The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-06 00:00:00

Vbtrb baton SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. MEETING OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.—(THIS DAY ) THE WAR IN INDIA. A special general meeting of the Court of Directors of the East India Company was held this day, at 12 o'clock, at the East India House, for the purpose of laying before the Proprietors documents re lative to the brilliant victories lately achieved on the left bank of the Sutlej, and to adopt resolutions of thanks in ecusequeace. The chair was taken by Sir Henry Willonk. The SECRETARY read the minutes of the last day's proceedings, and the opinion of the standing counsel of the Company in reference to the question of the publication of a certain advertisement, which was to the effect that the said advertisement could not be legally published. He next read a series of minutes of correspondence upon the subjeet of the conduct of a late officer of the Company in India. When he had concluded, The CHAIRMAN rose and said he had to acquaint the proprietors that they had been summoned befere the Court this day for the purpose of having laid before them a series of resolutions intended to be proposed for their adoption, and which they would now hear read. The SECRETARY then read the resolutions, the first of which was a vote of thanks to Sir Henry Hardinge, for the ability, energy, and zeal he had displayed in the discharge of his duty in the late action against the Seikhs. The second was a similar vote to Sir Hugh Gough ; and those which followed were to the like effect to Generals Sir (S. 11. Smith, Gilbert Hunter, and all the other officers, non-com missioned officers, and soldiers therein engaged. An Hos. PROPRIETOR said he cordially concurred in the terms of the resolution, but as a Christian man he should say that it was not right to have omitted a; vote of thanks to Almighty God in the first instance.—(Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN said, that in framing the resolutions, the Court had adopted the language of Parliament. The omission was of course un intentional, for it could not be supposed that they did not all feel grateful to God for this victory.—(hear, hear.) And it was the unanimous feeling of the Court that the omission should be supplied. —(hear, hear.) He then proceeded to say that he had con vened this Court in order to afford the proprietors an - opportunity of expressing their sense of the deep feeling of grafi tuile they entertained for the gallant services rendered them and their country by the officers and soldiers engaged in the late field of battle against the Seikhs.—(Hear.) The Company had never been niggard of their praise of the valour displayed upon all hostile occasions by the British army in India; but there never had been an oecasion, perhaps, where eulogium was more merited by any army than that which they had this day assembled to honottr.—(Cheers.) And while they contemplated wit h surprise the great dangers those troops had to encounter, they should exult in the pride they felt at the successful manlier in which all those difficulties and dangers had been overcome, and which would have proved insuperable to less brave and daring men.—(Cheers.) These were the dangers which had been dreaded for the last few years. He used the word " dreaded" a dvisedly, because during the last few years it had been deemed necessary to adopt precautionary measures to guard against surprise or dangers to Runjeet, as well as to prevent these irregularities by the Seiks which were likely to endanger the life of the infant Prince.—(Hear. hear.) So great was the anxiety of the Governor in this respect, that while he took care to quell all unnecessary alarm, he also adopted those pre cautionary measures which were the means of ensuring this country the late victory.—(Hear, hear.) However, those movements of the British troops had no influence with the Seikhs, as might easily be understood by all who knew the character of the irregular army. In addition to this:there was to be considered the important facts of the overpowering number of the Seikhs, the strength of their artillery the superior experience of the Italian and French officers by whom they were disciplined and commanded, and the undoubted great cou rage for which they had ever been remarkable, and which had been greatly increased by former successes. However, the gallant Sir Hugh Gough entered the field against them, and told the British soldiers that the enemy should be beaten back, however great their numbers, from a territory which they had invaded without the least provocation.—(Hear. Ile had also to admire another gallant General, Sir Henry Hardinge—(Cheers)—for he, with his sue arm, entered the field, and told those deeds of arms which were now before the Court, and in which were related the acts of bravery by his son, who fought by his side as a private soldier.—(Loud cheers.) The enemy to be encountered, he (the Chairman) need net say was no common enemy. It was the most powerful army in all Asia, consisting of 65,000 men and 180 pieces of cannon. Fearful, therefore, were the obstacles, the difficulties and the dangers which the British forces had to encounter. They had to fight against overwhelming numbers, great discipline, im mense artillery, and a courageous foe. But, nothing datinted by these disadvantages, they boldly advanced, and fought and conquered —(Cheers)—and took the enemy's guns and encampments.— (slicers.) That was their stronghold, but they were com pelled to abandon it and retire to their native territory.—(Hear, hear.) fader such circumstances, no doubt, their first duty was to return thanks to God for having thus crowned their arms with victory— (Hear, hear)—and the next to express their grateful thanks to the British army for:their valorous conduct, au expression in which he had no doubt he would have the unanimous concurrence of this assembly —(Cheere)--and be would conclude by saying he felt assured he ex pressed the universal concurrence of the Proprietors, when he de clared he had the fullest confidence that their army would eventually bring this contest to a successful termination.—(Cheers.) Mr. Hoge said he rise with feelings ;of the greatest pleasure and the greatest pride to second the proposition of their Chairman, and to express his most cordial concurrence in all that had fallen from him in laying it before the meeting.—(Hear, hear.) The grateful thanks of the British ,Parliament had already been voted to this brace army, and he did not know how a greater honour could be paid a brave soldiery than that their valour should be marked by the gratitude and thanks of the Legislature of this great country.— ((leers.) It was a most pleasing duty to the Legislature to do this; but it was ea less gratifying to this Court, and they had ern breced the very earliest opportunity of doing so. (Hear, hear.) Their Chairman had very properly abstained from all mention it details, and he (Mr. Hogg) would follow his example ; but there was one point to which he would wish to direct attention. In the dispatches laid upon the table Sir Henry Hardinge and Sir Hugh Gough had told the bloody tale of this battle in plain, :simple, but energetic language, but which impressed all who read them with the couviction that this had indeed been a gloelous exploit.—(Cheers.) The Chairman had also spoken of the character of the enemy. No doubt that enemy was In numbers most formidable, in physical strength most powerful, In courage pre-eminent, and possessed of resolution and determination worthy of a better cause.—(Hear, hear.) They became efficient and disciplined, too, by most experienced French generals ; while, an the other hand, the British forces did not amount to one-third of their umber.: But this did not deter them; they nerved themselves for the struggle, and the Punjaub was taken. On December 21st the enemy was again defeated, and forced from Ferozepore, atter which the British forces were assembled oa the frontier, and every fighting man was ready to do his duty-(Cheers)—and the result was, that they took Moodkee, after a splendid battle.—(Cheers.) In the penile of the 21st the British forces had difficulties of no or dinary character to encounter. Tkey had to assail an en trenched camp, guarded by one hundred and eighty pieces of canon ; but, netwithetanding all the disadvantages against the British arms, and though they were mowed down, as they advanced, by showers of shot and shell from the enemy, still they were firm, and the result was they carried the entrenchment.—(Cheers.) Under these cir cumstances, then, this Company and this country were called upon to acknowledge those deeds of valour by every means in their power. --(Hear, hear, and cheers.) On the 25th Sir Henry Hardinge, not ihail-al of that solemn day, eneamped on that bloody field Where Many a relative, friend, arid comrade fell, and returned thanes to the Almighty for the many perils and dangers they had escaped,—(hear, hear.) It was also pleasing to reflect that this glorious triumph was unalloyed by a single act which diminished the satisfaction it afforded, for it: was nothing more, on the part of the British forces, titan repelling an enemy who had made an enjust and unwarrantable aggression.— (Hear.) All along a peaceful policy had been observed ; but the event proved how necessary it was to take precautions against surprise. —(Hear, hear.) Ile trusted the eesult of this:battle would prove to the Seikhs how futile any attempt to ahset the British authority in India must prove—(Bear, hear) — and ho hr happy they might be under British dominion and British j us ti ce .— ( Lear, hear.) Mr. Eesgsgulle s, who announced himself as a Sep oy officer, spoke of the hardships the .sepoys endured, and contended that their duties were too severe. He was called to order by dir. CLARE, who said he conceived the Hon. Proprietor was tra velling out of the subject under discussion.— (Hear, hear.) Mr. WEEDING said it afforded him very great pleasure to express his concurrence in the resolutions he had heard read and the sen timents expressed by the proposer and seconder of them.—(Hear.) In referring to the officers that had been engaged, he must speak of one British officer of the greatest promise who had fallen—he meant afajor Broadroot ; and; in making that allusion he could not do better than point out to the attentioa of the Court the glowing eulogy Which had been passed by the Governor-General on his political agent, in his dispatch of the 21st, which described him as a most Invaluable agent, and an officer second to none in the service. tie (Mr. Weeding) thought that some public honour should be paid to the memory of this most meritorious officer. Ho lied left two children behind him who had been dependent on him for support, and to whom he had acted in the twofold character of a brother and a parent ; for these, also, some provision ought to be made.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to those who had been engaged in the late glo rious struggle, as the Government had proposed to pay them some tribute of respect, he considered that Court ought not to be behind it, but Agree likewise to some testimonial. With these few worms he would conclude by most cordially supporting the motion. . ar. Hog. PROPRIETOR wished to say a few words in reference to the difference which was stated to have taken place between the C 3,1 Regiment, and the 12th and the 14 th. Ile had a letter in his posse ssion on tins point, from which he would read an extract. (The Hon. Gentleman then read the extract, which was to the effect, that the 63d Regiment had behaved with the greatest gallantry in the en gagement, having captured a great number of the enemy's guns, And having been engaged in the thickest and hottest of the fight the half of its men had been destroyed, besides six officers. This was not steed with any invidious motive, as the army throughout had behaved with the greatest courage, and it might be said upon the whole, there never was a more united army.—(liear, hear.) If he might allude to a dispatch received last night, it would be seen that through the urbane and considerate conduct of the Governor-General, any difference that existed had been partially allayed, and he had no doubt that the next dispatches would show that harmony was he) per- General COREFIeLD expressed Ids humble tweed of gratitude to the troops who had been engaged in the action with the Seikhs. lie fro d not go iuto p articulars after the splendid orations which had been t delivered in both House of Parliament, and after the able speeches of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman on the present occasion. Lie merely rose to add his humble testimony to that which had already been so well said respecting the bra very of the troops ; still he would wish to say a few words to enable the proprietors to appreciate the deeds of the soldiers who had been engaged, and without which they could not value the "bravery they had shown. Especially would be refer to the native army. It was very inefficiently manned ; it was obliged to go into Action with but very few officers. An Hoer. PROPRIETOR said this was not the question. The renenteteer hoped the Hon. Proprietor (General Corefield) would confine himself to the question. On the 18th of the month, he would be happy to hear him on the subjects he was going into then. General CoeRKELD desisted from proceeding further, and sat down. Mr. PETER Goareole rose, and was proceeding to allude to a peti tion from Reading, presented to the Ilouse of Commons, the other evening by eir. Bright, against the vote of thanks to the Indian army, when he was called by several Proprietors to order. He then re ferred to the character of the meeting, which he represented as prin cipally made up of military men, and therefore interested parties, and Was proceeding to dilate on this topic, when air PETER LAURIE rose to order. Ile said that other Hon. Gen tlemen had been called to order for departing from the question, and he did not see why the Hon. Gentlemen now in possession of the Court should be allowed to do so. The CHAIR3IAN intimated to Mr. Gordon that he must confine him self to the question, else he would not be allowed to proceed. P. GORDON—Then; sir, I move that all the words of the re- Solution moved, follewing the words " after that," be struck out, and the following be added, "that this Court deeply regrets the war breaking ept in India." f.;onsiderablz confusion followed the announcement of this amend rain, which, however, fell still-born for the want of a seconder. lr Lesureceoer, one of the Directors, said, that after what h&ct Wien from the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman, he would not occupy their attention long. The point Jae wished to allude to was the fidelity of the native army. The greatest praise was due to them for the manner in which they had conducted themselves. (}rest atte mpts had been made to seduce them, but without success. - "A mc or hear.) This fidelity he attri buted to the parental care of Government. th i l db.en He was persuaded that unless eery indulgence given to the native sepoys this fidelity would not have been shown. I t t h. was a satisfactory paned ueOrth t e h oo at native army was circumstance, as it certatl n y d peefeCtly' satisfied with the fallen—he officer, that (Hear.) Before sitting down he would Government towards them. —he referred was to be mentioned above all others, wi m co cleneral Sale.—(llo4l%) He remembered that but nealth and he presided over all entertainment g i ven afr months officer, when he (lir. Lushington) saw him tin that h ga ll ant strength. Ile . little dreamt then that so slaelanciere" after he should ireceive the tidings of his Only end, for his end wasend—he ;yogic! not say M elell glorious, while his in the ug geory of the country which he served so wen need* live erectly expressed himself --- Coletiet Stees having respecting the braverY Of the 0000, kON Mr U. s aid he had been strliek by two facts on whi c h . 'l;sok t Ch a innan had enlarged, which were the the Chairmele and MP U e of the Seikh arm y , and the dis p a rity ness discipline, large , . • , and Cnilrail of the British Arnie , in regard .o n umbers. Whether this was only k Of thanks he would not say, the vote , done to justify more S. eronglyg with the signal discrepancy s much strue but he must remark he Siol Broadfoe h t and eetuel facts. R between the dispatches of e hrjor of the Rh Of De ecember, terrine - to Major di s Breadfuot'S asp as as in a state of dis zhe . Seikh army was descr i tg at and every species o rganisation, while debauchery', cipefeiron, t rnished to the of licentiousness pervaded Lahore. This aceemn lit events G over nor-General was totally at variance Wite el fu l segue Har as given in the dispatches of Sir Hugh Gough and Sle Henry dinge. There must have been some gross errors in the luthrileatiou that had been given, else there would not have been such a de ficiency of men at the point where the Seikli arsAy Croseed the Strad, :described by the chairman and deputy-chairman that dee. He attributed She massacre at Moodkee and at Ferozeshah to Sir H. Gough and Sir atenry Hardinge relying on the information furnished by that Gallant Cateer, Major Broadfoot respecting the state ofLaliore. On this head they dad been misinformed, and he mentioned the fact With the object of drawing the attention of the Directors to it. It was his deliberate hpinion that the loss of men had been eceitaloned by the false infonnae furalehed to the British Government.—(Cries of "Question.") 441 lime. PROPRIETOR rose to order. He thought the policy of the pro, .ding relatipg to the late events should be discussed at another ti m e. At wee important that on the motion new before the Court there shealld ha on unanimous expression of opinion. Mr. G. Tuostesche said ,1 - 14, could have stated in as short a period s that in which he bad been interrupted all he had to say. He re• peated that the state of things in December, 1845, was altogether different to what it had bean represented in January, 1445. Had the efficacy and numbers of the Si:llth army beau more rr et, tly de scribed, there would ha v e been such a gathering of troops ' on n e the left brisk of the intlej as would h ave awed the Seikla troops, and aid znaled the cllaaCci of an attack being made. An Horr. PROPRIETOR asked if Mr. Thompson meant to move a vote of censure on the Governor-General, fur his speech amounted to that? The CHAIRMIN suggested that he should confine himself to the actual proceedings before the Court. Mr. THOMPSON said he had no intention of moving a vote of cen sure on the Governor-General. He admired hie forbearance, kindness, and consideration thrcughout the whole:arduoas struggle and finally his religious humility and is It was kw fault of his that he acted from false information respecting what was really going forward on the other side of the 'Milli. He brought this tOrward not by way of censure, but in order that they might guard against similar mishaps in future. Ho must refer to another matter before sittting down. It had been suggested that the name of the Deity should be invoked in connection with those pro ceedings. To this he was utterly opposed. The whole genius, spirit, and practice of Christianity was contrary to such proceedings, It was not for him to say how far the Deity interfered to cause wars or rumours of wars to serve his own wise but inscrutable ends, but he (Mr. Thompson) would not consent that that sacred name should be mixed with such proceedings as they had been considering. He would join the Court in a vote of thanks to the army, for they had been fighting for them and their Govern ment, and were no parties to the circumstances that had originally given that territory and that Government to them. But wkile he gave his tribute of thanks, he hoped that inquiry would be made into the circumstances that preceded the late events, for he was persuaded that the dispatches of Major Broadfoot were lies from beginning to end.—(Cries of " Order, order.") He dissented from the Chairman in his applying such terms as " treacherous," " faithless," to the Seikhs, as if done for the purpose of under -rating them and over-rating the British If they read Indian history they would find that they had no occasion what ever to apply epithets to others of which they themselves had been se repeatedly guilty. In conclusion, he would give Isle cordial support to the vote of thanks. Mr. Boon rose not to discuss the point raised by the lion. Pro prietor, but to call the attention of the Court to one document fur. nished to the Commander-in-Chief by the political agent, Major Broadfoot. True, he said in the early part efJanuary, 1845, that the Selkh army was from 18,000 to 20,000, but the rest had returned to their villages. In this dispatch, furnished before the Seikhs crossed the Sutlej, and communicated to Sir Hugh Gough on the 20th Nov. 1845, Major Broadfoot represented the Seikh force to be composed of seven divisions of from 8,000 to 12,000 men each.—(Bear, hear.) Captain GROVER wished to bear his testimony to the great valour of the troops engaged. He found no fault with Sir John Littler for his statement with respect to the 62d Regiment, for if he had not made it he would have been blamed. He cordially agreed with the expressions of the Proprietors who had preceded him, that the vic tories of the Indian army deserved their sincere and unanimous thanks. A PROPRIETOR considered thst Sir Henry Hardinge had been placed in a similar situation to that of the Duke of Wellington before the battle of Waterloo, as he had great difficulty in ascertaining the movements of Napoleon or the exact numbers ender his command. It was always the policy of the enemy to deceive, and no doubt the Seikhs resorted to stratagem in order to mislead the British army, by unexpectedly crossing the Sutlej at Hurkee. The Hon. Proprietor was proceeding to discuss the policy of the Governor-General and the proceedings of Major Broadfoot, when he was called to order by Mr. CLARKE, who, considering Major Broadfoot was dead, that be might have been deceived by those in whom he had placed implicit reliance, and that it was generally believed that he had done his duty faithfully, it was improper to discuss the subject on that occasion. Major GALLOWAY could not give a silent vote on the subject, as he considered that Sir Hugh Gough, Sir Henry Hardinge, Major Broad foot, and the ether officers of the British army, had acted with the greatest propriety, and had gained one of the greatest victories ever achieved in India.—(Cheers.) Mr. G. THOMPSON explained that he did not wish to bring a charge against Major Broadfoot; he meant simply to state that the advises which he received from Lahore were false, and that consequently the Government, the Governor-General, and the other authorities in India were deceived, and that great disasters were thereby occa sioned. Mtkjor SITEPPERD said the Seikh army had frequently approached tbibright bank of the Satlej, and had as often retired, and that the Governor-General had consequently very slight reasons for believing that they would ultimately oross the river and invade the British territory. Mr. Twtwitio eulogised the conduct of the army, and regretted that there should be any difference of opinion respecting awarding them an unanimous vote of thanks for their great exertions, and the splendid victories they had achieved. The votes of thanks were then put seriatim, and respectively carried unanimously, and with load applause. The Court then adjourned. GREAT LEINSTER and MUNSTER RAILWAY COMPANY.-(THIS DAY.) _ _ The general half-yearly meeting of this Company was called for to-day, at the London Tavern, at twelve o'clock, but there not being a sufficient number of shareholders present to constitute a board, it was resolved that the report should be read, with a view to Its adoption at a future meeting. The substance of the report was, that the object of the formation of the Company was by amalgamation with other companies ulti matcly to form a large chain of railways. The sum of 25,0001. had I been paid up by the shareholders, and the land for eight miles in length had been already purchased, and three miles of it formed. The extent of the line was twenty-four miles, and the cost would be about 10,0001. a mile. With a view to carry out the principle of the directors, an amalgamation had been effected with the Wexford and Carlow Company, also with the Great Southern and Western Company of Ireland, the undertaking being that the Wexford and Carlow should amalgamate on equal terms, and that the Great Southern and Western Company should advance one sixth of the ca pital, with the understanding that three of their directors should sit upon the Board of the Great Leinster and Munster Company, which is hereafter to be called the Irish Southern and Eastern Railway Company. The Cost of the railway to Kilkenny would be 290,6001., and the extension to Clots mel 300,0001., which would lengthen the line by 32 miles and it would then embrace the towns of Wexford, Kilkenny, New itoss, and Cloumel, so that it was resolved that the capital should be limited to 600,0001. The balance to hand was 11,026/. Os. After the the payment of the preliminary expenses for land on the works, theqe was the further arrangement, that the 1001. shares should be reduced to 201. eacb, giving to each shareholder five new shares for one origi nal share. In reply to a Shareholder, The CHAIRMAN (H. Bambridge, Esq.) stated that three hundred men had been employed upon the works since last November, and that the undertaking would be completed within the twelve months, if the mean were provided to carry on the works with vigour, but out of the 6,000 shares into which the property was di vided, the proprietors of only 3,000 had paid up the second call. Atter some conversation, the meeting was adjourned pro forma for a week, in compliance with the clause of the Act of Parliament by which the general meetings of the Company were regulated, with the understanding that it should then be further adjourned to some other day within a month, and the meeting then dispersed. At this stage of the proceedings a sufficient number of shareholders being arrived the report was read, but before its adoption A SHARRHOLDER wished to know what the eext calls were in tended to be? The CHAIRMAN replied that the Act gave power to make calls of 101. a share, but that he believed that they would be 5/., but respect would always be paid to the state of the money market. Mr. Cuatarto in referring to the original position of the Company, complained that he could get no information whatever from the Stock Exchange or from the brokers of the Company with respect to the value of the shares. The CMAIRMAN said that the Company ha/ no brokers, for it had never trafficked in shares in any way. _ _ Mr. Cumatio had certainly understood that Mr. Beele was engaged in the capacity of broker to the Company. Mr. FIELD entiroly denied that he held, or had ever held, such• an engagement. jar. Cuaxisc was not aware of the presence of Mr. Field. Ile wished to know what influence the extenilon to Clomnel would have upon the shares, and lu what way the connexion with the Great Southern and Western Company. The CMAIRMAN said that they were to take one-eighth of the shares, and were to adi - pt the line of this Company to Kilkenny, Instead of their own. The opposition of the Kilkenny and WatertOrd Company haa been withdrawn, and it was expected that the Bill fur the extension to Clonmel would pass through the Committee of Standing Orders to-day. Mr. CURLING Still complained that he could not get any information respecting the proceedings of the Company. A director assumed that Mr. Curling was referring to the change which had taken place in the position of the Company. The fact was, that after the Bill had been obtained in 1837, some individuals had induced the Government to issue a commission, with a view to form a truck line throughout Ireland, a project to which the Ministers of that day were very favourable. The directors had several interviews 'with Lard Morpeth, but were unable to over come the impediment created by this expected Commission, and that was the reason why the Company had been in abeyance. The captital had been reduced from 800,0001. to 600,0001., in con sequence of the forfeiture of 5,700 shares by the allot tees ; and these forfeited shares had been offered to the original proprietors. When the ground was sought by other com paniei the Company then became active, and their position was materially improved. The present number of proprietors was 39G, a larger number than that of the proprietors of a company who re • quired a million and a half of capital. _ _ _ In reply to a PIOPRIETOI who expressed a doubt of the ability to raise the additional capital. The Cssisxsx stated that the whole of the capital of 600,0001. had already been subscribed for responsible persons within the last four months. _ _ _ _ Mr. Cuattso wished to know whether it would not be better to issue new shares for the line from Kilkenny to Clonmel, and he thought that information ought to be given before the Company was com mitted to the Bill. . The CHAIRMAN said that the coercion clauses of their old Act had ceased to operate, and the Directors believed that they would not be able to get their Act renewed unless they had gone for the line from Kilkenny to Cloninel. After a very long conversation the o+dect of wi•ich was to elicit more information than the report at present contained, which was promised by the directors by the next meeting. The report was adopted. Thanks were voted to the chairman and directors, and the meeting was then adjourned to a day, of which notice Is to be given by circular as well as advertisement. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) Sub-Committee No. 2, GLASGOW, PAISLEY, EXLIKA.R.NOCZ, AN Jil AIM, AND DRANCIEIDIS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. LAINO said that after that decision he would not press the following allegation, which was similar to the preceding. The next allegation was that tho owner of the property marked 87, 88, and 89, was not set forth in the books of reference in the sheriff's clerk's-office, which was not pressed. The next allegation, which was of a similar nature, was not sus tained. An allegation of the same nature, with respect to the property marked 127, was sustained. There was a similar inaccuracy alleged in sections 100 and 101. The occupancy of the property in question being proved, the Com mittee found that the allegation in this case had been sustained. The same was alleged to have taken place with reference to sec tion 102, and the Committee found that the allegation was not sus- II was next alleged that in section 73 the owner of the property was not set forth in the books of reference In the sheriff's clerk's office, which was not sustained. The next allegation was that in the said plans and sections the point between 18 miles 1 furlong and 18 miles 5 furlongs was not marked, which was not pressed. It was next alleged that in the same section the extreme depth of embankment between the eighteenth mile and fourth furlong and the nineteenth mile was not marked, which allegation was sustained. The next class of allegations was, that due notice had not been served on the proprietors of the land at various points along the line, and that there was a discrepancy between the plans deposited with the respective sheriff's clerks of the counties through which the line was to pass, and these in the Private Bill-office. It was then alleged that notices had not been served on the pro prietors and occupiers of the properties from section 88 to 107 inclu sive. Evidence was heard in support of this allegation, which the Coin miteo found to be sustained. This was the last allegation in this petition. The next petition was from Sir John Maxwell, alleging a non compliance with the standing orders, in support of which Mr. Locke appeared. The first specific allegation proceeded with was that the 12th mile and 32d furlong in the county of Renfrew were not marked on the plan deposited with the Sheriff's clerk for the same county, which was sustained. the next allegation was that there was a similar inaccuracy with respect to the turnpike-road, No. 1, at the 10th mile and Stll furlong, In the parish of Neilson, and the sections marked 139, which the Committee found to be sustained. The next and last allegation of this petition was, that there was an inaccuracy in a certain point of the datum line. The Committee found at the point 33 but 2 inches. The allegation or inaccuracy was sustained. Mr. Loexa said th a t th ere wits another petition, with which, how ever he did no t i ntend to proceed.. The CnaIAMAN then announced that in the case of this Bill the Standing Orders had not been complied with. It Tk Ealb e object ni of the ?f it th il ls ' B A lll N w p as toR EfolrinGAa junction from the South-Western Mr. Plitt appearedition. in su The Bill was oppos e d, behalf of the pet way to the G rea t W es t ern R a il wa y. Wort of the Bill, and Mr. Ludlow on The formal evidence having been heard, th e a with Thomas Hope, complaining of nen-compliance , was then petition co n sider e d. from Mr . It was alleged that there was an errorrespect to the 14th and sth miles, which was sustained, • it was a l s o alleged that in sheet 29 there was an error, which was not sustained. • The S oin e similar allegations were abandoned. CLIMB.may announced that in the case of this Bill th e stand logd'ourned at a quarter to five o'clock. The Committee then a orders bad not b een complied with. Sub-Committee .No. 3. (Continued from oar Afternoon Edition.) oxrozar, WITNEY, CHELTENRAivz, AND GLOUCESTER. The promoters of this undertaking seek for a Bill to enable them to construct a line of railway front a point on the h Oxf w ord b fromncn of the it a branch Great Western Railway to Cheltenham direct, sear Oxford to the river Isis. The proposed line is intended to form a Junction with the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway at Chelten ham. The length is 39 miles and 7 ftniongs, and its estimated cost 550,000/. F.neneers, Messrs. B. Albans and R. Nichols on ; Parliamentary Agents, Messrs. Dean, Dunlop, and Hope; Solicitor's, Messrs. Miller and Moore. The usual formal proofs were accepted, and the Committee then rocepded with the petitions agaihet the ihie, of which the clerk pro- _ &iced a frightfully large bundle ; and to complete the dismay of the promoters, Colonel Sibtliorp Appeared in per-on to oppose, them. The Gallant Colonel was wanrCy and cordially receiyel by all the mem bers of the Committee. The first petition conside'red was that of Mary Rae, and it alleged that with respect to a part of her I.leasure ground at the fourteenth mile, through which the line wai shown to pass en the plans depo sited at the Private Dill-office, she had received no notice whatever. Mr Thomas appeared on her behalf. The Committee decided that as there was no proof of her haying received notice the standing, urders had not been complied with in this last auce. Mr. VENARLESi appeared to support the petition of the Rev. Henry Pole. It alleged that the books of reference deposited with the clerk of the peace of the county of Gloucester did not correspond with those In the hands of the clerk of the parish of Dowdeswell. The books were produced, and several discrepancies and omissions were pointed out, which the Committee decided were a non-compliance with the 27th standing order. The hearing of the allegations contained in this petition, which were of too trivial a nature to be reported at length, consumed the greater part of the time the Committee sat, and they adjourned the further hearing of the case until Tuesday next. The Committee then adjourned to the usual hour on Tuesday next. Sub• Committee No. 6. (Continued front our Afternoon Edition.) MACCLESFIELD AND LICHFIELD. The further consideration of this line was next resumed, and the allegation which was raised on Tuesday last, and which the Com mittee postponed deciding on then, namely, that the projectors of the line should have given notices in all the county ;papers through which railways passed of these companies to whom it was proposed to sell or lease the proposed Macclesfield and Lichfield line, was con • sidered valid, and the Committee decided that en this point the standing orders were not complied with. The point respecting the accuracy of the levels, which was under consideration also on Tuesday last, was next referred to, when Mr. Ituaxe, on behalf of the petitioners against the Bill, offered to pay all expenses incurred by sending an impartial engineer to retake the levels. Mr. GREGORY objected to this course, on the ground that the oppo sition had given their evidence, and that the projectors of the law should be now heard in reply, as they were all present. " But," said he, "if the offer had been made at an earlier period, very probably it would have been accepted." The Committee decided on proceeding with the evidence, when Mr. John Preston, a surveyor, was called, wh proved that he had levelled the line a few days ago, and had come to the same conclusion with Mr. Carrick and Mr. Courtney, who had, on the last day this case was before the Committee, established a discrepancy in the levels taken by the surveyors employed by the promoters of this line of six feet. Mr. George Chapman, another surveyor, was called, who corro borated the evidence of the last witness. The committee decided that in this instance the standing orders had been complied w'th, considering that the discrepancy of six feet between the two levels taken may have been caused from the falling down of an embankment whon the levels were originally taken. The further herring of this case was then postponed until Monday nazi, to which day the committee then adjourned. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. (Continued from cur Afternoon Edition.) OMAGI.I, DUNGANNON, ARMAGH, AND BELFAST JUNCTION RAILWAY. The Committee reported that the Company had complied with the standing orders, and leave was given to proceed. =COItK PASSAGE AND KINGSALE RAILWAY. This Company also obtained leave to proceed, having complied with the standing orders. NEW ROSS, CARLOW, AND KILKENNY JUNCTION. The Company in this Case do not Intend to proceed further than Burris (in the county Kildare), for the present year, which, in fact, is only one halt' of the proposed line. The Committee, after a lengthened investigation, decided that tho standing orders had been complied with. The estimated capital is 150,0001„ and the length of the whole line is about fifteen miles. THE DUBLIN AND SANDYMOUN r ATMOSPHERIC was under consideration when their Lordships rose. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock until Monday next. HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition), NOTTINGHAM, MANSFIELD, AND MIDLAND COUNTIES JUNCTION. Allowed to be proceeded with. BOSTON, NEWARK, AND SHEFFIELD RAILWAY. In this case the Committee decided after a lengthened Investiga• Cou that the standing orders should not be dispensed with. GRAND UNION RAILWAY. Allowed to be procecded , with. LONDON, SALISBURY, AND YEOVIL. It being announced that the Speaker was at prayers, the Commit tee postponed ;heir decision in this case, and adjourned till Tues day next. TEE SUN, LONDON, PRIDAY MVENING, MARCH e t 1646, AMERICA. By the arrival of an American vessel at Havre, New York papers of the 16th ult. have been received. The Oregon resolutions, adopted by the House of Representatives, were under discussion in the Senate on the 12th, but no vote was taken, and at the close of the sitting, the House adjourned till February 16. It was generally believed, however, that the Senate would adopt the resolutions. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From this Night's Gazette.) Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, sap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 28th day of February, 1846 ISSUE DEPARTMENT. X. Notes Waned ... 27,015,295 Goveniment debt • • 11,015,100 Other securities .... 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 11,353,065 Silver bullion •.• . . • 1,662,230 £ 27,015,295 1 X 27,015,295 M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the bth day of March, 18 BAWLING X. Proprietors' capital • • 14,553,000 Rest . ..... 3,689,430 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners. of National Debt, Say ings -banks, and Di- vidend accounts).. 6,'46,535 Other deposits . ..... 18,647,068 Seven day and other bills • • • • • • 947,432 A 44,133,645 Dated the stk day of March, l& COURSE OF EXC}I.I Amsterdam .. .. C.F. 12 93 Ditto, at sight ilotterdam ...... 2 U l2 10 Antwerp ..... 26 15 Ilamburgh —MAI. 13 14% A1t0na........ ..... Paris, 3 days' sight .. 25 75 Ditto, 3 months 26 Marseilles • . • . . ..... • Bourdeaux 26 10 Frankfort on Mains.. 122% Petersburgh, 3 U 5.... • • Berlin Vienna, effee. flu .. • • 10 10% Trieste, ditto lO 10% Madrid Cadiz .. • . : ........ 36 Bilbao ................ Barcelona •• •• • • • • •• •• evi11e................ _ pEpARTMEN T. Government securi ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 13,136,440 Other securities .. • • 23,242,035 6,994,485 Gold and silver wilt.. 760,505 44,1.13,464 If. IiARSIIALL, Chief Caabler. LNGE.---(THIS DAY.) Gibraltar........ Leghorn .........• .. • • 30 75 Genoa .. • • .• .......• 26 10 Milan Venice. Naples Palermo, per 0z........ 119% Lisbon... ..... ........ 52% 0p0rt0.... • . Rio Janeiro .......... 24% Bahia Buenos Ayres — New York, 21 days' sight Philadelphia .... • • .... PRIEM OF BULLION, PER OZ. Foreign Gold in bars.. -£3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coln .. 3 17 5 Sew Doubloons New Dollars 0 4 9% Silver in bars IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The Loan CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at ten minutes past five o'clock. IRISH OUTRAGES. Lord FARNHAM presented a petition signed by the High Sheriff and gran d j ur y o f C avan , in favour of the Government measure for protection to lives and property in Ireland. CORN-LAWS. The Earl of CARNARVON presented petititions from Winchester and other places in favour of protection to agricul ture. He had been among the petitioners himself during tl,e last few days, and he could state that they were influenced by very strong feelings on these laws. They were of opinion that the laws affording protection should, in justice to the farmer, be continued, for they feel that the farmer had difficulties to contend with different from those of any other class in so ciety. These difficulties were principally of a natural kind—changeable seasons, frosts, and other casualties, which ne painstaking or intelligent cultivator could by any foresight guard against. They had not as quick returns for their capital as manufacturers had, and they were consequently desirous to have a more fixed and certain remune ration for their industry. They very much deprecated the measure recently introduced into the other House of Parlia ment, which they considered as being neither in conformity with the political sagacity of the Noble Duke, the original policy of the Government, or the opinions of the late Secretary of the Colonies, whom they considered as well qualified as any other Noble Lord to decide what measures were best calculated to be advantageous to the country. PROTECTION OF LIFE (IRELAND BILL).' Lord BROUGHAM wished to make an observation on the measure about to be introduced by the Noble Earl (St. Ger mans). He thought such a measure should be discussed in the presence of his Noble and Learned Friend the Lord Chief Justice. It was impossible for the Noble and Learned Lord to be in town till Saturday, and he could then remain till Monday evening. The Earl of WICKLOW said his Noble and Learned Friend had appointed this day for the discussion of the Bill ; but now it appeared that the Lord Chief Justice would not be in town till Monday. The LORD CHANCELLOR thought it was necessary that the opinions of the Lord Chief Justice should - be known on such a measure. Earl ST. GERMANS was in the hands of the House. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought that the recom mittal of the Bill would enable the Lord Chief Justice to ex press his opinions. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he would propose that the duration of the Bill should be limited to five years. Indeed he thought that even that period would be too long, and he would rather prefer that it should be for only one year. It was a measure of a very strong character, arid one, the working of which they could form no opinion of whatever. Upon the duration of the Bill would entirely depend whether he should form one of the Committee. Earl GREY said it wouleibetg7es.t inconvenience to many Noble Lords to have this measure postponed. No doubt it would be very desirable to have the assistance of the Lord Chief Justice; but as that could be had in the future stages of the Bill, it would be well to proceed now, as he was desirous of bringing on his amendments. Earl St. GERMANS said he was quite wite willing to adopt that course. He would first proceed to state the amendments proposed by her Majesty's Government, seriatim, and then they could be discussed afterwards. One amendment he had to propose was one suggested by a Noble Friend of his, a Member of the other House, Lord Clements, which was, that the Act should have a retrospective effect; that was to say, that in all cases of districts now under a state of proclamation, the Lord Lieutenant would leave it in his power to charge the expenses incurred by such proclamation upou that district. This would have the ef fect of enforcing a pecuniary penalty upon any district in a state of disturbance. The next clause was one to limit the duration of the Act :—" And be it enacted, thar this Act shall continue and be in force for five years from and after the passing thereof, and to the end of the then next sessien of Parliament, and may be amended or repealed by any Act to be passed in the present session of Parliament." It was intended also, that a petty sessions should be held in the disturbed districts, at least once in every week. He would now pro ceed to the amendments proposed by the Lord Chief Justice —the first of those related that no proclamation should be i'sued, unless the requirement to the Lord Lieutenant were signed by , three acting justices of the peace. ttnheaeetdti needlessly ly in the county. He (Earl St. Germans) thought it would be desirable that the whole responsibility of these proclamations should rest on the Executive Government. He considered ' re Executive quir ed tGoopvlearenemtheenmt themselves ehloviedsdi in o a t s screen f considerable itself behin d p h erso a n u a t l h d o a ri n t g y er e: so any me on v e re , vi a s n io d that magistrates should i be the delay occasioned in theanissuaii did not e m no i f g th t ese pinrsoeerltaemattoiornes but y h w e as d n id ec n e o s t sar c y o . ncek conceive y propose d t m o ent to a greater extent adopt the amendment of the Noble and Learned Lord in this instance or to introduce any other in its room. LORDS' SUF - RY. The Lonn CHANCELLOR took his seat ou the woolsack at Five o'clock. After the presentation of petitions, The ran of ST. GERMANS moved the Committee on the Irish Pacification hill, and explained the nature of various amendments which it was intended to pro pose in Co.nmittee ; among these was one limit ing the duration of the Act to five years. With regard to the amendment proposed by Earl GREY he could not consent to it. The punishment of all others most dreaded by the Irish was transportation, and one exAmple of summary transportation would produce Inure effect than many examples of imprisonment; and it should be remem bered that they were now about to apply an extrarordinary remedy to our extraordinary state of things. They could not detect criminals, and, therefore, they were bound to prevent crime by preventing persons being abroad after nightfall. The Noble Earl then quoted the opinion of Mr. O'CoNNELL in 1834, as to the necessity of some law to prevent persons being out after nightfall. The object was, to get at those concerning whose guilt there could be no moral doubt, but against whom persons refused to give evidence. Besides, the power of awarding punishment was left to the judge, and it was impossible to doubt that he would exer cise a proper discretion. He believed that nothing short of the proposed measure would meet the exigtneta of fire case, and he knew that several persons connected 4h Ireland considered that it did not go far enough. (LEFT SITTING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes before Four o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were ,feverally read a second time, and ordered to be committed, v iz.:— Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway. Rye and Derwent Drainage. Heywood Waterworks. Leicester and Tatnworth Junction Railway. Enfield Chase Road. _ Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway, and Port, &c. of Goole. Welsh Charity School Incorporation. Creat Grimsby Gas Stafford New Gas Rugby, Leamington, and Warwick Railway S4uth - -Eastern Railway, No. 7 ( Ashford Stations Enlargement) Monmouth and Hereford Railway London and Brighton and London and Croydon Railways . . Consolidation Alonkland and Kirkintilloch Railway London and Oxford Railway Eastern Counties Railway (Epping Extension) Air. NEWDEGATE moved the first reading of the Man chester Direct Railway Bill, which was ordered to be read a second time. Mr. KEMBLE moved that the order for the second read ing of the Mitcham and South-Western Railway Bill, on Monday, March 2, be made an order of the day for Monday, March 9, and that the Bill may be read a second time accord ingly, on that day.— Motion agreed to. Mr. WILSON FATTEN moved that the Scottish Grand Junction Railway Bill, new placed in Group No. 5, be re• ferred to the Chairman of Ways and Means, and the Members ordered to prepare and bring in the Bill. The motion was agreed to. Mr. GREENE also moved, that the second readings of the following 13111 s, notice for which has been given in the Private Bill Office for Friday the 6th day of this instant March, be made orders of the day fer Monday next, the 9th day of this instant March. Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham Rail way Bill ; London and Birmingham Railway aid Birmingham Canal Arrangements Bill ; Eastern Union Railway (Ardleigh to Colchester) Bill. The motion was agreed to. Mr. BUSFIELD presented petitions from places in York• shire, signed by upwards of 9,000 individuals, against the en rolment of the militia. A Petition was presented from the Poor-law Guardians of the parish of Caistey, remonstrating against the interference of the oor-law Commissioners in their partah. Colonel T. WOOD presented a petition very numerously signed by the inhabitants of Chelsea, expressing their satisfac tion at the proposed measure of the (invernment, and at the same time stating their belief that the measure would be materially improved if it included the total and immediate re peal of the corn-laws. Mr. WARD presented a petition, signed by the Lord Mayor and council of the city of York, and also by 15,000 of the principal inhabitants, against the enrolment of the militia. Mr. T. DUNCO.NIBE paesented several petitions against the enrolment of the militia. Mr. ESTCOUR.T brought up the report of the Standing Orders Committee. _ _ Mr. BRIGHT presented several petitions from the county of Somerset, prayirag fm an immediate repeal of the corn-laws, Mr. HUDSON presented a petition from some place, the name of which did not reach us, in favour of protection. Mr. YOUNG moved that the speaker do make out his warrant, for the election of a burgess to serve in the present Parliament in the room of the Hononrnble Thomas Carnegie, who had accepted th e office of one of the Lords of the Treasury PROTECTION TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. - _ Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from Clare, in favour of the Government measure of affording better Protection to Life and Property in Ireland. THE LEICESTER AND TAMWORTH RAILWAY. Sir ROBERT PEEL presented a peiition from the mayor and inhabitants of Tamworth, in favour of this railway, THE TIMBER DUTIES. Sir ROBERT PEEL presented a petition from the port of Sunderland, signed by one hundred and forty-four shipowners, in favour of the •proposed reduction of the timber duties. The petitioners were not partners in any Joint Stock Com pany, but individual shipowners, and stated that the proposed reduction of the ditty on Baltic timber would be of the greatest importance, as it sv ould enable them to compete with foreign shipowners in the ;building of vessels. They not only prayed the House to reduce the duty, but to abolish it altogether— ( Hear, hear,)—as they considered that such a step would not injure the Canadian trade.—(Cheers. ) LONDON AND OXFORD. A petition was presented in favour of this railway. Mr. NEWDEGATE (in the absence of Mr. Spooner) moved that the petition of Joshua Tournlin Smith, presented yester day, be printed with the votes.—Agreed to. AMALGAMATION OF RAILWAYS. Mr. \V. FATTEN said he had been directed to make an inquiry from the Vice-President of the Board of Trade with respect to the very impottant question of the amalgamation of existing railway companies. The railway Committee of which he was a Member experienced great difficulty in the cases of amalgamation which came before them. He was in• duced to ask the question which he was about to put to the flight Honourable Gentleman, not only for the purpose i subm itted t e h a d f directed forthe settlement enlightening the railw a y co mmittees, gut also the public at large ; because it was on e whi ch involved circumstances of a very serious nature. H e wishe d , then, to know whether the Government intended taking any measure this session with the v i ew o f sett li ng the different amalga mat i on Bill s now b efore Parliament. The him Co to p put tf the e question before they proceede e d any urther with the su bj ec t. q O u n e e st o io f n t ; wo bu p t he thought had been thought he might stat e th at t h e op i n i on of the committees was that a q ues tion of such vast importance to the eountry would be much m ore satisfactorily determined upon by the Governme nt, and if not by them at least by some Select Committee to be a pp ointe d by the House. He there forent wished to ask the Government whether they intended taking any step in the matter? Sir GEORGE CLERK said that the question of the amal gamation of existing railroads had been fully considered by the Railway Department of the Board of Trade last year ; and one of the reports which they presented to the House was devoted exclusively to this. subject. In that report they laid down general rules under which such amalgamation should be permitted. In every instance the amalgamation of existing railroads was permitted, because where the railways proposed to be amalgamated lay in the same direct line, the public would be advantaged by the traffic being carried throughout the whn'e length of those lines under the same manage ment. But, on the other hand, it would be depriving the public of the benefit of competition, if railroads that ran parallel to each other were permitted.—(Hear., hear.) He did not know whether, as a general principle, amalgamation should be permitted or not; but he was of opiuion that it would be extremely inconvenient that where amalgamations were proposed to take place, that they should be referred to the same Committee as those which sat on separate bil.s . In ge neral, those amalgamation bills were not opposed; they came before the Committee as unopposed bills, and the attention of Committee was given to bills hat were opposed. He thought in consequence that all those Bills should be referred to the same Committee, who should take care that no amalgamation took place which would not be for the benefit of the public. Sir G. GREY wished to know whether the Government would propose, as the Committees were now about to sit on Railway Bills, any suggestions for their guidance (as we un derstood) respecting the broad and narrow gauge. Sir GEORGE CLERK said that he had half an hour ago, seen the parallel evidence, and that he hoped in a week or fortnight to lay it before the House. After a few words from Mr. BARING and Sir GEORGE CLERK, which we could not catch, Mr. F. MAULE said that many of the Bills would not at tract the attention of the Committee at all with respect to amalgamation. PENSIONS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN INDIA. Sir V. BLAKE begged to put a question to the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government, the purport of which was understood was to inquire whether the Ministry were at all likely to bring in a Bill for providing pensions far those individuals who lost their employment after long service. If net, he should himself bring in a Bill for giving a pension of 751, s year to all those who have filled prin cipal situations after twenty years duty. Sir ROBERT PEEL .was really not aware the Hon. Baronet was going to ask such a question. Ile had not given any notice—at least it did rot stand for to-day—(Cries of " No, no")—er he would have taken care to have provid e d himself with the information on the sub ject. The Hon. Baronet was quite competent to bring in a Bill if he thought proper, or if he chose to put a notice on the paper, he would be prepared to give a reply on a future day. Sir JAMES GRAHAM moved the second reading of the Turnpike Roads ( Scotland) Bill, in order to have it postponed for ten days, in consequence of the absence of the Lord Ad vocate. FAMINE IN IRELAND. Mr. O'CONNELL rose to call the attention of the House to a letter which he had reeeivad from a Cath olic clergyma n , d e - Hon. Aie m 23 had o f Queen's h ertels P tailing the misery which existed in his parish. '1 he gentle man detailed that in his whole district there were 1,222 feral lies, comprising 7,332 individuals ; of these , 72 f amilies had six months' provisions, 16 had four, 184 h ad three, 4l had two-and-a-half, 2 18 had two, 87 had six Countys7 Sir John t en , 32 had one, and 309 were without any provision at all. He was sorry 200 the had four, Charles Coote) than whom a better land lord did not exist,te'e because he . could be able to corrobate intelligence which he (Mr. O'Connell) had received from that part of Ireland, that half of the potatoe crop of his tenants had been utterly de stroyed, and that they were compelled t o subsist as they best could, en the indifferent portion left, and on the charity of their friends and neighbours. PriOTECTION TO LIFE AND PROPERTY IN IRELAND. Mr. ROSS presented a petition from Antrim, in favour of the Government measure for affording better security to lite and property in Ireland. SUPPLY. Lord INGESTRE asked when the Government proposed to move f,r a Committee of Supply ? Sir R. PEEL . said, the Government would be entirely guided by the length to which the discussion on the Govern ment measures might extend this evening. THE GOVERNMENT MEA SURES.—ADJOURNED DEBATE. The llonse then went into Committee on the Customs and Corn Importation Acts. Mr. W. 0. STANLEY rose to propose the following amendment to the propositions of the Gove rnment :—" That in lieu of the duties now payable on the importation of corn, grain, meal, or flour, the product of foreign countries, there shall be paid a fixed duty of ss. per quarter upon wheat, 2s. 6d. on barley, and 2s. on oats*; meal and dour in proportir n." He said, although he represented a purely agricultural county (Anglesey) he had not yet thought proper to trespass on the attention of the House; snd iu noN stating the grounds on 3 which he had thought proper to propose this amendmen:, Pe Rhould not occupy much time. Before he did so he had paid i the utmost attention to the observatnms which had fallen from Hen. Members on both sides of the House, but their ob servations had tot in the least shaken the opinions which he had always maintained. In his estimation the the proposition of the Government were just, and would con fer great benefit on the country. He would say, in the words w,th which the Noble Lot 11 the Member for the City of Lon don conclu,,ed his last address to the House:—•' I think the interests of the country deeply involved in the immediate, com plete, and tranquil settlement of this question." He cordially agreed in these sentiments. It was most important to the best interests of the country, that the question of the corn laws should be set at rest, and that it should be effected immediately, completely, and in a tranquil manner. No person could say that the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet if passed into a law would be a tranquil settlement of the question ; and with reference to an immediate settlement of the question the recorded votes of that House had declared that it should not be immediate. Neither is it a complete set tlement, and as a proof that it is not a tranquil settlement he would refer the House to what had been stated by several Hors. Members in the course of the debate. The Hon. Member for Durham (Mr. Bright) end the Hon. Membev e for Wolverhampton (Mr. Villiers) said they would agitate th question, year after year, so long as the duty remained on foreign corn. He would resat to the recollection of the House the speeches of Hon. Members on the Opposition benches. The Noble Lord the Member for Lynne (Lord G. Bentinek) said that he would vote for the proposition of the Right Hon. Baronet, because in the course of three years there must be a general election, and that period would give them an opportunity of reorganising their forces, and of raising such a cry in the country as would compel the Government to seseind those measures if they should he passed. No one, then, could think the present a tranquil settlement ; he therefore proposed an alteration in the proposition of Government, which he thought wculd be a complete settlement of the question. He felt assured that the country would be satisfied with a moderate fined duty ; a duty of that kind would improve the revenue and would not injure the interests of the consumer. He had the auth*rof the Noble Lord, the Member for the City of Lon113111is;" stated that a fixed duty of five shillings would , : • ,111 price of foreign corn to the consumer more tha • - g4 The Right Honourable Baronet at the head of se,Govern-. ment had stated in his first proposition to the Houle - ;cthat,the, principle which he recommended he was not about to confine to any particular class or interest. Now,_ upon many other important articles of manufacture, such as cotton, linen, leather, and cheese, the Right Honourable Gentleman de clared it was his intention to reduce the duty ten per cent. On that principle he (Mr. Stanley) proposed that a moderate duty of ss. on wheat, 2s. on barley, and Is. 6d. en oats, per quarter, should be laid on these ar ticles. Another reason he had for proposing the duty was, that, while it would not hurt the consumer, it would be of great advantage to the agriculturist. He appealed to the Right Hon. Gentleman, and begged to ask him why, in the face of all he had stated, and with the power he possessed of judging of the state of the country, as First Minister he felt justified in pro posing in the present instance a 4s. duty to be levied on home consumption, while after the lapse of three years foreign corn would be admitted free. It would be but justice to the agri culturists that when the duty on manufactured articles should cease the duty on agriculture should cease also. That was the reason he felt it his duty, though he, calculated en very little support, to introduce the present measure to the House, and call upon Hon. Members to deal with it as might be deemed worthy. The Hon. Members on the other aide of the House deceived themselves, and they should pause before they ventured en such a step as to throw the country into a state of tumult and agitation by a general election. They would have to array their forces against the League, and:such an operation would be attended with some difficulty, for if their proposition were carried out it would disarm their friends. He had no wish to go into the comparative merits of a fixed duty on the sliding scale, it would be quite sufficient for him to submit his present postponement to the House. If be did so, he must ne cessarily go over ground that had often been traversed before, and he certainly did think that it was for the interest of the country that there should be a complete and final settlement of this question. The SPEAKER having put the question, Colonel WOOD said that he, like the Hon. Gentleman op posite, had not as yet taken any part in this debate, and he would therefore now trespass on the attention of the House for a very short time.--(Hear, hear.) He would venture to say that the delay in the settlement of this question had caused most serious results to the poorer classes and the country at large. He was acquainted with a certain extensive miller who now, in consequence of the delay of the settlement of the Right Honourable Baronet's measure, did not purchase one farthing-worth corn more than what would just keep his mill going. All parties connected with the agricul tural interest were also suffering most seriously from this delay. The small tenant farmers, about whom Hon. Members pro fessed to take so much interest, suffered the most seriously ; and the large farmers next. Lady Day was fast approaching, and the small tenant farmers must prepare for the payment of their rent on that day, by the disposal of the little wheat which yet remained to them ; and he had no hesitation in saying, that they were now losing three to four shillings upon every quarter of wheat, by reason of the present suspension of trade and his fi rm belief was, that upon the settlement of this question, the price of corn would either rise or fall to an awful ex tent. '1 he present suspence in the corn trade was productive of the most serious results to the small tenant farmers, and now for the large tenant-farmers. He believed that in consequence of the present ministerial proposal the duty on the importation of foreign corn had risen, and was up to the present day 18s. per quarter. S. S. Thullusson. Esq., b Captain ; F. A. Lang Gent., to be Lienteuant, I eb. 28. Commi.si,ins by th 4 Lord Lirmten.a:lt 11e , .ife;..-'l7,h ire. Bedfordshire Regiment of Militia—J. 11. ET, to be Captain, vice J. H. Campbell, resigned, Feb. 21 ; C. H. Smith, Esq., to be captain, vice W. Stuart, resigned, Feb. 23; Adjutant T. J. Smith to the rank of Captain, Feb. 7; Ensign William Copland Redmond Judd to be Lieutenant, vice Blacket Robf , rt Harrison, resigned, Feb. 20; W. C. Cooper, Gent. to be Lieutenant, vice F. Polhill, re signed, Feb. 21 ; W. H. Alderney, Gent. to be Lieutenant, vice J. B. Osborn, resigned, Feb. 23 ; W. K. Browne. Gent. to be Lieutenant, Feb. 24 ; J. Lowden, Gent., to be Ensign, vice W. C. R. Judd, promoted, Feb. 20 ; G. Ledger, Gent. to be Ensign, vice H. F. Alston, resigned, Feb. 21; C. Lindsell, Gent., to be Ensign, Feb. 28. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Dorsetshire. Queen's Own Dorset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry— Cornet H. G. Stud to be Lieutenant, vice Smith, resigned, Feb. 25. COMMONS' SUMMARY. The SPXAKER tool the chair at Four o'clock. Several Railway Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Colonel Titona.9 WOOD presented a petition from Chelsea, for the total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. Several petitions of a similar nature were also presented, as were petitions against the embadiment of the militia. A new writ was ordered for Stafford, in the room of the Hon. Swynfen Thomas Carnigie, who, since his election, had accepted the oViee of one of the Lores of the Treasury. In answer to a question from ➢lr. WitsoN ParrEN, rela tive to the amalgamation of railways, Sir G. CLEuK said it was considered expedient by the Government, that all propositions for amalgamation should be referred to the stuns Committee. The Right Hon. Baronet, in answer to a question from Sir G. GREY, said the evidence taken before the Gauge Com mission would be laid on the table during the course of next week. The Railway Deposit Bill was brought in, read a first, and ordered to be read. a second time. The second reading of the Turnpike Roads (Scotland) Bill was adjourned for a fortnight, in consequence of the absence of the Lord Advocate. A motion was made for that purpose, it was agreed that the House at its rising should adjourn to Monday. In answer to a question from Lord INGESTIVE, Sir R. PEEL stated that at the conclusion of the discussion this evening, he would state when it was his intention to pro ceed with the Conienittee of Supply. The House then :resolved itself into a Committee of Supply on the Corn and Customs Importation measures, and Mr. W. O. STANLEY, pursuant to notice, moved as an amendment to Sir R. PEEL'S plan, that in lieu of the duty now payable on the importation of earn, grain, meal, or flour, the product of foreign countries, there shall be paid a fixed duty of ss. per quarter upoa wheat, 2s. 6d. on barley, 2s. on oats, and meal and flour in proportion. Captain WooD deprecated the delay NI hich had taken place with respect to this subject, believing it to be in jurious to the tenant farmer, and also to the poor as it prevented some decision being come to with respect to the law of settlement. He would vote against the amend ment, and against any proposition that was calculated to protract the carrying of the measures proposed by the Right lion. Baronet at the head of the Government. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN would not vote upon the propo sition of the Hon. Member for Anglesea. (Lwr sirriNa.) THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MARCU 6,184 G. His Royal Highness Prince Albert has been pleased to appoint—Lieutenant-Colonel Wylde, C. 8., to be Groom of the Bedchamber, in the room of General Sir George Anson, G.C.8., resi g ned ; General Sir George Anson to be Extra Groom of the Bedchamber; Captain the lion. Alexander Gordon, Grenadier Guards to be Equerry, in the room of Lieutenant-Colonel Wylde, resigned; Lieutenant-Colonel F. Hugh Seymour, Scots' Fusilier Guards, to be Equerry, in the room of Major-General Sir Edward &water, resigned. ADMIRALTY, Manctt 5. With reference to the successful engagement at Punta Obligado, by the combined English and French naval forces, as detailed in the Supplement of the Gazette of the 27th ultimo, the following naval promotions have taken pla c e, dated the 18th Nov., 1843, the day of the Action, viz.:— To be Captain. Commander Bartholomew J. Sulivan. To be Commanders. Acting Commander Edward A. Inglefield. Lieutenant Reginald J. T. Levinge. Lieutenant Charles F. Doyle. Lieutenant Astley Cooper Key. To be Gunner. Richard Rowe, Gunner's Mate. The Board haire also directed that Walter Ross, Caulker's Mate, shall be advanced to be a Warrant Officer, on his pass ing toe required examination. ADMIRALTY ,Mar.cn 3. Report of casualties that occurred in the squadron under the command of Captain Charles Hotham, while taking and destroying the batteries, &c. at Point Obligado, in the River Parana, on Nov. 20, 1845. steam-ship Gorgon. Killed—None. Wounded—T. Jerrett, boy, slightly; A. Wilson, stoker, slightly; G. Simon, marine, slightly. H. M. Steam-ship Firebrand. Killed—Thomas Tilley, seaman. Wounded—Henry Outfit], seaman, severely. 1-1. M. Surveying-vessel Ph ilomel. Killed-George Poly bl an k, captain's cockswain. Wounded—Lieutenant Charles Doyle, dangerously; James Raymond, captain of forecastle. severely; John Cummings, seaman, severely; Charles Williams, boy, severely; John Temp:email, seaman, slightly ; Samuel Lee, quartermaster, MM. Sloop Comus. killed—Lieutenant Charles Brickdale ; William Ogden ' 'boy. Wounded-IV. L ca th ercote, quarter . master, slightly; John Daly, gunner's mate, slightly. H M. Brigantine Dolphin. Killed—Mr. George Andrews, clerk in charge; John Nash, captain of main top ; Francis Collier, seaman ; John Wil son (2), seaman ; George Girvan, boy. Wounded—Mr. R. Warren, second master, slightly ; Mr. John Gallager, assistant surgeon, slightly; Mr. T. Elstob, assistant clerk, slightly ; William Marsham, seaman, severely ; Robert Wiggins, seaman, severely ; Richard Rowe, gunners mate, severely ; William Brewster, seaman, severely ; John Wilson (1), seaman, severely; Walter Ross, caulker's mate, severely; Andrew Tait, seaman, slightly; Thomas Hooper, seaman, slightly. Tender Fanny. Killed—None. Wounded —Lieutenant A. C. Key, slightly. _ 11. Commissions by th e Lord-Lieutena n t of the .West• aidin ß g of Yorkshire. Second Regiment of West York Militia—J. H. D'Arcey Hutton, EN., to be Captain, vice Sir G. Armytage, Bart., who retires, Feb. 28. Third Regt. of Wtst York Militia.—J. Barnett, Esq., to be Lieutenant -Colonel, Vice F. Dacre, who retires ; Cap tain C. Stapleton to be Major, vice Lord Feversham, wuo retires ; W. Stainforth, Esq., to be Captain ; J. S. M'Adann, Esq., to be C a pt a i n ; W. epworth, Esq., to be Captain ; Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. -- -- X s. d. X s. d. Australasia ........ •• 61. per cent. 40 0 0 40 0 0 2634 Britslthorth American Si. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 453, Commercial of London Si. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 23 ';olonial . • •. • ........ 51. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 16 Londe and Westminstr Si. per cent. 100 U 0 20 0 0 26% London Joint-Stock .•• Cl. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 Metropolitan - 25 0 0 710 0 Provincial of Ireland.. 81. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 49 Ditto, New. •••• • . .. 81. per cent. 10 0 0 10 0 0 17 2 National of Ireland .. 51. per cent. 50 0 0 20 0 0 18 Nat. l'rovncial of Eng. 51. per cent. 100 0 0 35 0 0 3534 Ditto, New. ••• • - - 51. per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 Union of Australia.... , 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 26% Union of London. -- ! 51. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 12 INSURANCE COMPANIES. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price Annum. Share. £ a. d. £ s. 4. Albion .•••••• • • • • • • • 3/. 101 500 0 0 50 0 0 74 Alliance Brit. and For. 6 per cent. 100 0 0 11 0 0 193 Ditto Marine. ••. • • • 61. per cent, 100 0 0 5 0 0 6% Atlas . • British Commercial .. 7s. per share 50 0 0 5 0 0 7% Cleriel,Med.&Gen.Life 51. per cent. 100 0 0 210 0 6% County - - .... -•• • . 31. 100 0 0 10 0 0 Grown •. • ....... •• •• 10s. 50 9 0 5 0 0 - !Cagle . 63. SO 0 0 5 0 0 53( Economic Life. • • ..... [lP: o r s t"l 1000 0 0 250 0 0 Eng. & Scat. Law • • European Lite .. •• • • 534 per cent. 20 0 0 All paid. 20 Freemasons' ..• •••• - • • 5/. per cent. 20 0 0 3 0 0 Globe - 13$ Guardian •• • • ... ••• • • 5/. per cent. 100 0 0 36 10 0 50 imperial Fire •••• • • • • 6/. and bonus 500 0 0 50 0 0 240 Imperial Life ........ 12s. 100 0 0 10 0 0 16% Indemnity Marine... • 1/. sh. & be. 100 0 0 613 1 29 Law Life •.. ... 11. ss. 100 II 0 10 0 0 51 Legal and General Life - 50 0 0 20 0 6% London Fire ........ 10s. 25 0012 10 0 1534 London Ship .... - - 105. 25 0 0 12 10 0 1534 Marino.. ..... •. • • 51. per cent. 100 9 0 15 0 0 10% Med. Invlid & Gen. Life 4351. per ct . 50 0 0 20 0 3 National Loan Fund.. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 210 0 234 National Life.. • Palladium Life ...... • Phoenix .. .. - - 205 Protector Life.... ... 5/. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 11. 4s. Provident Life........ 1/. ss. 100 0 0 10 0 0 23 Rock Life............ 4s. 50 0 010 0 434 • Royal Exchange 5/. per cent. Stock. - 180 Sun Fire... . - - 210 Ditto Life . • . 11. 6s. - - 49 Universal Life . --- - DOMES. Dividend I Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. Commercial A s. d. ~., ..... 31. per cent. ! Stock. - East and West India... 61. pr cent. ! Stock. - 139 East Country ... 1/. per sh. 'lOO 0 0 - 21 L mdon . . - 116 St Katharine ........ 5 per cent. I Stock. - 105 Southampton •• • • .... 41, per cent. ;50 0 0, 50 0 0 30 WILTER.AITORES Dividend Amount Name of Company. , per of I Paid. Price. Annum. Share. - - A e, d. Kant L0nd0n.......... ' $l. 100 0 0 ' - I 215 Grand Junction ...... , 21. 10s. 41 13 4 • - 90 Kent ................ i 2/. 10s. 100 0 0 1 - 65 Vauxhall - - ........ 51. per cent. 100 0 0 1 - 67 West Middlesex -- - SI. ss. pr cut. 63 12 9 ' - 130 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 5. THE ANDOV Lit UNION. Mr. ET WALL rose to move for a Committee of inquiry into the working of the poor-laws in the Andover Union. He was certain that it was the feeling of that House that the poor laws should be administered fairly, impartially, and kindly, and that the unfortunate inmates of such asylums should be treated with kindness and in dulgence.—(Hear, hear.) He felt certain that there was no hope for the poor, nor did they expect a redress of grievances from any quarter, save from that House. The Hon. Member then proceeded to read some extracts from the minutes of the proceedings before the Poor law Commissioners at Andover, but, in consequence of the perpetual hum of conversation carried on in ali parts of the House, it was impossible to catch even the purport of the extracts. He was afterwards under stocd to say, that the Commissioners during their inquiries evinced the greatest anxiety to de prive the public of the benefit of their proceedings. He would nut touch further upon the subject, but it ap peared to him that the Poor-law Commissioners took great pains to keep the public !roar knowing the result of their iuquiries, and if they were desirous of administering the law in a way which would be becoming to them, surely it was their duty to make themselves perfectly familiar with the characters of their officers and depen dents. The late master of the Andover Union, who had been discharged, had received an excellent cha racter from Mr. Parker, a Poor-law Commissioner. He hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet would, in all future investigations respecting the poor-law, see that they were presided over by impartial persons, and by judges in no way mixed up with the administration of the law. He could not but feel surprise that the papers connec ted with theAndovercase had not been presented earlier. The bones, which were seized with so much avidity by ' the paupers, had lain in a state of decomposition in the workhouse yard for two or three months. There was no such instance of ill-treatment of the poor on record as that I one. which occurred at this union. When anew bone was three% it' to tho are, there ee. general cieseiblei fur it ; ° n et man, 10 one instance, had been iertunete enough te fr o two bones, and he had to seeenFer off with them after r manner of a clog.—(Hear, hear.) The poor peopelell, appeared from the evidence, were a long while b ler they could eat the filthy marrow out of the bones._ Ail the witnesses at the inquiry stated that there was . awful deficiency er bread. Mr. Mundy stated that the paupers were accustomed to eat potatoes whichieesr: dug out of the ground after the first crop. -11 , 1 ,,„, paupers were employed in carrying weights, from I),S to 201b5., and feeling that the labour to which they were subjected was more than their strength could W ise *" they had applied to the master for an increase to their allowance of food. Now this was in direct contradiction to the rules of the Commissioners , an d 1;0 were the paupers placed in such a position, that either their health must suffer, or the rw of the Commissioners be violated. This W itte had been brought under his notice during t h e last thr e : or four years ;fur about the beginning of that tinre id new church was begun to be built on the site of an a, ry" During the progress of laying the folio_ ,ton-stone, a great number of bones had been , moved. Part of the se had been sold to the us collector of bones in Andover, of whom, the, had been purchased by many of the farmers in be neighbourhosd, but a large portion was carried tc_.!..k workhouse, where the paupers were employed •to them. It was easy to perceive the difference between ur; human bones and the bones of horses. Nothing ar's'es. revolting could have been imposed upon the illaraere 'The witnesses collected for the board's collected by the master of the workhouse. B e P u g notice was given of the inquiry, and be Etwall) was in a condition to prove that % is of the persons examined were constrained these nesses on the occasion. If such matters al l'en were allowed to pass over, there was no knowing the system would eed; and therefore he felt it neees 7 . to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the no ing of the system of poor-laws.—(Hear, hear.) 0 would not go into the details of the second cas e, tee"rsof the object of his motion was not to disgrace the Al do the union, but merely to call the attention asol House to the subject. The gentleman w ho fot these inquiries to be brought forward had bee!; 00, some years the medical attendant in the lumA He was elected in March, 1842, and receino higher salary than was usually given. F or two ri c k Mr. Westlake had suspected that the aged and 5 0 1, paupers id not receive the full allowance allotted to tbset and in April, 1844, he suggested to the board of gu s tok , that these allowances should Ise entered insoo It might be asked, why did not Mr. Westlak e 'li k e, the board of guardians of what he suspected, but t 0 was every allowance to be made for his not doing sec'or ho alleged as his reason that, until he had a strougiotO vincin_ case to lay before them, it would be impose! 'oin. persuade the Board of the correctness of his stoP le ,,;,ol He should rather consider it was the duty of the ri re i of guardians to look into the allegations Fre e of against the ina.ter, and not have shown such a n an ere to avoid inquiry. Ile could quote numerous ins ";bl of hardship committed on the unfortunate panrr f to the servants of the Commissioners—he v vould re e s ti , the ca ,e of William Lawless, an old man, age d ° Ye bee six years, and twenty-one days in the workhousejpo was charged with all those little extras of tea 11 0 ' o f. forth, to which he was entitled without anY old There was also the case of William Norris, all l oc he& nearly blind, who was set to the work of able. ..riog men, and who chopped his own hands in endessloolt to perform it. He would also allude to the case of Doi Webster, who was charged with extras which 0 1,00, received, and to which she was entitled. Now, " a, sea frauds were practised upen the poor, simple, ag e o ia . infirm paupers, they surely ought to consent t O , O O quiry, with the view of preventing such WI bP future. But he found that those free boa been committed, and the paupers b ad ge l ; defrauded at the expense of the ra te oa r - There was a certain number of paupers vibe r , / broth on certain days of the week, but w hen ts e la the broth they were allowed no cheese; and tbeci et and infirm, when they received the broth, ba d %elf beer nor cheese. He was not quite aware of gredients of which this broth was made, for ther e , 4o oo many things of which the paupers in this egi r .;ntie‘ i partook which was a perfect mystery. Large cl u. n r, of the butter allowed were saved by the skni t be' the bacon pot, and sometimes they were treated 001 water, and as a luxury were occasionally alloWe e . 01 0 salt. He found, on reference to the books, that ,i rl „, s e_ the quarters the paupers had been put onbalf Or„, and it had been reduced as much as oz. of urea for t is whether it was 2 oz. or 1 oz. it was immaterialyioBol' only object was to show tha, there was a great r rosi racy in the master's books, which was altogetheeeltli over in the Commissioner's report. At everi A to ld meeting of the guardians the master was boon ii before the board an estimate of the stock of P e ir ° ll ° required for the ensuing week, for which a CheCl, ho be given by the clerk and entered in the oliec- e eer New the check books were never filled up until tbeosts after the goods were delivered and consum e , :be s t` was one fraud arose out of that practice which li e 001 mention. The teas and sugars sent to the Igo r 01 1 were made up in parcels of halt a pound each' f she was not unusual for the master to return rose.% tiew' parcels, and get them exchanged for better descrico.) which he converted to his own purposes.—(fl egr 'D sr There was also another species of peculation. 7010 petered that out of 901bs. of Chedder cheese, 014064 1 ea were converted to the purposes of the union• h.p r enud to be a man named Watt wh o was en I P:0 0 at the union, and this man, when his day's w2 r ipeel l over, went home to his family, and said that he the inmates of the workhouse eating raw rtat e o lsr i boardneighbour of the m a n h e a r d the s tory, and it -- abroad until it reached the ears of the 0 01" 11 guardians. The ma was summoned before the ashen, on being spoken t o , he confirmed his 5t5 estbs Ile was then told that he wtfuld be employ ed ilt bod i t union no longer, and that if he w,„,ted relie f he °rota go into the house and eat raw potat.es with the , o er, the paupers. He had never witnessed a mat e _ A e ln divary state of irregularity than was exh ibl 7e oo ;,, manner in which these accounts had been keP t ; virte, had received sums varying from ss. to 125. ' ° ",, s cie, h , attendances, for which no accounts had been r " of Nothing was more detrimental to the charaeteroes) Poor-law Commissioners than these frequent ebss'sbil' cruelty and incompetency. He trusted that a e t e ter ; investigation would be instituted into the ru a ,; o t;. he could assure the House that nothing but 8 64 11 '00 1 ' of the important nature of these charges could, t o, duced him to undertake his present disagreeable e t IP Sir JAMES GRAHAM confessed he c alci t e poll regretting that under the present aspect ;i e nse tbo ti l affairs, se much of the precious time of the no been consumed in a matter, which after all 'ga s p tej _ s better than a workhouse squabble.—(Cheer e iG e ntlesl be his duty very briefly to follow the Hon• with reference to some of the statements , ^ 4 %, Per o ; been advanced with reference to the affair' 4 , o lf oa e tt action had some time since been stated to 1 , " 0 0 which at the time left a very strong inwress i l e p 0751( feelings with respect to th e em pl o y m ent of t "ile . Al the crushing of bones at Andover Union. ~4 salt James Graham) had in his place expressed barn objections to the poor being employed in that 71- 01 kind of labour, and his regret that it s hould oie l i o put in force in so many Unions. When this P sit 4 s transaction had been mentioned, he had tb o iio v olo duty to call the attention of the poor-law ee eij i is egl, to the subject. The Hon. Member who bad t he 'Sot present motion, had reterred to the report oi. r e l e r go , missioners in 1833, in which they stated theijd betise the species of labour in which the poor sh° ost at ploy-ed. He (Sir James Graham) thouetredielsr labour of the pauper should not be of d e6 t he 6 "1 0 0 revolting character. So far from vindicating A o pio o actions at Andover, his previously conceiselegiser:ds had been strengthened. He had now the P, t herse stating to the House that by a general order oi oett er is law Commissioners, notwithstanding the r. ge1 : 1 4., of nearly 100 unions, the system of e mplorn,a o Maam e rol bone crushing had been suppressed from the i d a ` the ge t/ te te and, with the exception of 10 or 12 parisbee, , e s y o ,.e order had been maintained, and he trusted .1.9.001, would never be renewed. He begged to cell ;f4 to Lion of the House to this remarkable fee'„ t on ie .d i ft abuses which had been complained of were she the local management. He did not poslsisi to 1? power of controlling the management vih' e st itono t o law Commissioners might think proper to jo b , r ois addition to other objections which Sight, it f e els the employing of paupers in crushing bon% o ,ro mode of labour exposed to many abuses• ef tO S it led to local jobbing; and therefore en . .. s ore r) : whether on account of the objectionable i r- to olu c elf labour itself, or because of the local abuses wo blot led, this method of employing the pauper rinase objeetionable. He had already sta w te a l s o te n t : t fire b 7: o o l ha t effectual measures had been taken to t 5 0 , 5 ( le employment. But bone crushing Gentlecoelosofficii many abuses, of which the Hon. scribed a great number. There was the th e state of the dietary. He (Sir James Gr a o de nod state that a material alteration had bee n ra l.. We t f d dietary, and that during one day in the W e l: oise gt i been substituted. Then, with respect to t i ll: po itste u t he the workhouse at Andover, he bad be en o r not this situation by the poor-law guardian !, f t . / that tCnoemminiasssitoernersil had d Dur s i e n n g t thein prhoigsresrseosignstioo6,o i 0 4, when he had been again called t° pardraitilhe oflice of master by the poor-law order had and had subsequently bean removed hy4 jp i t tios, t he Commissioners. This was not all. A. 't if i ce rs e', 4 0 1 been made of the conduct of the medical.o_. tbe ifl union. In this case it was not doubtful Ur,'.,interl:lo officer hid been to blame, and had i m proP 1 1 . Y been:i o ie th st e ig ls au t !A be; the Amon Poor-law other Ccoomnipmlaisisnitosn:'rhsi,cohnheadwast tri,for to?. of the relieving officers was not sufficient devolve d of e j a quote performance of the duties which a T d l d ie it e in v n il a 11 1 a r de relieving gre officer.medie d He believed ev a e ls e rr ar Eb o e s ; h l; oo l :o l i; mentioned all the objections, with . wh i c h _, bs and that was, the insufficient manner in. of accounts was conducted. During the not thad was of opinion that the audit of account's.. au ditors , o f ficient for the Poor-law Unions. Districe, , isc hargy o f • the full io t a , been appointed, and were now in an the f their functions throughout England; arto ok Andover, as well as other unions, now 13 comeloe had t benefit. de i The n w hHicohn.thGeenstelceomnadn inquiry y l s a e t Aiud d n ol o a c r ot e op a Graham) tie. been conducted. He (Sir James , at i n yes tb s there to vindicate the mode in which theirioo4 or had been conducted. He certainly was .u" 04:01 of displaye d In good judgment had not been say that s he ren ic) i tbe conducting it. He would not se out e r boa mode in which that in , at t he tho le conducted. It would aPPeer tl! oc , of bad Mr. Parker from his situation b a d roe , law Commissioners, in sonSequ7 inquiry into the manner in w t hich _ . tv r;0240 been made, had moldered tboir d itty WHITEHALL, FEB. 28. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Henry Lovibond, of Bridgewater, in the county of Somerset, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. James Shaw, licensed victualler, Marquis-court, Drury lane. John Hawkins, butcher, Hurst, Berkshire. Benjamin Louis Meyer, Rothschild, merchant, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields. Richard Blacklocks, innkeeper, Kent. Ann Martin, widow, Sturminster Newton. Thomas Lupton and William Bingley Lupton, flax spin ners, Leeds. William Boond, stretcher, Manchester. John bl,Gibbon, bootmaker Liverpool. Thomas Maguire, draper, Birmingham. James David Cripps Wheeler, victualler, Torpoint, Cornwall Samuel Boord, woollen draper, BristoL John Clough, chemist, Huddersfield. Benjamin Clark, corn-factor, Leeds. George Williams, watch-maker, Bristol. James Hastings, Tredegar, Monmouth. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, the produce of the British possessions in America, computed from the returns made in the week ending March 3, 1846, is 345. sid. per cwt. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of March 6.) Sucitn.—To-day West India Sugar was not to be obtained upon lower terms, but there was only a limited demand for grocery or refining descriptions. REFINED.-To-day many parcels of Refined Sugar were taken by the borne trade. Bonded Crushed Sugar is still at tracting attention, and is not to be purchased for forward de livery under 35s 6d per cwt for first quality. MAtinrrius.—This afternoon 6,410 bags were offered at public sale; one parcel of 4,699 bags being sulphury, only in part sold at rather easier rates. 4,800 bags will be offered at auction. EAST INDIA.—The stock is less than it was in 1845 at this period by 115,178 bags, &c. This afternoon white Bengal met with little attention, and four parcels offered at public sale, amounting to 3,764 bags, went at a decline on former rates of 6d per cwt, but the chief part sold. COCOA.—The demand has increased for British Plantation, and prices have slightly improved for good descriptions, whilst the lower kinds fully sustain the previous value. FOREIGN.—To-day at public sale 218 boxes of white Ha vannah were only in part sold at a reduction on former rates of 6d to to is per cwt. COFFEL—This afternoon Ceylon Coffee met with little at tention, but holders were firm, and 904 bags at auction were only in part sold at the former value. TEA.—Congou has been purchased with caution this week, but holders are not inclined to reduce their prices. Pouchong, however, has been disposed of to a fair extent at 4d to 6d for low and middling, and at 7d to 10d for pod to fine. Twankay is wanted. Hyson has met with less attention, but lower rates are not accepted. For imperial and Gunpowder the demand has been limited, but previous rates are sustained. RICE.—To-day at public sale 864 bags of Java Rice were sold at rather lower rates ; good white went at 17s 6d, middling 16s to 17s, low rather oroken, and dusty 14s to 15s per cwt. Of Bengal 1,400 pockets and 2,000 bags are de clared for sale. SAGO.--The demand was brisker, but better prices are not obtainable. In Sago Flour there has been little business transacted by private contract. For Arrowsmith there are few buy ere, and 80 pkgs at auction only in part sold at 10id to 11dd for Bermuda. SPICES.—To-day the market was well supplied with Cassia Lignes ; the quantity offered at public sale amou,iting to 2,237 chests, the principal portion found purchasers in con s quence of merchants submitting to a decline on former t ti s of Is to 2s per lb. Sputrrs.—There has been an improvement in the demand for the better qualities of Jamaica Rum, and the rates given have been fully equal to those previously current, but the low and middling kinds have been sparingly dealt in, still lower prices not accepted. Calcutta is not offered upon lower terms, but the business done but trifling. There has been little desire shown to purchase Leewards, at rather lower rates. Demerara of strong quality has been rather more in demand. but the inferior sorts are little wanted. The stock of Brandy has been further increased, and the business transacted has been limited for all purposes. Geneva has been less in re quest for exportation, and prices are not so firm. The value of British Corn Spirits is still 103 6d per gallon nett cash, and Gin is held for Ss 10d for 22 per cent. under proof, and 17 under 9s 4d per gallon ; but the demand has been limited. TALLow.—Holders of Russian evince firmness, and have obtained rather above previous rates; there has been a fair business transacted on the spot. The business done for de very in the last three modths of the year has beea upon a more extended scale. Home made has declined an value. Other kinds of 'Tallow tre less freely pressed for sale, and upon former terms several parcels have been taken by pri vate contract. LATEST PRICES OF SHARES. IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER C M PANIES' STOCK. urn Vie 0 . )c:1 Liar, PERLISITED EVERY TtiEsD.iV AND FRTDAY EVENMO LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 6. JOINT-STOCK BANKS. aid