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

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) Committee No. 1. NORTH ITA.PPORDSHIRE (POTTNIRIES) LINE. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The CHAIRMAN said he remembered one case of last ses sion which was similar to t he point now raised. In that case one of the trustees was himself a shareholder, but there was this difference, that without the sum for which he was bound there was more than amnle capital. He referred to the Eastern Counties (Norwich Extension.) Mr. BunKß—ln the present case he had to say that the con tract deed was perfectly valid. It had been held good, in Ina - 1y decisions in a court of law, that where a co -trusteeship existed, one trustee could recover from the others, under cer tain regulations of the deed. Now, in the case for the promoters of the present Bill, there was one person who had signed the covenant who was not a subscriber to the unde rtakin g , and that made it quite competent for him to sue the other trustee or the whole Com pany. This had been decided over and over again in courts of law. Mr. COATES replied, after which the room was cleared, and having consulted the Speaker, The CHAIRMAN said that Committee had considered the case which had been argued at such length, but understand ing that exceptions had been taken to the decision of last week b y the agents who were inter Died Coates ted f o r the cases which had been alluded to by M. , they were anxious to take the opinion of the Chairman of the Sub-Committees who would meet on 'Thurs day and consider the question raised. The Committee were quite prepared to give their own opinion on the allegation, but it would be no doubt more prudent to wait a consultation of the Chairman, after which they would immediately decide the point at issue. IMPORTANT TO PARLIAMENTARY AGENTS. The CHAIRMAN said that he was instructed by the Speaker to inform the agents for Bills, that they had neglected to comply with the standing orders, which required the name of the Bill to be written on every petition for or against the same ; any petition being presented without this form being complied with, was contrary to the standing order, which was as follows : " That on every petition presented to this House, relating to any private Bill before the House, the name, or short title, by which such Bill is entered in the votes, be written at the beginning thereof; and whether such petition be in favour or against the Bill relating to the non-compliance with the standing orders." LONDON, NEWBURY, AND BATH Mr. COATES appeared for the promoters, and called seve ral witnesses to prove the several deposits of the plans, sec tions, and books of reference. After which Mr. BURKE said he appeared on the part of Colonel Wroughton, of the parish of Wilton, in the county of So merset, and other landowners. The petition alleged that the owners of property, though marked on the plans and sections, was net shown in the books of reference. The Clerk of the Peace for the county of Somerset was then called. Mr. COATES objecte d to the petition being proceeded with shownpart of the owners in the petition, unless it could be that they were parties actually to be affected by the proposed line. The room was then cleared, and upon the parties being called in, The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee would not enter tain any petition against the omission of property in the books of reference, unless it could be shown that the e petition was presented by the consen t of the parties to by the non-compliance with the standing orders. Mr. BURKE would call Col. Wreughton. The witness me rely pointed out his property on the plan. The Clerk of the Peace for the county of Somerset was then called to produce the book of reference which had been deposited with him. Upon referring to the book, it turned out that the property was fully described. Mr. BURKE said that he would, of course, abandon that allegation, as well as several others which were disposed of by the decision of the Committee. - Mrs. Susannah Shaw was then called to prove that she had not received notice for a piece of meadow ground which was to be taken. This allegation was sustained. The Committee adjourned, at four o'clock, till twelve o clock to-morrow, when the remaining allegations in the petition will be taken. Sub. Committee No. 2. 7 HZ CAMBRIDGE AND OX7ORD RAILWAY (C o ntinued from our Afternoon Editio n of yesterday.) It was also alleged that there were various other inaccura cies on the line. The CSAIRMAN said, in the case of the Oxford and Cam bridge Railway, the Committee w ere of opinion that the standing orders had not been complied with. LONDON AND BRIGHTON (WANDSWORTH BRANCH) ILATZWAY, The Bill stated that the proposed railway would be of great public benefit. There were two petitions alleging non compliance with the standing orders, but no one appeared in their support. Witnesses were then examined to prove that the usua, forms had been complied with. 'rhe line was to pass through Streatham, Mitcham, 'rooting, and Wandsworth. Mr. PRITT said that this Bill had been thrown out by the Committee on its merits last session. The present Bill, by clause 39A, would not require more than 5 per cent. The CHAIRMAN considered that it would be necessary to prove that the present was precisely similar to that intro duced into Parliament last year. Mr. ParrT stated that there was no material difference. The Committee were of opinion that the deposit of 5 per cent. was sufficient in this case. The remaining evidence was of the usual character, and the Committee were of opinion that the standing orders had been complied with. siusrrizza AND LINCOLN' JUNCTION RAILWAY. Mr. Pitrrr said that the present was one of those that arose out of the standing order to which he had already referred in the preceding case. Mr. Gainsford examined—Vas solicitor to the Bill brought before Parliament last session, as well as the present Bill, which was substantially the same as the former Bill. The Bill of last year was for a main line and a branch. The House had negatived the branch, and the Bill was ordered to be engrossed. The main line for which the present petition prayed was exactly the same es the main line of the former petition. Mr. LAING, agent, presented a petition from Mr. W. Dun Wheeler, of Sheffield, solicitor, on the part of his client, Mr. Clarke Hutchinson, stating that the proposed line would pass through and injure his property, and that the petition was not presented by the sames parties who had brought it for ward last year. Mr. Pam said he objected in liznini to the objection being heard, as the petition was presented by one party on behalf of another, whereas the party interested should apply himself. It appearing that the petitioner had been authorised to act for Mr. Hutchinson, the petition was received. Mr. LAING said that his objection was, that the standing orders required parties to prove that the undertaking was car ried on by the same persons. Mr. Gainsford was then examined, and stated that the par ties were the same, and there was the same body of directors with the exception of one individual, who had retired from old age. Mr. LAING said that out of 73 who had signed, only 23 had signed the present petition, while out of 707 who had signed the former contract only 98 had attached their nam to the present deed. The CHAIRMAN said the Committee were unanimously of opinion that the petition was from the same parties. The Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with by the Company. NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON JUNC TION (DURHAM AND SUNDERLAND 22A.ILWAY AND W:ZARIVLOUTH D CX. PURCIIA.SES AND BRA.NCHES). The Committee found that the orders bad been complied with. ISEXILS .A.ltcrD HUNTS (riumazitronn EXTENSION) RAILIATA'Z. There were petitions against this Bill from the owners of the land through which the line was to pass, stating that due notice had not been given in the London Gazette. The Committee resolved not to enter on the petitions to-day, and adjourned, at four o'clock, till twelve o'clock to-morrow. Sub-Committee No. 3. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) BAWICX BRANCHES. This was another petition of the North British Railway, Company, for leave to bring in a Bill to make a number of branches from their Hawick line, the estimated cost of which was 770,0001. The Committee took an objection to the plans, inasmuch as they did not correspond with the petition for the Bill. Ely the petition the Company sought for powers to make a branch from Torwood Lee to Selkirk, while the plans deposited were for a branch from a place called Rink to Selkirk. Mr. Miller, the engineer of the line, explained that so much of the branch as lay between Torwood Lee and Rink had already been sanctioned by the Legislature, and, there fore, it was abandoned in the present instance. The Committee complained that this discrepancy betwee❑ the petition and the plans was calculated to m►slead the public, and they trusted that in future the promoters of Bills would make the titles of their lines in their petitions and plans correspond. The decision of the Committee in this case was the same as that in the last. CARLISLE EXTENSIONS. Railway Company, was another petition of the North Br itish C,,omPanv, for leav e to bring in a Bill to consti uct their Car "le Extensions , the estim ated cog of which was 660,000/. The customary formal proofs having been gone through, the Committee informed the parties that their decision in the former case would apply to this also. Those were the three Bills included in the joint subscrip tion contract alluded to in the first case. The aggregate amount which the parties to this instrument bound them selves for was 1,27 4,687 [., the ques ti on w h e th er thi s de e d T . co uld apply to three 1 ., ,t11, 7a.:i left for de c i s i on o f th e Com mittee above, or the Conintitt‘c on Piddle Petitions. GRETNA BRANCH, the a Railway This was a fourth petition of Lill "rth Company, for leave to bring in a Dto eoi from a point on their main line to Gretna, the estimated cost branch of w hich is 80, 0001 . The usual evidence of the deposit of plans, s ic ., having been a dduced, the Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with. 3ILDINOURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY. This was the petition of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway porn`ave to brmainn a Bill to make a branch railway from a poi on their line Queensferry, the estimated cost of which was 140,000/. The Committee decided that the standing t,:ders had not been observed in one -respect. The fixed point where the branch commonces on the main line was not stitlP ciently specified ou the plan of the branch by some distinc , five mark. It was stated in the section that the branch would commence at the point on the plan where the main line diverged, marked A. The' plan showed the point where the main line diverged, but it was not marked A. The Committee adjourned shortly before live o'clock. i Sub-Committee No. 4, Room 11. An additional Sub-Committee was appointed for this dap- consisting of the following Members:— 1 s ' , f Sir W. Ileathcote, chairman ; Mr. Hope Johnstone, Mr. -- 7 ---M. J. O'Connell, Mr. Packe, Mr. Acland, Mr. Swart, Mr. - . Moore Drummond, Mr. Childers, Mr. Cornwall Leigh, Mr. -. ' EI.P. Shirley. .i 7.:The business of this Committee commenced at twelve lock, when there were present Mr. Rome Drummond, /;:., airman, in the absence of Sir William Ileathcote; Mr. / 0 - , -..; ~- ,,: .- z ., -, pe Johnstone , Mr. Shirle y , Mr. Packe, and Mr. Evans. ~,,, • IIPVIZZL-CITZE-VINITNNY RECTORY. ! --- This was a Bill to empower certain persons therein named to divide the rectory, which is in the county of Norfolk, into three parts ; to build one or more churches in each district, and to add a burial-ground to each new church ; to provide parsonages and glebe land, and to raise moneys. Adjourned, owing to the petition not being before the Committee. 411 s T .--..-----.....-..-.-"-- THE sway ow) WATER-WORKS BILL, was passed. WINDSOR, SLOUGH, AND STAINES ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY. This was a Bill to construct a railway from Windsor to Staines, in length eight miles, and estimated to cost 150,000/. Mr. Walmesley, the agent of the Bill, appeared before the Committee, and the usual preliminaries having been gone through, the Committee declared the Bill to have passed it. SOUTH MIDLAND (HUNTINGDON BRANCH) AND (NORTHAMPTON AND BEDFORD BRANCH) RAILWAY. These were two Bills for the construction of the above two b ran ch lines, which were to g ether 91 miles in length, a cstimated to cost 1,900,0001. The Committee declared that the s t an ding orders one con - bad been complied with , exc e p t as to there being only tract deed for both line s, which was reserved for future con sideration. Messrs. Venables and Co. were the agents for these Bills, and Mr. Vigil°lles the engineer of the lines LON DON AND SOTTTII-WESTERN HAM AND ALTON BRANCH). Length 21 miles, estimated cost 300,000/. This petition was declared proved. The agent for this and other Bills of the Company is Mr. Eddiscombe. GRAND JUNCTION (HUTTON AND ASH TON, HUYTON, PRESTON, AND ST. HELEN'S, WARRINGTON AND KENYON, WARRINGTON AND PARKSIDE, LOWHILL AND PORTOBELLO. AND EDGEHILL AND HUYTON BRANCHES) RAILWAY AND GRAND JUNCTION (HUYTON AND WARRINGTON BRANCH) RAILWAY. Two Bills had been introduced for the construction of the above seven branch railways. The estimated cost for the whole is 1,480,0001., and the length 46 miles. The en gineers are Mr. Locke and Mr. Woods; the agents are Messrs. Burke, Pritt, Venables, and Co. Mr. VENABLES appeared to promote the Bill. and the two petitions were declared proved by the Committee. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD , AND MID LAND JUNCTION RAILWAY. This is a contemplated railway from Sheffield to Chester field. with a branch to Bakewell, the estimated cost of which is 1,050,000/., and the length 23 miles. The engineer is Mr. Vignolles, who was this day examined as a matter of conve nience to, himself, but the petition will be taken in its proper turn. NEWCASTLE AND DMILWICH RAILWAY. The estimated ro m c ote theost of thi ßill, and the y line was 54,000/ Committ . ee declared Mr. Venables appea red to p the petition proved. The Comitteee adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. ALARMING POTATO RIOTS AT' INVERNESS. (nom A CORRESPONDENT.) INVERNESS, FEB. 6, 1846.—As some excuse - for not at tending to your letter, 1 enclos e two proclamations and a note, from which you will gather the alarming inatur nformed,f e o the everpo sition of Inverness , and , indeed, as lam of y shipping place in the northern counties ; but our situation is much more critical than that of any other place from the large body of navigators at present employed in then eigh bourhood, and who are taking an important part in the fray ; and as some of them are captured, we may to-night expect an attempt at rescue. Unfortunately there is only a small number of military at Fort George at present, but as many have come into Inverness as could be spared so as to leave enough for the defence of that important position. There appears to be about 70 or 80 who occupy the castle, and under the prudent and spirited command of Captain Campbell, of the 87th Irish, they have been of important use in preserving order, and as yet nobody has been killed, but the number wounded must be ten or twelve, some pretty se verely, by the bayonets which the soldiers were obliged to use when retreating te the castle with about a score of pri soners ; and some of the gentlemen and constables were se verely cut by the stones. If in the course of the night the navigators, of whom there are upwards of a thousand, overwhelm the military, it is impossible to say where this unfortunate affair will end, the whole town and neighbourhood will be at the mercy of these blackguards for six days, being the shortest period within which we can obtain assistance. Oh for twelve hours of our Perth and Inverness railway 1 If anything will open the eyes of Government, it is the danger in which we are at present. The riots began on Wednesday, in the attempt to ship some potatoes at Thorn Bush pier. The low popula tion of the town opposed it successfully, in spite of the police magistrates, and the military were sent for, and placed in the castle, in case of need. The town was quiet all day en Thursday, being the Sacramental fast-day, but in the evening thenavvies marched in from the canal, and being joined by our own mob, pro ceeded to smash windows, threatened or attempted to set lire to the Provost's distillery, and it was considered proper to order out the military, who, after a bush, succeeded in capturing about twenty rioters, when the mob dispersed. To-day special constables were sworn in, and under cover of a strong body of constables, with the Provost and Sheriff at their head, an attempt was made to ship the rest of the cargo. About half-way to the pier the mob attacked us slightly, but surrounded us in thousands, and after the Sheriff read the Riot Act and a proclamation, we continued our march to the pier. The mob had taken up a very strong position here close to the place of shipment, and whenever the attempt was made to ship the potatoes we were attacked with the utmost fierce ness, and we were all after a very short combat obliged to fly. The soldiers were sent for, but before they arrived our cart and its potatoes were sent into the river. The military shipped anether, and so the affair ended in the meantime. The soldiers have behaved very well, and Mr. Tytler and Provost Sutherland are heroes. The' e was a riot in Nairn last night, and at Campbeltown, Invergordon, &c., the same spirit prevails, and not a potato will be shipped without a military escort, though the authorities assured us to day there was an abundance in the country. The following proclamation has been issued by the Sheriff of the county " Whereas, notwithstanding the proclamation issued by the Provost and magistrates of Inverness on the 4th inst., the authorities of the county and town were this day deforced and assaulted by a riotous mob, compelled to read the Riet Act, and call in the assistance of the military power. " The authorities, in addition to the prisoners already in custody, have marked several others, who were active in the riot and mobbing, and they have been informed that the public peace is still threatened ; they therefore prohibit all parties from appearing on the streets, lanes, and roads of the town of Inverness and its suburbs, after the hour of nine o'clock" of this evening ; and they hereby inti mate that any person or persons so appearing on the said streets, lanes, or roads, between the said hour and six o'clock, A.M., to-morrow, shall be deemed and held to be disturbers of the peace, and act and part in the said riot and mob, and shall be apprehended and prosecuted as felons—the Riot Act already read being still in force. "The authorities aforesaid, while they are determined to enforce the law, take this opportunity of informing the in habitants, that measures have been taken for supplying the market of Inverness with potatoes. " God save the Queen 1 "By order of William Fraser Tytler, Esq., Sheriff of the County of Inverness, and James Sutherland, Esq., Provost, and the other Magistrates of Inverness. " PATK. GRANT, Sheriff-Clerk. " ALEX. MACTAVISH, Town-Clerk. " Inverness, 6th Feb., 1846." tes I IMPORTANT NEWS from MEXICO (From a Second Edition of the Times.) We have received the following important intelligence, brought by the West India Mail steamer Trent The Royal Mail steamer, Trent, Captain Boxer, arrived at Southampton this morning, from the Gulf of Mexico, last from Bermuda. She brings 510,822 dollars, 1,256 ounces of silver, and a large quantity of platenum, cochineal and indigo, from Guatimala. The passengers by her are Lieut tenant Peel, son of Sir Robert Peel, from the Pacific, with dispatches, Gen. Mendoza, Captain Gracio 2nd lady, Mr. and Mrs. Neilson and child, and Mrs. and Miss Trew, Captain Deering, lady, and two children , M e s srs. Stanley, Michaud, lionavero, Seruton, Silva, Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. 'Valmyniple, Boshill, Dr. Vamu, Lieutenant M'Cleave, Dr. Findlay, and Mr. Wm. Neilson, of her Majesty's late ship Romney, Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple. • PRONUNCIAMENTO OF GENERAL .PAREDES AND MARCH OF .HIS DIVISION ON THE CITY OF MEXICO. We have received from our Correspondent in the city of Mexico letters of the 30th of December. General Paredes, with, his division 7,000 strong, pro nounced on the 15th ult. at San Luis Potosi, and marched against Mexico en the 21st for the avowed purpose of over turning the present Government, and' calling a National Convention to Establish whatever G3verntnent it might think fit. Parades and Ms division arrived on the 29th in the imme diate vicinity of the capital. The Government prepared to resist in an energetic manner. They appointed General Bustamcnte Commander-in-Chief, armed 3,000 Civicos or National Guard, barricaded the town, cut trenches in all the roa-ls, declared the city in a state of i •iege, and c alled out the male populat on between the ages of 16 and 60. The,garrisons of the fort of San Juan de Untie, Vera Cruz, Jalapa,' Giranxuato, Guadalaxara, Zacatecas, pronounced in favour of Paredes, but the civil authorities in all those places and in several other towns issued manifestoes in favour of the Government. Several arrests were made, and the Archbishop was con ' stituted a prisoner in his palace at Sacubaya. M. Slidell, the new Minister of the United States, has not bees received by the Government, under the plea that Mexico agreed'to accept a Minister ad hoc for the regulation of the affairs of Texas, and not an Envoy for general purposes. M. Slidell has written a very angry note, and retires to Jalapa, there to await instructions from his Government. Lieutenant W. Peel (son of Sir R. Peel), of her Majesty's ship America, now at San Blas, on the Pacific coast, passed through Mexico on the 27th for Vera Cruz, charged with dispatches for the Hon. Captain Gordon, of the America, sup posed to be relative to Upper California and the Oregon. Our correspondent at the moment has of closing his dispatches sly', that the whole of the garrison pronounced in favour of Paredes, and - that the Government of Herrera may be con sidered at an end. The city was perfectly quiet and not a shot fired. averagerefive the coming crop, favo u w r h e( i t eh by it There is nothing of any marked interest among the islands; The Clyde brought to Bermuda the windward mails, they bring the dates since the last steamer left, to the 14th of January from St. Thomas, and Bth from Jamaica. t t i o le out ‘. ships have begun to congregate at the different ports, will atat t le h a. e st eo b e an .. one, or perhaps beyond it, as the cane, especially to 1 windward, was much rains 11 of last year. tiiiesaid TII EATRE ROYAL, .I;4 O I3 . INBURG It r; , a e ' s . e b. 4th.) id:itt i er has proved an r actor of than (From the Edinburgh Iv c k , The engagement of Celeste and Y Mr. signally successful. Mr. Web,ter is er ; an a rl i le very considerable power, and lie has a much wider range u a s l ., e , his first appearance in any character would ciliate. This we think a great proof of excellence throws himself so thoroughly into his part, and evinces so much taste and discretion, and in fact is so much at home that we do not know how he could well go abroad into also. a differPerhapentde partment, till we find him equally at home there s hi s ablest personat ion is in his own clever farce, called The Miseries of Human Life, where old Mr. Ally Croaker, fretting at every thing, finds, of course, every thing to fret him, even to the pulling on of his boots. fle does, in deed, seem as if he had been scalded or skinned, and then clad in a shirt of nettles —while his droll agonies are well contrasted with the coolness of his friend u Mildmay (Murray who was quite in his element), to whum nothing comes amiss, and who, equally of course, finds every card a trump. The Lioness of the North is a clever comedy, founded on the mistake of Elizabeth of Russia (Celeste), who makes im perial and imperious love to a young lieutenant (Webster), thinking that he is the famous Biron, Duke of Courland. Celeste acted the sovereign virago with her usual animation and dignity. Mr. Webster, in his character of Alexis, rose SUN, LONDON, TUES DAY EVEN ING, FEBRITAII lO, 1846 IM PE RIAL PARLIAMENT. . y wished that his Noble Friend would postpone the dis• HOUSE OF LORDS, Monday, Feb. 9. cussion until the matbsr came before the House in a more regular manner. The loaD CBANcELLon took his seat on the Lord STOURTON said that he should feel him- Woolsack at Five o'clock. t self wanting in his duty bath to England and Lord STANLEY presented a petition, wined Ireland if he did not express his entire and full concur- l by 12,339 owners sad occupiers of land, renco with the measure.proposed by Government fur the and tradesmen, manufacturers, and labourers of benefit of Ireland. The labour of Ireland was now the north division of the county of Lancaster. He had about to be absorbed in resources which—and he said it examined the• signatures to this petition, and he had 1 to the disgrace of this c mntry—had been kept fur S,OO found them all to be genuine, and to belong to the die'- 1 years in darkness. He would refer to the year 1817, fereut classes of trades and callieg3 enumerated in when it appeared that no less thate 65,000 psr • the head.; of the petition. The petitioners stated sons passed through the fever hospitals of Dublin. that their confidence in the continuation of He hoped also to be allowed to express hit concurrence the protection to agriculture was such that they in the perfect truth of the report which emanated from had been induced to expend capital in extensive the House of Commons in the last session, in which the improvements in agriculture and manufactures. It fur- absolute necessity was declared of bettering the condi ther stated that it was the opinion, not or.ly of the tion of the Irish people. That statement was also made owaers and occupiers of land, but also of the working ten years ago; and now that they had it in their power men and manufacturers, that it was of the greatest im p or tance to their different trades that the protection to cement an union between the people ef En g land and Ireland —cementing them in a manner that no repealer t i agriculture should be continued. The petitioners could break—(Hear) —he called on them to act wisely and also complained of the unconstitutional, they would. not boldly. He would wish to see the peasantry of Ireland say illegal, interference of the Anti-Corn-law League, raised to a proper level ; and he should say it would be with the constituencies of the country. Ile had also se veral similar petiti ons from different p ets of the a much tiler:: grat ifying circumstance if the people were less dependent upon land. Mr. Forster, in 1825, stated county of Kildare in Ireland. that " the Irish must have land , as th e y de p ended on Lord REDESDA LE said he h ad a petitien of a it. , Now that was a most grievous circumstance. similar nature to present from the county of Oxford. Therefore he should say that their pelicy, their interest, Lord BEAUMONT presented several petitions flans called on them to support the pres. nt measure ; and he tenant farmers and others connected with agriculture in should shrink from his responsibility as a Member of favour of protection to agriculture, and expressite of the that House, if he did not advise them to combine and great alarm those individuals felt at the proposed endeavour to advance such a policy.—(hear, hear.) changes ; and he also begged to give notice, on the past If they placed a police force in the stead of the military of his Noble Friend the Duke of Richmond, that, on force which it would ba otherwise necessary to maintain Thursday next, the Noble Duke would move for certain in the counties of Ireland, Government ought returns regarding local taxation. HAM. presented petitions against the to recommeed that the q uota of the expenses Lord FARN should be borne by each county, or by each town-land repeal of the corn-laws. in which the police force might be required. Ile Lord GREY presented several petitions from tenant- thought, and the Commissioners were of opinion, farmers and others connected with agriculture, in favour that this course might remedy the evil complained of the propositions of Government. They had only two of. But he thought it not only necessary that they should objections to those propositions; namely, that the aboli- patronise public works, but that they should tion of the duties of corn and sugar were nut immediate. also give every assistence to agricultural improvement, Almost all the tenant-farmers in this country con- for this was not only required for the happiness of the curred in the opinions expressed in the petition. Ile people at present, but for their future prosperity also. had great satisfaction in presenting that petition, and he He felt, as a resident landlord in Ireland, that this coca hoped and believed that the opinions therein contained sure would be of great benefit to that country, and there were• entertained by the first farmers in thi3 country, fore he had no hesitation in saying it should have his con whether they were at once opposed to protection, or in currence. There were some clauses in it he could not agree favour of a delay of three years. to—he meant the compulsory and mandatory clauses, and Earl ST. GERMANS said, that with regard. to the he trusted they would be modified. He had listened motion he was about to submit to their Lordships, he to the speech of his Noble Friend opposite with anticipated their fullest consent. This was a Bill for the great attention; but he could not believe that further amendment of the Act now in force for the ex- the distress anticipated by the Noble Lord in so tension and promotion of the public works in Ireland. short a time as he had stated would take place, at least in that part of the country , t h e north The proposed measure divided it self into two q uestions; first, that of loans, and second that of grants. In regard of Ireland, where he resided; and if great distress were 'o, the first of these, the alteration upon the old law was apprehended in other parts of that country lie trusted very small. It was proposed to p lace at the dis p osal of that the Government would adopt such meas ures the Commissioners of Public Works for Ireland the as would te n d to avert that calamity. With ', sum of 50,0001.; the sum originally placed in their hands being now reduced to 6 ; 1004; and the present regard to what had been said in ref erence to the police force, 114° was ready to admit that that grant was to furnish a further supply. The al- was a most use ul body ; but he could not but teration in its administration was, that feel that the magistracy of the country had often been whereas formerly the application had to be made put aside by the power which the Government held over through three magistrates, it was now proposed to be them ; and he also thought that some - communication made through two magistrates, assisted by three rated ought to have been held with the magistracy before this step had been taken to make that force a sp ecies of yens or assetsei. Respecting the sec ond division, that of loans advanced for the improving and reclaimin g of d artnerie.The landed gentry of Ireland telt this neglec tver y lands, the old law required that such advances should much. They were anxious, as magistrates, to do their be paid back in three y ea rs after the improvements duty, as they had hitherto, he believed, done; bu t the y were 'effected. This was fonts Ito be impracticable, thought they ought to have been consulted. He would, and now it was proposed in the - Bill to as far as the present Bill was concerned, give it his sup extend the period to twenty years. He had no doubt port, and when it was in Committee he would this measure would work beneficially in developing the call their Lordships' attention to certain amend resources of Ireland, in connexion with three or four ments to several of the clauses, which he considered other measures which were submitted.—(Hear, hear). very objectionable, especially those proposing to take the He believed that no measure could act more :beneficially powers out of the hands of the grand juries, who were for the people of Ireland than the drainage measure. made up of the resident gentry, and therefore those best The Bill of which he then spoke was eminently calcu- calculated to know what ought to be done. toted to extend and enlarge the power of the Bill intro The Marquis of L ANSDOVVNE said there. was no doted by the Noble Lord who preceded him, as it ens- difference of opinion as to the principle of Vie Bill, bled the commissioner of public corks to give employ which had his entire concurrence.—(Hear.) He had ment to the people—(Hear),—which was essential in the no desire to prolong the discussion raised by the existing emergency. The Ha rbour Bill would also be suggestion of the Noble Lord (Monteagle) respect availntroduced, which would further enable the p eo p le to ing the remission of the county rat es for the maintenance themselves of the kindness of Providence. An of the constabulary force. He (the Marquis of Lana other Bill would also be introduced, which would enable dowhe.).. believed that suggestion first came from the grand juries to appoint presentment. sessions for the , memberioi the Irish Lindlord - and Tenant Commission carrying on of public works without requiring the sanction of an assize. A more profitable outlay of capi- as a most desirable arrangement , and that it should be done upon the principle of equality. It was then recom tal they could net have; and he called on the Noble mended irrespective of other considerations but the relief Lords to entertain the measure kindly, particularly in of Ireland, but now it was brought up as part of a general the present moment when the people of Ireland were measure of re the great and i portent scheme of improvement of justice to the occupiers of land, in conses threatened with the disastrous conseq uences of a g eneral failure in the crops and propa bl y a g rievous famine. quencem submitted to Parliament for the relief of the country. Lord NIONTEAG LE said that at the present moment He held, as a general principle, that grants for public it not only behoved Noble Lords to pass the Bill, but, works would be more beneficial than any other measure further, that they should pass a 'series of measures, of that could be devised, as it would be always reminding which the present was but a component, for the them of the services rendered by Parliament to that improvement of the condition of the people of Ireland. country. lie believed that the relief fr©m the consta- Ile had heard it stated that the pressure on the people bulary tax would be greatly beneficial, and was a mea of Ireland was but slight, and not entitled to serious , sore of great importance, but it w as not the measure c onsideration. A greater or mo re g rievous mistrusts that her Majesty's Government should adopt for the could not be entertained, and could only have pro relief. of "ii distressed country. seeded from a misapprehen sion of the real facts. After a few words from Lord COTTENII AM, It was by no means a trivial matter in the 'present peas- Earl DEVON fully concurred in the course of policy tion of political affairs between the two countries, that no individual Member of that H o u se should be repro- sue ;geared by the Noble Lord wh o p receded him, as it would have the effect of improving both the ' sented to the people of Ireland as indifferent to their in- moral and physical condition of the people of terest, particularly when the deficiency. of food in that Ireland. There could be no second opinion as country at present was considered. It would be of great to the necessity of the Bill before the House importance that it should not appear that that House was indifferent to th is state of thin g s. He should say, that Lord MOUNTCASHEL said that the present sir • • cumstances of Ireland deserved every consideration. He the magnitude of the evil in respect to food in Ireland had only arrived from that country within the last few had by no means been exaggerated. The Noble Lord _ayfair upon the state of the the south of Ireland. Want and famine were starin g them days, and he could assure their Lordships that the wants t h e n read extracts from the reports made by Mr. which in the face. In a short time the poor -h o uses would be so Play o. the peasantry were not in any degree e xa gg erated in Lindley and Mr. p o t a to crop, by andit appeared that the crop was de ticient by one-half, that there would also be a defici- filled that there would be no room for applican ts. What envy of seed ; and that the result would be that the was then to be done ? He had been glad to see that ever y distress ' to be a pp rehended in Ireland from a scarc ity of food w ould be most awful and appalling. endeavour had been Made by Parliament the -to meet • The Commissi oners stated that it a pp eared from un- wants of the people, but he was inform ed that the doubted authority that out of 32 counties not one had escaped the failure of the potato crop, and that out of railway Bills would not be forward enough to give em ployment as the people. In his own neighbourhood po the districts around 130 poor-law unions, not one tutees were selling at the prices usually received in the was exempt from the_ this failure. presented a very sad aspect. He of their reaching a higher price. He happened to live in remembered, in 1822, being commissioned with some of a very peaceful neighbourhood, but within the last fort n jhtthere had heen very unpleasant symptoms exhi smith wa s conspicuous) to inquire into the cause of bated. Large bodies of men were going about armed, distress in Ireland. At that time, when they had at an d several . murders had been committed. It was a their disposal 300,0001. subscribed by the English na- common declaration that in two months they would tion, and which sum was afterwards doubled by Parlia the most useful men have civil war. He might be allowed to ment, they had onl y to co p e with the p artial distress of state one word with regard to a matter ten counties, and that distress did not begin untilwhich had, perhaps, no connexion with the present Bill, the spring, 'They had now to deal with the dis- but which had ben moved by the Noble Lord who tress of thirty-two counties, and the distress had brought it before them. It was the intention of the month of lebruar They begun before the y. knew by , Government to bring forward another Drainage Bill. sad experience that not only the want of food in the that Bill was viewedwith a great deal of apprehension. The Noble country would be felt, but the y also knew that other then proceeded to read extracts from Lord a letter he had received from some millers in the north calamities wou ld follow. The benefits which had been done to that co untr y had,however, been stated b y others, who that no measures would of Ireland, expressed a hope be suffered to become law which would have an in j urious and he would n ot, therefore, refer to them p articularl y . e But be could not he l p sa y in g that the treat ment which effect upon their property; they allu ded p articularl y to the Drainage Act. Ireland ought to receive ou g ht to be the treatment due to a young country. Now the public works had a tendency The Earl of ST. GERMANS ex p ressed a ho p e that to a public benefi t . What had been the results of public no alteration would be made i n the Bill now before the House which would affect injuriously t he p resent bur works in Ireland ? But i t h a d b e en suggested t o her den Majesty's Government that considerable good might be a upon land. Lord d on e by Government if they made a better appropr ia- COTTEN LIAM said a few words in reply, which tion of the constabular y and p olice rates in the were inaudible in the gallery. -that called Earl ST. GERMANS said t h at it was his intention se veral counties. This was a subject for the pec uliar attention of the Ministr y . Their move the committal of the Bill o n Frida y next. Whatever diff re use was m ade in the a pp ro p riation of Their Lordships then adjourned. public burdens, or whatever pressure was removed, the relief should be granted in agreement with justice. In the present instance the measures by the Government he the constabulary rate acted in an inverse ratio I 0 this principle. Take the counties of Down and Tipp 'mu. In the county of Down, which had been tranquil and prosperous, and where the constabulary rates had been light, the relief' would be much less in p-opertion to that of Tipperary, in which for a long time the rates had been very high, arising from the in security of life and property. If, a remission of the ei 'list ibulary rate was to be male, the alteration should be such as to appropriate the benefits in the same ratio as the rates had been imposed—apportioning relief in proportion to the tranquillity or disturbance that might respectively prevail. lie doubted much whether the proposed re mission w. uld be an improvement, especially the taking away the constabulary force from under the local magistracy. Great advantages had resulted from this connexion both in the discipline of the force and - the benefits resulting from this employment ; and if they Viols away this corps from under the control of the magistrates, it would make the constabulary force as sume the character of a foreign gens d'artnerie force. He begged of the Government not to dissasociate the force from the local protection under which it hail hitherto been plied. In proposing measures for the relief of the_ people in Ireland, it was his opinion more would be done for the tranquillity of that country by the employment of engineers, the construction of public works, draining and such like measures for giving the population em ployraent.than by any other course that could be devised. If they did an act of justice or generosity, let it be directed by wisdom, as that course alone would be at tended with success. With respect to the repeal of taxation, though' it mig ht be very popular at the time it was proposed, it was soon forgotten—it would not survive the session in which it was agreed to. He trusted that if those measures should be adopted, they would • exercise a beneficial and useful in ' fluence upon the people of Ireland. He had spoken upon this ' subject at greater length than he had intended, but it was one in which he felt a great interest, for he had the welfare of his country sincerely at heart, and was most aaxious to see her cond ition ameliorated. e had had communication with several Members o f that House as well as with some of those of the other House of Parliament, and he had not met with one who had any interest in land in that country who did not appear to agree with him in opinion upon this subj• et. The Duke of WELLINGTON said he had no doubt the Noble Lord was right in taking this opportunity of speaking upon this subject. But it should be ‘remembered that this was a Bill not yet before that House. It was a Bill which had received all the attention from many Noble Lords which it was possible to give it he could not say that they had agreed to adopt the proposition it contained. It was well known that the police tax had always been a tax upon the land, and it should be admitted that it ought not to be allowed to continue so. There was at present a Bill in the hands of Government which would relieve counties from the police-tax. They had received a strong recommendation from the Com missioner on the subject, and before, they came to any determination on the subject they would take into con sideration that recommendation. No person was more de sirous than he was of' making such improvements as would draw forth the resources of that country. There were other measures in contemplation, which would come on in the course of the session, and which would have the effect of giving relief to Ireland ; and, therefore, he into graceful and genteel comedy, and fully sustained his re putation. Mr. Murray, as the intriguing, conceited, and ever baffled Schuvoloff, or Sugar-loaf, or Shave-all-off, we forget which, the Russian chief spy, or minister of police, was very effective ; as was Ray in the perplexed kind-hearted jailer of Shlusselbourg. Lloyd has a capital part—as capitally acted —an ambitious " full private," making love to an Empress, and rewarded with an immediate ducking in a horse-pond. Altogether, the piece was very successful. A new and better adaptation of the " Invincibles," called " The Pretty Girls of Stilberg," was brought out on Monday, with very great success, and, we may say-, thunders of applause. Web ster a pert page —undertook Napoleon ; this was doubted by his comrades; he turned his back for a few mo ments, unbuttoned his coat, turned his wig, and presto I the very " little corporal " himself turned round and Justified the apparently involuntary military salute of his merry comrades. He was ever afterwards in and out of Napoleon, in the drollest and most graphic way, particularly when he did — what Napoleon never did—got thoroughly drunk. Celeste, as a Prussian captain, thereafter took them all prisoners. She appeared at the head of a most efficient troop of heroines, ably assisted by Sergeant Majoress Tellet. (From the Edinburgh Weekly Express.) TILE THEATRE.—The attraction of the Theatre Royal du ring the past week has been the brilliant acting of Mr. Ben jamin Webster of the Haymarket, and the elegant Madame Celeste. Mr. Webster is not often on our boards, but he certainly leaves us with a hearty wish that he may soon return again. His acting is of an entirely distiet cast from that of Murray, of Mathews, or of any other comedian we lave seen ; but it is certainly excellent in its kind. We cannot imagine anything more comic than his acting with our Manager—the one as Ally Croker, the other as Mildmay. The scene had all the effect of the most vivid contrast. - The Pretty Girls of Stdberg was the charm of the week's performances. Madame Celeste figured in her most graceful style, and drew down the rapturous applause of the audience. The Polka danced with Mr. Webster, will give an entirely fresh idea of it to our Assemblies. --------------....... _ ____ AS'FLEN'S AMPHITHEA A new grand oriental spectacle, of gorgeous splendour, en titled the Rajah of Nagpore, or the Sacred Elephant of the Pagoda, was produced here last evening, for the purpo , e of introducing the two elephants and the two camels which Mr. Batty has recently purchased to present to an English audience. The debut of these foreign artistes was most suc cessful, and really if all the foreign artistes who succeed upon the English stage were as worthy of success as these talented orientals, the cry about the eceouragement of foreign talent would be most unjust, for, in their peculiar line, we have no native talent that could for a moment compete with them. These elephants are most civilised, not to say polite and polished quadrupeds; they take their meals genteely and quietly, as well-bred animals should do, ringing the bell for the attendant when they desire a fresh course ; they under stand the use of table napkins, and pocket handkerchiefs, and conduct themselves according to the strictest Chesterfield regulations ; they are moreover to the full as loyal as the most enthusiastic member of the Young England party that ever wore white waistcoat, and infinitely more sensible. Like that other huge mountain of flesh, Sir John Falstaff, they know the true Prince "by instinct," rescue him from his prison by their prowess, preserve him from starving and from drowning by their sagacity, and at the conclusion, harnessed to a magnificent chariot, and attended by a camel train ane a cavalry regiment of infantry and dancing girls, to the music of " drums, trumpets, blunderbusses, guns, and thunder," they draw him, seated in a splendid car, into the grand place at Nagpore, where his enemies are destroyed, and he is acknowledged as sovereign. Seriously speaking, the performances of these elephants are exceedingly wonderful. Mademoiselle D. Jack must hide her diminished head in the presence of these the Garricks of the Pachydermata. The spectacle is gorgeous and magnificent in the extreme, and the piece itself is well written and well aeted. Mr. Batty was called for at the conclusion, and was received with rapturous applause. The Rajah of Nagpore is a decided hit, and will draw crowded houses for a length of time to come. will run at least till Easter. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. A young man, named Louis Phillips, who was stated to be known in very respectable society, was brought before Alderman Farebrother, charged with having forged the ac ceptance to a bill of exchange for 971. Mr. Mullen:, of the firm of Bush and Mullen, solicitors to the Committee of Bankers for Protection against Forgeries and Frauds, attended for the prosecution. Mr. F. Boston, clerk to Messrs. Prescott and Grote, bankers, produced the bill of exchange, which purported to be the acceptance of Messrs. Grayhurst and Co., of 128, Re gent-street, and stated that Mr. Prescott discounted it for Mr. Aaron Lyon Michael, a gentleman who cashed at the house. The bill appeared noted, and was marked as a forgery. It was drawn by the prisoner. Mr. A. L. Michael stated that the prisoner gave him the bill, and that it was discounted at the banking-house ; that he had seen the prisoner write, and was convinced that the name of the drawer was written by the prisoner. Mr. James Harvey, the younger, of the firm of Harvey and Co., goldsmiths, of No 128, Regent-street, stated that the firm was formerly Graychurst, Harvey, and Co., but it was now Haryey and Co., and there was no longer such a firm as the former; that on Saturday last the bill was presented for payment, and pronounced to be a forgery, not being the ac ceptance of any member of the firm, and that he did not be lieve there was any other firm of the name in Regent-street. Mr. Mullens produced a second bill of exchange, which was also pronounced to be a forgery. It was for 50/., pur ported to be the acceptance of Mr. Clark, pawnbroker, of Long-acre, and was received from the prisoner by Mr. Aaron Lyon, merchart, for whom it was discounted at Mt ssrs Prescott and Grote's banking-house. Mr. Clark, of Long-acre, pawnbroker, stated that he knew nothing of the acceptances, and had never authorised the prisoner to accept the bill in his name, neither had he ever accepted a bill for the prisoner. Mr. Yates, a solicitor, asked Mr. Clark whether he did not know that • the prisoner moved in a respectable rank in life? Mr. Clark-Certainly. Mr. Mathews produced a third bill, which was likewise pronounced to be a forgery. It purported to be accepted by Mr. Clark, whose name was forged upon the last bill, was for 501., and had been cashed at the same banking-house for Mr. Aaron Lyon, merchant. Mr. Yates said that his client was very re s p ectable, and that his friends hoped the Alderman would accept bail, which could be given to any amount, for his appearance to answer the charges. Alderman FAREBROTHER said he could not think of taking bail for a person, however respectable he might have been, against whom there were such accusations. The prisoner, against whom, it was stated, there were charges of having obtained valuable goods at the west end of the town, and pawned them immediately afterwards, was then remanded till this day week. SINGULAR CASE OF INSANITY.—A young woman, named Louisa Turner, who has been frequently within the last four or five years sent to prison for various periods for having broken the windows of a very industrious old couple (Mr. Prentis and his wife), and threatened to destroy them, was for the seventh time brought up. Alderman FAREBROTIIER—SO you are here again? Why do you persecute this gentleman and his wife? Defendant (laughing)—Why do they lock me up? I'd be glad to know that. Alderman FAREBROTBER—If you proceed in this way you will be sent to prison. Mr. Prentis—She comes to me the moment she leaves prison, breaks my windows, and threatens to destroy me and my wife, so that we are sure our lives are in imminent danger from her. Alderman FAREBROTHER—Has there been any cause for all this? Mr. Prentis—Not the least; she does not even know me. lam sure she could not pick me out of a dozen strangers. The defendant here burst into laughter, and said she would give it to the complainant and his wife, and no mistake whatever. She would teach them how to put her into prison. • Mr. Prentis—l have lived in my house these thirty years, and I never received the least annoyance from any one ex cept this woman, and I never dreamt of doing her an injury. The defendart—Oh, wont I give it yon when I come out. I am only sorry your window was not plate-glass, old fellow. Oh, wouldn't I shatter it. Alderman FAREBROTIIER—YOU must go back to prison. The defendant—l'll do for them as sure as ever they were born. Alderman FAREBROTIIER—YOU must procure good bail before you have the opportunity of doing anything more to them.—Committed. The unfortunate woman went away laughing. NEW MEMBERS. THE REPRESENTATION OF HUNTINGDON. • Mr. Peel, M.P., has published the following address to his constituents, the electors of the united boroughs of Hunting don and Godminster : " Gentlemen,—l ant sure you will duly appreciate the sa crifice I make in proposing to resign the trust which you have now confided to me for so many years. " I have never hesitated, however, for a moment as to the line of conduct which it i, my duty to pursue. " I determined from the first announcement of an intended change in the commercial policy of the Government to wait to hear what measures it was intended to propose, and the arguments by which they were supported; and, unless con vinced by them, to resign my office, mid vote against them. On the other hand, if, after the best consideration I could give to them, I thought them likely to ptomete the general interests and welfare of the country, to give them my support -" Considering the position in which the question of the corn-laws is now placed—the declared opinion of the most eminent men of all parties in favour of important changes; considering, also, that the measures proposed by Govern ment are not measures affecting exclusively the agricultural interests, but are based upon the principle of the general abatement of protective duties, without exception, it is my deliberate conviction, that it is for the general interests of the whole community that these measures should be sanc tioned by Parliament. " I must therefore, if in Parliament, 'give them my sup port. " I am not unmindful, however, of the general under standing with regard to agricultural protection when you elected me as your representative. I have reason to believe that the majority of you have not come to the conclusions to which [ have arrived; and I feel it my duty, therefore, to express my willingness, if that impression be correct, to give you the opportunity of placing in other handa that trust which, with so much kindness, you have committed to me. " I shall always entertain for the united constituencies the strongest feelings of regard and esteem, with a grateful recollection of the unvarying kindness I have experienced at your hands. " I have the honour to be, gentlemen, " Your obliged and grateful humble servant, " JONATHAN PEEL. " Loudon, 8, Park-place, Feb. 5, 1846." IMMEDIATE ABOLITIon OF • THE CORN-LAWS.—Mr. Ashurst, Mr. J..hnson, of Bishopsgate Ward, and Mr. Harding of Farringdon Without Ward, waited yesterday, upon the Lord Mayor, to request that his Lordship would convene a Court of Common Council on the earliest possible day, for the purpose of discussing the propriety of petithning Parliament for the immediate abolition of the corn-laws. The Lord Mayor informed the deputation that he should return an answer to them in a very short tim e, and in all probability call a Court on an early day. ROBBERY AT KINOSCATE-STREET COURT OF 11E7 QuEsTs.-- On Saturday information was circulated thongbout the Metropolitan and City police, that during the night of Tuesday about l 41. ast i s l o v m e r e , a t n h , l i ef ab o u t t h 5 i e: e i n s stole p e f r r o . ni Theth e t h a i b e o v v e e s w c o e u r r e, t n K ins s E m t T h a s e l . l i ne_ r greatly o T osu CORN O from ßN 34 disappointed t A h: hope s t i o s f ofw the sum worthy tuhnydeor i thus obtained, remark that at the Wakefield corn market on Friday, th e p r i ces of all kinds of grain advanced. Already the fann ers , f ac t ors' and millers see the emptiness of the fears which h ave so long haunted them in regard to the effect of opening the ports. — Leeds Mercury. At a recent meeting of the Commissioners of the Middlesex and Essex Turnpike Trust, at the Bird-in-Hand, Stratford, it was still deemed expedient to collect the tolls through their own servants, in lieu of letting them, as was the custom a few years since. town and county of Leicester, signed by 2,000 persons, the passing of a resolution to that effect by the House engaged both as manufacturers and agriculturists. The The reply which I gave to that question has created an petitioners stated that they heard with alarm of the scheme proposed by Government for the purpose of re- ' • ; impression in the country that tie Treasury intend to • clueing those.duties which protected native manufactures repeni these • duties, as well other duties, as soon as and agriculture, and they thought that the best means of elai House shall have eignified its coneent. I answered and security 'consisted in affording every facility for the de- that the Treasury wou!ii remit the the veloptneht of the produce of our own soil.—(Hear, hear.) on- foreign corn after the assent of - t", : _ That security .would be amply afforded under the exist- House had been give n to the resolution. 1 ing corn- laws. The nin.nufacturers stated that there ii :.d . . -•' In every' te.d that my impressma was a wren;; one. were documents before the House which would prove the extremely low rate of wages at present existing in case Wherein the co:m duty had been altered by r'" .. ,, a district where there were more than 100,000 persons, liaa eat the reduction ofthe du - y had taken Plac e fr° „ l • n te i, both manufacturers and agriculturists, and . the pro- the passing of the Act, and tile Treasury have De" duce of which amounted to 2,500,0001. annually. Sir, in any case, undertaken to remit the duty. N""' , • M. BAMPTON.presented a petition in favour of the I shOuld be exceedingly unwilling to assulne, 0" the measures of commercial reform proposed by her Ma jesty's Government. . part of the Treasury, any authority for which there Mr. NORRIS presented a petition praying for a con- was no precedent, and I should also- be exceedinglYrrsqn tinuance of protection to agriculture. • to assume it in this case, because I fear should Mr. 11. YORKE presented a petition praying for a aesurolition of that authority for the first tape w total and immediate repeal of the corn•laws. • Mr. LIDDELL presented a petition, signed by up- have .sli atdenc i y rather i to prejudice than promote the wards of ten thousand persons in the county o f D urham, e: success of tae measure. It is the intention LS he r to th e against the proposed alteration in the corn-laws. .Iteesty's Government, tie, refore, to adhere li early" e Mr. M. CLARKE presented a petition in favour of course which has- uniformly been pursued at a— n ee the repeal of the corn - laws. periede of an alteration in the corn - laws , and to Inbe Lord DALMENY presented a petition of a similar : , e l ould t;cl reduction of the duty—if uty—it the measure e oo f nature. san ettened by Parliament—take effect from the pa'snietite An HON. MEMBER, whose name We C" , Ulti not learn, presented a petition, signed by nine thortinn,l of the in- , the Act. I believe , in point of fact, that there w fo i r " if habitants of Sussex, against any alteratio n of the corn -_ Ino delay in 'taking core cut of bond, •.. e . laws. recel vin6 ' tla re should be any chance of the-owe-etre not re Sir J. C. HOIMOUSE presented a petition, very nu- .- he sanction of the Legislature, parties would take ce overt merously signed, in favour of the contemplated altera tion of the corn-laws. out of bond, when they were eertain that, after s .174 , ' e t • Mr. MUN I Z (Birmingham) presented a petition fnern iaterval, they would be compelled to pay a datY . 1 tee the merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of Bir- At the same time, it is of -much importance t": 100, mingham, comphining that none Of the restrictions en (1,-ei,ion of Parliament on the subject should be to copper ore were about being removed by the G o- end that the trade should have an assurance as vernment. Mr. DUNCOMBE presented three petitions from the principles which are to operate on the corn tcsedeeo;eue, Ddee, the seat of e linef, in favor. her Majesty's :24overnment propose to give apret tee of un free trade, which th stated n that manu they acturers (the petitioners u ) the Corn Bill before all other subjects, and as fa r r Ge were nat afraid of competing with the whole world, el- Government are concerned they will take no other of though every restriction should be removed. Lord MORPETII (who was very loudly and gene- vernment business - until the decision of this brseeei, _ n _ a e oe- 0 rally cheered on rising) presented a petition from Wake- the Legislature with' respect to the proposed e" ee‘ e field and Halifax, very numerously signed by merchants, I.Lw shall have been taken. We shall, therefor bankers, and others in Yorkshire, strongly expressing into any other amendment of the tariff until this i their approbation of the Government measure respecting shall have given its assent to the new Cern Bah I the, the corn laws. Mr. M. PHILIPS wished t o know whether. 1,0510 Mr. FERRAND said he should wish to ask the debate should be adjourned on Tuesday eve ning, e s it' Noble Lord a question. Ile should wis h to learn be continued on Wednesday, and if so, whether tp' whether the signatures to these petitioners had bean ting on that day would be a morning one ? e els ° the free and unbiassed act of the petitioners?—(Cries of Sir R. PEEL said that if an adjournment to° iota Order, erder.") He was prepared to prove that the on Tuesday the House might proceed with the a tbs s working men—(Order, order)—were obliged to turn into on Wednesday, and in that case he appreh en : e tSl the counting-houses of the large manufactories and sign there would be no alternative but to commence l'"„ 10*, these petitions, before they received their weekly pay- o'clock and adjourn at six, because the 1 1 ° 11 i - e . meats.—(Loud cries of " Order.") already passed a standing order on the subject 0 0 0 h i The SPEAKER observed that the Hon. Menaher nesday's sittings. Ile thought, however, it ° ea , might put put a question but the rule of the House did more convenient to consider the subject t" . `" ) net permit that he should make a leech. , Mr. FERRAND—WeII, then, he would put the question—were these signatures of the kind that he described ? Lord MORPETH—He had only to say that, to the best of his belief and to the entirety of his convictions, the signatures to the documents which he bad pre sented were the free and unbiassed acts of the peti- evening. In answer to Mr G. PALMER, Sir R. PEEL said that he would not precludlibobich from any interval during the progress of the 13i t oje t i he was about to introduce on the corn-laws, buv",eroce' inform the House that it was his inten tion to with that Bill without delay until its final stags' e (or Mr G. PALMER was proceeding t o make 7dr ther remarks, but resumed his seat ami dst cries der, order." tioners. Sir W. MOLES WORTH presented a petition from the borough of Southwark, in favour of a total and im mediate repeal of the corn-laws. The SPEAKER observed, that perhaps it might be better for the House to receive petitions on the corn laws after the order of the day had been gone into. Mr. OWEN STANLEY gave notice that in the Com mittee on the corn and provision laws, he would move as, an amendment, a fixed duty of ss. on wheat, 2s. 6d. on barley, and 2s. on oats, and so on in proportion. Mr. M. MILNES g..sas notice that, in Committee on the resolution relating to the corn-laws he would move the omission of all words after 1849. Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that be would call the attention of the House to the propriety of extending the power of poor-law guardians, so as to enable them to grant out-door relief to the people of Ireland. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved for a return of the number of all persons who had removed from the agri cultural to the manufacturing districts, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, in the years 1841, 1842, and 1843.—Agreed to. Lord Somerset, Lord Sandon; Sir George Grey, Mr. Wilson Patten, and the O'Conor Don, who constitute the Committee on Parliamentary Election Petitions, were then sworn at the table. Captain POLHILL gave notice of a motion, to the effect that he would on a future day move that the duty to be paid on foreign corn for the next three years should be given to the tenant-farmers,'; who would be injured by the measure of her Majesty's Ministers. Dr. BOWRIING would ask whether any and what measures had been taken by her Majesty's Government to inquire into the character of the disease said to have broken out at Roe Vista in consequence of communi cation with the Eclair ? Sir G. CLERK said that such measures had been taken as would meet the case. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. YOUNG, a new writ was ordercd to be issued for the election of a knight of the shire for the southern division of the county of Notting ham, in the room of the Earl of Lincoln, who has ac cepted the office of Secretary for land. FACTORY SCHOOLS. Mr. BRIGHT wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department re specting the proceedings of the factory inspectors. lie found from their report that Mr. Horner had given 1501. to schools connected with the Established Church, and 301. to schools belonging to the BritislrSociets of Dis senters ; while another inspector had given 2701. to schools connected with the Established Church, and to schools not so connected. Now, it was the intention of the Factories Act that the sums appropriated by the Government for this purpose should be freely and equally divided amongst schools where factory children were being educated ; and he wished to know whether these grants were in future to be made in accordance with the spirit of the Act ? Sir JAMES GRAHAM (who spoke in so low a tone of voice as to be scarcely audible in the gal lery) was understood to say that the funds appro priated by the Legislature for the benefit of fac• tory schools would be divided equally, and without favour to one sect or another. The inspectors had, he thought, made the distribution referred to by the Hon. Member in this spirit, for most of the Catholic schools refused to receive aid from those fund=, while the British schools had only taken the money at the request of the inspector himself. - Sir R. H. INGLIS hoped he should not be deemed wanting in courtesy to the Right_ Hon. Baronet it he asked, without notice, whether the sum to be apportioned to the several schools was to depend upon the number of children educated in the schools, or whether a certain sum was to be appor tioned to each, whatever the condition of that school might be ; he thought this was important, and there fore he wished to ask whether the same sum wes to be apportioned if the children educated were 50 or 100 in the school—in fact, whether the sum given was to o be in proportion to the number in the school? Sir JAMES GRAH AM was under the necessity to give the same reply as he had just made to the previous question. They had first to ascertain the number of scholars, and the revenue of these schools, and the relief ,would depend on those circum stances. CORN-LAWS. r of Mr. CHRISTIE presented a petitio n in fa/ell total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws- 00 I Sir GEORGE STAN TON presented a r -4 fav Mr.ou of the existing corn-laws. ti °° r H RICHARD ODGSON presented a Peti favour of a total repeal of the corn - law s. bsr °l % Mr. G. BA.NKES presented a petition froin s he alli fe in the county of Dorset. The petitioners. icolsii prayed for a continuation of protecti on to sgtoitellio until the sense of the nation shall ha ve bee°, frog (Cheers.) He had also .a petition to presee'iully? same county, and petitions from different plac e ' shire and from Ferry bridge, signe d by l'`) 0 to ' • Lumber of individuals, all praying for p rotee 11 0 " tish industry. if • Mr. B. HAWES presented a petition fr o a 1 as signed by 2,000 individuals, in favour of a t mediate repeal of the corn-laws, An HON. MEatnEtt. presented a petition in favour of a total and imtnedi rte repeal of the'. ; 04 Mr. CLIFTON presented a petition, s*yrs) 12,000 of the inhabitants of North Lanes re. for the House to continue protection to agricultar'proll Mr. GISBORNE presented a petitio n t° i f • a total and immediate repeal of the co rn-1 0 't 1,0 Mr. MACAULAY presented a p etition burgh in favour of a repeal of the corn-laws' PAPER-HANGINGS - Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition most kr paper-hangers of Finsbury and its viciuttY VP° portion of the Government measure whic h -„, g or , once to a reduction in the duties on paper' oar` • CORN-LAW S. o ters sl gY Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from f o ' r by 1,864 persous ; from Stockport, siP e a - c fre t persons ; and from 25 other parishes ? Pr'''atita total and immediate repeal of the corn-law s „,' De. BOW RING presented petitions "` - ‘l ,aei , , in Warwick, and also from a part' ' ln " 7 e ii , similar nature. gad' id( Sir B. lIALL presented a petiti on frOrn 04itig and Paddington, signed by 27,000 persons, P 4 ret itio i t peal of the corn-laws. Mr. STRUTT presented a number of,Pe or the county of Lancashire, also praying lt)r the corn-laws. ths e Mr. ROSS presented a similar petition Wl° ,titre Lives of Belfast. n t Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose to re e ; o f i t from several parts of Devonshire in ffavou r . 4 and immediate repeal of the corn-law s. Mr. SCOTT presented a similar petitia• Di o : A petition from an HON. MEMB ER. Sig 6: " inhabitants of a town, the name of which th catch, praying fora repeal of the corn lag' s " &PIO Mr. BENNETT preserted a petition 1:100'10..;. nothing should be done respecting the ed 3 r 1 0 0 ,( 0 0 appeal was made to the constituencies o f the fr o); e , Mr. HAWES rose to present petition 9 ic y 1 , 0 ' ; 0„, h d i number of towns and villages, one of svd-for%0,„00 was signed by 26,000 inhabitants, pi - 14 1 %111g t : ;,o diate settlement of the corn-laws by rep e " l o tiv f;a l Mr. MARK PHILIPS presented s egue'sl4;o,,• South Lancashire, signed by 14,500 O t ..a i o ° ing for the immediate repeal of - the corn -lujety;tirifi. other petition from the. Chamber of C ° . ll3 i, o a chester, for a similar object. Thep ett,;,abi. approval of the commercial policy aal°Ped tistry with all becoming respect, they P rit ,,l i a-1t1690 3 1 the present session protective duties of e o f-- ,pefri terminate. He had also to present anotar"tt c4lO, the Manchester Commercial .Assaciati°e 0 0, with the expressions of the other Potiti°o° of the commercial policy of the Governo3en • of for an immediate repeal. r, The The petitions were ordered to lie on tha te a 0 5 0. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presen,,sal‘,llher from Abingdon, in favour of the Pr°l/„-a s t " Government with respect to corn e - „of°, 404 Iles.—(Great laughter.) Mr. MILES presented several petitions ; (1 1;10 exi-ting protective duties imposed 0 0 1 1 tt e l F o : from Somerset, another from a P r ' fi s c i pe l ,! o t another from the county of Glamorgan, 3- Th e ds, A ' a parish in the county of Gloucester. prayed, that if there should be a reda fi ct' 6t 03 0 0e present duties, an appeal would be , til d P country. Sir W. CLAY presented apetition 1;005' Hamlets, in favour of the, Ministerial l o ft 0, 4 0 ' to corn ;it was signed.by 80,000 l U diVi f . '" Lord DUNCAN presented a Pe&itse„l os :l 3 , l 'r signed by the Mayor and 67,000 in""" egt'' ' io° t ti ; for the immediate and total repeal of th e v etl t jf , Sir W. MOLESWORTH'presented ° Jr, ; 111 r alo same effect from the borough of South t " 1 / tl -14 , the d from St. Luke's, Chelsea. fro ° ip re .:o6 .l Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition of Finsbury signed by 53,700 persons, tta ba b e ei r t o ' O l strong approval of the measure proposed :tileiooll tent, but praying that the abolition o fe a should take place immediately. - 815 ,, ° erilt‘t' /1 0 41 o f same effect from a town in Montgni'ioral t he t i,te r petition signed by fourteen agrie tt ,,,, tbs t , e ot,:a,, P 'a Posey, Wiltshire, in which they 9 t•" 10 12° - r i of protection had reduced them to s tittlfht degradation and misery. The Pet t ; l „%, % bel ie V I/ withstanding the system of protec t s - oen ray( obtiged to submit to labour only 5 , - 1 to ° ,11 1 5 .7 9 harden. They have beer haroesse"-, sot to aggregate number of their farai li „ es u tel ntulf„te et rF comprised eight individuals, all t° :ws / the aggregate amount of their wag e " t est " , p 1 (Mr. Wakley) had reason to belieV e i ° i; I V were correct. etit ioa j oes„,;o An HoN. MEMBER presented P ilot ps f ick tl o i a ) ford, Crowland, and twenty-seven ot; t e o f coin, against any alteration t he 13 C .lll th e piN t e protection of agriculture. *be re' 01 Mr. ELLIS presented a petition *be co_ the of ventry in favour of the abolition ( . 4 i : 01 fre;fingtey Sir R. PEEL presented a Oi t a, 01 ) 0 4 Glasgow, very numerotody sigr' e nt 0 0 h ot *, proposed policy of the G o v(l . /. oo , e ct ioa b arg corn laws and the system of ,pru°' at e lio tt A ,` Ito , he same effect from Havvic k it et; fevt , P . 4 .es lockshaw. „ I to ou t t he Mr. MILNER . 'GIBSON' P res ioind -le i of fr 3 ,000_ re vs ~,0 Huddersfield, signed by eti"V r favour of a total and an inunediam4 A bY laws. r esen t e- D os e ' .s. ti Mr. F. T. BARING P u re po. 0 -10.* 0 0 e laem ford in favour of the !fle a ?, ow ceP r oot J rg iifk f t jesty'a Ministers for a c hange fr LP' Mr. ESCOTT presented a r Gordon, Esq., of Frouae, near er we . iious, to pass the measu re in t° Of meat for a repeal of the corn.l_,oritc - 1 4 * t° THE COMMERCI A ti,„ l , - , t th e it ‘-ostsi o that k i" f t the Chair'Ve t The SPEAKER having le __ o t o Is e eO, Mr. P. MILES saitr, he r':,ronlitteopprortoe 40, should resolve itself jot° ko s heol 3 u eo be e . t el m ti mildil e trust:andddi s t p lt s i " ? `; 2oatte , r;201 1 1 : 0e u oti a l o tl i rj 0 was one of the most inlP‘..):3!r_ hog.r.;„ the mioed to that House.--(" ci trate ja 4 1 ',F, 0 that it was a question so . l r e tr ea - t a ct lite . ' ( tin tr i l oe he trusted it would not_ eate sti ql ' o f Olaf', au ° 10 t t i It was a question of the g 131 . _ ue oy . g .ornrnerci" V ltcr" LW' VW' change in the , 111 t he , 0 00 far greater interest tn; st all , ;I ft „aes r ' i cor far more dismay Atuo l g e o ter did that great measur..e" ehs o r i a ttPuer P country had pined for i'D. he b' paficy, and he h° t' r ; P rOPe . U US glory. The ...ells HOUSE OF COMMONS, Monday, Feb 9. The SPEAKtft took the Chair at a few minutes before Four o'clock. Lord MoRPETR took the oaths and his seat for the We,t Riding of Yorkshire. On the entrance of the Noble Lord, who was introduced by Lord John Russell and Mr. Byng, he was greeted with loud cheers from all sides of the House. _ _ COEN-LAWS, Mr. COLLETT wished to direct the attention of the Right Hon. Baronet opposite to a paragraph which had appeared in the public prints of that morn ing, and which had caused some anxiety in the com mercial world, in so far as it alleged that some flaw existed in the corn-law which was passed in 1842. The lion. Gentleman then read a notice which had appeared in the public papers with reference to a particular point as it bore on the condition of the people. Toe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was un derstood to say, he would be prepared to give the Hon. Member a distinct answer on another day. JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Mr. LIDDELL had a question to ask, for which he hoped to be excused, but, in the absence of the Noble Lord, the late Member for Dorsetsbire, who it was known had taken a great interest in the condition of the juvenile population, but who, in consequence of his feel ing upon a point of honour, had resigned his seat, and was, therefore, unable to put the question himself, he hoped he should be excused for asking it without notice that such an inquiry was required might be gathered. from the remarks lately made by a judge in one of the criminal courts. No subject was more deservedly worthy of the attention of the [louse. As he had stated his views to the Right Hon. Baronet, he would not then detain the House by any observations, but simply ask the Right Hon Baronet if the Government was prepared to take any steps towards the improvement and re formation of juvenile delinquents ? Sir J. GRAHAM said the subject had occupied the serious attention of the former as well as of the pre sent Government. Up to 1838, there was no institution in this country devoted exclusively to the punishment and reformation of juvenile offenders. Shortly after an institution was formed in this metropolis in which 300 of these persons were confined. In that year, with the sanction of that House, Parkhurst prison was erected; which he thought had beeen conducive to the moral improvement of those who were consigned to it. In that institution there were now 660 confined. In addition 200 juvenile convicts were confined in th? Pen tonville prison (as we understood). If it was the pleasure of thatEHouse to sanction what would be brought forward by the Government on the subject, and to give an annual grant for the mainte nauce of all those young prisoners after their conviction by a jury, he would endeavour to induce the magistrates of the various counties of Engllnd to set apart a portion of the prisons under their direction for the reception of juvenile offenders.—(Hear, hear.) If this plan were carried out, in each county, he had no doubt that benevolent persons would aid the Government in putting these unfortunate persons, on leaving prison, in the way to earn an honest living, and to rt store them to society.—(Hear.) DRAINAGE BILL (IRELAND). Sir WM. SO.vIERVILLE inquired if it was the intention of the Right lion. Gentleman (Sir J. Graham) to move that the House should go into Committee on this Bill that night. Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that he should make a motion to that effect that night. Mr. WCARTRY, who was introduced. by Mr. O'Con nell and another Hon. Member, took the oaths and his seat for the city of Cork. THE AYSHIRE - AND GALLOWAY RAILWAY. Sir J. Y. BULLER brought up the Report of Sub- Committee No. 2, when Mr. HODGSON said, that before the report was or dered to lie on the table, he wished to make a few ob servations. Ile wished to put a question to the Attor ney-General on a point of law, but at the same time he had no desire to impugn the judgment of the Committee. The objection which had been taken to the contract of the Ayrshire Railway was, that the contract deed was invalid, inasmuch as two of the trustees who were bound to perform the covenants were also shareholders in the Company. The Committee, when this• objection was urged, came to the resolution, that by standing order No. 40, the contract deed was invalid, and did not bind the trustees to the performance of its covenants. It was a Scottish Bill,. and he thought that the objection which had been raised could not consistently be maintained. He wished now to appeal to the opinion of the highest constituted law officers in that House, whether or not the fact of a certain number of trustees holding shares in the Company would render its contract invalid ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that under the standing order which had been referred to by his Hon. Friend all that was required was, that the parties sub scribing should bind themselves to the performance of the subscription deed. It appeared from the facts of the case that the trustees were also shareholders, and agreed to pay the amount of their subscriptions in common with the other subscribers ; and as trustees they a's covenanted to see the due performance of the contract, so that in point of fact the covenanters were also covenantees. He was of opinion that the whole deed was not invalid. The question was whether the sub scription deed ‘aas a compliance with the standing or!er. It was perfectly true that in a court of law no action would hold, because no party could sue himself, but in a court of equity a party would be bound by the deed, and would be obliged to pay the amount of his suSscripticn. His opinion undoubtedly was, that the standing order had been complied with, and if the case bad occurred with respect to an Eeglish railway, there would have been a compliance with the standing orders,.because the parties would have been liable, if not in a court of law, at all events in a court of equity. Sir J. Y. BULLER said it would not become him, after the opinion expressed by the Attorney-Ge- Feral, to discuss a point of law. He could only say that the decisions to which the Committee had come were in accordance with the decisions of Sub-Commit tees of last year. He thought, after the opinions which had been expressed, that the better' course to pursue would be to allow the Bill to take the • usual course, and for it to be referred to the Standing Orders' Committee, as the Standing Orders' Committ , e would, of course, act upon the opinion which had been expressed by the Attorney-General and sanctioned by the House, and such an opinion should be taken as a guide for the future. Mr. HODGSON had no objection that the Bill be referred back to the same" Committee. • CORN-LAWS. Sir H. HALFORD presented a petition from the REPEAL OF THE DUTIES ON CORN. Sir ROBERT PEEL, then rose and said— I am desirous to make a statement with reference to the aces• tion which the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London, put to me the other night, respecting the repeal of the duties on corn—foreign corn—immediately after