The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-28 00:00:00

,it wts deter m i ne d to do it could effect. Bat you will probably tell me that although•ive have this p ower ,th a t we Z ave no t t he Mass of the people with us--rather democratic that. You never . ard The advocate th e superior claims of the wo r king classes— o wever, what are the evidences that the great body of the people Ire not with us? You say that our petitions are not honestly signed. cannet disprove that assertion • let us come, ther e for e , to some Othe r test—let us take the old ' Saxon mode of testing opinion, 1 .. 1 calling public meetings. Now, if )ou really are desirous of I.o.terng democratic influence, this is the way to elevate them— nrieg them into public assembling, let them elect their own Chairman let the m pass their resolutions, and there can be " t hing found superior to such a course for laying the founda- Wins of public liberty.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) Call then Mr Mille meetings to support the corn-laws. Call one—l challenge you to call one anywhere. It is not surely in the Snanufacturing districts you can call them. Since the Ara of November last there have been public meetings held in for large town —not the meetings of any class, but meetings tirthe purpose of deciding whether attice town should petition free trade or not. I received mplaint from a gen teetean, that the protectionists called a meeting at ""P d sworth, to which only protectionists were admitted, eahaequently the free traders had no power to interfere. t a meeting in Haddington they led from the room, and the e r4 4 14 was full without them.—( Cheers.) Were not these _lidences of public opinion ?—(Cri -a of " No, no.") Then what will teach you public opinion ? Must you be tossed in a blanket? Must you be swept out of this house into the Thames? th em (C heers and laughter). Why it would be giving not to boever to destruction if the public opinion was tested by the course which I have pointed out. th e s Your political power is based on the 150,000 tenantry of ?Poe 4 " nt rl- Let it, then, cora, to the worst ; carry on this sition for three or four years more, and the plan that is :eaeeer in operation—which plan is much maligned—(" Hear, ," from the Opposition )—and still much more maligned in ofplace, because where the shoe pinches there the o f t he evince the more—( Cheers from the Opposition side . 4111 e House) -1 say the plan that is now in operation will ; I ' 4 You to yield.—(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) We are k,„, i n .tf into existence the true old mode of exercising the e-sohlh , cr gistitutional franchise.—(Cheers and cr i es o f yea h , nn • ) We are calling that principle of 500 allantiquity into ex i s t ence by which we hope to co u n t erva il e jeer new fangled innovations.—( Renewed cheers, and and pooh'") You look on this as something revolutionary kid Hear, hear.) I tell you yo u are th e revo l ut i on i sts p r „ the innovators ' . —(Cheers ) However, I believe it i s hi; eet t i h Y a tinder s t oo d by the longest heads of your party that we cheer power, and that we will exercise it.—(Renewed Yea rs . "gt, If, theref o re, you pro l ong t hi s contest for four lat h ' which you canno t, l e t t h e worst come, we have the glas, we hav e th e power, we have the money subscribed— toolegh)— and we are prepared to meet and overcome every thin g cheers. ) You may think there is some tle eaceedingly repulsive to your notions of supremacy in all , s ; h„„ "I Say that the man, whether the small shopkeeper or eat in the has the prudence to save a little money, and lay it Yea r f-e'lle has of land that will bring him forty shillings a gi ro „reeehold—l say, that is the man to whom I would wish to %eider's? f ranchise.—"( Hear, hear, and cheering .) . Let it be docre' 4 "sel that these matters are not of my introduction, for tleasan can complain of my even being guilty of intro -4I irrelevant matter into the discussion of this question. sette:, hear.) Yotehave chosen now to say that you will not f „ . this question by fair and upright arg umen t, b y an appea l to ndo a, or b y taking the sense of the House. No ; you will, teeti on ti lt appeal to the country.—(Loud cheers from the pro esti, n th t aa have given you some idea of your prospects in the stook and I ask you how the mischief will be averted? Of s'Ser the registration returns—count the number Ilon a i l ehr ad „, is possession of the franchise, and then come down e gauiat t t candidly whether public opinion is with you or %eat e /ws. " --- (Cheers and counte r c h eers .) S o muc h argu 94ertitletie as been applied t o th e i nves ti gat i on of extraneous kru, that I shall not pursue this line of observation nvol t i t ' t hough, indeed, the little argument adduced on the nee.; e Side has been so fully answered—(oh, oh)—that I Olee e sca ss en d elY .apply myself to that branch of the question.— Yoe e cries of 't Oh, oh," and " Hear, hear.") I tell d ays,", s k t, My thoughts were during the last ten or eleven ,confined to my home, and reading over your ',estigh' t ~"1 Which I found many antiquated fallacies that I tl.eo cat. 4 had knocked on the head seven years ago— " Iwhy I thought that all the country was laughing fo re l - 's ear and cheers.) You cry, " Are we to depend Pelid g4 " B ?"—( Hear, hear.) Now, who would think that `l'Sde ro l t Ghost would have ' been raised up to terrify the fee 'eat a „'""e( [leer, hear, and a laugh.) Another clap-trap is advance in wages will lessen the means of pro , throwe hread.—(A laugh.) That the land will be lket- ws 4 out of cultivation and that , corn will be sold for 255. t /P erre -- it tl „,_ er t--(G eat laughter.) Why, you forget that the iler 'saes take r a very different view of the question alto th ( Hear, hear .) The working classes formerly be ' tit eag 4 " wages h A rose and fell with the price of wheat; and kill,ttleCalp,tders of the protectionist party may accuse us of yet the epithet will not apply to the the/ Is e l who introduced the present measure, for ne tt sr.) - ' 414 , w have no clap-trap motive in doing so.—( Hear, Ioer l' n 'ars if you attended less to the gossip c I, of es, wher e you congratulate each other on the smart- e • LelrotOner spee c h es, i n which you assail the Ministerial policy. ies s ays attended less to these matters, and applied your raak!ne Deeper study of the question, you would not have %ee r, L ain g the speeches you were for the last twelve nights. • lihettiebe.ear and cheers.) With regard to the farmers, lam thy o „ 3l ng that many—l will admit a large portion of them are ''"at th"" -(P rotectioniste cheers) —because you have told them f they Would walk headlong dawn some precipice, or that h:p Would run off with them.—( A laugh.) That is what teat s ,h k e been telling them.—( Hear, hear, and " Oh, oh.") e m p„,regh they have not the strictest faith in you, they have "ty - ". w 'ot h ice to know , that if they go against their landlords Ill ear it" to get a air adjustment from them afterwards.-- Lgry eeeir, and cries of " Oh, oh.") If the landed proprie tetZ d to the farmers that the question was festl e , - ; one, and they would . bear the farmers . L 'ltte e - "e no "natter what their views on the question, Re, e lY doubt if they would not decide in favour of free s'ae en..--(eheers. ) But you have given them some . hints to stwe ll etra re. • that I --(Cries of " Oh, oh,' from the protectionists.) V I I 14," th ink that, generally speaking, the farmers agree in s et h PM have been telling them. I believe rents are as e etqw as ever they we (No, no. ) There is something gi l d, able in all tis re i have been remarking since the irJ Ron. Baronet. proposed this measure, and I have in s Zed y attention to the point. I have inquired of isteil;itt spLoprietors, lawyers, and land agents, if Nt unered any depression in value in consequence ef the h i it k of the measure, and I cannot learn that it has. etter:ery remarkable fact that silks have been rendered un- Ze.a...4hilie the land is actually letting or selling at a higher au 4 ' t o o -) The Hon. Member for Somersetshire :osams.„olfer sixty farmers to take the land off their hands k ptin g the terms, and yesterday, being the last day for ac ts tek r -e , °ter, he thought some of them would come 2e ho t - els. Now, what is the consequence? Why, 4:e thi s , n ee Of them came in. —(Hear, hear, and cheers. ) toy latleeed immediately after the farmers had been told Vot e r ue Was so reduced that it would not produce sufficient !in t b ° ' vent being paid at all. Now if thse farmers, after iZhee t , t e r n ao lately told that all the evils would follow which - `eith l i s lr toelseted by the prote c ti on i s t s , were not i ncl i ned to (Pla n etr tarries, what did it t en d to prove, b ut that there Veer, i r be apprehended from the repeal of these laws.— le to let t e r .) Now, the opinion of a gentleman who was a 14„lsk e pent, said that farmers had applied to him, offering iioaree tint land in which he was interested, and offered tr t leser oo ' fer the land, besides guaranteeing to make such jPee tand rne ota as w ou ld ma t er i a ll y i mprove the value (41 „ er f OW this gentlema n was a protect i on i st and a o f of f Joh n T yrre ll, an d i s net his evidence in hl ow ` m ,st Hon. G en tl eman ' s measure ? Now I should tog to IL 4 , the g ent l emen , w h o h ave estates to let, are se t the he at one-third less than they have had for them sf iro po lsaing of th is meas . ure, notwithstand the Sri% e ensile rnent of their land by the ing repeal tis n it tweetective laws. I am sure they are not t hat *ere Par t with them for even one-fourth less than tr eo. l4 to rit tw.elve months ago. This, then, is the proof thee, of t t, ln ArY can take place as is said to be the result of f e a it that corn - laws. There is not a more monstrous case canoes s aYing, that the fa rmers are a b out to b e ru i ned, 104 o r et be sa i d that they are willing to part with their thi s askin g f or a re d uct i on of their rents. I wish lt l / 44 the wits q ue stion with the gentlem en w h o are oppose d to th% 14414't a micable m anner . L et t h em come to the Free et thern lat l St Manches ter , an d h o ld a pu b lic meeting, and Ittetilest say, upon the arguments, which is slitaitZureesure for the people. protection or free k hear.) Now, I shall quote the 1 71 - ,ad t i n "eke of Wellington in 1842; he is one who has sr ti he al i ne to read works on political economy, aed what ZSte r ,,,the 4 5 : en that occasion? Why, he said if these 'Pt W . s , ef protection are for the benefit of the itz-atkiltietrtierene be maintained • but if they are for the them be m immediately' abol hed.•--( Cheers. ) 44 14 ,I4' oe 're, se had now, he might say, almost agreed to lyo s , be p assed, with the Pr me Minister, that this measure l l 'lli: j e t tlse v l e i s t se h d; d that R ght H . 0 . n . . Baronet had taken 1 11 44 4 ,e Whole of the responsibility of this measure; i eveo t teat Providence would watch over the country „et th e t . its being passed—(Hear)—as this . measure of cern laws was proposed to be carried effectually JO* N to'oo acteff at the expiration of three years ; but ‘S . !t 1,14.1,411 hHouse and the country that they should L t d 7 4 ti t then to join the Anti-Corn-law League, becauae ' e tli "et e n he t ni nt 0 0 late.--( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Members Litt r e tie the plan of buying in the cheapest market and that Illreareasurest; but he begged to tell the Hon. Members t sth gold e arls of reconciling those differences was, to It a lr. R e vs ah.en, rule of doing to others as they would wish tt s sp k t:oo4l do unto them —(Cheers. ) tit* up o , said that the Hon. Member for Stockport ts, , te o esto r i ss " t his subject in terms which would lead any tolie l :, to tbg t he House to the belief that those who had a it% the el e xtended franchise had not the pleasure of rti,4lt,;": oasis hear.) It was not the habit of the tenant %.7 so bit or advice of his landlord, though he Itrhuf4, - nt at the same time it was as much the duty 1 4, t h, Nh e `hrets t giveto their workenin. The t i e te n e „ .. r th e ,. advice - e th le ti irr a e e 'f,T•it on to quote passa t ge . 3 from toe eeJ i h o e w s k t i ttly . t flee or Ternber for Srocepor ,_ in r . epi i i io the Hon. Member, and to o illustrate the Llw'ssei t - 'ley wiv es upon the corn.laws had changed very re• t he th at an appeal to the Sovereign, and . what was great le Peal ?—they obtained a majority of 90. t: st t a ll e ltNlNed . leader of the principle of protection N, t eri tl. th eirs ins , opinions, and his colleagues have cop the h k nd eh, nl se. When persons of well-known . Nee -k leb -- ' t aeter came to that House and said 4 71 e i7o tis:,.eged their opinions, it followed as a necessary Z t itersre e i i k t este * ,, t „ h eY Must carry a great weight with them. 11the ete l o .m eY 4 1 -4 might change the opinion of that Hou . se, ( t ioCeite• i g theylnted the line of conduct they had main reitf,;_sYra4‘ll,„eshttld be certain whether it was confined rilLriaPatie s - ,,",eis friend or whether the great body of the . 1 1101 - •"" tri the 'ter ' ation.— . Hear - , hear" from the Nte d el eit ee 4 t ) If a rts.. ,; t hey were so convinced, they would be is'e, e 7to: il the t t i re s ou elt• They say the people were to be kei tt ltt %1444ther the se . The people should have been con is, te a . fo r et thpp of the change in twill con tleeali,lN _Which lha . d also changed, an . d were ing to op t se 6, '3' had struggled so intensely, and had ese s . • eh., long and ele' h., eh., - .tee • so happily. It was not his y 1 71 ,"I r at reat length into that dis lbeisso b e 11,2 4 114 4 . 5 ° ns prevented him, especially as the 4:08 htld Is intention to divide that night. As k seefee r m 'ad oe the situation which he had fulfilled in that st l itlt C ent he v r er g o ne against its sense , and he wa- aware teseer,etein th em wished to address the House, therefore he s ttesslu are, n e tie e , %j ot , . e .onger than was necessary to ex to-kt p ro " induced him to give his vote in favour I s e -9 1 girl t os ed by his Hon. Friend the Member ; ) s t i l l at t a ' 4o o, p r . ° would address himself for a few mi l4s Cara o ret see, atio tend had made a statement bordering , tl eiederi r k sd t o ,He charged them with having fol e 4, , r.en o 04 of the question with them, and Ve d t le Pt i 'l th e teg the inquiry. He also said that h d ,.. no t 4 ets c e u n s uer h . ad followed . in the same t i kiLstieh _ ne „ e him . of having broken in lio a 4 ehe 4°nderee !elat e he flinched from inquiry. tli h t4L, se f f f , that his Hon. Friend should have b►pi:A for th i e „-rz would say, that when a Committee te ) 11 1, ersegat her o - p r e's Purpose of enabling the proposi tt, His R e . tl,ie House, they had no objection to e St 4 • eall e ish t h d rep o 'getFriend had changed his le 4 e i r o , eit h hitb thera to follow him. He was not , t e it ee r oubling the House —(Hear, hear) 114in e a ln e t t o % frsh ta l; . 4 that liberty he endeavoured to express a erarettriitittea:otrltie Right Hon. Baronet pro the corn-laws With a view to their modification, he (Mr. Spooner) would have given his utt quilified assert to that proposition. He never did approve of the present system of corn-laws. lie thought the sliding scale was some improvement, but a fixes! duty was the only principle, and the only rational proposition. He defined protection to be the principle which induced them to take care, while native industry was burdened by the taxation necessary for the preservation of the State, that no foreign produce should be admitted to compete with our own taxed produce, without incurring an equal share of expense—( Cheers from the Ministerial side)—that was the principle of protection, and that principle should be.applied to every class of industry, and not more to agriculture than to any other. Whatever tax was imposed upon the country was an additional reason why the labourer should be protected from foreign untaxed produce.—(Cries of " Oh! oh !" from the Opposition side.) He could assure them that he had not willingly entered on this subject ; but, representing, as he did, a large constituency, he felt it neces sary to enter upon their defence in an effectual manner. The Hon. Member for Shropshire had said that he was very happy that some of them had read Adam Smith, and lie wished that a great many more had done so, as political economy was now assuming an important aspect. He would read something from the works of the Noble Lord, as he considered him a high authority—and he said that sincerely, for he was high both as a statesman and as an anther. He would now proceed to call the attention of the House to a passage. —( " Oh! oh" ! from the Opposition.) He would read it.— (Laughter.) The Noble Lord said " That nearly all writers on political economy fell into the same mistake ; nations were subject to fluctuations in their seasons of prosperity, and they naturally looked to those persons who had studied the wealth of nations for a remedy. Those writers had occupied them selves with original truths withoutentering upon particular cases." The Hon. Gentleman went on to read from the pamphlet in question, amidst every manifestation of impatience by the House ; the extract, as far as could be collected from the noise that prevailed, being to the effect that there were certain circumstances connected with the industry of the country which rendered, in many instances, the application of the strict rule of political economy inexpedient and impracticable. This was the doctrine laid down by the Noble Lord, which he (Mr. Spooner) coincided in, and to this he would call the attention of the Hon. Member for Stockport. The Hon. Member for Wolverhampton (Mr. Villiers) last night gave a statement of figures which went to show that we might have a considerable importation of corn, and at the same time have an increase of gold, and he referred to several years in support of the view which he advanced.—( The Hon. Member here proceeded to read some figures in relation to this topic; but from the noise and confusion that prevailed, it was impossible to understand their real purport. As far, however, as their application could be ascertained, they were to the effect that the increase of bullion towards the latter end of a period of four years—that is, from 1838, during which there was a considerable importation of grain —arose from peculiar circumstances in our relations with America. He could well understand this expression of the feelings of the House—(Cheers)—and he knew too well the utter uselessness of any individual attempting to address the House—(Reiter ated cheering)—unless the House were willing to hear him.— ( Hear, hear.) He respected the good opinion of the House too well—(Cheers)—to force himself upon its notice.—( Great cheering.) If it was therefore the pleasure of Hon. Mem bers that he should defer his remarks—(Cheers)—to some future time—(Cheers)—he would do so.—(Tremendous cheering.) He would do so in all sincerity—( Cheering)—but he would do so, at the same time, in the hope that at some future time he would be listened to with greater indulgence.— (The Honourable Gentleman sat down amidst much con fusion, which was very considerably increased. Mr. P. BOTHWICK rose—The Honourable Gentleman proceeded to address the House for at least a quarter of an hour, amidst much confusion and noise, so loud and continuous, that it was impossible to catch the purport of his observations. He was understood, however, to contend, in defiance of boisterous cries from both sides of the House of " Divide, divide," " Question, question, " " Bar, bar," and " Order, order)"—that the Right on. Baronet at the head of the Government was mistaken if he thought the present mea sure would secure his reputation with posterity, for the page of history would exhibit him as struggling for a long series of years to form a great party, and at the very moment when he had succeeded in this apparently paramount and all-absorbing topic of his life, as coming forward, and in violation of all public faith and principle, and, with one daring and reckless blow, breaking up and shivering to atoms that great confederation, which himself had fostered and created, and which would be known in future years as the powerful Conservative party of England. He might say to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, "Et to Brute."—(Laughter, and cries •f "Oh, oh.") If Caesar must fall—(Continued laughter)— better that he fall not by his hands. It had been better for the myriads yet to be born and go verned—better for the few who like him were by nature and by God destined to govern—it had been better for the pear* which bound the masses of mankind together, "and for the confidence of private men—better for the human race— (Cries of " Oh, oh," and laughter)—that this measure had been proposed by some other hand than the one which was nerved by its own strength, and which was called into existence by its own will. —(Loud laughter.) If the principles of free trade were the principles of common sense, and if the circumstances of this great country admitted the application of those principles to our commercial policy, then he would say that the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman was the grossest insult to com mon sense and to the principles of free-trade that could be possibly brought before the country. The principle which he advocated said that protection was the bane of agriculture, and yet the Right Hon. Gentleman was prepared to admi nister to the country a draught of that very poison for the next three years.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and great laughter.) The Hon. Member went on to say, that Hon. Members opposite had succeeded in obtaining the head of the Right Hon. Baronet, but that they (the protectionists) still kept possession of his heart. ( The Hon. Member then eat down amid great uproar and confusion.) Lord G. BENTINCK then rose and requested the attention of the House for a short time while he endeavoured to answer some of the arguments which had been used by Hon. Mem bers on the opposite sides of the House. There was no man who felt more deeply than he did his unworthiness to ask that indulgence. He bad never, since he had a seat in that House, ventured to trespass upon their atention upon so important a subject as the present. They opposed the Speaker leaving the chair, net only because they objected to the great changes proposed with reference to the agricultural interest, but also upon the whole measure.—( Hear, hear.) They opposed the measure which proposed an alteration in 1,100 articles, because so great a commercial resolution as that proposed, they did not consider was required by the exigencies of the country. It was not only that they objected to the removal of protection from the agricultural interest, but also a removal of protection from the silk, shipping trade, and many other interests concerned in the tariff. —( Hear, hear.) It had been stated in the course of this debate that Hon. - Members who opposed this Bill would lose their character, station, and influence with the country. He would willingly concede that gentlemen who sat on the opposite side hail not this fear before their eyes. They had always been the consistent advocates of free trade; they came to that House pledged to maintain those principles for which they asked the suffrages of the people. When he was told this was not a protection Pailiament, he would be glad to know on what principles it was created. Why, was not the subject of free trade in corn discussed over and over again when the dissolution took place in the year 1841 ? Was it not then a question whether we were not to have a protection of Bs. a quarter or a higher rate of protection ? Her Majesty ap pealed to the people in 1841 ; and on that question of the corn laws— on that question he thought there could be no mistake. The Right Hon. Gentleman now at the head of her Majesty's Government was then the leader of the Opposition, and chal lenged his opponent to dissolve the Parliament. The Secretary of State for the Home Department said it was mad ness to dissolve the Parliament, and he thought it was the madness of the devil himself. He charged them with some thing more than the acts of the devil himself for such a course of proceeding. His Right Honour able Friend raised the cry, " The Church was in danger ;" but was it not far more exciting to hear the cry of cheap bread, and that cry raised from the Treasury benches ? He should like to know whether the cry of cheap bread which they had heerd had anything to do with the landlord question. They said that was not a protection Parlia ment, but what was it if it was not created on protection prin ciples ? The Noble Lord then at the head of the Administra. tion, in 1841, found himself defeated by a vote of want of con fidence, when there appeared a majority against him of 311 against 307, and her Majesty immediately prorogued the Parliament, with a view to its immediate dis solution. Her Majesty then said in her speech that in the present state of public affairs she had come to the determination of taking the sense of the public. He was of opinion that the measure proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet could net in honour be carried by the majority of that House, returned on that dissolution.—(Hear, hear.) They were told that a great change was to take place upon the experience of the Right Hon. Baronet for the last three years ; that the Right Hon. Gentleman had been so satisfied with the result of the reduction of duties for the last three years. He was satisfied that the country would not be of the same opinion— they would not be satisfied with any great change in the laws upon a mere three years experience. The Right Hon. Baronet said that there would be no material, in fact, no reduction at all in the price of corn by the introduction of the present measure. He grounded that opinion upon what had taken place with regard to silk. He would accept the challenge of the Right Honourable Gentleman —he would meet him on the question of silk, and he would also meet the Member for Sheffield on that of wool. He would take care not to forget what had been said respect ing the timber duties.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then proceeded to detail the price of wool per pound between the years 1820 and 1824, lit in so low a tone of voice that not a single word reached the gallery. He found from the price of flour, as contracted for, not for one year, but for three years, that the average price per stone in 1841, 1842, and 1843 was 3s. 7d. In 1646 3s. 2d. was the price, a price, in fact, lower than what the average price had been on the average of three years before.—(Loud cries of " Divide, divide," and manifestations of impatience.) This was a strong point to show that under a protective system the irregularity of price was not such as had been attributed by the advocates of free trade. He would refer briefly to the subject of the silk trade, on which the Right Hon. Baronet had spoken, and which he alleged had thrived under a free-trade system, in opposition to what had been advanced by the advocates of a protective system. The House ought to be aware that there were three descriptions of silk : small silk, which cost from 14s. to 20s. per lb. ; thrown silk, from 205. to 235. ; and waste or ofal silk, that sold for about from 2d. to 10d. per lb. He found, that in the periods of 1815,1816, 1817, the average quantities of silk imported into the country was 1,095,000 lbs., and they found, that in a corresponding period, when the pro tection duty was in existence, the importation was 1,970,000 ibs. showing a difference of 90 per cent. He found that the duty averaged in the same period 750,000/. Mr. Huskisson promised that he should place the silk trade side by side with the cotton trade. He was not able to take the return of three clear years, but he would take such as would give the most favourable return to the supporters of the Manchester school and of the Right Honourable Baronet. He now came to the operation of free trade as regarded the silk-weavers. He would refer to the evidence taken before the Committee of 1831. Mr. Grabb, a silk manufacturer, was examined. Up to 1824 the number of hands he em ployed was 3,394, and the wages averaged Bs. I id. per man. In 1831 the number he employed had fallen to 1,877, and the amount of wages to 3s. kid. But it was not wages alone which had been reduced by the change • for the same gentleman stated that a great numbe r of hands were discharged in the time, some of whom had emigrated, while others had gone to the workhouse, and the majority of the females to prostitution. Now was not this evi dence conclusive enough, and ought it not to decide the House in the course they ought to take with respect to this measure? —(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then proceeded to say, that a few days since he presented to that House a petition from shine silk-weavers, in which they stated, that if the duties were taken off corn, the only result would be the reduction of their wages.—( Loud cries of " Divide, divide.") He apologised to the House for the manner in which he had trespassed upon their attention, but as he stood there as the advocate of a great body, whose interests had been attacked, he hoped the House would extend to him their indulgence, although he was not able to address them in tha same able manner which those who were accus tomed to address them were capable of doing.—(Cheers.) The Noble Lord then continued to say that silk weavers would be reduced 3d. per yard if this measure passed, and ho wou as what reduction in the price of food would compensate those poor men for that reduction in their wages ?.--( Cheers. ) He believed that the labourer would be better off with his old wages, and wheat at 70s. per quarter, than with cheaper bread and lower wages.—(lronical cheers.) He maintained, despite the cheers of the Honourable Members opposite, that he would be better off with wheat at 455. per quarter, and with his present wages, than the reduction sought by the present measure, and the consequent disproportion in the reduction of wages.—(Hear, hear.) He recollected an address delivered by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, though he had now changed his opinions, in which he laid down the proposition not to be disputed, that the rate of wages must sink with the reduction in the price of corn. The Right Hon. Baronet tells them as a reason for introducing the measure, that distress in Ireland was very great, where the people were starving in the midst of a superabundance of provisions.—(Cheers.) The farmer, he said, was without a rearket, and the labourer was left destitute, without employment. That. was the picture drawn of the state of Ireland by his Honourable Friend, showing that it was truly destitute. During the three years, amidst the ruin of manufacturers, the distress of landlords, the insurrection of the pc pulace who were without e m pl o y men t an d w i t h out bread, as the Right Hon. Baronet said, the prosperity of the country increased notwithstanding, and he (Lord Bentinek) liked to see productive industry sacrificed to unpro ductive wealth as little as the Right Hon. Baronet. With respect to the speech of his Honourable Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, he should say it was not a speech overflowing with professions of kindness. They had been taunted on that side of the House that they dealt in reviling phrases against Hon. Members who had de served them on the present occasion, and that they had ad duced no arguments in proof of the justness of the position which they assumed. Now, after the speech of his Hon. Friend who sat beside him, after that admirable speech, he thought they might be exempted from so inapplicable and undeserved a taunt.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") (The Noble Lord was at this moment so inaudible that not a word could be distinctly heard in the gallery. The loud and repeated cries for a division, varied by the counter-cries for art adjournment, completely drowned the Noble Lord's attempts to be heard.) The Noble Lord continued to read extracts from returns he held in his hand, in reference to the state of food in Scotland, by which he contended it appeared that the people of many districts in the neighbourhood of Glasgow had much improved their condition, and had adopted the use of flour in many cases for that of oatmeal. The Noble Lord representing the city of London—(Cries of " Oh, oh I" from the Ministerial side of the House)—he had not offered to say anything to change them (the Opposition)—he was going to show them that there was no danger of a famine. He would refer them to Leith. They would recollect that the authorities he was about to quote were rather suspicious. They were the corn circulars sent forth by the corn dealers for the benefit of the trade. The circular he would refer to was dated the 17th December, 1845, and was from Leith. It stated that as regarded the diseased potatoes, if they were properly scored and dried they were not unfit for human food • and there was reason to believ e th a t the failure would not be so great as was apprehended.—(" Oh, oh 1" from the Opposition.) This was an important fact, as in consequence of this rumoured scarcity, it was proposed to: change the commercial policy of this country. The circular went on to say the corn crops were in general good, and the failure of the potato crop had given such an impulse to the market that they were so completely choked that room was not to be found for any more gram, and a considerable portion of the expected arrival of corn would have to be sent to other ports.—( Cheers from the Ministerial benches.) He had a letter from Liverpool which stated that the cry about famine was all a mistake, for that at the time there were not less than 200 warehouses in Liverpool which were as full of grain as tliey could hold.--( He r, hear.) He would now go to Ireland.—( Great manifestations of impatience, and cries of " Divide, divide.") He was going to show there were no grounds for what had been stated in relation to the potato crop. Five weeks ago the Hon. Member for Somerset (Mr. W. Miles) moved for a return of the price of potatoes in all parts of Ireland, and yet up to the present day no return had been made.—( Hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet had taunted them (the protectionists) as not liking the subject of the potato failure in Ireland; but to that he would beg leave to say, for the Hon. Friends around him, that what was distasteful to them was not the Hon. Baronet going into details on that subject, but his not telling the whole truth. That was what was distasteful to them.—(hear. ) They had been told of a certain merchant going down to the country, surveying the crops, and reporting that the appear ance of the potatoos was black; and they had heard of a letter from a party in Yorkshire, named Wood, as to the state of the crops there. On the latter point, if the fact was as stated, it would not have been concealed from the Government, by the Hon. Member for the West Riding, who seconded the address to the Crown. But what had that Honour able Gentleman said, in the course of the present debate? He stated that there were no grounds for stating that the potato crop had failed in Yorkshire.—(Hear, hear.) He would now return to Ireland.—(Cries of " Divide, divide.") The Right Hon. Baronet had read the accounts respecting the potato disease from inspectors of police, and others, in various parts of Ireland ; but why, he (Lord George Bentinck) would like to know, did not the Right Hon. Baronet receive reports from the lieutenants of counties, especially from the lieutenants of the counties of Down and Carlow ? If his Hon. Friend, the Member fir Derby, were in his place he would ask him what communication he had made to Government on the subject of the potatoes? And he would refer to the opinions of a man whose testimony was entitled to as much weight as any in England or Ireland—a man of the most masculine understanding —of the most business habits—whose knowledge on every subject was as extended as any authority he could refer to, and whose evi dence on this subject that side of the House would most wil lingly listen to—heimeant Lord Besborough, who had taken the greatest pains to ascertain what was really the truth with regard to the disease of the potatoes in Ireland. He (Lord Bentinck) should like to know what report had been made to her Majesty's Ministers by that nobleman. He (Lord Bentinck) could inform the Right Hon. Baronet that what they on that side of the House were dissatisfied with was that they had not been told both sides of the ques tion. He did not know what was the information the Right Hon. Baronet had received, hnt he had himself taken some pains to ascertain what was the real state of things—and he saw in the House a short time ago 'the Hon. Baronet the Member for the county of Antrim, and- he also could tell the House that he had taken great pains —and he could assure the House that there was no danger of famine.— ( Hear, hear, and cheers from the protectionists.) He had taken occasion to write to an Honourable Friend of his in the county . of Roscommon, to inquire into the result of the inquiry instituted by Government, and he informed him that after all the recommendations of all the professors had been tried, suoh as kiln-drying the potatoes, using tartaric acid arid other experiments, they found that, after opening the pits, the potatoes, which the professors had con fidently promised to cure, were all rotten—(Cheers from the protectionists again)—while those that had been placed amid _quick lime were soun d an d h ea l t h y. He could assure the House that there was no such thing as a potatoe famine in the county of Roscommon. In Tipperary there w as not a s i ng l e d i seased potatoe, and in Queen's County the potatoes were 2 3 4 d. per stone. Money after all was that which told the truth in this country. tie had an opportunity of consulting the Marquis of Clanri carde upon the subject of the potato disease, and that Noble man assured him that it was greatly exaggerated. The Noble Marquis himself had grown about 140 acres of potatoes, which it was true were bad, but the disease could not have been discovered in them had they not been tested. The Noble Marquis also told him that half the mischief had been created by the Govern ment Commissioners, and the various professors who were sent over to Ireland, for they advised the liftsng of the potatoes before they were ripe, notwithstanding that common sense must have suggested to them that they would rot before they could be used. They were told that there were 4,000,000 of the Irish people on the brink of famine, and he wanted to know what provision her Majesty's Ministers had made for the wants of these 4,000,000 of people? If report was true, there were no more than 100,000 quarters of maize in Ireland, and that was food that was not fit for people, but for cattle. The duty:on wheat was 17s. per quarter. He apprehended that the Right Hon. Gentleman never in: tended to feed the people of Ireland upon wheat. He be lieved that 100,000 quarters of oats were imported from Ireland a few months ago; and he asked whether common sense would not have dictated the purchase of Irish oats in Ireland for the relief of the people. He found that the duty on oats, which was six shillings per quarter on the 23d of October last, had, in consequence of the false reports of famine, slided down to three shillings on the 22d of November. The Duke of Wellington stated in his place in the Upper House, that when corn rose to a certain price there was a pro vision in the existing corn-laws under which the ports would open themselves. He also admitted that there was a great loss in the potato crop, but it could not be said that there was a deficiency in the food of the people of Ireland. He (Lord Bentinek) believed that there were oats enough in Ireland to feed the entire population of that country. He considered that the accounts of the potato crop had been greatly exaggerated, and he did not believe that there was more than one-fifth of the potato crop in Ireland destroyed ; and, under these circumstances, he did not cone cider there was any necessity for an alteration in the existing laws.--(" Hear, hear,"frona the protectionists.) He never knew a Government who presumed to make such great changes, and who gave so little reason for the adoption of those changes. He had been 18 years in that House, and it was no pleasing task to address it, and he did so on that occasion because he considered it his imperative duty. With respect to potatoes, he found that the average price for the last ten years was not more than at present, and with that fact, how could it be said that there was a famine ? If it were necessary, in consequence of that asserted famine, to import wheat into Ireland, why did they not at once pay ou vi ld it b h e th on e ly e t t a h k e i r ng ? i t t he f s r e o v m ente o en ne shi h ll a in n g d s d t u o ty, It was his intention to go into many other matters, but in re a c s eiv i e t w it consequence of the hour—( Cries of " Go on")—he would pass over some of them. But they had been challenged to show any argument in favour of protection, and he was pre pared to show that the produce of the country had outstripped its consumption; he was prepared to show that by evidence which could not be doubted. They had been told that protection was the bane of agriculture; he was prepared to show that the contrary was the fact. He (Lord G. Bentinek) was prepared to show by evidence laid before that House, that up to the year 1821, the soil of England only produced 17 bushels per acre. Now there were three millions of acres of land in Ireland, and fifteen millions in England, which could be brought into culti vation, and that being the case, how could it be said that the country was not capable of produ ing sufficient food for the population. Was it not beyond all contradiction that this country produced more corn for a far more smaller population than France for a greater population. He had shown that Frenchmen were capable of earning more wages than Englishmen, and yet not do so much work. He had shown also that the state of agricultural improvement in this country was very superior to that of France, and yet that France w as a bl e t o compete w i t h E ng l and ; and he had likewise shown that even in America, with all her disadvantages, she was able to compete with England in the colonial market. ( Here the Noble Lord became inaudible for some time in con sequence of the loud cries of " Oh, oh," and groans from the Opposition.; Ii they took 2,000,000 quarters of corn from foreign countries instead of from our own country, the result would be that they would throw from 5 to 800,000 persons out of employment. (Prolonged " Oh's" from the Opposition.") The Right Hon. Baronet had said that the inevitable result of the repeal of the corn-laws, would be to throw from 500,000 to 800,000 persons out of employment. If they applied the principle to the duties on tea and sugar, they would then do good by admitting articles which did not compete with any of our home produce. Why not import, for example, the produce of China in that manner, instead of charging on tea at the rate of 250 per cent, which tax was imposed on the labouring population of this country. But the way they acted was to place high duties on the produce of those countries that encouraged the manufacturers, and cringed and bowed to those countries that took the greatest pains to exclude our manu facturers. Do you, therefore, deserve any consideration in the course you have taken ?—( Loud cries of " Divide, divide," and great manifestations of impatience.) Certainly they were not. When the Right Honourable Baronet came down to that House to usher in the session, which, whether it was to be for good or evil, had a tendency, at least n the estimation of the Honourable Members oni 40.:, they might` at least be certain that under such circumstatcev they would vote as their duty to their consciences, and their constituents dictated. They had been told that they were a proud aristocrcy. They were proud, but they were only proud in tile chastity of their honour, and if they bad turncd out the Whig Administration in 1841, they did it in highrnindedness, and with a pure desire to further the interests of the country. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Reuse divided, when there appeared— For the Motion For the Amendment 240 MAJORITY FOR MINISTERS - -S 97 The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of. The House adjourned at a Quarter past Three. THE SEIZURE OF AN ENGLISH VESSEL BY THE PORTUGUESE. The ship Duke of Cornwall, which arrived on Thursday in the East India-dock from St. Helena, has brought home the crew of the brig Lady Sale, of Liverpool, which was seized on the coast of Africa by a Portuguese man-of-war on suspicion of being MLA out for the slave-trade. The Lady Sale belonged to the respectable house of Charles Hors fall and Son, of Liverpool, and was chartered for Rio Janeiro mai Congo, to get oil of palm and ivory, but had net been able to obtain either, and was on her way to Ambrez to ship a cargo of copal, when she was boarded by a Portuguese rnan•of-war, and seized, in conse quence of her having on board twenty-six casks of water, severil Lags of rice, a copper, and some bars. The Portuguese authorities, however, condemned the vessel, and the matter has been taken up with some spirit by the Liverpool mer chants. The crew of the Lady Sale were detained for some time by the Portuguese, and afterwards sent to St. Helena. Tho authuritles of St. Helena sent them home in charge of an officer of the English navy, who left the Duke of Cornwall three days ago at Deal, and nothing has since been beard of him. The owner of the Duke of Cornwall waited upon Mr. Braierip, at the Thames l'olice court on Wednesday, and requested his interference. The Magis trate referred him to the superintendent of the Thames division of police, who declined taking the men into custody unless some specific charge was male against them. The owner of the Duke of Corn wall declined making an y charge against the crew of the Lady Sale, and said they had be en sent home as passengers in this ship in charge of a mate in the navy, who quitted her at Deal. The owner was only anxious to be released of the men, for whose passage he was to re ceive 1501 from her Majesty's Government. Mr. Evans, the superintendent of the Thrunes division, communicated the arrival of the eleven men to the Board of Admiralty, and also to the Com missioners of Police, but received no authority from either party to arrest the crew of the Lady Sale. Indeed neither the Admiralty nor the Commissioners knew anything of the matter. On Thursday, on the arrival of the. Duke of Cornwall in the dock, some parties connected with the ship requested Mr. Evans, jun., an In spector of Thames police, to take the men into custody, which he refused to de unless some tangible charge was made. The crew of the Lady Sale still remained on board the Duke of Corn wall, and are very anxious for some officers to take them into cus tody, and that the question as to the legality of their detention should be tried. It is expected they will leave the ship this day, and put their case into the hands of a procter or attorney, unless the Board of Admiralty order them to be taken before a magistrate. No wit nesses have been sent to Englaed to give evidence against the eleven seamen. It is rumoured that the mate, who had charge of the men, has either lost or mislaid the papers intrusted to him relating to the seizure of the Lady Sale, cud that his non-appearance at the Admi ralty is owing to that cause. Several gentlemen went on Thursday to the Thames Police-court and inquired after the crew of the Lady Sale, and were much surprised to had that no order had been given to remove them from the Duke of Cornwall. They expressed a strong opinion of the illegality of the seizure, and came prepared to bail the men if they had been in any legal custody. We believe a strong representation relating to the seizure and condemnation of the Lady Sale has been made to the Portuguese Ambassador by Lord Aberdeen, and the ease is likely to become a matter of discussion in both Houses of Parliament. COUURT CIRCLAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal left Buckingham Palace in a carriage and four, at half-past eight o'clock yesterday morning, for Osborne House, Isla of Wight. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, fol lowed in another carriage and four. The Equerries in Waiting, Major-General Wemyss and Major-General Sir Edward Bowater, occupied a chariot and four ; and the Countess of Mount Edgecumbe, Lord , - leorge Lennox, Colonel Bowles, and Dr. Prtetorius, followed in another carriage and four, Her Majesty and her Royal Consort were conducted to their car riages by the Maids of Honour in Waiting, the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Horse, Lord Glenlyon, Sir Henry Wheatley, Colonel Drummond, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Colonel Wylde. A party of Light Dragoons formed the escort from the Palace to the terminus of the South-Western Railway, at Nine Elms. The royal party left by a special train for Southampton, en route to Osborne House. Major-General Weinyss has relieved Colonel Arbuthnot in the duties of Equerry in Waiting to the Queen ; and 3lajor-Goneral Sir Edward Bowater has relieved Colonel Wylde in theduties of Equerry in Waiting to his Royal Highness Prince Albert. At the Queen's Drawing-room, on Thursday, Mrs. Stewart was presented to her Majesty by Lady Gardiner, and Mrs. Gurney Barclay was presented to her Majesty by Mrs. Stewart. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent has appointed Captain the Hon James Murray (of the Scots Fusilier Guards) to be one of her Royal Highness's Equerries. Her Royal lllhness the Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester House. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George Cooper, Bart., honoured the per formance of the French Plays with her presence last evening. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Foreign office. The Ministers present we Robert Peel, the Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Haddington, Sir James Graham, Mr. Secre tary Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exclietiuer, the Earl of Ellen borough, the Earl of Ripon, the Earl of Dalhousie, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Use Earl of St. Germans. The Council sat two hours. Sarim Effendi, Ottoman Ambassador, accompanied by Mr. Agop, Secretary Interpreter, transacted business yesterday at the Foreign office. Prince Castelcicala was present at the debate in the Howse of Commons yesterday evening. The Duke of Wellington left town on Thursday afternoon fir his seat, Strathfieldsaye, Hants. Sir Walter James had au interview with Mr. Secretary Gladstone on Thursday, at the Colonial-office. Mr. Mark Ph lips, Mr. 13 rotherton, M.P., Mr. Milner Gib son, M.P., and a deputation of retail beersellers of Manchester, had as interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentleman-at-Arms held their first mess dinner at the Thatched House on Thursday. Mohan Lal and other distinguished guests were present. Lord Somers, Sir Benjamin Brodie, and a deputation from Reigate, had an interview with the Chancellor ()tithe Exchequer yesterday. at his official residence in Downing-street. Mr. Dean, Chairman of the Customs, had an interview with the Right Honourable Gentle man on Thursday. GENERAL AVITABILE. The East India Company hays jest dispatched to Naples a mag nificent sabre for presentation to this gallant *Meer and firm and faithful friend of th e C ompany and British Government. On the upper part of the scabbard is placed a gold shield, bearing the follow ing inscription :—" Presented by the East India Company to General Avitabile, in grateful recognition of the eminent se.yices rendered by him whilst Governor of Peshawur, in co-operatic; with the Bri tish troops during the limitary operations in Atli anistati." The sword..is accompanied by the following letter from the Chairman of the East India Company:— " East India House, Feb. 4, 1146. " Sir,—l have Row mach satisfaction in conveying to you the sword which, in the fulfilment of the intention already announced, the Court of Directors of the East India Company desire to present to you, in testimouy of their crateful sense of your eminent services. Allow me en tkis occasion to offer my congratulations to you on receiving a permanent record of the sentiments which the Court entertain ; and let me add the expression of th, gratification which it affords me to be the medium of transmitting to yon this testi monial. .• I " Gene " HENR Y WILLOCK." General e thevitabile honour to be, Si r, your very obedient servant, A." The services rendered by the General at the time our troops passed through the provinc e of which he was Covert:or were highly important. His treasury supp:ied them with money, his stores with munitions of war, and even guns and elephants to convey them to the Kyber pass ; and his splendid hospitality to our officers was upon a scale so large that few, except those who were partakers of it, can save any idea of its magificence. We were informed by an inmate of his palace that 180 have dined there in one day, and that from SO to 120 were the usual number. Two large and splendid silver orna ments were presented to him by the officers of the army of the Indus and of Candahar. But not only by these who derived benefits from him have those benefits been acknowledged, the King of the French presented to him a gold vase and salver, and his own enlightened Sovereign, the King of the Two Sicilies, appreciating the brilliant and noble career of his gallant subject, has conferred upon him the Order of St. Ferdinand and Merit, in a box set with diamonds, and the rank of General. The G overnors-General of India, Comman ders-in-Chief, and a host of other officers in command, have testified the efficient services rendered by him to other armies ; and it is with great gratification, that at this peculiarly favourable moment, 'lmme diately after reading the news from India of a splendid victory, we are enabled to record the flattering acknowledgment by the East India Company of services which, upon a fernier occasion, so eiree tively assisted our gallant troops when marching to the chastise ment of a treacherous and ferocious enemy, and to the restoration of the honour of the British arms. TRfEthEe pavement and The A ASsSfoceliaAtiTolii°foNr E p O ro il mo C tin L g ß i t h ilN the improvementGT ITHE S o and the cleansing and draining the streets of London, and other large cities and towns, celebrated for the second time the anniversary of its formation by dining at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, on Thursday evening. The attendance of the supporters of the Society was numerous, and consisted of persons from all parts of the town, over whom his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided There were also present most of the original supporters of the Society, viz., Mr. C. Cochrane, the president (who is understood to have made from his own purse the most liberal advances of money to carry out the objects for which it is formed) ; Lord Robert Grosvenor, Lord James Stuart, General Sir Henry Pynn, Messrs. D. Salomon, R. Lambert Jones, Edward Brewster, Silk Buckingham, Luke J. Mansard, &c. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Messrs. Newton, Sporle, Genge, Crouch, and Edney, assisted by Miss Thornton ; and Mr. Toole attended to give out the toasts and preserve decorum. The'ustial toasts were drunk with the honours, and ap propriate songs were sung by the vocalists. The health of the Royal Chairman called forth the long and loud cheers of the com pany, for which his Royal Highness acknowledged his grateful feel ings. Shortly before ten o'clock the Duke retired, and Lord J. Stuart took the chair ; after which, Mr. Cochrane, Mr. S. Buckingham, and several other gentlethen, addressed the company in advocacy of the objects of the meeting, and the result was a list of liberal contribu tions, amounting to upwards of 7001. Notwithstanding this display of liberality on the part of the subscribers, it is very problematical whether their zeal in favour of cleaning pavements and streets does not exceed their discretion. As all housekeepers are taxed and as sessed somewhat heavily in their respective districts to the expenses of cleaning the streets, and are, moreover, liable to heavy and pe, remptory penalties for suffering any accumulation of snow or filth belbre their doers, ft would seen that the energies of a pri vate society to do the duty of well-paid public flinctionaries and the great mass of the inhabitants of cities and towns is un called for ; and certainly if a society were formed for rousing the contractors to do their duties, it would be a more effec tive mode to employ its funds for enforcing penalties for their neglect, than to coax them into the performance of them by models of muck machinery, or the distribution of birch brooms to paupers. These amateur experiments have hitherto been productive of little or no benefit ; and, indeed, one gentleman who addressed the meeting ad mitted that the streets of Paris (in which no society as this exists) were better cleaned than those of this metropolis. What has yet been done, though it may show that the promoters are actuated by good intentions, shows little beyond it. Street cleaning, in so large a city as London, is a national affair, and can be little helped by a few scores of gentlemen dining together, and making speeches, how ever eloquent, over their wino and dessert. That the state of the streets is execrable is not to be denied ; that ample funds are col lected for keeping them in proper order is also undeniable ; and it it high time that some more effective measures than voluntary contri butions to shame those whose duty it is to see to such thi ngs into the performance of their duties, were ad opt ed MUNIFICENT BEQUESTS. —By the will of the late Rev. Henry Campbell, of Conley, near Uxbridge, the following cha rities will, upon the demise of his widow, become entitled to an equal participation in the sum of 15,0001., viz. :—The Hospital for Con sumption and Diseases of the Chest; the Church Missionary Society;. the British and Foreign Bible Society • the Society for the Conver sion of the Jews ; the London Missionary Society ; th e Religious Tract Society ; and the Society for the Sa r •PP e..sion of Cruelty to Animals. The deceased gentleman, who has left so striking a proof le of Philip the uncp Rose vof his benevolence, was the founder and Honorary Secretary to the Hospital for Consumption. THE LEAGUE QUARTIR OF A MILLION FUND.--From many places no list of subscriptions has been transmitted, or will be, till the local committees transmit the collection of the first instalment thereon, so that probably the total amount really Subscribed exceeds 180,0001.—Mancheer Guardian. The colonelcies of the 7th Hussars, the 55th rofot, and 15th Foot, are at present vacant, General Sir James Kearney, K.O It.: General Sir Wm. H. Clinton, G.C.B. ; and Major-General Sir Robert H. Cale, G.C.E. IMPORTANT POST-OFFICE NOTICE. ---MAIL TO NEW GRANADA DISCONTINUED.—TeStCr lay a notice was posted at the Ge• moral Post-office, St. M artin's-le-Grand, with reference to the mail to New Granada, which would have been dispatched on the 2d inst. It is as follows :—" The arrangements made In August last for dis patching a second mail in every month to Santa Martha will be dis contiaued from this date, as the Government of New Granada has failed to provide a vessel for the conveyance of such mail from Ja maica. Only one mail per month will for the future be made up for New Granada, viz., on the morning of the 17th of the month." THE REPORTED CRUELTIES TO P— n LISH PRIESTS.— The Journal de Bruxelles states, that the man who made the report respecting the escape of the 97 Polish priests from Siberia has bees arrested at Valenciennes, by order of the Prefect du Nord. The Police. it appears, have ascertained that his statement is entirely de void of truth—that he Is no priest, and never was at Tebolsk (from which place he states he made Ills escape) in his life. NORTH NOTTINGHANSHIRE.—This division will not for the present, be contested. It is thought, wider all circumstances, not worth while now. The nomination take, place tomorrow (Saturday), when Lord Henry Bentmck (a averse speaker than Mr. Houldswertk, the present Member for that division) will of course eturned. THE SUN, LONDON,P'SA.TU'it DAY MORN iNG, FEB UA i_2B-tB4B ; - - r FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.- LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, FEB. 23, 1846. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold a Drawing-room, at St. James's Palace, on Thursday, the 19th of March next, at two o'clock. At tha Court at Buckingham Palace, the 25th day of February, 1846, present the Queen's Most Excellent Ma jesty in Council. This day the Most Honourable James Marquis of Abercorn, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Right Honourable James Archibald Stuart Wortley, were, by her Majesty's command, sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and took their respective places at the Board accordingly. At the Court, at Buckingham Palace, the 25th day of February, 1846, present, the Queen's most Excellent Majesty in council. Her Majesty iu council was this day pleased to appoint Dariel Peploe Peploe, of Garnatone, Esq., to be Sheriff of the county of Hereford, in the room of John Francis Vaughan, of Courtfield, Esq. DOWNING-STREET, FEB. 26. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Brevet Major George Hutt, of the Bombay Artillery ; Brevet Major Robert Henderson, of the Madras Engineers ; and Brevet Major Joshua Tait, of the Sixth Regiment of Bonilay Native Infantry, to be Companions of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath. CROWN-OFFICE, FEB. 27. MEMBER RETURN LCD TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT. PARLIAMENT. County of Northampton (Southern Division)—Richard Henry Richard Howard Vyse, cf Stoke--plain ' in the said county, Esq., in the room of Willia m Ralph Cartwright, Esq.. who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 27. . _ . _ _ 7th Light Dragoons—Lieut. A. Helvar, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Grasett, who retires; Cornet Sir W. Russell, Bart., to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Helyar ' • W. D. Buehe, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Sir W. Russell ; Feb. 27. 6th Regiment of Foot—J. R. Blake, Gent., to Ensign by purchase, vice Standish, who retires, Feb. 27. 7th Foot—Lieutenant J. King, from the 2d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice D. J. Dickinson, who retires on half-pay 2d Foot; Ensign R. C. Stanhope, from the 56th Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Lord Langford, who retires, Feb. 27. 44th Foot—Lieut. R. Feilden to be Captain, by purchase, vice Turner, who retires; Ensign the Hon. C. W. H. Aga, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Fadden ; R. Preston, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Agar, Feb. 27. 48th Foot—Gentleman Cadet C. J. 0. Swaffield, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without purchase vice Gubbins, appointed to the 85th Foot, Feb. 27. 55th Foot—Major-General A. G. Lord Saltoun, K.C.8., to be Colonel, vice General Sir W. H. Clinton, G.C.8., deceased, Feb. 23. 56th Foot—F. H. Sykes, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Stanhope, promoted in 7th Foot, F e b. 27. 80th Foot-2 Gentleman Cadet Hon. J. H. M. Browne, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without: purchase, vice Fraser, deceased, Feb. 27. 85th Foot—Lieut. A. Patterson to be Captain, without purchase, vice Coape, deceased ; Ensign C. Warburton to be Lieutenant, vice Patterson, Jan. 13; Ensign J. Gubbins, from the 48th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Warburton, Feb. 27. UNATTACHED.—Lieutenant 11. Reynolds, from the 2d Foot, to be Captain, without purchase, Feb. 27. GAnntsoss.—General Sir G. Anson, G.C.8., to be Lieu tenant-Governor of Chelsea Hospital, vice General Sir W. H. Clinton, G.C.8., deceased, Feb. 23. Commission by the Queen. Durham Regiment of Militia—Capt. R. H. S. Jackson to be Adjutant, Feb. 4. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Southampton. To be Deputy Lieutenants—R. Cole, Esq.; C. B. Wall, Esq., M.P. ; the Right Hon. Lord H. Cholmondeley ; Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Harcourt; Sir R. G. Simeon, Bart. ; H. C. Compton, E sq ., ALP. ; J . L o bb , Esq. ; W. J. Le Feuvre, Esq.; Hon. E. A. J. Harris; G. T. Brice, Esq.; J. M. Elwes, Esq., Feb 17. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County Palatine of Lancaster. To be Deput-Licutenants—William Shawe, E sq ., F e b . 22 ; R. Atkinson, Esq., Feb. 23. 2d Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia—Sir Thomas George Hesketh, Bart., to be Major, vice Honiby, resigned, Feb. 21. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Kent. To be Deputy-Lieutenants—H. Armytage, Esq. ; J. Deane, Esq.; E. I). Brockman, Esq. ; W. Elers, Esq. ; A. Pott, Esq. ; J. Whatman, Esq. ; C. Child, Esq.; C. Millington, Esq.; F. Wilson, Esq., Feb. 24. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Flintshire. Sir R. Puleston, Bart., to be Deputy Lieutenant; H. M. A. Jones, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, Feb. 24. Flintshire Militia—Sir R. Puleston, Bart., to be Lieute nant-Colonel, vice Fletcher, resigned; C. J. W. D. Dundas, Esq., to be Major, vice Fletcher, resigned; H. M. A. Jones, Esq., to be Captain, vice the Marquis of Westminster, re signed, Feb. 24. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Selkirk. Dumfries-shire, &c., Regiment of North British Militia— A. M. Rutherford, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice Irving, de ceased, Jan. 22. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Bute. Argyle and Bute Regiment of Militia—H. Veitch, Gent. to be Ensign, vice M'Dougall, Feb. 6. DECLARATION OF INSOLVENCY. George Thomas Walker, draper, Portsea. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. William Carey, hair-dresser, Leamington Priors, Warwick. shire. Philip Phillips, steel penmaker, Birmingham. BANKRUPTS. Edward Williams, linendraper, Bishopsgate-street, to sur render March 10, at two, and April 21, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Dickson and Overbury, Frederick's.-place, Old Jewry. Lewis Reis, James; Power, and Gustavus Koenig, soap manufacturers, Fenchurch-street, March 10, at one, and April 21, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Birchin-lane ; Marten, Thomas, and Hollams, Mincing-lane. George Butler Earn, shipbreker, City, March 6, at two, and April 10, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pen nell, official assignee ; Yardy, Finsbury-place. John Sandaver, cabinet maker, Kenton-street, Brunswick square, March 7, at one, and April 4, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basingliall-street ; Williams, Alfred-place Bedford-square. Richard Childs, tailor, Queen Ann-street, Cavendish square, March 10, at eleven, and April 7, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bar.kruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Edwards and Peake, New Palace-yard. William White, tailor, Aylesbury, March 4, at two, and April 11, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook-court, Basinghall. street; Tilleard and Co , Old Jewry. William Bull Harvey, mercer, Ilerbert-street, New North road, March 6, at one, and April 11, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, AldermanburY ; Cox, Pinners'-hall, Old Broad street. John Shirt, grocer, Broad-street, Lambeth-butt s , M arc h 6 , at half past one, and April 8, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-b u ildi ngs; sPulI Inn. Lawton, stock and i a ld li s h are brokers, Leeds, 111 arch 10 and 31, a t e l even , at t h e L ee ds District Court. Kynaston, official assignee, Leed s; Willi am son and Hill, Gray's Inn ; Caries, Leeds. Ab ra ham France, sharebroker, Leeds, Ma rc h 10 an d 31 , at e l e ven, at the Leeds District Court. Kynaston, official assignee, Leeds; Sudlo w and Co., Chancery-lane ; Middl e t on, Pope, Abraham RaYm Francedbn nidng William Gray's y' Leeds. John Wright, scrivener, Tamworth, Staffordshire, March 14, and April 18, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittlestone, official assignee, Birmingham; Thorne will, Burton-upon-Trent; Collis, Birmingham. Issachar Roberts, grocer, Mold, Flintshire, March 13 and April 17, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official assignee, Liverpool; Edwards and Co., New Palace yard ; Ingleby, Mold. Henry John Barker, miller, Flixton, Lancashire, March 13 and April 3, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester; Johnson, Son, and Weathiiiall, Temple; Hitchcock, Buckley, and Tidswell, Manchester. Thomas Parnell, laceman, Manchester, March 16 and April 1, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester; Gregory and Co., Bedford-row; Whitwerths, Manchester. George Perry, Stroud, Gloucestershire, coach-builder, March 12, at twelve, and April 10, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, "official assignee, Bristol ; Brisley, Pancras-lane, London ; Paris, Stroud. Joseph Metford, wine merchant, Bath, March 13 and April 10, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Bishop, Lincoln's Inn-fields; Lovibond and Co., Bridgwater. John Godfrey, linen-draper, Midsomer Norton, Somerset shire, March 13 and April 10, at one, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assig nee , Bristol; Govett, Upper North place, Gray's Inn-road. Samuel Evans, cotton -spinner, Black rod, Lancashire, March 11, and April 6, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Gregory, Faulkner, Gregory, and Skir row , B e df or d- row; Hi tchcock, Buckley, and Tidswell, Manchester. John Brock, innkeeper, Liverpool, March 13 and April 14, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool; Pocock, Norfolk-street, Strand; Cunnah, Chester. James Corrall, shipowner, Boston, Lincolnshire, March 13 and April 14, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Hartley, Boston; Jab et, Birmingham. 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 Feb. 24, 1846, is 345. !d. per cwt. [Diviciends, &c., in our next.' BANK OF ENGLAND. (From last Night's Gazette.) &n Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 21st day of February. 1846. ISSUB DEPARTMENT. X. Notes lamed 26,973,285 X. Government debt .. 11,015,100 Other securities .... 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 11,346,130 Silver billion ...... 1,627,125 A 26,972,255 X 26,973,255 M. MART MALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the 26th day of Febraary, 1546. BOLING oIIPAITILINT. Proprietors' capital.. 14,5b3,000 Rest .............. 3,477,016 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Say- Government seenri tiaa(including Dead Wight Anniiity).. 13,137,047 Other eecuritiea • • • • 22,539,192 Notes • • • • • • • • •• • • • • 6,887,810 Gold and silver *obi.. 678,472 ings-banks, and Di vidend accounts) • • 6,202,903 Other deposits •• • ... 13,091,320 Seven day and other bills•• 918,282 A 43,242,521 A 43,242, M. MARSHALL, Chi 44 Cashier 21. , 1846. Dated lie 26th day of February, COURSE OF EXCIIA: Amsterdam c.r. 12 Ditto, at sight ... •• 12 53i Rot`erdam .... • . 3H. 12 10 Antwerp 26 15 Hamburgh M.B. 13 143 i iltona. Paris, 3 days' sight .... 25 75 NGE.—(YESTERDAY.) Gibraltar.. • • • • Leghorn Genoa .. . • • • • • 26 10 Milan .. • ...... Venice.. • • • • • Naples ..... . . .. .• 39% Palermo, per oz . 119% Lisbon.... • • • • .... 62% Oporto .. • • • • • • . • • 62% Rio Janeiro • ..... • • • 24% Bahia .. • • .. . Buenos Ayres • • • New York, 21 days' slirkt Philadelphia .... • • • • • PRICES OF BULLION, PER 02. Foreign Gold in bars ...£3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin New Doubloons e 0 0 Kew Dollars .... • • • Silver 1n Ws .. 4 11% Ditto, 3 months...... 25 Marseilles ••.. • • 2G 10 Bourdeaui .......... • • 26 10 Frankfort on Maine.... 122% Petereburgh, 3 U5......U5...... Berlin • Vienna, effee. !to. ••• • • 10 103 y Trieste, ditto • • .... 10 103 Madrid . Cadiz . ...... • • ...... • Itareolona ..... StYlll9.• .• .....; .- -- ---- - t : " Y . BHIT in - CH A NCE R About eight ye ar e ago an old lady died near Aylekury and left a gent] amen, who is a prominent member cif the Court of Commo di Council, executor to her will. [Tar clilf,cts were to be divid ed equally between her husband's and her own nephews aad nieces, which was done immediatelvi. It was found that a .small farm of thirty-five acres near }t4rrow had been beqaeat hed to her for life by her husband,) who had died thirty, years before, and was upon her death Ito be divided amongg t the same parties. The executors named in that will were !dead, and left behind them no legal riipre sentatives. Som e o f th e par ti es, twenty-three in number having died, a nd their representatives having accumulated to about and some being minors, no one could be ' found to give a lawyer's title to the estate. In this state of things there appeared to be but one way of getting ovei the embarrassment, and that was by a friendly applicatick to the Court of Chancery upon the subject. About two years afterwards the Common-Couricilman alluded to consented to be made a defendant, with a view of settling the point With as little expense as possible for the legatees. After firb or six years' procrastination in that Court, the result of the cause " Beck v. Burn" was as follows The land had been sold for X2,580 The rent and interest were 426 3,006 The attorney's bill amounted to £1,470 Four attorneys, who themsel•es with four plaintiffs to protect their inte rest and to be paid out of the estate 2,407 0 0 Various other expenses of the lord of the manor 203 6 4 His wife h a d a share, and received £2,61.2 6 4 171. 2s. 4d., bei ng a 23d share of the divided money, amounting to 393 13 8 A PROPHECY from the POTATO. We remember a nursery fragment —as, doubtless, does . ; the reader—running thus " The butcher, the baker, The candlestick maker, All jumped out of a rotten pota,to P' • We know not whether the good Father Mathew had 'this doggrel in his thoughts, but he has hopefully suggested that future plenty may be made to germinate from the present potato blight. The noble meek-hearted man has written a letter to the Cork Examiner, in which he dilates on the use and importance of Indian corn as an. article of food. , lie says, " I hope for many ulterior advantages from what at present is a calamity; our people will be deterred from de pending solely on potatoes for food ;" and he concludes as follows: " With the gratifying prospects now before us of sufficient remune rative labour for the whole unemployed population of, Ireland, E in dulge in the expectation of soon seeing the potato reduced to its pro per position of a vegetable to be used with flesh meat, &c., as an ac companiment, and no longer to be esteemed as an exclusive article of food, except for hogs." We fervently hope so too. And when Paddy shall enjoy his own pork, with a bit of Sunday mutton or beef; shall break his daily bread of good wholesome corn ; when he shall be enabled to secure to his family these small comforts, ori ginating in the present dire distress—made ultimately ;at tainable by him in consequence of the attention of the Le gislature to his present misery —then let the little children of Ireland be taught the above-named doggrel as a house hold song of comfort and thanksgiving, and let them (gene rously assuming the advent of the maker of candlesticks) pipe from contented, full bellies, the realised prophecy:— " The butcher, the baker, The candlestick maker, Did jump out of a rotten potato." We think that Victoria herself would hear as sweet music in this as ever she listened to in " God .save the Queen."— Punch. Died, December 22, 1845, struck by a cannon-shot, while gloriously storming the Seikh batteries in front of Ferozepere, Lieutenant George Alfred Croly, 26th Light Infantry, N. 1., eldest son of the Rev. Dr. C rely, Rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, London A CHESHIRE HERO. Sir John Littler, who was engaged in the late battle of Moodkee, in India, is the eldest son of Thomas Littler, Esq., by Diana his wife, daughter of John Hunter, Esq., a Director of the East India Company, and represents a family of considerable antiquity in Cheshire, where, in the Vale Royal, his ancestors were settled in the time of Edward I. Sir John Littler was. born Jan. 6th, 1783, end married, June 25th, 1827, Helen Olympia, only daughter of Captain Henry Stewart, son of John Stewart, Esq., claimant of the earldom of Orkney.—Chester Courqnt. DEATH OF MRS. BUSHE. We regret to announce the death of this amiable and talented lady, who expired at jeer house on Friday last. Her loss will be severely felt in the musical profession, of which she was deservedly an ornament. Mrs. Bushe (better known in the musical world as Miss Noel) was the original Agnes in .Der Frieschutz, w hen it was produced in Edinburgh, and in which she made a great impression ; and few will forget the exquisite taste and feeling she imparted to all our Scotch ballads, in which she excelled, In private life Mrs. Bushe was universally Ye spected, and we need scarcely say that her death will be regretted by a large circle of friends and admirers.—Edinburgh Advertiser. GENERAL TETEATRICAL FUND.—The annual meeting of the members was held on Wednesday, at the saloon of the English Opera Rouse ; Mr. Buckstone, the treasurer, in the chair. From the report of the committee, read by Mr. Cullenford, the secretary, It appeared that the object of this institution was the granting of permanent pensions to actors, actresses, chorus singers, dancers, pantomimists, and prompters. The necessity of such a Rind had long been kit by the members of the profession, from the exclusiveness of the Covent-garden and Drury-lane funds. These patent theatres only assisted the decayed members of their respective companies (pantomimist, excepted), while the General Theatrical Fund was open to all persons connected with the stage, with the exception of those engaged in the musical and scenic departments. Drury-lane im posed a servitude of three successive seasons, and Covent-garden two successive seasons, to entitle a member of such company to the advan tages of either funds, consequently the majority of actors and actresses were excluded from the benefits of these rich and prosperous in stitutions. A very clever letter, expressive of these sentiments, from tho pen of Sir. IL Hughes, of the Surrey Theatre, was laid before the meeting. The financial statement of the directors was subsequently read. The receipts during the past year had been 3,096/. 15s. 5d., while the expenditure was only 451. 19s. 7d. The amount of annuity proposed to be granted during the ensuing year was 251. Theie were four claimants. The report of the committee having been con firmed, it was determined that the first public dinner in aid of the fund should take place early in April, at the London Tavern, at which Mr. Charles Dickens had kindly consented to preside. Among the donors to the institution appear the names of the Duke of North umberland, 50/. ; Mr. C. Kean, 501. ; Mr. Macready, 30/. ; Mr. B. Webster, 201. ; the late Mr. Davidge, 201. • Miss Helen Faucit, 51. (annual) ; and Mr. W. Farren, 5/. ( annual ). The customary votes of thanks having been given to the officers of the fund, the meeting separated. MORNING TRAINS TO LONDON.—We understand that it is the intention of the directors of the Grand Junction Railway to comply with the requester the merchants of Liverpool, recently con veyed to them in the form of a memorial, praying that they would establish a morning as well as an evening express train between London and Liverpool. It is generally understood that the morning train will start at 6 i.e., and reach Loudon about 12 ; and we be lieve that it is the intention of the directors to delay the starting of the down-train to Liverpool until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, in order that persons desirous of performing the journey to and from London in a single day may have more time to get through their business. It will thus be possible fir merchants, brokers, and others, who may be desirous to attend sales of sugar, wool, indigo, and other articles— or professional men having business to perform which requires their actual presence on the spot—to pass the previous night at home, to spend four or five hours in London, and again to reach home the same evening. The distance travelled will not be less than 428 miles ; and yet, such is the ease as well as the swiftness of this mode of tra ver—ing, that it will be performed with muck greater ease, and in pretty much the same time, as the journey was formerly performed front Liverpool to Manchester, and back again, in the same day. Twen ty years ago this was considered something of a feat, although the distance travelled over was only 72 miles.—Liverpool Times. GLASGOW Pia IRON TRADE.—TUESDAY, FEL 24. Five or six thousand tons could easily have been purchased to-day at 755.; a similar quantity would hare at once met purchasers at 70a. to 725. 6d. We quote the price 735. 6d.— Glasgow National. FATAL ACCIDENT.—An unfortunate accident occurred on the evening of Monday last to Mr. Britain, an extensive farmer, occupying his own land at Bagshot. He was returning home from Windsor on horseback, accompanied by Mr. Irish, of Itagshot, and when within about a mile of the town, he was thrown from his horse, and falling upon his head, he sustained such serious injuries that he expired on Wednesday morning. AN EXTRAORDINARY PROPERTY FOR SALE. -- Mr. George Robins, in his exordium at the Auction Mart yesterday, said he had, during a long professional career, had a great variety of pro perty, and of every description, placed under his paternal care. He had been honoured by the Duke of York in selling his palace in the Stable yard ; he had been instructed by the Governors of St. George's Hospital, and on their account sold the venerable old, but worn-out building at Hyde Park-corner—a greater contrast than these two could not well be found ; but to illustrate the above statement, yes terday he undertook a sale certainly of a character dissimilar to anything else on record ; it is this— .. ONE-TENTH PART OF AN UNDIVIDED ELEVENTH SHARE OF THE GREEN DRAGON by almost M b r e . George Aßp Robins HOLBORN," fe ,601. 11 appears to be near the mark, but puzzled to arrive at its value; 3 • c ee oc h ic o u ld ,s pro t _st in y eti la c te w ly ou s l o d l d then our learned friend said, only think of the additional value of the freehold vote for the City of London, and in order to enforce this argument and draw something in addition from such a startling fact, he related the following, and which we are assured is in no way an exaggeration :—" In the year 1812, a man voted for the borough of Weymouth, his only qualification being a ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH PART OF A SIXTY-FIFTH PART OF SIXPENCE PER ANNUM." The sales that ensued after garden and Drury-lane Shares only tended to conirna the preference entertained by the public for the former, from the regularity of the Covent-garden treasurer. PEDientaxism.- - R. Caunwell, on Wednesday, over Mitcham-common, performed his match, to run ten miles within the hour, which he did with great ease in 59 minutes 10 seconds, resting at the end of the fifth mile for throe minutes, as a " bellows- mendir." Ware, Wyse, and e Earl of Sheffield, Messrs. Worley, , a whieb had been hunted but once before, numerous,were at the meet on Monday, at Thorpe- BUCKTIOLINDEL—THZ STAG lii reLlignE.—R Th MAjaSTY'S then . of the best beautifulfieldnpreAtty day's sport of the season : upon being he a ffording one, k near Clsobham-cemmon, took awe - y over uncarted at Botley I-Par . thegtbe up Chapel-hill to Engle nt Jg , the common, cr I:&green, down by union workhouse at Old Windsor, making more House and gardens, over Shaw Farm into b h re e lth t e oe h ryr k a i r k F , r b .g etween the double gates and the Frogmore-road, c l ose ly pursued by the pack. The stag then made up the walk to wards the castle. On arriving at the ga t es in the Frogm ore-road, it w Th s a e dheeeard,eidnbayttaemuiptaningst;"oncleardillg close to the L ong Walk entrance. the high railing, jumped short, and became impaled upon the iron spikes. The hounds being close at its heels the poor animal was dreadfully bitten and lacerated before the whippers-in arrived at the spot. The deer was then extricated and its throat cut, to put it out of further misery. The run, up to the time of the accident, occupied about three-quarters of an hour, at a racing pace. FARMING IN L A N CIBIIIRE.—We are glad to see that there are signs of thorough and systematic draining on another of thel large estates of South Lancashire—that of Mr. Bold, Houghton. Until the present spirited proprietor cams into possession, that estate was about as fine a specimen of a bed of rushes as any that was to be seen in South Lancashire. Great improvements are now in progress, especially the essential one of draining ; and when that has been thoreughly done, the real value of the estate will be nearly doubled. There are still many specimens of most scandalous neglect by the owners of land in this part of Lancashire, but we have no doubt the repeal of the corn-laws, and the admission of ioreign butter, cheese, and other produce, duty free, will open the eyes of these gentlemen, and make them look after their interests as well as those of the public. In this respect the estates of the Earl of Derby now present a most honourable contrast to those of most of oar Lanca shire landowners. The commonest observer cannot fail to notice the improvement on them, which has resulted from the draining of the land and enlarging the fields.—Liverpool Times. BANKRUPTCY.—The first accounts of Mr. Clarke, the recently appointed accountant in bankruptcy, presented to Parlia ment, were yesterday printed. They give an explicit statement of the aeceunt transferred and paid out as dividends, amount paid by orders of Court and of the Judges, and balance standing to the credit of the account on the let of January last. On the Ist of January. the Bankruptcy Fund Account amounted to 1,517,716/. 19s. 2d. The payments to commissioners, registrars, and clerks, made from the list of December to the Ist of January last (one year), were 54,095/. Bs. 7d. The annuities to the late London commissioners and others due the 12th of January, 1845, amounted to 11,920 i. The . compensations to late country c o mmissioners due the 12 th I T November last were 17,4851., of whi c h 2,4.55/. had not been December ; in addition to whi c h there was in Decembe r , a 1844 a sum of 400/. unpaid (not applied for) which'wasdue in 1843, and 3,161/. due to persons of the same class (i n t o com missioners) in November last, which remained u npaid which was not costmensation t• the late country compal 110 are entitled to the 1844 ; so that there remained last month .87 ou r zi ds , of 6,0001. due as moneyTarheegnfrar et paid" 'ppm,. o th f e tb re e tu e rn m :rfo il :t7 n.- s rl iz w of which the worded "0 £3,006 0 0 The attorney who protected the interest of a person who had a tenth part of a twenty-third share, amounting to less than 355., sent in a bill amounting to 3151. On applying at the Master's office to see the bills, I found the gross amount balanced, as near. as .could be, the whole value of the land, and the sum taxed off was of course. the amount divided amongst the legatees. Mr. Burn concluded his statement of the particularts of this stupendous robbery by saying, " I nw think mself extremely fortunate, afte r a ll , to have o escaped without being obliged to pay, out of my own property, some of the costs of this friendly suit in Chancery." And this suit has only very lately been concluded upon, after the boasted improvements in the Chancery proceedings had taken place. S ,a ,~ ~~. i_ ~!=~' NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—The Janus steam-sloop, on the • design of Vice-Admiral the Earl of Dundonald, went out yesterday morning with her noble designer on board, also Commander Caffin, of the Scourge, and Mr. Taplin, machinist of this dockyard, to make another trial of her engines upon the rotatory principle. She left the jetty at a quarter before ten o'clock, and proceeded slowly out of harbour under steam, but not with her full power on. The Rattler, screw steam sloop, Commander Smith, followed soon after, to attend upon her in case of accident. The Janus was lightened of every thing which could safely be dispensed with, consequently her draught of water was so reduced, that she was enabled to cut across the Spit bank, which. shortened the distance considerably in making out; whereas the Rattler, although going at but little more than half speed, and compelled to round the anchorage of Spithead, gained so quickly upon the Janus, that she gave her the go-by at the Lazaretto off the Motherbank, where :soon after the Janus was com pelled to lie to to screw up some of her machinery, which bad become deranged. Both vessels then steamed on for Southampton, where they moored for a short time, and then started on their return. The Janus, however, met with her usual luck, and broke the chain of her starboard wheel on coming Cowl' the Southampton: Water, which compelled her to relinquish working the engine on that side the vessel, and hoist sail to assist her on her way home. She came into harbour about six o'clock, and the Rattler about half-an hour before her. On this trip the greatest speed made by the anus was 6 and 6 knots. She started with 11 revolutions, which increased to 16 per minute. tier speed under steam alone was 6 and 6. The result of the trial has proved that the Janus cannot be worked upon the rotatory principle safely at present, nor long without disarrangement of the machinery. 'She is, of course, now hors du combat. The Retribution.. steam-frigate, Captain Lushington, is being fitted with a connecting-beam to strengthen her paddle boxes. She will be ready fur sea in a few days. She has 520 tons of coal in her bunkers. The Alarm, 26, Captain Frankland, arrived at Madeira, from Spithead, on the 31st of December, en route to join the squadron under Vice-Admiral Sir F. Austen, Commander • in-Chief on the West India and North American station. A private letter, dated " Madeira, Jan. 4," says, "We arrived here on the 31st of December. We experienced a most awful gale in the Boy of Biscay, which lasted three days, which we weathered in most unprecedented style, not strain ing a timber, nor carrying away any portion of our gear, which, considering this is the first trip of our craft, is very much to the credit of that much maligned officer, the Sur veyor of the Navy, on whose design I believe we were constructed. No casualty of any kind happened, which is more than astonishing, considering the terrific weather we encountered. We are very easy in a sea, and in all other respects a most excellent ship. We sail to-morrow, the sth, for Bermuda, to relieve, it is said, the Eurydice, 26, Captain G. Elliot, whose time expired in February. We are all well on board." The Lizard steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander Tylden, arrived at Madeira from this port on the 15th of January, and sailed again on the 20th for Rio, en route to the Pacific. The Daring, 12, Commander Matson, arrived at Madeira on the 26th ult., and sailed on the 29th for Bermuda. The Alecto steam-sloop, Commander Austen, on her way to join the squadron in the River Plate, under Rear-Admiral Englefield, was spoken on the 11th ult., in lat. 12 51 S., long. 32 W. The Fanny, yacht of the Commander-in-Chief Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, .Bart., is in the Camber, fitting with a new deck. WEDNzsDA.Y.—The Janus, having adjusted her "wrongs," left the harbour this morning about nine o'clock to make another trial, it being asserted, that if she can make 20 revo lutions per minute she will succeed. The Rattler again at., tended her. The Fairy, royal yacht, Master-Commander R. W. Roberts, went out this morning and down to Cowes to try the vessel and screw. The, whole of the arrangements for her Majesty's reception on Friday have been made by Master-Commander Roberts, and the Admiralty have been pleased to- express, through Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., Commander-in- Chief, their unqualified approbation. The Semarang, 26, Captain S:r Edward Belcher, arrived at Manilla on the sth of December from China. She brought the crew and part of the treasure (80,000 dollars) of the Bremen brig Expi ess, bound from Mazatlan for China, but wrecked at the'port of Mauanivv in a gale on October 9. The Sapphire troop-ship, Master• Commander Fittock, arrived at Singapore from Calcutta on the 29th of December, and sailed on the 31st for Hong-Kong. The Serpent, 16, Commander Neville, arrived at Singapore from Moulmein on the 29th of December, and sailed on the 6th ult. for England, to be paid off. The Vixen steam-sloop, Commander Gifford, arrived at Hong-Kong from Macao on the 6th of December. ROSSINI AND DUPREZ. We extract from the France Musicale a correspondence between these great artists:— DUPREZ TO ROSSINI. "My dear and illustrious Master,—To you am I indebted for my earliest and deepest musical impressions; to you also do I owe a pa r t o f m y success , ow i ng to t h e powerful in fluence of your works. Would it be taken as a proof of my Just finished on 4 The the dedication of a Treatise that 1 ha i v s eji admiration, and of my gratitude, Art of Singing?' - My claims to publish h such a work, and to ill begged you to accept the school of my excellent master, Choron ; pursued at ' exercise of my profession at the principal offer it to you, are :—ten years of vocal and musical study, Theatres twe c n s t r years of Europe, and the constant observation of lyrics e j various talents that I have heard during my career. My work is doubtless still very imperfect; I may be only a singer, and, perhaps, little or nothing as a composer. If you wish It, then, I will forward you what may interest you, perhaps, in my work, and I should regard as the highest favour, my der master, any observations or corrections that you might be so kind as to make. Honour me, I beg, with a reply, and believe in all my sentiments of admiration. " Paris, Dec. 26, 1845." " G. DUPREZ. " ROSSINI TO DUPREZ. ~ Dear Friend,—l accept with delight the dedication that you have been kind enough to offer me of your new method of singing; a method which will be worthy of its author. When one sings as you sing, good lessons are unavoidable. You have undertaken a great work. I am sure that your efforts will be rewarded by the unanimity with which your new doctrines will be received. Accept the sentiments of gratitude of him who loves to call himself your admirer and friend, " G. ROSSINI. " Bologna, F e b. 5, 1846." BLOOD BOUNDS.—The following feat was performed on Wednesday morning :—Mr. Bellow, of Adderbury, had a sheep at turnips doing amiss, so he ordered a butcher and a labourer to kill it in the field at midnight, and each take a clean shoulder in baskets, (leaving all the rest), and start for a round of three miles of most intricate ground, Mr. Bellow not knowing one foot of the track. The men started with the clean mutton at half-past one in the morning. Mr. Bellow at half-past eight took his blood hounds to the carcase, at which they smelt, but did not attempt to eat, instantly throwing up their noses, giving tongue, and away they went, running through a lot of men who were planting trees, across a turnip field, through a pen of sheep, and then through a herd of cattle; they now mended their pace, until it became smart running, and ran into the mutton at half-past nine, when the hounds . were rewarded with the meat, and they then showed great eagerness to be off again. Mr. Bellow, at the moment, not knowing what it meant, called them in. The fact turned out that the butcher they had been hunting• having left the meat, had gone a mile elsewhere to kill a pig, and the hounds were on the trail. It will be seen that the hounds were not put on till eight hours after the meat was removed, and yet they made a splendid and sure run. Is sheep steal ing a safe speculation ?—Banbury Guardian. THREATENED FAMINE ON TEE WESTERN COAST.— We regret to have to state that we have received various com munications frem parties in whole veracity e very coutidence ' can be placed, representing that there exist t he most appa ll leg prospects of a . c .ern...ie in a few weeks, at farthest, with reg ar d m he na Galway, particularly in the district o All hope of a' extendin g from to a large portion of the populatio f n G o o f m t . Western Coast of Costello Lodge to Lettermulten, pr oductive herring going the roan fishery on the Connemara .oeast hats, for the presen t Season, passed expectations formed that by the win ter's flshery the away, and the that the Hon. Member for Stockport has had people would have, in some measure, been enabled to bear the ex tensive loss which they have incurred by the potato disease, have . To A ii p it a ed ia — g G ra a/ p et h yry h r t :t s ir e Z a relapse "at his residence in Connaught -place ;'' Mr. CObsi been m c a o . m e pl o e S te D ly E d if i not live there, axd is gradually improving in health at Xer ea does of the papers implying Sir George Clerk, it is stated, will Dr , cepi r °c4 : diately to Calcutta. Major.cieneral Sir Geo • ' '-- -me the Council on eoeount ofhis health. George Pollock retires from THE ELECTRIC GIRL.- The by the Paris Acade my of Sciences to Commission app o i nte d pheno menon, report i n th e sitting of the 23d inst., this curious snit had beau obtaued, the - nst., that no satisfactory re- C Alin being s u hown by non presence of e l ectr i city in Ante/ague nation ls *,bout to be m ade. e of the test s employed. Another exam!. The Marchioness of Londonderry h iiil IllundaT sylnin , ~, a s 4 a the dansants i a t nvldsrneiseliougt. A DILL TO REGULATE IJINT STOCK BANKS IN SCOTLAND AND LAND. (Note.—The word'sprinted in Italics are prOposed to le ino c y serted in the Committee.) - Whereas, an Act was passed in the sixth year of the reign of Her Majesty, intituled, "A n A c t to regulate Joint Stock Banks in England ;" and it is expedient to extend the 1 re visions of the said Act to Scotland and Ireland; Be it enacted by the. Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the':-.d . vice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Correa. isne in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that all the provisions.of the said Act (except ail hereinafter excepted) shall extend to Scotland and Ireland s and to every Company or more than Six persons, who shall carry on the trade or business of Bankers in Scotland or iris land after the passing of this Act, as if the first recited Act were herein re-enacted, with the substitution of the words "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," instead of the word" England," wherever the same is found in the said Act : Provided al ways, that nothing herein contained shall extend to apply toSectland or Ireland so much of the said recites Act as declares what Companies shall be trading o‘ o :apanies within the provisions of am Act passed in the eighth ear of the reign of liar Majesty, imitated . , " Ass Act tor facilitating the winding up the Affairs of Joint Stock Companies to meet their Pecuniary Engagements:" Prov Wed also, that where, by the first -recited Act certain enactments are made with reference to agreements or covenants of to partnership entered into on or before the sixth day of May next, before the passing of the said Act, and Companies care rying on or established for the purpose of carrying on the trade or business of bankers in England, on or before the said sixth day of May, the same enactments shall be ex. tended and deemed to apply to Scotland and Ireland, to agreements or covenants of co-partnership, entered into .on cr before the eighteenth day of July, last, past. and Companies carrying on or estabiishe'd for the purpose of carrying on tl,s trade or business of bankers in Scotland or Ireland on or be. fore the 'said eighteenth day of,July. And be it declared and enacted, that nothing herein, or its the first recited Act contained, shall be held to preclude any creditor of any such Company in Scotland from any remedy or proceeding now eornpetent to such creditor by the law of Scotland . against such • Company or the partners thereof, or the property, funds or ,effects of such Company or of the 'partners thereof, or to preclude any partner of any such Company in Scotland from any remedy or proceeding now competent to such partner by the law of Scotland against such Company or any of the other partners thereof, or against the property, funds or effects of such Company or, partners. And be it enacted, that the following words and expressions in the first-recited Act shall have in Scotland the several meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there be something in the subject-matter or context repugnant to such construe.. Lion; (that is to say) the expression " Copy of the Register of such marriage or other particulars of the celebration theres of," shall be held to include all legal evidence of such mar. siage ; the expression "Probate of the will or letters of ad. ministration, or an official extract therefrom," Shall be held to include the will itself, or an official extract therefrom, or confirmation of an official extract therefrom • the expression "Committee of such idiot or lunatic" shall beheld to include any curator or other person having by lawful authority tho right to receive the funds of such idiot or lunatic. And be it enacted, that this Act may be amended or repealed by any Act to be passed during this session Parliament. 1 i ~,~~..►