The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-04 00:00:00

ilsß i Zl * ). eeseee,eee....e.eee,„eveeeeeo-eseee Nl' het ssPleeeeet ateeesee, vefeerthd to and a niuetet a new bishops were prodoscd,. know f mor,Ang o,btlr:acty•s....._en(utncra.tc,l there was the Binhop of Loud laughter.) Ile wished to h e too l oin the Nobl e L or d (L , r d J. Misseil) whether this rri?i, this Bill un(L'r his protection? Attached to ,Niataillolutitere were th e na:ces of Mr. Frc , vn und Mr. Sir G . _ H IRE er :se e teat the on. Member who oh etaisill_e.cl. leave to bring in the Bill referred to did not state T, i lprovisi ons were. Bill a H. INGLIS k new no thi ng o f th e d e t a ils of the ‘ ..rovisio ns b et its lid, ther e f ore, could not speak as to the nature c f otr e did had read every line of the Bill, ti ne to iu not think the House would give their sane se a Bill of so monstrous a nature. Ho hoped the z es would therefore get rid of the Bill at once. ulr G'l3,” 1 1011,• I said that when the Bill was brought in ei eek ia Member had objected. He hoped the Hon. Phis for Evesham would not think that he had made Sir 3 '" nind to support the Bill as it then stood. ei ta . , - us PEEL hoped the House would not act preci 4047tmards this Bill, by adopting the advice of the i t • Member for Evesham to " get rid of it at once." best o tl e PP e e aved to have had considerable attention there w ed upon it, for upon looking over it he saw oseee.was apt be a bishop for MeltonMowbray, to look l ailY er the spotting interests.—(Laughter.) Mr MILITARY FLOGGING. tfon: B . F, MILITARY I' wished to know whether the Right moil the Secretary-at-War would oppose the ehee of which he had given notice this evening, tied he h id er Ile was prepered to answer the queries of which Elven notice ? Pareer. ° MAULE said he was not at present pre tote, h t , answer the queries of which the Hon. Gentle ad notice, but he would probably do so on tY week, or Friday foitnight. On SUGAR DUTIES. Mr bri m SUGAR up the report on the Sugar Duties, lethe • RuTT said that on such, an occasion he took e to say that he would certainly renew hit t l t s e es sion the resolution as to the slave trade, which he e ti eu n ileht on last session. ilitene . e ,l U ME wished to ask whether the Government ltsp e ;', remove and relieve the Canadas of the duties the to r t °Y our Imperial Act, so that they might enjoy T h e antage s of free trade ? 11 '4 CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it see_ intention of Government to introduce a general i ti T e me affecting the colonies, and the Canadas would Le el l ,, d e ed •--( Hear, hear.) ree o ,,7 l ' : () BERT PEEL said that already a considerable ce ea se"on had been made on some of the immediate ne ho ha es of this trade, on staves and other articles, and atilt f l iu heard that the Government understand to make a Nleobiarther reduction. He did not why the oble Lord Lord should not now take the same course with iq i7t to the West Indian policy by imperial legislation was done by imperial legislation in 1802, and 4"‘ely reduce the duties. to re , r , cl J. RUSSELL said that it was not their object te, - ce the import duties in the colonies. There were 'era' • , (Rd articles which, if they were admitted free u tY into the colonies, they would no doubt accep t It e ; boon. But they were bound to go further than that. d en - PPeared to him that, when they said they would e the duties on flour and corn from foreign coun kicrto the same terms as the flour an d corn of Canada, admitted the sugar of Cuba, at a certain period, on same terms as that of Jamaica, they were bound 1l oto say, that of the colonies. He thought that there e' e l'e certain other articles which they ought to obtain „ Vile same terms from the continent of Europe as from 1 1 land. They should have power to have those arti , on the same terms as those from articles, London if the. At the !t o e tim e with respect to many of those y s hed te , to retain the differential duties for the purposes of k r , el ute, as the duties on silk and timber, they could do and he, therefore, thought it would be better to give em the power of proposing an alteration,and give them ti Act to confirm their request, or to allow the altera uY the permission of her Majesty in Council. He eb °ll eht that they should have all the benefit they could le . t ain from free trade Air evie . • sok,• esu ME said that he was anxious to save the oei tiles from the imperial duties. He would leave the th e c)ni es to be the judges of their own affairs, and leave entirely free from all imperial legislation. Wh at ° HANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that th e the Governm en t proposed to do was to empower c ' t euiles, if they should think fit, to submit Acts re the Pg a Portion of the duties now enforced on them to th e prernment. The, burden of the Act would be to enable r,eli ee r,° w n to assent to any local Act for the purpose of !!ati e ;"; the trade of the colonies from the oppression of for imposed i mposed by imperial legislation. They did not bat l e iru e the colonies any reduction of their revenue,. Wished' theta at liberty to relieve themselves if they to r' • t o ‘',W, RING said that it would be more satisfac -4; ' o llld : 11 % colonies that the commercial legislation d e lki ,gesei nl , e 4 liate from themselves. They should be heat/ revenues - e 'e duties in their own cases. The collection of ',"enues under imperial Acts was exceedingly (lao‘; indeed more duties were collected in conse absotai I °f the expensive nature of machinery than w as shy f -e Y necessary ; and there was another reason eere to pa legislation should be abandoned with re es he colonies. i'he resolution was then agreed to. On the next resolution being proposed, 1 2 1 • COLLETT w i she d to k now w h a t c o lonies the '', x or l , 4l scale of d ut i es app li e d to . toi l " CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied ri tish possessions in America, British possessions in h e Mauritius, and the limits of the East India Co=l - charter. e, t ;ue port was then received, and a Bill ordered t o be edureced. SUPPLY. Waa report upon he votes in Committee of Supply then brought up, t and confirmed. On T lIE ARMY. ek em - ,,, te . u ee SPEAKER reading the order of the day for ~ &estimates, C aptain LAYARD rose to move that an bumble ei i Te e ss be presented to her Majesty, praying that she ho be graciously pleased to direct inquiry to . be . made. er w far the reduction of their period of service in the Pro rate from the present unlimited term would tend to e t ° lzote a better class of British soldiers, decrease l , ,Tion, and thus add to the efficiency of the army. In 11 1- n 'et l ig this motion under the consideration of the must the Hon. and Gallant Member said the House ee list at once see that the subject was one of the very ratest importance, and he must ask them to grant him eta: which it did on a former occasion ; that was to atij' ee Lts kind attention and indulgence—an attention ar" he was sure was deserving of the case itself— anea,r, hear)—and an indulgence which he trusted len ' l le be granted, and which would be wanted, from the tiel l ' rl ess of the advocate. After a most deliberate in le a fY into the subject, he had formed the opinion that a e o ; t ed service in the army would greatly benefit the te - , ll e tr Y and the army. It would have the effect of giving a m 'ue army a better description of men to perform those , 0 1 " which were entrusted to soldiers, and would he -cir e in a great measure the quantity of crime which t tegretted to say was committed by those to whom the li le it e ll t cl e a rda of our - army were entrusted. He contended Cosa limiting the numbers of years of enlistment the blu e - I: T Y would have a better description of men; and that of the crime of which the army was at present t iil v t o Y, and the existence of which he would be able to rh o would be limited to a very great extent. He s oh l . l ght he should do wisely by bringing forward the t eleet under discussion in the same way that he did on eeuerraer occasion; that was, by dividing it into different h e t e . u s ; and first, he should be able to show the House - u npopular the present system was in the country, and te e pop it was also with the soldiers. In te e - second place, he should be able to show 01 ' 41 the impolicy of the present system. He would °lv them that the present system led to fearful crime end bring an immense amount of punishment. He would then forward his arguments in the strongest manner in W hich he believed it could be brought forward, and, with e indulgence of the House, he hoped he should be able to 13r uve his case successfully. He believed he should be able to show that the change ho ar n op er o r s c e n d t , s w av o i u n ld i b n e ex of rat benefit to..th. be gained. country,aine. while „ d They should remem g ber the ex penditure wou o l f d b territory they had, and the small force in eat extent T lt tnparis•on to that territory which they had at their They had, as had been stated on a li e , r e e P ;o sa us evening, forty-nine colonies, and a territory o e ul eh, but recently, in the East Indies had been extended ,n-thebanks of the Sutlej, and they had but 120,000 men to p r otect it. The change he proposed, therefore, was, ca tilt atled to their most serious considera ti o n . Ile would b! 1 * to show, from returns he had in his possession, and lo ,1" . information he had received, the alarming preva oile of crime in the army. He had received a retu rn a id e deserters from the army in Great Britain, Ireland, 18 4 ,, t110 colonies during the three years ; that was in th e , 1843 , and 1844. In Canada the deserters during vejeZ e t e b e r ee years was 735, of whom 193 were retaken or vintec,". In Great Britain during the same time the tzt e ken " „ o deserters was 5,208, of whom 3,286 were re- Wh otti - ; and in Ireland the number was 1,594, total ~,e , ',1 5 9 were retaken or rejoined. Making the who te ll ruer of deserters in those three years 7,537, of „ (11 111t e d',. 638 were retaken. and leaving 2,899 not ac ted for; or a loss of about 1,000 men a year. to 1 8 - eei'ense of these deserters to the country from 1843 tio e thad been 71,5201. By a return moved for by the IMet • C' e vaber for Montrose, with reference to corporal it en -s g r uent inflicted in the army dnring the same period, Poe r e l 3eti ved that there were 3,355 persons upon whom cor tion P e u vlishment bad been inflicted. He thought the ques aieepcu, corporal punishment was one deserving of con fels.„„at'un, and should be removed, if possible; but he th e assured that flogging could not be removed while th ee v e re sent term of enlistment was adhered to. Within ar my Years there had been 28,190 men in the British belle who had suffered imprisonment. lie did not anu_eofi- e effe t c h t a s t . could be a good system which produced Many medical men had written books I t era n . the subject which would convince any Hon. Cali of of the necessity of some change in the law of talent. Mr. Marshall had said, in a work which he h7L, written and dedicated to Sir Henry llardinge, treat moral point of view it was politic to enlist men for Z e e t ._ 3 :g Period at an early age, because at thet age persons b;rio tto figure to themselves a thousand instances of but ti r and glory in which they were to become sharers, u eo u ti t ti W i h ., o were doomed to disappointment. In the present he defied of the army, continued the Gallant Member, anY 'lied any person to point out an instance in which re .sPectable tradesman or farmer would wish his son bu...,111.et in the army. He would have to spend all the Z ° l his years in the service of his country, and then ir_e,eNvaardsed with a - miserable pen,,ion of 6(1. a day, ,e 0 barely sufficient to keep him out of the work ,e,e7Ys. the show the opinion entertained in the army in? the service, the Gallant Member proceeded to - i a u t te e tl e l case of George Hill of the 67th, who stated 11 , 1 , 4 _ 4 e %les the murderer of a young woman of the Grimwood, who had been murdered at a .. " 4; "ttge in the neighbourhood. On his oxen:dna- THE STORM ON SATURDAY. The following additional particulars were obtained yester day : THE ITALIAN OPERA -noUSE.—Whilst the storm was raging, the fell with such violence upon the various sky lights on the roof, that nearly every square of glass was broken. Fortunately plenty of assistance was in the house, and the rain as it fell through was quickly baled away. The damage done is, therefore, not nearly so great as might have been expected. Yesterday tarpaulings and canvass were placed over the broken windows to keep the rain and dust out. Tile Opera Colonnade, it will be remembered, was lighted by means of eighteen fancy circular lanterns, which contained in the whole many hundred squares of glass. Upon inspecting the Arcade yesterday, it was found that nearly every pane of glass was shivered to atoms. The va rious tradesmen of the place had also the whole of their sky lights demolished, and their shops covered with water. THE REFORM CLUB-HOUSE.—Throughout the whole of Sunday and yesterday, one of Mr. Merrvweather's fire en gines was engaged pumping out the water which had entered this large building. Towards the latter part of the evening the men succeeded in getting the house free. At one time the water was nearly ten feet deep. BURFORD'S PANORAMA, LEICESTER-SQUA.RE.—At this esta blishment not fewer than 10,000 squares of glass were de molished, and the rain poured in such bodies that the place was completely inundate , i. Owing, however, to the Pano rama being painted in oil colours, it sustained no damage. Had it. been done in what is termed destemper, the whole t)1 the painting would have been rendered worthless. By great exertion the building was thoroughly dried, and opened as usual to the public yZsterday. SA VI L LE-I-10 USE, LEICESTER.SQUARE.—The greater por- lion of the skylights over the exhibition rooms were broken. and the lower part of the premises completely inundated with water. The water rose several feet in Mr. Smith's wine shades on the basement, and did great mischief. THE ADELAIDE GALLERY.—NearIy the whole of the beau- Will stained glass windows on the roof of this establish ment, under which the daugerreotype portraits were taken by M. Claudet, are broken. The skylights in the other portions of the gallery are likewise demolished. The damage done to the adjoining property in the Lowther-arcade is very considerable. HUNGERFORD-MARKET.—The damage clone to the glass work in this market is most extensive. There is scarcely a whole pane left in any of the skylights. Nearly all the tradesmen in the lower market had their goads either washed away or greatly damaged, TIIE WESTERN EXCIIANGE.—It is impossible to tell the exact damage done at this building. Besides the injury to the premises, the stall-holders had their fancy goods washed down, and in many instances the whole of the articles were spoiled. It is feared that the loss to the stall-holders alone will exceed 1,5001. THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE.—A number of men were employed the whole of yestel day and the preceding day in baling cut the water that had accumulated in the Public Re cord. office, Carlton side. From the great care that was taken in removing the records, it is believed that not one document has suffered snore than from being completely saturated with water. ST. Manpre's. COURT.—Messrs. Hills and Mills, woollen drapers, at the corner of St. Martin's-court, had 150 squares of glass in their warehouse demolished. SOHO-SQUARE.—Besides the mischief done in the imme diate vicinity of Soho-square, already noticed in this jour nal, the premises of Messrs. Cross and Blackwell, her Ma jesty's oilmen, were extensively damaged in consequence of the skylights breaking. COVENT-GARDEN.—That portion of the Bedford Conserva tory in the occupation of Mr. Bunny, florist, has about three-fourths of the panes of glass broken. About the same extent of damage is done to the other conservatory, occupied by Messrs. Ewart and Co. The damage done by the storm on Saturday to the gar dens of the Royal Botanic Society in the Regent's park has been much exaggerated. The whole damage amounts only to a portion of the mould from some of the flower-beeis being washed on to the gravel walks. In the new conservatory, which covers 15,000 feet cf ground, not a single pane is cracked, although many of the fragments of ice picked up in the gardens measured above an inch in length, and were of irregular angular forms. On the other hand, the fall of rain has been of infinite service, filling the lake to overflow. and changing the grass, which by the constant wear of nume rous visitors, aided by the dry weather, had become brown, to its usual healthy colour. Amongst other damage at the west end of the town, the Waterloo Hotel, Jermyn-street, seems to have suffered severely, having had two entire windows of beautifully figured glass entirely destroyed, every pane being broken, together with other glass, upwards of 100 panes in number. Such was the force of the storm ' and size of the hailstones, that the skylights were entirely destroyed, before any means could be resorted to for their preservation. l'isreico.—The amount of property destros-ed and damaged in the neighbourhood of Pimlico is most extensive. Many of the houses in the vicinity of the great common sewer were completely deluged, and it was not until late yesterday after noon that the water was pumped out. At Dr. Aldis's, in Chester-square, the skylight at the top of the house was broken ; a double skylight over the library broken ; and after a carpet was thrown over to protect it, the force of the hailstones was powerful enough to break several panes of glass. Many more windows were broken, and the hailstones projected a long way into the rooms. WOOD-STREET, Crry.—The silk-mercers and riband mer chants in Wood-street, City, have sustained great damage by the storm. The skylights at Messrs. Brettle and Son's were broken, and an immense damage was done to the stock in trade by the bursting of a water-spout over the roof. HormonN.—From an examination made there is little do:ibt that the fall of the two houses, noticed in this journal yesterday, was occasioned by the rain having undermined the foundations. OXFORD.,STREET.—It is quite impossible to state the exact damage done in the neighbourhood of Oxford-street. Nearly every street, lane, and square were visited with equal severity. In Gee's-court the whole of the houses were com pletely inundated for some time, and it is reported that a child was drowned whilst left alone in its cradle. The re porter, however, was unable to ascertain with certainty whether or not such was the case. The furniture of the re sidents was most severely injured by the water. BRIXTON, CLAPHAM, AND WANDSWORTII ROAD.—The scene that presented itself yesterday in these districts it is impossible accurately to describe. For upwards of a mile and a half down the Wandsworth-road, nearly every pane of glass in the south fronts of the houses is demolished. Incredible as it may appear, there were to be seen scattered on the ground many cart loads of broken glass. Mr. Chandler, the celebrated camellia japonica grower, has the whole of his extensive conservatories shivered, and the damage to his plants is incalculable. It is estimated that 600/. will not re place the glass broken. Mr. Merryweather, the engine maker, of Long-acre, had the whole of the sky-lights in his house at Vauxhall demolished, and the furniture saturated with water. In the Clapham-road, Tulse-hill, and Brixton road, a similar scene of desolation presented itself. The Pro prietary Grammar Schaal at Stockwell had an immense number of squares of glass shattered. The total loss of glass on the Surrey side of the river alone, it is believed, will amount to several thousand pounds. The damage at the Nine Elms terminus alone will extend to many hundred pounds. At Tulse-hill every square of glass is riddled. NEWINGTOL—In the district of St. Andrew's-road and ilorsemonger-lane the houses and roadways were overflowed, and throughout Sunday and yesterday morning men were engaged pumping the rain out of the basement floors of the several buildings. The damage done to property is most extensive. CAMBERWELL—ProbabIy in no part was the hail felt with greater severity than in the Camberwell New-road. One gentleman took the pains to examine the size of the hail stones, and he found that there were not fewer than five or six different sizes, some nearly as large:as walnuts, and other as small as peas. The principal damage done has; been to the glass and plants in the market gardens. N OTTINGHAM. —On Saturday evening last an awful thun der-storm, accompanied with heavy rain, visited the town of Nottingham and its neighbourhood. As early as five o'clock in the afternoon, the lightning began to play : , and in two hours the whole atmosphere became enveloped in thick dark clouds. Occasionally peals of heavy thunder were heard, and flash after flash of sheet, and sometimes forked, lightning succeeded, indicating that a storm of no ordinary description was discharging itself in the heavens. From half-past eight till midnight the horizon, on all sides, was one continued glare; but during a whole hour, commencing at half-past nine o'clock, the storm raged with unparalleled violence. The inhabitants throughout the town became terrified as the rain descended in heavy torrents, the lightnings played in cessantly, and the thunders continued one heavy and ap palling roar, as though the elements had been let loose, and were waging fierce war with each other. So frightful and terrific a storm for so long a period has not been experienced in Nottingham for many years. Apprehensions of the most fearful character were entertained, as the forked lightning constantly dashed through the air, but little or no damage was done either to the inhabitants or the buildings. This was not the case in some of the surrounding villages where the storm raged with unabated fury for as long a period as in Nottingham. At Nuttall, four miles distant, a fire-ball fell upon a large straw stack in the farm-yard belonging to Mr. Joseph Faulconbridge, and, although all the villagers turned out, took every bucket and vessel capable of holding water, the whole was soon destroyed ; and, had not the wind suddenly changed, the other stacks, a very large num ber, would have been destroyed. A messenger on horseback was dispatched to Nottingham for the engines, where he ar rived at a quarter-past 12, but on the town-engine reaching Nuttall the fire had burnt itself out. At Bulwell, a mile or two to the east of Nuttall, the storm was equally severe, and considerable damage was done. At half-past nine o'clock, in the midst of the heaviest of the thunder and lightning,three half-bred horses, the property of Mr. Charles Allcock, were observed to be galloping wildly round a field in the occupa tion of that gentleman ; and the next morning they were found dead, in the centre of the close. They were valuable animals, being worth not less than 100/, The electric fluid had seized their carcases, riven part of the flesh from their bodies, and passed into the ground, making five round deep holes. I have this day (Sunday) been scouring the sur rounding country, and find that no serious injury, beyond what I have described above, occurred from this terrific storm, except slight damage to a few crops of standing corn, which, being over-ripe, had some of the grain beaten out. All the country people appear to have been much terrified, and many of them state, that they passed the greater part of the night on their knees, being apprehensive that the day of judgment, with all its promised horrors, was really commencing. EAST WELDON.—Between six and seven o'clock on Satur day evening, a tremendous hurricane of wind, accompanied by torrents of rain and hail, ushered was shortly followed by incessant peals of thunder and sheets of vivid lightning. The atmosphere was so obscured that it was impossible to distinguish objects a few yards distant. The destruction of property in the neighbourhood is great, scarcely a house but has windows broken, and in many instances the roofs demolished. For miles round torrents of water were seen rushing along the slopes, carrying away sheaves of corn, sheep, and pigs, numbers of which were drowned. One farmer in the neigh bourhood has lost from 20 to 30 sheep and two young colts, and many others, too numerous to specify, have sustained severe losses. One of the most complete scenes of destruc tion of property ever witnessed through the effect of a storm in this country is to be seen at the residence of Mr. J. P. Collingford, of Harwood Lodge, Mount Wilford. The house, which stands upon an eminence, seems to have sus tained the brunt of one of the most violent gusts of the tem pest. The mansion being of an octangular form was much exposed to the violence of the storm, numerous windows being dashed in, frames and all, the torrents of rain and hail completely drenching the carpets, furniture, &c. To show the force of the hurricane, an extremely old and choice painting, which hung against the library wall, opposit window, was split by the hailstones, which were of an un usual size and hardness. Two stacks of chimney were either blown down or struck by the lightning, and in their fall carried away a large portion of the wall from the upper part of the house, whence the mass of material fell on the coach house, completely shattering a travelling carriage within the building. The extensive range of conservatories, greenhouses, &c., are nearly all demolished, not the glass merely, but the entire framework swept away. The wind likewise blew down the gardener's cottage, the straw roof of which was carried to a distance of 30 yards over the garden wall. Great damage is done to the standing corn in the neighbourhood, which is beaten down by the hail. On Sun- I 4 , • . day morning tornentolt34 wno kos4 -- t iiies Rushton, that a youth. eight ,srears otasee, in ACM ole iveeneee • in that neighbourhood, had been swept awaylev a torrent a , water during the storm, and drowned. LEICESTER, AUGUST 2.—The inhabitari9. of this town will for many a day remember the evening otethe Ist of August, 184 G. Through the day the heat wase'exeessiVe and particularly oppressive, with every - -4 ti icsation • an approaching break-up of the late fine weather. The lower stratum of clouds had every appearance of being highly charged with electric matter, and at six in the evening, a most portentous-looking mass of black clouds burst and poured its contents in a deluge of rain, that far exceeded anything 0f,4 the kind on record in Leicester. In less than 15 minutes most of the culverts were choked up, and the streets became flooded; the water poured in at the door-ways, windows, and areas of houses, and quickly the lower premises were under water, and an indescribable scene of uproar, confusion, and destruction of property followed. By seven o'clock the water in many houses was from 3 to 12 feet in depth, whilst some of the streets were impassable. In Humberstone-gate the water in the roadway was about four feet deep, and persons going to the Bell Inn were obliged to make entrance by the windows. From 6upto 9 o'clock the peals of thunder were awfully tremendous, whilst the lightning was of a most vivid character. In Shambles-lane a building was ignited by the electric riuid, and at precisely eleven minutes after eight o'clock the upper part of the tower of St. George's Church was struck, and about iitry feet of the shaft was hurled in all directions. A large pertion of it, with parts of the battlements and pinnacles of the tower, was thrown on the roof, whilst several huge masses of stone were forced through the roof into the body of the church, indeed the roof and tower present the appearance of a perfect wreck. It is lamentable to witness so much destruction, the work of an instant, of the very handsome church of St. George's. The clock work is destroyed, fused, anal scattered in all direc tions. The bell, which had gone through its last curfew peal • a few minutes before, is now prostrate, and t' e hands of the clock face point to the precise moment of its destruction. The organ narrowly escaped annihilation too, a mass of stones brushed its face, and splintered the siegers's seats im mediately before. It is much feared an arciltectural exami nation of the building will show that its restoration will be one of no ordinary magnitude. Since the eccasi m the town has been in high excitement, whilst the neighbourhood of the church has been thronged with anxious geze s. During the night all the tire-engines of the town were employed in forcing the water from the inundated houses; and curing this morning many of the townspeople were toiling with the bucket and baling out the water from their premises. It is a general subject of remark, that the drainage of the town is deficient, and the culverts too small to meet a cala mity of the sort that has taken place by the flooding of the streets and houses. But, thank God, such storms are of rare occurrence. STORM AND FLOOD OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT.—(From the Carlisle Patriot.)—During the greater part of the day on \Vednesday there was a heavy and continuous fall of rain, which excited considerable anxiety among the farmers as to the mischief with which it threatened the crops, but towards night it gradually swelled into a tempest, accompanied by a storm of thunder and lightning, unequalled on any recent oe casien in this county. Shortly. before nine o'clock the clouds assumed a dense and lurid appearance, and the lightning flashed, and the thunder rattled almost without interruption until an early hour yesterday morning, while throughout the whole night there was a tremendous fall of rain, which pro duced, by daylight, the most extensive and sudden flood in all the neighbouring rivers which it has been our duty to re cord for many years. The Eden was swollen to a fearful ex - tent, covering Rickerby Holme and the Swifts, so as to render them impassable, and bearing upon its surface large trees and masses of hay which told its ravages. The Esk was in the same condition, as was also the Irthing, the Lyne, the Caldew, and the Petteril, and although we have not been able to learn the particulars of all the accidents which occurred, enough has transpired to leave the extent of the damage beyond all question. In the neighbourhood of Brampton a great deal of bay was flooded and several sheep were destroyed; but the most serious evil we have heard of there was the destruction of Carnbeck-bridge, near Walton House, which, we understand, was completely carried away. All along the Irthing the presence of the flood was also fearfully palpable, by which it is feared that many sheep were washed away. The Esk has also made fearful ravages, assisted by the Liddle and the Lyne. As far up as Cannobie we have heard that rumours prevail of lives lost, as Langholm races took place on Wednes day, and several of the small bridges were swept away, but throughout the whole course of the river the damage is per ceptible. Indeed the oldest inhabitants do nut recollect when the flood was more serious. Mr. James Beaty, of Riddings, on the banks of the Liddle above Netherby, has lost 51 sheep and five stirks on the occasion, besides having his crop completely inundated. Mr. Church, of Parkhouse, Can nobie, is also reported to have lost many cattle and sheep. Mr. Wright, who farms the Speard, near Longtown, has lost 12 or 13 sheep, and his crops are said to be literally covered with wreck and sludge. Mr. Tweddle, of Longtown, cooper, had his saw mill, sheds, sluice, and dam, with the wooden troughs which conveyed the water from the dam to the saw mill, carried away, and it is supposed that great damage has also been none to the property on the opposite side of Longtown Beck. The Lyne was also swollen to a grievous extent, and owing to the bursting of the embank ment near Bush -on-Lyne, the farms of Randlinton, Parcels town, Hornick-hill, Burnfoot, and Stone, were greatly inundated. But here the loss of cattle and sheep was happily limited, although it was actually found neces sary to use boats to s a v e th e li ve s o f Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, who, with their servants, were driven for refuge to the top of the house until that assistance arrived from Longtown and Justustown. Lower down, however, we regret to state, the embankments at Purdom's Crook gave way, and the whole of the farm occupied there by Mr. Richard Ferguson was seriously flooded. The whole stock was at one time in danger, but by the most strenuous ex ertions the greater part was saved—although we have to re- I cord that not less than 100 sheep, and, it is reported, two or three horses, are lost. 'We understand also that the flood in this district was so great that the Edinburgh mail had to go round by Astonby before it could proceed on its journey. The flood in the Caldew was also most alarming, more se rious, indeed, than it had been recollected since 1809. Several bridges and embankments have given way under the immense pressure, and whole crops of hay were swept down the de structive stream to the great damage of the farmers. The wood bridge at Dalston was completely destroyed, and the contiguous embankment carried away. Fortunately no cat tle were destroyed here. Several cows, however, swam down the river, but they were saved near Dalston. We have been .informed that the whole of the hay on Carder/ Mires has been laid under water and that a part of the railway near Crofton Bridge has been injured, and at this point the coal train passing about 6 o'clock yesterday morning was thrown oti" in consequence ; but no person was injured, and in the course of the day the damage was repaired. The injury en the Caldew and its tributaries has not been fully ascertained, but it is stated that along Corn mersdale a great deal of mischief has been done; several sniall bridges broken down, including the re mains of the railway bridge, of which we recently noticed the fall, and it was at one time surmised that the Corporation bay was in great danger. In Shaddongate and Caldewgate the flood so prevailed that, excepting in carts, a passage was impossible, and the workpeople of the Messrs. Dixon could not reach their works without the conveyance of waggons ; but fortunately in Carlisle itself very little inconvenience was experienced. Wigton was also exposed to all the rigour of the tempest; there the thunder prevailed to the same alarming extent as at Carlisle. A great deal of meadow hay was swept away by the flooding of the rivers, and other da mage done, but of this we have not heard the details. A correspondent from that town assures us that the barometer, which was high at the commencement of the storm, did not fall in the least during its continuance, and this, with the great quantity of rain that fell previously, were rather un usualfeatures in the storm. DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD. One of the most dreadful floods that ever occurred in the principality took place on Thursday, at Talsarn, and in the neighbourhood of Aberayron, Cardiganshire. For two or three days previously to Thursday heavy thunder-clouds had burdened the lurid atmosphere and ob scured the sun with almost murky darkness, but no rain fell until the morning of that day, and then only on the hill-tops in the neighbourhood. At about twelve o'clock, however, the long pent-up moun tain-torrents broke their bounds, and lashing themselves into fury as they rapidly descended into the valleys, became at length resistless in their force. The Tivy burst its banks, and flooded the highway leading from Lampeter to Aberyst with for many miles, doing immense damage to the roads, in some parts of which gaps ten feet in width were caused by the excited torrent. But the heaviest visitation of this tempestuous deluge took place at Talsarn. The river here, which had previously been comparatively tranquil, and is at no time of any great width or depth, rose at about twelve o'clock like a vast wall, and, dashing onward in its headlong course, swept away no less than twenty-live houses in the village, with all their contents. The consternation of the inhabitants at this fearful de struction of their property may be better imagined than de scribed. Of the whale twenty-five dwellings scarcely , one stone remained upon another, while the furniture of the in mates w‘hvae: found, pieces, and irre nancinestn, n n e wn ver b seen sn after, irre coverably ruined. o n u m nd a , ny br i o n ke t But the most awful part of the tale remains to be told. Not only property became the prey of the remorseless de stroyer, but even life did not escape. Dr. Rogers, of Aber meirig, a gentleman of property and highly respected in the neighbourhood (being also a county magistrate); was pro ceeding along the highway leading from Talsarn to Aberyat with, accompanied by his servant, both being on horseback. Suddenly the vast flood swept across the road, and in an in stant both human beings and quadrupeds were snatched from existence, the sudden deluge paralysing all efforts at escape, and suffocating and destroying its victims. The inhabitants of Talsarn, already horror-stricken at the calamity that had befallen themselves, found all their sym pathies aroused anew when the dead bodies of Dr. li?gereatut his unfortunate servant were whirled through their village by the infuriated stream. The lifeless carcases of the horses following their rider's remains completed the dismal realities of this awful scene. After the violence of the storm had in some measure abated, the devastation that was perceivable was truly lamentable. Numbers of families had been rendered houseless, and in con sequence of the loss of their furniture utterly ruined, while the swollen and mangled body of Dr. Rogers bore melan choly evidence of the fatality of the event. Within the memory of man no such flood has ever occurred in the Vale of Ayron. Lower down the river, at Llandissil, several women Were peacefully engaged in washing clothes by the side of the Tivy, when the same wall-like deluge of water suddenly came upon them and swept away every vestige of clothing, together with all the tubs and washing utensils. The tem pest then pursued its course onward to the sea. The loss at Talsarn is estimated at about 1,0001., which for the most part is irremediable, since the inhabitants are pie cipally of the poorer class. The floods have not yet subsided, and the corpse of Dr. Rogers's servant has not been recovered, nor have the bodies of the horses been found. In addition to the damage done at Talsarn, there are no less than four bridges between Aberayron and Abervatwith that have been utterly demolished by the flood. One of them was a strong, new bridge, having only been erected about three y ears. It is needless to add that the crops in the fertile Vale of Ayron have suffered severely, the amount of injury sus tained being incalculable, while the sides of the stream are strewn with the carcases of sheep, horses, and cattle, almost innumerable. Scarcely a farmer for miles around has escaped. this dreadful catastrophe, which has caused so much And such disastrous consequences. ea MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlFE.—Yesterday the marriage of Viscount Seaham, son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry, and Miss Mary Cornelia Edwards, only daughter and heiress of Sir John Edwards, Bart., of Machyn 11eth, Montgomeryshire, was solemnised at St. George's Church, Hanover-square. A very numerous circle of the friends of both familes were present on the interesting cere mony. The Bishop of Durham performed the ceremony in a de , ply impressive manner. The bride was given away by her father, Sir John Edwards. The bride and bridegrooms left for Sir John Edwards's residence ve where Sir John and Lady Edward :g a in tainment to celebrate th e auspicious lead enter. TILE SUET, LONDON, iTIYESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 4, 1848. t;st:itio the yeaziereate, he had scented him• self foe the purpose of getting out of the service. Ile did not mean to say that he aas a ;good soldier, on the contrary, he believed himto be the very reverse. He merely y brought the case forw. rd to show what a re an would undergo in order to get out of the service. He then rce'erred to the case of a private in the 60th Regi ment of Cavelry who had ateseepted to :hoot him self in going off sentry. These were not solitary instances of the injurious effects of the present system. Sir IL Hardinge had stated in evidence before the Com missioners on the subject of corporal punishment, that soldiers often maimed themselves to obtain their dis charge. He had stated last year that the suicides in the cavalry amounted to one in twenty of the whole number of deaths. That statement had been made upon the authority of Mr. Marshall, the inspector of hospitals, and he did not think there was a better authority on the subject. Ile had made application to the Secretary at-War fora return of the number of suicides committed in the army ; but he had been informed that the return could not be given, because the suicides were not kept distinct from the accidents. He though, however, =itch returns should be kept separate. He thought that if such returns were made, it would be shown that a greater number of suicides took place in the army than among any equal number of men in a dif ferent position. Colonel FOX—AII the suicides which took place did not take place upon that account. Captain LAYAIII) did not suppose that they were all traceable to that cause, but he should be happy to be shown to be incorrect in the present instance. A great number of suicides did take place, and it was but fair to "Peese that they arose from that cause, seeing the great number of punishments and desertions which annually took place. He believed that the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary-at-War himself would not like to be tied down for life to one employment, or to be compelled during that term to perform the irksome duties con nected with the army.—(Laughter.) He thought that if any person had a right to enlist the Chancellor of the Eschequer, he had a perfect right to do so—(Laughter) —and believed he should do so before he had finished his statement. He thought that no person should he en listed for more than ten years, after which period he should receive a sum equal to half his pay ; and that after a period of six months if he enlisted again in that regiment, or into any other regiment, he should be al lowed to enlist :or eleven years, thus making a total of twenty-one years' service. It was quite possible that a soldier might be happy in one regiment while he was perfectly miserable in another; he would not propose, therefore, to confine the soldier entirely to one regiment. As an instance of the difference of regiment he would call the attention of the House to the 12th Lancers, commanded by Colonel Stowell, in which regiment there was not a man who had been flogged.—(Cheers.) If, after their ten years had expired, they should enlist again for eleven years, they should be entitled to their proper retiring allowance of 10d. per day. He knew that he should be informed of the difficulties in case of any regiment being abroad, and any number of men claiming their discharge at the same time; but re wards could be held out, and quite sufficient inducements given to them to remain. They might be allowed to go to India, where, from all the returns he had seen, most soldiers who had been there volunteered to return. Ile knew he should be told that they had limited service be fore. lie was aware of that; but it was altered by Lord Hill in 1829. The present s y s t em was mos t un j us t, for after ten years' actual service, with two distinguishing marks of good conduct, they required a man to pay more for his discharge than he originally received for going to them. After giving men 41. and a few shillings to come to them, and after getting ten or twelve years' service out of him, they required him to pay 51. How could they e:peet men who bad any prospector work to go into the army with the comfortable prospect of twenty-five years' service, and then 6d. per day to retire upon ? All reports on the subject agreed that the army was made of the very worst materials, and it had been found that the soldier was so placed as absolutely to induce him to commit many acts which caused him to be igno miniously punished. He wished to call attention to the immense amount of duty which had to be performed by good men in the army. The good men had the trouble of doing the duty of the refractory, and of punishing them when in disgrace. If they knew what was right and just they could not but admit that it was not right for any Government to drive a harsh and cruel bargain with these poor men.—(Hear, hear.) It was their duty to encourage them, and to give them gold treatment to induce them to enter and remain voluntarily in the army. All the persons who had ever tired the expe riment of recruiting for a limited period agreed that it was quite successful, and it was tried wi.h considerable success during the American war. In the year 1806 Mr. Wyndham proposed enlistment for limited periods, and wished that the 21 years should be divided into three periods, at the end of each of which th e soldier should be entitled to receive his discharge ; and after a series of the whole three periods that he should be entitled to be discharged with a pension of Is. per day for life. The measure proposed was carried in 1806, but was afterwards effectually annulled by an alteration in the regulations of the army. Dr. Jackson had also written upon the economy of the army, and he was of opinion that enlistment for an unlimited period was prejudicial to the soldier, and that the army would be in a mush better state if soldiers were enlisted for a limited period. Sir R. Wilson, in 1804, wrote upon the subject, and he expressed his surprise that we should continue to retain a system which had been discarded by other nations as unpolluted. In Austria they en listed for eight years, in India for three, and various periods in other countries —not one country but England having unlimited enlistment in its army. The opinion of Sir 11. Hardinge was in favour of allowing men to purchase their discharge after a period of service, and the plan, on being tried, was found to operate most beneficially. He, however, objected to the principle, for money was in that case allowed to be the agent by which the soldier was to receive his liberty. There were many and very great defects in their mili tary system, but he believed that they were on the point of a great alteration. He would conclude by moving that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to take into her consideration, how far a reduction of the period would tend to improve the recruiting system, diminish desertion, and tend to the better protection of the service. Mr. F. MAULE wished to say a few words upon this very important question. His Hon. Friend had argued the question as if the Government had prejudice or feel ing against the soldier. He had said that the late Go vernment had it in contemplation to make some serious alteration on this subject, and it was a subject of the most important nature. He (Mr. F. Maule) did not wish to give any decided opinion on one side or the other. His Hon. Friend had alluded to the number of desertions which were shown to take place by the re turns, as being caused by the knowledge of being en listed for an unlimited period. He would ask the Hon. Member at what period these desertions took place. They took place the first or second year, when the mind of the soldier was acted upon by a dislike of the rough tasks he had to perform ; but they in a short time almost invariably returned to their duty, and gave themselves up to their former engagement. He assured the Hon. and Gallant Member that from his ex perience, he should know that those concerned in the management of the army did all in their power to make the position of the soldier comfortable, and he (Mr. F. Maule) did not see that the Hon. Member had any right to assume that all the suicides which took place in the army arose from the distaste fora permanent enlistment. The enlistment certainly took place for an unlimited period, but the army allowed a graduated scale, and not a very unjustly graduated sca le , of means of escape. After ten years service, the price was 211. in the cavalry, and 151. in the infantry, and that was without any dis tinguishing marks of good conduct. Any distinguishing marks of good conduct, to the number of two or more, would at the end of 21 years entitle the soldier to his discharge free. In the cavalry, under the same circum stances, the price was only 51. Captain LAYARD—He cannot claim his discharge. Mr. F. MAULE—Much had been done by the late Government for the benefit of the army. Schools had been established for the children of soldiers, and libra ries had been established, in which there were 30,000 or 40,000 volumes. These and other measures had been taken to confer on the soldier the advantages of a citizen, and he denied that he ever ceased to be a citizen. With respect to the proposition of his Noble and Gallant Friend, as to the limitation of the service, it should be remembered that there were 24,000 soldiers in the West Indies, and 31,000 in the colonies, making a total of 54;00G who served but for 14 years. He thought, therefore, in consideration of all thes e circumstances, that the House would not entertain the proposition of the Noble and Gallant Gentleman.—(Hear.) Sir DE LACY EVANS—WhiIe agreeing fully in what had been stated with respect to the beneficial measures of Government towards the army, he could not consider the proposition of the Gallen Gentleman beset with such difficulties as was supposed. With re spect to the West Indies, according to the Mutiny Act, the power vested in the Governors of the colonies ren dered any apprehensions on that head groundless. He believed, moreover, that there was no disposition to leave the English army. There was also an objection to be urged againt the argument of the Hon. Gentle man who had last addressed the House, with respect to the power in the commanding officer to allow a soldier to return, for it would be attended with great difficulty. He would, therefore, give his support to the motion. Mr. B. OSBORNE was glad to hear the remarks of the Secretary-at-War, not because he had urged any valid objections to the propositions, but because it showed that the subject was to be an open question. When there was so much work about the abolition of punishment by death, that very punishment was ren dered necessary by the system adopted in, the army. —(Hear, hear.) In 1799 they were obliged to press felons into their service. If they wanted a better article they should pay more for it, and the evil complained of was to be remedied by getting a better class of men to enter their troops. He trusted, therefore, that those who had the interests of the country at heart would stand up in their places in the House, and vote for the better payment of soldiers. The first who brought forward this subject was the great Lord Ches terfield, who submitted a motion on this matter in 1741, and in 1749 the subject was revived by Mr. Wyndham. He was prepared to show from official documents that the hardships of the soldiers' situation were not ex arerated. From an official document of Sir James MrGreaor some years ago, it appeared that out of 680 men under his care, the deaths of nearly one in twenty were caused by suicide. In a book, written by Dr. Reid, it was remarked the present system naturally en duced that mental depression which caused suicide. There were more lunatics from the army than from any other class, and therefore the inference was very justly drawn. A Youth of eighteen, seduced into the army in a state of drunkenness, would become so disgusted when sober at the term of servitude before him as to fall into that state of mental depression which would lead to suicide.—(Hear, hear.) He believed that the proposition of hid Gallant Friend was not only more humane, but tiitt tit wait also more econemical. In 1890 there wore 2,110 suffered punishment for desertion. Now let them luck at the expense of these desertions. find they would be convinced of the truth of what he advanced. Unless they brought public opinion to bear upon the Horse Guards, they must not expect any salutary reforms in the British army. He recollected when 1,900 lashes was net an unusual punishment, and it was considered a great relaxation of rigour when the number was re duced to 1,250. Some idea might be formed of the degree to which this system had taken rout in the country, when he stated that, in 1311, the proprietor of a newspaper was mulcted in the sum of 2001. for a denunciation of this ern: ley. He would conclude by calling upon the Noble Lord to signalise his Government by echoing the sentiments of Mr. Wyndham, and abolish this sangui nary system. Captain LINDSAY thought if the normal schools were carried out they would find that desertions and crime would be considerably decreased in the army. There was this feeling in the army, that they had nothing to look forward to but a miserable pension at the expiration of twenty-five years, and so long as that state of things prevailed they could not expect any change in the present condition of the army. Among a number of instances, lie could state that in his own bat talion a number of the men made their greatest com plaint the length of service. He thought that if educa tion and religion were more diffused among the army the result would exceed their expectations, and the evils which followed the present system would be put au end to. Mr. HUME said that the limitation of the service was a subject which he had long advocated. By that means good men would be secured, and desertion would be lessened. If the report made by the general officers on the subject was read Hon. Members would see that those who must have the greatest regard to the efficiency of military discipline were advocates of a limited service. His own opinion of mankind was, that if they had their compacts attended to, and were treated kindly, they would not be disposed to indulge in crime. He entirely supported the motion of his Hon. Friend, for the amount of crime which resulted from the present treatment of the military was a discredit to the nation. lie recollected when 1000 lashes was a common punishment, and he con sidered that the adoption of milder treatment had been attended with the most beneficial results. With regard to normal schools, he thought they should not be con fined to the army, but extended to the whole country. Mr. BERNAL hoped that his Honourable Friend would not press his motion to a division. Ile thought the Government should have time to investigate the subject. This was only one part of a general system, and be was of opinion that, as the whole subject of military discipline was pressed upon the Government by the country, time should be allowed them to frame a measure to meet the evils. All the criminal re ' forms which were made were only brought about by long deliberation. Forty years ago he believed a man was hung only for cutting down a cherry-tree. The criminal law had since undergone great ainelioration.With regard to military discipline, he thought that the same caution should be observed, and nothing attempted with out careful deliberation. With regard to the question of economy, he thought if they wished to improve the condition of the army, some expense would be found to be absolutely necessary. Mr. WILLIAMS thought the matters which had been brought forward by the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Bernal) were of national importance, and hoped they would be considered by the Government. It was true that the Government had been but a short time in office ; however, he expected great change would be made be fore next session. He thought seven years, as a period of enlistment, was long enough ; and after that time was out he believed the men might be induced to enlist for the next eleven years by a bounty. All the changes had been advocated on the ground of increased pay. Now, in looking to the expenses of the army, he found that a cavalry soldier received Bs. 9d. a week, a soldier in the guards Bs. 2d., and in the line 7s. 7d.• this amount of wages was aided by several perquisites and allowances. In looking into the extracts, he found 35,000/. as a re ward for good service, and 3,0001. in lieu of beer, to the troops at home. Much might be done for the army by internal improvements, for far too much power was allowed to the non-commissioned officers, and much lay in tho power of the superior officers, if they would exert them selves for the good of the men. Colonel J. WOOD said, for the non-commissioned officers, that no class in the army exercised their au thority with more forbearance. They staid in the same room, and slept in the same room ; and it was necessary to take care that their authority should not be infringed upon. They had no power to inflict punishment. Very differently were they situated in the French army, where the corporal and the sergeant each had the power of sentencing to imprisonment; a sentence which could not be commuted without reference to the colonel of the regiment. As for the changes proposed in the period of enlistment, he had hopes that it . might produce great advantages. Colonel SMTHORP said, that knowing the army and considering its history, he thought little or no change was necessary. Reform was a word which, he must say, he did not like—(Laughter)—and he said again that little or nothing was necessary for effecting any desired improvement. The House ought to recollect that offi cers, though officers, were yet men; they had their failings, no doubt, but order and discipline was required in a bony of men like the army. He begged, then, that the House would leave the subject in the hands of one so able to deal with it as the Noble Duke at the head of that department. He begged they would leave to offi cers in the army, the am my, and to naval officers the navy, jnst•as they had their Lord Chancellor, whom they referred to as an authority in law. The army was doing well, and it ought to be let alone ; the state of which was such as to astonish the foreigners who came into the country. Mr. H. C URTEIS said he regretted exceedingly on finding that he had come to town in vain that evening, when the Learned Doctor below him (Dr. Bowring) put off his motion, which it was certainly his intention to have supported. He had for twenty years advo cated the abolition of flogging in the army, and he was glad to see others coming over to the same i pinion. He would support the motion of the Gallant Captain, and he must tell that Gallant Gentleman that when he (Mr. Curteis) was at the Horse Guards, he should allow him to remain no longer a captain ; he would make him a colonel.—(Loud laughter.) He would not begrudge any expense which could contribute to the ad vantage, and the improved condition of the army. It would give great satisfaction to the country to learn the way in which the question had that night been taken up by military men ; and he hoped the Government would take the matter into its most serious consideration. After a few remarks from Captain LAYARD, the motion was withdrawn. INQUEST AT HOUNSLOW. Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to make a few remarks in refererce to certain proceedings going on elsewhere, while he intimated the postponement of the motion. The matter to which he referred was the proceedings at Hounslow. Several writers in the newspaper press had attacked the gallant colonel of the regiment for the flogging of the man on whom the coroner's inquest is at present sitting. Now he (Mr. Osborne) begged leave to say that that gallant officer had no more to do with the death of that man than the humble individual who now addressed them. Nay, so virulent was the feeling against Colonel Whyte, that some tapers had advocated his murder by the troops under his command. The Hon. Gentleman, the Member for Coventry, had to-night made use of these newspaper reports, and had referred to the evidence of a witness who had been examined, but who was a very disreputable character, and had been guilty several times of gross insubordination, which ended in his being flogged ; not for crying out " Halloa Sergeant," as ho had asserted.—(Hear, hear) Colonel Whyte was a most excellent soldier, the son of a country gentleman, and he felt extremely hurt and annoyed at the manner in which he had been assailed There was not a day but what he was receiving anony mous and threatening letters on the question. In stating that he would not press his motion at present, he could not avoid offering this defence of a gallant and much misrepresented officer. Colonel PEEL felt thankful to the Hon. Member for the vindication he had made of Colonel Whyte. lie had read over every atom of the evidence taken before the court-martial, and he felt justified in defending him from the aspersions cast upon him. Ile (Colonel Peel) believed him to be one of the best officers in the . army. With regard to the private's evidence, which had been referred to, that of Matthewson ; he was one of the worst conducted men in the whole regiment, and ha d previous to the occasion on which he received punish ment, been forgiven for one or two gross instances of misconduct and insubordination. (The Hon. and Gal lant Gentleman read a short statement to this effect.) Mr. FOX MAITLE suggested that until the result of the coroner's inquest was known, it was rather prema ture to enter into a discussion of the question. Mr. WILLIAMS was surprised at the manner in which he had been attacked. Ile had only stated to the House what the man had stated when examined' on the coroner's inquest, which he believed had been faith fully reported. If what the witness had stated was un true, why did not the officers contradict it at the time? I lad they any explanations to make, that was the time for them to do it ; and they would have been published along with the man's evidence. What had then taken place showed the necessity of a complete reform in the whole system. Mr. MONTAGUE GORE felt that Colonel Whyte had been most unjustifiably attacked. If there was any fault, it was not attributable to Colonel Whyte, but to the system under which he acted. That gallant officer could not have acted in any either way than he had done. The system might be wrong, but Colonel Whyte was not to he blamed in giv ing it effAtt while he was acting under it. Mr. P. HOWARD was glad that steps were in pro gress to effect a diminution of corporal punishment, as he believed it would be the means of considerably im proving the character of the army. He thought, in regard to corporal punishments, the soldier should not be placed in a worse position than the felon. He was glad that the explanation had been made in exculpation of the character for undue severity preferred against Colonel Whyte. The subject then dropped. THE CARNIVAL AT MALTA. Mr. HUME was sorry to detain Mr. Speaker a short time longer in the chair, but he had a motion of some importance which he wished to submit to the House. It was as follows : "That, in the opinion of this House, and according to the correspondence laid before it, relative to the pro ceedings in the island of Malta during the Carnival holidays in February last, the conduct of the governor and of the magistrates acting under his orders, in the interference with the long-existing usages of the inhabi tants of that island, amount to an infraction of the rights and privileges guaranteed to the Maltese by the capitu lation under which they originally became British sub jects, and are also contrary to the principles of civil and , religious liberty." In the present case, the Governor of ' the island had, in a most unjustifiable manner, interfered with a ceremony, which for forty-five years had been carried . on for flour days without any breach o f decorum or any objectionable proceeding. The interference would seem to have been undertaken from a pro , elytising motive, and ilBil given great offence to the professors of the Roman Cat ho l ic religion. When the Governor, in February fast, and on the first Sunday of the Carnival, order ed its suepression, he voted in a most improper and unjustifiable manner, and he (Mr. Hume) should like to have some explana tion cf the affair. It was true that a number of persons dressed as clergymen did parade the streets with a wooden bible in their hands, and they did so, he believed, with the view of showing their detestation of the manner in 'which their ceremonies bad been interfered with.— (Efear, hear.) The prayer of the memorial, which he held in his hand, complained that the interference was a breach of their privileges, and he for one thought the public of Malta had a right to keep up an usage which was justified, or he might say had been 'legalised by immemorial custom.—(Hear, hear.) The report of the Governor upon the subject, he had learned from good authority in Malta, was erroneous, nay, in many respects untrue'; and Government ought to be rejoiced to have that-opportunity of' explaining the document, and clear ing- up the character of the Governor. It must he re membered that the place had always preferred English to French government, and this act of the Governor, in his opinion, evinced a strange and extraordinary want of discretion.—(clear, hear.) The Governor represented that only seventy or eighty persons were arrested, but he had pretty good information, showing that the num ber was more likely to be 170, and upon this ground alone he thought he had a right to call for it. No true friend of civil and religious liberty could justify such con duct as this, and in justice to the public of Malta, who had always shown a disposition favourable to England, they ought to have this matter inquired into.—(Hear, hear.) He did not attribute any intentional injury committed on the part of the Governor. No doubt the Governor thought he was acting conscientiouly, and for the best, but still he had exhibited a sad want of discretion in having 170 persons arrested on one day to be discharged for want of charges on the following morning, and Go vernment would not be doing its duty to the colony of Malta unless they protected the population against a repetition of such conduct. (Hear, hear.) He could not conclude without expressing his regret at the let ter which Lord Grey had written upon the subject, and he thought this was another reason why the House should agree to his resolution, to show the governors of English colonies that they were not to in terfere with the rights, privileges, and liberty of her Ma jesty's subjects, who might happen to reside within their jurisdiction. The Emperor of China had issued a notice, ; that within his dominions. Catholics, and in fact every class of religionists, should be allowed freely to have their processions and ceremonies, without being molested or interfered with in any way.—(Hear, hear.) Here was an example then set them by those whom they had considered barbarians.—(Hear, hear.) Dr. BOWRING, in seconding the motion, said he thought his Hon. Friend had brought the subject before the House with a good deal of temper and forbearance. lie reminded the House that although there was much loyalty in Malta, there was a strong undercurrent of discontent, for the people had often memorialised to have their grievances redressed, but their prayers had never been attended to.—(Hear, hear.) The Catholic, dignitaries were not consulted, and there could be no doubt that the conduct of the Governor was unjustifiable. A few days previous to the holding of the Carnival,f. he issued a manuscript order to the effect that the Carnival was not to be tolerated. The Governor had no right to do this, norhad he anyright to abolish the law of centuries in the course of a few hours. The com plaints of the Maltese were well founded, and he thought that the House should by their vote assure that people that they would not tolerate such conduct on the part of the Governor.—(Hear, hear.) That people had always acted faithful towards England, and they had a right to be protected.—(Hear, hear.) He had the greatest sa tisfaction in seconding the motion of his Honourable Friend. The SPEAKER having put the question, Mr. HAVES rose and said, his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose, had said that he would confine himself to the facts of the case ; and he (Mr. Hawes) should pursue a similar course, and after having done so, he thought that the House would agree with him. that a case had not been made out for the interference of the House. He begged to assure the House that the Carnival was celebrated at Malta, not according to the law of that island, but by the permis sion of the Governor.—(Hear, hear.) Both Catholics and Protestants had petitioned the Governor to put an end to these festivals, and that individual accordingly issued the order complained of. lie held in his hand a letter from the Governor, in reference to the complaints. (The Right Hon. Gentleman then read the letter, in r which the Governor stated that the festival had been interrupted in accordance with the express desire of the Catholic Vicar-General and clergy, and the Protestant clergy also.) The matter was altogether of a religious character. The order of the Governor had certainly caused some opposition on the part of a few of the people, but they were not composed of the respectable classes of the island. The parties who had been com mitted summoned the police, but the case was dismissed; and here the charge is fully confuted that the whole fault lay with the Governor, for the case is brought before the ordinary civil magistrates, who dismissed the case. Mr. HUME—They may not have decided fairly. They may have been influenced. Mr. HAWES—IIIs Hon. Friend could not fairly raise that question, but no such charge had been made, and he considerel that the case did not present the slightest colour of a charge of an attempt to meddle with the civil and religious liberties of the Maltese. When his Hon. Friend said that Malta was a colony, he must excuse him for drawing a great and broad distinction between it and such a colony as Canada. It was a great military position, and, therefore, with a population of 100,000, it was not entitled to be treatel like a colony such as Canada, for such a constitution would not be adapted for Malta. Mr. VERNON SMITH said that there was no doubt that the case was much altered, but be considered that they were much indebted to the Right [lon. Gentleman for bringing the matter under the notice of the House. for it was most necessary that there should not be the slightest ground for suspicion that there could be even an attempt made to meddle with the civil or religious liberty of the people of Malta. He considered that the Governor-General had acted unwisely in not mention ing to the people that he acted in accordance with the that there had been an arbitrary advice o v f e ntchoeAsitre r i c e hb d ishp—(Hear, hear)—for the people act on the part of the Government. He was delighted that the question had been brought forward, as the dis cussion would not be without its use. Mr. EWART considered that the Governor had acted incautiously; he had not taken care to inform the people on what grounds he had taken the measure com plained of. Had he done so no complaint would have ar i sen . He thought that the island of Malta should have a system of representation ; if such were established, he believed the people would be more loyal and faithful to the interests of the British crown. Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to know whether there was any disturbance resulting from this carnival that induced the Governor to interfere. Mr. II :INES stated that great disturbances had arisen, and many complaints had been made upon the subject prior to the interference of the Governor. Sir DE LACY EVANS said that the explanation of the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Colonies had given a different tone to the subject. Mr. P. BORTHWICK said that, with reference to the dispatch of Mr. Gladstone, he must say, " dark with excessive light the lines appear ;" and he would defy any person to read it so as to understand it. The House seemed quite in the dark upon the subject, and were confounding the carnival with the masque; and the con duct of the Governor was perfectly inexplicable. Mr. B. ESCOTT said that he was at a loss to know whether it was the wish of the Government that the House should condemn or approve the conduct of the Governor. He thought there had been a gross invasion of the civil and religious liberties of the people of Malta by the Governor. He repeated that both civil and re ligious liberty had been violated by the acts of this Go vernor. The people of Malta met together in accord ance with the custom of the country, and although they had committed no breach of the public peace, they were arrested and imprisoned for doing so.—(Hear, hear.) It this was not an infringement of civil and religious liberty, it appeared to him to be something very like it. Colonel FOX confessed that he did not think putting down a masque on a Sunday was an infringement of the civil or religious liberty. Mr. HUME having declared his determination to divide, Mr. P. HOWARD said, as the Hon. Member for Montrose intended to go to a division, he must take the liberty of saying a few words upon the subject. It was Blear that this Carnival, besides being innocent in its nature, was sanctioned by . long time and immemorial usage, and the Governor, in his opinion, ought to have paused before he took the proceedings he did.—(Hear, hear.) He did not, however., think any good would follow a division, and he therefore suggested to his Hon. Friend the Member fo r Montrose, who had alwa y s been, and he trusted would continue still to be, the cham p ion of Mr. FOX MAUIE a greed with the Hon. G en tl eman that he could not see what good could really follow a cvila o n t d io r n e . ligious liberty, t he p ro p riet y of withdrawing the i m division. It wou ld be a censure upon the Governor, and before the House went so far, he beg ge d t h e H ouse to remember that the Carnival, before it could be celebrated, required the sanction of the Governor. —(Hear, hear.) Now, on this particular occasion, the consent of the Governor bad not been obtained, and the object of the people it was tolerably clear was to tr y and do away with the g overnors jurisdiction or p ower over it altogether.—(hear , h ear.) The governor having f stora w hich all wise p eop l e repu di ate d , refused e dit to to be allow a con tinue; a custom not i n ex i s t ence r ou f ciut to at Rome, and followed only at Malta. The House would find, he was sure, that the Roman Catholic po pulation went with him. Mr. C. BERKELEY hoped the Hon. Member would F press his motion to a division. He found f au lt, not with the governor putti n g down the cus tom , but wit h the manner of his doing so. rom what h e k new o f t h e inclined to s o A r liC ti A lt ß a, aspect there was T HY he was u con something loir more than appeared to the House ; he knew these was an indirect interference with the religion of the people of the country. There was a college in Malta into which the rector wished to introduce a teacher of the Italian language, and considered the person best fitted for this purpose would be a Roman ; but the Italian language in that Governor positively to teach the t al allow any other than a Britishsubject college. Th e CHANCELLOR of th e EXCHEQUER said the remark made by the l ast s p eak er introduced a ver y different question from that before the House. But he a must inform the Hon. Gentleman that it was a part of the foundation of that college that none but British sub jects could hold official rituAio'us in it. This was his answer to what had fallen froM the Hon. Member on t! - .at subject. Again, lie was amazed that Hon. Gentle men should stand up is the House - and vend suspicions cf there being an interference with the Homan Catholic religion, when all that was done would have met with the • approbation of all the Catholic clergy them selves. The fact was, as it. had been stated, the people ought to have got the sanction of the Governor before masquing during the carnival: but that sanction had not been obtained, and some the lowest of the people masqued notwithstand ing, the consequence of which was, the interference that nad taken place. He said he had risen merely to disabuse the minds of Members on the subject. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the house divided, when there appeared— Against the motion 5O For it Majority against the motion... —3B Upon our re-admission into the gallery, we found ARMY AND NAVY ESTIMATITS. Mr. WILLIAMS on his legs, addressing the House on the subject of the increase in the army and navy es timates. In the year 1835, the estimate for the army end navy was 11,657,0001., while for the present year the estimate was 16,840,000/., being an increme of 5,182,000/., or a sum equal to the whole amount of the income-tax. The amount of men for the army and navy was as follows : 1835 1845 Increase. Army 108,743 . . 150,284 ... 41,541 NAvy Pensioners embudied Making a total increase of . 65,041 IL, really did not know what necessity there was for this large increase in the pesent year, when there was peac' throughout the world, with the exception of Caifraria. Again, if I,e added to this number the numbers of the militia, the half-pay, and the various bodies of police, there was an available force of 274,000 men to be supported by this country. He would call the attention of the House to the horse and foot guards. There was a total amount of 6,568 men, the exFenso of which was equal to 12,000 infantry. There were 9G officers, and 150 non-commissioned officers, con nepted with this body; being in the proportion of one officer to ten men, and one non-cornmisioned officer to every four men in the Ist Light Dragoons. In the foot guards, and in the regiments of the line, there was nothing like this enormous disproportion. He did not know why this body, who had not seen service, should be able to look down upon those veteran officers who had seen all kinds of service. He hoped Government would inquire into the subject ; he was certain it was a matter seriously felt by the other officers of the army. He had brought the matter before the late Goverment, but he knew it was perfectly useless to bring before them any subject with reference to the cur tailment of expenditure. They had, during three years and a half of their administration created 600 places, end bestowed upon these placemen 24,5001. per annum, He would also call the attention of the House to the enormous sum of 3,414,000/. for half-pay and pensions for the army. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Government would not, he could assure the I Hon. Member, propose any vote which they were not prepared to defend upon the strictest ground of economy. Mr. GOULBURN justified the conduct of the late Government in the course they had pursued in the ap pointment of additional officers in the Post-office, in the Bankruptcy, and other courts. He was quite prepared to go into the question of those appointments with the Hon. Member upon any occasion that he might think fit. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then formed itself into a Committee of Supply. A vote of 772,889/. for the united service of England and Ireland was agreed to; as were also A vote of 169,435/. for the staff officers. A vote of 14,062/. for the expense of the Royal Military Asylum. The following sums were voted, as portions of the army estimates :-36,501/. ; 12,000/. ; 49,000/. ; 46,000/. ; 26.0001. ; 38,0001. ; 4,200/. ; 82,000/. ; 34,6501. ; 191,350/. ; 30,000/. ; 500,0001. ; 94,439/. ; and 82,3751. The Chairman was then ordered to report progress. The House having resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported accordingly, and the report was ordered to be brought up to-day. CONSOLIDATED FUND (4,000,0001.) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. JOINT STOCK BANKS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. SPIRIT LICENSE AND DUTIES BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up and agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be engrossed. RATEABLE PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. - This Bill went through Committee pro forma, for the purpose of having amendments introduced into the Bill. Ejectments (Ireland) Bill. Leases (Ireland) Bill, and Rateable Property (Ireland) Bill were postponed till Wednesday. FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL. Captain JONES objected going into Committee at that hour of the night. The Bill was postponed till Wednesday. The District Lunatic Asylums Bill was postponed. BATHS AND WASIIIIOUSES (IRELAND) BILL. On bringing up the report of this Bill, Mr. GItOGAN moved the omission of clause 4, and the insertion of the following clauses:—And be it en nacted, that the expenses of carrying this Act into exe cution in any such borough, or such city or town in which the Council or Town Commissioners respectively shall have resolved to adopt this Act for their borough, or city, or town respectively, shall he chargeable upon, and paid out of the funds to be raised under, the au thority of this Act ; and for that purpose the Council or I owls Commissioners may cause a separate rate, not exceeding in the whole, at any one time, the sum of one penny per pound sterling upon the rateable property of such borough, city, or town, to be Imi:el, paid, and re • covered in like manner, and with the like powers and remedies in all respects as the borough-rate or town•rate, to be applied in payment of the expenses of carrying this Act into execution, as if such expenses were necessarily incurred in carrying into effect the provisions of the Act of the third and fourth years of the reign of her pre sent Majesty, or the said Act of the ninth year of his Majesty King George the Fourth, or of such local or other Act or Acts as aforesaid, as the case may be; and the income arising from the baths and washhouses and open bathing places in any borough, or city, or town, shall be paid to the credit of the separate account of such baths or washhouses. And be it enacted, that when the Town Council of any such borough as aforesaid, or the Town Commissioners for any such city or town as aforesaid, shall have adopted this Act for their borough, city, or town, respectively, they shall cause their treasurer, or, where there shall be no treasurer, such person as they shall appoint, to keep a true and regular account of all sums of money expended by them in the purchase of any land or buildings for the purpose of erecting baths or washhouses thereon, or in the purchase of any baths now erected, and of all sums of money borrowed by them under the powers of this Act, and of all ex penses incurred by them for or on account of the pur poses of this Act : and the said account shall be examined and audited in like manner and et the same time as all other accounts of receipts and payments of such borough, city, or town, respectively, are ex amined and audited : and the said Council or Town Commissioners shall, before the first day of February in each year, transmit to the Lord Lieutenant or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland for the time being, a true and correct copy of such account : and the said Council or Town Commissioners shall also cause a copy of such account to be deposited in the office of the Town Clerk, or of such person as they shall ap point to execute the duties of Town Clerk, within one month after the same shill have been audited, and the said account shall be open to the inspection of all inhabitants of such borough, city, or town, and copies thereof shall be delivered to all inhabitants of such borough, city or town, applying for the same, upon payment of one shil ling for each copy. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and the several clauses were agreed to. The House resumed. The Copyhold Commission Bill, Turnpike Act Con tinuance Bill, Stock in Trade Bill, Highway Rates Bill, and Loan Societies Bill, were read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day. MILITARY FLOGGING. Mr. ESCOTT moved for a return of persons flogged in the army in Great Britain and Ireland, in the years 1845 and 184 G to the end of July ; specifying :-1. The offence. 2. The regiment, the place of station, the time. 3. The sentence. 4. The order for execution. 5. Whether the trials were open to the public, or only open to the regiment, or with closed doors. 6. The number of lashes inflicted, and the day. 7. How soon after punishment the man was able to return to his duty, and at what place he was then quartered. 8. Whether death has followed within twelve months of the flogging, and the date of such death. 9. Whether the punishment was inflicted, if in cavalry regiments, by the trumpeter or farriers ; if in infantry regiments, by the privates or drummers, and with what instrument. 10. Copies of the surgeon's minutes of all such punishments, and any subsequent observations on their consequences. Mr. FOX MAULE objected to the returns. Mr. ESCOTT consented to postpone his motion till Thursday next. NAVAL MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUND SOCIETY. Mr. WARD obtained leave to bring in a Bill relating to the Naval Medical Supplemental Fund Society. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second timA this day. LUNATIC ASYLUMS. Sir G. GREY obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law concerning Lunatic Asylums, and the care of Pauper Lunatics, in England. TRIGONOMETRICAL SURVEY. Sir D. NORREYS moved for a Select Committee on the progress of the Trigonometrical Survey of Ireland. Motion agreed to. ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF CHESTER. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a Bill regulating Elections in the City of Chester. The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time this day. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. TUFNELL, a new writ was ordered for the borough of St. Alban's, in the room of the Earl of Listowel, who, since his election, had accepted the office of one of the Lords in Waiting to her Majesty. SUGAR DUTIES BILL. The report of the resolutions was brought up, and the Bill was read a first time. The House then adjourned at Half-past One. - OPPIPM 11= 1