mix with certain vintages of Spain for which a demand has sprung up, and which require to be so fortified for long voyages. The final result of Mr. Lumley's in quiry as regards the disease is to the effect that the oidium (probably an old historical disease) became generally prevalent in Spain in 1853, though on the whole in a much less degree than in any other wine-growing country ; that it attacks all kinds of wines with the remarkable exception of the " Gar nacha," a fine wine, and the " Panipal Girat," a coarser one, had escaped attack even under the worst circumstances ; that the produce of the vine yards during the prevalence of the oidium was re duced on an average 25 per cent. of an ordinary crop ; that the price of the wine rose on the average to double what it had been before at Malaga, Mon tilla, and in the Douro ; elsewhere, to triple ; at Se ville, to quintuple; and in Catalonia to eight times the former price; that tha disease, if not engen dered, is greatly encouraged by damp warm wea ther, and that sulphur is an effectual remedy against it without causing any lasting inconvenience from its use ; that other simpler remedies are available, including the dust of roads, especially if it contains chalk or plaster of Paris; and that the wine trade of Spain has almost returned to its normal stateex cept as regards France ; and that owing to the great increase of vineyards in every part of Spain during the last three years the market is likely to be over stocked with wine for some time to come. Mr. Erskine (Dec. 8, 1858) gives the result of his inquiry on the cultivation of the vine in the Unitad States of America. Several species of grape grow in that country, but the "Catawba" is at present al most the only one cultivated on a large scale for vinous purposes. Tho Catawba vine contains ac cording to Dr. Chapman, 11.5 per cent, of alcohol, and 88.5 of water. It resembles Rhenish wine in appearance, but has a peculiar musky flavour and more body.. This comparatively poor stuff is sold at 7 dolls. per dozen, equal to 2s. 6d. per bottle, and in Ohio and Missouri it realises exorbitant prices. Imitation " champagne" is also manufac• tured from an American grape at Cincinnati and St. Louis, and fetches 4s. per bottle. Rot and mildew are the diseases to which the vine is liable in America, and no preventive pro cess has hitherto proved successful. Mr. Erskine has no hestitation in exp-easing his belief that the culture of the vine in the United States will extend itself and improve very rapidly, and that at so distant date wine will be produced as cheaply and as abundantly as in Europe. The introduction of beer by the Germans has already done much good by diminishing the consumption of spirituous liquors ; and the further substitution of cheap and wholesome wine, very sensibly observes Mr. Erskine, "Will do more to wean the people front habits of drunkenness than all the temperance societies and Maine Liquor Laws by which it has been sought to arrest this great evil." The home market for American wine is already so extensive that years must elapse before sufficient wine can be produced there for exportation to other countries. The following remarkable passage from Mr. Cor bett's report on Tuscany should be well pondered : "The consequences of this calamity (the grape disease) have been felt less severely in Tuscany, where no obstacles exist to the free development of foreign commercial speculation, than in some other countries, where the principles of free trade have not been adopted ; and it is hoped that the time IS approaching when the importation of articles, for which in the normal condition of the country there is only a limited demand, will, as formerly, be re gulated alone by the requirements of legitimate commerce, and be made only in exchange for the national and manufactured productions of the country." In Sardinia the effect of the disease has been comparatively mild, since the vines, though seriously damaged, were not so destroyed as to necessitate a fresh cultivation. For the last four years there have been good vintages, and nearly all traces of the dis ease have disappeared. Wine, when abundant, may be had in Turin for four or five sous the litre (rather more than a bottle), while beer, which the peasantry dislike exceedingly, costs five to eight sous the bottle. The report on Austria, ranked as second in im portance among the wine countries of Europe, must be reserved for a final article. RAILWAY ACROSS THE ANDES. A numerously attended meeting of the Geogra phical Society was held en Monday, Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Vice-President, in the chair. Among those present were Lord de Blaquiere, Generals Sir G. Pollock, Portlock, Fox, and Sir T. Phillips, Admiral Fitz• Roy, Sir J. Rennie, Sir T. Fremantle, Sir J. Davis, Colonels Anderson, Fox, and Wil loughby, Capts. Collinson, Osborn, Sir F. Nicolson, Robinson, Cochrane, Craufurd, Sulivan, Burstal, and Pike, 11 N., Mr. Warre, M.P., Consul Hansen, Capts. W. H. Walker, Allen Young, Sydney Webb, Espinasse, Jenkins, and Herd, Messrs. E. 0. Smith, Barrow, Crawfurd, Arrowsmith, &c. Previous to the reading of the papers the Chairman drew attention to the Humboldt Foundation Fund. Dr. Shaw read a paper on the " Proposed Railway across the Andes from Caldera to Rosario, via Cor dova," by Wm. Wheelwright, Esq., F.R.G.S. The author, whose success in the establishment of steam communication along the shores of South America, and the construction of a railway across the Isthmus of Panama, is well known, has been engaged for several years in the construction of railways in Chili, in which he has had occasion to use sharp curves and steep gradients. Among those already executed is that from Valparaiso to Santiago and Talcahuano; from Caldera to Copiapo, Pabellon and Chanaxillo ; and from Copiapo to Tres Puntos. In their construction he has used gradients of 152 and 250 feet per mile, and carried them to an elevation of 6,600 feet above the level of the sea. From their success the author is led to believe that by a simi lar system the Andes might be crossed and the rail run on to Rosario, via Cordova, a distance alto gether of 1,100 miles. Tha route has been care fully explored, the elevations fixed by barometrical measurement, and the Pass of San Francisco ascer tained never to be blocked up by snow, travellers crossing it at all seasons. The author is of opinion that the construction of such a railway, though dif ficult, is practicable, and the advantages that would accrue by opening up the South American States to commerce, the Rio de la Plata being navigable to the foot of Rosario for vessels drawing 12 feet of water, would be very great ; in addition to which it was stated that it would place England within 50 days' communication of Australia. On the east of the Andes the slope is gradual and pre sents little difficulty, while on the western side the descent is very steep and would require severe gra dients. The heavy traffic, consisting of minerals, would, however, be from the mountains to the shore, and the carriages would descend by their own weight, while the return traffic, consisting of lighter goods, might be drawn up the incline by powerful locomotives. It appears that the South American States are so fully alive to the advantages they will derive from the execution of this project that the Argentine Republic has offered a free grant of land, five miles in breadth, on either side of the railway. Admiral Fitzroy stated that he had the greatest confidence in Mr. Wheelwright, and believed the construction of the railway to be practicable, the only serious difficulty being for about 30 miles across the summit of the Andes, and, should it prove greater than could be overcome, common roads might be made for that portion of the route, and even with that break in the communication the railway would be of immense advantage. In answer to an objection from Mr. Hamilton, he stated that on some of tae railways in Norway and in the United States gradients occur of 1 in 30, and even as steep as 1 in 25, and that powerful engines with 10 wheels, four of them driving, have been con structed for drawing trains up these steep inclines. Captain Sulivan, R.N., drew attention to the navi gability of the Rio de la Plata, stating that he had ascended to Rosario in a vessel of 161 feet draught of water. After some observations from Mr, Bol laert, the second paper, by Dr. Buist, "On the Kooria *ooria Islands" was also read by Dr. Shaw. These islands have become famous from the trea- sure of guano they are said to contain, though the manure is only found on the tw• smaller islands of the group, Ibblea and Haski. It was computed to amount in 1852 to 200,000 tons, of which, up to the end of 1858, the quantity exported is said to bo 45,000 tons. The author describes the geology, botany, zoology, climate, and cause of the guano de posite, stating that owing to their scarcity and worthlessness, at the Kooria MooHa, the sending of vessels for them had entailed a great loss on the community, and suggested that before Government again entered on such expensive adventures it should consult the meteorologist, the geologist, and the geogiapher, on the chance of discovering any soluble manure in regions where rain is rare, and when it does fall, falls in torrents. After some ob servations from the Chairman and from Mr. Craw furd in confirmation of Dr. Buist's views the meet ing was adjourned to the 13th of February. TIIE PROPOSED CITY RAILWAY'S. Mr. Haywood, surveyor of the City Commis sioners of Sewers, has presented to that body a voluminous report upon the area and nature of the property scheduled by the various companies who have at the present time bills before Parliament, for effecting railway communication with the City; and who have served notices upon the Commis. sioners in their capacity of conservators of the pub lic ways. The result of his inquiries is as follows : THE LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY COMPANY al•ply for an act to enable them to pro vide additional station accommodation, and other works ; for which purposes they have scheduled property on the northern side of the existing Lon don and Blackwell Railway, between Cooper's-row and the Minories, as well as all the property and public ways in that part of the City which lies on the eastern side of the Minories, and is bounded on the north side by the existing railway, and on the south by Sparrow-coroner. The property scheduled (exclusive of public ways) amounting to 2/ acres. THAMES TUNNEL RAILWAY.—The promoters have projected a continuation of their line from Cannon-street-road (where it will join the London and Blackwall Railway), in New London-street, Fenchurch-street. The course of the line, which will enter the City at Sparrow-corner, will be south of the existing London and Blackwell Railway. The area of the property within the City (exclusive of the public ways, which are to be spanned by arches) scheduled for the line is about 23 acres. LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY— METROPOLITAN EXTENSION.—This company pro poses to cross the Thames into the City, east of and close by Blackfriars-bridge, crossing Earl street, Water-lane, Union-street, Ludgate-hill, to the site of the late Fleet-prison, and thence to its termination in Braziers-buildings. The public ways are to be spanned by arches, leaving their levels unaltered, except Fleet-lane, Bear-alley, and Wheatsheaf-alley, which are to be stopped up. This scheme also embraces two branch railways, one of which crosses Snow-hill to join the Metro politan at Victoria-street, while the other (diverging from this) goes to the site of the late Smithfield market. The property in the City scheduled for the whole, exclusive of public ways, is about 13 acres. GREAT NORTHERN, HOLBORN, AND CITY Ex- TENSION RAILWAY.--This is a branch from the Great Northern Railway, at its intercession with the North London Railway, to Tokenhouse-yard, at the back of the Bank. The property in the City scheduled for this scheme embraces nearly the whole of the space bounded on the north by Lon don-wall; east, by Sadler's-place and the Drapers' gardens; south by the property on the northern sides of Copthall-court and Great Bell-alley ; and west, by the eastern side of Moorgate-street. There is also scheduled a small area of property frosting Holborn, in the vicinity of Baker's-court, Furni vars-inn, and Leather-lane, and also between Ely place and the portion of Field-lane which is within the City. The railway is to be carried on a viaduct through the City. The entire area scheduled (ex clusive of public ways) being about 22 acres, and the number of public places in the City which it appears are to be interfered with or absorbed for the purposes of the company being about 27. THE LONDON RAILWAY DEFOT -AND STORE HOUSE, COMPANY appli s for power to make, in connection with the new markets which are pro posed by the Corporation of the city of London, a railway depot, storehouses, and other works to be approached by a new street from Victoria-street, and a branch railway to connect the new markets with the Metropolitan Railway. The railway is to be subterranean, and:the area of property selected (exclusive of public ways) for the entire under taking is about 21 acres. SMITHFIELD MARKET, STREETS, AND hIFROVE• VENTS.—This is a project of the Corporation of the City of London fo the establishme n t o f markets and mar] housea on the site of We 4 Smithfield and property north of Long-lane ; and the pro perty within the City scheduled for the schemes (exclusive of public ways, and including a portion of the area of the late market) is about 31 acres. In conclusion, Mr. Heywood says :—" The total area within the City, scheduled fbr these various projects, is about 53 acres, and the number of pub lic ways of all classes to be spanned by arches is about 70, and the number to be entirely absorbed or stopped up about 42, a larger area effected by new schemes than in any previous year since 1846. The merits of these various projects it will be need less and, indeed, impossible, with the present amount of information in my possession, to attempt to discuss. Some will undoubtedly meet a great metropolitan want, and it will be no easy task to eliminate any as quite useless ; but, never theless, without care, the difficulties of the City traffic may be at certain points rather increas e d th an di minished by the establishment of the termini and stations. Some public ways already spanned by arches seem, by the additions 'proposed thereto, likely to be converted into short tunnels, while other most important lines of street are to be for the first time covered over by arches for portions of their length. The whole of the schemes will cause a large and serious derangement of the sewage of the various districts, and (with the exception of the project for the metropolitan markets, which being entirely for public purposes, cannot be put in ,he same category as the other schemes) all the companies propose to absorb for their advantage largo areas of the public ways. Proper arrange ments, therefore, should be made before these bills pass into law by which the sewerage of the City shall be reconstructed, or maintained in a proper condition without loss to the commission ; that public ways, spanned by arches, shall, as much as possible, remain fitted for public purposes ' • and that for the areas of existing public way to be ap propriated some equivalent shall be given which the commissioners may determine to be the best for the public generally. These are points upon which I can only report to you after I have had much fur ther information as to what the companies propose, and after close investigation of the probable con sequences of the completion of their projects. For the present, therefore, it seems to me absolutely needful that the commission should dissent from the whole of them." REPEAL OF THE WAR DUTY ON _HOPS. Yesterday afternoon a numerously attended and influential public meeting of the landowners and proprietors of plantations in the hop districts of Kent and Sussex was held in the market-room at the Railway Hotel, Maplehurst, for the adoption of measures to procure a remission of the present duty on hops, and to memorialize the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide in the next budget that a fixed duty of ld. per lb. shall in future be levied, in lieu of the existing duties. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Smith Marriott, rector of Horsemonden, Kent ; and among those present were Lord Holmesdale, M.P. for West Kent ; Messrs. Osborne, of Marden ; Punnett, of Sutton ; Par tridge, of Yalding ; Perry, of Cantei bury ; Reeves, of Robertsbridge ; and other large hop planters. The Chairman observed that Sir Edmund Film er, M.P. for West Kent, had fully intended to he pre sent, but was unexpectedly compelled to attend to important business elsewhere. The Rev. J. Deedes, Mr. Hussey, of Scotney Castle, and other influen tial friends of the movement were also compelled to be absent. The Chairman proceeded to allude to the various burdens which he said pressed upon the agriculturists, and to the steps which had been taken by the hop planters at various periods in order to procure a diminution of the hop duty. He advised them to be firm and united, and continue to agitate for the repeal of the war duty on hops, and he did not despair of success. Mr. G. Punnett moved the first resolution, expressive of the deter mination of the hop growers to abide by the decision arrived at by the great co un t y meet i ng held at Penenden-heath in May last—namely, a repeal of all existing duties, and the imposition of a uniform duty of ld. per lb." Mr. Osborne, of Marden, seconded the resolution. Lord Holmesdale, who was well received, observed he must confess that a short time since the prospect of a repeal of the war duty on hops appeared remote, and last year the Chancellor of the Exchequer obtained an additional income-tax to meet the large liabilities. His opi nion was now somewhat changed as to the proba bility of getting the tax removed, and, from a variety of causes, this appeared to be a most opportune time for pressing the matter upon the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The resolution was agreed to. Addresses were then delivered by Mr. Reeves, of Robertsbridge ; Mr. Perry, of Canter bury; Mr. Hayes, and other planters, and a me morial was adopted for presentation to the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. A committee was ap pointed to carry out measures for a continual agita tion of the subject, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated. IIE,4LTH OF LONDON DURING THB WEEK. (From the Report of the Registrar-General.) The total number of deaths registered in London in the week ended last Saturday was 1,297, show ing a small decrease on the number of the previous week. In the 10 years 18.50-59 the average num ber of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1,205 ; but as the deaths in the present return occurred in apopulation which has increased, they should be compared with the average raised in proportion to:the increase, viz., 1,326. The morta lity of last week was therefore slightly below the amount which the average rate as obtained for the third week of the year would have produced. The births returned last week exceed the deaths in the same period by 561. The deaths by symotic diseases were 254; the average number in corresponding weeks arrected for increase of population is 291. Under this head are included 43 deaths by small-pox, 11 of which occurred to persons who had attained 15 years of age and upwards. From this disease 3 deaths were recorded in the sub-district of St. Giles South and sin that of Whitecross-street. It is satisfactory to mark a continued decrease in the mortality from scarlatina ; the deaths from it, which were 62 in the preceding week, were 48 last week. Diphtheria was returned in 11 cases. Taking these two diseases conjointly, it appears that the deaths referred to scarlatina and diphtheria, which were about 100 weekly during a considerable part of last year, de clined last week to 59. The most fatal disease in the list is now bronchitis, which carried off 192 persons, the corrected average being 158 ; next to it is phthi s i s , w hi c h num b er 147, the corrected average being 158, the same as that for bronchitis ; and in the third place stands pneumonia, which was fatal in 123 cases, while the corrected average is 90. Last week the births of 940 boys and 918 girls, in all 1,858 children, were registered in London. In the corresponding weeks of the years 1800-59 the average number was 1,4 At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was 9.e2 6mesa7n height of the barometer in the week w inch. The mean daily reading was above 30 inches on Monday and Tuesday, and below 29 deg. on Saturday. The barometer rose to 30.13 inches on Monday, and fell to 28.79 inches on Saturday, being respectively the highest and lowest readings in the week. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 39.5 deg., which is 3.3 deg. above the average of the same week in 43 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). On Sunday (the 15th inst.) the mean temperature exceeded the average by 10 . 4 deg., and it was above the average on every subsequent day except Wednesday. On Sunday the thermometer in the shade reached its highest point, 50.5 deg., and on Wednesday it fell to its lowest. 27 9 deg. The range of temperature in the week was therefore 22 . 6 deg. The mean daily range was 10.3 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point temperature and air temperature was only 293 deg., representing the dryness of the air. The mean degree of humidity was 91 ; on three days the humidity was 96, ap proaching complete saturation (100). Except on Wednesday, the coldest day, when the wind blew from the south-east, it generally blew from the south-west. On Saturday the maximum pressure of the wind. was 111 b. on the square foot. At 7 a.m. on that day it begun to blow with a pressure of 31b • and between 10 a . m . an d 1 p.m. i t i ncreased to 101 b .; and, blowing with di m i n i s h e d force in the afternoon, . it again blew with violence at night. Rain was measured to the amount of 0.62 inch, part of which fell on every day, but more than half on Friday. WEST AFRICAN MAILS.—Tho Ethiope, mail steamer (Captain French), sailed from Liverpool yester day for Madeira, Teneriffo, and the West Coast. She carried the mails, twenty passengers, and a hi' cargo. The next African mail is due at Liverpool on the 9th February, per Cleopatra. [ADVERTISEMENT.]-11r. Benson, Ludgate-hill, has just published anew illustrated pamphlet on watches (free by post tor two stamps). It should be read by all who are about buying a watch, as it contains prices and important informa tion as to--What watch to buy where to buy it ! and how to use it! [ADVERTISEAI LNTI-110110Way'S Ointment and Pills.— Tumours, Scrofulous and Glandular Swellings—Abscess.—At this season of the year, while the temperature is so variable, such diseases are continually presenting themselves in san guine and feeble frames. All have placed within their reach the antidote to these dreadful scourges, which, at their com mencement may be readily checked and cured, but when neg lected, resist for a long time the most appropriate remedies. holloway's Ointment rubbed on or near the affected parts, will thoroughly eradicate the cause of these maladies, and expel their seeds from the system. Scurvy, scrofula, and at kindred disorders disappear before this cleansing Ointment and these purifying Pills, which cleanse and invigorate. For sclU'vY, in every shape, they are unfailing speollio, NATIONAL DISCOUNT COMPANY (LIMITED.) A meeting of the above company was held yesterday, Mr. F. W. Russell, M.P., in the chair. It was stated that the com pany is making steady progress. The directors continue to adhere to the principle of having a large reserve ; but they hope soon to accumulate enough to enable thorn to recom mend an increase in the dividend. Part of the premises B. Cornhill have been let to the amount of more than £l,BOO a year, and, including the remaining unoccupied portion, the cost of the office of the company will stand at £BOO a year, being worth double. A remaining small sum remains to be expended on this account, Which will raise the total to a little over £43,000.&1n answer to questions, it was mentioned that the current expenses of the half-year have been rather more than £4,000, and the bad debts £350, the actual loss being ex pected to be considerably reduced by dividends from failed estates. After a few remarks from a proprietor on the prci priety of diminishing the paid-up capital, the report, propos ing a dividend of 5 per cent. per annum, was carried unani. mously. Annexed are an abstract and the accounts : The accounts which the Directors now have the pleasure to submit to the Shareholders, show for the half-year ending 31st ultimo a gross profit of £30,038 Bs. 2d. ; and that after deducting the current expenditure, writing off bad debts, the usual proportion of the preliminary and building expenses, and reserving £9,917 18s. 11d. for rebate of interest on Bills dis counted, not yet due, there remains for appropriation the sum of £14,740155. 11d. Of this sum it is proposed to apply £9,633 12s. 6d. to the payment of a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per anstuin , free of Income-tax, and to carry the balance of £5,107 3s. sd. to the credit of the " Reserve Fund," which with the interest thereon will then amount to £25,604 Os. 9d. ( A Balance Sheet, Saturday, 31st December, 1859. DR. To capital called up, viz. : £5 per Share on 77,069 Shares Amount due by the Company on Loans, Deposit, dm Premises Redemption Fund 204 0 0 To Reserve Fund,— . _ 30th June, 1859 20,194 8 1 Six months' Interest thereon, at 3 per cent per annum 20,497 6 4 Amount at Credit of Profit and Loss Account, as sho'wn on Statement B 14,740 15 11 £3,905,943 1 8 By Cash at Bankers Bills Discounted, Government and other Securities Preliminary Expenses Premises in Coruhill £23,994 0 0 £3,905,943 1 8 ( B Profit and Loss Account of the National Discount Company (Limited), for the half-year ending 31st December, 1859, DR. To Current Expenses, Directors' and Auditors' Remuneration, bad debts, Income-tax, Am— £5,675 13 t To amount written off Preliminary Expenses 5 00 To Premises Redemption Fund To Rebate of Interest on Bills not due, carried to new account 9,917 18 1 1 To dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum £9,63.3 12 6 To addition to Reserve Fund 5,107 3 5 14,74 A 15 11 £30,938 8 2 _,---- Cn. By gross profits during the half-year £30,938 8 2 COUNTRY MA.RICETS. LYNN—JAN. 24. At to-day's market there was only a small supply of wheat, and the best samples meeting with a rood demand► realised prices which could not be procured last week' Barley at late rates. Beans 6d to is dearer. HULL—JAN. 24. The corn exchange to-day was but moderately attended , and business transactions were very dull, prices generalli being is per qr under those of last week,-owing, no doubts to the condition being bad. Linseed in great demand, sad prices advanced from 5s to 10. per ton. Wheat.... Old white....per qr ... 44. Od to 48s I: 1 Old red New white .. „ Nov red .... , Dantzic, Konb , ' &c. old white 48s Od to 55s ~0 4 Dutch, Belgian, and French 4ss Od to 4 7 0 ' Baltic and Hamburg, red... 44s Od to 46s 0 I St. Petersburg and Riga, old 4os Od to 42s 0 1 Barley.... English malting 32s Od to 314 0: Grinding 3os Od to 320 011 Saal and Oderbruck Holstein and Danisk 3 3 60: 0 0 d d t t oo 316033 °(1 0 0 ,... Grinding 26s Od to 29 0 Od Oats English, old Archangel and Riga, per at 2 0 4: ° i d ° l t d o to 11 4 Friesland and Dutch OBll4 to oi l Swedish and Danish 0.114 to 0,11 Beans ....English, old, per qr 4 6 s Od to 480 A New pigeon 4oa Od to 4?i n New tick. 39 s Od to 400 001 Egyptian .. 37. Od to 380 ni Peas . Foreign breakers Grinding Tares ....Winter —a 0 4 to r-60 ‘ii Indian Corn Linseed, feeding sos Od to 52' o s 6 crushing • Linseed cakes (Hull) £9 17 6 to £lO A 0 Foreign 715 oto 6 a 0 Rape cakes . 415 oto 6 6 0 Bones 415 oto 6 NEWARK—JAN. 25. w I (I I At the market this morning - the attendance - 1 rat and there was a moderate show of wheat. Buyers ope ns 4 more freely, and former prices maintained. Malting bap.; more active, and obtaine.l is advance upon late price s . ,' Grinding qualities dull. Oats a moderate show, and Ilea" sale, at late rates. Beans scarce, at former quotations. ~ White wheat, new, 49a to Ms Barley, grinding.. 29s to 3+, Red do. 4ls to 48s Oats, old, .. --a to Old whits 49s to 55s New do 22s to V _ el, Red do. 44. to 48. I Beans.. 463 t o 41' Barley, malting.... 38s to 45. Beans, new --s to MELTON MOWBRAY—JAN. 24. NI There was an average show of wheat to-day, with As , business at the annexed prices :—White wheat, new , Od to 45s Od ; red, 38s Od to 41s per 36 stone ; WWI.; fair supply, at 38s to 43s for malting, and 30s to 32s O qr. for grinding ; oats, 24s to 32s Od per 24 stone ; bew' 425 to 62s for old; new, 52s per 38 mt. •J AN. 24. DUBLIN— s. d. s. d. a i• i • Wheat, white 28 oto3o 0 Do., now ..... oto ---, A Do., red 27 oto 2 8 6 Bore . l3 otol 4 ' . Do., now --0 to 0 ! Rapeseed .... 20 0 to 2 3 • Barley Oats Do., black ll 6to 12 6 Indian corn .. 31 oto 33 COAL MARKET—JAN. 25. (Prices of Coal per Ton at the close of the market.) s. d. Walls End. 4, Wylam l7 6 a . 21 0 Walls End. , South Kelloe Cassop Ships at market, 3—Sold, 3. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. In the followingtable E signifies that letters are deeps— hthoi by evening mails from London, and M by morning mat..., ---- i NO DESTINATIONS. Despatck Port of 66 s i1 of Mails. Despatoh. d ue. Australia and Mauritius, via Feb. S ou thampto n Feb. 11 , , E Southamp. 9 Ditto, via Marseille s Bahamas and Havana via New York Canada, &c. (by Can a d n. pc k t ) Cape of Good H ope, Ascen sion, and St. Hel ena Jan. — l7 ', 1 Liverpool.. _7,, Liverpool.. Feb. a 1° Feb. 6, E Devonpor China, Penang, and Singa pore, vi v aSou a t r h s a a mp e t s on i J F a e n b . . 2 4 6 ,. 3 11 1 , Southarap. Feb. t . Jan. ' 4 " Gibraltar, via S ou th am p ton .. Jan. 27, Southamp. Jan' Honduras Honduras and Blewilolds .... Feb. 17, Southamp. Feb. India (Calcutta) and Ceylon, 1 via Southampton F e b. 4, . . Soutkamp. I r e- h • 4 k Ditto, via Mars e ill es J an. 28 , 3) Jan India (Bombay), via South ampton 26 Jan. 27, • Southamp. Jim . Ditto. via Marseilles Lisbon, Brazils,Buenos Ayres, • and F. Islands Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto J an . 27 , 11 ~onthamp. Feb .P Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via 26 Southampton tJan. 27,31 , eutkamp. Jan. s Ditto, via Marseilles Mexico and Havana Jan. —.M :outhamp. Newfoundland Jan. 28, Eo iverpool.. -- United States aid British N Feb.SAmerica (by British packet) Jan. 28, E iverpool.. Ditto (by U. S. packet) Jan. —, E .oilthamp. --- West Coast of Africa, Ma deira, and Teneriffe Feb. 23 t Liverpool.. Feb. I . West India, California, Vene zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey -1 town, New Granada, &c Feb. 2, So u tb am p. Feb.. BIRTIB. BITLY.—On the 23d inst. , at Brighton, the wife of Car tain Abingdon Bayly, Assistant Auditor-General, BO bay, of a daughter. PHILLIPPS.—On the 24th inst., at Gracedieu Manor, Lei' cestershire, the lady of Ambrose Lisle Phillipps,BoV of a son. SittEL.—On the 23d inst., at 13, Eaton-place, the wife Sir Justin Slid, K.C.8., of a son. MARRIAGES. FITZROY—STRINGS.—On the 6th ult., at Madras, --P r d Cavendish Fitzroy, 68th Light Infantry, son of Lo Charles Fitzroy, and A.D.C. to tho Governor of Madill to Mary, eldest daughter of Lumisden Strange, Esq. , the Suder Court, Madras. SALuoif—Lyssonz.—On the 24th inst., at Twickenht i parish church, the Rev. Henry Th oma s Salmon, of 1 31 : s ton, Warwickshire, to Harriett Eli za b e th, the young e " daughter of the late Admiral Lysaght, of Twickenlish". DEATHS. Bruo.—On the 231 inst., Geo. Martin Bird, Esq., BaMO' hill, Surrey, aged 92. CAURINGTON.—On the 22d inst., at Potton, Mr. T .. 100 Carrington, aged 49. FISILER.—On the 24th inst., at Hill Tcp, Mid lll°l4 Wm. Fisher, Esq., aged 82. Gru.kuo.—On the 24th inst., Mr. J. B. Giraud, of 13' logne-sur-Mer, and late oCastle-street, Leicoster-scl aged 82. GLovEn.—On the 23d init., at Brighton, Curies Glovor, late f Lon. NELTHORPS.— o On on th d e 20th inst. , at Scawby Ha Litr , colnshire, Henry Nelthorpo , Esq., late 9th Lancers , ° flif brother of Sir John Nelthoroe, Bart., aged 38. NoEL.—On tho 17th inst., at Moxhull-park, Wariley shire, L e titi a Penelope, widow of the late Hon. Ber ke 0. Noel. gar OVENDEN.—On the 24th inst , at East Cliffe House, gate, Georgo Ovenden, Esq. • LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YO of No. 112, Strand, Printes at The Sun Office, 11 °',., pi Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the colov Middlesex, Thursday, January 26, 1860, It, at] 13( an buti the AN and Ana O ld 18,5(