The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YES TERDAY.) GROUP IX. WZST OT SCOTLAND 3117NCTION. (Continued from our ♦fternoen Editioa of yesterday.)' Mr. Walker, cross-examined by Mr. ANinEws—He did not recol lect having opposed the Harbour branch last year in the Lords. The River Trust obtiined powers about eight years ago to make docks on the south side of the river, but they never had done anything towards making them. He believed that powers had been taken this session of Parliament to abandon these docks, bat it was net with his ad vice, as he thought the time might come when they would be both wanted. The river had been deepened up to near the bridge to a considerable extent, and the bridge had not given way. This gave him confidence in it ; but if they were to drive piles and make coffer dams for the new viaduct, the case would be much altered. This closed the case for the opposition on the part of the River Trust, the Bridge Trust, and the Corporation of Glasgow. Some discussion here arose as to the order of proceeding, The CHAIRMAN intimating that it would be better to hear Mr. Slope in summing up his case, and Mr. Andrews in reply, after which the decision of the Committee might be given on the West of Scotland Junction Bill, so as to liberate many p ar ti es t h at were retained here at present, . _ _ Mr. ANDREWS thought it would be best to reserve all decision on any of the schemes until the Caledonian was heard, as he had con ducted his case on that understanding, and abstained from asking any questions relative to the comparative merits of the two schemes. After several remarks pro and con., the room was cleared. On oar return, The CHAIENAN intimated that they would hear counsel in summing tm on behalf of the opposition, after which counsel in behalf sit the Bill would be heard in reply. The Committee then, if they thought the opposition sufficient to justify the rejection of the Bill, wouhl do so, reserving, however, to the promoters the right to appear against the Caledonian scheme, as if no such decision had been given. If the Committee thought otherwise, then the decision would be deferred until the Caledonian case was gone through. Mr. HOPE then proceeded to sunup. He commenced by referring to the proposed Blythswood station, stating that it had been shown that, for the general accommodation of the leading places of the city, the Queen-street station was better than the one proposed at Blythswood Holm. It was nearer to the Post-office, the Cross, the Exchange, and the leading places of business in the city. The only advantage brought forward in favour of the proposed station was, It lies nearer to the centre of the harbour. Then with regard to the through traffic, that was the only case on which this commu nication had been made to depend. They had heard parties called, to show that the Ayrshire ports, and the towns on the east of Scot land, would be much benefited' by the line. Now he did not depre ciate the benefits of through communication, and he could under stand how it was, that the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Perth, and the shippers of Ayrshire supported the scheme ; but he could not see that such a desire on the part of those persons should lead the citizens of Glasgow to allow their streets to he cut up and crossed, and their harbour cramped and injured, seeing that the city would receive no advantage. He saw no reason why the beauty and convenience of Glasgow should be so seriously interfered with as was proposed, merely to allow the inha bitants of Edinburgh to have Irish capons, eggs, and bacon at such times and in such a manner as they thought fit, while the traffic con ferred no benefits whatever on the citizens of the injured city. Re specting the bridge, he had heard nothing to show that the Admiralty were in favour of the crossing of the Clyde. The only construction he could put on the letter from the Admiral y which had been read was that the Lords of the Admiralty left it to the Parliamentary Committee, under the impression that the Committee to which the Bill was referred would reject it, and thus put an end to these parties coming to Parliament year after year endeavouring to get power to cross the river. The Clyde trustees were also opposed to the eras ing, and from the way that trust had managed the harbour it was Quite Wear that were they persuaded the junction would be a great public benefit they would not have opposed it. Reviewing the evi dence that had been called respecting the building of the bridge, independent of the facts he had just advanced, it was shown that the crossing ought to be refused. The evidence of both Mr. Walker, and Mr. Atherton had shown that the viaduct could not be erected without great danger to the existing bridge from quick and running sands. Whether on public or engineering greunds, therefore, the crossing of the Clyde in the manner proposed, was im politic and dangerous. Having stated what the promoters of the Bill proposed to do, and the reasons why they should not be allowed to do so, he would refer to what they proposed to abandon, in order, if possible, to secure the support of the Committee The Learned Gentleman then went into the particulars brought forward in re ference to the harbour mineral branch proposed to be abandoned, c.m tending, that allowing them to do so, would be to break faith with the harbour trust and the Glasgow awl Garnkirk Railway, and do a great injustice to the public, who looked to finding great accommodation from the mineral branch. The Learned Gentleman having amplified on these several points, concluded by calling on the Committee to reject the preamble of the Bill. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow, at one o'clock, when Mr. Meadows will reply. Git Or r xtv. SOUTR-EaSi7ElMr. The Committee met to-day at twelve ()clock. Present, Mr. Protheroe (chairman), Lord Emlyn, General Lygon, Mr. J. O'Con sell, and Mr. Grogan. Before, commencing the woccetlings of the day, the Committee retired, and, after an absence of a quarter of an hour, The CHAIRMAN', on resuming his seat, sail that the parties con nected with the line in ght have seen, by the reports in the newspapers, that he was yesterday evening induced to ask a question with regard to the object the Government had in view be the Royal Coneuiedon, to inryni,a into the lines of railway passing through the metropolis—tor sueli ha believed the object of the lineal Comm:ssion to be. The Royal Coannlssion not only took under thdr considerati st Come railwxys mentiened by the Committee of releC;icil, bat they intended to tele into their eonsidera *foe the Metropolitan Junction of the North Kent line. The Committe - ! of S.Aection, wilt all due respect to the Members who composed it, feed acted rather inconsistently, tor, if the matter of railways pes4ine through the metropolis was to be a matter of sep.irats consideration, they gave tlie metropolitan portion cf the South-Eastern line to the Commission, and a much sin Iler section of the North Kent line, not at all corresponding in impo.ganee, viz., that portion between Union-stree' and South wark-b •:dg,e, without mentionitig any portion of the North Kent be tween Union-street awl llatchaun The portion between Union street and Ilitcham corresponded accurately with the metropolitan portion of the South-Eastern. Sir Robert P,el, on being constiltel on the subject, said that if he were the Chairman of the Committee he would only exaniine so much or the line as re ferred to the country, and would suspend his decision on the metro politan portion until the Royal Conenission made its report. With out discussing the wisdom of that recommendation, he would state that it was impossible to comply with ir, and therefore the deci sion the Committee had come to was, to proceed precisely - as if there were no commission in existence. It would be butter, there fore. for the parties connected with one or other of the lines to apply during the Easter recess to the Commission, and request it to give its attention to the metroeolitan portion ofthelines,so that after Easter the Commit ee might have the benefit of the suggestion of tte Commission. Ile believed that the Committee was super or to a Royal Com mission ; tut he thought it would be better to have their ideas on the subject befere paving either cf these Bills. Ile did not mean to say that the decision of the Committee was dependent on that of the Commission ; they should decide quite independelitly of that decision with reference only to 'he respective merits of the knee. Ile would also state that the Committee had deeded upon adjourning tc-morrow afternoon tor the Eater recess, Mr. AUSTIN suggested that it would be more convenient for the promoteri that the Committee , uld adjourn at once. Mr. TAutor was averse to the stigr,,e,tion of tr. Austin, as it would cause ineoavenience to his ctie te. The Connitte,a decide upon aJ'l:rin2; to their original deter mination. Mr. R. Stephenson, the engineer to-the South Eastern Railway Company, exathined by Mr. Attyrtm—ls responsible fix the laying out and ado!,tion of the South-Eastern schemes and extensions dur ing the present and the pmt year. His great object in laying oat a line is t 7) obtain as low a level as possiLle; good gradients and economy ha working are the results of such levels. Has adopted low levels when practicable. Mr. Vignoles has agepted high levels. This gives an advantage to the South-Eastern line in the accommodation of the Woolwich Docltyard and Arsenal. Between Gravesend and Rochester Mr. Vignoles' line is 90 feet higher than the highest point on the South-Eastern, which is almost on a level, having adopted the existing railway. When requested by the Whitstable and Canterbury Railway Company to form a tun nel through - Boughton-hill, he declined doing so, as the work would be useless and dangerous. They persisted in the proposition, and he informed them that if he were pressed upon so unnecessary a work that he would rather decline acting as their cult - leer. All that Mr. Vignoles will attain by his proposed tunnel farough Boughton-hill is a sherteaing of distance without a saving of time. The tunnel is to be approached at each end through very ep. cuttings. Mr. J. O'CONNELL here suggested that it would be unnecessary for Mr. Stephenson to go through every minute point of Mr. Bidder's evidence, in order to corroborate it. A general corroboration was all that was necessary. Mr. Stephenson continued—Thinks it impossible to work the at mospheric lines of Mr. Vignoles. Cross-examined by Mr.Tatnor. —The South-Eastern line has at ono po.'nt much higher summits than there are on the North Kent line. There are three summit., and the acclivity that would have to be surmounted by a locomotive would be 124 feet more than on the North Kent. Thinks that the South-Eastern would afford better accommodat'on to the arsenal and dockyard of Woolwich, by means of a "subway," which will be 5% feet below the level of the street, running along the dockyard wall. 'Thinks that the line proposed by Mr. Vignoles would be too high to sive any communication with the dockyard. His opinion is based upon the supposition that the North Kent viaduct would be many feet above the dockyard. Tile Committee here adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XIX. The Committee met this day at -the usual hour. Present, Lord 11, Vane (chairman), the Earl of March, the non. Francis Scott, 31r. Morris, and Mr. Philip Bennett. IMELIDGEWATEyt ANp WINEIZEAD RAIL— WAY AND PrEIEL. The nsitieration of this case was resumed with the examination witn sees in support of the petition of Sir Peregrin Acland against the Bill. Mr. Stokes, a Commander in the Royal Navy.—Had surveyed Green Alley Bay ; found 40 feet rise and fall of the tide, and 492 feet between high and low water mark. Did not consider that vessels drawing 124 feet could lay at the proposed pier, or that good anchorage could be obtained by vessels In Green Alley Bay off Minehead, on account of the exposure they would be open to by the strong westerly winds, unless a breakwater was fbrmed. The soundings in that bay he described as consisting chiefly of rock and sand, a description of holding ground which captains of vessels seldom or never availed themselves of. He considered Mine head was not in any way calculated for a trading harbour, and was as dangerous as any port on the Somersetshire copst. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant MuOPRY—Had never surveyed the Bristol Channel or Minehead Harbour until the present occasion. Had not been in the habit of frequenting this ezhannel. Might have been there four or five times before. Bad been residing with and was related to Sir Peregrine Acland, Mr. Reece, Lieut. Maxey, Captain Clackstone, and Mr. Green, an engtocer, were then severally examined, who spoke to the dangers existing in the navigation of the Bristol Channel, the ineligibility of Minehead as a port of refuge, and the insufficiency of the sum of 60.c00/. to carry out the proposed pier. The Committee en its rising adjourned until twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP xxrx. ZTTOBT AND HUNTINGDON. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) ZAWLIMON, on the part of Lady Bray, an opposing land owner, cross-examined witness, wit', the view of showing the great injury which her property would sustain if the proposed line were constructed, and that there was no necessity whatever for tho line. Mr. Joseph Cubitt, another of the engineers of the preposed was then examined. He laid out the line at Its eastern extremity with the view of connecting it with the London and York line, and faitng that, with the Ely and Huntingdon line. He had no doubt of the capability of that junction as far as regarded the levels. This witness was also subjected to a long cross-examination by Mr. 1111.DYARD and Mr. RAWLINSON. :Kr. William Cubitt was then called—He confirmed the evidence au eady given by the last two witnesses. Rethought the estimates quite auttclent to execute the works. The traffic by the London and Bir mi egham Railway, southward of Rugby, was very much embar rassed with traffic, in consequence of the confluence of traffic front the northern lines. On public grounds, therefore, it would be expe dient to relieve the traffic as much as possible. Cross-examined—Bad given evidence before another Committee that the whole of the traffic of the London and Birmingham line could he transported by a single atmospheric line, if the arrange anents then mentioied were regularly carried out. The London and Birmingham Railway was, in his opinion, the best conducted line in Thai kingdom. Ze-examined — Notwithstanding the London and Birmingham line w as ,so well conducted, the third-class passengers were greatly neglected. There ought to be more trains laid on for their accommo dation, and If these trains were added as required the crowding Would become still greater than at present. To relieve this traffic would be a great public advantage. Mr. Fisher and Mr. Bloodworth, land-valuers, gave formal evidence as to the value of the land. The value of the land for the proposed line altogether was 140,5331. F.videnee was also given as to the capital and to allotments of shares. This closed the case for the promoters. Mr. Itswtaxsox then addressed the Committee on behalf of Lady gray. He concluded a lengthened speech by stating that no case whatever had been made out why the line should be constructed, AM that as the Committee had already sanctioned a line (the Rugby _and Stamford), which would traverse that lady's property, they siliould not allow the present railway, which would also intersect her Akin), s do to be constructed, as no case of public necess ity h a d b ee n h*. out. being now four o'clock, the Committee adjourned till twelve ecick.k to-morrow, when air. Ililily4rd will reply on the part of the ,prornotiers of the South Midland (lluntingdon Branch). Sob Committee No. I. (CeoTitiarted from enr Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) yoza= aeIND MILIVCASTEU. The object of this Bill is to ;Imply railway communication to the cities of York and Lancaster, and to connect them with the existing lines of railway. The length of the proposed line is eighty-one miles. Tho eost is estimated at 1,250,000/. Mr. J. Miller and Mr. W. Thomson are the engineers ; Messrs. Gregory and Co., the agents ; anal Messrs. Chauntler and Westwood, the solicitors. The formal evidence was taken, and the further oonskleration of the Bill was postponed. WEST razonvc (IfORIESHIIIE) UNI:0117. The object of this Bill is to form a line of railway corn iecting cer lain parte of the West Riding of Yorkshire with the Magehester and I Leeds Railway. The length of the proposed line is 55 miles, and the cost is estimated at 2,000,0001. Mr. John Hawkshaw is the engineer. The agents are Messrs. Burke and Co. The solicitors are Messrs. Derbyshire and Jervis, Messrs. Barr, Lofthonse, and Nelson, and other eminent houses. The formal evidence having been received, the further considera tion of the Bill WA., postponed. SOUTH yonzsantz COAL. The object of this Bill is to connect the South Yorkshire Coal Field with the existing and proposed main lines of railway in connexion with the canals and navigation of that district. The lc ngth of the proposed line is 54 miles. The cost is estimated at 1,310,0001. The engineers are Mr. William Cubitt, and Mr. Charles Bartholomew (the acting engineer); the agents are Messrs. Dyson, Hall, Parkes, Coates, and Co.; the solicitors, Messrs. Carter and Co. The agents for the opponents of the Bill, are Messrs. Burke, Pritt, Venables, and Co. ; and for other parties, Mr. Smith. The formal evidence was received, and the Committe was ad journed. Sub-Committee No. 2. STAINES AND NENT.Eir (No. IL) (Continued frost our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) After hearing much other evidence of the usual character, the al legations in several instances were declared not sustained, and in others the staading orders were not complied with. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (ST. AL BANS AND LT/TON BRANCH). APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. This Bill having been called on, and the parties not being in at. tendance, the case was postponed. THE SUN ) LONDON, WEDNESDAY EY_ENING, APRIL 15, 1E45. NORTHAMPTON AND BEDFOHD. The object of this Bill is expressed in the title. The length of the proposed line is 2034 miles. . The estimated cost 400,000/. The en gineer Mr. H. Pardon. The agents, Messrs. Dorrington and Co. The solicitors, Messrs. Smith, Witham and Co. Thera was no opposition to the Bill, and the formal evidence having been gone through, the standing orders were declared to be complied with. WARWICILSHIRE AND LONDON SAIL.. WAY (HABIPTON AND ADCHURCH LINE ) The object of this Bill is to construct a line from the Hampton station of the London and Birmingham Railway, and to connect the district with the Lancashire and Warwickshire lines and the Mid land Counties lines. The length of the proposed line is 42 miles 63 chains. The estimated cost is 850,0001. The engineers, Mr. R. Stephensm and Mr. Dixon ; the agent is Mr. Joseph Parke ; and the solicitors are Mr. 8. Carter, Mr. T. Beath, an d M essrs. Burke and Baker. The formal evidence was pnt in. Mr. Boas appeared in support of a petition from Mr. Whateley, a landowner within the limits of deviation, complaining of omis sions, &c., in the plans, sections, and book of reference, some of which were sustained. The further consideration of the case was adjourned till to-morrow. Sub-Committee No. 3. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) nasTmitair COUNTIES (ENLARGEMENT OF STATIONS). The object of this Bill was to enlarge four of the stations on the line, the estimated cost of which was 100.0001. Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Venables and Co. ; engineer, Mr. Hunt. There were some petitions aiaiisit this Bill for which no one appeared. _ - The formal proofs having been taken, the Committee found that the standing orders had been complied with. EASTERN COUNTIES (TOTTENHAM AND PARErNGDON-STREET) EXTENSION. The object of this Bill was to extend the Eastern Counties Rail way to Farringdon-street, the length of the proposed extension being 5 miles 5 furlongs, and the cost of the undertaking 1,200,000/. En gineer, Mr. Robert Stephenson ; Parliamentary agents, Burke and Co. This Bill was unopposed, and the standing orders were found to be complied with. EASTEAN COUNTIES (TnarexEs JUNCTION nu.%zrcHr.s). Sub-Committee No. 6, lhe neat allegation was, that in the parish of Marburg certain lime-kilns, the property of Julia Heath, were not mentioned in the of reference. A witness was called to prove the existence of those lime-kilns, and to point out the field in which they were situated. Mr. Cextan said that the promoters of the uili were aware ‘‘f the existence of these lime-kiln., but as they wen entirely below the stirfaoc of the ground, and had fallen Into disuse they considered it unnecessary to tai e any notice of them, thi n ki ng it sufficient to de scribe the place as a field. The Conlinittee called upon Mr. Venables to prove that the kilns were In use. A witness was called to prove this, but he said that he had not seen the kilns since this time twelve months. He was quite certain, however, that they were in full operation, for two cottages had been built on the spot expressly for the accommodation of labourer?, who were to attend to them, out whether these cottages had since been pulled down or not, he really could not say. The Committee considered the allegation not proved. The next allegation was, that certahrproperty marked No. 13 on the plan, and described as a private carriage-road, " included, in ad dition thereto, certain premises, viz., a house, stable, cow-shed, hovel, pigsty, rickyard, paddock, and grass shed," and that no notice had been served on the occupier of this property. Mr. CA:ITER objected that this allegation pointed out no breach of the standing orders. It did not state that these sheds, &c., were within the limits of deviation, or that the parties were in any way hound to insert them in the plans or to give notice to the occupier, Notwithstanding this weighty objection, the Chairman, without consulting his colleagues or explaining his reasons, desired the agent for tile petitioners to proceed with the allegation. The question was entirely one of fact—it being disputed whether the premises were really within the limits of de viation. The engineer to the promoters said that the limits as drawn in the plan did not include them, and that they had been purposely drawn so as to avoid them, there being no intention of taking them. It was usual for engineers to avoid premises of this description, tudess it was absolutely necessary to take them. In proof of this he pointed out a difference in the width of the limits at this and other points, saying that they were rot more than 153 feet wide, while Mr. Hughes, civil engineer, who was called on the other side, said, upon measuring them, that they were upwards of 100 feet wide. The Committee decided that the allegation was partly proved, some parts of the premises being within and others beyond the limits of deviation, and that to that extent the standing orders were not complied with. It being now four o'clock, the further hearing of the case stood over. It may be well to observe here that the determination of the Chairman to enter into the case, although both parties wished it to be adjourned, and the petitioners were not prepared to go on, gave very great inconvenience to tile latter, and the parties to other Bills were in Court and waiting for their cases to be called on. CALZDONIAN EXTENSION. -- - It was stated, with reference to this line, that if the case of the Warwickshire and London could be completed to-morrow, it would be the next called on. The Committee rose shortly after fonr o'clock, Ind adjourned to-morrow at twelve. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met this day at the appointed hour. IRISH GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. This case came under the consideration of the Committee on second reference in order to give the promoters an opportunity of proving Lord Wharncliffe's standing order, which having been done the com mittee decided that the promoters had complied with the standing orders. WEXFORD, CARLOW, AND DUBLIN JUNCTION RAILWAY. This case came also under the consideration of their Lordships, on second reference, upon the same pouts, and was also decided to have passed the Committee. THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY, In this case a Bill, ordinarily termed a Money Bill, also conferring on the Committee of Management powers for carrying out certain beneficial arrangements was brought before the Committee. Their Lordships decided that the Bilj had passed through Com mittee, and that it would be reported to the House this evening. The Committee then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Room No. 9. This Committee recommenced their sittings at the usual hour. Mr. Estcourt (chairman), Mr. E. Strult, Sir J. Y. Buller, Mr. H. Aglionby, Mr. Cumming Bruce, and Mr. Wilson Patten, were present. In the two following, cases the standing orders were declared not to be complied with : CHELMSFORD AND BURY, BRITISH AND IRISH UNION. THE DARTMOUTH, EXETER, AND BRIXHADI Is now under consideration. In the case of THE DARTMOUTH, BRIXHAM, AND EXETER, :he standing orders were declared not to have been complied with , The Committee was notified to adjourn till after Easter. GREAT LEINSTER AND MUNSTER RAILWAY. A special general meeting of the proprietors of this railway was held yesterday at the London Tavern, having been called by the following advertisement : Notice is hereby given, that a special general meeting of the proprietors of shares in the Great Leinster and Munster Railway Company, will be holden on Tuesday, the 7th day of April, 1846, at one o'clock in the afternoon precisely, at the Londen Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, when the drafts of the several Bills, hereinafter mentioned, will be submitted to the meeting of proprietors, then present, for their approval, that is to say : _ _ ( — AThill for extending and altering some of the provisions of the Acts relating to the Great Leinster and Munster Railway. A Bill to enable the Great Leinster and Munster Railway Company to extend their railway to Clonmel ; and A Bill for making a railway from Wexford to Carlow, so far as relates b the powers therein contained, for an amal gamation with the Great Leinster aad Munster Railway Company. Henry Bainbridge, Esq., took the Chair. The SECRETARY read a short report, from which it ap peared that the revenue or profit expected on the Carlow and Kilkenny line was about ten per cent. on the capital. The estimate of the traffic between Kilkenny and Clonmel exhibited a return of seven per cent. on the capital of 300,0001. It was proposed to lay down a single line only be tween Kilkenny and Clonmel, whereby a saving of 100,000/. would be effected. The capital of the Wexford and Carlow Company was 450,0001., and the estimated income 35,671/. per annum. The Bills mentionel in the advertisement were adopter', and the meeting separated. 1 MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the LaneodonnsviNueczePorfi the Current of f April svgs.:.—To-day, in of Bengal', Madras, and Mau r iti us Sugars th the West India market was extremely• eextensive public 7.) sales held , . e business transacted limited, and the rates were rather Noliir those that pr eva il e d on Friday. IIEFrNED. —44 , 64 y Refined goods were purchased with taken caution, . and prices are OA Al.' oo Piug, brown luny:Gd to 635, : s selling a t Gas . and standard lump st Oa Gd to 64s p er cwt. Maintains.— l'hiS afternoon Import - o.s of Mauritius Sugar were inclined to realise, and offered two parcels, amounting to 8,943 bags, at public salt., • • • nearly tiro whole sold, Out at a decline on former rates of Gd to Is per cwt. EAST INDIA.--111:9 Afternoon the quantity of Bengal Sugar sub mitted to public competition was large; the chief part was disposed of at Gd for white, and Gd to is for yellow and brown kinds. FoitmoN.—This afternoon st public sale 31 cases and 2 casks Rio were taken i n a t 20 s f or ni w i ling yellow, and 18s for low brown ; damaged, however, sold at 123 6d to 15s Gd per cwt. COFFEE.—This afternoon there was little desire shown to purchase Rio Coffee, and at public sale a small part only sold at a reduction OH former rates of 2s to 41. TEA.—For Congou the demand lute been only for small parcels, al though eommon is obtainable at B;6d to 9d, and good common 936 d to led for cash. Pow_diong has been sparingly dealt In, and 4d to 9d are the prices taken for low to good quality. Twankay has met with little attention. Hyson Is little wanted, and common is to be obta:netl The object of this Bill was to connect the Eastern Counties Rail way with the East India Docks. Length of like half a mile ; esti mated cost 40.0001. Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Burke and Co. ; enzineer, Mr. R. Philipps. The formal proofs having been taken, the Committee found that the standing orders had been complied with. The Committee then adjourned till the 21st instant. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) WAILWICHSIIIP.E & rD ILONDON (HAMP TON AND EANBITIVIr LINE). The Bill takes powers to make a line from the Derby River at lampton, through Warwick and Leamington, to join the Bucking lainshire Railway at Banbury. Its length will he thirty-one miles, and the cost is estimated at 300,600/., the contract deed having been sigced for upwards of 2,000,0001. Mr. It. Stephenson is the engineer. Mr. Carter appeared as agent for the Bill. Mr. Venables appeared as agent for Lord Hatherton and other pe titioners against the line, who complained of various imperfections and inaccuracies in the plans and s:!ctions. It was stated that all the witnesses to be examined in support of the petition were not in at tendance, and an application was made to base the case postponed. Both parties were willing to allow the case to stand over, but as a previous application, opposed by the pri.moters, was dismissed, the chairman retuticd to allow the case to be adjourned, treating it as a settled point. The first allegation was that the boundaries of certain parishes were Lot marked on the plans. Two witnesses were cared in sup port of this allegation, but as it appeared that the boundaries were in fact marked, and that the only omissions were in those parts which were beyond the limits of deviation, The Committee declared the allegation not proved. The next allegation was to the effect that the books of reference and plans did not agree, inasmuch as certain property was repre sented on the plans as being in the parish of Mentingten, and In the books of reference it was described as in the parish of Cropredy. It was stated by Mr. Carter that the place called in the plans the " Parish of Mornisgton" was, in fact, the hamlet of Mornington, formiz:g part of the parish of Cropredy, and also forming part of the township of Mornington. 'lbis admission being made, the Committee declared the allegation /roved. WM. L. BATHURST. Colonel T. Reed, 62d Foot Colonel the Hon. T. Ashburnham, 62d Foot Lieutenant-Colonel T. Ryan, 50th Foot Lieutenant-Colonel P. J. Petit. 50th Foot Lieutenant-Colonel M. Barr, 29th Foot Lieutenant-Colonel T. Banbury, 80th Foot Lieutenant-Colonel J. livrne, 31st Foot Lieutenant-Colonel C. li.trowel!, 9th Foot Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Wood, 80th Foot Lieutenant-Colouel James Spence, 31st Foot, and Captain James Hope; Commanding her Majesty's steam frigate .Firebrand. Igr Majesty has also been pleased to appoint the under• mentioned Officers in the service of the East India Com pane, viz.:— kafor-Gineral Walter Raleigh Gilbert to be a Knight Com mander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, and , Lieutenant• Colonel David Harriott, Bth Bengal Light Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Parsons, 18th Bengal Native Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. 11. Weston, 81st Bengal Native In fantry, Lieutenant-Colonel W. J. Gairdner, 14th Bengal Native In fantiy, Lieutenant• Colonel W. Burlton, 7th Bengal Light Cavalry, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel W. Glrden, Quartermaster-Gene ral Bengal Army, Brevet Lieutenant -Colonel P. Grant, Deputy Adjutant-Ge neral Beng. 1 Army, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stuart, 70th Bengal Native Infantry, Lieutenant -Colonel It. Benson, Ist Bengal Native Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Brooke, Bengal Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Hicks, 47th WI - Igal Native Infantry, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel W. Mactior, 4th Bengal Light Cavalry, Brevet Lieutenant-Colon►_l W. Geddes, Bengal Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. Denniss, Bengal Artillery, Lieutenant-Colone IE. Huthwaite, Bengal Artillery, to be Companions of the said Most Honoui able Military Order. DOWNING-STEET, APRIL 7. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Norman William Macdonald, Esq., to be Captain-General and Governor-in- Chief in and over the colony of Sierra Leone and its dependencies. WAR-OFFICE, Aparr, 6. 24th Foot—Lieut. R. W. Travers to be Captain, withou purchase, vice Marsh, promoted • Lieut. R. A. Croker, from: 57th Foot, to be Lieute n a n t, without purchase, vice Mason ; promoted, April 3. 73d Foot—Major-General Sir J. Grey, K.C.8., to be Co lonel, vice Major-General Sir It. 11. Dick, killed in action, April 3. UNATTACHED.—Lieut. J. M. Mason, from the 24th Foot, to be Captain, without purchase, April 3. BituvliT.—Colonel Sir 11. G. Smith, K.O 8., on half-pay Unattached, to have the local rank of Major-General in the East Indies, April 7. STAFF—Colonel C. R. Cureton, of the 16th Light Dra goons, to be Adjutant-General to the Queen's forces serving in the East Indies, vice Sir H. G, Smith, K.C.8., placed on the Staff as a Major-General, April 7. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Third Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia- C. H. L. W. Standish, Esq., to be Captain, vice Tomlinson, resigned, Marck 23 ; W. J. Garnett, Esq., to be Captain, vice Greenalgh, resigned, March 24; C. C. de Trafford, Esq., to be Captain, rice Bigland, resigned, March 25. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Durham. Durham Militia—T. M. Maude, Esq., to be Captain ;N. A. Spoor, Gent., to be Lieutenant; J. Bowlby, Gent., to be Lieutenant, March 23. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire. Royal Radnor Regiment of Militia—J. A. Whittaker, Esq., to be Major Commandant ; J. P. Severn, Esq., to be Cap tain ; T. H. J. 0. Ricketts, Gent., to be Lieut., March 21. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire. Huntingdonshire Militia—R. H. Tillard, Gent., to be En • sign; W. Isaackson, Gent., to be Surgeon, March 14. WHITEHALL, MARCH 30. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Octavius Green, of Cambridge, in the county of Cambridge, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury having certified to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, in pursuance of the Act, 10th Geo. 4th, c. 27, sec. 1, that the actual surplus revenue of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, beyond the actual ex penditure thereof, for the year ended the sth day of January, 1846, amounted to the sum of three million eight hundred and seventeen thousand six hundred and forty pounds, eleven shillings and twopence, the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt hereby give notice, that the sum of 954,4101. 2s. 9d. (being one fourth part of the said surplus of 3,817,6401. 14s. 2d.) will be applied, under the provisions of the said Act, between the 7th day of April 1846, and the sth day of July 1846, to the following pur poses, viz. To be applied to the purchase of Stock, or Z. a. ci. Exchequer (Supply orDeficeiency) 8i115... 934,410 2 9 Add interest receivable on account of dona tions and bequests, to be applied to the pur chase of Stock 1,197 10 10 £955,607 13 7 S. HIGHAM, Comptroller-General. National Debt-Office, April 3, 1846. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. William Edward Burman, hat and shoe dealer, High. street, Whitechapel. • - RUPTS. • Richard Gatehouse, Richard Darch, and Gastrill Wilkins, timber merchants, Union Saw Mills, Upper Lisson-street, to surrender April 17 and May 19, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Birchin-lane ; Lam , bert, Raymond's-buildings, Gray's Inn. Robert Moir, jeweller, West Cowes, Isle of Wight, April 17, and May 22, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assig nee , B as i nghall-street ; Woollen, Backlersbury. George Felthouse, plumber, Fulham, April 17, at twelve, and May 19, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, Birchin-lane, Cornhill ; Watson and Son, Bouverie-street, and Hammersmith. Richard Arscott, grocer, Kingaland -road, April 22, at half past one, and May 19, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Simpson and Cobb, Moorgate-street. John Barwise, watch-maker, St. Martin's-lane, April 21, at twelve, and May 19, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-street; Luttly, Dyer's-hall, City. Benjamin Rebbeck, oilman, Dog-row, Cambridge-heath road, April 13, at half-past twelve, and May 18, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official as signee, Old Jewry-chambers ; Gwen, South Molton-street. James Hare, linendraper, New-street, Dorset-square, April 13, at half-past one, and May 18, at . half -past twelve, at th e c C h o a u m r t b o e f r s ; Hardwick l a ' n urq d Co., uan 4 (1 1a .' e ffi ; l e a rh is'a-ssalgliee, Old Jewry ll. Joseph Quarton, grocer, Stamford-bridge, Yorkshire, April 20 and May 7, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Ky naston, official assignee, Leeds; Jaques and Co., Ely-place, London ; Wood, York ; Sykes, Leeds. William Tweddle, soap-manufacturer, Liverpool, April 21, at eleven, and May 12, at two, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool ; Cornthwaite and Co., Old Jewry-chambers, London ; Pemberton, Liver pool. James Shepherd Gregson, grocer, Manchester, April 18 and May 8, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hob son, official assignee, Manchester; Gregory, Faulkner, Gre gory, and Skirrow, Bedford-row; Hampson and Son, Man chester. John Bird, woollen draper, Chester•le-street, Durham, April 20, at half-past ten, and May 25, at half-past Eleven, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. Baker, I flicial assignee, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Hartley, South ampton-street, Bloomsbury ; Brignall, Durham. William Gray, brewer, Salford, Lancashire, April 18, and May 8, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester; Moss, Sergeants' Inn; Ryalls, Sheffield; Gleadall, Manchester. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. I. Hope, engineer, New Crane Iron Works, Wapping— at Is MI to 2s. Imperial and Gunpowder are offered upon lower terms, still there are few buyers to be met with. .... SPIRITS.—There has been more desire manifested in this market to purchase Leeward Island Rum, but business of moment has been prevented by holders asking an advance in prices. Demerara has been purchased with more freedom, but prices cannot be quoted higher. Calcutta is more wanted, but business has been checked by the reluctance of holders to take former rates. There has been little passing in any sort of Jamaica, and for the in ferior kinds prices are going down. There are sellers of Brandy upon lower terms, still the business done has been limited. Fine Geneva is still much in request, but the common export sort is little wanted. RlCE.—This afternoon at public sale 675 bags of Bengal Rice were oTered; there was little disposition evinced to operate, and the sound was all taken in at lower rates. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. THE VICTORIES IN INDIA. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 6th day of April, 1846, present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council, it is this day ordered by her Majesty in Council, that his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury do prepare a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, fur the repeated and signal victories obtained by the troops of her Majesty and by those of the Honourable East India Company, in the vicinity of the Sutledge, whereby the unjust and unprovoked aggression of the Seikhs was gloriously repelled, and their armies totally discomfited; and that such form of prayer and thanksgiving be used in all churches and chapels in England and Wales, and in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, upon Sunday the 12th of this instant April, or the Sunday after the ministers of such churches and chapels shall respectively receive the same. And it is hereby farther ordered, that her Majesty's printer do forthwith print a competent number of copies of the said form of prayer and thanksgiving, in order that the same may be forthwith send round and read in the several churches and chapels in England and Wales, and in the town of Berwick upon-Tweed. WM. L. BATHURST. At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 6th day of April, 1846, present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council, it is this day ordered by her Majesty in Council, that all ministers and preachers as well of the Established Church in that part of Great Britain called Scotland as of the Episcopal Commumion, protected and allowed by an Act, passed in the tenth year of the reign o f h er l ate ajesty Queen Anne, cap. 7, do, at some time (Turing the exercise of divine service in their churches ' congregations, or assembli es , on* S un d ay the 12th of this instant April, or en the Sunday after the ministers or preachers of such churches, congregations, or assemblies respectively shall be enabled so to do, put tip prayers and thanksgivings to Almighty God for the repeated and signal victories obtained by the troops of her Majesty and by those of the Honourable East India Company, in the vicinity of the Sutledge, whereby the unjust and unprovoked aggression of the Seikhs was gloriously repelled, and their armies totally discomfited. WHITEHALL, APRIL 7. The Qneen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Vis tonnt of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto Lieutenant-General the Right Hon. Sir Henry Har eti-ige, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military )rder of the Bath, and Governor-General of India, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, style, and title of Viscount Hardinge, of King's Newton, in he county of Derby. The Queen has also been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, unto General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, and General and Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's Forces in the East Indies, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully be gotten, by the name, style, and title of Baron Gough, of Chinkeangtbo, in China, and of Maharajpore and the Sutlej, in the East Indies. DOWNING-STREET, APRIL 7. The Queen has been graciously pleased to nominate and appoint Colonel Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Com inander of the Most Honourable Mditary Order of the Bath, serving with the rank of Major-General in India, to be a Knight Grand Cross of the said Order. DOWNING-STREET, APRIL 3. The Queen has been pleased to appoint the following officers to be Companions of the Moat Honourable Military Order of the Bath : • first div. of 4d. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. H. Kohne, wholesale stay manufacturer, Lawrence Pount ney-lane—fii st div. of lid. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. R. Putt igrew, jun., tailor, Woolwich —second div. of 3s. 9(1. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whit more, Basinghall-street. W. Soffe, printseller, Strand —first div. of Hid. in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. T. Wenman, merchant, Birmingham --first div. of 9s. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Valpy, Bir mingham. W. Drinkwater, woollen cord manufacturer, Salford—final div. of Hid in the pound, any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Pott, Manchester. W. Senior, hosier, Sheffield—first div. of Bs. 6d. in the pound, any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. J. and W. Sugden, machine makers ;Leeds—first and final div. of 4s. 3d. in the pound, any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Hope, Leeds. J. and D. Sugden, fancy cloth manufacturers, Spingfield, Yorkshire—first div. of 9s. in the pound, any Tuesday, at the office of Mr. Kynastou, Leeds. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. J. F. Harrison, merchant, Tower -street, April 28, at one— W. Spiers, printer, North Audley-street, Oxford-street, April 30, at eleven—G. Goddard, tea dealer, Leicester, April 30, at eleven—J. Webber, warehouseman, Wood-street, Cheapside, April 30, at twelve—T. Dean, victualler, Chenies street, Tottenham-court road, April 29, at half-past one—B, Thompson, innkeeper, Aldebu rg h, S u ff o lk , A pr il 29, at one— C. O'Neil, R. Salkeld, and G. S. Digby, shipowners, Margam, Glamorganshire, April 30, at eleven—R. Salkeld, shipowner, Margam, Glamorganshire, April 30, at eleven—M. Guy and Smith, linendrapers, Farringdon-street, April 29, at eleven —B. Wade, tailor, Strand, April 29, at eleven—E. Clayton, licensed victualler, Edgeware-road, April 29, at eleven—G. Watt, linen factor, Old Jewry, April 29, at half-past eleven —E. N. Kendall, brewer, Frederickton, New Brunswick, May 1, at twelve—G. C. Bridge, grocer, Maldon, May 1, at eleven—R. Marshall, stone mason, Deptford, May 1, at eleven—M. Jones, grocer, Theobald's-road, May 6, at one. In the Country. J. Melhuish, innkeeper, Exeter, April 30, at one, at the Exeter District Court—lL Gardner, merchant, Liverpool, April 28, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court—T. Turner, D. Brade, C. Schwind, and F. L. Schwind, merchants, Liverpool, April 28, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court —NV. L. Brown, merchant, Liverpool, April 28, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court --C. Williams, currier, Sunder land, April 30, at twelve, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Dis trict Court—W. Thompson and J. Mellis, merchants, New. castle-upon-Tyne, April 30, at one , a t the Newcastle-upon- Tyne District Court—L. Pearson. currier, Newcastle-upon- Tyn, April 29, at t we l ve , a t t h e Newcastle-upon-Tyne Dis trict Court—J. Todd, ship-builder, Hylton-ferry, Durham, April 30, at half-past one, at the Newcastle-upon. Tyne Dis trict Court—NV. Brown, ironmonger, Atherstone, Warwick shire, May 2, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court— W. Riddle, draper, Lane-end, Staffordshire, May 12, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court—R. W. Fletcher, J. Flet cher, and J. Fletcher, merchants, Walsall, May 5, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. R. G. Fox, wine merchant, Canterbury, April 29—J. C. Edwards, bill broker, Conduit-street, Hanover-square, May I —W. Spiers, printer, North Audley-street, Oxford -street, April 30—T. Wilkinson, ironmonger, Quadrant, Regent street. April 30—F. Glass, woollen factor, Basinghall -street, April 30—W. Harding, sen., mason, Vincent-square, West minster, April 29—J. Hutchinson, machine maker, Elland, Yorkshire, April 28—W. Fordyce, bookseller, Newcastle upon-Tyne, April 28—J. Boman, woollendraper, Carlisle, April 29—G. C. Nicholls, commission merchant Upton, Cheshire, April 30—T. B. Daft, button maker, Birmingham, April 29—G Middleton, wine merchant, Nottingham, May 5 —J. Wilkinson, builder, HAslingden, Lancashire, April 30— H. J. Barker, miller, Flixton, Lancashire, May I—T. W. Pierce, and G. Homan, merchants, Manchester, April 28— T. Nash, jun., Stourbridge. Worcestershire, April 28—J. Cleary, builder, Church-road, De Beauvoir-square, April 28 —E. Sheeter, builder, Bristol, April 28—A. Macdonald, mer chant, Leaden hall-street, April 28—H. Hughes, linendraper, Manchester, April 28. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. _ W. Cope and J. Wright, lace manufacturers, Nottingham —T. Cooper, W. Cooper, and G. Strongitharm, line masters, Minworth, Warwickshire—G. Strongitharm, T. Cooper, and E. Strongitharm, lime masters, Dawend, Staffordshire—J. Plumtree and M. Gibbono, grocers, Lincoln.—W. Woodward and W. W. Walkvier, tailors, libury-street, Pimlico—F. Balkwell and C. Baldwin, Liverpool—H. Merry, E. Phipson, and C. Parker, Birmingham—S. - - tanifortli and G. Hatton. grocers, Sheffield—H. Hohne and J. Ilolme, shoemakers, Manchester—P. Brooke, J. Brooke, and E. Brooke, Ashton under-Lyne—H. B. Rye and I'. P. Thomas, mine agents, Old Broad-street, City—M. Thorpe and E. Holeywell. common brewers, Spalding, Lincolnshire—J. Wickens and W. Bird, stationers, Old-street, St. Luke's—T. Forshall and H. D.tvies, surgeon, Doildingten•grove, Kennington— . R. Laycourt, W. Belden, and R. Butler, grocers, Witton-le- Wear, Durham—W. Wallen, sem, and W. Wallen, jun., architects, Circus-place, Finsbury-circus—J. Fitztnaurice and W. J. Sage, chemists, Holloway—J. C. and W. R. Hudson, Blackheath—J. and G. Longman, pawnbrokers, Staff , rdsitire—W. Goodland, J. Quant, and C. Goodland, coal merchants, Tiverton, Devonshire. scowl' SEQUESTRATIONS. John Mackenzie, carpenter, Inverness, April 10 and May 1, at twelve, at the Union Hotel, Inverness. William Anderson and Alexander Drummond, share brokers, Glasgow, April 10 and May f 3, at one, at the chant hers of Mr. Smith, Glasgow. James Strong, merchant, Glasgow, April 13 and May 4, at two, at the chambers of Mr. Ross, Glasgow. John Dunn and John Wilson, stockbrokers, Glasgow, April 14 and 'May 4, at two, at the Globe Hotel, Glasgow. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. DOUSE OF LORDS, April 7. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. SELLING SPIRITS ON SUNDAY. The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions from Llantres san, in Glamorgansh:re ; Sunning-hill, in Berks ; Northaller ton and other towns in Yorkshire; Seaham Harbour, in Dur ham ; Lanark, and other places, praying that a clause should be introduced in some Bill to enforce the closing of houses for the sale of spirits from the hours of twelve on Saturday night to one on Sunday. The system had been found to work well in London, and petitioners prayed that the same might be ex tended to the provinces. Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills. THE OREGON TERRITORY. The Earl of ABERDEEN laid on the table several papers and documents in reference to the negotiations between this country and the United States of America respecting the Oregon territory. SUPPLY OF WATER TO EDINBURGH. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH presented a petition from the Sanatory Association of Edinburgh, praying that the supply of water in that city should be placed in the hands of a public trust, and not a private company. There was no town worse supplied with water than this city, and the petitioners were desirous that the supplying of it should not be left in the hands of speculating companies. FREEDOM OF SCOTCH BURGHS. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from Edinburgh in favour of local free trade, and in support of the Bill before Par liament for the doing away with the present system of freedom in Scotch burghs. His Lordship stated that many of the peti tioners ,were possessed of the freedom of Edinburgh them selves ; nevertheless they cordially supported the Bill. Lord KINNAIRD presented a petition from the royal borough of Dundee, on the same subject. THE LAW OF DEODANDS. Lord CAMPBELL laid on the table of the House two Bills, whose object was to abolish the law of deodands, and to enable parties injured by gross negligence to insti tute civil actions for compensation. His Lordship said that he took this step with considerable reluc tance and hesitation. He had been persuaded to do it at great heard. The maxim of the common law of England was, that wherever a wrong was done there should be a remedy, but there were two strange exceptions. The one was where death took place, or a limb was broken ; but if the party injured could not prove malice, there was no liability. Another maxim was one which he admired very much ; and it was this, that wherever there was an injury there was a civil remedy. One of the Bills which he now introduced was to abolish the present superstitious laws of deodand, which it was strange still continued in the middle of the 19th century. The other Bill was to substitute a civil action, whereby, although there should be no no negligence, which would make it a case of manslaugh ter, a railway company, or the proprietors of any other public undertaking, would be compelled to make compensation to a party injured by the negligence ef themselves or their ser vants. A law similar to that which these measures would establish in England was already in force on the other side of the Tweed, and it was a matter of great surprise to him that the Legislature bad not before this altered the law in this country on this subject. It was quite unneces sary in this stage further to explain the object of the Bills. He earnestly entreated the consideration of her Majesty Go vernment to them. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. The Earl of HA RE WOOD presented a petition against the London York and Railway. He moved that the petition be referred to the Committee or, the Bill. RAILWAY BILLS. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that he took that oppor tunity of rising to enter on the subject referred to by the Noble Lord ; and he intended to offer to their Lord ships some observations on the proposal he had to make to them. He wished to draw their Lordships' atten tion that evening (and he ought properly to have given notice of his intention) to the subject of railways, but he thought it most desirable that whatever proposition Govern ment had to make should be made forthwith.—( Hear, hear. ) With this view, therefore, he wished to direct their attention to the state of the railway Bills now before that and the other House of Parliament, and the course which it was proposed Parliament should adopt upon the subject. It would be hardly necessary for him to request their Lordships' re collection, even incidentally, to the state in which the country was placed during the last twelve months. Even to wards the close of the year 1844 the public mind was in a very feverish and excited state on this subject. In the last session 248 railway Bills were introduced before Parliament, which at the time was looked upon as an immense number, as unprece dented and unmanageable, and many Hon. Members thanked heir stars that such a state of things would not continue.— ( Hear, hear.) In this, however, they were mistaken, for so far from the number of Bills diminishing spe culation in these, matters, they waxed more hot and fierce. During the summer the excitement was on the increase, and in autumn this spirit spread through every class in the community, young and old, rich and poor ; and he was sorry to add that it extended to the one sex as well as the other.—( Laughter. ) The practical result of all this was, that, as was shown in the report of the Joint Stock Registration office, the number of Bills brought forward was greater than before. On the 31st December the number of schemes pro visionally registered amounted to upwards of 1,400. He need not state the large capital which was supposed to be involved, because that, in fact, had no existence. In November not less than 800 of these Bills were brought b, fore the Board of Trade. By the 31st of December this number had slightly diminished, although not to a great extent, as the number of projects de posited at the Private Bill-office was 700. The attention of the Government was very early directed to this subject, and they endeavoured to make such arrangements before the meet ing of Parliament as would facilitate legislation with re spect to them. But it was not in the power of her Majesty's Government to come down to the Houses of Par liament at the commencement of the session with 'any definite plan, as the facts on which they were to recommend the adop tion of any new line were not fully developed. They could not take any steps until those projects had been submitted to the tests of paying the deposits and passing through the Standing Orders' Committee. The adoption of this plan had enabled them to ascertain that not more than one •third of the whole number of projects would ever come before the consideration of Parliament. They felt that it was their duty, as far as practicable, to save the time of Parliament by not delaying their intentions with respect to them which would certainly come before Parliament in the present session, and the Rieht Honourable Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government (Sir Robert Peel) moved the appointment of a Committee to consider the course to be adopted in this session with respect to the great number of rail ways which had been submitted for their consideration. He (Lord Dalhousie) also moved for and obtained a similar Committee of their Lordships' House. These Committees sat several weeks, and came to the determination that it would not be prudent to make any selection from those Bills during the present session, or to arrest the course of them, It was net for him to make any remarks on their decision, as he had on all occasions, both in that House and in Com mittee, held this opinion, that it would b e b o th unsa f e an d unfair to interfere with the voluntary speculation of indi viduals in railways.—(Hear, and cheers.) But be thought there was a wide distinction to be drawn between interfering with persons disposing of their capital without the assistance of Parliament, and to interfere with parties who applied for special, and in many instances most objectionable, powers to carry into effect railway undertakings.—(Cheers.) As the Committees were of this opinion, arrangements were accordingly made to divide the railway business as equitably as possible between both Houses of Parliament. Since that period Parliament and the public had had their attention constantly directed to the subject, and much discussion had ensued in both Houses with respect to it. Recently, however, these discussions had assumed a substantial form, through the consideration of Parliament, and from the statements and opinions contained in the petitions and memorials which had been presented both to the Government and Par liament. These memorials stated, that great injury had been occasioned to all branches of trade, and to the promoters of railways themselves, by the undue speculation which had taken place. The price of material w as grea tl y en h ance d as a l so t h e price of labour. To the latter he had no objection if he thought it would be of a permanent character, and not operating injuriously on those who were engaged in those works. But it was because it would be of a temporary, and not of a stable and permanent character he considered it would be injurious. In addition to the increase in the price of material and the price of labour, there would be, further, a great de mand for money, which would exert an injurious influence on every other branch of trade, which would be cramped and made to suffer. But it was not only the other interestes he referred to that would be affected, but the railway companies already in existence. It had been found that the shares in many of the old railway companies had fallen in valise considerably ; and if many of these new schemes were pushed forward, it would be impossible, from the state of the money market, for the former companies to make any in. crease of their accommodation by new branches. The effect of the whole would be, that it would be found the calls sought for those new lines and extension of old lines could not be obtained. In Ireland, especially, the case would be worse than in this country. He understood from a No ble Friend of his that her Majesty's Government had received applications for assistance from two of the best schemes in Ireland. He referred to the Waterford and Limerick, in the south of Ireland, and the Newry and Enniskillen in the north. The Waterford and Limerick was represented to be a most valuable undertaking ; to be Irish in its origin, and in those who had subscribed the capital for it, and one that ought to be accomplished. It was one which was laid down by the Commissioners in 1837; yet both this scheme and the Newry and Inniskillen were in the most depreciated state, anti called upon the Government for assistance. In the beginning of the present Session of Parliament many Irish Bills were brought forward, and it was held out that the passing of a number of these would be a great boon to Ireland as a means of employ ing labour. In consequence of this feeling many Bills passed through Committee with the greatest facility ; and if they were agreed to by Parliament, they would only, he was persuaded, interfer e pre j u di c i ally with the com panies already sanctioned, an d t h us the object sought to be obtained, the giving of employment, would be defeated. At present many of the schemes agreed to last session of Par liament could n o t carry forward their wishes fromt he di ffi culty of obtai n i ng t h e necessary capital; and if t any other schemes were pushed forward, the difficulty would be much increased by the greater demand for money. With regard to the general question in the last session, the passing of a Bill operated immediately on the Stock Exchange to raise the value of shares, whereas in the present session a fa vourable decision had entirely an opposite effect. He knew this to be especially so in Scotland, the country with which he was connected ; for he had carried their been eir in formed o f two companies who b a d o Commons, Bills throu g h t h e C omm i ttees o f the H u after whi c h t h ey ca ll e d t h e i r sharehleldeorsasse not tog necessary ether, and agreed t o w i n d up th e i r affairs. I t was for him to say to their Lordships that it would be unwise for Parliament to interpose and restiiet the fl ow of capital i n any way which the public might reasonably desire; it would no t only be very_ objectionable to do so but it would be ab so l ute l y unjust.—( Hear, hear.) If parties desired to free thems e l ves however from the trammels and obligations into which they had entered, he did not think that Parliament would be doing its duty if they did not assist such parties to enfranchise them selves.—( Hear.) The law as it at present stood was to this effect. There was an Act for winding up joint stock corn paties, but before they could do so, it was absolutely necessary that they should first become bankrupt, and then that the con sent of every individual shareholder should be obtained before they could wind up their affairs. It would be manifest to their Lordships that it was impossible, in many of the great under takings at present existing, to obtain the consent of every shareholder. A case had bee n s t ate d to him the other day, in which 600,000/. had been subscribed as the capital of a certain 'railway undertaking, and they recently declared that they had no desire to persist in th e i r pro j ect. They desired to wind up of some of them their affairs, but in consequence it was found impossible to wind up their affairs, although not more than 10,000/. had been expended for the 21. 10e. which they had deposited on their sh . ar a t n .s d they would have had 21. ss. returned. The law required that ' there should be the actual consent of every individual share,. holder, and in many instances it was the cause of much in justice. The law, as it was at present, was on this subject both unjust and unreasonable.—(llear, bear.) It was the intention of the Government, after Easter, to introduce a Bill, the object ef which would be to enable railway companies now before Parliament to wind up their affairs if they should think proper. It could not be expected that he could at present lay before the House the provisions of the Bill in detail. It would be sufficient if he stated th principles upon which the Government proposed to legislate upon the subject.—( Hear.) The Bill would provide the means for those who avers the actual holders of the stock in railway companies of calling a meeting of the proprietors, for the purpose of determining whether the affairs of the Company should be wound up or not. That meeting should determine what course the Company should pursue with respect to the winding up of the affairs of the Company: If the determina tion should be in the negative, of course the Bill would be pro ceeded with. If the determination to wind up the affairs should be come to, then, under this measure, an official assignee or trustee would be appointed to take charge of the funds of the Company. He would hold them for the purpose of satisfying any demands of creditors against the company ; and when these were satisfied, the remaining portions of the funds would be divided rateably amongst those who were entitled to receive them. If it so happened, which he did not anticipate, that a deficit should result, it was not proposed by this Bill that the parties to o holl t l h d e be exempted which tedfrom t m he i i g r ht lia h bi a l v it e ies b n e ei n th re spectin- curred. It was not proposed to give any exemption. He thought that by such a Bill every facility would be given to parties who are desirous of winding up the affairs of rail. way companies with which they were connected. But it would be manifest at once that whatever speed—supposing such a Bill to be sanctioned by that and the other House of Parliament —whatever speed was exhibited it was clear that, some little delay must occur before the measure could pass. The Government therefore proposed that a resolution should be passed in both Houses of Parliament, that where a petition should be presented to Parliament from aegiven number of shareholders, praying a suspension of the progress of their Bill or Bills till they should have time to consider the state of their affairs in relation to such railway Bills, that they should have power to act accordingly. The Bills which had commenced in their Lordships' House and in the other House were to be alike affected by this measure. The object of the Bill was to give the shareholders power to wind up their affairs should they see fit to do so. The Bill would also propose, at the same time that this power was'given to the shareholders, to have a full security given for the liquidation upon the funds up to the time of the wind up of their affairs under the provision of the measure. When a petition shall be presented by a majority of shareholders, praying that they should have the benefit of the Bill, both Houses should have the powers of granting the prayer of such petition. It would procure a little time to pre pare the measure, and immediately after Easter it would be introduced, and then it could be discussed in its details. Lord MONTEAGLE said that hehad informed the House sometime since of the evils which were likely to arise from the reckless manner in which railway schemes were progressing; and he was not at all surpris:d that such a measure as the one proposed by her Majesty's Ministers was now required to put a stop to such a system of wholesale speculation. He had had various interviews with shareholders—many of them of great importance, from the amount of shares they held—and they expressed their ignorance of whether they had power to wind up their affairs, as they had already made some progress in Parliament. He was glad to find that some measure was proposed to put a stop to this state of things.—(Hear.) The necessity of their interference in some shape or other had originally proceeded from persons who, of all others, are con sidered the most shrewd in matters affecting their pecuniary in terest, he meant the people of Scotland. They wished now to retrace their steps, and they asked their Lordship to suspend the progress of the Bills. He thought they acted wisely in so doing. lie thought that a measure like the present, in which he mosf heartily concurred, should however be conducted with great precaution. Persons for instance might cry down the merits cf any line for the purpose of purchasing the shares at a very low discount, upon which large sums had been paid, and then reaping a large benefit by the transaction. He hoped such conduct as this would be guarded against. He thought their Lordships should not allow shares of too small amount in these transactions. While this continued, he thought these gambling transactions would still be carried on. He heped th ere fere, that on grounds of public morality, some step would be taken to stop this gambling.—( Hear, hear.) He thought the House should adopt some measure to stop these "little go" speculations. He did not think that the lower classes were competent judges of what schemes were likely to be u-eful and beneficial to themselves. Persons of both sexes and all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, had not been exempt from this gambling fever. The Government were bound to put a stop to this ; they had the power of doing so, and they would be held responsible if they did not, by adopting some stringent measures, secure thepublic credit. The Noble Lord had not exaggerated the mischief which had arisen from the paralysis, which had taken effect on the general commercial and banking interests of the country. That mis chief was indiscribable. Let their Lordships just suppose the case of a bank holding a million of deposits—this milli on o f deposits represe n ti ng every class ef their customers; a great proportion of these classes are engaged in railway specula tion ; and the banker, knowing that A B an d C were considerable shareholders, would be aware that the deposits which he held on their account would be the very first available fund that they could draw on, and he would not dare, therefore, to use any portion of that fund for discounting purposes; he could not discount with the same freedom and unreserve as in other circumstances he would have done. Their Lordships probably knew that the profits of a banker mainly depended on his lending money on good se curity ; and the result, therefore, of these banking engage ments, would be to suspend all power on the part of the banker of using with freedom the deposits which he held in hand. Now, how did the case stand with the trader ? Let them take the manufacturing interests of the country. Suppose a manufacturer engaged in railway speculation to a great extent; his mills would still require to be attended to, his machinery would require constant repair, and a constant drain on his capital would be required far the extension of buildings. But how could he provide for these repairs, and these extensions, with an unascertained number of calls impending over him? 'the manufacturer had certainly entered into these speculations with his eyes open, but that did not lessen the effect of the evil produced. That evil pressed on the bankers, on the manufac turers, and on the other classes: it had suspended and cramped the application of capital, and it had been augmented—and he said this without any intention of reflecting upon the Noble Lord opposite—by the course which her Majesty's Govern ment had taken on the subject of railway speculation. The case was repeatedly urged upon them—(t. Hear, hear," from Lord Kinnaird)—that the practice of compelling parties to pay the deposits in money, to invest that money in stock, and to sell that stock subsequently for the purpose of making the railways, was an aggravation of the mischief. He could not help saying that it would have been better if they had at as earlier period introduced the measure which they proposed to introduce now. He would now advert to the measures which the Noble Lord proposed. The Noble Lord had undoubtedly felt that some observations might be made on the want of a definite scheme on the part of her Majesty's Government. He stated what had been the general effect on the trade of the country, and he added that it was not the wish of the Govern ment, as he (Lord Monteagle) was sure it was not the wish of Parliament, to interfere with the free application of capital. His Noble Friend had stated that if the present sum proposed to be applied in the construction of railways was permitted to ' be so applied, the greatest mischief might ensue ; but why did not his Noble Friend come forward at an earlier period of the session to propose some remedy ?—( Hear.) He quite admitted that no imputation ought to be cast upon his Noble Friend for not having taken this course previously. But he must at the same time say, that the course which had been taken was wholly without precedent, and unjustifiable, and might lead to the most serious results. He had understood that in the Com ; mittee np stairs, his Noble Friend, on the part of her Majesty's Government, had prop ose d t h e course to which he (LordMot eaele) had given his enti re consent, and that proposition was e that the different railway Bills which must come before them should be classified. It was suggested that those Bills should be classified, and that those comprised in number one should have preference in consideration to those included in number two, and those latter over those comprised in number three, and so on. That course he believed would have been a just one.— ' ( Hear, hear.) And he should have been glad to know that ' that course had been adopted in the House of Commons, because the mode at present acted on was an anomalous and inconvenient one.--( Hear, hear.) But what were they called upon to do now ? Why was it that his Noble Friend had postponed until the present time, the lastday before the Easter recess, the proposition that he had submitted to their Lordships ? If he did attempt to interfere with capital, he should come forward prepared to say what amount of capital her Majesty's Government thought it would be wise to expend in the construction of railways. Let his Noble Friend say what was the amount which should be so applied before he called upon their Lordships to express an opinion upon this sub ject. Parties had been allowed to proceed with their Bills in the usual course, and now, when it was asked to amend the law on this subject, he (Lord Monteagle) contended that the limiting of the amount to be subscribed was incidental to any such amendment. If his Noble Friend had comeeaforr,woardd, on the part of her M a j es t y ' s G overnment, with his present prop sal at'an earlier p er i o d o f th e sess i on, much mischief would have been obviated. B u t t h ere was nothing tangiSle, tl nite in the p ro p osa l. T here was nothing in it that coueldeblie weighed or fully cons id ered, or anything that could be measured with calculable with regard t o an amount of money which was Under Under the pre sen t state of things this subject w ness and indisti nc t ness, all of which ought hay: beeetntaovvoaigduede. ,had her Majesty's Government moved in this direction at the commencement of the session. The Bill was a simple one, but, by introd uc i ng i t at this late period of the se son on th e a dj ournment of the Houses ofl3.siarTia'manendtifmor. the holidays, it could not be printed an d c i rculated emongst the part i es interested in its provisions; but if it was . possible fo print and circulate an ab :tract of it without delay, great public adVantage could not fail to result ; but above all it would give parties notice of the intentions of the Government, and do away with the un certainty which prevailed. Bat the Noble Lord said he wished to effect the object which he bad in view by means to be taken hereafter, and by allowing parties to come before their Lord ships and to make an appeal. This, however, would throw those parties into utter confusion by its vagueness ; for a pro positionl of this magnitude, affecting such an amount of p c e a r p s i o ta n he would venture to say, was never allowed to be br f ou w g a h r t d a therefore efore subject ur f gtsee itself for wardthesabnlyeatiVimlten:sxteersnlinutfhninsisplaancde, e w n i ao t c h ut o rd ut n b f r s i bringing which or enactments effeoted. He re might know in what way they could N gr n e b t l t e ed Fr th fe i n s d e — xc a e s ed n i n n e gly re , al a ly nd in fi tere c w sf o e u d id in if the Bill could not be given to the public in eaten, at lea s t tfurnis o h them with its must material points. Ha would throw out one suggestiun, for The the adoption of which h e saw some immediate necessity. y ought—and this showed the necessity of the Act—to limit decision on those sehemes which had been profitable over those which had not been profitable, or were unlikely to be constructed p b u ec re a h u a se se , s if ha t r h e e s y itnlidthneotndthoesro,tneanne extent ttewnto wrihviaelhplrTonjencldts them to stop its eoustruction, and consequently cause the, greatest confusion to t h e parties. They did not wish to have their remedial measures turned into instruments of fraud; but if they did not guard against their abuse, they would enable parties who had the disposition to do so to harass the pro moters of a competing line, in order to eat a majority in the proprietary. He could name many measures which had had this effect. In his opinien, the Bill ou odi t d to have effect from the date of the resolution,whbeheiaecdhaousttehioet.yhieeydii n ad th v e a r n . t Nea e tc ( s lid on n e nt ra th il i w n a k y t t e wish to give extend to an dthit'sno.rotecommendation would have the effect of preventing the carrying out of legiti mate projects. An unfinished railway t nuisance. Some had been got up with the mostabs and a Sandwich Fishery Company `imply was urd a pretensions, grea and for the purposes of speculation. Imagine a Columbian but he put it to their Lord ships to imagine large dry ditches in a country without rails, or with any probability of the works being executed. Further, respecting property, these railway companies pos sessed compulsory powers to take land, and if they would not make their lines, what a position these landowners would be placed in. This was one great difficulty which he appre hended. But the worst of it was the direction of capital from a profitable to an unprofitable market, and thereby involving the condition and interests of all classes of society. He hoped it was the intention of the Noble Lord to atop the further progress of all railway Bills till after Easter, as nothing could be more absurd than to pass any of these Bills, or forward them any o f th e i r stages , i f t h ey were told that her Majesty's ypi egress that m i g h t b e made. Tiiic was Government intended a course o f l eg i s l at i on that would here after neutralise an a matter they were bound to consider; they should not send Bills into the other House of Perliament and leave that House to provide a remedy. He did not know what that House might propose, but their Lordships were their own masters, and should act accordingly. It was his decided opinion they should riot at present advance a single stage, or at least to a definite stage, until the question involved in the Bill proposed by the Noble Lord was settle He should call upon their Lordships not to take any dein • ,top respecting these Bi!!a till the dec:ion that Bill u known. There would be difficulties attending this meatut For instance, there would be no means of ascertaining whett the names to the petitions were those of botta . fide sliareholde Lord KINNAIRD did not attach any blame to the Gover ment for not having brought this measure on before. On t contrary, he thought they had wisely delayed it until no He would, however, ask whether the existing powers of th , Lordships could not be extended to meet the difficulties of tl subject. By the existing orders of their Lordships' House, new Bill whi c h was b rought in, with respect to an exist' railway company, had to be submitted to the proprietors befe ;t could be passed. Why not extend that standing order new companies ? Lord WHARNCLIFFE expressed his satisfaction with t propositions of the Government. He regretted, however, ti that it had not been brought under consideration before. Th might have brought it in immediately after the ordeal of t payment of the deposits had been passed. He would ask I Noble Friend whether he intended to propose a new standi order with respect to this subject ; and he would tak that portunity of also asking whether it was intended to it trodu into all railway Bills of this session a clause subjecting su Bills to the operation of general railway Actg. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said, that such clause was i troduced into every railway Bill. It was his intention to pr pose a standing order with respect to this Bill. A resoluti kali been adopted in the other House for postponing the thi reading of all railway Bills until the 27th of April, and on t first day after the recess he should move an order similar postponing - those Bills in that House. Wi t h respect to the o jectian to the time at which this proposition had been made, might state that, as early as December last, the Governme had entertained a suggestion to classify the railway Bills, a to recommend to Parliament to adopt the best of the Bills classified. Circumstances, however, prevented this cow being carried into effect. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY wished to know wti was intended to be done with the Bills which were on the tat waiting fora third reading? The — Earl of DALHOUSIE said he would, on the first d after the recess, make a motion for postponing the Bills u ntil certain day. The subject then dropped. On the motion of the Duke of WELLINGTON, the Hou adjourned until Tuesday, the 21st inst. HOUSE OF CO l l illaNS„4pril 7. The SPEAKER took the Chair , at l a T f . ew minutes to Fo ur . A new writ was moved for the R borough of Malton, in ti county of York, in the room of Mr. J. W. Childers, who has a' cepted the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time and ordered ' be committed, viz.:_. Schoolmasters' Widows' Fund. Campbeltown Harbour, Waterworks,:Paving, Lighting, Watching. an Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and Lougbc Railway. Port Gordan Harbour. Kilmarnock Waterworks. Gorbals Gravitation Waterworks. Hamilton Gas. Kendal Union Gas and Water. Rotherham Gas. RPORTS. The followi ng reports we re brought up, the amendments an alterations o a d g r e s e o d u t t o h , and we thestWes t ern oR Bills a o i i r w d e a r y e d ( t c o h b e e r e t t s ? y r o a s o s e d d , E v Branch). London and South Western Railway( Hampton Court Drench: East Lincolnshire Railway. Royal Asylum of St. Anne's Society. Upwell-cum-Welney Rectory. Scottish Midland Junction Railway Branches. Exeter and Exmouth Railway. Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway Amendmen and Branches ( No. 3). Eastern Union Railway ( Ardleigh to Colchester). South-Eastern Railway ( N o. 11) (Branch from Rye to 1191 Harbour. Midland Ra ) ilways ( Syston and Peterborough Railway Devil tion and Branches). General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway. Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan Ayreshire, Bridge of Weir, and Port Glasgow Junction Railway Witham Navigation. Bolton Waterworks (by order). THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed, vie. l Willingham Inclosure and Drainage. Welsh Charity School Incorporation, Birmingham Cemetery. Eastern Union and Hadleigh Junction Railway (further pre' ceeding, by order), London and Brighten Railway (East Grinstead Branch)-' ( by order). Brighton and Chichester Railway ( Bognor and Littlehampton Branches)—(by order). South Eastern Railway (Extension of Stations at Ashford)."' (by order), Melton, Witham, and Braint ree R a il way (by order). Scottish Grand unction Railway (by order). Lord G. SOMERSET moved that all proceedings on rail ways shall, after Thursday next, be postponed until Monday the 27th day of this instant April. There could be no doubt that this adjournment of railway proceedings would afford great facilities for those companies who were doubtful of the pro priety of carrying on their Bills to obtain the opinion of the majority of their shareholders. Parties would be put to great expense if they were called together immediately on the re assembling of Parliament, if anything daring the first week of its re-assembling was done that interfered with the further progress of this scheme. It was to obviate this expense that he proposed the postponement for a fortnight. On the question being put, Lord H. VANE said he merely rose, as the member of Committee, to say that the motion would be a serious in' convenience to the Committee on which he was engaged, as it had nearly terminated its labours. He had no objection to the motion as a general proposition, but there were cases in which Committees had nearly closed their investigations; and to prevent their sitting on the assembling of Parliament, would put the parties to great inconvenience as well as expense. After a fow words from Lord J. STEWART, Mr. ESCOTT thought that the expenses to the share holders would be the same, whether the Committees met in 1 week hence or in three weeks. He was on that account dis posed to support the motion of the Noble Lord. Mr. PRO'I'HEROE thought that a serious inconvenience would be induced by this delay from the want of Committee. - rooms. It would be better to dispose of as many of the Bill!, as pos s ibl e , i nstead of deferring the consideration of them unti l the business of Parliament had greatly accumulated. Mr. LABOUCHERE rather took the views of the Noble Lord opposite than of the friends beside him on this matter. He thought that a period longer than ten days would be ad vantageous to the shareholders, as it would give them time k° mature their future plans, After a few words from Sir John Easthope, the O'Conor Don, and Mr. Thornely, Mr. WA KLE Y requested the Noble Lord to postpone his motion until to-morrow, because all parties would be surprise(' and considerably inconvenienced if it were persisted in this evening. Sir G. CLERK supported the motion of the Noble Lord. He behaved the House was unanimous en the previous night ke w allowing parties time t o cons id er whether they would rather ind up than go on with many of the Bills now before Par liament. . Mr. BECKETT DENISON hoped the motion of the Noble Lord would be read, for he was not himself aware of its exact tendency. Sir WILLIANI HEATHCOTE wished to learn whether the motion of the Noble Lord included petitions on private Bills generally. He had much experience of the manner in t w h which dcf henh petitions a e otas t hafn i ina t tdt i dth o wae n ii gatf s asse ati possible theuoisa, could nEi motion ohlei ti ß oes btoyi they be t I e s i oyo fwowil wouldeonor jdu e uel u rpddy r : g ett av e oh f d eet yhr eCo m mittee,m u ch f expense t fai parties, r: d eaei ntn n t so_ e ; s n ea t i ro in) consider troubleies lon should take, withdraw the Bills altogeth er . H e would, therefore, suggest to the Noble Lor d ° that the motion, as originally framed, would be much better. Lord G. SOMERSET declined to restrict the motion onll to the Bills in a particular stage. After a few words from Mr. ESTCOURT and Lord WoasLEY's Mr. STRUTT said, in the Sub -committee of which he wag chairman, there were petitions for Bills which were grouped in Committeess appointed to meet on the 27th instant. M an y of these petitions were yet unheard, and if the Sub -committee were obliged to adjourn to the day on which the Committees on groups met, it would be attended with considerable inconve nience.—( Hear.) The motion was then put and agreed to. Lord G. SOMERSET then moved that no railway Bill be read a third time before the 27th instant. Lord JAMES STUART said that the Scottish Grand Junction was a Bill to which there was no opposition what ever, and it was one, if passed, which would be the means of im mediately employing a large number of persons who were at present much distressed. The LORD ADVOCATE thought, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, that this Bill ought to be read third time at once. The motion was then agreed to. The Willingham Inclosure and Drainage Bill was read a third time and passed. GENERAL TERMINUS AND GLASGOW HARBOUR RAILWAY. An Host. Mearken moved the consideration of the report of the Committee on this Bill. Mr. HUME doubted the propriety of any further proceed ings being taken with reference to this Bill, until the evidence given before the Committee had been laid upon the table of the House. He objected to the Bill, because the trustees of s the Clyde N av i gat i on would incapacitate themselves for carry ing out at talag spreoefgnet omo the i and being deepeningth n e Navigati on of the Clyde, by havin g t o b orrow o d u e m bte o d f to m th o e ne am y' ou a n m t of 3 1 00 deterio ra t e t h e public harbour, that House ought not to seine tion it. H e should therefore move as an amendment, that the eviden ce t a k en before the Committee be printed, or at least so much of it as re l ated to the Glasgow Harbour Bill, and that it be laid b e f ore the House. Lord WORSLEY the Chair man o f t h e Committee, to whom the " roue of Bills, of whi e h th at was one, was referre d,. said that the Bills comp r i se d i n t h e group were considered to gether. E v id ence had been taken before the Committee for three or f o u r wee k s, and among the witnesses examined was Captai n W as hi ngton, on the part of the Tidal Harbours' Con' , b t e o o 7. 0: Ho cont en ded that if the effect of the present Bill would mission, who expressed a strong opinion against interference with the harbour of Glasg ow , and consid ere d t h at t h e G enera l Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway would greatly ob struct the traffic, and be highly injurious to the navigation. He fully coincided in that opinion; and he had the misfortune to differ from the other g entlemen on th e C ommittee, and b e accordingly vot e d against the threo Bills. Mr. SPOONER said, that being a Member of that Conk' triittee, he would take occasion to state what the facts were. He had differed from the opinion taken by their Noble Chair man, and he had done so with great reluctance. Th e Com mittee had the evidence of Mr. Walter, an engineer, who Was always opposed to anything like an obstruction on the lines and had resisted the bringing down mineral traffic to the convenience of other trains. He gave his opinion that the mineral traffic of Glasgow was so much increased, and was likely to increase so touch more, that he waived his former objection on th e po i nt, and thought that the mineral tra ffi c should be brought down to a place appointed f or it. H e said that the mi x i ng up of the mineral traffic with the genera , : traffic w as very i nconvenient, and the bringing it down to distant place would occasion no inconvenience to the harbour . H t :_ He actually w en t so f ar as to say that some alterationse necessary. The t rus t ees o f t h e Clyde —a regularly elec ted! body —concurred in the measure, and not a single petition . presented aga i ns t th e Bill b y the merchants of Glasgow ;._l7 fact, there was no oppositions to the Bill, except two ri va l companies, who after war d s did not make out their eass It was of great importa nce to the merchants and coal ow_ .nee7 in the neighbourh oo d, t h at this scheme had been carried 7 the Committee. HPe thou thi s was a case in whichthe House ought to support the Committee. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appear e d— For the amend men t Against it . 74 Majority in favour of the asaendmezZ NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTI r, Arm, s.—The Eurydice, 26, Captain George Elliott, arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon from Ja maica, in twenty seven days. She has brought no news. Her time will not be up until the 23d of June, but it is believed she will be paid off now. The Athol troop °ship, Master Commander Pearn, arrived in the night at Spithead from Jamaica, which she left on 24th February. She has brought home two companies of Royal Artillery, and Colonel _Dowse, of the same corps, a few invalids from the 43th Regiment, and Captain and Mrs. Matthews, Major Yule, and Lieuten an t M'C ort, o f t h e Ist as passenger s . TCaptain Withers, arrived a t Spit :PiSiolriietiaCiix (Nova S co ti a ), w hi c h s h e broughtWe at Halif ax papers to the 9th dshot this morning c2rt Regiment transport, of March inclusive, and the head-quarters of the 43d Regi ment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Forlong ( Major- General the Hon. Sir Hercules Pakenham, K.C.8., Lieute nant-Governor of this garrison, Colonel), and the intelligence that the left wing is coming home in th e Canopus, 84,1ap tain Moresby. station, to the V anguard, 89, Captaingh Pigot, th e C ommander-in- Chief The Crocodile, 25, Captain Maxwell, ar r i ve d at S p i thead this morning, from Cork, and saluted. Sh e transferred the fliig of o ß n the ear-A l d r ir s i h ral sta S t ir Willes, and brought here the marines and their wives left behind by the Superb. The Crocodile has come to embark troops. The Alecto steam-sloop, Commander Austen, arrived at Monte Video from England on the 22d of January. The Curacoa, 24, Captain Sir T. Paley, was at Maldonado on the Ist of February. The Harlequin, 16, Commander Curry, left St. Helen's yesterday morning for the Meditteranean. The Sparrow surveying ketch, Commander Otter, together with her tender, sailed yesterday morning for the coast of Scotland, but was driven back to St. Helen's by the violence of the weather. They will be employed in the ensuing summer in surveying the Hebrides. The Adventure (naval transport), with stores for Ply mouth and Pembroke yards, got under weigh about the same time from Spithead. When these two vessels sailed the wind was moderate from the westward; about eleven o'clock it shifted to S.S.E., and blew strong, w ith heavy rain, until nearly two, when it again changed, and blew hard with heavy squalls from W.S.W. As they have not returned, we conclude they must have taken shelter either in Portland or Yarmouth roads—most probably the latter. Vice-Admiral Sir W. H. Gage, with Mr. Corry, Secretary to the Admiralty, came down here yesterday on a special visit, to look at the St. Vincent, with a view to her contem plated alterations, and other matters. They paid a visit to the Excellent yesterday. They returned to town to-day. The Wanderer, 12, Commander Somerville, hauled off from her hulk into the stream and received her crew yester day, and the Apollo troop-ship was hauled alongside the vacant hulk to strip and refit with all dispatch. The Wan derer takes out specie for the Commissariat Dep ar t men t a t the Cape of Good Hope. The Childers, 12, Commander Pitman, i s rap idl y pro gressing towards readiness for sea, in the basin. She shipped her tanks yesterday. She is expected to be ready for sea about the 24th inst. The Rapid, 10, Commander Gallwey, sailed from Madiera, for the coast of Africa, on the 12th ult. Tha Contest, new class 12-gun brig, built by Mr. Joseph White, on his own design, will be launched from his establish ment at East Cowes on Saturday next. The St. Vincent, 120, Captain Sir Richard Grant, will, we are informed, be undocked on Thursday. The Rodney, 92, Captain Collier, is ready to go out to Spit head, where she will await the assembling of the experimental squadron. PROMOTIONS. Mates—M. B. Dunn (1839), A. Butler (1843), and Robert Jenkins (1844), to the rank of Lieutenant. Assistant-Surgeons—S. Livesay, M.D. (1833), J. Belcher M.D. (1833), E. Groves (1835), J. W. Roberts (1835), J. Clarke (1835 ), W. L. Methven (1836), C. T. S. Kevern (1836), T. J. Gr a h am (1836), J . C amp b e ll, M.D. (c. 1836), 11. Tre van, M.D. (1836), G. Whitmarsh (1837), A. Slight (1837), R. Grigor (1837), and W. Bateman (1837), to the rank of Surgeon. _. Captains—John Pasco (1811) APPOINTMEN tothe Victory, vice Mow bray, to G reenw i c h Hospital. Captain Pasco was Nelson's senior and sig na l-li eutenant at Trafalgar, and hoisted the ever-memorabl e s i gnal, "England expects every man will do his duty," on b oard that ship which he iji now appointed to command. H ad Captain Pasco been rawarded according to his de serts h e would years since have flown his flag; the very fa c t o f hi s having been senior and signal-lieutenant of the Victory at Trafalgar ought to have insured him that honour, but we sincerely trust he will live yet to enjoy the Proud distinction of hoisting his flag on board the ship he now commands. Captain Sir Baldwin W. Walker to the Constan ce . J. P• West, to the rt . blown,l t Royal I t N o a t v h a o l C o i3 e l College e; fur H S . t u d it i r , e . Lieutenants —C. P. C oles and J. P. Palmas, to the Bellisle; Webb, to the Sp r y fire. vaymaster and Purser —E. A. Williamson, to the Belleisle. Assistant-%urgeon—J. C. Austin, to the Caledonia. Naval Cadet —G, P. Twvford, to the Vernon. Mr. Keppel Foote, son of Captain Foote, R.N., is appointed arbitrator on slave commissions at l3onavista. M. J. E. Churcher, son of Mr. Churcher, of the Royal Clarence Vi ctualling Establishment, Gosport, is appointed to the storekeeper's office st. Hong Kong. If we go to warTfa.ther," said a bright-eyed boy .ne other day to his clerical parent, " from what part of the Bible shall you get the text for a new sermon?" The good minister being taken by Surprise at the question thought a moment, and then smoothing the locks of the child with a sbe ort of parentarpride, answered that he believed that it would fr sm Lamentations,—.4merica paper. N AIL -31 - 11 UNG TRADE —The nail-makers of Liverpool have within the last few days had their wages advanced 4s. to ss. per w ee k . The trade is remarkably brisk at present, and likely t o cont i nue so; but Ivorkmen are not to be had, owing to the l ow rate of wages for souse time past.—Mancheste r Examiner. PRICE OF GOLD.—The premium on gold at Paris , is 15 per nulls, which, at the E nglish Mint pr i ce o f 3/ . 17 s . 10%d . icr ounce for st an d ard gold, gives an exchange of 25 52% ; and the exchange at P ar i s on London at short being 25 70, it fol lows that gold Is 0.68 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. which has been paid here By advices from Haml» lrgh the price of gold is 437 per mirk, which, at the English :Dint price of 31. 17s. 1034 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exc h ange of 13 11; and the exchange at i Hamburg!' on London at short being 13 1 it follows that gold is 0.34 per cent. dearer in Lo n d on than In 1111112 burgh.