The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-09 00:00:00

~...................., IM PE RIA I. PA !IL EIA VNT. in the United States, if they found that there was an Act of wished to ask the Right lion. Baronet the First Lord of the HOUSE OF 170. Se Den .1. Arril 8. i Parliament authorising its admission free of duty. In the i Treasury whether he would put the rail w ay world in poses '(f The SPEARS B took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. i present state there is still considerable uncertainty hanging ' sion of te e principle, if not of the details, of the measure? ADJOURNMENT OF THE I101eesE• over the subject in the maids of theee who could import large ' Sir R. PEEL was much obliged to the Hon.Memberfer Si ROBERT PEEL neer el that the House at its rising quantities into that •country. If this uncertainty were re • calling attention te this important eueject, an l d le could do a d journ till Friilay, the 17th inst. moved, there would, ' uo douGt, be a considereble increate in ' assure the Hon. Member and the House . that no time bad The motion was put from the Chair and agreed to. the importation of that article. Foreign wheat was also been lost by the Government in considering this_ measure. It Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from the retail brewers very much required in England for the purpose of i however involved the nice details of the law of partnership, of Birmingham, praying that they might have the same mixin e with some of our inferior wheat. That ar- and it was ,t h h y er t e h fo e r h e, ig im he p s o t rt l a eg ne al th a a u t th t e h r e iti m es ea t s , u f r o e re s i l tN m yc ld s tide 6 was, however, now subject to the high duty be considered privileges as the licensed victuallers_ SECOND READINGS.to the subject, ant no of 18,e per quarter, whereas if the prcposed corn-law were introdueedtothtehier attention directed highest authorities anti in . operation that duty would . now be but ls. A . large quan- accordingly strongly, however, e hn ß w i e l v l er, wh in en - The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed. viz.:— tity of oatmeal could also be imported into this country at time was l elly be se l t o t s i t ed. the nominal duty of Is., if these measures were passed into ait . in He bri w n a g s ing stro i Surrey Grand Junction Railway. law. Oatmeal was an article of great consumption in many dined to think that it was desirable for the Board Newport, Aberoaveney, and Hereford Railway. rm p r i i n n g e them, pies wwithouthich . the going Government i into th m e , e d r e e ta d t i l s s_, South filtafferdshire Junction Railway with Branches (No. I). peas of Ireland. There was no Treasury order to admit of Trade to issue a circular addressed to the different railway South Staffordshire Junction Railway (No. 2—Bilaton and plat article duty free, atd he lod therefore, that Hon. o c f om th p e an rsconnectedwith Ireland , would read carefully those - Priestfirld Branch). posed to agree to in introducing this Bill. He shout', there gies'eneiuraful returns which had b , en just laid upon the table of the House South Staffordshire Junction Railway (No. 3 Showhill . , . - . fore, advise his Noble Friend tee President of the Board of and Portobello Branch). oy , his Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State. South Staffordshire Junction Railway (No. 4—Willenhall -METROPOLITAN BUILDINGS ACT. They must, he , w as s u re, know the extent of the distress in Trade to give some public notification to that effect. and Bloxwich Branch). that country. The must also know that the measure now Leeds and Thirsk Railway North Eastern Extension (Wath before the le ar n amee t if passed into law, would greatly in- Mr. TUFNELL wished to ask the Right Honourable to liertlepool). crease the importation' of valuable and nutritious feted into Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department when he intended to proceed with the Bill. Caledeniat, Railway (Dumfries Branch). that country. He hoped, therefere, that if they could re _ . replied, that it was impossible for him, Caledoeiae Railway ( Dundyvan Branch). allow the first reading of the Protection of Life and Property in the present state of public business, to give a positive con: ile it with their sense of public duty. that they would Sir J. GRAHAM • Caledonian it eilway ( Mid Lothian Branches). in Ireland Bill to be taken at the earliest possible period, answer to the question of the Hon. Member. In the first Caledonian Railway (Leith Junction). and with as little delay as Pus*nble; by so doing they will place, there was the important Bill relating to the law of Caledonian R e n wae Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridiga enable the House to give a speedy effect to the measures pro_ settlement, which involved the whole question of removal, Railway Branches). osed by her Majesty's Governme nt for the introduction o f and then there was the Highway Act, and the Militia Act, Lesmahagow, Dalsere and Coatbridge Mineral Junction Bail - foreign corn. all of which had to be disposed of, as well as the third read way. eg HAWES stated that great anxiety pervaded all rig of the Corn Bill, hef tre this measure could be brought Scottish Southern Railway. c l asses of the people with reference to a speedy settlement of forward. He did not, however, despair of being able to pro- East of Fife Railway. the G o vernment measures. In many cases excessive rail- ceed with the Bill in the course of the present cession. Manchester, Bolton, and Bery Canal Navigation and Rail- way speculations had produced a fearful reaction upon the Mr. M. GIBSON hoped that the third reading of the Ccrn ' way, and ‘•anchester and Leeds It %away Amalgamation. people , t h e y had been compelled to curtail their expenditure, Bill would be got through before they pro- Birmingham, Lichfield, and Maochester Reilway. ,and a large amosu of surplus labour was thereby thrown ceeded with the other measures sanctioned by Buckinghamshire Rel way Oxford and Bletchley Junction). upon the mai ken reducing, in some districts, an almost the Right Honourable Baronet. Government might Bric ol IVaterworks (by order). complete stagnation of trade and commerce.—(Hear.) very easily have had the Bill read a third time Vale of NOM ti Railway (by order). He was opposed to all coercive measures. He thought they before the Irish Coercion Bill came on, had they resisted the REPORTS. had always proved failures. But he real: y hoped that Hon. coercive policy of the protectionist party.—(Hear, hear.) ' The following reports were brought up, the amendmentsen- (;gentlemen would look to the present commercial state of the Ile for one strongly objected to Honourable Members being country, the great stagnation which existed, and the public and alterations agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be placed under duresse in this way—compelled, as:they were, grossed, viz.:— anxiety, and that they would, if they could do so consistently to dispose of one Bill before they could proceed with an- Liverpool Docks. with their sense of public duty allow the first reading of the other. — (Hear, hear.) Southport Improvement. Coercion Bill to be go t over , which would be conferringagreat Sir W. JOLLIFFE said, that as he had been alluded to in Plymouth Cemetery. benefit on the country. He really hoped that they would, this discussion, he felt himself compelled to deny that he Taunton Gas. , as much as poseible, curtail the debates upon the question. had offered any obstruction to the progress of public busi- London and South-Western Railway (Farnham and Anon Mr. P. 13ORTHIVICK thought it was a politic and just ness. He certainly had stated that he would offer his de- Branch.) me asure t o intro d uce Indian corn into Ireland in order to re- tided opposition to the Turnpikes Bill, which he conceived Edinburgh and Peebles Railway. move the present exigencies of that country. He was sorry would be highly detrimental to the public if it were allowed Weston -super-Mare Pier. however to see the present question mixed up with the to pass in its resent shape. London and Oxford Railway. great question of the removal of protection to agriculture. Sir R. PEEL, in answer to what had fallen from the Hon. xeter and Exmouth Railway. SHREWSBURY AND HEREFORD RAILWAY. Sir IL PEEL said, he did not deny one single word upon Member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson), denied that there the general merits of the Corn Bill, he only wished to call had been any understanding whatever between the Govern- Sir R. PRICE moved— " That the report of the Standing the attention of the House to the documents which had been ment tied 'Hon. Members on his side of the House Orders Committee on the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, laid upon the table, in order t o show that the impression with regard to the Corn and Coercion Bills.—( Hear, ''`that the standing orders o ug ht not to be dispensed with, be referred back to the St a ndin g O r d ers ' C omm ittee fir re- with respect to the decline in Irish distress had been ex- hear.) Ile might state that it was the intention of her tremelv false—and he only expressed a hope that those who Majesty's Government to proceed with the Corn Bill, and Consideration." In making this motion he wished it to be wereoppused to the first reading of the Irish Coercion Bill nut to introduce any Government business of any kind understood that he hot no intention of casting any impute- not , until the sense of the House should have been tion on any of the Hon. Gentlemen who were members of would, in permitting,the first e _ reading to_ take place, facilitate the Standing Orders' Committee. He thought, however, that the progress of the Corn Bill, but he had not said one word taken with r respect to the passing of that measure.—(Hear.) as to the general principle of the measure, or attached the If the arrangement to which the Hon. Member for Man deveral circumstances in the case of the Shrewsbury and sliehtest blame to those from whom it had received oppo. chester had alluded had been entered into by the Govern- Hereford io Railway had not received that consideration at the T sitn. ment, it would have been a most unworthy proceeding on hands of the Committee which perhaps they were entitled to. Me. S. O'BRIEN said that it was in the power of the their part.—(Hear, hear.) But there had been no such en- The objections and errors urged against the promoters by Government to facilitate the reading of the Corn Bill, by gagement—(Hear)and he believed that the Noble Lord, the Standing Orders'Committee were really so trifling that he postponing the Coercion Bill, and he considered that the the Member for Lynn, (Lord G. Bentinck) had distinctly thought the House would not consider them of sufficient Irish Members would not be disposed to waive their stated the other night, that there had not been any such importance to impede the progress of the Bill. One of the privilege of discussing moat minutely the principles and arrangement entered into between the protectionists and the oPjections urged was respecting some cross sections, but there provisions of that Bill, In the meantime he felt Government. was nothing stated positively in the standing orders as to himself bound to state that Indian meal had Mr. M. GIBSON.—I did not say that there had been any cross sections.—(Hear, hear.) The Railway Consolidation been found most valuable in alleviating the existing di n . arrangement.—(Hear.) I stated that I had seen in the li Axe privateo would p injury could happen torovide for any defienncies in one the if the Bill were Bill. No pu- tresses. He would take that opportunity of asking the Hon. public papers that there had been such arrangement. e rany Baronet whether he would be disposed to lay on the table of suffered to proceed. He hoped, therefore, that the House wouIdMETROPOLITAN BUILDINGS BILL. the House a return, showing the extent of aid sought for permit the case of the promoters to be referred to the Standing Mr. B. HAWES said he must complain of the delay under ßill the understood Public Works and Companies Works Presentmenes l Cyders' Committee for reconsideration, on whose justice hewhich the Right lion. Baronet the Secretary of State for the He that there was an indisposition to avail reposed the greatest reliance. The promoter,: were perfectly Home Department had occasioned with respect to this mea themselves of the benefits which those Bills were supposed to willing to abide by the decision which they =get come to sure. When the first Bill oa this subject had passed this convey. dn. reconsideration. The present was a very hard case. Sir JAMES GRAHAM was glad to say that applications session, that Right Hon. Baronet stated that there was an- Several Bills with far worse gradients, and much more other amended Bill which he should introduce at a very to offered was the most legitimate, and was not a gra violently opposed, had been allowed to pass, although the , o h L the Board of Works were very numerous—glad, because e relief early period during the present session, and it was with that promoters had not, in several instances, complied with the 'understanding that he (Mr. Hawes) had voted for the former standing orders. He could adduce an instance—the March tuity from Parliament. With regard to the county works Bill. —he was sorry to say there was an indisposition on the part aild Lincoln Railway—where a c o urse had been permitted Sir JAMES GRAHAM begged to assure the Hon. Mem similar tdmilar to that which he now prayed for on behalf of the pro- of some of the grand juries to carry out the provisions of her that every exertion was being made to mature the Bill in meters in this ca s e. The promoters fully expected that the ill. e question, and he promised that it should be introduced on an they sh ou ld p ass th e s t an di n g or d ers , b ecau se the o bj e ctions Mr. FINCH wished to observe, that he did not under- early day after the Easter recess. Were so trifling. He hoped, therefore. that the House would stand the Hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, as Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said that as he had been up to accede to the motion ; by acting otherwise, they would in- casting any imputation or reflection upon those who bad op- that moment engaged in a railway Committee, he was not Met both a public and a private injury, posed the Corn Bill. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE said that he did not consider aware of the proceedings that had taken place during his ale ` T••e motion having been seconded by an liox MEMBER, wishedtake that •, Mr. ESTCOURT said that the motion was of so unusual a the Irish Members had been fairly treated by having these sence ; bet he to House rose of once more repeating, on the part of himself Character, that he felt him s elf c on s trained to oppose it. l appeals made to them, it was like an att e mpt on the part of f' the motion were passed, the members of the Standing Orders' the Governm ent to throw the onus of the delay of the Corn and those Irish Members who sat on his side of the House, who were opposed to the passing of the Irish Committee would feel that the House reposed no confidence Bill on the Irish Members, whereas it lay at their own doors. C oerc i on Bill, t h a t w hil e th e y were determined to perse in their decisions, which wou ld ever b e subject to reversal. But the p ublic would attach the fault to the ri g ht q uarter. were to the last, and the very uttermost , in their opposition Why did not the Hon. Memb er t a ke the course adopted by He was not aware that this House was indebted to the Lords to that measure, they were at the same time anxious not the promoters of other Bills during the present session? Why tor any great courtesy in matters of the same nature, and to cause any delay to the progress of the public business of business should public could he not conceive why did he not move that th e case b e re f erre d t o th e considers- therefore the House, and they were therefore willing to withdraw any tion of the Sub-Committee? His Hon. Friend had at some be embarrassed in order to do an act of courtesy to the House notices of motion which they had for such days as might be length detailed the several non- compliance'', and argued that of Lords.—(Hear, hear.) Here was the House of fixed for the diecussion of the Corn Bill, to which as he and Commons called upon, on the one hand, to take up this they were of a very trivial r heracter. He found that there they had already stated they were prepared to give their Irish Coercion Bill to please the House of Lords, cordial assent. They were prepared to support the repeal of were not less than 50 of these, ;Sir R. PRICE—Forty-three. while open the other hand this House was told that the the corn-laws, but they felt it to be their imperative duty to i , Mr. ESCOURT—Not lees than fifty, and some of these of passing of the measure was to produce a great moral oppose, in every stage, the progress of the Irish Coercion effect. Now, he should say that so far as the moral effect • a most important kind. The public would not be benefited Bill. there couldscarcely be was concerned, . any hope of that, for the by the recommittal of this Bill ; they would be more benefited Mr. P. SCROPE gave notice that he would, on an early day great majority of the Irish people now saw that those Irish ley the postponement of the measure till another session,after the recess, ask her Majesty's Government whether, if bers in whom the had condence we ' hi Bill h . re opposing t s when the promoters would be able to correct these fifty and .--. .. Y . . in ' the tenants of land in Ulster refused to quit the farms which errors in their length of fifty-one miles. If this motion were erst T e viT . g i hieri l . t every opposition t eir power and even the a nlproved the : it ' they rented at the bidding of their landlords, under circum y t the was an opposition conceded the House could not with any propriety refuse in b to the reading , which of the Bill.istances similar to those which occurred in the other pro any similar case, and he should therefore oppose the appli- . P Government Therefore fault lay entirely • with th•• that the passing of the Corn Bill vinces of Ireland, it would be lawful for the proprietors of the cation. land to call in the aid of the military to compel a surrender should be delayed : and he would ask them was it worth - "Mr. CHRISTIE recommended the Hon. Member to with- . . - . this . , , their while to continue to press Coercion Bill on, while of the property. The Right Honourable Baronet the Secre teraw his motion. tare of State for the Home Department had the other there was not the least chance of its passing this session, and Sir; R. PEEL was prepared to reject this vote on the thus delay the Corn Bill? night stated that the sanguinary doings which took ground that it implied a want of confidence in the decision of place in the southern parts of Ireland did not take the Standing Orders' C o mmitt e e. INDIAN CORN. place in the northern, although the law with regard 1 Mr. STRIJ IT, having been chairman of' the Sub-Com- Mr. P. SCROPE said he quite agreed in the sentiments to landlord and tenant was the same over the whole of Ire mitts. who considered the petition in question, had prepared of the Hon. Member who had just sat down. If this House land, Now he (Mr. Scrape) believed that although the Itimself with details of the objections urged against it, but had any chance of passing this Coercion Bill with the same strict letter of the law was the same, there was still a custom after what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet opposite, expedition as that which marked its progress through the or usage in the northern parts which did not thus sanction be did not now think it necessary to go into them. He House of Lords, then there might be some reason for thus summary eviction of tenantry which occurred in those parts could, however, assure the Hon. Member who had made the pressing it on ; but when the Government saw that the of that country, of the sanguinary doings of which the House Motion that he had been deceived as to the notice of the non- discussion which had been raised upon the first reading of had heard so much ; and he was of opinion that it was in cOmpliance of the standing orders, for instead of their being that Bill was, in fact, a discussion upon the principle of the consequence of that custom, or usage, that so much peace of a trivial character, they were omissions and defects of the Bill, and upon its merits, they must have seen also that prevailed in Ulster.—(Hear, hear.) He would, after the re most glaring and fatal description. they could not escape a protracted discussion upon it. From the cess, as k t h e Government whether the law sanctioned such a The motion was then withdrawn. moment then that the Government had ascertained that fact custom, or whether it would enforce the arbitrary rights of THE CORN BILL. all the responsibility of the delay of the Corn Bill rested en- the landlord in Ulster in the same manner as it did in the Sir R. PEEL presented a petition, numerously signed by tirely upon them—(Hear, hear)—and if that discussion other more unfortuate parts of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) merchants, manufacturers, and others of Staleybridge, in should be followed up after the recess, he did think the public LEGAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND. the county of Lancaster, praying the House to pass the Corn would be impressed with the kea that the Government had Mr. WYSE moved for a Select Committee to inquire and Customs Bill without any further delay. some unexplained and inconceivable reason for protracting into the state of legal education in Ireland. . Mr. DUNCOMBE presented several petitions front York- the Corn Bill, and forcing on this Coercion Bill instead The motion was agreed to. shire in favour of a ten hours' Bill. The Hon. Member also of it.—(Hear, hear.) COMMONS INCLOSURE. presented a petition agreed to at a public meeting held at Sir J. GRAHAM said he had explained that twice before. Sir J. GRAHAM obtained leave and brought in a Bill, time Crown and Anchor, in the Strand, on the 25th of March Mr. P. SCROPE said he had heard the explanation which was read a first time, for the inclosure of commons. hist, praying the House to take into their consideration the only the day before yesterday. MINISTERS' MONEY (IRELAND). present state of Eastern Europe, with the view of devising Sir J. GRAHAM said he had given the explanation Mr. WYSE gave notice that he should, after Easter, some means for the restoration of Poland. The Honourable long before. bring in a Bill to abolish ministers' money in Ireland. Member presented another petition from Mr. Richard John- Captain HARRIS said he could very well understand the The House then adjourned until after Easter. son, bookseller, of Hull, complaining that he had been fined reason why the Coercion Bill had been brought on at that 201. under the Corresponding Act for taking money at the particular period, and he should protest against the two ques • door of a lecture-room, where a gentleman by whom he tions being mixed up as they had been. Was employed was delivering a lecture on the evi- Mr. FORSTER would appeal to the farmers' friends them dances of the Christian religion. The petition stated selves, and ask them why they persevered in delaying the that the information was laid against the petitioner by a Corn Bill? He could assure them that their long speeches police officer who attended the lecture, ahkh was deli- would not have the effect of changing a single vote in that vered at the Hull Mechanics' Institution, in plain :clothes, House.—(Hear, hear.) and afterwards turned informer, and prayed the House to Sir J. GRAHAM, in answer to some question from Mr. repeal the Act under which the information was laid, or every Christie, said that those questions were questions of which person attending the institution would be liable to the same he had given no notice, and therefore he could not penalty which bad been inflicted upon the petitioner The give them any answer, and he should here observe that Hon. Memb er p resente d a secon d pet i t i on to the same effect it was extremely inconvenient that such a course should be rorn the inhabitants of Hull, who agreed to the petition adopted. In reference to the Wootton Basset union, he while assembled in public meeting. begged to say that it was not in the power of the Commis- THE REVENUE. siotiers to censure the guardians, but they might point out to Colonel SIBTIIORP gave notice that be would, on them the manner in which the law should be carried out. Tuesday, the 21stof A • • evidence on which he April instant, move for copies of the He communicated with the Poor-law Commissioners to know his • anticipations t First Lord of the Treasury grounded what steps they had taken, and on the sth of February they of the amount of th sus expect e d wou l d be • received e surplus revenue which addressed the letter to the board of guardians from which he in the present year.had read the extract. If it were required he would lay the BUILDING SOCIETIES, Mr. EWART wished to know letter itself on the table. intended to make ny alterat• whether the Government Sir R. PRICE regretted that the Government should per your of building .ac e rn e e am in the Stamp Duties in fa- sist in forcing the first reading of the Coercion Bill upon the The CHANCELLOR of the EX House, and he equally regretted the opposition which was so although the Government had (inc C r H . EQUER said, that pertinaciouely given by the Irish Members. Neither of them duties on the transfer of shares in buiatined to abolish the appeared willing to give way, and the consequence was, not intend to propose that the duties Zuld societies, they did that the business of the country stood still, and that a !nee respect to the conveyance of property by such°" altered with sure intended to benefit Ireland in no small degree was de duties in which cases pressed less heavily .pon societies — th ete layed. than upon iodic 'duel parties. h members Mr. FITZGERALD begged to correct an expression which Mr. EWA it T sa,d the reverse was the fact ; t h e had been made by the Hon. Member for Eversham, and u • pressed much more heavily upon the members of bu lens which was calcul a t e d t o l ea d t o mis a ppr e he n si o n o f th e rea l societies than upon individuals. — ( Hear, hear. ) g state of Ireland. The Hoe. ,Member had alluded to the im- THE POOR LAWS. portation of potatoes into Wales, and he inferred from that Mr. CHRISTIE asked Sir James Graham whether the at- that there was a surplus over the quantity required. Ile tention of the Poor-law Commi s si oners had been directed to could assure the lion. Member that in this he was perfectly the case of Elizabeth Butcher, tried at Saliebury on the 12th the increase, se The fact was that the prevalent disease was on hild and an. day of March, fir the murder of her infant c , before , and they were • glad to dispose of their potatoes they would of its clothing on the Hon be utterly ruined. Hegave the Right quitted, the chill having been strippt d Barouet credit for - Bi- ett work- ' the pion se the measures he had introduced for mother'a leaving the Cricklade and Wootton : ►se Here- - i '°— a giving relief house ; and to the case of Harriett Bowkett, tried at . the Coercion Bill h to Ireland; and with regard to child that th , e could assure the Right Hon. Baronet ford on the 3Oth of March, for the expesure of her infant . e "Peoeition given to • with intent to murder, and acquitted of the intention to arise from any desire to thro it by Irish Members did not murder, the child having bean stripped of its clothing on the the Corn Bill, but solo by impediments in the way of mother's leaving the Ledbury workhouse ; and whether the Coercion Bill ill-timed arid eeasethey considered the stripping infants of the clothes which hare been supplied in duritog the laet assizes in uncalled for. lie found that, the workhouses, where the methers have no other clothing capital conviction, and that in Tipperary there had been no workhouses, is or- diminished. the. north crime had also for them, when they are taken out of the mr. , .., dered or senctionetf by saidthe Poor-law Commissioners? .enl nE thought the eenduct of the Irish Members in J. GI) %HA NI that the CaSCS to which . _, . opposition to this m easure Sir .. , could not be im- immediate al tentien pugned. 1 laey telt bound Cu do e • Member hell referred had attracted the . d ,o in compliauce with the n Ins lien a wishes of their constituents, at ,d • of the Poor-law Commissioners; and he held i odious and u • which slinwed charlv Bill an unjust one. letter, dated the sth of February last , The Government had it in been stripped their measure, a n d thus that the siiildren of Butcher and Bowkett had uot power to adjourn the s they would • of their clothing on their leaving the workhouses in ques- s ecure the good wishes and hearty co-op Members in the future stages of the Corieilltir of the Irish tion. If they had been so stripped, the regulati ons which the Poor-law Commissioners had i ssued to the dif- Colonel SIBTHORP said he fully a gree d w i th the lion. ferent boards of guardians throughout the country weu Id M em b e rs who had just sat down. Be gave the Irish Mem have have been openly violated, as there was an express dote- bers all credit for the open , manl y , an d straightforward, also ea • the consistent manner in which they that all bastard children and he !could __ e . tion given by the Commissioners opposed the Coercionßill —(Hear, hear.) Ho wished should be suffered to leave the workhouse in the clothing had given to them by the boards of guardians.—(Hear, hear.) the present measure of her Majes t y's G overnment was one In every case clothing was 'orderedto lie furnished by the calculated to conciliate the people of Ireland. Ile wished to prosperous, and he was le o' that country guardians to children born in workhouses, and they had no see the peop . that the measures brought tor authority to deprive them of it on their being removed compelled to say twenty years in that House from the precincts of the unions. No impediment ward for the last the welfare of to promote whatever was offered against mothers taking their children were not calculated The Government should from the workhouses, and every facility was given to them the country.—(llear, hear.) by its beneficial results, to obtain clothing for them. Whatever had arisen in refer- introduce a measure that to peasantry of Ireland. ence to these two cases did not spring from any existing law would restore peace and plenty the - • etith or regulation approving of the hardships which the lion. —(Hear, hear.) Such a measure would always meet Member appeared to suppose had been inflicted on the two les (Colonel Sibtnorp's) concurrence hearty support, and . individuals in question. He would take this opportunity of for he considered it would be more adapted to the con . d e i- r stating that lie was very glad to find that the poor-law was tion of the country than the Coercion Act proposed by her being carried out very beneficially in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) Majesty's Ministers. The Government were continually receiving intelligence The papers were then ordered to lie on the table. of the feelings of the people of that country, THE AUT-UNIONS BILL. changing materially in favour of the poor- law.—( Hear, hear.) On the question of the orders of the day for the House going Indeed, lie then h e ld ii t his heed t wo r e p or t s to t h at e ff ect i nto C omm i ttee on thi s Bill being put, from the Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland, which he Mr. WYSE said lie wished to know from her Majesty's would take the liberty of movine to be laid en the table of Ministers the na ore of their opposition to the measure. the House, and subsequently proved, and after Hon. Mem- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the op hers had read, he felt convinced that they • of the would arrive at the position to the Bill was grounded upon the fact same conclusion to which he had yiz - that the oor in , uhtto be given to the Government, namely, that land were now receiving great benefits from operation potter so g _. _ the of of being empowered to declare the Art-Unions legal. Now the laws relatirg to the poor in that eountrv.—(Hear, hear.) this was in amount reviving the system of lotteries, for the The reports in quest en were then Drought ' up by the Right Art-Union,: were founded upon such princielen and to de- Hon. Baronet, and orde , ed to be printed. INDIAN CORN, dare them legal woulo be most impolitic. Mr. WYS would, afr thi exl, Mr. M'CARTH to Y e iseed to ask the Government under considerationE of the measu te re till s that p day anation i r fortn e phtostpone the . what regulation:4We Indian corn would be distributed to the THE RAILWAY DEPOSITS BILL. people of Ir e land ? Sir JAMES GRAHAM stated that general regulations The House then went into Committee on this Bill. and the House upon the subject hal been laid mien the table of the House The whole of the clauses were agreed to, in some particular districts, however, the distribution woul ; having resumed the Chairman reported accordingly. take piece under different regulations, suited to varyin gd Report to be breught up on the 24th of April. RAILWAY LEGISLATION. eircumstaneen Sir R. PEEL would say one word with reference to this On the question being put for the House going into a Com introduction. It was found already that persons who had mince of SuPPIn been subsisting upon that article were able to do their work Mr. LABOUCHERE rose, and said ho wished to call the better, and to work for a longer time than they could upon attention of the House and the Right Honourable their former article of diet. All prejudices • against Indian I . Baronet opposite to a most important subject. They were ctirn am , about to separate for Easter and yet no Bill or re plier the recess, re • ts how feet disappeering in that country. The people o a• r• iof Parliament uno it lei li panteible and nuirinees. This article, •*; mn 'ad been itoroluced into either House however, wit 1 re pert to the railway measure the Right Hon. Baronet II Metrbers would recollect. ' was now alluded to only adaiLted duty free ' the other night. Now, it was important that It would . something should be known wi th reepeet to that Bill irnme greatly increase the confidence now, r i i9 w of those per- ) diately, or great loss would ensue to some of those parties ere tutroducing or speculating iu that article ! h w 9 wero engaged in promoting railway schemes, and he RA ILW AY COM MITTEES. (YES rERDAY.) TILE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY ivaIMNING, APRIL 9, 1846. GROUP IX. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Wore ley in the chair. All the members of the Committee present. WEST OX' SCOTLAND JUNCTION. Mr. ANDREWS then proceeded to reply on behalf of this line of railway. He would occupy the time of the C,.mmit tee as little as possible while he addressed himself to the ob jections brought forward against the Bill, and placed before the Committee the principal grounds on which he submit ted the Bill for the favourable consideration of the Committee. In doing so he was persuaded he would be able to prove that these objeetions were far from being unsuperable, and that the measure was imperatively necessary. He would first address himself to the objections brought forward. It had been said that the promoters of the Bill had broken faith with the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway and the public of Glasgow, by the aban donment of the Harbour branch and the Queen-street station. This was not so ; they brought forward the scheme in entire integrity, and it was only when the Clyde Trust en deavoured, by witnesses, to impress the mind of the Committee with the idea of danger and inconvenience, that the promoters abandoned the harbour branch and the junction in the tunnel. He never said that the harbour branch should not be made, or that it was valueless. No, the promoters of the Bill gave it up because they thought the junction over the Clyde was more important than the harbour branch, and because it was intimated that the two could not be made conjointly without danger to the public. There was no breach of faith, therefore, either with the Clyde trustees, or the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway. He denied, moreover, that the land fur the Stub. cross docks had been purchased, because the Mineral Harbour branch was carried last session ; for, from the evidence adduced, it ap peared that in maps of Glasgow, long before last year, these docks were laid down ; and it had also been shown, that the land was purchased not for ducks to accommodate the mineral traffic, but to give increased accommodation to the general trade of the h arbour, which at present was so ill supplied with room. He regretted that he had had to address the Committee before the natural and understood period on which he expected to be called on to do so, as he could then have better shown the character of the opposition banded together. That the Greenock Railway Company should oppose the Bill, would, if it were an inde pendent company, exhibit a shameful dereliction of duty, on the part of the shareholders, in cutting off the great advan tages which the proposed connexion would confer on the port cf Greenock. But the true state of affairs would have come out, had the Caledonian schetne been gone into, as then it would have been shown i k T i a tt t e t e t ( d a l ci vn v iot a th n a c ars e pge m psope e wa n e ,cr t t ti o hnt f ao tt itshhe had dr i neabatlelleeregelpsseotdsss inconvenience ow : nonan beforeN. t r . oe i %n•baieelnCbtc but m te tico p i t a ott n ml he y i , th u a t t the real motive was, not the general benefit of Glasgow, t b h u a t !b° ev u e r n o w f e G re l it worse tha n re p resente d, t h e real question wa! , , " what is good for the public?" If it had been shown that Greenock, Ayrshire, Edinburgh Aberdeen, in fact. Scote,landtbetenerallyP, e w rt o h u , id D Dundee, e g e :. e a a t n l y d tboefbieefitendonbsyultetdhe beforeßalti that of ought the public interest Glasgow. e That and de defeatdamage a done should not be allowed to neutralise p T re h se e n ie t t . terf the Admiralty, the mira t l r t u e gwraeya,ti in amt,ihoincahl tom e v a i s e u w r e thelike c case. The on which so much bad been said, meant merely that the Committee should hear all the evidence, and judge according to the facts adduced. It meant that the Committee should decide, and they (the Admiralty) should then deal with the matter. If the Bill was agreed to by the Committee, the power of veto m ight still be exercised against the Bill, or it might be s tipulated by the Admiralty that the works should proceed under their inspecti don, an upon such plans as they he might think best. With such a power in the hands of t Ad miralty all idea of danger to the harbour was at an end. His Learned Friend Mr. Hope had talked a great deal of the Provost of Edinburgh and Perth being anxious to have the junction in order to get a good supply of capons and eggs and bacon. He would only say in answer to that attempt at wit, that the Provosts of those two cities were not the only witnesses called to show the necessity of the junc tion, but commercial men had been called from all parts of Scotland, and some parts of England, to prove the absolute necessity for the line; and mere would have been called had not the Committee expressed their satisfaction on this point. But those who lived in glass-houses should take care how they threw stones. If the Provost of Edinburgh liked good capons, his Learned Friend (Mr. Hope) represented the Provost of the turtle-loving city of Glasgow; and perhaps the secret of much of the opposition offered would be found in the fact of the pleasure arising from a trip to town in the spring time of the year for a month or two, living at a splendid hotel, and faring sumptuously every day. That might have a great deal to do with the proceed ings before the Committee. The care of traffic had been so satisfactorily made out to the Committee, that they stopped the further examination of witnesses. The Learned Gentleman than referred to the crossing over the streets, commenting on the evidence, and main taining that no junction through Glasgow could be made with less injury to a town than the present. So little injury would be dyne that, netwithetitudiug the strong banded op- position against the Bill, not a single inhabitant of Glasgow had been called to prove an y d amage to property, or to speak against the way in which they were to be afficted by the Inie. Last year it was complained of that the bridge was to? far down, and the arches were objected to; so to meet the objections then urged, it h a d now b een proposed that the viaduct should be brought close to the present bridge, and the arches and piers be made the same, so 55 to offer as little obstruction as possible to the currrent of the stream. The space to be occupied by the viaduct would not be 108th part of the harbour, while the Stob-cross decks, it had been shown, would furnish every necessary accommodation that might be required fo r th e crow d e d shipping of the river. But even with regard to the space to be occupied, it had been shown, that from the height of the arches, the smaller vessels, and the steam-boats would still be able to use the space. Regarding the viaduct and the opposition of the Bridge Trust, he would call the attention of the Committee to the resolution of the Bridge Trust since last year, to the effect that th e y wou ld abandon their opposi tion if the promoters of the line would not pass over the top of the exiting bridge. This had been agreed to, and though, in compliance with the desire of Lord Ellenborough, the piers of the two bridges were proposed to touch each other, the two b r idges were essentially independent, and would not interfere at all with each other. Nor had it been shownthat danger would arise from the foundation of the bridge. The present bridge had been built several years, and though the river had been deepened two or three feet below the brick-work of the foundation, yet the bridge was as firm as ever. The water was now running daily against the top of the piles yet no sand es caped, and the bridge appeared to be as firm as any in the kingdom In respect to the foundation Mr. Walker was called, and be only gave hearsay evidence, which had been derived from Mr. Athert on . He had not examined the foundations himself. Against the opinion of Mr. Walker he would place that of Mr. Miller, who had planned nearly all the great railway works in Scotland, and . had carnea great number of th em i n t o successful operation. He had staked his reputation on constructing that bridge, and he had no doubt satisfied himself that it could be erected without difficulty. The opinion of Mr. Miller was fortified by Mr. Lyon, the foreman of Mr. Gibb, the builder of the present bridge, and Mr. Gibb, the son of the con tractor, both of whom affirmed that no foundation could be better for a bridge—that it was good hard sand. These were two witnesses of the greatest expe rience, against whom they had the statement of Dlr. Atherton, the resident engineer, who was looked up for at the last hour to give evidence against the Bill. The two former, he submitted, in taking their evidence into account, had much greater opportunities of knowing the nature of the foundation than the latter, and were more entitled to influ ence the minds of the Committee. Clearly, then, the balance of evidence on the point of foundation was in favour of his cli ents. But to put an end to all doubt, he was willing that a clause should be inserted in the Bill to the effect that whatever damage should be done should be made good, or that the bridge should be rebuilt, if necessity should be seen for it from any injury done to the present bridge. The Learned Gentleman then addressed himself to the proposal made for joining the two lines passing round the sty. Con tending that it would be utterly useless as a passenger line, from going over so many mineral lines, and could not be seriously entertained as a measure to fill up the gap between the north and south of Glasgow. The Learned Gentleman having recapitulated the leading points of his case, concluded by calling on the Committee to admit the preamble of the Bill as proved. The room was then cleared. In a few minutes the par ties were called in, when The CHAIRMAN said the Committee had come to the de cision that the preamble of the Bill was not proved. The Committee then adjourned till after the Easter holidays. GROUP XIV. SOUTE-ZASTIII&N. The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; present Mr. Protheroe (Chairman), Lord EmlYn, General Lygon, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were so strongly of opinion that the business should be proceeded with at as early a period as possible, that he would go into the House to give notice that on Friday week, when the House of Commons re-assembled, he should move for leave for the Committee to sit on the Tuesday . following, instead of ad journing to the 27th, as was originally intended. On his re turn the Chairman said that he had given notice of his in tention, but he had received an intimation from Sir George . Clerk that it would not be in power to do so, unless the shareholders gave a written notice that they were desirous of proceeding at that time, and did not wish to wind up the affairs of the Company by a mutual arrangement. Mr. CALVERT, on the part of Mr. Angerstein and Mr. Syd ney Smith, of Lewisham, cross-examined Mr. Stephenson, with a view of showing that the property of those gentlemen would be most materially injured by the proposed line. Mr. IIiGG elicited that a fresh station would have to be erected in Maidstone (although there is one now in exist ence there) in consequence of the difference of the levels of the proposed and the existing lines. A solicitor in the body of the court put some questions for Mr. Edward Lovett. of Sittingbourne. re-ex amined, ALEXANDER having re-exned, stated that he had now concluded on the l an downers cases, and as it was im possible to conclude the re-examination on the whole case that day, perhaps the Committee would see the propriety of adjournment. The CHAIRMAN assented, and the Committee rose for the Easter recess. GROUP XIX. The Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual hour; present, Lord Harry Vane (Chairman), the Earl of March, the Hon. Francis Scott, Mr. David Morris, and Mr. Philip Bennett. DRIDGEWATEN AND MINEHEAD RAIL- WAY AND PIER. The consideration of this case was resumed (after a con• versation arising from a motion made by Lord Granville Somerset, last night, in the House of Commons, that the sitting of all Committees on Railway Bills after Easter should be deferred until the 27th of April), by the further examination of Mr. Greene, an engineer. and Mr. Thompson, likewise an enginee - , who stated that they were acquainted with the country laying respec tively between Bridge water, Taunton, and Minehead, and con• sidered that the de-,cription and undulating state of the land situated between the latter places offered greater facilities for the construction of a railway than the proposed line now under consideration. The evidence of these witnesses related en tirely to the engineering difficulties to be anticipated in the construction of the proposed railway and pier, and to the in comprehensiveness of the estimate, considered that a more advantageous line might have been selected between;Bridge• water and Minehead, which would not require such an out lay of capital, affording equal accommodation to the public, and not depreciating to such an extent the value of property. Mr. M'Neal, an assistant to the last witness, spoke to the gradients, &c., he took on this line, disagreeing in many of those taken by the engineers promoting this scheme. In his cross-examination by Mr. Cockburn his testimony was some what shaken. The Committee on its rising adjourned until Tuesday, the 27th inst., when the consideration of this case will be resumed. GROUP XXIX. This Committee re-assembled this morning in room No. 19 ; present, Right Hon. 11. Labouchere, chairman ; Sir J. Duckworth, Sir W. Molesworth, Mr. J. A. Smith, and Col. Rawdon. RUGBY AND HUNTINGDON'. The case for the promoters being closed yesterday, Mr. HILDYARD addressed the Committee this morning in opposition on the part of the promoters of the South Mid land (Huntingdon) Branch —the competing project. He re verted at great length to the evidence which had been ad duced in favour of the line under consideration, and con tended that no case had been made out for the construction of a line which would necessarily require so great an outlay of money—that the South Midland scheme would give all the advantages which it proposed to confer on the district, and at less expense. He denied that the London and Bir mingham line would be more crowded by the South Midland rival line, for the traffic from Stamford to Huntingdon would be continued at Market Harborough, and consequently Rugby would not be affected by this traffic. At Market Harboreugh a complete train would be formed from this traffic, which would proceed to London without stoppage, under the management of the London and Birming ham Company, whose excellent control and super intendence was testified by the witnesses for the pro posed line. The Learned Counsel further stated that the project now under consideration was an isolated one, and in the event of the London and York Railway not being carried into effect, the accommodation to the district would be very imperfect. Of the two schemes, therefore, he would without hesitation leave it to the Committee to say which was the more likely to afford the accommodation which the public required, and which of them was brought forward under the better auspices. The one bad for its promoters a large, and solvent, and powerful company, whose respectability and wealth were incontesta ble ; and the other was under the sanction of a company which might never be able to raise the large capital which they proposed to embark in the undertaking, and which never could give an adequate return. Under these circumstances he would leave the case in the hands of the Committee, feeling quite confident that on a deliberate consideration of the respective merits of the proposed lines, they would decide in favour of his clients, and unction the project of the South Midland (Huntingdon) Company. A list of assents and dissents along the line was then handed in, when the room was cleared. On our re-admission, The CHAIRMAN announced the decision of the Committee, that the preamble of the RUGBY AND RUNTYNGDON MAILWAY was not proved. They also decided that the preambe of the SOUTH MIDLAND (H UNTINGDON BRANCH) was proved; but the Com mittee would re q uire the insertion of a clause in this Bill , rendering the o p eration of t he Ac t w w e h r i e ch th w e as adjourned till M on d a y, the 27th instant.n Postponed till the next subiect to the passing, i n the present sessio n , o f th e S out h Midl a nd (Leicester and Be dford) lin e. T i ßil e, l meeting clauses ngof the o b Committee, tnimette The Committee then adjourned. Sub-Committee No. 2. This Committee met at twelve o'clock, Sir J. Y. Buller in LONDON AND lIIIMINGNANZ (ST. ALSAN'S AND LITTON lIRANCIt). the chair, and proceeeded with the case of the PETITION FOR ADDITIONAL POWERS. Ira i ' id G t l 7e ° a ll ge E nt ' for the The ClLie was now finally disposed of.—Standing orders not complied with. AX.HOLME, clararsztoreovc; YORE., AND NORTH MIDLAND J'UNCTION. This i6,a s ß i i n l l fo s r t m o till o e d d o t v h e a r t i wouldafterEnaosttebre necessary to have his witnesses in attendance until after the 21st of April. WAIMICIESIIIRX AND LOND ON =Amp. TON AND ASIIOWORCH LINE). Bill This Bill was again called on, and the formal proofs being completed, the Committee pyoeeded to hear evidence in sup port of a petition against th . line, . . ns s ofthis petition • One of the allegatio(in support of which that Mr. Burke appeared) . w road in 4 certain public road had been described as a priva te . the books of reference. It was shown that the road in question was treated as a public road by the promoters, a cps . s se ction being giv en , an d the Committee took this asp rnid[ei - e vidence that it was a o p u blic road. In the absence o f any evidence to the contrary they declared the standing or ers not complied w i t h . m t .. J. PAILIKIC, On the part of the promoters of the Bill, said it was very ha rd upon them to be call e d on to give evi dence of its being a private r o ad when it was the practicm of a ll Committees to lay th e on us o of proof upon the petitione.m. The CIIAIILMAN mad he could not help it. The Conimittoe were resolved. ations of the The remaining alleg petition were then pro dmitt d seeded with, some being a by the promoters, sad ' . dandat e others not being prove., 'clock the Committee adjourned till the 21st of April. o The ChAIMAY, bef 9 re Wiring the wow, gave notice tw the protna.Zrs of Bills, that the motion of Lord Dalhousie,'in the House o r last night, had no reference to select Committees. Sub-Comr.•`-ttee No. G. This Committee assembled to-di at half-past one o'clock. Captain Jones in the chair. The Committee resumed the consideration of the petition against the wartwxcasHnsm Z.ND LONDON (UAW,- TON AND BAN:BURY MINX). The CHAIRMAN said that it was the determination of the Committee to report that the standing orders had not been complied with, with repect to the property marked 31 in the parish of Chesterton. The report would run thus : That the standing orders had not been co:aplied with, inasmuch as the property, which consisted of a stable, Sec., in question was o mitted, although such existed ; and also that on the bo o k s o f re, c n - ence the said property was described as a private carr i age - ro od, which in addition con tained a cow shed, stack-yard, &c. The next allegation was that a free board in the parishes of Bishopton and Chesterton, the property' of Lord Willoughby, was omitted. Evidence was adduced to support this' allegation, which, however, was not sustained. An allegation of omission with reference to property in the parish of Banbury, marked 33 and 34, was not sustained. It was next alleged that five houses situated in the parish of St. Nicholas, Warwick, were not numbered on the plans deposited with the clerk of the peace for Warwick and those in the Private-bill Office. Evidence having been heard, the Committee found that the allegation was sustained. The next allegation was to the same effect, with reference to the property marked 8, in Leamington l'riors, which consisted of a house, outbuildings, and a yard. . It was stated on behalf of the promoters that it was im possible to mark every point accurately, and that the mark '2B on the plan was sufficiently descriptive of the property in question. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee must report that the standing orders in this case had not been complied with, but would accompany the same with the explanation given on behalf of the promoters, which the Committee considered quite satisfactory. Several other allegations to the same effect, and under similar circumstances, were admitted. It was next alleged that there were discrepancies between the respective plans, which allegation was abandoned, and several others of a similar character were entered into, but not sustained. The case for the petition having dosed, the Committee found that the standing orders had not been complied with. CALEDONIAN EXTENSION. • This Bill, which was re-committed, was again considered. Mr. BURKE appeared in support of a petition from certain landowners, ic., along the line complaining of non-compli ance with the standing orders. He said that the promoters of the Bill had laid down two alternative lines. Now, accord ing to the 16th clause of their Act, they should have given due notice to the landowners, &c., on the line of the branch from Ayr to Muirkirk, and that the necessary notices had not been served, giving an accurate description of the line. Mr. GRAHAM, who appeared on behalf of the promoters, offered a few observations in reply to the elect that the line in question was not an alternative line, but a branch, and produced evidence to show that such was the case. The portion of the line alluded to was from Curaloch to Muirkirk. The CHAIRMAN ordered the room to be cleared, and, on our re•admission, stated that the Committee were of opinion that the allegation was not sustained. It was next alleged that there was an error on the datum line, which was sustained. The Committee adjourned shortly before five o'clock to the 21st instant. TIDAL HARBOURS COMMISSION. The following extracts from the Second Report of the Tidal Harbours Commissioners, just presented to both Houses of Parliament, will be found interesting : A more extended inquiry has fully confirmed the views which the limited examination of last year lcd us to submit to your Majesty. Not only is there a general want of control over the management and revenue of the ports, but there is not a single exception among the numerous cases which have come before us, in which such a control might not have been the means of saving unnecessary outlay ; of preventing encroachments that can now scarcely be remedied, or of stopping works that must be removed in order to secure the objects to which the attention of the Commission is directed. The necessity of such supervision has also become more apparent since the publication of the returns to the orders of the House of Commons of August last, from which we learn that the income of the vari )11s ports of the United Kingdom considerably exceeds the sum of 800,0001. a year, the whole levied by charters and acts of Parliament, or otherwise, from dues on shipping, and on goods borne by shipping, but over the expenditure of which Parliament has not at present the slightest control. In Ire:and we have been enabled to visit most of the ports and fishing piers around the coast, and have been strongly impressed by a sense of the great value of its natural harbours, their depth and capacity, and the extent and capability for improvement of its fisheries, which even in their present state, and with the fishery piers often in ruins from neglect, afford employment to 19,880 vessels and boats, and 93,000 hardy fishermen. But these natural advantages are very far from having been turned to the best account; on the contrary, a de tailed examination into the state of the principal ports shows that although much has been done, and, in many cases, at a heavy expenditure of money, yet that if the works had been planned with a little more foresight, and steadily carried on under efficient control, the same expenditure would have led to far better results, and might have removed the causes of complaint for which there is but too much foundation. The harbour of Dublin and the river Liffey offer an instructive example of the correctness of these state ments. Within the last thirty years many improve ments have taken place; the depth of water over the bar and up to the city quays has been increased several feet, by dredging, and by the bold measure of running out the great north wall ; the traffic and conseqaent revenue of the port Faye more than doubled; and the latter has risen to 34,0001. a year. Yet the evidence shows that the foundation of the quays is generally so imperfect that they will not, in their present state, admit of the river being further deepened ; that the south quay, the resort of three fourths of the shipping of the port, is encum bered at its foot by heaps of mud ; that the entrance into the GI and Canal Docks is all but blocked up by sand-banks ; that there is a great want of graving docks; that there is but one public crane; that the port charges are very high; and that the ballast, of which, by Act of Parliament, the ballast-office has a monopoly, and for which it charges about double the market-price, is in many cases bad. Wexford harbour, which, from its capabilities, its po sition in a rich country, amidst an industrious population, and its vicinity to the English coast, ought to be one of the most prosperous in Ireland, is the resort of little more than coasting vessels. It appears in evidence that here are 104 Harbour Commissioners ; that the stream of the Slaney, and the tidal waters of its vast estuary, are left uncontrolled ; that the heads of the piles on which the quays are founded project some feet into the river, and have caused damage to several vessels ; that a vexatious toll is levied on all vessels passing through Wexford Bridge ; and that heaps of stone, now forming an artificial bar eight feet high, have been thrown in at the foot of its piers to save the foundation from being swept away. Similar neglect appears outside the harbour, where the want of a light off Blackwater Bank, and the absence of beacons on the other dangerous sands which line this coast, are stated to have been the cause of several shipwrecks, and of a great sacrifice of life, At Waterford, a capacious natural harbour, consider. able (xertion has been made to deepen the ford and ob tain a channel up to the town; but an extensive mud bank still lines the foot of the finest range of quays in the United Kingdom; the soil, dredged up in one part of the harbour, is dropped into the stream in • another; thousands of tons of refuse stone are annually swept into the river from the quarries of Grenagh; while the bridge, with its thirty-six arches and corresponding piers, and an opening for ships only eight yards wide, places a bar to the extension of navigation and improve ment towards Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel. The celebrated harbour of Cork stands pre-eminent for capacity and safety, even in that country of fine natural harbours. The upper portion of it, which falls more im mediately within the limits of this commission, extends for five miles below the city to Passage. This part, since the year 1820, has been considerably deepened; vessels of 500 tons now come up to the city, and the traffic and in come of the port have proportionably increased ; Tot the harbour is far from being in that state which a revenue of 8,000/. a year for the last twenty. five years would warraur. emsplai a nts are made that banks a the e foot whichf the y Y g t steamersr h e e a t cityris k and to the Cove that seven weirs cross the river Lee within o l uae between u e one mile and a half of Cork, and impede the up ward flow of the tide ,- that a wall has been built for 1,500 yards, in a doub,ful direction, to guide the set of the current, and is now left in an unfinished state ; that the silt dredged up from the charnel is laid at the back of this wall, and washed down again into the river by every high tide ; and that an areaof 150 acres, over which the tides used to flow has been parily enclosed, whereby a large portion of tidal water is excluded. Yet this large space, if inclosed by a wall properly directed, and the loss of the excluded water compensated by dredging the upper part of the bed of the river, might be a benefit to navigation, and form a park for L‘ir and exercise fur the citizens, instead of being left as a nuisance ; in short, to quote the words of a highly respectable witness, " the harbour of Cork has throughout been the victim of half measures." t ß h a e lli l n a ac tte u r rr h a as risers Complaints, also, are made that the Glanmire and e con b t o r t i h bu in ted a n to eg t l h ec e t c ed or s i t c at h e iar while e r r g s ery Fund ; that a portion of the dues collected in Cork never reach the hands of the treasurer ; and that money has been borrowed, and consequently a debt incurred, without the authority of an act of Parliament. Surveyors and sailors complain of the too great ele vation and ill chosen position of Cape Clear Light ; of the want of a light en the Faze Rock, the western point of Ireland ; and that there is no coast light from the Old Head of Kinsale to the Hook of Waterford, a dis tance of seventy miles. Limerick, at the head of the estuary of the Shannon, the noblest river in the kingdom, and now, by the energy of the Board of Public Works, rendered nevi yable almost through its whole length, offers great fa cility fur navigation and commercial enterprise. He."o there is a magnificent bridge built across the harbour at a cost of 85,000/. ; yet, although the same Act under which it was erected expressly gives powers for 'the construction of floating docks, the harbour still renaains without a dock or place of shel ter, .and vessels at low water lie on the rocky bot tom, and exposed to damage ; while its income of 4,000/. a year, levied upon shipping, is mort gaged to pay the interest of money. chiefly e x• pend.ed in building the bridge. It is also stated in e , .ridence that while more than half a million of money had been laid out in improving the Upper Shannon, the esti iary of that river, from Limerick to the sea, has been den ied even a few hundred pounds to buoy and beacon the dangerous shoals which, although easily removed, are allowed to remain and obstruct the navigation of the port. At Galway, similarly situated at the head of a large inlet on the western coast, sheltered from the Atlantic swell by the natural breakwater of the Arran Isles, and shortly to be connected inland with the extensive navi gation of Loughs Corrib and Mask, much spirit and enterprise have b een s h own since 1832. in making a floating dock, nine acres in extent, fit to contain vessels of 500 tons ; in conscqucnce the trade has in creased, and the revenue of the port has risen from 3401. to 2,0001. per annum. Yet unhappily the whole of this income is mortgaged to pay the interest of the debt in curred ; and, owing to some mismanagement, a rocky bar of three feet high, on which a vessel might break her back, has been left just without the sill of the dock gates. Great inconvenience is also stated to arise from the distance the Claddagh fishermen have to go to their fishing grounds, 30 miles off; and that a pier half way down the bay would be a great boon to this valuable body of men, as well as to the owners of numerous turf boats which trade in this directii,n. Sligo, with limited means, has recently extended its quays 700 yards, anti removed a portion of the Blcunick Point, while i's trade has much increased. Private quays, however, still cause great inconvenience ; weirs exist, which obstruct the upward flow of the tide ; the ebb and flood stream require directing to prevent the increase of sand-banks ; and the channel generally wants deepening, to enable the put to keep pace pith its thriving trade. Londonderry, on the Foyle, where the river expands into a spacious navigable estuary, has great natural advantages, which have been ill seconded by art. Mud banns encumber the foot of the quays, which might be kept free by simply guiding the course of the stream. The quays, chiefly private property, are in a neglected state, and project apparently as the owners think fit into the river. Complaints are made by sailors and pilots of the leading lights on Innishowen Read being on the same level, of the want of a light on Rathlin Island, and of the more glaring want of a beacon on the Car righ-vanan Rock, which lies in the fair treoks of steamers to and from the port. Belfast, the first town in Ireland in enterprise and commercial prosperity, ranks second only to Dublin as a port, and has an income of 22,0001. a year. In the year 1840, a channel up to the town was opened, having nine feet water at low tides, which ha s p rove d to bo great convenience to the fine steamers that daily run from hence to Glasgow and Liverpool. But even with this channel, the improvements in the harbour are far from having kept pace with the rapid advance of the town. Until very lately the quays and docks have been private property, and thus have been permitted to oppose a barrier to improvement. The evidence shows that they are still in a very negleeted state, and that there is so great a want of accommodation, that steamers are often obliged to discharge their cargoes lying alongside the quays three abreast. Complaints are made of the state of the Custom-house; that the lower lock of the Lagan navigation is only a mile and a half above the town, and thus prevents the upward flow of the tide; that encroachments are making on the banks of the river, and that still more extensive encroachments are threat. ened by railway speculation; in short, that everything points to the vigilant control which is absolutely neces sary to enable this fine port to keep pace with the rapid strides, both in manufactures and trade, of the capital of Ulster. Newry has the great advantage of lying within Car lingford Lough, which, a moderate outlay, might be made a harbour of refuge, an inestimable boon on this part of the coast. The Navigation Company here, instead of deepening the natural channel of the river, have em barked all their capital in an artificial canal. Dundalk has recently made great efforts, guided by a .kilful engineer, to improve the harbour, and the increase i n steam traffic, consequent upon deepening the,channel, already demands leading lights at the entrance of the rivmr. _ IL'ogheda has been much improved by steadily dredg ing the River Boyne, and the revenue of the port has been more than .soubled during the last few years; there is, however, much yet to be done, and there are various s y m pt o ms of neglect that would vanish under efficient control; like Galway, its whole dues are mortgaged for a debt incurred in improving the harbour. The piers or breakwaters of the artificial harbours of Kingstown, Howth, Donagliadee, Dunmore, Ardglass, and Portrush, all built according to the same mode of rubble stone, with a long slope to seaward, have all suffered very material damage from the effects of the waves. Ardglass pier, together with its lighthouse, now lies a mass of ruins in the sea. Of the 70 fishing piers, constructed or repaired in 1822 and since, at a cost of 43,0001., chiefly of public money, many of them, from neglect in receiving timely repairs, are falling to decay; and one of them, at New castle, county of Down, has been entirely destroyed, to the great distress and almost ruin of the fishermen around. These piers have nevertheless proved highly beneficial to the districts in which they are placed, as have also the harbours built by the liberality of indivi duals, as the Earl of Courtown, at Courtown; Lord Annesley, at Newcastle; Mr. Ogilvie, at Ardglass; and Viscount Palmerston, at Mullaghmore, in Sligo; and it is earnestly to be hoped that some efforts will be made to preserve them from a similar fate. On the north-west coast of England, the river Lune and the port of Lancaster are capable of much improve ment. The recent Admiralty survey of this district has shown that there is a deep-water channel, hitherto ne glected, in Morecombe Bay, approaching to within three miles of Lancaster, which, if properly lighted and buoyed, would afford a harbour of refuge— the great want. of this part of the coast where &l are tidal harbours. Fleetwood-on-Wyre. from its connexion with the Preston and London Railway, and from its direct com munication with Belfast and Glasgow, has at once become a port of consequence ; and the admirable system of lighting adopted in its channel, its extent of quay accommodation, and its well-appointed and power ful steamers, offer an instructive example of what well directed skill and energy can accomplish in a few years. The river Dee and the port of Chester afford a striking example of the danger to which the interests of navigation may be exposed by placing the power over the river in the hands of a joint-stock company, whose principal interest consisted in the successful reclaiming the land. The area of the estuary of the Dee between Chester and Kelstra, was formerly about 12,000 acres, covered at every spring-tide ; of this space 8,000 acres have been enclosed, or, as it is termed, reclaimed, and the tidal water excluded ; about 5,000 acres of the land thus obtained on the Cheshire side, now form the Dee Company's estate, and nearly 3,000 acres on the Flintshire shore are the property of the adjoining landed proprietors. The Act of Parlia ment that sanctioned this extensive encroachment re• quired that a depth of fifteen feet at ordinary spring tides should be maintained up to Chester, in default of which the rental of the company was liable to be seized and applied to the improvement of the navigation. This condition, it appears in evidence, has not been complied with ; the standard by which it should be ascertained, and which was required to be maintained, does not exist, and the river was in so bad a state, in December, 1844, that a vessel drawing only 8 feet water could not go up to Chester on a spring tide. It appears also that a rubble-stone dyke or embank ment extends seven miles along the Cheshire side of the river, "on a line the most injudiciously laid out with regard to navigation ;" thatithis dyke, a portion of which is covered at half-tide, is only marked by insignificant perches or beacons, that several vessels have struck on it, • some of which have been entirely lost ; that the river, from Flint upwards, is neither lighted nor buoyed ; that a weir or mill-dam, rising 11 feet above the bed of the river exists just above the city, dams the water up for several miles, and prevents the upward flood of the tide ; that loads of atones are thrown into the river to secure the foot of the jetties ; and that at Parkgate, twelve miles below Chester, which formerly was one of the principal mail-packet stations between England and Ireland, a dry sand no* extends almost across the estuary. On the south coast, at Salcombe, there are neither pilots nor a harbour master. On the north-east coast, the river Tyne and port of Newcastle, including North and South Shields, take the lead among the principal coal ports of the kingdom, which, owing to the vast in crease in steam navigation, are daily rising into great importance. Newcastle has shipped upwards of two millions of tons of coal per annum for the last quarter of a centary ; her foreign trade has risen to half a million tons yearly, and the revenue derived from the river and paid to the City Corporation, who by charter are conservators of the port, amounts to 19,000/. a-year, exclusive of 6,0001. annually levied by the Trinity Board for primage, buoyage, &c. Where all seems so prosperous, it is an un grateful task to point out that such a state of things may be deceitful ; yet so it assuredly will prove to be on the Tyne if the river be much longer abandoned to itself, as, generally speaking, it has been till within the last few years. Sunderland is indebted less to nature and more to urt than the neighbouring port of Newcastle ; here exten sive stone piers project into the se a , by th e a id o f which several feet of water over the bar have been ob tained, and the enterprise of the coal owner and ship builder, and skill of the engineer, have been rewarded by a revenue of 16,0001. a-year, derived from an eaten sir home-trade in coals, and a rapidly-increasing fo reign traffic. This port, however, is capable of much improvement ; the quays are private property, and much out of order ; the moorings were so indif ferent that, owing to the pressure of the ice in the winter of the year 1841, the whole of the ship ping in the harbour brake adrift, and the damage done was estimated at 30,000/. ; the foundation of a part of the south pier is so insecure that the scouring of the sea has undermined its foot ; the en trance of the north docks is far from being well placed; so heavy a swell ranges along the piers, and into the harbour, that the engineer has been obliged to take down a large portion of the middle of the south pier in order to make a beaching place for the swell to expend itself upon ; and a general complain t is made of the want of dock accommodation, afford ing an easy outlet to the southward in north-easterly winds. Hartlepool owes its rapid rise chiefly to its southern outlet, the want of which is so much felt at Sunderland. This fortunate position has been in some measure econded by the Dock and Railway Company, who have now a floating dock of twenty acres, where they can load 5,000 tons of coal a day; while the entrance is allowed to be one of the mast easily accessible of any of the tidal harbours along this coast. The success of this port has induced the formation of a Hartlepool West Harbour Dock, about half a mile to the westward, the works of which are in an advanced state. Stockton-on-Tees, including Middlesbrough, is one of the most thriving of our coal ports. Yet even here, on a closer inspection, the want of some control is mani fest—the quays are nea rl y all private, and are falling into the river ; the piers of the bridges are on ly sup ported by the loads of stone thrown down at the ir foot ; rocks of whinstone impede the upper navigation, and cause damage to the barges ; the entrance of the dock at Middlesbrough, completed but five years since, is only - • Viitty feet wide ; while about 2,000 acres of the estuary have beenen:llosed, and the corresponding tidal way' . excluded ; and the channel over the bar, which formerly ran due east, has, in consequence, changed to N.N.E. Great complaints also are made of the want of a bar- hour of refuge in the neighbourhood, and of a beacou on Redear Rock, upon which vessels are annually wrecked. Whitby has a revenue of 3,600 a year, derived from a passing toll on coal borne by shipping, specially im posed for the improvement of the harbour. It offers to shipping in return a west pier, of fine Whitby stone, not placed in the best direction, which projects 10u yards beyond the east pier, and causes an eddy at the en trance ; a circular head, inviting the run of the sea into the harbour ; an entrance one-third too wide ; rocky bar, that migh: easily be blasted, on which more than one ship has broken her back ; a mill-dam that stops the upward flow of the tide ; a railway darn, re cently made, which excludes 30,000 cubic yerds or water on every spring tide ; ballast and the rubbish of the town thrown below high water mark and behind the west pier ; and a dry harbour. Scarborough, for some unexplained reason, has been denied the passing toll that has Leen continued to Whirtibdnynagutdonß,rliidkle Whitby,ington ,immediately adjacent. B on coals for th e last 150 years has enjoyed ;ilteNV ailiPtbayss,intg tolloo,it offers in return a harbour dry at low water ; a north pier, built with public money at a very great cost, vet not.cren carried out to low water ; no quay accominocia tien ; a heavy rarge of swell along the pier, so that no moorings will hold the vessels ; and a piei-end light furnished with a single candle ; yet Bridlington Bay is the only good shelter in northerly gales on this coast. Kingston-upon-Hull takes the lead as the first port in the kingdom for inland trade ; while its position with respect to the North Sea has made it the chief outlet of our manufactures to northern Europe, and raised it to the rank of the third port in the country in foreign traffic. The approaches by the deep but intricate chau ut.l of the Humber are adthirably buoyed and lighted by the Hull Trinity Board ; floating docks to the extent of 23 acres already exist, and 15 acres in addition will soon be opened. The activity at the docks is not sur passed by that of any other port in the kingdom, 75 vessels having lately passed through the Humber dock lock in a single tide. The tonnage of the vessels that have paid dock dues during the past year amounted to 700,000 tons, and the whole income of the port, derived from tolls on shipping and goods borne by shipping, ex ceeds 75,0004 a year. Commercially important as Hull appears to have been in the infancy of British commerce, it was not till 1775 that the old Hull dock was set on foot ; the traffic still increasing the 11-timber dock was begun in 18 0 7 ; more than twenty years elapsed, during which the trade almost doubled, when the Junction dock was opened in 1829, but not until Goole bad been de clared a bonding port. Great as was the increase of accommodation thus afforded, the trade more then kept pace with it ; and, as it appears in evidence, for want of dock room ships have been greatly damaged, and some sunk in the harbour from its over-crowded state, being at times so full that vessels could not get in or out for weeks together ; and, on one occasion, a vessel made a voyage to the Baltic and back, while another, ready for sea at the same time, was endea vouring to proceed down the harbour. Thus Hull af fords a striking instance of the evil of permitting a com pany levying heavy dues on shipping to obtain power to give or withold dock accommodation according to its in terests, instead of this power being vested in the Corpo ration or in trustees for the public good. The original shares of the Dock Company, on which 2501, only have been paid, are now worth 2,0001. Grimsby, from its position near the entrance of the Humber, will, when the proposed extensive works are carried out and the projected railways completed, offer great facilities to the trade with the Baltic and Northern Europe ; it will be a ready coaling place for steamers, and will, probably, become the principal resort of the fishing vessels employed on the Dogger Bank, as well as on the more distant grounds of the North Sea fishery. Great Yarmouth is of importance for its commerce and fisheries ; and its roadstead is well known as the most capacious in England, and as a great thoroughfare and shelter for the coasting trade. Yarmouth Haven has a depth of eight feet on the bar at low water, and vessels of from thirteen to fourteen feet draught enter at ordinary high tide. The registered tonnage of the port is 40,000 tons, and the number of arrivals yearly about 3,000 vessels, the aggregate tonnage of which amounts to 176,828 tons. One great impediment to the flow of the tide is the. narrowness of Yarmouth-bridge, and of the adjoining part of the haven, which occasions in ordinary tides a difference in the height of the water of one foot, and in very high tides of from three to four feet, between the bridge and the pierhead. Norwich, a city containing 62,344 inhabitants, situated in the centre of the county of Norfolk, and distant 30 miles by water from the sea, was constituted a port by the opening of the Lowestoft navigation in 1832. Its exports and imports being large, it s c iti zens h a d l ong desired a direct communication with the sea by the port of Yarmouth ; and the river Yare, throughout its whole course from Norwich to its junction with the Breydon Water, being of sufficient depth to admit vessels of 200 tons burthen, the Burgh Flats and the narrowness of the Yarmouth Bridge were, and still are, the only itnpeii ments to that desirable object ; but these portions of the navigation were then intrusted to the charge of the Cor poration of the town of Yarmouth, who refused the citi zens of Norwich the desired communication with the sea. Thus thwarted, the citizens of Norwich formed a joint stock company, and applied to Parliament for access to the tea by Lowestoft ; but even in that attempt they were opposed by the Corporation of Yarmouth, who ex pended more than 8,0004 in Parliamentary opposition to their object. The communication, however, between Norwich and the sea at Lowestoft, was obtained; but having failed t) realise the expectations of its projectors, there is again a unanimous desire to have a direct navigation to the sea through Yarmouth; but it is stated that there is still the same opposition to this project on the part of the Yarmouth Haven and Pier Commission, now intrusted with the management of the localities referred to, although it is generally admitted that the deepening of the Burgh Flats and the widening of Yarmouth Bridge, would not only , afford the desired communication, but also tend to the improvement of the harbour and bar at Yarmouth; while at the same time the cost ofexecuting the necessary works, to secure these objects, would not greatly exceed the sum mentioned as having been spent in fruitless opposition to the navigation by Lowestoft. It is stated that if St. °lave's• bridge were removed from the river Waveney, and the Burgh Flats deepened, sea-borne vessels of much greater draught of wate could easily reach Beccles through the port of Yar mouth. Blakeney and Cley, or. the north coast of Norfolk, have a common entrance, which, by a winding course, is distant from the town of Cley 51, and from Blakeney 3} miles, Within the memory of some of the present pilots, 140 coasting vessels have taken refuge in this port during one tide ; yet in the place where these vessels lay afloat at low water there is now only a depth of five feet, and the utility of the harbour has consequently been almost destroyed. It s stated that this evil has been caused by the en closure at different times of more than 1,200 acres of land, over which the tidal waters formerly flowed. Unfortunately, also, in 1817, Blakeney, by Act of Parliament, became a proprietary harbour, and the mer chants and inhabitants, unless they are proprietors, have no power to interfere in its management, or in the regu lation of the charges on the shipping ; and until legisla tive authority be given, no such power can be exercised either by the government or by any other parties. The port of Wells lies a few miles to the west of Blakeney. The bar of its harbour is dry at low water, but the rise of tide on it at ordinary springs is 21 feet, though at the quay only 12 feet. The inhabitants struggled for nearly half a century to prevent the inclosure of the tidal l of ands many b suits ytliea at dj law; oinig proprietors, even at the expensehave been all these efforts were frustrated, and 486 acres been inclosed, to the great detriment of the harbour. The necessity of the supervision of harbours by Go vernment further appears from the fact that, wader an Act passed so recentlyas 1844, the sum of 9,650/. has been borrowed, on an assignment of the harbour dues, to erect a quay; and the expenditure of this large amount has been left almost entirely under the control of ono of the Commissioners, who acts as secretary, collector, treasurer, paymaster, and superintendent of the steam.tug and of all public works; and who thus has the whole management of the works and finances, without even the check that would be afforded by the assistance of a clerk or the employment of a practical engineer. _ _ the merchants and inhabitants complain of the heavy burdens imposed on them by such gross mismanagement; but, as in many similar cases, they have no power to interfere or obtain redress, as the Commissioners named in the Act, who now permit such mismanagement, and many of whom do not even possess any property in the town, have the power of nominating others to fill up vacancies. At Harwich, besides the extension of Landguard Point mentioned in our former report, it appears that, Owing to the continued excavation of cement stone near the coast, the sea has made great inroads in Mill Bay to the westward, and at Fclixstow to the eastward, and the Admiralty surveyor has recently reported that the waves are encroaching to a great extent along Landguard East Beach, at the rate of tire-and-twenty feet a year. Unless some decisive and systematic plan of groymng, in order to repel this encroachment, be at once adopted, it is lim possible to predict what mischief may arise to t his valuable harbour. Ae ration of Harwich also offers an instance of the pecessity of again de fi ning the limits of ports, as threcsocpter,a,_ right Ipswich claims by charter and daily exercises lying close close to of levying anchorage dues upon , and manifestly far returns that the. the removed fece from th the town e t o n w a n t the United King agg lt re the a e pmo p el P n p t r st a a t r oi t ' o f) ; London, exceeds n atural i li r m a r i limit o j c f 4 t v h e port therefore, of the dow, exclusive of d ocks ths e Parli ame n tary one-fourthatl ear o m i u t s h t is be de a b n t : appearsga t segre gate d e b t fro mo of th e 4 000 000/ sterlin g; an nually whol e: haaprpbrocuprriianteeodintooofp aßyoot,hoeoOL inter est a 3• which will consequently materially cripple the means for future improvements. This large sum, although borrowed with the sanction of the Legislature, has been laid out entirely by several local boards, without the slightest control being exercised over it either by Par liament or by any other power specially charged to watch over the interest of the public. Among the numerous cases of the misapplication of harbour funds, to which we have already had occasion to refer, a sum of more than 28,0001. expended last year in Parliamentary and legal expenses connected with Bills for the improvement of harbours, seems to your Commission to be a most impolitic and unnecessary out lay,[ and one whioh !flight be entirely prevented by the I establishment of a harbour conservancy board, such as