The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-29 00:00:00

,A tiT 7- - 4 " ti C()IVI 3,IITTEES. (YES TER DA Y.) GROUP VI. ilk Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock. Sir J. C, ;l o b. house,, chairman. Mr. their Axneaws, for th e promo t er! , a ppli e d t o the committee for tlemea a athority to brin g f orwar d C apta i n Codrin Mn, one of the gen• sent down by the Board of Trade to !pert as to the eligibility of mai .ing th e " Ine',l" a termini, and wise report Was favourable. The Com mittee objected to this conr;,e, z Mr. A/enemy. s then opened the case for the promoters of the and ee a nd P _ erth line. This was an Act to alter and attend an Act V.hict ` ra ce'• red the sanction of both Houses of Parliament, and en renal,„,ed,„,_ or .8 "Dundee and P e rth R a il way A ct, " whereby a Pose --- `r' 4u Y was incorporated by that name, f or th e pur- Act. . ' rnak ng a railway f rom D tin d ee to Perth. The the ir et' last year gave the promoters power to make declsi .ela a common termini for that and other lines, Subject to the ittuto aof the Board of Trade. That Board sent down engineers, i o t 6 , sy reported favourably for making this place a station. Would 1..., 4 be too bad if, after being bound by the Committees of .i,r_ . , , / iession to act according to the Board of Trade, h 7 3 7 6 Y , should now be refused the benefit of such conditions. The of vof almost constructed, and it was stopped last year at one side 0 e river till the reportof she Board of Trade was made known. The ..el 0: I came, and it wad highly favourable, it gave the promoters Pea rs z t the ogo on to the "I nch. " The promoters, therefore, had at Pre l e 8, ant power to go on to the "Inch " — true , not with ..„, "mach benefit as the powers of the present Bill, but the I thy had the power to go to that place. Without going to it, ~,,e' Bile Of last year wonid be wholly useless, and the o iy object of the,,.n 4nlgniAr'?rein tabs Committee this year for that object was, to get to d - more convenient mani.er, both to the Compan , an ! b e', cublic. Thfst they should be allowed to go there was wholly thcle Pendent of any evidence to be offered by the 'W n' l ib'. The decision of the Edinburgh and Northerr Cots ' alittee anr: the Committee on the Scottish central Railway was e th:d. the oT, _., hcp ed the C "'..o' should be emied and that being the case, h th e i r mile: . o i rn i. mittee bzfore whom he ' then appeared would also give fir'Tir a° iller, civil engineer—l; engineer to the Dundee and Perth Hof railway. Under the power of the Act of last session rassa they b , ' ,;", allowed to go up to the river Tay, which was to d be re c parad d t plans ""An'ee, to be approved of by the Admiralty. He had P 40 17 lest the wish of th.o Board of Trade. The alteration proposed by the. Bill of this year ',could bring the goods' station nearer to the town of p erth than if they were togo by the Craigie-park side of the Inch. GHOITP XI. 10 rum whit t transpired yesterday in Mr. IV. Smith O'Brien failing to ttend th, i Committee, though the business to be transacted was PCartponed Vil Thursday in consequence of the Bills not being in a lit strte to pre ceed, the Chairman, Mr. Henley, accompanied by several of she oth•.,r members, attended in his place to-day at one o'c'ock; In ~ 'order to s ee if th e re f rac t or y M em b er wou ld upon second com'ldera tion sea th a prudence of yielding to the regulations of the house and Bivc3 his services. The Honourable Chairman, "aith his col leagues, 'however, were doomed to disarn' - jaitment, for up to two o'clock, when they again adjOunieil, no Mr. Smith O'Brien made his appearance. In r to execute the intention of the rules o !der to kill time and big for Ile absent Member one hour r • the House, viz., the remain- Ch aln 3 lanw his colle&mes, oefore making their report— the windoi.vs lacing stationed themselves at one of the the river, a a the P r OrMtSS of the stonem-r. • appeared to watch m ith great interest 4sons in the works low, and the prog. :ese of the s teant-I..eats, barges, engaged be and other craft passing up aild :doe rrt the' river. 'an hem a • di ourned, h expired, the Hon. with th ; ..en the hour had Mem acrthe X louse this eve reporting , , object, no doubt, ofthe absentee - 4 , r.ing. • - • ~.• - GROUP XIV. S u 41 ,•'.__.' -4 7 ,__ narri 1-EASTEEN AND ncn ZS. The con, --P .Attee on this group of railways met to-day in Room No. 30 Ifre ~ • e- cot—Mr. Protheroe (chairman), Lord Erulyn, Mr. J. CPC .. 2I , n o,- . , , and Mr. Grogan. 4 ";- ,• • Yearon, the solicitor to the South-Eastern Railway, examined Mr. , tOcrcauart -First became solicitor to the company in 1833. ~.,.. or,,ject had then been formed by some of the directors of the ' * I ?eut pith Railway. The company was a t fi rst ca ll e d t h e London, 4)6 iei , and Covtinental.Railway. ; The firstadvertisement appeared ilft the local papexs in March, 1834, and the surveys were made be- I bre filai periddnind continued aftem'ards... Very considerable dirt'. l euitY vas experienced in bringing the project to anything like matu .' nil", in consecimente of the nesly unanimous app sition of the land -I,llld Sr. on thesVUrse of the In . oposed line. The great difficulty was the Pass age ,of the Aledway, P.. 3 the proposition of crossing it by Rochester ‘, III Y, ge ,'vl as -• not , liste. , ,,'ed to, and any attempt to cross it above the ...a - a, ge 'would be att , Jtided with works of the most formidable nature. " :I ' l)g trnieY also seas expected to offer the most decided opposition, a rt:, i r the-e.bgin Pers "mere consequently desired to turn their attention e to the westward. Geological difficulties were then experienced, '. : ' ; •-i 4 • 14 ! I tile, shies of the line was directed as far west as Auchated. It _.,4ka n. .ittl,.th . e line had been drawn as far west as Auchsted that ,Ve. of a combination was entertained. It was in October, .. , . .4mt the idea was first entertained of combining Brighton . , ti,.%.,...,... ... .14ver by means of the Pale, and the company then changed its . . ' ---- " •4 '.kalth9ligh" , t,n*nie - Vgillp We . The company was, ill :•.44,:a.1"- q ollll 4 l lartuidento,llrerkiltsPlame. The first formal ... , . . ' finn• llea they It .Sotith;East*.rlorkapany came out in July, ~, - ' adr,;... i • - ... I lea ttieS'lient before Pargagfent;lhe Brihton of the ----e " as aba n*agii,..and in. 183d , ilieBill was obtained. When • .4P 'puree of t h e.tionth;Elistern rose . to 'tv . iiremium two other pro ;.:l,B_,,td,..4lllld74;lppbsed it, One ,of these was a line from the E tt 1,',-.,•""_"un'ltaihytry.to Gravesend, but it was thrown out. The orl - Of the•tothpany was to accommodate North Kent, and, lion. en r rere . ries that they sustained the idea of that accommoda ,•imaii7catz never abandoned. Mr. Vignoles's plan first assumed a \sad th —f° ' r9l in 1844. It was at first only to Chatham, . 1 - ..,'" it -Was advanced - to Ramsgate. It was only in the present ti?_ i t: at Alse extension to Dover was proposed. He did not coa te any London terminus last year. zrineYerMr. Sergeant WRANGLIAM—Captain Pringle, who was the en . to the company, in his examination before the committee .1" 183 6, states that he objected to that pa-t of the line running be tween grave.e,ad and Maidstone, as the chalk cuttings between those points v, , ere very heavy. The principal landowning oppositi n to the line v. - as between Gravesend and Folkestone. There was also strcrag opposition between Gravesend and London. When they th & "' l ade up their minds about the South-Eastern line, they considered t the Gravesend line was out of the question. The C 7 eLUAMAN here intimated that the Committee were of opinion that the question of priority ought apt to be considered by them as a • matter of material importance. It was a point that should unques tionably meet with due consideration, but it appeared to him that the question of the respective merits of the two projects was of infl- Wkily more importance, and was the point on which the Committee bad more particularly to decide. Witness in continuation--Cannot say whether Mr. Vignoles had a !plan for a bridge over the Medway under the consideration of the bridge wardens at the time that Mr. Stepheason proposed to cross the river by a fe.rry. Is sure that the idea of the bridge did not ori ginate with ..Ir. Vignoles, and Mr. Cubitt had spoken of It eight • Years ago. The original capital of the company was 1,400,0001. The Coattnittee adjourned until one o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XVI. rARNIZADI AND ALTON BRANCH. The 'consideration of this b ranc h was resumed to-day by the Com- Mine', of Group XVI • Sir Charles Douglas in the chair, w ith L or d Po ngton, Mr. Lockhart, and Mr. Ble w itt p resent, when Mr. Av ma called Mr. Dronn, who testified to the advantage of having a station at Alton. stating that it would bring the inhabitants seventeen miles nearer than by the way of Winchester. He believed that the carrying the line to Atresford would be difficult, and was not bkely to be effected. The bulk of the people were decidedly in favour of the Alton Branch. To Mr, LOCKHART, the witness said, that the turnpike-read was as good as any in England. but it was bad for engineering difficul ties, there being a considerable rise to the summit of Windmill Hill, Six miles one way, and four the other. Mr. Horne stated that the traffic was much greater at Wigtleld than at Farnborough, and the formation of this branch would bring a great trade from Alton, which :s the busiest place t:le witness knows for its size, and certainly the population was very con siderable. Mr. Crowley, called by Mr. AUSTIN, confirmed his previous evi dence with respect to the advantages this line was likely to produce. It would reduce the carriage of coals from 12s. 9d. to Zs. 9d. per ton, and would increase the number of private inhabi• tants, as Alton was situated in the most beautiful part of Hants, but parties were prevepted from settling there by the dearness of fuel sad the heavy cost of building materials. Sand cost, for instance, 20s. waggon load; it might, with this line, be brought for 10s. There 'would be a saving often per cent. in lime, seven per cent. in paving stone, and five per cent. in timber from journeys to In the to London, too, each passenger would sav e nearly one half the ex pense ; and the popul a ti on were so badl y for conveyance that p many people were obli ge d to tee their ow off gigs and other carriages. The advantage was sh own also in the circumstance of there being upwards of 3,000 waggons loaded with agricultural produce, which en . tered Alton yearly, and if this line were made, the Alton breweries plight be enlarged indefi n it e l y, and would be ' able to compete with those in London. The proposed Direct Portsmouth branch to Go elalming would carry the inhabitants several miles round to th e me tropolis, and then there wou ld be grea t delay in the formatio n o f th at line, even if the Bill f or i t were obtained, while by this line they would obtain the accommodation in two years. To Lord POLLINGTON—Mr. AUSTIN replied, that there were se- Verret places of no m ore i mportance than Alt on which had terminal branches, and instanced the Ste ming, Horsham, and Bognor b ranc h es of the Brighton line SS exam ples. The traffic on the line had been increased fivefold since the opening of the Guildford branch. Railway accommodation would be afforded to Godahning, but it would be at great cost, that of making a line 19 miles long through what appears to be quite an Mr. Locke, th e engineer, that the primary object of this Line was to accommodate Alton, and was projected at the request of the inhabitants of that town. The Farnham was a subse quent thought, and occasi one d b y f the country not being at all contemplated in the first instance. I e L h ad ab t l ried the country to the There was no south of the Hogsback, but found it imprac tic abl e. and that from com parison between the country from Farnham to lit the latter place to Godalming, the latter districtobeitng exceedingly hilly 11 last w e y s t e e a r r n , and difficult. Reports ha i been made in Au and in January of t is, in which the directors of the So o ti f t i x e r i ?ject. He Company had stated their intention of pursuing tae ga es e t t r. and took a survey of the ground through Alresford to had liken sections of a line, he having originally designed to Salisbury, but that had afterwards been Itered. This Alton a would be .of great advantage to Alresford, but it would be difficult for for rail Way purposes, as there would be a long gr a di ent, or one ' In. sixty, and a tunnel would be required. The prolongation to Win ' 'theater would be of no advantage whatever; and if made must be ' for local purposes solely. He was acquainted with the Direet Portinaouth line, and certainly conceived that it would not be an alternative line, and that it would not give the same accommodation to the country, the gradients being altogether different. He believed that a railway could not be made at all between Alton and Liphook, the country being so hilly that within three or four miles out of Petersfield there was a difference of not less than four hun dred feet in the level. This branch took the natural valley of the country, and was a natural branch of the South-Western line, and Was likely to contribute to its prosperity. The Cuareatas wished to be certain as to the continuation to Win chester, and he referred to the evidence previously given of the indis position of the inhabitants, to which Mr. Locke replied that he could not say anything about the opposition 'nit certainly from the engineering • character of the country, he never should recommend the directors 'to Make it the branch. He felt that he had in soma way implicated - the directors, by having curve} ed the whole of the country, on a lunch wider basis than was absolutely necessary. He had done this from a desire to thoroughly know the country, and feared that to had thereby created a prejudice against them ; but there was no in tention whatever to go to Winchester. Sir C. DOUGLAS wished to be satisfied on this point. Mr. AUSTIN wished to get Mr. Horne, the Chairman of the Com pany, but being unable to get him, so stated that he was authorised to assure the Committee that there was no such intention, and en treated that that assurance should be placed on the record of the report of the Committee. . To Mr. LOCKHART—There was no separate estimate of the Mit! of the line to Farnham, but he believed the land there eras, if anything, cheaper than that flirther south Mr. AUSTIN here put in a statement of the traffic respectively of Farnham and Alton, by which it appeared that the nembn of passengers for the former place was 87,000 annually, and the produce in money 6,0001. ; of goods there were 21,000 tons, producing nearly 1,8001. From the latter the passengers were 94,000, the money paid by them 8,7001. ; goods, 39,000 tons, and the produce in money 3,0001. The room was cleared at this point, and on the re-admission of strangers, Sir CHARLES Denoras intimated that the Committee had as yet „ come to no decision ; but that they were prepared to pass the pream ble on leaving out the words, " and Alton, in the county of South ampton." Mr. Mix, Q-C., said that they were prepared to submit evidence as to the traffi c b etween Alton and Farnham. ' 'Air. Herne was then called, who stated that he had been engaged with traffic thedepartmentdye Seuth-Westeni Company eight years, had b een i n th e years had been speciall - years, and ad daring the last t wo or th ree y enga , with information on that eubjecf He supplying the directors produced the estimates of traffic, in which it appeared that the c oach passengers paid 5,5321., and the motley obtained from private Vehicles was 9,2631. Os. 9d. There were 4,368 e e ach ls e , r day,an d andt h e c F a a r r u n -- • borough station, the coach making one journeh ing, on an average, six passengers width, Per mile each, 'would give 605/. as. between Farnham and t Gud d fo . rd, half-yearly. There was a coach between London and Alresford oiAga.upanehday ' - and down another, the produce of which was 30'27 yearly In addition there was a coach between Alresford and althf % Farnborough station, whi c h produced 6051. 3s. half -yearly. Thies doubled gave the Income of th e branch on the usual rate . of estimate. and made 3,025/. 15s. between Alton and Farnham for coach passengers alone. This, he coneeived, a very low estimate. To Mr. LocuicesT the witness replied that the baffle byivate vehicles was taken by actual ob servations, made from October 20th to November 2d, and in one or two stations begun on October 27th and continued till November 9th. The observations were made close to,the toll bar. To Mr. HILL—The witness stated the mode in which the traffic w a s taken, which was in the usual manner. The passengers between .Alton and Farnham in private vehicles were on the average 84,472 ""-- in the year, one-halt of which only he took for the railway. These would produce, at I%d. per mile, with a distance of nine and a half miles; 1,85 1. 9s. Between the Alton and Wachfleld station there were 13,910 passengers, the half of wh om would pay for travelling nineteen Tulles 9631: Th. Id., making a total, including the coach traffic, of 8,755/. 15s. Id. F or p arce l s and mails there ' - 'would be about 400/. He assumed the number of parcels would be 40,000, and The mercantile traffic was taken in the same way as that of private vehicles, viz., observation, and without any of the increase usually allowed for railway, giving to each horse only 15 cwt., though the common weight was a ton, there was a tonnage of 12,688 of later ' " chandise. Alton and its neighbourhood takes 10,000 tons, the revenue l't*. from carrying which would be 1,187/. 10s. Of line, slate, and ether similar articles, there were between 5,000 and 6,000 tens, nue about 600!. Live stock, &c., 405/. 16s. Bd. For carriages and reve,. horses, 160/., making a total 14,9151, 15s. 10d., that for the whole of the branch being 24,023/. I Is. lld , leaving for the portion between Farnham and Guildford 9,307/. 163. I Id. The observations toel Docu corefull,y made, and the totimatce wore low; tla flab 94 FIE S L N 0 O N, WEDNESo at It' OR, APRIL 29, - lB4d the Guildford station had become fivefold of what had been antici pated by Its promoters. • TO the CHAIRMAN—The witness replied that the Alton portion would give considerably more than 41. 16s. per cent. dividend on the oltriay, the difference being occasioned by the inhabitants of the Alton district being traders, whim those of the Farnham 7 e.re agri culturists. If the line were made only to Tarp.* the per tentage would be less than now stated. Sire. Dorotas here int 1 7aled that the Counsel need not pursue the Matter Mrther. na the room was cleared. On the re-admission of atranprZ, the Chairman declared the preamble to be proved, and the Committee then adjourned. Cross-examined by Mr. CARBow—The Commix!!ners and the in habitants of the town had the " of stray" in the park, but the ten acres of new land ^ be more useful than the old. Mr I r s ,: t a id rris t , he thleineeng.wifaseertheto best te that could uldwabse laidthen - PonhtoeNtr,eacbteenwould made nwoitthohuatvae g lo ous tl , le as s i o t u c t hof could not " eircumbendibus" of too severe a c haracter. He endeavoured to down.beer ts . o •a:tdva line advantageous, avoid the park, but found it impossible to do so without injuring the line. The north of the park would be alas disadvantageous for a railway, as the curves would there be severe also, and the works heavy, Mr. CARROW said he was instructed that Mr. Blythe, an engineer, could prove that the line might be taken either to the north or south of the park without injuring it, but as he was under examination in another Committee, he was then unable to call him. Captain Laws explained the difficulties and dangers of junctiors on a curve with main lines on which a considerable number of trains 1 were constantly passing and re-passing, and explained, by reference to the map, that if the Methley branch did not proceed through a portion of the park, that it must of necessity join the North Midland, as a curve would be a serious disadvantage. Mr. Caratow applied to the Committee to adjourn until to-morrow, in order that the witness whom he had mentioned might be able to attend. IMPERJAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 28. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. - SUNDAY TRADING. Lard REDESDA LE presented a petition froze the parochial authorities of St. George the Martyr ag ainst Sunday trading. The M arqu i s o f ANGLESEY presented a petition from St. George-in -the-East to the same effect ; also one against the Charitable Trusts Bill. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition in -favour of the London and York Railway Bill TILE . BUDE LIGHT. The Earl ST. GERMANS presented a petition from wha, he termed a very ingenious gentleman, Mr. Gurney, praying that inquiry be made as to the eligibility of the Bude light for the new Houses of Parliament. The Noble Earl moved that it be referred to the Committee for Ventilation.—Agreed to. MINISTERS' MONEY. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the city of Waterford, praying for the abolition of ministers' money. They repre sented a strong case for the consideration of their Lordships— namely, that while the whole population of Waterford consisted principally of Roman Catholics, personal tax, as they stated, was imposed upon than, which, they considered, was fraught with great hardships • and, besides, was wholly u nnecessary, as the funds of t h e Irish Protestant Church were abundantly sufficient, if properly applied, to defray the expenses of public worship in the city of Waterford. SELLING SPIRITS ON THE SABBATH. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from several re spectable inhabitants of Tervay, Bedfordshire, praying for a repeal of the law which allowed the sale of spirituous liquors on the Lord's-day. ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR. A NOBLE LORD presented a numerously signed petition from a place in Cornwall against the union of these sees. SCOTCH BURGH BILL. , Lord BROYJG HAM presented a petition against this Bill. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. Lord REDESDA LE presented a petition from the " Mu ter Filers and Se amen o f the Trinity House" against this Bill. It stated th a t J ames 11. granted certain privileges and revenues to the Trinity House, to be applied, amongst other things, to the relief of the widows of those who had suffered shipwreck. TheY prayed that those revenues might not be placed under the operation of this Act, as they were quite ready to have their accounts inspected. THE PROPOSED RAILWAY BILL. Earl FIT.EWILLIAM said they were now about to enter upon the second reading of the Bill that had been introduced for the purpose of regulating all Ware railway Bills. He ap proved of the measure entirely, for he did think it was time to put an end to the disgraceful mania for railways that had existed, and which had been most mis chievous to the country at large. He would now beg to move that there beslaid upon the table of the House an account of the total estimated cost of all railways for which peti tions had been presented in this session of Parlia ment, distinguishing between the Bills that had been withdrawn and those that were now pending. It was an absurdity to call these railway Bills pdrate Bills. They should have been dealt with with more extended views, as Bills involving the means of communication with all parts of Great Britain. They were national Bills, and should have been dealt with as such. He proposed some years since to have a general survey of the country, with a view to establish a general system of railway communication. The answer that he received was, that it was too late now. He differed from people who thought that if they swamped a great number of the present railway Bills this session they would hear no more of railways for the future. There would always be a great dis position to speculate in railways. They had always been pro fitable investments. He believed it was not too late to take the initiative so far as it could be taken in the matter, by esta blishing a railway department in connexion with the State, something en the principle of the Poor-law Commission. The Duke of CLEVELAND fully agreed with what had fallen from the Noble Lord. Such a motion would have the effect of relieving many from the position in which they bad placed them selves from the fever which seised them in railway speeula'.ion. The whole system of railviay legislation required a complete change. Nothing could be more frightful than the state of things which prevailed, promoting bankruptcy and gambling to a great extent, yet what had been done had been encouraged by the Government and Parliament. If they looked to the ses sion of 1844, leaving out of view the projects of the present year, they would find that more schemes were brought forward than bad been projected from the formation of the first railway up to that period. The present system completely dissipated the finances of the country, as well as corrupted its morals. Last year they had stopped the gaming houses in Pall-mall and other places, and he could not see what difference there was between gambling carried on in such houses and that which had taken place in regard to railways. While in the former case it was limited to a few places, in the latter it had ly.,come widely extended. It was necessary, in order to check this gam bling, that Parliament should retrace its steps. During the continuance of the undue speculation, many persons who were wholly irresponsible took upon themselves the office of direc tors, not for the purpose of projecting schemes for the benefit of the public, but for the express purpose of obtaining money front the public for their own purposes. Why should there not then be a Board of Works, to whom the plans of new lines should be submitted, and who should give their opinion whe ther the railways ought or ought not to be made ?—( Hear, hear.) This, in his opinion, would prevent the promulgation of futile A projects,and tp croe present, parti e s t y i e smight render igh tt eke a essential benefit m ape tr; the community. i En t whichgl nin their d had ut e h a railway;nd s and pro j ect eeii theya might de th i s, any p ehh a e r e t g o h f persons possessed of neither influence nor capital, and totally unconnected with the locality for which they proposed a rail way. Landowners ought not to be allowed to oppose projects simply because they passed through their land, if it could be proved that they would confer benefits on the country, but they ought not to be at the mercy of engineers and solcitors in country towns.—(Hear, hear.) The Government ought to bring in a new Bill with respect to railways, and appoint such a tribunal as the one he suggested ; they would then have good railways instead of bad ones, and would put an end to all those bubble schemes of which they had heard so much. But if they did not adopt some such plan, they might rest assured that such projects would increase instead of diminishing. Lord MONTEAcizzi i 6 waisz his intention to Gall for some further information bearing on the question. It was not always they could get an estimate of the cost of construction of railways; and even when they only got a list of Bills, they did net get at the root of all the mischief, because such a list would not contain those projects on which money had been paid and expended, but which had not come before the consideration of Parliament. The documents he wished for were these :—he would wish to have a list of all the motions for Bills that had appeared in the Gnzette ; he would wish for a list of all the Bills of which notice had been given at the Private Bill-office; an account of all the capital .propesed to be raised and to be borrowed; and, as the most important of all, an account of the number of shares issued in order to raise this capital. His object was to show the House the necessity of putting an end to this system of gambling. Lord CAMPBELL rose to speak to the motion, when The LORD CHANCELLOR proceeded to put the motion. Lord CAMPBELL still insisting upon addressing their Lordships, The LORD CHANCELLOR—WiII the Noble Lord allow me to put this motion ? He can then speak on the second motion. The motion was then put and carried. Lord CAMPBELL ---I am very glad that we are able to jog on a little in our business. It certainly is not, however, owing to my Noble and Learned Friend. The part of the House in which he sits is generally the most irregular quarter of the House. The LORD CHANCELLOR—I have no authority, like the Speaker of the House of Commons, to call Noble Lords to order. If I had, I have no doubt I should have occasion every day to call the Noble Lord to order.—( Laughter. ) Lord. CAMPBELL —I knnw my Noble and Learned Friend has no power to call Noble Lords to order, but he has the power of preventing disorder. The most disorderly quarter of the:House is that which is nearest the woolsack.—( Laughter. ) The Noble Lord went on to say that he thought there should be a railway department in connexion with the Government. The loan appointed last year had failed, because their powers were not defined by an Act of Parliament. He trusted that the suggestion thrown out by the Noble Lord would meet with the serious attention of the Government. The Duke of WELLINGTON—The Railway Board of last session was appointed in consequence of the proceedings of a Committee of the House of Commons, and a report of the House of Commons. Its powers were limited in consequence of that report. It was a measure imposed by certain private transactions which came before Parliament, to enable the promoters of these transactions to carry them into execution. The Noble Lord might be right ; Parliament did not, per haps, give sufficient power. Lord BROUGHAM th oug ht the Government could not have done worse than getting up a report, but the Beard of Trade was materially crippled by it. He agreed , with the Noble Lord behind him that a Board should be formed, for not only a railway department, but' for all private Bills. He looked upon the manner in which such things were conducted by our continental neighbours. He was perfectly satisfied that the decisions of such a Board in every instance would make the law, and they would have constant and economical, but, above all, right and just decisions. It was impossible that the Committee at present sitting on railway Bills, could satis factorily perform their duties. It was Letter done in that House than in the Representativ e House, from their Lordships being a more judicial body; still it was not performed in the way that it ought to be done. He hoped that some such salutary agreed with the Noble and i t i h i a l t u h ß e T re ( f ) e N rre p d er t f o ec w tl o y uld be adopted.—(Hear.) e m h e i L p a o s s :rd r t e h A a a t S s altered, and some responsible and efficient . Board Learned Lord, and with the feeling expressed by their Lord in the matter or if they did the whole system of railway legislation appointed. should be Committee of that House would consider ' ' m ul e d th n t o n t g have to wait much l onger b ef ore not, he trusted th at the state of things complained of. some plan for meeting the Eie hoped Governmenttthat th e y d t h e respect of those whom its decisions so as to comman d apprehended that it would not would affect. But he . not, be cause The Board suggested by the Noble Duke should be . constituted they had an instance in t h e P oor-law Commitsioners— iydawsoocomm men of respectable position and influence being made an ob ject which parties, whom their decisions affected, treated with considerable obloquy. He was afraid that such a tribunal would not meet with the approbation of the public. If the Committees, in deciding on the Bills submitted for their con sideration this session, paid particular attention to the amount essatigdo,°i{tifthough the Noble Lord abused of capital invested, and to the wants of the districts through which they were designed to pass, he believed that no projects save those required would pass into law. He could not sit down without expressing his strong conviction that the mea surethe House I h de o c r i fe O ve ' r, .to addre ss brought forward by the Government was loudly called r fo o r a i d oa s r , ndd lie ßwß ( ou P l o dU r e d Gff ß elle r t o A u g g ri ham) could state, that they had been really im proved v o e f d p d A ur L in t l o th u e s la i s E t four said ,orhefiveennyeeeairvse.d re li ss e w aly she d de: opinion on the few words, calling attention to the fact, that his Noble Friends ssa about him, and his Colleagues in the other Rouse, were q w u o e u s l t d i o n il o b t o w f o i r s h e the h im H t cr o u e s House. responsible for the absence of any measure for controlling raiwnaot In the very first session after her Majesty's Ministers obtained power there was no appearance of a number of railway Bills at all, but in the next session, wheli there was likely to be a great demand for projects of that kind, her Majesty's Govern gment took the subject into their consideration, and in the ver first week of that session a Committee was appointed on the y subject on the motion of the President of the Board of Trade. The subject was minutely gene into by that Committee, and their report, after fully entering into the subject of railways, and their superintendence, recommended that a department of the executive Government sh ould be entrusted with a certain I preliminary authority on ra ilwa y . Bills, before their coming into Parliament. The Committee recommended that that department should be entrust e d with some authority, and should report on the desirability, or not, of such Bills ; and in their recommendation the province of dealing with th ese Bills was assigned to the Bo a rd of Trade. He need not re mind their Lordships that at that time there was an extreme degree of jealousy on the part of the representatives of the eople, and not less jealousy on the part of their Lordships, p against any as sumption of control over those projects by the ... an d, therefore, the Committee di s tinctlylaid Government , pa which should be • inc down the powers w . . iven to that de rtment—exactly what they should i nquire into and no He h a d the honour of being placed ' at the more. head of that department. He could state, with perfect confi ' deuce, that uo labour was spired ou his own ?art, and en the proper m anner , an d w i th sat i sfact i on to the public. be imp os .ibl e f or t h e gentlemen entrusted with the d i sc h arge part of th ose w h o acte d w i t h hi m, to discharge tlieir duties ie w s o i a n m a of this duty, to have appliedthemselvcs to it with more assi duity, industry, or ictegrity, than they had; but they could not dare venture to go beyond the line laid down as that which limited their duties. For this limit they could not blame either the House or the Government. If there limits were to be enla rged, good and well ; but until they were, no blame could be attached to the Committee. He had now only to say, that a Committee had been appointed for the purpose of inquir ing into the subject, and he had no doubt the result would be such as would enable this House to come to some final deter mination upon the subject. In conclusion, he had only to say that there could be no objection to the returns moved for by. the Noble Lord ; but there might be some difficulty in getting some of them. Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that having been brought in contact with this subject in some measure, he would wish to say a few words. He did not find fault with this Committee going somewhat beyond its liii its. He rejoiced that there ap peared a growing conviction t.f some organisation for control ing the operations of that part of the public business. He thought that such orgalliation could not be effected without some considerable difficulty, arising from the constitution of their Lordship's House. He thought it desirable such 'an or ganisation should be made. Tim motion was teen aeed to. MESSAGES FROM HER MAJESTY-VISCOUNT HARDINGE AND LORD Ot)UGH. The Earl of RIPON brought two messages to their Lord • ships which were then read. " Her Majesty having taken into her consideration the services of Viscount Hardioge, Governor- General of India, upon the banks of the Sutlej, and in the Punjaub, and being desirous of conveying some marks of her favour to Lord Hardinge, and the two next heirs male of his body, recommends your Lordships to adopt some measure for carrying the same into effect. Her Majesty having taken into her consideration the services of Lord Hugh Gough, Governor-General of the army in India, upon the banks of recommends same sour Lointo effect." Sutlej, and in the Punjaub, and being desiro us o f con veying some marks of her favour to Lord Hugh G oug h, an d d the two s nextt oadop tmale some heirs measures of his forbo carrying y' The Earl of RIPON said that on Thursday next, he would move the consideration of the subject. THE RAILWAY DEPOSITS BILL. The Earl of DALHOUSIE moved the second reading of this Bill. He hoped there would be no opposition to the second reading. Lora CAMPBELL was willing. to give every assistance to the Noble Lord. He, however, wished to call his attention to the 17th clause, which gave great power to the chairman of those Committees. If a chairman was to make a false return, or falsify the minutes, there was no redress, as the Bill at pre sent stood. This was an important point, which he wished to point out for the consideration of the Noble Earl. There ought to be - a. review of such proceedings by the competent Court, ere the publication in the London Gazette was made absolute. It was most desirable that a tribunal should review, and have the power to reverse any decision that a chairman should falsely re turn. That granted, he agreed that advertisements inserted in the Londns,Gazette should he a final authority as to the calling of the meeting, and the resolution; it had come to. He trusted the Noble Earl would consider the matter between that and going into committee on the Bill.—( Hear, hear.) Lord WHARNCLIFFE wished to call the attention of the Noble Earl to one other point. It was in reference to the 19th clause of the Bill, which required that the . parties pro moting a Bill should return the number of shares issued. He thought it right to be extended so as to be of a more perma nent character than was embodied in the BM, there being at present no mode by which the parties most interested in a Bill could lessen the amount of reserve shares, or the manner in which they were issued. s The Earl of DALHOUSIE said thatswith respect to the limitation of the Bill, he thought it would be better that it should be restricted to two years. With regard to the point respecting the registration of shares, he was desirous of its being carried into effect. In passing the Joint Stock Companys Act of last session, the object was to obtain a full account of the shares issued in the formation of companies,,and other particulars in reference thereto. At present the Standing Orders' Committee also required information as to the shares taken up, and the returns were he believed generally accurate, at least he did not . think there was much trickery. These points however would have his best attention, though he considered a chairman would hardly rule the falsifying of the returns, as his proceedings would be subjected to the closest scrutiny. Still, in order that every precaution might be taken against such a contingency, he would consider the means of remedying it. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thursday next. COMMONS ENCLOSURE BILL. The Commons Enclosure Bill was read a second time. T heir Lordships then adjourned till Thursday. HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 28. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. BRIDPORT ELECTION. The Clerk of the Crown appeared at the table to amend the return for the borough of Bridport, by inserting the name of Mr. John Romilly for that of Mr. Baillie Cochrane. Mr. ROMILLY then took the oaths and his seat. Mr. GEORGE HOPE moved that the Committee, of which he was chairman, should have leave to pro cee d w ith th e Bills in their Group No. 4; without requiring their com pliance with the resolutions proposed by the Hon. Member for Finsbury. Sir G. CLERK said he was not prepared at present te accede to the motion, and proposed that the discussion should be ajourned till twelve o'clock tomorrow. Air. HOPE objected to the discussion being adjourned to another day, on account of the expenses it would entail on the promoters of the different lines comprised in Group 4, After a few words from Sir A. Leith Hay, Mr. Greene, and Mr. Gisborne, Mr. HOPE consented to withdraw his motion. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed, viz. : Charing-ems Bridge, and Frilford (Berks) Inclosare. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, the amendments and alterations agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be engrossed, via. : Ashburton, Newton, and South Devon Railway. Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway Extension. Edinburgh. Leith, and Granton Railway Amendment. Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Harbour Branch). Colchester, Stour Valley, and Halstead Railway. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway Extensor* (No. I ). Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway Extension (No. 3). Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction Railway and Pier. Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Pettycur and Perth Har bour Branches ant Deviations). North British Railway ( Hawiek Branches). Eastern Union Railway ( Ardleigh to Colchester). THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed, viz.-- Taunton Gas. Eastern Union and Hadleigh Junction Railway. Maldon, Witham, and Braintree Railway. GOLLON INCLOSURE BILL. Sir JOHN W ALSH moved the second reading of this Bill. Gollon was a piece of land which would be greatly benefited by being inclosed. The cottagers and other occupants of the place had been opposed to the inclosure, but were now satis fied that if the lands were inclosed their condition would be im proved. Lord WORSLEY opposed the second reading, on the ground that the cottagers had exercised the right of common for up wards of 60 years, and their rights ought not to be done away with. He had given notice of his intention of opposing the Bill, so that the attention of the Government might be drawn to it, the Bill being in opposition to the resolutions and principles of the general Act passed last session of Parliament. If the present Bill was carried, the provisions of that Act would be done away with as far as the inclosure was concerned. He assured them that he only opposed the Bill on public grounds. After a few words from Mr. EsTcouaT and Mr. M. SUTTON, Colonel WOOD hoped that some amendments would be in troduced into the Bill in reference to the principality of Wales, for if not the whole of the principality would be thrown into confusion. Mr.,M. PHILIPS was of opinion that a vast amount of good would follow from this Bill, and it would also, no doubt, be desirable to remedy the defect with regard to Wales. Mr. AGLIONBY was of opinion that this Bill, though a private one, had now attained the importance of a public one, and therefore he would say a word or two upon it. It was de • sirable to have a special clause inserted in the general Act. He did not oppose the Bill before the House. He wished to have the expenditure in such cases materially reduced. The Bill was then read a second time. Major BERESFORD presented a petition against the Cornish Coast Railway. Another HON. MEMBER presented a petition against the Yeovil and Dorchester Railway. Mr. W. PATTEN moved-44 That it be an instruction to the several Committees on Railway Groups, that in all instances in which railway companies propose to take powers of araalga mation with other companies, either by sale, purchase, lease, or otherwise, the rates and charges of such .e panics be revised, and a new im pose d ; maximum that in_ they specially . report any circumstance w hi c h may have duced them .to allow such maximum to exceed the minimum - of rates and tolls actually charged and received by the respec tive companies at any previous period ;—that they also append to their report a schedule, containing, under the various heads of traffic, the minimum of rates anti tolls previously received, and the maximum which it is proposed to allow the companies to take under their Bill. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEE. Mr. ESTCOURT brought up the report from this Com mittee, in which it was stated that on the St. Alban's Railway the Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, and the Birming ham and Gloucester Extension Railway Bills, the standing orders had not been comp'lt.d with. Messengers from the Lords brought down several Bills. LORD HARDINGE AND LORD GOUGH. MESSAGES FROM HER MAJESTY. Sir R. PEEL appeared at the bar of the House with a Mes sage from her Majesty. The SPEAKER read the Message as follows :—" Her Ma jesty, taking into consideration the great and brilliant services performed by Henry Viscount Hardinge, Lieu tenant-General of her Majesty's Forces, and Governor- General of India, in the course of the recent hostilities which have taken place on the banks of the Sutlej and in the Ponjlub, is desirous to confer some signal mark of her favour for those and other distinguished merits of the said Henry Viscount Hardinge, upon him and the two next surviv ing heirs of his body ; and she recommends to her faithful Commons the adoption of such measures as shall be necessary to accomplish that object." Sir R. PEEL then brought up the following Message, which was read by The SPEAKER—" Her Majesty, taking into consideration the great and brilliant services of Hugh Lord Gough, Lieu tenant-General of her Majesty's Forces and Commander of the East India Company's forces in India, in the course of the recent hostilities which have taken place on the banks of the Sutlej and in the Punjaub, being desirous to con fer some signal mark of her favour for these and other distin guished merits of the said Hugh Lord Gough, to him and the two next surviving heirs male of his body, recommends to her faithful Commons the adoption of such measures as shall be necessary to accomplish that object." On the motion of Sir R. PEEL, her Majesty's most gracious Messages were ordered to be taken into consideration on Mon day next. MR. SMITH OBRIEN. Mr. ESTCOURT brought up a report from the Committee on Group II of Railway Bills. The Clerk read the report, which stated that at one o'clock this day the Members comprising the Committee on Group 1 1 of Railway Bills were present in the Committee-room, and that Mr. Smith O'Brien did not attend within one hour, the time appoin'ed. The SPEAKER called on Mr. Smith O'Brien. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN rose and said—Sir, I presume that the object of this House, in calling upon me, is to give me an opportunity of making an explanation to this House. I feel obliged for this opportunity, but I have already stated my views and intentions fully and finally in the correspondence which has passed between* myeelf 'and the' Committee of Se lection. I do not think it necessary to add anything to the smatters contained in those letters, mot asn I desirous of with. drawing any thing from the substance contained in those letters. The Hen. Member here eithdrew. 11fa. ESTCOVRT said that he wished to state the grounds on ehich he should ask the ruppeet of the House to a motion which he should mate, and to state to the House that,- con- Weal: g those circumstances, and the motion he was about to make, this was the mostoainfal d u ty h e ever h a d to perform: thee., He making that statement, for so long as he held the situation which he thee held, which has been since the Committee of Selection ,had been instituted by that House, this was the first and only time he had ever been called on to perform a duty similar to tie present one. On the 12th of February last that House framed certain resolutions, and amongst them was one to the effect that the Committee of selection should form certa . n Committees of inquiry into the merits of railway Bills. The Committee of Selection by a resolution of this House were ordered to give ample notice to those Members whom they might choose to select, which notice was not to be less than fourteen days. The Committee accordingly thought it would be ex' edient to frame such a resolution, that they might be able to give the ' notice required, and before the Easter recess it was given to the Hon. Gentleman, who was one of those sa-cted. He received notice that on the 27th of the present month his attendance would be expected so early as the 3d of April ; on that day he wrote a letter to me, as Ch a i r man of the Committee, and in it h e ' enc l ose d a copy * 7 ano ther letter, whisk was addressed to me, when a similar summons was received by the Hon. Member; and the reason given for so doing t..as that he (Mr. Estcourt) might, by referring to it, know his reasons for refusing to comply with the summers, stating that he had not seen any reasons since. That letter was written to change his opinions. He received that letter on the 3d of April ; that was on a Friday. The first sitting of Committees of Selection was not until the Tuesday following, the 6th of April, and, of course, he could take no measures on receipt of this letter until he had an opportunity of submitting the same to his colle agues the Members of the Committee of Selection. On th the 6of April this Committee met, and then he (Mr. Estcourt ; laid Lefore them the lett er w i t h the inclosures received from tlse Hon. Member. The Committee of Selection found that the lion. Member objected to serve on Committees havirg n relation to Ir e l an d. A nd they also found that the Hon. Mem bero stated his reason for so objecting. He (Mr. Estcourt) believed that lie could not better put the House in possession of the grounds on which the Committee had acted than by reading part of the corresponden ce which had taken place between himself and the Honourable Member. But first he would draw the attentian of the House to that particular part of the Honourable Member's letter on which the Committee had acted. The Hon. Member ' said that as long mire continued to serve in that House as one of the liish Representatives he would not until Ireland was placed upon a footing of political equality with England think of devoting his time to the business of this country. Then he went en to say that he had no wish to interfere with the affairs of England or Scotland, unless those affairs were in some way connected with his own country. And be added, that he had abstained while in that House from voting on questions of a merely local nature from the same motives. The Committee of Selection had instructed him again to write to the Hon. Member, stating that no reason had been assigned which was in their opinion sufficient to justify them i n a b so l v i ng the on. Member from those duties which were imposed upon other Hon. Members. He did write to the Hon. Member, informing him that the Committee could not recognise such an excuse, and they would not, therefore, be justified in exempting him from the perform ance of the duties which commenced on the 27th of April. Au addition was made to the letter, to the effect that the Committee would be happy to make any arrangement to delay the Hon. Member's attendance till a later period, if it would be any accommodation to him to do so. That letter he sent to the Honourable Member the next day, and on the following day he received an acknow ledgement from the Honourable Member, in which the Hon. Member stated that his objection to serving on these Committees was founded on the relation which at present existed between his oar, country and Great Britain, and was in no way connected with his personal convenience. The Hon. Member, therefore, stated that his former communication announced his final determina tion. He (Mr. Estcourt) had not an opportunity of lay ing that letter before the Committee of Selection till after the recess, and then the Committee felt a sufficient excuse had not been given to justify the non-attendance of tl e Honourable Member, and they placed his name on the Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in Group No. 11. In ac cordance with the resolutions of the House, Hon. Members were required to make a declaration that they were not in any way interested in the Bills referred to them ; but the Hon. Member for Limerick neglected to make this declaration, and on Friday last he (Mr. Estcourt) reported this fact to the House, in accord ance with a resolution agreed to by the Committee of Selection. Nothing further had transpired after that. He (Mr. Estcourt) had regretted that the Hon. Gentleman, since that last letter, had made no communication to the Committee of Selection, and he had not attended the Committee yesterday. He then found that it was his duty to make that motion, that the Hon. Gentleman should attend the House to-day. That motion was founded on the sixteenth resolution of the 12th February last. His next step was to make this determination known to the lion. Gentleman yesterday. He was, however, disap pointed of his attendance, and he was consequently now com pelled to report to the Route the resolution to which the Hon. Gentleman had come, in order thatithe House might express their opinion respecting it. The notice of the previous deter mination of the House had been duly sent; he was therefore compelled to bring the matter before them on the present occa sion, stating, firstly, the fact of the lion. Gentleman's not at tending the Committee yesterday ; next, his not attending the Committee to-day, after the order of the House had been made known to him; and lastly, his not attending on the House to day. Hon. Gentlemen were aware that he (Mr. Estcourt) was not in the habit of frequently intruding:upon them ( Cheers) — but he must take this opportunity of assuring them that he and the other members of the Committee of Selection were deeply sensible of the readiness with which their services were rendered, not only on the ordinary Committees of Private Bills, when their assistance was not compelled, but also on the more ar duous occasions, when their attendance was considered indis pensable. He could assure them that those services were duly appreciated both by the country and the house. It should be recollected that these Committees were only tem -1 porary, to induce throughout the erasion of Parliament, and there was therefore the less excuse for any Hon. Member throwing the labour which lie ought to bear upon the shoul ders of others. This resolution of the 12th of February would compel the Committee of Selection to the unpleasant duty of calling upon other persons to do his duty. He could not :it down without taking that opportunity of repelling the charge that the Members of that House had not done their duty.—(Loud cheers.) He could bear his testimouy that the Irise Members had cheerfully, kindly and ably discharged the duties intrusted to them, and he would especially refer to the Hon. Member for Cork—(Hear, hear, and cheers)—who had discharged his duties in reference to the Committees with great readiness and extraordinary ability ; and presented in his case an example worthy of imitation.—(Hear, hear.) He must now make the motion, which it became his duty to make, and he was sorry that it should have fallen to his lot to do S.O. Ile now begged to move, " That William Smith O'Brien, Esq., having disobeyed the order of of the House, in refusing to attend as one of the Committee upon the merits of the line of railways comprised in Group 11, is guilty of a con tempt of the House." The ATTORNEY. GENERAL seconded the motion. Mr. O'CONNELL was sure the House would give him the crt d;t of believing him when he stated that he would nut rise to advocate the line of ccnduct adopted by Mr. Smith O'Brien on the present occasion, if that gentleman inte n d e d the slightest disrespect to the House. He was quite sure that the lion. Member had acted from the strongest feelings of what he conceived to be his duty, and he would not lightly de part from it. The House ought to pause before they took any steps on this matter ; and there were two grounds on which they should give it the fullest consideration. The first was, whether the Act -of Union gave the British House of Commons any authority such as that claimed over Irish .Members. There was no common law jurisdiction applicable to the case since 1793. The other point which he would impress upon the House was with reference to the Committee of Selection. Of course, he was not disposed—he was never less disposed than at the present moment—to say anything derogatory to that Com mittee. Before the 12th of February last, ne stringent measure of that House had been adopted to compel the attendance of Members of that House upon Committees. Up to that time the attendance was voluntary, and, in many instances, it was still voluntary. Now the question was, whether the violation of a power delegated to a Committee was punishable as con tempt. The House had not the jurisdiction of the common law to compel the attendance of Members. The only power was ratutory, and that statute was the 6th of Henry VIII., by which it was enacted that a Member of the House should be required to attend. If there had been a common law juris diction, that statute would have been totally unnecessary. The penalty mentioned in the statute of Henry wonld certainly not operate now, as it was the loss of the absent Member's wages.—( Laughter.) If there had been a violation of any rule, it was one adopted by a Committee which had been appointed by the House, and could not be considered a ton tempt towards the House. He hoped, therefore, that the would pause before they decided upon the motion which had been submitted to them. House F but it was absolutely g .- r - e l . trieedta th is question ATTORNEY-GENERALhad arisen, ne cessary that the House should come to a decision, and he thought, by the determination which had been expressed by the Hon. Member for Limerick, that there was no other course for them to take, hut to adopt the resolution which had been proposed with very great regret by his Hon. Friend the Member for Ox.s ford. That question now assumed a much more serious character than when it originally arose, because it was now connected with the important considerations which had been shortly addressed to the House by the Hon. and Learned Mem ber for Cork. They were not only there to consider whether they were to interfere with the Hon. Member who had re fused his obedience to the orders of the House, but they were to consider the further important question now submitted to the House by the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork. Whether there were nut a portion of the Members of that Houses who were beyond it corxtol who had an in dependent authority distinct from the authority of the House over the other Members. The Hon. Member had sent a communication to them refusing his obedience to any order which compelled his attendance on Committees on any subject not connected with the local interests of the country to which he belonged. Let the House consider for one moment in what position it was with respect to the general question then before it. In the month of February, 1846, it was con sidered necessary, in consequence of the pressure of business arising out of the number of applications for railway Bills, that this House should come to a resolution by which Com mittees might be formed of all those Members who had been chosen by the Committee of Selection, which was itself estab lished by a resolution of the House in 1839. The House should not forget that in the resolution it had passed, every Member of that House was supposed virtually to have given his consent to ti:eir adoption, and the Hon. Member for Limerick was as much a party to that resolution as any other Member from England or Scotland. The Hon. Member a', that time toots no objection, as he might have done, but sub mitted to their resolution, which was passed for the convenience of the House, and which bound him as well as every Member of that House. The Hon. Member had been chosen by the Committee of Selection to attend on a particular gr o u p of railway Bills, and he referred the Commi ttee atsiaoleat, in w terwhic h h iah t hseenthatvointghembe,eato chosen a ho fo se rm a etraletster_e on of last private Bill—he refused to attend, for reasons which in whicehtrhvheelettiateenr gave, and which reasons were fully incorporate addressed to the Committee this session. Th er e were parts e House to con of that letter which it became imperative on the objection of the Hon. Member depende . . q which these opin, sider, because they were the foundation of thethrde.asonTsho: Hon. the Member stated that he would express . of want of knowledge the Bement was not compitent, through had arisen from a long formed conviction, legislate w isely for Ireland.— that a British Par people, or want of inclination, to anxious to advance the i ) slat S u o re, that the Hon. Member, _ declares that we are in a( empire, C m h e e m er b s er fr o o f m th t e he lm O p p er p i o a s l it L io a n g . and declares that Irish Legis lationish Members alone, and re fuses to join with us, grounding his reasons on the as sertion that none but the representatives of the Irish ration should legislate for Ireland. N ow, if it was - ( o - mpetent for the Honourable Member for Limerick to de line attending on any Committee, which has not for its object some local iutereat of Ireland. it would h. ...„.n. ‘..... GROUP XIX. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Billa comprised within this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning, in Committec-rcom co. 14; Lord Harry vane in the chair. xi Van GEI. 7 7IITZ'II AiiTD TAUNTON .(or 11.3.3 TD HAT:I3OITR. The CHAIRMAN said, none of the gentlemen who were upon the Standing Orders' Committee, before whom this Bill came, were in town, and he could not therefore ascertain from any of them whether they had considered the question relating to the capital. The Com mittee, therefore. wished the Learned Counsel on both side to state the particular points they raised, and then they would take the opinion of the Speaker upon them. Mr. OsnuaN, on behalf of the opponents of the Bill, said that the Canal Company liad power by their first Act to raise 420,0001. by shares, and 150,0001. by way of mortgage, or by shares ; but by a sub sequent Act, the power to raise the latter sum was limited to 100,0001. Now, only part of the works authorised by the first Act had been constructed, and for that purpose the parties had raised the 100,0001. by mortgage, end 71,0001. by shares. They had only power now, then, to raise 349,0001., if they had power to do that, and there fore the parties were not in a position to show that they had funds in hand sufficient to construct the proposed works. Mr. WELLS, on the other side, admitted all the facts stated by his Learned Friend, but directed the attention of the Committee to the circumstance that the second Act did not repeal the power in the first, to raise the 150,0001. by shares, but only limited their power to raise by mortgage 100,0007. That power, ha admitted, bad already been exercised, but under the first Act they bad still power to raise amongst themselves, in addition to the 349,(001., tl.e sum of 50,0001., and these two amounts would mere than cover the estimate for the proposed works. lb "Mr. Osßußa contended that the power to raise the 150,0001. in the 11rst Act was optional with the canal proprietors ; they were either to raise the money amongst themselves, or to raise it by mortgage, but they could not raise it in both ways ; they had already elected, under the second Act, which limited the sum to 100,0001., to raise it by mortgage, and they could not now raise a pew.) , more. The Committee consulted the Speaker on the point, but neither the Committee nor the Speaker being able to decide upon it, the Com mittee determined upon submitting the case for the decision of the Attorney and Solicitor-General. The Committee, therefore, ad journed till to-morrow, and in the meantime the points were to be put into the shape of a special case for the opinion of these Learned Gentlemen. GROUP XXVII. This Committee re-assembled to-day at the usual hour, Sir Charles Lemon in the chair. NORTH STAITOnDSIIIILE (THEME LXNES). The engineering evidence on these lines was proceeded with, and the cross-examination of Mr. G. P. Bidder was resumed by Mr. Wordsworth, with the view of showing the results stated at the close of our report yesterday, as also the injury which the mil s of a gentleman named Woods would sustain by the construction of the lines. During the cross-examination, Mr. Sergeant MURPHY intimated to the Committee that a proposal had been made to counsel for Mr. Wood, that the promoters were. quite willing to leave to any member of the Committee, or to any party appointed by them, the amount of compensation, if any, which they should pay for the injury, if any, that gentleman would sustain by the lints passing along his factory. Mr. Townsend said that such a proposal was an insult, as it im plied or raised a question whether ' there would be an inquiry or not, and the fact was so apparent as to place the matter beyond doubt. The cross-examination of this witness occupied the greater part of the day. Mr. 11f. Smut, on the part of the inhabitants of Leek, who pre sented a petition against the Churnet Valley line, cross-examined this witness at considerable length, with the view of showing that the Lichfield and Maccleefield (projected) line would afford better ac commodation to the district than the proposed line. The allegations of several other petitioners were then gone into, and the Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXIX, This Committee met to-day shortly after twelve o'clock. Present —Mr. Labouchere, Sir W. Molesworth, Sir J. Duckworth, Colonel Rawdon, and Sir J. Smyth. BOSTON, smaziaronD AND 13IRTVZINGTIAM, (sT.awtranD TO WISB:E.CI-1) The evidence in behalf of this Bill was resumed. Mr. Watson examined— The proposed railway would be of con siderable advantage in bringing up oil-cake from the Baltic to Wis.- bee). It would effect in this article a saving of 3s. out 4s. 6d. There would be nearly the same saving in other heavy articles of merchan dize A railway from Lynn to Peterborough, by Wisbech, would not be so speedy a mode of communication as the proposed railway, because it would involve an angle. The expense of getting coals, &c., from tha harbour to the Lynn and Ely station would be from Is. to Is. 6d. per ton. The navigation of the river from Wisbech to Thorny would be in some degree superseded. He would himself use the river from Wisbech to Peterborough. Mr. Butt examined—Lived at Croland, where he carried on busi ness as a salesman. The population of that town was nearly 3,000, and the proposed railway would affard them an increased facility of transit for potatoes, &c., to Nottingham and Derby. This was at present a great desideratum. The proposed railway would give a market for potatoes and wool at Birmingham. Mr. Tyrrel examined—Carried on business at Lynn. The pro posed railway would increase the exports from Lynn. When corn came to Lynn it was generally shipped to the manufacturing dis tricts. The great corn consuming county was Lancashire. The effect of the railway would be to establish a direct communication between the port of Lynn and Birmingham, and would, in all re spects, be most desirable. It would, of course, diminish the port dues at Lynn, but this would be of no importance as compared with the ad% antages that would result from the railway. Mr. Arms examined—Was a linen merchant residing at Lynn. The shipping trade at Hull would not be much affected as re gards corn. - Mr. TALBOT appeared for the Corporation of Wisbech. He said that he believed he should be able to show that the railway did not possess all the advantages contended for by his Learned Friend. In the first place, it would cost as much in bringing up goods from the port of Lynn to Wisbech, as ii would in conveying them under present circumstances. But this railway would be disadvantageous in other points, for it would, as he should be able to show by evidence seriously affect the river; and it would appear clearly that the effec of this line would be to aggrandise Lynn at the expense of Wisbech. Mr. TALBOT then called evidence. Mr. Ward was examined, and stated that it was his opinion that the line would be injurious to Wisbech and its vicinity. Mr. Morgan examined—He believed that it would be extremely injurious to Wisbech to have a railway without a harbour line. If a proper harbour line were made, the corporation of Wisbech wou'd not, in his opinion, object to the railway. All the objection of the corporation rested upon the want of a harbour line on this railway. Mr. Damn is having offered a few observations in reply, the room was cleared. On our re admission, • The CHAIRMAN said he was instructed by the Ca mm itt ee t o an nounce that they haq agreed to the preamble of the Bill, but would require the promoters to bind themselves to introduce a Bill next session to effect a junction between their line and the harbour of Wisbech, in case of the same not being effected by another company. There was a question relating to the Bedford levels, upon which the Committee adjourned. GROUP XXX, This Committee met today fOi the first time, in room 23, in the new Houses of Parliament. Members present, Lord Charles Wel lesley (chairman), Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Mr. H. J. Balllle, Mr. Carew, and Mr. Floyel. The following Bills are referred to this group :—Aylesbury and Thame Junction ; Cambridge and Oxford ; Midland and Eastern Counties; Northampton and Bedford; Buckinghamshire (Oxford to Bletchley). The list of Bills, with the petitions in reference to them, having been read, and the appearances put in, the Committee proceeded to consider the merits of the Bills. The first Bill taken was the Cambridge and Oxford Railway. Mr. Sergeant Clarke appeared on behalf of the promoters. This scheme is opposed by the Buckinghamshire (Oxford and Rletchley), for whom Mr. liildyard and Mr. Lang appeared. C/lIVIER.IDGE AND OXFORD. The returns of this scheme required by the resolutions of Mr. Duncombe having been put in, Mr. Sergeant CLARKE opened the case on behalf of the promoters. He said that the present was not one of these airy schemes that sprang up at a period when all England was filled with railway projects. It was projected in January last, and at its head were the most respectable names, which would be a sufficient guarantee for its importance. There were one hundred provisional directors, who, with the excep tion of six, were all locally interested in the land through which the line would pass. Indeed the annals of Parliament did not afford record of a Bill that came before a Committee under more favoura ble circumstances. Coming to the local advantages that the railway would afford, they would perceive they were of the highest order. It would afford a communication with the eastern and western parts of the country, and yield increased facility for the transport, of troops. It would also have the effect of reducing the high price of coals in the district, and thereby enable the inhabitants to compete with other places in the malting trade. The counties through which this railway passed grazed a great num ber of cattle, and it was well known that it was most important for a grazing country to have a railway passing through the district. Those were the general advantages of the line, which the evidence would establish. The witnesses not being in attendance, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. The Committee then adjourned. The Committee to wha m G ROUP XXXVI. this group of Bills have been referred, met this mornin g s h ort l y after one o'clock. The Members are—Mr. Bernal (Chairman), Mr. Mangles, Hon. W. Bagot, Col. Conolly, and Viscount Somerton. The following is the list of Bills submitted for their consideration:- 1. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, and Port, &c., of Goole. 2. Goole and Doncaster. 3. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole (Methley, Askerne, and Oakenshaw Branches). 4. Buil and Barnsley Junction. 5. York and North Midland (East Riding Branches). 6. Mahon and Driffield Junction. 7. Newcastle and Darlington Junction (Thirsk and Melton Branches). The first Bill in the list being unopposed was referred to Mr. Greene, the Chairman of Committees, there being no petition against it. The second Bill (which was unopposed) was deferred, it not being yet passed the Standing Orders' Committee. There was a petition against it, but no one appeared to support it. No. 3 was also postponed on account of the opposition of the pro prietors of land not being ready. No. 4 was not taken on account of its having been thrown out by the Standing Orders' Committee. Na parties appeared for No. 5. There was a petition against No. 2 branch, but no one appeared to support it. No. 6 was postponed till Friday. WAHEFILLD, PONTEFRACT, AND GOOLE (mBTHLEY, Asxrativ, AND OAHENSHAW BRANCHES). The Committee intimated their intention of first proceeding with this Bill. The usual formal proofs having been given, Mr. LEMON, the agent for the Bill, stated that it was not until within the last hour that the promoters had been informed that they would have to encounter opposition to their project, which thecoin. Com mittee, state the nature of the line. In th e last session employing they had heretofore reason to believe would be uno pposed. theyh th ad e a p b e s nn tain is e s d ion fro o m f counsel, Labouring therefore,anudnhdeershthoißsldpssireon, with n of Parlia ment a Bill was passed for making a railway from Wakefield, through Pontefract, to Goole, on the Ouse. The branch which they ought to make was proposed to form a janction with the Hull and Selby Railway, shortly after leaving Doncaster, and would proceed in nearly a direct Rae to Knottingley, on the Wakefield and Goole, and would, therefore, by the aid of the Methley branch, form this line to the Midland Railway, and afford the most direct commu nication from Doncaster and the eastern parts of England to Leeds, and the north-west of England. Askerne was a favourite watering-place of the middle manufac turers of the West Riding of Yorkshire. By the London and York and their line, Carlisle and the towns of the north would be six miles nearer than by the present railway conveyance. Persons coming to Wakefield by the North Midland had to proceed to the Normanton station, and to retrace a great portion of their journey, in order to reach that town, but they proposes! a branch of a quarter of a mile in length to the Midland, to obviate this inconvenience. Mr. CAnitow opposed the Methley branch on behalf of certain inha bitants of Pontefract, who had petitioned against it, on account of its passing through the park and race-course belonging to the town; by which the inhabitants would be deprived of a means of enjoyment which they bad possessed from time immemorial, and because this might be obviated by a slight deviation of the line. Mr. LEMON said the park had not been used for a race-course for tee years, and as it was situated In a low swamp, he was justified in saying that the people of Pontefract did not wish to retain it for the purchase ten acres o f l an d i n a higher and m purpose of recreati on . B es i des the railway town,and cont i guouslieu o o r f ec t o i l l ep t asa w na3 l i i i t pp h raor i p t to os w efd o t il l d oe be necessary to take for the purpose of the railway, which had been agreed to by the trustees, and the company had purchased the ten acres of land, and w ere ready to lay it out for the purpose of a park, and further to subject the land which they required Mr the line to the payment of land-tax, poor-rates, &c., which would bring the town about 701. a year. It was not, however, until another linefrom Doncaster to Pontefract was proposed, that the truste es , thi rty-s i x in number, seem e d d esirous to get rid f the arrangements which the promoters of the railway had made with them. Even so late as the 20th instant the trustees confirmed the propo s iti on, on condition that certain cla uses were inserted in the Bill, and a pathway made for a short distance along the line, to all of which the promoters ag 3 r f e r ed 3 . foxon, alderman of Pontefract, and one of the Bank trus 3'lr. LEMON —He slid land in the town. as was t secondthe e hen cali called, largestand examined . r ,r he r e e e s , ~ , at which plans were the line with respect t h meeting ee ons o i d f the e ra trustees tiono fth e i f p i r October r last, a of railway, they s A u t b a m public itted t 0 , wouldf required to the purchase of land in lieu of that required l.) which be quite agreed to and confirmed on the 20th instant. Aft y er t Ph e e l for the railway was taken, the ram-course, or park as long as the race-course at Doncaster. The land, bog and half arable, was not worth more than 501. an acre. was half By the COMMITTEE—The people would be benefited, instead of injured. by,tha railway. Dlore than EN acres of the parkwould re- Lula wattikattid. DECISION. The Committee intimated that he had not shown that the public would derive any benefit by a deviation to avoid the park, or that they were opposed io the project. They, therefore, cousidered that the preamble of the Bill had been proved. The Committee, after proceeding with the clauses, adjourned until to-morrow. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. The Committee on Standing Orders met this day, according to adjournment, at the appointed hour. The Lords present were the Earl of Shaftesbury (in the chair), the Duke of Richmond, and Lord Hawarden. OMAGH, DUNGANNON, ARMAGH, AND BELFAST RAILWAY. This case, which was adjourned from a previous day, after having been under the consideration of the Committee, was further post poned until Thursday next. DUBLIN AND KINGSTOWN EXTENSION RAILWAY. This case which came before the Committee for proof, that the parties had complied with Lord Wharncliffe's order, next occupied the attention of their Lordships. The necessary evidence having been given, Lord Shaftesbury intimated that the Bill had passed. Their Lordships rose at live o'clock. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Aram 27. NEW STOCK EXCHANGE.—The plan just promulgated by the Go vernment to obviate the imperfect state of the law on inceptive rail way undertakings appears to meet with approbation. The legality of dealing in scrip having been established by a recent decision, it became impossible to avoid the recognition of scripholders, and the scheme accordingly provides, that they may either carry out the work projected or bring the matter to a close. And, as many per- SOll3 desire to recover what may yet remain of the deposits unex pended, the measure may-be regarded as the death-knell of seven eighths of the projects which have made some progress before Par liament, and of the large number that halted by the way. The im movement mentioned in the review of the 23d instant has been fully maintained, as will be perceived from the increased business at enhanced prices. The Share Market is buoyant, and terminates with promise of advance. The sales are—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 3s. 1-16 p.—Birkenhead and Holyhead Junction, 265. dis.—Birmingham and Oxford, 9s. dis.—Chester and Birken head, 49%—Ditto, 201. Shares, % p.—Derby and Crewe, 1% p.— Eastern Counties, York Extensions, % p.—Edinburgh and Glasgow, 72y e —Glasgow and Dumfries, % dis. —GrandJunction, 220 ex d. and Great Western, Fifth Shares, 331 A—Huddersfield and Sheffield, 3% p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 2% ,p.—Liverpool and Bury, 7 p.— Ditto, New Shares, % p.—Liverpool and Leeds Direct, 4s. dis.— Liverpool, .Ormskirk, and Preston, ils. p.—London and Birming ham, 224—Ditto, Fifths, 22 p.— Manchester and Birmingham, Qin.r ters (A), 81. 15s. p.— Ditto. ditto (B), Si. 15s.—Midland Stock, 149 Ditto, 401. Shares, 1114 p.—Newcastle and Berwick, 91. 155.—North Staffordshire, 2% p.—North Wales Mineral, New Shares, % dis.— North Western, 58. dis.— Preston and Wyre, 33%—Ditto, Halves (B), 16s. p.—Sheffield and Manchester, Qaarters, No. 2, V. 15s. p.— Ditto, Quarter:, • No. 3, 1 1 ,4 p.—Shrewsbury, Oewestry, and Chester, 31. ss. dis.—South Eastern, 381. ss.—Ditto, New Halves, IA dis.— West Riding Un'on, p.—Welsh Midland, 1% dis.—East and West Riding Extensions, 8 p.—Bandon and Bantry, 19s. 6d, ills. — Ulster, 8 % p.—Dutch Rhenish, 255. p. MANCHESTER, Main 27. _ _ STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are--Ambergate, Nottingham, Bos ton, &c., 2os. 6d.—Birkenhead and Holyhead ,Junction, 1 5-16 dis. —Buckingham and Bletchingly, dis.—Chester and Manchester, Direct, 21s. 6d. dis.—Clitheroe Junction, 1 1-16 dis.—Derby and Crewe, 355. Gd. p.—Eastern Counties, Perpetual (No. 2), 6 15-16 Glasgow and Dumfries, % dis.—Huddersfield, Halifax, and Brad ford, 13 p.—Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, 265 i —Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester, 2k, p.—Leicester and Bedford, 14s. 9d.— Liverpool and Bury, 8 p.—London and Manchester (Rem ington's), 1% dis.—LonSion and York, % dis.—Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, Gd. dis.—Manchester and Birmingham, 704—Ditto, Quarters (A), B%—Ditto, ditto (B), p.—Ditto, ditto (C), 7% Manchester and Birmingham Continuation and Welsh Junction, 16s. 6d. dis.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, sh, O.—Ditto, Exten sion, 1% p.—Manchester and Southampton, % dis.—North Staf fordshire, 2 9-16 p.—Preston and Wyre,Halves, (B), p.—Sheffield, Leek, and Crewe, 12s. dis.—Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, 4s. dis.— Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters (No. 2), 1% p.—Ditto, ditto (No. 3), 1 p.—Shropshire Union, Railway and Canal, 18s. dis.— South Midland, par.—South Eastern and Dover. Consolidated (No. 3 ), P. c.—Ditto, Halves (No. 4), 3-16 dis.—West Riding Union, p.—Whitehaven and Furness, 3 dis. LEEDS, Aram 27. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales . are-Eastern Counties, York Ex tension, 23s p.-Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 81. 16s. p.- Newcastle and Darlington Junction, Extensions, VA p.-York and North Midland (East and West Riding), 8U p.-East Lancashire, No. 2 (late Accrington), 1% p.-Great Grimsky and Sheffield, 5 dis. -Huddersfield and Manchester, 21s. dis.-Ditto, Extensions, 20s. dis.-Iluddersfield and Sheffield, 3% p.-Leeds and Bradford, 27 p.- Leeds and Dewsbury, 2q p.-Ditto, New Branches, 7s. 6d. p.- Ditto, New Extensions, 7s. 6d. p. -Leeds and Think, New, 2% dis. -Newcastle and Berwick, 9% p.- Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver hampton, 4 dis.-Bradford, Wakefield, and Midland, 225. dis.- Chelmsford and Bury, 17s. 6d. dis. -Clitheroe Junction, 245. die.- Grand Union, 18s. dis.-Glasgow and Dumfries, 15s. dis.-Lanca shire, Yorkshire, and North-Eastern, 265. dis.-Leeds and York, 233. dis.-Leicester and Bedford, 15s. 6d. dis.-Liverpool, Manches ter, and Newcastle Junction, 225. 6d. dis.-Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 10s. p.- London and York, 17e. 6d. dis.-London and Man chester (Rem.), 345. dis.-Ditto (Rastrick), 325. dis.-Manchester, Buxton, Matock, and Midland, 1 p.-Manchester and Birmingham Continuation and Welsh Junction, 20e. dis.-North Western, 7s. dis. -South Midlands, 3s dis.-Welsh Midlands, 225. dis.-West Riding Union, 3/. 16s. 6d.-York and Carlisle, 265. 6d.-Yorkshire and Glas gow Union, 265. 6d. dis. HULL, APRIL 27. STOCK Exensmaz.—The sales are—Chelmsford and Bury, I Is. 6d. —East Coast, 215. Grimsby, Louth, and liorncastle, 225. 6d.—Great North and South Wales, 10s. 6d.—Hull and Barnsley Junction, 235. —Leicester and Tamworth, 20s. 6d.—Liverpeol, Ormskirk, and Pres ton, 31. Is. 6d. —Northumberland and Lancashire, 345. 6d.—North British, Carlisle, 36s.—North Staffordshire, 41. 95. 6d.—Shefileld, Leek, and Crewe, 13s.— South Midland, 1 / 3 —West Riding Union, 31. 14s. 6d.—Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, 225. 6d. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, Amu. 27. SToCK EXCHANGE. —The sales are—Eastern Counties, NCNY, 7% Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 1 dis.—North British, Carlisle, 5% p.—Ditto, Dalkeith, '22s. p.—West Riding Union, 1% p. PARLIAMEN TAR Y BUSINESS, (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) MONDAY, APRIL 27. The following Petitions for Railways were reported, and the Bills ordered to be brought in by the undernamed Hon. Members : North Gravesend—Mr. Ward and Mr. Hudson. Derbyshire. Staffordshire, and Worcestershire—Viscount Ingestre, Mr. E. Buller, and Mr. Beresford. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEE. The following resolutions were reported - frOnitididommittee :- 1. That, in the case of the Dundee New Gas Bill amendments on third rea ling, the amendments are of such a nature as may be adopted by the House if they shall think fit. _ 2. That, in the case of the Morayshire Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 3. , That, in the case of the Manchester, B lton, and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Extension petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to pro ceed with their Bill, with the exception of that part which enables them to make the Clifton Branch ; and that the Committee on the Bill do examine, in the first place, how :far such order has been complied with, and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill. 4. That, in the case of the Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Wor cestershire Junction Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 5. That, in the case of the Great Eastern and Western Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 6. That, in the case of the Somerseti Small Debts petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with:—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 7. That, in the case of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh, and Direct Glasgow Junction Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. S. That, in the case of the Banffshire Roads petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with:—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. - 9. That, in the case of the Oxford, Coventry, and Burton-upon- Trent Railway petition, the st nding orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 10. That, in the case of the Lanarkshire and Lothian Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 11. That, in the case of the London and 'Birmingham Railway (Coventry to Nuneaton) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with th it Bill. 12. That, in the case of the Northern and Southern Connecting Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with:— That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 13. That, in the case of the Edinburgh and Perth Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 14. That, in the case of the Edinburgh and Leith Water petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 15. That, in the case of the Hull and Barnsley Junction Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 16. That, in the case of the Liverpool Improvement petition for additional provision, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : —That the parties be permitted to introduce such additional provi sions accordingly. 17. That, in the case of the Ipswich, Norwich, and Yarmouth Rail way petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. 18. That, in the case of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway (No. 2) petition for leave to present a petition for a Bill, the sessional order ought not to be dispensed with. 19. That, in the case of the London and Birmingham Railway (St. Alban's and Luton Branch) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with That the parties be permitted to introduce such additional provision accordingly. Second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, eleventh, twelfth, fourteenth, sixteenth, and nineteenth resolutions agreed to. —Report to lie on the table. REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON GROUP (No. 1) OF RAILWAYS. GLASGOW, PAISLEY,2 AND . GREENOCK RAILWAY (BRIDGE OF WEIR BRANCH) BILL. Mr. Vernon Smith reported from the Select committee en Group 12) of Railway Bills, to whom several petitions against the Bills comprised in the said group were referred, that in the case of the Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway (Bridge of Weir Branch) 13111 they had heard counsel in support of several of the said peti tions, and had also heard counsel in favour of the Bill, and that they had examined the allegations contained in the preamble of the Bill, but that the same had not been proved to their satisfaction. FIRST SPRING irs MEETINGLifein AT NEWMARKET AND the First Spring Mee Lon don, and every eve n t o f CF I,OOO nu Full Guineas reportT a s Rt Stakes, e E s s , . of Sunday neat, May 3. t t iu, w 2 o ,O o r_ q Gu h i o ne c as hos S t t e a r ke c s o , p and other important races —Fo rega theringeato s by ria Pegasus—Horses arrived. and latest speculations — Angling—Piscato r i a l —Pis by Ephemera—Chess Problems a n d Games_c i e e r k m on Fly-fishing, Games —Cricket i' arrange ments at Lord's—Aquatics—Pedestriani sm , and eve ry n c e las ig sofßril Sports, and the usual summary of Foreign, Domestic, and Political News. Price of Bell's Life (40 folio columns), 6d. Bell's Life is re • gularly published hi time for all the Saturday afternoon railways. THE NERVES OF THE EAR.—Mr. Curtis, a few days since, gave a clinical lecture on this subject at the Royal Dispensary for the Diseases of the Ear. The lecturer stated that within the last thirty years more had been effected for the cure of diseases of the ear than had been done during the last 500 years, and mentioned the fact that now many cases are admitted ofrelief which were formerly beyond the reach of medical art. He traced the course of the acoustic nerves from their origin at the base of the brain to their termination, showing their ramifications and distribution, and ex plained how these nerves were effected and deafness relieved by rubbing stimulating liniments on the nape of the Reck and spine. These applications he considers of great use in cases of infant deaf and dumb (dumbness being the sure concomitant of deafness in in - fancy), and says they should always be tried where no structural defect arises. WASHINGTON, MARCH 31, 1846.—War I—Ann ! Arm I—lt is, it is the Cannon's Opening War—Follow up your Charge—Cry, down with England. Harry, and St. George—Call the Roll, " War is inevitable!" General Cass has been making us au other war speech. For upwards of two hours be poured forth a stream of facts, figures, tropes, similes, metaphors, illustrations, quotations, authorities, incidents, poetry, rhetoric, argument— such a miscellaneous, homogeneous stream of beautiful images, and horrid phantoms, and dazzling bubbles, as we have not heard for many many a long day. It was a beautiful speech —it was more —it was a powerful speech a patriotic speech a great speech. He bound the grim visage of war in evergreens, and put such a display of shining drapery around the old heathen, that he really looked like a passable sort of imposter. The General pre sented him with the strongest credentials ; but it was clear the Sena tors around had no desire to cultivate the acquaintance of the stranger. But old Mars was there, the god of war, and a sensible aroma of gunpowd er p erva ded the atmosphere i n his presence. Ile kept towering aloft in height, and expanding in his proportions, as the Senator conti nue d t o s p ea k ; s o th a t, a t th e conc l us i on , th e shoul ders of the w ar go d were aga i ns t th e s k y -li g h t, and h i s h ea d ou t s id e , overlooking the country around.—New York Herald. FRENCH GREEN PEAS.--Much curiosity was excited in Covent-garden market on Monday by the appearance of two peeks of Fre nch green peas for sale, and for which the vender demanded 21. 10s. TAr relent. for every Member to refuse to serve on a Commttee h was not immediately connected with his own lesedslity: . Well then the Hon. Gentleman puts his case entirely,en this. ground. He does rot say it is inconvenient for him tcrettend e that he shall have art opportunity of atieeding at some future. time, but he distinctly gives the Committee to underatand, . that he will not serve on any Committee unless connected with Iri.b. affairs. What then was the House to do under thesenir cumstances ? Suppose that the Hon. Member had dei.'ed the He use, and said he would serve on no Committee whatsoeser, it is perfectly clear what the decision Of the House would be. Fut the answer of the Hone. Gentleman came to the same thing. It was considered - for the advantage of the public that he should be selected to perform alarticular duty, and it would be admitted that the Committee of Selection had performed its duty carefully and forbearingly towards the different Members. The House having by its resolution entrusted to the Committee of Selec tion the power of choosing Members for the different services, the question would be. whether the House was or was not to sup-- port the act of its Committee Now what did the Hon. end Learned Member for York say in answer to the charge against the Ho i. Member for Limerick, of neglecting his duty in thin respect—of having disobeyed the order of the House, and there fee e of being guilty of contempt. The Hon. and Learned Member for Cork said that there was no intentional disrespect on the part of the Hon. and Learned Member for Limerick. He said that he had a strong impression of the validity of his objection, and that lie was, therefore, justified in actirg as he had done, and the Hort. and Learned Member for Cork called on the House to pause ,Isefore it came to any resolution ex pressive cf its determination eo vindicate its authority against the 11 , n. Member for Limeries. Hon. wA,Teimnbethrefo! Limerick t ek place. rin could the !louse believe that the ..! -1 vas not perfectly aware that he was a !Memberthe whole the House of d on ho t le e em l 12th of ; ire Commons, and that that House represen t . Was he not perfeetlay, he not p o e f rf t t h e e ti r y e a so w l a tti i l n h at he was not, Febsuary, 1846; w to all intents and eurposes. a party. to that reselut , ie w n a t s and was the Hen. Member for Limerick i g norant that ishis duty, as e Msmleer of that House , to obey it !-thht they must be careful its o : dens ? of taking any steps But the Fen. and Learned Member fo r Cork said that t.hey . must r - , ,de--that on tlt occasion ; an d the Hon. and Learned MembeHene,,- gest° 3 that , they might rot here p o wer to interfere in 131 manner proposed to be proceeded in as against the Hon. and Lea, ec.l Member for Lime-ick for a breach of the orders of the House. He was astonished that the Hon. and Learned Mem ber for Cork should advance these argument.; for, in the first place, that was a power invested in the House by the Act of Urnon ; and, in the next place, there was a new power which was exercised b y the Committee of Selection—powers of a stringent character, which, until this year, ,had never been given them. Was the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork net aware that, by the third article of the Act of Union, it Kingdom eParliament,ertcertain . n o o f b G e t r r n e o a f t b r Britain is ' was enacted that the said United Kingdom was represented in one ß and it he ne e tn Actdo f the same Unionusna imteeda s h ty i l ;e e l db t el l . t ; e es a P wri a dh e : e formed part of the House of Commons in Ireland, became merged with the existing House of C ommons . Now she thought the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork would not dispute this proposition, that immediately after these Members were inesrported with the English House of Commons, they became subject to all the liabilities which a Member of the House was exposed to previous to the Act of Union. He was really at a loss to undersiand what the Hon. and Learned Member meant by saying that Lhey had no statutabte power given to them to proceed to extremities against refractory Members. Now he had always understood that public bodies and functionaries like the House of Comnions, to whom im portant trusts were commttted, might enforce the obedience of their Members when it was necessary for the due performance of their functions. He did not mean to say, however, .that this power was expressly conferred on them by any Ant of the Legislature, or by any other authority than that of the House itself; but a body like the House of Commons would be perfectly powerless and perfectly helpless without it had the right of enforcing obedience from its Members. It was clear, therefore, that they waited no Act of the Legislature to confer this power upon themselves. The House had to discharge high and important duties to the country, and, in the performance of those duties, it was necessary to delegate to its Members certain minor duties to be performed on their part, and without this power it was impossible the business of the House could be conducted. If this power did not exist, and Members were allowed to refuse obedience to the orders of the House, there would be a stop put to all the proceedings of the inferior House of Parliament. The Hon. and Learned Member for Cork hal also stated, that the Committee of Selection had pcwers given to it which were more stringent than the powers previously given to a Committee of the House ; but it must be remembered, that the House in its wisdom thought proper to give these powers to the Committee of Selection. He felt it impossible to get over the necessity which was evi dent, in order to perform these duties, without delegating those. powers to the Committee of Selection. The Hon. Member for Limerick had refused obedience to that authority which be had himself been a party to recognise. He had done this delibe rately ; there was no inadvertence. He in his piece in that House had refrained from endeavouring to excuse himself. He positively refused to furnish any certificate to the Committee of Selection of his inability, but had exhibited a persevering re sistance to the authority of the House. Under the circum stances, he (the Solicitor-General) thought there was no other course to pursue than adopt the resolution of the Hon. Mem ber for Oxford. He was the last to be the advocate of severe measures against any individual, especially an Hon. Member of that House ; but he could not see there was any other course to pursue, for it was i mposs ibl e f or t h e House to support its authority if it were to be resisted, as it now was, by the Hon. Member for Limerick. He repeated, then, that he saw no other course in this instance, than to take measures, which, he regretted to say, might prove eve nt ua lly severe i n heir conse quences to that Hon. Gentleman, and to approve of the reso lution which the House was now called upon to adopt. He certainly should support the resolution. Mr. E. B. ROCHE could not help feeling that the House should not have entered upon this subject at this particular moment. Ho felt this regret, because he saw that it appeared to him that if these measures were carried out, he and the friends who acted with him would be compelled to approve of the whole of the conduct of the Hon. Member for Limerick, and very esibly, at last, he and his friends would be compelled to take lota ures which would have the effect of very seriously impeding the business of that House. He regretted it for another reason; for, if it were carried out, there would arise a stir( ng feeling itx Ireland, that it savoured—it might be perhaps tro strong a word to say—of persecution—( Oh, ob)—that this House were visiting the Hon. Gentleman with enmity—at any rate, with hostility—for the course of conduct which he bad thought it his duty to pursue in Ireland.—(oh, oh.) He re gretted the House should adopt such a course, and he felt it to be his duty to warn it of the result which would attend it. The House had certainly the power of doing a great deal of mischief in connexion with this matter—( Oh, oh, and laughter) —but if the House had the power to punish any Member for non-attendance at Railway Committees, he advised it to pause before it exercised such a power. Every one who had sat upon a railway committee must have felt the conviction, after having attended the business of that Committee, and gone into the various matters of detail, that it would be utterly impossible for any Hon. Member, after hav ing his attention occupied the whole day in affairs brought be fore the Committee, to come down to that House and give his deliberate attention to measures of public advantage to the country that claimed his attention. If no other good arose out of this question than to turn the attention of Hon. Members to the mode in which Hon. Members conducted the private busi ness of the House, it would bee great advantage. He would ask, what would the result be if the resolution against his Hon. Friend the Member for Limerick was carried into effect? The great majority of the people of Ireland were with that Hon. Member, and if the resolution were carried against him, the hostile feelings of the Irish people would be raised against this House, as being unfit to make laws for Ireland. How do they propose to mend the matter ? Why by withdrawing from this House by force the Honourble Member for Limerick. Did they think the Irish people would have greater confidence in the wisdom of that House when they found that one of their representatives was forcibly re strained from attending to their interests in the House, and compelled to eat a bad mutton-chops in the purlieus of that House? They would be doing a vast injury to the best interests of Ireland. They intended to order his Hon. Friend to attend at the bar of the House ; the resolution they were now deliberating upon would then be read, and finally he would be placed in the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. He found, however, from the motion paper that his Hon. Friend had a series of resolutions to propose which would open up the whole state of Ireland. That was a subject upon which be thought the Hon. Gentleman ought to have an opportunity of expres sing his opinion. His Hon. and Learned Friend( Mr. O'Connell) had a motion on the paper that the representation of the county of Cork should be increased by two additional members. Would it not be unfair that the people of Limerick should be depri ved of expressing their opinion on this matter, by being d ep r i v ed of the assistance of their representative ? Anot her subject of great importance was, that the Hon. Member for Limerick would be prevented giving his vote en Fr i day next, to p revent the passing of the CoerriGa Bill. _, n. But above all and more than all, if the Howe pursued the propose d course they would exas perate the minds of the people of Ireland. He would hope the House would not persist in the course. Let them reek to gain the hearts of the Irish people not by an union, but by kindness and generous feeling. A question of that kind was of far more importance than questions of the rules of that House. Mr. WARBURTON wished to express his strong disa proval, in the m o st s t r i ngent terms, of the conduct of the Hof; Member for Limerick, in the contempt he had shown for the rules of that House. It was proposed that the Hon. Gentle man should be comm it te d to the custody of the Serjt at: ean Arms, and ev en t ua ll y h e m i ght find himself committedto-the Tower. He disapproved of the course it was proposed to be taken. He did not dispute the authority of the House, but be did not think it was a matter of expediency to carry that power into effect. If for every foolish reason given by Hon. Members of the House not to serve upon Committees, the House were to order them into custody, he did not know hew many foolish Members would seek such unenviable notoriety. The real question stood—what did they propose to gain by following up the rules of the house ? and secondly, what would they lose if the rules of the House were not followed up ? What did they gain by forcibly compelling a Member to sit as a member of Come mittee ? Why he would enter the Committee-room, he would take his seat, but he would pay no attention to the business be fore .he Committee, because he was there against his will. If a Member should say be did not wish to be on any Committee, was that Member a likely person to attend to the business of the Committee? He did not see that any good was likely to result from forcing any Member to attend on a Committee. The course he proposed was, that if any Member should choose to give a speciat reason for not attending on a Committee, that they, according to their wish, should not be compelled to at tea, but that the Special Committee should be directed to re port to the House the non-attendance of such Members, with their special reasons Ix not attending. He did not know what would be the result of such a report of the t an e a d felt attendance of an Irish Member ; but he tatt:ndance that if the Select Committee were to report the n on-attendance would of an English Member without some specia s l tit r u e e a res g .in not be again elected to represent hiseon that W. Smith Parlia ment. He should move as an amendment, of this House, who in O'Brien, Esq., and any othe e r ni memberon shall refuse to serve upon the course of the present s might claim to be exempted on Committees appointed, s pecial grounds; and that it be an instruction to the Select C o mmittee to report to the Howe the absence of such Mem ber, and the special grounds for such non-attendance . Mr. BROIHERTON having seconded the amendment, which was read from the chair, Mr. J. O'CONNELL said he differed from the Hon- Mem ber entirely as to the epithets he applied to the Hon. Member for Limerick. He had spoken of his reasons as being foolish; he (Mr. O'Connell) thought that the people of Ireland would approve of his conduct; they would consider that be had been acting with a view to meet the wishes of his constituents. He differed also in another particular from an Hon. Member. He (Mr. J. O'Connell) had been a member of a Committee for the last fortnight, an , l there was every probability of his continuing so for three months longer. He considered that he was a most unwilling member of the Committee, but be thought that he could at least take the credit, without assuming toe mu c h, of saying that he had not neglected the business of theZsmm itee, although h e was i n a tt en dance very much against inclina tion. lie Gentleman, did not think that the Ri g ht Hon. the fairly Attorney-General, had met the argment of the Hon. Gentleman the Member fo r Cor k. The especial statute for of English Members had not been compelling the attendanc e _ extended to the Irish Members, and that objection had not been satisfactorily 'disposed' of. The Hon. Gentleman then alluded to the Union, and said that Ireland was not a consent- A L' , l l