The Sun. — London, England, 1846-05-26 00:00:00

agnation pia down by concession extorted? The writer goes on to say that they inuet have something more than free trade when the eae ese ten bas taken place. An exlightened nation would ask, w e t t t hebanefft of a eontinued system o f taxation levied on the ? They would so ask if it would not be better eras ttroae o tite country te abolish the custo m -house system, and to have no excise. To have e s essele placed at certain places , where customs were formerly 1 e l e v ie 1 , declaring that all nations might land their produce there. That the operation of the principle of free trade would be extended to everything. lie says, that the friends of free trade must remember that they had yet got a House of Lords-the stronghold of the arise e ee ra cy—who were struggling for something more. Hence the main tenance of the present commercial policy, afar the settlement of the free-trade question. The people would have more time to act for the great principle's, of universal suffrage. If it was good for com merce to be free, it was good for man to be free.—(A laugh.) I beg the attention of the Right Rev. Bench to what follows. The writer stated th it if it was good to inculcate free-trade in commerce, why should they not have free-trade in religion?—(Laughter.) Why shouts' they continue under such a system of ecclesiastical despotism as the one then prevalent in the country? He believed that the tints was not far distant when the Catholics would ask why should Ilia clue ch of Christ be attributed only to one sect ? Freedom of re -1 gion would be one of the laws of the country. Such are the opin'ons of many of the advocates of free trade. I cannot conceive any more unfit sentiment for a good man than the unworthy fear of being suspeettd of a dishonourable motive. Do tot, therefore, be carried away by the consideration that your efforts may be attri buted to wrong motives. Do not be thrown back on this question by the consideration or the fear that your endeavours may be ascribed to a personal interest. You are trustees of far more than the commercial utility of this question. You are the trustees for the interests of the people-you are trustees for the constitution of this country. My Loral, you are each and all of you concerned in la bouring for the good of the people. The people have taken their opin ions from your -your neighbours have taken the colours of your opin ion, and have looked up to you with respect and deference. You have encouraged them in the opinion that the present commercial system is for the benefit of the country. Can you go amongst your neigh bours after voting for the destruction of all protection, and show such a result to those who have respected you, whose opinions you have influenced, and hear them justly charge you with that fault with which you charge the Government. If you consent to this measure deep regret rill remain with you. Be prepared to be . looked given You will have given abrogating the constitution of the country. to intimidation, and be prepared to be considered a subordinate part of the c mstitution -as the registers of the decrees of the House of Commons.—(hear, hear.) What is the object of the formation of that House as a part of the constitut ion ? It is to impose a wholesome and salutary check aed obstacle against rash and inconsistent legis lation. It was to protect the people aga inst the consequences of their own imprudence. It was not to resist the continued expression of deliberate public opinion, for your Lordships have always attended to the expression of such a feeling of enlightend public opinion. It is yours to protect the people against their own caprice and th e If tr you eac , treachery of those whom they have chosen as leaders.—(H ear , hear.) 'eliberate on an impartial principle—though you may not be successful, yet you will not be quite put down. Tots may fail in saving the people from the threatened evil, but you will have the approbation cf your friends, and the respect of your opponents. Tow will give time for the intelligence of the nation to act, and should you happily be successful in bringing the people back to the wiser counsels of deliberate wisdom, you will have the satisfaction of having discharged the duties imposed on you. You will have performed your duties, unalarmed by power, and unintimidated by clamour. you will have saved the country from a serious and hazardous experiment, and your reward will be the consciousness of having done your duty ; and you will have another reward arising from the grateful admiration of a people, who will exclaim with thankfulness, " Thank God we have got a House of Lords.—(Loud cheering.) Lord BROUGHAM said, that he was quite aware it was an un usually late hour of the night. - (Cries of " Adjourn, adjourn.") He should certainly take the sense of the House upon the question of the adjournment. They had heard a speech of singular ability de livered that evening. - (Cries of " Order. order," and "Adjourn.") He could not go on with this confusion, for it was absolutely neces sary that in order to make others hear him he should hear himself. Arrmeest many great advantages which his Noble Friend enjoyed aver him - advantages which he would not stop to enumerate, he had an advantage which outweighed all the others together, he had obtaiued an influence over a large portion of their Lordships in a kng speech he had delivered. It was a long speech, and yet he (Lord Brougham) did not feel it to be long, but the clock had shown it to be long. What compelled him to arise and to address their Lordships at that late hour of the night was the great advantage that his friend enjoyed over him. He should not address himself to those wise agreed with him in opinion, but rather to those who differed from him, and therefore he entreated their indulgence. He would go to the origin of the present law.—(Some manifestations of noise being made by several parties at the bar of the House, the Noble Lord turned round and addressing them), said, if any of the Nub's Lords who had so patiently listened 'to the Noble Lord who had just sat down, were not disposed to hear him, they . might go elsewhere and taste those enjoyments which lie had no doubt they had left when they came there ; he was persuaded that the House would go on per fectly well without them. For the observations he was about to address to the House, he begged the attention of the Noble Lord. He (Lord Brougham) would proceed at once to the origin of the present measure. It was said to have arisen from the sressur :4* famine in certain districts in Ireland. He doubted the fact of any general famine in Ireland, though he had heard it so stated, but that there was a great scarcity in some districts could not be denied. But, says the Noble Lord, this was no reason why they should do away with protection or open up the ports. Bat he denied the fact that Such grounds should weigh in the present matter, and he was ready to abide by the facts in reference to the origin of the present ineasur . Ti e Noble Lord said, it was the deseased potatoes that led to the ettrociaction of the measure, but he (Lord Brougham) said, it was perfectly immaterial what was its origin. He might say, that in bringing in the Bill Sir Robert Peel performed a rash, imprudent, and inexpedient act; that he ought not to have brought it in in the present year ; and yet, however rash, imprudent, and inexpedient the introduction of the measure may have been, he (Lord Brougham) said, if the measure was a sound one, if its merits were good, it ought to have their support.—(Hear, hear.) He spoke thus to guard himself from the supposition that he supported the measure on any extraneous or accidental ground, or that he thought there was any real or substantial ones for supporting the measures. But in respect of the rash, extraneous, and imprudent character of the measure, what was the real cause? A vast number of persons were reduced to great distress on account of the failure of the potato crops ; not only were potatoes bad, but the people had no other means of paying for food. Were their Lordships serrate of what has happened since the introduction of the measure, but wh*ch the Noble Lord had omitted to mention? The Noble Lord, however, was surelyawara that one part of the Government measure respecting corn had been inserted in the customs' tariff, and by that arrangement maize hail been imported as it the Corn Bill was passed. This did not meet the evil of the diseased potato crop. The poor peasants who had lost their usual supply of food had thus been supported by the importation. The Noble Lord admitted that he would have been perfectly ready to open the ports to let in oats duty free ; but had that been done, would not the objection, as had been stateffto-night, that the price would be reduced, thus affecting the employment of the peasant, of which he complained so much. But the most successful part of the Noble Lord's speech was that in which he said that if they carried the present Bill, it would, while professing to supply oats at a cheap rate to the peasantry, by competition, so reduce the value of their own produce, that they would not have the means of purchasing these cheapened foreign productions, and thus the object of the measure would be defeated. But has the Noble Lord forgot his own Canada Bill which he proposed two years ago, and which he (Lord Brougham) supported at the time. That was a free-trade Blll—a corn-law-repealing Bill—which reduced the ditty to 3s. per quarter, and allowed the whole of the United States of America to take their grain into Canada, through which it was brought into England, where protection still existed, and which was represented to be so necessary to the welfere of the landed interest. Thus for the payment of ir smell duty, without the operation of a sliding scale, were they allowed to import corn from the Careen— ere (lid not charge incomeete, se ea- ea...,.. Lord, as they were all apt to profit by experience, but he brought forward this to show that the arguments for the Canada Bill was applicable to the present measure. On the proposal of that Bill, they were told of the rapid increase of the population of every day, adding from 300,000 to 400,000 to the body of consumers, and that if the measure was not passed, they could not hope to supply with food this increasing population. The same argu ments applied to the corn-laws at all times, and therefore at all times he and those with whom he acted had advocated this repeal. He wished he could take the same view of the question as the Noble Lord bad done, as to the reduction that would take plus. The Noble Duke on the cross benches had asked his Noble Friend who introduced this measue, what the effect of the corn laws would be. Looking to the produce of the country, he should have thought it the most difficult question to answer that could have been propounded. Why, bow could his Noble Friend tell what the demand would be for an article at the expiration of three years? It would furnish no conclusion to arrive at to say that wheat was now sell ng in Dantzic at 335. a quarter, that 3s. would probably be charged for freight, and 23. for insurance, and that therefore it could afford to be sold in the London markets at 40s. the quarter. That was not the question, the question was what effect the repeal of this law would have upon the Dantzic market ? But, said his Noble Friend opposite, a great deal of English land would .be thrown out of cultivation, while a proportionate quantity would be cultivated in Hungary and other countries, and all this was to be done in order that they might import into this country half a million more than was already brought from the mouth of the Danube. Now let them consider the value of this observation. A quantity of forest land would require to be cleaned, they would require to scrub np Cue trees, to charn the roots, then to cut them to pieces. They woe! , I require also to fence and inclose the ground, and after all this preparation it was expected that at the end cf three years they would he enabled to pour into this country at least 5,000,000 quarters of grain. He did not ask as to the population ,if Hungary, but he did not suppose that they increased at the rate of 1,000 ;I, day. And where was the capital to come from ? In this country a considerable sum was estimated for the cultivation of cacti acre, but then a greatly increageel sum would be required. He did not know who the Noble Lord Liverpool's authority might be (perhaps Mr. Saunders), but at all events he must have been a very sanguine gentleman to foresee an increase of 5,000,000 quarters on the immediate passing of this PAIL Lord STANLEY explained that he hid state.l that this quantity would be broulht into the country not immediately, but at the expi ration of the three years. Lord BLOC. UTAH[ said that was the very thing he had said, but he suppoeel his Noble Friend was exhausted in consequence of the hrellatit Fpeceb he had lately made in the House ; and he would, therethre, excuse him, but when an opinion of this kind was given he (Lord Brcngham) expected that the person giving the opinion should be net only a respectable man but a man of some common sense also a•( ramaliter.) It was an incredible assertion that in three years, and lib (Lord Brougham) woulidgivo three days also, that in three year; Alia three days 5, 00,000 of acres was to be added to the cut• tivatoo of that country for the purpose of deluging their markets and doatroving the cultivation of England. And one word with regard .0 nant-farmers. Much had been said of the injury which had been inflicted on tenant-farmers. They were a class for whom the landowners expressed a very great consideration, and he believed they were sincere in their desire to advance the position of the tenant •farmer, and to ameliorate the condition of the agricultu ral labourer, hut if their Lordships would take the trouble to examine the opinions of those different parties ill the agricultural counties of I England, they would find that no apprehensions were entertained of the result that would accrue from this m 'asure. How did tenant farmers show their alarm of this measure? why, it was by t ( king more farms than they had at present; but perhaps It was at reduced renta. No such thhig, but rather at increased rents. In all parts of the country lie had heard of nothing, but of farms being taken at in creased rents, while he found that the statements in the public prints w a ere to the sane effect. That prices would to a certain degree fall he had no doubt, but that would not take place yet; wheat would be to e arr, it would not be so low as to prove injurious brill: here rfer:,neile.ii.whilehe measure increasing our foreign trade looked forward to this There neverin a very short period of time. theil years of scarcity, more than t a t , t 2 , : r )3 , ,o u t e e'fa 4 r ,, k l;s t o , ft new,l,i)ooeatqiumapct, ed. In the years 800 and 1801 were added, the amount of importation would quarters of flour the year lam, the greatest year of ae.areity d 174 " (in" seen. in quarters imported into this country. It was'said,ehoweEe:r:,slMir they were made deperhlent on foreign countries fot 7it upply thi s he giving to th' s e countries the power of starving t h em. To that assertion he would point to the year 1810, and he would conjointly ask, did th e argument a f ter the consideration of the circumstances of that year stand fora moment ? Did they not then see the continent under the influence of a power which yielded .a most despotic sway over it, who was influeneed by feeling of ruthless hostility towards ,ani 1 . Tv, to him of the petty sovereigns of Europe—talk to Enm him of E4YPf, Bed:elan!, Antwerp, and the Hague, refusing to sappb. the necessities of this country in ruler d o ay f o F f ran n c e e ed. merely, but was not then the t. but of every country in Europe: front . :le s.l e r e l i o ftre edi at Paris, edict, as he to the extremities of Europe; he could by n , thought, close the ports of Europe—yet notwithstanding this was so dear to his heart, completely in accordance with that policy which he always pursued towards this country—even he was finable to _ carry cut kis intention s an d t o deprive them of those supplies which . they required. What w as th e resu lt? Why, 1,51.1,000 quart ers Of wheat were imported during the year 1810, and this supply did not chine from the outports nor from distant quarters, such as Odessa, or Naples, or Sicily, the old granary of Rome — but 110,006 of the quarters came from France itself. That at once extinguished —for ever extinguished the argument about dependence on foreigners.—(Cheers.) His Noble Friend had said that the protection system was supported by universal consent, and he had quoted statistics that had been made in the most ancient times ; but really if ha were to quote old statistics — (Laughter)—he (Lord Brougirani) amid furnish his Noble Friend many such statistics, were they not too ridiculous to quote. He could quote him some of the most absurd provisions of the wisdom, or the ignorant and unex perienced wisdom, rather of their ancestors, to which his Noble Friend had so eloquentlytreferred. There was the statute against fore stallery, which aas one of the ancient statutes, and with the ab surdity of which Iheir Lerlships were no doubt acquainted. And yet that law met fettle b en deemed by Vie legislature, by whom the statute was enacted, to ho the height of wis=dom. Bat such things were now ttholislied, and condemn , d by universal consent. The system of preiteetion was suspended in Eelgaiin, in Holland, and in l'ig'ht:., daring the autumn of 1R 15 ; every one ui those places suspended t t t ot 'mnt of the law of pr o t ec ti on t o native industry; and he n lit ;hat that Wa3 tint a Commentary on the tisiaess and absurd t t. interfere ti ith the supply of the food of the people. If a pro eatlye mws were of any us 3 at an they must of course be 100 re tteena the times of scarcity than at arty other moment.— (fie ir, bear.) His Noble Friend then argued that the trade of the comma' would be seriously affe this measure, and here he meat lefend ilia Noble Friend agdacteltn:slntehib:mself.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He must undertake his he we e e g i a d inst himself, because nothing more harsh, more cruel, and, t _ ellY, more uncharit able—he had almost sail more unelifistran(Eo;:j3nrhis treatment of himself could not have been uttered. He really rgu pers ie n u n g t: ha a i d n abt so u t i the tittle. I him when he was delivering himself of y a tariff; Ito could not have believed that an bowels of compassion.—(Laughter.) The tariff in his (L i t t :d e Brougham's) opinion, did not deserve the vituperation which it re ceived at the hand of his Ncbie Friend. It never was pretended by any man that he ever heard argue—any rational m an at least —no such man ever could have argued that by increased competition molt the producers of any article the price of that article would fall. He thought it was perfectly evident that increased competi tion amongst the consumers of an article raised the price of an ar ticle. But the object of the tariff was to enable us to obtain cheaper goods from abroad and thereby send our goods advsuatageeusly to foreign markets.—(Beer, hear.) THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENIMG, MAY 26, 1846. Upon the vote of 72,4001. being proposed for frecco paintings• for the new 'louses of Parliament, Mr. HUME wished to know if those fresco paintings were only intended for the House of Lords, or whether they were intended for both Houses. lie certainly should regret seelig one painting more in the House of Lords than in the House of Commons. Sir R. PEEL said he could not qUite agree vith the Hon. Gentle man. There was more room in the House a' Lords for paintings than in the House of Commons. There were to be statues in both Houses, and the House of Commons would lave its full share of them. Mr. PETER BORTHWICK would suggest the propriety of not being in a hurry to fill the new Houses with fresco paintings, for that art had not as yet reached perfection in this country. The vote was then agreed to. It was then proposed that the sum of 19,2.?5/. should be granted for the re-building of the Home-office in Downing-street, and that 4,0001. be granted for the ventilation of the sane. After a few words in explanation from Sir R. PEEL and Mr. CARDWELL as to the extent of projection which would take place in the re •building of the Admiralty, the vote was agreed to. Upon the sum of 85,6811. for a harbour of refuge at Holyhead being read, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in answer to a question from Mr. Williams, that Holyhead had been chosen, not be cause of its affording the shortest passage to Ireland, but the most facile, and also because the railway company, who were about to form a line of railway from Holyhead to London, had agreed to cen tribute one-fourth of the entire expense, which had been estimated at 620,0001.—The vote was then agreed to. On 50,0001. being proposed for the formation of the Caledonian Canal, Sir DE LACEY EVANS and Mr. 'Timm suggested that this sum would be more usefully employed in increasing the extent of the National Gallery. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that the canal had teen formed and embankments made, and no alternative was left but either to go on with the Bill, or subject a great portion of the country, which was below the level of the canal, to a most destructive inunda tion. Mr. HUME would wish to know in what state the canal was now, and what prospect there was of its being completed? It had already cost 150,0001. Sir ROBERT PEEL said, tbat the work had originally cost 1,000,0001., and it then became a question, whether it would be wiser to go on with it or destroy it. A Connnittee was appointed to inquire into the state of the canal, and their report was to the effect that it would cost so much to destroy the work, and that as no private contractor could be got to undertake the coJlpletion of it, the Government had deemed it advisable to comp ete it. Mr. CARDWELL said he had been assured that the whole would be completed in a very short time, he believed in about a year or two. If he was correct In his impressions 10,000/. more had been expended than was anticipated. Colonel SIBTIIORP said that the Hon. Member was now quoting the returns which would answer his expectations. Why not drain this Caledonian Canal at once? We find that every drain in the canal shares was a benefit to railroads. Why then was not this canal turned into a railway ? This was only one of the jobs which were as numerous on this side of the House as they were on the other. He would instance that nameless one of the National Gallery, which was a disgrace to the country. The minister outht to boble to answer these questions, and if he did not he was not fit to be the minister.--(Loud cheers.) They are called upon year after year to vote those monies without any sort of explanation. (Laughter.) He had it in contemplation to regulate the ealaries which were drawn out of the pockets of the people. This is a sort of legislation to which he should always set his face against, and if there was to be a cause of dissolution, why the sooner it came the better.—(Laughter.) Sir H. DOUGLAS would remind the House that the object of his vote was to change the canal into a railroad. Mr. HUME would explain that the Hon. Member on the other side, by stating that he objected to Members changing thcir opiniona, while no one had done more so than himself. Mr. CARDWELL said that the object of this motion was'to con vert a valley through which a canal flowed into a marsh. After a few words from Mr. COLLETT, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that the object of this vote was a general one, and that the sum was by no means excessive. The vote then passed. . - The CHAIRMAN then put the vote that the sum of 21,452/. should be voted for the improvement of the parks and public buldings in Ireland. Mr. IVILLIAMS objected to this vote, on the ground that there was no sufficient evidence to justify the vote, and because he felt it to be irrelevant. Mr. CARDWELL said that the vote was suggested because it wa, felt to be necessary, and he did not conceive that because the vote had been thrown out in fermer years that it should not be agreed to now. Colonel SIItTHORP objected to this vote because it contained a vote for 5751. for the repairs of the College of Maynooth, and he would like to have a statement of the repairs for which this money was necessary. He would appeal to the Hon. Member for Oxford to know what those repairs were. There was 5001. here, and 50,0001. there, and nobody knew ,N here the money was going, but he thought it was high time that this expenditure was stopped, and that it should not go ox without some Committee of inquiry.—(Hear, hear.) It was possible to resist a packed treasury bench, but he thought the old principle of " Scratch me and I'll scratch you " ought to be stopped, and he put his protest against the vote. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that this vete was simply to save expenditure in future years. The vote was then agreed to. It was then proposed that the sum of 12,5001. should be devoted to the improvement of the harbour of Kingstown. After a few words from Sir C. NAPIER, as to the expenditure last year, Sir R. PEEL said that the money voted last year had been devoted to the improvement of the harbours of refuge, including Dover and Harwich. _ . _ The sum of 29,3561. was proposed to satisfy the salaries of the officers of both Houses of Parliament, when, Mr. HUTT said, he had repeatedly moved for returns of this ex penditure. He trusted that before this sum was voted that these re turns would be allowed. He alluded especially to the salaries of the House of Lords. The salaries of the officers of the House of Commons had, it was notorious, been greatly reduced, while those of the officers of the House of Lords had been materially increased. This ought to be explained and rectified. Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the expenses of the various Govern ment offices having been increased during the last year. He was strongly averse to this disgraceful expenditure of the public money. Mr. HUTT was convinced there was some unnecessary charges in the expenses of the House of Lords. Mr. HUME. wanted to know what the amount received was for the House of Lords ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER believed the amount was 50,0001. Mr. HUME wanted to know whether the Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords received any sum beyond the 3,5001. which he received as a salary? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he would give an explanation on the bringing up of the report. The estimate was then agreed to. gfe gum of 56,0001. was then voted for the expenses of the Treasury. A sum of 16,0001. was also passed to defray the expenses of thepffice of Secretary of State for the Home Department. The sum of 63,0001, was voted for the Foreign-office. 19,0001. was passed for the expenses incurred in the Colonial De partment. The sums of 37,2551. and 2,0001., 29,5591., ani 16,1561. were then severally voted to defray the expenses of the Privy Council and Trade offices, Privy Seal, the Paymaster-General of the Forces, and the Comptroller-General of the Exchequer. The sum of 2,6501 was voted for the payment of the salaries and expenses of the State Paper-office. Mr. CHRISTIE thought that some arrangement might be made to bring the State Papers into one place. The present arrangement was very inconvenient. The sum of 72,915/. was granted to her Majesty to defray the ex penses of the Mint. Also the sum of 12,6281. for defraying the expenses and salaries of keeping the Public Records. 1,7551. was proposed to defray the salaries and expenses of certain officers of Scotland, that were formerly charged upon the hereditary revenues of that country. At the suggestion of Sir. WILLIAMS, the vote was postponed. 23,2731. for the salaries of the Household of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. _ _ 5,0461. for the office of the Civil Service in Ireland. 5,7981. for the Board of Public Works in Ireland. 244,1261. for the expense of stationary, printing, and binding, of the the . ME complained several public establishments, were severally voted. Mr. quality of the stationery supplied to illiotrusewcasom very discreditable, the quality and h o p e d th a t it wou ld b e better In future. _ ---- ........... The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought that public officers were hardly dealt with. If they attempted to save money they were called shabby, and if they were liberal they were called profligate.—(Laughter.) The vote was agreed to. A sum of 4,950/. was proposed for the p r i nt i ng to be executed by the Queen's printers in Ireland. After a few words from Mr. HUME, the estimate was itgreed to. The House then resumed. Mr. GREENE reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again this day. The other orders of the day were then agreed to. The Report on the Corresponding Societies and Lecture Rooms Bill was brought up and agreed to. The House then adjourned at twenty minutes past twelve o'clock. In one case, that was before the passing of the tariff, there was a con siderable amount of tonnage more than there had been since. Some of this amount bad been foreign shipping. He did not think the distinction worthy the consideration of a statesman. With re spect to the Noble Lord's statements respecting the American trade, it proved nothing, or if it proved any thing, it only proved that we did not send them so much as we imported from them. The same with Russia. We sent them produce to an equal amount of importations from them. He did not look forward to any sudden increase in the trade of foreign markets. One thing he was sure of, that if they liberated their trade other nations would do the same. They did themselves no service by maintaining these restrictions, and if other nations did not fall into the same views at once they would be no losers by their delay. According to Mr. Gregg's statement,' our trade and commerce were in a most ruinous state. He did not concur in that opinion. Now, he would wish to say one word upon the subject of the sliding scale. His Noble Friend opposite had asked, " Why alter the sliding scale, if it had been foundto be so advantageous as had been stated'." Why it never appeared to him that that was not clearly, and strictly, and purely the argumentum ad hominunz, and the consequence of it was a great accumulation in the bon ded warehouses, of property h be a l cl on be gi : g n tooveprwarthieelwe d h . o f o ß n u n t d t h w e h n e n t e t it b w i a t a s o o it l a t t h e e , t i h i o a u t s t e h , e h m a d a r kt not circumstances changed since 1842, and could they test the circum stances of the present day with that year? Even in the year 1844, the harvest was so good that into the year 1845 there were the pro visions of three months of that year taken. Now he begged to say that he was no party to the exaggerated statements that bad been made in reference to landlords, for he regarded the landed interest of the country as sufficient to outweigh all the other interests that could be brought to bear against it, and therefore he would be the last man to give his vote in favour of the corn-laws, if it Fhould place that body in jeopardy. He would tell the landed interest where they could find protection. —(Hear, hear.) "Si monumentuns guar's, eircumspiel ;" and to those who talked of the want of talent in the aristocracy, he would say look to the splendid and overwhelming display of talent which had been displayed during the course of the debate, in another place; I and he would call their attenti hm o ad n os wholl cus o struggle s i h d a d e r a tflie that ta the ianf in another place, p aei la f ce t , a w t h h o e e t tha e tt h m a p ew e samt man n o a s s t e r l u f, g h g a le d those times was known in the political world. He had given up what to an ambitions man was much, hi s security of power—what to a humane man was much, his personal friendship, in order to do a great public good.--(Hcar, hear.) The Earl of WILTON moved the adjournment of the debate. The House adjourned at a Quarter to Two o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 25. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTER RAILWAY BILL. Mr. GREENE moved that the minutes of the evidence of the proceedings of the Committee to which the Bristol and Gloucester Irailway Bill (No. 2) was referred in the last session of Parliament be referred to the Committee on Group No. 3l of Railway Bills.—The motion was agreed to. CURTIS'S DIVORCE BILL. . This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. YIDGEN'S ESTATE BILL. This Bill was also read a second time, and ordered to be committed. VIDEAN'S ESTATE BILL was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. SIR GEORGE DUNBAR'S ESTATE BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, the amendments and alterations agreed to, and the:Bills ordered to be engrossed, viz. : —Plymouth Cemetery, Portsmouth Harbour Pier, Birkenhead Small Debts, South Leith Church, Gorbals Gravi tation Waterworks, Liverpool and Harrington Waterworks, Salford Hundred Court, Liverpool Improvement, Midland Railway (Leicester and Swannington Railway Alteration and Branches), Edinburgh Paving, Sion College, Inverness and Elgin Junction Railway, Perth and Inverness Railway. Worcester New Gas, Derby and Crewe Junction Railway, Sittingbourne Improvement, London and South-Western Railway (Farnham and Alton Branch), Lancashire and York shire North-Eastern Railway, Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Railway, and Harbour, Staines and Richmond Railway, Man chester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland Junction Railway, Great Grimsby Gas, North Kent Railway, Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction Railway, Morecombe Harbour and Railway, Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin Railway, School•. masters' Widews' Fund, Thames Haven Dock and Railway (No. 2), Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway ( Chapel Hall Branch), Leicester and Bedford Railway, Bristol and Exeter Railway (Crewkerne Branch ), Harrogate Gas. GREAT GRIMSBY AND SHEFFIELD JUNCTION EXTENSION (Nos. 1,2, and 3). These Bills were read a third time and passed. SLAMANNAN AND BORROWSTOUNESS RAIL- WAY. This Bill was read a third time and passed. BOSTON, STAMFORD, AND BIRMINGHAM RAIL WAY (STAMFORD TO WISBEACH). This Bill, with amendments, was read a third time and passed. NORTHUMBERLAND DOCKS. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. MANCHESTER MARKETS. This Bill was read a third time and passed. GREAT WESTERN AND WYCOMBE RAILWAY. This Bill was read a third time and passed. GREAT GRIMSBY AND SHEFFIED EXTENSION RAILWAY. This Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of Mr. WARBURTON, the Kendal Union Gas and Water Bill was read a third time, as were the Warrington Waterworks and the Great North of England Bills. Mr. DILLON BROWNE presented a petition from Kil common, in the county of Mayo, praying for the discharge of Mr. Smith O'Brien from the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. J. M. M'DONALD presented a petition from the barony of Costello, county of Mayo, to the same effect. Mr. O'CONNELL presented 17 petitions from various places in Ireland against the Coercion Bill, and also one from the town council of Cork, praying for the release of Mr. Smith O'Brien from the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. B. ESCOTT presented a petition from inhabitants of the city of Winchester, in favour of the Catholic Relief Bill. Sir G. SINCLAIR presented a petition from the Peace Society of Preston against the enrolment of the militia. DUTY UPON FOREIGN SUGAR. Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented a petition from Glas gow, praying for the abolition of the distinction between free labour and other foreign sugar. He said that the petitioners complained of the inefficient supply of sugar at present in the market, and that the West India sugar imported into this country this year was 30,000 tons less than it was last year. The petitioners further prayed that sugar, the produce of foreign countries, be might admitted on the same terms as sugar the nroduee of freVolvp.r.in foreign countries. AL . Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD begged leave to ask Sir James Graham (with reference to the return containing the correspondence on the Rochdale borough memorial, Parlia mentary paper, No. 313, May 14th) whether inquiry was made by Captain Woodford, chief constable, into the charges against the police, referred to in that memorial, as stated to have been made in the reply of the Rochdale magistrates ; and, if so, what was the result of that inquiry ; and, whether Sir James Graham has any objection to lay before the House the proceedings thereon ? Sir J. GRAHAM said he had ordered the inquiry to be made and when he had received it it should be laid upon the table of the House. FOREIGN SUGAR DUTIES. Lord JOHN RUSSELL begged leave to give notice that he would, upon an early day after the Whitsuntide holidays, move in Committee on the Sugar Duties Bill for a reduction on foreign sugars, the produce of slave labour, to the same amount as that now levied upon sugar the produce of free labour ; and that if that should not he acceded to he would move for the removal of differential duties upon all foreign sugars. IRISH LAND COMMISSION REPORT. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD begged leave to ask Sir R. Peel, whether any Bill or Bills on subjects referred to and recommended for consideration in the Irish Land Commission Report will be proposed by her Majesty's Government this session ; and if so, when it may be expected they will be sub mitted to Parliament, and to what points of such recommen dation they will relate. ? Sir ROBERT PEEL said he was so well aware of the excellent example which the Honourable Member set in Ire land as a landlord, that he conceived he was fully entitled to ask that question, and he could assure the Honourable Member and the House that this was a sub ject which had occupied the most earnest attention of the Go vernment; but the House was aware that a change had recently taken place in the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland, and that since the appointment of his Noble Friend to that office he had been totally disabled by illness from paying any at tention to public business, and that was the sole reason of legislation upon this subject having been delayed so long ; but when his Noble Friend should be able to attend he would be enabled to furnish an outline of the general plan contem plated by her Majesty's Government. In the meantime he (Sir Robert Peel) might say that measures were about being brought forward, into a detail of which it would be premature in him now to enter, but he would just say that one of them was to he a Bill for giving compensation to tenants —(Cheers)—the second, a Bill to amend the law regarding the ejectment of tenants in Ireland—(Cheers)--and the third would contain a short outline for a general form of lease. ACCOUCHENIENT OF HER MAJESTY. Sir R. PEEL said the House was probably aware that an event had taken place that day which would give great pleasure to her Majesty's loyal subjects. He had to inform the House that her Majesty had that day given birth to a Princess, and he was happy to state that her Most Gracious Majesty was doing well. He was sure that the House would allow him to propose at once, without a notice, a motion on the subject. He was sure that every Member of the House would bear out the universal opinion with regard to the manner in which her Majesty discharged her domestic duties.— ( Hear, hear.) He would without further observation move, " That the House do present an address of congratulation to her Majesty on the addition to her domestic happiness by the birth of a Princess." Lord J. RUSSELL was sure that every Member of the House would eencur in the sentiments expressed, and every re mard ark which had fall en f rom t h e Ri ght Hon. Baronet with re gto hes Most Gracious Majesty. He would content himself with si mp l y seconding the motion. The motion was th en put and 'tarried tol DIR. SMITH O'BRIEN. Mr. SHAW said that he rose, pursuant to &notice , eisich be had given, to move the discharge from the custody of the Sergeant. at-Arms of Mr. Smith O'Brien. He begged to state, in d e f erence to t h e H on. an d L earned Member for the county of Cork, who had also a motion to the same effect, that he would have given way to the Hon. and Learned Member on this matter, but that he (Mr. Shaw) felt his motion to be better calculated to the discharge of the Hon. Member now in custody. It was that feeling alone, and not a spirit of rivalry which prompted him to press his motion.—( Hear, hear.) The Committee which the Hon. Member had refused to attend had now concluded its labours, and therefore he was satisfied that there was nothi ng now to keep the Hon. bythe and he labours h a d Member longer i n confinement. The C omm i ttee had not yet that statemen t would be Committee. He would move th a t Wil liam made their re h p o o r r n t e , b o u u t t all in their co ncluded, custody of the Sergeant-at-A rras at tending O'Brien, Esq., in Smith custody, ' discharged out of payin g this House, be Chairman of that fees. Mr. HENLEY said that the Committee had concluded its labours, and it now only remained for them to report to the House ; and he could assure the House, when supporting the motion of the Hon. Member for the University of Dirk lin, that the public business had not suffered by the absence of the Hon. Member, Mr. O'Brien, from the Committee.—(A laugh. ) Mr. P. BUTLER was glad to find that the motion now before the House had emanated from the Honourable Member for the University of Dubin. He did not think it necessary to read the letter which had been written by Mr. Smith O'Brien. The substance of that letter was already sufficiently before the House. He could not in any way find fault with the conduct of their ex cellent Sergeant-at-Arms, as he ought to do if She fol lowed the subject cf that letter. But on the :present auspicious occasion, he did conceive that some course might be pursued alike consistent with the dignity of the House, and with the honour of that Member whose Jig charge he sought to obtain. Sir R. PEEL said that the question of the Hon. Member pertained to the point whether the discharge of Mr. Smith O'Brien was consistent with the honour of the House. In reply he was bound to say that no one regretted the detention of that Hon. Member more than he did, and that they had not the benefit of his presence on that, as it had well been termed, auspicious occasion.—( Cheers.) Now he was bound to say that her Majesty's Government had had few more anxious subjects of consideration than his detention in custody.—(Cheers.) Now it was the impression of her Ma jesty's Government that it was impossible to detain that Hon. Gentleman in custody, and yet act in accordance with the feel ngs of the House, as they appeared in the course of this debate. He was asked whether he would any longer consent to the ens tee), of Mr. Smith O'Brien, and whether his release cluld be effected consistently with a regard to the authority of the House? In reply he must say, that he thought the authority of the House had been sufficiently vindicated, and that Mr. S. O'Brien might be discharged from custody. In accordance, then, with the universal feeling of the House, he should move that Mr. O'Brien be accordingly discharged—(Loud cheers) — especially when he recollected Hon. Members had discharged their duties, and taken their part in the labours which had been necessarily imposed upon Parliament.-.-(Cheers. ) The motion was carried with loud cheers, and without a division. PROTECTION OF LIFE IN IRELAND BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to remind the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government (Sir R. Peel) that the Bill for the Protection of Life in Ireland, stood for its second reading to-day. From the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he had expected that it would come on today, but he regretted to find that it had been postponed until after the holidays, in consideration of a number of mis cellaneous statements, and he should wish to know when the second reading of the Bill would take place. Sir R. PEEL regretted that this Bill had been postponed, but be had given notice that it should be brought up on Fri day in the first instance, and that the Customs' Duties Bill should be taken on Monday. He had done this in the expec tation that this measure would have been disposed of before the recess, but this had been found impossible. He had wished to bring forward the usual financial statement, but he hesitated to bring forward any more Money Bills until the sanction of the House had been obtained for the two great principles now before the House. He hoped, however, to take the second reading of this Bill en Friday next. SPANISH DISCRIMINATING DUTIES. Mr. LABOUCHERE wished to ask of the Government whether the report was true that discriminating duties had been imposed on British produce in the harbours of Cuba and Porto Rico. . Sir R. PEEL said that his attention had not been drawn to this subject until he had seen it noticed in the newspapers, but that upon observing the statements, he had read the dispatches, which contained, so far as he could see, no such intention ; but he would decline giving any more explicit answer until he had reread the dispatches. REDUCTION OF CRIME IN IRELAND. Mr. O'CONNELL asked whether there was any proof in the hands of the Government of the public report, that since the administration of relief to the starving poor in Ireland there had been a great reduction of crime in that country ? Sir R. PEEL could not at present give the Hon. and Learned Member any specific assurance of the fact, but he believed that in the main the public reports were true. RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. .... . Mr. BERNAL complained of the present system of classification with regard to railways, and wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentle man, the Vice-President of the Beard of Trade, if it was proposed to make any alteration In the system by which the present evils would be obviated. Sir G. CLERK said that the classification of groups rested with the Chairman of the Committee, and though inconvenience might oc casionally result from the merits of railways belonging to the same locality being considered by different CoMmittees, he believed the territorial division was carried out as far as possible ; and he was not prepared to say that any alteration would be made in the system. On the motion that the order of the day be read for going into a Committee of supply, Mr. LAWSON said he was sorry that the statements he had felt it to be his duty to make a few evenings ago, had been made the subject of a great deal of controversy in the public press, and he wished to take that opportunity of explaining. Sir ROBERT PEEL did not consider the Hon. Gentleman was quite in order in making any explanations on the subject then, and, at any rate, he should have given previous notice of his intention to do so. Mr. LAWSON had no objection to postpone doing so till to-morrow, if the House would give him leave to bring it on then before any other business was proceeded with. Sir It. PEEL had no doubt that the House would give every at tention to the llon. Gentleman when be did refer to the subject, but on the other hand, he must say that the explanation of the Hon. Gentleman would be very imperfect in the absence of the Hon. Alderman (Mr. Humphrey). Mr. EWART did net wish to prevent the Hon. Gentleman from making his explanation, but he was first on the list of notices to morrow evening, and he did not feel bound to waive his right of pre cedence. Mr. LAWSON said, that under the circumstances, and after the explanation of the Hon. Member opposite, he would defer his motion. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The order of the day for going into Committee of Supply having been read, Mr. WILLIAMS said he had to complain of the manner in Whim the miscellaneous estimates were to be brought before the House. He had not received a copy of them until this morning, and he un derstood they were to be brought on to-night. Now, he should say that he never before heard of the miscellaneous estimates being brought on 14efore the Army and Navy estimates; and he did not think it was anything better than a farce to send so short a notice of estimates like those, which contained so many hundreds of items. Mr. CARDWELL said they had been brought forward according to their order in the list. Mr. HUME expected that notice of those estimates would have been sent out at least 15 days ago. The CH.LNCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Govern- ment had no wish to depart from the usual course ; but these Ml mates contained so many items that they necessarily forced on them the attention of the Government. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the usual course was to begin with the army or navy estimates, and to take the miscellaneous estimates last. Ile should say that the present appeared to him to be rather an unusual course, for he did not expect that the House would be called upon to agree to those estimates without any notice whatever. Mr. V. SMITH would wish to know whether it was the intention to bring on these estimates without; any notice. Sir R. INGLIS said he had retx , ived a copy of the estimates, by which it appeared that they had been ordered to be printed so tar back as the sth May. . _ _ Mr. AGLIONBY - was surprised that the questions put by the Hon Member near him had not been answered. Mr. CARDWELL said the only cause of delay in printing the estimates was their great length. Sir R. PEEL said the vote was necessary, and he hoped the House would not consider that her Majesty's Government was taking it by surprise. The House then went into Committee on the MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES AND CIVIL CONTINGENCIES. Upon a vote of 50,000/. to her Majesty for civil contingencies having been proposed, Mr. WILLIAMS said he could not agree to that large sum. There were various items paid out of that money which had no business to be paid at all. Be found a sum of 6001. was paid to the Bishop of Tripoli, and another sum to the Bishop of another place, and he really could not see why so much money should be squandered. An other item was that of 3501. to Sir Strafford Canning for defraying the expenses of an excursion which was of no benefit to this country. He found another sum of 10,0001. set down towards paying the ex penses of the Relief Commission in Ireland. Thera was another sub ject they had a few nights ago a discussion on, the payment of the offieer,s of the Exchequer. He wished to know whether these officers had discharged their duty. nen no would turn to the Church of Scotland, and when he saw the way in which the Independent 'hnrCh of Scotland had come forward with their 100,000%., he really did think It was not right for the paid Church of Scotland to come to the Government and ask for public assistance. He wished to know what the Government intended to do with respect to these claims ? Mr. CARDWELL would go through the several points for his no tice of which he expressed himself obliged. With regard to the con veyance of ecclesiastical persons on board of her Majesty's vessels, it was considered that it was decided that when the Government de termined that these persons should be conveyed at the public expense, it would be improper to oblige the captains of the several vessels to make out bills. When it was recollected that the bishops went out for a great public object, he was quite sure that the small charge of 171. in one instance,-and of 1201. in another, would not be considered to be excessive. Then with regard to badges the whole expense appeared to be only about 1,5001. ; and as to the charge for the visits of foreign potentates, with which the country was sometimes grati fied, it was evident that they must be borne by some one, and no body was so competent or so proper to bear the expense as the country at large. Then, with regard to the costs of legal reforms, he had to say that these charges were very shorth to cease, and did not now exceed 6,0001. With regard to the established societies the amount was but small, and one which had always been recognised, so that he trusted that no objection would be made to it. Mr. HUME could not see why this country shot!. pay 6001. for a governor to Australia, and pay it to other colonies. He would say that if Australia could not afford to pay their own governor, they should be left to themselves. He also condemned the niggardly sum paid to French sailors and others for saving the lives of English sub jects, which sums, when compared with the large treasure wasted upon other and less deserving objects, worked very miserably indeed. lie had next to complain of the sum of over 7,0001. for the Commis sion to Ireland, which he thought too much, and 3001. for the a•tend ance of the short-hand writer at political meetings in that country, which he should condemn as a system of espionage that was quite an-English. _ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that with regard to the sum of 10,0001. set down to the Commission in Ireland he could Assure the House that that item was not for the expense of the Corn • mission alone, but for that purpose together with the purpose of giving relief to the poor of that country. After a few words from Mr. CuermAN and Mr. AGLIONBY, Mr. lIAIVES said that he wished for some information re specting the vote. Ile saw that there was certain allowance to the Commiss!oners for the Colonies, and he desired to ascertain what the expenses really were. A Commission was appointed in 1841 to in quire into the expenditure of the colonies. Then last year there had been another inquiry promised by his Hon Friend opposite. This was with respect to . a charge for 4451. for making up an abstract account, and he could not possibly understand how a charge of between 4001. and 5001. a year was to be made for making up an ab stract account. Then there was another charge for furnishing the police and appendages in Scotland-yard, which he could not at all understand. Then he observed another vote for the the amount of 1,8001. to assist the publication of the work of the zoology of South Africa. He wished to know whether there were any profits from this work. But he had heard of many such works In which there were no profits. Yet he would not object to the vote on that account, for he believed there were many valuable works which ought to ob tain the assistance of Government. Then there was a charge of 1,1801. for the expenses of drawing up the ➢ietropolitan Building Act, and really he thought that the whole sum ought to be levied as a fine upon the drawers of that Bill, for a more bungling or Inefficient Act had he believed never been presented to Parliament. He had drawn his catalogue to a con clusion, and hoped that a Satisfactory answer would be given to his observations. - - " • In reply, Mr. CARDWELL went through the several items of one or two of the accounts, but stated that the general answer was, that the accounts were so voluminous that it was utterly impossible to go through them. But he might say, that with regard to the scientific work on South Africa, it was conceived advisable to render the assistance of the book for public purposes. HARBOURS OF REFUGE. In answer to a question from Sir CHARLES:NAPIER, in reference to harbours of refuge on tile south-eastern coast of England, Captain CARNEGIE id that a Commission had presented a report on the subject to the Lords of the Treasury, but nothing had as yet been determined upon. Mr. WILLIAMS said that he had suggested plans by which mil lions would be saved to the revenue, but they had not been adopted. Mr. HUME found fault with the expenses incurred in the payment of the fees allowed to officers engaged he the carrying out of confer ring titles of baronets, Orders of the Garter, and also of granting patents, which latter he was disposed to question the right of the Queen to interfere in. The C iIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged to remind the Hon. Member that there were only 24 Knights of the Garter, and leaking the ind honour. for that if a vacancy should occur in them before the expense of the in ump t i a u v m o vote of wished . ttow being h ow stallatien of a new one, the expense would be incurred by the party furnishing r. the same, Upon a few words from Mr. W. ESCOTT, the vote was agreed to. proposed much o f o f r t the h at expenses t aa ce s o expendedf upon the beautifying of Windsor Castle . He w is hed to have the exact items made known to the country public The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the items were not kept back in consequence of any misappropriation of the funds. Mr. WILLIAMS would oppose the further grant of 1001. for the farther beautifying of Marlborough House. lie thought her Ma jesty the Queen Dowager had quite enough of the public money in 100,0001. a-year ; and he would therefore move that the estimate be one hundred pounds less, for it was quite time to put a stop to gross extravagance. There was an item put down for the expences of the royal ecclesiastical commissioner in Scotland, and he should certainly object to the amount unless it were properly explained. by 2. ,..t l b r r .e. AopGeLraltOioNnßolf- the e fe c n o d m e m d is t s h i e on. Commission, and stated that th e estimates were no m ore th an j ust. The public had greatly benefitediu WILLIAMS, after a few words from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, objected to the estimates for repairing buildings and Air.iumE id n i sinSdcotlanodt. concur with all the observations of the Hon. Gentleman. He was of oplaion t i h tl , la t t a the old buildings should not be expenses and of repairs. lle should not object to allowed t apar tot t 4 f a c 1 0 1. v i e n r t into h d e e decay, moderate estimate should be objected to 1501. for Government buildings in the the e e re o7 l 3 lol l la a l i ' l el . l I N I I C : saw no reason why that claim should be made on the Consolidated Fund, while the surplus revenue of that island did not go to the Consolidated Fund. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not think the ob servation of the Hon. Gentleman quite consistent with the views which he usually entertained with regard to local expenditure on public works. After some farther objections with regard to the expense of depositpro 4sagorefedthteo. public records and other granted fer the expenses of erecting a pa l m-house viding itt a m cc a or a of 15 5801, being proposed to defray the expense of On the item , at I K o e ,O w oo . /. was In th °d e grant, att l n Committee-rooms, &e., Mr. WILLIAMS could not but express his dissatisfaction at thi s p rov idi n g temporary accommo dation for the Houses of Parliament large sum. had been a Member of they Old Meld. Ile air of this House was was sure that the House of Commons, and he much more pure than that of the old. There IN as no doubt that the Mr. PHOTHEROE said, tha t he could bear testimony to the fact of the services of Dr. ventilation was not as upon the old plan. I ony to the improYements of General EVANS could boar tein m Dr. Reid. The vote was then agreed to. yet quite Perfect, but it was much improved FACTORIES BILL. ANALYSIS OF THE DIVISION ON THE FACTORY BILL. Protectionists who voted with Government against the Bill, 1846 (51) : Alexander, N. Forbes, Wm. Lygon, General Begot, Hon. W. Forman, T. S. INlackenzie, T. Balfour, J. M. Gordon, Captain Mackenzie, W. F. Barrington, Lord Hamilton, J. H. Mniners, Lord C. Bell, Matthew llaye., Sir E. Mildmay, H. St. J. Boldero, 11. G. Heneage, G. H. W. Morgan, C. Carew, W. H. Pole Hepburn, Sir T. .31undy, Edw. Miller Cholmondeley, Pl. Hinde, J. H. Round, John Chute, W. L. W. Hodgson, F. Russell, C. Collett, \V. R. Hodgson, Richard Sanderson, R. Coote, Sir C. Holmes, W. A'C. Smyth, Sir H. Deedes, W. Hope, Sir J. Sotheron, T. IL S. Dodd, G. Houldsworth, T. Trevor, J. R. Duckworth, Sir J. Jones, Captain Vivian, J. E. Dowdeswell, W. Ker, I). 5, Walpole, S. 11. Filmer, Sir E. Lascelles, E. Wyndham, Colonel Fitzmaurice, lion. W. Lockhart, W. Wynn, Sir W. Whigs who voted for the Factory Bill in 1844, and were absent with- out Pairs : Bulkeley, Sir R. B. Cavendish, G. H. Hall, Sir B. Butler, Colonel Dalrymple, Captain Heathcord, John Butler, P. S. Easthope, Sir J. Humphcry, Ald. IlYng, G. S. French, F. Ross, D. R. Carew, R. S. Gill, Thomas Vivian, J. H. Collett, John Gore, Robert Wilshere, T. W. Cavendish, C. C. Guest, Sir John Peelites who voted In favour of the Factory Bill in 1844, but were absent on Friday night without Pairs : Copeland, Alderman Johnstone, Sir J. Stewart, John Dickinson, F. H. Mai nwari ng, T. Smollett, Alexander Gregory, W. H. Polhill, F. Tomline, George Hornby, .John Pennant, Colonel Protectionists who voted for the Factory Bill in 1844, and were absent without Pairs : Mare, Viscount Davies, D. A. S. Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Antrobus, E. Egerton, Sir P. Pakington, J. S. Astell, William Einlyn, Viscount Pusey, P. Chapman, Aaron Hope, A. J. B. Rendlesham, Lord Cresswell, B. Lowther, Sir J. H. Trotter, John Peel!Ms who voted for the Estctory Bill in 1844, and voted on Friday night with the Government against the same : Gore, Montague Jocelyn, Viscount Mahon, Viscount Hanmer, Sir J. Legh, G. C. Neville, R. (paired) James, Sir W. Protectionist Ditto : Hayes, Sir E. Whig Ditto : Hawes, B. here, and DRURY-LASE THEATRE. —Every lover of beautiful dancing, and the most perfect and extraordinary grouping, will be delight e d t o h ear th a t th e Viennoises are re-engaged this week, f or th e l as t ti me . MRS. MA BERLY ' S N EW N OVE L.—WO are requested appear to-morrow evening and three more nights to state that Mr. Colburn has this day published " Leon tine," by Mrs. Maberly, authoress of " Emily," &c., in 3 vols., which can now be had at all the Libraries. The fol lowing popular new works of fiction are also now ready :- 2. Marston ; or, The Soldier and Statesman, by the author of " Salathiel.-3. Adventures of Captain O'Sullivan, by W. H. Maxwell, Esq., au th or of " Stories of Waterloo."- 4. Emilia Wyndham, b the author of " Two Old Men's Tales," " M ount Sorrel,' &c.-5. Confessions of a Pretty Woman, by Miss Pardoe.-6. The Robertses on their Tra vels, by Mrs. Trollope.-7. Pomfret, by H. F. Cherley, Esq. —aid 8. The Citizen of Prague, edited by Mary Howitt, second edition. ArOtilnlerSyunday p , be celebrated th e anniversary o f h er Maj e sty's birthday, by firing a d ou bl e royal salute. The div i s i on para d e d at h a lf Comanty, u a n r a t e il r l e t r i y l e division comm a nodf of the c a i p i t o a n i n o u l r s a el b i l n e , past ten o'clock, and were marched to St. Paul's District Church, where an excellent sermon was preached by tlic Rev. Lewis Marcu., M.A., on behalf of the Church Extension Society. Atter Divine service, the division were marched back to the Artillery Ground, and fired the salute, after which a liberal subscription was made by the artillery divi sion, and handed over to the minister for the charity. ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—We under stand the Illuminated Marine Cave, which has occupied that distin guished artist, Mr. Hanson, for some weeks, will be added to the other attraction s for the Whitsun holidays ; and we advise all holi day folks to pay the gardens a visit while the present wonderful exhibitions are to be seen, for if the managers of that really awful spectacle (the Eruption of Vesuvius) do not make a blow-up In earnest one of these evenings (clever dogs as they are), we are not the editors of The Sun. A real eruption is a fool to it, besides the trouble of going all the way to Naples to see it. MONDAY'S E DITION OF THE " OBSERVER.happy announcement of her most Gracious Majesty's a ccouchement appeared in th e whole Impression of Monday's Observer- Monday edition of th e Ob server is best a d a pt e d for the countr y and readers v)be abroad. Th e Obserrer is printed on the largest sheet al:owed stamped which contains fort fol i o c olumns. lasT engine er construc ted the first locomotive of Trelve E Fliick, en gine at Merthyr T ydvil, and applied it successfully to the tzac on coal and coke.—carch;O'aN Menhyr Guardian' mining engineer ivE.—Just forty years a g o Mr. COMPLETION OF THE STANHOPE MEMOIRS. Now ready, in . 3 vols., post Bvo., with numerous Illustrations, 31s. (ld. bound, T RAVELS of LADY HESTER STANHOPE. Forming, THE COMPLETION OF lIER MEMOIRS. Henry Gotham, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. To he had of all Booksellers. THE NEW WORK ON RUSSIA Now ready, in 2 vols., with a Full-length Portrait of the Emperor, 21s. bound, R USSIA UNDER THE AUTOCRAT, NICIIOLAS T. BY IVAN GO LOVINE, A RUSSIAN SUBJECT. " A work of an extremely interesting nature, emanating from the pen of a Russian, noble by birth, who has escaped beyond the reach of the Czar's power. It throws a new light on the state of the em pire ; its aspect, political and domestic ; its manners ; the employes about the palace. court, and capital ; its police, its spies, its depraved society, &c. The details on all these subjects will be found peculiarly valuable."--Sunday Times. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough street. RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE. ITESSRS. fAMOND, v SMALE, AND t V LAMOND, Railway Share Auctioneers, beg to thank their Friends and the Public for their continued support and patronage, and to announce that their Public Sales of Railway Shares, &c., take place every TUESDAY and FaLDAY, at One o'clock, at the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, London, to which place favours, containing instructions (with a reference), are respectfully requested t. be addressed. All Scrip and Share Certificates must be deposited for exa mination at least one day previously to their being offered ; and advices of results will be forwarded by the first post after the sale, and the proceeds immediately disposed of according to instructions. Offices, Hall of Commerce. Threadneedle-street, London. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING Will be performed Verdi's celebrated Opera, in Four Parts, entitled, I LOMBARDI : ALLA PRIMA CROCIAIA. With new scenery, dresses, &c. ; the scenery by Mr. Marshall. Grlselda, Madame Grist; Sofia, Madame Bell - MI; Viclinda, 3fdlle. Corbari; Oronte, Signor Mario ; Arvino, Signor Corelli ; Pirro, Sig. Botelli; Acclaim, Sig. Glubilei ; Pagano, Sig. Fornasari. Between the Acts, a Pas, by Madile. L. Grahn (composed by herself), supported by 3fdlles. Moncelet, Demelisse, and Cassan. To conclude with (second time this season) the admired Ballet Divertissement (composed by Mdlle. Cerito), entitled LA VIVAN DIERE. Introducing the Redowa, or, Original Polka of Bohemia, by Mdlle. Cerito and M. St. Leon. Kathi, Madame Copere; La Vi vandiere, Mdlle. Cerito ; Postillion, 1,1. St. Leon ; Mayor, M. Ber trand ; a Traveller, M. Venefra. HEI MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Signor LABLACIIE has the honour to inform his Friends, Sub scribers to the Opera, and the Public, that his BENEFIT will take place on THURSDAY NEXT, MAY 28, When will be performed (for the first time these two years), Cima- rose's Chef diEuvre, in Two Acts, entitled, IL MATItIMONIO SEGIIETO. Carolina, Madame Grisi ; Fidalma, Madame Sanchioli (her first ap pearance in that character) ; Elisetta. Madame Castellan ; Paolino Signor Mario ; . Count Robinson, Signor F. Lablache ; Geronimo, Signor Lablache. With various Entertainments in the BALLET Department. Comprising the talent of :Mlles. Cerito, L. Taglioni, Mon celet, De melisse, Cassan, and Lucile Grahn ;. M.M. Perrot, Gosselin, Di Mattis. and St. Leon. _ _ Alsplications for boxes, stalls, and tickets to be made at the box office, Opera Colonnade. Doors open at Seven, the Opera to com mence at half-past Seven o'clock. THEATRE ROYAL. DRIIRY-LANE. THIS EVENING Will be performed Rossini's celebrated opera of the BARBER OF SEVILLE. The principal characters will be sustained by Messrs. W. Harrison, Horncastle, Weiss, Borrani, &c. Miss Rainforth, and Miss Collett. After which, the Ballet d'Action, entitled PFIIOUSE ; or, The Desolate Island. Principal characters by Madile. Louise, Madame iubilei, Mr. W. 11. Payne, Mr. Howell, Mr. T. Matthews, Mr. Wieland, and Master F. Payne. To conclude with a New and Original Ballet, in four Tableaux, entitled IMELDA. The Duke, Mons. Adrien ; Count Alberti, M. Mathis ; Governor, Mr. T. Matthews ; Fabricio, Mr. W. U. Payne ; Imelda, Madlle. Sall. THEATLE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING Will be performed a New Comedy, called MR. PETER PIPER ; or, Found Out at Home. Mr. Peter Piper, Mr. Farren ; Sir C. ndrsex, Mr. Tilbury ; Major Garry Owen, Mr. Hudson ; Facias, Mr. Hu kstone ; Mrs. P. Piper, Mrs. Glover ; Busk, Mrs. Humby. The Band will perform the ( Overtures, " Cenerentola," and " Due d'Olonne," the " St. James's Polka," " Philomel Walzer," and the " Chatsworth Quadrilles." To a followed by a New and Original Comedy, called, A IEGGAR ON HORSEBACK. C.) mon Foxall, Mr. Webster; More craft, Mr. W. Firren : Sir John Coverdale, Mr. Tilbury; Ernest Coverdale, Mr. R. Holl ; Horace Waldgrave, Mr. Hudson ; Schnei dermarn, Mr. J Bland; Thomas, Mr. Brindal ; Lady Coverdale, Mrs. Glover ; Selina Coverdale, Miss Julia Bennett ; Emmeline, Mrs. Seymour. To conclude with A CABINET QUESTION. In which Messrs Erindal, Tilbury, Buckstone, and Miss Julia Bennett will appear. THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM. UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MRS. KEELEY. Another brilliant Triumph ! " Robin Hood and Richard Coeur de Lion" every Evening. THIS EVENING Will be performed PETER JENKINS. In which Messrs. A. Wigan, Meadows, Keeley; Miss Grove and Mrs. K eeley will perform. After which a new Farce, called SISTER AND I. Characters by Messrs. F. Matthews, Meadows, A. Wigan, Emery, Turner, Kinloch, and Bellingham ; This E. Daly, Mrs. Wigan, Miss Arden, and Miss Forster. _ To conclude with a New Grand Operatic Romantic Burlesque Spec tacle, founded upon certain St .rtling and hitherto Unrevealed Pas sages in the Histories of ROBIN HOOD AND RICHARD • CCEUR DE LION. Characters by Mrs. Keeley, Miss Fairbrother, Miss M. Keeley, Miss Villars, Miss E. Daly, Miss Howard, Miss Bromley Miss Laidlaw, and Miss Grove ; 3fr. A Wigan, Mr. F. Matthews, M. Keeley, Mr. Turner, and Mr. J. W. Collier. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII, THIS EVENING Will be performed a new Drama, entitled THE MEMOIRS OF AN UMBRELLA ; or, The Silent Observer. In which Messrs. Lambert, Howe, Boyce, 0. Smith, Wright, R. Ryan, P. Bedford, Selby ; Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Yarnold, Miss E. Chaplin, Mrs. F. Mathews, &c., will perform. After which a New Farce, entitled, DID YOU EVER SEND YOUR WIFE TO CAMBERWELL ? Chesterfield Honeybun, Mr. Wright; Isaac Crank, Mr. 0. Smith; Mrs. Crank, Mrs.F. Matthews, Hrs. Honeybun, Miss Emma Harding. To be followed by the Burlesque, entitled PETER WILKINS ; or, The Loadstone Rock and the Flying Indians. Principal characters 'oy Misses Woolgar, Emma Harding, Chaplin, Brooks, Taylor; Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Munyard, Mr. Mitchenson, &c. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new Historical Play, in five Acts, entitled THE KING OF THE COMMONS. James V. of Scotland, Mr. Macready ; Sir Adam Weir, Mr. Ryder ; George Weir, Mr. Cooper ; Malcolm Young, Mr. Murray ; Laird Small, Mr. Compton ; Mungo Small, Mr. Oxberry ; Lord Kilmaurs, Mr. Roxby ; Madeline Weir, Mrs. Stirling; Widow Barton, Mrs. Fosbroke. After which a New Ballet, entitled LES CONSCRITS DU VILLAGE. In which Messrs. Gilbert, Marshall, Flexmore, Harris ; Miss Bailin, ➢Liss Marshall, &c., will appear. To be followed by an Original Comedietta, entitled THE COLO NEL'S BELLE ; or, the Non-Marriables. Count de Ruse, Mr.. J. lining ; Major Vidette, Mr. Murray ; Capt. Fonfaron, Mr. Roxby ; Mabelle, Miss E. Stanley. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Under the especial patronage of her most gracious Majesty, and their Royal Highnesses Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Alice. Last Week of the present successful spectacle, which must be withdrawn to make way for the Whitsun Holiday Entertainments, " The War in the Punjaub ; or, Our Indian Victories. THIS EVENING Will be performed the Grand Asiatic Drama of THE ARAB AND HIS DESERT STEED; or, the Pearl of the Euphrates. With magnifkent effects, and intralucing the double stud, &c. The SCENES of the ARENA will be of the must varied and pleasing description, introducing the new Artistes, whose wondrous performances are nightly crowned with the most enthusiastic applause. The Entertainments will terminate with a new and laughable AFTER(2IECE. . . Mr. BATTY has much pleasure in stating, that in obedience to the wishes of several of his patrons and heads of families, he has made arrangements to give, during the ensuing holidays, four mid day performances, the first of which will take place on THURS DAY, June 4, and each succeeding Thursday until the number are cornpl.te ; on which occasion the Entertainments will embrace those recently performed by royal command, and so highly eulogised by her most gracious Majesty. The representations «ill commence each day at two o'clock, and terminate at halt-past four. Dos-office open from eleven till five o'clock.—Doors open at six :lid commence at seven o'clock. N ENV STRAND THEATRE. THE LAST TWO NIGHTS—GREAT ATTRACTION, For the BENEFIT of the AMERICAN BROTHERS. THIS EVENING M. PIIILLIPPE will repeat his display of Scientific Skill and Modern Magic. M. Phillippe has engaged, at great expense, Signor CORVI, of Milan, and his extraordinary company of Monkeys and Dogs, whose unparalleled performances have drawn overflowing and brilliant audiences in the principal cities of Europe. While these novelties are exhibiting at the STRAND THEATRE, M. Phillippe will give his Magical Delusions in the STANDARD THEATRE, Shoreditch, where he will appear on MONDAY, June 1. Doors open at a Quarter past Seven ; to commence at a Quarter before Eight o'clock. DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE, THIS EVEXIN Will he performed a new Drama, entitled FIFTEEN YEARS OF A BRITISH SEAMAN'S LIFE. Characters by Messrs. Hughes, Johnson, Rogers, Cowell, Maynard, Lewis, Heslop, Ilaw. kins, Williamson, Edgar, Phelps ; Mesdames H. Vining, Martin, Hughes, Daly, Lewis, Vaughan, Neville. After which, LOVERS' QUARRELS. To conclude with THE GOLDEN FARMER. Under the Patronage of her Most Gracious Majesty. ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY. VIEW of NAPLES, ERUPTION of VESUVIUS, DESTRUC TION of HERCULANEUM and POMPEII, in the year 79. This ►nagniflcent spectacle is revived in an unprecedented scale of grandeur, the picture being more than twice the size of the former, and represents, as accurately as can possibly be done, the Great Eruption of Vesavius in the year 79, when the Destruction of Her culaneum and Pompeii took place : produced under the direction at 3lr. Danson. richly ornamented GOTHIC BRIDGE of STATUES has been constructed, which will be brilliantly Illuminated at Night. The PROMENADE CONCERTS are again confided to Mr. God frey. The Band is most complete in all its departments, and includes many eminent native and foreign musicians. The PYROTECHNIC DISPLAYS, by Mr. Southby, are on the most complete and effective scale. Preceding the Vo'Genic Display a novel exhibition will be intro duced, representing the Descent of Phoebus in the Chariot of the Sun. Moos. Farinelli will descend from a Chinese Pagoda, seventy feet in height, to the surface of the lake, where a Naiad's Car will rise to receive him, and bear him to his chrystal home. An Illuminated Marine Cave, and the Glass Conservatory, splen ally ornamented with festoons of lamps, enabling the visitors to view the matchless collection of Camivora by gas-light. Feeding of the earnEvora at five ; the Pelicans, &c., at half-past Lye ; Concert at six ; funk he Eruption at dusk. Admission, Is. , DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—This morning shortly before three o'clock the saw mills of Mr. Edmonds, situated in Arthur place, Golden .lane, St. Luke's, were discovered to be on fire. The police-constable on duty whilst going his rounds proceeded as usual to inspect the premises, when he saw flames issuing from the roof; he Immediately gave an alarm, and the inhabitants of the neighbour hood, which is very densely populated, hastened to the spot. The engines of the brigade and others wrre prompt in their attendance , and a plentiful supply of water being obtained, in about two hours the fire was subdued, but not until Mr. Edmonds's premises , with a very considerable stock of machinery and satinwood for ve , •eers, of the most valuable description, was completely destroyed, and the premises reduced to a heap of ruins. An adjoining building employed by persons in grinding tools, &c., with its machinery (all of which were supplied with steam-power from the contiguous premises of Mr. Plumber, where a cotton factory is carried on), were also de stroyed. The preen ses of Mr. Fitzgerald, soap-boiler, were also In jured. It is not known how the fire originated. The damage done is very considerable. We understand the parties are insured. ALARMING FIRES.—On Monday morning, between the hours of six and seven, the premises belonging to Mr. Watson, tiro. grocer, situate at No. 18, Goswell-road, were discovered to be b o e n on so Tne flames originated in the front shop, and had they 1 opportunely perceived it is highly probable that the 7rtilsirobet, building would have been consumed. The engines of the p Brigade, and the West of England Company, were furnished y ishe i d n attendance, and there being set to work and suc • • mains, the firemen a good supply of water by the New Riser t o l f i e t h b e u il d stocki n g ceeded in confining :he flames to th . at '1 The Pea in which they commence, the valuable furniture stroyed, and teprortpioorntioorfi in trade, however, The.s n i origin sur,i o i il thef the Sunfire i s un- severely damaged by hasty rem i o To a r l. , t h e pr_gpr e Fire known. Fortunately office. Late the preceding night a fire broke out in the premises belonging to Mr. Thomas Downs, b , dstead a nd cabinet-mak er , car rying on business at No. 246, Whitechapel - road. It was caused by a spark flying from a lighted c andle amongst some hay in the stabl e s . ones o f the parish . and London brigade attended, but owing to en g exertions of the police and inmates the flames were previously tsoubtdhueed but not before considerable damage had been done to the stabling, the rooms over the same, and also to the roof. There was, likewise, a great quantity of window glass demolisoed. Mr. Down s wa , not Insured. BRIGHTON, MAY 25.—M. dP Grimm, with dispatehei for Baron Brunnow ; Mr. Welch, with dispatches for the Portuguese Ambassador ; Count de la Rochefoucauld, the C oun t ess St. Isidro, Count Barrack, Captain Tyrwhitt, and C oun t de Qsurello, arrivd this rooming *y the steamer from Dieppe. THE RAILWAY SUN IS NOW PUBLISHING. PRICE (TO SUBSCRIBERS) SIXPENCE. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, MAY 26. rIIERMOMETER, Lowest, 56 ight,st, 70; Noon, 64. BAROMETER, 30.18.—WIND N.W.; fille. 111 WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY. ivforrum: minutes after 2. I Eivertinv .. 47 minutes alter 2, f(s 2, 4L .- A ) e-re, * - Op , j SECOND EDITION. niing LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1846. According to all anticipation the last monopolist battle has commenced, the Peers have launched boldly into a con sideration of the great measures of commercial change now awaiting their Lordships' decision, but, above all, the acknow ledged champion of the protectionist party in the Upper House has delivered his philippic against any alteration in our mercantile code. We know not whether to ad mire most the ability or the audacity evinced by Lord STANLEY in the elaborate and monster harangue uttered by him overnight; yet was it melancholy to behold so much talent squandered upon a system, the foundations of which are foolishness, and the existence of which is nothing less than the perpetuation of injustice. The daring of Lord STANLEY'S address consisted in the fact of a nobleman who had so recently been a member of the Cabinet Council presum ing to adduce to that Right honourable assembly arguments, the refutation of which has long been the pastime of the merest tyro of political econom3, arguments as clearly untenable and obsolete as they are in every essential particu lar irrelevant to the circumstances of the matter under dis cussion. The ex-Secretary for the Colonies might as lieve have been in a subterranean trance (like the dervise in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments") during the last sixteen years for all the proportional advancement he has made with the advancement of his age during that interval. He protests against an innovation like the one propounded by the Prime Minister, and he enforces his protestation by—what ? By a resort to arguments applicable to the present condition of the twohemispheres ? By keeping in recollection the habitual poverty of thousands upon thousands? By viewing the relative position of commerce as it is now-a-days, and the consequences which must inevitably result from the mutual mercantile dependence of nations upon each other? Not at all. He battles against the sledge-hammer facts of our free-trade orators with a handful of cobwebs; he reverts to past generations for his authorities, quotes the wisdom of anti quity for our guidance in 1846, and puts forward the preamble tq a Bill passed during the reign of EDWARD IV. as a decisive reason why the Government of Vic-rot:IA I. should be actuated by similar principles. The whole gist of the Noble Lord's harangue, the whole secret of his adherence to a protective policy, and of his abhorrence of any contrary system is summed up in his reverence for our ancestors, and bis partiality for imitation. Because the agricultural interests were hampered by a nominal protection many centuries ago; be cause the Government of this country, and that country, and the other country have been fatuous and imbecile enough to bind themselves in similar fetters; because an iniquitous impost has been persisted in during successive ages, until it has become more truly than FALSTAFF— " An aged vice, a grey iniquity"— it must, as a matter of necessit3 , continue in the same old-fashioned course without modification in any single par ticnlar. In the name of logic and of common sense, are such reasons valid, are they admissible, are they philoso phical? As well might we retain the old be-rutted and be-mudded bridle-paths of our progenitors as a medium of transit, in preference to macadamised highways and chemins defers. As well, like wise, might we endeavour to render oil-lamps im mortal after the introduction of coal-gas. When telescopes were first invented it was discovered by celestial observa tions that this globe was part of a system revolving round the sun. GALILEO declared the truth of the Coper nican theory; the Aristotelians denied his declara tion. Precisely, with a like arrogance, do the opponents of the proposed measure boldly contradict facts with mere words; they act upon the hypothesis that the belief of all past times is a decisive rebuttal even of ocular: demon • strati on to the contrary. " ARISTOTLE says so-and so, in page so-and-so, therefore the earth is sta tionary, and the heavenly bodies move round it," said the Italian peripatetics. " HusicissoN says so-and so, in page so-and-so, therefore protection is both advisable and beneficial," say the English monopolists. Not all the unanswerable facts of the free-traders, not all the telescopic revelations of the Copernicans, could convince either to the contrary. Successful experiments repeated again and again are altogetherunworthy of consideration, though the written opinions of ARISTOTLE and HusicissoN are infallible. As to Lord STANLEY calling the adoption of the proposed mea sure an experiment, it is a glaring and impudent fallacy. Those experiments have been tried repeatedly, the principle is now altogether established. Has not the commercial career of Holland been an experiment of free trade ? Were not the reduced tariffs, introduced by the Ministry of which Lord STANLEY was himself a member, so many free-trade experi ments ? And have not these same experiments been so far successful as to render the mercantile position of Holland most prosperous, and to cause in Great Britain the total conversion of our most eminent statesmen ? As suredly, then, Lord STANLEY is somewhat behind time. in saying, " Fiat experimentum in corpore parve ;" that re commendation has been followed long since, and the conclu sion at which the experimentalists have arrived is that free trade is requisite in justice, and is necessary for our prospe rity. Obsolete and flimsy, however, as are the arguments adduced by Lord STANLEY, his Lordship has displayed in their utterance much ingenuity and much rashness. The Augsburgh Gazette publishes a letter from a correspondent in Circassia, which states that the news of the insurrection at Cra cow had produced a great impression among the soldiers of the Caucasus, many of whom had served as officers in the Polish Na tional Army in 1841. and had been forced by Russia to serve in the army of the Caucasus as privates. Count WORONZOW was very uneasy on the subject, until the intelligence arrived that the insur rection had been suppressed ; for had the insurrection spread to the banks of the Vistula, its effects would have been manifested In the army of the Caucasus. Several Poles had deserted and joined the Circassian tribes. Madrid papers of the 18th inst. have arrived. Their contents are unimportant. CHRISTINA still continues her intrigues to bring anout the Trapani marriage, which it would appear is as opposed to the personal wishes of the Queen ICABELLA as it is to the desires and interests of her subjects. Queen ISARELLA herself is favourably disposed towards the suit of Don ENRIQUE, her cousin, now in exile at Bayonne. MADRID BOLSA, MAY 18.—The Three and Five per Cents. were not quoted at the Bourse, but the first privately sold at 32 1 / 2 % for cash. The shares of the Bank of San Fernando were done at 370, and those of Isabella at 200. We have received the Paris papers of Sunday. A motion was brought forward on Saturday in the Chamber of Deputies, the object of which was to ensure the keeping up of relays of post • horses in the neighbourhood of railways by levying a small tax for the purpose on railway passengers. On the assurance of the Minister of Finance that the question was under the considera tion of the Government, the motion was withdrawn. It is expected that the Chamber of Deputies will rise on the 10th of June. According to the Patrie, there will be a new creation of Peers at the end of the session, which will include the following persons : —Marshal Bugeaud, General Jacqueminot, General Count de Mey nadier, Count Cornudet, Baton Duprat, Count Emm. de Las Cases, M. Barbet, M. Calmin (Director-General of Registration Dues), M. Chasles, M. Debelleyme (President of the Tribunal of the Premiere Instance of the Seine), M. Harle, and M. A. Vigier. The KING returned to Neuilly, from Dreux, on Saturday. Five of the Members of the Committee of Peers on the Western Railroad have declared in favour of the project. Two only voted for its adjournment. The Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on the Bordeaux and Bayonne Railway Bill have reported in favour of the grant of 16,000,000 f. demanded by the Government to construct certain portions of the works at the public expense, and have decided that it shall pass through the upper country, instead of the valleys. At Elbeuf a riotous meb assembled on the 23d, in consequence of the setting up a machine to card wool, and destroyed sevcrai ma. chines and looms. 300 soldiers were sent off from nuuen by rail road to repress the riot. _ _ The Three per Cents. were done at Turtoni's on Sunday at 84f. 10e. PROMumS OF SHARES. LYONS, MAY 22.—Marseilles and Avignon, 906 f. 25c. ; Paris and Orleans, 1,240 f.; Vierzon, 647 f. 50c.; Northern, 752 f. 50c. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 25. Boulogne and Amiens, 11%—Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette (Mackenzie), 1% —Ditto (Espeleta), —Central of Spain, 1% — Dutch Rhenish, 7% —East Indian, I—Lyons and Avignon, 1% Namur and Liege, 4—Orleans and Bordeaux, 10 2 —Paris and Lyons Constituted, 6%—Paris and Strasbourg Constituted, s,A—Rouen and Havre, 29% —Tours and Nantes Constituted, s%—West Flanders, 2. THE ACCOUCHEMENT OF HER MAJESTY. The following bulletin of the Queen's health was issued this morning : "Buckingham Palace , M a y 26, 1846. " Nine o'clock A.M. " The Queen has passed an excellent night. " Her Majesty and the Infant Princess are going on favourably. (Signed) " JAMES CLABKE, M.D. "CHARL ES LOCOCK, M.D. "ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D." ROYAL ARTILLERY, WOOLWICH, M AY 25 . —T he de tachment of Royal Artillery under the command of Captai n Black wood attended at the carriage department of the Royal Arsenal on Friday and Saturday last to receive instructions In the mode of car rying the light 6-pounder guns, 3-pounder gluts, four and two sth- Inch howitzer, and 5 1 / 2 -inch mortar, which they are t o t a k e w i th them to the Hudson slay Company's territory. The guns are to be Carried on the shoulders of eight or sixteen mexi to each gun, ac cording to their weight or the difficulties of the ground, and, when possible, will he drawn upon two wheels with a very short axle. The men selected for the duty were medically examined to-day, and the Board of Ordnance has very considerately ordered that they shall be allowed to draw an extra sum for winter c!othiog, as is usual with troops serving in Canada. The guns and stores which thej , are to take with them are all orderer' to be ready by Thursday next. The returns front the officers on recrult:ng service fot the last week are greater in number of recruits titan during any - week since the com mencement of the new regulations. It is contemplated, on the re moval of the Royal Marines from the west -Amin+ of the Artillery Barracks, to tal:e off the roofs of the buildings, and raise them ano ther story, to afford greater accommodation for the increase of men to this branch of the service. MR. W. S. O'BRIEN AND THE LONDON R E PEALERs.— Yesterday morning a deputation from the repeaters of London waited to upon Mr. NV. S. O'Brien, to present him an a( f id t r he ev L , obtain a promise to attend a public meeting o to be held at Cove n t- gar d en Th e atre immediftteAY after his libera 1-UM, to which the Ikon.fatnaernan nrceel. on a tl n o d n repeaters, RAIL WAY COMMIT UEES. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. GROUP I. LONDON AND YORE (MATE= courc- TIES). The Committee met again this day at eleven o'clock ; the Earl of Lovelace, chairman. Henry Hawkes, Esq., a landowner at Spalding, was called, and examined by Mr. Sergeant JONES, on behalf of the Eastern Counties Railway. The witness Kid the Eastern Counties line would be of great advantage to the landowners in his pa , tof the country. The London station of that line was more favourable than that of the London and York. Had had conversations with the people of his district and they were in favour of the Eastern Counties scheme. _ . . By Lord VIN : IAN—Had not attended a public meeting to obtain that opinion of the residents of Spalding ; had merely gathered It in conversation. The witness was briefly cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant ICING LAKE—One reason for his preferring the Eastern Counties was that there were already 46 miles of the line made, and this would make the whole line much sooner for the service of the traders than that of the London and York. The latter line would certainly make the distance between London and Spalding shorter by twelve miles. GROUP XI The Committee re-assembled this day at the usual hour ; .Mr. Henley, chairman. THE AIRDRIE AND EATHGATE AND EDINDITR.GH AND BATEGATE. The Committee went through the clauses of these Bills, which were all agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be reported to the House. The consideration of the several lines which formed this group being finished, the labours of this Committee terminated. GROUP XIII. The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; Sir Witham Clay in the chair. CALEDONIAN (LAN GE OZoM =AN C II) • On the re-assembling of the Committee, Mr. RICKARDS applied for the production of the agreement between the promoters of the North British scheme and the authorities of the Carlisle, respecting the cro-sing of Borough-street, about which it was alleged yesterday that the alteration would be beyond the Parliamentary line of deviation. Mr. OSBORNE had no objection to the production of the agreement , except that it might be drawn into an improper precedent. He understood, however, that the petition of the parties who were instrumental to the agreement was withdrawn. Mr. RICKARDS begged leave to state that such was not the case. The Corporation of: Carlisle might have withdrawn their opposition, but the inhabitants had not. Mr. OSBORNE said, in that case the agreement would be of no use, if the partierinterested in the agreement had withdrawn from it. After some conversation pro and con., the promoters of the North British line agreed to furnish copies of the agreement to the pollee on the other side. _ _ The examination of witnesses was then proceeded with. Mr. Williamson, mining engineer, examined. Said he was inti mately acquainted with the Mid Lothian, Berwick, and Canoble coal fields. He thought that both the Berwick and the Lothian coals, by the railways in progress of construction, would find their way to Hawick. The price of screened Berwick coal at the pit's mouth was 4s. Gd. The Canobie coal was unscreened. By the Kelso line of railway the Berwick coal could be laid down in Hawick at 9s. The distance was thirty-six miles. He did not think the Canobie coal-field would drive out:the Berwick and Car.obie coals. It was not likely that the latter woul dlie on their oars, and allow one coal-field to drive them out. He did not at all agree with the wit nesses who thought that the Canohie was so important to Hawick. The whole consumption of the Hawick was about 17,000, of which about one-Half might be got from Canobie. This would make their receipts from coal traffic about 15,000/ . „ ox .. *out one-half *he sum . - ;:ie - PfOiribters of the Bill calculated. There were about ten Phi in operation in the Berwick district. There was also a con siderable amount of coal brought from Northumberland into the dis trict round Jedburgh. The table of the North British line in regard to the coal traffic was the most exaggerated he ever saw. A ton and • a half for each person was quite enough for a district where coal was cheap, without adding 50 per cent. 1 here were several parishes north of Hawick which it was absurd for Mr. Marshall to calculate would be supplied from Canobie. He had himself prepared a counter table on the mineral traffic that might be expected. He calculated that the whole of the traffic in coal, including Langton, would yiel d 2,1191., instead of 12,1991., which they made it. He thought the expectation of 60,000 tons going to Carlisle most exaggerated. The coal that was exported from Carli.9le was far superior to the Canobie coal ; it was screened coal. The Cumberland coal was superior to the Canobie by at least 2s. a ton. The Cumberland coal was shipped last year from Carlisle at Gs. Gd. a ton. It is more now, but only temporarily so. He did not think the Canohie coal would successfully compete with the Cumberland coal at Carlisle, either for shipping or to supply the waits of the inhabitants. The best Cumberland was 9s. a ton at the depot, and 5s for culm for manufacturing purposes. The whole field at Canobie had been assumed ay the Dumfries and Nithsdalis and the llawick lines to yield 203,000 tons annually. Mr. OSBORNE said that when his witnesses, Mr. Maxton and Mr. Gibson were under examination, the other side did not ask a single' question as to the supplies which the Canobie coal-field yielded. He trusted, therefore, if this examination was to go on, they would alloy them to recall Mr. Gibson to speak upon the quantity of coal. GROUP XIV. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the BilL9 comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning, Mr. Protheroe in the chair. KENT ATMOSPHERIC SCHEME. The Committee decided this morning that the chief plan inel'aded the Maidstone Branch as a portion of the main line, and the pro moters could therefore adopt it for entering Rochester. The examination of Mr. Sherrard, the engineer, was then resumed► but he added nothing of importance to his evidence which was not given yesterday. GROUP TAX. This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Mr. Sotheron L the chair. LONDON, ROUNSLO V 7, AND WESTERN. The further consideration of the case on behalf of this Bill I ras re" sumed. Captain Moorsom was again re-called and cross-examined at; sortie length with regard to the destruction to private property, whit* t he construction of the line would involve. GROUP XLIV. The Committee met this morning at twelve, Lord PalmetlltOn the chair. The Committee were occupied with the formal evidence retioire d by the House in respect to the amalgamated projects now Imol,Vn the Northern Counties Railway, the Bill for which was read before the Committee yesterday, and agreed to. GROUP LVI. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of tile Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this Inunling Mr. Ewart in the chair. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM STA; TXON IMPROVEMENTS ;and CZLOWDOST (rnalmout strATCTION IC.A► larA-16) EXTENSION. The clauses In these Bills were agreed to, and the Bills themselves ' formally passed. MARRIAGE OF MR. GORE LANGTON AND LADaV ANNA ELIZA GllE:evil-tn.-We believe that the marriage of Air. Gel! Langton and Lady Anna Eliza Grenville, only daughter of ;the Dal of Buckingham, is to take place this week. We are info i rn red that immediately hfter the solemnization the happy couple will ]le ave Ellf: land for a short time. The Duke of Buckingham, the Dt tc best,' taf Marquis of Chandos, and Lady Anna, left Stowe House for I ,ondon a; the end of last week. The villagers si.eak of the young !a (I:3' as he° a very kind and good one. Sir Hesketh Fleetwood paired off on Friday mg • ht ill favour of the Short Time Bill with Mr. Mackinnon. r t h is JEWS' HOSPITAL.—The a n n i versar y f es ti va 1 43 1 ~0 1 charitable institution, founded for the purpose of supporth i g the 'l,4h poor, and for the education and e m pl oymen t o f th e you it h of v• - • greyssexes of the Jewish persuasion, took place last evening i n - the remit of the London Tavern. In the absence of his Royal: Iligil a e , the Duke of Cambridge, the patron of the charity, the -treasurer, Hananel De Castro, Esq , took the chair, supported by J.. B, fl e '.'„. Esq., Governor of the Rank of England ; Baron A. De B.otbehdu , David Salomons, Esq. ; Edward Goldsmid, Esq. ; the Rest.. Dr. chief rabbi ; Benjamin Cohen, Esq. ; Emanuel Loirsadsi, E g l e ' 2 ; Martin Fuller, Esq.; Dr. Southwcod Smith; D. W. IVlre, . 6 , 4 „",' and upwards of 120 influential friends and patrons of th-e hospital. During the eyeing it was stated the total number of personas receive"; into the house was four hundred and nineteen. A number of boY S wed girls paraded the room, carrying specimens of the TS dons trades to which they are brought up, and the announcement of a Fuhscer tion to nearly 1,000/. was received with applause. The dinner We e peculiar in its kind, consisting principally of the dishes which, are , and have been for ages, favourites with the Jews. THE SURREY DISPENSARY.—The friends 'and sup' porters of this very useful institution dined together :Fester day at the Bridge House Hotel, London-bridge. The Lord Mayor presided , and was supported by the High Sheriff cf the county, the High Bailiff of e'outhwark, Mr. Kemble, M.P., Mr. R. Baggalay, tre Wo e ', of St. Thomas's Hospital, Mr. C. A. Young, and a numerous p arty °_,` Adler, governors of the charity. The chairman, in proposing the usual loyal toasts, announced the auspicious birth of a princess, and of con Ile the. company, in responding, gave suitable manifestations of tl'. o ';`, attachment to the Throne. " Prosperity to the Surrey Dispense 11 , and various other appropriate toasts, were then given and dull ' ac knowledged. In the course of the evening two reports were res .d h .', the secretary, the result of which showed an an Il e of 3541. 12s. collected by subscription on behalf of ~.,,d g funds of the institution. It appears that the: to '"" ‘,.. are at present in rather a sinking state, there bob ig ,-; deficiency on the past year of 506/. 16s. 9d.. and it was to m; ake 11 4 . this arrear that the committee of management directed tie sir ,elfot` of From the medical report of the year a fair idea may be fort nest le the character and usefulness of the Institution. By that repaft ~, stated, that 5,646 patients have been admitted to the ben ,efits of 4 t; charity during the year, and of these 4,504 have been c ure L 1 r have been relieved, 216 have gone tutu hospitals or th e . emelt' trY';) been discharged for irregularity, 122 have died, and there, a re „t. remaining under cure. In 1,975 cases the patients ha ve bf;en 1, a tended at their own houses, and 504 were midwifery c ar r ".. T' i i, average daily attendance at the Dispensary for medicin, ~.!, / e•, „ , 200. The dinner, which celebrated the 56th anniversary of t ' e charity, was a very good one for the price charged, and the arrange ments altogether were excellent. OPERATIVE PAPER-STAINERS. — Last evening r a nu merous meeting was held in the School-room, Harp-all ey :7arria .: don-street, to take into consideration the depressed state of tase trade through the measures introduced by some of their late e SalolaY er Mr. Maguire took the chair. He felt sorry in being oblige dto eta. - the affairs of the Union, for, during these last eight weeks, allimitt e rd : of 200 hands have been * supported by the funds of thi s U n i, tut- -Zei Ballard moved the first resolution, and ill doing so remarl, :et/, t l l, from the time of Sir Robert Peel bringing in his new tub f, wa le would reduce the present duty of one shilling to twopence, 1 shin a le : order to tens had evinced a great desire to trample the risen uncle' :•f oat , . make the journeymen pay for the loss which th e .master must solutions having been moved and carried unanimously, co mie iemn . in order to compete with French goods. Th, s - v ario 1 tory of the present system now existing in the tr- .. -e, the ><a eating broke up shortly after ten o'clock. e a rsf togethert hahti some dine hila. P Ly a ao s w : : AT BI 04 MG. ATTEMPT TO POISON FOUR PERSON S y.E.na Lawless v ray corn to take her tri: it at they nAm..-Yesterday a woman named man of t ee nextmitte l d v b a y rw tl i t e e k m as afi lz s e t s ra fo te r s . f t, c f and her husband L tad b sea and that in one of tDa nal3plrmte.inwiguigloltf:niorison her husband a Ad thr On Tuesday evening te 3 Or' quarrels she threatened to poison m ham ' Y passing the door with intle served an acquaintance (Mrs- in her hand. He invited ' a - fl, as g odfather, loitvhienrgpueniranpspilyitoSPePther forrso . r m. ° e o me w in a c t the time. After the her •to te Lawless h S g oCM after p. lir tag of ' which she accept- , Lawless went "ahtnadinhbult g p l y rl o , l 7 w es h • o ho c m hdac h nu e cpe w d.dntoondecr he pretence of getti he i oar ae . un so s tn hdo fi e tw n h b ee t u di c t ieara t a e: ;I:: e .10:: prompt assistant e s, of ''''e woho apprehended the woman found e f n or in t f h u e sed t timely a n d her return e s . h t e orn in a fu ch sed of t A h l e r. tea. also proved to ess drank hers e l f, t i !„ 0 1, powder, which stomach pump, in all of the they must have all died. ' e ss iOr which was foulest a 'o ilk gl io : un fn id m i t si hi immediately r t is ey ae i :h e " I :e f I n : wc h n m conten t s i tae regret the woman professes to feel is,that b e arsenic.. Tim ~' il l, " she said it was a pity he was not de when' her husband was a;:ee mination was of the most unfeeling ad." Her conduct under '- ' w we h r ic e li ta th ke e n t i e ll a ' character. ROBBERY AT THE L I BRARY glig OF THE A./M=l - CLUB. - Yesterday inform t' e m ce a ion was forwarded to the cef • Y -I station, Scetland-yard, of an extensive du; ave plates from the library of robbery of valuables 4 11, e bele Ihe Athenaeum. So mysteriou 11 1 J for they been abstracted, tha t thlex thieves, notwithstanding no clue can be gained to the _ their a reward of 1001. has been offered ~for discovery. THE NE LSON ,-fied COLUMN. —The public will be i gr . a - ',,`, Ar by Learning that hopes miy be entertained of the speedy , iengk'" d od a ante of the unsightly timber • barricade which has so long st :ma * *ar e. the base of the Nelson confine, and deformed Trafalga -r - s s q ." 11 bee During the last week a considerable number of workmen h eve . the employed in dressin g th e b r i c k s an d ma ki ng p re parations fa: ... e a. foundations of the pedestals of the recumb e nt lions which are to :,,'l",ts twill tile angles of the basement, and for the reception of tb A' n ' of granite steps which will complete the original plan. .„,, jeg CONVICTS FOR NORTH Alf6TRALIA.—Fifty ~ .10. ve ld,. were brought down the river on Saturday in the Naiad 4V0:! . e rn- Company's packet, and 50 more on Monday in the ai".tch I-! t or packet, and put on board the Maitland, and on the arrival of a ala ie se hundred convicts they will be conveyed to North Australia. " 1 . 1 t en convicts are mostly from the Model Prison, where they haw! 0,.. taught useful trades, and will have an opportunity of making 11,1 Lieutwestet selves useful men in the new convict colony, of which ix eil Colonel Barney, late Commandant of the Royal Engineers , 'l a ' appoiute 1 Governor. % sge4 DIED. On the 21st inst., at Shrub-hill, Dorking, Surrey, Charlotte J Dowager Countess of Rothes. 01) On the 21st inst., In Myddelton-square, Pentonvi lle, Thotrias Liam Rose, Esq., aged 45. o f 'Jevons' air• On the 22d first., Samuel Sketchley Robinson, Esq ., road, Wandsworth-road. On the 2lst inst., Elizabeth Jane, wife of Mr. J. M. Penh XI Oxford. On the 22d inst., at Leamington, the Rev. William ifewcome. .1 11 2, London: Printed and Published by A:URDO YOUNG, of No • -- ct 111 Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, N 0.112. Strand, in the Pt 11 0 1, as i of the Savoy, to the Couuty of Atlckuocee, Ttlett4 th • 26, 1546. 1646. • I t 4 r