The Sun. — London, England, 1860-04-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.) Lord REDESDALEI(in the absence of the Lord Chancellor) took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Glasgow Corporation Bill and the North London Railway Bill were read a second time. The Atherry and Ennis Junction Railway, London Hy draulic Power Company, Isle of Wight Railway (Eastern Section), Drogheda Gas, Leicester Gas, Bainbridge, Lisburn and Belfast, and Ulster Railway Companies, Bel per Water, Worn and Bronygarth Roads, Caine Rail way, Liverpool Corporation Water, and Caledonian Rail way were read a third time and passed. LE GAL DEEDS. Lord CRANWORTH introduced a bill for the purpose of rendering deeds less prolix, by making certain powers inci dental to trusteeship. Thus the trustee would have the power of selling by auction or private contract, and in any other way he thought most desirable, whether the extent of his powers were described in the deed or not. The bill was read a first time. THE POST OFFICE. Tho Duke of NEWCASTLE laid on the table the an nual report of the Postmaster-General. BENEFIT SOCIETIES. Lord STANLEY of Alderley presented a petition from the Odd Fellows' Society, complaining of a clause in the Benefit Societies Act which provided that the society might be wound up by an actuary, en a requisition signed by eight members. DWELLINGS OF THE LABO URING CLASSES (IRELAND). This bill was mad a third time and passed. ALTERATION OF THE PLAYER-BOOK Lord EMMY gave notice that on an early day he should move a resolution concerning the alteration of the Prayer book. THE NEW REFORM BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICAILDE moved for certain returns relating to the representation of the people in Par liament. Ho took this opportunity of expressing his strong objection to the Government Reform Bill, which he characterised as one of the inoA absurd that had ever been introduced into Parliament. He considered the bill a mockery, and if it ever reached the house, which he hoped it would never do, he for one should give it his strongest . opposition. As far as he knew there was no wish for reform in Ireland, in which country there had been no wish publicly expressed for any such object. He did not, go the length of saying there was no need of reform in Ire land, but by the plan at present proposed by Government the inequalities of representation would still remain. The noble earl concluded by moving for a return of all towns in Ireland, exclusive of Parliamentary boroughs, containing a population of 4,000, or upwards, specifying . the counties in which such towns were situated,and showing the number of occupiers rated at above and under £6, and at £6 and upwards, but under £8 and at £B. The Duke of NEWCASTLE trusted that the noble marquis would be disappointed in the wish that the new Irish Reform Bill would not reach their lordships' house. In the absence of all statistical information he could not discuss its merits, but he would safely state that the bill was not one of such magnitude as would " take a man's breath away." There would, of course, be no objection to the production of the returns moved for. Lord MONTEAGLE thought that the clause in the bill with respect to the election of Irish peers for Irish consti tuencies was most absurd. After a few words from the Marquis of CLANRI CARDE, the returns were ordered. THE SITE OF OLD SMITHFIELD MARKET. Lord EBURY rose to inquire whether it was the inten tion of her Majesty's Government to allow any part of the site of old Smithfield Market to be appropriated for building purposes ? The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that no doubt the noble lord was aware, though he had not mentioned it, that the Cor poration of London had a bill before the House of Commons, y which they prpposed to appropriate this space for a dead meat market. A communication had been going on between the Corporation and his noble friend the Secretary for Fo reign Affairs and his right hon. friend at the head of the Home-office. The question had not yet been decided. No answer had been given which could in any way compromise the Government, and the assent of the Crown, which-had not been given, would be necessary before the bill could pass the other House of Parliament. He did not know at what stage the bill stood at that moment, but he believed that some arrangement must shortly be come to, in order that it might make progress. THE STAMP DUTIES BILL. The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in moi, ing the second reading of this bill, and that the Standing Orders Nos. 37 and 38 should be considered, in order to their being dis • pensed with, said, if he rightly understood what on a former occasion was the wish of the house, it was that the house should not now enter upon any discussion of this bill or the Income Tax Bill, but that the discussion should take place after the Easter recess, when the whole financial scheme of the Government could be debated. If that, was the feeling of noble lords, he should be acting more in conformity with it by abstaining at this time from going through the clauses of the bill. lle would thereby merely state, in explanation, that this bill generally proposed to carry out the principle of charging certain articles with a penny and other small stamp duties, and it was found that, though the sums were small, they brought in a, considerable revenue to the Exchequer. The principle was first adopted in respect of the Post-office, and then extended to receipt stamps. It was afterwards carried another step by the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the late :Government, who proposed to charge bankers' cheques a ith a small stamp duty. The bill before their lord ships proposed to impose stamps from ld. to 6d. upon those tides and matters which would be found in the schedule. He understood that some objections would be raised to the bill on the ground that it would interfere with the operation of trade. He thought, however, that when the financial scheme of the Government should be carried into effect it would be found that it would greatly relieve the trade of the country from unnecessary restraints, and that would be done to a great extent by this system of small stamps. The bill was then read a second time. The LORD SPEAKER (Lord Reclesdale) then moved that the standing .girders should be considered and dispensed with, and the motion having heel :grecd to, the bill passed through committee, and was read a third time and passed. THE INCO`JE TAX SILL, The Duke of NE WCAS'T'LE moved the second reading of this bill. The noble lord said it would be only taking up the time of their I,r(lships if ha entered at this time into any dismission on the tv. , o points of the bill—viz., the addi tional ld. which had been imposed, and the passing of it for one year only, as lie understood his noble friend near him (Lord Montengle) intended after Easter to raise a full discussion on the general linvneial scheme of the Govern ment. The bill was then read a second time. The LORD SPEAKER (Lord Redesdale) then moved that the standing orders Nos. 37 and 38 should be consi dered and diSpensed with, and the motion having been agreed to, the bill passed through committee, and was read a third time and passed without further comment, and (as in the case of the Stamp Duties Bill) without the noble lord leaving the woolsack. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COIBIONS.—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the cha - !r at four o'clock. NE W ".1111EI'd BEM. Sir W. Russell and Mr. Warner took the oaths and their seats for the borough of .orwich, and the O'Connor Don for the county Roscommon. PRIVATE BUSINESS The following bills were read a third time and passed : Lend Loan and Iniprovement Company, Lincoln Heath and Market Deeping Roads,rMid Wales Railway, Stockton and Darlington Railway, Stoiirbridge Railway, Tenbury and Bewdley Railway, and Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway. The following bills were considered and ordered for ihird reading t—Smith Devc . .Railkvity, Tewkesbury, Upton upon-Severn, and Malymi. Junction Railway, West Dorset Railway, and Wiancs' . gas and Water. The following bills wct`6 read a second time :—;-AuChter ardor .Common. Mu ir ; Belfast and' Ballymena Railway ; Broipptop, Chatham, Gillingham, &c., Water ;• ,Carrick fergus and Lazne Railway; Edinbrirgh Railway Station -Access ; Gas (MetrolioTis}; Great Northern and Western of Ireland.44olwaY; , Invcrness and Ross-shire Railway.; and Maidstone Water.. MARRIAGE WITH .A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. . A very:large number of petitions' were presented in favour of legalising marriage with a deceased :wife's sister. , • -- NAVIGATION LAWS - Sir G. C. LEWIS presented the reply of her Majesty to ..the address in reference to the alteration in the commercial relations between this country and, France respecting the -navigatiot laws NICE AND SAVOY. Lord J. RUSSELL laid on the table some additional correspondence relative to the annexation of Savoy, and Nice. Her Majesty's Government in tended to keep separate tha question of annexa tion of these provinces and their neutrality. In the correspondence which he laid on the table, there were papers from the Government of Switzerland which were of great importance, for they contained a request for the interference of the powers of Europe, through the me dium of a conference ; into that conference her Majesty's Government had no objection to enter. (Hear, hear.) BUOYS' AND BEACONS. _ _ Mr. RIDLEY asked the PreeidenToitheßoard of Wrade whether the Commissioners appointed on the 3d day of December, 1858, to inquire into the condition and manage ment of lights, buoys, and beacons, had made their report; and if so, when he would lay it on the table ? Mr. M. GIBSON said that the report question had not been received. DURHAM UNIVERSITY. Mr. MOWBRAY moved, an address for return of the number of graduates of the Univerlity of Durham, dis tinguishing their several degrees, end also distinguishing those admitted ad eundum and those upon whom honorary degreei have been conferred, and, in the ease of - graduates who are of the degree of bachelors of arts, distinguishing those, who are of not less than three years' standing, and those who have passed their examination for the degree of master of arts.—Ordered. • • ' • - UNIVERSITIES. Mr. BYNG moved an achliless for return of .the number of graduates of the diffe ren t 'UniverSities of the United Kingdom, distinguishing their several degree.s, those ad mitted ad eunthrn, and those upon. whom honorary de grees Lave been conferred. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord' J.' ItUSSELL moved that upon Thursday after Easter until Whitsuntide, the GoVernment orders of the day should have precedenc:i of notices of motion.' Col. W. PATTEN strongly obitscted to the motion. The fact was, the present Government had gradually encroached on the privileges of priva te members, who were consequently deprived of their legitimate rights. He considered that in the motion before the house a very dangerous innovation was sought to be introduced, and there was nothing in the state of Gov3rnmental measures or public business that required the establishment of a novel. precedent: - Lord PAN:iaItSTON considered that hen. members had no just ground o f complaint as regarded the motion of his noble frietd the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, as that motion originated simply from a desire on the part of h er Majesty's Government to despatch publ ic business. (Hear, hear.) He' contended that the motion grew ' out of the emergency of the time, and was in conformity with the requirements of the p ablic service. (Hear, hear.) Inlet, all that was asked I ly the motion was merely to consent in an early period of the session to that which they would feel called on to do at a later period. (Hear, hear. Ile put to the good sense of the house whether, under the present state of public business, when the Government had been obliged to bring forward measures that were usually deferred till a later period, they should not accede to a motion like the present. The object of that motion was to afford the Louse an opportunity of disposing of business indispensable to the interests of the public service. Hon. members might consider that there was an attempt to encroach unduly en the privileges of private members, but the fact was, and it would be demonstrated, that the Government had only Monday and a part of another day to bring forward its measures. (Oh, oh.) He repeated that statement; for although Friday stood as a Government day, according to the programme of public business, still the fact was that private members availed themselves of the opportunity afforded them by the technical forms of the house, and brought forward motions which sometimes led to protracted discussions, and delayed the pro gress of Government measures. He had showed on a previous occasion that private members should not be deprived of the means of bringing forward their motions, but at the same time it was only due to Go vernment, which was charged with the conduct of public business to afford them ample opportunity of bringing their measures forward, and to carry them through without un necessary delay. (Hear, hear.) Mr. DISRAELI considered that the motion was of an unconstitutional character, and not required by any special exigency of the public service. He believed that if adopted it would be the means of introducing into the business of the House of Commons a precedent that might be dangerous. With regard to the feeling of the house, he thought that Government had no reason to com plain, because there had been every disposition exhibited by hon. members to afford facility for the progress of Go vernment bills. Ho contended that the present motion was uncalled for. Sir J. PAKIN GTON reminded the noble lord that the delay in the progress of the Reform Bill was not justly at tributable to the Opposition, but rather to the Government themselves. He had been led to expect that the discussion on the second reading would have been renewed this week, and it was entirely of their own motion that it had been postponed to the day for which it now stood. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the noble lord would not press this motion, but that the Government would be content with asking far the Thursdays after Whitsuntide instead of before. Lord STANLEY did not remember any session in which the Government had taken for their own business so much of the time which, according to the ordinary practice of the house, belonged to private members. Lord J. RUSSELL reminded his noble fiend that when the Government had taken Thursday evenings for forward ing their measures it was after the notices of motions had been disposed of—a course to which he could hardly con ceive any objection could be made. (Hear, hear.) His hon. friend (Mr. Rich) thought the present arrangement satis factory, because it was the old established practice. Now, what was the working of this old established practice ? A number of important bills were brought in by the Govern ment at an early period of the session—take as an instance the Bankruptcy Bill; it was brought forward u th great form, it was afterwards read a second time with still greater form, a discussion ensued, objections were made to par ii cular clauses which at first sight appeared might be easily disposed of, but which, when the bill came to be discussed in committee, swelled into importance, and it was then found that questions were not raised from any captious motive, but involved points deserv ing of consideration, and which the house found itself under the necessity of maturely considering and decid ing. Well, all this took time, and the month of July perhaps arrived before they were in a position to proceed to the third reading and send the bill up to the House of Lords as a completed measure. That, of course, was too late for the House of Lords to go into the many details of a measure of that bind, and the result was that the whole of the time, and the whole of the legislative skill and abi • lity which had been devoted to the measure was lost. (Hear.) The w ish of the Geyer-uncut was, if possible, to improve that system. They thought that instead of having so many discussions on a measure, it would be better to have one good debate. If such a system were objected to he thought the suggestion of the hon. member for Kent would be en improvement. They could give the whole of Fridays to independent members, and the Government would get Thursdays. Sir G. GREY proposed to add to the motion the words, " And that notices of motion have precedence over orders on Fridays." The effect of that would be that between Easter and Whitsuntide they would make the experiment. Members would bring forward their notices on Tue,sdays and Fridays, and the Government would have Mondays and Thursdays. Mr. DISRAELI inquired whether the motion, repealing as it did one of the standing orders, could be entertained without a longer notice. The SPEAKER replied that the motion would not re peal the standing order, more than a notice that orders of the day should have precedence on a particular day. Sir G. GREY added that the standing older itself con tained the limiting words, " unless the house shall other wise direct." The house then divided on the question that the amend ment be added to the resolution : Ayes .. Noes 126 Majority On the question that the motion as amended be agreed to, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY expressed an opinion that it was a veiy unv, ;le one, a-id that it would extend indefinitely that sort of general conversazione which took place every Friday night. It would be far better to make a rule that Government orders of the day should he proceeded with at a certain hour, say seven o'clock. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NEWDEGATE again objected to the question being entertained until after Easter. Col. W. PATTEN supported the motion as avowedly en experiment. Mr. B. COCIIRANE remarked thai if the Government insisted on forcing a motion of this kind on the house, they (the Government) must not be surprised if indepen dent members insisted on taking every opportunity that might offer itself to them for bringing forward questions which they thought of importance. Mr. BENTINCK protested against the idea that this would be only an experiment ; it would be a precedent, and if independent members were really to submit to this sort of oppression—(laughter)—the sooner they put on their hats and retired int 6 the country the better. (Hear.) The house then divided — Ayes Noes ll7 Majority The motion was then carried. Mr. DISRAELI—Sir, in consequence of the vote to which the house has just arrived, considerable changes must take place in the conduct of public business. In the course of a few hours the house will adjourn ; and it would be convenient if the noble lord will give us some informa tion as to the mode in which the public busineis will be concluded after Easter. I would remind the house that there are tivo subjects of great importance . generally, and . . particularly to the great Liberal party, namely, the mea sure for the abolition of chureh4ates, and the measure for the reform of the House of Commons. Now it'so happens that by the change which has taken place in the order of business; it is impossible for the church-rate question, which is a notice of motion, to come on on Thursday, which has now became an order day, and the notice given by the noble lord the Secretary of State for the resumption of the debate on the second reading of the Reform Bill cannot now come on on Friday, the 20th—(Opposition cheers)—because that order day is transformed into a notice day . . Now, it Would be Tory much to our convenience if the noble lord would in.; form us when the discussion on the second reading of the Reform Bill will be resumed ; and also, should the hon baronet the member for fiavistock (Sir J. Trelawny) be in ,the house, if he will favour us by stating what are his in, tentions with regard to the third reading of the Church Rates Abolition Bill. (Hear, hear.) Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, the arrangements proposed are, that we should take the navy estimates on Monday after the re-assembling of tke house ; on Thursday the finance; and on the Monday following, the second reading of the Reform Bill. Mr. MALINS said that there was a bill of extraordinary length, consisting of 570 clauses, before the houser--the new bankruptcy bill —he be gg ed to know when that 'wthild be taken. Lord PALMERSTON said he could not then answer the question. Colonel P. HERBERT said that with regard to the money estimates the house had been informed that they had been delayed in consequence of the return of several regi ments from India. As this must necessarily occasion great delay, he begged to ask upon what day they would be pre sented again. Mr. S. HERBERT said that a considerable portion of these estimates had to be reprinted, and he would,lay them on the table on the first day the house met after the recess, SARDINIA AND THE DUCHIES. Mr. HENNESSY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government had advised her Majesty to recognise the annexation of Bologna, Tuscany' , Modena, and Parma to the king,dem'of Sardinia ; and if s o,; whether he was prepared to state the reasons which, had in ciltced the Government to tender such advice to her Majesty.; Lord RUSSELL—Sir, in reply to the question of-thee, hen; gentleman, I beg to State that the King of Bardini-a:, has not taken any new title, but his dominions have been enlarged by the annexation of Lombardy ; and I have no hesitation in saying that we have adVised her Majesty to consider the new part of the King of Sardinia's dominions; as forming part of his 'kingdom. The hon. gentleman pro-. tably knows that as soon - as the Austrian troops left Bo logna, the Papal authorities left it likewise, and the country was left without any Government. In Tuscany, as-soon as the Grand Duke left Florence, the grand ducal authorities , also left, At Modena the same thing occurred. The Duchess ; of Parma shoWed more courage and determination than the; ot h" 4— (hcar)—but still she was obliged to leave her . do- L ia,ns. These different states have re-constituted them ., v6s of th e i r own accord, and annexed themselves. to the aominions of the Ring of Sardinia. If the hon. gentleman ' wishes to go further into the matter and in luire into the causes-which. induced the people of those states to leave at 30 w9JSI their former sovereigns, and their motives for so doing, he will have to give notice of a motion on the subject. Mr. B. COCHRANE asked whether the noble lord ob jected to lay bn the table any correspondence between the Government and the charge d'affaires at Rome. Lord J. RUSSELL said there was no charge d'affaires at Rome ; there was only an attache to the legation at Florence. He had laid on the table from time to time seve ral letters addressed by that gentleman. to the home govera , ment, and he did not think that there were any others. CUSTOMS ACTS. The house went into committee on the Customs Acts. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the following amended resolution :—" That in aid of the charges of customs establishments incident to the conduct of trade and to the statistical accounts thereof, there shall be charged as follows, upn all articles, except corn, grain, or flour, and timber and wood goods, upon the importation thereof—per package or parcel, ld. ; animals, per head, ld. ; goods, in bulk, for each unit of entry, Id. ; with power to the Lords of the Treasury to frame regulations for adjusting the amount of such payments in certain cases by altering the unit of entry, or quantity, or number of goods which is to form the unit of entry for the purpose of this charge, so that the charge shall, as little as may be, exceed one quar ter per cent. on the goods of the lowest value usually • ported under the denomination ; and every person entering goods for exportation at the custom-house be required to present to the proper officer of customs a copy of this bill of lading in respect of such goods, with a correct endorsement thereon of the particulars and value of the goods comprised in such bill of lading, and that such copy of the bill of lading so presented shall be deemed the entry outwards for such goods, and be charged with a duty of Is. 6d." The right hon. gentleman said that the original proposal was to lay a charge of Id. upon all articles of import rnd export, with certain adjustments, in order to keep the duty within a certain ratio of the value. Along with that might be considered two other resolutions which related to charges upon goods under bond, and upon certain operations on bonded goods in warehouse. The total produce of these re solutions as origi n ally framed was estimated at £420,000 in all. Of this £3WOOO consisted of registration dues, nearly £60,000 of charges upon goods removed, and about £60,000 upon operations conducted in warehouse. There ware various points in these resolutions, and particularly in the two latter, which were received with a good deal of doubt and distrust, and even disapproval, by those classes particularly of the mercantile world who were im• - mediately affected by them. And he was bound to say that these latter charges, as originally com- puted, were too high, and would probably have tended to restrict the operation of the warehousing system, which was so beneficial to this country. There was also some difficulty in reference to the application of the ld. re gistration, as regarded the export trade. At one time he proposed to get rid of this latter difficulty by imposing an ad valorem duty of 2s. 6d. per cent., and no doubt that charge world have b.ad some very great recommendations. It might have been levied in a very simple manner, and it would have had the effect of establishing that immediate relation between the statistical accounts of the country and the value of the goods, which would have made if, to a certain extent, the duty of the custom-house officers to check the value of the goods, and thus have enabled us probably to attain what he had always looked upon as a most important public object, apart from the fiscal opera tion of the re solution, namely, a much greater correctness in the statistical accounts of goods of export. It would not be necessary to trouble the committee with details, but if the question were disputed it would be quite easy to show that these accounts of exports upon which they so much re lied, upon which they founded so many arguments, and which formed such an important element in their commer cial policy, were in their details exceedingly inaccurate. (Hear.) The objection to the ad valorem duty was, that it offered to the smaller agents perpetual temptations to petty frauds. Therefore he entertained with great willingness a proposal on behalf of the mercantile community to establish a fixed sum to be levied on bills of lading outwards, and tha Government were the more disposed to regard this favour ably, because it would increase the accuracy of statistics. In the event of taxing these bills of lading as the Govern ' ment now proposed, with a Is. 6d. stamp, no greater amount would be raised than £60,000. The ld. charge upon ex • ports, as originally suggested, would have raised a con• siderably larger sum, namely, £300,000. As it now stood, it yielded upon imports about £170,000, making with the former sum of £60,000, a sum of £230,000, thus in volving a sacrifice of £70,000. The right hon gentleman then adverted to the effect of other amended resolutions, not yet before the committee, relating to operations in warehouse, and stated that on the whole the surrender of revenue by these proposals would amount to £lOO,OOO, as suming that the third resolution was passed, or replaced by one equally productive. That surrender he thought they might fairly venture upon. The state of the revenue was good, and he thought the change might safely be made. The committee would observe that they had made effectual provision against the undue or oppressive application of the Id. charge. There were certain cases in which the simple application of the Id. charge would be unjust; and in no in stance more so than in the case of boxes of fruit imported from the East, and used for the purpose of filling up vacant and irregular spaces, called " broken stowage," and which did not exceed the value of 2s. He thought that to this ex tent a surrender of the revenue might be justified. Mr. NEWDEGATE washed to put a question to the right hon. gentleman. Some time since he (Mr. Newdegate) had brought under the consideration of the house the fact, that the exports at the port of Liverpool were greatly over valued. There was now no danger of the duty on exports being less than was anticipated, because no exporter would undervalue his own goods. But he wished to ask whether the right hon. gentleman meant to take any additional steps to provide that the described value should be more accurate than it had been. He had laboriously studied the question for several years, and had discovered that the declared value of the goods was very considerably above the real value. Then with regard to the imports, he feared that the right hon. gentleman's statistical arrangements would not tend to greater accuracy. When there was an ad valorem duty, it was the business of the Custom-house to ascertain what was the value of the imports, and they thus became cognisant of their value, and the statistical department of the Board of Trade was furnished with information which was now lost. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he did not think the hon. gentleman was accurate in his impres • sion that the import returns were systematically over stated. Sometimes they were not entered at all. At other times they were entered twice. Sometimes they were placed too high ; sometimes too low. But he thought they were rather understated, on the whole, than systematically over stated. He knew of no motive for such a course; and; speaking in the presence of many lion. gentlemen who were well informed on the subject, he judged by this reason, that up to the year 1815 they had an ad valorem tax of 10s. per cent. When that tax was levied upon the exports there was a, motive for understating the Valne; 'but yet, if reference were made to the figures, it could not bo found that that, 10s; had any effect upon the understating of, the returns; When that tax ceased, there was no sudden start, no great increase, in the returns immediately, although it occurred some years after the removal of the tax. He thought there. fore it was necessary to .check the inipm ir returns upon thii ground. But the values were delivered at present by junior clerks of mercantile establishments ; and were not attested by responsible parties. He thought it was desirable that thig *attestation should be secured—(hear, hear)—but as re garded the imports he thought no additional security would be necessary. 1 Mr. LINDSAY said• that at present there was a large class of goods imported in small packages, known amongst shippers as "broken stowage," and which • weie taken for half freight by shipowners, because they could be conveni-: ently used for filling up small spaces. The, result of this tax on packages would be that a number of small ones would bo put into one large one, and thus the consignor would have to pay &lupe the freight which he now paid. The great bulk of our imports were now free of duty, but a charge would be created on all by this penny tax. At the Custom-house journal and ledger entries would be required fir every penny , or sixpence that was charged. The additional ls. 6d. on the' 4th bill of lading he understood was merely for the purpose of securing correct statistical returns to the Custom. house,' not for raising an additional revenue. But its operation would be extremely unjust. If a bill of lading represented goods not worth more than 55., it would be taxed Is. 6d. ; while one representing £lO,OOO would only pay the same.; To carry out the system would entail an immense amount of labour, much more than the Chancellor of the Exchequer supposed. Ho hoped that this resolution also would be de ferred until after Easter. Mr. T. BARING said that though the amended resolu tions were preferable to the original ones, the grave objec tion remained that they introduced fresh complications into the operations of trade—subjected those engaged in trade to potty and vexatious payments—and introduced a system which it had been the object of past legislation to put an end to by simplifying as much as possible the process of buying and selling. Th ey h a d remove d d ut i es th e remova l of which would benefit ne i t h er the pro d ucer nor consumer ; b u t th e right hon : ., gentl eman might have found a better substitute than this penny tax, especially when he was obliged to leaves regulating power to the Lords of the Treasury. He thought the penny system was an erroneous one. It had succeeded remarkably well in the Post-office ; but there the rate had been reduced to a penny from a much higher ; amount ; here a penny was imposed where nothing had been damage this coun t aid before. It would make the operations of trade and s hipping a cons t ant s eries of ta xes from beginning to end. t ß r yy such e t il h the e s n y i s p t o e r m i utmh they yf foreignmight seriou sly trde.A present stati s ti ca l returns were obtained from the Custom-house clerks with out any additional expense, and there was no need to levy a new penny, tax for that purpose. They were taking off in • direct taxation which really affected hardly anybody, and putting direct taxes on traders and merchants. The tax on dock warrants affected London peculiarly. The tax on bills of lading had been suggested by the mercantile body to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as a substitute for all those obnoxious pence ; but having got the suggestion he adopted it, and retained all the other taxes. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—No, no. As the resolution stood originally it was a penny upon im ports and exports as well. Now itis a penny upon imports; and instead of putting it on exports, we tax the bill of lading Mr. BARING said that the exporter ought to pay as well as the importer. Though the charge on bills of lading was objectionable, it might have been admitted as a substitute for the other little vexatious charges. There was no use in testing the opinion of the committee, and the sufferers from the right hon. gentleman's plan must bear it. Mr. CRAWFORD said he did not share in the general objection to those charges ; but if at any time they produced more than was anticipated from them, the mercantile inte rest would have a fair claim for their reduction. He thought that the penny tax on packages would be collected without much trouble, and would produce much more than was expected. As to the unit of entry he saw no great difficulty in carrying out the arrangements proposed by the resolution. Nor did he, think that the duty on packages would have the effect of diminishing the quantity of goods brought in under the denomination of " broken stowage." There would be no difficulty in so arranging the unit of duty in all cases that shippers of goods in all parts of the world would know perfectly well what peculiar circumstances they had to meet. The proposed tax on bills of lading would lead to great advantage in ascertaining the quantity of our exports. The bill of lading was in effect a contract between the shipper of the goods and the owner of the ship, and was not likely to be far wrong on either side. The fourth copy of the bill of lading would answer all the pur•. poses of a declaration of value, and afford a very satisfac tory means of arriving at the quantity and value of the ex ports of this country. Sir H. CAIRNS said that the cross-channel trade between England and Ireland had not hitherto been con sidered an export trade, though the goods might afterwards be exported from England. He understood, from the terms of the resolution, that goods sent from Ireland to Liverpool, to be reshipped there, would not be subjected to a double charge. The statistical returns of exports were at present very inaccurate, for though Ireland exported to the extent of many millions a year, as the goods were sent to this country to be reshipped, no notice whatever was taken of them in the returns as forming part of the export trade of Ireland. From one part alone, Belfast, many millions' worth of linen were exported every year ; but in the returns its exports were stated at a few hundred thousand pounds. He would suggest an addition to the resolution, requiring that a declaration should also be made as to the origin or place of manufacture of the goods exported; they would then have a knowledge of the place which really and bona fide did export them. He thought that the resolution was not sufficiently clear as to the power of the Lords of the Treasury for adAsting charges. The words, "so that the charge shall as little as may be exceed per cent. on the value thereof," were vague. He would suggest that it should be, "shall in no case exceed a per cent." Great errors would also arise from the required declaration of value to be placed in the bill of lading. The effect of this resolution would be, that it would lead to inequality in the incidence of the charge ; for a bill of lading in some cases included almost the whole cargo, and in others only a small portion of one. The same tax, therefore, would be levied on a bill of lading which represented £lO,OOO and on one which represented only £lO. The charge was not justified by the reasons assigned for its imposition ; it would hamper trade, and after being imposed, the pressure against it would lead to its removal. Mr. HANKEY said his objection was that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not stated what this charge was to be a substitute for. The mercantile body suggested this charge on bills of lading to the right hon. gentleman in order to avoid the tax upon packages, but he now put the tax upon both. He had no objection to the charge itself, but he thought after what took place that the right hon. gentle man ought to state what taxes he was going to take ofE Mr. CAVE objceted to the resolution, especially that part of it which referred to the cost of collecting statistics. It was very questionable whether this charge should be saddled on the commercial classes at all. The cost already fell on those classes, but by this proposal they would have to pay it twice. The charge on small packages would lead to great delay, inconvenience, and even to the stoppage of goods. It would also increase the chances of embezzlement because there was no more fertile source of that crime than the entrusting of sums of money to porters and junior clerks to pay these small charges. He was glad the right hon. gentleman was going to reconsider the charge for operations in bond. The effect of the charge would be to drive into foreign countries many of the operations which were now performed in this country. Mr. MITCHELL said he felt bound to support the fresh taxation now proposed by the right hon. gentleman, having given his support to the general principle of his scheme. Mr. HORSFALL said the question was not now whether they would have any of these small taxes, bat what was the best form in which they could be levied. He did not like the charge at all, but he accepted it as a compromise ; and on that ground he was prepared to support it. He should like to hear from the right hon. gentleman that he aban doned the tax on small parcels. If passed this session, he had no doubt that a tax of that kind could not be of long continuance. With regard to the over-valuing of goods sent from Liverpool, he was at a loss to assign any reason for so doing ; but there was great carelessness on the part of the custom-house officers, and they were sometimes obliged to guess at the value. The resolution was then-agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then pro posed the 21st resolution, as follows :—" That in aid of the charge of the customs establishment incident to the ware housing and removal of goods under bond, there shall be sharged (irrespective of any duties of customs, or other charges payable by law, and in addition thereto) a customs duty at the rate of 10s. per £lOO on the amount of customs duty payable on such goods as shall be warehoused, and re moved under bond from any warehouse in any port or place to any warehouse in any other port or place, and at the rate of ss. per £lOO on the amount of customs duty payable on such goods warehoused but not removed, to be paid in each case on taking such goods out of bond for home consump tion; provided that tobacco shall only be chargeable with half the above rates, and that no more than the sum of 55., in addition to the sum of ss. per centum, shall be chargeable upon any single delivery of sugars for refineries when removed under bond." At pre sent a number of very small places enjoyed the privi leges of warehousing at the cost of the country, not in respect only of goods they imported, but also of goods that were transferred to them. The consequence was that the large towns had begun to ask for those privileges; and Manchester had very naturally and fairly also asked to have those privileges extended to it. That was agreed to, but upon the condition that the town itself should in one form or another be subject to the charges. But Manchester said, " Why should we bear the cost of warehousing when the deliveries into our warehouses amount to hundreds of thousands a year, while those insignificant places have warehousing establishments without being called upon to pay any of the charges ?" He thought on the grounds of justice and policy, the proposal of the Government was a sound and wise one. It would compel the inhabitants of those warehousing places to contribute to the costs of the establishment, and would operate in preventing an undue demand for the extension of warehousing establishments throughout the country. The mode proposed by the reso lution was this--it was based upon the principle of levying a quarter per cent. upon all goods in warehouses or deli vered from warehouses. The parties upon whom those charges would fall were not the importers of goods, but those whom he should call the retail dealers throughout the country. But there was one exception with respect to those charges, and that referred to tobacco, upon which the charge would be only one-eight per cent., on the ground that as the charge levied was not upon the value of the goods, but upon the amount of duty paid, it was thought right that the charge be mitigated one-half of that imposed upon other goods ; and thus an equality of charges would be obtained between tobacco and other goods. Now, as to the charge upon goods removed, that had been fixed at one quarter per cent. ; and he should say if it was a sound principle that those places should be subject to the cost of warehousing, the charge was a fair one. He should be sorry to do anything for the repression of the warehousing system, but, like any other, it had its proqer limits. He would not multiply establishments for warehousing at places which did not export, and which could not ex port. The only fair way of regulating the system was for each to make a moderate:contribution towards the cost of the establishment. This could best be done by putting a small charge upon the removal of goods. They would not charge upon each removal for thole goods which underwent successive removals. He found important functions with respect to the regulation of trade and the equalisation of prices in the different markets. A special provision was made for sugar. They proposed that a fee of ss. should satisfy for the removal of any quantity of sugar deliverable out of bond for the purpose of refining. This tax would not press severely, as it would be commonly levied on amounts of 20 or 30 tons, and sometimes on amounts con siderably beymid that. The proceeds of this resolution would be about £50,000. Mr. DALGLISH objected to the resolution, because it made the 'great centres of trade pay for small and unim portant places. The hon. gentleman moved an amendment to the effect of getting rid of the charge on removal of goods from bonded warehouses. The verbal amendment put was the omission of the words " and removal." The committee then divided, when their appeared : For the amendment Against it Majority The resolution was then agreed to, and the house re sumed. REFRESHMENT HOUSES AND WINE LICENSES BILL. Upon the motion for the resumption of the adjourned de bate on the second reading of this bill, Mr. CROOK moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The hon. member said the Chancel. for of the Exchequer had informed the house upon a former occasion that two parties objected to this bill. He confessed that he had no sympathies with the licensed victuallers. He appeared simply as an advocate of the opinions which the various temperance societies of this country had explained in their petitions to the Louse. They did not ask the Go vernment to prohibit the introduction of foreign wines into. England. They waived their peculiar views on the present occasion, and took issue with the Chancellor of the Exche quer on his own conditions. That right hon. gentleman had characterised the bill as a wise and good measure, and said he believed it would not very powerfully affect the use of spirits, or even the use of beer. The plea of the large APRIL 3, 1860. section of the community which he (Mr. Crook) repre sented-was, that having consented to the introduction of foreign wines, they believed the facilities for its distribution now existing were amply sufficient. There were 105,000 persons at the present time set up by law specially to ad minister to the comfort, or to corrupt, demoralise, and de base the people, and this bill would add largely to that num ber. The bill was in direct opposition to the report of the committee of 1854, which was presided over by the present President of the Poor-law Board, with the exception of the provision placing coffee-shops and refreshment-houses under the supervision of the police. The bill made the labours of the committee quite useless, and would prevent the house acting upon their report at any future time ; and he wondered why the right hon. gentleman had not pro posed to allow ardent spirits to be sold by every shop. The committee of 1354 recommended that no intoxicating drinks should be sold without a license of not less than £6; but under the present bill a shop could be opened for the sale of wines with a license which would not cost more than 2d. a day. The result of the committee's report was that the facili ties for the distribution of intoxicating drinks should be largely reduced ; and in the face of that and the other facts he had mentioned he appealed to those members who were fathers of families and justices of the peace, whether they could conscientiously give their support to such a measure. He implored the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the grounds of propriety and temperance, to withdraw so fatal a measure out of regard for the interests of the poor; but if he did not do so ho believed that the wisdom of the house I would reject it. He moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR, in seconding the amendment, disclaimed being the representative of any temperance asso ciation or other body, and said he opposed the bill because he thought that upon many grounds it would not tend to the welfare of the community. Experience proved that three-fourths, if not five-sixths, of the cases which came before the criminal courts of the country were referable to the temptations, the seductions, and the degrading influ • ences of licensed public-houses and beer-shops. (Hear.) He submitted that neither upon fiscal, sanitary, nor moral grounds had the Chancellor of the Exchequer made out a case in favour of the bill. Mr. M'Culloch said he doubted whether inferior wines, if introduced into this country free of duty, would be very much drank ; and that he thought beer would continue to be drunk by the bulk of the popula tion. The Economist newspaper, in an article upon the sub ject, said that there were a great many weak wines produced in France which might be made sufficiently strong for the English palate by the introduction of alcohol in the shape of brandy. This was the cloven foot of the affair, and would let the people know what they had to expect. A French gentleman examined before one of the wine committees also said that the French producers had no anxiety with regard to their good wines, and that what they wanted was to got rid of their bad vintages. (Hear, hear.) Not a single peti tion had been laid on the table in favour of the bill, and in his opinion the present facilities for the sale of spirits and wines were amply sufficient, and he trusted the house would pause before it thrust upon the people greater temptations. It appeared that in order to carry out the treaty with France they must thrust these wines down the throats of the pub lic. The bill was as clumsy a piece of legislation as he ever saw, because under it barbers, greengrocers, tailors, aid in fact any other shopkeeper might take out a license for the sale of wine. Then came clause 4, which contained a most dangerous principle. Every place of refreshment, every oyster shop, every little shop for the sale of buns or biscuits was obliged to take out a wine license. That was licensing with a vengeance. But this was not all—with the French wines they also introduced French police. (Hear, hear.) By a later clause of the bill constables had discretionary power to enter these places, however respectable, at any hour of the day. As a lover of constitutional freedom he protested against this inquisitorial system. (Hear, hear.) The man who gave or lent his room in which his neighbours or a pie-nic party might come and eat their food must take out a license. The 12th section gave an extraordinary power to the magistrates. If, after a notice for the license, any objection was offered within 30 days by a magistrate, the excise were not to grant the license. This was worse than the French system. Here was a bill which deprived a man of his license simply on the objection of a magistrate that he did not consider the house a bona fide eating-house. He should like to know what was a bona fide eating-house ? There was no definition of it in the bill. The license was to be given on the ground that a man when he ate wanted drink. He (Mr. Seymour) agreed with this : but, if the argument were good for anything, the man ought to be allowed to choose what he would drink—he ought to be allowed to drink beer, if he chose, as well as French wine. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—He may. Mr. SEYMOUR—There was nothing to show that he might in the bill. Then as to the clause relating to adul teration, it struck at the small shopkeeper, but left the adulteration by the shopkeeper unchecked. He objected to the bill on every ground, financial, political, and moral. The Beer Bill. which was introduced to give the working man cheap beer, was a failure—and this would be more so, while, like that bill, it would increase immorality and crime. Mr. KER SEYMER considered the proposition to grant wine licenses to refreshment houses the best part of the budget ; but ke was not surprised that it should be opposed, and by two opposite parties. He expected, too, to find that the strongest opposition would be from the licensed vic tuallers, for moral opposition was rarely so effectual as a selfish opposition. The advocates of temperance were mistaken, he thought, in their ground of opposition. At the same time, the proposition of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, which would extend the liquor traffic, was quite a godsend to the Total Abstinence people, who had all the paraphernalia of agitation and were anxious to exercise it for the introduction of the Maine law. As to the more mo - derate objectors, who said the bill would increase drunken ness, he could not see that the present system prevented people from getting drunk if they chose to do so. The house had determined to reduce the wine duty, and the next step was to give free scope to its consumption by allowing it to be sold in refreshment houses. Many would prefer beer, no doubt, but let them have wine if they chose. The question for the house to consider was whether the only path to cheap wine should be through the gin shop. (Hear, hear.) He thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer had decided wisely that it should not. (Cheers.) There was no greater anomaly that struck a Frenchman in this country than that law which prohibited the proprietors of eating houses selling wine or beer, and he thought on all grounds that it would be desirable to remove that anomaly, The licensed victuallers said this bill was not free trade, but they endeavoured to mystify the question. The question of free trade was not involved in the bill before the house at all. That question was whether they should restrict any number of persons from selling beer; and he knew that there were hundreds of persons who were competent to keep houses, but who were forbidden to do so, and that was the question of free trade. The licensed victuallers then said the bill would lead to an extension of drinking. Now, did these publicans really oppose the extension of drinking? True, they said drinking in these wine-shops would be had, but drinking in gin -shops was the best of all possible. (Laughter.) To catch a few Conservative votes, they said that these houses would be the resort of Radical politicians. Well, all knew that " pothouse politicians" was a pro verbial term, and all Englishmen would talk politics, but he did not feel any alarm about these new houses. And then these gentlemen said that respectable women were ashamed to be seen at the bar of public houses. Well, if they were the respectable and virtuous places as stated, he did not see why persons should be ashamed to go there. (Hear, hear.) And the daily organ of the publican body had stated in a recent number that if a man should go into a pastrycook's shop he would find his wife disgracefully drunk in the back parlour, and his daughter employed in something worse in the attic. (Hear.) But all that was only wet thy of the quarter from which it came. (Hear.) That was the case of the publicans as stated by themselves. He had shown that the teetotallers were not fair judges of the question, and many persons like the hon. member for Leominster were needlessly alarmed. The position of the licensed victuallers was wholly selfish, and he did hope the parliament of this country would sanction this measure. Mr. HARDY said he would not impute to the Chancellor of the Exchequer any intention to corrupt the morals of the country. The course taken by the hon. member for Dorset shire did not touch the question, which was whether it was necessary' or advisable to increase the places for the sale of intoxicating liquors—(hear, hear)—and whether to do so would increase the revenue without injury to social order. He was quite clear of brewers and all other persons, and therefore he might say that he did not believe in the cry against them, nor did ke believe that the licensed ♦ictuallers would suffer to the extent of £50,000,000, as alleged in their memorial ; indeed, he did not think they would be affected at all at present. The present system of licensing he could not defend ; it was open to improvement, and the justices should have the full control over all places where persons assembled together for the purpose of drinking, The system of appeal, as it now existed, he was not satisfied with, for it had become a mere form, and generally the magistrates in quarter sessions affirmed the decisions of the justices below. He was opposed to the doctrine of the United Alliance Society. The use of the thing was good, the abuse bad. No doubt these drinks were harmless in their use but prejudioal in their abuse, and it was the duty of the house to check the abuse of them. The object of the bill was to raise a revenue, and he be lieved that it would be a failure. The loss from one source would not be made up by the admission of French wines into this country and to be sold by refreshment houses. It was a remarkable fact that, as the Secretary to the Treasury had told them the other night, nearly the whole of the indi rect revenue of the country was made out of nervous stimu lan ts. No doubt the community required A, good deal of stimulant to raise its spirit from the depression into which a temporary income tax was so well calculated to throw it. (A laugh.) The bill, they were told, was to secure the sale of u Well, what had the free vintners of Landon sold? Look at the evidence of Sir R. Mayne, and they would find that the free vintners sold spirits under colour of wine. (Year, hear.) And what security had they that the same thing would not occur, when they placed beershop-keepers in a position similar to that of the free vintners? Indeed he should like to know on what principle they could allow wine to bo sold, and not extend the same privilege with regard to spirits? Depend upon it, they were opening a door which they could never again shut ; and when this measure 'Ad—pa fail it would— they would have no choice left them but to grant free trade in intoxicating drinks. The right hon, gentleman said he wished to join eating and drinking together; but people drank more after dinner than they did at dinner. (No, no.) 'Well, they used to do. (Laughter.) Besides, a man did not eat except when he was hungry; whereas he drank for many reasons, People drank with a friend, or because— " Good wine, a friend, or being dry, Or lest you might be by-and. by, Or any other reason why." (Laughter.) No one would wish to see persons who now dined at home with their families frequent eating-houses ; and therefore the class to whom the bill would apply was comparatively limited. But a man who had once been to an eating-house where liquor was sold would find his way there again when he wanted to drink ; and he would not think it necessary to eat first. Thus, eating-house or no eating-house it would be all the same. In the early part of the session he (Mr. Hardy) had asked for the report of the Forbes Mac kenzie Act. A commission had been sent into Scotland to inquire into its operation. That was a restricting act against the sale of wine and spirits, and the houses which supplied wine and spirits. He must say that the preamble of that act contrasted in a most remarkable manner with the provisions of the present bill. It recited that great evils had arisen from certificates granted to houses for the sale of wine and spirits in Scotland ; a commission was appointed to inquire into the operation of the act, and, whilst waiting for the report, the Legislature of this country was called upon to pass an act for England and Wales upon totally different principles. That commission was composed of several eminent and en lightened men, and Sir G. Clarke's name was sufficient to insure an impartial and disinterested inquiry. Was it not important that the house should know what the report of these commissioners said ? (Hear.) He hoped he was not detaining the house, but this was a subject on which he felt • a deep interest, and he hoped the house would pardon him. (Hear.) Then it was said that this bill would prevent adul teration. But only a few days since the hon. member for Birmingham introduced a bill to stop the adulteration of ar ticles of food and drink. But the house well knew that the statutes relating to publicans and beersellers contained re strictions of the most severe character against the adultera tion of beer and spirits, yet the attempt to pat down adulte ration had entirely failed. The hon. member had informed the house that bread was often made of plaster of paris, and that cayenne was nothing but brickdust ; so that a man after eat ing adulterated bread, and then endeavouring to rectify his digestive organs by the stimulant of cayenne pepper, ran a chance of having his internal economy entirely walled up. (Laughter.) That took place under the most perfect system of free trade. There was another point to which he would allude, viz., the sale of wine in single bottles. That, no doubt, was a matter of comparatively minor importance. Yet there was a great deal in what had been said by the hen. member for Southampton. One of the chief evils of the present system was the presenting servants who came to make purchases for their masters and mistresses at shops with wine or spirits over the counter. Was there no danger of this system extending itself, and taking the place of the old practice of giving veils to servants ? (Hear.) He thought that subject was worthy of considerable attention. He had already treated of some of the social features of the measure; but there was another question which be would wish to put. Was it likely that this bill would succeed as a matter of re venue ? (Hear.) He confessed he thought not. By this time it was pretty well seen which way the taste of the mass of the people was extending. It was not to be supposed that a supply of minor stimulants would stop the sale of stronger liquors. The case might be compared to that of the news papers which were deemed objectionable. People asked one another why do you not take in a good family paper? (A laugh.) The light wines would be considered harmless and insipid, people probably thinking that they did them no good; and as the "family papers" disappeared from circulation, so people would at last have recourse to the more exciting stimulants which they had a greater affection for. The right honourable gentleman seemed to anticipate that drunkenness would diminish, inasmuch as it did not pre vail M. countries where the light wines were drunk. He (Mr. Hardy) did not know where the right hon. gentle man obtained his information. Ho could only say that Mr. Fenimore Cooper, the American novelist, had stated, speaking of Paris, that he saw more drunken people in Paris, by knowing where to go to look for them, than he had ever seen in London. He found it also stated that there were no less than 360,000 of these wine shops in France; and that out of 11,000 homicides perpetrated in that country 400 were committed in these wine shops: With respect to Sweden the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the house some information which he (Mr. Hardy) was glad to hear. He had had occasion some years since to comment upon the case of Sweden, and he was glad to hear that Sweden had rescued herself from the stain which had attached to her. Every Jerson in Sweden had a right to distil ; and in order to show what the result of free trade in spirits was, he would observe that in Sweden there were 150,000 distillers. He quoted from Alison's History, where the authorities were cited, and the result of this free trade was, that notwith standing the thinness of the population, the amount of im morality in Sweden was not paralleled by the case cf any other country. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had told them that 1860 was to be a memorable year. Did he mean, with Jack Cade, that conduits were to run with nothing but claret ? (A laugh.) Re would recommend the !right hon. gentleman to build his fiscal reputation on measures which would improve the morals of the community, and not on founding new houses for the sale of intoxicating liquors. If he added to the 120,000 debauched houses already existing, he would be doing that which was against the sense of his constituents, of the house, and of the country at large. Mr. AYRTON moved the adjournment of the debate. (No, no.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER consented (Cries of " When ?") The adjourned debate was fixed for the 19th of April, amidst much cheering from the Opposition. FISHERIES (SCOTLAND) BILL. This bill was read a first time. POLICE AND TOWNS IMPROVEMENT ACT AMENDMENT (SCOTLAND). This bill was read a first time. PUBLIC CHARITIES. This bill was read a first time. The house adjourned at 20 minutes past 12, till 3 o'clock to-morrow (this day). ASSIZE IN2'BLLIGENCE. OXFORD CIRCUITLGLOUCESTER, April 2. CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Keating.) THE ST. BRIAVEL'S MURDER. Joseph Webb, a :young man, was charged with the wilful murder ofan old man named John Hughes, under circumstances of extraordinary brutality, on the 4th of January last. Mr. Davis and Mr. Sawyer prosecuted ; Mr. Cripps for the defence. The prisoner is a labourer, who had been working for Mr. William Kear, a timber merchant, cider dealer, and who also retailed cider at a house called the Cherry Tree, at the Lower Mynde, in the parish of St. Briavel's, Gloucestershire. The prisoner, who is a single man , an d w h o was li v i ng with his parents, was only casually employed by Mr. Kear, in the place of George Hughes, who had been un well for about three months. About six o'clock on the morning of the 4th of January, prisoner went to his work as usual, and about nine o'clock George Hughes came and announced that he was suffi ciently recovered to go on with his work. He went out about three o'clock in the afternoon to see a calf in an out-house, about 300 yards from the house, M r . K ear accompany i ng him, and pri soner remained in the kitchen. What then oc curred may b e b es t gat h ere d f rom the evidence of Richard Kear, an intelligent boy of 13. He said : I was sittin g on th e se ttl e i n the kitchen, and prisoner snatched from me some bread and meat which I was eating. I said if he was so greedy as that he might have it. He began teasing me, pulling my hair, and bumping my head against the settle. I cried out, and my sister Eliza came and struck prisoner with a stick. He took the s ti c k from her, and my grandfath er came into the kitchen and helped my sister to get prisoner from me Prisoner struck both of them down with his fist and when my sister Esther came in, he struck ha' down. John Hughes, the deceased, was sitting on a chair by the fire, and prisoner went round and knocked him down. I fetched a spade, and said if he struck my grandfather again I would strike him with the spade. He did strike him again as he was sitting on the settle, and I struck the prisoner on the head with the spade. I ran out, prisoner fol lowed ; I dropped the spad e outs id e the house, and my grandfather picked it up. He was going to throw it away, Isut prisoner wrenched it from his hand, and knocked him down with his fist. John Hughes came out with his hat on, and was going away, when prisoner ran after him and struck him on the head w i th t h e spade. He struck him again with the spade when he was on the ground. Pri soner next struck my grandfather down with the spade, and kicked him. Grandfather's left arm was broken. My sister Eliza said prisoner had killed grandfather and he struck her down with his fist. She got up and ran away, and he followed her nine or ten yards, then turned back and struck Hughes with the spade on the head as he was lying on the ground. There was blood on Hughes's head. He was quiet, and I thought himinsensible. Grandfather had got up and was standing by the door, and pri soner again knocked him down with the spade in the doorway. I then ran up to the prisoner, and kicked him, and he tried to hit me with the spade, but I avoided the blow. He again went and struck Hughes. I got grandfather indoors, and lock e d the door. I wen t o d t b y ano th er d oor into the or chard, whi c h i s hi g h er t h an th e house, and saw my aunt, Mary Willi ams , w ho exclaimed, " Oh, L or d, he will kill father !" Prisoner ran after me, but on Jane Howell's coming up with a child in her arms he struck her on the forehead, and caused a great wound, and the spade handle broke. I saw my father coming, and threw a stone at the prisoner, which knocked him down. Cross-examined—The stick with which prisoner Was struck was about as big as a man's finger. I saw no blood on him until the policeman struck him. Prisoner to o k off his upper clothing, and showed the collar and neck of his shirt much torn. 11 . e, said he was c h o k e d b e f ore h e went ou t, an d did not know whether he was dead or alive. A large number of witnesses corroborated the above evi dence, and agreed in saying that the prisoner Was sober at the time. Mr. Kear said the prisoner was very wild, threatening everybody, but gave up the pieces of the spade when asked kindly. George Hughes said prisoner threatened him before he went to see the calf that was ailing. When he came back, his father (who was 76 Year s , of age) was insensible, an d th e o ld man di e d that same night. Mr. Wotton and Mr. Reed, surgeons, gave evi dence as to the state of the deceased, whose skull was fractured in three places, the bone being driven into the brain, this being the immediate cause of death. Prisoner had sustained injuries on each side of the head. He was calm and quit e sober when the surgeons saw him at midnight. Police-constable L or d, w h o appre h en d e d t h e Pri" soner, deposed that he refused to be taken int o custody. He struck witness, who struck him heal blows with a bludgeo n on eac h s id e o f t h e bee ' accounting for the injuries afterwards found an both sides of prisoner's head. Police -constable Turner deposed that prison er afterwards told him that he did what was done in self-defence, that they were all drunk together, and he would pursue the same course if it had to be done over again. Mr. Cripps argued that there was aggravatio n in the case, which aroused prisoner's irritation' and suggested that tobacco had been put into the, prisoner's cider, w hi c h, com bi ne d w i th the e ff ec t (I the blow he received on his head, he was exasperat e d beyond measure, an d f ur i ous l y per f orme d acts De had not the slightest intention to commit. He sub " mitted that although un d ou bt e dl y t h e prisoue', would have to undergo very heavy punishment for what he had done, the jury might, consistentil with their duty, acquit him of the crime of murder; which would consign him to the scaffold, and fin' him guilty merely of manslaughter. The jury found the prisoner guilty of mall" slaughter, and he was sentenced to penal servituuu for life. COUNTRY MAREBTS. COLCHESTER--MAucu 31. A tolerable supply of wheat, and for the best same millers were obliged to give is per qr over the full pry of last week. Spring corn an d other grain nualtow" . Beans and peas is dearer. Wheat, white —46 s to 52s I Beans, Mazagan.,32s to 36 ,, g , red 40s to 48s I Middle & small 36s to 4 '"' Barley 36s to 505 I White peas 36s to L SI Oats 2os to 28s I Grey.. 32s to owl CHELMSFORD--MAEcH 30. ~.A8 There was a less supply of w h ea t ; generally the b..- -- A was brisk, at 2s over last w ee k' s p r i ces . B ar l ey of all 00 "" keeps looking up in value. Oat and peas is more mono!' Beans as before. Wheat, white 43s to 56s Peas, Partridge —39 s red 37s to 48s White 39 4 to Barley 32s to 39s Boiling 39s to 4, 5 : Chevalier ....34s to 44s Dun 34s to 3 ° Grinding 23s to 28s Beans, Tick ...394 to it Malt 6os to 66s Harrow Ticks 42s to nn Chevalier .. ,63s to 68s M azagan 37 s to P Oats 24s to 34s DERBY—MARCH 31. of At our market yesterday wheat held at an advance 3s over last week, with a limited show. Barley was ve r i steady, and inquired after at is over late rates. Oats an beans quite as dear. STAMFO. An average supply of all ruled fait at an improvemi at late rates. Wheat ....42s to. 45s Oats.. 2os to White do 46s to 50s I Beans 405 to Barley ....36s to 44s Ditto, old ........465 to 4°' —MARCH 31. ids of grain, and the mar . , it of is to 2s. B eans V' KIRKAI; Here to-day we have and oats, but only one par advance on both wheat an ,DY-11ARcx 31. lieat had moderate supplies of wx - e , rcel of barley. Sales ready, I I " id oats. Wheat Barley Oats First.... 42s Od 40a Od 24s Od Second.. 49s Od —s Od 29s Od Third .. 52a Od —s Od 328 Od COAL MARK (Prices of Coal per Ton at :ET-APRIL 2. the close of the market.) s. d. Buddle's West Hartleyl6 0 Byass's Beside West • Hartley ....16 0 Chilton Hartley Steam.ls 3 Davison's West Hart ley l6 0 Hastings Hartley .16 0 Howard's West Hart- Wails End. A 11. Kelloe . South Hartle ..... 20 0 Hartlepool... _••• ..15 6 North HartlePo?'"' ' 17 6 Trimdon Thorniey • • Carway and Duffora A i Malting ..23 I Hatton 2O 1 Framwellgate l9 South Hatton 20 6 Heugh Hall 19 6 Braddyll' a H a tt on 1 i n s 0 • •. •South Durham., l' Eden 19 0 6 Hatton ... .. . ..19 ~ Wharneliffe 18 ; Whitworth 16 :et, 57—Sold, 45. 1 ley ^ ..16 0 Lambert's West Hart- ley 16 0 Tanfield Moor 12 6 I'anfield Moor Butes 12 6 Walker Primrose 13 0 Wylam .... Walls End. Acorn Close 19 6 Ships at marks aSY SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT.— A ei.e f - g r . morning a carman named Belcher, in the emply of Chamberlain., contractor, of Belvedere-r oa d, L am etbt just unloaded his cart of bricks at Mr. Newton's, Fal ° ",o wharf, Bankside, and the tide being low, he ventured df ) ,:i to wash the horse and cart. He had not proceeded iwr" yards before the horse led the man beyond his depth before assistance could be rendered both man and Au' . were drowned. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Mr. BODJIatI. Ludgate-hill, has jd published a new illustrated pamphlet en watches (free by F' t for two stamps). It should be read b y a ll w h o are a b°- buying a watch, as it contains prices and important laterals; tion as to—What watch to buy 1 where to buy it I and WO ese It! [ADvEitnsiiiiiiNT.l—Holloway's Ointment and Pills Influenza.—This disease, now so prevalent and often fatal , d , an epidemic form of fever attended by irritation of the Wln pipe, inflammation of the throat, and constant cough. Wl}a erroneously treated by the ordi nar y me di c i nes adapted o; colds the most seriou s c onsequences ensue , and too often :e0 mistake:is mortal. This mischance can never happen Yit l reliance is placed on Holloway's medi c i nes , f or w h e ther Ita,1 ta , symptoms arlie from inflammation, colds, or irritation PI, enza), these r eme di es re li eve i n the first by lowering the Pis culation ; in the latter by soothing the excited nerves. this season no :family is safe without Holloway's preP a tions, which do not contain a grain of noxious ingredients injure the constitution. LADVERTISEMENT.]—Among the numerous extrael: nary cures, without medici n e, o f I n di ges ti on (Dyspe10111; Flatulency, Constipation, Nervous, Bilious and Liver 0 0131 0 3 plaints, Cough, Asthma, Con sum pti on an d Debility, effec' t y by Du Barry's delicious Health Restoring Revalen u: Arabica Food, the followin g are not the least remarka ble ' Cure No. 47,121.—" Mi ss Eli za b eth Jacobs, of Nav; Vicarage, Waltham- cross, H arts ; a cure of extreme 11;0 vousness, indigesti on , gat h ering, low spirits, and nerv_.% fancies." Cure No. 48,814.—" Miss E li zabeth Yon. Gateacre, near Liverpool : cure of ten years' dyspepet,ir"" all the horrors of nervous irritability." Cure 3,906- 1 ,..4'" - teen years' cough, indigestion and general deb il ity have S'A, removed by Du Barry's excellent Royal enta Arabica F, Athol-street, Perth. James Porter. Cure No. 58, 1 1 . Mrs. Holze, aged 107 years, of dyspepsia (indiVil tion), debility, irritability and nervou.sness which 46,8 Mr. tormented her for seventy y ears . C ure N o . 46,°, Mr. Sam ue l L ax t on , L e i ces t er, of two years' diarrh,„7 4 In tins, at ls. 6d. ; 11b., 3 s . ; 21b., s s . 9d .; 51b ., 125.; ltp 265. The 101 b. and 121 b. tins carriage free, on receipt of PL; office order. Du Barry and Co., 77, R egen t- s t ree t, L o n% Fortnum, Mason, and Co., 182, Piccadilly; Alibis, ; Gracechurch-street ; 4, Ch ea p s id e ; 63, and 150, 00T, street; 330 and 451, St ran d • 49 and 60, Bishopsep, street ; Tottenham-couri-road. Also at Dtlu ; Bewley 'and Draper ; at Edi n b urg h, R a i mes an d C , J ;f 0 at Liverpool, Nixon and Thew • at Manchester, Sharp Scott; at York, Raimes,_ Blanchard, and Co..;Lat So* - ampton. Randall and Son. BIRTHS. I COLES.—On the 30th ult., at Ve n t nor , I s l e o f WigA. 00 . wife of Captain Cowper Phipps Coles, R.N., of a 0 .. % o , LESLIE.—On the 31st ult.; at 32, H em i ng f or d- v ill as , bury-park, Mrs. Leslie, of a son. stof , NEISH.—On the 30th u lt., a t 21, Dawson-place, Bayo l 4 0 the wife of William N e i s h, Esq., barrister-at-104 - son. MARRIAGES. CURREY—CHRISTIAN.—On the 26th J a n., a t St. naarg 13, Cathedral, Cape-town, Cape . of Good Hope, Jt neeS Currey, Esq., of the Colonial Civil Service , yotulg'e s _ ig ielit of the late Robert Currey, Esq., of Herne-lull, 1) ,..., u tti0i1l to Mary Margaret, youngest daughter of Ewan CP 4 ": . Esq., of Cape. town. DAVIES—PHILIPPS.—On the 31st March, at Aber p e el' Church, A. H. Saunders D av i es , E sq., o f P en tre, brokeshire, to Frances, fourth daughter of the late mond Philipps, Esq., Cwmgwilly, Carmarthenebi re ' t he SCULTHORPE—SRARMAN. —On the 27th ult., st iee fet parish church of Water N ew t on , H unts, William eldest son of the Rev. C. F. Sculthorpe, of Beel e r ntot carage, Worcestershi re , t o Cl ara L ouisa , pu n t , daughter of Matthew Sharman, Esq. CORNELL.—On the 2dDinEstA, ITsabHellSa.l4 of Mr. James Cornell, ' of Wells a Hackney' 6- -street Mark-lane. 1 ri° FRY . — At . At 36, Bathwick-street, Bath, the Rev. Thonio Fry, M.A., for 55 years rector of Ember ton, , his 86th year. Sir Ali HALL.--On the 2d inst., at 63, Lowndes-square' " 1 Hall ,Bart., of Dun lass, N.B. Mary, eldest dangbilteir 'deIHANWELL.—On the 14th ult., at her father's res l n o Stuttgart, Wurtemburg, Julia Frances Jane, sec daughter of Major-General Hanwell, aged 23. , the HAULAND.— ark, On the 30th ult., at Wheratad-pbert 83d year of her age, Lady Harland, relict of Sir ito Harland, Bart. ner ai HoLus.—On the 30th ult., at Cheltenham, Major-G! S" __id John J. Hollis, on the retired full pay of the 25th aged 76. BO W ' Vv7YATT,—On the 28th ult., at Lymp stone , near Harriet F , widow of the late Colonel Wyatt, aged LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOI-344 of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, NO. l ' o f Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the ctousti Middlesex, Tuesday, April 3, MO. TA Clue,, Cal thowi n Uttabl Di f ood Aden - PPoint JOSE] A 4,,Et C Just P t i n "ut MA Perfect 15, Alb( I\ TI, Etruettr CITA! Early , I y , V CITA] F ollies Atarri ( CHAI ked Mot orer a p CFEAE -.,norrh 1 h e 13 , 4 1 'es. to Lotion. elt kould lr b 1 Mari ~ttl" The %Mich 1))u Olti a , e At h 8,,,, OT FI on , Cor Ili t 1111 th Unit, 1 J