The Sun. — London, England, 1846-05-08 00:00:00

1• o . if the offices which they had vacated. Again) in the year 1822 it was deemed expedient to abolish some sinecure offices in the Law Courts. The office of prothonotary of the Court of King's Bench, and the director of the Court of Common Pleas, which offices were held by noblemen, who in Vacating their offices received compensation to the full amount of the value of their situations. it would also be found that by the Act 3 and 4 William IV., sec. 81, cap. 94, and by the 11 and 3 George IV., compensation to the amount of several thousand pounds was awarded to persoiis whose offices had been abolished. The Act for compensation to the six clerks had received the deliberate eonsent of the Legislature, and he asked if it would be fair to repeal that Act now, and to de prive those individuals who were receiving compensation under its provisions of their incomes. His Hon. and Learned Friend saw that the Lord Chancellor had not fully investigated the justice of these claims. He entirely denied that. The amount of the fees had been fully ascertained, and the Lord Chancellor had exercised due caution in inquiry into the mat ter. The Lord Chancellor had on every occasion adhered to the minimum which was allowed for compensation, and he also required a reduction to be made on account of bad debts before he would make any award. He admitted that the public had paid a large amount for the abolition of the offices, bat not more than the justice of the case demanded. These offices were entitled to the remunera tion which Parliament had awarded them. The Act of Par liament had given the Lord Chancellor the po.ver of appoint ing six taxing, officers at I,OOJ/, a year each. The Lord Chancellor had made those appointments, and he (the Attor ney- General) believed that those appointments had been made with advantage to the public. Those officers were selected from the clerks in court. The Master of the Rolls had power also, under-the Act of Parliament, to appoint four officers in the court, and he also selected those officers from the clerks of the court. Would the - House, then, dispassionately and calmly consider whether they were justified in acceding to the motion of the Hon. Member for Kitisale. These persons respecting whom the motion was made had a vested interest in their offices, attd if they were deprives( of those offices, it could only be done by giving them full and fair competition. Mr. HUME said it was certainly true that he agreed with the principle of the Bill which gave these compensations, but he never could have supported the details of the Bill which had been alluded to. It would be presumptive in him to at tempt to draw the line of demarcation where compensation should cea.e, but he thought the Right Hon. and Learned Attorney-General, having cited the only, though a doubtful precedent, which had occurred in Ireland, in justification of these compensations, had failed to make out a good case for the Lord Chancellor.—( Hear, hear.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I could give you many other precendents. The Irish case is by no means a solitary one.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME said it did not matter to him how many prece dents could be produced, because that would not alter the state of the case ; and he for one was convinced the public generally looked upon this as one of the grossest jobs that had ever been perpatrated.—( Hear, hear.) It might be urgod, if this case were to stand good, that if capital punishment were abolished the hangmen of the country would be entitled to compensation. --( Hear, hear.)—Well, he was not opposed to giving it, but let the compensation be just. It was alleged, however, that the compensation in the instance now before the House was un just, and he, therefore, thought there ought to be some inquiry Into it, in order that those persons who had awarded it might be deterred in future from violating the confidence which had been rep ose d i n t h em, on b e h a l f of the public.—( Hear, hear.) Some of these fees, it must be clear, were manifestly unjust, and wrongfully imposed on sniters, and this, in his opinion,. Was an additional reason why his Hon. and Learned Friend should have his Committee.—( Hear, hear.) For it was the duty of the parties appointed to take these fees not to take more than the old law allowed. It was no use to tell him that they bad become just from usage. If the law of the land—the sta tute law of the land—did not sanction them, they had no right to be taken ; and, still more, the parties taking them had no right to compensation on their abolition.—( Hear, hear.) It was on these grounds that lie supported the motion of his Hon. and Learned Friend, and he hoped those who had unjustly taken fees and received compensation on their abolition in the pro gresses of legal reforms would be held up to the public indig nation.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. B. WILLIAMS said there had b-en a great deal of special pleading on the part of the Hon. and Learned Attorney- General, who had avoided the real question before the House, which was simply this—Were these fees taken by those parties to whom compensation had been given legal and jast ?—and it was the bounden duty of the House to take this question into their earnest and serious consideration.—( Hear, bear. ) If the Lord Chancellor bad granted compensation for illegal fees, he ought to be held up to public indignation. But why was the matter left to the Lord Chancellor ? Why was it taken out of the hands of the Treasury, which was the proper place for de ciding the compensation ? Why, the fact was, the whole affair was a most palpable job. This was plain enough, for one of the parties, a Mr. Wainwright, who received a portion of this large compensation, drew up the Bill legalising the compensa tion, or rather, he ought to call it, the job.—( Hear, hear. ) But if the compensation were fair and just, why refuse this inquiry ? It was all nonsense ; the compensation was grossly Cnjust; and Government, in refusing the inquiry, were vir tually acknowledging it to be so.—(Hear.) The Hon. and Learned Attorney-General, however, said the Bill granting the compensation passed through the House after it had under gone the most careful and deliberate consideration, but this was not so, and he for one dared to say it was smuggled, in stead of cautiously passed through the House.—( Hear, hear. ) Oh, but (said the on. and Learned Attornei-General) if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for Kinsale had so many objections to the Bill, why did he not on the third reading, or during its progress through Committee, attend in his place in the House, and state there what his objecti ons t o thi s mea sure was ?—( Hear, hear.) Was it not easy enough to explain why an Hon. Member who was a member of the learned pro fession, could not be in his place on a particular occasion ? His professional avocations might be the cause of his not being pre sent, and they had a remarkable instance of this a few nights ago, when a compensation case was under consideration. The Hon. and Learned Attorney-General, he believed, was in favour of, and took a deep interest in the Danish claims, but, from a similar cause to the one he had already alluded to, the Hen. and Learned Gentleman was prevented from being present when they were under dis cussion.—( Hear, hear.) But why need he follow the Hon. and Learned Gentleman in this traits of special pleading, when everybody knew that the public had long ago made up their minds that this case of compensation was a most palpable job ? In his opinion it would be more becoming her Majesty's Government if they were to accede to, instead of refusing, the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) At all events, if they persisted in refusing it, he hoped the Right Han. Gentleman, the Chancel lor of the Exchequer, would get up in his place and tell the House whether this enormous compensation agreed with his views or not.—( Hear, hear.) lie was cure if the Right Hon. Gentleman spoke conscientiously, it could not, and for this and the other reasons he had stated, he should vote for inquiry. Sir J. GRAHAM was very unwilling to trespass upon the attention of the House on a question which involved legal technicalities, but after the speeches which had jest been ad dressed to the House by Hon. Gentlemen on the opposite benches, he felt himself bound to make a few observations. There were some observations that had fallen from the Hon. Member who had last addressed the House that particularly rendered it necessary for him (Sir J. Graham) to - trespass upon the attention of the House before they went to a division. After those observations he was by no means prepared to vote for a Committee of inquiry of this sort, although he was of opinion certainly that an inquiry into the fees received in the courts of law and equity might be very useful.—( Hear, hear.) But he was bound to resist the motion after what had fallen from the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), and the Hon. Member who had just sat down (Mr. Williams), because they had designated the proceedings under the Act in question as the job of jobs.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Montrose bad said that it was impossible, in his opinion, to ask for a repeal of the Act of Parliament under which these com pensations had been granted, and he went on to say that these compensations were in his opinion irrevocable. It had been openly stated that the objection of the Committee sought for . was to inculpate the projectors of the Bill. Now that ex pression showed that they had prejudged the question they had said that it was .• the job .of jobs." He (Sir James Graham) had the greatest possible respect for the Lord Chan seller, and he was quite satisfied that his Conduct in this matter was pure and irreproachable; that had, in fact, been proved by the speech of his Hon. and Learned Friend the At torney-General. The Hon. Member for Coventry (Mr. Williams) had asked what right had the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when this Bill was introduced in 1844, to antici pate that the amount of compensation would be so great as it turned out to be? He Sir (James Graham) would have given the same answer as had been given by his Right Hon. Friend, viz., that thed rec i s e amount of the fees had not been then as certained: e certainly was not aware at the time that this Act passed that the amount of compensation would be so large. (Hear, hear.) But he did not think that was the question before the House when the measure was passed. The ques tion for consideration was, were these compensations just in Principle ?—( Hear, hear.) This Bill came down from the other House of Parliament with the highest possible authority. An inquiry in reference to the fees was conducted by the Master of the Rolls, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Pemberton Leigh. Those Commissioners gave every attention to that branch of the subject ; and he was informed, and really believed, that the draft of the Bill was altered and reprinted three times before it came down from the other House. When the Bill was introduced, the Lord Chancellor was ill, and could not attend to his duties in the House of Lords, and he, there fore, had not charge of it in the other House of Parliament. But the Bill was introduced by the Maser of the Rolls, Lord Langdale, and the question to be considered was whether the principle on *bids - those compensations were to be granted was just or unjust. This Bill laid down certain principles. In the Exchequer case seven-eighths of the fees which had been taken for a number of years formed the basis of compensation, but in this Bill the minimum was fixed, not at seven-eighths, but at three-fourths. A discretionary power was given to the Lord Chancellor to limit strictly by Act of Parliament the amount of compensation to three-fourths of, the amount of fees that had been received in the three preceding years. He remembered during the progress of the Bill, and he was sure the Hon. Member for Moritrose ( Mr. Hume) would - also well remember, a discussion that took place about a particu lar gentleman whom the Bill would affect.—( Hear, hear. ) And if he mistook not the Hon. Member for Liskeard (Mr. C. Buller) said a clause should be inserted in the Bill for his pro tection. The Bill did not pass through the House withont ample discussi on an d consideration, and he would again say that there was nothing of novelty in the Bill, and he would repeat that what the commissio ners h a d to inquire into, was not the amount of the f ees , b ut the justice of the principle laid down in the Bill. Assuming, now, for a m oment that the fees heretofore received were le ga l f laid do wn not conceive anything more good than the principl e of the f in the Act. Now, this brought him to the legality Hear, hear)—and he poinitaeetaets—th(is debate mainly hung. thought that it was on that —(Hear.) But, in the fi rst ie tt e e fees in question were fixed by the Lord Chancellor 4arde; e , d if he mistook not, in the Lord Chan the year 1843. The f y e e e ar s wleBore7r, conic:he l" referred tobelieved that some of (viler Erskine in the y. But t h e state of the them were reduced. The fees the ki t ,, e d hi iness of business of the Courts ~f Chancer y . with the populatio n of o g in, greatly those courts had, increased since that period. The legality of tt Reared to him to be established in a most remarknobiee Tfeaeunr4nuepr: They were legal by prescription and usage in the c o Chancery from day to day, and their legality was placei be is s n of all doubt. The Commissioners that had been app&ntedyh d Come to the determination that the amount of com en t . ad should not be less than three-fourths of the fees that pwersea on ceived in the three preceding years. In no case had the Lcrt-1 Chancellor a discretion by the Bill of fixing the amount of compensation to a certain extent. Is no case did the Lord Chancellor give the full amount of the fees received ; in every case, without exception, his award was the minimum sanc tioned by the Act of Parlament. When this Act passed, if he mistook not, the fees in question amounted to 771. per year, and Isere rapidly increasing.—( Hear.) The effect produced by this At of Parliament was to eradicate a great abuse--a most for• vendable abuse—both in its magnitude and extent; and the fees were reduced trorn 77,0 4 0/. to 40,030/. per annu m . Th e mount of compensation was certainly large, but not too large, t or th e fees were feeble vested rights, as he believed them to "le been. The com p en sation, as he had clearly said, had been Rheatly reduced, and, in the course of the next twenty years, c ompensation would be entirely extinguished. In effect nt these salutary legal reforms, they should take especial Ca re not to violate the just rights of any parties. —( Hear.) He w ° lll not take a lawyer's view on this sub j ect but he was most Ro xious that law expenses should be ' diminished.. He was, howeve r lever, of opinion, that they could not, consistent public opinion, effect these legal reforms by wug any =jury whatever ea inuoseat parties who had established rights ; and in this case the parties who were in the receipt of cornpensaticin, were justly entitled to a rea sonable compensation. If the fees were large, (and, if they pleased, exorbitant), it was necessary that the principles of compensation should be large also. In reference to the in quiry of fees generally, upon another occasion, he, for one, should not object to the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) But if the declared object of this motion was to inculpate the conduct of the present holder of the Great Seal—(Cries of " No, no," )—he was certainly prepared to vote against them; He (Sir James Graham) denied that the conduet of the Noble Lord was anything but pure and irreproachable in this matter. He denied, too, in the most distinct terms that this was a job. He believed, on the contrary, that it was carried out on sound and righteous principles. He was of opinion, too, that by this Act an immense abuse had been removed, and he did not deprecate this discussion, because it would, no doubt, tend to set the conduct of his Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor right before the public, although he had been dealt harshly with on the present subject. He was certain that the conduct of that illustrious personage had been perfectly pure and disinterested throughout the whole of the matter.—(Hear, hear.) though he did not thereby intend to impeach Air. F. BARING was prepared to vote hfotrhetheeeeCdounaemt of the t L h o e r a d r g C u h m a n e c n e t l of o f r thein t h ff e . slight est gh e eds Learnedrespect.t t r e n e conceived that ra thel that in he t s h it e ati f o r n am in ni s g ta e tt ft g that hat perfectly untenable. He t Treasury was an efficien mea sure.—( Hear, hear.) He would a sk the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the eightee n com p ensation clauses had h c a n d eck no received the sanction of the Treasur) ?—( Hear, hear.) It was absurd to say that the House was responsible for the passing of this Bill of eighteen clauses, brought in at the end of the ses sion, and passed in a week. The Treasury should be respon sible.—( Hear, hear.) The public looked at the measure with extreme jealousy, and he thought it should be a warning to the House not to interfere in compensation cases. He thought the most satisfactory course would be to appoint a Committee. Sir J. GRAHANI stated, in explanation, that the Treasury had no control whatever over the Suitors' Fund; that the whole management rested with thi,K, eper of the Seals. Mr. C. BULLER considered it unjust to plunder those per sons of the compensation which had seen awarded to them by Act of Parliament. Lord Lyndhurst, when he came into office, acted in the spirit of true reform, and being desirous of placing the law courts on a bet ter footing, he referred the matter to a Committee, composed of gentlemen who reflected honour on their proles sion by their conduct—conduct which he wished to God be could see imitated by gentlemen of his branch cf the profession —the common law. They were nor actuated by any desire to benefit themselves—there was no party feeling displayed on the occasion, and he hoped there would be none upon the present. The real question for the House to decide was the amount of compensation to be given. The only course which the Com mittee thought they could adopt in discharging their public duty was to inquire as to the amounts usually given by the House. They looked over all the Acts of Parliament on the subject, and they found that the usual ratio of compensation was three-fourths of the amount of salary received. They could not, therefore, be considered as acting wrong when they awarded as a minimum this rate of compensation. This sum was not so much as had been awarded by Lord Cottenham in compensa tion to the clerks in the Court of Exchequer. The Act upon that occasion stated that the compensation was to be at the rate of not less than three-fourths of the salary, whereas Lord Cot tenham actually awarded seven-eighths ; and in the average of salaries they threw out of the account altogether bad debts. The Lord Chancellor, in the instance before the House, gave three-fourths of net profit, a ft er d e d uc ti ng bad debts. ( The Honourable Member here entered into some calculations with respect to confiscations, which he said thought it would be impossible for him, even though possessed of all the mathematical knowledge of Newton himself, to make clearly understood by the Hon. Member (Mr. Watson). He then went on to say that it was a scandalous thing that those places should have been alloWed to be saleable, and that Govern ment should then turn round and attempt to deprive of compen sation those parties who had purchased those places under their sanction. These persons had a perfect right to rely on the legality of the fees th e y were a ll owe d b y t h e court, an d no one had ever contested their legality. The sanction of law had been given to them in as decisive a way as if they had been embodied in an Act of Parliament. He considered that if they repealed the Act—if they adopted the resolution of his Honourable Friend, they would be doing a grievous injustice. He was certainly of opinion that the levying of these fees upon the suitors in the court was most burdensome and unjust, and was a grievance which should hardly be allowed to exist for him to denounce in 1846. He could not see an argument for the fee system ; it was introduced first in order to pay the ex penses of work and labour, and offer an inducement that it might be done expeditiously, but as that system was done away with there could not be any pretence for continuing it longer. He was sorry :for trespassing so long upon the House,': but, differing in his opinions upon the subject from those on his side of the House, he thought it his duty to come forward and state his opinions frankly to the House.—( Hear, hear.) He trusted that the time was coming when these fees would be entirely done away with, and justice would be rendered cheap and ac cessible to the people.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. B. ESCOTT had listened to the debate with the greatest satisfaction, and especially to the statement of his Right Hon. Friend, that the Government were determined not to resist inquiry into these abominable extortions. The question was one of great public importance, and he could wish that nothing of a personal nature would be mixed up in it. He thought the Right Honourable the Attorney. General (differing as he did with him in most of his opinions) had proved one thing, namely, that the Lord Chancellor had only acted in strict accordance with the Act When this Committee was granted the principle under which compensations were granted must be considered. Na one yet defined the legal principle of compensation. It had been stated by the Attorney- General and the Member for Lis keard that these offices were estates, and for that reason were offered for sale in the masket. He never heard of such abuses as were connected with these offices, and if the judges sanc tioned the sale of them, it was high time for that House to put an end to such a system. It was said that the motion must not be granted, because it would interfere with an Act of Par liament. He would vote for it, because it repealed the Act of Parliament, and because it would have the effect of repealing Many of those abuses which at present existed in the courts of law. He denied the legality of these fees, and he would like that question to be tried in a court of law. He would ask the Attorney-General, if they were legal, why were they reduced ? —(Heal, hear.) The very fact of these officers submitting to the reduction, proved that they did not rest upon a legal founda tion. The Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State said that it was a novel course to reconsider the question of compen sation when it had bean already decided upon by that House. It was a novel practice he admitted, and it was only a navel pro ceeding which would put an end to the abuses which were a stain on the ermine of the Judges who presided in those courts. Mr. R. - YORKE was now, as on former occasions,of opinion that the subject was a very fit one for re-consideration. It came before the House at a period when it was extremely thin, the Members present varying from 27 to 50, and when the Go vernment were hurrying on measures with railroad rapidity. He himself acquired all the knowledge he then obtained on the B:11 from the gentlemen who were promoting it.—(Laughter.) Mr. ROMILLY said that the mode of collecting the fees in the Court of Chancery was one to which no responsibility was attached ; there was no check whatever upon the persons em ployed in their collection. He, therefore, contended that the system was one which should be inquired into, with a view to its abolition. With regard to the other part of the motion, he thought it most impolitic. The House had decided upon it already, and though it was done hastily and without due consi deration, the question could not now with any degree of justice be re-considered. It would be a monstrous thing, after the lapse of five years,. to reverse that decision, but he must say that the compensation was excessive. He should, however, vote for the motion, believing as he did that it would result in alter. ations with regard to the system of fees which would be benefi cial to the courts of law themselves as well as the country at large. Sir J. H A NMER supported the motion. Sir R. PEEL said it was the wish of the Government that there should be a full and efficent inquiry into the payment of those who held such offices, and for also checking abuses in their payments. He was against that system which gave to persons a rate of compensation far greater than they were en titled to. When he was Secretary of State for Ireland, he was much struck with the very heavy rate of compensation which was given to those who had held offices, and which were really sinecures. But he felt that they would be cramping very much the means of reforming the abuses complained of, if they were to adopt such a spirit as would make those, from whom the information was to had, feel that they were about to be injured by any steps to be taken. This he felt to be the case, from his acquaintance with such matters while Secretary of State for Ireland. They received from such persons informa tion, which, if they were to understand that they were to suffer by the inquiry, they would not receive. There was a great abuse in giving over -compensation to those officers. They were giving such an amount as the House would not give to the officers of the Crown—such as they would not give to their own Speaker. He could assure the House there was no objection on the part of the Government for a strict and searching inquiry, and they only had an objection to the mode by which it was proposed to be ma d e. H e could not agree to any inquiry into those compensations given by the Lord Chancellor, for he had given them on the ground of an Act of Paaliament, and tfiui Noblefootnynyears. fa a i ne above orb Learned (Sir ao t o oFhthrri brought j n :ti d h,s ' F r iend's choeeiiroetfhthi judgmenthsad beenand gi impartiality.g i ven n r e inn e F r o n r eßeiallesspomkeeroitfedth;osaendgrtehaet abuses as if they were chargeable to the Lord Chancellor. This House recorded by an Act the sale of those professional offices, or at least passed an Act which made remuneration the right of the parties ; and this was acted upon by one of the most faultless Lord Chancellors of Ireland—he meant Lord Plun kett. The Act of Parliament provided such a compensation as would allow •men of honourable characters and acquirements to take such offices. They hadabolished sinecures where there might have been some excuse found for continuing them, but they had allowed abuses to exist where there was no public claim where, in fact, there was nothing like a claim to support them. —( Hear, hear.) When it was recollected that in this case the Lord Chancellor gave the minimum of what Parliament allowed, it could not be said that he had acted contrary to what could be expected. In the year 1840 the Act was brought in by Mr. Pemberton Leigh, and that Act was not brought in without no tice, and it was not passed by that House in a partial manner ; and w hat was it that could be found fault with in its powers ? Let them propose such an in quiry in a manner that would not reflect upon the Lord Chan cellor, and he would promise, on the part of t he Government, their cordial co-operation in enacting a law for the future. After a few wards from Mr. WATSON, orde . ............... when there appeared to be For the motion Against it Majority MR. SMITH O'BRIEN. The Hon. PIERCE BUTLER said, that he had given notice of a motion to the same effect as that upon the paper from his Hon. Friend the Member for Galway; but he could assure the Houce that he would not have done so had he been r he had committed, motion. He was sorry for the erre aware that the Hon. Baronet had given notice ofsuch and a begged to apol og i se f or it ; b u t h a d h e b een able to bring it on, he could assure the House he was fully prepared to discuss it. H si m e i w l aor on an a would, e however, rly d ay. bring on a motion to an effect somewhat Sirmovedfor in the early part of the session C. NAP lEitwished to kn know wi fwould the table of th e House ? returns ld u a r i ns u p Mr. CORBY said th a t th e returns were in course of ration, and wo u ld b e ready in a few days. h p o e r n e h p t h a t ! . ORDERS OF THE A The Leith Petty Customs Bill, and thD Y. Bill, were or d ere d to be read a second time. Railway Companys Mr. AGLIONBY wished to know what course was intended to be pursued with respect to the Salmon Fisheries Bill. It was of considerable importance to the owners of fisheries in the country to know. Mr. FORSTER wished to have a similar question answered. The Bill had already been two sessions before Parliament and nothing had been done. An HON. MEMBER said that he believed that the Bill would be proceeded with; its object was to give better protection .and facilities to our salmon fisheries. The Bill was then read a second time, and the report ordered to be received; to be read a third time to-morrow. The second reading of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act was postponed. The Gmunittee on the Danish claims was postponed until the 22d. The Election Notices (Ireland) Bill , was read a see,eai time, and the report ordered to be received. The House adjourned at Eleveh o'clock. TRESTIN, LONDON. _ ritIDA Y':,,,EVENING, MAY 8, 184 e PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS, -- --- (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY, MAY 7. RAILWAYS. The Committee of Selection have nominated the following Select Committees on Railway Groups : A Committee consisting of—Viscount Morpeth (Chairman), Mr. Corbally, Mr. R. Scott, Mr. J. A. Taylor, and Hon. H. Lowther, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in Group No. 2 of Rail way Bills, viz. : North Devon, Taw Vale Extension, Bideford and Tavistock, South Devon (Tavistock and other Branches—No. 1), South Devon (No. 2), West Cornwall, Cornwall. The Select Committee to meet 611 Thursday, May 21, at one. A Committee consisting of—Mr. Deedes (Chairman), Visconnt s A r c k o t m v right pre , d a i u n d cii lM r o r u . p F a li r n o h . a m lO , t o o t. I C whom l a e il n i w e a n t y t h s i yi3llll r. . z e V r v e i l a n t It M e B r Ballochney (Shotts Branch), Caledonian (Clydesdale Junction Railway Deviations), Caledonian (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway Branches), Monkland and Kirkintilloch (Chapel Hall Branch), M6nkland and Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, Airdrie, and 3lonkland Junction, Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth, Lesmahagow, Dalserf, and Coatbridge Mineral Junction, Caledonian (Dundyvan Branch). The Select Committee to meet on Monday, May 18, at one. A Committee - consisting of—Mr. E. Denison (Chairman), Sir E. ['ayes, Sir R. Vyvyan, Major Beresford, and Mr. Clifton, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in Group • No. 32 of Railway Bills, viz.:— Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, Cheltenham and Oxford, Northampton, Banbury, and Cheltenham, Buckinghamshire (Tring to Banbury). The Select Committee to meet on Tuesday, May 19, at one. A Committee consisting of—Mr. Ewart (Chairman), Mr. Gill, Mr. E. Ileneage, Mr. Maher, and Mr. Pulsforu, to whom they have re ferred the Bills comprised in Group No. 56 of Railway Bills, viz. : Eastein Counties Stations Enlargement, " London and Birmingham (Camden and Euston Stations Enlargement), London and Blackwall, East London Extension, Enfield and Edmonton, Eastern Counties (Tottenham and Barnet), London and Croydon (Thames Junction Canal); -- Eastern Counties (Thames Junction Branches), East and West India Docks and London and Birmingham Junction. The Select Committee to meet on Tuesday, May 19, at one. PARLIAMEN TAR Y DIVISI ONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons THURSDAY, - MAY 7. COURTS OF LAW AND EQUITY, Motion made, and Question: put, " That a Select Committee be ap pointed to inquire into the nature and extent of the taxation of Suitors by the eollection of fees in the Courts of Law and Equity, and the application of such fees, and the compensations paid to retired officers of those Courts, and into the propriety of the continuance thereof; and particularly to inquire into the orders for compensation made by the Lord Chancellor to the persons filling the offices of Clerk of the Enrolments, Comptrollers of Hanaper, Riding Clerk, Six Clerks, Sworn Clerks, Waiting Clerks, and others, under the Act 5 and 6 Vic. e. 103, and to inquire into the nature, duties, and emolu ments of those officers before the passing of that Act, and their right to compensation during life and for seven years after the death of such person." The House divided : MINORITY—AYES, O. Aglionby, H. A. Dundas, F. O'Connell, Daniel Armstrong, Sir A. Escott, Bickham O'Connell, John Balne, Walter Esmonde, Sir T. Ogle, S. C. Bannerman, A. Gisborne, Thomas Ord, William Baring, F. T. Granger, T. C. Parker, Johu Barron, Sir 11. Grey, Sir G. Pechell, Captain Bellew, R. M. Hastie, Archibald Plumridge, Captain Blake, M. J. Hatton, Captain V. Powell, Caleb Blewitt, Reginald Hawes, B. Romilly, John Bouverie, E. P. lleathcoat, John Stewart, P. M. Bowes, John lieneage, Edward Strutt, Edward Brocklehurst, J. Horsman, E. Tancred, lI.N. Bretherton, J. Jervis, John Thornely, T. Browne, W. Layatd, Captain Warburton, H. Buller, Edward IWCarthy, Alexander Wawn, J T. Busfeild, William Maitland, Thomas Williams, W. Butler, P. S. Marsland, Henry Winnlngton, Sir T. Christie, W. D. Martin, J. Wyse, Thomas Colebrooke, Sir T. Mitcalfe, H. Yorke, 11. R. Collett, John Mitchell, T. A. Crawford, W. S. Morpeth, Viscount TELLERS. DivettZ,Edward Morris, David Watson, Henry Duncan, George Napier, Sir Charles Hume, Joseph MAJORIT Y— NOES, 80. Acland, T. D. Gordon, Captain Maunsell, T. B. Austen, Colonel Goulburn, Henry Meynell, Captain Baillie, Colonel Graham, Sir J. Neeld, Joseph Baring, W. B. Greene, Thomas Neville, Ralph Baskerville, T. B. Grimsdltch, Thomas Patten, J. W. Benbow,'John Grogan, E. Peel, Sir Robert Berkeley. Grantley Hale, R. B. Peel, Jonathan Bodkin, William H. Hamilton, G. A. Polhill, Frederick Bowles, Admiral Hanmer, Sir J. Richards, Richard Bramston, T. W. Hayes, Sir E. Rolleston, Colonel Brisco, M. Herbert, Sidney Seymour, Sir H. B. Bruges, W. H. L. Hervey, Lord A. Smith, Abel Buller, Charles Hodgson, F. Smythe, George Cardwell, Edward Hope, Sirj.T. Somerset, Lord G. Carnegie, Captain Hope, G. W. Spooner, Richard Chelsea, Vise. Hudson, George Stuart, Henry Clerk Sir G. James, Sir W. Sutton, H. M. Cockburn, Sir G. Jermyn, Earl Thesiger, Sir F. Corry, Henry Jocelyn, Viscount Trench, Sir F. Cripps, W. Jones, Captain Trotter, John Davies, D. A. S. Kelly, Sir Fitzroy Villiers, Viscount Douglas, Sir C. Lygon, General Walpole, S. H. Fellowes, E. Mackenzie, T. Wellesley, Lord C, Fitzroy, Henry Mackenzie, W. F. Wood, Colonel T. Flower, Sir James M`Geachy, F. A. Floyer, John M`Neill, Duncan TELLERS. Gaskell, J. M. Mahon, Viscount Baring, Henry Godson, Richard Martin, C. W. Young, John; -Ayr and Galloway, 365.-British and Irish Union, 425.-Cale donian, 1336 -Ditto, New, 513 . -Caledonian Extension, 355.- Cale donian and Dumbartonshire Extension, 335. 6d.-Caledonian Direct Northern, 345.-Carnwath and West Linton, 225.-Cornwall and Devon Central, 325.-Direct Northern, 405.-Dunblane, Donne, and Callender, 303.-East Indian Railway, 295. Gd.-Edinburgh and.Bath gate, 40s. -Edinburgh and Glasgow, 781.-Ditto, New,•2o%- Edin burgh Glasgow, and Dumbarton, 2 05.-Edinburgh and Northern, 6►~ -Forth and Clyde JunctiQp, 345.-Glasgow General Terminus, 9% -Glasgowmnd Belfast Union, 41 5.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 75% -Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 475.-Glasgow and Greenock, 171.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, ancrArdrossan, 41s.- Glasgow, Airdrie, and , Monkland Junction, 35 5.-Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 335. 6d.-Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction, 245.-Great Indian Penin sular, 12s. 6d.-Inverness and Elgin, 225.-Kllmaniock and Ayr Direct, 355. 6d.-Larne, Belfast, and Ballymena, 17s. 6d. -Lesnia hagow, 425. 6d.-London, Bristol and South Wales, 195.-31anches ter and Southampton, 555. -Midland and Eastern Counties, 205.- Perth and Inverness, 315. &1.-Scottish Central, 171.-Ditto, New, 7►,4--Scottish Grand Junction, 245.- Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction, 28s. Gd.-Slainannan and Bo'ness, 70s.- South Midland, 5/. 35.-Stirling and Dunfeindine, 365. LAW ).NTECLIGEN CE. COURT OF * EXCISE, May 7. (Before J. F. STEPHENSON, Esq., C. J. HARRIES, Esq., and Rtiss, Esq.) PROSECUTION OF A BILLIARD 'TABLE PROPRIETOR. John Lambert West, of Rathbone-place, Marylebone, pro prietor of billiard-rooms, was charged upon information with retailing foreign wines a n d sp i r i ts w i thout license. Mr. Garnhatn, an officer of E xc i se, proved go i ng to de fendant's on the 4th of March last, in company with Mr. Reed, another officer. They played at billiards, and after wards ordered a glass of sherry and water and a glass of brandy. A boy who was present in the capacity of waiter went out for the spirits, and in a few minutes returned with the wine and water and the brandy. He gave the boy the money to fetch the liquor, and when he returned he handed him the change. Mr. Reed, who was present with the last witness, corrobo rated his testimony. Two officers deposed, that they remained outside, and that nothing was taken in during the stay of their brother officers in the house. The Court gave judgment against the defendant-. A second information was then gone into for a similar of fence committed on the sth of March. The same officers proved the case, which was, hoverer, of a very prolonged character, as the defendant's principal wit ness swore most positively that the officers were not present at all in the house on that day. Four officers reiterated that they were quite positive as to the day being the sth of March. The Court made some very severe animadversions on the conduct of the witness, and gave judgment against the de- fendant in the penalty of 100/. PO" LIOE INTELLIGENCE. TT'ES T,11.1 NS TE I?. DESPERATE ATTACK UPON TILE POL ICE. — Yesterday, John Davison, Robert Lawrence, John Wright, Richard Morris, and John Smith, five notorious thieves, were finally exa mined, charged with two murderous and desperate attacks on the police. The circumstanceswhich led to the prisoners' apprehension are briefly these:— John Sound, 210 B, was on duty in Orchard-street, Westminster, at about two o'clock on the morning of the 21st of April, when Davison, without the slightest provo cation, slipped suddenly out of a door-way and felled him to the ground with a blow on the jaw, inflicted with a lance wood bludgeon. The fellow again attempted to strike him with the same formidable weapon, but the constable, whose jaw was dislocated, receded a few paces and avoided it. Lawrence then suddenly made his appearance, armed with a similar weapon, and struck Round a severe blow on the back with it, which he was about to follow up when other constables made their appearance, and the fellows ran down Duck-lane, into a court, a place inhabited by persons of the vilest character. The officers followed them, when a despe rate attlik was made upon them with bricks and other mis siles of every description from the window of a house, and the constables were much injured. On being joined by two or three other officers of the same division, they broke into the house and apprehended Lawrence, Wright, Morris, and Smith, who were the persons concerned in the outrage, and having locked them up, returned to the same place in quest of Davison. On ascending the stairs one of the constables distinctly heard some person throw down a heavy piece of wood, and on rushing into the room found Davison there with four lance-wood bludgeons at his feet, similar to that with which the attack had been made upon Round. Davi son swore, as did the others at the time of their apprehen sion, that if he had a pistol or knife handy he would use. it against the officers, and added, as he was being conveyed to the station, " That he would like to serve them as he had done Brennan on the morning." _ _ As the sergeant and his men, in consequence of the inju ries they had received, were unable to attend on the former day. the prisoners were remanded until yesterday, when Sergeant Breran stated, that on Monday, the 20th of April, he went, at about three in the afternoon, to a house in New. court, Duck-lane, where he apprehended a man coining counterfeit half-crowns. He had hardly secured the man, when he saw the prisoner Lawrence, who was in the Court, fling a brickbat at White, a constable, who accompanied him (the sergeant), which struck him a violent blow on the face, and knocked him down. A vast number of others assembled, and threw briCks and missiles of every description, amongst whom, as most active in the attack, he recognised Morris and Smith. There were nearly a hundred persons assembled in the court, and a gteat many of them suddenly made a mill at the room door, whilst others got in at the window. He was, with his brother officers, overpowered by numbers, and the prisoner was rescued. Witness made a leap down stairs after him, but was immediately knocked down, and became insensible. On partially recovering, he was staggering through the court, when he received a blow on the back of the head from a stone or a brick, and he fell to the ground. He remembered nothing else that occurred until he found himself in a baker's shop, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head. Ile had been confined to his bed some days in consequence of the injuries he sustained, and was still under medical treatment. The two officers who accompanied him, and who were also severely beaten, confirmed his account. It was obvious by their statements, that they had fought as long as they could against the thieves, and been fortunate in escaping with their lives. They pointed out Davison as the fellow principally concerned in rescuing the coiner, who made his escape in handcuffs. The prisoners declined making any defenc', and they were committed for trial. EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE AND SUICIDE. TILBURY FORT, TRURSDAY.=FW;;TeraI days past the inhabitants of this quiet neighbourhood have been greatly excited by the following most extraordinary occurrence : In the course of Wednesday, as a young female named Caroline Brooks, aged eighteen, living at Hendon-on-the Hill, was walking from that place to Mucking, she was ac costed by a man, who said to her, " I want one word with you, and no more." She replied, "that she did not wish to hold any conversation with him," and added that there was a policeman behind her. He then observed, " Say not a word—if you do, you are dead." She then screamed for as sistance, when he seized her and put a handkerchief into her mouth, and so held it. He then threw - her to the ground, and contrived to keep her down, during which time he loaded a pistol with ball. and declared if she again attempted to scream, he would shoot her. A horse and cart approaching, however, at this p er i o d, h e a ll owe d' her to get up; and, holding the pistol before her face, said, "You can go and give any information you like about me but if you tell that man (pointing to the driver of the cart), you are dead, for lam watching you." As the cart passed, he took a purse out of his pocket, and put it before her face. He said he should be dead in five minutes ; and then, taking her hand, remarked that he was sorry he had given her so much trouble. She was afraid to call to the driver; but, on freeing herself from her assailant, she ran to a neighbouring house, and the police were apprised of the attack. Two constables, named Cracknell and Hammond, imme diately went in pursuit of hi m t owar d s W est Tilbury, and when within four yards of him, Cracknell observed to his comrade, " That is the man ;" and, ere they could seize him, he raised the pistol, and shot himself through the head. He died in about a quarter of an hour, and on being searched, a pocket-book was found in his coat pocket, in which was the following writing in pencil:—.o Quos Deus suit perdere prius dementat. Jacta est alea." Gunpowder, percussion caps, and bullets, were also found upon him, and a picture of John Tawell, the murderer, under the lining of his hat. He was identified to be John Biloby, formerly of the 46th Regiment, twenty. seven years of age, and living in Tan street, Horslydown. He left his house on Friday week, and was met by a sergeant of the 46th, near this place, on Wed nesday morning. He appeared much excited and said he was in search of a sergeant of that regiment, who once had charge of him, to shoot him. Knowing that he had attempted to destroy himself on several occasions, and believing his mind to be impaired, tke sergeant did not heed his threat, merely telling him that the sergeant was in Ireland. He was respectably connected, and gained his livelihood by teaching music. A coroner's jury found" That he shot him self while in an unsound state of mind." WORTHING. DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE. About two a.m., yesterday (Tuesday) morning a fire was discovered in the house of Capt. Tinling, 4, York-tei race. It was first perceived by one of the family, who immediately gave an alarm ; and on examination it was discovered to proceed from the bed-room in front of the house, occupied by Mr. Thomas Coxhead, Capt. Tinling's son-in-law. Capt. Timing went into the room and f oun d M t . Coxhead lying in one corner in his shirt, quite stupified. He got him out of the room and then sent to the Town Hall for assistance to put out the fire. Harris, the officer, immediately proceeded to the house. When he arrived there the room was so full of smoke that no one could enter it. In a short time, however, he effected an entrance and found the bed clothes burning; and the fire had communicated to the floor, which was blazing. Water was procured, and he succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not before the bed-clothes and curtains were entirely consumed, and the bed and mattresses much burned. In the meantime medical assistance had been sent for, and Mr. Harris had arrived and prescribed the proper remedies for Mr. Coxhead, who was put to bed, and at that time was thought not to be seriously hurt. lie died, however, at twenty minutes past nine in the morning. When Harris first wen t into the room he found a silver candlestick, with the h an dl e me l te d oft, by the side of the bed, as if it had dropped from Mr. Coxhead 's hand ; and a book, the corner of which was burnt, was found amongst the bed-clothes; from which it would appear that the unforunate gentleman was reading in bed and fell asleep, and that the clothes caught fire. Indeed, Mr. Coxhead, be fore he died, stated that he was reading in bed and fell asleep. He was about thirty years of age, and has left a wife, but we could not learn that he had any children. The occurrence has cast a gloom over the town.—Brighton Guardian. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—The Atrapilatory, or Liquid Hair Dye, the only dye that really answers for all colours, am does not require re-doing, but as the hair grows, as it never fades or acquires that unnatural red or purple tint common tt all other dies. Ross and Sons can, with the greatest confidence, recommend the above dye as infallible, if done at their esba blishment ; and ladies or gentlemen requiring it are 're quested to bring a friend or servant with them to see hew it is used, which will enable them to do it afterwards without the chance of failure. Several private apartments devoted en.. tirely to the above purpose, and some of their establishment having used it, the effect produced can be at once seen. They think it necessary to add, that by attending strictly to the in. structions given with each bottle of dye,numerons persons have succeeded equally well without coming to them. Address Ross and Sone, 119 and 120, Bishopagate-street,London, the ce lebrated Perruquiers, Perfumers, Hair-cutters, and Hair-dyers. A most important addition and improvement to Ross and Sons' Liquid Hair Dye. Ross and Sons most respectfully in. form the public that they have succeeded in producing a Po • made, that after the hair has once been thoroughly dyed by their Atrapilatory, will keep it in the most beautiful order, and p revent it again Showing grey, with no more trouble than al p'ying any other sort of grease to it. This most astonishing invention is only to be had of them, as above. [ADVERTISEMENT.] SIGHT AND HEARING. 39, Albemarle -street, Piccadilly. Newly-invented Spectacles, Tele scopes, Opera Glasses, Microscopes, Ste. Patronised by Generals Sir Edward Paget, Sir Evan Lloyd, Sir John Keatings, Maiston, Frederick Goodfellow, Clayton, Grosvenor Morrison, Dyott Robert son, Mackenzie, Galway, Biggs, Woolf, Murray, Walker, Fox, Price, Lindsay, and Thackray ; Major Generals Sir H. Elphinstone, Sir John Ross, Sir James Cockburn, Achinty, P. Fyers, D. Macleod, Bouverie, Sir J. Macdonall, Sir R. Barton, Sir T. Dallas, and Sir Wm. Eustanc e : Ad m i rals Lord John Hay, Sir G. Cockburn, Sir George Munday, Sir George Martin, Sir James H. Whitshed, Sir D. Gold, Ross, Alexander, Curzons, Tompkinson, Hollis, and Price; Vice-Admiral Sir F. Austen; Rear-Admirals Brown and Ribouleau, 8 " . M essrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians, have invented tSpec tacle Lenses upo n a new construction. I mme di a t e ly they arc placed before imperfect vision, that mist and dullness which appear before the eyes is at once removed, every object becomes clea t r a tt o n , d b l i is ii t i i ,, n i c it, t. so that the most aged imperfect sight becomes brigil and is brought to its youthful, natural, Achromatic Telescopes, Opera Glasses, and origina l state. ALso, kinds of Acoustic Instruments, for relief of mos - are not in any way Mieroseop t es e'x i t n r v en is l i e bi d e e a a n fi d ies al s i . Caution —Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians, connected with a person of the same name in their a, iomblsn3erdviealeolevigltio bourhood. To prevent mistakes be cautious, op York Hotel. be had at 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the Wednesday evening at the Dispatches were received on W Colonial-office, from of the Wed India the Governors cdonies. LITERATURE. SKETCHES OF E:IVGLISH CHARACTER. By Mrs. Gore. 2 Yds. The lover of painting, willing to avoid a laborious t)ur of exhibitions and academies, can hardly find a more amusing, au- more instructive occupation than turning over the leaves of some artist's portfolio—and soy the lover of human portraiture, grown weary at the ordsl l ArY three-tomed routine, will find means of whiling away an idle hour, pleasantly or even profitably, in the mntemplation of these sketches, whose piquancy attracts, ,end whose length does not tire. Like the con tents portfolio, they ar e more or less correct portraits caricatures—erai, vr a i sem bl a bl e, or ab.,tird, rai o t f s a ti:, ant e yet all, whether true or false, highly finished or cbaucld, bear impress of the designer's skill, and evidence his talent, if they do nothing more. In taking sketches of English character, Mrs. Gore has very properly drawn no invidious differences and distinctions. She has looked abroad upon the pubic, and, irrespective of per sons, has limned down (faithfully or not) any con spicuous individual that may have passed her. In the dramatis persona of these voltuncs are arrayed together a goodly company, who rarely band together on terra firma. A varying group of many gradations, from the " lady patroness" to.' the " linkman." the " Cabinet Ministress" to the "body coachman" and "Lady's. maid." To sum up the merits of these volumes, they are brilliant and lively, vigorous, effective, and amusing. But these merits are not without drawbacks ; one of the most conspicuous of which, and one that greatly impedes the ordinary vivacity of style, is a manifest aiming after wit. Puns upon words and double entendres are intro duced in all directions, sometimes coming in a slries following eac h other up, 9 line aft er line, till the evident' effort beco mes painful, and the constant repetition g wearisome. A n d this defeats its own object— . amid s s researches and en d eavours the spiritof evil the child of impulse, not the creature of effort. A no th er and a yet gr aver f ault in these otherwi se attractive volumes, and o ne springing from 'foregoing, is th e very frequentaqu otslit ilar source as the Holy Writ. In many cases this is lo e n ch o i f efl P y as o s r ag s e o s i el l to illustrate some witticism, or to furnish an o p portunity for a bon mot, and i n suc h cases it is not only unb ecom i ng but unpardonable. THE RHETORICAL READER. By J. 11 Ilindmarsh. Fourth Edition. This work has a twofold merit and a twofold value. It instructs by example and by precept. It furnishes a concise summary of the laws of elocution and an admirable compendium of the beauties of composition. In the latter capacity it is invaluable. The selection is comprehensive and well assorted. Varying from " grave to gay, from lively to severe," it includes the chefs d'ceuvres of our greatest authors—poets and historians, orators and divines. Not the least intereEting portion consists of extracts from great Parliamentary debates. Among others, we have an early speech of the first Pitt, when full of the impetuous energy of youth, and the immortal discourse of the aged Chatham, worn out by the ravages of disease and time. Setting aside the valuable instructions in the important art of oratory, and the useful foOt-notes which illustrate the text, this volume is peculiarly excellent as a compendium of the British classics, and as such it should be in the hands of every British youth. THE HONEY STE IV. A Fairy Tale. Translated from the French of Durrag, by Mrs. Cooke Taylor. A very elegant and attractive little volume, embel lished with coloured plates, and every page adorned with a delicate border of gold, the " Honey Stew of the Countess of Bertha " cannot fail to become a universal favourite with the young. The story, written by Alexander Dumas, and very felicitously translated by Mrs. Taylor, has very little in common with ordinary fairy tales ; which are for the most part of a character very unsuitable for children. It inculcates the duty of benevolence and fidelity in the fulfilment of a promise. " The Honey Stew " is an annual feast, given by the Countess Bertha to "her humble tenants ; which feast she enjoins her descendants to administer to theirs. The varie - as ways in which this promise is kept or violated, and its violation visited upon the offender, forms the chief portion of the tale. The, work is "got up " in the most elaborate style. The engravings are all coloured ; the most striking perhaps is the one in which the fifty cook s appear heading fifty enormous bowls of the " honey stew." Their large round coun tenances absolutely beam with good humour ; and the chef marches first, holding the ladle, apparently quite conscious of the dignity of his onerous and honourable office; MESMERISM. The following letter, which appeared in the Dublin Evening Mail, will be real with interest by all, whether believers or unbelievers, who have Paidany attention to the subject of Mesmerism : MESMERISM—THE 1001. NOTE. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, MAT 7. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Bristol and Exeter, New, 10% —Birmingham and Gloucester, 125% —Bristol and South Wales Junction, 1 7-16—Caledonian, 7%—Ditto, New, 2—Midland, New, 3 3%—Newcastle and Berwick, 21 7: North Staffordshire, 4X p. LIVERPOOL, MAY 7. NEW STOCK EXCHANGE.-The excitement noticed on the 4th of May continued with increased vigour until yesterday, when the slight check given to the London market induced recent purchasers to realise, at the best prices they could obtain. The, effect produced was a considerable decline on scrip shares, and more particularly on such as had advanced most rapidly. To-day the market opened heavily, but holders were much firmer at the close. The sales are -Blackburn and Preston, 4% p.-Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, 1% p.-Birmingham and Gloucester, 124 -Cll - Junction, ss. dis.-Derby and Crewe, 3 p.- Direct Northern, 251. Shares, 9s. dis.-Eastern Counties, York Extensions, 11. 10s. p. -Glasgow and Dumfries, % dis.-Glasgow and Greenock, Halves, 8% p.-Grand Junction, 226 ex d. and n..-Ditto, New Quarters, 29% p. ex d.-Great Grimsby and Sheffield, Quarters, par-Cools and Doncaster, 2s. Gd. p.-Huddersfield and Manchester, 10s. p.- Huddersfield and Sheffield, ss. p.- Lancaster and Carlisle, 19 p.- Leeds and 'Minsk, 3/. 15s. dis.-Liverpool and Bury, 8/. 10s. p.- Ditto, New Shares, Ipi p.-Liverpool, Orruskirk, and Preston, 1% p. -London and York, 2s. 6d. dis.-Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (A), 9 is.-Ditto, ditto (B), 9 p.-Manchester, Bolton. and Bury, Fifths, 8% p.-Ditto, Extensions, 1/. 12s. 6d. p.-Manchester and Leeds, Quarters, 9 -Ditto, Extensions, 3 p.-Manchester, Mid land, and Great Grimsby, 12s. 6d. dis.-Manchester, Matlock, and Midand, 215.-Midland Stock, 1511-North Staffordshire, 3% p.- North Union (A), 212% -North Western, 2s. 6d. p.-Nottingham, Mansfield, and Midland, par-North Wales Mineral, 4 p.-Preston and Wyre, 31-Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 1, Si. 10s. p. -Ditto, Quarters, No. 3, 1 p.-Shrewsbury and Herefordshire, I Is. dis.-Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and . Chester, 114 dis.-Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 12s. 6d. p.-South Eastern, 40%-Ditto, No. 1 (at 18 dis.), p.-Ditto, No. 2 (at 16 2-3 dis.), 414 p. ex d.-Ditto, No. 3, Consolidated, 2% p.-Ditto, New Halves, 14 p. ex d.-Ulverstone, Lancaster, and Carlisle,l7s. 6d. dis.-West Riding Union, 2% p.- York and North Midland, 103-Belfast and Ballymena, 4% dis.- Dublin and Cashel, 5 p.-Dutch Rhenish, p. MANCHESTER, MAY 7. STOCK EXCIIINGE.-The sales are-Birkenhead.. Lancashire, and Cheshire, 1% p.-Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham, 135, 6d. dls.- Clitheroe Junction, % dis.-Derby and Crewe, 3% p.-Direct Northern, 746 dls.-Eastern Counties, Perpetual (No. 2), 7 1-16- Ditto, York Extension, 1% p.-East Lancashire, No. 2,3% p.- Glasgow and Dumfries,. 14 dis.-Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, &c., p.-Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, % c. p. -Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction, 5% p.-Lancashire and North Yorkshire, % dis.-Leeds and Thirsk, 44 dis.-Liverpool, Orms kirk, and Preston, 14 p.-London and Manchester (Rem.'s), 136 dis.-Ditto (Rastrick's), dis.-London and York, W I dis.-Man chester, Bolton, and Bury, Fifths, 8 p.-Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, 5-16 p.-Manchester and Birmingham Continuation and Welsh Junction, 13-16 dis.-Manchester and Southampton, 3-16 p.- Northumberland and Lancashire, 18s. dis.-North Staffordshire, 1 4 p. -Nottingham and Mansfield, par-Oldham District, 7-16 p.-Pres ton and Wyre, Halves (B), lOs 6d: p.-Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, 4s. p.-Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 3, 5 4 p.- Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 11-16 p.- Shropshire Union Railway and Canal, % dis.-South Midland, 1% p.-South Eastern and Dover, Halves (No. 4), Bs. p.-West Riding Union, 3 p.-Whitehaven and Furness, 2 1 4 dis. _ LEEDS, MAY 7. STOCK Exenatruz.-The sales are-Eastern COtintieS, York Exten sion, 235. 6d. p.-Great Grimsby and Sheffield, 3 dis.-Ditto, Quar ter Shares, % dis.-Ditto, Extensions, M dis.-Huddersfield and Manchester, 2s. Gd. P.-Ditto, Extensions, 6s. dis.-Huddersfield and Sheffield, 4% p.-Leeds and Bradford, 27% p.-Leeds and Dews bury, p.-Leeds and Thirek, 3% dis.-Ditto, New, 2% dis.- London and Croydon, 22M cash -Manchester and Leeds Extensions, 2% P. -Midland, New, 5 p.- Newcastle and Berwick, 10% 1 ) . - North British, Carlisle Branch, 265, p.-York and North Midland (East and West Riding) 10 p.-Arnbergate, Nottingham, and Bos ton, its. dis.-Birkenhead, Chester, Mold, &c., 1% dia.-Bucking hamshire, 2s. Gd. p.-Clitheroe Junction, I Is. Gd. die.-Direct Northern, 10s. Gd. dls.-East Lincolnshire, par-Grand Union, 15s. dis.-Leeds, York, and Midland, 28s. dis.-Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 6s. 6d. dis.-Leicester and Birmingham, 148. dis.-Leicester and Redford, 11s. dis.-Liverpool, Orrnskirk, and Preston, 275. p.- London and York, 2s. Gd. dis.-London and Portsmonth, 10s. 6d. dig. -London and Manchester (Rem.), 355. 6d. dis.-Manchester, Bux ton, Matlock, and Midland, 275, p. - Northumberland and Lanca shire Junction, 20s. dis.-North Staffordshire, 4% p.-North Western, 3s. 6d. p.-South Midland, 38s. p.-Welsh Midlands, 225. dis.- West Riding Union, 41. 13 5.-Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, 235. dis. HULL, MAY 7. STOCK Exerrawoz.-The sales are-North British, Carlisle, 2% - Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston, &c., 375.-Armagh, Coleraine, and Portrush, 12s. 6d.-Direct Northern, 2-East Lincolnshire, 1 - Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, &c., 21. ss. 6d.-Hull anti Barnsley Junction, 255. 3 d.-Leicester and Tamworth, 24a. 6d.-Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 21. 75.-London and York, 19s. &1.-Man chester, Buxton, and Matlock, 3/. 75.-Nottingham and Mansfield, 2% -North Western, it, 55.-North Staffordshire, Cl. 75.-South Mid land, 31. 17s. 6d.-Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 34-Shrophliire Union, t,291. 6d.-West Riding Union, 4/. 14s. 6d.-Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, 275. • SHEFF lELD, 7. STOCK EXCHANGE.—A dull market, MAY and prices less buoyant, with a downward tendency in scrip shares. The sales are—Midland, 401. Shares, 33—Grimsby and Sheffield Quarter Shares, 4s. dis.—Leeds and Thirsk, dis.—London and York, 6s. 6d. dis.—Leeds, Wake field, and Midland, 3s. dis.—Manchester, Midland, and Great Grimsby, I Os. lid. dl s. — Northumberland and Lancashire Junction, 18s. Gd. cits.—Sheflield and Lincolnshire, ss. p.—Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe, 13s, dis.—South Yorkshire Coal Rail way, Is. dis. STocx Exciter/or. - E I D I T e N s I3 aI Un e Garier-' 3 A r b A e Y rd s e . en, 51. 15 5. -- Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin, 11. 103.--Airdrie and Bathgate, 2/. 11 x . -A rbroath and Forfar, 271.-Ditt o , Half shares, i 151. 1 05 .-Armagh and P or t rus h , i 12s. 6d.-Ayr and Galloway, . 143 .-Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir, &1.-Belfast and County Down, 21.-British _ c;d l (. 2l. IN.-Ditto, New, 2/. 21. 25.-Banffshire 2 , l. l9 l s B .. , 2i_D 21.-Dublin Central, iin Iran and Dumbarton, and Irish Union, -Caledonian Extension, 11. 12s. 6d. 1/. 11s.--Caledonian and Northern Direct, . 14s. 6d.-Carnwath and West Linton, 1/. 25.-Chelmsford and Bury, 155.-Clydesdale a n n .l2 l. s inl 6d ds . k - Il D ie e n esi l d r. Junction, uanway Devon 4 l4 l. l - .- D C ir o e r c n t w N all or a t n h d ern 10s.-Dundee and Arbroath, 39 1.-Ditto, New, 211.-Dundee and Forfar Junction, 11. 165.-Dundee and Perth, 171.-Ditto, Kinross Extension, 21.-Eastern Counties Extension, 21. 55.-East Indian Railway, 145.-East of Fife, 11. I ls.-East Lothian Central and Tyne Valley Junction, 1/. 75.-Edinburgh and Bathgate, 1/. 18s. -Edinburgh and Glasgow, 761. 10s.-Ditto, Half Shares, 181. 155.- Ditto, Quarters, 181. 175.,6d.-Ditto, ditto, New, 171. IN.-Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dumbarton, 19s. 61-Edinburgh and Leith Atmosphe ric, U. 45.-Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, 161.-Ditte, Preference, 131.-Edinburgh and Northern, 6/. 55.-Ditto, Newport, 15s. 6d.-- Ditto, Lochgelly, 1/. Is. 6d.-Edinburgh and Peebles, 11. 10s. 6d.- Edinburgh and Perth, 21. 35.-Edinburgh, Portobello, and Mussel burgh,l/. 125.-Forth and Clyde Junction,ll. 155.-Glasgow and Ayr shire, 74/Aox.-Ditto, New Stock, 301.-Ditto, Quarter Shares, 181.- Glasgow Belfast Union, 1/. 18s.-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, V. M.-Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 11. 13s. 6d.-Glasgow and Gam kirk, 401. 10s.-Glasgow General Terminus, 91.-Glasgow and Greenock, 171.-Ditto, New Stock, 81. 155.-Ditto, Preference, 1/. Iss. -Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction, 11. 10s.-Glasgow Harbour Mineral, 1/. 155.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 21. 2s. 6d.- Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow, 21. ft-Granton Junction, 10s.--Great County Down, 1/. 10s.-Great North of Scotland, 11. 10s. -GreatNorth and South Wales, 11x.-Inverness and Elgin, 1/.- Lanark and Lothians, 21. 25.-Lame, Belfast, and Ballymena, 12s. - London and Hounslow, 15s. - London and Manchester (East.), 3/. 5s -London and Manchester (Remington's), 11.-London and York, 2/. 15s. 6d.-Ditto, Half Shares, 21.-Midland and East ern Counties, I/. 188.-Morayshire, 11.-Newcastle and Berwick, 21/. Os. 6t1.-Newry and Londonderry, 1/. 75.-North British, 291.-Ditto, Halves, 10/.-Ditto, Extension to Carlisle, 21.-145.-Ditto, Extension to l)alkeith, 61. 155.-North Wales Mineral, 141. 10s.-Ditto, New, 71. Is.-Perth and Crieff Direct, 1/. 125.-Perth and Inver -11. 1 ls.-Scottish Central, 171.-Ditto, New, 61. 155.-Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction, 11. 65.-Scottish Grand Junction, ti and Midl an d, 1/. Is.-ScottishMidland, 'U.-Scottish Southern, 11.135.64.-Shrews buryS and H ere f ord, 55.-Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester, 4/. 10s. -Sotall Midland, 3/. 2s. 6d.-Stirling and Dunfermline, 158.- iin g 21.-Strathearn Junotion, 1/. 103.-S urr ey Grand Junction, lOs -Teau and Dove Valley, 155.-Wishaw and Coltness, kW. GLASGOW, MAY 6. STQCIL EZCIIANGE.—The sale 3 are —Airdrio and 136tbgatE. AIVIERICAN NEW S. THE OREGON QUESTION. THE NOTICE. We hare received, via Havre, most important advices fron Washington, to the IGth ult. inclusive. They bring the re suit of the debate in the Senate upon the Oregon questicn. IVASIIINGTON CITY (UNITBD STATES), MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1846. In the Senate this morning there was a conversational de bate between Mr. Aller, Mr. Crittenden, Mr. Morehead, Mr. Clayton, and others, which resulted in an understandinf (in formally)s that the vote on the resolutions respecting the twelve months',not ice to terminate the joint convention rela tive to the Oregon territory should be taken on Thursday. • - Mr. Huntington, of Connecticut, addressed the Senate to-day at length in favour of a settlement of the Oregon controversy by a compromise on the 49th degree. A message was also received from the President, in reply to Mr. Clayton's resolution of inquiry, which stated that no furth-a correspondence on the subject of Oregon had passed between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain since the 4th of February (the arbitration correspondence). TUESDAY, APRIL 14. Mr. Westcott, of Florida, addressed the Senate in support of the title of the United States up to 54 deg. 40 min., but in opposition to notice, which, he believed, if it did not bring on a war immediately, would at the expiration of twelve months; and as the United States were not prepared for war, he should vote against the notice in all its shapes and forms. Mr. MgDuffie, cf South Carolina, said a few words by way of addenda to Mr. Westcott's speech, as that gentle man had attempted by appealing to " Hansard" to show that Great Britain had a d m i t t e d the title of Spain to the territory in dispute. Mr. Wlluffie allowed, by quotations from the following page of the same volume from which Mr. Westcott has been quoting, that Great Britain had al ways denied the right of Spain to exclusive jurisdiction in Oregon. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15.—Mr. Samuel Houston, of Texas, addressed the Senate to-day in a speech in favour of the American title to 54 degrees 40, and advocating the "naked notice" as it is called, or a simple resolution giving the no tice without preamble or qualification of any kind. He in timated in the course of his speech, however, that a treaty which settled the matter on the 49th degree would receive his vote. THURSDAY, APRIL 16.—The Senate Chamber and gal leries were very much crowded this morning by persons anxious to see and hear the closing scenes of this long-pro tracted debate, which has extended over nine weeks, and also to see to what results it would lead. Mr. Crittenden, of Kentucky, led off in a very able and eloquent speech, in support of the preamble and resolutions which he had offered, authorising the President to give the notice at his discretion. Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, moved the adoption, as a substitute, 'of the following preamble and resolution, which is the same as that offered by Mr. Crittend en , with the insertion of the word " amicable" before the word" set tlement" at the conclusion of the preamble, and the omission of the following proviso at the end of the resolution :—" Pro vided, however, that in order to afford ampler time and op portunity for the amicable settlement and adjustment of all their differences and disputes in respect to the said territory, said notice ought not to be given until after the close of the present session of Congress." " Whereas, by the convention concluded the 20th day of OctOber, 1818, between the United States of America and the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire land, for the period of ten years, and afterwards indefinitely extended and continued in force by another convention of the same parties concluded the 6th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1827, it was agreed that any country that may be claimed by either party on the north-west coast of America westward of the Stony or Rocky Mountains, now commonly called the Oregon territory, should, together with its harbours, bays, and creeks, and the navigation of all ri vers within the same, be 'free and open' to the vessels, citi zens, and subjects of the two powers, but without prejudice to any claim which either of the parties might have.to any part of the said country; and with this further provision, in the second article of the said convention of the 6th of August, 1827, that either party might abrogate and annul said con vention on giving due notice of twelve months to the other contracting party. " And whereas it has now become desirable that the re spective claims of the United States and Great Britain hhould be definitely settled, and that said territory may no longer than need be remain subject to the evil consequences of the divided allegiance of its American and British population, and of the confusion and conflict of national jurisdictions, dangerous to the cherished peace and good understanding of the two countries : " With a view, therefore, that steps be taken for the abro gation of the said convention of the 6th of August, 1827, in the mode prescribed in its second article, and that the at tention of the Governments of both counts his may be the more earnestly and immediately directed to renewed efforts for the amicable settlement of their ditrerences and disputes in respect to the said territory; "1. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives That e the United i d e S n t t a t o e f s t h o e f u A n m ite er d ic s a ta i t n es C b oz g a r n e d ss h e a s i s s e i t i n e h r e l e b d y , authorised, at his discretion, to give to the British Govern ment the notice required by its said article for the abrogation of the 6th of August, 1827." Mr. Allen moved to amend this substitute by striking out the second and third paragraphs of the preamble, and in serting,,A3ni rd.wp ar ei enernex7tbraaiect i t ,he f esr r , om noef t t h vv e h P iereog re i s mn i i d ea e ,t n ht t he 's edn ll n l t ei o s so a ef g , e aao ci dg ni rs m eps s e & in n ! some length in explanation of his reason for opposing substitute. The question being taken on the amendment proposed by oke th a e t Mr. Allen, it was decided in the negative by a vote of— yeas '22, noes 32. Mr. Allen moved to lay the resolution reported by the Senate Committee on foreign affairs on the table, in order that the resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives might be taken up and and acted upon, which was agreed to. Mr. Breese, of Illinois, then moved to amend the substi tute by striking out the words " at his discretion" in the resoluCon. The question being taken, the motion was de cided in the negative by a vote of —yeas 22, noes 32. - The question was then taken on the adoption of the sub stitute, and decided in the affirmative by a vote of—yeas 30, noes 24. Mr. Allen then spoke at some length in opposition to the resolution as thus modified, declaring his intention to vote against it even if he voted alone. Mr. Crittenden replied to Mr. Allen, who rejoined, and Mr. Crittenden sur-rejoined in a strain of great severity towards Mr. Allen. The Committee of the whole having reported the amend ment to the Senate, it was concurred in. The question then recurred on ordering the joint resolution to be engrossed and read a third time, - which was decided in the affirmative by a vote of—yeas 40, noes 14. So the Senate agreed by a majority of 26 out of 54 votes to adopt the resolution as amended, which will now have to be sent back to the House of Representatives for its con currence. ASHIN APRIL 16. Mr. Slidell has retu rne d from his mission GTON toMexico with out having accomplished anything whatever', Paretes posi• tively refusing to receive him as a Minister Plenipotentiary, though, it is said, they are willing to receive a special com missioner to settle pending difficulties. Simultaneous as it would appear with the orders for Mr. Slidell to return to the United States, General Taylor re ceived orders to march the troops under his command from Corpus Christie to the Rio Grande, and they are now oppo site the city of Matamoros, having put the Mexicans into a tremendous fright, so that the Government official there set fire to the Custom-house, and ran off as fast as he could. It is said that the Senate will not act upon any measures of importance sent to it by the House until that body has acted definitely upon the resolutions of notice, which the Senate passed yesterday. The Tariff Bill, which has been reported by the Committee of Ways and Means, is hardly expected to pass Congress this session, nor perhaps the next either. __ MADRID AND VALENCIA RAILWAY.—Mr. James Stovold, Engineer left London on Saturd a y l as t f or S pa i n , to make a practical survey of the first section of the line, between the towns of Valencia and San Felipe. The Journal des Ch em i ns d e Fer announce that the four companies which had u nited to form the company to which the Chamber, of Deputies had conceded the railroad from Bordeaux to Cette, were respectively entitled to the following nuber of sharesnamely, the Espeleta Company to one out of two, or 50 per cent. ; that of Baron Sarget and Mr. Mackenzie, to one out of four, or 25 per cent. ; and the other two companies (Casalle and Schneider), having only issued the number of shares allocated to them in the fusion, will effect no reduction in their promises. According to the same journal, the Prefect of the Lower Seine had sent engi neers to survey the country between Dieppe and Abbeville, to establish a railroad between those two towns. The receipts of the first section of the Paris and Bordeaux line between Orleans and Tours, had been during the lit week, 13, 196 f. 60c ; in the 2d, 23,484 f. 70c.; in the 3d, 41,416 f. ; and in the ) 397 L, or 20,000 f. a ' 4th,. 43,957 f.—in all, 122,054 f. 30c. From the Ist of May, all the stage coaches proceeding to and from the south of France will employ that conveyance, and the administration calculated on a daily receipt, for travellers alone, of B,ooof or 9,000 f. The receipts of the Paris and Orleano Railroad during the week ending on the 28th ult. amounted to 170,407 f., exceeding by nearly 16,000 f. those of the con s ponding week of 1845. Those of the Paris and Rouen ro e d during the same interval, were 150 more than last year. MURDERS IN ENGLAND.—Mr. John O'Connell, Mem ber for Kilkenny, moved on the 12th of F e b ruary for a returnf all murders that have been committ e d i n E ng l and since the Ist January, 1842; specifying the county, &e , where such murder had of Front the been committed, with other particulars. It appears that the ordinary criminal returns received at the nome•office, having ref erence to i 'et &c, Front were 58 ; mines, and not to the parties against whom offences are coinmitted do not in any instance state the condition in life, and not in all i n _ stances the names of persons murdered or attempted to be murdered; nor do these contain any record of murders or attempts to murder further than in cases where accused paities have been apprehended, u t v oh i fe c t c o i en, inquestsi ay, There was therefore no direct means of furnishing th e p articular in_ formation required by the address, A summary of the whole is wftoohadded,irtals manslaughter 2s2h given,N i n i g t i thes provedt number cides. o that inquests, tohreur d g5l ; for cenceahuent of birth, 27 ; and under the was 440, of numbere r° term " various," 4. There were 20 found insane ; self-destruction of the accused, 2 ; accused died in prison, 4 ; no bill or acquitted, 99 ; and cases not ascertained, 190: making the total stated. There were of attempts to murder 65 attended with bodily injury, and 17 not attended with bodily injury, and 10 cases in which reward or pardon was offered by Government and no results followed. There were 29 convictions ;16 of the accused found insane ;36 , in which there was no bill found, or the parties were acquitted, and one which the trial was postponed. Of rewards offered t here were 35; 28 in cases of murder, and 7in cases of attempts to murder. There were 8 of the rewards paid, and in 12 cases convictions followed, of which 11 were in cases of murder, and 1 in ease of attempt to mur der. In four cases where convictions took place the rewards offered do not appear to have been claimed. In one ease of acquittal, the reward was claimed, but not paid. In one case of Murder, and four cases of attempt to murder, pardon was offered without pecuniary ro ward ou the part et Government. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUBLIN EVENING • MAIL. Sir,—l have little doubt that many of your readers, (believers as well as unbelievers in mesmerism), are curious to learn what has become of the 1001 note which was deposited for six months in the bank of Messrs. Ball and Co., which was (according to the terms of the adver • tisement in the public papers) " to become the property of any person, who, without opening the envelope in which it was contained, should describe every particular respecting the note—such as its number, its date, the bank at which it was payable, &c., and who should read three English words, plainly written on a slip of paper, which was contained in the same envelope with the note." The six months expired on the 31st of March, but the time was extended to the April 18, to meet the conve nience of a lady, a professor of mesmerism, and the authoress of an ingenious book on the subject, who ar rived from London in the beginning of the month, and who expressed a wish to have some time longer to pre pare her clairmygnte for the test. Six months and seventeen days having expired, and no person having appeared at the bank to examine the envelope, it was opened on the 18th instant, in the pre sence of Messrs. Ball and lloyne, and one or two other persons connected with the establishment. The note proved to be a printed cheque (No. 1,) issued by the house of Messrs. Ball and Co., for 1001. payable to CEdipus, or bearer, and dated the Ist of October, 1845.. The English words (written on a separate slip of paper) were, "To Edipus alone"—a translation from the Greek of the celebrated oracle delivered at Delphos, which committed to Edipus the difficult and somewhat dan gerous task of solving the Sphinx's riddle, on the true solution of which depended the safety of his country, and his own life. The result is well bnown; Edipus solved the riddle; the Sphinx in despair flung herself (or itself) from a rock into the sea, and Thebes was saved. Perhaps I should add that although no person applied at the bank to inspect the envelope containing the note, I received a few communications from different parts of England, and one from America (but none from Ireland), containing mesmeric revelations respecting:the number of the note ; and one letter (from Plymouth) inclosed a picture or (intended) fac simile of it. It it unnecessary to add, that these mesmerically-inspired persons were mistaken in every particular. All the mesmeric guesses shall appear in a future communication. I remain, Sir, your obliged servant, SCRUTATOIt. It appears rather extraordinary, that with the reliance placed in the powers of mesmerism, and the wonderful exhibition made in public of the miraculous effects it is capable of producing—that no person should condescend to claim the paltry hundred pounds alluded to in the foregoing letter. GRAND DINNER AT THE MAN SION-HOUSE TO THE BISHOPS. Yesterday the Lord Mayor gave a splendid entertain. ment to the dignitaries of the Church, and their ladies, in the Egyptian-hall of the Mansion-house. Upwards of 150 sat down to dinner, which was supplied by Messrs. Ring and Brymer in the finest style. Perhaps there never were so many Bishops assembled under the hos pitable roof of the " Mayor's House" as appeared upon the occasion, which was the celebration of the anni versary of the Institution for the Propagation of the Gospel. Amongst the company were the Archbishop of Can terbury, the Bishops of Rochester, Lincoln, Bangor, Llandaff. Chester, Gloucester, Exeter, Ripon, Salis bury, Norwich, Hereford, St. David, Worcester, Chichester, Oxford, Calcutta, Jam a i ca an d B ar b a does, and their Ladies ; the Dean of Westminster ; Archdeacons Hale, Sinclair, Manners, Wilberforce, and Lop a ; r r D i s o o c n to ; r L ord Boyd ez Justice Lady ll Courtney gge r rn a ; n S ; i r Doctorsßalph Russell, Jelf, Vivian, and Spranger ; the Rev. Messrs. Dale, Hughes (of Oxford), Bickersteth, Lupton, Good child, Judkin, Lusignan, Milman, Ceding, Hutchinson Austin, Onslow, Turner ; Aldermen Sir C. S. Hunter, Thompson, Farebroth er , Sir C. Marsh a ll, Si r W, Magnay, Gibb s , the Recorder, Thomas George Carroll, Musgrove, W. Hunt Ch 11: Wood, Sir . Hughes Hugh es , Sidney, and Moon ; the R er ev. Ch a rl e s is and Mrs. F art b rot h er ; Sheriffs Chaplin and Laurie Miss Vidler (the Lady Mayoress's sister), Miss Bambe r, r Mr. William J o h nson (b rother to the Lord Mayo ) and his lady, Mr. an d M rs . D e l ane, Mr. and Mrs. B row Mr. and Mrs. Mi c h e ll , M rs. Lewellyn Dr. *Mr:wDell'i. Miss Lewis, Mr. E vans (the late Sheriff), Mr. Alex ander, Mr. Langridge, Mr. Thompson, Miss Green, Miss Moss, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Poynder, Captain Darkin, &c. &c. After the round of the usual loyal toasts had passed, The LORD MAvon proposed the health of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and prosperity to the Society for the Propa gation of the Gospel. His Lordship took the opportu nity to speak in terms of the highest praise of the cleri cal bench, and declared that it was impo ss ibl e t o have the pure religion of the heart more completely repre sented than it was by the venerable prelate.—(Cheers.) The Archbishop of CANTERBURY, in returning thanks, referred to the extraordinary success of our missions to distant countries, and instanced the result of our efforts in China as an example of the efficacy of the Christian doctrines, established under circumstances of the most remarkable description. The Bishop of CALCUTTA, in responding to the toast, in which his name had been included, spoke of the ne cessity of those who were to give religious instruction in the vast empire with which his labours were con nected. The evening was full of pleasure, and the Bishops ex pressed nw he theirh the Lordhigh Mayort i fi c a testifiedt ;;r atification on a t theth e enter tained for the Church. respect he d hmannere Bell's Life in London, Sunday, May Io.—Chester Rates.—Full and exclusive particulars. Every race timed and gra phically described. The opening of tne cricket season. Price of Bell's Life (40 folio columns), 6d. Dell's Life of May 3,!contained four folio columns of the five days' Newmarket First Spring Meeting, with a table of thirty-three winners, the amount of the stakes, the time of each race, the distance and weights—Chester meeting by Pegasus—Paris races and steeple chases—Florence races —Notes from Curragli—lndexes to races, including Ireland—Steeple chases— The ring, regattas, pedestrianism, and coursing : : ye a . matchless variety Variety of sporting and general intelligence. Bell's Life is regul ar ] published in time for all the Saturday afternoon au oflisied Lfit exceeds 24,000. r SPORTING INTELLIG 't CHESTER RACES.—AVEDNESDAY . 13 4,- , THE Cur.—Our last report carried the bet AA. #e„,, o'clock on Tuesday night ; the room was plei7)eedleen,/ - ze d much later hour, but nothing was transact tr.let e:tee ne material extent affected the prices returned by e.l Wllett-V; on the whole, was dull beyond all precedent ;in e-or - the ye ` many horses quoted, we cannot select one as Ravi le n ; really in force; and it is a remarkable fact that on the eves Of so great a race 9 to 1 should be currently offered on the field! Last year it was only 7 to 4. Layers were not wanting, but the backers appeared resolves to abide the event of the " draw," it being very naturally inferred that the best horse in the world, if drawn for the third rank—and a fourth ap peared by no means improbable--would have little chance of finding his way to the front; in short, the saute draw, combined with the heavy state of the ground; gave the race the character of a lottery. The morning was dull, and the appearances were all in the favour of rain, but this had no effect on the attendance, which was a " bump er ," s h ow i ng, however, a decided falling off in rank and fashion as compared with last year. Both the stands were full, and there can be no doubt that had the en largement of the principal one been to double the extent, the corporation would have had nothing to regret. The weather, unfo-tunately, was just wh a t m i g h t h ave been anticipated ; it could not have been more unfavourable. The first race came off at two o'clock, between which and the Cup an in terval of an hour and three-quarters was allowed for weigh ing, drawing fur places, &c. As the last-mentioned ceremonial excited considerable interest, we subjoin a list of the horses composing the different ranks. First Rank.—St. Lawrence, Vol-au-Vent, Ruff, Roderick, Polish, Lady Wildair, Pedometer, Miss Burns, Vital , Billy Purvis, and Bro. to Sir Henry. Second Rank—The Baron, Corranna, Sweetmeat, Mosey, Queen of Tyne, Little Hampton, Roper's Daughter, Plaudit, The Magnet, Best Bower. Third Rank—lnheritress, Intrepid, Redstreak, Pettit Morceau, Mermaid, Finvaragh, Valerian, Punch, Flehow lagh, Connaught Ranger. In all thirty .one starters. It will be seen that three or four horses that had been looked upon as certain runners, did not come to th e p os t ; amongs t t h em were Cl umsy, who is stated to ha ve hit hi s l eg, an d was scratched at ten o'clock this morning; Hope, at twenty-five minutes past eleven, and Cataract. The scratching of Hope has excited a very strong feeling of indignation against Mr. 11. Bennett, and the parties con fleeted with him in the ownership. She was received into slightly amiss some time ago, John Scott's stable with an express understanding that he never looked or went better ; was to have an absolute control over her ; and although plated, backed by every gentleman connected cs n ot noa stake ee p c wt e ( e N e_t and Nat engaged to ride her. T paid,il 1 t fit, b slj s ei n t a 'f b ra l ac e , st o the surprise, therefore, of John Scott, Mr. Bennett, in defianc of t h e - ferred to, waited on the clerk of the ui. stipulation re his morning, of struck her out I It is impossibleeteeo hasevette g, of this most flagrant proceedin g ; Wh et i s thou jo t opinions g et - John Scott is shown by his determination to send the mare out of the stable the m oment his bill is paid. PARTICULARS OF THE CUP RACE. The jockeys, having drawn for places and mmkn • paraded in font of the stand, and assem b led at the postte d, a little after four, and at the first signal got away. Pedometer . was the first to take the lead, but, after going two hundred' yards, was passed by Lady Wildair, who went on with' the running, followed by Brother to Sir Henry, Pedometer, The Roper's Daughter,- St. Lawrence, Miss Burns, Vol-au-Vent, and several others; Corranna, Inheritress, Queen of the Tyne, • • and Valerian, bringing up the rear. They ran in pretty nearly this orde r once round, the pace excellent f or suc h deep ground. Polish, Vol-au-Vent, Valerian, Sweetmeat,' and Redstreak, were then disposed of; at all eVents, they • made no figure in the race afterwards. Fireefereigh herb • showed with the leading horses, bet .dropped „back, died away in a few strides, and Miss Burns and Gloss leek the third a n d fourth. positions, Roderick, Intrepid, and Billy Purvis also lying forward, Corranna end the'Queeii still in the rear. The race continued in this way to the last turn, • and then the front rank. rapidly lessened in number—Billy Purvis . who broke. down; igiss Burns, Intrepid, and 'Roderick died away, and Corranna. paSsing them, was about fourth on entering ,the straight running. Before she reached the distance post, Lady Wildair tired, and Glossy went on with the running, Brother to Sic Henry second, and Corranna third; nothing else having a • chance. This select lot ran,, togethershalf way- up-the dis tance, Coiranni Challenging, headed his opponents in two or three strides and won cleverly by half a len length, length, to Sir Henry beating Glosey by three parts g f lengths. Queen of Tyne by struggling • a on ined a fourtlt place, Intrepid was fifth, Pedometer sixth, and ..Lady, Wildair seventh: Valerian, Polish; The .Baron, (wh o • run against • and nearly Inocked down at the back of the coterse, in the second round), Sweetmeat, Redstreak, aha several others, were pulled up some distance from house. Run in four minutes, forty seconds. Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas, for three yrs old, 7st 21b; four, 9st elb ; five, lOat ; 6 yrs and aged, lOst 51b. Thrice round. Mr. G. H. Moore's Wolfdog, 4 yrs .... ..,..,..(Nat) . I Mr. Mostyn's bc, by Phoenix, ut of Pllirondelle, 3 yr s ... 2 Sir J. Gerard's Parthian, 6 yr 5...,.. .................... ... 0 7 to 4 on ....... Colonel Cradock's Jinglepot, 4 yrs ........... ............... 0 Wolfdog. Won by two lengths. Parthian made strong running for nearly two miles a half, Wolf-dog, who had followed hint, then took it up, carried it on to the end. Jinglepot and Parthian did not pass the post. Run in six minutes and twenty-five seconds. Sixty guineas, given by the City Members, for three yrs old colts, Est_ 101 b; fillies, 6st 71b; four yrs old colts, Bst Glb ; fillies, Bst 31b. Heats, once reand and a dis. Mr. Meiklam's Diomed, 3 yrs (Duncan) 1 1 Mr. Arrows m ith' s Tractarian 3 yrs 4 ............. 1 2 3 Mr. Haworth' s R o bi n Burns, ' 4 yrs ..................... Mr. Flintofi' a P r i ncess R oyal, 4 yrs . ...... . 5 4 dr ....... - 3 3 dr Mr. W. Scott's llighfield, 3 yr 5..,... ., .... .......... First and seco n d h eats won very easy. Diomed r won the third heat in a canter, but having carried Gst Glb instead of Gst 101 b, he was disqualified, and the Feat given to Robin Burns; but as it was dusk before the matter was laid before the Earl of Chesterfield, the deciding heat was fixed for the first race on Thursday. 1 CMESTER, TI I LIRSDAY AFTERNOON F IVE O ' CLOCK.— P :ying and receiving fo r th e C up commenced this afternoon, in the apology for a subscription room, at th e R oya l H otel, but front the want of acco mmo d at i on for the members that crowded into it, was no t conc l uded when we left for the course. Until the London and Manchester accounts have been closed, it would be impossible to speak with any certainty of the settling, but as we de not hear of any great winnerd, except Lord Waterford, and Mr. Moor, we may venture to predict that it will be easy. It was generally understood last night that Tractarian and Miss Burns were to run a deciding heat for the Member's Plate at two o'clock this afternoon, but it having been represented to the stewards that the rider of Diotued had carried the wrong weight from the first, the stewards went into the cases this morning, and decided that Diomed was disqualified for all the heats, and that Traetarian hakiiig won the first, and run second for the next heat, was the winner of the pl a t e . Th e d ec i sion made the third heat a nullity, and of course all bets made after the second heat are vo iilp The first event, a race prolific of very interesting sport, was, The Dee Stand Cup Stakes of 10 sous. each, and 50 added. Once round and a distance. (II Subs.) Mr. Moore's Wolfdog, 4 yrs, Bst 2lb Mr. Banks's The Duke of Richmond, 3 yrs, Est ..... 2 Mr. F. Ong ley's The Warrior, 3 yrs, Est ... 3 4 to 1 on Wolfdog, who m a d e a ll th e runn i ng and won by a length. Run in 2 minutes and 16 seconds. The Marquis of Westminster's Plate of 100 sovs. added to a Handicap of 20 soya each, h ft. Grosvenor Course. (17 Subs., 5 of whom declared.) Mr. Pedley's Miss Burns, 7 yrs; Est 71b (A. Day) 1 Mr. Copeland's Arthur, 4 yrs, sst 10Ib Col. Anson's Rowland Hill, 4 yrs, Est 41b a The following also started but were not placed :—Mr. Meiklam's Philip, 6 yrs, Bst—Mr. A. W. Hill's The Ironmaster, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b--Mr, Meeson's Fair Caroline, 6 yrs, 7st 61b—Mr. Irwin's The Pride of' Kildare, 4 yrs, 7st 31b—Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Chertsev, 4 yrs, 7st 31b—Si r C. Monck's Fl a tt ery , 4 yrs, 6st 91b—Lor d G. Bentinck's Best Bower, 5 yrs, 6st Mb. Betting -5 to 2 agst Miss Burns, 4to 1 agst Philip, sto 1 agst Flattery, 6 to 1 agst Fair Charlotte, 't to 1 agst Chertsey, Bto 1 agst any other. Fair Charlotte made the running at a steady pace, followed by Miss Burns and Rowland Hill, Arthur and Best Bower lying of; the race went on in this way to the Ship-yard Turn, where lronmaster and Chertsey fell, and Arthur, the rider of the former, was very serio usly tnn injured. The leading horses ran in the positio ns 3 Burns took the running starting to the lower turn, Arthur then challenged her, Hill and Arthur to the dis tance ; winning in the last running away from Fair Charl w ot h t and a beautiful race ensued, the mare good third, and Best Rowland Hill a stride by a head, and 32 seconds. bad fourth. Run 2 minute s e e, re f 3 c ' ll i o s , s ved u TT Rowland Bower a h each, weights. Grosvenor Course. with 200 added. The ( Mr. IV. D. Cook's Fancy Boy _ (Templemaa) 1 Lord F;glinton's Dolo 2 Lord G. Bentinck's Princess Alice ............ ...... The following also started .—Mr. W. R. a Mal- I s l e i c e on D a ce to S r t ec ak el e :e 6' 4 25 D s° e v r s 'y colm, Mr. Worthington's Shorston, Mr. F. Ramsey,Rri s Tobac conist, Mr. Mostyn's c by Hetman Platoff out of Thomasina, Mr. Meiklam's Alliance, Mr. W. Scott's Driffield, Mr. Osbaldeston's King Charles, Mr. E. W. Nunn's colt by Touchstone out of Sister to Joanna, Mr. E. Peel's Spithead. Betting -7 to 4 agst Malcolm, 4to 1 agst Fancy Boy, 7 to 2 agst Spithead, and 9 to 1 agst Princess Alice. Alliance made the running, followed by Sharston, all the , others lying up in a ruck, Princess Alice in the rear. In this way they ran to the Bridge Turn, when Alliance declined and Sharston went oa with the running, followed by Spit head, Fancy Boy, and Malcolm; Princess Alice fifth. At the distance Fancy Boy, Princess Alice, and Dolo singled them selves out, and a fine race took pla c e, Fancyl!oy winning by three pa r t s o f a l ength, and Dolo beating Princess Alice and a hbyalfhalsecf o ti nd& neck. Run in two m i nu t es an d thirty-two NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE SPRING MEETING. MONDAY. The Welter Stakes, of 3 sovs. each, and 15 added, 12sf each, Gent riders, 2 miles, were won by Mr. Jobling's Royal Charlie, aged (Mr. Clarke), beating Mr. Caley's Beauclerk, aged, Mr. Brown's Amy Robsart,, Mr. Carew's Chsflie, and Mr. Smithson's Queen of Hearts. The Lark Stakes of 2 soya each, were won in four well contested heats, by Mr. Lamb's Sunbeam, aged (Livesey), b e ating Amy Robsart, Royal Charlie, and eight others. EPSOM RACES.—The ring," during the approaching meeting will assemble in the Grand Stand enclosure, and the horses, tis officially announced, will be saddled in front. The decorations of the Grand Stand are finished,. the whole building has been thoroughly cleansed, and the offices for weighing, and other matters of business connected with the races, made as complete as possible. The laws against de faulters, &e., will be rigidly enforced. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAL Only seven members present, and not a bet laid SERVICE.—An account has just beet' mentary paper of the income and expenditure of r the Relief of Seamen in the Merchant Sere lee. the Corporation o to the 31st of DeeeMlocr last• T Ist of JanuarY • he income from the , as 20,6291. Is. 106. ; comprising 18,315/. 16s. 46. for the year NI LS duties, 3321. 18s. dead men's wages, 81/. 7s. 6d, benefactions, and 1,8991. hs interest on capital. The total expenditure was 23,0411.. pis. 2d., of which pensions amounted to 17,8211; Os. 11d., temporary' r p e r li i e n3l f tfeE t d o lli w nCil l a d l o r l a v r s Til a fa nd children, 2,326/. 95. 56., Seamen's Hospital So- , 4 9o3nr d o l n 3s. the 4d . By ciety, 570/. 95., and the e x p enses of management 2,323,. 16s. 10d. In x th e receiptsthelveg r e e ner l 4 4 l ,3 a o c B c l. eu l n 7 t s s . l fo d i .., t an ho d ye th ar e p the sum received, in c l u di ng the balance in band, was 23.1911. 19s. 56.: eexpenditureolfs, I and the sun paid 22,6741. 14s. 106., leaving a balance In hand or 5171. 4s. 7d. An account is rendered of the income and expenditure at the various outpertS of the 'United Kingdetn.f f .. [ADV ERTISEMENT.]—C URES OF I'Eptlli, ULCEROUS,- SOUS IN MALTA, BY I.I.OLLOWAT's PILLS 'l3 OlriltS".—Mral" Duncan, whose husband is employed in her esty.'s dockyard at ter .. . Malta, suffered f or more than two years fro' Icerous sores to feet. She formerly resided at Corfu, and as treated 3;iouent ul of Hollowaro pots tl*i lest practitioners there, from whom, however, a Tderived , whatever, when, after using fiVe or six boxes a Pills and Ointment. A perfect cure was effected. The trntfi of MC statement is so notorious in Malta that the editor of the " Malt* v" Mail" newspaper was Induced to insert the 'Particular s o f t h e caSe In his paper ' • s of October 31st, 1845.—501 d by a ll d rug gi Sti, and 14 ofessor Rollaway 's establishment, 244, strand, London. i