The Sun. — London, England, 1846-06-12 00:00:00

CONVICT SYSTEM, NORFOLK I SLAND. In this return there is no notice taken of the quantity of fresh meat turned ;into store on the island, which within my four years was more than doubled. No notice is here ,taken of the large return of wool and sheep and ox hides, thus also caused. Of the first in particular the transmission became at last very great ; and by superior care taken in washing its price was lat terly nearly doubled. This was stated to me in a letter expressly written by the Colonial Secretary on the subject. With all these errors and omissions, notwithstanding my asserted extravagance, the charge per head of pri soners in my time is very little more by this table than in the preceding years. But for the enormous credit given to Ms, which Icannot help thinking a clerical error, for it does not tally at all with the official-returns of crops in my possession, it would be even lower; and it is nearly 5/. per head (4/. 15s. 5d.) lower in 1842, the year of my severe drought, than in 1839, the year before ,arrived. I am very far from indifferent to economical results; on the contrary, apart from their own value, I am persuaded that, under a good system, in a good locality, they will afford generally an almost exact measure of moral results also ; for the virtues of order, method, punctuality, energy, and good judgment, which realise good returns, will, on a persuasive principle, also make good servants while ob taining them. No school of training can be better for previously idle and dissolute men than one of succeo.sful industrial exertion in which they have been induced to take a voluntary part. But on Norfolk Island I was most pecularly circumstanced. I had to organise a new system, and endeavour to revive long forgotten feelings in the minds of all around. In all my operations I was jealously watched, harshly judged and reported on, and perpetually hampered by limitations on my proposed measures. If my system could have failed in any cir cumstance, it would have failed in these ; yet it did not fail, and Sir George Gipps himself bears testimony to this. In 1839, the year before I landed on Norfolk Island, the proportion of cases tried at the police court was, to the bond population, as -604 to 1 ; during my four years it was as •363, 353, '347, and •473 respectively. In 1844, after I left, it was -623 ; and in the first eight months of 1845, the latest period to which I have re turns, it was as -543. Again, in 1839, while the old severity was yet unabated, 512 men were sent to Sydney on commuted sentences, of whom 20 were re-convicted within the year. During the four years I sent up 688 men under the circumstances, of whom only 17 were re convicted in the whole time ; and of 240 who were sent up about the period of my departure (Feb. 1844). in the Jan. following none had been re-convicted, though three were in gaol for trial, and have since been found guilty. Of 538 first -convicted men whom I took with me to Van Diemen's Land, on the Ist of July last, after a lapse of sixteen months, not one bad been re. transported; only five out of 330 ticket of leave men had lost their tickets (the remaining 325, amid all the social difficulties there, respectably maintaining themselves) ; including these five, only fifteen were under any punishment ; and of 209 pass-holders 132 were in private service, a greater proportion by a tenth than of pass-holders locally trained. Yet these are the men who were slan derously said on Norfolk Island to have been spoilt and rendered unfit for labour. When these results, then, are compared with the means at my disposal, I think that it will be impossible to doubt the sound practical character of the principles of management, that, after much experience, I seek to introduce. And amidst the difficulties now besetting the management and disposal of transported criminals, and the doubts entertained by many of the wisdom of our whole system of secondary punishments, they might be considered worthy of a little extra charge, had it been incurred. Yet, practically, they cost nothing ; and, be yond all doubt, had my proceedings been unfettered, they would have been combined with even signal eco nomy. A. MACONOCHIE THE ECLAIR STEAM-VESSEL. The following extract from the official correspondence on the subject of the Eclair, and the epidemy which broke out in the said - vessel, recently presented to Par liament, will serve to throw some further light on the subject. The dispatch of Sir W. Pym and Mr. Arnott to Mr. Greville (No. 5), dated " Whitehall, October 3, 1845," shows that four days after sailing from Sierra Leone one man died with fever and black vomit, the first case of the kind which had occurred ; and that during the voyage 18 were attacked by the same malady (fever and black vomit), of whom 13 died. At Bona Vista the disease continued to spread rapidly amongst the crew, when it was determined to land all the crew (sick and well), and to purify the vessel. For this purpose every means was adopted to extirpate the infection by washing and whitewashing, fumigation, &c. ; all the Kroomea remaining on board except six. The disease, however, continued to prevail amongst the officers and men on shore, thirty-one having died between August 21 and September 13. Under these circumstances, a con sultation was held by three naval surgeons, when it was recommended and resolved that the steamer and crew should proceed to England. The crew were consequently re-embarked, and parted on the lath of Se ptember. Capt a i n E : t court was ta k en ill the day befort.leaving Bona Vi s t a , an d di e d on the 16th. At Bon Eclair, di ed . a V ista, Assistant-Sure-eon Harte, of th e Madeira. 6nal a e Dr. M'Cl ure did on the voya ge t o arrival of the steamer at Madeira, the authorities refus e d permission to communic a t e w i t h the shore, as had beeuedts the French at Goree. From the (late of her sail ng se froal Ma deira (Sep'. 21), ven death s took place Pro o the 30th of that mon i th , from the fever, and eight fresh cases occurred. The report of Mr. Consul Bendel to Lord Aberdeen (dated San Antonio, Cape Verd,_ Decemb er 2 2, 1845) sets forth, amongst a variety of details, that th e anxiety which the stay of the Eclair at Bona Vista caused him (the C onsu l), was o f the most painful descr fever, te n al though the medical men persisted in theirbelief h disease was merely the common African coast and that there was no dancrer of its spreading amongst the people. This " non-infection" theory was subsequently refuted by facts. On the 20th September, seventeen days after the departure of the steamer, a white Portu guese soldier, who had been housed on the island with the crew o f t h e Eclair, died in the fort. The following day another died, and two or three were reported as sick. Up to the 9th of October an extraordinary heat and an immense quantity of rain had been experienced. The fever then showed itself most alarmingly, and each succeeding day to the end of the month gave two and sometimes three cases, all occurring within the imme diate vicinity of the house where the first death took place. - The Portuguese practitioners maintained that the fever arose from the presence of the stagnant water, and held the same opinion till November the 20th, when tbe7 openly delared it to be a fever of the worst de scription, and of a most contagious character. Up to the first week in December the fever continued to rage, and at that period it had found its way into almost all the villages—the deaths averaging seven or eight daily. Up to the 21st of December 250 had died at Bona Vista; but it was stated in the report that for 14 days previ ously there had been no deaths in the port, and in three of the country villages, although the fever still existed in two of them. The English suffered dreadfully, hav ing k number. The leading symp tack vomit, p a i ns in the head, suppression of urine, and a blood -vessel. The fever who acted as nurses to the .!eption. The Consul says, ;he place imagined that the ed a dangerous type, they pratique. Mr. Macaulay, in Lord Aberdeen (dated St. 24th of December, 1f145), os building used as a fever The following are portions of the copies or extracts of corresponde o-t. respecting the convict system adminis tered in N4:4 . :f•iik Island, under the superintendence of Captain Muonochie, R.N., in continuation of papers ordered by tlke House of Lords to be printed the 23d 4,f February, 1846, just issued by order of their Lordships' House: COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN MACONOCHIE, R.N., TO JAMES STEPHEN, ESQ. London, April 2, 1846. Sir,—The inclosed paper refers to certain economical statements contained in the correspondence respecting the convict system administered in Norfolk Island, re cently laid before the House of Lords. I should be extremely obliged by your bringing it under the notice of Mr. Secretary Gladstone, with my earnest request that it may be added as a supplement to the other papers so printed. (Signed) A. MACONOCHIE. NOTE ON CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE CONVICT SYSTEM ADMINISTERED ON NORFOLK ISLAND. On all points of system and discipline involved in these papers, my explanations are in themselves so full that I do not think it necessary to add a word more in regard to them ; but I now see, for the first time, a variety of economical statements on which some comment is ne- cessary. In his letter. Mr. D. C. G. Miller inveighs strongly against the experse of my ticket of leave establishment, and contends that faith was broken in regard to it in to it, by its not being required to pay for supplies issued " the produce of labour." But my instructions respect to it were, that the men should pay for with their sup plies " in money or labour "—not in " the produce of labour" at all. So far from the ticket of leave establishment having been expensive, it was directly economical ; and this, Sir George Gipp4, in his report almost admits. Labour.. ing in Government employ, precisely as other prisoners did, they were, under the arrangements, entitled to at least the same rations ; yet my accounts, still in my possession, show that in eighteen months during which the system was maintained 512 ticket of leave men drew less than their rations to the extent of 066/. 13s. 4d. In his letter, Mr. D. C. G. Miller states, that in the eighteen months preceding August, 1840, he had re ceived 25,000 bushels of maize from the Island, but that subsequently its crops were never equal to its own con sumption. I shall presently show some reasons for questioning even the accuracy of these statements ; but, meanwhile, I observe that in March and April, 1840, 603 English prisoners arrived on the island, in addition to its previous bond population, and that the same sur plus production could not thus reasonably be looked for Mr. Miller states, that such was the decrease in the produce of the island in 1842 that in the item of provi sions alone there was an increase of 10,0001. in its ex penditure. Yet Sir George Gipps gives a return, which must have come from the Commissariat, of the actual expenditure during six years, from 1837 to 1842 inclu sive ; and from this it appears, that while the expense for provisions in 1839 was 18,978 L, and for 1840, 20,465/. it was in 1842 only 16,7901. ; showing, instead of an in crease of 10,000 L, an actual decrease of from 3,000/. to 4,000 L ing lost one-third of thair ei nu . _,, t••t i. . • :gym blae i 114, Via" 2 . ' , I . . , with a -. • - 11 , ' _',.....f*., re of / 4„ , . • : .'..-fs, -i $ those IS I I i Itit,4" — •. elk iin • exc( 14 , -9.: • „... \ aqlr - ' 1711. . .41,111 0 J.' iiibited , z7.zi.. , . ul. 1 1pr:: \ ii rft • 4 ."' i'- •; ..1. , to TA fflas, s ,I. • . Islands, s ta his b. . ' orrthat had thi COURT OF EXCHEQUER, June 11. (Sittings in Banco.) on The Court took motions to-day till e o'clock, when the new trial paper was called on, and one case taken in it which did not present any feature of interest, either public or private. In the course of the day it was intimated that, owing to the paucity of motions, the new trial paper would be pro ceeded with to-morrow (this day), notwithstanding it is the last day of term. (Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Westminster, before Mr. Baron PARKE and Common Juries.) IRONSIDR AND ANOTHER v. WIIARTON.—RAILWAY REPUDIATION. This was an action for money paid for railway shares on account of the defendant. The defendant pleaded that he was never indebted, and that he had never authorised the purchase. Mr. Martin, with whom was Mr. T. Jones, conducted the case for the plaintffs; and Mr. Jervis appeared for the de fendant. It appeared that the plaintiffs are brokers at Sheffield, and the defendant a file-worker in the same place, and that on the 3d of September last year the latter called upon the former, and instructed them to purchase ten shares in the Manchester and Southampton Railway. In the course of the same afternoon, however, the son of the defendant called by his father's direction, and begged that the purchase should be for twenty instead of ten shares. On that evening the plaintiffs wrote up to their agents, Messrs. Alsopp, to execute the commission. Those gentlemen did so, and bought at 4/. 7s. 6d. premium, the deposit of 2/. being paid. The Messrs. Alsopp wrote by post on the 4th, stating that they had made the purchase, and the terms upon which it had been made. This letter was received by the plaintiffs on the sth, and on that day they apprised the defendant of their having carried out his instructions. About the end of October the scrip was issued, and then the plaintiffs called upon the defendant to take up his twenty shares. Instead of doing this, however, he applied, through a friend of the name of Barker, for time, accompanied with a promise to pay after Christmas. The plaintiffs acceded to the request. In the month of January, the defendant was called upon for the performance of his promise, but he then called upon his friend Mr. Barker, and stated, that as many respectable men were repudiating their bargains, so should he in this particular transaction. Barker remonstrated with him upon the dishonourable character of such a proceeding, but without any effect. The plaintiff's, upon hearing this, wrote a letter to the defendant, threatening to post his name, un less he at once came and took up his shares, for they were not at that period aware that there was any remedy in the shape of an action, at law. Matters, however, went on until the month of Mardi last, when the plaintiffs sent a clerk of the name of Belcher to demand payment for the shares. The defendant on that occasion denied all knowledge of the plaintiffs and the shares, that he had ever had any trans actions with them, or that he had anything to do with the shares. In consequence of this treatment the plaintiff's re solved upon instituting the present proceedings. On behalf of the defendant it was contended that the shares were the shares of the witness Barker, and that they had not been bought by the plaintiffs on account of the de fendant. This point, however, after the examination of Barker, the Learned Counsel for the defendant abandoned. He also contended that an unreasonable time had elap.ed between the date of the instructions to purchase and the alleged purchase, inasmuch as that if there had been any in structions at all, they had been given on the 15th of August, whilst it had been admitted that no purchase had been made until the 4th of September. The son of the defendant was examined, but in his cross examination he proved that he had c,illed as recently as Sa turday last upon Mr. linwin, of Sheffield, the plaintiffs' attorney, and offered a compromise. Mr. Baron PARKE, in leaving the case to the jury, said that the first question was, whether the defendant had given any order for this purchase; of that fact there could be no doubt after the testimony of his own son; next came the question whether it was material as to whether the instruc tions were given on the 15th of August or the 3d of Septem ber. Now, as to this it was clearly not material, because in any of the subsequent correspondence which the defendant had had with the plaintiffs he had never raised any such point as an objection. Indeed, he had never raised it at all until the action had been brought. These were matters of consideration for the jury, and they must determine upon them. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs—Damages, 1291. ARCHES COURT, June 11. (Before Sir H. J. FUST.) TrrE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE PROMOTED BY FARNALL V. CRAIG, CLERK. This is a criminal proceeding against the Rev. Mr. Craig for alleged incontinence. On a former court-day a defensive allegation was given in, the admission of which was opposed ; and after hearing counsel on both sides, the Court directed it to he reformed. It was now brought in as reformed, and again objected to, on the ground that the directions of the Court had not been fully complied with. The COURT directed further reformation. GEILS V. GEILS. This is a suit instituted by Lieutenant Geils against his wife for a restitution of eonjugal rights. A defensive plea alleging cruelty and adultery as a bar to the suit having been admitted without opposition, a responsive allegation was now offered on behalf of Lieutenant Geils, which, after being debated, was directed to be reformed. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. An odd case of alleged forgery was heard before Alderman Musgrove. A young man named George King was brought up in the custody of an officer, charged with having forged the name of Mr. Thomas Wheeler, of Newbury, to a bill of exchange for 201. Mr. Viner, solicitor, of Ironmongers' Hall, appeared fur the prosecution, and a solicitor appeared for the defendant. Mr. R. Knight, clerk to Mr. Birkett, jun., of Bell court, Mincing-lane, win e merc h ant, stated that on the 2d of February he received the bill produced fur 201., purporting to be drawn by George King, upon and accepted by Thomas Wheeler, of Newbury, Berks, and ind u orsed by Georg e King, to J. R. Humphery, and by R ciora m e P a tle to ry, from whom witness received the bill in at the same tirasie.s employer. He received other bills istr..tmrltation havingsLbeen made to Mr. Wheeler, by " Newinbnczu non-payment of the bill whe ett, er bi to e th On e S a e p q p n i bil lo : t e ion of :_ the March h 31, 1846. ing letter was received in a w it becam e due" the follow ,t Sir,—Your letter of this astonished me. I beg to say, in answer, that I have 48n due in favour of Mr. King, or any one else THOMAS otiee t" t i c . t know nothin , and et a for I g whate ver of the transac tion. —I am' S ir, yours respectfully,,, WHEELER, m ust be a forgery, Mr. r Charles Daniel James Birkett,a es n i jil e n r . stated, .that inconsequence of Mr. Birkett's instructions, he wrote in that gentle man's name to Mr. Wheeler, for payment of the amount of the bill, and he received the following answer : " ,iB b .t o G g inform to . 4 0 Sir,—lne, that answer i to ev y e o n u ‘ orNwcsaeeof acceptance p t u h t r a i , c s - n I morning,3dYue2hl i o ofavour of t any person whatever. With respect to this bill, (wh ich I presume to be the same), I first had a letter from a wine -merchant, living, I think, in Park-street. I was then in town, and saw him, and told him I knew nothing whatever of it. Then, the latter end of March, I received a letter from a Mr. Daniel Birkett, jun., the same person, I suppose, that has now employed you. In answer I told him then, that it quite astonished me, as I knew of no such bill, nor was it my accceptance, but a forgery. " Therefore, I have nothing to do with it whatever. You may as well sue any other persou. You had better look to the drawer of the bill, King, or whoever it may be.—Yours, &c. THOS. WHEELER." Witness, in consequence of having received the above letter, called upon a Mr. Weston first, when he learned the defendant's residence. "I then," said - witness, "called upon King, and told him I came on account of p an rese ov e e t rdue i l: a il i l of dtb 2 a o. that Mr. N s i a sb id he could ettexpeete n d o i t t wpaoyeldit be Paid, and I told him he had better take down my name I hospital been properly fumigated and purified prior to its re-occupation, and had the two patients there seized with fever been kept from all intercourse with the densely-populated and closely-built town, no bad corse quenccs would have been experienced at Bona Vista from the visit of the Eclair. These facts seem completely to overthrow the opinion so decidedly expresssd by Sir W. Burnett—" That the fever in question arose from causes totally distinct from infection ; that it was, in fact, the usual remittent fever of the coast, produced by the influence of marsh miasma ta, heightened by other causes, such as the exposure of the men, and the excesses committed by them." In the course of his dispatch to the Secretary of the Admiralty, Sir W. Burnett says,—"lf it can be fully and satisfactorily shown that any person who had visited the ship or tents where the sick were placed contracted the fever and com municated it to others, and they to other persons in suc cession, who had never visited the ships or the sick, then there can be no reason to doubt the infectious nature of the decease, but if nothing of this kind has taken place, then the conclusion must be, that the disease is not infec tious, and is therefore incapable of being communicated; in either ease settling this long-contested question." The opinion of Sir William appears to have been satis factorily set aside by the facts already adduced, and it is seen that the fever was contagious as well as infectious. LAW IN TELLIGEN CE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, June 11. THE JUSTICES OF ST. ALILLNS V. S TURT, - 7CRI3IINAL INFOR3IA Mr. Sergeant SHEE moved for a rule 'nisi, to show cause why a criminal information should not be issued against a gentleman of the name of Sturt, on the ground of writing and publishing several letters, containing libellous matter in regard to the conduct of the plaintiffs as magistrates and ad ministrators of justice in the borough of St. Albans. The Learned Gentleman read extracts from the letters in question, which charged the magistrates of St. Albans with corrupt and improper motives in the administration of justice, and that the only object they cared for was pounds, shillings, and pence. On the other side he quoted several affidavits of the complainants, denying in the strongest terms the allega tions as altogether unfounded,' and proceeding from malicous and vindictive motives. The COURT did not think the evidence adduced sufficiently strong to justify granting the application, and the rule was accordingly refused. WEISS r. LUMLEY. The greater portion of the day was occupied in an argu. ment, conducted by Mr. Watson, Q.C., and Mr. Lush, in sup port of a demurrer to a plea put in by the defendant, in answer to a declaration of the plaintiff respecting a breach of contract therein alleged against the former. The plaintiff is Madame Weiss, and the defendant is Mr. Lumley, the lessee of the Italian Opera-house, and the breach of contract set forth arose out of an agreement being entered into between the parties for the performance of the corps of dancing children, the "Danseuses Viennoises," and, under which agreement the performers in question were brought over into this country. The plaintiff sought to re cover damages, because the terms of the contract were not carried out, by the children not being allowed to appear at her Majesty's Theatre on their arrival, thereby depriving them of the advantage of the celebrity which such an appearance would have secured, while, at the same time, the agreement prevented their appearing elsewhere. The defendant denied that any such breach of contract as that alleged had taken place: The argument throughout was of a dr y and technical character, and turned ma i n l y on the construction of the terms of the agreement. Mr. HIGGINS was heard against the demurrer, and in sup port of the plea, when The COURT took time to consider its judgment. LONDON, FR IDA. Y EVENING, JrNE wl2, 1846. The Benedictine friar whom the conclave of 1831 elected Pope is dead. The encyclical letter in which he condemned the liberty of the press—the cruel acts of repression which have desolated the Roman provinces, and which were so easy to calm by the introduction of reforms—the welcome given to the Emperor Nicholas—and, lastly, the odious letter cen suring the efforts which the unfortunate Poles made against their oppressors —such are the acts which attach themselves to this reign, and which, in our judgment, do not suffice to recommend his memory. In our opinion, the late Pope was one of those men who, notwithstanding some eminent quali ties, was adapted rather to diminish the influence of religion, than to raise it in the eyes of the people. He might have been an excellent monk, but he possessed not the soul of a Sovereign capable of protecting the weak against the powerful. The election of a new Pope is not a question of small importance; and the means of influencing this election will not fail France, who can count upon the co-operation of Spain, and would possess, we are convinced, the good wishes of the Courts of Turin and Naples. But all will de pend on the instructions that are forwarded from Paris to M. Bresson, to the Duke of Montebello, and to Count Rossi. Would the French Government dare to advance an opinion, to support a candidate opposed to Austria and the Jesuits? We can hardly think so. M. Guizot would not wish to run the risk of displeasing Prince Metternich in an affair which concerns, it is true, the greatest interests of France and Europe, but which, however, dues not compromise his Minis terial existence. (From Galignani's Messenger.) The Church of Rome is now rendering to the deceased Pope its last offices, which are called the Noven Diali, because they last nine days. The Cardinals, formally as sembled, exercise the sovereign authority and are making preparations for the great act of the election of a successor to the late Pontiff, who must be one of their body. The diplomatists are admitted to short audiences. Each Minister after the usual compliments ventures to give his private recommendations, but always in general terms, waiting till his letters of credence are to be enounced, and which must be addressed to the Sacred College, which receives them at the grated wicket of the Conclave. In the evening of the flay on which the Cardinals enter into the Conclave they proceed there in procession, chanting the Veni, Creator, During this evening the members of the diplomatic body may enter the Conclave, and even the cells or apartments of the Cardinals. At the closing in of the night an official walks through the corridors ringing a bell, as the signal of departure, and the Conclave is closed in, not to be re-opened until after the election is consummated. All this will pass on the 11th inst., between seven and ten o'clock. The Conclave is guarded by a Prince, called the Marshal of the Conclave, posted at the outer gates. The first steps in the election will be taken on the 12th. All business is sus pended during the sitting of the Conclave; even the tribunals suspend their proceedings, and the only authorities that retain their functions are the Camerlingua, the Grand Penitentiary, and the Vicar of Rome. No order can be issued from any other authority without being specially confirmed by the assembled Cardinals, which confirmation is transmit- ted immediately to the Governor of Rome and the Trea surer-General. According to the custom which has always been observed, the arrival of the Cardinal Legates, and the foreign Cardinals will be waited for before the election is se riously entered upon. The first may arrive at Rome in time for the second or third day of the Noven Diali, and the others by the twentieth day after the death of the Pope; conse quently there can be no election before the 20th inst., unless some unforeseen event shall occur. To constitute a valid election, the candidate must obtain at least two-thirds of the votes minus his own. If 45 Cardinals are assembled he must have 30 votes, and if there be 46 the majority must be 31. If the Conclave he composed of 57 members the election will be completely canonical if one of the candidates has 88 votes without reckoning his own. DUTCH JUNE B._ .._ vc. e have MAIL, t b e THE HAGUE,following ac ccount from Weimar, of the 31st of May :—" His Ma jesty, the King of the Netherlands, yesterday visited the theatre, accompanied by .the Grand Ducal , and were rece i ve d w ith th e most lively enthusiasm by the audience, who were delighted •at seeing. the Prince once more among them. His Majesty accompanied by the members a the Grand D I family ' uca, attended Divine worship in the cathedral. The Kim, afterwards re viewed the troo is ps, comprising the gar r i son o f t hi s town. JUNE 9_1:l arrived this Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, Utrecht, 0 .morning, by the ordinary train, from from n his way to the H several place s of the Hague. We have accounts very favourable. state of the crops, which . Maestrieh't, Cleres, TieWa:ceounts from Bois le Due I , phin, Dorkum, &c., agree rodenibur, wholeerangen, Zat tho appearances of the wheat, and ja representing cular, as very good. The and potatoes in parti cular, and want of rain b • rye was in some places begins tobe felt HANOVER, JUNE 4.—Th e town of . A visited by a dreadful fire, whi c h broke Ansel has b een o e ut on the even ing before yesterday, and could not b yesterday morning , after burning above twelve hours under till more than two hundred houses are r e d uce d to ashes L UXE MBURG, JUNE 4.---The estates o f the Gr.a Duchy met yesterday. Their first proceedin g 111 was marked by a circumstance which excited m uc h attention. By article eight of the.constitution, a son or son-in law 'of a Member cannot have a seat in the Chamber. Mr. Newman, who has been a INlember ever since the first election, in 1841, has lately married the daughter of another Member, and it was supposed that he had lost his seat. He appeared, however, at the assembly which immediately proceeded to examine his title to a seat, and decided that he could take his seat. Many persons think that this is a violation of the constitution, and , that the estates are not covered as they alleged by an and address. He did so, and I perceived that th e wr i t i ng wasof the same character as the writing in the bill. I showed him the bill, and asked him whether that was it, and he replied that it was. I the n said, you know Mr. Wheeler well, of course, and his h an d writing ? and he replied in the a ffi rmative ; and I s h owe d him the letter just produced, the handwriting of which he at once pro nounced to be Mr. Wheeler's. He then said he hoped to be able to pay it. I asked him what means he had, and he replied that he had been a tradesman in New bury, and had some book debts which he believed were good; and I told him if he satisfied me of that fact, I should not have so bad an opinion of him. I did not think at the time that he was the guilty party. He said that he should call upon me, and he did so, and then he told ma that he had sent the bill by a porter to be posted for Newbury. I subsequently applied for a warrant and had him apprehended." The de'endant's counsel asked whether the witness could swear that the acceptance was not in Mr. Wheeler's handwriting ? The witness replied that he knew no thing of Mr. Wheeler's handwriting, but it appeared that Mr. Wheeler refused to come to town upon the occasion. Alderman MuscuovE—Do you suppose he will refuse to attend, upon hearing what has been stated ? The witness said he wished to have a summons to serve upon Mr. Wheeler. Alderman MUSGROVE—Certainly you shall have one; and let him know that if he refuse to come, a warrant shall be sent for him. _ _ Mr. Knight, the clerk to Mr. Ricket, having sworn that he had reason to believe the acceptance was a forgery, and that, if the defendant were remanded, he believed he should be able to prove it to be a forgery, the Alderman remanded him accordingly. THE LATE POPE GREGORY XVI. (From the Constitutionnel of June 9.) The death of Gregory XVI. is an important event, as well for Italy as for all Europe. Religious questions of grave im port are pending at this moment, and the change of Pontiff, and consequently of the Cardinal Secretary of State, may be the source of new difficulties between the Court of Rome and the European Governments. With respect to Italy, this so ill-timed a death may give rise to new insurrections, for dis content is general from Papal misgovernment, and the agita tion of the public mind increases from day to day. It will be remembered that in 1831, when Gregory XVI. ascended the Pontifical throne, a revolution broke out in central Italy, and that the movement extended in a few days over all the Roman states. Austria soon interfered, and the occupation of the country by foreign troops prevented a revolution, but the causes of complaint continued to exist. These were so evident, that even the representatives of the great Powers deemed them well-founded, and on the 21st of May, 1831, they delivered to Cardinal Bernetti, the new Secretary of State, the celebrated " memorandum " containing the political and administrative reforms which Gregory X VI. was advised to adopt. Th'e Court of Rome promised those reforms, and it is well known how she kept her promise. Fresh disturbances arose, and as a conse quence Austria again interfered, and decided France on the occupation of Ancona. The French Ministry had then for President Casimir Perier, who planned the expedition to Ancona, not only with a view to counterbalancing the power of Austria in Italy, and of securing the independence of the Roman States, but of also forcing the Pope to introduce into his government " real and positive ameliorations," and of a nature to place the safety of the Holy See upon a more stable foundation than that of a periodical repression, and to secure the satisfaction of the people by complying with their legitimate wants and adopting enlightened views. The Papal Government was, however, re-established in the dis turbed provinces without any ameliorations. Despite the promises of the Pontiff, the words of Casimir Perier—not withstanding the solemn act of the Ancona people in 1832 when asking for institutions and reforms—notwithstanding petitions and protests from those same communal and pro vincial councils, consisting of persons appointed by the Court of Rome itself—from that period, and especially since Cardinal Lambruschini has been in power, the Papal Go vernment has followed a retrograde movement. Thus, in surrections have pretty rapidly followed one another in the legations. The disturbances in the province of Bologna in 1840 are still fresh, as also those at Rimini and other parts of Romagna last year. The patriots of Romagna published at that time a manifesto, in which they set forth the cause of the revolt, as also the reforms wished for by the people: The moderation and the justice of these demands were ad mitted by every one; still the Court of Rome has obstinately persisted in refraining from applying any remedy to that state of things. The disorder of the administration has con tinued. The financial deficit has increased. Military com missions, political tribunals, ecclesiastical jurisdictions, the Inquisition, have been upheld; consequently discontent is universal, persecutions are unceasing, the prisons always full, and the number of emigrants increasing. The evil is so great in the Roman states, that resignation is no longer possible. And if the powers of Europe, who value so much the maintenance of peace, do not compel the Court of Rome to adopt the institutions pointed out by the memorandum of the 21st of May, 1831, as also the manifesto of September, 1845, another and more serious insurrection may be expected. Such a movement would, no doubt, be favourable to the views of Austria, which power would be glad to have a pretext for a fresh occupation of the legations. But will France suffer such an occupation? Will she not rather seek to prevent it, by forcing, as Casimir Perier said, the Pope to introduce in to his government " real and positive improvements, of a nature to place the safety of the Holy See upon a more stable foundation than that of a periodical repression ?" We shall see whether Ministers will this time lose sight of the dignity and interests of the country, and if it will forget what the most influential members of the Cabinet said in the debate which took place in the Chamber of Deputies respecting the evacuation of Ancona. Meanwhile the part which M. Rossi, the French Ambas sador at Rome, has to play is most important under existing circumstances. It is well known that it is in the conclave that will open on the 11th inst. that the Ambassadors of the Catholic Powers bring into action all their means in sup port of their influence, either seeking to raise to the Pope dom a cardinal of their choice, or obtaining the exclusion of one who might be displeasing to their Governments. It is said that the Cardinal who has the most chance of being elected Pope is Cardinal Fransoni, a Genevese, born in 1775, and the present Prefect of the Propaganda. He is said to be a partisan of the Jesuits. (From the Siecle.)_ HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP XIII. The Committee met to-day at one o'clock, Sir William Clay in he chair. AYRSHIRE AND GALLOWAY. The evidence on behalf of this scheme was resumed. Mr. M`Knight was recalled, and explained that he made a mistak in giving the quantity of land for the line yesterday. It should have been 540 imperial acres. The cost of the whole, however, would remain as he had given it then. Captain Moorsom, civil engineer, was examined at considerable length on the various points of a report he had furnished to the Admiralty relating to the construction of a harbour at Balcary Bay. His evidence, which in substance was the same as the report, was to the effect that the bay afforded a good position for a harbour, and that the works necessary to make it efficient in this respect would not be very great. It was a good point for a railway terminus, and it would be the interest of the company to construct such works as he recommended. Mr. M`Callum, the engineer, who was examined yesterday, was re-called and cross-examined at great length, with the object of showing that his estimates were much lower than the chara;',,er of the works and the management of the line warranted. At this stage of the proceedings, Lord Selkirk, who is a witness for the opposition, was called and examined, it being intimated that he could not attend to-morrow. His evidence was to the effect that he thought the manner the line intersected Colonel Maxwell's pro perty decidedly objectionable, and that from his knowledge of the country, he did not think the scheme would be very profitable to the shareholders. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at 12 o'clock. GROUP XVII. IVIANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. J. A. Gardener, Lord of the Manor of Cheltenham, examined by Mr. JAMES—A meeting was held In that town.in August last, a t which resolutions w ere p asse d i n f avour o f the Manchester and Southampton Railway, and petitions were agreed to in accordance with those resolutions which were signed by 668 electors and upwards of 1,000 of other respctable inhabitants, Considered that the feelings of the inhabitants had not altered since that meeting, and that if the line were made, the traffic between Southampto* and the Isle of Wight would be greatly in creased. The present mode of communication was very defective. By Mr. BROCKLEHURST, a member of the Committee —Had 100 shares, 50 of which he now held. A great number of shares were allotted to Cheltenham, a great portion of which, he believed, were now held by those to whom they were allotted, thus evincing their interest in the line. Mr. GURNEY said he should call one of the Directors of the Com pany as soon as he came into the room, who was engaged in the allotments, and who would state the numbers allotted to each of the towns which the line would intersect. Mr. BROCKLEIMRST said he did not ask the question with any view to show that there was any unfairness in the allotments of the shares, but simply in order to ascertain, with as much accuracy as possible, if many of the shares allotted were held by the parties Mr. GURNEY said the promoters would adduce evidence Ao-ohow the numbers allotted to each of the towns and the numbers now held. Mr. CHURCHILL, proprietor of the Plough Inn, Cheltenham, said, great numbers of persons went from Cheltenham to Southampton. If the line were made, the journey to the Isle of Wight and back again might be made in a day. Mr. Dixon, one of the magistrates of Southampton, and formerly Mayor, spoke to the desire in the town for direct communication with the works, and the eligibility of the terminus of the Manchester and Southampton. By Sir T. Anuars—Had not had opportunities of judging whether the line to the north, viii Basingstoke, would be advantageous or not; but that communication which was direct with the manufacturing districts of the north would be preferred. By Mr. GURNEY — Understood that the Pier Commissioners had petitioned in favour of the line, and that five out of the six parishes of Southampton had also done so, no opinion having been given by the sixth. Mr. Reeves, curate of a parish near 3farlberough, and who, with his father, farmed a quantity of land, said the soil in that vicinty required a quantity of salt, that a great deal more would be used if the pro posed railway were made. The salt came from Droitwich. Mr. Lee, a salt manufacturer at Droitwich, sent a large quantity, of salt to the south. In 1845, he sent 2,764 tons to the south, and 6,200 to Liverpool, also for the south. The 2,764 tons were sent to Gloucester, and thence by boats to Southampton, Portsmouth, and other parts. Mr. Bin, manager of the Clay-cross Colleries, Chesterfield, said, that if the line were made he anticipated that the coals raised in that colliery would be in great demand In the south. By the line they could supply coals to Cirencester at 14s. 2d. per ton ; Crick lade, 14s. 6d. ; Swindon, 15s. ; Marlborough, 15s. 10d. ; Andover, _ 17s, ; Romsey, 18s. 6d. ; and Southampton, 19s. ; In fact, the line would reduce the price of coals all along the line. He calculated the cost of transit at three farthings per ton per mile. Mr. Hoskings, the mayor of Portsmouth, considered that the line would be of considerable advantage to that town. A meeting of the council was held in May last, at which a resolution was passed una nimously in favour of the line, and a petition, to which the seal of the corporation was affixed, presented to Parliament in accordance with the views of the council. The town was generally in favour of it. The Committee then adjourned until twelve to-morrow. GROUP XVIII. EXETER (GREAT WESTERN). The Committee met at the usual hour, Mr. B.- Denison, chairman. The Earl of Ilchester was examined this morning on the subject of the injury occasioned to the property of Earl Digby and Sir W. Oglander, by the construction of the Exeter and Yeovil line. Lord Portman gave similar evidence ; ho also considered that the line between Salisbury and Basingstoke was not called for, and if constructed would be injurious to the interests of the public. Ile did not think that more of the land of the country should be taken for railroad purposes than was absolutely n ecessary. Mr. Brunel, C.E., was then examined. The line had been laid out with a view of affording the greatest local accommodation. There would be four tunnels upon the line. The quantity of road proposed to be constructed, and the expense of the same, would be— Length Miles Chains Estimate The main line ••••..•• • • • • • • 46 45 .. ..£873,425 Sidmouth Branch ............6 45 .• .. ........... 25,536 Bridport ditto ..............13 6 8 Chard ditto •.•••••• • • • • • • • • 3 17 ... .....• ••• • • . 269,704 -- Total.. •• •• 70 15 £ 1,265,896 _________ The curves and gradients were about equal to those of the competing Inc. The line proposed by the Great Western Company from Yeovil to London, via Reading, would accommodate 220,000 inhabitants ; the line from Yeovil to London, via Salisbury, would accommodate 120,000 only. Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE then examined Mr. Brunel with reference Perty, at the conc l us i on o f v to h t i h ch e t i i t i lj e u c ry om d z e tte t e o atljro..Frnreadmtpiltlontw'selpyreo to-morrow. CROUP XXIV. THETPORD. -- - The Committee met at twelve o'clock, Mr. Granville Vernon in the chair, when the formal proofs of the Thetford Branch were put In. Mr. Isaacs, a land valuer, stated that the estimate for the land from Bury to Ely was 5,5321., and to the Ely station 18,809/. ; the total being 24,3411. ; the value of the building property was not snore than 2,0001. The engineering evidence of the Thetford branch having been given, and which was to the' effect, that passing through a flat country, the earthworks will be light, and the gradients nearly equi valent to a level. Mr. GUERDON opposed all the Bills on behalf of Mr. Lee, whose property is likely to be affected by them all. A long dispute then ensued, as to the course of proceeding, espe cially as to the point whether the Ipswich and Bury line, and the nury and Ely line having, to a certain extent become identical, tier that circumstance put Mr. Guerdon out of court as to the objee lion to passing through Mr. Lee's property, that gentleman having petitioned against the line which by consent was absorbed in the other, and not having petitioned against that which was retained as a subject before the Committee. The decision arrived at was, that, according to the standing orders the case could not be entertained, but the Chairman proferred to ask any question which the counsel might propose. Mr. ltorthwick; the engineer, was then examined as to the short• ening of the trunk line to Norwich, and the objectionableness of the gradients of I in 100, on that line on which the trains for carrying cattle are very heavy. , To Mr. Caavreoao, the witness replied that the line had been laid out on the low grounds, with a view to get as near to Bury as pos sible, and to put the station where it would be most convenient for the inhabitants. The distance by this line, and by the new line from Norwich to Stowmarket to London would be much the same— about 113 miles. To the CHAIRMAN, the witness replied that a gradient of 1 in 132 could easily be w or k e d ; th at the profession had hardly acquiesced in Mr. Locke's statement of last year that a gradient of 1 in 90 could be worked with facility, and he believed that it was an universal opinion among engineers and curveyors that it was always advisable to 0 to additional cost to get a good gradient. Some discussion then ensued with regard to the plans, part of which were not before the Committee. It was ultimately stated, that though beyond their line of deviation, the injury to Mr. Lee's land might be avoided by a curve of ten chains. Mr. GuEnnoN then addressed the Committee on behalf of his client, dwelling chiefly on the comparative routes to London from Norwich, through the line just granted, from Norwich to Stowmarket, and by the Ipswich and the Bury line. fie accused the Ipswich and Bury Company of a species of artfulness in having contested with the other company without giving any op portunity to the country to oppose the conceived that the Committ ee m i g ht t rea t thi s Th et f or d and n). On this ground chiefly he New market branch as an independent line, either opposing the other lines, and therefore consider it as unnecessary, or they might reject it altogether, on its demerits alone. an 3 y r f r a . r o th ,m er A o L bLe y et s io a n id . Mr. O'MAL LEY stated, that having answered the objections against his appearance th ree times, he wished to know whether there was that he app eare d for the Corporation and in- Mr. DANIEL objected as h e h a d done before. habitants of Bury, as Mr. Sergeant Talfourd and Mr. Alexander did last year in the Portsmouth Committee. There were numerous other instances, and he had therefore named Sir John Walsham of the school a t and Mr. Brid gman. 1 7 Mr. DANIEL said th at S i r John WalshaM only appeared as trustee Bu ) and Mr. Brid gman was absolutely a petitioner in favour of the line. accordinglyl h Mr. O'MALLEY had appeared before a Committee where Sir G. Grey had been chairman, and there it was explicitly allowed that he had that Mr. not only a ground, but the best ground, for it was universally al lowed that an Interference with private rights was only justified on some e great public exigency, and on that ground alone, therefore, he habitants of Bury. After considerable further discussion it was decided gulag at O'Malley should be heard, ' and he proceeded all H i e nt s o ta t t he case of the in_ stated that the control between the opposing utility, but, n as, however, not of public as Mr. Bruit the englneeer, had allowed for private interest. But the authorities and ' all ow eßur yone appeared as entirely inhabitants of disinterested Parties. After touching on the several points _ ral points of the relative value of t hecoals, of the facility with which they could be brought PbrWeL of t Ely, to which port there Way the for Vessels of eighty by n eogyerAl others, the Learned application of Mr. N ewman to his Majesty the Ki ng , and the Grand Duke.—Dutch Paper, 10 June. COPENHAGEN, JUNE 4. —lt can hardly be denied that the late modifications in the Sound and Canal tolls are chiefly to/ the advantage of Russian commerce,. The reductions were considerable, in comparison with the late tariff—for instance, on cotton from 18 to 10 stivers, on brandy from 4 to 3, and on raw sugars from 5 to 4. The Russian steamer Snacloi anchored in our road yesterday, and afterwards proceeded to Elsinore, where we understand it is to wait for the return of the Grand Duke Constantine from the Mediterranean, &c.—Ham burgh Borsenhall, June 6. RAILWAY COMMITTEES (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH. (Continued front our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Carter, secretary to the Portsmouth and Rye Steam-Packet Company, gave evidence in favour of the line. There was a great communication between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, which would be much increased by the accommodation to be given by this line to the former place. The best mode of communication between London, &c., and the Isle of Wight would be vta Portsmouth, if there were a railway such as the one proposed front London to Portsmouth. Several other witnesses were called to show the advantages to Portsmouth, &c., derivable from the proposed line, and to prove that for the proposed Petersfleld branch of the Guildford line. The Earl of Lovelace gave evidence as to the want of communica tion in the districts through which the line would pass. He thought the deficiency was sufficient to justify the making of a railway. The Direct London and Portsmouth line would supply the deficiency. His Lordship was cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Waerreasst on the part of the Guildford and Chichester Railway. On the conclusion of this witness's evidence, it being now four o'clock, the Committee rose and adjourned till to-morrow at eleven. GROUP I. LONDON AND TORE. The Committee met again this day at a quarter past cr o'clock, the Earl of Lovelace in the chair. Mr. Sergeant WRANGUASt applied to their Lordships or leave to proceed with the Wakefield and Leeds Extension. He hoped the Committee would not decide against his application, for the effect would be to have the Bill referred to a Committee, which would re quire all the evidence of the London and York line to be gone over again. The Inquiry before the present Committee would not occupy more than a third of the time it would before any other tribunal. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Hope, on the part of the landowners, could not promise their Lordships that the case would only take up so small a portion of time as was promised by their Learned Friend. They would feel themselves bound to oppose the line, and, according to the evidence brought forward by the promoters would depend the length of their cross-examination. The Noble CHAIRMAN—He should make an application to the House of Lords this evening, which he hoped would relieve them from further sitting. Lord VIVIAN—We are in the hands of the House, and cannot entertain anything in this group without the sanction of their Lord ships. The Committee then inquired the length of the various lines yet to be heard, for the purpose of making a report to the Heuse of the facts of the various cases. Their Lordships then adjourned at a quarter past five. Gentleman concluded a long and effective address, and the Com mittee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXVIII. LITTON AND ST. ALZIAN'S The Committee assembled at the usual hour this morning. Mr. Cubitt was examined with reference to this line. Mr. Sergeant Wrangliam summed up, and Mr. Denson replied. The room was then ordered to be cleared, and the Committee de. clared the preamble of the Bill promoted by the London and York Company between St. Alban's and 'TentOrd to be proved. The Bill promoted by the London and Birmingham Company for the same district, was declared not to be proved. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP X_XXI. HAM EXTENSION). The object of this Bill is to enable the company to erect a station in New-street, Birmingham, and to make a newstreet to the back of the Grammar School. The Bill is opposed by several inhabitants of Birmingham whose relations are buried in a cemetery, with which the extended line from the present station would interfere. The late Mayor of Birmingham, and other gentlemen connected with the municipality of the borough, gave testimony in favour of the proposed site, as the most eligible that could be chosen for a central station. The Town Council had passed recently a resolution in favour of the plan. In tire cross-examination of the witnesses, it was elicited that there was a great repugnance in Birmingham to the removal of dead bodies, and that some years ago when such a removal was effected there was a serious riot, for which several persons were tried at Warwick, and were acquitted. The Rev. Mr. Lee, master of the Grarn.nar School, gave evidence to the effect that the proposed extension would be a great Improve ment to the central part of Birmingham. It would certainly not be detrimental to the school, but on" the contrary, lay removing a particular class of houses, the proximity of which was hurtful to the school, it would be a great benefit. In his cross-examination, the witness stated that he did not think there was any objection to the mode in which the extended line would pass through the graveyard. In answer to the CHAIRMAN, it was explained that there had been a petition presented from the trustees of the Grammar School against the Bill; but the object of the petition was only to secure the inser tion of clauses for the protection of the school property. These clauses had been agreed to, and the trustees had consequently given their sanction to the Bill. After further evidence of the same character, The Committee adjourned at tour o'clock to twelve to-morrow. GROUP XLVI. This Committee re-assembled to-day at twelve o'clock. NEWCASTLE AND CARLISLE EXTENSION AND BRANCHES. The engineering evidence was resumed. The examination of witnesses was continued, and the evidence had reference chiefly to the effect of the proposed railway on the manu facture of the district through which it passed, which, it was stated, would be very beneficial. The Committee then adjourned at four o'clock. (GROUP LIII. This Committee, consisting of the Hon. E. Lascelles (chairman), the Earl of Arundel aad Surrey, Mr. Wildyard, Mr. B. Clayton, and Captain Dalrymple, met at the customary hour to day. SSIIREVISBURT AND anzavaivamaivr. Mr. lim3 . (irt the absence 31. x. Alw..l)4ledy, °pew.. Ude hecae ori - ilfe Part of the promoters, a n d d escr ib e d the route of the scme s . The line, including all the branches, w ould be about si x t y m i les, and the total estimat e 2,200 ,000 k. regard to the engineering character of the Works, he bellev4l. there was nothing at all re 'malleably? The gradients were as .favourable as the country would admit, and when he stated that . life. Stephenson was the engineer of - the line, •the • Committee must be sure that there would be no steep gradient on the line, which could possibly be avoided, as that gentleman was to a degree wedded to easy gradients, and for great reason in his (Mr. Hope's) opinion. There was one gradient of 1 in 100, and another that was somewhat steeper at the station near Birmingham, and therefore not material. There was also some tunnelling in the course of the line. Ito con trasted this undertaking with its rivals, the Shrewsbury, Wolver hamPtori, and South Staffordshire Junction, and, the Birmingham, Wolv6liartlnfon, 'and Dudley lines, and conteeded that this was an integral line, under one control, whereas in the other cases they would have to form alliances with already existing companies. The Oxford,Worcester and Wolverhampton, with which the other schemes wound have to form junctions, would have double gauges. which would cause considerable inooneenience 01 the transit of traffic. This line would accommodate Darlington, containing a population of 8,240, which town would not be approached by the rival schemes. The stations of the rival schemes for Wolverhampton would also be a furlong distant from the town, and thirty feet below its level. They would also give no accommodation to the works lying along the canal there, whilst this scheme would afford them every facility for the transit of goods. This line would also run into New-street, the principal street in Bir mingham. The corporation of Birmingham had held a meeting on the subject of the different schemes, and they came to the decision that the station contemplated by this company would be by far the best for the 'interests of the town. They would effect little residen ticl injuries in Birmingham, whilst they proposed to remove some very objectionable buildings. This line was very generally supported by the public ; the Committee, in fact, would learn from the evidence that it was the favourite line. The Board of Trade had also re ported in favour of it. The Learned Counsel having concluded his address, compliance with the Duncombe resolutions was proved, after which Mr. Riczaans, on behalf of the promoters, called Mr. Ormsby Gore, M.P., who proved that the scheme was last year submitted to the Board of Trade, who reported most favourably of it. He did not believe that any other scheme could be devised that would better ac commodate the district through which it was proposed to pass. This line would afford communication at Shrewsbury, betweenthe Shrews bury and Chesterand Shrewsbury and Herefordshire Companies (of both of Which he was chairman), and a direct communication would thus be afforded between North and South Wales. There had been a meeting of the promoters of the line lately, in compliance with the sessional orders, and they had unanimously determined that the Bill should be proceeded with. The Hon. Member was cross-examined by Mr. CORBETT, who ap peared on behalf of certain landowners who opposed the line, and also by Mr. ROBERTSON, who appeared on behalf of the opposing companies, but nothing very material was elicited. Mr. Groves, landed proprietor in the neighbourhood of Shrews bury, proved the disadvantage under which the people of that dis trict laboured in consequence of their not having such communica tion as this undertaking would afford. Property in that neighbour hood had greatly decreased in consequence of the people of Shrews bury not having the accommodation afforded to the adjoining counties by railways. Mr. Henry Newton, wharflnger, Shrewsbury, was next examined by Mr. WooLaveirE (one of the counsel for the promoters of the Bill), and gave similar evidence. Mr. Birr, lead merchant, of the same place, also gave traffic evidence, and stated that his business was very much limited in consequence of not having an expeditious mode of con veyance. The present means of communication with the counties adjoining Shrewsbury was canals, and the trade of Shrewsbury was liable to great interruption at times in consequence of there not being a sufficient supply of water. It the people of that district had a direct communication with London (which this line would afford) their trade would be considerably increased. Since the opening of the Derbyshire line they had lost their trade of remanufacturing old lead, which had been previously sent to them ; and if this line were constructed he had no doubt that that trade would return to them. The lion. Mr. Clive, M.P. for the southern division of Shropshire, and deputy chairman of this company, was next called, and said that the.subject of procuring such a line as this had long occupied his thoughts. He considered that Shrewsbury stood' in great need of a rallivaY communication with Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and London. He believed that this line would be shorter than any other yet devised. He had personally seen many of the inhabitants of Shropshire, and they expressed themselves unanimously in favour of this undertaking. This line would afford his constituents a direct communication with Holyhead and Ireland. The station proposed to be made at Birmingham by this company was a most convenient one in every respect. • Cross-examined by Mr. CORBETT—I am aware that several land holders through whose property this line is proposed to pass have petitioned againstit. Mr. Woomtvcne—We have a great number of witnesses to prove the extent of the Shrewsbury' traffic, if the Committee wish to have any more evidence on that head. The lion. Cr/Amman —No ; I think.we have had enough of evi, dence of that description. Mr. WooLarcue—,Then, I shall proceed to .call . evidence to show the acc.uninodatien which this line will afford to the different towns through which.lt. Mr. Osborne, magistrate's clerk, Shipnall, was accordingly called, and proved the accommodation which the scheme would offer to the people of that town, three-fourths of Whom, lie said, were in favour of this line. The alternative line (the South Staffordshire) would inflict great residential damage. Their station would be a quarter of a mile distant from the Market-place of Shipnall. Mr. Cope, one of the landholders whose property would be injured by the opposing scheme, had petitioned against it. Cross-examined by Mr. ROBINSON—I am not authorised to give evidence here on behalf of Mr. Cope, nor do I know whether he has abandoned all opposition to the South Staffordshire line. The station of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham line at Shipnall will be 100 yards distant from. the market-place. I should be much surprised to hear that this line three-fourths of the people o f Shi pna ll had petitioned against Mr. Power, surveyor, Shipnall, gave similar evidence to the last witness. The station there would be most convehiently situated. The people of Shipnall had memorialised the Board of Trade in favour of this line. - Mr. Simms, ironmaster, of Bay's-lane, in the parish of Shipnall, was proceeding to give traffic evidence in favour of the line, when a messenger from the House of Commons announced that the Speaker was at prayers, and the Committee accordingly adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP LW. LEICESTER AND BIRMINGHAM, WITH A BRANCH. On the re-assembling of the Committee this morning several wit nesses were called and examined on behalf of the opponents to this line, with a view to show the superior accommodation which would be afforded both to passengers and goods by the Direct Birmingham and Leicester line. • Some additional evidence was adduced and the Committee ad journed. GROUP LVI. EASTERN COUNTIES STATION ENLARGE- ' !KENT. Mr. TALBOT said that it would require but few words to explain the object of this Bill. The line itself was originally projected to go as far as Colchester and Yarmouth, but the promoters, after some trouble, gave up all hopes of carrying the line so far, and its present extent was only 50 or 60 miles. The promoters had secured to them selves land in the neighbourhood of Shoreditch to make a tertrinal station. It was now proposed to enlarge that station, and its enlargement would cause the removal of property over a largo space, but that property wa s of the lowest description. Some few streets of no Considerable lie c company m p p u a b n l y lc importance had been interfered with , but they would be repla ce d b y larger streets, and some new ones would be formed. T would form large and commodious avenues t 0 t t lle e ir ad s tn iaitssioi n o ' n an o d f lltghhatt alteration would be of considerable benefit,by h and air. It was also proposed to take a Stepney, for the formation of an engine station, as the lofceowmotiacvree and further, the com sstocakt of the Company had greatly increased lately; cattle pens, which, pany required the space tbr the erectiont:ft erected, would be a great.convenienCe when The estimate for these alterations waS onl ,their trl4ftle - in live St4ck. Some lengthened eenyeraatiter here ennyealoteo,twootoollt. the Ceumllttee BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM (GLOUCES— TER AND STONEHOUSE JUNCTION). The Committee re -assembled this morning at 12 o'clock. The different parties were occupied during a considerable portion of the day in arranging their various claims according to the in timation which the Committee threw out on a previous occasion, that the a _ reement of 1843, between the Bristol and Gloucester and the Great Western Companies, was to be made the basis of any fu ture arrangements that might be entered into between the two companies. Terms and counter-terms were offered by the different parties to the consideration of the Committee for their decision, when the room was ordered to be cleared. On our re-admission, the CHAIRMAN stated that the Committee inclined to the opinion that it would not be for the public advantage to have a narrow gauge line made between the rails of the broad gauge, neither would it be convenient to substitute the narrow line tor the broad gauge. They believed, however, that by the ftirtnation of a narrow line of railway, in addition to the broad gauge line, the interests of the public would be best subserved. They were under the inpression that it would be an advantage to have a narrow gauge line, but they did not wish to deprive the Great Western Company of the broad gauge line from Bristol to Stoneho.,se. Mr. It. Stephenson, the engineer, was then called by the moters, and deposed as to the elegibility of the construction of pro- the proposed line. Other evidence was gone into, and the Committee adjourned. GRUP The Committee on this grou O p met X to .day XXIII. at twelve o'clock, in room No. 24 (Grand Corridor) ; present, Sir Robert Ferguson, chairman ; the Marquis of Worcester, Viscount Norreys, Mr. Fellowes, and Mr. Smollett. They proceeded with the consideration of the RUGBY, LEAMINGTON, AND WARWICK. Mr. WAKELEY, Q.C., for the opponents of the Bill (petitioners from Leamington), addressed the Committee. He said that the evidence for the opposition was concluded yesterday, and that evidence ap peared to him.to be of so conclusive a character, that it would not be necessary to occupy much time in summing it together, or comment ing upon it. The Bid was one of agyeat number which the London and Birmingham were endeavouring to, pass through Parliament for the purpose of obtaining possession of the whole country. It was quite evident that the promoters of the Bill were not very sanguine of their prospects, after having heard the witnesses against them ; for they now proposed that the preamble should be postponed until the evidence upon all the London and Birmingham projects should have been gone through. The Learned Gentleman then went at some length into a review of his evidence, contending that there was not only no necessity for the proposed line, but that its construction would be detrimental or inconvenient to the districts through which it would pass. It would compel the traffic to be taken by a cir cuitous and expensive route, and prevent the formation of a more convenient and less costly accommodation. He hoped the Committee would see that a sufficient case had been made out to reject the preamble of the Bill, instead of postponing it. Mr. HILDYARD replied, and it having been stated to the Committee that three of the opposing petitioners had withdrawn their opposition, The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had determined to post pone their decision on the preamble of this Bill until they had gone through the cases of the others in connexion with the London and Birmingham Company. They then proceeded with the LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (BIRMING. SALE OF OLD PLATS.—OD Wednesday a sale, by auction, of a rare and curious collection of old plays of Shaks peare, Lilly, Marlowe, Nash, Peele, Beaumont and Fletcher, &c., the property of the late William Holgate, Esq., of the General Post-office, took place at Messrs. Sotheby's rooms, Wellington -street. Some of the " plays" were not more than three or fpur leaves of old paper, unbound, but fetched large prices, as the following selection of a few will show :—" The Lamentable and true Tragedie of M. Arden of Feversham, who was most wickedly murdered by the means of his dis loy-all and wanton wife," printed in 1.599 (21. 145.) "The Tragi Comoedi of the Vert uous Octauia, by Samuel Brandon," extremely rare, printed by W. Ponsonbye, 1598, sold for_ 13 guinea. " The Hi s t or i e o f t h e T ryall of Chevalrya,ti:vC the life and death o f C iva li ero Di c k e B owyer, as i t h lately acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Darby l : Simon Stafford, 1605, sold for 71 10s. ~T he..Pleasant w as plaied of Old Fort una t us , by Th omas Dekker :as It plaied before the Q ueenes M a i es ti e this Christmas sundry :or sold d o tdhr ye o sold for 61. 10s. ; Mr. Rhodes's copy fetched eThird, as it bath bin Right Honorable the Earle of Nottingham,"blal9ckt le , t , te E r d , 1600, ward 111., the Raigne of-King Edward d th ~, first edition, attri buted about the Cittie of whole workes printed newly compyled n e, Entertainment, printed as i t h i na has been l b s e B e 7 n is 1599, 61. 10s. G bu e t e e t d ge by Gas C e a e p i e g i ne to , Shakapeare , Lon on sold for 31. Ben Jonson's " Poet fnocero v i n o e l volume," e o , ' 5 ; s .17 from s h g, i u, s i i t ij h aa e cnkd collection K Drumsather: i de by the Chiladtrhen been of Po actedvl e s , in" tfirsthe times play de Blacke Friers, 1 , 602 " sold for 2/. 3- " . i n i t e ed A i r n rai l g 6 a o m , eat,asp h b. Looke about Yow, pleasantPeet aster, Comedie, as it was lately acted by the Right Hon. edition, printed t aa l s i e e r Lo rd High Admiral his Seruants, 1600," sold for 6/. “ The Massacre at Paris, with the Death of the Duke of the Right Hon. the Lord High ihtiswaSsePrulaaindtesl:3by Marlowe," no date, sold for 5/. 7s. 6d. "Nobody and Somebody, with the true Chronicle Historie of of Elyduce, who was fortunately three severall times crowned Ki ng of England, " no date sold for 81. 15 s in 1823 a copy so l d for 161, " A Lamentable Trage:e; mixed full o f p l easant mirth, containing the Life of Cambis d e l s; King of Persia, from the beginning of his Kingdome unto his Death," no date, eight guineas Of Shakspeare's Works: "A Midsummer Night's Dreame," 1600, 6/. "The First Parte of the true Historie of the Life of Sir John Old Castle, the good Lord Cobham," first edition, 3/. ifs. "Mr. Wiliam Shakspeare, his true Chronicle History of the Life and Death of King Lear and his Three Daughters," Nathaniel Butter, 1608, 6/. 15s "Poems of Shakespeare," portrait by Marshall, Thomas Cotes, 1640, sold for 5/. 17s. sd. The other lots sold were equally curious. The Lord Advocate had an interview with the Chan cellor of the Exchequer yesterday at his official residence in Doming-street, and the counsel engaged in the Opposition as to the correctness of the plan adduced. Mr. TALBOT then proceeded to examine Mr. Bidder, with reference to the proposed alteration. His evidence was an echo of the opening statement of the Learned Counsel. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock, GROUP EURIVIINGIZELIVI CANAL LVII. AND RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. WADDTICGTON haying stated that the case for the promoters was concluded, The CHAIRMAN said he had received a communication from the Board of Trade on the subject of THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM GRAND JUNCTION, AND MANCHESTER AND BIR MINGHAM AMALGAMATION. In that communication the Board of Trade stated that they could not recommend the perpetual amalgamation of those companies, although an amalgamation for a few years might be advintageous. The Committee was, therefore, not prepared to give a decision at present. DUDLEY CANAL AND BIRMINGHAM CANAL AMALGAMATION. Mr. WADDINGTON said, that as this Bill was in intimate connexion with the Birmingham Canal and Railway Arrangements Bill, he would proceed with this before the opposition to the other was gone into, as such opposition was necessarily the same against both the Bills. .The object of the Bill was to improve the property and navi gation ofthe UudleyCanal by an amalgamation with the Birmingham. The Dudley Canal was poorly supplied with water, and of that there was a great waste in consequence of the badness of the levels; whereas the Birmingham Canal had an excellent supply of water, by which the other would be greatly improved in the navigation, and the contemplated arrangements would be conducive to extended benefits. Several witnesses wore then heard in support of these general statements. Mr. SELF, with Mr. M. D. Hill, Q.C., opposed the Bill on the ground that it made provision for the continuance of certain tolls, which past experience proved the companies might reduce without loss to their own revenues and with great advantage to the After hearing evidence in support of this opposition, the Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve to-morrow. GROUP LXIV. The Committee re-assembled to-day at twelve o'clock, Mr. T. 5, Duncombe in the chair, and resumed the consideration of the • IRISH GREAT WESTERN (PORTA.R-, LINGTON TO GALWAY). Mr. ALEXANDER, on the part of some of the petitioners against the Bill, read the petition, which was very voluminous, and alleged, among other informalities, that the source whence the capital for the ttill was derived had not been truly set forth, inasmuch as the real promoters of the Bill were the promoters of the Irish South- Western Rpilway Company. Mr. Sergeant Moaeny contended that the Bill before the Com mittee was to all intents and purposes a new Bill. It was found by the old company that in consequence of their expenses, and the bad odour into which the company had fallen, that it would be necessary to reconstruct the company, and the present company was established, allotments being given to those of the old company who desired the present project. The present Bill proposed to construct a railway different from the former Bill and, ipso facto, the company was bona fide a new company. The Learned Counsel then called evidence to show thal parties ha I become promoters of the project in this Bill under a conviction that it was an entirely new project. The Committee overruled the objections in the petition. The evidence in support of the Bill was then resumed, and the Committee adjourned at four o'clock. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met at eleven, as usual, in room No. I, House of Lords, Lord Shaftesbury in the chair, and present, the Duke of Richmond, the Earls of Devon and Fortescue, the Marquis of Win chester, and Lords Hawarden and Camoys. The Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston (Thornllebank, Househill, and Hurlet Branches)—The Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston (Paisley Branches)—The Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Harbour Branch)—The Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction— The Edinburgh and Northern (Strathearn Deviation) —and the Lancashire and North Yorkshire Bills, and also the Northumber land Docks Still, were declared to have complied with the standing orders. Having disposed of these Bills, the Committee resolved itself into a Select Committee on merits, in order to proceed with the case of the BITCHINGHA2VISHIRE (OXFORD AND BLETCHLET BRANCHES), the preamble of which Bill was declared to be proved. The Bill was ordered to be reported. Their Lordships rose at about half-past four o'clock. LYNN AND ELY RAILWAY. A special meeting of the scripholders, shareholders, and proprietors of the Lynn and Ely Railway took place yesterday at the offices of the Company, No. 7, Millbank-street, in pursuance of the sessional orders of both Houses of Parliament. The chair was taken at two o'clock by Sir William Browne Folke. The SECRETARY having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN said that the capital required to be repre sented at the meeting necessary to qualify it to come to any decision was 80,0001., but they held 113,7501. worth of shares assenting to the Bill. He would therefore propose to the meeting a resolution embodying their assent to the two fol lowing Bills :—A Bill to empower the Lynn and Ely Railway Company to construct a railway from the borough of Wisbeach to Spalding, in the parts of Hol land, in the county of Lincoln, with a branch up to Holland ; and a Bill to empower the Lynn and Ely Railway Conpany to construct a railway from the borough of Wisbeach to March, in the parish of Doddington, all in the Isle of Ely and county of Cambridge. The votes having been taken, it was found that there were 3,225 shares assenting, and 715 dissenting. The CHAIRMAN therefore decided that the resolutions had bt'eficarried. -- The CHAIRMAN also informed the meeting that the first half of their contract had been almost finished, and their contractor has even -offered to have it open in July next, if they , gave him 1,5001. extra; but, as they had not their engines ready, they did not choose to incur the additional expense. The meeting then separated, having passed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. FICTION. AND REALITY, OR THE PEASANT _OF THE OPERA-HOUSE AND THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURER AS HE REALLY IS.—(A CONTRAST.) All the fashionable young ladies and the elegantly. dressed young gentlemen who frequent the Opera house, have a sort of vague idea that the spruce young peasants with broad-brimmed straw hats, and shirt-sleeves tied up with blue ribbon, and flesh-coloured silk stockings and satin tights, as seen on the stage, are true and exact repre sentations of country labourers ; that these same peasants, as they call them, are engaged all day senti mentally leaning against a tree and playing on a pipe to a flock of sheep, and dancing every night under trees illuminated by lamps, with young damsels as elegantly dressed as themselves. And these young fashionables think.their papas and their uncles, who make protec tion speeches in Bond -street or the House of Com mons, very patriotic and wise men; and that that wieked Sir Robert Peel, that odious Sir James Graham, and that dreadful revolutionary League, wish to destroy this rural happiness, and to shut up the dear creatures in union workhouses. And they further believe that all these stories, got up by Mr. Sh er id an an d th e R ev. Mr. Osborne and others, about labourers breaking stones, with cold potatoes in their bags, and their wives and children with nothing to eat but cabbage leaves and horse beans boiled together, and wages being only seven shillings a-week—are inventions of free traders to make " protection to native industry " unpopular, and to bring that worthy class, the country gentlemen, into contempt, and that it is all a cunningly devised scheme to inveigle these charming and interesting young men and women who dance so divinely and sing so charmingly in chorus, into horrid and pestilential factories, which they are never allowed to leave to return to their dear country pastimes. These same fashionable young ladies and gentlemen, iving at the west end of London, where they see nothing but gold lace, equipages, elegant dresses and tall foot men ; or if in the country, surrounded by all the profu sion and tasteful appendages of a gentleman's seat— draw all their ideas of rural life not imbibed at the opera, from the pet lady's maid who married the hand some footman, and who lives at the beautiful and tasty lodge at the entrance of the park, and who always curtseys so low when the carriage passes, and is so thankful for religious tracts, securing thereby the broken dai n ti es f rom the hall, and enough of cast off clothes for her family —not to mention blankets and coats at Christmas. These very ignorant and sentimental young gentle folks knovv.nothing of cottages in ruins, the mother ih consumption, children in rags, no fire except a few stolen sticks, a dinner of boiled cabbage leaves and horse beans. No! the stern realities of truth would have no charms for them, so they give themselves up to the ar cadian fancies of opera tableaux. And so, buried in a world of deception and delusion, like the French noblesse of the last generation, they are totally unprepared for the day of retribution, which may come like a thief in the night. It is to be hoped that there is enough of redeeming virtue in free trade, now within our grasp, to avert this awful catastrophe.—The Struggle. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS June 11. Earl SIIA FTESBURY took his seat on the Woolsack at a qaarter to Five. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Messengers from the Commons brought up thirty-six Binh principally for railways. _ _ Lord CAMPBELL CORN presented a LAWp etition from Cupars in Fifeshire, p ray i ng t h e i r Lordships to pass the Bill for the repeal of the se l aws w i t h as little delay as possible, and without any alteration whatever. Petitions were also presented from various places in Scot land, by the same Noble Lord, praying their Lordships 'to adopt some measures for affording sites for churches for the Free Church of Scotland. The Duke of RICHMOND could not allow the present ee" casion to pass without vindicating himself from charges which had been brought against him for refusing to grant sites for the Free Church of Scotland; he stated that in every case where application had been made to him for these sites fle had granted them. He gave them spots of ground which he con sidered best for them, and he thought a landlord should know best what was proper for them. Lord CAMPBELL said that after having presented se many petitions on th e su bj ect, he considered it fair only t.l say that the N o bl e D uke had acted in the kindest spirit, an d he did not consider the Noble Earl had any just complaint to offer upon the subject. The members of the Free Church were exposed to the most unjust persecution in many places. They were not allowed to worship en the roads and highways' and they were obliged to build iron steamers and moor then; on the sea- s h ore, i n order to have a place where they could unmolested worship their Creator. Now if this state of things continued, he was prepared to move some measure which shee t " put an end to this abuse of the rights of property. Lord BROUGHAAI considered that it was a very great miss' take of his Nobl e an d L earned Friend to say that it was pose; cution in landlord s t o exerc i se their just rights. He ner would allow any pe rson i n hi s presence to term such an exercis e a persecution. No person had a right to take his property without his conse n t, an d h e would advise the Free Churc h pot to make their cause unpopular by endeavouring to force all interference upon the subject. The Earl of FITZ WILLIAM brought up the report upon the Harwich and Eastern Counties Railway Bill. RAILWAY LEGISLATION. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that, in consequence of the remark which fell from the Noble Lord opposite in respect to what had been said by his Noble Friend, he felt bound to say that if the Noble Lord had given any notice of his inten tion his Noble Friend the President of the Board of Trade would have been present, or he (the Duke of Wellington) would have been prepared to give every information whic h could have referred to the question. Earl FITZ WILLIAM thought that all railways should be considered as public ways, and that the Government should'not give to the company the actual property of the ground on which the railway was laid down. Such a course would remove the grievance of which his Noble Friend complained. With re spect to any other remedy. it would be d.fficult to find one suit able for the purpose. Great difficulty was found last year in comirg to any conclusion with respect to the compensation to be awarded for land which in the ordinary course of things must be interfered with by a railway. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY thought the property of a person's mines was affected by railways. PETITION OF RIGHT. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Isallell.e Ainslie, praying that some steps should be taken by te e , ll , Lordships to ena bl e t h em to o b tain a fiat in a petition o f r ig ht which they had presented twelve months since. Some discussion arose upon the question of the practice in this case, in which the Lord Chancellor, Lords Brougham' Campbell, and Cottenham took part. REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented several petitions from Lincoln, prayi ng th at t h e i r Lordships would take some steps for providing that criminals discharged from public prison should be rece i ve d i nto houses of occupation, where, by eA ho np n ye e r s i ni t een i a n cs d eu u r s am t r ab y n , ayv t nd e g y i ffimacuiugcl bt h i t eas b l e o e bb n uj a et b e enable , d e b t ew o oewuaolrdeni t heir dpuaadmit, I i woolio x to theft Lordships — was not that a reason why they should refuse. to attempt it, pa r ti cu l ar l y as they were aware that the Duni; of juvenile off en d ers was on the increase ?—( Hear, hear.) , te was a lamentabl e f act, t h at a young creature who, befor e knew the difference between right and wrong, having met mitted some offence, was imprisoned, and having there re m 's evil companions, when he was discharged, the only reso;b; which he had was to commence a course of evil- to was in consequence of their having no refnge s.. ,, e fly to, and he conjured their Lordships to 1 27 0. some measures to put a stop to this great ,7,„ d, Institutions for this purpose had been established in Eng" but he thought that it was the duty of Government to tak: t d h id e matter into their own managensent.—( Hear, hear.) I !_ eis . not wish to ask the Government now what was their la_ 0 , tion on this subject, but he purposed giving notice to-mor,'"_ ° nd of his intention to bring the subject fully before the Houses ; a nd finally move that a select Committee be appointed to consi der the question. The Bishop of LONDON presented a pet i t i on to the sae" -effect as th ose presente d b y the Noble Duke, remarking aster at the same time that th e p resent t reatment o f j uven il e crimin als their discharg e i n E ng l an d , was a disgrace to the countrf (Hear, hear.) Th e country h a d neg l ecte d or forgottee, its ~_ duty, and the caus e was l e f t to t h e e ff orts o f t h os e wh u o a tas interest in the welfare o f th e h uman race an d the count ry - It coun, was di ffi cult in th e p resen t s t a t e o f t h e people ;a f t the sub and the prese n t ar tifi c i a l s t a t e o f soc i e ty, should be tak en i n h an d b y th e Government, e xcept ine the form of an i nqu i ry . Th e exper i ment of t h e model P risom at Pentonville had wonderful y answere d t h e benevolent in ten _ tions of those w h o sanct i one d i ts f orma tion. He w as of opinion th a t th e exper i ment s h ou ld b e fi rs t tried by exertio ns o f a b o d y of associated individuals, who would be e na bl e d t o come b e f ore Parliament w i th a cas e of j tr ec Y t successful experiment s _ which would necessarily have its due weight. There was a benevolent individual in this country named Mr. Wright, of Manchester, who had taken in hand no less than 90- criminals sentenced• to various terms of imprisonment, and subjected them of their own free will to a course of instruction in- useful industry, end he had been the blessed means of restoring to the country', to the Church, and to society no less than sixty-three of them. if one benevolent man could effect so much by his exertions, what could be done by a well-matured scheme,' carried out by the Government of a Christain country? After a few words fro m L or d LYTTELTON, whiCli did not reach the gallery, CORN LAWS. L m eeting ord C ofOCIIhI inions e h shi n re m ag e a n iZt rt cn r t u e d -1 a w petition Lord DELAMERE was well acquainted with the op of the inhabitants of the county of Cheshire. and bel ieved Houseeli gest ceoasfrom a county . He supported the Bill, because he believed it wo u ld re boa h Y. public benefit, and would be far from inflicting any injur He did not creeit that it would interfere with any the ir f he con of established institutions, as it had been asserted. I sidered that it would, he would be far from supporting lr Lord COMBERMERE—As to what the Nobl e Lord said that it was a very popular Bill with the county of Lanca shire b ut the he could only say that such was not the case,ed that they were generally in favour of the Bill before • Noble Lord must have taken his opinions from Stock: port or that part of the • county, as he could state that the contrary was the fact in par ts other of the county, where he was intimately acquainted . and where large meetings of the tenant-farmers had expressed their opinions against it. Lord DELAMERE was not aware that such had been the fact He admitted that this was not a farmer's but a landlord's Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND thought the tenant-farmers had been ill-used upon the question, for no sooner did they present petitions against the Bill than up got a Noble Lord and said he knew the farmers were not against the Bill. What would their Lordships think when he told them that the Noble Lord who had just explained was a subscriber to the Cheshire Protection Society, of which the Noble personage he had al luded to, as being favourable to this Bill, was the president. When the question was first agitated in the House of Com mons the tenant-farmers of Cheshire got up a society to pre serve protection, and their cry was "Protection, and nothing but protection, as it then existed." Now he found these tw o Noble Lords joined that Society, and supp or t e d it w ith their great influence, and contributed to its funds. He had _a.no doubt the farmers of Cheshire were grateful to them for vela t they did, but he thought this gratitude would not last ve ry lone.—(Hear , hear.) An occasion would shortly present _ it self Whe n the Cheshire farmers would have an opportunity of expressing their opinion on the subject, and he trusted the y would follow the example of Nottinghamshi re , Gloucestershir e , and the other counties, and form themselves into Coin mittees, so as not to return any man who had abandoned the principles he profes se d i n IB42.—(He ar , h ear .) Their had the game in their own hands, they .were an influen • tial portion of the people of this country, and if they only chose to exert themselves, even if this Bill did no . w. be able to repeal it. His Noble F r i en d the Nobl e and the day would shortly come when they wou ld and Gallant Duke, the other day, r ecomm ended the i r Lordships to pass this Bill, because he said there must be* now they might expect the Bill to b e sen t b e fore theca new Parliament before long, and that if they did not pass it by the Members of a new House of Commons.—( Hear, hear.) He (the Duke of Richmond) most sincerely believed that many of the greatest agitators with respect to the repeal of the corn-laws were really now alarmed at what they had done.-- _ ( Hear, hear. ) He believed that many of them had no idea whatever that free trade was to be carried with respect to every article in which they themselves dealt.—( Hear, hear.) An 4 he believed that at the time that they asked for another might: entire repeal of the corn-laws, their object was that they mightrns ask for more than they really wanted, in ordl , r eer h .) the y t However, make terms between the parties.— hear. ) would not pass as it at present stood ( ( h il ? e p t a i l r ' ar a . nd , trusted that it Lord DELAMERE said that i t society; the Bill was not yet passed, and if he had done so that he ever subscribed to a prot ection awe of was not in his recollection and never would, belong to such (Hear, hear, and al. thought in another part.. this was the first time he was LONDONDERRY thought they were The Marquis o f interests of the public by making violent de clamationnot advancing the t the farmers thought on this sub' in a la s u o g e h ie te ty r..) But he never a, subject one as to what and what they Part of the couheetry , Noble Duke bow many etiti He would ask t t at use the farmers Pe in onshad beens presented to___aha it H not extraordinary th t this Ireland against' this Bill ? W a country, which wasbe so much affected by this Bill, had to •not toit? He not petitioned their Lo rdsh i ps pass rather exaggerated when he spoke of the feelings of the t nant farmers , and he must say that the Noble Lord e ' his had, m i n d, given very satisfactory proofs that there existed among the tenant-farmers different • • opinions on this subject. He thought, too, that it was not right for the Noble Duke to be continually addressing their Lordships (and he always took care to close his speecheswith some open and some great and terrible denunciation againstw the principle of free- trade) when petitions on this subj ect were pr esente d to t h e House. arquis of SALISBURY concurred with his Noble Friend, that much good was not done by speeches on these p etit ions — (Hear)—but he begged his Noble Friend at the sam e time to rec o ll ect t h at the c ustom had originated with the Nobl e L ord behind him. He knew, that in every county in England the tenant-farmers were almost unanimous against this Bill.—(Cheers and cries of "N o no, " and Oh loh V" , No doubt the tenant-farmers of Durha m , who were represel e ted in Parliament by one of the agitators of the Anti-'cos, a Law League, did hold opinions in favour of this Bill.—(l 7 .ear, hear.) If he were to assert that which he believed - J ae m i g ht, be should say that a considerable portion of 0 :1e mill owners of Lincolnshire were averse to free-trade. Sssme Noble Lord said they were very anxious for it. As far as he had looked at the petition on the subject, he found that there had not been single petition of the tenant-farmers in favour of the measure. It was too much for his Noble Friend to find fault with the Noble Duke on the cross benches for making a violent de clamation on this subject. The tenant-farmers had done all they could to prove their dislike to the Bill. They bad met in every county in England, and had presented petitions to this and to the other House, begging that the Legislature would not be guilty of such a breach of faith to them. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that after the ex traordinary personal attack made upon him—(Laughter)_he felt it necessary to make some remarks. He had asserted that the tenant-farmers were not opposed to the Bill. He had on several occasions listened in the House to the Noble Duke, who, had made strong remarks after every petition he presented. Such a course was not usual, and.when he remarkedit,the Noble M arqu i s got up and index's: -ninst extKaorionary, per/ 'oriel attack on hinu—(Laughter.) It Way not throoo hi i -,., ~- ~,. .... , :: ;:;