The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-03 00:00:00

Away 1 1 t -Pbitt SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Cloci IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, HOUSE OF LORDS-(THIS EVENING.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack a few minutes before 5 o'olock. NATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND. The Earl of CLANCARTY adverting to a petition which had been brought forward on this subject, prayed her Majesty's Government to consider how, after a full enquiry, proper alteration could be made in the present system of national education in Ireland. The Earl of DERBY could assure the noble lord that without endangering the destruction of the present sys tem, he did not see any way of interfering with it, and this he could hardly think beneficial. He should be most happy, however, if it should be moved for to grant a committee of enquiry into the subject. The house then adjourned at 10 minutes after 5 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS--(THIS EVENING.) The Speaker took the chair shortly before four o'clock, P Mr. FITZROY presented petitions from the civil service of the Crown, praying the house to take into consideration th e A c t relating to the Benevolent Fund, with a view to its alteration. Sir E. FILMER and other hon. members presented petitions praying for the repeal of the taxes on know ledge. Sir. F. MACKENZIE presented a petition from the Jamaica Association of Liverpool, complaining of dis tress in that colony, and praying the house to adopt measures of relief. Mr. GLADSTONE presented a petition from the colonists of New Zealand, complaining of the conduct of the New Zealand Company, and praying the house to withhold its consent to the bill for paying that company a sum of money by way of compensation for surrender ing its rights to the Government. - ELECTION PETITIONS. The SPEAKER acquainted the house that he had received a letter from the agents of the petitioners against the return for Clare, stating that it was not their intention to proceed with the petition. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from an indi vidual in Yarmouth, complaining that the Examiner of Recognizances had declared his recognizances, in the case of the Yarmouth elecon petition, to be objectionable, although a similar foina had been passed in other cases, and praying the house to take the matter into its consi deration. The hon. gentleman gave notice that on Monday he should move that the petition be printed with the votes, with the view of calling the attention of the house to the subject. The SPEAKER stated that he had received a report from the Examiner of Recognizanc es , stating that the recognizances i n th e cases of Derby and Pontefract were unobjectionable. RAILWAY AMALGAMATION. Mr. HENLEY gave notice that on Monday he would renew his motion on the subject of Railway Amalgama tion, which fell through last night owing to his absence. CRYSTAL PALACE FUNDS. In reply to Lord SEYMOUR, Lord J. MANNERS stated that the Woods and Forests had not received the report of the Crystal Palace Commmissioners relative to the disposal of the surplus fund, but as soon as it was received it would be laid be fore the house. LAMPS IN PALACE-YARD.! In reply to another question, Lord SEYMOUR stated, that he had given directions for additional lamps to be placed in Palace-yard. LONDON BRIDGE. In reply to Mr. LAING, The NOBLE LORD said, Government were not respon sible for the present state of either London or Black friars Bridge. Sir R. W. INGLIS gave notice, that on Monday he would ask a question of the noble lord relative to the state of Westminster-bridge. LEOPOLD DE ROSE. Lord D. STUART wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what has been the re sult of the inquiry undertaken by the Government into the case of Leopold de Rose, a Polish officer, who was imprisoned in Winchester gaol at the instance of Cap tain Cospatrick Baillie Hamilton, R.N. Mr. WALPOLE replied, that the case had been fully inquired into, and ho thought the magistrate was justified in the committal ; but, had the magistrate been in possession of facts which had since come to his knowledge, he was satisfied the committal would not have taken place. CLERGY RESERVES. Sir W. MOLESWORTH wished to ask the Secre tary of State for the Colonies, whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Ministers to bring in a bill to enable the Canadian Legislature to dispose of the Clergy Reserves, subject to the condition that the stipends and allowances heretofore assigned and given to the Clergy of the Church of England and Scotland, or to any other reli gious bodies or denominations of christians in Canada, shall be secured during the natural lives and incumben cies of the parties now receiving the same. Sir J. PAKINGTON said Government had no such intention. METROPOLITAN BUILDING ACT. Mr. OSBORNE wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Buildings, &c., whether the bill for the regu lation of Metropolitan Buildings is to be introduced before Christmas, with a view to its being pressed to a conclusion this session. Lord JOHN MANNERS said he should not be able to bring in the bill till after Christmas. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Mr. F. MACKENZIE, it was agreed that the house at its rising should adjourn until Monday. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The house then went into Committee of Supply, M WILSON PATTEN in the chair, after which • The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER imme diately rose to make his anxiously looked for finan cial statement. Re said he trusted that at the present financial statement had to be made under very peculiar circumstances, the House would excuse him if he deviated somewhat from the usual formal manner in which Chancellors of the Exchequer laid the financial aflairs of the country before the house. Though they had, for instance, on the present occasion, to consider whether it was possible to make such changes in the mode of levying the revenue as would contribute more to the satisfaction and welfare of - the community, and whether such alterations could be effected in our financial taxation as would remove from various classes a well-founded sense of injury and injustice, and Principally whether they might not take that opportu nity of establishing the financial system on principles more adapted to the requirements of the time, and espe cially to the industry of the country, which was pre eminent for its capacity for labour. Still there were topics to be adverted to which were not strictly of a financial nature. (Hear, hear.) He also trusted the House would recollect that only two-thirds of the financial year had been completed. (Hear.) If he deviated from the usual course, it was from a desire to lay with clearness before the house the views of the Government, and the opinion of the country, and he asked them not to precipitately decide on their motives and policy, but to consider the state ment as a whole. (Hear, hear.) After the event of the general election, and after understanding that the principle of unrestricted competition was permanently adopted, it became their duty to consider whether a commercial system could not be so harmonised as to remove the well founded dis content of the people, and to lay the foundation of a sys tem which would be more beneficial, and enlist the sym pathies of all classes of the people. It was but right t hey should consider the claims of those great interests who believed that by recent legislation they had received Pe il c har inj ury , an d ascertain whether they were just pOrlann°tit—le alluded to th e s hi pp i ng i nterest, the sugar ng i nterest, and theagricultural interest. He trusted they would be enabled to come to an unanimous o p i nionas to arrive taotthaoeir peculiar burdens and grievances, and mofe permanent conclusion on which th financials ystem sttahte country could be based. H could conceive n o of f society more to be deprecated than when injury Was i changes of the law whi n ch icted on particular classes, by benefit of the country. umniversally contributed to the interesr.) investigated the case of the shipping of opinion that, princi pally in e t : the Government were of the Navigation Laws, they I,Zequenc r of the repeal e • meat under burdens Which th suff enne • at this ey ought mo restrictons .v i , hich impeded th e i r i ndust not to bear, and rY. lf it were the opinion of Parliame n t that s uch (Hear hear e case, was the claims thought the better course w ould be t o claims in a just and liberal spirit, and s ee i f it meet the not possible to remedy the complaints of an influential, i n ,. portant, and worthy body. The Government had ex amined the case of all those classes comprised under the popular name of the shipping interest. They complained that they were subjected to vexatious burdens under the head of light dues, and of passing tolls. (Hear, hear.) 'They complained of the present system by which pilotage was carried on, and they made also a great complaint against what were called Ad miralty grievances.. (Hear, hear.) They complained also of the circumstances under which individuals be longing to the mercantile marine were enlisted into the royal navy—(hear, hear)—they also complained of the present claims made on account of salvage —of the sums exacted for an c h orage, of the restrictions placed upon them in the manning of their vessels, and of the stam pates levied on mar i ne i nsurance, and on bills of P lading. the propping up of a prostrated industry, which, it ap peared was commrnding the markets of the British me tropolis, or could ask for a differential duty under circum stances such as these? (Loud cheers from the Opposition.) Certainly such a duty could not bo asked for while an object, and if that object were to give a stimulus to the colonial market, it appears that that object had al ready been gained. To ask for a guarantee for a loan for the purposes of promoting immigration and the ge neral improvement of the country was an object in which her Majesty's Government wo u ld rea dil y j o i n, b ut he believed he could show that they had not been slow in this respect. The subject of the immigration of Chiaese labourers to the West Indies was one which had been urged on the consideration of the Government. The right hon. gentleman proceeded to read a dispatch which related to the efforts made by ehe Government Commis sioners to promote immigration, and from which it appeared that emigration ships had been dispatched by the present Government, and that the island of Tri nadad was about to import fourteen hundred labourers. He also referred to official documents to prove that the sums already allotted to the West India Islands, for the purpose of promoting immigration, were still unexhaust ed. Now, that being the case, how could her Majesty's Government be justly called upon to propose any fresh loans to encourage emigration to our sugar-producing colonies (hear, hear) although he believed that there was now at length a chance in the case of Trinidad, of the whole sums allotted to them being required. (Hear, hear.) He no w came t o th e fourth point, whi c h had reference to the bonded— refinement of sugar for home consumption as well as for exportation. He had given the subject his most earnest attention, and he remembe re d o f o ld th at his late lamented friend, Lord George Bentinck, had also most ably investigated the question. No doubt, herein a very great boon might be conferred in the sugar producing colonies. He did not think that he could put the case more clearly before them, than by supposing the year 1854 to have arrived, when all the differential duties on sugar would cease. It had been represented to them, that the saccharine matter in the foreign sugars, which was unrefined, was so much greater in amount than that contained in the colonial sugar ; that it had amounted to as great a difference in the case of the West India colonies as between 90 and 75 ; and in the case of the coarse East India sugars, to no less than between 90 and 60. Well, what was asked was, that the refining process may take place in bond, and that the duty might be taken upon sugar in this state rather than in the coarse state. (Hear, hear.) There were objections, no doubt, to that arrangement, con nected with the revenue of the country, but he did not think considerations connected with financial arrange ments were sufficient to resist the claims which the present position of the colonies had upon them. (Hear, hear.) They had here an opportunity of conferring upon the colonies a great boon—a boon, too, consistent with the principles of unrestricted com petition. The Government was prepared to concede that boon, but, of course, it must be conceded subject to those conditions which were necessary for the security of the revenue. (Hear, hear.) He should not then allude to the subject of molasses, or to the duty on rum, because he did not believe the moment apposite. He would now refer to !another point of tho local taxation of the country. It was unnecessary for him to enter into any of those arguments with which the house was so familiar, as to the local taxa tion of the country to show that there were objects of universal interest, which were, in fact sustained by taxation, not upon the general property— but upon a peculiar division of it. (Hear, hear.) The whole question had been dealt with so ingeniously by one who, though opposed to his (the Chancellorof the Exche quer's) policy, still had treated this subject in the most lucid manner--he alluded to Mr. Lewis. It could not be contended that the support of the poor was a matter of general, nay, universal obligation, and he thought, as far as the principle was concerned, the complaint on this head of a portion of the real property interest of the country which had suffered most by recent legislation, was ex ceedingly well founded. (Hear, hear.) There could hardly be a difference of opinion about that. Well, then, in the next place they had to consider what was the course to be taken with reference to that part of our taxation which was mainly levied for a purpose of general interest, but which was yet not levied upon the community at large. The local taxation of the country was a subject with which they were all familiar ; it resolved itself, in fact, into three principal rates, namely, the Highway Rate, the County Rate, and that great rate called the Poor Rate. (Hear, hear.) Upon the subject of the Highway Rate no less than six acts of Parliament had already been passed for improving or mystifying its operations, and now with the assistance of his hon. friend the Under Secre tary of State for the Home Department, who had di rected a good deal of attention to the matter, he was prepared to bring in a seventh bill, which he hoped, after the six experiments which he had alluded to, this mea sure would prove satisfactory to the house and the country. (Hear, hear.) He came next to the county rate—a small rate certainly, but still one which had excited a good deal of interest in connection with agriculture, and here he had no hesitation in declaring, on the part of the Government, that with reference to the collection and administration of this rate, they had no objection whatever to the adoption of the representative principle, if it should be the opinion of the house that the rate-payer was entitled to that control over the expenditure of the rate ; but there were two items in the rate to which that popular principle could not be well applied. He alluded to that portion of the rate which was directed to the maintenance of gaols and lunatic asylums, but the time was rapidly approaching when the house must be called upon to deal with the whole question of punishments, for he thought it was becoming the most pressing question of the day, and probably that would be the proper opportunity for dealing with this pozition of the rate, as well as of requiring the Government to take a more active part in the management of our gaols. (Hear, hear.) As regarded the county rates ; he therefore said frankly, he was not prepared to recommend any change in that portion of our local taxation. (Heal H ear, hear.) The Government believed that, with re gard to these complaints, the house adopted the recom mendations, which it would be his duty to lay before them to night—the claims of this interest would be satis fied. With regard to the light dues, it was their opinion that these complaints were in a great measure founded on fact. (Hear, hear.) It seemed quite indefensible that irrespective of the dues which were paid for lighthouses by the shipping interest should be called on to pay a large snm of money in the form of dues, which was in fact interest paid to the Trinity House for the purchase of private lights which had been long ago been improvi dently granted by Parliament or the Crown. (Hear, hear.) The Government thought also that all those sums levied under the name of passing tolls, were vexatious grievancrs and burdens to which the shipping of this country ought not to be subjected. They also thought that the shipping interest ought not to be called on to pay sums for the support of the charities of a cor poration. Taking these three points into consideration, the Government were prepared to say, with respect to the light dues, that the tax upon the shipping interest ought to be confined merely to payments for benefits which it received, and they were prepared to relieve it from all that was paid for interest upon those loans for the purchase of private lights, and from the contribution to the charities of the Trinity House, and, finally, to re lieve it from all passing tolls. (Hear.) This settlement would probably cost the country about 100,0001. a year; but it appeared to him that the claimss were so just that it was impossible to resist them, and that they ought to have been considered when the Navigation Laws were repealed. The next point was the question of pilotage, a system which, he might say, was full of anomalies. There had been, upon a former occasion, though a long time ago, a committee of that house on the subject of' the pilotage laws ; and, though he himself, in general, was very much disinclined to propose the appointment of committees, still, he thought that it would be eminently worthy of the consideration of the house whether or not a committee should be appointed to investigate the whole question of pilotage and ballast. And therefore it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to recommend that there should be a committee of enquiry and he did not entertain the slightest doubt but that the result of its investigation would prove most satis factory. He now came to remark upon those grievances which he had described as the Admiralty dues. The house was well aware teat a merchant-ship, find ing hrself upon a foreign station, her captain may be deserted without any ceremony with out any notice—and often without any cause, by any of the crew who may immediately enlist in a ship j belonging to the Royal Navy that may happen to be on the station. That was a privilege which acted very ingeniously upon the discipline and general conduct of the mercantile marine. (Hear, hear.) He, for one, would certainly be most unwilling to propose any change which would affect the necessary powers of the Royal Navy ; but he was forced to believe that this was a grievance of a most vexatious character. Her Majesty's Government, therefore, intended to propose that no man quitting the mer cantile marine should receive his wages then due to him, until the rest of the crew had been paid. At present he could at a moment's notice, not withstanding his engagement with his master, hoist his red shirt on a royal ship and demand his wages. His master thereby not only lost one of his crew, but he was called upon to pay wages which were not due until the ship had arrived in port. It is proposed that any one availing himself of this privilege of enlisting in the Royal Navy, should not receive his wages until the rest of the crew were paid off. It was further proposed that if the Royal Navy should avail themselves of this privilege, that they were liable for any injury which might be thereby inflicted on the merchant ship. The next grievance which he would bring before them was the question of salvage. He believed that, under the present system, the mercantile marine were grievously afflicted. There could be no doubt, although the humanising feelings which actuated the Royal Navy had been much improved from what they once were— that still instances of a most oppressive nature j continually occurred, and the Government pro posed that the whole system should entirely cease. He need say very little on the subject of anchorage. That was a regulation which, like salvage, depends en tirely upon the Admiralty, and the Admiralty were pre pared that all vexations of this kind should be con cluded—(hear, hear)—and from henceforth no merchant vessel would not be deprived in its anchorage by the superior claims of ships belonging to the Royal Navy. There was another subject of paramout importance to the mercantile interest, and that was the restriction which at present existed upon manning the merchant marine. (Hear, hear.) They thought these restrictions were in defensible, while they doubted whether even in practice they were beneficial. (Hear, hear.) The time had therefore arrived when these restrictions must en tirely cease, but their removal could only be taken into consideration in connection with the other subject of manning the navy. (Hear, hear.) The whole subject would hereafter have to be considered, and something would have to be done to remedy the evils of a system which dismissed our seasoned seaman at a time when he was most qualified to do his duty to the country. (Cheers.) Government were awaiting the report of a committee which had been sitting upon this very subject, but they trusted when it was hrought before Parliament, it would be in a manner that should be satisfactory to the house and to the country. (Hear, hear.) He had now touched upon all the points of any importance which were embraced in the care of the shipping interest, except those which referred to stamps upon insurance, bills of lading, and charter-parties ; but the house would at once perceive that these were points that affected the general taxation of the country, and, therefore, this was not the moment when they co u ld be fairly allud e d t o i n d eta i l. (Continued from our Third Edition.) (Hear, hear.) G overnment h owever, proposed to deal lie now came to the p oor rates, and in co n • with the questio n lightly, under three heads, they pro- sideri ng th em h e oug h t to l oo k to that posed to red uce th e taxat i on that was paid by' the ship- which was most expedient for the country generally, and ping interest, unde r th e claims of supporting the light- for that class which might have been injuriously affected houses of the country—namely, the interest upon debt by the present arrangement. (Hear, hear.) They which has been incur re d, and the contributions to- must remember that a great change had taken place wards chariti es , a n d th e passing tolls to harbou rs , in the burden of th e poor-rates since 1849, when which ship s never enter. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) he last brought the subject before the house, there He proposed to terminate these three series of unjust having been a reduction of 25 per cent. (Hear.) No taxation, and they belieued that object could be effected practicable proposition which he had brought forward by the payment of an annual sum of 1,000,0001. (Hear.) with any chance of being carried—(laughter)—would There would then be left for the shipping interest to pay have effected a greater diminution of the poor rates. for such lights only which benefitted them. (Hear. The diminution had been equal to the whole amount of hear.) The proposed—the second place to submit to the the " established charges ' for the salaries of officers. consideration of the house the whole question of The expenditure for the relief and maintenance of the pilotage, and th e y purposed in addition, that the poor, as shown by the return of 1849, which formed three admiralty grievances of anchorage, salvage, the basis of his argument in that year, amounted and enlistment should be entirely terminated or subject to 6,180,0001. ; in 1851, which was the last return on injuto !rich regulations as should deprive them of their the table, the sum had dimi n i s h e d t o 4 ,962,000 1 . (Loud rious influen ce . (H ear, hear.) They proposed that Opposition' cheers). He was afraid that cheer was not the subject of manning should depend upon the decision on account of the diminution —(laughter)—but that of Parliament ; while with respect to the last point, it was a cheer for recent legislation. (Repeated which question related t o th e army, they proposed that cheering). Mind ! he did not wish to dis this should be considered when the house came to con- turb recent legislation, as he would show them sider the whole subject of revenue. (Hear, hear.) to-night, but their cheer was a very illogical one, The right hon. gentleman then proceeded to consider for he was going to demonstrate to them that recent the claims of the sugar producing colonies. Sugar had legislation might not have had anything to do with the been the battle-field of parties, but they must form an matter. It so happened thatin 1846 the total sum was less; opinion as to the condition of the colonies upon strict Mr. BRIGHT—The price of corn was the same. and naked facts, and not by any recollection of the past. (Hear.) They might deplore past legislation, and be of opinion The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—He had that the conduct of this country towards the colonies some returns on the price of corn, which would disprove had been inconsistent, and, moreover, occasioned great that assertion, and which Sir R. Peel said ought never damage to sugar growers, but they had to decide to have been published, but they had before them to-night, what under the existing state of affairs graver subjects than the trial of obsolete opinions. could be done for them. There was no one more ready (Loud laughter and general cheering.) He looked on than himself to listen to the just complaints of any class, free trade as an obsolete opinion, like protection. or none more ready to redress their grievances. He had Though, since 1849, there had been a reduction often expressed it as his opinion that the conduct of the of 400,0001. every year, he regretted to say mother country to the colonies would occupy no embla- that the return for 1852 showed that it had ceased. zoned pz.ge in the history of England. The redress The latest poor law returns, which he held in his hand, prayed for by the colonies was contained under the fol- were somewhat contradictory to the popular opinion. lowing heads : -I st.—Arrest of the descent of the duty In 1851 it appeared that the number of paupers was on foreign sugar. 2 nd.—Reduction o f th e duty on British 4,000,962, and for the half-year ending Michael plantation sugar. 3rd.—The grant of additional loans to mas 2,432,000, whichl multiplied by two, ga v e the respective col on i es, for emigration and improvem en t . 4,862, 000 . Th e grea t f ac t, h owever, remained, that the 4th.—Permission to refine sugar in bond, fox home con- pauperism of this country had been reduced by 25 or 24 sumption as well as importation. sth.__Permission to use per cent. since he had first brought the subject under molasses in breweries. (Hear.) 6th.—Equalisation on the notice of the house. There was no doubt that there the duties on rum and British spirits. Under these were at this time circumstances in operation which circumstances he would find great difficulty in making must considerably affect the amount of pauperism in such recommendations as we re contained in the two this country. He had to consider whether it would be first, but especially in this Parliament, which was re- expedient to deal with that sum which were raised by turned to support unrestricted competition. Even if he local taxation for the maintenance of the poor, recollect saw that ruin was falling oft the sugar-producing colo- ing at the same time that there had been such a diminu sties, he would hesitate before having recourse to the im- tuna in the number of the poor, that four or five position of a differential duty to mitigate their sufferings. times the establishment charges had been saved since Was there such evidence of a rivalrybetween British and 1849, that the incidents of that taxation were less severe, foreign producers of sugar as to justify the Government and that all the causes now in operation tended materially in proposing any special measure for their relief ? They to a considerable diminution in that burden. Taking were told this competition could not be endured, but these facts into consideration, and as his means were what were the facts ? In the ten months ending Nov. limited, and being called upon, too, to assist every class 1251, the West Indies sent to this country, for home as far as they had a claim to the consideration of the I consumption, 2,251,000 cwts. of sugar, and in the ten house, by means which would contribute to the months ending No v . 1852, 3,940,000 cw t s . F rom the general welfare of the count he was not prepared ry, Mauritius for the same period, th ere were entered to recommend any change in the present system of for home cons um pti on, as f o ll ows : -185 1, 804,000 ' raising loc a l t axa ti on . ( Ch eers f rom th e fOpposition.) cwts., and 1852, 977 cwts. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) jHe had now considered the three interests which had East India sugar, which in Nov., 1851, amounted to I suffered from recent legislation. With regard to the 1,037,000 cwt., had in Nov., 1852, risen to 1,300,000 shipping interest, he had offered measures which, to cwt. Our united colonies in Nov., 1851, had sent j judge f rom th e f ee li ngs o f t h e house, were cons id ere d 4,094,000 cwt. ;i n Nov., 1852, they had sent 5,373,000. moderate and satisfactory—(hear, hear)—and not framed (Hear.) He now had to show whether he was called with any ad eaptandunt view. He had also endeavoured Upon to arrest the descent of the duties upon foreign . to view the claims of the sugar colonies, and he thought ''.Ugar. The quantity of unrefined foreign sugar in Nov., they must feel satisfied that there had been an anxious desire amounted only to 1,218,000 cwt. ; in Nov., 1852, it un the part of the Government to place them in as would be sewenas ed only to 570 000 cwt. The quantity of refined good a position as present circumstances and the temper figures would' b fc'l'dg'n sugar was in Nov., 1851, 268,000 cwt. ;in Nov., of the public mind would permit. He should not 1 852, it 243,000 cwt. (Hear hear.) It touch further on local taxation, but he wduld now therefore that the general result of these , app r oa c h a more important point, and view the taxation of British sum entered that there being in 1851 4,000,126 I of th e country under the new circumstances in which all and 1,000 487 g r 5,378,000 cwt. of British,proe and entered for home consumption, I parties and conditions of men were agreed to remain. , cwt. of foreign sugar, and in 1852, 'As long, then, as men believed that their industry ought sugar, the BritishBl4,ooo cwt. of foreign . to be protected, they were prepared, then, to endure any vember, 1851, to Novemttnr had increased, from No- 1 amount of burdens. But after what had occured, it was 852, 1,250,000 cwt., obvious that, generally w hile foreign sugar had decreased 800 speaking, unrestricted competi- Lear.) Now, he might be called:10'000 cwt. (Hear, tion was not consistent with a restricted industry. In traitor, and he a word, then, the policy of the country ought to be to might be called a renegade_(laghtear)but he would put an end, as soon as possible, to high taxes. (Loud ask if there was any gentleman in the h ouse, who, with cheers ) He had - asked himself what were the these facts staring him in the face, could recommend measures which were best to recommend to (LEFT SPEARING.) eurit THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 3, 1852 the adoption of Parliament. Now, these prin ciples had been definitely established, and which would enable the country to meet the competition which it would have to encounter in the future. The result appeared to him then to be inevitable—that the only principle on which the Government of the country could act, was to cheapen the necessaries of life as much as possible. (Cheers.) He found then, that in the case of the very primest necessaries of life, that some of them were subject to the very heaviest taxes in the tariff—(hear)—and he must mention that that was an arrangement totally inconsistent with, the new system. (Cheers.) Honourable gentlemen opposite boasted of having given cheap bread to the country. (Opposition cheers.) Acting upon the principles, then, which he had enunciated, the house would not be astonished to hear that her Majesty's Government were prepared to deal with the malt-tax. (Loud cheers from the Govern ment benches.) Herein was a prime necessary of life— (ironical laugh from Opposition benches)—taxed in a manner which greatly restricted industry. He would not recommend the change which he was about to refer to the hon. gentlemen opposite, upon any other plea than that which they had themsefves always declared to be the sovereign plea—the interest of the consumer. (Hear, hear.) He believed, however, that if the interest of the consumer alone were to be taken into consideration, that that would be neither acting up to the principles of unrestricted competition, neither could it be said to be carrying into erect the views which had triumphed at the late election. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He believed it was possible while considering, in the first instance, the interests of the consumer to benefit another class also. (Hear, hear.) It certainly was for the interest of the consumer that the malt tax should be dealt with, and in his opinion, if tho tax was properly dealt with, no tax was calculated to be more beneficial to agriculture. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") The question of the malt tax, however, had assumed a very different aspect since the repeal of the corn laws. Indeed, it had been said by a very high authority, that the moment they repealed the'corn laws the repeal of the malt tax was inevitable, and he thought there would be no great difficulty in demonstrating the soundness of that opinion ; for when Ministers of State were required to take every opportunity of improving the cultivation of the soil, that he must grow as little wheat as possible to retain restrictions upon the growth of the next generous grain was preposterous. (Hear.) But it was for the interest of agriculture that, in all soils which have been diverted from the growth of barley to that of wheat, should be restored to its original pur pose, because then the market for the production of the soils which were eminently qualified to give us wheat would be greatly improved. (Hear, hear.) ;Well then, they had to consider, in the first place, how they should deal with the case —in what manner, and to what degree they should deal with the two objects which they ought to have in view were those of establishing industry, and reducing . the price of the article consumed to the consumer, and they could not obtain that object if they dealt with this case in a small or limited degree. (Hear.) The existing duty on malt was 2s. 7id. and 5 per cent. per bushel, and the consumption was on the increase. In 1849 it was 38,935,000 bushels, in 1850 it reached to 40,744,000 bushels, and in 1851 it was 41,337,000 bushels ; but there was no article of consumption which had increased less than malt, which he attributed to the large amount of taxation that was imposed upon it. (Hear, hear.) There were some gentlemen, however, who entertained the opinion that the decrease of this consumption of malt, when compared with other articles of consumption, was to be attributed to the circumstances of the taste of the people having changed in favour of other sources of ex citement, but he was in a position to show that this posi tion could not be maintained. Well, then, under these circumstances, Government thought it to be their duty to recommend to the house that the malt tax should be considerably diminished. (Hear, hear.) That they should diminish it by one-half the amount of the present duty. (Cheers.) The sum which they had to deal with just exceeded 5,000,0001. as regarded revenue, and they proposed that they should diminish this duty exactly by one-half—(hear) — that they should impose a uniform duty of ls. 2d. and 5 per cent. per bushel on the malt ; and Government pro posed that the restrictions which prevailed between malt obtained from barley and malt obtained from what Was called big and bracken—(cries of hear, hear)- - They proposed also to do away with the malt drawback in Scotland on the spirits raised from malt, that being a change which they thought ought no longer to be post poned. Sir Henry Parnell, the chairman of a committee appointed to inquire . into the excise, stated in a report which' he' Submitted to the house, that if the corn laws were repealed, he would recommend the reduction of the duty on malt to one-half, and this came from a . ' gentleman who was very tender of the re venue, and who could not have anticipated the circumstances which had since occurred The same report also recommended the repeal of the drawback on malt in Scotland. This had been done in Ireland in 1842 without a murmur in accordance with the recommendations of a committee on Irish spirits, and had given general satisfaction, and he was sure the repeal of repeal of the drawback in Scotland would give equal satisfaction. They proposed, then, that on the 10th of October next the malt tax should be repealed one half, that day having been fixed, after due deliberation, at least inconvenient to the trade. They also proposed on that day to take the whole stock of malt throughout the country, and to allow a drawback to all holders of it in proportion to the amount of duty abolished. In submitting these propositions to the house He now came to deal with one as popular, and one sub ject to much heavier taxation. He was about to recom mend to the house to deal with the tea duties. (Hear, hear.) He knew the prejudices which existed among a certain class of persons upon the subject of the tea duties. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") LEFT SPEAKING. THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) WHITEHALL, DEO. 2. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great S ea l, gran ti ng t h e d i gn i ty of a Knight of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, unto Charles Robert Mitchell Jackson, Esquire, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Bombay. _ _ WAR-OFFICE, DEC. 3. 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Lieutenant the Honourable Charles James Keith, from the 10th Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice Fairlie, who exchanges, , Dec. 3. 10th Light Dragoons--Lieutenant Herbert James Fairlie, from the 4th Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice the Honourable Charles James Keith, who ex changes, Dec. 3. 6th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant George Grant deceased Web Captain, without purchase, vice Crowder, Francis William Henry M`Ccleland tobebLtioeul ig Lieutenant, ant, without purchase, vice Webb, Sept. 24 ; Gentleman Cadet Lewis Blyth Hole, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice M'Cleland, Dec. 3. 14th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Reginald Henry Gra ham, ' Military College, to be Ensign, Elwyn, superseded fo r b e i ng a b sen t without lea ve , ham from the Royal Dec. 3. 17th Foot--Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Philip M`Pher son, C. 8., to be Lieutenant -Colonel, without purchase, vice Stoyte, appointed Inspecting Field .Officer of a Re cruiting District, Captain Oliver Paget Bourke to be Major, without purchase, vice M 'Pherson, Lieutenant vice Bourke, Ensign Jam es L awson t o be Lieutena n t, withoutWililam A. pur A ch rm ase s , troilg to be Captain, without purchase, vice Armstrong, Gentleman Cadet Shadweil Henry Clarke, from the Royal Military Col lege, to be Ensign, witho u t purchase, vice Lawson, -Dec. 3. 42th Foot—Ensign Joshua Walter Bond to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Platt, who retires ; Ensign Edward Le Marchant to be Lieutenant, by purchase, wee Young, who retires, Dec. 3. 59th Foot—Staff Surgeon of the Second Class Alex ander Campbell to be Surgeon, vice Macpherson, ap pointed to the Staff, De c . 3. - 82nd Foot—Lieutenant John Lawrie to be Captain, by purchase) vice Pardee, who retires ; Ensign John Dalbiac Luard to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Lawrie, Dec. 3. 85th Foot—Lieutenant Charles Hamilton Aidb to be Captain, by purchase ; vice the Honourable John Edmund Hovel • Thurlow, wh o ret i res ; Ens i gn L or d J o h n H enry Taylour to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Aide, Dec. 3. 97th F oot-- Major-General Henry Adolphus Proctor, C. 8., to be Colonel, vice Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Frederick Bouverie, K.C.B , deceased, Nov. 29. STAFF — Lieutenant-C o l o n e l John Stoyte, from the 17th Foot, to be Inspecting Field Officer of a Recruiting District, vice Lieutenant-Colonel Magenis, deceased, Dec. 3. • HOSPITAL ST APP.—Surgeon Eneas Macintosh Mac pherson, from the 59th Foot, to be Staff Surgeon of the second class, vice Campbell, appointed to the 59th Foot ; Asssistant Staff to be Staff Surgeon o f the secon d c lass, Dec. 3. Surgeon, John Thomas Watson Bacot, MEMOBANDA.—The Christian names of Captain Bur ton, on half-pay of the 37th Foot, are Joseph Netterville. The alteration of the date of the Commission of Lieu tenant Robert William Benison, of the 99th Foot, Which appeared in the Gazette of the 2nd of September, 1851, had reference to the Regimental, and not to that Officer's Army Date. The Governor-General in Council has in like manner to assure Major-General Godwin of the satisfaction with which he has viewed the skill and judgment by which the Major-General enabled the troops to obtain posses sion of an important post, without delay, and with but little loss. To Major Mayhew, Deputy Adjutant-Ceneral ; to Major Allan, Deputy Quarter-Master General ; to Cap tain Smith, Interpreter ; to Captain Burne, Military- Secretary; and Captain Chads, A.D.C., the Governor- General in Council tenders his thanks. Especially to Captain Christie and to Captain Welsh, of her Majesty's 80th Regiment, for the gallant manner in which they led their men to the attack, and to all the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the force, the Governor-General in Council desires to give assurance of his cordial approbation. While thus congratulating the naval and military forces on the first result of their advance, the Governor- General in Council feels it to be due to the memory of an old and gallant sailor, that he should add a public ex pression of the deep regret with which he has received intimation of the death of his Excellency the Comman der-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships in the. Indian Seas. Although Admiral Austen did not survive to witness the successful conclusion of the operations in which he had shared, the Governor-General in Council desires to record his admiration of the staunch high spirit which, notwithstanding his age and previous suffering, had led the Rear-Admiral to take his part in the trying service which has closed his career. The Governor-General in Council has been grateful for his services, and laments his death. C. ALLEN, Secretary to the Government of India. BANKRUPTS. Henry Capper, licensed vicualler, Gravesend. Thomas Corby, builder, Lower Eato n - s t ree t, Pi m li co, Richard Coils, builder, Charlton. Richard Eaton Noble, plumber. John Edward Spicer, paper manufacturer, Chilworth Guildford. Patrick Cowan, brass-foEnder, Skinner-street, Snow• hill. Thomas Wheeler, yr., cattle dealer, Cirencester. Richard Jones, hatter, Oswestry. John Edward Spicer, paper manufacturer, Alto; Hants. Daniel Coe, Ardwick, Manchester, grocer. COURSE OF EXC. 11 17 Ditto, three months.. 11 19% Rotterdam ............ 11 18% Antwerp . 25 423( Brussels .......• . 25 423 Ham - urg .............. 13 6% Paris... ..... 252 . 2% Ditto, three months .. 25 4231 Marse.iles ............ 25 4231 Bourdeaux - Frankfort-on-Maine .... 120 Vienna ................ 11 40 Trieste ................ 11 41 Petersburgh .......... 38 Madrid ........... ..... 49% Cadiz ..... ..... ...... 50% Barcelona .......• .• .. Seville ................ IHANGE—THIS DAY. Gibraltar .. , . .. Leghorn 30 65 Genoa 25 b 0 Milan Venice......... •••• • • • Naples 41 Palermo . Messina 121: Lisbon . ..... ..... 53' Rio Janeiro .... ...• Blenos Ayre5.......... New York. 60 day's sight Philadelphia .. PRICES OF BULLION', PER oz. Foreign Gold in Bara .£3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin.. 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New D011ar5....., 6 Silver in bars ...... 0 0 0 POLICE INTELLIGENCE. SOUTHWARK.—The Rev. Daniel Donovan, Roman Catholic priest of Webb-street, New Weston-street, Bermondsey, was summoned before Mr. A'Beckeit, for committing an assault on Mary Murphy, an Irish woman. Mr. Watson, who attended on the part of the com plainant, said that she was recently confined of a child, and that while she was still labouring under indisposi tion from that cause the defendant called at her place of abode, in Palmer's-rents, Bermondsey, on Friday last, and inquired of her whether she had had her infant bap tized by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong. She replied that she had ; upon which the defendant told her that she had sold her soul to the devil, and, lifting up his umbrella, struck her a blow on the side of the head. He then left the room, but returned in a short time afterwards, and struck her three different times with the umbrella ; and not satisfied with having given vent to his feelings by such an attack on a poor defenceless woman, he called the landlady, and, addressing her, asked her why she did not turn the devils out of her house (mean ing the complainant and her child). He then went away, and the result was that Mrs. Harrington, the landlady, a Roman Catholic, fearful of the consequences if she suf fered her unfortunate lodgers to remain there, eventually took the bed from under her, and she and he r c hild were compelled to sleep on th e oor of the room, lie (Mr. Watson) did not wish to distort or exaggerate the facts, but he should prove that the conduct pursued by the de fendant on the occasion was as represented. The law, the defendant ought to be made to know, would not allow of his being suffered to use physical compulsion in a case which he imagined was opposed to the doctines which he promulgated ; and therefore, if the evidence produced bore out the statement of facts, he trusted the magistrate would have no hesitation in dealing with the charge in such a manner as would prevent the defendant in future from having recourse to such an unjustifiable attack upon a poor woman. He then called Mary Murphy, a young woman with an infant in her arms, who, on being sworn, said that she now lives in Palmer's-rents, Snow's-fields, Bermond se y, an d that her husband is a labourer. That on last Sunday three weeks she gave birth to a child while lodging at the house of a Mrs. Harrington, in Ebenezer-place, Bermondsey. She knew the Rev. Mr. Dono van, the defendant, and he called upon her last Friday while she was sitting up by the fire with her child in her arms, and asked her if she was the woman that the man fell upon by accident when drunk, and she replied that she was. Ire then inquired if she had had a child christened lately. She said that she had, and he asked by whom, and she answered by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, the Protestant clergyman. The moment she mentioned Mr. Armstrong's name, the defendant struck her on the side of her head with an umbrella, and exclaimed, " Don't you think you have sold your soul to the devil I" She replied that she did not think she had, upon which he walked out of the room. H e returned, however, in about three or four minutes, in a passion. Mr. Watson—When he came back, did he say any thing to the landlady ? Complainant--He struck me three times with the umbrella, in the landlady's presence, and said to her, " Why don't you - send these devils out of your house ?" The landlady at first said nothing in reply, but when he repeated the question, she then said that she would make her and her child quit the house. The defendant then asked her (the complainant) if any ladies had called upon her since her confinement, and she said "Yes," and he then inquired if they had brought her anything, and upon her replying in the affirmative, he asked her if she thought she was doing her soul good by accepting charity from them, they being Protestants. She said that she was glad and thankful for the assistance she received ; and he then advised her not to take any more from them, and left the room. Mr. Watson—Now tell us what the woman Harring ton did on the occasion ? Mr. A'Beckett stopped the complainant, and said that, as it was admitted the defendant was not present at the time, there was no occasion for introducing matter not strictly applicable to the case as it affected her. The complainant was then cross-examined by Mr. Salomons, on behalf of the defendant, and in reply to the questions she said that she was a married woman, but that she had not the certificate of her marriage. She was married at Pembroke, in Wales. She had relief from the defendant the third day after her confinement. He gave her a shilling. She had also relief from the nuns belonging to the convent in Bermondsey. Mr. Salomons : Of what religion are you ?—Com. plainant said she was a Roman Catholic before her mar. riage, but that since that event she had become a con vert to the Protestant faith. Mr. Salomons asked her if she knew the different be tween the two religions ? Mr. A'Beckett said that putting such questions would only puzzle the woman, and that he had better only ask her those having reference to the alleged assault. Cross-examination continued—Will swear that she did not exclaim, in the hearing of any persons, that she would pitch the Rev. Mr. Armstrong to the seventeen devils. (Laughter.) She recollected the defendant having asked her where the father of her child was, and when she told him that she did not know, his then say ing that he did not believe her. He also said that she would be cursed for ever. Mrs. Harrington, the land lady, and another lodger were present when the de fendant assaulted her, and therefore she had not com plained to them, as they witnessed the transaction. Her husband did not fetch the defendant to Ler. She did not sing a song immediately after the departure of the defendant cn the day he assaulted her. Mr. Watson having signified that that was his case, Mr. Salomons said the fact was that the complainant had practised a good deal of cunning fraud under the guise of religion. She was Catholic and Protestant, just as it suited her to obtain what she required. She first received relief from Mr. Donovan and some lady nuns at Bermondsey, and afterwards imposed upon the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, by informing him that she had become Major-General Godwin, which report the capture and occupation of the city of Prome, after some resistance, and with comparatively trifling loss. The steam squadron and the boats of her Majesty's ships, conveying the troops upon the Irrawaddy, an chored off Prome on the 9th of October. A fire from the shore was silenced by the fire of the steamers and of the boats. The troops having been landed, drove th• enemy, some three or four thousand strong, from the suburbs ; and on subsequently advancing to the great pagoda and to the heights beyond, they found the posi tion wholly abandoned by the Burman force. The Governor-General in Council desires to express in the strongest terms his obligations to Commodore Lam bert, for the care, the energy, and unwearied zeal which he has shown in directing the naval preparations for ad vance, and which have conduced so largely to the early and successful renewal of operations in the field. His lordship in council begs to offer his thanks to Captain Loch, and to Commander Shadwell, for their conduct of the service on the river ; and to Commander Rice, for his direction of the body of seamen upon shore. His thanks are also due to Commander Campbell, of the Indian navy, whose merit has been acknowledged by the Commodore. The Governor-General in Council has viewed with high approbation the services of the officers and men, who, upon this occasion and for several months past, have been employed in boats upon the river, subjected to severe exposure, and engaged in harassing duties, which they have performed with the utmost alacrity and cheerfulness, and with conspicuous advantage to the public service. To the officers, seamen, and marines of her Majesty's ships, of the Indian navy, and of the Bengal marine, who have been serving upon the Irrawaddo, and to Commander Tarleton, who long commanded them, the Governor-General in Council is desirous of offering his hearty thanks. ADMIRALTY, DEC. 3. The following promotions, dated 26th October, 1852, have thi4 day taken place consequent on the decease, on the 7th October last, of Rear-Admiral of the Red, Charles J. Austen, C.B. :--Rear-Admiral of the White, Peter John Douglas, to be Rear-Admiral of the Red ; Rear-Admiral of the Blue, Sir Charles Sullivan, Bart., to be Rear-Admiral of the White • Captnin Sir Th omas Herbert, K.C.8., t o b e Rear-Admiral of the Blue. INDIA BOARD, DEC 2. A dispatch, from which the following is an extract, has been this day received at the East India House : From the Governor-General of India in Council to the Secret Committee of the East India Company, dated Fort-William, October 25, 1852. From the General Order, and the dispatches published on the 23d inst., you will learn with satisfaction of the cipture of Prome, on the 9th and 10th idem, with but a tang loss on our side. GENEBAL ORDERS BY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN COUNCIL. Fort-William, Foreign Department, October 23, 1852 The Most Noble the Governor-General in Council has much gratification in publishing, for genera' information, dispatches received from Commodore Lambert and from a convert to the Established Church. This was .a very convenient way of exciting sympathy on her, behalf, and imposing upon the ministers of two different persuasions. But she had grossly aggravated the facts in her state. ment of the alleged assaults. Mr. A'Beckett said that it.had been stated in the course of the examination that two persons were present who witnessed the alleged assault ; were they now in attendance ? as all the witnesses were ordered out of court in the first instance at the express desire of the parties. He (the magistrate) should like to hear their evidence. Mr. Watson, however, declined calling any witnesses, the complainant having described everything that oc curred. Mr. Salomons, on the behalf of the defendant, also expressed his intention not to call any witnesses, ob serving that in point of law it could not be denied that an assault had been committed, if gently touching the complainant with an umbrella could be construed into a breach of the peace. The facts were these--his client was sent for to relieve the complainant, and as he had reason to suspect she would not disclose where the father of her child was to be found, he questioned her closely upon the point, and it was evident she was telling false hoods, he rebuked her, at the same time gently touching her on the shoulder with his umbrella--this was the assault. And with respect to the language attributed to the defendant, he solemnly assured him that there was not one word of truth in it. It was obvious that the character of the complainant for veracity could not be much depended upon, more particularly as no wit nesses had been called to support her testimony ; he should, therefore, leave the case in the hands of the magistrate. A'Beckett expressed some surprise that no wit nesses were called on either side, and said that under the circumstances he should send the case before a jury without making any remarks himself on the subject, and for that purpose should order the defendant to enter into his own recognizance in the sum of 1001. to appear and answer the charge at the sessions. THAMES.—A poor man named Carpenter, a regis tered coal-whipper, was charged with leaving his family of three children chargeable to the parish of St. Paul, Shadwell. Mr. Sargeant said the defendant's children had been for some time maintained by the parish, and that 61. had been expended on their behalf, not one farthing of which had been paid by the defendant, who, he believed, was in a condition to partially reimburse the parish, and to support his children in future. The prisoner was a basket man, or foreman, and his earnings averaged 255. a week. The defendant said he met with an accident some time ago by falling into the hold of a ship, and was taken in an insensible condition to the Dreadnought Hospital, where he remained for several weeks, and he was not yet perfectly cured. While he was in the hospital-ship all his furniture was seized for rent, and his home broken up. He had no home in which he could shelter them, and the remuneration for coal-whipping was so very low that he really was unable to maintain them. Mr. Sargeant said the parish did not require the 61. already due, but it was considered that he was able to pay 6s. a week for the future. The defendant--That is as much as my average earn ings, and lam now ill and lame. I would gladly sup port my children if I could. Mr. Deering, principal clerk in the coal whippers' office, said it was quite true that the defendant had met with a serious accident. Since the defendant had left the hospital he was obliged to give up work for a week or two at a time. Their average earnings for the last three months had not exceeded Bs. per week, and their labours were very heavy. Mr. Ingham was sorry to hear the wages were so low, and asked what were the earnings of the basket men ? Mr. Deering —In no case did the earnings of basket men, who were foremen of the gangs, average more than 10s. per week. He had taken the accounts of three bas ket men, whose earnings were larger than ordinary coal whippers, and their wages averaged 9s. or 10s. per week. At present, the defendant, if in perfect health, might earn 1 ls. per week. Mr. Ingham—So it appears. How are they able to support their families and pay rent ? Mr. Deering—Many of them are in a wretched state, living upon insufficient food. I don't believe one out of twenty coal-whippers pay any rent at all. They can't do it, and they are obliged to go in debt wherever they can, and their children are running about the streets half naked and without shoes and stockings. Mr. Ingham said it was evident the defendant could not pay 6s. per week. He must pay 2s. per week, and when he was able and in full work give more. The defendant--I wish to support my family, your worship ; but what am I to do ? Mr. Ingham said it was a distressing case, and he was sure the parish officers did not want the defendant wholly to maintain his children until he recovered his strength, but he must do something. EMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND. On Wednesday, a public meeting for the promotion of emigration to the above colony was held in the New Zealand Colonists' Rooms, 9, Adelphi-terrace. It had been announced that Mrs. Chisholm would be present, and that some interesting facts would be brought for ward connected with the Pacific ; and the consequence was that the meeting was numerously attended. The chair was taken by Mr. Frederick Young, in the un avoidable absence of Mr. Tollemache. The meeting was addressed by the chairman, Captain Robinson, Captain Hoseason, Mrs. Chisholm, Mrs. James, and Mr. Bur nand, the latter of whom read the following interesting extracts from a letter which had been received only a week ago, from a gentleman at the Canterbury settlement : "We are getting on here very well ; stock is pouring in, and land is being enclosed and cultivated in every direction. Houses grow up as if by magic all over the Christ Church district, and I may add that they are ge nerally of a better class than are seen in any settlement of New Zealand. The want of wood fuel and timber has not yet been felt to any extent ; and when the im mediate supply becomes exhausted, our cannel coal and the woods of Oxford, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, &c., will supply the deficiency. The coal has turned out even better than at first expected ; it ignites very readily, burns with a perpetual flame, diffusing great heat, not much smoke, no bad smell, and the residuum a mere nothing. In my excavations for the roads (the writer is a road surveyor), I have found excellent peat in several places and it is also found on the surface in large quantities. Some people are planting a proportion of their land with forest trees, and before the blackened stumps of the clearings about Wellington are grubbed up or rotted in the ground, we shall have fine plantations. I believe all are agreed that at present this is by far the most prosperous and promising settlement in New Zealand ; and this as much for its natural advan tages as from any other causes. Sheep farming is becoming the rage ; and, to give you some idea of its profits, Mr. George Hart purchased 1,400 at about per head eight months ago. The flock, although the increase has been compartively small, is now worth 2,1001., and might be sold for that to-morrow ; and, in addition, the clip has given hi m some h un d reds ofpounds. Others have b een even more successful. I hear that people at home have got it into their heads that the country about Canterbury is swampy and undrainable. I can most positively state, from professional experience, that there is no portion of the district which is not, easily drainable by the most ordinary methods, there being everywhere a good fall, and deep natural watercourses and rivers. A very large proportion may be kept free from water by ordinary ploughing and cultivation. I have myself raised this year a field of oats, something less than two acres, once ploughed. It was exceedingly wet flax, and toi-toi land. The crop was put in late from the difficulty of procuring seed, but th e y i e ld h as been cl ose upon fif ty b ushels to the acre. The yield in this country is thirty to thirty-five bushels.) We do not trouble ourselves much about the gold in Australia. I hope, however, our golden harvests will be quite as productive of real wealth. There is yet no prospect of the Sumner -road. The Governor proposed a makeshift road, which no one in a sane state of mind would venture a cart and horse upon. If you do not raise the money for us in . England we . s h a ll h ave to wait a long time for it." . . . . . . . . . Mr. ALEXANDER CURRIE stated that the Australasian and Pacific Steam-packet Company intended next year to open steam communication between Southampton and New Zealand, rid Panama, in fifty-five days. (Hear, hear.) The journey across the Isthmus had already been made in eight hours. A vote of thanks having been passed to the chairman, he proceedings terminated. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEc. 2. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Share market continues to give way, and prices are a shade lower than yesterday. The following are the quotations : — Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire (late Chester and Birkenhead), 221. shares, 2i die. ; Blackburn (late B. C. and W. Y.), 8 ; Caledo n i an , ; Eastern Counties, ; Lancashire dYo rks 87f, ; Leeds Northern (late Leeds and Thirsk an ), ; Lhire, on don and North Western, 1271 ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 324 ; Midl an d, 80i ; North Brish, 10 7-16 ; South - Ea s t ern and Dover, 24g ; York it and North kidla n d, 314. MANCHESTER, DEC. 2. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was a good business, and rather higher prices :—Aberdeen, 17* ; Caledonian, 33# 11-16 $ ; Eastern Counties, 138 1-16 ; Kendal and Winder mere, 14f ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 87i $ ; ditto Fifths, 3 dis. ; Leeds Northern, 18# 19 ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 19 1-16 ; London and N or th W es t ern , 128 ; Manchest er and Birmingham Quarters (C), 1, c. p. ; Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 32A ; ditto New 61. Pre ference, 9-16 c. p. ; Midland Railway Consols, sog i ; South E as t ern , 24 7 - 16 # 5-16 # 7-16 ; Warrington and Altrincham, 5-16 prem. BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 2. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Railway Share Market opened a shade weaker this morning than it closed yesterday even ing. This afternoon the market was better and prices were firm. The business in railway shares was unimportant, and quotations about the same as yesterday. BRISTOL, DEC. 2, STOCK EXCHANGE.—The prices to-day were firm, w ith a fair amount of business doing. Bristols and Exeters were done at 110 ; Great Western at 974 ; Vale of Neath at 134 MUSEUM OF ORNAMENTAL ART, MARLBOROUGH HOUSE.—The numbers attending during the month of November were as follows :-5,581 persons on the public days, and admitted free; 728 persons on the students' days, and admitted as students, on payment of 6d. each, besides the registered students of the classes and schools. RACING FIXT" Liverpool Spri ng 2 Coventry Spring • 8 Doncaster Spring 8 Salisbury Croxton Park 6 Newmarket Craven ll York Spring l9 Chester Newmarket Sec Sp Shrewsbury Ascot Hampton Beverley, Hull, &c Bibury Newmarket.. Worcester.. Carlisle (3). Liverpool... DERBY SMITHFIELD—Nov. 30. The supply of f a t s t oc k t o -d ay was a b ou t the ab e t high prices were asked for them, and most of the u hu g were disposed of. Th e num b er o f s h eep was not 8° pig as on former occasions, and a clearance was effected. 5 0 scarce ; calves not numerous. Beef, 4id to 5d • ' mutton' re 2 to 6d • veal, 5d to sid pe r lb. ; 'Ts 9d to 8s 0d Pe r rough fat, 4s 3d per 14 lb s . ; hides, 2d per lb. ; _a 2d to 3d per lb. BOSTON—DEC. 1. scer / Notwithstanding the delivery of wheat from the gr c ' qrs ., at this market during the last week amounted to 6, 4 rt i e le, we have again to report an immense supply of this 5 d po' as well as a large delivery of oats, beans, barley , 311 flO W To-day wheat met a lively demand, at an advance ° iv ob' 2s per qr. on last week's quotations. Barley sca rce 'uestf tamed previous rates. Oats and beans in moderate reclr without material change in value. Peas about 1. 9 P e s iva cheaper. That the present yield of wheat is ex ce t s o 4. 14 ' large is now beyond a doubt. Wheat, red, 335 t , 11 3 white, 41s to 465, extra 48s ; barley, 26s to 32s ; "' to 19s ; beans, 32s to 38s-; peas, 31s to 33s per clf• NEWARK —DEC. 1. „101.0ee' At our Corn-excha nge t o -d ay we had a good 9 ' ,4- 0 04 and a good supply o f gra i n of all dbscriptions. pi 0 white, 44s to 48s, red 40s to 46s ; barley, g rinding; iss 28s, malting 30s t o 33 s ; oats, 24st 24s to 265, 22s ¢l4; 22s ; beans 38s to 42 s ; p eas 30 s to 345; tares 40 $ ," malt 56s to 60s. per qr. DENBIGH—DEc. 1. It to 50 oci e . , mar There was an advan ce i n th e pr i ces at to-d 1 1. 7, ° Wheat, 14s to 15 s ; b ar l ey. 10 s to lOs 6d ; oats , sp; 6s 6d according to quality per hobbet ; tub butter) fresh ditto 103,d to lld per lb. EDINBURGH GRAIN—DEC. 1. , Ole We had a good supply o f gra i n i n to-day's raar i ' ei.! 7;Wee" ready, and prices, as compared with those obtainedlnalei up. Wheat on the top is 6d and the average 9d ' 1 1 ) c at Oil on the top same as last week, and the average 7d down, to p;; the top ld, and th e average 5d up ; b e ans on th same, and the avera ge id up. Unsold, 84 (qrs. wh ew qrs. barley 50 qrs oats—and 9 qrs. beans. Top of Wheat 64 lb 52s Oa Barley.-- . ............ ... ..... 57 lb 3 26 4 ( 1 ocl Beans Total Supply and Sales. I 4 0 Wheat 1,181 qrs Barley 1,801 qrs Oats 9Ol qrs Beans 124 qrs AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUA E TssSillildd:Cidll:ols:l°9ls:6l:6! Average of wheat £2 61 0 stbil fl 1 Ditto of Barley Ditto of Oats Ditto of Beans DUBLIN —Nov. . 01 ( 1 60 There was a very small supply of 3o wheat, "and4l d moderate one of oa t s an d barley at market to -day 0,4 9 met a brisk de man d a t an advance of 6d to 1 0 . 9 " 4," prime quality were also 3d dearer, Malting barley per' some cases a shad e hi g h er, but other descriPti°lo2 3 rather slow of s a l e , w ith out any alteration in pri°9„ll. corn held firmly, but the b us i ness d one was fiali"' following are the quotations : White wheat, 25s 6d to 26s 6d ; red ditto, 2 4 s Od D eeea, e barley, 12s 6d t o 15 s 6d ; oats, 10s 6d to lla 6d ; _, 21s Od to 23s per brl ; oatmeal, lOs Od to 12s 043 ; 3gs6 flour, 14s Od to 16s 6d per cwt ; Indian corn, 30s Od per 480 lbs. CORK-DEC. 1. Currencloo 8 White wheat 24s Od to 24s Od O s Od- - ° 66 Redwheat 21s 6d to 24s 3d 2o Ditto OOs Od to OOs 0423 s 6d--- a° Ditto O s Od t o O s Od 323 Barley l3s 6d to 14s 3d) 59 Ditto 14 s 3d t o 14s 6d}.l4s -- Ditto OOs Od to OO s Od Bere OOs Od. to . Os Od Os 516 Oats 9s 6d to 9s 9dl 249 Ditto 9 s 9d t o lOs Od}. 90 - 283 Ditto 10 s Od t o lO s 6d 119 Pigs 29 s Od t o 35s 6d 34s 3d pe r e t Quantity sold at the highest ices : ' /5 4 barrels white wheat ; 7 red ; 29 b pr arley; 0 be t " oats; 2 pigs. Quantity of grain and number of pigs sold last weei r j . i`O' Wheat, 1,234. B ar l ey, 2,254. Bert), 0. Oats, " Pigs, 1,186. Brig. 3cl- 46 4°' PRICES OF BUTTER. armtmet. Sv First quality .............. Second qualit y quality • .......... /!! Third quality Bos Third quality .............. Fourth quality Fifth quality 66 s Fifth quality .......... ••••• 4 , Sixth quality s6s Sixth quality ........... .••• Return of cattle s o ld f or week ending Nov. 27 Pigs, 538. Sheep, 95. Cows, 149. ; Coss.--Flour—First, 13s 6d to 14s Od ; extra, I . 6 l i irci* seconds, 12s to 13s Od ; households lOs 6d to 118 6d , 78 Od to 10 8 Od per cwt. Meal—lndian meal, 79 6d t 0 oatmeal, 108 6d t o ll s; w h eat meal, lOs Od to l l a t 1 Indian corn, 7/ lOs to 71 Iss per ton. Bran, 4/ 17s 6d Eger Os Od per ton. Hay—Farmers, 23s Od to 32s Od ; 278 ; dealers, 28s Od to 38s Od ; average, Os per ton.: 0 t pd 1e Farmers, OOs Od to 00 s Od ; average, 00s ; dealers, 6d 24s Od; average Os. per ton. B rea d —Wheaten loaf, 8 0 Od ; household ditto, 5d to Od per 41b. F res h butter , / yet, 10d per lb. E ggs , 6s 10d to 7s Od per hundred. Afeat" -- 4‘ltg 4id to 7d ; mutt on, 5d to bid ; veal, 4d to 6d ; P.,.°1.1f;0a0", : Od ; bacon, 6d t o 7d ; sausages, 5d per lb.—Fish, Ile O land, 101. Os t o 111 O s per ton ; Scotch herrings, 2 ? t j,io,l°A; Red, do., 24s p er b r l .—Potatoes, white, 8d to 9(1 lid to 12d.—C oa l s, N ewport, 17s; Lydney, 18s ; ,;„ 1/0, Od per ton.—Whiskey, 25 0.p., 68 od per imperiaL..b Hides, market, 22s t o 28 s; S alted, 24s to 30s per "1,00.,/ skins, 34d per lb.—B angor s l ates 21. 17s. 6d to 31. P er o. r , Fleece wool, 168 to OOs per stone.--Hem' 371- tO o/ d°' ton—Timber, Memel, 3/. lO s ; re d pine, 31. 5s ; Ye ll 1 7 : 31. Iss. pe r t on ; d ea l s, 15/. to 18/. per hundred.---P 3: 00Y" 7/. to 81. lOs. per ton.—Tallow, 45s to 46s per ort,6o ll° 71. 10s to 01. per cwt.—Tar, Archangel, 19s. per 10 1 . Peruvian, 101. lOs to 11/. per ton. 9d do. CANT. SEABORNE MAILS. [l%l' signifies that the mails are sent from the General by the night—and Mby t; morning —dispatch.] .... .•.“1, c ny the night—a n d Mb y the moruing—d —dispatch . ].,`..... ...v....---- ____„..... ----- D eal a Daywhen made up From what lf ~. clu'r t COUNTRIES. in Gen era l P ost- Port Office, London. dismtched. l r -- -- --- i -- . „, r America (byltrit.pa c k.N D ec . 4 ......... Liverpool .. America (by United Sts. 3 packet) ..........N Dec. 14 .......... Liverpool ... De - 6 3 America (by U. States r packet ............ N ................ Southampton p ea 4 Australia (via South. li „ ii. ampton . ......... A 20th of each month Southamp,wn ' Ditto (zia Marseilles) N 24th of the month Dover .... •• •• * Ditto (via Cape of G oo d f. 3° to , Hope Africa (West Coast) ..N 23 r d o f the month. Plymouth • • p e e. ' BA lexandriqs ........N 19th&30th of mon. Dover ...• • ' 10,11/,6 elgium ............N ' wily... •• • ... Dover ...• pee. 1 6 Brazil .... 13 n enor Ayres.-- .. 11i 9th of the month .. southampton 56 c , I California ..........34 d & 17th of month Southampton N e l'. .1 'Cape of Good Hope ..N 1 4thof the month.. Plymouth .• ~,,y, fr i Cape de Verds ......N 14thof the month. Plymouth • • Dec I" Constantinople*.. N 7 th l 7th27thofmo . Dover ...• •• . ec., l 50 Central America ....34 nd & 17th of mon. Southampton /,' u TIR Channel isles ........N lfon.Wed.& Friday southampton vec , 1.0 Chi1i.......... ......74 M & 17th of month outhamPto pvice,,`, l , France ........ M & N Twice daily ...... Dover ...• • • ne e x at' Greece* ............N 7 017th 17 thottnon. Dover . • • • • ' To 3 'o' Hamburgh ..........N Tuesd a y & F riday London ..... ~u„ Rolland ............ 34 Wednesday & Sat Lond on ... • • ,k.O ILO Honduras .......... N 17th of the month . Soulbampto ''4oeor Ireland ........M & N Twice daily ...... Holyhead .• . .: - o . e 2: India (viaSouthstmpt.)3l 2 0 th of themonth.. S out h am pton b' ec is India (via Marseilles) N Bth&24 th ef month Dover .....• India (via Cape of G oo d a Hope)... .. ........ 31 14th of the month .. Plymouth .. . got, :, i oir, Mauritius ..........N 14th of the month.. Plymouth ..• ' Mediterranean (via 2 4 Southampton .... ..M 20th of the month , Southampto: , n p ec ee : 11 Ditto (via Marseilles).N Bth& 24th ofmonth Dover ...• • • .',, c . 1, Mexico ............M 2nd of the month. Southampton I „', e , lo Madeira ........... . ill 9th&23dofthe non. Southampton v . 7th,17th,19th,27th. ...ec. l Melte.— ....1 1. v - f &30th of the month Dover .... .. v_,, 0 Peninsula .. .. .. .. .. 31 'tb 17th27thofmon. Southampton J . ,-L„ . I _ Papal States * es . * * :: ............ N N t t h h i l: t t h h 2 2 ,i s t t h h o o f f m m o o n n : D po o v v e e r r ............ . 1 2 ee e ' 0 : 6 0 Peru ... .. AI 2d & 17th of month 'outhampton r v,Z, II .......... Tuscany* N sthlsth2sthofmon, Dover ..... • per, 1 17 W a e n st p l ie n in di e ea n, 5...... Land(see 3l 2d & 17th of month Southampton v _../...: a Australia .......... * Ol s Hope are 0 00 tft . . * The mails for Australia via the Cape of Good Hop on the second of every alternate month. Those made ol'iej ate 20th and 24th of each month via Southampton and MAP i e e x t / 6.- sent by sailing vessels at present from Singapore, but n , they will be sent in steamers. e ptli ft ; t Mails are also made up on the 2d of every alternate 111 0 up o w of ill G n o o od t b il e ° d lPe sp .— at T ch h e e d m b a ef l o s r e d a before the to be MA. * The mails to those countries thus marked (a) : e re WWI French packet to Marseilles. thet h e Cape ulth 01 6 WEST COAST OF AFEICA.—The mails will not be made Ur n 'll3 4th of next month. --..*-- BIRTHS. OF A SON. Vaa l° On the Ist inst., at St. German's-terrace, Mrs. Francis Warwick. OF A DAITGHTEE. r On the 2d i ns t., th e wife of Mr. Hoffman, o f commons, solicitor. MARRIED. o cicf On the I s t inst., at Clifton-church, Mr. W. F. Thad r 1 of Clapham, Surrey, to Miriam, eldest daughter of klej3 Trapnell, Esq., of Brighton-park, Clifton. DEATHS. On the 26th ult., at Dowlais-house, Glamorganshired 611: Josiah J. Guest, Bart., M.P. for Merthyr Tydvii, uk• c o, On the 28th nit., Mr. J . Rutherford, of 23, Baru' ag 6 ed 7. On the Ist inst., at 1, Victoria-cottages, New-cros s, Mr' t.- J. Pickeri ng , ag ed 45. (1 00 ' On the 17th ult., at Dunmanway, Cork, Lieu Shuldham, E.1.C.5., aged 74. London Printed and Published by MITRDO YOTING4 No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Su n Office. 31. °' t 1 of Strand, in the Precinct of the Sav o y , in the co Middlesex, Friday, December 3, 1852. RES FOR 1853. 15 15 . 22 13 COUNTRY MARKETS. tCH. 15 Warwick Spring .. • '''''' 17 Kiplin Coates ............ Northampton (2).....•••' ?y, Abergavenny ............. 'RIL. IMalton ..................... 21 Newmarket F. 5....••••' 25 &Y. 8ath......................•• .13 1 Manchester (3) ........... Epsom_ ................... " rNE. /3 Stockbridge .........•••••• ni Winchester .. ........... .. ,/ Newcastle ............... .. '' LY. 1 9 Stamford ................. • 21 Nottingham .............. 26 Goodwood ................ /; SIIBI3 I , I ` I OTIcE Z- 13, 110N " 4, 11, the e fl Messages %ornhill, Lc 3° . Cora PRIZ F } toot CLIJI oots. Imp T Eve ,t_reet, and Aandttance API z h e 5 tons ' ll leave' (41 Tn e , 441 4.'1d c b 4ocia h s e ni, To age b y Aly to e gag , ' kistrauan" vUBel ItT In f i t l e HLF.s cl e Said st ,. Ze to Colo' Med to tl E Jo , tetate e at heir e l ! kid rZrles Fr - ret "4tedthe, ROY. ENI 6 IC kr „ ii enry 1,4 8 :ittven;n t w - and zi aehh,, k i P ßfr O-1 the p i A " D 1 —41,11381011 IT EC ~eqkaite,,nrnF ai pr Agents le ! vo' _ erp oo 1 ten "Lae wit TAE 4Sttratie t ; ti a o a n cl :f tc r e pae Rate ty:' e nce tc ttf nte ] th e s tr efnce Polick .;o2,1,!•-8ttl 15 20 25 ( 33 1 35 1 45 45 50 I 55 60 /' . l b . 01 } 1.41 g Tc Qei '{9h le D eed , 11:14