The Sun. — London, England, 1846-07-14 00:00:00

FOAL PARLIAMENT. T I HOUSE OF LORDS, July 13. 'hfir ter, Jordships met at Five o'clock. test, e AMOYS presented a petition against the Lei th'r 13ridf,rd Railway, ' and impugning the validity er!aniiseription contract. lamb BROUGHAM resented a petition from a large w ay er,"f s hareholders in the Shropshire Union h 1 thil t a .r. ta . Cl Canal Company, praying the House not to pass h its 23 01. A,I,,, A GE FROM THE HOU SE OF COMMONS. several Bil * ge ai rs came f rom the C o mous, bringing up es. ICESTER AND BEDFORD RAILWAY. pr es a e r l CA TOYS moved that the petition which he , ferret!' a short time since should be, to-morrow, re Th e 7,the Committee on the Bill. tour Th li m ilte of RICHMOND thought that . such asaevid "%Id be attended with much inconveTence, 411:e:which might be given before a Committee yes- After l aight be petitioned against to-morrow. ketie e. a few words the Noble Earl withdrew his I,,,NALL DEBTS (RECOVERY) BILL. _ ' CA MPBELL presented severisl petitions from tord ° , l °, lll :itY of Rent in favour of the Bill then in their Th' l ,P B ' House for the recovery of small debts. he ti 'larquis of BREADALBANE presented a peti ?lost railway travelling on Sunday. V/1111 j.4°llLt Loh]) presented 190 petitions from Cord : lo u : nd 10 from Devon, in forma. of the Cornwall ll tercroo Central Railway. tordshiDESDALE presented a pe'itien from Herc re, complaining TOl k as s s ti O last year. of the operation of the Lunatic HI RE AND GLASGOW UNION RAIL „Lord v e ." AY AMALGAMATION BILL. ' 4 ►4 IfiII"RARNCLIFFE moved the third reading of Ler or td BROUGHAM wished the third readingto h stPoned t ill Thursday, b ecause t h e holders th e .rte e ... thousand of the shares were opposed to t °bs -- gataation, an d th e y ther e fore wished that point I.o4eonsidered. 4 lread v , W HARNCLIFFE said that the parties bad NM' uad ample time to consider the question, and L e -hot s t of the Noble and Learned accede to the request Lord Fetiti 15 EAIIMONT opposed the delay, because the boy t/r1 praying f or it, w hi c h did not represent so e; 41 4,000 shares, had been got up by a competing Th e to Th e " 1 was then read a third time and passed. o f th e gterquis of LANSDOWNE laid upon the table 1846 'louse the report of the Factory Inspectors . tor tad 4 411 d abstract of a statement of moneys received_ atu tet tPcmded on account of boroughs in Ireland, pur ° N . s t of Parliament Si° OF ‘ LORD GOUGH AND VISCOUNT Th e tr HARDINGE. i rhilroZatqUiS of LANSDOWNE gave notice that on task --v f noct, when the report on the Bill for granting s ..roughntsco Viscount Hardinge and Lord Gough . w thars ey P , he should move, with regard to its . pecuniary Th e that the Bill be restored to its orinal form. Severahlikesiole.f RICHMOND tril te the said he should certainly of the House upon the question. thin e _ s were advanced a stage, stud their Lord aayourned. HOUSE OF COMMOIVS, July 13. The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before Four Velock. ~_ following Th e NE W MEMBERS. l erthe Members, w h o h av e accepted office k ats - new Government took the oaths and their Lord JO HN on their re-election. le r , ra JOHN RUSSELL (First Lord of the Trea sYi).for the city of London. roughr tCiRGE GREY (Home Secretary), for the bo of C o l on , Davenport. T osivier j en:l:pet:Ks. (Surveyor of the Ordnance), for the r 4 Control '• H OBROUSE (President of the Board of Lord)' for the borough of Nottingham. bor o 41 lIALMERSTON (Foreign Secretary), for the u gh of T• k r. j iverton. 011 4t:VIS (Attorney-General), for the city of est er. kr, r. Lei, -4130UCHERE (Secretary for Ireland), for the Nil o f 4141, Taunton. toe the al bUNDAS (one of the Lords of the Admiralty), kr" bo rough o f Greenwich. horo t ; fr e c WOOD (Chancellor of the Exchequer), for the t or 7 a Halifax. l lold -' 4 ARCUS HILL (Comptroller of the House ) f e a ' eir the borough of Evesham. bl itiil P r taia BERKELEY (one of the Lords of the Ad ) for the city of Gloucester. 41ANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON kr, h RAILWAY. tart ' fiLIOT YORKE, on bringing up the re hatc4 : the Committee on this railway, moved inii - 't be taken into consideration to-morrow, 4 tio t (le d there • 44t si t , e amended points are deposited with the lit 4t e Pt'rs this day." The object, he said, was to ibi s %,,i the Passage of the Bill through the other House Nis Mon th Unless Unless it reached there by the 20th of the present it would be impossible to get the Bill passed r'esent session.—Agreed to. „Lord lin NEW WRIT. -TRAM movedthe • -suing of a new writ for -4 the room of Air. wil,7 i ... election of a m enab issuing a_ SOUTH STAFF for the borough of St. Ives, deceased.• ORniblaliLletitiEAlLWAY. 1.._„-Y4oll(?lR4E2,EbNeEsurasopvendactdhatwtithhe Standing Orders, Nos. e- Ir . r'llshire Railway Bill, and thereferenßeeillober -,ra tuae.—Aereed to. that the e ad Souththe w„ . _ TAFF VALE RAILWAY. k;7,1•• GREENE moved that the Taff Vale Ra ilwa y , t 'o te : read the third time, notwithstanding the certifi- Apos:quired by the resolutions of the House of 23d be, 4 " d to be diaosited in the Private Bill-office, has not bete ,kePosited for three clear days, provided the certifi ofjuiyua......ll liave been deposited on Friday, the 10th day Agreed to. 11 SECO ND READINGS. 1,311 11 e following Bills were read second time : yn,„ and 1. 1 37 ,Re.i.lway (Extension a l tt to Ely). Iv s , Y nat iway (Extensio n t o M arc h). i s lue ti Y (Estate s ) Bill. e el', St. Ives, and Cambridge Junction Railway. NThe THIRD READINGS. seti. following Bills were read a third time and ltle t i o . . o l nan (Polloc an d G ovan and Clydesdale Junction vtil e ,' W !tya Amalgam tion). ii ( . 11 k1:1 Railway (Clydesdale Junction Railway De -11,,,40n5). 1)1;13`,/Ya Divorce Bill. 1 / 4 1 11 and Kingstown Extension Railway. . D"!. 11 41 West India Docks and Birmingham Junction 1,-•4llwaY• Dtt .hEn l d Clyde Navigation and Bowling Bay Improve. (1 14 : 11 ,,t. k' Junction Railway (Showhill and Portobello t q ta , 'VI). to 44 d Bradford Railway (Junction Line at Brad kotNool, Orrnskirk, and Preston Railway. 1,),,:"t._ Estuary kgO°R7.2ll Great Western Docks. Ztt-,7,41) Canal. lilt," Harbour Improvement. `eittitioa Paga n and Furness Railway (Whitehaven Exten -1,44 Ktrksanton Deviation). Sri Stipendiary Justice. tri L', l lk.Z.„za SMALL DEBT COURT BILL. rtio:` 14 -11 AY BERKELEY presented a petition from als o - 1 '4 4 1, 4 it the provisions of this Bill, which he Tb` re ,sent: d Dtinted to-morrow with the votes. He con s ,, 4 -4ord,;`P•iitions from Bath to the same tf... E a red ~,:_,Amendments on the following Bills were Qr`ern 0, - "t' agreed to: — '''° l' 4113g.0r. 6:44tthiee Li n T ai e i r w m a in a ( l E ß PP ai iil l:a E y ter ' a d Birnii Railway. kid! a '''d Bir t „. ngliam Grand Junction andl‘lanches -4 rtaitZg h ani Railways Amalgamation. littrarxeh a nd eo A:K n b ern : n u e rt u on ai - l u w p a o y n : Trent to 4;iweastle and 13, e /.• Canal Purchase). v i r lia and I)enfpwiek• itallwaY• uneaton leir lh aw and nrcester Ne W Gas" Railway (Greenhill Branch). 7, " Vrllys% s —is % JO N ' S DIVORCE BILL. -rs t . w as b k,.. till.. relight Up from the Lords and read a 'tißPts,: T iliew . S U:01 8 . atirt i r • W DS OLVERHAMPTON HI , or.ti STAPFORRE JUNCTION RAANILD poII:I is:vp i was read a thi r d time and passed. Th.ON OF PARTIES IN THE HOUSE. ititi,i,al.3 being the first night of th e new Mi n i s t r y ta.n 4 their salts in the House, they at once , IN ~ !lwtotee • themselves upon the Treasury benches, the el-41144s preserving their old position. Lord George ' il g Itt„ e , Air. Mime i, Sir R. H. Inglis, and other lead -4ttpri;7lbers occupieti their usual seats. Sir J. Graham tB I I " 4 1f- past four, and, with other members of the PrNinl'istrY, occupied the Opposition benches,aswoom. s ti ed Dttv :. (1 , 4 very scanty attendance of Membe rs i l ta the Mb tatrial sidi• of the House. 11-4 STAFFORDSHIRE JUNCTION RAlL `idThe i ,,,,,, WAy, WITH BANCHES. - port R of the Committee upon this Bill was con e. r er, a 4"P h u " ' b d Y 0 d nd the Bill was read a third time 1t 704 4kThe re REPORTS. df Ports on the f,'lllowing Bills were received:- 11' NI , e , .__. tb ° INi n h anal Navigat ion. he t th o 11 , , w ay g ( a, Wolverha. Tipton, and Stour Valley Rail `liiii) Stour Vali I; ) I* 01 mn.tlrgh and al e y It le • . Canal. Rail in' 1 "' ‘-..asgow 'Union Nl', :' ?aisle a-d Jr 't ne Canal Sale. rti .11 4 - 4,4 s tate Etil Y i , ~A -( ) ns o 1.14,1 a Charit E 10 l' o r"4, x,. , Y state Bill. . t* 'oc " v uorY, and E 4...-11 Direct Railway. Olt Ilnd G ovan4plaiirtatif)n and I . :•Iydesdale Junction Railways ' itit 0 41 th r • Loett • h:dSel•tet Committee mo , v ed that it be an instruction to -re -°lrnittee on 'Standing Orders to coesile oti,r,,_-Port en tie the neti. iu to of Alexander Downie and kr°, referred to diem ' ot 1 June 22. 0 1 1 3 , ' tBTe It,. al M g , °l l U'r and M. r. GREENE having briefly op stp. ,- In , tion, 1 41 O ft TLe44()CICI:IA.RT r( . lit A. oc 4, ‘ 4 4 r. t/c,i),t.i,°n,,vv_as wilt ' l l3 drawn. ea gle ji '"4. I ~, 0-., ll f f tm . % se ov -,,, 1i. in owed that the 14th resolution of ~,L . as re .._ tee 12th c T February last be suspended, :,o cti L'lell t hrOs the ~lem Ix trs in , tludert in the panel trotn '' , l() Me the to to rm Committees on groups . 6 . 7 ! iti to._ , are to b # h s ' . su ch e selected -, and that the Members select, ,i 'Ni l , Purpose be in ,& o n kto attendance in the week corn- A ll 'aY the., :.20th day of July, for the pur- ~; .~ V. and cir. dians. •BY _ L POP, ll , l f i r k ,Ttbe 91 is :0; Vo le as tli e s o e%C t ; it 4 L ly 04 01 0 of airy, re, rietti m pf r. deeP i tf )ut „ pperw or ld the f i rtal i n bi 0 its ou a ifei , a ts we ragl e re been difi' Add t his co il hen' its offoun d cooPl°nor 00 no t il ed d do h ' e got t sPects fts ,j ir og e 80 0 4 g how il egf math 'Pi ted ,4.o l, rY - 00 0 LoY ofulri THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 14, 1846. which I may introduce may meet with very great opposition. At the present moment I have no further stay,ment to make to the House. Col. WOOD, who was inaudible in the gallery, owing to the great confusion which existed in the House, after the conclusion of the Noble Lord's statement, was ralerstood to say that, in consequence of the explanation which had been made, he would with draw the notices of motions which he had upon the paper. - Mr. WAKLEY expressed his strong approbation of the ,course about to be pursued by the Noble Lord as the very best cours- which could be adopted. Mr. PAKINGTON expressed himself highly satis fied with the course Which the Noble Lord proposed to follow. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. Messengers came down from the House of Lords bringing several Bills. LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL. Mr. PAKINGTON asked, in reference to the Bill for altering and amending the Luratic Asylums Act, whe ther it was the intention of the Government to do any thing with it during the present session ? TRANSPORTATION TO VAN DIE }ZEN'S LAND. Sir G. GREY said that the question of transportation of males to Van Diemen's Land had been under the consider ation of the late Government, and would certainly occupy the attention of her Majesty's present Ministers. He could not say more of the course which her Majesty's Ministers might pursue in reference to it, except that it would be deemed necessary meanwhile to suspend the transportation of males to that colony for a limited period. Mr. EWART gave not7ce that he would postpone for ten days the motion whif4l he had on the book for that evening, namely, on going into Committee of Sup ply, to move, that it is expedient that the practice of making Van Diemen's Land a genereal receptacle for convicts should cease ; that transportation be discon tinued as a punishment, and be maintained only as a supplement to the previous punishment of im prisonment. On Friday week, should there be a Committee of Supply moved for, he would bring in his motion. IRELAND. Mr. B. OSBORNE said that as considerable anxiety prevailed on the subject in Ireland, he wished to know from the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Ireland what course was to be pursued with regard to the three Bills brought in by the Noble Lord the late Secretary. Did the present Government intend to brinE.s, the Bills forward in any shape, or did they intend to introduce any of their own ? Mr. LABOUCHERE said, in reply to the question of the Hon. Gentleman, he thought it would be more con venient if he delayed till Thursday next to state the course which the Government proposed to take. All he would say at present was, that be was engaged in a careful consideration of the whole question, and he would undertake to say that no benefit secured to the Irish people by these Bills would be lost. On Thursday, however, he would state the course which the Government in tended to pursue. REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL OFFICERS. Mr. WAKLEY wished to ask her Majesty's Govern ment whether they would consent to the passing and enactment of a Bill during the present session provid ing for the registration of duly qualified members of the medical profession? Lord JOHN RUSSELL did not think there would be sufficient time during the present session to consider fully a measure of so much importance. Mr. WAKLEY conside'red it a very small measure, and would not long occupy tl.e attention of Ministers. CAPTAIN WARNER'S INVENTION. On the order of the day being read for going into a Committee of Supply, Lord INGESTRE rose, pursuant to the notice he had given, to csll the attention of the House to the subject of Captain Warner's recent inventions. He proposed that a humble addre , s he presented to her Majesty, praying that she would be graciously pleased to give directions for the investigation of Captain War ner's inventions. He was sorry that this subject had re eeived so little of the attention which it deserved from Parliament ; he felt corfident, however, that before long that inattention would be at an end. Attacks had. upon former occasions, been made upon the veracity of his Gallant Friend; tho,e attacks bad been utterly un founded. He hoped that this question might be con sidered by her Mtij , sty's Government, for he could assure them that, however much disposed they might be to treat it lightly, he considered it one of the most important subjects which could be brought under their notice. He wished, in the first place, to correct a strong impression which had arisen out of an erroneous statement made in that House, and he was sorry to see that the Right Hon. Baronet who mad• the assertion was not in his place. The Right Hon. Baronet had said, in 1842, that Captain Warner refused to make any communication unless he had the distinct promise of 400.000/. In the correspondence which he , had moved for in 1844, there had been omitted by a mistake a letter which he could'produce to the House, and in which he distinctly stated that he would leave the question of remuneration to her Majesty's Go vernment, provided he received a guarantee that he should not go without remuneration. There had also been a statement read that when the experiment was tried at Brighton several pilots said that there were several ropes hanging over the side of the vessel. leaving ample room for any deception. He had a com munication from a gentleman who had ascertained the truth of the statement, and he could show that the pilots as a body had denied the assertion, and had stated that there were no ropes hanging overboard but the tow ropes. Captain Warner had made many siMilar offers, and had desired to be called before the Prime Minister or the First Lord of the Admiralty, offering to explain his invention to them without any stipulation for a reward, but he had ' very properly refused to explain it to any Commissioner , , who were not authorised to do more than make a report upon the subject. He said, if any one would take the trouble to look into the history of this affair, he would find that offer after offer had been made by Cap tain Warner to the late Government, and all had been rejected. The Noble Lord re ferred to the language of Sir George Murray on one of these occasions, to show the over degree of caution which they had taken, treating Captain Warner as though he were an unprincipled person and a swindler. He must admit that the Right Honourable Gentleman (Sir Robert Peel) had always paid great attention to him (Lord Ingestre) when he brought the matter before the House, but he would never look into it him self, referring him continually to the ordinary channels, which channels he (Lord Ingestre) found as continually :hut against him. He might refer, he said, to the first Commission on which the Hon. Baronet the Member for Liverpool (Sir H. Douglas) was, in evidence of what he said. The two subjects of experiment were the invisible shell and the long range. It was agreed, after a great deal of correspondence, that the long range should be the first subjected to experiment ; and an estimate of the expense was made up, which fixed that 2,5001. was neces s try to carry out the experiment. But another course f correspondence ensued, which ended in 500/. being ffered for the purpose. Of course Captain Warner re oudiated the offer, which was but one-fifth of the sum he 'tad named first of all, as required for the experiment. fie could not characterise such conduct other than most unjust and most unfair to Captain Warner, who had not had fair play meted out to him. He then alluded to the -ship on which Captain Warner experimented at Brighton, for the destruction of which by Captai❑ War eer he (Lord Ingestre) gave the signal, and a minute - Igor he did so, although he did not specify the exact rime he should do so, it was destroyed. He also read papers to show that Captain Warner had been most un rairly and improperly dealt with. He could not think that iny thing could be done without the effect of the private Committees being perfectly understood. He might al -1 isle to the railway which was justified by the report of :he Hon. Sir R. Keats, who had been the great authority ,n those points. He might also cite the opinion of Lard,M Gs bourne, whose motion stood for the 14th of May. If these records were taken, there was not any doubt that the claim under Sir Robert Peel was admitted. He .vould not allude to the dealings of Captain Warner, be eouse he believed that great loss had been sustained by hat individual, and un 'er these circumstances h thought that there was sufficient ground for the principle of which he bad spoken. Such being the case, he (Load Ingestre) was naturally anxious to ascertain why this principle should be entertained. On this ground, then, ne thought there ought to be an allowance, and a suffi cient allowance. The experiments made at Brighton were quite satisfactory as to the complete success of Captain Warner's invention. There was no connexion whatever between the ship which was blown up and the steamer that towed it, much as had been said of this matter at the time. He (Lord Ingestre) had looked at the whole question as a naval officer for many Years, and he was firmly persuaded of the truth and value of the invention. Much as it had been ineered at and contemned, he must still persist in that opinion. It was a remarkable fact that all great inven tions of this kind were met by ridicule. He need only refer to the origin of gas, as a proof of the manner in which important inventions were first received. Only a C e w years ago, Dr. Lardner said that it was impossible for steamers to cross the Atlantic, whereas now they crossed that great sea almost every week. Then let them look at railways ; mark the circumstances under which they were first projected, and their great success •it the present day. When the first line was laid down it was said railway trains would not much exceed the speed of mail coaches without great danger ; but now they were daily running at the rate of 25 and 30 miles an hour, yet no explosions or accidents were the result. When they were expending such large sums on fortifications, they should pause ere they rejected the due consideration of such a great invention as the one under the consideration of the House. With that invention he would engage with only one ship, to blocade any harbour on the coast of England, or attack any fleet that might be brought against him. They were a commercial people, and he implored the Government to give the subject a dispas sionate consideration. He had no interest whatever in bringing the subject under the consideration of the House, beyond doing good to the country, and protecting it against all chances of foreign danger. Though he had occupied the House fur a considerable time, he could not sit down without reading a letter which he had received from Captain Warner a few days ago. ( the Nobb. Lord then read the letter, dated July 2, which was in eff ct an expression of regret at the treat ment he had hitherto received, and expressing a deter mination to apply to the new Administration for their assistance in the matter. It further entered into a vin dication of the course he had pursued in regard to the remuneration he sought for the invention, and in respect to his objection to the kind of arbitration proposed by the Governrnen.) He felt, that he had trespas , ed rather too long upon the time and attention of the House, but ho trusted that the importance of the subject would i , e a sufficient excuse for his having done ao ; and what ever might be the result of the discussion, if it had the object of directing attention to the correspondence which he moved for and obtained in 1844, and which he had succeeded 'obtaining in the course of' the present ses sion, he would be amply repaid for his trouble.—(Hear, hear.) All he want e d was a f a i r trial and no evo ur ; and with the view of bringing the matter more minedia,tely under the attention of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, he begged have to move as an amendment to the original motion, that an address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to give directions for the investi gation of Mr. Warner's inventions. Captain PECHELL would be very happy to second the motion, for the sake of inquiry and discussion, and while he did so he could not but admire the zeal and ability which the Noble Lord had exhibited in conduct ing the case of Mr. Warner through three successive Administrations.—(Hear, hear.) Ile admitted that the ship at Brighton was blown up, but it must be remem bered that the vessel just previous to its disappearance was in tow of a steamer. Now, here was the difficulty. They did not want such an invention as this when a line of battle ship could get so near its adversary ; and he for one believed Mr. Warner never would be able to accom plish the end he had proposed to himself. It could not be contradicted tint before the invention could become of any use, the vessel to apply it must approach very near indeed to the object to be acted upon.—(Hear, hear.) Sir H. DOUGLAS said he once had the honour of being a member of a Commission appointed to investi gate the merits of the invention, and certainly the con clusion he came to, after duly and patiently considering the subject, and witnessing many experiments, was that common gunpowder would accomplish just as much as Mr. Warner's shells. When everything was ready for + the trial of the astounding discoveries of Captain ' Warner, the Commis , don received a letter from him, in which he positively stated that he would not proceed to I make the experiment or disclose the secret in their presence, unless he received an assurance from the Go vernment that he should be paid a sum that had beea previously named. He (Sir IL Douglas) begged the House to mind the terms of the letter, " before he pro ceeded to make the experiment." The Committee, of course, in reply, told him that they had no power to make any final arrangement with him — (Hear, hear)—but that if the experiment were made they should report to the Government, who, of course, would be at perfect liberty to deal with him as they should think fit with respect to remuneration. They also replied to him, that his proposition was en tirely at variance with his previous arrangements. Now the Noble Lord (Viscount Ingestre) had said that the answers of Captain Warner, to the questions of the Committee, were taken down in writing. They were so taken down, but that was done in the presence of Sir B. Martin, who, on the part of Captain Warner, took a leading part in the affair ; they were, in fact, written down by that gentleman, and it was right for the House and the country to know with what sort of a man they had to deal. No one was' present in the room but the Commissioners, Captain Warner, and Sir B. Martin, and the minutes that were taken down in writing by that gentleman, he (Sir Howard Douglas) bad then in his possession, and it was but just to the House and the country that the important parts should be read. The Hon. Member having accordingly read a few ex tracts from the minutes of the Committee's proceedings, went on to say that the Noble Lord had made another charge against him (Sir H. Douglas), and that was, that he had done his best to draw from Captain Warner the secrets of his invention, but in reply to that charge, he begged to say that never was projector more fairly and favourably treated by any Government or public body. Every assistance was afforded him, and he (Sir H. Douglas) could confidently assert, that his case had re ceived from the Committee the fairest and fullest conside ration, Now he thought after such gallant men, men of such high character as his friend Sir E. Owen and Sir B. Martin, had said that, in their opinion, the experi ment was a decided failure, no one could fairly say that Captain Warner had been unjustly treated by the Com missioners. He hoped he had briefly convinced the House that not only Captain Warner, but the public st large, had been justly treated by the Committee, of which he had been a member ; that they had, after great labour, extensive experiments, and much expense, fairly given Captain Warner's inventions a fair trial ; and the present Government would, he trusted adhere to the conclusion to which they had come, viz., that the in visible shell by itself was a great delusion, and a most ridiculous affair. If Captain Warner could, under such circumstances as the Committee had proposed — that was to say, in a particular sort of weather, tide, and wind, carry his shell to the distance of five or six miles, and with perfect safety to those who should have to use it, then, he for one, should support it.—(Hear, hear.) But until that experiment could be made successfully—and, with the little smattering of science that he (Sir H. Douglas) had, and the practical knowledge which he had of gunnery, he was convinced it could not—he must continue incredulous in such matters. —(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had spoken of the great improvement of gunpowder, and many other things ; that many . trades had been brought into exis tence, and many sciences were now in active operation, which, not long ago, we should have deemed utterly impracticable. But having the experience which he (Sir H. Douglas) had in these matters, he knew that it was physically impossible to project a shell five or six miles distance. Of course it had been aid-some years ago that it was impossible to produce such a thing as gas, and that steam would never come into operation in its present powerful shapf. But all these were inherent in nature, and merely required minds of a powerful calibre to bring them into active operation. Captain Warner's theory, however, was based on a false founda tion, and his mind was biased. When he (Captain Warner) was reminded by the. Commissioners of the difficulty of overcoming the resistance of the air, he replied, " What ! do you talk of the resist ance of the air? I have a power a hundred times greater than that." Now they must all know, that were it not for the great resistance of the air, a shot could at present be carried a range of sixty miles at the least. It was perfectly absurd to talk of a theory, when there was the practice which they could not overcome. Of course, they must know that the greater the projectile force, the greater the resistance of the air. The ablest scientific journals of the day had also shown the utter impracticability of the scheme of Captain Warner, and amongst ethers were the Political Review and the Artisan. All of them were unanimous in pronouncing the experiment a failure. He would himself stand within a range of six miles, and defy Captain Warner or any other man to reach him at that distance by means ora projectile shell.—(Laughter.) From the largest mortar that had been manufactured a shell could be projected no further than three miles, and on that experiment labour and care had been bestowed. Captain Warner in reference to that experiment had said that the mortar was not a projectile ; but if it was not that, what was it ? On all the grounds that he had stated, then, he must say that he was incredulous as to Captain Warner's so-called inventions,' but he contended that they were not in fact inventions and that every one of what Captain Warner called " his secrets" had been published years ago in a French scientific work. He hoped he was mistaken in saying that Captain Warner's scheme was a failure ; but after giving the subject a fair and patient investigation, he could come to no other conclusion than that the whole affair was most ridiculous and absurd ; an d he, therefore, hoped that her Majesty's Government would not be disposed to act in c ontradiction to the decisions of the Committee of which he had been a member. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the only course which the Government could adopt would be to appoint a Commission of several impartial persons competent to inquire into the subject. He hoped such a course would satisfy the Noble Lord, and induce him to withdraw his motion. Mr. BROTHERTON said that all the information he had received upon the subject was from Col. Shaw, who had served in Portugal. He (Col. Shaw) had offered to Capt. Warner to test the powers of his invention, but Capt. Warner had made a great number of excuses upon the subject; and it was Col. Shaw's opinion that he could not perform anything like what he had stated was in his power to do. He thought these discussions upon long ranges and invisible shells should not he allowed to occupy so much of the attention of the House. Their attention should be directed, not to the promotion of the means or the reward of inventions for the purpose of destroying life and spreading misery and ruin, but rather for the promotion of arts and sciences, tending to improve and benefit the condition of the people. He thought that future generations would say, that too much of their time had been wasted upon these useless discussions. Mr. WAKLEY thought it high time that these ques tions should be settled. Much time had been occupied in the discussions of these matters, but nothing satis factory had been come to. He thought that the Com mission to be appcinted should consist, not exclusively of military or naval officers, who were naturally preju diced, and in favour of old habits, but that two or three persons of acute observation and strong common sense should be included in it, who would go to the question without any prejudice on the question ; and, to prevent any disagreement, Captain Warner should be required r e a d y obtainedto expi ess in writing, tha t he wa s satisfied with the ap pointment of the Commiss ion. He quite agreed with the opinion, that the public m one y mi g h t be expended in a better manner than in en coura g in g the art of war, but it must be borne in mind , that the best way to prese rve pews was to be prepar ed for w ar.—(cheers. , )Ile hoped the Noble Lord w ould con sent to withdraw his motion. Sir DOUGLAS beggedobtaining to state, with rega r d t o in nwri writing, to to respect to the Commis sion of which he had the honour to be a member, but it was p rodu ctive of no benefit whatever. thecom m i t s h s e io c n o , n th se a n t t that o fe ha B d Ptain been Warner,al Lord INGESTRE thanked the Right Hon. Gentle man, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for this, the first act of his public Administration ; it was ono of justice, and complimented him upon so favourable a commence ment of his duties. He was sure that Captain Warner would be quite willing to abide by the decision of the Commission appointed by Goverornment ; and he (Lord Ingestre) would be happy to affd the Government any assistance in his power, in the forma - ion of that Com mission. Under such circumstances, he would not press his motion. The motion was accorlingly withdrawn. THE PROVINCE OF SINDE. Mr. HUME begged to ask the Right Hon. Baronet, the President of the Board of Control (Sir J. C. Hob house) whether he was at that time, or if not then, whether he would upon an early period, be prepared to state in %%hat condition the province of Sinde was to be considered whether as forming part of the East India Company's possession, or us belonging to the British Government. Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to as k the same Ri g h t Hon. Baronet whether it was not possible for them to retrace the steps they had taken in the province of S - nde, and replace thole whom they had wrongfully dispossessed of their territories in their former position? Sir J.C. HOBLIOUSE would be prepared, with refer ence to the question of the Hon. Member for Montrose, at any time he might give notice, to answer his ques tion. At present he was not prepared to do so. The Right Hon. Member for the University of Oxford 'Must excuse him if he declined to give an answer at present to so large a question as the one he had put to him. ARMY AND NAVY ESTIMATES. Mr. WILLIAMS wished to call the attention of the House to the very large amount of the estimates proposed for the army and navy in the present session. Anxious as he always was to save the public money, he would not have made any objection to these increased estimates had the situation of affairs, as respected this country and the United States of America, remained the same as they were when those estimates were first brought forward. A change had, however, happily taken place, and all the differences between the two countries were now brought to an end, and consequently the necessity for these in creased estimates was entirely removed. There had been an immense increase in this branch of the estimates since the Noble Lord at the head of the Government left office on a former occasion and the present time. If Hon. Members would refer to the estimates of 1835, and compare them with the present time, they would see the enormous increase. He would not confine his remarks to a single year, but he would take the average expenditure for seven years, from the year 1835, and that would show the astonishing increase for the present year. In 1835 the expenditure was 48,780,0001, and the expenditure pro posed for 1846 was 55,500,0001., being an increase over that of 1835 of 6,720,000/. In addition to that, a reduc tion of 600,0001. took place in the Two-and-a Half per Cents., which raised the expenditure of the present year over that of 1835 to 7,329,0001. Taking again the average of seven years, commencing with the Adminis tration of Lord Grey, and including three years of that of Lord Melbourne, he found the expenditure was 1,100,0001. more than in 1835. He admitted that the late Government might be quite justified in increasing the expenditure in the army and navy departments, but in every department of the Government an increase had taken place which was perfectly astound ing. The miscellaneous estimates alone amounted from two to three millions. The cause for such in crease had ceased; the country, he considered, was in as good a position as it occupied in 1835, in respect of the foreign relations. There seemed to be a disnosition to peace, and he gave the Noble Lord (Palmerston) at the head of the Foreign Department much credit for wishing to maintain the relations with foreign countries in peace. He did expect, therefore, that the Government, as soon as they hadileisure, would scrutinise the whole of the estimates, and make every possible reduction. Why, be said, the increase of 7,320,000/., was some two millions more than the income tax, and some two millions and a half more than the malt-tax ; if then the Government could reduce the ex penditure to what it was in 1845. then both of, these ob noxious taxes might be abolished. The cost of the revenue itself ought to be scrutinised and reduced. He found that there was an increase in that item between the years 1841 and 1845 of 350,0001., and that the in crease in the same item between 1806 and 1845 amounted to 1,150,000/. He hoped then that the present Ministry would follow the course taken by Lord Grey, and revise the whole of the expenses, whereby he was certain they would acquire and retain the increased confidence of the country. Mr. HUME said he did not expect to hear the obser vations which had just been made, but he felt obliged to the Hon. Gentleman, and the more so because with a new Goverment they were likely to have their weight. He said there was only one suggestion which he wished to throw out to the Noble Lord. At the commerce• ment, he said, of the Grey Administration a Committee was appointed, as the Nobe Lord himself would recollect, to revise the salaries of the different officers of State. That Committee gave great satisfaction, for the country was now determined to look into the expenses of the Government. The inquiry he alluded to ought to have been carried through all the departments, for Parliament then took upon itself to regulate the salaries, and ac cordingly the salaries of the Presidents and the Secrete. ries were fixed and approved of by the House, but here it stopped. He thought that the officer at the head of each department would have inquired into these de partments, and made the necessary reductions. That was the course followed by Earl Grey, and he got great credit by it from the country. But what he (Mr. Hume) wished, was that the Noble Lord would allow the mis cellaneous estimates to be submitted to some such scrutiny as the Irish estimates were subjected to. Many of these Irish estimates were found to be most extrava gant and absurd, but a proper reduetion was made, and the result was greater economy, and a better discharge' of the duties of the office. The Irish themselves, who were rather loose in money matters, received this result with approbation. He did not mean to recommend any improper reduction, for there were many of the under departments very ill remunerated; where officers, after many years' service, left ill compensated. But there were officers whose good pay accompanied little or no labour, and there he thmight a reduction ought to be made. He assured the Noble Lord that this coursewould give great satisfaction, and gain him the confidence of the country. Dr. BOWRING said the Government had one great means of relieving the public from increased burdens. The Noble Lord would 'recolleet that a Committee was appointed on public accounts. That Committee made their report, and in it laid down certain principles. The great principle which they had laid down was, that the gross revenue should be paid into the Exchequer. Now he (Dr. Bowring) knew cases in which from 6,700,000/. to 6.900,000/. had altogether escaped the attention of Government—cases where nearly 7,000,000/. were taken by some of the departments and applied, while other of the departments took it from the sale of public stores, and ne note of it was taken till the receipts were handed in. Such irregularities, he said, ought not to exist ; and so long as they did exist the' Gdvernment could not be conducted with economy. He boriea, then, that the Noble Lord would correct them ; and he had no doubt, if he would subject the whole to his; own personal I observation and control, he would effect a great saving to the public. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Coventry (Mr. Williams) had attributed the increase in the naval and military departments, during the Melbourne Administration to the war in America ; but he (Lord J. Russell) remembered attending to this subject before the Noble Lord at the head of that depart ment, and was his opinion, that though that was no doubt not left out in"making up the estimates, still the colonies and dependencies of Great Britain made an in crease in these departments necessary. As to other ob servations which fell from the Hon. Gentleman, he would only say that it was bad policy to exhaust their forces in foreign service. He found, for example, even under the present system, that the regiment at the head of those in Inlia went there in 1825. He thought a re giment, after being ten years abroad, should be five years at home. As to the cost of the revenue, he hoped the House would excuse him if he declined entering upon that subject at present, but he would certainly turn his attention to it hereafter. General DE LACY EVANS said that he was one of a Committee appointed by the House to inquire and, report upon the best mode of economising in the mili tary and naval departments, and at that time he did most anxiously wish that economical arrangements would take place ; but he had seen enough within the last few years to convince him that reductions in the army and navy establishments would be anything but economical. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply. On the item of 2,345/. for the Ecclesiastical Cons- mission, Mr. E. DENISON rose to object. He considered that the item was enormous, as not one half of the Com missioners ever attended the Board, being prevented by their other professional engagements. He was prepared, next session, to move for a Committee of inquiry, as he considered the business of the Commission was not satis factorily performed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was quite aware that the business of the Commission was nut—satisfactorily performed ; and he considered that if a responsible Commission were appointed, it would remedy the evil to a great degree Mr. WILLIAMS most strongly objected that the people should be taxed for a Commission to inquire into the revenues of the Church. He did not wish to oppose _ .. the Government; but he felt in a most awkward pos tion, as he could not conscientiously support the vote and unless some intimation was held out that the neces vary inquiry should be made into it, ho would take the sense of the House upon it. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would make an inquiry into the circumstances ; but he was not till then aware that it was an opposed vote. Mr. WAKLEY said that he most sincerely hoped that that vote would not for the future appear in the proceed ings of the House. It was quite unjust, and he put it to the Right Hon. Baronet below the gangway (Sir R. Inglis) whether those votes did not bring the church into discredit. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he did not mean to impute any dereliction of duty to the Commissioners ; what he found fault with was the constitution of the church. Sir R. INGLIS said that the Parliament had no right to meddle with the Church property; it had not bestowed it, and so it had no right to meddle with it. Mr. HUME said he did not wish to see gentlemen ungrateful. Whose was the property first ? The Ca tholics'. Who took it from them ? Why, Parliament, and gave it to the Protestants. So, therefore, the Church had no reason to complain when Parliament stepped in to make those reformations which the Church refused to make themselves.—(Hear, hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL said that with regard to the vote for the Ecclesiastical Commission in Ireland, he would refer it to the Lord-Lieutenant, from whom he expected valuable information; so that if it were necessary to come to Parliament he would know how to act. The item was then passed. The next vote was for 120,7001. for the administration of the law to the poor. Mr. HUME proposed that 100,0001. be taken upon account, so that the question might be left open for discussion. Mr. WILLIAMS considered that after the revelations which had been made with respect to poor-law legisla tion, the course suggested was exceedingly proper. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ob served that such a course would be wholly ineffective. Sir ROBERT INGLIS objected to the amendment of the Hon. Member for Montrose. He considered if it were carried, the working of the law, for which the Hon. Member himself professed so strong a regard, would be completely obstructed. Mr. WAKLEY strongly condemned the manner in which the poor-laws of Ireland were administered. Had he known the question was about to come on this even ing, he would have brought down to the House the diet • table of the union of Bromley. in Kent, from which it would be seen that 4oz. of animal food was all that was 1 allowed for the sustenance of an able-bodied man in th e • c ourse of the week. In that union, it appeared that 40 , out of 87 persons, who were in one of the workhouses, were stretched on a bed of sickness. What other effect could follow such treatment ? It appeared also that in the same union the aged and infirm had only 15oz. of animal food in the week ; 15oz. were allowed to the aged and infirm, while to the healthy and able-bodied, with strong and vigorous stomachs, only 4oz. were allowed. Under such circumstances, he would ask, what was to be done with the Poor-law Commis sioners ? He believed that in their private capacity they were all estimable men, but this was a case of gross injustice, and perpetrated, too, against a class of individuals who were least able to defend them selves. It was quite clear that the Commissioners of Somerset House were useless—were worse than useless. That Commission was a monstrous grievance engrafted on the constitution. He did not wish, however, to con fine the administration of the poor-law to local bodies ; a central governing body was necessary, but how it should be constituted he was not prepared to say. He called, however, upon the Noble Lord to fix his attention upon the subject, and lay down such a system of manage ment as would be best adapted to meet the demands of the country and the wants of the poor. He therefore entreated the Hon. Member for Montrose to persist in his motion, and to take a division of the House, to show the Poor-law Commissioners the feeling of the House on this subject. Captain PECHELL said that it had been his inten tien to propose a postponement of this question— (Hear, hear)— and he saw no reason to alter the course he had marked out. It was impossible to conceive the horrors and iniquities which were detailed before the Committee, although a great part of them were detailed in the publie press. The case was one which called for serious consideration, and though he did not wish to im pede the . measure, he thou g ht th at it wou ld b e b e tt er to postpone it. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not see any good to be effected by the postponement of the discussion, it would be merely putting off a difficulty to a future day. Mr. HENLEY said that after the statement which had been made by the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Wakley), he thought that he ought to move for a return of the diet tables. He did not see that any practical good could result from delay, and he thought it would be ad visable to grant the money, as it was merely a temporary measure. He, therefore, should vote against the mo tion of the lion. Member for Montrose. Mr. HUME said that he only wished a part of this grant to be kept back. He did not object to the system of poor-laws, but merely to their administration, and he would therefore withdraw the motion he had made as he did not wish to be thought willing to offer any obstruc tion to the law,. Sir DE LACY EVANS said that he thought some further opportunity of discussing the measure ought to be afforded this session, but it would be advisable that the present vote should be allowed. After a few words from Captain PECRELL and Mr. FE RG U SON, Sir JAMES GRAHAM made some observations in explanation which did not reach the gallery. WAKLEY said that he saw no other course but to give way as his Hon. Friend had done. He com plained of the position in which medical gentlemen were placed under the New Poer-law, and considered they ought to be made more independent. As it was, medi cal officers in connexion with poor-law unions were in a far worse position than those employed in infirmaries and dispensaries, where they had the power of regulat • ing regimen as they thought compatible with the state of the patients. This was not so under the poor-law guardians, for the medical officers were continually in terferred with in this respect, and liable to rebuke and dismissal. He thought it was a matter which ought to be taken up by the Government. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said it was impossible the Government who had just come into office could have considered the details of the question, and he would therefore be excused in occupying the House briefly in explanation. The subject of medical relief was indeed an important matter, and should not be lost sight of in the administration of the New Poor-law. A Committee had sat on the question of medical relief some time ago, presided over by Lord Ashley, and the result was the issuing of a general order . by the Poor law Commissioners, which ended in placing the medical officers in as independent a position as he could desire. He did not go the length of the Hon. Member (Mr. Wakley), as to the perfect independence of medical officers, but thought it was necessary they should be under a certain degree of control. 'Though the con• trolling power of the Poor-law Act was much objected to, he must say that, were it removed, matters would be much worse than they were at present.—(Hear.) He did not see bow they could improve upon the present arrangement. He, for one, did not think it proper that low rates should be paid to medical officers. but that a fair and liberal remuneration should be afforded. Their object was not to fix the rate too low on the one hand, and to guard against an undue liberality on the other. Mr. HENLEY said there was an item of 30,0001. for schoolmasters and schoolmistresses engaged in the edu cation of the destitute poor in connexion with the poor law unions. He wished to know how it was applied ? He was satisfied that a strong feeling was entertained throughout the country on the cutting down of salaries of the medical officers, and much blame was in conse quence thrown on the Poor-law Commissioner. The local authorities under the poor-law were not to blame for that. Sir JAMES GRAHAM explained that the school masters and schoolmistresses would remain as they were now, subject to the control of the Commissioners. An increase in the salaries of the schoolmasters had been oroposed in the hope of getting more efficient persons for those situations. The vote was then agreed to. On the question being put that 15.724/. be voted to defray the expenses of the factory inspectors, Mr. HINDLEY said the House ought to be put in possession of the details of this estimate. Mr. HUME objected to the vote altogether. It seemed rather strange that while with one hand they were removing with the other they were imposing re strictions on manufactures. He confessed he could not see why a manufacturer could not erect a building without calling in the assistance of a medical officer. The vote was agreed to. The sum of 1,7051. was voted to defray the salaries of certain persons in Scotland connected with the land revenues. On the question being put that 6,4641. be voted for defraying the expenses of the household of the Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland, _ _ Mr. HUME said he intended to-morrow to move that the office of Lord-Lieutenant be abolished ; and he thought, therefore, this vote ought to be postponed. It was agreed to. On the item of 39,000/. for defraying the expenses of the Secret Service Department. Mr. HUME said it was exceedingly strange that this item should be the same every year. He wished to have an explanation on this head. Mr. WAKLEY said the country was at peace, so was that House—(Laughter)—and the Ministers were duly installed in office, without any chance of being ousted for a long time, and he could not see how so large a sum could be required. The House and the country, too, were entitled to a fair explanation as to the pur poses for which this money was applied.—(Hear.) The vote was then agreed to. 57,0001. was then agreed to for criminal prosecutions, law charges, &c., in England. On the item of 21,000/., for the charge of the Solicitor and officers of her Majesty's Treasury, Mr. WILLIAMS said that these expenses had been already provided for in No. 1. The salary of the Soli citor of the Treasury in 1841 was 2,000/., but now it was 2,8501.; and the salaries of all his clerks had been doubled. —(No, no.) The public documents proved the fact. Now, he wanted to know what increased duties had de volved upon these individuals to justify an increase of their salaries ? Mr. CARDWELL explained that the Solicitor and his clerks performed the duties of solicitor to no less tha thirteen public offices, and he thought that the House would see that he and his clerks were by no means over paid. Mr. WILLIAMS said the duties performed by the Solicitor of the Treasury in 1841 were almost precisely the same as those now performed by him. Other public law officers were not treated nearly so liberal by the Government. Mr. F. BARING supported the vote, and contended that the Solicitor to the Treasury was by no means over paid. With the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume) he was of opinion that the present system of remune rating the Solicitor by a fixed and just salary, was a far better mode than remunerating him by fees.—(Hear.) Mr. GOULBURN explained the reason of the ap• pointment of additional clerks to the Solicitor, viz., the great saving of fees to legal practitioners thereby. He slid not believe that the Solicitor's salary, or those of his clerks, was at all too high. Sir J. GRAHAM also supported the vote. The salary which such an eminent man as Mr. Maule received for his public services was wisely expended. There had not been an increase in the salaries of all his clerks. Mr. WILLIAMS would undertake to prove that there had been an increase throughout the whole of the esta blishment. Mr. HENLEY wished to know whether witnesses of b th o e th e f r r o o w ni n th r e eceive e a c tt o e m nd m a i n t e te e es in wh c e o n u c r e t and the they had been summoned?. Government dp"'me a n n t Mr. GOULBURN said he could not answer the Hon. Gentleman's question. Mr. EWART recommended the introduction of the decimal system, now prevalent iu other countries, with regard to money. Mr. HUME was convinced, after a careful investiga tion of the report on this subject, that we were better as we were. Dr. BOWRING entertained a contrary opinion, and anxiously look e d f orwar d to t h e d ay w h en th e decimal system should be introduced, not only with regard to our coinage, but our weights, measures, 84c. The vote was eventually agreed to. 64,0001 for criminal prosecutions in Scotland was also agreed to after a little opposition on the part of Mr. Williams. 66,2091. for criminal prosecutions in Ireland was agreed to. 66,2391. for various purposes, commonly paid out of the county rates, having been proposed, Mr. HUME objected to this vote, unless ene Govern ment had the complete control of the Ftisoners after conviction. Sir J. GRAHAM entered into explanations, and said he held that the control of Government over prosecu tions was very necessary, a consideration which weighed with the late Government, and that the present vote con cerned the maintenance of prisoners convicted at the assizes or the quarter sessions, Mr. HENLEY thought that the word "maintenance" was not sufficiently explained. As this grant was to be made from the p4-blic fund, the public had a right to know how it was, applied. Mr. HUME thought that if the public defrayed the expense, the management of this system ought to be vested in the public. Sir J. GRAHAM agreed with the Hon. Member, and begged her Majesty's Government to pause before making this grant, as it would entail a good deal of trouble to them in the appointment of proper authorities to see the find applied. The vote was then agreed to. It was then moved that the sum of 12,4631. be granted to her Majesty to defray the expenses of the prison for the juvenile offenders in the Isle of Wight. The motion was put and agreed to. It was moved that the sum of 19,920!. be granted to her Majesty for the expenses of the Model Prison, at Pentonville. Mr. WILLIAMS said that the results of the system of management in that prison were most appal ling, and many of the prisoners had been removed from it to lunatic asylums. The cost was also enor mous, as each prisoner cost annually 39/. 7s. 6d., or 158. per week—a sum considerably exceeding the wages of two Dorsetshire labourers. He had intended to have opposed the vote in into, but he would not do so, in the hope that the Right Hon. Baronet the Home Secretary (Sir G. Grey) would take the matter into his most se rious consideration. Sir G. GREY said the report on the prison, which had been laid on the table of the House. as well as his own experience of the working of the system, was totally at variance with what had been stated by the Hon. Mem ber who had addressed the House. He hoped, on another occasion, should the subject be brought for ward, to prove that the system adoped at the prison was not of the character which had been represented. Sir JAMES GRAHAM agreed with the Right Hon Baronet (the Home Secretary) as to the system adopted in the prison. The system had not been fairly repre sented by the Hon. Member (Mr. Williams). He denied that it was a cruel or a pernicious one. It had been represented as the silent system; but it was not so. It was a separate, but not a silent system, and great benefit had resulted from its adoption. —(Hear, hear.) Mr. WAKLEY thought his Hon. Friend the Member for Coventry had formed an erroneous opinion of the merits of the system, through reading some of the false and exaggerated statements which had gone forth to the world relating to it.—(Hear, hear.) If more physical exertion were not insisted upon in the prisons, constitu tional debility would follow. They had at present hardly sufficient labour to maintain their strength. He believed that the gaol to which he had alluded was well governed, and conferred great benefits on society at large. 'Mr. HENLEY had always felt great anxiety about the occupants of our gaols, and thought that the subject of an improved treatment of our criminals should be at once taken up by the Government. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that after what had fallen from the Hon. Member for Finsbury he would not detain the House at any length on this subject. He certainly considered that many prisoners under the new regime would be improved in their honesty, industry, and sobriety.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. WILLIAMS explained. They had no proofs that the prisoners under the improved system hail be come improved in their morals, notwithstanding the enormous sums that had been expended for that purpose. The fact that but few of the criminals had learned trades during their imprison was a proof that the public money had been injudiciously expended. The vote was agreed to. 898,6001. was then voted for the inspectors of prisons and lunatic asylums in Ireland. 5,0001. was also voted for the maintenance of the prisoners, &c., at Perth. 62,3301. for convict establishments in Bermuda, De merara, and Gibraltar, was agreed to. The House having resumed, the orders of the day were then proceeded with. THE METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE, AND NEW ZEALAND LOAN BILLS. These Bills were read a second time. BATTERSEA PARK BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up and agreed to. Mr. GROGAN moved for an account of the quanti ties of curd provisions of all kinds imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries, from the sth day of January to the sth day of July, 1846, specifying the diff.Tent kinds, the countries whence sent, the quan tities of each kind entered for home consumption, and the amount of duty paid upon the same respectively ; also, the quantities of each kind re-exported, and whether taken for the use of the ship, or for merchan dise, and the place to which the same were re-exported. Agreed to. Mr. MORISON moved that Mr. Francis Baring be added to the Committee on Railway Acts Enactments.— Agreed to. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Halt-past One o'clock. PIRATE/3.—A letter from Moss (Norway) states that the schooner Betty, Gjetteon, of Christiana, from Bremen, with colonial produce, was attacked by pirates in the German Ocean, on the 12th of June, at about seven in the morning, by a boat filled by armed men. They first bearded the vessel to the number of ten, and demanded water and bread. These articles being given; they asked _for wine, meat, and other things, whichthe captain refused. Eight other men then came on board, and after mastering the crew, amouting to nine men, took away a quantity of articles of various kinds, and did much damage by cutting ropes, breaking nautical instruments, &c. They then departed. They seemed of various countries—Duch, English, Russian, and German, being spoken amongst them.-.-Hull Advertiaer. SWINDLING ON AN EXTENSIVE SCALE.—Consider able excitement has existed in Stockton, during this week and last, by an attempt at wholesale swindling, which, how ever, was fortunately defeated. A few weeks ago, a person of a respectable appearance, and passing under the name of Metcalfe, took a shop and premi-ea of Mr. John Atkinson, in the High.street, for the purpose of carrying on the trade of ship-broker, and general merchant. With the view to enable him to supply his immense number of imaginary customers, he gave orders for large quantities of malt, oil, soap, and other articles of different descriptions, to various hf Ives in Newcastle and other places. Several tradesmen received large orders for goods and furniture of every kind, and in quantity sufficient to furnish a castle. Mrs. Metcalfe also honoured the dress makers and milliners with orders for dresses of the latest fashions and richest kinds. Terms being arranged with parties for the purchase of several valuable houses, shops. and warehouses, to accommodate his daily expected merchandise, and everything appeared to denote that Mr. Metcalfe was in possession of great wealth. This impression continued until the appearance of a policeman from London, who, taking a lively interest in his safety, took him away in custody. It was_then di vulged that he is one of a gang of swindlers who have ope rated with considerable success upon the public, and whom the police have been actively engaged in endeavouring to ap prehend. It is supposed this capture will prove a clue to the apprehension of the entire gang. Only a few of the orders so abundantly dispensed were executed before the discovery of the real character of the adventurers. The Stockton police were very active in bringing this offender to justice, and are deserving of great praise for the energetic asssistance they rendered to the London officer.—Durharni Chronicle. SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR NOTTINGHAM. —BEESTON, SATURDAY.—Yesterday (Friday) afternoon, at the five o'clock train from Nottingham was approaching this station, which is four miles up the line, the engine-driver, John Fisher, observed a child croesing the rails a short dis tance before him, he imniediately shut off the steam, re versed the engine, and blew his whistle, at the same time the guard put his break on; but the train going at the rate of nearly forty miles an hour, it could not be stopped until it passed over the poor child, and crushed it almost to atoms. The train having been stopped, upon examining the body it was found that the upper part had been severed from the lower; its bowels were strewn about, its chest and arms were crushed, and the shoulders were wrenched from their sockets. The head and portions of the upper limbs lay in fragments near the rails, and the lower portion of the child's bociy and the legs were driven to a distance of six or seven yards off the line. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that the poor child was the daughter of Matthew Lowe, a game keeper, who resides at Padge House, near the railway ; and she was only 22 months old. She had been placed in a chair in the garden by her mother whilst she got tea ready, and strayed to the spot upon which she was killed. A coroner's inquest was this day held, when the jury returned as their verdict—" Accidentally killed by a railway engine and & train of carriages passing over her body." FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—BIRNINGHAM, SATUR DAY EvENING.—To-day an inquest was held at the Plough. in Shutlock, on the body of a man n amed Thomas Kirkland, who was killed on Thursday last, on the Birmingham and Derby Railway. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was 49 years of age, and had been employed as a workman in erecting posts for the telegraph on the above line, a short distance beyond the forge station. lie had just finished the erection of a post he had been engaged at, and was retiring with some of his fellow workmen, when he re collected that he had left a tool behind him, and returned for it, walking between the up and:down lines until he came to within a very short distance of the spot where he had to cross over to the post. At the moment, however, an en gine with some empty waggons appeared in sight, and the deceased attempted to run across the line, but before he could get over the rails the train came up, and the buffer of the engine struck him, knocked him down, and the wheels passed over his body, almost severing it in two. No blame unfortunatewhatev e could r bfeelloawtta4esdelf,toanadnythe jury returned individualretexecd a ver dict ept th of " Accidental desth. ' NUMEROUS FIRES IN ONE NlGHT.—Between seven r.m. on Saturday and three A.M. on Sunday, not fewer than five fires occurred in the metropolis. One took place at No. 5, Paradise-street, Rotherhithe, in the occupation of Mr. W. Sandwill, a baker. The lower portion of the pre mises and contents were nearly destroyed, and the remainder considerably damaged. Another fire occurred al mos t simul taneously with the above at the premises belonging to Mr. Henry Miers, a skin dryer, 1, Queen-street, Church-street, Mile-end New Town. It was caused from the overheating of the stove in the drying-room. Considerable damage was sustained. The Brigade and West of England engines were called on to attend another fire that had broken out in llornsey-lane, Holloway, upon the property of Mr. William Duckworth, a farmer. It was caused by some boys playing with fireworks, which set a stack of hay in flames, but they were soon extinguished. A fourth fire happened at 14, King street, St. James's, occupied by Mr. William Weston. It was speedily extinguished. The fifth fire happened at 13, Dor chester-place, Blandford- square, occupied by Mrs. Mary Barry. It was caused from a spark of a candle coming in contact with some linen. The inmates succeeded in getting it out before the arrival of the engines. THE TURES AND THEIR WIVES.--Of the domestic and social character of the Turk little is known, as it is rarely he invites a Christian to his house, and when he does so his wife and family are carefully hid ; but the training which he receives is of a nature greatly calculated to de stroy the pure domestic feelings. Clothed like a fantastically dressed girl, his head bound rotund with shawls, subjected every day or two to the bath, and accustomed to sit only upon sofas, his childhood is entirely spent among the women of his father's harem and their cronies; but when he arrives at puberty he is no longer: allowed to associate with the women ; probably never speaks to one until he is married to some girl that his father or mother may have bought or selected for him. After marriage, the Turk associates almost as little with his wife as if he had not one ; his former train ing hits destroyed those pleasant ties and feelings that exist among civilised people, and he looks upon his wife. merely as a piece of furniture. She, on her part, occupies. ber own part of the house, where, seated among 'ner slaves and cro nies, the newest fashion or the latest. scandal receives a proper degree of attention. The Tusk never walks abroad or appears in public with his wife, rind if he were to meet her in the street would not recognise her; and in many cases er husband and wife sit at separate tables, while the wife ne t v appears in any case at table whe a stranger a praseu • Reid's Turkey and the Tigits. ! .e- pose of serving on such Committees, if required.— Agreed to. Lord JOHN MANNERS presented a petition from the guardians of the East Preston Union, against the compulsory clause in the Pauper Lunatics Bid, making it imperative on justices to build asylums ; also a peti tion praying the How - .e to take measures that no children under 13 years ~ f age he employed in factories. BATHS AND NV ASHHOUSE'.:_;. Oa the maion of Sir G. GREY, this Bill was enm mit7ed pro forma, in order that several amendments might be inserted in it. MEASURES OF THE LATE GOVERNMENT. Sir .T A AES GRAHAM said, with the con sent of the House, he would draw attentii.o to the ()fiers of the day, in which there were three Bills which he had had the honour to introduce. 112 would fir.,t mention the Bill with respect to Highways, which stood for the second reading this evening, the princi ple of which had been adopted by the House. He had observed that several peti ns had been presented against the Bill from different parts of the country ; and as no progress had been ;de with it, he thought it would be a ivisable to postpone its further consideration until next session. With respect to the Poor Removal Bill, which had also been read a second time, he confessed that he was anxious that some progress should be made with it in the present session—he alluded more particularly to that part of the Bill which gave persons who had resided a certain numCer of years in any locality the right of not being removed. There were provisions in the Bill which it was not necessary to sanction in the present session.—(Hear, hear.) This Bill was altogether so important that he did not think on the whole that, as an independent Member, he should continue to take charge of it. Cert,inly he should have been willing, if it met with the wish of the House and of the Noble Lord and his colleagues, to have endeavoured to obtain the sanction of the House this session to those provisions to which he attached paramount importance, but upon the whole, with the permission of the House, he would rather leave that Bill in the hands of her Majesty's Govern ment, in the hope that they would deal with it in respect to the public good, as they should think fit. This Bill stood in the orders of the day of this evening, and perhaps the Noble Lord would take it into consideration, and would state on Thursday his intentions with respect to it. There was another mea sure which bad come down from the other House of Parliament, which had received the sanction of that House, and to which he attached very great import ance, and with respect to which he had not round any difference of opinion—he meant the Bill for enlarging the powers of the Enclosure Commis sioners. Such a measure was very advantageous for the adjustment of differences with respect to disputed boun daries with security, and without exptnse. Generally speaking, powers were given on these points of the Act of last session, but they were not sufficiently ample. There were some clauses he should like to introduce, and perhaps the House would allow him to go into Com mittee pro forma, in order to amend that Bill, after which it would be presented to the House in a shape to be discussed, when the Government. and the House would have an opportunity of exercising their judgment with respect to it. That was the course he proposed to adopt with respect to those measures, with the consent of the House. Mr. V. SMITH wished, before the Right Honour able Gentleman withdrew the Highway Bill, to suggest that those portions of it which met with the approval of all parties in the House might be adopted this session ; he alluded particularly to that portion of it which he believed would be pawed in silence, which placed the highway rates under better supervision. He thought it would be worth the while of the House to consider whether this portion of the Bill could not at least be adopted. The Right Honourable Baronet (Sir James Graham) had earned so much credit with respect to the measure, that he hoped he would not forego the honour of passing a measure affecting so many persons, and which would confer so much benefit on the country, especially as the course he recommended would not obstruct any measure which her Majesty's Ministers might bring forward. Sir JAMES GRAHAM. assured the lion. Gentleman that he did not shrink from the responsibility of carrying this measure, but when he looked at the period of the session, and the business of paramount importance which would have to be transacted, he did not think it would be advisable to proceed with the Highway Bill this session. Besides, the portion to which the Honourable Gentleman referred, of making the management of highways in districts compulsory, was the essence of the measure, and as the machinery to effect this would, no doubt, be greatly discussed, he thought it should stand ever until a future session, but if it could be passed in the present session he should be happy to hand over the measure to her Majesty's oresent Government. Sir G. GREY said, the opposition which this 811 had met in certain quarters would tend rather to ad vance than retard it.—(Hear, hear.) Sir J. GRAHAM—I will then move, Sir, that the order of the day for the second reading of the Highway Bill be read this day six months.—The motion was agreed to. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he understood formerly that when those great measures of "commercial reform" had passed, the Poor Removal Bill, and Highway Bill, and another measure for the purpose of giving some sort of compensation to the tenant-farmers, which was said to be a portion of " those great and comprehensive mea sures" (Laughter) would be proceeded with as quickly as possible. The Government of that time were, in fact, pledged to the passing of those measures as a parcel of them.—(Loud cheers from the protectionists.) The proposal of those three measures, in short, was pro posed as a sort of inducement to the country gentlemen to permit the passing of the great and comprehensive measures of commercial reform.—(Hear, hear.) And he said at the time that the promise was made that he entertained some suspicion as to the good faith of the Governmrnt with respect to those measures, and that the people of the manufacturing districts had just cause to complain of their conduct with regard to the Poor Removal Bill.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Honourable Baronet (Sir James Graham) and the late First Minister of the Crown, said they agreed with him that the honour and faith of Parlia ment were pledged to those measures, and that they would see to their being carried and conducted to a safe and successful issue, so that they and " the great and , comprehensive measures of comme rcial reform' might go on part passu.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.;) Well, what was the course to be taken now with regard to this Highway Bill ? The Right Honourable Baronet had now thrown it over, and now when they came to the Poor Removal Bill, that he presumed was also to be thrown over by the Noble Lord ; and the Right Honourable Baronet said now that it was not im peratively necessary that these measures should be passed if the consent of all parties could not be obtained. I the pledges of Ministers were to be thus broken, he (Mr. Duncombe) wanted to know what the public and the labouring classes would think of the pledges of the Minis ters of the Crown?—(Hear.) On a former occasion when the Irish Coercion Bill had been brought forward, he had contended that the Government should, in the first place, proceed with the other measures, and he then prophecied what would take place with regard to them —(llear, hear.) What the Noble Lord was 4g • to do with th e P oor R em oval Bill he k n e w not:13 1 :1 1 , he thought that he would not be far wrong in saying that that Bill would not pass this session of Par. lriment. Those who were responsible for it—those who had introduced it had deserted it. The Noble Lord was not responsible for it. He again remarked that the labouring classes had been hardly dealt with b) the late Government with, respect to these measures. Sir J. GRAHAM said that before the Noble Lord ad dressed the House he begged to speak in reply to what ban Ellen from the Hon. Gentleman who had jus.: sat down witi respect to a breach of faith to refererce to these measures. He hoped the House would suffer him to trespass on then time tor a few minutes while replying to those remarks. [he Hon. Member had said that these measures hats been thrown over.—(Hear, hear.) Now, it was the in tention with those ea o of her Majesty's late to which h Ministers t to eHo havt proceeded !mumble Gentleman had alluded. But, whils he said that he was perfectly willing to admit they would, in his opinion, have been great experiments. With regard to the question of the residence of the poor claiming relief under the Poor-law Bill, he believed there existed a great difference of opinion. But with regard to the charge of a breach of faith by himself or his former colleagues, he could assure the Honourable Gentleman and the House, that it i t t h e w y a h t a n d eir c t e i d n u i e n d te n i t n i 0 n th a e n d s e d r e v t i e c r e m o in f a :l her on to laj l e ia s v ty t , s men.-urea, proceeded with thesmen.-urea, -ures, and he w ould still hope, :Ind believed that the Noble Lord and the Honoitra,ble Gentlemen opposite would proceed with them.—( Hear.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL—After what has passed, I think it will be necessary for me to state to the House what are the intentions of her Majesty's Ministers with respect to the Poor Removal Bill, and I hope it will tend in some degree to remove the despair of my Honourable Friend the Member for Finsbury. — (Gear, hear.) It is our fixed intention to proceed with it, but with respect to the provisions as to the residence of the poor there is certainly some doubt. I can assure my Honourable Friend that it is our determination to proceed with the Bill without del,iy.—(Hear, hear.) I certainly voted with my Hon. Friend the Member for Malton as to the instructions to be given to the Committee, because of the existence in the minds of many of no great doubt as to the expediency of the provisions with regard to the residences of the poor.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") r l p el w is ep o ae u tee l t d d t l i )a ke e nt dh v edr difficult—(Cries ffi a wc much uoi tf_s t ( o e ct have a general Committee with ems enoti ahsemaro”s)t—coamnd aLhuiceharia: I do trust th e Bil l will get all the b ene fit of such a Commit tee . H have a short stateme n t to avin make g to saidthethis tHosLume. uchHer Majesty's Ministers having very lately accepted o ffi c e, and not having a ll o f them assembled, in const quences of the necessity of vocating, their seats arid attending on their elections, I do not think it would be wise to state the particular measures which we P ropose to carry out, or in what respect we pro pose to alter the Bilis at present before the House.— (Hear, hear.) I will make a statement on Thurs day with reference to what period I propose to bring forward the Sugar Duties Bill. I am quite aware of the in:: ury which would re sult to trade and commerce generally should this question remain unsettled, and I will, therefore, when I fix a day, give notice for a further continuance of the sugar duties for a short period, as the measures ~':~