The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

_ 7 51 f ern 4 1,,V, IMPERIAL PA It LIA MME NT T. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. INDIAN CORN. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. P. SCROPE said he quite agreed in the sentiments of the Hon. Member who had just sat down. If this House had any chance cf passing this Coercion Bill with the same expedition as that which marked its progress through the House of Lords, then there might be some reason for thus pressing it on ; but when the Government saw that the discussion which had been raised upon the first reading of that Bill was, in fact, a discussion upon the principle of the Bill, and upon its merits, they must have seen also that theyconidnotescapea protracted discussion upon it. From the mriincnt then that the Government had ascertained that fact all the responsibility cf the delay of the Corn Bill rested en tirely up , nt them—(Hear, hear)—and if that discussion should be followed up after the recess, he did think the public - would be impressed with the Lea that the Government had soma unexplained and inconceivable reason for protracting the Corn Bill, and forciilg on this Coercion Bill instead of it.—(Hear, hear.) Sir J. GRAHAM said he had explained that twice before. Mr. P. SCROPE said he had heard the explanation only the day before yesterday. Sir J. GRAHAM said he had given the explanation long heLre. Captain HARRIS said be could very well understand the reason why the Coercion Bill had been brought on at that particular period, and he should protest against the two ques tions being mixed up as they had been. Mr. FORSTER would appeal to the farmers' friends them selves, and ask them why they persevered in delaying the Corn Bill ? He could assure them that their long speeches would not have the effect of changing a single vote in that House.—(Hear hear.) Sir J. GRAHAM, in answer to some question from Mr. Christie, said that those questions were questions of which he had giN ea no notice, and therefore he could not give them any answer, and he should here observe that it was extre.rely inconvenient that such a course should be adopted. In reference to the Wootton Basset union, he begged to say that it was not in the power of the Commis sioners to censure the guardians, but they might point out to them the manner in which the law should be carried out. He communicated with the Poor-law Commissioners to know what steps they had taken, and on the sth of February they addressed the letter to the board of guardians from which he kad read the extract. If it were required he would lay the letter itself on the table. Sir IL PRICE regretted that the Government should per sist in forcing the first reading of the Coercion Bill upon the House, and he equally regretted the opposition which was 1.0 pertinaciously given by the Irish Members. Neither of them appeared willing to give way, and the consequence was, that the business of the country stood still, and that a mea sure intended to benefit Ireland in no small degree was de layed. Mr. FITZGERALD begged to cornet an expression which had been made by the Hon. Member for Elversham, and which was calculated to lead to misapprehension of the real state of Ireland. The Hon. Member had alluded to the im portation of potatoes into Wales, and he inferred from that that there was a surplus over the quantity required. He could AS: urs the Hon. Member that iu this he was perfectly mistaken. The tact was that the prevalent disease was on the increase, and they were glad to dispose of their potatoes before they would be utterly ruined. He gave the Right Hon. Baronet credit for the measures he had introduced for the purpose of giving relief to Ireland ; and with regard to the Coercion Bill, he could assure the Right Hon. Baronet that the opposition given to it by Irish Members did not arise from any desire to throw impediments in the way of the Corn Bill, but solely because they considered the Coercion Bill ill-timed and uncalled for. He found that, during the last assizes in Tipperary there had been no capital conviction, and that in the north crime had also diminished. Mr. `NYSE thought the conduct of the Irish Members in offering every opposition to this measure could not be im pugned. They felt bound to do so in compliance with the wishes of their constituents, and because they considered the Bill an odious and unjust one. The Government had it in their power to adjourn the measure, and thus they would secure the good wishes and hearty co-operation of the Irish Members in the future stages of the Corn Bill. Colonel SIBTHORP said be fully agreed with the Hon. Members who had just sat down. He gave the Irish Mem bers all credit for the open, manly, and straightforward, and he would also say the consistent manner in which they had opposed the Coercion Bill.—(Hear, hear.) He wished the present measure of her Majesty's Government was one calculated to conciliate the people of Ireland. He wished to see the people of that country prosperous, and he was compelled to say that the measures brought tor ward for the last twenty years in that House were trot calculated t• promote the welfare of the country.—(Hear, hear.) The Government should introduce a measure that by its beneficial results, would restore peace and plenty to the peasantry of Ireland. —(Hear, hear.) Such a measure would always meet with his (Colonel Sibthorp's) concurrence and hearty support, for he considered it would be more adapted to the condi tion of the country than the Coercion Act proposed by her Majesty's Ministers. The papers were then ordered to lie on the table. THE ART-UNIONS BILL On the question of the orders of the day for the House going into Committee on this Bill being put, Mr. WYSE said he wished to know from her Majesty's Ministers the nature of their opposition to the measure. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the op position to the Bill was grounded upon the fact of tha power sought to be given to the Government, namely, that of being empowered to declare the Art-Unions legal. Now this was in amount reviving the system of lotteries, for the Art-Un:ons were founded upon such principles, and to de clare them legal would be most impolitic. Mr. WYSE would, after this explanation, postpone the consideration of the measure till that day fortnight. THE RAILWAY DEPOSITS BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. The whole of the clauses were agreed to, and the House having resumed the Chairman reported accordingly.' Report to be brought up on the 24th of April. RAIL‘cAY LEGISLATION. On the question being put for the House going into a Corn rniVee of So rply, Mr. LABOUCHERE rose, and said ha wished to call the attention of the House and t: e Right Honourable Baronet opposite to a most important subject. They were about to separate for the Easter recess; and yet no Bill or re solution had been introduced into either House of Parliament m ill respect to the railway measure the Right Hon. Baronet alluled to the other night. Now, it was important that something sllould be known with respect to that Bill imme diately, or great loss would ensue to some of those parties who were engaged in promoting railway schemes, and he wished to 2.sk the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury whether he would put the railway world in posses. sion of tie principle, if not of the details, of the measure? - Sir R. PEEL was much obliged to the Hon. Member for calling attention to this important subject, and he could assure the Hon. Member aad the House that no time had been lost by the Government in considering this measure. It however involved the nice details of the law of partnership, and it was, therefore ' important that the measure should be considered by the highest legal authorities before it was introduced to the Legislature. The highest authorities had accordingly their attention directed to the subject, and no time would be lost in bringing in the Bill when it was finally settled. He was strongly, however, in clined to think that it was desirable f r the Board of Trade to issue a circular addressed to the different railway companies, informing them, without going into the details, of the general principles which the Government were dis posed to agree to in introducing this Bill. He should, there fore, advise his Noble Friend the President of the Board of Trade to give some nubile netitication to that effect. METROPOLITAN BUILDINGS ACT. Mr. TUFNELL wiseed to ask the Right Honourable Barenet the Secretary for the home Department when he intended to proceed with the Bill. Sir .1. GRAHAM replied, that it was impossible for him, in the present state of public business, to give a positive answer to the question of the Hon. Member. In the first place, there was the important Bill relating to the law of settlement, which involved the whole question of removal, and then There was the High ay Act, and the Militia Act, all of which had to be disposed of, as well as the third read mg of the Corn Bill, befere this measure could be brought forward. He did not, however, despair of tieing able to pro ceed with the Bill in the course of the present session. Mr. M. GIBSON hoped that the third reading of the Gcrn Bill would ,be got through before they pro cesdcd wi.h the other measures sanctioned by the Kg'at Honourable Baronet. Government might re , y easily have had the hill read a third time before the Irish Coercion Bill came on, had they resisted the e. ercive policy of the protectionist party.—(Hear, hear.) He for one :tie.ngly objected to Honourable Members being placed under duress in this way—compelled, as they were, to dispose of one Bill bef o r e th ey cou ld proceed w i th an other.—(Hear, hear.) Sir W. JOLLIFFF, said, that as he had been alluded to in this discussion, he felt himself compelled to deny that he had offered any obstruction to the progress of public busi ness. Ile certainly had stated that he would offer his de cided opposition to the Turnpikes Bill, which he coecsived would be highly detrimental to the public if it were allowed to pass in its present shape. Sir R. PEEL, in answer to what bad fallen from the Hon. Member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson), denied that there hal been any understanding whatever between the Govern meat and Hon. Members on his side of the House with regard to the Corn and Coercion Bills.—(Hear, hear.) He might state that it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to proceed with the Corn Bill, and not to introduce any Government business of any kind whatever, until the s_lnse of the House should have been taken with r,spect, to the passing of that measure.—(Hear.) If the arrangement to which the Hon. Member for Man chester had alluded had been entered into by the Govern ment, it would have been a mo,t unworthy proceeding on their part.—(Hear, hear.) But there had been no such en gagement—(Hear)—and be believed that the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, (Lord G. Bentinck) had distinctly stated the other night, that there had not been any such arrangement entered into between the protectionists and the Government. Mr. M. GIBSON.--I did not say that there had been any arra ngement.—(Hear.) I stated that I had seen in the public papers that there had been such arrangement. METROPOLITAN BUILDINGS BILL. Mr. B. HAWES said he must complain of the delay which the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department had occasioned with respect to this mea sure. When the first Bill on this subject had passed this session, that Right Hon. Baronet stated that there was an other araended Bill which he should introduce at a very early period during the present session, and it was with that understanding that he (Mr. Hawes) had voted for the former Bill. Sir JAMES GRAHAM b-gged to assure the Hon. Mem ber that every exertion was being m:.de to mature the Bill in question, and he promised that it should be introduced inn an early day after the EaEtn recess. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL said that as he had been up to that moment engaged in a railway Covomittee, he was not aware of the proceedings that had taken place during his ab sence ; but he wished to take that opportunity bef,re the ' House rose of once more repeating, on the part of himself and those Irish Members who sat on his side of the House, who were opposed to the passing of the Irish Coercion Bill, that while they were determined to perse vere to the last and the very uttermost in their opposition to that:: measure, they were at the same anxious not to cause any delay to the progress of the public business of the House, and they were therefore willing to withdraw any notices of motion which they had for such days as might be fixed for the discussion of the Corn Bill, to which as he and they had already stated they were prepared to give their cordial assent. They were prepared to support the repeal of the core;-lags, but they felt it to be their imperative duty to oppose, is every stage, the progress of the Irish Coercion Bill. • • • . • Mr. P. SCROPE gave notice that 1:e would, on an early day after the recess, ask her Majesty's Government whether, it the tenantF , cf land in Ulster refused to quit the farms which the rented at the bidding of their landlords, under circum stances similar to those which occurred in the other pro \ inces of In land, it would be lawful for the proprietors of the land to call in the aid of the military to comp-21 a surrender of the property. The Right Honourable Baronet the Secre tary of State for the Home Department had the other night stated that the sanguinary doings which took place in the southern parts of Ireland did not take place in the northern, although the law with regard to landlord and tenant was the same over the whole of Ire land, Now he ( Ur. Scrope) believed that although the strict letter of the law was the same, there was still a custom or ussge in the northern parts which did not thus sanction summary eviction of tenantry which occurred in those parts of that Country, of the sanguinary doings of which the House had heard so much ; and he was of opinion that it was in consequence of that custom, or usage, that so much peace prevailed in Ulster.—(Hear, hear.) He would, after the re cess, ask the Government 'whether the law sanctioned such a custom, or whether it would enforce the arbitrary righ's of the landlord in Ulster in the same manner as it did in the other more unfortuate parts of Ireland 7::(llear,,.hear.) T_FIF, STJN ) LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN:INa, APRIL 8, 1e45, LEGAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Mr. WYSE moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the state of regal education in Ireland. The motion was agreed to. COMMONS INCLOSURE. _ _ Sir J. GRAHAM obtained leave and brought in a Bill, which was read a first time, for the inclosure of commons. MINISTERS' MONEY (IRELAND). Mr. WYSE gave notice that he should, after Easter, bring in a Bath abolish ministers' money in Ireland. The House then adjourned until after Easter. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) GROUP IX. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Wcrs ley in the chair. All the members of the Committee present. WEST 01' SCOTLAND JUNCTION. Mr. ANDREWS then proceeded to reply on behalf of this line of railway. He would occupy the time of the Cemmit 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 objections 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 Gamkirk 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. Ile denied, moreover, that the land fur the Stole cross docks bad 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 docks to accommodate the mineral traffic, but to give increased accommodation to the general trade of the harbour, 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 pert cf Greenock. But the true state of affairs would have come out, had the Caledonian scheme been gone into, as then. it would have been shown that the real motive was, not the general benefit of Glasgow, but the advancement of the interests of a rival Company, that did not appear in its real position before the Com mittee. With respect to the alleged inconvenience to the harbour of Glasgow, that had been shown to be but little; bat even were it worse than represented, the real question was, " what is good for the public?" If it had been shown that Greenock, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, and Aberdeen, in fact, Scotland generally, would be greatly benefited by the Baltic, then ought the public interest to be consulted before that of Glasgow. The damage done should not be allowed to neutralise and defeat a great national measure like the present. That was the true way in which to view the case. The letter of the Admiralty, on which so much had 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 might still be exercised against the Bill, or it might be stipulated by the Admiralty that the works should proceed under their inspection, and upon such plans as they might think best. With such a power in the hands of the 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 fur the line; and more would have been called had not the Committee expressed their satisfaction on this point. But those who lived in glass-houses should take cafe 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 (outlet in the fact of the pleasure arisingfrom 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 then 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 done that, notwithstanding the strong banded op position against the Bill, not a single inhabitant of Glasgow bad been called to prove any damage to property, or to speak against the way in which they were to be affected by the line. Last year it was complained of that the bridge was too far down, and the arches were objected to; so to meet the objections then urged, it had now been proposed that the viaduct should be brought close to the present bridge, and the arches and piers be made the same, so as 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 docks, it had been shown, would furnish every necessary accommodation that_ might be required for the crowded 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 toe Committee to the resolution of the Bridge Trust since last year, to the effect that they would abandon their opposi tion if the promoters of the line would not pass over the top of the existing 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 bri.lges were essentially independent, and would not interfere at all with each other. Nor had it been shown that 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 he only gave hearsay evidence, which had been derived from Mr. Atherton. 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 came i a great number of them into successful operation. He had staked his reputation on constructing that bridge, and he hal 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 Mr. Atherton, the resident engineer, who was looked up fur at. the last hour to give evidence against the Bill. The two former, he submitted, in taking their evidence into account, had much greater opportuniti e s of k now i ng th e nature of the foundation than the latter, and were more entitled to loth'. once 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 prop osa l made for joining the two lines passing round the c.ty. Con tending that it would be utterly useless as' a passengers line, from going over so many mineral lines, and could not ha seriously entertained as a measure to till up the gap between the north and south of Glasgow. The Learned Gentleman having recapitul a ted the leading points of his case, concluded by calling on the Committee to admit the preamble of the Bill as proved. • e The room was then c l ear ed. In a few minutes tile par ties were called in, when The Citeirotax 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. SOUTII-EASTEEN. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) 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. lite.;G 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 Lodz i of the c3urt put some questions for Mr. Vaward Lo vett, of . ttiogbourne. Mr. ALEXANDER having re-examined, stated that he had now concluded on the landowners cases, and 2b; 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 tue k,ommittee rose for the Easter recess. GROUP XIX. BILIMGMVATEZZ AND raiwzazzin WAY AND PLEIR. The consideration of this case was mimed by Mr. Greene, an engineer, and Mr. Thompson, also an engineer, who stated they were acquainted with the country laying respec tively between Bridgewater, Taunton, and Minehead con sidered that thedescription 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 cornprebelisivecess 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 engine:rs promoting this scheme. In his crcms-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. Sub-Committee, No. 6. WAILVVICIESHIHE AND LONW)N (HAMP TON AND BANBURY LINE). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) An allegation of omission with reference to property in the parish of Bsnbury, 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 Priors, 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 28 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 satne 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 closed, 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, &c., 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 t 9 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 effect 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 Cumloch 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. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY MEETING.-(THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the Eastern Counties Company was held to-day at the Station in Shoreditch, at one o'clock—G. Hudson, Esq., M.P., in the chair—for the purpose of obtaining the sanction of the sharehol ders to the following Bills now before Parliament:— A Bill to repeal so much of the Cambridge Improve ment Acts as, might authorise the levying of any tolls on railway carriages. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from Tottenham to Barnet. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from Hertford to Huntingdon, with a branch to Bedlord. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from Tottenham to Farringdon street. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from the Eastern Counties Rail way at Cambridge to Lincoln, with branches. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from Lincoln to the York and North Midland Railway, at South Milford, in the county of York. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to enlarge their stations in London and at Strat ford, and for other purposes. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from Epping to a point of junc tion with the Eastern Counties Railway, at or near the Ilford station thereon. A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany to make a railway from a point of junction with the Brandon and Peterborough Extension of the Eastern Counties Railway, in the hamlet of March, in the parish of Doddington, in the Isle of Ely, and county of Cam bridge, to the city of Lincoln. All the Bills were unanimously approved. The only observations that occurred, were made by the Chairman, to the eff ct that the connexion with the York and North Midland line would be likely to carry out the anticipa tions which he had held out at the last meeting, of in creased profit. The Lincoln and March line was a loop line originally announced by himself at Derby, and was übsequently taken up by the London and York Com pany. 'lle CHAIRMAN sail that he was happy to congratu late the meeting on the unanimity which prevailed, be cause he believed it was a good augury of future success. There was another source of congratulation in the in creased traffic fur this week—it had been 7,4451. 4s. 7d. ; they had carried 2,000 head of cattle and 4,200 sheep. There were now forty-eight trains per day in and out of the station at Shoreditch ; and though all might not yet be done which it was desirable, yet still much had been effected, and he did not doubt but that the traffic would prove as much as 10,0001. in August. The shares were still far under their ultimate value, but they hrd passed well through the late panic, and he had no doubt but that in the course of time they would be fairly appreciated. There had been a severe check, it was true, but there was another similar check in 1846, but which was then partially occasioned by the disarrangement of the American trade. In addition there was a great jealousy in Parliament of all railway schemes, but it was underiable that the country did require the facility for traffic, and under the circum stances none were such eligible parties for providing it as the old companies who were altaady estab lished, and who, if assistance were required, no parties would be so able to go to the money-lender with a good chance of success. Such being the case, he felt assured of ultimate and complete prosperity, and he might appeal to the proprietary as to whether the pro perty of the Eastern Counties Railway was not in a far intter position than it was twelve: months since. This being his feeling, he was gratified in being able to say that the public were impressed with the fact that in the support of competing lines they would have to pay for too capitals instead of one, and thus it was very probable that the wildness of speculation would cure itself. The object of railway policy was s:mple in the extreme : to work a line as cheaply as was consistent with true economy, to secure as much accommodation as possible for the public, and to obtain as large dividends as was consistent with fairness. The electric telegraph had already been com pleted. Pere the Honourable Gentleman read a com munication just received from the Chesterford station, which announced the arrival of the train at that place at twenty minutes past one o'clock, the time being then about twenty minte.ei to two o'clock.] This would, no doubt, be of great advantage in pro viding additional security for the public in the event of any derangem,nt of the trains. With respect to the opposition of competing lines now before Parliament, be had been astonished to hear an in fluential Member the other day state that it matterest not what the differential cost of a line might be, whether 500,000/. or 800,0001., for it was a well known fact, that no line with the exception of the Stockton and Darlington line had been formed without the Company going into the money market for a loan, and as the old companies were the safest and the best customers. the probability was that the new com panies would have to borrow under very disadvantage ous circumstances. This was a point the more im portant, inasmuch us Parliament was just now very in tent tit on the abstraction of money from gt neral com mercial enterprise to the formation of railways. He had endeavoured to rectify the evil which might arise to original shareholders in new companies. As the matter stands at present a scripholder who had purchased from the original allottees might, in the event of the concern turning out a bad one, put his scrip into the fire, and leave the individual who had signed the, contract deed to pay whatever loss might be incurred. The remedy he had himself proposed was to compel the scripholder to sign within a definite period, and thus take upon himself the reTonsibility whi ;h was otherwise sustained by a party by whom it ought not to be borne. In conclusion, he trusted that the Directors would be able to give a better dividend each succeeding meeting for some time to come, and that they would be able to say that the traffic amounted to 10,0001. in August. He was happy to say that the utmost unanimity prevailed among the directors. The Hun. Gentleman was continually cheered through out his address, and after a few inquiries from a share holder, respecting Mr. Atwood's Harwich line, to which the Ohairman replied that the Eastern Counties Com pany were likely to receive from, and were ready to give, every facility to that company, thanks were voted to him and the meeting separated. PRIVY COUNCIL.-(THIS DAY.) The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council met to-day in the Council Chamber, Whitehall. 'rbe Lords in esent were, the Lord-President (the Duke of Buccleuch), the Vice Chancellor Wigratn, filo Judge of the Admiralty Ceurt, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, Sir Alexander Johnstone, Sir H. East, and Sir Edward Ryan. IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF EDWEE BYRAMGEE, OF BOMBAY, AND OTHERS.-THE PARSER MURDER. CASE. The arguments in this ca -le, which were commenced on Saturday, were resumed and concluded to-day. The case came before their Lordships upon the petition of Eduljee Byramgee, of Bombay, now a prisoner at Singapore, on bthalf of h►mself' and eight other Parsee natives of Bombay, for leave to appeal against the judgment of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Bombay, sentencing them to trans portation to Singapore, for the wilful murder of a Parsee named Muncherjee Hormusjee. The facts of the case may be thus stated. In the town of Bombay the population was divided into political parties, and a person of the name of Muncherjee was a workman in the office of a newspaper, published in the Parsee language, called the Chabook. It appeared he was a person of great bodily strength and violent habits, having been several times imprisoned on charges for assault. On the 21st of April, 1944, a person named Burjorjee, with whom Muncherjee had frequently fought, accompanied by a body of his friends, came into the street in which the newspaper-office WA& Muneherjce, who anticipated the visit, was also provided with a body of his friends; a violent tumult arose, and the witnesses examined on the trial stated that Muncherjee was dragged through the street by his opponent, until he met his death from wounds inflicted by a knife or knives ( that being one of the questions). It was remarkable, that although the number of persons cn each si,!e was very considerable, and although the trial lasted ten days, only two witnesses were called on the part of the prosecution, and they were accidentally present, and persons of indifferent character. One had been born a priest, and was then acting as a menial servant. The other was the keeper of a liquor shop, who had recently been dis charged from prison for an aggravated assault; and the Chief Justice (Sir H. Roper) described them "as per sons upon whose, testimony, when their passions or in terests were involved, he could not place any great re liance." The account they gave was, that four of the eighteen ?arsees who were tried for the murder had knives, and they struck the deceased and wounded him with them. The Chief Justice exdressed great doubts of the truth of that statement, as the surgeon's evidence was that all the wounds were inflicted with one knife, the knife held by Burjorjee, who, upon his convictioe, was executed, having confessed that he was the only person who stabbed the deceased. The jury found the eighteen persons guilty. There was one most important objection to the verdict arising from misdirection. The jury, after being in consulta tion five hours, returned into Court and asked the Chief Justice, would they be justified in returning a verdict of manslaughter? The Judge answered, "Gentlemen, it is either murder or it is nothing." There was also another most important miscarriage upon the trial. Their Lordships would be surprised to Isepr that during the ten i aye the trial lasted the jury were allowed to separate, and were not under the least con' rol. The consequence was a miscarriage on their part, which in one sense was honourable to them, as it arose from their anxiety to ascertain the truth, but they misled themselves by their own inquiries, and the result was that they found two persons guilty of wilful murder whom they now believe to be innocent. The petitioner and one of the other parties produced witnesses who stated that they were members of a club which met every Sunday, at a burgalow about a quarter of an hour's drive outside the town, and that at the time the murder was committed they dined there in company with the petitioner, and that he remained in the bungalow until eight o'clock that night. The witnesses were severely cross-examined, but without eliciting any inconsistencies. It appeared that during the progress of the trial a doubt arose whether it was practicable for a buggy to be driven up to the gate of the place where the club met, as bad been deposed to by the witnesses for the alibi. Accordingly, two of the jurors were deputed by the body to settle the matter by personal examination. These parties proceeded in their buggy during the morning drive allowed them for relaxation, pending the trial, to the cemete.y in question, until they arrived at a point where the read road deviates into two, one leading to the right, the ether to the left, they took the right hand road, and found they could not reach the gate of the cemetery without alighting and walking some 150 or 200 yards. Having thus, as they supposed, established that the road leading to the cemetry was impassible for vehicles, they returned and reported to the other jurors that in this respect they had disproved the evitissnce for the defence. This circumstance weighed very much with the jury, and induced them to dis believe or doubt the whole of the evidence in 'support of the alibi. After the trial, the two jurors entertaining some doubt whether they had not acted on a misconception of the road in question, again drove to the cemetery, taking the road to the left, and found no difficulty whatever in reaching the gate. This discovery was immediately communicated to Mr. Crawford, who defended the petitioner, with a view, as they stated, of giving the prisoners the benefit of the dis covery. This was clearly a miscarriage in fact, as the other was a miscarriage in law, and no stronger case could be imagined to show the wisdom of the English law in never suffering the jury to separate during a trial. There was aue ther thing, the Chief Justice said, " The impression made on my mind by the evidence and deportment of the first witness was highly unfavourable to the alibi, but that impression was weakened as each succeeding witness gave his testimony, until St last, though still doubting whether the case for the prosecution against the petitioner and Eduljee might not be true, I also greatly doubted whether the al leged alibi could be false. It was, however, . a j cp u e s s zi t e io e n sta t t o es t b h e at determined aam by me t d he ap ju h r e y. ;etir T ed he fo C r h r l e e T t freshment with his brother judge (Sir E. Perry) who hau taken a different view, and that h eimpressed him (the Chief Justice) with that view, and that he summed up in a way which does not accord with his present impression, and did not accord with his impression at the time he heard the evidence. The result was that the jury found the petitioner and five others guilty, and recommended them to mercy. Sentence of death having been recorded against them, they were transported for life to Singapore. And uncer these circumstances the petition was presented for leave to appeal against the judgment of the Court below. Mr. M. D. Hil was heard on Saturday last on behalf of the appeal. Sir J. BAYLEY shortly addressed their Lordships to-day on the same side. The Attorney-General and Mr. L. Wigram were heard against the ,setition, and Mr. M. D. HILL having replied at great length. Their LORDSHIPS stated that they s h o uld take time to consider their judgment. Their Lordships then adjourned. THE FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES) BRITISH FUNDS. ONB CLOSIN(. O'CLOCK. PRICES. Bank Stock .. ,„ .. 206 206 Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities .. .. 93% 95% Three per Cent. Consols Annuities .. 96N1 1 ,4 96 A NewThree-and-a-Quarter por Cent. Anne. 96%, 97 97 India Bonds, 1,000/. .. .. • • • • Ditto, under 1,0001. .. .. 30 Consols for Account • • • • .. .. • • 96 India Stock for Account Exchequer Bills. 114 d. 1,0001... .. 5001. .. • • Ditto, Small 26 p 96M 262 INd. 23 26 pm. 27 pm. .24 27 Pm ONE FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent .. 81 Ditto, New Bonds, 1829 and 1839 .. 79N Ditto, New, 1843 .. • • • • Danish, 3 per Cent • • • • • Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent Ditto, Deferred • • Russian Bonds • • • • iSpanish Bonds, 5 per Cent .. • • Ditto, for the Account • • .. .. 25 Ditto, Three per Cent .. 361 , 4 Ditto, for the Account • . 36 q Dividends on the above payallle in London. Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent Dutch Two-and-a -Half per Cent 59%1 , 4 Ditto, 4 per Cent. Certificates .. 92 IA CLOSIN( PRICES. .. 31N 161( t • • .. 109,y, 87 32 16 3 ,1 10931 RUMNE SS CLOSING RAILWA PRICES OF HARES. ram. DONE AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICES. Y S 2% 1 4 ...... -21 i Aberdeen .. . • • • • • • - Amber., Notting., Boston, and Eastern Junction • • • • • • 114 Armagh, Coleraine, and Fortrush 1% Bristol and Exeter • • •. 75 .„ • 8 4 ........ Bristol and Gloucester .. • • .• 30 _ Caledonian .. • • • • • • •• 10 •• .. 6y, Ditto, Extension • • • • • • 2 . 1 Chelmsford and Bury .. • • • • I% Chester and Holyhead . • • . • • 20 _ •••• Cork and AVaterford • • • • • • 1 34 •• • • % ..... Cornwall . .. • • • • • • • • 5 • • Cornwall and Central Devon • . 234_, • 1 1 / Derby and Crewe .. • - • • • • 2 % •• .. "••"• • • • • • 3% Direct Manchester (Remington's) 2% •1 . 1% Direct Manchester (Rastrick's) 5 314 .. .. .•. ' • • • Direct Northern .. • • .. • • 2%.. ., • IA Dublin and Belfast Junction • . 1.0 4 • ' " 4 Dublin and Galway • • • • • • 4 •• • . 1 !,6 . . • • - Eastern Counties 141. 165..... 20 3 4 21 .. .. 21 Ditto New • • •• .• 81. 165...., 5% p•••• • • • • Do. Perpct., 5 per Cent. No. 1. 61. 13s. 4d, % % Ditto, ditto, . • • • No. 2, 61. I 3s. 4d. 114 pex div px d Ditto, York Extension • • • • I 0 5 . .... 1 .......1 1 4 Edinburgh and Glasgow • • • • 50 711.: 71 Ditto New IA Shares.. .. .. 10 .... 14% Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorch ester .. 2 „ 1 •• • • 1 Great Southern & West. (Ireland) 15 208 , •• " " 20% Great North of England • ..100 " . ... Ditto, New • • • • • • •• 5 •• .. 50 ..... Great Western • • • • • • •• 85 •• .. Ditto Hail 'Shares • • • • •• 50 _• • 55 Ditto, Fifths .• • • • • • • Guildford, Fareham, &Portsmoth b ... 4% % Liverpool and Leeds Direct ••2%_.„ 2 t h .......... Liverp., Manch., & Newt. Junct. 2% ..... London an Birmingham . .100 ....220 221. ..... Ditto Thirds . • • • • • • • Ditto Quarters .. • • • • • • 2• •.. 23 London sad Brighton .. London and Croydon • • • • 131• 158.94, 20 % %•••• • • • • Ditto, Guarant. Five per Cent. 9 _ .. London and South• Wee ern 4 1 1. 6s. 10d. • • •• Ditto, New .. 12%.... 20% . ........ London and York.. . • • • • • 2 % .... 1% % . Ditto, Half Shares • • • • • • 234 • • . London, Warwick, & Kiddermins. 114 ........ London, Salisbury, and Yeovil • 82• 2% . Manchester and Leeds .. • • • • Ditto, Fifths .. • • • • • • Manchester and Birmingham .. 40 .. 74% Ditto, Quarter Shares (A) • • 4 ...• 11% Ditto, Quarter Shares (13) • • 8 •• • • 9 ••••• • • • • • Ditto, Quarter Shares (C) • • I •• • • 8 % ••••• • • • • • Manchester, Buxton, & Matlock 425. .... par.... Manchester and Southampton .. 2 .... 1% • . . 311dItral ..100 ....144 143.. Ditto, New .. .. 18 .... 29% Newcastle and Darlington Junet. 25 .... 43 42% ..... . Ditto, New . . . •.••••••. Ditto, New, Brand Ling ••••••••. Newcastle and Berwick North British .. Ditto, Half Shares .. Ditto, Carlisle Extension Ditto, Dalkelth .. 50 A .. 25 ••.. 42 .- • 10 •••• 17 1•••••••••• • 20 .... 23 3 1 .• 1. Ui•••••••••• ~~ -....- 614 -- -- -- 5 .... 5 %•••• .. . Ditto, ditto .. North Kent and Direct Doter • • 2 % -• •• • It /,,. 7._ p• . 1% 1 Ditto. New .. .. .. • • Nortiimpton,Banbury,&Cheltlim. 8 , , % % % N N o ur t c S i t i a a tl n o d rt i) ls r h a i n re don .... .... •••• 1 2 8 9 ; ::•••• __ ; :A 75 :: .: I I% Oxtd.,Worcester,& Wolverhinpts. Perth anti Inverness .. .. .. 2 l i •• • • Y .... .. Portsmouth I erect .. .. 3% •• • • — 7 „ , ... 3 A ttugliy and Huntingdon • .. • • 2 •• • ' ~,.q! i 4 L • .. Scottish Central .. .. Shrewsbury and Birmingham .. 2% •• • • I A ' . Shropshire Union . . 425. •• • • 1 , dis. •••• •' • l'a ' l ' s " South Eastern and Dovor .. S so o t u i t tl ii , i. i n i d dil u aid dlamis • . Junction :: •••••• 4 4 2 2:1 :::: •, A - 34 1)1W,, New (iss. at 321.) No. 1. 16 •• • • D0.,D0.. New (do. 331. Gs.Bd.) N05;....2).R. Al2lolL.W.•..'.A.*:•y_si t i.i 1:1 . . (1 .. : .. s • -31_3di.s. New (do. 301.) .. No. 3. 1 8 •••• '' , v . " •••• • • • IV. De., New (do. 130 .. N o . 4. 2% •• • • 2 •"„; • .. South Wales .. .. 5 .... 1 34Aw•••••• I '„ 1 I Wexford, Waterford, i • Yal •• entla 1% •• • • 1,4 '•• •• •••• • • 1 Welsh Midland •• •• •• •• NYest Riding Union 42 2 s. •• • • 1% IL ••• • • • IA 1 U • • • • • • - • . "• • • • • 4 : : •g l .s j•s•. .• : .: ••• ••• ••• 1 1.4 1 8 5; Wilts, Souterset, anti ll• y Hi 2 . . 1 2 •• • • 14 • • • • • York and Lancaster 4i " ill" . 2% •• • • ."-- ••••• • - • • . 1% York sad North Midland .. • ~. 60 •• • • '96 „ •'•"• • • • • 96 Ditto, Scarborough Branch .... r ) ........ • 45y, .... ••• • .• •wes Ditto, Stdhy 71% 72% 71% 71 Ditto. Extension • ••• • • .. 15 .. •• 3 1 •••••• • • • • 3 g l IA Boulognello E •r 0 . u aa i nn : d & I VA , . e tt Ridinge miensll. ° • i l ac ßE I : : r e ti l e i Gn . ( D l: u tu t . c ,N l a t ioi l rl i t h ah e i. :l , s jf h :nraenpepee East Imilan Great Indian Peninsular ***** • • • Lyons g a rC i 5..: Constituted e 4it• Constitutedi ... tuLl te. .. e .. . : d . ...... _ 1 561 5 54 21 ; .• ••••••••• ••••••••• " I:: . 1 1: .... -1: 1 -1 6, ::::: :1.4. ! • 4 ..• ••••.. . i. . ... ••• •••• .. ::: 1' P Orleans,i s Luxembourgaida ns,Strasbourg 81 ••• •• .... •••• •• Orleans and Dwrdeaux • • • . 6 .... 1 l DP,i . Paris and Orleans .. .. • .. 20 •• • • •1 & 4 34 - •• • Sulnbre and Meuse Tours and Nantes Constituted .. 6 6 • • • • • • 6 % • • • • • Real del 31oute, ItINE:S. ---- 13i • •• •• 0 • •• •• 48% • • •• b% • •• •• • •• •• 6N• 334 ••• • • • • • • a• 4 T UESDAY NIGHT'SGAZETTE. - - DIVIDENDS DECLARED. I. Hague, engineer, New c ra he Iron Works, Wapping— first div. o f 4d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. H. Kohne, wholesale stay mu tufacturer, Lawrence Pount ney-lane—fii st div. of lid. in th e pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, liasi n ghall-street. R. Pettigrew, jun., tailor, Woolwich —second div. of 3s. 9d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whit more, Basinghall-street. W. Soffe, printseller, Strand--first div. of Hid. in the pound, any Wednesday, at tip) office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. _HOUSE OF LORDS. April 7. RAILWAY BILLS. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that he took that oppor tunity of rising to enter on the subject referred to by the Noble Lord ; and he intended to offer to their Lord ships some ob-ervations on the proposal he had to make to them. He wished to thaw their Lordships' atten tion that evening (and he ought properly to have given notice of his intention) to the subject of railways, but he thought it most desirable that whatever proposition Govern ment had to make should be made forthwith.—( Hear, hear. ) With this view, therefore, he wished to direct their attention to the state of the railway Bills now before that and the other House of Parliament, and the course which it was proposed Parliament should adopt upon the subject. It would be hardly necessary for him to request their Lordships' re collection, even incidentally, to the state in which the country was placed dui ing the last twelve months Even to wards the close of the year 1844 the public mind was in a very feverish and excited state on this subject. In the last session 248 railway Bills were introduced before Parliament, which at the time was looked upon as an immense number, as unprece dented and unmanageable, and many Hon. Members thanked their stars that such a state of things would not continue.— ( Hear, hear.) In this, however, they were mietaken, for so far from the number of Bills diminishing spe culation in these matters, they waxed more hot and fierce. During the summer the excitement was on the increase, and in autumn this spirit spread through every class in the community, young and old, rich and poor ; and he was sorry to add that it extended to the one sex as well as the , other.—(Laughter.) The practical result of all this was, that, as was shown in the report of the Joint Stock Registration- office, the number of Bills brought forward was greater than before. On the 31st December the number of schemes pro visionally registered amounted to upwards of 1,400. He need not state the large capital which was supposed to be involved, because that, in fact, had no existence. In November not less than 800 of these Bills were brought before the Board of Trade. By the 31st of December this number had slightly diminished, although not to a great extent, as the number of projects de posited at the Private Bill-office was 700. The attention of the Government was very early directed to this subject, and they endeavoured to make such arrangements before the meet ing of Parliament as would facilitate legislation with re spect to them. But it was not in the power of her Majesty's Government to come down to the Houses of Par liament at the commencement of the session with any definite plan, as the facts on which they were to recommend the adop tion of any new line were not fully developed. They could not take any steps until those projects had been submitted to the tests of paying the deposits and passing through the Standing Orders Committee. [he adoption of this plan had enabled them to ascertain that not more than one-third of the whole number of projects would ever come before the consideration of Parliament. They felt that it was their duty, as far as practicable, to save the time of Parliament by not delaying their intentions with respect to them which would certainly conic before Parliament in the present session, and the Rieht Honourable Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government ( Sir Robert Peel) moved the appointment of a Committee to consider the course ' to be adopted in this session with respect to the great number of railways which had been submitted for their consideration. He (Lord Dalhousie) also moved for and obtained a similar Committee of their Lordships' House. These Committees sat several weeks, and came to the determination that it would not be prudent to make any selection from those Bills during the present session, or to arrest the course of them, It was not for him to make any remarks on their decision, as he had on all occasions, both in that House and in Com mittee, held this opinion, that it would be both unsafe and unfair to interfere with the voluntary speculation of indi viduals in railways.—(Hear, and cheers.) But he thought there was a wide distinction to be drawn between interfering with persons disposing of their capital without the assistance of Parliament, and to interfere with parties who applied for special, and in many instances most objectionable, powers to carry into effect railway undertakings.--(Cheers.) As the Committees were of this opinion, arrangements were accordingly made to divide the railway business is equitably as possible between both Houses of Parliament. Since that period Parliament and the pulthe had had their attention constantly directed to the subject, and much discussion had ensued in both Houses with respect to it. iiecently, however, these discussions had assumed a substantial form, through the consideration of Parliament, and from the statements and opinions contained in the petitions and memorials which had been presented both to the Government and Par liament. These memorials stated, that great injury had been occasioned to all branches of trade, and to the promoters of railways themselves, by the undue speculation which had taken place. The price of material was greatly enhanced as also the price of labour. To the latter he had no objection if tie thought it would be of a permanent character, and not operating injuriously on those who were engaged in those works. But it was because it would be of a temporary, and not of a stable and permanent character he considered it would be injurious. In addition to the increase in the price of material and the price of labour, there would be, further, a great de mand fur money, which would exert an injurious influence on every other branch of trade, which would be cramped and made to suffer. But it was not only the other interestes he referred to that would be affected, but the railway companies already in existence. It had been found that the shares in many of the old railway companies had fallen in valise considerably ; and if many of these new schemes were pushed forward, it would be impossible, front' the state of the money market, for the former companies to make any in crease of their accommodation by new branches. The effect of the whole would be, that it would be found the calls sought for those new lines and extension of old lines could not be obtained. In Ireland, especially, the case would be worse than in this country. He understood from a No ble Friend of his that her Majesty's Government hail received applications for assistance from two of the best schemes in Ireland. He referred to the Weterfot d and Limerick, in the south of Ireland, and the \Jewry and Enniskillen in the north. The Waterford and Limerick was represented to be a most valuable undertaking ; to be Irish in its origin, and in those who had subscribed the capital fur it, and one that ought to be accomplished. It was one which was laid down by the Comnsissiuners in 1e37; yet both this scheme and the Newry and Inniskillen were in the most depreciated state, and called upon the Government for assistance. In the beginning of the present Session of Parliament many Irish Bills were brought forward, and it was held out that the passing of a number of these would be a great boon to Ireland as a means of employ ing labour. In consequence of this feeling many Bills passed through Committee with the greatest facility ; and if they were agreed to by Parliament, they would only, he was persuaded, interfere prejudicially with the companies already sanctioned, and thus the o bj ect soug h t to be obtained, the giving of employment, would be defeated. At present many of the schemes agreed to last session of Par liament could net carry forward their wishes from the di cuity of obtaining the necessary capital; and if any other schemes were pushed forward, the difficulty would be much increased by the greater demand for money. With regard to the general question in the last session, the passing of a Bill operated immediately on the Stock Exchange to raise the value of shares, whereas in the present session a fa vourable decision had entirely au opposite effect. lie knew this to be especially so in Scotland, the country with which he was connected ; for he had been in formed of too companies who had carried their Bills through the Committees of the House of Commons, after which they called their shareholders together, and agreed to wind up . their affairs. it wouldl t be unwise ' for was not necessary for him to say to their Lordships that the Parliament to interpose a nd restrict flow of capital in any way which the public mig ht reasonabl y desire; it would not only be very objectionable to do so but it would be absolu tely unjust.—( Hear, hear.) If parties desired to free themselves however from the trammels and obligations into which they had entered, he did not think that Parliament would be doing its duty if they did not assist such parties to enfranchise them selves.—( Hear.) The law as it at present stood was to this effect. There was an Act for winding up joint stock com reties, but before they could do so, it was absolutely necessary that they should first become bankrupt, and then that the con sent of every individual shareholder should be obtained before they could wind up their affairs. It would be manifest to their Lordships that it was impossible, in many of the great under.. takings at present existing, to obtain the consent of every shareholder. A case had been stated to him the other day, in which 600,0001. had been subscribed as the capital of a certain railway undertaking, and they recently declared that they had no desire to persist in their project. They desired to wind up their affairs, hut in consequence of some of them it was found impossible to wind up their affairs, although not more than 10,0001. had been expended; a n d for the 21. 10s. which they had deposited on their shares, they would have had 21. ss. returned. The law required that there should be the actual consent of every individual share. holder, and in many instances it was the cause of much in justice. The law, as it was at present, was on this subject both unjust and unreasonable.—( Hear, hear.) It was the intention of the Government, after Easter, to introduce a Bill, the object of which would be to enable railway companies now before Parliament to wind up their affairs if they should T. Wenman, merchant, Birmingham—first div. of 9s. in think proper. It could not be exeected that he could the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, ,at present lay before the Flouts the provisions of the mingliane Bill in eetrel. It would be sufficient if he stated the W. Drinkwater, woollen cord manufacturer, Sall4)rd—final • principles upon which the Government proposed to legislate div. of 1 led in the pound, any Tueseae-, at the eke of Mr. upon the subject.—( Hear.) The Bill would provide the Pott, Manche:e'er. means for those who wele the actual holders of the stock in W. Senior, hosier, Sheffield—fl:st div. of es. eel. in the i railway companies of calling a meeting if the proprietors, for pound, arse Ttiescev, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. f the purpose of determining whether the affairs of the Company J. and Vie. Sugden, machine inekere, Leeds—first and final i should be wound up or not. That meeting should determine div. of 4e.. 3d. in the pound, any Tuesday, at the office of what course the Company should pursue with respect to the Mr. Hope, Leeds. winding up of the affairs of the Company: If the determine- J. and D. Sugden, fancy cloth manufacturers, Spingfield, thin should be in the negative, of course the Bill would be pro- Yorkshire—first div. of 9s. in the p o und, any Tuesday, at seeded with. If the determination to wind up the affairsinould the office of Mr. Kynaston, Leeds. be come to, then, under this measure, an official assignee or CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to trustee would be appointed to take charge of the funds of the the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. Company. He would hold them for the purpose of satisfying R. G. Fox, wine merchant, Canterbury-, April e9—J. C. tny demands of creditors against the company ; and when these Edwards, bill broker, Conduit-street, Ham - e'er-square, May 1 were satisfied, the remaining portions of the funds would be —W. Spiel's, printer, Nerth Audiey-serect, Oxtottl-street, divided rateably amongst those who were entitled to receive April 30—T. Wilkinson, ironmonger, Quadrant, Regent- them. If it so happened, which he did not anticipate, that a street, April 30—F. Glass, woollen factor, Basinghall•street, deficit should result, it was not proposed by this Bill that the April 30—W. Harding, sen., mason, Vincent-square, West- parties should be exempted from their liabilities with ree niinster, April e9—J. Hutchinson, machine maker, Ellands spect to the expenses which might have been in- Yorkshire, April 28—W. Fordyce, bookseller, Newcastle- curred. It was not proposed to give any exemption. upon-Tyne, April 28—J. Boman, woollendraper, Carlisle, lie thought that by such a Bill every facility would be given April 29—G. C. Nicholls, comm i ss i on merc h an t Upton, to parties who are desirous of winding up the affairs of rail. Cheshire, April 30—T. B. Daft, button maker, Biimiegliam, way companies with which they were connected. But April 29—G. Middleton, wine merchant, Nottingham, May 5 would be manifest at once that whatever speed—supposing —J. Wilkinson, builder, Heslingden, Lancashire, April 30— such a Bill to be sanctioned by that and the other House of J. Barker, miller, Flixtor e Lancashire, May I—'l'. W. Parliament—whatever speed was exhibited it was clear that, Pierce, and G. Homan, merchants, Manchester, April 28— some little delay must occur bef•re the measure could pass. 'l'. Nash, jun., Stourbride;e. Worcestershire, April 28—J. The Government therefore proposed that a resolution should be Clears', builder, Church-road, Do Beauvoir-square, April 28 passed in both Houses of Parliament, that where a petition —E. 'Skeeter, builder, Bristol, April 28—A. Mecdoralo, titer- should be presented to Parliament from a given number of chant, Leadenhall-street, April 28-11. Hughes, linendraper, shareholders, praying a s u s p ens i on o f t h e progress o f t h e i r Bill Manchester, April 28. or Bills till they should have time to consider the state of their PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. affairs in relation to such railway Bills, that they should have W. Cope and J. Wright, lace manufacturers, Nottingham power to act accordingly. The Bills which had commenced —T. Cooper, W. Cooper, and G. Strongitharm, Ihne masters, in their Lordships' House and in the other House were to be Minworth,Warwickshire—G. Strungitharm,T. Cooper, mid E. alike affected by this measure. The object of the Bill was Strongitharm, lime masters, Dewend, Staffordshire—J. to give the shareholders power to wind up their affairs should Plumtree and M. Gibbons, grocers, Lincoln—W. Woodward they see fit to do so. The Bill would also propose, at the same and W. W. Walkvier, tailors, leburv-stes•et, Pimlico—F. time that this power was given to the shareholders, to have a full Balkwell and C. Baldwin, Liverpool—H. Merry, E. Phipeon, security given for the liquidation upon the funds up to the and C. Parker, Birmingham—S. e tanifortli and G. Hutton, time of the wind up of their affairs under the provision of the grocers, Sheffield—H. Hohne and J. Hohne, shoemakers, measure. When a petition shall be presented by a majority of Manchester—P. Brooke, J. Brooke, arid E. Brooke, Ashton- shareholders, praying that they should have the benefit of the under-Lyne—H. B. Bye and T. I'. Thomas, mine agents, Bill, both Houses should have the powers of graining the Old Broad-street, City—M. Thorpe and E. Holeywell, prayer of such petition. It would procure a little time to pre common brewers, Spalding, Lincolnshire—J. Wickens and pare the measure, and immediately after Easter it would be W. Bird, stationers, Old-street, St. Luke's—T. Forshall introduced, and then it could be discussed in its details. and H. Davies, surgeon, Doddingtore grove, Kennington— Lord MON ['EAGLE said that he had informed the House R. Laycourt, W. Beldon, and R. Butler, grocers, Witton-le- sometime since of the evils which were likely to arise from the Wear, Durham—W. Wallen, sen., and W. Wallen, jun., reckless manner in which railway schemes were progressing; architects, Circus-place, Finsbury-circus—J. litzmaurice and he was not at all surpris d that such a measure as the one and W. . Sage, chemists, Holloway—J. C. and W. R. proposed by her Majesty's Ministers was now required to pet a Hudson, Blackheath—J. and G. Langman, pawnbrokers, stop to such a system of wholesale speculation. He had had Hanley, Staffordshire—W. Goodland, J. Quart, and C. various interviews with shareholders—many of them of great. Goodland, coal merchants, Tiverton, Devonshire. importance, from the amount of shares they held—and they SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. expressed their ignorance of whether they had power to John Mackenzie, carpenter, Inverness, April 10 and May 1, wind up their affairs, as they had already made some progress at twelve, at the Union Hotel Inverness. in Parliament. lie was glad to find . that some measure William Anderson and Alexander. Drummond, share- was proposed to put a stop to this state of things.—(Hear.) brokers, Glasgow, April 10 and May 8, at one, at the cham• The necessity of their interference in some shape or other had leers of Mr. Smith, Glasgow. originally proceeded from persons who, of all others, are con- James Strong, merchant, Glasgow, April 13 and May 4, at sidered the most shrewd in matters affecting their pecuniary in two, at the chambers of Mr. Ross, Glasgow. terest, he meant the people of Scotland. They wished now to John Dunn and John Wilson, stockbrokers, Glasgow, retrace their steps, and they asked their Lordships to suspend April 14 and May 4, at two, at the Globe Hotel, Glasgow. the progress of the Bills. He thought they acted wisely in so doing. He thought that a measure like the present, in which he mosf heartily concurred, should however be conducted with great precaution. Persons for instance might cry down the merits cf any line for the purpose of purchasing the shares at a upon which large sums had been paid, and thenvery low teap d i i rra nf large benefit by the transaction. He hoped sech conduct as this would be guarded against. He thought their Lordships should not allow shares of too small amount in these transactions. While this continued, he thought these gambling transactions would still be carried on. He heped there fore, that on grounds of public morality, some step would be taken to stop this gambling.—( Hear, hear.) He thought the House should adopt some measure to stop these "little go" speculations. He did not think that the lower classes were competent judges of what schemes were likely to be useful and beneficial to themselyes. Persons of both sexes and all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, had not been exempt from this gambling fever. The Government were bound to put a stop to this ; they had the power of doing so, and they would be held responsible if they did not, by adopting some stringent measures, secure the public credit. The Noble Lord had not exaggerated the mischief which had arisen from the paralysis, which had taken effect on the general commercial and banking interests of the country. That mis chief was indescribable. Let their Lordships just suppose the case of a bank holding a million of deposits—this million of deposits representing every class of their customers; a great proportion of these classes are engaged in railway specula tion ; and the banker, knowing that A B and C were considerable shareholders, would be aware that the deposits which he held on their account would be the very first available fund that they could draw on, and he would riot dare, therefore, to use any portion of that fund for discounting purposes; he could not discount with the same freedom and unreserve as in other circumstances he would have done. Their Lordships probably knew that the profits of a banker mainly depended on his lending money on good se curity ; and the result, therefore, of these banking engage ments, would be to suspend all power en the part of the banker of using with freedom the deposits which he held in hand. Now, how did the case stand with the trader? Let them take the manufacturing interests of the country. Suppose a manufacturer engaged in railway speculation to a great extent; his mills would still require to be attended to, his machinery would require constant repair, and a constant drain on his capital would be required for the extension of buildings. But how could he provide for these repairs, and these extensions, with an unascertained number of calls impending over him ? The manufacturer had certainly entered into these speculations with his eyes open, but that did not lessen the effect of the evil produced. That evil pressed on the bankers, on the manufac turers, and on the other classes; it had suspended and cramped the application of capital, and it had been augmented—and he said this without any intention of reflecting upon the Noble Lord opposite—by the course which her 'Majesty's Govern ment had taken on the subject of railway speculation. The case was repeatedly urged upon them—(" Hear, hear," front Lord Kinnaird)—that time practice of compelling parties to pay the deposits in money, to invest that money in stock, and to sell that stock subsequently for the purpose of making the railways, was an aggravation of the mischief. He could not help saying that it would have been better if they had at ass earlier period introduced the measure which they proposed eo introduce now. He would now advert to the measures which the Noble Lord proposed. The Noble Lord had undoubtedly felt that some observations might be made on the want of a definite scheme on the part of her Majesty's Government. He stated what had been the general effect on the trade of the country, and he added that it was not the wish of the Govern ment, as he (Lord Monteagle) was sure it was not the wish of Parliament, to interfere with the free application of capital. His Noble Friend had stated that if the present sum proposed to be applied in the construction of railways was permitted to be so applied, the greatest mischief might ensue; but why did not his Noble Friend come forward at an earlier period of the session to propose some remedy ?—( Hear.) He quite admitted that no imputation ought to be cast upon his Noble Friend for not having taken this course previously. But he must at the same time say, that the course which had been takers was wholly without precedent, and unjustifiable, and might lead to the most serious results. He had understood that in the Com mittee up stairs, his Noble Friend, on the part of her Majesty's Government, had proposed the course to which he (Lord Mont eagle) had given his entire consent, and that proposition was that the different railway Bills which must come before them should be classified. It was suggested that those Bills should be classified, and that those comprised in number one should have preference in consideration to those included in number two, and those latter over those comprised iii number three, and so on. That course he believed would have been a just one.— ( Hear, hear.) And he should have been glad to know that that course had been adopted in the House of Commons, because the mode at present acted on was an anomalous and inconvenient one.—( Hear, hear.) But what were they called upon to do now? Why was it that his Noble Friend had postponed until the present time, the lastday before the Easter recess, the proposition that he had submitted to their Lordships ? If he did attempt to interfere with capital, he should come forward prepared to say what amount of capital her Majesty's Government thought it would be wise to expend in the construction of railways. Let his Noble Friend say what was the amount which should be so applied before he called upon their Lordships to express an opinion upon this sub ject. Parties had been allowed to proceed with their Bele in the usuel course, and now, when it was asked to amend the law on this subject, he (Lord Monteagle) contended that the limiting of the amount to be subscribed was incidental to any measured d could deli_uhdabve weighed e such amendment. If his Noble Friend had come forward, oil the part of her Msjesty's Government, with his pr ia e e se r n , t o pruPo nicein the or proposal,f o sal at an earlier period of the session, much nischiethfbaviet• o c red been obviated. But there was nothing tan g i e l e, e considered, or anything erewasnehintt mischief that could it of moneytis s s t v il l: ieiceht was was ly left Th incalculable. culable. with Under the regard t o present an state amount o f thing, h to vague ness and indistinctness, all of w hi c h ought have been avoided, had her eisjesty's Government moved in this direction at the commencement of the sess i on. T he Bill was but, by inta ' sducing it at th is l ate per i od of the • a .l simileo"' and im mediately on th e a dj ournment of the Houses ofe'n' Parliament for the holidays , it could not be printed and circulated amongst the parties interested in its provisions; but if it was possible to print and circulate an ab stract of it wi•hout delay, great public advantage could not fail to result ; but above all it would give parties notice of the intent ions of the Government, and do away with the un certainty which prevaile.l. lint the Noble Lord said he wished to effect the object which he had in view by means to be taken hereafter, and by allowing parties to come before their Lord ships and to make an appeal. This, however, would throw thole parties into utter confusion by its vagueness ; for a pro position of this magnitude, affecting such an amount of capital, he would venture to :ay, was never allowed to be brought for ward by a Minister in his place, without bringing forward, at the same time, resolutions and enactments by which persons might know in what way th e y couldbeeffec:ted lie . re greued this exceedingly, and h e would therefore urge his Noble Friend—as one really interested in the subject itself— it the Bill could not be given to the public in extenso, at least to furnish them with its must material points. He would throw out one suggestion, for the adoption of which he saw some immediate n ecessity. They ought—and this showed the necessity of the Act—to limit decision on those schemes which had been profitable over those which had nut b een profitable, or were unlikely to be constructed , might purchase if they did not do so, one or two ri va l pro j ects purchase shares in the other to an extent which would enable them to stop its coustruction, and consequently cause the greatest confusion to the parties. They did riot wish to !lave their remedial measures turn e d i n t o i nstruments of fraud; but if they did not guard agai ns t th e i r a b use, they would enable parties who had the dispo s iti on t o d o so to harass the moters of a competing li ne , i n or d er to get a majority ptrhoe in proprietary. He cou ld name many measures whch had had this effect. In his opinion, the Bill ought to have effect from the date of the resolution, because they did not • h wis to give advantages to one railway which they did not extend to an other. He did not think the adoption of this recommendation would have the effect of preventing the carrying out of legiti mate projects. An unfinished I • rat way was a great nuisance. Some had been got up with the most absurd • pretensions, and simply for the purposes of speculation. Imagine a Columbian and a Sand w i c h Fi s h ery Company ; but he put it to their Lord ships to imagine large dry stitches in a country without rails, or with any probability of the works bring executed. Further, respecting property , these railway companies pos sessed compulsory powers to take land, and if they wouid not make their lines, what a position these landowners would be placed in. This was one great difficulty which lie appre hended. But the worst of it was the direction of capital Mom a profitable to an unprofitable market, and thereby involving the condition and interests of all classes of society. He hoped it was the intention of the Noble Lord to stop the further progress of all railway Bills till after Easter, as nothing c ou ld be more absurd than to pass any of these Bills, or forward them any of their stages, if they were told that her Majesty's Government intended a course of legislati on t h at would here after neutralise any progress that might lie made. This was a matter they were bound to consider; they should not send Bills into the other house of Parliament, and leave that House to provide a remedy. He did not know whit that House might propose, but their Lordships were their own masters, and should act accordingly. It was , his decided opinion they should riot at present advance a single stage, or at least to a debite stage, until the question involved in the Bill proposed by the Noble Lord was settled. He should call upt:n their Lordships not to take any definite step respecting these Bills till the decision on that Bill was known. There would be difficulties attending this measure. For instance, there would he no means of a.errtaining whether the names to the petitions were those of tymofisA shareh;,lders. Lord KINN A IRD did not attach any blame to the Govern ment for not havin,g brought this measure on before. On the contrary, he thought they had wisely delayed it until now. He inlaid, however, ask whether the existing powers of their Lordships could not be extended to meet the difficulties of this subject. By the existing orders of their Lordships' House, any new Bill which was brought in, with respect to an existing railway company, had to be submitted to the proprietors before tt could be passed. Why not extend that standing order to new companies ? Lord WHARNCLIFFE expressed his satisfaction with the prouosi:ions of the Government. He regretted, however, that that it had not been brought under consideration before. They might have brought it in immediately after the ordeal of the payment of the deposits had been passed. He would ask his Neb!e Friend whether he intended to propose a new standing order with respect to this subject ; and he would tak that op portunity of also asking whether it was intended to it.troduce into all railway Bills of this session a clause subjecting such Bills to the operation of general railway Acts. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said, that such clause was in troduced into every railway Bill. It was his intention to pro pose a standing order with respect to this Bill. A resolu , ion had been adopted in the other House for postponing the third reading of all railway Bills until the 27th of April, and on the first day after the recess he should move an order similarly postponing those Bills in that House. With respect to the ob jec!ion to the time at which this proposition had been made, be might state that, as early as December last, the Government had entertained a suggestion to classify the railway Bills, and to recommend to Parliament to adopt the best of the Bills so classified. Circumstances, however, prevented this ccurse being carried into effect. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY wished to know what was intended to be done with the Bills which were on the table waiting for a third reading? 'f he - Earl of DALIIOUSIE said he would, on the first day after the recess, make a motion for postponing the Bill until a certain day. The subject then dropped. On the motion of the Duke of WELLINGTON, the House adjourned until Tuesday, the 21:t inst. HOUSE OF COTii MONS, April 7. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes to Four. NEW NV RIT. A new writ was moved for the borough of Malton, in the county of York, in the room of Mr. J. W. Childers, who has ac cepted the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed, viz.:— Schoolmasters' Widows' Fund. Campbeltown Harbour, Waterworks,:Paving, Lighting, and Watching. Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and Loughor Railway. Port Gordon Harbour. Kilmarnock Waterworks. Gorbals Gravitation Waterworks. Hamilton Gas. Kendal Union Gas and Water. Rotherham Gas. REORTS. The followi ng reports were P brought up, the amendments and alterations agreed to, and the Bills'ordered to he engrossed,via. , "" London and South Western Railway (Chertsey and Egbaul Branch). London and South Western Railway (Hampton Court Branch} East Lincolnshire Railway. Royal Asylum of St. Anne's Society. Upwell-cum-Welney Rectory. Scottish Midland Junction Railway Branches. Exeter and Exmouth Railway. Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway Amendmenl and Branches ( No. 3). Eastern Union Railway (Ardleigh to Colchester). South-Eastern Railway ( so. 11) (Branch from Rye to RV Harbour). Midland Railways (Syston and Peterborough Railway Devi tion and Branches). General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway. Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan Railway. Ayreshire, Bridge of Weir, and Port Glasgow Junction Railway Witham Navigation. Bolton Waterworks (by order). THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed, viz.' Willingham Inclosure and Drainpge. Welsh Charity School Incorporation. Birmingham Cemetery. Eastern Union and Hadleigh Junction Railway (further pro ceeding, by order). London and Brighten Railway (East Grinstead Branch)( by order). Brighton and Chichester Railway (Bognor and Littlehamptot Branches)—(by order). South Eastern Railway (Extension of Stations at Ashford) (by order), Melton, Witham, and Braintree Railway (by order). Scottish Grand Junction Railway (by order). Lord G. SOMERSET moved that all proceedings on rail ways shall, after Thursday next, be postponed until Mond+ the 27th day of this instant April. There could be no doub that this adjournment of railway proceedings would afford gres facilities for those companies who were doubtful of the pro priety of carrying on their Bills to obtain the opinion of th majority of their shareholders. Parties would be put to grel expense if thy were called together immediately on the re assembling of Parliament, if anything during the first week a its re-assembling was done that interfered with the furthe progress of this scheme. It was to obviate this expense the he proposed the postponement for a fortnight. On the question being put, Lord H. VANE said he merely rose, as the member of Committee, to say that the motion would be a serious le convenience to the Committee on which he w e engaged, as it had nearly terminated its ishowl He had no objection to the motion as a general proposition, bn there were cases in which Committees had nearly closed the , investigations ; and to prevent their sitting on the assemblio of Parliament, would put the parties to great inconvenient as well as expense. After a few words from Lord J. STEWART, Mr. ESCOTT thought that the expenses to the share holders would be the same, whether the Committees met in week hence or in three weeks. He was on that account die posed to support the motion of the Noble Lord. Mr. PROTHEROE thought that a serious inconvenient would be induced by this delay from the want of Committee rooms. It w ou ld b e b etter to dispose of as many of the B",, as possible, instead o f d e f err i ng the consideration of them tint the business of Parliament had greatly accumulated. Mr. LABOUCHERE rather took the views of the No- Lord opposite than of the friends beside him on this m attte, He thought that a period longer than ten days would be e? vantageous to the shareholders, as it would give them time mature their future plans. After a few words from Sir John Easthope, the O'Corie Don, and Mr. Thornely, Mr. WAKLEY requested the Noble Lord to postpone b i motion until to-morrow, because all parties would be surpris! and considerably inconveni ence d if i t were pers i ste d i n 01 evening. Sir G. CLERK supported the motion of the Noble Lee d . He believed the H ouse was unan i mous on the previous nigh! Ii allowing parties time to consider whether they would ratrie wind up than go on with many of the Bills now before Pg f 'lament. Mr. BECKETT DENISON hoped the motion of the Probl Lord would be read, for he was not himself aware of its Os t tendency. Sir WILLIAM HEATHCOTE wished to learn whetbg the motio n o f th e N o bl e L or d i nc l u d e d petitions on pries , , P Bills generally. He h a d muc h exper i ence of the manner Ll' which petitions against Bill s were urged in Committee, and thought that if the motion included the presentation of 1 011 tions for and against Bills it would prevent much expense aoI trouble ; and it could not be of injury to any of the parties, 'p' asmuch as it was pos.ible they wou l d, after having had tit-AS:I.I consider of the s t eps t h ey should take, withdraw the P" altogether. He would, therefore, suggest to the Noble Le e ' that the moti on, as originally framed, would be much better. I Lord G. SOME RSET declined to restrict the motion eu to the Bills in a particular stage. After a few words from Mr. ESTCOURT and Lord Woitsi.° Mr. STRUTT said, in the Sub-committee of which he 5 1 1 chairman, there were petitions for Bills which were grouped 1 0 Committeess appointed to meet on the 27th instant Marl these petiti ons were yet un h ear d, and i f the Sub-comm it' were obliged to adjourn to the day on which the Committees ( I_ groups met, it would be attended with considerable incoo"" nience.—( Hear. ) The motion was then put and agreed to. • Lord G. SOMERSE l' then mov e d th at no railway Bill I' l read a third time before the 27th instant. Lord JAMES STUART said that the Scottish Grand Junction was a Bill to which th ere was no opposition veb.lt, ever. and it was one, if passed, which wou ld b e t h e means o f 0 mediately employing a large number of persons who were present much distressed. The LORD ADVOCATE thought, under the peeelit! circumstances of the case, that thi s B i ll oug h t to b e r ead ' third time at once. The motion was then agreed to. The Willingt.am Inclosure and Drainage Bill was r ead • third time and passed. GENERAL TERMINUS AND GLASGOW lIARBOV RAILWAY. An Hox. MEMBER moved the consideration of the repo of the Committee on this Bill. Mr. HUME doubted the propriety of any further pr oced c ; ings being taken with r e f erence to this Bill, until the evide°4 given bi-fore the Committ ee h ad been laid upon the tahlel the House. H e o bj ected to the Bill, because the trustee s ; n the Clyde Navi ga ti on would incapacitate them s el ves for carry' ing o u t th e d eepen i ng of the Navigation of the Clyde , " t ' o having to borrow a large sum of money, amou nting 01 . 80,00te., and bei ng at present indebted to the amount of 300,00 tp He contended that if the effect of the present Bill would b e , deteriorat e th e pu b lic hal hour, that House ought not to saih nd e lion it. H e s h ould therefore move as an amendment, that 0, eviden c e t a k en b efore the Committee be printed, or at least it much of it as related to the Glasgow Harbour Bill, and that be laid before the House. o Lord WORSLEY , t h e Cha i rman of the Committees to whom th e group of Bills, of which that was one, was refer,r,o, said th a t t he B i ll s compr i sed in the group were considered for gether. Evidence had been taken before the Committe e w ai three or f our wee k s , an d among t h e witnesses exansin,o et,, Captain Washington, on th e p ar t o f t h e Tid a l H ar b ours Cope mission, who expressed a s t rong op i n i on aga i nst interfere b with the harbou r of Glasgow, and considered that the Ge n o b , Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway would greatli tion , struct the traffic, and be hi g hl y i n j ur i ous to t h e navigate He fully coincided in th a t op i n i on; an d h e h ad the inisf°r‘i be to diftr from the other gen tl emen on t h e C omm i ttee , accordingly voted against the three Bills. Cot iv Mr. SOONER said, that b e i ng a M em b er o f that ere. mittee, he would take oc c as i on to state what the facts Chair He had differed from th e op i n i on ta k en b y the i r Noble CA,wr man, and he had d one so w i t h great reluctance. The '''./af mittee had the ev id ence of Mr. Walter, an e ng i n eer, always opposed to anything like an obstruction on the • and had resisted the bringing down mineral traffic to th e t he convenience of other trains. He gave his opinion tha t w as mineral traffic of Glasgow wa s s o muc h i ncrease d, ari fo u r of likely to in crease so muc h more, that he waived his , 0 0e, objection on th e po i nt , an d t h oug h t that the mineraji; should be brought down to a place appointed for it. n erie ril that the mixing up of the mineral traffic with the , 1 1 , to traffic was very inconvenient, and the bringing it d?_ .. . hot o• distant place would occasion no 'inconvenience to the ne 1 :0! Ile actually went so far as to say that some alterationlected necessary. The trustees of the Clyde—a regularly l eas body—concurred in the measure, and not a single pet it ion _„ ; ~l 111 presented against the Bill by the m erc h an t s o f Glasp fact, there was no opposition to th e Bill, ex cept . tr os ea• companies, who afterwards did not ma k e out their coal d vol bY elf It was of great importance to the merc h an t s and_ vie in the neighbourhood, that thi s sc h eme h a d been caL h t be the Committee. lie thought this was a case in vim"' House ought to support the Committee. goo° Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the divided, when there apprared -82 For the amendment Against it . .•• 74 . nijority in favour of the aa2eudment..,