The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-21 00:00:00

---- ___, tion of one b ranch of in___ industry the silk trade, all the other • branches of industry in the country are flourishing. I have von hayed these remarks on the silk trade of the country, which will b e so seriously affected by the proposed commercial syste m of the Right Hon. Baronet, and with the impression that it will bring on those engaged in it indelible misery ; and What I have stated is borne out by those who have had ample opportunity of acqu i ring knawledge, and who are persons of authority and w e ll i nformed on the subject.—( Hear, hear.) I make these observations, because I think they deserve the fullest consideration from the House ; but I am also perfectly w illing to ad m i t the principle which the Right Hon. Baron e t has estab'i s h e d i n his last speech. Th e Right Hon. Baronet says' " We have for the last three years reduced taxation, We have relaxed protection, and the country is in a More flourishing state than ever."—(Cheers from the Opposi tion.) I believe that this is the case. --(Cheers.) I say the country is flourishing—(Continued cheers)—because you give us a just, a judicious, and a moderate protection.—( Great cheering from the protectionist party.) But the Right Honourable Baronet has, not only in his last, but i ' all his speeches, and particular] y in the late exposition .of the Government po!iey, admitted that it was • by this just, this judicious, and this moderate protection vethat England has flourished. But now he turns round and ry calmly says," I feel b oun d to acknowledge that I have efanged my opinion on th e su bj ect of protection—( Cheers froth the free traders)_] am no longer in favour of the P Pria citile." (Confirmed cheering.) But in the whole eech he admitted the advantages of protection-- 0e proved the advantages of a moderate protection.—(Cheers and c ounter chee rs. ) Well, perhaps the Right Hon. Baronet contended that the present flourishing state of the country had I lawn out of f ree trade and distress.—(Laughter.) Now, Sir, want to ask the Right Hon. Baronet a very proper and a Ri gh H iir. !eve e'erY important question. Does the t on. Baronet that he can fright hostile tariffs with free imports ?b— -e-(Chrs. (Ch rs. ) ear, hea r , say the disciples of the school tohfeyfileao anches,ter—a most just cheer. Th ey a l ways ma i n t a i n ate not, I , arm if their principles are r i g ht, as I b e li eve t h ey they have can easily beli eve t h at, their premises being assumsd, arrived at that conclusion. They believe so ; they Care of Let u s take care or the imports , and the rest will take . the mselves." B ut i s that the conviction of the Ri g ht onourable Baronet ? F if it is his conviction, W hy all h . d' 1 • or, is ip omatic annoyances with respect to commercial !treaties? Why does he speak with so much pique and rancour . his speeches of these commercial treaties ? If he believes t i r r i o a ia t h le can fight hostile tariffs with free imports, why does he cheerse himself with these treaties at all.—(Protectionist are not But if he does not believe that—if his convictions . t hose of the school Of Manchester, he is inconsistent in proposing this naeasre. How can he believe in that principle ? /tow does he intern us, b y way of Pt to appear consistent when he tells great • things from r ecommendation, that he ifhopyies believes this thing, a good example? l Buti ofno 0 (near, hear. ) use whatever.-- good example havemp e a clear declara tion from the Cabinet on this important_ emu point, because of the V.lnciples on which it hinges. We may conclude that the rees'g il t' liori• Baronet is ne , saisfied, for if he is, where is the sity for the influence of a good example. He tells you that a t russ ia is already shaking, and be reads you the report of an xraerica.n Alinister to prove e advantes of free trde. e w, 1 cannot presume to offer an opinion ag on these Cabinet ecret s , after this declaration of the Right Hon. Baronet. It I I he possible that America intends to introduce a change t her tariff ; it may be possible, as the Right Ilo %able Baronet tells you, that Prussia is shaking r(1-lear)--nay, it may be possible that the French ieussotaries of free-trade; but I think it my duty to offer the 0 : 11 e some facts, from which I shall allow you to draw your f last c°nelu ' i "s•—(Cheers.) Now, in the first place, we have upon !lie who of Mr. Walker, e has written Withi n a s ubject of co mmerce and the trade of America. • res , l the last few y ears th i s question has excited great inte th. rest Si n ' Anseriea but it i s a difficult matter i n th a t coun t ry to rests, the line' of d emarcation between conflicting inte . ta ns 0 f But before you can calculate on any modifica . t h e _ the tariff of America, it will be necessary to examine All ',tubers employed in agriculture and in manufactures. thaneerw4saeri gentleman at Liverpool has sent me the last ,lta_sof population—l mean the census of 1840, which I . . i st ry°B is the last• Nwhat do you believe—what do you Pliose • the* • a r w 'a U ses ,is number of the manufacturing opera , . af '• • irt ,fn the U n i ted States ? In 1840, the year uch tif there was the greatest development • it -sauufacturing energy in that country, the number of opera jatatr:sceeded 800 , 0 00 —(Hear, hear) —a population exceeding •s. hattraaufacturing population of the four great staple mantl e:4loe 4 $ °f England. Mr. Walker, who is the Secretary to ~ Wi est rentrY, says in his report, that the only in aantda c'neerned is the interest of ten thousand t ° a; ctur es• But the importance of an interest is ~ ttot avereslittated by the numbers employed. I am . ' tilt:, ..,,alecl what number of persons may be dependent upon AlStigit,alaooo op erat i ves, but there is an agricultural coin ' 'Llfte j' a et ett a sa uated i n t h e v i cinty of those manufactures that is in te protection, because that protection gives them , . '4 lll . lS s. 4l „ e a a killable advantages of this home m s a t rk h e h t . . ' plfraiin'coftitioeheeneconnter th lr e ni b t e e s d t osrfaatneiss.ed,(aohdeethrse frommo the 41e s as 4 ta i ,n 9 ,.. 4ist lt) Altanttih, _the United you are aware of peculiar tar ' seeabl e es that influence society is the United States, it is im ttiar te comprehend what is going on in that country . . t h l agei t hYa Met a former Minister of the Ct own, a m sdice ' i.a „ l ,e." h o r n,a and he was much troubled about Oregon. to l ea , aiata ]dace ') He remarked upon the changes that were t s ' - ` 6 - 1 1 of ' ee in American opinions, and instanced the f ' eech All the manufac etihiaistitedata-s, as a urious war op • . !Pacifi c , rest in America had become warlike. I am now t a l liiir ti M i language used last night from that report, . -o ana ttl F t a ' L'i, after all, that war is the only protection. as q: l3 httittiljUres."---( Hear, hear.) In exact . propor w tt i o l li lose th e alteeti e the western community of , America_ you at_ 64 tat es ,,," cif the great northern States—( Hear, hear) — qt th' " 1 tho t oast —the most powerful in that country._ I t i a e k lye l a i s „iZecti.ll.e consideration of the Noble Lord, who has Lees stip. America, and who favoured us the other lean.. As; Noble account of it.--( Cheers and lah er. , ahh ah - „.,.. oble Lord the Member for the West Riding . 41`anseer.lie Ii in opposition, 1 am very glad to see him s (Laotin . ' 11s •—.(Chesrs ) He entered into many detail agat e - g r ,Aut. erica ; li; gave us pictures of the landscape— t:ketahet ka-aed all I wished more was that . he had entered atatatisttsstuote into other details, and particularly of that t4eliget:ie• tnel ody—(Laughter)ing the manner in tla t t ase( - as —e M a att'jurnped from one side of the table to the home•; 'rt;,,` , .°ai's of laughter.) I cannot say a word when told aver "' 13 ajiead V b shaking.—( Hear, hear. ) I have been, , tittet Lteading a bookpublished in that country, evidently 1 1 1. We cari' Than Possessing great influence on public opinion. th :11f eNge t'll'Ort, and are ready to export," and he quotes the allti3lll afllrS•Baines and speeches of the lion. member ort te ara rt 's . „ •We can ' export at a loss." T his wonderful I li the . ea. Jan on exporting at a loss, and swamp Sa t e ar ra "'Lets with which they are connected. Until I,,,tenseia-are detailed accounts of Prussia I shall be tittle'' stead' ' - keptical. I am sorry to say that I • ' a . Rho ate r s amost melancholy representation . from . . the r i ° haae b e AJachlinberg and some little states in its vicinity, ta. " l ,lst ie east asked over and over again to join the Zollve srseinC.aZ they.have not joined it in consequence of the 44t oar sa l.a a ns ef the English Minister. They now say, after nd: 4 -aces, the Zollverien are to have a free import to or , t ,er . t V. we are to have no advantages is '"e iass" a ' y 'ag been misled by the representations a to alsosh minister, and the best thing we can do iislnink d" kky . 3 ,?r , the Zollverien, and what measures 4 astr y. calculated to advance the s canse of natave in 4 ever • N ow, Sir, 1 F ce I must say, that I in an .. a turn to ran . lea often Y life listened to anything—even when the Right it i el el pia,11,9..,?•fl confessed that he had given up the /sten Of o hs ftlabt-ssectia'n —More astounding than the announcement o ta' a" - '''Mtt'Beronet• The prospects he held out are those 4rty, Rhopoeserful Minister, and not a Manchester titiat r aa Ys theY will fight hostile tariffs by free li e; Y. There are a great many gentlemen who do not eb_ithetetY7'ean fight ho stiltariffs by free imports. I say it Zaaictit,es g•, and and I declare moat solemnly that it is my ;70 il l pis ea a e a d ( 1 0 speak from as much knowledge of public h all/ • ' -luluenerally falls to the experience of any odic • 00a- 41 st er 1 , ulster who please s t ate a j aY that, excepting an occasional viTstaent, I do not leoelieve kate and humour the English Go -4.1 in France that is not in fair ir there is an interest or an indi ere is no - count • ' -' of a high restrictive policy. . , country in the world not ••° • ;ad so violent as in France. It is n ere parties are so fierce o:intents that they look jut. There: merely a change of Go. ,Ze s the revolution in their common. taalrke, national parties who 4Pa whiand who anticipate Itia c/t would make an Englishma a.,,. a curious • n shudder. Yet we a aa , . circumstance that not "IY what are ss te s" ., the Conservative party, the commercial aristo arei't but th e ultra•republicans— that part hose tiot te tNect—hose st gle is to terminate cYlynawsty— lii7/56.. get rid of a So v r e u r g e ign or a Minister, bu a t entirely to 4 ti e the tenure of property if possible—that party is more t ,' p hie te wavhat you call - free ' trade than even the commercial as e tkiP a te Y; - There are two interests in that country, ‘,7LietLoagainst each other; but both entertaining the 141-'4 they °tat their interests would be injured y istt:ll call the fatal principle of competition. ..age ea . or can itt p nbe brought about in France, n A 4 Ra e , -Public princi 1 public rolicy be obtained , a, . peor pn that the a -• :11,,:nnout diplomacy. Now, contend chan,.ate„l2. Baronet and his Government have Ge:g V opportunities for bringing about a aathietailei.,these means ; but neither he nor his kara t g hoe s , °a , ever availed themselves of it. France has ki k , 'TN I° get from you, because you have given her as al e "e Oft "ale as she • and I maintain that the I tanh e . wants , -* alit e t of li a Bight Hon. Baronet, like all his former eti at a h ge i n intral policy, will have no effect of producing . 4° 14 1 h ) at 4 P fl a ce- We have tried this free policy long ti - Ostal - int Right Baronet is not prepared to „Pe et . e tee Hon. . . hopeless to h a l o ivaly ~ 'us, and a system of diplomacy, it is l'as • - 'elaltation f r ' loin 1 1, . , 11 es „_ of French commercial free policy ? oa t , e n ,,_ Feet to extend your trade by this . optssty.eiktes li eat, a „ ' ' saY, 5,000,000 of quarters of corn mole t sn , th e IA °a and you will get bills to that amount, you -g ate - " lt iorisa ras ils, and te meet those bills, you propose to send 11 40 1 4 a BallPhes of facturers' goods, but you forget ! i l term e a head menu tr e k, y sa s the Y supplied the Brazilian population with as alte s ell te n Y require and if you want to sell more to us. tea d 't sell ' For instance, t qii t a tar 0 more at a great sacrifice . th e ,g 0f goods worth a million and a half to the h i , r *tut, -"tazilian, People will take as much as il jj4: 44 te .1" they ill take no more without , ill a , and when pries. Over-supply must always reduce I ht sa atar al ,en Prices are 1 dby system of this sort, it ari ai of ' Y le ad t lowered a Now, the ti 1, 14 0, the Ri ght 0 reduce the wages at home.. It all, she con c Ron. Baronet is a comprehensive one. ka rli tte llitil "d to onl o market, and you will find that ki te , atio n of _ y . ne .. pt., set th and / .uppites will be going on in six or seven t o 14 Cl O4ll e effect Want to know if you are prepared t _ 14,, by Met a l s. 1 aPon the general distribution of he at a m , cearea_ confess that I can find nothing !ilex,l , '4lelliate4",cY bill of the Right Hon. art? i t h lie, a leas tre " ' 0 Meet this change, for that, in my opinion, ' t haa g e t op and framed by the dictates of caution e t catr experienc H u meet your te s ,ash a Res.....b ew e ow can fixed taxa lsetry, • can You can you meet your . .. ill i re. , if can u. most everything that is fixed in this 1, 4 4 tai a aeli er , i e la a. general failure of prices abroad, I ,N,llyst ea , r. the value of labour at home? I maintain then ~,‘, a re - Mr., o f th e f ad will have a , 4 , - say 1 "' Up on v _ _ 9g to force sales abroad f ,‘ Oh ") t yi , Ati ei _ . atn wronge precious metals.—( Cries o .. ta tt ` . % it e 'ter i s ea. but you must recollect that the policy l a halfs tl i t anoth e u r e thi ng, and the mode or principle of car thj'a,s , l te r dey, aaa ' s Now, for example, suppose, in carrying r a ` °d, You spud end a cargo of goods worth a million and r t e ta ; trea t, '",t receive back a proportionate quantity of f a ae l is,7al / hssehat would be the effect ? Why, from oettereorisitilevralready stated, the labour of England would siZt, ai t hWillu nt a r a a l i Y . less than it did before, and as the Yo je t e er Yoe 1 ,`,? Your goods without a sacrifice on your is:_t.it a ,, r Part o , w l'i have to make a sacrifice or to pay in l e, e t t ,!tahl'reti ene . ' the imported grain. This is the effect of it k 1 " 3 Chem e I N e carn a n I want ,an effect which I maintain is ae iPrpr_racts? t a lamas" how you are to fulfil yonr 'sl av a% • ed . in some n Sir, if the Right Hon. Baronet . is t stie Of 4 4S tlfied i n . cases to adopt hostile tariffs 141'aso. 3, but anchester acceding to the claims of the political l, ha tiverth_, , and if he is not prepared to adopt hostile thstaftei;.wai ere_aaess accede s to the claim of the Maochester t a s tri te lt to s t b s di d 'a a convulsion in this country which it will qe il ale Pie of pe at e * Now, Sir, before I address myself to It 0t . i,,, ,, t i 0 . the ,_ ectio n , „ a matter of courtesy I am bound oi t ,oteeebes which fell from two other Honorable si p 'all, I ' l le ntle rn " the fi rst is 1 eu. sid i t b een au th e , speech that of t i aaata te re., oncratary at War, tho speech that eac i el , li ev ,‘"e it thf regalar time, and under proper 1. e e et , n re 4 sdaderstand ceived with much applause. Now some Gentlemen, who have adopted THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUA R r 21 1 1846. convictions drawn from certain economical principles, when they trace the evils of the country to the restrictions on trade, appealing to the House under a sense of injury for a change in the system ; but the Right Hon. Gentlemen, I confess, ought not, nor, in fact, ought the Right Hon. Baronet himself to have addressed us as if they were martyrs, when after all, they were only converts.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) I forgot however that the Right Hon. Baronet was a disciple of the free trade system in the year 16 , 11, but free-trade princi ples in those days were applied from the opposite side of the table, and that makes a very material difference. Now the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary at War declared, that in discussing thisquestion, the fallacy 9f cheap bread was entirely discarded by all parties. Now the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who addressed us the following night, in answer to a very proper appeal, said that unless the question before the House was one for giving the people food in sufficient quantities, and at as cheap a rate as possible, there wa s n o ques ti on f or them to discuss. How do you reconcile that with the Right Hon. the Secretary at War's statement? But lam not surprised at a slight difference of opinion of this sort prevailing in a confused Cabinet Council. 'I hen came forth the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary at War. He said, in the first place, "as regards the most int portant interest, this is a comprehensive scheme, and to which I shall myself particularly advert, and that most important interest is that of agriculture." He said, " What do you fear from free imports—where is your corn to come from?" Now I avoid as much as I possibly can making a corn-law speech, which I dare say many here have already done. —( Hear, hear.) I wish, however, to meet his argument, and deal with comprehensive measures on comprehensive schemes. But at the same time I do not wish to let observations of that kind pass, because I observe there is a coolness of assertion very prevalent on this subject.—( Laughter and cheers from the protectionists. ) I recollect a speech which was made on this subject by a Noble Lord a Member of Parliament, and that Noble Lord said that if the corn-laws were repealed there would be a rise of 10s. per quarter in the prise of corn. Now I will say to the Right Honourable Gentleman the Secretary' at War I avoid a discussion in detail, for which we shall have a better opportunity—l say, I speak from as much investigation as I can give, and more personal experience, I believe, of those foreign countries than most persons—l mean the corn countries ; and I say there is not the slightest doubt that you may have, when this system is established in this country, any quantity of corn that you may like.—( Hear.) It is ridiculous to tell me—but you may tell me—that these people have no capital. The gentlemen of Manchester will say so.—( Cheers and laughter from the protectionists.) It is perfectly idle to tell me they have no road. I dare say the Hon. Gentleman the Member fer Durham will persist in saying so; but this I will say, that there is no fallacy so great as to suppose that the price of corn will rise when there is an established market in proportion to your demand. The price of corn will fall according to the supply. Certainly at present there is a very limited supply now prevalent in England, and the reason is that the price is high. It is an inevitable rule, however, that cor n f a ll s accor di ng t o th e amoun t o f supp l y. (Cheers from the protectionists, and expressions of dissent on the Opposition benches.) Nothing pleases me so much as those sneers of Hon. Members opposite, but I am prepared to meet their arguments with reason. If they confute me the House will decide.—(Protectionist cheers.) Now I take the article of tea, which we get only from one country. The increase has advanced from year to year, and from year to year the prices have fallen. (Protectionist cheers.) Now look at cotton. I take cotton because there is a great analoe y between cotton and corn. I re member—at least I have read a speech which was made during some discussion on this subject in America, particu larly with respect to the supply of cotton as well as corn the Manchester gentlemen maintained that if the prices in America were greater in the United States, it would be impossible for - Lancashire industry to compete with the neutral markets there. It was proved by a pamphlet written by a very distinguished Member of Con. gress, that under any circumstances the prices of cotton were less now, 12 cents lower, than they were some years ago. And, as I have seen in a treatise upon political economy— written with as much demonstration as if it were proving a case in mathematics—ever since you have established your trade, Kith scarcely any interval, the price of cotton has diminished, diminished, diminished, and the price of cotton has been as low as three cents per lb.—(Protectionist cheers.) You can object to my reasoning with respect to corn; can you refute me about cotton ? When you can, you will have a right to sneer at me.—(Protectionist cheers.) Well nose, Sir, 1 turn to the Right Honourable Gentleman the Secretary at War. In his speech he asks you what is the agitation about the pro posed repeal. What is it ? He quite forgot that it was called a social revolution. Why, the agitation, at which he is sur prised, is about the repeal of the import duty. Then comes to the House the Secretary of State the night after. He says, "continue to oppose the measure, and you will bring upon England anarchy, misery,' and ruin.—(Laughter on the Opposition benches). The Right Hon. Gentleman the Secre tary of State was very much alarmed at the end sliest year, in consequence of the deficie nc y o f th e po t a t oes i n Ireland. He thought so, however, if we were to believe him in speech. He also said in consequence of the expected deficiency in the wheat harvest of England. The Right Hon. Gentleman also told us that he was particularly alarmed about that, because he thought it possible that it might bring about a state of affairs similar to that of 1842, in which he assured the House he was much more alarmed than they could possibly anticipate at the time.—(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I observe that ever since the Right Honourable Gentleman has been a minister of a Conservative Cabinet, he has failed to bring forward the very expensive measure which has so regularly produced great alarm and great odium in the country.— (Laughter.) The Right Hon. Gentleman has been alarmed, and withdrawn that measure.—(Laughter and cheers.) The Right Hon. Gentleman appears to be overscrupulous. It seems characteristic of the Right Hon. Gentleman that the responsibilit) of office brings to him, not prudence but panic.— (Loud laughter and cheers from the protectionists.) And these are the Ministers who turn round to us and say, " You are alarmed at our measures, but you won't suffer at all except from your wen panic."—(Laughter.) But they act upon nothing but panics. It is an alarmist Cabinet.—(Loud protectionists cheers.) I know not what they may be most like to, but I may say fright is stamped upon their foreheads.—(boud protectionist eheecs)—and it arises either from a deficiency of the feed in Ireland, or a superabundance in the suffrages in Lancashire. —(Loud laughter and cheers.) And now, Sir, if I may be permitted, I will meet the question of protection.—(Cheers.) I have not departed from my en gagement.—(Cheers.) I was bound to answer those main arguments that have been offered in favour of the new system. The Noble Lord the Member for the city of London, in his address the other night, the tone of which every one present felt to be equal for the occasion and the subject, touched upon the question of protection in the abstract. He expressed in very classic language the usual economical theories upon the subject, which were no doubt very valuable in them selves—( Cheering and laughter)—but never having ever exerted any influence on the conduct of individuals, and being totally destitute of the power of doing so, all that we can admire in it is the evidence which it offers of the Noble Lord being well read.—( Loud laughter.) Now, Sir, I do not know what Honourable Gentlemen opposite mean— dealing, as we are, with England, and with its particular existing circumstances. Ido not know what they mean by the term protective system. I do not find in England such protection ; if protection be as they define it, a protection to every branch of native industry, such a system never existed. There was once a commercial system founded upon these prin ciples, defines! in all its details, and extremely beneficial in its operations. I mean the colonial system. That was a system which went as far as it could to effect the protection of native industry, and tend to develope its great Power. There was a protection to native industry in England, but that was ancillary to this. I refer to this, in order to see if I can arrive at the point. We always had in England in these good old days a very liberal system of com mercial policies. We have had since then propositions which were not carried into practice. Here was a very general system of commercial intercourse with the whole world at a moderate duty of 10 per cent. This proposal was, however, swamped in the year 181 A, by a system of protection called colonial system. The range of our commercial transactions was curtailed by the merchants of England, when compensated by larger profit and more secure markets, which they speedily obtained. Ido not say whether this was right or wrong ; but at any rate, the result was that you lost your principal colonies. You were then obliged to lay down principles for your future commercial dealings, but you were too late ; and a large system of commercial policy, having the advantage of being founded upon principles of reciprocity, was then introduced by the first Minister of the Crown. He came down to this House and said to Honourable Members, " You must not adhere to your old principles. We have no longer any great colonies left. You manufacturers of England—and they are by the way the most obstinate, for country gentlemen are far more facile—( Cheers and laughter) you must come forward and give up your protection." After that, what did Pitt do? He came down to the House, and said, " Gentlemen, I g i ve you a new tariff. " He said ‘' Here is a sew tariff. Here are terms of interchange and commerce with all the countries in the world. I have entered into treaties with all the great Powers, and have just concluded a commercial treaty with France." Then came your revolutionary war, that upset all ; but Huskisson again brought forward the same measures. Now, Sir, I gave my votes to the Corn Bill of 1842, which was only a part of the tariff then introduced, embodying a moderate system of just protection, which was in complete harmony with the true principles of the universal policy of England. We know what a contrary course would have done in this country, because we have always Spain be fore us as an example and a warning. There is another country, also, where such principles have been in operation — I mean Turkey. In that country there were some of the finest manufacturers in the world. Up to the year 1812 there we;e — aconsiderable number of manufacturers still lingering there; they have been destroyed by the spirit of competition, which has existed in hostile tariffs. Now what was the consequence? There have been the same pernicious results as there had been formerly in Spain. They have had the same aggregation of capital, and the same impoverishment of the people. —( Hear, hear.) The system of moderate pro tection in England is not founded upon abstract principles. I propose new to deal with this question of protection, and I shall look at it f rom t wo po i nts . I cons id er, first, that it is the duty of the Government to legislate in such a manner that the people shall be fully and amply employed. Secondly, that in affording these means of employment you should not give too great a preponderance to any one branch of native industry above the other. There is, Sir, a great difficulty in dealing with this question. An Hon. Member had also stated that there was a great difficulty in arguing against protection, for there was a prima facie evidence in favour of it. So far as I am concerned, Sir, I don't care one farthing about their prima fizcie evidences. Members on this side might also take up this same argumenJ ? and reply that it was useless to argue in favour of protection, because there was a prima facie evi dence admitted to exist in its favour.—(Cheers and laughter.) Now, the Right Hon. Baronet ( Sir Robert Peel) and several other Members of the Cabinet, had officially announced that these principles are to be for ever relinquished by them. We think, Sir, that these principles are beneficial. I say, we think so. I do not attempt to prove it, but I call upon you (ad dressing the free-trade party) the onus probandi rests upon you—it is for you to prove that these principles are not bene ficial. Now, I have listened to the speeches which have been made in the course of the debate by Hon. Members, who are also Hon. Members of the League to the speech of the Honourable Member for Manchester (Mr. Gibson. ) 1 had not the pleasure to hear the last speech made by the Honourable Member for Durham (Mr. Bright.) I took care however to read it, as I always do the speeches of a gen tleman who takes so prominent a part in the agitation as he does, but I cannot extract from either, or any of them, a single principle to guide me in this maze.—(Cheers from the protectionists.) I cannot find one solitary, reasonable, ra tional objection against the principle. They have, however, made so many speeches, upon so many occasions, that per haps it is not fair to draw conclusions from the speeches with which we have been favoured, during the course of this debate, upon so important and knotty a subject as protection. I have great difficulty in doing so. The difficulty is this, that the case of the Anti-Corn-law League against protection has signally failed. It was a very curious thing that they had been working for the last seven years, and that they commenced their agitation with promising cheap bread to the labouring classes, and they have ended that agitation by promising high rents to the landlords.— ( Great laughter from the protectionists.) I cannot certainly understand such promises. I firmly believe that the Anti- Corn-law League, while they thought they were instructing the people, that they were actually ed uca ti ng tho selves.—( rn ®rest cheering.) I can give sufficient rea sons from reading the manifesto of the Chamber of Commerce in Manchester in the year 1820. I tarried the leaves of that document, and found the panacea was not what it is now stated to be, and the parties who drew up . that cir cular are the principal members of the Anti-Corn-law League. —(Loud cheering.) Let them read the evidence of some of the most distinguished members of that League, and they would find that Mr. Cobdee's evidence was opposed to his present principles, but he belonged to the school of Gemini.—(Laughter.) I consider that the prin ciples we advocate are not entirely hopeless, and therefore it may be useful to prolong this agitation. lam stating a case, and I take that case from their own speeches. They say that protection has two objects, to feed the people and to employ them, and that as protection has failed because we are obliged ttioes on thatimpotfo a r r e t ir le c . orn isro w w e , ar w e e bound to t r o ep re ly m , otvleiaptrwoteeccatinve feed d the people and employ them also. That is my answer ; and the question is, have we failed in feeding the people ? Now, Sir, we have what we call great facts. We can show, for ex ample, that fifty years ago the people of this country were not much more than one-half its present population. I say, we can feed the population, although it has increased so much. And whilst that is the case, protection cannot be the bane of agriculture, unless the agriculture of England is inferior to the agriculture of other countries.—(Cheers.) Now, I want to know wherethere is a superior system of agriculture to that pursued in England?—( Hear, hear.) Russia had been quoted; but I believe that agricultural mprovement remains in much the same state. Do you mean to say that the agricultural system of Germany is superior, or that of Belgium or Tuscany? It is true, if we take a a small district, there may be a greater amount of produce, but I deny, taking any country, that we are not equal to it in agricultural produc tions. No country with the same breadth of land can certainly support a population of a first-rate state compared with England. lam sure you will not say it is done in Russia or in Germany—those miserable struggling states—so much inferior to the real wealth of England. I need not allude to Spain; but I will pass to a country which is nearer to us, and which, in fact, is our rival. There was a country with an exubtrant soil, blessed by nature, and labouring under none of those disadvantages which pressed upon England. They had no law of primogeniture, no en closures, and no game.—(Loud cheers.) We, under the favour of protection, have contrived to go far beyond that people in agricultural science, and have been able to give them corn at a cheaper rate than they could possibly buy in their own markets, although they were double their number. But then, you say, I want to meet all your argumen!s— that there is a deficient application of capital to land.—( Hear, hear.) We must make researches, and from a number of facts make our inferences. I say that it is totally impossible that there is a want of the application of capital, when there is not a man in the colonies, either in India or America, the great event of whose aspirations is not that he should re turn to England to spend his hoarded treasures, and become a justice of peace or a deputy-li eu t enan t.—( Loud cheers.) Yes, there was not a man of them who did not dream of quarter ses sions.—( Laughter.) England was, in fact, thegreat metropolis of the world, and all other countries were paying tribute to her. There are two facts which lam afraid we have a right to assume they have done.—( Hear, hear.) The one, that the corn-law will be repealed, though we will endeavour to pre vent them—( Hear, hear)—and the other, that after the re peal has endured a certain number of years they will be in volved in a foreign war. Now I want Hen. Gentlemen to consider what would be their position if matters should be as they were at the rupture of the treaty of Amiens ? At that time you had a free trade, and for a number of years you received large supplies of corn from the Continent, but when the war broke out you found the greatest difficulty in obtain ing a supply. It was true that, in the year 1811, we received some corn from Holland and France. But are we to construe ,hat such always will be the case? If we do, we shall fall into a grievous error.—( Hear, hear.) I consider that a reference to those facts is a sufficient answer to the assertion that they would be independent of their colonies should a war break out. Remembering all this—even that a very small quantity of corn was brought from France and Holland—that in 1812 the quartern loaf reached the price of Is. 7d.—when all these cir cumstances occurred, I warn you not to depend on foreign supply. Yet with all this increase of population, England is able to sup ply herself with food.—( Cheers.) I now meet the gentlemen of the League on the second point. They say the system of protection has failed to employ the people. The Right Hen. Gentleman the Secretary of War has touched upon a delicate subject. He says, only cultivate the hills of Wiltshire, and there is sufficient employment for the labouring population. I ask the Right Hon. Gentleman why are the hills of Wiltshire not cultivated ?—( Hear, hear.) It is a legitimate question to ask one whose proudest boast is that he is the representative of that county, and who is the descendant of a family who have long dwelt upon that soil.—( Hear, hear.) You tell me of the sufferings of the people. It is not for me to attempt to diminish the sufferings ; but when you come down with your cool assumptions and daring statements, I call upon you for facts in proof of them.—( Hear, hear.) I ask you to compare the state of the country before protection existed to what it is under protection, and I say that with an accumul a t e d popu l at i on we are not in ajworse!condition now.—( Hear.) I have read the details of the period of the last revolutionary war, when you had free imports of corn from all the world, and I see nothing dif ferent in your condition then from what it is now. I see no difference but the poor-rates, and less responsibility of pro prietors. You have brought forward the Goatacre meeting in proof of the distress which prevails in the country. The Right Hon. Gentleman also has compared an Hon. Gentleman on this side of the House to Anacharsis Clooty. Anacharsis Clooty, it is well known, stated at the National Convention that he ap peared there as a deputation from the nations of Europe. The deputation appeared in appropriate costume, and produced a sensation throughout Paris. Now I think the Goatacre meeting might be considered in the same light as the deputation before the National Convention. But it is not my wish to call the attention of the House by an allusion to the Goatacre deputation that would call the at tention of the House, for it is not my wish to do so, from the state of the people of this country. The gentlemen opposite are very fond of painting the wretchedness of the agricultural districts, but if they would come with me into the manufactur ing districts, I could show them such scenes of wretchedness a 3 would throw into the shade the scenes which they have so pathetically described to this House.—( Hear, hear.) Let them come with me into the manufactories at Stockport, and I will show them the poor heartbroken slaves there. ( Hear, hear.) I will show them the heart-broken the despairing men—those who, in the depth of their despair, curse the toil-worn life which they cannot quit.--(" Hear, hear," and cheers from the protectionists.) I could also take them to Lancashire, and show them the same state of the manufacturing liberality of this country.—( Hear, hear.) But I know that the industry of Lancashire is a noble industry, and I do not wish to underrate it. The manufac turers of that place are fully sensible of their responsibility, but I cannot assent to their assertion that they can. alleviate their condition by the diminution of their wages. I should like to know how they will respond to that.—(Hear, hear, and eries of " No, no," fro m th e f ree - tra d e s id e o f the House.) The Lion. Members cry "No;" well, then, I will take them on their own ground.—( Hear, hear.) I had some respect for this hour of the night, but the challenge having been thrown out to me, I shall accept it.—( Loud cheering from the Hon. Member's party.) Well, then, I will test that position. Why, you say that the wages of labour was not dependent on the price of corn. How is it, then, that you say, the higher the price of corn the higher was the wages of the labourer ? If your position, which is the position of the Right Hon. Ba ronet, because he has borrowed it from you--( Hear, hear) — if your position be, that the wages of l a b our d epen d upon t h e price of corn, I will just ask you this—Suppose you have an importation from the Baltic of four millions of quarters, then if wages be not increased by the price of corn, why should the con sumption be greater?—(Hear) Why should more corn be con sumed then than now? And what effects will the importation of these four millions of quarters have upon the price of corn, or upon the amount of consumption ? Why, the cnly effect it will have will be, if the consumption be not greater, to dis place a certain amount of labour ; that labour will leave the agricultural districts and go to your districts—the manufacturing districts—and there a fall in the amount of wages must follow.—( Hear, hear.) There is another point to which 1 would wish to allude, if it had not appeared that I was abusing the patience of the House—( Hear, hear)—but I shall endeavour to condense the few remaining observations I have to make as much as possible. You say if we had a regu lar trade we should have a regular supply. Well, I entirely agree with you there. But suppose the ease of a deficiency in England, then you must get a supply from other countries, which you must pay for in gold—( Hear, hear) — the only difference being, that you must give a bonus for granaries under the present system.—( Hear, hear.) 1 have nearly concluded my observations ; I have never been one of those who vindicated our agricultural policy. But now, Sir, I maintain this, and I,wish Hon. Gentlemen to bear it in mind, that their cause is not to be attained in this way.—( Hear, hear.) I venture, feebly and slightly to ins sure at this hour of the night, to maintain this great principle of high policy in which our system ought to be maintained. I say, without reference to England, that it is the first duty of every Minister, and the first interest of every state to maintain an equal balance between the two great parties—manufacturing and agricultural. I ::: shouldtlte people, —(Hear, hear.) That principle had been recognised for the last of p7l°itiycaelars;ndas s m oe o ia s i l e m oe p s o i r d t e a r n e t t , ion b , y the a a ff g e r e e t a i t n e g st s t t h a e tes m ha e p n . . maintain the that or b d a e l r anc o e f i t s he nee p e n s p sa u r l y ane fo , for and above all the stability of the State.—(Hear, hear.) I go further than that. We are bound in England to d w w hyy repeat a a VII should Id netbefore only stated. I say there are o special mo n s more and a s o I no maintain that balance, but that, further, you should g i ve a reasons preponderance—l repeat a prepoderance—(Hear, hear)—to native agricultural princi ples.—( Hear, hear.) I say preponderance, for thii reason, that in England you have a territorial constitution. You have thrown upon you the burden of the land, the mainte nance of the Church and State, and the protection of the poor. —(Hear, hear.) You value this territorial constitution, not that it pampers the luxuries, but because you, and those who preceded you, found it the only security for self-government. —(Hear, hear.) My constituents are not of the landlord class, nor are many of them capitalists; they are of the in dustrial class • and they believe that their material interests are 'maintained in the maintenance of this system, that will favour native industry, by ensuring at the same time real competition. They believe their political interests are involved; and I entirely agree with them.—(Hear.) The meaning of this great movement is not only the repeal of the corn-laws, but the transfer of power from one class to another—(" Hear, hear," from th e Mi n i ster i a l b enches ) — class, distinguished for their intelligence and their wealth—l mean the manufacturers of England. My con science assures me that I have not been slow to do justice to the intelligence of that class, and I do not envy them their deserved prosperity but I do regret, that in this age of political regeneration, when all social power trusted to class interests is only to be rescued from one class to sink under the domination of another, I for one— if this be the end of all struggles—if this be the great result of the efforts of this enlightened age—protest against the igno minious catastrophe. If there is to be a change, I hope that the foundation will be deep, and the scheme comprehensive, instead of allowing us to fall under such a thraldom—the thral dom of capital and of those who boast of their intelligence and are proud of their wealth. If you must find a new force to maintain the throne and the immemorial monarchy of England, I would prefer to find these invigorating energies in an enlightened and an enfranchised people. (The Hon. Mem ber sat down amidst immense cheering.) Mr. EDWARD BULLER moved the adjournment of the debate until Monday next.—Agreed to. The House adjourned at Half-past Twelve o'clock. FASHION.—The neat and elegant white cravat is all the rage at present for dress, and the linen manufacturers upon whom so many thousands of families derive their sup port, already feel the beneficial influence of the fashion. The encouragement thus given has likewise set to work much in genious mental machinery, and on• of the results is a cravat and collar in one piece, arranged and folded so completely as to be capable of adjustment to the neck by the merest tyro. It has been scoured by registration, and is termed the Golden Flax Cravat Cellar, from the fact of its being made of a most exquisitely white and fine description of linen, manu factured from that product. From its peculiar construction, it is very much lighter than the ordinary cravat and collar, and thus possesses, amongst other recommendations, a strong one in favour of its adoption in the ball-room, at soirees, morning concerts, and other crowded assemblies. ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY. —PROFESSOR MANE. --At meeting of the fine arts section of the Royal Dublin Society, held on Monday evening, the Lord Lieutenant conferred the dignity of knighthood upon Professor Kane, who is now Sir Robert Kane.—Pilot. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colomat-office for the Governor of West Australia. RAILWAY COMMITTEES (YESTERDAY.) Sub-Committee, No. 1. BOSTON, NEWARK AND SHEFFIELD ---• Mr. Ellicombe appeared for the promoters. The witnesses to prove the deposit of the plans, sections, and books of reference, having been examined, Mr. Burke appeared on the petition of the owners of land on the line. The first allegation was that the parish of Averham was omitted from the book of reference deposited with the clerk of the peace and at the Private Bill-otfice. Mr. ELLxcoltnE called a witness, who stated that Stathorp, which was the township of the parish of Averham, was in the books of reference, but that the line would only go through the township. The Committee decided that the standing orders in this instance, had not been complied with. The next allegation was that the plans and sections were not duly deposited with the clerks of the peace far the several districts through which the line is to run. Mr. BURKE called ➢lr. Gibbs, the engineer to the line. Mr. BURKE —ls there a branch from Hocking to Spalding? Witness—There is. Mr. BCEKIi 1S there a section to show that branch? Witness—There is not. Mr. 13unKE—Yon stated, when first examined by Mr. Ellicombe, that th e plans and sections were duplicates of each liter, but hers is a complete section entirely omitted. The CIIAIRMAN—You most distinctly stated, when the plans were put in at the commencement of the present in quiry, that the plans and sections were duplicates of each ether. Witness—l stated that the plans and sections, as drawn by me, were duplicates of each other; but since then, I un derstand, some alteration has been made in the powers of the Bill, which must account for the omission. The CHAIRMAN—This must be explained, for at present there is no proof as to the plans. Mr. ELLICOMBR called the assistant-engineer, who said that the plans and sections were altered subsequently to Mr. Gibbs having seen them—the section No. 1 omitted, that of No. 2 substituted, which took the branch in. Mr. BURKE would deny this on the face of the Bill; he would prove that the standing orders in this most import ant instance were not complied with. It being now half-past three o'clock, the Committee said they would adjourn to twelve o'clock on Tuesday. (Sub _Committee No. 2.) DIRECT LONDON AND MANCHESTER. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The usual formal proofs were gone through. The first petition against the Bill taken was that of Mr. W. Egerton, which alleged that in the township of Cheedle Moseley the description in No. 89 in the book of reference and in the plan was wrong, Elishia Warren being stated to bo the owner, and Sarah Fyldes, the occupier, the true owner being Mrs. Anna Maria White, and the occupier of the same, William Bailey. Mr. Pritt appeared for the petitioner. Mrs. White proved the incorrectness alleged, and also that she had not been served with a notice. The petition next alleged that there was a similar inaccu racy with respect to the property numbered 91, Peter Pownall being described as the owner, and Isaac Falconer as the oc cupier of the same. The allegation was sustained. Several other similar allegations were abandoned. It was also alleged that in No. 43 in the plan the road de scribed as an occupation road and the property of the petitioner was a public highway, and the property of the surveyors, who had not been served with due notice. The Committee considered the allegation sustained. The next petition considered was from the owners and lessees along the line, complaining of non-compliance with the standing orders. The petition contained several allegations analogous to those of the preceding petition. The Committee had proceeded to some extent with these allegations when it was announced that the Speaker was at prayers. Engineers, Sir John Rennie, Mr. Rastrick, and Mr. G. Remington ; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Dyson and Co. : solicitors, Messrs. Ashurst and Son, Sudlovr and Sons, and J. Owens. ThoV Committee adjourned shortly before four o'clock to Monday, at twelve o'clock. Sub-Committee, No. 5. (Continued from oar Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) LONDON, SALISBURY, AND YEOVIL JUNCTION. This Bill has for its object the making of a line from the to tit r of the South Western Railway at Basingstoke, to eovil, the length of which will be 73 miles, and the cost, as estimated, 1,900,0001. Mr. J. Locke is the engineer, and Messrs. Webster and Co., the Parliamentary agents. Against this line there were several petitions, mostly upon the ground that the plans and sections were incorrect, and calculated to mislead, and one contained an allegation that the parish of Clifton Maybank was not named in the notice. Mr. Venables appeared for the petitioners. The petition of Mr. A. C. Bridge, in which it was stated that there was already a line of railway passing through his property, contained the allegation that there was in the Gazette notice no mention of the parish of Clifton Maybank, through which one of the branches would pass. Mr. WEBSTER said that the parish was mentioned. Mr. VENABLES contended that the parish ought to be named in the notice of the Yetminster branch. Mr. WEBSTER contended that this was not necessary, and that if the parish was named in the notice at all it was sufficient. After a long discus ion on the point, the Committee de cided that the standing orders were not complied with. The second allegation of this petition was that in the plans deposited with the clerk of the peace for the county of Dorset there was no mention of a branch leaving the alter native line. Mr. VENABLRS explained that there were two branch lines, which, in the plans deposited with the clerk of the peace, were both represented as leaving the main line, while in the Bill and notices one was represented as leaving the alternative line. There were several other allegations de pending on this, one of which was that there was no section of the branch from the main line in the parish of Yetminster. The Clerk of the Peace for the county of Dorset handed in the plans in question. In the course of the discussion it appeared that the mileage was incorrectly marked. The Committee reserved the point as to the sections till their next meeting. At about quarter to four o'clock the Committee adjourned to Tuesday next HOUSE OF LORDS. RAILWAY CO lIMITTE F;'.—STANDING ORDERS. The following five Bills have been adjourned to a future day, in consequence Of some slight inaccuracies. They may, however, be considered virtually to have passed,— 1. Irish Great Western. 2. Belfast and County Down. 3. Newry, Warrenpoint, and Rostrevor. 4. Dublin and Enniskillen. 5. Londonderry and Enniskillen. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) FRIDAY, FRE. 20. The following Petitions for Railways were reported, and the Bills ordered to be brought in ey the undernamed Hen. Members:-- Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury and Halstead, Sir IL Smyth and Mr. Sanderson. Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway and Tyne Dock—Mr. Liddell, Mr. 11. Hinde, and Mr. Hudson. Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester (Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canal Purchase)—Mr. Parker, Mr. 31. Philips, and Mr. Buckley. Eastern Union and Harwich Railway and Pier—Major:Beresford and Captain Gladstone. Great North of Scotland—Mr. C. Bruce and Mr. Bannerman. Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Junction (Extensions and De viations—Sir W. Wynn and Mr. W. 0. Gore. Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Junction (Crickheath and Worn Branches)—Sir W. Wynn, and Mr. W. 0. Gore. North Wales Mineral Deviations and Branches—Sir W. Wynn and Mr. W. 0. Gore. Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal (Huddersfield Branch Diversion and Cooper Bridge Branch)—Viscount Moriseth, Mr. Staasfleld, and Mr. Aldam. Darby, Gainsborough, and Great Grimsby Junction—Colonel Rol leston, Mr. Christopher, and Mr. T. Hussey. Huddersfield and Manchester Canal and Railway (Oldham Branch) — Viscount Morpeth, Mr. Stansfleld, and Mr. Aldam. Enfield and Edmonton—Colonel T. Wood and Mr. Hudson. Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan—Mr. Bouverie and Mr. Stewart, Scottish Midland Junction (South Inch of Perth Branch) —Mr. H. Drummond and Viscount Duncan. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway and Grimsby Docks Consolidation—Lord Worsley, Mr. Christopher, and Mr. E. Hcneage. Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction (Humber Ferries)—Lord Worsley, Mr. Christopher, and Mr. G. Heueage. Scottish Midland Junction Branches—Mr. IL Drummond and Vis count Duncan. Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Polloc and Govan Branch)—Mr. H. Johnstone and Mr. Stewart. Mitcham and South-Western—Mr. Ramble and Mr. Antrobus. Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Carlisle Branch—Mr. Bell, Mr. P. Howard, and Mr. Ord, West Riding Union—Viscount Morpeth, Mr. B. Denison, Mr. C. Wood, and Mr. Entwisle. Tho following Resolutiogs were roported from the Standing Orders' Committee : That, in the case of the Deeside Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. That, in the case of the West Riding Union Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispersed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. That, in the case of the Guildford, Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :--That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill. That, in the case of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr orders wa o y ug A h ni t nenodtm to en h t e di an sp d en ta i n wi ch t e h s . petition (so. 6), the 'tending SECOND READINGS OF RAILWAY BILLS. MONDAY', ÜB. 23. Exeter and Exmouth. Taw Vale Extension. Easters Union and Hadlolgh Junction. Slamannan and Borrowstouness. Wilsontown, Morningside , a nd Coltness (Im p rov ement and Branches). Slamannan (Bathgats and Ja wcrai g Branches ). Wishaw and Coltness (Green hill Branch). Wilsontown, Morningside, and Colinas (Knowton B ranch). Edinburgh and Northern (Pet t y cur and Perth H arbour Branches an d Deviations). Edinburgh and Northern (Br anches from th e Dundee and Arb roath Edinburgh ß i wy and Taeyrt Ferry (S irntraPtt hoveaernme:Dnte); lotion). Edinburgh and North ern (Lochgelly and Leslie E x t ensions). Edinburgh and Northern (Kinross, Woodallll, Sc N ewburgh Branches). and N F he e rn Edinburgh and Northern (Newport and St. Andrew's Branch). Lancashire and Yorkshire Nor th-Eastern. Perth and Crieff Direct. Ayrshire, Bridge of Weir, and Port Glasgow Junction. London and Croydon (Thames Junction Branch). North-Western. Saint Helen's Canal and Railvroy. East and West Yorkshire Junction. Midland Railway (Syston to Peterborough Deviations and Branches). South Midland (Northampton and Bedford Lines). London and Birmingham (Newport Pagnell Branch). London and Birmingham (St. Alban's and Luton Branch). Cheltenham and Oxford. Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle. West of Scotland Junction. London, Hounslow, and Western. South Midland (Huntingdon Branch). Exeter, Topsham, and Exmouth. South-Eastern (Tunbridge Wells to Hastings and Rye) South-Eastern (Breach from Reig ate to Dorking). ' South-Eastern (Maidstone to Strood, near Rochester). South-Eastern (from Canterbury to Dover). South-Eastern (from Chislet to Margate). Soutk-Eastern (from the Godstone Station to East Grinstead). South-Eastern (Rye to Rye Harbour). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Amendment and Branches, (Ne. 1). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr -intendment and Branches (No. 2). Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Amendment and Branches (No. 3). Norfolk Extension (Derehani, Wells, a id Blakeney). North British Railway and Branches (No. 1). North British (No. 2—Hawick Branches). North British (No. 3 —Carlisle Extension). North British (No. 4—Gretna Branch). TUESDAY, FEB, 24. Mallon and Driffield Junction. Cambridge and Oxford. Tork'and North Midland (East Riding Branches—No. 2). Great North of England Purchase. Great North of England and Boroughbridge Branch. Great North of England and Bedale Branch. Blackburn, Preston, and East Lancashire Amalgamation. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25. Bridgewater and Minehead Railway and Pier. Carnwatll and West Linton. Ballochnoy (Shotts Branch). Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction. Monkland and Kirkintillock (Chapel Hall Branch). Lyndon and South-Western (Romney and Redbridge, Branch). Gloucester and Dean Forest. Swansea Vale. COMMITTEES ON PETITIONS FOR RAILWAY BILLS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. MOXDAT, FEB. 23. Direct London and Manchester. Rugby and Huntingdon. Grand Union. Cornwall. Shrewsbury and Hereford. Shropshire Union Railways and Canal (Shrewsbury and Stafford). London, Warwick, Leamington and Kidderminster. East and West India Docks and Birmingham Jartotiou. Dartmouth, Brixham, Torbay, and Exeter. Boston, Newark, and Sheffield. Nottingham, Mansfield, and Midland Junction. London and South-Western (Salisbury Junction). London and South-Western (Basingstoke and Salisbury Extension). Edinburgh and Glasgow and Dumbartonshire Junction. Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway and Branches (No. 6). Cork, Blackrock, and Passage. Liverpool and Leeds Direct. Northumberland and Lancashire. Tring, Reading, and Basingstoke. Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford. Birmingham, Lichfield, and Manchester. Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction. Chelmsford and Bury. Great Southern and Western (Cork Extension). 3lountmellick Junction. Dublin and Sandymount Atmospheric. Ely and Bury. Ely and Huntingdon (Bedford Extension). Cockermouth and Workington Extension. Lynn and Ely (Extension to Spalding). Lynn and Ely (Extension to March). South Union. Midland, Barnsley, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Leeds, and Bradford. Manchester, Huddersfield, and Great Grimsby. Dover and Deal. Doncaster, Wakefield, and Leeds. Stamford and Spalding. Monmouthshire. Huntingdon and Wisbech. Wear Dock. Derby and Crewe Junction. West Lancashire. Congleton and Crewe. Glasgow and Belfast Union. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway and Port of Goole. Oxford, Witney, Cheltenham, and Gloucester. Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction. British and Irish Union. Monmouth and Hereford. Eastern Counties (Hertford to Huntingdon). Bedford and Cambridge Extension. Eastern Counties (March to Lincoln). Eastern Counties (Epping Extension). Exeter Great Western. Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth. Midland (Claycross to Newark). Midland (Nottingham to Mansfield). Eastern Counties (Tottenham to Barnet). West Cornwall. Grand Trunk and Peterborough. West London Improvement and Extension. Norfolk Extensions (Tarmouth Extension). Norfolk Extensions (Thetford and Reodham Branches). Taff Vale. London and Brighton and London and Croydon Consolidation Midland (Burton to Nuneaton). Worcester, Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester. Midland (Leicester to Swannington). Midland (Barfield to Elsecar). Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Steer Valley (Stour Valley Line) Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley (Birmingham, Wol. verharapton, and Dudley Line). Eastern Counties (Cambridge to Lincoln), Eastern Counties Stations Enlargement. Eastern Union (Ardleigh to Colchester). Midland (Swinton to Lincoln.) Midland (Newark to Gainsborough.) Midland (Purchase ofOakhcm Canal.) Sheffield and Lincolnshire Extension. South Wales (No. 2). south-Eastern (No. 7—Ashford Stations Enlargement.) Shrewsbury and Birmingham. Staines and Henley (No. 2.) Worcester and Porth Dynllaen. Vale of Neath. Great Eastern and Western. Reading, Guildford, and Reigate. Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton. Eastern Counties (Tottenham and Farringdon-Street Extension). Eastern Counties (Thames Junction Railway Branches). Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley. Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's (Ely Extension, with Branches therefrom). /dankland and Kirkintilloch Gravesend and Rochester Railway and Canal. Lowestoft and Beccles. Midland Railways (Erewash Valley Extension). Midland Railways (Erewash Valley Branches). South Wales. Great Western. London and Birmingham Railway & Birmingham Canal Arrangement. Birmingham and Oxford (Birmingham Extension). Birmingham and Oxford Junction. Huddersfield and Sheffield and Manchester and Leeds Railway Companies Amalgamation. Southampton and Dorchester. Trent Valley (Alrewas Branch). Liverpool and Manchester and Leeds Amalgamation. Chard Canal. Preston and Wyre Railway Harbour and Dock Company. Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway. Cornwall and Devon Central (Hale, Lelant, St. Austell, and Bothnia Branches). Manchester and Birmingham Continuation and Welsh Junction. London and South Western Railway Acts Amendment. Trent Valley Midlands and Grand Junction. Liverpool and Bury. Warwick and Worcester. Runsorn and Preston Brook. Northern and Southern Connecting. Cornwall and Devon Central. Direct Birmingham and Leicester. Thetford, Bury St. Edmund's, and Newmarket. Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth (No. 2). London and Birmingham Extension (Northampton, Daventry, Lea mington, and Warwick). Rochdale Canal and Manchester and Leeds. Shrewsbury and Herefordshire North Union (Horwieh Branch). Leeds, York, and Junction. Bradford, Wakefield, and Midland. Manchester and Hyde. Bristol and Birmingham and Midlands. Buckingham Railway (Tring to Banbury). Bristol and Birmingham Railway (Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, and Malvern Line). Bristol and Gloucester and Birmingham and Gloucester. Bristol and Gloucester Railway (Gloucester and Stonehouse Junction). Chester and Birkenhead. Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction. Newcastle and Darlington Junction (Pontop and Sloth Shields Rail: way Purchase). London and Birmingham (Birmingham Extension). London and Birmingham (Coventry and Nuneaton). South Devon (No. 2). Leicester and Birmingham. London,Boston, salh, Stamford, bury a a n n d d ß 4 r e m io n il g j h u a n m e t ( io S n t a ( V a. o s d b t u o r y li r t l o s b eh ire e ov . ) Hull and Barnsley Junction. East Coast. London and Windsor. Hull and Lincoln. Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction. Tean and Dove and Eastern and Western Junction. Halesworth and Norwich. Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway and Manchester and Leeds Railway Amalgamation. Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe. Whitehaven and Furness. Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Junction and North Wales Mi neral Railway Amalgamation. London, Bristol, and South Wales Direct. Northampton, Banbury, and Cheltenham. Northampton and Banbury. Ipswich, Norwich, and Yarmouth. Furness Extensions. Northampton and Bedford. Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal Navigation Extensions. Buckinghamshire (Oxford and Bletchley Junction). London and Birmingham (Weedon and Northampton Branch). London and Birmingham (Leamington Extension, Coventry and Rugby Stations Enlargement). London and Birmingham (Aylesbury purchase). Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Company, &o. Amal. gamation. Midland (Birmingham Extension). London aid Birmingham Grand Junction, and Manchester and Bir mingham Amalgamation. Warwickshire and London (Hampton and Banbury Line). Birkenhead and Holyhead Junction. Warwickshire and London (Worcester and Weedon Line). Bideford and Tavistock. North Wales. Manchester and Leeds and Leeds and Bradford Amalgamation. Merecembe Harbour. Leeds Central Station. Blackburn, Clitheroe, and North Western Junction. Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton. Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction (Dardeld Branch). Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and South Staffordshird (go. 1). Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and Soutk Staffordshire (No. 2). Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Railway and Harbour. East Lothian Central and Tyne Valley Junetion. Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway and Chesterfield and Gains borough Canal. Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction. Edinburgh and Hamilton Direct. Lesmahagow, Dalserf, and Coatbridge Mineral Janction. Scottish Southern. East of Fife Paisley, Barrhead, and Hurlet Hamilton and Strathaven Banffshire. Dublin, Coleraine, and Belfast Junction. Omagh, Dungannon, Armagh, and Belfast Junction. Preston and Wyre, Harbour, and Docks (new Dock and Railway.) North Gravesend. TUESDAY, FEB. 24. London, Salisbury, and Yeovil Junction (Basingstoke to Yeovil.) Glasgow, Barrhead, and Nelisten Direct (Branches to Thornliebank, Househill, and Hurlet.) Glasgow, Barrhead, and /Tension Direct (Branches to Paisley.) Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock (Bridge of Weir Branch). Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow. Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction Terminus. Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston. Chester and Manchester Direct. Furness and Windermere. Manchester and Poole (Luggershall, Salisbury and Poole). M .acciesfield and Lichfield. Great County Down. Clonmel and Thurles. Dublin and Enniskillen. Londonderry and Enniskillen. Portbury Pier. Edniskillen and Sligo. Newry, Armagh, and Londonderry Junction. Edinburgh and Bathgate. Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction. Glasgow Southern Terminal. Scottish Midland Extension. Lanarkshire and Lothians. Dublin and Belfast Junction. Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin. Irish North Midland. Edinburgh and Glasgow, Monkland and ICirkintilleeh, Ballechney, and Slamannan. Edinburgh and Glasgow and Wiahaw and Coltneu Amalgamation. Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway and Forth and Clyde Neelgatton Amalgamation. Morayshire. Arbroath and Forfar. Caledonian, Polloo, and Govan and Clydesdale Junction Amalga mation. Scottish Central (Alloa Branch). Scottish Central (Crieff Branch). Scottish Central (Denny Branch). Caledonian Extensions. Polloc and Govan and Clydesdale Junction Amalgamation. Caledonian (Clydesdale Junction) Deviations. Caledonian (Carlisle Deviation). Caledonian (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Branch). Caledonian (Glasgow Termini and Branchee). Caledonian (Langholm Branch)) Caledonian (Mid Lothian Branches). Caledonian (Leith Junction). Caledonian (Dumfries Branch). Caledonian (Dundyvan Branch). Caledoniad (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Purchase). Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Extension and Branches. Stirlingshire Midland Junction. Stratksay and Breadalbane. Scottish Grand Junction. Caledonian Northern Direct. Perth and Inverness. Inverness and Elgin. Ayrshire and Caledonian Junction. Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Extension. Scottish Central (Perth Termini and Stations), Forth and Clyde Junction. Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct. St. Alban's, Luton. and Dunstable. Kilmarnock and Troon. Goal* and Doncaster. South Yorkshire Coal. Templemur@ and Nenagh. Great Leinster and Munster To. 1). elreat Leinster and Munster (No. 2). • York and Lancaster. North of Norfolk. East Dereham and Norwich. Wilts, Somerset, and Southampton. Chichester and Bognor. Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Amendment. Dunblano, Donne, aed Cailander. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh, and Direct Glasgow. Great Grimsby, Louth, Horncastle, Lincoln, and Midland Junction Oxford, Coventry, and Burton-on-Trent. Launceston and South Devon Railway (No. 2). Kastern Counties (Lincoln to Milford). Leeds and Thirsk (St. Helen's Branch Deviation). Leeds and Thirsk (North-Eastern Extension, Wath to Hartlop )ol). Leeds and Thirsk (Knaresborough Branch Extension). Edinburgh and Glasgow and Scottish Central Amalgamation. Mallow and Fermoy. East and West of England Junction. Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin. Manchester, Midland, and groat Grimsby Junction. Welsh Midland. Edinburgh and Perth. Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire. WEDNESDAY, FES. 25. Carlow Extension. Cork and Passage. Humdrum, and Bnniskerry. Cork and Waterford. Sligo and Shannon. Galway and Kilkenny. Midland Great Western of Ireland (Mu'Ungar to Galway). Midland Great Western of Ireland (Longford and Sligo). 3lidland Great Western of Ireland (Liffey Branch and Lo igfc rd De viation). Cork, Bandon, and Kinsale. Horbury Bridge and Calder. Forth and Clyde and Monkland Navigation Junction. Birkenhead and Llang,ollen. Warwickshire and London (Hampton and Ashchurch Line). Glasgow and Dundee Junction. Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and Loughor. North Devon Sheffield, As hton - under-Lyre, and Manchester (Whaley Bridge and Hayfield Branches). Dublin and Kingstown Extension. Belfast and Holywood Atmospheric. Great Munster Cork, Macroom, and Killarney. Bandon and Bantry. Preston and Wyre Extension and Darwen Junction. THURSDAY, FEB. 26. Wexford, Waterford, and Valencia. Surrey Grand Junction. Oldham, Manchester, Liverpool. and Birkenhead. Midland (Birmingham and Gloucester Branches). Dublin and Sandymount Atmospheric. Cork Possago, and Kinsale. Oxford, Southampton, Gosport, and Portsmouth. Norfolk (Norwich Branch). Manchester to Bury Atmospheric. FRIDAY, FEB. 27. Direct Northern. ASSIZE IN TELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT, Lancaster, Feb. 18. CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice ParrEsoN.) Catherine Hacking was indicted for the murder of her in fant child. Mr. Milton conducted the prosecution; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Whigham. The prisoner, who is a middle•aged woman, had been, it appeared, fur six or ssven years before this occurrence, in the service of a Mr. Sharpies, at Blackburn. In the latter part of the year 1845 it was observed by Mrs. Sharpies, and by some of her acquaintances among the servants in the neighbourhood, that she increased very much in size. Mrs. Sharpies, on more than one occasion, taxed her with being in the family-way; but this she always denied, saying that Mrs. Sharpies knew better, and that she (the prisones) had formerly been tapped for dropsy, and was then labouring under similar symptoms. On the lith of January last Mrs. Sharpies saw the prisoner coming in from the yard. She went into the kitchen and told Mrs. Sharpies she was very ill, and would be glad to go to bed. Mrs. Sharpies allowed her to go up to her bedroom. About half-an-hour after Mrs. Sharpies went up stairs. The prisoner was standing near the bedroom door with all her clothes on except her gown. She said, she was better, and asked Mrs. Sharpies to make her a cup of tea. From some appearances which Mrs. Sharpies saw in the lobby, she went across into a room oppo site, which was imperfectly lighted by a borrowed light. She went to a closet and looked in ; but it was so dark she could distinguish nothing. In the meantime she heard the prisoner call out—" Why are you going there, mistress ?" and she also heard her going down stairs. Mrs. Sharpies went for a light ; and, on entering the closet, found the body of a child in a pan, covered with a cloth. She imme diately went back to the bedroom, to which the prisoner had by this time returned, and asked what she had been doing. The prisoner then exclaimed,--" Oh, mistress, don't expose me 1" Mrs. Sharpies immediately sent for a surgeon. She said the father of the child was a man she met once in Rushton-moor, when going to her father's. It appeared from the evidence of the surgeon, Mr. Morley, that on going to the house he saw the prisoner in the bed room. He said to her, "Catherine, what is this?" She re plied, "Oh, Mr. Morley, I am very sorry for it, but th e child was born dead." On examining the body of the child he found a cut in the throat, and a portion of the gullet and wind-pipe cut away by some thin-bladed sharp instrument. On the prisoner being asked what she had done it with, she said she believed with a pen-knife, but she could recollect nothing about it. She said when she came to herself she found the pen-knife covered with blood on the floor—that she wiped it, and put it in her pocket. A penknife, on examina tion, was found there. It was then quite clean. Mr. Morley stated, that from a post nunleot examination, he was able to say that the child had breathed, and that he was inclined to think it probable it was barn alive. On further examination he stated that a child may breathe when only partially born, and die before it was wholly born. The effect of such a wound inflicted before death, or immediately after, would be very similar. In this case would think the wound, if after death, must have been inflicted within four minutes. A wound inflicted on the throat when the child was partially born would produce appearances similar to those observed in this case. Nothing could be inferred from the appearance of the wound as to whether it was par tially or wholly born at the time. (This witness, in a lengthened examination and cross examination, gave his evidence with a scientific precision and accuracy, divested of all unintelligible technicalities which received the strong praise of his Lordship in sum ming up.) Mr. Wurciu.Am addressed the jury for the defence, con tending that no evidence had been adduced which could satisfy the jury that the child had been fully born alive, a circumstance without which the charge of murder fell to the ground. His LORDSHIP summed up, and The jury, after some deliberation, acquitted the prisoner of murder, but found her Guilty of disposing of the dead body with intent to conceal the birth. His LORDSHIP, in a most feeling and impressive address, sentenced her to be imprisoned for two years. Joseph Townshend was indicted for embezzlement. In one set of counts he was described as servant to the overseers ( f the Preston Poor-liw Union, in another set as servant to the guardians. _ Mr. Brandt and Mr. Halton conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by. Mr. James. The prisoner, it appeared, had been for tome time as sistant-overseer to the union, and in that capacity had re ceived considerable sums of money, which it was his duty to pay over to the treasurer of the guardians. He made up quarterly an account of his receipts and payments, and in the last quarterly account, dated the 20th of October, 1845, there was a balance of a few shillings to his credit. He had given, on his appointment, a bond conditioned for his duly accounting for the several moneys received by him in the execution of his office. In the month of December last the sureties were about being changed, the former ones wish ing to be relieved from their liability, but, in the mean time, the prisoner having received considerable sums of money, absconded. He wrote from London to a relative at Preston, stating that there was no vessel at that port for New York, and that he would go by Liverpool, requesting that his wife should be asked to collect his clothes that they might be taken with him. This letter was commnnicated to the police, and in consequence he was apprehended at the house of a Mr. Jones, in Drummond -street, London. There was found on him a sum of 1341. 6s. sd. in gold and notes. The prisoner was brought before the magistrate at Preston, and sentenced for some of the embezzlements, under the provisions of the Poor-law Act for summary proceedings against defaulters. The present case was sent to the as sizes. Mr. J.smEs, for the defence, contended that the pri soner was not the servant or clerk of the overseers, and that his duties as assistant-overseer were of a totally different kind. The office was one, the duties of which are specified in the 59th George 111., cap. 12, s. 7, and the office of the present prisoner was of a similar cha racter. He was a public officer of the several townships for which he was appointed, but not a servant to the over. seers. The remedy against him for a default was either a summary one under the Act, or a suit on the bond. The Learned Counsel also contended that, even supposing him a servant to the overseers or guardians, there had been no em bezzlement, as he was not obliged to account until h is usual quarterly period, and it did not appear but that in t boo ks he might have debited himself wipth ese supposing th him y to be ams. a servant, ug o h f t 'embeaslement. He thought, how ethveelirer,istlLLT:iarir, eg t ca h l r i s i oe :l doubt whether he could be looked upon as the servant of the overseers. He might, perhaps, be a servant of the guardians; but that. in case there was an other difficulty as to how far the money embezzled could be said to be theirs. He should direct the jury, however, that the prisoner was a servant of the guardians, and the matter, in case of conviction, might be considered afterwards. The prisoner would suffer no hardship by this course, as he was already undergoing an imprisonnieni on the summary con viction, which would net have expired until the points of law could be determined.—Verdict, Guilty. FLANDERS MAIL. Th h e e m a t v h er o a f g F e e p b r r i ti c ar e y e , f w w a h s e 2 a b t f i . n s t 9 h c e w. p r hectolitre, and that of rye lgf. 40 c. e l3 elc g e lf ri 3 d g i i n r g '' on F S zi at . ur l LT , - ° The Chamber of Representatives returned to-day the debate on the Bth chapter of the budget of the department of justice. PuisLic Woasurr.—After a long debate, M. Delahaye moved to deduct from the augmentation of 60,000 francs, which, according to the proposal of the Minister of Justice, was to be added to the sum allowed for public worship in the last budget, the sum set apart for the salary of ecclesiastics who have not yet received any appointment. The motion was opposed, and finally rejected by a majority of 45 to 20. The six articles of chap. 8 were then agreed to. The Cham ber will discuss to-morrow chap. 9. CitAnrratmg Iztimunotes.—The Senate heard the report of M. Biolett on the budget of the department of finances and some others. It afterwards commenced the discussion of the project of law of the chase—the game law, of which it agreed to the first article. • _ There was a Council of Ministers to-day ;it began at half past ten o'clock and sat till one. If the members of the Cabinet have not yet come to an un derstanding on even- point, we are at least able to affirm that no resignation has been tendered. It was remarked that M. Van de Wever and M. Dechamps arrived together at the Chambers. There is to be another Council of Ministers to morrow. The King presided at the Council of Minis ters to-day. We learn from different parts of the provinces that the late frosts have done no injury to the wheat, rye, and cole seed, nor even to the kitchen vegetables and the fruit-trees in blo,som. The country looks beautiful, and there is every appearance of a very productive season. Some districts are still under water, and when the labours of the field shall begin a few weeks hence, the farmers will see their lands inundated when they ought to be sown. rADVERTISEMENT.I—A NOBLE DUKE AND IToL LOWAY's PILLS. Professor Holloway has lately been honoured by the personal thanks of one of the most renowned Duke's of the realm, who, like the Earl of Aldborongh, has been cured of a liver and stomach complaint of cone years standing, attendant with grea d t weakness and debility, by the means o f Holloway's celebrate Pills, and this after physicians skill was tried in vain. Dropsy paralysis, asthma, and diseases of the lungs, have nearly all Swhldicha few their origin in disordered livers and i s l toma r c e hs , o by all timely doses of Holloway's Pills will en dealers in medicines and at Professor Holloway's establish ment, 244, Strand, Londcn. Sir Thomas Acland , in a letter to J. 11. Furse, Esq , Chairman of the North Devea Agricultural Protection Society, clinect to ',lodge lihmtejf, previous to the the vote which he might give on Sir Robert Peel's ret. , oluticns.—lratern Na 11 a ry. t SEDUCTION Ok CHILDREN. Yesterday t wo men were Cliaried by constable Phillips, at Bow-street Police -court, with *living harboured and co habited with several little girls iniewretched hovel, occupied by them jointly, in Gilbert-street, Clare -market. The constable informed the magistrate, that in consequence of the representations made to him by a mechanic named Wklker, who had lost his daughter, aged thirteen years, he went to the room occupied by the prisoners, and keocking at the door, which was fastened, demanded admission. He heard the voice of a child inside, and he was asked by a man, whom he heard getting out of bed, what he wanted. Wit ness insisted on being admitted, and the door was eventually opened. He found one of the prisoners standing in the room, in his shirt only, and saw three little girls, under fourteen years of age, crouched together, completely naked, and having no other covering than that of a dirty rug. The other pri , soner was net undressed. Walker, who accompanied the policeman, identified one of the children as his daughter, whose absence from home he had been unable to account for. The constable ordered the girls to put on the scanty clothing which was lying about them, and, taking the prisoners into custody, conducted them all to the police station. Mr. Twyford observed that those disclosures were very horrible. To think of men going about and decoying young children like these to their dens of depravity was horrible in deed. But, as the children were more than ten years old, no offence had been committed in the eye of the law, and it was not in the power of the magistrate to interfere. There was nothing to show that violent means bad been used to get Che children away from their parents, or that they had been retained by the men contrary to their own wishes. The constable remarked tied the doJr of the room was kept locked. kr. Twyford—Very likely; but it was no offence to lock a door, and, although he wished to say nothing in favour of the p isoners, it was only reasonable to suppose that the place was Rept locked by them from feelings of delicacy. His worship wished to see one of the girls. The three children were then brought into court, and one of them, aged thirteen, was placed in the witness-box. Pale, thin, and consumptive in their appearance, barely covered with ragged clothing, and dirty in the extreme, nothing could exceed the apparent wretetedness of these poor creatures. The father of one of them (Walker), and the mother of another, were well-dressed and respectable-looking people. The third, who was put under examination, stated that her father's name was Barrykin, and that he was a bricklayer's labourer. She had not been living all the time with the men at the bar, but, for a short period, with Lucy Roach (a well-known prostitute), who lodged in the same house. She said that she should be glad to go anywhere to be protected. Phillips, the officer, said that the parents of a great many other children were prepared w ith s i m il ar complaints against i the prisoners, f his Worship wished to hear them. Mr. T Wyford repeated that he could not punish the men, and although he did not blame the officer for taking them into custody, it was his duty to discharge them. A gentleman here stepped forward, and begged his Wor ship to use his influence with some philanthropic institution, in order, if possible, to rescue the children from the depra vity into which they had been plunged at so tender an age. By the direction of his Worship, however, they were handed over to the constable to be taken back to their pa rents, and the two miscreants at the bar, whom, it seems, no law could reach, were discharged. DARING BURGLARY NEAR LEAMINGTON. During the course of yesterday (Friday) morning, infor mation was received by Mr. Roby, superintendent of police, that a burglarious entry had been made into the residence of 11. E. Landor, Esq., a gentleman living at Teachbroke, It appears that about two o'clock in the morning, two of Mr. Landor's servants who slept in a bed-room over the kitchen, in the rear of the premises, were awoke by the breaking of glass, and the entrance through the window of the apartment of three men successively, whose faces were covered with black crape. A scuffle ensued, and one of the servants made his escape into the dining-room, the window of which opened into a front garden, and as he was about to retreat in that direction, in order to give an alarm in the village, he caught si g ht o f a man w h o was stan di ng sentinel, armed with a bludgeon. He immediately proceeded up a back staircase to Mr. Landor's bedchamber, to inform that gentleman of what had taken place ; and, having done so, retreated into the kitchen, where he secreted himself in the chimney, and there remained until all chance of danger had passed away. From this hiding-place, however, ke heard the burglars making search for him, and, in foul language, expressing their regret that he had escaped them. Returning to the other servant (Morley), who was left scuffling with three of the thieves, we ascertained that, after some considerable resistance, during which time he was forced from room to room, and struck a most serious blow on the forehead, he was finally overcome, and compelled to lead the robbers to the bed-room of his master, who had been previously aroused by Cleaver, and had been looking for firs-arms, one of which he held in his hand as the plunderers entered his chamber. One of them, addressing him, said—" Now, old fellow, we've found you, have we?" and commenced wrestling with him for the blunderbuss with which he had armed himself. The party ultimately forced him to the floor, exclaiming, "Your money er your life." Mr. Lander, with great self-possession, to this threat replied, " Here, then, as you are masters now,:! at the same time handing over his purse, in which there were six or seven pounds, principally in gold. The thieves, according to Mr. Lander's own statement, shook the purse, evidently surprised and disappointed at the trifling booty they had gained. At this period both Mr. Landor and his occasigna 1 servant (Morley), seeing that all further resistance would be useless, abstained from offering any, and seated themselves by the bed. The perpetrators of this violent attack upon life and property next wantonly forced open a small cabinet by the bedside, and took out four watches. These, together with the money above mentioned, appear to be the whole of the property carried off by the thieves, who, however, compelled Mr. Landor to go with them to the dining-room, there to deliver up the key of hia plate-chest. On unlocking this iron safe, they turned out all the plate, as if money only was their object, and, at length, pounced upon a pocket-book which they eagerly took to the wax lights %lia they had ignited, and examined the con tents minutely, which consisted of bankers accountable bills upon Messrs. Taylor and Loyd, of the Birmingham Old Bank, for between 6,000/. and 7,0004 They turned them on one side as of no importance whatever ; and from this fact, as well as from that of not a single tirticle of plate being taken away, it may fairly he presumed that their only object of plunder was money. The servant-man, who is wounded, lies in a very precari ous state; and we regret to state, that up to the moment of our account leaving Leamington, at eight o'clock last night, the police had been unable to gain any intelligence of the thieves. REPORTED DEATH OF MADAME CASTELL AN. The following letter has been addressed to Mr. Lumley by the father of Madame Casten= (Translation.) Paris, Feb. 18, 1846. Sir,—An article has been inserted in a London journal, entitled " Death of Madame Castellan !" This article, after having given details of Madame C as t e ll an ' s death, betrays but little respect for the dead, for even whilst announcing my daughter's death, it perfidiously assails her talents. I therefore address myself to you, Sir, to beg you, for my daughter's sake and your own, to publish a contradiction in the London jonrnals of the sinister reports malice has circu lated, My daughter is in good health, and I received the same day this report of her death reached me, a letter from her own hand of the 6th of February, announcing her re appearance at the theatre, after a slight indisposition; and the manner in which sbe was received by the public of St. Petersburgh triumphantly refutes the attack upon her talent which accompanied the announcement of her death. I venture. Sir, to hope from your ki n d ness , th a t you w ill contradict the else report which I have pointed' out, and which:no doubt has reached your ears. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my distinguished consi deration. (Signed) J. CASTELLAN, 41, Rue des Poissonniem To Monsieur B. Lumley. COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FRO3I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) lforwarded be a to finer ISLE OF WIGHT LAMBS. o e n fi y rs e t st l e o r t da ( y a scorei7 wa raiolfvyerr fine e r e c r o e u there ones) n w l am bing season; they are falling very strong, and numerous Lo T ud h twins. Fos-hunting is followed up with much spirit in this neigh bourhood. Whole establishments turn out on the report of tradesmen, theof a vermin 1 e armed,hai havin g but been notseen followed, mou n t Thebyll kUlirerpOenreS and their followers have had good sport this week, havin g shot three, FLINT GLASS MANUFACTORIES. The numerous works in the kingdom are nearly brought to a stand still for want of sand. This article has for some years been obtained from Allum Bay in the Isle of Wight, but the long-contimied south-westerly gales prevented a supply from being obtained, and the heavy rains caused founders to dig into the pits of sands of other colours, of which there are numerous strata of every shade. That which is used in the manufacture of glass is beautifully white, and will in a few days again be plentifully obtained, should the present fine weather continue. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early walk yesterday in the pleasure -grounds of Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness afterwards rode out on horseback, at tended by Colouel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, were taken their accustomed exercise yesterday in the royal gardens. _ honour o f aa nsdi tStosiiennrlgl ewD.... His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the Commission for promoting and encouraging the Fine Arts, in the re-building the palace of Westminster. His Royal Highness arrived at Gwydyr House at a quarter before three o'clock, attended by Colonel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting. . The Commissioners present were—the Marquis of Lans downe, Lord John Russell, Viscount Palmerston, Lord Ash burton, Lord Colborne, Viscount Mahon, the Right lion. Sir Robert Peel, Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bart., Mr. Benjamin Hawes, M.P., Mr. Henry Hallam, Mr. Samuel Rogers, Mr. Thomas Wyse, M.P., and the Secretary, Mr. C. L. Eastlake. At four o'clock the Prince and the Commissioners went to the new palace at Westminster, where they were rec:_iN:ti g i. o 3: the architect, Mr. Barry, who conducted his Royal e li n i ow n High ness and the members of the Commission over b llouses of Parliament. of the French plays with their pl - Vesceonuntess Canning, Hen. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the The royal suite included the i s Colonel Arbuthnot, and Miss Dawson, the Earl of Warwick, t t e h r e d apye-.r performance erring. a n ce Georgehei tdehi yesterday returned last Bart.,Colonel also W Wylde. u r eHerd the e Royal e C ri a n u o l i io t n e nti r ea e rli. rfor Hi man gh e n e es y s it t h he h D er u p e r h e e s s e s n o c f e. lient , portrait attended r.ir bo o b f r y hb ui s Lady a d F Prince Alfred. Royal Highness . him at the Hague. tahnenj Ho war d recovered tlVedriesday from Holland. . His .einrdi Excellency satyera,ththa i had His Excellency from his : A lateserious edel an d m 3 df la s d po e em m s s t i o ti l v i PrinceeAw d w e i i : u h t C a 'l‘3 t is i o rt n e : Sc a f . 1 7 . 1 1 jcoadromieAhl:nartr Secretar y e lv e a G r N i l k. iron trade Foster,omotlnri r a et . a d yn . w e o i f l l hadi a S o uthlnan.winaStrtaed4ffmoieril:wihirteh office. consisting athe n w f M s, Dalhousie yesterday at the office of the Board of Wil liam the Trade. The deputation was introduced by Colonel Anson, DI. P., Mr. C. P. Villiers, M.P., and Mr. T. Thornely, ICP- His Excellency M. Dedel had an interview with Lord Aberdeen yesterday, at the For e i gn - o ffi ce . The Ec clesiastical Cerrunissionera for .England had a special general meeting yesterday afterooort.at the office in Whitehall-place. 'there were present the Arehbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, Carlisle, Chichester, Ely, Heref ord, Llandaff, and Oxford, the FAA of Devon, and the Right Hon. Sir George Grey.