The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-04 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) Sub-Committee No. 2. ZDIN73I77LGS, GLASGOW, AND DUMDAIR,- _ (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The room was then cleared, and on our re-admission, The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee were of opinion ittat . in this case the standing orders had not been complied with. Thar* was *nether petition from Mr. James Derry, a burgess of Dumbarton, complaining generally of non-compliance with the standing orders. Two allegations were heard which were not sustained. The Committee then found that the standing orders had not been complied with by the promoters of the bill. This was the fourth day occupied by this case. • The next case on the list was then called, but the witnesses not being in attendance, the Committee adjourned shortly after three o'clock till twelve o'clock to-morrow, when none but unopposed cases are to be taken. Sub-Committee, No. 3. TSB VITNI.SII MIDLAND. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The next petition was sustained, inasmuch as the extreme depth of cutting was not marked upon the plans, as was also another alleg ing that the extreme height of an embankment was not shown. The nicety of the standing orders about trifles was exemplified in the Committee declaring a non-compliance with them, because a distance had been put in chains, whereas the standing orders require that it should have been put in furlongs and ehains—a split ting-of-hair kind of instruction, which the Honourable Chairman said they were bound to respect. A number of petitions upon the ground of non-compliance with the standing orders were declared proved, and the case was closed so far as the standing orders were concerned. The CHAIRMAN said that upon the whole case the November depo sits were totally inaccurate, as were also a number of the 31st Decem ber deposits ; but for ascertaining how many of the standing orders had been complied with, the agents on both sides should ifit n the shorthand writer, and arrange the matter before the Com mittee submitted their report to the House. . • At the close of the proceedings, Mr. Vnivermns said that it had been alleged that many of the in accuracies in the deposits had occurred through the illness of Mr. Hall, the engineer, but he had been instructed to say, tha hand, t although the Company were in difficultie s about what they had in they had emloyed their forces in surveying a new line thirty miles in length i p ntended to run from Qu aker's -yard to Pontypool. Mr. Hall and Mr. Gibbs were asked a number of questions, but nothing was elicited to show that anything but Mr. Hall's illness had occasioned the inaccuracies. Mr. Hall declared that his illness was the sole cause, and that he had never before faile d to succeed in complying with the stand ing orders, although he had been a surveyor of public works for some years. He and his men had worked until they couldjparcely stand, and it was hardly fair to charge him with negligerM, or a desire to conceal anything, or state what was not strictly true. The CHAIRMAN said that there was not the slightest imputation either en the character of Mr. Hall or any other engineer employed upon the line. L. It was intimated that a special case upon the standing orders would be gone into in the morning. LYNN AND ELY (EXTENSION TO SPALDING). This is a line of railway proposed to be constructed between Nis beach and Spalding, with a branch to Holbeach, the cost of which was estimated at 155,0001. Parliamentary agents, Dyson and Hall ; engineer, Mr. J. S. Valentine. There Is a petition against the Bill, but the usual formal proofs were accepted, and the consideration of the petition against the pro ject was pestponed. The Committee then adjourned until the usual time to-morrow morning. Sub-Committee Ne. 5 The Committee met at the usual hour (twelve o'clock) ; the Mem bers in attendance were Mr. Nome Drummond (Chairman)," Mr. F. Mackenzie, the O'Conor Don, Mr. Talton Egerton, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Compton. • FARNESS AND WINDEILMETLE. •- - • This ease, NTlncli was before the Conunittee on Friday last, was again renewed this looming. 'the omission from the book of re ference of the name of Mr. James Michel; over whose property a portion of the line Is proposed to pass, was then examined into, and. the Committee decided, after hearing the witnesses on both sides, that the Standing Orders were complied with. The next allegation was, that there was no description of the surface of the road in' the cross sections 7 and 8, the property proposed to be altered in the parish of Windermere. The Committee diecldetl the levels were marked but not described. The next allegation was, that no estimate of the expense of the al ternative line had been made and signed by the parties competent to do - so. • The evidence went to show that an estimate was lodged at the Private Bill-office, but had been lost or mislaid, and the par ties could not produce a copy. Mr. Harris, the engineer to the Bill, to meet this occurrence, drew up another estimate, which he handed to the opposing agent. Mr. Y ENABLES, on the part of the opposhig petitioners, here objected, and said it was not in time, and that the estimate now handed in gave no details of the description of the line which was proposed to be constructed. The objection ttf the petitidhers was, that the estimate lodged at the Private Bill-office was not a sufficient or correct estimate according to what was required by the standing orders. The Committee adjourned the farther consideration of this point until Friday next, in order to give time to the agents for the Bill to send to the country for a true copy of the original estimate. re AIN cErasTEn AND POOLE (Luc-GEns n sazisztrznr, AND POOLE). The object of the promoters of this li;te is to construct a: railway from Cheltenham, by Luggershall, to Salisbury, and thence to Poold, constructing by their plan a continuous lice from the manufacturing districts to the town and port of Poole. The length was 44 miles, and the estimated cost 700,0001. Engineers, Messrs. Stephenson, Bidder, and Routh ; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Dorington, Eiliconabe, and Co. ; soleitors, Messrs. Wheeler, Manchester; James, 33asingball•street, Loudon ; awl Deacon and Long, Southampton. A petition from Mr. Robert Scott Stoblo, complaining of non compliance with the standing orders, was then entered into. The petitioner wit represented by Mr. Coates, who said that Lis objection was of a preliminary nature, as to whether the notices to Parliament of the Intended railway were sta'-, fleiently explicit, inamnuch as that there was an amend ment on the Bill to empower the Midland Counties Itailwrsy company to subscribe to the proposed work to be executed; and his objection was that there had been published separate notices of these amendments, whereas it had been ruled last year by the Parliamentary Committees that cumulative notices could not be given in evidence, but that the notices depended on should contain all the matter in connexion with the Bill. On this point, he sub mitted that the original notices could not be received by the Com mittee, who stated ,hey would not give their decision for the present. MACCLESFIELD AND The p railway from Macclesfield, by Leek Cheadle and Abbots Bromley, to the Trent Valley Railway at Lichfield. The length of the line proposed is forty-five miles two furlongs; estimated rust, 1,000,0001. ; subscribed capital, 1,250,0001. Engineer, Mr. J. Locke ; mentary agents, Messrs. Gregory and Co. ; solicitors, Messrs. Gregory, Faulkner, and Co , and Mr. Wm.-•Challoner, of Leek. Mr. John Crusoe and Mr. John Smith were petitioners against the proposed line. There were various allegations contained in the petitions, the first of which was, that certa n lands situate in the parish of ['resbury, county of Chester, and vested in one of the peti tioners for the children of Mr. John Smith, of Daintery, were not returned correctly in the book of reerenee, which was overruled. A similar allegation contained in the petition of Mr. Horbury was next 'taken, when Mr. Oldacres, the occupying tenant, was examined, who proved that the property belonged to Mr. Horbury. Objection con sidered invalid. The next petition was from the owners of the Trent and Mersey Navigation Company. Their first allegation was, that by the 59th clause of the proposed Act, the Manchester and Birmingham .Railway Company were to Fart the power of purchasing' and leasing the intended railway, and that they should have published accordingly in certain newspapers in the adjoining counties. 'I he Committee postponed their decision until to-morrow, at twelve o'clock, and then adjourned. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. This Committee resumed its labours at Twelve o'clock this day. CLONMEL AND THURLES RAILWAY. The two witnesses required to complete the evidence on this line being produced, the Committee declared the standing orders hadheen complied with. The length of the line is twenty-nine miles, with a branch to the collieries of Sleivardogli of ten miles and a half, and 'will form a junction between the Great Southern and Western and Water ford and Limerick Railways. The estimated cost is 400,000/. ; engineer, Sir John 11Pls.Teil ; solici tors, Messrs. Labarte and Anderson, and Barrington and Co. THE TEMPLEMORE AND NENAGII RAILWAY. The Committee reported that the Cora?any had complied with the standing orders in this case. THE WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICKLOW, AND DITRLIN RAILWAY. The Committee reported that in this case the Company had also complied with the standing orders. The Committee then adjourned at font* o'clock to Thursday next. HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yeiterday.) WEIR DOCK RAILWAY. Allowed to proceed. LYNN AND ELY, AND ELT AND HUNTINGDON RAILWAY. Donnington, agent. In this case It was decided that the standing orders should not be dispensed with. REIMS AND HANTS RAILWAY (lIIINGERFORD EXTENgION). Burke and Co., agents. Not allowed to be proceeded with. COVENTRY AND NUNEATON ItAILW AY. Dyson and Co., agents. Standing orders dispensed with. MANCHESTER AND LEEDS. Dorrington, agent. Allowed to prceeed. GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Venables, agent. Allowed to go on. The Committee then adjourned till Fr:day next. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. - ST. JAMES'S PALACE, MARCH 3, 1846. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Major-General Sir Edward Bowater, K.C.H. to be one of the Grooms in Wait ing in Ordinary to her Majesty, in the room of Captain the Han. Arthur Duncombe, of the Royal Navy, resigned. WHITEIIALL, MARCH 2. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, appointing Charles John Viscount Canning, Alexander Milne, Esq., and Charles Alexander Gore, Esq., commonly called the Honourable Charles Alexander Gore, to be Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings. FOREIGN-OFFICE, MARCH 2. The Queen has been gr . aciously pleased to appoint Richard Stephens, Esq., now British Consul at Samsoon, to be her Majesty's Consul at Tabreez. The Queen has also been graciously pleased to appoint Benjamin Barrie,. Esq., now British Consular Assistant at Madrid, to be her Majesty's Consul at Alicante. CROWN-OFFICE, MARCH 2. MEMBERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. County of Gloucester, Eastern Division—The Hon. Henry Charles Fitzroy Somerset, commonly called Marquis of Wor cester, in the room of the Hon. Francis Charteris e who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. County of Nottingham, Southern Division—Thomas Blackhorne Thorston Itildyard, Esq., in the room of Henry Pelham ' • who has aeeePted the commonly called Earl Clin t" of Lincoln, Lieutenant of Ireland. o ice of Chief Secretary to the Lord Commissions by the Queen. Bedfordshire Militia.—c apta i n T. 3. Feb. 7, 1846. Smith . to be Adjutant, Jan West 24, Suffolk Militia—l.ll`G regor, Gent., to be Adjutant, . Flintshire Militia—Lieut. F. R. 141`G7gr Dawson to be Adjutant, vice Roberts, resigned, Feb.' Middlesex. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of putyl o mi D te eputy The Right Hon. Col. G. S. Byng, Lieutenant; L. T. Flood, Esq., to be De F. P. Barlow, Esq.. to be Deputy Lieutenant ; J. Whriisalitn; An., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; C. Devon, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, Feb. 25. Royal East Middlesex Regiment of Militia —The Hon. W. J. P. Gore, to be Captain ; J. AI. Gambier, E, ;q ., to be Ogilvie, Esq., to be Captain ; 11. Spicer, E sq Captain; J. G. to he Captain ; N. Cumber ege, Isq., to be Captain ; H. Wood, Gent., to be Lieutenant; H. Rie Gent., to be L' u Lieutenant; S tenant.; C. P. Hyde, Gent.. to be Gent., to be Lieutenant; F. Dalton , Gent., to ue Lieutenant F. A. Fox, Gent., to be Ensign, Feb. 23. Royal West Middlesex Regiment of Militia—G. H. C. Byng, Esq , to be Captain ; J. G. De Burgh, Esq. , to be Captain ; A. C. Tupper. Gent., to be Lieutenant, Feb. 25. Royal Westminster Regiment of Middlesex Militia—The Hen. C. L. Butler to be Major; J. J. Glossop, Esq., to be Captain ; H. Penton, Esq. to be Captain, Feb. 25. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Glamorganshire. To be Deputy-Lieutenants—J. Hewett, Esq.; IL Basset, Esq. ; H. Lewis, EN., Feb. 25. Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry Battalion of Militia — To be Second. Lieutenants—G. Chapman, Gent., Feb. 17 ; P. W. Austin, Gent., Feb. 20. Commission by the Lorl Lieutenant of Lancashire. Second Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia —Major .1. 11. Ford to be Lieut.-Colonel, vice Entwisle, re signed, Feb. 23. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. Warwickshire Itegireeet of Yeomanry Cavalry—C. IL Okeover, Gent., t o b e C ornet, vice Lord Felling, romoted, Feb. 20. WHITEHALL, FEB. 27. . The Lord Chameellor has appointed William llandsley Podmore, (lea., of Sparkbrook, near Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. The Lord Chancellor has also appointed Edward Russell Ingram, Gent., of Stourport, in the county of Worcester, to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. James Wilson, cabinet-maker, Chelsea, to surrender March 11, at half-past twelve, and April 21, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Surr and Gribble, Lombard-street. William John Haddan, brewer, T otten h a m, Middlesex, March 10, at two, and April 17, st twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee ; Peachey, Salisbury square. Abraham Stevens Syer, grocer , Sudbury, Suffolk, March 10, at half-put one, and April 22, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman street-build ings ; Fry, I.,oxley, and Fry, Cheapside. Stephen Henry H em blen, grocer, Halesworth, Suffolk, March 18, at eleven, and April 7, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lom bard-street ; Abbott and . Wheatly, Roll's yard, Chancery lane ; Miller and Son, Norwich. Joseph Smart, watchmaker, King-street, Stepney, March 18, at twelve, and April 7, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard street ; Goodman and Watts, Coleman-street, City. James Nunn, haberdasher, Baker-street, Portman-square, March 12, at eleven, and April 7, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman-street ; Pain and Hatherley, Basinghall-street. Augustus John Halero, dealer in linen cloths, Leeds, March 17, and April 6, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, official assignee, Leeds; Williamson and Co., Vs rulam-buildings, London; Cariss, Leeds. George Gillard, grocer, Plymouth, March 18, and April 15, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter ; Turner, Exeter ; Spyer, Broad-street buildings, London. John Audley Horace Jee, insurance broker, Liverpool, March 20, and April 17, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool ; Smith and Co., Bedford-row, London ; Greatley, Liverpool. George Dardier, merchant, Liverpool, March 20, and April 17, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Caze nove, official assignee, Liverpool; Hall, Mourilyan, and Rowsell, Verulam-buildings, Gray's Inn ; Neal, Liverpool. (Dividends, &c., in our next.] MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London ffew Pries Current of March 3.) &MAR.—To- day there was more activity in the market for West India Muscovado Sugar, considering the small and indifferent show; a fair business was transacted in brown, grey, and yellow sorts, at prices equal to those of Friday. REFINED.—To-day several purchases were made in Refined Goods by the home trade, but no improvement in the value took place. Prices further advanced for Bonded Crushed Sugar. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon there was more desire mani fested to purchase Mauritius, and two parcels at public sale amounting to 8,825 bags, 91 casks, and 148 barrels were sold at prices that averaged those of the last auctions. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar was purchased with more freedom, and 1,205 bags at auction were sold at steady rates. Fonmer.—To- day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, and privately there was little business transacted in any kind. The Dutch Company's public sale of 40,000 baskets has gone off heavily at a fall in prices of 2s to 5s per cwt. COFFEE.—To-day there was no public sale of any kind of Coffee, and the demand privately was limited for alt sorts. Ceylon of good ordinary Native is not to be obtained under 46s per cwt. Tza.—To-day there was less business transacted in Tea, but holders were firm, and common sound Congou for cash was not to be obtained under 9d, low Twankay Is. Id. and common Hyson ls. I Id. per lb. Senttrrs.—The principal feature in the Rum market since this day week has been that of the Government contract for 100,000 gallons, half East and half West India, and the whole has been taken by Messrs. Rucic, ' Son, and Fenwick, a frac tion under Is. 9d. per gallon proof strength, but the exact price is kept a secret; the contract has decidedly been taken low, and will scarcely pay the contractor. East India is held for the previous currency, but there has been only a limited business transacted. Leeward Islands is not otf:reci upon lower terms, but the demand has been only for small parcels. Jamaica is not offered upon lower terms, but there has been little business transacted. Brandy has been purchased with caution, and several parcels having arrived merchants have been more inclined to realise,. and submitted to lower rates for all descriptions. Geneva is held with firmness, and is wanted. For British Corn Spirits the price is still lOs Gd per gallon net cash, but the demand is still limited. Gin is held for 8s 10d for 22 per cent under proof, and 17 under 9s 4d per gallon ; but the demand has been limited. Hors.—There are few purchasers of the low and middling de , cr:ptione, but prices do not give way, the supply at market continuing to be moderate. SPICES.—The demand has fallen off for Nutmegs, and the market having been much better supplied a slight decline in the value has taken place. Holders of Mace are not inclined to further reduce their prices. Prices keep firm for Pimento, but the demand privately has been only for small parcels. TALoow.—Prices at present cannot he quoted lower for 1I an mathe spot, as the stock is small, b t the town and country demand has been limited for all descriptions. Home made is in better supply. For other sorts of Tallow the de mand has fallen off. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. This Court was specially summoned on Monday, to consider a report of the Sub-Committee, to a hom was referred the con sideration of the proposition by the North Kent Railway Company, to continue that railway from its general terminus in Union-street in the Borough, across the Southwark-bridge, to a passenger station in Queen-street-place. From the statemolts of the report and in a petition from the Railway Company, it appeared that the North Kent Railway is a scheme for supplying all the towi:s and important public establishments in the northern parts of that county with rail way communication. The general terminus is proposed to be in the Borough, at the font of Southwark-bridge. to proceed thence, by Peckham, to New-cross, and on to Woolwich, by Charlton, the main line continuing by Gravesend. Chatham, Rochester, Faversham, Canterbury, Deal, and Dover, with branches to Maidstone and Sheerness. _ _ In addition to the general Bill for these purposes, the Pro visional Committee, it appears, had purchased conditionally the Southwark-bridge for 300,0001., and had brought in a sup plementary Bill for continuing the railway across the bridge to Queen-street, for the further accommodation of passengers. The Parliamentary Committee of the Corporation, it ap peared from the discwsion, had at first agreed to claws with the Railway Company, by which the bridge e ' was to be kept open for passengers ; that the toll was not to be increased ; and that sufficient accommodation should be provided for the standing of coaches and carts. The Company, by their petition, again offered similar clauses. The Sub-Committee, to which this matter was fur ther referred at the last Court of Common Council, reported that it ought to be opposed, on the ground that it would be inconvenient to the traffic of the streets so to increase the traffic. The discussion that followed was very warm. The prin cipal speakers in support of the general principles of the mea- sure, were—Mr. R. L. Jones, Mr. Laurence, Mr. Wire, Sir Chapman Marshall, Mr. Richard Taylor, and Mr. Anderton ; and they were - principally opposed by Mr. Corney, Mr. Wall, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. Lott. _ _ _ In the course of the discussion it was admitted that th?reso lution of the Committee was only affirmed by a majority of one vote, and it was shown that the principle of the measure was the same as that the Court had formerly distinctly sup ported, almost unanimously, not many weeks before with refe rence to the .13irmingliam Railway and the General Central Terminus proposed by the Direct Manchester. The discus sion lasted nearly four hours, and the opponents of the measure argued that the inconvenience to be experienced in Thames street and Queen- street would be greater than the convenience of passengers being brought to so central a situation. Upon the show of hands the Right Hon. the Lord MAYea declared the amendment lost, and the recommendation of the sub-Committee was then carried to oppose the Bill, and a petition was read accordingly. The decision appeared to excite great surprise from its ap parent inconsistency with the previous resolutions of the Court. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (Before the Assistant-Judge, Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, and a Bench. of Magistrates.) The March general sessions for the county of Middlesex commenced yesterday at Hicks's Hall, Clerkenwell-green. The calendar contained the names of 92 prisoners for trial, of whom 77 were committed for felony. The Learned Judge briefly charged the grand jury, who Wen proceeded to the d ischar g e of their duty. JUVENILE OFFENDERS. i p- i 47.. am 3 2 ,1rtm, an interesting child, who cried bitterly placed at the bar was indicted for stealing the upon beir,'". e t a moneys:of 'Maurice Casey. The prisoner sum of 448., pleaded Guilty. The Learned Jus"'Grf upon observing the commiseration c ourt, said that he heartily joined in expressed by a crowdeu l 1 this feeling, and he woufk.: mother was a washerwoman, - ttell them the boy's history. His drunk. She turned him out oi l o, since doors fortnight ago, was constantlyg getting which time he had lived by beg t Y- 1. ng' The child could not read, and his father had been dead ~even a years. This was the brief history, not only of that boy, ,: , ut of great numbers of children of both sexes and of all ages, from seven ears and upwards, who were comm. : U;(l for trial to that Court. Now what could be done with :hat child? It did not seem to him that a criminal tribunal Or a prison was the proper place for the punishment or reformation of these children, whose destitute and friendless condition called loudly for some powerful interference. There was a measare projected a short time ago, namely, the union of the Philan thropic. Society and the Refuge for the Destitute, which, if it could have been carried into efiect, the Government would have given a great sum towards it, but the Philanthropic Society had declined a anited movement, and he (the ' Learned Judge) had in consequence Withdrawn all his sup- , port from that institution for the present. Now, what was to. be done ? The fact was that these children were without a home, without food, without friends, and destitute of everything iat was necessary for their nurture, mentally, morally, and physically. Could that state of things con tinue in a civilised age; sand amongst a Christian com munity ? It clearly could not. The public would not permit it, and they already lonely demanded that something should be done. What he conceived was wanted were es tablishments where these children could be sent for two, three, or four years, and supporbed and educated at the ex pense of their parents, if they had any, cud could afford it, and if net, at the expense of the parishes, and then, if they had no friends to take chas•ge of them, they might be sent out to the colonies, whose, he apprehended, they would not arrive as they did now from Park hurst, with the stain of an appearance at:a criminal bar and a prison education upon their characters. He was aware of the fatal effect of this stigma to their future prospects abroad. time ago he ici Under it, they h . i ta m p p a r e Ti n t e i w ee 'e s p . ap ‘ , l t la r from were too often wholly repudiated, A short for sending them sentprison which contained most violent abuse aft,ainst the Government r Z ea e t al d a i n fil d : m we N re ew g ealties which way the charities now in s Tio n Nrrve,t", but if the various excellent and unite for thi one grand oll)11137 Inside their little jealousies ' be done. There might be u Le i c i t, solvething etlectwe might should all agree upon one m in a ? es-tadidiments, but they priric,ple of action. The child was sentenced to impr iscminient for six calendar months in the House of Correction. The next case was that pf two boys, brothers, aged re spectively ten years and eleven years cif age, who were found guilty of stealing four hall-crowns and other umneysi, the property of John Thomas Boulden, and it transpired that they were under the pupilage in crinne of an elder lad, named DoSson, nineteen years of age, also indicted for the same offence. The two younger boys were' :sentenced to imprison • ment for six months in the Westmi aster Bridewell, in the hoe thst the school there ht is them some good. T trapsportation he elder prisoner, Henry Dobson mi , g w d as se at e nced to , -en years. jr SCv. We understand that the British and North American Royal Mail Company, anxious to prosecnt c tile service which tl.ey have hitherto conducted with such vigour, have determined on irmne d.'ately laying down anothersteamer, of great power, for the convey ce of the mails between Liverpool and A pwrlca. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS, March 3. The Earl of SnAFTESBCRY took his seat on the Woolsaek at Five o'clock. RAILWAY SURVEYING. Lord PORTMAN presented a petition from a magistrate in the West Riding of Yorkshire, complaining of the aggressions which were made by projectors of railways, whose surveyors, not contented with taking levels, cut down ornamental timbers and in fact took upon themselves all the powers given by Parliament to the Ordnance and Geological surveyors. The petitioner begged to suggest to their Lordships, that as parties poaching were liable to transportation, so individuals trespass ing in an illegal manner should be equally liable to the same punishment. He (Lord Portman) might not go that length, but he certainly thought that the subject was worthy the atten tion of the railway committees, and should this be out of their province he thought their power ought to be extended. The petitioners prayed that the House would take measures to reform this abuse. _____ CORN-LAWS. The Duke of RlCHMONDlpresented a petition numerously signed from Cornwall against the Government measure.; also from the counties of Banff and Devon to the same effect. THE DRAINAGE BILL. Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from the linen merchants on the river Bann, in the county of Antrim, against the Drainage Bill. RAILWAY STANDING ORDERS. - _ Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from the pro jectors of the Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction Railway, praying that in their case the standing orders might be dispensed with. The Noble Lord said that the occasion of the present petition was, some of the agents of this Company, in ignorance of the standing orders of that House, having served some of the notices on Christmas-day and Sunday. As soon as the mistake, however, was discovered it was rectified by the issuing of fresh notices, whieh though not in strict compliance with the standing orders, still give the parties so served ample notice. He believed a Noble Friend of his had a motion on the subject, whisk would be submitted to their Lordships' consideration that night. Lord STRANGFORD remarked that from the time the Standing Orders' Committee discovered the errors in question there was ample time to correct them. Earl GREY, in reference to the motion of whiek he had given notice, said that he was induced to take the step he had in order to assimilate the standing orders of the House of Lords to those of the House of Commons, and in that course he had been encouraged by the Noble Duke opposite and the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack. Subsequently, how ever, he had not received the support which he anticipated. He had been induced to withdraw his proposed resolutions, be cause he did not anticipate that support which he at first ex pected from the Noble Lord on the Woolsack and the Noble Duke opposite. The Duke of WELLINGTON said it would have given him pleasure to support the resolutions, had they not been con trary to the practice of the House. THE CORN-LAWS. The Earl of HARDWICKE presented petitions from several parishes in the county of Cambridge against the pro posed measures of her Majesty's Government with respect to the corn-laws. Their Lordships must be aware, that of all other counties in England, Cambridgeshire was, perhaps, the most agricultural; and ever since the year when the protective laws were passed, more improvement had been made in agriculture in that county than in any other part of England. He need not recal to their Lordship' attention the fact, that as much capital had been laid out in that county in the improvement of the land, its the fee simple of the land was worth—fu fact, he might say, that within a very short number of years more than half a million of money had been laid out in the drainage , &e., of the land. They had been able to export from that part of the country alone, through the port of Wisbeaah, a larger amount of pro duce than hal been sent from any other county in the king dom. With reference to the remaining part of the county, he hart taken from the papers of the clerk of the peace a statement of the great improvement in it. Since the year lB2s no less than 18 parishes had been enclosed, and in consequence of that the value of the fee-simple of the land had been increased more than 50,000/., and an increase of 5E1,000 had taken place in the population. 'I he belief of the population was, that the protective duties had caused the im provement that had taken ',Lice in agriculture, and they stated that protection and improvement went hand in hand. The prayer of these petitions was universally tke same over the whole of the country. Tacir Lordships would recollect that there was a measure now in pro gres through the ether House of Parliament. Their Lordships would do as they had always done—they would take this measure in'o consideration with a view of benefiting the labourer, and continuing the well-being of the people at large, and he felt that the result of their deli beration would be a correct one. He understood the principle or, which the Government had been dissolved, but he did not understand the principle on which it had been reconstructed; and until they did know the principles on which it had been formed it could not be expected to carry that weight to which every Government measure should be entitled. The House of Commons also, and be trusted that he was not out of order in speaking of another branch of the Legislature, the House of Commons he thought, by the course they were at present put suing, were to a considerable degree losing the confidence of the country. The measure coming up from the other House under these peculiar circumstances would be con sidered in reference to the points he had just enumerated, and he believed that that House, as the great pro tectors of the people—(and they' all knew that the liberties of the people were never invaded until the authority of that Howe was trampled under foot)—as the protectors of the liberties of the people, he trusted that the deliberate resolution of that House would bo to affirm the justness of the prayer of this petition, and to reject a measure which would be attended with so many evils. Lord KINNAIRD said that the Noble Lerd had alluded to the pleasure which some Noble Lords on that side of the House, who were the advocates of free trade, might feel if their hopes were realised by the passing of this measure. He (Lord Kitinaird) regretted that that measure was nut to be immediate in its operation, and in this opinion he coincided with a Noble Lord on the cross benches ( the Duke of Richmond. )—( Laughter.) Ile considered that it would be to the advantage of the farmer and of the agricultural interest generally, if the question were thus settled, for they might depend upon it that agitation would not be allayed while protection was in existence. It would be of great importance to the lauded interest that the question should be settled at once. It they had three years' delay, the agitation would continue, while every evil that might arise in connexion with agriculture , would be attributed to the alteration of the protective duties. Lanrllorda would be:pressed for a reduction of rents and combi nations would take place among the farmers. Besides, by the immediate settlement of the question they would get rid of the Anti-Corn-law League and its interfer ence with the registration, as he could solemnly assure their Lordships if the corn-laws were at once repealed the League would be immediately dissolved. Their Lordships could not amend the present measure of the Government without throwing it out altogether. He, there fore, hoped that their Lordships would answer the prayer of the country by tendering to the measure an immediate adoption. entirely ignorant of the shape in which it would come up to that House. . The_ Marquis of LONDONDERRY deprecated in the extreme the speech which had been made by the Noble Lord upon the question, when their Lordships were The Marquis of SALISBURY, in the course of a few observations, which were most imperfectly heard in the re porters' gallery, said that he heel ascertained from quarters of the highest authority that the Anti-Corn-law League was a most unconstitutional body.—(Cries,ef Hear, " and .‘ No, no.") The Duke of RICHMOND said that the Noble Lord op posite had given him and the House very good advice ; bat he begged to assure the Noble Lord that he (the Duke of Rich mond) was in the habit of taking advice from friends and not his opponents.—(Laughter.) However, he would not now enter upon the merits of a question which was at that moment under discussion befere the House of Commons. But he would ask what would be the result, if those Members who voted for this measure were to go again to the country? The result would be, that every one of the ninety-seven Members would be turned out of the House of Commons.—( Laughter.) They would be treated as men who run away from their colours, as he had no doubt they would have done had they been engaged in the war in India.—( Laughter.) He could not understand how men would make pledges at the hustings, and vote in direct opposition to those pledges in the House.—(Hear, hear. ) He was one of those who would never believe that this measure would pass until it did pass.—(Hear, hear.) It seemed that there were advocates of free trade in the House. His Noble Friend who had spoken has been an ad vocate for free trade for only about half a dozen years. He was not an advocate of free trade during Lord Grey's Govern ment, and if he was he did not vote for it. It was understood that Mr. Fitzwilliam's motion was to be opposed by the Ca binet then ; and did his Noble Friend vote for it ? Lord Mel bourne's Cabinet was not a free trade Cabinet. No, it was for a fixed duty of Bs. That party altered their opinion while they were in opposition. They did not change their opinion when they came into power. They did not tell the people one thing from the hustings, and after wards when they came into pewerr turn round on all their principles, and be the first to lead the attack against their con stituents. He was not surprised that the measure in the House of Commons 'had a majority, but he should be very much surprised if the measure passed that House. If by going 'to the country they could only check it for a short time, they should do so, but he believed that such a step would have a better result, for protection had still many friends. Notting ham had behaved nobly ; it had returned a protection Member for each of its divisions; Dorsetahire supported the principle; Westminster had chosen a Radical sooner than one who had changed his principles. The Earl of WICKLOW said that he wished to say a few words in reply to some observations that had fallen from his Noble Friend. It had been regretted by some of the Members of the House of Commons, that , the measure was not pat form and by the Noble Lords on the opposite side, one of the grounds on which the wish was founded was, that it would have come from them with a better grace. When Lord Melbourne's Government was asked whether the fixed duty of eight shillings was for revenue or pro tection, the answer was distinctly for protection. Protection was the object in view in auy case, but a total change had now come over the minds of men, and therefore it was with surprise that he had seen it reported that influential man had risen in their place in the other House of Parliament, stating that they wished the measure had been brought for ward by the opposite party. One word more on another subject, alluded to by a Noble Friend of his own on that side of the House. Ho stated that it was universally understood that the Anti-Corn-law League was an unconstitutional body. Now he was bound to say that that was not his belief. He believed that the League was a constitutional body, established for con stitutional purposes, and though no Member of the League himself, nor likely to become a member of it, still he felt himself in justice bound to say that their friends ought to congratulate them on the extraordinary success which, during the short time they had been in existence, had attended their exertions. Lord BROUGHAM said that he intended to take the same course which he had hitherto adopted on the motion of the No ble Lord connected with Yorkshire, and that was, to say nothing. What made him trouble their Lordships on the present occasicn was to express his opinion with respect. to •the Anti • Curn•law League, and its being an unconstitutional body. He ( Lord Brougham) had never held the opinion that it wa an unconstitutional body ; on the contrary, he held they were a loyal and constitutional body, embodied for constitutional purposes—namely,_ to obtain an alteration in the corn-laws by means of Parliament; but what he had stated was that their proceedings were unconstitutional, although they themselves as a body were perfectly legal—he meant in collecting a fund for the purpose of ob'aining votes be the purchase of freeholds. 'Chat was his opinion ; still they said that they only encouraged persons to purchase freeholds. Now ho ( Lord Brougham) did ' not see how they could have placed 2,000 electors on the roll of freeholders by this system of encouragement, unless they had ' s hd, e oa rpa assisted a c t it, e izs d oe c i nu ofr fi ep n va d or i t r tieass gmoney for the purchase of the se freeholds. wu a going from one of one c o untywhich h t e o daid,otnhaet ap rin .. P e T Y H e a r,N he Earl o of Hear. I a F E AC 3 l 1 E ). s U D R A I EG saidCO hUaNT d i dYnr i se ot VOTES. ta speak on the subject this had just engaged the attention of their Lord ships, but tc a .ke an explanation, in justice to a Noble Duke (the Duke of isedford), of something that fell from him ( Lord Redesdale) a few evenings ago, in reference to a former election in the county of Huntingdon. Ile had stated that in order to secure dap return of Lord John Russell for that county, the Noble Duke had been a party to persons going from his pro perty in Bedfordshire, in order to secure votes. He (Lord Redesdale) believed that a number of friends of Lord John Russell did go into Huntingdonshire for the purpose named, but in justice to the Noble Duke, and to the Noble Lord, he be lieved they were not concerned in the transaction. PROTECTION. The Marquis of SALISBURY presented thirty-six pe titions from Huntingdonshire against the Government mea sures relating to the corn-laws. SEE OF BANGOR AND ST. ASAPH. Lord POWIS presented a petition against the anion of these two sees. _ FREE TRADE. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from Lancaster in favour of free trade, signed by upwards of 1,000 persons. VAN DIEMEN"S LAND. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE again rose and said, that in pursuance of a notice which he had given, he begged to call their Lordship's attention to a petition which was of con siderable importance, both on account of the quarter in which it originated, and from the quarter with which the subject was immediately connected. It was a petition numerously signed by the inhabitants of a colony, well known by its reputation, to himself and to their Lordships, and which was as much en titled as any one of our colonies to a respectful, a kind, and patient consideration of their grievances. It was in fact a petition from the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land, and he need not inform their Lordships that that colony in its locality was one of the most pretty and interesting colonies in her Majesty's dominions ; in its extent equal to Ireland, and con tained a vast mass of population. Instead of reading the pe tition, he would prefer stating the substance of it, as it was of considerable length. The petitioners stated, that having been at different times induced and encouraged to emigrate to that country in the hope and expectation that as no greater number of convicts would be sent to that part of her Ma jesty's dominion, the people of that country would peon be come a free and a virtuous people. They had latterly, how ever found, that there was no hope of their expectations being realised, and that the immense importation of convicts had changed the entire face of the country. They stated that when they emigrated they were required to embark consider able capital in the land which they occupied, and that nothing could be more prosperous than their exertions in the cultiva tion of their land. They also stated, that from the year 1834 to the year 1840, the population had in creased from 12,700 to upwards of 40,000, and . the number of acres cultivated from 25,000 to 124,000. The truth of those statements were quite apparent. In this small, narrow, and confined society there were no fewer than 16,000 convicts imported within three years, 13.000 males and 6,000 females. The consequence was, that instead of any classification of divisions being made of these convicts, they were obliged to be worked in gangs of two and three hundred, to the great terror of the peaceable inhabitants of the place. This had also been the means of increasing crime, and ren dering a large police foree necessary. He did think that on these grounds the petition brought forward by the most respectable persons—the Bishop of the colony —a large number of the landed proprietors, and six out of the eight members of the Legislative Council, making in all 1,300 or 1,400 persons, had some claim on the attention of her Majesty's Government. He begged to be understood that in what he had said, with respect to the im provement of convict labour, he did not adopt the opinion— however much he might respect them—of those persons, who thought that transportation was a punishment unfit for this country, for he was one of those who, in the past and present state of the criminal law, and the present state of crime, thought that transportation was an in dispensable punishment. There might be a good principle adopted by the Government. They should either send out so many convicts to one island as would make it a place ex clusively for the purposes of the punishment, or they should send out such a limited number as was consistent with the well being of the place, and he would permit the convicts to be received and amalgamated with the virtuous and industrious portion of the community. Now, having stated this, he was bound also to admit the difficulties which surrounded the sub- ject. He knew that the Noble Lord, the late Secretary for the Colonies, had directed his attention to the evil, with the view of finding a remedy for it. He (Lord Lansdowne) was confident that no measure but one would, to a con- siderable extent, relieve the colony from the amount of crimi nality which was yearly poured into it, and be attended with any measure of success. Under the present system it was quite impossible for the police to control or the Government to overawe them, and unless, as he had stated, they were prepared to retain the colony in the manner he had suggested, they would not be doing justice to the interests of the colonists. The petition prayed that n• convicts should be after that period sent to the colony, but they admitted that others of the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land thought that a smaller number than were at present introduced would do no injury. They all agreed, however, that the present system, unless discontinued, would result in the ruin of the colony. He had received a letter which stated that at the present time there were 2,009 persons who had tickets of leave, going about seeking employment, but wore unable to obtain it through the employment of con vict laboo.r. The Government were bound to attend to this state of things, so as to see that those reformed convicts should not be depriyesi of the means of earning a subsistence.—( Hear, hear.) Whatever difficulties might surround the question, they ought to be grappled with, so that a final and satisfactory settlement of the affairs of the colony might be made. Lord STANLEY said that as the Noble Lord (the Earl of Ripon) had but recently undertaken the duties of the Colonial-office, and as the petition mainly referred to a period when he (Lord Stanley) had the direc•ion of the affairs of the colonies, their Lordships would forgive him inter fering to give 'an explanation. He would beg leave to say that the petition involved questions infinitely more important than the welfare of a single colony, for it involved no other than the vital question of the whole system of secondary punishments.— ( hear, hear.) Although certain of the allegations of the peti tion were exaggerated, he could not deny that for the last four or five years, much social and pecuniary evil had been inflicted on Van Diemen's Land, from making it exclusively a convict colony. There was one point of considerable weight which the peti tioners had omitted to state, and that was when land was as asigned to a free seetler that free settler was bound to main- tam a certain number of convicts. The convicts were' tot sent to the free settler, but the free settlers came to the con victs. In point of fact, that which was imposed as obligation was felt to be a boon, and it was mainly, though not exclu sively, to that -system that we owed the rapid advance of the population of that colony. He was far from denying that the number of convicts sent to that 'colony should be materially lessened.—( Hear, hear.) He would beg of their Lordships to consiaer the condition in which the Government was placed. He spoke from a document which was published in 1841. He found that in the year 1840, by the system of transportation, every person who received a convict into his service was bound to maintain him. The consequence was 'that the character of the convicts was much improved. They were admitted into the families of virtuous people, and they were under a sort of parental care. He believed that the system of assignment (although objectionable in some respects) was too hastily abandoned. There were many cases in which parties who went over to that colony had parties assigned to them as servants, who were co:ivies, bat who also actually stood towards them in the relation of husbands, brothers and sons. All this was put an end to in 1840, up to which li me conv i cts were sent to V an Diemen's Land and New South Wales from this colony. But in the year 1840 his (Lord Stanley's) successor in office not only put a stop to the system of assignment, but a strong re solution of the House of Commons was passed, to the effect that no more convicts should be sent to New South. Wales, and ever since then Van Diemen's Land had been the only plasm where convicts were sent to, and assignment was put an end to. Was this all? It was not; for in 1841 the House of C om mons passed another resolution, to the effect that every facility should be given for the speedy transition of convicts confined in the hulks under sentence of transportation. it was riot very easy to establish a system of convict discip line between two parties who were at such a distance from each other that it took twelve months to receive an answer to a letter. It occurred, however, towards the close of the year 1842, that Mr. Montague, one of the ablest and most efficient servants that any colony had, was in this country, .and a com munication was immediately made to him by her Majesty's Go vernment. The result of their labours was the foundation of a system of convict regulation. It was decided that the con victs ehoulsl be put in gene to work in various parts of the colony, and that after a time they sheuld be promoted accord ing to their conduct to various stages leis and less severe, until they ended in obtaining a " ticket of leave," or a free pardon. He knew, and it was a fact very discreditable to so great a country as this, that it was not until the last four or five years that we had been sending out from 3,000 to 4,000 convicts an nually, while no provision was made for their religious improve ment. The first step was taken four or five years ago, when an arrangement was made by which each two gangs, containing from 250 to 300. a gang, had the services of a chaplain ;. and in order that no difficulty might arise, the governor was directed to place the Protestants aid Catholics in different gangs, so that each might have the benefit of a. chaplain of their own per suasion. The Protestant and Roman Catholic Bishops of the place, both gave their approval. As far as they could judge by the reports received during the last four years, the measure now in progress answered admirably. The one great difficulty they laboured under was that at that time the number of transports increased considerably While there was less opportunity of employment for them. He ad mitted that many financial burdens were thrown on the colony; the social burdens were also greatly increased in consequence of the large introduction of earn—(Cheers)—among the free population. But her Majesty's Ministers had taken steps for the purpose of remedying its inconvenience. They had taken on themselves a larger amount than they had pre viously done of the gaols and police superinten dence, and they had taken another step the bearing of which would require some little explanation. Their Lordships were no doubt aware that under the present system, in Australia, a minimum price was fixed on land, for the purpose of preventing the accumulation of land in the hands of certain capitalists, and for the purpose of increasing labourers in the colony. That system bad been found appli cable to the colony of New South Wales, but when they found the amount of labour to exceed the demand, they were obliged to adopt other means, with a view to meet the difficulty. In the course of the last session, thet efore; they repealed the pro visions of the Land Sales' Act as far as regarded Van Diemen's Land. The Government found subsequently that the sales of land had, fallen to that degreethbayt the eo country y u f e er was the provided at all, while the police and gaol rates had greatly increased. When their Lor dships recollected that from 300,0001. to 400,0001. was paid maintenance of transported convicts, it was not unreasonable that Government should give directions that those convicts should be employed in a 'great measure in raising the food necessary for their own subsistence. They were for the most part employed in improving the land which had been par tially reclaimed in the colony. By the former law the pro ceeds of land thus improved, when sold, were absorbed by the colonial treasury, and the Government at home derived no ad vantage, although such improvements had been effected by their paid convicts. They therefore determined that to con mentthieny privateou4ht to service, be an d wvihcotssewhcohacroaucltedrsnotwefirned such that en couraged, a premium should bo given in the shape of land, to be cultivated on their own account. But in reference to the social evils that were complained of, as affecting such a remote and insignificant colony, he would beg leave to inform their Lordship s that this insignificant colony was in extent not less than Ir eland, yet it was occupied by only about 40,000 free settlers. S o talking of swampin g the colony as large as Ireland, with the introduction of 4,000 convicts every year, providing there was a sufficient superin tendence, was out of the question. But if they did not send their convicts to Van Diemen's. Land, what were they to do with the sweepings of their gaols, which sent forth on an avk rage every year from four to five thousand ma le convicts? At the present time there were in Van Diemen 's Land, and New South Wales, about 50,000 convicts, of which this coun try had been permanently relieved. —( Hear, bear.) An d i put ting the question, not in a pecuniary b ut in a moral lidid they believe it would be possible, unless there were penal set tlements, for felons who had suffered imprisonment or punish ment for the violation of the laws, when relieved, to be ab:e to find employment. In this over peopled country it would be i m p ossible for them to get employment, and the consequenc e would be, they would be driven from sheer necessity to adopt th eir for mer vicious courses, and to mix with their former companions, so that the recurrence ater than before. He of criminal practices would be tenfold g believed that a penal colony was first calculated to offer a field of employment for such convicts; and he believed in many respects, ao far from the well conducted settlers being injured in a moral point of view, the contrast between the two classes had a most salutary influence Oa the character of the free fopu lation. The possession of land in Van Diemen's Land was ' easily obtained, and the present system worked exceedingly well. He apprehended that none of their Lordships would stand up and say that the number of convicts should be mate rially diminished. If they determined on founding a new penal colony, he would ask them how they intended to do so? It was mucheasier to speak of forming a colony than the actual forma tion of it. They required security, and that the new penal colony should not be in a tropical climate—that it should be destitute of inhabitants—that its soil should be fertile, and that it should be of considerable extent. In his humble judg ment the motion of transferring our convicts to purely penal colonies, would act most fatally to the system of transportation. —(Hear, hear.) They had only this alternative—would they, if they could find a colony, establish a new penal colony, and in vite free settlers thither? or, would they establish a colony which from its commencement to its close should never be.refreshed by the presence of an unconvicted man, but should be a den of pollution and condemnation ?—( Cheers. )_ They could de nothing so fatal as that to the convicts. He would ask, what was the convict to do after the termination of his sentence ? they would be deprived during the existence of their sentence of the society of all virtuous men, and when they were set free they would be unable to leave the colony. Would their Lord ships form such a colony as that ? Let them take Norfolk Island, for instance, as a colony, into which tone should be admitted but convicts, it must in a few years become one of the most awful places on the face of the empire. The greatest possible advantages had been conferred upon the colonists, and, in order to enable them to derive benefit from the convicts, those convicts were compelled to go through all the gradations of punishment under the surveillance of the po lice and magistrates. Under those circumstances he would say that he conceived it would be most inexpedient in their Lordships to comply with the prayer of this petition. Their Lordships would find it rather a curious fact that this country bore no comparison to the state of France in reference to con victs. In France only 8,000 convicts were thrown back upon them, and yet they complained of it as an intolerable hardship. What then would be thought of it in this country if they had 50,000 convicts thrown back upon them? The Government of which he lately had the honour of being a member had added a new colony to New South Wales, sufficiently far re moved from the tropics to be healthy, and to this colony a considerable number of convicts were being removed. It was provided that these persons should be removed to an other colony, and provided with food for a limited period with a small portion of land, which they hail the option of culti vating for themselves ; and from the proximity of New South Wales, they could, when their term was expired, go to that settlement and engage themselves in service. Those persons, from the time of their arrival in that place, might be looked on as having obtained a conditional pardon, and when any de mand for labour arose in the neighbouring settlement, they could go to service. These were the objects which the Go vernment had in view for the amendment of the state of the convicts. There was no subject which had been more anxiously considered by himself and the Right Hon. Baronet for the Heme Department than the present question. They had taken every step that was pessible for the purpose of re lieving the moral and financial system. He believed that the moral system depended on the admixture of the convicts with the free populatio:s, and also the proximity of some large sand important country to which their labour might be transferred. He regretted to say that Van Diemen's Land had not been free from the let e mania for speculation ; undertakings had been commenced on borrowed capital, bearing most usurious interests. When these specu lations failed, property was sold all over the island, and it was to that fact, and not to the presence or absence of convicts that lie attributed the distress and depression that had taken place. He did not deny that the presence of a considerable number of convicts would have the effect of lowering the rate of wages, and that consequently numbers of free labourers had emigrated from Van Diemen's Land. But there were other causes at work also, for it. might be recollected that within the last six or twelve months, a rapid improvement had taken place in the districts of Port Philip and South Australia. In the latter district more particularly, minerals had been opened up to a great extent and there fore, there had been an increased demand for labour ; and the colony was so near Van Dieman's Land that labourers could always have the opportunity of removing there, and, therefore they were not to attribute the emigration altogether to the introduction of convicts, but to the fact that a more re munerative field was formed for them. He entreated their Lordships would consider before they made any serious change in the law of transportation—before they altered or condemned the existing system, and consider what other system they could substitute for it. Let there not condemn ; let them be satisfied to amend what was defective, but let them not destroy until they had found another that was more advantageous to the colony of Van Diemen's Land, which had been a petal settlement from the commencement. Let them consider what it was to relieve this country from the immense mass of corruption which would be ever present if a large number of convicts were permitted to remain in it. Let them consider what the chances were which were given those convicts after the termination of their sentence in a country so peculiarly fitted for them. He thanked their Lord ships for the attention they had paid to him, and he sat down, again requesting them not to effect any changes without due consideration. The Duke of RICHMOND said, that having been a direc tor in the Pentonville Prison, he was enabled to state that the convicts sent from that prison were received in the colony with the utmost distrust ; and, in fact, it was a difficult matter for them to obtain employment. Many of them, however, earned for themseives a name as the most industrious inhabit ants of the colony. Lord LYTTELTON, in laying papers on the table, said it might be expected from him that he - would state to the House on the present occasion what were the intentions of the Government with respect to the colony of Van Diemen's Land. This subject divided itself into two parts—that which referred to the morral and social state of the convicts, and that which referred to the incon venient and financial grievances of Van Diemen's Land, as compared with other colenies. The Noble Lord had referred to the probationary convict gangs, and adduced several tables which had been forwarded to this country illustrative of their beneficial working. That many allegations in the petition were correct, could not be denied, and he hoped their Lord ships woutdegive these their most careful consideration. There was another material point to which he would allude. Last year a dispatch had been received from Sir E. Wilmot, urging on the Government the importance of allowing a free importation of corn from that colony into this country. Perhaps he was not exactly in order in alluding to it at the present time, still he thought it right to mention it, as a measure that was likely, along with others that might be devised, to prove beneficial to the colony. He was prepared to admit that the petitioners had great grounds of complaint in reference to the number of convicts which were sent to their colony.—(Hear, hear.) Her Ma jesty's Government were most anxious to apply some remedy. —( Hear, hear.) He was enabled to state that the petitioners might entertain some slight hope that, at no distant day, the present system would be greatly relaxed. There had been an application from the inhabitants of Port Philip to permit the admission of convicts into their colony. Her Majesty's Go vernment had the strongest feeling of the necessity of some change. A considerable number of convicts had lately been transported to Gibraltar, and the system had worked most satisfactorily. Her Majesty's Government were most anxious to extend that system as far as possible.—( Hear, hear.) They felt that the subject was one of the greatest moment, and he could only say, on the part of the Government, that it should receive their most serious consideration.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord, who was imperfectly heard in the reporters' gallery, concluded by stating that the Government would most gladly adopt any measure which might be calculated to remedy the grievances mentioned in the petition presented by the Noble Marquis. Lord GREY said he looked upon this as a subject of the greatest importance , but he did not think that the statements made by the petitioners had been satisfactorily answered by the Noble Lord opposite. The Noble Lord had not denied any of the charges made by the petitioners, and therefore they were deserving of the highest and most serious consideration of the House, and the convicts should have immediate relief. No doubt the difficulties in the way of doing this were great, and required much time to deliberate upon. He had long been op posed to this system of transportation, and he fully agreed in the sentiments expressed upon it in a pamphlet written by the Archbishop of Dublin. In the principle of transportation they looked for two objects—the first was the punishment of the con vict sent out, and the other was, to relieve this country from his presence; but the great mistakel was in not separating those objects completely. He believed that the system of penal labour should be carried on in this country. The great difficulty in carrying on the present system was that in case of any obstruc tion arising, it was 10 or 12 months before an answer could be received from home to remedy that obstruction. There was no reason why the penal labour should not be performed here, and the convict afterwards sent into the colonies. He knew that the colonies did not like receiving convicts when their sentences had eVed, but that objection might be overcome. He was aware that this was not an opportunity to discuss so important a subject, but he could not allow the conversation to close without expressing his dissent from the opinions prevalent that the system of transportation ought to be continued. If the system could be continued without its faults it would be a desirable one ; but as it had been hitherfo attempted, it had failed to answer all the purposes to which it it had been applied. And if it could not be continued without its faults, they had the alternative that ought to have been adopted long ago—via., of discontinuing it altogether. The Bishop of OXFORD agreed in the main with the general principle advanced by the Noble Earl, though he could not assent to what had been stated respecting the moral effects of a convict population in Van Die men's Land. Transportation, as hitherto conducted, had been the great curse of the world, and the reproach of this nation. Let Noble Lords consider, that in the creation of these eolonies as penal settlements, convicts had been sent out with bodies of soldiers to watch over them, so incapable were they of all moral relations ; and accompanied:by medical men to watch over their health, though at the same time there was not a single religious instructor. This penal population was set down in this manner, destitute of all principle of moral instruction, to form a new people. As they had sown so they must reap. From the accounts they had received, it seemed that the popu lation was sunk in the deepest moral pollution ; the tone of society was lowered, chastity among women was unknown, and crimes of the most horrid character, such as it was hoped were banished out of anything like civilised society, abounded. Such were the results of this system of transportation. He fur one heartily thanked the Noble Lord lately at the head of the Colonies for his speech of that evening; he thanked him for the enunciation of the great principle that Government had seen the necessity of giving moral and religious instruction to the convicts they sent out. He rejoiced in the way the House bad received that enunciation, and he rejoiced and agreed with many of them. But he must say this, that there wore a few points in which he could net agree with the plans which the Noble Lord had announced, and justified, as those which the Government had adopted when he was at the head of the Colonial-office. He could not agree with the principle which the Noble Lord had laid down, that the presence of vice had a tendency to raise the standard of virtue among the free popu lation. This he considered the most monstrous paradox that ever was propounded to Christian men. Let them con sider that in the colonies vice was not exhibited in chains. It was not punished with fetters. No. Vice there in many instances set the tone of society so far, that a man high in his profession told there that he did not dare to say that he had not come out as a convict, because it would seem as if he had not a fellow feeling with those around him. He (the Bishop of Oxford) would have thought that the best way to promote virtue would have been to have kept vice out of right. They would not, for instance, in the desire to pro mote virtue, take their families into the precincts of licen tiousness ; they would rather conceal the knowledge that such vice existed, lest the very fact that the world contained it should contaminate their morals: The Noble Lord told them hat his proposal for relieviag Van Diemen's Land was this-- to found a new settlement, not strictly penal, in the northern parts of Australia. This course was alto open to objection. The convicts were to found a new colony for themselves; they were to receive land from Government if they were unable to purchase it. Now it appeared to him that this would necessarily place these convicts upen a better footing than the. man of virtuous character in the colony from which they had been removed. We should treat convicts just as we treated a patient. We should not appoint a physician to a sickly man who lived at a distance of three or four hundred miles, for there would be the journies backwards and forwards, which would of course increase the expense and the difficulties.—(]fear, hear.) And therefore he would maintain that convicts should be punished in this country. What did they seek by the punishment of a felon ? Of course, an opportunity of recovering their good chercter. But their Lordships said that he could not do that in this country. He agreed with their Lordships, and he ' therefore said that a penal colony should be established for the reception of men who had gone through their punishment here. Such a system would be the means of converting such men into the pioneers of civilisation.---(Hear, hear.) Such men would be free from the difficulties to which they would be subjected did they remain in this country. And instead of being the vilest of their race, they would be the erectors of the dwelling•.places of virtue and civilisation.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.") Let the Government confess its past faults, and venture upon a future in which they would take care to palliate the great evils which their present system had produced. If convicts were kept at home, they would be more under the eyes and power of the Government—( Hear, hear) — and by adopting the suggestions which he had humbly offered, he did not doubt that they would confer upon this great country a great and lasting benefit.—(Hear, hear.) The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose to explain. He would be very glad to learn that it would be found practicable to dispense with transportation altogether ; and he also listened with great pleasure to the admirable address of the Right Rev. Prelate in reference to the experiment of the Pentonville Prison, and he did hope that the amount of crime causing these things might decrease, so as to bring it in greater proportion with the population. After a few words from Lord LYTTELTON and the Bishop of OXFORD, the petition was ordered to lie on the table. The Public Works (Ireland) Bill was then read a third time and passed. The Game Bill was then read a second time. WEXFORD, CARLOW, AND DUBLIN JUNCTION RAILWAY. • Lord MONTEAGLE said that the other day he had given notice of a motion with respect to an Irish Railway Bill, the Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction; and he would now explain himself to their Lordships in a few words. His motion was for the purpose of facilitating the passing of a Bill through the Standing Orders' Committee. The motion was that the standing orders in this case was dis pensed with. The error which had been commuted was the serving of some notices en a Sunday and a Christmas day, though it was proved that no hardship was in consequence in flicted on any one. By allowing the Bill to proceed employ ment would be given to 6,000 persons. Lord REDESDALE regretted he could not concur with the views of the Noble Baron opposite, because if the standing orders were to be of any value at all, they should be attended to in this respect. The standing order which in the present case had not been observed was improper service of notice, or that notices had been served on Christmas-day and Sunday ; and surely if the parties serving them were not wilfully negli gent they-should know that they were doing an improper act. He thought the Committee had come to a just conclusion that thwe was no case for recommending the parties to the mercy of the House for non-attendance to the standing orders. After a few words from the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the notice was, of course, illegal, if served on Sunday, and that, in fact, a very serious punishment was attached to any party who attempted to serve such a notice en a Sunday. —( Hear, hear. ) • The motion was then put and agreed to. Their Lordships then adjourned at a Quarter-past Eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 3. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes before Four. RAILWAY BUSINESS. Mr. GREENE moved that standing order No. 110, re quiring three clear days' notice of the second reading of a private Bill ; and standing order No. 134, requiring three clear days' notice of a second reading to be given in the Private Bill-office; and standing order No. 139, requiring one clear day's notice in the Private Bill-office of the day proposed for the report of every private Bill, and also for the considera tion of the report ; and standing order No. 123, requiring the reports on railway Bills to be discussed every Tuesday and Thursday; and standing order No. 142, requiring one clear day's notice of the third reading of a Bill ; and standing order No. 124, prohibiting any private Bill from passing through two stages on the same day, be suspended with respect to all Bills entitled to the privileges granted by the re solutions of the House of the 7th day of July last. That such Bills may be read a second time on the day following the first reading of such Bills. That the Committees on such Bills may report, and such report may be considered, on the same day with that on which .the Committee sits. That such Bill may be read a third time on the following day.—The motion was agreed to. Several petitions for and against different railway Bills were presented. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and were ordered to be committed, viz.:—Sunderland Waterworks, Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway and Grimsby Docks Consolidation, Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway (Humber Ferries), Scottish Grand Junction Railway, and Ferguson's Naturalization. Captain BERKELEY presented a petition from the por of London, praying that inquiries be instituted into the ma. nagement of the Seaman's Relief Fund. Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition, signed by the dis trict Catholic clergymen of Liverpool, complaining that the children of those of the Roman Catholic adults employed in the factories were compelled to attend the Protestant Sunday schools, and praying that the House would institute some in quiries into the matter. MERCHANT SEAMAN'S FUND. Mr. HUME presented a petition, praying the attention of the House to the management of the Merchant Seaman's Fund, with - the view of providing a retreat for those deserving men, after a period of active service, thus preventing them from leaving the country, as many of them at the present were in the habit of doing. He begged to give notice that he would move that the petition be printed, with the view of calling the attention of the House to this important subject. ADULTERATION OF TOBACCO. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the manufacturers awl dealers in tobacco in the city of Norwich. They recited that various vexatious processes were instituted under the plea for searching for adulterated tobacco ; that various prosecutions had been entered upon which they bad not the adequate means of preventing, and, therefore, they prayed the House to take.the matter into consideration. They believed that an effectual remedy would be to reduce the duty on tobacco to Is. per pound, thus removing all temptation to smuggling or adulteration., EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGES IN SCOTTISH BOROUGHS. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the magistrates, town council, and civic authorities of Arbroath, praying the House to give every facility to the passing of a measure introduced by the Lord Advocate for the doing away of exclusive privileges in boroughs. REPORT OF STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEE. Mr. ES CO U R T brought up the report of the decision of the Standing Orders' Committee respecting the North Staffordshire and other railway Bills. PROTECTION TO AGRICULTURE. Mr, 11. PALMER presented several petitions from Hants and Berkshire against the measures of the Government relative to the importation of foreign grain. He also presented one from the borough of Newbury, complaining of the present mode of raising the poor rates, and praying the House to take it into its most serious consideration, with the view of devising a means of abolishing the local rates, and meeting the expense out of the public fonds, or some other such mode. THE WEST RIDING UNION RAILWAY BILL. Several petitions were presented from the inhabitants of dif ferent districts in Yorkshire, complaining of the injustice of the decision of the Standing, Orders' Committee against the above-named undertaking. Captain BERKELEY said, that seeing that the Right Hon. Baronet the President of the Board of Trade was in his place he wished to ask him what was the intention of Go vernment with regard to the merchant seamen's fund. Was it the intention of Government to mr.ke any inquiry into it ? Petitiens of some consequence with regard to that subject had been that day presented, from a body of no less than 3,000 seamen of the port of London. Sir GEORGE CLERK said, it was desirable that some alteration should be made in the system. The Government had for some time been in communication with the Shipowners' Society, and were in possession of every information, so that an inquiry would not be necessary. Mr. VILLIERS presented a petition from Bilstone for the release of Frost, Williams, and Jones, and also a petition from Chorley, for the better regulation of factory labour. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE gave notice that, on the 18th instant, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the limitation of labour in those factories where machinery was employed. Mr. EWART gave notice that he should move for the aboli tion of duty on all foreign books. OFFICIAL DESTRUCTION OF CORN. Mr. VILLIERS, seeing the Right. Hon. Gentleman the Vic e of the Board of Trade in his place, wished to ask him if any report had been made to the Government or to the Cus tom-house authorities, of the amount of wheat destroyed in this country in consequence of the damage it had received at the Custom-house, and the inability of the importer to pay the duty ? He had understood that very recently a large quantity of wheat had been destroyed, in consequence of the damage it received by remaining in the Custom-house, the importer not being able, in consequence of the. high rate of duty, to clear it from the Custom-house. A merchant of the name of Philpotts, at the port of Gloucester, was not able to pay the high duty of 17s. per quarter; it was, therefore, thrown into the River Severn, under the care of a vigilant Custom=house officer, who watched it in the Severn till it became either mixed with the mud or was by other means rendered unfit for use. He wished, therefore, to ask if any report had been made to the Government of the amount of wheat so destroyed in consequence of the inability of the importer to pay the duty? Sir GEORGE CLERK said he knew nothing of the case to which the Hon. Member (Mr. Valle] s) had referred. He believed, however, that the statement had appeared in a news paper, but the periodical reports furnished by the Board of Customs to the Treasury and the Board of Trade contained no mention of it. There could not, however, be any difficulty in ascertaining whether the report was true or false, and if true, under what circumstances the alleged destruction of gra i n took place. - SHIPPING DUES. Mr. HUME moved for an account of the aggregate receipt at every port, harbour, and creek in the United Kingdom, in the year 1845, of the harbour and shipping charges, stating the several heads of such income ; and also an account of the aggregate expenditure for the same year, stating the same under the several heads of expenditure in the year 1845 (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper No. 571, of Session 1845), which was agreed to. PETITION OF THE SIIIPOWNERS OF LONDON. On the motion of Mr. W. BARING (in the absence of Lord John Russell), the petition of the shipowners of the port of London, in favour of the proposed measure relative to the timber duties, was ordered to be printed with the votes. PETITIONING THE HOUSE. Mr. NEWDEGATE rase to amend the notice of motion which he submitted to the House last night, respecting an instruction to the Committee appointed to inquire into the way in which the petition from Cheltenham in favour of the repeal of the corn-laws had been got up. His amended motion was to the following effect That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on the petition from Cheltenham, that they do inquire whether forged objections have not been served upon certain electors for the northern division of the county of Warwick, against the claims of the said electors late retained upon the register of the said division of the said county." He said he had been induced to alter his original motion, in consequence of information which he had received imme diately subsequent to bringing forward his motion last night, and which was to the effect, that the system of which he complained prevailed to a great extent in North Warwickshire, and North Staffordshire, as well as in •other districts. He thought it his duty to 'propose this additional instruction to the Committee, because he felt himself agrieved, in common with those who entertained similar opinions to himself, and because he represented those who had been most unjustly attacked on account of their being in favor of the maintenance of protection.—( Hear.) When it was con sidered that the Hon. Member f,,r Cheltenham (Mr. C. Berkeley) was totally opposed to hint on the score of polities, and that he had first brought the subject before the House, they would acquit him of any intention to cast additional unnecessary labour on the Committee. Ile could not divest himself of the statement which was made by the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury, that it was not a question well worthy the consideration of the House. The Right Hon. Baronet the other night, when a question was raised with reference to the alleged interference of Peers in Parliamen . , induced his Honourable Friend op. posite (Mr. Collett? to withdraw that motion, because he stated that if their influence was traced, it may be found not more than was used by roller parties. It hail ever been the Practice of that House to consider, where grounds were sup- t i -a posed to exist, whether any undue influence had been g et 'e e t in the election of Members, and he thought it rietestee such should be continued by the present tribunel•sPeea' It was eonsidered that the real contest took place thar e e tration courts which decided the fate of the electionee 400 he considered it was the duty of that House to inqanket the conduct and practices of such Courts. 'The I '4 Honourable Baronet thought right to esP ii the the - battle of the elections were fought introdurs Registration Courts, and this induced him to some instructions to the Committee. He tru sted that teeeuee duct on that occasion could be fully justified , fur be o ta . V c r he could be able tee prove to them that no light greee tio „, doubtful evidence had induced him to make th e present motto„, He stated that a great number of objections bad beet; wee on voters of the north division of Warrington, i noste oi _ ' failed on the merits, and he had also stated t hat the eterees markable of these transactions occurred in the Ileg",dit Court at Birmingham. He could then assure the Heee ef ee no less than 700 electors had been served with netiereni t he jection in two parishes of that district, and in BirilliteEt.etece number was so great—over 30,0e0—that the r" rot could. not be cleared of them for s everal - 001 0 0e these . had all been served at the eat bode of the Anti-Corn-law League, and on beha lf of turose There were three names which he could mentio n ass wed connected with that body; and if he could prove, as,l, ea e er he could, their connexion with the present praeteeee Go' plained of, no douht could remain on the minds of T e e tlemen • that it , was through the agency of the seed' Corn-law League, that such objections cveren verso The objections were served indiscriminately, and o, of property to a large amount. But those selected ,from those voters who resided or were at the at the greatest distance from the northern division _ wickshire. This system was adopted in order that Mel tin g t: o bjectell e t ee inconvenience might result to the parties in a tte e let e fe e maintain their votes in the registration courts..serlithelee who signed those objections was a man named "°, le vel who was possessed of no property, and was alnles‘,_ e eee for his daily meal and subsistence. In proof of ties % es te; state that the man, upon being threatended with Pr y No P i for his conduct, declared that he was not worth 5 1 - Ob j e ctios r wished to know if the House intended to allow suet' en etb e 'i as these to be continued, or would they not rather inteers-osteer authority and protect the franchise from this ve lat e o l ' On Willliam Worthington being subsequently askel l , r ep l ; 6 l he had told the witness Stafford to write like hita , ,elise b e t not; but he admitted, after some hesitation, that h e rerel t eo him a written notice, signed by his own hand, and neared all the rest should be signed in the same Ina l l o rtios' e He would now explain ° to the House why a larfee e f eeteej these objections were forged. He held in his hid e keep prove that the objections were generally those of t h l se lt A , a "pop" shop. This man had grossly perjured le r til, was over and over again asked if the signature Wa t ' eis ton was his, and he as many times, °PI la t h e declared that it was not ; and yet subsequent ea s o , was produced who stated that the writing e e b e This evidence applied to five or six hundred not i . e d e; e si t e e after such evidence, he (Mr. Newdegate) con''„ e bje e ete there could be little doubt as to the character o f te ere 0 ,1 1 . 1 but he wished to show the House that it was still f tee. s ee ' 0 „ nary that they should enter into an investigation; is cesie objector had foresworn himself—and his evidencee este , e o quence ought not to have been received--te e r c e e decided on admitting his evidence in other s' e s where objections had been taken. He would O W Leg d pi sion to trace this system to the e Anti-Corns law es°,ol leading member of whom publicly boasted that the ( or a f e e the franchise—a noble object were it net carried oat tei,e,ore spirit, and for party purposes — in favour of a hod,' soot; as much a commercial project as a politiea l ;esote If such inroads were to be made upon the claim s °e were fully entitled to the franchise—if such s sY s ,try s '; to he carried on, the electors of any part of the e°l 3 ,roa e e e be disfranchised. He called upon the Right l l°. eel , e l l o olt h ,, assist this inquiry, and by so doing put a stop to s o e t es lions. He told the Hon. Member for Stockport , i t 00 ei he might treat the present question. as a li g ' erse e is ) such practices as he had detailed to t he had their weight with the Government. ---(ne 'be foe ee l He hoped the Right. Hon. Baronet would Pa u ' es s . o P ie allowed such practises to be passed over unnoticed• roeceice to have this a fair Committee ; he was himself a I: s t Pee; and he did not wish , to have any gentleman d i ' t i.C' fr e ;tC' it, nor would he allow any Member of the Acre ittrehe League to be on the inquiry. He would not $., b on t bo on e as a question between the protectionists and trio, tha t „e lit e side, but he considered it should be entertained qteCereern? as a question between the Government and the .neese League. The Hon: Member concluded by 1 1301 ' n° 4 hl it ment of which he had given notice. to smog Mr. REDHEAD YORKE was un deretood whose instructions the Honourable Member h i ' amendment? lig et 4 to° Mr. T. DUNCOMBE admitted that it was ll e o ess , ;,, a case consisting of rerjury, and a very vea s e eeese serving notices by some agent of the Anti C°'", „ e t ue e ee, Admitting the whole facts of the case, be c olt , eorsre A „ what the House had to do with the question. AOC, . 14 had been appointed to inquire into the breach et Pi e l titerese i reference to the forgery of certain nameeto 17 means of which the House had been teiniet therefore, a breach of its privileges- eres e „ - e rls,''; not see that the present charges wer e of Seos l e privileges. With reference to the eharee ee eve', that is a case for another tribunal. The s n e st eed e'ee„,' notices was not a breach of the privileges. o e e d ,v;tl what offence it was, it was a very vexatious -of t h e fly system to the electors that was the fault howeee,reelletesP; of registration. That system he had found fata t s „,sol ) l th over again. But Hon. Members opposite were 3 111 ,.' fi t ': 11 ' their registration. They now began f e be inconvenience which had so long be- -thela tote , " e the electors of boroughs. Now dows e r e e r to feel it in the counties. Hon. Members ea ° eis° House to complain of the system. If the gol t i e e moved for a Committee to inquire into the w ) registration, and into the operation of the Refo rm to sere, finality clauses, he should have been blifestetPd assisted them to the utmost of his potver • ee ld s l y h e He hoped, therefore, that the Government Gould Atte, ; their support to the motion of the Hon. Ale n ' cotsw ci l. consented to be one of the members of the e r e tr a :l ht l e h e i s c hi i h ooun t l h d. petitione Adieecml rbi Member rt from os hsoe,r,vl deC,bhieef referredttehn e h Cheltenham had it h toi a o d ntah b le e c L u u .t...: r i p to r cr oc ii ,3• ol ) o,„ l Mr. NEWDEGATE said the Hon. Mernbe - , 0 0,,,i' d had asked him why they did not proceed st against the parties whom he (Mr. Newdeea te esce l " o l outraged the privileges of that House ? Senelle teP e feree of them had any wish to prosecute the enhaPPe e si r eee' e organised system of annoyance to which heale e see He did not seek for a Committee to inquire in'wotri!ch the Reform Bill or into the registration of th e e° iee b I e wished for a Committee to inquire into the "oho they iss natures were attached to these petitions, and 00` o r were who thus interfered with the registration,. wee, O et Mr. ADDELEY thought that the subjec t f t 'ese,,,e , by the Honourable . Member should beereferreu a WI A V ? mittee on the Cheltenham petition, leee ati ee e t t ' e trie / analogy between them. It was right a t ee ree e e toj e i mittee appointed to inquire into t,' e .„ 4 olr 6 , o o, i r d in Manchester of Cheltenham petitions ghoul" :I to P; t ett e es subject also.—( Hear, hear.) He was prepar e ..„ ; 0 0 the privileges of electors had b e 'eisse - f ere e with in North Staffordshire, and th at ,. tte r „.ee tett' the subject was german to the e l , l e stee; to the Cominittee, and that they ought to e, ° ' 0 ee Wee Bill had been drawn up by an Hon. Feient o o t e b e l eti t je t whichhe believed would shortly be introeuee e eeeee e re The Hon. Member then read extracts froen $ t he e' o ,ll e House from North Staffordshire, which were, f or se Be- 0 0 0 , although the petitioners had been registers a 'ye li Bo bar o' and although their qualification to vote was vie o te s bi $ O OO , locality, that 20,000 frivolous objections to th eir iene j est! e te l , served upon them and others ; that they were se v eete tier , habitant of the county, but that they e had lee e e e n e fer t e ee e ice ( chester—(Loud protectionist cheers.) "'Pe el' fro°, VT that they were thus subjected to conside ra t eev e tbe r et e , annoyance on account of being compelled to t e e% t o' to year at the Registration Courts, in orde r , re ad t eite l e to r were entitled to be on the r eg i s t er . flav in t hat the Hon. Gentleman conc l u d e d b y sayingee do s e o then present the p e titi on, b ut that h e shout" f , rieehie occasion, when he had a better opportunite. ; est' ;ttee, bet' Mr. WAKLEY sa id t h at h e d id no t e°fl e ' - ‘ 01 0 "e bee tle just that the petition should be referred to was appointed for entirely a different purr s " he ° f ed i that the Hon. Gentleman would not press , e ieg et ,. Government would feel the propriety of ler"dorie beer'ete correction of the system, which could net A lt og e o bl e i)U' clumsy way which was then proposed. It w- eject io l' e vuO f way of proceeding, and nothing could be more r g s th e ti' se 4 . Join A (1 le Hon. Gentleman made a motion, and at •h the, lis e e, Wakley) felt that he bad dealt very hardie r th eir 'vise law League. He stated that a man in th ,eithe:,:ess e ,eo u 'e themproved o House .—( Cries s o e adopted.be— t( a bcre fo r si g teas e t r eom a f nd ,nNt a s perjurer , No, no nioai, ,m)t e shv e s ; ti e b j eto e obeeo e j; observe that if what was stated b e e f e re uis o° . o` t „ correct, instead of bringing the case he he, t e uli S t e , he ought to have been prosecuted ; eee„, nal g sr e ere punished at all. It was their (lute r ee coo r e f se t " tO, him, bat instead of doing so, they hold oe' e ,titiej Oi s e men of a similar description to commi t s ene side r te d; b ee I ' fences.—( Cries of " No, no.") Ife e ept idis e sett" man's evidence altogether ought to be ea ey j O , ess e of the subject ought to be investigated, as r eeP r e ee t i te, attention of the Government. e befer - „ e iote d ete`er appointed on Sir ROBERT PEEL—Sir, I ha' ers opinion on this subject, in reference to tcorner- ste`olo,oo t l h s e ta p t o e i d n , t ynefspterridrailye,getratn:i s e rth e s eie I thought it would be better if it directed its:ititio°;o;citeeOs' that point, as regarded the Cheltenbani arahereolis opinion I yesterday pronounced I le ° 7. oe i t° he A lit esie l e , hear.) It is very easy for Hon. Gentee w ith t. fr., it ations about the connexion of Ministerteeneettery,ooo Law-league, without having the slight 1 ,1 1 ; all 0;10 lies (eo such—( Hear, hear)—and, perhaps , ar°, iee j to ° there may be many who would feel ine' r athe r Ge l l i ee t e e inferences from our silence. The"%re;eo floT e e se e le e inferences should be drawn, I c o ll ectionto to r te ter! bey' that I cannot recall to my re ii ..iva te n' th coo the corn-laws, or any other public . w ee efe e or o e ever, directly or indirectly, emeln. un te ' c a t bodPeesg s o4 l Corl League, or any member oe rere _law eee , o of "Her.") With regard to the Antee' un e eea t f b , (t o ff e e other society employing persons to r en:l?Y ° Vote to the right of certain individuals . „, it , l e 1 , e el . for e g o , can only say if that be so, as it is stere .e iene u e ee Ce I understand my Honourable Friers Ze at i e e feL g ift setshire, to say that he formed lee a!r e e ieri nse lee issi , and certainly, if the Honourable teen s L ee she ll ee f rigs? 00 able le e fl° °°l3 0 00 th e 0 et Mr. SPOONER thought th Wee- r m m y itt s e u e pp to or i t n . quire into these allegation, erien. -a d r ise. s for e ei. l FFirniesnbdu,ry the e ad .Amiaedmebearn funnrneiveezravriyiekishr, to .s e ) otiOdOeki he whose name his Honourable . sese we ° , tee e 4 t ortse e. r , e t e e 'el e House was one of considerable ' l % to ° te e . t ha „ i es ro" Anti-Choosren.lcaowndLuecatguhee. c l3e ul t P h ia e l a n ; at 'he que:rhe ime the fact of peeing a notice of objeeeetotonseveneen testimony of its delivery, andth them to meet the threatened olle daes a fter e to t ceived an objection to his vote two was only by acecid.nt that it rCaChO e e ls in t e e °lobo wero posted too late to reach the o P: t ti o ti n ei . I t ;ir o '- "e r ' o .:i ll6l was only by accident that it to tter ieo B l l tb t o o :the goedingly to his solicitor. to whi e ' d to the t hi° 'Act to S be ir referred. It must not be confined r GEORGE t b G e l f E a ;i t s 14115° tr I° lo' 4 parties who had come before .ee beecti He very well remembered when ie t `', if e c eity bathedlle e re under discussion, that consideeeb House The el e r te la0 , 0 11: 0 the parties on his side of the .. The If tw o Y e s • to which might arise on a future peri .0 ritY , a n ". eisi n 'but so in a min ° • ale"' • $ I he acted were at that these i t iore et c h e t 01 ) P c ' ite w be oi ee e gr ea t dif fi cti .Uhat petition had experien bviating s een ; A deei re r itel minority had been desirous of thoughttbthtiaiet presented a petition with a . v . ie o w likely to arise from the mooting, we, c 0.., it xtic ,. then, as a member of that party : same d,T _ o ' s ; o i s . ; e t; settling the whole rinciple. eeeesite,.beeeviey to t u t : e. s nom, but the Hon. Gentlemen PP the m_tent ° O l O Ol themselves, were desirous of e __ tile n ot 17413,00 melts'- now before the House. Bat h . c" g the that - e - wo e tbe g.t esoa' extended to the whole eubteet • eye vs he Lord Seenoreand Mreerstsese, eats s .over‘i e ment, and _after .callf:t ott.% position, because he still eoriceiv THE SUN, LONDON, _WEDNESDAY EVENING, notiRCH 4, 1846.