The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-18 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEIrS BENCH, Feb. 17. (Before Mr. Justice WiunntaN and a Special Jury.) BREACH OF PROMISE OF 111-4RBIAGE. SUM! V. LORD FERRERS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then proceeded to address the jury for the defendant. Ile commenced by calling upon the jury to give their calmest consideration to this most important case, for it was one which, in his professional experience, he had never seen equalled. At present all appeared to be unintelligible and mysterious, and he confessed that be had never heard of a case that appeared so Inextricable. But he would pledge hiniself that, before he sat down, he would have satisfied the jury, beyond the possibility of all doubt, that this was a most false and flagitious pro ceeding from beginning to end ; and though the result of the verdict of the jury —if in favour of the defendant, as he had no doubt it would be—would brand the plaintiff with disgrace and ignominy, yet his duty woald compel him to adopt a course which would have such a re sult, In order that his noble client m'ght not appear to be what he had been attempted to be represented. The Learned Gentle man then cited two instances of cases of a description some what similar to the ono he should make out. One was the case of a young woman who had left her employment, and In order to account for her absence told a falsehood, which led on to others, and at last got herself so involved that she swore she had been taken away by two gipsies, whose lives had well nigh been forfeited, had not her perjury been detected, and she was trans ported. - The other case was somewhat similar. Ile would show distinctly and clearly that this was a like case, and that it was from beginning to end a base and infamous conspiracy, got up by the plaintiff herself by a series of letters, for the purpose of involving his cheat In this action. The Learned Gentleman then went over the evidence with great care, and pointed out the absurdity of the notion that Lord Ferrers ever could have written the letters attributed to him. Recalled the particular attention of the jury to the evidence of the plaintiff's mother, to when lie had shown several letters folded up, which the witness said were in the handwriting of her daughter. These letters he would new produce. Whon he had explained their nature to the jury, and read their contents, he believed he need go no thither with the case. The jury had heard a great deal about letters that the plaintiff had written to the defendant, and they had a been posted by different parties, who had been innocently involved in this scheme; amongst others, it letter with a pocket-handkerchief, and the jury would very naturally ask, could it be possible that those letters had not reached their destination. Had not Lord Ferret's received them ? He now came to the great and Limportant feature of this case, and the most dis tressing one. Bu?before he did so, he would just call attention to one or two passages contained in the letters alleged to have been written by him to the plaintiff. The jury had heard the plaintiff's sister swear that Lord Ferrers was in her father's house on the 9th of December, 1843 ; but he would prove beyond all doubt that it was utterly impossible that could be true, for he left Chantey that morn ing after breakfast, and therefore, in order to have been at Austrey and back to Chartley, he should have ridden 60 miles before he started for Welchpool. He would prove beyond all donbt that the whole of this transaction was a tissue of falsehood and forgery from beginning to end. He then read extracts from the letters alleged to have been addressed to the plaintiff by the defendant, in which the . . . . ;Triter was represented as being at 311vart's and various ether places, and of writing of persons whom the Attorney-General would prove the defendant had never known or never met. Ha then commented in strong and severe language on the conduct of the witness Holland, and having referred to the alleged presents of silks, books, &c., he said he would produce witnesses *to; falsify all that. He then con cluded by reading the following letters, all of which bore anonymous signatures, and which he said he could identify as the letters which the plaintiff had caused to be posted and directed to the defendant. When the Learned Counsel concluded his address, after having been speaking nearly three hours, there were symptoms of app!ause, which were suppressed. No. 1. " Wednesday, May 1, 1841. " My dearest Washington,—Days, even weeks pass on, yet hear I not from or of you. Are yon still away from your home, or have you even yet returned to Chartley? I am fearful that these ro mantic notes of mine should reach you not. How I long to see your face; shall [ever again do so ? to hear your voice and see you smile; but, perhaps, I may never behold you more. There is a secret plea sure in writing to you, knowing you 'know not me, nor can even dream of the lady's name or place of abode that thus addresses you ; therefore, lam safe. Ali l could you but know how much I think of you, how every feature of your thee is written on my heart, me thinks sometimes ou would even love me for my deep fond love ; it is as my being, and will abide with me till death ; you are in thought all to me. Would you too could love the one who thus thinks of you ; might my whole life be spent in watching over you, and In pre venting every evil from approaching him so loved ; it would, indeed, be untold happiness to be ever near and with you in each danger, difficulty, joy, or sorrow ; once I dreamed the angel of death hovered near you, and tkat I stayed the hand that would have destroyed, and saved you from death. lleaveh and the God I revere and worship keep you safe from all harm, most beloved of all on earth to me. Now the beautiful spring is here, and with it flowers ; indeed everything bright and beautiful in nature teaches us to thank the Creator for his wonderful mercies. You have very much to be thankful for. May you be happy and blessed In y our home, and when you wed, may the one you may choose be as a creature of life and light to you, brightening each darker moment of your life, enlightening each sorrow, enhancing each joy, administering comfort. Such thus much may every woman do, if she truly love the one given to her as her partner for life, if he hi return show due consideration and affection for her. (Such would I be to thee tearing_ all for thy sake, enduring An that thou mightest he blessed. But perhaps this may never, never be. Perhaps you may even now love another. God is above w ith all ; he will judge rightfully for all. Anti thus each mortal treads upon his fate, looks back, sighs, hesitates, when it's too late.' Something whispers me we shall once more meet, be it In lighted hall or church, or under the shade of the hawthorn tree ; we shall meet, though you may not dream you are there, hold ing converse with your anonymous correspondent ; but time hastens, and as cur carriage passed through the borough from which your second title and prettiest name is derived (Viscount Tamworth), while our horses are • baited' at the Castle Inn, so shall I post this to you,—that Tamworth that ought to be your own, young Lord, in stead of Sir Robert Peel's. Dearest Washington, wills best wishes for your happiness and future welfare, allow the lady who thus writes to subscribe herself most devotedly, " MARIE." The fdregoing letter is inclosed in an envelope, bearing the Tam worth post mark of May 1, 1841, and addressed as follows: " The Right. llon the Earl Ferree, Chartley Castle, Staffordshire," No. 2. • " June 5. e • " Washington, beloved one—When shall I see you, when behold the orm of one dearer to me—how dear I may not say. How often I with for you. lope lingers on, days pass away, and alas I I only hear of you— you whom some Whisper strange things of. I believe them not —it cannot be; you must be high-minded, noble, generous, ood— so have I fancied you. Oh, that it may not be fancy only. Yen are young, and have nor father nor mother to guide your steps. The world, I am told, is deceitful and wicked—you have no one to advise you, to whisper words of affec tion and love, to watch over and be with you. You have some wealth and rank. If these could constitute happiness, then yon m ;;ht be happy, but your household hearth is not warmed by affec tion. Do you never feel lonely? —never wish for others but the gay and wild young men with 'e'hom. you associate? Is there never a blank found In your heart? Do you never sigh for one to love you—one wham you could put faith and trust In ? Guardians you have had—they may still advise you, but they have their own to think of, their children ; you, by frequent thought, the only one whom I cannot help but love ; though apparently that one a stranger. Surely, it seems fate—l Ca um. tear you from my heart—your image Is ever present there, your welfare first thought of. Report says that you are going to wed with a lady of Wales, if so, may you be blessed and hippy. I am aware we may never meet never join hands together ; and yet; I cannot forget you. My heart of hearts is yours, and with you will rest. I can never love another; never give my hand without my heart. lam no Welsh lady, but an English woman in thought and action, word and deed; and as an English woman do I love you, think of you. They say the blood of a Ferrcrs is not good, and that the generations of the Shirleys have mostly been men of ignoble minds, with one or two exceptions. Washington, add to the honour of your family; disgrace not further your name. What would I give to see you now, to be with and near you always. Alts! in secret I write to you, in secret love you-- would we could meet. Do you never visit Staunton ? Will you not be there, after the approaching LichfleM review, alone ? Beloved one. adieu, adieu —ever, ever your friend, " MARIE. " To other eye let this not be seen." No. 3, " Dec. 19, 1842. " My Lord,—Strange it may seem to you, no doubt, to receive a note. from a stranger, and a lady too, but it signifies little to me, as know well you never knew the writer of this, never see her. Now for what I have to tell you ; it is this :—There is a public ball at Tamworth every Christmas, generally about the 6th or Bth of January. Go, I _advise you go; there will, to my knowledge, be A young lady at the ball whom I wish you to see and dance with. She is very beautifill, has dark hair and eyes; in short, she Is haughty and graceful as a Spa niard, tall and majestic as a Circassian, beautiful as an Italian. Scan say no more. Yon have only to see her to love her— that yon must do. She la fit for the bride of a Prince. Go, look well round the room. You will find her by this description. Site may wear one white rose In her dark hair. Ca early ; if you see her not there you will never see her, as she is like a violet, hid amidst many leaves, only to "be found when sought for. I know eke is young, and it is toy wi.4l she should have some one to protect her. From what 1 have heard, you must be - that one; you, and you alone—it Is year destiny—therefore go at all risks.; you will then be of age, with nothing to prevent you. I soma time knew your father. By the time you receive this I shall to on my way to , far away. I have put this in the Derby post-office. Burn it when read—show it to na one. Keep your own comisel, my Lord, - and deem yourself happy in the idea of knowing one so talented, beautiful, and young; ask her to dance whit you fear not. And now I have fulfilled my mission, and shall mit In peace, mare peaceful though did I know that - you • would meet this bright young girl. If you, like other Men, lore beauty, you will love her. " Adleu—burn this, and remember she is my legacy to you. Yoe have bust your hand, I hear ; 1 fun sorry. Farewell for ever. " The Right Hon. Earl Ferrere." " ISABEL. ;:o. 4. " Wednesd aye March. "Dearest Wasbington,—Tlins again and agah, I M ill write to you, and tel.'s call you, ibr in truth you are dearer to use than aught cis., and ever will remain so. The question may mire, why dues she so write thus often—of what use Is it where she puts not her name to these effusions ? This is the why and the wherefore—that you may know there is at least one being on earth who thinks and cares. solely for you. Why I should thus feel and care I know not. I have but seen you, but tilt:lading is implanted and will remain with me. I cannot shake off the memory of yourself—in each scene your image presents Itself; and the girl of rilneteens - exes her parents and says no to her 'enoers, aril. the cause is yourself. It is, lam aware, umnaidenly thus to write ; but you know not the writer, and it is to that one a solace and comfort to tell you how much she loves you—how de votedly she is yours. Would that I could shake off the dream, for where will it end ?—with my life. And when I am folded in the calm, still sleep of death, with my being will it end. And you, may you be happy and blessed. Oh, that we might meet—that you could love me even as I you ; hut we dn•ell far apart. And thus music, and flowers, and birds must be still tended and loved' by me, for I see you not: the charm would thsn be twofold. When I watch the opening of the flower I think of you, and sigh that you are not with me, that the maiden's hand might pluck the rose for you and bid you wear it for her sake ; but this is not to he ; you cannot remember me, so you cannot lore me.' Perhaps these; totes may novel even reach you— that I shodld like to know: stay, I will tell you. On Monday,esth of March, if you are at home, write and say if you have received a packet of anonymous letters, directed to you at Chartley. An en- • velope with yes or no written in it will be sufficient. Direct the envelope to Miss A. IL, Post-office, Leicester. If you write and direct thus, I shall surely have it, but perhaps yeti will take no notice of this—if so, Well, it will still be the same, and I shall think as I !env do. Washington, you are mine in thought, and you are very dear to me. Let me still think of you, and if you write, I shall then have eentethieg to look at as yours. -!' New, as ever, your firm friend and warmest well-wisher, under tier assumed name, .... k. . The first svitne ror the d e f ence was Er e li n Phi ll i p Shirley, Esq., Cousin and euardisal B. uelLord Ferrers-e-Ihave•known the defendant nine or ten years ; he went to school to Mr. Itepton for about four years, and then he went to Eton for two years; after that he went to Mr. liehease • , • , and then he went abroad ; his letters to me were al way seS,dae,d4'erTraenrsaw;,,orhtch" until he became Fart Ferrers, and then he sign but he never signed sometimes to sign "Wishing," as a nick name, about sixty of his letter. in my " Washington Ferrers." I have i s lY t pocket ; 'tome of them are written on scraps of paper. I have It r married to a person named Wal ker.—(Laughter.) Lord ;errse: my ho the late Lord's death • this was elm for VAN.; this t r im shortly aant.lteht the Conservatory In ques- In October , 1842 ; he was at edet7airt January, 1843, when be Terlzenothing came of age, and he then mention 1 u tihe had received an aneoy_. mews letter, but I did not sec it. never heard of a person named Sir y are an iorrene handwriting ; 1 of It I No person of the name of :'Pherson ever . n e hi LY• o e'eaetagliter.) The letters now shown me are not hi Lord Fe a s t ----es ' 'IV family. have not the slightest doubt that the Cr.:see-examined —Mr. Hammel', the attorney,nr• might be declined to see him. He had called en ray fAth ei .:"" fo e d t lm me, but I never saw those let some of Lord Forrers' writine. The word el l er ' r e j s ur l*ee of 1 letter !Co. I Is certainly not in his 'handwriting. The m " te the . same resemblance, but it would not strike me. I letters before to-day, nor ever applied to see them. The paper now shown me is more like his style. I have my doubts about it. I should say that the next paper has not the writing of Leal Ferrers on it. When Lord Ferrers a boy at school he used n o t to spell wasnot it from a Lord youth. I never saw him out very correctly. He in diegulie, and never beard was Ferrers. I don't knol g y 'o ltiat he used to go cut with his servants and stay all night. About tw o f 1 T he acquaintance he was married I . was aware o 1 . months befere before he was marr i ed. was not older than two months b lt was in . li not Lord f• the lady. The letter new shown me I s 1 London he rites Furors' handwriting. I spoke to Lord Ferret's one day about this , matter. The reason I refused to give any informationwas, because I did not think Mr. Hummel, behaved well. It was last summer I fast spoke to Lord Ferrers about the affair. He said he ba d seen Mina Smith, but he had never spoken to her in his life. I did not know time Smith family, but I was told Mr. Smith was a farmer living at A telt rey. Ile-examined—When I spoke to Lord Ferrers a bout the matter, tie sat,' there was not a we of truth in it. - Mrs. Ilanbnry Tracy sworn—l am the only sister of Lord Ferret's, We live upon very atrectionate terms'. I have frequently written to bins, and he to me. He always signs his name Ferret's. I here never reeeivee a letter trom -him signed "Washington Ferrers." I have been with him at Chartley, and he with me in Wales. I never was at Brighton until August 1845. There is another sir. Tracy, ant he and his wife live at Brighton. She Is in bad health. I have very good health. I don't know any ladies named Mitten sem3bi'Trevor. The ten different letters alleged to have been , r ,...., i 1)rd. Ferrers to the aintiff were then pat Into the wit e.-41- ~ e , N kt l i pek aho said that site did not think that any of them =b4r 'Este% ZIP a g ia _lr then r ~,_, we.wheeole ' lest It 4 •7& ~( eel With , us. i 'and ' f 3,1: litrio* .., \ '-:" C went on. to say that her beother 7 o, but he had one named Zoe. I re rd Perrers and an ray husbard le the month of waz, soon after. breakfa - quite teepee s ' 0 ) , that 4 He break eble tor Lord Fermis, to have 47 4's hielero w • e Started, esetisone ~~ I r ;4~NI Cross-examined--It was while I was sitting in Court yesterday that my attention was called to this journey. I cannot say on what day of December it was. I might have been a fortnight or three weeks with my brother at this time. My brother very seldom rode out. He generally spent his evenings at home. I don't remem ber that he had any friends on a visit then. He was fond of fun.—(Laughter.) I do not remember anything of a mock trial at the Castle. There was a Miss Davy there, and a Mr. and Mrs. Eld, and I saw them acting, but I can't tell what it was. My brother was dressed up with my grandfather's robes on, and sat in the arm-chair. I don't remember that any other persons were dressed up. I recollect the servants were called in there, and stood with muskets. I might have been an hour there. I can't say when this took place, but it was after my grandfather's death. I have often heard of a charge brought against persons for stealing cran berries at Chartley, but I did not see a mock trial of any one there at that time for that offence. This took place at nine o'clock - at night. This was not the only performance at Chartley, but I can't tell of any others. They used to perform plays. I task no part. I have heard that he used to go out dressed very oddly, but I used to go to bed early, and was never disturbed by the noise. I have met Mr. Harding at Chartley some times. I saw Mr. Gilpin also dressed up. Mr. Hanbury Tracy sworn—l used to visit at Chartley. I never re ceived letters from Lord Ferrers, but I have seen a good many that he wrote to my wife. I have seen him write. The letters, numbered from Ito 12, were then handed to the witness. I recollect leaving Chartley en the 9th of December, 1843, shortly after breakfast, for Wales.' I can't say that the Earl breakfasted with us, but he started with us. The distance of Welehpool from Chartley is about fifty eight miles. Cross-examined by Mr. CHAMBERS —I have recently looked at some of his letters to prepare myself. I was looking at some last night. The paper handed me 'now appears to be better written than any of the others, and a great deal more like his writing. The letters I look at were written within the last year and a half; his style was ver rac i th ort and very plain. I recollect the mock trial ; it was I who r mended it, in order to frighten a man charged with stealing cranberries. Ido not think he was sworn on the Bible ; Ido not re collect that there was any counsel ; I do not think there was counsel for the defence; but we did sufficient to humbug, the man —(Laugh ter.) I believe his sentence was to bring hint down and give him some beer.- (Laughter.) I knew that some of the parties went out at night disguised. I think I have seen Lord Ferrers going out disguised with jack-boats and half military costume : this was about the time of the toll-breakers. I have seen him put on a Scotch dress, but not go out in it. It was while I was in Court that I re collected the 9th of December. I also referred to documents. Walter M`Loghlen, clerk to Mr. Mivart, hotel-keeper, in Brook street—l i 1 keep a register of all visitors at the hotel. Lord Ferrers was never at the hotel to my knowledge. Cross-examined —lf visitors stayed any time I should know them. We could accommodate two or three hundred. I don't believe I have ever seen Lord Ferrers. Persons of the highest rank go there and arc not known. At the conclusion of this witness's evidence, the Court adjourned THE MURDER IN DRURY-LANE, BO H'-STREET. EXAMINATION OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER. Thomas Wicks, a young man of about 20 years of age, who stands charged with the murder of his master, James Bostock, having been arrested on that charge late on Monday night, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Twyford, as soon as the night charges were disposed of. From the time of the opening of the Court, and indeed for some time previous, the street was crowded with people anxiously waiting to " catch a sight" of the accused, but as is usual in such cases the prisoner was led across the street from the station house to the Court, at the same time with the other prisoners, so that he could not be distinguished from them by the mob. The Court itself was net so crowded as might have been expected from the in terest usually displayed by the inhabitants of the vicinity of the pollee. court, in eases of this description. It is probable that but for the " counter-attraction" of the Westminster nomination, there would have been a much "larger attendance" at Bow-street. A beadle was in attendance to take notes of the examination, and to furnish a report to the coroner, by whom he had been sent. A few minutes before the prisoner was brought in the court, a gen tleman applied to the magistrate to have the case put off till to morrow, saying that he was a relation of the prisoner, and that he was in possession of facts whieh, he thought, would materially alter the aspect of the case. Mr. TWYFORD said that he could not postpone the hearing of the case. If the applicant had any facts to adduce, an opportunity would be given him in the course of the examination.' At ten minutes to two o'clock, the prisoner was placed in the dock. On being led into the room by the gaoler, he made a spring, and entered the box in a wonderfully uon-chalent manner. On being asked whether his name was Thomas Wicks, he replied, " yes," in a". big manly voice." He is a very boyish-looking per- son, not appearing to be more than 17 years of age. He was dressed in a velveteen jacket. During the examination he showed great levity, and evidently thought very little of the charge against him. Samuel Parsons, an old man who lives in the same house as the deceased, No. 4, Pitt-place, Drury-lane, said—l am a coach-maker by trade. At seven o'clock on the morning of Monday, being then in bed, I heard a cry of " Master." I immediately got up. and partly dressed myself. Before I was quite dressed I heard the report of a pistol. I live in the attic, which is the third floor. When I was dressed I went down stairs and found a candle alight in the passage. I put it out. Afterwards I found a body in the passage, and I went to the street door, and saw Mr. Goodman, who lives in the house opposite, at his door. I asked him to bring a light, which lie did, and we went together to the place where I had seen the light. Mrs. Bostock was then coming down stairs. We found toe body of Mr. Bostock lying in the passige, and covered with blood. The wound was on the left side of the head, but I cannot say whereabouts, as the whole of that side of his head was covered with blood. We then called in the police, and the body was taken away on a stretcher, George Goodman ; of No. 5, Pitt-place, a file-cutter, corroborated the above statement. He knew the prisoner as an apprentice to the deceased. He was not quite dead when they found him, but he could not speak. Frederick Walker, of No. 20, Princes-street, Drury-lane, said that yesterday morning, at about live minutes past six o'clock, he was in a public-house in Princes-street, when the prisoner came in and asked for a pennyworth of ruin, with which he was served. Wit ness asked him whether "Jens," meaning the deceased, was up yet. He said he was net, and would not be until half-past six or seven o'clock. Ile then went away. Martha Hazlett, a young woman, 18 or 19 years of age, was then called. On being asked whether she knew the prisoner, she began to cry very bitterly, and it was some time before she was sufficiently recovered to give her evidence. ithe stated that she suet the prisoner at about nine o'clock on the morni , :g of the murder, in Chlswell street, Finsbury-square. He said that he was not going to work that day. They went to a public-house and had some spirits, for which he paid. They then parted, and he appeared to be in a great hurry. ry A shopman in the employ of Messrs. Harding, gunsmiths, of 69, _ _ _ _ . _ _ . . - Great Queen-street,LincOln's Inn-fields, said that on Monday or ; Puesday of last week the prisoner came to him with a pistol, which was out of order. It was a flint and steel pistol. Witness only oiled the spring, which was stiff, and the barrel, which was rusty. Witness charged him sixpence. He said he wanted to shoot a dog that had bit him, and showed a scar upon his jaw. Ile asked witness to give bins a bullet. He had not a bullet, but he gave him two slugs. On Wednesday he came again, and said that the pistol had missed lire, but itness showed him that it was in good order. He said he had shot the dug. on Thursday he went to the shop again, and showed wit ness a percussion-cap pistol, which he said he had got in exchange for the other, and had given half-a crown into the bargain. Witness put the pistol in order, and gave the prisoner a few caps. lie said he wanted to go shooting on Primrose-hill on Sunday. Ile then went away. Edward Mailers, a dealer in pawnbroker's unredeemed pledges, of 129, Drnry-lane, said that in the course of last week the prisoner came several tires to his shop to bargain for a pistol which he wished to buy. Finally witness gave him a percussion-cap pistol In exchange for a flint pistol, receiving half-a-crown iu from the prisoner. The prisoner said that he wanted it to shoot birds with. (The witness produced the pistol, which he had received from the prisoner.) James Stowe, an oil and colourman, of 19, Great Wild-street, proved that the prisoner had bought gunpowder of him on several occasions during the last wiek. He always said he wanted it to shoot birds with, and on one occasion he showed him a pistol. A policeman, who was on ditty in Great Wild-street, on Saturday night, said, he was called into the house, No. 4, Pitt-place, by the deceased, who was about to give the prisoner into custody for obtaining money, and converting it to his own use. The prisoner said he had lost it, and offered to pay half a-crown a week till the whole stun (11s.) should ho paid. He also said, You can stop it out of my wages, which come to 145., but how am Ito live? The deceased did not give him in charge, but said he world stop out of his week's wages the I Is., and 2s. 6d., which lie had borrowed from him, making 13s. 6d. Ile then gave the prisoner bd., which made up the sum of 145., the prisoner's wages. Policeman Pocock, F 14, and Thompson, A 62, took the prisoner in charge, at a ceflee-house in Great Queen•street, Drury-lane, at about twelve en Monday night. Ile asked on the road to the sta tion-house, whether " the governor was dead ?" They told him he was ; and he said " he was a - rogue to me; this was brewing for Jilin for twelve months, and I have revenged myself for his cruel treatment to me." Ile was cautioned that anything he said would be used against him, and he said no more. Afterwards, at the station-house lie said several times that the de ceased was a very bad master to him, and that he had been re venged. Once he said, " I was sorry for hint when I had done it; but lie behaved very badly to Inc." He afterwards said, "Oh, Po cock, what is worse than a guilty conscience'?" - - . The prisoner, who, during the evidence of the policemen, had ap peared more serious than before, on being asked if be had any ques tion to put to the witness Pocock, said "No ; he jives:his evidence so Sincerely that I can say nothing to him ; and the evidence is so clear against me that I mustconfess that I am guilty of it. I did do it ; and I only wonder I slid not de it twelve months ago, his conduct to use was so cruel," Mr. James Duncan, the house-surgeon of liin?,;'s College Hospital, said that at half-past six on Monday morning the body of the deceased was brought to him on a stretcher. Ile was quite insensible. lie had a wound behind the lett ear, which witness had ascertained, on jive niw•.'ena examination, passed through the skull. The bullet had lodged in the right side of the bra!n. Ile died at about three 0 1 ,1qck in the afternoon, and the wound was the immediate cause of death. The depositions were then react over to the prisoner. The prisoner made a statement of the conversation between him self, the deceased, and the policeman, which differed but slightly from that of the policeman himself. He then signed the statement he had made alter the evidence of the witnesses Pocock and Thom; son, which had been taken down by the clerk at the Uwe. • The witnesses were then bound over is prosecute, and the prisoner was fully committed. This extraordinary ease occupied the attention of the Court up to a quarter to six o'clock in the evening. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price current of Feb. 17.) Suomi.—To-day there was a better desire manifested to purchase West India Sugar, especially the bright yellow and strong refining descriptions, and the rates paid were equal to those of Friday, but not above. - Manarrius.—This afternoon Mauritius was less in request, and 5,221 bags at public sale were only in part sold, but merchants were not inclined to pass sales, and the rates obtained were nearly equal to those previously quoted. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon 1,577 bags of Bengal Sugar were offered at public sale, and sold at .prices that averaged those of the last auction. Foftetnx.—To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, 190 privately 1,000 casks.of fine Porto Rico were sold at 20s 6d per cwt. REFINED.— i o•Ohy there was only a limited demand for refined goods from the.,ltorne trade, although 63s was accepted for standard, and 62s for bre - wit grocery lumps. Bonded Crushed Sugar met with in creaae attention, and first quality brought 34s 6d to 355. For Dutch the demand was active at 315 to 33s per cwt. COCIIINEAL.—ThIs afternoon the market was better supplied, but the trade were not much inclined to operate; at public; sale 104 bags of Honduras were offered, aid a part only sold at former rates. COFFEE.—This afternoon the market was more freely supplied with Ceylon Coffee, and the quantity offered at public sale amounted to 3,287 bags; the Native was all sold in consequence of holders sub ;flitting to a reduction ou former rates of is to 2s per cwt., but the Plantation being held fer fldly previous prices, a small part only found buyers. TEA.—Aity improvement in prices has been prevented from taking place in consequence of the large stock, but the trade have operated with more freedom since the public sales. SPICES. —This afternoon Nutmegs met with attention, and 54 casks at public sale were sold at firm rates. Of Mace 24 casks were offered, and sold at low rates. Twelve bags of Cloves sold at lld to 114 d fur dull Amboyna, one lot is 0;0. 100 casks of Bengal Ginger were only in part sold. ST•farrs.—To-day, although Rum was to be obtained upon rather '.ewer terms, still there was net much business transacted ; Madras proof was sold at is *d. with certificate ; Calcutta Is 8d to Is 9d ; low not clean is 7d; and Leeward Island at Is I Id, for proof o clean quality. The Governor of the Bank of England had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his offi cial residence in Downing-street. the l FATAL ACCIDENT AT TUE SOUTH-WESTERN RAIL WAY inquest at St. George's l a N n - Ay TERMINI - 3.—On Saturday afternoon Mr. Bedford held ceased, said, that Hospital, Hyde Park-corner, on y of William Cone, aged 55, a porter in the locomo three other department of the South-Western Railway Company. a porter in on the 26th lift in;; the driving 3 Ph Cohum, the same department with Portersde cease wheel in the locomotive department, lift of January, the deceased and just scended to the groucin out, and one end of an engine out of a waggon. It was rested on the tail-board whilst they de waggon, and in jumping, the deceased was the last man in the hde"w'nheet, which weighed 12 cwt the jar caused the wheel to fall upon his left foot. t Was removed as quickly as foot was greatly injured. wlsoslble, and the deceased, whose that hospital. Mr. Ilyde, the house in a cab, and brought to said the deceased was admitted withllse surgeon of the hospital, the toes of the !at foot, with severe& cont usions fracture of rounding parts. Gangrene afterwards set i n, of the stir his death on the 11th inst. Verdict, ‘, Accidnentwailli(th (I.7ed [A DVENTISEMENT.] — CURE FOIL DROPSY By at t: / LOWAY'S PILLS AND OINTSIENT.—Captain James Eyre, '"( the Company's service, residing at Boulogne, had been tapp ed thrice within seven months, twelve quarts of water were taken from him each time; notwithstanding which operations he was about falling a victim to this terrible complaint, when he com menced the rubbing in of Holloway's invaluable Ointment, and as effectually as salt is forced into meat—besides this, he took large doses of his wonderful Pills, which in nine weeks ef f ected so extraordinary a care ' as to enable him since to walk twenty-five miles in one day. Any unnatural swellings of the body are effectually cured by these celebrated medicines. Sold i by all Medicine-venders; likewise at Professor Holloway's rd.., tOlisliment, 241, Strad, Loudon. Real del Monte, Unregistered .. .... 4 . . .. 10 .. 22xd United Mexican .. 281. 2s. 8% d.. 4%xj.. RAILWAY COMMITTEES (THIS DAY) Sub-Committee, Is - o. 2. Tills Committee met to-day shortly after twelve o'clock. There were present—Sir J. Y Buller (Chairman), Mr. Brarnsten, Mr. Walker, Mr. Elliot Yorke, Mr. Gibson Craig, and Mr. litmb'e. COVENTRY, NUNEATON, BIRMINGHAM, AND LEICESTER• The bearing of the petitions against this Bill was resumed. Mr. Coates represented the promoters, and Mr. Thomas appeared on behalf of the petitioner, Mr. Charles Banbury. The first allegation was, that there was au inaccuracy in the cilium line in the second furlong of the first mile. Ranford examined—The length of the datum line was eighty eight chains, and the inclination was one in 299. . _ • • 1116 Committee considered that in this case the standing orders were complied with. . _ _ . - -- There was another allegation to the sane effect, which was ad mitted by the agent for the promoters. The next allegation was, that the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office was not the same as that deposited in the office of the clerk of the peace in Warwick. This allegation was admitted likewise. The next allegation was, that the book of reference deposited in the Private Bill-office did not contain the names of the owners in sections 41, 45, and 46 A, in the pat ish of Folshill. The Committee considered the allegatio:l sustained. It was also alleged that notice had not been served on the owners of the property in the sections Thomas Harris was examirod, and proved that he had not been served. Other evidence to the same effect was given. The Committee were of opinion that the standing orders had not been complied with in some of the cases adduced. One of the petitioners had revoked his consent to the petition, and a tlixannent was read by Mr. Coates which was dated the liith inst. fir. coal es contended that the can in question was analogous to that decided in Mr. Strutt's Committee. Mr. TuoMes contended that the revocation produced could not be taken. After some further discussion, the Committee decided that a party petitioning was entitled to revoke his consent. Several other allegations were abandoned. it was alleged that on the third furlong of the seVenteenth mile the embankment was not marked. The - Comrrattte found that the standing order? ha.lnetheca cora lalled with in this cane. There were similar allegations with resp act to the sixth furlong of mile. in which were the mot,„o, ile, and the sacor..l furlong of tne tweaty-sccond m ta4t sustained . It ent wa sp: also all egcd that the extrenie depth of cutthrxs, in dif ferent was not marked, wl.icil w 43 abaillollel, 43 w reral ot her ijalll3r alkaatiqw. ell LA, !;r There was another petition from George Wheeler, alleging that so much of the plans and book of reference, as related to the parish of Aston-Plaubil, had not been deposited with the parish clerk. Mr. J. Pesszs supported ti:e petition. The parish clerk was called, and proved that the plans, &c., were deposited, but not till January last. The allegation was not sustained, as well as several others of the same n Attire. _ The Committee found that the standing orders had not been com plied with by the Company. Engineer, Mr. Addison; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Dyson and Co. ; solicitors, Messrs. Bridges and Mason. LEEDS AND YORE. There were three petitions against this Bill, in support of whieh no one appeared, The formal evidence was then gone through, from which it ap pearel that the estimate was 5E5,000/. The Committee found that the standing orders had been complied with the exception of the certificate of registration. The Committee adjourned shortly alter four o'clock till twelve o'clock on Friday. Sub-Committee, No. 3. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) x.nrzEpoom_AND PRESTON, AND MIN.. CHESTER AND SOUTHPORT. The petitioners in this ease sought for power to make a railway commencing at a point on the Liverpool and Bury Railway, near Liverpool, to the North Union Railway, near Preston, also another railway from Southport to Manchester, with various branches. The total estimated cost was 1,600,000/, The Cupiamsx stated that in this, as in the case of another rail way (the Wavency Valley and Great Yarmo u th), alternate sections had been deposited, which caused great uncertainty and confusion to the persons who would be affected by the Bill. In the present case the irregularity complainei of wus in the plans and sections of one of the proposed braticbes. The Committee also took an objection to the non-service of a notice within the proper time. The Omission had been caused in consequence of the notice being sent to Newcastle-on-Tyne, wheras tlic party, for whyin it was intended, was residing at New castla under-Lyne. In both these eases the Chairman dczided that the standing orders had not been eomglied with. SHREWSBURY, OSWESTRY, ANE CHESTER JUNCTION. The object sought by the promoter of this Bill was the power to construct a railway front Weinai to Crick-heath. The estimated cost was 208,0001. Standing orders complied with. SIMEWSBITRY, OSIVES rim, AND CHESTER =NOTION ExTrarsxons AND DEVIA TIONS. This case was precisely the same as the former one, with the ex ception of the extension and deviation. Standing orders complied with. EAST LOTHIAN CENTRAL AND TYNE _ _ Cbtrti Ebttion THE WHITEHAVEN and FURNESS RAILWAY.- (THIS DAY.) The first half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this Company was held at one o'clock to-day, at-th'e offices of the Company, lie. I, Guildhall Chambers ; Lord Lonsdale in the chair. The seal of the Company having been affixed to the register of proprietors, The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that the directors had applied to Parliament for power to extend their line through Furness to Ulvcrstone and Lancaster, which had been surveyed by ➢lr. George Stephenson, and was in their opinion superior to an opposition project, entitled the " Ulverstone, Furness, Lancaster, and Carlisle Railway," which was laid before Parliament, and had been projected under the auspices of parties deeply interested in the Lancaster and CarPsle Railway, but the di rectors had the utmost confidence that Parliament would give a- preference to their line, inasmuch as they could prove that it was the best adapted to the wants of the district through which it was designed to pass; that it would facilitate a large local traffic, and form the connecting link of a greet coast line, economical in construction and working expense, and practicable at all seasons of the year. They had abandoned the intention of carrying the line direct across Iforecombe Bay, and had adopted a slightly cir cuitous route along the head of: the Bay, In order to obviate the ob jections which might have been raised by the Admiralty against a direct line. Notwithstanding this, it would be more than eight miles shorter than the opposition line between Uiverstone and Lancaster, would have better curves and gradients, and would be constructed at mach less expense. 450,0001., the amount of the ca pital, would be amply sufficient for the construction of the extension line. An arrangement has been made with the Furness Railway Com pany respecting that portion of the line between Dalton and Ulyer stone, which will be mutually beneficial to both Companies. The directors had also applied for an Act to enable them to extend their original line front the terminus at Whitehaven to a junction with the Whitehaven and Illaryport line. That Bill also con tained powers for a short deviation from the main line near Kirksanten. All the Parliamentary requisites with regard to the extension, had been complied with. Nearly the whole line was staked out, and a contract had been entered into for the construction of the line, some part of the line had been purchased, and they had reason to believe that in it very sip rt time the cm - tractor would be put into possession of sufficient length of land to enable him to commence actual operations. The accounts showed a balance of 41,951. Bs. sd. In favour of the Company on the 31st of De cember, after paying engineering, surveying, and legal expenses, &c. The CHAIRMAN said, as the report embraced every point of in terest, it would be unnecessary for him to address them at any length. He was aware that there might be some disappointment felt at the slow progress of the works, but this was owing to peculiar circumstances, over which he had no con trol. They all knew that during the last autumn there was a great scarcity of engineers and surveyors. It was true that they had appointed two gentlemen in whom they could place the utmost confidence, but they had been so much occupied in the extension line, as not to have been able to give all the attention to the original line which it required. All the plans and sections of the extension line had been prepared. He believed they were perfect, and that the Bill would pass through the Standing Orders' Committee; and as it offered more advantages to the locality they had every hope that it would meet with the sanction of Parliament. It would facilitate communication with the west of Yorkshire, the north of England and Scotland, and reduce the distance between the metro polis and Belfast. After a short discussion the report was adopted, and ordered to be circulated amongst the shareholde• s. A Tote of thanks to the Chairman and directors was passed, and Lord LOnsdale having returned thanks, the meeting separated. WESTMINSTER ELECTION. (THIS DAY.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) THREE O'CLOCK. EVANS 3,355 ROUS CLOSE OF THE POLL. -FOUR O'CLOCK, EVANS ROUS • 2,938 MAJORITY FOR EVANS ..... 765 THE FUNDS.-(CLOSING PRICES.) ONE CLOSING BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES. Bank Stock .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 208 1 / 4 207 1 / 4 207 1 / 4 Three per Cent. Annuities .. .. .. 96 1 / 4 % 1 / 4 961 Three per Cent. Consols Annuities .. .. 95% 96 95ii 96 New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Antis. 98 1 / 4 97% 98 1 / 4 98 1 / 4 Long Annuities, Expire Jan. t, 1860 .. 10% % 10% India Stock .. .. . .. .. •.. .. 260 260 Consols for Account .. 96 95 3 4 9G Exchequer Bills. 1,0001... .. 5001. .. .. Ditto. Small 1 3 A /d. I%cl. 37 39 39 pm. 39 37 39 36 39 pm. 39 37 39 36 39 pm. 39 ONE CLOSING O'CLOCK. PRICES. .. 8334 82% 82 34 .. 89 89 FOREIGN FUNDS. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent Danish, 3 per Cent -• • • Equador Bonds .. • Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent Ditto, for the Account .. Ditto, Deferred .. • • • • Peruvian Bonds, 6 per Cent. .. Portuguese Four per Cents .. .. Russian Bonds .. 113 Dividends on the above payable-in- London. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cent .. 59% % % BUSINESS CLOSING PAID. DONE AT PRICES. ONE O'CLOCK. 30% 31 30% 31% 3 16 1 / 2 % 393 i PRICES OF RAILWAY SHARES. • Amber., Notting., Boston and Eastern Junction .. 2% •• • • 2%...... • • Birmingham and Gloucester.. ..100 ....1275,' ex div. 127% xll Bristol and Exeter .. 70 • ...... . 88% Ditto New .. 5 .. • • 12 .. • • .... • • 12 Buckinghamshire 425. .. % p par par Caledonian .. .. 10 .... 13% 14 Ditto Half Shares . • • • 2% •• • • 3 % 7 4; •••• • • • • Cambridge and Oxford.. .. 1% Chester and Holyhead .. 20 21% Churnet and Blythe .. 2 .. • • 2 .......... Cheltenham and Oxford .. .. 2 .... 2% .. Cork and IVaterford 1% .... 1% Direct Manchester (Remington's), ,2 % .......... Direct Manchester (Rastrick's) .. . . 3 3 ,E . . Direct Northern .. 2% ... • 2'A 4% ••• • • • Dublin and Galway .. .. 4 .... 4 Eastern Counties 141. ifs. .... 21% ........ Ditto New .. SI. 16s. .... 7% 7 Do. i'erpet., 5 per Ccnt. No. 1. 61 13s. 4,1. .......... Ditto, ditto, No. 2. 61. 133. 4d. %s s • p Ditto, York Extension 105.... • 1% Y•••• • • • • Eastern Union .. 25 .. Do. Extens'on to Norwich .. 23g .... 3', .......... East Lincolnshire 1 1 4 . . Edinburgh and Glasgow .. .. 60 .... .......... Ditto New 4 Shares.. .. .. 10 .... .......... Gocle, Dousast., and s heilleld, &c. 425..... 1% Ip. Gt. Grimsby, Louth, Horn., &c... 425. .......... Great North of England . ..100 .... Great Western .. 85 .. 150 cx div Ditto, Half Shares .. 50 .... 85 82 ex div B2 x d . Ditto, Quarter Shares .. .. 5 .... IS 17% .. • • 17% x Ditto, Fifths .. .. 20 .... 333,i ex div. 335 x d Guildford, Farehani, &Portsinoth 5 .... 54% Hull and Selby .. .. 50 ....106% 107 lO7 Ipswich, Norwich, and Yarmouth 2 .. • • 1 % .. 1% Lancaster and Carlisle 3.5 .... -- Ditto, New .. .. 5 .... 10% Leeds and Carlisle .. 2% .......... 1 fir, L'Acester and Bedford .......... 225..... par % di5..... % dis Leicester, Tamworth, &c. 425. ••.. .... • ..... % die London an I Birmingham ... . 100 .... 221 220.. •• • • —220 x. d. Ditto Thirds .. .. 16 .... 50 ex div .... 50 x Ditto Fifths .. 2 .... 23 3% 2 % 4N, 21 7% P 1 dis 220 &4 xd 53 22 ondon and Birmingham Extens. ••••• • • • • • London and Brighton .. .. 50 .... 65%14 ex div Ditto, Consol. Eighths; 40 . London and Croydon .. .. 131. 15s. 9d. 224 ........ Lond., Chelt., Oxf., &c. London and South. Wes'ern.. 41/. 6s. 10d. 78 79 ........ Dttto, Consolidated Eighths .. 28 ..... 434 London and York .. 2% .... 4 .. •• .. London, Salisbury, and Yeovil .. 23l Londonderry and Enniskillen .. 5 Lynn and Dereham .. 5 Manchester and Leeds 82 .... Ditto Extension 425..... 3 3334 p Manchester and Birmingham .. 40 Ditto, New Quarter Shares • • 2 .... 10 Manchester, Buxton, & Matlock 425..... 13i p Manchester and Southampton 2 .... Ditto, New .. 12 .... 28 Newcastle and Darlington Junct. ..... Ditto, New .. 1 .. 1031 • • Ditto, New, Brandling .. 29 .. 38 Newcastle and Berwick .. 10 .... 2l ........ Newark, Sheffield, and Boston .. .. 2,.a North British .. 17% .... 25 ........ Ditto, Dalkeith Ditto, ditto .. •.: 2 5 5 - 6 - 4 :.• 614 North Kent and Direct Dover .. • • 2% •.••• • • • • • 2% North Staffordshire 425. 314% 4 p 4 Norwich and Brandon .. 18 .... 25% x d . . 25%m: Northnipton,Banbury,&Chelthm. 2 .... 134 134 Oxld.,Wcreester,& 19olverhinptn. 1232 .... 15 ..... ••• • • 15 Perth and Inventess •• 2% .... 2 • • Scottish Central .. 7% .... 16 15:34 Shrewsbury and Birmingham 2% .. South Midland .. 425. •24 'p.. .... South Eastern and Dovor .. • • 33!4 .... 38 43d .. Ditto, New (iss. at 321.) No. 1. 16 .... 19 Do., New (do. 30/.) .. No. 3. 10 .... 10% 1134 .... 1 i Ho., New (do. 15I.) .. No. 4. 23{ •• • • 3%% 3% South Wales .. • • •• 5 •• • • 5 Ye •••• • • • • 5 14 Trent Valley .. .. • . 5 • • 23% •.•• • • • . 253, Trent Valley and Holyhead June. 2% .... ..... Vale of Neath 2 ..... 3 Welsh Midland .. 2% .... 13 . S . York and North Midland .. 10 • • ••. . Ditto, Extension .. .. 15 .... 32% 33 33 Do. E. and W. Riding Exten... 1 .... 10 .. FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Boulogne and Amiens .. .. 10 .... 11% . • 11% Bord., Toni., & Cette (Mackenzie) 2 .... 2% ....... Ditto, ditto (Espelete) .. 2 .... 23(3 .. Dutch Rhenish .. .. 5 .. •• . East Indian .. . 55. Grt. North. of France Constituted 5 .. .. 15 154 Louvain and Jemeppo • .. 4 . Luxembourg Orleans and Bordeaux .. 6 .... 11% . Parts and Orleans .. .. 20 .... 504 50 k Paris and Rouen .. 20 .... 40% ..... 40 Sambre and Meuse .. • • • • 6 •• • • 5 % ..... •• • 5 % West Flanders .. 5 .•••• • • • • 434 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. National of Dolan.' 223 ...• • •• • • 18 MINES. 79 .43N • •• -- • ... TS . 9% I%j 2% 150 22nd •• • • 434 ad NING, FEBRUAR I lB 1846 dians had refused to open the workhouse, but he was not aware that they had come to a resolution to alter their determina tion. He should have no objection to lay on the table the papers with respect to the subject. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE, in rising to bring in a Bill to amend the laws relating to friendly societies, said that differences of opinion had arisen with respect to the provisions of the Act now in operation. The Act to which he referred was the 10th of Geo. IV., c. 55, which consolidated certain Acts relating to various societies which hail been established for benevolent purposes. '1 his law was amended by the Act of William IV., c. 40, which extended the objects of friendly societies. Very recently a case had arisen with respect to the South Shields Investment Friendly Society, whose rules were certified by Mr. Tidd Pratt. A dis pute ensued between the parties, and an act;on was brought. Ile case was referred to the Court of Queen's Bench, and Mr. Justice Wightman decided that the society in question did hot come under the provisions of the Benefit Soci, ties' Act. If this opinion was held to be correct, he believed that two thirds of the friendly societies in the kingdom would he illegal. He felt satisfied of this, and it was for the purpose of settling the doubtful point that he wished to introduce the present Bill. The amendments he in tended had received the sanction of all parties in the country interested in friendly societies, and had been submitted to Mr. Tidd Pratt, by whom they had been approved. With these observations he begged leave to bring in a Bill for the amendment of the law relating to friendly societies. , Leave was tnen given to bring in the Bill, which was read a first time, and the second reading was fixed for Wednesday werk. NAVIGABLE RIVERS AND CANALS. Mr. HUME rose to propose that all Bills for the improve ment or formation of canals and works of every kind should be referred to the Board of Admiralty, and also for copies of all reports and correspondence respecting the loss of the emigrant ship Cat arique, in Bass's Straits, in August last, having 423 emigrants on board ; also for a copy of the report of the officer at Liverpool on the state of that vessel previous to he; sailing. It was not hi s w i s h t o a t tac h bl ame to any persons, but it was to be recollected that out of the whole 423 persons on board, nine only were saved. Ile was anxious to know with whom the blame rested, whether the ship was regularly built, and whether she had proper charts on board. The copies were ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. HUME moved for a copy or extract of any instructions from the Foreign-office, far the geidance of any agents de puted to inquire into the state of commercial negotiations with the Zollverein at Munich, in 1836; also copies or extracts of any letters or reports from them to the Board of Trade, or any departrrent of this Government, respecting the conferences of any such agents or other public functionaries with the Com missioners of the Zollverein for the facilitation of commerce between Great Britain and Germany.—Areed to. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. O'CONNELL, in pursuance of notice, rose to bring under the attention of the House the state of famine and disease in Ireland, but his opening observations were delivered in such a low tone of voice that they were totally inaudible in the gallery. He was understood, however, to say, that on the 3d of February he gave notice of his intention to move for a Committee of the whole House to take into consideration the state of famine and disease in Ireland, with a view to some means being devised for the relief of the suffering people of that country. That was the motion which he intended now to move. The importance of the subject he was sure was fully admitted by all whom he was then address ing, and in making such a motion he disclaimed being actuated by any party motive, and in return he fully expected that he would be met by no party opposition.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) He trusted that the House would enter fairly into the consideration of this question. '1 he House would have heard already that there was a most calamitous prospect for the people of Ireland. The extent of the calamity was not accu rately known in this country. He did not entertain any hope that the bringing of his motion before the House would have the effect of avoiding the present famine in Ireland, hut. before he sat down he hoped to be able at least to show that the ca lamity was far more awful and extensive than the House was aware. In order, however, to explain the frightful extent of this calamity, it would be necessary to explain the previous state of Ireland. The calamity, it would be seen by the docu ments which he intended bringing before the House, would show that that calamity was not the result of the negligence of the Irish people, or the sterility of their soil. It was not even occasioned by a deficient harvest; it was the dispensation of Providence, which no man could control, and the charitable and the humane were, there fore, called upon to relieve a people placed in such an unfor tunate position; they were certainly bound to mitigate the calamity as much as possible. The rural population of Ireland, instead of increasing, as in all other countries, e ere fast fading and wasting away. It had been reported in this country that the people of Ireland were on the verge of famine. That report wasmot precisely true, because it did not go far enough. The agricultural population of Ireland were at the present moment in an actual state of starvation. He proposed to prove the truth of his assertions by quoting from indisputable documents. He (Mr. O'Connell) asserted, and he could bear out his asser tion by referring to authorities of the most unquestionable character, that the misery of the people of Ireland was in creasing. He held in his hand a return of the amount of population in Ireland in the years 1621, 1831, and 1841 ; 'and he found the matter placed beyond a doubt. The population between the year s 1821 and 1831 increased by near a million, but between the years 1831 and 1841 it increased by only 437,950 individuals, or less by half than in the previous ten years. That could not be accounted for by the emigration reports ; but the House had the fact staring them in the face, that in the course of ten years the population of the country went back by nearly half a million ; for in 1811 there was half a million less of human beings in Ireland than there should be, and nothing but the distress of the country could account for it.—( Hear, hear.) The next document to which he begged to refer was a report of the Irish Poor-law Com missioners, ordered by the House, and published in 1835, in which they declared that 2,?,00,000 of the people of Ireland were in a constant state of destitution, and that for several weeks in the year they were compelled to subsist on the charity of their neighbours.—( Hear, hear. ) The next fact given by the same return is, that the civil population are to the amount of 36 per cent. living in tingle rooms, and in some instances, two or more families live in the same room. The most important of all reports that have been furnish.-c 1 is the our furnished by Lord Devon's Commission. That Commission was formed of 400 gentlemen of rank and experience, and, perhaps, a better corps never issued from the hands of Government. He would wish to implore the atten tion of the House to the facts which they related. They re ported from evidence given to them, and from their own obser vations, and they were better able to make those observations, as they were all landed proprietors. They state that the agri cultural population of Ireland suffered great privations and hardships. They were badly fed, badly clothed, badly housed, and badly paid for their labour. It was impossible to describe their sufferings—their only food was the potato, their only drink was water, and they had hardly a protection against the weather. The larger portion of the people came under the denomination of agriculturists, and they had to endure more privation than the labourers in any ether country in Europe. Let the House remember that the men who made that report were not demagogues. They were men distinctly and emphatically be yond the possibility of deceit or of being deceived as to the condition of the agricultural labourer. By the last census the population was returned as 7,000,00, and 5,0C9,000 of them were described as labourers. He was glad to be able to ac quaint the House with the details of this report, made forty-five years after the union of Ireland with England —the richest and the most industrious country on the face of the earth—and this report was made by persons most competent to the task. They proved that the labourers of Ireland were badly clothed, housed, and fed. Their houses were pervious to the rain, their only food was the potato, and their only drink was water. They suffered more than any nation on the face of Europe, and he would appeal to every gentleman whether that report did not show a great amount of suffering ? Let theni remember that they did not at that time govern themselves—they had no Irish Parliament. They had been forty-five years in their hands, and they were responsible for the state of Ireland. Let it be remembered that this was not the year 1644 or 1845, when the harvest was abundant. The statement made by the Commis sion was at a period of distress. He would refer to one of the re• ports of the Commission under Lord Devon. The report stated that thr. ugh the disease of the potato the people had been brought to a state of great suffering, and that they had exhibited the greatest patience. The report said that the state of the people was not brought on by themselves. He trusted, then, that this statement would be attended to. The report further said, that any improvement which had taken place in the condition of the people was not to be attributed to any ad ditional demand for labour, but to the blessings of the tern perance movement in that ccuntry. The people then in that country were suffering greatly, and something should be done to alleviate that distress. The labourers were only able to have po tatoes—potatoes was their only food, and water their only drink. All this has, however, failed them_ the potato, at least, their most important —ind .ed, their only means of subsistence—had failed them. A winter was now set in ; many of the people had not firing, nor even a blanket to cover them. He had other documents, which were Parliamentary docu ments; and lie would quote them to prove, th a t th e wretched I condition of the people had not been over-rated. The sum of the statistical details of the report, which he held in his hand, then was, that there had been imported from Ireland in the year 1845 as much as 2,145,703 quarters of wheat, barley, and oats, anti as much as 2,184,064 cwts. of oatmeal and flour; showing that the crops in Ireland during the privious year had been both abundant and valuable. It was evident, therefore, that the inhabitants of Ireland, if they could have retained the provisions which they themselves had produced, would have had sufficient supply for all their wants. But in addition to this, there had been an importation of cattle in the same year to the number of 2,683, of sheep 2,776, and of swine 104,141. These numbers showed a singular anomaly between the state of Ireland and the produce which it bore for the sus tenance of its inhabitants; when a country so blessed by Pro vidence, and so cursed by man ' presented such a contradi c ti on , he really, thought it pr esen t e d a paradox which loudly called for inquiry. Others might account for it if they could; but he thought it was requisite that some measure should be immediately taken to ascertain the cause. He would only observe that the mildest features of want in Ireland were equal to the worst famine of other countries. It was necessary to state these facts with regard to Ireland in order to show the formidable nature of the evil with which the country was threatened, and he thought it was unnecessary to make any further comments to bring it under the notice of Government. Some of the Ministry were acquainted with the facts which he had detailed, but he had felt it his duty to bring the case of Ireland as near as possible before the House, and he hoped, therefore, he should he excused fur any prolixity which he might have evinced in making these statements respecting Ireland. All these docu ments showed that one-half of the potato crop was re ported to have been destroyed so long ago as November last—( Hear, hear )-- anti it was not to he denied that more authentic documents could be laid upon the table These documents showed that the disease had deprived fami lies of their food. They presented additional evidence to that furnished by the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) last night, and showed the unmitigatiug misery and poverty which existed in Ireland at the present moment. A Committee was appointed last year to inquire into the state of the disease in the potato crop. They sat at the Mansion House, Dublin, and issued 983 letters to various parties throughout Ireland, requesting information as to the failure of the potato crop, and the consequent condition of the people. The replies which they received from clergymen of the Established Church, from Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, and poor-law guardians, showed that the potato disease was almost universal throughout Ireland, and that the people were undergoing the most unmi tigated sufferings. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to other documents, but owing to the low tone in which he spoke, their purport could not be heard in the gallery. The Hon. Gentleman next referred to a document which he held in his hand, from a county in the south of Ireland, the name of which we did not learn, from the low torte in which he spoke. It con tamed the attestations of clergymen belonging to the Established Church, and the ministers of the various Roman Catholic and Dissenting congregations, showing th e great prevalence of the potato disease. H e had in his possession the Government returns obtained from every part of Ireland, detailing the state of the disease. He would have felt hardly justified in bringing them before the House, had it not been that some of the leading journals here had during the last ten days denied that the evil iu the north of Ireland was so great as represented, or that there was any danger of an insufficiency of food. He did not accuse them of acting from party motives, but lee believed they were acting under a delusion, and were deluding . others.--,( Hear.) The evil was not confined to one locality or wt of the country, but was spread throughout the land. Everywhere the cry way of the comiog famine. A letter ill his hand showed that in Tralee the labourers were only receiving 2! d. per day, and the tradesmen were paid even lees ; and here the potato disease prevailed to a great extent. The Hon. Gentleman here read an extract from the letter in support of this statement, at,d to the effect that as a result fever prevailed, and was geatly on the increase both there and at Killarney. Leaving these, he would go to Londont!erry, in the north of Ireland. He had before him a report of the Derry Agricul tural Society, from which he would read an extract. The Honourable Gentleman here quoted a passage, showing that the evil of the potato disease existed in a very aegravated form throughout the north of Ireland. He would next produce a return from Castletownroach, in tlze county of Cork. The respected clergyman of that parish states that the disease is progressing. The next returns he would produce were from Down, Armagh, Antrim, and Monaghan, where the disease was unchecked, although every method was adopted that was suggested for their preservation. In Donoughmore the poverty was increasing with the disease, and want. of employment would add more to the impending ruin. From the documents he had received from the county of Clare and Galway, he found that famine and dis ease were no less prevalent in those place!, than in the other parts of Ireland he had already mentioned. He wished to be understood that whenever there was a scarcity of provisions in Ireland, it was accompanied by disease, princi pally typhus fever ; and that disease continued, no matter what might be the season or the temperature of the air— it was not affected by the atmosphere. It always ceased when provisions became abundant. The House was now aware of the cause, and it had in its hands the cure of the evil—via., the produc tion of a sufficiency of food to the people of Ireland. The dis ease always ceased the moment an abundant harvest arrived. In the year 1734, the summer was cold and wet accompanied by a scarcity of provisions. The summer oft he next year, 35, wzs also cold and wet, and provisions were not more plentiful than they had been in the preceeding}ear. 1736 was an extremely hot summer. In 34 the disease was prevalent, it continued through 35. In 36, when provisions began to be more plentiful, it be gan to abate ; and in 1737, when Providence blessed the country with a most abundant harvest, the disease disappeared alto gether. During the years of scarcity the disease was always most prevalent, and in times of plenty it disappeared totally. In the year 1740 the spring was dry and cold—the autumn and winter were frosty—a great dearth of provision occurred which towards the latter end of the year increased almost to a famine. In that year 80,000 persons perished from this disease. The Honourable and Learned Member then went on to compare from the report the state of society with the state of the tillage and consequent want in the years 1798, 1800, 1801, 1817, 1841, 1842, and 1843 with the experience of 1793. This, he said, sufficiently showed the con nexion between want and misery, starvation and disease; and these facts showed that the connexion was the same in 1843 and 1845 as it was in 1793, the year of national excite ment, and in 1798, the year of the great rebellion. This was the cause of the deaths of the 80,C00 individuals of whom he had previously spoken. He had shown the House that there was no peasantry so badly off as the peasantry of Ireland: He had shown them that There were nearly five millions of the peasantry of that country on the point of starvation. He had shown the House all this from the report of Lord Devon's Commission, and it was theduty of the House to propose some thing to alleviate the distress. Lett him tell them what he pro posed. He prnpo , ed that the House should join him in the most strenuous application of some remedy for thos e evil s . H e was there to show that Ireland had all the resources in their own power. He proposed that House should take front the landlords of that country means of remedying the evils. That they should tax the absentee landlords or that country 30 or 40 per cent., and the resident landlords who did their duty to their country, a comparatively smaller one of 10 per cent. That would make a fund, which would assist the people of that country in a very material degree, and re move much of the distress which affected her. The poor •laws of Ireland were not adequate to the present state of the coun. try. The poor-law unions would make very good hospitals in cases of sickness, and there was no doubt that there would be many claims upon them rising out of the present distressed state of the people. The lanes in Dublin are full of fever. Fever is abroad over the whole land. It had pleased Provi dence to inflict a great calamity. It was the business of that House to abate it as soon and as well as they could. There were the railroads. Why should they not take some strong measure with respect to railroads ?_( Hear, hear.) He hoped to see the railways placed in the bends of the Govern ment. He hoped to see a Board au horised by Government to see what railways were most fitted to give employment in Ireland ; and he trusted that the House would sanction any motion for that purpose. Famine was coming on—fever was coming on—and this House should place in the hands of the Government power to meet the evil. If they had that autho rity they would know what railroads were required for Ireland, so as to give the most extensive employment to the people. The decisions of such a board he believed would be received with more attention than the decisions of the House itself, for it was a general impression, and he coincided in the opinion, that there was no worse tribunal to decide on the merits of those lines than the Committees originated by the House. His had attended one of the Committees himself, and he really did not know very well how he was voting. ( Laughter.) He thought that if 100,000/. were subscribed for a railway, the Government ought to advance 100,000/. more ; thus enabling the capitalist in Ireland to meet his monthly payments. This money might be lent at the rate of perhaps 1 per cent., which might be increased to 4, ac in the circum stances they might think fit. This suggestion was merely thrown out for the consideration of the Elouse, for his plan was yet undigested. It might be said that the measures now before the House would be sufficient to alleviate the distress in ire land. Great evils, however, they knew required great reme dies. He new spoke, not from party views : but from the very depth of his conscience. Death had already followed—further death would follow the neglect of the House. The Hon. Member then concluded by moving the motion of which he had given notice. Sir JAMES GRAHAM—I am sure that I express the general sentiments of the House, when I assure the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who has brought forward this subject, that he is entitled to the respect and attention of every Member of this House ; for it is not to be dissembled that the state of Ireland, at the present moment, does deserve the serious at tention of Parliament. I agree with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, that the importance of this subject can hardly be overrated. I also agree with the Hon. and Learned Gentle man in the persuasion, which he expressed at the commence ment of his speech, that whatever diversity of opinion may exist in various qnarters of this House upon various topics, the subject now under discussion is one which will receive from all parties the most patient and anxious consideration. It is my painful duty to state, that having taken the utmost pains to Inform myself accurately on the facts of this case, I cannot state that in any important particular the Hon. and Learned Gentleman has exaggerat e d th em . Wh at are the striking facts ? He has stated to us that a very large proportion of the potato crop of Ireland for the present year has failed. Before we consider the effect of that statement, it is necessary to remember how very hrge a proportion of the populatian of Ireland is dependent upon the potato, which is almost exclu sively their daily food. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman has estimated that; seven-eighths of the whole population are dependent upon the potato. I should perhaps place it at some thing lower, but clearly, I believe it is admitted on all hands, that at least one-half are so dependent. Now consider thi s matter. One-half of the whole p o p u l at i on of Ireland are de pendent for their daily fond upon the potato, which by a visita tion of Providence is this year a signal failure. It is very diffi cult to ascertain by any computation which we can make the exact proportion or extent of that failure. Professor Playfair and Mr. Lindley-estimated the loss at an early period of the year at half the entire crop. Admitting, for one moment, that there is some exaggeration in that estimate, I will now state to the House what is the result of the most accurate inquiries which the Government, with all their appliances, have been enabled to make. They had instituted aCommission, at the head of Vi hich they placed Mr. Lucas, Under Secretary of Ireland ; Colonel Jones and Mr. M'Gregor, who was at the head of the Irish Consta bulary ; the Poor-law Commissioner, Mr. Taylor, and Profes- Kane ; and the result of the inquiry had been stated to the House last night by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, in some of its most striking features. Reports were read from the different electoral districts of Ireland, the larger number of which, so far from proving that the report of Professor Playfair and Mr. Lindley had been exaggerated, showed, on the contrary, that the evil was not sufficiently told. In ordinary years the great majority of the pople of Ireland are compelled to subsist for a period of six weeks upon more expensive articles of food than potatoes, in consequence of the crop of the preceding year not keeping until the crop of the ensuing year was ready for food. To show the present condi tion and prospects of Ireland, let us suppose that the danger be less than *tee-half- I will take one-fourth. Suppose then the failure of the potato crop this year be equal to one-fourth of an average crop. You have then, in addition to the six weeks' scarcity of other years, to add one-faurth part of 101 months, that the population will be without their general sub sistance. By this calculation it appears that for four months the people of Ireland must be fed upon food of a higher and more expensive class. A more difficult and alarmin, case could hardly be brought under the consideration of Parlia ment. It is not only the imperative duty of the Gevernment, but there is also a natur impulse in the breasts of Hen. Members of this House, under such circumstances as these, which calls forth their sympathy, and urges upon them the ne cessity of adopting some speedy measures to remedy this evil. The information to which I have alluded does not extend to a later period than the Bth of January. Further statements have been made since that date, which prove that the diseas e , so far from being arrestsd, is still progressing ; that the pots. toes are decaying, and that there is a great and increasing dan ger of want, unless some precaution be used to prevent this evil These further statements also went to prove that, in consequence of the disease, the seed could not be preserved for the ensuing year. The effect of such a state of things I can not and dare not contemplate without feelings of the greatest distress. He must also state that, from the accounts which heel arrived respecting the state of the country, 190 labourers had recently come before a board of guardians compleining that they had no employment, that no wages were offered to them, and that they , were suffering under extreme destittr ion, li e thought that that was a sight which was enough to excite the pity of all who witnessed it. The Hon. and Learned Gentle man (Mr. O'Conntll) had stated the facts to which ho had called the attention of the House with considerable accuracy. He (Sir James Graham) considered that the redundancy of the population was, to a certain extent, the cause of a great portion of the evils under which that country laboured. He considered this also the more strange, as the principal towns of England and Scotland took off a great deal of that redundancy. In Manchester, Glasgow, and Liverpool, immense numbers of the Irish were very laudably exercis ing their industry. The Right Hon. Gentleman proceeded to say, `• The Hon. ,Gentleman (Mr. O'Connell), I think, also observed that the imports into England were increasing." I think I have now glanced at the principal points in reference to this subject; I now, therefore, wish to put the House in possession of the steps which the Government had thought fit to take to meet the present emergency. I think it necessary to state to the House what has already been done, short as the session has been, to meet the emergencies of the present moment.. There has already been given for the Public Works' Bill 50,000/. , there is a grant of 50,0001. in the Drainage Bill, and it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to insert a clause in that hill for the purpose of improving the inland navigation of Ire land, by joining the northern locks of the Shannon with the southern ; the whole amount of money proposed to be advanced for the carrying out of public works in Ireland, amounted to 468,0001: He wished to call to the recollection of the house the fact, that in the last session of Parliament railway bills were passed authorising an outlay of capital of nine millions. In this country it was generally assumed that the whole outlay re quired for the construction of a railway, would extend over a period of three years. The case, however, was different with regard to Ireland, as the railways in that country required a longer time to construct. At any rate, he could not divest himself of the fact, that 2,00 ,QOO/. of money had already been expended in the construction of railways in that country; and from the reports he had received, it appeared that able-bodied men had gone a considerable distance, leaving their families be hind, in. order that they might obtain employment on these works. It appeared, as the Hon. and Learned Member had stated, by the reports which had been laid on the table of the House, that the potato crop had failed through out a great portion of Ireland. Then with respect to the poor.. law. He admitted that that law was insufficient, and he quite agreed with the Hon. Gentleman that the number of poor-law unions were insufficient to afford relief to the great numbers who required it. Me (Sir James Graham) had stated the nature of the measures which the Government considered ought to be employed with respect to Ireland, and he was sure the House would give her Majesty's Government credit for not having neglected the adoption of measures which might alleviate the sufferings of the people of Ireland.—(Hear.) At any rate, what Over Alight he the result of the potato ort<p, the Government could not be taken by surprise.--( 14 7„,; I , The Hon. Gentleman has observed the prevalence of . ', e n ' tbs and the amount of destitution arising from it. I acn r il' ort s Hon. Gentleman the fatal consequences that have '`'. in oo femn this scourge but on this point I will call his a tte!ti s ,.. rot the fact that in ;his respect the poor-law of Ireland _ r a . v ly important relief.--( Hear, hear. ) In the existing P" ° _„se there are four modes in which relief in cases of diseaseuo_S4 given. Patients can be received either into the work tb ti e ;s or be removed from the workhouses into hospitals, if,.. rent o any objection to their remaining there for fear of, Ju d s o $ 0 spreading among the rest of the inmates. I ,_, t hee place much confidence in these two provisions, of kind are two other provisions where importance in cases Or. L i ; i s tbe are to be highly estima'ed. The first of these provisioo„..o providing of temporary fever hospitals in the vicinity °f 'bile workhouses. Out of 110 unions in which workhooseerseetei, been built, 42 h ave a l rea d y h a d temporar y hospital. mite and measu res are b e i ng ta k en to prov ide such area TY dation for th e remaining workhouses.—(Hear ,, “ ea-r) oi cf remaining provisio n i s one w hi c h empowers the to P tstsP sls guardians, i n cases w h ere no h osp i ta l i s e rected, i n Gil', empty house and use it temporily for such a purpos e. or e way, in 1844 ; a malignant typhus fever prevailed, and b os 1,100 persons had been received into a temporary f e ver_ o dli.. tel, and of these from 900 to 1,000 were in a shar t „woos: / / charged cured..—('Hear, hear.) But with these ...A thu d is impossible to meet the case, and therefore, 0 s ue des ' the Governm en t, I propose to g i ve not i ce f or the introu oaf a Bill with the object of amending this state of things. if ad the precedent of 1632 in relation to bosPhat prey fever spreads, it will be impossible to meet it by tu : ,., cog means. It is not my intention on the present °calor ; 01 , 1 at greater length late the circumstances of Irela i s „ sle must say that 1 am most unwilling that this disculr t list'f t be Prolonged , so as to interfere with the progress i e e to s at percent d e b a t e go i ng f orwar d on the measures prolesiaaresra the present critical state of the country. Ever sinceiregos last, when the f u ll extent o f the potato disease svas, 1 03 1)8 itself, my opini on h as b een , that to meet the evil it duty of the House and of the Legislature to reno!: t i t let, bargoes or restrictions on the free importation of ; I s!, food. This was and is my candid opi n ion—that ! n or+, ren.edy is secondary and trifling when viewed in lii i ief or with this. N o t w ith s t an di ng t h e measure of berL4 • Government, if famine should proceed (and I veep!?, it will) 1 apprehend th a t a generous exerc i s e of tnl s alr tion on corn will be necessary, arid a relaxation of must take place. Oil? Mr. SHAW sa id h e wou ld not say o ne • would have a tendency to check any messa re . o f ;$ would have for their effect the a rnelioraliaa l it A i distressed people of Ireland. At the same r,, thought it his duty to st a t e t o th e House the , ' state of the destitute in Ireland. The Poor-law Cam her s in the year 1835, stated in their sport that 14 0 2,300,000 people without the means of providing, 004 greater part of the year. And he felt bound to ator s , would be considerable distress unless provision sqs""ksti7; o , -However, he thought very great exaggeration haois ti r esi and that statements had been put fortn for interestisl He had every respect for the high character of 0 ,14 1 , gentlemen who were directed by Government to ea te l,„,e the cause and the extent of the potato disease in ,f i e u al," Pla)fair and Lindley ; but he (Mr. Shaw) censi v , e ,isiel t i lt withstanding, that their report was exaggerated.- - k asi o . from the Oppositi o n. ) H e a d m i tte d that &etc lielos more or less in ev er y p ar t o f I re l an d, but yelled very recently t h roug h t h e count i es 0f n oel perary, Kilkenny, and C ar l ow , an d very many t pot , be d , of Ireland, and he f oun d t h at t h ere was cons iderable sa , sion, but that there was more t h an an average COP 7 l 41 rot Now, d i g Now, with regard t o th e l e t .ers w hi c h the i:' )if de Baronet read last n i g ht i n re f erence to t hi s subjet_ d ele quite aware that grea t di stress did ex i st i n t hose yl e ,t country where the Government communication ,c 0 ";,00 is Generally speaking distress was prevalent in ,I s p stte isilsolt Ireland, and such places as Mayo, Clanmel, and ti" eird the south of Ireland, too, the distress was no le l t stsf oi ,V and in Kerry, Clare, an d Waterfowl, he might he suffering would be f oun d. O n t h e w h o l e, h ow everi o r e r l o r the extent of the deficiency of the potato crop had, to De 0 exa g gerated, but he did not wi s h f or a moment befitP posed as blaming the Go vernmen t f or w h a t theY nie se 0 discovering the extent of the potato disease, and,. t 00 4 the best means for devising a remedy for it. 1-() ; 00, po i weeks in every season a deficit ncy of potatoes was s w ard but in the present season the deficiency had been wood ever it had been known before. But it must be f e di sOlg that ample substitutes for the potato had been fcl a eff latterly there had been a more than ordinary 4 '019 labour. He could not help thinking, therefore , f a p f o do tent of the misery in Ireland had been greatly ' s e esl( and he thought further that a very unfair use ha si ssy of the subject. How e v er , thi s b ranc h o f the arg - y e longed to another debate, and what he had to saj o r ft e 4 should reserve until the ot h er d e b a t e came on .--( sei l e SirJAM ES GRAHAM sugge s t e d t o the Hon. „ a pe Member for Cork, that a s th e G overnme nt well, el do all in their power t o m i t i gate t h e su ff er i ng s of w die/ Ireland,:occasoned by the failure in the potato el l ' e ser hardly any necessity for the Hon. and Learned Ale o , o o' ing his motion. . of et Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL sa id t h a t i n o ffering ,di' e t tions which h e was a b out to ma k e, h e h a d no in fel° , peding the repeal of the corn.laws. He was preP b tit" his suppprt t o th at measure, b ecause he bel i eve d t $0,404 be beneficial to the people of the United Kingdorn . ki, was no d übt that th e repea l o f t h e corn- l aw s l i bel, beneficial to the pe o pl e o f E ng l an d than it d'u'lll:l4, people of Ireland, w h o were w i t h out money a nd w' „e h If any of the evil effects which were depicted iis ie Kiii l upon the repeal of the corn-laws, by H o n. Gen t ee l sire, would ensue to the agriculturists, there was e ° ,, do o t Ireland, that had hith er t o h a d a mono poly Z o oid market for food, would b e th e country t h a t Wool" t Kit' —(clear.) But he would re p ea t t h at he did '1,('14 any evil results from th e repea l o f t h e c orn-I 0 u tbo, He was determined to offer a few observations: i d, 5,',00 meats which had been produced on his he ld t ° Ileuse—( Hear, hear)— even at the risk of ~,,, ~ dered as offering impediments to the discussi corn-laws. The distress in' Ireland at the Pacbs v e ' he would assert, was of the most frightful and fearliglif j , —!Hear.) With regard to the arguments of th e p e pr i ef, , Gentleman the Secretary of State for the H0m e ,..„,,, lit", ! without attributing to him arty discreditable Mutivsii ii)..f r say they were not in consonance with the fact. 2% , i1 Ott argument of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite ( 16r. i esr or to the exaggeration of the statements which had befei ,b , 0 0 e night with resp ec t t o t h e present d i stress in Irelanl t iot r l oo ? shortly dispose of it b y say i ng t h at h e l e f t the qt 00 0' settled between him and the Government, who „ s eel I' s from their own Commissioners accounts of the Pifer° i' precisely similar to those which had been brough,,,,e)llool his (Mr. O'Connell's) side of the House.-- - t P de ' l o' Right Hon. Baronet th e S ecretary o f State ft ir f MOO ' Department, had rece i ve d official documents. d a tbs t Sr sent famine in Irela n d, an d lie had not Sal file" statements were exaggerations..—(Hear, hear.) ~ sr s i; Hon. Gentleman h a d, h owever , sa id t h a t there** fp;i dancy of the population in Ireland of 2,000.000%4, 0! O'Connell) believed th a t I re l an d cou ld ma intain_pb f lf,' times her pres en t p opu l at i on —(H ear, h ear )-3u e o f , r country was capable of doing so, he could not . $ O O O f id e ri fact of her havi ng a t present a numerous popul3oo l4 p i i considered an evil. Th e reason w h y I re land c° oil 1 . 1 ,,tit port he r p resent popu l at i on was, b ecause a hnost p i n 9/ was taken from her people.—( Hear, hear.) r cat t lj Ireland wer e i n a p os i t i on s i m il ar to t h at o f eine a llvre had she a full co mman d o f a ll h er resources—°„„. re tbe rs ol nies spent at home—were she allowed fair Play yep cslo,ll be no reason for her people to complain that e 0' tip ' quantity of food was sent forth from this country 00. 1 f or present exported, if they were also assured th at . tx tegsfl have food for themselves. But the anomaly of a se ssia l e , pie sending forth immense quantities of her produu ,C, s ; i ' i r was one that was most startling and most s hockin,g; 007 He (Mr. J. O'Connell) had but risen to attest th e tr i f lo i racy of the statements made, and to go furthe o r'oo. , that, from all the accounts he had heard, and fc ° „,,elei s y s . he possessed of judging of them, the statements.iiit talsiS s of being exaggerated, fell infinitely short of the se i rie t a ( Hear, hear.) He willingly bore testimony to 0 tr' uti 4 ,lo ll tension which the House had evinced that eve ni f o oe, 6 0 question was under discussion—( Hear) —and b e O u t ''''o l adverting to the feeling he had witnessed through. 00 - V I session exhibited by Hon. Gentlemen, and the'', ff°"ol t i s l diseover some remedy.—(Cries of " Hear, lie s a e r i e elictib sides of the House.) It m i g h t b e sa id t h a t fn ,0, er t i selfish one. And d ec id e dl y t h ere cou ld no t occ e ,flitiVe a calamity as famine in Ireland, without its :ILO /el being felt in Englanti:—(Hear, hear.) Should s ti els i : s 4„ s ‘l occur in any other country, the consequences cc° sso!s little short of a dissolution o! society. But in i ori i. o B l efforts of the people were so broken into by sci f e r s sociaise/ could almost endure anything ; and, further, ts 'i e llir, e lf"l,o not disturbed, it would be owing to the admirt t heta i ogie mind and soul which the Irish people had tangs'', to iiii p pli ( Hear, hear.) H e i m pl ore d o f t h e H ous e n ° ,,,ore,„ 0 , that, in what they h a d d one , or i n w h a t theY s i o ni'llif ts t dined to do, they hod me t t h e t err ibl e d an ger 01 4 ' ne eif t e ip ss over Ire land. He i m pl or ed o f t h em no t t° us l . , , oof selves with the ide a th a t th e I r i s h people l a ll a d l ' 11( si had been given them as a' boon, or rld l ies s g y i ; ( S favour. They would acknowledge the ,r, s , li kno r la ti e. intention of her Maest's Government—( " - " a t I' a 0 thief they would lea acknowledge it in the light s - 000 1 f tiLtf favour, for they looked on such applications °„ l . fu ods,' d 09 rally nothing more than so many restitutions e'. ,nou„ esroS' they had been most unjustly deprived. They the course of their policy towards Ireland, in ari l the phenomena of everrecurring famine, pestilen ieg eis o f 00 1 There must be something bad in the system of i s et b oll t e the administration of affairs in that country fe t c h - y r' tha, 0 0 1 ,7 mities. Their attention had been awaken r ihel s 'ili r lis t and certain increase of evils in Ireland, an°,: f a id 1) 0 %0', view their policy they would find that they " o f pu,,eo o f He was not going to touch upon mere matters, ° f o o tle's° upon all matters of commerce, and upon all maths t ee so% cal policy that had reference to Ireland. L e t 'ste e ; bt.o collect the word s o f E ng li s h wr i ters upo n this e l 01 0 17,0 fifty or sixty years ag o E ng l an d s t oo d ehacg d toe el if systematically sacrificed the int eres t of Irela n __ c bsr!,.o° j that time con s id ere d h er own i nterest . She We' bh of r i ofti'ir having systemati ca lly i nter f ere d w i t h the Env y pg e l'.. o o°, t o turing prosperity ; and, by the same authorities, o fb 5, , , 0 0 00 , charged with having denied to Ireland the ° „'oist e t be ' b e, sources. Let the House look at its policy as it De We e eat l e oel if something was act remaining calculated to o., it , ,sny i to rest of Ireland; and if there was, let them reni .., berivo„ r lay the axe to the root of the evil as they 1 Z col nu eari t e that this system would not do any longer . -........,,—, 01.„.1 4 , 0 f on the plan of giving relief to Ireland on n''''; 'it o ' . c lis e ;sl gency and afterwards forgetting it altog!tt` d. " - Thy t se e fer ciple unworthy of such a nation as ' Eng lll l r. rit"li 0 fio which he had mentioned had been made by d, net ° t het° otet 1765 and 1799 and they were not contrachctce.bar;e3 the $lO trary, were admitted to be true. He lay °f e es. sit e' having systematically impeded the profit': ' ye iss i.v - n ortis, country and Mr. Huskisson repeated the e° s r ;i t lesi' et. _ a te' words that he used were, " You have alwa)ss!, had a 11 n e - di geccy of the moment that which you deeMS h o be' t bei t T o e (Mr. J. O'Connell) felt sure that that which to viz ' 'to l ite sti e. was nothing more than Ireland was entitled ?bad up ti tel 0 bee ds ter a , of trade with foreign countries. From tha t _ ? had o i of the union no further concessim2see faqts s finu ses_ro He had felt it necessary to refer to,r ioun be,_•`; penis. order to impress the question more I'm Y e. _r e r aueti la ser' s 0 0 had said that in 1780 the undesirablen -s sgba_ c orker t twos ..•.. te s this had been made evident for the fir 2 „,, e s eetsy_ t o f D e fy rights of which they were deprived -:' .;-::' d t he D7 be er n o f 1 o tl p te p i o r rt l o to o m it e tes tr t a n d t e he an f d ore t t h g e o pies on which they founded their osv_ . ,l oo , were w ho; n ' io s g righttr ade. °f A n m aT a wi h ni l a t l e h r r e!r t " r h il e ' liff °P t e r r i ? greater necessity and equal claim. Y . e . ' b e ngfit,_ b ig __ jet, Why, that this country should eni° r Y csi a nrs e 1 1 1* ii I V li° Iron 0. 0 land is deprived, by the int", up on eu sett ee tained; the high duties imposed d u ties dut ies nep aen_ ti pot were continued, while the 3 _, the . 11 ; just' pile roduce remained unaltered, u t ; was lu ir l e i a ost o we s lalleviation wa s reit That , ia l t_ in exacted from rosnehetoo which y f i e r c e had t been v expressedtg I nothing was returned. Tee l the onioo olo . 3 s for, ,` . O JO ° they desired to carry the scheme of b nut n ec .. l . 2 _,,, f „be , ds t td e:' say. If be that measure of the unite have still re Se ° f i e benefit to Ireland, it was their du t y was carried, but by what means itvv,ts they st t i i ih n o tain zeg euj lisa, had been inW n 0 01 1 d sv e " manufactures and it ive bedhe n t he,' ..4 ou ntry. . for or- i. n the c oya sAt i se AO that the benefits conferred e formerly elq a l g e ' -- ti °n. But duce w hic : s imposed duties on Irish Fe . _ olio o n an equivalentto the advantages . h efficien I-41 1 . 0 . w th: sl d o u rc ti i e n s am 0 which oo t I7 5 no 010._ find: es 4 alias duties; and Oasts *Pi VALLEY. In consequence of an omisLion in the number of furlongs in one of the plane, The Connnittee decided that the standing orders were not corn plied with. The Committee then adjourned, at live o'clock, till Friday nest al the u.:ual hour. Sub-Committee No. 6. This Committee re-assembled at twelve o'clock. Present, Captain Jones (in the chair), Mr. Forbes, Mr. Hope Johnstone, and Mr. Acland. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, Aron GREENOCK, (POLLOC AND GOVAN BRANCHES). The object of this line is to construct a railway, forming a junction between the Paisley Railway and the I'olloc and Govan branches, its length is very short, being no more than three furlongs. The estimate cost is 15,0001., and the amount subscribed 11,2501. The engineers are Messrs. Locke and Errington ; the Parliamentary agent, G. H. Lang, Esq. ; and the solicitor, John Turner, Esq. The standing orders were declared to have been complied with. SCOTTISII . MIDLAND jUri CTION RAIL- WAY BRANCHES. The object of this Bill is the construction of various branch rail ways from the above-named line, near Kerrimuir, to Dunkeld ; length about ten miles. From the main line near Co par Angus to Blairgowrie— length live miles; and from the main line near Forfar to Kerrimuir—length three miles. Total length,flB miles. Estimated cost, 2.50,0M1. Amount sutscribed, 210,0001. Engineers, Joseph Locke and J. E. Errington, Esqs. ; Parliamentary agent, Mr. G. H. Lang; solicitors, Messrs. C. and J. Kerr, Dundee. Standing orders complied with. GLASGOW, HILDIARNOCZ, AND AR- DROSSAN. - - - The route of this railway is from the Glasgow and Barrhead Rail way, near Nellston, to the Kilmarnock, Ardrossan, and Irvine Rail way. The length of the main line and its branches is thirty-one miles, the estimated cost 540,0001., and the amount subscribed 700,0001. Engineer, Neil Robson, Esq. ; Parliamentary agent, J. 11. Lang, Esq.; and the solicitors, Messrs. Campbell and Tennents, Glasgow. Standing orders were declared to be complied with. SCOITISIX IVI 7 DMAND 3UNCTION (SOUTH INCH OF pzrz,Tix BRANCH). The route of this line is from the Scottish Midland Junction Rail way to the general terminus on the south side of Perth. The length is about half a mile. The cost was included in the estimated cost of the old line. Parliamentary agent, J. H. Lang, Esq. ; engineers, Messrs. Locke and Errington ; solicitors, Messrs. C. and J. Kerr. The standing orders were declared to he complied with. LYNN AND ELY, I TINGDON, AND BE iz YI AND ELY AND LYNNHUN AND DEnE AMA L GAM ATI° N. Mr. ELLICOMBE, the Parliamentary Agent, stated these Compa nies 'lad not agreed to amalgamate by the time that notice should have been given of the Bill. The standing orders were, therefore, declared nst to be com plied with. • MANCHESTER AND LEEDS EXTENSION. The object of this Bill is the extension of stations and branches to Middleton and Bacilli ; and also the formation of two coal lines. 'total length, seventeen miles, estimated cast 400,0001. Amount subscribed, 300,0001. Engineer, John Hawkshaw, Esq. ; Parlia mentary agents, Messrs. Eilicumbe and CO. ; solicitors, Messrs. Dar bishire and Lewis, Manchester. An objection was raised that the datum line on one of the coal lines was not written,. but drawn, and referred to a fixed poinf by figures. The Committee decided that they would report that the standing orders had been compiled with, except as regarded the above objection. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND GREENOCE (HAIM OUR nn.A.NCII). The route of this line is from Greenock to the river Clyde, east, parish of Greenock. It s l eng th i s one f ur l ong, and the estimated cost 25,00001., which includes the construction of a pier. Amount sub scribed, 18,0751. Engineers, Messrs. I.ocke and Errington, Paisley; agent, J. 11. Lang, Esq. ; solicitor, James Turner, Esq. Standing orders complied with. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow (Thursday) at twelve o'clock. Committee-Room No. 12, KILLAZNEY JUNCTION. The Committee on this line assembled at twelve o'clock. The Members present were 37r. Home Drummond (Chairman), Mr. Compton, and Mr. J. O'Connell_ Messrs. Burke and Kemp, Parliamentary agents, appeared on be half of this line, and Mr. Murrell, eilgineer, opposed it. Before the petition was read, the agents for the line contended that, in compliance with the standing order, the petition could not be received, inasmuch as that order made it necessary that the party pe titioning should be a party interested in the line, and that Mr. Murtell was not interested, he being merely the engineer to a competing line, Mr. Murrell's agent contended he had a right to be heard on the grounds that the public ought to know the bona fides of the line. The Committee, after a short consultation, postponed their decision until twelve o'clock to-morrow. we ascertained that the chief objection set forth in the petition is, that in proving the service of notices, widows were not so designated. ENNXS, RIND icriaamoz. The engineer to this line proved that there was no tunnelling or viaducts necessary ; and 111essrs. Murphy and Gaffers, solicitors, proved compliance with the necessary regulations. A petition against the line was withdrawn, and The Committee declared that the standing orders were complied with. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Tuesday, Feb. 17. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few minutes before Four. RAILWAY BUSINESS. The York and Carlisle Railway and the Syston and Peter borough Junction Railway Bills were read a first time. Mr. MUNTZ presented two petitions to withdraw a petition against the Macclesfield and Lichfield Railway on the standing orders. 'the following Railway Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed, viz. : —Newca s tl e an d Darlington fune don (Thirk and Alalton Branches) Railway ; Grand Juncti n Railway (l-luyton and Aston, and other Branches) ; Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway Deviations and Branches; North Union Railway ; Newcastle and Berwick Railway; Lancaster and Carlisle Railway (Extension to Caledonian Rail way); and Lancaster and Preston Junction Railways Amalga mation, THE MILITIA. Mr. TREtAWNY presented a petition against the ealling )ut of the Others petitions against this measure were also presented. CORN-LAWS. Lord HOTAASI presented three petitions from places in the West Riding of Yorkshire, praying that the protection extended Lc) agricukure should not be withdrawn. THORNELY presented a petition, signed by 3,745 of hperaryinigajfeOrtyt'hsesiimiamisetrdyiate repeal of the the inhabitants of Cheshire, expressing their approbation of the with respect to corncretisiepirp.coroupcOeb,ed andby PEACE BETWEEN NATIONS. Sir JOHN EASTHOPE presented a petition from the members of a Peace Society at Leicester, praying that all dis putes with foreign nation; should (instead of appealing to arms) be referred to arbitration. CORN LAWS. Mr. PHIL POTTS presented a petition (rota Gloucester in favour of the Ministerial measure, but expressing their regret that the abolition of proteetion should not be immediate. CALLING OUT THE MILITIA. An HoN. 11Emma presented a petition praying the House not to sanction the calling out of the militia. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented petitions against the en_ coking of the militia—one from Norwich signed by 1,600 persons ; one from a place in Yorkshire signed by 2,000; and others from Hamilton, Berwick, and other places. THE TEN HOURS' BILL. The Hex. Illxxiime presented a petition in favour of the Tea Hours' Bill. METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ASYLUMS. The How. Mini BE R also presented a petition from the guar dians of St. Luke's, Chelsea, against the Metropolita n D istr i c t Asylums Bill. They complained that by a late order of the Poor-law Commissioners they were dependent on seven other large parishes. The petition stated that there was already in , he parish sufficient accommodation for the casual poor. They had made a representation to the Poor-law Commissioners, and they had also memorialised the Home-office, but they had had uo satisfaction: He moved that the petition be referred to the Committee on Metropolitan District Asylums.—Agreed to. Mr. FLUME presented a petition from the shipowners of Wells, in Norfolk, praying that the Government would make some provision for the improvement of the harbour. The pe tition was most numerously and respectably signed. THE MILITIA. Mr. HUME presented a petition from the women Of Northamptonshire, praying that the militia should not be called out. CORN-LAWS. The Host, Mxsiazß also presented six petitions from different parishes in Forfarshire praying for the immediate repeal of the present corn-laws. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented a petition from a parish in Kent, in favour of protection to agriculture. Lord MORPETH.presented petitions from the West Riding of Yorkshire, in favour of a total repeal of the corn-laws; also petitions against the re• organization of the militia ; and also in favour of the Ten Hmirs' Factory Bill. SOAP. Mr. BUTT postponed his motion with respect to the opera. tion of the Excise Laws on the manufacture of soap in this country for a fortnight. POOR-LAWS. Mr. WODEHOUSE gave notice that, on Thursday next, he should put a q ues ti on to the First Lord of the Treasury with respect to the intentions of the Government as to the poor-law. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Mr. EWA RT postponed, for a fortnight, his motion with re respect to alolishing the banishment of convicts to Van Die men's Land, and the abrogation of transportation as a punish ment, except only as a supplement to the previous punishment of imprisonment. CASTLEREAGH WORKHOUSE. The O'CONQR DON wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with respect to the refusal of the guardians to open this work. , house for the rel•erOf the poor, whether he was aware that they had come to a resolution, which was carried by a. majority of ten to eight, to open the workhouse. ten to eight too pen the workhouse. t^:it J4.MES GRAHAM said he , ancl?,.ntoed• that the page