The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-31 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships assembled at a quarter-past four, according to ad ournment, in the robing room of the House of Lords. The promoters of the Waterford,j Wexford Wicklow, and Dublin, and the Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Railways had, it appeared, during the interval of their Lordships' sittings come to some arrangement by which each company was to derive certain mutual benefits; also, that the Wexford, Car low, and Dublin Railway Company should have the power to lease that part of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway which extended from Kingstown to the bridge of Bray. Power was also sought, by the introduction of another clause, to enlarge the station at Dublin of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway Company. The decision of their Lordships will not be delivered upon the se veral lines until to-morrow (Tuesday). COAX AND WATERFORD. The Committee, consisting of Lords Stafford (chairman), Cadogan, Bishop of Ely, Ranfurly, and De Morley, met this day shortly after eleven o'clock, and entered on the merits of this line. The Hon. J. C. Talbot, Q.C., and Sergeant Murphy - were counsel for the promoters of the Bill ; and Mr. Hatchell, Q.C. (Irish bar), and Mr. Merrewethor, were counsel for several gentlemen opposing the line. _ _ The Hon. Mr. TALBOT stated the case for the promoters, and de tailed the facts as set forth in the preamble of the Bill, touching the correctness of which Thomas Wyse, Esq., M.P., was examined. He proved the importance of the cities of Cork and Waterford, the amount of traffic existing between them, also the amount of exports and imports, and several other material facts, all of which h e con ceived established the necessity for a line of railway communication between both cities. The projected line contemplates the connexion of several important towns by means of branches, such as Middleton, Youghal, Lismore, Cappurgin, Tallow, and Dungarvan. DUBLIN AND ENNISKILLEN. The Select Committee of the Lords on the Dublin and Enniskillen Railway resumed their labours this morning in the Rolls' Court ; present the Marquis of Salisbury (in the chair), Lord Jersy. the Earl of Waldegrave, Lord Charleville, and the Bishop of Oxford. Mr. Sergeant was the first witness called this morning in support of the promoters' case. His evidence was similar to that given by the poeceding witnesses on Friday last. Cross-examined by Mr. MURPHY (counsel for the Dublin and Bel fast Junction Railway Company)—Did not believe that a railway from Kells to Drogheda would give considerable accommodation to the public. Did not consider it a matter of public inconvenience if the Dublin and Enniskillen should run from Kells, and exclude Drog heda ; it might cause inconvenince to a few parties. . . . . Re-examined—l think that the mere interval between the two termini, in the town of Navan, would be of very little importance compared with the sending of people round from Navan by Drogheda to Dublin. Rev. Robt. Hamilton, incumbent of certain parishes in the county of Meath, preferred the Dublin and Enniskillen to the two other competing lines, and the feeling of the people of that district was of the same description. He was present at a county meeting:held in Cavan, where it was decided that this line would undoubtedly g ive better accommodation than its rivals. He dilly concurred in such parts of the previous evidence as he had heard. Cross-examined by Mr. BOYLE —The meeting alluded to was In March, 1845. He did not know when the North Midland p ro j ect came into existence. Of the two projects that h w e e y re d b ee ro id u ed ght under t the h consideration of the county meeting, Dublin and Enniskillen should be preferred. He believed that there had not been any public meeting at which the North Midland scheme was hrought under consideration, but he was of *pinion that the people would prefer the Dubin and Enniskillen to it. Re-examined—Had heard that the promoters of the Belfast Junc tion and the North Midland were the same parties. Mr. Wm. Keiran gave similar evidence. Mr. John Needham , merchant, Londonderry, deposed that he had been engaged in mercantile transactions upwards of 20 years ; that he had had during that period considerable intercourse with the merchants of the counties of Donegal, Tyrone, Londonderry, and F e rmanagh, and he believed that they were of opinion that a combi nation of the Dublin and Enniskillen and Coleraine Railways would afford excellent communication between the metropolis and those counties. Mr. Bossard, civil engineer, stated that he (under the directions of Mr. Stephenson, the Company's engineer) had surveyed the whole of the line (77 miles and 2 furlongs) and the branches. There were no engineering difficulties. The estimated cost of the works would be for excavation, 217,2981. ; masonry, bridges, publlc roads, culverts, &c., 111,500/. ; tunnelling, 11,7001. ; permanent way, 433,9001.; stations, 32,000/. ; contingencies, 101. per cent. ; purchase of land, 233 2901., making an aggregate of 900,2771. That portion of the line between Dublin and Kells would be single, but provision had been made to convert it into a double one if necessary. Mr. RowE, on the part of the Dublin and Belfast Junction, said that Mr. Stephenson, the engineer in chief, ought to have given this evidence ; but the objection was overruled. Examination resumed—He had been careful in the surveying of the line not to interfere with gentlemens' estates, although there was one trifling plantation which would be crossed. The North Midland scheme was not brought out before last summer, and since that time they had been assimilating their project as much as possible to that of the Dublin and Enniskillen Company. Cress-examined—Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer -In-chief, had been twice or three times over the proposed line. The plans were made,in the autumn of last year, partly by witness, and super intended by Mr. Stephenson. This company proposed having a ter minus in Blessington-street, Dublin, but it was probable that an ar rangement would be entered into with the Mullingar Company, in which event the two companies would have a common terminus. The proposed terminus of this company would be about three and one-third furlongs from the Dublin Canal; that would be in the out skirts of Dublin. The cost of that terminus, including the branch from the Mullingar line, had been estimated at 32,7001., 10,0001. of that sum being set apart for the expense of making the station. Only three mud-wall cabins would have to be removed. They would pass Eccles-street by an arch 17 feet from the roadway to the rails, leaving 16 feet clear headway to the public: That was the distance of 450 feet from the station. At the terminus they would be about the level of the ground. They would pass the cir cular road, which was 60 feet wide, and was not very much fre quented, at any rate, not more than any other public road in Dublin. They proposed to pass it by three arches ; one for carriages, and two smaller ones for foot passengers on each side of the road. They would also have to cross the Phibsborough-read, being about 50 feet wide ; they proposed to leave 35 feet for a carriage way, and 15 for foot ways. They would have also arches over the canal and Eccles street. The expense of the bridge across the circular road would be 2,1811., and of iron, the abutments being brickwork. The expense of the arch over the Phibsborough-road would be 2,5071. • of that over Eccles-street, 3,100/., and of that over the canal, 14)01. The ex pense of the embankments there would be 4,8221. They would obtain the greater portion of the earth-work from a cutting of their own, and the remainder from the spoiled embankment of the Mullingar Com pany. The expense of the arch of the Royal Canal, at Clonsilla, would he 1,800/. The above estimates were according to the present prices of labour and material. The line ran through a grazing country, and it was necessary to take extra care about the level crossings ; but gates would be erected to prevent cattle from straying upon the line, and parties would be appointed to guard the gates. The steepest gradient in the proposed line was 1 in 104, which would extend over three quarters of a mile. He consulted Mr. Stephenson about steep gradi ents, and he did not express any disapprobation of them. He first went over the proposed line in 1844. He was not aware at what time Mr. Stephenson first saw the line. The deepest cutting would be 200 feet, and the highest embankment 34 feet. The expense of the Boyne Bridge would be 3.2001. ; there would be three arches. Re-examined—The whole of the roads which the line would pass on the level (with the exception of one) were mere roads to farms, &c. Engineers of the present day did not consider 1 in 104 to be a steep gradient. At th's stage of the proceed.ngs, The Noble CHAIRMAN stated that the Dublin and Mulllngar Rail way Company had presented a petition against the scheme, but he was afraid that he must report to their Lordships that that company had no right to be heard, inasmuch as this was not a competing line, and (we believe) also on account of their petition not having been lodged in sufficient time. llr Re'sq, assistant to Mr. Hansard, was the next v►itness called in support of this line. _ _ _ _ The opposing counsel insisted on having the evidence of Mr. Ste phenson, the engineer-'n-chief of the line, but as that gentleman was not in attendance, the Committee adjourned until Wednesday. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP IX. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yemterday.) VIMST OP SCOTLAND 3UNCTEON. The case on behalf of this line was then resumed Mr. COCKBURN, on behalf of the promoters of the Bill, said that he proposed to meet the difficulty stated on Saturday by laying down a third line of rails in the tunnel, by which the mineral trains going up and down to Glasgow harbour would pass along it without the possi bility of meeting with the passenger trains. The Learned Gentleman then called his witnesses on the point. Mr. Miller, civil engineer, was examined, and said, his attention had been given to the point submitted on Saturday last. He considered the difficulty would be got rid of by laying down a third line of rails. The Bill of last session for forming a tunnel gave powers sufficient to make it wide eonugh for three lines of rails. This would do away with the junction in the tunnel. There would still be a junction at the point where the mineral branch diverged from the main line, but that would be in the open space or lantern in the tunnel, which was in daylight. This opening was about 80 yards long and 27 feet wide. The cutting was about 35 feet deep, and perpendicular. The space could be made much wider if required. This would remove the danger, in his opinion. The junction in the open space or lantern would be from a gradient of ens in 42. The electric telegraph would also be worked so as to give information at any point. The cross-examination did not elicit any points of importance. Mr. Rastrlck, engineer of the London and Brighton Railway, and who laid down the Edinburgh and Glasgow line, gave evidence in corroboration of Mr. Miller's evidence. Ile was perfectly satisfied that with the laying down of the extra line of rails and the precau tions propoitd to be taken, all danger would he removed. A tunnel of a similar character, with a single line of rails, was worked on the Gravesend and Rochester line with perfect safety. Mr. Eadie, the working engineer of the Edinburgh and Glasgow line, gave evidence strictly a; to the ease and safety with which the present tunnel was worked. He was satisfied that the junction could be worked with perfect safety. Mr. Brunel, who was to give evidence on the same side, being de tained in another Committee-room, it was arranged, till that gentle man was at liberty, in order to save the time of the Committee, that Mr. Robert Stephenson should be called and examined against the proposed junction in the tunnel, and on behalf of the petitioners against the Bill. Mr. Robert Stephenson, examined by Mr. Herz—He had ex amined the plans and sections of the West of Scotland Junction, and lie considered that with two such junctions as proposed, the charges would be considerable. The proposition of that morning for laying down an extra line of rails would, to some extent, meet the difficulty, still not to such an extent as to meet his objection. He was entirely opposed to any divergance in a cutting which would be nearly as bad as in a tunnel, and as dangerous. The whole difficulty would be net if two tunnels parallel to each other were formed. Still he thought it would be better to go four or five miles round to avoid such a junction. The witness was cross-examined at some length with the object of showing that as great difficulties were prominent in working lines elsewhere. With only one engine at work in the tunnel at a time, the danger would be removed, but the traffic would be so great as to render such a plan inoperative. It could not at all accommodate the traffic, Generally he was satisfied that, if the through traffic was properly accommodated, it would not be impossible to work the tun nel with safety. There must be often more than one train passing in the tc mei, hence the possibility of danger. Mr. Locke, civil engineer, gave evidence almost precisely to the same effect. _ . . _ .... The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock, when Mr. Brunel will be examined. GROUP 111. ATRSIDEME, zinxnam or 'WEIR, AND PORT GLASGOW JUNCTION . (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Montgomery Johnstone, a millowner, consumed about 260 tons of cotton-wool per Year, which, if the present lines were eon structod, would probably be brought into Glasgow, but lifted at Port Glasgow. The branch Promoted by the Glasgow and Ayr Com pany was much superior to its rival, the Glasgow, Paisley, and Gre,enock branch. Mr. Henderson, Mil'owner, Linwood, gave similar evidence. Mr. Colquhoun, M.P , proved that a cl ause had been Inserte d i n th e Bill of the Glasgow and Greenock Company, In 1849, compe lli ng th em to lay down a branch line to the Port Glasgow Harbour, simultane ously with the constructing a line to the'Greeriock Harbour. This clause had, however, been avoided by the trustees of the Greenock Harbour—not the Company—having constructed the branch to the quay. Mr. Fordyce had been land agent for several propriet ors in Ren. IYewshire. lie spoke to the benefits which would be conferred on the district by the importation of minerals from places in Ayrshire. The opposing scheme would not be nearly so beneficial. Captain Spiers and Mr. Maxwell Alexander gave similar evidenc e . Mr. Brown, a magistrate of Port GUsgow, referred to the periods of 1835 and 1840, when powers were given to the Greenock Railway Company to make a branch to the town and harbour, the insertion of the clause alluded to by Mr. Colquhoun, and the non-construction of the branch afterwards. A branch was made to 'the Greenock Harbour, which gave that port an undue advantage. The area of the Port Glasgow Docks was thirteen acres. The tonnage inwards was 42,300, and outwards 39,000, and they had a good foreign trade with the East and West Indies, with the United States, and other countries. This line would be highly beneficial to them. Mr. Archibald Burrell and Mr. McLachlan, also merchants and shippers, of Port Glasgow, corroborated the previous witness. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XIV. SOUTH-EASTERN LINE. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Rev. William Greenlaw stated that he is the rector of Wool wich, and one of the commissioners for paving and lighting the town. The commissioners gave a decided preference to the South-Eastern line. Some few months ago a resolution in its favour was unani mously passed by them, and a petition was presented to Parliament in favour of the line. The Commissioners consider that the passage of the North Kent line through Woolwich by a viaduct would be a public injury. The present rate levied at Woolwich is from ss. to 6s. in the pound. The North Kent line would injure the rateable value of the land. Witness gives his evidence as representing the body of the paving commissioners. The commissioners object on purely public grounds. Mr. Sergeant MURPHY objected to this evidence, as the com misioners had no petition before the Committee, and the petition they presented to Parliament contained matter irrelevant to th inquiry. Mr. MEEZEWETHEZ said that he was not examining the witness on fa 7 petitlen, but as the representative of a body, who expressed themselves against the Bill of the North Kent line, as likely to cause a public injury. Mr. Sergeant Minterrr said he had no objection to Mr. Greenlaw's giving his opinion, but he could not express the opinion of a body unless these opinions were embodied in a petition to the Committee. The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Greenlaw could give evidence as to the result of a public meeting, and, also as a paving commissioner individually, but he could not appear to express the opinions of any public body. Examination continued—lf the line passed through Woolwich at an elevation of 25 feet above the level of the ground, the inhabitants would have to draw their goods up to that level. By Mr. Sergeant Mtritrav—lf the height of the line was to be 16 feet, that would diminish the objection to the proposed line. Has written to Mr. Vignoles, approving of a station in the centre of the town. The proposed station of the North Kent is to be in the centre of the town. By Mr. MERREWEVIZa—TWO stations in the town would certainly be preferable to one, and would afford more convenience to the town. Any line that would interfere with the sewers would be in jurious. The South-Eastern does not interfere with the sewers. Mr. H. Bland, examined by Mr. ALEXANDER — Is one of the com missioners for carrying into effect the Greenwich Act of Parliament. Has heard the evidence of Mr. Greenlaw, and his own opinion is quite in accordance with it. Mr. G. Clubb, a clerk in the Ordnance, stated that the Korth Kent line would not give any adequate recompense for the injury it would cause to Woolwich. The passengers that disembark from the packet companies' boats at Woolwich, amount to 1,500,000 annually. The South-Eastern line would accommodate the town of Woolwich more than the North Kent Line, He had known the town of Woolwich for fifty years, Is connected with the Woolwich Steam-boat Company. Believes that the inhabitants of Woolwich are in favour of the South-Eastern line. It would give great accommodation to the dock yard and arsenal, and could facilitate the transmission of troops. Mr. George Corbett, an auctioneer, residing at Lewisham, stated that he had been in business for 25 years. The want of railway com munication is very much felt there. The ordinary conveyance to London is by omnibus. The feeling of the inhabitants is in favour of the South-Eastern line, which passes nearer than the North Kent line, and would be mere serviceable to the inhabitants. Mr. Lewis, a magistrate for the county of Kent and a churchwar den of the parish of Eltham, stated that the South-Eastern line would be a considerable accommodation to the parish , which contains over 2,000 inhabitants, most of whom have their daily occupation in Lon don. The North Kent would be too distant from Ettham to give it any accommodation. Mr. Lansdowne Hull stated that he is a landowner, residing at Sidcup. The South-Eastern line would be an advantage to the dis trict. The North Kent line would be of no advantage to Sidcup. ilamlet of Sidcup contains By Mr. Sergeant WRANonAm—The about 100 inhabitants. Mr. Grey, an auctioneer, proved that the population of Bexley is between 5,000 and 6,000. The South -Eastern line would accommodate that place. The North Kent is at too great a distance to be of any benefit to it. The opinion at Bexley is more favourable to the South- Eastern line. By Mr. SergeantWßANGHAM—Bexley-heath is more populous than the villae e f Be xley, which contains only 2,000 inhabitants. The North Ke e nt line would accommodate Bexley-heath. Mr. Clarke, a brewer, residing at Erith, stated that the North Kent Ra p would not be so beneficial to Erith as the South-Eastern. The North Kent is too distant to be of any service. By Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAra—There is no place of any cote between Erith and Plumpstead, and there is only the village of Cray ford between Erith and Dartford. Mr. Ward stated that he resided at Dartford. Is well acquainted with the courses of the North-Kent and South-Eastern lines. The South-Eastern is better, as it is to have a double line. By Mr. Sergeant WaANGnAM—There is no very great difference in the distance of " the Crays" from the lines. Mr. Saddington, an alderman of Gravesend and a director of the Diamond Steam Packet Company, said the South-Eastern would afford greater accommodation to Gravesend than the North Kent line would. There are two piers at Gravesend. By Mr. Sergeant WRANonAm—Cannot say whether there is a yard difference between the proposed Gravesend station of either line. There is a struggle detween the Star and Diamond Steam-packet Com panies to have the station nearest to their own pier. Re-examined 13‘ Mr. MERREWETIIEIt—The South-Eastern Railway station will be equi-distant between the piers of the Company's. The opinion of the inhabitants of Gravesend is in favour of the line. Mr. Steele, a surgeon residing at Rochester, stated that he is one of the corporation of Rochester Believes that the South-Eastern line will be more advantageous to Rochester than the North Kent line, which will pass through the town on an embankment thirty feet high. That will cause a deterioration in the value of property. Has been at public meetings where an opinion condemning the North Kent line, and in favour of the South-Eastern line, had been passes. By Mr. Sergeant WRANonAm--There was a meeting of the Corpor ation of Rochester and Stroud, and a preference was given to the North Kent line. By Mr. AusTlN—Several of the members of that corporation were shareholders in the North Kent Company. Cannot say if they had any plan before them. The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XVI. ALTON AND PAZINKAZIE MINE. The Committee met at twelve o'clock; all the members present, Sir Charles Douglas in the chair. Mr. HILL, Q.C., opened the proceedings by calling the attention of the Committee to the map on which was the district to be effected by this country, and stated; that the proposed line went from a little below the Woking station, thence to the village of Stoke, which was a line which was already authorised, but not yet made ; thence it was to proceed to Ashe, and so on to Farnham, which lies in a very fertile district. After that the line was to ge on to Alton. celebrated for its ales as well as other things. By the notices which the Company had given to Parlia ment they provided for the acquisition of a right to go by Parbrigbt. By the latter route the line would be about two miles shorter to London but, by taking the longer route, the inhabitants of Alton would ob tain a much better access to their county town ; while, by a clause in the Rill, the public were saved from any extra charge on account of the greater distance, and a much more efficient line to London was provided for the inhabitants of that part of the country. All the landowners, except these two for whom Mr. Wordsworth appeared, had withdrawn their opposition. The Reading, Reigate, and Dorking Company were satisfied with a clause, and had also disappeared as a competing company, so that the only apposition to the line was that of his Learned Friend. Farnham contained a population of 7,000, and the union, of which Alton is the centre, comprises 12,000, which the breweries at that place conseming a large quantity of coals, com ing from Winchester and Southampton, would have great convenience for those breweries. Farnham was six miles from the station on the South-Western line, and sine miles from Guildford, the county town. Both of those difficulties would be obviated by the line proposed by the South-Western Company. The cost of the line would be 300,0001., a considerable portion of which was for land, in conse quence of their passing through a very fertile portion, and the land therefore was of considerable value, and bore a high price. Mr. WORDSWORTH, having inquired whether Mr. Hill had finished his case, stated that it was a hard case which he had to submit to the Committee, for Mr. Halsey, for whom he appeared, had heard of it for the first time that morning, and that gentleman had been compelled to bear very considerable expenses in coming before the Committee, which opposition might have been obviated by a frank avowal of the Company as to which line they intended to take. He was aware that the Committee did not possess the power to award costs, but he (Mr. Wordsworth) trusted they would express such an opinion as would induce the Company to make that compensation for the outlay made by Mr. Halsey, was fair and just. This was the more necessary and fair, inasmuch as on the 16th of March, a letter had been addressed to the solicitors of the Company, asking explicitly for a statement of the Company's intention. The reply was received the same day which was in its terms altogether vague and uncertain, and from the 24th to the present day Mr. Halsey had been put to inevitable expense in order to protect his interests. This he thought was a sufficient ground for the expression of that opinion and for its consequence, to which he had alluded. The main line already passed through his property, and this branch would also pass through his estate, and thus would it be divided into three parts. On this account he thought that a compensation was NV due. Mr. HILL conceived that, as this branch would not bring one single passenger which did not already come to town by their main line, and as they were about to lay out the large sum of 300,000/. for the accommodation of the public only, and had altered their line so as not in the slightest degree to affect Mr. Halsey's property ; such being the case, he really conceived that, considering the posi tion of this gentleman, that it was an opposition and a claim which ought never to have been made. Mr. WORDSWORTH, in reply, thought that although the Committee had not the power to grant costs—and he regretted that in cases of extreme hardship they had sot that power—yet they had an indirect power of rendering compensation, and as the Committee had decided on hearing evidence in Mr. Evans's case last week against the pre amble of the Egham and Staines Branch Bill, he trusted that as this was a great public question, the Committee would take this matter in such a way as would recompense an individual petitioner for the cost to which be had been so unnecessarily subjected. At this point the room was cleared, and on the re-admission of ►parties The CHAIRMAN stated, that although they conceived Mr. Halsey's case one of great private wrong, they had not the power to interfere. Mr. G. F. Nicholson, of Waverley Abbey, where he had resided 18 years, testified that the price of coals had been reduced from 21. to 275. 6d. a ton, and that great convenience would result from the for mation of the railway, and that a considerable saving would be ob tained to the county in the transmission of prisoners, many of whom were committed at Newington, at the extremity of the county, at 40 miles distant. There would of course be a convenience for those who attended Guildford assizes. Mr. G. M. Evans, solicitor at Farnham, stated that Guildford was ten miles distance by the road, and that there was a population of 1,500 in the eight villages near Farnham, the parishes of which comprised 52,000 acres. Farnham is a central postal town, and there is a cattle market every fortnight. At this market there has been, 9,284 sheep, 1,285 beasts, and 2,380 horses sold on an average per annum. The number of quarters of malt made in the year ending July, 1845, was 2,604. He also: testified to the general advantage to all the business carried on in that district. This witness, and several others, testified to the advantage which would be obtained by the formation of the railway to Guildford, Farnham, Alton, and the surrounding places. Mr. Turner, of Bentley, stated that he sent 1,500 or 1,600 tons of corn per annum to Guildford, in the carriage of which he would save five-sixths of the expense. Great advantage would also accrue from the transmission of corn and hay by Farnborough. To the Chairman and Mr. Lockhart the witness stated that the distance to Winchfleld station was eleven miles over a bad road, and the distance to the canal was eight miles. Captain Mangles gave evidence as to the increase of the traffic to Guildford since the formation of the branch line to that town—that the price of coals had been greatly reduced—and that the feeling was decidedly in favour of the line. Mr. Rand, town clerk of Guildford, where he had practised for many years, and had been solicitor to the Guildford branch, testified that the opening of that branch had contributed greatly to the pros perity and activity of business in that town. As an instance of the benefit, he had learned that the cost of the carriage of wine in casks had been reduced from 2d. to aid. per gallon, and in bottles from Is. to 2d. the dozen; inth e carriage of manure there would be a saving of 50 per cent, and groceries of 30 per cent. In the carriage of lime and other prod le e there was a similar advantage obtained. His anticiations of the traffic when he first applied to Parliament had been exceeded by six-fold, and it was a universally expressed opinion that the railway was necessary. Mr. Crowley, of Alton, the brewer of Alton as well as at Croydon, engaged also in the corn and coal line.—The nearest canal to Alton was at Odiham, and the nearest railway station is at Winchlield, which was 11 miles, and thence by rail to London, 38 miles. Last year he sent 3,300 tons of ale to London, the carriage of which was at 88. a mile for waggon conveyance, and the same expense of Bs. for the 38 miles by rail. This cost was 2,6401.. He also sent 64S tons of coals, which cost the same by waggon, but 4s. M. by rail. He also sent 2011 tons of culm, at a cost of 16s. a ton, making a total for carriage of 3,4401. If the railway was made, the carriage of those goods would come to 1,927/., making a saving to the public on his own business alone of 1,5001. a year. At present it cost kim 13s. to get to London, where he came very frequently, while by the proposed line he would be charged only 9s. 6d., with a saving of an hour and a half of time. Mr. Crowley also testified to the advantage of procuring manure for the district from London. Mr. Smith, civil engineer, who had laid out the line, under Mr. Locke's direction, said that it was intended to have the Guildford branch about one quarter of a mile below Woking, then proceeding directly westward, in order to avoid the high ground from the high street, and the high hills of that range, thence across the valley to Farnham, and so on to Alton. The length of the line would be 19 miles. No inclined plains or engineering difficulties of importance. Gradients and curves easy. The steepest gradient was 1 in 157, which was about two miles long. The shortest radius was one of three quarters of a mile, except that at the junction, where the train was always slow. Some roads, but no turnpikes, were crossed at a level, but provision was made to save inconvenience. The cost would he 300,0001., including 45,0001. for contingencies ; sum abundantly sufficient for all the purposes of the line. The working expenses would be somewhat less than 40 per cent., but that might be allowed as the maximum. To the Committee, the witness stated that he thought this was the best line that could be adopted for that on the south of the Hogs back. To the CHAIRMAN, the witness replied that an extension had been surveyed in the direction of Winchester. To Lord Powtreavoef, Mr. Smith said that the line would be two miles shorter from Farnham by Parbright. Mr. Hume, principal traffic officer of the Company, and secretary of the Guildford branch, stated that this branch was promoted at the express desire of the inhabitants, but in consequence of the opposition of those residing towards Winchester, tha lextension had been aban doned. The total returns ke calculated at 24,2231., which, deducting 40 per cent. for working expenses, would leave a profit of 41. 16s. Id. per cent. on the outlay of 300,000/. Mr. Locke replied to Lord Pollington, that the Portsmouth Direct Railway was now before a Committee of the Lords, but he doubted its passing. The difficulties between Farnham and Bilton are exces sive, and these between Farnham aid Godalming were great, but not insurmountable ; certainly the line they had taken was far better than any Snell line could be. The main reason for promoting this line was the desire of the district, and the reason of deviating from Par bright was the opposition of the landowners in that quarter. Mr. Bircham, solicitor of the South-Western Company, testified that, with reference 10 the difference with Mr. Halsey, the Company had only come to a decision on Friday last. With respect to the the design had been much deb p a a ted rue in s de viation from Parbright, it rested upon the feeling of the inhabitants and an arrangement with the Reading and nei gate Company. As to the extension to Winchester, the board-room, but that extension depended upon the result of the present application of the Company for lines to the west. The room was then cleared, and en the re-admission of the the Chairman declared the preamble not proved. On the inquiry of Mr. MELLOR, as to whether there was any pro bability that a different result would have been come to If additional evidence of the traffic had been furnished ,the Chairman replied, that he thought it was the extension to Winchester which decided the case. The Committee then adjourned till after Easter. GROUP XIX. EXETER AND =MONTS (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Basswell, Thomas Wright, and William Henry flay, Were then respectively examined regarding the success of the working of the atmospheric system uow in operation on the Loudon and Croy don Railway. The wont* and assents Were thou handed in. . This closed the case of the promoters of this line. Mr. CocasuaN then addressed the Committee in support of the Exeter and Exmouth proposed line. He proceeded to call the attention of the Committee to the advantages and accommodation which this line offered over its rival, not only to the inhabitants of Exmouth, Topsham, and Exeter, but to the whole community at large. It was the unanimous wish and desire of the inhabitants of these towns that this should be the line. Why should they select and give a preference to one objectionable to the inhabitants of these rplaces, one attended with inconvenience, danger, and delay?—he adverted to the cross ing of the drawbridge on the canal. He supposed the case of the bridge open, allowing a vessel to pass, and a train, unexpected or delayed, might arrive, what would be the consequence? Why, a frightful loss of human life. lie would not only say it was possible, but was sure he might safely add exceedingly probable to occur. With respect to the atmospheric principle. he considered it quite in its infancy, and he did not see why the inhabitants of Exeter, Topsham, and Exmouth were to have this new and experimental mode of travelling thrust upon them. The Learned Counsel having concluded his address, the Committee adjourned till o'clock to -morrow. GROUP XXI. OXFORD AND LONDON• - (Continued from oar Afternoon Edition yesterday.) Mr. Peel, partner in a brewery, wine and sp irit, and ho p , malt, aid coal business, in which 69,0001. had been invested, and also pre prietor, with his brother, of 600 acres of land, spoke to the advan tages which the line would confer on himself and others, and that he should use it for the transit of his goods from Louden, in preference te the Great Western Railway ; WAS a considerable:distance from his part of the county. The branch to Thame, and the proposed exten sion of the Aylesbury branch, by the London and Birmingham Com pany, to Thome, w ould enable him to obtain his coals from the midland counties at much less expense than at the present moment. The line would ran through his property. Mr. Abet Staples, landowner, timber merchant, and chair-maker, at Thame, said the line would save him 1501. a year, out of the 4001. a y e ar he nowpaid for the conveyance of timber from Woodstock, Bicester, Litchenton, &c. A direct communication, instead of a num ber of cross lines ,would be of great advantage. In his cross-examination, by Mr. WELLS, ho said the country be tween Thame and Oxford was a well populated part of the country. Mr. John Wearing, corn-dealer and seedsman, cress-examined by Mr. GREASZY—About 250 tons of all sorts of grain are sent to Lon don than Oxford weekly, which would, no doubt, go by the direct line. A great quantity of corn was sent from the vicinity of Ayles bury, via Milton, Harley, cast of Oxford, to be sent by the railway to London, which, in the event of the line being made, would go to Thame and more eastern parts of the line, to be sent to London. The conveyance to London of all kinds of grain cost him from 1,5001. te 2,1001. per annum, which he would send by the line, even if the charges were at the same rate as those of the Great Western. The Birmingham station at Euston-square was vastly superior to the Great Western terminus, whether for passen• gers or goods, as it was nearer the markets aid the City. Cross-examined by Mr. GRIFFIN —A. line from Wycombe to Ux bridge would be of advantage. Cross-examined by Mr. WELLS—The carriage of goods from the station of the London and Birmingham to the markets was ad. per quarter less than the amount charged by carriers from the Great Western station at Paddington. . . By Mr. WARREN—The college authorities have always been op posed to railways, especially those which would hi any way',affect their property. They were even opposed to the branch from the Didcot station of the Great Western to Oxford. By the CHAIRMAN—If a greater quantity of corn was sent from Oxford to London than now, the Oxford market would not be In jured, because the farmers must come there to sell their produce. The line would open a new field of competition, and it was unreason ahle to suppose that the charges on the new line would be greater than those on the Great Western ; as a matter of course the charge would be less, because the line was shorter. By Mr. LAwsoN—Considered that the people of Oxford were in favour of the line. _ _ Mr. LAwsori— I perceive by the list that there are but two share holders who are bankers, possibly the bankers of the Company at Oxford. Mr. Spyer, chemist, druggist, and grocer, at Wallington, also gave evidence in favour of the line ; as did Mr. Wm. Hopkins, who had followed the business of carrier for 31 years at Oxford. About 5,000 tons of English grown timber were sent annually to London frone,Ox ford. The Great Western had only carried timber during the last season. About 3,000 tens would annually ge by the Great Western. A great quantity of this timber was unloaded at the Bullsbridge sta tion of the Great Western. By the proposed line it would ge direct into London ; in fact, the whole of the timber, which now was partly conveyed along the Thames, would go on the line. IN to 200 tons came to Oxford from London weekly. The Great Wes tern Railway would not send cattle to London unless they were sent to their terminus three hours before. the starting of the trains by which they were to be conveyed. Thus on Sundays, for instance, the sheep and cattle intended to be conveyed by the 6 o'clock train went through the town during church hours, almost making one believe that they were being driven to church.— (Laughter.) By Mr. VENABLEs—The country through which the line passes is a thickly-populated agricultural district. Mr. Tarry, Linen-draper, Oxford, gave evidence in favour of the line. The goods' rates on the Great Western, especially for " small parcels," were far too great, considering the small expense of convey ing such traffic ; and, besides, competition would reduce fares on both the lines. The fares on the new line would be a sixteenth less than the Great Western, because it wonld be a sixteenth shorter. Mr. H. D. Hoskins, a member of the Town Council of Oxford, and the manager of a brewery, then said, the trade of the town had de creased since the opening of the Great Western. Since the opening of the Didcot branch to the town it had further decreased. This was attributable to the want of a direct line, which he believed would greatly improve the trade. The branch was made subservient to the main line, the traffic was consequently taken away from the town ; which, if they had the new line and another to the west, would pass through it, and a great portion remain in it for a limited period. Some shops were now untenanted ; for instance, a very eligible one in his neighbourhood fertile last two or three years. In the "good old times," before the days of the Great Western Railway, a very different and more prosperous state of things prevailed. He saw a petition in favour of the line, signed by several of the most influential and re spectable inhabitants of Oxford. Mr. A. Smith, hop and coal merchant for the last twenty-five years in Oxford, and Mr. S. L. Evans, mercer, Oxford, also gave evidence in favour of the line. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XXIX. This Committee assembled this morning for the first time, In Room 19. The lines comprised in this group are the Systen and Peterborough (Deviations and Branches), Rugby and Stamford, Rugby and Huntingdon, the Stamford and Wisbeach, and the South Midland lines. The Committee consists of the following Members : The Right Hon. Mr. Labouchere (chairman), Sir W. Molftworth, Sir J. Duckworth, and Colonel Rawdon. After some discussion, it was arranged that the order in which the Bills should be taken should be the order in which they were read a second time. The first three lines will, therefore, be taken in the order in which they are now written. SYSTON AND PETERBOROUGH (BEV/A.. TIONS AND BRANCHES). Mr. PAGET having withdrawn his application for a postponement, of the case, from its interference with the principle of the ninth re port of the Amalgamation Committee of Railways, on Mr. Talbot giving him an assurance that the Oakham canal would not be inter fered with, for that portion of the Bill was abandoned, Mr. TALBOT briefly opened the case on the part of the promoters. Mr. floweirs appeared on behalf of the Earl of Harboreugh against the proposed line, on the ground that it would do injury to his property, and that another line might be selected to afford the requisite public accommodation. Mr. Charles Liddell, the engineer of the Midland Counties Railway Company, was then examined.—Had laid out the original line. The line of deviation now projected, was not 100 yards apart from the tracings laid down in the one proposed by Lord Harborough's agent. It was not necessary that by either the line itself, or its construction, the surface of the Earl of Harborough's park should be broken. The length of the tunnel would be 1,056 yards, nearly two-thirds of a mile. The length of the tunnel through Lord Harborough's park would be 18 chains—two chains under a quarter of a mile. The difference in the distance was about one hundred yards between the two lines. The reason why he preferred the line projected was the shortness of the tunnel, the less expensive nature of the cuttings, and that in either case the damage to the park would be the same. Witness bad au interview with Lord Harborough last autumn, when he submitted the two deviations to him, but he refused to listen to either. The ground of his objection was that he did not like them, and that another line might be selected—a line to the west of Whissendine village. Witness looked ever that line, but the works were of such a character as to be impracticable at any cost. The steepest gradient in all the new proposed lines was-1 in 138. The total estimate for all the deviation was 317,0001., and 75,000!. for the branch to Wansford, which would be new capital. . Cross-examined by Mr. lULl.—There were several companies who projected a line through Whissendine. Lord Harborough might have said that the promoters would have the line through Whissendine at their own ♦aluation. The steepest gradient on the line was I in 200. The whole was a mere question of expense. Whissendine was a shorter line, but not so good for the public. It was I% to 2 miles shorter. Re-examined by Mr. Me.cAuLLT—The works were so impracti cable by the Whissendine line that no man in his senses would attempt theta. There would be a cutting 70 feet deep through blue clay, and one cutting would extend two miles, containing 2,000,000 cubic yards of stuff. The extra cost would be from 100,1001. to 150,1100/. In reply to the CHAIRMAN, witness said that proposals were made to construct the line suggested by Lord llarborough's engineer last year, but he refused to accede to the proposal. . . . The formal proof of the estimates and the value of the land were then put in. Mr. HILL, with whom was Mr. Flowers, opened the case for Lord Harborough, and contended that the question was disposed of last year when the Company then got their Act authorising them to con struct their line. That Bill was a contract entered into by the Com pany, and they could not now dissolve it. From the conduct evinced by the Company, it appeared to him that it was their desire to come before the public as litigants. It would be s great injury to Lord Harborough's park, and he would bring forward witnesses to prove that the Whissendine line was not so absurd or Impracticable as had been stated. Mr. Clayton, surveyor to Lard Harboreugb, was then examined— Knew both lines, the projected one and the Whissendine line. The tunnel by the former line would pass between Lord Harborough's park and ornamental property, which would be very objectionable. (Witness produced a plan of the grounds). Cross-examined—No engineer was employed to survey the line forty yards south of the park. Mr. Gregory, another engineer, gave similar evidence. He sur veyed the Whissendine line on the part of the London and Notting ham Railway Company. It was a practicable line. He selected it for the interests of the Company. The steepest gradient was one in 200. The cuttings and embankments would be more than by the projected line, but there would be a saving, on the ether hand, from the cheapness of the land, and the avoiding of all ornamental pro perty. Cross-examined—Made the survey between Oakham and Melton with Lord Harborough's consent. His line was 15 feet higher then than the level of the System and Peterborough line at Melton. Re• examined—The line by Whissendine was selected on account of ground, net from any personal consideration to Lord Idarboroagh. This closed the case. The room was then cleared, and onsur re-admission, The Camara...ll announced the decision of the Committee to be that the preamble of the Bill was proved, but they, the Committee, were anxious that some course should be adopted, not toe onerous to the promoters, by which Lord Ilarborough's park should be passed in a way as little disagreeable as possible to that Nobleman. This they left to the parties concerned on both sides ; and, If they could not agree, the Committee would select the course themselves. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP mIV. LAST TAINCOLNSITZRE. (Coatinned from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The opposition was withdrawn. The clauses were then gone through seriatim, In which some amendments were made. GREAT minnow! . AND SHEFFIELD JUNC— TION RAILWAY (HUMBER FERRIES PURCHASE AND IMPROVEMENT). This Bill was opposed by the Corporation of Hull, as well as the people of that town. Mr. PAGET, who appeared for the Elll, said that with respect to the Humber Ferries Railway, he would offer a few observations. The present application was to construct a railway to commence at Gains borough and cross the Humber. The object contemplated by the Legislature in this railway could only be obtained by crossing the river Humber. There was a ferry on the river at the present mo ment, which facilitated the trains between New Holland and Hull. Now, this being the case, he should have conceived that the interests of the promoters and of the corporation were identical. Negotiations were entered into between the two parties ; but without success, as the corporation of Hall refused to come to any terms with the pro meters unless the latter purchased the ferry, paying for rights they could not exercise. Mr. Dxsasunr represented the corporation of Hull. Mr. Thomas Osweld was examined to show that the ferry In ques tion did exist. He underwent a eross-examination with respect to the ferries on the river in question, but nothing material was elicited. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till te-morrow. Sub-Committee, No. 1. WILTS, SOMERSET, AND SOUTHAMPTON. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The formula evidence was put in. Petitions were gone into from owners and occupiers of the line, alleging imperfections in the plans, &c. deposited, and insufficiency of notice. The Committee decided that the standing orders were not complied with. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, EDINBURGH, AND DIRECT GLASGOW. The object of the Bill is to connect Newcastle with Edlngburgh and Glasgow. The proposed length, twenty miles and a half ; the estimated cost, 220,0001. The engineers are Mr. Millar and Messrs. Green ; Mr. J. Browne is the solicitor ; and the Parliamentary agents are Messrs. Spottiswood, and Robinson. The opposing agents are Messrs. Parkes and Co. In the course of taking the usual formal evidence, The Committee expressed an opinion that they must report that the standing orders were not complied with, as the sum deposited in the Court of Chancery was not equal to one-tenth of the subscribed capital. In answer to an explanation offered by the agent for the Bill, The Committee said that the explanation might avail with the Standing Orders' Committee up stairs. Mr. rARICES presented a petition against therißill on the grounds of imperfect plans, &c., and on one or two allegations of no great mo ment, the standing orders were not complied with. At four o'clock the further consideration of the petition was ad journed till to-morrow. and the Committee rose. Sub-Committee No. 2. GREAT EASTERN AND WESTERN. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Alva Marian 'Menet 111 further explanation of tke MUNI of imperfectionin the plan, such as the illness of the engineer, the Com mittee adjourned the case till to-morrow and rose shortly after four o'clock. Sub-Committee No. 4. - (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) DERBYSHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE, AND WORCESTERSHIRE. Junction Railways, with certain parts of the counties of Stafford and The abject of this Bill is to connect the Trent Valley and Grand Worcester, by a line of 16 miles in length. The required capital Is 300,0001. The engineer is Sir J. Rennie. The Committee reserved their decision on this Bill. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAMTON B R ANCH. ) H WEEDON AND NORTAMP proposed line is to open a more di rec t communi cationplaces on the existing London and Birming ham line, lying month of Blisworth, and the Southampt on an d Peter borough Railway. There will also be a jun c ti on w ith th e propose d Worcester and Weedon Railway. The l eug th w ill b e R ye m il es, seventy-three chains ; and the cost is estimated at 125,0001. M r . R. AMP- The objectbe n Stephenson is the engineer; Mr. Pritt appeared as agent for the pro moters. v bet w een f vthareious Standing orders complied with. The Committee were occupied the remainder of the day with Bills for waterworkg and other local purposes. It-four o'clock, the Speaker being announced at prayers, the Com mittee rose and adjourned till to-morrew. Sub-Committee No. 5. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (NORTHAMPTON, DAVEN TRY, LEAMINGTON, AND WARWICK). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. COATES appeared for several petitioners against the Bill, and made several objections to the contract deed, which he said was tile gal, and to the copy of it deposited at the Private Bill-office, which was alleged to be incorrect. The Committee, after a long discussion, resolved to reserve the points, and, in the absence of certain witnesses, the case stood over till te-morrow. BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY (BATH LINE). It is proposed by this Bill to make a line of eight miles in length, from the Magetsfield station of the Bristol and Birmingham Railway to Bath, the cost of which is estimated at 270,0001. Mr. Robert Stephenson is the engineer, and Mr. Coates appeared as agent for the promoters. The Committee had not come to any final resolution as to this Bill, when, the Speaker being announced to be at prayers, they adjourned till to-morrow. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Bodmin, March 27. NISI PRIUS COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice Raiz.) Edward Williams was indicted, under 7 and 8 Geo. IV., cap. 29, sec. 36, for having feloniously stolen a quantity of ojsters from an oyster laying, the property of John Tye. le. Mr. Greenwood conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Slade defended the prisoner. Mr. GREENWOOD, having stated the facts of the ease to the jury, called John Tyacke —I am the lessee and occupier of an oyster fishery in Belford harbour. I am tenant to the Duke of Leeds, and have had the fishery thirty years. Part of it is in Porthnavos creek. In 1844 I laid down forty bushels of oyster brood. It cost me 2001. The bed is marked eat by poles stuck in the soil. The oysters are exposed at low water. In May, 1845, I took up some that were saleable, and moved them to another bed, which was also marked out by stakes. I keep a man to watch the beds at low water. At high tides, from time to time, I employ dredges to take the oysters. Cross-examine by l'r. SLADE —I have no lease from the Duke of Leeds. My tenancy is a yearly taking. I have often been troubled by persons picking oysters off this ground. I have had the prisoner sad his wife tried for picking on this ground. They were acquitted. I have heard that the prisoner offered to try the civil right to take the oysters. Mr. Stank addressed the jury for the prisoner, and contended that no case of felony had been made out against the prisoner, but that his taking the oysters was done to assert a right, and with a view of trying the question, by civil action, of whether there was any exclusive right in the Duke of Leeds to the fishery of the lower water, and if Mr. Tyacke felt aggrieved he might bring his action for trespass. Mr. Justice BELE summed up the cats to the jury, and left it to them to say whether the prisoner, at the time he took the oysters, knew that he had no right thereto, or whether he did so intending to assert a tight to take oysters in the place in question, and without any felonious intention. The jury immediately returned a verdict of—Not Guilty. MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Warwick, March 30. (Before Mr. Justitse COLTMAN.) BURGLARY WITH VIOLENCE.—George Hart, Edward Watsgrove, James Carr, and William Overton, were charged with breaking into the house of H. E. Lander, Esq., on the 28th of February, at Tatch brook, near Warwick, and stealing therefrom two gold watches, some money, and a considerable quantity of plate. For the defence an alibi was attempted, but failed, the alibi being that they were out poaching, They were all found Guilty.—Sentence deferred. HOME ClRCUlT.—Kingston, March 30. CIVIL SIDE— (Before Lord Chief Justice DENMAN and a Special Jury.) PEMBERTON V. COLLS. This was an action for slander, brought by the Rev. Mr. Pember ton, the vicar of Wandsworth, against the Rev. Mr. Coils, citrate of St. Anne's, Wandsworth, for slander. The declaration alleged special damage by means of the plaintiff having had his name erased from a certain ecclesiastical communication, in consequence of the slander ous language imputed to the defendant, and also that George Cock rell, curate to the plaintiff, had been unable to act cordially with the plaintiff in the spiritual affairs of the parish, for the same reason. The defendant pleaded, generally, not guilty, and also that no spe cial damage had been sustained by the plaintiff, as he alleged. Mr. CHAMBERS said the plaintiff was formerly minister ef the Chapel Royal, at Brighton, and in the year 1844 he was installed in the vicarage of Wandsworth. The defendant was also a doctor of divinity, and in the course of the same year he was appointed by the plaintiff to the curacy of St. Anne's Chapel, which was one of ease to the parish church of Wandsworth. The de fendant came to the parish in the month ef November, 1844, The plaintiff discovered that his parishioners began to treat him very coolly. In the course of the month of October, 1845, he was enabled to discover what he (Mr. Chambers) must call the gross misconduct of the defendant. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to state that a gentleman named Cockrell officiated as curate to the plaintiff, at his own church, and it appeared that to this gentleman the slander in question had been spoken by the defendant. It appeared that the defendant had to this gentleman charged the plaintiff with having upon his first arrival at Wandsworth to undertake the curacy, sent for him to his house to dinner, and that he gave him two glasses of wine which must have been drugged, for immediately after he had taken them he felt completely stupifled, and while in that state the plaintiff induced him to sign a promissory note for the sum of 2,5001. This was the slander of which the plaintiff complained. The plaintiff now, therefore, was compelled, for the purpose of vindicating his cha racter in the eyes of his neighbours and parishioners, to appeal to a Jury, and to ask their opinion, whether there was any foundation for the charges made against him ; and if he satisfied them that there was not, he looked for such an amount of damages as would make it manifest to the world that the defendant was, in point of fact, guilty of the slander which was imputed to him. The Learned Counsel then called several witnesses. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE summed up, and The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, 2001. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. William Allan, 45, was indicted for feloniously uttering a forged cheque with Intent to defraud. Mr. Dosicz prosecuted, and Mr. CLARKSON appeared for the prisoner. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that in the month of January, 1642, the prisoner went to the counting house of a Mr. Wil son, a builder in the City-road, and produced a bill for 301., purporting to be accepted by a Mr. Odell, and requested him to discount it, which he eventually,did, but, upon its being ultimately presente i for pay ment, it was discovered to be a forgery. The prisoner was not seen after this transaction until last January, when he was given into custody. The jury found the prisoner guilty. There was another indictment against him, charging him with uttering a forged bill for 651. ss. 6d., well knowing the same to be forged. . . _ The jury again returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner , was sentenced to be sent to hard labour for two years. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS BRISTOL, MARcu $O. Broca Excnarma.—The sales are— Bristol and South Wales Junc tion, 1 3-16--Caledonian, 8% —Di tie, New, I%—Midland, New, 28 % —Taff Vale, New, 1% • STIEFFIELD, 3faacu 30. STOCK ExcitAxGE.—The sales are—Midland, 40/. Shares, 2s Grimsby and Sheffield Extension, 11. 3s.—Ditto,Qaarter Shares, % Ditto, Railway and Dock, 2% —Huddersfield and Manchester, 6 Manchester and Lincoln Union and Canal, it, 3s.—Sheffield and Lin colnshire, 11. Ga.—Sheffield and Lincolnshire Extension, 1% —Shef field, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe, 9s. 6d.—South Yorkshire Coal Railway, I(—West Riding Union, 3%. LIVERPOOL, MAncn 30. STOCK EXCHANGE —The sales are—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 1% P.—Caledonian, 41s. 3d. p.—Clitheroe Junc tion, 1% dis.—Derby and Crewe, 1% p.—Eastern Counties, York Extensions, 31 p.—Eastern Counties, New Shares, 6 p.—Glasgow and Greenock, 17% p. —Grand Junction, 20911 ex d. and n.—Ditto, 40/. Shares (L.M.), 4011 p. ex (I. Goole and Doncaster, 54 dis.—Great Eastern and Western, 1 14 dis.—Great Grimsby Docks, 3 dis.—Hud derstleld and Manchester, % p.—lludilersfleld and Sheffield, 2 p.— Leeds and Dewsbury, 2 p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 3% dis.— Liverpool and Bury, 8 p.—Ditto, New Shares, 114 p.—Liverpool and Leeds Direct, 1 ls. dis.—Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 1% p.—Lon den and Birmingham Extensions, 5% p.—Ditto, Fifths, 21 p.—Man chester and Birmingham, Quarters (C), 5% p.—Manchester and Leeds, 35 p.—Manchester, Midland, and Great Grimsby, N dis.— Manchester, Matlock, and Midland, % p.—Midland Stock, 141— Ditto, 401. Shares, 10 p.—North British, Carlisle, % p.—North Staf fordshire, 2% p.—North Union (A), 206%—North Wales Mineral, p.—North Western, ls. p.—Scottish Central, 2% p.—St. Helen's and Runcorn Gap, Halves, 1531 —Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 3, % p —Shrewsbury and Herefordshire,: % dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham, % dis.—Shropshire Union and Canal, 18s. 6d.— South Eastern, New, Halves, 45. dis.—South Staffordshire, 1 dis.— West Riding Union, p.—Great County Down, 1% dis. —Newry and Warrenpoint, 131 p.—Paris and Lyons, Constituted, 3% p. P.—Dutch Rhenish it p.—Paris and Stras burg Constituted, 3i MANCHESTER, Munn 30. SMCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Chester, Mold, &c., 134 dia.—Caledonian , 2 34 dis.--Cambridge and Lincolnshire Ex tension, &c., Is. dis.—Chester and Manchester Direct, 28s. 6d. dis.— Clitheroe Junotion, dia.— East Lancashire, No. 2, 1 p.—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, dis.—Glasgow and Dumfries, 1 1 4 dis.— Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, % p.—Ditto, Ex tension, 1% dis.—Huddersteld and Sheffield Junction, 2% p.—Lan cashire and North Yorkshire, % dis.—Leeds and Thlrsk, 3% dls.— Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester, 2 p.—Leicester and Bedford, 13s. 6d. die. c.—Liverpool and Bury, 8 p —Ditto, New Shares, 1% p.— Liverpool, Ormakirk, and Preston, 1546 p. —Manchester and Bir mingham, 7534 —Ditto,Quarters (C), 5% p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 8 1 ,! p.—Ditto, Extension, p.—North Staffordshire, 2 34 p. North Western, 1-16 p.—Preston and Wyre, Halves (B), % p.—Shef field and Lincoln Junction, par—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters (No. 1), M p.—South Eastern and Dover, Halves (No. 4), % dis.— Trent Valley Continuation and llolyhead, 1 dis.—West Riding Union, 34 p. LEEDS, ILpien 30. STOCK Excusxac —The sales ark—London and Croydon, 20M Manchester and Leeds Extensions, 2 p.—Midland, 141—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter Shares (No. 3), 5 djs.—Leeds and Bradford, 24% —Leeds and Dewsbury, 255. p.—Leeds and Thirsk, 70s. dis.— Newcastle and Berwick, 16% —North British, New Carlisle Branch, 9s. p.—Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, 1% die.— London and York, 325. 6d.—West Riding Union, 145.—Birkenhead, Chester, Mold, &c., 295. dis.—Buckinghamshire (late Rugby), 195. dis.—Clitheroe Junc tion, 255. dis.—Grand Union, 15s. dis..—Lancashire, and North Yorkshire, 15s. dis.—Leeds and Liverpool Direct, 12e. 64. dig.— Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 15e. dis.—Manchester, Buxton, Mat lock, and Midland, 6s. 6d. p.—North Staffordshire, 21. 2s. p.—North Western, 6d.—South Midlands, 15. dis.—Welsh Midlands, 255. Ms. NULL, MARCH SO. STOCK EXCHINGL—Prices are rather bettor, and not so much dis position to force sales. The purchases of scrip are made principally with the expectation of the new projections being dissolved. The sales are—Axholme, 275. 6d.—Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, 3 Beston, Newark, and Sheffield, 1 h —Derby, Gainsborough, &c., 8 East Coast, % —Grand Union, 10s.—Hull and Barnsley Junction, 238 5 —Liverpool and Leeds Direct, 2—North British, Carlisle Branch, 31s.—North Staffordshire, 41. 2s. —Trent Valley Continuation and Holyhead, 3.55. 2 1 1.--West Riding Union, 3%. TORIE, - Maxcg 30. fiTocic Exogamic —The sales are—Grand Union (Nottingham to Lynn), 10s.—Leicester and Bedford, 7s.—London and Tort, DA Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 21. 4s. 6d.—Newcastle and Berwick, 1614 —Newcastle and Darlington Extensions, 7 1 ,4 North British, Carlisle Extension, 11. 12e.—Welsh Midland, 19s. 6d.— York and North Midland, New (East and West Biding), I. ATTEMPT TO PROCURE ABORTION.—At Norwich as sizes on Friday Sarah Whisker was indicted for having administered to Frances Bailey a quantity of white hellebore, on the bth March, with intent to procure abortion. It appeared that the prisoner, who Is a beldame of between thirty and forty, is esteemed as a " cunning woman" in the city of Norwich, and that she was visited by the prosecntrix on a day previous to that named in the indictment, for the purpose of having her fortune told. The wretch aeon elicited from the girl that she was in the family way, and directed her to come on the sth of March, when she would give her something which would "do her goad and not interfere witk her work." The appointment was kept, and the prosecutrix received from the pri soner a powder and a liquid, which she took according to the direc tions which accompanied them. The result, however, was far from satisfactory, for she fell sick, and being obliged to quit her service, resorted very wisely to medical aid for relief. The surgeon was then called in, and a chemist, who proved that he had frequently supplied the prisoner with small quantities of " w hite hellebore," were now examined, but from lack of experience 111 " poisons" were not enabled to speak decidedly as to the fact whether that ingredient was or was not a poison, and the prisoner was, therefore, on the point of escaping "scot free." The Learned Judge, however, hearing that Mr. Scott, a celebrated practitioner in this city, and surgeon to the gaol, was present, caused him to be examined, and from that gentleman's evi dence, founded on his more extended experience, the whole case was fully made out, and the prisoner was duly convicted and sentenced to transportation for life. CAN THIS BE TRUE?—James Jarvis, a man 75 years old, an inmate of the Barrow-upon-Soar Union-house, was charged with refusing to work at pumping water, &c., for which the medical officer had certified that he was able. He had been puton "refractory diet" for refusing to pump, but still refused, and the board bad, there fore, instructed the present process to be taken. The old man said the work had done him harm. Committed to the House of Correction to hard labour for twenty-ono days I—L4fogar Mercury. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT fIOUSE OF LORDS, March O. Their Lordships met at Ten minutes to Five o'clock. ROYAL ASSENT. The royal assent was given by Commission to the 8,000,0001. Consolidation Fund Bill, the South Sea Com pany's Bill, and the Bill for the naturalisation of the Hon. H. Ferguson. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Dels,warr, and the Earl of Dalhousie. WAR IN THE SUTLEJ. The Duke of WELLINGTON gave notice that he would, on Thursday next, move a vote of thanks to Sir Henry Smith, for the action that was fought on the 28th of January on the banks of the Sutlej. Upon the motion of the same NOBLE DUKE the House went into Committee on the Mutiny Bill, and the Marine Mutiny Bill, and the reports were brought up. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE brought up the report of the Committee on the New Houses of Parlia ment. He had, by an order of the Committee, pre sented this report of the progress made in the new Houses of Parliament, because, in order to carry out the recommendations therein contained, it would be neces sary to move an address to the Crown on this subject. The address would be in the hands of their Lordships to-morrow morning, and if his noble relative connected with the Woods and Forests wished for some little delay, no reason existed why a postponement should not take place ; but if no objection existed, then, in accordance with the notice already given, he should more that the address be adopted. To-morrow he thought would be a convenient day for Noble Loris. THE OUT-PENSIONERS SERVICES (CHELSEA AND GREENWICH) BILL. This Bill was then read a third time and passed. EVICTION OF TENANTRY IN IRELAND. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY rose to say a few words on the motion which be bud formerly made about returns relating to the eviction of tenantry in the counties of Roscommon and Galway. When lie read those accounts in the public newspapers, he felt it his duty to bring the matter before Parliament, in order to learn if such really had any existence and were not ad captandum statements. Since the matter had first occupied his attention he had made inquiries, and he was sorry to say that in the counties of Roscommon and Galway these ejectments had taken place to a very great extent. There was no doubt that Mr. and Mrs. Ger rard were the parties on whose estates these ejectments had taken place, and' that 76 families, or 300 persons, had been turned out from their houses, and deprived of any temporary covering they might have put up for themselves in the adjoining ditches. His object in seek , ing for these returns was, to give publicity to these pro ceedings. The landed proprietors had a right to manage their estates in any way they thought proper, but not to bring about such improper scenes as these. —(Hear, hear.) If they wanted to get rid of their tenantry they might encourage emigration, or take such other steps as would induce them to remove. But in these cases he found that, year after year, these parties offered to pay their rents, but the money was refused, and from 300 to 400 persons turned out of their village. He knew little of the south of Ireland, but ho was glad to say that no such scenes as these occurred in the north. There was something radically wrong in the manner in which the agents of landlords conducted themselves to wards the peasantry, or else he was satiitied these things would not take place. There was nothing that had occurred in Russia which could exceed in atrocity the wholesale evictions of the Gerard family. That these evictions had taken place he was well satisfied, and he had received a letter from a Mr. Andrew Hamill, of Bal linasloe, which corroborated the statement, This gen tleman had written a similar letter to Mr. O'Connell, a copy of which he had forwarded to him (the Marquis of Londonderry), but which he would not read, as he did not wish to have any thing in connexion with Mr. O'Connell. From the returns he had received, he was led to believe that in the counties of Down, Alullingar, and Antrim, there was no distress, and no want of employment, and therefore it would not be necessary to have the Relief Commission extend their powers to those counties. The Noble Marquis then moved that returns be laid upon the table of the House, stating the num ber of evictions that had taken place in Ireland in the years 1842, 1843, 1844, and 1845, in each barony respectively, and the total number evicted in Ireland during those years. The Earl ST. GERMANS said that he had not re ceived the information with which his Noble Friend the Secretary for Ireland promised to furnish him, relative to the subject on which the Noble Mar quis had spoken, and he therefore requested their Lordships to permit him to abstain from entering upon any discussion upon the subject. With regard to what the Noble Marquis had said of the distress in Ireland, he had not seen the document to which the Noble Marquis had referred, from the Secre tary of the Relief Board, but he apprehended that that communication only referred to the particular counties alluded to by the Noble Marquis. He hoped that the Noble Marquis's anticipations would be realised ; and that those counties would be exempted from the distress at present prevailing. He had no objection to the pro duction of communications on the subject of evictions, but he much doubted whether the House had the power of calling for that information, as the clerks of the peace were not Government Officers ; and unless some mode of remuneration were assured to them for their trouble, he doubted whether they would otherwise com ply with the wishes of the House. Lord MONTEAGLE said that undoubtedly they would be obliged to comply, for with respect to that class of officers, al • though they (the clerks of the peace) and the ether county officers were not nominated by the Crown, that made no earthly difference. The House was accustomed to make those orders on the clerks of the peace in all parts of the country, and they were beund to give the information required. He ( Lord Monteagle) had sat on a Committee to inquire into the duties of clerks of the peace in Ireland, and it was ascertained that many of them were in the receipt of three and four thou sand per annum, arising from a vast accumulation of fees. Parliament, in consequence, passed a bill regulating their emo luments, that regulation being on the supposition that they per formed the duties which that House might devolve upon them ; and no later than last year one of the clerks of the peace in a county in England had been called to the bar of that House be cause he had refused to give the information required of him. There was one question which he would allude to, and that was the existence of famine in Ireland. It was quite certain that there were parts of Ireland in which distress existed of the most alarming character, and that no individual whatever could doubt the existence at the present moment of distress of the most unparalleled and alarming nature, occurring at a period of the year earlier than any distress of the kind had ever before been known, and existing over a wider district of Ireland than was ever subjected to its pressure, even at a later period— that any person could doubt or hesitate to admit that alarming fact, was sine of the greatest miracles that had ever existed since the rapidity of communic(tion was what it was. In the county of Clare, he had information of the inhabitants in one agricultural village, who made their daily meals of food which was so noxious and fostid that they had to keep open their windows and deers. It was therefore no wonder that such a state of things as disease and pestilence prevailed. This was not a party question, for he was persuaded there was not a mein ber of their Lordship's House who did not sympathise with this suffering, and was anxious to afford relief. To neglect mea sures to meet the distress would only be to keep alive the agi tation and excitement for the repeal of the union. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that there was no doubt that the clerks of the peace in Ireland were public officers, and could give the information sought for by the Noble Marquis. With respect to the distress that prevailed in Ireland, he was satisfied it was very great. In November last he thought it was not so, but since then he had been convinced he was wrong, and that those who then considered the evil great were in the right. The Marquis of CLAN RICARDE said there was no doubt respecting the facts as represented by the Noble Marquis, and if there was any case which should weigh with their Lordships more than another, to show the state of the law, and the laxity of managing estates, this was that one. The land had been gradually let to a number of tenants, of which one held a much larger proportion than the others, and, he having left, the pro prietors came upon the remainder for the rents of the whole. This led to litigation and expense, which ended in the eviction of all these parties. He was satisfied that extreme distress existed in particular districts of the country, and that something should be done to meet it. That distress prevailed in Ireland to an extent amounting almost to famine there could be no doubt, and he was glad to perceive the measures that were taken to alleviate it, for he believed them to be the hest that the Government could possibly adopt. But the Government should not relax in their endeavours, lest that distress should spread to an extent of which they could form no idea; and he ventured to say, that by July next, it would be still worse, if the most active mea sures should not be kept up. Lord MALMESBURY said, he regretted the manner in which this question of the distress in Ireland had been con nected with an important measure now before Parliament. But he did not think that distress could have been deemed a sufficient reason for the changes that had taken place in the opinions of Hon. Members of her Majesty's Government. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that after the satisfactory manner in which the Noble Lord had answered his question, and the promise he had given to procure the requisite information, he would withdraw his motion. It was the absolute duty of landlords in Ireland to look themselves into the condition of the tenants upon their estates ; they would thus avoid being dependent on the generosity of Eng land. He trusted these things would turn out better than most Noble Lords anticipated. The Noble Marquis then with drew his motion. THE ARMY IN INDIA. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that he had that night given notice that his Noble Friend the President of the Board of Control would move the thanks of the House to the gal lant officers and army in India, for the victories they had achieved on the banks of the Sutlej, and he would now lay on the table of the House a copy of the resolution which would then be moved. CHARITABLE FUNDS' BILL, The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose to present a petition from a society well known to many of the Lordships. It was from the Literary . Fund Society, instituted for the relief of authors and other literary persons, and was principally sup ported by them, assisted by private individuals, who were in terested in the society's well-being. They prayed to be ex empted from the operations of the Charitable Trusts Bill. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had been requested by a Noble Lord to pogtpone the second reading of the Bill, in order to give him an opportunity of communi cating with him (the Lord Chancellor) upon the subject of one or two clauses in the Bill. He would, therefore, move the second reading immediately after the holidays. He might state that the Bill would not apply to charities supported by volun tary contributions. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from the society called the Refuge for the Destitute, praying that that charity m ight be exempted from th e o p era ti on o f t h e Bill. Lord COTTENHAI%I was glad to hear that the Bill was not to apply to charities supported by voluntary contributions. There was, however, another clan of charities to which he would call the attention of the Noble and Learned Lord, and that was the charities that had trust funds, but which were supported by voluntary contributions. Lord CAMPBELL was of opinion that the postponing of the further consideration of the Bill till after the holidays would end practically in a different Bill being brought forward, to meet the objections that had been stated to the present measure. After a few words from the LORD CHANCELLOR the subject dropped. RAILWAY LEGISLATION. Lord KINNAIRD brought forward the motion of which he had given notice—That a Select Committee be appointed:— Ist, To take into consideration the best means of enforcing one uniform system of management on railroads in operations, or to be constructed, and to secure the due fulfilment of the provisions of the Acts of Parliament under which the compa nies have obtained their powers, whereby greater accommoda t ion and safety may be insured to the public. !Id, To take into consideration what means may best be adopted for diminishing the extravagant expenses attendant on obtaining Acts of Par liament fur legitimate and necessary undertakings, and at the same time for discouraging the formation cf schemes got up for the mere purpose of speculation. 3d, to consider what . _ legislative measures could be framed to protect individuals from the injury they may sustain by laying down lines of railway through their property, without subjecting them to th- ruinous expense of opposing Bills in Parliament. These resolu tions contained the objects which he sought to carry out by the present motion. He had no hostile feeling against railways, but he wished to place them on a good and wholesome footing. There was now found a great diffi culty in the other House of Parliament, in legislating on this subject, from the strong railway interest that was growing up there, and unless the matter was taken up in good time, this pewer would so increase that it would be very difficult to deal with it. No time therefore was to be lost. Some steps were absolutely necessary to be taken, in order to control this grow ing power to a certain extent. He knew it would be said that it was now too late to urge on this question. That was the ob jection by which it was met before ; and he was glad that.no step had been taken upon the subject before, because when this project was urged on a former occasion, they had no idea of the extent to which this railway spirit would spread ; but now they had the advantage of the experience the delay afforded them ; and he did trust the House would take advantage of it, and frame some measure by which the public, as well as individuals would be protected. He might be met with the answer that the Board of Trade had certain powers over railways, but he did not think those powers sufficient. The Board of Trade was not to be blamed for that; he had no doubt they did their best ; but it was not because they had failed that another trial should not he made, with a view to a more successful result. The Board, he suggested, should have a power of superintend ence over railways in actual operation, and appoint superintend- ents in the same way as they had superintendents now over parishes, and over rivers, and other matters. Now he thought there were certain means which might be adopted by the Com mittee, and which would, in his opinion, exercise a control over them. This was one of them. He found it in a letter addressed some years back to a Member of the other House by an eminent engineer. After com paring roads and canals with railroads, and com plaining that there was no adequate safety to the public, he said that by reducing the capitals of all railways into one stock, he would venture to say that the evils now complained of would be done away with. He ( Lord Kinnaird) thought the thing practicable ; at all events, it was worth the consideration of the Committee. His own idea was that the public would be efficiently protected by encouraging competition. There were already several lines in existence, all proceeding from this great metropolis, and all forming what he might term the great arteries of the country. His proposal was, that these lines should be considered great arteries, and therefore should not be allowed to amalgamate. Now let them look at the lines in operation. They had the Great Western, which proposed, by way of Oxford, to reach Liverpool, then Lancaster, and so along the coast to Glasgow; then the London and Birmingham, which partly taking the same route, joined the Caledonian, and so round by the north to Edinburgh and Glasgow. They had also the London and York, which, by way of Hexham, reached Edinburgh; and the Eastern Counties, which, proceeding by Newcastle, reached Berwick. If they turned to the west, they found the Great Western throwing out lines to Exeter, and the South-Western doing the same thing. They had lines to Dover, to Brighton, and to East Kent, aid these all formed great and distinct lines. He thought that competition should be encouraged between these companies; and he put it to their Lordships' consideration whether such a system would not be likely to conduce to the public interest, if adopted. Suppose they wish to accommo date the country between these lines, say perhaps Nottingham, then a reference would be made to the Government Board, which would apportion ►t in reference to the existing railways. There were several other points bearing upon the question, but, as the motion was not to be opposed, he would content himself with moving for the Committee. The Earl of DALHOUSIE confessed that he did not enter tain such sanguine expectations with respect to the Noble Lord's plan as the Noble Lord had expressed for himself With regard to the amalgamation schemes referred to, he would say, that it was a matter which should be looked upon with a jealous eye, whether the amalgamations referred to railway to railway, or railway to canal. The attention of Parliament had more than once been called to this question. It had been treated by a Committee of the other House in 1844, and last year by the Board, in connexion with the Executive Government. The subject in the present session was referred to another Committee, just appointed, with the view of laying down additional rules and conditions respecting amalgamation. Regarding the other feature of the plan proposed by the Noble Lord, that of a Board in connexion with the Executive Govern ment, he would pass by the consideration of the Board of last year, in comparison with it, as the powers now sought by the Noble Lord were more extensive than had been the fuuction of the Board of Trade. It was quite clear. that the present system was open to strong objection, but he did not think that much advantage would result from taking the power of dealing with them out of the hands of those who now had it. No doubt, when a company was formed for the purpose of getting the power of taking possession of the property of others, it would not be well to leave so large an amount of power in their hands. As to what had been said about the expenses incurred in going before Standing Orders' Committees, it would be desirable that the amount of those expenses should be lessened, still he did not think that that was a matter in which the Legislature ought to interfere. Lord KINNAIRD did not intend that the powers which Parliament had should be taken from them ; but what he did suggest was, that certain parties, on behalf of the Government, should be taken down to make inquiries upon the spot into the merits of each case. He had been on a Committee in which this plan was adopted, and the results were most satisfactory, and such plans would also have the effect of preventing a vast mass of litigation. The Marquis of BRED ALBANE said he agreed with his Noble Friend. Nothing could be more desirable than that there should be some controlling power over those railway com panies. He was anxious to see all railways the result of com petition and private enterprise ; but, with respect to the desire for amalgamation, no doubt it would be very desirable that all great lines should be under the control of one great directory, and that frequent ownership along a line should be prevented ; but he could not say that he entirely concurred in his Noble Frienp's view of the principle of amalgamation. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he was in favour of amalgamation ; but care should be taken that it was not extended too far, lest too great encouragement should be given to monopoly, which would be very dangerous to the public interest. He was of opinion that those matters should be left untouched until the present Committees had sent up their reports. Lord WHARNCLIFFE said, that although he did not wish to express any opinion upon this question, yet he did not wish it to be understood that by giving his vote in favour of the Committee he was giving his sanction to the ap pointment of a Board of Commission. Railways had now become matters of national importance, and it would be very desirable that the Government should have a power of control over the companies to a certain extent. He was not very sangnine as to the results of this inquiry, but it might, to some extent, be useful ; and it was not too late, as had been supposed, to make it, because, in every railway Bill that had been recently passed, a clause had been inserted to the effect that all these companies should be subjected to any general rule which the Legialature might deem it necessary to adopt. Lord MONTEAGLE said that great misconception existed out of doors upon one point connected with railways, and it was this. In many cases the parties to a deed for a railway felt indisposed to carry it out, and would prefer not doing so ; but they were under the impression that they could not come before Parliament with a petition praying that they might be relieved from this work, which they themselves had under taken to complete ; but he believed they were mistaken, and he thought it would be well that the public should be made aware that parties to a deed of this sort had the power to send in such a petition, and the Legislature to grant its prayer. The Duke of WELLINGTON said it was the practice to submit railway companies to the power of the law before they got their Bill, but there was nothing like a sufficient controul over them afterwards. He did think that those compani , -s should be amenable to the common law after they had made their railways, as well as before. Lord H AfHERTON did not think that the fact of parties petitioning to be released from the making of a line, should re lieve them from certain responsibilities which they had un dertaken. He was also of opinion that the expense and loss of time consequent upon parties being obliged to go before two Committees on Standing Orders should be avoided, and it could easily be done by means of a commission. Lord CAMPBELL said he agreed with the Noble Duke, that the public safety should be more carefully guarded against than it had been upon the railways. The infliction of a deodand had no effect whatever, and he agreed with a Noble and Learned Lord, that that was nothing more than a ridi culous remnant of ancient superstition. Care should be taken also that in case when a man, the father of a family suppose, should have been killed, that the widow and family should re ceive compensation. A Bill to that effect was introduced last session, but was thrown ou s t. In Scotland the law compelled pecuniary compensation in such cases ; and he had heard of one instance in that country, where a matt been killed and his widow was awarded 2,000/. Lord REDESDALE hoped the Noble and Learned Lord opposite would introduce that Bill again, for, under the pre sent circumstances, parties had no redress whatever. They might apply to the superintendent or to the chairman of the board, but all these were parties interested; they gave very civil answers, but no redress was to be had. The motion was then agreed to ; and Lord KINNAIRD said he would name the Committee to morrow. RAILWAYS. Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition against the Direct Northern Railway, and in favour of several other railways, but his Lordship did not name them. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 30. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes to Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr. MILES MqSONELL took the oaths and his seat for the county of Mayo. SCOTTISH MIDLAND EXTENSION RAILWAY BILL. Viscount DUNCAN moved that leave be given to the Committee on the Scottish Midland Extension Rail way Bill to proceed with the said Bill, notwithstanding that seven clear days notice of going into Committee has not been given. Mr. GREENE observed that the motion appeared to him highly objectionable. The course that ought to have been adopted would have been for the chairman, if he could, to have made the present application at the time of its appointment. The motion was withdrawn. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed, viz.:— Northumberland and Lancashire Junction Railway. Glasgow, Airdrie, and 3lonklands Junction Railway. Edinburgh and Batbgate Railway. Horbury-bridge and Calder Railway. Leeds and Thirsk Railway (Knaresborough Extension). Perth and Inverness Railway. Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin Railway. Hamilton New Gas. Helensburgh Harbour. Helensburgh Extension and Police. Shrewsbury and Herefordshire Railway. SION COLLEGE. - Mr. GREENE riv;ved that the Sion Coll, go Bill be read a first time, notwithstandiug the time limited by the sessional order had expired. The motion was agreed to. The following reports were brought up and ordered to be laid on the table, viz. Glasgow Waterworks. Welsh Charity School Incorporation. Dundee New Gas. Sunderland Dock (to be coneideTed). Middleton Gas (to be considered). Ellesmere and Chester Canal (to be considered). Bury Gas (to be considered). Enfield Chase. Road (to be considered). Great Western Railway. South-Eastern Railway (No. 11—Branch from Rye to Rye Harbour). Rochester Bridge. Willingham Inclosure and Drainage. BirminghtAm Cemetery. London and South-Western Railway (Hampton Coe Branch). London anO' South-Western Railway (Chertsey as Egham Bran'= ll )• Boston Waterwo:lcs. Glasgow and Ayr ;Railway Amendment and Branch& (No. 2). THIRD READINGS. The following Bilk were read a third time and pa3sea viz.:— Brighton, LeweF, and Hastings Railway (Deviations Branches). Brighton and Chichester Railway (Steyning Branch). S nah-Eastern Railway (No, 4—from Tunbridge Well! to Hastings and Rye). Mr. HODGSON iiINDE moved, on the further e 0 0: sideration of the report of the Sunderland Docks Bul'i the following verbal amendments ;—Clauso 131—in tb! first line, to omit " such ; is the second line, to omii said." Clause 135—before " Corporation," to inner s " said."—Agreed Mr. G. HOPE reported from the Committee on Grovl No. 4 that they had adjourned until after DOW, many of the bills in the group were not yet before ti Committee. 1 _______ The report was ordered to be laid on the table. LONDON AND SALISBURY RAILWAY. Mr. BANKES presented petitions from several pla(P n Dorsetshire in favour of this railway. OLDHAM RAILWAY. Mr. BROTHERTON presented petitions in favour We Oldham railways. WEST OF SCOTLAND JUNCTION. Mr. HASTIE presented petitions in favour of la West of Scotland Junction Railway. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. Sir A. CLIFFORD appeared, and summoned ta 4 tlouse to appear at the bar of the House of Lords, !war her Majesty's royal assent given by Comm' to several Bills (for which see Lords' repo ^t). In the course of a few minutes the SPfAICER turned, and informed the House that the royal asst; had been given in the House of Lords to sevecal Sir ANDREW LEITH HAY presented a peti t '', signed by the inhabitants of seven parishes in Aberdet` praying that the measure with respect to the corn -la l: aow under the consideration of her Majesty's Govef 4 went might speedily pass into a law. • 1 An lloN. MEMBER (whose name we could not 'eel presented a petition from Warrington in Lancasl94' oraying that the measures proposed by her Majesty'. Government with respect to the corn• laws: might sPee pass into a law. The Hon. Member also presea,,. several other petitions from the same placo in favour.' limitation of the hours of labour. Mr. P. BORTIIWICK presented a t'Llost Dumb rously signed petition" in favour of the Veit 1 1 ° 1c Labour Bill. fry Sir JAMES GRAHAM presented a petit ion the High Sheriff and grand jury of the c 'Anti Leitrim, which was adopted at the late spring as - siz es ' n favour of the Government Bill for the Suppre,i o " crime of Ireland. fti Mr. WILLIAMS gave notice that, on the order' Id f, Cr Sur - 'Y day being rest_ ior going into a kJommittee of . r,he Estimates, he would call the attention of the f.t`r to the defective mode adopted in manning the navy, to the manner in which courts-martial are conducted.• THE VICTORY UPON THE SUTLEJ. Sir ROBERT PEEL gave notice that, on Thursdl, next he would move a vote of thanks to Sir H. SI, for the glorious victory gained on the 28th JanuarY over the Seikhs on the banks of the Sutlej. THE MILITIA. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that he would, ill it (44 evenings, ask the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secret:o;e at-War, whether any arrangements had been m ade r . calling out the militia. CHARING CROSS BRIDGE. Aal In reply to a question from Sir DE LACY EVAN, Sir R. PEEL said that the Committee for the porl / i ii of inquiring into the merits of the Bill at present in ~ House, to enable the proprietors of the Charing•lp Bridge to sell it to another party, would be appoin t ''' . a few days. Mr. COLLETT wished to know whether the PT motets; of other projects interested in the report * be heard before the Committee ? ese'S' Sir R. PEEL was understook to say, that the a , : . mittee would take into consideration any snbr ift which came within their province, but they would o ;i 4 take into consideration those Bills which had be en f seated to Parliament during the present session. JEWS IN RUSSIA. otei- Mr. 11. BERKELEY wished to ask the Right e'i,,. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) whether he was aware S). the Emperor of Russia had issued an ukase for the' pulsion of the Jews from that country ? e . Sir ROBERT PEEL said he received some info ff ,. tion on the subject, one or two years ago, to the e ,, , that an ukase had been issued by the Emperor, 11°' the expulsion of the Jews from the territory, bet their removal from the frontier towards the inter ior, nearer India. He understood, however, that the ork was suspended and not carried into effect. THE CATHOLIC PRIEST OF THE gal l REGIMENT. 10 Mr. O'CONNELL wished to ask the Big--es e s cH Gentleman, the Secretary-at-War (Mr. S. Herbert) , ''' , o' s tatement which had been put forward in the news P e ar that a Catholic priest in attendance in his spirit ua l , pacity on the Catholic soldiers of this regiment in In 't and who had been killed in one of the recent eng inents on the banks of the Sutlej, was refuse d a n Y , Inuneration for his services, or any accommodatiort;s the conveyance of his baggage from place to plac e ' e , that he was compelled to pay fur such transm ission of his own purse, was true ? Mr. S. HERBERT said he had received no furtherit firrnation on the subject than that furnished in columns of the Ddhi Gaztile. ssloo SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION TO THE CAT — - SOLDIERS IN INDIA. be( Mr. O'CONNELL inquired if any provision bad 4 made for affording spiritual instruction to the C at/1' soldiers in India during the present war ? tl' Mr. S. HERBERT said 2,5001. was distributed ill 1 1: part of India for the instruction of Catholic s oldiert: s s the average 60,0001. a year was distributed in diuels parts of India among these soldiers, under the direco i if the Governor-General. The Board of Directs) 0,, :he East India Company had recently passed ar es t * tion authorising the Governor-General to ineress e b i , amount if he eaw a necessity for doing so. Tule: l v o' should receive the most earnest attention of the u ° ' ' s went. d P ° After a few words from Mr. O'CONNELL an- GRAHAM, the subject droeeed. GRAND JURIES (IRELAND). s , Or Mr. CALEB POWELL wished to ask the Rig s '",se Baronet if it was the intention of her Majesty's ( '' o f t' ment to introduce any measure for an alteration ° present grand jury system in Ireland, OP Sir J. GRAHAM did not think that a log a !ii would elapse before some measure was introduce her Majesty's Government relivive to that subje ct : 0) Several Bills were brought up fro m the Do"' ordered to lie on the table. 1 IRISH COMMISSION. po t: ' Mr. WILLIAMS had not heard precisely the atom of the Noble Lord, and he would, therefore, h_ s eg,", - s t): the Right Hon. Baronet at the head ofher' 2 ` l6 ' ith Government whether it was intended to proceed ? Commission with respect to the - proscribed distric te d The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER t il ? t Ot t that the Hon. Gentleman would understand thaLloslo impossible to proceed with the commission, .7, ,el:', ~, according to the rules of the House, the commission fol d unable to act, as several of the members who 0 1 peP merly been engaged on that commission were It , members of that body. eth er Mr. WILLIAMS would then wish to ask wh01 ) , was intended at present to proceed with the Coinsr;‘, O O.l The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEV-e' not say at the present moment. HEALTH OF TOWNS. , ~s ile a. Lord EBRINGTON wished to ask the Mg"' ase P Baronet at the head of the Home Department St'seo/ tion respecting the business for to-morrow, and h -:0 1 1l whether the Government had come to any deeismtio ee l s specting the great number of Water-works 13P i leel l ; before the House. As this matter bore upon the ms et:; of Towns' Commission, now under the matingeld Government, he wished to know what course w ° s , e el: taken in the House upon these measures, as it vv :d OF desirable that the Government should reconn s e- i seer -- House to adopt some such measures as would 0/ these Bills a stage or two. ss etife s PROTECTION OF LIFE (IRELAND) m - , 0 s e ', Sir J. GRAHAM had not at present COo e ~..,06°! decision as to the course which he intended t 0 r r d 11 0 1 wits regard to the Bills to which the Noble ijcL ea d i l alluded ; but the course which he would recoil:100r the House was, that these Bills should be broug",, s est° as fast as possible. But the Noble Lord would un:‘,,,sleaell that the orders of motion should take pre wi t wi t of the notices of the day, and it wan in accoe Oyes"; the strict rules of the House to abide by th is o f t b s He could not, therefore, without the sanction of :h i House, make such a motion. The strict rule ° o ieler t House were, that on Mondays and Fridays th s t it hea of the day should have precedence of motions. " 00 1, 6 ; 4 the sanction, then, of the House, he could not It l w ow, postponement of the motion ; but he was on, e seec" ready to move that the House should give the Pre' to the notice of motion over the order of the dayolos, Sir W. SOMERVILLE said he rose for the F o p': of moving that the words tt be postponed" be v_ d 0i from the motion the orders of the day be proceeded w itb;_ t he would not be necessary for him to trooh c l_ l 7,,ste of the Right Hon. Baronet , an I; House at any length on the present o c i lr ou ge but he wished to call the attention of the 1-1 ! t ee •-e &c ry ' P' to the great inconvenience that would arise at te _ postponement of a measure which had occupied th e II the tion of the House for so long a time, and on w' e ssi d to be , 1 , 1 be attention of the people of this empire might be centred ; and scarcely less inconvenience wrroeil felt from the fact of the Government bringing i ° 4 er at this early stage of the session an exciting a l fi li; asperating debate on a measure which, after rea d it was the intention of Government to ha ve fti tur e a first time, and then postponed until some on the day. It was necessary for him to enlarge ul'iot inconvenience which would arise fr om the joie , ponement of the debate with respect to the or!. oh o and no persons were more aware of that fae S t a t r p o il o et li t Majesty's Government, and the Right Hon. _ deer, their head, who had himself presented petitiop!_bb eating in the strongest language the delay Nvn_lf gn to' taken plane on this measure. Ile had '" THE SUN I LONDON, TUESDAY EV COM