The Sun. — London, England, 1846-05-15 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OP LORDS. GROUP, No. I. LONDON AND YORK. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. It. Liddell, examined by Mr. E. DE:more—ls a magistrate of the county of Bedford. There were exported from that district about 10,000 tons of grain in the year, at a cost of 11. per ton. If a railway were constructed, it would be carfried out for five shillings a ton, which would be a saving oab 8,000/. a year. There was also a great traffic in wool, which by railway accommodation would be a saving of some consideration, through the cheapness of the transit. In the consequent reduction of the carriage of coals alone, there would be a reduction in the price which would be a saving of about 5,0001. a year to the people of Biggleswade. The London and York Railway was the most popular schem e for supplying the required accemino- dation. Two other witnesses were called, who gave the most favourable testimony as to the great advantages which a direct line of commit nicat'on with the north, and the metropolis, would confer upon the traders, merchants, and agricultnrists of the line. It being now four o'clock the Committee were about to adjourn, when Mr. Sergeant TINGLAEE wished to learn from their Lordships whether it was their intention to sit on Saturday? The NOBLE CHAIRMAN said that they would be happy to sit if it would at all shorten the proceedings, which he considered it ulti mately would. A NOBLE Loan—Would such a step tend to fatigue and wear you out, and so abridge the tedious inquiry which we are likely to enjoy ?—(Laughter.) Mr. EDMUND DzmsoN—l think your Lordships will see that we have no other day to ourselves but Saturday, and we have many other things to attend to interesting to ourselves. Mr. HILDYARD, Q.C. —At least your Lordshi Lordshipste how lonF You intend to sit on Saturday. I think your can make t a short sitting. The NOBLE CHAIRMAN—The Committee are resolved to sit the !till time on next Saturday at ally vents.the Committee adjourned The conversation then droppe, and till eleven o'clock to-morrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP XIII. The Committee met to -day at twelve o'clock William Clay 211 the chair ; th oher members present were Lord Shelburne, Mr. Cartels, and Mr. e P. .A insworth. CAZEBOTZIAN (EXTENSZON AND BRANCHES). The case on behalf of the promoters of this scheme way' resumed. Mr. Pare, who was to have been examined this mornfi:s to ex plain some discrepancies that arose out of his cross-examinatiOrt-Yes terday, being detained on a Committee of the House of Lords, other witnesses on behalf of the promoters, and in opposition to the Dum fries and Carlisle scheme, were proceeded with. Mr. Williamson, mining engineer, examined by Mr, liscaarns, said that he had had extensive experience of mining operations. Ile had examined the traffic tables of Mr. Anderson, and he quite agreed , with the corrections which Mr. Wood had made in them. He consi dered the mineral traffic had been ever-stated. He considered that Dumfries would be supplied with coal from Canonbie and Glenbuck instead of from Ssnquhar. Glenbuck was a very extensive coal field. The coal it yielded could be supplied in Dumfries at 9s. 6d. The Caledonian Extension line would traverse this coal field. rie had calculated the mineral traffic that would come along the heDum fries and Loughor branches. He put in the tables which . had drawn up on the subject. The Mansfield coal fields at C almost from which the Dumfries line expected min eral supplies, was exhausted. Cross-examined—He gave the opinion be had of the Mansfield coal fields from investigation. The whole field was about 12 feet thick. 1 The gas coal, still working, but the others were 4 pretty well l exhausted. inches hiligeh,twhomught the deep of the field nearly worked out. Ile did not , however, go dow n aad examine. The Glenbuck coal field was to the east of Mnirkirk, but it extended to Cumnock and Auchinlech. They were working the crop at Glen buck, but he could not say what the price would be when the deep was worked. That would not be, he thought, forihalf a century ; yet he did net think the Sanquhar coal would be sold in Dumfries, but would stop at Holywood. To Mr. AisiswonTn The Sanquhar coal is as good as the Canenbie coal, but the latter, he thought, would be cheaper. Cross-examination continued—His proposition was, that coal from Glenbuck should also pass along the Caledonian Extension on to the Caledonian, over the Beatock summit, and down the branch to Dum fries. He was not aware that the Glenbuek field was troubled, or that:an iron-works had been'shut up on that account. There was coal to the westward of Muirkirk, and he did not see any reason why it should be dearer. This coal field, however, was all let to the iron-works. He understood that all belonging to the Duke of Portland was so let. About three miles to the west of Muirkirk Sir James Boswell's property came in. The most of his coal was also let to the iron-works. He did not know there was a large space of coal-field between the Lugar and Muirkirk Iron-welts uniet. The price about here was 6s. 6d. a ton. Ile knew Crossflats coal-field to the south-east of Muirkirk were not let, and where coal was sold for 3s. 4d. There was a great deal of coal on the Marquis of Bute's property, at Cumnock, not let. Re-examined—The coal passing along the Caledonian would go partly up hill, but it would be down hill mostly. At present the Glenbuck coal field was entirely landlocked. Even if the Mansfield ,coal field was not nearly exhausted, he thought it would never com pete with the Glenback and Canonbie coal. The difference of price he thought would be is. 6d. He agreed in what previous witnesses had said about Sanquhar being a limited coal field. To the CHAIRMAN —The last time he was at Mansfield the" price of coal was 4s. 2d. at the pit's mouth. The distance from the Glenbuck coal field by the Nithsdale scheme to Dumfries would be near 60 miles. There would he little difference between this distance and that by the Caledonian scheme. He thought that from Muirkirk the Withedale scheme would be a descending line. Mr. Ferguson examined—He was a coal merchant of Lesmahagow, and had had extensive experience of the Lanarkshire coal fields. He had been assisting Mr. Williamson in making his surveys, and in drawing out the tables submitted. He generally agreed with the evidence of Mr. Williamson and Mr. Woods. Mr. Henderson, of Paisley, and late provost of the town. He generally agreed with the evidence of Mr. Farquharson. He thought the Caledonian line supplied the trade of Paisley in the most direct manner and that if the Nitbsdale line were formed, it would be little, if any, seed by the inhabitants of that town.. The difference between Paisley and Caslisie, in respect of the two schemes was, 11% miles In favour of the Caledonian. When the Barrhead and Neilston direct line was formed, then the difference would be only 434 miles. He thought the Fleetwood passengers, by way of Ardrossan, were prin cipally from Glasgow. Cross-examined—He had gone by the steamer twice, and then he saw but few passengers taken up on the Ayrshire stations going to the steamer. He thought the Nlthsdale line would be of advantage to the counties of Renfrew and Ayr, as far as the local points in Dumfriesshire were concerned. In 1844 he attended a county meet ing, at which he supported resolutions in favour of the Nithsdale scheme, but that was under diffetent circumstances to the present. The plans of the Caledonian had been changed so as to render the communication by that line more favourable than originally proposed. He believed it was then the im pression of the meeting that the Caledonian would enter Glasgow from the north-east by the Edinburgh and Glasgow line. Mr. Burley, a proprietor of land in the valley of the Ayr, examined—His land was not affected by either line. He knew the wants of the county well. With respect to the Ardrossan steamers, he thought the most of the traffic was through traffic from Glasgow. The steamers went four times a week, and a train invariably in connexion with them. The agricultural produce of Ayrshire was very great, and a large demand existed for it in the east of Scot land. Cattle and dairy produce were sent in large quantities. This was a much better market than Dumfries or Carlisle. He did not think there was much traffic along the valley of the Nith. He considered the western part of the Caledonian Extension would be of much greater advantage than the 3ithsdale scheme. Cross-examined—He had not often gone by the steamers, but he had resided some time at Ardrossan. He stayed there last year about a month, and also a short time two years ago. He had nothing to do with the Caledonian now, but he 'had been a member of the provisional directory. He had never held any shares. He had teen offered some, but he declined them. He did believe that a considerable traffic would take place between Ayrshire and the east. He did not know that meat was dearer at Glasgow than at Edinburgh ; nor was he aware that meat was sent from Edinburgh to Glasgow. He thought the railway, however, would equalise the prices. He did not think that meat would go to Edinburgh, but dairy produce and grain would. He believed at present that large quantities of grain went from the L? thians, of which Edinburgh was the centre, to Glasgow ; still he thought a good deal of the Ayrshire produce would go to the east. He did not think the growing population would take up all the agricul tural produce. To Mr. CI:MTH'S—The Caledonian,Extension.was about a mile-and a-half from this property. By Sir T. PHILIPS—About half of the landed proprietors on the line of the Caledonian Extension scheme had petitioned against the 8111. Re-examined—There was a very great demand for the agricul tural products of Ayrshire to the north, but very little to the south. Mr. Bell, examined by Mr. Rim:rains—Lived near Ayr. Was en gaged to a small extent in agricultural pursuits. In his opinion the Caledonian Extension would accommodate the county of Ayr in a much more satisfactory manner than the Nithsdale scheme. There was not such a demand for the agricultural products of Ayrshire to the south as would warrant the construction of a line of railway proceeding in that direction. Be had heard the evidence of the last witness, and quite agreed in all he had said. Cross-examined by Sir T. Purmrs—He had not had much commu nication with the cattle dealers. He did not know that the wealthy and infittent!al inhabitants were all in favour of the Nithsdale scheme. He admitted that there was a large county meeting at which resolu tions were carried in favour of the line, but he thought there were many parties there who took no interest whatever in the matter. No amendment was proposed. He thought that If a meeting was called on behalf of the Caledonian Extension, it would be equally well, or better supported. He believed it was reported that 10,0001. was to be given by the Company for the improvement of the harisour. Cross-examined —The Ayrshire people were not adverse to any line. The two lines were not placed in competition with each other at the meeting to which he referred. Mr. Robson, examined by Mr. RICHARDs—He lived near to Dum flee% and was conversant with agricultural proceedings. He knew the ' branches of the Caledonian line, and the districts through which they passed. Those branches in connexion with the Caledonian, would afford great accommodation to the district. The North Dumfries branch, went through the most populous parts of the country. The population of Dumfriesshire is 72,000, and Kiacuabriqiit, 41,000 , There were 54 towns and villages in Dumfriesshire, comprehending a population of 36,000, situated in the neighbourhood of the Caledonian main and branches. Thirty-eight of these were situated within finr miles, two within six miles, and fourteen within fourteen miles of the Caledonian Railway. Looking at the wants of the district, he thought the Cale donian scheme would accommodate it better than the Nithsdale scheme. He had no doubt the Nithsdale line would be a benefit to the localities through which it went, but he did not think that two lines from the extreme points would pay. He thought the cattle and sheep traffic of the Nithsdale line had been over-estimated by 2,4251. When that was deducted, it left 1,000/. even more than it was calcu lated by them last year. Cross-examined—He prepared the Caledonian th Northern Dum frieseho Nithsdale route, Branch, as a route to Glas gow , over been decidedly a meeting because it would be two miles shorter. He had in Dumfries, at which the opinion expressed was de of the Nith Line. Ile did not think 2,000 fat beasts would I llc ri be thinkvfasoein't H f ro m Dumfries district slang the Nithsdale line. e did not that number was fattened in the whole district. He did not th more than 1,000 would be taken. He thought the Ayrshire cows taken credit for would in a great measure be taken by the Caledo nian scheme. Mr. Pare recalled, and examined as to the Dumfries branches. He gave last year an estimate for the Caledonian scheme of 226,0121. This estimate included the Dumfries branch. This evidence he gave In the Commons, but the Dumfries branch was struck of by the Com mons' Committee, so he amended his tables for the Lords by striking , off 9,6331., leaving 216,3801. Yesterday he gave the 226,000/. without ab straCtion, which ought not to have been done. The loss eftheCaledonlan l:ne, if the Nithsdale was formed, would be the abstraction of 9,6331, for the loss of the Dumfbes Branch, and 6,0831. for the loss of the Edinburgh and Glasgow traffic from and to Dumfries, on the main line, making in all upwards of 15,0001. This would leave the nett revenue of the Caledonian line nearly the same as he gave yes terday, about 3% per cent. Cross-examined by Mr. MARTIN—The 226,0001. he gave last year was gross traffic. The reduction made was for the mileage of the Dumfries struck off. He did not strike off anything for loss of the Dumfries traffic that would have gone Oil the main line towards Glasgow and Edinburgh, and which was nOW Included in the 6,0831. It was an error which he had corrected. At that time, however, iris impression was that the Dumfries traffic would find its way on to the Caledonian at Lbckerbie, there being no second line. His items respecting the traffic between Dumfries and Carlisle generally agreed with those of the Nithsdale Company. Mr. Locke was recalled and examined as to the working expenses of the Caledonian line last year. His estimate then was 107,0001. Though a redaction in traffic was made to the extent of 50,0001. or 60,000 L, there would net be anything like a proportionate decrease in the working expenses. The total deduction, if one passenger train was tken off each way, would be but 10,420/. But he did not think that t a hey could do without running the fall number of trains calculated for. Cross-examined—The present calculation was made last year. He might have calculated his working expenses on the gross receipts. When he gave his evidence the Caledonian had not formed any union with the Clydesdale Junction or the Barrhead and Nell ton Direct. The Scottish Central, the Scottish Midland, the Clydesdale Junction, and theßarrhead lines were not in existence last year when the Caledonian traffic was given in. These lines were now con nected ctedwith the C a l e d on i an . H e th ou ght credit bad been taken for h northern traffic last year, else the Castle Carey would not have been made. Re-examined—As well as the lines referred to that went north wards there had been at the same time competing line sanctioned from Edinburgh—the Edinburgh and Northern rthern line. Mr. Horn intimated that he had other witnesses to call to speak to the points of traffic, but in the exerc i se o f his discretion he would not call them. And as he had only some alight evidence to offer OR engineeering points before he closed he wished to express a desire that no decision should be come to till the evidence for the Cale donian Extension and the llawick Branch was taken. The CHAIRMAN said that if a formal application was made the committee would consider it ; still, be must say, the Committee soma not but think that the Caledonian Extension was substantially a per. of the Cp4donian case. ,— A Via }W& A arlisle Extension, and thought it hard that parties inbeureigilep in wn and delayed without any reason. c k Mr. COC). of opinion that if the Calednotan Extension was notreagOlckgp, n with for a week, and if no decision was given titi,carideneetle offered for it, there could be no hardship ...„ impose& _ - 4 411 ale Company. The Learned Gentleman then f--..^ - made a for - ton that the Caledonian Extension, Elawick ' and Curligiii " heard before the Committee gave a decision. 1 :02c7 5. conversation, it was agreed that the point should be argued in the morning, when the remaining evidence of the Caledenian was gone through. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XIV. ASTERNOUTH• RAILWAY (GREEN.. O WOOLWICH). The Committee to which this line is referred met to -day at one o'clock, in Room No. 30. Present, Mr. Prothero, ch ;'rman ; Lord Emlyn, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan. The CHAIRMAN said that since the last meeting of the committee he bad had a communication with the Board of Admi Ity, and had found that it was impossible to ascertain what restrictions might be laid on the railway with regard to the speed and weight of the train. Such restrictions would only be imposed in the event of any damage being done to the Observatory, and therefore the Committee were of opinion, that as the Board of Admiralty would take care that no damage was done to the Observatory, the Com mittee were relieved from the necessity of hearing evidence to show that the Observatory would not be affected. They would bear ev dence as to the estimates, the utility of the line, and the damage done the to the landowners on the line. Wi th re g ard to the permission of Commissioners of Woods and Forests, as to s he passage South Eof the line, the Committee wished to hear in what potion astern line stood in reference to that body. Mr. AusTIN put in a letter from Viscount Canning, stating that an engineer had been employed for the Commidrawinssioners up a report of Woods and Forests, and was at pres ent employed in g , Mr, AUSTIN then called Mr. Stephenson, who stated that in order to form the line under the park, it was intended to lower the present Greenwich terminus, twelve feet. The lowering of the Tile was to commence at a point on the railway called Deptford Creek, which was about a quarter of a mile from the terminus. The incline was to be lin 104, passing under the first road at a depth of eleven feet, and at a spot called Coombe-bill, just at the entrance to the park, the depth was to be twenty-three feet. They would pass under the streets of Greenwich in open cutting, for the depth was not enough to allow the railway to be covered. The line would • enter the park in tunnelling, and after proceeding 851 yards in tunnel, would emerge at a point called May's-hill, and from that point would proceed a distance of 2% miles across the country to the town of Woolwich, which it would enter in open cutting, the streets being carried across the line in the same way as at Greenwich. The gradients were very easy. One quarter of a mile of the line—from Deptford Creek to the terminus at Greenwich—was at a gradient of 1 in 104, and all the rest of the line to Woolwich was a dead level. By Sir W. RIDDEL—There is a swing bridge at Deptford Creek. The present terminus of the Greenwich line will be removed. Church-passage will be carried over the line by an archway. Mr. G. Bidder stated that the estimate for the line from Deptford creek to Charlton was 125,000/. The formation of the line would enable the Woolwich and Sheerness traffic to be worked with the general traffic. By Mr. GoLusarm (for the North Kent). The estimate of 125,000/. includes the value of the land, which is 45,00001-, and the pulling down of the Greenwich station, and also the rebuilding. The taking down of the Greenwich station and a portion of the viaduct would be more than sufficient to build another station, with approaches, &c., so as to come within the estimate of 125,000/. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XVIII. This Committee assembled at the usual hour this morning, Mr. B. Denison in the chair. .B.ND EX.ETEIL, YEOVIL, RAILWAY. DORCHESTER Mr. S. Cocsavas opened the case on behalf of the promoters of tits railway in a speech of considerable length, in which he dwelt .the benefits to be derived by the southern and western portions of the kingdom by te construction of this railway. The ne was po posed to commenc h e near the city of Exeter. They then proposed to co nstruct a branch from the line to connect with the Bristol and Exeter ; the line then pursued its course to Honiton, thence to Axminster and Reaminster, and finally ended at Yeovil. The total length t , , f the line was 60 miles, including the branches, and the es timated cost was 1,300,0001. Mr. Ave.'s was the first witness called, who gave general evidence as to the nit. gre of this line, which in his Judgment would be of great benefit to the population of Exeter and its neighbourhood. He con sidered the line 0. 4 ' much more importance to that part of the county than the line proptoed by the Great Western Company for the ac commodation of his Oistrict. Mr. Gard gave evid.ence of a large meeting held in Exeter in favour of this line in com,equence of a requisition signed by 1,300 of the merchants and Lading gentry of that city. He also considered that the construction of this line would afford great advantages to the inhabitants of Exeter. Mr. Divett, M.P. for Exeter, was next examined. He was a na tive hi Devonshire, and had known ..":xeter from his infancy. He was a director of the Bristol and Exet.or Railway. He considered that it would be exceedingly beneficial to the inhabitants of Exeter that a more direct line should be made UP London, and it would also have the advantage of keeping up a wholesome competition with the existing company. The report of the Gauge Commission had in creased the general feeling of the inhabitants in favour of this line, which was a narrow one. The farther examination of Mr. Divett was postponed till to-mor row, in conseqence of its having been announced that the Speaker was at prayers. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXII. This Committee met for the first time to-day at Pne o'clock, Sir George Grey in the chair. Some time was consumed in arranging the order of bUSiness, which being accomplished. the Committee proceeded with the XPSIATICIEC AND BURT ST. EDIWITNDS (Nourozz. ItYLANCH.) This line is opposed by the Norfolk Extension to Stowsnarket. Evidence was shortly taken in proof of compliance with ➢ir. T. Duncombe's resolutions. Mr. Taraurr then opened the case on behalf of the promoters. The line, he stated, was an extension of thirty-two miles long from the existing Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway from Stow market to Norwich. The whole scheme when completed would be 113 miles long. The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to explain the engineering peculiarities of the line, which he represented to be generally favourable, and the necessity which there existed to con nect an important agricultural district with the populous mann facturing city of Norwich; and proceeded to call his witnesses. Mr. Frederic Brown, and other witnesses, were examined as to the agricultural and other traffic that would go along the line. The amount was represented to be very large between the two termini of the branches. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till to-morrow at twelve. GROUP XXX. This Committee assembled to-day at one o'clock; present, Lord Charles Wellesley (chairman), and the other Members. MIDLAND AND EASTERN COUNTIES (CAMBRIDGE TO WEEDON). The usual preliminaries having been gone through, Mr. 0. MALLET, on the part of the promoters of the B ill, said, that it would be his duty to lay the merits of the Bill before the Committee. At present Cambridge was the focus of several railways—one of these connecting Cambridge and Norwich, Cambridge and London, and Cambridge and Bury. The object of the present railway was to connect Cambridge and Weedon, and by that means to connect Yarmouth, Harwich, and other ports on the eastern coasts with those on the western coasts by a directline, instead of having to go round by the port of London, as is the case at present. The line they originally proposed was one from Cambridge to Worcester, and many of the difficulties they had laboured under were occasioned by their connexion with Worcester, for the London and Birmingham Company considered that that district belonged to them. But this was not the only difficulty they had to encounter. The South-Western Company, who at first entered warmly.into their interests, after inducing them to alter their coarse and make their surveys for a line to Esham, had then deserted them. They then found themselves obliged to give up that portion of their line as far as Worcester. It was then so late that they were com pelled to make deposits of alternative lines, thus considerably in creasing the preliminary expenses. At present they proposed to con struct a line only to Weedon ; here it might be as well for him to state that if the London and Birmingham Company should succeed in their line from Worcester to Northampton, so as to meet their Peterborough line, that they proposed to have a clause inserted in the (Midland and Eastern line) Bill, to carry their line only as far as White Mills, to run then into the London and Birmingham Railway. From this it would be evident _that the Bill at present was virtually for a line to White Mills, from a conviction that the London and Birmingham Company would proceed with their line. He would just briefly point out to the Committee the advantages that would result from the Bill. The port of Harwich was likely to become the great eastern port, and it must be consequently of great importance to the towns in the district and the people of Harwich to have a direct line of communication with the western ports, in stead of as at present being obliged to go up two sides of a triangle. The town of Ipswieh was a most important trading town. It was chiefly important, however, from its iron manufacture, and the importance of a communication directly to it must be apparent At present the town of Nor hampton was really without any good communication with the towns on the coasts, and their line proposed , to meet that want, and to give them direct communication with three ports. Lynn, which was already connected with Ely, which was not only a port, but one from which Northampton itself drew at present very many of Its supplies, would thus he connected more immediately with Northampton. It was therefore evident that as far as the town of Northampton was concerned, there could be no doubt of the advan tage of this railway. This, too, would be clearly shown by evidence. With respect to the line generally, an inspection of the map would satisfy any one of its importance ; for it would be seen, that though a number of railways were traversing the country, there was still a total absence of anything like a direct communication between the coasts on the eastern and western sides of the kingdom. It was a matter of the greatest importance that such a communication should be es tablished. In conclusion, he had only to say that the gra dients were very favourable, there being only two of 1 in 100, and these not exceeding together more than four miles and a half. The other engineering points were equally favourable, and the oppo sition of the landowners was not greater than that usually offered, and upon no more forcible grounds. Mr. HOPE, on the part of the petitioners, said he had to make a proposition which might save further trouble with respect to this Bill. There could be no moral doubt that the shareholders of this undertaking did not intend to proceed further, and that the soli- Bettor was going on merely with a view to discharge what he considered he was legally bound to perform. He thought, therefore, that it would be desirable if the further consideration of this Bill should be postponed till the sense of the shareholders should have been obtained. He would, therefore, proposk that Mr. Wilkinson, the solicitor of the Company, Should be called to substantiate this statement. Mr. O' VALLEY said he was ready to accede to the proposal of his Learned Friend. However, though he entertained a different opinion last night, he believed that this Bill would be prosecuted, and he was instructed that a meeting would be held on the 22d with reference to the subject. He had no objection to Mr. Wilkinson being called. • Mr. Wilkinsoh was then called and examined by Mr. Horn— Mr. Wilkinson stated that he had attended a meeting of the share holders on the Bth instant. One advertisement of the meeting had been omitted from the Times. He stated to the shareholders that he would call another meeting, and made a statement of the aecounts of the company , which was received with considerable disapprobation from several parts of the room. There was a general disinclinatio n on the part of the meeting, under the financial condition of the company, to proceed with the Bill ; one ground being that the five per cent. had not been paid up. A fo*est of hands were held up on the motion that the affairs of the Company should be wound up. It was in conse quence of his being of opinion that they were legally bounl to bring the Bill before the Committee, that he had proceeded with it. He had no objection to the proposed postponement. The room was then cleared, and on our re-admission, The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee were of opinion t it would be better for all parties to postpone the Bill till the 25th instant. The Committee then adjourned. GII.Otr XXXI. The following Bills arra comprized in this group I. Portbury - Pler and Railway (\O. 2). 2. Bristol and Birmingham (Bath line). 3. Bristol and Birmingham (Ashcliureli, Tewkesbury, and 4. Bristol and Birmingham (Bristol and Stonehouze Junction). 5. Bristol and South Wales Junction. 6. South Wales (No, 2). 7. Gloucester and Dean Forest. The Committee to whom they have been referred met this after noon, at one o'clock, in No. 22 Committee-room. Present, Mr. Charles Round in the chair, Lord J. Manners, Mr. Burroughs, Sir IL Salford, and the Hon. C. Cavendish. _ _ _ — NO. fives petitioned against by the corporation of Bristol and the Bristol Dock Company ; No. 4 , by the Great West ern Company ; No. 5, by the Duke of Beaufort; No. 6, by the merchants and cor poration of Gloucester, and others; and No. 7, by the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Company, the corporation and merchants of Glou cester, Severn and Wye Railway and Canal, &c. The usual formal proceedings having been gone through, some dis cussion ensued with respect to the Bill which should be taken first. It was at length decided that the snxsToz AND SOUTH WALES JUNCTION Bill should be first proceeded with. The Bill was unopposed. Evidence as to its length, amount of capital, &c., having been given, given, the Committee immediately passed the p, an to the clauses without alteration. GLOUCESTER. AND Dzar; FOREST. This Bill was next proceeded with, the parties promoting with thei r c the Soase. uth Wales Railway (No. 2) not being prepared to proceed Mr. WHATELEY then proceeded to open the case on the part of the promoters. He said it was promoted by some merchants in the city of Gloucester, and by the Great Western and South Wales R Company, and it was intended to make a railway from the ailway Great Western Railway at Gloucester to join the Monmouth and Hereford Railway at a place called Westbury, on the Severn, thus completing that portion of the Monmouth and Hereford Railway, which, but for being thrown out in the Standing Orders' Committee, would no doubt have been passed last year. The second object which they had in view was to join the South Wales Railway in the parish of Awre, in the city of Gloucester, thus completing the railway from South Wales to Gloucester, and the third object was to make a branch for the conveyance of coals from the main line at Awre to the Gloucester docks. The length of the line from Gloucester to the South Wales Railwa and was fifteen miles and a half, the branch to join the Mony Hereford Railway one mile and two furlongs, and the branch to Glou cester docks one mile and two furlongs, aid the estimated ex pense 320,0001. During the last session an aprlication was made to Parliament to sanction a great part of the railway for which powers were now sought, but in consequence of the acci project, dent to which he had referred—an accident which sometimes hap pened to the best schemes—it was thrown out of the Standing Orders, but the Committee reported favourably to the House on the metrcZanaetfti is n o d at nodsptpeaootrsepeddortabbriaotuthoit had been mainly obje cted to be causelin it crossed an objectionable part of the river Severn. The their objection to the the South G Se lo u u t c h est l e V r, ales but Railway,he ai) line would be removed by the inse rtion of pre h b e u n t d e b d y t h t h a e t clauses in necorcinnee with their viewsaThoy were also opposed by the \ Wye and Severn Canal, but at the proper time he should object it opposition on the ground of inconsistency and misstatements, "'` air total want of locus stencil. The line and branches would and th, facilitate the conveyance of minerals, and would open up a greatly . , ommunication with the soath of Wales. railway , •nel, the engineer to the line, was then examined with re- Mr. Bri. line. .After describing its course, he went on to say that spec opening t t he of the nh h ee t and bitya gtmoderate,oew completionor A w r a e d b w ro e a frnect branch awas Monmouth dnatureallowiretcot,nand d the works were the ey of the Severn. There were no tunnels. The 1 in 90 for 15 chains, but it was close to the die shortp t s curve was 33 chains in length. The Gloucester station. _ estimates were amply so.Mcierr t for the construction of the line. In passed along the v ult. the event of its being made, it would carry all the coals from Wales to Gloucester and its neighbor' trhood, and would have a great quantity H st e e r e e p f es 'ir t d g ß ra a d il i w en a t y' lva o: of other mineral tr affle. Mr. CROWDER W 'as about to cross-examine Mr. Brunel, but Mr. WHATELRY object Led, on the ground that his clients—the Wye and Severn Cans 1 Company—had no locus stencil, inas much as the petition. which they had presented against the Forest of Dean related chiefly to the South Wales Railway, and to the widening of their own line. They did not run within 9 miles of them, and neither interh'red with their property nor their traffic. Mr. CROWDER maintalCed that his clients had a locus standi before the Committee, as it would materially interfere with the property, and because the Bill before the Committee was a joint project between the So.uth Wales and the Great Western Railway, both of which interterei with the traffic on the Wye Rail way Canal. He therefore held tiiat his clients had a locus standi before the Committee. Mr. Wnemmr said, if the arguments of his Learned Friend were admitted to be tenable, there would be no end to the confusion which they would create. The simple ground on which he held he had a right to appear was this, that the South Wales and the Great Western Companies would furnish a portion of the necessary capital. The Great Western Company supplied some of the capital ter the con struction of a Wexford Railway; and if the right were admitted, his Learned Friend might have opposed that line singly, because the Great Western supplied some of the capital. The argument was a new one, and it almost perplexed him, because he was completely sur prised by its novelty and clear impropriety. The room was then cleared. On the admission of the parties, the CRAlRmerr intimated that the Committee were of opinion that the Severn and Wye Railway Canal had no locus standi before them. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP XL] 11. LEEDS AND THIRSE RAILWAY (NORTH .IE,STEEN EXTENSION. The Committee assembled at the usual hour this morning, and were occupied in passing the various clauses in the Bill. The whole of them were agreed to with some trifling alterations, with the ex ception of the clause relating to tolls, which was postponed in order that a schedule of the rates might be prepared for the Committee to decide on. A clause for making the junction with the Great Not it of England was proposed and agreed to. A few additional clauses were intro duced, and the Committee adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP czrrszison TO"NCTXON (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Cowen, owner and driver of a coach from Skipton to Preston. There was little •r no traffic between those places. Me hardly ever had a passenger, and frequently had to treat" the passengers, by which he was at a loss. There certainly was no traffic between Skipton and Preston, that could suppot t a railway, the road was very lonesome. Cross-examined by Mr. MUREWEVIER—The only reason why he had " had the heart" (as the Learned Counsel expressed it) to keep up the coach for the last two years was, that he was " kept up by Government," his coach being the Skipton and Preston mail. Some letters went by that mail now and then. The cross-examination extended to a considerable length, and ex cited considerable mirth, but it consisted entirely of jokes as to the " desert waste," "sad solitude," &c., and was of no public interest. Mr. Cowsdale and Mr. Haycock, two carriers on the same line of road, gave evidence corroborative of Mr. Cowen's. Mr. Robert Trapps, town-clerk of Clitheroe, spoke to the feeling of the people of Clitheroe, and more especially of the corporation, in favour of the line. Mr. Gooch, the engineer to the line, conjointly with Mr. Cawley (who was examined yesterday), proceeded to give the engineering evidence. He described the course of the line. It was utterly im possible to avoid the gorge in which Mr. Taylor's property was situated. A series of mountainous ridges extended the whole way from Coln to that place. The estimate (700,0001.) was 100,0001. less than that of the Blackburn and Preston. The witness was cross-examined at length by Mr. MZEREWETHER, and the cross-examination lasted till four o'clock, when the Speaker was announced at prayers. Notwithstanding the fact that the Com mittee had now risen, a discussion connected with the case of Mr. Peters, a petitioner, took place, and occupied a considerable time, so that it was half-past four o'clock when the Members left the room. The Committee will meet again to-morrow at twelve. NORTH GRAVESEND RAILWAY. - - SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the proprietors of the North Graves • end Railway vas held yesterday, at the station of the Eastern Counties Railway, in pursuance of the sessional orders of the Houses of Parliament, at half-past eleven o'clock. The chair was taken by Mr. Routb. The.CnAnotAN, having shortly explained the objects of the meeting, and having stated that scrip, repre,enting 7,520 shares, had been entrusted to him, which was three-fourths of the capital, observed that the meeting was legally consti • tuted. Gentlemen had, therefore, to consider whether it was expedient to proceed with the line. He would therefore move that the scripholders considered the Bill should be proceeded with. Mr. RICHARD HARRISON, of Liverpool, seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The meeting then broke up. ILFORD AND EPPING RAILWAY. A special meeting of the proprietors, shareholders, and scripholders took place, yesterday, at the station of the Eastern Railway Counties Company, at twelve o'clock. The chair was taken by Mr. Routh. The CHAIRMAN having explained the object of the Bill, stated that 8,250 scrip had been intrusted to the Board of Directors, for the purpose of voting in favour of the Bill. The SECRETARY then read the advertisement calling the meeting. The CHAIRMAN observed, that now the meeting was le gally constituted he would move that the directors be em powered to proceed with the Bill. Mr. HAuassoN, of Liverpool, seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The meeting then separated. EASTERN COUNTIES and THAMES JUNCTION BRANCH RAILWAY. A special meeting of the above Company, in pursuance of the sessional orders of both Houses of Parliament, was also held at the Eastern Counties Railway Station yesterday, at one o'clock. The chair was taken by Mr. Routh. The SECRETARY having read the advertisement calling the meeting, and having stated that one thousand five hun dred shares were represented at the meeting, in favour of the continuance of the scheme in Parliament, The Citaunt.tx put the question to the meeting, whether it was their opinion that the Bill should be proceeded with ? Mr. HARRISON seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks having been given to the Chairman, the meeting separated. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY (YORK EXTENSION). SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the proprietors, shareholders, and scripholders of this Company, in compliance with the ses sional orders of the Houses of Parliament, took place, at half part one o'clock yesterday, in the London Tavern, Bishops gate-street ; George Hudson, Esq., in the chair. The SECRETARY having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN, briefly stated the objects of the meeting, and proposed that the several extensions should be adopted. He dilated upon the favourable prospects of the line, and said that the traffic of the line was increasing so fast, that the directors found it necessary to in crease their staff of locomotive engines. Their present want cau.ed some few irregularities, but he pledued himself that after a few months the Eastern Counties Railway would not only be one of the best managed, but the most paying line in the country. Many of the statements respecting mismanage ment which appeared in the newspapers were perfectly un true, but the directors were much better employed than in answering them. Resolutions were then put in favour of pro ceeding with the Bill, which were carried unanimously. Mr. DYSON then proposed a vote of thanks to the chair man, which was passed by acclamation. The CRAIR3IAN briefly thanked the meeting, which then broke up. SERIOUS CHARGE OF SINKING A Sll IP. On Wednesday, Robert Henry Leighton, late master, John Bowmaker, mate, and Thomas Tairclough, William Grozier, and Thomas Wallis, three of the crew of the schooner Helen, of Sunderland, who were formally arraigned, on Friday last, before the magistrates at the Police-court, Sunderland, were again placed at the bar, charged with having scuttled the schooner Helen, of Sunderland, coal laden from that port to Stettin, on the high seas, with intent to defraud the under writers of the Indemnity Insurance Society, London, of the insurance effected upon the said vessel. William Snowball, Esq., solicitor, appeared in support of the nrosecution, instituted by the under-writers of the Helen, and 'Messrs. G. S. Ranson and Christopher T. Potts attended on behalf of the p isoners. Mr. Cooper appeared for Mr. R. Hutchinson, the owner, and stated the case. Mr. Snowball called John Hodge, who deposed that he is a fisherman, and lives at Bridlington Quay. On the night of Sunday, the 26th of April last, he went off to a schooner with John Boddy, which had just come round Flamborough Head ; as soon as the vessel saw us approach her in our coble, she altered her course, and stood away from us ; we then went ashore again, it was half-ebb of the tide. Cros-examined by Mr. Hanson—When we first saw the vessel she was about three miles from Bridlington ; was within a coble's length of the schooner when she bore away from us; cannot tell whether the crew were pumping the vessel or not, but thinks they were not; saw four men upon the deck ; cannot say whether the vessel was by the head or the stern. Re-examined by Mr. Snowball—Has no doubt but she was the same vessel which we saw on the 26th of April, that afterwards came ashore upon the beach to the northward of Bridlington harbour. John Boddy, who is also a fisherman, deposed that he went off with the l a st witness to a schooner in Bridlington Bay, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening of the 26th of April ; the course the vessel was steering would have taken . her to l an d a b out fi ve m i les to the sou th o f Bridlington; between four and five o'clock on the morning of the 27th o f A pr il , I was standing on the cliff at Bridlington-quay along with Francis Gray and others, when I saw the schooner sink which had been previously riding at her anchor. We saw the vessel sink all but her masts ;on the Wednesday following the vessel discharged herself of her cargo of coals, and we towed her on shore. She turned out to be the Helen, of Sunderland. Has no doubt but she is the same vessel that Hodge, Miles, and himself, went off too on the Sunday night. She came on shore on her starboard side ; there were between fifty and sixty vessels in the bay at the time she sunk. Robert Usher —ls a sailor at Bridlington. Saw the Helen sink on the morning of the 27th of April. She made no signal of distress before she sunk. I . , ashore c s o a v l e s o re a , on n s a fto i h l u o er r 2 a 9o t ro 1 1 i foi r v i f ( e l A l i April. On O. holes A ot li s ei s es i s si t n e a d t tui i ri ne (tioai,:v.: i r n a a g n f e t t i e h s r e G lN H:e ) ; -- e d n i starboard quarter of the vessel, which had been bored from the inside of her. The plank was splintered on the outside. These holes were covered with water until the Saturday. I was present when the two pieces of plank and timber, which had the holes bored in them, were cut out of the vessel. (The plank and timber were here produced in Court.) Has no doubt whatever but that the holes had been bored from the inside of the ship. Found the chisel and auger now pro duced in the cabin of the Helen. Mr. Walter Bramwell—ls agent for Lloyd's at Bridlington. anyto him. accident Isof occurs opinio t n o Recollects the Helen sinking on the 27th ult. It is usual for the inside of the ship. ti?iaesm t e; rs in of t s b h il i si p ac s ta 1 i t s o ee r sn e ao p w o r r et t ph o t e o rmt him: w aansd l m v f h ra o e dm n e auger t holes had been bored within two or three days lead been bored fr om ' • ' that the holes the and was of opinion they had been recently done. o t that 3 a t t ihre t . the e mas B. Siney is Lloyd's surveyor at Sunderland in bide of the ship, and that and freight for 2001. He and her cargo was insured for 6 , had refused 9001. for her. Mr. Ralph Hutchin son, the owner of the Helen, stated she 'OO/ next Durham assizes, but sad The magistrates committed all f i lie w p o r u i l s d on b e e rs ta flr en tr . ial at the i al Mr. C. K. Murray had an interview with the Chancel lor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street, LAW INTELLIGENCE, COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, May 14. Sittings at Nisi Prins, before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN and Common Juries.) MOOPER V. M'DONALD. This action was brought by a newspaper agent to recover from the defendant the amount of a bill for advertisements inserted in the London papers for the announcement of a pro ject which was called the Cape of Good Hope Western Rail way, which was brought forward in August last, and of which the defendant was a provisional committeeman. The amount of the bill was 450/., and it was made up of money paid by the plaintiff for the insertion of the advertisements, and of a demand for his personal trouble in procuring the insertion. Mr. KNOWLES (with whom was Mr. Francillon, stated the plaintiff's case to the jury in a short, but amusing ad dress. Colonel Lothian Dixon was then called and sworn—He said that he held an office under the Crown at the Cape, and that he was a director of the project in question. The wit • ness, by the direction of the defendant himself, caused the defendant's name to be inserted in the list of the committee, which he attended upon one occasion. Cross-examined—Major M'Donald, upon having been ap pointed a provisional committeeman, declared himself dis satisfied, as he had expected to be made a director. This was, however, after his appointment as a provisional committee man had actually been made. Mr. Oldershaw, the attorney of the company, stated that all the insertions had been either directed or sanctioned by the witness and by the board. Another witness proved that the plaintiff had paid every farthing of the bill to the several newspapers in which the advertisements had been inserted. _ _ . Mr. HAYWARD appeared upon the part of the defendant, and contended that the authority which the defendant had given Colonel Dixon to put his name upon the committee was coupled with the condition of his being made a director, and that, net having been so appointed, he took no further trouble upon the subject. In such circumstances the Learned Counsel contended that the evidence was not sufficient to establish the liability of the defendant. The jury, under the direction of the Learned Judge, found a verdict for the plaintiff for the whole amount. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, May 14. (Sittings at Nisi Prius, Guildhall, before Lord Chief Justice TINDAL and Common Juries.) A oase was called on this morning shortly after the sitting of the Court, in which was involved an action for a breach of contract against the owner of a vessel, but there was not the least interest attached to that or any other case heard during the day. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, May 14. (Sittings in Guildhall.) Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN was occupied during the day in disposing of cases, the leading features in almost all of which were breaches of contract, or actions for the recovery of debts of small amount. . INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, May 14. ,Before the CHIEF ComussioxEn and Mr. Commissioner POLLOCK.) IN RE THE REV. CHARLES WETHERELL. The rule in this case for the rescinding of The vesting order was specially appointed for this day. The insolvent, whose name is unfortunately too notorious, obtained a rule nisi on the ground that the petitioning cre ditor, Mr. Thurmott, a coal-merchant, of Bedford-street, Strand, had been induced to take that step by means of fraudulent representations on the part of other persons, and that he was new willing that the vesting order should be annulled. To-day Mr. Cooke appeared in support of the rule, and Mr. Nicholls and Mr. Dowse to show cause. . ..... - Affidavits on the part of the respondents were read from several parties —one of whom, William Revell, a creditor of the insolvent's to the extent of 1041., swore that he had applied to Mr. Thurmott to obtain the vesting order, that the insolvent's estate might be preserved for the creditors. He also stated that he had seen Mr. Thur mott's attorney (Mr. Moseley) on the subject. The affi davit of John Mynde Cooke stated that the insolvent was in custody at the suit of Mr. Langston for the sum of 14,4841., the amount of a judgment in an action of covenant on the post-nuptial settlement of deponent's wife and insol vent's daughter; that the insolvent had named as trustee Lord Glenelg, without that nobleman's sanction, who refused to act; and, consequently, Mr. Langston, deponent's brother in-law, was the only trustee ; that ins olvent's daughter, on obtaining her majority, had become entitled to a fortune of about 21,0001., which had been expended by the insolvent in about two years ; that 14,480/. is the amount admitted by the insolvent to be due to his daughter as part of the sum obtained from her, and it was settled that seques tration should issue against the insolvent's living at Byfield, Northamptonshire; that the insolvent had en deavoured to avail himself of an inaccuracy to the at testation of the warrant of attorney given as collateral secu rity; that insolvent had brought a writ of error against Mr. Langston, but deponent was advised and believed that there were no grounds for it, and that it had only been brought by the insolvent for the purpose of annoyance. Mr. Nicitou.s commenced his arguments against the rule by urging that the best evidence of the motives by which the creditor had been actuated in obtaining the vesting order, viz., his own, had not been produced. It was insinuated that King and Cooke had induced him by fraudulent representa tions to obtain the vesting order, and that he was now willing to its being annulled. The next best evidence, that of Mr. Moseley, the petitioning creditor's attorney, was not forth coming, and the whole case rested upon relined and subtle statements. _ The COULT intimated that the affidavits of the gentleman referred to were highly desirable. Mr. COOK.E hoped the Court would permit him to put them in now. Mr. Commissioner Poitocx said the insolvent knew what he had asserted, and should have been prepared to support his statement. The affidavit of Mr. Thurmott and Mr. Moseley could not be received now. The Learned CHIEF COMMISSIONER expressed his opinion that the absence of these affidavits was conclusive, and com pelled the Court to dismiss the rule. Mr. Commissioner PeLLocK concurred. Mr. Is - 4cl-toms applied for costs from the estate. Mr. Commissioner Pou.ocic said the Court could not forget that Mr. Thurmott had been set in motion by some persons, and that all the detaining creditors except Mr. Langston were willing that the vesting order should be rescinded. Rule discharged. Costs refused. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. John Spence, who lately carried on the business of a-book. seller in Holywell-street, Strand, was brought before Sir P. Laurie for further examination, for being in possession of stolen goods, and not accounting satisfactorily for them. Mr. Robinson conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Joyce, a barrister, defended the prisoner. Mr. Robinson stated the nature of the case. The Govern ment printed the Nautical Almanac, for the use of naviga tors, three years in advance. The almanac for the year 1848 was commenced in August, 1844, and the printing of it was completed in the December of that year. Messrs. Clowes, of Stamford-street, printed all the Government work, and of 10,000 copies of the almanac they had issued only 1,500. Mr. Cope, of St. Martin's-lane, contracted to bind the whole number, and to deliver them to the Government publisher, Mr. Murray, of Albemarle-street. It having been ascer tained that 16 copies of the almanac bad been sold at an auction of pawnbroker's pledges for less than the cost price, inquiry was made, five of the copies were recovered, and were found to have been stolen from the printing-office. This was ascertained by the style of binding, which was unlike that adopted by Mr. Cope. The stock at the printers' was then counted, and a deficiency of more than 40 was disco covered. The pawnbroker who had sent them to the auction was next applied to, and he pointed out the prisoner as the pawner. The prisoner's account was that he purchased them of a stranger in the way of business. Mr. Attenborough, the pawnbroker in Fleet-street, iden tified the prisoner as having pawned sixteen copies of the almanac in three parcels in January and February, 1845. He lent him 9s. on four copies, and 12s. on six copies. He believed the five copies produced were the same, from their general appearance, but he had put no mark on them. Cross-examined by Mr. Joyce—He knew the prisoner, and had employed him to bind books. In April, 1846, he sent the sixteen copies to be sold by auction. When the prisoner used the name of Cole as the pawner it could not have been for purposes of concealment. Charles Assam, foreman to the bookbinder, proved that the five copies were not part of the 1,500 that had been bound for the publisher. Daniel Phipps, from Messrs. Clowea's, deposed to missing forty copies from the stock. Cross-examined by Mr. Joyce—Did not send out any copies in sheets to reviewers prior to publication. Never sold any copies at the printing-office, or delivered any on the publisher's order to any person or to any other book binder than the one who contracted with the Stationery-office to bind the whole. Sir P. Laeitin said he knew it must be the practice to send copies to reviewers before publication, because the re view and publication sometimes appeared together. Mr. Phipps said the almanac presented no materials for a reviewer. - - • Mr. Joyce said his client purchased the books in the ordi nary course of his trade, and dealers in second-hand books were not to be expected to make personal inquiries how their customers came possessed of the works, or even as to the accu racy of the names and addresses they gave. Persons who were reduced to sell their plate or their watches to a silver smith, or their books at a book-stall, were not to be expected to give their real address very readily, and the shopkeeper must be satisfied with general appearanappearanceswhere the goods themselves presented no ground of suspicipn. Sir P. LAITRIE said that might be a fair observation as to the sale of a spoon, but the book' - had the publisher's address on the face of it, and there was no difficulty in making in quiry at the proper place. Here was the defendant in pos session of stolen copies of a new work immediately after the publication, and disposing of them by pawning them for less than half their price. He was not satisfied with the prisoner's account, and should not take upon himself to discharge him. It was a fit case for further inquiry, and he the ref o r e com mitted the prisoner for receiving stolen goods. J4l l l l xe forJV o l od oo , f r c o a m b ß - p t O r h o e i p Y r, p i e o S t c o T k r e , R t w E a s ofEc a l T i charged young with m a s a t e ali ng a named Milne, a clerk to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The complainant stated that he was returning from the Union Bank, with the cheque in his pocket, when he felt some one treading on his heels. He immediately felt for his pocket-book, but it was gone. Thie occurred in Duncannon street, West Strand. He looked round, and saw the prisoner walking towards the Lowther Arcade, while another young man, who had been with him, took a different direction. Witness followed the prisoner into the Adelaide Gallery, and there gave him into the custody of a policeman. The prisoner said he knew nothing at all of the occur rence. He was a very respectable man, and had twenty five cabs and horses. He had just sent for his friends, and "Master Ballantine," whom he had no doubt would be in court prefiotly, if his worship would wait. The OM constables who brought the prisoner to the station-house proved that he had offered them money, with out, however, assigning any reason for so doing. Mr. JARDINE remanded him to Tuesday. WORSHIP-STREET. An intelligent little girl, named Esther Hobson, about twelve years of age, was placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged with attempting to commit self destruction. It appeared from the evidence of a woman named Caroline Yorke, that in consequence of the prisoner's mother having some time since deserted her home and family, the witness had been induced by her father to take care of his two children, and manage his domestic affairs in her absence. This arrangement, however, appeared to have excited feel• ings of great dislike in the mind of the prisoner, who was a girl of very headstrong and violent temper, and, having found it necessary on the preceding day to correct her for some misconduct of which she had been guilty, the girl became greatly excited, and exclaiming that that was the last time she should behave so towards her, instantly ran up-stairs to a closet in which two phials, containing extract of lead, and labelled " poison," were deposited. Fearing she meditated 4chrne wrioua misctuet t 4 ,4 witaew haiMilect atter her, and on entering the room found the prisoner dis coloured round the mouth, with one of the bottles clasped tightly in her hand, and that she had just swallowed the whole of its contents, A surgeon was instantly sent for, and a powerful emetic administered, which had the effect of dis lodging the poison, but the prisoner had ever since been suf fering acutely from its effects ; and, a 3 she had several times afterwards declared her determination to destroy herself at the first opportunity, the witness felt it her duty to give her into custody. The prisoner's father here stepped forward, and stated that the conduct of the girl for several weeks past had caused him the greatest discomfort and uneasiness, and he was appre hensive that her mind had been influenced by an elder sister, who had so misconducted herself some time since that she had been committed to the Westminster Bridewell, and died while confined there. The MAGISTRATE questioned the prisoner as to the cause of her attempting such an act, and the girl, who appeared the picture tof melancholy and wretchedness, burst into tears, and sobbing said she felt so miserable and unhappy at being kept forcibly separated from her mother, that she could not live any longer without seeing her. Mr. BROUGHTON said that the circumstances of the case were certainly of a.remarkable description, as he had never before witnessed such an utter recklessness of life in so young a child, and he thought he should be acting most kindly to the prisoner herself if he sent her for a week to Bridewell, where she would be properly admonished on the heinousness of her attempt, and an opportunity would be afforded in the meantime for some arrangement being come to to obviate her continued residence at home, to which it was manifest she had the greatest repugnance. The child seemed pleased with this decision, and accom panied the gaoler to the cells with obvious willingness. WESTMJNS I En. William Luff; alias Munford, who stands charged with brutally assaulting and throwing a woman with whom he cohabited out of window, was again brought before the magistrate. It had been supposed by the prisoner's acquaintances that the extraordinary exculpatory statement made by the injured woman at the hospital on Tuesday, and which was opposed to the evidence of the whole of the witnesses who had been examined, would have the effect of procuring his liberation ; but they had, however, fallen into error, as, upon the prisoner entering the dock, Mr. BURRELL informed him that he was further remanded for a fortnight. Prisoner—May I not have bail, your worship? Mr. BURRELL—I shall not take bail. He was then removed. THE RIGHT OF REDEEMING PLEDGES —Yesterday Mr. Burrell gave his decision in a matter of some importance to pawnbrokers and those who are driven by necessity to their shops. The case arose out of an information exhibited by Birch, a common informer, against Mr. Perkins, a pawn broker at Chelsea, charging him with taking more than the legal interest on a pledge of 3s. The article had been pledged on the 2d of January, 1845, backed at the expiration of a year for three months, and ultimately "redeemed." as the informer alleged, on the 3d of last April. The facts, save the " redemption," were not disputed, but it was contended, on behalf of the pawnbroker, that the article had become for feited, and that he was consequenly justified in selling it at any price he thought fit, and further that it could not be termed a redemption, because the time having expired in which, according to the Act of Parliament, it became for feited, the pawner had absolutely lost all right to it. The law expressly laid down the rules which should apply to pledges above 10s., reserving a right to the pawner to receive any overplus which the property might fetch after the ex penses of sale, fec., were deducted ; but there was no such proviso with ieference to minor pawns, and the words clearly expressed, that unless the article under 10s., should be re deemed within the limited time it "should become forfeited, and might be sold." Mr. Perkins's solicitor handed an opinion of the Attorney- General to the magistrate. Its purport did not transpire ; but it must be presumed that it was favourable to their view of the matter, or it would not otherwise have been pro duced. Mr. BURRELL, after adverting to the case of Walker v. !Smith, in Barnewall and Alderso n's Reports (where a verdict was given against a pawnbroker in an action for trover for refusing to deliver up a gold watch and appendves after a year and a day and a new trial moved unsuccessfully), and in which Chief Justice Abbott, Judges Bayley, Holroyd, and Best, were of opinion that a pawnbroker had no right to sell unredemed pledges after the expiration of a year from the time the goods were pledged, if the original owner tender the principal and interest due, said he did not consider the for feiture complete until the absolute sale, and up to which period the article was redeemable. As Mr. Perkins acted under the impression that he was justified, he (the Magis trate) of course should not inflict a greater penalty than 40s. Mr. Perkins's solicitor applied to have it made 3/. 38., in order to give his client the power of appeal. Mr. BURRELL expressed himself most desirous of affording the defendant an opportunity of appealing, and increased the penalty as requested, in order to enable him to do so. Birch, the informer, pressed the magistrate to make it 101., as he should be put to great expense in going to the sessions on the appeal. Mr. BURRELL refused. Birch then said he would, with the magi3trate's permis sion, exhibit two other informations for similar offences against defendant, as he should like to go to the sessions with a brace of cases, lest one should break down. Mr. BURRELL refused the application. CLERKENWELL. CRUEL CONDUCT OF A MASTER TOWARDS HUI APPREN TICE.—Mr. John Stokenham t a master taiior, residing at 18, Camden -street, Islington, was charged by John Cone, his apprentice, a lad of sixteen, with an assault of a very savage nature upon him. The poor lad, whose body exhi bited marks of severe personal violence, his thighs being covered with stripes, was bred in the Foundling Hospital, and bound to the defendant about two years ago, who received a premiam of 101. from that Institution. In order to encou rage good apprentices, and to prove to masters that the con ductors of the Foundling cherish a parental regard for de serving youths who are bound from it, they make presents to the boys from time to time, upon a certificate of good be haviour from the master. In this case the defendant sent the boy to the Foundling at Easter with a certificate, and the boy received 15s. as a present. He had no sooner re turned than the master took the money from him and pocketed it, saying he would buy clothes for the boy with it, although by the indenture he was bound to clothe him. On Tuesday morning last, the master returned home after an absence of half an hour, and called the prosecutor to ac count for his time, saying he had done nothing during that half-hour. The lad replied he had been at breakfast. The master thereupon took up a yard measure, and beat the boy for ten minutes with it, so as to cover his arms and thighs with stripes. The MAGISTRATE said the master behaved like a tyrant, and bad beaten him in a most savage manner. Even in the factory districts, about which they heard so much, half an hour was allowed for breakfast. He would fine the de fendant 51.—The money was paid at once. FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSELS, MAY 11.—The Chamber of Representatives in its sitting this day heard a report on several petitions. It then adopted two projects of law, one granting a supple ment ary credit of 48,000 francs to the Minister of Marine, and the other for a vote of credit of 24,000 francs for the public veterinary school, to meet the expenses of the last month of 1845. It will commence to-morrow the discussion of the Budget of the Department of the Interior. The King has given audience to-day to a great number of persons. Baron d'Arnim, the Prussian Ambassador at Paris, is now at Brussels. He had an audience yesterday of the King, and visited several members of the diplomatic body. We under stand that he will return to Paris on Wednesday. General Fleischmann, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of Wurtemburg at Paris, has arrived at Brussels. ANTWERP, MAY 12.—A report has been in circulation on 'Change to• day that the King, on the representation of M. Liedtz, had given up the Ministry of M. de Theux, and had commissioned M. Liedtz to form a new Cabinet, and that M. Liedtz had composed his Cabinet of Messrs. Rogier, de Brouckere, Lebain, d'Hoffschmidts, Liedtz. The Minister of War was not yet chosen. All this, of course, needs confirmation.—Journal du Commerce, May 12, 1846. VIENNA, MAY 6.—The Emperor has commissioned Lieut. Field-Marshall Baron Von Hess, Chief of his Majesty's General Staff to compliment the S u l tan on the occasion of his visit to the provinces on the Danube. Major Baron Spiegelfield, Count Festelics, Count C. Zechy, and Count Troper will accompany General Hess. The mission will wait on the Sultan at Rustscheck. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—Bgamr, MAT 8. Bills. Money. St. Schuld Sch., 3% per Cent Prusa. English Bond s , 183 0, 4 er jent . • • • Foreign Exchanges .. .• .•• • • . 13 .... •• • • ••• Exchange on London, XI Sterling, 3 Months. 6 25 1 ,4 Hamburgh, 300 Marks, 2 Months. 149% 149% Faris, 300 fr., 2 Months •• • • 80 1-12 Two months. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Universal Prussian Gazette, Max 9. AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VtaxprA, MAY 6. 5 per Cent. Metalliques• • ••• • •• •• • ....... 112 4 per Cent. ditto• •• • •• • • •• • • •• • • •••• • • • • 100‘ 3 per Cent. ditto• •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • 74% Lean, 1834 Ditto, 1839 • • • • • • • • •• • • • 122 Bank Shares • ••• • ••• • • • Esterhazy's Loan • • ••• • •• • .. •• •... .... RAILWAYS. The Northern, or Ferdinand • • ••••• • • • • • 193% Gloggnits • • • • •• • • •• • • •• • • ........ • •• .• 139 35 Vienna—Milan •• • •• •• Leghorn •• • Sienna • • • • Grosetto • • • Oldenburg Pestoja • • • • .. • • Apennhien • • •• .. Pesth Bridge ..........................120 —Aligemeine Zeitung, May 9. BELGIAN FUNDS.—Bxussns, May 12. Actual Debt, 2% per Cent Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent • ... Ditto Three per Cent • Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto ...... Ditto, ditto,lB4o • • • Ditto, ditto, 1842 • .• . 102 Ditto, 1844..• • ..... • • ..... .• ... 100 Ditto, 1836.. •••••• • • • • • • Ditto, 1838 • • .• • • • • • • • • • • • • 74% Ditto of the City, 1832 . Ditto, 1843 •• 100% Bank of Belgium • • .• • • •• • 892 , --Brussels Papers. May 12. DUTCH F HEITERDAM, MAT 11. Money. Bills. Actual Debt, 234 per Cent........... 60 603( bitto, 3 per Cent ••••.• .• • • ........ 72 72% Ditto, 4 per Cent.•. •••••• • . .. • ..... 9314 84 4 Amort Syndic, 4% per Cent. ..... 99% 100 Ditto, 3% per Cent •••-•••• • • • • • • • • 88 5 i 88% Commercial Company, 4% per Cent • 1683 169 East India Loan, 4 per Cent. ••••• • • • • 93% 93% Exchange on London, at sight • • • • • 12 27 Two months... .... • . 12 20 On Hamburgb, at sight •• .. 35 81 Two months.. • • • • • • • 35 43 —Dutch rapers. May 12. THE CROPS IN GEORGIA.—The Macon Advocate of the 20th instant says :—We learn from a Lee, who has just returned from a tour through Baker, Sumter, Dooly, and other counties in Sout - Western Georgia, that the crops of small grain, particularly wheat, were never more pro mising than at present. The corn looks well, but cotton, in consequence of the wet and cool weather experienced in that section for some time past, appeared rather backward, and in some places fears were entertained that it would die, and the land have to be re-planted. The weather having become clear and pleasant, however, with a prospect of continuing so, the plants may revive, and prove thrifty in the cnd. PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.-011 Wednesday the anni versary meeting of the Protestant Association was held at Exeter hall. J. P. Plumptre, Esq., M.P. presided, and was supported by the Very Rev. the Dean of Ardagh, Sir Digby Mackworth, Bart. , the Rev. Hugh Stowell, the Rev. W. M'llwaine, the Rev. D r . Hollo way, the Rev. Dr. Marsh, the Rev. Tennison Cuffe, the Rev. A. S. Thelwall, the Rev. G. Campbell, the Rev. E. Dalton, the Rev. R. H. Thomas, the Rev. W. Shirley, the Rev. W. Ayerst, General Latter, Major Hanley, and other gentlemen. The side galleries were filled with ladles. The usual resolutions were adopted, together with a petition to the House of Commons for the repeal of the Maynooth grant, IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 14. Their Lordships assembled at the usual hour. ROYAL ASSENT. The Royal Assent was given to-day by Commission to the Exchequer-bills Bill (18,380,200/. ), the Indemnity Qualification Offices Bill, the Insolvent Debtors' Continuance Bill, the Burghs ( Scotland) Bill, the Great Western Railway Im provement Bill, the Monckton Navigation Bill, the Ellesmere and Cheshire Canal Bill, the Manchester and Salford Waterworks Bill, the Boston Waterworks Bill, the Glasgow Waterworks Bill, the York Waterworks Bill, the Sunderland Docks Bill, the Birmingham Cemetery Bill, the Rochester Bridge Bill, the Welsh Charity School Bill, and several other Bills. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Buccleuch, and the Earl of Haddington. SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON SUNDAY. The Bishop of HEREFORD presented a petition, praying their Lordships to adopt some measure whereby the sale of in toxicating liquors might at least be prevented on Sunday, if not entirely prohibited on all days. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY Earl FITZ WILLIAM presented a petition from the Bishop, Dean, and other inhabitants of Peterborough, against this Bill, SEES OF ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR. Earl PO WIS presented a petition against the union of these two sees. Lard CAMPPELL presented a petition from the members of a society, entitled " The Society for the Improvement of Ireland, irrespective of sect or party," and also from various religious and other bodies, praying their . Lordships to alter the present financial relations bet ween Ireland and England. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. Lord CAMPBELL presented a great number of petitions from Churchmen, Wesleyans ' Independents, Unitarians, and Roman Catholics against the Charitable 'f rusts Bill. SITES FOR CHURCHES (SCOTLAND). Lord CAMPBELL also presented a petition from a con gregation in the county of Dumfries. praying their Lordships to adopt some measures by which they might be enabled to obtain sites for churches. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. Lord ASHBURTON presented a petition against the Cha ritable Trusts Bill. Lord COTTEN HAM also presented a number of petitions from the trustees of Wesleyan property, in different parts of the kingdom, against. this Bill. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from Cork, signed by 9,000 persons, in favour of the above mea measure ; also a petition from the University of Cambridge— not in favour of the Charitable Trusts Bill—but in favour of the Eastern Counties Extension Railway.—( Laughter. ) Lord CAMPBELL begged to move for a return of the number of petitions and petitioners for and against the Charitable Trust Bill. Lord BROUGHAM conceived that all trustees connected with charitable trusts in this country, and numbering between 3,000 and 4,000 persons, would prefer to have no inquisition into the mode in which they manage their trusts. They would no doubt petition against this Bill and every offer Bill that was introduced for that purpose. The motion was then agreed to. The Earl of ELDON presented a petition from the Wes leyan body of King's-cross, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and other places in the vicinity of London, against the Bill. IMPORTATION OF GRAIN. Lord STANLEY called the attention of the Noble Lord (Dalhousie) to the propriety of laying upon the table two returns connected with the importation of grain into this country. He wished to have the fullest information on this point. A return had been made of the coin which had been imported from Ireland in the month of February last. Ile wished this return to be extended to the months of March and April. He also wished to have a return of the number of corn laden ships from the different countries of Europe, and America, specifying the proportion of British ships, shins belonging to the places whence the corn was imported, and other foreign ships. In addition to these returns, to which be hoped the Noble Lord would not object, he would now beg to ask for an explanation of certain discrepancies which appeared to exist in the returns already on the table with regard to this matter. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said he had no objection to the laying of the returns wished for by the Noble Earl upon the table of their Lordships' House. His Lordship briefly ex plained an error to which the Noble Lord had alluded as having been made in the returns already made. Lord BROUGHAM moved for a return of the quantity of corn taken out of bond during the last two years. Earl DALHOUSIE said the motion was perfectly unneces sary, inasmuch as that return was already on their Lordships table. After a few words from Lord ASHBURTON, the motion was withdrawn. REPEAL OF THE UNION. The Marquis of NORMANBY presented a petition from a certain town in Ireland in favour of the repeal of the legislative union. DISEASES OF THE CHEST. Lord NORMANBY presented a petition, the prayer of which, he said, was rather of a singular nature. The peti tioner stated that he had invented a new medicine for diseases of the chest, and he prayed their Lordships to appoint a Com mittee to investigate the merits of his icvention. That meant, the Noble Earl supposed, to try it themselves. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOrt presented two petitions from congregations of Independents in favour of the Bill. Earl FORTESCUE presented several petitions from Wes leyan and other religious bodies against the Bill ; also petitions in favour of the repeal of the Catholic Disabilities. SEES OF ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the clergy and rural deans of Chichester against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL. Lord PORTMAN moved that a Select Committee be ap pointed to inquire into the merits of this Bill. After a few words from Lord HADDINGTON and the Duke of RIIIHMOND, the motion was negatived. POLLING-PLACES IN IRELAND BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the second read ing of this Bill. The Noble Marquis expected no opposition in that House, as it had met with none in the other, and therefore felt it unnecessary to enter into any argument or detail on the subject, especially as the preamble of the Bill spoke for itself. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed. DEEDS REGISTRATION BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from the solicitors and attorneys of the city of York against the Bill introduced by his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord Camp bell). At the same time he wished to intimate that he would express no opinion either for or against the Bill. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition against this Bill from the Braziers' Company of the city of London. SEES OF ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR. The Bishop of EXETER preseated apetition from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster against the union of these two sees. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mayl4. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up and agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be engrossed, viz.:.-- Harrogate Gas. York and North Midland Railway (Whitby and Pickering Extension). Edinbutgh and Peebles Railway. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway (Humber Ferries). Carshalton Rates. Northumberland Docks. Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Railway (Extension and Branches). Edinburgh and Leith Atmospheric Railway. Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Branches from the Dundee and Arbroath Railway and Tay Ferry Improvement). Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Stratherne Deviation). Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Newport Railway and St. Andrew's Branch). Rye and Derwent Drainage. Newcastle-upon-Tyne Improvement. Manchester Markets. Arbroath and Forfar Railway. Airdrie Police. Salford Hundred Court. East Fife Railway. BILSTON GAS-LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY. This Bill was read a third time and passed. ST. AUSTELL "MALL DEBTS. This Bill was also read a third time and passed. LONDON, BRISTOL, AND SOUTH WALES DIRECT RAILWAY. Mr. GREENE made the following motions, all of which were agreed to :--That the order made on the 13th day of 111 arch last, referring the London, Bristol, and South Wales Direct Railway Bill to the Committee of Selection, be non read ; and that the said order be discharged ; and that the said Bill be withdrawn ; and that the Midland Railway (Nottingham and Mansfield Branch) Bill be read a second time this day, notwithstanding the breviate of the same has not been laid on the table one clear day pre viously; and that the Committee on the Caledonian Insurance Company have leave to sit and proceed on Friday ; and that the ord , r of the sth day of May last, referring the Birken head and Llangollen Railway Bill to the Committee of Selec tion, be discharged. That the said Bill be withdrawn. METROPOLITAN SEWAGE MANURE COMPANY. Colonel WOOD proposed the second reading of this Bill. Sir DE LACY EVANS objected because the Commis sioners of the Metropolitan Sewers had had no opportunity of opposing the Bill before the Standing Orders' Committee. He did not pretend to say that there might not be very great ad vantages to agriculture if the principle of the Bill were carried into practice. He thought, however, that an experiment of the kind that was contemplated had better be tried in some less populated district, but instead of that the most densely inhabited part of the metropolis had been selected. The effluvia from these operations would be very offensive. And Le understood it would be necessary to have a chimney 100 feet higher than St. Paul's to carry off the effluvia. A noxious gas would be generated, which would tend greatly to injure the health of the inhabitants of the metropolis. A similar experiment had been tried at Edinburgh ; but in consequence of the numerous deaths that were occasioned, the scheme was abandoned. Other experiments had been tried, but all had been abandoned in consequence of the injury to health that re sulted from the noxious effluvia. He should move, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. Sir ROBERT INGLIS seconded the amendment, and al though the promoters of the Bill contemplated conferring be nefits on agriculture, he would not be a party to benefiting the agriculturists at the expense of the health of the inhabitants of towns. The scheme was one which, if undertaken at all, ought to be undertaken by the Government, and not by a public com pany. The Bill contemplated raising a large reservoir of ma nure, and then squirting it up to the height of Highgate-hill. The effluvium would overtop the neighbouring hills of the me troColis, and would give rise to typhus fever and other diseases. Mr. MANNERS SUTTON said it was a general rule that pinuprt;ivbautet t ß h i e ll i s me S s l e e n m t b ß er il s i o w f as th o e ne G t o h v a e t rn i m ot e e n rf t shld ered ou with ta p k o e b n h o o health, and therefore the Government were bound toive an opinion upon it. It appeared that the publi c health was likely to suffer if the principles of the Bill were allowed to be carried into practical operation, from the malaria and noxious effluvia which would l T d . b wr e T g o en o e D rat s e t d at . ed, reply, that he cons id ere d in Go vernment should not inte r f ere i n the measure--at any rate not on Sir re G. GREY reading.thought the Government had acted quite properly in causing an inquiryto ti be instituted into the matter. Sir J. GRAHAM proposed poetill tat the consideration of the p q o u r e t st p io re n p s a h r o e u d ld fo b r etopeos G tMonday next, when the re port would be placed in the hands of Lord R. Members. GROSVENOR supported the proposition. The further consideration of the questien was then postponed till this day week. RYE AND DERWENT RAILWAY. Mr. EVELYN DENISON called the attention of the House, at the time of bringing up the report on this Bill, to the opposi tion of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to the preamble of that Bill. The Hon. Member stated that it appeared strange to himself and other Members of the Committee that the society should have fumds to spend in this opposition, while it could not pay the sums required for the carrying out of its legitimate pur poles. It was, however, accounted for by the circumstance that Mr. Charles Knight Murray was Secretary to the Com mission ; Mr. J. Murray, his brother, was the solicitor who conducted the case; and Mr. Murray, the third brother, was the Counsel before the Committee. The Speaker was here summoned to the House of Lords to hear the Royal Assent given to several Bills. On his return, Mr. E. DENISON said, that during the absence of the Speaker from the House, a paper had been put into his (Mr. Dennison's) hands, whip h was addressed to himself, and which was signed White and Murray ; bu'. he begged to say that, until he came into the Hon e. he had had no knowledge whatever of it. He now begged to say that it ap peared to the Committee that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had failed to prove their ease, and he appealed to several members of the Committee whom he now saw present to state whether he was correct or not. Mr. G. PALMER said, that hr, as Chairman of the com mittee, quite concurred with the Hon. Member. Mr. HA STIE said it appeared to him that no case had been made out • from all he had heard of it, he should say it ap p ared to him very like a job. Mr. E. DENISON said that he did not know now what the House would think of the paper he held in his hand. A similar case existed at the present moment in that House. The Hon. Member for Sunderland had been obliged to leave the House, and had placed in his hands two cases, which he desired him (Mr. Denison) to lay before the House. One of these cases was on the Newcastle and Darlington Railway Bill, against which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners peti tioned, and required their costs to be paid by the parties againstwhom they petitioned. He had, in speaking of this case, gone somewhat beyond what he ought to have said. He had stated that no reasons had occurred to the Commissioners, instead of which he should have said that no reason presented itself to the minds of several members of that Com mission that there was no cause for those proceedings, except the fact that Mr Charles Knight Murray petitioned, a.,other Mr. Murrray was the solicitor, and a third Mr. Mur ray was the counsel for the Bill. Another reason which in duced him to bring the subject under the notice of the House was, that he thought that the time when it was necessary that some reconstruction of the Ecclesiastical Commission should take place.—( Hear, hear.) He did not say so without great respect to every member of that Commission, for when he stated that it was composed of the Archbishops and Bishops of England and Wales, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justices, the First Lord of the Treasury, and other gentlemen of the highest respectability, no one could doubt that they were all honourable men. There was not sufficient individual responsibility, the business was entrusted to too few ; but it there was a secretary in whom the public could rely, the business would be better conducted. He did not think Mr. Charles Knight Murray was a man of that description. He had been put down in va rious railways as a subscriber to the amount of 500,0001., and he wished to know whether the reports current were correct— th.,t Mr. Knight Murray had had railway clerks waiting in the office of the Cornmissioters while he signed scrip up stairs. He did not think that the public interest would be pro perly entrusted in the hands of Mr. Murray. Sir J. GRAHAM said that the question had not been brought under his consideration, and that therefore he would confine his ob-ervations to the report which was then under discussion. He had no opportunity of knowing the exact merits of the case. But if he was rightly informed, the whole charge consisted in the alleged improper sale of two hundred acres of ecclesiastical lands, from the cir cumstance of the secretary to the Board of Ecclesiastical Com missioners being a brother of the solicitor engaged for the Company, and a third brother being the advising Counsel. This commission had most invidious duties to perform. In behalf of the church it was their bounden duty to defend their reversionary interests. Reference had been made to the con duct of these commissioners with regard to railway Bills. Now no less than sixty notices had been served upon the com mission, and they would, have neglected their duty if they had not presented petitions to have clauses inserted in the various railway Bills for the protection of the Church. They were compelled to present petitions, because it was by that course alone that they obtained a Lens standi before the Committee ; but in no case had they opposed the preamble of a railway Bill. With regard to Mr. Murray, he could see nothing in that gentleman's conduct which should render him censurable or unworthy of the greatest confidence. Sir G. G EY, who was most inaudible, was understood to say that a petition was necessary for the protection of certain rights, ano, :hat being the case, he could trot see anything wrong in presenting it. The question for the House was, whether the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had carried their powers as Commissioners out too far, He could only say, with regard to Mr. Murray, that he bad done nothing which could be blamed in the slightest manner, for he considered that he had discharged his duties with great efficacy. He hoped, however, that some arrangement would be come to so as to prevent any mistake occurring in future. Mr. STEWART said it was very satisfactory to him to see the turn which this case had taken. Bnt it appeared. to him that some Honourable Members laboured under some misapprehension as to the actual injury which the property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners would sustain. Here was a Bill which was proposed to drain two hun dred acres of land, and in addition to that, this same property would also be most injuriously affected to the extent of 4'4:1 acres by the manner in which this Bill proposed to deal with them. No doubt the manner in which the Committee had dealt with the matter might be right, but the effect of it would be to burden these 400 acres of land, which the tenants would not have to pay, bat which would fall exclusively upon the commissioners. And now let him ask, was it because those commissioners had thought proper to suggest that they could deal with those lands in a more advantageous manner than was proposed by the Bill, that therefore they were not justified in adopting this proceeding? He should say also that he did not think that the Honourable Member who had brought the motion forward had stated the matter quite fully. He considered it was a very strange charge to make, that a brother of a batrister employed by the commissioners could not be secretary to the board ; and he understood it was made for the first time, for it was not considered as such by the mem bers of the commission. He,knew the gentleman in question, he was a member of the Chancery bar, and he hoped the House would forgive him for saying that he considered that it was very im proper to make charges against a gentleman without giving any notice either to him or his friends, so as to enable him to ex plain his conduct or even defend it. He could state that he knew the gentleman some years ago, and he knew him to be a man of honour and integrity--( Hear , hear) —and he fully deserved the commendations which he had re ceived from the Right Hon. Baronet. Mr. EVELYN DENISON said he would not take the trouble to again advert to the various circumstances of the case ; his opinion remained unchanged.— ( Cries of " Order, order ' ) Well, then, as a matter of ex p'anatien, he would say that he acquainted the gentleman of what he intended to say in the House ; so, therefore, the com plaint of the Hon Gentleman that due notice was not given was by no means well founded. Mr. SPOONER, in pursuance of notice which he had al ready given, moved that " the petition of the Company of Proprietors of the Oxford Canal Navigation, presented on the 12th of May against the Midland Railway Bill, be referred to the Committee on the Midland Railway ( Burton-upon-Trent) to Nuneaton Branch and Ashby Canal Purchase Bill." Mr. WILSON PATTEN opposed the motion. He did so with regret, as he did not wish to interfere in any motion on private business, but he thought his friend the Member for Birmingham had relied too much upon the Report of the Com mittee of A malgaraation. Sir G. GREY thoughtit was quite advisable that this matter should be referred to the Committee of Amalgamation. Mr. SPOONER. thought that a clear case had been made out, i w e c o ( u i l o d n . b e y b e e t t , t e a r s t t h o e wait etrh now o r w e p s o t r oo t d o , f t h t e h e p C r o o h m a m h t i l t t e y e of and his impressi o n w as th at un d er the circumstances it Se was the House would not agree to his proposition, and that the report of the Committee would be consequently of little use. Mr. W. PATTEN would wish to guard against any sup position that this p e titi on was t rea t e d with disrespect, or bad not received sofficientattentionfromnotwhestflod t would be bet ter Mr. SPOONER said as ma tters ter to withdraw the motion, and it was accordingly withdrawn, on the motion to that effect being put from the Chair. Mr. C. BERKELEY presented five petitions against the Oxford and Cheltenham Railway . Mr. SEYMER presented several petitions against the Eas t Cornwall Railway. Mr. MILLS presented a petition from the landowners on the line against the Oxford and Worcester Railway Extension Elll. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition in favour of the Manchester and Sheffield Railway. Mr. H. HINDE presented a petition against the West Yorkshire Railway. MR. SMITH O'BRIEN. Mr. O'CONNELL presented petitions from Dublin, apt several other places in Ireland, regretting the detention of Mr. Smith O'Brien in custody, and stating their belief that it was unjustifiable in a constitutional view. Mr. P. SCROPE presented a petition from the poor of -Ballingarry, stating that they received sixpence a day with two meals during the winter from the farmers in their district, end that they received eightpence a day during the summer, making an average of sevenpence a day, and with what they received they were obliged to pay debts incurred during scarce seasons, and for the credit which they received then they were obliged to pay a most usurious interest. The petition was signed by upwards of 300 persons. It appeared by this petition there were 600 families at the present moment in a state of star vation, whom it was the bounden duty of the Legislature to relieve. CORN-LAWS. Sir John Easthope, Lord George Bentinck, Mr. Esteourt, and Mr. Hawes presented petitions on the corn-laws. MAYNOOTH. Mr. P. BORTHWILK stated that he had postponed his motiontheof th other nig: debate on th tonthe Poor-lawern.lw, eo Settlement and lement he should lin consideration bring it on this day fortnight. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented a petition praying for the re peal of the Bth and 9th Victoria, which provided a grant for Mr. B. ESTCOTT p resented a petition fr om the College o n f 0111AalyAnoNothcoAuTt o ti f o th L e pu icß bl E il , f l u E n F ds. . Richmond, in Surrey, in favour of the Roman Catholic Disabilities Re lief Bill. THE RAILWAY MEETINGS, Sir JOHN EASTHOPE A ished to ask the Right Hon. the Committee, thep EBEiiLl , saani dortethqher whether, b ß e a f r o o r n e e t t h a e t B t i l l i l e head ras. e dotfh thethroug h ou gh Government, Committee, the i of scripholders in a particular railway c on ; pang to be hex' Committee should meeting of the sc ß ri i p l h l o a l f d te e l* re : Sir ROBE RT i alt erpa ß b la e l o sys n e ß e d E e es,a r y ? was, that he did not think it of the scripholders to be held •- . his answer to that questi on. m: a s s r u te d il read ing to the Bill. The : rT hold a further m fo o r tio a n ny on further the g-aa third e e .. et-ti render Air . s i t . o c bl o ig L a: E r to in order to obtain a third r p e o s s o t resolutions o e n d s ua h its i o s it f the Government did not think such a course at all desirable. ' meeting, and he did not GAME -LAWS. la ss until Monday next. Mr DUNCOMBFEA w C i T sh O ed RI t E o S kn B ow ILL h . n venient for the Government to fix day w e it would her con sideration of the Factories Bill ? Sir R. PEEL proposed • h he bad to adhere to the plan which f public made some time since with respect to the progress o the business. He intended, in the first place, to go on with Corn Bill, and, immediately after that Bill was disposed (4+,11 should proceed with the tariff ; and as several gentlemen u. a u expressed a desire to have a discussion on the Settlement 0" ould be COn.. it would be advisable to take the outline of that Bill before going into Committee. He should take the tariff immediatelf alter the Corn Bill, and then proceed with the disc ussion n_ the Settlement Bill. With respect to the Factory Bill, he wa! willing to give the earliest day that he could which w ould e?' interfere with the progress of the more important publicusi b ness. He could not name the exact day which he was willinf to set apart for the Factories Bill, but it should be the earli.es: day possible after the Bills he had mentioned ha d been aIS posed of. CASE OF MR. TOULMIN SMITH. consider Mr. SPOONER moved for a Select Committee to the petitions of Mr. Toulmin Smith , and the papers presente d to the House relative to the case stated in those petitions. he Mr. WAKLEY thought it would be incons istent for t h e . _ Hon. Gentleman to press his motion at that period, there was public business of so great importance before the House. Mr. SPOONER said, it would not be ansistest, big opinion, with public duty, if he did not proceed with the motion of which he bad given notice. The character of a mall ~THE STN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 15, 1816.