The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-18 00:00:00

ttiOLS. TbaL prudence te lwlieved bat r s t he evente . t Yet t " hat couldvilisat bet ion h! volved ta e that i t Pinion e thus t 0 l' s kaltin, bß t m ight be the popularly gie: ountries wottuS_ e question a,15._ the dill , b t`i i , n d honotl, to had 1. . 4 " . 0 fitu3t ered that Noble Los' .•• As h. (Lord S ta tes, be "Pe o to n' upon •• ti e, stion at from t he P ; Great WO nof t he .biP ,s o f war • „ rce ly to be 00;13 t and b°` "" P her u' ai„as 'ht from 'ay. . n c o a rder tn ces, •yalued 11170 i n g tbe t oll whit Br a f loss 0 r g s were - zs 00 or o tID ntioo it Lordab on the 1 4r o o. ad Belle"P rah 17. ck. °1 a t for tbecr 11 0 ho has 66ee and ord'l"- std s,bobw; , ' XbitehAloP 0' v 14 aril, °' Cow ° woo f. in tjie e vor th S of folV led Zob V, 1 k o n t rio • pl , Way 'jj, tlse TO gICO e e tr P ° THE TARIFF. -Ln.° the order of the day that the House should go into ittee on the Tariff Customs Bill being read, h eir. s , %e s , ' teN said he wished to say a few words to the 11 04 °Pon th e quest i on. It was in the recollect i on o f t h e the het, that on the 27th January the Right Hon. Baronet at th et a d of her M a j esty ' s Government i n f orme d t h e H ouse thos e chain cha nges were a b out to ta k e p l ace , an d t h at of 'anees were to be accompanied by other measures thereat advantage to the country. lie did not take Hie s 9 ' l4 tion as one of free trade or of protection. be e t t° , i tob longer did he mean to keep them in suspense before w ere . e before the house those measures which he had stated tote riot t° know, but to accompany these great commerced te gees --and how long he had learnt to attech seei on t ' l e_ meaning of the word accompany ~f ine keel sho ne certain measures passing their second reading, Other Principle of which being thereby affirmed, ',fere th e T ea sures in connexion w ith them, were even laid upon 811 4 ? of the House? With reference to the Drainage measure' Right Honourable Baronet stated that his tie of three years was connected with the de• keLlf those measures; whether or no the three year, !p ee& are reference to that measure—whether or no the suns : J'g r eel might have reference to that measure—he (Mr. S. In te rn) could not pronounce, and he complained that he was lltel Y unable to pronounce upon it, —( Hear, hear.) th e , t e ll e Right Honourable Gentleman any notion tep t +1 :n 11 11 211e*, or unwillingness of the agriculturists to ac t LI .• ttr il measure? t Had he any notion of the number of trss e i t "et were drainable? Had he any notion of the 1 :'"ot e; e e l P”se of draining those acres—( Hear, hear) " did he mean, as he (Mr. O'Brien) suspected, opt, that it s h ould be all hap-hazard together. They knew Bkr p ß about i t. With reference to Ireland the Right Hon. f.treeeeet etated, th a t it was hi s i nten ti on to take the p o li ce e the ntirely out of the hands of the magistrates, and place it "at d ha ttth of the executive. This was because ',eland ter , IVY "IVY affected by the Right Hon. Baronet's mea tgist„. ot the Right Hon. Baronet had neve! given the t itt n '''' e s of Ireland an opportunity of considering whether Iteie ' e - Pc 3 al would be acceptable or not to them. The great rite tit °f the c entra li zat i on o f th e p o li ce f o rce was connected Nee c entralization of schoolmasters and the auditors of e lt est -ithteee°ants, It was not his (Mr. O'Brien's) fault that those were brought forward as isolated measures. The ;It of`'• Gentleman had presented - them all to the house . ller: t i l t one great scheme, and he (Mr. O'Brien) insisted " 4 tlse ttci t es a question of party, or of politics, l bu h t as a 'tele t of straight-forward business, that they shou d eve a till se ° consider them altogether. He was sorry not to see leit ee l gilt Hon. Gentleman in his place, and he should have t h e ns ee d remarks in consequence, but that he believed more legitimate time for them was on the order . of els• ' ,le But whether the Right Hon. Gentleman was in his Ne t e i',tot, he thought Hon. Gentlemen, boih on the . other t erese.`" House, and on the Ministerial side, had a right to St' -I ° of the course the Right Hon. Gentleman had adopted ISNabile they were charged with dela) ing the progress o 414tasures they had a perfect right to complain that the po th e ttu n• Baronet had committed a double error in reference %t et e ,eonduct of these measures. He (the Right Hon. Sakes") had attempted to expedite the progress of these emit, ‘ t rs throu h the House by joining them with the cry ot 4 p • n et n Ireland.— Protectionist cheers.) He made them elite, reference to temporary pressure. And he had also corn thettetathe other error in prac ti ca lly di ssevering them from Tid e easttres which, by his own confession, would have s e e iL ° O to alle v i a t e an d di m i n ish the difficulties to which hi , 4 (0 11 eXpo e the a ricultural interest.—( Hear, hear. e e' r • O'Brien) did not put the quesi ion on the ground o' rtY, his connexion, nor political friendships—which e e e ti : rt er e now no more—but he would persist in putting the 41,stee,, thee Chancellor of the Exchequer, or some other 4 1e e s' i. of Government then present would no doubt be t ttee ",,t s wer it. He would ask in what manner the Govern ,Nteer°Posed to conduct the public business during the ari "lion ? H e wished to know whether they intended k eat rlK fo rward their new measures relating to the improve ef the land before Easter, so that the agriculturists • P' ° 4 te -e " all opportunity of expressing their final opinions tr alsp Measures which would expose them to the threatened fist its He might repeat that he was sorry to see that. k ei t St 1414 Hon. Baronet g at the head of her Majesty's Govern rise:er not in his place—( Hear, hear)—but of course any 'he tet, ' of the Government would be able to answer the t ats e .„ 4 ti , Which he had put, and if they did not choose to Kt, him the injury would not fall upon the shoulders of the aiketeoreit party but upon themselves in the opinion of every b e lid intelligent men.—( Hear, hear.) th its CH ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that in tee,eat Place he must beg to apologise to the House for the ale ke eo'fi his Right Hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury. assur H e, hel believed, from the constancy of Sf ri r ' e ‘t e e i ll e li nce e t (L e ouran s d repeated chearing)—and his Hoe. L I S at t , e believed, would be inclined to give him credit • - e tid enee, nothing but public duty could prevent hive fe n. ) 1 4 in his place —(Hear, hear.) He (the Chancel! , ;,"rie e ; l e elleouer) certainly wished that his Hon. Friend hart, Ne e " interval of seven weeks, which he stated ha. - ". e'eser e . the progress of this measure, availed himself of the Np e -ti °ns which he had just made, when his Hon. Friene tla he tte'ent, and when he could have gone into detail as to HO°tbst e 4d e which the public business was brought forward. g e ' rt g forward the measures which were now before the 1 1 , 7 ' e ls Hight Hon. Friend had entered into considerable } Via o rle rtspect to measures ; and if he (the Chan • dii c - e ttt e Exchequer) remembered right, in the course of useik'ke .7 1 ""na which bad taken place, great anxiety had been on the part of Hon Member to have a knowledge of 44 4 84 " °I . thewhich . h d b en s proposed for the settle the ° I the • h eequestion. The object of the by L e belie . e ,reMbers bad been fully laid before the House ; and ▪ ef coy of it was in the hands of every Mem liouse.p With respect to the drainage of land crest lie, Iro Provement of highways, very great pro e_lien tic, been made in the drafts of those Bills. esat e„ seeternment would be in a better position, by the es Odittee of Supply, to state what sum of money would t e i ht ef e d for the maintenance of prisoners, and for the pay etrie w officers connected with the poor-law, because some tabj ettoiumlate.eforrequired t bt in the necessary information. 0 0 a miscellaneous services would be laid on the te ttl e t a ti f the House with as little delay as possible, but any gen tklest„acquainted with the subject could make an accurate 'er e", ittewettetrilt°tri,wofoutlhde.hstlartne w be h e ic n h h w ap o p u y ld , be required. The Go had public business per 4she I, nave laid all these Bills simultaneously on the table t ° le d " 0 ". He bad sufficient experience of public business tieoettZ:hat this was quite impracticable. He might have Cri s withteraensawrceir to ohe highways and respecting rii h g e e, pr t r e ed mea stisettl'in had given notice of his intention to put it. At all tad e .e could assure him and the House that the Government desire to witheld any information which might be re °tot "'lt'd which they were in a position to give. regretted, te ;er, th at the questions had b een a dd resse d to h im , because th e al Sues not connected with some of those departments to which ions h a d reference.—( Hear.) e 4, GI LHERT UNIONS.— FARNHAM UNION. P ECHELL wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet, the te e ,'" e `e,r3l of State for the Home Department, whether he was !N. t , n at a petiti on h a d b een presente d f rom th e au tho r iti e s n ) ; F arnham U n i on , w hi c h w as a s in g l e pal i s h un d er th e (4 5 5 , 1 11 Ant, complaini ng th a t th e P oor -l aw C o mmissioners bad wi th notices that it was their intention to annex that parish R el others under the Poor-law Act. He stated that this order I %te 4 e , ° . doubt fou n d e d on th e re p or t o f A s si s ta n t-Poor-law 'tie J i mioner Pigott with respect to this parish, which was s i tte e -e , t he tabl e o f t h e H ouse a f ew days ago, and which they r ee e e r ePated t o s h ow was erroneous. I He therefore wished to hi re nether the Right Hon. Baronet would institute an in kalif : at e the m a tt er , an d wou ld s t a y an y further proceedings it.len investigation was made. j t d G A HAM said he had reason to know such an order 5 5 ( . 1 4 issued b y t h e P oor -l aw C omm i ss i oners , and he be gs ijheir decision was sustained by the facts of the case. lbq rt ° Power to sus Commis th order, hut he would call the t ,j l Z l °f the Boor-law P oners to it, when the subject p a PPed. ts4lr, ''HAW TO LIFE (IRELAND) BILL. d eie-I.IAW wished to know when Government propose e ." first reading of this Bill? They evinced great f, ° ,t remove protection on native industry, but they did 'keer e ar at all eady in their desire to afford protection to oPerty in Ireland. tet ti' j‘ n "l ES GRAHAM said he intended to fix the first te kti e ll e °I the Bill fel- the first order day after the second I of the Corn Bill. The ey TEIE TARIFF. O a te gotise then proceeded with the tariff. ' 4 e : question of silk-gut being proposed, art tel''AYLEY objected to the duty being reduced on . that ells said it was erroneous to suppose that the working LPlie s i lir e 7c in favour of the Government measure, for recce.- Feds' r ,"K Weaver' had been held in Middleton, Nienchester. \ 14 14 i 5 ' 4 41 11/cirk, and other places, at which resolutions were iLlit eetl , o Pposition to the Government . measure. The ( se . 'oee • 'night do what they liked with the farmer eted t ht. eo topriet or , but he trusted tHheeayr ( , would not sacrifice the ar. I:I,gOWRIN s G he w d i w sh e e a d ve t r o .— add a few words to what had I, f "'aa the Hon. Member who had just sat down. 'i he t°ea.4nrers of Lyons had addressed a very remarkable docu- Ntt t the y of Commerce, in which they stated I l hith t e l tl Were p oo r p a and were considered to be ignorant, hut . r ste their poverty nor their ignorance had prevented then. te e s tetaining that restrictions on commerce were injuriew e7rit ee l 9tteests of the people, and that they were deeply in ee les s : ties, extension of markets for their industry. The .7,4l)l,'' ttr ers la France represented the same opinions as the ' s l ate: 4 ' ll, 4 of the cotton districts in Englandthey con keel, that so far from protection being a blessing, it was a Nl k e industry. lie (Dr. Bewring) knew not why the silk Net ia n turers should be werse treated than persons engaged in f l e 'tenches of manufacture.—( Hear, hear.) The subject 'tee e e debat e was s ilk, and now the matters under considera 'N,:ere fishing implements; but he found that Hon. Gen 'oe s t ll Were in the habit of making speeces in the course of e 'elei, ° , e assion which had reference to mat h ters which were al of, and he thought that such a waste of time AO 4, well b e saved to the House. l q s ati e e l 's HORTHWICK thought that the speech of the s lis Cr for Yorkshire had been mainly valuable from eleetieustration it had derived from the speech of the lion. t7 4 it,; t t : for Bolton (Dr. Bowring), a speech which he Aid not be er to say was alike creditable to himself, the country, and , m istt2A 4s e.—(Cbeers.) But in that speech it was openly ill y t he weavers of Lyons and the people of France gene le it s er e eteirel in favour of free trade , a mistake of which to disabuse the House. The Hon. Member for • said do not on that side of the House say anything teili,,e'ittla Pa ssed, question at all. The question of the s ilk trade, he and it was not e the proper reset tr ade r ade on the question of theirPPr course to discuss s ilk gut. The Hon. 4' 1 1 4, bad said th a t the silk trade was / post important to imp " * " a ;t but was not the trade of the colonies of E n g land ot es • tr • ? But et this state ts • ee , t ortance tis coun ‘u Me e i t' l°t ? of everythi to thin g and a settlement l not of melting, be eXo sl'tern of.—( Hear, hear.) The effect of this change s e , l iese stn any good in preeortion to the evil that would e sty He had to apologise for having se long trespassed on e t, w lr, mi j ni s et the House. Opi d vt.t t Z said he would l a v i o l t d e u f t o ie r s t ; his measure because u sseti or ebe rep e t a but he would just th:_bile eee a ,rreut einc,as h i h o ed been alluded to by his Hon. ti st : t tior t et. ' - ol n i lti i e t , a and he footing. He e would allow him to put that He (Mr. Muntz) had often ith he re to learn Pr w o ra r t he ought to have known before. And hr ki re" i r cl to th Inc trade, he certainly thought he knew a te t'ee eek about • e At one time that trade was confined . to 1 1 '4 worked it merely for the purpose of crinsumine 4 1 ,, tri ed teei e he never made a f ny t profit by it. Another person it, a nd the result was that he e;:efe etur ` e n d it lanu l f f ae t tu to re the Ga , zetta—(Laughter.) There e l ° s ant t ' e r : l ) . one period when sine was at a high price in this ° land: t tnd. that P was when the sins mines in Silesia, in Auld ne had suspend e d working ; but if the Hun. Member :1, 4 t . t ritt W g i ve him (Mr. Muntz) zinc at that price he would i s h h him for 1,000 tons. There was one other point Jaes ha wished wished to ment i on . Th e w h o l e t ra d e carried on in f e lt ; s e e. been e n ti re l y d estroye d by th e bringing? of foreign stares will from its cheapness, suspended the original menu ftbe °f . brass. H e was as anxious as any man for the repeal .... i l ' l ths e -orit- blevs, as well as the repeal of all other laws.—( Lend h He meant to say the . repeal of all other duties, t aff wonld 'red to .wish them to be fairly adjusted while they were stint; h e ex lst.—Agreed to. tll4:tlr. e eTaii , i fr, p r 4po t s h e:l e d h u a t i e r • , of 15s. on spirits and strong waters toe ee‘ "MP6ON objected, and said that by reducing the se e r e -- efewitc brandy to los , which was nearly one-third, re t' of the customs would suffer a deficiency of 400,0001 Y 1 lit did got knew on what groan& it was proposed " `s_ THE SUN, LON DON, WEDNESDAY EVEN . ING, MARCH 18, 1846. to abolish this very large amount of revenue, which was larger than any other sum of duty mentioned in the schedule. One of the objects of the proposed tariff was said to be to increase the consumption of this article, and not to diminish it. He could not believe that any of her Majesty's Government, or of that House would wish to see the consumption of spirits in creased in this country. If it were desirable, it would not be expedient to bring such articles as brandy and other spirit: more within the reach of the people than they were at present. It could not he done because the price would be still high, for when the ieeposee. dety was put on there would still remain a duty ec. 300 per cent. Cognac brandy was the only description of Prench bandy thet AC, iironght into this country foe con sumption, tinsl eetlil only hi. ()leaked from a few who were engaged in the Ueguart trade. He would ask what good had rseulleil front the oguelisation of the duties on French and Portuguese wines No aecession of commerce had taken place, neither had the eie toms revenue been increased. He wished always 1, base a surplus reveiree re income over the expenditure, for it was the wisest, safest, and, in the end. the moat economical for the country. In cenelm.iun, lie would ask whether the in censes of the pep e would not be better consulted by a par tial repeal of the excise duty on soap, than by allowing the V 1 1 ,4410 0, sum ss lhieb was paid on French brandy to be com pletely lost. He should move that the words " spirits and sti ong eat era" he struck out. Mr. EWART maintained that the commerce with France would be increased rather than diminished by the proposed re duction of the duty on brandy. It was a well known fact that the French trade had increased since the equalisation of the duty on wine, and it was only an act of justice that the duty wan reduced to the same amount as that paid on Portuguese wines. He was not inclined to favour France more than Por tugal, but wished that British commerce should meet with every encouragement. He trusted that this was the beginning of a further reduction of the duty en French articles, and he felt satisfied it would be met with reciprocity on the partof France. The Marquis of GRANBY said that it was of very great importance to the welfare of the lower classes that the duty on foreign spirits should not be diminished. He had found that crime and disease had increased in proportion to the supply and consumption of strong liquors. He had a paper in his hand showing the great increase of crime, but he would not trouble the House with reading it further than to state that the document showed that in Scotland seven-eigths •of the crimes that were there committed originated entirely from the abuse of spirits. If that statement was true, and he had no reason to doubt itsveracity, ho really was at a loss to know what argument could avail in support of the proposed reduction of the duty on foreign spirits. The Noble Lord then quoted some extracts from Mr. M‘Celloch's work to show the me:. pediency of reducing the duty on foreign spirits. Now he did hope that they would not pass the reduction of duty. For himself he apposed it, because he believed that the question of protection in this instance must take higher ground, and the use he argued as one involving not only protection to British industry, but of protection to the well-being and happiness of the British nation. He did hope that Gentlemen opposite would throw off the chains by which they had bound them selves to her Majesty's Government; and he did still more hope on this occasion that humanity and reason would triumph over a most pernicious and unnatural coalition. Mr. CARD - WELL observed he would be quite willing to meet the Honourab:e Gentleman on the question of revenue, and he was happy to a n ree with the statement, that in the arithmetic of the revenue department, two and two would by no means make four, for they could never double the produce in 'he Exchequer by doubling the duty ; however, it by no means folowed that if they diminished the duty they would diminish he produce to the Exchequer. They had plenty of historical iroof of the truth of the tatter assertion. and. as he would nu: weary the House by entering into a lengthened damned state ment of them, he would only refer them to the report of the Commission appointed to examine into the excise duties. After a few words from Mr. KNIGHT, The House divided, when there appeared For retaining the item For the amendment 35 Majority —29 The several items from brandy down to clover were then agreed to. On the latter article being proposed, Mr. ALLIX asked the Right Hon. Baronet not to take the duty of 10s. off clover. He instanced a case where the con tinuance of the protection would be of great use to the la bourers, and proceeded to ask if it was wished to drive away all the gentry of the country from their paternal mansions !? He would not divide the House upon it, as the Right Hon. Gentleman appeared to be all powerful, but in justice to his own feelings, he thought it necessary to protest against the reduction. Sir R. PEEL gave the Rote Gentleman credit for sin cerity in hoisting the opinio”s which he dei. net he thought he carried hie attachilient to protection oe clover a little too ,ar, when he stated that :he reduction of it would drive the gentry of the country front their patereal mansions. —(Great lauehter. ) That. he thought, was carryties protection a little too far.—(Continue) laughter.) So fete however, from this sedue+iess being injurious en farmers, he considered that this duty of 75.0001 was one of the burdens on agriculture. No thing would be more beneficial to farmers than increasing :heir facilities f'r ptneuriog clover seed, and no duty that could be remitted would he so beneficial to the 501. tenants. this was one of the ciearest cases where the interests of agri culture would be benefited. Mr. ALLIX explained. He assured the Right Hon. Baronet ne did not say that the reduction of the duty on clover, but the measures of her Majesty's Government would drive away the gentry from their paternal mansions. The resolution was then agreed to. The next item proposed was the reduction in oxen, cows, sheep, &c. Mr. W. MILES said that since 1842, when the alteration took place, the importation into this country of bullocks, cows, sheep, &c., had greatly increased. If this importation went on in the same ratio, there would be no chance for the English grazier in competition with the foreigner. The duty at pre sent on oxen was 1/., on cows 155., on calves 10s., on sheep 35., on lambs 25., on pigs 55., &c., and notwithstanding these duties the importation of foreign cattle was yearly increasing. On an animal weighing only six cwt. the English grazier suffered a loss of 31. 12s. 6d., as the foreign grazier could im port it into this country, after paying all duties and charges, for that amount less. He would just take a comparative glance at the number of cattle imported into England for the last three years. On the sth Jan., 1844, the number of oxen, cows, sheep, &c.. amounted altogether to 2,099 animals. On the sth Jun., 1845, the number was 7,764, and at the same period of 1846 the number was 34,426, which showed a most extraordinary increase. From this statement, therefore, the progress o: the increase from 1842 bad been gradually getting greater. He would move the emission of the following articles, namely, oxen, cows, calves, beef fresh, and beef salted, and not hams. Colonel SIBTHORP felt the measures proposed by her Majesty's Ministers to be of so unsound and unstatesmanlike a character that be hoped their time was limited to no very dis tant period. He (Colonel Sibthorp) had a letter from his constituents, expressing regret that he did net accept the Chiltern Hundreds.—(Laughter.) They were sorry he had not done so, beeau'e they would have shown the Right Hon. Baronet, that notwithstanding he would have sent down a nominee of his own, be ( Colonel Sibthorp) would have been returned without one farthing expense. Mr. P. HOWARD thought the best course for the Govern ment to pursue in regard or cattle would be to have a registra tion of cattle imported. Last year there had been imported 15,0s)0 oxen and cows, and by putting on a duty of Is. upon that amount it would produce 1,0001. By having such a sys tem of registration, it would be the means of ascertaining the :,recise number of the impurtat ion of cattle. Sir ROBERT PEEL had listened to the Hon. Member with that attention which his station demanded. He had also listened to the Hon. Member for Somersetshire. The Hon. Member for Carlisle said there had been 15,000 oxen and cows ;rnporteci in the last year, but that did not prove that the price of meat had fallen. The contrary was the fact. It was proved on a former evening that the contract for meat in 1843 was 11. ifs. 4d., but in 1844 and 1845 it had more than doubled, and that did not show anything like the injury to the value of the arti cle that Hon. Members anticipated. There was Ireland, where the soil was more fertile than in this country, and where the wages of the labourer were much lower. The wages of the agricultural labourer in that country were nomore, on average, than 10d. a day ; there was no land-tax, and no property-tax there; and if the people of this country could compete against. Ireland, which exported so much—a country with so many advantages, where wages were so low—what need was there to fear a competition with other countries? What oc casion was there to fear a competition with Rolland, where wages were lower, but here the soil was not so good as in our own country? It would be no consolation to tell them that they were being ruined by Ireland, and that, therefore, they , hoilld also allow theraselvei to h. rivine.i by other countries; hut there was no such prospect, and the fact of Ireland not re- Jutting the price of meat in this r.arket fully answered every argument raised z.gaitist this article of the tariff. The price of meet had considerably advanced. Was not every butcher rais ing the price of meat ?—was it not undeniable that the rise of er:ce was occasioned bt the rate of coesemption ? By admit • tine this importei l en. they would at least put down the extra vagant price demanded for this article of consumption. It bad teen) said that there was a decrease of sheep in Smithfield mar ket during the last year, and was he doing wrong in giving them a supply front abroad? It had been com itlained of also, that there was a scarcit y of the article upon which cattle was fed in this country, and Inc thought he was doing something to meet that want, in allowing the importation of barley at the proposed re duced rate, which would all ow them the means of feeding t h eir cattle, and so be better able to compete with the foreign markets. Considering, then, the repeated deficiency in the markets, to which he had alluded, he did think that the admis sion of cattle and sheep to this c ountr y from forei g n countries, duty free, would confer a great benefit upon the agriculturists of this country, and therefore be should adhere to this prophsi teen, for he felt as that by it he had not sacrificed the in terests of others Mr. FINCH had heard a great deal said upon this subject, but he would just say in respect to the arguments adduced in reference to high prices, that the effect of the high duty being taken off the foreign sheep and cattle, would only be to put money in the pocket of the foreign importer, and therefore the reduction of the revenue in that respect would be a needless one, because the English public would really derive no sub stantial benefit from it.—( Hear.) Another reason assigned for the importation of foreign cattle so extensively, and free of duty, was that they were of a description so inferior that the English cattle dealer had nothing to fear from them.—( Hear, hear.) But then other Hon. Members had argued that the breeders of foreign cattle had been so successful, that in a few years they would be able to compete with the first breeders of cattle in the world. Now, he begged to remind the House that the English breeder of cattle had suffered much by the destructive effects of the murrain in the cattle in his neigh bourhood. Well, then, he would like to ask if the effect of this should be to raise prices, would the Right Hon. Baronet be ready to put the duty on again, in the event of the prices becoming low again ?_( Hear, hear.) It was quite true, that the Irish beasts could not competewith the English beasts in the same way that the foreign beasts did; but it was equally true, that the foreign beasts wonld new be enabled by this Bill to enter into successful competition with th e ca t t l e o f t hi s coun try, to the prejudice of the English agriculturists. If, there fore. those reductions were to take place, what may they not anticipate in the shape of reductions of the same sort to the prejudice of the linglish farmer? If foreign cattl e were t h us to be introduced into the English market the English dealer would be ruined. There was at this moment an actual tax of 31. 10s. upon every head of English cattle brought into the English m ,rket, as had been proved by evidence taken before the House of Lords. Ihe Hight Hen. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, laughed, but that only showed that he knew nothing whatever of the agricultural condition of the country.—( Hear, hear.) Rut he begged to remind the Right Hon. Gentleman that when he took into account the difference between the actual price of barley and the tax upon malt, it would appear quite plain that what he had stated was the fact. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he rid practical knowledge upon this subject, j p ec re t, te b n u d t t b o e phosesgegsedmtouerhemind the Hon. Member that last year a Bill was brought in by which to enable the farmers to use malt for fatting their cattle. Upon that arose a dispute as to whether malt or raw barley would be most beneficial for that purpose. The result was, that an agreement was entered into for trying the experiment with those two articles, and it was found that the cows fed upon raw barley gave more milk than those fed upon inalt.—( Hear, hear.) Papers bearing out this statement would be laid upon the table of the House, and he trusted they woolii B they the Hon. 'el ember. Sir JOHN TYRRELL said Is- load heard a good deal upon the eubject of rcalc auri haven ae ihod for cattle, but he should like to ask the Right Bon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty $ Government whether he did not consider himself answerable in a great measure for the falling off in the supply of cattle that had taken place by reason of the introduction into this country of the disease of cattle 2—( Laughter.) Hon. Gentlemen might, laugh, but he begged to tell them that the introduction of foreign cattle into this country with diseased lungs and other diseased organs ...:used the spread of that disease amongst the cattle in England, and was a great means of preventing grawiers from breeding cattle. Mr. VILLIERS sail that the Hon. Member who had just sat down had dwelt at great length, and with great eloquence, upon the subject of diseased cattle ; but he had forgotten to tell the HOUS3 that there was a time when he made a speech in which he said that the farmers of this country had nothing to fear from American competition, because, in fact, the cattle that came from that country were in such a condition that you could clearly read the newspapers through them— ( Laughter)—and as to the American pork, that lost more than half its value on the passage. He (Mr. Villiers) had heard a great deal said about the importance of those imports to the dealers in them, but not one word had been uttered in reference to the poor people for whose benefit their prices had been re- duced.—( Hear, bear.) There could be no doubt that this measure would pass, and Hon. Members opposite had no doubt of it—(Cheers and laughter)—but he would ask them were they aware of this fact, that there were very many of the labouring classes in this country who for forty years had not tasted meat?—( Hear, hear. ) Sir JOHN TROLLOPE begged to offer a few observa tions to the House. The Right Honourable Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government had loudly cheered the remark of an Hon. Gentleman, with reference to the disease in the breed of cattle. Now he recollected when that Right Hon. Gentleman introduced the income-tax he told the coun try they should save it out of their style of living. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman had suffered his part of that.—( A augh. ) The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had adverted to experiments, but he should say that they were prevented by the excise from carrying out these experiments. Now, if he might be permitted to say, having had some ex perience, that if his friends at the same side of the House had exaggerated the alarm with respect to the destruction of cattle, and the number imported from abroad, they did so, not of themselves, but on the representation of their constituents.— ( Hear, hear.) They had been treated to a eornelaw lecture by the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton, though he (the Hon. Member) could not see what that subject had to do with that under discussion. The Gentlemen on his side of the question were in favour of every description of encouragement, cultivating the land extensively and feeding cattle, because they were aware that from those sources sprung cheap feted for the public.—. Hear, hear.) And it was only by the perpetual in terference of the Government in the matter that such bene ficial effects were checked, as the Right Hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, would, ere many years, discover to be the fact.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. P. BORTH WICK said that, in 1842, the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, in introducing his tariff, told them, in reply to an observation made by an Hon. Member, to the effect that Spain, owing to the richness of its soil, would import cattle, that he ( Sir R. Peel) felt assured a single hoof would never cross the Bay of Biscay. though the result was that, in that very year, several head of cattle were imported from Spain. They had heard it stated by the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton, that, owing to the depression in agriculture, the wages of the agricultural labourers were low ; yet they were going to improve the condition of the agricultu rists by a further permission of articles of foreign growth free of duty. It was impossible, in his opinion, to fix tae gentlemen of the Anti-Corn-law League to any certain principle.— rhey had, 'o he sure. succeeded in converting twe cabinets by means the most extraordinary that ever the country witnessed. They proclaimed in the face of the country that their determi nation was to benefit all classes ; but how did they set about doing that ? Why, by depressing that class en which the pros perity. of the rest of the country depended.—( Hear, and a laugh.) He wished to ask the gentlemen what reason they had given in defence of the proposition which they maintained? But he would not pursue the argument, as he merely rose to ask the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton how it was that his ar gument so completely contradicted itself ? (Laughter. ) Knowing the distinguished ability of which the Hon. Member was possessed, he (Mr. Borthwick) could not believe the Hon. Gentleman was serious when he rose to proclaim his opinion that the same measures could, at the same time, and under the same circumstances, raise the prices of corn and beef, and also depress them.—(Hear, and lau >later.) After a few eeods from Mr. VILLIERS, which were in audible in the gallery, owing to the cries for a division, Sir J. WALSH expressed his regret that Hon. Gentlemen at the opposite side should have attributed motives of a selfish nature to Gentlemen who happened to be at his side of the question, though they had ever contended that they repre sented the great national interest of the country, with which all other interests were interwoven, and still believed that they were contending for the benefit of all classes, as well as Hon. Gentlemen opposite.—(Hear, hear.) It was true that in the present moment the price of cattle was higher than it had been for many years; but if the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government had been called upon six or eight months since to introduce his measure, he would have spoken very differently.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.") He should express his regret that that Right Hon, Gentleman should have thought fit to disturb the arrangements entered into by him in 1832, and which occasioned the evil effects which the trade at that moment were only relieving themselves from. The case of Ireland had been mentioned. Now he saw no parity whatever in the case of Ireland as compared with foreign countries, as Ireland was an integral portion of the empire.— ( Hear, hear.) The great article of produce in the south of Ireland was cattle, and if the value of these was depressed great evils would ensue, and the state of the country be made much worse than it was at present. The measures of the Govern ment, instead of improving the condition of Ireland, would only aggravate its miseries,and place the population in a much worse position than they were even now. On these grounds he must oppose the present alteration. 111 r. ELLIOT YORKE only rose to protest against Honourable Gentlemen on the Opposition benches using such language as they did in reference to the great interest which he, and those on that side of the House, represented. He felt it his bounden duty to oppose the pre sent motion, as well as all others that went to reduce the amount of protection to agriculture. The prognostications of the Right Hon. Baronet on this subject had not been made out, and therefore the change was not justifiable nor expedient. Mr. KNIGHTLEY said the cause of the present dearness of cattle was the unhealthiness of last summer, which destroyed a great quantity of stock. If the present alteration was carried, the effect would be, that the home market would be swamped, cattle from Russia and the north of Europe. Great facili ties would be offered to sending cattle to this country, from the railroads that were being constructed in those countries. Mr. CUNIMING BRUCE was against the alteration. He had received a letter from an extensive grazier, who stated that the home market would be filled with lean cattle if this alteration was made; and especially that the Highland cattle roarer! would be ruined by the importation of foreign stock. By referring to the importations that had already taken place, 'hey had evidence how the market would be affected. In 1844 the number of cattle imported was 1,521 ; in 1845 it was 4,920; while during the last year it was 16,870. He most cordiallt supported the amendment. Lord G. BENTINCK rose amidst loud cries of "Divide, divide." He said, he supported the Right Hon. Baronet when he altered the duty on cattle, at the time it was a prohibitive duty ; but he could not agree to the present alteration. He could not look upon ten per cent. as a prohibitive duty, and to that he wa' disposed to adhere. In answer to the lion. Mem ber for Wolverhampton. who had complained the the people of this country did not get a supply of meat, he would inform the House that the population of this country eat more meat than the people of any other country in Europe. The average con sumption of the people of this country was )ter annum 92 lbs. each person; while no other country in Europe consumed more on an average than 50 lbs. As he had resisted the other portions of the tariff, that did away with protection to agriculture, so mast he oppose the present, and vote with his Hon. Friend below him, who had made the motion. If they were defeated in that House, he had. better hopes of the House of Lords, and should Hon. Members be sent back to their constituents, judging from the recent elections that had taken place, lie had no doubt his party who stood up on behalf of native industry, would come back strengthened, and with such power as to put a stop tat the ruinous policy that was now prevailing with the Govern ment.—( Cheers.) 'The House then divided, when there appeared : For the amendment Against it Majority -39 Several items in the tariff having been agreed to without opposition, On the proposition that the duty on foreign hides should be lowered, Mr. LAWSON said that he should have to offer one or two observations on this subject. He intended to move, as an amendment, that the word " hides" be left out altogether. The introduction of foreignl hides, by the tariff of 1842, had been attended with ne benefit to the w or ki ng c l asses , f or he could state, with perfect safety, that in no part of the country were shoes to be had cheaper than before the duty had been altered ' and therefore to that extent at least the re d uc ti on o f d u ty o n foreign hides had been attended with no advantages. The Noble Lord the Member for London had taxed the Gentlemen with whom he (Mr. Lawson) acted, with their new-born zeal for the working classes. He could inform the Noble Lord that their seal was not new-born, and, as regarded himself, he could only say that in the proposed alterations of 1832, he had moved that native manufactures, where protected already against foreign competition, should return that protection. In the very same spot he now proposed the amendment that the word " hides" be left out of the present tariff. Sir JOHN TYRRELL rose to second the amendment. As they well knew that one fact was better than a thousand argu ments, he should trouble the House with a circumstance which bad been communicate d to himself b y a cler gy man , one of his constituents. He related that a farmer in the neighbourhood, a man of undoubted capital, was so alarmed by the late and further proposed altera t i ons that he had already dismissed ten of his workmen, and w a s on the p oint of dismissing ten more. What made the case the harder was, that these men and their a ncestors had been in the emp lo y ment of this fa r mer and his predecessorsmGf Government nt a t lt wouldeleastm en 100 answer y e opposite,a r the r . o H qp ; e ere hs s tai hpoosnu ,show l o d liket Memberhtcos these know men of were to be" absorbed," for that h e believed was the word with them, now that they had lost the ir former work? He (Sir John Tyrrell) shrewdly suspected that tl o workhouse, in that and similar cases, could best tell the tale. These persons he was informed were in the habit of attending the meetings of the Anti-Corn-law League, and subscribing to their dogmas. He suspected that the promised " cheap loaf" had blinded their understandings. Sir G. CLERK presumed that the men bad been dismissed from their employment in consequence of the uncertainty which at present prevailed — ( Great cheering from t he protectionists, which was of considerable duration, and in consequence of which it was impossible to hear the conclusion of the sentence ) So great was the uncertainty that trade generally was paralized. ( Renewed cheering.) 'fhe Hon. Member for Knaresborough had complained that the tariff of 1842 had been productive of no advantages to those employed in the manufacture of shoes. Did the Hon. Member mean to say that the introduction of the material which those persons used in their trade in large quantities and at a cheaper rate, was not a benefit to them ? The return of the quantity of hides imported would demon strate this fact. In the first year after the alteration, they had imported above 500,000 cwt., in :he second year 600,000 (nets., and in the last year 700,000 wets. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared— For the original motion Against it Majority for Ministers • —sB On our return to the gallery, we found that the article of linen had been proposed. Mr. LAWSON said that as the linen trade was very exten sive in the borough which he had the honour to represent, he should think it unbecoming in him if he were to remain silent while he heard the dearest interest of his constituency interfered with. 'The growth of home flax had enabled the manufac turers in this country to compete with the foreigner. Ile had no doubt that they would be enabled to do so after the abolition of the duty, but they could only do so at the expense of their work people. During the last autumn he had been waited upon by a body of workmen, who stated to him that their masters, who were li nen manu f ac t urers , had promised them an increase in their wages of ten per cent. This promise, however, had never been kept, and therefore the workmen had turned out. Their masters had informed them that they were unable to pay the workmen the required ad. vance, in consequence of the badness of trade. These workmen applied to kiln (Mr. Lawson) to give theta a rabsoription to enable them to stand out against their masters, but he refused on principle to accede to their request. This was a con vincing proof of what they might expect from an abolition of pro tection. He was for protecting the native industry of the country, and he, for one, preferred Scarborough linen to German linen, Leeds woollen goods to Belgium, and York clogs and shoes to Paris articles.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) He moved, as an amendment, that the word " linen" be left out. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he represented a town where there were extensive linen manufactories, and certainly he had heard nothing from his constituents to lead him to believe that they were opposed to the Government measure. From what he knew of them, they were adverse to protection in any shape, and did not dread competing with the foreigner.—( Hear. ) The amendment was negatived without a division, and the original motion was agreed to. 'TIMBER DUTIES. On the timber duties being proposed, Mr. MITCHELL moved that the duty on foreign hewn timber be reduced 10s. per load on the sth day of April, 18.16, and other kinds of wood in proportion. Mr. CARDWELL said that the principal object in taking off the duty on an article, particularly the article of timber, was to create benefits, not for the foreign producer, but rather for the consumer of our own country ; and he thought that ho might fairly take the authority of the Hon. Gentleman him self against the position which he had submitted to the House in support of his amendment. The Hon. Gentleman had told them, that if notice could have been given at an early period of the winter, there would have been a. very large importation of timber from Russia and Prussia into the English markets ; but if he rightly recollected the Right Hon. Gentleman's ob servations, he must admit that large importations need not be expected at the present moment, it the original motion were carried. The House of Commons were now called upon to determine at what period, with a due regard to the revenue and the consumer of this country, they might abo lish the duty on timber; and he contended, that by the first admission of the Hon. Gentleman, supported, and not im paired by the second statement which he had made, he h d his authority for saying that the House of Commons was called upon to resist the amendment. After a few further observa tions from the Hon. Gentleman and Sir John Hanmer in sup port of the original motion, Mr. MITCHELL withdrew his amendment. Lord G. BENTINCK suggested that the further considera tion of the timber duties should be postponed till Monday next Cries of " Oh, oh," and'. Go on")—and then the de bate might he probably concluded next week.—(ob, eh," and " Go on.") Sir R. PEEL hoped that the prophecy just made wo uld be realised.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) He believed then that he might take it for granted that the debate on the second reading would be concluded on Friday week. The question was, whether they would prefer having six nights' debate upon the tariff or the Ccrn Bill. He thought that the best arrange ment that could be made would be (as there was an important motion with regard to railways, with which he would not inter fere)—(Hear, hear)—to take the timber duties on Friday, and begin the debate on Monday, with the general understand ing that the speeches would be so shortened as to admit of the realisation of the prophecy of the Noble Lord.—(Hear, bear, and laughter.) RAILWAY LEGISLATION. Mr. PARKER, in consequence of a suggestion from Sir R. Peel, consented to postpone the consideration of the motion of which he had given notice relative to the subject of the necessity of some further legislation in railway matters. The Coalwhippers Act was then lead a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday week. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the Muse adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. From the rotes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUESDAY, MARCH 17. The following petitions for Railways were reported, and the Bills ordered to be brought In by the undernamed lion. Members : Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and South Staffordshire (No. I)—Lord Ingestre and Mr. E. Buller. Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and south Staffordshire (No. 2—Coal brookdale Branch)—Lord Ingestre and Mr. E. Buller. St. Alban's, Luton, and Dunstable—Mr. :Udell, Mr. Denison, and Mr. C. Buller. Admiral Dundas. ( B 2 o a r n n ff , s v h a i ll r — e — si E r a c rl . ojemMoanr,cihtra.nrdrMaerii,Dard. STANDING ORDERS' CONIMITTEE, The following resolutions were reported front this Committee :- 1. That, in the case of the Cornwall Railway petition, the standing orders aught to he dispensed with:—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill , on inserting, in figures, on the cross sec. tione of the roads deposited in the Private Bill-office, the rates of inclination of the present and altered roads. 2. That, in the case of the Alliance Gas petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, with the exception of the clauses giving power to the Company to sell or lease their undertaking. 3. That, in the case of the Wakefield Waterworks petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be per mitted to proceed with their Bill on depositing an amended declara tion in the Private Bill-office, stating the nature and amount of the funds or surplus revenue, by means of which the works are to be made. That the Committees on this and the two preceding Bills do exa mine, in the first place, bow far such orders have been complied with, and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill. 4. That, in the case of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 5. That, In the case of the ,Lancaster and Preston Junction Rail way petition for leave to preaeit a petition for a sill, the sessional order ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to present a petition accordingly. t. That, in the case of the Berks and Hails (Hungerford Ex tension) Railway petition for leave to present a petition for a Bill, the sessional order ought to:be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to present a petition for a 14111 for making a Railway from Hungerford to Westbury , and likewise a Railway from the Great Western Railway to, or near to, the Radstock Collieries. 7. That, in the case of the Direct London and Manchester Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 8. That in the case of the Edinburgh and Glasgow and Dumber tonshire Junction Railway petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. First, second, third, fifth, and sixth resolutions agreed to.—Report to lie on the table. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUESDAY, MARCH 17. CUSTOMS AND CORN IMPORTATION. Motion made, and Question put, " That Spirits or streng Waters of all sorts, ylz. : Spirits, for every gallon of such Spirits or strong Waters of s. d. any strength net exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes's hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater or less strength than the strength of proof, and for any greater or less quantity than a gallon, viz.:- --- not being Spirits or strong Waters the produce of any British Possession in America, or any British Posses sion within the limits of the East India Company's Charter, and not being sweetened Spirits or Spirits mixed with any article, so that the degree of strength thereof cannot be exactly ascertained by such hydro meter, the gallon - - stand part of the Resolution." The House divided : MAJORITY—AYES, 64. - 15 0 Acland, T. I). Fitzroy, Henry Teel, Jonathan Aldam, William Goulburn Henry Plumridge, Captain Baillie, 11. J Graham, Sir James Price, Sir Robert Baine, Walter Hamner, Sir John Somers, J. P. Barclay, David Herbert, Sydney Tapered, 11. W. Barnard, Edward G. Hope, G. W. Thesiger, Sir F. Blewitt, Reginald Howard, C.V.G. Themely, T. Rotfleld, Beriak Howard, P. H. Tollemache, F. J. Bright, John liutnplicry, Ild. Trelawny, J. S. Browne, W. Kelly, Sir Fitzroy Trench, Sir F. W. Butler, Colonel Kirk, Peter Tufnell, Henry Cardwell, E. Turner, Edmund Langston, J. H. Carnegie, Captain M'Geachy, F. A. 'Villiers, Charles Clerk Sir G. Mahon, Viscount Warburton, H. Cochrane, A. .Maslennan, J. Wawn, J. T. Coe-burs, Sir G. Mitchell, T. A. White, Samuel Corry, 11. Mostyn, E. M. Wortley, J. S. Dickinson, F. H. Muni., Gil. Yorke, H. R. Douglas, Sir C. E. Neville, Ralph Duke, Sir James O'Brien, J. TILLERS. Duncan, George Osborne, Ralph Teling, John Escott, Ilickhain Pechell, Captain Cripps, W. Zwart, William Peel, Sir Robert M I N }ls iD oey, R ves l r i',,l: Johnl . C - - . ii N . 0E S , 35. Miles, William Newdegatc, C. X. Fuller, A. E. Palmer, G. ~ A i k t .1 e i s r l i h tne x t o l it i l j i .: i .j\ o r : t i i t . 1 , i a l Hugh . g h Goring, C. inumptre, J. P. Bennet, I'. Ilalford, Sir H. Sheppard, T. Bentinek, Lord G. Made, J. H. Sibthorp, Colonel Beresford, Major Knight, F. W. Trollope, Sir J. Buck, L. W. Knizlitley, Sir C. Tyrrell, Sir J. T. Cayley, Edward S. Lawson, A, Worcester, Marquis Colvile, C. R. Lennox, Lord IL Compton, H. C. Liddell, 11. T. TILLER/. Disraeli, B. Mackenzie, T. Thompson, Alderman Finch, George March, Earl of Granby. Marquis of 3lotlen made, and Question put, " That ' Oxen and Bulls' stand part of the Resolution." The llouse divided : MAJORITY-AYES, 111. Acland, T. D. Escott, Bickham Neville, Ralph Aldam, William Ewart, William O'Brien, J. Bailie, Walter Fitzroy, henry Ord, William Bannerman, A Fleetwood, Sir l'. Peel, Sir Robert Barclay, David Forster, Matthew Peel, Jonathan Barnard, E. G. Gore, Robert Philips, G. R. Berkeley, Craven Goulburn, henry Philpotts, Jelin Berkeley, Captain Graham, Sir J. Plumridge, Captain Blewitt, R. J. Greene, Thomas Price, Sir It. Botdeld, Beriah Grosvenor, Lord R. Protheroe, Edward Bowles, Admiral Hamilton, Lord C. Russell, Lord John Bowring, Dr. Hamner, Sir J. Scropo, G. I'. Bright, John Hatton, Captain Seymour, Lord Brotherton, Joseph Hawes, Benjamin Smith, Benjamin Browne, W. Heathceat, John Somers, J...? Bruges, W. H. L. Herbert, Sidney Stanstteld, W. K. Buller, Charles Hill, Lord Marcus Strutt, Edward Busfeild, William Hogg, J. W. Tancred, IL:W. Cardwell, Edward Hope, G. W. Thesiger, Sir F. Carnegie, Captain Howard, P. 11. Thornely, T. Chapman, B. James, Sir W. Trelawny, J. B. Clerk, Sir G. Jocelyn, Viscount Trench, Sir F. Cochrane, A. Kelly, Sir Fitzroy Turner, Edmund Cockburn, Sir G. Kelly, James Villiers, Charles Corry, henry Labouchere, henry Villiers, Viscount Cripps, William Langston, J. H. Warburton, Henry Dalrymple, Captain Loch, James Wawn, JT. Dashwood, G. H. Lockhart, A. E. White, Samuel Dennistoun, John M'Geachy, F. A. Williams, W. Dickinson, F. F. M'Neill, Duncan Wilshere, W. Douglas, Sir C. pi`Taggart, Sir J. Wood, Colonel T. Duke, Sir J. Mahon, Lord Wortley, J. S. Duncan. Lord Marshall, William wy., Thomas Duncan, George Martin, John Yorke, H. R. Duncombe, T. Martin, C. W. Dunilas, Admiral Mitchell, T. A. •• • Talness. Ebrington, Lord Molesworth, iiir W Young, John Elphinstone, H. Morison, General Baring, Meng' MINORITY-NOES, 72. Affix, J. P. Erewen, C. I L Newdegate, N. Arbuthnott, 11. Fuller, A. E. Newport, Viscount Gardner, J. D. O'Brien, A. 3. Gordon, Hon. Capt. Palmer, G. BMllie, 11. J. Granby, Marquis of Plumptre, J. P. Bell, Matthew Ha'ford, Sir Ileury Rolleston, Colonel Benett, John liaise'', T. P. Round, C. G. Bennett, Philip c Heathcote, Sir W. Round, John Bentinek, Lord G. A Henley, J. N. Scott, F. Bentinck, Lord J. Hildyard, T. B. Seynter, H. Y. Berestord. Major Arkwright, ',/'. Hind°, J. A. Shaw, F. Hope, Sir J. Sibthorp, Colonel Brooke, Lord Hope, Alexander Smyth, Sir H. Bruce, C. L. C. Hudson, G. Stanley, E. Buck, Lewis W. Inglis, Sir H. Thompson, kid. Cayley, E. S. Jolliffe, Sir W. H. Tower, C. Colvile, C. R. Knightley, Sir C. Tumor, C. Compton, H. C. Borth rick, Lawson, Andrew Tyrrell, Sir J. Disraeli, B. Lefroy, A. Walsh, Sir J. 11. Douglas, Sir IT. Liklell, li eu. 11. 'l'. Wodehouste, E. Farnham, E. B. Peter Mackenzie, T. Worcester, Marquis Finer, Sir E. Finch, George Manners, Lord C. Yorke, E. T. Floyer, JOhil March, Earl of TELLIRS. Forbes, William Mansell, 'P. IL M iles, William Ne,4l, Joseph Trollne, Sir J. Forman, T. S. WORK M AR Y HOWITT'S NEW HE CITIZEN OF iroenadoyrfemarellaarekthlaieebdlner and subtler feelings of a second edition. " The pages of this very University Ilingaz!ne) with w a o ri r work intimate (says the k h knowledge w D l l e g/ d , i g i / e a wrought . out; besides the principal charac• abound P t 'l l tß i l e i li tE n ' a a" l P i Ph l r i a e es a c r i ata.: The plot of the story is well conceived, w hich stand prominently forward to engross the feelings and excite the attention, there 13 also abundance of by pages.of ` . Tho . of Prague' far better tapenlrods;atodislitriasif)ylythe most omnivorous appetite for love, mys tery, and marvel. But, apart Citizenf!•om all this, there will be T th h e e ; and, as such, it is as in structive as it is entertaining.. Replete with noble senti ments, conversant with great . . minds and great events, it book is historical teems with true and beautiful views of mankind; exhibiting ill just portraiture the princely wisdom and high-minded found- matter. in love for the 1)0014 which so remarkably distinguished one of Austria's most illustrious sovereigns —Maria Theresa—and 1 enabling us, when we lay the work down, to feel we have been profitably sa well as 1 p.earantly employed." LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 17. The House sat to-day to hear Scotch Appeals ; the Peers present were the Lord Chancellor, Lord Brougham, and Lord Campbell. RISK V. MUIR. This case came before their Lordships upon an appeal from the decision of the Court of Session in Scotland. The principal question in the case was, whether the ap pellant, a grocer in Dumbarton, under a statutory pro vision exempting the resident burgesses of Dumbarton, upon certain conditions, from payment of the river and tonnage dues imposed by the Acts for the Improvement of the Navigation of the Clyde and the Harbour of Glas gow, was exempted from tonnage dues on two puncheons of whisky: (amounting to Is. 6d.) carried from the Brootnielaw to Dumbarton. The Court of Session de cided that the appellant Was not exempted from payment, and from that decision he brought the present appeal. Mr. Turner and Mr. J Anderson appeared for the ap pellant, and the Solicitor-General and Mr. Bothell sup ported the decision of the Court below. Their Lordships. at the conclusion of the arguments, gave judgment affirming the decision of the Court of Session. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. WESTERN ClRCUlT—Dorchester, March 16. James /fart was inflicted for maliciously setting on fire a certain stack of furze, the property of David Slade, at Lytchett Minster. Mr. Poulden was counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. Stock for the prisoner. It appeared that the prosecutor had a rick of furze made about a week before the sth of November. On that day, in the evening, it was seen to he on fire, and was entirely con sumed. The prisoner at that time was at work at the Dor chester and Southampton Railway at Lytchett. A few days before the sth of November the prisoner told a fellow-labourer that a man named Swaffield had persuaded him to set this rick of furze on fire, and he should do it. The party to whom he told this recommended him not to do it; but he said he would. The prisoner repeated his intention en the afternoon of the sth of November, and proceeded towards the spot where the rick was, and it soon after was on fire. The next morning a man said to him, Well, you've done it, then ;" and he said he had ; that he had struck four lucifers on the top of the boa and then set it on fire, and before he could get across the field the rick was all in a blaze. The men all left the employ in a day or two, and went to Portsmouth. The one to whom the primmer had told this returned again in about a month, when he gave information. Another labourer, who was present when the prisoner uttered his threat, and afterwards stated what he had done, confirmed the evidence of the first labourer. The prisoner was appre hended on the sth of December. When the prisoner was in custody, he said it was no use to deny it—he had done it, and Swaffield had persuaded him. The prisoner had always borne the character of being a quiet, hard-working lad, eighteen years of age. For the prisoner it was urged that it was a mischievous frolic, for the purpose of making a bonfire on the sth of November. The jury found the prisoner Guilty. Sentence—three months' imprisonment. NISI PRIES COURT. . _ The whole of the day has been occupied in trying a right of way cause, in which all the points have been left for the consideration of the Court above. Mr. i;ockburn and Mr. Fitzherbert were for the plaintiff, and Mr. Crowder and Mr. Stock for the defendant. OXFORD CIRCUI7'.-IVorcester, March 16. (Before the LORD CRIIF BARON.) Joseph lrooks, aged 29, labourer, was indicted for com tnitting a raps upon Ellen Banks, on the 18th of July :ast. The evidence is of course unfit for publication. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and the Learned Judge sentenced him to transportation for life. John Howell was charged with committing a like crime upon the perlon of a little girl, only eight years old. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sentenced to transportation for life. Both these crimes were committed in the parish of St. Andrew's, in this city. a spot infested by the most notorious characters. _ . (Before Mr. Baron PLATT. ) Harriett Allard, said to be only 15, and the daughter of a very respectable farmer, was indicted for shop-lifting. Though this trial lasted four hours, the facts were very similar to those which form the usual features in such cases. It appeared that the articles alleged to have been stolen by the prisoner were found in her basket, but the possession of ono article, a veil, was accounted for by the prisoner, who said she considered she had bought it, but had not paid for it, as she was going to call again, when a balance would be struck of the accounts between herself and the prosecutor's wife, the prisoner having been accustomed to sell butter and eggs on market-day when she visited the city. The only al ternative whereby to account for the other articles being found in the prisoner's basket was that the prosecutor's wife had placed them there. Jt was proved she had the opportu nity, and also had on a former occasion mad. a false charge against a person. The jury adopted this view, as suggested in a very able defence by the prisoner's counsel, and ac quitted her. The verdict was received with applause, and it is right to add that the prisoner received an excellent character from the clergyman of her parish, who had known her from infancy. Mr. Stile appeared for the Crown, and Mr. Huddloatono defended the prisoner. MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Derby, March 17. The Right lion. Sir N. C. Tindal and the lion. Sir Thomas Coltman arrived in this town about two o'clock, and opened the commission for this county with the usual for malities, after which their Lordships proceeded to attend divine service at St. Mary's Church. The Lord Chief Justice took his seat in the Nisi Prius Court, at ten o'clock this morning; and Mr. Justice Coltman at eleven, in the Crown Court. The list presented fourteen causes for trial, of which four were marked for special juries; but of these three are by the same plaintiffs, and one only, if any, of them will be tried. They are said to be in respect to the right to hold races here. The other is an action of ejectment—Doe, deco. Thornhill r. Thornhill—by the devisee against the heir-at-law, to recover possession of a very valuable property on the ground of the insanity of the testator, in which Mr. Cockburn, Q.C., is coming down specially, and which will be commenced to morrow morning, and will probably last two long days. Of the common jury cases, four are cross actions, two only of which will therefore be tried. The list was thus reduced to 10, of which five were at 4 o'clock disposed of, and the remaining three will be, probably, in the course of the day. The calendar is numerically, but not otherwise, heavy, there being 59 prisoners and 45 cases for trial ; of which two are light cases of burglary, two, also light, cases of robbery, one of breaking and entering a dwelling-house, three of breaking and entering warehouses, one of forgery (no evidence offered), two of stabbing and wounding, one of a felonious assault upon a woman, one of horse-stealing, and two of riot and assault upon peace-officers. Down to 4 o'clock to-day nothing had occured in either court justifying any report. In consequence of the anticipated duration of the great special jury cause above referred to, for three days at least, the commission day at Leicester has been postponed from Friday till Saturday, on which latter day only the borough business will be taken. The county business will, therefore, commence there on Monday morning next. NORFOLK ClRCUlT'.—Cambridge, March 16 . NISI PRIGS COURT.—(Before Mr. Baru Paititti and a Special Jury.) 3LICITAEL AUGUSTUS GATIIERCOLK, CLERK, V. MTALL. Mr. GUXNIXG (with whom was Mr. Sanders) stated, that this was an action in which the plaintiff sought to recover damages from the defendant for the publication of a libel of and concerning him in the character of vicar of Chatteris, in the Isle of Ely, to which the defendant had pleaded only the general issue. The plaintiff was a clergyman of the Established Church, and had lately been presented to the vicarage of Chatteris, a parish situate in the fans of Cam bridge, and containing a population of 5,000 souls. In early life he had by great assiduity attained to great learning, and, though i ss Established ente r, had Church. floe a ge l n o f t this embraced c h ara cter he had obtained the high opinion of all who knew the D born the and educated a had set about the discharge of his high duties with great zeal fleiirnmi,eannt,d w h h av ic i h ng w r a e s ce s n a t id ly t b o e b en e presented wotth2,ooo to I t . h p is pi era e o c o e tt o m f rbee and industry. This was a most difficult task, and he had not been so fortunate as to escape the attacks of the press; fur on the 7th of January in the present year there appeared in the Nonconformist, a weekly dissenting journal, an article which formed the groundwork of the present action. That publication was the sole property of the defendant, who was a well-known Dissenter, a man of talent and wealth, and who had recently contested the borough of Southwark, in opposi tion to Sir W. Molesworth. When the article in question appeared, the plaintiff applied to the defendant for the name of the author, and that being refused, he had no alternative left but to appeal to a jury for protection from what he could not but feel to be a most wanton, naprovoked, and malicious attack upon him in his sacred character, and one which could only have proceeded from the worst personal motives, though the writer professed to aim at the Church rather than its unworthy minister. In that article the plaintiff was spoken of as " the notorious Gathercole," " the apostate Gathercole," and a " twice-convicted libeller." But, though true it was that Mr. Gathercole had, whilst engaged in con ducting a periodical, been indicted and made criminally re sponsible 'or the contents of an article, yet the defendant could not be therefore justified in styling him "twice-con victed," or in charging him, as he did in one part of his libel, with obtaining his living by simony. The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to read and comment en the libel, and contended that his client was justly entitled to substan tial damages at the hauls of the jury for this outrageous at tack on him. The libel was then put in and read, of which the following are extracts : " Prior to the unexpected accession of Gathercole to this living, the inhabitants, of all religious denominations, had amicably co-operated for charitable purposes. One of these associations was a clothing society for the sick poor, under the sole management of the ladies. But a few weeks, how ever, after his arrival, he intruded himself, with characteristic impudence, into a meeting of the committee, were, after a tirade against Dissent and Dissenters, of a most furious and insulting character, he virtually dissolved the society. by declaring that he should have no thing to do' with Dis senters, and he should expect his congreg ation to follow his example. Upon the ruins of this liberal society arose ano ther, with the title of the Chatteris Church Clothing Club, Patron, the Rev. the Vicar.' " cols; but what are we to say of the s y stem under which a characterl t would andbe vain to twuafsatoe degraded e s g e r n a t d e e n d c ea personin rep r a o a b Gb a t a i t on e of the r ma n, whose writings proclaim him at once imbecile, ignorant, humbleupon pietyh o s an d malignant, can be thus pai d from the p lunder of the yw th ee e k, of his neighbours , and , in the licensed securit y of his p ulpit. of f people, whom t o tisipeu world his rld filthyiis uut veno m, worthy —to ee k revile by to hold up, with an air of smug vulgarity, their works of faith and labours of love to the derision of his hearers." "But, singularly enough, the same district which is suf fering under the ecclesiastical marauding of Gathercole, is at this moment affording as interesting an illustration of the b en ign moral effects of the voluntary principle as this clerical nuisance affords of the pernicious tendency of the compulsory system. Hard by the town of Chatteris is the village of Doddington, the richest living in Great Britain, affording to the Rev. Algernon Peyton, the rector, upwards of 10,0001. a year. Almost under the shadow of Doddington steeple is the village of :Hansa, the curate of which, remunerated for his labours with 100/. a year, died some few weeks ago, as we learn from the local papers , leaving .a widow and three adult children with resource s barely sufficient to pay the ex penses of his funeral. The wealthy and respected re c t or o f D o ddi ng ton at once took into his hands this truly pitiable case, and, by the joint exertions of all the religious denomi nations in the neighbourhood, upwards of 500/. has been raised for the benefit of this afflicted and destitute lady, to which fund the Dissenters of Chatteris, who had scarcely even heard the name of the deceased clergymen, subscribed their money with the most eheerffil liborUlity. Tot these are the men against whom Gathercole raves as' blasphemous heretics,' with ' dangerous impostors' for their teachers." The case for the plaintiff having closed by proof of the circulation of the newspaper is question among several mem bers of his congregation at Chatteris, some of whom admitted that he was " very severe on Dissenters." „.. Mr. Sergeant Bvt.Es (with whom was Mr. O'Malley) ad dressed the jury for the defendant, contending that he was entitled to a verdict, as the article inserted in his paper was not a libel, or that the verdict ought to be for nominal damages. Every one acquainted with the history of the plaintiff well knew him to be a ” notorious" man, and his own counsel had admitted him to be a "convicted libeller." Such a man could not therefore come into Court to claim damages for a libel on him with " clean hands," and it was for the jury to say whether the article complained of was not justifiable as an attack on a public man, in dealing with whom great latitude of Criticism ought to be allowed in this country, which was the temple of liberty, both civil and reli gious. Statesmen and Churchmen were alike exposed to such observations on their conduct, and when we saw the Ministry of the day and even the prelates attacked without any re mark or notice on their part,he (Mr. Sergeant Kyles) could not help thinking that the plaintiff would have dose well to pass by this article without notice, as one which his public conduct, as the vicar of Chatteris, had exposed him to. The judges themselves and the bar were all liable to censure. One great man, G. Fox, had written thus:—" We have an army of lawyers, with tough consciences, and tough parch. ments, and interminable tongues—an army of soldiers to fight the French, an arm - of doctors to fight Death, and we have an army of parsons to fight the Devil, of whom he standeth not much in awe "—(Laughter)—and it was Rot to be expected that a man who had attacked the Dissenters himself so violently should not rouse them into something like a kindred feeling. If such a man, continued the Learned Sergeant, reading from a book before him, which he covertly insinuated to be the letters of " L. S. E." alluded to in the libel, said that " the religion of Dissenting preachers was merely a cloak for everything that was bad ;" that "deceit and hypocrisy were the commodities in which they dealt ;" that their principle-is were "infernal," and that they were "an ungodly set of atheists and infidels;" it could not be contended that thi s re t or t was wan t on an d unprovoked ; and if in the rules of his " Church Clothing Club " he had excluded all Dissenters from participation in common with thieves, drunkards, robbers, and persons guilty of " other deadly sins," it was not to be con• ceived but that he should be met with abuse and cutting criticism in the discharge of his public duties as vicar of Chatterie. As far, therefore, as the gene ral scope of this article went, it was submitted that it was not libellous, while as regarded its " sting," which consisted in the imputation of simony," the article did not bear any such construction, for it spoke of his having obtained his preferment as " the wages of his treachery," which implied that the living had been given 'o, and not bought by, him in an illegal manner. If, however, the jury should think the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict, the Learned Counsel con cluded by asserting that the smallest coin in the realm would be an ample measure of damages to which the plaintiff was entitled,in such a case. Mr. Baron PARKE, in summing up the case to the jury, left it to them to say whether this was a libel, in the first place ; and, if so, whether there was any occasion to justify or excuse its publication of the plaintiff as the vicar of Chatteris. He (Mr. Baron Parke) apprehended that no reasonable man could doubt that such an attack on a man as this was a libel, which in law was the writing anything of a man which was calculated to bring him into discredit and odium. Was there, then, any ground for jus tification or excuse for its publication? It had been con tended by the Learned Sergeant that it was open to the de fendant to observe on the plaintiff's conduct as vicar of Chat teris, on the ground that the office of a clergyman was a public one, and that, like statesmen, commanders, and judges, the public had a right to criticise their conduct. He, however, did not go along with the Learned Sergeant to that extent, for he had yet to learn that there was any right in the press to publish an opinion of the conduct of a clergy man in his parish and the method in which he might see tit to administer its charities. If, indeed, a clergyman pub lished a sermon which he delivered to his parish he made it public property, and conferred thereby on the public the right of observing on it and criticising it, if done fairly and without malicious motives. Short of this there was nothing is the conduct of a clergyman which could confer on the press any ground for commenting on him. As for the impu tation of simony, lie certainly thought that the context did not warrant the construction put on that branch of the article by the plaintiff; for it did not impute that he had obtained the living by simony, for it spoke of his getting it as the wages of his treachery. Under these circum stances, it was for the jury to say what fair amount of com pensation they would award to the plaintiff for the article complained of by him. The jury, having retired to consider their verdict, returned into Court after an absence of half an hour with a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, 2001. JAMES V. THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY COMPANY. Mr. Sergeant Byles. Mr. Gunning, and Mr. Burcham were counsel for the plaintiff, and Mr. O'Malley and Mr. Sanders for the defendants. This was a case involving a question of considerable im portance to the Eastern Counties Railway, being a claim for tolls alleged to be due by them to the plaintiff as the lessee of the Commissioners for Paving and Lighting the town of Cambridge. Though the question was stated to be purely one of law, which could not be decided at Nisi Prius, yet the circumstances under which it arose and the points intended to be raised for the opinion of the Court may not be uninteresting to the railway interest. It is known to all the world, doubtless, that the Eastern Counties Railway station for this town is situate at a little distance out of the town, the line of railway crossing the Hills-road and the Newmarket-road, which are both carried over it on bridges, but would otherwise have been crossed on a level, and Coldham-lane on a dead level, there being there gates for the safety of the public. From first to last the railway runs a distance of 2i miles within the limits of the borough, but the points at which it crosses the roads are all out of what may be popularly termed " the town," the paving and lighting not being carried up to them when this action was commenced, and there not being a continuous line of houses up to them. Before the railway was opened to Cam bridge and now there were commissioners appointed under various Acts for paving, lighting, and cleansing the town, who were empowered to collect Is. 6d., by way of toll, from every stage-coach, diligence, or other such public carriage, carrying passengers or parcels for hire, and 2d. for every waggon, wain, cart, or other such carriage laden with any goods, wares, or other merchandise coming to, or going from, or out of the said town of Cambridge, besides other tolls for all stock brought into the same. These tolls the commie. • Blotters may, by lease, authorise other parties to collect, and as since the opening of the railway all the coaches whose names have been cherished in the memory of old Cautabs, such as the Times, the Star, the Rocket, the Telegraph, and even Marsh and Swan's stage waggons, have departed this life, the sources of the coramissioners' income would seem to have been well nigh exhausted. A keen investigation of the various Acts under which the town was governed and the tolls authorised to be collected led to the belief that they might still be enforced from the railway company, and the present action was forthwith brought against them to recover the amount of 1591., as tolls alleged to be due for.the first six months of their operations, it being contended that he was entitled to levy the tolls specified in the Commis oners' Act on each railway carriage and truck, on passing through the town of Cambridge or the precincts thereof; while the de fendants insisted that they did not come within any such liability, or that, at all events, the toll could only be levied on each train. The facts above stated having been agreed upon between the learned counsel, it was arranged that a special verdic should be taken, in order to raise the question in dispute for the opinion of the Court of Queen's Bench. Subject, there fore, to this plan, the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for 1591. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Joseph Myers, who was on Monday brought up on a warrant, in which he was stated to have been, together with other persons, found feloniously in possession of a number of ten-pound notes of the Warwick and Lea mington Bank, was again put to the bar yesterday. Mr. Mullins, of the firm of Bush and Mullins, ap peared for the prosecution, and Mr. Hobler attended for the prisoner. The evidence of Superintendent Roby, of the Lea mington police, was read, and Mr. Roby stated that he had a witness to produce who could swear to the identity of the prisoner, so that he should be justified in remov ing the prisoner to the place in which the robbery was committed. Thomas Archer, of No. 6, Cullum-street, Lime-street, bootmaker, was then called upon the part of the prose cution. He stated that he had been examined before Mr. Russell, the magistrate at Leamington, when the warrant which was produced had been granted. In the examination which then took place he had spoken of a person named Myers. The prisoner was that person. Mr. Mullins intimated that the identification just es tablished was sufficient to justify the Lord Mayor in sending the prisoner to Leamington in the custody of the superintendent. Mr. Roblier submitted that a more accurate identifica tion was necessary, as the warrant upon which the pri soner had been apprehended charged him with having been feloniously in possession of stolen notes. The Loan MAYOR expressed a desire to have satisfac tory information as to the identity of the prisoner. Mr. Mullins (to the witness)—Are yon sure that he is the person mentioned in the warrant ? Witness—l swear that he is the same person. Mr. Hobler—How do you know that he is the man ? Witness—l saw him in a certain transaction upon money and bank-notes. They were Leam ginton and Warwick notes. I detailed about them to the magistrate. Mr. Mullins—Was the transactio!?relating to the parcel of notes specifie d in the hand-bill? the Witness— Yes. I saw the note s counted and taken to the prisoner up-stairs, at the prisoner's house, and I heard the pri soner ay, ~Ive ca n't give more for them then we have offered s , for they are all following numbers, and on that account not so valuable, or words to that effect." I had had the notes in my own hands, and I know they were part of the notes referred to in the bill offering the reward. Mr. Hobler—How came you to have the notes in your hands? Witness—Because the party who had them, who was a clerk in the Leamington banking house was in distress, and he came to me. I had known him, having been myself in business at Leamington. He came to me in the early part of last spring. I first of all met him promiscuously in the streets. A man named Blaney put the notes into my hands, and I saw them counted. A man was going to sell them to the prisoner. I can't swear to the exact number, but I understood they were to the amount of 1,000/. in 101. notes. They were old notes, all looking as if they had been in circulation for some time. Mr. Hobler—You never saw them in Myer's hand ? Witness—Never. Mr. Hobler—Why, then, did you say that you saw them in his hand ? Witness—No. I never saw them in his hand. I never meant to say so. I went with a man of the name of Jennings to Myers's house, and Jen nings had the n o t es i n hi s possession when weV went to the house. J enn i ngs i s one o f t h e parties name d in the warrant. Mr. Hobler—Pray, have you ever been in trouble your self ? Witness—l don't know what you mean. Mr. Hobler—Have you ever been in any difficulty ? Witness—l was once in a difficulty about a half sovereign, but I received damages for that. Mr. Hobler—Have you ever been at Worship-street Police-court for an assault ? Witness —Yes. I was there for an assault upon a child. It was brought against me by a woman of the town for the purpose of extorting money from me, and I was honourably ac quitted. Mr. Hobler contended that the witness's statement was not sufficient evidence upon which to send his client to Leamington on such a serious charge. The LOAD MAYOR—(to the witness)—Are you sure the prisoner is the man of whom you speak ? WAN ss —Certainly ; I know him perfectly well. The LORD MAYOR—I am satisfied, and delver up the prisoner to the superintendent. The prisoner was then taken away. The case excited a great deal of interest, and during the examination the Justice-room was crowded to excess. GREENWICH. W. H. Bungard, a police-constable, 247 11, was p'aced at the bar of the Greenwich Police-court, before Mr. Jeremy, charged with being accessory to the concealment of the birtk of a child, of which Caroline Bailey was the mother, in the parish of Eitham. The inquiry was instituted at the instance of the Commis missioneri of Police, and Mr. Superintendent Melialieu at tended to watch the proceedings. Amelia Baxter, a dressmaker, deposed that Caroline Bailey resided with her some time previous to and after Christmas She had made three dresses for her during that period, and observing an increase in her size, told her of it, upon which the laughed, and said, " No, you are joking." In January she observed that she was much stouter. After leaving her house some tine she appeared as usual. A few days since :Abe 3aw her again, when she cried and c[nnessed tier condition. Saw her the last time on Monday, when she was very ill in bed and could not uvrce. Rebecca Evans deposed that Caroiinc Bailey came to lodge at her house on the 10th of January. She remained six wecks and five days, and lefr. on the sth inst. She appeared to be in the family way. Said that she came to be confined, and bad engaged a surgeon to attend her. Two medical men attendol and examined her. She said she would be confined ;,5n ;t the Itth of February. Thought. Ale was not eneica:, al though appearance:; and fulne,s ~ f dress hidicatel it. De. Davenport adyis,d her to examine Miss Bailey, but she n'- lust dto permit her. Her mother washed her clothes. Oa the let and 10th of January the young woman walked out with the accused. It was on Saturday and Monday. In the evening they returned together. She appeared ill, took • some tea and went. to bed in an hour afterwards. The ac cused remained with her half an hour. She continued un well for a few days. William Carr, surgeon, Lee, near Blackheath, deposed, that he was sent for on Friday night last, and found her suffering great pain. She told witness that she bad been recently confined, and had been very much ill-used. She s . lid that she had been intimate with a police-constable, by• whom she became pregnant. The accused had taken apartments for her to be confined in, at Eltham, and while lodging there shs went at the accused's request. to take a walk. Retook her into A field where he used great violence to her person twice. On his repeating this treatment after a fainting fit, she cried and said, " Oh, dear," and told him he had taken the child from her, that she was in a dreadful state, and the ac cused partly managed to carry her home. Witness is satis fied that she had been delivered of a child ; could not say whether full grown or not. The injured parts were lacerated and ulcerated. Doubts that it was a full grown child. Ths inflammation supervened from violence. Perhaps within six weeks of her full time. Miss Bailey is about 21 years of age. Mrs. Evaes was here recalled, and said that, the accused took the lodging, and said it was for a young woman near her confinement. Amelia Baxter was recalled, and in answer to the accused, said that she went with Miss Bailey to Sidcup, for the pur pose of telling him her hard situation, when he gave them half-a-crown to pay her carriage home. Is certain she was in the family way and could not walk. Had examined her person as to that fact, and had also made her baby linen. Witness told the accused that she was in the family way, and he replied that as witness was a respectable person he would believe her. The accused, addressing the magistrate, said that it was all false. There had been great deceit all through the business, and that Baxter was a partial witness. Her statement was at variance with what she told the superin tendent. Jane Evans, cousin to Rebecca Evans, residing at Eltham, deposed that Caroline Bailey stopped at her house eiglit weeks ago, before going to Mr. Evans's. She came home late on a Thursday night. Witness was in bed. Bailey ap peared very ill and greatly exhausted. Said she had been very ill-used and pulled about by Bungard, who had broken and torn her stays. Said that she was with child. Ap peared so. She had half a sovereign in her hand, and said that Bungard had given it her, and wanted to take it away again. ➢ir. JEREMY asked when the young woman would be able to attend ? Sergeant Lovell, 15 said he had seen her, and that she was so ill that she could not be left alone, and could not rise from her bed. Mr. JEREMY said, under such circumstances, he should re mand the case for a fortnight. There was direct and positive evidence, at present, of felony. It was, at least, assuming that character, and was a most serious affair. If the medical testimony should be corroborated, there would then be no doubt that a felony had been committed, and would involve more than the concealment of birth. The accused here said that he wished Dra. Gillimore and Davenport to be examined. Those gentlemen and other persons would prove the charge to be false. He then handed a long statement in writing to the magistrate. Mr. JEREMY, after reading it carefully over, said he must remand the accused until such times as the injured girl could attend and give ber own statement. As to the state ment he had just read, it went a great way strongly to con firm the other evidence; the rest appeared utterly irrecon cileable. The accused said he believed that she had never borne a child, at least not by him. Mr. JEREMY said, under all circumstances he would re mand him for one day, in order to have the evidence of those persons required by the accused. He would therefore b. brought up again to-morrow (this day). Sergeant Lovell said he would warn the parties to attend. ROYAL REGIMENT of ARTILLERY The exertions of the recruiting parties to raise men for this gallant corps are now attended with considerable success, and numbers of tine young men are weekly joining at head quarters at Woolwich, from various parts of the country, to acquire a knowledge f the duties of artillerymen. The following circular memorandum has just been issued for the information of the officers, non-commissioned officer, and men of the regiment., and those intending to enlist in that branch of her Majesty's service:— " Deputy Adjutant-General's Office, Woolw !eh, March 13. " The Master-General and llouourable Board of Ordnance, by letter dated the 11th of March, 1546, S 31i1, have directed her Majesty's warrant, dated 19th of December, 1515, to be extended to the Royal Artillery, by which rewards for the greater encouragement of meri torious service, and for good conduct of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, are provided for; it is desirable that these benefits be as extensively circulated as circumstances will permit. " Of the advantages conferred, an annuity in addition to pay for a certain ntunber of sergeants ; the service, combined with good conduct, entitling soldiers to good-conduct pay is considerably reduced; thus, on completing five years' service, with two years' exemption from the de faulters' book, one penny per dit as is added to the pay of the soldier, and for every subsequent five years' service, extending to thirty years, a similar increase takes place, the maximum rate being 6d, a-day ; and the good-conduct pay enjoyed by the soldier is carried with him to the pension list, so that in proportion of length of service and good conduct he may realise a pension front Is. to Is. 6d. a-day. " The particular attention of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men on the recruiting service, is called to this subject, that they may explain to the peasantry the improved condition of the soldier while serving, and the certain provision made for him when no longer fit for her Majesty's service. " IL D. ROSS, Deputy Adjutant-General." In addition to the advantages to the non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Artillery alluded to in tha above circular memorandum, it has been decided that one sergeant and eight men are to be added to each company of the present nine battalions, and that the tenth battalion will be raised according to the increased strength of the present companies. The number of companies of the Royal Artil lery at home and on foreign stations amount to seventy-two, which will give promotion to seventy-two non-commissioned officer.= and the same number of men will be promoted fr om the ranks, in addition to those required to form the tenth battalion. TOTAL LOSS OF THE BARQUE FRANCIS SP AIG lIT. TWENTY-ONE LIVES LOST. (From the Liverpool Standard.) _ The ship England's Queen arrived in the Mersey Yester day afternoon, from Bombay and the Cape of Good Hope, which latter port she left on the 19th of January. This is the latest arrival from the Cape, and to Captain Sheddings, the commander of the vessel, we are indebted for the Cape of Good Mile and Naval Shipping and Mercantile Gazette of the 9th of January, conveying the following melancholy intelligence of the loss of the Francis Spaight:— During the night between Tuesday and Wednesday last it blew a violent gale from the northward, and at six A.M. on Wednesday the squalls were very severe. At half-past eight the Mod came more to the westward in a hard squall, accompanied with torrents of rain, w hentbebarque ob F s r e a r n v c e i d s Spaight, of 366 tons, from Manilla to London, was driving towards the strand, and an attempt was unfortu nately made to set the mainsail, which brought the vessel's broadside to the shore; and in this position, with the main sail aback, she continued to drive until she struck the ground near the Slave Lodge, about a mile from the village of Papen dorp, when, in consequence of being broadside to the beach, she rolled heavily, the sea occasionally breaking over her decks. A whale-boat and a surf-boat were sent from Cape Town; the whale-boat succeeded in getting alongside the barque. and a line was throws over the vessel by the rocket appa ratus. The moment the boat touched the side, the crew of the barque, who appeared to have lost all presence of mind. rushed into her, when she was filled and capsized, and sad to relate, the captain and fourteen men of the crew were drowned, together with four men of the boat's crew, named Thomas Williams, William Taylor, John Jackson, and Charles •Norton. A surf-boat and another boat were also sent from the North Wharf, by Messrs. T. and J. Sinclair ; both boats capsized, and two men, named Dellis and Parker, were drowned. The following are the names of the crew saved, viz., James Robertson, carpenter, and John M'Leod, seaman. Captain Patterson and the following men were drowned. viz. :—Thomas Haydon, mate ; Magnus Smith, second mate ; Henry Hiate, steward ; David Evans, Edward M'Donald, George Hutchings, John Smith, of Leith, John Smith, of Edinburgh, and William Widder, seamen; William Rymes, cook ; John Mittin, Thomas Beddoe, William Hall, and Richard Parker, app ren t ices . The vessel is broken in midships and is a total wreck, and very little of the cargo will be saved uninjured. The manifest and mail have not yet been found, but so far as it has been ascertained, the cargo consisted of sugar, hemp, tobacco, c i g a rs , rattans, and sundry other articles. SPECIAL PUBLIC NOTICE.--A t precisely ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, March 24, 1846, the entire range of E. Moses and Sons' new premises—Minories and Aidgate, City—will open for the transaction of business.—E. Moses and Sons, tailors, drapers, clothiers, hosiers, hatters, and. general outfitters, March 16, 1846. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —THE EARL OF A LDBOROUGH AND HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.—An astoanding cure by this miraculous medicine, after every other means had failed. See extract of hie lordship's letter, dated Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 11, 1845 : " To Professor Holloway,—Sir, I beg to acquaint you that your pills have effected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach, which all the most eminent of the faculty, at home and all over the Continent, had not been able to effect—nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or Marienbad.—(Signecl) Aldborough." These wonderful Pills will cure any disease of the liver or stomach, Sold (also Hol loway's Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, and by all medicine venders throughout the civilised world. POPULAR KNOWLEDGE.—If knowledge be iu itself a good, the fuller the measure of it the better for the possessor, no matter whether he be of the higher or the lower, the learned or the, unlearned caste. For our own parts, we are strongly of opinion that superficial knowledge is not much better than no knowledge, and all must agree that inaccurate knowledge is worse than none at all Hence we are no friends of what is commonly termed popular litera ture ; that is, literature fit only for the ignorant, which finds and leaves them so. We may be told that their capacities will not admit of higher teaching—a libel on common sense I Complaisantly as we ma y regard our own mental superiority, we may rest assured that most literary subjects may and should be made as intelligible to the peasant, if he can read and reflect, as to our noble selves, But, unluckily for popular improvement, they are not made intelligible. Books of elementary instruction are often written without method, and generally abound in unmeaning conventional terms, and we call everybody ignorant that does not understand them. The maxim, "Every man a mouthful and no man a bellyful," has been current long enough ; more so within these fifteen years than at any former , period, and Its value we new fairly begin to dispute.—Ailmmeta.