The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-18 00:00:00

1) - iti) Vbitioni SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) onorp LI. '8 AND GLASGOIK u.a.anotrz. TEE 421111111,AL TI (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) In reply tc a question from the Cuataw, Mr. Charles Gray said, the General Terminus line would afford better accommodation to the coal traffic than the other two compa nies, as they would have to traverse a considerable portion of the town in bringing minerals from the south-east to the harbour. lir. David Chapman, another member of the River Trust, gave evidence precisely to the same effect as the previous one. He con sidered that the immense traffic of the harbour should in concen trated as much as possible, without, at the same time, incommoding the general traffic, and this he thought would be best done by the General Terminus scheme. Mr. J. 11. Payne, of the Glasgow Custom house, deposed as to the inconvenience to the Customhouse officers from the mineral traffic at present on the quays. It was desirable to concentrate the mineral traffic as much as possible. The General Terminus scheme would do this the best, and the least incommodate the general traffic. As proof of the great increase of the foreign trade of Glasgow, he woilld state that the Customs' revenue, which in 1833 was 97.9 001 . , wa s now 589,000?. The cross-examination of the witnesses elicited no point of a ma terial character beyond this. Mr. Dunlop, merchant and iron master, examined, and deposed as to the mineral traffic of Glasgow. The exports of coals in 1842, 1843, and 1844 were 130,000 tons. The iron during the same time was 84,000 tons. The river steamers consumed 70,000 tons. The General Termieus line, in his opinion, would supply the harbour 11 a better manner than the ether two schemes. Mr. King was briefly examined as to the expected traffic. He estimated it at 7,4811. 55., and deducting 1,000/., for working the line, the residue would yield 6 per cent, on the capital the line would cost. The expense of the line would be about 111,000/. The General Terminus line would give all the accommodation that was required. He did not believe there was sufficient traffic to support a second terminus. ,Cross-examined —The powers in the Bill were to raise 200,0001. He had not included harbour dues in the 3d. per ton. No doubt if the Harbour Mineral admitted coal into their basin without dues, while the others did, it would be an advantage, as parties would always prefer the cheapest point. The further consideration of the Bill was then adjourned. EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW AMEND MENT AND BRANCHES. Mr. Brunel was shortly examined on the gradient on the Queens ferry branch, which he represented to be quite practicable, and not dangerous, at the close of which Use Committee adjourned at half past four o'clock till to-morrow at twelve. GROUP XIV. NORTH RENT LINE. r. Vignolles' examination (continued from our Afternoon Edition) — The station at Rochester would be more conveniently situated for Rochester and Chatham than the South-Eastern station, both for passengers going to Stroud as well as to London. At Chatham he proposed to extend the area of the quays, and to pass on a level with them. From Chatham the line ran on to Sittingbourne, and passed under the military grounds, citadels, gun-wbarfs, and fortifications of Chatham by means of a tunnel of 1,000 yards in length, while this portion of the South-Eastern line was precisely the same as his own of last year. Between Chatham and Sittingbourne the South- Eastern line was two miles longer. From Sittingbourne there will be a branch to Sheerness of seven miles in length. From Sittingbourne the main line passed on to Faversham, with an alternative line to pass through or avoid the town, and then pro eeetled direct to Canterbury, passing under Boughton-hill, of 1,500 yards in length, and across the Margate branch 01 the South-Eastern Company, a little below Hambledoun-hill. From Canterbury, leaving the station at Nunnery-fields, the line pole.' under the Dover-road, and in the Duin valley beyond that road the line forked off, one branch going to Deal, and the other to Dover. The distance of the line from Canterbury to Dover was sixteen miles ; the South-Eastern line was a mile and a half longer. The South-Eastern Company had no line from Canterbury to Deal, excepting by going through •Dover. The line throughout only crossed two public roads, one was at Canterbury, where a bridge might be thrown across the road, the other line was between Canterbury to Dover, and also near to a station. The distance from Southwark -bridge to Dover was 73 miles. The distance of the South-Eastern line from London-bridge would be about 77 14 miles, while his own would be 7212 miles. Measuring from the Waterloo-road, his own distance would be 74 and the South-Eastern's 78, while the ;distance from London to Deal would be from Waterloo -bridge eight or nine miles longer by the South- Eastern line than by his own. His estimate, including everything, was 3,750,0001. Taking the whole of the lines of the North Kent Company In the aggregate, and the whole of the lines of the South ia,tern in the aggregate, the price Or estimate was nearly the same, Pettedly, from 32,000/. to 33,0001. per mile. 'this closed the examination in chief of Mr. Vignolles. It was eeders.tood, however, that the parties were to exchange detailed accounts of the estimates of each project. The witne s was then cross-examined by Mr. Ausrtsr, on behalf of the Soath-Eastern Company. The scheme he had in view from 1839 to I a 10, was a line from the Greenwich Railway to Chatham, and in Is 13 he proposed to extend the line to Margate, and in 1844, a branch to Chatham. .At the same time it was proposed to carry on the line through Canterbury to Dover. The scheme before Parlia ment NV s for a Mae to Canteibery, avoiding the Brighton, and going by way of Chatham. The original project was a line to Dover,but the plans were net ready for pushing it thus far. The project was opposed by the atmospheric Company, who contended that there wasno traffic along the district, and Parliament negatived the Bill. The North Kent Company come now for the first time for a Bill to make a line to Dover. 'rile Bill is for making a line from Union-street to Dover. There was plenty of room on the Borough side of Southwark-bridge, but on the other side room was restricted, and Queen-street was an exceedingly narrow and inconvenient thoroughfare. Union-street was about 600 yards from the Greenwich station at London -bridge. The latter point was nearer to the Royal Exchange by 300 yards than the former. The area of the station in Union-street was con siffaably larger than the station at London-bridge. The short branch for connecting the line with the South-Western Extension at the point of intersection was 14 or 15 feet above the South-Western Extension, but this difficulty was overcome by a short course within the limits of deviation, and the junction was effected by a gentle inclination. Theline was about 10 or 12 chains radius. The gradient was 1 in 200. The junction would be formed at Ewer-street. The great ob ject now was to get an easterly and westerly terminus in the metro polis. The line would be upon a viaduct as far as Peckham, and to the junction beyond New-cross with the Croydon line the distance would be three and a half miles. He proposed to have one train passing along this part of the line every quarter of an hour, but it must be remembered that the line passed over and not on the Croy don line. There would be four lines between Union-street and the Croydon junction, and his estimate included these four. At present it was not arranged how the junction should be formed. at New-cross. The incline running down to New-eross would be I in 74. The junction would be approached in a curve and in a cut ting. The depth of the cutting would be 12 feet, and the radius or the curve, which would be 100 yards long, was 10 chains. The junc tion would be formed on the east side of the line, which would in volve a break of the atmospheric pipe, but the interval need not be more than a couple of yards. At this point the South-Eastern, the Brighton, the Croydon, and the North Kent traffic would become melted. The. length of the Blackheath tunnel would be 1,900 yards, or a little more than a mile. The station would be at the eastern end of the tunnel, awl another at the other end. The gradient upon the main line was 1 in 132, and on the Woolwich branch lin 100. The branch passed within 180 to 200 yards of the Woolwich dock-yard and about 20 feet above the level of the ground at the entrance of the clock-yard. The South-Eastern line was hearer and upon a level, hut it was no advantage, because the line would have to pass the High-street on a level. The Committee adjourned at this point till twelve o'clock to morrow. GROUP xv, SOUTH - EASTERN (GODSTONE TO EAST GRINSTEAD). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Mr. MILLE". having called additional witnesses, he put in the assents and dissents, anti this closed the case for the Brighton Company. Mr. ALEXANDER, for the South-Eastern branch, proceeded to call witnesses. John Stenning, timber merchant, East Grinstead, was In the habit of sending 6,900 tens of bark a year to the London tanners by land carriage. lie received about 161. a load for it, but out of that the carriage cost him from 40s. to 60s. a load. By the Dover line from Godstone, when he got his timber there, the carriage cost him but 6s. 6d. per ton delivered. ,lie sent about 1,400 loads of oak to London, and from 400 to 500 loads to Tunbridge a year. On that account he considered the South-Eastern branch would be a great advantage to him and the landowners. The coals consumed in East Grinstead were from 300 to 400 tons, and had to be brought by horse draught from London. As many as 500,000 hop poles were sent to Maidstone and the neigh bourhood. The majority of the heavy goods were carried from East Grinstead towards Godstone. The traffic to Three Bridges bore no comparison. lie preferred sending by the North - Eastern , because the Brighton line had no convenience for deliveryjof heavy goods, and also he thought he was at less expense by the one than the other, lie believed that the carriage from East Grinstead to Godstone cost him alsout Gs., and he expected to save one-half of that if the South-Eastern branch were constructed. Mr. ALEXANDER proceeded to call other witnesses ; and Mr. Row, counsel for the proprietors of three miles on the South , Easte?n branch, and who are opposed to that branch, cross-examined them. The CoMMittee adjourned hearing further evidence, at four o'clock, till to-ntorrow. • Previous to adjournment, the Chairman expressed his inclination to pass both lines. Sub-Committee No. 2. cszlatisronn AND IitTRY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) peit ion w, that the lands, Scc., in the parish of Little The next Henry were n ot described on the plans deposited with the clerk of the y of Essex. peace for the tour' Mr. Shrubsole appeared in support of the petition. The first allegation was, that Nos. 40 to 46 inclusive, and from 46 to 52 Inclusive, as well as frolZ 52 to 54, in the parish of Little IlennY, were described as being in Great Henny. Evidence was heard in support of the allegation, and the Com mittee found the same was sustained. The next allegation was, that the owner of the field, No. 11, was not named in the book of reference, whica was not sustained. Another allegation to the same efiLct with reference to No. 27 was ,sustained. Some other similar allegations were sustained, and several were plcaloned. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow. Sub-Committee No. 3. szn7s':tlßD AND CAMBRIDGE EXTENSION. In this cas: sever al asents far petitioners against the line apueared bat the consideil a tion of the allegations were postponed until the formal proof was s Ocluced, which occupied the Committee the whole day. guy-Committee No. 4. nrILICENIZEAr, LANCASHIRE, AND CHESHIRE TUNGTION. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The petition of Mary Hine, Mary Ann Aiming, and others, con- tained several allegations as to the non-insertion of their names in ' the book of reference, and non - serving It appeared that the of notices. property, on account of which the peti tioners represented that of their names ought to have been in serted in the book ntly occupied by John Amany and two sisters, W i c io e ' Was re both married. l(otices had been served on the husbands we of the two female petitioners, but none had been served rtadin re t terence. It was ad games had not been inserted i n the took on of themselves, and their he book of reference witted that a wrong name had been inse had been served on in respect of part of the property, but that notices h time to all parties concerned, the mistake having been Serve notices on the proper parties. discovered i n tioaers, the ~,i witness was called to prove these facts. and the The Committee declared the standing orders not complied In respect of other property belonging to the same pl with. Committee decided that the book of reference was incorrect,. Standing orders not complied with. In another of the petitions against the Bill it was alleged that " the railway was described" as passing through five fields in th e par i s h of St. 3,,lftry.on .o . i , e whereas, four of those fields were i n _ 11111, the pario of St. 0. - ts met s. Mr. Pally objected to the p e tition, as not stating what live fields which w ere the four tha t were in the parish of w ere alluded ti,, or R.Oswald's. s o ino discussion easued as to the suftloiency of the description, but as it appeared that the numbers of the flelds were given in one of the later allegations of the petition, Mr. Fria withdrew his objection, and the petition was proceeded with. After considerable discussion, ant after saveral witnesses had been d calle on oth sies, the Committee decided that, inasmuch as the gelds in qu b estion d ought to hare teen descried as in the parish of St. Oswald's, the standing orders were not complied with. The next allegation taken was, that a Mrs. Bolton, described in the bock of reference as possessing premises numbered Nos. 206 and 207, was not at the time the notice was served the occupier of t d he premises (a mill) No. 207, as she was marked on the plant and e ocribed in the book of reference. Mrs. Bolton was called ar;d examined, and from her evidence It a ppoared, that although she had been, in conjunetion with other pre /woke.. in the occupation of the mill marke No. 207, she h clis continue..l to hold the mill in question previously to the noti a ce d hay ing been ser; - ed upon her, and that she was now paying no rent for it. After a great deal :. , f argument from Mr. Pritt, in favour of the Bill, and Mr. Elicombe, against it, The CHAIRMAN decided that the standing orders had not, in so far es the point in question was coi:perned, been complied with.; The Committee then adjourned. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. ROUSE OF COMMONS. Room No. 3. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) BEDFORD AND CAMBRIDGE EXTENSION RAILWAY. The object of this line is to extend the Bedford, London, and Rir• iningham Railway to Cambridge. and to enable the promoters to sell or lease the proposed line to the Eastern Counties Company. The length of the line is 263 miles, and the estimated cost 360,0001. Messrs. Burke and Co. are the Parliamentary agents ; Messrs. M. A. Bortwlck and R. Stephenson the engineers ; and Messrs. Parker, Hayes, and Co., the solicitors. The usual evidence of the preliminary steps was then given, from which it appeared that the required notice of the construction of the line had not been given in all the counties through which the Eastern Counties line passed, and this omission was reported by the Committee . , to he a non-compliance with the standing orders. 'I he petitions against the line were then gone into. Mr. PARK E, on the part of Mr. Pim, presented the first peti tion, one of the allegations of which was that the plans and sections deposited in the Private BIll•offfee, and those deposited with the Clerk of the Peace for the eounty of Cambridge, were not in eon formit? with the standing orders. Among other points it was al leged that the proposed line was marked at a certain point 4 feet 6 inches above the road, when it should have been 4 feet 6 inches below. Another allegation was that there was an error intim pro moters* sections of 8 feet 9 at the crossing of a certainroad. After a lengthened examination of witnesses on these points, Mr. Bus.,lti said that he would not contest the allegation of the continuous error, as he had ne explanation to offer, but he would prepare himself when the Bill went before another tribunal to rebut the evidence now given, if that could be done. The Committee then decided that the standing orders had not been complied with in the points alleged in the petition 4 to the errors in levels. With regard to the alleged differe the sections de posited in the Private Bill-office, and those the clerk of the peace for the county of Cambridge, there was ho difference in the sections, but there were certain words emitted in the sections de posited at Cambridge, the omission of which the Committee did not think of any importance. Another petition, where the objections were nearly similar, was then gone into. In some of the particulars the Committee were of opinion that the standing orders were complied with, but in others that there was a non-compliance with them. The Committee at four o'clock adjourned till twelve o'clock on Friday next. - - Room No. 9. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The Reading, Reigate, and Guildford Railway ; the Northumber land and Lancashire ; and the Shrewsbury and Hertfordshire, allowed to proceed. The Glasgow, Paisley, and Ayr (No. 6), not allowed to proceed. THE SUN, LONDONI 'Under this state of things he wished to know if the English labourer was treated as he ought to be ? The present state of the law was a robbery on the English landlord, and a robbery on the English labourer. Many thousands of Irish labourers (and he did not blame them) came into this country at the commencement of the harvest and obtained work. They re mained about two months, and then returned to Ireland with the proceeds of their industry in their pockets. Was that fair on the English labourer, who at the time he expected that his wages would be raised by an increased demand for labour, found that these men same into competition with him and undersold him? They should hare in Ireland such a poor-law as would compel the guardians to find labour for these men, just on the same principle as it was in this country under the Act of Elizabeth. The Hon. Member for Stroud had asked for nothing more than the English law was doing at that moment. He would call the attention of the Hon. Gentleman to the following return : In the year 1837, since the poor-law had been in cperation, there were relieved in England, in the workhouses, 30,351, and out of the workhouses, 258,367. The Hon. Gentleman then went into an elaborate calculation to show that the number of persons relieved without the workhouses between the years 1837 and 1844 vastly exceeded the number relieved within doors, and increased in each year. Now, did the Right Hon. Gentleman disapprove of the practice or other wise ?(Hear, hear.) The effect, as every person knew, of the out-door relief system was most beneficial to the orking classes. It was a most merciful system for the working classes, and was working for their good, and conse quently for the good of the community. Now if the system was bad why should the Government not alter it ?—(Hear.) Reference had been made to an absentee-tax, but what tax, he asked, could be so good as a poor-tax, to be equally distributed over the country? Now the English were called on to perform a duty which really belonged solely to the Irish proprietors. Returns before the House showed that the only food for millions of the people in that country were potatoes, upon which they were compelled to live. Were Irish gentlemen satisfied with this state of things? 'Were they satisfied that their countrymen should exist upon what Dr. Corrigan well stated was the least nutritious article of food. Were the protectionists of Ireland satisfied with this state of things? He (Mr. Wakley) knew they were not. But they should endeavour to improve this state of things. If the law be not altered now, when will it be altered ? He hoped he would hear the views of the Noble Lord. What were his views of the poor-law in Ireland? He considered the state of that law as most repugnant to the feelings of humanity. There were thousands and even millions in Ireland who were in destitution. He knew that the workhouses were not full, but it was as well to starve out of the house as within it.— (No, no.) He would say it was, for what was the dietary why, including clothes it was only 2s. a week. In many of the workhouses for necessaries, provisions, and clothing ; he found that Is. sd. was the highest allowance, and then tere was a penny a week left for clothing. If a man broke the law in this country he got bread, and butter and coffee, to the ex tent of 6d. Under the criminal law a person in this station was provided to the extent of 3s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. a week. Indeed, in some of the criminal asylums, each individual was an expense of 9s. 6d. a week, while in Ireland the whole expense of a person in the workhouse was Is. 9d., and in some cases only Is. 41d. There never was a time when the landlords in Ireland were so called upon to accede to a more liberal poor-law than that which now prevailed. He would cite the authority of Dr. Corrigan, a man of the highest authority in his profession, and who had never written cn party politics. He was the physician of the Warwick Fever Hospital and of several other of the leading medical institutions of the country. That gen tleman had given his knowledge of what had occurred within a hundred years, but he would in this instance allude to the testimony afforded by the time since the year 1817. At that time it had been suggested that relief and emploe ment ought to be provided for the poor, but their suggestions had been ridiculed. But mark the sudden revulsion which had been occasioned, by facts. Why the disease which had been predicted did occur in a much more severe form than had been anticipated. The death of some person of note created alarm, and immediately the strongest precautions were adopted. The town was literally blockaded, and the poor were deprived of work. Sir J. GRAHAM was understood to say that he had read the pamphlet referred to. • Mr. WAKLEY said 'that he was sorry that he could see no fruits of that reading in the measures of the Right Hon. Baronet. If proper measures were not at once adopted dis ease and death would spread as wide as they had done be fore. The author said, with reference to the evil at the time, it was an epidemic fever, the very worst evil that could befal a country next to civil war. If it attacked one mem ber of a family it attacked all, leaving no one to struggle against the common 'calamity. In Dublin alone in the course of one year, in spite of all the efforts of wealth and charity, the disease spread so much that 42,000 persons passed through the • fever hospitals. All these evils lie attributed in almost every case to want of foo l, or to the want of a proper quantity of food. In a report which he held in his hand, drawn up by Dr. Corrigan, in reference .to the epidemic of 1826, it was stated that officers of health had been appointed in Dublin, whose duty it was to see that all nuisances were removed, that the houses of the poor should be whitewashed, and otherwise kept clean. Money had been expended in that way, but not a fraction was expended in relieving the starving poor. Now, such was the case with the present Bill; and in his (the Hon. Gentleman's) opinion, it would be better to pre vent the disease, and the spread of the disease, by giving food to the people.—(Hear, hear.) The same report stated that potatoes formed the staple article of tood with the Irish people, and though the exportation was immense. they were actually starving in the midst of plenty.—(Bear.) It had reduced the wages of the labourer to the very lowest rate, and when a scarcity occurred there waa , rmo descent in the scale, and they must necessarily starve. Now he be lieved that every word written in that pamphlet was strictly correct as regarded Ireland. But what were they doing in that House ? To prevent the spread of disease they were giving power in certain unions where disease existed to build fever hospitals, where medicine, and medical attendance, and nursing would be given to the patients; but what were they doing in that measure with the view of preventing the origin of disease? Nothing. With regard to that not a single step had been taken. He next came to the last positions advanced by Dr. Corrigan. It remained for others than physicians to provide the means of prevention—not by medicine, but by employment; not by raising lazzarettos fur the reception of the sick, but by establishing manufactures for the employment of the destitute. This was the true mode of banishing disease from that country ; but, unless they did this in the shape of a law imperative on the pro prietors of the soil, it would not be done. His impression was, that as the landlords in England were obliged to sup port the poor, so should the landlords in Ireland be. He could not conceive why it was that Irish gentlemen should be contented to see the poor of their country in such a lamentable state of destitution. Why, the English poor were immeasurably better off than the Irish poor. Mr. SPCARTHY—No, no. Mr. :w AKLEY—Then why did they come over to• this 22 Mr. MCARTHY—For work. Mr. WAKLEY—That argued that they were not able to obtain it at home. He was very sure, that if the landlords were compelled to support their own poor, they would take care to find them plenty of woik. Ard now, with reference to the most efficient mode for the distribution of food in cases of epidemic disease, the plan adopted in St. Catherine's parish, and which was applicable to all towns, he considered the best. Tickets were issued to such families as were considered to be fit objects of relief, and no tickets were given unless at the residence of the applicant, and they gave a right to relief for the space of 14 days, at the end of which they were renewed as the physicians and overseers thought fit. These tickets were of two kinds, paid and gratis—the latter en titled the holder to a roll and a bowl of hot soup. The former gave the same right upon the payment of a penny, and it frequently happened that those who held gratis tickets one week were enabled to become holders of paid at the end of the term. In his previous observations he wished to show that famine was the cause of epidemic fever, which soon acquired a power of conta gion, and that the best preventative to that epidemic would be wholesome food, and that, to prevent con tagion, hospitals to receive the sick should be erected. The returns which had been received from twenty-seven counties showed that disease had been caused by the failure of the crop, and that in many instances the people had only provisions fur a few weeks, but the Government said that, until these provisions were expended, and they were desti tute, that they should have no relief; but when they became ill from fever, produced by want of food and exhaustion, and were really dying from hunger, they would give them food. The picture was one of such a frightful nature that every effort ought to be made by the Government and the House to prevent epidemic and disease amongst a destitute population. In this measure he found nothing of the kind—it was quite inadequate for the purposes intended. Then the Governmert said they would take the responsibility of providing food for the people of that country,, but he said they ought to throw the responsibility on the law, because they would find it greater than they imagined. He denied the statement which was freely promulgated in England, that the Irish were lazy, and that they were ragged, and lived in mud holes, be cause the hardest labour in London was performed by Irish bricklayers. 20,000 bricklayers were employed in London, amongst whom he did not believe theme were more than 1,000 Englishmen. These men received eighteen shillings a ' week, whilst agricultural • labourers within twenty miles of London—in Buckinghamshire, for instance— did not receive more than Bs. 'Or 9s. a week, thus showing that they shrunk from the severe', toil which the Irishmen per formed. Although the wages of agricultural labourers within twenty miles of London were not more than one-half of those received by the Irish bricklayer, they were incapeble of performing the work, and, therefore, gave way to them. This showed them—and the fact was confirmed by his inter course with these classes—that the Irish people were both ready and anxious to perform any labour which they could obtain. He wanted to give this employment; and he was satisfied, if the amendment of the Hon. Member for Stroud was carried, that it would give an impulse to the carrying out of public works—works from the want of which Ireland was now suffering—and consequently employment to the Irish poor, who would thereby be enabled to provide food for themselves and their families, and enjoy some of the bless ings of civilised existence. Millions of the Irish people never tasted a mouthful of bread, and are compelled to subsist on potatoes alone. Now this was disgraceful to a civilised country ; and whilst ether classes were advancing in civilisation—when luxuries were added to ther store almost daily—when their whole condition had so much improved, and was improving, that the labouring population of Ireland were in as bad, if not in a worse condition, than they were a hundred years ago. He said it was disgraceful to the Governments which had from time to time been entrusted with the affairs of this country (with the excep tion of the present Government), to have neglected the adop tion of measures which would have put an end to the misery under which the poor of Ireland laboured, and which would have improved their moral and physical condition. Mr. SIIAW was extremely anxious to throw no impedi ment in the way of the Government with respect to the mea sure before the Houso. He wished to assure the Hon. Mem ber who last addressed the House, that they were not unwil ling to adopt a good poor-law, but that they did not consider his definition of a good law correct. The nature of the Englsh poor-law was to afford in -door, and not out-door re lief; and the establishment of the Irish poor-law, ten years ago, on the same principle, had been more successful than he anticipated, because by it the old abuses were cor rected, and 260,0001. a year judiciously distributed amongst the indigent poor of that country. If the amend ment of the Ilonourable Member for Stroud (Mr. rt- system, P. Scrope) were adopted, they would find some districts in I re l an d i n w hi c h every fourth person would re relief which guardiansit p roposedwoultdongoitver.efuUsendreef t r q uire theese re s ent r poor-law lief to any indigent persons who applied to them. He entirely agreed with the Ri g ht H on. B aronet that the i mportat i on of oats ought to be encouraged in the present but emergency,he also considered that they might buy them in the markets of Ireland under circumstances which would not give an en couragement o f the owners to raise the p rice . In theunion with which he was c onnected in Dublin, rice was frequently used during periods of scarcity. He would, however, reserve any further remarks on this sub ject until •the Corn Bill was .under discussion. The fever hospitals would, in his opinion, be of great benefit to the poor of Ireland, because the labours of medical officers would be lightened, and those unions which had no medical officer • would no doubt bare one appointed to attend to those aftlic- tat with disease. He was afraid, however, when the evil no longer existed that they would find it no easy matter to withdraw the support which they had extended to the poor in periods of scarcity and famine. He hoped the Government would be allowed to go into Committee on the Bill. Mr. F. FFRENCH considered that the distress prevalent in Ireland might he greatly alleviated, if not entirely eradi cated. by the construction of public works by Government grants, lov which great masses of the people would be em ployed. - However, he was opposed to the conduct of those works being placed in the hands of grand juries. Then if they were in the hands of contractors the people would not derive the benefit which they were intended to give. He found by the return, that under this Act it was proposed to give the Lord-Lieutenant the power of appointing the board of health. They had had a good deal of experience as to the working of the board of health during the existence of the cholera. Application was made to them in some in stances where fever and cholera had commenced and no notice was taken of it. On one occasion ae application was made from a district stating that fever and cholera existed, and an order or instruction was immediately sent down to the grand jury to levy a sum of more than 2001. The grand jury denied the existence of any fever or choir ra, and, after some trouble, an investigation was made, I and it appeared that the money would have been applied to the erection of some religious establishment then in progress. He thought that it was necessary to have some medical offi cer who could report whether measures were necessary in certain districts. Mr. OSBORNE said that he regretted that be felt it neces sary to give his vote against this measure. He did not mean to say that he actually opposed it, or wished to oppose it, but he thought that a measure of this description ought not be brought forward in the morning and with a thin house, hut ought to be marked by some more substantive measure. The Hon. Member for Finsbury had made one observation in the course of his speech referring to the fact that a number of Irish labourers came over here at the beginning of the harvest to seek work. It was well known that in Northamptonshire the harvest could not be got in but for the Irish labourers that went there; and he knew that in one case fears were entertained that the produce of a large hop-ground could not be gathered, as very few Irish labourers had come into that part of the country. Ireland was also an (agricul tural country, without manufacturers; and England was almost entirely a manufacturing country, and it was dis graceful to the Government to have such a capital of labour as there was in Ireland without finding employment for it. He was painfully disappointed the other day at the cold water thrown upon his proposition for advances upon the railway undertakings in Ireland. The Limerick and Water ford Railway was at the present moment at a stand-still, in consequence of the want of such assist ance as that which he had suggested. The shareholders in that line had actually been ready to throw up their rights if they could have been protected from all responsibility, and it was the bounden duty of the Government to make those advances which were necessary for the promotion of those works and the employment of the people, and he could not resume his seat without at the same time urging upon the Ministry the necessity of making these advances not as gifts, but as loans to the several com panies. Mr. M. MILNES thought that the Hon. Member who had just spoken had hit the nail on the head in stating that the great deficiency in Ireland arise from the want of resident landlords. If the gentlemen who were landholders in Ireland felt only the same for their estates in that country as they did for their property in England, they would not lay their heads on their pillows without making provision for the destitution which was so prevalent there. He was aware that there must be a limit to the re lief afforded to the several individuals who were in distress, and that the heavy mortgages on Irish estates to a great extent interfered with the ability of Irish landlords to render the assistance which their tenantry required. But he believed that this difficulty might be obviated by a Bill for making these mortgages less onerous than they were. At any rate, sure he was, that in the present emergency some additional means should be provided for saving the poorer classes in Ireland from the distress to which they were at present subject, for it had always been his convic tion, and it was so now, that every evil which was inflicted upon Ireland would recur with double force on this country. Col. RAWDON was of oFinion that if ever there was a time for action the present was that time. He merely rose to call attention to the very important returns that had been laid before the House, and he begged to suggest that the names of some of the largest landed proprietors in Ireland, in the districts where the disease prevailed, should be at tached to the returns, so that public opinion in England might be brought to bear on them. He had heard with great gratification the sentiments of the Right Honourable Secretary for the Home Department ; they threw a new ray of hope on the people of Ireland, and he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would act on them— (Hear, hear)—for, he should tell them, if they intended to legislate for Ireland fairly, they should do so in an Irish spirit.--(Hear, hear.) Sir W. SOMERVILLE would explain, in a few words, his reasons for opposing the present measure. He felt cer tain, if they once recognised the principle of out-door relief in Ireland it would become permanent, and they never would be able to return to the present system. Now he wished to know if it was fair, without an accompanying law of settle ment and other necessary measures, to endeavour by a side wind to overturn the entire social system as it at present existed in Ireland ?—(Hear, hear.) Lord EBRINGTON said ho could not support the present measure, though at the same time he felt bound to say that, in his opinion, some power should be given to enable the guardians of unions to administer out-door relief to the sick and impotent, and he believed they much needed it. On a future occasion he would be prepared to call the attention of the Right Hon. Secretary for the Home Department to the administration of the poor-law in England, and in particular to the system that prevailed in one union in Devonshire, where the guardians lent out for hire the labour of the able bodied paupers in the house. Mr. FI I'ZGERALD thought the powers given by the Irish Poor-law Bill sufficient for any emergency which might the Right Honourable Baronet, in his speech of that night, had adverted to the difficulty he experienced from the absence of any colleague more immediately connected with Ireland. That was, of itself, a grievance to that country. She had a right to be represented in the Cabinet ; but it was of a piece with the injustice which gave to her people PO limited a Inumberlof representatives in that House. He thanked the Right lion. Baronet for the manner in which he spoke organ—(Laughter) —was ( I.e au v‘ g .a h s t e r was glad to see that o the t 11 7 e 7 R ni Lett , a t 11 1 ,Ca Ministerialholi assum ing a different tone towards Ireland. He could not help re ferring to the speech of the Hon. Member b es id e hi m , w h o spoke of Ireland maintaining her own p o or. H e b egge d to remind the Honourable Member that the Exchequer of c cler L England drained the whole revenues of the Irish country. The speech which the !tight Hon. Baronet made gave him great hopes, but he feared that he would live to see them blasted. All he would wish was, that the Right Hon ourable Gentleman would act up to his profes sions. Let them act upon the suggestion of the Member for Limerick, and refer Irish questions to an Irish Committee; such a course would. give 'confidence to the Irish people. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said that if the system of out-door relief were adopted in Ireland, it would amount to an abso lute confiscation of property, Mr. P. S. BUTLER considered that it would be very im politic to saddle the board of guardians sith any more ex pense than that with which they had been already burdened, as they were not able to pay many of the necessary ex penses they had already incurred. He would have great pleasure in supporting the project of her Majesty's Govern ment. Mr. P. SCROPE said that he did not consider that he was to blame for the discursive turn the question had as sumed. Many Hon. Members who had spoken seemed to think that the discussion should take place at some time when the subject could be more fully entered into. He should, therefOre, under those circumstances, withdraw the motion. The motion was then withdrawn. Mr. FRENCH would wish to ask the Right Hon. Baronet what officers were to administer relief under the Bill ? Sir J. GRAHAM said that a Commis=arv-General should be appointed to each district, and all application should be made to him. He himself should be under the control of the Poor-law Commissionsrs and Sir R. Kane. The House then went into Committee on the Bill. Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to. Sir J. GRAHAM, in reply to Sir W. Somerville, said that the erections for fever hospitals were only intended to be temporary, the cases being always very various in number, as many as 1.200 patients having at one time being under medical care, whereas at another there were less than twenty. Captain OSBORNE had no objection to a special rate for those medical officers, but he thought that some provision ought to be made for their proper government. Mr. WAKLEY was glad to hear the observations which had fallen from the Hon. Member behind him, but he would have been more delighted if there had been a proposition for preventing fever. After a few words from Mr. S. CRAWFORD, Sir J. GRAHAM observed that the object of the Govern ment was to give relief and not money. Mr. SHAW believed that under this law every necessary was provided, and he thought it would be unw'll to open the law wider, for it would be exceedingly difficult to draw the line between the cases which required medical relief, and those which were only in need of assistan a for food and other necessaries. Mr. SHAW could assure Hon. Gentlemen opposite that the landlords of Ireland were not so negligent or remiss in their duties to the destitute and afflicted as they would have it appear. Clause 3 was then put and agreed to. Sir J. GRAHAM, in answer to an observation of Mr. Wakley's, said that the intention of the Bill was not to meet in itself all the distresses which might arise in Ireland. Mr. P. SCROPE asked whether, if the head of a family were unable to work by reason of sickness, and he were under that clause admitted to the workhouse, whether his family would be admitted also? Sir J. GRAHAM—Most decidedly. Clause 14 was then agreed to after some verbal amend ment. The remaining clauses were then agreed to. Sir J. GRAHAM said that he was most anxious that no delay should occur in passing this measure, and he there= fore proposed to fix the third reading of this Bill air to-mor row, when he hoped the Hon. Members for Stroud and Rochdale, if they had any objections to make, would be prepared to bring them forward. • Mr. S. CRAWFORD said that he bad no objection to such a course, as he would have a few words to say as to the sala ries of the medical officers. Sir J. GRAHAM said that the Hon. Member would there fore make his observations on the third reading to-morrow. The Out-Pensioners Services (Chelsea and Greenwich) Bill was then read a third time. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter to Six o'clock. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this Company was held this afternoon at the offices of the Com pany, at London-bridge James M'Gregor, Esq., Chairman of the Directors, pre sided. The SECRETARY (G. S. Herbert, Esq.), having read the advertisement convening the meeting, read the report of the directors, from which we extract the following paragraphs:— "The accounts of the South-Eastern Railway Company for the half-year ending on the 31st January, 1846, show that the gross receipts upon the South Eastern Railway and Greenwich Branch have, during that period, amounted to 174,490/. 12s. ; that the working expenses have been 54,058/. ss. ; that the rent of the Greenwich Railway, the rates, Government duty, and toll to the Croydon Company , amount to 42,824/. 10s. 11d., making the gross expenditure on the revenue account 96,882/. 15s. I Id. ; and the balance carried to the profit and loss account 77,607/. 16s. ld. "On the Ist September the directors carried into effect a great reduction of fares, and adopted the system of granting day tickets, and the directors have much satisfaction in stating that these measures have had the effect which they anticipated; there has been a very great increase in the num ber of passengers, great benefits have been conferred on the COMMITTEES ON PRIVATE BILLS. Sub-Committee No. 6. The following additional Bills have been referred to this Com m! ttee :—The Wath-upen-Dearne Improvement; Dublin Markets; Wolverhampton Stipendiary Justice ; Northampton Small Debts ; British Guarantee Association; Lower Bann Navigation; Lincoln Waterworks ; Worcestea Gas ; Dublin Cemeteries ; Legal Quays (London). WATH-UPON-DEARNE IMPROVEMENT. ..... The customary proofs having been put in, the Committee declared that the standing orders had been complied with. DUBLIN MARKETS. Standing orders complied with. WOLVERZIAMPTON STIPENDIARY JUSTICE The Committee gave a similar decision in this case. NORTHAMPTON SMALL DEBTS. This Bill was withdrawn. LINCOLN WATERWORKS.I Standing orders complied with in this case, except as to the evidence of as absent witness. WORCESTER OAS. And in this also, DUBLIN CEMETERIES. The promoters were declared to have complied with the standing orders. BRITISH GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION. No notice of this Bill having been !given in the Gazette (which the agent stated was not necessary), the Committee stated that they would report non-compliance with the standing orders in that respect, but in all ethers compliance. LEGAL QUAN.'S (LONDON). The Committee decided that in this case the standing orders did net apply, and that leave would of course be given to proceed with the Bill without the service of any notice. The Parliamentary agents are Messrs. Parrett and Walmesley, of the House of Lords. ST. ALBAN'S, HATFIELD, AND HERTFORD. Adjourned at the request of the agent till Tuesday next. The Committee then adjourned. EMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS_DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. POOR-LAW (IRELAND) BILL. Sir J. GRAHAM (in continuation from our Afternoon Edition)—The majority of Irish landlords invariably fund labour on their estates for those who needed it, and gave cha rity to those who were unable to work, so that, in fact, on their property poverty did not exist. It was true that some neglected those who lived on their estates, and who were suffering all the ills of poverty. on whom, perhaps, a tax ought to be levied in order to raise a sufficient fund to sup port those indigent persons. But the imposition of such a tax would have a similar effect to that of the old poor-law in this country, and, therefore, in policy and equity, he was against the introduction of such a tax into Ireland, because a temporary evil should not be met by remedies, the permanent effects of which would be dangerous. Its imposition would be incon si'tent with the welfare of that country, especially to the owners of property, would be dangerous in the extreme to a great body of the people, and a torrent of pauperism would be caused, which both the owners and renters of land would find it impossible to support.—(Hear.) He repeated that the evil was of a temporary nature, and that it ought there fore to be met with temporary remedies.—(Hear.) When the peculiar circumstances of Ireland were considered, they would find that she contributed her quota of taxation, and therefore when famine and distress prevailed he thought they ought to be alleviated out of the general taxation of the kingdom, not in the nature of a dole, but as an amount of money given out of the taxation of the country, to which Ireland contributed her fair share, in order to meet the evils which her inhabitants were threatened by the failure of the potato crop. He hoped then that the people of Ireland would perceive that the Government and the Legis lature were exceedingly anxious to aid them in the time of need, and that they had shown sympathy for their sufferings, by devising early measures for the alleviation of their sufferings. As a question of policy, he was opposed to the introduction of a land-tax to meet a pressing hut temporary emergency, because he thought it would be dangerous in the extreme rto impose new burdens on an impoverished country.—(llear, hear. He had ventured to trouble the House at greater lengt than he intended, because he thought it expedient that the views which he entertained after much deliberation should be fully explained.—(Hear.) Mr. S. O'BRIEN asked what alterations the lion. Baronet proposed to introduce in the Bill when in Committee ? Sir J. GRAHAM said he should propose the substitution of the words "poor" for "destitute," and " epidemic" instead of " fever." Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said nothing could be more fair than the spirit in which this subject had been discussed by the Right Hon. Baronet.—(Hear.) He hoped to discuss it with the same ;feeling - but in the remarks which he should feel it his duty to address to the House, if anything should fall from him contrary to that, he trusted they would not consider that it was put forward with any intention of offend ing the Right llon. Baronet. They were all agreed that it was desirable to take measures to prevent the epidemic which would result from the failure of the potato crop, in order to meet future contingencies; but, in his opinion, the Bill which the Government had in troduced with the intention of accomplishing this otject was inadequate to the emergency. He found, by reference to the Irish Poor-law Act, that the guardians of every poor law union are empowered to provide relief for persons af fected with contagious or other diseases in the workhouses under their control during their illness and convalescence, to afford them such food as they might deem necessary, with the consent of the Poor-law Commissioners, and that the expense should be paid out of the rates paid by the inhabitants of each union. Under this law there were 88 fever hospitals connected with unions, in all of which this rule had been carried out, whenever necessity arose. He thought therefore that the Right Hon. Baronet should have brought forward corn. case in which the guardians of one or more of these unions had neglected or refused to carry out this pro vision ; he had not, however, done so, but the Bill he had in troduced showed that he considered that the poor-law guardians had neglected their duty. The Bill would introduce the prin ciple of imperative taxation, which was much complained of in Ireland, and apparently without achieving any great object. It also gave power to the Executive to appoint fresh medical officers, certainly at the expense of the state, who were to supersede the officers now employed in the different unions. It appeared to him, however, that the people of Ireland did not want fever hospitals, but food at the present moment. He could not help saying that the commercial policy of the Government, if carried, would improve the trade of Ireland, because the exports would most likely be increased from 12,000,0001. to 15,000,0004 by which, of course, great num bers would obtain that employment which was now denied them. One hundred and seventy returns from twenty-seven counties showed that the poor had been living for some time on diseased potatoes, and that in a very short time the whole of their supply of provisions would be exhausted. He believed that the protectionists of Ireland would have had no objection to the opening of the ports in November last for the admission of corn; at least such was the feeling pre valent amongst all classes in Ireland. It was the duty of Government, when such a crisis was depending, to have assembled Parliament, and then such measures would have been adopted as would have rendered unnecessary any appeal to the public purse. As regarded railway expenses, it was manifest that it would be impossible that any funds from that source would come into circulation in connexion with any railway Bills to be considered this session. Had the Government taken these projects into consideration in November last—(Hear, hear)—their benefit might have been felt at the period when it would most be wanted. The Right Hon. Gentleman had said that Bills for public works had been forwarded in order that Ireland might feel the benefit of the employment they would occasion. There was the Drainage Bill, the Bill for County 'Works, for which 100,000/. was to be advanced ; the Publ:c Works Bill, for which 50,0001, was to be advanced; and the Fisheries Piers Bill, for which 50,0001. was to be advanced. They would certainly be better than grants, and had he (Mr. S. O'Brien) been speaking to an Irish Parliament he would have re commended similar measures to them, for he considered that the principle of indiscriminate charity was one of the most demoralising and debasing kind.—(Hear.) If they would do what, in his opinion, they ought to do, they would not find it necessary to make these demands on the public Exchequer. About four or five millions per annum were received from Ireland by absentees living iu England or on the Continent, and if these people resided in their own country, it was his belief that there would not only be no prospect of starvation, but that the people would get better food, Let the Government levy a tax oa the absentees, and they might keep their grants in their pockets. A tax of 10 per cent. on four millions would give 400,0001., which could be applied to the relief and benefit of Ireland. It was not customary for him (Mr. S. O'Brien) to suggest measures of improvement to her Majesty's Ministers, yet he had no hesitation in saying that the principle of lOUs, if carried out, would be productive of great advantage.—(Hear, hear.) An Hon. Member had spoken of the employment afforded by railway projects ; but he (Mr. O'Brien) could say that, from the stagnation in the money market and other causes, there was a general indis position at the present moment to pay up the shares, and consequently the projects were rather in a state if suspension than otherwise Now he wished to ask, and there any reason w hy Government should not interpose carry necessary o forn the theirworks, completionth y ? being eff ear, secured hear.)A the sgd re advancesregarded the loans advanced to Ireland, he should say they were so many evidences o f th e British Exchequer having profited largely—(Hear, hear)--for England first borrowed the money at three per cent, and th en l ent it to Ireland at five per cent ) : Now, with respect to levying local taxes, the Honourable Member for Stroud was fo r levying rates for the support of the poor. He (Mr. S. O'Brien) did not object to a rate, but shths. l ie thought that small farmers ought to be exempted, 1 ile t h ose holding annuities from land should be rendered while those was cherry of forcing his advice on the Government,. b u t h e now felt nohesit t at , hesitation in n d e oi n n o g w so :v Ilee d l these had done to give so e ven on the Coe rcion Bill, and it was unde r di scussion for ever al mouths . — ( L au g hter .) the inions of the Irish Mem bers and those untry time for the consid eration siner mteaesustreeauinati op that co could be obtained upon it. not only AKLEY said, to Ireland, but to the t Member aax tend f e o d r he felt Sir J. GRAHAM said, that every tphsertßoifllthweouulnditeexdtKenindgdit,sanelf. St ro ud for having introduced Mr. W disgraceful thing that system, and he considered it a ver y om He could -laws see no reaso th the m gratefuleasu r t e o ing in different parts of the kingd • there should be very diff eren t systems of poor -laws prevail why the poor of I n Ireland the desti tute man, who was starving , was not entitled to relief, law 14 the people of Englan d en j o y . Ireland were not entitled to as good a poor n w hile if he came to England he rece ived relief. An Ilcat, MAXBER—Iii Is entitled to beg. Mr. VirAKLEY—What a splendid privilege is conferred upon him! But whynot make it a crime, as it is made in Eng land, to beg, and why uot give relief to those who are destitute ? WEDNINDAY EYENING, MARCH Is, 1846. districts served by the South-Eastern Railway, acd general satisfaction is expressed. "A comparison of the passenger traffic fla• the half-years ending on the 31st January, 1845, and the 31st January, 1846, shows that the number of passengers has increased from 392,768 in the former, to 531,558 in the latter half-year, and the amount of receipts from 10.2,749/. 17s. 6d. to 104,906/. 10s. 4d. "The amount at the disposal of the proprietors is 78,0481. 7s. Id. The directors recommend that a dividend be declared for the half-year of 17s. 6d. per share, upon the paid up shares, and of the proportionate amounts of 6s. 7d. on the No. l shares, and 3s. 9d. upon the No. 2 shares, less he income-tax. "This will amount to 66,091/. 13s. 4d., and will leave a reserved fund of 11,956/. 13s. 9d. to be carried forward to the next half-year's account. " The directors have made arrangements to secure to the South-Eastern Company the sole use of the Locomotive Buildings at New Cross for one year: at the expiration of which the directors expect the South-Eastern Company's own Locomotive Establishment at Ashford will be ready for use, and their intsrest in the New Cross property will then be ceded to the Brighton and Croydon Companies. The station at Ashford was chosen as the site of the South Eastern Locomotive establishment, because it is the place at which several of the South-Eastern Lines of Railway centre; and the directors are glad to report that they have purchased the land requisite for these purposes on advantageous terms, and in the situation where they wished to have it. " Several of the new engines, built according to Mr. Robert Stephenson's patent, have been received and are giving satisfaction. " The conversion of the Maidstone Branch Railway into a double line of' rails is nearly completed, and this branch will open as a double line by the end of this month. " The Tunbridge Wells Branch was opened for passenger traf f ic to a temporary station at Jsckwood's Spring on the 20th of September. the extension of this branch into the town is proceeding rapidly; when completed, the directors expect a considerable increase will take place in the traffic to that place. " The South-Eastern Ashford, Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate Branch Railway was opened to the City of Canter bury on the 6th of February. One line of railway is already laid from Canterbury to hamsgate with the exception of about a hundred yards, and the second line of railway is laid excepting about three miles; the completion of this branch to Ramsgate by Easter may be safely reckoned on. "The Ashford, Hastings and Saint Leonards b raneh is staked out from Saint Leonards to Rye, and preparations are making for letting the works. "The Directors let the works of the branch to Deal to Messrs. Grissell and Peto. The iron bridge over the river Stour is the only Important work on this branch ; it has been in hand some time, and will not occasion any delay in the opening. The other ~ corks are in progress. " The directors found that the traffic on the Canterbury and Whitstable Branch Railway could be worked much more economically and efficiently with locomotive than with sta tionary engines, and they have made arrangements accord ingly. It has been necessary to relay this line with heavier rails, and that work is just finished. " The electric telegraph is now erected over the whole of the South. Eastern Railway and branches. " The directors hart the satisfaction to arrange with the gentlemen promoting the Central County Kent Railway to give up that project and join the South-Eastern Company ; and they had the pleasure to elect Alexander Randall, Esq., of Maidstone. and Robert Tassell, Esq., of East Mailing, to be directors of this company. "The directors, whose term in office now expires, are the Right Honourable Viscount Torrington, Benjamin Harding, Esq., and Captain C. W. Tyndale, who offer themselves for re- election. The CHAIRMAN congratulated the Company on the state of their affairs. The reduction in the fares, he was happy to say, had been attended with the most beneficial results. He reminded the shareholders that but one of their branches was at present in full operation. This was important for them to consider. The Maidstone line would be opened as a double line almost immediately. He need scarcely say that he anti cipated a favourable decision on the South-Eastern schemes by the House of Commons, as the directors believed that these scheme were the best to accommodate the district. It was particularly desirable that this meeting should be as brief as possible, as the officers of the Company were required at Westnnnster. He would, therefore, at once move that the report be received and adopted. Mr. HARDING seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, no observation having been made by any pro piietor. The dividend was then declared, and the retiring directors re-elected. This terminated the business of tl.e general meeting. SPECIAL MEETING. The meeting was then made special, to consider the follow ing Bills which are now before Parliament, namely : " A Bill to citable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the south-west side of the Waterloo road, near to the York-road, in the parish of Lambeth, to the London and Greenwich Railway. " A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the London and Greenwich Railway, to join the South-Eastern, Canterbury, Ran:v:gate, and Margate Railway, in the parish of Chilham, in the county of Kent, with a diverging line to Dartford, and with branches to Sheerness and Faversham-creek. " A Bill to enable the South Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the Landon and Greenwich Railway to the South-Eastern Railway, in the parish of Great Chart, in the county of Kent, with branches to Tonbridge and River head, in the parish of Sever-oaks. " A Bill to authorise the South. Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from Tunbridge Wells, to join the Rye and Ashford Extension of the Brighton, Lewes, and }lastiags Railway, near Hastings. " 4 Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make and maintain a railway from the South-Eastern Rail way, near Reigate: to Porking, in the county of Surrey. "A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from Maidstone, to join the Gravesend and Rochester Railway and Canal near Stroud and Rochester, and to alter the levels of part of the Maidstone branch of the South -Eastern Railway. " e'nable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the South-Eastern, Canterbury, Rams gate, and Margate Railway, near Canterbury, to Dover. " A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make and maintain a railway from the South -Eastern, Can terbury, Ramsgate, and Margate Railway, at Chislet, to Margate. " A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make and maintain a railway front the line of the South- Eastern Railway, near Tandridge-lane, in the parish of Tan dridge, to East Grinstead. "A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make and maintain a railway from the town of Rye to the mouth of Rye Harbour. "A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to construct an additional station at Ashford, in the county of Kent, and for other purposes. "And a Bill to authorise the purchase of the Gravesend and Rochester Railway and Canal by the South-Eastern Railway Company." These were all agreed to, and the meeting separated. INGENIOUS SUGGESTIONS AFFECTING THE HEALTH. —A Correspondent. of the Builder suggests that the pipes fur London sewers should be somewhat larger than they are at present, and at the extreme end, where they join the main sewer, if a slight dip is formed, it would become a stench trap, by the last drop of water remaining in' the bend, and effectually prevent any effluvia from returning from the main sewer. A bead of this kind in so small a pipe could not possibly retard the fiu3liing. DISFIGUREMENT OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY.—The unsightly disfigurement at the east end still remains, and nu merous other long pipes have sprouteu up in various parts of the building. The continuance of the abominable deformity to which we have already more specially alluded, will im peach the taste and good feeling of every architect academi cian.—The Builder. Mr. John Wood, chairman of the Excise, had an in terview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday, at his official residence, in Downing-street. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. DOWNING-STREET, Manx 17, 184 G. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Charles W. Zuhieke, Esq., Captain in the Army, to be Commissary and Head of Police for the island of St. Lucia. * CROWN-OFFICE, llsacii CUMBERS HILTIORNEs TO SERVS 121 THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Borough of Stafford—The Hun. Swvnfen Thomas Carnegie, one of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury. BOROUGH OF• NEW WlNDsoß.—Ralph Neville, Esq., one of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury. COUNTY OF MAYO.—Joseph Myles M‘Donnell, Esq., in the room of Mark Blake, Esq., who has aceepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. DECLARATION OF INSOLVENCY. Thomas Bothams, victualler, Nottingham. BANKRUPTS. Thomas Blackman, farmer, Biddenden, Kent, to surrender March 24, at twelve, and April 28, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitemore, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Piercy and Hawkes, Three Crown. court. George Langford, grocer, Southampton, March 27, and April 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Fitch, New Bridge•street, Blackfriars. Frederick Day, money-scrivener, Hemel Hempsted, March 24, at twelve, and April 30, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Grover, Bedford-row; Smith and Grover, Hemel Hempsted. Thomas Streeter, draper, High-street, Camden-town, March 24, at half-past one, and April 30, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Reed and Langford, Friday-street, Cheapside, Thomas Cooper, umbrella manufacturer, New Bond-street, April 1, at one, and April 28, at half past twn, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry; Pullen, Basinghall-street. Charles Poile, merchant, Rye, Sussex, March 27, at one, and April 28, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Ed wards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry; South-square, Gray's Inn ; Bueler, Rye, Sussex. William Edward Burman, hatter, high-street, White chapel, March 26, at twelve, and April 27, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee; Ambrose, Chan cery-lane. Richard Goodridge, baker, Exeter, April 1, at eleven, and April 23, at ene, at the Exeter District Court. Ilirtzel, (Alicia' assignee, Exeter ; Fox, Finsbury-circus, London ; Terrell, Exeter. Josiiih Austen, draper, Devenport, March 27 and April 21, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assignee, Exeter; Soles and Turner, Aldermanbury, London; Little, Devonport. Thomas Dunlop Brown, commission merehant, Liverpool, March 27 and April 24, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool; 'Vincent and CO., Temple, London ; Jones, Liverpool. Thomas Robinson, grocer. Swansea, Glamorganghire, March 27, at twelve, and April 28, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Leman, Bristol. Ebenezer Henry Durden, manufacturing chymist, Stan dish, Gloucestershire, March 30, at one, and May 4. at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Brisley, Pancras-lane, London ; Paris, Stroud. William Habgood, merchant, Manchester, March 30 and April 21. at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Williamson and Hill, Verulam-buildings, Gray's Inn, London ; Myers aud Birk beck, Manchester. John Roberts, farmer, Plasyn Derwen, Denbighshire, March 31 and May 1, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool ; Williamson and Hill, Gray's Inn, London ; Jones, Bryn Hyfryd, Mold, Denbighshire. Thomas Sleddon, cotton spinner, Liverpool, March 27 and April 24, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Caze- Rove, official assignee, Liverpool; Gregory and Co., Bedford row, London; Rogerson and Ratcliffe, Liverpool, Samuel Littler, draper, Liverpool, March 27 and April 24, assignee, Liverpool LativtehrepoLoil ; Heed verpc and Langford,lDistrictCourt. azenofficial Friday-street, Cheapside, London; Dodge, Liverpool. Sarah Tribe, innkeeper, Liverpool, April 3 and 24, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool ; Westmacott and Co., Gray's Inn, London ; 'fy rer, Liverpool. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. A. Morton, ♦. Rodick, and C. Mort.n, bankPrs, Welling borough—seventh div. of 2d. in the pound, April 1, and two following Wednesdays, at the office of Mr. Turquand, Old Jewry. _ W. Lendon, sen., and W. Lendon, jun., curriers, Exeter— first div. of Bs. 9d. in the pound, March 20, and any follow ing day, at the office of Mr. Flernaman, Exeter. J. Summer, cabinet-maker, Cambridge—a div. of Is. 9d. in the pound, any Friday, al the office of Mr. Follett, Sam brot,k• court. Basingliall. street. R. Hutchinson, leather seller, Jewry-street, Aldgate—a div. of 10d. in the pound, any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street. J. Littlewood, hosier, Ne,% Bond-street—a div. of 4s. in the pound, any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sam brook-court, flasinghall-street. J. Driver, victualler, Slawston, Leicestershire—first div. of Is. Id. in the pound, auy Thursday, at the office of Mr. Bittlesten, Birmingham. A. Brooke:, scrivener, Newport, Shropshire—final div. of 3d. and 1-32 d of a penny in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Bittlesten, Birmingham.• J. and T. Lamb, eng'neers, Kidderminster—final div. of Ihd. in the pound, any Thursday, at the office of Mr. Bittle ston, Birmingham. J. W. Braddick, tann:r, Bristol—third div. of ls. id in the pound, any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Acraman, Bristol. J. IL King, druggist, Bath—first div. of sd. in the pound, any Wednesday, at. the office of Mr. Acraman. Bristol. W. Ockleston, hide merchant, Liverpool—a div. of ls. Od. in the pound, any Monday, at the office of Mr. Turner, Liverpool. DIVIDENDS. In the Country. D. Stanton, grocer, Bristol, April 9, at eleven, at the Bris tol District Court—W. Arrowsiiiith, earthenware manufac turer, Stoke, Stafford-hire, April 7, at twelve, at the Liver- Lool District Court—W. Guy Taylor and E. Guy, hosiers, iverpool, April 9, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court —T. Robinson, lime-burner, Eccleston, Lancashire, April 9, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court—J. Law and E. Hudson, cotton spinners, Ramsden-wood, Lancashire, April 8, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court—J. Law, cot • ton spinner, Ramsden-wood, Lancashire, April 8, at one, at the Manchester District Court—E. Hudson, cotton spinner, Ramsden- wood, Lancashire, April 8, at one, at the Man chester District Court—S. and J. Knight, merchants, Man chester, April 8, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court —H. and T. W. Panton, iron manufacturers, Sunderland, April 7, at eleven, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court—W. A. Brooks, quarmnan, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, April 8, at twelve,• at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court—R. Armstrong, shipwright, Newcastle- upon-Tyne, April 8, at eleven, at theNewcastle-upon-Tyne District Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. E. Barnes, wine merchant, Aldbof °ugh ' Suffolk, April 7 B. Thompson, innkeeper, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, April 7—R. Paris, innkeeper, Ragland, Monmouthshire, April 7—C. Moyle, linendraper, Whitehurch, Shropshire, April B—G. 11. Openshaw, power-loom cloth manufacturer, Over Darwen. Lancashire, April 9—R. J. Kenworthy, calico printer, Man chester, April 8-11. Rose, dr y salter. Blackburn, Lancashire, April 7—j. Herdman and E. Herdman, jun., millers, Congle , ton, Cheshire, April 7—J. if. Pim, stationer, Great Trinity lane, City, April 7—H. Woodgate, butcher, Great Canford, Dorsetshire, April 7—J. Hamsher, hosier, Vine-place, Taber nacle-square,_ll oxton,April_7. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. E. B. B. Wilson, J. Bray, and J. Fenton, engineers, Huntslet, Yorkshire (so far as regards E. B. Wilson) — J. IL M'Collah, J. Clarkson, and J. Blenkiron, grocers, Reeth, Yorkshire (so fur as regards J. R. B.PCollah)—W. Robertson, G. Adsetts, C. Benson, J. Banks, J. Benson, T. Smith, J. Nicholson, T. Fawley, T. Gillott, J. Turneb, type founders, Manchester—G. Webb, T. Sharp, and T. Baker, omnibus proprietors, Fulham—T. Pilling and H. B. Peacock, woollendrapers, Burnley, Lancashire—G. and F. Denny, grocers, Southwold, Suffolk—lL B. Lucas, R. Bright, R. Bright, jun., and 'l'. Legge, linendrapers, Liverpool—W. Stubbs and J. Angrave, drapers, Spalding, Lincolnshire—W. B Kii,g and W. Stanton!, grocers, Brighton—C. and J. Wright, cheese factors, Bristol—G. Best and J. Adams, general shopkeepers, Barcombe, Sussex—J. and J. C. Ord, cheesemongers, Blackman street, Stones-end, Southwark— J. Richardson and R. Thwaite, tailors, Blackburn, Lancashire —G. Kaye and E. Hattersley, builders, Lockwood, York shire—J. and T. J. Warrick, inporters of drugs, Garlic •hill, City—J. M. Wood and J. Smith, shipping agents St. Btnet's place, Gracechurch-street—H. Jarvis and W. H. Day, harne makers, Birmingham—T. Topham and C. Smith, lace manufacturers, Nottingham—J. Southall and C. Dowding, drapers, Leominster—J. Stead, J. Brook, and W. Pickles, plasterers, Bradford, Yorkshire—J. M. Gilbertson arid R. Cocks, linendrapers. Hertford—C. Platt and W. Gourlay, ship-store dealers, Liverpool—J. W. Monner y , H. Brook man, J. Barrett, and B. Cowie, printers' brokers, Blackfrisrs-road —T. M. Carter, J. Smith, J. Carter, and J. Watson, brewers, Sheffield (so far as regards J. Watson). SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. Peter Orr, skinner, Kilmarnock, March 24 and April 22, at one, at the Black Bull Hotel, Kilmarnock. James Cooper, farmer, Broomelt"n, Lsnatkshire, March 20 and April 10, at twelve, at the office f Mr. Young, Glasgow. Henry and John Reid, drysalters, Greenock, March 20 and April 10, at two, at the White Hart Inn, Greenock. LONDON AND DUBLIN BANK. The general meeting of the Company ofihie Bank was held yesterday, at two o'clock, at the London Tavern, instead of at the offices of the Company in Piccadilly, as first advertised, it having been discovered that the meeting, if held at the latter place, would be illegal. Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., M.P., in the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN called on the Secretary to read the report, by which it appears that the expectation of increased profits which were held out have been fully realised, the advantage being double what was expected. The amount of the credit belonging to the shareholders is 58,9001., and the securities and deposits owing to the public is 166,4951., the benefits being 4,1301. 18s. 6d. The amount of assets from private capital ,:is 30,196/. as. 4d., and in Government Securities 36,7861. 19s. Id.; the whole moan' of the capital tieing 140.7451. 15s. 11d. The gross amount of pr , fits have been 13,3851. 13s. id., di coding from which the expenses, the net pi oflt was left which had just been stated. Dining the year 1845 a dirdend of 4 per cent. had been decl,r, d; making a sum of 1,0 , 5/. lie. 10d., a , .d ~howing a total of 3,096 i. 7s. 191. paid prier to the time at which this statement was made. During the past year the bank and its branches had been generally profitable, with the exception of the establishment in Dublin, in which there had bees a deficiency. But it was hoped that this defect would be remedied by the exertions of Mr. Perret, the Secretary, who, en jeying the full confidence of the shareholders, had been tipped, ted inspector of the Company's concerns. New branches have been es tablishud at Athey and Kinsale, and there was every prospect of fit ture improvement. The CHAIRMAN, in putting the adoption of the report to the meet ing, said that the very satisfactory report which bad just been made, precluded the necessity of any observations from him, but there was one point to which he ought to refer - that was the payment of the di rectors. Hitherto the directors had refrained from asking for any remuneration for their services, and were still ready to defer that remuneration to a iuture period, but he thought it had now become incumbent on the shareholders to make that office something like a return for the efforts of the directors. To do this it weuld be requisite to set aside a sum, say 5001. a year, for the directors, whose number they might restrict to five or six. There was another point to which he would refer, and that was the Dublin branch. They there obtained only the refuse of the business, and the establishment in Dublin might be done away with, but this was a matter for consideration, and with this suggestion he would move the adoption of the report. Colonel ACTON, M.P., seconded the adoption of the report, and in doing so he thought that it was worth while to notice the advantages of the management residing in London. Mr. FARRELL, an auctioneer in Dublin, wished to suggest, before the adoption of the report, that a charge should be made so as to pro vide a directory in Dublin, which he was convinced would be of great advantage to the company, and he thought that tour gentlemen ought to be appointed in addition to 31r. Guineas and the other gentleman already in ettice there. To give his objection a sub stantive form he would put it in the shape of an amendment. air. OMANNY, before Mr. Farrell's amendment was put, thought that an observation was riecessary from the directors. In making one of those observations, he had to murk that it was very singular that Mr. Farrell should make this objection, when only three years ago he had signed the deed of settlers nt, which expressly guaranteed the direction being in London. The business of the bank had been prudently and carefully arranged, and there was every advantage to be derived from the direction being here, and a very good business might be done in London. The only loss that had been incurred had been suffered in the Dublin branch, at d there was therefore no necessity for the change. Captain Cox, although he did agree with some of the observations of Mr. Farrell, yet he could not assent to such an al eration of the constitution as that which would ensue by the appointment of a Dublin directory. Mr. FARRELL suggested that them should he an increase in the directory, so as to give a preponderance to Irishmen in the direction of this hank. Mr. GutNzse thought there was a great difference between this bank and the Bank of Ireland and the Provincial Bank, for they were banks of issue, which this was not. These banks had been highly valuable in eliciting the resources of the country, and in this, as an Irishman, he rejoiced. But the cases were differeet, and he thought, that although the gentlemen in the London directory were of the highest respectability and ability —no men more 80 —y e t he thought that a benefit would be derived by increasing the directory in Dublin. He did not wish to d• away with the London directory— far tram it ; but an increase might be made in the Dublin manage ment, and he thought it advisable that the directors here should meet in private, and calmly and dispassionately consider what would be the results of such a change. He kn w that if this opening were made he was aware that certain men of influ nce and property would be ready to render their assistance and give an impulse to the con cerns which was likely to be of great service. But he was anxious that no difference should be made, and he would therefore suggest that Mr. Farrell should withdraw his motion. A conversation then ensued, in which Mr. Guinan. the Chairman, Col Acton, Capt. Cox, and Mr. Farrell took part, in which it was stated that an apprehension that the deed •f settlement prevented the giving of such a guarantee, and during which it was asserted by Mr. Farrell that the last thing he desired was a dissociation from the London board, but he did wish to have the whole of the bill depart ment left to the Dublin directors. During this conversation, also, it was stated by Mr. Humphreys, one of the directors, that the only losses which had been incurred on bills, was suffered from the bills discounted by the Dublin directors. Mr. F. C. Baowri said that he was the oldest director present. He had been present from the very first meeting, at which Lord Moun t cashell presided, and he could say that the very principle and founda tion on which the Bank was founded, was that of having the directors in London. Mr. FARRELL read a set of resolutions which had been passed at a private meeting of the skareholders iu Ireland, which went to ex press a desire on their part to make the chief directory in Ireland. lie had*te power, from the proxies which he held, of carrying his quastioyet out of respect to Mr. Guineas, if he could obtain any assurance from the directors on the point which he pressed on their attention, he would withdraw his amendment. Atter come further observations from Mr. Drown, Mr. Farrell, Captain Cox, Mr. Farrar, and the solicitor of the Company, the amendment wee withdrawn, and the report adopted and ordered to be printed. A dividend of 4 per cent. ner annum for the half-year ending De. cember 1, 1845, was then declared, and the surplus oraered to be car. ried to the capital of the bank. Thanks were then voted to the auditors, the directors, the secre tary, Jlr. Perrett, and the chairman, and the meeting, atter Sit K. Howard had returned thanks, was dissolved, It being understood that the usual notice of a meeting of directors should be waived in order to meet the convenience of the gentlemen who had come over from Ireland, and that a Board should be held this day to discuss the matters which bad been mooted at the meeting yesterday. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. tIOUSE OF LORDS, March 17. OREGON TERRITORY QUESTION. The Earl of CLARENDON, in pursuance of the motion of which he had given no:lee, begged to move for the produc tion of such correspondence as might have taken place between the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Minis ter for Washington as his Noble Friend might net think incon sistent with his public duty to lay upon their Lordship" table. He trusted that it would be unnecessary for him to assure their Lordships that it was th e f ur th es t f rom hi s i n tention to wish to embarrass the Gov e rn men t or t o p ress f o r any premature dis closures of any information which might prove injurious to the country. When they considered the magnitude of the interests involved in the solution, whether by peace or by war, of the quer ion now at issue between this country and the United States, and the deep anxiety with which In telligence was looked for, and the influence which it exercised upon the commercial and financial affairs of this country, h e thought that the people should not be altogether depende n t upon American newspapers for s uch information ; with reference to the actual state of affairs, an d t i o , transactions of the Gove:nntent for many weeks, and a l most ithout interruption, the quest ori has been di-bated in Con gress, while, although Parliament has been netting now for nearly two months, no allusion had been maize to it, except by two Noble Lords in that Henze, one of whom be regretted to say was not present. He thought such had been well intended ; an d, moreover,' e _ thought that it exhibited a prudent determination on the ha rt of both Houses of Parliateent to leave the Government sc y: fettered in its action, by not interfering in matters for whu s ' t Parliament could not be responsible.--(Hear. ) He tholltrs',, the course pursued had been %Nell understood and apprecia though abroad, without doors, it was liable to raiscenstructiont and had been so misconstrued; and therefore it should be their duty to guard against the notion that se indifferent were the/ that they would submit to peace and concession, thoughl. dishonourable terms.—(Hear, hear.) If they bore in sit that the language of the American Goiernment was Peen and that the information which reached them was of the set t% character; yet they would not be doing their duty if they V i i ; not instantly proceed to the consideration of the question. " (I therefore thought the time was come when his Noble Friq_ might, without indiscretion, lay on the table of that Hous e toe correspondence that had taken place, or else give such inform s ' tion as would lead to the quieting of the public mind. T hc ?; bad learned from the newspapers that all negotiation had ceased some time since. Now he believed that the British interest' could not be confided to a Ministry more competent than' present, nor would he doubt heirt reasons for instructing b ; Pakeoham to renew the negoLatons; but he should say _" t could not agree in the policy of such. They had proved, the however confident they were in their claims, yet so littler; sinus were they of obstinately adhering to s u•-h that they o anxious of submitting their case to a disinterested tribunal so • abide the result.—( Hear.) They cid so beesuse the people e; England would not consent to a war until they were satisielso that such was inevitable.—( Hear, hear.) .The Peq of England would not endure the disastrous os se ; quences of a contest so unnatural and unneces s li r t , until they are convinced that their exists a determivatio n injure and insult us on the part of the United States. —t hsar. ) Then, indeed, her Nlajests's Government might surely reckon on the cordial support of all persons and elsS —( Hear, hear .) But that there should be such de s termination appeared to him to be little less than moral impossibility. For in the annals of his t %l there could not be found a record of any two nations, h c e u- t. together by the stt iciest ties of mutual interest, being so Id ishly wicked and wanton as to plunge themselves in war, to the peremptory refusal of the one to accept of any ter° id any arbitration for the fee simple possession of an unoceeP4 territory, the advantages to be derived from which ec'' th not compensate fcr the loss occasioned by one single ru c . n io ; True it was they had been rudely assailed, hut the disposit of which did exist to insult was mainly owing to the s ystem electioneering which prevailed in the United States, for w se a some allowance, he considered, ought to be made. Y s , that that class faithfully represented the opinions of th e ,!4 lightened majority, he could by no means allow, espect7, in a country where statesmen were to be found se 0 lightened as any in the worlch—(Hear)—and where moms, and religion exercised their influence over the minds of rti community, and moreover at a time when they are abetl a ` b , reap the most beneficial effeeis- from the adoption of one 0t _4 most enlightened systems of commercial onlii 7 ever proper„, by a Legislature. The Noble Lord concluded by Molini7 he production of the con e-pondence. Lord ABERDEEN, who spoke in a very low tone of "Le ° said, I consider the motion just made by the Noble Lard rsttli unusual, in consequence of the peculiar position in which, t es country is placed in reference to the subject 0 1 o f correspondence. and felt certain that his sen se bs public duty, his intimate knowledge of the course told pursued in public negociatiuns, would have Pre le h iss him from adding anything io the embarrassments with n ot t this question is already invested. And I should also ss° do hie own teeling should have prevented him from making i t os l subject of any remark. I think, however, the desire exP re s• by the Noble Lord is one perfectly natural and j fectly reasonable. I think when we receive it lib telligence of interest and importance connected this question from the other side of the M i ld it is perfectly natural that your Lordships and the 10 1 '0 this country should desire authentic information on the or y jest, accompanied by such remarks a s h er Majesty's O c e feei ment might think proper and advisable. I have, slier ear no valid reason to object to the production of this comesrost deuce, especially as the subject was pretty well known top Lordships. I must however suppress a large portion Of has taken place between her Majesty's Government net Ministers of Washington, as I consider, in the first plec e s 'rr it is quite unusual in a neeotiation of such magnitude : t ," 0 1 0 duce an account to Parliament on the particular 0'4,0 which we stand with reference to it. It is quite truehot I Government of the United States have acted differeeti,',oo I their position is very different from oars. The Leg s s ee called upon the President to take a fixed course upon th' i pl yil4 time, and hat was therefore under the ne c e ss ity of c° lll , l ol with this demand. But on this point I cannot ezr e g tbe opinion. Indeed, I may say that at the present siteln e o o o expression of any opinion would be anything but adve n t', de to the settlement of the dispute. Another reason is tet production of those papers would materially add to t ,.'100 0 2, culties of terminating the dispute. I must also, in admit that the aspect of the neg o ti a ti on , as it wows' ;00r from. the papers which had been produced by the Ge,s s rc ite of the Unite° Stites, might have a v er y d.ferent etre' w ed the result of the negotiation than individuals in thi s c c bo iti l would anticipate. Under these circumstan ces , I will Is t ote to the House whether it will be advisable to lay these cc, del ' nications before the Louse. Certainly the G over nutee lit . no desire to keep these papers back on their own acc . ; s o V am the more desirous to retrain from placing these por if eje, fore the House, because I believe, and I think every W 3 lO diced person would conceive, that when the protest to er t i: i l allude has been laid before the America n G over atnes4 t there will be no reasonable cause to doubt that this 1 0 , 4 tlls be brought to an amicable conclusion. I am quite tr eo or that is the unfeigned desire of the Governments of ho t ! tries, and I hope that the Noble Lord will not thins courteous if I continue to decline to produce the pePe c :, s tr,, he desires in the present aspect of affairs. No one i s t himself, I feel assured, would regret any impecho eu /s , ' , thrown in the way of an adjudication whichmay i r bslo:, l l hostile movements. Ido not hesitate to affirm Ot t t;o p, war to be the greatest calamity that can befal a ns the commencement of it, without sufficient groun.oo,, greatest clime a nation can commit. In the obei%ile uc h a calamity I am anxious to be the instrument , sip ` ,l the fulfilment of my duty, I feel it necessary weal' House for its confidence, 1 am justified by the coneic‘ t et„' the House will believe that I should accede to no settles' this dispute which is not consistent with national bonet r jold calling for that confidence, and for the supp or t of the its at large, I would assure the House that my firm insect ° , that the dispute will be settled by a lair, conciliatorYeole: rate, and just arrangement. The conduct of a grest like this must be firm, conciliatory, and just, without enf il five of honour or the real interests of the country' hear.) It is possible that all these efforts may pro" ups lug, and in that case I shall endeavour to secure ate 0 4 nance and support of not only your Lordships, but tu e sis ilir bation of every State in Europe, and throughout the ;05916 world. The Noble Lord (Lord Clarendon) must l' l ss es os me to go further at present, and I will conclude by r i 7,00 0 , emphatically what her Majesty was most graciously P 00 111,,,e say in the speech from the throne—that no effort !_im, spared, consistent with the national honour tofensr` ' question to an early and peaceable termination.-4" W;ji Lord BROUGHAM said he wished to refer t° s a which he had received from his Friend, Mr. Everett, r f e i " recently so admirably fulfilled his duties as Minis°. to United States in this country. It was in referensiostito, ' statement that he had purchased a globe on which ad sill s,sl drawn favourable to the United States of America s: h l rid •to the claims of this country. That globe it seentel, cots appealed to iu America as a proof coming from th e d in favour of the United States' claims. He begg,.„ r ef )1 state that this was oo wonder, seeing that the gl°'"" ti ster o p to had been altered by the tradesman who made i t ' Ail, order was given as a compliment to his customer'', NS d e hear, and a laugh.) But he (Lord Brougham) wa s D rill* say that Mr. Everett bad no hand in the matter, (4 ;1011 the •' pious fraud," which had been practised ; Everett any communication with the globs Tbii order had been given by another party c osi: 1 ); an explanation which he (Lord B r ougham) etar right to take the present opportunity Noble pfd And, continued the Noble Lord. I agree with the . . i ,bef," on this important subject. I join my heaerk: te esfeb theirs, and express my confident hope that all t" ",ii less , t 0 tnts, painful and tedious though they now are, w • happy and lasting peace ; and I rest also my full e° ° o o7:" the Noble Lord opposite, and in her MajestY's G s g alor e " that should, unhappily for us and for America, an",, i - peet l , for humanity at large, their wise and, I hope, jes t — O,O l be frustrated, that all mankind will find to wholt t bh should be imputed, aid that that blame does not "ill P ol o and, moreover, that although the calamity of wsr,,,[tes at be looked on by all the subjeets of the C r own wi'",boo ol aversion, it will be looked upon by n o o n e with aPP" - alarm. 09 Lord ASHBURTON said it might probabli ,7 00 0- t o s s that on this question he should o ff er a few obsere s " - ede n this negotiation would be conducted with all the P li t es si; e ll naturally required in a matter of thi s i m p ee tancebe h t l e eee ° olo / he could not conceal from himself that, although i n , t hek t i c s .s e war, the honour of the country would remain tuttar n " „ t oew tr it would be one of the most frightful calamities tbfoitiond fal them if two countries, in that high state of civ' lipvats distinguished England and America, were to "400 hot would ; and he could not avoid expressing his ° ,,P the' iol ss would be nothing short of madness if they vre''' s kiof b e" vulva themselves fur what was, comearatively po stil isi p very trifling matter. He trusted that whatever po ls%, feeling induced by such a question in countries r,.trio ° verned as these were. the goat sense of both o '_", - ,100 1 , prevent such a calamity. He considered that th i s t i' s , 0 6 one of two countries having undefined rights, sn a d beesbito was how those claims could be settled in a fair 1 4,1$ manner. That was what Europe and the worl°,%itok l o expect from two nations holding such prominen; re d this country and the Meted Sates. He conot e t , ploo, l ,lOr s , question could not be left in safer hands than t i,ors h , the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. From h is gZstest'sel t# burton's) experience of the people of the United '-' o " po rs to led to believe that they might easily be prevaile d s dee S t to a fair and honourable adjustment of the ques ts The motion was then agreed to. RAILWAYS. ote '" , 0" ( Lord AIONTEAGLE presented a petition _eest jectors of the Irish Great Western and Midland tr lines, complaining of breach of agreements Ordered to lie on the table. of tb‘ t Lord FORESTER wished to call theattentitre of s it i oo; to the incredible short time in which a first eilos te d r s td i , had been rigged and got ready for sea. It we'A sear c ss e e dlss," i t ro , ceived that a ship with nothing but her loses. mast _7, o ss could be rigged, and large blocks thremn over b r i ffo lo o 4 in the space of two days and a hart, and breng il 0 . 13 6 mouth, to anchor at Spithead tan the third clsP es , I sb s o d the attention of the House tea these circumstancitol " to show that their skill had not been und erll the 80 1 public ; and if there was r se y c h ance o f diminitlibil of war, it would be by showing to the nation , , pOr seamen were capabl e of performing. ,00 °f Lord CLANRICARDE objected to the ' money such experiments would occasion. otrl io re' Lord ELLENBOROUGH said that the store_ t in readiness in the arsenal, and consequently it Ws' to ol in of expense. o``,Dird Lord FORESTER said that his only object f.or d this subject was to call t he attention of their : t ee ? j et' what he considered a most extraordinary teat oß e aste th e c aptain, officers, and seamen of the Rodney an d The subject then dropped. Their Lordships then adjourned. 110 USE OF C(1,11,110:1' S. M ar°4l7. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE' ig lii° l ser Mr. A GLION BY hoped the House would 9 ,1 , 1° ' Aiel°:,; a few words in regard to the p It . lingo °' Pio°, that House who had been misr-ee,r%nnateteleby a which was a breach of tle pri l v r i e leg e es of that House I,onbi Atoning Chronicle of Sar urday 's date he ( AD. 11 , ,g o . M r : t io 4 made to ,ay that with respeet to the motion of the Jl u de j 0 1 for Finsbury (Mr. Duncombe ), tie was sure it wor w bef ,5 1 ,6 and that no one cared whether it was or not. cou' s o", wish to cast any censure on the reporters, for ( ,o'o understand the great difficulty they had to cont o d ,.., t e tf; their poiiitiun in the House, but he thought it r e Honourable Alenaher fir Finsbury to n lB /, Planation, and state what he really had 0' • 9 10 0 1, stated was, that the Honourable Member hi+ °° 0 0 .0 ,0,, his subject th , t it was very didi cu lt to Inslo 14,04 P the Hon. Alumber meant. tie could assure th , ou d t or d' o Alernher that he neter meant to lave it 01 ,tier.' , ro os was not worthy of being hear:lJ he ',add r iot ability with which he always conducted hit; sußl.,d tor that House had gained for him bestatty.itioa 1"