The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-25 00:00:00

- TITE StrN. LONDON, Tt7. I WAY MORNING, ATTGrST 25, • 1840... IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, August 24. Thy Lordships met at Four o'clock. NEW PEER. ',Ord ROLLAND took the oaths and his seat. 1.4111 EXPLANATION. LYNDHURST said, that in consequence of an eat 4111 neous report of what he had said on Saturday—no b ue b t from the inaudible manner in which he spoke— • nevertheless, from whatever cause, there was an gneons report in the n e w s papers, and especially the h e .,7'ard, a misconception had arisen. The resul t had that he had r ece i ve d a l e tt e r, written by the igh Erts.,_ t Bon. Baronet lat e ly at the head of her Majesty ' s er nment, part of which was quite of a personal na il, and to which he would advert presently. Before, li !lrever, he said anything as to these misconceptions. t e u e! it ild advert to what the statement really was. Bef ore, however, touching even on that, he might observe LI al Consequence of that misrepresentation he had i 7" a c ommunication with the Right Hon. Barnet, 4 /1 however, with any view to seek his concurrence 111 Iskficayuirse which he now pursued, or with any idea of is aivice as to that course, but simply that he th e gnt make that Ri g h t H on . B aronet acquain t e d w ith ja ~.t on rse which h e h a d d ec id e d u p on a d o pti ng . t e !ast statement he confined himself simply to what ee ,„• s'an and did hi mself. He had no opportun i ty o f s;I le ardeating with the Right Hon. Baronet, and he did Consider that without such a eommunication he had 4, J.authority w h atever to state how t h e N o bl e L or d ' ee elved his statement, or what answer he made. Mate co nfined himself s i m ply, th ere f o r e , to the al lneh t he h a d ma d e hi mself, an d t h e part h e acte d i n sow transaction. Having referred to this, he would Rirefer to the letter which he had received from the ght Hon. B aronet. The Right Hon. Baronet thought k ti ght to state actually what took place between them, bathe (Lord Ly n dh urst ) was qu i te sa ti s fi e d and p leased I ne had b een di sposed to do so, b ecause t h e i r Lord e,„Pe Would find that, so far as he (Lord Lyndhurst) C)o ncerned, the statement of the transaction wa s a r eet on That letter confirmed distinctly and clearly li r Ythin; • that had fallen from him. The Right Hon. Iro net said this You are reported to have aaid (L , that after the dissolution of the late Government tp; ord Lyndhurst) commnnicated with several ii 7ende of the other House, in order that former mzserene ee might be forgotten, and the Conservative ime be reformed, an d i n or d er no t to b e su bj ect to any u a representation, he communicated with some of the mbers of the late Government, and that the proposi eat which he ma d e to t h e N o bl e L or d h a d no reference t l a .aY parti cu l ar measure. " He had already stated to the 1- ' 43 rriships that his object was not at all to obtain h e co ncurre n ce of the Right Hon. Baronet, and that aci e c, l ° not wish even to obtain from him any Thel e e s to the course whi c h he was about to pursue. (Lore — int Hon. Baronet in his letter said, that In w s tiever,:slailhersts) taking o ffi ce under from th e e be (the that might be formed from h ' e (tlie e w as quite out of the question, and that Par t y t - Right Hon. Baronet) had declined being any B , 4 iff h a ° t he Proposed combination. The Noble Hon. tar ent : ta Confirmed the statement of the Th e e , e t . L an of ELLENBOROUGH said, in the abse nce t 111 'bl 'it " Brougham he had been requested by h lipp o r wet Learned' Lord, 1% ho had observed that he to lea n k t t l ient of Mr. David Pollock was said to ha ve be en , ‘ L ard h e ad w aY for a friend of his, to say that that e h recom d Mr David Pollock for t e ap -.tent 4, e actise before the L.er having tlearo Pr- abilitesj Committee of the Privy Counil with great C urre ar 'd that it was only after the vacancy had ec seh.et.litlifiltr a frie n d o f t h at Learned Lord's had been it, Th E Ew - ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BILL. li rovve . ► "a LE BASIL presented a petition from .fir. W. Ne e alPrchant end late of the Legislative Council o f t ern slash, agains the Bill brought in by the Go- Eau el , a JIM s f .'"E"l r stated that upon his accession to office of the ouud the draft of a Bill prepared on the subject , ° tie L.l"itilation of New Zealand. The subject was the Part deserved the greatest consideration u pon aqd a e e r k t „ ° t any Government entrusted with the a ff airs a vistepe-"agement of that distant colony. There wa s Present of betw een 400 m i les b etween A uc kl a nd, t h e P° l s- i seat of Government, and Wellington, the moat eine m 11 0 town in the island, which rendered cominuni tiesiefirtween those places very difficult, an dmade it ,to establ' li in the island a Legislative u iffie n e - ji v in each I t -s t' these . places. There was a :"- s e t s a tie n e - r f e i p n a n n w ey eve r , connected with the existence of such `"e d' t hings which should be overcome,whic h was f du wlich might exist in the amount o . - },.. / . 'roie e lt. e d i tyt the different places b . y different authorities. 7 no ,„ at accounts, he believed tha t . there would m 'atioe t;l°re difficulty in extending legislative represen- Xx 111 - 1 - 2 t le Part of the island than to the other. As e‘ ,;, ae, he should be inclined to propose that the htord'n'eh referred to it should stuud. t h —tr ith e,; 4 ,,MPBELL presented a petition from* the th ° learn- acket Company, against that clause a 'tY Sav i Lation Bill which enforced the neces- LSP C; ' " Y in g paddle-box boats. e th ... e , l‘ d l° ISA GLE resented similar petitions from ''''' 4 lea °l—( al and Bristol p and other steam-packet CUM.. ti r th ii ? 1 ,. /7 ) II ECK AND SALVAGE BILL. . '" 43 114-. of CLARENDON moved the third reading 7 , ill The • e e ,, Eni se h E s if k i of ELLENBOROLTGH objected to that rtai made it necessary for the beats to be of a earis e 'Nth and breadth, and considered that it would tel e i,' great deal of inconvenience, unless a more ex• e margin were aliowed. section Earl of CLARENDON said that the samb el had occurred to him, but the table had been ir efully revised by the Admiralty, and they had ap 2!ed of it as being sufficient for safety. T he Earl of ELLENBOROUGH hoped the Noble 1 7 1.1 ~,•(Clarendon) would postpone the Bill to-morrow, T he point might be considered in the in terum. 'ee Bill w po stponed accordingly. • RATEA BLE PROPERTY (IRELAND), Orb: Marquis of LANSDOWNE, in moving the order Pr clay tor going into Committeeße . teable ° P er tY (Ireland) Bill, said that he wished to call the Zteution of the House to it as a Bill having reference e e cu t he Preset unfortuuate prospects in Ireland. _ Tn e the , the property was to be estimated by ellffe"- arid jury, in order to prevent two or more T eo re e i t systems of valuation from prevailing in Ireland. he p r o c ' aUs es, 36 and 37, had been omitted, and those inoP ° aed should still continue so. He should also Ile that clauses 75 and 76 be omitted. CoNeAtises were accordingly omitted. Th e ' e t r\EIJLARY FORCE (IRELAND) BILL. aeco e d dl 4 rquis of LANSDOWNE then moved the ay ee ,, e. r eading of this 13111. Their Lordships were been the expense of the force for several years past Lore n et w 'rY severely felt. Attle e , "" - UN VEAG LE said he entertained several ob but h e . h t" the principles and provisions of this Bit!, way 4 1 4 , 1 0 wish to throw any impediments in the 11 ,° tlaoe„,.;a ,being read a second time, as it was tw it la le with the other Irish measures Would t y s :,_ l the table of the House. He thought it niore,,, e, °at fair to poste , me all these Bills till to- P ",,bee t w e it c h eatt wishing - in the least to throw an im p• - , e 't ) te the progress of any ne of them. Nobl e ot WICKLOW said he admitted with the id the attaik r " t he importance of the Bills brought in, whe n it — er of them ; but he had never seen a session tee " was better, especially with Irish Bills. Hedid not b e Y great rea,,on, however, why a few days should not f eel ti i l wed • But in respect to the present Bill he did not monde force of the Noble Lord's remark, as on the details reading the principle merely was involved, and ane nt ' would come after to be considered when they to,; ',lnto Committee. tin / °f „et,AIONTEAGLE said that the present was a great crisia for Ireland, and their Lordships would be ta t a gross misapplication of public money if they ttote their sanction to the present Bill. It was a mis- Wi t h t °,_soPpose t h at t h at House had had nothing to do w ell Lae constabulary of Ireland. That constabulary Civ il as well as a military force, and while they s te were s ubservient to the local authorities, while they 10 e mployed to fulfil their Lordships' warrants, while ey the. had partly supported by votes of that House, th a right to see that this_ l 6 0,0001. (a sum greater w e " any voted for the relief of t he distress in Ireland) I t h. 4 Properly expended ; o would thank their Lord for this grant? Not N the people of Ireland, but the L -4▪ l ords. Would it not be better to give it to the Ctd of Public Works in Ireland, to be expended in a slding labour for the working classes? One word t e n !e before he sat do . wn. He prayed their Lordships it consider the principle which was involved in this Bill. le,„, al4 rned the principle that the repeal of the Corll - t?, e ntitled the landed intere , t to be relieved from so me 'no local burdens to which land was subjected. Well, th: n t if they applied this principle to Ireland, how could with any shade of justice, refuse it to the landed - r ' l e , s t of En land?—(llear, hear.) He warned t h e i r 41 1 (Ir h' sui Ps against g the establishment of any precedent, e l: Ss that which the passing of this Bill would afford. tes' ci t ti ELLENBOROUGH said that when the pro the aee i n , Contained in this Bill was originally made by livere,-`e Government the circumstances of the country kith 14tirely different from its present state. Ile agreed bod e a "'.qble Lord that the present was not the best !_ pl„ . „() tst sfrurdng relief to the people of Ireland. When 'souPc'sed he had supported the measure, but he d:'taking I ng into consideration the altered circum e ef- of the country, t h at t h e b et t er course would be T he e dower the further progress of the measure. of GRAFTON objected to the large Lord~ tv en by this Bill to the Lord-Lieutenant. wt ) st -LuNTEAGLE hoped their Lordships would I ran the Bill. V th is Bar „I of WICKLOW said that by the provisi o ns bttr able 13 n 1 the landlords of Ireland would be e e to bear the immense burdens which they would t laite -37 have to bear in the ensuing year. He was (Lord(tuuished at the opposition of his Noble F r ien d L ord -the v, O N TEAGLE rose to explain. v. 4 ' 4 f of LANSDOWNE said that the Bill tn °1111(l ecl upon one of the recommendations a Lord_ theiz;ti'a, Conarnission. The late Government had pledged tOrd S ii t l i VeS to this measure, and it was the duty of their ,„ /Il etahp,.P 6 ' and especially the Noble Lords who were Vrovi a i' s of the late Administration, to carry out the 3 estje s c ,-1, 4 of the Bill before their Lordships. Her Ma , the %zovernment thought it their duty, iu consequence T he ge of th e l ate Ministry, to proceed with th i s talhe.a' considered th emse l ves b oun d to d er so. at was th a time. "YDS-ENTen OF read THE second POOR (IRELAND) Th e BILL. t oad re j ' a Ptlis of LANSDOWNE rose to move the aY r e a—ng of this Bill. He proposed to postpone s ettr. Marks, which he might have to make upon the Thea l the Bill, until to-morrow, t'e Bill Bill, u ntil read a se con d t i me. Thic a4 a m 4 „. LEASES (IRELAD) BILL. tel 4 teconcl ti N me, The following Bills were read a third time and passed : The Naval and Military Departments Bill. The Steam Nevi•ration Bill. The Income-tax Deductions. Bill. The New Zealand Loan Act Amendment Bill. REMOVAL OF NUISANCES BILL. This Bill went through Committee, the only amend ments proposed being those of a technical nature intro duced for the purpose of extending the provisions of the Bill to ScOand. MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY. Lord MONTEAGLE brought up the report of the Select Committee on the Manchester and Southampton Railway, which stated that the Bill should not be allowed to be proceeded with. RETURNS. _ The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid upon the table of the thiuse the minutes of the evidence given before the Metropolitan Railway Commission ;jalso a report of the Commissioners of Parkhurst prison, Isle of Wight ; also a return of the amount of money paid for the Irish police and constabulary. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS BILL. This Bill was read a first time. Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, August 24. The SPEAKER took the Cbair at Twelve o'clock. EST MINSTER-BRIDGE. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition from several parishes in the neighbourhood of Finsbury. s tating that as the House bad decided that Westminster -bridge should be pulled down, they would be put to a very heavy toll, and praying for the abolition of the tolls on the closed bridges. Similar petitions were presented by Mr. Wakley and Sir F. Trench. FLOGGING IN THE ARMY AND NAVY. Mr. WAKLEY presented petitions from Bury St. Edmund's, and several other places, praying for the abo lition of flogging in the army and navy. VAUXHALL-BRIDGE. Mr. SIIIEL presented a petition from the inhabitants of Vauxhall, praying that the bridge may be thrown open. _ . - Mr. HUME presented a similar petition. GENERAL EDUCATION. Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition very numer ously signed, praying that the House would take the means neces•otry for the extension of education. VIRGIN MARY HOSPITAL ESTATE BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. GLASGOW COLLEGE BILL. On the motion of the order of the day for the third reading of this Bill, Mr. HUME said that he was sorry that the infor mation which had been sought for the Members had not been delivered. He understood that in consequence of the opposition he had made to the Bill it had been re ferred to the Attorney-General to reframe some of the clauses. The new build►ngs were to cost 77,000 L, and in the event of their costing more the railway company had no power to give anything more. Had the information been given for which he sought, then this mischief would have been preventhd. It was the opinion of the judges that the whole of the expenditure ought to be under the direction of the Lords of the Treasury. He thought there was great danger in removing the college, for the doing so would be likely to destroy the competi tion between Edinburgh and Glasgow. As it was they were going to carry thecollege two miles and a-half from the hospital—in itself a great evil. It was allowed by the judges that the Lords of the Treasury ought to have the superintendence of this work and yet their hurls were altogether tied up ; and this, too, occurred when those Lords were entirel►• without information on the subject. He should, therefore, move the, insertion of a clause to secure that effeet. _ _ _ Sir 0. GREY said that the decision had been come to, not in ignorance, but in full possession of informa tion, and after the very fullest inquiry. All the Govern ment ought to have to do with was the superintendence of the building, and the adoption of a clause which would give a right to the Lords of the Treasury of inspecting the specifications of the building, and of requiring that they be properly executed. But he did not think that the railway company ought to he obliged to make a new agreement. Mr. HUME said that this clause of the Right Hon. Baronet would serve all the purpose he !lad in view. Mr. GREENE objected on a point of form. Sir G. GREY said that it went merely to explain the nature of the railway Bill, and the Government had uo objection. Mr. P. M. STEWART thought his Hon. Friend's objections ought to be entertained, for a similar case had occurred in Edinburgh, where the sum given for the college was about 75,0001. But what was the consequence ? Why the buildings had cost 166,000/., and the whole of the expense was paid by the public. It' they pursued the same course with re spect to Glasgow, they would have a similar monument of fol y —an unfinished college. . He trusted, therefore, that the Government would adopt the proposition of the Hon. Member for Mo‘itrose. Sir G. GREY conceived that the effect of the propo sition would be to throw the expense on the Consoli dated Fund, and to this he was not prepared to accede. Mr. WAKLEY quite believed that the removal of this College from the Hospital would have the effect of raising Glasgow as a Medical School. It was a well known fact that no School of Medicine in London sue ceeded where it was at a distance from a Hospital. Let them look at St. Thomas's, at Guy's, at University Col lege; why, the Schools were either a part of the institu tion of the Hospital, or only across the street. He trusted therefore that care would be taken before they moved the College from the Hospital, as this Bill pro posed. Sir G. GREY said that every care had been taken. Mr. HUME would not interpose now. The Govern ment bad the opportunity in their own hands, and if they neglected their duty it was not bis fault. Lord G. SOMERSET would not waste the time of the House as the Bill had taken this course, but would withdraw the amendment of which he had given notice. The Government would have an opportunity of super vising the plans, and that answered his purpose. Mr. PROTHEROE had understood that the railway company were to build up a new college, and that the plans which had been proposed might be carried out for 75,000/.. but that in the event of the buildings costing more, the company were to find the means. But now it appeared that they were only to contribute 75,000/., .and in the event of the building cost ing n2 , Te. the money was to be derived from swipe other source. He would, in passing, just as sure the Hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Wakley) that on this Bill the Committee had taken the evidence of the mast celebrated surgeons in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and they all agreed that the removal of the college would be advantageous to the pupils. As the elause about to be introduced would give the Lords of the Treasury the discretionary power of directing the buildings, he should be satisfied with the Bill. Sir G. GREY said that the Lords of the Treasury would take care so to exercise their power as to ensure the best accommodation for the professors and the pupils, end to do justice to the public. The Bill, with the amendment, was then read a third time and passed. NOTICES OF MOTION, &c. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that to-morrow he would put a question to the Under• Secretary for the Home Department, as to whether Sir W. Pninn (as we under stood) was in receipt of .a pension, when it was granted, and to what amount? - • DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Mr. DILLON BROWNE gave notice that to-morrow he should ask a question with relation to the present state of distress in Ireland. BUCKINGHAM PALACE. Mr. HUME wished to know whether it would be convenient to lay before the House a document which he believed was at present in the Home-office, furnished by a Commission appoirved to inquire into the alterations required in the interior of Buckingham Palace? Sir GEORGE GREY said that he was not aware that there was such a document in existence, and he believed he might say with certainty that it was not in the Home-office. Mr. lIUME had himself seen it, and he did not see that they should expend 150,0001. on any alteration in the Palace, without first ascertaining whether they would be justified in granting such a sum. EDUCATION IN WALES. Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any steps had been taken with a view of ascertainieg the present state of education in Wales? It would be in their recol lection, that during the present session he had called the attention of the House to that subject, with a view that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to direct that an inquiry should take place u p on the sub ject; two inspectors were, he believed appointed, who had reported upon the subject, and the question whi ch he wished to ask was, whether or not the subject had received the con sideration of the Right Hon. Baronet, and whether it was the intention of the Government to take any steps in the matter. Sir G. GREY said his attention had been directed to the subject, and he had brought it before the Board of E lucation, which had directed immediate steps to be taken to inquire into the subject. It was not thought necessary to issue a commission on the subject, and two inspectors had accordingly been appointed. He could assure the Hon. Member that the subject would not be lost sight of. difficulty was connected with the former state of the sugar duties as regarded that country, but the changes recently made, would, he had no doubt, smooth away any impediments in the course of further negotiation. He considered the question one of the utmost importance, and would give it every possible attention, and the House might be assured that no pains on his part would be spared to promote a friendly feeling between the countries. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS' BILL. The Railway Commissioners' Bill was then read a third time and passed. MEXICO. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER, that the other orders of the day be now proceeded with, Lord G. BENTINCK said he would take that oppor tunity to call the attention of the House to the present state of the relations between the United States and Mexico. The annual amount exported by this country to Mexico was some half million per annum. The number of mining and other companies in that country, conducted by British merchants, was above sixty-five. The capital involved was about ten millions, and the debt owing by Mexico to Great Britain was 10,200,000/. It was therefore evident, that anything that affected that country was of the first impOrtance to England. It would be in the recollection of the House, that it was now from ten to fifteen years that the majority of land speculators called the attention of the American Government to the propriety of forming settlements in Texas. The desire of speculating in land became enormous till at last the Government of Texas transferred, for the sum of 2,000,000 dollars, a tract of country to the extent of 400 square leagues. Mexico, the sovereign country, refused to sanction this annexation, and from that time it was the purpose of America to stir up rebellion in the former country. An army of 800 men was subsequently organised, which army consisted of 760 Americans, and only about 40 Texans. Yet this was called the efforts of Texas for freedom. It would be also recollected that when Mexico threw off the domination of the elder country, it was determined that no slaves should for the future be im ported, but that slavery should be altogether abolished. Matters went thus on till the year 1845, when a further manifesto of independence was issued at the convention of Austen. The number of persons who signed that convention was sixty-one, and of these forty-nine were ' Americans, yet this convention was made the excuse for further demands on the part of America. The designs of the United States of America did not, however, cease with the annexation of Texas, for they were at present seeking to aggrandise their power by the annexation of Mexico and California. There never was a more flimsy pretext urged for aggression than was put forth by the United States for entering the territory of Mexico. Never was there a case more unjustifiable and less provoked ; and unless some inter ference took place Mexico must succumb, and bealso annexed to the United States. The state of Louisiana sent 5,000 men for the invasion of Mexico, and 2,000 more afterwards followed. As the question of the an nexation of .Texas was the electioneering test for the Presidency of the United States at the late elections, so would the annexation of Mexico be the cry in 1848. The great object of the Americans was to extend their domi nion and to so great an extent did this feeling prevail, that it was not unusual to hear this sentiment—" May the stars that bespangle the flag of America be so thick as to leave no room for the stripes." His object in calling attention to this subject was, that her Majesty's Govern ment might be fully aware of the necessity of giving their best attention to the movements of that country. The organ of the United States' Government, the Washing ton Union, denied that there had been any offer of mediation by this country, and as this conflicted with the statements made by the late Government, he wished to know from the Noble Lord at the head of foreign affairs, whether any mediation had been offered, and what had been the result. Lord PALMERSTON said that he would not follow his Noble Friend in the various topics to which he had referred, and it was not necessary or useful for him to do so, as the annexation of Texas and the other matters connected therewith, had now become matters of history. He fully agreed with the Noble Lord, that it was impossible for two great coun ties to be engaged in war without doing great detri ment to the commerce of any other nation that might be then engaged in trade with the belligerent powers. He hoped, however, that as commerce would be extended, and as nations would be. bound together by reciprocal interests, and by the interchange of their respective pro ducts, a barrier would be thus raised against the inter ruption of friendly feeling and the chances of war. With regard to the position .of Mexico and the United States, he did not think there were good grounds to sup pose that the former would be united to the latter. There were no less than eight or ten millions of people inhabiting the country of Mexico, who were different in religion and language from the people of the States, and that being so, the question of annexation became, hecould assure the Noble Lord, more difficult. With regard to the question of mediation, he was glad to have an opportunity of assuring the Noble Lord that he was mistaken in sup posing that no such offer was made by her Majesty's late Government. The offer was made both to the United States and to Mexico; but that offer merely was that, in the event of it being acceptable to the United States, Great Britain would give her mediation between the two powers. In consequence, however, of the posi tion of this country with the United States re.pect ing the Oregon question, America did not accept the offer. He hail, however, instructed Mr. Paken h em, the British representative in America, to renew the offer since both to the United States and to Mexico, and he would be shortly in a position to say what would be the result of that offer, and whether the mediation of this country would be accepted by those powers. Mr. DISRAELI said British merchants were more deeply interested in this question than his Noble Friend thought, and he could assure the House that those merchants entertained a conviction that the political existence of Mexico was at present at stake. It would, therefore, have been some consolation to them had the Noble Lord, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, informed them that his negotiation had been accepted.—(Hear, hear.) That was, in feet, the only answer from the Treasury which ceuld give any consolation or hope to the British merchant. He could not find either hope or consolation in the vague statement of the Noble Lord, that in the development of the principles of free trade they would find the best means of stopping foreign wars. He did not credit that theory, and, under present circumstances, he was less willing to credit it when the Noble Lord told them in another part of his observations that the reason the commercial duties of America were reduced was to increase their means of prosecuting war. — (Hear, hear.) Now he bad said that it was the opinion Gf British merchants that the political existence of Mexico was at stake, and that was, perhaps, the best authority for his Noble Friend bringing forward that subject almost on the last day of the session. Cir cumstaoces of the most fatal character might occur in Mexico before they met again •, and it was the knowledge of this no doubt which had induced his Noble Friend to call the attention of Government and the people of England to the present position of that kingdom. The Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had remarked that the case of Texas was a matter of history. It was because it was a matter of history that his Noble Friend bad referred to it. It was an illustra tion of a system which had already proved most prejudicial to the interests of the English nation.--(Hear.) Now just the same system was being pursued with regard to Mexico, and his Noble Friend and himself, and the merchants of Eng land, were anxious that the case of Mexico should not become a matter of history.—(Hear, hear.) When the merchants of England lent their capital to Mexico they received in return a mortgage upon two Mexican provinces, and when the people could not pay the interest, at a subsequent period, in the year 1837, passed a law of compensation, which was botn equitable and just for the English creditor.— (Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who understood the question well, had referred them to the very satisfac tory arrangement which had been come to be tween this country and America upon the sub ject of the Oregon treaty, but, in his opinion, that treaty was only a step in advance to the con summation of the United States' plans with regard to Mexico. The policy of the United States had been to surround Mexico, and this treaty would be the means of extending the territories of the United States to the Pacific. Now, without meaning to com plain in any way of this treaty, the question with the British merchant was, whether the Govern ment of this country saw a fair probability of preserving the political integrity of Mexico They, therefore, wished, at the close of the session, that the attention of the country should be called to the sub ject, in order that the Minister of the Crown should be held directly responsible for what might occur, as far as he could legitimately be so —(Hear.) No country in the world was so fertile as Mexico, and it might be said, while it produced every vegetable of other countries—while ;it produced sugar, coffee, and to bacco, at the same time its mines produced the circulating medium of Europe to the extent of 20,000,000 of dollars—(Hear, hear.) What alarmed the British merchant was, that there existed no power of self-government in Mexico, and every state was making overtures to different countries for protection. There was a large trade carried on even now between this country and Mexico, and therefore it was, independent of the loan, that British merchants were anxious to have this state of uncertainty removed.—(Hear, hear.) In 1842 he moved for returns which showed that, upon the average, the trade between this country and Mexico amounted to half a million sterling per annum, while if they went back to those years, such as 1824, when peace and tranquillity prevailed in Mexico, it exceeded one million sterling ; and had this country preserved that tranquillity the trade by this time must have exceeded two millions sterling. Ministers, however, had made use of a weapon which, when applied by an ancient monarchy, was always strong. They hail made use of diplomacy ; but where was the use of holding a diplomatic intercourse with such cabinets as had latterly existed in Mexico, at which the commandant for the tune being of the capital was at the head, and which seldom or never lasted more than a month ?—(Hear, hear.) Diplomacy proved exceedingly effective when it was resorted to between this country and such Courts as those of St. Petersburgh and the Tuileries. Now Government had made use of treaties and resorted to diplomacy, but still without effect. There was yet is third course for them to pursue. Would they act towards Mexico as they acted towards other states under similar circumstances ? Would they protect Mex ico ? Would they do for. Mexico what they had done for Greece ? Would they come for ward in combination with other great powers who had . particular interests in Mexico and establish v. pro tectorate which should give Mexico ten years of tran quillity ? This was the question the merchants of England wanted answered, and unless it were answered favourably, „unless they pursued a determined and vi gorous policy with regard to Mexico, their North American empire would in the end be subjected to similar attaeks.—(Hear.) Mr. BERNAL said he was the last man to underrate the importance of this subject, or the valuable state ments of the Honourable Member for Shrewsbury, but he, at the same time, did not believe that any Government would be justified in adopting the course suggested by the Noble Lord on the data that he had put forward. The views of the Noble Lord were most chimerical, and if carried nto practice would be most dangerous to this country. Did he wish the British Government to parade theracific with our fleet for the purpose of demonstrating to America our wishes and demands concerning Mexico ? Let the House wait until the next meeting of Parliament before they adopted the rnotion of the Noble Lord ; because in the meantime the United States might very probably retrace their steps with regard to Mexico. The Eng li,h Government had interfered with Greece, and he must certainly admit that the result of that inteifer enct- was not such as to induce him to sanction a similar interference with Mexican affairs. Mr. P. HOWARD said, that although the Mexicans had not .hitherto been successful in those pitched battles which they had fought with the United States, he was not without hope that every well-regu lated mind would side with those who were de fending their homes and homesteads, and that the long suffering tenacity of the Spanish character would Cu able to maintain themselves against the well disciplined forces of America. He hoped that the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) would be successful in his efforts to settle the differences between Mexico and America. Mr. WAKLEY said he always consiJered the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to be a man of peace, and he (Mr. Wakley) must say that he had now been put in a very anomalous position, and the Noble Lord must feel very much struck at the complaints now brought against him, that he had not sufficiently interfered between two contending foreign powers. He begged of the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) to pursue his old policy, notwithstanding the complaints of Hon. Members. SMALL DEBTS BILL. The order of the day was then read, and on the re port being brought up, Lord G. SOMERSET asked the Right Honourable Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, whether it was intended that the judges to be appointed under this Bill should be allowed to sit in Parliament ? Sir GEORGE GREY said, that the Bill would in capacitate the judges from sitting in Parliament ? Mr. WAKLEY said that it was with great regret that he saw that attorneys were to be excluded from the office of judges in the courts to be formed under the present Bill. He did not think it wise to exclude attorneys from these offices, and to fix upon the public an inferior class of professional men. He thought tke best course would be to encourage in attorneys a feeling of emulation, and give them admis sion to the judgeships to be appointed under the provisions of this Act. No arguments had been advanced to show that this class were disqualified from holding these offices. In consequence of the great patronage created by this and other Bills there would soon be no such thing as independence at the bar, for all those persons connected with it would seek, by their obsequiousness and obedience to t►'e ruling powers, to obtain those situations ; and it was most unjust, cruel, unwise, and impolitic to exclude those parties, and he would therefore beg to renew the pro posal which he had made on a former occasion, namely, to admit attorneys as judges in the courts. On the motion of Sir G. GREY, several additional clauses were proposed and agreed to in the Bill. Mr. WAKLEY then rose to move the insertion of the words in the 41st clause; after the word " barrister," " or as attorney-at-law." Sir G. GREY said that, after the decision which had already been come to on the subject, he was not prepared to concede the proposed alteration. Mr. WAKLEY said that in consequence of the intima tion of the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State, he would withdraw his motion. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. The report, with several . verbal amendments was then agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to morrow. The reports upon the District Lunatic Asylum (Ire land) Bill, the Pawnbrokers' Bill, and the Waste Lands (Australia) Bill, were severally brought up and agreed to, and .ordered to be read a third time to morrow. SLAVE TRADE. In the absence of Mr. Hutt, an HON. MEMBER moved for returns of the number of ships of all classes, includ ing steam-vessels, employed in any way for the suppression of the slave trade dui ing the year ending the Ist day of August, 1846, stating the number of men and guns,with an estimate of the charge to the public for such service, in cluding stores, coals, and wear and tear of the equip ment, together with every other expense, distinguishing the charges incurred by the vessels expressly employed in suppressing the slave trade from those incurred by the vessels incidentally engaged in that service. An account of the number of men and officers, dead and invalided, in the squadron employed in the suppression of the slave trade, on the African coast, during the year 1845; of the expenses of all hospital establlsh:nents and refitting establishments connected with the suppression of the slave trade in this country, on the east and west coasts of Africa, at the Cape of Good Hope, the islands of Ascension and St. Helena, and elsewhere. Au Recount of the appropriation of all sums of money received as the proceeds of vessels or other property condemned in the courts of admiralty, Vice-ad miralty, or mixed commission courts, for violations of the laws or treaties prohibiting the slave trade. Account of all sums of money paid in each year since 1807 to cap tors of vessels condemned for violation of the laws and treaties prohibiting the slave trade. distinguishing the sums paid as head money, bounty for slaves taken, bounty per ton register of ships taken, and as captors' shares of the proceeds of ships and property condemned. Acconnt of all sums of money raid by the Crown to or on behalf of cantors, in satisfaction or indemnification of expenses or 'damages arising from the prosecution or seizure of vessels alleged to be engaged in the slave trade ; also, of sums paid to Foreign Governments, or to British or foreign persons, for losses caused by the seizure, destruction, or condemnation of vessels, barracoons, or other property, alleged to be en gaged in the slave trade, distinguishing, as far as pos sible, the names of the persons receiving such compensa tion, the dates of payment, and the nature of the injury or loss for which compensation was made in each case, from the year 1807 to the present time. Account of all the expenses, as far as they can be estimated, incurred in the naval or diplomatic services in each year, since 1807, for promoting the suppression of the slave trade, which are not comprised in the foregoing returns. Motion agreed to. ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION. The SPEAKER informed the House that the recog nizances entertd into by the sureties to prosecute the petition against the return of Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., for St. Alban' , :, were found to be unexceptionable. The House then adjourned at a quartPr to Four o'clock. WORLD'S TENIPER - ANCE CON. VENTION. A meeting of the members composing this Conven tion, as well as of others interested in the Temperance cause, was held (in compliance with the call of the Committee of the National Temperance Society) yes terday evening, at Exeter Hall. The attendance, though not so numerous as upon former occasions, was still respectable, and the enthu siasm in favour of the cause, appeared to have suffered no diminution. Dr Beecher took the chair. and was surrounded by several of the most distinguished advocates of teeto talism. The CHAIRMAN said, when he wrote a book of six sermons in favour of temperance, he little thought it would have been so generally disseminated as it had been, having been written merely for the benefit of two friends. Less did he think that he should have been called upon to address a meeting in London on the subjEct• but, for tunately for him on the present occasion, it was not very difficult to preside at a London assembly. He would not offer any further observations, as they would be ad dressed by others far more competent to do justice to the subject than he was.—(bear, hear.) Mr. PARKER said that he had now been an abstainer for upwards of eight years from all alcoholic liquors. He could not refrain from contrasting the position in which they now stood to that which they aid some years ago. Some years ago, even in the workshops, to which line of life he belonged, it was the custom to ridi cule the teetotallers; and men amongst those who be longed to their Christian Church, and who led exem plary lives, were accustomed to join in the general feel ing, and to taunt them (the teetotallers) with being "over-righteous." He trusted that the cause would progress, and that they would be still enabled to extend their successes, and rescue still more of their brethren from the degradation and misery which ensued from the indulgence in intemperance.—(Hear.) Mr. H. PARKER said that if he had been aware that he should have been called upon to address the assem bly, he would have prepared himself, and would have been enabled to offer some observations which might have been worthy of their attention, They were, how ever, all aware of the evils of intemperance, and he eould but regret the apathy that prevailed in this coun try to their cause. This did not proceed from a want of generous feeling and sympathy for what was bene ficial to the human race, for it was shown too strongly in recent instances to doubt of its existence. The people of this country felt a just indignation when one of their fellow-creatures was lashed to death, and they could not withhold their pity from one who, under the influences of violent excitement. had committed the most heinous of crimes. Now for the tragedies of Hounslow and Guildhall the deepest sym pathies were excited. The papers teemed with leading articles on the former event, but there was not a word in reference to the cause of temperance, and yet he con tended that there was no cause more deserving of advo cacy or of popular sympathy than the cause they were endeavouring to promote. Notwithstanding all this, he believed the day would yet come, and it was not distant, when their cause would have the assistance of the civil authorities, as well as others, who would be able to con tribute to its success.—(Cheers.) The Rev. Mr. ANDREWS (of Philadelphia), said, " What does it avail a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" And, it might be added, would it avail them if they gave themselves up to the satiety of a sensual and gross indulgence? Intemperance was as destructive in its effects as the sirocco, with only this difference, that the former was exercised entirely on those who were made in the Image of their God. This being admitted, it was due to their fellow-creatures not , to rest satisfied with rescuing themselves from the deso lating influences of this destructive vice. This was the duty, not only (as it was sometimes supposed) of the Ministers of the Gospel, but of all who pretended to the name of philanthropists. Each had his proper depart ment, and in that he could be useful and successful. The ladies could be as useful in their spheres as any others. In one case, with which he was familiar, the success of the ladies had been most signal, And they had succeeded in rescuing their husbands from intemperance, and prevented their own town from being stigmatised with intoxication. The Washingtonian movement had contributed to the h f e as c h o i n o l n d a s h t l a o te to that he i n success that o o f o t u h n e t i r r y c a ir e w i a n s America, no longer and u n temperate.—(Hear. hear.) He thought that if the l ad ie s in this country could only succeed by their eloquence in winning their husbands from intemperance, that they would do well to visit America, where they would find a phalanx of females there, who would co-operate with them, and, no doubt, effect all they could desire.—(Hear.) The Rev. T. RAYNARD, of Philadelphia, said, that though an American by birth, he could notfail in feel ing, on his landing in this country, their common origin, and he trusted that their union in their present object would be still more common. In America no less than 30,000 fell victims annually to the degrading vice of in toxication, while in this country, though he hoped it was exaggerated, he had been informed that no less a number than 60,000 a year sunk prematurely to the grave from the same cause. He visited Waterloo, and while on the scene of the memorable engagement which had there taken place, he remembered what had been said by the eloquent historian, that 12.000 had fallen on the field. But what was the case with respect to intemperance ? Why, from the number of deaths that were recorded to have taken place in this country, there could not be less amornzst their fellow countrymen than 600,000 ine briants.— (Hear, hear.) In America the presbyterian clergymen had been most untiring in their exertions in the cause of temperance. In that country, among the clergymen whom he visited, he could conscientiously state that he had n, ver seen any alcoholic liquors on their tables. It was metaphysically true, that when a practice was indulged in, of whatevtr description it might be, the person who was accustomed to resort to it habitually, would in course of time proceed to justify that practice.—(Hear, hear.) Now, he could not help thinking that unless the clergymen of this country imitated the example of their Transatlantic fellow-ministers, and refrained from the use of alcoholic iquors themselves, that they must necessarily become the:advocates of its use in others, and at length become the ridiculers of those who profess the doctrines of te m peranee.--•-(Hear, hear.) Much remained in the hands of the females, and if they exerted themselves, there could be little doubt of their success.—(Hear, hear.) The Rev. Mr. OSBURN, of Rhode Island, after some few observations, said that on his way to Cork, he had the honour to visit Father Mathew, and to hear his opinion as to the present condition and prosperity of the cause. When he (the speaker) asked that Reverend Gentleman whether it was true, as had been asserted, that the cause of teetotalism was decreasing, Mr. Mathew answered, " No—it stands, at all events, in precisely the same condition • but I think it is increasing. I ad ministered the pledge to no less than 4,000 persons in Limerick yesterday."—(Hear and cheers.) Mr. K. A. SMITH, having passed a high eulogium on the chairman,- said that it had been asserted that educa tion would remove intoxication. So it would, certainly, if properly conveyed. But what was s enerally under stood by education would not effect this. He remem bered a case that had occurred lately at a police-office, which in some degree proved his assertion. A person was brought before a magistrate, charged with drunken ness. His appearance indicated that he belonged to a respectable class of society, and the magistrate, ad dri smog him with a severe countenance, fined him 55., and the following dialogue ensued : Prisoner—" I am extremely glad that I have the plea sure of your Worship's company, but it is greatly di minished, by thinking that I have to pay ss. for it. Megistrate—" Sir, you must learn to respect the bench. Prisoner—l can assure you I feel a great respect for the bench. I have a friend on the beach, ready to take the benefit of the Act. —(A laugh.) Magistrate—Young man, I must commit you. Prisoner—My friend, I have committed myself. - Magistrate—l must fine you ss. Prisoner—l wish I could find ss. I have not got a crown, I have only a sovereign. Magistrate—Well, you must change it. Prisoner—What, do you take me for a revolutionist. Change my Sovereign—l would not do it for the world. Magistrate (turning to the officer)—Why, this man is drunk. Officer—Yes, sir. He was not able to stand. Prisoner—No, lam not. I cannot stand 6s. Magistrate—Take him away. Let him be confined till he shall be sober. Prisoner—There is a fine magistrate. He first fines me for drunkenness and then orders me to be locked up till I got sober.—(Great laughter.) Now there was wit and a degree of genius, yet you see it had not the effect of preventing the poisessor from intoxication. The speaker, after some further observations, concluded by announcing that the collection would then be made. - After the collection the meeting was addressed by the Chairman '(who was obliged to leave), the Rev. J. Adams, the Rev. J. Marsh (United States). &c. &c., who urged the usual arguments in support of total ab stinence. The meeting then separated. r, ~ -...--....-,-,.-..,-- ,:-.6, , • › ~.•.;'-' ''- - - -- -;± -- t , J1 , ;„...). i. .4•; i....( 2 , •-„ . ..,,..-....\,,, sa.2 ,- - ,el-. ....-., • , ~•,\ _ i 1:-...--4,--..-. .1..._ --.. ,-' ~,. -_-•- - --1--i 1 i ,- , _ , :--- ; , , i I 0r)403 c e " ' - PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND). A BILL PurruLED AN ACT TO AUTHORISE T:'.}l APPLICATION OF MONEY FOR THE PURPOSES OF LOANS FOR CARRYING ON PUBLIC WORKS IN IRELAND. Whereas an Act was passed in the second year of the reign of his late Majesty King William the Fourth, inti tuled an Act for the Extension and Promotion of Public Works in Ireland: and whereas another Act was passed in the seventh year of the same reign, intituled an Act to amend an Act passed in the first and second years of his present Majesty, for the Extension and Promotion of Pub lic Works in Ireland: And whereas another Act was passed in the first year of the reign of her present Majesty, intituled an Act to amend the Acts for the Extension and Promotion of Public Works in Ire land: And whereas another Act was passed in the second year of the reign of her present Majesty, inti tuled an Act to authorise a further issue of Exchequi r bills for Public Works and Fish, ries and Employment of the Poor ; and to amend the Acts relating thereto. And whereas another Act was passed in the third year of the reign of her nresent Maj,sty, intituled an Act to externa and amend the paovisions of the Acts for th, Extension and Promotion of Public Works in Ireland ; and for the Recovery of Public Moneys advanced for the use of coun ties, parishes. and oth,, , r districts in Ireland, on the fai,h of Grand Jurr Presentments and Parochial Assess ments. And whereas another Act was passed in the fifth year of the reign of her present Majes:y, intituled an Act to atuhorise the advance of Money out of the Consolidated Fund to a limited amount, for carry ie.. on Public Works and Fisheries and Employ meat of the Peor ; and to amend the Acts authorising the issue of Exchequer-bills for the like purposes : And whereas another Act was passed in the seventh year of the reign of her present Majesty, intituled an Act to amend the Acts for carrying on Public Works in Ireland: And whereas another Act was passed in the ninth year of the reign of her present Majesty. intituled ae Act for the further amendment of the Acts for the Extension and Promotion of Public Works in Ireland: And whereas by an Act passed in the present session of Par liament, intituled an Act to authorise the advance of Money out of the Consolidated Fund for carrying on Public Works and Fisheries and Employment of the Poor, the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the time being are empow ered, by warrant under the hands of any three or more of them, to charge the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and to direct the issue or payment thereout to the account of the CommissiorPrs for the time being for the reduction of the national debt of a sum or sums of money not ex ceeding three hundred and sixty thou4and pounds per annum during the five years next ensuing the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty seven, by quarterly instalments or issues, not exceeding ninety thousand pounds per quarter, the same to become due on the fifth day of January, the fifth day of April. the fifth - day of July, and the tenth day of October in each year, the first instalment thereof to become due and pay able on the sth day of April, one thousand eight hun dred and forty-seven: And whereas sundry advances or loans have been made by the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland under the said first recited Act, and the several Acts since passed for amending and extend ing. the same ; for the purposes in the same Acts speci fied, and great benefits have been derived therefrom, and further advances or loans are required for the like objects: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty. by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the Commissioners of Public Works for the time being shall be Commissioners for the execu tion of this Act. 11. And be it enacted, That the said Commissioners 1 of her Majesty's Treasury, by warrant under the hands of any three or more of them, may direct from time to time, that out of the sum. not exceeding three hundred and sixty thousand pounds per annum, which by the said Act of this present session of Parliament they are au thorised to charge on the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and eit'eh they are authorised to direct to be paid to the account of the Commissioners for the re duction of the national debt during the term of five years next ensuing the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, by quar terly instalments or issues not exceeding ninety thousand pounds per quarter, as aforesaid, that there shall issue and be paid unto the said Commissioners for the re duction of the national debt during the said term of five years, a sum not exeeeding fifteen thousand pounds per quarter, to b at the disposal of the said Commissioners of Public Works, as hereinafter mentioned, such quar terly instalments or issues to become due en the fifth day of January, the fifth day of April, the fifth day of July, and the tenth day of October in each year, the first in stalment thereof to become due and payable on the fifth day of April. one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, 111. And be it enacted, that for the purpose of re ceiving the said quarterly instalments, the said Com missioners for the Reduction of the National Debt shall continue or cause to be continued the separate account already opened with them at the Bank of England, under the title of "The Commissioners for the Re duction of the National Debt, on account of tke Public Works Loan Fund for Ireland," which account the Governor and Company of the Bank of England shall, and they are hereby required, to continue in their hooks accordingly ; and the said Commissioners for the 11- , duction of the National Debt shall continue and keep. or cause to be continued and kept, in their of..fico, ,i.h,)ok or books, in which all moneys transferred to the said last-mentioned account by virtue of this Act, and the sa;d recited Act of the seventh year of the reign of her present Majesty, shall be kept apart from all other moneys. and such moneys shall be by the same Commissioners held subject to the disposal of the said Commissioners of Public Works for the several purposes of the said first-recited Act, and the other Acts amend ing the s ime, and of this Act. IV. And be it enacted, That when the said Commis sionera of her Majesty's Treasury shall have sanctioned any 1 under this Act or any of the above-recited Acts, ai d the said Cotntnissioners of Public Works shall have ascertained that any sum of money is required to be issued on account of such loan. they shall forthwith certify the amount of such issue to the Commissioners for the reduction of the national debt for the time being; and in every such certificate the loan in payment of which such issue is required, and the party or parties to whom such issue is intended to be made shall be stated; and upon every such certifi cate being produced to the officer of the said Commis sioners for the reduction of the national debt, the Comptroller- General, or Assistant-Comptroller, or chief clerk acting under the last-named Commis : sioners, shall upon the back of such certificate endorse and sign an order for the payment of the sum men tioned in such certificate to the Governor and Company of the Bank of England to be placed by them to the account of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, for the separate account and credit of the Paymaster of Civil Services in Ireland, on account of the Public Works Loan Fund for Ireland. to be by him paid over on the warrants of the said Commission ers of Public Works: Provided always, that approval of such issue by the Commissioners of ker Majesty's Trea sury shall appear on such certifica'e under the hand of one of their secretaries, and that the amount of such issue shall not exceed the sum for the time being stand ing in the name of the said Commissioners for the Re duction of the National Debt, subject to the disposal of the said Commissioners of Public Work.s. authority of the said recited Acts or thi. 'of] . 4 them, in such or the like manner as if particularly and severally re-enacted in ay/ 1 / 4 Tineffiktim Act, or as near thereto as the difference Or ttfe'cireuin stances will admit, except so far only us the same are amended or alte:ed by any of the said Acts or by this Act. V. And be it enacted, That every such order of the officer of the said Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, before the issuing thereof, shall be entered by the clerk or other proper officer, and shall be countersigned by the actuary or other chick officer act ing under the said Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and shall be addressed to the cashiers of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England ; and such cashiers, or one of them, shall, upon the pro duction of every such order, pay the sum mentioned therein to the Governor and Company of the Rink of England ; and the signature of one of the cashiers of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of Eng land, shall be a sufficient discharge to the said Commis sioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. XI. Ar,d be it enacted, That this Act may be amended or repealed by any Act to be passed in this session of Parliament. DRAINAGE-IRELAND. VI. And be it enacted, That the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt shall cause to be made up for examination and audit an annual account to the thirty-first day of December in each year of the recipts, payments, and balances on the said account so directed to be kept by them in respect of the said Public. Works Loan Fund for Ireland as aforesaid, and shall deliver the same to the Commissioners for auditing the public accounts. The following are extracts from the fourth annual re port of the Commissioners acting in pursuance of the Act sth and 6th Victoria, c. 89, with the Acts Bth and 9th Victoria, c. 69. and 9th Victoria, c. 4. amending the same. The said rep.irt ha; juit been presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of her lAtije,ty TO THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER 3IAJEsTY ' S TREASURY. Office of Public Works, Dublin, August 8. May it please your Lordships—',ve have the honour to submit this our fourth anointl report of procek flings under the provisions or the al'ov , --named Acts, for the year ended the 31st December, 1843 - I❑ our former reports we have described the operation and principles of the Drcina•,;e Act, and the general state of drainage in Ireland previous to the passing of the Acts above recited. To these reports, therefore, %‘e refer for information on these subjects, and now con tinue the account of our proceedings, and what may, to a great extent, he deemed the history of drainage in Ireland. VII. And be it enacted, That the Governor and Com pany of the Bank of Ireland shall continue the account already opened in their Books with the Pa) master of the Civil Services of Ireland under the title of " The Pay master of the Civil Services, on account of the repay rn, nt of loans for Public Works;" and moneys which shill from time to time be repaid in respect of loans made under this Act, or in respect of the intere't thereof, shall be carried to the credit of the same ac count. '[he results of the surveys and inquiries made during the year 1845, and the gradual progress of the works in course of execution, together with their success so far as they have been c)mpleted, clearly demonstrate the ad vantages to be derived both by individuals aid the pub lic from the general operation of the Drainage Acts, and have confirmed our view s as to t h e i r applicability to the present circumstances of this country ; we are further glad to observe that these results have given confidence to the parties interested. and have aroused very gene rally the attention of proprietors to the dormant capa bilities of the country, and the facilities afforded for their development. _ _ groin the date of our last report, the, 17th of June, 1845, to the termination of the year, there were but nine new applications received. but some of these were for districts of very considerable extent, involving not only measures of drainage, but of improvcri mill power and navigation. During the period referred to, in addition to the exe cution of works, and the holding of public meetings pur suant to the Act, our attention was directed to the com pletion of the preliminary surveys and inquiries in those parts of the country from which applications had been received, and more especially the extensive districts of Loughs Neagh, Corrib, Mask, and Carra, and the Shan non and Erne Junction navigations, all described in our last report, in which several projects, drainage, naviga tion, and mill-power are combined. In carrying out these preliminary inquiries we were to a considerable extent retarded by the extraordinary demand created by railway speculation fur the profes sional services of engineers and surveyors, of which all persons not controlled by fixed appointments naturally availed themselves. Another source of delay in our proceedings mostly was the difficulty experienced by parties interested in pro moting drainage measures, in raising by voluntary con tribution sufficient funds to defray the expense of the preliminary proceedings, as required by the original Act ; and this, coupled with the partial failure of the potato crop last year, and the consequent necessity which became, even then, apparent of providing for the labour ing classes increased employment this season, induced many parties to call urgently for an amendment of the Act, as regarded some of its provisions, with a view to expedite and facilitate our operations under it. The result has been the amended Act 9 Vict., c. which was passed by the Legislature early in the present year, by which greatly increased facilities have been afforded for carrying into effect the provisions and prin ciples of the original Act. _ The readiness - with which both proprietors and tenants have availed themselves of the provisions of the Drainage Acts to effect improvements, for the cost of which they are themselves respectively liable, affords an interesting evidence of the beneficial effect of the new law, and the advantage likely to accrue from its enactment. In addition to the facilities already afforded by the Legislature, the Government have intimated to the Commissioners, that in the three great projects of navi gation, connected with drainage, described in our last report—viz., Lough Neagh, the Junction Navigation, and Loughs Corrib, Mask, and Carra, as well as in a fourth now under examination, for opening a communi cation between Lo ug h E rne and the lakes adjacent, it is their intention to recommend a vote of Parliament for a free grant, to the extent of a moiety of the cost of the navigation portion of those measures, the other moiety to be paid by the baronies benefited ; while the cost of the works for the drainage of the adjacent lands will be defrayed by the proprietors of the _oil. This equitable and liberal proposition has given very LYoneral satisfaction, and the nece3sary proceedings under the Acts for carrying out the combined measures in question are now in progress. The memorials or numb, r of projects applied for under the Act up to the 31st of December, 1545. have amounted in all to 40 ; spread over 29 counties in Ireland, and comprising 140 347 acres, proposed to be drained and Unproved ; whilst the cost of the woiks f. r the combined purposes of drainage, navigation, and mill power, so far as the surveys have enabled us to estimate, may amount to about 793,000/. VIII. And be it enacted, That as soon as any sum of money shall have been so lodged to the credit of the said account of the Paymaster of Civil Services, on ac count of the repayment of loans for Public Works, the said Comrnissione'r for Public Works shall, upon a noti fication thereof, cause to be made out and delivered to the Paymaster cf Civil Services a statement of the proper appropriation of such payment, whether for ac count or interest or principal, or how much for each re spectivt ly, upon which the said Paymaster of Civil Ser vices shall cause to be prepared accordingly the proper receipt or voucher, and send the same to the said Com missioners of Public Works, who shall thereupon cause the sum or sums therein mentioned to be entered on the ito,:lts of the said Commissioners t o th e cre di t o f t h e l oan or account of which such payment shall have been made; and such receipt, when so entered, shall be delivered to the party or person on whose account such payment shall have been so made, and such receipt shall be suffi cieet discharge to the party or person paying the same. IX. And be it enacted, 'feat every sum of money shall be paid into the Bank of Ireland to the ac count of the Payrra.;ter of Civil Services, on account of the repayment of loans for Public Works under this Act, shall from time to time, immediately on such payments being made, be transferred to the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, to the account kept by the B.lnk of England with her Majesty's Ex chequer, and when so transferred shall be carried to and made part of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. X. And be it enacted, That all the enactinnts con tained in the said recited Acts relating to Public' Works is Ireland, or any of them, shall, except as herein oth(r 7 wise provided, extend to this Act, and to all things done or directed to he done by the said Commissioner's of her Majesty's Treasury, or the said Commissioners of Public Works, or their S.,cretary for the time being; or any other persons or bodies corporate, under this HARRY D. JONES. BROOK T. OTTLEY. J. RADCLIFF. WM. T. MULVANEY. BAREFACED SWINDLE. One of the most complete cases of " doing" a tradei man we have heard of for some time has been mentioned to us, in which the acuteness of Mr. Best, grocer, Cum brland- street, has decidedly been bettered, notwith standing the apparent paradox, in testimony whereof it may be stated that he has been victimised to the tune of some la It appears that some weeks since a woman, having the appearance of a servant, called at Mr. Best's house, and made some inquiries respecting his lodgings, representing that she was named Sarah Wilkings, and was the housemaid to Sir Robert Geneves, who, with " Lady Margaret," was staying at Cocktatn's, Exeter, and desired to reside a short time in this locality. Mrs. Best told the usual charge for her lodgings, namely five guineas per week, but an almost insuperable objection was raised in limine. The faithful housemaid had been instructed to hire lodgings at six guineas, and the worthy Baronet would not be content with any apart ments and attendance that cost less. The value re ceived seemed actually to be a less consider ation with him than the sum demanded. Oh ! he was so aristocratic, and Lady Margaret " such a, nice person." Mrs. Bust and the commissioned servant were about to part on the same; when the latter sug gested that the difficulty might be got over by a short and easy method, namely, upon the principle of a man being more satisfied by being '6 well pleased than well served ;" couldn't Mrs. Bost charge six guineas, and please all parties? This ought to have been sutllcient to disclose the dishonesty of the woman at once, but it was not perceived. Mrs. Best demurred to any such proceeding, but ultimately, the " housemaid" deter mined to write off to Sir Robert. In due course she alleged ;she had received an answer, and the lodgings were to be taken, the servant remaining there " to prepare the way before him." Presently a letter was received from Sir Robert by Wilkings, informing her of his expected arrival on a certain day,; and ordering a splendid dinner to be prepared. This was done in the best possible style, and by the most skilful " gastronomic regenerators," as the new fangled phrase now is. Lo ! no Sir Robert appeared, and in the misery of disappointment, Wilkings took the meats that now " coldly furnished forth the lodger's table," and by means of a subsequent " letter" managed to explain the cause of Sir Robert and Lady Margaret having broken appointment. Meanwhile goods came from all quarters for Sir Robert Geneves, and were handed to the eustody of the confidential house maid—she even went to a respectable person and en.. gaged her daughter as a lady's maid, to wait upon the very nice Lady Margaret." Other dinners were or dered, other disappointments ensued, other cold meats came to the share of Sarah. At length a letter was received from Sir Robert, in which he said, " give my compliments to Mrs. Best," and Mrs. Best, who kne w nothing of the lion. Baronet, and who believed the lion. Baronet knew nothing of her, thought this rather too strong. Shortly after a letter was dispatched to Coekram's, and an answer returned to the effect that no such parties as Sir Robert and Lady Geneves were known at the New London. The clever Sarah was up to a thing or two, and either getting scent of this, or thinking she had gone as far as she could venture with. safety or convenience to herself, walked off as much ask she possibly could of " Sir Rohirt's articles," fur, nished by parties in Stonehouse and elsewhere, and quietly set her locomotives to work on Monday last, since which time she has not been heard of. A war rant has beets issued for her apprehension.—Deuon port Paper. The Derorport Independent gives a long account of an excursion made by her Majesty to Cotehele House on Fri day morning. Her Majesty returned at four o'clock, and dined on board the Victoria and Albert. Prince Albert was t‘) make an excursion to Dart more on Saturday, and on Mon day (yesterday) the royal party left for the Scilly Wanda. visiting Falmouth and St. Michael's Mount on their way thither. PAINTING ON LAVA.—On this subject, respecting which we offered some remarks in ou r l as t number, hr. Delecluze has stated some particulars to the Journal d Debats, which we may here recapitulate. The process (he says) is not new, but was prttjeated twenty years ago, by Pd. Morteleque, a manufacturer of vitrifiable colours. Occupied during much of his life in perfectin ,, the art of enamel painting, he experimented on various substances with a view to obviating the injurious effects of the expansion and con traction of the metals on which the white enamel for the reception of painting is ordinarily applied. After many attempts, M. Morti•leque thought of lava—but there remained to be overcome one objection to paintings on enamel—a certain vitreous appearance, unsuitable to the imitation of opaque objects. To the cure of this ,evil M. MortiAeque now devoted his efforts; and having obtained a white enamel capable of being applied on lava, and whose elements permit the use of colours and their simul taneous development, he composed a white, which, mixed with other colours, gives them a solidity of tone, that brings enamel painting nearly to the perfection of painting on oils,, and even allows of re-touching to an important extent. His son-in-law, M. Hachette, followed in the sante course; and amongst those who were struck with the applicability of this process to the decoration of edifices was M. Hittorf, the architect of Saint Vincent-de-Paul. The material i n (1110 ) . 1 .. lion was brought into use fir the inscription of the i n i a t z% an f -treets in the capital. M. Abel de Puj ol altar of the church of St. Elizabeth; and a it ci 7 y for historical deter mined to make that attempt upon has r gaited in thestrikinik then compositions on a vast scale, which t. emp lo ye d performance by M. Jollivet.-41r .. ~_ TIDAL HARBOURS. Mr. HUME wlshed to ask the Honourable the Secre tary of the Admiralty whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill for the protection of tidal harbours, and if not, what were their intentions upon the subject ? Mr. WARD said that a Bill on the subject had been bequeathed them by the late Government, which Bill was founded upon the report of a commission of which the Hon. Member for Montrose was himself a Member. He (Mr. Ward) thought that the most prudent course to adopt would be to allow the Bill to be brought forward in its present shape, and printed, when any objections that might be urged against it might be considered ; and in the course of the next session a more perfect Bill should be brought in, to prevent the misapplication of the funds which were now in the hands of ditferentcorporations. BRAZIL Mr. HL ME wished to know from the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what was the present situation of affairs between this country and the Brazils, in order that the merchants o ti is country might know in what position they stood with regard to the latter country. Lord PALSIERSTON regretted that the relations between this country and the Brazils were at the present moment in rather a difficult position as regarded the British residents in that country, but he was not awn, e that any serious inconvenience had been felt by those who had any commercial intercourse with that country. . The 1101180 was aware that considerable The WEATHER and the HARVEST The prospects of the harvest have not become brighter during the present week. In Western Yorkshire we have not had a day without - rain siuce Sunday, and Thursday was a compl e t e ly soa ki ng , d am aging day, with almost incessant rain, and scarcely a breath of wind to counteract its injurious effects. Though the rain has ceased, the. weather is still gloomy, with a. " changeable" ba:ometer and hale briskness in the wind. Some corn has been cut in this neighbourhood during the week, but very little stacked. In the prin cipal wheat-growing counties of the South, a good deal of produce had already been secured in fair condition, though there they complain of an excess of moisture. In the Midland counties the harvest is tolerably ad vanced, but there is still a great deal of corn eut and uncut in the fields. The tendency of the corn markets under these circamstances, is naturally upwards, and further advances are anticipated. Should the unfavour able harvest weather cause any considerable portion of the English grain of the present year to prove more than usually soft and unsound, we sh,dl require a large quantity of fine dry old foreign grain to mix with our home-grown stock ; • and the 1,660.399 quarters of wheat entered for home consumption in the first six months of the present year, followed by further sup plies, will be found available for rendering the food of the people wholesome and n tritious till the next har vest. This will be one of th first-fruits of the new corn-law, a consequence whic the general failure of the potato crop will render invaluable. As to that crop, we must refer for a view of its alarming co n dition to other parts of our present p a p er ; we only remark here that in England, Scotland, and Ireland, th e accoun t s a r e month of August of the year 1845. Wh a t ever ma y b e ' m th u equ m al o it r y e or dispiriting the present harvest, the s u pp l y of fo od for cattle will be must abundant ; already an unusuall y large quantity of hay of prime quality has been secu re d ; t h e meadows th e quantity this of human f oo d pro d uce d b y year than th ey were i n th e ch and pastures are full of herbage from th e ra i ns of July and. August; and the turnip crop has se ld om b een so promising as at the present season.— Leeds Mercury. SIIEAREIa WAGES.—Harvesters, notwithstanding the numerous arrivals from Ireland, as well as from parts of the West Highlands, s to be scarce throughout the coun try; while wages, re ' sglated by suppl— , and demand—are consequently hig h. In llumbarton!thire, as high as four shillings and sixpence, and even five shillings per day has been paid for resident shearers, two of them being, it is said, preferable to three promiscuously hired at our Cross, where wages have this week ranged from 2s. 6d. to 3 s . 6d. The following wage s have been, paid elsewhere :—ln Hen frewshire, 3s. to 4e. per day i in East Lothian, 18s. to 20s. per week, with victuals; in /slid-Lothian, 16s. and 18s. per acre, without victuals, is the common rate; in Stirlingshire, men 165.,6d. to 215., women 11e. to 12s. per week. In other parts of Scotland, as well as throughout the North of England, wages are proportionably high, and shearers in great demand. the numbers of reapers WllO have this week arrived here from Ireland is about 7,000 or 8,000. The demand for harves t labourers is not diminishing, but, on the contrary, will increase if the weather continue fine.— Glasgow Saturday Post. Nor QUITS DEAF Errou9if.—A curious incident oc curred last week before the Civil Tribunal of the Seine: A medical man, whose wife ball fortune in her own right, ap plied to the tribunal to compel her to grant him a mainte nance, on the ground of . his having become so deaf as to be unable to follow his profession. The wife declared, through her advocate, that her husband was only deaf b ecause h e would not hear, and thereforeobtected to his application. The pleadings on both sides being over, the President of the Tribunal, turning to the husband; who was prese n t, sa id to him in a moderate tone of voice,_ You are then a b so l ute l y destitute of the means of support?" "Oh yes, sir, abs o l u t e l y , absolutely," replied the husband, forgettinghis deafne s s. The tribunal instantly dismissed his suit.—Par is Paper, HERRING FISHING. ANSTRUTIIER, AII9. 17.—We have a very heavy take of herrings here to day. The fishing ground is about one mile off Pittenweern, and it is a beautiful sight to witnesi upwards of 200 boats and 1,000 men employed in drawing the treasures from the deep. The fishing is conducted at pre sent not by floating but by anchoring the herring nets, and the boats are proceeding constantly to-day to and from the fishing-ground, with cargoes of from 30 to 50 barrels, which are selling at lls., but the price will speedily fall, if the draughts continue to be as heavy as they have been, of which there is every appearance, as the weather is fine, the water smooth, and tides favour able. We hear that the price is down to eight shillings at a neighbouring town. BANFF.—The herring fishing has met, during the past week, along this side of the Moray Firth, with signal success. It is remarkable that the fishing has been at one and the same time so genera! along our coast ; goo I fortune has spread her rich gifts to every station nearly alike. Another such week would close the season ; and thee► in the memory of few could it be said that in the third week of August, the fishermen, flushed with suc cess, had returned to their homes. PETERHEAD, AUG. 17.—The average of the 400 boats fishing here amounts, at this date, to eighty-two craps and a half. FRASENBURGH, AUG. 17.—During 'the past week the herringfishing here has been prosecuted with much suc cess. The 284 boats fishing average to this date, up wards of 130 trans each, and a number of the boats have already delivered their agreed for quantity of 200 trans. The quality of the fish is, with few exceptions, excel lent.— Scogoza"'