The Sun. — London, England, 1846-06-09 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES, (Y ESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. GROUP I. IMPORTAN T DECISION. LONDON AND YORE (THE EASTERN COUNTIES). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The CHAUMAN said—l have to request your attention to the case of the landowners on the line. There is the case of the Archbishop of York, where you interfere with his property. I think you should have clauses to meet his objections to the present interference with his property. . _ Lord VivreN—There is also the case of Mr. Chapman. I think something must be done for the landowners. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE said that he had to inform their Lordships that clauses which met with the approval of the landowners had been drawn up. _ _ _ The clauses of the Bill were then proceeded with, and after some amendments they were agreed to. The following Bills, being unopposed, were called on and agreed to : The York and North Midland Railway (widening and enlarge ment), the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Extension Railway, and the Ely and Huntingdon (Bedford Extension). The Committee said that they would report to the House, if pos sible, that evening, and pray to be discharged. The Committee then adjourned to four o'clock on Thursday, when they will meet pro forma, if discharged from further attendance, and if not, to select the first Bill to be heard out of the following in the group : The Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway ; the Doncaster, Wakefield, and Leeds Railway ; the Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway, and Chesterfield and Gainsburough Canal ; the Manchester, Midland, and Great Grimsby Junction Railway; the Lynn and Ely (Extension to March) ; the Lynn and Ely (Extension to Spalding) ; the Wisbeach, St. Ives, and Cambridge Junction Railway ; and the Stamford and Spalding Railway. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP IL CORNWALL Tus.xx.w.a.v. The Committee met as usual ; Viscount Morpeth in the chair. The witnesses examined this day were, Sir Charles Napier, M.P., Mr. Harrison, Mr. Ramsden, Mr. Walker, the Admiralty engineer, Mr. .Mainewright, and Mr. Taylor. The evidence was almost en tirely confined to the effect which the railway would have upon the navigation of the Harn oaze . The bridge proposed to be constructed over the river would be 70 feet in height. It was considered that the trains crossing the Llamoaze by means of a steam ferry would be a great inconvenience to the navy, and of the river, if not altoge ther impracticable. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP VIII. AYRSHIRE AND GALLOWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)l This line, which is proposed to run from a point on the Solway Firth, near to Kirkcudbright, through New Galloway, Carspbairn, and Dalmellington, to the port of Ayr, was then proceeded with. There are several petitioning landowners against the Bill, and the Glasgow and Belfast Union Company also opposes the project, on the ground that it competes with their line at the Ayr termination. Mr. Sergeant Bellasis and Mr. Calvert appeared for the pe titioners. Mr. ParrEs opened the c 'se on behalf of the promoters. He stated that the line was fitly-eight miles in length, and was proposed to connect the Solway Firth at Balcarry Bay with the Firth of Clyde at Ayr, so as to open up one of the best mineral districts in Scotland. Mr. Williamson, mining engineer, deposed as to the mineral field along the route of the line. It was called the Dalmcilington Coal- Field, and commenced at Patua. It abounded id coal, limestone, and ironstone. The line passed seven miles through the field. There were large quantities of blackband ironstone, which in many places rose to Use surface. The railway would lie of great service In affording outlets to the minerals. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XVII. MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON, AND SOUTH-WESTERN (ROMSEY AND ELED BRIDGE BRANCH). The Committee met this morning, at twelve o'clock ; the lion. E. Yorke in the chair. The first witness called was Mr. Joseph Clarke, snperintendent of steam-vessels, plying between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth and Southampton, who stated that 14,980 persons passed to and fro an nually ; 12,480 between Southampton and Havre, and 129,400 annu• ally, who embarked and disembarked at the Royal Pier. Direct communication between Southampton and Cheltenham was mueh wanted. _ _ . . Mr. W. Squire, merchant and shipowner in the Isle of Wight, stated that the glass manufactories of Birmingham were supplied with sand from the Isle of Wight, which was now shipped at Yar mouth, in the Isle of Wight, and sent round the coast to Gloucester, tram whence it was transmitted to its destination by canal; but it was attended with great delays and inconveniences. The demand for sand had increased in consequence of the reduction of the duty upon glass. One of these complaints emanated from Mr. P. Harris, one of the largest glass manufacturers In Europe, who stated that he had 300 of his workpeople unemployed, in conse quence of the irregular supply of the commodity, whom he said he should be compelled to discharge if he did not get a supply imme diately. Mr. P. Harris, glass manufacturer, at Islington, near Birmingham, corroborated the statement of the last witness. The sand from the Isle of Wight was of a superior quality. Continuous communication without break of gauge with the north would be most advantageous. Mr J. George, grocer at Romsey, had sugar from London which came round the coast. The Manchester and Southampton would be of more advantage than the Romsey and Redbridge Railway, as it opens up direct communication in addition to the north. - Mr. G. Powell, ironfounder, Andover, considered that the proposed line would save him 11. in the conveyance of his goods. The pre sent delays and expense of transit prohibited the extension of his business. He should save ss. per ton in the transit of timber. Con sumed about 400 tons in the course of the year, 300 tons of which he obtained from Wales, and the remainder from Scotland. By the line proposed he should be able to compete more successfully with other manufacturers. Mr. J. Rawlings, an estate agent in Wilts, detailed at great length the advantages which the line would confer on all the districts it would traverse. The Cemmittee adjourned until 12 to morrow. GROUP XVIII. EXETER (GREAT WESTERN). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) J. W. Buller, Esq., late M.P. for Exeter, and Mr. Drummond, of Exeter, gave evidence in favour of the line; also regarding the western traffic. Mr. Mitchel!, M.P. for Bridport, and Mr. Wells, magistrate of Brldport, gave evidence in favour of the line. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XX. This Committee met at twelve o'clock this morning, in Room 31 Air. Sotheron in the chair. LONDON, HOUNSLOW. AND WESTERN. The examination of witnesses on the p.trt of the petitioners against the Bill was proceeded with. The first two witnesses examined were market-gardeners, who gave their opinion that the proposed line would be of little or to use to their business, and that it would be used by very few gardeners. The COMMITTEE expressed their opinion that any further evidence on this point would be superfluous. Mr. Nelson, a solicitor, a , 41 one of the petitioners, was then called, and spoke to the injury this line would do to certain property be longing to him at Putney. As laid down the line would pass through his house, and even using the extreme limits of deviation the line would pass close to the wall. It would also do great injury to the property of Lady Shelley and others. Mr. Salter, clerk to the Hammersmith vestry, gave evidence as to a meeting of the Hammersmith vestry, at which a resolution con demnatory of this line w,is passed almost unanimously. An amend ment was proposed, but only 27 members voted, and of these 9 were for, and 18 against the amendment. Mr Hughes. a salesman, in Covent-garden market, gave evidence against the Hill. Mr. Warren, a land surveyor, was then called, and said that he had made an estimate of the cost of the land proposed to be taken by this line, which he said would not be less than 104,720/. The Rev. Mr. Baker, the rector of Fulham ; Mr. Panter, con tractor; Mr. Charles Lloyd, farmer, and other witnesses, gave ge dence against the Bill. Mr. Key, secretary and manager of the Fulham Omnibus Association, stated that he had held that situation about thirtgen months. There were nineteen omnibuses belonging to the Association, and all the om• nibuses going to and fro between Fulham and Lonrion were Included in this number. Each of these emnibuses made twenty-nine journeys per week—four on every week day, and three on Sundays ; 560,149 passengers were carried by these omnibuses in the course of the week, being, on an anverage, twenty-one passengers per journey. The omnibus fare was but sixp,nce the whole way; it would be much more by the railway, and the saving of time would not be very great. Not more than one-fifth of the existing traffic would go by the railway. Mr. Turrel, secretary to the Hammersmith Omnibus Association, gave similar evidence to that of Mr. Key. Mr. Hughes, civil engineer, was then called, and gave evidence against the Bill, showing how, by a deviation (not within their limits), a line mcch superior, in his opinion, to the Hounslow and Western, might be made. It would be shorter by one mile, and would inflict much less residential damage. Mr. Garling4a surv, yor, gave evidence as to the manner in which the line would pass through certain private property, and more especially as to the injury to the property:et a Miss Anderton, which he said would be rendered almost useless by the line passing through it in the manner proposed. As it was then intimated that there was one more witness to be called, but he was not now present, The Committee, after some discussion, rose at half-past three o'clock, and adjourned till Wednesday (to-morrow being the Queen's birth-day), with the understanding that they would not sit on ThUllidtty, but on rising on Wednesday would adjourn till Friday. GROUP XXIV. ELY AND BURY. The Committee on this line re-assembled at one o'clock, Mr. Gran ville Vernon in the chair, when Mr. S. Valentine, the engineer of the line, gave the general en gineering evidence,which showed the gradients to be exceedingly easy, and the earthworks small. The estimates for the works are 180,2371., and for land 49,7631. ; making a total of 230,0001. for the whole of the expense. To Mr. HOLMES the witness replied that he had been instructed to lay out such a line as would effect a through traffic, but Lynn was not a primary consideration in this line. An endeavour was made to show that the proposed communication between Weedon and Cambridge would satisfy the requirements of the district. The line i would run, like the Eastern Counties Extension, fora mile over fen, the height of the embankment for which would be 14 feet, which he pro- Posed to lay down on the surface, withoet digging out to form a bottom. The width of the embankment at the bottom would be 86 feet, the width at the top 33 feet, and thelslope 1% to I. There was another Point at 13 miles, 2 furlongs where there was bog, but the depth of it he had not ascertained, not conceiving fenny it necessary, as he proposed to cart t ry the line on a le ve l. There vas land but nothing rulY could be called bo g . LO ascertain th e depth of the He had bored In Lveral places proposed to erect brig beg, but only where he cessity to do this, j e : • For an embankment there was no ne to the other. He intenhdecclaitVbry was perfectly sound from one end b rd z a bridge at Ely, where he had bored, and found the depth to feet, and had not bored at any other place. There wits a a feet in depth at the end of tine third furlong, but that he thought sv. d to cross the Ooze at s tation, and very near the spot where the Eastern behind i t mnedlment. He pro he Eastern Counties 23im le Union ssiuiio gr ,, o . cogil . to cross It. The wholelength ofthellne tad IL), the total cuttings 432,1-33 yards. They and 80 links, and taking the whole length of the line the ' side an' cut tings would be 81,298 yards, crossed 33 roads, of which 31 would be crossed at a level - Th e rail. way was crossed at Son ham at the express desire of theinhanttrannts b were Jay a bridge. There be eight stations on h There is a special agreement between the Eastern Counties Hall way and the Lynn and Ely Cnmptheany that the latter should have the. free use of the station of formerte cross the Sark four and a mile of the railway gratuitously. It was propose d times between Mildenhall and Bum the . distanencs. H distance being miles, but these crossings would be within sib ts epro n p le os ve ed n to obviate the flood water by timber viadu • be twenty feet span, w hile the bridges at present in existence were In The bridges would only twelve feet. Mr. Itastrick, the eminent engineer, confirmed the whole of the evidence of Mr. Valentine, the enigneer of the line, especially with - r th e needlessness to the s oun d ness of the line in the fenny di s t r i c t, and needlessness for boring, except for the foundations of brick or stone 'bridges. Mr. Allan Ransom, a machine maker, especially of agricultural im plements, at Ipswich, testified to the dock accommodation of that town, and also as to the extent of the trade with Holland, and the advantage this line would be of in opening the communication with Lincolnshire and the western counties. The distance from Harwich to Rotterdam was 145 miles, while the latter place was 248 miles from London. Harwich is a harbour of refuge, and the only one between the Thames and the Humber. Taking the whole district into consideration, for all the general purposes of business, although the populations on both lines were pretty equal, the Bury and Ely line would give the best accommo dation. But, considering Newmarket as an Important place, he thought that the Ipswich and Bury would afford the best accommo dation, and Mildenhall was not a place of sufficient importance to justify the withdrawal of the line from the best districts. So far as Lynn was concerned, the same benefits would arise as would occur to Ipswich. The Ipswich and Bury line was shorter, anti would be nearer both to Newmarket and Cambridge ; and he could see no ad vantages to be derived from the Ely and Bury line which were not conferred by the Ipswich line. 1' o Mr. ilowrnw tex, t h e witness replied that he employed about 740 men, of whom somewhat less than one-half were engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements, the rest were occupied in the making heavy machi nery, but the trade is restricted or the want of railway accommodation. To Mr. BaokLy the witness replied, that nine tenths of their iron was brought from Newport, which came by water to Ipswich. All the produce of Holland, or intended for that country, which came from or was Intended to go to the south-east of England, would doubt less go through London ; but that which may be intended fer the interior and to the west would go by Harwich, especially the oats, which may hereafter be imported from Poland and carried to Newmarket and to that neighbourhood. • . Qa cross-examination, Mr. Ransom stated, that although it had been intended to Igo to Newmarket, yet that branch had been abandonled in - favour of the Chesterfield and Cambridge line. The witness was than cross-examined as to the respective advan- Liget of the severarports, which Mr. Ransom gale in faTour of Ips. • s ',rich ; and to which Mr. O'Malley replied that the tonnage on goods was rated in the port dues according to the size of the vessels in which , they were carried, varying from Id. per ton to Is. 6d. on vessels of 500 tons. _ After some observations from the CHAIRMAN, Mr. O'Malley was proceeding, when the time for breaking up arrived, and the Com mittee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-n orrow. GROUP XXXIX. OLDHAM DISTRICT. The Committee assembled to-day at twelve o'clock, Mr. Divett in the chair, when Mr. Clayton gave evidence as to the relative utility of the exten sion of the Manchester line, called the Oldham and:Manchester, or as it was otherwise called the Birkenhead line. The evidence adduced in the early part of the day went to show that the Oldham District lines were the most advantageous, partly from their opening the coal-fields better, and partly from the circumstance of there being two termini, one at the east end and the other at the west end of Oldham, while the Birkenhead line proposed only one, which is intended to be in the centre of the town. A large tract of land on Broadbent Moss might be brought into cultivation if the facilities likely to be afforded by this railway were obtained.te the Mr. Sergeant WBANGHAM cross-examined, and elicid t h e termini, it held in Oldham in its favour. With respec t to had been traffic on the Birkenhead line, and that mee tin g s appeared that they would have to reach ter and Leeds was now being formed by the Manches b o th by a hill, and a tunnel Com pany to go under the town. the price of house-fire coal was s ived that the York at.or a u l t hy about s pec t t lo o s . coo tort ght co m ai des be be a fo u r s e e h sh e ir w e as co o Oldham. The witness coAnngede t to l o ike o l ar y the railways were made. al wa w re as th n a o t The usual time of transit to Manchester tatogeswupasersreodre seventhe Oolrdhe.ami was half an hour, though he believed it was sometimes three quarters. To Mr. Foca the witness replied that he conceived the Yorkshire coal would not go to Saddleworth, for it never bad been, but that might be in consequence of the want of railway accommodation. He could say nothing of the probable management of the district lines, as he had taken no part in the direction, although a shareholder ; though he conceived that stoppages would arise there, as many lines met. He was generally acquainted with the trade of the dis trict, but could speak to no details. to Mr. Wright, Deputy-Chairman of th e line, was examined and cross-examined at great l eng th , and stated that the Man chester ! the Leedsand d mpany by whom the ok h Company ooene-whasalf toofhe the worked, capitai and to whom it was to be leased at a certain rate of per centage. By a clause in the Bill a power was to be given to sell the line altogether, but the right of voting in the Leeds and Manchester Company was only one vote for two shares, while the Oldham Dis trict Company was one vote for one share; and there was another clausiz—on which the point of amalgamation —the present established Company were prevented from voting at all. There could be no question as to the superiority of the convenience of the two termini instead of one. These lines would so open up the communication with Rochdale, Bolton, and all the surrounding districts. As respects coals, he believed that the consumption of coal fur house purposes was about equal to that used for team engines. He himself was a cotton-spinner, had three steam engines, and consumed about 1,000 cwt. In the cotton man facture there were 80 steam-engines, with an aggregate of 2,795 horse power; the number of hands employed were 14,280, and the quan tity of coals consumed was about 99,944 tons ; the quantity of cotton and worsted made was about 42,804,0001b5. There had been a great number of Paris velvet hats made of cotton at Oldham, a business which might be very largely increased. Mr. Platt, a partner in the machine manufacturing firm of Platt and Co., of Oldham, stated that they employed more than 980 hands, that they received more than 5,500 tons of pig iron, and 250 tons of bar iron. They consumed 900 tens of coke, and sent to the several places around machinery to the value of 165,1481., making a tonnage of 15,000 tons ; of this quantity, Insufficient as the railway accommodation might be, goods to the worth of 81,0001. were even now sent by railway, and there was a general desire among those whom they supplied to have the goods sent by railway. The witness testified to the necessity of further accommodation, and to the dissitisfaction of the public in Oldham with the management of the Leeds and Manchester line. Mr. Schofield, a timber merchant, stated that it cost more to bring timber from the wood•growing district of Masborough, near Sheffield, than it did to bring it from Dundee and London, until the Sheffield Railway was opened. The announcement of the Speaker being at prayers was made, and the Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XLVI. The following Bills are comprised in this new group, viz.:— Newcastle and Darlington Junction and Tyne Dock. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh, and Direct Glasgow Junction, Wear Doek Railway. Newcastle and 'Berwick. Newcastle and Carlisle Extension. Newcastle and Darlington, Durham and Sunderland, and Wear mouth Dock Purchase and Branches. Northumberland and Lancashire Junction. The Committee assembled at a few minutes to two o'clock in room 13 ; present Mr. Bramstona (chairman), and the other Mem bers. The list having been read through, it appeared that the parties roinoting the Wear Dock Railway, and the Northumberland and ancashire Railway, had abandoned these Bills. NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON, DUR HAM AND SUNDERLAND, AND WEAR MOUTH DOCK b. PURCHASE BRANCHES. Precedence was given to this Bill, and, the formal business having been gone through, Mr. HILDYARD, counsel for the promoters said, thst the object of this Bill was to construct branches to a railway called the Newcastle and Darlington, which Bill had received the sanction of Parliament in 1842. The advantages of that line were admitted, and their object was now to improve it still further. He would call the attention of the Committee to the im portance of the objects sought by the promoters of the Bill before them. At the first branch off Sunderland there was a population of sixty thousand persons, who were provided with the requisite accommodation. A Bill for the improvement of the docks south of the Wear had received already the sanction of Parliament this year. The present mode by which the people of Sunder land went southward was most inconvenient, because in effecting that object they had to go northward, which would be obviated by the proposed branch, the esti mate for which was 178,0001. Tne only opposition offered to the Bill was, with respect to the last branch, namely, from fietton to Fenchurch, and that by a party through whose property the line did not pass. It appeared that there was a tram-road on the line, which had been constructed for the purpose of conveying coals, and which traversed their property. The party petitioning complained that as this rain-road was in the neighbourhood of his property, the same would be injuriously effected by the railway if any diversion of the traffic from the tram road should ensue, as he was paid a certain sum by the parties who had constructed this tram road. He trusted that under these circumstances the Committee would not entertain for a moment this petition. It was a fact that Parliamentary Committees had not allowed compensation to canal companies for injury done to their property in this way. If it should so happen that any portion of the petitioner's property was invaded by this railway liberal compensation would be given. The other branches would yield great accommodation to the district through which they would pass, and a firrther accommodation would be afforded to Durham. He trusted, in conclusion, that, without trespassing at any consider able length on the time of the Committee, that he should obtain his Bill. Mr. Harrison (engineer of the line), was then examined as to the advantages of the line, to which he bore testimony. Mr. R. Nicholson, of Newcastle, engineer, corroborated Mr. Har rison's statement as far as regarded his neighbourhood. Mr. Hynde, M.P., was also examined, and stated that the line would be very beneficial to Newcastle. After hearing some observations from counsel in support of the petition against the Bill, The Committee decided that the preamble of the Bill was proved, with the exception of the branch from Fenchurch to iletton. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP LILL SHROPSHIRE UNION AND CANAL (CITES- TER. TJ WOLVERHAMPTON). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) In his cross-examination, Mr. Provis said—His instructions from Mr. Stephenson were to bring this line into Wolverhampton on the same level with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and not the Ox ford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway Company. Supposing that the last-named railway entered Wolverhampton on the narrow gauge, as an engineer he should certainly consider any new scheme of railway entering the same town Incomplete if it did not enter on the same level, if Parliament sanctioned no other line. Mr. Robert Stephenson said he had been employed by this Company as consu!ting engineer, and he recommended the present scheme. He had duly considered all other schemes before he came to the decision that the present was the most likely to confer the greatest benefit on the construction and at the least expense. This line would afford the best levels, and it was, certainly, beyond all question, the best that could be made between Birkenhead and Staffordshire. The importance of the heavy mineral traffic that would flow upon this line could not be overrated, and this line would decidedly be superior to the Grand Junction Company's line in that respect. That line was better calculated for passenger traffic, and if this line were sanctioned he was of opinion that the result would be that heavy traffic would pass along it whilst the light traffic would be carried by the Grand Junction Company. This line was not mixed up with the competing systems in any way. Cross-examined—He did not look upon the line as a rival of the Grand Junction scheme. It was the desire of the Shropshire Com pany to convert their bankrupt canal into a railway, and so benefit themselves as well as the public. This line, however, would no doubt compete with the Grand Junction. The object of this company in laying down this line was to form the best means of railway com munication between Birmingham and Ireland, and he now believed that it would prove to be so, if formed. Ile was of opinion that rail ways would eventually have the effect of drying up all the canals in the kingdom. The line would take Wolverhampton at a high level, and after a most minute and frequent examination of the subject, he was of opinion that a hi ,h level would Ise decidedly the best for the people of Wolverhampton. By adopting a high level he was enabled to carry the line into the heart of the town. Had a low level been selected, he should have been prevented from doing so by the canals, &c. So convinced was he of the desirableness of railways having elevated stations, that he was at present going to some expense for the purpose of devising how every railway might enter towns at high levels, which would have the effect of accelerating the trains at starting. Re-examined—He advised the company not to carry their line at present into the town of Wolverhampton until some arrangement could be made with the other schemes. Mr. LAING said that the Company's other engineer, Mr. Cubitt, was at that moment giving evidence before the Committee that had to decide on the London and York scheme. The lion. CHAIRMAN said that they had heard sufficient engineer ing evidence, nor would it be necessary to hear the evidence of an other gentleman—the manager of the Birmingham and Gloucester Canal—who was absent on a previous day, and who would give fur ther evidence as to the effect which the construction of railways had on canals. Mr. Stee then gave traffic evidence. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE here asked whether it was the Intention of the Committee to sit to-morrow ? The Hon. CHAIRMAN, after consulting with his colleagues, said, yes, I think we'll sit to-morrow; we have have bad so many holi days of late, that unless we proceed pretty rapidly we shall not finish our business in proper time. Mr. Sergeant KtNGLAKE—I merely asked for the convenience of the witnesses. Mr. Pare was then called to speak as to the traffic . ; after which Mr. Cowan was called, and proved that the amount of shares sub scribed for was 149,2501., and the amount deposited 313,4251. Mr. Rouse having given his evidence, Mr. LAING said that this closed the promoters' case.. Mr. Sergeant KINGLARE then proceeded to address the Committee against this scheme, and on behalf of the Worcester and Stafford shire Junction Canal Company. He complained that Mr. Austin and those Learned Counsel who were with him had most prudently endeavoured to keep back from the Committee the im portance of this s u bj ec t. H e was no t surprised to hear Mr. Austin and Mr. Stephenso n say that the canals of this country must be dried up to give place to railways. But he contended that We public were vitally interested in preserving those canals for the purpose of keep ing alive that rivalry which must exist if railways and canals ex isted at the same time. That, in fact, was the intention of the Legis lature. In various instances the Legislature had no doubt saactioned the conversion of isolated canals into railways, and his htwatee w as the Learned Friend Mr. Austin had attempted to make the C omm i t t ee believea,l tb that the present was just as simple as the cases of th ose isolatedasnogre great city nfcanal, London for l t a w n a d s the piv war ar p t o a e l , co-amn dmunicatioe had been used from intervening. It co lthe time of its opening for the use of the districts tween Wolverharn not t./ considered merely as a communication be opinion that the presenrw Liverpool. And if the Committee were of London and Liverpool, we re they link of communication between the great accommodation which U s repared to deprive the public of since its opening ile doubted nal had afforded to the public sanction the " drying up" of this whe therrailway the Legislature would taken place before a Select Committee of t he what had already mons, this Committee would find that this rna House of Corn trifling as represented by Mr. Austin. Th at s t e t a t wae not as had decided that the public should not, exc e pt , .n very few instances d of the present canal ew Indeed, be deprive. c ommunication in E:ngliu d the public had bargained when the '. For that advantage differe nt railway Acts had passed. H a ving made these remarks, lie referred the second report of the Select Commit tee a the C ed to consider the subject to n of railway and canal -- amalgamati on , • t poin t it became known that the conversion iir.c. Before that Committee sa was proposed. The Committee, after of this canal into a railway on the sub j ec t, came to the conclusion hearing evidence railways and canals bad been that the present competition b etween ne-seventh. the means ofreducing the cost of traffic o some cases l ; . it isnot general. The Hon. CHAIRMAN—That is only in he Committee stated that Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE—Of course : L.. ledge in which to their know there were instances which had come in their report this had been the result. The Committee also stat ed _. . _ Bement should not ligntly that it was obviously of importance that Parliament shoa l of the ad • sanction any arrangement which would deprive the pu vantage afforded by the rivalry at present existing between railways and canals. They also stated that they had come to the general con clusion that a most searching inquiry should be made into the meri ts _ of each case before Parliament sanctioned the conversion of c anals into, or their amalgamation with, railways. This subject was not, therefore, one of the amount of profit which it bad produced to its pmprietors, as represented by his Learned Friends ; there was a question of far higher importance than that, and that was the interest of the public in the exist ence of competition at present existing between railways and canals. The canal was established for the purpose of giving the public an independent line of water communication in the districts of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and other important places. The evidence given before the Select Committee to which he had alluded went no flirther than this, that an isolated canal, which did not form any important link of communication be tween different parts of the kingdom, might, with benefit to the public and the proprietors, amalgamate with, or be converted into a railway. But this was no isolated canal ; it formed a most important link of communication between London and Liverpool. Mr. Stephenson was In error when he said that canals could not sue • c'essfullY Compete with railways. Mr. Scott had given evidence to that effect before the Select COmMittee, and that gentleman 'eras in. timately acquainted with the subject. Mr. Scott said in his evidence that he should decidedly object to any thoroughfare canal like this being converted into a railway, and he instanced this canal at the same time. This, in that gentleman's opinion, was the best canal in the kingdom, and yet they were now called upon to destroy it. It had a descending lockage the whole way from Birmingham to Liver pool. If this Bill were sanctioned the iron grasp of the monopolizing London and Birming ham and Manchester and Birmingham Companies would be extended and made stronger. The Learned Counsel had not concluded his case when the Com mittee rose, the Chairman having announced that they would re assemble at twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP LVI. LONDON .&ND XILACICIVALL EXTENSION. (Coßtinued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The opposition occupied the Committee nearly the whole of the day, but it turned out to be ineffective, and the Committee decided that the preamble of the Bill had b een proved. The Committee adjourned shortly after four o'clock. GROUP LVII. THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM GRAND JUNCTION, AND MANCHESTER AND BIR— MINGHAM RAILWAY AMALGAMATION. (Continued front our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Captain finish, manager of the Grand Junction Railway traffic, was called, and gave evidence to the effect that the arrangements which the proposed Bill was intended to sanction had bean found to oerate beneficially to the public as well as to the parties concerned in the three companies. The Committee ultimately postponed their decision upon the pre amble until to-morrow, in order to consult the Board of Trade in the meantime. The other Bills in the group were also postponed with the same view. GREAT KENT ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY. SPECIAL MEETING. In pursuance of a resolution passed at a preliminary meeting of the subscribers to the Great Kent Atmospheric Railway, a public meeting of the scripholders was advertised to take place yesterday, at the London Tavern. The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the best means of staying the Bill at present in Parliament, and to take into consideration the means best adapted to get back the deposits in full. The meeting consisted of only 35 persons out of 900 shareholders, two-thirds of whom, it was stated, were proprietors in the London and Croydon Railway Company. The chair was taken by Colonel Murray. Mr. LECHMERE addressed the meeting, informing them that in the depressed state of the money market it would be much more advisable to drop the scheme. The directors had formed a different line from that which they originally pro • posed in their prospectus, and he considered that they had better call upon the directors to convene a meeting, under the resolutions of Sir Robert Peel, for the purpose of dissolving the Company. An Hon. PROPRIETOR called on Mr. Lechmere to explain to the meeting some of the propositions he had made to the solicitors to the line. Mr. LEC/IMER L declined. An How. PROPRIETOR objected to the course proposed by Mr. Lechmere, and stated that he looked with great jealousy on Mr. Lechmere's proposition, who was himself a solicitor, and that jealousy was heightened by his not answering the question put to him. The preamble of the Bill would be proved in a few days, and as the directors after that could not pro ceed without the assent of the shareholders, he did not see the reason for calling the meeting. An How. PROPRIETOR said it would save expense. Some conversation ensued as to whether such a course would prejudice the scripholders or the Bill before Parlia ment. A PROPRIETOR moved as an amendment a vote of con fidence in the directors, which was about to be put by the Chairman, when Mr. LECH3IERE'S motion was put by that gentleman himself, and was carried by a show of hands. The CHAIRMAN considering himself superseded vacated the chair. Some confu,ion ensued, and the meeting separated, no thing being virtually done, after passing a vote of thanks to the Chairman. WATERFORD AND KILKENNY RAILWAY. An adjourned special general meeting of this Company was held at the London Tavern, at one o'clock, yesterday, to receive the report of the committee appointed at the special meeting on the 20th ult. relative to the superstructure of the line. Mr. ANDERSON took the chair, and having had the ad • vertisement read, stated that one of the objects for which the meeting bad been called was to hear read and approved of the Bill of the Galway and Kilkenny Railway, now known as the Kilkenny and Great South Western Railway. That Bill was at present in the House of Lords, and the length of the line had been altered to but one-half the original length. At a former meeting the shareholders of the Waterford and Kilkenny Company authorised their directors to take an interest in that line to the amount of 50,0001., if necessary, and the directors, in accordance with this, took 25,0001. in shares, but by an order of the House of Lords, known as Lord Wharncliffe's order, it was necessary to have a meeting of the shareholders to approve of the Galway and Kilkenny Bill. The Chairman concluded with moving a resolution to this effect. Mr. EMERY seconded the resolution. An HON. PROPRIETOR wished to dissuade the shareholders from approving of the Bill. The CHAIRMAN thought the Hon. Proprietor could not ad dress himself to the question which he was taking up, inas much as it was settled at a former meeting, when the share holders authorised the directors to take a stake in the line in question to the amount of 50,0001. kr. JONES moved, as an amendment on the resolution, that the Bi:1 be not approved of. The Solacing to the Company begged simply to submit his opinion, that the Waterford and Kilkenny Company were legally bound to the Galway and Kilkenny Company to follow out what they had begun. In January last a meeting of the shareholders was held, and the directors were then authorised to take 50,0001. in shares of the Galway line. Shares to the amount of 25,0001. had been taken, the Parlia mentary contract and deeds had been signed ; and now even if a resolution should be passed, stultifying themselves, the Galway Company could, nevertheless, sue them at law for the whole amount of the 25,0001 The contract and the deeds had already been signed, and the present meeting was one merely pro forma, in accordance with an order from the House of Lords. Mr. EMERY felt convinced, that in forming a connexion with the Galway and Kilkenny Company, they were mate rially affecting their own interests for the better. Their own position was greatly improved since the first, the worst parts of the line had been taken out of their hands by other corn panics, and he was sure that ere hug the other great companies would be in treaty with them after they had secured this district of country. After some other observations from honourable proprietors, Mr. JONES withdrew his amendment. The original resolution was then put from the chair and carried unanimously. The Chairman having left the chair, and Mr. EMERY having taken his place, said, that the other object for which the meeting had been called was to receive the report of the special committee concerning the super structure of the line. He said that that committee met on the 26th of May, at the Company's offices, in Delahay-street, and all but concluded arrangements with the proprietor of Presser's patent, stipulating, on the part of the Company, to give that gentleman 500 shares in the Company fully paid upon, being equal to 10,0001., and 5,0001 in money to be paid in three separate instalments, in compensation for the use of Mr. Prosser's invention on the Company's line. It remained for the shareholders to give them power to ratify this agree ment ; and therefore he moved a resolution to that effect, which was seconded and carried by the meeting nem. con. A vote of thanks to the committee was passed, and the meeting separated. SPORTING IN TELL] GENCE. TATTERSALL'S-YESTERDAY. A few bets were laid on the Derby at the prices returned below, but the weight of the business—and at the best it was bad enough—was on the Emperor's Cup, for which Orlando became as good a favourite as Alarm—in fact, had the call. The transactions, however, on the whole, were so insignifi cant that we may confine ourselves to a quotation of the last prices:— THE EMPEROR'S VASE. 4 to 1 agst Col. Peel's Orlando—tak. and afterw. offered 4 to 1 agst Mr. Greyille's Alarm—taken 7 to 1 agst Mr. G. H. Moore's Wolfdog—taken 8 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Mentor 10 to 1 agst Major Yarburgh's Miss Sarah 10 to 1 agst L•~rd Lonsdale's Jericho 17 to 1 agst Mr. E. R. Clark's The Baron 20 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Wood Pigeon—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. G. H. Moore's Corranna—taken 1000 to 600 on Orlando agst Mentor—taken 550 to 400 on the field agst Alarm and Orlando. THE QUEEN'S FATE. 4 to 1 agst Sir G. Heathcote's Khondooz. Mendicant is declared not to start for the Royal Hunt Cup. Sting and Joyful do not go to Ascot. TZE DERBY. 1000 to 30 agst Mr. E. R. Clark's Miles's Boy—taken 1000 to 25 agst Duke of Richmond's Red Hart—taken 2000 to 50 agst Mr. Payne's Sister to Cobweb colt—taken 1000 to 20 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Crozier—taken 1000 to 20 agst Lord Stradbroke's Marpessa colt—taken 5000 to 50 agst Sir R.Bulkeley's Brother to Joinville—taken. COURT CIRCULAR Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back yesterday, attended by the Equerry in Waiting, Colonel Bouverie. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, took their usual walks and rides yesterday in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce and Sir G. Couper, honoured Drury-lane Theatre with her presence yesterday evening. Their Royal Hignesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Princess Mary, and at tended by Baroness Ahlefeldt, Mr. Edmond Mildmay, and Colonel Keate, went to Greenwich yesterday morn ing, and returned to Cambridge House in the afternoon. Mr. Hogg, M.P., had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. Mr. Hunter had an interview with the Earl of Dal housie yesterday at the office of the Board of Trade. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of the West India Colonies. DE, _,A•rit or THE regret to learn that letters and intelligence Countess of Fin of thga. E. ROBERT PLUNKETT.—WE death . of the Hon. li i N . have E been received from the Earl , in Italy, which convey the distress ing at Milan on the 27th . ult second son, who died deceased was in his 26 i armyt yea . r, having been born in . E. R Plunkett, their 1820. He entered the November hon b being not according to 11 in habitsthe 60th Rifles, but th nvent ' el The Hon. Gentleman was is at he retired after a fe e w se y rviee Vienna, and had only left the Austrian tt? the British Embassy at * 0 meat his relatives in Italy, capital a few months THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS, BURTO N, ESQ.—We observe th a t a fifth By ELIOT WAR BURTON, in teresting book has been called f or by the on of this burton brings to his work an accomplished public. Mr. well trainedWar- and healthful faculties. As I . : v i e h re e a d d mind, and we are proud to claim him as a countryman, and are content that his book shall go over all from i the world, that other countries t may derive a just impression of our national character • Mr. Warburton sailed up the Nile beyond the second cataract, and inspected those wonders of art in Nubi a , whose origin' 's lost in their antiqu it y; visited the great citi es and monu ments of Egypt, then crossed . to Beyrout, made a pil gr i mage in the Holy Land, and on his homeward voyage touched at Cypress and Greece. His volumes are full of just perception and sßirited detail. They greatly increase our acquaintance with Eastern scenes, and to the traveller afford a variety of information which he could hardly elsewherc, 4nd in so in teresting a shape.—Britannia. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ; HOUSE OF LORDS, June 8. t Their Lordships met to-day at Five o'clock. THE BROAD AND NARROW GAUGES. ' The Earl of RIPON laid on the table a report from the Board of Trade relative to the subject of the railway gauges. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Messengers from the House of Commons brought up several Bills, which were ordered to be laid on the table. BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES FOR THE LABOUR ING CLASSES. The Bishop of LONDON wished for a few moments to direct the attention of their Lordships to a subject, which, though not one of great political importance, was still one en titled to grave consideration. He had some petitions to present to them which were important on account of the signatures to them, but still more so on the subject to which they related. That subject was intimately connected with the welfare of the labouring classes, and he craved their favourable consideration to them. The petitions had reference to the establishment of baths and wash-houses for the labouring classes, and prayed that they would pass a law enabling boroughs and parishes, of a certain size, to borrow money to form such institutions. The plan was sufficient to pay an ample return for the capital that might be laid out upon it, but he must remind their Lordships that it was useless to attempt to improve the moral condition of the labour ing classes unless they at the same time paid some attention to their physical comfort. Their Lordships might in vain at tempt to improve the political and social condition of the labouring classes, unless they at the same time took the trouble to promote their individual and personal interest. —( Hear.) They must first remove the poor man from his extreme state of destitution, and then they might endeavour to experiment upon the best means of improving his spiritual condition—they must relieve him from his extreme misery before they attempted to attack his as a moral agent, and this was the only way in which they could at all expect, with any reason, to improve the moral state of the labouring classes of society. Their Lordships would allow they had tested by experience, on a small scale it was true, but still sufficient to justify their making the experiment on a much larger scale. In asking, therefore, for an allowance from the public funds, he was only asking for that which would make a large return on the outlay of capital that might be used for the formation of baths and washhouses The first petition he had to present was from the bankers and merchants of London, and was signed by the heads of more than 100 principal firms ; the second was signed by the Chair man and Deputy Chairman of the London Dock Company, who had many thousands of labourers in their employ ment. The next was from the churchwareens and over seers of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. The next was from the guardians of the poor of the same parish. The next was from the perochial clergy of the metropolis, signed by 120 clergymen ; and he f e lt assured that if time had been allowed it would have been signed by every member of the body from whom it emanated, for they felt it would be bring ing the poor more within the sphere of their spiritual ministrations, and would tend more than anything else to improve the labouring classes. It should be recollected that great complaints had been made that hundreds of thousands in the metropolis were crowded together, ' so that one family occupied one room ; but, in consequence of the numerous improvements in the metropolis, in many of these instances, there were now two families crowded into one room. It did not appear that any provision had been made against this evil in carrying out those improve ments. It should be also recollected that the step which he now advocated was only as a drop in the ocean. In consequence of this system of things, a gradual deteriora tion had taken place in the physical and moral condition of these classes. About twenty years since, when he was a parish clergyman, he knew a house in which there was sixteen rooms, and in each of these there was a family consisting of four persons, in all, sixty-four individuals, but that was not so bad as the present condition of things. In houses thus thickly inhabited it would clearly be seen the in jury which must be felt by washing the linen of the family, as the houses would be in a constant state of humidity from the steam. He found that in the town of Liverpool, where an institution of this kind was established under the sanction of the corporation of that place, the greatest eagerness was manifested on the part of the working classes to avail them selves of the benefit of the bath. In the year ending 28th of May, 1846, there were used 3,832 cold baths, and 16,764 warm baths, makin g a lt oget h er 2 0,596 baths. The receipts for the year were 3831., being an increase on the preceding year of 6,667 baths, and 1501. on the receipts. This showed a desire on the part of the labouring classes to avail themselves of the benefits of these institutions. A similar institution was established lately by an association of benevolent individuls in Glasshouse-yard, a locality where probably none of their Lordships ever penetrated— ( Laughter)—and the lowest and poorest classes of society, who could not even be called respectable la bourers, were in the habit of resorting to it. In the second half-year the number of bathers amounted to 14,124, and the number of washers amounted to 19,937, a total of 63,142 persons benefited ; if to these were added the number of persons for whom articles have been washed, you will make a total of 87,0J0 directly benefited, and the whole of this good had been done for a sum not greatly exceeding 400/. He need not point out to their Lordships the immense beneficial effects which must necessarily arise from such institutions, they were sufficiently known to their Lordships, arid he would not there. fore trespass upon them further than to quote the opinion of a medical man of some experience on the subject. The petitioners stated that the returns would, in all probabi lity, amount in the whole to 13i per cent., and furnish ex cellent interest on the capital invested. The petitions were from a large number of merchants, bankers of the city of London ; the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Asso ciation for the Establishment of Baths for the La bouring Classes ; from the Board of Guardians of the parish of St. Martins-in-the-Fields; one signed by 121 paro chial clergymen, which was entitled to special consideration, as they complained that the want of accommodation for forward ing personal cleanliness, interfered with the attendance of the poorer classes at church. He hoped steps would be taken to meet this state of things, and that the recreation arid innocent amusement of the labouring classes, which had been - so little attended to for a long time, would be now considered. Unless they provided baths and wash-houies for the poorest order of the working classes, so as to beget habits of cleanliness, it would be vain for them to provide' amusement. and instruc tion for them by museums or otherwise. The Marquis of NORMAN BY thought that the Rev. Prelate owed no apology for introducing so important a sub ject. It was a most important question, and in con nexion with a subject that had been before the other House of Parliament—the dwellings of the poor— one entitled to their greatest consideration.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Rev. Prelate was the first to draw the attention of the Government to this question and he deserved great praise for his exertions, and he trusted that he would not confine himself to simply erecting baths and washhoutes, but go to further improvements necessary to the health and well being of the poorer classes of this metropolis. Lord KINNAIRD said that it was impossible to imagine the distress and misery existing in this metropolis—it required occular proof to give any one an idea of its extent. The poor were crowded together in consequence of the improvements taking place in other parts of the metropolis. There were buildings now going on at Bethnal-green, and there was not one sewer provided for them, and this, he thought, showed the necessity, and, indeed, he considered it high time that a Board of Health should be established. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Lord KINNAIRD said he had to present a petition on the Electric Telegraph Bill, the report of which was to be brought up this evening. The Duke of BEAUFORT objected to its reception, as being needless. Lord KINNAIRD said that the petition was based on public grounds. Lord BROUGHAM—Give us its prayer. Lord KINNAIRD said that this was a subject of great public interest, and the object of this petition was to prevent the carrying of this Bill without further consideration. The petition was not opposed to the Bill itself, but, according to the prayer, to provide for its being carried out. From these statements, it appeared, that if the Bill were carried in its Present form, it might prevent the improvement of the system ; for if they gave the power sought by this Bill, it would assuredly create a monopoly. This evil had already been largely felt by the water and gas companies. The report was to be brought up this evening, and he thought that if a clause were to be introduced at some future stage of the Bill, obliging all companies to give this advantage to the Go vernment, it would in a great degree hinder the mischief which the petitioner anticipated, and he should move that the petition be referred to the Committee. The Duke of BEAUFORT stated that the report had already been brought up, and the object of the petition had already been answered. The petition indeed had been pre sented, and had been fully considered by the Committee. CORN-LAWS. The Bishop of DURHAM presented a petition from Durham praying their Lordships to pass the Corn Bill as speedily as possible. He considered it would be of great benefit to the agricultural portion of the people of that county. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY concurred in the prayer of the petition. The Noble Marquis defended himself against the charges which had been brought against him of having changed his principles and formed an alliance with the Anti-Corn-law League. He had always stated, both in public and private, that no Ministry could lung resist the repeal of the corn-laws. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM, who was alluded to by the Noble Marquis, briefly explained, and then gave notice that in the Committee on the Corn-law Bill he would move that the words " until the first of February, 1849," should be omitted. Earl FITZ WILLIAM presented a petition from a place whose name we could not catch in favour of an immediate repeal. LONDON AND RAILWAY YORK BILL. The Earl of LOVELACE brought up the report upon this Bill, and moved for the discharge of the Committee. They had been now nineteen days at work, and they had passed all the unopposed Bills. Lord BROUGHAM considered that the proposition was a very reasonable one, but he considered that it would be better to defer it till Friday next. Lord VIVIAN objected to such a course. He did think that the Committee had strong claims upon the consi deration of their Lordships' House, after having now sat for nineteen days, and particularly when their Lordships recol lected that in all the other Committees of their Lordships' House, not one of them had such a number of Railway Bills before them as had occupied, or would occupy half the time. He was aware of this fact, and these fore he trusted their Lordships would accede to the propo sition. The Earl of DEVON said he felt quite assured that the Committee whose duty it was to select members of that House to serve on Committees, would consider the subject with the anxiety it deserved. Lord REDESDALE said it was not the duty of the Com mittee who arranged those railways in groups to consider the question. At the same time he should admit that the request made by the Committee was a reasonable one, and that it would be easy to refer the Bills before that Committee to another one. No doubt it might be urged that a great deal of the evidence upon some of those Bills had already been heard by that Committee; but then he did not think that the consideration of a few days' additional expense which would be incurred by referring the Bills to another Com mittee should be any reason for refusing the request. He suggested that the House should decide upon it on Thursday next. him d questionetTho he E u erl a eyd r f too l en FlTZ orooeupt. lei afdt: shouldl noa ow W m givingtol uhn L e egbh L leeoe l rwpca A pgvio d A neoo erg ' rti oodu s fifne a ner i iluae d ttdyp , sfo t aoet h nosnr a absence henoins t ts h osopi e fwdrvee q ite tsrh u rheaya e not s tigut t o C i rt sn o eyo n aotsr atbht easami observing p :lp, e t theioe a anre r ngt ,edamdhna mere question of giving leave of absence to that Committee, and therefore it should be considered as one of very great importance. inefficient were the present means of conducting the great and important system of national intercourse. Lord BROUGHAM agreed with the Noble Lord as to the necessity in to the se h country , esaenodf Bills. It e new and i n d epen d ent d epartment, not to supersede b u t t o a id the Parliament, in its investigation p r mwootuelrds of fe theseof m o ß r i e lls, sa t t h i a sf t a a par ct d io e nt t o m t e h n e t should be set apart, to which all private Bills ought to be re ferred. Lord WHARNCLIFFE was convinced that some new ma chinery should be adopted to facilitate railway business in Parliament. He entirely agreed with the Noble Lord oppo site ( Earl Fitzwilliam) that a change was necessary. Let them look to the progress of the present Bill. It was intro- duced last session into the House of Commons, where it was considered ribt nineteen days, but eighty-four days. Under such circumstances, it was almost impossible to get Members of Parliament to sit so long unless they were compelled to do so. It had then been introduced into this Howe, in the:present session of Parliament. They were now in the month of June considering a Bill which had been passed last year by the House of Commons. Another company came into the field this year, and because they had a branch which competed for a short distance with the London and York Railway, the whole question was opened up, and the sitting of the Committee was therefore the more prolonged. He thought it but right, that where a branch competed with a project for a main line, the inquiry should only extend to that branch. Lord REDESDALE was of opinion that something should be done to alter the present system of opposition in Com mittees. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE conceived that the mo tion could not be entertained by the House. The better plan would Le either to move that the standing order be suspended, or that the report be brought up on Thursday next. Rut to this latter course there was this difficulty, that the Committee were supposed to sit de die in diem till the report was made. This was only a partial report, and therefore it was incompe tent for the House to entertain it ; and as the better plan, therefore, he would suggest that the Noble Lord should move that the standing order be suspended. A conversation, in which many Noble Lords joined, then en sued, which was interrupted by The LORD CHANCELLOR, who suggested that there were several Members of the House of Commons, who had been waiting for a long time, but Lord CAMPBELL said he was disposed to show all possi ble courtesy to those Hon. Members, but he had a very few words to add to the debate, and he could not help observing, that it appeared as if the Committee wished to throw off their duty by a si.le wind. After some further discussion, leave was given for the Committee to sit again on Thursday, at four o'clock. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition, complaining of the difficulty of obtaining sites for the session churches in Scotland, and praying that some measures might be adopted to remove the evil. The Noble Lord also presented a petition, numer ously signed, praying that the measure then under discussion, with reference to the corn duties, might speedily pass into a law. LORD HARDINGE AND LORD GOUGH'S ANNUITY BILLS. On the motion of the Earl of RIPON, the further con sideration of these Bills was postponed until to-morrow (this day) se'nnight. Earl GREY presented a petition from the parish of Wokingham, which, he said, referred to a matter of scme im portance. The petition stated, that the parish extended over a space of 8,500 acres, anti contained a population of 3,500 inhabitants. The parish was under the jurisdiction of the Doan of Salisbury. The tithes had been commuted to 1,6981. There were thirty acres of glebe land, which produced 601. per annum. With these advantages, the Rev. Thomas Morris re ceived the small stipend of 1501 per annum, including what he received from Queen Anne's bounty, and only 401. of the amount arose from tithes. Some years since he appointed an assistant-curate at a salary of 801., leaving himself the yearly amount of 701. Since that time, the assistant-curate being unable to continue at the salary of 801., received an increase, which diminished the sum to 40/. The petition went en to state that in consequence of the smallness of that income the Rev. S. Morris had been compelled to accept the appointment of maser of some alms-houses, for which he re ceived a salary of 100/. per annum. The duties of that ap pointment made great calls on his time, and he had, therefore, less leisure to attend to his parochial duties. The petition also complained that in 1843 the church was declared to be in s•) bad a state as to need either extensive repairs or rebuilding. Application was made to the Dean of Salisbury, with regard to the means of repairing or rebuilding the church. He (Earl Grey) would not trouble them with the painful cor respondence that had taken place on the subject. He would only state, as the petition went on to say, that the parishioners were obliged to repair the church ; and yet, from the impossi bility of coming to an arrangement with the rector, or lessee of the tithes, they were obliged to spend 700/. on an inefficient repair of the church, while they were prepared to expend a much larger sum on rebuilding it. The petitioners stated that the condition of the church arose from the want of sufficient ecclesiastical visitation. while at the same time it admitted of some neglect on the part of the parish officer. The yearly revenue available to the parish was 1,700/., and yet, with that large sum at its disposal there was an insufficient spiritual accommodation for the parish, which in one part contained a rapidly rising population, who gained their subsistence by precarious means, and necessarily felt the want of spiritual attendance. which encouraged vice and immorality to a great extent. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners had more power than any ether body to do something on this subject, and it was absolutely necessary that something should be done. They might find the means of doing so without any alteration of the law, but if they would not an Act of Parliament would be necessary. These were the reasons why he wished to recom mend the petition to the notice of their Lordships. The Bishop of SALISBURY wished to thank his Nobla Friend for the courtesy he had shown for suffering the presenta tion of the petition, and he would also express his views of the firmness he had shown in thus abstaining from a cor respondence which would necessarily lead to a long correspond ence. He admitted the state of the parish of Wokingham, but it was only one of a number of parishes which were in a similar condition. The means of specially providing for those grievances had been furnished under the late Act 3 and 4 Vict., chap. 113, which stated that tithes being separate estates en joyed by the corporation of souls, the power of disposing of them should be vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, always subject to any existing lease. He thought, therefore, this matter should be referred solely to them, as it was in their pro vince. Ordered to lie on the table. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and their Lordships adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock till Thurs day next. HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 8. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. MORAYSHIRE RAILWAY BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passsed. STAINES AND RICHMOND RAILWAY BILL. Colonel WOOD moved the order of the day for the ad. journed debate on motion for the re-commitment of this Bill, and took the opportunity of remarking upon the difficulty which had been thrown in the way of the Company by the length ened delay of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, in giving their negative to the measure. He also complained that the Committee who had been appointed to inquire into the merits of the Bill had not received sufficient evidence. Mr. SOTHERON said it was not his intention to vote in any way on the matter before the House. In consequence of the vacillating conduct of the Board of Woods and Forests, the Committee of which he was a mem ber, had considered themselves justified in making a special report on the Bill, which, as they thought, would have the effect of delaying further proceedings, at least for the present session. Whatever decision the House might come to, he was of opinion that in no case should any public body, to which a Bill might be referred for its assent, be allowed to offer any opinion, or throw any obstacle in the way of the pro gress of the Bill at any time after the second reading of the Mr. H. BERKELEY observed that when the debate was adjourned, it was with the express understanding that the opinion of the Woads and Forests off the Bill was to be given. The Hon. Member was proceeding with his observations, when he was interrupted by Mr. HUME, who spoke to order, and said that as a mem ber of the Woods and Forests was present, the required in formation could be obtained. Sir G. CLERK said that proposals had been made by the company to make drains for the town of Richmond, and other wise to improve it. These proposals had met with the appro bation of the Board of Woods and Forests, and they had in consequence withdrawn their opposition to the line on the part of the Crown property. Mr. VILLIERS observed that the delay had been occa sioned by the Commissioners, and that it was owing entirely to the Woods and Forests. The present motion was not intended to bs an appeal from the Committee, and he should support the motion. A desultory conversation then took place, in which Mr. F. Scott, Lord G. Somerset, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Wakley, and Col. Peel joined, and the gallery was ordered to be cleared. Oti our readmission the numbers were— For the re-commitment of the Bill ... 61 Against it..... Majority against the re-commitment —7 This Bill was consequently lost. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed : Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway ; Cambridge and Oxford Railway ; Dunblane, Donne, and Callander Rail way ; East and West Yorkshire Junction Railway; Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow Direct Railway; Kil marnock and Troon Railway ; Liverpool Improvement ; London and South Western Railway Acts Amendment; Slamannan Railway (Bathgate and i Jawcraig Branches); Thames Haven Dock and Railway (No. 2.) ; Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway (Bathgate Branch) : Wil sontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway (Caledonian Junction) ; Wilsontown, Morningside, _and Coltness Railway (Improvement and Branches). CULLEN'S ESTATE BILL. This Bill was read a second time and passed. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, the amendments and alterations agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be en grossed :—Clitheroe Junction Railway : Earl of Blesinton's Estate Bill; London and Birmingham Railway (Newport Pak. nell Branch); North Gravesend Railway ; Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway ; Sheffield General Cemetery ; Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Newton to Crewe, with Branches) ; South-Eastern Railway (Maidstone to Strood, near Rochester); South-Eastern Railway (Canterbury to Dover) ; South Wales Railway; South Yorkshire Coal Railway and Canal. WEXFOHD, WAKEFIELD, AND VALENTIA RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. SPOONER this Bill was vtithdrawn. ST. MARTIN'S BURIAL GROUND, BIRMINGHAM. Mr. SPOONER moved that it be an instruction to the Committees on the London and Birmingham Railway (Birm ingham Extension) Bill, the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Railway ( Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley lines) Bill, and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Bill, that they do entertain the petition of relatives of persons deceased interred in St. Martin's Burial-ground, Birmingham, notwithstanding such petition was not presented three clear days before the day appointed for the first meeting of th.o Committees. Mr. ORMSBY GORE said that a petition to the contrary effect of that stated by the Honourable Member for Birming ham had been presented by the trustees, and if the House sanctioned the motion he must move that this petition be also referred to the Committee. Mr. W. R. COLLETT seconded the motion of the Hon. Member for Shropshire. After a few words, which did not reach the gallery, from Lord G. SOMERSET, _ _ Mr. SCOTT said that he could hardly understand the reason for the application of the Hon. Member for Birming ham ; at any rate, if it were granted, he should call upon the House to do him equal justice, and allow his petition to be heard before the Committee. Mr. SPOONER could not consent to withdraw his motion. The present was a case of a novel and an important character, and should be decided at once. He hoped and trusted that it would be allowed to undergo the investigation of a Committee. sAhsouheld withdraw h wasnotincils ot inmedtion. o oppose the wishes of the Houses , he Motion withdrawn accordingly . KILMARNOCK AND TROON RAILWAY. This Bill, on the motion of Dr. BOWRING, was read a third time and passed. Messengers from the Lords brought in several Bills. A DJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Sir Sir J. GRAHAM, it was agreed that the House at its rising, should adjourn till Wednesday. move, on the moti on NOTlC tic E e S th Oj he A s l h O o T o l d ON. Col. WOOD gave no . Committee th e P oor being put for the House going into . on Re moval Bill, that the Bill be divided into two, one Bill to be limited to the exemption of poor persons from the liability of being removed from parishes in which they have long resided. Dr. BOWRING moved for a return of the amounts not paid into the Exchequer, but deducted for costs of collection, and all other purposes, from the gross amounts received by all the departments of revenue, separately stated. Also, a return of the amounts received by the various departments of expen diture, from all sources except Parlamentary grants or issues from the Exchequer in the year ending the sth day of January, 1846.—Agreed to. Mr. CHRISTIE moved for a return of the age, date of appointment, and salary of Patrick Shaw, Esq., Advocate, Pre senter of signatures in Exchequer in Scotland, and of the amount of allowance to an assistant paid by him out of his salary. Statement of the duties of presenter of signatures, show ing how they differ from those of the agent for revising drafts of charters, proposed to be appointed by a Bill now before the House, " to alter and amend the Practice in Scotland with regard to Crown Charters and Receipts fi om Chancery," the 4th section of which Bill provides that the revising agent shall be a wrier of the signet ; and the 26th section, that the office and duties of presenter of signatures shall cease from the passing of the Bill, but that Mr. Shaw shall continue to draw his salary during his life-time."—Agreed to.' Mr. 'F. S. DUNCOMBE slid, that he took the liberty at the close of the debate on Friday evening last, of moving that the Poor Removal Bill should be taken into the consideration of the House that evening, with the view of its taking prece-. dente of any other notice of motion. The public had a right to this course, and they had also a right to expect that the House would not goon with the Irish Coercion Bill until the Poor Removal Bill had been disposed of and discussed by that House. In consequence of the notice given by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, on the occasion of the Irish Coercion Bill having been carried on the first reading by a majority of that House, such a course was.cxpected, because on that occasion the Right Hon. Baronet was asked when he intended to go on with the Poor Removal Bill, and the course of action then laid down by the Right Honourable Baronet was, that after the first reading of the Irish Coersion Bill, they should proceed with the Corn and Customs, some few votes of supply, and that he should also go on to take the sense of the House on the sugar duties before proceeding with the second reading of the Coercion Bill. They had disposed of the corn and customs —they had had votes of supply, but they had not had the discussion on the Poor Removal Bill, and it was now pro posed to take the second reading of the Irish Coercion Bill before they made any progress in the Poor Removal Bill. The House was called on in the first instance to take the first reading of the Irish Coercion Bill, and not from any admira tion of its provisions, but as a compliment to the House of Lords, they were called on to agree to that first reading at once. That arrangement was made, and in justice to many gentlemen on that side of the House, he would say that under that impression many had voted fur the first reading who intended to oppose it on the second. But now, he contended that the House was taken by surprise by the Government supporting and adopting the motion of his Hon. Friend the Member for Mahon (Mr. E. Denison). They were called upon the other night to enter Committee pro firma, in order that the Government and his Hon. Friend might introduce amendments into his Bill, which was to be altogether remodelled ; but he wanted to know, because he held that the inst , uction agreed to on Friday night did not convey the sense of the House, as the House was taken by surprise ; and he now objected to take the Irish Coercion Bill, because it was incumbent upon them to take the Poor Removal Bill this evening, in order to discharge the instruction passed the other night. Even the Noble Lord ( Lord John Russell) had not pledged himself to support it, but in addition to the objections he (Mr. Duncsmbe) had stated against it, he maintained that the instructions would altogether render the Bill a new one as it would have to be remodelled. He had a right to inquire whether the House was taken by surprise or not with respect to the instructions and with that view he wished agaio to have the sense of the House upon it, and if the Committee of the House was averse to it, that it might be discharged, and that the Government might not be put to the trouble of proceeding with it. There never was a Bill which required more remodelling than the Poor Removal Bill, and it was a disgrace to the Poor law Commissioners to have laid such a Bill on the table of the House, because it would add to the difficulties in connexion with the question of settlement. He should, therefore, conclude by moving that the order of the day for the second reading of the Poor Removal Bill be read in preference to the second reading of the Irish Coercion Bill. Mr. HUNIE seconded the motion. The SPEAKER having put the question, Sir J. GRAHAM said he, for one, did not object to the amendment of the Hon. Gentleman, but his approval of it must be qualified by the understanding that he should only support it for the purpose of postponing the Poor Removal Bill. He would tell the House what had occrred since Friday evening last. In obedience to what he considered the opinion of the majority of the House ; on , aturday morning he gave directions to prepare clauses in accordance with those sentiments those clauses had been prepared, but he had not had time to consider them. If it were the pleasure of the House, he should be prepared on Wednesday or Friday next to give notice that he should introduce the clauses to which allusion had been already made. But the Honourable Gentleman was not satisfied with the decisio❑ of Friday night, last, and that the course proposed to be taken by his Right Hon. Friend at the head of the Government, with reference to the second reading of the measure, the discussion on which had been fixed for that evening. What had taken place with regard to the Poor Re moval Bill was in exact conformity with the arrangements that had been previously made. If the Hon. Member for Finsbury should think that this matter would receive a fairer consideration in a fuller House, he was certainly at liberty to give notice of his intention to move that the subject be reconsidered. Mr. DUNCONIBE—I gave notice on Friday. Sir J. GRAHAM had every reason to believe that the deci sion of the House that evening would be in conformity to the decision to which they had come on Friday night. It was cer tainly most desirable that they should arrive at some distinct understanding on this point. Mr. G. BANKES said he entirely concurred with the view which had been taken by the Hon. Member for Finsbury, with regard to the division of the other night—that it was a divi sion which took the House entirely by surprise.—(Hear.) The surprise on that side of the House was complete, when they learned that the Government voted in support of the mea sure, which they had every reason to suppose they would vote in opposition to—( Hear, hear)—because it was the very same measure which had been completely given up by the Secretary of the Home-office, and because he stated that he found it uni versally distasteful to the agricultural district—( Hear, hear) — and therefore it was entirely by surprise that that motion was so disposed of; for he might state that of those Hon. Members who sat on the same side of the House with hint, on that occasion left the matter wholly and solely in the hands of the Goverement, because they consi dered themselves acting with safety in doing so ; though it was true they had not been universally in the habit of trusting them, and on the only occasion on which they unfortunately reposed their confidence in them, a measure was passed which was adverse to the wishes of their constituents. He was therefore prepared to say that before they adopted the instruction in question, that ins' ruction ought to be carried by a majority of that House, and before that would be done they mast have another division—( Hear, hear)—and he knew no occasion on which they were more likely to have a fuller at tendance, or a more dispassionate discussion, than they would have that evening. He hoped, therefore, that the Hon. Mem ber for Finsbury would persevere in his motion, and now take a division ; and whatever that division might be, they would ac knowledge that it was a decision of a majority of that House.— ( Hear, hear.) He must remind his lion. Friends who sat upcn the Treasury bench. that it was understood that this measure should be sent pari passu to the other House of Parliament, with the other important Bill that was now before it. And with regard to the discussion interposing any further delay in the question of the Coerc on Bill, he believed that the opinion was universal throughout the country, that the Government had no idea whatever of carrying that Bill—( Hear, hear)—that they had resigned the hope, if they had not given up the wish of carrying it, and therefore he had no scruple whatever in interposing any further delay to the discussion, of the Coercion Bill. With regard to the discussion the other night, he thought that it was impracticable to carry it out un less the present poor-law unions were remodelled. Under these circumstances, he hoped that they would now have an oppor tunity of taking a vote without surprise, in a full House of Parliament, on this important question. Sir R. PEEL said that the great majority of those who were then present must have come there that day with the full expectation that the subject for discussion was the second read ing of the 13111 for the better Protection of Life and Property in Ireland—( Hear, hear)—and when the opportunities for dis cussion were so precious it was of importance that no time should be lost in consequence of any misunderstanding. He had been most desirous, during the course of the present ses sion, to fulfil any assurance he might have given. He always felt certain that the second reading of that Bill was fixed under the impression that on the motion that the Speaker do leave the chair, there should be an opportunity, he would not say for the discussion of any principle in the Bill, but for Members to state generally what were their opinions with respect to it. He would not admit that he ever said that this measure should proceed, pari passu, with the other Bill that was now before the other House of Parliament. He had always stated that he should be prepared to give a full op portunity for discussion on the question. He had also stated that he considered it to be his duty to proceed with the Bill for the better protection of life and property in Ireland. He thought it would be perfectly open to any Hon. Gent. to object to the decision of the other night, and to give notice of his intention to move that the subject should be discussed again ; but surely that subject might be discussed with greater advantage if due notice of it were given —( Hear, hear)—than bringing forward a discussion upon it now, when the majority of the House had come there that evening under the impression that the subject for discussion was the second reading of the Bill for the better Protection of Life and Property in Ireland.—( Hear, hear.) He did hope, then, that the Hon. Gent. would not drag the House into a futile discussion upon this most important discussion; but allow them to proceed with that which had been set down for the business of the evening. Mr. EV ELYN DENISON said he had kept perfect good faith with the House with regard to this most important question ; and on Saturday, pursuant to appointment, he had an inter view with the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and settled the clauses of the Bill. He might go so far as to say that the clauses had been brought up, and the amended Bill printed. Would it not be better, then, to postpone the discussion, in order that Hon. Members might have an opportunity of considering it. Mr. \VAKLEY could not understand hew the House could have been taken by surprise by the course proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet, for notice was given previous to the recess that the discussion on the second reading of the Bill should be proceeded with on Friday. The question now pro posed to be discussed was one of a most important character, for it affected the condition of thousands of the poorer classes of the country, and he hoped it would not be discussed !!r treated in the light of a party discussion.—( Hear, bear.)_ouse_l: was a subject which d eserve d th e grea t es t a tt en tion of the House, and for good or evil must effect the condition of t s h? er P e or t f h o e r many years to come. For himself he deeplyofea id his Hon. question, but he confessed, after the motion Col league, it required still more of his be given in unions, as Colleague proposed that relief s hould consideration. His Hon. the continuance of the well as in parishes, which would involvehe must confess, after what had Poor-law Commissioners ; transpired in a and Committee with which he himself was con not in a condition fur nccted, that that 11 that branch of the subject. —(Hear, ther to legislate up H e trusted, therefore, n therefore, that the House would on no hear.) consideration legislate hastily on this question, but would ta k e into its consideratio n everything bearing on the question. Lord JOHN RUS SELL said, that he could not ouite agree with the lion. Gentleman who had just sat down, and with the Gentleman who brought the question before the House. He considered it fair to the Right Hon. Gentleman who intro duced the motion to the Government, that the House of Gam mons should enable the Ri g h t H on. Gentleman to placethel3ill before the House in a definite shape. It would have been better had the Bill been called the Union Settlement Bill, as it would have 'brought the Bill more fully before the House. He could n o t see t h e advantage of going intoany discussion on the Bill on the present occasion, for it seemed to him that it would be far better that they should allow the Right Hon. Gentleman to place the Bill (having fully considered the clauses) in that shape in which he thought the House could best consider it. The Hon. Member for Dorsetshire, although he supported the Bill, and seemed to support the motion of his Hon. Friend, had said what he (Lord John Russell) thought was, in itself, a reason for taking such a course. He said that the unions were very large, too large for the purposes required, and until they saw the amendments to the Bill, how did they know that the Right Hon. Baronet did not intend to propose some modification of the size of the unions ? They did not know what were the details he proposed; and as the lion. Gentleman asked only until Wednesday to settle these details, he thought that such an interval should not be denied him. Mr. BRIGHT said, that in the course of his observations, the Hon. Member for Finsbury had said, that the clerk of a union at, or near Stafford, had refused to allow a rate payer of the district to in s p ec t th e re t urns , or t o g i ve scme information which he sought for. He (Mr. Bright) had received a letter which stated that the assertion was not correct, as far as the union clerk was concerned. He would read a portion of that letter to the House. It stated that the clerk had all times, in the performance of the duties of his office, given every opportunity for inquiry ; but that, with regard to the refusal stated by the lion. Member for Finsbury, no such application was ever made to him, nor did he know until lately that it was asserted that any information had been denied. The letter also stated that the returns of the 9th of February, 1846, were carefully made, and that they comprehended every particular which it was necessary to mention. He ( Mr. Bright) was sure that there was no union clerk in the country more disposed to do his duty, a n d h e h a d no d ou bt t h at t h e H on. M em b er f or Fins bury had laboured under some mistake, or had received erro neous information from other parties. Lord HARRY VANE trusted that the House would accede to the suggestion of the Noble Lord the Member for London. His opinions were not quite similar to those entertained by the Noble Lord, but he was anxious that the question should be discussed at some future time, when the House wa s m ore In possession of the circumstances. He thought the House wo uld adopt a most inconve n i en t course if t h ey entered then u p n n a recommendation of what th e y h a d passe d so recent l y as Friday last. Such a cou rse wou ld create as much surprise in th e country as that exp resse d b y t h e H on. Gentleman at their adoption of the i ns t ruct i ons o f the Hon. M em b e r for Nlal ton. Mr. P. BORTHWICK considered that the subject ought to he referred to a Select Committee, and expressed his in tention of proposing th e a d opt i on o f t h at course in t h e eve nt of the Hon. Member fo r Fi ns b ury mov i ng the re j ect i on o f the in structions. Mr. DUNCOMBE considered it would be better for the House to go into Committee pro forms, in order that they might have an opportunity of moving the rejection of the in structions. Sir ROBERT PEEL thought the House had better see the Bill before they came to any decision respecting (Hear.) It was an important Bill, and every one would ac. quiesce in the necessity of gi v i ng th e utmost atten ti o n to it. It would be best to print the Bill, and afterwards to discuss the subject of union settlements. Mr. O'CONNELL said the Right Hon. Baronet the Secre tary of State for the Home Department informed him, in an early stage of the Bill, that it was hi s i n t en ti on t o the poor of Ireland. H e t rus t e d th a t not hi ng wou ld be intro duced into it to prevent thi s , an d th ere f ore h e w i s h e d to know he intended to c arr y ou t th a t pr i nc i p l e i n th e Bill as amended? apply it to Sir JAMES GRAHAM intended that all Ireland should be included in the provisions of the Bill. Mr. BORTHWICK should object to the House going into Committee pro fimm,i, in order to embody in the Bill the in structions of the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. DUNCOMBE said he should take the sense of the House on his motion, as he considered that the House ought not to be put to the trouble of going into Committee until the nature of the Bill had been determined in a full House. Sir J ANI ES GRAHAM said the instructions were agreed to, after great discussion, on Friday evening. The clauses were prepared, and he believed the Hon. Member for Malton had seen them. As he stated he had not yet had an opportunity of reading them, but in the course of two hours he had no doubt he should be enabled to look over them, so that the House might go into C omm itt ee pro lbrimi, and as the House would net sit to-morrow, they might he able to discuss it on Wednes day ; but, unfortunately, the bus'ness before the House would not admit of that. H owever , on Th urs d ay h e h o p e d they might enter into a discussion of its merits. Colonel WOOD had given notice that to-day he should hope to confine the attention of the House to one simple clause, viz., that a person who had been resident in a parish should not be liable to removal out of it. Mr. DUNCOMBE understood the Hon. Member to mean that the two projects should be included in one Bill, in order that they might have the pleasure of separating them after wards. —( Cheers. ) The amendment was withdrawn. ENLISTMENT OF SOLDIERS. Captain LAYARD asked the Right Hon. the Secretary at War, whether there was any truth in the statement that had al:" peared in the Times newspaper, with respect to the limitation of the period of enlistment, as connected with clause 8? Mr. S. HERBERT said the Gallant Officer was correct ' ll hi: surmises as to clause 8, and that an alteration had taken place with respect to the period of enlistment of soldiers. THE GAUGE QUESTION. Mr. C. WOOD wished to ask the chief Minister of the Crown, what opinion the Government had formed with respect to the gauges? Sir R. PEEL thought it was necessary that the opinion should the Government on t h a t important subject (the gauge) o. be made kno wn as spee dil y as poss ibl e, b ecause th e Pr°gre" the decision railw a y Bill s wou ld no d ou b t b e i mpe d e d until decision of th e G overnment was ma d e public. He believed that the proceed s o f th e C omm i ss i on appointed to inquire. intontou... the subject of th e b roa d an d narrow gauges, and their ore had been reported in the shape of a minute. which had been laid on the tabl e . Th e b est an d most sat i s f ac t or y course which he could pursue w ou ld b e t o move th a t those minutes be printed, so that by t o - morrow morn i ng ever y Member i n that House might have a copy in his hand. CASE OF SIR CHARLES TAYLOR. Mr. COLLETT said the Bth of June had now arrived, and the time had elapsed w h en he was t o have received an answer with from the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State, him respect to copies of affidavits which had been submitted to to Right in the case of Sir Charles T a ylo r . He called upon the Hon. Gentleman to submit to the House the resulth i o m f his to investigation of those affidavits, and h e also wished state whether Sir Charles Taylor was still in the commission of the peace. Sir JAMES GRAHAM replied that since the conduct of Sir Ch a rles T a yl or h a d b een b roug h t un d er t h e a ttention of the House, he had made the most minute inquiry with respect to the truths of the charges brought against him. The result of his investigation of the first charge was that the Hen. Member had relied upon the statement of a convicted felon, and that his statement was incorrect. He did not believe the truth of the statement. Since then the Hon. Member had proposed a new case—had brought new charges against Sir Charles Taylor, on the affidavits of different persons, and had furnished him with those affidavits. He had carefully con sidered those affidavits, and was of opinion that it was un necessary to take any further proceedings with respect to the matter. With respect to the last question of the Hon. Gen tleman, he did not hesitate to tell him that Sir Charles Taylor did hold her Majesty's commission. Mr. P. SCROPE was aware that several charges had been made against Sir Charles Taylor, who had been put to con siderable inconvenience and anxiety with respect to the pub lication of them in the papers. Sir Charles Taylor had sought his advice upon the subject, and had asked him w hether he could take proceedings in a court of law, or in that House, against the Hon. Member for Athlone. His advice was,that he should not take any proceedings in the matter, as the truth would become apparent, and his character would be cleared. If such charges were brought against one magistrate, they might be brought against all. Mr. COLLETT said that he still most conscientiously be lieved that the allegations were true.—(Order, order.) . Mr. NEWDEGATE felt satisfied that the charges whi ch were made against Sir Charles Taylor were utterly groundless, and he did hope that the House would take some means of pro tecting an individual who was unable to defend himself front the attacks of any Hon. Member in that House. Mr. WAKLEY observed, that there was only one coufo open to the House to adopt, and that was for the appointnient of a Committee. After the statement of the Hon. Member, that he fully believed that the allegations contained in the de positions were true, and after the statement of the Right Hon. Baronet, that he did not intend to institute any further inquiry, he was satisfied that no case more admitted or re quired a complete inquiry than the present. Mr. BANKES objected to any further inquiry, as he consi dered the appointment of a Committee would be an imputation on the veracity of the House, and be holding them up t o pub lic scandal. Mr. HUME thought it was much to the honour of any Member, when he heard of any act of injustice having been done by a magistrate, to interfere and protect the victim of magisterial ignorance or tyranny. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he was unacquainted with Sir Charles Tay o lor, but if blame attached to any one, thought it attached t him. He did consider that there should be some course adopted which would prevent Members coning forward and making su c h a c cusa ti o n s as tho s e made aga'n!! Sir Chas. Taylor, when they were based upon wholly grounne lees fabrications; and that would be the only proper method meeting out justice upon such occasions. And now, with re spect to the legality o f these affidavits—they were perfectly O, n but they were nulliti es , an d no c i v il act i on wou ld lie upo n them, nor could a civil action be brought to recover damages against any pe rson w h o h a d made them falsely. He did tr ust that the Hon. Gentleman would come forward himself when 1,7 had inq u i re d a li tt l e more i nto the case, an d he would apologise. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK—The Hon. Member fo r Montrose expres s ed hi s s ur p r i se th a t hi s H on . F r iend belo w (Mr. Bankes) should have shown so much warmth uP2 i n 4 this occasion, but he should have felt much surprise if ' l 4 Hon. Friend had not shown warmth, for it would be as much as to say that he was wanting in all the feelings which eh 2 k r a ose terise an English gentleman—that he was wanting in been feelings of generosity which betray a noble spirit—had he be o enabled to have heard those charges brought against an II 11 • ~ Gentleman, 80 years of age, who had been a magistrate more than half a century. What, were they to grant a Committee of trusted not. of Inquiry into that Hon. Gentleman's conduct I not. If they were to grant a Committee, it should be on inquire whether an Hon. Member had been the instrumen" . a foul, a false, a scandalous charge against an Hon. Gentlein,a% Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE said, it appeared to him they were making much to do about nothing. The Hon Member for Athl one , th e y were all aware, upon these subj ects g aw et a a re lo t t ha o t f if they was a monomaniac. The House were w q o u u it id e sent down into the county towns they ls Taylor had made himself to swear anything, and Sir Charles Taylor to the laws. f an apology or obnoxious to the people by Indeed, he consider ed the Hon. __ ) H AT e ta a hy r ilo , onr h e, e . ar, . said, in the extreme desire which the House Mr. BRIGHT having brought . forwardt his strict That Hon• manifested to doy quite for got to do justice. h question very minute • • c had given t e justice o thet 1 himrabrCegirel Charles inquiry, and he Gentleman had found a confirmation of his former statem en t s. He ( M r . Bright) had himself se en the woman who had purchased the g ame, and he hail seen her husba n d a l so ; and there was no thing in her appearance, or in her mariner, or in her conduct, which would alter his belief in her statements. But he would draw their attention to a fact which had lately appeared in Worcester journal, that a game k eeper had laid a snare in which he placed dead game i n a fi e l d, through which there was a pat h - to a church, in order that some might had person be found t o take it ; and cou ld they doubt that person so lie would b e pun i s h ed for it? And if the Hon. Gentleman was a mon oman i ac, he wished more persons would adopt views with reference to the game-laws.---(A laugh from Lor George Bentinck ) Mr. COLLETT the regretted to intrude himself upon „ House, but he could not sit quietly by when such severe al i t , adversions had been made en a Member of that House. , he had inquired into the character of Sir Charles Taylor, and ) found th ere was not, a more honourable man.—( Hear, h ear• i ,., He did cons i der t h at t h e H on. Member ought either to sinen stantiate his charge s or t o a p o l og i se .--Th e s ubject was i allowed to drop. COERCION BILL (IRELAND). Mr.POULETT SCROPE said, he would postpone the ect re so g - lutions which he had upon the paper—resolutions resp in remedial measures which should certainly accompany such a measure as that at present proposed for Ireland. Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE said, he had to move that this Bill (the Irish Coercion Bill) be read this day six moot"' He had hoped that her Majesty's Government would ha v l abandoned this measure, and he was sorry that they He shown a perseverance with it worthy of a better cause. contended that the Government had not made use of all the powers which were vested in them by the law of the land, to IT, down the disturbed state of Ireland. They had sent a Specie! Commission to W stmeath, but they had taken care to send down before hand t o know what evidence they could collect to support convictions. Now, he asked, had they pursued the. same course with regard to Limerick and Clare ? He believ ed that they had not; if they had, he withdrew the chargect ('Hear, hear.) The people of Ireland resisted the la w, as it ?.,,a„ not press fairly upon them; they had a rooted dislike 1" THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 9, 1846. ..,