The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-18 00:00:00

With resptet to the ceeemplated Bill, if it was to give permanent satisfaction, it mutt apply a remedy to the great evil of want of security f the deposits. Let the Government have the entire responsibility, and appoint the officers of the banks. He would not, however, have them dispense with the local trustees. Wherever u, batik was established, he would h ave the clergy', the gentry, and the merchants of high character in the locality asked to give their voluntary attendance to the suptrinterdence of the affairs of the link—they should not he responsible, but the officers who received the money across the counter should ha held responsible, and should give adeqiiate security, and a sufficient number of inspectors Mould be appointed, who should transmit reports to London by every Post as to the proceedings of the bank. The dif ference between 2/. 15s. per cent which the depositors were willing to accept, and 34- per cent., which• the Right Hon. Gentleman received on the 30,000 0001. de posited in the Bank, would give a margin of 10s. per cent., which would defray all the expenses of this addi tional machinery. If the Hon. Gentleman who intro duced the motion interpreted the promise of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer in the same way as he did, ho would urge him to rest contented with that promise, and Withdraw the motion. Ur. P. SCROPE thought that nothing was more itn- Portant than putting the savings banks upon a see f oundation, and he trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman Would really fulfil that undertaking. Ur. S. CRAWFORD said that his constituents had coffered greatly from the non-security of savings !emits, and the Government were much to blame for not having, in the four years just past, provided some measure of security. The working classes telt that their interests had been neglected in the matter. He thought there could be no real security while there was a divided re cnonsibility. The Government should either take the 'We responsibility upon themselves, or make the trus tees legally responsible. He would support the motion Of the. Hon. Gentleman. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY thought it most desirable that there should be a real, legal, and substantial re aponsibility established, and not a nominal one. Mr. GRA ['TAN placed very little confidence in the Hon. Member's (Mr. Herbert's) statements, unless he brought in a Bill on the subject. Mr. DISRAELI said his Hon. Friend had brought forward his resolution less with a view to local objects, than in reference to the whole system of savings banks in the kingdom. The importance of the subject could not therefore be exaggerated, especially when it was re collected how very much the condition of the working classes was influenced by such institutions. At the same time, however, though he held his Hon. Friend perfectly Justified in bringing forward the motion under discus sion, after the frank statement of her Majesty's Govern 3Perit that th ere s h ou ld b e l eg i s l at i on on the subject, and ITilsa the t one o f t h e Ri ght H on. Gentleman, he (Mr. Disraeli) gathered early legislation—he trusted his Hon. Fr lend would not, under the circumstances, press the House to a division. Mr • HERBERT would not, under the circumstances, di vide the House. The resolution ens accordingly withdrawn. IN VESTMENTS AND INDUSTRY OF THE HUMBLER CLASSES. Mr. BLANEY t h en move d f or a Standing Commit tee, or unpaid Commission, to consider, suggest, and r e port from t i me to t i me , measures t o r emove l ega l d other obstacles which impede the investments and • industry of the humbler classes. The direction of ninvestment and labour of the people was of the t iT t eentequenee. In remote antiquity both were to-eated to useless monuments—in the middle ages t fortresses and feudal palaces; in modern times to pie ellre-galleries and public gardens. At a later period a cl tete, light broke in on the world, when the middle tesea invested their savings in a manner useful to ntuselve an d b ene fi c i a l to t h e i r country. A t t h e pre ttime it was more than ever necessary to remove all uestacles to the investment of labour. Ia the last cen tury the Duke of Bridgewater devoted his large fortune 1 4 1 ,, c1 : his great abilitie s t o th e cons t ruc ti on o f cana l s . e l e "ta "vas almost the first investment in which the middle t: a ces were permitted to join. After this and in the elent day came railways, in which 300 millions were Bounce was now saturated with capital, it became neces f-Y to relieve every other source that was open for the purpose. During the war there was the public A la , which for twenty years absorbed millions of capital ;;:doh might as well be entirely lost or sunk as it were ee! t h . 3 , s ea, and which was not for a moment to be com vtet-7 In point of benefit to the country or to the in - , --S tmg classes with railways and with canals. At this 75°Ment there was an accruing capital in the country of t bu nions a year, and it therefore behoved Parliament t,ttt liberate all u s eful and advantageous sources of invest ell! by affording every possible facility to the invest or", of labour. At present there were three portions m e the law which stood opposed to such invest s ) " .3 ,.,•, The rep orts of the Committees which he (Mr. ate.;l34ll4owbtained specified those difficulties. The part was the main difficulty, inasmuch as each t e if s ° 4 ander its provisions was liable to the loss of his °'e property in case of failure. Then in the event of set dispute occurring among the shareholders or part *)ana?, there was no chance of a decision being obtained ' l3 " . they went into the Court of Chancery. This ,Nctinted, in fact, to a denial ofjustice. The rule of the Zetkurt of Chancery, besides, was that redress could only Atobtained through the dissolution of the partnership. w as bad en oug h, th ere f ore, f or t h e r i c h , b ut i t was i n a rce for th e p oor . Th e l aw as i t stood prevented the j e ctment of large ma sses o f ca pi ta l i n use f u l enter e;;;lB4)B, and deterred i n t e lli gen t men from seeking to pro. h ate the public benefit in connexion with their own ad- L a t i l e t age• A commission was appointed in 1837 to in e....t. the subject of unlimited partnership; and the 111 7 t Lord Ashburton gave very striking evidence against tri • l aw- The partnerships of almost all other coun ea, were founded on limited liabilite : France, st ° " 4ll d, America, enjoyed such a law; England h i c i rl alone in retaining the law of unlimited lia- N r t Y• Some years since her Majesty was ern wirtered to grant charters of limited liability by r a in Council; but these charters were so clogged te conditions and so hardened with heavy fees that Tt e ,iY became, in point offset, impracticable of obtainment. ieda.difficulty was severely telt by several benevolent hotill'lduals who sought to establish common lodging then and other useful institutions for the poor. The th e ;er for lodging-houses cost no less than 1,2001. heetiraes the cost of an Act of Parliament; but if ti e ,, a ‘' not been obtai ne d, th e w hole fortune of the par elieweal-d be liable. The Committee, of which he (Mr. a r et P) was chairman, had accordingly recommend e d Te eth lieu in the cost of obtaining these charters, and tte o i h e r facilities in their acquirement. There was artiest advantageous object which might be effectually kiddi e out if there were adequate powers, by the ha w and poorer classes, such as roads, bridges, and Dres eet r °, water-works, and other local matters. At 04 . a, there were at least fifty acts to that effect, but he got lanes) saw no reason why one general Act should a cile-i - e Pacced to comprehend all these Acts, as was the et tl etaie - ee t "Pect to agricultural improvements, enclosing e lttetiti t tt! , &e. The third head to which he called the - "c haft' of the House was the desire that existed among t h oite t t l t ct rious classes to form co-operative societies had c ensselves for their own advantage and benefit. at L ee : r eceived information as to the " people's mill top., _ which he was informed was in a most satisfac tairecrhdition. The poorer classes should he encou aeciee b Y affording them every facility to form these Pleee4 a a• But as the law stood, they were one and all ltd der the unlimited liability law of partnership, clite t i eg r Court of Chancery in prospect. The conse *eta - was, that no rich man could assist them if he W ee . l . ao disposed, w i t h out i ncurr i ng t h e sam e ri s k as liehile, il le urred by the company. All they wanted was ea,, l imited to the amount of capital subscribed by tevEtutit e lu t : ii vidual, and a c h eap t r ib una l t o se ttle their . piers• At present a di s h onest con t r ib u t o r could of Partnership in bar to a downright robbery he it ay such society or and there was r itmedy as a Company, ) kil teo for , therefore him. What he (Mr. htlaney tt °Ora m i sa i on to tegu r i a r t e Yas—first, a committee or a into and suggest amendments in e `ati law; secondly; a law of limited liability, combined "Ith.a, reduction ot the present cost of obtaining charters et fk , incorporation in the case of Finch Partnership; and permission to parties pe a „ e • e t t l cum they might choose for not clit le g capital to lend than twelve k rith s , upon t h e hypothecation of a p ort s i s o a` it Lies undertaking in aid of which i t lent, t e h , p h r e ? I r their own tree t a e rag proportionable to all others, -61 tre on the part of large masses of as a Peeple to affeieatirati L ission to use . their own money le teent ut stu clat the restrictions that clogged its em to ye to tile Buiesent. In proportion as facilities were given a eeur e bler classes to this effeet, so much the more Die t tft w a ° alslat this country be rendered. In America, he -11 q) had been informed there was no dread th at ti t l e * p e t tinictiori of the gaslights in street riots, as most ato r'e were shareholders in the gaawerks. In 11 Id; 141 .° ,of Bilaton it was the S UlC—working men r elit Trge proportion of the gas shares, which were iosv as 5/. by Act of Parliament for the peee °Dee, taencouraging them to become shareholders. He etnerefore, the House would agree to his m _ I r th el p . 44ABOUCHERE was not disposed to undervalue •ce, Qt;'," of the proposition, or to refuse the Hon. :at e ,: a great tribute of respect. He quite agreed e mthv ei CrY obstacle that could be removed should be re• illo ti tom the way of the in ves t ments o f th e sa vings oili ng - classes; but he also thought that they Apa ce tt r i Uther b e a d v i sed to lay these savings by than to t t eat ie e , e °3 where they might b e t empte d b y l arge tI Y kit e Though he agreed with the principle laid down t a tt otlr• Friend very much, he doubted the sound belieVeti, e % 4 9a. Friend's conclusions on this point. Ho wehti the contrary, that a just system of savings' 474014:1ca would be proposed in the course of the Nee' -3 tlld be the best source of investment for the tees of it ti the vvorking-olasses. At the aim© time he ( if 0 • • ' , ea t , PuzaoU that there should be no restriction to th e tee tttertt of te , t th e ref such savings, and that they ought to be t for te °jet trt apply it for their advantage in what peakeiti th ey pleased. He could not agree with the tWe t4t aitt ( e ) : of Ili a Hon. Friend for a Commission or - h ‘ to investigate and suggest alterations. It was tentlou of the Government to consider the ih lop t e' aneation„ But he bad an opinion, mi ll; the the great changes that had taken place t e a ts _t th e commercial relations of the world, de s'" Well 1711010 questio n o f partners hi p oug h t b,..Drode,,and carefully investigated. Whether it would ntaall , 10 adopt the principle of limited liability te e t eh et ne owned that his opinion was averse to any t ' e r e tte qee 'l o 4 e 4 t ? _in what had hitherto been the law and t14, 1. ° wer e t A e ls cc dlotrY• His Hon. Friend had stated la te aatete ee ree great obstacles to the investments of et eo l er e hi e r . ul as!fs. The first was the ureeent law of toe t itare t i e v With respect to working associations and k\ et h ad 0 SOCiktitS he had h t of ;teel:,tacelsitly taken place. He been unc servan He knew there was a :1 % 1 it tbe e i e " ) ''''''itt Vitae societies. He should he Walk. vy 're an impedirael , in the wa aof the,®tgetoclaysesy with resp .165 ta toi t to thrown the great eaten - tions; but, at the same time, he SUN, wished to see them under proper regulation and restrie tion. He had looked into the law on the subject, and he found the Joint-Stock Companies Act imposed the great est obstacles to the due working end proper extension of these societies. If the Act only had relition to this point, he should have himself proposed an elteration its provision;. But he found, if ho did to, it wou ld b e necessary to go a stop further, and to give positive en couragement by such legislation as would alter the prin ciples of the law of partnership, and enable such associa. tiens to sue and be sued. He gave ne opinion on that point, but he m us t say it apeeared to him a grave step fur Parliament to take —teat of giving sanction to prin ciples of that description. lie was most anxious to have the question fairly considered by a Commission, and when the labours of that Commission were ceded, tor the improvements or alterations they might recommend to be adopted; or, if no alteration was expedient, then to con sider the question settled. The next complaint was es to the expense of charters. The complaint, ho was happy to stay, was in course of diminution, and he should be glad to assist in further reducing an expense which he admitted was too great. With regard to the other modes of disposing of savings, he believed ho need not go into that question. There was one mode of investment of sevings—the acquisition of land—which he was glad to sett was gaining ground among the working-classes. He rejoiced to see this feeling, and he would readily give any other facilities that might be needed to promote nod facilitate it. He admitted the Joint-Stock Companies Act required alteration. It had done some good; but it must be admitted it was cumbrous in its machinery, and did not in some cases effect its purpose. He believed that great improvements might be made in the law of part nership, but he thought a Commission from the Crown would be better than a Committee; and he hoped, there fore, his Hon. Friend would be satisfied with the assur ance which had been given on the subject, and not press his motion. Mr. MOFFATT would remark that thelevidence before the Committee was in favour of a limitation of liability, as it existed in most continental countries. Mr. HEADL A.M. agreed with the Right Hon. Gentle man in his expressions of sympathy for the labours of the Hon. Member for Shrewsbury, and he hoped he might congratulate the country that something practical would be the result. After the statement fruits the Right Lion. Gentleman that a Commission should be appointed to investigate the question he would nut go into it, but he must say the law as it stood was most de fective, nerd required amendment. At present the Court of Chancery was the only court to which share holders could resort to bring their directors to account; and even if they did succeed in that court, the expenses ware so heavy as to make a resort to that court an act of improvidence. He was glad to hear the whole subject was to be investigated, ss he could not but anticipate great benefit from the inquiry. Mr. J. A. SMITH did not believe that anything would be more dangerous to the best interests of the working-classes than an attempt to direct their invest ments to objects which, though pecuniarily productive, must be at the same time attended with eonsiderable risk and probable harm. The want of a tribunal to re fer to in disputes inter se was the grievance put into the first place by all the witnesses examined before the Committee last year; and this being so, he begged to direct the attention of the Government to it with the view of suggesting a remedy. Mr. COLIDEN would not refer to the establishment of a legal tribunal to settle disputes among partners. There was no doubt a want of such tribunals, but that question he would leave to legal men. The other ques tion—that of limited liability—was a question for com mercial men. As far as regarded liability of partners, he had not been able to discover any valid reason why we should be different to all the rest of the world, and have unlimited liability instead of limited liability. Why should railway companies have privileges which were denied to smaller joint-stock undertakings? He con sidered working men laboured under great delusion in supposing they could have larger profits if they combined the characters of labourers and ca pitalists. It would be found that labouring men got more profit in a concern managed by one capitalist, than they would get if they were partners in the concern. But at the same time he was for giving working men all reasonable facilities for carrying on their business in the form of co-operative associations. With respect to the question of limited partnership, be thought great good would arise from allowing persons to put a sum of money into a working concern, and making them only liable to the extent of that amount; whereas, under the present law, if a person did advance money in the character of a partner he became liable to discharge the debts of the concern, as Lord Eldon said, to his last shilling and his last acre. Many clever men would be induced to embark money in business if lia bility was limited. It had been said that the public would be deceived by limited liability on the part of some wealthy partner; but this argument would not stand the test of investigation. In America, ho be lieved, it was the practice for houses to publish their partners and the amount each advanced. The creditors thus knew what they were about, and how far they were justified in giving credit. Ho could not see any objection to such a system in this country. He believed if the system was adopted it would be the means of diffusing capital. The great want at present was sufficient means of diffusing capital. As the law at present existed it stood in the way of trans actions between man and man—between the marriage of skill and capital. Leave parties to make their own bar gains, they would manage better than any law could do for them. If you had limited partnership and full pub licity of the terms, the public would have no realion to complain if they lost their money by undue confidence and credit. What was wanted in this country were means of spreading capital, and of bringing it into profitable ope ration. All who had given evidence against the principle of limited liability had given an opinion, but no reason, for their evidence. He feared these parties .gave a pre judiced or an arbitrnry opinion. He considered capitalists took a wrong view of their interest in this question. By the present law capital became dammed up, and when it did overflow the restrictions, it did so only to inflict do vastetion and ruin on other interests. He considered the proposal to refer the question to a Commission was the best possible suggestion, and he hoped, therefore., his Hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury would not press his motion, which only carried the question into a more vague field. Mr. SOTHERON said the real point was to obtain from the House some means of adjusting disputes when they arose, not as to the mode in which sav i ngs abould be invested. -- - Mr. E WART thought the question for consideration was, whether a limited or an unlimited liability was best? Ile had no doubt that the Commission proposed by the President of the Board of Trade would have a practical effect, and he trusted that it would conduce to the pros perity of the country. Mr. T. BARING would not have trespassed om the attention of the House, but for the observations of the HOD. Member for the West Riding.-------- Member thought that the HOLM ought to decide in favour of limited liability fur commercial partnerships, and had prejudged the question which the proposed Commission would have to decide, by asserting that the great mass of the mercnants of the country were in favour of that view ho himself had expressed. The question was a very difficult one, and a great deal might be said on both sides. The Hon. Member had referred to the evidence taken before the Committee, and had asserted that he had found all the opinions given by those whom he had called the great men on the other side of Temple-bar unsupported by a single argument. But when the Hon. Member talked of the arbitrary di c t a tion of employing capital he should have recollected that he was touching upon rather a tender point, and ought not to have forgotten that he himself had belonged to a so ciety which had prescribed the use of capital for par ticular purposes.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member said he could not imagine an argument against limited liability. Limited liability might be advisable in one country and not at all suited to another. It might do in France, where the spirit of enterprise and capital were limited, and where people would not embark in any speculation without knowing the extent of their liability. But in this country there was surely no want of either capital or of enterprise. Competition in this country had so re duced the profits of commerce and manufactures that he doubted whether a greater proof than that could be af forded of the distribution of capital in this country.— (Hear.) The lion. Member said that he sought to marry capital to enterprise—that he sought to unite the rich capitalist to a speculative better half. He feared the fruits of so illegitimate a union would not be so fa vourable to trade as the Hon. Gentleman supposed. The Hon. Member seemed to suppose that he alone was right, and that nobody else could have reason on their aide. His belief was that the question was a very open one, and might well be considered. This result might follow if trad e were carried on with a limited responsibility— great companies, like the commercial societies in Ho!- land . might spring up uand crush smaller traders Ur- TRELAVyNYsaid that the custom of ' limited responsibility existed to some ex t en t in Cornwall in re lation to certain wa s an n holders o f m i n i ng s h ares . Th e sub jectotent one, and was closely connected with other subjects , such as thelaw relating to banking. He did not see any o r La: harm in removing the restric tionsot apeople complained approve. trust persons they did n were not obliged to anxious that the labouring He was particularly should not suppose adopting the principle they could defeat capitalists by of co-operation. Mr. SLANEY thanked the House for their attention, and said he should withdraw his motion. Motion accordingly withdrawn. DU a ON CARRIAGES, Mr. AGLIONBY having presented a petition nume rously signed from Newcastle-on-Tyne, complaining a f the present tax on carriages, Sir DE LACY EVANS rose, pursuant to notice, to move for leave to bring is a Bill to reduce the d u t y on carriages. Ho proposed to reduce the duty to 31. on tour-wheeled carriages with two horses; to 21. on four-wheeled carriages with one horse ; .onourabl e and to 1/. on two-wheeled carriages. The _Right H Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer was quite aware of the complaints which existed on the sub ject of the motion. To take only one point as an instance of the unsatisfactory nature of the tax, he might, refer to the duty on four-tie heeled carriages let for hire throughout the whole kingdom. The number of car riages lot for hire was last year only 507—this year, 461; and the amount of the tax on them was last year, 3,o4ll.—this year, 2,7601. Deducting from that amount of 2,7601. the expense of collection and other items, he questioned whether the net produce of the tax on Car riages lent for hire last year exceeded 1,5001. There must he some cause for the fallieg.off in the amount of the tax from year to year. The tax on carriages lent for hire was 6/. a year. It had been ascertained that the average period for which carriages wore lent did not ex ceed three months in the year, so that, in fnct, \ the cooihmskor paid a tax at the ra'e of 244 a year on ever cartaige lent fur hire. After ail, it W as no , the coac e makers who paid the tax, it was the public.i2The tax on carriages lent for hire was the only annual tax on the T iE w N SDA use of an article manufactured in this countey, with the exc, ption of that on hair p ,wder. He regarded the falling; off iu the amount of the tax as a strong argu ment for its reduction. For the last 13 years he be lieved it had fallen off at the rate of about 10,0001. each year. Such a falling-aff had taken place, though the country, with the ezeeptioa of the agricultural interest, h a d been in a state of prosperity, and though the pepulation had increased. At present the tax varied freer 9/. ls. to 1/. 5e There were a variety of exemp tions, and there were four Acts of Parliament, with about 50 elauses, relating to the tax. In consequence of the variety of exempticns there were many frauds and evasions Even if the tax was an increasing one the frhuds it gave rise to would be a good ;;round for modifyieg it. The exemptions were intended for per sons of small means, but he had been at the pains to cull from the columns of a morning paper advertisements of phaetons for sale, of the most brilliant descrietiou, with wheels not exceeding 30 inches in diame,ter, which showed that the fashionable people at the Went-end were the persons who profited by the exemptions. Then there was the dog -cart exereptioe, which he believed. had been taken advantage of by some noblemen of the highest rank, and even by P member of the episcopal bench. The exemption was granted on producing a receipt that the carriage only cost 211. ; and this receipt was often ob tained, though the price of tbo carriage was 401. There were thousands of such cases. The only item connected with the tax which was on the increase was the exemp tioue. They were now double what they were :ornierly. He hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman would on these grounds take the matter hate consideration, and allow him to introduce the Bill. Ho believed the re duced rates proposed would yield as much revenue to the Exchequer as that now received. Mr. W. WILLIAMS seconded the motion. The question having been put, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was afraid he could nos consent to the motion, although he admitted that the state of the tax was not satisfactory, and that the representatious of the deputations which had come to him on the subject had been made with perfect fairness. He did not, however, think he would be justified in expecting an increase of the revenue from the reduction of the tax. He had never known a reduction proposed without being told that he knew nothing about it, and that an increase would certainly take place. Last year he was told that his estimate of a loss of 500,000/. on the reduction of the stamp-duties was grossly exaggerated, and yet it amounted in the first year of the reduced duty to 497,000/. He agreed with the Honourable and Gallant Officer that it was desirable to alter in some respect the mode in which the tax in question was imposed, but that could not be done without loss to the revenue, or without bring ing in a large class of carriages on which duty was not at present paid. If the rates proposed by the Honourable Gentlemen were adopted, the loss could not be estimated at less than 200,0001. If all the carriages set up by parties, and which were hitherto free from duty, were now, for the first time, to be brought under taxation, he thought such a proposition on the part of his Hon. and Gallant Friend would meet with much more general opposition than support. The financial prospects of the next year were such, there were so many heavy expenses to meet, that he very much doubled whether he should be able to find any such sum of money as was likely to be sacrificed by that project. Under existing circumstances he did not think it would he by any means expedient to introduce a Bill which would endanger revenue to the amount of 200,000 L a year. They ought to see clearly what their probable expenditure for the coming your would be before they should vote away such a sum of money as that involved in the present proposition.—(Hoar, hear.) Sir G. PECHELL felt much disappointment at what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the more especially as during last session the Right Honourable Gentleman had held out hopes that this tax amongst some others would be repealed. They had been told all along with respect to the window-tax that it could not be given up, but the opponents of that duty had stuck to it until they smashed the window-tax outright, and they would persevere in the same manner with respect to the present. What rendered it particularly odious was the many inducements which it held out to parties to cheat the revenue, and, indeed, those who were the most suc cessful in eluding the law and evading the tax were those is the better ranks of life, who could best afford to pay the duty.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. AGLIONBY also regretted to bear the Right Hon. Baronet the Chancellor of the Exchequer oppose the introduction of that Bill, one sound argument against which had not been adduced. The Right Hon. Baronet had said that the revenue would lose 200,000/. per an num by the measure, but he had not proved that state ment. It might bo said the Right Hon. Gentleman bad nothing to do with the moral effect of the system now in operation; but he maintained that that House had much to do with the moral influence exercised over society by its laws. Sir DE LACY EVANS, in briefly explaining, said he wished to have the farmers' and town tradesmen's carts exempted, as at present. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said the coachmakers had showed him a calculation which showed that so far from a loss accruing to the revenue from the proposition made, there would be a considerable increase from the adoption of that. scheme. He hoped the Bill would be allowed to be brought in. Sir G. STRICKLAND was glad to hear that the Chancellor of the Exchequer admitted that the coach makers and the public had a fair claim to the remission of that tax whenever the condition of the public revenue would permit. If they were to legislate in that House on the principle of getting rid of any taxes which affected the morality of the people, they would very soon repeal the odious income-tax—(Hear)—than which no more evil-producing measure had ever passed.—(Hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer had admitted that the pro posed tax was one which ought to be taken into con sideration; and therefore, having full hope in the sense of justice and wisdom of the Right Hon. Gentleman, be would ask his Hon. and Gallant Friend not to press his motion, as the beet mode of promoting the object he had in view. Sir J. WALMSLEY thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be giving more general satisfaction if he took taxes off people who walked, instead of those who rode.—(Laughter.) After a few words from Mr. ELLIS, Mr. G. THOMPSON said ho would support the mo tion of the Hon. and Gallant Member when it was taken up in connexion with another subject nearly allied to it —namely, the duty on carriages plying for hire, and post horses—a motion relative to which was to be shortly be fore the House.—(Hear.) Until then he hoped the question would not be pressed. The question was then put, Sir DE LACY EVANS said as it was the only way he had of taking the sense of the House on his proposi tion, he would divide.—(Hear.) The House then divided, when there appeared — For the motion 24 Against it ..„ 59 Majority against the motion ... —35 STAMPS ON RECEIPTS. Mr. HEADLAM moved a resolution to the effect that " in the opinion of the House the present stamps upon receipts should be abolished." The Hon. Gentle man said there were the most conclusive reasons for be lieving that that tax was one of which the payment was constantly evaded. In the year 1823 the amount pro duced by the tax was 185,0001.; while in the year 1849 the amount so produced was only 185,0071.; and in the year 1850 it was only 153,7681.; so that the tax ap peared to have gradually diminished since the year 1823, in spite of the groat increase in the population and in the commerce of the country since that period. That dimi nution, therefore, was solely to be attributed to the fact that evasions were more and more practised in the pay ment of the tax. It also appeared that the present law upon the subject was made an instrument of extor tion, and that persons who had neglected to comply with its provisions became the victims of unprincipled intriguers. Now he could conceive nothing more calculated than such a system to bring the tax gatherer into general disrepute, and to make taxa tion unpopular throughout the country. In the year 1848-49, for the recovery of a sum of 19,8481. under that head there had been instituted 119 prosecutions, and that fact offered a striking proof of the vexatious opera tion of the system. The practice of evading the pay ment of that tax had become universal, and, in fact, the employment of a stamp on a receipt was regarded as a want of confidence in the individual to whom it was ten dered. He believed it would be easy to devise soma sa tisfactory mode of replacing that tax if it were abolished. According to the opinion of Baron Parke it was doubt ful whether a cross cheque was a valid security; and as cross cheques were a great convenience to parties en gaged in mercantile pursuits, he thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer might very advantageously give vali dity to those cheques by imposing on them a stamp of one penny. Then, again, there was a law which ren dered any person within twenty miles of London drawing a cheque on a London banker liable to a penalty of 50/.; and what would be more natural than that such a cheque should be made legal by the imposition of a penny or twopenny stamp. There couldbethnopredsteffini fore diffi culty in devising convenient substitutes_ most objectionable and inefficient state of the law upon that subject; and he, therefore, hoped that the House would have no hesitation in agreeing to his motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was afraid that if he were to assent to the repeal of that tax upon the ground stated by his lion. Friend he should have very few taxes loft to meet the requirements of the public service. No reason had been assigned by his Hon. Friend for the remission of the stamps on receipts, except that gentlemen did not like to pay them. But if every tax which was liable to the same objection was confesseds; t e e o a d s , balne o m y t C h an e c e e t thlloreof the Exchequer would find bills drawn upon him. He bythe h e could not see how the payment of the stamp deredrefie person:xvooynintgheitp,ecrosoun to ldrea w s h on om abl a was present e d. Ho should further say that, on looking through th e li st of our taxes, he could not think that t y h e be receipt °o nsi was one of those which ought first to be remitted. If they were t o a d opt tho principle of which th e payment was evaded, then th e y s h ou ld b e driven to the general employment and of indire c t t axat i on only. Generally of must say that he h a d rece i ved no complaints speaking, he indirect taxation, e about this tax. He confessed he th oug h t that 120.00 or 150,0001. might be much better s p ent i n the reduction other tax than this one. If, as t h e Hon. Member some d people were in the habit of dra w i ng c h eques now wit s h a e i ui a s t a mp, be could not sec upon what grounds they would be induced by an alteration in these duties to stamp more than they had done heretofore. From what had been stated by the Hon. Gentleman, he did not derive much encouragement in adopting the coarse suggested. He hoped that the House would concur with him in ne gativing the resolution. Mr. AGLIONBY would support the proposition of the lion. Member for Newcastle, for an alteration in the present mode of taxation. The Chancellor of the Ex- LONDON, chequer had committed a great fallacy in saying that the intention of his Hon. Friend was to procure a re mission of taxation. His Hon. Friend asked not for a remission of taxation, but for such an alteration in the existing duties as in his opinion would be a great con venience to the public, while at the same time it would be likely to increase, the reven u e considerably. Ho would ask the Right 149 n. Gentleman himself how often he had evadtd this tax? He would venture to say that a stamped receipt wis not given once in a hundred times. If, however, they es'Ablished a uniform Id. stamp, like the Queen's head upon l e tt ers, no one wou ld o bj ec t t o pay it, and the revenue wou l d b e considera bl y i ncrease d. Mr. BROTHERTON said it was quite evident, in the present mode of giving receipts, that the revenue was decreasing, although the population was increasing.— be far more productive th an the (Hear.) He thought th at a uniform penny stamp wou ld There was a growing fe e li ng i n the country i n favour o f such an arrangement. present stamp duties. Colonel THOMPSON said that as far as he was con cerncd ho was always in the habit of requiring stamped receipt., and of giving the same when they were de manded. Mr, HINDLEY concurred in the suggestion of the ion. Member for Salford. The Howe then divided, when there appeared— For the motion 28 . Against it ... 61 Majority against • the motion —33 Mr. MOFFATT moved fora series of returns relating to sugar, emigrants, the West Indies, the property and iocomP-tax, and British spirits, all of which were agreed to. MAILS TO AUSTRALIA. Mr. F. FRENCH. pursuant to his notice for copies ofcontracts n entered p a i p n e t r o , with Ale r as c r t . a Wa lto ni e t that the the con veyance of these mails, sa id that since he had his notice p la ced he con tract entered into with thi s gentleman was only a provisional one, as it depended upon Mr. Wale ton being in a conditio n to perform his en gagements. The Government had proposed that there should be only com munications every second month with Australia by the . C a e e r He thought that at this time they ought to have more frequent communica tions. He complained of the Government having en tered into a provisional contract With a gentleman of no experience. If he were rightly informed the contract i was to commence from the 3d of A p ril next. Now, al though Mr. Walton was in treaty for two vessels, he was not as yet in possession of either of them. This gentleman depended upon this contract for the getting up of a company that would enable him to perform his undertaking with the Government. If Mr. Walton be even enabled to carry on his voyage as far as the Cape, it was very improbable he would be able to extend it as far as Australia. Mr. COWPER said, that with regard to the condi tional contract of which the Hon. Gentleman had spokes, the simple fact was that the tender of Mr. Walton having been accepted some time ago, it became necessary that articles of agreement should be framed;but the docu ment had not yet been signed, and could not be said, therefore, to have a legal existence. As soon, however, as it was signed, the Admiralty would be happy to pro duce it. "He was h surprised that the Hon. Gentleman should have brought these charges against a company of which he could know nothing. Mr. FRENCH—There was no company. Mr. COWPER had been informed that there was a company, and that they had applied to the Board of Trade for a charter of incorporation, and been provision ally registered. He had also been informed that they had actually bought two of the best screw -vessels in the country, on account of their great speed and capability of satisfactorily performing the work. He could assure the Hon. Gentleman that the Admiralty had only taken the simple course of calling for tenders, of accepting the lowest, and of giving the person who sent in the lowest tender every facility they required for the execution of their contract and the performance of the duty which they agreed to undertake. The motion for copies of the contract entered into with Mr. Walton for the carriage of the mails to Australia, and of the tender made by the Screw Company for the carriage of the mails to the West Indies and the Brazils, was then agreed to. IRISH REFORM BILL. Sir W. SOMERVILLE brought up the Parliamen tary Representation (Ireland) Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed and read a second time on Friday, the 27th of February instant. SCOTCH REFORM BILL. The LORD ADVOCATE brought up the Parlia mentary Representation (Scotland) Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed and read a second time on Friday, the 27th. The LORD ADVOCATE also brought up the Law of Evidence (Scotland) Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed and read a second time on the 7th of March. The House adjourned at Eleven o'clock. ARLIAMEN TARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUESDAY, FEB. 17. The following Railway Bills were ordered to be brought in : Lancashire and Yorkshire and York and North Midland. Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midlands Junction. The undernamed Railway Bills were presented, read a first, and ordered to be read a second time : Wotcester and Hereford. Great Western (No. 1). North Staffordshire (No. 2). STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. Burntisland Waterworks, and Basingstoke and Salisbury Railway —standing orders not dispensed with. The undernamed Bills were reported as having standing orders dispensed with:— London Corporation. Dumfries and Maxwell Town Waterworks. Newmarket Railway. Great Western Railway (No. 2). York and North Midland Railway. Wolverhampton Junction Railway. That the Committee on this and the three preceding Bills do examine, in the first place, how far such orders have been complied with, and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill. • , PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS• EVENING, (From the Votes and Proceengs of the House of commons ) T UESDAY, FE D. 17. CARRIAGES. Motion made, and Question put, That leave be given to bring in a Bill for the of reduction The House divided the Duty on Carriages." INII NORITY.....AYE S, Bell, Jacob Ileadlain, T. E. Rushont, Captain William Bennet, Philip Rindley, C. Scholedeld, D. Clay, Jam e s Ilur altherY, Ald. Stuart, Lord Collins, Thomas Johnstone, James WakleY, Thomas Cowan, Charles Newport, Viscount Williams, B'• Duke, Sir James O'Connor, Feargua Wynn, a/' • 24. Duncan, George Pechell, Sir G. TELLER& French, F. Pinney Willi , am A. Hall, sir B. Renton, J. C. AglionbY, a -________ Evans, Sir De Lacy Alikijie°39 v ßi eoc ll ,:a ry a lSr m ss ES ' g 9 o . merville, Sir W. Baring,w,Ba Sir F. T. Howardaord E. s cthero n, T. Berkeley, Admiral Una, William stanst ia, W. B. Boyle, Colonel In Stanton, W H. Brocklehurst, John Lewis, George Cl:c Strick l an d, sir G. Brockman, E. D. Littleton, E. R . Stewar t, Admiral Brown, W. John Mahon Vi , scount Thompson, Colonel Child, Smith Matile, Fox n George ThomPso , Brotherton, Joseph Loveden, as Cowper, W. F. Alilligan. Robert 1 Thom Thorne Y, Craig, Sir W. a • Moncreifr -, James Townshen ptain Cubitt, William Morris, David Trelawny,. JCS Dawes, Edward Napier Joseph S ir J walinsley, J. Duncuft, John Parker, John Wilson, James Dandas, Sir D. Peel, Sir Robert Wood, Sir Charles Rice, E. it. Ellis, John W. P. Evans, William Rich, H Wood, Sir enry Wyvill, Marmaduke F o rdyce, A. D. Scrope, G. r. Frees, tun Colonel Seymo ur, Lord Trxxxxs. Thicknesse, R. A. Grey, Sir G. • Smith, Verno n Hayter, W. Hatchell, John Smith, John Hill, Lord 31arellil RECEIPT ST -- -----=Amps. Motion made, and Question put, this House the present Staoin ; r' 4 40sed upon Receipts should " be abolished. The House divided : MINORITYAYE% 28. " That in the opinion of Bennet, Philip Hall, Sir; Biewitt, R. J. Hindley CharlesTyrell, Sir J. Clay, James Hodgson, W,- N. w w ai ski ram ey e , y T i • sir J. Hutt, Willi am Wawn, J. T. Kershaw, JanaesW. Moffatt, Geo rge Williams, w Duke, Sir J. Morris, David Wynn, H. W. Duncan, George Mullings, J. It. 4. 11 ---TeY AglionbY, Renton, John C. TELLIES. neadism, ThomaB Cowan,DEast,cs Davies,v sQ :Di J. . t Charles A ißn . . ' Henry G Ev vvy an n s , , S u ir ow D ei e Lacy iSthivartekn,eLssoer,dit? BIAJORITY—XO E --- s, 6 S ui aTT ll ho , ii, (c.;:v:::l t rdt h onee, , nre : rj a Vern on 0 0. enh. John Anson, Colonel French, F. Bagshaw, John Grey, .Sir G. Baring, Sir Francis HH G r ea o yt s ew v ho e e o n ud o , j , jo t a ir e d s 8 : „ ss a tt 4: 0 ,97 1 i : tetti,,dw. Admiral R Bass, M. T. aso merville, Sir W. Bell Jacob H . JEL, Berkßoyl Boyle, ley, Colonel Admiral Lewis,Howar d o , .S c i r . R . Brocklehurst, John Loveden, Pryse ' 4lll van, Michael Brockman, EA). 7 3 3 1 1a a ul ho e n , , F V o i x scount Tho mpson, Colonel Thom pson, George Brotherton, T. Cockburn, Sir A. 31illigan, Robert Cowper, W. F. Mitchell, T. A. Craig, Sir W. G. Moncreiff, James Tow nsh d en . Captain Dawes, Edward , Parker, John Tr eawnY, J. S. Deedes, W. Peel, Sir Robert Denison, Edmund Pigott, Francis ' Sir C. Duncuft, John Pilkingten. James Wyviii ..- Dundas, Sir David Pinney, William -Lnarmaduke Ellis, John Power, Dr. Evans, William - Rich, Henry ?FIXER. Fordyce, A. D. Rushout, Captain Freestun, Colonel Salwey, Colonel Lord M. el'uN dd r a eo h . w i c s d A er s t; ll : E e i In G . u A ar L d D ia E n itM an A n N oa D nc ti es NN th , George Thomas Dunn, Esq., of Bath House. =-The choly event happened on Thursday evening last, at D 1 el!i_nr- Dunn's residence in Newcastle. M r. D unn was i n his 6i year, and during the last twenty yea rs was one of the mos t active active and conspicuous public men in the north of En land his services being chiefly connected with the cor_ o Newcastle and the medical charities of the town, p oration of [ADVERTISEMENT.] Holloway's Pills have cured a Palpitation of the Heart and Shortness of Breath.._) Word, of the Ist European and Bengal Fusileers, Lahore, had suffered for three years from a palpitation of the breast, eat difficulty of breathing, a diseased liver, an d an ove r flowgr of blood to the chest, to such a degree that he vomited consider.. able quantities. His case was considered hopeless, having baffled the skill of se veral eminent medical men, w b o gave him up as past all human aid. Whilst lingering in this condition he was advised to try Holloway's Pills, and solely by their means he has been effectually cured, and his health completely re-established.—Sold by all vendors of medicine, and at p ro _ lessor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. DETERMINED SUICIDE.—On Saturday morning, at a quarter b e fore one o'clock, when Mr. Hintox, land lord of the Windmill, corner of Bennett-street and Upper Ground-street, Blackfriars, went into his skittle ground to see that all was safe there, he found his potman, William Shrimpton, aged 31, suspended by th e ne ck , and life qu it e extinct. Twice before the unfortunate man had mad e an attempt on his life. He had been drinking a great deal, and at eleven o'clock he took off his neck .tie and threw it on the tap-room fi re , saying he wanted it no more. I am, Sir, yours very sincerely, AN OLD REFORMER. Blackheath, 18 Feb. 1852. REPRESENTATION OF EAST KENT. On Monday the nomination of candidates for the re presentation of the eastern division of Kent took place on Barham Downs. The rival c.mdidates were Sir Brook W. Bridges, Bart., and Sir Edward C. Dering, Bart,, each professing Conservative principles; the for mer, however, having put forward his claim to the suf frages of the people upon the avowed determination to advocate the repeal of the Act for the endowment of Maynooth, the latter having expressed himelf in less decided terms on that subject. Mr. LUSIIINGTON (formerly M.P. for Canterbury) pro posed Sir E. Dering as a fitting person. Mr. J. ABBOT, a tenant-farmer, seconded the nomina tion. Sir N. KNATCIIBULL, Bart., proposed Sir Brook Bridges. Viscount MAIDSTONE seconded the nomination of Sir Brook Bridges. _ The candidates addressed the electors, and on a show of hands Sir Brook Bridges was declared to have the majority. A poll was then demanded on the part of Sir E. Daring. The polling will take place on Thursday and Friday, and the official declaration of the result will be made on Monday. FEBR U AR, [8 or() TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD LITERATUR. IMFOIOI ASSOCIATION. RUTH GAR NETT. 3 Vols. Colburn. (PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY.) Sir,—On Moedey the 16th, the most important sub- This is an historical tale of the time of Clearles the Second, a le , rind So frequently selected for romances jest was the Militia Bill. Its principal value ia that it it that is semets hat difficult te preserve th e originalit is move. Whether the derails are geo d or bed, is a question subordinate to this. In th e panic dread necessar y to interest the reader. The p resent wor li, to giving offence to the French tuurpation which has ! however, is not deficient in novelty and variety 01 taken possession of all minds, the Government must not l events, and though the often evoked shades of the be. pressed by i nconven i en t quest i ons . I t must be al- I Ki ng, t h e C ava li ers , an d th e P ur i tans appear on its lowed the benefit of Ye assumption, that like the p arrot p ages , y e t th e y a re mingled wile new i ncidents and in the sable, it " thi n k s th e more . A subaltern on characters. It is strictly historical. The murder of picquet w ou fa be broken, if in corresponding eircura- Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, and the plots of Titus stances relating to his charge, he had net his mem ready Oatesand his tee..o p in Hoes are introduced. There is to mount, and his divisions told off to meet all possible - en allusion in one page to the authoress, else it wou ld contingenci es o f t h e enemy's appearing in front or flank, or as I rem em b er being laughed at gin my pic uetin precautions to g not be easy to believe that a lady would select " such days for t a ki ng particular g secure, individuals for description as the denizens of P ug in rear. It would be of small avail to him to plead, that and Pu n ch-b ow l All e y." The hero, Hubert G a r ne t t , nobody told him w hi c h way - the enemy wits cominee— although a P ur it an by • education, is not distin that it was impos s ibl e f or him to know t we l ve n o . urs guished by the usual sternness and self-conceit beforehand what the enemy would do twelve hours of his sect, but he is shown to much advantage by atterweads,—that ho was ready to encounter any enemy the side of his hard-hearted and unforgiving uncle that gave him fair notice and time to bridle up, but for and the idle and dissipated courtiers. The title of anything else he could not be responsible. A court- the work is somewhat incorrect, as Ruth Garnett martial would make "no bones" of such a man, but -h prominent in the tale as does not occupy sue. place double him up as the Emperor of Russia was to be done un at the Peace Society. And so it will be with t h e exist- her friend Ell en G o df rey , th e daughter ing Government or any Government. Th ey must be fortunate Sir Edeciondbury. The character of Ellen men entirely unfit for their places, and only waiting the is far superior to that of Ruth, while she is not less enemy's next move to prove it, if they have not cut and attractive than her companion. The authoress is dried the orders to be issued and co urses to b e taken, in evidently well acquainted with the scenes and event any and all of the events likely or unlikely, which may of the time she describes. by possibility turn up next week and the week after that. on the great chess-board of the world. Distinct allusion was made in the course of the de bate, to the report from the correspondent of an omi neni Daily Newspaper,that the French army is ordered to hold itself in readiness for a movement on the 22J; and intimation uttered, that the most probable object was a point on Belgium. A report is only a report; but, as before, as officer is broken who receives a report and is not in reasonable readiness for its proving true. There will be no good till a sergeant of dragoons is a member of the Government. The speech of Lord Palmerston, was sech as only England can produce. No touch of unfriendliness to ancient colleagues, but simply a desire to aid the general object. When the effects of a sad mistake have been obliterated by change of circumstances, as may happen in a fortnight, a powerful Desdemona may set things right again. Which everybody would be glad to see. A Government is not to be embarrassed with imper tinent questions; and there are certain questions which it is impertinent to expect to be answered, before the neces sity arrives. But Governaent and the community are not identical; and the public may ask questions and discuss among themselves. The Government is not a free agent; it is, in hunting phrase, " mobbed" by men whose advice, if followed, would have brought the Chasseurs de Vin cennes by this time to Charing-cross. Is the system to be acted on, of having no allies and abandoning all out works, trusting to the defence which is to be made by somebody or other in the citadel? This ia the distinct theory, of the most dangerous set of counsellors, and the least capable of taking care of themselves or anybody else, that have appeared in any country. Belgium, is a Yorkshire speaking French, and was esta blished into an independent kingdom with the direct interference of the English Government and people. Is there a treaty or is there not? The Government dare not say. It would bring a torrent upon them, they are not prepared to face. And if there is a treaty, is it to be scraped out by the point of the sword of the first suc cessful insurgent in France? The position of the B,1.• gians is this. They are much divided among themselves; for a large numerical portion are Catholics, who must do as the Pope tells them, and the Pope is a card in the hands of the ruler of France. It is the same game which, if let alone, will be played a few months hence in Ireland. But for all this, they are disposed to resist, if they resisted with any chance of ultimate support. Their strength, on a wide estimate, may be reckoned at a hundred thousand men; who of course are not going to expose themselves to be destroyed by the superior forces of France, without the prospect of somebody coming to their assistance. They count something on Prussia, but more on England. They want to know whether Eng land will assist them or not. That is to say, whether England will assist before they have given way to the French force, or after. They want to know, for in stance, whether England will move three battalions of the Foot Guards as a first instalment by rail to Dover, as an intimation of a readiness to help in oc cupying Antwerp, 'or anything else that might be agreed upon, which may be in time this week, but not next. They do not want to know whether Eng land will bluster, and talk of the cowardice of the Bel gians, in a Council called the day after the mischief is done. On all this, the Government may be uttering secretly; but they dare not in public. The party who are bent on bringing a foreign force to London, would go into fits. They have intimated in the House in ex press words, that an occupation of Brussells shall not be a cause of war. They are working in their vocation, which is to help the French to Brussells. Tories mean time are silent; biding their time to raise the cry of "Incapables." It is as well that somebody should show, that at all events they went to the bottom with their eyes open. On Tuesday, the longest debate was on a proposal tending to relax the laws of partnership, conveyed in a motion by Mr. Slaney. Mr. Cobden's speech carried all before it; and the probability is that something will finally be done. In which expectation the motion was withdrawn. A TY O.IIAN'S JO UR.NEY ROUND THE WORLD. Office of the .National Illustrated Library. This is an unabridged translation from the German of Ida Pfeiffel. No one can fail to be interested by the accounts of the remarkable person before us. It must have been an irresistible determination to be come acquainted with the world that could have induced her to brave so much danger and privation. Not only did she visit the renowned city or the crowdad capital, hut her footsteps have been through the deserts of Asia and the wastes of Russia. She penetrated to Tahiti and China. It is impossible to convey an idea of the amount of information that may be obtained by a steady perusal of this Work. It is written in a simple and forcible manner, with no attempt at display and no intention of vain-glorying THE LIFE OF IAOU-KWANG, LATE EMPEROR OF CHINA. By the late Mr. Charles Gutzlaff. Smith and Elder. There is a melancholy interest attached to this book, inasmuch as its author and subject have both passed from the world. The former, already distin guished for works on China, died while this last pro duction was passing through the press. We here meet with instruction of an agreeable, and also an important nature, for the new world so lately brought under our notice in the far east is certainly one of the most peculiar in its customs and remarkable in its transactions. The Emperor, whose life is here epitomised, appears to have been a very good and up right man ; at the same time we are distinctly in formed, that he gave no evidence of talents or ,supe riority of any kind to render him worthy, in a mental point of view, for his exalted station. His career was a miserable struggle to fulfil the simple dictates of a straightforward mind, and at the same time to keep to the rules of the absurd etiquette which prevailed in his court. The extraordinary style of the nation is demonstrated in the following proclamation of the son of the departed : " We have received from our late imperial father, his Majesty, who has just gone on his journey, our being and support; enjoying a great nourishing anxious care, as high and boundless as Heaven. He called to-day the council and ordained that we should be regarded as the heir-apparent. We received this decree in anguish and tears, for we still hoped that, by the utmost and eon stunt care of his person, and a temporary cessation of his burdensome care, his vigour and health might be preserved. We had barely received his last commands and regards when his malady increased in force and violence to the utmost, and he mounted the dragon, and became a guest on high." THE LIFE OF GENERAL WASHINGTON, Written by .Himself. Edited by the Rev. C. Upham. Office of the National Illustrated Library. The principal thing to remark in this work is the fact of its being something different from usual in its construction. It is by Washington himself ; not his autobiography but his memoirs and correspond ence, as prepared by him for publication, are here given to the public, together with several original letters. In thus bringing forward a remarkable character of the past to speak for himself to posterity, the editor of this work has better accomplished the purpose in hand, and thereby has better claims on our approval, than if, by throwing in his own opinions and endeavouring to parade his own ideas, he had proved himself ever so accomplished an author. All admirers of the American hero must rejoice at such an opportunity of personal history. THE SONG OF THE SHOPKEEPERS. They tell us a war-cloud is gathering yonder, Whose shadow now lowers o'er liberty's sun— In its sulphury shroud there are lightning and thunder— 'The tread of the troop, and the flash of the gun. Above it the vulture—like eagles are screaming, And threaten to rend us with beak and with claw: For the banquet of blood are their guilty eyes gleaming, While hirelings echo the robber-hurrah. Then let them come on! Come every elle— o-headee, and Russian, Imperial, and Prus3ian— Though long have our swords peaceful slept in the sheath, And we've scorned the black laurels of war and of death; We're the sons of those heroes in scarlet and blue Who fought at Trafalgar, who won Waterloo. We are told to be silent—bare sons of the shop— What to us if the nations be trodden like gra3s? What to us if the despots wring every drop From the hearts of their poor tortured helots? Alas! Be selfish and silent—be sympathy dumb— Beware how you tempt them—beware to provoke; Or those tyrants in league and in vengeance may come And bend every bold Briton's neck to the yoke. Ha! let them come on! Come every one— Two-headed, and Russian, Imperial, and Prussian— Though long have our swords peaceful slept in the sheath, And we've scorned the black laurels of war and of death; We're the sons of those heroes in scarlet and blue Who fought at Trafalgar, who won Waterloo. From our ploughs, and our pastimes, our loves, and our labours, If they force us but forth to the red field—ha! ha! Tho roll of our drums and the ring of our sabres Shall be loud as their own in the charging huzza. We fear not the issue—we fear not the strife; The bayonet's cross, and the death-dealing gun— Far dearer to us than our peace or than life Is the proud holy freedom our fathers have won. Then let them come on! Come every one— Two-headed, and Russian, Imperial, and Prussian— Though e long have our swords peaceful slept in the sheath, And we've scorned the black laurels o f war and of death ; We're the sons of those heroes in sca rlet and blue ath Who fought at Trafalgar, who won Waterloo. Feb. 17, 1852. MAYNE REID. THE LADIES' GUILD. On Tuesday evening, the 17th inst., the Right Hon. Viscount Goderich presided over a lecture delivered be fore a highly-fashionable and overflowing audience at this institution, 4, Russell-place, Fitzroy square, by Mr. Wood, ono of the managers. The lecturer dwelt on the leading feature of the guild, viz., its providing re munerative and suitable employment for ladies without requiring them to descend from their rank and station as gentlewomen. He also showed that the society was not in the remotest degree eleemosynary, but self-sus taining, requiring only the ordinary business support of customers or loans, well guaranteed by the partners, at five per cent. per annum. The Ornamental Works Com pany constitutes what may be called the mercantile base of operations of the guild. This company deals in all ornamental articles suitable for ladies' work. The la bours of the fair executants are at present concentrated exclusively on Wallace's patent, a process of almost uni versal decoration in glass, which has been in successful operation for upwards of two years, and which is now handed ever to the guild as a gift by the patentee, Miss Wallace, a lady of family and fortune. The presence of numerous beautiful specimens, the handiwork of the ladies, was a very powerful argument in favour of the in stitution, and before the meeting closed, orders poured in on the clerks from every side, as well es tenders of other effective support and encouragement. The lecturer stated it was the intention of the society to establish a home, conducted on satisfactory principles, for ladies coming from the country, and desirous of availing them selves of the advantages of the society. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Noble Chairman, and ano ther to the lecturer, the company separated about half past ten o'clock. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—THE HUNTERIAN ORATION.—The annual meeting of the members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England was held at the in stitution, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on Saturday afternoon, to hear an oration in honour of the celebrated John Hunter. The large theatre was filled long before three o'clock, the hour appointed for the commencement of the proceedings. Dr. South, president of the Royal College, took the chair, and was supported by the Bishop of London, Sir R. 11. Inglis, Bart., M.P., Sir C. Bell, M.P., the Venerable Archdeacon Hale, Sir Charles Aldis, William Cotton, Esq., D.C.L., Mr. Bransby Cooper, Mr. Howell Morgan, Mr. Propert, and se veral gentlemen of high eminence in their profession. Pro fessor Luke, of Guy's Hospital, was the orator for the year, and at the conclusion retired amidst loud applause. Many of the gentlemen present afterwards inspected the Hunterian collection ;and much admiration was called forth by a splendid bust of the late Professor SamuelfCooper, by Mr. J. Butler, the eminent sculptor, as well as by a bust of the late Professor the Liston, both of which have recently been presented to college. LONDON 'NECROPOLIS AND NATIONAL MAUSOLEUM. —EXTRAMURAL INTERMENT.—A measure under the above title is now before the House, to incorporate and enable a company to establish a national cemetery, with av toenues, catacombs, and colonnades, at Woking, and convey corpses thereto by the South-Western Railway for intermentn in land to be purchased for the purpose of the Earl of O It is proposed to c ontract with the London and South- Western Railway for the carrying of bodies in properly constructed carriages, and for the conveyance and return of mourners and attendants, on the following terms :—For the use and haulage of the hears e carriage,without regard to the number of corpses in it , ; and for the conveyance o f actual mourners and attendants to and from the cemetry_ first-class, each person, Gs. ; second-class, 3s. Gd. ; third-class, 2s. It is also proposed to convert the railway arches at Waterloo-station into deposit and reception places fo r hearses, corpses, and carriages. FRATRICIDE A T LEEDi.—MF. Alexander Crawford, described as a gentlemen in the policessheets, is in custody in Leeds, charged with having murdered his brother, Mr. S amue l Crawford, a s olicitor, who officetshaerdeeicaeaßseadnkw- s e t n r t e e t t o , Leeds. It seems that a few days ago th e prisoner's hous e in Gr een - mcunt.terra ce, llolbeck. Samuel, at the time was intoxicated and quarrelsome. The prisoner attacked the deceased (after BORIC high words), knocked him down and used him with great violence, until prevented lady by the interference of a and gentleman. The injuries, how ever, which dece ased had sustained were so serious that he died on Tuesday morning, COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert walked yesterday in the garden of Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back usual exercise back yesterday morning , attended by his Equerry in querry an Waiting. In the afternoon his Royal Highne ss yester tended by Lieutenant - Colonel the non. A, at. Gordon,d vi sitTedhethßeoßyrailtilshamlnilsytittuootir,thineirPahlsl- day in the garden of Buckingham P a l ace. The Queen had a dinner party E yesterd Bucking ham Palace. The company includ e d i h ay at Bucking. nes s Prince Nicholas of Nassa u , tilt, s Seren e High arl and Granville, Earl of Strafford, Lord Countess ron Hadeln, Baron Roggenbacb and Lady Foley, Ba , the Lyttelton, and Miss Lyt te l ton. Dowager Lady Sir William C. Ross, It•A , had of taking the first sitting fora miniature the honour yesterday Highness Prince Arthur, by a miniature of his Royal The Countess of Mount E co d nemand of her Majesty. Marchioness of Douro in her gcumbe has relieved the the Queen. Lord El la" duties as Lady in Waiting to Water park in his duties as 12instone has relieved Lord Water- Berkeley Drummond Lord h in Waiting, and Major-General his duties as Groom • as relieved Mr. Ormsby Gore in consisting in, Waiting to her Majesty. A deputation,Lowm of Mr. Masterman, M.P, Mr. an Taylor, Mr. Deputy Hicks, Mr, It, Taylor, D m eputy Harrison, Mr. the __.t Remerubraneer, and i...r. Lo . w, Mr. Dakin, Architect ,Mr. Thinning, the City A bad an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Horne -office. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Baines , M. P . , Mr. Clay, m . p ., mr. ' Collinson (Warden of the Trinity-house, Hull), Mehsrs. Alder, Estill, an d Bolton (Elder Brethren of ditto), and Mr. Wilson (S e cretary), had an interview with the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere yesterday, at the Board of Trade, Sir Alexander Spearman had an ' interview with the Chancellor of 'the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-Art - wt. The Hon. A. Kinnaird, Sir Edward Buxton, M.P., Sir Harry Verney, M.P., Abel Smith, Esq., R. Hanbury, Esq., the Rev. W. W. Chttmpneys, sod th , Rev. Hugh Allen, forming a deputation from tho White chapel School, bad au interview with Lord Seymour a of Works and Public yesterday, at the o—c in Whitehall -place. Mr. Somers, M.P. for Sligo, had an interview with Sir George Grey, yesterday, at the Home-office. DIE COMMON LAW PROCEDURE BILL.---The Bill brought forward by the Lord Chancellor on the common law which has just been referred to a Select Committee, con tains as many as 174 clauses. _ LORD TRURO. There cannot be the slightest doubt or ouestivn that the Bar—the suitors, and the great body of legal re „rs—wonld as glefly ore tr:reurirt.eami :voe:ll:fseeLt,tirde form Truro from the (Bee of Lord Chancellor es iha array, l removal cnL)r' o i r E s' a a ti nd Gre th y e fr i:' ;il :3l :h e e iC"olonial-office. Notwit h t g his uegenial nwure and froward nutnour,,E'srl Grey is an active, and often a useful, partisan in the Ifou e of Lords. Though a very unfit MLitt to Cabinet .i Minister, Esri Grey possesses quickness, tartness, and a cer- ' and most specially unfit to be Colonial.W.iejs-. twin spl,..ei4s of irritable vigour, occasiooatiy useful in party warfare. But the Chancellor, whether in court or camera--whether in the Cabinet or the Home of Lords-_ is neither useful nor ornamenW. lie encumbers the Cabinet—stops the progress and stream of justice—an 4 dams up the wholesome current of law reform. Useless in council—mischievous in debate, ponderous, perplexed, empty, and turgid, Lord Truro is, neverthelese; pos. sesst ci with the curious conceit that he alone is practical —that th &fate has responsibility—that he alone has multifarious employments—that he alcee weigh out his auriferous moments a poids de l'or, end that all that drops from his pregnant lips is filled with absolute wisdom. The harm so pompous and in,ino a personage is likely to do will unfortunately survive his tenor' , of office, or will even survive that of his colleagner, should iheyi imam mously resolve to get rid of hita by throwing such a dead weight of legal lumber entirely overboard the frail bap gee ehich earries their uenrosnerous fortnnns. How Lord John Russell is to get on with such a t h e e a eti Chancellor wo c annot for the M a of us se e; an d supoos-ug a Cabinet round-robin to be already signed agamist tehremuNhoblteo tidal Lra e Lord , with the .6.he t re tron i g s the man at the bar or on the trench foolish c o h r an m e:— d no g t the absolute stela e e rt a i nty _ of being :jetted before tee ses , ion is half over? Yct a man so bold and reckless as Lord Truro must be got rid by y get upon the wool hook or by crook, and thE 30DD. For it impossible 's Speech, made at s th ac a k t aa nd.flatly co r r t e r a a n d e b t e h a e l r lo r i e a l t, t s o ty the commencement of this session, and ut the commeracc inent of tho last session also, on the subject of law re frro. At, th. , Cabinet Councils Avhell those speeches were agreed upon, Lord Truro was corporeally p resent —be protested not against the report of the common law Lord Chief Justi c e of the Common Pleas, but whi c h di d commissiooers—a commission which i,sued when h o Was not report till he was Chancellor—he protested not against the appointment of the first Chancery commis sion, consis!ing of Sirs John Romilly, George Turner, James Parker, and W. Page Wood, of Mr. Bethel', Mr. Crompton, and Mr. James. He protested not against the Curia mission for extending the inquiry, dated the 31st day of January, nor against the commission appointing two additional commissioners, not of the profession, is sued so late as the 4th July last. With what face, then, we ask, does the Lord Chancellor now set himself individually up against the recommendations of a commission appointed by the Government of which he formed a part? There is not one of the Commis sioners, with the exception of the two laymen (and these are both able, astute, and long-headed men) who, irre spectively altogether of the evidence, is not far more competent to deal with the question of Chancery reform than the Chancellor; and yet, against them all—as well as against the Royal Speech—and of the deliberations of the Cabinet of which he forms a member—the Chancel. for sets up his own individual opinion. Insubordination such as this was never before tolerated in the greatest Chancellor that ever adorned the woolsack, and how can it be tolerated in the most indifferent and, intellectually. the least considerable Chancellor that has sat on the marble chair in our day or within the present century? Of the Common Law Amendment Bill one would fancy Lord Truro would know somewhat more than of the Chancery report ; yet even in bringing forward this Bill, which was, on the motion of Lord Lyndhurst, referred to a Select Committee, it appears that the lynx eye of the ex - Chancellor of Mr. Canning, the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Robert Peel, discovered that th© Bill varied from the report, and in so varying would lead in practice to great confu sion. To this statement, all the Chancellor had to say was, that it did not appear necessary to him that the Bill should be referred to a Select Committee, but at the same time that he had no objection to its being so re ferred. With respect to fees, all Lord Truro could utter was that he would consult with the judges, and then make up his mind as to what was best to be done. But two of the learned judges left yesterday for Lancaster, the 16th being the commission day; and within a week all the judges, with:the exception of Lord Chief Baron Pollock, who remains in town, will be outon the circuit, not to return to London till the ending of March. Unless, therefore, the judges be consulted instanter, and a deter mination promptly come to, it may so happen that Baron Truro will be out of office before the answers of these learned individuals can be obtained. Thus, then, is a report which Lord Campbell pronounced to suggest more alterations in our procedure than had been origi nated since the time of Edward L—thus is it, we say, stopped in transitu by the torpidity of the Keeper of the Great Seal. Of the manner in which the Common Law Proce dure and Practice Bill is drawn, we do not care to speak to-day. But we know the opinion in the profession is general, that anything more slovenly and slip-shod never proceeded from the penny-a-liners in Acts of Parliament, employed by the authorities who job away these snug berths. To be sure the Lord Chancel lor is no judge of style, and knows little of logi cal precision, or the philosophy of language, or legis lation; but one might suppose that a man who has been reading huts of Parliament all his life, and arguing upon their effoct, would not present to the House such a crude and undigested abortion as this bantling of a Bill. But, alas! poor man, what with Cabinet Councils, end Chancery sittings, and two able Lords Justices 01 Appeal to help him, he is ao over worked that ho has not time to think of anything but those heavy and responsible duties which he does not perform. Bat; notwithstandin g the deep devotion of the Chancellor to important and essential duties," he cannot make up his mind as to fees at common law —as to masters in equity—or as to the report of the Chancery Commissioners. The Solicitor-General, a Scholar, a lawyer, and a gentleman, misunderstood, if he fancied the Chancery Bill could be ready so soon—or the Premier misunder stood. No wonder the honest impetu os i ty of Lord Brougham could not stand this—no wonder he " talked of the thick and palpable darkness in which the Chan cellor was enveloped."—Herald. ERRATUIII.—In our third leading article yesterday, for " Yet a mon so bold and reckless as Lord Truro," read " Yet a mon so bold and reckless must bo found,"__ lit Vi u.nnoyances, were very DRURY-LANE THEATRE. A new farce, by Mr. J. Maddisc.,n Morton, was brought out here last evening, under the title of Too Late for the Train. The principal part . was sustained . by Tilbury, whose tribulations, on being interrupted in a projected trip 10 1 / ' l . Vining d a to m aCsrinogy.donmbiyssacos Tuecnceeyss, e" and k-i"bY under took Played capit a ll y. The piece p t h a s e s e o d t h oft' ff r w c t a h r a s c u t e e e r e s , s E a . n d 0 .A T and z I T o , / rt . /) \ 7 - " G e s l te ) r o da T y VD a I: m 4 o l !t . deplore IV h o °. i r ' s o - D f - E one tile accident took place in the C . ity, which nig involved the loss of several lives. A short time —l' Ain Jones Crofts, a mining.agent, of ,_ E X l3 e 1 t ) L 0 0, S i I h O e Cheapside, had several charges for blasting purposes, left with him sequently finding them l ' rected one of his men to put them of detonating g -street, powder, as samples, ying about in • the man incautiously enough C bin in the cellar. The charges, and sub his way, he di " out of the we. ,"and threw them into a rubbish powerful, were made up in thegs,'which were exceedingly needle-case, and when form of something like a ing were capable of appliedetd to the purposes of blast- During the week anu b o ging many tons of stone. about Mr. Crafts ' Di er of painters had been engaged one of them, named B premises, and yesterday forenoon some paint, when arefield' was in the cellar mix ingwere lying in the be . eyed one of the charges which rubbish. Picking it up, and sup posing it to he a can needl - • e , he put it into his pocket, and at the time he went with the rest of the workmen previously to d mentioned at the Fountain and Star public-house, Castle-court, inner Lawrence-lane, Cheapside. In the course of the meal Barefield took the charge out of his pocket, and a discussion arose as to what it really was. One of the party cut it in half and found it to contain a substance which they supposed 0 to be bri c k -d ust. With a v i ew , probably,f ascertain ing more satisfactorily its character, another of the com my, a man named John Canfield, a waiter, living in the Canal-road. Camden-town, then took up th e p i eces of the charge and commenced rubbing tham on the tap room table, when almost immediately they explod e d with tremendous force. Every man in the room (some half-dozen) was thrown down by the concussion and more or less injured. The unfortunate creature in whose hand the charge exploded presented a most shocking spectacle. Both his arms, from the elbow joint, were shivered to pieeer, and some idea may be formed of the poor fellow's mutilated condition from the circumstance that portions of his hands and fingers were picked up off the floor. He was at once placed in a cab and conveyed with all haste to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and in the course of the evening it was deemed expedient to ampu tate both limbs above the elbow. He continues in the most distressing state. The police, we are informed, subsequently search e d M r . C ro f t ' s cellar, and found the remainder of the charges which had been thrown in the rubbish, and which they took possession of. ----- - HEARTS AND AND ALTARS. BY THE popularity t.., a r n "TnE LADDER ()F GOLD.,,--The new work by Mr. Robert Bell, with its suggestive title of " Hearts and Altars," is exciting au unusual degree or curiosity and attention. Cha racterised , are not its racterised by remarkable vigour of conception, felicity a o - f diction, and fidelity to nature, it promises by the peculiar at tractions of the narrative to attain a wider any previous production from his pen. But, perhap y s, the graphic delineations of character, or the vivid pictures of society which give such animation to the work bringing in a its blunders greatest charm ; and its mystic associations nt still more powerful impression.— Evenimi Pa pe. ay produce THE PAIESENT MINIATRY.—sad it f been literally sleiltteraatllayr(o)trieig:ntgegrouerssti°:y the heterogenous nature of our present Iliniissttroy lette r() effect, null and void, its shortcomings. First, we have a Premier measure directed against Catholic Then we have an a pose law, and yet a dead ; com th p e o n sing a m asses for the service of the very , niiiineba:ussraedwo:iaiciilliulisains Lintel], whose aggressions his co ileagues have been legislatingdomestic against. Then we have cer tainly not favourable to Protestant circumstances are terests; lastly, we have an security, or Liberal in blunders are of such a nature Admiralty direction, whose tongue. Why should we that they are on everybody's consistency, weakness, and go further into that mass of in country, has so long slumbe red?—Morning nepotism, under whose spell our ered?—Morning Advertiser. COURT OF COMMON COUNClL.—Yesterday a court was held for the purpose Waterworks Bill. -N„ of petitioning against the Chelsea o other business was done. 1