The Sun. — London, England, 1837-02-07 00:00:00

SIIIPPEN"G INTELLIGENCE. MAIiGITE, FF.B. a.— Off port the William Barnes, Stone, from the Mauritius. - RAMSGATE, FEB. —Off port the Arhsto, Blackler, frcm Charleston. DOVER, FEIL s.—Off port the Bohemia, Thompson, from Havanna!' ; and Thetis, Ho',gills'', from Malaga.. COWES, FE B , 5. —A rr i%ed - the Charles Kerr, Arnold, from Batavia —sailed Oct. 8 ; Wave, Edwards, from St. Michael's. Off port, the Louisa, from Batavia ; Corsair, from Berbice. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 4. —All ived the Flindley, Wardell, and Thos. Leach, Coull, front Monte Video ; Cleopatra, Stewart, A.,(.1 Nightingale, from Bahia; St. Louis, Sampson, from Natchez ; Allent, ChaQe,i Peruvian, Spear, Margaret King, Forbe , , and North St;-.r, Benedi( t, from New Orleans ; Othello, Saunders, from Savannah ; Laura, M‘Kuoun, and Lord Glenclg, Potter, from New York ; Emma, Jarvis, from St. Michael's; Zuleika, Laura, from Gergenti ; Catherine, from Denia ; Madrid, Lang. Corunna. Off port, the Regulus, fr,rn Bethke ; Smyrna, from Smyrna; Palermo. PLvit,touTu, FEB. 4.--Arrived the Vigilance, Remner, from St. Juan Remelios ; Corsair, Cumming, from Constantinople; Dorothea, Miller, from Copenhagen. Off port, the Cognac packet, Wilks:from Mauritius. FALmourtr, FEL I.—Arrived, the Tartarus (stcam.:r) from the Mediterranean, left Malta Jan. 15th, Gibraltar 26th, Al giers 20th, and Cadiz 27th ; the Linnet (packet), from Lis bon, sailed 29th ult. ; the Charles, Hutchings, from Marata. LOWESTOFFE, FEB. 3.—The Sarah, from Norwich to Lon don, has put back leaky, having struck some wreck, and must discharge. NEW Yonx, JAN. 10.—The Veld, from Hamburgh, which was on shore at New Jersey, has been got off and towed in here. DARTMOUTH, FEB. 4. —The John and Civilian, from Lon don to St. Michael's, has put in here with loss of jib-boom and other damage, having been in contact with a vessel at sea. NhWPoRT, FEB. 4.--The Atlas sailed from hence for Yougball on the 23d Nov., and has not since been heard of. Off the Eddystone, the Drachme, Munden, from Leghorn ; the Dido, —, from Virginia ; the Fanny, —, Cayenne. Off the Start, the Henrietta and Henry, —, Batavia. The William M'Clay. for Bangor to Newcastle, was totally wrecked at the Isle of Man, 2d inst.—crew saved. The Trackford, from Newcastle to Ipswich, was on shore near Mandeley, 4th inst.—crew saved. The Adrian, Roberts, from Liverpool to Holyhead, bound to Trieste, with bows damaged, &c., having been in contact with the Canopus from Bahia to Liverpool. The American Brig Talisman is wrecked on the English Bank at the entrance of the river Plata. The Linda, from Havannah to Marseilles, was totally wrecked at St. Michael's on the 14th ult. The Dover, Curtis, is abandoned at sea. VESSELS ENTERED INWARDS AT THE CU& TOM-HOUSE, FEB. 4. The Neptune, Haacks, from Ostend; Medemblik, Gray, Medemblik ; Meridian, Folke, Virginia; Columbine, Pilcher, St. Mary's; Eden, Watson, Ibrail; Scotsman, Munro, Jer sey; Countess of Lonsdale, Stranack, Cuxhaven ; Abbots ford, Baxter, Jersey; Agatha, Daniels, Embden•, Siebe, Ja cobs, Norden; Margaretha, Olsen, Gottenburgh ; Edward, Wessels, Bremen; Odur, Farmer, Guernsey; Alliance, Tan ner, Guernsey ; George and Mary, Pidgeon, Guernsey; Martha, Martin, Rio Janeiro. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING. The Champion, Martin, for Naples; Earl Bathurst, Ken nedy, Rotterdam; Great Britain, Swinburn, Montreal; To ronto, Collinson, Montreal; Elentherica, Wheatly, Quebec ; Esperance, Van Geyt, Ostend ; King George, Garner, Os tend; Higlibury, Falconer, Berbice; Wilsoas, Campbell, Demerara • William Jolliffe, Middleton, Calais ; Neptu ne , Haacks, dstend. CLEARED OUTWARDS IN BALLAST. The Edina, Reid, for Bahia; David, Treadwell, Barba does ; Patriot, Mullens, Mauritius; Vernon, Davis, Madeira ; Julie, Praegar, Calais ; William Jolliffe, Middleton, Calais; Alkmaar, Heath, Rotterdam. CLEARED OUTWARDS IN BALLAST. The Usurer Minor, Forbeirson, for Norden; Cole, Lavelle, Gravelines ; Lavinia, Wylie, Hamburgh. EAST INDIA. The Magnet, M'Minn, from Bengal, off Liverpool, sailed Aug. 18 ; from Calcutta, 23d; Sangor and Cape, Nov. 17. The Renown, M'Leod, from Mauritius, off Cork, sailed Nov. 5 ; Cape, Dec. I. The Paragon, Cooke, from Mauritius, at Bristol, sailed —; St. Helena, Dec. 5. The Margaret, Taylor, from the Cape, off Poole, sailed Algoa Bay, Nov. 21 ; Table Bay, Dec. 1 ; St. Helena, -. Arrivals at the Mauritius.-The Asia, Biddle, Oct.-, from Calcutta, and sailed 19th for London; the Falcon, 19th from Manilla ; the Penyard, Park, 19th, from London ; the Courier and Duke of Clarence, 19th, from the Cape ; the Mary, 21st, from Marseilles; the Emma, 21st, from Calcutta ; the Edward Robinson, 21st, from Pondicherry ; the Peterborough, 21, from the Cape; the Mahomadee, 21st, from Bombay; the Thames, 21st, from Bordeaux ; the Apprentice, 21st, from Madras; the Prince Regent, 21st, from New South Wales; the Charles Hartley, 22d, and Trident, 22d, 'from Calcutta ; the Adolphe, 22d, from Nantes ; the Antagone, 22d, from Bordeaux ; the Athenais, 23d, from Nantes; the Canton, Sarbutt, 23d, from Cape de Verds ; the Eliza, 23d, from Marseilles ; the Tropigue, 24th, from Calcutta ; the Jubilee, 24th from the Cape ; the Trittan, 24th, from Algoa Bay ; the Sybilla, 24th, from Bristol ; the Atlas, 29th. from Batavia; the Tropic, 31st, from the Clyde, and sailed Nov. 2, for Cal cutta; the Mountain, Nov. 2, from Calcutta ; the Ludlow, 2d, from Bordeaux ; the Syria, 2d, from Llanelly and Fernan do Po ; the John Woodall, from Liverpool ; the Vallydor, sth, from Seychelles ; the Prince Caroller, 6th, from Bourbon ; the Morning Star put back, sth, and sailed 7th for London ; the Malabar, 6th, from the Cape; the Alexander, Bth, from Nantes ; the Mary Taylor, 12th, from London ; the Skerne, 13th, from Algoa Bay. Departures from the Mauritius.-The Britannia, Oct. 19, for Bombay ; the Victoria, 20th, for the Cape ; the Albion, 20th, for Sidney ; the Nerbudda, 23d, for Calcutta; the Java and Cumbrian, 24th, both for Madras and Calcutta ; the Ea mont, 24th ; Gilbert Monro, 30th ; Prince Regent, Nov. 2; Indian Oak, 2d ; and Jubilee, sth, all for Calcutta ; the Cog. nac packet, 10th, for London ; the Lord Saumarez, 12th, for Seychelles ; the Edward Robinson, 13th, for Pondicherry; the Miranda, 14th, for London. Colonel and Lady Anne Peel have arrived at Fen ton's Hotel, from their seat, Buckention House, Norfolk. Lords Frederick and Henry Beauclerk arrived at Mivart's Hotel on Saturday, from Leamington. Lord Stanley arrived in Carlton-gardens on Satur day evening, from Hatfield, Herts, where his Lordship pro ceeded to place his eldest son, a youth of eleven years of age, at school. The Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Pod, Sir James Graham, and Sir Stratford Canning have paid visits to the Noble Lord since his arrival in town. The trial, Lord de Roos v. Cumming, involving, as is alleged, some unfair play at cards, is expected to come on in the Court of King's Bench on Friday. It is expected that some singular disclosures, affecting the characters of other parties, will take place in the course of the trial. On Monday, Mary, the wife of Mr. Henry Gardner, of Painswick, was fully committed for trial to'the county gaol, for forging the name of James Morris, as endorser to a bill of exchange for 1301. The Magistrates offered to take bail in 4001., which Mrs. Gardner has not bean yet able to obtain.— Worcester Journal. On Tuesday an inquest was held on the body of a young woman, aged about twenty-three, which had been found in the Serpentine river. The deceased had on a black born basin gown, and black silk stockings. In her right hand was a black silk reticule, in which were a key, one shilling, and fourpence in copper, a pair of silk gloves, and a child's small glove. She had no bonnet nor shawl. Her left eye was much swollen, as if she had received a blow ; and across the threat was a red mark, as if a cord had been tightly pressed round it. The body was found by one of the officers of the Royal Humane Society, whose attention was attracted to the spot by the constancy with which a dog stuck to the place. There being no evidence to show who the deceased was, the jury returned a verdict of--'• Found in the Serpentine." Sir Edward Parry left town on Friday for Liverpool, to survey the Post-office Packet Establishment on that station. This distinguished officer, who has been deputed to make an inspection of all the packet stations, is accompanied by two Admiralty clerks. FIRE IN TILE STRAND.—On Saturday night, about ten o'clock, considerable alarm was excited in the Strand by the discovery of a fire in the premises of Mr. Phil lips, who keeps an outfitting and military accoutrement ware house in the Strand, the second house to the east of South ampton-street, on the same side of the way. The fire was first discovered by a policeman of the division, who, ob serving some smoke issue from the apertures of the shop, gave the alarm, and on the door being furced open, the gas was found burning, and the whole of the back part of the pre. mises in flames. It appeared that there was not a single per son in the house at the time, and it was stated that Mr. Phil lips, being of the Jewish persuasion, had taken his family to Covent-Garden Theatre, it being a benefit for one of the nu merous charities supported by the Jews. The engines were promptly on the spot, but before they could get into play, the flames had gained an alarming ascendancy. The ground and second floors, the flames evidently passing up the staircase, were soon in a body of fire, and destruction seemed inevitable, not only to the entire building, but to the houses adjoining. By great exertions, h owever , on the part of the firemen, the flames were confined to Mr. Phillips's premises, and in less than an hour all further apprehension was allayed. i Mr. Spooner's, the bookseller, adjoining on the cast side, was scarcely injured ; and Mr. Cranbrook's, the jeweller, at the corner of Southampton -street, also escaped without any ma terial damage. It was impossible to learn any particulars re lative to the origin of the fire, for no one appeared to know anything about it ; and there being no one in the hhuse at the time the chief of the brigade force was unable to collect any information on the subject. The greatest damage was sus tained in the shop, staircase, and the second floor ; the goods in the first floor appeared to our view untouched by the flames, but considerable injury must have been sustained by the water poured upon them. Mr. Phillips and his family, it is under_ stood, reside in Houndsditch, the house in the Strand being entirely occupied as a depot for the sale of military outfits. There was a strong body of police in attendance, who ren dered considerable service in keeping off the crowd and pro tecting the property from the hands of certain depredators, many of whom congregated on the first alarm being given of the fire. It was said that Mr. Phillips was insured in the Norwich office, but nothing certain on that head transpired. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. Among the prisoners arraigned at the sitting of the Court esterday, was a man of rather 'gentlemanly appearance, named James Hance alias Savage, charged in two indictments with having conspired, with others, to procure, by means of iraudulent representations, from Edward Honoywood three bill stamps, with his name and acceptance written thereon ; which said stamps were afterwards filled up, one for the sum of 1,0001, the others fur 500/. each, with intent to defraud the aid Edward Honcywocd. The prisoner claimed his right to traverse in prox, and he ..rag ordered to give bail, himself in 1,0001. on each indiet ment, and two sureties for 801. each, to stand his trial at the next Scssioas. Henry Levingston and John Junes were indicted for having, on the night of the Bth, or morning of the 9th of December last, burglariously and feloniously broken into the dwelling_ house of Mary Anne Booth, in Hereford -street, 'Mayfair, and stooling therefrom several valuable articles, her property ; and Sarah Liyo was indicted for receiving the same, well knowing them to be stolen. The circumstances of this case have been very recently be fore the public in our police reports. The amount of property stolen was very considerable ; it consisted of plate, jewellery, &c., of the value of 6001. The RECORDER summed up the evidence, and the Jury found Livingstone Guilty, and the others Not Guiity. NEW-COURT. (Before the Commox SERGEANT.) Thomas Ea.styate was indicted for presenting, on the 6th of December last, a forged order in the name of Mr. William Dutton, on Mr. Joseph Poole, a wholesale hoot and shoema ker, 0 9, Broad-street, St. Giles's, for six pair of cloth hoots, and four pair of Bluchers, value four pounds and upwards. Another count charged the prisoner with uttering the order knowing it to have been forged. John Cross, foreman of Mr. Poole, gave the goods men tioned in the indictment to the prisoner. William Dutton proved that the order produced was in his name, but not in his hand-writing, nor written by his au thority._ Mr: PHILLIPS cross-examined this witness with great inge nuity, on the ground that he had paid the amount of the order. Colonel Wood, M. P., Rev. Robert Corvett, and several gentlemen of property, who came from remote distances, and at considerable personal inconvenience, gave the prisoner the highest character for long and tried integrity. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty on the first count, ac quitted him on the second, and strongly recommended him to the mercy of the Court. The COMMON SERJEANT, in obedience to that suggestion, and from the high testimony to his former life, mitigated the severity of the punishment which the law attached to felony, and sentenced the prisoner to three months' confinement, with hard labour, in the House of Correction. • Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria and suite are expected to return to Kensington Palace on Thursday next, from Claremont, for the season. The Earl and Countess of Beauchamp have been en tertaining large parties at Madresfield Court during the shoot ing season. Lord Holland entertained Count Pozzo di Borgo, the Duke of Devonshire, and a large circle of distinguished friends, on Saturday, at his mansion in South-street. The Russian Ambassador paid visits on Friday and Saturday to the Duke of Wellington, Lord Lyndhurst, Earl of Aberdeen, and other distinguished persons. His Excellency's dinner parties have been hitherto on a limited scale. His grand diplomatic banquets will commence after Easter. Baron Bulow, the Prussian Minister, was visited on Friday and Saturday, at Mivart's Hotel, by Prince Esterhazy, Count Pozzo di Borgo, Baron Cetto, &c. The Lady of the Baron and family are expected to return to this country from Berlin early in the spring. The Baron and Baroness have a family of 14 daughters, their infant son and heir having expired shortly before their departure from England last year. The Master of the Mint arrived in Hamilton-place, from the seat of his father, Mr. Labouchere, Hylands, Essex. His Highness the reigning Landgrave of Hesse Homburg is expected to arrive in England towards the end of next month. Apartments have been retained for him at the London Hotel, Albemarle-street. His Highness was much pleased with his reception in England last season, and con templates, previous to his return to Germany, making a tour through Scotland. It is uncertain whether the Landgravine will visit her illustrious relatives this year. The Earl and Countess of Jersey and family are ex pected to arrive in Berkeley-square on the 23d inst., from Middleton Park, for the season. The Duke and Duchess of St. Albans are expected in Stratton-street, for the season, about the 16th inst. ; and on the 14th, St. Valentine's-day, their Graces will give a grand en tertainment at Brighton. The Marquis of Douro is expected at Apsley House, from Hurstbourne Manor, the seat of the Earl of Portsmouth, in Hants, where his Lordship has been pursuing the sport of partridge shooting. The following Members are appointed as the Select Committee on Public Petitions :—Mr. Oswald, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. O'Connell, Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Sir Richard Vyvyan. Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Hume, Sir Edward Knateh bull, Mr. Clay, Mr. Tooke, Mr. Greene, Dr. Bowring. Power to report observations; five to be the quorum. Shortly before the House of Commons adjourned on Friday night the Speaker was directed to issue an order, commanding the warden of the Fleet Prison, in whose custody Mr. Lechmere Charlton now is, to bring that gentleman be fore the Committee of Privileges on Monday, at one o'clock. Mr. Otway Cave, who came to town on the day of the opening of Parliament, has paired off till the 14th inst., with Sir Charles Burrell. Lord Charles Wellesley will embark for Malta on the Ist of March, to join his regiment, the sth, or Northum berland Fusileers. His Lordship has arrived at Apsley-house from Gosport. Viscount Ebrington and family will occupy the man sion of his noble and venerable relative, Earl Fortesque, in Grosvenor-square, during the session. Lord Canterbury will sojourn at the Clarendon du ring his stay in town ; his lady and family continue to occupy a hotel on the Champs Elysees at Paa is. Lord and Lady Dillon are at present at Lisbon for the improvement of her ladyship's health. The Marquis of Westminster, according to letters received at Grosvenor-house, from Eaton Hall, is recovering from an attack of gout. The Countess of Kerry, accompanied by her father, Lord Duncannon, have arrived at Wandsworth, where the Countess will remain until after her accouchement. The Earl of Clanwilliarn and the Hon. Sydney Herbert arrived at the Countess of Pembroke's, on Hay-hill, from Wilton Castle, Salisbury. We hear from Brussels that Mr. H. L. Bulwer has been confined to his house for more than a month, with a se vere, inflammatory complaint, which will render it impossible for him for the present to attend to his Parliamentary duties. At a Meeting of the London and Birmingham Rail road Company on Thursday, it was announced that an addi tional million would be required, so that the power possessed to raise money is to be increased from three millions and a half to four millions and a half. The influenza has affected the brute creation as well as human beings to a great extent in the county of Suffolk. Many farmers in the neighbourhood of this town are without horses for agricultural uses, from the prevalence of that disease amongst them.—Bury Post. There are 15,000 persons laid up with the influenza in the city of Exeter alone. —Exeter Gazette. Lord and Lady Willoughby, and seventeen of their domestics, are confined by influenza at Grimsthorpe Castle.— Lincolnshire Chronicle. Owing to tilt, late arrivals yesterday of several of the mail coaches, and the receipt of nearly 10,000 ship-letters, the letter-carriers could not be dispatched until nearly 10 o'clock. A destructive fire took place on Saturday morning in the cloth-mill of Messrs. Heycock, at Royds, in Beeston, near Leeds.—lialifax Express. On Saturday morning, between the hours of nine and ten o'clock, a journeyman tailor, of the name of Lucas, in the employ of Mr. Benwell, tailor, in Cheapside, in the act of taking a pinch of snuff from his box, fell back on his head (while on the shopboard), and instantly expired. He has left a young widow and two children. Bryan Blundel Hollinghead, Esq., whose sudden death from an affection of the heart, at the University Club, on Thursday afternoon last, has occasioned so much conver sation in the literary and professional world, was the oldest living representative of one of the most ancient families in the county of Lancashire. , He was, we believe, in his forty seventh year, a member of Lincoln's Inn, and a barrister-at law ; and he formerly went the Northern Circuit, where, if he had not been blessdd with a competence sufficient to render professional exertions unnecessary, it is said that he would have made a distinguished figure. He was also one of the late Commissioners of Bankrupt. The Learned Gentleman had just returned from his ride, and had dismounted from his horse at the Club-door, in Suffolk-street, when he went up stairs, and, on entering the ante-room, seated himself on a sofa there. He then put some trifling questions to a gentle man in the room, and, before he could answer it, fell back with a slight convulsion of the face. Dr. Donahoo, of Suf folk-place : Mr. White, of the Haymarket ; and Mr. Fin. chain, of Spring-gardens, were in immediate attendance ; but it is supposed that lie was instantly a corpse. He was shortly afterwards removed to his own apartments in Trafalgar square. Mr. H. was also a member of the Parthenon Club, in St. James's-square. On the death of his father and his elder brother he succeeded to the family estates and property. A tragical event occurred a day or two ago E t the house of a lady in the rue Taitbout, Paris, who had in her ser vice a young girl, aged 15 years, named Desiree Thurlier. Her mistress, being dissatisfied with the girl's services, gave her eight days' notice to look out for another situation; but when the eighth day arrived, the poor girl had unfortunat e ly not succeed e d i n procur i ng a new place. On seeing her suc cessor arrive, she ran tip stairs, and, in a fit of despair, threw herself from the window of the fourth story, and fell on a ter race connected with the apartment on the first floor. When taken up she was insensible, and, after receiving some assis tance from a medical mon, she was conveyed to th© hospital Beaujon in a hopeless state. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1837 IMPEnIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY G. Lord SUFFIELD presented a petition from Market Harburo% praying for the abolition of Church-rates. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Leeds, agreed to at a public meeting, and signed by 13,950, pray ing that the whole of the Church-rates might be entirelx abolished. It was perfectly evident, from the tenor of this petition, as well from the language of many others which he hail to present to the House, that the meaning of the petitioners was that the Church-rate was to be en tirely abolished without being transferred to any other fund, because they put it on the ground of conscience. Some of the petitioners stated that they had no other alter native than either to do violence to their conscience by continuing to p a y th ose rates , or to re f use payment, which alternative they were most unwilling to resort to, lest their conduct might have the appearance of disrespect to the existing law. The Noble Lord. then presented petitions from Bung-ay, Aylesworth, Walpole, Wortley, Henley, Abergavenny, Kirk by Moorside, Botley, - Taunton, Boston, and a great number of other places. The Noble Lord most strongly recommended the prayer of these petitions to their Lordships. He believed he might say, f rom th e conversat i ons h e h a d h a d o n this subject, that the Bill about to be proposed to Parliament for the Abolition of Church-rates would be entirely satis factory, and amply realize the expectations of Dissenters. Lord LYNDHURST—Are the petitions for the en tire abolition ? Lord BROUGHAM—Yes, and I think it a very wise abolition.—( Laughter.) Lord LYNDHURST—I don't say any thing about . that, but I m ere ly asked the question for the sake of m formation--(A laugh.) The House adjourned at a quarter•past five o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, FIIBRU JR?' 6. The SPEAKER took the chair a few minutes before four o'clock. Mr. FERGUSON presented papers respecting the St. Pancras Lighting and Paving Act, pursuant to the order oi the House. Mr. OSWALD presented a petition from the Magis trates and Council of the City of Glasgow, praying for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Police Act for that city. Sir E. WILMOT presented a petition from the Bir mingham and Derby Railway Company, praying for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the powers given them in the Act of last year. so calumniated was a relation of his own, he would recom mend the calumniators to be more sparing of their charges for the future. When such gross charges were made, it was but fair that there should be an opportunity for re butting them. If in the time of the Duke of Richmond's administration in any assembly one-fifth part of such charges had been made against the Government, the Attorney-General would have filed an information in less than 24 hours. He would just call the attention of the House to a statement of the case, in order to show the malignancy of the charges which had been made against Government. He held in his band the return of Mr. Kennedy—he believed that the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth would be a testimony to the high character of Mr. Kennedy—he had procured those re turns up to Dec., 1826, in order to skew the effect which the Mulgrave Government had on the peace of Ireland. He begged the House would listen for a moment to this short exposition of the case. He found that in December, 1835, the attacks on the police were 35, which, under the administration of Lord Mulgrave, had been reduced to six ; riots 89 ; which—under the same Govern ment—had decreased to 18. Threatening notices 49, which had been decreased to 24 ; the attacks on houses 24, reduced to 10 ; and illegal meetings 13, which had been reduced to I—if the new Association was to be denominated as such. All the insinuations that had been made against the present Government of Ireland, he would fearlessly say had arisen out of a malignant spirit, because that Government was the first who had given satisfaction to the people of Ireland ; and the Noble Lord at the head of that Government was the first Lord Lieutenant who had endeavoured to conciliate the people. He owed nothing to the Earl of Mulgrave, hut he felt bound to say that the candid and impartial manner in which be hail acted had alone secured the affections of the people of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) The return was then agreed to. Mr. HUME postponed the motion, of which he had given notice for to-morrow, for leave to introduce a County rate Bill, and an Election Expenses Bill, till Friday. SUPPLY. Mr. BERNAL brought up the Report of the Corn. mittee of Supply. TRADE WITH PORTUGAL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the Order of the Day for the House going into a Committee on the Registration Bill, when Mr. ROBINSON wished to ask whether the Govern ment had any official cognizance of a decree which bad been promulgated in Portugal, which was exceedingly un favourable to our commerce with that country ; and if they had not, what their intentions were as to the course to be pursued by this country under such extraordinary cir cumstances ? Lord PA LNIERSTON, in answer to the question which the Hon. Gentleman had just put, would state that his Ma jesty's Government had received from their Commercial Agents, cognizance of that which the Hon. Gentleman had described, not only unfavourable to British commerce, but unfavourable to the commerce of Portugal itself.— (" Hear," from Dr. Bowring.) It would have the effect of turning the commerce of Portugal into a contraband trade, and would thus prove materially injurious to our interests. What his Majesty's Government might think proper to do on the subject, the Hon. Member for Worcester, he was sure, would not expect him then to state. It was a subject of great importance, and was now under the consideration of his Majesty's Government.—( Hear.) Whether the Go vernment would be bound to resort to any measures of retaliation he was not then prepared to state ; but there had been another decree issued imposing tonnage du ties on British ships, and he was quite prepared to state, that as soon as his Majesty's Government ascertained that that decree had come into effect, and that those duties had been established in Por tugal, they would have recourse to the power which was vested in them, and would issue an order for duties corre sponding to those in Portugal, adverse as much to Portu guese ships coming here as their duties were to British ships going to Portugal.—(Hear.) Mr. ROBINSON was not at all surprised at this hos tility on the part of Portugal. Indeed, he had predicted as much at the time the present Lord Spencer had altered the duties on wines from Portugal. Mr. HUME thought if our commercial engagements with Portugal were now to be inquired into, it would be a fit time to consider all our other relations with that country.—(Hear.) This country was, it would be recollected, put to great expense in maintaining a treaty entered into with that State, and he thought the Noble Lord had now a fair claim for a liberal interpretation of our commercial relations with that country. He hoped, however, that it would not be necesgary to resort to what the Noble Lord stated as a sort of revenge upon that Government in case they refused to act a fair part. He would rather shame them into a better and a more equitable lino of policy. RUSSIA. Mr. CHARLES BULLER although he had not given notice of his intention to put any question, hoped the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, would have no objection to give the lion. Methber some information on a matter which had excited great interest in this country, namely, the seizure of a British vessel (the Vixen) by the Russian Government ; he also hoped he would state whether it had taken place in consequence of an alleged infringement of a blockade on- the coast of Circassia, or of the quarantine regulations of the Russian empire. He also wished to know something re specting the cause of a levy of tolls at the mouth of the Danube. Lord PALMERSTON said on the subject first referred to by the Hon. Member, he could merely state that it was under the consideration of the King's Advocate, and until he reported his opinion whether or not the international re gulations between Russia and this country had been infringed upon, the Government would be unable to come to any deci sion. With respect to the levying of tolls on the Danube, there had been several communications between Russia and England, and the Government of the former country distinctly denied any intention to interfere with the commerce of England. By the treaty under which the district of Circassia , was ceded to Russia there was a right reserved to the Russian Government to make such quarantine regulations as might be necessary, and they gave the fullest assurance that no tolls would be levied upon English vessels at the mouth of the Danube. Mr. MACLEAN wished to know if there was any ob jection to lay upon the table of the House the correspondence which had taken place on the subject. Lord PALMERSTON said there was not, as yet, any important correspondence in a state to be communicated to the public.—( Hear, hear.) As he was then addressing the House, he hoped he might be allowed to allude to a return of the ships and troops which had been engaged in the service of the Queen of Spain, which the Hon. Member had moved for last week, and which he (Lord Palmerston) had not opposed. On communicating with the Admiralty he found- there was considerable difficulty in making the return as to the number of ships and troops which were engaged in the service of the Queen of Spain. The lion. Gentleman would find by communicating with his Hon. Friends near him, that it had always been considered desirable that no such information should be given, as it would give the op posite party a complete knowledge of the force op posed to them. He had no hesitation in stating to the House that which was known to the whole world, iat there was an officer of artillery and some,men attached to the force. under Lord John Flay. The Government, however, were opposed on principle to making the return, as it would not matter to any one whether there were ten men or sixty. He trusted, therefore, that the Hon. Gen tleman would be content with his admission, and would al- low him to move that so much of the order of the House as related to the number of ships and men employed, be re scinded. Mr. APLEAN was not disposed to insist upon anything which would be detrimental to the public interest, but he could see no reason why the return should not be made out as ordered. The question was one of a very different nature from any former one, and it was particularly the duty of the House of Commons to have the return made, for the country was put to a certain daily expense, and they ought to know what that expense amounted to, and that could only be known by the Return being made out as ordered. Perhaps he had better postpone his motion until to-morrow. Lord JOHN RUSSELL suggested that he thought it would be better to give notice of his motion. Mr. C. WOOD thought it would be very desirable if lion. Members would give notice of the particulars in mov ing for returns like the present. Had he been aware that a return of the names of commanders of vessels had been moved for, be should have opposed it, as it had been a rule never to make out returns in such detail. Sir H. HARDINGE contended that the course pur sued by the Hon. Member on the present occasion had been a very fair one. How did the case stand at present ? His Hon. Friend the Member for Oxford had gone to a Cabinet Minister and asked if there was any objection to his return. The answer was that there was no objection ; and therefore no sin had been committed by his Hon. Friend, the motion having been acceded to by the Govern ment. Mr. C. WOOD explained. Mr. MACLEAN had given full notice to the Noble Lord of his return ; and when the Honourable Member, the Secretary of the Admiralty, appeared to prompt him (Mr. Maclean) it would !gem as if there was a want of common attention to the necessities of his position. The conversation then dropped. POOR LAWS. Mr. HARVEY begged to ask the Honourable Member for Berkshire a question in reference to a notice of motion BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. Mr. C. BARCLAY gave notice that in pursuance of the orders of a Select Committee of last Session, he would on Friday next move for leave to bring in a Bill for widening and improving Blackfriars-bridge. Mr. A. CHAPMAN presented a petition in favour of the Whitby Improvement Bill. CHURCH RATES. Mr. ORD presented a petition from Newcastle, pr a yi n g for the abolition of Church-rates. Mr. WILKS presented petitions to the same effect from places in Cheshire and Buckinghamshire. Several other Members presented petitions to the same effect. Mr. BAINES presented a petition from the town of Leeds agreed to at a general meeting of the inhabitants at which the Mayor presided. The petitioners complained that the system operated prejudicially as regarded both the Church and the Dissenters, and had been a great cause of discord in many parts of England. No modification would satisfy the petitioners—they required their entire abolition. The Hon. Member presented petitions from 011erton, Bing ley, Rawdon, and two other places, to the same effect. Sir JOHN BECKETT would merely observe, in re ference to the petition from Leeds, lest his silence might be construed into an assent to their prayer, that there were a very large number of persons in that town who were ex tremely auxious to support the Established Church. Mr. P. M. STEWART presented a petition from Lan caster, and another from a congregation at Manchester, praying for the entire abolition of Church-rates. Though he was himself a member of the Church, he considered the present system of Church-rates impolitic and unneces sary.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. TOOKE presented a petition, very numerously signed, from Truro—signed, lie begged to state, by several members of the Established Church—praying for the total abolition of Church -rates; and likewise praying that any substitute for Church-rates might not be derived from any other source of the public revenue. Mr. PEASE presented a petition to the same effect from Darling:jou. MARRIAGE ACT. Mr. WILKS said, that as the Noble Lord the Secre tary of State for the Home Department had' given notice of motion for leave to bring in a Bill to postpone the ope ration of the Marriage Act for four months, he (Mr. Wilks) begged also to give notice that he would postpone till the 6th March the motion of which he had given no tice, for the amendment of that Act. SOAP DUTIES. Mr. TOOKE presented a petition, very numerously signed by the consumers of soap--(Laughter)—in Truro, praying for the repeal of the duty on that article. He thought that the repeal of the duty would greatly promote the health of the poorer classes. CONVOCATION OF THE-CLERGY. Mr. PETER BORTHWICK gave notice that on the 2d of May he would call the attention of the House to the subject of the Convocation of the Clergy, with the view of restoring to that Court such powers as would render their meeting practicable and efficient, for the great pun poses for which they were recognized by the law of the law' MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. Mr. H. HINDE gave notice that in Committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill, he would move the insertion of a clause for the purpose of supporting hospitals for wi dows and orphans. _ _ Mr. 'MORRISON presented a petition from Ipswich, praying for an inquiry into the operation of the Poor Law Amendment Bill, with a view to iti further amendment. He (Mr. M.) was of opinion, that the measure as it now existed had been productive of good, but he had no doubt by further amendment it might be made conducive to much more. Mr. WASON supported the prayer of the petition. Mr. FOX M AULE presented a petition from a place in Perthshire, praying for the abolition of Church-rates, and that all grants of public money, whether to Presby• terian, Protestant, or Roman Catholic Institutions might henceforth cease. POST-OFFICE. Dr. BOWRING moved for areturn of the number of letters received from and dispatched to France up to the last day of January, 1837, and also a similar return of the amount of postages inwards and outwards since the late regulations between the post-offices of the two countries. His object was to show that a reduction in the charge for postage was generally useful to the revenue ; and if no other. lon. Member took up the subject, it was his intention to move for a reduction in the present rates throughout the kingdom, inasmuch as it would prove beneficial to the Treasury, and conduciVe to the interests of the public. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.—(SCOTLAND.) An lION. MEmemt moved that the first Report of the Commissioners of Public Instruction hi Scotland, already presented to the House, be printed.—Agreed to. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. BRADSHAW moved for a return of the procla. mations issued by the authority of the Lord Lieutenant ni Ireland, for the apprehension of persons concerned in mur• ders, fire raising, forcible entry of houses, and other out• rages, during the six months ending the 31st January, 1837, with the rewards offered thereon. Mr. HUME moved for a similar return in the last Session of Parliament, to which he would take leave to re fer the Hon. Member, as it might save him the trouble of making the present motion. If these insulated returns were made they never would be able to judge of the state of the country ; and he would therefore suggest that the Hon. Member would postpone his motion. . . Mr. H. G RATTA N said the object of the Hon. Mem ber was quite clear. He was not aware that such a motion bad been made before, as the return of last Session was a totally different one. He must say, that a speech made at the Glasgow dinner contained - the falsest statements concerning- Ireland. There never were more erroneous or more un founded statements put forward, and he only regretted that the Hon. Baronet was not present that he /L i g h t set him right upon that subject. The Honourable Gentle man opposite was warranted in his motion: by the extra ordinary proceedings which had taken place in Dublin, and when the foulest and most malignant libels were uttered against his Majesty's Government in the Mansion-house of that city, in an assembly of such a character *at the Lord Mayor did not think proper to attend, and refused to pre side at the meeting. For bis own part, he regretted that such statements should have been made, that such charges should have been , uttered by a partisan body, who repre sented themselves to be the Protestants of Ireland. The language used at that meeting by Noble Lords and Mem bers of that House was little creditable to the individuals who had used them. The terms made use of, whether they were advanced by Lord Charleville or by Lord Roden, he rebutted with the utmost indi7nation. The Hon. Member was also warranted in thinking that the state of Ireland had been so bad, when his Majesty's Representative in that coun try was represented as a person going about seeking for persons to perjure themselves. If he could believe the reports which had appeared in the public papers, a charge had been made against the Lord Lieutenant that be had selected individuals for the mere purpose of perjury, in order to create fictitious votes for the support of Government. As one of those individuals given by him in respect to Poor Laws. The returns sought for by the Honourable Gentleman had been made, and he (Mr. Harvey) wished to know precisely what course would be pursued by the Honourable Member.--( Hear.) Mr. WALTER said that it was his intention to move for a Committee of Inquiry ; and now, while he was on the subject, perhaps the Noble Lord, the Secretary for the Home Department, would do him the favour (considering the thousands of persons who had petitioned for an alteration in the law) of stating whe ther he would afford him any facility of bringing on his mo tion on the day he had fixed ; and he would be further gra tified if the Noble Lord would assent to his motion. Lord J. RUSSELL said that in regard to the question of the Hon. Gentleman, whether he would afford him any facilities i❑ bringing on his motion at the period fixed by him, he would say that he could not state whether he could do so, and he could not see why any particular day had been fixed.—(Hear.) In regard to the motion itself, he (Lord J. Russell) felt himself quite in the dark as to the motive of the Hon. Member in introducing it, and he would only say, therefore, that he could not afford him any faci lity as to fixing a day for the motion, nor could he say that he would be ready to debate the question.—(Hear.) PILOTAGE. Mr. G. F. YOUNG begged to ask the Hon. Gentleman opposite whether it was his intention to bring in any measure grounded on the report of the Committee on Pilotage ? Mr. P. THOMSON replied in so low a tone of voice that he could not be distinctly heard: We understood him, however, to say, that when the reports were made he would then be able to answer the question. TIMBER. DUTIES. Mr. HUME wished to ask the Right Honourable Gentleman if it was his intention to bring in a Bill to alter the timber duties ?—(Hear, hear.) Mr. P. THOMSON said that the question depended so much upon circumstances of policy and the state of the revenue, that he could not now answer the question. REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGES BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Mr. O'CONNELL wished to know, whether in considering this Bill, an opportunity would be given to cor rect what was erroneous in the last measure. He hoped it would be so framed as that such amendments could be made. According to the provisions of the Bill of last ses sion, no chapel could be registered unless as a separate building. Now that was inconvenient, for there were many chapels which existed in connection with other buildings. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that there would be an opportunity afforded at a future period of introducing any amendments that might be agreed to by the House. Mr. WILKS hoped that the Bill would be postponed for a month, in order that full opportunity might be afforded for introducing improvements. Mr. BAINES said he wished to say a few words with regard to one point relating to the reading of notices be fore the Guardians of the Poor. That part of the measure was generally conceived by the Dissenters to be derogatory and insulting, and he was sure that it was not the wish of any branch of the Legislature to accumulate insult on the heads of those whom the Bill originally intended to re lieve.—(Hear.) There was another point to which he begged to call the attention of the House, and he hoped they would not fail to take it into consideration. It was that part of the Registration Bill by which the Guardians of the Poor were to be made the superintendent registrars of births, marriages, and deaths. This was an exceedingly objectionable part of the Bill.—(Hear.) It was the seventh clause, and if any arrangement could be made to obviate this objection, he thought it would be very ac ceptable to those on whose behalf it was intended that the Bill should operate beneficially.--(Hear, hear.) He was sure his Hon. Friend the Member for Boston (Mr. Wilks) would be disposed to give every attention to these points, and that his Majesty's Government would be disposed to co-operate in any measure that tended to give to those who were interested the full effect of the relief sought. —( Hear, hear.) Mr. WILKS admitted that the first point adverted to by his Honourable Friend was a monstrous evil on the part of the Dissenters of this country, and one to which every Member who took an interest in behalf of the Dissenting body, was bound to give every at tention in his power. As to the other point, he was not prepared at that moment to pledge himself, but he would give it every attention. The Bill was then reported, with the amendments ; and the House resumed. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE. Mr. BERNAL presented a petition from Messrs. Hansard, printers to the House of Commons, stating that an action for libel had been commenced ag ainst them for pub lishing a report of the proceedings of the House, and praying that the• matter might be referred to a Committee Pri vileges. He moved that the petition be read. The petition was then read by the Clerk, which stated that in 1828 the petitioners had been appointed, and had since continued to be printers to the House ; that they had printed a Report of the Commissioners for inquiring into the state of prisons, wherein it was stated that many of the prisoners had been found reading obscene works, printed by J. J. Stockdalc ; that Stockd ale had subsequently commenced an action for libel in the King's Bench against them ; and had estimated his damages first at 1,0001., but had subsequently encreased them to the enormous sum of 20 000/.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—That the case stood for trial on Tuesday, the 7th of February next ; and that the petitioners had directed their solicitor to take the ne cessary steps to defend such action. The petitioners then stated that they had, under the advice of an eminent special pleader, as a bar to such action, pleaded that they were printers to the House of Commons, and had therefore printed the Report under the sanction and authority of the House. They therefore prayed that the matter might be referred to the Committee of Privileges. The SPEAKER:made some observations, but from the low tone of voice in which the Right Hon. Gentleman spoke, and the noise prevailing in the House, we found it impossible to catch a single connected sentence. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, as counsel in the case, begged leave to make one remark, and he promised that he should abstain from all allusion to the merits of the case.—s( Hear, hear.) He wished it to he distinctly under stood that in the order made by the Learned Judge no disrespect was meant to the House--inasmuch as the plea of the general issue would try the merits of the question without bringing the privileges of that House be fore the Court. Mr. O'CONNELL—The Learned Gentleman had, in his opinion, taken a most inconvenient course. If that plea had been left upon the record, then the question would be decided at once by . demurrer, and without the expense of a trial, and it only showed how inconvenient that plea of general issue was, in which all manner of things might be pleaded. The defendant admitted that he had pub. lished the work by the authority of that House, and if that plea had been left upon the record, the judge would have decided the question at once. Now they were .to have a trial, not to ascertain facts, but to ascertain whether those facts amounted, if true, to a defence.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it would be wrong to order a man to print cer tain papers, and afterwards leave him without protection. The sooner this matter was set at rest the better, and he knew no way of effectually putting an end to it but by altering the law relating to it.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. ;WYNN thought if the House licensed the sale that it would be a publication by authority ; but there might be sonic doubt as to the fact of such license. He did not believe that a new law was necessary on the subject, an d he doubted the expediency of legislating upon it. It would, however, have the effect of making the House exer cise a more jealous controul over the papers published re specting its proceedings. Not longer since than the close of the last session, he (Mr. W.) saw in a report, charg es o f the most scandalous nature against Lord Chief Justice Den man. The House would not suffer the petition to lie on the table, unless some Member gave notice of his intention to the ti matterdge an take such a course as wouldiines affordit._Har(theels As Learned a o t " present ortunity s o t f oo e d it waslearing h a gross reflection upon the Judge standing upon their journals, and if no other Member took such a course, he would pursue that which had been followed in other instances, and move that it be_expunged from the Journals of the House. Mr. C. FERGUSSON thought the matter might easily be settled, by the defendant making application to the Court for leave to withdraw the plea of the general issue, and for leave to plead a special justification. . He had no doubt that such an application would meet with success. Sir R. PEEL hoped that the House would take no .step which would interfere with the regular course of jus tice. He apprehended that under the plea of tile general issue, the defendant might give evidence of his having acted under the authority of the House. In his opinion, it would be better for them to postpone the matter until the decision of the , Court of King's Bench had been given, because the House were at perfect liberty at tiny time to take such steps as they pleased to %indicate their privileges.—(Hear, hear.) He would therefore sug gest that the Hon. Member who had presented the petition should move that the debate be adjourned until after the question had been settled in the court. Sir W. FOLLETT could not but think that many of the observations of his Learned Friend opposite were to tally without foundation. The Learned Judge had no discretion, but was bound to remove the plea from the record, on the ground that Mr. Hansard had not thought fit to stand upon the defence, that he had printed these papers by the authority of the Home. He had taken upon himself to show that the allegations in the paper were proved, added to which, he had allowed the general issue to be pleaded. It was therefore. imperative on the Learned Judge to remove the plea from the record. Had Mr. Hansard stood upon the defence that he had printed the papers under the authority of the House, that would have been a conclusive defence. • He agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet, that the best course . to adopt would be to see what was done before the Learned Judge, and if he told the jury that the defence was a con clusive one, then there would be no necessity for the House to interfere. Mr. O'CONNELL thought as Mr: Hansard k i d em barrassed himself by the course he had adopted, must take the consequences. Ile could .see no occasion for his pleading the truth of the libel, or the general issue. • Lord J. RUSSELL, who was very inaudible, quite agreed that the petition ought to lie on the table for the present. • , Mr. ROEBUCK considered no person publishing papers under authority, ought to be exposed to the trouble and expense of such an action as this.—( Hear, hear, hear.) On the contrary, whoever published under the sanction of the House, ought to do -. so under perfect security. To say that there . was 'a diffe rence between publishing and selling that which Was pub lished, was a distinction worthy of lawyers, but not consistent with common sense—(Cries of: " Hear, hear," and laughter)—the moment a thing was printed it was published to all intents and purposes; and Courts of Justice had determined that putting a letter into the Post-office was a publication ; and whenever the votes of that House were printed they were published— all the world knew them—all the world would kno,v them —and the publisher ought to be protected. Mr. WYNN said that he could not agree with the Hon. Gentleman that the publication was of the same kind when a Court ordered documents to be printed for its own use, and when it was sent out to the public. There was in his (Mr. Wynn's) opinion, a decided difference between one case and the other, but the House could order documents to be printed, not only for its own use, but for that of the public, and this, therefore, called for greater circumspec tion as to what documents should be published ; and he wished, in making these observations, merely to shew what inconvenience might arise from a want of this' circum spection. Mr. BERNAL said that whatever, was the result of the action, he was sure the House would not suffer the Messrs. Hansard to suffer any loss. He looked upon this as a matter of course, and lie therefore moved that the peti tion do lie on the table. After a few words from Mr. WYNN, which were in audible, Mr. O'CONNELL said that when he was requested last Session to present the petition, last Session he had said lie would not do so unless the matter was determined to be followed up against the Judge. Without this condi tion he said he would not undertake to present it ; and then it was said that all that was wanted was, that it should be presented, and that some person would be got to bring it before the House this session. He did not think it would have been printed, or he would not have presented it ; he had merely laid it on the table of the House. After a few words from Mr. WYNN, which were not heard from the Gallery, the subject dropped. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the Order of the Day for the second reading of the Mu nicipal Corporations' Act Amendment Bill. The llonourable and Learned Gentleman, in an swer to a question from Sir William Follett, said that the Bill was almost entirely the same as that, the principles of which had been approved of last Session by both Houses of Parliament. An opportunity of discussing the details of the Bill would be afforded when it was in Committee. Sir WILLIAM FOLLETT was glad to hear that they would have a future opportunity of discussing the details of the Bill. Sir E. WILMOT wished to draw the attention of his Majesty's Attorney-General to a question as to whether, in this or in any other Bill, a remedy could be afforded for an inconvenience which had occurred under the last Municipal Amendments Act. He alluded to the cir cumstance of several parishes in Counties of Cities which Were excluded from the Municipal controul of the Cities.—(Hear.) This had happened in Warwickshire, in the county of the city of Coventry, and there had been greats t. difference They wished f opinionof i amongst the professio n o n a ub e the possible to avoid a great deal .of law on this subject, and he therefore suggested 'to the Attorney-General whether it was possible in this • Bill, or in any other, to carry into effect . the intention of the last Act, so that they might be told shortly a nd clearly what county these parishes were in. The ATTORNEY -GENERAL was understood to say that the parish limits would be fixed in every borough. Mr. SCARLETT would suggest to the Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite, that it would be advisable to postpone the introduction of this Bill for a short pc riod—(Hear)--in order that the Corporations might become well acquainted with its details. Farther, were it to be brought on upon the day proposed, he believed there would not be much time for discussing it. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL supposed the Hon. and Learned Gentleman would like to go on until the 21st of June, which was the longest day in the year.—(Laughter.) All the Corporations were now sufficiently acquainted with the provisions of the Bill, and he thought that if he named Friday next, that would be as distant a period as could reasonably be expected. Mr. SCARLETT would certainly object to next Friday. Hasty legislation might require another Bill - to be brought forward, and be thought that three weeks would enable all parties to become acquainted with the provisions of the Bill. Sir W. FOLLETT thought there need not be great haste in having the Bill sent through the House, thought he admitted it might be desirable to have some legislation on the subject. The Bill was then read a second time. Sir R. PEEL did not think his friends were at all un reasonable in asking that this question should be post poned till this day week.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. SCARLETT moved that the Committee on the Corporations Act Amendment Bill be fixed for Tuesday next. Lord J. RUSSELL said he hoped to have brought in the Municipal Corporations Bill for Ireland to-morrow night, and it had hitherto been his intention, in such a case, to have proposed the second reading of the Bill on Monday next. Sir W. FOLLETT seconded the motion, as he could see no disadv an t age which wou ld resu l t f rom delay. Mr. WASONsaid the great inconvenience of the post ponement was the immense expense to which it would put the parties now in town interested in the Bill. Mr. SCA RLETT said his answer to that objection was, that all Corporations had agreed that the expense should be paid out of the corporate funds.—(Loud cries of " Spoke, spoke.") - After a few observations from the ATTORNEY-GE NERAL, which were not distinctly heard, the Bill- was ordered to be committed on Wednesday week. • FICTITIOUS VOTES (SCOTLAND.) On the motion of Mr. HORSMAN a 'Committee was appointed !on the registerin g of fictitious v o t es i n S co tl an d, and the names of the Membrs appointed to form the. Com mittee read over by the Speaker. Mr. PRINGLE objected to the list on the.gronnd. that some of the Members to his knowledge were not and would not be in town in time to form the Committee. Mr. STEUART believed he had seen all the Members whose names had been read over in the House except,one. Lord JOHN RUSSELL supposed there could be no objection to his Hon. Friend moving the appointment of the Committee. on another day, provided there was any material objection to its appointment at present. Mr. HORSMAN—His feeling had been that as mat ters were likely to be discussed before that Committee of very grave importance to the Members for many counties in Scotland—(Hear, hear)—whose agents had been employed in getting up these fictitious votes, it would be better to avoid putting them on the Committee.—(Loud cr i es o f " Hear, hear.") With that exception he had chosen the Members indifferently from both sides of the House. Mr. R. FERGUSON observed, that if his name had been on the Committee he would have felt it his duty to decline acting. - The following Committee was then appointed : Horsman, Edward Duniop, J. O'Connor Don Baring, B. Ferguson, Gorge Rae, it William Buller, B. Fre:natal.), Sir' . 'Warburton, Campbell, Sir Maule, Fox Stormont, Lord Campbell, W. Murray, J A. Stanley, Lord EVIDENCE BEFORE THE HOUSE. The SPEAKER would beg to call the attention of the House to a matter which had been recently discussed, res pecting the manner in which evidence should be taken before Select Committees of the House. When Select Com mittees were appointed, a very important duty was confided to them, and in order that it would be executed in a fair and impartial manner, it was essential that they should be properly defined. Now he (the Speaker) apprehended the clear course to be pursued was this. If the evidence were sent from the short-hand writer to the Committee before it was printed, an opportunity would be afforded if the witness thought fit to remain in town to see his evidence, and after that ve rbal alteration was made, should any inaccuracy afterwards ap pear, he may apply to the Committee to be re-examined. This would effectually secure the proper giving of his evidence by the witness. (Hear) Another ca se which had been suggested was, that it very fre quently happened that witnesses did not find themselves in a condition to answer many of the questions that were proposed, and required time for reflection. In such a case the course he thought should be adopted was that the witness should only answer such questions as he was prepared with, and to defer those which he found a difficulty in answering. Supposing all this to be acceded to, then he had to submit to Honourable Members that they should p 0 their questions with brevity and preeision, E v ery means should also be given for the accommodation