The Sun. — London, England, 1852-03-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS EDITION. IMMEDIATE SUN- OFFICE, EIGHT O'CLOCK DISSOTUTION PARLIAMENT. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS: The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack precisely at Five o'clock. At that time there was an unusually large number of Peers in attendance, and a large concourse of Peeresses occupied the gallery as signed to their accommodation. The Duke of Welling ton was in his usual place, the cross bench between the woolsack and the bar. THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT. Lord BEAUMONT, in presenting a petition complain ing of the injury inflicted on the country by the uncer tainty which exists as to the intentions of the Govern ment respecting the law regarding the importation of foreign corn, availed himself of the opportunity to put a question to her Majesty's Government —whether it is or is not their intention to recommend to Parliament an alteration of the present policy with respect to the importation of corn as soon as ,a new Parliament could be assent bied?—(lear, hear.) He stated, as a reason for asking this question, the great uncers tainty under which the country laboured, and especially the trading classes, as to what were the intentions of her Majesty's Ministers in reference to the existing policy of free trade in corn. Having briefly adverted to the sentiments recently expressed by the Noble Earl, the Fiert Lord of the Treasury, in this House on the question of protection on taking office, the Noble Lord (Lord Beaumont) complimented Lord Derby on the consistency with which he had advo cated the question of protection to agriculture whilst in opposition. He complained, however, of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government having merely contented himself on that occasion with stating that this question might be referred to the decision of the country at some indefinite time, instead of having taken the mere manly and etraightiorward course of propounding frankly what the feelings of the Govern ment were on this all-important subject, and in the event of an adverse majority in the House of Commons of making a direct and immediate appeal to the country. Had the Noble Lord taken that course, be (Lord Beaumont) would never have thought it his duty to take the step he was now taking. He charged the Noble Lord with an attempt to call upon the country to agitate this question with the view of founding some ulterior measure on that agitation. That was not the conduct which a true statesman would have pursued, but was rather that of an agitator out of doors. The only construction he (Lord Beaumont) could put upon that conduct was that the Noble Lord wished to raise u quarrel out of doors, in order that he might stand quietly by and look on. Was not this creating an agi tation out of doors, without there being any prospect of a settlement of the questien in Parliament? There was the greatest possible confusion and difference on this matter in the sentiments expressed by the members of the Noble Lord's Government ou their recent re-elec tions. The address of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the constituency et Buckingham was especially mys tical. A " countervailing duty" was frequently referred to in that R;glit Hue. Geetleinan's speech, but whether it was to be a. ss. er a 7 e duty that he wanted, nobody ktiew.—(A iaugh.) Now, he (Lord Beaumont) con tended that the country wiei!entitied to know distinctly, whether or not it eves the intention of the Government to propose a fixed duty :he importation or foreign corn. When a man entered two hors-s for a race he generally knew which was to win. —(A laugh.) Acting on that • principle, he (Load Beaumont) thought the Noble Lord at the head of the C avernment should state to the country whether he meant to win with a ss. or 7s. duty. —(Laughter.) The labouring classes throughout the country were never in a Detter position than they were at the present moment. Looking therefore at the whole interests of tr e country, the activity in the manufacturing districts, and the advan tages now enjoyed by the people, whatever were his opinions in the aberrant in regard to the burdens upon land he was decidedly against all reversal of our commercial policy, for in such a reversal he saw great dangers ; he saw violent passions raised up, class set against class ; and that animosity revived which long slumbered and died away. He considered that if the Noble Earl at the head of the Government did not give a distinct reply to his inquiries he would inflict great injury upon the country. Lord Beaumont con cluded by presenting the petition ci which he had given notice. The Earl of DERBY said he was not prepared to give the Noble Earl so complete and categorical an answer to his question as he seined to expect, but he was rt•ady to give such explanation as was consistent with his duty. With regard to the course intended to be pursued by the Government, as was loft in the slightest degree of obscurity in the course of the obser vations which he (Earl Derby) made a fortnight ago. It was not hi intention to enter into a fruit less and unnecessary discussion on the corn-laws. In point of number, the petitioners who signed the peti tion presented by the Noble Earl, were not exceedingly extensive. (LEFT SPE A KING. ) lIOUSE OF COMMONS The SPEAABR took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE. There was a very large attendance of Members Si four o'clock, and by half-past the benches on both sides of the Haase were nearly filled. The Strangers' and Speaker's Galleries were also very much crowded. 'rho Government benches were occupied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Walpole, Mr. Christo• pher, and Sir Frederick Thesiger. The prominent Members on the Opposition benches were Lord John Russell, Sir Charles Wood, Mr.lFox Maule, Sir Francis Baring, Sir George Grey, and M r. Labouchere. NEW MEMBERS. Sir John Trollope, Lord H. Ltnnox, Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Christopher, Mr. Napier, and Mr. Whiteside took the oathaiand their seats on their rp-election. NEW WRIL On the motion of Mr. F, MACKENZIE, new writs were ordered for the borough of Dungannon in the room of 61 e tinn. Mr. Knox, who had accepted the office of one of her Majesty's Grooms in Waiting, and for the borough of Coleraine in the loom of Mr. Boyd, who had accepted the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. , PRIVATE BILLS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be commuted: Aberdare Market and Slaughter-houses. Belfast Harbour. Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway (Powers to lease,& e .) Bramley and Ridgewick R ea d. Cambridge to Ely and other Roads. Glamford Briggs Waterworks. Kingston and Shestbridge Roads. Leeds Waterworks. LONDON CORPORATION BILL. On the motion for the second reeding of this Bill, Mr. lIUME opposed the motion. Th. Bid.i related lisDnsed of as a to much too vast,,; an interest to h e private Bill. The 13; ~ugh, to have be en made a public measure.—(Heir, nr.) Mr. W. WILLIAitS knew nothing of the object of the Bill, but be egt . e.A that it ought to be blade a public meamre, Sir JA'yIES MUM et-id, all that the Bill proposed to do was to relieve the public of the obnoxious tax known as ithe City toll, which yielded note :Ajmething like 6,0001. a-goer. Anotlwr provition is the Bill would give all the .iatia and tzix-peyers the right of voting at the "T•ction of all their corporate offio..'re, in tna Lord . Mayor hear.) A third object of the Bill vies to repeal the law which made it compulsory upon a man to take up his frecdom before he could coramenca business within the City. In future, all that would be required of him Would be that he should have resided a year and a day and tenanted some premises for that period, within the City.—(Hear.) Mx% ROEBEJ:Ii submitted' that this could not be treated as a privav Bill, it was es sent i a ll y a public meat - sure, and so it ought to be treated.—(El ear. The SPBAIiER, NO )it was deeid eu l y a private Bill; but, althutigh h was a private But, the lions did not lose its authority over,it.—(Hear.) After it came d own from the, c onurawie _ bp stairs, it would b , still compe tent for the House to throw it out, or make it a public rases ure.—( tiear; ).. After a few'wOrdsfrom Sir DE LACY EVANs, , t h e Bill was read a ,;/ , cond time arid ordered tb . be com muted; as were r.no the following Bills: North-Western Railway. St. Helen's Gas. Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Branch Canal to connect Canal of Shropshire Union Railways, ac.) _ LINCOLNSHIRE ESTUARY BILL. Or the motion fo:- ;he second reeding of this Bill, Cot. SIBTEIORI: rose to "bnose it, cud molted an second amendment that the readiog be poqpcned until this day six months. ®tier a brit ai sem - and the Bill withdrawn.mu), the amencliner3 wets agreed to Mr. CANALS.mo r. SPOONER following resolution:— " That in eases of Btiii '''-''—d th 2 lee forming part of any gener al chain or sy z t,na of inland ing canals or nav;gatturis wa t e r cominucioatiou, the p r : or navigation farming part , : f rritttor. of any other canal be entitled to be heard upon such general chain shall ' . 4" may present against any ~,,h 13 tlls before the Coin y petition w hi c h th e y inwoes to which such 1301,, shall he Mr. HENLEY oppos e d the ri referred." allowed the runt, how e„uld t rluiloo. If cana l s It also to railways.—(llcar, h;4¢-,) lii his opinfo n t h e , refuse t o conce d e remedy for the erl o9ntemplated b y t .,- to meet each sp dial coot:, with sep uav :l s resolution was egislation. After a elic,r fl.i.scusion tho resolati o PETITIONS. u Was withdra w n. LE presented a. Admiral B - IVIEY petition for this repgal, uf the posi-borsv duty. ~ ~ praying Mr. SCULLY presented a petition from a place in Ireland in favour of tenant right. Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from Dover in favour of the Pharmacy Bill. Mr. W. WILSON presented a petition from Mr. Rigby Wason, relative to the Westminster Improvement Bill, and praying for inquiry (as we understood). Mr. SPOONER presented a petition from Warwick shire against the Maynooth grant. A large number of petitions were presented in favour of the Pharmacy Bill. Mr. EWART presented several petitions from London against the Sale of Beer Bill. Mr. S. WORTLEY presented two petitions from Roth sea against the Maynooth grant. Mr. AGLIONBY presented several petitions from dif ferent parts of the metropolis in favour of the Copyhold Enfranchisement Bill. PROPERTY QUALIFICATION. Mr. TUFNELL gave notice that on Wednesday next he should more for leave to bring in a Bill to abolish the property qualification of Member•, HARWICH. Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notice that on an early slay he should move the appointment of a commission to inquire into the corrupt practices that had prevailed bit the election for Harwich. RELIGIOUS HOUSES. Mr. LACY gave notice that on an early day after Easter he should move for a Select Committee to inquire into the restraint imposed upon females in religious houses. SUGAR DUTIES. Mr. J. WILSON wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Colonies what course he intended to pursue with respect to his dropped notice of motion on the subject of the sugar duties?—(Hear.) Sir J. PAKINGTON would answer the question in a few words. He felt it his duty as a member of the Opposition to press upon the then Ministry what ho believed to be the disastrous effects of their own acts.—(Hear, hear.) He referred to the Act of 1846, modified by the subse quent Act of 1848, regulating the duties upon sugar. As a members of the present Government, which were ac knowledged to be in a minority in that House, he con ceived it to be no less his duty to take whatever course he might think best for promoting the objects which the present Government had in view, and they did not think that it would tend to relieve the West Indian distress if they were, during the present session of Par liament, to press forward views and plans against which there were recorded majorities upon several occasions during the existing Parliament.—(Loud Cheers.) They further thought that there was nothing in the question of - the sugar duties sufficiently special or sufficiently excep tional to justify them in making it an exception to that intention on the part of the Govern ment, which had been announced in another place by his Noble Friend the Prime Minister, namely,not unnecessarily to press upon Parliament during the present session those controverted questions of com mercial policy which they thought it better to reserve for the judgment of another Parliament.—(Ministerial cheers.) For the'se reasons it was not his intention during the present session to bring forward the motion to which the Hon. Member for Westbury had referred.—(Opposi tion cheers.) But he must beg leave to add one word more. The opinion which he had expressed upon this subject, whether in relation to the effects of the sugar Acts upon the British colonies, or in relation to their effects upon the great question of the slave trade, had undergone no change whatever.—(Ministerial cheers.) On the contrary, he was now receiving almost daily the moat painful proofs of the distress which exists amongst the British planters, bite the Government had, nevertheless, determined that this question, like others of the same nature, ought to be reserved for the consideration of a future Parliament—(Renewed cheers) —reserving distinctly to themselves the right hereafter to deal with those questions, if they should be in a posi tion to do ao—(ol)—in such a manner as they thought would beat meet the justice of each case, and what was required by due regard to the interests of all classes of seeiety.—(el , cers ) M r . J. WILSON hopee then it was not intended to dieturb elle sugar duties that would come into operation e n the sth of July ?—(Hear, hear.) Sir J. PAKINU I'ON said it yeas not, and in reply to another questioue hestated th a t t h e B eer Bill h a d been taken up by the Hon. M em b er f or E ast K ent. KAFIR WAR. .• Mr. ADDERLEY asked the becretary for the Co lonies whether any instructions would be sent by the mail going out to the Cape of Good Hope on T ues d a y, the 16th, to General Cathcart, to suspend or alter the instructions given him by Lord Grey, to lay down a scheme of future policy fur this country to undertake as to the defence of the frontier of that colony? Sir J. PAKING'fON said he had not thought it his duty so immediately to send out instructions to Major-General Cathcart, either to suspend or to alter that portion of the instructions of Lord Grey, to which his Honourable Friend had adverted—(Hear)— but he begged to add, that the pre sent con di t i on , and the future government of the colony would be subjects which would receive the earliest and anxious conside ration of her Majesty's Government. —(Hear.) In answer,to the latter part of the question, he begged to say that a statement had arrived by the last mail from the municipality of Cape Town, complaining of unnecessary delay on the part of the Legislative Council in passing the constitution ordinance, and also complaining that they had been devoting their time in passing other ordinances of a general nature. He had, therefore, thought it his duty to send. out a dispatch by the present mail, pressing twon the Legislative Council the necessity of considering the consti tion ordnance as soon as possible, and suggesting that they should reserve all questions of legislation which were not of an urgent nature for a future Par liarasnt.—(Hear.)_ ICI reply to Sir . DE LACY EVANS, Sir J. PAYINGTON said that though the Govern ment had received most gratifying intelligence from the Cape, it did not go the length of stating that the war was concluded; but the Government had reason to hope that the war would be concluded at no distant period.—(Hear,) INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND). The MASTER of the ROLLS asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce, in the present ses sion, any Bill for the purpose of continuing the Commis sion for the Sale of Incumbered Estates in Ireland. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said a communication had been received from the Lord Chan cellor of Ireland on the subject, but as the Attorney- General for Ireland had only arrived in England to-day, he h•%d not had an opportunity of consulting with him in reference to that communication. He suggested that the Learned Gentleman should put the question on some other occasion. PROPOSED DUTY ON COALS. Mr. HEADLAM asked the Chancellor of thA Ex chequer whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to impose a tax upon coals? Mr. DISRAELI said—l believe questions of this kind, addressed •to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before he has made his financial statement, are not con sidered in general very fair.—(Hear, hear.) Perhaps the Hon. Gentleman will ..flow me to avail myself of the privilege of official reserve, under ordinary cir cumstances, not to give a categorical reply to an inquiry ; but I am perfectly willing to make this case an exception to the general rule, and I can assure the Llahourabl4 and Learned Gentleman that no such intention txiste on the, part of her Majesty's Government; but if the propr)sition is calculated to obtain the favour of tha constituents' of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, I can assure him it will receive on our part the most respectful attention.—(Loud laughter.) THE FOREIGN REFUGEES. Iu answer to a question from Mr. M. MILNES, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that until the correspondence between her Majesty's Govern ment and foreign Governments now proceeding was finished, her Majesty's Ministers did not think it proper !o lay any part of that correspondence on the table. EAST INDIA. COMPANY'S CHARTER. In reply to Mr. ANSTEY, Mr. HERRIES said that ho would take the earliest opportunity of axing the day when ho would move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into this 2ubject. Mr. ANSTEY gave notice that on that occasion he should move that an address be presented to her Ma jesty, praying her to send out a commission to take the evidence of natives of India on this subject. IMMEDIATE DISSOLUTION OF Ou theMmlNotlioBnTEfoßr PARLIAMENT. I g A o L ing EX in P zo L C A o N m A ra T it l te o e N o S f . supply, Mr. C. VILLIERS rose and said, that in accordance with an intimatioin the hope of obtaoinilag from some inquiry fromn her given, he wished to make f Majesty's Government, them some information of their intentions subject of vital importance which which the He referred to to every one of her MajeaCyu,baj r th eg e u p la ri t n e ci t p h l e es fo a r n e d ig p n oi c il umpeorne c of this they intended to was engaged in the country, end es ' y that branch of it peciall fteeleact question, nor a speculative twitter, but so intimately . supply of corn. This was no , connected with the realities of English life that it affected the whole social and domestic economy of the country . The public wanted information on this subj ect , and it would, perhaps, he incorrect to s ay that they had had none; but it certainly was not incorrect to say that what it-. had had was of the most perplexing nature. For three weeks past they had had a Protectionist Mi nistry in power with a free-trade policy i n f orce, but wh at t h at P rotect i on i s t Ministry was g ng go ng to do was one of these mysteries which might be revealed to night, but of which, up to that moment, not one single s Autioa had been put forth before. Ho b,gged that if he appeared to be forward in this mutter that if he pressed upon the Government to make some clear avowal upon the subject, 1 - is motives might not be mistaken, for he could assure them that he was actuated by no factious motives. — (L au ghter on the Ministerial side. followed by cheers from the Opposition.) Re thought he had reason to ears in Parliament ex pect that, after being eighte en where he had always been o ne of the most forward in this particular matter, it certainly would be strange if 1 weie e he were now to draw back and object to remain silent. I He had no re--- uy . embarrassing ' her Majesty's Government. She did not regret to see reckless agitation which they had them is the position they now uccupied, for ha thought t h ey h a d as muc h r i g ht to be th ere es any other of her Majesty's subjects, and he certai n l y would much rather see them there than engag e d i n the , been carrying on for the last four or five years. There was one circumstance which made him rejoice to see them there, and that was that they had obtained that position em phatically as a Free-trade Government.—(Hear.) He wanted to know what was intended to be done in re ference to our maratime code. According to the Right Hon. the President of the Board of Trade, the evils which had resulted from the recent changes which had been made in that code were far greater than he origi nally anticipated. Well, then, what did the Right He ro Gentleman propose to do now that he was in office? The Earl of Derby was no doubt a great man. The Noble Earl retired from Sir Robert Peel's Government, fully aware of the circumstances which had induced that Administration to alter its policy, and the Noble Earl thereafter set about forming his present party, and many of his followers, in the hope that he intended to restore Protection, had given him their blind confidence.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Earl had done all in his power to cultivate that confidence, and he wanted to know whether the Noble Earl wished now to make an effort to realize the hopes which he had created He said a man of that sort acted with the greatest re sponsibility in this country. The Noble Earl had rank, had fortune, and from his position he, above all men, ought to be prepared to announce the course which he intended to follow. According to the public prints the Noble Earl seemed to have likened himself to a general and he had held out to his followers that the time would come when he should lead them on to victory.—(Hear, hear.) Now, had that time arrived? He had a right to call for an explicit answer to that question.—(Hear.) The Noble Earl had openly declared in public that when the time arrived there would be no flinching or hesitation in him, but his cry would be that which Wel lington adopted on the field of Waterloo, and which was, "Up, Guards, and at them."—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Well, now, that was stated in public and he now wanted to know when the mo ment was likely to arrive when the Noble Lord and his followers would be up and at them.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The Government was bound to relieve the country from its present state of suspense. —(Hear, hear.) What, in fact, was the condition of the country at this hour ?—(Hear, hear.) At no farmer period had there been so much peace and contentment as prevailed at the opening of the present year? The history of the country presented no happier picture. Trade was good; commerce was flourishing; labour found ample employment, while capital never was more abundant, or the population of this country never was more employed or better fed than they were at this moment. what had produced this happy auto of things ? Why, it was the free-trade policy which they had recently adopted. Nor was this flourishing picture peculiar to one class alone. It applied to all, even the agricul tural class, for according to all accounts the farm labourer was never better off, nor the land in better cultivation than it was at the present moment.—(Hear.) Well, then, what was to be done? What did her Majesty's Government propose to do ? Did they propose to reverse the policy which had produced so much prosperity ? But thee, again, with regard to our mari time code, was it prepared to make any change in that? In spite of the recent changes our shipping interest was flourishing and was still able to defy competion.—(Hear, hear.) What, then, was pro posed to be done here?—(Hear, hear.) According to speeches of some Members of the Government some of them were of opinion still that the change had produced great evils;—(Hear, hear)—but he defied them to prove it.—(llear, hear.) Next, with regard to our colonies, it appeared to him that what the Member of the present. Government found fault with was the abolition of slavery, for if he looked to the returns and papers on the table ho found that even the colonies under a free trade policy were improving and not declining, while upon the continent since free trade had come into e xistence there was a much kindlier feeling felt there towards this country than prevailed before.—(Hear, hear.) Well, then, whence came that fear and distrust that was felt from one end of the country to the. other? Why, it was a dread that the gentlemen now in power were pledged to revise this free-trade policy, and the struggle which was coming upon this subject was anticipated with alarm by all classes. The tenant farmers did not require a return to a system of Protection, because they had at length arrived ae the conviction that the sliding scale was devised for no other purpose than to keep up rents.—(Hear, hear.) He repeated then, t h at the present uncertainty r e a three sa would be r u i nou s to the oountry trade. was coming to a s t an d still, while abroad mercha n t s were accepting the ch (H an e ! , e r, Ministers ofhea.)Fr reversal of poli c y. weeks the country had been reduced to a state of paralysis, it appeared to labour under the dread of some coming evil and wanted the House to strike the blow at once, and insist that this terrible state of uncertainty and fear should be put a stop to. Mr. DISRAELI said the House had just been told that the condition of the country at this moment was one of uncertainty and distrust, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who told them that, warming with hie subject, followed that statement up with the decla ration that the commercial community of England was in a state of paralysis.—(Hear, hear.) Now he was in constant communication with numbers of this class, and he had heard nothing from them to support the statement—nor, indeed, could they find any foundation for it in the price of our publics securities.—(Hear, hear.) The country was in a state of great prosperity. He admitted. that freely—(Cheers)— and he had, therefore, no hesitation in responding to the challenge of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman.—(Hear, hear.) He would fairly, frankly, and without reserve, express the policy which her Majesty's Government wished to follow.—(Cheers.) The first thing, then, to be considered was the situation in which they now found themselves, and the manner in which they had been forced into office.—(Hear, hear.) The House would remember that immediately after the last general election the Noble Lord at the head of the present Government announced his wish that the question of Protection should be settled by another Parliament, that declaration was made in the other House, and he re-echoed it in this.—(Hear, hear.) Well, that being the real state of the abstract question, standing as it were in abeyance, at the opening of this session a change of Government suddenly took plane, and those who thought the existing Parlia ment ought not to be called upon to alter the free trade policy, were new, t disposed to change their opinion now that they we're in office.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.") That being title case, it was preposterous to sup pose that at, this early period after coming into office they ce eild be called upon to announce the measures whie.h they wished hereafter to propose. Until the verdict of a general election had been taken, the Goverunetn it would not be prepared to expound any policy; and so far they intend to act for the future. — (Hear.) It wets not intended before going to a general election to . propound any fiscal or commercial echeme. They thought the injustice which had been inflicted upon 'the agricultural interest ought to be re medied, but t:U,ey were not prepared now to propose the remedy, or pledge themselves to any schema.—(Hear, hear.) What they intended to do was to consider, and if possible remove, the evils which pressed upon agriculture, birt they reserved to themselves the right of hereafter lee letting the means which they should think best acii: opted fur attaining that great end.— (Cheers.) So :far he hoped he had answered the main question of th a Hon. and Learned Gentlemen opposite. —(oh, oh !) conclusion, he expressed a hope that the dissolution v could be allowed to take place as speedily as possible.—(l:iiear, hear.) (MOT SITTING.) ATTER ::;ALL'S.-THIS EVENING. Six O'CLOCK. WARWICK HANDICAP. 5 ) 1 agst Cuseus—taken 'WARWICK TRIAL STAKES. 2 to I agst Koh•i-poor L EAMINGTON STEEPLECHASE. 4 1.0 1 Ogst Oscar 'WARWICK ,TWO YRil OLD. 6 to 4 ugst Catheriue Hayes w).RTIIAMPTONSIIIRE STAKES. 6 to 1 agst Chief Justice 12 o 1 agst Storytaler 12 t o 1 agst Cariboo 14 t 0 1 agst Teddington 3LETROPOLITAN ZIANBICA P. 10 'to 1 agst Liackbiter 20 'to 1 agst Captain Flash 33 'to 1 apt Haresfoot any odds agst Hesse Homburg CHESTER CUP. 18 'to 1 agst Scarecrow 20 •to 1 agst High Sheriff 33 'to 1 agst Hesse Homburg 40 'to 1 agst Cossack 45 Yo 1 agst Yoh-i•noor DERBY. 5 Lo 1 agst Robbie Noblo 15 'to 1 sgst Augur lil 'co 1 agst ClaYerhouse 18 `to 1 agst Kingston 33 :to 1 agst Little Harry IMPORT AN r director of THEATRICAL CASE. — The with the condition Mon temerli at Pari s , . as pr i mo b asso can taxte, the Italia n Th eatre, Mr. Lumley, having engaged M. Byna that he Should. not refuse any o ther part that might bo offered him, Mr...Lumley required him to sing apart in the opera of Fidelio not belon in to a primo basso, but M. M ontemerli ref a se d, on the g gr g ound that, by the usages of the profes s i on, h e was entitled first of all to make his debit as a prim. ba s.lo, to en a bl e t h e pu bli c t o judge of his talents. In con a equence of this, Mr. Lumley refused to p a y his salary, or the, e xpenses of his journey from London to Paris. M. Mc rcteme r li accordingly brought an action be fore the Tribun at of Commerce, and it was argued two days 1 I ago. The tribu =al decided t h at Mr. Lumley was not justi fled in requiring . Montemerli to si ng a secondary part b e f or e he had appeare. 1 as primo bas so , as, otherwise, "the existence an d reputation of an arti s t e would be completely at the discretion of a director," and ordered the payment of the salary due and the journey from London. Montemerli is also to have AI 1 opportunity of appearing i n a principal role. The plaintiff likewise demanded damag es , b ut thus were refused by the court. THE ONE SHILLIN'G DUTY ON CORN. (From the Manchester Examiner.) " I see no ground why, if there h.) a general system of imposing duties upon foreign imports, the single arti cle cf corn should be made a solitary exception."— The Earl of Derby's Speech in the House of Lords, on Friday, 27th February, 1852. "He then proceeded to argue, that however small might be the duty which the Protectionists sought to impose under the delusion that it was only for revenue, it would pro tanto be a duty imposed for protection. If they admitted of even a Is. duty on corn—(' No, no, and cries of We'll have none')—if they admitted this, away went the whole system at once.—(Hear, hear.") Mr. Curbutt's Speech at Leeds, on Thursday, 4th March, 1852. A somewhat extraordinary error has lately been pro mulgated at Leeds and at Westminster. Mr. Carbutt may be excused, perhaps, for saying at the former, on Thursday, that there would be danger "if they admit ted of even a one shilling duty on corn," because he only repeated what Lord Derby said in the House of Lords on Friday week. The Noble Lord's error indeed is much more glaring than the error of Mr. Carbutt, and being positively greater, is in him much more in excusable. Tha one fact which Lord Derby and Mr. Carbutt seem equally to forget is, that corn is actually subject to a " one shilling duty," and the other fact of which only L or d D er by, th e P r i me i Minister, s ignorant, is, that about 460 articles cl:.1- tinually imported are exempt from all customs duties. Quite contrary to Lord Derby's two assertions, corn is not an exception; it is subject to customs duties, and a great many articles habitually imported and used are not subject to any cdstoms duties. Such assertions betray astonishing ignorance in the man who has taken office to alter and revise our system of custom-house duties. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a profound finan cier, and has been closely studying the question of the public burdens for several years, yet he leaves the Noble Lord profoundly ignorant of the sources of the revenue he has taken office to administer, and, if his views be acted on, most probably to dry up. In the year 1849 corn wheat, the Noble Lord says, as the solitary article exempt from custom duties, yielded to the customs a re venue of 549,1281. 17s. sd. We have not yet seen the official return of the revenue for 1851, but,according to the quantity of corn imported, the duties levied on it must have amounted t 0484,3051. 18a. Thus in the three years the duties paid on corn have been in -1849 £546,128 17 5 1850 le. ••• ••• 473,169 4 5 1851 ••• ••• •.• ••• 484,305 18 0 Total duties levied in three yews 1,506,703 19 10 Of these an d publish e d i n half the newspapers o f th e ki ng d om, facts, printed in the Parliamentary papers, our new Prime Minister has no knowledge whatever. As the i question of imposing duties on corn, or ex empting t from th em a lt oge ther, is again forced on public attention by duties ought t o b e ta k en i n t o se rious consideration. M r . our new Minister, the effects of the existing Garbutt, expressing, we believe, a very general opinion, thinks it a lik e d angerous an d disagreeable th a t any duty —any rag or remnant o f th e old feudal ty ranny, should still fl u tt er i n s pit e ful triumph over our food. It is a nu c l eus for i ncrease. I t serve s as a pr ece d ent , an d as long as i t cont i nues, b roa d i s not sacred fro m t h e extending gra s p of the tax-gatherer. It raises and keeps up rent t o a cons i dera b le degree . Carried on as t ra d e now is, on very narrow profits, a shilling a quarter often making it profitable or not profitable to import wheat or Sour from Ne w Y or k or New Orleans, this shillin g duty doe....praetically and considarably narrow our sup plies. It must be advanced by the importer to the state before ho s e ll s th e corn , an d, consequently, it enha nces the pric e somet hi ng more th a n its amount, o f a ll the foreig n corn and flour sold i n ou r mark e t s . I t raises rent pro Canto, and bestows on the landowners —who are, The fo c according to report, to corrupt and bribe the constituen cies, and colonial corn entered °le% to increase this tax—a very large sum annually. Let us s t a t e exac tly, f rom the words of a corn c i rcu l ar lying before us, what is the tax: — ‘ r u shtoommes consumptionduty upon i foreign:,every quarter, oho shilling. And upon meal and flour, for every tevt. four pence halfpenny; and so on in proportion for a lets quantity; and the duty must be paid on importation, as corn is not allowed to be warehoused in bond." maise, or I n di an a b e e d an m s' a lt; and th e wor d s a a t n e e a r not o e n m l y e a w l ,p e a e ht, a But this has in the customs a ve r y w id e and buckwh eat meal. ‘cm'omeranet:ailn''ga, buckwheat,nda ‘ rd flo u r bc ' eu m rcl' e eo a s ia r Pb i e n i ga m s l g i , :k a e l meal, and flour, but barley meal, bean meal, Indian meal, Thus, every species of grain and pulse, and of flour and meal, is still taxed when imported, at the rate of I s . per quarter, or 40. per cwt. Now, according to Dar. NrCul loch'a latest' estim a te, the total average quantity o f corn and pulse produced in the empire is 58,020,000 quarters, which at 13. per quar t e r, making no allow ance f or any but the duty, gives 2,901,0001. as the sum for which the corn grown at home is sold in our markets above its just value in consequence of the Is. duty. No doubt the whole of that, and more than that, is put by this tax into the packets of the landlords, who thus, in fact, are still enabled to levy on the people's food, by taxation, about 3,000,0001. a year. This tax was not levied for revenue, nor yet for pro tection; it was levied &tele suggestion of statisticians and philosophers, merely as a means of obtaining an account of all the corn brought in. A farthing per quarter, on merely requiring the quantities imported to be announced at the-Custom-house, as, in fact, they are, would have answered the purpose quite as well. But we have been so accustomed to plunder the multitude by taxation, that the minds of the most intelligent and most conscientious men are on this point completely perverted, and they unthinkingly recommended a measure which is practi callyfraught with impediment s t o commerce, an d injus ticelt will be seen , by the above enumeration, that th e c o ars est meal, oatmeal, or Indi an mea l , pays th e same duty per cwt. as the very finest Fren c h d our , an d th a t th e tothe people. cheapest grain pays as much per quarter as the finest wheat. Confining our attention only to grain, the wholesale and import prices of w hi c h are b etter in n s tthhea price those ooats imported fro m A rc h ange l, f of flour and meal, th ere i s a selling at 2 0 s. per quarter, and wh ea t i m p or t e d f rom Denude selling at 625. per q uarter, o f no less than 325. On the value of th e former the duty i s fi ve , an d on th e difference known t latter less than two per cent. A similar proportion, but exaggerated, exists between the finest French. flour and Indian meal, and thus the food of the lower classes i 3 taxed by this shilling duty, at the very least three per cent. more than the tour for the pastry, or luxuries of the opulent classes. At the same time, those who re commended the tax, never supposed that corn would fall as low in rrice as it has fallen, and that a shilling duty would be such a large proportion as five per cent. Le gislators, philosophers, and statesmen, are as much cheated by words as the humblest of mankind; and se veral different articles being indiscriminately classed to gether, as corn or meal, have a uniform duty imposed on them, which for the rich is a perfect frifls, while for the poor it is a heavy burden. This tax must be paid, to on importation, not fike duties on sugar and coffee, when the article goes into consumption ; and the consequences of this, never dreamt of by our statisticians, philosopto rs, and legislators, are remarkable. It much impedes, if it do not entirely prevent, tho transhipments of grain. It has of late hap pened very repeatedly that there has been a demand for low-priced wheats from the continent, and it has hap pened that the owners of mixed cargoes would have be en very glad to have retained a portion of them here, and shipped another portion for Holland or Belgium, but the ls.duty prevent ed the m. It destroyed all the profit they could make in the transaction. In consequence the cargoes of foreign grain that happen to be fitted for the markets of Germany or Holland instead of coming into our ports, though belonging to our merchants, are sold afloat, or ordered directly to other markets. The tax, there fore, hinders England from becoming, as she otherwise would, the great entreises of corn for all Europe. It is a great impediment to free trade in grain, as well as a great injustice, an we ought to take advantage of the subject being mooted by the Protectionists, to compel Lord Derby, who professes obedience to public opinion, to abolish the one shilling duty. We shall not now dwell on the Noble Lord's igno rance, that such articles as alkali, barilla, East India piece goods, cotton yarn, unwrought steel, gause, fish o il s , &c., that come into competition with our oen manufactures; and such articles as animals, provisions, bides, hemp, flax, ese., that come into competition with the products of the soil, are amongst the 460 distinct articles exempt from, all customs duties. We have said enough, we think, to show that he has very imprudently taken on himself the Government of the country for the very purpose, if the public will permit him, of imposing additional taxes. on food. So thoroughly unacquainted is be with the system he would rudely and rashly de stroy, that he totally mistakes its principles; and iu the House of Peers, on Friday week, he solemnly represented the measures of 1842, which ho cordially supported and approved of, as imposing customs duties, while the world knows, except Lord Derby, that their essence was to relieve commerce, by reducing, or wholly abolishing, more than one-third of the duties of which our trade had previously been the victim. FRENCH RAILWAY TRAFFIC. The following are thb last returns of the gross re ceipts of the principal French Railways:— NORTHERN. —From Feb. 26 to March 3 : Passengers, 198,175 f.; goods, 261,273 f.; total, 459,448 f. ROUEN.—From Feb. 29 to Marsh 6 : Passengers, 61,5321.; goods, 87,5601.; total, 149,0921. HATRE.—From Feb. 29 to March 6 : Passengers, Di E .. E A ; A N i ox — o. . . . . .. d F B r , o l re 46 M , 9 a 9 r o c f h . ; 20,796 k; goods, 38,307 f. ; total 59,103 f. 7113, ( 3 ) 0,4 11: 1 2 ar l c B ll ,3 7 4l : l. Passengers, 40,6691.; goods , _ 70,9431.; total, 111,6421. i to t t o al M , ViEusom—From March Ito March 7: Passengers, From Feb. 24 to March I : Passengers, 30,956 f.; goods, 54,379 E ; total, 85,335 f. NANTES.—From Feb. 26 to March 3 : Passengers, 25,0981.; goods, Fr 27 7331.; Feb. 26 to Ma rch 3: Passen g ers, total, 52,831 f. ST2ASBURG.— 90,018 E; goods, 1 2 9 , 0521. ; total, 212, 070 f. M ONTEREAU. Feb. 26 to From March 3: Passengers, 8,49 If.; goods, 16,6681.; total, 25,159 f. LYONS.—From Feb. 22 to Feb. 28 : 166,230 f .; goods, 96,9661.; total, 203,1961. 20,272 f.; goods, 26 . 128 f .; t o tal, 46,400. CHARTRES.—F roin M arc h 1 to March 7: Passengers, Passengers, -- --- EXTENSIVE DEPR E DATIONS. —The pa rticulars have been given of a . 'VOLY extensive robbery of j eweller y and plate, committed on t h e 28 t h u lt., at 36, Portland - p l a ce, and a description has b een g i ven o f a female who had absconded from No. 4, Catherine-street, St. George's-in-the-East, car rying off a quantity of plate, jewellery, apparel, and other property. The Rev. W. Von Dadelzen ig appointed colonial chaplain of Trinity Church, Colombo, in the island of Ce 3 1 0,, . The Rev. W. N. Si mmon d s is appointed colonial chaplain at Kandy. SUN, r , r LONDON MONDAY T Yt - A EVENING, TT vt-4 MARCH l5, ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. I VORTIIERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 12. CROWN COURT.--(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.) John Longley, aged 32, was charged with having, oil Christmas-eve last, uttered four forged 51. notes of the Yorkshire Banking Company at Huddersfield. Mr. Ovorend and Mr. Boothby were fur the prosecu tion; Lir. Campbell Foster defended the prisoner. This was one of a series of charges of uttering forged 51. notes on Christmas-eve simultaneously at various towns in this county, several of which were cried yester day, and the prisoners were convicted. The prisoner, it appeared, is a native of Sheffield, and it was clearly shown that on Christmas-eve last he was at Huddersfield, and at 7 o'clock to half-past he success fully put off four forged 51. notes of the Yorkshire Banking Company, at the shops of Mr. Clayton, Mr. Massinger, and Mr. Eastwood, who are grocers, and at the establishment of a draper named Broughton, who all carry on business in the centre of the town of Hud dersfield. The prisoner purchased trifling articles, amounting to a few shillings in each instance, and paid for the goods with forged notes. All these tradesmen identified the prisoner as the man who passed off to each of them a forged 51. note of the Yorkshire Banking Company, and three apprentices spoke to the prisoner, making seven individuals who distinctly swore to the prisoner's identity. ~,The Learned COUNSEL for the defence, having elicited On cross.examination that the towns of Huddersfield and Sheffield were two hours apart by railway, and that the prisoner had made a statement of the places where he had been at Sheffield on Christmas-eve, said he should prove that statement to be true, and contended that the advisers of the prosecution ought to have satisfied them selves of its truth, and having done so they ought not to have proceeded with this charge. It was then proved by a number of witnesses that the prisoner was at Sheffield, 32 miles from Huddersfield, from 4 to 8 o'clock on Christmas-eve last. He was shown to have left his work at 4 o'clock, to have subse quently had conversations with various parties, paid money at two or three places, and had interviews with individuals up to 8 o'clock. It was proved that he was seen at 9, and that he went to bed at half-past 11. The atisfactory character of the testimony of the witnesses fur the defence induced Mr. Overend to abandon the case for the prosecution, a course in .which the Judge concurred. His LORDSHIP expressed his opinion that the prose cutor was justified, under the circumstances, in bringing the charge to trial. The prisoner wss then Acquitted. NISI PRIUS COURT.— (Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.) MICILLETHWAITE V. MERRILL. Mr. Hill, Q.C,, and Mr. Cleasby were for the plain tiff; Mr, Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Unthank for the defendant. This was an action to recover, as damages, the value of certain paintings which the defendant had converted to his own use, and which the plaintiff claimed to be his property. The defendant pleaded that the paint ings were not the property of the plaintiff, and also de nied the conversion. The plaintiff is a merchant, for merly in business at Sheffield, but for some time past resident in Hamburgh; the defendant is an ivory and stag-horn merchant at Sheffield. In the year 1848 the plaintiff, as a mercantile speculation, engaged et German artist, named Muller, to paint a number of pictures for him. In September, 1849, the plaintiff brought 26 of these paintings to Sheffield, and had them exhibited there for sale, but they did not take, and eventually the defendant was allowed to have them at his house on condition that he would send the plaintiff some buffalo tips and ivory to Hamburgh. An account between the parties was thus brought into existence ; and some time afterwards, when the plaintiff again came over to England, he required his pictures to be given up, but was told they had been sold. Hence the present action. The defendant now proposed to give the paintings up, and his Lordship observed that it he did so, the only re maining question would be as to damages in respect of the conversion. The jury found their verdict for the plaintiff, for the dam2ga in tho declaration, subject to be reduciad to 51., on the restoration of the pictures immediately. LUCAS V. BLAKEY-BREACH OP PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. Mr. Atherton, Q.C., and Mr. Pickering were for the plaintiff; and Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Riley for the defendant. Mr. ATHERTON, in stating the case, said tho plaintiff was a young woman 22 years of age, and of consider able personal attractions. She resided at Lockwood, near Huddcrsfi« ld, with her mother, the widow of Mr. Lucas, a house painter. The plaintiff carries on the business of a milliner on her own account, and the de fendant is a cloth finisher at Huddersfield. Tb e action was brought to recover damages from the defendant for a breach of promise of marriage. Iu the spring of 1849 Mrs. Lucas resided in Dock street, Huddersfield, and it was then that the defendant first began to pay atten tions to the plaintiff. He applied to Mrs.. Lucas for her consent to pay his addresses to the plaintiff, which, after making some inquiries, she granted, the defendant having declared that he was sincere, and that in seeking a wife he did not want a slave, but a companion; ho was not in quest of a fortune, and had more than once declined the opportunity of marrying " with a fortune." He continued to pay his addresses to the plaintiff from May, 1849, down to November in last year, and in the latter month he contracted marriage with a Miss Lister, in a manner that appeared to aggra vate the character of his conduct and its injustice, with out making any communication whatever to the plaintiff or her mother, or any member of the family; artd he did not disclose the fact until, from its coming to th e know ledge of the plaintiff, concealment became' impossible. The defendant had written severed letters to the the first of which was dated June 15, 184: " Dearest Hannah,—You will think I have fiorgotten you altogether, but I assure you, love, I have not; for, with the poet, I can trulyexclaim— " Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' " —(Laughter.) In another letter he wrote— " Never was the sign of an inn more welccsme to a weary traveller than your letter, which I received on Sunday last, was to me. As I traced its characters, I could almost imagine that I heard your sweet voice re peating the words it contained, the sound of which still echoes in my ears like distant music." —(Loud laughter.) In a third letter the defendant stated that the plaintiff was dearer to him than his o exist ence, and signed himself " Your affectionate lover, William." These were specimens of the de fendaut's letters in prose, but he afterwards found that he could not sufficiently express himself without indulgheg in the sublimities of poetry. Prose became too grovelling and mean, and he seemed to feel that he could' not riso unless he attempted to soar upon the wings of poetry. So he addressed the plaintiff in the acrostic style, the first letter of each line forming, when put togett ter, his own Christian and surname: W hen wilt thou return, my love? I nnocent as a turtle dove, L ike the lambkin, full of play, L ightly skipping on the way. I n the groyea_where avarblereating. • A 11 harnonTa to the spring, M ay we join the joyful ring. B lack as winter would all be, L oat and irksome without thee: A 11 confused by lovo'a alarms, K laciest, come into my arms. E vermore, I would be thine, Y es, my love, and only thine." —(Laughter) After this the defendant returned to prose writing again for a few letters, but subsequenay made another attempt at the sublime in verse:— " W ilt thou, my dearest, be so kind, I n love to ease my tortured mind? L eat by delays my reason fats, L ove longs its objects to enjoy. I n thee is centred all my care, A nd all my joys, thou charming fair. M ust I be left to black despair? B lest is she whose beauty fair L inks with such charms as virtue rare. A 11 I want is, may I be IC indly lov'd, fair one, by thee; E Ise life's a blank, I do declare— Y es,l must love thee, charming fair." (Rosen of laughter.) The defendant having thus. acted towards the plaintiff, without any fault ;on her part, afterwards married another woman, and the shoo k to the plaintiff was so great that she had been in deli cats health ever since. The Learned Counsel concludeil by urging that this was a case in which the jury ough t to give such damages as would mark their disapprove l of such conduct. There was only one witness examined on the par t of _tilt ', plaintiff — viz, her moth e r ; and after the letters had been put in and taken as read, Mr. Sergeant WILKINS proceeded to address the jury. He said he was not going for one moment to cast any aspersions on either the plaintiff or her mother..i , He ad mitted there could bo no doubt that the defendant, had behaved ill, had broken his promise, and the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict. But what were the cir cum stances? Why, the defendant, at 22 years of ago, was proved to have fallen over head and ears in love s,t the first moment, and he would say to the young ladi es in court—" Never give heed to young men who es:press themselves in poetry." —(Laughter.) The defendant had done wrong, but what had, the lady lost? For' that was the question. She ha d lost a silly young man, who, instead of telling her in plain terms that he loved h er , broke out in a rhap sod y lady fair, I do declare, Your grace and air Are beyond compare." judge of of such the (Roars of laughter.) Let the jury thenju damages ex ten to f the loss she had sustained, And as twelve honest men ought to give. Hid LORDSHIP told the jury the only question was how much tho defendant ought to pay for the breach of his promise, which he did not deny, The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages 451. Tho Court then rose. DRURY-LANE TREATRlL—Lucrezia Borgia, which made so great a hit here on Friday last, is to be repeated this evening; and as on Saturday Balfe's Sicilian Bride completely filled the theatre, we find Sims Reeves repiaata it to-morrow and every evening of his engagement. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. The following gentlemen having undergone the necessary estaminatic.ns for the diploma, were admitted members of the college at the meeting of the Court of Examiners on the 12th imet. '— Messrs. Charles Dixon, Australia; Benjamin Richardson. Lawrence, Chedder, Somerset ; Richard Griffin, _Buenos Ayres; Josiah Ramskill, Leeds; Edward Vavasour Homing" Way, Leeds; John Reynolds Salter, E xeter; H enr y Lane, Wed hock-park, Warwick; William Ed ney , L o ndon; an Charles Blatherwick, Titchfieid, Hants. At the same meet ing of the court Mr. Julian Wat son B ra d s h a w passed " -; examination for naval surgeon; thi s gent l em an had pre Vinusly been admitted a member of the co llege, his diployia bearing date May 5, 1845. 1852. VAN DIEIVIEN'S LAND COMPANY. The annual meeting of this company took place on Friflay, whi n the report and accounts were adopted. The report of the committee appointed to investigate the general affairs of the undertaking was also brought for ward. It gave a summary of receipts and expenditure from the commencement of operations to the 31st of December, 1851, whence it appeared that the total of cash received in London had been 301,9131,, of which the calls produced 265,292/., sales of agricultural stock 10,9871., and wool 22,723/. The gross expeaditure had amounted to 300,792/., leaving a balance of assets of 1,1211. The largest items on this side of the account comprised 162,024 Z, for bills drawn by the company's agent in the colony, 64,000/. purchases of stock and stores for shipment, and 32,1001. salaries in London and Van Diemen's Land. Extraordinary and ruinous as the expenditure had been, the committee, because it was spread over a period of twenty-five years, had arrived at the conclusion that it showed little for comment, since, although the affairs of the company had riot proved remunerative, the outlay had been directed with the view to a profitable developernent of the property. They recommended, now that ar rangements had been made for reducing all current charges to the lowest possible point, that in future the land should be let on lease for short terms in pre ference to sales in fee. The report of the directors de tailed the measures they had adopted for abandoning farming pursuits, and for confining operations to the selling and leasing of lands. They had been advised from the colony that their instructions had arrived out, and that the necessary steps had been taken for pro moting those objects. The last call of 108. per share had been well paid, but the proceeds wore nearly ex hausted. Although no call was at present required, the shareholders were informed that in the absence of re mittances from Van Diemen's Land there aro no funds to meet ordinary expenses. The annual rental pos sessed by the company was 8181., against 759/Jest year. The total of land sold up to the last advices was 4,144 acres (tbe amount of purchase money being 8,0471.), of which 771 acres were at Circular Head, and 247 at Emu Bay, making 2,079 acres sold since the last annual report, payment in most cases having been taken in long dated bills. The stock on hand on the 30th of June, 1851, was 113 horses, 2,825 cattle, and 6,179 sheep. It was stated that the only apparent effect of the rich mineral discoveries in Australia had been to raise the price of provisions, &c., by which the:tenenta of the company had been benefited, and that no disposition had been yet manifested on their part to migrate to the gold regions. The two re ' ports having been discussed, and the large amount of the draughts drawn from the colony and the defalca tions of the late secretary having been taken into con sideration, the general feeling appeared to be that there was at last a prospect of affairs being brought into a manageable compass. Tho reduction of expenditure, when it shall have been finally accomplished, together with the restriction of business to the disposal of land, may, it was thought, ultimately produce some return upon the invested capital. If, however, the idea be persevered in that the best class of colonists will take short leases, or leases of any kind, in a country where the passion for freehold possessions can be gratified to its full extent, there would still seem to be little pro spect for the company other than that of continual dis appointment. At the close of the proceedings the for feiture of 440 shares was agreed to. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—We shall not waste many words on a question already decided. The various sections of the Liberal party, having agreed to merge their differences for the present, have resolved to compel Lord Derby to dissolve Parliament as soon as the public service will allow. Six months' supplies, involving, we suppose, the renewal of the income-tax for another year, are the ut most that will be allowed, so that we may expect the new Parliament to meet in the summer. This is re solved at all events, whatever the policy which Ministers may or may not think fit to announce. They will be ex ' arnined this evening in both Houses as to their intentions, not, however, as any guide to the course of the Opposition, but merely for such minor advantages as may bo picked up in the game of questions. Whether the new Go vernment declare themselves or maintain their present reserve, the same use will be made of their hesitation as of their candour. As Lord Derby has not sum moned his adherents to St. James's since his acceptan ce of office, the secret of his policy is still confined to his Cabinet; but there appears to be a general impres sion that, finding an early dissolution inevitable, Ise will propose a five-shilling duty as the question for the country to say Aye or No to at the ensuing general election. It is said that he is driven to this course, so little in unison with the neutral position he and the chief of his colleagues have main tained for the last two years, by the circumstance that the country party," especially the electors in the small country towns, require an intelligible and definite object of political interest, and that without such an object they will sit still, or fall off to the enemy. Of course we can on ly give reports, but Lord Derby's impatience of reserve, his sensitiveness under challenge, and his own wish for the earliest possible settlement, make it at least very conceivable that he will do as we have indicated. We know not whether it is to be considered a merit or a demerit in this course that it is evidently that which is dictated by the Opposition. Nothing is more usual than for people to assume the direction of an antagonist's conduct, in addition to their own, and to insist on play ing politics as a chess player will occasionally play his right hand against his left. If Lord Derby can be made to do on the point of honour that which he has long ceased to do on the point of duty, he has put his con science into the keeping of his rivals, and is, to say the least, very accommodating. But besides the con venience of the Liberal party, Lord Derby is bound to consult the well-being of the State, and that well-being, as it appers to us, does not require so immediate and definite an issue. People who advocate this course seem to think that it is the largest, the most national, and the most conclusive of those which have been suggested; whereas it is emi nently small, partisan, and inconclusive. It settles no thing. It effects no peace. It makes no alteration in the status quo except for the worse. Let us follow it out. The new Government, driven, will or nill, to the country on the question of a five-shilling duty, will find itself next July either in a minority or a majority. That min ority will probably not be a less one than the pre sent. Being returned expressly in answer to a particular question, it will be more pledged, more obdurate, more impracticable, more factious, and altogether a greater impediment to legislation than Mr. Cobden says the pre sent minority has been for the last six years. In this case, then, where is the advantage of having driven Lord Derby to divide the country on this question, and this question only? Take the other case, not utterly impossible, of a majority returned to affirm a five shilling duty. Is it for the advantage of the country that a majority of the Com mons s h ou ld b e p l e d ge d o a mea sure which the country w ill not tole rate?t On the contrary, it appears to us a very lamentable conclusion—though a conclusion of course it will not be. There are only two ways of escape from that difficulty. Either the population will assume so menac i ng a n aspect that the House of Commons, which professes to have been just returned by them, will lay down its functions and declare its majority a political falsehood; or Lord Derby, justly dreading that result, will himself disarm his own majority sent to support him, apparently in answer to his call, and will summon his lieges, absolve them from their pledges, and recom mend a milder form of Protection. This course, how ever, is described by anticipation as being treacherous to the electors, tyrannical to the representatives, and im moral to the public at large. Lord Derby, we are told, esdamentantiivneg the present of the people. Houseeaunot o a f d c o p o t m i m t o w ns ith as ou a t fa u ir tte re rl p e r - But bad as this course may be, it is obviously better than the other; that is, better than driving the House of Com mons to such a pass that it shall no longer be a free agent, and it • s debates shall virtually be interrupted by the masses. Yet one of these two unhappy alternatives we shall certainly Ira reduced to if Lord Derby shall go to the country on a five - shilling duty , and get a majority upon it. As nothing is to be gained thebbey l o st. more summary process, so a great deal will Lord Derby is not to be allowed to do anythingibexceptser vice what is absolutely necessary to condu ct the p vice till the meeting of the new Parliament in summer. _ should he Should he once show his hand at governments —should ent should he • le measure through Perham carry a sing the ne good thin g, have the opportunity of doin g t e he consequences on the Li berals affect to tremble for h. fi c kle-minded people. All ye moa ns, of course, th at Thus d o we go On. be done this session. nothing can N o thi n g.was done last sessio n, and nothing . is to be done this. There was ono excuse last year, it is another ex cuse now. But it is equally evident that nothing will be done in the summer or autumn ,and thus another year will be lost to legislation. Law reform, and all the other reforms, either left undone by the late Go vernment, or done and then und one, must ' watt till they are done by a triumphant Ad • a ble to ride roughshod over ministration, 'That Administration must, however,its be more than triumphant, for whatever party is doomed to be in Opposition for the neat three or four years, it will most assuredly be factious beyond ordinary precedent, for it will have suffered great disappointment and bitter provocation. The forms of the House will bo stretched to the utmost for the purpose of obstruction and annoyance, and no pains will be omitted to prevent that which is now to be prevented, viz., the acquisition of Ministerial credit by popular measures. Of course, as we have intimated above, every c onstitutional malady or obstruction has its practical remedies; but they are generally violent ones, sometimes worse than the disease, and always drawing largely on the comfort and health of the patient. S uc h appear to us the inevitable ill con sequences of the special appeal to the nation with which we arc threatened. We will not charge the blame on one Tao more than another. Tee country party in being driven to' that appeal are paying perhaps the proper penalty of the very factious course they ha ve t h ought proper to pursue since February, 1846 ; an d i f re tribution has overtaken them bett just as they were showieg come signs of repentance, that is no uncommon case in th© instance of even more serious offenders. But we would rather not treat this as a question of personal or party deserts. We take it as a question of national concern, an d we must say that whoeve r i s most i n fa u l t , poll the constituency an attempt to P is calculated to do no good, duty but a great deal of harm. - - P RICE or COUNTY*COIIII,T LAW.--Last week, in the Bl oo msbury County C ourt, a young man, named Red kraves brought an action aga i nst the London and North iTestern Railway Company, to recover the value of a box lost on their lino. When his solicitor had stated his case, the counsel for the company, Mr. Hardinge Giffard, objected to the form of the plaint, which failed to state whether the cause of action was in trover, for breach of contract, loss of property by negligence, or otherwise, and therefore claimed a nonsuit. His Honour held Mr. Giffard's objection good, and the plaintiff was nonsuited, having to pay the costs of the day, 71. odd. THE COUNTRY MARKETS LIVERPOOL MARCH I3.—The arrivals of grain and flout continue to be on a small scale, and the demand is almost equclly limited, At yesterday's market w e had less than the usual attendance of milers and dealers, and prices of wheat and dour were considered to be without change ; there was certainly less pressure to sell than on Tuesday last. No alte ration occurred in the value of any other article in the grain trade. To-day a dull trade, with no change. MANCHESTER, MARCH 13.—Throughout the week the demand for flour has been of an exceedingly languid character, and in the few transactions which have occurred rather lower prices were submitted to. In other articles the business pass ing was very limited, but no change in value occurred. Coast wise and from Ireland the arrivals at Liverpool and Runcorn are only to a moderate amount, but from abroad fair supplies of wheat, beans, and dour are reported. At our market this o morning wheat receded Id to 2d per 701 b. Flour moved I very slowly, and must be quoted fully 6d per sack lower than on this day se'nnight. Oats and oatmeal were likewise In limited request, but could not be purchased at reduced rates. NOTTINGHAM, MARCH 13.—Yesterday, at Derby , the supply of all kinds of g rain was moderately large, and telleLa'_. declined fully I s a p er upon a ll b u t the finest qualities• demand for other articles was extremely limited, even reductions were submitted to, except fur seed corn in gas' quantities. Wheat, red, 43s to 43s per 36 stone; ditto, white, 50s to 52s ; barley, for malting 31s to 34s imperial measure; ditto, for grinding, 27s to 29s per 30 stone ; oats, 211 to 255 per 24 stone; be ans , o ld, 36 s to 39s per 38 stone ; ditto, news 64s to 355; flour, 31s to 32s ; super, 333 to 34s per 20 stone. We had a go o d a tt en d ance on our Corn-Exchange this morn ing, and a fair quantity of wheat was offering; holders, bow.: ever, refusing to accept less money, but little changed hatt,;,l_ Barley was also in good supply, and is per quarter lower. oats and beans no alteration, Wheat, white, old, 4.6 s to 5 16 per 36 stone ; new, 47s to 53s ; red, old, 39s to 451; n ° ' red, 41s to 46s ; barley, for malting, 30s to 345 per q uarter ; for grinding, 29s to 302; oats, 20s to 24s per 24 stone; beans't old, 36s to 38s per 38 stone ; n ew , 30 s t o 33 3 ; Egyptian, 31s 32s ; flour, super., 34s to 38, per 20 stone; fine, At Sudbury, on Thursday, the re was a large suPPIY ° f whe tl, in excellent condition and th e p r i ces o f the inferior wer e dull, but good qualities maintained late r at es . At Woodbridge the quotatio ns w ere r educed as much as to 2s for Wheat; the s upply o f b ar l e y was small, and w 0 readily taken off at late p rices . rate s At Bury wheat wa s I s l ower; f or b ar ley rather bett er were obtained. 30s to 321. t On Thursday, at Stowrnarket wheat was slow of s ale,uole l at a reducti on ; the maltsters' s tock of barley appeared low , W' the samples eff ere d were rea dil y ta k en o f without abatement; GLASGOW CATTLR MARKET, MARCH 1 I. The Illaßber to oa t tbt r ee a da r ut k i e lo t u ar w nm e d r a e rskl B : 2 wt O ityo o - x dea e ff n ye cbatneeidd7glw, somewhat e s aw h b e d e ao p t anrwgea Theel u s se u . P d P o l 3 Y s le:: Best ox beef 435, current 40s to 41s, middling quality the inferior from 30s to 36s per cwt sinkin the offal. At ,, t oy e close of the market a clearance was not effe g cted . T he ° d r ill of sheep was also large, and sales commenced very ta, r- „'; Best wethers sid, current sd, inferior from 4d to On r" lb, sinking the offal. A good many turned out unsold. el DA LKEITn, MARCH 11.—The relative weight per tour bt!l' 6 % of the three prices of wheat were ISst 101 b, 18st 310, a . 8 1. 0 81b. Oats, 12st 121 b, 12st 21b, and llst 41b. Barley, I ° 9 " 15st 6115 15st 111 b, and 15at 61b. Peas and beans, 19st 41b, rd tendestel• and 18st 31bs. in f er ior. Qrs. Best. Current. 1 3 0 245 Wheat ........,£2 7 0 £2 1 0 0 4 8 1239 Oats 223 Barley g 0 107 Peas and Beans 1 17 0 1 12 6 Average of wheat 40s 1 I id. 61 ABIRDRIN, 12.—Grain—Oats 16s Od to lei s 1 , 401bs per bushel; fo re i gn oa t s , 00 s Od to 00 $ Od, 401b5 per el; barley, 24s Cd to 25s Od. 521b s per b us h e l ; bear, 2 5 s °‘ t ? Od 6d, 521bs per bushel; wheat SOs to 42e; oatmeal, 14s Od to ID. fA per boll ; fl o u r , 32 s t o 33 s Od per sac k . P r ovisions W to 6d ; pork, per stone, 3s to 3s 6d ; lamb, per q 4d to 6d per lb ; mutton, ditto, 4d to 6d; dittot .40; tallow, per stone, as Od to 3s 6d ; 4d to 6d ; rabbits, each, Od to Od; hares, s ea m e. "o6; to Os Od grouse, per brace, Os to Os ; butter, per lb, 9 _,u h i e* eggs, per doz, 6d to 9d ; cheese, per cwt, Os to Os tit ; d os per pair, 2s 6d to 3s od; chickens, ditto, 2s Od to 2s Ed; dick% 8 , 2s Od to 2s 6d ; ducklings, ditto 2s to 2s 6d. turkeys , Pe r P s a s . s . " t to 9s Od; geese, ditto, 7s to 8s ; butter for portation ( P ens cure), per cwt, 000 to 62s ; eggswholesale o exer doz 0 to 6id ; 41b loaf, 6d ; 21b loaf,- k pri ce, per stone p 'albs, Os ud to Os Od; pork fine, small, 5 . a p 6 o d r to Os ; pork, II: 3s 6d to 4s 3d; ship pork per barrel of 204 lbs, Os d ; Meal—Oatmeal, Is 5d to Is 6d• barley dust, 7,1 to , 0 44 potatoes,6spteor 7;66a_cosk, peasemeal, is lidto2s Od ; side, Od to 7d ; beremeal, I s) , to is sd; flour,,ls 12d tots Od; barley, per lb, lid to 2d; bar flour, Is 5d to is 6d. DUBLIN, MARCH 12.—The supply of farmers' wheat thi: day was very small, and Tuesday's prices were obtained. 0 , 1 6 0 was a fair quantity of barley and oats, and the demand 1 ,, very dull, and p r i ces w ith out a lt era tion. Foreign wheat en tinues dull at former rates, but there was rather more inqn,itrii, for India n corn , w ith ou t an y change in value. Wheat, seh l s ' a 23s Od to 27s 6d ; red ditto, 22s Od to 24 s 6 d ; barley , 125 to 15a Od ; bere, Os Od to Os Od ; oats, lOs Od to lls 6d ; raPe:, seed, 14s Od to 17s 6d; oatmeal , Its 6d to 12s Od ; baker od flour, per cwt, 12s 6d to 1 5 s; Indi an corn, per 4801 b, 291 to 31s Od. CORK. MARCH 12. We have not a single featu re of interest in the trade, whl is quiet almost approachi n g to duln ess , while the tendency ei, prices is, we think, of the two rather downwards. We bs i l c i some few arrivals of foreign grain, which a shift of wind wo e ' : in all probability, increase. The supply of home grain at; it has been for some weeks back, very moderate. The receiP,A since our last amount to :—wheat, 171 brls at 20. to 2=- 4 v ,`.. per barrel ; barley, 261 brie, at 12s to 13s 8d per barrel; oats, 3,045 brls, at 10s to 111 per barrel. In the r e % market prices are firmly maintained, each description of gr,e'" finding ready purchasers at last week's prices. le Weigli f wheat a moderate business has been done at about the Prier; last week ; but their tendency it evidently in favour 0 100 buyer. Barley continues exceedingly scarce, and au / g of offering are sold readily at extreme rates. We do not tin ° e A any transactions in oats worth recording. We experiesnc kli very brisk demand for ine floor, which is &DI, w hile „ l ice, are rapidly decreasin g . C oarse d escr ipti o ns continue very Th e has the same acti ve d eman d not i ced o f l a te still existit _Lten ..e. advance demanded l as t wee k i n I n di an Corn no,„ alited, so that, with on l y a mo d erate amou nt of business pass,"l in the article, we must quote prices about the same . 2 . .5, ' l 7, noted, namely, 715 s t o 71 7 s 6d per ten for Gal ata -7 being still looked for by some holders. tsarrels. C srrela ". stePe 0 White wh ea t 00 s Od t o ON Od "- nd ...2° 9 Red wheat 22s Od to 22a 3d 0 Ditto oos Od to 00s Od ON Od--20 d ° 0 Ditto ....................... 0 6 d d tt to tw o 00 12: od od 110 Ditto u ...... oos Od to 00s od ad ..•1 6 d o ON 0 Ditto oos Od to 00s Od 0 Bere ........ - 008 Od to 00s Od Os °d 338 Oats ......... los 2d to lOs 6d 152 Ditto _ lOs 6d to Ils Od 0 Ditto .. OOB Od to 00s Od r essi 10 Pigs 31s Od to 32s 6d ON Od pe Quantity sold at the Highest Prices: -- ~ its; 0 barrels whit e w h eat ; 2 red ; 6 ' barley; 0 lore; 1 " 1 pig. .... Quantity of G ra i n and Number of Pige sold la st week' Wheat. 290. Barley, 395. Oats, 3,39 1 . pigs, 471. Return of Cattle sold for week ending Mar 4 6. Pigs, 737. sheep 9 . C o ws, 134. o d; CORlE.—Flour—Firat 12s dd to 144 Od ; extra lb. 090 seconds, 1100 d to 12 s Od ; l ouse h o ld s 9 0 t o 1016 d; thirds , 7s t t... per cwt. Oatmeal 10s 6d to I ls; Indian meal7s 6d to 8s Od; wht, meal, 10a Od to 10a 6d per cwt. Indian corn 715 s Od to 7110 6 _, a r" ton. Bran 85s to 87s 6d per ton. Hay—Farmers 25s to 301; liv e l; 28s; dealers 32s to 4 is 01; average 35s per ton. Straw--.Fer ill ,.a. 16, Od to 21s Od ; average Its ; dealers 00s Od to COs ,s 7: average 00e Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf bed to v a ,! household loaf sid to Od per 41b. Fresh butter, 8d .... b° 10d per lb. Eggs-4s 4d to 41 6d per hundred. C Col l ! Newport 15s Od ; Lydney 15s ; Landore ON; cwt, ; ell : 120 6d per ton. Tallow 387 Od to 406 p er Whisky, 25 0. p., 5s 9d per imperial gallon. Mao —Beef 40 to 7d ; mutton 5d to 60; veal bd W 7d ; pork 4d to Od ; bacon 6d to 7d ; sausages bd per ol lb H t ope 818 e to 9/ Os per cwt. Bangor slates 2/17s 6d to 31 per oat. Bark, red 7i to 8/ 10,s per ton. Fleece w oo l 14s to 15s per steno. Hemp herrings 19s to OW. red Hemp 291t0 3if per ton. Fish—Scotch Id, 10/ Os * HI per ditto, 24, to 00s per barrel ; Newfound a3l . to ton. Timber—Mernel, 70s per ton ; red pine, 3i 5, . .Hide' llow deals 151 to 181 per 100 ditto, 21 150 per ton; % to 26 * leo Market 18a to 255; salted 20a . . ta d per (Mt ; calf a 3id to Od per lb. Potatoes, wh i te 7d to 8d ; pink!: 10d to 12d. Guano--Peruvian, 101 to 'I I ; Ichabue, e i to 910 s per ton. Tar—Archangel, 19 2 Per barrel. MARCH 13. SHARE ;VAR:TS. LIVERPOOL,ItAI E I :7A I There was an improved feeling 6 / 1.. STOCK 0 h ibi te d in the share market to-day, an d a goo d burin 0 has been done at advanced prices. '[he transactions we,r, e i ,,. follow : —Ambergate and Eastern Junction, 231 dis.—"""d 17 15-16—Eastern Counties, 713-16—Lancashire tit Yorkshire, 7034—Ditto, Fifths 6 9-16 dis —LiverPv" Crosby, dY f nrikasn4 and Southport, 18 L /.2-london and North-Westertl: il6 ',,, —Ditto, New and Lincolnshire 31 3 .1 —Midland, - 58 3 / 4 South-Eastern g li D Quarters, 3% Manchester, Menial a Lin 2014—dutch' Rhenish, 4 1-16—dis.—Orleam, Tog" louse, and Bordeaux, % die. MANCHESTER, MARCH 13. STOCK Exc low :—A m b ergate, 2 11-16 dis.--Blackburn (No. 1 ) , 4 t7ci RANGE.—The transactions to-day were a s f°l- Caledoni an, 173/4 —East Lancashire, 161,E —K e ndal pi Windermere, 11%—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 2 0 /.. N or Lili cc) " . Quarters, S IA p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and dis. -- L on d on and North-Western, 1161 , 4 Ditto, , shire, 31%. „Too lADVERTISEMENT.]-THE EARL OF ALDROS- u - AND HOLLOWAY'S PILLS.—An astounding cure by this miraCillts medicine, artor every other means had tailed. See extract filo% Lordship's letter, dated ” Villa Messina, Leghorn , Feb. 2 1, t o. Professor Holloway—Sir : I beg to acquaint you that your pills l'2 4l fl ost fected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach which all t..7 n ei eminent of the faculty, at home and all over the contillent , s been able to effect ; nay, not ever the waters of Carlsbad or . rienbad. (Signed) " Atneoßouau." These wonderful cure any dieease of the liver or' stomach.—Sold (also HOT'► Ointment) at Professor Elollowers Establishment, 244, Strap" , by all medicine ver.dors throughout ;lie civilised world" BIRTHS. - OF A 80 ard s° On the 10th inst., a t th e P arso nage, Upper St. Le on near Gloucester, the wife of the Rev. J. Clements. On the 11th inst., at Queen Anne-street, Cavendis h-p 4 Mrs. Charles White. OF A. DAUGHTER. On the 26th of January, at Bellary, Madras Presidencir the lady of John B. Spurgin, Esq., Madras Fusiliers. MARRIED. On the 11th inst., at Ely Cathe dral, Henr y W. Ridgys'. Esc', of Leighton Buzzard , to Jane , dau g hter of J. Pledger, Esq.. of the former place. On the 11th inst. , at Eccleston C ha p el, Eccleston-squar" Mr. Frederick Bidgood , onl y survivin g eon of-tho late M. Bidgood, Esq , Carlton-villas, Kilburn, to Marl"'" second daughter of T. James, Esq., of the Haymarket. ----- DIED. :1 On the 11th inst., at Charles - street , Berkeley-square, se! 77, the Hon. William Booth Grey, brother of the late, sa' great-uncle of the present Earl of Stamford and Warringt°sl' On the 10th inst., at Wiltnin I 11. Whitaker, of Chancery-lane. On the 9th inst , at Paris, aged 65, Joseph Pole Careal second son of the late Right Hon. Reginald tun-square, London, !Jr' Antony, Cornwall. On the 11th inst., at Winchester, Langford Lovell, Bgl" of Hursley, Hampshire, aged 77. / ..,,a 0 f Pole Careo , ° On the 11th inst., at Hampstead, John Sayres , --"".' New-square, Lincoln's Inn, aged 84. . C. On the 9th inst., at T avistock-street Bedford -Wa r "' , "r Startridge, Esq., aged 83 . ~ a John On the 11th inst. , at S y denbam, Frances, u e d 30 , Edwards, of her Alajesty'sPublic Record-office, n_1e,...-,-_,---- - ' -- --r.--:-_-±!---f---- --------2_ Record-office, of London: Pentad and Published hy SLIJRI22 ' so, 11, N. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun uw ti c i : county o Strand, in. thu : Prtiteihet' •bf f1...e Savoy; in riLiddiesez, liimlay, March 15, 18524 I _At