The Sun. — London, England, 1837-03-10 00:00:00

on ecclesiastical persons in the letting of their lands. Nobody but Lord Ashburton entertains a doubt of that ; and if the Legislature thinks fit to remove those restrictions which it formerly created, what wonder that an improved rental must necessarily be the result. Sir Robert Inglis understands the question much better than Lord Ashburton : he does not deny the certainty of a great increase, but he would keep it all for the Bishops ; or if he could not save it from them, it would cost him a less severe pang to see it bestowed on new endowments. The lessees, on the other hand, think this surplus belongs to them at least as much as to the Bishops. Another party is not slow to say that the whole is the property of the State, and may be applied to any purpose for which the State needs money. Ministers think that the property of the Church cannot be better employed than in root ing out a scandal from the Church, and by an equal and intermediate course they combine private benefit with the public good. Nor should the lessees forget what their real condition is. They may talk, indeed, loudly of te nant right, and moral obligation ; but have they never heard of such things as concurrent leases ? Do they not know that therc is a growing disposition among Bishops and Chapters to grant harder terms, and run their lives against their lessees, which nobody can dispute their power to do. Every penny which the Church realises in this manner is lost irrecoverably to the lessees ; to whatever purpose the surplus revenues in the hands of the Church may at any time be des tined, it is certain that nobody will think of restoring anything to them. We could mention an instance of one collegiate body, among others, which in the course of the last twelve years has increased many of its re served rents eight-fold, with a laudable regard to the interests of their successors, but with little com miseration for the diminished security of their tenants. The children of this generation are wiser than the children of light, and it is well known that " Simon of Gloucester and Leoline the Monk," however they may dispute among themselves, have come to a common resolution not to allow themselves any longer to be hoodwinked. We leave the application of these re marks to those whom it may concern.—Morning Chronicle. We are not very rash in asserting that the mass of trickery, robbery, and absurdity, known by the name of the Anti-Church-rate Bill, received yesterday its quietus in the Upper House of Parliament. Nothing could be more complete, nothing more picturesque, than the proceeding by which it is quite clear to us that the above consummation has been effected. The Archbishop of Canterbury took the opportunity of pre senting a petition against the abolition of Church-rates to deliver briefly, though pointedly and manfully, his senthnente on that important subject. His Grace de clared that it was a Bill against the Church—a Bill against the poor, who were perishing for want of religious instruction—a Bill of spoliation upon the rights of property—the commencement of a succession of outrages npon the existence of the Church of England—that it never should have his consent — that, he spoke in the name and on behalf of fif teen Bishops, (all, or nearly all, who were now in London), and who had unanimously expressed their hostility to the Bill, and their determination to re by every lawful and justifiable method. But that . , is not the most curious part of the business, lor ,:ht happiest illustration of those upright and Jionotferible expedients to which the Melbourne Minis ters ,are prone to resort, when pinched by the cruel emergencies of a position from which the people of England would be unfeignedly happy to relieve them. ale curiosity in the case was specified by the Arch !), .hop, who announced, in his customary temperate and gentle manner, that although his Grace himself, with three ocher Prelates, was named in the communi eat:on made it Ministers to Parliament as a Commis e:ioeer under the intended Bill, to execute its provi sion, the House of Lords or the country were not tr, infer from such a false colouring flung over the Ministerial policy, that the measure was brought for ward with the concurrence, or even with the privity, of 'him or any of his Right Rev. Brethren ; for he could assure their Lordships that he neither concurred in it, error was privy to it, and that nothing short of the coer cive 'po,,ver of an Act. of Parliament should force him and . his Right Rev. Colleagues to accept the office of Onninissioners ! Now, this we take to be a tolerable specimen of the delicacy, propriety, consideration, and wisdom, with which these Brummagem Ministers un dertake their most " vital" measures. For Lord Mel bourne, who professed to feel concern (and we believe truly) at the eneech of the Archbishop, we ourselves are really both . grieved and ashamed. The speech of the Archbishop, it is true, must have been a dose of wormwood—we might almost have said hemlock—to the Ministers'; and the only excuse for the indecent language reported, we hope incorrectly, to have been used by the Prime Minister in reply to his Grace is, that Tie must have been thrown by the statement of the most Reverend Prelate into alternate fits of stupor and of rage, which betrayed themselves throughout his de meanour. That nothing could be snore seasonable, opportune, or effective than the declaration of the most Reverend Prelate of his hostility to the Bill, was plain from the undisguised soreness of the Prime Minister, who wondered, poor simple gentleman, why the Arch bishop had not waited until the Church spoliation bill should have come formally before the House of Lords, when he might have discussed it regularly. Now the motive of his Grace for coming forward thus early, and, for our parts, it would not have displeased us had he taken even an earlier occasion to do so, was manifestly to assist in preventing the Bill from ever entering the House of Lords at all. His Grace, we think—and all friends of the Church of England will agree with us— was, by the influence of his high character and autho rity, in conjunction with those of the Right Rev. Bench, bound to give such a tone to the feelings and opinions of the country, and to represent the ru inous nature of the Bill so forcibly, that the House of Commons should take the alarm in time, and choke the monster even at its first coming into existence. Lord Melbourne found that this task had been effec tually performed by the worthy Prelate—hence his malapert vexation at what he called the Archbishop's " premature" interference. It would doubtless have been more convenient to Lord Melbourne, had the Bill been suffered to pass undisturbed along —had it met with no Conservatives but those in the House of Commons to molest it after acquiring a certain degree of strength, it had by the time of its approach to the House of Peers become a tougher and more formidable reptile. Hence, we say, Lord Melbourne's anger—hence his boisterous assault upon the Bishops,-as not being, in this instance, what they ought to be, lovers of peace—hence the tautological panegyric which he sputtered out upon the church vobbery bill, that it would prove a means of peace, tranquillity, harmony, and eoncord—hence, again, his violent but childish threat that, in spite of the op position of the right rev. fathers of the Church of Englund, nothing should prevent him from carrying forward this disastrous measure, and pursuing the course he had begun. The Bishop of London's cool and stern, but self-possessed, answer to this tirade of the Prime Minister, was one which the latter personage will not soon forget. Lord Melbourne had been so foolish and unmannerly as to charge the Archbishop with such an imbecility of mind and purpose, as made him liable to the suspicion of hiving been pushed on to the part which he had taken by other persons of more guile than himself. The Bishop of London did, indeed, allow that they, the Bishops, had been induced to hasten their announcement of opposition to the Bill by same thing which, if not guile, was very like unfair dealing in certain parties. The Archbishop and Bishop of London had been members of the Ecclesiastical Commis sion, together with Lord Melbourne and others of the prevent Ministers, and had been charged to examine the (expediency of some such legerdemain practices with Church property as are proposed in the Anti-Church rate Bi,'l; but for the sake of ascertaining whether a surplus, if discoverable, over the wants of Bishops and Chapters, &c., might not be made available towards increasing the comforts of the poorer Clergy, and • towards enlarging the means of Church accommo dation for the poor. But the Report of that Commis sion, so com posed, partly of Whig Ministers, as afore seid, was, their such treatment of the Church property w is both " ire. -cpedient and impracticable,"--inexpe diyilt and impracticable for purposes beneficial to the Cli arch ; whereas it is now declared to be " expe dient and practicab.le" (the very same proceeding, be it recollected) for the relief of those who aim at the Church's downfall. Lord Melbourne could not get over this ; nor do we envy his feelings when the Bishop of London declared that the fiscal and arith metical calculations—those limping hobby-horses of Mr. Spring Rice, whereon the whole working of the Bill pretends to rest, are grossly and utterly unfounded. We repeat that the Bill has got its quietus—there is an end of it ; would that its authors were well shelved with it.— Times. F. Read Kemp, Esq., Member for Sussex, who has let his house in Belgrave-square to the Commander-in-Chief for three years, is obliged to visit the Continent, in conse quence of the prolonged indisposition of his lady. Mrs. Kemp is sister of G. Shackerly, Esq., of Somerton, and was widow of - Harvey, Esq., a gentleman of large property. It is satisfactory to state that the aspect of commer cial matters in the City still continues to wear symptoms of improvement. The favourable advices which came in from the United States on Wednesday have increased confidence, and money for mercantile purposes is much more easy to be ob tained than it was last week. It will be observed, by a refe rence to our remarks upon the state of the market for the pub lic securities, that an advance has taken place in stock of about A- per cent.—Morning Paper. The commercial letters from the United States to the 12th ultimo, brought by the London line of packet ship Quebec, are of considerable interest. It appears that the spring trade had commenced with much activity in all the prin cipal parts of the Union. The importations of British manu factured g oods, as well as of other produce, had been consider able, and many thousand packages had been sold. In the ex changes on London the transactions had been very great ; the premium had been fully 104 per cent., which was 1: 1 2 - per cent. in favour of the exportations of bullion for England. A prefe rence was, however, given to ship Mexican dollars to England, and five-franc pieces to France, as the banks in the United States were so apprehensive of lowering their stock of gold, that they demanded a premium of one per cent. Hopes were entertained, that, as the cotton crop was shipped off, the lance of trade would continue in favour of America. The sub ' ject of monetary matters was the all-absorbing topic of con versation in New York. The rise in the exchange and the demands for specie for England were so great, that another pressure was anticipated. The banks discount with much re luctance. Bills at long dates were taken in at Ito 13- per vent. per month. Bills from the south, drawn upon the ex ports of the cotton crop to England, were anxiously looked for, in order to turn the exchange in favour of America. There had been a drain for specie at New York, the United States Bank at Philadelphia having called in about 300,000 dollars, and about 500,000 dollars had been taken for shipment to England. The importations from Mexico into New York and New Orleans since the date of the previous advices had been about 1,300,000 dollars. The Liverpool as well as the Lon don packets had some difficulty in obtaining freights. The value of real property had advanced considerably. The Quebec, we understand, has not less than 400,000 dollars on board on merchants' account. The Session of Congress had nearly ar rived at its close, and complaints were made that the time had been taken up too much with long speeches, to the exclusion of matters of real business. Several additional petitions had been presented to the Legislature for the abolition of slavery ; and an attempt was, it is said, to be made by threats to prevent the agitation of the subject.—Morning Paper. A ludicrous mistake occurred at a funeral some days ago at Hamburgh, which, notwithstanding the serious ness of the occasion, produced considerable laughter. On the same day, and almost at the same moment, two coffins were borne into the churchyard precisely resembling each other. One contained the remains of a young and beautiful girl, the other the wreck of a veteran soldier who had made many of the campaigns of Napoleon. The coffins were placed upon the same bier, and there was no distinguishing one from the other. The soldier was to have been buried with all the honours of war, but it happened to be the coffin of the girl which the assistants removed, and her corpse was consigned to its resting-place amid military salvoes and martial music. The vieux moustache on the other hand was followed to the grave by the sighs and moans of a crowd of young people, and his coffin adorned with virgin-flevers. The young woman had been much regretted, and amongst the cortege was a stripling who showed by the greatness of his grief that his heart was affected, when upon the edge of the r tomb this young man broke through all restraint, and insisted upon opening the coffin to have a last look at the remains of her whom he loved ; but his surprise and disappointment may be imagined when his eyes fell upon the grisly beard of the war-worn vetoes!). C HI NA .—A company of actors which performed at Ronan a short time ago, and whose dresses were much ad mired for their richness, were a few days since engaged by the people of the village of the name of Kowkong : after the temporary theatre had been erected, and everything was ready for the play to begin, when striking up the music the great drum burst, which accident being considered an unlucky omen, the actors refused to perform ; but the people would not thus be deprived of their amusement, and with threats and clamour compelled the actors to proceed. During the per formance some fireworks were let off, and the bamboo shed in which the singsong was took fire. The spectators, too eager to save themselves, rushed out over a narrow bridge constructed for the occasion to r lead to the theatre built over a river, which gave way under the too great pressure, and all those upon it were precipitated into the water, and upwards of 120 vtomen and 30 men drowned. Of the actors none lost their lives, but three chests of their wardrobe were either destroyed by the fire or stolen during the confusion.—Canton Press, Oct. 22. TIIE LATE EX-KING OF SWEDEN.-The follow ing, of the 18th inst., from Vienna, is given by the Augsburg Ga zette :—" Prince \Vasa has assumed mourning for six months, and it is said the Court will go into mourning for eight days, and wear it at the same time as that for the Duke of Mecklen burg-Schwerin. The grippe has made such pro,gress that one fifth' of the population has been attacked. To-morrow the Vladike of the Montenegrins will leave us for St. Petersburg. He has relinquished his intention of going to Paris. It is stated that M. de Ruthard, the Greek minister, during his stay in this city, succeeded in prevailing upon Baron Sins to sup port by his credit and capital the establishment of a national bank in Greece. The Greeks resident here are convinced that this will add strength to the new government of their country. The house of Sins enjoys an unlimited credit throughout the East—at Constantinople as well as at Athens and Alexandria." On Friday evening, about seven o'clock, as Mr. Mills, surgeon, of Wells, was driving from Shepton Mallet in a gig, accompanied by Miss Fox, of Salisbury, in passing through Charlton turnpike-gate } the gate rebounded against the gig, in consequence of its not being thrown sufficiently open, and the lady and gentleman were thrown from the gig, and the young lady was killed on the spot I Mr. Mills was much in jured, and lies, in a distracted state of mind, at Shepton Mallet.—Bath Journal. Tuesday afternoon, as a respectable female, about twenty years of age, was crossing St. James's Park, she was suddenly seized with the pains of labour, and was shortly after wards delivered of a male child. Both mother and child were conveyed by the police to St. Martin's Infirmary, Charing cross. M. Eugene Hugo, brother of M. Victor Hugo, has expired in Paris, aged 36 years. M. Eugene is well-known in the literary world by his poetical works. The founders of the Tusculum Club at Putney hold out, among its chief inducements, that the members may ar rive and depart every hour by a shilling omnibus, or three times a day by a steamer for eightpence ; and to keep the mem bers cool, they are to have nothing hot. The ordinary meeting of the Horticultural Society was held on Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Henderson, V. P., in the chair. The specimens were more than ordinarily numerous and beautiful for this period of the year, and the rooms were well attended; amongst the company being the Earl of Ilcbes ter, Countess of Pawlett, Hon. W. F. Strangways, and Mrs. V. Harcourt, Sirs 0. Mosley, H. Willock, C. Lemon, and H. Rycroft, Colonel Clive, Major Richardson, Mrs. Law rence, Drs. Bostock and Simond, and other distinguished horticulturists. A large silver medal was awarded to Messrs. Loddiges for three specimens of Dendrobium ; and silver Knightian medals to Mr. Glenny for a specimen of An dromeda floribunda ; to Mrs. Lawrence for Idomea Horsfallii, to Mr. Gaines for Rhododendron Russellianum, and Mr. Harrison, of Cheshunt, for a new species of Callistemon. There were also some specimens of pears and a few varieties of flowers from the gardens of the Society, none of which were, however, characterised as of particular importance ; and cuttings of some new varieties of apples, pears, and cherries were distributed. A letter was read from Mr. Wil liams, of Pitmaston, on the proper construction of fruit rooms, in which the writer gave his opinion that a dark, dry room, well ventilated with a current of pure air, would be the most proper receptacle. Several presents were announced to the library, and the meeting adjourned to March 21. The Ordinary Meeting of the Metropolitan Society of Florists and Amateurs was held on Tuesday evening at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, which was numerously at tended, the objects of exhibition being unusually attractive. A gold Adelaide medal was awarded to George Glenny, Esq., for six new camellias, fuchsia microphylla grandiflora, correa pulchella, &c.: and a silver Adelaide medal was given to Mr. Gaines, for a fine specimen of rhododendron Russellia num. The Rev. R. Stainforth presided. An atrocious attempt at murder was lately made by a person residing at Trieste, in Italy, who had a large family, and considered the horrible project of ridding himself of them all in a manner not to excite suspicion. For this purpose he purchased a small pleasure-boat, in the bottom of which he made an aperture, which he carefully stopped with a plug. He then took out his wife and four children on a little excur sion, and when at a distance from the shore removed the plug, and swam for his own life, leaving his family to their fate. For tunately, his murderous designs were frustrated by the timely arrival of assistance, which rescued the intended victims from their danger. On the failure of his atrocious design the miscreant fled, without leaving any clue to the discovery of his retreat. THE DUKE OF ROXBURGH.—Of a piece with the subterfuges to which, we regret, the Tory candidate has had recourse, is the advertisement from Mr. Scott, disclaim ing that his Grace the Duke of Roxburgh had intimated his determination to render him no assistance in the course of the present canvass. Mr. Innes has called upon Mr. Scott to publish the letter which his Grace transmitted to Mertoun House. Although we ourselves stated, that his Grace " con ceived Admiral Elliot to be the most proper person to repre sent this county in Parliament," and Mr. Innes in giving the exact words of his Grace does not state this fact, yet we were substantially justified in doing so, seeing that the circular which Mr. Innes transmitted to his Grace's tenantry bore this import.—Kelso Chronicle, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDIY, MARCH 10, 1837. PRICES OF CANALS, DOCK STOCKS, ASURANCE COMPANIES, &c. &c. &c. LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 7. Number Dividend Price of per CANALS. per Shares. Annum. • Paid. Share. 1,760 7 pet cent. Ashton and Oldham....Average 971. Hs. sh. 135 1,482 4/. Ashby.de-le.Zouch . Average 113/. sh. 65 1,230 Basingstoke lOOl. sh. 51 1,005 5/. Brecknock and Abergavenny 1500 sh. 10e $,OOO 1-16 sh. 91.95. Birmingham, 1.16 th share 851. & 711. 217 4,000 Ditto and Liverpool Junct...1251. sh. 100 pd 31 600 Bridgewater and Taunton ....100/. sh. all pd 64 400 41. Chelmer and Blackwater .... ..... ......100/. sh. 10'2 500 481. Coventry 1001. sh. 700 4,545 Croydon Average 311.22.10 d. sh. 3 2,0605 41. Os. Dudley lOO/ sh '7B 600 71. Derby 100!. sh. 122 20,000 3,5755 31. Ellesmere and Chester Average 133 /. sh. 80 231 - 401. Erewash 1001. sh. 6103 1,297 281. Forth and Clyde Average atCl.l6s. sh. 600 11,500 12/, Grand Junction lOO/. sh. 200 2,305 1/. Grand Union 1001. sh. 245 1,500 Grand Surrey 120,000!. 41. percent. Ditto (optional) Loan - lOU '7O 3,096 Grand Western 100/. sh. all pd 600 131. 10s. id. Glamorganshire, Average cost 172/. 13s. 4d. 230 749 10s. Grantham l5O/. sh. 20'2 6,233 11. 15s. Huddersfield Average 571. 6s. 6d. sh. 35 100 Kensington 100 sh. all pd. 10 25,323 11. 2s. Kennet and Avon, Average 39/. las. 10d. sh. 22 2,8971 20/. Leeds and Liverpool 100/. sh. 535 5455 121, Leicester l4O/. sh. 195 1,897 41. 10s. Leicester and Northampton... Aver 03/.los. 77 2,400 10/. Monmouthshire 100/. sh. 200 50 16/. Melton Mowbray 1001. sh. '2OO 500 251. Mersey and Irwell 100/ sh. 560 3,000 1/. 10s. Macclesfield 100/. sh. all pd. 54 247 171, Neath 100/ sh 325 1,786 301. Oxford 100/ sh 580 2,400 51. Peak Forest Average about 781. sh. 104 21,418 12s. Regent's (or London) Aver. 331. les. ad. sh. .6 5,669 W. per cent. r.ochdale Average SU. sh. 119 500 81. Shropshire 1151. sh. 188 800 9/. 10s. Somerset Coal 1501. sh. 153 3,000/. 41 percent. Ditto Lock Fund Stock lO./. 10s. sh. 11% 700 40/. Stafford and Worcester l4O/. sh. 730 500 91. Shrewsbury - 1251. sh. 243 300 8/. Stourbridge -.... 3,647 21. Is Stratford-un-Avon ...Average 791. 9s. tal. sh. s oo 533 121, Swansea sh. 220 3,702 W. 4s. Severn and Wye and Railway -Ass 351. sh. 191 2,6005 sh. 321. 10s. Treat and Mersey, 1 share 1001. sh. 555 8,149 ... ...... Thames .and Medway...Aver. 19/. ss. B d. sh. 2 1,000511.0 • 150 Warwick and Birmingham 1004 stV 250 1,0004 h..% 940 102. Warwick 311(1 Napton lOO/. sh. 140 6,000 41. Os, Worcest-r anu Birmingharn.-Av. 78/. Bs. sir. 82 5,04)0 22.3. Wilts an., Berks .. Average 67!. 10s. 8.1. sh. 21 800 3/. Wyrley and Essington 125!. sh 75 126 ... Wi s b ea ch lO5/. sh. 45 905 .. . 11: Wey and Arun llO/. sh. 225 DOcKS. 2,600& 7 3 C ommerc i a l 100!. sh. 56 ~ 1, ,,, i5h. s p. c. 4.49,66751. 6 per ct. East India Stock 110 3,233,3101!. 50s.p.ct. London Stock 565 Ditto Bonds 4380,000/. 51. per ct. West India 2.:101 21. 19s. Bristol 68,324/. 5/. per cent. Ditto Notes, various amounts ll5 1,332,752 4 per cent. St. Katharine Stock 91 5011,000 41 per cent. Ditto Bonds . 200,000 4 per cent. Ditto Bonds for 10 years lOO Shoreham [Labour 2.500 ... .... Deptford Piet OO/. sh. 3/. pd BRIDGES. 1,600 Ifs, Hammersuili 5O/. sh. 225 7,231 Southwark, Old 4v. ti:11. 2s. Bd. sh. 2 1,700 11. 15s. Ditto, New, of 71 per cent. 5Ol. sh. 14 5,000 ... ...... W a t er l oo lOOl. sh. 5 5,000 18s. 3d. Ditto, Old .4 imuities of 81. 6O/. pd 181 5,000 16s. 4.1. Ditto, New Ditto of 71 40/. pd 158 60,000/. 51. per cent. Ditto Bonds llB 6,000 17s Vauxhall Average 701. 10s. 3d. sh. 165 ASSURANCE COMPANIES. 2,000 Si lOs Albion 500/. sh. 501 pd SO 50,000 [5 ri t d - c i e , n c t } Alliance, B ritish & Foreign 1001. sh. 101/. pd 125 50,000 6 per cent. Ditto, Marine 100/. sh. 5/. pd 55 24,000 id per sh. Atlas 5lO. sh. 51. pd 135 1,'200 ;sh. 51. Birmingham 1 ire .50/. sh. 55/. pd 105 20,000 4/ per cent. British Fire '2501. sh. 50/. pd 41 12,000 61. per cent. British Commercial 5 0 /. sO. 51. pd ci 5,000 51. per cent. Clerical, Med: .al,&c. Life, ICol.sh. 121102 pd 35 4,000 21 103 County lOW. sh. 10/. pd 42 20,000 ss. Eagle 1000/. sh. 2501. pd 375 200 i t i s ir l i ' d er 3o ce i 1 %9 Economic Lite 2,271 225. per cent. European 1,1, "0!. sh. all pd 22 50,000 its. Ditto, New '.2o/. ~h. 2/. p.J. 15 1,000,0004 7/. per ct. Globe Stock 1515 20,000 5/. Guardian lOO/. sh. 07:11 pd 335 40,000 6s. Pd. Ilope 2,400 Si. 7s. 6d. Imperial Fire 500/. sh. 50!. pd 121 7,500 9s. Imperial Lite 100/. sh. 10/. pd 10 13,458 12s. perch. Indemnity Marl ne . llO/. sh. St pa 16 2,020 31 108 Kest Fire 501. sh. all pd 92 3/. Ditto Life. 79 10, 0 00 16.1. Law Life 5.000 10s. London, Fire 251 sh. 12/. 103. psi 15: 3,900 10s. London, Ship 251. sh. LI. 10s. pd 15. 30,040 51. per cent. Palladium lA, 50/. sh. 2/. pd 21 Ss i.,1 50,000 Protector Foe 2Ol. sh. 2/. pd 18, 0d 2,501) 11. Provident !.tie 100,000 5/. percent. Rock Life "0!. sh. '2l. pd 61 099,220/ 51. per cent. Royal Exchange 'task... 2 . 211 6,000 5 per cent. University Lite WO/. sh. 5/. pd 55 50,000 4 per cent. United Kiluslom Life 2l. pd JOINT STUCK BANKS 25,000 Aerie. anti Comm. of Ireland 25!. sh. 10/. pd 14 5,000 Aust rala. is ........................401. sh. 40/. pd 585 10,000 10 percent. Bank of Birmingham 5ll. sh. 10/. pd 13 10,000 10 per cent. Birmingham Bank 5O/, sh. .51. lid 14 30,000 4 percent. Lonslon and %Vestminster...loo/ sh. 20/. pd 205 3,000 4 percent. Lancaster `25,1100 Liverpool 1001 sh. 10/. pd 225 50,000 6 per sent. Manchester :yid Liverpool] 1000.0. l5l pd 215 Discount 20,000 75 per cent. Manchester 1001. sh. 251 pd 28s 20,000 Provincial II ink of - Ireland-1001. sh. 2.5/. pd 39 20, , t0 National Bank of Ireland 5lll. sh 1711. pd 14 10,000 5 per cent. National Provincial Eng. lOOl. sh. 23/. pd 235 19,01.10 Gloucestershire 5Ol. sh. 10/. pd 00 6,000 10 per cent. Hanipsh ire 5Ol. sh. 5/. pd 9 GAS LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES. 2,500 1/ 5s 6d Bath 2O/. sh. It p 2 21 5,000 British 4Ol. sh. 16!. pd 21 e , 0 - 0 , r5/.percent.l Ditto Provincial 20/. sh. 19 lid 23 ' 0- land Bs. 5%3 92:3 5110 s Birmingham 5O/. sh. 93 4,250 2/ Os Bristol 1,500 31 lOs Brighton '2ol. sh. 13 750 31 lOs Ditto, New 2Ol. sh. 18/. pd 11 2,471 5 per cent. Brighton Geueral ' B Ol. sh. all pd 17 4,000 4/. Continental Consolidated lOOl. 6254 pd 95 1,000 101. City of London lOO/. sh. all p.l 180 1,000 . 6/. Ditto, New 4,000 4/. les. Equitable 10,000 25 per cent. Imperial 5Ol. sh. 411 800 81 per cent. Isle of Thanet 231. sh. 201. pd 20 2,350 6/. per cent. Independent 3O/. sh. all pd 50 9,000 3/. per cent. Phoenix 50/. sh. 391. pel 21 1,000 4/. per cent. Ratcliff 100/. sh. SO!. pd 4,000 South Ssetroliolitan 5 Ol. sh. 191. lid 17 8,200 5/. per cent. United General 5O/. sh. 46/. pd 29 240 5!. per cent. Warwick 501. sh. 50 400 8/. per cent Wakefield 12,000 31. Westminster Chartered 6,000 121. Ditto New ..- 541. sh. 10/. pd 10 860 Yarmouth 201. sh. 13/. pd 9 WATER WO RKS. 4,800 its. Birmingham 25/. sh. 251. pd 24 4,443 61. East London lOO/. sh. 139 5,500 21 10s Grand Junction ....Averaoo 411 13s. 44. sh. 50 2,000 21. Kent 100/. sh. 43 372 101. Liverpool Bootle ' 2'201 sh. 326 1,500 21103 Now River London Bridge Water Annuities 58 6,486 I/ 15s Manchester and Salford lOO/. sh. 53 300 4 per cent. South London 1001. sh. 8 1 8,204 3/. West Middlesex ....Average 63/. 12s. 9(1. sh. 78 1.360 11 14s York Building Co. Lessee Prop 100/ sh. 35 IRON RAILWAYS. 6,000 ..... .... Birmingham and Derby 10!. pd 7 9,500 Birmingham and Gloucester, 101 pd 9 7,500 Birmingham, Bristol, and Thames Junction 1)5 15, 0 00 Bristol and Exeter WS/. sh. 5 pd 1 660 Calcutta and Saugur 5Ol. sh. 21. pd 05 7,500 Cheltenham and G. Western - i 00/. sh. 741. 5 3,000 Clarence lOO/. sh. 100/. pd 46 12,000 8,000 ...... ... Dublin and Kilkenny... 1001. sh. 25 1.4 15 60,000 Eastern Counties 251. sh. 2/. pd 15 Grand Junction 1001. sh. 50/. p.l 167 Great North of England 7l. pd 55 25,040 Great Western lBOl. sh. 40/. pd 465 2,000 Hartlepool 100/. sh. 100/. p 4 100 8,000 ...... ... Hull and Selby 5Ol. sh. 51. pd 25 10,000 Leeds and Manchester 1001. sh. 5/. pd 14 7,100 Leeds and Selby 100 sh. 41 1,500 Leicester and Swannington ....50!. sh. all pd '7O 5,100 10 per cent. Liverpool and Manchester-leash. 1001.104 285 Ditto Quarter Shares 251. Pd 61 10,000 London and Brighton lOO/. sh. 51 pd 5 45,000 Ditto ditto (Gibbs') ...201 sh. I/. p 0 0 16,000 Ditto ditto (Rennie)...so/. sh. 3 1 . pd ll 8,000 Ditto ditto (Cundy)...loo/. sh. 3 0 Pd 11 12,000 20,000 3 per cent. London and Greenwich 2O/. sh. 201. pd 22 25,000 ... ...... London and Birmingham ...100/. sh. 75/. pd 108' 20,000 7,000 London and Croydon 201. sh. 1:31. pd 10 12,000 10,000 Manchester South Union lOU sh. W. pd 5 North Midland 100/. sh. 10/. pd 12 Northern and Eastern lOO/. sh. 31. pd 25 2,600 ... ...... Preston and Wyre 50/. sh. W. pd 28,000 South Eastern and Dover .71. Pd 45 1,000 6/. per cent. Stockton and Darlington lOO/ sh 240 ' 9,000 .... ..... Thames Haven 5Ol. sh. 2/. 10s. Pd 01 1,400 6,000 York and North Midland 5O sh. 31. pd . MINES. 8,000 Albion Copper 5/. sh. 3/. pd 0.5 4,000 Alten 151. sh. 121. lOs pd 135 1)1,000 .... Anglo Mexican, iss. 5/. pm.... 1001. sh. all pd 35 Ditto Subscription :25/. pd 4 2,000 ......... Bolanos l5O/. sh all pd 115 10,000 1/. 103 Brazilian Imp. iss. 5/. pm ..... 35/. sh. 20/ pd 20 6,04:0 Macatibai ti: Cocaes United 2 5/. sh. 2314 pd 7 11,000 ... ...... Ditto St. John Del Rey ' , O/. sh. 81/. p 4 21 10,000 ... ...... Bolivar Copper Company, 201. sh. 201. pd 15 10,000 ......... Ditto Scrip 10/. sh. 8/. pd 9 20,000 British Iron 50/. sh. 50! pd 405 6,000 British Copper Cata Branca 65!. pd 7 Candonga 741. p 4 71 10,000 1/. Copiapo 2Ol. sh 1251 pd 15 8,500 . ...... .. Columbian, iss. 51. pm. 2,850 31. English l2l Its. pd 22 20,000 General Mining Association...2o/. sh. 15/. pd 10 6,155 Mexican Company 100/. sh 545/. pd ji 3,000 Polberott Consols 10/. sh. 81. pd 7 11,500 Real del Monte, Unregistered l6 Ditto Loan Notes l5O/. pd 150 30,000 United Mexican, iss. 2 pm. ....401. sh. all pd 25 i Dins. Scrip 2f Ditto New Scrip 5! pd al West Cork 50/. sh. 50/. pd 38 LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. 1,000 1,500 London University 100/. sh. all pd 235 700 .... ..... Russell 25gs. sh. 8 King' College 100/. pd 32 MISCELLANEOUS. 10,000 153, Australian Agricultural....loo/. sh. 2841. pd 35 6 , 000 61jper cent. British American Land Company 23/. p 4 16 10,000 61. per cent. Canada Company 1001. sh. 241. pd 38 200,000 51. per cent. Upper Canada Loan 95 City Bonds, 4 per cent lOl 15,000 ii . es. General Steam Navigation ...15/. sh. 134 pd 24 10/. per cent. Hudson' s Ba y Sto ck 2,000 I/. London Corn. Sale Rooms Av. '751. sh. 19 8,000 Caoutchouc Company "5/ sh. 24/. pd 25 New Brunswick Land Company . ..... 281 pd 255 2,754 5/. per cent. Reversionary Interest a0c...100/. sh. 100/. pd 130 2,633 5/. per cent. Ditto New 100/. sh. 451. pd 805 4,000 10,000 LIST OF SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES, FEB. 22, 1837. BANKS. 1,500,006/ 61. p. ct. Bank of Scotland .-- 53/. Gs. Sd. sh. all pd 201 h/. 2,000,0x1. 5i p. et. R o y a l o f Scotland 1001. sh. all pd 164/. 500,0001.. Bp. ct. British Linen Company 100/. sh. :,11 pd 2:361. 3,000,0001. 61. p. ct. Commercial 5OOl. sh. 100/. pd 174/. 5,000,0001. sp. ct. National lOOl. sh. 10/. pd 15 , 1/. 2,000,0001_ 51. p. ct. Glasgow Union 250/. sh. 501. pd 681. 4,000,0001. 4p. ct. Western of Scotland .. 2OOl. sh 30/. pd 36.11. INSUItANCE COMPANIES. 250.00051 r. Gi p. ct. Scottish Union .201. sh. 1/. pd 25 8 - ,500 sp. ct. Hercules lOOl. sh. 101. pd 131 ss. 10°,000 sp. ct. Insurance Co. of Scutland....lol. sh. all pd 61. 50,000 Gp. ct. North British .200/. sh. 10/. pd 151. 1.000 sp. ct. Caledonian lire 1004 sh. 104 pd 16/0s 5,000 6p. et. Edinburgh Life .1001. sh. 104 pd 14/53 100,009 • MISCELLANEOUS 4,810 . Edin. and Glas. Un. Canal 50/. sh. all pg 22/ Ditto Allocated 961. sh. all pd 65i 5,400 5 per cent. Ed inb. : Joint Steck Water 251. sh. all pd 3 1 )/ Carron Iron Company 2501. sh. all pd .071 . 2,0005 h .15 per cent. Shotts I ron Founder y ... 5Ol. sh 3:.±/. pd 4gi. 10,000 3 per cent. Edinburgh & Leith Glass 2O/. sh. 16/. pd 7al. 4,500 10 per cent. Edinburgh Coal Gas 25/ sh. all pd ('iB/, 4,450 )0 per cent. Glasgow Gas ' , 51. sh. all •pd 611. 750 7 per cent. Leith Coal Gas 201. sh. all pd 451. 11,206 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway...so/.5h. 55/. 3,000 k per cent, Equitable Luau Company 251. sb. 94 pd la MPERIAL PARLIAMENT. TOUS,E OF COMMONS, MARoz 9. The SEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. Mr. lolmes presented the Report of the Commis sioners I the Port of London. Mr. frafer, from the Treasury, presented papers. Mr. lOUSTON presented a petition in favour of the Glasgoc Railway. Capttn WINNINGTON brought in the Leuer Na vigationßill, which was read a first and second time. WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, GREENWICH, AND DEPTFORD RAILWAY. Mr. ". DUNCOMBE presented a petition from a Mr. Bajamin Weaver, who stated that he had been in duced tc subscribe to the Westminster-bridge, Greenwich, and Dotford Railway, in consequence of seeing names down fo large subscriptions. The petitioner stated there were 11 individuals' names down for 610 shares, to the amount )130,5001., and that every one of those individuals were p.upers.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Duncombe) thoughtthis was a matter of considerable importance, not only as ifecting the interests of the public, but the pri vileges d the House ; and this system of fraud called for summary interference, and summary infliction of punish ment, if :he House had any such power.—(Hear, hear.) One of tlese individuals, named Spencer, signed an acknow ledgment admitting that at the time he signed the subscrip tion list to was not a shareholder, nor did he become so since ; tint he received 10s. for doing so, and that his po verty elate induced him to do it. The amount of shares subscribed for in his name was 1,7001. He (Mr. Dun combe) vas not aware what could be done, but he thought the trarsaction was a gross fraud on the public, on indivi duals, and on that House. _ _ Mr. HUME wished that the petition be referred to a CoMmittee on a similar subject, as all these cases were of the same class. If the public were thus taken in, it was the duty of the House to make inquiry with a view to their protection. Lord G. SOMERSET suggested the propriety of the Member for Fiusbury giving notice of an instruction to the Committee necessary for that purpose. Mr. WILI<.S was anxious to have the petition printed with the Votes, and then a decision could be had upon it. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he would move to-morrow that the petition should be referred either to .the Dover Com mittee, or one specially named ; meantime he wished to have it printed. EDINBURGH, GLASGOW, AND AYR RAIL- WAY. Mr. OSWALD presented a petition from 200 inhabi tantsof Glasgow, in favour of the Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Ayr Railway Bill. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition to the same effect from 4,000 inhabitants of Edinburgh. Mr. WALLACE presented two petitions to the same effect. Lord W. BENTINCK presented a petition from the Town Council of Glasgow, to the same effect, and moved the second reading of the Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Ayr Rai way Bill. • _Mr. R. STEUART strongly objected to the Bill, in as much-as it was proposed to terminate in the middle of Edinburgh, passing through Princes-street Gardens. He did not mean to oppose the second reading, but the ter minus would be strongly objected to. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL believed that a large portion of the inhabitants of Edinburgh also objected to a terminus which would destroy the appearance of that most beautiful city. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Captain ALS AGER presented two petitions against the London and Brighton Railway (Gibbs's line.) Alderman WOOD presented petitions from London, Lam beth, and Southwark, in favour of-the Westminster Bridge and Deptford Railway. He felt certain that the merchants and most respectable tradesmen, whose names were attached to the petition, from London, would not have signed it, had they not thought the railroad would prove beneficial. CORK AND PASSAGE.RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. CALLAGHAN leave was given to bring in a Bill for making a Railway from Cork to Passage. GLASGOW AND AYR RAILWAY. Lord G. BENTINCK presented a petition against this Bill. LONDON AND DOVER RAILWAY. Mr. V. SMITH presented a petition from the East India Company against this Railroad. DURHAM AND SUNDERLAND RAILWAY, This Bill was read a first time. YORK AND MIDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY. Mr. POTTER presented a petition from Lord Palmer ston (as we understood) praying to be heard by Council against this Bill. Mr. O'GRADY presented petitions from different parts of Ireland, praying for Corporation Reform for Ireland. Sir W. FOLKES presented petitions from Norfolk, praying for the total abolition of Church-rates. Mr. - LAWSON presented petitions from Knareshorough and its neighbourhood, against the abolition of Church-rates. Similar - petitions were also presented by Mr. H. Hughes, Mr. Chapman, and Mr. Wilson Patten. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petitiori from the freeholders and landholders of the barony of Dungannon, in the county of Tyrone, in favour of the Landlord and Tenants' Bill. He referred to the Bill introduced last Session stating their approval of the principle of that Bill ; and that in their opinion such a Bill being passed would ob viate in great degree the necessity for the people resorting to such relief as may be provided by a Poor-law. The number of names attached to this pe petition were between eight and nine thousand. Also a petition from the freeholders and landholders of the parish of Errigle Treugb, in the county of Monaghan, to the same effect, signed by 4362 names. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented petitions for the total abolition of Tithes and Ministers' Money, from Dundalk (Louth) ; also from the parishes of Clones East and Errigle Treugh (Monaghan), Fahan and Dysertagany (Donegal), and Aughaloo (Tyrone). POOR LAWS FOR IRELAND. Mr. S. CIIAWFORD—In petitioning for Corpora ration Reform from Dundalk, stated that, among , other causes of pauperism in Ireland, the oppressive and exorbi tant rack-rents which are extorted from the peasantry, in consequence of their necessities, produced by the want of any legal mode of relief, are such as to force them to dis pose of the necessaries of life for the payment of rent, and thus to render them paupers. FICTITIOUS VOTES. Sir R. SIMEON presented a petition against the manu facture of fictitious votes. The petition having been read at length, Mr. FLEMING said he could assure the Hon. Baronet of his disposition to afford to a Committee of the House the fullest information on the subject referred to in the pe tition ; but he should protest against the assumption that he was accountable to the Honourable Baronet, to the petitioners, or to any authority whatsoever, for the dis position of his estate, in a strictly legal manner, subject only to his own will and controul. He would refer Hon. Members to the minutes of evidence taken in the court of the Revising Barrister at the last registration, and from it it would be found, that after a cross-examination of himself and other witnesses, it was clearly proved, to the entire satisfaction of the court, by the petitioners them selves, that the property was strictly conveyed away by him uninfluenced by any conditions, and that the freeholders were as independent as the constituents of any Hon. Gentle man in that House. Mr. HUME said no person had accused the Hon. Mem ber of having acted illegally ; but it was the duty of the House to prevent any improper interference with the elec tive franchise. He hoped a Committee would be appointed upon the subject, and he should now move that the petition be printed. The SPEAKER said the House had wisely limited the printing of petitions to those cases in which any specific motion was to be subsequently made, and he should like to know if such was the case in the present instance ? Mr. WAKLEY said if no other Hon. Member would do so, he would move the appointment of a Committee on the subject on Monday next. Mr. H. HUGHES was about to address the House, but the Speaker intimated that it was contrary to the esta blished usage of the House. The petition was then ordered to be printed. COTTON WOOL. Mr. THORNLEY presented a petition from Wolver hampton, praying for a Repeal of the Duty upon Cotton Wool. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition to the same effect, from a place in Lancashire. Mr. Sergeant WILDE presented a petition praying for a repeal of the law which disqualified voters for Members of Parliament for non-payment of Church-rates. Mr. BRAMSTON presented a petition from Essex, praying for a repeal of the duty on Insurances. Mr. G. PALMER presented six petitions from parishes in Essex against the abolition of Church-rates. Lord JAMES STUART presented a petition from Ayr, praying for a repeal of the duty on Soap. Mr. WILKS presented numerous petitions from pa rishes in the counties of Montgomery, Bucks, Salop, and Middlesex, praying for the total abolition of Church-rates. Mr. GULLY presented a petition from the parish in which he resided, signed by three-fourths of the electors of that parish, many of them most respectable and wealthy gentlemen, praying for Household Suffrage. Sir E. KERRISON presented several petitions from places in Suffolk, against the abolition of Church-rates. Mr. SHIRLEY (we believe) presented a petition to the same effect, sig ne d by 4,000 i n h a bit an t s o f Birmingham. _ .. RECORDS. Sir F. TRENCH gave notice that he would move to morrow for a return respecting the observations made by the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the management of the Record Commission. . _ CHURCH-RATES. Mr. HUME presented nine petitions, praying for the abolition of Church-rates from Bradford, Clerkenwell, from Brecon, from St. lye's, from Malmesbury, from Tot ness, and some other places. The Hon. Member also presented a petition from a prisoner in the King's Bench, praying for the abolition of Imprisonment for Debt. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a petition from the Society of Solicitors of the city of Edinburgh against the Attorney tax ; also a petition from the same place for a reduction of the duty on fire insurances ; also a petition from the merchants of Edinburgh in favour of the Bill for the protection of vessels from ship-wreck. The Hon. and Learned Member also presented a petition from an individual named Bulwich, praying that the laws in the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man might be assimilated to those of England. The Hon. and Learned Member also presented a petition from Edinburgh against Church rates. Mr. P. THOMSON presented a petition from Man chester, praying for the Repeal of the Cotton Tax. The petition was signed by the principal Merchants and Magis trates of Manchester, and had it not been for the rule which the House laid down, he should certainly make some ob servations on the petition ; as it was he should merely present it. Mr. BROTHERTON supported the prayer of the petition. Sir E. WILMOT stated that on the second reading of the County-rate Bill he should move that it be read a se cond time on the 10th of April. Captain WEMYSS presented a petition from Fifeshire For the abolition of Church-rates. Mr. GROTE presented petitions from the Congrega- tions of Protestant Dissenters in the Barbican and I3rod street, city of London, praying for abolition of Church rates ; a petition from the inhabitants of the city of London, praying for the reduction of duty on fire insurances ; a petition from the freeholders of Warwickshire, in favour of the Vote by Ballot, and a petition complaining of various abuses under the New Poor Law Act. Lord ASHLEY gave notice that on Friday, the 16th inst., on going into Committee of Supply, or on moving the first Order of the Day, he should move that an humble ad dress be presented to the Crown, praying that his Majesty be graciously pleased to direct the provisions of the Act passed for the protection of children in factories be duly en- • forced.—(Hear, hear.) INCLOSURE BILLS. Mr. HUME moved that in all Inclosure Bills provision should be made for leaving an open space sufficient for the purpose of exercise and recreation of the neighbouring population, and that in any case where the Committee on the Bill should consider such open space unnecessary, they be required specially to report to the House their rea sons for not complying with the orders of the House. If the Committee did not approve of the insertion of the clause, all they were required was to state the reasons which induced them to come to that decision. Sir R. PEEL did not know whether the terms of the motion were such as would best secure its object, but he thought the subject one deserving the serious considera tion of the House. It was most desirable that the autho rities of every large manufacturing town—indeed of any town having a large population—should have power to set aside an open space for public recreation. There was not, in his opinion, any more legitimate source of amusement. It would tend to promote health, and to wean the lower orders from the bad habits which they sometimes con tracted. If for the object of public benefit it was found necessary to inclose any portion of waste land, though it would be difficult to apportion compensation to each indivi dual, yet it could be done generally, by setting aside for the rural population an open space of play-ground. There could be no question that though the poor people might have no legal right to the commons, yet they h a d a s t r i c tl y moral one, and in the consideration of any Inclosure Bill their interests should not be overlooked. He should not now stop to canvass the wording of the resolution, but simply state his perfect concurrence in its principle.— (Hear.) Every one was pleased with the improvements in the Parks of London, and the same system should be extended to the large manufacturing towns. He would have no objection that a grant of public money to the amount of 5,0001. or 10,0001. would be made for, that purpose, and should give his cordial support to the motion of the Hon. Member.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. BROTHERTON expressed the great gratification he felt at hearing such sentiments from the Right Hon. Baronet, whose powerful influence would materially pro mote the object of the Right Hon. Member for Middlesex. Mr. HARDY would not deny that the labouring classes were entitled to consideration, and that a space should be left for that purpose. The Hon. Member's motion, how ever, went too far, as it contemplated the introduction of the clause into all Inclosure Bills. Now, there was a great dif ference between what were called common lands and waste lands—the former being as much private property as if they had been inclosed, and,they must be considered in the light of highways. The ATTORNEY-GENERA heartily concurred in the proposition of the Hon. Member for Middlesex, but he could not agree with the bad law of the Honour able Member for Bradford, from which every lawyer in Westminster Hall would dissent. He thought wherever there was to be such an enclosure there ought to be such a reservation as was proposed by the Hon. Member for Middlesex. In his opinion it ought to be made a Standing Order of the House. After a few words from Lord Sandon, who was inaudible in the gallery, Mr. POTTER said he had to express the pleasure he felt in common with other Members at what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet, (Sir R. Peel), and the Learned Attorney-General ; but he was afraid it was now too late, as there were very few commons to enclose. The resolution was thdn agreed to, and on the motion of Mr. HUME it was made one of the Standing Orders of the House. SHIPWRECKS. Mr. BUCKINGHAM, after expressing his gratification at the success which attended the last Bill, said that he rose to ask for leave to bring in a Bill for the better regulation of the Mercantile Marine of Great Britain, founded on the Report of the Select Committee on Shipwrecks. The ground-work of this Bill was the Report of that Committee, which was composed in a great measure of , Officers of the Navy, of great standing and experience in the service. He was induced to introduce this Bill, not from considerations of the loss of property, but on the ground of humanity, since the loss of lives was greater than even the loss of property. The Report stated, as a result of an analysis of the returns from Lloyd's, that the loss of property by ship wreck annually was 3,000,0001., whereas the loss of lives was not less than one thousand annually.—(Hear, hear.) In consequence of the facility with which men could in sure, they because indifferent to the fate that might await the ship.—(Hear.) The shipowner did not lose by the loss of the vessel, because he was insured to the full extent of the value of the ship, and thus the ship owner became indifferent to the loss. The underwriter did not lose, because he, by excessive premiums, made up what he might have to pay. The ship-builder was not in jured ; on the contrary, he was benefited by shipwrecks ; neither did the merchant or manufacturer suffer, but the British public did suffer. Much more lamentable, how ever, was the loss of life.—( Hear, hear, hear.) What with the competition of the shipowners to buy, and of builders to sell, cheap, ships had greatly deteriorated in strength during the last forty-five years. A main cause of this de terioration was the bad mode of classifying the vessels at Lloyd's, rather by age than by actual stability. By a re turn which,he had before him it appeared that, within six teen months, not less than ninety-five vessels, with their crews, which had sailed from our ports, had not been heard of, that is, were totally lost. The calamity arose, in a great measure, from the defective construction of the ves t eels, and from the want of experienced commanders, and he could mention an instance where the command of a vessel of 294 tons had been entrusted to a boy of 14 years of age, who had never been at sea in his life before. The ships of the East India Company presented a strong contrast to those of merchant ships in general. There were instances of a ship being from eighty to ninety years old, whilst a merchant ship was considered old at twenty. Thu mas ters also, before being appointed, were bound to prove their competency. Tests of competency and professional skill were required in the Navy. In other countries, as France, Holland, and Sweden, great care was taken to prevent these evils in the mercantile marine. Mr. ROBINSON—Not by legislative measures. Mr. BUCKINGHAM—Yes. In France an Ordon nance had been published in 1681, which had been charac terised by Lords Mansfield and Tenterden as the most excellent marine code of any country. He (Mr. Buck ingham) proposed that a Marine Board should be consti tuted of seven persons, viz., four practical nautical officers, one appointed by the Admiralty, one by the Trinity House, one by Lloyd's, and one by the Ship owners' Society ; with an astronomer and professor of hydrography, appointed by the Astronomer Royal ; a ship builder, to be named by the chief builder of his Majesty's dockyards ; and a legal gentleman or member of the Bar, to be appointed by the Lqrd Chief Justice of England. In conclusion, the Hon. Member moved for leave to bring in his Bill " for the better regulation of the mercantile marine of Great Britain." Mr. HUMS seconded the motion ; and although not friendly to any interference of the House in commercial matters, he thought that the Hon. Member for Sheffield had made out a case which stroagly called for interference. Mr. P. THOMSON, on the part of the Government, was prepared to say that no opposition would be given to the introduction of this Bill. He should give the Bill every attention in his power, and look to its pi-ovisions with great, curiosity ; for if he properly estimated the speech of 211._' Hon. Member, and the report of the Committee, the Bill about to be introduced would pr o b a bly com p re hend a great number of subjects. Whilst he admitted the principle of the Bill, he feared that its details would comprehend a number of subjects which he (Mr. P. Thomson) did not think sus ceptible of legislation. The Hon. Member had stated that it was a matter of shame to this country that, whilst we had such an extensive commerce, and so large a mercantile ma rine, we were so far behind other countries in legislation on this subject. Now he thought this rather an argument against legislation than otherwise ; for it would appear from that argument, that, without any legislation of this kind, our mercantile marine had advanced to a degree far beyond other countries, where legislative enactments existed with respect to this subject. The Hon. Member bad destroyed a great portion of the force of his argument when he turned to the example of France, where a code of regula tions existed with respect to commercial marine. Now it . appeared from the evidence that the only marine which could at all be brought into competition with the commer cial marine of England was that of the United States, where no regulations whatsoever of this description existed. He would caution the Hon. Member against endeavouring to embrace too many subjects in his Bill, and be must, protest altogether against the doctrine which the Hon. Member had put forth, with respect to insurances.. in his opinion, insurances, whether effected on ships or goods, were amongst the greatest improvements -of mo dern times in regard to management and promotion of com mercial interests. He did not wish to prejudge the ques tion, and, as far as the Board of Inquiry was concerned, he was rather disposed to concede that the advantage might be derived from it. He also thought that it would be de sirable to inquire into the cause of shipwrecks, in the same way as they inquired into the cause of any other accident which produced the loss of life. With respect to any in terference with the construction of ships he would most de cidedly object to it. Such a proceeding would be a com plete bar to that competition which was the best security for improvement in the construction of ships, and he, in- . dependently of that, would object to any meddling with the right of industry and the inducements to enterprise. One great cause of the defective construction of ships arose in his mind from the principle of measurement which was a t present adopted. He had devoted great time and attention to that subject, and had sometime since introduced a Bill with a view to produce some better principle of measure ment. He believed that Bill, which had passed, bad been productive of considerable improvement, as far as it went, and it would be competent for them to extend its provisions and make its success more complete as a remedy for that particular evil. With respect to the question of stores, he hoped the Hon. Member would not in the Bill he propod se to introduce attempt any interference with that part of the subject, as he did not think it would be attended with any good result. With respect to the motion altogether, vvh' n the Bill was brought forward he would be disposed, to give . it. every attention in his power. Mr. G. F. YOUNG understood the Hon. Member fo r Sheffield to have stated that the Committee were Os' nimous in the resolutions they had come to. As a mein' ber of the Committee he denied that the Committee were unanimous. He objected to the proceedings of the Hon. Member on this subject because he.noticed that throughout the inquiry he seemed more anxious to carry out precon ceived views than shape his conclusions from the evidence before the Committee. With respect to marine insurances , the Hon. Member stated that shipowners were indifferent to take proper precautions for the safety of their vessels. Now this could not be the case, for if it could be proved that there was any culpable negligence the shipowner would lose the insurance as well as all the property embarked. He also objected to any interference with the construction of ships. He, however, was disposed to offer no opposition to the introduction of the Bill, as he was not opposed to its. principle. Mr. ROBINSON agreed that the Hon. Member was unhappy in his allusion to France, for, as had been stated, the commercial marine that came nearest to ours was that, of the United States of America, where these regulations did not exist. He was disposed to consent to inquiry i 0 cases of shipwreck ; but he was bound to say with respect to the competency of the commanders of merchant vessels that in nothing had the commercial marine so remark ably improved as in that regard. He did not intend to. offer any opposition to the Bill, but merely felt it his. duty to throw out those objections to some part of what the Hon. Member had stated. Mr. CHAPMAN concurred in what bad fallen from the Right Hon. Member the President of the Board of Trade, who had expressed the sense of all commercial oleo with respect to this measure. Sir E. CODRINGTON thought that the thanks of the House were due to the Hon. Member for Sheffield for having introduced this Bill. He had been a member of the Committee, and he certainly believed that sufficient anen . tion was not paid to the improvement of the commercial marine of the country. Col. THOMPSON did not understand either that the Honourable Member proposed any interference with the construction of ships. He would be glad to see the Bill before a Committee, that they might strip it of all nun& cessary provisions, and endeavour to make it as useful as possible. Mr. WARBURTON thought the Hon. Member was mistaken in the opinions he had expressed respecting ma" rine insurances. He hoped that the Hon. Member would endeavour to get rid of any details that were objectionable , and embrace in it the broad points which would tend to make it useful and beneficial. Capt. PEC HELL was anxious to support the Bill, and thought the Hon. Member entitled to thanks for the atter. tion he had given the subject. After a few words from Sir J. REID and Mr. PEASE, Lord SANDON objected to some of the details that had been alluded to in the speech of the Hon. Member; but trusted that anything objectionable would be got rider' Mr. BUCKINGHAM stated, in reference to the olr jections made, that it was not his intention to touch tbs question of marine insurances. The Bill contained onlf twenty clauses, and he would be glad to adopt any sugger tions that might be offered for its improvement. Leave was then given for the introduction of the Bill. AFFAIRS OF TEXAS. Mr. B. HOY, in rising to move for the production e r the correspondence which he had given notice of his inter tion to move for, stated that the subject was one of veri f great importance, and intimately concerned the trade ° this country with the Gulf of Mexico. The objects to he referred to would embrace two subjects—the system °` importing slaves into Texas, and the conduct of t he American Government. It might be in the remembranc e of the House that in Mexico slavery was abolished! (Hear.) When Mr. Canning proclaimed the indepei r dence of the Spanish American States he entered into a treaty with Mexico, of which one of the provisions cr pressly declared that slavery should lee at an end. Und er L that treaty Mexico was to be co-operated with by th' country in putting down the slave trade. But he thougl that it could be shown that, notwithstanding the treaty ° which he had already spoken, slaves were introduced into Texas from the coast of Africa. The conduct of Ameril to Mexico had been influenced by the difference between th at country and Texas as far as slaves were concerned. But th s policy of the United States was not a new one. It had be eo , long acted on, and the Americans now pursued the same of policy with Mexico as they had formerly employed ig obtaining possession of Louisiana. The United Stn te a . claimed Louisiana as belonging to them, but they suffereiLr their claims to lie dormant until it was rumoured that a s'' was about to take place between Spain and this c ountrY; Spain at the time was in the possession of Louisiana, 1). 7 .' 3 " %1 - the course of hostilities it was ceded to the French. the new possessors the United States commenced the 9 IP line of action, and declared that Louisiana belonged to then: and that they would hold any person who disputed the cle l e : to be their enemy. The war with Great Britain took Pl a , n e a , and Louisiana became eventually attached to the Vfl o w re .. In the present struggle between Mexico and Texas the 1 sident of the United Stat e s was c e rtainly placed in a ritu a l, of delicacy. He could n o t restrain his subjects from ne tin e f and at the same time he could not forget the quest ion boundaries was still open—conveniently left *pen pollee; Mexico was in difficulty, and could not, if inclined. , P i i ts large sums cl a imed by Am e ri ca as an indemnity n je a claims. The Mexican Minister was at Washington ', r oe the President deemed it advisable to send troops °' r o• United States into territory claimed by Texas as its IP t o He immediately withdrew from Washington, assignil be his reason " that the honour of the country io ul tb° wounded by American soldiers entering, though wi th n ee most amicable avowed purposes, upon ground from „ h The the followers of his Government had been expelled .' bee conduct of the United States in acting thus was O t t he coming, for there was no doubt that the entrance ° f or e, American army would have the effect of, in a wg„ % jeo overawing Mexico. If this country did not assist n't: her in the present crisis, he saw no means of p re ventin d e s fall. He was neither a possessor of Mexican B on u ' o io° was he a paid Mexican agent. He thought that the of Texas with the southern States would greatly ine lte er ics: Canadians in the north to unite themselves to Am 00 a This country ought either at once to abandon Alesiotbat the treaties it had entered into, or manfully declare or, we would not all o w the Ameri c an s to proceed as theYof a ll doing. The lion. Member then moved for coPie? 0 OW ) correspondence between the Government of rte 1.01 1 1 his Majesty's Government on the subject of T ex , 3s ' o f A the Ist of March, 1836, to the present date. Also sited correspondence between the Government of the 00 the States of America and his Majesty's Govornme°l same subject, for a like period. On the motion being put from the Chair, sub j eof Lord PALMERSTON admitted that the e 00 e brought by the Hon. Member before the House wa