The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-21 00:00:00

Berkeley, from the borough of Cheltenham by Lord Ernest Bruce, from the corporation of Marlborough ; by the same Noble Lord, from the inhabitants of the town of Marlborough ; by Mr. William Cripps, from the bo rough of Cirencester ; by Mr. Etwall, from the corporation of Andover ; by the same Hon. Gentleman from the clergy, gentry, landowners, agriculturists, and other inhabitants of the town of Andover and its neighbourhood; by Mr. Compton, from the landowners and agriculturists of Stockbridge and its neighbourhood ; by Mr. Bennett, from the corporation of Salisbury ; by Mr. Phillips, from the corporation of Poole ; by Mr. Email, from the corporation of Romsey ; by the same Ilon. Member, from the inhabitants of Romsey ; by Mr. Neeld, from the borough of Cricklade and the town of Swindon; by Mr. Sidney Herbert, from the inhabitants of the borough of New Sarum ; by Mr. G. W. Hope, from the commissioners of the port and harbour of Southampton ; by Lord Charles Wellesley, from the inhabitants ot Redbridge, Alillbrook, and Ealing; by Sir William Heathcote, from the inhabitants ot Broughton ; by Mr. Sidney Herbert, from the borough of Devizea ; by Mr. Phillips, from the inhabitants of Poole; by Mr. Hamilton, from 1,603 ratepayers and inhabi tants of the Isle of Wight ; by Mr. Compton, from the inha oitants of Fordirgbridge ; by Mr. Sidney Herbert, from the inhabitants of Downton ; and by Sir William Heathcote, from the owners, lessees, and occupiers of land upon the line. — Ordered to be referred to the Committee on the Bill. Mr. ESTCOURT mcved that it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Petitions for Private Bills, to take into their earli •st consideration the several following petitions for Bills which have been referred to them, viz.:—Perth and Inverness Railway; Inverness and Elgin Junction Railway ; Morayshire Railway ; Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin Railway ; Kilmarnock and Troon Railway ; Paisley, Barrhead, arid Hurlet Railway; Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct Railway; and Hamilton and Strathaven Railway. Mr. HODGSON hoped the House would not agree to the motion, a►though it was brought forward by the chairman of the Standing Orders' Committee. Should the motion be agreed to it would put many parties to a very great expense. If the Hon. Member came down asking to put Hills out of their order, it was quite clear that the persons promoting other Bills could have no idea what time they would be called on, and this would necessarily involve a very heavy expense on the part of some promoters. Mr. E. ELLICE,jun., said that he knew one instance where a railway was within two of the top of the list, and therefore very likely to be called on soon, but by some new arrange ment of the Standing Orders Committee—an arrangement entered into without the knowledge of the parties—they were put back for three weeks, and the parties who were opposing them were obliged, in consequence, to support these witnesses in town at a great expense. Mr. ST RUTT said that if the Committees on Select Peti tions wished to do their duty to the public, they would take the Bilis in their regular order upon the list. He invariably did so, unless he had the consent in writing of promoters and objectors to its postponement. file motion was then put and agreed to. LONDON AND OXFORD RAILWAY BILL. Mr. COBDEN presented a netition in favour of this Bill. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition, prayieg that the Downpatrick Gas Works 13111 be passed. THE MILITIA. Mr. T. DUNCONIBE presented several petitions agains the enrolmvra of the militia. The same lion. Member pre. seated a petition from the handloom weavers of Wickham. praying for some modification of the existing laws in their d. Ur. COBDEN presented several petitions praying for a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws, which were ordered to lie on the table. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER, it was agreed that the House at its rising do adjourn till Monday zest. RAILWAY AMALGAMATION. __ _ Mr. WILSON PATTEN gave notice that, on Monday, he would move for a Select Committee to inquire whether railway amalgamation were consistent with the commercial interests of the•couritry. Mr. It. YORKE asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he could give any specific information in respect to the return to England of Joseph Mason, who was sentenced to twenty years' transportation at the York March Assizes, in 1843, upon a conviction which turned out to have been given in error, and which was established so to have been given in December, 1845. Sir J. GRAHAM said that a commission had been ape pointed to inquire into the circumstances, and at first there appeared no reason to he dissatisfied with the verdict. Subse quently information was given that an alibi could be proved. The circumstances of that alibi were so strange, that it was thought right to leave the evidence to the consideration of one of the judges. The whole matter was therefore left to ►he consideration of Mr. Justice Coleridge, and in consequence of his decision a free pardon was sent out to Mason, who was now en his return to England. Mr. kV YSE wished to ask a question of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Department (Sir Jas. Gra ham) with respect to education in Ireland. By the report of the Commissioners of 1833 from the Board of National Edu cation in Ireland, he learned that it was a recommendation on the part of that hoard that schools should be established throughout the several districts of that country. During the course of last session the Gas ernment gave a promise that an Act of incorporation for the national education in Ireland should be passed that House. He had therefore three ques tions to ask—first, as to whether any intention was entertained of making an alteration in the constitution of the Board of Education in Ireland, as was promised last session ; Secondly, whether any measure was to be brought in for giving effect to that alteration in the several towns mentioned in the report ; and thirdly, whether there was any intention of carrying out this recommendation in the way of the establish ment of schools in the agricultural districts? S:r.JAMES GRAHAM was glad to have the satisfaction to answer the Hon. Member for Waterford (Mr. Wyse), and to say that a charter of incorporation was being prepared for the National Board of Education in Ireland. In reply to the second question, he was also able to say that measures were in preparation for the establishment of those sehnels to which the Hon. Member had alluded. And in reply to the third question, he had to say that the Govern ment were as equally anxious to spread education through the agricultural districts as through the municipal poputatiou ; but it would depend upon the reports of the National 13oard of Education in which way their efforts were to be directed. CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL. On the motion if the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE QUER, the Con , ohilateil Foul Bill (8,000,000!.) reecired third reading and passed. BOARD OF EDUCATION—IRELAND. Mr. WYSE moved that the charter of incorpora'ion which the National Board of Education in Ireiai:d had been incorporated should be laid upon the table. THE OREGON TERRITORY. Mr. PETER BORTHWICK rose to ask the Right lion. the First Lord of the Treasury, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to present to this House copies or extracts of any ccrrespondence which may have passed between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and her Majesty's Minister at Washington, in relation to the Oregon territory. It might be in the recollection of the House, that at the be ginning of the present session of Parliament her Majesty had, from the throne, regretted that the conflicting claims of Great Britain and the United States had not been satisfactorily settled, although they had been made the subject of repeated negotiation. Up to that mo,neitt the House and the country had yielded a silent but entire confidence in the carrying out of that measure. It was not his intention to disturb that silence, or to intimate in the slightest degree a diminution of that, confidence. But it was impossible to conceal the fact, that although that House appre ciated, and fully understood, the spirit in which her Majesty's Ministers acted, yet, on the other side of the Atlantic there did exist misguided and ignorant persons, who put upon the words pronounced by her Majesty from the throne, and the subsequent proceedings of her i%lajesty's Government in that House, a construction which was not intended to be produced. Blotter and bravado always indicated timidity, and with feelings of bluster anti bravado had the war party in America received the intimation which had been given by this country. lie thought it was time that England should distinctly declare her views. He had preferred rather to put a question to the Right Honourable Gentleman than make a motion upon the subject, as he thought the subject its,lf was not one to be discus,ed in a popular assembv. Be had hoped that the Right Hon. Baronet would, of his own accord, recommend she production of such of these papers, or extracts from them, as might be necessary to inform the 'louse of the nature of the negotiations which had taken place. He would, therefore, simply ask the Right Hon. Gentleman whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to present to trio House those papers, or extracts from any cor respondence which passed between our Minister at Washington and the Minister of the United States with ;elation to the Oregon territory. Sir ROBERT PEEL—Mr. Sp6aiter, I do not think it will be necessary for me to make any observations with respect to the general subject. to \AA the Right Hon. Gentleman has alluded.—(Cheers.) I thick explanation wholly unnecessary because I think the expressions of her Majesty's Government, and other expressions used by public men in this and the other House of Parliament, have not been misconstrued in the United States.—(Hear, hear.) Ido dot think that there would be any public advantage by laying the papers re ferred to on the table of the House in the present state of the question—in the present state of the differences between this country and the United States with respect to the Oregon territory.—(Hear, hear.) 1 do not think that any ad vantage would arise ; and therefore it is not the inten tion of her Majesty's Government to make any such com munications at the present moment. At the same time I am bound to say, that certain communications and certain notes have passed between Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Pakenham, with respect to the c l a i ms o f th e G overnment of t h e United States to the Oregon territory, although I should not have thou g ht i t t i,e ne i c c es•sa ry t o have. laid ' these communications on the table of the Lhut as it ma y p er h aps b e necessary to aut h ent i cate b„, re t an:es contained in them, and as publicity I- as 1 7 the. liv o n theem—( Laughter)—l shall hare no objection t o table o f the House.—( Cries of " No, no.") 1 e have no preposition t o ma k e to the Home, on the part of the Government, United States relative with respect to the disputes with the to that territory, because the negotiation s h ave net aim, anti because it is quite brought to a condu• unusual to make such dis tdosures as those required Ithe lGentleman until they have been brought to a conclusion.—( ilear, hear.) But as these communications have been madey are authentic and as the House may wish to know wheth er t h e if it is the wish of the House, I sh ou ld have n a o u o th ble n e t t n o t r o n l o a t y , them on the table. *Lord J. RUSSELL said, as• far as he was sone ,. n a , did not wish for the production of the papers referredteo-'s,"tei the Right Hon. Baronet could state that the negoliationsulesd reached such a point at which it would be either satisfactory or unsatisfactory to lay them on the table of the House. He, however, thought that it should be left to the Right Hon. Gentleman to produce them when be thought proper, because the public service might suffer by their production during the continuance of negotiations. He wished, however, before he concluded, to refer to another subject. lie wished to ask a question of the Right Hon. Baronet as to the course which be intended to pursue with respect to the corn-laws. They bad now been eight weeks assembled since her Majesty addressed her most gracious speech from the throne with respect to those laws. The Right Honourable Gentleman, after the first statement of his measures, gave, I think, a fortnight before any consideration of those measure s should be brought before the House. They had now been engaged three weeks in a preliminary dis cussion after the introduction of the Bill. Now, it did seem to him that after so much discussion, and that after the Right Honourable Gentleman had declared his intention to go on with the discussion from day to day, that great' and unnecessary delay hat Liken place. He should have thought that that would have been the ease, but he now found that it was his intention the first day after the second reading of the Corn Bill to propose the first reading of the Bill for protection to life in Ireland. If he considered the former measure of such great importance, he considered tl:at the latter Bill should not have been rought forward till after the third reading of the Corn Bill ; and he was of opinion that by the course proposed no time would be gained. Ile wished, therefore, to express a hope that the Right Honourable Gentleman, the First ...Lord. of the Treasury, ,}would adhere , te, . the arrangert4nt o:iginally proposed ; and, as 'sufficient discussion had taken place on the Corn Bill to shield the Right Hon. Gentleman from any charge of undue precipitancy with regard to the measure, that he would proceed from day to to-day with that Bill till it was finally disposed of, and postpone till then any proceedings on the Bill for protection to life in Ireland. Sir ROBERT PEEL—I can assure the Noble Lord that I never felt greater anxiety in my life with regard to any mea sure than Ido with respect to the corn-law. I have received communications from different parts of the country, and from parties adverse to the measure, praying that some decision should be come to forthwith on the question of the corn-laws. In the first place, it was to be desired on account of the state of the crops in this country, that there should be free access to the corn in bond, that it might be mixed with the corn in this country fer seed;; and on that account, as well as on account of the inconvenience in other respects which would result from the delay, it would be desirable that this decision should be come to as soon as possible. In the event of this Bill becoming law, foreign corn would be admitted at a duty of 4s. per quarter, instead of 18s., as at present, and under these circum stances of course no corn weu:d be taken out of bond till it was definitely known what course would be pursued with respect to the measure. In point of fact less corn had been sold in those towns, the averages from which determine the price of corn, than had been sold for some time previou-. Besides, he had to observe, that the greatest inconvenience was likely to arise to separate very important interests. As for instance, with respect to the Custom Duties Bill, the Treasury, in accordance with the established usage, had directed the custom-house authorities to admit all articles in cluded in the tariff now before the House, at the reduced rates of duty; a bond being taken from the importers to secure the payment of the higher rate of duty in the event of the Bi!1 not passing the House. Under this regulation, all the linen, woollen, and cotton fabrics, had been admitted, and all manu factures of that class were admitted at the present moment, and he proposed to receive all other manufactures at the reduced rate of 10!. per cent. Now, he was anxious to bring this debate to as early a conclusion as possible, because the bonds taken from the several parties at the reduced rate would be much more likely of redemption ; and, possibly, great in convenience might be prevented, not only to the Government but to the public at large. Under these circumstances he was very anxious for the settlement of the reduction which the Government had proposed on the importation of articles of foreign produce. That ivas the first ground of his anxiety for the conclusion of the discussion on the Corn Bill. Yet he was bound to express the opinion of the Government upon the great importance of the Bill sent down from the House of Lords for the prevention of crime in Ireland, and which now stood on the notice-book for a first reading. The course, then, which he proposed to pursue was, to fix the second reading of the Corn Bill for Monday next. The debate on that Bill might very possibly terminate on Thursday, and in that case he would fix the first reading of the Bill for the prevention of assassination in Ireland for the Monday following. But as it might possibly happen that the discussion on the Core Bill, as anticipated by his friend to the right, might possibly terminate before the Thursday, he would, in that case, fix the first read ing of the Irish Bill for Thursday. The only difficulty he ex perienced on that point was, that he should not then be en abled to give the usual notice on the books. But of this the Noble Lord might be assured, that on a matter of so much im portance he would give all the notice which the circumstances would allow, bo!h to the House and to the country, of his in tention to proceed with the Bill. He found that the debate on the subject of railway termini in the metropolis had been ad journed, but on its resumption on Monday he would be pre pared to give the assent of her Majesty's Government to the recommendation of the Commi' tee.—( Hear.) THE ADJOURNED DEBATE. On the order of the day for going into Committee on the Customs Bill being read, The Marquis of WORCESTER said he would not occupy the time of the House at any length by the observations he should make in prefacing a resolution which he had to move. Government was now going to place Baltic timber nearly an the same footing as Canada, and what did the House think would be the effect of such a step? Why, the Canadian trade in timber was almost all in the hands of British mer chants, while the Baltic trade was carried on by Dan: s, Swedes, and Prussians. Now, were they to legislate for the foreigner in preference to the English? If they were, he would ask how was the British shipowner, without protection, to eentend against such odds as these? The Hon. Gentleman the Member for Wolverhampton had said that a foreigner would be surprised to see the course pursued by Hon. Members on the Ministerial side of the Hou s e, but he (the Marquis of Worcester) rather thought the foreigner would be more sur prised to see the course pursued by the Government, who were removing the taxes on foreigners, and placing them on English men. —( Hear, hear.) Mr. H. HINDE (who rose amidst loud cries of " Divide" from the Opposition) said that he did expect that after the Noble Lord had stated his objection to the proposition of her Majesty's Government some Member sitting on the Treasury benches would have arisen to offer some explanation of the reasons which induced the Government to postpone this great and startling alteration in the duties on timber. It could hardly be that her Majesty's Government, in the great altera tions they were making, considered, that having established the general principle of the reduction of duties, that timber, as a matter of course, should be included in that reduction. He would rather have deferred his remarks on this debate until some explanation had been given by her Majesty's Government, but he was unwilling to go to a division on this great question without stating his own views upon IL He had the misfortune to differ from her Majesty's Government on almost every reduction of duty on the articles mentioned in the tariff. He confessed that he viewed the scheme of her Majesty's Government, formed, no doubt, with a good inten tion, with apprehension, for he was sure that it would be a futile attempt to promote the general prosperity of this country by inflicting injuries on individual interests.—(Hear, hear. ) Ile was aware that her Majesty's Government were proud that on this occasion they were supported by certain ship owners in this kingdom. Ho did not know what importance to attach to the opinions expressed by these shipowners, when the same parties had on a former occasion petitioned against the carrying of any such measure as the pre sent into effect. He knew that it might be that charge of opinion and change of parties, without any cause assigned, found favour in the eyes of her Majesty's Ministers, for " feeling makes us wondrous kind." When he knew the great importance attached to these petitions, he could not help supposing that some sympathy of that kind existed between her Majesty's Government and the petitioners. He was not disposed to dispute the respect due to this kind of petition, but the House would be snider a most erroneous impression if they imagined that these gentlemen represented a large portion of the ship-owners' interel. Ile would not venture to say what was the general feeling of the shipping interest, as he would say that the gentlemen petitioning the House in favour of the alteration of duty formed far the smaller portion of the shipping interest. This House and her Majesty's Government would be led into a great error if they supposed that the ship-owners, proposing an alteration of duty, had become disciple's of free trade. They considered that they had been the first victims of free trade in earlier years, and they now indulged in the feeling, the not unnatural feeling, of thinking that the protection which was denied to themselves should be withheld from their fellow-subjects. He would now read two passages from the petitions which were presented by the Right Honourable Gentleman from the shipowners of Sunderland, and he did l consider that the Right Honourable Baronet would have acted much snore wisely if he had contented himself with simply moving their reception, without having them printed, because the reasoning of the petitioners was very much at variance with the prayer of the petitions. They state that they have been for many years unprotected in their intercourse with other nations; they did not consider that it was just to call on them to pay for the protection of others. He would not justify this feeling, but it was very na tural. However, the shipowners were much deceived if they considered that the landed interest maintained a protec tive duty on timber to serve their own interests. They sought protection for the benefit of the shipowners themselves—and he would state that he believed the shipowners had very recently changed their opinions with reeard to protection, and that the change which had come over them was more recent than that of her Majesty's Government. In 1832 the vessels en tered inwards were—British, 1,930,846 tons; and foreign, 561.047 tons. In 1845, British vessels were 3,669,853 tons ; and foreign vessels, 1,3t:3,735 tons. It was perfectly true that there was a large increase in 13rit;sh tonnage, but it was not so large as the increase on the foreign tonnage. The increase in British ships was under 90 per cent., and the increase in foreign ships was 140 per cent.—( Cheers.) The tonnage cleared outwards was—in 1832, 1,637,(.93; and the foreign, 466,333. In 1815, British tonnage was 2,917,000; and foreign, L 361,940. The increase in British was 1,310,0,0, and in foreign tonnage 95,000. In British it was 80 per cent., but in foreign 193 per cent.—(Cheers.) In the number of vessels carrying tonnage both inwards and outwards ware included a very large amount of steam- vessels— vessels which bore very little, it any, cargo at all • and the con sequence was, that a very undu e p roport i on in the whole was given to the number of vessels carrying cargo. He would show by a number of figures the number of steam-vessels which were included in the Government returns. In 1841, the whole number of steam-vessels belonging to the United King dom in the Channel Isles was 791, the tonnage of which was 93,793, and in the same year there were entered inwards 17,318 veasels, whose tonnage was 3,234,800.—(Hear, hear.) Now, he had adduced those few facts to prove this—that it was not because the shipowners had flourished in consequence of the free•tracle measures of the Government, that they had petitioned the House to repeal the duties upon timber. Their reason was, because they believed that the free-trade system had already done its worst—(Protectionist cheers) —and that by its more general application to every other class the injuries which had been inflicted on themselves might be extended to others. It was perfectly true that timber had cheapened by the measures of her Majesty's Government. It had been shown in a petition which he had the honour of presenting to that House from the Shipowners' Society of London, that the amount of duty paid on timber which had been used in ship budding formed nearly five per cent. of the entire amount used in this country. He was aware that when he presented that petition that it was met by a cheer. The meaning of that cheer he perfectly understood to have been this, that the shipowners were not benefited by having the duties on colonial timber reduced. But he would say that it was a very serious consideration to the people of this country whether they were to do injury to persons holding large tracts of land in England, and whether this country was to view with indignation the prospect of another war, brought about by the conduct of thu present Government, and which would, of course, deprive them of a sufficient supply of timber ,which was se vital an element in the commerce of this country. He did not hesitate to say, that if her Majesty's Government reduced the discriminating duties between British acd colonial timber, they would entail an incalculable injury upon this country. He (the Hon. Member) had heard, with much pleasure, the sentiments of her Majesty's Government, with regard to their determination to maintein a firm position with respect to the Oregon territory ; but at the same lime he believed, that if the measure then before the House were carried into law, they_' might not alone get rid of the Oregon territory, but also make a present of the Canadas.—(Hear, hear.) One would sup. pose that the members ()flier Majesty's Government were di rected by a hostile feeling towards the colonies, and particu larly to the valuable colony of Canada.--( Hear, hear.) He regretted th a t an ti- co l on i a l p o li c y should be pursued by the Government ; but on that subject he would not further in trudetitmg a on th e H ouse. However, he cou ld not s i t d own w i t h out pquestion to Hon. M em bers on the Ministerial side of the Hou se , and he hoped to reFeive a frank . and candid an swer. His question was this--if they carried the principle of free trade out to its f ( ule a x r ten i t t , a of what advantage would it be to the colonies?— s„po n o cordialadvantage at He e d was of opinion that taoll the e n mo n ti n on th o a f t t g h r e ou N nd ub h le e w it o w ul o d ul g d iv b e e h o i f s Lord.—( Hear. ) Mr. CARDWELL said that his Hon. Friend who bad just sat down commenced his observations by recommending to the Governme nt a course w hich he thought w as much batter than that the y were adopting,—(He With regard to the present measure now before Parliament, and to the opinion which had been expressed in the petition to which the lion. Gentleman referr r ed ie t n h d er h e od wa r s e a singular con fliction of opinions. His lion. years ago, u, f i e u rr w es i l li t u o h a i i t tti tion presented to that Howie some I of the duties under 301. per cent. - been stated that their interests woult. b ,4 e ,o r w atne g i d n b t y h t e h c e o r m ed p n a c r t is i o o a n n d Fwrhiieenhdhoapdpboeseitne,inasntiluttehdatinprtohreomseedasubyretp:reospoisinedi Ministers, he is he H h o a n d . o monelaysutorerse_fer( Cheers)—and e t r h s _ difference h o o w f popularity respectbetween s which wasthe tw en tertained for the measures proposed by her Majesty's Ministers, and to those proposedley the party with which his Hon. Friend generally acted. rn the petition which had been presented by the shipowners in 1842, it had been asserted that in the event of the reduetien of the duties under 25/. per cent. that the whole of the timber trade would be transferred from the British Colonies to the timber growing countries of the North of Europe. But he remembered that the very same prophecy had been made when the reduction of the duty of 30s. per load was threatened some years previously, although at the time the duction was made it was positively asserted that it would be utterly destructive of the shipping interests. Now, he would venture to put it as a fact worthy of illustration, and capable of illustration in the House, whether the greater benefit derived by the country had not been obtained through the instrumen tality of those who had thought fit to change their opinions and support the, measures of the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Government, or thoie who remained under the effect of the conviction years ago, netwithstauding all the eircum.tances which had occurred. Why, what was the evidence on which the Government had altered their opinion ? His lion. Friend said that the ship owners, having been made the victims of free-trade, had now come forward to petition against the measure of the Govern ment, and referred to the petition for a proof of the opinions which they entertained ; but from it it appeared that a gradual increase had taken place in the number of tons exported into this country ; in fact, during the last two or three years, these exportations had increased more than a milllion of tons. There had been a corresponding increase in the steam boat trade. Then, with respect to the Canadian tim ber trade, he quoted returns, to show that the reduction . . . of duties had increased the trade, and that shipowners had consequently reaped a corresponding advantage. The returns from Liverpool showed the same result, and he could assure the House that the trade had increased since the duties had fist been reduced. After a careful considera tion of all these facts, the Select Committee, w hich sat in 1835, stated that it was their opinion that the difference of duty of 45 as compared with North American timber was too great, and ought :o be reduced; and, that having a due regard to the interest which had been created by the system of protection, a reduction of the protective duty, not exceeding 153. a load, might be made. If they considered the facts of the case, Hon. Gentlemen might see that the same kinds of timber were not employed for the same purposes; and by increasing the demand for that used in constructing the larger por' ion of hous's, they would increase the demand for the other kinds of wood ; also for bricks, and other exciseable articles ; and, above all, they would increase the demand for labour. And he did consider that his Hon. Friends had, on very rational conclusions, introduced the measure; for himself, he believed that like causes would produce like effects, and he would ask the House to agree to this proposition. Mr. H. HINDE wisheefto know what would be the value o the Canada! if they should establish a complete system of free trade ?—( Hear, hear. ) Mr. A. CHAPMAN said that it was with the deepest feel ings of regret that he differed on this question from the Go vernment of the Right Hon. Gentleman ; and his object in rising was, to draw the attention of the House to the injury which might be inflicted by a transfer of the Canadian trade to the Baltic. Timber had ever been considered as a fair subject for taxation, and he very much feared that the proposed mea sure would be by no means beneficial to their shipping inte rest ; and he should bo exceedingly glad if he found his expec tation deceived, and if the benefits which had been stated by her Majesty's Government should arise from the measure. Captain HARRIS considered that if this measure received the sanction of the House, it would inflict a lasting injury on the service to which he belonged. He had before stated that the tariff a the Right Hon. Gentleman had worked extremely well, but he did believe that they had arrived on that tariff to the minimum of protection which could be given by a paternal Government.—( Hear, hear.) He had not been able to arrive at the number of ships which were engaged in the channel trade. If the Secretary of the Board of Trade was correct, the number of vessels which were engaged in the trade with Canada was 1,200, and the number of men ;employed 15,000. The most of these ships made two trips in the season, and when he commanded one of her Majesty's ships-of-war off that station, he had no difficulty in procuring a supply of from 200 to 300 men. This proved the great advantage of keeping up the shipping trade between the two countries. It had been stated that no petitions had been presented from the colonies with regard to the present question. Now, he had to state in reference to that, that they had no time to present a petition on the subject. On the last occasion when the re duction took place on these duties, five petitions were presented aginat the reduction from the Governor-General of Canada, and twelve from New Brunswick. He would not detain the House longer, but, believing that the measure would be ruin ous to the mercantile interest, he would give it his moat decided opposition. Mr. PALMER said that that was amongst the first interests which were attacked by the mischievous measures of the Gr vernment. They would be pernicious to every interest, but more especially to the shipping interest. So tar from the reduction which had taken place bei productive of benefit, he considered the effect was quite the reverse. The Right Hon. Gentleman had taken all the respon sibility of these measures from first to last, and he had evinced a determination to carry them into effect notwithstanding every opposition. He could only say with regard to this measure that some time since he recollected, when an Hon. Member, now no more, had made a reference to it, and to the im portance which this country had attained under the naviga tion laws. es a reason why any interference with this question should be well corpidered, the answer was, that the chances then contemp'ated would not be injurious. He did net believe that the Right Hon. Baronet wished to bring mischief upon the interests of the country, but his raeasut es would certainly have that effect. Whence, be would ask, was all this universal phi larehropy, that they should be called upon to cast away the bread of their children? Was the time now come when the lion should lie clown with the lamb? He was very much afraid that the Noble Lord (Rtaetell) had only open-d the door to let in the fox.—( Laughter.) The Hon. Gentleman, after alluding to the evil consequences which would result from the reduction of the silk duties, proceeded to say that in consequence of the change in the navigation laws he eas obliged to sell ships at 5,000/., which cost him 20,0001. He hoped he would not be considered as speaking personally offensive to the Right Hon. Gentleman, when he stated his belief that he was not acting in an ingenuous manner with either that House or the country, with reference to his recent mea sures. The statement which the Right Hon. Baronet made the other night was more like that of an advocate or a special pleader, than of a great statesman. In 1820 the number of vessels employed were 29,969 ; in 1840, 29,183; so that there was an inerease merely of 6 per cent. He admitted there had been a large increase in the tonnage, which probably might he owing in some measure to the constructing of the vessels ; hut how ships could only increase at the rate of 6 per cent. and tonnage at the rate of 20 per cent., he could not tell. British tonnage between this country and Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, in 1806, amounted to 107,118 tons, and in 1844 to 130,100 tons, which showed an increase of 20 per cent., not withstanding the increase in the price of timber. The ton nage of the Foreign trade in 1826, was 65,564 tons, while in 1844 it amounted to 528,722 tons, showing an inc•ease of 8.50 per cent. During the last two or three years the British ship ping to the Baltic amounted to 109,000 tons, and in 1844 to 130,0e0 tons. Foreign ships during the same periods respect ively amounted to 341,553 and 528,722 tons. The amount of the timber which, during last year, went into the pocket of the foreigner, was 1,533,00r.1 That was the account he literally received ; while the Canadians received Is. 6d. a load less than they did before. The present measure would still fur ther affect the British shipping. The freight to Canada was 31s. a load, while that to the Baltic was only 14s. It was now 215., but the usual rate was 14e., so that they could not take the difference between Baltic and Canadian freightage at less than 14s. per load, It might be said that the Baltic timber was preferable to the Canadian (Hear, hear) — but he considered that that advantage, even if it were admitted, would not counterbalance the evils which would re sult if the reduction of the present protection were carried into effect. He admitted, however, that better seamen would be made by a trip to the Baltic, exposed to the vicissitudes of the North Sea, than by a voyage across the Atlantic. It had been said that different petitions were presented from shipowners in this country in favour of the present reduction. He did not know who all the parties were, but he knew some of them. He knew three names which were attached to the petition pre sented from London, and he could undertake to say that they, at least, were not engaged in general shipping. One of them was connected with the West India trade, another was en gaged in the colonial trade, and they were all strong partisans. Their testimony, therefore, in favour of the pre sent measure, could not be considered uninterested. There was no doubt the Right Hon. Baronet was perfectly satisfied that what he proposed was for the good of the country; so far he had perfect confidence in him, but he, notwithstand ing, could not help stating his belief that the Right Hon. Gen• tleman was in error. Ile was at a loss to know what benefit this country would derive from such a measure. He could only find it likely to benefit foreigners. It was a measure erabr4c ing the grand principle of free trade as proposed by her Me jestey's Ministers—it was a measure which called upon that House to withdraw all protection from the trade of this count ry —to withdraw as it were the protection of the parent from the child. He could understand the principle of free trade in this country, so far as it allowed a reciprocity of trade amongst themselves, but he could not agree to a stem which gave all the benefit to foreigners at the expense of the people of Eng land. He could not agree to a principle which gave to Prus sia a right to trade to all our ports, when Prussia herself was so jealous of her own interests as to refuse anything like a reciprocity of the benefits conferred upon her. Mr. WARBURTON said it was well known that he was not then engaged in the shipping trade, although ho at one time had been interested in it. Between 1841 and 1842, the shipping trade of this country was greatly interested in the tim ber-trade, and at that period they were not contented with having a differental duty of 455., they contrived to have the duties so altered as to give the advantage to the European trade. At that time the seven-inch deal was charged at as high a duty as timber of considerably larger dimensions. In 1842, however, the duty was reduced, and taking the averages of the timber imported since that year, it was found that the colonial timbre had not been reduced in value, notwithstanding that the duty on foreign importation was reduced from 455. to 255. lie feared that the impartation of colonial timbers had increased to the amount. of 30, while the foreign had increased 20 per cent ; and in the year 1845 the colonial timbers had increased 17 per cent. over that of foreign timber. But this increase did not apply to one sort of timber alone—it would be found to be highly favourable to all qualities. Was it then to be said that while so many improvements were going on in this country, so many railwas and other constructions as were taking place, the Government were to allow them to stand still, and so much timber abroad, which was required for the benefit of this country ?—(Hear, hear.) Were they to allow the colonial timber to be raised to en exorbitant price by the continuance of high duties?—( hear, hear.) The Go vernment had done their duty in proposing an alteration of this system, and he would say that the Legislature would be highly wrong if they were to oppose the present m easure . Th e rise of the trade in American timber must be dated from its Iwo expeditions to Copenhagen. Before then there was not a Norwegian naval captain who did not wear on his breast the medals received fur their services to this country.— Hear, hear.) Since then, however, the interests of the Norwe gians were mixed up with the trade of foreign countries, and more especially with France, a country so great in her naval armaments. With the finest ports in the world on the Norwegian coasts, and so close to the Baltic, it behoved them to consider before they would place a bann upon their trade—it behoved them to consider whether it was a wise policy to allow the Norwegians to become so closely connected with France. Should a war take place between this country and France—not that he apprehended any such calamity—but still such was not unlikely, in all human probability. Was it, he would say, a wise policy, that a country with so great a navy, and a country which was continually increasing her naval powers, should allow her to have all the timber trade of the Baltic to herself. If this system was to be continued, they could not reckon upon the support of the Norwegian seamen at a time of war, for their sympathies would be with another power. Ho again begged to be understood that he did not think that they would have re course to war, but that, if they did, the result would he what he had stated, namely, the loss of the services of some of the most experienced seamen which this country could wish for at a time of need. He was very glad to find that they were going to restore the trade of Norway by the measures proposed by her Majesty's Government. T wlt h auy e n r i e wa w .ouo e lr r d e o,t o ha t te h r e o r ner r r e ct a ui s mm o e n d s aonr why the Government of this country should encourage the trade of Norway. It might be that Nor impass n i se b ag l yw e t hr t e o eanr feaolvr7ey9s were3eo foresee; many Na b er u w t h eo , a e ip l y sh o u hl me n til o r ty d: Recab‘tpearen gag e d tcfi h aothn nc te h ii t a l circumstances, Ge wt w reasonso aw va resoruninl G overn m en t e fhnbo be fore aga in st e w es u t t d r h i measure, and would give it his cordial support. Mr..P. BORT HWICK .said he concurred with -the .Hone- 1 Member opposite that there were political as well as commercial reasons for this country keeping up its connexion with Norway; but he would contend for it that there were reasons equally THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 21, 1846. strong, if not stronger, for this country keeping up its con nexion with Canada. He did not think that this should be regarded merely as a shipping question, or as a class question but as an imperial question. Now he would call the attention of the House to the prices of timber in this year and in 1841. In 1841 the price of Canadian timber was 4/. 10s., and in 1846 it was the same. The price of European timber in 1341 was 5/., and in 1816 it was the same ; therefore, who gained by the tariff of 1842? It certainly was not the British con sumer. On the whole, he felt that he should vote in favour of the amendment of the Noble Lord, the Member for Gloucester. But lest it might be said that he was actuated by pa-ty motives in the vote he should give upon this question, he thought it right to offer those few observations in explanation of his reasons fur the vote he intended to give. Mr. HENLEY said he did not think that sufficient reason .had been given to the House by the Government for the pro posed change. He could not agree with the Hon. Member for Kendall, that the loss of revenue by the reduction on ,timber last year had been what he had stated. The very extraordinary demand that had taken place in the railway world, had, no doubt, increased the demand for timber in a great degree; and in a question of the present kind, he would be disposed to c ;nsider that as very material. He should say that some of the arguments used by the Right Itui. Secretary of the Treasury required something like etfi cial assurance to bring them forward ; but he forget to tell the House one thing, namely, that the navy estimates were at present between six and seven millions. Every person knew that the timber required for naval building was rather scare. The shipowners of the country were a highly-protected body, which should not be lost sight of. The Right Hon. Baronet, at the head of the Ministry had told the House and the country that he for one could no longer maintain the principle of protection; that statement he made broadly and clearly at the commencement of the present session ; but it did not un- frequently happen that persons, in snaking liberal statements, often overshot the mark ; and he (the Hon. Member) then challenged the Right lion. Gentleman to prove that he believed in the sincerity of his own statements.-( Hear, hear.) If he did believe that relaxation or abolition of duty benefited the community generally why not allow the Swedes or Norwegians to convey sugar into this country from the West Indies?--(Hear, hear.) He felt warmly on the subject for reasons personal to himself ; and he should say that as certain as effect followed cause so sure would the country, by adopting those measures, instead of gaining, be exposed to greater competition -(Hear, hear.) Mr. HUMI should agree in a great measure with the Hon. Gentleman who preceded him, hut he should also complain of I the question. He should complain that the duty had not been entirely taken off, as he knew no article, after provisions, of more importance to the general community than that of timber. -( Hear, hear.) What were the circumstances of the ship owners? They complained that the materials with which they built their ships were higher than the materials in foreign markets. By the paper which he held in his hand he per ceived that the hull of a British ship cost from 41. to 5/. per ton more than that of the foreign built ship ; in fact, the foreigner could build three ships for a sum of money that would only build two in England. That was an inconvenience of which ahipowners complained. In 1815, in the Court of Pro prietors in the East India House, he declared that he wished to 'see the English shipping then at the price of 501. per ton, reduced to 101. 10s. per ton. He was then regarded as a visionary. lie would state a very important fact with re ference to the duties on timber. In the north of Scotland, and the coast of Ireland, the timber for boats was 2001. per cent. dearer than on the continent, and therefore our boats went to sea in a condition that no foreign boat would venture out in. The consequence was that many valuable seamen, as well as the fishermen, were drowned. It was lamentable to find that a large quantity of the capital of our shipowners was vested in Norwegian and Danish ships. He had heard from one shipowner resid ing in Lincolnshire, that he was very anxious to build ships in England, but the price was teo great for him, and he was ne cessarily compelled to go to the country where ships were cheapest. Was this to continue ? The system carried out by the Right Hots. Baronet said plainly that we would no longer have our capital employed in foreign ships, but in ships of our own building. No country possessed such advantages as England, read no country availed itself of it so little. And what is the result? We heard in every storm, at least every now and then, of our fishing-boats going out to the number of fifty and sixty, and out of that number ten or twelve were swamped before they could reach a place of safety. He be lieved, if the duty were taken off, we could build our ships on the same footing as the Danes. We had had many proofs of that effect. He believed that there had been laid on the table of the House some documents proving the misery of many of the artisans of this country, and to what was that owing but to the high price of timber. Those documents proved that many of them, working for twelve hours a day, instead of going to a cellar and sleeping in contaminated air, ought to go, in order to enable them to continue the work the next day, to a place where they could breathe the pure atmosphere. It was by the legislation of this House that these unfortunate men were kept in the state they were. At an age when they ought to be enabled to cars v out their experience, they were snore fit for the workhouse, or premature death. Ile (Mr. Hume) said that every Honourable Member opposing the reduction of the timber duties was dooming hundreds of his fellow beings to occupy the miserable cellars he had spoken of. He would now turn to another point, and look to the effect on the farmer. Every one nho knew the expense attendant on farming would know that it was preferable to use the home timber instead of the American. But the farmers had been obliged to have recourse to the Baltic and American timber to enable them to make their buildings with some degree of stability. If the House would repeal the duties on timber, they would enable the farmer to carry out his occupation at less expense and with more benefit to himself and the country. With regard to the manufacturing interest, if they removed the duty from timber entirely, they would place our manufac ture on a footing with the whole world. There was no article, next to provision, which he thought would be so beneficial as timber if the price were reduced. He was, therefore, willing to vote for the entire repeal of the duty. Lord G. BENTINCK said that, in rising to approve of the amendment which was brought forward with so much modesty -so much ability and perspecuity-by his Hon. Friend the Member for East Gloucestershire, he assured the House that in the speech with which he commenced the debate he gave promise of great future ability. He (Lord G. Bentinck) would not on Friday last have asked the House to adjourned the dee bate if he had not thought that the timber duties, mixed es they were with the condition of our coloni , s, were most impor tent. The question with regard to them resolved itself into three different points; first, a condition of the revenue, - and the relieve that a relaxation of the duty would afford to the people dyads country. Secondly, it resolved itself into the question as to how far we should continue to maintain protection iu our colonies ; and, thirdly, into the consideration whether or not they should continue to maintain their maritime importance (Hear, hear, and loud cheers)-by injuring that portion of trade which gave the widest and greatest employment to British seamen. Many returns, and many statements of figures, had been laid before that House by her Majesty's Ministers at different times; and at other times those statements emanated from the Board of Trade. He would commence by showing how little dependence was to be placed on a super ficial observation of the figures returned by the Board of Trade. A lamented relative of his once said that the last thing to which he paid any attention, and on which he placed zny reliance, was a statement of figures and facts that were made in that House, and that was more especially observable in the returns of shipping when made by the Board of Trade. To show how difficult it was to rely on any superficial observa tion of the returns of the Board of Trade, it was only neces sary to refer to the statement made by Mr. Porter in his work, with reference to the trade in 1841. In one page of that voluminous document, the return given is that the total mare time force of steam-vessels amounted to 1,700 ships, with a ton• nage of 3,390,000 tons. The number of steam•vessels we possess, instead of being 1,700, was upwards of 791, and the average of their tonnage was only 95,307, though it bad been swelled to the enormous amount stated. The result of such a return as this would be, that if a sloop measured only fifty tons, and manned by only two men and a boy, were to make two trips in a month to Ostend, making in the whole year twenty-four trips, that sloop, of which the wages would be about 741. per annum, would be. placed on a par with a British Indieman of 700 tons. A re t. was placed on the table of the House that morning, showing the number of ships engaged in the trade of this country. From this it appeared, that the number of ships employed in the guano trade was 655, which brought into the country cargoes annually to the amount of 1,600,000 tons. In this trade alone there were employed 11,500 seamen, receiv ing in wages 200,000/. Now let them compare this trade with the steam ships of the country, which lad been referred to. The latter were in number but 791, with a tonnage of 95,736. There was, therefore, no comparison between a trade which employed but 5,000 or 6,000 seamen, like the steam-trade, with a trade like . the guano, that employed 11,500. Such was the value of the guano-trade in comparison with this other most important branch of their maritime navy. He would now proceed to the subject of price. A great deal had been said on the benefit to the consumer that would arise from the reduction of the duty on timber, and how their American colonies would be benefited by the alteration in the differential duties. A great deal had been said about the benefits of the alteration in 1842. He had examined into the question, and would submit his results to the House. His authority on the Baltic timber was the house of Messrs. Radcliffe and Co., of Liverpool, and the figures were derived from a branch of that House in Elsinore. It was stated that the price of yellow pine in 1839, was 9d. a foot. In 1840 it was being an average on the two years of 94d. per feet. Taking 1842, the year of which they heard so much from her Majesty's Government, what was the result ? Why, that which in 1t3:39 and 1840 cost on an average 91d. a foot was reduced to 71d. -( Hear, hear.) That was the whole extent of the reduction. The price of yellow pine in the same year, 1842, was 40., while the previous year it was 4id., showing that the reduction had been iel.-(Hear, hear.) That was the only difference in the two periods. The re duction had been from 13/s per cent. on the one and ten per cent. on the other.-(Hear.) With regard to Baltic timber, lie could refer to a pamphlet published by an eminent Member formerly a Member of the Cabinet, written to show the bene fits that were likely to flow from the alteration in the differen tia duties. The writer said, at the time he wrote, that the change had not been long enough in operation to show the benefits, but that they would be shown in about a twelvemonth afterwards. He stated that Dantzic and Memel timber in January, 1812, was 51. 12s. 6d. In January, 1845, the duty had been reduced 30s. per load. Now what was the price in the latter year? It averaged from 4'. 17s. to 41. 10s., and it was reduced at the lowest to 4/. Bi. 9d., so that, comparing the price of 1845 with that of 1842, the reduction was 1 /. 3s. 31.- ( Hear, hear.) Now he (Lord G. Bentinek) would supply the price of 1846. According to Prince's Price Current, from which he quoted, the price in January, 1846, of timber for Dantzic and Memel in the port of London, varied from 4/ 10s. to 5/.---( Hear, hear.) Showing that though the duty had been reduced 30s. per load, the price to the consumer was reduced but 10s, 6d. ; the rest of the 30s, went into the pocket of the foreign grower.-(Cheers from the protection benches.) Mr. Gladstone, not content with this, goes to Liverpool to make out his ease. In 1811, he says, that the prices of Danaic and Memel timber was from 260. to 27d. per foot. In 1842 it was 25d., while in 1845 it was 20Id. ; showing that the reduction of 1845, as compared with 1816, was bid. per foot, which was equal to 275. Id. per load. 1842, as compared with 1845, showed a reduction of 31d. per foot, or 19s. 10d. per load. In 1841, the foreign producer put 2s. I Id. in his pocket.-( Hoar, hear.) In Liverpool, during the be ginning of the present year, the average price was 23d. to 24d. In giving Mr. Gladstone the benefit of his year after the new duties came into operation, and comparing 1846 with 1841, the reduction in price had only been 13s. 6d. per load, or 3id. per foot ; and compared with 1842, the reduction had been but ss. 20. per load. This showed that out of the 30e. reduction in duty the foreign producer had pocketed 245. 9id. -(Loud cheers from the Con cervative benches.) The trade with Canada had increased, not because the duty had been reduced, hut on account of the great extension of the railway system. The continuation of railways had led to a great demand for timber, and this had given an immense impetus to this department of foreign trade. Such was set forth in the printed circular, printed in Liver pool, on this - subect.-( Hear, hear.) The great demand for timber was there attributed to the great num ber of railway Bills that had passed the Legislature. He did net see the Hon. Member for Sunderland in his place, or he would have appealed to him with confidence whether a foot the less would be purchased for railway purposes if the duty had remained the same? He knew well what his answer would have bees. He ; would have deplane& to the House shal e as far as the increased consumption of timber went, that in crease arose from railway speculation alone, and not from the redUction of duty. That reduction of duty necessarily inferred ........ " _ a considerable loss to the revenue. Another thing appeared, fell from his Right Hon. Friend the First Secretary of the RAILWAY SII ARE MARKETS that but for this reduction-the increased railway speculations Treasury. The shipowners would, in consequence of the high MANCHESTER, }Mama 20* leat.linc , to increased consumption-but for this reduction he ra te of dut y , be com p elled to use the Canadian timber, as it was STOCE EZCIIAN6E.—The sales are— Am bgale, Nottinghant,,,..o said the Canadian colonies would neither have suffered i n the p articularl y a pp licable to shi p -buildin g . It had been said that , Eastern Junction, is. dis.-Pirkenhead,La e t r ica.shire, and Cher ... :s price of timbsr, nor in the amount of exportation. His Right the use of the Baltic timber in this country would ruin the i Janctinn , 3 ',.i P.- Cambridg,e nod Lincoln Extension and York _ l 7 . I Lincoln Junction, 1 dig.— Chester and Manchester Directs 21 7 es Hon. Friend the first Minister of the Crown appealed to the trade C median timber ft ode. Now in the year 1841, n hen the p ro- d c i o s t . , -C i l a ith l e_r o o r e Jt E utfien, 1 dia.-Derby arid Crewe, 2% P• ,k of Liverpool, and drew a comparison of the tonnage in 1845 tee! ice duty in favour of Canadian timber was not less than 655., as compared with his favourite year of 1842. He believed, and when it was reduced to 455. in the year 1842, there was , Halves,dte I,i p. -Fleetwood, Fleet te , n o s o io d n, r ilels-ttofin and Edinburgh and janc ur tion, N n - d e he said, that there were 222,000 tons entered inwards in 1845, ' precisely the same amount of timber imported from Canada, dis.-Grand Junction, 1,4 p. c.-Great urimsiw and Sheffield Elle r and only 188,000 tons in 1 8 42 ; and he appealed to this tes t in ! although it was said that the reduction would cause the de - slum te clia.-11mIdersfleld and Manchester Railway and Metal , i gt justification of the alteration of the timber duties. Now, he i struction and utter ruin of the shipping interest of this coon- p.- Huddersfield and Slat-Meld Junction, 6l;, p.-Lancashire e m 1 North Yorkshire, 5-16 dis.-Lancaster and Preston, 9!4; P. ' 0 , (Lord George Bentinek ) would show the House how correct I try. Now they were told that in proposing the reduction they an t Thirsk, t dis.-Ditto, New, 1 dis.-Leicester, Ihr ,p. • mine° his Right Hon. Friend was while making these quotations. He ' were going beyond the bounds of prudence, and that ! and Trent Valley Junction, 225. dis.-Liverpool and Bury, Noy' ..,1 would read from the circular published by Mr. Dempsey, the Canadian timber trade would be annihilated. He -Liverpool and Leeds Direct, Si. dis.-Liver vol, Orrostirk, ww g showing what had been the trade since the year 1831. His would beg to call the attention of the House, Preston, 74, p.-Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, a nd SoutillO t " ' Right Hon. Friend had the advantage of these figu,es on his whilst he stated what had really been the' fleets of that red u e- p. -Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester, and Stockport, 14 d i r t . London and Matich,ster (Reim.), I% dis.-Manchester and 11 twa ym, side, for they had not yet been laid on the table of the House; tion of duty. In the year 1841, before the reduction of the . 1 . .,, \ T, 79.4- 2 111 7 anches 3 t t e , r n and Hyde, ~A p. c.-3lanchester al..iidarl,rvir and here he thought the House, and those Hon. Members duty-the duty being then 10s. per load-the sum of 430,00 u/. e i a p n . ca,h i h.e che i s i t i m: iis and N er oi o t u b tirim pton, p who sat around him, had good season to complain that. informs- was produced to the revenue of this country. In the year I b ' t;rla e ll ' t s r a n i'id - tion had been kept back from them- It was 110 N six, he was ' 1e43, after the reduction, the am o u nt received by the Movern- 1 -Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, 1 4 p.-Ditto, EXtCrISiOI• not sure that it was not seven, weeks since he had moved for I merit was 609 7601., instead of 430,‘ 00:. In the next year, dis. - She and Manchester, Quarter, No. 1, em s p.lfitt y ti e si a return of the number of ships entered inward for the last . 1844, it was 71,069/., and in the lest year it was 94,8621. - 3. 2 IJ. -Shropshire Union Railway aim Canal, Id s . fid. dis• - ' Riding Union, 2 , X, p. seven years. That return had not yet been laid before them, ( Hear, hear) - .and the amount of timber that was now intro- ED S, Miatert i. 20. and it was only that morning that they had got a return moved duced into this country from Canada had increased 120/. per e ~TOCR EXCHANGE. -The , n Co , :ntieS, I.( tr k rae s l" telision, 15s. p -London and salesC ro3( a lo re n:2 ' ; ' ,l t 2 ste- Manc . beater anu ‘ .7, ;', for on the 28th of January. It was sent from the Customs on cent. And what had become of the Baltic and foreign timber the 14th of March, and they only got it that morning. It when the duty was reduced from 555. to 255., being 5-lithe. ? Emensions, 3 p.- Sheffield and Manclurst:n:, Q uarte r shares (%",,.' 3 contained five, or six, or seven pages full of figures, and yet it The duty received in 1841 upon Baltic timber was a little 3 6 1, , 5 e - a f t ) i ~ - -r i l: ri o s r b k y a n a t r i i d N o; i t h e ti A i l e l i d i l , a lb% Last i t a t t o t d. )`.' c i s: . s i ti , n g 1 ,09. 4 , ..: had been printed on the succeeding morning, but the House above 1,000.000/. In the year 1843 the amount received was Iluddersthld and Mancl'e.ter, 21 2 ' p.-- Huddersfield and 5he ...... 1 %, 5 '. 6% . p.- Leeds and - Bruit - rd . '- ' s a l, u l t i, Dezli t u : ry o, s , l , P er, e i! had not been put in possession of it. From it the Right. Hon. exactly in proportion to the reduction of the duty-namely, ford, Woniester, and Baronet drew his comparison between the years 1842 and 1845, 575,000!. ; but in the two subsequent years-in 1844 and 'W ' oiye'l 4 •ll 7 ani L p e to e i d i and chuckled at the enormous increase in the trade now as 1845-it was 820,000/. ; and in the last year it was 47,0001. Weymouth, 21a--London and York, 314 -West -- Riding* Unioa,ht: compared with 1842. Why, his own measure, the first great Under those circumstances he would say that, looking at the -Aide -Nottingham, and :!oston, 20., Bi r kenbead ,e rgs. ter, Mold, &c., 295. 6d. dis.-Bradtield, Wakefield, and 311(1111 ot revolution which he had introduced in 1842, had thrown the experience of the last three years, the House need have n 1 i s d i i ..7 1, e s Le i i Leeds, d s( Wakefield,l ~,i and e d l , t i i Rugby), ler Liverpool , dl 81;3; Direct, el Gel. el iBl d .d i . B 6 . CT! . C . dd l i i ,i t s. l . l_e r ve c e s '',„ e d ti f whole state of trade into stagnation. In 1842 the ships em- fear of the fulfilment of the woful predictions of the Noble ( i l i i' P - 1 13 7 u s e.1 (1d: i m. : ployed in the British American trade were 165, and the ton- Lord. And what did the House of Lords say in 1820? He York, , 21 . 5. nage 91,179; but if they looked to the year before that, they believed he might say that that House was must anxious to and Bedford, 7s. 6d. dis.--manchester, Btixten, laud, atid,:far would find that, instead of 165 ships, with a tonnage of 91,179, protect all sorts of native, or domestic, or celonial interests, land, 295. dis.-i`Jidland and Thirsk Junction, 265. ed. dis.- - ', te ra there were 318 ships, with a tonnage 174,C00.-(Cheers. ) The and yet they stated that the consequerce of a reduction in the timberland and Lancashire Junction, 255. des.-Xorth O r c' Its. p.-South Midlands,lss. p. -Midland, 145. Right lion. Baronet, however, dirt not condescend to notice a duties of the timber would be of advantage to the people of 0 , Lt 1 .. MAIWI N I 20. period when the Whigs were in office. Again, let them look Canada and of this country. At the present moment, the re- , -STOCK EXCHANGE. Tl H i back as far as the year 1831, and they would find that there turns which were upon the table of tire House showed that the East Coast, 145.-Great ''or'tahe,:lnaireso-The were only two single years that the tonnage was so low as the Canadian and Baltic timber trade had flourished and paid-mull and BarnsleyJimetion, 265.-- Liverpool and Leeds , 2 rry Right Hon. Baronet had described it; but he would take-and increased since the reduction of the duty. But North Staffordshire, 51.-165.-South Midland, 3/. 3 3 .-Slirew s he trusted the House and the country would think it fairer- the Noble Lord had also said that lie o bjected to and Birmingham, 21. 145.-Tean and Dove Valley, 12e. SHEFFIELD, Masen 20. he would take the averages of the three years since the the present policy of the Government, because the consumer s _ yo , gr 1 h . , 7 , ~C , K u Excll A NOE. -Tire sales are-Midland, Slieftleld.nfell alteration of the timber duties, and compare the progress would reap no benefit. And yet he ( Sir G. Clerk) had shown , 3-1-Grimsby and Sheffield, Quarter Shares, 171 l of the trade with any annual period before that time. He that since the reduction of the duties the quantity of timber - Riding Union, 4%. found that the average increase on the last period of three years, that bad been imported into this country from Canada and as compared with the previous three years of 1842, was e 6 per Quebec had vastly increased-in fact, that it had doubled.- cent. on North American timber. But when he compared the ( Hear, hear,) But notwithstanding that great increase in the years 1839, 1840, and 1841, with the years 1831, 1832, Red supplies, the demand in this country for corn hart become so 1833, which were the first three years in which they had any great that it could be scarcely met.-( Hear, hear.) He record, he found that the increase in the three first years was would only ask, what would have been the effect, not only upon 156 per cent. So that it appeared that the Canadian trade was railway speculations, but all these purposes for which timber progressing before the alteration of the duty at a rate still was applied, if the protective system had beeMpersisted in with faster than it had progressed since, notwithstanding all the as- regard to the importation of foreign timber? If they had kept sistanee it had derived from railway speculation. - ( At u p the old s y stem of protection, he was confident that those this moment the Hon. Member for Sunderland entered the great railway schemes to which the present unusual prosperity House. ) He was glad to see his Hon. Friend the Member fur of this country was mainly to be attributed, would not have Sunderland in his place now, for he would bear him been commenced. The Hon. 'Wernher for Sunderland (Ur. out that the average amount of timber required for Hudson) would be able to answer for that. It appeared that railways was 5,000,000 cubic feet. He would now no less than 25,100,0001. worth of timber had been expended turn to the Baltic trade, and he found that the in railroads within the last few years. Then the Noble Lord average importation from the Baltic in the years 1831, 1832, had said that the effect of the present measures would be the and 1833 was 21,164 tons, while in the three years immediately lowering of the price of timber in Canada. But the fact would preceding the reduction of the differential duties, the average be the reverse in consequence of the enormous and tonnage of ships laden with Baltic timber had fallen as low as increased demand in this country.- ( Hear, hear.) 14,442 tons. Baltic timber, therefore, had fallen as low as Within the last three years, in consequence of one-third as compared with Canadian timber, which had in- the increased demand, the price had at least doubled. creased to 66 per cent. But now, how had they fared since the Hi would then ask whether the House need entertain the reduction of the duty ? The average of 14,442 tons had risen slightest apprehension as to the ruin of the Canadian trade in in 1845 to 33,792 tons. So that, while under the system of consequence of the present Government measures?-(Hear, colonial protection they had fallen off, under the ehangedduties hear.) The Noble Lord had also stated, that if these measures they had increased very nearly to treble their former amount. were passed, it would be impossible, for the shipping interests He thought then that he had shown good cause why the of this country to be able to compete with that of Nor- Canadian colonists had reason to be alarmed at the measures of way, Denmark, or the other countries where the shipping in the Government. He feared they were alarmed.-(Hear, terest formed a principal feature in their commerce. hear.) The Canadian mail, received two days ago, But it was perfectly clear, from the evidence of was filled with intelligence that in the Canadian colonies the most eminent shipowners of this country, that great dissatisfaction prevailed, and that the colonists were el- in consequence of the reduction in the duties on the timber, ready discussing whether it would not be better for them to be the shipowners of this country would be a' le to compete Kith annexed to the United States of America. The Hon. Member the shipowners of any other country. It had also been stated for Liskeard shook his head, but that was the information re- by the Noble Lord, that the number of ships had not increased, ceived from Canada. They said that if this Government with- as might have been anticipated, in consequence of the increase drew its protection ; if they who, only four years ago, offered in population, hut the total number, at the present moment, them the boon of the Canadian Corn Bill, if they were now to engaged in English commerce was upwards of 31,000; and it deprive them of that, as they were depriving the farmers of mast also be borne in mind, that the present ships were much their own country of protection-( Great cheering from the pro- more expeditious and capacious than those of former years. tectionists)--all the ties that connected them with England The Right Hon. Gentleman then proceeded, amidst loud cries would be severed. His Hon. Friend doubted the statement of " Divide, divide," to state that, since the passing of the he had made, but let him read the leading article in the ellion- last tariff, ships could be built (on the evidence of the trail Gazette of the 25th February last. The writer, principal shipbuilders of Liverpool, &c.) at least 30 referring to the measure brought in by the Noble Lord, per cent. cheaper than they could previously.-( Hear.) the Member for London, fifteen years ago, for the abolition of But notwithstanding these frets, the tonnage of the country the pocket boroughs, said that an Honourable Member in that increased to a far greater degree than any other country ; and House (and he ( Lord G. Bentinck) remembered that that it was, 'herefore, clear that the mercantile marine had not been Member was old John Abel Smith), said that the temerity of injured by the policy of the Government in reducing the duties the measure quite took his breath sway. But that measure on timber, but hail been greatly increased. Let them look to was far more rash than the one introduced by the Noble Lord, the port of London, as being one of the largest ports, and they and would take away the breath of the Canadians in would find that in 1841 the home tonnage was 722,000, and a much greater degree. The writer went on to say, the foreign was 255,000, being in the proportion of one-third that the majority yet remained in breathless astonishment; to the home; in 1844 the home tonnage was 1,800,000, whit amazement, consternation and alarm had seized them-not th e the foreign U image amounted to only 383,000. ' Ile thought, km so that they were at a distance from the seeneof action -and therefore, that no injury could arise to the colonial or Ironic that in all probability the deed would be consummated before shipping by the proposed measure. their remonstrances could be heard. Would the Hun. Members Alm HULLER thought he hail a right to make a few opposite, after this, taunt them with interposing unnecessary observations, and to ask the indulgence of the House for that delay to the passing of this measure ? Should they not rather purpose, as he was the only free-trade Member who had not delay it further, until tire remonstrances of their C ana dian yet taken part in that discus,ion. He considered, also, that has brethren could be heard, and for this purpose only w as it that intimate acquaintance with the affairs of Canada, and the such a determined resistance had been offered by the patriotic general interest he had taken in colonial questions, would war band around him.-( Cheers, and " Oh, eh.") Knowing the rant him in making a few brief remarks on this question. He feeling of the Colonists, he trusted the House weuld pause be- was of opinion that the Noble Lord ( Bentinck), before fore hurrying on a measure which would create so much alarm he unfurled hia union jack-(Laughter)-in hold in the hearts of their Canadian brethren.-( Cheers. ) At a defiance should have exhibited more of the prudence time when America was assuming a warlike aspect ; when Mr. and discretion of the statesman. Ho thought that Quincey Adams, in language that he could (Mls' characterise as instead of indulging in vituperation of the Members of the infamous arid blasphemous, quoted the word of God, fur lighting American Senate and the Royal Family of France, that it up the firebrand, and letting loose the dogs of war in Oregon, would have been much better had he used the language of he did not think that the happiest moment for her Majesty's dignified courtesy, and rather than attempt to lay the founda- Government, by their fiscal changes, to alienate the tion of war, that he had endeavoured to lay the basis of per affections and loyalty of her Majesty's Canadian subjects. moment peaceful relations.-( ileer, hear.) This would have He, for one, was as anxious as any one that peace should b e been the more advisable course for him to have adopted rather maintained with honour.- He thought this country could well than to have been bandying bombast with the braggarts of the afford to repose on her laurels, and need he in no haste to enter American Senate, and justifying the tone of the poor Mr. into war. But he must say that he would never consent to Adams by using a tone of congenial bluster.-(Loud cheers. ) obtain peace by a dishonourable sacrifice either of our colonial When the Noble Lord said that the policy of the Government or domestic industry. lie was as willing as any one, if a doubt would induce Canada to consider the question of annexation should arise about our rights, that the matter sin mid be re- with America, lie pulled out a copy of the sliontrera Pilot in ferred to any umpire, he cared not whom ; and rather than confirmation of that statement. Now, he (Mr. Buller) they should wrongfully take anything that did not of right Ire- would ask, did that paper give vent to the public indignation? long to them, where a doubt existed, Ire would willingly con - It said that it was of such great importance, and involved cede to the American States. But if all honourable, peaceful such mighty conseq u e nces, that it would take a week to think meant should fail, they would humbly, but firmly, place their of it.-( Laughter.) During the last twenty year's, he thought faith in the all-powerful God of Battles, and they would he might safely' say that the Goverment of Canada had not address the Americans, not in the language of Scrip- given a single office away. But those who were opposed to ture, but in the language of British thunder, from the appointment cried out that they would endeavour to rid the broadside of a line-of-battle ship.-( Cheers.) Firnr themselves of British connexion. He contended that the Go in the j , ustice of their cause when the last resources of peace venment had pursued a course of policy in refer had failed, fearing no human enemies, they would send their ence to Canada which was dictated by the best British seamen to America, to speak in a language not to be and most statesmanlike principles; and the circumstances of misunderstood. His Noble Friend (the Member for Glances- their sending out there such men as Sir Charles Begot and tershire) had correctly stated the number of British seamen Lord Metcalf p roved that the y were desirous of comenting the employed in the Baltic trade. Out of 32,000 seamen em- relationship of it with this country by the strongest possible ployed, only 6,000 were British, and the remaining 26,000 "ties. That policy had done more to establish good feeling and were Prussian, Danish, Norwegian, and Russian. From the contentment than all the monopoly of their restrictive system. register of shipping, he found that in 1820 the British shipping The Noble Lord said that all Canada was roused with feelings amounted to 2,648,593 tons. In 1844 it had risen at war time of the strongest indignation against the present measure. Now, to 3,637,231 tons, showing an increase of 988,636, or about he (Mr. Buller) must say, that if that were the case, it was 37 per cent. But in the meantime the populatioa had in- the most stupid indignation any country had ever entertained. creased 39 per cent. He wanted, therefore, to know what (Lord George Bentinck intimated that it was the corn question cause there was for boasting of the prosperity of the shipping they found fault with). Where, he would ask, did all the interest, when the shipping interest could not keep pace with timber come from ? It came from East Canada, with the r. x the increase in the population. What had been the position of ception of a small portion of West Caeada, on the banks of the the foreign trade ? In 1832 the foreign shipping was Ottawa. The province of West Canada had no interest whatever 561,047 tons inwards. In 1842 it had increased to 1,753,745 tons. in the timber duties. In a dispatch of Lord Sydenham when From 1820 to 1844 the American shipping had increased from the question was formerly agitated, he stated that not a single 1,280,062 to 2,280,095 tons. He found by returns that in the soul living in East Canada had any interest whatever in it. three years succeeding 1842, the foreign trade with this country These were the indications of the indignation, which accord had increased by 405,555 tons, while our own B r iti s h trade had ing to the Noble Lord was so universally entertained. When the only increased 212,000, and where the number of foreign alteration was proposed at that time, petitions came from vari sailors engaged in the trade had increased 1,100 the number of ous parties he admitted, but acne from the Parliament of British sailors had only increased 741. Going hack to 1759, Upper Canada. The Parliament of Canada, East or Lower when the United States of America was a British colony, and Canada, sent out a petition, and L aid that they were ready to:give its population numbered no more than 2,0e0,000. The num- up the monopoly of the timber trade provided this country ber of ships engaged in that trade was 1,07 e, while the number gave them a free trade i n corn. Such was the universal oie , of British ships was 28 ; 900. A' the present day, and af•er a lapse noon entertained in that country on this question. The shipping of 76 years, he found that the number of British seamen trade of Canada was a system which reflected scandal upon engaged in the trade did not exceed 25,000, while the popula- them. They sent out a parcel of old leaky vessels, and they tion of the States hail increased from 2,000,1100 to 22,000,000. manned them with a net of disorderly runaways. What was He thought these facts were sufficiently conclusive to the effect of this mode of procedure? Did the mer chants prosper? There never had been so many show that they ought not to legislate for a colony bank without giving that colony an opp irtunity for expressing ruptciea as had occurred in New Brunswick and an (pinion on the matter-without waiting to hear what was Lower Canada under the operation of this system. the opinion of Canada. The Government were now fireine There could be no doubt of it that the interests of the United through a measure which the colonists themselves viewed with States would be cared for, and that they coup': very easiiy find a alarm and consternation, and which they thought, after the permanent market for their timber elsewhere. But the Canada Corn Bill was passed, a breach of faith on the part of Government should protect the people of England by allowing this country.-( Hear, hear,) Now, the Hon. Gentleman the Baltic timber to come in upon the proposed terms, and let the Member for Kendal, has stated as a fact what the Hon. Gen- Canada timber find its market in the United Stakes.-( Hear, tleman must have meant for a poetical metaphor-namely, bear.) He looked upon this as a question of the greatest there was scarcely a Norwegian sailor who did not wear a im p ortance to the people of this countr y , inasmuch as the • medal recording the actions and victories in which dwelling of every man in the, country would be affected by it, they had been engaged on behalf of the British or, in other words, would be affected by the vote which nation. Now, that was the first time he had this House should come to to-night. He had heard a great even heard of sailors, who, had been engaged in British naval deal said about Canadian corn, which, he should say. he contests, receiving medals to commemorate the victory over a looked upon as rather extraordinary ; and he saw one Hon. foreign foe, and he thought he need not go out of the House Member opposite blushing high at the mere mention of it.- to prove his assertion. His Right Hon. and Learned (and he (Laughter.) However, what had been said in reference to might add Gallant) Friend the Attorney-General. he believed, Canada was rather too much of a good thing, and he felt assured assisted in accomplishing one of tlmme glorious victories, but he that the peeple of Canada would disavow it.-( Hear.) He (Lord G. 13entinck) had never seen any medal or mark of begged to thank the House for the patience with which it had naval distinction on the part of his Learned Friend ; and he heard him.-( Cries of " Hear, hear," and " Divide, divide.") must say, if medals had been granted to the Norwegian The House then divided, when there appeared to be sailors, his Honourable and Learned Friend had beet, For the Ministeral measure greatly ill used by the Government.-(Hear, hear.) The For the amendment R ght Honourable Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Majority for Ministers Government might treat the arguments of his (the Noble Lord's) TURNPIKE ROADS (SCOTLAND) BILL. party with contempt, and endeavour to cast ridicule upon Mr. FOX MAULE moved the second reading of the Turn those who hoisted the. flag of protection, but he for one should pike Roads ( Scotland) Bill, and said that it would he a mea never be ashamed to represent the shipowners of England, nor sure which would 13,t attended with great benefit to that should he ever be a-hawed to fight under the flag of protection. country (as we understood him). Let the Right Hon. Baronet get up and answer it, but he de- Mr. F. APKENZIE said, that though not oppesed to the fled the Rigkt Hon. Baronet to answer the figures which he principle of the Bill, he was not prepared, at that late hoar of had put the House in possesion of, therefore he said that they' the night, to go into a second reading.-( Hear, hear.) were not ashamed to fight under the flag of protection, Mr. F. MAULE stated that as the objection was not taken and they called upon English gentlemen to remember that to the notice, he saw no reason why it should not then be read what occurred five-and-twenty years ago might again come to a second time.-( I ear, hear. ) pass. Let them remember that during the thirty years' war, Mr. SCOTT also hoped they would not go into the second which Europe and the world never saw equalled, and when reading at that late hour.-( Hear, hear.) Europe was invaded by the soldiery of France-whew the lands Sir 11, CAMPBELL was decidedly opposed to the prin of the Nobles of Germany and Russia were laid waste, and ciple of the Bill, and would, therefore, oppose the second read when the inhabitants of Russia preferred committing their ing.-( Hear, hear.) capital of Moscow to the flames rather than it should fall into Mr. FORBES and Mr. H. JOHNSTONE both hoped that the the hands of the enemy-they, the gentlemen of England were second reading would not be then gone into, and there being enabled to send them succour and relief, and to defend loud cries of " Divide, divide," the House was cleared for a their country at home, while their trade, their com- division. merce, their .industry was protected. Some Honourable On our re-admission there appeared- Gentlemen, however, now preferred relying on the flags of Rus- For the second reading ... 45 site, the tri-colour of France, or the thirteen stars of America, Against it but ho and his Honourable Friends preferred standing by and Maj0rity.......... -32 fighting their battles under the simple, the old, and the time- Mr. CHARLES BULLER moved for a return of the worn Uuion Jack, and he called u eon the House still to defend outrages specially reported to the constabulary office in Ireland, that weather-beaten flag, and support the amendment of his during each of the years 1842, 1843, 1844, and 1845 ; and also Noble Friend.-( Cheers.) an abstract return of total number of persons in Ireland ap- Sir G. CLERK said, that at the late hour of the night it was peering, by the returns of the clerks of the Crown and clerks not his intention to trespas upon the attention of the House.- of the peace of the several counties, &c. to have been corn ' ( Hear, hoar.) In the few observation which he deemed it his witted - for trial in the year 1845, as well as of those con duty to make, he should endeavour to confine himself strictly the question before the House, which he believed was this victed, acquitted, dimharged for no Bill fiund, or no prose to -whether they were prepared to reds ce the price of a raw offences, or bailed and not tried ; distinguishing the various material, which was eminently conducive to the comfort of every individual in this country, 35 per cent. ? The Noble h e i a r. e C . ALEB POWELL moved for a return of all the out- Lord who had just sat down, had stated that he wes opposed to rages charged as having been committed on the barony of the reduction of the present duties upon foreign timber on three Ossory from the Ist vi January, 1845, to the termination of tue last assizes. He thought that it was hardly necessary to grounds-one ground was the revenue, the other the necessity explain to the House his object in snaking this mot ion. of protection to the colonies, and the third the maintenance of the shipping interest. The Noble Lord had disputed the Sir J. GRAHAM said that he wished to say a few words first ground with a very few remarks. The with regard to what had fallen from the Hon. Mternnbser had Liskeard. He believed that the constabulary e_ Honourable Member for Oxfordshire had objected,. in reply to the arguments of his Right Hon. Friendthe no occasion for the return moved for by the Honourable Exchequer', that it was necessary for the pro- tection of the revenue that no such reduction 83 from 255, to presented before that House House could desire with reference,iotuoldsubbjeectsobthtaaitneshd.ouldFhoer Iss. per load should be sanctioned? Why, if those were the arguments of Hon. Members, what became of all the speeches that had been made with respect to the great injury which of presenting information in the furtherance of that objecatddhietisro.ensteorytehdattosohuigmhstebifytthheerHigohnt. would be done to the Canadian trade, and that of this country, Member. With refereneev,t_oicthhenmotoictieonhaodf t b h e e m H g on iv . eri,he Member, was on the passing of the measures? He thought that they could iin addition to the one of h not be alarmed, if that were so, at the immense quantity of rim- i not aware whether the particular information sought could be ber which they said would destroy and annihilate the whole of I hat. his object in raising the question obtainedcfroirnuad teßes.t3Tant. the shipping and navigation interests of this oountry.-(Hear, I s tlen d hear.) He thought that the Canadian timber that would . : was that disposed of, and The rem.ha.'-'iimniti."ghot rsdaeverstr,ofutlh)lte, db:iyytim,:ietrige come into this country under the proposed measures would be ' the House adjourned at One o'clock. considerably increased, because he entirely agreed with what YORK, 3fAxma 20. STOCK ExcnAtisE.—The sales are—Grand 'Union (NottitliWv3l, i.ynn), h —Great Grimsby and Sheffield, Quarter Shares, 1 4;04 tester and Bedford, 15s. 6d.—London and York, 314 — M ane, x, IP Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 31. 145.—Newcastle and 13erw,c "" l d —North British, Carlisle Extension, 21. 4s.—York And N om land, New (East and West Riding), 9. 2 . EDINBURGH, MAJOR[ 18. STOCK EXCHANGE. — The sales are—Airdrie and Bathgate, Dios British and Irish Union, 46s.—Caledonian, 11—Ditto, E% t* f3f! 35s.—Direct Northern, 425. 6d.—East India Railway, 13s " - p s pd Lothian Central and Tyne Valley Junction, 265. Gd.— Edinburgor Bathgate, 36s.—Edinburgh and Leith Atmospheric, 2113.—,,„e3/, burgh and Northern, 805.--Ditto, Newport, 17s.—Ditto , Luc" 21s.—Edinbtrgh and Peebles, 295.—Forth and Clyde Junetlelli,pd. 6d.—Glasgow and Lestunaliagow, 42s.—Great North of 6 ce CO . 4613.—Inverness and Elgin, 20s.—North British, Extension lisle, 465. Gd.—Ditto, ditto to Dalkeith, 61 . 4 s. — Perth and Irllpsr 335. 6d. Scottish Central, 16 1 ,4—Ditto, New, 8 Stirling an d fermline, 355. GLASGOW, Manat 19. STOCK ExcnAncia.—The sales are Airdrie and Batbgate. .9 1 ; British and Irish Union, 425. W.—Caledonian, 1014—Ditto! 56s.—Caledonian and Ayrshire Junction, 365. Caledol,l3l,oY. Dumbartonshire Junction, 373.—Cornw all and Devon Cent ri o t i —Direct Northern, 40s.—East Indian Railway, I Is. Gd. --I ',sgo" General Terminus, 91. Glasgow and Belfast Union, 265.—ti0 Kilmarnock, and Ayr, New, 241.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and 35s.—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan ' . e r ue.' 0 Dundee Junction, 33s.—Great North of India, 4 s. — ab,,sg . ° Elgin, 20s. 6xl.—Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct, 373.—Le sir 41s.—Scottish Central, 106—Scottish Southern, 355. 6(1 ,,• -- if Midland, 575. 6d.—Stirling and Dunfermline, 33s.—Wi''' Coltness, 47%. FLANDERS MAIL. t? BRUSSELS, MARCH 17.—The average price of wheett.gc, week ending on Saturday, the 14th of March, wa s of l ' per hectolitre. The average price of wheat for the "a tO lowing weeks having been between 20f. and 241 s e te th e law of September 24, 1845, which absolutely preb i l e gtli V exportation of corn, having left flour subject to th e ee t i tions of the law of uly 31, 1844, the Minister of Fin al o 3 e llte dares that the exportation of wheat flour will be p erm from the 24th of this month. A A pP e ' 1 REPORTS CONCERNING THE MLNlSTRY.—Ye§,terual - 110 a negotiation containing the persons to whom overtat.er'st,)l been made. We may mention, in the Chamber, b e t, D'Elhoungue, then M. Brouckere, ; not in the Chen' aDi4 Leclerq, Attorney-General in the Court of Cassat ioe, ' 3( A A Van de Weyer. aeniti It is reported to-day that M. Van de Wey er D'Elhoungue do not think they can join cotnbinatioll.for;ti same is said of M. Leclerq, but not so positively. M e . tri ' rf ,,f D'Elhoungue for whom an important part seems ' l oo. t j served (for he is said to have stipulated in the rttitllo Flanders) in this Cabinet, it is believed that he has ° Of' to Ghent this very day. M. Rogier, it is said, reckeeso/ Veydt as Minister of Finance, and M. Hoffse h riste Minister of Public Works, and on M. Chazal as Alllb 3 " War. la The Independence says—"We are assured t hat p ecaj, present state of things nothing has been discusse d 0 06 the persons of whom the 51inistry shall be. %jell D o Whether M Rogier accepts or declines the task iceotlt been offered him, it may be foreseen that eight or 1 „ 0 must pass before the new Cabinet can be constituted'ocllo, The accounts from Germany received to -day le were to be foreseen. There is no alternative fo r ", gents but voluntary exile or a prison. the jot ofr The Prussian Government shows forbearance t°,.. bitants of Cracow, who fly from the regimen of ;1:00 law, which now govern the republic; it has already several hundred emigrants. T tit DUTCH MAIL. Of, HE ITAGE - E., MARCH 16.—n the of the be of the States-General to-day I the Centralsitting Sectioossciseo up its report on the project of law respecting tb! oi l 0 4 sugar. The day on which the public disc uss The project will commence is not yet fixed l ost 0 1 journals to the end of November sat' ce 0)111 the district of Jassinga heavy rains ' 1 , 3 ltd a great rise in the river, which on the night of t''' l bet? carried away one stone, and five wooden hridg e P ic Buistenzong and Bantam. In the month of native trading vessels were chased by five lu r ,`;,,br:a Adonara, one of them was taken by the pirates, ," " p er) taken out the cargo and crew, consisting of twen_, o ols‘ set tLe vessel adrift, which soon afterwards ran ag r ' o gli r Boleng, in the Nand of Solor. The other vessel, tbo chased by ;Yu, pirates, did not fall into their hands. ,O 4 On Tuesday' last his Royal Highness the Prinei°k.ge and Princes Henry and Alexander, accorern ie ; 9 1 Aids de Camp, general de Klerck, and sever a ' to mN Officers went to the Downs to witness experiineso4o with a newly invented kind of rockets, which ar e far superior to those of Congreve or Paixhams ~„ 11. DUTCH FUNDS.—AusTuanear, Monet* cr, ISt Actual Debt, 23¢ per Cent. BM°, 3 per Cent ••••.• • • • • ...... • • W 4l :0 Ditto, 4' per Cent... Amort Syndic, 4 1 / 2 per Cent.. •.•• • • • • 99 g Ditto, 3% per Cent .• • • • • • • • 145 ii 6 Commercial Company, 4% per Cent 164!9 -:‘ East India Loan, 4 per Cent. ••••• • • • • Exchange on London, at sight ••••• • • 11 I y Two months .. .. 1 2 63 1 On Hamburgh, at sight •• • • 35 Two months. •. • • ••• •••• • • • • 35 ••-Dutch Papers, March 18. rO l/. .fd HAMBURGH BORSENTI.ALLE , 3- .A - . c Austrian 5 per Cents +.. •• • i„„ 13 ,;64 Bank Shares .. •• I 6 '" 107 , 10 Anglo-ussian Loan .• Di ßussian tto 5 Ists p e ri e r e Ce . in n . t Certificate.. ills / Ditto, Hope and Co., 3d and 4th series• • Ditto, in Certlficate• ••••••••• • • • • • • • • ? r , B ll Ef b New 4 per Cent., Hope and Co. .• •• .• 11S Ditto Stieglitz •• • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • Spanish New 5 per Cent ••••••• •• • • • • 0 ,"" Ditto 3 per Cent •••••••• • • • • • • • "'/ Anglo-Portuguese Loan, 2% per Cent • • r u , Dutch Actual Debt, 2% per Cent • • • • • • Ditto 3 per Cent. ••....... 4 Polish New 4 per Cent. Loan, 1844.• • • Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent .... • • National Bank Shares •••••••• • • •• • • • • II --- 15. BELGIAN FUNDS.—BRussrm, Actual Debt, 2% per Cent • • • • • • '• Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent ••• • • • . Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent • • • ' Ditto. Three per Cent.. • • ••••• • • •• Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto • • •• Ditto, ditto, 184 q• . • . • • • • • . • ..... • • •• ". 10Jd Ditto, ditto, 1542 •••.••••••• • . . • • • • • • • 0 7 1 Ditto, 1844. • . ........ ...... ••• 9 Ditto, 1836.. ••..• • • • ••••• • • • • • •• Ditto, 1838 .• • • • • • .• Ditto of the City, 1832 .....• ...• •• ** 1 9° Ditto, 1843 . .• Bank of Belgium.... • • ".. odt' —Brussels Papers. March 19. .—B 1 4 ' ) 1 / PRUSSIAN FUNDSERLIX, 3113 1 3 01 S• / / St. Schuld Sch., 334 per Cent ...... .• • 9034 ir Pruss. English Bonds, 1830, 4 per Cent ...... Foreign Exchanges.. .... •. • • • • •• • • 6 95 Exchange- on London, £1 Sterling, 3 Months. ;034 / Hamburgh, 300 Marks, 2 Months. / 7,0 0 Paris, 300 fr., 2 Months • • • • • • •• • On Paris .... •.. • • •• • Twomonths.... ..... •• •• -Universal Prussian Gazette. March 15, .. • $ l 4 f a 1 _ [ADVERTISEMENT.] —BAD FTEALT O , 1 4 ° ! „0 - t; ,,,f "; ; ;/ " a . 4 : 4 0, TEARS.—IAINIEDIATT RELIEF BY HOLLOWAY'S ro- - „' 4 11 0 , r .4 p•oog.' 11 y • , letter from the Rev. George Prior, Curate of •-- „ c or ~,e0 op• Carrigart, Ireland, May 2, 1845 :—" To pro ii Dear Sir: Within a short distance of inY lw °s- , In ~ pr V.ll O farmer, who for more than twenty years had IRO* rtie• p 4„i ',O health, and never got but a moment's relief. 311 : . ce‘O l b i ts f l t A l ,l ; box of your pills for him, which did him so to 'Ate ") " 4 0 7 ,1 him say, that for twenty years previously lie ne ve l . sig44, V I .................. enjoyed it so much as since taking your pills* ',t , :;10e 4 PRIOR." Sold at Professor Holloway's Establisbla-oo and by nearly all who sell medicines throughout the 1 , ~.0 4, BIRTH'S t, o f ' )1 , On the 15th inst., at New Peckham, Mrs. Ste , '"" cit etr e ' el On the 15th inst., at Westbourne-place, Eaten.' ili fc JO Webb, of a daughter. , 0 41' On the 17th inst., at the Vicarage, Takely, E ase - ' o f ' b o f Rev. Charles Clarke, of a son.rera' ~,l, On the 17th inst., the wife the Re v. George IP' ne' Camps Cambridgeshire, of a son. olre' , e tt fordo jil ~ On the ilth inst., at Humber Rector'', Ti er° ..,,I1 ,du the Rev. Allan Cowburn, of a daughter. m l ,- tie bra. '..- O f On the 18th inst., in Groat Ormond-stree t, 4t , Wi fe e h i to l Ondel ettoelhflaeetthl3lya. of a daughter. ,e, ti'al Ho O d i g t o t t h t e s D lB o tt l o n o s , t im at ., R o r ato:L:grove, Claphatn, —e 14 0 0 .111 , MARRIED. icl , oil ir Aer ..,,, o On the 17th inst., at St. Peter's, Pimlico, Er—. t, to 01,p'' Esq ,of Bayland Hall, Norfolk, to Isabella Hanle .00,.4,d CII P 1/'-'O 7 Robert Bruce, Esq., of Chester-square. ello t ' Dad? t' I. On the 17th inst., at St. John the Evang L o t r. , 3 sl e i u r n :t e o g c s a o r n ol o i t h t e h Va a r t g e a j r aoth . SW ° ( 01 Thomas, Bart., of Bodiam, Sussex. ...• On the 17th inst., at St. Ann's, Soho, Miss .. ..,,,, Jefferson, of Cheltenham . fil ' nda ß a i g d i ci t u a l r ph o , f Es th q. a , j o a t rm 0/ . to ,t TfW . ,ti l side, J. C. 11. Freund, Esq., ➢ M.D., to Louisa A. f l' t he On the 18th inst., at the Lutheran Churchitadiser• 0, WED. Co ..Once' e7tlhationrst..,Wat. Bromley, Middlesex, L..- .A / 0, 04 . 4 On the sth ult., at Margate, Miss Sarah Etcher , tut? o pt cit i at Naples, the infant daughter of T...f. ),, 13 0 il t AViip, ' o p. I ,o' inst., in Sloane-square, Chelsea, _, c t of t' of On the 9th inst., at Hampstead, Mrs. Sale, n"' ~ o' de St 64- 1 1 J George Sale, aged 90. r' unge ei' 7 On the lith inst., at Darmstadt, Robert, vit. 0' 4 ,0 'Right Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D., Lord Bishop of ~,,,, lia „Tow' ,pe .0 On the 12th inst., Della, the wife of Mr. Sussex, aged 51-. p 4.0 014 . o f r Han til ... On the 13th inst., at Sherffeld-green , Mr. Edward Vines. infant thO gi'ter P e t, On the 17th inst., Mary Camilla, the ,O O, A ri 4 v Gibb, Esq., of the Bombay Army. BO W i l" , On the 17th inst., Sarah, relict of the late ,op, St. Jelin's, Horslydown, aged 89. thar °Pl 0 4 0 1 c On the 16th inst., atWoolston Lawn, near S °" cl i- 10 widow of the Rev. Henry Woodcock, D.D. re lict 0 On the 16th inst., Mary Ward Artnstrong, . _, p ie strong, Esq., of Great Cumberiand-street,as4ooll llt On the 17th inst., in Prospect-place, ) I .' 4o• r Esq., M.D., aged 65. vo o vp io , op London: Printed an d Publishe dby 103. r Tend' tor/ The Sun office No. 112. _ S 3 Strand, Printer, at • , di pmex , r 31 1 -- of the Savoy, in the County 0 21. 1846. . rt4rltct E L iss u] etid,„ t a or rtant pl, r?lite without o the 1) ) r th„ e( ; other at th 1 4thb, 1,. 13, St. ,y,,,e"sr, 8 ° I-1 '] jrite Direct )40Itt TUA‘eive GE ,ettit, k2Plicatior WEtY-offie 17 ) ,„th WEI b este d t before (Al' Z 16, k L ( 4tit:ik ttl:r1:011141:re::::::14:t::1111:.:gcaeliPrhier3rioleal:1;1'111 into Comm "kitit' u t'" "pT it on, UNIV raj Take not trail after t „e Paid for he Ahern, 4t* ed by ti 'etalogu, Dri 7. l C( S ) Ce n ._ rep Tr ti le ore 'Meat the r e be hi THE 1 / tilVo b.() Wint( trim 14 1114, T wee Ditto t oeal est Oren ...bat() roe] Dtttc 9, WI astir ~, 110 YA —N A The ^lsrd" 4 _ Ob i , isrs, a listo 4 X , h sr X e u o tio e l fitfu l! , ~Me 110; r ir L oa ' Aid M -