The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

o f L a newspaper in the neighbourhood of a school where such a state of management existed, and seeing that state, should notice it in his paper. He felt very deeply for the poor man, who, no doubt, thought that he was ting in a perfectly proper manner in publishing a part of what Le thought was an authentic document. Mr. MUNTZ would be the last man to interfere with the liberty of the public press. Mr. Wood had, in a manner most unfoundedly and untruly, made comments upon the report. Had he only published the report he thought he would have had a strong case. Sir R. H. INGLIS thought the question was simply whether the proprietors of a newspaper could publish reports of this House, whether contained in their blue books or other documents. He hoped, in the present case that some in dulgence would be shown to a person who had onl y acted in a manner generally acted upon by the press at large. Mr. EWART thought the House should not involve itself in any collision with the courts of law. Sir J. GRAHAM did not think the present was a case of publishing reports of the House, but rather one in which unfair comments had been made upon the reports of the editor of the paper. The case had been submitted to two juries and two verdicts, and he thought it highly improper that the House should interfere. - Lord INGESTRE then withdrew his motion. RAILWAY DEPOSITS BILL. Mr. MOFFATT then moved the second reading of the _ _ Railway D,posits Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would not object to the second reading, as some amendments which he would wish to introduce might be introduced in Committee. Lord JOHN RUSSELL made some remarks which were inaudible in the gallery. ➢ir. MOFFATT would object to amendments being made in Committee. Mr. W. COLLETT thought that the great inconvenience and loss attending railway deposits should be preTanted by some alteration in the law. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow. DESTITUTE POOR (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. P. SCROPE would beg to impress upon the House the importance of the present measure. On the 21st of July, 1834, on the order of the day being read, he moved a resolu tion to the effect that, in order to the security against agra rian outrages, the poorer classes should obtain a sufficiency of the necessaries of life by honest industry. In 1835 he ha ventured to divide the House on the same principle. He had co-operated with many Members of the House in obtain ing a poor-law for Ireland, and when the Commission for in quiring into the state of Ireland had made their re port, he had endeavoured to carry their recommen dations into effective operation. By that report it ap . . peered that the Commissioners were decidedly of opinion that if the poor population could not obtain a subsistence by their industry, they ought to have an allowance out of the Consolidated Fund, and in tact, that they were entitled to be secured from destitution. But the Government thought this recommendation went too far, and they sent only another Commissioner, Dr. Nicholls, who had made a report, on which the Ministry acted, and confined the relief to that which was given at the several workhouses. What had been the result of that system was evident in the agrarian outrages which originated in want, and had most certainly led to crime. The workhouses were only finished last year, and they hail proved totally in.ufficient for the purpose, lie conceived that the objects for which a poor-law ought to be Qstabli,hed were threefold. The first of these was the relief of the prior destitute, as a matter of charity, with a view to put down vagrancy, and all those evils which flow from a condition of society which is at once beyond the power of the law, and incapable of orderly or ganisation. lie second ground was a matter of police, with a view to reduce the amount of the crime and privation, that temptation to break the laws which the impulses of nature would always occasion. The third ground was the protection of the poor man from those positions which were opposed to all the foundations of law. By the present state of things, land, which was the common gift of the munificent Creator of all mankind, was confined for the profit of the few, and therefore it was that some mea sure should be devised for the relief of that class who suffered most from that perver-ion of the natural state of things. These were the three groands on which a poor-law ought to be based, and the attempt to restrict relief therefore to the workhouse rule must prove totally inoperative. The work houses in Ireland were incompetent to relieve one per cent. of the pauperised population of that country. In England it is well known that the pauper popu lation constituted ten per cent. of the whole com munity. Now here there are 534 workhouses, a much greater number than there were in Ireland, and yet in this country it was a matter notorious to all that in these workhouses there was not more than one- sixth of the relief gnu en of the whole that was granted. It appeared that in Limerick, ac2ording to the report of Lord Devon's Commis sion, the p.ior were absolutely in aworFe condition than they were when the law was first passed. The scheme, then, had evidently failed, and he (Mi.. Scrope) was of opinion that until the poor were saved from the destitution which pushed them on to crime these agrarian out rages would not cease. The poor man was evidently entitled to be saved from starvation by an allowance from the land on which their forefathers were born. (The Honourable Gentleman then read a series of extracts from Dr. Doyle's pamphlet, and from the work of Mr. Evans, secretary to the Poor .law Inquiry for two years.) There were three means by which the country was governed. There was the law of the land, with their judges to administer it and backed by the military and civil authorities, but which had proved quite inoperative for its purpose. Then there was the convention between the parties who were the objects of the law's direction and who had succeeded in evading all the carefulness of the law. The Right Hon. Baronet (Sir J. • Graham) had stated the other night that outrages were no prevalent throughout Ireland, and that the increase of crime was canfiaed to five counties. But what was the reason of this, why because the law of the land was inoperative to protect the lives and properties of the peasantry, whereas the agrarian law was effective for that purpose. He would ask whether the law of the land did protect the life of the peasantry ?—[ Sir J. Graham—"Yes."] Did it? He denied it ; for it did not protect him from starvation, and he was compelled to resort to agrarian disturbances, in order to protect himself against the extremity of want. In reply to a petition the other day, the Right Hon. Baronet had stated that they could not expect a man to surer the last evils of starvation, but that he was to a certain extent justified in resorting to violence, or at least illegality, to save himself and his family from starvation. When a man was evicted from his holding without any compensation for the improvements he had made upon it, was he to lie down and die in a ditch? On the very principle which the Right Hon. Baronet had propounded there was evidently a necessity far an alteration in this mode of relieving the poor. Throughout a great part of Ire:and there was a peculiar tenant right by which the tenant was entitled to com pensation, but did their law protect that ? It was notorious that it did not. In Ulster the tenant right was recognised and allowed, but such was not the case generally, and in some places the tenant was evicted from his holding without any compensation whatever, after having bestowed as much as would amount to a twenty or thirty years' purchase. In the counties of Down and Armagh, it was the fear of agrarian outrages which preserved this right. In Ulster, therefore, it was upheld, because the legal authorities gave way to the agrarian law. He might refer to the evidence of Mr. Senior, and to the late frightful case of eviction in Galway, for a confirmation of what he had stated. He thought that he had proved that the statute law did not protect. life in Ireland, end that was the reason why, in moving the second reading, he had given the title to the Bill which it now bore. There was not protection from destitution, and, therefore, as wrong begets wrong, so long as that destitution existed crime would exist. He would not palliate the enor mity of the crimes in the slightest degree, but he was de sirous of impressing the House with the belief that there was a duty to perform in saving the poor from the destitution which was the source of crime. As Lord Brougham had ex pounded the law, the landlord had at present the right of sweeping off the whole of their tenantry from their estates without the slightest recompense, and Blackstone had stated that there was no man so indigent but that he might demand relief in case of destitution. It was clear, therefore, that the landlords of Ireland ought to concede to the people the right to a maintenance from the land of their birth. He thought it was now high time to alter the laws relating to the destitute poor of Ireland The existing laws bad a tendency to produce crime, by not effectually relieving •the destitution of the people. The rights of the poor were left to the discretion of the landlord, and the rights of the landlords were enforced, and exposed to the mercy of the land lord. Thg poor of Ireland had a right to relief; and he proposed that out-'door relief should be afforded to them under the discretion of the guardians. There was a great quantity of waste land in that country, amounting to 4,000,000 of acres, which might be made to produce crops, and give employ ment to the able. bodied poor; and he contended provision should be made by the law for the employment of such persons in such manner. It might be done under the superinten dence of the Board of Works. He believed that great gain would result from such a mode of employment, both to the landlords and to the country at large, which would be cleared of the vagrancy, immorality, and crime which at present existed there. Sir J. GRAHAM said he was sorry that a subject of such immense importance should be discussed in such a hurry. But, after the speech which had fallen from the Honourable Gentleman, he found it necessary to make some observations on a few points touched up on in that speech, and, in the fi rs t p l ace, he w ouldacquit him of any intention to create any evil excitemen t by a dis cussion on the subject, but on the contrary, he would give him every credit for being actuated by the purest intentions promote the public good. HoWever, the Hon. Gentleman would excuse him if, considering the present state of Ireland and the excitement which prevailed there, his humble judgment led him to the conclusion that a discussion on this subject was, to say the least of it, ill-timed. The Government had received much information upon the subject, which differed in many es sential points from that urged by the Hon. Gentleman, and he therefore considered that the Legislature would act wisely in receiving any advice with great caution. Tnere had been reference made to the starvation which • was accustomed to exist in Ireland. Now, he did believe that there was not one single instance of death arising from starvation in Ireland, and that so far from robbery and depredation having been committed in consequence of starvation, the Irish people were extremely honest amid the greatest want and privation. That was their character, and with reference to what he had observed, namely, that the discussion was inopportune, he would say that an imprudent expression would be now calculated to produce effects which he trembled to contem - plate, effects which might be written in letters of blood in Ire land, and he therefore approached the discussion of the snbject with a degree of awe and hesitation. In the first place, he considered that the doctrine laid down by the Hon. Gentle man was the most dangerous that was ever pro pounded, for if the doctrine was worth anything it amounted to this—that occupation for any length of time should be converted into a perpetual right, subsequent to the payment of a quit rent.—( Hear .) Why, it would be the subversion of a ll ri g hts of property.—( Hear.) Mr. POEILETT SCROPE said he distinctly declared that he had no such intention, and that he only sought by his Bill to obtain compensation for improvement. Sir J. GRAHAM said he app ealed to the House what was their recollection of the words of the Hon. Gentleman ? ( Hear.) But rejecting me re words, and attaching themselves to the prin c i p l eo f the Bill, he did still allege that, in his opinion, the Bill reached to the extent whch he had just stated. The Hon. Gentleman had stated that there were 2,300,000 paupers in Ireland ; now it must be apparent to the House that land iu that country could not be adequately taxed for the support of such a vast number. H e admitted distinctly that property w i t h its rights existed for the be nefit of the community.—(Hear, he r ) But, w hilst there was such a charge as this effected,ait would break down the rights of property. He .respected . law prescrip tions and possessions, and must and with these impressions he Respectingwas Joul issue on this • • compelled to the feelings resist the second reading of this Bill. and the motives of the Honourable Gentleman, impressed with the belief that the speech of Ze n /lo bewas Gen tleman was likely to lead to more dangerous consequences n. than the motion itself; yet, entertaining that belief should resist the measure which was now submitted t Z f c. the e House. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN, as en Irish landlord, and deriving his - subsistence from the land, was grateful to his Hon. per_ for having brought forward this moti on , an d h e fectly agreed with, him that the cessation from outragewair owing to the agrarian association. With the fact before him that the Government had brought in a Bill for coercion, he thought the Irish people had a right to protection from the Ministry. He admitted that the Bill now before the House was not a sufficient protection ; but BOA was an advantage, and the more so as the Bill of the Govern ment was accompanied with conditions which were likely to make it unpopular in Ireland. For three years the Govern ment had been conducting an expensive inquiry, and although the Noble Lord near him (Lord J. Russell) had expressed his opinion against it, yet he still must persist in the belief that some system of out-door relief should be adopted. In Englaad the matter was different, for there the labourer obtained 9s. or 10s. a week, but in Ireland a man, with all his exertions, could not ob tain more than 45., or, at the most, ss. a week, so that there was no possibility of making a provision for the future. In his opinion, the - rule for separating the hus band and wife, and the parents and children, was altogether bad; and he thought that where such an effect was likely to occur, out-door relief ought to be granted. That relief ought also to be given in the cases of s i ck poor, and of orphans entitled to relief, and especially in the cases of persons growing up, for bad habits were easily formed, and the workhouse was the grave of economy. With respect to the granting of relief out of . the Consolidated Fund, he was against any direct application of the public funds ; but the Government might take another course. There were farms which required improvement, thousands of acres which were at present waste lands, on which capital m i g ht b e very profitably embarked ; there were public works on which labour might be very profitably employed, while there were thousands of persons who were in want of employment, and in this way their labour might be advantageously employed. He did not mean to say that every able-bodied person was to rush to the public funds for assistance ; but taking the workhouse test they might apply it to the out-door relief. He was no friend to the compulsory emigration, which was not popular in Ireland; but yet voluntary emigration might be encouraged in a very serviceable way. Now, to all these points the Government might direct their attention, and they ought to do so. They might frame the machinery as they liked, but still the princi ple ought to be adopted and used. There were several clauses in this Bill that ought to be withdrawn without injuring it, but the principle itself was good, and, if carried out, would tend to improve many estates in Ireland ; and believing so, he gave the Bill his most cordial support. Sir JAMES GRAHAM explained that he opposed the Bill on the grounds that it gave relief to the able-bodied poor, that interfered with the exercise of their duties by the Poor-law Guardians, disposed of the great question of the out-door relief, and proposed an impossibility in attempting to do away with mendicancy in Ireland. Lordl J. RUSSELL, though favourable to any improve ment in the condition of Ireland, could not give his assent to this Bill, for though the Commissioners might be very good judges of the state of Ireland, yet he had very great doubt of their recommendation to give relief to the poer at their own hands. He bad consulted Mr. Senior and Mr. Cornwall Lewis on this point, and they had both given great attention to this subject, and their impressions were that the alteration would have th e effect of adding new evils to those which already existed in the old poor-law of Elizabeth. He would call upon those who impugned the reasons of those persons if they could, and he was the more impressed with their conclusions by the reasons which they had assigned for them.—( Hear.) They stated, for instance, with regard to emigration, that a difficulty would arise in the event of those who professed to be ready, declaring when the ship was about to sail that they were unable to go with it. If they yielded to such a declaration they lost all the benefit of the outlay, while if they persisted in forcing the parties to emigrate who had obtained the assis tance of Government, they would lay themselves open to the reproach of having absolutely transported these indi viduals, instead of having encouraged voluntary emi gration. It did not follow that because there were 2,300,000 poor people in Ireland, there were so many paupers, but that there were 2,300,000 persons not in the possession of the comforts of others of similar condi tion in this country. He would not enter into the great ques tions of tenure of land and tenant right, but he must declare his belief that there must be a workhouse or some other similar test, and he conceived that if the poor were to be relieved, it must be through the agency of other and indirect means. For these reasons he should oppose the Bill, conceiving that it was not calculated to accomplish the ends which the mover intended. The O'CONORI DON thought that the feeling in Ire land was decidedly against any increase of the poor-rates, and that, therefore, if there was difficulty now, it would be increased if this measure were passed, and he should, there fore, oppose it. Mr. P. BUTLER said that there was evidently not any necessity for the change. The Charitable Society and the Benevolent Society, the two great charitable institutions of Ireland, relieved every week 168 individuals. His belief is that the guardians in Ireland ought to be compelled to provide relief for the destitute poor. Mr. WAKLEY—(" Question, question")—had heard only a part of the discussion, and he regretted to have heard that. The Right Honourable Baronet, the influential member of the Government that is, and the Noble Lord who exoected shortly to be at the head of the Government that is to be, bad both positively declared themselves decidedly opposed to the principle of the Bill, but he had yet to learn why there should be a difference between the manage ment of the poor in Ireland and in this country. What was the fact ? Why that the Irish poor prefered to be sent to a gaol to returning to their own country. This was a fact which ought to secure the most serious attention of the Irish Members. He believed that this subject would grow in strength from year to year, until the same system of legislation was adopted with regard to Ireland as was adopted with respect to this country. His conviction was, that outrages would increase until they gave a right to relief in eases of destitution, and as soon as that was granted, a great moral change would be wrought in the condition of the poor of that country. He should give the Bill his cordial support in all its stages, and he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would allow it to go into Committee and there be modified if he desired it, for he thought this was a duty which he owed to the poor of Ireland, and if he did not do so, his (Mr. Wakley's) impression was that his refusal would be a source of very painful reflection. Lord CLAUDE HAMILTON opposed the Bill. Mr. SCROPE said he would not trouble the House by dividing, and the second reading of the Bill was negatived without a division. COUNTY ELECTIONS. The County Elections Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday next. INSOLVENT DEBTORS (INDIA) BILL. Lord MAHON moved that the Insolvent Debtors (India) Bill should be read a first time.—Agreed to, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. FACTORIES BILL. Sir R. INGLIS prevented several petitions numerously signed by clergymen, praying, the House would prevent young persons from being employed more than seven hours. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Six o'clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The Committee eat at eleven o'clock, and resumed the hearing of evidence in the case of the CORN AND wATEnrozzo LINE. Several witleases were examined, who proved, that from the amount of traffic that existed on the present route, the line, if con structed, could not fail to pay six per cent. to the shareholders. ROUSE OF COM.MONS. GIZOLT VI. IBOOTCX C: (CRIZIT BRANCH). The Committee met again this day at one o'clock, is the Court of Queen's Bench, Sir John Hobhouse, chairman. Mr. PicstsaiNa appeared for the promoters of the line. The Learned Counsel said that the line was about 9% miles, and the capital 160,0001. It was promoted by the Scottish Central Railway Company for the purpose of carrying their line of railway on to Crieff. The property through which it would ran belonged to Lord Strathallan and Lord Willoughby, both being in favour of the !scheme. There was no opposition whatever, in consequence of a clause having been agreed on for the purpose of avoiding the pro perty of a gentleman named Spears, and, consequently, he trusted the Committee would declare the preamble of the Bill proved. The Committee then decided that the preamble of the Bill was proved, and tke clauses having been gone through, the Committee said they would report the Bill as passed. The Committee said, that in consequence of the other Bills of the groups not being ready to proceed, they would adjourn to the 27th of April. GROUP VIII. This Committee resumed its sittings this morning at eleven o'clock, in Rom No. 12 ; present, Mr. Benjamin Hawes (in the chair), Mr. Jilntwisle, Captain Vyse, Colonel Paget, and Mr. Beresford Hope. ZDINDURGIE AND rimniara. Mr. Hon, the agent of the promoters of this Bill, informed the Committee that there was only one petition against it, and that Mr. Inglis, of Logan Bank, the petitioner, kad withdrawn his opposition. He had therefore to request that the Committee would allow this Bill to be referred to Mr. Greene up stairs. Mr. Inglis having corroborated Mr. Hope's statement, The CHAIRMAN, after a consultation with the other Hon. Members of the Committee, asked whether there was any intention of the pro moters to amalgamate with the North British? Mr. HOPS replied in the affirmative. The CHAIRMAN—Then we shall decline referring the Bill to Mr. Greene for the present. The CHAIRMAN then informed Mr. Paten, that as there was no House yesterday, it was impossible for him to obtain warrants to compel the attendance of the two witnoeses mentioned in our edition of yes terday . With regard to the Hon. Member fer Berwick , he had no doubt he would be in attendance this morning. Mr. PATON saW, as the House wo w ,g o g l ia d b s uda itat w tw ary el an ve t :'cl be o f c o k re to i - t d a a d y . , he hoped the Hoe. journed. The Cnatittitax said be would shortly adjourn the Comm Mae for a few minutes to obtain the warrants. Mr. Sergeant BELLASIC, on the part of the witnesses, said that they would attend as soon as they were aware of the warrants having been issued. They were, In fact, in the room at that moment, and the reason why they did not wish to volunteer their evidence was, that they filled confidential situations for a competing company. The Committee then proceeded to hear the case of the promoters of the NORTH BRITXSE (HAVTICIL BRANCH). The Hon. Mr. TALBOT, Q.C., said he would very briefly lay before the Commitee the merits of this line, which would pass through a very extensive district, and involved very important considerations to the public, and also to the welfare of the company. This scheme was projected by the promoters of the North British Company, whose ether Bill had passed yesterday, and the branches included in which Bill would undoubtedly be feeders to their original line. The Com mittee, he dared say, had heard la course of the discussion which had taken place in that room last year, that the North British Company had been successthl in their attempt to obtain a line of railway be tween Edinburgh and Mawick, and the object of the present Bill was to give accommodation to.the lateral interests, and principally to the town of Galashiels, which was of griming importance. The Com mittee would have to decide as to the mode in which this company proposed to bring the traffic of that country upon the mate line, so as to be satisfactory to the public and remunerative to the com pany, and also as to whether there were any sufficient countervailing objections to the project. He would new proceed to call their attention to the proposed branches. They had a branch to Inner Leithen and Peebles, and from those they had a branch to Ga lashiels. They had then a branch to Selkirk, which lay eastward of their lice, and also to a place called St. Boswell'e. They had also branches in the south to Melrose, and in the east to Kelso, as well as to Roxburgh and Jedburgh. They would have a considerable district lying on that portion of their line, and he thought he might say with perfect truth with respect to the project of last year--the Edinburgh and Hawick line—that it would be most materially im proved by the construction of the projected branches. The entire district was one of very considerable agricultural importance, an t there were also manufacturing interests of very considerable magni tude in that part of Scotland which it was most desirable to accom modate with railway communication. Everybody knew that Ga lashiels was a place of great commercial importance, and that town, as well as those of Selkirk, Hawick, and Inner Leithen, experienced considerable disadvantages in consequence of there being no facilities of communication with each other. They were manufacturing districts, and it was most desirable that they should have facilities for communicating with each other. The whole district was blessed by nature with very considerable water power, which had induced the manufacture of cloth, &c., to a very great extent. He would now direct the attention of the Committee to the merits of another branch. The Committee had seriously blamed the promoters, but he hoped undeservedly, for not marking upon their plan the rail way which had been authorised by Parliament last year, between Berwick and Kelso. It certainly was not done for the purpose of dee ceiving the Committee, and it was now plainly laid down on themap. They proposed to extend that branch to Peebles, and it had been Proposed by other parties front the westward to bring traffic east and west of the line of the Great Caledonian Company, so that from Berwick to the westward of Ayr, they would have a sort of cruciform railway—the line of this Company Dung the horizontal portion of the crosx, that of the Caledonian 'forming the other limb, and the Hawick project forming the lower Tbefact tbataapoon as theproject at this Compap to Maar, coMmedation to that district was set on foot, there was suddenly a host of competitors, showed the importance and desirableness of the project. The Caledonian, finding that the current of the feeling of the landed proprietors in that district was n favour of this Compels'', withdrew from the field. They had entered a retraxit with respect to the line between Peebles and Simonton. The opposition had now been withdrawn, and he was happy to state to the Committee that they would not now have to decide between rival projects. They would perceive that this project would give direct access to Glasgow, and it was of course of the utmost importance that the agricultural . and manufacturing districts which he had alluded to should have railway accommodation with the metropolis. They proposed constructing branches to Selkirk, Melrose, Kelso, Roxburgh, and Jedburgh, all of which would of course desire the best and most direct communication with Glasgow. That was the general outline of the case, and he would now proceed to point to the Committee, in detail, but very shortly, . the merits of the individual branches. And first, with regard to the branch to Peebles, which left the main line south of Galashiels, which they had already perceived was of considerable commercial importance. It was of importance particularly in reference to its intercommunica tion with Selkirk, anti also with Hawick, in which district there was now carried on a manufacture of considerable and growing im portance —the manufacture of Tweed trousering—which be believed was patronised by a late noble and learned occupant of the Woolsack In the House of Lords. Ile believed that that noble personage ad mired that article eery much.—(Laughter.) But, whether that was so or not, it had become of considerable importance, and it was very desirable that Galashiels should have the best communication with the principal towns in Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom. in all of which Tweed trousering was very much used. They then pursued the valley of the Tweed, in the direction of Inner Leithen, where there was water-power of between 8,000 and 10,000 horse power now used in manulactures, and it was desirable to give that district railway accommodation for the full development of its na tural resources. Steam power would of course be used extensively, in a short time in that district, and it was neeessary that a branch should be made to Gala.sle els and the Lothian, to supply it with coals for that purpose. There were no engineering difficulties in that district, and the inhabitants were extremely anxious for the con struction of a line, and he would undertake to bring forward most respectable evidence to bear out his statements. He was sorry to say-that this branch was opposed by a certain landowner, a gentle man for whom he entertained the greatest respect, and who he regretted to find opposing the branch. The name of that gentleman was Mr. Ballantyne, the proprietor of a place called Holylee, near Inner Leithen. The place was, no doubt, a very agreeable one, being situated on the north side of the Tweed; his house stood upon a considerable eminence, and the ground fell for a considerable distance underneath—the turnpike-road being lower than the level of his house. The Company proposed to pass over his property in such a manner no doubt as to affect as little as possible the rather pic turesque view which he at present possessed, but they had no alternative. If they passed along the other side of the Tweed, they would rouse the indignation and the opposition of Lord Ellbank ; but Hon. Members knew very well that opposition was raised against companies: of this sort on all sides ; and if they were compelled to pass over Lord Elibank's ground, they would cause far greater injury to his Lordship's ground than they possibly could do to Mr. Ballantyne's. They, therefore, had to choose between two alternatives. lie trusted when the Committee came to the consideration of the evidence which would be laid before them (which would, of course, be more satisfactory than any state ments that he could make), they would find that the Company had done what was best under the circumstances. He hoped they would not decide on rejecting the scheme of affording railway communica tion to Peebles, because Mr. Ballantyne's views might be injured. He would now proceed to detail the particulars of the other branches. The Selkirk branch was a portion of the Peebles branch. Selkirk was a manufacturing place, and the inhabitants desired to be connected with the main lines of this Company, for the obvious pur pose of obtaining a plentiful supply of coal, &c. East and west, north and south of that branch he was happy to say the inhabitants desired the project of this Company. With regard to the Kelso branch. It lay in the neighbourhood of St. Boswell's, which was a small town of some importance, and would bring considerable traffic upon the main line. The Kelso branch would be impeded by no en gineering difficulties, and the town of Kelso embraced a population of 5,000. It was the centre of au agricultural district of very greet importance, and was, in fact, one of the largest agricultural market towns in the south-west of Scotland. But it was sadly deficient in accommodation with regard to the c,,al and lime that were used for agricultural purposes. The length of that branch was twelve miles and thee furlongs, and the worst gradient in it was 1 in 100—there was no tunnel. At Kelso they joined the Berwick and Kelso Railway so as to gain ac cess with Newcastle and all the princlp.l towns in England. He would new call their attention to a case of opposition which it ap peared was intended to be offered against the Kelso branch by a landed proprietor, Sir George Douglas, a resident in the neighbour hood, who was the owner of a beautiful ruin on which he set much value. He alluded to the ruin et Roxburgh Castle ; but if they did not interfere with the property of Sir George Douglas they would fall into a more violent conflict with Captain Scott. There was ab solutely no alternative, and he, therefore• appealed ad misericordiam, and he hoped that the Committee would not sanction an unfair opposition to his client's pro jects for the purpose of preserving a valued ruin or a a beautiful prospect. The length of the branch to Jedburgh was eight miles, and Jedburgh being the county town of Roxburgh it was of course, a matter of importance to afford the inhabitants railway accommodation. He concluded by stating that the different projects of the Company had received the sanction of the inhabitants of the districts through which they passed, and if the Legislature refused to authorise them they would deem it a matter of great disadvantage to the public. The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to the House of Commons, for the purpose of obtaining an order from the Speaker to compel the attend ance of the two witnesses previously reterred to ; and in a short time returned, and stated that the witnesses had been ordered by the Speaker to tender their evidence, or warrants would be issued against them. Messrs. Ord, Dudgeon, and Laing, extensive farmers in the districts of Kelso and Jedburgh, were then called, and gave evidence to the effect that those districts were well cultivated, but entirely destitute of line, coal, ire., which had now to be transported in carts from 20 to 30 miles, and that the construction of a railway would reduce the cost of essential articles from one-half to one-third, as well as afford a good outlet for their agricultural produce. Provost Ker, of Peebles, and Messrs. Roberts and Gillen, manufac turers, also spoke to the great advantages the Peebles branch would confer upon the manufactures of that district, particularly in giving increased facilities to new mills which were about to be raised on the Tweed and the Leithen, near Peebles. They admitted that, at pre sent, the intercourse between Peebles and Galashiels was not consi derable. Mr. Marshall, traffic accountant to the principal lines in Scotland, deposed that he ealculated the passenger traffic on the Kelso branch would bring in 8,6181. per annum ; goods, 8,5801. ; coals, lime, &c., 1,8181. • parcels, mails, &c., 1,2501. ; cattle and sheep, 1,0151. ; total, 21,856/. On the Jedburgh branch, passengers, 2,518/. ; goods, 1,0891, ; coal, lime, &c , 1,9501. ; parcels, 750/. ; total, 6,3071. On the Selkirk branch, passengers, 1,3321. ; goods, 6011. ; minerals, 906/. ; malls, &c., 500/. ; total, 3,3391. On the Peebles branch, 1,826/. ; goods, 2,6861. ; coal, 7501.; parcels, 7501.; cattle and sheep, 1,0001. ; parcels, 500/. ; total, 7,5621. Mr. John Miller, engineer of the Company, was next called, and deposed that he had laid out the several branches. The Kelso branch left the main line near to a place called St. Bos well's, which was the nearest point to Kelso on the main line. The length was 12 miles 3 furlongs and 30 yards. There were no tunnels, and with the exception of the crossing of the Teviot (which would be effected by a viaduct) there were no engineering difficulties. The worst gradient was 1 in 75, and there were no objectionable curves. The Jedburgh branch was seven miles three furlongs and 150 yards in length, the steepest gradient 1 in 165, and the curves were not objectionable. There were no engineering difficulties. The Selkirk branch was two miles six furlongs and thirty yards, the steepest gradient being 1 in 200. He was responsible for the laying down of these branches. The Peebles branch had been projected to accommodate the people of the Tweed, and give communication to Glasgow and Ayr. Inner Leithen was a place of great resort in summer, and factories were in course of erection there. He attached great importance to the communication which the scheme of this Company would afford to the east and west of Scotland. The district between Galashlels and Peebles would also soon require railway accommodation. The estimate of the Peebles branch was /42,0001., of the Selkirk, 2.5,8101., the Kelso, 175,6851., and the Jedburgh, 62,5841., making an aggregate of 806,0791. ; to which he had added 43,9211. for contin gencies, which would give a grand total of 556,0001. He considered that the project to cross Captain Scott's property was much prefer able to itttertering wish Lord Eilbank's, on many grounds. This concaided the evidence on behalf of the promoters. Captain Scott's opposition being withdrawn, the lion. Member for Berwick was released from attendance. Mr. Paxos then proceeded to call evidence in support of Mr. Bal lantyne's opposition, the first witness being Mr. C. Hackett, a landscape gardener, who stated that he had laid out the grounds of that gentleman, and he was of opinion that they would be most materially injured. lie had often been referred to in cases of this sort, and his arbitration had always been satisfac tory to both parties. The situation of Holylee was very pretty in deed. There were 68 acres planted, and the expense about 9,0001. Mr. Evans, a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood, described the property as very beautiful, and the house, which was built by Mr. Ballantyne, as excellent. The CHAIRMAN said the Committee did not want any more evi dence as to the amount of resident:al injury. Mr. Paten said he should like to tender engineering evidence, for the purpose of showing that it would not be a difficult matter to alter the line, so as to leave untouched the Holylee propery. Mr. Sergeant BetLasis having replied to the evidence, The room was cleared, and on our re-admission, The CIIAIRMAN said—Mr. Sergeant Bellasis, the Committee are of opinion that the immediate prospect of traffic will not justify the in terferente with private property and the expenditure of capital re quired to form the Peebles branch, and therefore recommended the Peebles branch to be struck out of the preamble; that is to say, where it forms a junction with the Selkirk branch. Mr. Sergeant Iseixasis assented to the recommendation. The Committee then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrOW. GROUP IX. The Committee met to-day at half-past eleven o'clock, Lord Worsley in the chair, when the remaining clauses of the GLASGOW GENERAL. TERMINUS HAR- Bova BILL were gone through, and, with several verbal amendments, agreed to. The Chairman was then instructed to report the Bill, with the amendments, to the House. WEST or SCOTLAND JUNCTION. The evidence on behalf of this scheme was then resumed. Mr. Wilson was recalled, and cross-examined by Mr. Hops, on behalf of the river trust, the bridge masters, and the Corporation of Glasgow. Great complaints at present existed, on account of the Bridge-street station being so distant from the principal parts of the city. He was satisfied there would be a considerable through traffic, but he coup not say how much in tons. It was not so great as tho harbour traffic. The traffic of the harbour he repre sented last year before a Committee to bo, in iron 82,000 tons, and coals 119,000 tons, exclusive of coals to the steamers. He did not be lieve the most of that traffic would go down on the north aids. A great part would go on to the south side of the river by the west of Scotland Junction, or the Greenock lines on to the general terminus, for which the Bill had been agreed to by the Committee. The traffic from the port of Glasgow could be reached by other means. It could do so by the Airdrie and Monkland scheme, which did not touch the city, but went round it. Mr. Les...ll;eiter gave evidence nearly to the same effect as the pre vious witness. He had considerable experience in railways, having been chairman of the Ayr Railway, and on a careful examination of the whole question, he thought this junction would give the best ac commodation to the public, with the least interference with property, and without affecting the ornamental parts of the city. Mr. Macfee, of Greenock, a sugar refiner, gave evidence as to the great amount of traffic in raw and refined sugars and molasses with the east and north of Scotland. His house sent 60 or 70 tons a month, and several other houses did as much. The junction at Glasgow would give great advantage by establishing a direct through connexion. Mr. Adam Flack, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, deposed as to the feeling of that city. It was generally in favour of this connexion, as the break at Glasgow was very much complained of since he left the Town Council of Edinburgh. Mr. Muir, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce at Leith, generally agreed with the evidence of the Lord Provost, and deposed as to a large provision traffic between Ayrshire and the west and east of Scotland. Mr. Perry, merchant and manufacturer of Aberdeen, gave evidence as to the traders of that city being generally in favour of this scheme. There was a strong feeling that the gap at Glasgow should be filled tip, as the trade southward was at present impeded. 'Mr. WAlonagill, provision merchant, of Glasgow , generally gave evidence as to the advantage of the proposed junction. The trade between the north of Ireland and Glasgow was very great, and a large amount of It went through to Edinburgh. This trade was so great, that last year 250,000 fowls went through, with 900 tons of eggs, and 500 tons of ham and bacon. Mr. Sidey, Lord Provost of Perth ; Mr. Archibald, of Alloa ; Mr. David Birrell, of Dunfermline ; and Mr. David Murray, of Paisley, gave evidence generally respecting the feeling of their respecti ve localities, which were represented to be in favour of the scheme. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at half-past eleven o'clock. GROUP XII. OLASGOV7 AND WZST OP SCOTLAND DISTRICT. The Committee re-assembled this morning in the Court of Common Pleas; Mr. V. Smith, chairman. ATitsuraz, BRIDGE OF Will"R e AND PORT GLASGOW JUNCTION. Examination of witnesses continued— Mr. Turner, solicitor to tke Glasgow and Greenock Company, said that their liabilities were found to be so extraordinarily large that they were obliged to give up the idea of constructing the branches to the Greenock and Port Glasgow harbours. They were obliged to come to Parliament in 1.841 for power to raise a sum of 108,0001., and. again, in 1843, for a further sum of 150,0001. to pay off their liabilities. They now proposed to n to raisea sum of 60,0001. for the purpose of making a branch line to arston and the bridge of The witness en being cross-examined by Sir T. PIIILLINI, put in a number of letters which had passed between the Company and the chief magistrate and town clerk of Port tilasgow, showing the anxiety of the inhabitants that the branch to the harbour should be con structed. and the apparent willingnoes of the Company to accede to their wishes. Mr. Stewart, M.P., gave evidence to show that the non-construe don of the branch to Port Glasgow was never deemed a grievance until it was now put forward to serve a purpose. If It had been publkly complained of he must have heard of it in one of three capa cities—as Member for the county of Renfrew, as director of the Greenock Company, and as curator and guardian of his nephew, Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, whose estates would be effected. He knew the county between Port Glasgow and Johnstone, and the only town on the proposed route was Kilmalcolm, which had a population of 377 souls.—(Laughter.) There was, however, excellent shooting on tine line—(Laughter)--as a considerable portion of the country was moorlands.—(Continued laughter.) He thought that the line would be difficult of construction, because he remembered that they had on the Greenock Railway a cutting of 500 feet through a granite rock which had been once in a stato of fusion.—(Laughter.) Ho was quite certain that the line 1f constructed would never pay Its cost of 300.0001, After a short discussion Mr. Harding proved that the Compiuy, in the years 1841, 1842, and 1843, when he was secretary, paid the cartage trom the railway to the harbour of Port Glasgow, ant that no complaint had ever been made on the subject of the eon-construction of the branch. Mr. Errington, civil engineer, was examined to show that the pro posed line could not be remunerative, scarcely practicable ; that it would be attended with great and serious evils to the public item the prevalence of fogs on the Clyde, the de scending gradient of 1 in 75, and the sharp curves just before coating to the station at Port Glasgow, which would render it a matter ofimpoesibility for the engin9-mau to time. his sl.eed ie exactly as to come correctly to the station. The waits of the dis trict where not supplied would be amply provided tar hy a branch to Houston and Bridge of Weir, promoted by the Greenuek Company. They would only require to construct a length of seven mile, of new railway. while the Glasgow and Ayr Company would reeuire abeve fifteen miles. The cost in the our case ereu'el only he 60,00.1., in the other the estimated cost was 300,0001. Mr. Lrrington was cross-examined on the part of ate. it. ~f Eiderslie, to show that injury would be done to in, re , idon,al pro piety, and fer the Glasgow and Ayr Railway, to show that there were many railways is that kingdon which were worked on as steep a gradient as the Ayrshire, Brida , of Weir, arm Port Glasgow ..i enee lion. At the station near the latter place, there was a d.:seeeding gradient, on the Garnkirk Railway, of 1 in 80, with a level beire coining to the station ot only 100 yards. The caso was not paralki. because on the former linel the heavy gradient extended for tour miles, while the level, before coming to the station, was only 306 yards. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP xiv. SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY. The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock. Present, Mr. Pro thcroe (chairman), Lord Evelyn, Genera, Lygon, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan- After a delay of twenty minutes, caused by the absen - ee of Mr. Austin, the examination of Mr. G Bidder was resumed by Mr. lIEBREWETHER. The witness stated that the most severe gradient on the South-Eastern, between Woolwich and Dartford, is one in 150, and that only for a short distance. The remainder is practically a level. The working gradient of Mr. Vignoles, over the same ground, is lin 100. The works of the South-Eastern, from Woolwich to Dartford, are light, while Mr. Vignoles'a are rather heavy. The line would be a perfect engineering anomaly. The four acres pro posed for the Union-street Math n, would be wholly insutile lent. The Paddington station occupies thirteen acres. The bhorediteh station occupies five acees and a half, and is about to have an increase of four acres more. The Union-street station would be thirty feet above the level, and a good ap proach to it would require a road of 300 yards in length. The Lon don and Birmingham station occupies seven acres. The station at London-bridge is about four a res. There is a station at the Brick layers' arms, which occupies the very large area of twenty-six acres. The Union-street station of the North Kent line would be incon venient, as people going to it would have to cross Southwark -bridge and pay the toll, and besides the streets around it are very dirty and narrow. The London-bridge station cost 300,0001., exclusiv , of what was expended by the Greenwich Company. The arching of the. Union-street station would cost 80,0001., and hat would merely be the platform for the railway; 20,0001. would not then complete the station. The estimate for this station is only 100,0001. Believes that before the Union street statical could be built so as to accommodate all the traffic which it was intended to accommodate, it would cost 250,0001. Mr. Vignoles proposed to carry the line from Union-street to the junction with the Croydon line on an embankment held in by retaining walls. That embankment would cross more than 900 yards of street, and there would of course be so much arching required. A populous neighbourhood ought no: to be crossed by an embankment. Mr. Vignoles's lme affects a rental of 16,0001. per annum. The purchase of that at thirty years' purchase would be 480,0001., and the legal expenses attendant on the transfer of property in the metropolis are very great, in fact they would be in this case about 70,0001. When the Blackwell Railway was about to be constructed it passed through some property of the most wretched description, in tact mere shells of houses, of which the rents were collected every morn ing, and - set the cost of three miles of line which affeected that part cost more than 700,000/. There is TIO possibility -of making a correct estimate where house property is concerned, as to many con tingencies arise in the formation of the works. Believes that the three hides of line from the Union-street stations to the Croydon junction would cost •1,150,0001. The junction at New-Cross would be a most dangerous junction, as the embankment is constantly slipping, and the New-Cross station is situated at the foot of a long incline. There would also be the inconvenience of crossing the atmospheric pipe, in order to get on the rails. Toe way ill Wilk]] it would he necessary to join there would require a gap in the pipe of from twenty to thirty yards, and the atmospheric traits would have to be drawn across that space by some other power. The gradient of the North Kent, at the point of junction, is 1 in 569, and the Croydon line, where it is joined, has a gradient of 1 in 100. The South-Eastern is so continfigil as to avoid the powder-mills rt Dartford, and the Company will pure base the Ospringe powder-mills in order to avoid any danger from the proximity of their line. Mr. Vignoles proposes, in the tram-way which he intends to throw out to the town of Faversham, to cross the main street at a level with a gradient of one in seventeen—au incline rather steeper than the present approach to Westminster-bridge. The length of it 1s to ba halt' a mile, and the total declivity or tall is 54 feet. In case of one of the waggons getting loose it would cross the main street at the rate of forty miles an huur, and from the curve at the bottom of the tram-road would inevitably be projected into the creek. The line from London to Chilham, as proposed by the South-Eastern Company, has a decided advantage over the North Kent Company, in point of direction, expense, gradients, and working. The Balton Ridge, near Canterbury, is to be passe • by a tunnel 1,500 yards long. Had: examined Balton Ridge very minutely' in 1832. In that year it was his opinion that Chilham, lower down the ridge, was preferable for a railway, as it avoided the capping of clay at the top of the ridge, and war more available for general pur poses. Mr. Vignoles' cutting to the Balton Ridge will be forty or fifty feet deep, and about thirty feet into the clay. The depth of his cutting in one place will be equal to the height of the i , uke of York's column, and the width will be 280 yards. The cost of the work will be about 290,000/. Mr. Vignoles will, by his tunnel, save about 2 miles in distance, but it, is not worth the expenditure of 30,000/. The interest of 30,0001. would run four or five long special trains per day from Canterbury to London. The expenditure of that 300,000/. would only save four minutes of time to a special train and eight minutes of time to an ordinary train. The distance from Greenwich to Canterbury by the South-Eastern line is 58 miles, and by the North Kent it would be 54 miles. The South. Eastern would, from its arrangements, be able to reach London in the same, if not in less, time than the North Kent line. The Committee then adjourned until four o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XLI. The Committee assembled this day at twelve o'clock. Present Lord Harry Vane (chairman), the Earl of March, Hon. Francis Scott Mr. D. Morris, and Mr. Phillip Bennett. EXETER AND EXMOUTH. The Cnaramarr said it was the opinion of this Committee that the preamble of the Exeter and Exmouth line had been preyed, but should insert this clause in the Bill—" Provided that the Bill now before Parliament for the construction of the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester line shall receive the sanction of the Legislature during the present session, •r that of next year." The Bill was ordered to be reported. BRIDGEWATER, AND DTINEHEAD. Sergeant Murphy and Mr. Cockburn appeared on behalf of the promoters of this line. Mr. Talbot, Mr. Merivale, and Mr. Carrow appeared in support of certain petitions front landowners against the projected scheme. Mr. Sergeant Wrangham and Mr. Hoskins appeared on the part of the Bridgewater and Taunton Railway and Canal, the opposing scheme. _ _ _ Mr. Sergeant MURPHY then addressed the Committee in sup por of the pproposed line. He said that the primary and lead ing objects of the promoters of this line of railway was, that it afforded a safe and convenient harbour in the port of Minehead for vessels frequenting the Bristol Channel. Another was connecting the port of Mineliead by a railway with Bristol and London, which railway will proceed Immediately front the proposed ports through a well-populated and rich agricultural district, and join the Bristol and Exeter Railway at Bridgewater. The dangers attending the navigation of the Bristol Channel w is, he believed, considerable, but these dangers existed priMeipally above Minehead. There was not a spot on the coast front the Avon to the Hartland Point offering such advantages and conveniences as the port of for a trading harbour and a Mine head. It was accessible a t a l l t i mes of the tide, and he was sure no site could be discovered on that coast uniting the advantages of a position place of refuge for shipping in distress of 'weather. By this sele•me passengers Irom the South of Ireland and Wales, and all other parts of the world, would be afforded the most r a pid an con venient means of reaching Bristol and London, and that there was no such ineans of transit tor goods and cattle from the south of Ireland and from the South of Wales, offering the same faci lities, having regard to the economy of time or expellee. This line of railway would pass th roug h , or near t o, thirteen considerable villages, with a population: afford from the pier. He was quite s ure h e n eed not mention ing a pros:iect of emine nt utility and profit independent of tae advantages L i 'g ehead was situated in the midst o f som e of the tha at l most superb scenery in the kingdom, and was in the summer season the resort of large numbers of persons in search of health and recreation The Learned Sergeant comluded his address by caliing the Committee's attention to the numerous petitions from Cork, Bridgewater, Taunton. Poole, Minehead, and other places. Captains Parrott and Es:aus, both of th e R o y a l N avy, were then examined as to the depth water and soundings in theßristol Chan nel, and also the advantages that Minehead offered as a harbour 01 refuge. It being past four o'clock, the Committee adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow (I hursday). GROUP XX. The Committee met at twelve o'clock. Present—Mr. Sotheron, Lotd H. liontinek, Sir It. Vigo% Mr. Tattered, and Mr. Koss. LONDON AND BILXGHTON (WANDSWORTH BRANCH). Mr. Surrox, the solicitor hit the Cotripany, delivered in a list of the assents and dissents of owners and occupiers of land on the line ; and this concluded the case for the promoters. Mr. SELWYN opposed the Bill on behalf of Mr. Hague and Mr. Coulthurst. The latter gentleman, however, withdrew his opposi tion, the Company undertaking not to interfere a ith his property, which could be compassed by a slight deviation. Mr. SELWYN then addressed the Committee for Mr. Hague, whose property Ibis in the neighbourhood of Tooting, and called witnesses to show the superior character of Mr. Hague's residence ; that the line passed It within 900 feet, and passed through the grounds within sight of the house, part l y o n embankments, partly in cuttings, n Mr. Fuller, surveyor, being exa mined, gave evidence of the value and ornamental character of the ground through which the whole an tlythoenbtulilledlinevgalne of the property. el; thereby materially inj ur i ng th e prospect, and reducing line passed. Ile thought that 40,0001., instead of 29,0001., would be the proper price for the land. He founded that estimate on the nature of the land, and the agreements entered into by the Company with other parties—with Messrs. Rawlinson and. Co.—who had received 9,0001., and with Crooke, Ellison, and Co., who had got 6,0001. It came out in cross-examination that an agreement had been made between the Company and Mr. Fuller about the ground of Mr. Hague, giving Mr. Hague 4001. an acre, and 2,0001. Mr. Hague re pudiated the agreement, as not made with his authority. Mr. SUTTON, the solicitor to the Company, stated that he had negotiated with Mr. Fuller and Mr. Hague's son, both of whom re presented themselves as authorised by Mr. Hague, sen. The witness put in a written assent to the Bill, signed by Mr. Hague, jun., and given in last year, when the scheme was before Parliament. He said the sum given to Messrs. Crooke, Ellison, and Co. was incor rectly stated, it was but 3,0001. This closed the case. Mr G'Dt~r LEt, V on the part of the South Western (Mitcham Branch), here objected to the Committee considering the line, for which he appeared, as competing with the Brighton line, and he would not offer any opposition to that line passim: ; but if the Com mittee con,ldered it a competing line, he would be compelled to ad dress himself and his evidence a:ainst the preamble of the other Bill. The Committee sledded that as Mr. O'Malley had already acted, by Gros -examining the witnesses, as for a competing line, he had better continue to occupy the same position. SOUTH WESTERN (SSITCHAST, BRANCH). R O , ;ll to sL p E t Y i then n evide proceeded infa v otuor n the merits of the Mitcham line• i, r r a l RowE opposed the line on behalf of owners and occupiers on a mile and a half on the projected line. , The Committee adjourned till twelve o clock to-morrow. GROUP XXI• LONDON £N OZOILD. The Committee re - assembled this morning at the usual hour. Pre sent--Mr. Finch, chairman; Mr. Wodeheuse, Capt. Layard, and Mr. Lawson. The promoters proceeded to call evidence in support of the line. Mr. Joseph Gillett, farmi ng a b o ut 750 acres at Little Hazley, Ox fordshire, on the estate o f s! r. W a lt e r Long, through wh i c h the line .111 run for two or three miles, sta ted that some of his produce was sent t) the Walling - road station ' of the Great Western Railway, 13 miles distant. He generall y sen t heavy c heep by the line, whilst he sent the ligh'er kind by foot t, the London market. He should at tend the Uxbridge market and send the whole of his sheep and cattle by the line If it was made. Re had made a calculaion of the amount of traffic which the cuuntry for a distance of 16 miles, cod 6 miles on each sid e of It, front Oxford to Loudon. would yield, which was to the following effect :-192 square miles were comprised in these 16 miles, ther e were 640 acres to the square mile. and the whole of the a cerage 122, 889 • lie deducted one-tenth for waste and other land s, leaving 110, 592 acres of pr o d uc i ng l an d. H e averaged one fat sheep to each of these acres ; lambs, one - eighth of the sheep, or one to ev ery eighth acre , making a total, with the sheep, of 124,416, H e h a d d educted one-th i r d f or h ome consum ption and the Oxford market, leaving a gross total of 84,880 lambs and sheep. The average dist ance which they trave ll e d was f o rty miles. Their transit by the r a ilw a y would cost a h a lfp e nny per head per mile, pro ducing a revenue of 6,91 21. He average d three beasts to every forty acres, or 8,294, f rom which one-third h a d to be deducted for home consumption and the O x f ord marke t, leaving a total of 5,5.39, which would cost 2d. per h ea d per mile , or Os. B d. e ach for the journey of forty mil e s, producin g 1,843/ '!'here would be 5,530 calves; after a o f t r ansmitting wh ich would be three farthings per head p er mile, or 2s. Gd. the whole dista nc e , p roducin g a similar deduction, th e cost revenue of G9l/. Hem, t eu pigs to every forty acres, or, 2 7 ,649, which after d e d uc ti ng 9,216 or One-thir d , l e ft 18,432. The traesmission ' of pigs cost th e same as , calves, an d would realise 2,3041 . ; t otal, 11,750/. H e gave five quarters of w h e at per acre, so that the a rable land would p ro d uce d 23,256 tons of corn, which traversed, on the average, tw e nty mil es of railway, w hi c h at 3d• per ton, per mile , or 65. per ton the whol e length, realised 11,0641. All these items gave a total of 19 , 8141. Il e had omitted from this ca lculation minor articles of consumption, such as coals, butter , wool , timber, rags, which could not fail to reali se a considerab l e revenue. The witness in his cross- e xam i na tion, stated that the line from Thamo to form a ju nc ti on with the line at Aylesbury, would not be of very great advaetage net a very profit a bl e speC as the sending of g oods to the north was td e ei on Of course if there was a better market in the north for wool, it would be s ent to t h e m . He believed the L on d on an d Birmingham Railway unloaded sheep at Harrow, for the.. sNauthall market. The line from Wycombe 0 Mgkiellllead 1V04114 *5 et' sown , t 9 thy', livinf in the district, and desirous of at'amling the Maiden. head and S markets. He , trecte , l that the • sheep the who 'teoinse of the Erie weuld be Is. ',J. not aware tit t the (;reolt Western i,liztrgod 7d. p, from Maidenniad. lie hut himself pald loc that thie. shelp would go *e Sonthall, b,estise London was the I L market. By Mr. CALVERT—The Great Western van about 9fteelt miles from rarslnr,ton, and was approached with difficulty from that I,iut of It, oil account of its running for a coneiderable distance on the west or opposite side of the Thames. liy Mr. WouEnous.:•:--- as A better market than Read- Wyc , mte was a good barley market. Mr. Henry Dickson, land valuer; of Oxford, considered that the propoad station of this line in that town wee admirably suited for a junction with the stations of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver- r for 5110€ n llampt.m, all,l tii' Oxford and Rugby Railway*, whieti reeelveu inn sanction of l'arlis merit durh.g the, iast session, The ground whic,h thel would all occupy was extremely level. Generally =reed with the evi. Nvuald Active tr ,, th the car; ring Agriculturftl prod LIC • . Luger, wool, grocery, drapery, &c., tit 38,0001. Mr. Scalei, salcsinan, Aldgtte, said he was in the habit of cattle ant sheep from Thane. princ.ei Riz,boreugh, and of ;;;1 , ":4t a,ll:...nu.tze for their transinis l'Armingbain was the best station. as it was; nearer the ENGINEERING EVIDINCE. Mr. John Addison, the enineer of the line, examined by tic. CRIAERT----Ile said the Company' w lien, as he e xaieireal it ten years :Igo ?.F way. die also examines a p,riion of it last year for the London any 11.rminghain e'ompaiiy. The line commenced by Mnetion with the London and thrill:1101am Railway at Harrow. Jrid -even frohi its eta ion at Euston square, and in its route to 4ix,:o , d passed through Northall, Uxbridge Fulmer, leaving Wooburn to the left, Loudwater, high Wycombe, i',ra , leiiham. Bledlow, Saunderton, liorsendem . Eamington, bianch to Tharne, the neighbourhood of Tetswurth, 4;reat Litt,: at , , n, Carringtoe, Cowly, terminating in the parish Ch'ments, at the 53d mile stone on the London-road. ab to half a mile from Maldon Bridge, where a junction was proposed to be made at the Oxford and Rugby and the Rugby and Worcester. The ground at this art was very level. The ex treme length of the line was 47 miles, 5 furlongs, and 5 chains ; the branch to Thame 3 miles, 2 furlongs, and 2% chains; total length to Euston-square 54 utiles, 7 furlongs, and 2 chains On the main line there were four level planes, and the worst gradient was 1 in a 100. There were three inclined planes in the Theme branch-1 in 220, lin 167, and lin 2,640. At Bledlow there was a plane of 1 in 136. The gradients were as favourable as the nature of the, country would allow, end were per fectly consistent with moderate works, and were laid out so as to compensate the mere level portions of the line : this was also the ca. e with the embankment and cuttings. There were ten sta tions—commencing at Northalt, Uxbridge, Edgley, or Stoke Common, Wooburn, High and West Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Tetsworth, Carsingtou, and the terminus at Oxford, which was well situated for the purposes of the town. There were engineering obstacles to putting Thame on the main line. The London and Birmingham station at Euston-square, possessed advantages over the s'ation of the Gteat Western, because it was two miles nearer the centre of the metropolis, an advantage which he considered; and Mr. Robert StepheLson, of the same opinion, said it was equal to ten miles of railway travelling. There were two tunnels on the line, one at Horsinglen Wood, and the other under the Cricket-;„round at Uxbridge; the first was 457 yards, and the second 325 yards in length. The soil NrkS favourable at Uxbridge, but not so at Ilorsingdon, for which allowance had been made hi the estimate. The worst curves were in the neighbourhood of Woebunt. There were two curves there of a radius of half a utile and eight chains each. At the junction with the London and Birmingham there was a curve a quarter of a mile in length, with a radius of three furlongs each. n - as then called and not new to ~oahilits for a rail- ESTIMATE. For the line, including 10 per cent. for contingencies ...... £739,875 Total •••••••••••• • • • • •• • • •• • £840,475 The land required, on the average, would be 61,643 cubic yards per mile. t ross-examined by Mr. TALBOT—Several schemes had been pro jected during the last ten rars nearly along the route of this line, but they were not proceeded with. Three or four plans were pro posrd for making a line to Oxford, in November, but this line was the only one which had come before Parliament. This line was originally proposed to afford railway accommodation west, by Whitney, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, and so on to Hereford, after loitving Oxford, but this plan was abandoned shortly after the report of Vie Committee on the Broad Guage line last year. The Commit tee of this railway came to the decision of yielding the ground west of Oxford to the broad gunge interest. He was a subAcriber to the amount of 26,0001. or 27,000/. The junc. ion with the London and Birmingham wa.4 north of the tunnel a Harrow, The lino for six teen miles from London, ran about 3% from the Great Western line, towards Kilburn about four miles. They should no doubt run is many Oxford trains as the Great Western now did to that town. 11,. had no ioubt or the London and Birmingham line being able to afford them ample accommodation. On the undn line there were thirty nine inclined planes and four levels ; but the total length attic level, from end to end was not more than two miles. The best gradient was I in 8,514. The deepest part of the cutting at Stoke-eounnon was 68 feet. They passed about 14 feet below. but parallel to th, ,resent load. The strata was chalk and gravel. There w(e.ld be a viaduct or 2,220 yards in length ; the extreme height 112 trot. The viaduct on the Dover line, at Folkstone, was 100 feet in height ; at Wycombe there was a viaduct 68 feet in height. The examination of this witnes was not concluded at the rising of the Committee. GROUP XXV. The Select Committee appTnte;i to consh'er the merits of the Bills comprised in this group, re-assembled at the usual hour this morning in the Westminster sessions-house. Mr. Monekton Milnes, Vice-Pre. sident of the Committee; in the chair. STOUR, VALLEY. Before the merits of this IMe, which stood next and last of the line, was gone into, an incidental discussion arose as to the right Of Mr. Sergeant Wraugham to appear in opposition to the Bill, as the repre sentative of the Chelmsford and Bury line. Mr. AUSTIN contended that the stour Valley line, which ran from a Pont' on the Eastern Counties Railw.,y near to Co!chester, to Sud bury, could in no way be cor:sidered in the tight of a a omparatve line with the Chelmsford and Bury, which ran from k:helins , ord through ,udbury to Bury St. Edmunds : while, on the other hand, Mr. sergeant WiteNcitAss urged ;bat the two lines would compete for the direct through traffic between the metropolis and Sudbury, and Bury St. Edmund's ; and he hal, therefore, a right to appear. The Chelmsford a, d Bury Bill, which was now beton, a Standing Orders Committee had been grouped with the Norwich line, but that fact did not prove that it did not compete with the Stour Valley line. Mr. AUSTIN called the attention of the Committee to the fact that the promoters of the Chelmsford and Bury Bill had not petitioned agains the preamble of the Stour Valley BM, and this was an addi tional ground why they ought to be heard. The question of compet ing lines had nothing to do with the matter. Parliament now con sidered no such thing as competition. Lines were looked at now, not in a competing point of view, but a comparative, and where two lines were projected for serving the same district of country, Par liament decided upon the two without reference at all to the matter of competition. Now these two lines did not serve the sam district of country, and again he said his Learned f riend had no right to be heard. . . The Committee decided that the promoters of the Chelmsford and Bury line could not be heard. Mr. MuLLoa then stated the case for the Stour Valley Company. It was to connect Colchester with its port, by means of the branch called the Ilythe line. It then passed along the Eastern Counties line for some distance, and branched off down the valley of the Stour, and terminating in a fork, one prong at Halstead and the other at Sudbury. The length of the line was nineteen miles and a half, and the estimated cost 250,000/. At present the carriage of coals between these places was 7s. per ton. The proposed line would reduce it to 3s. or 2s. Gd. Evidence of a general character was then adduced to prove the extent of traffio in coals, iron, timber, agricultural produce and ma terials, goods aid merchandise, at present existing between the port of Colchester, and Ilalstead, and Sudbury. It was proved that the carriage of coal at present cost from 7s. to 10s. per ton, while the carriage of other articles were equally expensive. Exports of flour and wheat we're large, and the imports of coal, ttnber, and agricultural materials no less extensive. One witness stated that there were large flour mills in the valley of the Stour, which would be greatly accommodated by the proposed railway. The Committee stopped the pr gress of this evidence, declaring that they were convinced the district afforded sufficient traffic to justify the construction of a railway. The Committee adjourned t'll to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP XXIX, This Committee re-assembled thts morning in Room 19 ; present, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere (chairman), Sir William Molesworth, Sir T. Duckworth, Mr. John A. Smith. and Colonel Rawdon. SOUTH MIDLAND (HUNTINGDON BHA. ." CH). The evidence on behalf of the promoters of this scheme was re sumed. • sir. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, was the first witness examined -- His attention generally had been called to the district south of Leicester, with a view to railway accommodation. He was asked to become engineer to the Rugby and Iluniingdon (competing) line, ;.ut he refused on the ground that the scheme was uncalled for, .ind would prove ruinous to the shareholders. His reason was, first, the exceedingly difficult nature of the country which lie had surveyed betore that for the Loud to and Birm ligham line. He also thought it would not he so good a line as others that might he selected tor the accommodation of the district. The proposed branch had been laid out in connexion with the scheme of the South Midland Railway Company, and would in his opinion be much pre ferabls to the competing scheme. Winless then went lire a comparative statement of the relative merits of both projects, from which lit concluded that the South Midland was preferable, on the the ground of the greater accommodation it would :Wont, the less distance which would require to be ewe s4ucted, and tSe consequent less expense which the branch would cost. The proinoiers of the present line would start with a balance in their favour of 700/. per mile over their competitors. The on, schtine would take only an outlay of new capital of 300,0001., while the other line would take an outlay of 700,0001. It must thereore be evident that the former would be able to charge less fares, and at the same time be a more remunerative ulsdixbe miles accomplished shorter, undertaking. The gradients of the projected line w e re much more the favourable, disuu,ce b a e n t i.l w e t e hr i g i h wi t t h il e ,gd o o th ii e , r in sh ß e t t i r by w w a o s sooner by the proposed scheme in consequence of the easier gradients. Cross.examined There could not be much difference in the rela tive merits of the two schemes as regarded the communication with the south-west. The Rugby and Huntingdon line, of which he spoke, may not have been the present Company. What he meant was that no direct line from Huntingdon to Rugby would ever pay a penny. Considerable time was here spent in discussing the propriety of confining the questions to witness to the relative merits of the two competing lines per se, or to view them in connexion with other more extended lines, of which they in reality form a portion. The Committee was of opinion that it would be better for counsel on both sides to confine themselves as much as possible to the branches immediately under the consideration of the Committee. The Cuadaarate again intimated that it was the wish of the Com mittee that the counsel for promoters should confine the question as to gradients to that part of the scheme between Huntingdon and Stanwick as compared with the competing scheme. By this means the investigation would be considerably narrowed. Mr. Liddel, civil engineer, was then examined, and corroborated the evidence of the last witness. The steepest gradient on the whole of the proposed branch was lin 100. It was on the west side of the Blisworth and Peterborough Railway. The length of it was one mile and three-quarters. From Huntingdon to Stanwick the steepest gradient was 1 in 144. There was no gradient so severe as that on the existing line. On the competing line between Kettering and gtanwich the steepest gradient was one in a hundred. The length of that gradient was one mile. Witness then gave the formal proofs as to the curves, estimates, &c. Cross-examined—The worst gradient on the competing line was one in a hundred, and its length was one mile. There was a gradient in the proposed line of one in a Inuidred, the length of which was one mile and three-quarters. Mr. Morrison, superintendent of the goods' department of the London and Birmingham Railway, was examined, with the view of proving that that Company charged by the line from Northampton to Peterborough, as well as to London, by the geographical distance, or " as the crow flies," for all goods. Mr. Charles P. Berkeley, a land valuer, deposed to having valued the land over which the proposed line passes. 72,6531. was the amount of the total valuation. That was a high average for the land. This closed the case for the promoters, subject to putting in a list of gradients. dient s. Mr. DEJEX, on the part of Lord Sandwich, addressed the Com mittee against the propos( d line. He complained that it ran for a cons iderable distance along his park, and unless publi c necess i ty made it imperative, he did not wish either the proposed or the com pethag line to be made, but of the two he would pr e f er th e compet i ng one e . ntre H a t t l i t n e g L th o e nd c o o n nun an i d ttee Y would be completely hemmed in. The Learned Counsel concluded by consideration, as they did that of Lord Harborough in the case of the Syston and Peterborough line, and give him that protection which his c sae required. There being no other opposition this' case closed. Some discussion then took place as to what line should be taken next in order, and the Committee, on referring to the minutes of the first day's proceedings, round that they had decided on taking the projects in the order they were read the se.lond time, irrespective of any other consideration, and whether they were com peting the ing il lines or uot. In confo rmit y with this decision, the next 1111 1 was ILTIGI3-7 AND STAMFORD. This was a branch railway projected by the Lon• don and Birm 1 logs in this case in . g _ imia Railway Company from their main line at Rugby to join the S ham, about six miles from Stamford. The length of the branch was thirty-five miles, Mr. LANG. on behalf of the pr omoters, o p ened the p roceed• andys tpo: sed Railway, through g b h u a g 1 i favourable a t line o South l f c Luffen i The estimated cost was 600,0001. The Learned Counsel then went into a detail of the advantages which it would confer on the district through which it would pass. Great benefit «as expected from the coal, which will he brought along the Syston and croentevreby(aino'cueghWltailway---or the South Midland Railway, if sanctioned by Parliament — direct from the coal fields of Leicestershire, Notting shire, anti Derbyshire; the present selling price of coal at Mar ket Harborough was about 21s. per ton, and it has to be carted from that place to the different villages on the line, at an expense which cannot be reckoned at much less than Is. per ton per mile. The railway would afford the means of deliver ing the coal in all parts of the line at from 10s. to 12s. per ton. It was also proposed to give to this branch the benefit of the low scale of tolls intended to be inserted In the Bill amalgamating the London and Birmingham, Grand Junction, and Manchester and Birmingham Railway Companies. Petitions in favour of the Bill were numerously signed from all the towns and villages on the line. There were on each side of the Welland valley, through which the line passes, a succession of large and populous villages, almost entirely of an agricultural character, the innabitants of which expect to derive the greatest advantage from the projected railway as a means of conveyance for their cattle, corn, and other produce, as well as giving them the facility of attending personally the mar kets before named. In this respect the line greatly resem bles that of the , Northampton and Peterlorough, sanctioned by Parliament in 1843, on which this particular description of trade has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The Learned CoIiDIKI stinitte4 that UM potato were pm,* • which he proposed to do by the witnesses he would call, there could rr. The Hui He knew the line of country well through w would paBs, and no district was more in want of railway communi cation. He thought this accommodation would be given by the pro posed line. The opinion of the people in the district was entirely in And with avnee of the mittee reserve tons, tioli :Or FLOOD, On bet that the cram greed living .mford, Mr. Tibbert . a carrier, were examined to the same , pinion . that there was conkieterahle taintord and Binni Sub-Committee Ad Ulf t of this line being made malt, was examined .rnoa till twelve This Committee met o'clock in teem _ present Mr. Strutt (chairman), Mr. Y..ef..kett, and Mr. Clive, and proceeded to the further consideration of the GLASGOW AND DUNDEE JUNCTION. The formal prow were ricetr ed yesterday at the clal,z of the sitting. The object of the BM is to form a railway from Dundee to join the Scottish Central Railway at or near Stirling. The projected length is litty-one miles, the estimated cost 9G9,678/. The engineers ate Messrs Leslie, Mitchell, and J. G. Gunn. The solicitors are Messrs Mackenzie and Reid, of Perth. The Parlia mentary agents are Messrs. Spottiswoode, Robertson. and Co. There are a great number of petition against the Bill on the usual grounds of imperfections and inaccuracies lu the plans and section& Several allegations were sustainAl, and in respect to some others the standing orders were declared to be complied with. In respect to the datum line, the Committee el,cided that the standing orders were not complied with. EDINBURGH AND PERTH. at t No. f, The object of this line is to connect Edinburgh and Perth. The length, 39 miles. The.cstimated cost, 1,000,000/. The engi neers, Mr. G. Rennie, Mr. Bateman, and Mr. Gunn ; the agents, Messrs. Spottiswoode and Ri bcrtson. The formal evidence was given, and petitions against the line were received, and the Committee adjourned at four o'clock. Sub-Committee No. 2. This Committee met to-day, at one o'clock, in room No. 6; pre sent Sir J. Y. Buller (chairman), Mr. Kemble, and Mr. Yorke. OXFORD, WORCESTER AND WOLVERHAMPTON. In this case, which has peen before the Committee since Monday, it was ultimately decided, that in several instances the standing orders had not been complied with. But, in consequence of the ah settee of some of the witnesses, the consideratioa of additional allega tions was postponed. The Committee then proceeded to the case of the IPSWICH AND BURY ST. EDMUNDS (ELY EXTENSION WITH BRANCHES THEREFROM). This Rh was also belbre the Committee yesterday. The consi deration was resumed this day, and additional evidence adduced on the part of the promoters and opponents, but of a very unimportant character. The further consideration of the Bill was postponed, and the Com mittee proceeded with the LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (COVENTRY AND NUNEATON B The formal evidence in respect to this Bill was taken, and the Committee adjourned. Sub-Committee No. 3. The Committee met to-day in room No. 3, at twelve o'clock, when The enAtutss.w (Mr. Aglionby) stated that they has considered the point reserved yesterday in respect to the YARMOUTH EXTENSION. In that case, it had appeared to the Committee that the _Bill com prehended other objects than those set forth in the petition, and that this was not in accordanee with the intentions of the House in pass ing the standing order which requires that the Bill should be attached to the petition. The object of this order seemed to be, that there should be secured the greatest possible conformity betweea the two. However, upon examining the Bill and petition in this case, the Committee were of opinion that the difference was not such as altogether to contravene the order. At the same time, it was not to be inferred tom this that any laxity in makirg the Bill conform with the petition would be permitted. The Committee then took the NORFOLK RAILWAY EXTENSION (THETFORD AND REED RAH BRANCH). _ _ The object of this Bill is to connect Thetford and Reedham with the. maim Norfolk lines. The length of the branch is forty-eight mils, and the estimated cost 360,5361. Tho engineers are Messrs. Bidder and Stephenson ; the agents, Messrs. Burke and Co. ; the so licitors, Messrs. Parker and Co. The formal evidence was then gone into, and the case was partly heard. The Committee decided that in respect to alternative lines laid down in the plans deposited the standing orders were not complied with. The case was then ajourned. Sub-Committee No. 4 The Committee met at about a quarter past twelve. Sir W. Heath. cote in the chair ; preceut 41W, Mr. It. Johnstone, Mr. dhirley, and Mr. L.gh. WHITEEIAVEN AND FURNESS. The consideration of this adjourned case WAS r esumed. It was objected that the course and terminus ttf the proposed line were not described alike on the notices and plans, and its the Bill— the notices and plans being for a lino front Dalton to Hesbink, with a branch from Flukeborough to Dirkgate, and the Bill taking powers for a line from Dalton, through Flukebourough, to Dirkgate, Dirk gate and Hesbank being eight miles apart. After considerable disussion the Committee declared the standing orders not complied with. A point was then raised similar to that, as to the rivers Claim and Levan, raised yesterday, and evidence was given to show that cer'ain " rivers" crossed by this line were navigable rivers, and on the other side to show that they were only estuaries. This point, as well as several others, was reserved for further con sideration. BIRKENHEAD AND HOLYHEAD JUNCTION. The format proofs given in support of this Bill occupied the Com mittee up to four o'clock, at which hour they adjourned till twelve to-morrow. Sub-Committee No. 5. At half-past twelve this Committee met, Mr. Home Drummond In the chair, and proceeded with the case of the BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM (ASCHURCH, TEWKESBURY, AND MALVERN LINE). Several witnesses were called in support of the petitioners against the line, and several questions as to inaccuracy of mileage, and dis crepancies in the plans and sections, were raioed at great length. Shortly before four o'clock the evidence for and against the line being concluded, the Committee decided against the promoters of the Bill on several points, but reserved others for further consi deration. They then adjourned till to-morrow. Bub-Committee Ne. 6. This Committee also met at a quarter past twelve, in Beam IS, when there were present Captain Jones (ehairman), Lerd Ebrington, and Mr. Deedes. CALEDONIAN RAILWAY (GLASGOW, GANICINRK, AND COATBRIDGE BRANCH). This Bill, which stood over from yesterday, was again called on. The formal proofs having been given yesterday, the case for the op position was now entered into. It appeared that there was but one petitition, which contained only one allegation, and after several wit nesses had been examined, the agent for the petitioner withdrew the opposition. The standing orders were accordingly declared complied with. CALEDONIAN (MIDLOTHIAN BRANCHES) RAILWAY, AND CALEDONIAN (LEITH JUNCTION) RAILWAY The Cusiamezt said That these Bills must for the present staid over, the plans having been mislaid at th- Private Bill•office. CALEDONIAN (DUMFRIES BitANCHES). The object of this Bill is to make two branches from the Cale donian Railway to Dn•nfries, one of which leaves the existing main line at Sarkbridge, near Gretna, awl the other at Darmikedder. Their lengths are reep , :ctively twenty four miles and fourteen miles six furlongs. The estimated cost is 550,0001., the whole of which, as we utrierstood, has been subscribed for. _Messrs. Locke and Co., Are the engineers, and llnsrs. Graham and Weyms the agents. This Bill was unopposed, and the usual formal evidence having been given, the CommittAi declared the standing orders complied with. CALEDONIAN (MIDLOTHIAN BRANCH.) The plane of this railway, (and also of the Leith Junction Branch,) which had been stair d to have been mislaid, were brought in by a messenger, when it was found that the supposed loss had been occasioned by a mis-statement of the title on the cover. . The proposed addition is a branch to connect the Edinburgh branches of the Caledonian Railway with Oranton Pier. The length wilt be three miles and a bait, and the coot is estimated at 110,000/. Engineers and agents as in the former Bill. . _ There ware two petitions against this Bill—that of William Gatherill and that of .James Patterson. Mr. Webster appeared for both. Mr. GRAHAM objected to any appearance being mule on the part of Mr. William Gatherill, who he said was not an Interested party, having no property on the line, nor even in any parish through which it passed. In fact, lir. Gatherill was a clerk In Mr. Webster's office. The Committee, without hearing Mr. Webster in reply, over ruled the objection. The CHAIRMAN said, that the petitioner was one of the public, and the petition contained none but general and public objections. If the allegations had referred to the book of reference the petition could not be entertained. The formal proofs having been given, Mr. WEBSTER proceeded to call witnesses as to the petition of Mr. Patterson, which contained but two allegations, both on points as to the datum line. On looking at the plans, however, Mr. Webster withdrew both allegations. The CLUBMAN asked if there was "anything more in this petition?" Mr. Weerna—No, nor in any other.—(l laugh.) The standing orders were declared complied with. The Committee next proceeded with the CALEDONIAN (DUNDYVAN BRANCH) RAILWAY. The object of this Bill is to connect the Castiecary branch of the Caledonian Railway with the city and harbour of Glasgow by a line of eight miles in length, the estimated cost of which Is 150,000/. Engineers and agents as above. The petition of William Sligo, of Carmigle, contained several of the subscription contract. a ll ega tioes as to the legality The first allegation had reference to a question depending upon a distinction between the Scotch and English law. The Committee cleared the room for a decision upon this point, but, on our re-admis sion, the Chairman said that the Committee had come to no decision, and would reserve the point till they should consult with the Speaker on the subject. Two of the allegations were not entered into, it being stated that they depended on the first. The fourth and last allegation was, that John Black, a lunatic, was one of the subscribers to the contract. It appeared that the deed was signed by " William Black, curator bonis for John Black, a lunatic," and the question in dispute resolved itself into this— whether " William Black, curator bonis for John Black," meant " William Black, as curator bonis," &c. The Committee ultimately decided that as the contract bound the subscribers, " their heirs, assignees," &c , it must be considered that William, and not John Black, was the party bound, as he could not bind the heirs, &c., of his ward. The allegation was therefore de clared not proved, and the standing orders compiled with. The Committee then adjourned. STANDING ORDERS' comMITTEES. SOUSE oir LORDS. NORTH DEVON CENTRAL RAILWAY. In con sequence of the method by which gentlemen are obliged to ed, as stated obtain their information, arising trom the exclusion of the press, we have inadvertently fallen into a mistake. The North Devon Central Rii ii w ay was yesterdilY thrown out, and not adjourn ns. LAW 1i TELLIGEN CE. PRIVY COUNCIL, April 1. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat to-day in the Council Chamber, Whitehall. The Lords present wore the Duke of Buecleuch (Lord President), the Lerd Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, Lord Cottettham, Lord Campbell, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall. IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF THZ INHABITANTS OF CAPE BRETON. were euti why' siLmees. This ease came before their Lordships open the petition of certain inhabitants of the island of Cape Breton, prayiag that the annexa tion in 1820 of Cape Breton to the province of Nova Scotia, and the legislative authority of that province over the island might be ad judged illegal. The petition also prayed that the Government and constitution. established in 1784, might be restored, that a local legis lation should be convened under a Lieutenant-Governor, council, and assembly, conformably to the grant of King George the Third, and that the laws of Nova Scotia, and the authority of its legislature might be no longer enforced over the island. Mr. Brass and Mr. Wanaxx appeared as counsel for the petitioners, and The Soucrroa-GENEIAL and Mr. WADDINGTON opposed petition on the part of the Crown. The arguments not having been concluded at four o'clock, the Au , ther consideration of the case was postponed till to-morrow. MANSLAUGHTER,—FURIOUS DRIVING.-011 Tuesday Morning Mr. Thomas Wakley and a highly respectable jury, assembled in the Ad iaission-room of Middlesex Hospital, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of Mr. Daniel Etherington, aged $3 years. The deceased was a master tailor, and resided at No. 21, Silver-street, Golden-square. Charles I'hilpott, postboy, 3, Brewer's-court, Bedfordbury, said that he saw the deceased man on the morning in questi9n. passing out of Hanever-street into the square, when a tour-wheel chaise driven by a groom came up at a most furious pace, and althou, h time wa plenty of room for the driver to pass, he drove right on to the deceased and knocked him down. Witness was sure the accident could have been avoid, dif the reins had been at all checlud. There was no one besides the servant in the vehicle a: the time, aid when he heard the cries of " stop him," he flogged the animal, thus increas ng the spec d, and ultimately escaped, having driven into Begent-street. Deceased dieu on Friday morning. Verdict tau laughter agesiast some person or persons ma:my:o ASSIZE IN TELT,TGENCR MIDLAND CI RCUlT.—Warwick, March 30 ,', the t, I NP OTTIER, an action to recover thirty-six boxes of soap, which itted to the charge of the defendants under the following 'e the mitsignees of a bankrupt named liirmiw.7l3am, as a tall Da bit lefi t 1 ired Pickf th3y pnwrer, .rO ornp.aly, at idler, moth of rlealirg ap was al! deli- Beigre he left, and directed it to be sent ;covered that the bankrupt. Antiffs, with One of tAe as- navt , :f b,cn desired by the Inkropt to send for the Frmp and to 'wild it to the &kali company. The attorney for the plaintiffs, he Weyer, sent notice to the wharf where the soap was removed, eh siring them not to part with it as Freidlansker had committed an sot of bankruptcy.--Verdict for the defendants. ELT. V. CITAMBERB.-SLANDE72, slander, brought by the plaintiff, a medic* . nd long-sta n di ng i n hi s profess i on, aga i nst t,l ;[_dy, both living in Ringley. Mr. Rnetnell had at - clergyman. during his illness, and cc ho, under n oonversation about the death of this gentle ittered the words for which this action was brought. On hearing of the death of Mr. Wicks, she exclaimed. " Oh, another victim to Mr. line knell's ignorance! Mr. Wicks has been murdered 1" Inah,, or high n the defend c I'Siol ended a Mr. Wicks On the conclusion of the address or the Connsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Whitehurst, Q C , with whom Wa3 Mr. Haves, rose and said that his :,earned Friend had opened his case most fairly, and that he on the i.art of his cleat Nlmitted the high reputation of mr. Bucknell, iu what she had said she had ne intention of imputing want of skill to that gentleman, nor of improper treatment in the case of Mr. 'Wicks, and that she was sorry that she had uttered the words, and desired to make the most ample apology. The .Tan GE thought this was a very proper term nation of the cause, and highly honourable to the plaintiff. A verdict was then taken fur the plaintiff without costs. CROWN COURT. MANSLAUGHTER. — Joseph Showed was charged with the man slaughter of his wife, Elizabeth Showell, on the night of the 15th of November last. _ The prisoner went to a public-house, and while there was induced ;0 play at cards. Being there late, his wife went for him. They left 'he house together, and shortly after they did so A scream was heard, and whe:i a person n ent to see what had happened, he found that the prisoner had thrown a brickbat at his wife, who, with a baby in her arms, was ling bleeding on the ground. The prisoner was drunk, and upon kis heilw toll of what he had done, he said, "I threw the brick, and I wish I had knocked her brains out." Upon his getting sober he expressed his sorrow for what he had done, and said, "It was those cards that had caused it, if it had not been for those cards it would not have happened." He added, " that be and his wife had left hi s father ' s house very good friends." Prisoner while in custody frequently asked to Ftp, his wife. she died three days after the brick had been thrown at her. Mr. WING addressed the jury for the prison. r. The prisoner's master gave him a good character. Guilty—Three months' hard labour. NORTHERN CI R C ClT.—Liverpool, March 30. CROWN COURT--(Before Mr. Justice Pierresorg.) CHARGE or Muanea. —NaManiel Currie, a stout, strong-looking man, aged thirty-six, stood indicted for the wilful murder of Anne Ellison, at Newton, near Manchester, on the 10th day of D ,cember last. There were two counts in the indictment, in one of which the prisoner was charged with having committed the offence by throwing the deceased into a canal, and thereby drowning and suffocating her; in the second, with having fixed and fastened both his hands round and about her throat with violence, aid so strangling her. Several witnesses were examined, whose testimony criminated the prisoner, and the trial was proceeded with until eight o'clock this evening, it having at an early hour been intimated to the Court that there would be difficulty in going through the whole evidence for the prosecution without adjournment. At eight o'clock, while Dr. Ray ner, of 'Manchester, was under examination as a witness, he suddenly fainted, and fell in the witness-box The subject of adjournment was again mentioned to the Court, and finally his Lordship prdered that the trial should stand over till to-morrow morning. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Marti.) At the sitting of the Court this morning. William Richardson, aged 49, and described as an astronomer," and Anna Afteria Richardson, his daughter, aged 22, were placed at the bar charged with the murder of Theodore Horatio Richardson, their intent child. Mr. BODKIN addressed the Court, and said that in this case thetwo prisoners at the bar stood indicted for the crime of wilful murder. He had to apply to the Court to postpone the trial of the prisoners to the next session, upon the ground of the illness of a material witness, the surgeon who had made a post mortem examination of the body. The Learned Counsel then put in an affidavit of the fact. Mr. Cx.taxsoN, on behalf of the prisoners, said he could not under the circumstmces, resist the application, which was then granted, and the prisoners were withdrawn. Frances Leonard, a married woman, aged 4b, was found guilty of uttering counterfeit coin, well knowing it to be such. The prisoner appealed to the mercy of the Court, stating that she had a large fam.ly, and that she had never offended but once bei re. His LORnsntr, in addressing her, said he could not believe her statement, as he found by a document that had been laid before him that in the space of about seven years she had been repeatedly im prisoned for various periods for the same offence. Under those cir cumstances, he Aid not think it would he safe to leave her in the country ; the sentence of the Court therefOre was that she should be transported for ten years. The prisoner appeared horrified at the sentence, and was removed from the dock imploring mercy. Mary Anne Smith, descriSed as a married woman, aged 25. Eliea beth Nicholson, also a married woman, aged 33, and Eliza Russell, like wise married, aged 28, all stood charged with the same offence. namely, uttering base coin. The first two prisoners had been tried and convicted for the same offence before. It appeared by the evidence that these three prisoners were fol lowed about from several shops by policemen in plain clothes, who suspected then), and found that at each shop one or other of them made some trifling purchase, which they paid for in coin that was discovered to be eountcrfeit. His LORDSHIP having briefly summed up, the jury found a verdlet of Guilty against all the prisoners, but recommen&d two of than to mercy. The JUDGE asked them upon what grounds they did so ? The foreman said the grounds were, that they did not think those two prisoners were the real utterers. COURT —lf they are not the real utterers, then you should acquit them ; for a prisoner cannot be fund guilty, according to the law and the incli , tment, unle‘a they be found really guilty. The jury then withdrew th. 1r r'. commendation. Upon being asked if the prisoners had anything to say before son. tence was passed upon them, the prisoner Russell said, " My Lord. I hope you will have mercy upon the other two prisoners. I ask for none for myself, for I stand alone in the world, but they have fami lies, and deserve mercy. Our Redeemer came on earth to be mere!• ful to us all, and I hope you will do the same." The prisoner NichOlson said, " I hope. my Lord, you will have mercy on me, for I have a young family." Mary Anne Smith remained silent, but Eliza Russell again im plored the Court to have mercy, and, addressing hi., Lordship in a tone and manner that showed she must have belonged to better order of society than that in which she was now placed, exclaimed. " I dare say, my Lord, the term of oar punishment will be a long one, but I ish you would visit all the severity of it on use, as they have families, though I am not guilty of uttering," and here she shed tears. His LORDSHIP said he could not think of leaving them in the country after the evidence he had heard ; and the sentence of the Court s therefore, was, thas they should each be transported for ten years. Elizabeth Nicholson—Thank you, my Lord. I hope we shall do better there than we have done here. COURT-I hope so too. The prisoners were then removed. John Greening, 25, a Post-office letter-carrier, was indicted for stealing a letter, containing an elastic strap and other articles, the property of the Postmaster• General. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Ballantine the defence. This case was of the ordinary description. It was proved that a letter containing some trifling articles had been put in the Post-office, and that t .ey never came to hand, and that the prisoner was after wards proved to be in possessson of the contents of the letter._ The jury proved the prisoner Guilty of a simple larceny only, and he was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment and hard labour. William Chaffey, 40, was indicted for uttering a forged acquittance on receipt for the payment of 11. is., with intent to defraud. Mr. Robinson prosecuted, and Mr. Payne appeared fot the prisoner. From the avidence adduced it appeared that the prisoner had been employed u collector for the Vaccine Institution, but was dismissed in Dec, inber, 1844, awl a person appointed in his stead. In February last the prisoner called upon a gentleman, named Reeve, for his subscription to the institution, and received a guinea, giving a re ceipt, in the name of Hint, who was the actual collector. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sen tenced to be transported fur ten years. NEW COURT. (Before the COMMON-SERGEANT and Sir JAMES Dints.) ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.—EIIen Martin, aged twenty-one, and E'isabeth Leech, aged twenty-two, were indicted for stealing from the person of Richard Mcdhurst, a gold watch and chain, value 141. The pr,wcotor stated that on the night of tke 26th of last month, he was out upon the spree, and in the course of his nocturnal rambles went into a public-house ia Westminster, in company with a lady, and they fell in with the two prisoners at the bar. Several pints of wine followed the introduction, and after staying there for some time (tile lady he ori.:lnally came in with having left hint) he paired off to a coffee-house in the Westminster-road, and ordered breakfast for them. He then fell :Weep, and was finally awoke by the landlord. who told him there was something wrong. He felt, and found his watch and chain gone. At that moment a gang of men who were in the shop got up a row, during which the police came in, and the pri soners were given into custody, but the watch and chain were gone. Ater an address from the counsel on behalf of their clients, the Jury Acqteted the pria , ners. ROBBERY TINDER THE GALLOWS. - -David Carter, a regular gaol bird lookieg fellow, was indicted for 'teeing a haudkerch ef from the person of Samuel Dove. Michel Haydoc, 274 City Police, saw the prisoner amongst the crowd at the , oet ef the gibbet try the pockets of several gentlemen, who were witnsss;ng the execution of Wicks, and finally draw handkerchief from the pocket of Mr. Dove. The jury found him Guilty. The CoMfox SERGEANT sentenced him to four months' imprison ment and hard labour. MARKETgE*S=(YESTERDAY.) CORN-EXCHIINGE. The show of English Wheat samples here this morning (the prin cipal portion of which was left over from Monday's market) bail; moderately extensive, and the attendance of buyers small, the demand ruled heavy, and prices were with difficulty supported. In TOraiga Wheat, free as well as in bond, so little was doing that the currencies were almost nominal. The best Malting Barley supported previous rates. but grinding and distilling sorts were a mere drug• Malt moved off slowly, yet prices were supported. We had veil few Oats en offer ; however the Oat trade was firm at Monday's ad' vaned rates. Beans, Peas, and Flour heavy, but not cheaper. ARRIVALS. Barley. 6,290 qrs. Wheat. English • • I 5,650 qrs. Irish ...••• •• Foreign 1,740 Oats I Flour. 6,870 qrs. 4,830 alci• 300 ---- 2,410 Malt. 6,620 erg. 111171EXTECIMPEL. Although the supply of Meat here to-day was not to say extensiv e the demand was throughout heavy, and prices were with difticulti supported•—Beef, from 2s• 4d to 3s 6d • Mutton, as 4d to 4s 6d; Veal, 45 2d to be 2d; and Pork as 8d to is per Sibs by the carcase• - [ADVERTISEMENT.]—DEAFNESS AND DEFECTITO VISION Rumsvuo, 39, ........"siaMaar.z-rrialT, PICCADILLY. —l,TeWli invented acoustic tube., for relief of extreme deafness , and Wile n inserted in the ear cannot be perceived by the nearest observer they are entirely different from all others, and are the smallest hear ing instruments constructed—measuring only a quarter of an inzh in their widest part; they may be securely adjusted in the ears unca r served, and removed therefrom with as great ease and facility. yll sons are enabled to join in general conversation, and to hear Ow:, distinctly in a place of worship, &c., and what should be gr oa n considered, a ffatural expansion of the cavity of the ear is preser l 7; —a thickening or contraction of which is many instances is Igt, tially the cause of deattiese—and by their use the unpleasant it, *talon of singing noises in the ears is entirely obviated. Also it;„ proved hearing trumpets of every description. Immediat el y newly-invented spectacle lenses are placed before imperfect vist r either by day or candlelight, that mist and dullness which apPn before the eyes is at once removed, every object becomes clear and distinct, so that the most aged defective sight becomes brigh t 70, brilliant, and is brought to its youthful, natural , and original 'o_4 Also the most powerful achromatic telescopes , opera glasses, 'To microscopes. Caution—Messrs. S. and B. Solomon, opticiane,.:;ie not in any way connected with a person of the same name in 100 immediate neighbourhood . nor in any part of the country. To 91e le' mistakes, be cautious, and observe—only to be had at 39, Albernilw street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel. nOtl s [ ADTERTISEBIENT.3—CURES OF FEARFUL ULCE--tio, SORES IN MALTA, BY lioLLowA y's PILLS AND OINTNENT.- - __l 5 8 Duncan, whose husband is employed in her Majesty's dockPrtol, Malta, suffered for more than two years fr ( m ulcerous sores feet. She formerly resided at Corfu, and was treated by tIle:i0 practitioners there, from whom, however, she derived no be whatever, w'ien, after using five or six boxes and pots of Hollo t'Qj Pills and Ointment, a perfect cure was effected. The truth statement is so notorious in Malta that the editor of the ;If Mail" newspaper was induced to insert the particulars of the d it in his paper of October 31st, 1845.—501 d by all druggists, Professor Holloway's establishment, 244, Strand, Londeri...... BIRTIII A Mast ° On the 24th ult., the lady of the Rey. Dr. Mortimer, Ilea. of the City of London School, of a son. ~ O. On the 24th ult., at Fairfield - place, Cheetham, Lancsis..•-• wife of Mr. A. M. Sims, of a son. DIED. cottsg e _ a l On the 25th ult., Mr. James Usher , aged 59, o f 110. Y -..f Burn-place, Old Ferd-lane , Bow , Middlesex , aut hor of ww works upon Biblical Criticism, Poems, &c. On the Pith ult., John Poulett , Esq. , of Addington H 0...— Winslow, Bucks. „ing dOS /14 On the 29th ult., at Lee , Ethel Rebecca , the only aryl.— ter of the Rev. W. F. Sims - --- —lls' . r No. London: Printed and Published by l I IPRDO YOUNG. 0 . cio. strand. Printer, at The Sun Office ,N 0.112, Strand, to the i 0 01 of the Savoy, iii the county of Alicklleser., Thore-W, 2, 11546, THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 2, 1846.