The Sun. — London, England, 1846-05-20 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. GROUP I. LONDON AND YORE. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Badley was re-examined by Mr. Sergeant KrgonAks —The London and York Railway was the nearest line to the cattle dealers of Lincolnshire, St. Ives, and other large grazing districts and market towns. It was of the greatest consequence to the condition of the cattle to have a day's rest before coming into the market. When they arrived at Smithfield on the Sunday, they could then rest till the Monday. By the London and York Railway they would arrive in such time in the morning as to have all Sunday to rest, in stead of, as at present, coming in on the evening. Charles Chaplin, Esq., examined by Mr. DENISON—Was one of the Commissioners for the drainage of the Witham. Was'also proprietor of about 20,000 acres of land. The London and York line would not interfere with the drainage; the loop line would interfere with the small landowners, such as those who held about ten acres; it would Interfere with the drainage of their land to some extent. The witness was not cross-examined. Mr. Pitman, traffic-taker, was examined as to the correctness of the tables showing the amount of traffic. The witness was briefly cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT, and this Concluded the traffic evidence. Mr. Cubitt, civil engineer, was then called and examined by Mr. DENlsow—ls engineer for the London and York Railway. The length of the line from London to York, without branches, is 185 miles, 78 chains. The loop line goes from the main line 2 miles beyond Pe terborough round by Byston and Lincoln ; its length is 86 miles 10 chains. From Bedford it Is 7 miles 72 shamus. There was a branch intended to be made, called the Stamford branch, but it is not sow deemed expedient to construct it, in consequence of i the difficulty of crossing other proposed lines. That branch was to have been the length of 4 miles 75 h but There was also to have been a branch from Doncaster tTo it is not now in the Bill, that having been abandoned. for Hull or spurs are as follow :—there is for Doncaster, branches 6 h 4 e e line, ' including and Selby, 51 chains; and the whole length of t b ai h ns a the length of the spurs, is to be 283 miles 47 ch The s. table t of distances now the line now before the Committee. o thing at all uncommon Landed in were prepared by him. There is n an ordinary line of th in the construction of this line; it is as easy as y 200 • ere is a small portion of railway. The gradients are as l in , he London station, but it did the line as 1 in 108, and t hat is close to t stan E not affect the ruling gradients. Thes Birmbly ing h am under tio 1 at neon idera in 100. square had a gradient cm' e 1 In 200. He had ffa" The gradients, with this exceptionteatrh as favourable. It would cost great care to have the gradien more to construct it in this way, but then it will be saved other- Where the engines should be required to go at its greatest speed the gradients will Rot effect them. The Bedford branch is a dead level. The most difficult part of the line is for about 20 m iles going out of London, the remainder is all - very favourable, with a slight exception coming up to Grantham. There are tunnels along the main line to the number of fourteen, and the longest is 1,352 yards ; there is another of 1,312, and another near Grantham of 1,047. At Islington there is one of 632 yards, and at Tottenham one of 737, and farther on one of 580. The other tunnels are one of 378 at Enfield, close to which is another of 220, and at St. Nath's one of 1,112, at Digswell one of 1,047, Sandy one of 187, Little Sandy one of 198, at Great Fonton, one of 352, Little Ponton, one of 322, Ponton again, one of 305, and at Guyd, one of 968, making a total of 8,266 yards of tunnelling, at a cost of 603,365/. This is less than five miles in length. On the loop line there is ro tunnelling. The total estimate of the main line is 4,149,9081. The estimate of the loop is 149,4081. The cost of the Bedford Branch is estimated at 86,9041., making a total of 5,286,4441. The banks of the Witham are well adapted for a railway, and are just such as would be required. The soil is generally sandy, but some of It is peat. It is, however, admirably adapted to the purposes of a railway. After some more general information as to the engineering merits Of the line, the Committee adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP X. LESPIA.IIAGOVIT, DALSEII.I I , AND COAT — BRIDGE JUNCTION. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. GORDON addressed the Committee at length in support of the petitions against the Bill. He applied himself with great force and ability to the proposed changes in the Bill, showing that there was a danger of exorbitant charges and diminished accommodation from the extension of the influence of established main lines and new branch lines, such as the Lesmahagow, &c., Junction Railway. He referred to the reports of the Amalgamation Committee, to prove that this was no ideal danger. He called witnesses to show that the proposed charges were too high, as compared with those on other lines of the same character—that is, lines for the carriage of minerals. The evi dence was further to the effect that the lines with the lower rates of charge were paying well, and their shares were at a good premium. The Manta:tor observed that the rate of charges upon the lines referred to were no guide to the Committee as to the equity of the charges proposed upon the line before the Committee. They could not estimate the comparative outlay in the construction, or the com parative cost of working. Mr. M'Neu. (for the Bill) observed that some of the lines which had lower charges than the proposed railway could be worked for were nearly level lines. Mr. GORDON submitted that the evidence which he had offered respected this line in a fair comparison with the others, taking into account the distance, the difficulty of the gradients, and the conse quent expense of working. Mr. WaTein elicited from Mr. Baird (a witness for the opponents) that there was really no comparison between the cheap traffic lines and the present in point of working. [The details of evidence were too minute for a report.] Mr. 31`..Nein having replied, The Committee decided that the preamble was proved. The clauses were then gone through and agreed to, and the Bill passed. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XIII. NORTE "MIMES R (CARLISLE AND GRETNA BRANCHES). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Duke of lauccleuch was the first witness called, who stated that the proposed line went, for a great extent, through his property. The line would be of great benefit to the manufacturing towns of Galashiels and Hawick, besides accommodating the important agri cultural county of Roxburgh. He had thought this would be a good line since the autumn of 1844. Hawick was at present supplied with coals from the east, and from the neighbourhood of Berwick, also ftom his collieries at Berwick. To Mr. CIIIITEIS—IIe could not say whether all the three through lines would pay, as he had not paid attention to the question. He thought, however, the Hawick traffic would not much interfere with that of the Caledonian. Examination continued—He thought the North British, from Langholm to Cannobie, preferable to the branch of the Caledonian proposed between these two points. Ile had himself suggested the former as not so likely to interfere with the scenery as the latter. Cross-examined —He could not say there was much traffic: frcm Longterm to Carlisle. The country between Crowick and Lang holm was in a great measure pastoral, and but thinly populated. The principal advantage he looked to was taking coals by this branch from Cannobie to Crowick. He believed one great reason of passing , the Edinburgh and Crowick line last year was to accommodate coals coming from Dalkeith to Crowick. He could not spetik of the through traffic, or that the course of it was not to the north—to Edinburgh and Glasgow. He thought the Edinburgh, through traffic, would not be taken from the Caledonian, that was, as far as he had received infor mation. He had from the first, doubted the policy of passing the Caledonian line. If the difference between the two through schemes was but two miles, then there would be a probability of the Caledo- Man being injured. He admitted that the extension agreed to, to Berwick and the south-east, would give a great outlet to the traffic of Roxburgh. A great deal of produce went that way, and also to the north. Mr. Wilson, a manufacturer of Hawick, examined—The popula tion of the town and the suburts was 8,000, engaged In manufactur ing tweeds, shawls, and blankets. They were principally supplied with wool from England, a great quantity of which would come by this railway. The same, he believed, applie4 to Galashiels. At present the foreign and English wool came mainly from London to Berwick, from whence it was carted to Hawick. Oils and scouring and dye-stuffs principally came the same way. He thought the proposed extension to Carlisle would he of great advantage to the traffic of the district. The sale cf goods manufactured at Hawick he set down at 270,0001., and with the railway he thought it would very much increase. Cross-examined by Mr. Comb:arse—The population of 8,000 in habitants included a portion of an adjoining parish. At present the principal portion of their goods went to Edinburgh arid the north. He was examined last year, and then stated that the bulk of the trade went to Edinburgh. He also stated that they consumed at Hawick upwards of 700 tons of wool, both home and foreign ; bat the proportions efthe foreign to the home wool had altered last year on account of the growth of the fancy trade. The wool consumed last year was about 850 tons. The increase was mainly in foreign wool. He had derived his information respecting the wool from the manufacturers of the town, who had stated, to the best of their belief, what the amount was, but they did not give the real figures of the quantity received. The wool came from London, Liverpool, and Yorkshire. The timber used at Hawick came principally from Leith, though he believed some came from either Carlisle or Annan, but he could not say how much. He was not aware that no American timber was imported at Annan. Further evidence on behalf of this Bill was adjourned till to morrow. GLASGOW, 111721RIMIZS, AND CARLISLE. The clauses of this Bill were proceeded with a little after thr o'clock. ee On the application of Mr. Cocsnrran, the clauses in this Ism that related to the portions of the extension and branct..- e s which the Caledonian proposed, and on which the argnmer:„ t oo k of the extension Pi2 t and his morning, were postponed t ill the case on behal f branches was gone into, and the decision of iup Committee known. Several of the unopposed clauses of the Bill were read and agreed to. The further consideration e ire Clauses was put off till to-morrow at twelve o'clock, when, as tliere is a proviso in the Bill for an amal gamation with the Gla':,sow and Ayr Railway, evidence on the toll clauses, according to an instruction of the House of Commons, will be taken.—The CciAmittee then adjourned. GROUT XI V. The Stioct Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills com Prised in this group re-assembled this morning, and proceeded with their labours ; Mr. Protheroe in the chair. SOUTH—EASTERN (DUD KENT). The next line taken by the Committee was the South-Eastern (Mid "Kent) scheme, which was represented by Mr. Alexander. The line Was opposed by Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, on behalf of the Kent Atmos pheric, and by the Croydon Railway Company, and several land holders, but before going into the case the Committee decided that the latter could not be heard. A witness having been called to prove that the resolutions of Dtineombe, so f ar as t h ey applied to thisline, had been complied with, Mr. Comma's opened the case for the promoters. The object of the line was to afford railway the r w ayz te modation to the midla n d dis tricts of Kent, to Shorten the metropolis and Dover, and to shorten the distance between betw een go and London. b t e tte tw ct ee n n li l. n ua n on and Folkstone The lines would shorten the dista n ce b etween and Dover by thirteen miles, between London Hastings, while the distance to M a id s t ome would be short an t w enty miles, sad Tunbridge by eightee n miles. T h e l ine coMMenced at a point on the Greenwich line, passed through Bromley by Maidstone and on to Chard, where it joined the existing line. Another line branched off at Riverhead, crossed the existing main line at Tunbridge, where it joined a line running through Tun bridge Wells, and so on to Reigate and Hastings, which had alreaiy received the sanction of the Legislature. The competing scheme was the Kent Atmospheric ; but the gradientsand engineering features of the South-Eastern were so very muc h favourable to its rival, that he was sure the Committee would e have th h n o o st d . ifficul mes ty id in es s , ee t in h g e that the south-eastern lines Tr to long lines, was still atmospheric system , aS app the h e hoped the knowledge a matter of speculation ; and of this fact, added to the sev ere it gr would engineering features of the atmospheric lines , itliendtsbe g an uit d e su b lil at - 1 dent to l'astify the Committee in forty-nine miles a throwing out th e latter schem , e. The trial distance of the main line to Chard wa s thTee-quarters, and of the Riverhead branch ten miles and . 'tnree quarters. The total estimate was 1,500,000/. Colonel Middleton was the first witness called, c - `l,lniandant of the military depot at Maidstone. He said Mai(1.7:.0,0 was depot for all the regiments serving in East, and he considered the proposed line would be of cons!:erabl f' o the cavalry ao advantage to the public and to the service. He calcula ...ed that about 3,000 individuals, con nected with the estahlishatent at Maidstone, would take advantage of the existing railwtvi communication, and he had no doubt the number would'ie considerably increased if this line were made. Sir Edmund Filmer, M.P. for West Kent, Lord Camden; Mr. W. Stone, M.P. for Rochester, Mr. Turner Baldwin, Mr. Wilds, soli citor, Maidstone, Mr. W. Hone, the Rev. Mr. Cobb, rector of HYttan ; Mr. John Carter, of Rotham ; and Mr. Charles Ellis, of Maidstone, gave evidenc , j in favour of the South-Eastern scheme. The Committee adie • arned at four o'clock. GROUP XVIII. 21 Z 2 T 2 fR, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER, ZONZON, SALISBURY, AND YEOVIL. (CoßtAnued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) __ _ I,l r. 'o7llson, a large timber grower, residing in the neighbourhood Ct F...ceter, considered the proposed line would be of great advantage to ]fin in the conveyance of his timber. At present he had to send It to Southampton and Portsmouth, at an expense of Is. per foot. It was also very inconvenient for him to get to London by the present mode of communication—he had either to go to Southampton, and thence by the Seuth-Western Railway to London, er to proceed to Bath, a distance of seventeen miles, and then proceed to London by the, Great Western examination of this witness completed the proeeedings to an d t'ne Committee then adJourned till twelve o'clock day , row. GROUP XX. Tito Committee On this group of Bills re -assembled this morning ; 31 Sotheron In the chair. WINDSOR, SLO T .7GII, AND STAINES ATMOSPHERIC. kr. WARREN, on the part of the authorities of Eton College, re st' me d the cross-examination of Mr. Seeker, with respect to the 881 ve ries on the Thames and the neighbourhood of Windsor. 5 nhe witness was re-examined by Mr. KNowLEs, as to the extent of • th e boundary which could be claimed by the Eton Corporation. cedions discussion arose as to the propriety of admitting certain dee( it and other documents in evidence, anti also as to whether Mr. Pen , erton should he recalled. T' oe room was then cleared, and on strangers being re-admitted, ae CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee would not receive the , 'hither evidence of Mr. Pemberton, because the Crown could in any %tags assert its own rights ; and they further decided that from U l lstmleact alrawky adduces, W.y mug . not mg_ azzlia4 r_ , r to sanction this Bill, and, therefore, they would require no further evidence on the preamble. Mr. KNOWLES wished the Committee to confine their decision to that portion of the scheme which was really objectionable, or at least to defer the confirming of the whole resolution until he 11,1 had an opportunity of conferring with his clients. The Committee assented to this proposition, and adjourned. GROUP XXII. . The Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual hour, Sir George Grey, chairman. NORWICH AND SPOONER-ROW. The morning was consumed in hearing local evidence as to which of the two stations, the one projected by the above company in Nor wich, or that proposed by the opposing company, the Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds (Norfolk Extension), was the better one. Other witnesses were called, who also corroborated the evidence of the first witness, both as regarded the superiority of the station pro posed to be made by the company, and also to the inconvenience generally felt in their neighbourhood in consequence of the want of railway accommodation. The Committee then rose, it h avin g Speaker was at prayers. been announced that the GB.OIIP XXVI. SO The Committee on this ne assembled ITTE ESSE .= AND mnled Gitil at tw lr el E ve g o E 'e lg loc n k; h Mr. M. O'Connell in the chair. Admiralty Surveyor, testified to the ad- Captain Bullock, Y..`7., l il d .N. be " derived from forming an anchoring ground v in thtaegrelvwehr Crouch, and the facilities that would be obtained by the proposed line for the public interests, in the way of defence for oar mercantile marine. Captain rianowell confirmed this testimony, and described the course of the river Crouch. Mr. Richmond, a coal-owner and shipowner of Newcastle, spoke to the convenience for the coal trade which this line would afford, and stated not only that there would be a great economy of time, but that there would be a saving of sinepence a ton in the carriage of coals between Gravesend and London. There was much effort to shake this gentleman's evidence, as also that of Captain Bullock, but it was to no purpose. Several farmers in the neighbourhood of Foulness were called to show the advantage that would result from the more rapid and cheap conveyance to London of their corn by means of this railway, and that a great objection existed to using the South-Eastern line from the necessity of crossing the Thames. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP XXVII. This Committee met this morning at the usualhonr ; Sir C. Lemon in the chair. LEICESTER. AND BEDFORD. The engineering evidence was proceeded with. Mr. Joseph Cubitt was the first witness examined. Was a civil engineer, and had surveyed this line. It commenced at Hitchin in the north, and extended to the Leicester and Swannington Railway in the south. It was 63% miles in length. After describing the course of the line, he said there were no peculiar engineering difficulties. The works were generally favourable. There were two tunnels, one 1,221 yards and the other 643 yards long. The gradients and cury es wer eof the ordinary character, generally favourable, as was also the nature of the soil traversed by the line. The estimated cost of the works was _ 1,500,0001. Cross-examined—Was not awt - re that the Leicester and Bedford line would cost 110,0001. morn than the South Midland. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP Y.Y.X. SOUTH WALES. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Brunel was then called, but as he was under examination in another Committee, some evidence was taken with respect to the Margem deviation. Mr. Maylins, an iron manufacturer in Llynvi Valley, examined by Sir Tuosfas PHILLIPS—The main road was so steep that the convey ance of his goods to it cost as much as the whole expense of trans mitting them to the sea, 13 miles distant. A railway would be an immense saving to all the other manufacturers in the valley. The deviation was a considerable improvement on the line of last session. The majority of the largest manufactures was carried on to the north of the deviation, whereas the old line was neither near towns nor manufactories. In addition to this the line would give direct communication to the ports to which they were desirous of sanding their goods. It would also open up communication with Staffordshire. Porthcawl, the only available port in the vicinity, was most inefficient for the number of ships communicating with that part of the country. It was too small, and the water was at times extremely shallow. No ornamental ground on the property of Mr. Talbot, at Margem, would be interfered with, and, in his opinion, it would be of great advantage to that gentleman. Sir H. De la Beche r examined by Sir T. PHILLIPS—Is Chairman of the Geological Society of England; had made a geological survey of Glamorganshire. Llynvi Valley was extremely rich as it pos sessed a quantity of " black band" ore. The deviation line would afford facilities for the transit of these minerals, which the original line would not have afforded. The Learned Counsel for the Severn and Wye Railway Canal applied to the chairman to move for the production of the notes of the evidence taken before the Committee on the Rugby. Worces ter, and Wolverhampton Railway in the last session of Parliament ; and also for the report of the Gauge Commissioners. Mr. AUSTIN held that the report of the Gauge Commission was not binding or conclusive, inasmuch as no measures had yet been adopted with respect to it by Parliament. Then the parties before the Com mittee this year had no connexion with the lines which the evidence referred to The Learned Counsel contended that the report of the Gauge Commissioners was conclusive as far as it went, and that the parties in the Bills to which he had referred were the same par ties which were interested in the Bill before the Committee. The CHAIIIMAN considered that such a motion, if made, should not proceed from him, or from any other member of the Committee, but from a member unconnected with the Committee. The Committee would express an opinion whether the motion ought to be acceded to or not. Dr. Bowling, M.P., was then examined. He said he was a large proprietor of iron-works in Llynvi Valley, and the Chairman of the Llynvi Iron and Coal Works. It was a rich mineral valley. No thing could be more wretched than the present mole of corn - munication as it was the worst in the Queen's dominions. The deviation of the old line would be a great accommodation to the district, as it would afford more easy transit to the various ports in the Bristol Channel. The coal-owners of the valley suffered immensely from the defective communication to which they were exposed, and even their workmen had done them great injury at times by combinations, because they knew the difficulty of obtaining workmen and materials from other places. Mr. P. Bowring, acting manager of the Llynvi works, corroborated the preceding evidence. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow, when the engi neering evidence will be taken. GROUP XXXVII. SOUTH YORKSHIRE CO.AI. RAILWAY AND (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Committee then proceeded to hear evidence on the part of the landowners against the remaining lines. At four o'clock it was announced that the Speaker was at prayers, and the Committee adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XLIV On the meeting of this Committee at the Usual hour, in Room 25, Lord Palmerston in the chair, Mr. MORTI3IER, on the part of the rx.mmTvrooon, PRESTON, AND WEST RIDING JUNCTION, said, he was instructed to say, that the part of the line from Clitheroc to Elslack, as well as the Whalley Branch, had been abandoned, and the only part retained was that from the Preston and Longridge line near Preston to Clitheroe. lie would, therefore, withdraw all oppo - to the lglackburn and Clitheroe line. Sir. Barszs opened the case of the IMACIEBTJR.N, clarrximizom, AND NORTU- VirESTMRN JUNCTION. The Learned Counsel's address occupied the Committee for a con siderable time, and on its conclusion Mr. William Pease, agent to Lord Balearris, who owns large coal fields in the Wigan district, was called to give evidence on the sub ject of the coal traffic. In consequence of the low tone of voice in whichhe spoke, some of the most important parts of his evidence were lost, being quite inaudible. He was understood to say that there were 30 or 40 coal-owners in that neighbourhood. He had made calculations of the amount of coal that might be raised annually, and would be aaailable for the traffic on this and the Blackburn and Cheney (another proposed line)—we understood him to say that the result was 46,000,000 tons. Twenty-five feet was the average thick ness of the stratum. The royalty was Bd. per ton. Mr. Pease gave details as to the price of coal at the pit's mouth and in the market, and other similar matters, and expressed his conviction that the value of the coal-fields would be increased and the price of Wale diminished by the proposed line. Mr. William Withers, surveyor, ga':is engineering evidence in favour of the line. Tn cross-examilletiOn by Mn BaEtcrD, he said that the line passed through the ornamental grminde of Mr. Thompson, a cotton and calico printer, who petitioned against the Bill, on an em bankment. A viaduct of 120 yards might be substituted. Mr. Vignoles, the chief engineer to the line, was then called, and gave the usual engineering evidence, describing the course of the line; &c. The line started at Blackburn, at the station common to the Blackburn, Chorley, and Liver pool line, and the Blackburn and; Prestee, (The former of these is a projected line, which had been placed in another group—the latter is sanctioned by Parliament, and is in course of construction.) The junction, with these lines, would be effected in sn'fn a rammer as to do no injury whatever to the property of th© other companies. 'The three lines were laid down by him (Mr. Vig noles), and in fixing the site of the station of the Blackburn and Pres ton line, he had had in Vlim the formation of the Blackburn and Chorley, and the Blackburn and Clltheroe. At Whalley there is an abbey of great antiquity, near the banks of the Ribble. The line would cross the .Ribble near this abbey, but it would keep clear of the building itself, crossing the river on a viaduct at some distance from it. At Clltheroe there were extensive lime works, to which this line would give the best accommodation. A meeting of the Blackburn and Chorley Company took place yesterday, and it was agreed, by a majority of 10 to 1, that this line should be immediately proceeded with, without waiting for the assent of Parliament. The worst gradient on the line was 1 in 82, which occurred near Blackburn. Near the point of junction there is a curve of a radius less than half a mile, which is the only curve of se small a radius. The estimate was 600,0001., watch was much more than lines which he was now eenstructing actually cost, though they were as expensive as this could be, as they passed through the same country. In cross-examination by Mr. Beserrn, on the part of the petitioner Mr. Thompson, the witness said that the company would have no objection to make the line upon a viaduct instead of an embank ment, if Mr. Thompson wished it. They Would Use either the main line or the alternative line, whichever he preferred. Ile-examined—The use of the alternative line would lessen the n jary to the property of Yr. Tates, another petitioner. By the CHADIMAII—We might, if necesssary, go 100 yards further off from Mr, Thompson's property. We would thereby avoid his ornamental grounds. Mr. Mmearwrruza, on the part of the promoters, said he was prepared to call Anther engineering evidence, if the Committee wished it. The CHAIRMAN—We are satiated that the line Is a good one in an engineering point of view. Mr. MERREWETHISI—Then my case is concluded. The Committee gave no decision upon this Eli immediately, but proceeded to the adjourned case of the IPLI MMWOOD, PRESTON, AND NORTH stanorlire 313-NOTXON. Mr. Bidd er , tu. to this Bill. Th.itrr m 118. v. the nasal evidence With respect mate 268,0001. s u e Rue Ras sixteen miles, and the esti " Mr. BRSNTD, on the part of the ateuft. cross-examine Mr. Bidder, whto Jam. waa about to Mr. CALvERT objected that the Committee havingeleelaren the Clitheroe Junction Bill, his friend had no locus ata n di. "' lust opTinhioenCtuheattatMhAe rcNpsalatabdthat although the Committee expressed an they had reserved if of the Clitheroe Junction was not proved, err final decision for the express purpose of giving them an oyP'.. -enmity of cross-examining the witnesses called; and although (nee , were not likely to give them a line of rail- Way , .tney would give them a line of argument.—(A laugh.) ,The cross-examination, which was of no interest, then proceeded. The CHAIRMAN ordered the room to be cleared, that the Committee might consult as to their decision. On our re-admission, the Chairman gave the decision of the Com mittee on the Clitheroe Junction ; Black. ure, Clitheroe, and North preamble of Western Junction ; Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction. Lord PALMERSTON.—The .Committee are of opinion that the urn, pre amble of the Clitheroe Junction is not ti pro i ved; that of the Bloat) NporrteshtolnV,eanstedniNvesunt cßidonings is graved, th , soe as it Elslack and the branch to Burnley. tare Fleetwood, o a o n d d , s it relates to the line to d the consideration of certain clauses re lates to the line from Preston to Clitheroe, and not proved so far they adjourned, it being ten minutes to to which day until Monday, four o'clock. The Committee Postponed GROUP LIV. The Committee re-assembled to-day at the usual hour; present, Mr. Bannerman (chairman), and the other members. MIDLAND (LEICESTER AND SVTANNING.. TON ALTERATION AND ExaNcuEs.) The evidence respecting Mr. Harris (one of the petitiOner• against the Bill) was resumed ; but, owing to the absents of one of the ni t ea. sary witnesses, the further c•usideratioilof ;i i e till to-morrow. The Committee then adjourned. 13111 'Wag postponed CROUP LT. -asZEITEIL, SNEITIIILD, AND MID LAND 3 - UNCTION. 'The Committee, Mr. Shaw in the chair, resumed its sittings this morning, when Mr. Vignoles, the engineer of the line, gave evidence as to the na ture of the earthworks, tunnels, and other features of its course, by which it appeared that there would toe no tunnels of unusual character as to the difficulty of forming them, though one was to be three miles in length ; but there was to be a viadect carried through part of the town of Sheffield, not, however, as he conceived it,. at all likely to interfere with the property or convenience of the town. The cost, including land on one of the main lines, would be abof it 50,0001., and on the other 44,0001. per mile. The traffic would, on he usual data, give a cleir 7 per c e nt. p ro fit. The Duke of Rutland, and several other witnesses, deposed to the advisability of the line, the property throu and the benefit it was liked to produce to gh which it ran. The country was represented as hilly, but the opportunities of improvement were A Teat, and the people had sufficient spirit to employ any facilities they might obtain. A person was called on behalf of the Woodhouse 'Branch of the Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, and stated the re are five seams in the Handsworth coal-field of variable thickness but fit severally for converting iron into steel, for refining steel, for furnace work, and fir dometic Purpono. 'rho cputuy waggle:l in WOO MPS 14 - • • . ne.aNr — in Th eoth ere ,hi w re as lin a e n f o r t o h m er ly be o d od n h l o n u n s i e n , g a f n o ci r seislimmailtesedinatth3eoo,,oouoros,eoo.of ttohts extending for a mile on each side of the line. This bed, allowing one fourth for faults, would, he thought, yield more than 90,000,000 tons before it was exhausted. After Mr. Jeffcock's evidence the case of the promoters was stated to be closed, and, Mr. JAMES, on beha of the Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock Corn P any, took an objec lf tion to the preamble, on the ground that an agreement had been entered into by them with the Sheffield, Man chester, and Midland Junction, which precluded the latter from issuing scrip, and in effect violated the contract deed, and conse quently rendered the project ineligible for Parliament. Mr. TALaar, Q.C., contended at considerable length that this was not so, and even if it were, that the question was one which the Committee were incompetent to try, and that a court of equity was the authority to which the complainants ought to apply. Atter Mr. James's reply, the Committee decided against him, and Mr. John Power, engineer, of the Lincolnshire Eastern Junction Railway, was called to state that he had surveyed the country be tween Chesterfield and Sheffield in 1836,• after the North Midland Company had obtained their Bill, and that after the submission of his report to Mr. Locke and Mr. Leather, it was decided by those gentlemen that there was no opportunity for a line in that direction. At the conclusion of this evidence, the Committee adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP L l 7l. This Committee met to-day for the first time, in Room 29 (New Houses of Parliament). The members are Mr. Ewart (chairman), Mr. Gill, Mr. Pulsford, Mr. Irton, and Mr. Heneage. The lines included in this group are-1. The Eastern Counties Sta tions Enlargement. 2. London and Birmingham (Camden -town and Euston Stations Enlargement) ; 3. London and Blackwell town ; 4. East London Extension ; 5. Eilfleld and Edmonton ; 6. London and Croydon (Thames Junction Canal) ; 7. Eastern Counties (Thames Junction Branch) ; 8. East and West India Docks, and Birmingham Junction. The usual preliminaries were gone through, and appearances made on behalf of all the above Bills and the petitioners against them. In the case of the THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1846. vise Robbins, resigned ; J. F. Nicholls, Gent, to be Ensign and Assistant-Surgeon, vice Nicholls, resigned, May 7 ; C. G. Horner, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Johnston, promoted ; W. Porter, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Rutter, superseded ; R. Hetherington, Gent., to be Ensign ; T. B. Wright, Gent., to be Ensign, May 8. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Berwick. Berwickshire Militia—J. Pringle, jun., Esq., to be Cap tain, April 6 ; J. C. Renton, Esq., to be Captain, April 20 ; J. Hume, jun., Esq., to be Captain; B. M'Laren, Gent., to be Lieutenant, pril 30. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Kent. West Kent Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry—W. C. Mor land, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Boyd, resigned, May 14. Errata in last Gazette, page 1787. In the list of commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the ' West Riding of Yorkshire, for the Hon. Edmund Monckton, read, the Hon. Endmund Gambier Monckton, to be Captain. For Walter Stanhope, read, Walter Spencer Stanhope, to be Lieutenant. _ _ . MEMORANDUM. Downing-street, May 16, 1846. The appointment of Lieut.-Colonel Barney to be Lieut.- Governor of North Australia has not yet been carried into effect. WHITEHALL, MAY 5. The Lord Chancellor has appointed James Charles Calver, of Kenninghall, in the county of Norfolk ) Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, MAY 11. The Lord Chancellor has appointed John Marsh Burd, of Okehampton, in the county of Devon, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. DECLARATION OF INSOLVENCY. William Darnbrough, tailor, Richmond, Surrey. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. John Elliott, coal merchant, Bristol. ENFIELD AND EDMONTON, Mr. BURNWALL appeared for a petition against the Bill. Mr. JAMES, for the promoters, objected to the appearance, on the ground that its heading was not in compliance with the standing orders, and by a sessional order all Committees were directed to see that petitions were prepared and signed in strict conformity with the standing orders. Mr. BURNWALL said that the petition was prepared and signed in conformity with the standing orders, the fault being only in the title. The Committee decided that the petition was informally prepared, and could not be entertained. Mr. Buaxwenn was about to urge some further observations, when The CHAIRMAN said the Committee had decided the matter. Mr. BoaNwAnn—Oh 1 of course, Sir, if the Committee choose they are perfectly at liberty to decide the case without hearing me ; if they like—that is, if they force me to sit down—they can decide the case as they please. The CuiramAN—Well, what more have yon to say ? Mr. BustiwAnn repeated his argument, that the entitling of a Bill was not a part of its preparation. The Committee again expressed their opinion that it was. Mr. BIIIINIVALL proceeded to argue the matter over again, after which the Committee were or the same opinion. The preliminaries/ of the other Bills were then proceeded with. The first Bill taken was the LONDON AND CROYDON (TRILBIES 3-UNC TION CANAL)• This Bill is one of the many projects for the formation of railways in conjunction with canals. The Surrey Canal is the one of which this Bill proposes to make a railway. Several witnesses were called and examined in the course of the day on the part of the promoters. Mr. Cubitt gave the engineering evidence. The length of the line was seven furlongs, eight chains. It forms a connexion between the Blackwall Railway and New Cross. It does not take a single house, nor deteriorate any existing property. ' The Committee were occupied with Mr. Bidder's evidence up to four o'clock, when they adjourned till twelve to-morrow. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF COMMONS. This Committee reassembled to-day at three o'clock. The firs' Bill considered NraS the CALEDONIAN RAILWAY, which was allowed to proceed. In the case of the NORFOLK RAILWAY (THETFORD TO REEDIIAM), the Committee decided that the standing orders in this case ()ugh' not to be dispensed with. The Committee then adjourned. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, MAY 18, 1846. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty's birthday will be celebrated on Tuesday, the 9th of June next. WAR-OFFICE, MAY 19. 4th Dragoon Guards—Lieutenant G. T. Jacob to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Archer, who retires ; Cornet E. H. Lane to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Jacob, May 19 ; A. M. Robertson, Gent., Co be Cornet, by purchase, vice Nicolls, promoted, May 18 ; J. Collingwood, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Lane, May 19. 7th Dragoon Guards—B. 6. R. Gardiner, Gent., to be Ve terinary Surgen, May 19. 4th Light Dragoons—H. Mallet, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Molyneux, appointed Adjutant, May 18. 10th Light Dragoons Sergeant-Major J. Fenn to be Regimental Quartermaster, vice J. C. M'Clallen, who retires upon half-pay, May 19. 13th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant W. R. 0. Gore to be Captain, by purchase, vice Bateson, who retires ; Cornet J. J. Lloyd to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Gore ; T. R. C.Dimsdale; Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Lloyd, May 19. 15th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant H. Trower, from 325 Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Souter, who exchanges, May 19. Ist, or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards—To be Lieu tenants and Captains, by purchase—Ensign and Lieut. H. E. Montresor, vice Glynn, who retires, May 18 ; Ensign and Lieutenant his Serene Highness Prince William Augustus Edward of Saxe Weimar, vice Balfour, who retires, May 19. To be Ensigns and Lieutenants, by purchase—The Hon. E. M. G. S. Wortley, vice Montresor, May 18; W. S. Mo - rant, Gent., vice his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, May 19. 6th Regiment of Foot—Staff Surgeon of the Second Class P. Robertson, M.D.. to be Surgeon; Assistant Surgeon J. W. Mostyn, M.D., from the Staff, to be Assistant Surgeon, May 19. 12th Foot—V. F. L. Fogerty, Gent., to be Ensign, with out purchase, vice Barry, whose appointment has been can celled, May 19. - 235 Foot—Major A. Richardson, from half-pay Un attached, to be Major, vice J. Enoch, who exchanges; Captain F. Granville to be Major, by purchase, vice Richard son, who retires ; Lieut. T. P. Bickford to be Captain, by purchase, vice Granville; Second Lieut. the Hon. W. M. Plunkett to be First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Bickford; J. C. Brady, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Plunkett, May 19. 25th Foot—Captain H. M. St. Vincent Rose, from half pay Unattached, to be Captain, vice R. Jenkins who ex changes, receiving th e diff erenc e ; Lieut. S. M. Gildea to be Captain, by purchase, vice Rose, who retires; Ensign C. F. Browne to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Gildea ; W. G. Turns,, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Browne, env 19. 2iith Foot—Ensign J. G. Mountain to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Rhys, who retires; W. R. Bell, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Mountain, May 19. 32d Foot—Lieut. R. Souter, from 15th Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice Trower, who exchanges May 19. 84th Foot—Ensign Sir G. H. S. Dougliks, Bart., to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Brisbane, who retires; E. Probyn, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Sir G. H. S. Douglass, Bart., May 19. 47th Foot—Captain W. O'Grady Hely to be Major, by purchase, vice Warburton, who retires; Lieutenant W. D. P. Patton to be Captain, by purchase, vice Hely ; Ensign J. Birney to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Patton; N. G. Philips, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Birney, May 19. 56th Foot—Ensign J. P. Woolceek to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Hare, appointed Adjutant; R. M. Eden, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Woolcock ; Lieut. E. F. Hare to be Adjutant, vice Waddell, promoted, May 19. 69th Foot—Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Sir E. Brackenbury, from half Tay Unattached, to be Major, vice Brooks, pro moted ; Captain Sir E. S. Thomas, Bart., to be Major, by purchase, vice Sir E. Brackenbury, who retires ' • Lieut. A. Magnay to be Captain, by purchase, vice Sir E. S. Thomas; Ensign F. W. Bennett to be Lieutenant by purchase, vice Magnay ; C. D. Cameron, Gent., to be Ensign by purchase, vice Bennett, May 19. Rifle Brigade—Sergeant-Major P. Macdonald to be Quar termaster, vice E. Flattery, who retires upon half-pay, May 19. 2d West India Regiment—Lieut. J. Miller to'be Captain, without purchase, vice Bartley, deceased ; Ensign R. C. D. Bruce to be Lieutenant, vice Miller, May 15 ; A. J. C. Campbell, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Bruce, May 19. BREVET.—Major A. Richardson, of the 23d Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, November 23, 1841 ; Capt. H. M. St. Vincent Rose, of the 25th Foot, to be Major in the Army, June 28, 1838. Mmtonnwnum.—The commission of Surgeon David Dyce, of the 48th Regiment, has been antedated to 13th Dec. 1844. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. C. 11. 'l'. Hawkins Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant; J. T. 11. Peter, Ksq., to be ' Deputy-Lieutenant, May 4. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Southampton. For the County of Southampton—J. Mills, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; H. Compton, Esq., to be Deputy Lieu tenant; T. Pipon, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant; W. W. Bulpett, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, April 30. For the Town and County of the Town of Southampton— G. Atherley, the younger, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, April 29 ; Captain T. Griffiths, to be Deputy Lieutenant, April 30. 2d or South Hants Regiment of Militia—J. Beardmore, Gent., to be Lieutenant, May 7. Commissions by the Vice Lieutenant of the County of Haddingt on. The Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhousie to be Deputy Lieu tenant ; the Earl of Gifford to be Deputy Lieutenant ; the Hon. F. Charteris to be Deputy Lieutenant ; Sir 11. Dalrym ple, Bart. to be Deputy Lieutenant ; Sir 3. Hall, Bart., to be Deputy Lieutenant; Sir R. Houstoun to be Deputy. Lien tenant ; J. M. Balfour, Esq. to be Deputy Lieutenant ; G. W. Hope, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; G. Sligo, Esq. to be Deputy Lieutenant ; J. W. Hunter, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant ; J. Sprot, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant. Berwick, Haddington, Linlithgow, and Peebles Regiment bePatrL Ensign, 1 ikie LordEsq.,hv i t c n Sandilands, Esq., to be Captain, vice Sydserff ; F. C. David- son, u re isget.,,, to be Lieutenant, vice Borthwick ; J. Sewers, l a a t of ia the_ i C I. e o ti n t n til Moor I f to be Captain, vice 1t,.. H. Hurst, 4 • M late Lieutenant 2,1 Regkeent, Ole n l ed 9t ; ain F r e vic o e or iV E W Richardson, resigned ; Ensign J. S. D. Scott to be Captain, vice T. Tourle, resigned ; Ensign IL M. Cripps to be Captain, vice Lord W. P. Lennox; resigned ; Ensign 11. 8. Lord Temp plemore to be Lieutenant, vice J. H. Borrer, promoted ~ Ensign Hon. F. A. Chichester to be Lieutenant, vice G. Mel lersh, resigned; H. D. Cole , Gent., 0 be Lieutenant, vice H, Docker, deceased; Sir P. 'Shelley, Bart., to be Lieutenant, vice T. Faulconer, resigned; C. C. Bates, Gent., to be Lieu tenant, vice J. W. Cooper, • resigned ; H. Shiffner, Gent., to be Lieutenant, . stie p e ps il , aY.;W'C ; vice D. S. Scott, promoted ; Pe Shawe, Gent., to be Ensign, vico It 1 Cr 1 - promoted J. G. Willis, Gent., to b • M. promoted; E. E. Dormer, Gent., to promoted; N . m acria e Ensign, vice Lord Templemore, be Ensign, vice se D Son. F. A. Chichester,mars., Gent., to be Ensign, vice the Ensign, vice H. w, i°,ll\ resissnect ; 3. Dennis, Gent., to be to be s 2- - - - ---tilelt resigned •G. Weeks,Gent., .sargeon's Mate, with the rank of' Lieutenant, Rogers, April 21. vice M. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex. West Essex Regular Militia—A. Z. Button, Esq. ,to be Captain, vice Dick, promoted, April 11 - • R. H. Lovell, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Spurrell, resigned, April 13. East Essex Regular Militia—Ensign H. Eustace to be Lieutenant, vice Atkins, deceased, April 14 ; C. Brewster, to be Lieutenant, vice tenant vice April 15 ; Gent., H. Jones, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice Ja er, deceas be 5g 'deceased, W. H. L. Johnson, Gent., to Lieutenant, vice April 16 ; April 17 P. Goldney, Gent., to be Lien- Osborne, deceased, April 18; M. L. Light, Gent., tenant, vice Thorley,. e Bel 1 , resigned, April 20 ; S. C. Kirby, to be Ensign, vice vice Osborne, promoted, April 21. Gent., to be Ensign, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. Commission by the Regiment of Militia—J. Parkinson, RoyallN Torth Gloucester Captain, April 14. Esq., to be Lord•Lieutenant of Somersetshire. Commissions by the of Militia --J. Halliday, Esq., to b e 2d Somerset Regiment J. P. Lethbridge, Esq., to be. Captain, vice Baillie, resi aces; J. G. Evered, Esq., to be Captain, vice Staple, resi d °Ensign R. E. Permit Captain, vice Tooker, soigne , deceased ; Ensign G. to be Lieutenant, vice Gowan, be Lieutenant, vice C. M. S. W. S. Johnston to . 1 k Gent., to be C W. King a e, Popham, resigned, May 7 ; C. • C. W. Fuller, Gent., Lieutenant, vice Rutledge, superseded ' G nt , to be Ensign, to be Lieutenant, May 8 ; D. Williams, e • At., 0 1 ), Ent i g u ° NiCt rarOtt, prowte4; E. iluiTccd, Gent, . sLfhatieonatriPetbrteyen*Captaitt, BANKRUPTS. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 19. The Lord Chancellor not having taken his seat on the Wool sack at a Quarter past Five, Lord CAMPBELL said that, in the absence of the Lord Chancellor their Lordships had the power within themselves of appointing a Speaker, and it being then a quarter past five, he considered it was time they should go on with public business. He should, therefore, move' that a Speaker be elected, and he was sure their Lordships could not make a better choice than by appointing the Noble and Learned Lord.—(Laugbter, occa sioned by Lord Brougham inadvertently progressing towards the Woolsack.) He proposed that Lord Brougham be appointed Speaker. Lord Brougham was on the point of taking his seat , wh en the Lord Chancellor entered the House, and amidst con siderable laughter occupied the Woolsack. LUNATIC ASYLUMS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the Poor-law Guardians of the Union of Lewes, in the county of Sussex, complaining of the heavy charges under which they were placed by the Act of Parliament which had been passed last session, compelling them to support the lunatic asylum for that county. They considered, and he (the Duke of Rich mond) perfectly agreed with them, that the support of the lunatics of the county should be imposed on the public funds, and he was glad to find that the Committee on Local Burdens had recommended that such should he the case. CORN LAWS. The DUKE of RICHMOND presented petitions from Ross and Cromartie, praying that the free trade measures introduced by tha Government should not receive the sanction of their Lordships. The Noble Duke then nresented several petitions to the same effect from the counties of Norfolk, Salop, Sussex, Essex, and Stafford, and from several places in Scotland. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Messengers from the House of Commons brought up several Bills, which were ordered to be laid on the table. CORN-LAWS. Lord WARWICK presented one hundred petitions from the southern division of Warwickshire against any alteration in the corn-laws. These petitions had been most numerously signed, and were most carefully got up. There was not a single name attached to one of them that was fictitious. The petitioners prayed that if the duty was taken off corn, it might also be taken off everything else.—(Hear, hear.) FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. Lord CAMPBELL presented a considerable number of petitions from members of the Free Church (Scot land), complaining of the difficulties which they ex. periencetl in obtaining sites for their churches. He regretted exceedingly that it was necessary to bring the subject before the attention of the House, but in some parts of Scotland the members of the Free Church were compelled to worship God on the hill-tops or the highways. Now he need not tell their Lordships that this was persecution. The petitioners had come before their Lordships in a most proper spirit. They admitted that they had experienced some kindness from land lords, and only complained of the refusal to give a site for a church. Samuel Whately, grocer, William-street, Lisson-grove, to surrender May 29, at two, and June 30, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basing hall-street ; Simpson and Cobb, Moorgate-street. Henry Elkington, chemist, Maida-bill East, May 26 and June 26, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee ; Meyrick, Furnival's Inn. Rebert Perry, draper, Brighton, May 30, at half-past twelve, and June 20, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, offiial assignee, Sambrook -court, Basinghall-street ; Sole and Co., Aldermanbury. Thomas William Green Stevens, hackney master, Bampton, Oxford, May 28, at eleven, and June 20, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sam brook-court, Basinghall-street ; Close, St. Mildred's-court ; Rose, Brompton. James Gordon, jun., ship and insurance broker, East India Chambers, Leadenhall-street, June 2, at half-past two, and 26, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane ; Ewbank, South-square,Gray's Inn. James John Hance, broker, Liverpool, May 29, at twelve, and June 23, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool ; Cornthwaite and Co., Old Jewry Chambers, London • Pemberton, Liverpool. Thomas Hartley and Robert Ingham, share-brokers, May 26 (and not May 27, as advertised in the Gazette of Tuesday last), and June 15, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Nelson and Co., Gresham-place, Lombard-street, London; Nelson, Leeds. Thomas Walker, tallow chandler, Leeds, June 4th, and 23d, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, official assignee, Leeds ; Rushworths, Staple Inn, London ; Sander son, Leeds, Yorkshire. John Cooke, auctioneer, Cheltenham, June 5 and 26, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Packwood, Cheltenham. William Wonnacott, grocer, Bath, May 29, at two, and June 30, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official assignee, Bristol; Little, Bath. George Daniel French, cabinet maker, Stroud, June 4, at half-past one, and June 30, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol; Cole, Tokenhouse yard, London. Thomas Bothams, licensed victualler, Nottingham, June 8 and June 24, at one, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Waterloo-street, Birmingham ; Wells, Nottingham ; James, Birmingham ; Sudlow and Co. Chancery-lane, London, John Russell, coal dealer, Kidderminster, May 30 and June 30, at half-past eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Waterloo-street, Birmingham ; Brin ton, Kidderminster. John Fletcher Corbett, scrivener, Worcester, May 30 and June 30, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; INlotteram and Knowles, Birmingham. John Richmond Hayward, bookseller, Manchester, May 29 and June 22, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester ; Johnson, Son, and Weatherall, Temple, London ; Blair, Manchester. Samuel Dethick and Thomas Richard Kay, brewers, New ton Heath, near Manchester, May 29, and June 22, at one, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Norris, Allen, and Simpson, Bartlett's-build ings, Holborn; Woods and Jackson, Rochdale. (Dividends, &c., in our next.) EDUCATION IN WALES. The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S presented a petition from the Common Council and other inhabitants of Cardigan, praying their Lordships to adopt measures to afford a better system of education to the poorer inhabitants of the principality than that which now existed. He earnestly supported the prayer of the petition, and trusted that its importance would be an excuse for his troubling their Lordships with a few remarks in this respect. The petitioners deeply regretted the want of education among the poor in Wales, which they attributed to the want of funds to educate them in the English language ; that the ignorance of that lan guage prevented the working of many laws and institutions, and restricted the natives to those scanty sources of information which their language afforded; and concluded by praying their Lordships to take steps for the industrial training of the poor. In the month of March an inquiry into the state of education in Wales was acceded to by the Go vernment on the motion of an Hon. Member noted for his humanity, which he feared however would be superfluous, as the ignorance whichprevailed was too well known. A national system of education had been successful in England, and he saw no reason why;it should not be equally successful if applied to Wales; at any rate the inquiry might lead to some practical result. Nothing could be done without the assistance of the Govern ment, and he thought that that was a case in which they could claim with some degree of propriety pecuniary assistance for the purpose to which he had adverted. There was another point on which he would venture to make a remark. He was afraid that the anticipations expressed by the petitioners were doomed to be disappointed ; he did not think that a Government, however strongly disposed to concur in the wishes of the petitioners, could guarantee all the results which they expected. There were numerous districts then in Wales where schools had been long established, and where tuition had been given in the English language to the children, but where, notwith standing, the language was still very barely understood. He was of opinion that if a measure of education had been carried out in Wales they would not have been at the present time labouring under the burdens they now experienced. They would not have required soldiers and police to maintain tran quillity, nor have been saddled with an enormous expense. The resources thus applied might have been used with great advantage in carrying out an efficient system of moral and in- tellectual education. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed in the suggestions which had been offered by the Right Hon. Prelate, and thought something should be done to meet the present alarming defi ciency in education. While he agreed with him in that, he at the same time thought there had been ample information laid on the table of the House in order to form a correctjudgement. The result of the inquiry into the Rebecca riots showed that in the districts where the disturbances principally oc curred there was an entire want of education amongst the people.—( Hear, hear.) He considered something was absolutely necessary to be done to meet the deficiency. There had been every year, since Government had undertaken to maintain the system of education, an increased demand for as sistance from the Government, and so much so that the in spectors were unable to inspect with anything like proper attention. He considered that they were not called upon to adopt a different principle of national education in Wales from that adopted in England, which he considered was a sound principle, and he hoped it would never be departed from. There should be a number of districts apportioned, in which the utmost latitude should be allowed, in order to effect a great moral revolution. The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S observed that the Noble Lord had completely mistaken his meaning—he was as much grati fied as the Noble Lord with the national system of education. Lord BROUGHAM was glad that the subject of education in Wales had been brought under the notice of their Lordships, for he believed that in no part of the country was there re quired more assistance from the education fund than in some of the Welsh districts. But he agreed with his Noble Friend who was sitting beside him, that no grant ought to be given for the support of any local scheme, unless they sent a certain contribution, a certain proportion of pecuniary aid from the local funds. Without this aid they would only be weakening the cause of education in the districts which most wanted their assistance. Charity-schools would never prosper in any locality that did not itself materially support them. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH said, with respect to the state of Wales, that subject had received the attention of her Ma jesty's Government, and was then under the consideration of the Council. With regard to the condition of schools at the present time, and the inability of the inspector to look after them all, he must say that their numbers had lately greatly increased, so that the work upon the inspectors was more than they were originally expected to undertake. CORN-LAWS. Earl DUCIE presented a petition in favour of the repeal of the corn-laws from the town of Southampton. CUSTOMS' DUTIES BILL. Messengers from the Commons brought up this Bill. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH moved the first reading of the Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND said he could not even allow the Bill to be read a first time—( Cheers and laughter)—without expressing his opinion that it was adding positively insult to in jury, because they were called upon to consider two Bills taking away protection to the agricultural interest ; and he must say that as far as he was concerned, it was a very unusual course, and extremely hard to the agricultural interest, for those Bills to be brought into that House before the others had been read a second time in the House of Commons. He considered that the provision for lending money for the improvement of land would be of some service, but he thought it was as bad a Bill as it was possible to conceive, because it was inconsistent, by only applying the principle f free trade to some articles and not to others. There was no reduction on their cottons from India, for instance. The duties on some m anu f ac t ures were to be reduced, but there was not free trade altogether. He saw no reduction in the Bill of the duty on cotton from India. He was opposed to free-trade altogether, yet if a scheme of ti.is kind was to b e p ropose d , it ought to be injury con sistent, which the p resen t Bill was not. It was his im pression that this m easure wou ld b e of great to the working population of this country; especially would it operate injuriously to the silk weavers. Let the measure pass, and Spitalfields would become a mass of pauperism. There were other points in the Bill that were equally obnoxious. The Government talked of free-trade, but they did not carry it out. There was nothing said in the measure against dif ferential duties. In regard to the Canadas, why should they not be allowed to buy in the cheapest market ? If that were conceded, they would go entirely into the American market. Already had the Americans beat this country out of the South American ports, and they were likely in a short time to lose the Chinese market. He was justified in this view of the cotton trade by the evidence of Mr. Gregg, a free trader. He (the Duke of Richmond) must protest against this, and the other Bill brought under the consideration of their Lord ships. He considered they ought not to have been pushed for ward without at the same time proceeding with the other measures of the Government. Lord MONTEAGLE considered that the best course would be to wait until they had the Bill in their hands. Nor did he think the speech of the Noble Lord was very conclu sive, for adopting the principle of free-trade in agriculture would not necessarily induce its adoption in manufacture; but this would be matter for future discussion. The only question they had to consider was, how they could get their money with the least inconvenience to all parties. His Noble Friend, on the cross-bench, spoke of certain duties which were still preprved. He did not know how those duties then stood, but he did agree with his Nobje Friend in the doctrine, that the existence of those duties veift necessarily be a depar ture from the principle of the tariff. Lord BEAUMONT said that he considered the course taken by his Noble Friend as perfectly consistent with, and in conformity with his expressed opinion; and he had been at tending to what had fallen from his Noble Friend, who stated the case in the following manner. His Noble Friend said, that they had a Bill now before them, which had been read a first time, and which Bill overturned the principle of protec tion. He objected to the principle of the Bill, for its adop tion must be in direct opposition to protection. The House should consider carefully the new Bill, which came to them on a totally different principle, and should take the Corn Bill into consideration first, and fterwards the present measure, which merely embraced the question' of revenue duties. If his Noble Friend would act in any way consistently with his principles, he would draw the distinction between the Bills, and take the one into careful consideration before at all enter- , ing into the discussion of the other. But let him put t what everad interpretation he might upon free-trade, the country but one interpretation for it, and that was tape:rime, Put upon it by the League—namely, to co d dpnt of t d i e u n a g s the absence of all taxation. The custom-huou.se wof survive the bonding warehouse, do from taxation were if theueimpmression was generally to gain ground that free-trade andurf:n runnings the risk of ac e synonymous terms. They minds similating in people's mind e d e uties that were for protection and duties for rev enue ; and let them take care that the cus toms' duties were not the next point assailed, and eventually annihilated. Lord BROUGHAM thought it of no use to bring on a discussion on the question at present. He rose merely for the purpose of protesting against the doctrine laid down by the Noble Lord, that because he supported the principles of free trade, he must necessarily be committed to the removal of all duties which were imposed for revenue. The duties on corn could not, however, be considered in that category. Earl GREY thought it very inconvenient that any discussion should take place on the Bill at present. For his own part, he had to express his thanks to her Majesty's Government for having introduced such a measure ; and instead of complaining of their having done so much, he was desirous they should hav e done more. He wasof opinion that it could not be called a free trade measure. He only took it as an instalment of free-trade. He (Ear Grey) had not changed his views upon The Bill was then read a first time, and the second reading the subject since the time he first came into Parliament, was appointed for Friday next. and he was now, and ever had been, opposed to all protection, CUSTOMS' DUTIES BILL. and all duties which were not levied for the purposes of protec- On the question being put that this Bill be read a third time, tion. The country, he was glad to see, was hourly approachin g Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN rose to ask a question of the to a state of free trade, and he for one felt that it would be Government with reference to agricultural statistics. During the brightest day that had ever dawned upon this country, the present Parliament, said the Hon. Member, he believed when it opened its ports to every nation in the world. in the year 1844, the question of agricultural statistics was Lord ASHBURTON was surprised at the sudaennianner in brought before the Heine by the Hon. Member for Manches which this new free trade light had dawned upon the Ministry. ter, who was supported by the Hon. Member for North These measures would be followed either by good or evil, but Lincoln, than whom perhaps a more experienced agriculturist whether by the one or the other, no one could doubt that this did not occupy a seat in that House. The Hon. Member for was a subject which called for the utmost attention at their Manchester consented to withdraw his motion on the understand hands.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord who had last sat ing that her Majesty's Government would take some steps to ob down had spoken with the straightforwardness which so pecu- tam an alteration in the mode of obtaining those statistics. liarly characterised him. He did not, like the Noble Lord who 4 He believed that it was understood 4hat the Government of addressed the House at an earlier period,' view the question as that day were unfavourable to the course which the Hon. one for protection, or for revenue, and just as it suited his pur- Member for Manchester proposed to pursue. But still there poses, he took up the one or the other.—(Hear, hear, and was an impression prevailing that they would take the matter laughter.) The Noble Earl had thrown this shuffling aside, into consideration, and under the difficulty that Hon. Member and he argued upon the broad principle of free-trade in every- was allowed to withdraw his motion. He tried an experiment thing.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Earl desired no restriction to get from the several counties information respecting the either for the parent country or for the colonies. But if that actual facts of the case, but received the answers from only were the system on which they were to legislate, of what use, 27 of them. It would be recollected that Sir John Sinclair, he would ask, were their colonies at all ?—(Hear, hear.) The who was some years since at the head of the Board of Agricul- Germans had their Zolverein, the French had their restric- tore, had endeavoured to obtain the same information also for tions, and what would repay them for their risks of war, and the Government. Sir John Sinclair prided himself on the the other risks which they incurred in maintaining their colt,- knowledge of the counties of Scotland, and had furnished in nies if these colonies were not to have a preference in their formation to the Beard of Trade on these points. He did not markets. Her Majesty's subjects in the colonies viewed these mean to say that the Board of Trade were in a condition to act questions in a purely mercantile light, and they asked themselves at that time, but this much he would say, that when the ques what advantages they gained by their connexion with this coun- tion had been proposed of a change in our system, that the try. The people of Manchester said that the whole manufacturing clergy had expressed a readiness to acquiesce in the interests in the country were in favour of the system of free change, at the time this change was most advisable, trade, but the people of Macclesfield, who were engaged in the and not as now, when it was likely to prove silk trade, did not seem to fall into that view of the question. most disadvantageous. He trusted, therefore, that this The people of Manchester did not apprehend any tear, because House would not consider that the agriculturists had no inten they could supply their cottons cheaper than they could be got tion to secure a protection for themselves. Looking at these elsewhere. They were something like the people of New • things, he felt himself not only called upon to express his castle with regard to coal. Who ever heard of their sending regret, but also to say that he felt he had a right to from Newcastle for that article? He did not believe the corn- complain that the Government had not taken up this peissation proposed was at all equal to the injury that would be subject. He believed that when these discussions were inflicted on the landed interests by the measure of the Govern- originally before the House they might have obtained ment.—( Hear, hear.) the information which would have been of essential service. Lord MONTE AGLE said, that in the distinction he made He believed that he and those with with whom he acted had he followed the example of all great writers on the subject of made out a strong case, and that this was not the time for revenue, namely, the distinction between duties levied for the legislation. Instead of taking the subject at the best stage, sake of revenue, and those which were levied for the sake of they had taken it up at the worst, and the clergy and the agri protection. culturists expressed alarm at the changes now contemplated. The Earl of DALHOUSIE objected to anything He would say, that if the farmers of this country were at all like a discussion being taken on the Bill in its present aware, or in any way acquainted with the great value and im stage. He could not let the present occasion pass portance of such statistics, they would have taken care to have without stating that argument on the part of the Government demanded them of the Government with so much perse had been avoided solely upon the ground of the present stages of verance that care would be taken always to have them ready. the Bill. When the proper time came he would be able to state He would say that, since the year 1770, when so great a change the reasons why, for the good of the country, their Lordships took place in the value of agricultural produce, a greater boon should allow the Bill to pass into a law. could not be conferred on the agriculturists of this country. The Duke of RICHMOND considered, that although the The reason why he had brought forward this measure now in course pursued on the present occasion w a s unusual, their its present form was to prevent the possibility of having Lordships must recollect that the Government in changing technical difficulties and objections thrown in its way. But their opinion had also acted in a very unusual :manner. He there was another reason, and a more important one, which in could not let the present moment pass without entering his duced him to bring this Bill forward; and when he stated it, solemn protest against the measure. he was not without the hope it would be deemed one of import- The Earl of DALHOUSIE rose to explain. ante by this House. A Bill of a similar nature was brought Lord ASHBURTON hoped that the papers which had been before Parliament some time ago, but he would not take up the moved for would be produced before the second reading of time of the House by speaking of that measure, but this he the Corn Bill was proposed. • would say, that though there might be some scepticism raised Earl DALHOUSIE would take care that the papers should to his measure, he would still persevere with it, and be ready if possible. would bring it on again and again, if the The Earl of HADDINGTON thought the Noble Duke on session should be permitted to advance much the cross benches had a right, with every other Peer, to pro- later without the Government taking any step on the subject. test against the Bill. He would not , like a Noble Lord, start He could not repeat too often that this was a measure upon a number of hares, each of which it would take a consider- the necessity of which the House was unanimous, and upon the able time to run down. He would, however, refer to one importance of which they were all agreed, and the best proof he circumstance. The Noble Duke had stated that it was an in- eould give of its importance was the fact, that in all the debates suit to their Lordships, because the Corn Bill was sent up upon the subject of agriculture that had taken place in that from the other House unaccompanied with the other measures House, the statistics of the agriculture of foreign countries were of relief proposed to be brought forward in connexion with continually referred to and easily had. He beseeched the Go that Bill. The blame of this did not rest with the Govern- vernment, as he had always sat in his place in that House for ment—the blame rested with those Members of the other the interest of the farmer, not to put him off again as they did House who had delayed the passing of the Bill in an almost the Hon. Member for Manchester two years ago—merely with unprecedented manner. a letter from the Poor-law Commissioners of Somerset-house — The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be read a but to take into consideration the question whether an inquiry second time on Thursday, the 28th instant. might not at once be made with reference to these statistics, WESTERN AUSTRALIA BILL. and to the Highway Act. This Bill was read a third time and passed. Sir GEORGE CLERK said, as it had been understood OFF ENCES IN IRELAND. that no debate should take place on this subject, he trusted that The Marquis of NORMANBY said he had been requested the Hon. Member would excuse him if he did not follow to postpone the motion of which he had given notice. The him through all his arguments on this subject, but rather motion was for a return of the murders, and attempts at confine himself to the questions put by the Hon. Member. murder, committed in Ireland in each month since the Ist of He was very happy to inform the Hon. Member that the Go- January last, distinguishing the hour of the day or night at vernment had anticipated his wishes in this respect, and had which such outrages were stated in the constabulary report to fulfilled his desire that they should proceed very cautiously in have been committed. He was willing to postpone it, but he this matter in the first instance, in of der to avoid exciting any hoped an opportunity would be given to him, on Friday, to jealousy on the part of the farmers. He was anxious to ascer move for the return, when he proposed to comment upon the tain whether he could obtain any satisfactory information, by conduct of the Government with respect to a Bill which had means of the existing machinery, of the occupiers of land=, lately passed their Lordships' House, but which), he was glad rather than by resorting to new and expensive machinery. He to say, had yet made no progress in the other House of Par- could state that an experiment on a small scale Lad been tried. 'lament. He named Friday, because he believed Thursday, A portion of a county in Scotland had been selected, and being Ascension-day, their Lordships would not sit, and he also a portion of a county In Ireland, from which they endea was desirous of going into the discussion before they got in- voured to obtain information. They selected the northern volved in the Corn Bill.—( Hear, hear.) division of the tour ty of Hampshire, and also the northern di- The motion was accordingly postponed till Friday. vision of the county of Cavan. The information was collected INSOLVENT DEBTORS BILL. by the labour of an intelligent and experienced person. Ise This Bill went through Committee, and ,was ordered to be the county of Cavan, in some parts, these inquiries were more reported on Friday. difficult, in consequence of the great subdivision of lands, than Their Lordships then adjourned till Friday. they were in other parts of the country, where the farms were larger. The requisite information had been received with re ference to a union, which only extended over 6,000 acres. In Scotland they endeavoured to obtain the information through the means of the parochial schoolmasters, who had printed forms sent round to them—which forms they sent to every occupier of land, who, in their turn, were to them up with statements of their stock on their lands. He was happy to say, that from that county in Scotland the information had been obtained. The returns were filled upon a tabular form. With regard to Hampshire, he was sorry to .ay, that they had endeavoured to obtain the information, but had not completely succeeded. Forms were prepared, and ordered to be left with each occupier of land, and a feeling of jealousy had interfered ; but many of the farmers and land occupiers had given all the information in their power. He believed, if the information was voluntarily obtained, it would be more accurate than otherwise. He trusted he had satis fied the Hon. Member, that the Government had exerted themselves to procure the information referred to, and he trusted that they would succeed in procuring it from every county in England. Sir ROBERT INGLIS had no doubt that, if the clergy were applied to, they would be as desirous to furnish such information as they had done thirty years ago. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN considered that the clergy were better adapted to give statistical information than the poor-law guardians. Lord G. BEN TINCK said, as the House was upon the sub ject of statistical information, he would ask, whether there were means of procuring accurate statistical information with reference to manufactures. It had been stated that the home consumption manufactured was tA s th the whole production, whereas he thought it might be shown that it amounted to 2-3rds. Mr. BRIGHT considered, from the speeches of the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, that he was well acquainted with the returns of the quantities of raw material imported into this country, and the amount of manufactured goods imported. If the Noble Lord would take 500,000,0001. or 600,000,000 1 . , as the amount of the raw material imported, into this country in one year, and then ascertain the quantity exported in the same year, he would then, by the simple rule of subtraction, be able to find out the quantity left at home for home consumption.—(;Laughter.) There might, perhaps, be some difficulty in obtaining the eXaCt amount, as the returns of some of the goods imported were taken by weight, whereas the accounts of the exports were taken in various forms. He was convinced that the manufacturers would do their utmost to furnish any useful information to the country with reference to their manufactures. When it was proposed by the Hon. Member for Manchester to obtain agricultural statistics, it was with the intention of benefiting the farmer, and not from any wish to inquire as to what agriculturists were doir4T. If the Noble Lord could show any means by which anythitig could be done by the manufacturers to benefit the country, .he was sure they would do it. He thought, the more they knew,' the );ether would it be for all classes of the community. After a few words from Mr. MILES, the Bill was read rh third time and passed. QUARANTINE LAWS. Dr. BOWRING rose to submit the following motion, that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, that she wil be graciously pleased to direct such correspondence or extraht.S on the subject of the Quarantine Laws as has tak en place vitt° foreign Governments since the last returns to Parliament, fo be laid on the table of this House ; and that this House will see with pleasure such relaxations in the existing system al may be compatible with a due regard to the p u b lic health, and the general interests of the nation. This was a sub ject, he said, which was of great interest and importance, espe cially with reference to our commercial and maritime concerns. Since the last time this matter had bten before the House,. many circumstances had occurred to justify an inquiry into the system, and he was the more induced to urge it, from the cir cumstance that the able and distinguished individual who had done so much to disabuse the public of the impression that pestilence was so easily spread, had expressly declared his opi nion that the plague could not be communicated by contagion cot . The circumstances to wh ich he had alluded materially r firmed that impression. He must acknowledge at the sera o r . time, that he had little hope of any assistance from the t o t , vernment in doing away with the inconvenience, and altering;tthhaetsylohteemEoolfaiorursteqaumarearnatriureiveldaws. last Ityewaoruivldithbeao iolreacioalrlemcd:_ fever on boat d from the coast of Africa , and that all sorts of communication with the vessel was prevented. He believe that she arrived on the 30th of September, g that flag flying with the black ball in the ceiatee, iF t i, c : i s Wa s ass there was death on board from fever. On iz_i:fl e u a ly dead, y e t certained that there were w a s ) thirtye i ni onaterial whe no communication was allowed. t black fever, neither of they it was the yellow The ene was detrimentale xorderedmor morning nf t og o r at t wc h n ra e_ us os signalled b 1 t i h c e . I yet no el* aid was them Fresh provisions esiu 1 d o b n e t 7 t 'ordered to row round her to prevent rendered, d e . red ~annmd communication t h North Sea. Boats were ordered shore, and to hinder a y n from have re .lgelewi oa given vesselsph e medical ta:o °sersliftna assistance that those individuals rite ethscaatptihnrgeenrm-o—ret.men had died , f but no communication was yet men heroic roic men— r e t e a o be ' foZin d allowed, and so it continued or two or three days. This was ow i ng to the a bsurdities of our quarantine laws. He believed the opinion given by Dr. 11I‘William, d d w t e hus many valuable lives might have been saved.. arauoeislin this disease ? He said, that in the Niger expedi tiono were attacked with fever, and two out of the four who published proved dn t w h h at o t a h t e te d n i d se ed ase on w th as e seicoltmmwoeorieoathtievelasftrom attacked. one t 0 another, Right H o a n n and Baroneti it m might tqa whonlTN yar a he ed t ri pasei t tcodw2 h par, w3 e rlot gh w t as w a e w ll a b re e t t e h r a m t e t d he a contagious one. 'she had issued a commission to inquire characterinto ß t u h H e ian disease, and he (Mr. Buwring) wished that that inquiry had been fully carried out. It was well known that in the bazaars at G over o n frntehni s t Grand Cairo the clothes of persons who had died of fever were exposed for sale, and they were charged for at the same rate as any other garments.—( Hear.) What were the conclusions, the unanimous conclusions, to which the Commission of the Academy of Medicine of Paris had come to with reference to the plague ? The first was, that it was endemic in Egypt, Syria, and Turkey; he believed it constantly prevailed in those countries to a greater or a less ex.- tent, and its presence was almost invariably to be found in a certain period of the year. They came to a second resolution, in which they stated that it was their belief that the plage was to be attributed to spontaneous action, and local, atmospheric causes, and not to importations from distant countries. But it was evident that the plague was in a great measure removed by the attempts which had been made in different countries to promote the health of the people. At this moment, in Tuscany, the Pontine Marshes were being improved, and the, injurious effects which they had on the health of the people were being gradually removed. The fourth resolution to which they arrived was, that the disease was epedemies fifthly, that the plague was propogated by- atmospheric in , - fluence, and riot by contagion. Sixthly, that it was not con veyed by goods or merchandise. It was, therefore, an ab surdity to keep up these obnoxious quarantine laws. He believed in his conscience that there was no more evidence of the security given against the introduction of p l ag ue b y our sanatory regulation—no more evidence in favour of that sys tem, than was to be given of the existence of witches and ghosts. The quarantine laws were most oppressive, and at the same time most unequal in their operation. A steam vessel, arriving from the plague countries in sixteen or seven- teen days, was allowed to pin without delay, U any inilueu4. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 19. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. VISCOUNT HARDINGE AND LORD GOUGH. Mr. Campbell, of the India House, appeared at the bar, and presented papers connected with the pensions granted to Viscount Hardinge and Lord Gough. LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY. M r . GREENE moved that the order made on the 25th day of February last, for referring the Ulverstone, Furness, and Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Bill to the Committee of Se lection, be discharged, and that the said Bill be withdrawn.— Agreed to. BURY WATERWORKS. On the motion of Mr. WALKER, this Bill was read a third time and passed. REPORTS. The reports on the following Bills were made and considered, the amendments agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be en grossed : Scottish Central Railway (Denny Branch ). Scottish Central Railway (Perth Termini and Stations). Scottish Central Railway (Alloa Branch). Slamannan Railway (Bathgate and Jawcraig Branches). Edinburgh and ;\ orthern Railway (Dunfermline Blanch). Dundee and Arbroath Railway Extensions. Dundee and Perth Railway Amendment. - Rye and Derwent Drainage. Northumberland Decks. Carshalton Rates. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway (Methley, Askern, and Oakenshaw Branches). Forth and Clyde Junction Railway. Stirling and Dunfermline Branch Railway. Hartlepool Gas and Waterworks. Dunblane, Doune, and Callender Railway. Gravesend and Milton Waterworks. Kilmarnock and TrOOri Railway. Plymouth Cemetery. Salford Hundred Court. MALTON AND DIFFIELD JUNCTION RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. STANSFIELD, this Bill was read a third time and passed. BROMSGROVE IMPROVEMENT AND SMALL TENEMENT BILL. On the motion of General LYGON,- this Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. KENDAL' UNION, GAS, AND WATER BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. CHARING-CROSS BRIDGE COMPANY. On the motion of Sir DE LACY EVANS, this Bill was read a second time, and oriiered to be committed. WATERFORD HARBOUR. On the Motion of Mr. WYSE, this Bill was read a second I time, and ordered to be committed. Sir JAMES DUKE presented a petition lei favour of the Religious Disabilities Bill. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from Birmingham, pray ing the House to reconsider the criminal law so far as it re lated to juvenile offenders. Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Cardigan, pray iag the House to establish a more effective and extended system of education for the poor. Mr. HINDLEY presented a petition against the Irish Great Western Railway Bill. Mr. BARRY BALDWIN presented petitions in favour of the Buckinghamshire Railways Bill. Mr. HUME presented several petitions from Scotland, pray ing the House to pass a Bill to enable Christian congregations in Scotland to obtain sites for places of worship, manses, and ' school-houses. POOR-LAWS. Capt. PECHELL presented a petition from a place in Sussex complaining of the conduct of certain boards of guardians. The Hon. and Gallant Member gave notice that on Thursday he should move that the petition be printed with the votes with the view of founding a motion upon it. BINGLEY POOR HOUSES. Mr. FERRAND said that he had been requested to post pone putting the questions to the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Treasury, of which he had given notice, respecting the Bingley poor houses. He begged therefore to postpone the questions to Thursday THE next, on whic LAW h day he should put them. GAME S. Mr. WILLIAM MILES, in the absence of the Hon. Member for Cheltenham, gave notice that to-morrow it was the intention of the Honourable Member to ask the Hon. Member for Athlone whether he had lodged affidavits in the hands of the Secretary of State with regard to Sir Charles Taylor, and whether he intended to take further steps in the case, or to allow this mtter to rest as it was? LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO LORD CLEMENTS. Colonel RAWDON rose to ask for have of absence for fourteen days to Lord Clements. His Noble Friend was one net in the habit of neglecting his Parliamentary duties, but his neighbourhood in Ireland was in such a state that he was re quired to be on the spot, in order to use his exertions to find employment for the people.—( Hear. )—Leave granted. PREVENTION OF SMOKE. Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that he wouldon Tuesday, the 26th instant, bring in a Bill for the prevention of smoke. ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL. Mr. B. ESCO'rT presented several petitions from Oxford shire in favour of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill. FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. signed b Mr. FOX MAULE presented 115 petitions, y b 14,000 persons, from various parts of Scotland. rain th y e House to adopt some measures to e nable _tbe petitioners to o - tain sites on which to build places of wo t r e ship. Mr. P. M. STEWART also presen el petitions of a similar nature. Mr. FOX MAULS t h e n rose to mo ve for leave to intro duce a Bill to enable Christian congregations in Scotland to o btain sites for bu ildin places of worship, manses, and school houses. He would notg then enter into any statement s w i t h re f er ence to the Bill. Not seeing either the Lord-Advocate or the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department in their places, notwithstanding that they h they e were a ware of his in tention to introduce the B ill to-night, concluded, that tAey had no objection .to :the ;introduction of the Bill. Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to know what the Hon. Member meant by the term religious congregations? The object of the proposed Bill was to give to certain persons, describing them- solves as Christian congregations, the power to take a certain portion of their neighbours' property—it was to enable Chris tian congregations to take their nei ghbours' property at fixed prices, and before he gave any such power, he would like to have some further statement respecting it. Mr. FOX MAULE said that he was perfectly ready to go into a full statement of his grounds for proposing this Bill. But if the Government officers o w u e l r d e re w s illing th to e e d oncede to him leave to bring in the Bill, he its principles till a future occasion ; discussion upon he was erfec se tl i abide by any proposition of the Government with reference to o this measure. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he had the most grave objec • tions to the principles of the Bill, and he did not anticipate that any exposition of those principles by his Hon. Friend on any future occasion would be able to remove those objections. After what had been said in that House, in the course of a dis cussion on the subject of the Free Church of Scotland, he did not feel himself authorised in making any agreement on the part of the Government with his Hon. Friend. He kad, however, no objection to the Bill being read a Ant time. MARKET INTELLIGENCE (From the London New Price Current of May 19.) SCoAR.—To-day importers of West India Muscovado Sugar evinced less firmness, but generally submitting to prices under those of Friday, caused a good business to be transacted in Grocery and Re fining kinds. REFINED.—TO-dity all sorts of Refined Sugar were much wanted by the home trade, but few parcels were to be had ; lumps are very firm at 67s to 67s 6d for brown, and at 68s per cwt. for Standard. Bonded Crushed Sugar is dull of sale, and can be easily obtained at former rates. MAuxtrirs.—Thi9 - afternoon the market was largely supplied with Mauritius Sugar, 12,971 bags being offered at auction ; the trade were less inclined to operate, and prices declined Gd to is per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon the market was much better sup plied with Bengal Sugar, and three parcels, amounting to 3,246 bags, were submitted to public competition : the demand was good, and the whole sold at full rates. TEA. —Congou has been sparingly dealt in, but full rates de manded. Pouchong is not to be had on lower terms, but the demand has been only for small parcels. The market for Nyson has become quiet, bat holders show no inclination to take lower rates. Twankay is dull of sale. Gunpowder and Imperial have been purchased with caution ; still lower prices are not taken. In Pekoe Teas little busi ness has been done, notwithstanding the low rates that exist. Hors.—No improvement has taken place in prices, although the quantity on show is small, but there has been a fair business trans acted in all descriptions, upon former terms. The accounts come to hand from all the Hop growing districts are good. FOREIGN.—To-day White liavannah Sugar met with little atten tion, and 1,384 chests at public sale were all taken in rather above tile former value. COFFEE.—This afternoon at public sale 180 bags Singapore Java sold at moderate rates. Holders of Ceylon are inclined to realise, and offered 1,038 bags at auction, the whole sold, but generally 61 per cwt. under former rates. Mocha met with little attention, and 105 bales were nearly all taken in rather above the value. SPIILITS.—Leewa`d Islands has been purchased with caution, and previous rates cannot be obtained. Prices are going down for Fast India, shippers and the home trade have operated with caution. In i e n kporta, and prices are d been purchased with can texportation, the low kinds of Brandy a g ood deal has bee n done , but not at bett or prices; drooping. i ; n g tl . the Genevabetter is sorts, tittl e however, wanted forh a g SPICES.—To-day Black Pepper was only in limited demand, and 442 bags at public sale went rather cheaper. RICE.—To-day Bengal Rice was in good request, and at public sale 4,113 bags were all sold, but upon rather lower terms. TALLOW—Prices are sustained for Russian on the spot, the stock were public sale St. Petersburg Yellow Candle being still small and in the hands of few parties ; but chandlers and soap-makers only purchase sufficient for their immediate wants. At c y wt. A stronger desire, however, has been shown to operate for forward delivery, and at 41s to 41s 3d per cwt. in bond a good business has been transacted for the last bought tl at tas4k2sa to o f 4 fl 2 r a s first u p a e l r i t three months of the year. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. DEAR SIR,—I will feel greatly obliged if you will please to insert in your valuable paper the following :—I was a pas senger in the Boulogne boat to London of last Sunday, and I am happy to say that when I went on Monday for my lug gage I never met with such politeness, nor such gentleman like officers as those employed at the Customs' luggage room. It would be a great credit to my country if they had such gentlemen employed, as they boast it is the country of politeness ; travellers would suppose they arrive dans un pays de barbare when .they land at Boulogne. or any French port. I hope, Sir, you will find I have not intruded. May 18, 1846. A FRENCHMAN. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. MANCHESTER, MAT 19. STOCK Elm:Lamm-The sales are-Ambsrgate, Nottingham, and Eastern Junction, 3 4 dis.-Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 1% p.-Biackturn, Clitheroe, &c., 1 dis.-Blackburn, Dar wen and Bolton, dis.-Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, % Chelmsford and Bury, 16s. Gd. c. dis.-Derby and Crewe, 3% p. Eastern Counties, York Extension, 14 p.-East Lancashire, No. 2, 37 p.-East Lincolnshire, dis.-Glasgow and Dumfries, %c. dig. -Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, &c., p.-Grand Union, % dls.- Lancashire North Yorkshire, 5-16 dis.-Leicester and Bedford, 1 c. p.-Liverpool and Bury, 93q p.-Ditto, New Shares, 2 p.-Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, and Southport, par-London and York, 14 c. dis.-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 1 5-16 p.-Man chester and Birrninghani, 80%-Ditto, Quarters (A), 8 15-16 p.- Ditto (B), p.-Ditto (C), 7%-Manchester and Birmingham Con titillation and Welsh Junction, 16s. 9d. dis.-Manchester and Bury Atmospheric, 9s. c. dis.-Manchester and Southampton, par- Northumberland and Lancashire, 20s. c. dis.-North British, Carlisle Branch, 1 4 p.-North Staffordshire, 4 1.16 p.-Nottingham and Mansfield, 3 (W.-Oldham District, Bs. Gd. p.-Sheffield and Lin colnshire Junction, 6s. p.-Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 3, % c. p.-South Midland, 1 4 p.-South-Eastern and Dover, Halves, No. 4,9 a. 3d. p.-Trent Valley Continuation, Re., 19s. dis.- Trent Valley Midland, Re., c. dis.-Welsh Midland, 14 dis.- West Lancashire Coast, 10s. c. dis.-West Riding Union, 2% p.- Whitehaven and Furness, 2% dis.-York and Carlisle, 1 5 4 dia. HUDDERSFIELD, MAT 19. STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are -Amber g ate, Nottin g ham, and Boston, uarters , 1 6 3 s s . . ddi!s_.-HCulldtdheersrofieeldJ, Halifax, and Bradford Union, 4/. Bs.unction, 13s. dis.-Great Grimsby, Q M.-Lancashire, Yorkshire, and North Eastern, 2ss. dis Leeds and York, 2/. Bs.-London, Salisbury, and Yeovil, 305.-Manchester, Huddersfield, and Great Grimsby, 22 5 .-South Midlands, 265. Gd. p. NEWCASTLE-UPO N-TYNE, MAY 19. STOCK ExenArma.-The sales are-Eastern Counties, York Ex tensicin, 275. 6d. p.-Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 6s. 6d. dig.- Leicester and Bedford, p.-North British, Halves (Ilawick), 4p. -Negth Staffordshire, 4% p.-Newcastle and Dlington Exten sions, 9 p.-Northumberland and Lancashire, 1 dis.- ar South Midland, 1 34-West Riding Union, 34 p. iA. HULL, MAT 19 . STotK EtedAteols.-The sales are-York and North Mid land , East and West Riding, 11% -Blackburn, Damen, and Bolton, 7- Leeds and Dewsbury, 1434-North Britisri, Carlisle Branch , 49 5. 6 d. -Armagh, Coleraine, and Portrush, 12s. 6d.-Buckin g hamshire, 2/. 95.-Derby, and Galnsborough, 145. -East Coast, 18s.-Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, Re., 2/. 9s. 6d. - G rimsby, Louth, and Horn. castle, 225.-Hull and Barnsley Junction, 265.-Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 375.-Leicester and Bedfo rd, 255. 6d.-London and York, g Bux ton, and Matl oc k, 3%-North Staffordshire, 61. U.-South Midland, B',y-Manton and Driffield Junctio n, 425.-Manchester, 31.7x.-West Riding Union, 5. SHEFFIELD, MAT 19. STscfcx Exesurrog.-The sales are -Grimsby and Sheffield, 34 dls.-Ditto, Quarter Shares, ss. dis.-North British, 8 p.-East Lincolnshire, 2s. 6d. dis.-Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, ss. dis.- Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction, 2 1 ,4 dis.-Manchester and Lincoln Union and Canal, 138. 6d. dis.-North Western, 1 is. p. -Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 7s. 6d. p.-Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe, 138. 4118.-South Yorkshire Coal Railway 2s. 6d. dis. YORK, MAY 19. &roux Excnixol.—The sales are—lpswich and bury, 6—Ditto, Extension (Norwich), 11. 14s.—Leicester and Bedford, 1/. 3s.—Lon don and York, 2/. 13s.—Malton and Driffield Junction, 21. 4s. 6d. —Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 31. 148.—Newcastle and Berwick, 25%—Newcastle and Darlington (Brandling), 44% North British, Carlisle Extension, 2%—North Staffordshire, 61. 9s. 6d.—North Western, 11. 1 is.—West Riding Union, 6—York and North Midland, New (East and West Riding), 11%. Northers,ana Northern, 3Bs- EDINBURGH, MAT 16. - STOCK EXCHANGE.-Tho sales are-Aberdeen, Banff , and Elgin, 285.-Airdrie and Bathgate, 535. 6d.-Caledonian, 338 . - Dir ect 6 E l dln 3 b s. urg_ D h it a t n o il , LLeoiethligAeitimy,os2p3hse.ri_cF, 205.-anEdinburghe Junction, 35E4-Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 345.-Inverness and Elgin, 218.-Lanark and Lothians, 448.-North British, Extension to Carlisle. 505.-Perth and Inverness, 335.-Scottish Central, 161. 55. -South Midland, 725. 6d. GLASGOW, MAT 18. STOCK ExchAsTms.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 6L-Airdrie and Bathgate, 555.-Arbroath and Forfar, 2614 -Bridge of Weir, 445 : 6 d. - Caledonian Extension, 335.-Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Ex tension, 31s. 6d.-Caledonian Direct Northern, 335.- Carnwath and West Linton, 228.-East Indian Railway , 16s. 9d. -Edinburgh and Northern, 6 -Forth and Clyde Junct ion, 34s. -Glasgow General , Terminus, 91. 195.-Gl asg ow and Belfast Unio n, 418.-Glasgow, Kil marnock, and Ayr, 74L -Glasgow, Dumfrie s, and Carlisle, 398.- Glasgow and Greenock, 171.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 1 375. 6d.-Great Indian Peninsular, 34 I Bs.-Great N orth of India, ss. 6d. -Inverness and Elgin, 205.-Lanark an d Lothians, 435.-Larne, Belfast, and Ballymena, 155.-Lesma.hagow, 475. 6d.-London, Bris tol, and South Wales, 188.-Mancheste r and Southampton, 425. 6d. -Perth and Inverness, 325.-Scottish Central, New, 7 1 A-Scottish Central And Caledonian AuNticw, 308.--Bouth Midland, 61s. 6d.