The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 24, 1046. call the attention of the house to the state of the prisons under tion, and which was to shed light and happiness on tha the jurisdiction of the City of London. world. And what was it that the Hon. Gentleman proposed? AFFAIRS OF GREECE, why, to give a preponderance to the agricultural interest—to Mr. COCHRANE wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentle man at the head of the Government whether the Greek Go• vernment had paid the interest upon the loan granted by this country ? Also whether the Right Hon. Gentleman had any objection to lay on the table a copy of the dispatch of Lard Aberdeen to Sir Edmund Lyons, in which payment of the interest was required. He also wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman whether he had received any official communication of the report that the recent mails in passing the Isthmus of Corinth had been attacked by banditti, the letters torn out, and some of them destroyed; and whether those addressed to Sir Edmund Lyons had been torn up, while those addressed to Colletti had been spared? Sir ROBERT PEEL said the interest on the loan had not been paid. Should ne provision be made for it by the Greek Government, it would be their duty, under the convention of the united powers, to make the requisite provision far the payment of the interest. The next payment would take place in a short pe riod. With respect to the last dispatches upon that subject, and in reply to the questions of the Hon. Member, he was pre pared to give no other reply, and with respect to the report concerning the stoppage of the courier, the only information that he had received was contained in a letter from Sir Edmund Lyons. From that they learnt that the courier had been stopped with the letters and dispatches of the 3d of September, and that all the letters and dispatches had been opened and their contents rifled. He believed this to be the agency of banditti. The only letter which had not been opened appeared to be a communication addressed by a Greek chief of the name of Rallish to the Greek Consul-General. All these letters had been opened, he believed, with the expectation that they contained money, and with the view of securing it. THE INDIAN CONFLICT. Sir R. INGLIS wish to ask the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government some questions respecting the intelligence which was lately said to have been received from India. The Right Hon. Baronet must be aware of the great anxiety that prevailed on the subject, and he would beg to inquire, therefore, whether the Government had received any dispatches by the last East India mail? Secondly, whether the information which had been published by the morning papers was substantially correct ? Thirdly, whether the returns which had been received, if there were any, would be published in an extra Gazette to-morrow morning, and whether it would Contain returns of all the casualties which were reported to have taken place during the battles ? Lastly, what was likely to be the effect of the circumstances which had just taken place in India? Sir R. PEEL was triite ready to give an answer to the ques. thin of his Hon. Friend, that information had been received. The dispatches he had not himself seen, but he had received a letter from his Hon. Friend the Governor-General ; and from that he had learnt that the statements in the papers, so far as the facts were concerned, were substantially correct, so far as that a great battle had been fought, and that a great victory had been gained, though he regretted to ttate not without serious loss to the British army. However, the fullest information which the Government possessed would be given to the public without delay. The dispatches were now being copied, and would be published in an extra Gazette at the earliest possible moment. FRANCHISE OF IRELAND. Mr. O'CONNELL wished to ask the questions of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government of which he had given notice, respecting the municipal and elec tive franchise of Ireland ; as also whether it was his intention to bring in any Bill on the part of the Government for affording compensation to the tenantry of Ireland for any improvements which they had effected on the lands in their occupation, in the event of their being put out of possession. The letters were these-Ist. Whether it be the intention of her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present session, to enable the same proportion, as nearly , as can be, of the people of Ireland to enjoy the elec tive franchise with the comparative proportion of the population of England enjoying that franchise ? 2nd. Whether it be the intention of her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present session, to enable the people of Ireland to return a just and an adequate number of representatives to this House? 3rd. Whether it he the inten tion of her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present session, to equalise the franchise and powers in the Municipal Reform Act for Ireland with the same franchises and powers conceded by the Municipal Reform Act of England to the English Corporations ? 4th. Whether it be the inten tion of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill, during the present session, to give to tenants in Ireland adequate and full compensation for improvements made upon their lands daring the tenantcy ? Sir R. PEEL was quite ready to give as full a reply as ho was able, to the questions of the lion. and Learned Gentleman. And in answer to his first question, he must beg to observe that it was the intention of her Majesty's Govern ment to give precedence to the measures of the most pressing importance which were now before the House. Those measures had a large reference to the commercial interests of the country ; and the Government, therefore, felt that it was a paramount duty to bring them to a conclusion without interfering with their progress by the introduction of any other measure ire() the House. There were, then, other measures of importance which concerned the financial concerns of the country. These being disposed of, he had no hesitation in saying that tt was the intention of her Ma jesty's Government to introduce measures upon the points to which the Noble and Learned Gentleman had referred. In reply to the first of these inquiries, it had been decided that Ireland was entitled to the same extent of elective franchise, in proportion to its inhabitants and means, as England. That it was intended to assimilate the municipal franchise with that of England, and that it was but just, in their opinion, to give the tenants of land sufficient compensation for the capital which they might have expended in the improvement of their holding. He would state nothing more with regard to the precise nature of the measures which the Government contemplated. And he thought it would be unfair to press him further on that point. (Cheers ) The next case occurs in the county of Roscommon, and it is communicated by the manager of the National Bank in that town, who was a person not calculated to have excited the animosity of the labouring classes. He states that his mother resides a short way out of the town of Roscommon, and that on the 7th of January last her house was entered between eight and nine at night by a body of armed men, and she was forced upon her knees to take an oath that she would discharge her bog-herd, and appointed to his place another person whom they named. The gentleman who communicated this case was Mr. B. G. Irvin ; and he added that the acts of these lawless banes ne,l thrown all the peaceful inhabitants of the district into a state of the utmost alarm. Mr. O'CONNELL desired to know whether the Govern. ment would have any objection to lay on the table of the House a copy o" the correspondence passed between the Lord Lieu tenant of Ireland and the inhabitants of Westmeath respecting the case of Brian Seery ? Sir J. GRAHAM, who was indistinctly heard, was under stood to say that the Government would have no objection. There had been an address to the Lord Lieutenant praying that the law might take its course ; he regretted deeply such an unusual proceeding.—( Hear.) But that interference had no effect in deciding the intentions of the Executive, which were founded on a most careful investigation of the entire of the evidence.—( Hear, hear.) With respect to the third por tion of the H in. Gentleman's question, namely, whether there be any instance in England, for the last century, of any person being tried for any capital felony, by a second jury, after the firstjury was discharged by the court, at the same session of assizes, and convicted and executed ; and if so, state the time, place, and name of the individual. He would excuse him if he were not sufficiently versed in the practice of the law, but in the year 1794, at the summer assisea at York, there was a man tried for murder before Mr. Justice Lawrence, and the first jury having disagreed, he or dered a second to be sworn, who convicted the prisoner; and, notwithstanding a representation to the Home Secretary, the law was allowed to take its course. The judge in that case had not summed up, because one of the jury had been taken ill, and that jury was discharged and another jury sworn, who convicted the prisoner. A case had also occurred on the Alidland Circuit recently, before Mr. Justice Coltman. The prisoner was a female in that case, named Hannah Jarvis, who was indicted for murder. The jury could come to no decision at that, the spring assizes, but at the following the summer assizes, the prisoner was again put upon her trial upon the same indictment, and she was acquitted ; but fie cited this as a case in which the principle mentioned by the Hon. Member was acted upon. The point had also been solemnly argued before the Lord Chief Baron and Baron Brady, and decided by them. It arose out of a case in which Baron Brady had passed sentence of death upon a prisoner, and upon the case being referred to the Lord Lieutenant, and by him to the judge, it was decided that the law should take its course. Mr. O'CONNELL tt as aware that some eases had been de cided in Ireland somewhat similar to those mentioned by the Right Hon. Baronet, such for instance as the celebrated case of the Doneraile conspiracy ; but in that case all that was known was that Baron Penefather, who was the first criminal judge ,in Ireland, had given an opinion, but the opinion itself was not known. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was glad to hear from the Right lion; Baronet opposite, that he was about to introduce mute sures for the better administration of the elective and municipal franchise in Ireland, as well as with reference to tie tenant interest in that country ; but he would wish to know whether those measures would be introduced before a measure of another character, affecting Ireland, about to be introduced in the other House of Parliament, should come before that House. Sir ROBERT PEEL.—I would rather not answer that question. give power to one class. Now, he could not admit the prin ciples which had been propounded by the Hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Disraeli). If those principles were to be adopted nothing but confusion must arise. It was neither more nor less than saying that for the benefit of class interests the whole community must be distressed. The next question was that which had been proposed by the Right Honourable Baronet First Lord of the Treasury. The great question was, whether protection was right or wrong, and what course they should adopt con cerning it. It appeared that the country was divided into two great parties—the moneyed and the industrial, he ought to say the agricultural interests. If they favoured one, they could not but injure the other. It was evident, therefore' that protection was either a delusion or a fraud. If they were to protect one at the expense of the other, it was making the Sovereign of the country not the Sovereign of the people, but of a faction or a party. He could not see how the dis tinction was to be drawn. They bad been told that protection ought to be shown to the colonial interests. If such were to be the case exclusively, what reason would not they who have to do with foreign commerce have to com plain of the restrictions imposed by the duties on the articles in which they dealt ? It was, in fact, giving a benefit to one portion of the empire at the expense of the rest. In conclusion, he would thank the House for the attention they had bestowed on him, and he would merely state, that feel rug the necessity and importance of carrying the measure as speedily as possible, he should give the Government his humble but most cordial support. They bad, in circumstances of pecu liar difficulty, followed a course most consistent with their own honour and with their duty to their Sovereign.—( Hear. ) Captain BATESON observed, that during the whole of the protracted debate but one Irishman had spoken to the question, and he,therefore, rose to state that he would Rive his most decided opposition to the proposed measures of the Government. He held in his hand an extract from a report by Mr. Leonard Falk ner, a Factory Commissioner, in 1845, in which he states that a vast number of accidents arise in consequence of the cogs of the wheels of the " throstle break" not being properly " boxed." The Hon. Member having concluded reading the extract, he said that the recommendations contained in the report for the amelioration of the condition of the working people in factories had particular reference to the factory of John Bright, Brothers, of Rochdale.— ( Hear, hear.) And he would now leave it to the House to say whether the Honourable Member was sincere in his sympathies for the poor, whether his regrets for their condition were not feigned, and his philanthrophy spurious.—(Hear.) One word more in reference to that Hon. Member, and he had done with him. He had been asked what was the compara tive duration of human life in Wiltshire and Manchester, hut he did not think proper to answer the question. But he (Captain Bateson) could tell the House that in Wiltshire the average duration of human li.e was thirty-three years. while in Maneltester it was only seventeen. Hear, hear.) Having made these observations, he would now confine his remarks to his own unhappy country. No man regretted more than he did the failure of the potato crop in Ireland; but would it not be a mockery to say that the people of Ireland would be benefited by lowering the price of the 'agricul tural produce of a people, eleven-twelfths of whom depended upon it for support ?—( Hear, hear.) The Drainage Bill would be one which, under the fostering case of protection, would much benefit Ireland. Employment had been acknowledged on all hands to be one of the most efficacious means of relieving the misery and distress that prevailed in Ireland ; and he (the Hon. Member) had fondly looked forward to the improvement of land as a means of increasing employment, when prosperity would be certain to increase in proportion as distress diminished, and so would the people of Ireland be vastly benefited.—( Hear, hear.) But if the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman sheuld be carried, could any person expect or suppose that the landlords would by out their capital with the certainty of loss staring them in the face ?—( Hear, hear.) Could the tenant afford to reclaim the bog and sow it with corn, so as t o compete in the market with the foreigner, who had the advantages of climate and land in a superior state of cultivation ?—( Hear, hear.) No; the b, g would remain barren, and the hill-side would continue to ' grow nothing but heather ; and one of the chief channels of employment would thus be blocked up. He felt strongly on the question, both for the sake of the agriculturist and manufacturer. In the north of Ireland the hand-loom weaver was often a farmer; and under the present system of protection, in one small town 18,000/. worth of linen gas sold at the weekly market ; but should the present measure pass, trade would be destroyed, and the agriculture of the country would be shut out by means of foreign competition. He protested against the measure as being an unnecessary, a hazardous, and a revolutionary s-.heme.—( Hear, bear.) No doubt the mea sure would have the effect of stimulating the advocates for repeal of the union to increased exertions. They would say to the farmer, " England has deprived you of the advantage which her markets have hitherto given for the sale of your corn, butter, beef, and pork—your occupation is gone, and you are in no better position than the foreign trader, and can you now refuse to cry, huzza for the repeal of the union ?" He would again implore the Howe to pause before it placed so dangerous a weapon in the hand of designing agitators. He confessed that it was with feelings of apprehension and alarm, that he looked forward to the proba bility of this measure passing into a law, the consequence of which it was impossible to foresee. It might be the fore shadowing of another revolution which would affect things of a more vital interest, and lead to the destruction of all for which we once prized the English eor.stitution. He would not take up the time of the House by alluding at length to the smellne,s of the compensation which had been given to Ireland, he should only state one fact, which was, that in Lon donderry the average charge for the police force for the last three years was 2,217/. 10s. 5d., which was a ve r y sma ll fraction above Id. per acre. If the Government had intended to relieve Ireland, why not forego the repayment of the loan for the erection of workhouses in that country ?—that would have been considered a real boon. At present the only persons that would be benefited by the compensation would be the midnight legislators, who require a large police force. He asked the House if it would sanction by its deliberate decision— would the House declare that there was to be a new faith for its Members—were its Members to become weather cocks, veering about at every breath of popular opinion, to point nut the quarter from which the blast of agitation was strongest? He should still abide by the old war-cry of the country, "No sur render !" But, however, let him give them this warning, that while they were advancing the doctrines of free trade, they did not injure the very cause which they most desired to serve ; that whilst they were urging proceeding on the impulse of this age, and endeavouring to go onwards, :let them take care that whilst their progress was onwards, it was not at the same time downwards. Now, let him ask the Right Hon. Baronet whether, in the concoction of this comprehensive measure he provided for the contingency—for be was bound to provide for all contingencies—if he had provided for contingency that in the event of its proving by dear bought experience that his measure had failed—that in the event of these acres which he was now throwing out of cultivation remaining untilled, supplies from abroad failing, the industry of the great manufacturing distric's being paralysed, and famine and want staring that in dustrious community in the face, he begged to ask the Right Honourable Baronet whether, in the event of such a contin gency as that, he had made any provision for retracing his steps, and restoring the country to prosperity and abundance—. " Facilis descensus averni, sed revocare grad= hic labor est." Mr. MONTAGUE GORE was anxious to justify the vote which he was about to give, and the opinions which he now entertained of the subject before the House ; and he was anxious to do this for the respect he entertained for a great party within the House, and also for a great party out of doors. In doing this, he must beg to remind the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, that if there was a consistency which was a great and noble quality, and which he hoped would always b' met with in this country, there was of asalospoinaionno:hheer. species, of which obstinacy and s e lf-i n t erest were ingredients When Hon. Gentlemen talked about chan ges could convince them that in every great question which had agitated this country there had been great changes of opinion. On that great question of the corn-laws a great change of opinion had taken place in those who had in 1814 and 1815 maintained that any price below 90s. a quarter for wheat could not be remunerative. Mr. Huskisson, in 1814, was a strong advocate of 'protection mea sures ; and yet, as every one knew, he subsequently de clared that the corn-laws could not be maintained. If it were an error to change, then were the public and all parties guilty of the charge. He (Mr. Gore) would consider himself un worthy of a seat in that House—he would ccnsider himself unworthy of taking part in any public debates—if, when con vinced of an error he did not come forward and manfully and frankly avow it. But he considered it a very material point that a question which distracted public councils to such an ex tent should have a settlement, especially when no injury could arise to any of the great public interests of the country from its being done.—(Hear, hear.) When they looked to their colonial possessions —their Indian empire —they must see how desirable it was to their interests that these measures should pass, and that energy should be imparted to the executive Government. He would not have vo'ed in suppoi t of the Minister on the sato plea of the necessity of a settlement, if he were not eilittbeed that these measures might bs passed without detrimelle to the public interests.-.. ( Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary for the War Department, made use of a term which has been laid hold of in a sense which he did not mean it to signify ; he said, that the agriculturists were acting under a delusion— he meant under mistaken views. He (Mr. Ger ) perfectly agreed with him in that opinion, for it was quite a delusion to consider that the country would be deluged with an inun dation of corn. He would just state the result of his inquiries on this subject. According to Mr. Jacob's report in Dantzic the price of wheat averaged at forty shillings the quarter. They should then add freightage and the expenses of landing and lading. A friend of his stated that he paid 4s. Bd. for freightage, Is. 4d. for insurance, and 6s. 9d. for lading and landing, in all 12s. 9d. Another gentle man of the highest respectability makes it 10s. At Odessa, in 1840, wheat averaged 345. per quarter. And he had been informed that for freightage it was usual to pay 8s 61, insurance Is. 4d., and lading 55., in all 14s. 10d. Another gentleman made the extra charges amount to 15s. With regard to capital being in those countries, or that they were progressing in agricultural improvement, be had only to say that those countries did not possess either capital or improved agriculture, because the facilities for conveyance were so few and bad that capital could not be la vested there t and labour was wantei there, because the present was of feudal tenure and the labourers were little better than serfs. In Odessa matters were not better than In Dantzic, because the roads were noi. only bad, but the corn was brought by bullocks, and they were so scarce that very little competition need be feared from that guar ter for many years. it had been said that an immense Inundation , of corn might be expected from America ; but there was a great want of capital in America also, and labour was very high there, and the ciilllvation of the land not good. ( fhe lion. Member then read a speech deiivereel at Albany, by a member of an avieultural society, to show that the porn crops of that State were often defl dent, and did not in some years average twelve bushels an acre. In the course of the debate many allusions had been made as to what would be the remunerative price to a farmer; and he should then say that, In his opinion, a more difficult question coulti not be put. for if there existed a diversity of opinion on any question, the present a :a ce :Z:7. —(Hear, hoar.) If they looked at the great int- Provement that had taken place in agriculture, they would find that improvement had taken place in manufactures. If _ . y d t t i ook the history of the country for many years past, they would improvement ,o mp r t 7 h e6 c to r o e iookw a w i h i nvesl nah mo t a o c o t k il r p e l s a e . e in agriculture, a corres twiehe3r:arla This fact was evident in uian ufact u n p r , es a lt i gan ti t m o e r p ls o e im i i n ,iti l o n i i i po r r A tuAcr y . increased, tho two sprang b a r in a t iiehes were most flourishing, anti his opinion on th tt t NV , :le backed by the best authorities. lie mentioned a remarkable Spanish people had pursued I ,3 7lAl:stance regariling Spain. The their colonies, and nothing but distreisas o a f i Ttgetion - with respect to sai,l Occurred. At last new cotinStels prevailed, and a b etter systei was the consequenee? Thecllonte s w ag .adopted. What the p 7 al 6s. pla l c V e l s ta th t .a:as benefited by it. Atiutlior people of Spain obtained great alyanta,,,,e:ommYtitri o.st :a.l:o:l,l,;anctdfc, l i which was the pi cclai con dition. ,ny.as,ThthisaitVeapsardiiinizic, tho the change, was:the circumstance which he wouldrefer to was the great im provement made by tli ( p_ formation tnar,,,as of a turike roads. When they were first talked great landa,ppratensiir that serious loss to they would be a t extent, as Adam smith 154,1 shown, t w il e e l y l b t k ah n d e o y in " w o o l ta g a t d o vt:tssi,:laae Inj l u ;, 1 8 1_ , of those lands which it had been sup posedßut he would now revert to the measure would 4ff'cf flip polgtion of the tll6 Way 14 Which the t 1 t with high prices there were alefeve which hut! 911011Pti in this debate, viz., It ha Peftn asserted la most important point wh poor. a but he believed, that if the times were taken from long Period- ; - • ,; ‘ ,O of greats scarcity they had high wages. 81.101 migpt be the case if the estimates were tO be 4kett when there had been ij.e thought it would be better to take tide years as they eth ; _e., and he always preyed periods of great Pe di t st f, lie lasi s o s found that in 1795, when tin harvest vas crop was better, it Was been 61. 6s. per quarter. 17711, v4° 7l t hen bad sir quality, aPd ,565. a quarter. In 1797, the corn ha W. de ed flC - i c e a n cu t, that wheat 110 799 heat had risen and tlie stoat WI keen so kept down, t defteient, in qiiantity; - it had risen icuolsiderwably in Vide, to 925. 7d. a quarter. In 1800, when the harvest had been ex tremely bad, it was up as I.igh as 10.55. per quarter. And in 1801, when the same harvest still continued deficient, it had risen to 108 s., and bread was as high as Is. 1034 d. the four-pound loaf. The corn law had no advantage to those for whose benefit it had been established. It could not be possible to name a period in whirls greater fluctuation in prices had taken place than from 1814 down to the present time. Ile fully agreed in the sentiments expressed by the Right Lion. - Gentleman the Secretary at War. The corn-law had not worked so well as many Hon. Gentle men supposed for the welfare of the agriculturists. Let them consider how the shipping interest had been Influenced by it. Nothing was so injurious to that interest as great fluctuation in prices. Under a corn-law they had sudden demand for foreign corn, which brought sudden demand for shipping. Freightage of course rose, and the shipowners got great profits, but the moment a variation in price took place, then the demand for shipping ceased, and a very considerable loss was sustained. It should be the object of the Government, when they reflected on the poverty of their fellow-countrymen, to extend the means of supplying them with the necessaries of life, by permitting corn to be imported, not only from Europe, but America.— (Hear.) He did not believe that it was by unduly swelling any one interest to an unnatural proportion that the well-being of the country could be secured, but by cordially assisting to make equal laws for all, that the symmetry and vigour of the whole State could be preserved. If the permanent prosperity of this country was desirable, it could only be secured by equal laws. He would, therefore, cordially support this motion, while, at the same time, he should say that he honoured the firmness of those who had opposed the measure from conviction. Mr. It. A. FITZGERALD said, that until a recent period lie had no intention of occupying a seat on the benches of that House, or troubling Hon. Gentlemen with his opinions. However, witnessing the awful visitation w hi c h i t h a d p l eased Providence to inflict on his country, and dreading the consequences that might follow, he thought it his bounden duty to attend there, and urge as far as his humble ability would allow him, to impress on the minds of her Ma jesty's Ministers the necessity of taking immediate steps to prevent the horrors consequent on pestilence in that important portion of the British Empire.—(Hear, hear.) It was with no small gratifi cation he had listened to the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Ministry the other night, and most cordially and warmly did lie corroborate every statement made by hint —most willingly did he concur in every opinion advanced by that Right Hon. Gentleman ; and most grateful did he feel, also, to the Right • Hon. Gentleman the Secretary for the Home Department, for the anxiety he had evinced in bringing forward measures for the pro motion and encouragement of employment-- thus giving the people of Ireland a means of providing food, of which they stood so much in need. He regretted that teeth Right Hon. Gentlemen were ab sent, as he should feel a deep satisfaction in expressing to them the feelings by which he was then actuated. But though he felt that these measures would be proauctive of great good, yet they were not of that comprehensive nature which the distress of the people of Ire land demanded. At the same time, lie had hopes, from the opinions he had heard expressed by Hon. Gentlemen, that measures would be brought forward as further evidences of the good inten tions of her Majesty's Ministers towards Ireland, and their wish to remedy the evils that afflicted that country.—(Hear, hear.) He was not going to answer the statements made by the Hon. Mem ber for Londonderry, with regard to manufactures, as he confessed that he was better acquainted with the details respecting land. Neither was it his wish to notice the accusation made against Messrs. Bright and Co., as he had no doubt if that Hon. Member were in his place he would be able to answer everything satisfactorily. With regard to the measure now proposed, and the consideration of which had occupied the House for so many nights past, he would say that lie fully concurred in its principles. Ile thought that the agricul turists ought to have time for preparation, as the speech of the Hon. Member for Durham had convinced him that any sudden change would be more injurious than beneficial. Ile regretted the calaoe. ties that had recently occurred to Ireland, and he felt sure that what ever happened to that country would interest England ; but he certainly did regret that the connexion between the nations had not been of a more cordial nature. He would take another opportunity of expressing his opinions on that subject. When the measure of the Right Honourable Baronet had been first spoken of; it had excited the greatest alarm, but only amongst his own constituents in Ireland. lie thought that the measure was likely to be very disastrous, but the alarm was allevi at, d by the statement, that in that part of the Empire compensation would be given far any injury sustained. There is no doubt that it would be nutted, and they were quite ready to take,thein on either side.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) When the nature, however, of the measure was known, the whole of the alarm was im mediately dissipated; and the country, and he himself might say for his coustituents especially, that they were prepared to give their whole support to the Government. Some Honourable Gentlemen were very much in the habit of talking of going forward in legislation at a railroad pace. Now, he had no ob jection to going forward, but, at the same time, he should not like to go downwards.— (Hear.) A steady pace forwardly would be more for the advantage of this great empire. The position of the Irish nation was between the two parties in that House. They conceived that their interests were generally opposed by the party on the Mi nisterial side, and they usually looked upon gentlemen on his (Mr. Fitzgerald's) side as friends. The Irish people were now placed it: this dilemma. They were befriended by those on whom they had been accustomed to look as enemies, and found their interests op posed by those whom they all along regarded as their friends. He felt satisfied that in the vote he should give he would receive the thanks of his constituents. lie thought that the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government had evinced great moral courage in the part he had acted, and had shown himself worthy of that high position which he occupied as the chief Minister of this great empire. —(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet, in the measure which he had brought fonvard, had considered the interests of the whole nation, and had not sacrificed those interests to the aggrandisement of a class.—(Hear, and cheers.) Captain LOCKHART, who was almost inaudible in the gallery, was understood to say, that the products of this country required moderate protection, but that one article of produce was not entitled more than another to the exclusive advantages of protection. He was elected a Member of that House, to represent a numerous con stituency on protective principles.—(Hear, hear, front the protee tionists)—and had heard no new principle or argument brought for ward which would induce him to change his opinion.—(Hear.) Ile did not see that the House was to be called upon to repeal the corn-laws, in order to remove a temporary evil—a simple provision might surely be found for a remedy, without disturbing and destroy - ing the different great existing laterests. It had been argued that the eeperience which had been seen since 1843 fbrnisited abundant reason for the ebandomnent of protection. He (Captain Lockhart) was of opinion, on the contrary, that the effects of the measure of 1843 were a strong evidence in favour of the continuance of moderate protection. It had been presumed, that when Great Britain should set the example of free-trade, the whole world would simultaneously follow it. Such an idea was, however, purely chimerical, and would not be relied on. The Hon and Gallant Member having briefly afuded to the displacement of interests which - would ensue in agri culture and commerce when the measure should come into fiat operation, proceeded to say that he, had met with experien c ed farmers, who were of opinion that the effect of the Bill would be to throw much land out of cultivation. He would read a brief extract from a letter which lie had received frotn a friend, a practical far mer, who was a great admirer of the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Government. "If," wrote his friend, " Sir tobert Peel succeeds in carrying his intended Corn Bill it will ruin this part of the country. The greater portion of our inferior land will be thrown out of cultivation, and the grass land will in a few years be come altogether useless." The measure opened up an alarming prospect for Great Britain. The policy which was now being pur sued was similar to that which ruined ancient Roine, and it was his sincere hope that it would no longer be followed up.—(Cheers.) Sir GEORGE CLERK, after what had falee from Hon. Members around, would make a few observations. After the Bill had been se fully debated, he thought it would he useless for hint further to parti cularise its merits ; but he would confine himself simply to its de fence. It had been stated that the policy of the Goverement reseived itself Into two heads, one of which was to provide for an emergency, and the other to construct a system. One lion. member had Sato that it was to carry out a new system of commercial policy. it, (Sir George Cie, k) would altogether deny that it was to carry out i new system of commercial policy. if lilt Right Hon. Friend carne, out this measure, it would he merely a continuance of the principle, ~Lich characterised the measure of 1842 ; or, to go further back those principles which the Right Hon. Gentleman entertained, it common with the late Mr. Htiskisson, in the year 1824. Even ai that period it had been stated that the Government had run wild witl, the notion of free trade.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He thought that to follow the course of policy which had been pursued by this country for the last twenty years could not be considered as constructing a novel system of policy. As respected the emergency of the case, he wished he could consider it as only of a temporary nature: —(Bear, hear.) He would go a link further forward, with respect to the dreadful fate that awaited Ire land, than the present time. It must be borne in mind that potatoes will be wanted for the years 1847 and 1848 and 1849 as well as for tee present year. The crop of the present year was so completely destroyed that it would be impossible to furnish seed sufficient for the next season. He had been informed In his own neighbourhood that this disease had never been known before to have reached so exten sive a height as at present The answer which had been made the other night to a question from the Hon. Member for Cockermoutli with respect to this disease, would be a sufficient reply to the Honourable Gentleman who talked of this matter as a mere "temporary emergency." it was very much to be feared that this disease would not be confined to this year, but there was reason to apprehend that it would extend to the next and future years. It was not to be wondered 'at, that they did not get panics to agree on this subject of the potato rot, for it was very various in different districts of the country ; and as gentlemen received their informa tion, so they held their opinions and expressed them. Bet then was one test to which they might refer, as to what was the red; extent of the calamity. They were' all aware that the polite( formed a very large proportion cf the food of this metropolis,—what then was the state of the supply of the London market? He foune upon inquiries, that the supply during the last four months of tie last half-3%er, ending in 1845, amounted to 770,000 sacks, whit during the same period, from the Ist of October last to tie 14th of January, they had only 540,000 sacks, showing a titling off to one-third of the supply to tile metropolis— (Hear, hear)—amid if a similar inquiry were made with respect to the state of theirlarge ma nufacturing districts, such as Manchester and Bi rm i ngham, t h ey would find that the difference amounted to a much greater proportion. Let them now look to what had been the effect of this scarcity upon prices in London. At the end of January, 1844, potatoes by the ton averaged from 50 shillings to 80 shillings; at the end of January the present year they rated from 80 to IGO shillings, tht lowest price being nearly double what it was before. The pool people would now be driven to purchase bread for food, and it was an ascertained fact, that in those parts of the town inhabited by the poorer classes, the bakers that before baked but 10 sacks were now baking 12, showing an increase in the consumption of flour of 10 per cent. When they took these circumstances together—when they considered the crop had not been sufficient to supply the demand lot food—although they had been importing largely for the last six year —when they were aware that the whole supply for Ireland wet likely to be cut off—that there was already an increase of 10 poi cent. on the demand for flour, amid that the reports from Yorkshire, from whence their chief supply of potatoes came, stated that that supply would not hold out till the month of May— he would ask them what was the best course for the Govern ment to pursue? Was it not their duty to endeavour to prevent impediments from being thrown in the way of an adequate supply of provisions for the country.—(Loud cheers.) He should wish also to advert to what was perfectly well known, that in consequenet of the great variability of the season, the hervest, though not deficient is bulk, was exceedingly so in the weight and quality in the grain. Whet was the effect that this deficiency had Liven the averages in last autumn, when it was of the utmost Importance ti the country to procure a supply of foreign corn—when they knew that the potato disease had extended over the 'whole of the country— and when it was well known that the harvest in Europe had failed to a very great extent, in consequence of which Holland and Bel gium had removed all impedimenta to the free imp elation of corn —(Cheers.) At that very time we found that the price of corn averaged very low, while the averages of the duty were moving In the opposite direction, and were rapid].) rising. No subject attracted the more anxious attention Of the Government than these facts. They compared week by week the quantities of corn exported with those imported, amid they fount that the proportion of the former was very trifling. If they perceived, however, that tile supply was not sufficient, would It not have been their bounden duty to have opened the ports and prevented that supply from beina:diminished by exportation ? And-in such an emergency the Government would be justified In taking upon themselves to open the: ports.—(flear, hear.) What was the great argument for; the systemi of the sliding scale ? namely, that it contained within itself a self-adjusting principle, The Hon. Member had said a great deal of Russia, and spoke of that country as if Great Britain derived the whole of her supply of food from it ; but he would show the lion. Member that he was mis taken, and that England never did get from Russia this enormous supply of food which he appeared to think she did. But at the period to which the Hon. Member referred, England had a very deficient supply, and therefore the lion. Member had to ransack the whole world for facts upon which to support his argument. Now the fact was, that in four years this country had received only 1,200,000 quarters of wheat front Russia. It was true that in 1840 food had reached a famine price here, by reason of scarcity that year; but even during that year England imported from Russia only 317,000 quarters. In fact, the Honourable Member had argued as it Great Britain eras the only country in the world that looked to other countries for a supply of cons in' addition to its own resources. But he begged to tell the Hon. Member that there were other countries besides Great Britain who received a large supply froth Russia, and who, therefore, took off a great portion of that supply which the Hon. Member had given England the credit of re ceiving. Then with regard to the United States, the lion. Member had said that they were most fertile in the produce of corn; but he begged to tell the Hon. Member, that from the great exte a n n t y ofthe population of that cou n t r y, an d th e great i ncrease o f th a t p o p u l at i on, it was not likely that Engla n d c o u ld ex p ec t a supply to con siderable amount front the United States. Ile found, by returns which he had now before hint, that since the year 1793 Great Britain had imported less corn from the United States than from any other country, except in the year 1840, and even then the extra portion tr w n as ite b d ut very small waing l deet In the year 1840 the population o f th e 000,000, and during that year ex ported 10,600,000 quarters of corn, which left only four bushels per head for the whole population of the country; but corn not being the principal article of food In the country, it was foetid that more than e sufficient supply had been retained for the use of the population ; but in the whole of the quantity exported very little of it came to England But even sueposing that the argument of the Hon. Memeer was well founded, If the population dni even of this country should go on increasing in the same ratio as it had for of food for the pse of its inhabitants, tits last few years, he doubted whether this country could obtain ielore than a a t i g ar i u yr s g f 1 l e that :r e lo , l o l o l a o tt e t i a l s i r t o n h . l oo ) P e ePl7 r a oHa v ft a : q i ftaabprieeeoborpeyslemeos returnsot ilftiowirfoeieti wheat ! o at iflei3ie.oßae,dhai year, s bid s er l yae a h dh s it h bam) o dr, ep imported It been ,fee da b uns e t tknt in five 04,11.egifecnap?teptatir,ead:,o u sa a y l t . l:at tAI nd evert should Increase te 3,000 000 a I,citaptpilo3:l, if that import trade year' for the next 'tee years, the probable increase of the e g i pe ' re intot a a ' k h i e ng llon. iNf account mher for it would not be an 'nv spqen or the various porti In 'America; but i tte cill i antity of corn imported from country and the great quantity of land kintleNktg 111?"PHP!°11 of 1; 4 the effect of stopping that. 11,, Hon. metn e b ul er ti n, would 'see stated, that in the year 1837 he imported it quanftrt. Sunderland had Atnerica, and after having, paid all expenses tie was 3:in'aflledhetaotefr°l" at ; but iu that year the price of foreign corn was only Bell An d 1 4 , 00 c , I A) eo;ticl well understand how the lion. Member . oddei 14140 at thett'ilri-ep:—thrill, I.erte.) 'Tise eaperienee of all former-years had shOith . the IlOtitet hat the Inereased sumption of any article had led to an increase of price. With regard to the article of tea, which had been introduced the other night by the Honourable Member for Shrevrsbury, lie (Sir G. Clerk) felt convinced that the Hon. Member's arguments were not sound, for if he looked at the price of tea at Canton at the present time, and compared it with the price in the corresponding month of 1844, he would find that tea had very much increased in price.—(Cheers.) And then, with respect to the article of cotton, which had also been introduced by the same Hon. Member, facts went to show that the reductionof the duties on that article had been followed by increased imports, and a corresponding* increase in price. —(Hear, hear.) For his own part, he did not know where the Hon. Member (Mr Disraeli) got the statements which he read to the House on Friday night last about cotton.—(Hear, bear, and laughter.) If he looked at the price of cotton at New Orleans at the present moment, lie would find that it was sold at 6% cents, and in some instances not lower than 9 cents per lb.—(Cheers and laughter.) There might certainly have been a case where, from a stagnation in trade, or some similar cause, cotton had been sold at the low price mentioned by the Honourable Member, hit that should not be quoted as the actual price at which cotton was sold at almost all seasons, and in every year.— (Hear, hear.) By the inventions of a certain gentleman in America (whose inventions were somewhat similar to those of Arkwright in England) cotton could certainly be sold at a much lower rate than formerly. About fifty years ago a petition way pre sented to that House, by farmers residing in the neighborhood of London, who stated that if turnpikes were introduced into the northern parts of England, corn and other agricultural produce would be brought at so cheap a rate to London, that their trade or interest would be completely ruined.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) They also stated that labour was much cheaper in the northern parts of England, that it would be impossible to compete with the northern agriculturists. In the year 1787, when Mr. Pitt proposed to repeal the laws restricting the Importation of Irish corn, the greatest alarm took place. Members representing the western parts of Scotland stated that if such a measure were passed, the agricul ture of Scotland would be ruined. Members also representing dif ferent parts of Ireland pretested against the passing of such a mea sure. But what was the fact ? From year to year since that period the agriculture of Scotland had been continually prospering, and lie would venture to say that in no part of the three kingdoms was agriculture in so prosperous a state as it was in Scotland at the e present moment—(lcer, hear)—a n d yet the measure when proposed in 1787 created almost as much al arm as did the present measure o f her Majesty's Ministers.—(Hear, h ear, and laughter.) The H ouse would bear in mind that in the yea r 18 20 a petition was presente d to that House by all the principal m erchants in London, praying the House to remove all restrictions fr om the commerce of the country. Lord gr ve e n :t in n e u n number of measures which had f or their object the removal of pro ecieidaatnidons at and d e head thd o the introduce G o a Go vernment, on the importation of linen an d other articles. Great alarm was Liverpool, act dweuh upon o n wa ti s io thense re l L e m in occasioned by the proposal. Several Irish Members protested against the measure, on the ground that the linen manufacturers and all in their employ would be completely ruined ; and the Hon. Member for Lancashire at that time no doubt spoke to the same effect. But the fact was, that at the present time the linen manufacture was in a prosperous state. The Hon. Member for Shrewsbury had for gotten that powerful speech which had been made by his friend the Right lion. Baronet at the head of the Government— (Loud cheering) when he made his statements. (Hear, hear.) The Right Honourable Baronet had shown that the linen manufactures of Ireland, particularly itt the neighbourhood of Belfast, were in a most prosperous state.—(Hear, hear.) He showed that from year to year, since the measures of Lord Liverpool, the linen interest of Ireland had been continually im proving, and the result was that they were now able to compete—the manufacturers of Ireland were able to compete with those of France and Britain.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. afember for Birmingham had stated that the zinc trade had materially suffered by rens.. tee reoesafe e of prohibiting duty on th.st bs.s ue (Sir George Clerk) should confess that he was astonished at the statement, and could not imagine how he made out Iris case.—(Hear, hear.) The price of zinc at one period was 751. per ton, and the duty 451. per :on. Now it should be admitted , that zinc was an article of recent origin, but since the duty was removed the trade in that article had vastly increased. Therefore, by the reduction of the duty on that article alone, a new manufacture sprung up, and em ployment was given to additional hundreds of the la bourers of the country; whereas, had the prohibitory duty been continued, those persons must hare remained without employment.— (Hear, hear.) In the years 1843 and 1844, the quantity of zinc im ported was 7,000 tons, half of which was again exported to India and Chhia, and in the last year the quantity imported was 12,000 tons, not more than 2,000 tons of which had beesn exported. Now, could there be a clearer proof given of the value of the article, inde pendent of the vast benefit it afforded to the numerous operatives and labourers engaged about it ? (Hear, hear.) Now, as regarded the silk manufactures, he could say that they had more than doubled since the duty was taken off them. In the month of Fel,ruary, 1842, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the reduction of the duty on raw silk, when objection was taken to the immediate introdue tien of the meas ure ; b ut as regarded t h e f ee li ng o f the House, it was unanimous on the m a tt er , and the question was carried on the 7th of M arc h in the same year . H onourable Mem hers will find that the most successful method of ' increasing their revenue is by removing high prohibitory duties. That opinion is fortified by the experience of the last twelve years. We have been removing duties upon French goods, as well as the goods of other countries. He would meution a few articles upon which the duty had been wholly or in part taken off— French silks, gloves, flax, and cambric, clover-seed, and linseed. the Honourable Baronet then went on to state that he was as anxious as any Member of that House that the landed aris tocracy should maintain their proud position, but if that existence depends upon the corn-laws, he really trembled for it.—(Laughter.) If he understood rightly the arguments of the Hon. Member for Shrewsbury, he seemed to maintain that the preponderance of pro tection should be given to the landed proprietors of this country, in order to maintain landed interest. The Hon. Baronet, whose speech throughout was almost inaudible in the gallery, concluded by saying that the agricultural party would best consult their interest and the interest of their constituents by consen ing to a spee,'y settlement of this question, which cannot long be protracted, and which may now be settled under very different circumstances t tan those which will not fail to accompany it if delayed to a longer period, and considered that these measures, if passed, would tend to consolidate the interest of the country, and place its institutions upon a firmer foundation. Mr. MUNTZ rose to explain. lie stated that he never expressed an opinion in opposition to the reduction of the duty on speller. He' used upwards of 1,500 tons of zinc in his own business, and he could :eat, therefore, consider it anything but a boon thus to reduce the Mr. LIDDEL stated that the Hon. Baronet who had just sat down hail made one of the boldest assertions which it had ever been his lot to hear from any one who sat upon the benches along with the Hon. Baronet.—(Hear, hear.) At the beginning of his speech, the llon. Baronet startled the House by stating that there had been no change in the policy of her Majesty's Ministers.—(" Hear, hear," from the protectionists.) Why, then, did they go before the country in the year 1841 ?—(Hear, hear.) Why did they protest be ;ore their constituents against the change proposed by the Noble Lord the Member for the city of London ?—(Hear, hear.) What were the three articles upon which the Noble Lord proposed to make that change—that change which is admitted to be a more udicious one than the measure at present proposed. If no change had taken place, why, he would ask once more, is the No'sle Lord and its friends upon the Opposition benches ?—(" Hear, hear," from Col. llbtliorp.) Wily is the Noble Lord, the Secretary fee* Ireland (Lord Lincoln), agaia before his constituency, and to all appearance likely to be rejec ed by them? Why have many Noble Lords and Hon. Gentlemen resigned their seats, acknowledging their responsibilities to their constituency ? He must say that he ha' never heard any thing more startling than the assertion that the measure now pro posed by the Government was a natural consequence of the measures and principles which they had adopted for the last few ears.—(clear, and laughter.) Then there was another propo sition in the Right Hon. Baronet's speech. namely, that we should `,e called upon to give a-reason for opposing thisaneasure. These rea sons are already provided for 118 ; we have only to look at the opinions of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head 0 , her. Majesty's Government - o find our limits to justify us in our opposition.- (Boar, hear.) On the .sintrary, the converse ought to have been the case. We have a right call upoff Hon. Members of the Cabinet for reasons why they should alter their past policy —to inform us of the means iv which they had been induced to alter their course of policy, and adopt that which they now recommended. The Hon. Member then went on to state that if no important changes should take place in the price of bread, what becomes of the argument which is so con stantly used to excite the public against us ?—(Hear, hear.) Telling the populace what bold impiety it is to make dear the price ,f bread which God Almighty has given to the poor. What aecomes of this argument, if the expectations held out with reference to those important changes should not be realised ? (Hear, hear.) lie would now drop any further reference to the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet, who had just sat down, and he would now allude to the statement made by the Right Hon. Baronet it the head of the Government.—(Hear, hear.) In that speech there were some fallacies and some inaccuracies, which, with the per mission of the House, he would allude to.— (Hear, hear.) That speech might be very properly divided into three heads—the first part contained a statement of the direct causes width had led to the recent change of opinion on the part of the Government. The second part mitered into au explanation of the course which the Government intended to adopt, to meet th e state of things which led to that change of opinion. The third Part enumerated vario us facts and instances of the success which had attended the relax ation of prohibitory dullest, and which circumstance was an en ,aeuragement to the Right Honourable Baronet to proceed still nrther in that course of policy.—(Hear.) The first part of the speech had been so ably treated by different Members on that side of ,he House since the debate commenced, that it was altogether unne ,essary for him to allude to it.—(Hear, hear.) Tke Hon. Member or Devonshire had proved that the causes alleged for such an altera ion were inadequate, and the reneniies proposed were insufficient.— (Hear, hear.) He would not, therefore, detain the House with any ibservations on that point. He did not hesitate to say, that with :egard to the silk trade, there had been an over -amount or excess -of legislative protection. lie considered, however, that when the eight Hon. Baronet proposed to adkore to a protectivv duty of 151. er cent. ad valorem, on silk, lace, and other articles of manufac ure, he did not see why he felt called upon to abandon the principle reference to corn. The Right Hon. Baronet proposed to reduce 'he duty on foreign timber from 255. to 15s_, with a view, no doubt, .0 afferd a better supply to the consumer. Now, with regard to the lintished cost of timber, it was fair to take into calculation the trade .f the past year, when partly from the late judicious revision of those tunes, a depression had taken place in the price, and the advan• ..age of this reduction went into the pocket of the consumer. If the interests of the British public were thus involved, the peti loners expressed their concern that the greater part, if not all, of the increased importation 'tom the Baltic would fall into the hands of the foreign shipowner. and the foreign producer would receive as the 'ieneflt. 'that point brought him to the utter incapacity of the Bri tish shipowner to compete with the foreigner. And what was the reason? He would call the attention of the House to the ,omparative expense of building a British ship in the Baltic. He took' the facts from the evidence taken before lie Committee on British shipping appointed the year before last, uld which showed the relative cost of navigating a British and a foreign ship on a three months' voyage. The wages for working a British ship ,Or three months amounted to 1691. 10s., and the wages ofa Prussian ship for the same period and of the same tonnage, was rather more .hams 811., being a difference of rather more than 881. in favour of the Prussian ship. With regard to the cost of provisions —the cost of netualling a British ship for a three months' voyage was 961., and he cost tinder the same head for a Prussian ship was only 391.. icing a difference of 501. in savour of the Prussian ship, or 140 per - eat. in favour of the Prussians. So much for the costs of navigation Ind victualling. But he would now call their attention to the ques ion of ship-bullding, and he would ask whether those who looked to the British shipowners for the carriage of articles could quarrel with die high rate of freight. They agreed to that addition of prices, 'remise their own safety was secured by it, and, In the words of Attain Smith, he would say, " of all the restrictive policy In the his tory of this country, I am compelled to say that the navi 4ation-laws are the most justifiable as national security s preferable to commercial produce." In the port of London the wages of shipwrights have not varied for the last 25 years, and that airlous fact was caused by the combination existing between the !arpenters and the shipwrights. At Toulon the shipwright's wages, is stated in the official es,rte 'rein the t `rench Government, amounted to a franc and a half per day, and in our dockyards at the iresent moment the shipwright's wages were 4s. 6d. per day. The 'lweign ships could be built for 5/. or 6/. per ton, and such ships were superior to the vessels built at Sunderland for 101. per ton. A first-rate British ship, built in the Thames at a cost of 161. per ton, when quite ready for sailing, would cost 21/. per ton. Atter this- statement, he would ask the House whether the protection to the British shipowner could enable them to compere with the shipping from the Northern ports? Could it be possible for them to •ontend against such advantages unless they brought down the wages of the British shipbuilder to the miserable level of the Continental shipowners?—(Cheers from the Ministerial side.) They were asked by the Right Honourable Baronet whether they were to advance or to retreat. They Blight make a step in advance if they reduced the wages of the labourer, hut they would deteriorate the condition of the nation, and he thought that such a step would be a retrogade movement, and no advancement. But to pursue the subject with regard to foreign timber. What were the returns of the British and foreign trade from 1842 to 1844 ? The total amount of British tonnage entered inwards from Norway and Sweden was 109,382 tons, and the foreign timber entered in the same period (the year 1842) amounted to 341,533 tons. In the year 1844 the foreign tonnage Advanced considerably in amount, as did also the British. In that year the British tonnage advanced to 150,000 tons, and the foreig n timber to 520,000 t ons , so th a t i n the two yea rs the British ship ping engaged in the foreign trade increased by 20,000 tons, or 19 per cent. on the w h o l e , w hi le the foreign shipping in the same period cent. on the first increased to the extent of 187,189 tons, or 54 per c amount of 350,000 tons. Th e result of this wou ld be, that British shipowners would be driven away by this unequal competition, and the trade in the Balti c t i m b er would fall into t h e hands of the fo reigner. This was the argument of the shi„esener, who was not = desirous of raising pric es b u t o f l owering t h em . The Right Hon. Baronet had made one or t wo errors i n I l l s s t a tement. lie had said that it would not be beli eve d t h at at that mome nt there fit not t for buildin g one ton of Baltic timber in the. port of Liverpo u i a fast-rate twelve y ears ' s hi p, so they would see was h e ld . the estimation ia w hi c h the Balt i c timber timber, and the So much for that part of th e quest i on relating : prayer of the petition of th e shipowners that had been laid upon th e table. Intimately mineefed with this question was that of the . colonial trade. On this point lie would details t he House for a few minutes, lie would begin with t h e case o f South Australia, and h e would call the attention of th e Ri g h t H on . Baronet to a notice whi c h t t had appeared respecting the s t a t e of t hi s colony in tLo publicbyri Ins a few claY3 ago, It referred to a petition last year b Honourable Member of that H ous e, touching the questio n o f a free importation of Aust ra li an corn . It was but it was opposed by the Right Honourable Baronet on theasked as a b oon, occasion, and lie (Mr. Liddel) a ft er the argum e nts which the Right ne des, could not een- Hon. Baronet had laid down r espec ti n g the Ca . a similar footi ng . ceive how lie could oppos e Awing Australia e The statement In question represented the progress doting the last five years, including 1840 and 1845, and it show e d l of the colony the number of acres in cu l t i va ti on i n the different years. In 1840 503 ; but in four ye the number of acresundercultivation was only 2,• e I ,4 graai4seincieaL after it was 6,69 , 5. 1311 was the yeg. w 'i4`" man 4 d for produce, and of cuitlvalleff took place, arising , from the ee---- was remarked that the high price which it bore in the market. It 1* in those ye ars when prices were low, comparatively little lyland was brought under cultiv a ti on , in f ac t , i n some instances it decreased, while ttn increase of p r i ce b roug ht with it an increase in cultivation. If, as expected by the measure of the Government, ecceriling to the sense Jule which fled be,,si found to onerlfte in 'Peat , retie prices fell in Greet( Britain, then land must go out of cultivation.—(Loud orieB As side the House had asserted that their party was broken up by the conduct of the Right lion. Baronet ; but the array of talent and unanimity which they had manifested showed that that assertion was without foundation He could not give his assent to the doctrines of, the agriculturists. lie heel ever regarded the corn-laws as of mere accidental and temporary opera tion. He had never seen anything else in it, but as the mere means— pethaps the useful means—of educating the agriculturist of this country so as to enable him to compete with the foreigner.—(Bear, hear.) And when he saw at that moment that that end was so far accomplished—when he looked at what he might call the chemical agricultural changes which had lately developed themselves, seeing the increased improvement with respect to tile draining, and all those other ad .antagts which had so rapidly developed themselves, he did feel that it was but just to say, that the corn-laws should be changed. He had always been anxious to modify the present system, but he could never disabuse himself of the idea that a total repeal of the corn -laws would be attended with a great displacement of pro perty. But, nevertheless, he could pursue no other course of con duct, in reference to the measure, than that which he had ever ob served. The produce of America had been alluded to by several Hon. Gentlemen, but corn might be flourishing in the valley of the Mississippi and the people of England not be able to procure it. If these changes should take place suddenly, he had no doubt but great suffering would be occasioned. The difference in price in com petition between the English and foreign farmer should be distri buted somewhere, between the landlord, the 'tenant, and the la bourer. It was contended that a large proportion would fall upon the labourer, but he did not believe that such would be the fact.—(Hear.) The worst that could happen would be that the labourer would be left where lie now was. —(hear, hear.) He had somehow or other imbibed the notion that there was far more equality on the subject of wages • between the labourers of England and those of the Continent, than is generally supposed.—(Hear, hear.) There was something in the question, of which political economy could hardly take account. Wages depend in a great measure upon the physical capabilities of tile labourer. He had heard that gentle men employed upon the continental railways were ready to give half, as much again to the English labourer as to the French, provided they will not get drunk.— (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Compare the Frenchman, with his nightcap en, and stopping every five mi. nutes to speak —compare such conduct with the hard, steady work of the English labourer. We need not fear competition in this respect. The labourers would not be the immediate sufferers in this case. He considered that the labourers derived advantage from their contiguity to the large manufacturing districts.— (Hear, hear.) They tended to raise the price of labour, not Only in their own neighbourhood, but also throughout the whole Country. The tenant-farmers, he believed, would come worst off by the pro posed alterations. At present they were, by the consolidation farms and other causes, subjected to a great many evils, and these would be aggravated by the repeal of the laws relative to agricultural protection. He believed that the land was not at present let at its due value, for if it were higher, he considered that the consequence of the abolition of protection would be more seriously felt. The landlords would, in the larguage of the Right Hon. Baronet be exposed to the temptation of becoming mere naanufactarers of food.—(Hear, hear.) That was a point on which he could not change, pr his mind acquire additional experi ence. The landlords were exposed to a very great temptation which he believed they would overcome ; but to which they ought not to have been exposed. He believed they would resist that temptation. They would consent to make some sacrifice of power and convenience rather than lay the burden on those who were dependent upon them. To do that, to overcome that temporary difficulty, they must exchange their present splendid benevolence for another and a more useful class, and must consent to employ more protective means. Their wealth was considerable. The proof of that was, that a great portion of it was spent in amusement and accomplishments. It they were ready to make the sacrifice that was detnanded of them, all would go well. It was possible that many early associations might be interfered with. Let the landlord maintain the civil adsome th vantages in their pos sess i on, and although they might lose ing, they would shortly regain their prosperous condition, and remain the great bulwarks of the peace and perm:menet), or the fluctuating fortunes of this great empire. were eHthEe7l drpoosbedtaionf,edallelaciviehetonboriunseg The e e On the motion of Lord INGESTRE, the debate was adjourned. JOINT-STOCK BANKS IN SCOTLAND AND IRELAND. ether eiA N C orders rL o ° f ß t h o e f d t a h y e in a Bill for the regulation of Joint-Stock Banks in Scotland and Ireland. adjourned at Half-past Twelve o'clock. THE ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. E. BULLER rose to open the adjourned debate, but, from the confusion that prevailed, owing to the number of Honourable Gentlemen who, at the moment, left the house, his remarks did not reach the gallery. He_ would briefly refer to the arguments used by the Hon. Member for Shrewsbury, with regard to the question then before the House. Those arguments consisted not cf any new prep : ositio n , t h ey were h ac k neye d statemen t s a l ways pu t f orwar d by the protectionists, viz., that an excess of importation would lower th e price of labour. The House would at once perceiv e that the ones, . ar g uments b roug h t f orwar d were mere l y o ld ones, the talent of the Honourable Gentleman placed in a brilliant light. He had sent forth a jackdaw an the plumage of th e endeavour to show thalt).estrek. He ( Mr. E. Buller) would Member were founded neither on arguments used by the Hon. policy. The lion. Member rt just principle nor on sound said that England could vie with other countries. He told them to look at America, and se e if there was any great party there u v founded on either class interest or politics that would Majesty'sedoca e su c h a measure 25 the one proposed by her would give, would they find . any public man Government, or it his countenance or .support.—( Hear, who h on ly way to induce foreign nations to adopt f ear.) were to The for this country to set them the example. If they trade was show thole nations the advantages that were to be deeyribveed from adopting free trade principles, they would not to follow our foots te p s. H e w as one of those who believedsi" 1 imports. 'The it was wise to fight hostile tariffs by free i m The amount of imports from France, from the y ear l 8 - 3 o 3t s i ) 1844, increased to 3,000,0351., whilst the exports of this country to France advanced to 3,340,0001. On the other hand, every year proved ti. e necessity of this measure. Instead of sending English gold to Russia to purchase Russian goods, which they would sell here to a disadvantage afterwards, they would have the advantage of being able to get those goods in exchange for English goods. He knew , how much had been said upon this subject already, and therefore he dd not intend to delay the House much longer.—(Hear, heari.) But the Honourable Member for Shrewsbury bad warned the Howe not to pass this measure. Now he knew nothing of the arguments of the Honourable Member, but he had heard that the Honourable Member mentioned the Turkish empire in connexion with the question. He would say nothing of the absurdity of comparing the two countries. One was a country pre-eminent for its colimercial prosperity, while the other was one possessed of a people so proud and haughty as not to be able to appreciate the value of commercial enterprise, and - who knew little or nothing of the steam-engine and power-loom. I The Hon. Gentleman 'then quoted several passage; from .11ati Sharaff, Prime Minister of the Grand Sultan, i.: nyder t o s h ow t h e b ene fi ts o f a good ruiministratiOn.) The , greater the su pply o f fo o d t o th e wor ki ng c l asses th e greater was the chance of elevating their moral a con dition. A ' "heap and_plentiful n 4 °lsle° supply of food enabled the poor man to ! w eld his children to ‘ school and to give them a moral education. Gentleman the Member for Shrews bnry hat! been Lleked up as the embodiment of a " great idea," and he (iNiz. Buller) nig. listened with much anxitay expecting to hear the and attention,_ on i"riday enunciation of sow great itriuciole tgovern the new g,nera. of " Hear, hear.") He could hardly conceive how prices could. be maintained, if they imported five or six millions of quarters and if Australia could not import corn to this country when there was a duty of ss. on it, how was it to be expected that the wheat of that colony could find a market in this country when there was free Importation sulinitted from every other nation. What also becami of the argument used in support of the Canadian Corn Bill which was brought forward as a boon, because they could not import corn into this country under a duty of ss. ? They would be obliged, under the measure now proposed, to resort to the United States for a mar- i ket. Now, with regard to the general question he was extremely anxious to learn the opinions of her Majesty's Goverment on one point—what was the real opinion of the Government on the pro bable consequences of their measure? On this point he (Mr. Liddell) was as yet unsatisfied ; and perhaps during the progress of the pre sent debate, or at some future stage, the Right Honourable the of Government,tho general f ß a a v r o o ar net t „ ho o H r o s o o so me wi o th the s r om m e em oo be lo of price that might be expected under a f ree t ra d e i n corn. r ula o ti f on His opinion was, that if they discouraged the home grown produce, and trusted to foreign countries for the supply of their markets, al though a fruitful season would maintain an extension of prices ; yet, in a bad season—in non-productive years, and with, perhaps a rup ture with foreign powers, he believed that the corn trade would ex hibit a dangerous fluctuation in price. That was the grand point in which the public were concerned, wad it was in order to maintain this steadiness in supply and price, that they advocated the principle of protection. He was also ashamed now to acknowledge that he had opposed the measure of 1842, for as circumstances went, he was now inclined in favour of it.—(Cheers and laughter from the Liberal benches.) We congratulated the Right Hon. Baronet on the accession of tile Hon. Member for Finsbury to the ranks of his supporters, and however he might regret the loss sustained in the Hon. and Gallant Member for Westminster (Captain Boas), lie was fully repaid in the support of the lion. Member for Finsbury.— (Cheers and laughter.) He admitted that the new law of settlement would be not only a great boon to the agricultural Interest, but to humanity. He had often seen with the most heartfelt pity miserable beings--men, wives, anti families, wandering i n th e.pu b l i c highways of the country, without a place to lay their heads, and unable to go to their parishes, not knowing where they could find a settlement, with nothing in the shape of pecuniary relief before them, seeking a miserable pittance from the hand of charity, and if they reached their own country —say Scotland, or Ireland—perhaps literally starving. Ile trusted, therefore, that no consideration would cause him to lay aside this measure, for he had no hesitation in saying that by so doing he would confer a lasting benefit on the country. It would be unnecessary for him to trouble the House longer. He had endea vourt d to set before the House the true position in which they stood, and the claims the agriculturists had to protection. He did not pretend to say that after the declaration made by the Right Hon. Baronet, and by the Noble Lord opposite (Lord John Russell), the corn-laws In their present shape could be maintained, but so long as he sat in that House—so long as he had the honour of representing his constituency—so long would his voice be heard in favour of a modified protection. Mr. HUTT said that two days ago lie had the honour of presenting several petitions from shipowners on the Wear and the Tees, In which they refuted the fallacies advanced by the Hon. Member who had last spoken relative to the Interests of Britigh as opposed to foreign shipping. The Hon. Member wished to uphold the interests of British shipowners by maintaining high duties in timber.—(Near.) Could anything be more absurd than thus to place an interdict on the materials of ship-building ? The principle was scouted by all the Intelligent shipowners of the north of England. The only market at present opened to them was the Baltic, but he would not follow the Hun. Gentleman through all his detailed argu ments on this subject. He expected that alter the petitions presented by the Honourable Member he would on some future day bring the whole of this question before the House. rt. tuougut mat it nee. ..-ere so dissatis fied with the Right llon. Baronet, they ought to adopt the recom mendation of his lion. Friend the Member for Finsbury, and bring the Right Hon. Gentleman's conduct before the House in a motion of want of confidence. What was the worst charge that they could bring against the Right Hon. Gentleman ? It was only that he had been unwilling to be an instrument in their hands. They had supported him in his tariff and Corn Bill of 1842, mist now, when they came to the best and wisest tariff of all, they suddenly stopped. Ile thought the Right Hon. Gentleman had greater reason to complain of them. It had been asserted by Hon. Gentlemen opposite, that if the measures of the Right lion. Gentle man Were adopted by this country, foreigners would give us their corn, but they would take nothing but our gold in return. This had been represented as a most alarming state of things ; and that we should be giving employment to the labourers of the Continent, while the people of the Continent would give no employ ment to us. Now, he was prepared to say that foreigners would not require us to give them gold In exchange for corn. Even if they did so he believed that it would be advantageous to us. Look to our trade with China. We carried our dollars to Canton, and we took the Chinese silks and teas in return, and did Hon. Gentlemen mean to say that our Chi nese trade had not been a most advantageous one to this country ? lie denied that the repeal of the corn-laws would have any effect on the precious metals, and concluded by declaring that their aboli tion would not only improve the condition of the country, but prevent what soine Honourable Gentlemen so much feared, an undue impor tation of bullion. Captain HARRIS said, in the month of June last, they divided a united majority of 254 against 125 against the repeal of the corn-laws, and on that occasion they heard nothing from any Member of the present Government to indicate so great a change in the corn-laws as now proposed, since they heard something from the Hon. Secretary at War, while he was in Wiltshire; but he attached no itnportance to what fell from him on that occasion, and certainly did not think that they were to take that as a notice of the proposed change. He would be glad to see ally measure introduced which would relieve the population of Ireland, and particularly the lower classes. He would ask the Hon Gentlemen opposite, whether it was not the wish of every Member at his side of the House, be he Whig, Tory, or Itadical, to relieve the distress at present existing in Ireland ? The Govern ment have, much to their credit, taken measures to relieve the dis tress now so prevalent In that county , by ordering in great importa nous of flour, but that precaution should have been taken some months ago. He would ask the Government, was it a sufficient argu ment to use for the purpose of removing these laws ? Can such tem porary distress be adduced for one moment in support of the present measure? And the question naturally arises, to whom were the pre sent state of things due ? and the answer was, to the Right lion. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government. Heoliad never entertained any doubt of his sincerity, and of his patriotism, and be did not ask him to change his opinions to meet the views of his side of the House, but lie asked him to do so as a Minister of the British Parliament. On the details of that question he was well aware he could not advance any new proposition on the subject, for he had heard it eloquently debated in that House, and every argument used for and against the measure that great talent could command, and lie (Captain Harris) would only bewilder himself by entering at any length ir.to details. (Here the gallant member read a statistical account of the trade with Russia, which went to prove, that if it were not altered, there would be a serious derangement in the currency. The Gallant Captain continued, and said that he frequently heard it stated that free trade gave great development to the commercial classes, but he did not intend to state any objections on that point, although, if they looked to the manufactures of France and the ex ports and imports of this country, he thought the measure would strike the'llouse as one of great injust,ce in its details.—(Hear.) He pledged himself to protection principles when lie was returned to that House by his constituents, and he had not heard anything to make him change the opinions which he then expressed with the utmost sincerity.—(Hear, hear ) Mr. MONCKTON MILNES observed that the present was the second occasion on which he had witnessed the great subject of the corn-law come before that House s and as it had been his ob ject doing all the discussions which had taken place to give the party who sat opposite the credit o: acting from the best motives, he would not act differently on that occasion, but he wou'd believe the party with whom he had acted for so many years were likewise influenced by the purest motives. —(Cries of " Clear, hear.") Ile did not co , sider that statesmen were to be judged very harshly for modifying their opinions on the subject of the corn-laws, for they would Mid that Mr. Ricardo him self, one of the great apostles of free trade, recommeuded a fixed duty of ten shillhiss ; and he believed that if the Honourable Member for Shrewsbury told them his candid opinions, he would be found to have experienced some slight change at the very least. It was not for him to say whether a statesman of the experience and ability of the Right Hon. Baronet was conducting the affairs of the country in such a meaner as was best calculated to confer a benefit by doing away with what was called monopoly, but he could not but regard the proposed measure as presenting but very insufficient reasons for a deviation from his former opinions.— (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Milnes) did consider that the ques tions of the Irish Church and the repeal of the corn-laws, were the two great questions upon which depended the fate of the pre sent Ministry. He had always entertained this opinion, and he felt it now so deeply, that he could not see how he could change it. He could not understand why a man should sacrifice his conscientious opinions, in order to support a Government upon a particular mea sure. He, for one, would not do 80 ; and he should say, that if ever an op; ortunity offered when the Hon. Baronet might have 'done good by a different policy, and had thrown it away, the present was that opportunity; at a time when, under Providence, he had the greatest and grandest opport unities ofdoing great practical good for the country. He believed that the present Government had done more to reconcile differences between hostile parties than any Government which had preceded it. He also believed that they had accomplished many great acts which lion. Gentlemen on the other side of the House per haps desired, but had not the means to accomplish.—(Hear, hear.) lie now saw those means of confidence which had been hitherto afforded to the Right Hon. Baronet by Hon Members on his side of the House utterly lost, and their power utterly destroyed.— (Hear, hear.) Il e cou l d not say that he gave the Right Hon. Baro mist his supp or t cordially and freely. He did it simply b ecause i t was the only course which he could conscientiously pursue. He would go back t o th e year 1841. He then represented to his consti tuents that he would do all in his power to place the Right Ilon. Gentleman at the head of her Majesty's Government, for the purpose of enabling him to effect ii settlement of the corn-laws. At that time there were previncial Chancellors of the Excliequsr, and he (Mr. Milnes) brought before the Right Hon. Baronet a proposal for changing the duty on corn, which was considerably s i m pl er an d lower than that which the Might Baronet hen proposed, and therefore, however much he might regret separating from his friends on this question, he felt bound to give it his support. lion. Gentlemen or 'ARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. (Omitted in the y etea of Saturday.) South-Staffordsliire 4;inction Railway and Branches (No. 1.) South Stafforcishire Junction (Bilston and Priestileld Branch—No. 2). South Staffordshire Junction (Showhill and Portobello Branch—No. 3), South Staffordshire Junction ( Willenhall and Bloxwich Branch —No. 4) SECOND READINGS OF RAILWAY BILLS. WEDT 4, Glasgow Harbour Minera l, NESD ; P. 25 . Edifib,;:rgh arid Gisigow (Amendment and Branches). t4eds, tiewsbury, and Manchester (Wakefield Extension). Hall and Selby Purchase. York Rini Carlisle. Ulverstone, Furness, and Lancaster and Carlisle, Edinburgh and Peebles. THURSDAY, FEB. 26. Gloucester and Dean Forest. Ayrshire and Galloway. Leeds and Bradford (Junction Line at Bradford). FRIDAY, FEB. 27. Wilsontown, Iforningside, and Coltness (Caledonian Junotion). Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coitness (Bathgate Branch). RAILWAY COMMITTEES (YESTERDAY.) It was also alleged that there wag an inaccuracy in the same parish with respect to certain Piclosures which were marked No. 10 in the plans deposited with the clerks of the peace, and in the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office were m.trked No. 11. Evidence was adduced in support of this allegation, which the Committee found to be sustained .. It was also alleged that the property marked in the plan In the Private Bifl-ofliee N 41 was inaccurately marked. The Committee found that in this intance the standing orders had been complied with. There was a similar allegation with respect to the parish marked No. 28 in the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office, which the Committee found to be proved. It was alleged that the property in the county of Derby, marked in the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office Nos. 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 71, and 7s, had been omitted ix the plan deposited with the clerk of the peace for Derby. Mr. W. Marsden, Clerk of the Peace for Derby, and Mr. Hunter, were examined in support of the allegation, which the Committee found to be sustained. There were se reral . similar allegations, which were admitted, on the part of the promoters. The petition next alleged that 68 A.,marked on the plan in the private Pill-office, was not so marked n the plan deposited with the Clerk of the Peace for Derby , which was sustained. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee would not proceed fur ther to-day, but would resume the healing of this case to-morrow. The Committee hen adjourned till twelve o'clock to-men-rim. Sb-Committee No. 4. This Committee met to. u day, at twelve o'clock, in tne Room No. 11, when there were present Sir W. Heathcote, Chairman; Mr. Hope Johnston, Mr. Acland, and Mr. Cornwall Leigh. MANCHESTER, HUDDERSFIELD, AND GREAT GRIMSBY. By this Bill it is proposed to form a railway from Penniston, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, at the Sheffield and Manchester line, to Brigg, in the county of Lincoln, where it is to join the Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway. The length of the line will be about 47% miles, and the cost is estimated at 702,0001. Mr. H. Billington is the engineer ; and Messrs. Sudlow and Kingston are the Parliamentary agents. Two pelitiors were presented againt the Bill, but the solicitors for the respective petitioners did not appear to press the hostile alle gations. The Committee were satisfied that the standing orders were com plied with, but postponed the final decision of the case till to-morrow, for the attendance of a witness not forthcoming this day. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH TORICSHIR,IL The Committee resumed, to-day, the consideration of this Bill, which had occupied a long time at the last sitting of the Committee on Thursday, and was fully reported in The Sun of that day. After hearing the remainder of the proofs in support of the measure, The Committee deci4ed upon reporting that the standing orders had not been complied with, on the grounds alleged in the peti tions respecting the imperfection of plans, sections, and descriptions. - - - • WEAR DOCK RAILWAY. The object of this Bill is to connect the Northumberland and Lancashire Junction Railway with the port of Sunderland, and to give the collieries in Wear Valley a good railway communication with a shipping poet. The length of the proposed line is twenty-six Hides. and the estinauen coat 520,0001. Thu engineer is 31r. Thomas Storey, and the Parliamentary agents are Messrs. Dyson and Co. The Bill was opposed in a petition from the Newcastle and Darling. ton Railway. The first allegation on the part of the petitioners was, that in the book of reference deposited in the Private Bill-office, the Hon. Charles Grey and the Right Hon. Lord Duncan were, as trustees under the late Countess of Durham, described as the occupiers and owners of certain property marked Nos. 2 and 3 in the plans, whereas the said property belonged to the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway Company. On the part of the petitioners proof was given that they had pur chased, and were in possession of the property in question, but it was not shown that any conveyance had taken place. The Committee decided that the allegation was not sustained. The next allegation was, that no application had been made on or before the 31st of December last, to tile petitioners, who were, and still are, the owners and occupiers of certain waste lands stated to be within the limits of deviation, and marked No. 5 in the plans. The Committee ultimately decided that the notices were Insuffi cient, and that this allegation was sustained. There was another allegation to the effect that the application which was given in writing io the p. 'flutters as owners and occupiers of a certain branch railway, marked \o. 4, hi the above-mentioned book of reference deposited in the Private Bill-oftlee, was Imperfect, and did not sufficiently describe the manner in which the said branch railway would be affected by the proposed line—also that there was no notice given of the proposed Company's intention to alter the level of the said branch line, as appeared by tile plaits and sections de posited, whereas it was pro used by the promoters of the Bill to raise the level of the branch three feet six inches, and to alter the in clination from one in 456 to one in 115. This allegation was abandoned by the petitioners, but the Commit tee wishing to satisfy themselves that the objection was not valid, called and examined the engineer of the line, and, after some discus sion, decided that the standing orders were in this respect complied with. In respect to the next allegation, which referred to an omission of a certain Word in a copy of a notice, it was admitted that the stand ing orders were not complied wit , t, hut the omission was attri- Inesstte-ein• ' :ISt(' WWI which f: • !•1.1, were prepared. i lie e otiettittee expressed their intention of reporting that the at andiag oude, were nut. complied with. SIT.TNIUNGDON AND WISDEACH. lir. COATES a, plied, on the part ot the promoters of the line, to postpone the case sine die. Ile said that the Bill was at present be fore the Standing Orders' Committee of the House of Lords, in which Horse they intended to commence the Bill. They did not wish, therefore, to go the expense of passing the Bill through this House until they should have passed it through the Upper House. On the part of the petitioners against the line, it was represented that they had gone to great expense to bring their witnesses to Lon don, awl that the postponement would put them to still greater and unnecessary expense. Tho promoters of the Bill ought to have given notice of their intention to apply for a postponement. Mr. COATES said that this Bill was not added to the list of this Committee until Friday last After a long discussion, in the course of which the CHAIRMAN observed that the promoters ought to indemnify the opponents for any expense attendant upon the postponement, which might have been prevented by a notice given on Friday evening or Saturday morning; and Mr. COATES saying he was willing to make any reasonable corn. poisation, The CUAIRMAN suggested that an arrangement might privately be made between the parties. This suggestion was ultimately adopted, anti the opposition to the postponement withdrawn. DONCASTER, WAREFXELD, AND LEEDS. This was a Bill to form a line with branches in connexion with the London and York, there being several other Bills (already before the House) forming part of the same scheme. The length of the line is thirty-one miles, and the required capital 660,000/. Mr. Cubitt Is the engineer, anti Messrs. Dyson, Hull, and Co., are the Parliamen tary agents. Messrs. Bulmer and Durnford appeared as agents for Joseph Clarkson and James Goldthorpe, petitioners against the line. The first allegation of the petition was, that certain figures were omitted in a section of a turnpike-road marked No 83. It was ad mitted that in this respect the standing orders were not complied with. The next allegation, on which, it was stated. several others depended, was that the property of the petitioner, Joseph Clarkson, part of which was within the limits of deviation, was not marked upon the plan, and was not mentioned in the book of refer ence. included p in ear ethe d that limits the property in question was not of deviation as marked on plan, but that in thi s respect the limits were incorrectly marked. the The CEIATIIMAN said, that the statement that the property w within the limits of leviation was disproved, inasmuch as it was not within the limits as marked on the plans, and it was clear that the Company could not touch any part of the petitioner's preperty, as it was not mentioned in the elo of reference. If the objection had been that thimits of deviation were not correctly marked, it might have been entertained, but as it was, the allegation was not proved. The other members of tile Committee were of a similar opinion. HUNTZNGDON AND WISBECH. The parties for and against this Rill not having made any agree ment, an application was made, on the part of the opponents, to have the case postponed to Thursday next. The Citentic&N said that he thought it very reasonable that the promoters of the Bill should have it postponed sine die, in order that if :hey failed in the House of Lords they might not incur the extra expense of passing through this House. At the same time he thought that the opponents ought to be compensated for the expense to which they had been put by the postponement. The case was accordingly adjourned sine die, and the Committee then rose about half•past three o'clock. Sub-Comittee IkTo. 7. This Committee met at ten o'clock this morning ; Mr. Greene in the chair. The Committee, after hearing the customary formal proofs, de clared that the standing orders had been complied with in respect of the following lines : IRISH GREAT SOUTUERN AND WESTERN (CORK EXTENSION). MOUNTMELLIC JUNCTION. ELY AND HUNTINGDON (BEDFORD EtTENSION). COCKERMOUTH AND WORKINGFON EXTENSION. The CLAranittee then adjourned. HOUSE OF L ORDS RAILWAY (IRISH) COMMITTEES. Lords Shaftesbury, liedesdale, and other Peers, sat this dayin No. 1 Committee-room, as a committee on standing orders. The lines brought before their Lordships were the Great Munster, 57 miles in length, estimated cost 580,000/. ; the Bandon and Bantry, 51 miles, estimated cost 550,000/. ' • and the Cork, Macroom, and Killarney, 23 miles, estimated cost 160,0008., all of which were de clared to have complied with the standing orders. The Parliamentary agents for the three lines are Messrs. Webster and the engineers Messrs. Leahy, and Cook. The following Companies were declared to have complied with the standing orders, and to have passed:—lrish Great Western Dublin and Enniskillen, Londonderry and Enniskillen, and the Gal way and Kilkenny. The Great County Down Railway Company, having been declared not to have complied with the standing orders, has been thrown out. To Gentlemen who shave themselves the following query is proposed— Why do all the first cutlers In Europe use and recommend Saunders'Eour-sided Tablet Razor Strop? The answer is simply because it is the only one that gives to a MOT a keen and •uioOtl edge. kinnufact9rh 2 0 , Much • S No. 2 6. This Committee ub-Committee met to-day shortly , after Clo:sters twelve o'clock. There were present Sir J. Y. Buller (Chairman), Messrs. Bell, G. Craig, Kemble, Bramstone, and Walker. DIRECT LONDON AND MANCHESTER. The hearing of the petition from the owners, lessees, and occupiers of land along the line, against this Bill, which was commenced on Friday last, was resumed. _ _ Mr. PRITT (Parliamentary agent for the petitioners) stated that the petition alleged that, in the plans, the radius of the curve of the Eth furlong was not marked. Mr. Hunter, engineer, examined—Had inspected the plans de posited both at the Private Bill-office and with the clerks of the peace for the respective counties through which the line proposed to pass. The radius of the curve in question (which was an inch udder a mile) was not marked in those places. The Committee found that the standing orders had been complied with. The next allegation was, that the piece of ground adjoining No. 319, and coming through the parish of St. Mary, Islington, was not marked on the plan deposited with the clerk of the peace for the county of Middlesex. Mr. W. E. Crew (Clerk of the Peace for the county of Middlesex), and Mr. Harris, were examined in support of the allegation. Mr. Ainslie proved that notice was served on Mr. Merrifield, the owner of the ground in question, which was partly a gravel walk and garden. The Committee found that this allegation was sustained, though the ground alluded to was marked correctly in the book of reference, and the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office. In No. 9, an allegation to the same effect was sustained. Several similar allegations were abandoned. The petition alleged that in 31 A, in the plan deposited in the Pri vate Bill office, there was an error, the ground being improperly marked. Mr. Hunter was examined for, and Mr. Shea against, the alle gation. The Committee found that in this case the standing orders had not been complied with. The next allegation was, that a similar error had been committed in 74 A in the parish of Chipping-Barnet, which was not sustained. The next allegation was, that in the plan deposited at the Private Bill-office no radius of curve on the 26th mile and third furlong was marked. This and a similar allegation were not sustained. The next allegation was, that in No. 18, in the parish of Lucan, in the county of Bedford, there was an inaccuracy in the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office. The Committee found that in this case the standing orders hitd not been complied with. There was a similar allegation with respect to No. 93 in the plan, the property not being marked with a dotted line. This allegation was not sustained. It was also alleged that No. 3 A in the plan deposited in the Pri vate Bill-office was not inserted in the book of reference, which the Committee found to be sustained. —• There were several allegations which were not sustained. It was also alleged that in No. 27, on the plan deposited with the clerks of the peace of the respective counties through which the line was to pass, the limit .of deviation In the parish of Bowden, differed from that of the plan deposited in the Private till-office. Evidence was produced in support of this allegation, which the Com mittee considered to be sustained. There was a similar allegation with respect to .certain inclosures in the above parish, which was not sustained. The next allegation was, that in the plans deposited with the clerks of the peace, West Langton and East Langton were marked as different paiishes, while in the plan deposited in the Private Bill office they were marked as one township in Langton The Committee found that the standing orders had not been com plied with in this instance. NOVEL, BY•THE AUTHOR OF NEW " MAIDS OF HONOUR." Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., Cr IR ROGER DE COVERI-4.' A TALE OF THE COURT OF CHARLES H. By the Author of "Maids of Honour." Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough.stre Now ready, in 2 vols. small Bvo., 21s. bound, SIR RICHARD HENEGAN'S SE YEARS' CAMPAIGNING, IN THE PENINSULA AND THE NETHERLAN DS : Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-s> RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE. A lf) MESSRS. LAMOND, SMALE, LAMOND, bcg to thank their Friends and the Pa t ther their continued support and patronage. and to announce th i arti Public Sales of Railway Shares, &c., take place every TILIO D _„ e r , , lathes. at One o'clock, at their offices, at the Hall Of Cora r : c o Threadneedle-street, London, at which place f r.. u e d. t lining instructions, are respectfully requested is be atlei e " ror ess: All Scrip and Share Certificates must be deposited Tic initiation at least one day p rev i ous l y t o th e ir being ei rer o advices of results will be f orwar d e d b y th e fi rs t post after Lstt ou', and the proceeds immediately disposed of according w Offices, Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, Lora_ THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. THIS EVENING r.v Will be performed an "original Opera, entitled DOS ktg l .,", - ;cl3° , Don Quixote, Mr. W e i ss ; S ancho Panza, M r. Stretton ; Mr. King; ltovedos, Mr. Ilorncastle; Bacillus, Mr. Allen; Miss Rainforth. After which, for the Sixth Time, a new Fairy Ballet, c 4. `" 9, ISLAND NYMPH. In w hi c h M ons. D es places, 3141! .N.„.1 ecxlot, Louise, Adele, Mdme. &c., will "PP"' % e , To conclude with a new grand Christmas comic Pailtualrio, HARLEQUIN GULLIVER ; or, Giants and Dwarfs. soireg' Mr. Wieland ; Clown, M r. T . M atthews ; Pantaloon, 311." Columbines,iss Hicks and Mss Loale. rfortiO d' To-morrow, being Ash Wednesday i ,there will be no THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM- ,irglsl,; UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MRS. .""arise " Cricket on the Hearth," and " Th e E nc hanted ."" Evening until further notice ! THIS EVENING WILL BE PERFORM'? ,rAJA THE CRICKET ON THE HEACITII: A FAIR] , OF HOME. m The Principal Characters by Mr. and Mrs. Keeler, —r* PO"' e F. Viniw, Mr. Mead ows , an d Mi ss Grove. u ric To be followed by the original REDOWA WALTZ, . d ef posed by M. Jullien, by Miss F rampton an d Master I(4 tr oar - ,1 Ater which will be repeated a N ew G ran d Romantic 0% s entitled THE ENCHANTED HORSE ; or , Prince Fir° u D i K i r Persia and the Princess of Bengal. Principal Characters Keeley, Wigan, F. Matthews, Collier, Turner, Kinlocil, dames Keeley, Villars, Hodson, Dawson, Howard, Stalls, ss. ; Boxes, 4s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, 6a' PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STA BET ' THIS EVENING •ef .! ,,; Will be performed the Co me dy o f WILD OATS B Waliack ; Harry Thunder, Mr. J. Vining ;Sim, fi r ' rliDd t Ephraim Smooth, Mr. Compton; Lady Amaranth, Mr , • 3 „.. 6 14 g To be followed by a DIVERTI SSEMENT, i n which s od )1 Mr. Marshall, M. Ad r i en , Mi ss B a il in, Miss Marsha., jrf , Duval will appear. jo t. To conclude with a New Drama, entitled THE V. - „. -- 1$1; j or Mr. Wallack ; Trinquet, Mr. G ran b y ; A rman d , Mr. chioness D'Orville, Mrs. Fosbroke ; Blanche, Miss 3• + chette, Mrs. Stirling. To-morrow, being Ash Wednesday, there will be no NEW STRAND THEATRE. Itis V j M. PHILLIPPE'S SOIREES and MAT INEES 31 , r ai.s Two Morning Performances during the 11 e', 1 04", 1 ' At the urgent and reiterated s o li c it a ti ons o f inaftY . ,: l ije i e families, and in order to accommod a t e th e c rowds ; ji d g' o piff attend his Morning Performances, M. PHILLIPPE dce Irand Juvenile Entertainment every WednesdaY eo . er° MornnM. Ph g, it Two o'cloti.. Pr illippe's most Popular Deceptions and Pectillaf,..ou. , of will be repeated every Eveni ng , var i e d by tlis ob , formances of the Chiarini Family, and the astounding ee 10 American Brothers.—Doors open at a quarter pmt mance at a quarter before Eight. Stalls, ; Boxes, 2s. ; . Pit, 15... Gallery, 6d. ; „ e is., and If I Is' 6d. rtly To-morrow, being Ash Wednesday, there will be 11° P e2 " ° ; AsTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITLIr Ants , : Or ` fi e em 0 ;,1% Gl,rious career of the New O r i en t a l Spectacle. 1 1 - 0 ,1 t cessful piece ever pr o du ce d. Ni g htl y overf l ows o f ran 0 ;0 in witness flue rare performances of the Colossal Blep of Camels, &c. Of THIS EVENING Will be, performed a New Drama, entitled THE s;. I ° 4 • NAGPORE ; or, the Sacred Elephants of the Pagoda•o; whole of the extensive res ources o f th e E s t a bliso"" „ d tg t brought into requisition. str New Scenes of the Circle, co m bi n i ng th e uneq ualled British and Foreign Compa n y. o f The whole to conclude with the favourite Afterfd e l ... 7 AND WAR. 'ITO% g r' tl2 4 Da VIM; WS ItO YAL SURREY THE o' - „, a te - The greatest hit ever known. Th e O ne H un d r ed re;' ef fee wonderful performance, and the magnificence a n ' se New Historical Spectacle, have pr o d uce d an in 0 1 1 1,11.• Nightlyerovvded to the ceiling. First appearance of '. (from America), the Nigger Dancer and Singer. sttne THIS EVENIN( I I $ Will be performed THE S,A KING'S VOt , 4 - core' P^ for Liberty. Supported by Messrs. Hughes, Rogers, nerd, Johnson, Lewis, II slop, Monson; Mesdins• 1 00" Martin, Miss Glover, and one hundred Female Warrio74 After which, a new Farce, entitl e d, THE MASQUEB AY Salnts-Hit 'em-Hard, Mr. R. Pelham. ;V: To conclude with THE MEND I CA N T SON ' °r' #lO S nittiwark Supported by Messrs. Hughes, Jobtt Cowell, Ntaytiard, Lewis, Heslop ; Mostia , liuS 0. Vi and Daly-. ROYAL VICTORIA THEATRE. For the Benefit of Mr. George Wild. O r THIS EVENING Frio VI 01 - e• Will be performed SIXTEEN-STRING JACK. c ols :. Di rectors by Messrs. G. Wild, laro wne , S av ill e , Miss Vin A ) 4 41 1 ; To be followed' by ROBERT LE GRAINGE ; or, sr. s' i Excitement. 1)e Courci, Mr. Fredericks; Le Grainger , i . A' ,, Marlette, Miss Vincent. , riAl r oill'of After which the laughable Interlude, entitled. ~.. virilV,.', INN. Principal characters by Mr. G. Wild and Miss I..A.Vl' f ii so — conclude with a novel Pantomime, called OS. c RICHARD 111. Harlequin. Mr. Chapino ; ranta l Columbine, Miss Laidlaw. - THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, F ET3 N ,‘ c I oof THERmomETEtt, Lowest, 46; Highest, 58; `- BAROMETER, 29.94.—W1ND) S.W., Pit"' .....mamposn.i. WATER AT LONDON-BILITHGE, THIS 11'. IY^-•ninQ , 15 minnte%afrer Li. 1 Evenl Ing •: 46 ~nJ 4ft, 4 . ~. ,N.,l` ,- .., "o• $,-; • , ...,, , *V? ~„-e.., U- , 2, ,,,011. . _,, • C f4 "4.- - ---, ...._______ . ftlcerittArr • - o,l ' l ) ,i. ), ,', i ; ...t " IS 46 ‘ LONDON, TUESDAY. FF,!iRUARY The details of the three days' fighting on the b lielP f er° f ; Sutlej, and the important results brought by ° ° u B Mail, will b e rea d w i t h no ordinary i n terest, tilt clec` gards the actual p os iti on o f th e two arm i es , and t-h -f:0 victory obtained by the f orces un d er Si r H. BA* 1)-- sectA add little to our previous intelligence in th e 01;01 brought by the previous mail. We knew that el f ferere ' several battles, th a t th e littl e army un d er Si r J. ;ffted bean in gr ea t d anger , t h at our troops had e dr ifee g ot verely, but that a t l as t th ey h a d prevailed' ," enemy from all his p os iti ons , an d ca pt u red w on tir" .o part of his artillery. These accounts a re ,oist g a ti :of by the present disp a t c h es , an d t a ki ng a ll the e'''' jo y n o t; of these repeated en gagemen t s i nto accoun t, we io .le`' r say, that in no instance has the bravery of the A P e g ill, i ) fj army appeared in a more c ons pi cuous li g ht, or the c oney severance, and energy of European commander s, eg „isred t o with those of the Seikhs, ever been so cempletelY crecog yond doubt. The army of the Seikhs. mustered, 4 : vit b f re oo different accounts, from . 70,000 to 80,0 0 °' f cot P h il 120 to 140 guns. The British fOrces consisted ° .....t hel i% than 20.000, of which only 6,000 were EuxoPe nl3s o ,o4 oe i no large guns, the highest calibre net el e 0 pounders; th e B r iti s h f ought in detail Won , d cli must necessarily hav e d one f rom their r - if ita the wanton and une x p ec t e d a tt ac k o f the Se ikhs dissd f of numerous forces, yet notwith s t an di n g all cheae victo riee dif , tages they gained one of the most re markab le itta nth e o) the age. The accounts, as far as can beg lea ned JOSS °f 9 0 1 ' el ferent reports, make the Seikhs acknowledge theos,loll,*l - and 30,000 wounded, with the loss of 90 e g: 4, r , a ri them of large calibre. The British loss is estiina t at f,o o o o together, including killed and wounded, with ab e grea gle:d killed and twice that number wounded. Such hie hie lj e fif our side shows the furious attack of the en e '" ; : ho see"" c ol force, and above all his superiorityin was the greatest havoc committed. The division lle _„.ed, „t Or — 411 LITTLER suffered most, because it was ; .1 0 0 _;,or could not be supported in time by the other m ov v; pith .47:1 a distance, but they fought manfully, else' terlf deatrecorra mon generalship, they must have been at ,k t be The principal loss of general officers indeed that quarter, and among the rest v bis beeo ato . gallant Sir Rosa= SALn, whose nar ae ..As An t o. celebrated in India, made immortal by his im o 9 d jais k.sPo . i oas nistan, and still more ennobled by his a rat ,_ his lie te , r itists conduct on this occasion, when he sacrium' P r ._,A s gams, for brder 000 the torrent that was pouring, unexpectedly, lawre's army. Some of the Indian journals , W2OB for,, letters, blame Sir HENRY HARDING E for awl of his to be surprised, and risking the utter do t t _ c ciaa f t infr" - .A .4 by being beaten in detail. We have no n w c en 1 4 " 4 7 r tion vet to decide this question, but, an, e : w as t ;bad O en ne there is no real ground for the cha r g e. L a hore ; dared between British India , - a0 hostilities, in fact, had occurGreeiLrarr ha d • gl ee % den irruption. The Governer rely" e ga th :ealri test and its results therefore rests enti oil she aiite no provocation, and the res Had he concentrated a large ArMY t he ° the ed to invaae , • the Sutlej, and threaten qn differantlnarod the case would have been 0 14 ld have a P r - 0 20 character of England wou o f t pow very unfavourable light. The obleflu-r esidsa wbs aim the war must have fallen on us, an: time t he tvi° colli si°° have been the result ? Possibly for a nther , other, till the • wrol would have remained watching eachld have been pons.ibilty of th seikbo il i j etorY °al took place, but still England would v tb.e i r and we doubt much if a more ner-4 '.. ava lost ai l _ &o r have been obtained. The Seikhsan:innt IDs -4 Of guns, their main strength; they. a:4, divided Lahore, as selves, and many of the authorities . 110 Bp i, a 0 end the Seikhs trOoPe 41,0 will lll. Lex t the B occupl not in Army, by Sir in koi events the 1 beYOnc at all that it frantic] bands, THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. 4, TIIIS EVENING , 10.• ....df '' or Will be performed Mr. Sergeant Talfourd's Tn.- - od lon, Mss Cushman ; Clemanthe, Miss Susan Cushlrta! ; Te lbia , ,p ported by Messrs. Stuart, Hudson, Brindal, H. Holl, i'iE; a do,' The Band will perform the Overture, "La Gas t 4 L • 1 ,1 the Waltz, "Love's Serenade." ca. o fo' After which, the Comedy of THE OLD sca a d, characters by Messrs. Farren, Holl, Brindal , Mrs. C liff I,' , i ne 6 11 ' Yarnold. ~,,E ft , — .. S' To conclude with a New Farce, called LEND A. , . /our." LINOS. Principal characters by Mr. Backstone, gr. Itrindal, and Miss P. Horton. . THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPII I . Tr" l4 THIS EVENING r Life ° ye Will be performed the D rama o f LEOLINE ; a'l.lll. Principal characters by Messrs. 0. S m ith an d Wright,. li r and Miss Woolgar. ,sd 3lstia 0 To be followed by TAMING A TARTAR ; or , met , zourkaphobia. In which Messrs. Paul Bedford and • _„,r0)1 Woolgar, Madame Celeste, & c . w ill per f orm. ~r x raw - 0 0 To conclude with a New Farce, entitled 1' ight, Vi BREAKFAST. Supported by Mr. P au l Bedford, — uy * .^ ti , Woolgar, &e. To -morrow, being Ash W e d nes d ay, t h ere will be 11° P er t.3°