The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

4 THE INCLOSUBE COMMISSION. ...REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS. TO THE RIGHT HON. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT. We have the honour to forward to you, as one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, pursuant to the provisions of the Act passed in the Bth and 9th years of the reign of her present Majesty, c. 118, a general re port of our proceedings, specifying such matters as are thereby directed ; which report contains a schedule, as a form most easy of reference, by which will be seen the time each inclosure proceeding has occupied in its several stages, which has necessarily varied according to the circumstances of the different cases. The number of applications of all kinds to this office has been 46, of which 42 have been for inclosures ; of these 31 we are led to believe will require the previous authority of Par liament, and 11 will not. There is one for the conver sion of stinted into hegulated pasture, one for the eso change of lands, and two to complete proceedings tinder the local Acts. 28,231 acres 1 rood, 22 poles, is the quantity of land comprised in the applications exclu sively of those relating to local Acts and exchange. Oar report of any opinion as to the expediency or in expediency of inclosure is necessarily confined to those cases with respect to which the proper assents have been given to the provisional order. We have in the schedule given precedence to all those cases which it is confidently expected will require the previous authority of Parliament; of these, taking first such as fall under the 14th section of the Act, in the order observed therein, and followed with those cases which do not re quire the previous authority of Parliament. In addition to this general sta'ement in the schedule, we proceed now to report specially on these cases (No. 1 to No. 7 inclusive) requiring the previous authority of Parlia meat, to which the proper assents to the provisional orders have been given, the special grounds on which we think such inclosures expedient ; and in those cases where no allotments are made for exercise and recrea tion, or for the labouring poor, the grounds on which we have abstained from requiring such approbation; and afterwards on case No. 8, which does not require the previous authority of Parliament, and the grounds on which we think such inclosure expedient. An application has been made for the inclosure of Milton Common-fields, containing 2,090 acres, of which part is waste of a manor, on which the tenants have rights of common. We consider this inclosnre expe dient on the grounds that the open arable land will be doubled in value by allotting, inclosing, and draining it, and the meadows and commons in a still greater degree, and the population fully employed ; and besides the village green of six acres being allotted for exercise and recreation, eighteen acres are allotted for the labouring poor, which, under the circumstances of this case, will be most beneficial to them. Also for the inclosure of Worsthorne Common, con taining 2,425 acres, on which rights are exercised at all times of the year, not being limited by number or stint. We confider this proposed inclosure expedient on the grounds that the value of the land will be in creased by drainage and proper cultivation in a four fold degree, and very grc at additional employment will be given to the population ; that, in addition to allot ments for labouring poor, the village green, which is surrounded by cottages, and in a miserable and dirty state will be allotted to the churchwardens and over seers, improved, and kept in order. Also for the inclosure of Newton Commons, containing 260 acres waste of a manor on which the tenants have right* of common. We consider this proposed in closure inexpedient on the ground that the land is at present of very little value, but capable of very great improvement, and that it will lead to much increased employment of labour. In this case there is an allot ment for labouring poor, which is desirable, as they are badly off for gardens; but we have not thought it ex pedient to allot any portion for exercise and recreation, on the ground that the land, from its locality, is ill suited fur that purpose, and such alone as could be made use of is in strips and unfit for it, but of considerable importance to the farm-houses, as being calculated to form homesteads for them. Also for the inclosure of Instow Marsh, 59a. Or. 18p. waste of a manor on nhich the tenants have rights of common. We thick this inclosure expedient on the ground that the land will be greatly improved, espe cially by drainage, and that the old inclosed land, which also is in a wet state, will derive the benefit of the out fall into the river Taw, which is secured by the pre visional order, and that it will lead to an useful applica tion of capital and labour. Also for the inclosure of Arely Common, 59a. 3r. 14p. waste of a manor on which the tenants have rights of common. We consider this proposed enclosure expe dient on the ground that the land is now almost wholly unproductive, but euseeptiVe of great improvement, and that it will benefit all classes. The allotment in this case of five acres to the labouring poor is made with a view to an exchange of part of it for land near the dwel lings of a portion of the labouring poor, who reside chiefly in two different places. Also for the inclosure of Salcombe-hill and Northern hill, 209 a. 3r. 12p. waste of a manor on which the ten ants have rights of common. We consider this proposed inclosure expedient on the grounds that the land is at present in a most neglected and unproductive state, though, for the most part, capable of being made as good as the old enclosures adjoining, and would lead to a very useful application of labour and capital. Also, for the inclosure of Corley Moor, containing 50s. 2r. 15p. waste of a manor on which the tenants have rights of common. We consider this proposed in closure expedient on the grounds that by drainage and cultivation the productive powers of the land would be much increased, and all parties benefited. In this case no allotment for exercise and recreation, nor for the la bouring poor, is required by the provisional order. Our reasons for this are, that there is no part of the land convenient for exercise and recreation, whilst there are above two acres of land left untouched by this inclosure, admirably adapted for this purpose, and because the poor, who live where they could reap kenefit from garden allotments, are in possession of large gardens and othe r inclosures, originally, as it appears, a part of the common. And application has also been made for the inclosure of Methweld and Southery Common, containing 135 acres, which does not require the previous authority of Parliament. In this case a notice was issued on the 27th of January instant, that we intended to authorise the inclosure. We are of opinion that this proposed inch,- sure is expedient on the grounds that the land would be greatly improved, a proper road to it insured, and that it will afford profitable employment to the owners, who are chiefly labourers, and who are anxious for it. We have, in accordance with that which we conceived to be the spirit of the Act, by inviting the parties inte rested to avail themselves on all occasions of the assist ance of this office, endeavoured to carry on the proceed ings of each proposed inclosure at the least possible ex pense, and with as little delay as has been compatible with the proper conduct of each case, and due regard to all rights, however small they may have been. As regards the allotments for exercise and recrea tion, and for the labouring poor, inasmuch as the In closure Act requires, as to certain descriptions of land, that when allotments for such purposes are not to be made, the inclosure commissioners should state spe cifically their reasons for such a course being adopted, we conceived that the intentions of the Legislature could only be carried out in their t , ue spirit by meking generally such allotments a condition of the inclosnre of land liable to such condition, We have, therefore, unless some cogent reason has been shown for a de parture from the rule, caused allotments to be set out for these purposes in the various cases of such inclo sures, with respect to which a provisional order has been issued, and we have, in adopting such a rule, in some cases where the land does not appear con venient for such a purpose, taken into our con sideration the probability of such allotment being exchanged for inclosed land more appropriate ; as, if the inclosure had been permitted to proceed with out any provision for recreation or garden ground, tthe opportunity of such provision would have passed away. In some of these cases there has t, een , in the first instance, an objection on the par's Of those interested in the land to the appointmee i r of an y part of it for such purposes, they consP ee eing we have, howev e r, th e sa ti s f a it unnecessary 'Limn to state, in every such case, on further commur cation and fuller explanation, the views, as we b ui e ' r o te s v e ev w o ho t i l at e a L i : , gislature have been acquiesced in 13- 4 , which leads e UT to them in a ox n e a th t t, different liglee, and in spirit when the provisions relating to this matter grotreds of them are perfectly understood, no reasonable ' preposition will meet with opposition. The short time which had elapsed since the passing of the act, and the ignorance as to its existence on the part of some, a misapprehension as to its provisions, and of the expenses attending inclosures under it with regard to others, have, we doubt not, limited the number of cases to those on which we have now to report ; but as . we find in these among the applicants for enclosure, per sons of all classes, and enjoying a very disproportionate of interest, and in one case, to which the assets given, the rights enjoyed chiefly by labourers, addition to this, that there is no case yet, as we :on to believe, which will be abandoned for the the necessary assents to tho provisional order, viction is that the country will generally avail ,he provisions of the Act ; and that conviction Led by the spirit in which we have been met by !rested in the different eases of inclosure with have to deal, even on those occasions when it ecessary to di3cuss points of difference, and to :ainst the opinion of those with whom such dis nussioi ad taken place. As far as we have been able to judge from the limited experience affirded us, we find the machinery of the Act generally adequate to carry out its objects, except where a question arises whether the soil, or a portion thereof, is not in the lord of the manor, or where the manor is claimed by adverse parties ; and we would further observe, that when, according to the provisions of the Act, the allotment to the lord is set forth in the provisional order, which, by information subsequent to the assents, is shown to have been improperly . done, or should a claim as lord be advanced at this late period, and be substantiated, inasmuch as the inclo sure commissioners have no power to iSSUo a supple mental provisional order, they are not aware how that which may afterwards turn out to be an error in the provisional order can be remedied, which 3 error was on their part inevitable, as on the facts disclosed upon the investigation as complete was awarerusi h le, the prov:sional e order was correct ; nor are they'3/ an inclosure, where such mistake has occurred, can without a fresh application, entailing an additional the parties interested; and the same inconvenience m ay arise where other claims are unexpectedly esnheeewn-to". exist at an equally late period. Sorz.—We are not in a condition to state, with any great degree of accuracy, the expenses which will be incurred in respect of inclosures generally with which we are now proceeding up to the time, and inclusive of the proper assents being given to the provisional order ; and 1c is probable that the cost of each to which such assents have already been given may not be a just cri terion of other cased, as We have been enabled, with Pe mint of ve been id, in ad , ve reasa t of tt te. 7 r conic elf of ti confirm( those inte' which we , ••••"` became nel dec i de aga ,ion ha THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVEN ING, APRIL 2, 1846 exception, where it was occasioned by the request of the parties interested, to obtain the assents without employment of an assistant commissioner for the pur pose, and ins manner perfectly satisfactory. The average of each proceeding in which these assents have been given, as far as this office is concerned, will be about 161., up to the time of the return of such assents to us, which leaves the case ready either for Parliament to deal with, or for us to signify our intention of authorising the inclosure. An appendix is subjoined, and tha report is signed, LINCOLN. _ _ W. BL AMIRE. G. DARBY. PRESIDENT POLK'S LEVEE An American levee must be a funny thing in its way, as different from a royal levee or drawing-room in this ' country as a hop in a seven dials' lodging-house is to Almack's. A few passages from the description of such a scene, given in the New York Herald of the 21st ult., may amuse our readers. First, the picture .of the officials is particularly American. "The lords in wait ing consisted of a rough marine in uniform, and a policeman, who, true to their vocation, and rigidly ad hering to the word of command, kept the doors closed, refusing admission to soma of the company, who. en deavoured to effect an entrance some few minutes before the appointed hour, and rudely removed them outside the doors, stating they should keep strictly to orders.'" Nor does the company appear to have been very un worthy of such "Lords in Waiting." Our contempo rary says— " At the appointed hour the company began to arrive, and in a short time the rooms were filled up with a motley group,' from the refined and chastely attired consort of the foreign ambassador down to the more at tractive and fripperied tailoreas, whose head-dress (a scarlet merino turban, decorated with glass beads and bugles), shone conspicuously amid that glittering throng.' The tout ensemble, to a foreign courtier con versant with the machinery of the entire movement, must appear somewhat strange, from the general style of dress and the etiquette that prevailed." Amongst those present we observe " four rough-look ing backwoodsmen jolly farmers, dressed in grey frieze, some with top coats, and others with smock frocks;" and the ladies do not exhibit, as a whole, much more propriety in their attire. " Some wore plain shawls, plain muslin gowns, coarse boots and shoes, and appeared in undress. Others were rather passe, in visiting dresses, whilst the remaining part of the com pany went to the opposite extreme: The " beautiful Miss M., of Ohio," is represented as dressed in " light blue satin dress, short sleeves, hair beautifully braided and bound up in a large fillet resembling a crown, style very becoming ;" whilst Mrs. 14— is described to have worn " coarse stuff gown, red, street walking boot?, muslin cap." We hare "Mr. Dixon, M.C., black body coat, white vest, hat in hand, while escorting a lady en promenade,"—a perfect American dandy,—whilst Mr. W. ▪ is content to figure in " brown shooting jacket, pegged ▪ boot?, with strong walking-cane," and, to complete the I character, doubtless a quid. The band to which this . strange assortment of additions were doomed to listen, the chronicler informs us, "would not do common jus • tice to a managerie."—Liverpool Standard. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON. PonTsmounr, SUNDAY.-It is said that the line-of•battle ships in England and all steamers on the home station, that are not specially employed, will be assembled together in about a month as an experimental squadron. A court-martial will be held to-morrow on board the Vic tory, 104, flag-ship of Rear• Admiral Hyde Parker, C. 8., su perintendent of this dockyard, to try the carpenter of the Phoenix steam-sloop for drunkenness. The Rattler screw steam-sloop, Commander Smith, is ordered to the Mediterranean forthwith. She is now coal ing, &c. The Mei cury tender, Master-Commander Scarlett, arrived this morning from the Channel Islands with volunteers for the navy. The Netley arrived yesterday with supernumeraries from Plymouth, and left immediately atter transferring them, on her return. The Bellerophon, 78, advanced ship, was undoeked yester day, and hauled off to her former - moorings, and the dock vacated by her prepared fur the reception of the Oriental steam• ship. The Palmyra transport. with convicts for Var. Diemen's Land, under the charge of Dr. Geddes, which put in at Spit head about a fortnight since (the small-pox having broken out on board), has received clean bills of health, aad is under orders to sail to-morrow for her destination. The Myrmidon steam-vessel, Lieutenant Commander Jen kin, put into Falmouth, from this port to Cork, on Wednes day, with loss of boats, &c. A shocking accident occurred on Thursday on board the Victory. A second• class boy, named Thomas Nash, aged 16, whilst exercising aloft, missed his hold and fell from the rig ging on to the deck, by which he fractured his skull so dread fully, that he died in Haslar Hospital on Friday morning. The Iris, 26, Captain Monday, sailed from Singapore for Penang on the 10th of January. The Hazard, 18, Commander Egerton, arrived at Hong- Kong from New Zealand on the 6th of January. The Vulture steam-frigate, Captain M'Dougall, arrived at Singapore from Pulo Condore, on the 22d of January. The Spiteful steam-sloop, Commander Maitland, arrived at Moulmein, from Calcutta, on the 21st of January, and left on the 23d on her return. The Pilot, 16, Commander Jervis, arrived at Aden, from Bombay, on the 18th ult. The Vixen steam sloop, Commander Gifford, was at Shang hae on the Ist of January. The Emerald, Master Cunma.nder Beach, sailed yesterday afternoon for Plymouth with supernumeraries. It is generally believed here that Captain Houston Stewart (1817) will be appointed to succeed Captain Mnubray (ap pointed to Greenwich) in the command of the Victory, or dinary goardship at this port. Captain Stewart was mid shipman of the Imperieuse. and served in her boats at the attack on Arcassan in 1807 ; at the destruction of the bat teries, telegraphs, &c., on the southern coasts of France, and on share at the defence of Rom in 1808; was Captain of the Benbow, 74, in the operations on the coa=t of Syria and bom bardment of St. Jean d'Acre, 1841. His commissions bear date—Lieutenant, Ist of August, 1811; Commander, 13th of August, 1814; Captain, 10th of June, 1817. No preparations are made for launching the Contest, 12, at Mr. White's ship-building establishment at Cowes. She will not be launched before next spring tides, if then. The Harlequin, 12, Commander Curry, and the Wanderer, 12, Commander Somerville, received their orders yesterday— the farmer to proceed to the Mediterranean station, and the atter to the coast of Africa. The Harlequin will go out to Spithead to-morrow, and be inspected on Tuesday by the Commander in-Chief. PROMOTIONS. Mate E. E. Maunsell (1839) to the rank of Lieutenant. This gallant officer proceeded in a merchantman from Sydney, New South Wales, to Otaheite, about five thousand miles, to otter his services to Captain T. Nicolas, of the Vin dictive, 50, on hearing she was very short of officers ; and engaged in very important transactions with the French authorities respecting the sovereignty of Queen Pomare, which was likely to have caused a rupture between England and France. Mr. Maunsell has ever shown himself a zealous officer, and has richly earned the reward of his ser vices. Clerk C. G. Jones to be Paymaster and Purser. APPOINTMENTS. Captain J. Kingcome, 1838, who was senior Lieutenant of the Tees during the Burmese war, and Commander of the Belleisle troop-ship in the operations in the Yang 4se-Kiang, in 1842, to re-commission the Belleisle. Lieutenants—F.. E. Maunsell, on promotion, to the Ferret; A. Royer, to the Favourite; H. L. Griffiths, to the Belleisle; A. H. Douglas, to the Chillers ; J. B. Kinsman, to the Wanderer; A. Gardner and R. Rouse, to the Royal Naval College, for study. Chaplain—Rev. J. Falls, to the Caledonia. Surgeon—E. Newman, to the Favourite. Assistant-Surgeon—G. H. Sidley, to the Favourite. Boatswain—C. Anderson, to the Belleisle. Carpenter—J. Cleverton, to the Belleisle. COAST GUARD. APPOI NI'MnIT. —I n specting-tx." m ...ander P. Fisher, to New eagle. Castelwellan district ',ice Oliver, removed. REMOVALS.--C° m : - .andr ° W. B. Oliver, to south Yar mouth, vice Grf.„te. whose period of service, expires on the sth of April • Mr. J. Willcox, chief °deer of Barry's Cove Station, t ° lydd, vice Mactlettnell, WAGES IN FRANCE.—The present average rate of wages in Paris is 3f. 50c. (or 2s. Ild.) a day, and 2f. (or Is. Bd.) in the provinces. In 1698 the average rate of wages throughout France was 12 sous (61) a day; in 1738, 16 sons ; in 1788, 19 sous; In 1819, 25 sous; in 1832, 20 sous. Wages have greatly increased ; but the prices of all articles of consumption, house-rent, apparel, agricultural and me chanical implements, &c., have augmented also. " Wages are very high in France," says M. Michelet, "in comparison with Switzerland and Germany; but, in the former, wants are much more keenly felt." BRITIBIL Mumuss.—Prom a paper just issued by order of the House of Commons, the following results appear respecting the British M useum :—The receipts,- from Christ mas, 1841, to Christmas, 1845, amo un t e d to 46.968/. includ ing 32,2241. from the Parliamentary grant, and dividends on balance in hand, &c. The estimated expenditure from Christmas, 1844, to Christmas, 1815, was 46,669/., and the actual expenditure 43,8211. The estimated charge from Lady day, 1846, to Lady-day, 1847, is stated as 47,8501., the principal increase proposed being in the purchase and acqui sition of printed books and coins and antiquities. The amont of the grant required from Parliament for the year ending Lady-day, 1847, is 45,406/. The amount of special Parliamentary grants received during the year ending Christmas, 1845, was 12,1874 of which sum 11,518/. was expended in the purchase of books and MSS. from the libra ries of the Duke of Sussex, Mr. Bright, and It. Southey, Esq. 1,095/. the expenses of collecting and conveying to England the Xanthian marbles; the purchase of prints, fossils, &c. With regard to the number of visitors annually to the Museum, it appears that, in 1840, there were 247,929 persons to view the general collections ; in 1841, 319,374 ; in 1842 there were 547,718 ; 1843, 517,440 ; 1844, 575,758; and in 1845 there were 685,614. The number of visits made to the reading rooms for the purpose of study or research was, in 1810, about 1,950 ; in 1820, about 8,820 ; in 1830, 33,200 ; in 1840, 67,541; in 1845,54,427. The number of visits by artists and students to the galleries of sculpture, for the purpose of studying, was about 4,938 in 1831, 6,354 in 1840, and 4,256 in 1845. Last year, 5,904 visited the print room. A very interesting statement is added, detailing the additions made to the Museum in its various departments during the year ending December 25, 1845. This statement occupies seven folio pages of close print, which will furnish some idea of the extent of these additions, which occupy so much space in mere enumeration. COLONIZING OIIEGON.—We have already briefly noticed the fact, that a brig was about to sail, or had sailed from Newburyport for the Columbia River; but the parti culars, which we learn from the Newberyport Herald, and other sources, are too interesting to be omitted. The brig Henry, commanded by Captain Kilburn, is owned by Mr. John Cushing, the father of our late Minister to China, a wealthy and enter prising merchant of the ancient town we have named. We are told by the New Providence Herald that some " three or four hundred spectators gathered at the wharf to wit ness the brig's departure, and there were many moist eyes among those who took leave of their friends. Reli gious exercises were had on the occasion, prayer being offered by the Rev. Mr. Campbell, and a brief address made by the Rev. Dr. Dana. One of the passengers arrived from Boston in the cars a few moments after the brig cast off, and was p u t on b oar d b y a p il o t boat. The vessel went down the river i n good style, with a fine breeze, and, as the baro meter was rising, there was aod roba'Jili ty that she will carry pleasant weat h er with her p till clear of the coast. The people on the go wharf gave them a parting salute of three cheers, whi c h x rprms were responded to from the brig."—Neto IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMOIVS, April 1. (Continued from oar Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) DESTITUTE POOR (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. P. SCROPE would beg to impress upon the House the importance of the present measure. On the 21st of July, 1834, on the order of the day being read, he moved a resolu tion to the effect that, in order to the security against agra rian outrages, the poorer classes should obtain a sufficiency of the necessaries of life by honest industry. In 183.5 he hal ventured to divide the House on the same principle. He had co-operated with many Members of the House in obtain ing a poor-law for Ireland, and when the Commission for in quiring into the state of Ireland had made their re port, he had endeavoured to carry their recommen dations into effective operation. By that report it ap peared that the Commissioners were decidedly of the opinion that if the poor population could not obtain a subsistence by their industry, they ought to have an allowance out of the Consolidated Fund, and in fact, that they were entitled to be secured from destitution. But the Government thought this recommendation went too far, and they sent only another Commissioner, Dr. Nicholls, who had made a report, on which the Ministry acted, and confined the relief to that which was given at the several workhouses. What had been the result of that system was evident in the agrarian outrages which originated in want, and had most certainly led to crime. The workhouses were only finished last year, and they had proved totally insufficient for the purpose. He conceived that the objects for which a poor-law ought to be established were threefold. The first of these was the relief of the poor destitute, as a matter of charity, with a view to put down vagrancy, and all those evils which flow from a condition of society which is at once beyond the power of the law, and incapable of orderly or ganisation. The second ground was a matter of police, with a view to reduce the amount of the crime and privation, that temptation to break the laws which the impulses of nature would always occasion. The third ground was the protection of the poor man from those positions which were opposed to all the foundations of law. By the present state of things, land, which was the common gift of the munificent Creator of all mankind, was confined for the profit of the few, and therefore it was that some mea sure should be devised for the relief of that class who suffered most from that perversion of the natural state of things. These were the three grounds on which a poor-law ought to be based, and the attempt to restrict relief therefore to the workhouse rule must prove totally inoperative. The work houses in Ireland were incompetent to relieve one per cent. of the pauperised population of that country. In England it is well known that the pauper popu lation constituted ten per cent. of the whole corn inanity. Now here there are 534 workhouses, a much greater number than there were in Ireland, and yet in this country it was a matter notorious to all that in these workhouses there was not more than one-sixth of the relief given of the whole that was granted. It appeared that in Limerick, according to the report of Lord Devon's Commis sion, the poor were absolutely in a worse condition than they were when the law was first passed. The scheme, then, had evidently failed, and he (Mr. Scrope) was of opinion that until the poor were saved from the destitution which pushed them on to crime these agrarian out rages would not cease. The poor man was evidently entitled to be saved from starvation by an allowance from the land on which their forefathers were born. (The Honourable Gentleman then read a series of extracts from Dr. Doyle's pamphlet, and from the work of Mr. Evans, secretary to the Poor -law Inquiry for two years.) There were three means by which the country was governed. There was the law of the land, with their judges to administer it and backed by the military and civil authorities, but which had proved quite inoperative fur its purpose. Then there was the convention between the parties who were the objects of the law's direction and who had succeeded in evading all the carefulness of the law. The Right lion. Baronet (Sir J. Graham) had stated the other night that outrages were not prevalent throughout Ireland, and that the increase of crime was confined to five counties. But what was the reason of this, why because the law of the land was inoperative to protect the lives and properties of the peasantry, whereas the agrarian law was effective for that purpose. He would ask whether the law of the land did protect the life of the peasantry ?—[Sir J. Graham—" Yes.") Did it? He denied it; for it did not protect him from starvation, and he was compelled to resort to agrarian disturbances, in order to protect himself against the extremity of want. In reply to a petition the other day, the Right Hon. Baronet had stated that they could not expect a man to stiffer the last evils of starvation, but that he was, to a certain extent justified in resorting to violence, or at least illegality, to save himself and his family from starvation. When a man was evicted from his holding without any compensation for the improvements he had made upon it, was he to lie down and die in a ditch? On the very principle which the Right lion. Baronet had propounded there was evidently a necessity for an alteration in this mode of relieving the poor. Throughout a great part of Ireland there was a peculiar tenant right by which the tenant was entitled to com pensation, but did their law protect that ? It was notorious that it did not. In Ulster the tenant right was recognised and allowed, but such was not the case generally, and in some places the tenant was evicted from his holding without any compensation whatever, after having bestowed as much as would amount to a twenty or thirty years' purchase. In the counties of Down and Armagh, it was the fear of agrarian outrages which preserved this right. In Ulster, therefore, it was upheld, because the legal authorities gave way to the agrarian law. He might refcrto the evidence of Mr. Senior, and to the late frightful case of eviction in Galway, for a confirmation of what he had stated. He thought that he had proved that. the statute law did not protect life in Ireland, and that was the reason why, in moving the second reading, he had given the title to the Bill which it now bore. There was not protection from destitution, and, therefore, as wrong begets wrong, so long as that destitution existed crime would exist. He would not palliate the enor mity of the crimes in the slightest degree, but be was de sirous of impressing the House with the belief that there was a duty to perform in saving the poor from the destitution which was the source of crime. As Lord Brougham had ex pounded the law, the landlord had at present the right of sweeping off the whole of their tenantry from their estates without the slightest recompense, and Blackstone had stated that there was no man so indigent but that he might demand relief in case of destitution. It was clear, therefore, that the landlords of Ireland ought to concede to the people the right to a maintenance from the land of their birth. He thought it was now high time to alter the laws relating to the destitute poor of Ireland The existing laws had a tendency to produce crime, by not effectually relieving the destitution of the people. The rights of the poor were left to the discretion of the landlord, and the rights cf the landlords were enforced, and exposed to the mercy of the land lord. The poor of Ireland ha I a right to relief, and he proposed that out-door reief should be afforded to them under the discretion of the guardians. There was a great quantity of waste land in that country, amounting to 4,000,000 of acres, which might be made Co produce crops, and give employ ment to the able- bodied poor ; and he contended provision should be made by the law for the employment of such persons in such manner. It might be done under the superinten dence of the Board of Works. He believed that great gain would result from such a mode of employment, both to the landlords and to the country at large, which would be cleared of the vagrancy, immorality, and crime which at present existed there. Sir J. GRAHAM said he was sorry that a subject of such immense importance should be discussed iu such a hurry. But, after the speech which had fallen from the Honourable Gentleman, he found it necessary to make some observations on a few points touched upon in that speech, and, in the first glace, he would acquit him of any intention to create any evil excitement by a dis cussion on the subject, but on the contrary, he would give him every credit for being actuated by the purest intentions to promote the public good. However, the Hon. Gentleman would excuse him if, considering the present state of Ireland end the excitement which prevailed there, his humble judgment led him to the conclusion that a discussion on this subject was, to say the least of it, ill-timed. The Government had received much information upon the subject, which differed in many es sential points from that urged by the Hon. Gentleman k and he therefore considered that the Legislatuee Would act wisely in receiving any advice e%itle great caution. There had been reference made to the sfarVatioit *hid; was accustomed to exist in Ircistl‘b 1 1 . 0 i t, he did ey believe that there wag met o n e si n gle instance of death arising from, st arvat i on i n I re l an d, an d th a t so f ar from robbe and depredation having been committed in c"7:eequence of starvation, the Irish people Were eitrennely honest amid the greetee‘ 'Want and privation. That was their eheretter, and with reference to what he had observed, namely, that the discussion *as inopportune, he would say that an imprudent expression would be now calculated to ptoduee effects which he trembled to ccntem plate, effects which might be written in letters of blood in Ire land, and he therefore approached the distueeion of the enbject with a degree of awe and hesitation. In the first place, he considered that the doctrine laid down by the Hon& Gentle man was the most dangerous that was veer pro pounded, for if the doctrine was worth anything it amounted to this—that occupation for any length of time should be converted into a perpetual right, subsequent to the payment of a quit rent.—( Hear .) Why, it would be the subversion of all rights of property.—( Hear.) Mr. POULETT SCROPE said he distinctly declared that he had no such intention, and that he only sought by his Bill to obtain compensation for improvement. Sir J. GRAHAM said he appealed to the House what was their recollection of the words of the Hon. Gentleman?-- (Hear.) But rejecting mere words, and attaching themselves to-the principleof the Bill, he did still allege that, in his opinion, the Bill reached to the extent whch he had just stated. The Hon. Gentleman had stated that there were 2,300,000 paupers in Ireland; now it must be apparent to the House that land iu that country could not be adequately taxed for the support of such a vast number. He admitted distinctly that property with its rights existed foe the be nefit of the community.—(Hear, hear.) But, whilst there was such a charge as tins effected, it would break down the rights of property. He respected law prescrip tions and possessions, and must join issue on this point; and with these impressions he was compelled to resist the second reading of thisßill. iteepecting the feelings and the motives of the Honourable Gentlettiatt, be was impressed with the belief that the speech of the Hon. Gen tleman was likely to lead to more dangerous consequences than the motion itself; yet, entertaining that belief, he should resist the measure which was now submitted to the House. _ Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN, as an Irish landlord, and deriving his subsistence from the land, was grateful to his Hon. Friend for having brought forward this motion, and he per fectly agreed with him that the cessation, from outrage was owing to the agrarian association: With_the fact befbre him that the Government had 11rOttgilt in a Bill for coercion, he thought the Irish people had a right to protection from the Ministry, He admitted that the Bill now before the House was not a sufficient protettiOn but still it Was au advantage, and the mote so is the Bill of the Govern ment was accompanied with conditions whith were likely to make it unpopular in Ireland: For three.years the Govern ment had been coriductint ith expensive inquiry, and although the Noble Lord near him (Lord J. Russell) had expressed his opinion against it, yet he still must 'persist in the belief that some system of out-door ttlid snould be adopted. In England the Matter was different for there the labourer obtained 9s. or 10s. a week, but in Ireland a man, with all his 'exertions ) cotthi not ob tain more than 4.9‘, at the most, ss. a week, so that there was no possibility of making a provision for the future. In his opinion, the rule for separating the htts band and wife, and the parents and children, was altogether bad ; and he thought that where such an eirect was likely to occur, out-door relief ought to be granted. That tGkiet ought also to be given in the cases of sick poor, and of orphans entitled to relief, and especially in the cases of persons growing up, for bad habits were easily formed, and the workhouse was the grave of economy. With respect to the granting of relief out of the Consolidated Fund, he was against any direct application of the public funds ; but the Government might take another course. There were farms which required improvement, thousands of acres which were at present waste lands, on which capital might be very profitably embarked ; there were public works on which labour might be very profitably employed, while there were thousands of persons who were in want of employment, and in this way their labour might be advantageously ein;,loyed. lie did not mean to say that every able bodied person was to rush to the public lauds ii for as.siAance ; but taking the workhouse test they might APPIY it te the cut - door relief. He was no friend to the compulsory emigration, which was not popular in Ireland; but yet voluntary emigration might be encouraged in a very serviceable way. Now, to all these points the Government might direct their attention, and they ought to do so. They might frame the machinery as they liked, bat still the princi ple ought to be adopted and used. There were several clauses in this Bill that ought to be withdrawn without injuring it, but the principle itself was good, and, if carried out, would tend 'to improve many estates in Ireland; and believing so, he gave the Bill his most cordial support. Sir JAMES GRAHAM explained that he opposed the Bill on the grounds that it gave relief to the able•bodied poor, that interfered with the exercise of their duties by the Poor-law Guardians, disposed of the great question of the out-door relief, and proposed an impossibility in attempting to do away with mendicancy in Ireland. Lord; J. RUSSELL, though favourable to any improve ment in the condition of Ireland, could not give his assent to this Bill, for though the Commissioners might be very good judges of the state of Ireland, yet he had very great doubt of their recommendation to give relief to the poor at their own hands. He had consulted Mr. Senior and Mr. Cornwall Lewis on this point, and they had both given great attention to this subject, and their impressions were that the alteration would have the effect of adding new evils to those which already existed in the old poor-law of Elizabeth. He would call upon those who impugned the reasons of those persons if they could, and be was the more impressed with their conclusions by the reasons which they had assigned for them.—(Hear.) They stated, for instance, with regard to emigration, that a difficulty would arise in the event of those who professed to be ready, declaring when the ship was about to sail that they were unable to go with it. If they yielded to such a declaration they lost all the benefit of the outlay, while if they persisted in forcing the parties to emigrate who had obtained the assis tance of Government, they would lay themselves open to the reproach of having absolutely transported these indi viduals, instead of having encouraged voluntary emi gration. It did not follow that because there were 2,300,000 poor people in Ireland, there were so many paupers, but that there were 2,300,000 persons not in the possession of the comforts of others of similar condi tion in this country. He would not enter into the great ques tions of tenure of land and tenant right, but he must declare his belief that there must be a workhouse or some other similar test, and he conceived that if the poor were to be relieved, it must be through the agency of other and indirect means. For these reasons he should oppose the Bill, conceiving that it was not calculated to accomplish the ends which the mover intended. The O'CONORI DON thought that the feeling in Ire land was decidedly against any increase of the poor-rates, and that, therefore, if there was difficulty now, it would be increased if this measure were passed, and he should, there fore, oppose it. Mr. P. BUTLER said that there was evidently not any necessity for the change. The Charitable Society and the Benevolent Society, the two great charitable institutions of Ireland, relieved every week 168 individuals. His belief is that the guardians in Ireland ought to be compelled to provide relief for the destitute poor. Mr. WAKLEY—(" Question, question")—had heard only a part of the discussion, and he regretted to have heard that. The Right Honourable Baronet, the influential member of the Government that is, and the Noble Lord who expected shortly to be at the head of the Government that is to be, had both positively declared themselves decidedly opposed to the principle of the Bill, but he had yet to learn why there should be a difference between the manage ment of the poor in Ireland and in this country. What was the fact ? Why that the Irish poor prefered to be sent to a gaol to returning to their own country. This was a fact which ought to secure the most serious attention of the Irish Members. He believed that this subject would grow in strength from year to year, until the same system of legislation was adopted with regard to Ireland as was adopted with respect to this country. His conviction was, that outrages would increase until they 'gave a right to relief in cases of destitution, and as soon as that was granted, a great moral change would be wrought in the condition of the poor of that couutry. He should give the Bill his cordial support in all its stages, and he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would allow it to go into Committee and there be modified if he desired it, for he thought this was a duty which he owed to the poor of Ireland, and if he did not do so, his (Mr. Wakley's) impression was that his refusal would be a source of very painful reflection. Lord CLAUDE HAMILTON opposed the Bill. Mr. SCROPE said he would not trouble the House by dividing, and the second reading of the Bill was negatived without a division. COUNTY ELECTIONS. The County Elections Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday next. INSOLVENT DEBTORS (INDIA) BILL. Lord MAHON moved that the Insolvent Debtors (India) Bill should be read a first time. —Agreed to, and ordered to be lead a second time on Monday. FACTORIES BILL. Sir R. INGLIS presented several petitions numerously signed by clergymen, praying the House would prevent young persons from being employed more than seven hours. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Six o'clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES (YESTERDAY.) GROUP VIII llonma BRITISH (ILIII,VICIt nMANCIT.: The Hon. Mr. TALBox (°n continuation from our Afteenoon Edition of yesterdat ) said The Selkirk branch was a portion of the Peebles branch Selkirk was a manufacturing place, and the inhabitants desired to be connected with the main lines of this Company, for the obviette pur pose of-obtaining a plentiful supply of coal, &c. East and west, north and south of that branch he was happy to say the inhabitants desired the project of this Company. With regard to the Kelso branch. It lay in the neighbourhood of St. Boswells, which wee a small town of some importance, and Weald bring eonsiderable traffic upon the main line. The Kelso branch would be impeded by no en , gineering difficulties, and the town of Kelso embraced a poptilatiOn of 5,000. It was the centre of an agricultural district of very great importance, and was, in feet, one of the largest agricultural market towns in the south•west of Scotland. But it was sadly deficient in accommodation with regard to the e 341 anti lime that were used ter agricultural peirposes. The length of that branch was twels'e miles and th:ee fuilorigh and the worst gradient in it was lin 100 —there was no tunnel, At Kelso they joined the Berwick and Kelso Railway so as to gain ac cess with Newcastle and all the principal towns iu England. He would new call their attention to a case of opposition which it ap peared was intended to be, offered against the Kelso branch by a landed proprietor, Sir George Douglas, a resident in the neighbour hood, who was the owner of a beautiful ruin on which he set much value. He &Wel to the ruin of Roxburgh Castle ; but if they did and not interfere with the property of Sir George Douglas they would hoped that the Committee would he, thereo r e. appealed ad fall into a more Violent conflict w i th Captain Scott. There Was eh mtietreileyerdicnno an d alternative, he not sanction an unfair opposition to his client's pro jects for the purpose of preserving a valued ruin or a a beautiful protpe,ct. The length of the branch to Jedburgh was eight miles, and Jedburgh being the county town of Roxburgh it was of course, a matter of importance to afford the inhabitants railway accommodation. He concluded by stating that the different pre;ects of the Company had received the sanction of the inhabitants of the districts through which they passed, and if the I egislature refused to authorise them they would deem it a matter of great disadvantage to the public. The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to the House of Commons, for the ptirpose of obtaining an order from the Speaker to compel the attend ance of the two witnesses previously reterred to ; and in a short time returned, and stated that the witnesses had been ordered by the Speaker to tender their crideuce, or warrants would be ieened against theist, Messrs. Ord, Dudgeon, and Laing, extensive farmers in the districts of Kelso and Jedburgh, were then called, and gave evidence to the effect that these districts were well cultivated, but entirely destitute of line, OA; eid .4 *hien 'Ad nOW to be transported In carts from 20 ttl 3t,', tulles, and that the construction of a railway would reduce the coat of essential articles from one-talf to one-third, as well as afford a gobd outlet Mr their agliculittral produce. Provost KeF, of Peebles, and Messrs. Roberts and Gillen, manufac turers, also spoke to the great advantages the Peebles branch would confer upon the manufactures of that district, parttailarly in giving increased facilitich to neW tills Which were about to be raised on the TWeed and the Leithen, near Peebles. They admitted that, at pre sent, the intercourse between Peebles and Galashiels was not cons!. derable. Alf. traffic accolffitani to the principal lines In Scotland, deposed that he calculated the passenger traffic on the Kelso branch would being in 8,618/. per annum ; goods, 8,550/. ; coals, lime, &c., 1,8 Isl. ; meits, &c., 1,2001. ; cattle and sheep, 1,015/. ; total, 21,8311/. thi the Jedburgh branch, passengers, 2,5181.; goods, 1,950/. ; parcels, 7601. ; total, 6,3071. On the Selkirk b co rateh li r e p , & asa c engers, 1,3321. ; goads, 601/. ; minerals, 9061. ; mails, sac., 5001. ; total, 2,339/. On the Peebles branch, 1,8261.; geode; 2,6861. ; 7501. ; Parcels, 7 5 01.; cattle and sheep, 1,0001. ; parcels, Geo/. t total, 7,5621. Mr. John Miller, engineer of the Company, was next called, and deposed that he had laid out the several branches. The Kelso branch left the main line Pear to a place called St. Bs- well's, Which Was the neared point tb Kelso on the male line. The length was 12 miles 3 Whinge and 39 yards. There were no tunnels, and with the exception of the crossing of the Teviot (which would be effected by a viaduct) there were no engineering difficulties. The worst gradient was 1 in 75, and thete Were Lo of Cur, es. The Jedburgh branch was seven mils three furlongs and 150 yards ill length, the steepest gradient 1 in 165, and , the curves were not objectionable. There were no engineeridg difficulties. The Selkirk branch was two miles six furlongs and thirty yard 3, the steepest gradient being 1 in 200. He was responsible for the laying amen of these branches. The Peebles branch had been projected to accommodate the people of the TWeed ; amid gPie communication to Glasgow and Ayr. Inner Leithen WAS a pled..., of gteat resort in summer, and factories were course of erection there. Pie attached great importance to the communication which the scheme of this Company Would afford to the net And west of Scotland: The district between Galashiele and Peebles Woilld Sits requite railway accommodation. The estimate of the Peebles branch Wad 242,0001, of the Selkirk, 25,510/., the Kelso, 175,6351., and the Jedburgh, 62,554/, making an aggregate of 506,0791 ; to which he had added 43,921/. for contin gencies, *flitch would trite a grand total of 556,0001. He considered that the projeet to dress Captain Seett's property was much prefer able to iuterfeting with Lord t llbank's, On than,' grounds, This concluded the evidence on behalf of the promoted. Captain Scott's OppoSition being withdrawn, the Hon. Member fox' DerWlek was released froth attendance: Mr. PATON then proceeded to all eiFidentle in support of Mr. Bal lantyne's opposition, the first witness being sias Oop Mr, C. Haeliett, a landacape fie w f inion that gardener, who stated that he had laid out the grounds Of that gentlernan; tid they would be most materially injured. He had oftett been referred to in cases of this sort, and his arbitration had always been stitisfite• tory to both parties, The situation of Holy lee was ver y p rett y in deed. There Were 69 acres planted, and the expense about 9,0001. Mr. Evans, a gtntlethan residing in the neighbourhood, described the pr,eperty Cs vO7 beautiful, and the house, which was built by It a r li s a ati t t eLt Yji h s e:adn ' d iS h o e ; s 6 h t evidence, for The CHAIRMAN said the Committee did not want any word Sad dence Mr. i k d 6 en t6 tia t i 6n in d j er aty en . oneevng , the Piiitose of showing that It tfotikl not be It difficult Matter to alter the line, so as to leave untouched the Holylee propery. Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS having replied to the evidence, The room was cleared, and on our re-admission, The Crisfiisaie said—Mr. Sergeant Bellasis, the Committee are of opinion that the immediate prospect of traffic w ill not j ustif y the in terference with private property and the expenditure of capital re qutied forth the Peebles blanch, an d therefore recommended the Peeoles branch to be struck out of the preamble ; that is to say, where it forms a junction with the Selkirk branch. Mr. Sergeant BELLesis assented to the recommendation. The Committee then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow. GROUP LX. The Committee met to=day at half -past eleven o'clock, Lord W'ersley in the chair, when the remaining clauses of the GLASctOWY GENtrtax, TrativllNus 111111- nOUR were gone through, and, with several verbal amendments, agreed te,. The Chairman was then instructed to report the Bill, with the amendments, to the 'louse. beFihiallerce:ltdheencrievoenr trust; fzith b i ri s a s z ch: W...*Pl' 94 1 NP4IMAN'3? rturcsizorr. r 110 pit on 3fr. Wilton was recalled, and cross-eXamin ed by X" - ! - ' laFo•nr, flTeei, c'•.4 4 ipldl 4 tt a t - a , i; en t eao ted, on kcc•lntit tt tire tridge•strect, station teing SO, distant from the principal parts ~1* the City. He *is satisfied, there would he a considerable throUgh traftr; )intfte cotilditot say liciT much in tons; ii.eiqta not so S td ii ta4l narcour trailic. The traffic of the harbour neropie• scnted last year before a Committee to be, in iron 82,000 tons, and It atniouethen restitrmo, coals 119,000 tons, eXeltislve of coals to the steamers. He did not be , scheme t W e. : L s ' , touch the city, but went round it. lieve the most of that traffic would go dowl.l4cittenCirlers4l::::A. great part wculd go on to the south side of the river by the West of Scotland JUnctien s or the Greenoek flues on to the general terinintl9, t for which the Bill hid been agreed to by the Committee. Tne e l, did not so I' the Airdrie and Monlaarld scheme, will the whole question, he thought this v' junction could 'Ot t, port of Gla.sgew could be reached by other means. 31r. Lea ;better gave evidence • 1 to the same Ova as the pre vious witness. He had considerable Experience in railways, having been chairman of the Ayr ,areful examination of commodation to the public, with the least Illterfcrence with property, without affectis • the ornarneiltal parts of the city. Mr Macf3e, of !;reenock, a sugar refiner, gave evldcuee as to the great amount of traillein raw and s rstl tied sugars and m&as.;:is w!th would give the best ac andWow wOlll4 gigs great dtklmtage by C'A"""" - - - - tile cast and north of Scotlard IDS 110u.;t., scat 60 , r 70 tons a mouth, and several other hoaxes'' us much. The junction at dig -- , a ,,,,,, a a direct through GI 4.,„ ' - - Mr. Adam Plack, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, deposed as to the feeling of that city. It was generally in favour of this connexion, as the break at Glasgow was very much complained of since he left the Town Council of Edinburgh. Mr. Muir, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce at Leith, generally agreed with the evidence of the Lord Provost, and deposed as to a large provision traffic between Ayrshire and the west and east of Scotland. Mr. Perry, merchant and manufacturer of Aberdeen, gaTe evidence as to the traders of that city being Gl generally in favour of this scheme. There was a strong feeling that the gap atGlasgow should be filled up, as the trade southward was at present impeded. Mr. ISl'Monagill, provision merchant, of Glasgow, generally gave evidence as to the advantage of the proposed junction. The trade between the north of Ireland and Glasgow was very great, and a large amount of it went through to Edinburgh. This trade was so great, that last year 250,000 fowls went through, with 900 tons of eggs, and 500 tons of ham and bacon. Mr. Sidey, Lord Provost of Perth ; Mr. Archibald, of Alloa ; Mr. David Birrell, of Dunfermline ; and Mr. David Murray, of Paisley, gave evidence generally respecting the feeling of their respective localities, which were represented to be in favour of the scheme. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at half-past eleven o'clock. GROUP XII. Aynsnntz, BRIDGE or wmxn, AND PORT GLASGOW JUNCTION. Continued from our Afternoon Edition .f yesterday.) Mr. Stewart, M.P., gave evidence to show that the non•construc tion of the branch to Port Glasgow was never deemed a grievance until it was now put forward to serve a purpose. If it had been publicly complained of he must have heard of it in one of three capa cities—as Member for the county of Renfrew, as director of the Greenock Company, and as curator and guardian of his nephew, Sir Michael Shaw Stew :rt, whose estates would be effected. He knew the county between Port Glasgow and Johnstone, and the only town on the proposed route was Kilmalcolm, which bad a population of 377 souls.— (Laughter.) There was, however, excellent shloting on the line—(Laughter)—as a considerable portion of the country was moorlands.—(Continued laughter.) He thought that the line would be difficult of construction, because he remembered that they had on the Greenock Railway a cutting of 800 feet through a granite rock which had been once in a state of fusion.—(Laughter.) He was (Mite certain that the line if constructed would never pay its cost of 300,0001. After a short discussion Mr. Harding proved that the Company, in the years 1841, 1842, and 1843, when he was secretary, paid the cartage from the railway to the harbour of Port Glasgow, and that no complaint had ever been made on the subject of the Lon-construction of the branch. Mr. Errington, civil engineer, was examined to show that the pro posed line could not be remunerative, scarcely pract icable ; that it would be attended with great and serious evils to the public from the prevalence of fogs on the Clyde, the de scending gradient of 1 in 75, and the sharp curves just before coming to the station at Port Glasgow, which would render it a matter ofimpossibility for the engine-man to time his speed so exactly as to come correctly to the station. The wants of the dis trict where not supplied would be amply provided for by a branch to Houston and Bridge of Weir, promoted by the Greenock Company. They would only require to construct a length of seven miles of new railway, while the Glasgow and Ayr Company would require above fifteen miles. The cost in the one case would only be 60,0001., in the other the estimated cost was 300,0001. Mr. Errington was cross-examined on the part of Mr. 81,1 res, of Elderslie, to show that injury would be done to the residential pro perty, and for the Glasgow and Ayr Railway, to show that there were many railways la that kingdon which were worked on as steep a gradient as the Ayrshire, Bridge of Weir, and Port Glasgow Junct tion. At the station near the latter place, there was a descending gradient, on the Garnkirk Railway, of 1 in 80, with a level before coming to the station of only 100 yards. The case wag not parallel. because on the former line the heavy gradient extended for four miles, while the level, before coming to the station, was only 396 yards. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XIV. SIIITTEE MASTEMINI 11..ELILWAV. The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock. Present, Mr. Pro thcroe (chairman), Lord Evelyn, General Lygon, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan- After a delay of twenty minutes, caused by the absence of Mr. Austin, the examination of Mr. G Bidder was resumed by Mr. Mettartvemea. The witness stated that the most severe gradient on the South-Eastern, between Woolwich and Dartford, is one in 150, and that only for a short distance. The remainder is practically a level. The working gradient of Mr. Vignoles, over the same ground, is lin 100. The works of the South-Eastern, from Woolwich to Dartford, are light, while Mr. Vignoles's are rather heavy. The line would be a perfect engineering anomaly. The four acres pro posed for the Union-street station, would be wholly insufficient. The Paddington station occupies thirteen acres. The Shoreditch station occupies five acees and a half, and is about to have an increase of four acres more. The Union-street station would be thirty feet above the level, and a good ap proach to it would require a road of 300 yards in length. The Lon don and Birmingham station occupies seven acres. The station at London-bridge is about four acres. There is a station at the Brick layers' terms, which occupies the very large area of twenty-six acres. The Union-street station of the North Kent line would be incon venient, as people going to it would have to cross Southwark-bridge and pay the toll, and besides the streets around it are very dirty and narrow. The London-bridge station cost 300,0001,, exclusive of what was expended by the Greenwich Company. The arching of the Union-street station would cost 80,9001., and hat would merely be the platform for the railway; 20,0001. would not then complete the station. The estimate for this station is only 100,000/. Believes that before the Union street station could be built so as to accommodate all the traffic which it was intended to accommodate, it would cost 250,0001. Mr. Vignoles proposed to carry the line from Union-street to the junction with the Croydon line on an embankment held in by retaining walls. That embankment would cross more than 900 yards of street, and there would of course be so much arching required. A populous neighbourhood ought not to bo crossed by an embankment. Mr. Vignoles's Fine affects a rental of 16,0001. per annum. The purchase of that at thirty years' purchase would be 480,0001., and the legal expenses attendant on the transfer of property in the metropolis are very great, in fact they would be in this case about 70,0001. When the Blackwall Railway was about to be constructed it passed through same property of the most wretched description, in fact mere shells of houses, of which the rents were collected every morn ing, and yet the cost of three miles of line which affeected that part cost more than 700,0001. There is no possibility of making a correct estimate where house property is concerned, as so many con tingencies arise in the formation of the works. Believes that the three miles of line from the Union-street station to the Croydon junction would cost 1,150,0001. The junction at New• Cross would be a most dangerous junction, as the embankment is constantly slipping, and the New-Cross station is situated at the foot of a long incline. There would also be the inconvenience of crossing the atmospheric pipe, in order to get on the rails. Tee way in which it would be necessary to join there would require a gap in the pipe of from twenty to thirty yards, and the atmospheric train would have to be drawn across that space by some other power. The gradient of the North Kent, at the point of junction, is 1 in 569, and the Croydon line, where it is Joined, has a gradient of 1 in 100. The South-Eastern is so continued as to avoid the powder-mills at Dartford, and the Company will purchase the Osprlnge powder-mills in order to avoid any danger from the proximity of their line. Mr. Vignoles proposes, in the tram-way which he intends to throw out to the town of Faversham, to cross the main street at a level with a gradient of one in seventeen—an incline rather steeper than the present approach to Westminster -bridge. The length of it is to be half R mile, and the total declivity or fall is 54 feet. In case of one of the waggons getting loose it would cross the main street at the rate of flirty miles an hour, and ,from the curve at the bottom of the trerniqoad would inevitably be projected into the creek. The line frail I.nilden to Chilham, as proposed by the South-Eastern Company, has it decided advantage over the North Kent Company, in point of direction, expense, gradients, and working. The Balton Ridge, near Canterbury, is to be passe 1 by a tunnel 1,500 yards long. Had' exaMiii;il Balton Ridge very minutely in 1832. In that year it was his opinto;: that Chilham, lower down the ridge, was preferable for a railway, as it avc.t d o the ca pp in g of clay at the top of the ridge, and was more available for t xural pur poses. Mr. 'Vignoles' cutting to the Balton Ridge will be fol.: c r fifty feet deep, and about thirty feet into the clay. The depth of his cutting in one place will be equal to the height of the Duke of York's column, and the width will be 280 yards. The cost of the work will be about 290,0001. Mr. Vignoles will, by his tunnel, save about 2% miles in distance, but it is not worth the expenditure of 30,0001. The interest of 30,0001. would run four or Ave long special trains per day from Cantetbnry to London. The expenditure of that 300,0001. would only save four minutes of time to a special train and eight minutes of time to an ordinary train. The distance from Greenwich to Canterbury by the Sonth-Eastern line is 58 miles, and by the North Kent it would be 54 miles. The South- Eastern would, from its arrangements, be able to reach London in the same, if hot in less, time than the North Kent line. The Committee then adjourned until four o'clock to-morrow. lo GROUP XIX. (Comtinuerfrom our Afternocn Edition of yesterday.) 33.1LIDGEWATER. AND 2VEINEIMAD. Sergeant Murphy and Mr. Cockburn appeared on behalf of the promoters of this line. Mr. Talbot, Mr. Merivale, and Mr. Carrow ap?eared in support of certain petitions from landowners against the projected scheme. Mr. Sergeant Wranghain and Mr. Hoskins appeared on the part ' of the Bridgewater and Taunton Railway and Canal, the opposing scheme. Mr. Sergeant nuarisr then addressed the Committee in sup por of the paroposcd line. He said that the primary and lead ing objects of the promoters of this line of railway was, that it afforded a safe raid convenient harbour in the port of Minehead for vessels frequenting the Bristol Channel. Ano . ther was connecting the port of Minehead by a railway with Eristol and Londn, which rilway will proceed immediately frm the proposed ports through aswell-populated and rich agricultuc o al district, and join the Bristol and Exeter Railway at Bridgewater. The dangers attending the navigation of the Bristol Channel w a s, be believed, considerable, but these dangers existed principally above Minehead. There was not a spot on the coast from the Avon to the Hartland Point offering such advantages and con' eniences as the port of Mine head. It was accessible at all times of the tide, and he was sure no site could be discovered on that coast uniting the advantages of a position for a trading harbour and a place of refuge for shipping in distress of weather. By this scheme passengers from the South of Ireland and Wales, and all other parts of the world, would be afforded the most rapid and con venient means of reaching Bristol and London, and that there was, no such means of transit for goods and cattle from the South of Ireland and from the South of Wales, offering the same faci lities, having regard to the economy of time or expellee. This line of railway would pass through, or near to, thi r t een considerable villages, with a population . ' afford! . lug a prospect of eminent utility and profit independent of the advantages arising from the pier. He was quite sure he need not mention that Minehead was situated in the midst of some of the most superb scenery in the kingdom, and was in the summer season the resort of large numbers of persons in search of health and recreation The Learned Sergeant concluded his address by calling the Committee's attention to the numerous petitions from Cork, Bridgewater, Taunton, Poole, Minehead, and other places. Captains Parrott and Evans, both of the Royal Navy, were then examined as to the depth of water and soundings in the Bristol Chan nel, and also the advantages that Minehead offered as a harbour of refuge. It being past four o'clock, the Committee adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow (Thursday). GROUP XX. LONDON AND B7R,DGIILTON (lATANDSWORTZ (Continued from our Afteraoon Edition .f yesterday.) Mr. Fuller, surveyor, being examined, gave evidence of the value and ornamental character of the ground through which the whole line passed. He thought that 40,0001., instead of 29,0001., would be the proper price for the laud. He founded that estimate on the nature of the land, and the agreements entered into by the Company with other parties-=-with Messrs. Rawlinson and. Co.—who had received 9,0001., and With Crooke, Ellison, and Co., who had got 6,0001. It came out in cross•examination that an agreement had been made between the Company and Mr. Fuller about the ground of Mr. Hague, giving Mr. Hague OM an acre, and 2,0001. Mr. Hague re pudiated the agreement, as not made with his authority. Mr. Surrort, the solicitor to the Company, stated that he had negotiated with Mr. Fuller end Mr. Hague's son, both of whom re presented themselves as authorised by Mr. Hague, sen. The witness pia in a 'Written assent to the Rill, signed by Mr. Hague, jun., and Oat in last year, when the scheme was before Parliament. He said the sum gilica to Messrs. Crooke, Ellison, and Co. was incor rectly stated, it WaS Wit 3,0001. This closed the case. Mr. O'MALLEY, on the part of the South Western (Mitcham Branch) , here objected to the Committee co nsidering the line, for which he appeared, as competing with the Brighton line, and he would not offer any opposition to that line passing ; but if the Com mittee considered it a competing line, he would be compelled to ad dress himself and his evidence against the preamble of the other Bill. The Committee decided that as Mr. O'Malley had al read had better y acted, by erns -examining the witn esses, as for a competing line, he continue to occupy the •ame position. SOLITE( VIZSTEITZN (MITCBIIII2 ErLANCII). Mr. O'MALtior then proceeded to open the merits of the Mitcham line, and to put in evidence in favour. Mr. Ilewz opposed the line on behalf of owners and occupiers on a mile and a half on the projected line. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. Milton, Carrington, Cowly, terminating in the parish St. Clements, at the 53d mile stone on the London-road, about half a mile from Malden Bridge, where a junction was proposed to be made at the Oxford and Rugby and the Rugby and Worcester. The ground at this part was very level. The ex treme length of the line was 47 miles, 5 furlongs, and 5 chains ; the branch to Thame 3 miles, 2 furlongs, and 2% chains; total length to Euston-square 54 miles, 7 furlongs, and 2 chains. On the main line there were four level planes, and the worst gradient was 1 in a 100. There were three inclined planes in the Thame branch-1 in 220, 1 in 167, and 1 in 2,640. At Bledlow there was a plane of 1 in 136. The gradients were as favourable as the .nature of the: country would allow, and were per fectly consistent with moderate works, and were laid out so as to compensate the mere level portions of the line : this was also the case with the embankment and cuttings. There were ten sta tions —commencing at Northalt, Uxbridge, Edgley, or Stoke Common, Wooburn, High and West Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Tetsworth, Carsiugton, and the terminus at Oxford, which was.well situated for the purposes of the town. There were engineering obstacles to putting Thame on the main line. The Lsndou and Birmingham station at Euston-square, possessed advantages over the station of the Great Western, because it was two miles nearer the centre of the metropolis, an advantage which he considered; and Mr. Robert Stepheeson, of the same opinion, said it was equal to ten miles of railway travelling. There were two 1 unnels on the line, one at liorsinglen Wood, and the other under the Cricket -ground at Uxbridge; the first was 457 yards, and the second 325 yards in length. The soil was favourable at Uxbridge, hut not so at Horsingden, for which allowance had been made in the estimate. The worst curves were in the neighbourhood of Woeburn. There were two curves there of a radius of half a mile and eight chains each. At the junction with the London and Birmingham there was a curve a quarter of a mile in length, with a radius of three furlongs each. ESTIMATE. For the line, including 10 per cent. for contingencies •• .. £730,875 Land .......... ..... .. . ~...........• • • • 100.600 Total .. The land required, on the average, would be 61,643 cubic yards per mile. Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT—Several schemes had been pro jected during the last ten years nearly along the route of this line, but they were not proceeded with. Three or four plans were pro posed for making a line to Oxford, in November, but this line was the only one which had come before Parliament. This line was originally proposed to afford railway accommodation west, by Whitney, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, and so on to Hereford, after leaving Oxford, but this plan was abandoned shortly after the report of the Committee on tke Broad Guage line last year. The Commit tee of this railway came to the decision of yielding the ground west of Oxford to the broad guage interest. He was a subscriber to the amount of 26,0001. or 27,0001. The June ion with the London and Birmingham was north of the tunnel at Harrow, The line for six teen miles from London, ran about 3% from the Great Western line, towards Kilburn about four miles. They should no doubt run as many Oxford trains as the Great Western now did to that town. He had no doubt of the London and Birmingham line being able to afford them ample accommodation. On the main line there were thirty nine inclined pieties and four levels ; but the total length of the levels from end to end was not more than two miles. The best gradient was lin 8,514. The deepest part of the cutting at Stoke-common was 68 feet. They passed about 14 feet below, but parallel to the present road. The strata was chalk and gravel. There would be a viaduct of 2,220 yards in length ; the extreme height 112 feet. The viaduct on the Dover line, at Folkstone, was 100 feet in height; at Wycombe there was a viaduct 68 feet in height. • The examination of this witness was not concluded at the rising of the Committee. GROUP XXV. . _ The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group, re-assembled at the usual hour this morning in the Westminster Sessions•house. Mr. Monekton Milnes, Vice-Pre sident of the Committee; in the chair. STOUR VALLEY. Before the merits of this line, which stood next andlast of the line, was gone into, an incidental discussion arose as to the right of Mr. Sergeant Wrangham to appear in opposition to the Bill, as the repre sentative of the Chelmsford and Bury line. Mr. AUSTIN contended that the Stour Valley line, which ran from a point on the Eastern Counties Railway near to Colchester, to Sud bury, could in no way be cons:dere 1 in the light of a comparative line with the Chelmsford and Bury, which ran from cheiras:ord through Sudbury to Bury St. Edmunds: while, on the other hand, Mr. Sergeant WRANCHAM us ged that the two lines would compete for the direct through traffic btween the metropolis and Sudbury, and Bury St. Edmund's ; and he had, therefore, a right to appear. The Chelmsford d Bury Bill, which was now before a Standing Orders Committee had been grouped with the Norwich line, hut that fact did not prove that it did not compete with the Stour Valley line. Mr. AUSTIN called the attention of the Committee to the fact that the promoters of the Chelmsfori and Bury Bill had not petitioned agains the preamble of the Stour Valley Bill, and this was an addi tional ground why they ought to be heard. The question of compet ing lines had nothing to do with the matter. Parliament now con sidered no such thing as competition. Lines were looked at now, not in a competing point of view, but a comparative, and where two lines were projected for serving the sante district of country, Par liament decided upon the two without reference at all to the matter of competition. Now these two lines did not serve the sam- district of country, and again he said his Learned Friend had no right to be heard. The Committee decided that the promoters of the Chelmsford and Bury line could not be heard. Mr. MELLOR then stated the case for the Stour Valley Company. It was to connect Colchester with its port, by means of the branch called the Hythe line. It then passed along the Eastern Counties line for some distance, and branched off down the valley of the Stour, and terminating in a fork, one prong at Halstead and the other at Sudbury. The length of the line was nineteen miles and a half, and the estimated cost 250,0001. At present the carriage of coals between these places was 7s. per ton. The proposed line would reduce it to 3s. or 2s. 6d. Evidence of a general character was then adduced to prove the extent of traffic in coals, iron, timber, agricultural produce and ma terials, goods and merchandise, at present existing between the port of Colchester, and Halstead, and Sudbury. It was proved that the carriage of coal at present cost from 7s. to 10s. per ton, while the carriage of other articles were equally expensive. Exports of flour and wheat were large, and the imports of coal, timber, and agricultural materials no less extensive. One witness stated that there were large flour mills in the valley of the Stour, which would be greatly accommodated by the proposed railway. The Committee stopped the pn.gress of this evidence, declaring that they were convinced the district afforded sufficient traffic to justify ' the construction of a railway. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XXIX This Committee re-assembled this morning in Room 19 ; present, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere (chairman), Sir William Molesworth, Sir T. Duckworth, Mr. John A. Smith. and Colonel Rawdon. SOUTLI Ali Y AND (HUNTINGDON Balk CH). The evidence on behalf of the promoters of this scheme was re sumed. Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, was the first witness examined —His attention generally had been called to the district south of Leicester, with a view to railway accommodation. He was asked to become engineer to the Rugby and Huntingdon (competing) line, but he refused on the ground that the scheme was uncalled for, and wont.' prove ruinous to the shareholders. Ills reason was, first, the exceedingly difficult nature of the country which he had surveyed before that for the Loud,n and Birmingham line. He also thought it would not be so good a line as others that might be selected for the accommodation of the district. The proposed branch had been laid out in connexion with the scheme of the South Midland Railway Company, and would in his opinion be much pre ferable to the competing scheme. Witness then went into a comparative statement of the relative merits of both projects, from which he concluded that the South Midland was preferable, on the the ground of the greater accommodation it would afford, the less distance which would require to be con structed, and t: e consequent less expense which the branch would cost. The promoters •of the present line would start with a balance in their favour of 7001. per mile over their competitors. The one scheme would take only an outlay of new capital of 300,0001., while the other line would take an outlay of 700,0001. It must there:ore be evident that the former would be able to charge le_ fares, and at the same time be a more remunerative unae.reking. The gradients 'of the projected line were much more and though the other scheme was six miles shorter, favourable, the distance bet.. fen Huntingdon and Rugby would be accomplished sooner by the proposes. scheme in consequence of t h e easi er gradients. Cross •examined—There ,:sald nut be much difference in the rela tive meritS of the two schemes e. 2 regarded the communication with d o What line, e vi e ie f er which mpaer at hpwee.ns penny. yt o h. t , the south-west. The Rugby and Hunt;g may not have been the present Company no direct line from Huntingdon to Rugby woub: Considerable time was here spent in discussing' the . propriety of competing lines per se, or to view them in connexion with oll.ler more confining the questions to witness to the relative men: of the two extended hues, of which they in reality form a portion. The Committee was of opinion that it would be better for cetniSei on both sides to confine themselves as much as possible to the branches immediately under the consideration of the Committee. The CIIAIIIXAN again intimated that it was the wish of the Com mittee that the counsel for promoters should confine the question as to gradients to that part of the scheme between Huntingdon and St as compared with the competing scheme. By this means the investigation would be considerably narrowed. tiddel, civil engineer, was then examined, and corroborated the evidence of the last witness. The steepe t gradient on the whole of the proposed branch wee lin 100. It was on the west side of the Blisworth and Peterborough Railway. The length of it was one mile and three-quarters. From Huntingdon to titanwick the steepest gradient was 1 in 144. There was no gradient so severe as that en the existing line. On the competing line between Kettering and Starwich the steepest gradient was one in a hundred. The length of that gradient was one mile. Witness then gave the formal prooftf as to th curves, estimates, &c. Cross-examined —The worst gradient on the competing lino was o:ie in a hundred, and Its length was one mile. There was a gradient in the proposed line of one in a hundred, the length of which was one mile and three-quarters. Mr. Morrison, superintendent of the goods' department of the London and Birmingham Railway, was examined, with the view of proving that that Company charged by the line from Northampton to Peterborough, as well as to London, by the geographical distance, or "as the crow flies," for all goods. Mr. Charles I'. Berkeley, a land valuer, deposed to having valued the land over which the proposed line passes. 72,653/. was the amount of the total valuation. That was a high average for the land. This closed the case for the -promoters, subject to putting in a list of gradients. Mr. DEJEX, on the part of Lord Sandwich, addressed the Com mittee against the proposed line. lie complained that it ran for a considerable distance along his park, and unless public necessity made it imperative, he did not wish either the proposed or the com peting line to be made, but of the two he would prfe L r o th rd e competing one. If the Loudon and York line were carried, would be completely hemmed in. The Learned Counsel concluded by entreating the Committee to take his Lordship's petition into their con sideration, as they did that of Lord liarboroagh in the case of the Syston and Peterborough line, and give him that protection Which his case require d. There being no other opposition this case closed. Some discussion then took place as to what line should be taken next in order. and the Committee, on referring to the minutes of the first day's proceedings, found that they had decided on taking the projects in the onler they were read the second thne, imspective of any oth. r consideration and whether they were com peting lines or not. In conformity With this decision, the next Bill was ttio RUGBY AND STANWORD. Mr. LANG, on beha , f of the promoters, opened the proceed ings in this case. This was a branch railway projected by the Lon don and Birmingham Railway Company from their main line at Rugl.y to join the Syston and Peterbough Railway at South Luffen ham, about six miles from Stamford. The length of the branch was thirty-five miles, and passed through a favourable line of country. The estimated cost was 600,0001. The Learned Counsel then went into a detail of the advantages which it would confer on the district ei,e through which it would pass. Great benefit was expected, conveyance of coal, which will he brought along the Ys f ron m i Notting- Peterborough Railway—or the South Midland Raiiw te a r Y l i by Parliament—direct from the coal fields of Le r l ie ce e s of coal at Mar shire, and Derbyshire; the present settingl ton, and it has to be f:s . anctio a n i e ld d ket liarborough was about 21s. 1 3 carted from that place to Ile• The railway w per ton per in • lOs. to 12s. per ton. ioffuleerdernatfford the means of deliver an expense which cannot bteheredekoned at vili gu c e s h o l n ess the th l ar , l a s t . :gfi vtehetolintehisatbrfaronnich the benefit of the lots scale the coal in all P scale of tolls intended be inserted in the Bill amalgamating the London and Birmingha m Grand Junction, and Manchester ant L lt o i n vas also proposeda'—tsor Birmingham Railway Companies. Petitions in favour of the Bill were numerously signedsfridoemoraltlhtehel,tlo,eni-lnasndandvi valley, telaghsrooruigti whichhiel. There were on each the line - use ., a succession of largo and populous villages, almost entirely of an agricultural character, the inhabitants of which expect to derive the greatest advantage from the projected railway as a means of conveyance for their cattle, corn, and other produce, as well as giving them the facility of attending personally the mar kets before named. In this respect the line greatly resem bles that of the Northampton and Peterborough, sanctioned by Parliament in 1843, on which this particular description of traffic has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The Learned Counsel submitted that if these points were proved which he proposed to do by the witnesses he would call, there could be no question as to the necessity of constructing the line. The Hon. Mr. Watson, of Rockingham Castle, was then examined —He knew the line of country well through which the proposed line would pass, and no district was more in want of railway communi cation. He thought this accommodation would be given by the pro posed line. The opinion of the people in the district was entirely in its favour. If it were constructed coals and other goods would be much cheaper, in consequence of the facility and cheapness of rail way conveyance. GROUP xxr. LONDON ~, . ..:.71 3 "'° l4 D. i;tion of yesterday.) (C o ntinued from our Afternoon .b,.... i ~,,i nsid. e lv re s d uit t ed hat fo t r h a e tf: Ile-n*I)IAM land valuer, of Oxford, proposed statiott dt thla line in that town was adMirab.. a Wolver junction with the stations Of the Oxford, Worcester, any. .4 the heamtotil and thi Oxford and Rugby Railways, which reedy.— sanctioil of Paflistnent duritig the last session. The ground which the, would all occupy was eXtrethely level. Generally agreed with the evi dence ofthe last witness. He estimated the revenue which the Corn pany would derive from the carrying of agricultural produce, beasts, coal, butter, wool, grocery, drapery, horses, &c., at 38,0001. Mr. Scales, salesman, Aldgate, said he was in the habit of receiving cattle and sheep from Theme, Princes Risborough, and considered the line would be of great advantage f mi ar their transssion. The Birmingham was the best station, as it was nearer the markets. ENGINEERING EVIDENCE. Mr. John Addison, the engineer of the line, was then called and examined by Mr. CALvEar—He said the Company was not new to him, as he examined it ten years ago as to its feambility for a rail way. He also examined a portion of it last year for the London and Birmingham Company. The line commenced by ajunction with the London and Birmingham Railway at Harrow, and seven miles from —.. its station at Euston .square, and in its route to Oxford passed tl',Corntnittet , N.. , . 1. through Northall, L'xbri'lga, F:filler, Iv.ving Wo , :buru l, th;.; GLI,..E,C.`O',' , .A.ND DILNDEE JUXCTL - left, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bradenhana, Bledlow, (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Saunderton, Horacnden, Eamington, branch to name, from In respect to the datum line, the Committee decided that the 1 the ii0441)0.1ah004 of Totowortlii Groo ;Wiley, WU, A m o ng w ort Tros n o 091301 4 witt. ._ _ . .. .. , . ... . DENNIsoN applied to cross-examine this witness on behalf of the promoters of the Rugby and Huntingdon line, but the Committee decided that he tout no locus stanch:, as the latter was not a competing line ; and with regala t 0 the five miles common to both, the Com mittee would reserve to itsut the power of insisting, if they agreed to the Bill, upon the insertion of stith provisions as should secure to the other Company the free use of those ....re miles. The witness was cross-examined by 11T • FLooD, on behalf of Mr. 'arshall, a landowner, with a view to show t1.... k he means of cora l' • -tition already existing between Rugby and Sta...tbrd were sufld 'num' -commodate the traffic. dent to es- . Palmer corroborated the evidence of the last Virly„,. Mr. Jeffery -uses, ergineer, living at Stamford , Mr. Tibbert, ~ Mr. George J t,- ' , a Abbott, a car ter, were examined to the same grocer, and Mr. Gem* .re of opinion that there was considerable effect, all of whom we_ -en Stamford and Birmingham, and the traffic on the district betw, the event of this line being made it whole line of country, and In , would afford great accomm odation. , orn and malt, was examined Mr. George H. Betts , a dealer in t., to prove the traffic in corn, &c. adjourned till twelve It being now four o'clock, the Collimate.: o'clock to-morrow EDINBURGH AND PERTH. The object of this line is to connect Edinburgh and Perth. The length, 39 miles. The estimated cost, 1,000,0001. The engi neers, Mr. G. Rennie, Mr. Bateman, and Mr. Gunn; the agents, Messrs. Spottiswoode and R bertson. The formal evidence was given, and petitions against the line were received, and the Committee adjourned at four o'clock. Sub-Committee No. 2. IPSWICH AND BURY ST. EDMUNDS (ELY EXTENSION WITH BRANCHES THEREFROM). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The further consideration of the Bill was postponed, and the Com mittee proceeded with the LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (COVENTRY AND NUNEATON _. BRANCH). The formal evidence in respect to this Bill was taken, and the Committee adjourned. Sub-Committee No. 3. NORFOLK RAILWAY EXTENSION (THETFORD AND REED- HAM BR A N 611). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) '1 The formal evidence was then gone into, and the case was partly heard. The Committee decided that in respect to alternative lines laid down in the plans deposited the standing orders were not complied with. The case was then ajourned. Sub-Committee No. 4. WHITEHAVEN AND FURNESS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) This point, as well as several others, was reserved for further con sideration. BIRKENHEAD AND HOLYHEAD JUNCTION. The formal proofs given in support of this Bill occupied the Com mittee up to four o'clock, at which hour they adjourned till twelve to-inorrow. Sub-Committee No. 5, At half-past twelve this Committee met, Mr. Home Drummond In the chair, and proceeded with the case of the BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM cASCI:IURCH, TEWKESBURY AND MALVERN LINE), Several witnesses were called in support of the petitioners against the line, and several questions as to inaccuracy of mileage, and dis crepancies in the plans and sections, were raised at great length. Shortly before four o'clock the evidence for and against the line being concluded, the Committee decided against the promoters of the Bill on several points, bat reserved others for further consi deration. They then adjourned till to-morrow. Sala-Committee Na. 6. --- (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Committee next proceeded with the CALEDONIAN (DUNDYVIN BitANCH) RAILWAY. The object of this Bill Is to connect the Castlecary branch of the Caledonian Railway with the city and harbour of Glasgow by a line of eight miles in length, the estimated cost of which is 150,0001. Engineers and agents as above. The petition of William Sligo, of Carmigle, contained several allegations as to the legality of the subscription contract. The first allegation had reference to a question depending upon a distinction between the Scotch and English law. The Committee cleared the room for a decision upon this point, but, on our re-admis sion, the Chairman said that the Committee had come to no decision, and would reserve the point till they should consult with the Speaker on the subject. Two of the allegations were not entered into, it being stated that they depended on the first. The fourth and last allegation was, that John Black, a lunatic, was one of the subscribers to the contract. It appeared that the deed was signed by" William Black, curator bonis for John Black, a lunatic," and the question in dispute resolved itself into this— whether " William Black, curator bonis for John Black," meant "William Black, as curator bonis," &c. The Committee ultimately decided that as the contract bound the subscribers, " thew heirs, assignees," &c , it must be considered that William, and not John Black, was the party bound, as he could not bind the heirs, &c., of his ward. The allegation was therefore de• dared not proved, and the standing orders complied with. The Committee then adjourned. LAW IN TELLIGEN CE. PRIVY COUNCIL, April 1. IN THE MATTER OP THE PETITION OP THE INHABITANTS OP CAPI BURTON. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The arguments not having been concluded at four o'clock, the Mr ther consideration of the case was postponed till to-morrow. RAILWAY SHAR.E MARKETS_ BRISTOL, APRIL 1. STOCK EXCHANGE. —T he sales are—Caledonian, New, 14 —Mid. land, New, 2934—South Devon, 31%—Taff Vale, 133—Ditto, New I%.—Dutch Rhenish, 53. MANCHESTER, APRIL 1. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire, 1% p.- -Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, 2 6d. dis.— Caledonian, 2% dis.—Derby and Crewe, 1% p.—Eastern Counties, 20%—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, % dis.—Grand Union 11-16 dis.- Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, % c.— Lancashire and North Yorkshire, % die.—Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester, 2% p. c.—Liverpool and Bury, 8 p.—Ditto, New Shares, 13¢ p.—Liverpool, Onnskirk, and Preston, 3-16 p.—Liverpool, Pres ton, Manchester, and Stockport, 3 / 8 dis.—Manchester and Birming ham, 75—Ditto, Quarters (B), 6% p. c.—Manchester and Bury At mospheric, % dis. —Manchester and Leeds, 373¢ p.—Ditto, Fifths, 8% p.—North Staffordshire, 2% p.—North Union (A), 209—Preston and Wyre, Halves (B), % p.—Sheflleld and Lincolnshire Junction, % and Manchester, Quarters No. 1, 4 1 p.--Ditto, No. 3, 5-16 p.— South Eastern and Dover, Halves (No. 4), 1-16 p.—Tear and Dove Valley, % dis.—Trent Valley Continuation and Holyhead, dis.—Welsh Midlands, 1 1 A dis.—West Lancashire Coast, 4 West Riding Union, 1 13-16 p. LEEDS, APRIL I._ _ STocx Excworcz. —The sales are—London and Croydon, 20:1 1 ,— Manchester and Birmingham, Quarter Shares (A), 65( p.—New castle and Darlington Junction, Extensions, 6% p.—East Lancashire, No. 2 (late Accrington), 1% p.—Huddersfield and Manchester , 1 p.-- Huddersfield and Sheffield, 4% p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 3 34 p.— Ditto ,New, Extensions, 15s. p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 60s. dis —New castle and Berwice, 754 p.- North British, New Carlisle Branch, 10s. p. - Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton 60s dis. —Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, 275. 6d. dis. —Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Pres. ton, 225. p.—West Riding Union, 3 % —Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 30s. dis.—Bradford, Wakefield, and Midland, 225. dis.— Chehnsford and Bury, 20s. dis.—Essex and Suffolk, 20s. dis.—Grand Union, 15s. dis.—Lancashire, Yorkshire, and North Eastern, 273. Gd. die.-- Leeds and LiverpoorDirect, 7s. dis.—Leeds and York, 265. dis.—Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, ss. 6d. p.—North timberland and Lancashire Junction, 245. dis.—North Staffordshire, 2y., p.—North Western, Is. p.—South Midlands, 2s. Gd. dis.—Welsh. Midlands, 255. dis. HULL, Aran. 1. STOCK ExcmomE.—The sales are—Durham and Sunderland, 23% —North BrittSh, Carlisle, 335. 9d.—Bradford, Wakefield, and Midldnd, 355.—Derby and Gainsborough, 10s.—East Lincolnshire, 225. 6d.— East Coast, 21s.—Grand Union, I Os.— Hull and Barnsley Junction, 245, &I.—Liverpool and Leeds, 214—London and York, 318.—London and Manchester (Rem.), Ti —Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, 2L 7s.—North Staffordshire, 4/. 9s. Gd. —Northumberland and Lanca shire Junction, 19s. —South Midland, IA dis.—Shrewsbury and Bit , mingham, 2—West Riding Union, 31. IGs. 6d. SHEFFIELD, Amu. 1. STOCK EXCIZANOE.—Tho sales are—Midland, 401. Shares, 29 1 A Grimsby and Sheffield, Extension, 1 1 u—London and York, I%— Manchester and Lincoln Union and Canal, 11. 6s.—Sheffield and Lin colnshire, 11. 7s.—Sheftield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe, 100. , YORK lIIL 1. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Grand Union (Nottingham to Lynn), 12s.—London and York, 114—Newcastle and Berwick, 17% —Newcastle and Darlington Extensions, 7 1 , 2 —North British, Carlisle Extension, 1/. 13s. W.—North Staffordshire, 4%—Welsh Midland, 1/. Is.—York and North Midland, New (East and West Riding), EI%. EDINBURGH, 3111 M 30. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Aberdeen, Cl. 10s.--Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin, 11. I lg.-Airdrie and Bathgate, it. IN.-Arbroath and Forfar, 271.-Ditto, Half Shares, 15/. 10s.-Ayr and Galloway, IL 0.-Banffshire, 1/. 178. 6d.-British and Irish Union, it. 125.- Caledonian, 71. 10s.-Ditto, New, 1/. 195.-Caledonian Extension, 11. 65.-Caledonian and Dumbarton, U. IN.-Caledonian and Northern Direct, 11. 125.-Clydesdale Junction, 131.-Direct Northern, 11. 155. -Dundee and Arbroath, 391. 55.-Ditto, New, 221.-Dundee and Perth, 91. 17s. &1.-East of Fife, I/. 10s.-East Lothian Central, 11. 65.-Edinburgh and Bathgate, It. 19s. 6d.-Edinburgh and Glasgow. 721. 10s-Ditto, Half Shares, 131. 7s. 6d.- Ditto, Quarters, 171. 103-- Ditto, ditto, New, 15/. 103.-Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dumbarton. 18s. - Edinburgh and I.eith Atmospheric, 193. 6d.-Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, 171.-Ditto, Preference, 19/.-Ediriburgh and Northern, 2/. 12s -Ditto, Newport, 93.94.-Ditto, Lechgelly, 13s. 6d.-Edin b,zrgh and Peebles, 1/. 23.-Edinburgh and Perth, 21. 45.-Forth and Clyde ,Junction, 11. 10s.-Glasgow and Aywhire, 701. 10s.-Ditto, New StoC.k, 241.-Ditto, Quarter Shares, 18/.-141asgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 71. 85. -Glasgow and Dundee Junctiou, 11. IN.-Glasgow and Garnkirk, 40/. 105.-Glasgow and Greenock, 191.-Ditto, New Stock,'lol.-Ditto, Preference, it. 155.-Great North of Scotland, 11. 108.-Granton Junction, 11.-Inverness and Elgin, 175.-London and York, 1/. 155.-North British, 241. 35.-Ditto, Halves, 31.-Ditto, Extension to Carlisle, 1/. 135.-Ditto, Extension to Dalkeith, 61. 2s. 6d.-Perth and Inverness, 1/. 53.-Scottish Central, 131. MI.-Ditto, New, 4/. IN.-Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction, 11. Scottish Midland, 71.-Scottish Southern, It. 155.-Stirling and Dun fermline, 1/. 9s. 6d GLASGOW, Melon 31. STOCK ExcrubraE.—The sales arc - Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin,. 275. 6d.-ISritish and Irish Union, 338.-o'l.lm:dam, New, 263. Caledonian Extension, 261.—Caledonian Direct Northern, 354. — Clydesdale Junction. 12/.—Direct Northern, 358.—East Indian Rail way, 7s. 6d.—Forth and Clyde Junction, 338.—Glasg ow General Terminus, 9/.—Glasgew and Belfast Union, 208.—Glasgow, Kil marnock, and Ard ossan, Ms.—Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction. 2s. —Glasgow Harbour Mineral, 21s.— Great Indian Peninsular, be. 6d.—Lanark and Lothians, 3s.—Lesinabagow, 30s.—Perth and In verness, 301.—Perth and Crieff, 25 8.—S , ottish Central, 13% —Scot tish Central and Caledonian Junction, 225. 6d.—South MldlanEl, Me. —Wishaw and Coltness, 47%. COMMITTING PRISONERS.—We have before alluded to the practice of committing prisoners over the assizes, to quarter sessions for trial. We have been favoured this week with the following statement on the subject, which we re quest our country magistrates to peruse with care Int the time of Baron Wood, when at the Stafford assizes, he held that the assizes being a GENERAL gaol delivery, ALL prisoners in custody at the time were entitled to be tried; and those against whom no bills had been preferred (being reserved for the quarter sessions) were all ordered to be dis charged. Commitments for trial at the next quarter ses sions ( which are not frequent when assizes may intervene) are, therefore, deemed irregular.' " It is really high time that this unjust and illegal practice were put a stop to, for it involves in point of fact A FALSE impaisormorr, and tends to subject many an INNOCENT man to needless pail% and loss As to the question of expense, it has no riiihteotal connexion with the matter at all, which is one of justice, . and not of money. A magistrate has no right, as a mere matter of volition, to delay the trial of a prisoner for a single hour. The law orders that such trial shall take place with out more delay than is necessary to carry out the arrange ments made by Act of Parliament; and certainly it is most preposterous that the men whose business it is to administer the laws, should tnemselves be guilty of their violation.-- Nottingham Review. BIRTHS on the 7th of February, at Calcutta, the lady of George trdny. Esq., of a son. _ _ On the 28th ult., at Burton-upon-Trent, Mrs. H. Allsopp, of a son. On the 29th ult., in Berkeley-square, the lady of Abel Smith, Esq. , M.P., of a daughter. On the 29th ult., at Poet's-corner, Westminster, the lady of C. Frere, Esq., of twin daughters. On the 30th ult., at Westbourne terrace, Hyde-park-gardens, th e lady of Francis Edwards, Esq., of a son. On the 26th ult., in Chesham-street, Mrs. Francis Oilley Martin , of a daughter. On the 27th ult., at Edgeware, the lady of Duncan Anderson , Esq., of a daughter. On the 27th ult., at Kensington, the wife of Edward J. Chapman► Esq., of a son. On the 26th ult., at Brixton-hill, the wife of William Steele, BK. of a daughter. On the 26th ult., at Peckham-rye, Mrs. Edward M. Hardy, of 0 daughter. On the 27th ult., at Mecklenburgh-square, Mrs. Isaac Braithwait e * jun., of a son. On the 27th ult., at Poplar, Mrs. E. Stock, of a daughter. 1 MARRIED. On the 26th ult., at Burnet, near Bath, S. E. Caspersonn. Birkenhead, M.D., to Lusitania, oulydaughter of t he late Captain 4. M. Browne, of her Majesty's 75th Regiment. On the 28th ult., at Wandsworth , Henry Raiford, Esq., of Boa' ferry, to Louisa, third daughter of H. J. Barehard, Esq., of Wand.' worth. On the 28th ult., at St. George's, Hanover-square, C. R. kenzie, Esq., to Madeline, third daughter of the late Rev. Sir WOW , " Murray, Bart., of Clermont, N.B. On the `.28,h ult., at St. George's, Hanover-square, Captain ri• 17 -; Sands, King's Dragoon Guards, to Georgina Elisabeth , the Ode.' daughter of G. Whieldon, Esq., of Springfield douse, DIED. On the 27th ult., at Davenport Hall, Chesilre, Thomas Tipl 4l4 ' Esq., aged 73. On the 28th ult., at Workingharn, Berke, Janes Hayward, IC l4 ' On the 28th ult., in Hereford, J. Aston, Esq, aged 86. On the 29th ult., at Peckham, Mr. I'. Biggs, aged 88. On the 29th ult., at Everton, near Liverpou, Charlotte. wid e" George Roach, Esq., aged 82. harl° On the 30th ult., at Bonchurch, Isle of Wirht , the Hon. John Monson, fourth son of the Right Hon. Litt Monson. tt, On the 23d ult. Henry Clement, fourth ion of W. Chald ooo ''Sq., surgeon, Dorking, Surrey. 00 1° v. the 23d ult., at Martock , Somerset , Sophia Anne, widow late W.c. Wood, Esq., aged 72. Ohe 254 ult., Elizabeth, widow of the late Mr. Richard builder. On the 24th ult., West Hatch, Chigwell, Essex, Samuel Tbo9 Abbot, of Trinity Collw, Cambridge, aged 21. f ;• On the 24th ult , at Park-hill, Clapham, John, infant son - o Nicholson, Esq. 1 1 , 2. --- London: Printed 4010. PrO)lis), , Hl Ur 7+07E130 TOI7Stt, of 10',jact kitraud, Printer, at 2'he Sun Office, N 0.112, Straw", iii the F re iwel of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex, modal, 2, 1841, 1