The Sun. — London, England, 1852-05-29 00:00:00

i this direction merited the highest commendation. It was also due to the Eerl of Aberdeen to state, that when he held the seals of office, he sedulously oc cupied himself to effect the same object. It was the Noble Earl's conviction that it was our duty to make the diplomatic service a pro'ession. To carry that object into complete effect, a formal education would, of course, be necessary.— (Haar.) To a cer tain degree the principle had boon deeelep.ed. Attached to the universities were classes for the study of the Oriental languages, and those of the students who had distinguished themselves by their proficiency were ap- Tointed to offices connected with our eas t ern e mbassies. he present Government had had but little opportunity yet of directing their attention to all the points connected with the subject, but there existed evcry disposition on their parts still further to develop the principle laid down by their predecessors. Having said this much, he would take the liberty of reminding the House that the expe rience of momentous years had proved the diplomacy of England to be inferior to no other branch of the public service. In confirmation of this statement, it was ne cessary to refer merely to the great events in which the Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton distinguished him self in the years 1839 and 1840, and which were com monly spoken of as the settlement of the East. Those events furnished evidence that the British Go• vernmeut was able to obtain the most accurate inforrnstioa under very trying circumstances. It was mainly owing to the admirable infor . oration and dexterity of our diplomatic service at that time that our then Foreign Minister—who, how ever, was quite equal to the occasion—was enabled to avail himself of circumstances and to bring the business to a successful issue. More recently, again, during the events which convulsed Europe from 1848 to 1851, our diplomatic service defied the competition of the diplo macy of all other countries, if, indeed, it did not excel them all. He did not recall these matters to the recol lection of the House by way of answer to the Hon. Member'e reasoning; on the contrary, he concurred in the lion. Member's views. There was no reason why our diplomatic service should not be an educated ser vice, and subjected to the influence of the spirit of im provement which governed the whole conduct of the na tion, and influenced every department of the State. — (Hear, hear.) All he desired was, that the House and the public-should not run away with the idea that, in consequence of the want of a formal education for the diplomatic service, the country was not ably served. The country was most ably served. No diplomacy had ac complished greater results, saved more of the public mo ney, or contributed more to the national honour. LIG HT DUES. Mt...HUME said he wished to call the attention of the House to the light dues levied on the commercial ship ping, and especially to the correspondence between the United States minister and Viscount Palmerston, laid before Parliament on the 13th day of February, 1851. The Hon. Member said he had always advocated the abolition of the corn laws; but he had advocated it on the distinct understanding that our shipowners should be relieved from every burden that exposed them to an un fair competition with the shipowners of foreign coun tries. The charge for the light dues amounted alto . gether, he believed, in the United Kingdom, to nearly 300,000/, a year. But if the light-houses of England, Ireland, and Scotland were placed under the direction of One board and properly managed, it appeared, from the evidence t a k en b e f ore t wo ommittees of that House, that they would .not cost more than from 80,0001. to 9 0000/, a year. In the United States, where there were three times as many lighthouses as we had in these kingdoms those establishments did not cost the shipping of the country a single farthing. Under the system which at present prevailed in the United Kingdom, a Vessel which took a single ton of goods from one port to another was liable to the whole amount of the light dues as much as if she had taken hundreds of tons of goods. That was an evil which evidently required a remedy. Mr. DUNCAN said, that having been a Member of the Committee on the light dues in 1845, he wished to add a few words to the observations of his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose. It was proved before that Com mittee that the aggre g at e revenue d er i ve d fr om t h e lighthous es of the United Kingdom amounted, is the Year 1832, to 240,304/. ; the cost of collection, to 22,1251.; and the expense of keeping up the lights, to 74,8321.; and by the then - last published returns it was shown that there were, in 1843, 150 lights in Great Britain and Ire land, the amount paid for which by the shipping interest Was not less than 356,9051., the coat of collection being 15 ,8141.—a considerable reduction as compared with the preceding period—and the expense of maintaining the lights to 131,0301.; thus levying a tax upon the mer• oantile shipping alone, over and above the expense of k eeping up the lights, of 225,8751. To illustrate the hardship w i t h w hi c h t h e li g ht d ues b ore upon particular i nterests, the Hon. Gentleman then referred to the ease of the Dundee Shipping Company, trading between that port and London. The manager of that company being called before the Committee, stated that the per centage which the light dues bore to the nett profits di visible among the proprietors of the stock amounted to not less than 63.3, and that the total amount which that ~"r e Pany alon e p a id i n l ig h t d ues was 2,0561 14 s . 2d. a ~,JPl r . He al so i ns t ance d the case o f th e Ab er d een Ship r`og Company, the manager of which stated to the Com mittee that the charges for light dues amounted to 51 Per cent. upon the divisible profits of the company. It W as, he beli eve d , a notorious fact, that, so far as the e °a sting trade was concerned, many of the companies Were at the present moment actually losing money, in consequence of the burden which those light dues were U p on them ; an d i t was only a short time ago that the t , e p o wners of his b urg h me t i n common h all to consider n subject, and there was scarcely a single individual present who stated that he had received a farthing divi ..end f rom that tr a d e f or y ears past . I n hi s op i n i on era ese r dues were a b u rd en u p on th e mercan til e mar i ne, ra which they ought to be exempted. to Mr.l; FORSTER said it was admitted that relief ought e g i ven; but the question was, in what way ? For himself he contended that it was the ' duty of every coun try to light w up its own shores. They pay it in effect; more thanes in a roundabout way. The shipowners paid and the • timthey ought to pay for maintaining the lights, e was arrived when something should be done in this matter. If Government would not take off the W hole burden, they might at least lay it on in a more equitable manner. g Mr. HENLEY . said this subject was one of transcen dant • importance to the shipping interest; but he was surprised at the tone and manner in which this appeal had been made. They were told they ought to do this, Pbecause they were friends of the shipping interest. But on. Gentle men on the other s i de of the House should tilts pressed it upon the i r f r i en d s w h en i n o ffi ce. That Ws burden should be laid upon the country in an equi table manner was a proposition that could not be denied; but the question was, what was equitable? All the lion. Members who had spoken said it would be more easy to adjust the payment than to sweep it away alto gether. The shipping interest desired to get rid of this' tax of about 300,000/. a year. There was no doubt that a large sum went towards liquidating the debt caused by buying up private rights. Mr. HUME—That's due to the Treasury. Mr. HENLEY —There's a sum of about 150,000/. still to be paid on account of this sum advanced, and that is included in the general charge, which, he was afraid, must continue for some few years longer. The Hon. Member for Montrose held up the American system for their example, but the American Secretary, in reporting to their board, did not express his sense of their advan tage in having a central management of light-houses under the con troul of Government. He said they were not so efficient as the interests of humanity demanded, and he went on to say that their establishment upon the score of economy, did not compare favourably with the light system of Europe. He thought the light vessels should remain at their mooriegs in bad weather, that Was an advantage which they had obtained in this coun try- Their lights and their buoys were not so efficient as in this country. Neither their light vessels kept the !ea, nor were their buoys so efficient.—(Hear.) Their s ystem was not c h aracter i ze d b y so much economy. IS was a difficult and important subject, and from the mo ment h e came into office he had tu rne d hi s attent i on to it. He felt the shipping interest was in a depressed uo n dition, and it would be his anx i ous d esire if he could see any way of relief compatibl e w i t h other interests to give them relief in respect of this burden. Mr. LABOUCHERE sa id h e h ad given this subject his best attention, but it was a question beset with diffi tilties; and he did not, when in office, hold out any p o Pe. that it would be dealt with in the present Par :sines:lL A reduction had been effected on this subject, i ° far as the coasting trade was concerned, to three ourths of the total amount paid. That was a relief ob- twined within the last three or four years.— Bear. they' L ey had no option but to adopt a liberal policy, for if : excluded the ships of other nations from the ad vantages they had accorded to them, the consequence freights be that they would retaliate. It was stated that e leighte had fallen. No doubt they had fallen like other 'lnge, but there was nothing to fear for the superiority of the mercantile marine of this country. This was evident from the fact that more ships were now built t han at any former period ; and they were of the first eracter, and were of such superior construction, that ships now built on the Clyde took the prizes from the American clippers. When he saw the building yards so fully employed, he could not come to any other con : ao nbut that p ersons who so fully un d erstoo d th e i r business would nott t invest their capital in shipping, if they did not find i Mr. DPGREGOR saoi( frot h t l lie the ir advantage. consideration be had given to this subject he had come to the conclusion that the light dues ought to be de frayed from the Consoli dated Fund. They o ug h t to follow the example of the United States in that respect. A tonnage duty must of necessity be unequal and u nsa tisfactorp He could not bat bear testimony to the s erv i ces r e sons Gentleman who spok e l ast, in ered by the Right a debt t dopting a liberal Policy. Th e cou ntry ow e d hi m of gratitude a for What he had done while at the Board ofTrade r m d a e to pro- Mete the welfare of the shipping interest. clacredit Was due to him for the relief he gave to the trad e thought it° the advantageous in reducing the light dues. With regard to howevwers Modification of the navigation-laws, h e advantageous as far as it went. His opinion, was that they ought to be repealed altogether; and with r espect to the mercantile marine, he could state that good ships were never more in demand than they wore at present. In f ac t, there was a great defici ency i n the TSupply nf ships to convey emigrants to South Austr a li s. rgreat demand for ships might be attributed to th e odiblsfieatioa which had taken place in the navigation.. „ a ws• The b est way was to leave t h e s hip owners to ma erge their ow affairs, and to free them from all inter t:xenee in th n eir concerns. With the raw materials un ,;141, they could co m p e t e w i t h th e w hole world. The subject then dropped. POSTAL SERVICE TO INDIA AND CHINA. ~,teord JOCELYN rose to call• the attention of the nao to the t en d ers which were accepted from the ninsular and Oriental Steam•packet Company on the - 971 h of Feb ruary for the performance of the postalnd ser vice between England , kiventiptioe of hi . India, and China. He had not l Atehtiolz to call attention to the sub- ject without communication with commercial parties in this country, as well as with parties in India. He doubted whether Parliament was justified in making those grants which it had been in the practice of making, so as to create a monopoly in favour of those companies which received the grants. The people of this country had a right to ask whether they received an equivalent.—(Flear.) He spoke not from surmise, but from facts. The effect of the large grant of 270,0001. which Wa3 ma de of the public money was to prevent competition. He thought the House would agree that, although they were not bound to act in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on this subject, yet that the House and the Government ought to give some consideration to its recommendations, more especially when the report was adopted unani mously by the Committee. If the Government put forward proposals, they were bound to ac cept parties tendering according to those proposals, with out showing any bias towards one company over another. Were any such bias manifested, it would at once raise doubts in the m'nds of men as to how far they were ho nestly and fairly dealt with by the Government. The service to India had been performed for the last six years by the Peninsular and Oriental Company; and the contract for the year 1853 was for the sum of 280,000/. In the eluts° of the last two years various reports had reached the country that many evil effects had resulted from this monopoly, and it was stated that the company had not taken advantage of the great improvements in steam navigation, which they ought to have done; and there were various other charges as to the mode in which the service was conducted. Last year he thought it his duty to move for the appointment of a Committee India and China, and into the practicability of to inquire, into the existing steam cornatunicalons with effect ing any improvement therein, and also into the best mode of establishing steam communications between England, India, China, Australia, and New Zea land. On that Committee there were three members of Sir R. Peel's Government, three members of the late Government, and two who were of the present Government. That Committee entered into the whole question of steam communication with the various parts of the world. The Committee came to an unanimous report, to which he might hereafter allude. Evidence was given to the Committee of the great inconvenience suffered by the public on the line traversed by the com pany. Applications were made to the Committee from Manchester and Liverpool that in future contracts the parties should be tied down by stringent rules in respect to various matters, as to the comfort of the passengers. The Committee had also evidence that the trade and commerce in the course of the last few years had in creased rapidly on that line. Taking these matters into consideration, they thought they were justified in re commending that. Government should interfere to tie down the parties to more stringent rule, and also that competition should be established, by which a large in crease of trade and commerce might be produced along the line. The report stated that in November, 1851, tenders were called for by the Government under the following heads:— " First Line—A line from England to Alexandria and back, monthly, leaving England in the beginning of every month, and calling at Gibraltar and Malts, with a branch from Marseilles to Malta and back, conveying between those two ports the mails which are carried across France. Second Line —A similar line from Eng land to Alexandria and back, monthly, leaving England in the middle of every month, with a similar branch be tween Marseilles and Malts. The ports in England from which the vessels are proposed to start (subject to the approbation of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad miralty) are to be specified in the tender. It is to be clearly understood that the times of departure may be fixed and altered from time to time by the Admiralty, an interval of about a fortnight being left between the days of departure of the two lines. If circumstances should render it advisable to substitute any other ports in the Mediterranean for Marseilles and Malta, the Admiralty to be at liberty to do so on payment of a reasonable compensation to the contractors for any additional expense incurred. Third Line—A line from Suez to Calcutta and Hong Kong and back, monthly. This line will take the mails which have left England in the beginning of each month, and will touch at Aden and Point de Galle, whence one steamer will proceed by Madras to Calcutta and another by Penang to Singapore and Hong-Kong. These steamers will be met at Aden, both on the outward and homeward voyages, by vessels of the 'East India Com pany, which will convey the mails and passengers be tween Aden and Bombay. Fourth Line—A similar line from Suez to Calcutta and Hong. Kong and back, monthly, conveying the mails which have left England in the middle of the month, and proceeding in like manner to Point de Galle, and thence by Madras to Calcutta, and by Penang to Singapore and Kong-Kong. Vessels of the East India Company will l eave Suez at the same time, carrying the Bombay mails and passen gers; and the return mails from Bombay will likewise be conveyed in vessels of the East India Company to Sues. Fifth Line—A line from Singapore to Sydney and back. Every alternate month a steamer to leave Singapore on the arrival of the outward packet at that port with the mails which have left England in the mid dle of every alternate month, and to leave Sydney so as to meet at Singapore the homeward packet which will arrive there from China, after the lapse of two months. These steamers are to touch both ways at Batavia, Swan River (or King George's Sound, as may be hereafter de termined), Adelaide, and Port Philip. Two parties tendered, viz.—the Eastern Steam Naviga tion Company, and the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Those two companies had a right to expect that their proposals should be fairly considered and that the basis of the terms stated by the Government should not be changed. It was stated that the tender of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company was ac cepted for the whole service; but that was not correct. From England to Alexandria they tendered for; from Suez to Calcutta and Hong-Kong, touching at Aden and Point de Galle, they tendered for; but for No. 4 they did not tender; tied they wholly omitted the line from Suez to Calcutta and Hong -Kong, proceeding to Point de Gallo, and thence by Madras to Calcutta, and by Pe nang to Singapore and Hong-Keng. The letter making this tender to the Treasury was received by the Govern ment on the 26th of February, almost at a time when the Government were out of office, and the tender was accepted by the Government on the 27th of February. He must, therefore, repeat that the mode in which the tender was accepted, whether right or wrong, was calculated to shake the confidence of any party who might be disposed to offer tenders of this character to the Government. He asked the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he did not think the subject was too far advanced for reconsideration to direct his attention to it, in order that justice might be done to all parties. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he proposed to confine himself strictly to the ques tion at issue, and not to enter into the more general question whether it were expedient for Governments to assist great enterprises like these steam companies with grants of public money. To set out with, he must frankly acknowledge that the present Government was entirely responsible for the arrangement which in this case had been made. This was, in fact, the first official act which he bad transacted, and it had been brought under his notice quite unshackled by any arrangements of his predecessor. He had given to it his most undi vided and complete attention, and the decision at which he had arrived was the result of the most careful atten tion he could devote.—(Hear, hear.) On the Ist of November, 1851, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer made the following proposal to the East India Com pany:-1, a line from Southampton to Alexandria twice a month, with a branch from Marseilles to Malta, to be performed by contract, her Majesty's ships being discon tinued; 2, a line from Suez to Point de Gallo, and thence to Madras and Calcutta, twice a month, and a second line from Point de Galle to Singapore and Hong-Kong, with a branch every second month from Singapore to Sydney, and twice a month from Aden to Bombay; 3, to be performed by contract with one or more compa nies, with the exception of the branch from Aden to Bombay, which was to be performed by the East India Company; 4, that the payment of the contract service beyond the Isthmus of Suez should be charged on the revenue of this country and of India in the same propor tion as at present; 5, that this country should contri bute a sum to the East India Company for the perform ance of the service between Aden and Bombay, calculated according to the nature and difficulty of the service per formed. The East India Company assented to these terms by letter of the Bth of November, 1851. On the 18th of November, 1851, the Treasury desired the Admiralty to call for tenders for the bi-monthly per formance of the service. This concladed the negotia tion so far as his predecessor in office was concerned. On the 29th of February, 1852, the Admiralty reported to the Treasury that they had received three tenders,- 1, from the Peninsular and Oriental Company, for the li9o9n,e6dooiln.,ththe hchoudreitdiuocus of whole of the mail services advertised, with the addition not a mentioned line between Bombay and Point de Galle, d of to ten l sum of tender, for after completion of the railway across Egypt; 2, from the Eastern Steam Navigation Company, for a line once a month between England and Calcutta and Hong-Kong, for 110,0001., to be reduced to 10 0,000/. in the event of Trieste being substituted for Mars eill barkation; 3, on e f rom the same e ea as a port of em• between Singapor e an d Sydney , in o m a g d a h ^ y for a branch Won to the line previously mentioned. Adding then 100 ,0001. to 166,000/. he made the lowest tend er o f the Eastern gation Company amount to 26 6,0001, again:tealm Navi the lowest tender of the other company, being a 79,d6100/., ff eace of 86,400/. Under these circumstances he had decided in favour of the latter company. The tender of this latter company was at the rate of 6s. 6d. per mile, without the additional branch they h a d volunteered to perform between Bombay and Point de Galle, while that of the Eastern Steam Navi gation Company was at the rate of Bs. a-mile in their first tender, and 10s. on the average of their second. These facts having been brought before him, he had only one other point to consider, which was to ascertain whether the offer which was the cheapest was equally efficient with the other. Tnat inquiry had been made. The result of it was that the Peninsular and Oriental Company appeared in this respect to be even preferable to the other, and upon the sth of March of the present year the Treasury approved of the tender of that com pany, and desired the Admiralty to carry it into effect. That was his • ' story. hadh dto obtain the simpl e _2 best s • ervlce, and he had obtained it at the cheapest rate. — (Hean) Within an hour of his • taking his seat in Downing-st „ reet, he hadreceived deputation from the t . a Eastern Steam Navigation and their case had been so well placed gatlon Company, . before him sure it was that he was from no neglect on the eted with their affairs that he meritspart of those intru . been well et teeete e t . nf the question had not i However, after having given t matter the most impartial consideration, he had de termined upon giving the tend er to the company which would at once most effieio and economically perform the service -te(et ilt " most • ) He hoped that, as far as the preoeut Go antYermwere con- THE SUN,. LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, Government, ho said, had promised an inquiry into the case. Mr. HORSMAN observed he had not said so. The ATTORNEY -GENERAL said that was the in ference to be drawn —but he could show there was no breach of faith on the part of the Government. The Government could not pledge itself to appoint a com mission, for that commission so appointed could not compel evidence to be given, and it coul,i not, therefore, but end in a total failure. As to the law of the case, ho did not wish to give a silent acquiescence. As far as the H in. Member (Mr. Horsman) had gone, he bad stated the law correctly. It A instituted a clergyman, that institution could not be questioned. The law gave him a discretion, and he (the Attorney-General) was not aware it could be questioned.—(Hear, hear.) A clergyman, however, had an appeal against the bishop, and if it appeared he was wrong, his decision could be overruled.—(Elear, hear.) His Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer rightly said, that if a clergyman exhibited unsoundness of doctrine it could be inquired into under the Church Discipline Act, if it took place within two years. The bishop of the diocese might send the case to the Bishop's Court; but for any offence committed above two years out of the country no remedy could be obtained. He thought the Howe would agree that the course pursued by the Go vernment was the c orrect one.—( H ear, h ear .) To have issued a commi ss i on wh i ch did not posses s compulsory powers would h ave b een a complete fafailure.—(Hear.)Mr. HORS MAN e x pl a i ne d t h at h e h a d no desire to create discussion, an d h e was o b liged to t h e Ri g ht Hon. Gentleman the Attorney -General for his opinion on the law of the case. Sir J. YOUNG thought the Government had done all that could have been expected, No law had been in fringed, but there was a difference between a congrega tion as to points of doctrine—one believed one thing, and one believed another —no unsoundness having been found—would the House of Commons take part with the minority against the authorities which had been re cognised? On full consideration of the case, the House would plainly see that the House of Commons was not the place to determine such a case. Better they should abstain from it, and should confine themselves to their proper duties.—(Hear.) Colonel KNOX said the Hon. Member had thrown out a taunt that the Government had not made an inquiry. Had the Hon. Gentleman himself inquired into the statements he had made as to the conduct of Mr. Ben nett at Kissengen and at Venice? He knew the Hon. Gentleman was in possession of a letter on the subject, and that long ago he should have retracted the state meat. It was on the authority of a letter from Sir J. Harrington that he had made that statement. He knew the substance of the letter, and nothing could be more unfair and unfounded. He was able to say that the statement was altogether unfounded that had been made against Mr. Bennett —namely, that he did not go to a Protestant church, but to a Roman Catholic church, when, at the same time, the fact was notorious that be was in ill health and drinking the waters, and every one knew that any one drinking these waters would not be in a condition to go to a Roman Catholic church at seven o'clock in the morning. —(A laugh.) As to the time that had been stated that Mr. Bennett had been absent, he (Colonel Knox) knew that he left in the month of June, and returned in November. With regard to Ve nice, he was himself there at the time, and he knew therefore that that part of the statement was untrue, and he could prove that all the time Mr. Bennett was at Rome he had attended a Protestant church.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Bennett had for some time been bis (Colonel Knox) pastor, and he would not sit there and allow such unfounded statements to remain uncon tradicted.—(Hear' hear.) Mr. HORSMAN could assure the Hon. Gentleman that he had made no statement respecting Mr. Bennett's conduct in Venice; he was not even aware (as was understood) that he had been there. With respect to Mr. Bennett's absence from England, he had stated that he was absent during the year 1851, not that he was so during the whole year.—(lronical cheers.) Sir B. HALL said that mention having been made of the Bishop's Court, he wished to state concisely what that tribunal. was. The Ecclesiastical Court of Bath and Wells consisted of a judge, a registrar, and a proctor. The judge who was to decide on cases such as that of the vicar of Frome had been an officer in the Grena dier Guards, and having left the army, was made pre bendary of the cathedral and judge in the Ecclesiastical Court, although knowing no more of ecclesiastical law than the drummer of my Hon, and Gallant Friend's regiment. Of course he could not perform the duty, but appointed as his deputy one of those hacks of the cathedral called minor canons, at a salary of 201. a year. The name of this pesson was Peter Parley, and he was by law obliged to post up in his office a list of the fees to be charged in this court. The registrar was a metro politan police magistrate, the son of a former bishop, and was appointed when only fire years old. From that time to the present, he had never been within the walls of his registry, except to receive his sti pend. To quote the expression which had been used in evidence, he " farmed out his court" at 4001. a year to Peter Parley, who, with the fees, and also with the de puty fees whi c h h e c h arge d, made the plan e wor th 8151. a year for hi mse lf. H e hung ti p no table of fees, but made arbitr ar y c h arges . T here we r e seven p roc t or s in this court, one of whom was Edward Parley, Ben of the deputy, so that if he had any business in court, he must plead before his own father, who farmed his place from the chief. And yet this was the court to which the pa rishioners of Frome must go if they have any complaint against their pastor. The deputy-registrar practised in twenty-five other courts, of one of which, a diaconal court, a young lady was the president, the daughter of the dean, and who also had been appointed when she was only five years old.—(Laughter.) He(Sir B. Hall) was bound to say th a t some change had been made since last year, for th e d eputy.: J udge, the son of the late bishop, had turned R oman Catholic, and had therefore been obliged to give 1 11) his app o i ntmen t. But the pre sent bishop, into w h ose court the parishioners must go, had appointed hi e own son, w ho lived at Castle Rising, in Norfolk, and in ;his case also the poor miserable hack canon did all the duty. Ho asked them, was it not a farce to tell part of the nineteenth century a tribunal was allowed to g o w i o n u te id s i u t c b ti e a bel c i o e u v r ed te t — ha T i o n ud o c e ri l exist which would b e considered a disgrace in any civi lizsd nation? Such was the tribunal to which the cries s tte e r t Right "Hear, cps people p h l s e a hear ." Hon. Gentleman told them to go instead of coming to Parliament. He (Sir B. Hall) said that Parliament was the proper tribunal, and be trusted that what he was stating would make an i mpression, and prevent the con tinuance of this atr oc i ty in the Church. He hoped that the infamy of these Ec clesiastical Courts would be cured, and that a Minister of the Crown would not be per mitted to tell the parishioners of Frome that into such a court they must go to •Puseyite complain of their pastor.—(Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied that he had said the parishioners must go for redress into the Ecclesiastical Court. The tribunal to which he had alluded was that which created under the was . Church Discipline Act, which was expeditious, and, in its expenses, adapted to the s • pirit of the age. The Hon. Baronet might as well have described some of the courts of India, and applied his e ergument to the case of the parishioners of From e . o Sir B. HALL rose to orde r . the lf Right Hon. Gen tleman was allowed t address the House a second time, he must claim the right of o f The CHANCELLOR, t. the EXCHEQUER having read the words of the motion, claimed the indulgence of the House, after the manne r in which he had been at tacked. He would merely add that as the Honourable Member for Cockermouth bad been fortunate enough to secure a n early day for going into, the case of Mr. Bennett at length, it w as hardly f a i r to keep the H ouse hour. from Supply by prolongi e g a discu ss i on at that late that the B. HALL, amid loud cries of " Spoke," said that he would not have addressed the House bad he not given the Right Hon. Gentleman previous notice that of Bath and Wells. he intended to call the at of the House to the drawn no more than a true, al thought very pungent, pic ture of the state of those u He (Mr, Henley) had been member of a Committee to He into their con °i the fHtEheNdLioEcyesaandcmoiuttertda and could confirm the stitution, Hon. Baronet's state ment.—(Hear, hear.) But it was not fair of the Hon. Baronet to let it go forth to the country that that was Hon. Baronet had the only court to which the parishioners of Frome could go, incal i Co urt that the of A r ch erops.er court of appeal was the pro- An HoN. MEMBER, whose game defended Mr. Bennett, and stated that could not learn hin, favour had been signed by 1,0 39 of tt a memorial is tween Thursday and Monday, and hi s Parishioners, be rev. gentleman's knowledge. entirely without the realists The HON. MEMBER read the p r ., rial, which stated that the m ensor T e r of the memo- with the injuries inflicted on th e sympathised gentleman, and concurred in the soundness of the% by him. 000trines taught On the motion that the Speaker do leave the Chair, Mr. WILLIAMS objected to into Committee of Supply at that late hour (20 minuttfa of time and as objected to many items of the l esti mates; one). He the Government had had abundance them, he should receive them as their line to consider estimates, and deal with them without re fer ence to the reason s which had procured the speedy passing of the na v a l and mili tary estimates. The civil estimates now the to 4,182,0001., being 240,0001. more than i n He hoped the Government would not past year. them. proceed with The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not think of proceeding with the estim ates at that h must give notice that o n Thur sday next , our but taking the New Zealand B ill, he should m ove instead of mates in Committee of Supp l y . Ove the esti- GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTa BILL. On consideration of this Bill as amended, LL. Mr. MILES moved---'. That the Act shall appl y to all the boundary of the distr ict of Bur nham, assigned the provisional order of the General Board Health by o excepting those parts re s p ectivel y ate withint h e ' situ tithiegs of Huish orta Highb T.ridge, a n d vt , orston." p Mr. HAYTER opposed the proviso, which he said w opposed to tne wishes of the inhabitants of the district, " who were in favour of the Bill as it now stood. Mr. MILES said a memorial was presented last session to tho Board of Trade, to orchid() the district in u. He hafl himself presented two petitions to th _ 3 ntion. a House to the same effect. Lord J. MANNERS spoke against the amendment, And after a few words from Sir G. P ECUELL, th e proviso was negatived, and the Bill wa s ordere d to be read a third time. The Navy Pay Bill was read a second time. The Pro c l amat i on for Assembling Parliament 13111 was read lt, a thi r d time an d pas sed. The Ecclesiastical Courts (Criminal true d' • teti 1E on) Bill was read a third time end Windt . . , MAY 99, 1852. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. Yesterday, on the re-assembling of the Committee — Right Hon. Lord Hotham in the chair— Mr. Highton, the engineer of the British Telegraph Company, was examined relative to the improvements he had patented in connexion with electric telegraphs. He estimated the cost of his siglo wire telegraph at 251. per mile. Theßritish Company had been pursued by the old Telegraph Company into Ireland and across the chan nel by the projection of a rival submarine line from Portpatrick to Donaghadee. The witness explained to the Committee various ingenious improvements he had made in connexion with electric telegraphs, of which there were seueral beautiful models in the room. Professor Brande, member of the telegraphi c commit tee of the British ompany, and Mr. J. T. Cooper, pro fessor of chemistry, also of the committee, deposed that they had examined the instruments invented by Mr. Highton, and declared that they were improvements upon any that had preceded them. Mr. MERE WETHER then opened the case on behalf of the elect r i c te l egraph system belonging to the South- Eastern Railway, against the Bill. The case of the South-Eastern Rade av, he stated, was a totally distinct and separate case from that of any other interest before the Committee, and on their behalf he called on the Committee not to pass a Bill of the unusual character before it. A n early understanding; had subsisted be tween the South-Eastern Railway and the Government Company Government that there should, continuously with the g ra railway, be a network of tele h . • the south-easter n coast. itieSouth Eastern Railway Company accordingly b su 6 ctibed their own capital and constructed their own telegraphs at a cost ot 50,000/, en and all they now as k e d t h e Committ to allow them to b e l e f t a l one, and unint in fairness was, the admission, nnd er compuls e ry pow erfer . ed with by powers, of foreign or not thoroughly solvent parties. This w desirable as they had l ate l y united their wires the m o r e vetres with a telegraph they had constructed to Brighton the Brighton and South Co as t R a il way, the latter for lag an annual rent. Charg es o f i ncorrectness had r b a c y. n mid° against the old Electric T e l egrap h Company, bute none had been made against the accuracy, punctuality, or expense of the South-Easter n C ompany ' s telegraph; and, separated as the system was from others, they asked to be left free from extraneous control. The ex istence of that important international medium of com munication, the submarine telegraph, which, in conjunc tion with the South-Eastern, held the key to the corre spondence of the continent, made the proposal of con ferring the compulsory powers proposed in the Bill still more objectionable. The Learned Counsel, after ob serving that the telegraph, though it had been worked well for the public service, had not been remunerative, called Mr. Macgregor, chairman of the South Eastern Rail way, who was examined at considerable length. The Honourable Gentleman described minutely the system of electric telegraphs the South-Eastern Company bad laid down at their own cost. The arterial line from London to Dover was eight-eight miles, and the radia tions inland and skirting the coast, communicating with all the Government depots, extended over 280 miles—in fact, over the entire system of the South-Eastern Rail way. There were seventy-three telegraph stations on the line, sixty-three of which were open to the public. The cost per mile of the arterial line between London and Dover was 2251 ; but experience had shown that lines of telegraph could be constructed much cheaper. The south-Eastern was the first extensive system of telegraph established in this country, and the promoters of it bore the burden of the greatest expense. The actual capital expended for telegraphic construction by the South-Eastern Company wa5.50,000/. Until re cently the charges were higher than at present, and were at the rate of lid. per mile for twenty words, or at the rate of a third-class passenger fare and a half per mile. Then it was an experiment; but the charges had been materially reduced since then. To insure accuracy in the transmission, messages might be reFeated, and half the original charge, if the parties wished to avail them selves of the repetition, was charged for it; but the only case he knew in which a message was requested to be re peated was in that of an order from the Home-office, to respite the hanging of a man at Maidstone. —(Laughter.) The gross receipts of the South-Eastern telegraph, from its opening on the Ist of January, 1846, to the 31st of March last, had been 13,7941, and the gross expen diture charged to revenue 10,5421., leaving a ba lance of 3,2221. Commercially, these results put but a very small sum into the pockets of the proprietors. The 13,7941. was for receipts from the public, excluding the railway company's own messages and uses of the tele graph, for which no charge was made. Managed the telegraph successfully in the public service without the imputation of becoming rich. Had got it into great perfection, and believed that perfection was as near as anything human could be. There bad been a very considerable increase in their business since the subma rine telegraph was opened, in conjunction with which undertaking they had worked conveniently and well. No fault whatever had been found with the submarine telegraph since its opening. The South-Eastern had no interest in the submarine. Attached the utmost im portance to the management of the telegraphic system on the railway being entirely under their own control, and was of opinion that it could not be reposed too ex clusively iirthe management of one set of hands. The contractors of their permanent way would not be responsible for its preservation and safe keeping if foreign workmen in connexion with another telegraph were introduced. Thought that in railway and telegraphic management military discipline ought to be enforced as far as possible. Four wires from London to Dover were kept exclusively for through messages, and with four more in connexion with the newly-opened submarine telegraph could multiply messages several fold over these wires without icconvenience. There was ample room for a far greater accumulation of messages. Could, in connexion with the licensees, lay down any number of additional wires, but the posts upon the rail way would accommodate four more easily. Was there to ask the Committee to separate the South-Eastern Company from the propose measure, and leave them the control of their own telegraphic system in their own hands, and thought it would be a bard case if they could not obtain vrotection for property invested in telegraphs on their own railway, and also , which was a not less important question involved in It, security for the public and working of the railway.. Cross-examined by Mr. KEATING, Q. C.—The power under which the South-Eastern worked their telegraph and took charges for their own profit from the public Was under an Act of Parliament, which allowed the te legraph in conjunction with the railway to be con structed for the use of Government. The original con tract for constructing the telegraph was with the old Telegraiih Company, or rather with Mr. Cooke, a di rector, and -one of the stipulations was that no other party wp ; to interfere with the patent on the South- Eastern line. The dividend; paid in connexion with the South-Eastern telegraph during the last year was so small as to be almost infinitesimal.—(Laughter.) Since December, 1851, had reduced the charges 100 per cent., the charge for twenty words between London and Dover being reduced from lls. to 55., which latter was now the general charge. Neither the charges nor other matters connected with the old telegraph had anything to do with the South-Eastern. After some further statements in detail, the Com mittee adjourned. cerned, this statement would exonerate them from blame. He wished also to exonerate his predecessor from those charges which had been freely circulated upon this matter. When he acceded to office he had been indebted to the Right Hon. Gentleman for that confidential com munication which it was necessary to give when a change of Government took place. The Right Hon. Gentleman had called his attention to what arrears of bwinese there were in the office. and when he in his turn should hand it over to another he hop , el there would be as few arrears as he then eeued. The Right lion. Gentleman banded over to him the duties of a n office which up to that period had been discharged in a most efficient manner. This subject among others had of course been alluded to, but with reference to it his judgment bad been perfectly unshackled.—(Bear, hear.) Mr. H. BERKELEY observed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he having given the contract to the Pe ninsular and Oriental Company, had completely thrown overboard the labours of the Committee. Sir C. WOOD said he was surprised to find in the report of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company (whose mouthpiece the Noble Lord the Member fur Lynn had made himself that evening) that he was charged with having cordially concurred in the recom mend-L.6°n of the Committee that the service should be necesvarily given to two companies, and afterwards with hiving turned round and decided aggiest the Eastern Steam Navigatio❑ Company. Both these state ments were utterly without foundation. Every one knew the meaning ordinarily attached to the word " competition," but the competition which the Noble Lord sought for way, that, at whatever price, there should he two companies to carry out the contract. But what an ()peeing that afforded to jobbing and all kinds of unfair practices? Why, if he were to give one portion of the service to one company and another to another, without any competition for the same, there would be no limit to the favour, monopoly, and jobbing that might result from it.—(Hear.) The accusation of the Noble Lord was-against him personally, that he had given a decision contrary to his opinion.—(" Hear, hear" from Lord Jocelyn.) The ground on which that charge had been made against him was totally without foun dation, and, grateful as he was to the Noble Lord for having brought this subject forward, and for his courtesy in having apprised him by letter of his intention to do so, he thought that his courtesy would have been better applied, and his justice too, if before he had made the charge, he had taken the trouble to inquire whether there was any foundation for it. He thought the present Government had decided perfectly right, for the question did not admit of the slightest doubt. The Eastern Steam Company had asked 160,0001. for three lines, while the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company had contracted for less than 200,0001 for all the five lines. If he had been actuated by any unworthy motives, as the Noble Lord had insinuated—[Lord JOCELYN—" I never insi nuated anything of the kind]—he would have acted as he had done. The Government were bound, certainly, to take the most advantageous contract, but the lowest was not always the most advantageous. He warned the House against being led away by contracts of the kind referred to. Last year he received no less than seven private applications from the Eastern Steam Navigation Company to enter into the contract with them, but he had refused to entertain them; and he again warned the House not to sanction a course of conduct which opened the door to an amount of jobbing and corruption never before heard of.—(Hear.) Lord JOCELYN—I wish to call it to the recollection of the House that I distinctly stated I did not attribute any unworthy motives to the Right Hon. Gentleman. Mr. COWPER, defended the Admiralty, and thought it exceedingly unfair to say a company did not tender for the whole of the service because they made a differ- I epee of 73 miles on the whole voyage. The Noble Lord was more influenced than he was aware of by the state- ' ments of the company which had not gained the con tract. It was natural that directors should endeavour to I throw the blame the shareholders would fix upon them for not making tenders which could be accepted on other shoulders than:their own, but in their report the direc tors of the Eastern Steam Company had done more than any company was entitled to do, for they had not only misrepresented figures, but had stated what was abso lutely untre. The decision of the Admiralty was shown to be correct, and he was glad that her Majesty's Go vernment supported the result at which the Treasury and Admiralty of the late Government had, after the fullest invdstigation, arrived. Mr. WILT:COX observed, that the Noble Viscount was mistaken in supposing that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company had not included Culcutta in the service for which they made the contracts. Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER said, that had the ten der made by the Eastern Steam Navigation Company been accepted, it was the intention Of that company to have made arrangemente, if possible, for landing their mails at Plymouth, instead of at Southampton • and he felt that the time was come when i t was t h e duty of the Government itself to take into consideration the claim of Plymouth to be a point of departure for the mail service with our colonial and foreign dependencies.—(Hear, hear) The facilities of that port for such a purpose were, at the very least, equal to those of any other, in some material respects su p er i or . M a il s landed there from the east would be distributed not merely through out the western districts of England, but also through the manufacturing districts, much earlier than if they were landed at Southampton. He was satisfied, indeed that the preeent arrangements would have long since been altered but for the want of a complete railway communication between Plymouth and London. That complete communication was now effected; the tele graph between the two points would also be completed before long, and works now in rapid progress at Ply mouth would render that port in every way eligible, and in the Lighest degree, for the purpose in question, to which purpose he trusted the Government would not then delay to apply it. Lord S f ANLEY said that the two principles on which contracts were adopted were, first, that of taking the lowest tender, irrespective of all other considerations, and, secondly, that of taking the tender most likely to be of best service, irrespective of its being the cheapest. The tender of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam-packet Company fulfilled both these conditions, being 25 per cent, cheaper than the oth er tenders, and, t h e mann er of its service not being surp assed b y that of an y other that tender had, conse quently,bteamnavigation b hear.) The Cunard steam ers were p erha p s somewhat i e g e a n tio andeonpmtepdany the Government.—(Hear, 14 more rapid in their course, but these steamers had only a single voyage of 3,4 00 miles to_cf:a coal for, whereas the steamers of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam-packet Company performed the double voyage from Calcutta to Suez, and back, almost entirely with coals laid in at the former port, and where therefore much heavier weighed than the Cunard steamers. _ The subject then dropped., COLONEL OUTRAN. Mr. ANSTEY said he would, in order to give way to his Hon. Friend (Hr. Horsman), postpone his motion respecting Colonel Outram till a future day. He must express, in so doing, his conviction that the directors were resolved no t to p ro duce the docume n t s for which he had moved. O n t h e ne xt Supply night he would press his motion to a division. Mr. HER MES (who was imperfectly heard in the gallery) said, he was confident that when the subject came to be fully investigated, the Court of Directors would be fully exonerated from the strictures passed upon them by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. THE REV. MR. BENNETT. Mr. HORS MAN called the attention of the House to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as to the result of the Government inquiry into the case of Frome. The Hon. Member proceeded to say, that he wished to call the attention of the House to the law of the case. He would remind the House, that the in• quiry he had moved for was an inquiry into the conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, in instituting Mr. Bennett. -The Government undertook the inquiry, and they stated that the complainant had a remedy under the Church Discipline Act. The Right Hon. Gentle man (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) gave an answer on one point—the case of a clerk, but not on the other point, as to whether there was any redress in the case of a bishop. He would take the case of the offending clerk under the Church Discipline Act, and they were told be could be proceeded against either in the diocese in which he held the preferment, or in the one in which he committed the offence. The parties to whom the matter would be referred under that Act would be appointed by the bishop him self, and if they said there was no ground for inquiry, there the matter terminated. The inquiry could not take place in the diocese of London, as it must be in. stituted within two years after the offence charged had been committed. The parties who complained stated that one bishop had been applied to about Mr. Bennett's adherence to the Roman Catholic doctrines, and he was therefore called on to give in his resignation. There was then the further difficulty that the Bishop of Lon don had accepted his resignation, and he could not, therefore, be brought before him again. But there was another thing, the offence that was committed abroad could not be brought under the cognizance of the Church Discipline Act. It was, therefore, obvious that the re dress under the Church Discipline Act was a nominal one. But that was no portion of the inquiry that he (Mr. Hursmen) had asked for. When he understood that the bishop was the party to be blamed it was against him that he complained. He was told there was an application to the archbishop, and when he in quired how that was to be made the Right Honourable Gentleman declined to answer the question. He then asked 'him what redress he had, and an answer to that question was also declined. He next asked to see opinions of the law officers of the Crown, and the Right Hon. Gentleman declined to ,give that also. He woald now state to the House what tho law was there woritshenio3ilsehgoapl on the subject. As regarded the bishop who instituted aofperson to a living, though he were avowedly a member under the Churc r went totther Church—even if Cardinal Wiseman himself stated, the redress w t and rin u h n e al in b s t e i f t n u r t e e dwhkinmm—( theyA l c a n u u e ld h ) g — o the bishop, there was for redress.—(Hear.) Then as regarded the clergyman Discipline Act, as he had already re k was no redress whatever.— (Hear.) nominal one; but, as re garded((tHheeaAr.)reorney-General)atso the Right Hon. Gentleman say anything upon the law, eloquent,er enough ; but he (Mr. *cul disagree with him His silence H ewdouidli not e t Hon,ruen) knew that no lawy er on that subject. If there was any on redress, many gentle therefore it was The case V7 h e o ul h addnot madeagree e to st a h t i e s m m e n o t ti e , and given. n the same had a l, when he made mt b h e ca i n n t being as he had stated, and the House being condition it was in on theg2nOtthitofneAnsrsi give bring the on n his motion, he had thou statement he had made, his intention hernygtoto his motion on the 7th of June.. Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, if it had not been the intention of the Hon. Member to r a is e a dis u Inight have nixstaincri from sayi ng w h at ha aki not confined hi ms elf t o th e l aw of d one . H h and thoug - li ha.satti he did nu t w ish to provoke. c tbha s e, is i he case, di sou ssien, done a good deal toward§.l3, The. BISHOPRIC OF CHRISTCHURCH (NEW ZEA LAND) BILL. On the motion for reading this Bill a second time, Mr. ANSTEY objected, and said he should have to detain the House for two hours in stating the grounds of his opposition to this Bill; but he would, in the first place, test the feeling of Hon. Members to remain by moving that the House do now adjourn. The ATTORNEY GENERAL thought the proposal of the Hon. and Learned Member a most cruel infliction. The whole object of tho Bill was —the district of New Zealand having grown so large as to require another bishopric, and it being necessary for the existing Bishop of New Zealand to surrender a portion of his patent fur the purpose, and it being necessary to legalise that sur render by an Act of the Legislature, the object of this Bill was to give the legislative saiction. An opposition to such a Bill was most vexatious. Mr. ANSTEY insisted upon his motion, and the House divided— For the adjournment ... 3 Against it ... G Majority against the motion ... —5B Mr. ANSTEY proceeded to state that the ground of his objection was that this Bill was the same in principle as the Colonial Bishops Bill.—(No, no.) The Right Hon. Gentlemm the Home S2dretary had last night admitted that it was so. Mr. WALI'OLE denied that he had done so. What he had said was, that if the Hon. and Learned Gentle man had really an objection to its principle he would not bring it on at one o'clock in the morning, and he was now ready. Mr. ANSTEY interrupting—l rise to order. I allowed the Right Hon. Gentleman to explain, but as he has courted debate he shall now have it.—(A. laugh ) Mr. WALPOLE was only anxious to save lime. Mr. ANSTEY again rose to order. He bad no notion of allowing a Minister to assume in that House an autho rity which did not belong to other Members his Equals. —(Hear, and a laugh.) He objected to this Bill in lanine. He denied that there was any Bishop of Christchurch or of New Zealand. The object of these measures was to raise up a Church establishment in New Zealand. Now he had no intention of permitting such an establishment without opposition. He was opposed to any attempt to extend the spiritual supremacy of the Crown to New Zealand and our other colonies. The Hon. and Learned Member then at great length (it being already a quarter past 1 o'clock) stated his objections, quoting Blackstone and other authorities to show that the Crown had no power to erect dioceses in our colo nies, or to appoint bishops. If the Queen had by letters patent erected the diocese, let the Queen legislate—let her undo what she had done. There was no reason for coming to Parliament to undo the illegal act of the Crown. All religions in the colonies are on an equality, but this Bill was intended to give supremacy to the Church of England by the authority of the Imperial Parliament, and the result would be sectarian bitterness and religious animosity in New Zealand. In conclusion, he moved that the Bill be put off for three Months. No Member on the Government side rising, Mr. REYNOLDS moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. WALPOLE seconded the motion, and said that was the object with which he had risen before when he was interrupted by the Hon. and Learned Member for Yonghal. They had now wasted an hour and a half uselessly, and most unfairly to the Speaker, who had been sitting there from four o'clock. The debate was then Adjourned. MATNOOTH DEBATE. Mr. KEOGH complained of this order of the day being taken out of its course, it being last on the list, to dispose of it in the absence of Irish Members. Tha CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex plained that the order in question had been moved for the purpose of postponement by the Hon. Member for Ashton (Mr. Hindley), a Member of the Opposition. Air. KEOGH insisted that Ministers who had control of the orders of the day were parties to the arrangement, which, he said, was a low, thimble-rigging, pettylogging trick. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex plained that the Government had not the entire control over the order paper. Ile had stated the intention of taking the Maynooth debate on Friday, and no objection was made. Mr. O'FLAHERTY could plainly see that the Go vernment were determined to do everything they could in hostility to the Irish people. He was glad they had at length shown their colours, and he could assure them that they were colours which would not win for them the confidence of the Irish party. As far as he was concerned he promised them all the opposition , in his power. Mr. WALPOLE assured the Hon. Gentleman that Ministers, were in no way to blame in this matter. They had not taken the order out of its course. The Hon. Gentlemaii (Mr. Hindley) who had made the motion had done so without any communication or concertivith the Government. Mr. REYNOLDS reminded the House that the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire had stated he would move the postponement of the debate to Friday, when they came to the order on the paper. The conversation which arose on the motion to post. pone one of the other orders of the day then dropped. Mr. KEOGH immediately rose and moved the ad journment of the House, repeating his previous speech on Maynoth affairs. Mr. H. HERBERT was quite sure that nothing like a trick was intended, but urged that, if the same course were allowed to be taken, any measure, however objec tionable, might be passed by a trick. He saw no good that could arise from bringing on the debate on Friday, for it was quite clear there would be no division then; and be thought they might as well adjourn it to the 12th of August. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured Hon. Members opposite that nothing would induce him t 3 sanction any course that was unfair to them.—(Hear, hear.) It was not possible to take any order out of its course, except for postponement; and any Member who had an order on the paper was perfectly justified, by the rules of the House, to move before the other orders that it be postponed. The Government had no hand what ever in the postponement in question, and, as it was in accordance with the usual practice, and with an arrange ment generally acquiesced in, they had offered no objec tion.—(Hear.) Mr. ANSTEY thought there mast be some exception to that rule. Suppose he had got up early in the even ing and moved that the Now Zealand Bishops Bill (which had been pressed against him with so much inso lence—(Oh, oh, and a laugh)—would be not have been told that such course was opposed to the practice of the House.—(Hear.) The House divided, when there appeared— For the adjournment ... „, Against it „, ... 10 ... 42 Majority —32 Lord J. MANNERS moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Act for regulating the construction and the use of buildings in the metropolis and its neigh bourhood, and to improve the administration thereof. Agreed to. Mr. ANSTEY moved for leave to bring in a Bill to diminish the proceedings under the Election and Bri- bery Acts.—Agreed to. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON moved for leave to bring in a Bill for dissfforesting the forest of Whittlewood, other wise Whittlebury; and a Bill for disafforesting the forest of Wych wood. Mr. KEOGH moved the adjournment of the debate on the ground that after the manner the Government had treated him and his party he would offer them every opposition. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was anxious they should not adjourn for thu recess under any wrong impressions. He was anxious to meet the convenience of lion. Gentlemen opposite as far as possi ble, and would on Thursday endeavour to name a day (say Tuesday) which should be agreeable to the Irish Memb.3ra. Mr. KEOGH and Mr. REYNOLDS expressed themselves satisfied; the Hon. Member for Athlone, however, ex pressing an objection to morning sittings. The motion was then agreed to, and the Bills were then brought in and read a first time. The Common Law Practice Improvement Bill (Lords) was read a first time. POST-OFFICE. Mr. HASTIE moved for a returned of the number of persons employed in the Post-office, Paisley; distin guishing the number in each class, with their respective salaries; also the average daily number of bags and letters received and dispatched. PATENT LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. MUN TZ moved to nominate the Select Committee on Patent Law Amendmnnt Bill:—Mr. Muntz, Mr. Cowan, Sir William Page Wood, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Westhead, Mr. John Greene, Mr. Scott, Mr. Mullings, Mr. Attorney• General, Mr. John Evans, Mr. Solicitor- General for Ireland, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Pole Carew, Mr. Newdegate, and Mr. Henley.—Agreed to. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND). On the motion of Mr. BUTT returns relative to this subject were ordered. The House adjourned at a Quarter to Three o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. --.....---- (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons ) FRIDAY, MAY 28. ADJOURNMENT. Motion made and Question put, "'That this House do now adjourn." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES, 10. Anstey, 'Thomas Scully, Francis Carter, Samuel Scully , V incent TELLER 9. Xeog Cogan, W. 11. Sullivan, Michael h, 'William Reynolds, John G r eene, John Thompso n, George O'Fiaherty, Anthony Wauey, T`_-- MAJORITY NOES, 42. Adderley, C. B. Edwards, Henry Pakington, Kr J . B e l l, J Forbes, William Renton, John C. Bell, Jacob GiV)ll, iiONVOI Spooner, It. Beresford, William Iraniiton, (leo. A. Stafford, Augustus Booker, T. W. Ilatuiiton, Lord C. Stanley, Lord Booth Sir It. G. llenleY, J. W. Stewart, Admiral Bridges, Sir B• berbzrt, U. A. Tennent, Sir J. Bruce, C. L I . C. Hope, Sir J. Thesiger, Sir F. Butt, Isaac Johale, Sir W. IL Thompson, Colonel Chandos, Marquis of Jones, Captain Trollope, Sir J. Cocks, T. S. Knox, Colonel Walpole, S. 11. Cotton, W. 11. Knox, W. S. Whiteside, James Disraeli, B. Langton, W. 11. P. 3,ffimiers, Lord J. Macke T n E zi L e L , E ) R V 4 . I. F O .. buncombe, A. Dunce, Colonel Newport, Viset. Lennox, Lord I Desperate Case of Scrofula ADVERTISEMENT. Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—Mr. Ileydon, of cured i b Sydney, by Holloway's agent for the sale of Holloway's medicines in New South Wales, states that Thomas Evans, in the em ployP o f Mr. Charles T hom p son, of Beram bulu , was sorely a inicted for years with scrofula ia the neck, and his body was covered with a peculiar kind of pimple, out of which exuded a watery mucus. He had been at conside ra bl e expense i n try ing va rious medicines, but without any goo d e ff ect : h e th en us d Holloway's Ointment and Pills, which in a short period so effectually cured him that he has continued in the most perfect health to the present time.—Sold by all druggists, and at Prefvsor Holloway's Lstabliskruout, 244, Strand, LoAdon. COURT CIRCULAR. _ ___ ----- - Her Majesty and hia Royal Highness Prine p e r A m l e b e er o l f , accompanied by their Roy da afternoon, Alice, Wales, Helena,t he Princess and ßo L y o a e l i a s l P e, r ii i nainegedhAnFel Highnesses the the th A e Princes ses Arthur, left ef t Osborne for London at two o'clock yeser t e n. o Matilda attended by the Viseouutess Jocely n ,inel the Hon. C. B. Paget, Hon. Mary Seymour, C Pmheieptpesr, of Lord the Charles lleueeh od. Fitzroy, august party crossed in the Her Majesty and the augtl c owe s to Gosport, and - steam yacht from London and South- Western Wylde, and the Fairy Royal train 0 travelled by a special . to the Nine Elms station. The Queen Ladies and Gen- Western Railway Family, and the and Prince and Roval ;oral of her Majesty's car riages, Waiting entered se n the Lon Gen tlemen in 13th Light Dragoons , to Buck by a detachment of the they arrived at twelve minutes Buck ingham Palace, where risgea, which were in readiness , and proceeded, escorted before six o'clock. Palace by the Marchioness Her Majesty and Pri es n e ce of A E lb ly er , t L w a e d re y r c ec a e r i o v l e in d e at ß t e h r e rin g t on, theswpeDuekr, Viscount Duke of bi o Montrose, Galway, v e, the Marquis useoe o e f t Exeter,Mande ville, Viscount Mr. R. Ormsby Gore, Lieut.-Colonel Fra nc i s Sey mour, and Lieut.-Colonel Fra l n h e e i r a t, H a u ce g o h m S p e a y n m ie o d ur h . y the The Queen and Prince Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and attended by the Marchioness of Ely, the Hon. Mary Seymour, Vis count Galway, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Lieutenant- Colonel F. H. Seymour, honoured the performance of the French Plays with their presence last evening. The Marchioness of Ely has relieved the Viscountess Jocelyn in her duties as Lady in Waiting to the Queen. Viscount Galway has relieved Lord Polworth in his duties as Lord in Waiting to her Majesty, and Mr. H. Ormsby Gore has relieved the Hon. W. S. Knox in his duties as Groom in Waiting to the Queen. A deputation from the St. Andrew's and Quebec Rail way Company had an interview with Sir John Peking ton yesterday, at the Colonial-office, relative to a rail road communication between Halifax and Quebec, the Government to the mode in which the direct encouragement of the Government could be most appropriately and beneficially accorded to their undertaking. The deputation consisted of the Earl Fitzwilliam, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Featherstone (direotors), and Ju r . J. W. Byrne (secretary). The Marquis d'Azeglio has left town for NunehaW, during Whitsuntide. A deputation of the Great Extramural Cemetery As sociation, consisting o f t h e Ron. F. Ponsonby, Mr' G. K. Corfield (solicitor), and Mr. F. Corfield (seeretaro had an interview with Lord John Manners Ye ster h d i s t Y ' t , at the Office of P u bl ic Works and Buildings in " -- - " hall-place. Ur. The Marquis of Blandford had an interview ~ w i th en Secretary Walpole yesterday at the Home- °Lu ce ' v iew ral Lave, Governor of Jei sey, with the Right. Hou. Secretary. ith Sir John Mr. J. B. Harsvued had an interview Iv s ectirg Pakington yesterday at the Colonial•office respecting Queen had Van in- Queen C:1-11otte'a lilarel. Sir E. 1-1"- a . tervar.v with the Right Hoc. Baronet. had aide an inter f the Colonial m Dispatch es weFe bent yesterday office to the G overnors of the North American'icL provinces. AiMA N y- , A VON . A "LLED BY LIGH R TNING AT STEATFOD••ON . 0 .--f inelancholy occurrence took place on th e after noon Tuesday week dur i n g the thunde rstorm b y which this part of the country was visited. Three men were at work, in a field belonging t o Mr. Thomas Halford, at Milord ur idge, and to o k refuge from the stormbeen beneath some hurdles covered with straw. They ha not long in this pla of shelter when the electric iluid• struck them, killing Sa muel ilale, and injuring the other two, John and Joseph W Att4,--Rirpeinvliwn Journal, MDeßrbAy CwEhSa.t--aFpareos:iv. SPO RTING INTELLIGENCE. P to SO a u . g-room is to a The Oaks is E Levee—the latter pertains to the sterner sex only, at the former the l a di e s ta k e ( p rece d ence, and thus the d when Hit s only contend f or t e e great priz 3 is generally compiimentei by an unusual a tt en d ance of the fair sex. That the Grand Stand was legs graced yasterday than on many former occasions may be acc-unted for rather by the doubtful state of :the weather than from any in clination to depart from a time-honoured custom. The Marchioness of Aylesbury, the Ccuntese of Chesterfield, the Hon. Mrs. Anson, and many other ladies, whose presence at the leading race-meetings is generally looked • for, were there, it is true ; but it must be confessed there was a lack of those gay and brilliant colours which, in the olden time, when racing was almost entirely confined to the aristocracy, invariably enlivened the scene on the Oaks day at Epsom. The weather, although dull, was favourable, and the attendance of the higher classes much greater than on Wednesday. It embraced his , yal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Major the Hon. James Macdonald, the Duke of Rich mond, the Duke of 13aufort, the Marquis of Down shire, Marquis of Drogheda, Marquis of Worcester, Ilsrquis of Waterford, Marquis of Ely, the Earl of Derby, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl of Glasgow, Earl Grosvenor, Earl of March, Earl Granville, Earl of Willon, Earl of Uxbridge, Earl of Zatland. Viscount Eatield, Viscount Newport, Viscount Anson, Viscount z in, Viscount Maid,tone, Viscount Exmouth, Vis ceunt Clifder, Viscount Somerton, Lord Londeaborougb, Lord Vivian, Lord Henry Gordon Lennox, Lord George Nlanners ' L , rd Alexander G or d on L ennox, L or d E rnest Bruce, Lard Paget, Lord De Lisle, Lnrd Dunkellin, Lord Rii.besdale, Baron Moyer Rothschild, the Hon. Admiral George P6Vi lett, Hon. General George Anson, lion. Captain H. Rous, Sir R. Peel, Sir W. W. Wynn, Sir M. Farquhar, Sir W. Codrington, Sir H. H. Camp bell, the Hun. Major Horace Pitt, Hon. Major Need ham, Sir G. Armytage, Sir G. Boswell, Sir R. Pigot, the Hon. Thomas Stoner, Hon. W. F. Scarlett, Hon. F. Bing, Hon. Captain C. Lyon, llon. Leopold Agar Ellie, Hon. F. Charter(:, Hon. G. Lascelles, Hon. F. Villiers, Hon. F. Petre, Major-General Bowater, Colonel Peel, Captain Seymour, Messrs. Copeland, Webster, Greville, Gregory, Darner, Kuightley, Newton, Stanley, Wigram, Graham Fitzroy , Bowes, Archdall, Payne, Jacques, Standish,, &c. The racing commenced with the Members' Plate, which brought out only three competitors, and did not excite the slightest interest. To this succeeded the ti gr eamet event of the dam on which the betting, from the the rin y g was for eti to its breaking up, wa s very animated, Joh n Scott's party, emboldened by their suc cess on Wednesday, laying out their money with so much spirit, an d i n such tip of the ri ng 2 to 1 Waslarge sums, that at the break taken greedily. Red Hin d rose to 6 to 1, and Trousseau to 7 to 2 (taken), the latter, however, at the last, receding t o 4 an d 5 to 1 ; Bird-on-the-Wing, w h o at , () 4, left off friendl ess . The n s e ta t r i t me was backed at sto was o'clock, but owing to the fractiousness of fixed for three the Duke of Richmond's mare, who w as got to the post with great difficulty, and threw away a capital chanceb round the moment the flag wa s d own, did not by take em place until a quarter-past. The race, lik e the Derby, into John Scott's stable, by the assi s t ance of sonstwent who has thus added another laurel to th e wreath of the celebrated Irish Birdcatcher, whose produce, after win ning the Derby, were to-day first, second, and third. Frank Butler, who rode his first Derby winner on Wed nesday, has now won the Oaks six times, and four times in succession! The issue of the race adds very largely to the winnings of the gentlemen who stood on Daniel O'Rourke, and is not by any means favourable to the "round betters." Mr. Davis, it is said, has again lost a considerable stake. Of the other races it is sufficient to say that they made a most excellent day's sport, and, coupled with an ire mense company, made this the best Oaks day that it has been our duty to attend for many years. A comparison of the . results of the week with those of the last year show a great falling off both in the tickets for the Grand Stand and the money paid for the admis sion of carriages within the ropes. This is no proof, however, that the public interest in the Derby has de clined. Two exceptional circumstances must be taken into account; first, the Great Exhibition, which so enor mously increased the visitors to the Downs in 1851; and secondly, the rain on the Derby day, which kept so many thousands away. The general preparations, as well on the course as on the Grand Stand, exhibited throughout a care and attention which reflect great credit on Mr. Dorling. The victualling department, under the direction of Messrs. Jacquet and Woodruffe, was remarkably well supplied, and gave general satis faction. One regret alone we feel called upon to express; it is an old vexation, the removal of which we had hoped would have been one of the first improvements among the many made by Mr. Dorling. The public, the jockeys, and the horses have all received the advantage of his attention—the press alone has been forgotten. The sole light and accommodation for the reporters, from whom so much is expected, remain as before —a candle and a cupboard. The following is a return of the day's racing:— The Members' Plate of 50 sovs; for three years old, 7st 4th; four, Bst 101 b; five, 9st 21b; six and aged, 9st 31b; mares allowed 51b, and geldings 31b; maiden four years old allowed 711 e; five and upwards, 101 b. The winner to be sold for 200 sovs, if demanded, &c. 1 Oee mile, and a quarter. i Mr. Stevens's Sleeping Partner, Bst 31b (A. Archer) 1 Mr. Drake's Cardinal Puff, Bst 61b ...(I'. Sherwood) 2 Mr. Shrimp'on'a Miss Bundy, 3 yrs, 6st 131 b (Burns) 3 Betting-5 to 4on Sleeping Partner, who won by tin lengths. Bun in 1 mi i. 21 secs. Tt e Oaks Stakes of 50 sovs each, h ft, for three years old, fillies, Bst 71b each; the second to receive 100 scvs out of the stake?, and the winner to pay 100 soya towards expenses, &c, and 30 sovs to the judge. Mil e and a half on the new Derby course. (123 Subs.) Mr. J. Scut is b f Songstress (F. Butler) 1 Mr. R. Wright na bl t Bird on the Wing...(Rogers) 2 L rd Zetland's br f Gossamer (J. Marson) 3 Mr. Sergeant's b f Kete (A. Day) 4 The following also started, but were not placed:— Mr. Palo's ro f Trousseau (Templeman) 0 Duke of Richmond's b f Red Hind . (Flatman) 0 Mr. Merry's b f Sally (T. Lye) 0 Mr. E. R. Clark's ch f Lady in Waiting (Pearl) 0 Mr. Copeland's ch f The Lady Amyott...(C. Marlow) 0 Mr. Payne's b f Glenluce (Bartholomew) 0 Mr. E. R. Clark's b f Plumatead (Dockeray) 0 Lord Westminster's br f Plot .. (Charlton) 0 the start Mr. Worthington's ch f Rachetbe (J. Osborne) 0 6 to 1 agst Red Hind, 8 Lord Chesterfield's infidelity file . flag was (W. Abdale) te Betting at starting-2 to 1 agst Songstress (t a k en t. followed ltßed 1 1 .1. 2 " to sse l a s u gst Sally, 15 to 1 agst t f o re l ely a ) g , st 4 G t o o ss l a s m g e s r t , y ae r d es 2 ti O ve to at l th og e s p t , L st a , d d y el A atiy m : y : : H Bi i r n d d. o w n h t o he w W as in ve g ; at least a quarter of an hour, and, when the dropped, jumped round, and lost et least 100 yards. The lead at starting was tak,.n by the Infidelity by Lady in Waiting and Plumstead, Sally , Gossamer y, vossamer and Bird on the Wing; Songstress lying in the , with Plot and Kate. The y r an only a short cl. rear, istance in this order, the running then being taken Up b r aw, atterded by Lady in Welting, Sally and -ens sear, next them Bird on the Wi n Y9 and Trous . g , wi th the k lai d up. On making the Le A, Bird on the a - TUC the front, and at the thensteed road took Ving drew to samer following her, Trousseau third, the lead, Gos. favourite, Lady in Waiting, andr with Sally, the Songstress took the third place • a•ete in their wake. Gossamer at the distance, the Stand, left her a very few cau g ht Bad on the Wing at won very cleverly by a Bird on the Wing and G l ength; two lengths between Trousseau fifth, and Lady otsamer, Kate a bad fourth, was run exactly in three . in Waiting sixth. The race Wind were declared minutes. Attack and Bay Be fore two. not to start at twenty minutes be lle Railway Plate of 50 awe. (handicap) for all_ ages; any winner after te 'e publication of the weights to carry Sibs extra, ' Mr. Bryer'e young Threcequarters of a mile. England, 5 ( Denman) 1 Sir W. B oot he, T yrs, 7st 131 b( nb rlton) 2 timid Fawn, 4 yrs, Bst lib (.., a • Mr. Wot , , 0 11 6 The Ma ht - 8 e 71b (Dockeray) 3 Mr. Death na Sard re I°nc"' ' sst 4lb (W. Abdale) 0 anapalus,4 are , Lord Chesterfield' 7st 7113(Flatuigh) 0 Mr. Parker's Ventre s Senorita, yes.34yrs, Tat .. sie (Collins) 0 Mr. ., ___ , ~_ ntre a-Terre, 61b (Bailey) 0 ' -au wae a Salopian , 3 yrs, 6st ......... Mr. Radford's Czarine, 3 yrs, sst 131 b (Arthur) 0 Mr. Ellis's Envelope (h b), 3 yrs, bat Nib (C Bradley) 0 Betting -7 to 4 agst Senorita, 4to 1 agat Timid Fawn, 5 to 1 Nest Young England, 6 to 1 agst Sardanapalus, 7 to 1 agst Salopian, and 10 to 1 agat Czarine. Won by a length, Timid Fawn beating Marchioness by half a length, S ar d anapa l u s fourth, and Ventre I-Terre fifth. Run in 1 min. 20 secs. The Derby and Oaks Stakes of 3 sovs. each with 40 added; three y r s old. ist llb; four, B st 71b; five, Bst 131 b; six an gel dings 31b; horses having started once at this meeting and been beaten a llowed 31b •, twice, 51b. The winner to be sold for 120 sovs. if demanded, and allowances if to be sold for less. One mile. Mr. Morris s • ' Priam the Third, sst slb (500 (Wells) 1 hir• lea elale's Grand Duchess sst (600 (Fordbanr) 2 Count BathYanY's Wee Mickey, 6 s t 131 b ... (Hiett) 0 Mr. Ed n ey'a The Incurable, 6st 41b ... (C. Bradley) 0 MrPoker's Fuoco, 6 yrs, 6st l lib (501) (Collins) 0 Mr, ShritoptoL's Northman, s s t 51b ...(T. Sherwood) 0 M r . Mason's Haresfoot, 4 yr s , 7st WO (Charlton) 0 B e tting- 2 to 1 agst Priam the Third, sto 2 agat Grand Duchess, and 4to 1 agst Haresfoot. Priam the Th i r d took the lead immediately after starting, was afterwards caught, and won in a canter by a D ever th•Haresfoot a bad third. Run in 1 min. 47 secs. leng • The winner, entered to be sold for 501. was sold for 115 guineas. The Foreign Visitors' Plate of 100 sovs. (handicap), for all ages; the winner of any race after the publication of the weights to carry 511) extra. Three - quarters of a mile. Mr. G. King's Narcissus, 5 yrs, is' (Burns) Mr. Ingram's Dividend, 3 yrs, 5-e 111 b.., (J Smith) 2 Mr. ThAelea's Iracundus, 4 yrs, 7st Mr. Psyne's Faux is-, 4 yrs, 7st, Blb ...... (Flatman) 4 Mr. Morris's Dungertord, 4 •,,, rs, 8:4- .. (Ba s h ....am) 0 Mr. liegers'e Leybourne, 4 yrs, 7::,t. B.h (E, E. Sharp) Mr. Heyay's Jec-o'-tiot, agt d, 7st 5 b.„(A. ta i arp) 0 Mr. Begbee's Scavenger (h b), azt 2ila(T. Sher wood) el 0 Mr. Hardman 'e Sprig of Shillelagh, fili.t I Ilb(Wells)_ *O O Betting-2 to 1 agst Leybourne, 3to 1 F u P as , sto 1 agst Dividend, 6to I ugst LI "" Faux 7 to 1 agst Scavenger. Won by le ngth,a ungerford, a neck eetwe h the second and third, Faux, p., 3 .. ti, good fourth, the others beaten off. Run in 1 mill 22 THE Two YEARS OLD* ST A K ES SCCS. (TITURSDAT). — The betting on this race vrb.3 5t02 on Vaultress. In our re turn the odz:s were acci,leAtilly returned as against her. THE DERLY.--E,,r I.•;:—Th e King of Trumps was ridden by Certwrigh CeiviConvulsion by Doyle. Having copied the rid ers from ; the card, ao erroneously put Lye " the filet mil Abdigo all Ole Oiler'