The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

Ctirti Xllttton SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) Sub-Committee, No. 1. THE DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH RAILWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. BURKE said the contract deed before the Committee was not the contract deed brought before the House last year, notwithstanding that the Bill had been part-heard last session of Parliament. The standing order was imperative for the same deed being brought forward again where a Bill was brought in as a Bill part-heard. Mr. Burke having been sent for by the Chairmanof another Committee, I.:r. COLES supported the objection. The contract of this year bad the same names as that of last year, but the sum set down to the names of parties who were only bound for about 2,000/. in the first deed amounted in the present deed to 530,000/. Now those parties had never subscribed that sum, so that it must have been paid in their names by other persons. The CIIAIMLAN said it mattered not who had paid the money, thepersons complained of were bound; the money was paid, perhaps, by some of their friends, but that was not for the Committee to inquire into. It was therefore the opinion of the Committee that the standing orders had been complied with. THE MOLD JUNCTION RAILWAY. Mr. ELLICOMBE appeared for the promoters. The witnesses in support of the formal points having been called, The Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with. Two LONDON AND TORN. RAILWAY BILL —COMMENCEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN—THE FIRST OUTPOST ! Mr. A'BecKerr, during the temporary absence of Mr. Strutt, was appointed to take the chair. The Hon. Member said that he thought it but right to state to the parties pre sent that he was himself a promoter of the London and York Railway, and as he happened to be in the chair during Mr. Strutt's absence, it was more than probable that many re marks would be made. Mr. J. PARKES, who appeared for the opposition, said he would be perfectly satisfied with the Hon. Member's decision on any point, however vital to his (Mr. Parkes's) interest. Mr. BURKE said that he appeared on a petition against the contract deed, but, in consequence of the decision of the Com mittee a few minutes ago in the Direct London and Ports mouth Railway, he would not press his petition. Mr. Coates, assisted by Mr. Baxter, appeared for the pro moters. The witnesses in support of the depositing of plans and sec tions, and books of reference, were then called, and gave their proofs without opposition. Mr. Baxter, examined by Mr. COATIS —This Bill for a line of railway from London to York was brought into the House of Commons last year, by which House it was sanc tioned. It was then taken into the House of Lords, where it was read a first time, and the further consideration post poned till this session, Mr. Jordan, examined by Mr. COATES--lle witnessed the signatures to the contract aced. They were all genuine save one name, which was signed Joseph Nash. That person came to the company's offices, and produced a certificate authorising him to sign the deed. He executed the contract, bat witness suspecting from his manner that there was something wrong, bis suspicions were excited, and he asked Nash if he was the holder of the shares for which he had signed. He answered that he held some, and had parted with a good many. Wit ness was then instructed to make inquiries about the matter, and he subsequently found that Nash had no'interest what ever. but was sent by a stockbroker in the City to impose on the Company for the very purpose of invalidating the deed. Upon this information the Company refused to re • cognise the signature. The shares to that amount were still unrepresented. Mr. John Langdon—Was present when Nash presented himself, and upon a suspicion having been created, Mr. Jor dan was authorised to make inquiries. Mr. COATES—I am prepared to state the name of the firm which employed Nash to impose on the promoters of this Bill. (Here the name was given, but, as it might possibly amount to an action for libel, it is omitted.) The Company, however (said Mr. Coates), I am prepared to prove, have sufficient capital with out the sum of 12,1501., for which Nash bound himself. _ _ Mr. PARKES—I should like to ask the last two witnesses what care was taken to insure the correctness of the other names to the deed. The CHAIRMAN—I think such a question is out of order. All we, as a Standing Order Committee have to do is to see that the standing orders have been complied with. Now in this instance we are of opinion that they have not been complied with; but we shall report that the case was ex plained to us how the Company were imposed on, and their subsequent steps in trying to set it right. We shall also state that the Company have sufficient capital without the amount of Nash. It was not for the Committee to go into the exact circumstances of the case not bearing upon the standing orders—it was sufficient for them to be of opinion that the standing orders in this instance were not complied with. Mr. PART ES—I beg to submit to the Committe that any allegations go against the contract deed. After the decision just given, he could not go into that question, but he would, by permission of the Committee, state the position in which the London and York Railway stood. The Bill was,last session of Parliament, after being read a first time in the House of Lords, referred to a Committee on a petition against the validity of the contract deed. The Committee, after having sat some time, reported to the House that the Bill should not be pro ceeded with till the inquiry should conclude. Now, that Committee will sit again, and, of course, they will sit upon the same contract deed, whereas the contract deed now sub mitted to this Committee is quite a new deed. The CHAIRMAN.—Your case is one which can, no doubt, be entertained in the House of Lords, but here we have nothing to do with anything but that which relates to the standing orders of this House. The standing orders were then declared to have been com plied with. The great battle has yet, however, to be fought. The proceedings of this day were merely of a formal character, for the purpose of obtaining a new contract deed, and in this the promoters have been signally successful. As a proof that the most interesting period to all parties has not arrived, we may point to the absence of the agents for the competing lineQ, though we may as well state that one of the agents for the Direct Northern Railway was present in coy. We may date the commence ment of the campaign from this day—the field has been taken, and the first outpost established. WOLVERSTON, IMILNESS, AND CARLISLE __ ___ _ _____ R &XLWAY. Mr. Burke appeared for the promoters. The Bill was unopposed, and the standing orders were de. Glared to have been complied with. TEE LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHES• TER RAILWAY (WAKEFIELD EXTEN. SION). Mr. Burke appeared for this Company. The Committee declared that the standing orders bad been complied with, saving iu a few instances. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve o'clock to-morrow. Sub-Committee, No. 2. BERES AND HANTS (HUNGERFORD EX. TENSION) RAILWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The next allegation was, that there had been a deposit of the plans in the parish of Erhtoke. Mr. Pturr called for prcpf that Erlstoke was a parish, as stated in the petition. Evidence being given pro and con, The Committee were of opinion that Erlatoke was not of itself a parish. There was a similar allegation respecting the parish of Edrington, which was not sustained, competent evidence not being adduced. The next allegation wa:•', that the notice in the newspapers was insufficient, and calculated to mislead, inasmuch as it comprised two different schemes, the one the Berks and Hants, with the extension from Hungerford to the terminus at Green-bridge, the other diverging from the Great Western at Tiverton, near Bath, to Radstock. Mr. COATES contended that this was clearly of a nature to mislead, and if carried would be of incalculable mischief to th! L parties through whose property lines might pass. Mr. Plurr contended, that witnesses should have been pro duced to sustain his allegation. By an Act of last session! a power was given to the Berks and Hants Railway to incor porate with the Great Western, of which line it was a part and parcel. With reference to the line being brought out under its former name, it was nothing more than what was done by the London and Birmingham Company with refer • ence to the Northampton and Peterborough Railway. The CHAIRMAN said the Committee were of opinion that the standing orders had been complied with in ttie present case, as there was no positive contravention of any stand ing order, and the subject adverted to would become matter for the consideration of the Committee on the Bill. The next allegation w as , that the noti ce was a l so insuffi cient, ina smuc h as it state d t h at t h e C ompany intended to o construct branches w ith ou t d e fi n i n g th em , i ns t ea d o f giving full information to the owners of the property to enable them to ascertain how they would be affected by the railway, and to adopt the necessary steps to protect their interests. The Committee decided (arguments being heard for and against) that the star t ind t o rd ers had been complied with, he notice containing a liament. was requi re d by th e A c t o f P ar - Mr. COATES said the next allegation was, that the notice w as insufficient, becau se , is stated that it (the Great. Western C ompany ) intended tor d aise 850,0001., without stating that they would make any a pplication to Parli amen t to amend the Great Western Act. Mr. Pnrrr said that notices had been given in every parish through which the line would pass that the objection was untenable. The room was cleared, and in about half an hour we were l a dmitted. Th e CHAIRMAN said that the Com m i ttee were of that in this case t he standing orders had not been theeso complied°riinil with, and directed the short-hand writer to read tion to which the Com p an y had arrived, which was asflot lows : " Inasmuch as the notice of application to Parliament t o make a railway commencing from the line of the Berks and Rants Railway to or near the town of Hungerfo r d an d county of Berks, term inatin g b y a junction with the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railivay, does not state the inten tion of the Great Western Railway Company, though sub eemently stated to the owners of the said Berks and Hants Railway, to amend their acts byraising a further sum of money, but a separate notice of the same dates respectively was given by :the Great Western Railway to amend their Act, but yet such last-mentioned notice does not contain the names of the places through which the works are intended to be made." Mr. COATES said, he appeared on the part of other peti tioners, owners of the property through which the line would pass; buthe would not press a great portion of the allegations. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock, till twelve o'clock to-morrow. Sub-Committee No. 3. IBRIGHTON AND CHICHESTER RAILWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The customary formal proofs having been put in, proving the usual deposit of plans, and that the estimated cost of the works was 45,0001., the committee decided that the standing orders bad been complied with. STEYNTNG BUNca. This was another petition of the London and Brighton Company, for leave to bring in a Bill to auth or i se the con struction of a branch from a point on the Bright on and Chi chester line to Steyning, in the county of Sussex. The CWltOrnitry forms ca4l Wig been gon tkrough, THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY ENTE.I-ENG, FEBRUAtti'ir 10, E 846. Committee decided that the standing orders had been com plied with. The estimated cost of the branch is 44,000/., and the aggregate estimated cost of all the works comprised in these London and Brighton Bills is 271,0001. IPSWICH AND BURY ST. EDMUND'S RAIL WAY EXTENSION. This was the petition of the Ipswieh and Bury St. Ed mund's Railway Company, for leave to bring in a Bill to ex tend their line to Norwich, and thus complete an entire chain of uninterrupted railway communication between the metro polis and the city of .Norwich by means of the Eastern Counties line to Colchester, the Eastern Union Extension to Ipswich, the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's to Bury St. Edmund's, and the present extension of the latter line. The three last lines were laid out by Mr. Locke. The estimated cost of the extension was 550,000!., and the length of the line was 31 miles. The Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with. WAVENEY VALLEY AND GREAT YAR MOUTH RAILWAY. This was the petition of the Waveney Valley Railway Company, fur leave to bring in a Bill to authorise the con struction of a railway, of thirty-four miles in length, from Diss to Southdown, West Town, and Little Yarmouth. The line was laid out by Captain Moorsom, who estimated its cost at 419,500/. The Committee took the usual formal proofs, and after wards declared that the standing orders had been complied with.—The Committee then adjourned. (Sub-Committee No. 4.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) -ens= e.CH, ST. YVES, AND CA.NBRIDGE RAILWAY BILL. In respect to this Bill the standing orders were complied with. The length of the line is 274 miles; estimated cost, 260,000/. ; the engineers, Messrs. Stephenson and Borth wick ; agents, Dorrington, Hayward, and Ellicombe. BRISTOL AND SOUTH WALES ILAILVTAT BILL. The standing orders were complied with in respect to this Bill, the object of which is to form a connexion between the South Wales Railway and Bristol. The length cf the line is twelve miles—estimated cost 300,0001. ; the engineer, J. Brunel, Esq. ; Parliamentary agents, Dyson and Co. There was no opposition. LANCASTER AND CARLISLE (EXTENSION TO CALEDONIAN RAILWAY, AND LAN CASTER AND PRESTON 3-UNCTION RAIL WAYS AMALGAMATION) RAILWAY BILL In the matter of this Bill there was no opposition, and the standing orders were complied with. The estimated cost of the extension is 80,000/. Mr. Evrington is the engineer, and Messrs. Burke and Co., the Parliamentary agents. LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHESTER (DEVIATION AND BRANCHES) RAILWAY BILL. The object of this Bill is to make certain deviations from the original line which has already received the sanction of Parlia ment, for the purpose of effecting a junction with the Manchester and Leeds line in the neighbourhood of Dewsbury, and also to forma branch to lloldenclough with other branches. The cost is estimated at about 100,000/. The engineer is Mr. Thomas Grainger, of Endinburgh. The Parliamentary agents are Messrs. Burke, Pritt, and Co. There was no op position, and the standing orders were complied with. TORS AND NORTH MIDLAND (WIDCN ING AND ENLARGEMENT) RAILWAY BILL. There was no opposition to this Bill, in respect to which the standing orders were pronounced to have been complied with. The extent of new railway proposed to be formed is about fifteen miles ; engineer, Mr. Birkenshaw ; agents, Messrs. Burke, Pritt, and Venables. NORTH UNION RAILWAY. The object of this Bill was to effect the amalgamation of the North Union, Grand Junction, and Manchester and Leeds Railway Companies, or rather to authorise the sale o 1 the North Union Line to the other two Companies as amal gamated. The standing orders were complied with. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. COURSE OF EXCH. LNGE.-(THIS DAY.) Gibraltar.. Amsterdam .... —C.F. 12 93 2 Ditto, at sight ...... 12 5% Rotterdam ...... 2U. 12 10 Antwerp. 26 15 lianaburgh ..M.B. 13 14% Altona.•.. Paris, 3 days' sight .. • • 25 75 Ditto, 3 months.. .... 26 Marseilles • ..• • • 26 10 Bourdeaux ........ 26 10 Frankfort on Maine.... 122% Petersbnrgh, 3 C 5.... • • Berlin Vienna, effee .•• • • . 10 10 Trieste, ditto. Madrid ...... • • 36 Cadiz : Leghorn Genoa .. • • • • .. 26 10 Milan .. Venice.. Naples . Palermo, per oz II9•X Lisbon.... ... . 52% Oporto ...... • • Rio Janeiro •• .. - 24% Bahia .. Buenos Ayres ..... New York, 21 days' sight Philadelphia PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ, Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin .. 3 17 5 New Doubloons . 0 n 0 New Dollars Silver in bars .. .. • Bilbao.. • • • • .. • • . • • • • • Barcelona .. • • ...... • • Seville ..... • • • • • • • . THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) BUCKINGHAM PALACE, FEB. 8, 1816. His Royal Highness Prince Albert has been .leased to ap point the Marquis of Abercorn, K.G., to be Groom of the Stole, in the room of the Marquis of Exeter, resigned. FOREIGN OFFICE, FDB. 2. The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Edward Walter Bonham, Esq., to be her Majesty's Consul at Calais. The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Norman Pringle, Esq., to be her Majesty's Consnl at Stockholm. ADMIRALTY, FED. 4. Corps of Royal Marines—Second Lieut. R. F. Tucker to be First Lieutenant, vice Arnold who retires on half-pay. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire. C. G. Fairfax, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; D. Cayley Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, Jan. 31. . . Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Horefordshire. llerefordshire Regiment of Militia—J. J. Walsham, Bart., to be Major, vice Barnaby, M.P., resigned, Feb. 4. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorsetshire. Dorsetshire Regiment of Militia—G. T. Jacob, Esq., to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice J. J. Smith, Esq., promoted, Feb. 6. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk. West Suffolk Militia—W. H. Earl of Euston to be Colonel, vice Duke of Grafton, resigned, Dec. 24, 1845. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent. East Kent Regiment of Militia—J. T. H. Dunn, Gent.,to be Ensign, vice P. J. Darell, resigned, Feb. 5. 'West Kent Regiment of Militia—J. M'Gregor, Gent. to .be Ensign, vice Butcher, resigned, Feb. 5 ; C. A. Abbott, Gent., to be Ensign, vice C. M'Gregor, deceased, Feb. 6 ; F. Thompson, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Monypenny, appointed to the Line, Feb. 7. CROWN-OFFICE, FED. 10. MEMBERS RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIA. MEET. County of Bute—The Honourable James Archibald Stuart Wortley, her Majesty's Judge Advocate General. Borough of Cashel—Timothy O'Brien, of Merrion-square, ih the city of Dublin, Esq., in the room of Joseph Stock,Esq., who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chil tern Hundreds. __ CROWN-OFFICE, FEB. 6. Days and places for holding the Lent Circuits, 1846, viz. WHITE HALE, DEC. 19, 1845. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Thomas Nicks, of the borough of Warwick, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, FEB. 3, 1846. The Lord Chancellor has appointed William Knight, of Tamworth, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. Richard Ensoll, draper, Broad-street, Bloomsbury, to sur render, Feb. 20. at half-past eleven, and March 27, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Bir chin-lane ; Manion and Prichard, Christchurcn-chambers, Newgate-street. John Thomas Pascoe, metal-refiner, High-street, Spital fields, Feb. 27, at half-past one, and March 27, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Birchin lane ; Smith, Finsbury-terrace. Thomas Francis Saunders, brewer, Burton-upon-Trent, Feb. 17, at eleven, and March 20, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Seaman, Pancras lane, Cheapside. William Barrows, Grove-street, Hampstead-road, Feb. 17, and March 18, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings ; Roberts, Bride court, Fleet-street. Joseph Johns, confectioner, Grosvenor-street, Pimlico; Feb. 17, and March 18, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnston, official assignee, Basinghall street, London. James Blyth, grocer, Chelmsford, Feb. 16, at half-past eleven, and March 21, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street ; Heath, Nag's Head-court, Gracechurch-street. Walter Spiers, printer, North Audley-street, Oxford-street, Feb. 19, at one, and March 24, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Old Jewry-cham bers ; Hepburn, Copthall-court. George Goddard, tea-dealer, Leicester, Feb. 19, at twelve, and March 24, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Graham, official assignee, doleman-street, London; Hill and Matthews, St. Mary Axe, London. Samuel Pursell, ironmonger, Strand, Feb. 20, at two, and March 20, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's -place, Old Jewry ; Hughes, Bedford-street, ovent-garden. Stephen Brett and Thomas Tunwell, upholsterers, Char lotte street, Fitzroy-square, Feb. 17, at half-past one, and March 20, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-street; Reed and Landford, Friday-street, Cheapside. Cooper Ewbank, share-broker, Manchester, Feb. 21, and March 19, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hob son, official assignee, Manchester ; Capes and Co., Gray's Inn, London ; Binney, Manchester. William James Dunsford, surgeon, Bristol, Feb. 24, and March 24, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Smith, Bristol. Richard Allerton, wheelwright, Bettle-cum-Linacre, Lan caster, Feb. 27, and March 24, at twelve, at the Liverpocl District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool ; Walker, Furnival's-Inn ; Bradley, Liverpool. George Codrington Nicholls, commission merchant, Upton, Chester, Febseph . 20, and March 13, at half a - t past .e e 2 l ß4 e , v iNra e me n tli , itn. at the vr Liverpool_ Jitokw , s enu t l dn ay, a C yai T o : s u e .3h r ir t ioi nk4 ,e; Br Brown,itr Hartlepool, avr official ote Liverpool. ito‘eti assignee, epo .rha m Liverpool; Newcastle-upon- Tyne eh . 20 at District e II: Court.yaown,b button N ewcastle-upon-Tyne. ermanufacturer,official assignee, Newcastle upon-Tyne; upon-Tyne w Stranc ; Ila ; r1e . c ton-on-Tees ; Wright, New Inn, an l d Vil lll ia a nt rch n 24, at half-past eleven,. official assignee, Birmingham ; District Court. Christie, James, Birmingham. Feb, MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From (From the London New Price Current S U G.II:.—To-day there was little desire m grocers and refiners to purchase! West Indian! Sugar, but the quantity en show being scanty merchants were enable% to obtain former rates. REFINED. —To-day Refined goods were purchased with caution by the home trade, 63s 6d to 64s were the rates taken for Standard Lumps, and 62s to 635 per cwt far Brown Lumps. Bonded crushed Sugar is wanted, and it is difficult to purchase first quality under 34s per cwt. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon rifvuritius Sugar met wito attention, and 7,347 bags 313 caskes at auction were all sold; the sorts under 50s per cwt brought full rates, but those above that price went a little cheaper. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal was in good dethand, and three parcels offered at public sale amounting to 2,889 bags, were sold at full rates. FeßElGN.—Holders of yellow and brown Havannah Su g ar are uot inclined to further reduce their price, put the business transacted by private treaty has been extremely limited, ands at auction 1,509 boxes were taken in rather above the value. MorAssEs.—Prices are firm for all descriptions of West India, and a fair business has been transacted. COFFEE.—This afternoon 413 bags of Bahia Coffee at pub • lic sale were offered, the sound was nearly all taken in rather above the value. For good ordinary native Ceyloe 48s to 49s per cwt are the rates asked, but little business has been transacted. TEA.—To-day a fair business was transacted privately in Tea, but not at better prices. SPICES.—This afternoon Nutmegs were in better request, and at public sale 7 cases were sold on an advance on former rates of 2d to 3d per lb. SPIRITS.—To-day a brisk demand sprung up for Brandy, principally for arrival. Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1842 brought ss. 10d to 6s, and 1844, 4s 4d to 4s 7d per gal -1 lon. In East and West India Rum, only a limited business was transacted, but holders would not take lower rates. RICE.—The demand has been good for cleaned Rice, but no advance in the value has taken place. Madras is wanted. The value of Java is 15s to 17s 6d, but the market is scan tily supplied. Bengal has been in good request, and the parcels sold privately were upon former terms. Om..—There has been a limited business transacted in Olive Gil, although the rates tak en have been rather under those previously quoted. Prices rule firm fur Palm, and a good demand has been experienced. Cocoa Nut is little wanted, and is offered upon lower terms. Linseed Oil has been in extensive request on the spot, and prices are still on the advance. For forward delivery :many contracts have been entered into. Rape Seed Oil: is little] wanted, and the stock is still accumu lating. In Cod a good business has been transacted, but at low rates. For Seal the demand has been only for small parcels, and the :prices are rather lower. In the value of Southern little variation has occurred. Sperm is little wanted. and 761 to 781 is the value of good and fine British. Lard Oil is heavy of disposal at 391 tot 01 per tun. THE EXPRESS EDITION. SUN-OFFICE, Half-past Eight. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his scat on the Wool sack at the usual hour: ASSASSINATIONS IN IRELAND. Lord DUNCANNON gave notice, that on Thursday, he should move for a return of all the murders or at tempts to murder, in Ireland, since the year 1842, as also the amount of the rewards offered for the disco very of these offences since January 1842 ; the nature of each offence ; the number of rewards claimed, and the number of convictions which followed. CORN LAWS. A NOBLE LORD presented a petition from Wigton praying for the repeal of the corn-laws. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented petitions from the counties of Buckingham, York, Monmouth and Brecon, against any change in the present system of protection. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition very nume rously and respectably signed at Birmingham, praying for a reduction of all duty on the importation into this country of copper ore. The petition stated that an im mense quantity of copper ore was imported into this country and was still subject to a large duty, though the duty had been reduced. It also stated that during last year the price of copper had risen 12 per cent, which impeded the work of Vie manufacturers considerably. Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition from Alloa, for the abolition of all protective duties on agriculture, and also one to the samm effect from the county of Forfar. NUNS OF MINSK. The NOBLE EARL proceeded to say, that on a pre vious evening he had given notice to the Noble Lord the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of his intention to ask him a question on a subject which had excited a great sensation throughout all civilised countries. It had been stated that in a state In Europe the most barbarous and savage acts which it was possible to conceive had been committed ; and though it might be questionable how far they were entitled to interfere in the internal relations of other countries, he still thought that an in terference by peaceable means, and peaceable remon strances, with regard to such acts as he was about to call the attention of their Lordships, so far from being at variance with national proprieties,was perfectly justifiable. He alluded to what had especially been brought under their attention lately, and of which they had read and heard much. He referred to Lithuania, where scenes had taken place so incredible, that it was with 'the greatest difficulty they could be led to believe them. He had taken great pains to arrive at the truth of the facts alleged, and the result was that they were too true. He had learned from the most undoubted au thority that that country had witnessed barbarities of a most atrocious character. He would not harrow up their feelings with a description of the horrors and cruelties whieh had been committed in Lithuania on un protected nuns, and persons holding the Roman Catholic Faith. He would be content with stating shortly the leading facts of the case. In 1837 it appeared that the principal of the Roman Ca tholic Church in that district became converted from the Roman Catholic to the Russian or Greek faith, and in consequence he obtained an unlimited power from the Emperor of Russia to use every means for the conversion of the Roman Catholics hitherto under his direction. He made his first attempt at conversion upon the sisterhood of Minsk, and, after obtaining the conversion of the prin cipal or head to his views, proceeded to use his influ ence with the nuns to change their religion. Having failed in his attempt he gave them three months to consider his proposition, at the end of which time he expected them to give an answc r. Fail ing to obey this injunction the principal, at the head of a body of soldiers, seized upon the sisterhood and took them into custody. They were then put to every kind of servile and menial employ ment, and obliged to associate with the lowest dregs of society. After two years' servitude of this kind, from fear that the bishop of their church would influence the people of the town to rise in their favour, they were removed to a neighbouring town, where they were put to labour which no female ought to or could endure. They were obliged to serve the masons engaged in building the palace, and so hard was the labour that eight of them died at the work, and three others immediately after. The cruelties inflicted on them were such as to make their Lordships' blood shud der. They were given salted herrings with the object of increasing their thirst, and denied a cup of water to quench it, while they fed on alternate days uponbread and water. They were brought to the lowest possible state, and then when they would not abandon their religion, they were made to receive fifty lashes twice a week. Under this treatment several of them died. Not only were they made to suffer this treatment, but were sub jected to other treatment which he could not name. He did think that a worse spirit was never evinced by the most ruthless of the Roman emperors, or that acts more horrible were ever committed by them. There were four brought forth and placed under a flow of water until the water was congealed, and kept there until they were frozen to death. These facts appear so marvellous that some think such barbarities could not be committed by a civilised people. Such cruelties do indeed appear almost incredible, but he (Lord Kennaird) was much afraid that the statements which he was making were too true. They were forced to drink salt water, and out of eighteen eleven only survived this treatment. He did feel Very anxious on this subject, as there had been assertions made against the Emperor of Russia, and as this Government were on amicable terms with that sovereign, he hoped an inquiry would be instituted into the affair. He was sure it would not be considered that this Government were improperly, or for a hostile reason, interfering in this matter, but that it was interfering for a humane purpose. The cause of charity ought to induce their Lordships to make an en deavour to mitigate the sufferings of these unfortunate nuns. The question he would ask of the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs was, whether he had received any information on the subject, or would he have any objection that some information should be procured on the subject. He was sure it could not be considered a hostile inquiry by the Emperor of Russia, or that it was created by any hostile feeling. Lord ABERDEEN said that he had read, in common with others the reports in question, and he could not say whether they were correct or not, as he had not received any information from her Majesty's Envoy about the transaction. He had no further knowledge of this subject than what he now stated ; but he could not believe that the ac counts that had been received of this transaction could in any degree be relied on. No doubt reli gious persecution of any sort was greatly to be deplored ; but the barbarites enumerated by the Noble Lord, he (Lord Aberdeen) really did not think could have been perpetrated. The difference between the Greek form of worship and the Roman Catholic was, that one acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope, and the other did not, but there was no difference in doctrinal points. When the Emperor of Russia was in Rome recently, the Pope asked him if those statements were correct, and the Emperor assured him that he had no knowledge of them whatever, but they should be rigidly inquired into immediately, and if found to be correct, the perpetrators should be visited with the severest punishment. And this course he (Lord A.) thought would be better then any attempt of this Go vernment to interfere in the matter.—(Hear, hear.) RAILWAY INVESTMENTS. Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he would move for a return of all the moneys that had been paid into the account of the Accountant General on account of railway property to be brought before Parilament this session. CORN-LAWS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from a place in the county of Southampton, praying that no alteration would be made in the existing corn-laws. The petitioners stated that it was the confidence they had in the protection afforded to the agricultural produce of this country that had induced them to invest their capital in extensive improvements, the loss of which they appre hended in the event of the removal of that protection. LOCAL TAXATIO t N. gßinhiUs name o m N e T en said the i paperht a trheelarteirewtaos thea notice standing EA rdens on land. He begged to state that he would, on Monday next, move that the House resolve itself into Committee on the subject. THE HIGH CONSTABLE (SCOTLAND), AND TURNPIKE (SCOTLAND) BILL.) The House then resolved itself into Committee on those Bills, when the several clauses were read and pissed without discussion. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that Tuesday, . ril 21, should be the last day for receiving petitions on private Bills, and that Tuesday, June 18, should be the last day for receiving the reports of the judges.— Agreed to. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes before Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. MY. JAMES STUART WORTLEY, who has recently been appointed Judge Advocate-General, took the oaths and his seat :for the county of Bute, for which place he has been re-elected. YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY. Mr. HUDSON brought in the York and North Mid land (with extensions) Railway Bill, which was read a first time. Mr. W. BATTEN brought in the Preston and Black burn Railway Bill, which was also read a fast time. CORN -LAWS. Mr. DAWSON presented a petition from the in habitants of Knaresborough, expressing their disappro bation of the free trade measures of the Government. The Hon. Member also presented a petition from the inhabitants of the North Riding of Yorkshire against any alteration in the existing corn- laws. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET presented peti tions from sixteen parishes in the county of Kent against any alterations in the corn-laws. Sir JOINT EASTHOPE presented a petition, signed by 50,000 of the inhabitants of Leicester, in favour of the repeal of the corn-laws ; and also petitions from several parishes in the neighbourhood of Leicester to the same effect. . Mr. BERKELEY presented a petition from the city of Bristol, signed by 17,981 persons of a ll ranks,•in which they express their satisfaction at the free-trade measures proposed by her Majesty's Gov ernment , b u t wishing for a total and immediate repeal of the corn laws. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented a petition from the West Riding of Yorkshire, praying that the Ten Hours' Bill might pass into law. Mr. HUDSON presented a petition from the county of Sunderland, praying for a total and immediate repeal of the corn- laws. Mr. BANKES presented a petition from the county of Dorset, in favour of the Ten Hours' Factory Bill. An HoN. MEMBER presented twenty-nine petitions from parishes in Berkshire, praying that no abolition of protection to agriculture should take place. Another HON. MEMBER presented a petition from Manchester, in favour of the Ten Hours' Labour Bill. And also petitions of a similar nature, from factory dis tricts in Lancashire. Lord RENDLESIIAM presented 124 petitions in fa vour of agricultural protection from districts in Suffolk. Mr. HUME presented seven petitions in favour of the present measure of her Majesty's Government ; one being from Montrose, and signed by the bankers, mer chants, and other inhabitants ; another from Arbroath ; another from Kerriemuir, signed by 1,160 of the inha bitants ; another from the linen manufacturers of Kerriemuir, who stated that they desired no protection themselves, and, therefore, protested against any pro tection being extended to other interests ; another was from the farmers of Kerriemuir, praying the House to abolish the corn-laws, for they wanted no paotection to agriculture. Mr. MITCHELL presented a petition, numerously signed, praying for a total repeal of the corn-laws. Colonel RICHARDSON presented two petitions from South Cheshire, deprecating the present measure of the Government. THE MILITIA. Sir J. Y. BULLER presenTed --- a petition from the inhabitants of Stale 3 bridge praying the House to take no steps for the enrolment of the militia. CORN-LAWS. Mr. FOX MAULE presented a petition from the in habitants of Aberdeen approving of the present measures of her Majesty's Government, and praying for a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. Mr. FERRAND presented petitions from Bradford and several other places in Yorkshire praying for pro tection to labour by passing the ten hours' factory Bill. Mr. ESCOTT presented a petition from Broadway, Somersetshire, approving of the measures of her Ma jesty's Government respecting corn. Lord J. RUSSELL presented a petition from the in habitants of London, signed by 64,000 persons, praying for a:total and immedialer epeal of the corn laws, and in favour of free-trade generally. NEW WRIT. Mr. YOUNG moved for a writ for the city o Westminster, in the room of Captain Rous—(licar)— who had accepted the office of a Lord of the Ad• miralty.—(Great Laughter.) Colonel SIBTRORY moved ifor a return of all per sons who held Government situations of over 500/. a year, since the year ninety-five.—(Much laughter.) CORN LAWS. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from Gainsborough, from several parishes in Yorkshire, from Hawick, in Scotland, from Nutsford, Darlington, and a number of other places, praying for a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. INDIAN CORN. Mr. F. FRENCH asked the Chancellor of the Ex chequer at what port in Ireland it was intended to dis embark the Indian corn, which he understood the Go vernment had in their possession? He would also ask the Secretary of State whether there was any truth in the reports which had been circulated in some of the Irish newspapers, to the effect that the Poor-law Commissioners had taken upon themselves to exercise a power vested in them, and had dismissed the guardians of two poor•law unions in Ireland. . Sir J. GRAHAM had not had an opportunity o making the proper inquiry upon the subject. PUBLIC WORKS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to a question put to him by an Hon. Member, stated that the amount applicable to the purposes of public works was 300,0001. for Great Britain. Upon this sum a demand might be made in aid of the public works in Ireland. But, independent of that sum, there was placed under the management of the Board of Works (Ireland) a fur ther sum of 60,000/. There was also the sum • of 57,000/. remaining in hand, applicable to public works in Ireland. THE TARIFFS OF THE BRITISH COLONIES. Mr. HUME moved that an humble address be pre sented to her Majesty, that she will be pleased to direct copies of the existing tariffs and commercial regulations of each of the British colonies and possessions to be laid before this House, in the same manner as the tariffs and commercial regulations of Europe and America have been laid before the House. That there be laid before this House copies of the existing tariffs and com mercial regulations of British India and the depen dencies thereof, on exports and imports, in the same meaner as those laid qefore the House of the European and American States. It was highly important that the House should be in possession of this information in order that they might perceive how great a burden the colonies were to this country, and that they might take measures to relieve themselves of much of the expense. Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion, but he could not do so without bearing his testimony to the great talent which these returns evinced in their compiler, who he believed was Mr. M‘Greggor, of the Board of Trade. Lord SEYMOUR was understood to differ from the Hon. Member for Bolton. The returns in his opinion were dull romances, and full of inaccuracies. Sir G. CLERK could only say that if the Noble Lord would point out the inaccuracies, ho would take care to have them corrected. Mr. HUME denied that the returns were dull ro mances, and declared that they were of great service to the country. Lord SEMOUR as we understood) expressed his dis sent from the Hon. Member for Montrose. Mr. HUME rose to explain. He said that it would be very unfair to reject ten or twelve documents because there might be an error in one of them. Mr. AGLIONBY concurred with this remark. He thought it was hard to attack the documents in that man ner. If there were any serious doubts as to their correctness they ought to be referred to a Select Committee. He felt great pleasure in finding this motion More the House, and in finding that it had been seconded. He was glad to see Hon. Members turning their attention to the affairs of our colonies, ►which had beon too lung neg lected. Government had not turn©d sufficient attention to their commercial interest, and that was the reason why they had always been a burthen to the mother country.—(Hear.) He was convinced that if a proper course were adopted with regard to our colonies, they would become an assistance instead of a burden. Sir G GREY said that if these documents contained valuable information, he thought that the members had not sufficient access to them; and he would, therefore, propose that they should be referred to the consideration of the Printing Committee, with a view to their grater dissemination. After a few remarks from Sir R. 11. INGLIS, COURT OF APPEAL IN CRIMINAL CASES. Mr. EWART wished to put a question to the Solici tor-General or the Secretary for the Home Department. On a former occasionn the Hon. and Learned Solicitor • General had brought in a Bill to give a court of appeal in criminal cases in this country. He begged to ask whether it was the intention of the Government to remedy the defect at present existing with respect to the want of a Court of Appeal in criminal cases. Sir JAMES GRAHAM was understood to say that it was the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to give a power of appeal in certain criminal cases. INDIA. . . Mr. HUME rose to move for certain returns con nected with the affairs of India. Ho thought that the necessity for giving that information was sufficiently ap parent, and he would therefore throw out the suggestion that those reports ought to be printed. During the last ten years he had always entertained that opinion, and he trusted that the Government would adopt that sug gestion, as it was likely to conduce to the general benefit. He would therefore suggest the propriety of printing those reports which bad any concern with Indian affairs. THE CORN-LAWS. Lord EBRINGTON and Mr. lIINDLEY presented petitions against the repe'al of the corn-laws.. On the montion being pnt for the resumption of the adjourned debate, Mr. S. O'BRIEN said, that in resuming this debate, he could not help feeling that, in the consideration of this subject there had been a great disregard of the interests of the commonalty, and that before the repeal of the corn-laws, the Ministers ought to have consulted the farmers respecting the mannner in which that repeal was likely to affect them. Whether such may be the general opinion he did not take on himself to say, neither would he express any opinion of his own on the subject. However, in refe rence to the question he should say that, whatever might be urged against the Right Hon. Baronet at the hew o her Majesty's Goyeranient, he (Ur. O'Brien> had nothing to retract or explain.—(Hear.) He had not changed his opinion and what he stated before he was then prepared to state again.—(" Hear, hear," from the Ministerial benches.) A Noble Lord who spoke last night had not only felt it his duty to announce an alteration in his opinions, in reference to the present great ques tion, but also to deliver himself of a sentence, upon which, as it is formed the salient point of the Noble Lord's speech, he hoped to be permitted to comment. The purport of the sentence was, that the law of 1815 was the greatest error ever committed.—(Hear, hear.) That might be the case ; but he turned to that side of the House, and begged to ask who the parties were that urged the landed interest of the country not to explain or retract, but to persevere in and maintain an oppo sition to that law ?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government says he has given an opportunity to Hon. Members to retract their opinions as regarded that measure. He felt much obliged to the Right Hoe. Gentleman ; but he should say that opportunities were not wanted, as the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton had given ample opportunity year after year.—(Hear, and a laugh.) That brought him to another part of the question. His Right Hon, Friend (the Premier) had said, that "if he had changed his opinions and not declared such, he should be ashamed of himself." Now he (Mr. O'Brien) should be ashamed of him also. But he wished to know on what principle parties in this country country could in future be kept together ? It might be said that that was an old story, and that they were attacking the Pre mier and making speeches in a had cause. He found that this country had hitherto been governed party; and it might be considered to be absolute preju dice, but he was not ashamed to own himself a party man.—(Hear, hear.) It had hitherto been the custom of this country to believe that a discussion of ques tions upon party principles was advisable. That a rigid adherence to those principles was on the whole, with all its imperfections and all its anomalies, the better way of eliciting the truth, and conduced to a sound legislation.—(Hear, hear.) But he might observe that not only had this Government changed its princi• pies since it came into office—(hear, hear), but it had practically declared that it would be bound by no strict principles whatever.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. S. O'Brien) was not in the House before the present Government came into office ; the first vote which he ever gave was to place them in their present position. Bnt he could only say say, that having laboured in behalf of his country, he could undertake to say, that if ever an op position was conducted upon party principles, that oppo sition was that which was marshalled, headed, and led by the Right lion. Baronet at the head of the Govern ment.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The disappoint ment was too bitter.—(llear. hear.) The subject of his conduct was one which was far too annoying, or else he would enter into it willingness. But he did not wish to giee personal offence to his friends the officers of the Government, otherwise he would subject the mu pants of the cabinet to the reprobation of the House.— (biear, hear.) The Right lion. Gentleman had said— and that he thought was the sum and substsnce of his speech—that inasmuch as the law had failed in the year 1842, he should, therefore, entirely aban don those principles on which he had come tato office. The Right Honourable Gentleman said that the law had failed in 1842, and the word " failure" might be under stood in two ways. He would wish to call to the recol lection of his Right Hon. Friend what he s a id to the farmers of Wiltshire, in February, 1845,—(Hear, hear,) —when he made the announcement that he had become a convert of free trade. He would wish to ask whether, if the law failed in 1842, the Sidney Herbert of that year would have corresponded with the Sidney Herbert of this ?—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He would also wish to ask him, if it was possible for any ingenuity in human nature to concoct a law which would answer both those gentlemen ?—(Great laughter.) His Right Hon. Friend in 1845 would find that law failed for the letting in of corn freely—his Right Hon. Friend in 1846 would find that the corn law tailed in the re striction of the free importation of corn—therefore, highly as he thought of the legislative powers of his chief, and sincerely as he might. believe that he was capable of effecting anything (and certainly the House had seen that he was capable of effecting great things.) Still that Right Hon. Gentleman asked of him too much, if he expected that the law of 1842 could succeed in pleasing gentlemen of both sides of the House. But the question of averages was all that disappointed the ex pectations of his Right Hon. Friend, Fre could not see the cause of that. His Right Hon. Friend might re member, that even if he were obliged by this failure to give up the question of the sliding scale, there was a fixed duty for him to fall back upon.—(Laughter.) He conceived that the argum nt of the Right Honourable Baronet, viz., that be cause the sliding scale, had failed in one Act of three years, was not a good one; it was not in his opinion a sufficient reason to induce him to give up, not only his favourite-measure, but even the principles of all his life. His Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Sidney Herbert) had said that this was not a question of delegation. He (Mr. S. O'Brien) should say it was not a question of delegation, but the Members of that House were the representatives of the people, and when they voted against the interests constituents, then they betaayed those interests, and were unfit either to be delegates or representatives. It was not merely a question of impost which seut this House before tee country, and it was not merely a ques tion of impost which placed the Right Hon. Gentleman on the Treasury benches. He would not attempt to treat this question as a trifling one. He would not treat this question in that light manner that the Right Hon. Gentleman who had spoken last had attempted to treat it. It was a question of the greatest importance to the agricultural interests of this country. The Right ' Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government had said said that the great potato fairure in Ireland had almost led him to throw open the ports. He (Mr. Stafford O'Brien) did not underrate those evils, he knew they did exist, and he was glad to find that the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork, intended to bring forward the evils pending that failure in Ireland the following day. But ,he thought her Majesty's Ministers would have done better by throwing open the ports temporarily for a temporary relief, than to adopt the present measure. How had the free trade question been received in Ireland. The gentleman who stood next to Mr. O'Connell in that country had re probated the measure; he said plainly that a re peal of the corn-laws would work great evil to the farmers of that country, and would but add to the distress which now threatened her. He was in England when ho was called back again by the dreadful accounts which he received of the progress of the potato° disease, and he would tell the House that those accounts were so far correct, that if the disease bad progressed as it had commenced, there would not have been a single vegetable in Ireland at the present moment. On my return, I found the dis ease rather mending, but it has again commenced, either from the late wet weather or some other mysterious arrangement of Providence. Ho assured them that there never was a country which called for more urgent measures than Ireland, and he firmly believed, there never was a Government more anxious than the present for the welfare of that country. But he should tell the Right Honourable Member for Oxford, that the famine in Ireland re quired more more immediate for its alleviation, and he did not see how, if he would pass his Bill, Ireland would be benefited by it one single quarter of wheat.—(Cheers.) My Hon. Friend observed that when he looked round Wiltshire, he was surprised how the poor people could exist there. All he could say was, the he generally found that the poverty of the agricultu ral districts was greatly to bs attributed to the landlords. When they found wretched cottages, and women and children half-clothed, they were naturally led to inquire the name of the owner of the soil.—(Hear, hear.) He had conversed with some Wiltshire farmers that morn ing, who bore him out in the statements he had made, and he would do him the justice to say they believed him to be conscientious in his opinions. But he (Mr. S. Herbert) had totally failed in the case which he had brought fie ward to show the necessity of a repeal of the corn-laws in order to remedy the evils under which the country was labouring, which was simply only saying that em ployment and the wages of employment tended to the happiness of the labourer, but if he had followed up his argument, and really show that a repeal of the corn laws, and an extensive cultivation of poor soil would effect all this, he would have made his arguments com plete. He would have given an argument in favor of the repeal of the corn-laws, which had never yet been argued. —Cheers.)—But if the Hon. Gentleman had visited Northamptonshire, the county which he (Mr. S. O'Brien) had the honour to represent, where the la bourers received wages amounting to 13s. or 148. a week, he would find that the people were not in the abject state be had represented. If he would go and visit that part of the county with which he was connected, he should be able to show him well built cottages and a state of comfort which would satisfy him that a repeal of the corn-laws was not so much required. He should, in the course of their ramble together, be able to show him cold clay lands of such a nature as even to affect the intellects ofithose engaged in their cultivation—(Hear) and, ho might add, that the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London, in his address, looked to the Member for Northamptonshire when he talked of the advantages which the landed proprietors of that county would derive from a relaxation of the duties on corn and other articles of commerce. The address laid down three propositions for meeting the wants of the country at the present moment, the long and short of which was, that British industry required no pro tection ; and in the latter part of his speech he said that protection was neither wanted by the agriculturist or by the manufacturer, and would leave their protection to the energies of the country. It was not treating him improperly if he (Mr. S. O'Brien) assumed that this principle had been publicly — enunciated. The Noble Lord assumed that these propositions were true, because all political economists were of the same opinion. Notwithstanding the charge of their having old-fash ioned prejudices and clay intellects, he for one dis sented from those propositions, and he said, that even if allpolitical economists were agreed in this manner, there would still be higher considerations on the settle ment of the question. Honourable Members on the other side of the House were very apt to confound the science of .political economy with the science oflegislation. His own notion of political economy was, that it was science which treated of the amassing and distribution of wealth, and if the science of legis lation consisted of the amassing and distribution of wealth, then he should say that both political economy and legislation were synonimous terms.—(Hear, hear.) He, however, took a higher standing ; he said that the distribution and accumulation of wealth was only one element in the science of legis lation, but even if both the science of le gislation and political economy consisted only of the accumulstion and distribution of wealth, it was not sufficient to prove the case-'of' the Right Hon. Baronet. --(Cheers.) . The Noble Lord the Member for the City of London had sneeringly declared that agricul tural protection societies were established solely fur the purpose of opposing the Anti-Corn-law League. Now, he denied that these agricultural societies had been recently formed, and so far from their object being the overthrow of the Anti-Corn-law League, he believed they were established for the promotion and improvement of agriculture.—(Hear, hear.) Honour able Members were too much accustomed to throwing out taunts in reference to these protection societies, but on a future occasion he might find it eonvpnient to enter into their history, and he would say now that there was nothing in them he was ashamed of.—(llear, hear.) It was said that labour was the property- of the poor man, he did not know whether it was right to call things by their wrong names, but the Noble Lord the Member for Lancashire called the agriculturist a manufacturer, and upon the same principle labour was called the property of the poor man, and this definition of one of the Right Hon, Baronet's dogmas went forth to the world. But they ought not to stop there. It would not do for them to meet six months every year fur the protection of their own property, and at the same time to tell the poor man that labour was his property, bqt his property was not to be protected. The poor man would not understand such a system ; the poor man would say that they met to protect their own property, and the conclusion he would come to was, that the property of the poor man must be left to take care of itself. The question of protection was a very unfortunate one to emanate from a legislation who some years ago boasted of the extent to vi hich they could avail them selves of the labcur of children. That legislation now found the labour of the poor a difficult thing to deal with. They had resorted to the most discreditable methods to protect property. Treatise upon treatise had been written on the subject, and the decision they came to at leap th was that they should let it alone. He did not speak of the shop keeper, but of the man who had amassed money, and who, the moment he found himself in pos session of it, found it his interest to be a convert to the system of buying in the cheapest market and selling in the dearest one. He would take the case of the duties lately spoken of by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, because they would serve as au il lustration, and because they were fresher in the memo ries of the Members of that House. Supposing that he had been in the cheapest market, he could furnish his house with splendid French paper or silk hanging, and could ride abroad in a foreign carriage. He could look out of the window of his smart house, and drive abroad in his foreign car riage, and he would see a number of-labourers standing idle. Me might ask them what they were, and the reply would be, that they were perhaps English paper-stainers, hardware-manufacturers from Birmingham, and coach makers. He might then say—" My good fellows, I have done my best to make you idle, but not from any selfish motive, for on the 27th of January, 1846, the Government proposed the withdrawal of the pro tective duties, and that proposition was received with cheers by all political economists, in order that their doctrines might have fair play."—(Hear, hear.) Would any man say that the feeling in the hearts of the people would be one of reverence or attachment to our institutions in such a case they had that prctanto, for the feeling would be decidedly against the Government. When they took into consideration the number of persons so employed, whose employment would be taken away by the want of protection, they must consider how much their ancestors had laboured to give them that protection ; they would see that the way to benefit the poor was to protect them against foreign competi tion, and against the madness cf themselves. In this House they were all rich men—(Great laughter)—at least he assumed the fact, and such Hon. Members as were not, might laugh at the notion.—(Laughter.) But one thing was quite certain, and that was that they all had had a breakfast that morning, and they all expected to have a dinner that evening—(Laughter)—and they might rest assured that such is the position in which they would be held by their poorer fellow-creatures ; and, therefore, he was right when he asserted that they in this House were rich, while the classes he al-* luded to outside were poor. Well, now it would go forth to-night to those classes, that in this House the question propounded was not corn against cot ton, but the question of buying in the cheapest market and selling in the dearest, and therefore he would ask them why they taxed the poor ? He was net now argu ing against the poor-law, but he was contending against this House attempting to propound a harsh and imprac ticable dogma, which would look odious in the eyes of the poor.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") He had never stood up in this House as the 'champion of exces sive duties, or to contend that no alteration should be made in the corn-laws, but he 'was contend ing that the Government was enunciating a dogma which the poor people could not understand. There was another reason why he objected that this dogma should be promulgated here, and that was that this assembly was no longer the representatives of the poor man, for that had been done away with by the passing of the Reform Bill. Adam Smith had made two exceptions where other considerations might enter besides political economy. But there were so many other exceptions in addition, that it would be extremely unwise and unsound to propound such a rule, and extremely dangerous to act upon it. Ho thought that one of those cases was agriculture.—(Hear, hear.) He would not then go into the question of the corn-laws, as he had so frequently expressed his opinions on them; but he considered, that if there was a calling which, more than another, had peculiar claims on protection—which contributed to the health, longevity, and morals of the community—that calling was agriculture.—(Loud cheers.) He protested against any change being made under such a complex state of things which existed in this country. He must say that he had been engaged in studying the state of the question during the last four years in all its bearings, and he could not find anything to materially alter the opinions which he had formed on the subject. One change, however, had come over his mind ; he began by believing it a landlord question, and he was of opinion that the effect of a sudden repeal would be to throw large quantities of land into the market, and consequently the priceiwould be greatly deteriorated.—(Hear, hear.) From all that he had read and seen he could not but consider that this question was a question of the small landed proprietors, not of the large landed proprietors, they are able to weather the storm.—(Hear, hear.) It is a question of the small landed proprietors, who, upon the faith of previous legis lation, have burdened their estates to nearly the full value for the sake of effecting improfements on their lands.—(Hear.) He believed the present was essentially a farmers' question, and it was upon this ground that be took his stand; and because he thus considered it a far mers' question he refused to consent to any changes which would bring in their train nothing but distress and misery. —(Hear, hear.) Now suppose the case of a tenant farmer, and he would give an illustration, because he considered that would have more might than mere abstract arguments. Suppose, then, in this case, the prices to be rather low, arising from a large importation of grain or some other cause. The tenant Farmer comes to the landlord, he says to him, " I hope you will allow some abatement in the rent. I have expended large. sums in draining and fencing, my family have held under you for several generations, we have weathered together many hard, difficult, and stormy seasons. I have worn your colours, and I should be sorry to leave the spot where I and my family have lived so long to seek a home elsewhere."—(Hear, hear.) The landlord says to him, " My good fellow I am sorry for you, you have invested your money in drains and fences, you invested that money on the faith of my as surances, and I have made those assurances, and invested my capital on the faith of the legislature.—(Hear, hear.) We are now told that we are to buy in the cheapest, and sell in the dearest markets.—(Hear, hear.) There is a gentleman, a manufacturer in this district, ready to invest his capital in your farm. I must now look to• my lean family arrangements, I am sorry I can do nothing for you.—(Hear, hear.) You look back at the feudal times, those times we are now told are old and exploded notions—(llear, hear)—and as for colours God bless you, my good fellow, there is no such thing as true blue now."—(Prolonged cheering.) The tenant farmer then goes away from his land, the manufacturer with his immense capital comes in, and by the application of that capital, the land, which before yielded but three-quarters then, yields six quarters, and the great increase of the produce will then be used as a set off to the injurious effects of a large importation of foreign corn.—(Hear, hear.) A few months ago a farmer mentioned a circumstance to him, the relation of which would help to explain this question better than anything be could say. A farmer went to his landlord and stated that be had just had a large fortune left him ; his landlord advised him to leave the cold, clayey ground which he then held, and invest his capital in some good ground, and make bis fortune. He said " the graves of four generations—of my father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grand father are in,this neighbourhoon ; and I have worked that farm, and I will stick to it."--(Hear, bear.) There were hundreds of thousands of men like that man, who had not fortunes in their pockets, but who had the same hearts in their bosoms, whom now they were driv ing forth by their legislation with broken hearts, and whose bitterest recollection—whose bitterest association, would be with the name of Cobden.—(Hear, hear.) We, continued the Honourable Gentleman, will not aid you, Sir, in your triumph over these poor nun. We do not envy a triumph in which we do not parti cipate, and though we are small in number, and may be uuinfluential in debate, we will raise our voices against the injustice that is proposed. You are now preparing a triumph against a body of men who are petitioning that table in vain ; and who see ruin staring them in the face ; who hate been moderate in prosperity and patient in adversity ; whose virtue and whose mis fortune is, that they are poor, and, as I said before, whose fatal fault was, having trusted you.—(Cheers.) You are prepared to triumph over them, for I will give it no more milder term—s ou are prepared to triumph over them by a strange coalition with men who, true to their principles—(Loud cheers)—can neither welcome you as friends, nor respect you as opponents.—(Voci ferous cheering.) Of whom, I may say in conclusion, that the b: st and most patriotic amongst them will least rejoice in the ruin and the down fal of a great constitu tional par y, and will most deplore the loss of public con fidence in public men.—(The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst the most boisterous cheering from his own party.) Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD rose to address the House, but was some time inaudible oh account of Mem bers leaving. He said that the whole argument of the Honourable Gentleman who had just sat down was that the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Government was a traitor. The Honourable Gentleman professed great regard for the working classes, for whom he professed protection was required. He (Mr. Sharman Crawford) eould not understand the Hon. Member asking the House to continue protection w 1419 they refused cheap food to the working olasses. Cheap food was the foundation o' national prosperity and protectionwasinjurious,because it enhanced the price of the necessaries of life. He thought the arguments heretofore used in the debate tended to confuse the question, the main points of which were exceedingly simple. The agricultural body demanded that the nation should pur chase its food at their market price, but would they consent to proffer to the working classes wages equivalent to the prices they sought to obtain. They had never yet done so. Were they prepared to do so now? Yet this seemed an es sential element in the case. Could they engage that all the working classes should have their wages made com mensurate to the price they wished to keep agricultural produce at? By the old poor-law wages were raised in proportion to the price of food, but the new peer law had done away with that. It was not so now. In the election of 1841, two points were raised, in order to return a majority to that House. One was the per petuation.of protection to the agricultural interest, and the other the restoration of the old poor-law; the latter especially was much dwelt on as an electioneering cry against the Whigs, who were charged with the odium of that measure. Had the pledge then given been fulfilled? No; they had kept up prices by the corn-laws, and yet had done nothing to mitigate the evils - of the new poor-law He was more particularly anxious to address the !louse on that occasion, on account of the question of Ireland having been raised. It was raised by the Hon. Member who spoke last and many other Hon. Members who preceded him. He must acknowledge tat he disagreed with the great majority of Irish landlords on this question, and so far from his thinking that agricultural protection was a benefit to Ireland, it hail, in his opinion, proved a curse to that country.-- (Hear, hear.) It was used as an argument in favour of the continuance of the corn-laws in England, that England had been in a prosperous state ever since their exist ence ; but this argument could not, at, all events, be applied to Ireland, for ever since the corn-laws had been extended to that unfortunate count*: nothing but misery had prevailed there.—(Hear, hears) He thought that this measure was a matter of deep cell; cern to the whole of the Irish community. He had had great hopes of the results which might arise from the Commission under the Earl of Devon. B ut he was disappointed, for he found that that Cour mission had a reference only to the interests of the landlords, and had no reference whatever to the condition of the tenantry of Ireland. It was evident from the report of that Commission that the condition of the tenantry was wretched in the extreme. Now, by A an inquiry into the relations between l a ndlord and tenant, he found that there was a decided advantage o n the side of the proprietor of the soil—a remarkable advsr tage, for he gave a singular evidence of the relation between landlord and tenant, and of the advantages which were likely to arise to both in consequence of their s everal positions. By that return it appeared that the whole of the benefit derived from the soil of 'Mol d s was not more than 14s. 2d. per acre, and tha t the gross revenue of the country from tha t source was not more than 6,000,000 L per annute , whereas it was known that although the soil of BIT land was not more than that of Ireland, that at least 40,000,0001. per annum were realised. There was a part of Ireland in which the protection of agricultur e was not considered to be of any benefit to those COw cerned in agriculture—he meant Ennisfail. Agricultu re and manufactures were then in a perfect union, and th e people were prosperous and happy—every class of society was in the enjoyment of the comforts of life. For his own part, he dreaded not the repeal of the corn-lag' he dreaded not the lowering of the price of food. • J"' did not believe that the repeal of the corn-lsw e i would damage the iuterests of the agriculturists. 111 fact, he was perfectly convinced that the lowering of t h i e price of food would increase the profits of the turist, and that that increase would be followed by We creased emphsyment; and the general prosperity of w e people of this kingdom would follow in such a manner as could not be created by the main tenance of protection to agriculture. He wished to see Ireland cease to be a land in which agricultu re was peotected, and he wished to see Ireland depending on her agricultural produce as well as her manufacture It was said that the corn-laws opened a market for b"' agricultural produce in England and other countries , 5 but of what benefit were such markets to the agriccil turists of Irelandl?—(Hear, hear.) He admitted O a agricu vast quantities of food were sent from Ireland to flg' land, the purchase of which cost the English millio ns of money. But did Ireland benefit by such oleo ~ The exports of the provisions from Ireisc er instead of having conduced to her w ea l t h, h a d led to her 0 wretche .ness and misery. Those e x p o rts we re not exportcof her superfluitios ; they we re the ex ports of s . means of existence ; they were the exports of t he , things which the people should ha ve t o su pport r; istence and a comfortable life ; they w ere t a k en from le comforts, and they did not therefore benefit the POP, of Ireland. The poor in that country were at the P7 O sent moment suffering under privations which no ic e d, could at all conceive, and that fact, he subn 3 it t of was a proof of the justice and correctnes s ;„ his position. It was found that the number of sera i l: England were not sufficient for the relief of her inh se ' tants, and yet from Ireland, the acres of which were P2e„ h portionately far less, they annually exported most !'". e rnense quantities of i provisions. They were thetherer exporting the life and blood and substance of . lo people of Ireland. The injury done to the Pr n r c h of Ireland by this means was incalculable. P s ' aro a system produced the most barbarous ey and assassinations in various parts of Ireland. •-"" t fell into those horrid crimes because they were with ° ,l employment, and deprived of the means of esee feel— Such were some of the effects of agricultural protectiot When they go to Ireland, what do they find? Th s „ e • l find the people, except where those murders 0 1,: ef agrarian nature took place, obedient to the laws- f:. 00 find the landlords living among their tenantry in F — the and in security; and if the landlords of Ireland gave 1 00 system of agricultural protection, and turned thoughts and energies on the development of the coutio4 those crimes which he alluded to would be heard of me more. Nothing would promote the happiness and ° he fort of thepeople so much as cheap corn, and, therefore , was most anxious to see the tax on that neces sary article of human food totally abolished. There was o io other great fault committed by the ruler s of Rebate , t p not doing something to enable the people re get a better description of food. TheY t ee , now compelled to subsist on the potato, which is o f one of the lowest articles amongst all descriptions by vegetable diet. But if they once made corn che a p 10 removing all restrictions on that article, the s_s would be enabled to procure it, and thus se c t o r for themselves a proper description of food , o e they could then command the corn die -0 The potato was an article of food liable, from vis rl o s• causes, to pericdical injury, and he was therefore : ious that a subszitate should be provided for iv ies . the abolition of the corn-laws. If the landlords of land, by a repeal of the corn-laws, were forced to s i. a. other means for increasing t' eir incomes than that " land afforded, it would be better both for themselvesilsk for their tenantry.—(Hear.) They could also, by c .l e r , vating and; improving their land, increase to a 0)0 51 t he able extent their present incomes. --(Hear.) In sae greater part of Iceland land at p resent i s no t more t half cultivated, and he was certain if the t el ls() ere induc; d to improve the farms, the pro it might be double that which it at present s r He (Mr. Sharman Crawford) would not refer to P o i ticular cases, but would address hi m s e lf to the ge e n o condition of the people of Ireland. There wa s os ie period or season of the year at which a greet s r so Lion of the poorer class of the people we t " tie reduced as not to be able to procure food. e a to did not mean to say that they were actually stal l bad' death ; but there the insufficiency of food, and th e 0 00 ness of its quality was such, as to produce the Cie alarming consequences. Knowing such to be th e amongst a large body of the poorer C l ! j eo es, he could not reconcile it to his eons ci indeed he would hold himself accountable for the r e s rho if he did not protest against any mode of raising the price of food.—(Hear, hoar.) He considered 10 bounden duty of every landed proprietor to d a ~eOl best exertions to procure cheap food for the i t ies plc, and to counteract the many grievous 0 1 °10 0 that were consequent on a scarcity of food-0...A to amongst which was not typhus fever. With re'r,„,, be the scarcity of food, he s h ou ld say , t h a t t h a t v ery 'lO had received a communication from districts the which he was conn ec t e d, i n f orm i ng him tha t ef i c i potatoes—the staple food of the poor--se e l,lig, tirely destroy e d, an d th a t th e p eo pl e were ail ;JO' to have recourse to oatmeal. Therefore, seeing he could not be indifferent to the great benefit n , ee; certain to be derived from the measure then in it by the Government ; and he should, therefore, fe e3 o o duty to give his most cordial support to the Gov e ' proposition.—(Hear, hear.) O re Mr. IBAILLIE' (whose opening observatioe s m 001? wholly inaudible in the gallery) was understootto'doet; that the Noble Lord the Memberifor the City of e k ed t so in his address to the House last night, se e *" trs" assume and to take it for granted that freestiocei must prove nsost beneficial under any drool° e soti l if If that was the opinion of the Noble Lord, he reconcile it with the fact that foreign nati,' o ,lr; well enough the value of protection to their nar C : h e t duction, ? Foreign nations were well aware 0 ' t ot advantages which England possessed for ma° 1 1 3 0 1 r This country had large manufactures and ey el id eferij for production. We had rivers, and ships, s e se , ; means of carrying out our trade at a cheap o we also could produce articles of manufeet t e h r e oe 3 very fine quality which would compete with ereel l , was for that reason that foreign countries 0 10 1 _„ barriers in the shape of protection for t ' a r y/ se P e i ; factures ; and if that was the case, how wa s ta g es ft sible for this country to have all those ad ranee Pof free trade that they were led to expect- u f s etor ee s te manufactures of her own, and if the dia ti econ treh it this country were introduced into that. r , the should id trade. be t heir 0 le I c o n I m n p d e i a t i n w g e ‘ h v a it d h in th tr e o m duc t e o d th o e ur t si %ti o fac b t e ti s %i of cotton goods, and that did away with aeoP. • a r - est e tiful fhbrics, to the great injury oft doe'hhe that country.—(Hear, hear.) Ever since the 00b t he of' England in India, there was more injuqf by a lv o il i c i e introduction of our manufactures there tc 3 ' s in s oCre - s tsp. - blood which had been she lor all the th , i , foo t had taken place. By doing sweet the t . productihn, we bad thrown out „ s tar lo re, thousands of the peole, who suffered , o u c J u ene to This was the result of d our free trade _h ert deahe a r ro de, And having failed therefore, i n , all ow: f r ee a r induce foreign nations to upon do oec our ,crwes r i of of urrenc vieee d a ir T s hall hey w h e a d t r onlythe e t x o pe r r e i f m e r e n to t the last few Sears in order to. b _n e b e etw e e e e e s nee d the intimate connexion which exist'_ll t ,. Tel! e i c . o lleF i ; agricultural and co:neaercial prosPh s h in t he r ntrY 3 , C O a 5. ties look k f e farther t y h e o r n b e a whatck t h e w n e l s B t 4 h B e . • the de pest nant 5 their manufacturers in stsittteweis,the that year. Their trade and eoraugl i r ce ssaPP • I ilr tt i t 1:,: ; btu hi d