The Sun. — London, England, 1852-05-29 00:00:00

i It this direction m e rit e d the hi g he s t comm en d a ti on . It was also due to the Earl of Aberdeen to state, that .when he held the seals of office, he sedulausly oc cupied himself to effect the same object. It was the noble Earl's conviction that it was our duty to Make the diplomatic service a pro'ossion. To carry that object into complete effect, a formal education would, of course, be nocessary.—(ll, ar.) To a cer 'tain degree the principle had been developed. Attached to the universities were classes for the study of the Oriental languages, and those of the students who had d istinguished themselves by their proficiency were ap- Pointed to offices connected with our eastern embassies. The present Government had bad but little opportunity yet of directing their attention to all the points connected with the subject, but there existed every disposition on their parts still further to d eve l o p th e p r i nc ipl e l a id down by their predecessors. Having said this much, he would take the liberty of reminding the House that the expe rience of momentous years had proved the diplomacy of logland to bo inferior to no other branch of the public service. In confirmation of this statement, it was ne -cessary to refer merely to the great events in which the 'Nobl e L ord the Member for Tiverton distinguished him self in the years 1839 and 1840, and which were com inonly spoken of as the settlement of the East. Those event,' furnished evidence that the British Go• Ver eza ent was able to obtain the most accurate in formation under very trying circumstances. It was mainly owing to • the admirable infer int etion and dexterity of our diplomatic service that time th a t our then Foreign Minister—who, how eve r• was quite equal to the occasion—was enabled to avail himself of circumstances and to bring the business to a successful issue. More recently, again, during the events which convulsed Europe from 1848 to 1851, our diplomatic service defied the competition of the diplo macy of all other countries, if, indeed, it did not excel the m He did not recall these matters to the recol lection °fah° House by way of answer to the Hon. thober'e reason i ng; on t h e contrary, t he concurred in Hoe. Member's views. There was no reason why our diplomatic service should not be an educated ser vice, and subjected to the influence of the spirit of im provement which governed the whole conduct of the nit , tion, and influenced every department of the St a te,— (Hear, bear.) All h e d es i re d was, that the House and the public should not run away with the idea that, in consequence of the want of a formal education for the diplomatic service, the country was notably served. The country was most ably served. No diplomacy had ac complished greater results, saved more of the public mo tley, or contributed more to the national honour. LIGHT DUES. Mr. HUME said he wished to call the attention of the House to the light dues levied on the commercial ship. ping, and esp ec i a ll y to t h e correspondence between the United Stites minister and Viscount Palmerston, laid before Parliament on the 13th day of February, 1851. The Hon. Member said ho had always advocated the abolition of the corn laws; but he had advocated it on the distinct understanding that our shipowners should he relieved from every burden that exposed them to an un fair competition with the shipowners of foreign coun tries. The charge for the light dues amounted alto gether, he believed, in the United Kingdom, to nearly 3 °0,0 00/. a y ear . B ut if th e li g ht-houses of !England, r eland ; and Scotland were placed under the direction of One board and properly managed, it appeared, from the evi dence taken before two Committees of that House, t hat they would not cost more than from 80,0001. to 1 0 ' 00 ° 1 - a year. I n th e U n it e d States, where there wore g re e times as many lighthouses as we bad in these o i n gdorns, those establishments did not cost the shipping *hie he country a single farthing. Under the system hat Present prevailed in the United Kingdom, a vess which took a s i ng l e t on o f goo d s f rom one p or t t o rotelher was liable to the whole amount of the light dues much as if sh e h a d ta k en h un d re d s o f t ons o f goods. That was an evil which evidently required a remedy. the d `'ommitte e on the light dues in 1845, he wished to th Member few words to the observations of his Hon. Friend Con m for Montrose. It was proved before that rmittse that the aggregate revenue derived from the 3rthouses of the United Kingdom amounted, in the Ip2, to 240,304/ ; the cost of collection, to 22,1251.; on , the expense of keeping u p th e li g ht s , t o 74,8321.; ag e 'b Y the then last publ is h e d re t urns i t was s h own t h at 14ate were, in 1843, 15 0 li g h ts i n G reat B r i ta i n an d Ire -1;42 the amount paid for which by the shipping interest 15 7 . 1 a0t less than 356,9051., the cost of collection being pre°,,lllea considerable reduction as compared with the lights e a Ina. period—and the expense of maintaining the eati to 13 1,0301; thus levying a tax upon the mer• keep 3111 Paing alone, over and above the expense of hardship uP the lights, of 225,875/. To illustrate the t ow etuP with which the light dues bore upon particular case of the lion. Gentleman then referred to the e ta , o l the Dundee Shipping Company, trading between being called before the Committee, stated that the per -I.iB4ge which the light dues bore to the nett profits di net leasa mong the proprietors of the stock amounted to eorQ tha n ee esee, and that the total amount which that y ett Ylinat alone paid in light dues was 2,056/. 14s. 23. a Pint Cote also instanced the case of the Aberdeen Ship- PerfPay, the manager of which stated to the Com ceee the f t the charges for light dues amounted to 51 upon the di v i s ibl e profits of the company. It eo,ga. believed, a notorious fact, that, so far as the Were trade was concerned, many of the companies at the present moment actually losing money, in °ll2 eciue Up on th nee of the burden which those light dues were slne o nuetu and it was only a short time ago that the i;"the subject of his burgh met in common hall to consider e__pect, and there was scarcely a single individual d cas 'ae, r t who stated that he had received a farthing divi tiMu_ t.orn that trade for years past. In his opinion f :7 60 clues were a burden upon the mercantile marine, fro m which the p y ought to be exempted to „ . hh'ISTER said it was admitted . that relief ought ha ose r h ent but the question wa;,_ its what way ? For t ry ton e contended that it was the duty of every coun ight up bet •effect; its own shores. They pay it in it was in a More than the r o o u tudabout way. The shipown ors paid ittonclugerutairatte jag ought to pay for maintaining the arrived when something should be done Whole burdeer. If n, they Government would not take off the equitabl might at least lay it on in a more e Manner , Mr REN Tr , • uant '""'alr said this subject was one of transcen. eta , importance to the shipping interest; but . he was usedt a i at the tone and manner in which this appeal b e ,,2een made. They were told they ought to do this, sl ta ' 4 USe they were friends of the shipping interest. But on ' Gentlemen on the other side of the House should this pressed it upon their friends when in office. That t .n burden should be laid upon the country in an equi table manner was a proposition that could not be denied; itt the question was, what was equitable? All tho o c .. n. Members who had spoken said it would be more g ct7 to adjust the payment than to sweep it away alto her The shipping interest desired to get rid of this ta x ahem 300,0001. a year. There was no doubt that b l arge sum went t owar d s li qu i dating the debt caused buying up private rights. FlUME—That'a due to the Treasury. 4 kr. HENLEY—Th ere ' s a sum of about 150,0001. still to be paid on account of this sum advanced, and that is included in the general charge, which, he was afraid, moat continue for some few years longer. The lion. miter for Montrose held up the American system for r example but the American Secretary, in reporting to their board, did not express his sense of their advan tage in having a central management of light-houses Under the controul of Government. lle said they were hot SO efficient as the interests of humanity demanded, 411(i h e went on to say that their establishment upon the !Fare er s, I h of "ray, did sot compare favourably with the tg.t s ystem of Europe. He thought the light vessels ! Ras remain at their moorings in bed weather, that as an advantage which they had obtained in this coun a_l7: Their lights and their buoys were not so efficient r_la this country. Neither their light vessels kept the a `e...e_ ! nor were their buoys so efficient.—(Hear.) Their i l lera was not characterized by so much economy. t oon ' WAS a difficult and important subject, and from the i nstil he came into office he had turned his attention lie felt th e s hi pp i ng i nterest was in a depressed te e o u4oll , and it w ou ld b e hi s anx i ous d es i re i f he could tt. y sinY way of relief compatible with other interests to teem relief in respect of this burd en . a t '. LABOUCHERE said he had g i ven t hi s subject % rat attention, but it was a questi on b eset with diffi ho e e; and h e did n ot, when in office, hold o u t any 14 4 that it would be dealt with in the present Par k) CTt. A reduction had been effected on this subject, fet te 7 s , as the coasting trade was concerned, to three teanZe of the total amount paid. That was a relief ob- Vat Within the last throe or four years.—(Hear.) th e y had no o pti on b u t to adopt a liberal policy, f or if V 4 e Xaluded the ships of other nations from the acl vrotififiges they had accorded to them, the consequence ftel e .),,' 4l that they would retaliate. It was stated that tha i Vi n had fallen. No doubt they had fallen like other Of l te s •utit there was nothing to fear for the superiority ue ari d Mercantil e marine of this country. This was th wi e nt from the fact that more s hips were now built t thareitot tt nY former period ; and they were of the first thin eta and w ere o f suc h su p e rior construction, that 4, 0 7: now b uilt on the Clyde took the prizes from the furilcuu c lippers. When he saw the building yards eleei em ployed, he could not come to any other eon . - be e ;„ (1 nut that —era would p e rsons . Rho so. fullyitaulnidnersshtiopopdintgh,etirf they did not not . invest their cap Mr. M, not it to their advantage. said,fromthe given to his —`AClß consideration he had t he li ght dues.e.n.bje.tt he had come todth fronts that he Consoli ted F un d . ,I ) ,lgh to be defraye "lilted States in of the They ought to follow the example )400884 b that respect. A tonnage duty must of . bear te t. but Ye u nequal and unsatisfactory. He could not gon g Gentle unony to the services rendered by the Right poll ee naan who spoke last, in adopting a liberal g h • a hTandedcountry owed him a debt of gratitude for ko ta the nue While at the Board of Trade to pro !vaswelfare of the shipping interest. Much credit 'red e i nr 'utra for the reli e f he gave t o th e coast i ng reodifictit jo educing the light dues. With regar d to t h e Mae /Neo n of the navigation-laws, he thought it was Wks thm t h us as far as it went. His opinion, ho wever , te6 Pect ta jsy ought to be repealed altogeth er; an d w i t h tcod shi ps mercantile marine, ho could state th a t tu brr eot. q a e fa n c e t v t er her m e ore in a d great deficiency in the This 7 1ta cj e f a : 1 Ps to convey emigrants to South Australia. ` l, otlia • demand for ships might be attributed to the 1 4 , catio tt -each had taken place in the navigation. foreo their own tuwase•tt.The best way was to leave the shipowners to ma affairs and to free them from all inter taxed t at their concerns. With the raw materials nu- T he, ' t_nee: could compete with the whole world. 1 , 0,4, 111 ).1e/3 then dropped. orl'AL SERVICE TO .100 Hr <7— INDIA AND CHINA.. I,cnise th hha ea rose to call the attention of the _ e tenders which were accepted from the ev:ahandr Oriental Steam•p ee n e t C o mpany on the te e b et _ 4 '_eo nary for the performance of the postal ser giasa rie w e c en England, India, and China. He had not vitae of Ilia intent. ""tv 0 4 attention.to tilt) sub- ject without communication with commercial parties in this country, as well as with parties in India. He doubted whether Parliammt was justified in making thee() grants which it had been in the practice of making, so as to create a monopoly in favour of those companies which received the grants. The people of this country had a right to ask whether they received an equivalent.—Ch ear.) He spoke no from surmise, but from facts. The effect of the large grant cf 270,0001, which was made of the public money was to prevent competition. Ho thought the House would agree that, although they were not bound to act in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on this subject, yet that the House aud the Government ought to give some consideration to its recommendations, more especially when the report was adopted unani mously by the Committee. If the Government pat forward proposals, they were bound to ac cept parties tendering according to those proposals, with out showing any bias towards one company over another. Were any such hie manifested, it would at once raise doubts in the minds of men as to how far they were ho nestly and fairly dealt with by the Government. The service to India had been performed for the last six years by the Peninsular and Oriental Company; and the contract for the year 1853 was for the sum of 280,0001. In the course of the last two years various reports had reached the country that many evil effects had resulted from this monopoly, and it was stated that the company had not taken advantage of the great improvements in steam navigation, which they ought to have done; and th, re were various other charges as to the mode in which the service was conducted. Lest year be thought it his duty to 1110V0 for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the exbtieg steam communications with India and China, and into the practicability of erect ing any improvement therein, and also into the best mode of establishing steam communications between England, India, China, Australia, and New Zea land. On that Committee there were three members of Sir R. Peel's Government, three members of the late Government, and two who were of the present Government.• That Committee entered into tho whole question of steam communication with the various parts of the world. The Committee came to an unanimous report, to which he might hereafter allude. Evidence was given to the Committee of the great inconvenience suffered by the public on the line traversed by the com pany. Applications were made to the Committee from Manchester and Liverpool that in future contracts the parties should be tied down by stringent rules in respect to various matters, as to the comfort of the passengers. The Committee had also evideece that the trade and commerce in the course of the last few years had in creased rapidly on that line. Taking these matters into consideration, they thought they were justified in re commending that Government should interfere to tie down the parties to more stringent rule, and also that competition should be established, by which a largo in crease of trade and commerce might be produced along the line. The report stated that in November, 1851, tenders were called for by the Government under the following heads:— _ . "Firs Line—A line from England to Alexandria and back, monthly, leaving England in the beginning of every month, and calling at Gibraltar and Malta, with a branch from Marseilles to Malta and back, conveying between those two ports the mails which aro carried across France. Second Line—A similar line from Eng land to Alexandria and back, monthly, leaving Enadand in the middle of every month, with a similar I), anch be tween Marseilles and Malta. The ports in England from which the vessels are proposed to start (subject to the approbation of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad miralty) are to be specified in the tender. It is to be clearly understood that the times of departure may be fixed and altered from time to time by the Admiralty, an interval of about a fortnight being left between the days of departure of the two lines. If c i rcumstances should render it advisable to substitute any other ports in the Mediterranean for Marseilles and Matta, the Admiralty to be at liberty to do so on payment of a reasonable compensation to the contractors for any additional expense incurred. Third Line —A line from Suez to Calcutta and Hong Kong and back, monthly. This line will take the mails which have left England in the beginning of each month, and will touch at Aden and Point de Galle, whence one steamer will proceed by Madras to Calcutta and another by Penang to Singapore and Hong-Kong. These steamers will be met at Aden, both on the outward and homeward voyages, by vessels of the East l u di a Com pany, which will convey the mails and passengers be tween' Aden and Bombay. Fourth Line—A similar line from Suez to Calcutta and Hong-Kong and back, monthly, conveying the mails which have left England in the middle of the month, and proceeding in like manner to Point de Gallo, and thence by Madras to Calcutta, and by Penang to Singapore and Kong-Kong. Vessels of the East India Company will leave Suez at the same time, carrying the Bombay mails and passen gers; and the return mails from Bombay will likewise be conveyed in vessels of the E as t I n di a C om p an y t o Suez. Fifth Line—A line from Singapore to Sydney and back. Every alternate mouth a steamer to leave Singapore on the arrival of the outward packet . at that port with the mails which have left England in the mid dle of every alternate month, and to leave Sydney so as to meet at Singapore the homeward packet which will arrive there from China, after the lapse of two months. These steamers are to touch both ways at Batavia, Swan River (or King George's Sound; as may be hereafter de termined), Adelaide, and Port Philip." Two parties tendered, viz.—the Eastern Steam Naviga tion Company, and the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Those two companies had a right to expect that their proposals should be fairly considered and that the basis of the terms stated by the Government should not be changed. It was stated that the tender of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company was ac li - cepted for the whole service; but that was not correct. From England to Alexandria they tendered for; from Suez to Calcutta and Hong-Kong, touching at Aden and Point de Gallo, they tendered for; but for No. 4 they did not tender; and they wholly omitted the lino from Suez to Calcatta and Hong-Kong, proceeding to Point do Guile. and thence by Madras to Calcutta, and by Pe nang to Singapore and Hong-Kong. The letter making this tender to the Treasury was received by the Govern ment on the 26th of February, almost at a ticao when the Government wore out of office, and the tender was accepted by the Government on the 27th of February. He must, therefore, repeat that the mode in which the tender was accepted, whether right or wrong, was calculated to shake the confidence of any party who might be disposed to offer tenders of this character to the Government. He asked the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer if ho did not think the subject was too far advanced for reconsideration to direct his attention to it, in order that justice might be done to all parties. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, said, that he proposed to confine himself strictly to the ques tion at issue, and not to enter into the more general question whether it were expedient for Governments to assist greet enterprises like these steam companies with grants of public money. To set out with, he must frankly acknowledge thet the present Government was entirely responsible for the arrangement which in this teed had been made. This was, in fact, the first oficial act which he had trateeicted, and it had been brought under his notice quite unshackled by any arrangements of his predecessor. He had given to it his most undi vided and complete attention, and the decision at which he had arrived was the result of the most cateetil atten tion he could devote.—(Hear, hear.) On the Ist of November, 1851, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer made the follovring proposal to the East India Com pany:—l, a line from Southampton to Alexandria twice a month, with a branch from Marseilles to Malta, to be performed by contract, her Majesty's ships beine. discon tinued ; 2, a lino from S uez to P o i nt de Gallo, and thence to Madras and Calcutta, twice a month, and a second line from Point de Gallo to Singapore and Hong-Kong, with a branch every second mouth from Singapore to Sydney, and twice a month from Aden to Bombay; 3, to be performed by contract with one or more compa nies, with the exception of the branch from Adeu to Bombay, which was to be performed by the East India Company; 4, that the payment of the contract service beyond the Isthmus of Suez should be charged on the revenue of this country and of India in the same propor tion as at present; 5, that this country should contri bute a sum to the East India Company for the perform ance of the service between Aden and Bombay, calculated according. to the nature and difficulty of the service per formed. The East India Company assented to these terms by letter of the Bth of November, 1851. On the 18th of November, 1851, the Treasury desired the Admiralty to call for tenders for the bi-monthly per formance of the service. This concluded the negotia tion so far as his predecessor iu office was concerned. Oa the 29th of February, 1852, the Admiralty reported to the Treasury that they had received three tenders,- 1, from the Peninsular and Oriental Company, for the whole of the mail services advertised, with the addition of a branch line between Bombay and Point de Galle, not mentioned in the conditions of tender, for the annual SUM of 199,6001., to be rodeo: el to 179,6001., after the completion of the railway across Egypt; 2, from the Eastern Steam Navigation Company, for a lino once a month between England and Calcutta and Hong-Kong, for 110,000/ a to be reduced to 1 00,0001. in the event of Trieste being substituted for Marseilles as a port of em• barkation; 3, one fro m t h e same company for a branch between Singapore and Sydney, in addition to the line previously mentioned. Adding then 100,000/. to 166,0001. he made the lowest tender of the Eastern Steam Nevi gatiou Company amount to 266,000/, against 179600/ , the lowest tender of the other c ompany, being a differ once. of 86.4001. Under these circumstances he had decided in favour of the latter company. The tender Of this latter company was at the rate of 6s. 6d. per mile, without the additional branch they h a d vo l un teered to perform between Bombay and P o i nt do while that of the Eastern Steam Nevi gation Company 57 , 89 at the rate of Bs. a-mile i n t h e i r ' first tender, and 10e. on the average of their second. pointt to consider, brought before him, he h a d only one other point These facts having consider, which was to ascertain whether the offer which was the cheapest was equally efficient with the other. That inquiry had been made. The result of it was that the Peninsular eyereenu preferable d r O ef r e i r e a n b t l e e l Company appeared in this resp ect to hei to the other, and upon the s th of March of the present year the T reasur y a pproved of the t e nder of that com pany, and d es i re d th e Admiralty ed to obtain 1110 to carry it into effect. had h That WAS hi s s i mp l e stor y. lie- best service, and he had obtained it at the cheapest rate. —(llear.) Wi t hi n an hoer of hi s n e king his s,a in Doweing- e tr ee t , he had received a deputation fromthe Eastern Steam Navigation Compantt, and their case had been so well placed before him that he was sure it was from no neglect on the part of those intrusted with their affairs that the merits of the question had not been well discussed. However, after having given the matter the most impartial consideration, tie had do termirpd upon giving the tender to thf , ef)mr.s.ny which would at once most efficiently and most economically perform the service.—(llear, hear.) Ha hoped that, 40 far as the present Government were con corned, this statement would exonerate them from blame. He wished also to exonerate his predecessor from tbose charges which had been freely circulated upon this matter. When he acoaded to office he had been indebted to the Right Hon. Gentleman for that confidential com munication - which it was necessary to give when a change of Government took place. The Right Hon. Gentleman had called his attention to what arrears of business there were in the office, and when he in his turn should hand it over to another he hoped there would bo as few arrears as he then found. The Right Hon. Gentleman handed over to him the duties of an office which up to that period had been discharged in a most efficient manner. This subject among others had of course been alluded to, but with reference to it his judgment had been perEctly unshackled.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. H. BERKELEY observed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in having given the contract to the Pe ninsular and Oriental Company, had completely thrown overboard the labours of the Committee. Sir C. WOOD said ho was surprised to find in the report of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company (whose mouthpiece the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn had made himself that evening) that ho was charged with having cordially concurred in the recom mendation of tho Committee that the service should be necessarily given to two companies, and afterwards with having turned round and decided agginst the Eastern Steam Navigation Company. Both these state ments were utterly without foundation. Every one knew the meaning ordinarily attached to the word "competition," but the competition which the Noble Lord sought for was, that, at whatever price, there Amid be two companies to carry out the contract. But what an opening that afforded to jobbing and all kinds of unfair practices? Why, if he were to give one portion of the service to one company and another to another, without any competition for the same, there would he no limit to - the favour, monopoly, and jobbing that might result from it.—(Hear.) The accusation of the Noble Lord was against laim personally, that ho had given a decision contrary to his opinion.—(" Hear, hear" from Lord Jocelyn.) The ground on which that charge had been made against him was totally without foun dation, and, grateful as he was to the Noble Lord for having brought this subject forward, and for his courtesy in hating apprised him by letter of his intention to do so, ho thought that his courtesy would have been better applied, and his justice too, if before ho had made the charge, ho had taken the trouble to inquire whether there was any foundation for it. He thought the present Government had decided perfectly right, for the question did not admit of the slightest doubt. The Eastern Steam Company had asked 160,0001. for three lines, while the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company had contracted for less than 200,000/. for all the five lines. If he had been actuated by any unworthy motives, as the Noble Lord had insinuated—[Lord JoCELYN—" I never insi nuated anything of the kind] —ho would have meted as ho had done. The Government were bound, certainly, to take the most advantageous contract, but the lowest was not always the most advantageous. He warned the House against being led away by contracts of the kind referred to. Last year he received no less than seven private applications from the Eastern Steam Navigation Company to enter into the contract with them, but he had refused to entertain them; and he again warned the House not to sanction a course of conduct which opened the door to an amount of jobbing and corruption never before heard of.—(Elear,) Lord JOCELYN—I wish to call it to th© recollection of the House that I distinctly stated I did not attribute any unworthy motives to the Right Hon. Gentleman. Mr. COWPER defended the Admiralty, and thought it exceedingly unfair to say a company did not tender for the whole of the service because they made a differ ence of 73 miles on the whole voyage. The Noble Lord was more influenced than ho was aware of by the state ments of the company which had not gained the con tract. It was natural that directors should endeavour to throw the blame the shareholders would fix upon them for not making tenders which could be accepted on other shoulders than their own, but in their report the direc tors of the Eesiern Steam Company had done more than a ny company was entitled to do, for they had not only m isrepresented figures, but had stated what was abso lutely entre. The decision of the Admiralty was shown to bo correct, and he was glad that her Majesty's Go vernment supported the result at which the Treasury and Admiralty of the late Government had, after the fullest investigation, arrived. Mr. WILLCOX observed, that the Noble Viscount was mistaken in supposing that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company had not incl u d e d C a l cutta i n the se;vice de for which they ma d e t h e contracts. ROUNDELL PALMER said, th at h a d t h e ten derthe Eastern St eam N av i gat i on Company the .a Mr. by been accepted, it was the intention of that company to have made arrangements, if possible, for landing their ma il s a t Plymouth, instead of at Southampton • and he felt that the time was come when it was the duty of the Government itself to take into consideration the claim of Plymouth to be a point of departure for the mail service with our colonial and foreign dependencies.—(Hear, bear.) The facilities of that port for such a purpose were, at the very least, equal to those of any other, in s ome material respects superior. M a il s l an d e d there from the east would be distributed not merely through out the western districts of England, but also through the manufacturing districts, much earlier than if they were landed at Southampton. He was satisfied, indeeil that the present arrangements would have long since been altered but for the want of a complete railway communication between Plymouth and London. That complete communication was now effected; the tele graph between the two points would also bo completed before long, and works now in rapid progress at Ply mouth would render that port in every way eligible, and in the highest degree, for the purpose in question, to which purpose he trusted tho Government would not then delay to apply it. Lord S rANLEY said that the two principles on which contracts were adopted were, first, that of taking the lowest tender, irrespective of all other considerations, and, secondly, that of taking the tender most likely to be of best service, irrespective of its being the cheapest. The tender of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam-packet Company fulfilled both these conditions, bein g 25 per cent. cheaper than the other te nders, and, the m anner of its service not being surpassed by that of any other steam navigation company, that tender had, conse quently, been adopted by the Government .--( Hear , hear.) The Cunard steamers w ere perhaps somewhat more rapid in their course, but these steamers had only a single voyage of 3,400 miles to coal for, whereas the steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam-packet Company performed the double voyage from Calcuttatthe to Suez, and back, almost entirely wit h coalslaid in at uc than the Cunard steamers. former port, and where therefore much heavier weighed The subject then dropped. COLONEL OUTRAN. Mr. ANSTEY s a id he would, in order to give wey to his Hon. Friend (Mr. Horsman), postpone his motion respecting Colonel Outram till a future day. He must express, in so doing, his conviotion that the directors wero resolved not to produce the documents for which d he had moved. On th e ne xt supply would press be press his motion to a di v i s i on . Mr. HERRIES ( w h o was imperfectly heard i n the gallery) said, he was con fid en t that when the su b j ect came to be fully investigated, the Court of Directors would be fully exonerated from the strictures passed upon them by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. THE REV. MR. BENNETT. Mr. HORSMAN called the attention of the House to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as to the result of the Government inquiry into the case of Frome. The Hon. Member proceeded to say, that he wished to call the attention of the House to the law of the case. He would remind the House, that the in. quiry he had moved for was an inquiry into the conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, in instituting Mr. Bennett. The Government undertook the inquiry, and they stated - that the complainant had a remedy under the Church Discipline Act. The Right Hon. Gentle man (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) gave an answer on one point—the case of a clerk, but not on the other point, as to whether there was any redress in the case of a bishop. He would take the case of the offending clerk under the Church Discipline Act, and they were told he could be proceeded against either in the diocese in which he held the preferment, or in the one in which he committed the offence. The parties to whom the matter would be referred under that Act would be appointed by the bishop him self, and if they said there was no ground for inquiry, there the matter terminated. The inquiry could not take place in the diocese of London, as it must be in stituted within two years after the offence charged had been committed. The parties who complained stated that one bishop had been applied to about Mr. Bennett's adherence to the Roman Catholic doctrines, and he was therefore called on to give in his resignation. There was then the further difficulty that the Bishop of Lon don had accepted his resignation, and he could not, therefore, be brought before him again. But there was another thing , the offence that was committed abroad could not be brought under the cognizance of the Church Discipline Act. It was, therefore, obvious that the re dress under the Church Discipline Act was a nominal one. But that was no portion of the inquiry that he (Mr. Horaman) had asked for. When he understood that the bishop was the party to be blamed it was against him that he complained. Ile was told there was an application to the archbishop, and when he in quired how that was to be made the Right Honourable Gentleman declined to answer the question. He then asked him what redress ho had, and an answer to that question was also declined. He next asked to see opinions of the law officers of the Crown, and the Right Hon. Gentleman declined to give that also. Ho would now state to the House what the law was on the subject. As regarded the bishop who instituted r r e e d w r e a s a a person to a living, though he were avowedly a member tw o h f ee a n n t ettohet the Church ecbhius Church—even hreohp a nd he if instituted Cardinal h him —(A — lf g f uln r r d d e e r d stated, the redress was only th esn. n .:b o ice l dll e hi g ode a pe. l :.n)ot tribunal The , b a e s f o r r e e g whom arded t t h h e e they could clergyman t are wa a s no Discipline Act, as ho had already (the Attorney-General ask the Right [lon. Gentleman nominalred redress whatever. — (Hear.) v a e s r. r — e- His silence wouldeloquent enough; be) to say anything upon the law. (Hear. Hursman) knew that no la but ho (Mr. on tint subject. If there was searnwould disagree with him gentle men would not snret, to his moti ) On redress, many thet he had made the stat ement he ,. h a a n d d therefore it was given. Th e case ouse being as he had stated, and t h e H being in the condition it was in on the 20th of April, whe n same his motion, ho had thought it necessary k he made give the statement he had made, his intention being so bring on his motion on the 7th of Juno. The ATTORNEY. GENERAL said, if it had not been the intention of tan Hon. Methber to raise a dis co,- or , trieh , h iv. vhsrlinmi from say i ng what ho t do,a. rxa h o not contiutd himself to the law of the case, and though ho said ho did not wish to provoke di ocuss io, he had done ; good deal tom* it, The TILE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY Government, he said, had promised an inquiry into the ease. Mr. HORSMAN observed he had not said so. The AT fORNEY-GENERAL said that was the in ference to be drawn—but he could show there was 120 breach of faith on the part of the Government. The Government could not pledge itself to appoint a com mission, for that COMCliSejea so appointed could not compel evidence to be given, and it could not, therefore, brit end in a total failure. As to the law of the case, he give a sil en t acqu i escence . A s f a r as Member (Mr. Herrman) bad gone, ho had stated he lion.t i t, d o t o n d t wish the lal t v o correctly. I t A i nst i tute d a c l erg y m an, that institution could not ho questioned. The law gave him a discretion, and he (the Attorney-General) was not aware it could be questioned.—(Hear, hear.) A clergyman, however, had an appeal against the bishop, and if it appeared he was wrong, his decision could be overruled.--(Hear, hear.) His Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer rightly said, that if a clergyman exhibited unsoundness of doctrine it conli be inquired into under the Church Discipline Act, if it took place within two years. The bishop of the diocese might send the case to the Bishop's Court; but for any offence committed above two years out of the country no remedy could be obtained. He thought the Howe would agree that the course pursued by the Go vernment was the correct one.—(Flear, hear.) To have issued a commission which did not possess compulsory powers would have been a complete fai Mr. HOR.SM AN explained that ho had no &giro to create discussion, and ho was obliged to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Attorney-General for his opinion on the law of the case. 1 lare.—(Scar.} Sir J. YOUNG thought the Government had done all that could have been expected. No law had been in 'ring d, but there was a difference between a congrega tion as to points of doctrine —one believed one thing, and one believed another —no unsoundness having been found—would the House of Commons take part with the minority against the authorities which had been re cognised? On full consideration of the cue, the House would plainly see that the House of Commons was not the place to determine such a case. Better they should abstain from it, and should confine themselves to their proper duties.—(Hear.) Colonel KNOX said the Hon. Member had thrown out a taunt that the Government had not made an inquiry. Had the Hon. Gentleman binaself inquired into the statements he had made as to the conduct of Mr. Ben nett at Kissengen and at Venice? He knew the • Hon. Gentleman was in possession of a letter on the subject, and that long ago he should have retracted the state the substance of the letter, and nothi ng could be more a ton he t h h a e d a m u t a n d o e r itthy a letter from Sir J. In H e al l T t ing l to t n wa th s unfair and unfounded. He was a bl e to say that the at of statement. He knew statement was altogether unfounded that had been made against Mr. Bennett—namely, that he did not go to a Protestant church, but to a Roman Catholic church, when, at the same time, the fact was notorious that he was in ill health and drinking the waters, and every ono know that any one drinking those waters would not be in a condition to go to a Roman Catholic church at seven o'clock in the morning.—(A laugh.) As to the time that had been stated that Mr. Bennett had been absent, he (Colonel Knox) knew that he left in the month of June, and returned in November. With regard to Ve nice, ho was himsqlf there at the time, and he knew therefore that that part of the statement was untrue, and he could prove that all the time Mr. Bennett was at Rome he had attended a Protestant church.--(Hear, hear.) Mr. Bennett had for some time been his (Colonel Knox) pastor, and he would not sit there and allow such unfounded statements to remain uncon tradieted.—(Hear, hear.). Mr. HOUSMAN could assure the Hon. Gentleman that he had made no statement respecting Mr. Bennett's conduct in Venice; be was not even aware (as was understood) that he had been there. With respect to Mr. Bennett's absence from England, he had stated that he was absent during the year 1851, not that he was so during the whole year.—(lronical cheers.) Sir B. HALL said that mention having been made of the Bishop's Court, he wished to state concisely what that tribunal was. The Ecclesiastical Court of Bath and W h e e ll s judgeproctor. T y t a E s cc ina les d i e l Ecclesiastical was to decide on cases such as t h at of the vicar of Frome had been an officer in th e Grena dier ons w is h te o d of a judge, a registrar, and a pre- Court, although knowing no more of ecclesiasti ca l l aw daGu Guards , t s h , e and cathedral than the drummer of my Hon. and Gallant F r i en d' s having andleft j t u h d e g a e r i m ahe was regiment. Of course he could not perform the duty, but appointed as his deputy one of those hacks of the cathedral called minor canons, at a salary of 201. a year. The name of this pesson was Peter Parley, and he was by law obliged to post up in his office a list of the fees to be charged in this court. The registrar was a metro politan police magistrate, the son of a former bishop, and was appointed when only five years old. From that time to the present, ho had never been within the walls of his registry, except to receive his sti pend. To quote the.expression which had been used in evidence, he " farmed out his court" at 4004 a year to Peter Parley, who, with the fees, and also with the de puty fees which he charged, made the place worth 8151. a year for himself. He hung up no table of fees, but made arbitrary charges. There were seven proctors in this court, ono of whom was Edward Parley, son of the deputy, so that if he had any business in court, he must plead before his own father, who farmed his place from the chief. And yet this was the court to which the pa rishioners of From() must go if they have any complaint against their pastor. The deputy-registrar practised in twenty-five other courts, of one of which, a diaconal court, a young lady was the president, the daughter of the dean, and who also had been appointed when she was only five years old.—(Laughter.) He (Sir B. Hall) was bound to say that some change had been made since last year, for the deputy•jedge the son of the late bishop, had turned Roma n Catholic, and had therefore been obliged to give up h isttPpointment. But the pre sent bishop, into whose court the parishioners must go, had appointed his own son, who lived at Castle Rising, in Norfolk, and in :his case also the poor miserable hack canon did all the duty. He asked them, Was it not a farce to tell the people to go into such a court?—(Loud cries of s, H ear , near.") Would it be believed that in the latter part of the nineteenth century a tribunal was allowed to exist which would be considered a disgrace in any civi lized nation? Such was the tribunal to which the Right Hon. Gentleman told them to go instead of coming to Parliament. He (Sir B. 11511) said that Parliament was the proper tribunal, and be trusted that what he was stating would make an im pression, and prevent the con tinuance of this atrocity in the Church. He hoped that the infamy of these Ecclesiastical Courts would be cured, and that a Minister of the Crown would not be per mitted to tell the parishioners of Promo that into such a pastor .—t( cour t li ear, hey mus hear.t go to complain of their Puseyite ) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied that he bad said the parishioners must go for redress into the Ecclesiastical Court. The tribunal to which he had alluded was that which was created under the Church Discipline Act, which was expeditious, and, in its expenses, adapted to the spirit of the The Hon. age. Baronet might as well have described so of the courts of India, and applied his argum ent me to the case of the parishioners of Frome. - Sir B. HALL rose to order. th if the Right Hon. Gen- YE.,„-NecuEQuEll having tleman was allowed to address 1 e House a second time, Gen he must claim the right of re aimed the indulgence of The CHANCELLOR therea d House,t the w o words after rf the e e tacked. He would merely a d d li w hich he had been at- Member for Cockerneouth had ,that as tho Honourable secure an early day for going fortunate enough to Bennett at length, it was hargf into the case of Mr. from Supply by prolonging s l y :ti r to keep the House hour. discussion at that late Sir B. HALL, amid loud cries o f 0 inleaontoi jurt,hicePi ho would not have addressed ti l : . " oPoke," said that given the Right Hon. Gentleman' House had he not he intended to call the attention of notice that state of the diocesan courts of Bath and the House to the Mr. HENLEY admitted that theand Wells. drawn no more than a true, although Hon. Baronet had ture of the state of those court s , very pungent, pie been member of a Committee t o - 13 8 (tira Henley) had stitution, and could confirm the Innouire into their eon ment.—(Hear, hear.) But it Was n „,n. Baronet's state- Baronet to let it go forth to th e no u,' fair of the Hon. the only court to which the pari s hi o h mt rY that that was go, seeing that the proper court of , ers of Promo could vincial Court of Arches. PPeul was the pro- An lION. MEMBER, whose nam e ~y defended Mr. Bennett, and stated that could not learn, favour had been signed by 1,039 of his Parishioners memorial in his tween Thursday and Monday, and ell , Parishioners, be rev. gentleman's knowledge. ur elY without the The HON. MEMBER read the of rial, which stated that the mene e d ' alistOf the memo with the injuries inflicted on the re ,. 8 eYeepathised concurred in the soundness of the entleran, and by him. doctrines taught eaker do On the motion that the Sp letee e th Mr. WILLIAMS objecte d to going int e Chair, of Supply at that late hour ( 20 miu utes past Committee objected to many items of the civil estimates). He the Government had had abundance of time and as them, he should receive thein as their estimates, consider deal with them without reference to the re i and had procured the speedy passing of the nav a l and which mili tary estimates. The civil estimates new amounted and 4,182,0001., being 940,0001. more than in the to He hoped the Government would not .„„. Pest year. r.oce e d them. with The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUE R did not think of proceeding with the estimates at th at h must give notice that on Thursday next, i nstead of our, but taking the New Zealand Bill , he should move the esti mates in Committee of Supply . GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTII B ILL. Oa consideration of this Bill as amended, Mr. MILES moved—" Teat the Act shall apply to all the boundary of the district of Burnha m , assigned the provisional order of the General Board et by Health, excepting those parts respectively situate w i thin th tithings of Huish juxta Hig hbrid g e, and W oreton." e Mr. HAYTER opposed the proviso, which h e sa i d we opposed to tne wishes of t he inhabitants of the district, a who were in favour of the Bill as it now stood. Mr. MILES said a memorial was pre -ented last session to the Beard of Trade, to exclude the district in que st i on He had himself presen ted two petitions to the Lt o • RE e to the same effect. Lord J. MANNERS s poke against the areendment, And after a few words from Sir G. PECUELL, th e proviso was negatived, and the Bill was ordered to b 0 reed a third time, Tho Neve. Pay Bill was read a second time, T i t) e I . ) reelf.rnation for Assembl io n l Perliem eet pill ~,,3 , e t , V ii : uli i ii I ills 0 and passed. Ecclesiastical Courts (Criminal Jurif.dicti.. ' on) Bill was read s third u m() a nd passed' BISHOPRIC OF CHRISTCHURCH (NEW ZEA- LAD) BILL. O❑ the :notion for reading - this Bill a second time, Mr. ANSTEY objected, and said he should have to detain the House for two hours in stating the grounds of his opposition to this Bill; but he would, in the first place, test the feeling of Hon. Members to remain by moving that the House do now adjourn. The ATTORNEY GENERAL thought the proposal of the Hon. and Learned Member a most cruel infliction. The whole object of the Bill was—the district of New Zealand baying grown so large as to require another bishopric, and it being necessary for the existing Bishop of New Zealand to surrender a portion of his patent for the purpose, and it being necessary to legalise that sur render by an Act of the Legislature, the object of this Bill was to give the legislative sanction. An opposition to such a Bill was most vexatious. Mr. ANSTEY insisted upon his motion, and the House divided— For the adjournment Against it Majority against the motion ... -58 Mr. ANTITY - preceeded to state that the ground of his objection was that this Bill was the same in principle as the Colonial Bishops Bill.—(No, no.) The Right Hon. Gentleman the Home SAretary had last night admitted that it was so. Mr. WALPOLE denied that he had done so. What he had said was, that if the Hon. and L-arned Gentle man had really an objection to its principle he would not bring it on at one o'clock in the morning, and he was now rearly. Mr. ANSTEY interrnpting—l rise to order. I allowed the Right Hon. Gentlema❑ to explain, but as he has courted debate he shall now have it.—(A. laugh.) Mr. WALPOLE was only anxious to save time. Mr. ANSTEY again rose to order. He had no notion of allowing a Minister to assume in that House an autho rity which did not belong to other Members his equals. —(Hear, and a laugh.) He objected to this Bill in bane. He denied that there was any Bishop of Christchurch or of New Zealand. The object of these measures was to raise up a Church establishment in New Zealand. Now he had no intention of permitting such an establishment without opposition. He was opposed to any attempt to extend the spiritual supremacy of the Crown to New Zealand and our other colonies. The Hon. and Learned Member then at great length (it being already a quarter past 1 o'clock) stated his objections, quoting Blackstone and other authorities to show that the Crown had no power to erect dioceses in our colo nies, or to appoint bishops. If the Queen had by letters patent erected the diocese, let the Queen legislate—let her undo what she had done. There was no reason for coming to Parliament to undo the illegal act of the Crown. All religions in the colonies are on an equality, but this Bill was intended to give supremacy to the Church of England by the authority of the Imperial Parliament, and the result would be sectarian bitterness and religious animosity in New Zealand. In conclusion, he moved that the Bill be put off for three mouths. No Member on the Government side rising, Mr. REYNOLDS moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. WALPOLE seconded the motion, and said that was the object with which he had risen before when he was interrupted by the Hon. and Learned Member for Youghal. They had now wasted an hour and a half uselessly, and most unfairly to the Speaker, who had been sitting there from four o'clock. The debate was then adjourned. MAYNOOTH DEBATE. Mr. KEOGH complained of this order of the day being taken out of its course, it being last on the list, to dispose of it in the absence of Irish Members. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex plained that the order in question had been moved for the purpose of postponement by the Hon. Member for Ashton (Mr. Hindley), a Member of the Opposition. Air. KEOGH insisted that Ministers who had control of the orders of the day were parties to the arrangement, wbicb, he said, was a low, thimble-rigging, pettyfogging trick. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex plained that the Government had not the entire control over the order paper. He had stated the intention of taking the Maynooth debate on Friday, and no objection was made. Mr. O'FLAHERTY could plainly see that the Go vernment wero determined to do everything they could in hostility to the Irish people. He was glad they had at length shown their colours, and he could assure them that they were colours which would not win for them the confidence of the Irish party. As far as he was concerned he promised them all the opposition in his power. Mr. WALPOLE assured the Hon. Gentleman that Ministers were in no way to blame in this matter. They had not taken the order out of its course. The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hindley) who had made the motion had done so without any communication or concert with the Government. Mr. REYNOLDS reminded the House that the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire had stated he would move the postponement of the debate to Friday, when they came to the order on the paper. 4 . The conversation which arose on the motion to post. pone one of the other orders of the day then dropped. Mr. KEOGH immediately rose and moved the ad journment of the House, repeating his previous speech on Maynoth affairs. Mr. H. HERBERT was quite sure that nothing like a trick was intended, but urged that, if the same course were allowed to be taken, any measure, however objec tionable, might be passed by a trick. He saw no good that could ariso from bringing on the debate on Friday, for it was quite clear there would be no division then; and ho thought they might as well adjourn it to the 12th of August. TheCHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured Hon. Members opposite that nothing would induce him t 3 sanction any course that was unfair to them.—(Elear, hear.) It was not possible to take any order out of its course, except for postponement; and any Member who had an order on the paper was perfectly justified, by the rules of the House, to move before the other orders that it be postponed. The Government had no hand what ever in the postponement in question, and, as it was in accordance with the usual practice, and with an arrange ment generally acquiesced in, they had offered no objec tion.—(Hear.) Mr. ANSTEY thought there must be some exception to that rule. Suppose he had got up early in the even ing and moved that the New Zealand Bishops Bill (which had been pressed against him with so Much inso lence—(oh, oh, and a laugh) —would he not have been told that such course was opposed to the practice of the House.—(Hear.) The House divided, when there appeared— For the adjournment ... ... 10 Against it Majority ... ... —32 Lord J. MANNERS moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Act for regulating the construction and the use of buildings in the metropolis and its neigh bourhood, and to improyo the administration thereof. Agreed to. Mr. ANSTEY moved for leave to bring in a Bill to diminish the proceedings under the Election and Bri bery Acts.—Agreed to. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON moved for leave to bring in a Bill for disafforesting the forest of Whittlewood, other wise Whittlebury; and a Bill for disafforesting the forest of Wychwocd. Mr. KEOGH moved the adjournment of the debate on the ground that after the manner the Government had treated him and his party he would offer them every opposition. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was anxious they should not adjourn for the recess under any wrong impressions. He was anxious to meet the convenience of lion. Gentlemen opposite as far as possi ble, and would on Thursday endeavour to name a day (say Tuesday) which should be agreeable to the Irish Members. Mr. KEOGH and Mr. REYNOLDS expressed themselves satisfied; the Hon. Member for Athlone, however, ex pressing an objection to morning sittings. The motion was then agreed to, and the Bills were then brought in and read a first time. The Common Law Practice Improvement Bill (Lords) was read a first time. POST-OFFICE. Mr. lIASTIE moved for a returned of the number of persons employed in the Post-office, Paisley; distin guishing the number in each class, with their respective salaries; also the average daily number of bags and letters received and dispatched. PATENT LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. MUNTZ moved to nominate the Select Committee on Patent Law Amendment Bill:—Mr. Mentz, Mr. Cowan, Sir William Page Wood, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Weethead, Mr. John Greene, Mr. Scott, Mr. Mullings, Mr. Attorney• General,. Mr. John Evans, Mr. Solicitor- General for Ireland, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Pole Carew, Mr. Newdegate, and Mr. Ilenley.—Agreed to. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND). On the motion of Mr. BUTT returns relative to this subject were ordered. The House adjourned at a Quarter to Three o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. --10.--- (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) FRIDAY, MAY 28. ADJOURNMENT. Motion made and Question put, " That this House do now adjourn." The House divided:-- MINORITY—AYES, 10. Anstey, Thomas Scully, Franeis Carter, Samuel Scully, Vincent TELLERS. Cogan, W. H. Sullivan, Michael geogh, William Greene, John Thompson, George Reynolds, JoLut O'Flahcrty, Anthony Wakley, T. ---- MAJORITY—NOES, 42. Adderley, C. B. Edwards , Henry Pa kington, Sir J. Penton, John Baird James Forbes,, William Sooner, C. Bell, Jacob Gwyn, IloWol pooner, B. Bcresford, William Hamilton, Geo. A. Stafford, Align/dui Stanley, Lord Booker, T. W. Ilam ilt on , Lord C. Booth Sir B. G. Henley, .T. W. Stewart, Admiral Bridges, Sir B. llerbert, 11. J. A. Torment, sir J. Bruce, C. LI.C. Hope, Sir Thesiger, Sir F. Butt, Isaac JollliTe, Sir 'CV. H. Thompson, Colonel Chandos, Marquis of Jones, CoPtain Trollope, Sir J. Cocks, T. S. Knox, Colonel Walpole, S i H. Cotton, W. 11. Knox, W. S. Whiteside, James Disraeli, B. Langton, W. 11. P. TILLERS. Duncombe, A. Manns Lord J. Mackenzie, W. F . Dunne, Colonel Newp or t , or nox, Lord H. a [ADVERTISEALENT.]—A Desperate Case of Scrofula cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mr. Hydon, of Sydney, wholesale agent for the sale of Holloway's medicines in New South Wales, states that Thomas Evans, in the em ploy of Mr. Charles Thompson, of Berambulu, was sorely afflicted far years with scrofula in the neck, and his body was covered with a peculiar kind of pimple, out of which exuded a watery mucus. He had been at considerable expense in try ing various medicines, but without anwyhgothodin a short effect : ort he perd then io us ?d Hollow a y 's Ointment and Pills, which so effectually cured him that he has continued in the most perfect health to the present time.—Sold by all druggists, and at Frefalsor Holloway's gstaDlioluuent i 2.4 d strand; L9AdOll. ', ELECTRIC TELLGRAPII COMPANIES. Yesterday, oC the re-assembling of the Committee — Right Hon. Lord nothem in the chair— Mr. llighton, the engineer of the British Telegraph Company, was examined relative to the improvements he had patented in connexion with electric telegraphs. He estimated the cost of his sigle wire telegraph at 251. per mile. Theßritish Company had been pursued by the old Telegraph Company into Ireland and across the chan nel by the projection of a rival submarine line from Portpatrick to Donaghadee. The witness explained to the Committee various irgenicus improvements he had made in connexion with electric telegraphs, of which there were seueral beautiful models in the room. Professor Brande, member of the telegraphic commit tee of the British Company, and Mr. J. T. Cooper, pro fessor of chemi s t r y, a l so o f t he comusittee, deposed th a t they h a d exam i ned the i nstruments invented by Mr. Ilighton, and declared that they were improvements Upon any that had preceded them. Mr. MEREWETHER then opened the case on behalf of the electric telegraph system belonging to the South- Eastern Railway, against the Bill. The case of the South-Eastern RailCvay, he stated, was a totally distinct and separate case from that of any' other interest before the Committee, and on their behalf he called on the Committee not to pass a Bill of the unusual character before it. An early underatandine. had subsisted be tween the Se uth - Eastern Railway' Company farad the r G a y w e a r y n , m b e o ut athreettwtho of telegraphi c continuously raphioomonio w at i i t o h n the r the south-eaatern co rr a kr s e t. The Seuth•E m astern Railway Company accordingly zubscribed their own capit a l an d constructed their ow n te l egraphs at a cost of 50,000.1, and all they now asked th e C ommittee in fairnes to &low thorn to be left alone, and uninterfered with the admission, under compulsory powers, of foreign o y r not thoroughly solvent parties. This was morethe desirable as they had lately united their wires with a telegraph they had constructed to Brighton for the Brighton and South Coast Railway, tho latter pay ing an annual rent. Charges of incorrectness had been made against the old Electric Telegraph Company, but none had been made against the accuracy, punctuality, or expense of the South-Eastern Company's telegraph; and, separated as the system was from others, they asked to be left free from extraneous control. The ex istenoe of that important international medium of com munication, the submarine telegraph, which, in conjunc tion with the South-Eastern, held the key to the corre spondence of the continent, made the proposal of con ferring the compulsory powers proposed in the Bill still more objectionable. The Learned Counsel, after ob serving that the telegraph, though it had been worked well for the public service, had not been remunerative, called Mr. Macgregor, chairman of the South• Eastern Rail way, who was examined at considerable length. The Honourable Gentleman described minutely the system of electric telegraphs the South-Eastern Company had laid down at their owe cost. The arterial line from London to Dover was eight-eight miles, and the radia tions inland and skirting the coast, communicating with all the Government depots, extended over 280 miles—in fact, over the entire system of the South-Eastern Rail way. There were seventy-three telegraph stations on the line, sixty-three of which were open to the public. The cost per mile of the arterial line between- London and Dover was 2251 ; but experience had shown that lines of telegraph could be constructed much cheaper. The South-Eastern was the first extensive system of telegraph established in this country, and the promoters of it bore the burden of the greatest expense. The actual capital expended for telegraphic construction by the South-Eastern Company wa5.50,0001. Until re cently the charges were higher than at present, and were at the rate of lid. per mile for twenty words, or at the rate of a third-class passenger fare and a half per mile. Then it was an experiment; but the charges had been materially reduced since then. To insure accuracy in the transmission, messages might be repeated, and half the original charge, if the parties wished to avail them selves of the repetition, was charged for it; but the only case he knew in which a message was requested to be re peated was in that of an order from the Home-office, to respite the hanging of a man at Maidstone. —(Laughter.) The gross receipts of the South-Eastern telegraph, from its opening on the Ist of January, 1846, to the 31st of March last, bad been 13,7941, and the gross expen diture charged to revenue 10,5421., leaving a ba lance of 3,2221. Commercially, these results put but a very small sum into the pockets of the proprietors. The 13,7941. was for receipts from the public, excluding the railway company's own messages and uses of the tele graph, for which no charge was made. Managed the telegraph successfully in the public service without the imputation of becoming rich. Had got it into great perfection, and believed that perfection was as near as anything human could be. There had been a very considerable increase in their business since the subma rine telegraph was opened, in conjunction with which undertaking they had worked conveniently and well. No fault whatever had been found with the submarine telegraph since its opening. The South-Eastern had no interest in the submarine. Attached the utmost im portance to the management of the telegraphic system on the railway being entirely under their own control, and was of opinion that it could not be reposed too ex clusively in the management of one set of hands. The contractors of their permanent way would not be responsible for its preservation and safe keeping if foreign workmen in connexion with another telegraph were introduced. Thought that in railway and telegraphic management military discipline ought to be enforced as far as possible. Four wires from London to Dover were kept exclusively for through messages, and with four more in connexion with the newly-opened submarine telegraph could multiply messages several fold over the's° wires without inconvenience. There was ample room for a far greater accumulation of messages. Could, in connexion with the licensees, lay down any number of additional wires, but the posts upon the rail way would accommeelate four more easily. Was there to ask the Committee to separate the South-Eastern Company from the propose measure, and leave them the control of their own telegraphic system in their own hands, and thought it would be a hard case if they could not obtain protection for property invested in telegraphs on their own railway, and also, which was a not less important question involved in it, security for the public and working of the railway.; Cross-examined by Mr. KEATING, Q. C.—The power under which the South-Eastern worked their telegraph and took charges for their own profit from the public was under an Act of Parliament, which allowed the te legraph in conjunction with, the railway to be con structed for the use of Government. The original con tract for constructing the telegraph was with the old. Telegraph Company, or rather with Mr. Cooke, a di rector, and one of the stipulations was that no other party was to interfere with the patent on the South- Eastern line. The dividend: paid in connexion with the South -Eastern telegraph during the last year was so small as to be almost infinitesimal.—(Laughter.) Since December, 1851, had reduced the charges 100 per cent., the charge for twenty words between London and Dover being reduced from I Is. to 55., which latter was now the general charge. Neither the charges nor other matters connected with the old telegraph had anything to do with the South-Eastern. _ After some further statements in detail, the Com mittee adjourned. COURT CIRCULAR. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa, and Prince Arthur, left Osborne for London at two o'clock yesterday afternoon, attended by the Viscountess Jocelyn, Hon. Matilda Paget, Hon. Mary Seymour, Colonel the Son. C Phipps, Lord Charles Fitzroy, Colonel Wylde, Master of the Household. crossed in the Her Majesty and the august party to Gosport, and Fairy Royal steam yacht from C owes and.the t°station. The Queen 1 travelled by a special train on South- Western Railway to the Nine Elm s and the Ladies and Gen and Prince and Royal Family,bLondon and al of her Majesty's car tlemen in Waiting entered readiness,thLight Dragoons, to Buck inghamby a detachment of the . ved at twelve minutes Palace, where they am riages, which were in n_sev_erand proceeded, escorted before six o'clock. Her Majesty and Prince A lbert were received at the Palace by the Marchioness of Ely, Lady Caroline Bar rington, the Duke of Montrose, t he M arquis of Exeter, Viscount Newport, Viscount Galway, Viscount Mande ville, Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, Lieut.-Colonel Francis Sey mour, and Lieut.-Colonel Francis Hugh Seymour. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and attended by the Marchioness of Ely, the Hon. Mary Seymour, Vis- H. -Seymour, honou re d the performance of ge l n c ount Galway, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Lieutenant plays with their pres ence l ast evening. The M a rchioness of Ely has re li eved the Viscountess Li eu t enant- Colonel li l o ' ai2 1% her duties as Lady i n W a i t i ng to the Queen. 1 171 Galway has reliev e d L ord Polworth in his duties joVeei as Lord in Waiting to her Majesty, and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore has relieved the Hon. W. S. Knox in his duties as Groom in Waiting to the Queen. A deputation from the St. Andrew's and Quebec Rail way Company had an interview with Sir John Pukin g. ton yesterday, at the Colonial-o ffi ce, relative to a rail roadin communication between Halifax and as to the mode in which the direct encouragement of and Government could be most appr o p r i ate l y and beneficially accorded to their undert a ki ng . Th e deputlawards, and on consisted of the Earl Fitz w illi am , M r . Sh arpe, Mr. (seTcrheeta Marquis. Mr. Feathersto ne (di rectors ) , and Mr. J. W. Byrne d'Azeglio has left town for Nuneham, Great Extramural Cemetery duAring de putation Whitsuntide. e t . h e W hi As sociation, consisting of the lion. F. p onsonby, Mr. G. K. Corfield ( so li c i tor ), an d Mr. F. Corfield (secretary), had an interview with Lord John Manners yesterday, at the Office of Public Works and Buildings in White hall-place. The Marquis of Blandford had •th Mr. an interview wi th Secretary Walpole yesterdayGene at the Home-office. ral Lave, Governor of Jersey , had in terview also an with the Right lion. Secreta Mr. J. B. Harwood had ry. interview with Sir John the an Pakington yesterday atrespecting Queen Chr.riotte'a Island. Colonial.office_ . Sir E. Head had also in terview with the Right Hon. Baronet. Dispatches wer e t he Colonial sent yesterday from . office to the Governors c• A m er i c a n prov i nces. on, the North noon of Tuesday AtMAN x __— work in a fioeltdhbeelon AvoN.—A melancholy occurrence took place ILLED nT LIGHTNING AT STRATFORD-ON the after. this part e week during the thunderstormn by which country was via . in to Mr. .rfeordat bridge Thomasif T il b a r i ee forei m , a en t H w a e i , arid took refu f the storm beneath some hurdles covered with straw ge rom of shelter • They bad not been long in this place muel when the electric fluid struck them, killing Sale,Sa muel and injuring the other two, JoliA and Joseph Wtittl,..-ki rmi n 94 ani stoma: RACES. -roo m i s ----- SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. EPSOMaDerRbAFCwEhSat a .-- The Oaks is to Levee—the latter pertains to the s t erner Sex only, toa former the ladies take jpreeed ence , and thug t at t h e when fillies only contend f o r th e grea t pr i ze is generally complimented by an unusual attenda nce o f the fair sex That the Grand Stand was less graced yesterday than on many former occasions may be accounted for rather by the doubtful state of ; the weather than from any in clination to depart from a time-honoured custom. The Marchioness of Aylesbury, the Ccuntese of Chesterfield, the Hon. Mrs. Anson, and many other ladies, whose presence at the leading race-meetings is generally looked for, were there, it is true ; but it must be confessed there was a lack of those gay and brilliant colours which, in the olden time, when racing was almost entirely confined to the aristocracy, invariably enlivened the scene on the Oaks day at Epsom. The weather, although dull, was favourable, and the attendance of the higher classes much greater than on Wednesday. It embraced his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Major the Hon. James Macdonald, the Duke of Rich mond, the Duke of lkaufort, the Marquis of Down shire, Marquis of Drogheda, Marquis of 'Worcester, Marquis of Waterford, Marquis of Ely, the Earl of Derby, Earl of Chesterfieel, Earl of Glasgow, Earl Grosvenor, Earl of March, Earl Grauville, Earl of Wilton, Earl of Uxbridge, Earl of Zetland. Viscount Enfield, Viscount Newport, Viscount Anson, Viscount Cnrzan, Viscount Maidatone, Viscount Exmouth, Vis e .)unt Clifden, Viscount Somerton, Lord Londeeborough, Lord Vivian, Lord Henry Gordon Lennox, Lord George Menace! ' Lord Alexander Gord on L ennox, L or d E rnest Bruce, Lord Paget, Lord De Lisle, Lord Dunkellin, Lord Ribblesdale, Baron Meyer Rothschild, the Hon. Admiral George Yoalett, Hon. General George Anson, Hon. Captain H. Rous, Sir R. Peel, Sir W. W. Wynn, Sir M. Farquhar, Sir W. Codrington, Sir IL H. Camp bell, the Hon. Major Horace Pitt, Hon. Major Need ham, Sir G. Army tage, Sir G. Boswell, Sir R. Pigot, the Hon. Thomas Stoner, Hon. W. F. Scarlett, Hon. F. Byng, Hon. Captain C. Lyon, Hon. Leopold Agar Ellis, Hon. F. Cbarteris, Hon. G. Lascelles, Hon. F. Villiers, Ron. F. Petro, Major-General Bowater, Colonel Peel, Captain Seymour, Messrs. Copeland, Webster, Greville, Gregory, Darner, Knightley, Newton, Stanley, Wigram, Graham, Fitzroy, Bowes Arehdall, Payne, Jacques, Standish, &e. ' The raci ng commenced with the Members' Plate, which brought o competitors t :t only three t and did not excite the she' st interest. To this succeeded the great event of the day , which betting , fro m the on the time the ring was for med to its breaking up, was very animated, John Scott' cuss on Wednesd a y 7 party, e m b o ld ene d by their suc much spirit, and in such 1 large out their money with so up of the ring 2 to 1 was t ak en sums, that at the break rose to 6to 1, and Troussea u greedily. Red Hind latter, however, at the last, r e ceding to 2 (taken), the Bird-on-the-Wing, who at one time mg to 4 and 5 to 1; 4, left off friendless. The stat was backed at sto o'clock, but owing to the fractiousne w ssasof fixed for three the Duke of Richmond's mare, who was got to the o difficulty, and threw away a capital chaLestbwylth j um p in g great round the moment the flag was dow n , did not take place until a quarter-past. The race, like th e D erby , into John Scott's stable, by the assistance of Songs t r ess went who has thus added another laurel to the wr eat h of th celebrated Irish Birdcatcher, whose produce, after win ning the Derby, were to-day first, second, and third. Frank Butler, who rode his first Derby winner on Wed nesday, has now won the Oaks six times, and four times in succession! The issue of the race adds very largely to the winnings of the gentlemen who stood on Daniel O'Rourke, and is not by any means favourable to the " round betters." Mr. Davis, it is said, has again lost a considerable stake. Of the other races it is sufficient to say that they made a most excellent day's sport, and, coupled with an im manse company, made this the best Oaks day that it has been our duty to attend for many years. A comparison of the results of the week with those of the last year show a great falling off both in the tickets for the Grand Stand and the money paid for the admis sion of carriages within the ropes. This is no proof, however, that the public interest in the Derby has de clined. Two exceptional circumstances must be taken into account; first, the Great Exhibition, which so enor mously increased the visitors to the Downs in 1851; and secondly, the rain on the Derby day, which kept so many thousands away. The general preparations, as well on the course as on the Grand Stand, exhibited throughout a care and attention which reflect great credit on Mr. Dorling. The victualling department, under the direction of Messrs. Jacquet and Woodraffe, was remarkably well supplied, and gave general satis faction. One regret alone we feel called upon to express; it is an old vexation, the removal of which we had hoped would have been one of the first improvements among the many made by Mr. Dorling. The public, the jockeys, and the horses have all received the advantage of his attention—the press alone has been forgotten. The sole light and accommodation for the reporters, from whom so much is expected, remain as before —a candle and a cupboard. The following is a return of the day's racing:— The Members' Plate of 50 sovs; for three years old, 7st 41b; four, Bst 101 b; five, 9st 21b; six and aged, 95t 31b; mares allowed 516, and geldings 31b; maiden four years old allowed 7ib; five and upwards, 101 b. The winner to be sold for 200 sovs, if demanded, &c. One mile and a quarter. Mr. Stevens's Sleeping Partner, Bst glb (A. Archer) 1 Mr. Drake's Cardinal Puff, Bst 61b ...(T. Sherwood) 2 Mr. Shrimpton's Miss Bundy, 3 yrs, 6st 131 b (Burns) 3 Betting-5 to 4on Sleeping Partner, who won by ten lengths. Run in 1 mio. 21 secs. The Oaks Stakes of 50 soya each, h ft, for three years old, fillies, Bst 716 each; the second to receive 100 sow out of the stakes, and the winner to pay 100 soya towards expenses, &c., and 30 sovs to the judge. Mile and a half on the new Derby course. (123 Subs.) Mr. J. Scott's b f Songstress (F. Butler) 1 Mr. R. Wright na bl i Bird on the Wing...(Rogers) 2 Lord Zetland's br f Gossamer (J. Marson) 3 Mr. Sergeant's b f Kate (A. Day) 4 The following also started, but were not placed : Mr. Pedley's ro f Trousseau (Templeman) 0 Duke of Richmond's b f Red Hind . (Flatman) 0 Mr. Merry's b f Sally (T. Lye) 0 Mr. E. R. Clark's eh f Lady in Waiting (Pearl) 0 Mr. Copeland's oh f The Lady Amyott...(C. Marlow) 0 Mr. Payne's b f Glenluce (Bartholomew) 0 Mr. E. R. Clark's b f Plumstead (Dockeray) 0 Lord Westminster's br f Plot (Charlton) 0 Mr. Worthington's ch f Rachetee (J. Osborne) 0 Lord Chesterfield's Infidelity filly (W. Abdale) 0 Betting at starting-2 to 1 agst Songstress (taken freely), 4 to 1 agst Trousseau, 6 to 1 agst Red Hind, g to 1 eget Gossamer, 12 to 1 agst Sally, 15 to 1 agst Bird on the Wing, and 20 to 1 agst Lady Amyott. Red Hind, who was very restive at the post, delayed the start at least a quarter of an hour, and, when the flag w as dropped, jumped round, and lost at least 100 yards. The lead at starting was taken by the Infidelity filly, followed by Lady in Waiting and Plumstead, Sally, Gossamer, and Bird on the Wing; Songstress lying in the rear, with Plot and Kate. They ran only a short distance in this order, the running then being taken up by Goan mer, attended by Lady in Waiting , Sally,— and Trous seau, next them Bird on the Wing, with the ruck laid up. On making the bend, Bird on the Wing drew t the front, and at the Ba m st e ad - road took the lead, o: G --- same r following her, Trousseau third, with S f a vourite, Lady in Waiting, and Rate in ally, the in their wake. Songstress took the third place in the bottom, Gossamer at the distance, caught Bird headed the Stand, left her a very few 'Arid " the Wiu g at won very cleverly by a length; tes from home, and Bird on the Wing and Gossamer v 2 lengths between Trousseau fifth, and Lad in W ! ate a bad fourth, was ran exactly in three m inutes s i ting sixth. The race salind were declared not to Attack and Bay Ro fore two. start at twenty minutes be- The Railway Plate of 50 any winner after the Boys. (ha n di cap) for a ll ages; carry 51ba extra. publication of the weights to Mr. Bayer's Young En Thr ee-quarters of a mile. and, 5 Sir W. Booth's Timid § yrs, 7st 1316 (Denman) 1 Mr. Wotton's The awn, 4 yrs, Bst lib (Charlton) 2 Mr. Death na Sard Marchioness, Bst 71b (Dockers 3) 3 ailapalus,4 yrs, Sst4lb(W.Abd ale ) 0 0 Lord Chesterfield' Mr. Parker's Vents Senorita, 3 yrs, 7st 71b ( Fi t i an 0 Ventre a -Terre, 4 yrs, Mr. LOmail'S Salo 7" lib (C011in5) .........(8ai1ey) 0 Mr. Radford's CzPitil' 3 Yrs' 6st 61b ......(Arthur) 0 Mr. Ellis' Envelope mine, 3 yrs, sst 13Ib B r a dle y ) 0 8 (la b), 3 yrs, b at 10lb (C. Timid Betting -7 to 4 Senorita, 4to I agst Timid Fawn, sto 1 agat y agsta gs t S ardanapalas, 7 young England, 6tol to 1 agat Salopian, and 10 to 1 agst Czarism. W on by a length, Timid F awn b ea ti n g Marchioness by half a length, Sardanapalus fourth, an d Ventre 1-Terre fifth. Run in I min. 20 secs. The Derby end Oaks Stakes of 3 soya. each with 40 added; three yrs old. 7st ne ; four, Bst 7114 five, Bst 131 b; six and aged, 9st; ;nitres allowed 51b, and gel dings 31b; horses having started once at this meeting and been beaten allowed alb; twice, 51b. The winner to be sold for 120 sovs. if demanded, and allowances if to be sold for less. One mile. Mr. Morris's Priam the Third, sst 51b (501) (Wells) 1 Mr. W. Hole' s G r and Duchess sst (601) (Fordham) 2 Count Bath e j Wee Mickey, 6st 131 b ... (Hi e tt) 0 , ya Mr. Edney s The Incurable, Est 41b (C. Bradley) 0 Mr. Parker's Foe% 6 yrs, Est 111 b (501) (Collins) 0 Mr. Shrimpton's Northman, sst 51b ...(T. Sherwood) 0 M r . Mason's Haresfoot, 4 yrs, 7st (501) (Charlton) 0 Betting-2 t0..1 agst Priam the Third, sto 2 apt Grand Duchess , and 4to 1 agst Haresfoot. Priam the Third a fter took the lead immediately starting, was in a canter by a a fterwards caught, and won . never 1 was 47 secs. The Haresfoot a bad third. Run in • The winner, enter to o ld ed be sold for 501. was so f or 115 Pine" The Foreign Visitors' Plate of 100 sovs. (handicap), for a ll ages; the winner of any race after the publication of the weights to carry 51b extra. Three-quarters of a mile. Mr. G. King's Narcissus, 5 yrs, 7st (Burns) 1 Mr. Ingram's Dividend, 3 yrs, sst 111 b... (J Smith) 2 Mr. Bowles's Iracundus, 4 yrs, 7st Mr. Payne'a Faux Pea, 4 yrs, 7st Elb (Flatman) 4 Mr. Morris's Hungerford, 4 yrs, 85t........ (Basharo) 0 Mr. Rogers's Loybourne, 4 yrs, 7st 81b (E. E. Sharp) 0 Mr. Hornby's Joe-o'-s ee , aged, 7st 5 tb...(A. Marlow) 0 Mr. Begbee's Scavenger (h b), Gat 21b (T. Sherwood) Mr. Hardman 's Sprig of Shillelagh, Sat 1 llb (W CI ells) 0 B a t t i ng -2 to 1 agst Loybourne, 3to 1 ages Faux Pas sto 1 agst Dividend, 6 to 1 agstll f ' unger ord, and 7 to 1 agst Scavenger. Won by a length, a nec k b etween the second and third, Faux Pas a good fourth, the others beaten off. Run in 1 rain. 22 secs. THE Two YEARS OLD STARES (THURSDAY).—The betting on this race was 5 to 2 en V In ou r re turn the odds were accidentally aultress. her. y returned as against THE DERRy, ERRATA,—The King of Trumps was ridden by Cartwright, and Convulsion by Doyle. Having from the copied the riders on the 4(4 INiad ,A,lig sh e a. e WI rie o th er.