The Sun. — London, England, 1852-05-08 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, May 7. (Before Vice-Chancellor PARKER ) THB RIVAL OPERA. HOUSES. LUMLEY V. WAGNER. Mr. BETHELL (in continuation from our Afternoon Edi tion) said—The Court had now to judge between these two stories, and he thought that the force of circum stances went substantially to show that the bill which had been filed gainst his clients was founded entirely on fiction. Now, with regard to the second part of the Case, the money question, it was agreed on all hands that there was a precedent condition originally intended to guard against expenses which they might incur in leaving their own-country, and against the contingency —which had often occurred to foreign artists--of not receiving any remuneration after they had come to this country and rendered their services. Now the time for the original payment of this sum of 300/. was fixed on the 15th March, though when the commencement of Madlte. Wagner's engagement was fixed, the time for the payment was - also extended to the and of April. Now he bad to point out to the Court two misrepresentations —first, that Mr. Lumley had sworn in his affidavit that he had written to tgladlle. Wagner on the 11th March— just four days before the time fir payment—when, in truth, it was not written until the 18t,h; and the second veal the mistranslation of the French particle de, by which Mr. Lumley wished to make it appear that Herr Wagner had written to him to send the money either to Borlitkor Hamburgh alter the 2nd of April, instead of what it really meant, not later than the tad of April. The same word de had been used just before, when Herr Wagner had said that it was necessary, that his daughter had need of rest to learn the Italian words of her part before her debut. Mr, Lumley professed him self a good French scholar, able to road and write French correctly, and yet here they found him translating after the 2d of March, when, if he had been consistent in his knowledge, he must also have translated that Madlle. Wagner mast learn her Italian part after her Mat. Now Mr. Lumley's story was that he had written to the Wagners to tell them that Dr. BT her had the money ready to pay them. Now ho (Mr. B o thell) was sorry to say that he feared that Mr. Lumley had not had for some time such an abundance of money in his exchequer as to render it at all probable that he would have furnished Dr. Becher with that sum so long before it was required. With great respect to both Me. Lumley and Dr. Bacher, he did not believe, nor did he think that his Honour's judicial mind would believe, one word of this story which they had brought forward. It had DO elements of credibility or probability about it, and its own c ontradictions were sufficient to destroy it. Next came the account which Dr. Becher gave of the con d u ct of the parties at Hamburgh, when he saw them there after the contract with Mr. Gye had been entered i n to. That was equally absurd and full of improbabili ties. According to hies, Madlle. Wagner had no sooner signed the engagement with Mr. Gye than she repented of it, and only consoled herself with the idea, inspired as it were by prophetic divination, that she would go to England and leave the courts to settle who was to have her.—(Laughter.) Then Mr. Lumley appeared on the scene at Hamburgb, and he would show that very soon after he sect to England for Mr. Mitchell, who joined him with a considerable sum of money in his pocket. How much money Mr. Lumley had in his pocket he could not say, but it was certain that he had just before been arrested, that he was covered with debts and lia bilities, and was utterly unable to pay that which he owed. Ho thought that any rational man, looking at the circumstances and the conduct of these parties, and then considering the representations they had made, in which every part was irreconcileable with the real truth, would feel convinced that the father and_ daughter ought to prevail, and that the truth was that neither the father nor the daughter had the least reason to be lieve that the travelling Doctor had the 3001. in his hands, or that if he had he was ready to pay it. Now they had lately discovered that Dr. Becher had written to a gentleman connected with the musical world, in which he said he had re•eived a bill of exchange, which, however, was dishonoured when presented at Hamburgh. Now that exactly coincided with an ex pression used by Mr. Lumley in one of his letters to the Wagners, that Dr, Becher had undertaken to tranemit to them a bill of exchange for the 3001. Now, it was true that Dr. Becher had denied in an affidavit that he had ever written such a letter, but it was proved by affidavits that Br. Becher had drawn a bill of exchange on Mr. Lumley, which was dishonoured on being presented. Now ho would suggest, that sup posing this was true, that Mr. Lumley had given to Dr. Becher an order for 300/., which, however, was dishonoured, they would be able to account for the statement that Dr. Lacher had 306/. in his possession ready to pay to Madlle. Wagner without putting it down as a con:Thee fiction. True, Becher had 3001., but it was a bill of exchenge, which, in truth, Was good for nothing. By this theory, too, they could acc mint for the friendship exising between the pair, Lumley and Bseher, even after the rapture of the contract, which if Mr. Lumley's statement were true, it were msnifcst was owing solely to Bather's neglect in not payfng that sum; and alao for the remarka'ole fact that br:Bacher. had not, been made an original deponent in this matter. He contended that this contract had been wisely and justly broken. It must be remembered that Herr Wagner, in his!affidavit filed yesterday, denied that Dr. Becher in his letter of the 10th March had mentioned anything abut having the sum of 3001. in his hands. That letter was now at Berlin, and though a telegraphic messaee had been dis patched for it it had not yet arrived. Then with regard to the prohibitory clause, it was represented by Dr. Becher that this was inserted in the engage • meats of all prima donnas in England. That was not lie fact. Tug engagements of Madame Sontag, Madame Grisi, and other eminent artists had been re ferred to, and ;had been found to contain no such cleu3e. Ile contended that the clause had been obtained by mis - and on that account was utterly vitiate t He contended, too, that the misrepresentations which tin) bill contained in reference to the conduct of Mr. Gye were of themselves sufficient to defeat it. Reap peered that Mr. Gye was the first to enter into negotia tions with Mademoiselle Wagner, which continued up to August, 1851. About this time the intimacy sprung up between the Wagnees and Dr. Becher, and the course of misrepresentations on the part of that gentleman began. The moment that the inclination of the Wagners towards an engagement with Mr. Lumley became apparent, Mr. Gye very properly abstained from any further communication with them on the sub ject of an engagement. When Mr. Lumley's failing eircurestances became notorious, Mr. Gye then went to niaaburgh to ranew the negotiation, and so far from having had recourse to the misrepresentations which were ascribed to him, he certainly did tell them that Mr. Lumley had shortly before been arrested for 2,2751, a fact which was admitted by Mr. Lumley, in addition to another fact of still worse appearance, that he had been obliged to assign to one of his creditors some of his boxes in the theatre in Paris, and afterwards, by the pressure of further difficulties, to sell those same boxes to other par ties. Madlle. Wagner, in her affidavit, did not attribute the unfavourable opinion which she entertained of Lumley to the representation of Mr. Gye, but to the fact of the caution money nut having been paid, nor any mention of it having been made by Becher in his letter, and also from information from Madame Sontag and Madame Taglioni, that their last year's salaries had not been Paid. Now, ho would just contrast this with the tie lY" made by Mr. Lumley in reference to this par nl 34. ' 140 w the injunction bad been asked on the ground Leftifnaraiuuyeallela th© on the part of Gye, both towards Wagners, a statement which was con ad by th e ailleavits both of G greater: ye and the Wegnors. The part of this bill lied been fremed with the wish that even if h the pulakcatio n of ho fled ultimately in his object, that even an injunction attheseall statemente, and the obtaining; of Medlle. 1, would so far damage the repu tationWreatTlieer, that ev e n if h e did n ot get her, atid she would be red ueeless and unprofitable to Mr. Gye. Now, w i th regard bee to . the fact of this being a hard bargain, as it h complained itaLubmeiinnog2 objected Merino. Wagner hal co nl l a ie nd had only to refer to the affidavit of Mr. which w ero to be paid to MadllTmpare the sums 20,000 1 . w hich he sa id ho had g to the ad paid to Ma dame Sontag for two and a half years, engagement. With reference to the allegation which had P March, 185 en made that the agree ment of the 9th of aecordine to thel, was va lid agreemen t ernasien law, ha held i n hi s hived an opinion of a Prussian avocet, Dr. Bach, which Went to s h ow that so far from that agreement being valid it was of no valve whatever consequence of Mr. Lumley to pay the of the neglect havemoney, and M idemoiselle Wagner could o h a _ srecovereda the da =Ages which she 004.4 a h ir she stEiined by such a breach. He belfevea , too, that supposing hun t. u , agner had really broken this contract, the penalties for suc h breach, according to the P'russian law, would not h ave been 3 persons interdict, but indemnification by way of damages; ants he contended that the law of contracts was a speci es o f l e x loci, and that no such penalt y hav ing been contemplated in the contract itself, it could not now be imported into it, and that, therefore, the only remedy which Mr. Lumley was entitled to, even supposing a breach could be proved, was indemnification by way of damages. Even if it were brou g ht to a trial, he did not think that a jury would be likely to return more than a shilling or a farthing d ama g es, and he thought the Court would scarcely stretch its jurisdiction so far as to visit with all the heavy and severe conse quences, which must result from an injection being grAnted for the breach of the letter of an engagement, which would only be visited by a jury by the ver y srialle3t amount of damages. He, th er efore, thoug bt the this was not a case in which the Court would think itecif justified in interfering by way of an injunction. It beim.. now twenty mi nutes past four, the ease was djourned until to-morrow morning. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current, May 7.) SuGAa.—To•dtsy there, was a falling off in the home trade demand for West ludia Sugar, yet lower rates were not taken for grocery or relining sons. At auction 51 kinds 3 tierces 366 brls Barbsdoes sold; brown 313 to 31s 6d, ord yellow 323 to 33s Gd, mid 343 to 35s 6(1, tad good 361 to 393. REPINED.—To-day home dealers were anxious to o)orat e in Refined ,S t gar, and the market closed with r ( V_liToss; brown lumps at 464 to 463 6 i per cwt. In 1- " , nwi Sugar there i 3 a goof deal d mpg for shipping at full former termi. Matrarrlt a .-- Thi for . s afternoon former rates were sus tainedbay, and the Mauritius Sugar Lt the public sales of 6,600 Whole sold ; fine yellow 363 to 375 6d, low to mid 32a to 34 64, low to mid 243 _ . ; 3 c: good to fine brown, 28 3 6d to 31s 36s per cwt. 27s 6d, ani greyish from 30s to EAST INDIA.—This idterllo prov. cn the market for Bengal Sugar was quiet, yet the sustained. At auction 3,000 !c 2 us currency is generally ; i n , w hi te B enar n e _gs rather more than half sold, good to 1_36 5 to 38s, mid 35s to 35s 6d, date yellow from 27j, and Khaur 24s 6d. 274 6a fQ:10, t, 141426 s for soft brown, Of Madras 1,000 bags sold at 2 5 , u t : c : sad at 2€3.3 64 tkO ) '' 1191 ", thw ire THE steady prices. Of Penang 2,000 bags sold at fall rates, soft brown at from 24s to 263 6d, yellow 27s to 30s; 294 bags Bombay, ord and middling soft yellow 283 6d to 29s 6d. FOREIGN.-To -day foreign Sugar was much sought after for shipping, and p rices a d va nced 61, an in come cases Is, per cwt above last Friday. The private oera tions are to-day 600 cases of brown Bahia, en bon p d, at 183 to 19a; 1,400 chests yellow Havannah at 213 for No, 124; and 1,500 chests ditto at 22s for No. 13i. A public sale of 300 bags Java went at 133 6d for low soft yellow. MOLASSES.-To-day 100 puns Molasses found buyers; new Demerara at 133 61, and Antigua 143 61 COFFEE.-This afternoon the demand was active for Native Ceylon, and at auction 600 bags sold at 43s for good ord; and privately 3,000 bags at 431 to 43s 61 There is a brisker sale for Plantation Ceylon, and an advance took place of le. At auction 180 casks, rd 56 bags sold, good went 60s to 62 s 6d, low m i d to mid 553 to 57a 6i, fine to fine fine ord 51s to 545, triage 373 to 475. Of Costa Rica 4,500 bags taken in at 48s to 50s, for fine to fine fine ord unclean being above the value, but 100 bags sold at 45s to 45 s 63 for g ood ord.. Of Bahia 230 bags realised 41a to 42 s 61 for g ood ord inary washed; and 28 cases unclean Calicut 465. at auction 694 bags Para have all ih irn e oa s - p td e l2 u ys l s ac i ttv . r e ° d w e t. mand for Congou has abated been e T t s a . k_ A e this week; the better kinds sustain previous terms, but inferior can be obtained at a reduction. S ales of low quality are made at 81 to 80, good ord sound 91-1, rather blkish loaf to blkish leaf 9tel to 100, strong and Pekoe kinds lld to is 51. In Souchong a good business has been done, at the same time prices have ceased to advance, co mmon selling at 9d to lid, mid to good is to is 3d,and fine is 4d to is Bd. Few transactions have taken place in Oolong, and more desire is evinced to sell, good to fine is Id to la 6d, inferior 10d to Is. Pouchong remains in good request, sound at from 6d to 70, and there is no increase of supply at previous terms; holders of Green are de sirous to sell, and supply is more plentiful than last week; still large transactions have taken place; prices for common to mid Hyson rule at is Id to is 4d. good to fine is 5d to 2s 2d, superior 2s 4d to 23 10d; Young Hyson, common 101 to I Id, mid to good is to 1 s 6cl, better sorts is 8d to 23 2d; Gunpowder, Canton 101 to Is; Hyson kind is Id to 2s, Hyson skin 7d to Is, Twankay 91 to ls, Caper 91 to 10Id, and Scented lld to is 41. Flowery Pekoe continues to find a free sale; fine and superior at is 8d to 2s Bd, and other kinds is 3d to Is 7d. There is a dull trade for inferior Orange Pekoe, with free sellers at 10d to Is, but several transac tions have taken place in good to fine at is ld to is 8d per lb. RICE.-The demand for Java has been better for cleaning purposes, still moderate terms have been ac cepted. At auction 3,352 bags were sold at 103 6d to lls for good sound white, and 93 6d to 10s 6d for damaged. For other East India sorts the market re mains dull, and previous terms are barely sustained. Including small parcels at public sale, transactions for the week do not exceed 3,000 tierces. Prices for good to fine White Bengal rule at 9s 91 to 103 6d, mid to good mid 9a to 9s 6d, broken 8s 6d to Be 9d, cargo Bs, pinkey Madras 7s 9d to 8s 6d, Caringa grain 8s 6d to 9s, pearl barley and Arracan 8s 6d to 9s, and Moulmein 9s to 103 per cwt. Home and export de liveries are 300 tons greater than last y ear, and prices keep lower. Sago remains in good demand, and the previous value is well sustained, small pearl realising 153 to 18s, large and medium 21s to 245. Sago Flour is less wanted, and can be obtained at 14s. Farina has been dealt in with reluctance at 16s to 18s. Of Arrow root there is a decrease of supply, with several buyers; Bermuda Is id, St. Vincent's 3d to 71 Brazil and East India lid to 40, and Tapioca sid. The supply is less than last week of all sorts. Srenrrs.-There is more activity in the market for Demerara Rum, and several parcels have been sold at from Is Ild to 2s 31 for 30 to 42 per cent over proof. For East India a good demand exists, and is 4d is the lowest price proof. Several transactions have taken place in Leeward Island at is 5d to Is 6d proof. Operations in Jamaica are much larger than they were in the preceding week, and the terms of that period are well sustained for all purposes. Sales of choice marks made at from 3s 4d to 4s for 35 to 38 over proof, fine 23 101 to 3s 3d, good mid to good 30 to 34 over 2s 4d to 2s 91, mid 2s to 2s 3d, and low 24 to 28 over is 10d to Is lld per gallon. A large demand pre vails for Brandy; holders have confidence, and obtain for Cognac beat brands of the vintage of 1851 4a 21 to 4s 4d, 1850 ditto 4s 5d to 4s 7d, 1849 ditto 4s 9d to 4s 11d, 1848 ditto 5s 31 to 58 sd, older 5s 7d to 6s 61, low to mid 2s 41 to 4;, and Bordeaux is lld to 2s Id. Deliveries are again larger than last year, with every prospect of a continuance. Trade is not better for British made Spirit; there are sellers at 9s 8d to 9s 91, net cash; Gin 22 under proof 8s 6d, and 17 ditto 9s. In Geneva several transactions have again taken place at is 93 to Is 101, and fine ditto 2s Id to 2s 4(1 per gallon. SPICES. -A greater demand existed for Pimento, and the previous value is well sustained, although supply is larger than for some time past. At auction 1,356 bgs were sold; good mid to good at 48d to sd, low mid to mid 40 to 41, common 03 to 40, and damaged 31c1 to 4id per lb. For Pepper stiff rates continue to be obtained, supply not being adequate for the demand. At auction 1,237 bags Batavia were sold at 31, 1 1 to 311 for good clean light, one lot 3 d, and one ditto at 311 for very dusty. Privately Penang and Sumatra realised from 3id to 581 for clean, and Malabar 34d to 4ii. White is wanted at Bid to 11d; there is no increase of supply. Cayenne met with a slow sale at 7itl to is per lb. Pod is less in request, and is offered at from 383 to 54s per cwt. In Cloves little has been done, still rates remain at 11d to Is 21 for Penang, 7d to 8d for Am boyno, and 61 to 6id for Z snaibar. Mace is wanted ; first sort at 2s Id to 2; 61; other kinds Is lid to 2; 21 At the previous currency there aro several buyers of Nut megs, and few parcels are at present on the market. Sales of fine brown made at 3s 2d to 33 7d, good 2s 8d to 3s, low to mid 2.3 to 2s 71, and limed from Is 91 to 2s 41 The market for Ca3sia Lignea has a dull aspect, and prices hive generally given way 4s to 5s per cwt. At auction 25 cases sold at 110 s to Ills for piles one and two of ord quality, and mouldy 943 to 955. Cassia Vera is cheaper; a public sale of 114 bundles went at 435, and very thick at 353 to 363. Cassia Buds are wanted at high terms, but none can be obtained out of first hands. There has been no public sale of Ginger; several trans actions have taken place privately at prices rather above those existing previously; African realizing 25s to 26 5, Cochin 30s to 40s, good to fine 42s to 663, Jamaica 44s to 1503, and superior 160 s to 2205. F RIIIT.-A large business has been done in Valencia Raisins, but at the reduced rates of 25s to 27s for new. Sales of Dania have been made at 20s to 22 Currants have met with a free sale and the market has a firm tone; the rates paid for new ar© from 30s to 361 per cwt. SALTPETRE.-There is no decided decline this week for rough, yet large arrivals have taken place, whilst ex poyters and home dealers have operated with reluctance privately. The value of fine Calcutta is 29e 61 to 30s 61, good mid and good 27s to 293, other sorts 243 61 to 263 61, and Madras 22s 61 to 263. At auction 1,275 bags Calcutta were taken in at 26s 61 for 13i to 12i per cent refraction. Deliveries of Saltpetre are nearly 1,000 tons more than in the former season. British Refined mot with a slow sale at 29s 61 to 30s, and is likely to be cheaper. Although Nitrate of Soda is more plentiful, still rates remain at 14s 91 to 15s, there being a good demand. COCIIINEAL.-Thi3 afternoon a public sale of 110 bags Honduras Cochineal went at easier rates, silvers at from 3s 81 to 3a 11d, ord to mid black 4s Id to 43 33, and garbliege at 11d. INDIGO.-The quantity declarel fur the public sale of the 11 th May is much smaller than it has been of late, being 6,171 in A a nd 1,185 in the B ca t a l ogues , total 7,356 chests, showing a fair assortment of middling and good qualities of Bengal fit for the Russian market, a mu derate quantity of ordinary and consumi ng sorts , an unu sually small proportion of dry leaf Madras (only 530 chests), and about 730 Kurpahs of middling to good quality, well suited for export. TALLOW,-This afternoon the public sales of Tallow wont at full rates; 155 pkgs South American sold at 34s to 353 91 for mid to good; 46 cks Grease 27s to 325; 300 cks Australian, mutton 35s 6d to 361 91, beef 343 to 355, 71 cks Italian 36s to 375. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From last night's Gazette.) Au Account, pursuant to tho Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 82 for the Week ending on Saturday, the Ist day of May, 1852. METZ DU/ATM-ENT. Notes issued. • .. 33,4[7,775 Government debt .• 11,015,130 Other securities • • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 19,384 . 400 blilver bullion ...... 33,375 Z 33,417,775 I A 33,417,775 M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the Rh day of May, 1854. BANKING DEURTNEIC T. Proprietors'capital • • 14,553,000 test •3,102,037 Public deposits (In chiding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sav ings-banks, and Di vidend acconno) • • 3.194,817 Other deposit' ...• • • 14,365,920 arrat day and other 1,213,821 Government scene ties(inclading Dead Weight Annuity).• 13,338,023 Other securities •• 10,022,332 Notes •• •• •• .•••••• 11,585,615 Gold and slim coin .! 483,625 5a6,429,595 1 4 36,429,595 M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the 6tlh day of May, 1852. general meeting, S held monthly on Thursday at the society's Ri ht n Thoma s and IL D. Seymour, M P., were elected the chair, Messrs. C. on. Sir George Clerk, M. P., i Frere, 11. 11. Thorn Moul, W. P. Browning, B. A. Wainewright, B. J. enter, Mr. W. Beckett, M.P, and failowzhip. The reportneummt fellow?, ; and Colonel Mersrs A. Arcedeckne, 7. Beau mont, and A. F. Claudet proposed as candidates for the e n r council stated that there was Lewis, W. B. of visitors to the gardens in , th a e n e p d resent year, as compared with a large increase in the an increase of upwards of the first tour monthslBsofl period of 1850. The re the siine period of . Gould's collection of hum -24,000 as compared with the same tbe fellows and their friends In i re pot birds wouldby b e re-opened stating thatM o r . po. concluded .generally, without on Saturday, May 8, and to the visitors printed, has any extra payment, on Saturday, M ay 2 1852, for PfLOPERTT TAX,--A Bill, w hi ch . from A. Hamilton, thebee been r c Chancellordu c e intod of th the e E x l c l h o e u g s i e te o r, f Commonsand l li. 1 s property, pro- G by Mr. Bernal, several rates one year or then to continue the duties on profits arising fassions, trades, and dices. It provides that the and duties granted under the sth and 6th Viet 35, shall be continued from the sth of April, next ensuing, and until the assessments made ought to be made, shall be completed, levied, a n d ° F wilich paid. Instructions have b een issued by the P ostmaster- General, warning all postmasters, sub-postmasters, post masters' clerks, letter c arriers, letter receivers, and others employed in the receiving., collecting, or managing the revenue of the Post-office, from interference in, ;4 4 t iof tbrabers_of Parliament.—,sltippinq Gazette. SUN, IMPERI LONDON, AMEN T. ROUSE OF LORDS, May 7. Lord REDESDALE took his scat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND presented a petition against the grant to Maynooth. The Earl of FEVERSHAM presented a petition from a place in Yorkshire to the same effect. The Earl of RODEN presented two petitions from places in Warwickshire to the same effect. The Earl of DERBY presented three petitions from the city of Ross against the endowment of the Catholic cler, The Earl of RODEN presented petitions from the female inhabitants of Tyrone (3), Londonderry, and Donegal, praying for the establishment of inspectorships of nunneries. LAW OF EVIDENCE (SCOTLAND) BILL. The Earl of MINTO moved the second reading of this Bill. Lord LYNDHURST said he regretted that this Bill did not go far enough, and did not allow plaintiff and defendant to be admitted as witnesses, as was provided by the Bill which passed last session with regard to Eng land. The new system had worked most admirably, and he WAS happy to state this on the testimony of Learned Judges, who like himself had at first doubted of it. The verdicts of juries wore mach more sa tisfactory under the new system than under the old. He thought that, with those good effects before them, they were additional arguments for assimilating the practice throughout the United Kingdom. Ho had already given notice of an amendment which he meant to propose when they went into Com mittee, to extend the jurisdiction of the Bill, and he hoped that before they went into Committee the Noble Earl would consent to adopt these amendments. Lord CAMPBELL supported the second reading of the Bill with the greatest pleasure, although he regretted that it did not go further than it did, and he hoped that his Noble and Learned Friend would not abandon his intention to propose the amendments of which he had given notice. The Earl of MINTO said he should certainly not op pose the amendments which were proposed to be in serted by his Noble and Learned Friend opposite. doe Bill was then read a second time. Iffie Disabilities Repeal Bill was read a second time on the motion of Lord LYNDHURST. THIRD READINGS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed: The Linen, &0., Manufactures. The Loan Societies. The Poor Relief Act Continuance. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 7. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Amendments to the Droitwich Junction Canal Bill were considered and agreed to. The following Bills were read a third time and passed:— Deeside Railway. Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. Merthyr Tydfil Waterworks. The following Bills were considered and agreed to: — Cork Improvement. Macclesfield and Buxton Road. Tyne Improvement. Shillingford, Wallingford, and Reading Road, and Shit lingford Bridge. PETITIONS. Mr. HASTIE presented several petitions from various parts of Scotland against the Maynooth grant. Mr. M. MILNES presented a petition from the Wake field Mechanics' Institute, praying for the repeal of all taxes on knowledge. Mr. FREWEN presented a petition from Essex against the Maynooth grant. Mr. SPOONER presented a similar petition from Camberwell. Mr. THORNELY presented a petition from Nantwich, in Cheshire, praying the House to take steps to put an end to the practice of flogging juvenile offenders. Mr. MACGREGOR presented a petition from a place in Scotland, praying for repeal of the Tests Act; also a petition from a body of hand-loom weavers, praying the House to assist them to emigrate to New South Wales; also a petition from Chelsea and Kensington, against the Militia Bill. Mr. W. J. Fox presented a petition from Finsbury to the same effect. Mr. G. NOEL presented a petition against the May nooth grant. Mr. WHITESIDE presented a petition from Ennis killen in favour of tenant right. Mr. P. HOWARD presented a petition against the Charitable Trusts Bill from Selby in Yorkshire. Mr. BRO CKLE HURST presented a petition from the Macclesfield Institution, praying the House to direct that copies of all Parliamentary reports and other valuable public papers may be furnished to that and similar bodies. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition against the Mi litia Bill. Mr. RICARDO presented a petition from the pub lisher and proprietor of the Household Narrative of Current Events, complaining of the conduct of the So merset Rouse authorities, who had threatened to prosecute him for publishing an illegal piper, but yet hesitated to bring the matter in dispute to issue in a Court of Record. N ICI PRIUS. Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave notica that on lionday he should move for leave to bring in a Bill to mike provision relative to the performance of the duties of clerks in Nisi Prins and Judges' Chambers. HOME-MADE SPIRITS. Mr. REYNOLDS wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it be the intention of her Majesty's Go vernment, during the present session of Parliament, to introduce a Bill to place the manufacturers of and dealers in homemade spirits on a footing of equality (as regards allowance for leakage and evaporation) with the importers of and dealers in foreign and colonial spirits. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was not the intention of Government in the present Parliament to introduce any measure which could have the effect of altering the moans or method of raising the revenue.—(Fleur, hear.) In earning to that reso lution the Goverment thought they had arrived at a de termination in unison with the feelings of the majority of the House.—(Elear, hear.) BRITISH MUSEUM. Mr. HEYWOOD wished to ask Sir Robert Harry Inglis, if the trustees of the British Museum had con sidered the over-crowded, ill-ventilated, half-lighted state of the reading room in that institution; and it the forma tion of a glass roof over the central court of the Museum woald not afford incroised accommodation. Sir R. H. INGLIS said with respect to the first ques tion he begged to state that the trustees had repeatedly had under their consideration the state of the reading-room, and ho admitted that its condition was such as required alteration, but it would depend upon the liberality of the Chancellor of the Ex3hequer whether or not that al teration was made. With regard to the second qu2stion, he was not in a position to give any answer. NEWSPAPER STAMP. Mr. HUME wished to ask the Attorney-General, why the Dunfermline News, published at intervals of twenty-eight day 3, and thus often appearing in the middle of the month, should be liable to prosecution under the Act Go George ILL, c. 9, s. 4, whilst the Stoke upon-Trent Monthly Narrative, coming out in the middle of the month, is tree from prosecution under the same Act? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was ex tremely difficult to answer the vestien; it seemed to him that the Hon. Member was seeking to obtain a legal opinion which would be chargeable if put in the regular way.—(Bear, and a laugh.) With regard to the question itself, no proceedings had been taken against the paper, nor could any be taken without the sanction of the authorities at Somerset-house, and as therefore the question was based upon an assumption of facts which did not exist, he of course would not answer it.—(Bear, hear.) THE FRANCHISE. Mr. GLADSTONE said the Right Hon. the Chan cellor of tho Exchequer had given notice of his intention to move on Monday for leave to bring in a Bill to dispose of the four seats vacated by the disfran chisement of Sudbury and St. Albans, and ho should be glad to know if that was to be the first business taken on Monday, as it was his intention to make a motion to raise the preliminary question whether that subject ought. to be introduced at all during the present Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was his intention to ask for leave to bring in such a Bill on Monday, and he should do so before the orders of the day were read. Sir GEORGE GREY asked what was to become of the Militia Bill then? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he should proceed with the Committee on the Militia Biel afterwards. THE SEWERS COMMISSION. In reply to Sir BENJAMIN HALL, Lord J. MANNERS stated that it was his intention, in the course of a week, to bring in a Bill to continue the existing Sewers Commission for the limited period of twelve months. FINSBURY PARK. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE wished to put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the park at Finsbury. Ho wished to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman could hold out any hope of assistance on the part of the Government towards the formation of such a park? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said her Majesty's Government were extremely anxious to see a park formed in Finsbury, and the engineer who had made an catimato on the subject was now making what was called an amended estimate, and until he had that in his hand ho was unable to speak . with any certainty as to the ultimate decision of the Government ; but in case any Honourable Member would introduce a Bill it should receive the support of the Government upon the understanding that the whole subject should be referred to the decisio n of a Select Committee.—(Scar, hear.) CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. In reply to Mr. P. HOWARD, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that it was his intention to proceed with the Charitable Trusts Bill on the first opportunity which presented itself. THE FRANCHISE. Mr. REYNOLDS wished to know whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in distributing the four vacant seats of Sudbury and St. Albans, would introduce into his Bill the name of any county or town in Ireland? The CHANCE LLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was premature t o make an stateme nt now, but on y Monday he sho u ld b e ready to g i v e the Hon. Member the A inf --Qv:nation on all po.uti.—filear, SATURDAY EVENING, i THE MAYNOOTH GP ANT. lln r:ply to Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL, .Mr. ANSTEY stated that it was his intention to per -4 soy. ore with his amendment on Tu es d a y nex t, of which .11 r, had given notico, to the motion of the Hon. Member f br Warwickshire on the Maynooth grant, as ho was Lesireus of taking the sense of the House upon tho pro priety of giving endowments to any religious institutions , : it all. TITHES. On the motion of Mr. C. LEWIS returns were or -3e.-7cd of all agreements for the commutation of tithes which have been confirmed by the Tithe Commissioners in the several counties of England and Wales, from the let day of January, 1851, to the let day of January, 185:1. ' specifying, in each ca se th e amount o f ren t- c h a r ge agra ad to be paid in lieu of tithe;, and showing whether the came be payable to appropriators, iinpropriaters, or cl erica? incumbents; of all awards for the cum mutat ion of tithes which have been confirmed by the Tithe Commissioners in the several counties of Eng land and Wale; ' from the let d a y o f J anuar y, 1851, to the Ist d ay of January,/1852 ; specifying also, in each case, the amount of rent-charge awarded to be paid in lieu of ti thee, and showing whether the same b.) payable to apprc .priators, impropriators, or clerical incumbents. And, of all apoortionments of rent-carges which h ive been co afirmed by the Tithe Comnais-sionors, from the Ist d j' - of January, 1851, to the Ist day of January, 1852 (in continuation of Parliamentary paper, No. 465, of se ssioa 1851). THE PATAGONIAN MISSION. MONCKTON MILNES moved for a copy of the dis•datf:h lately received at the Admiralty from the COmraander-in - Chief in the Pacific, transmitting a re port made to him by Captain Morshe id, of her Ma jost3 's ship Dido, respecting the death by starvation of Cor amender A. F. Gardiner, R.N., and the whole of the par ty sent out by the Patagonian Missionary Society in 182,0 to Picton Island, the southera extremity of Ame rica.—Agreed to. PATENT LAW AMENDMENT. In reply to Mr. RICARDO, Mr. lIENLEY said it was impossible to proceed with this Bill to-night. lie thought that to refer it to a Se lect Committee in the present state of the session would be virtually to throw the subject over for another year. - TUE INCOME-TAX. On the question that the House at its rising do ad journ until Monday next, Mr. 111.7 ME complained that the Income-tax Bill was read a second time at so late an hour as two o'clock in the morning. If he had had the slightest idea that the second reading would have been proposed he should have stayed beyond twelve o'clock, though ho had then Loon upwards of twelve hours within the walls of the House. He protested agaiast the Bill being further proceeded with unless the Government were prepared to carry out the abolition of the remain ing imposts on articles of necessity. Sir Robert Peel when he proposed the tax gave a pledge that he would gradually reduce the duties on articles of general consumption; he thought this pledge ought to be fulfilled. Free trade ought to be extended to the fullest limits, ao that the agricultural and all other inte rests should be put on the same footing. The Committee upstairs had declared the income-tax to be most unequal and unjust in operation. He did not advocate any party doctrine, because relief from taxation benefited all classes. It was their duty to the country not to con tinue an onerous tax for ono purpose while it was levied fur another—viz., to enable a general reduction of taxation to take place. Mr. NEWDEGATE differed with the Hon. Member in his statement, that it was inconsistent on the part of the Government to continue the income-tax without re ducirg taxation. On the contrary, he took their con duct in this respect to be an earnest pledge that the suf ferings of the agricultural interest would be brought by them under the consideration of the future Parliament. It was with deep satisfaction he heard that the Govern ment intended to effectle, more equal adjustment of taxa tion. Lie complained that it was irrelevant to the busi neis before the House to introduce questions about the income-tax After a few words from Sir DE LACY EVANS, Mr. RICARDO agreed with the Hon. Member for Montrose that it was improper to bring forward a Bill of such great importance at two o'clock in the morning. The declaration made last night by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was entirely at variance with that con tained in his financial statement.—(Elear.) He had said that it was the intention of the Government to shift the burdens from the landlords, and to place them on the shoulders of the manufacturers, and before the Income tax Bill passed the people ought to be informed what the real obj we, of the Government was. Mr. WAKLEY also concurred in the impropriety of moving the second reading at such an hour. The pro ceeding was unworthy of any Administration. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's declaration had produced out of doors not only profound astonishment, but great indignation. He was bound to tell the House and the country not in any mysterious language, but in plain, bold, and intelligible expressions, what the Government really intended to do. Did they want to get a majority at the elections, and then to lay on protective duties? The country had a right to know the nature of their policy a t once, so that a fai r b a ttl e might take place on the hustings. If they declined to give the required information, they would be guilty of absolute dishonesty. He was positively disgusted with regard to the course taken by the late and present Governments on the Militia Bill—they were both alike to blame, being tarred with the same brush. He had hoped that the wit and good sense of the present Go- , vernment would have induced them not to take up so unpopular a measure, for it was evident it could not be passed without creating great annoyance and incon venience to the public. Ale r a few observations from Mr. BAILLIE COCH RANE, Mr. BRIGHT thought this discussion would dispel two delusions which at present existed throughout the country, and were calculated to de a great deal of public' injury. One had been originated by the Hon. Member for Warwickshire (Mr. Spooner), who had a motion on the viper for inquiry into the College of May nooth. The leader of the Government in the House of Commons was deeply responsible for not bringing such questions as Maynooth to an immediate crisis.—(Hear, hear.) For instance, upon the ques tion of Protection, the followers of the Government wore for one thing, while the speeches of their leader preached another, arid their countenances were conti nually alternating between cloud and sunshine, according to the tone of the Right Hon. Gentleman's addresses. Tho Right Lion. Gentleman, in fact, reminded him of a character which was to be found a few years ago in a party of Indians who were visiting this country. He advised them upon all their temporal and spiritual concerns, and was also their medical adviser.—(Hear, hear.) He was, in a word, the mystery man of the party—(A laugh)—and the Right honourable Gentleman appeared to him to be the mystery man of the aboriginal party opposite. — (Laughter.) He urged upon the Right H on . Gentleman, then, the propriety of postponing this question until the Parliament to ba held in autumn or till the session of 1853. There was no necessity for a militia now, and, therefore, he insisted that the Bill ought to be postponed until after the general election., when those who were rcurned to Parliament would he able to judge this question in a clear and impartial spirit.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. P. MILES rose to state on behalf of the followers of protection that they had the utmost coetideece in her MjestY' 3 Ministers, and whether in the next Parliament it was done iu the shape of an import duty on corn, or by any other means, they were con vinced that the Government would make an effort to carry into practice e those great principles which theY had so 'mg and ably advocated in opposi tion.—(Cheers.) Mr. SPOONER said ho was neither a dupe nor a de ceiver; but, nevertheless, ho should persevere with his m otion on Monde) , next, th oug h a t the same time he thought that no motion, which was not absolutely neces sary, ought to be brought forward this session.—(Hear.) Sir B. HALL believed that the present Government came into office for the purpose of carryieg out the principles of protective, and he was informed that immediately after Lei d Derby was called to the heed of affairs in this cluntrr, that a society, which was called "A Society for the Protection of Native Industry," and which was, in point of fact , a p ro corn-law society, h e ld a meet i ng, at ehich the lion. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Ncwdegate) presided; and that Honourable Gentleman commenced the proceedings by efferiug up thanks to the Almighty Goodness for having restored the Earl of Derby to power, in order that the principle of protection might be There fully carried out. nn was no a Tchbiahop preaont the occasion—en \--ta'alrh)--but it was left to the Hon. Member for North Warwickshire to offer up Fivers. Mr. NEWDEGATE rose to order. What the Hon. Baronet was stating was qu ite incorrect. H e did not think it ri g ht to permit an allusion of this kind to be made without interrupting the lion. Baronet. He did not sa y any Pra7ei o the occasion referred to. Ile begged the Hon. Baroinit would afford him the only re paration in his power, by reading the terms of the reso lution the rein. —(Hear, hear.) Sir B. Pr —AIL said he intended to do so. He would withdraw the word " e pr y r," and wo uld substitute the word " thanksgiving." a- The document was headed " Meetin g o f the actin g comm itt ee of tho National So ciety for th e Protection of Industry an d Capital through out the British l' • " It t h en went on to say — " At emp ire. the meeting committee of the National As sociation for the Protection of Industry and Capital, held at the South S ea House, in London, on the le t M a r ch , 1852 —arl es N. Newdegate, e chq M.P., deputy chair- • man of the actin g comm ittee, in t he chair—it was re solved that—' This association, in the first place, ac knowledge th e h and of Al m ightY t.; ed, and hails with fervent gratitude the advent to power of the Earl of Derby" The n ex t resolution wa s to this effect:—" It is recommended to the supporters of agricultural and British industry to use every P,)ssiblo and legitinN . ete in fluence to secure the return to nirliamout of such men fur boroughs and counties as will support the Govern ment of the Earl of Derby, and that policy of which he is the able and most distieg n ished exponent." It was reed upon that further a g t h e resolutions should bo transmitted to the 'Earl of D e rby, and that copies be forwarded to the chairmen of the local societies throughout the killed° rri and should be otherwise eirculated.—(Llca,r,thoroughly ' bear') lie would now tell them what were the objects of this society, and who were the chi e f officers of this association, and then he would be abl e t o s h ow it was utter l y impossible for men holding such a meeting at such a time to give up the principle of protection. The objects of this association, as stated, wore the restoration and maintenance of pro teetion.—(llear, hear.) And to give effect to these ob jects, it was proposed to ooneentrate in the metropolis the vast but scattered power inveetefl in those persons within the United Kingdom who were favourable to the principle of protection; and to apply that power to the slibvereiou of the Foot sys tem of fr©e resole, by every constitutional and legitimate means available. The Go vernment were bound to protection in consequence of that meeting. They were bound by their association to this principle of protection, and for the imposition of a tax upon the food of tho country. Who were the vice-presidents of this association? He would read the names of those who hold important offices in the Government. The Judge Advocate, the Secretary at-War, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan caster, the Prime Minister—(Cheers from the the Opposition)—the Under Secretary for the Colonies, the Chancellor of the Exchequer—(Ronewed cheers from the same quarter) —the Lord Chamberlain, the President of the Board of Control, the Lord Steward, the Secretary for Foreign /Weirs, and the First Comm.s stoners of Works. He would not follow the list through. There were several Lords and Gentlement of the Hones hold. Well, then, he repeated that in the face of such a meeting it was utterly impossible for the Government to give up those opinions which they had formerly pro fessed. He was glad to hear the speech of the Hon. Gen tleman opposite, because if there was any veil thrown over this question it was now withdrawn. When they went to a dissolution the people would be able now to say that they voted against a G )vernment that was pledged by every point of honour and by every principle which men hold dear, by their political as well as their private character, to lay a tax on the food of the people. - No, no," from the Ministerial fide of the House). It was convenient for them to say "Na," because they dared cot say anything else to the public. His belief was, that, giving them every credit for honourable in tentions, they will try to re-enact protection if they can succeed in inducing the people to coneent to it. Mr. ADDERLEY said it seemed to him that the Hon. Baronet had got hold of a wonderful mare's nest.— (Hear, hear.) Now, what did it amount to? Why, merely that a few :Members of this site of the Hout•e who were wollknown to the Hon. l:Paronet had belonged to the society alluded to for a groat number of years. —(beat., hear.) Supposing any person had been in the society in 1846, when they were struggling for the prin ciples of protection, and that they still remained in it up to the present day, might not such persons feel that though it was impossible to re-enact those protective duties, yet that the hardships inflicted on the farmers mast be fully acknowledged.—(Hear, hear.) Under such circumstances, would there be anything incon sistent in finding their names still in this society? But there was even a more wonderful mare's nest discovered in the financial statement made by the Right lion. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when it was said he had recanted his former opinions. What did it amount to but a statement of facts ? —(Cheers from the Opposition.) It amounted to a statement of facts. Why, the inference drawn from that statement was ridiculous! The Right Honourable Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer merely stated the success of the late Right Hon. Baronet Sir R. Peel's financial policy, and because ho had done so it was said that he had withdrawn his former opinions in reference to the agricultural interest—an interest that was treated very harshly. Why, the late Right Hon. Baronet was not even the originator of that principle. It was adopted in respect to omnibuses, when the fares were reduced from 6d. to 2d. and id. And also in res pect to books, as for example, the "Penny Cyclopedia." Although the experiment might be considered suc cessful it could not be denied but that much hardship and injury was inflicted upon certain classes by those changes. The party with which he acted had always said that the agricultural interest would suffer by the repeal of those laws affecting agricultural produce, and the very success of the experiment had strengthened their position.—(hear.) Their claims were founded upon common justice, and the experiment having suc ceeded they had established their claims. After a few words from Mr. W. WILLIAMS, which were inaudible in the gallery, Colonel SIBTHORL - ' said ho confessed ho could not regret the circumstance of not hying heard one word of what had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last. lle had the honour trobelcZg to the association which had been referred to, and he was proud of it. The resolutions which they passed were far different from those of the Anti-Corn Law League, who adopted a low, dirty, sneaking, underhand, disgraceful mode of proceed ing. —(Laughter.) Brag was a good dog, but Holdfast was a better. Birking dogs don't bite—they were not to be feared.—(Renewed laughter.) Mr. COBDEN roso to put a question to the Hon. Member for South Essex (Sir E. N. Buxton). That Hon. Baronet had a notice on the paper fora Bill he (Mr. Cob•lon) considered of a most abominable character. It was one which proposed to recognis3 the treating of county electors. Such a measure, he thought, was an insult to the House. Ho wished to ask the Hon. Baronet whether, in case he could not bring on his Bill until after eleven o'clock, it was his intention to divide the House upon it? Sir E. N. BUXTON said it was certainly his intention to bring on the Bill this evening►, if he could get the opportunity. Considering that it was only the first reading, that there had already been a discussion upon the motion for leave to bring it in—if ho wore fortunate enough, as he hoped ho should be, to carry the first reading to-night, he would take care to give Hon. Gen tlemen who were opposed to the measure full opportu nity of considering and discussing its merits.—(bear, hear.) He could make no promise, however, as to the time when he should bring it ov. Mr. ROEBUCK begged to give notice that if the Bill were likely to pass into a law be should move the inser tion of a clause providing that the expenses to be incurred under it should be paid out of the county rates. The motion for thr. adjournment of the House at its rising until Monday was then egrecd to, and the House went into Committee on the MILITIA BILL. Mr. WALPOLEmTvetlTl;aiaiesecend blank in the 7th clause, for the number of militia men to be raised in the first year, be filled up with the words "fifty thousand." Sir E. COLUROOKE contended that the proposi tion of the Government would involve peculiar difficui ties, and amongst them the following—that if at the end of four years an emergency arose which rendered it ne cessary to call out the militia, the country would be put to the heavy expense of training and drilling the men for six months, in order to get six months' service out of them, that being the whole remainder of the term of service which could be demanded of them. Considering, therefore, that the Bill was in the nature of an experi ment, ho thought it would be better to adopt a smaller limit for the number—say 20,000 —to bo called out in each year, by which means the country would have an opportunity of judging of the operation of the Bill, and be able to see what was the character of the men, and what degree of reliance might be placed in them in case of danger. He should meet the proposition of the Ri g ht Hon. Gentleman with a direct negative. Mr. RICH was of opinion that if as many as 50,000 men were raised in the first year, it would materially in terfere with the recruiting of the regular army: 20,000 or 25,000 men would bo fully adequate for the purpose of the Government, and if they attempted to gai n more they would probably defeat their own object, which, es far as he could gather from the debate of last night, was to avoid having recourse to the ballot. Mr. W. PATTEN slid that, if it were intended to make the raisina. o f 50,000 men in the first year com pulsory, ho should' vote against the motion. In his opi nion 25,000 would be quite sufficient; b ut i f the Right Hon. Gentleman consented to reserve to the Government a discretion, and the 50,000 were not to be compulsory, he would not object to the insertion of the proposed words in the clause. Mr. WALPOLE would repeat the statement that ho had made last night—that it was intended to make the clause entirely permissive, and not compulsory; and with that view he proposed altering the clause by strik ing out the word " shall," and inserting in its stead o ma y" be raised. What he contemPlatei, therefore, was to raise 50,000 men by voluntary enlistment—this year, if he could, and 30,000 men next,year, if he could —and not to put,the machinery of the ballot in force at all this year, except in case of an invasion or au emergency. Mr. SLANEY thanked the Government for the al teration Vey proposed to make, and expressed a hope that they would carry out the measure in that form, If they did ho should give them his support. The Committee divided, when there appeared— Ayes ••• ••• ••• .. 135 Noes ... 61 Majority ... ••• -74 The blank was accordingly filled up with the words " fifty thousand." On the motion that the next blank in the clause be filled up with the words " thirty thousand," Mr. M. GIBSON objected. He wished to know why, in the case of the militia, they departed from tho co nstitutional principle observed in passing the army estimates—viz., of only providing for the current year the amount of force required for that year? Mr. WALPOLE said they had already decided upon having an established militia force of 80,000 men, some what in the character of a reserve, and to prevent the great inconvenience to the country of raising so largo a body of men in the first year, they proposed to raise it in two sections ; 50,000 men the first year, and 30,000 men the next year. They had already voted the whole force of 80,000 men, and the section for the first year of 50,000 men; and he could not see what objection there was to voting the 30,000 for the second year. Mr. WAKLEY said the measure was the most pre posterous and unnecessary one ever proposed, and ho thought that gentlemen on that (the Opposition) side of the House at least had a right to hear from the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell), whom they bad stood by as long as they could squeeze anything out of him fur the people, what were the special grounds upon which ho considered a Militia Bill necessary? As for any apprehension from France, it was preposterous; for the people of that coun try had settled down to like tho President of the Repub lic; and there was not the slightest ground to apprehend any disturbance in that quarter. It was, therefore, little better than an insult to the people of France to tell them that we must add 80,000 men to our military forces, in order to prepare ege,inst an aggression whi c h we sup posed they were likely to make upon us. Lord J. RUSSELL did not wish to trouble the Com mittee on the present occasion, or indeed upon any occa sion while the Bill was going through Connnitt ee . lle had stated before the House had that he was ready to vote f or the t on ill e g i o n in to g CintirlomCom mittee, but entertaining objections to so many of the clauses, ha wished to take as little part as possible in the discussions in Committee, and accordingly he had not given a single vote on any clau se i n Csrninitte—(Hear, ihneathr)o—pnasosriodgid of f e wish this to embarrass the Government Bill through Committee. Bat the lien. Gentleman asked him to state the general grounds.--. Mr. WAKLEY—No, grounds. no; the precise and particular L u . d J. RUSSELL—The groand3 en which ho th ou g ht the Bill necessary. The demand of the lion. Gentleman and his friends seemed most unreasonable, for retdly, the grounds which they asked him to state were, in tact, till; the (imminent of Fl4llOO Wdz3 SO hostile t 0 U 5 that we naght expect immediate hostilities; that those hosti lities could not be delayed b lemd a le wog Ica, and, therefore, that we ought to have a great armament int medietely raised. But that would be, in his view, not a prudent course for the House or the Government to pursue. No doubt a great rrmarnent was necessary if there was an appearance of immediate hostilities, or an immediate prospect of an invasion; but he saw no such immediate prospect. But he could say, generally, that considering the ware which had taken place between this country and our near and power ful neighbour, we ought to make such a fair and moderate preparation for defence us would enable the Government to be prepared, on any occa sion that might take place, to maintain the houotir and dignity of the country. Upon that subject ho bad cer tainly nothing more to say than ho had had in 1848, at which time he had thought some mere preparation re quisite than existed at the time. The House and the country, however, had not thought it necessary. But in the present year ho sill held the opinion which ho had held in 1848, and he thought it was desirable to make some preparation. It was the duty of any Government more especially to ca'l tee attention of the House of Commons to a subject of this kind, because the people naturally said if there should be any danger —any pros pect of war hereafter—they should hold the Government responsible if there was not a sufficient force to meet that danger. For it was for them (the Government) to propose the amount of force deemed requisite, and for the people to accept that amount of force or not With respret to any immediate preare et of hostilities, he raw no such prospect.—(Hoar.) As to the conduct of the Pre sident of the French Republic, he need not discuss it with reference to his own country; bht with respect to this country, he did not think that ho entertained any hostile intentions towards it. He came, then, to the general danger which they knew existed—that they had been at war in former times—that they had been four times involved in hostilities within the century— and that there were various subjects relating to our interests, and the interests and safety of our allies, which might bring on hostile discussions. Then, as to the mode, supposing there was any hostile dis cussion to take place with France, such as the ques tions raised of late years about Tahiti or Greece, and that it led to such a state of things that peace could be no longer preserved, was the country in such a state that we ought to bo satisfied with our position for defence? lie thought not. He had got a return there of the amount of our forces at home on the Ist of Ja nuary, 1851, and it appeared there were 28,344 men— cavalry, guards, and infantry—in Great Britain, and 22,567 men in Ireland. He did not think that was a force sufficient, if hostilities were to break my; nor that a force *could be so immediately ,supplied as to place this country in a state of safety. Now, the lion. Gentleman and those who agreed with him meant that if there were evident preparations by France for an invasion of this country—if they made upon us demands impossible to accede to—that then we should begin to make preparations. That, ho thought, would be very late, and they should have made prepara tion before. The force which he (Lord J. Russell) had proposed for that purpose was a local militia—namely, a force that could be raised partly by the ballot, and partly by volunteering, that should be confined to men so young that it was not probable they should be married men; that they should not be obliged to leave their country, except in cases of invasion or imminent danger; and, in such cases, service not to be continued, in the first in stance, for more than' six months, or, at any rate, not beyond a year; that, with these conditions and limitations, the ballottieg for the militia was practi cable. The Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton (Lord Palmerston) proposed to alter the title of the Bill before it was brought in, and, as he (Lord J. Russell) understood, with the intention of making the force ono of a totally different kind. If it had been a proposition merely to alter the title, the proper time for that would have been at the end of the stages of the Bill. But the Noble Lord had taken a different course, and declared that the local militia force was liable to great objections, and he raised the special ob jection that the proposed militia did not comprise militia for Scotland. and Ireland as well as for England. It was evident to him that the proposal of the Noble Lord would totally alter the character of the force, and he (Lord J. Russell) had therefore declared that he could not consent to be a party to introducing a 13111 for the regular militia; and that if such a Bill were introduced by any other Member of the House, he should feel him self at liberty to oppose that Bill upon the second read ing. If it were a mere change of the title of the Bill, he would not have taken that course. But the proposed change was a moat material one, and so the Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton thought, or ho would not have taken so unusual a course on the question of the change of the title of the Bill. lie considered it in the same light as if ho proposed to introduce a Bill to extend the suffrage of Parliamentary voters, and it were proposed by another Member to establish universal suffrage instead. He could not have accepted such a change; he would have rejected it. A Bill was then brought in by the present Ministers, which clearly carried into effect the objects of the regular mi litia. It contained provisions which had been considered by the former Government, and had been rejected by them. It had appeared to them that the plan of a re gular' militia must have this objection to it—that if they founded it upon the ballot, the attempt to enlist men as soldiers to serve for five years would be so great a hard ship that it would break down before it was brought into operation, and that bad accordingly happened to the ballot now. Then there was the proposal to obtain men by volunteer enlistment, and that was only to be effected by giving a bounty, which would not bring a class of men likely to mske good soldiers, unless kept as regular soldiers of the line, and under the regular discipline of' the army. Such was the way in which the matter had appeared to them and the present plan appeared to him liable to th ose objections; and he was waiting to hear from the Right Hon. Gentle man how it was he expected the force to work. As to what had been raid about the Government of Franco tilting offence at our using precautions to defend our own shores, he could no eeo how any offence could be taken by a country which had upwards of 300,000 soldiers embodied in a standing army, when we only propose to add to our army of 50,000 men, a reserve force of 80,000 for the defence of our own country. Whatever objection could be taken to the militia force that did not certainly form any ground. He thought further that if possible they should try and succeed in getting by the bounty settled inhabitants of a district, so as to avoid unsettled vagrant persons, who would bo at tracted merely by the 6/. bounty, which would be a large sum to them. Ile adverted to the matter because he was told the Secretary at War would make regulations on the matter, a course which he thought unsatisfactory, because in all matters of that kind Parliament had always taken especial care that there should be clauses and provisions in the Bill which Parliament itself would recognise, and see their effect carried into operation. It should he seen that the 80,000 man who were to be trained to arms were trustworthy ment—not only men upon whom they could rely when the enemy was at their gates, but who would be in all ordinary times men of loyal and good conduct. It might be said that that was- casting dis trust upon the people of England. 'But nothing could be more absurd than such an answer. To guard against unworthy characters being attracted into the militia by a bounty of Gt. per man was not to distrust the people of England, who were numbered by millions, no more than it was to distrust the people of this metropolis because they locked their doors at night. If they went to Ep som Downs on the 26th of this month, they would find there the best of gentry, yeomanry, and labourers, who would go there for a day's amusement, but at the same time there would be many persons amongst them who were of a very different description, and whom he would be sorry to see in the militia. He trusted, then, before the Bill had passed, the Right Hon. Gentleman would see the propriety of introducing a provision removing the matter out of the hands of the Secretary at War. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Noble Lord had drawn them aside from the point before the Com mittee, for the purpose of showing there was nothing inconsistent in his conduct now and on a former occasion on the question. But the difference between the local and the general militia was well understood, and what the Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton proposed was, that as the force which the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) had proposed was in efnct the regular militia, that it should be so called. The immediate question, however, before the Committee, was that the blank be filled up with the words "30,000 men," and having admitted the 80,000 men and the 50,000 men, he could not seo how they could object to the 30,000. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the difference between the local and regular militia was sufficiently distinct as to induce him not to proceed with the Bill. One of the great faults found with his proposal was, that he did not extend the militia to Scotland and Ireland; and be said that he could not bring in such a Bill, because he knew not what would be required. But besides that, every regular Militia Bill contains the clause of service for a certain number of years. Considering this cliff:r anee so great, he said he should oppose the Bill, and he did oppose it. Having been defeated on the second rea di ng he had taken no further part in the discussion; but yet the Hon. Gentleman accused him of endeavour ing to do indirectly that which ho would not directly. That was not justice. Mr. WAKLEY said, whatever might bo the short comings of the Noble Lord, no one attributed to him meanness or trickery in the conduct of public business. He might have failed to come forward, but he never broke his pledges; and from one end of England to the other he boro the character of an honest man. The Noble Lord was a Reformer when others were Tories; and he' (Mr. Wakley) well remembered what a fearful thing was the spirit of Toryism—filling the gaols and destroying the best citizens—when the Noble Lard op posed himself to its progress. Ho regretted, therefore, that the Noble Lord had not gone on as be had n begun, ihe for he had the ball at his feet, benefactor of his country. The Hon. and the e ea o rn ld Bailey and might have beede Gen tleman had made a speech more fitted Cfoormtl33oll9* he atmosphere than for tho House of Commons; of that Right (Mr. Wakley) repudiated the insinuation lion. Gentleman, that he had as ked ra fa o v ti o v u o r s s of ea s t t he en N h ot i le Lord. The imputation not . °f . 8 ° t a t fi s t l i a o w n officerfirsta nodf then the Crown ut aer under a Free-trade Administration h e influencedr ) b ut b h y e a Protectionist Administration--(Hear, persons found it was always th e case improper motives. t h e mselves took every opportunity of b r i ng ing the salons of others down to their own low level. Sir F. TEIESIGER disclaimed all intention of attri buting motives to the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. WAKLE Y, under these circumstances, begged the Hon. Member's pardon. Alderman SIDNEY said that numbers of men of property with whom he had spoken were surprised the Bill should meet with such opposition in the House. The general opinion among the Noble Lord's constituents was that he had completely lost himself by his course in re spect to the Bill. He (Mr. Alderman Sidney) voted for the Bill, not because he desired war, but because he wished fa peke, Jae did 11 4. 4 believe `here Rae ny fear MAY 8, 1852. whatever of this country being invadoil—(lleer) — ann even if there was, that the invaders would pay the penalty with their lives; but will he advocated the mea sure; he looked upon it as a guarantee of peace, and he considered it to be strictly the duty of the Government to look to ita defences. • . . Mr. CARTER thfught the objection of the Nob'© Lord to the Bill would be best expressed by voting on each division against it than by absenting himself and taking no part after the second reading. He entreated the Committee to make the Bill plain, and to leave nothing to implication. Admiral STEWART said the country had a righnto security. The defence of the country bad been rested upon the navy, and the navy would do its duty now as it always did; bet in 1803, though there were 100 ships of the line ready—and the navy had the supremo , td the eca—a vast number of eolunteers were roesed in Ad ditien to defend t'ec country. It was said that steam bridged over the Chancel; but then it was a draw -bridge which could he raised at will by the invader. Ile (Ad" mire' Stewart) could not end would not uedertake to Bey that n Frenchman should land under any circumstanie s of wind and weather; but ho had no fear of a general invasion. He was, however, opposed to the Bill, ' , acme -e t , it ens an expensive measure, He thought the plan s o' Sir 11. Douglas and General Reid might be adopted with less cost and more efficiency. lie was not afraid of a general invasion, but what ho did dread was "dishing" actions, which might even compromise a metropolis—(A laugh)—and, therefore, ho thought tha t camps commanding the river end railroads would be the best form of d fence, as was recommendtd by those officers. He (Admiral Stewart) & precated the interference of the Hon. Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire in respect of the distribution of the fleets of this country, and cansidered the Hon. Member even more. daring than a celebrated wit had described the Noble Member for London, when ho said be would command the Channel fleet, or build St. Paul's; at a moment's notice. Ho (Admiral Stewart) ventured to say that no English vessel would be safe on the South American coast if there were not British ships of war on that station. Ho did not like the Bill, nor did he admire the Bill of the Noble Lord; but he would not give a factious vote in any instance. Mr. M. GIBSON said it had been his duty to ask compensation from tho Foreign-office for injury do ne by the interference of British ships on foreign stations; and he instanced the case of the insurrection in Ps"' when the Greyhound steamer had caused a loss to tlic: extent of 30,0001., by the interference in the quern which had led to the bombardment of the town. Ag"' on the Mosquito shore, a British man-of-war, the ero metheus, had fired into a passenger steamer, on the Oh' ject of some tolls which England had an authority, t° collect. He (Mr. Gibson) should vote against pledging the House to do anything in 1853, leaving that year $(1 itself. Sir F. BARING said the Prometheus did not fire into any ship; though ho admitted that the conduct of th e officer was not satisfactory. Viscount PALMERSTON said with respect to th e case of Para, his Right Hon. Friend had forgotten one link in the chain of circumstances. It was quite tre e the English merchants were neutral in the first i nstance ( ' but it was equally certain that in the second they ta il . applied to the commander of the Greyhound to ask he interference for their protection. Our merchants fre" quently applied to British cruisers to interfere in sup' port of the Government authorities; for it sonietit ne f occurred that insurgents made an unsettled St ate e d :affairs the pretext for attecks upon British subjects on e their property. All he had to say with reference t° th case in question was, that all the details were repeated„! submitted to the consideration of the Advocate-Ge ne,„ the adviser of the Foreign-office, and both Lord 4u,F, „ „- deen and himself had felt it to be their duty to d ee te - I, the enforcement of the demand for compensation on Pi o , authorities of Brazil, on the grounds stated by , Queen's Advocate, which were held to be the rea s° , r which ought to guide the conduct of ° I ; Government. lie: would say, in confirmation of the statement of one of the late Lords of the ..„ 4 ;,„ 0 miralty, there was not a station out of DuTi t , where our merchants were engaged in transacting t" e fo - r affairs in which constant application was not Wad e t he naval protection . Those d eman d s were grea ter than Admiralty could sometimes comply with, and thes e ed.. mends were seldom made without goo d reason, elf cially in the Spanish Ameri can an d B r azilian st a k t .'„; There was hardly a port i n th ose l oca lities in exactions and sp'liations by insurgents agains t regular Government had not b een ma d e on the proper je of our merchants; and this state of things required I presence of our men-of-w a r e ith er f or p ro tection or re dress. Captain Sir J. PECHELL said there could be ee t doubt that her M a j es ty' s s hi ps h a d been called tig°.. when on foreig n s t a ti ons t o i n t er f ere on behalf of gat tish subjects ; an d h e must sa y, no twithstanding all tij ,:g had fallen f rom th e G a ll an t Admiral he thought tR - b Gallant Admiral bad shown that wo had force enong st to protect our trade on foreign stations , and also home. We had a sufficient naval force in this country' at present for any purpose that might be required. wished to know what was required , and what t he nee is cities for additional force? If we were to Weir; militia, he hoped theHonourable Member for Mancheeines would explain to the people what they were to esP e ? under the Bill. Were the militiamen to be flogge d The public could not gather what they were to elq t ' e o from the Bill, because other Bills were to be brougnwore bear on this Bill. He considered Government _ ring going the way to create dissatisfaction in a neiglibpre -' . country, and it was impossible to predict the to flora wished to do all in his power t o p reven t the pe o P tu f this being saddled with the e x p ense an d t h e nuisance militia measure. we re Lord D. STUART said the debate had relation is' n to la t u h se e general principles n p n ri a n id c e ip ra le t s in o n f . tAhegßonildl manythan to th e 61° 1 ' es had been deliVered, but very few' practice ,Be warm a g s g P e e ‘ e t i made as to the best mode of filling up the blann' us to should like to know why the country was tO be ech re" the expense and annoyan ce f ro m which it so In do se vetted, after so many years had been suff ere d to thing without reviving the militia embodiment. He did not t he a Militia Bill was wanted. Tho late Governme nt se Bill. present Government had each brought in a c ry Tho country, adopting the words of Mercutio, won out, "A plague on both your Bills," to which he her for responded—amen. Ile thought that 15,000 un - ' t n a 1853 was enough, and be was prepared to folle;ede Hon. Member for Manchester into the lobby, if h e _ 1 854 a motion to that effect. He was of opinion , befor ? arrived, that the invasion delusion would be dissietn, and that the non-necessity of the force would be 0 3 " nieed. deci - Mr. HUME said the House ought to come to a do in slots with respect to the number of men and the Biel: la b s which that number was to bo raised. If 50,000 re of o f wore to be raised this year, it would lessen the p° this the army to recruit itself. They had been told that b ra was neither a regular nor a local militia, but an "er e of reserve, to be kept up, he supposed, for ever. Ile contended that we had too many men a broad; we ought e, to call them home, if we wanted more Pro t The question he wished to ask was this—what was t _ danger of invasion compared to the danger cf crea n i.s. public dissatisfaction and disturbing the regular purs_nol of the people? The answer must be, that the derg tr er , invasion was far less t 0 be dreadedthan the other dung active for t e_ e uld b He was sati'fied the cost of the militia Nr° early 700,0001. or 800,000/, more than the 15,000,000/. al r ' e .. A thot voted for the service of the country. Ile shoule we e fore take the sense of the House when the m otion the put, that this clause stand part of the Bill, aft er v i s o. lion. Member for Manchester had submitted his pr o After the blank was filled up, eff( e/ Mr. BRIGHT rose to move a proviso, to t.° y that notwithstanding the said first-recited Ach °r is" other Act, no punishment of any officer, non -e°l/ - I ,litia, shined officer, drummer, or private m an of the 131 ,'„,,et• shall extend to flogging or other corporal Ptini su i nnie He thought it was better to mov e th e proviso i ber clause rather than to introduce another clause in al l° t he stage of the Bill. He would proceed to state hew the Mutiny Act would affect persons enrolled under or Militia Bill. By the 25th clause in the Mutiny At P ees s i ft : n e r i i r t e s ih ; n p s e :e mu r n b v i a i ol l n ir t i g i di e ai s i n n ta o ht f t ei h o t zif c h n ' , a 1 n t t lnt i .i i g :c y j i ItencAwt Act, and q e m u e P n t t e d A from al e : %t i t: a c l en d : ea nishments short of depriving of life or mai min g' as to 42d George 111., the 80th clause was so wordedoo adundtyr,enadenr.rii:eniabiliset-ioupsbn; apply to persons training for the militia the 25th _ cla nu b' of the Mutiny Act; and the 111th clause furtne c i e t he jacted militia men, celled out, to tho operationst. it o r Mutiny Act. Now, such would be the state of 0 0 %,,y under the present Bill. So, therefore, as soo ne r, one should be put into training under this b r ie to he would be subject to the Mutiny Act —he sil k, in . courts-martial, and to the lash, for' inino rs ; daii• subordination, and neglect and broach .0,!, under The militiaman would also be liable to deerais pro' certain specified circumstances. The object ei o igy viso was to take militiamen from under th e P e oo to du, the lash. He felt humiliated at being called oP o °o rbs that which the legislation of the House years t ile to have rendered unnecessary. Ile thought ! al o ast II lino of the lash ought not to be resorted to• wee es o lL especially needless in a country where all the,.. o d, 1 3. " • punishing offences by the civil power were at nerpe' would not go into the history of the crueltieeer:more trated under the late and existing law--theY re fer t ° the acts of fiends than men. Ile would On l y rene irea d those atrocities to say that in past times they s ' y y, SO tho approval of officers both of the army an d ° et le i° flogging which ended in death was-over and - e v ene r die" defended in times past as necessary to the' P r r e - 0 *eel dice cipline of the army. Punishments of 2,00 lae co de ° inflicted, and 999 lashes were fouud of the re rive t° • d P but courts-martial within a very recent pal° e ars, , was cruelly flogged to death in illainSiOV B arr , I t o sem . ho did not mean to say that militiamen W0ua,..., rbe l a w ject to the same barbarity. Since that tiorteted bad been altered, and the paniehrnent restrict one-third of what th a t cruelly-treated and n in deat h man underwent. It m i g ht b e argued thetas the could not now take place under the Jaah• lash es ' punishment was now limited to fifty wont' To show tho effects of flogging• " e wb °s° quote the opinion of Dr. Erasmus Pirilso!_.,id be opinion, neither in nor out of that House, would likely to be disputed. Dr. Wilson said deathni_.°::accese on the punishment of flegging was by nom eeirering the men. It had been stated by the colonel that au . oc idiers punishment of that man four or five Orthe r _e a n die d fainted. The jury returned a verdict that the_weood an from the punishment he received, and eaE r r e eie niOg• opinion against the punishment of flogging n e b iee rsal in ; Public attention was directed to the case, an d a e dignation was expressed at tho punishrir ee nL e. Th d result was a compromise--a most u th at e opinion stated that it was altogether nuwennerctue4sse.roo; an order was issued by the Commander-in:LT tea. f ilitar k u n t e u w n e h n o o tm mightore t n h e a nwseot with be men that the punishment of even 50 lashe_ lashes t the o s u t l a d t e dispensed with; but he pretested ag iu "" ile ti" t