The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-25 00:00:00

....o.••••' bilratint sev , " l ng . to chi le Heal d state 'T bur reniol ttee. pedisoe: ? t P °n o , e „d fortoefll pone 4 big long. the °° °4 'cod, 1 1° ' Licbie W lie Id be /-gg ; t y did op, re at etza°' • and "" quire int° ,uld bo to° this , x l l . t the P 1 1, 11 3; r o r, an" j , ()Val: to I a '°tlwirdsbirt under tb irie e d into c cosi' rhatece r e bel l i e "; w t uu d i partieu a4_ the 11 14 deal olt' for" ient of the card 10 the k , al 4thfr Of th e der3 0 fo r . °, d c ertain . ' the de l l 13 countr:t _ A W ere a }rem :J o. ear, P e t Fe les s o c f ithu o, r It o° l Ire!. lfair fortnrs a flint t , mo le t" wild be 01 Imeot it i 0 1 to P" to t aLuded t he ot• e,ter. vent of t he dir d b ie tnen' ll ile tiouse; I to , d ttl row Iv°ll. be ring josfoloi He 7 ,o, a rt unl' D)• i ntroth l by ol e" ghteSt 'l't • arch 3 9 r f e L et , for •- v , e d kind le' ior gootl' re e and tb f Lte of ,er tr ent. ,noun s to as rit's ^f o f the eae h be ag; dolt/ , 1 00 0, ; 45. n r iver , I i p• and ll°ttoll f tt d nt iort ed ,3 reivil°s „ I LL , tD) v"/ Li , rti ° l. rte by 6° , sot :rels. ° r ot it %it eleco,ne ot Govern' aeet e - `"wi , p , varira4a trade', and he bad net reeel veJ. a s ingle ner 3 SIO,;1' represen et •et •• • le e , ep•oositien to tle• i;A-• . 00 the contrary, al! that 1-tc had heard had tended to te: ee rni previously coneeieed opinion, that the measure t i; a v:nole was weilealeulated to promote the best interests e cottetr e. eII fe lt glad that none of that acrimony s te,h."lne l seftle.b had characterised the previous debate on the to Ject Lod been shown on the present occasion, and has, did i e lthat the Hon. Gentlemen opposite woelti glee her Ma- CY I Ministers some intelligible ergettents to deal with and 44wers insteed of rodeaveneing to cover them with obloquy sh ame• He ex ertesel that the Hon. Gentlemen npposite se e ,, • s p kdi e _ ve foreoehed cone tangible reasons to induce us to teli rve that p r ot ec tio n tees necessary to be upheld for the 'tentraoe of the egricultir al interests. They had shown t ,""tat the p r i ce o f corn was high, and hai proved at the same )i t ' d that protection had effected that object. He (Mr. • would undertake to show that since the dates of 1815, v it t ' the great experiment of the cern-law t ayetem of E ng l an d ti. tried, the Agricultural Committee had invariably con etehed the laws and the principles of those laws which the theno7seotterni Gentlemen opposite now sought to uphold t important advocates of the alteratiets of the it 4 1815 had supported the measure, becaute s he said, that ebsolutely necessay to de somethieg to prevent the Intition of the price of corn to snub an extent as would !"w the land out of cultivation. The corn-laws were not ' s r f', l t i _earty intended to uphold The price of corn, but the object t "Le introduction of the law 1815 was to prevent the price of ' 44 fro m di min i s hing below a certain moderate standard 1, 7 I measure would n es not have bee necessary bail there been k e ,7gislatie e . interference in matters of trade. If e n courage . Rent had been given to every species of manufactures, three t t ▪ hve been no necessity or any Parliamentary inter nee a in regulating the price f of corn. Mtioufactu res, and Is er t Y kind of staple trade, had repudiated protection altogether. ll'withstanding the law of 1815 was . passed ; he would ask b o n' Gentlemen opposite, if it had been successful end useful t,„.sete as agriculturists? The Hon. Gentl e m an th en re is2"rl to the report of the Agricultural Committee of 1821. and 1828 —in the drawing up of which M r . H us ki sson h a d hen a part—to show that protection had not tended to benefit ncultural interest,but, by keeping out forei g n competition, ab 4 en influ ent i a l i n d epress i ng t h e property of eritulturiste. 'Y would find the labourer much better off when the price te te e°rs lees low, and food abundant, than 'when it was other ler The Com m ittee of 1836 was largely composed of the th e interest, and the result of their labours showed that t,,iklonclition of the labourer was greatly improved when tee" were dew, as .compared with what it was when they -re h: vls at 'AI. He would now ask the gentlemen opposite on tit„ ,erinciples they intended to proceed? They not . se -411',1 steerliness in price—they had not secured high prices. i ney bad done was to introduce uncertainty, doubt, and le o T t a Y•—( Hear, hear.) Protection very clearly had not been 11 4 , 5 "1ive of benefit to the agricultural labeurer. He thought 14 2 t ,he peotection „admitted ranted had aied. The aw of t}ok tt v ery failed —its authors that f it l had failed l ; and "ry tact of Gentlemen opposite calling for the opening of le t ,''' ) qs showed that they condemned that law.—(Hear, rif e ) That very act was the condemnation of protection. 1 4 % 5 0d ask, had they any experience of the working of free el He thou ght the law of 1773 was one which bore timely e . on the pima Th commerce of this country at that torainued to flourish. The late Lord Sydenham had lte llt ,, t 4le expressed his opinion on that subject ; but, before h e le t - ,; 1 allude to that further, he would just call the Ilt tl rin of the House to the period to which he V I , "9 when there was partially a free trade is corn. From har 1773 to 1795, the imports into this country were te ) 0 1 ., while the exports were 2,400,000 E, showing a • t•f imports over exports of 1, 690,000,. The population lei ! , during the same period from 7to 8 milltons—popu e(tl incre a s e d, trade increased, and agriculture was thrivine. as s/r ear, hear.) B u t th e p er i o d to w hi c h h e especislly alluded 12„ ," e nt 1781 to 1792. Tt t• highest price sit corn then was 365., 445., 455., 545. The lowest price was 41e. 4 1e ) n th, 425., 475. The greatest difference of auctuatem e the one p riod being only 75., and the lowest 25., aria Na e was Tan period when the entumerce of the country in . N7 4 (1 to the same extent in so short a: time. All this cc. b e 1 during th e partiel operation of tree trade. He would l'r e rtnnind the House of west prices were from 1742 to la es. ke,Piee of corn wag on an average about 30e. ; what was the of the pe o pl e d ur i ng t h at t i me ? Ad am S m i t h sa i d rrlere never was a period when the labouring population Si e l 4. 4 a Uttrr e thriving condition. This surely proved then, that .tie operation of low prices the condition of the ete t „'tnO, class e s h a d no t deteriorated, but had improved. b to een th e years 1773 and 1790 there had been-a controversy Wi t ), the price of core, and the connexion of the country banks Isk",:artuers. In that controversy Sir Francis Baring had No e a Part, and the opinion of that great authority ()pet, 11 1,147 e reial affairs was, that the lowest price of corn was me Il e ( , t ot to fix a remunerative price foe agricultural produce. i r Hawes) was of opipion that, from the great improve th'',Which had taken place in cultivation, the farmers would ktie t eitel to grow more wheat than they had hitherto done, W teerefore they would be a bl e to compete with the produce 4 1 , foreign mark - eta. -e( Hear, hear.) It was eeen that ts ei , Wheat was at I`;•es. and clown to 565., there was no one a t ' which a remunerating price could be fixed. The ~qq ° far mers' f .ad derived, and he hoped they .could con . • ens derive, remunerative prefirs at even the lowest prices e • tie was of opinion that the effect of the corn ‘ft Pun the social state of the people of this country e nti e t Pernicious The farmers in try•ng to mt the for food, satire obliged to ' have resort to artificial Tt t : to raise the nec e ss a ry ripply, and hence was it that ttt a k at of ground, whi c h was intended for the recreation fit People, was taken for cultivation; and the result of all tn ''asi that they w ere una bl e to mee t the wants of the Ni,?“—( Cries iif " Hear, hear.") The corn-laws pre !try the supply of food from abroad, and the neces tkt:dunsequence of the continuance of these laws would be to Ilti ea uee the manufacturing principle into the agricultural Rtt' 4l of this country. Now, he did not agree with such a 10,,!;:lf things ; he did not think that laws which required the i th. ", fri g of the land into something like a produce could be tit"'di when it had been so clearly proved that there was not 4 e e n a t corn grown after all to meet the wants of the people. lii!b r, hear.) He was glad to find that this state of things ? out to he remedied by the measure of her Majesty's ii,gl . ster s , and for the reasons he bad stated, he would give stilklidovernment his most cordial support, in the hope that it benefit the country Tat:" JOHN TROLLOPE said he represented a large con lsr,,eYs and be must say, in answer to the Honourable Heber for Lambeth, who. in the opening part of his le tte 'ei had said that the measure of her Majesty's 51i , r was one upon 'which all were unanimous in ltir, 'Tour—with regare e to that certainty, be could 11 1 ,4 5 the H o use that so far from his constituency being "tit:netts in favour o f th e measure , th e f ee li ng was qu it e th e 1.14 t0: 4 , 7 • — ("' 14 . - ear, hear," frem the protection side of the gi lElf He attended a large meeting in South Lincolnshire, , tai l ley.sider the expediency as well as the general bearing i',lsh„,'''aeasur e upon the country, and at that meeting there e ge I rt one landowner who held op his hard in favour of it. ;"-ii'j l t i heard the Right Hon. Baro n et sta r e t o th a t H ouse g to rs had come to the conclusion thet such a measure was to meet the wants of the country e but the Right ~; aentleman said also, that he had formed his views upon Il le l'erience of the last three years of certain experiments 4 aqreduetien of duties. H e did not t hi n k so great a ques th e ° tdd be settled upon es e slight an experience as that of Oi t Year s . ..4 Hear, hear. N i An allusion had been made to the 0, ° f 1 815 ; he would admit that that law was the law of 4 11 1)(4 Y , and he was er'iad it had been amended in the year L for it tea; one -dhich prevented corn from coming in till I ' l 4 'to an ex or bit an t price. TI law of 1820 hart 11;lsj; "we 4(.11 r amentleO. thi s , an d h e (Si r J. t ro ll ope ) cons id ere d 'lsCr of that •feer a good one; and such as was required for len e reeti •n cei native sericulture. The Hon. Member then I thi' sever,, authorities in support of his views of the t 4 k 'le st Ile considered that there was nothing like „, 14 th "ta:ristics regerding agriculture in this country. •'k, -- ,°%laht it rather a blot upon tha character 1 1- glare', that it did not, like France, have a proper statis dist:eturn of the arronnt of her aericulturai produce.— t t tlt t , ) Had there been proper statistics of the tigte :rtePte,'.:' Prhad oduction of this country, it to n be de fofond und t for hat the the i T made great exertionsprovi y, e • In his own county there hail been an inereise of 10e of corn 'anti wheit, and the inerease of the popula ," not mote than 20 per cetit.—(“ Her, hear," from Lore 's Did it not follow, then, that the same result ti lto.., l* faded in other parts Of the country ? and, if the ar tts - s t :As good for anythiee, it went to prove that the far. yea,r i _angl;iti were able to supply the demand upon them.— and No, no.) He had heard it said that the thi teres a consenting party to this measure ; but he di( 'hat the working clergy would so much neglect thcit beta •crests, ti beeause it would be the working clergy who effectedby it. Then, as to the malts= ; that tax, • 4 '"eni to operate against ,he farmer, and amounted to 7d ~"••ii"e t' i t• per annum upon the raw material ; and if it were , 4 It I, the famer would be enabled to give his labourers ale P••r . quert He could eo on enumerating many other ,eth:lkters: He would ask. wou l d not the effect of tree trade y - • an i of introducing the growth of the beet-root, and te. h ther :products front which this country now derived Oe '• The legacy duty also operated against th e owner b ' k art?. added to the grievances of free traits ; for ins.ance, it '"4t a piece of land lately, an 4 had to pay nearly five ::ent for the cost of cenveyaneing. In Ireland also, he this measure would have a most injurious effect, by ; 1 ,," 11 31g the value (Aland, on which the i ecple of that country 'h s 'tiled entirely for their support. He was in Ireland during St, e ule of the summer of 1e22, when a large sum of money r'sy, - ,efie up to relieve the people from the famine that then iteled. 'the late defect in the pota'o crop had nearly been t ea and, therefore. this was not the period at which to lea sloe de value of the produce of land at home. He did not tt`t,,' that foreign countries would give this country the benefit 'tsse'Proprised reductions, for he heard that in France they l eri t raising the price of brandy ; but they did not• at the lithe sly they would admit British produce upon the 'he te t uvantageous terms ; while France might still contend . 4 . th l'eir wines also should be admitted at the same reduction t 'cla s k t t .'nade upon brandy. He did not see that in America any e''"n of the tariff was pr mosed, at least not such e ' t 7, 4 elinn as would meet the free-trade measures of this 4 0t le r s r i and, therefore, from that part of the world they had i 1f , 4 4 - "I c t t ' l e : 11 to xpect either, while the hopes raised in Canada t u s dashed to the ground. He had heard imputations of l ea, - "elned Monopolists" applied to those who entertained 04 , this question like his own ; but he would say he would l uandon all his property than act in any way that would le '' o 4%. st telt imputations applicable to him. But he could not "'le e - ling that it appeared to him that these epithets were 1 ::4114 - PPlieable to Hon. Members at the other side, becau-e he Ifr en e "tend for it that the first class of persons who wou ld i' l ed Injuriously by this measure would be the agricul • 'lile ei l s nrers, whose wages would be lessened, and many of wtal nuld be thrown out of employment by the quaatit ~,at would be cultivated into pasture.—( Hear, heart) i;', l l, d ;"°old not this country have the power to do in the Pre tore the ancient Romans did, namely, to keep up a lititai,:orn to meet a period of scarcity?—( Hear.) He re tietee..`? have trespassed so lung upon the attention of the i h etie,"'„ne seldom d ever advocate his principles honestly and St er "ently. (Hear, hear. ) a rl "s r e O H \ HAN MER said he could point attention to acts t ,et, tit 1 670 and of her eariv periods, in which protective clauses P ,?.'sed for the express purpose of keeping dawn the 'et corn wise from 1689, for several years after, the "'ea r d . tie • th. , th , Is protective system was in fact to raise the price of IV tee ,e•th it wa s i n t e nd e d t o keep it down. lit 1791, came att i.'"lltionary ware, and if the price of corn was then raised, r t 11 4414 not be said to he attrihutrible to the corn.lses Nt. Me to the corn-law of 128, which they ail at e • ?ncred in, and he would ask what had been the Lefrae , h at' Had the) not seen corn sowed up in bond never i e ettir te el ma rket, yet exerasing an influence on prices outside; * Tai t , t herefore, on ee mat tere, he should confess hansidfa f e : 11 " the score or th pro s tection. A great deal had been said vi:ii t :gerd to the effect the, present measure would have on . it „"ations ; now, he ehoul,l confess that in teat pint to' 147 1 1N e r 4 , 3 'esseil its greatest recemmendation in his eyes. th. via L nk , rtneti that in Russia it would have a very bent itly-"%te LS an alteration in the tariff o f . that country, 14,r,Tef e) ,""n , ble to England, was certain to result. tki e - „ e ' ie his opinion, it was high time r e y r rs"tit• measure should be brought forward.—(Hear, la t etl et , e ' lowing ell these matters, then, he implored of Hon. l i Z%i k , v , to cease 'heir cry for protection, when they had tto that it had ever given an' appreciable vatue.to pro tl .`llrn seated of them to leok tii the substance rather Sua do if tl wish e d fir a fixed duty. his vote b e w. ree °Tded agtioit it, OA he believed it would prevent, THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, ,MARC II 25, its-id. a • retell tetreeteene in such a way es would Alleviate the pressure of be thrown out in another place. Had they calculated all the corneentien. 'Us r. ther j ' cost. of rich an eppoeition ? In the first place, was it com- Luce nil ON xes amxioss t e.deress a few ela t e ea. fertabse that she Reuse of Lents and Home of Ceunmone tions to the House. lie had no intention of following up the sh eld, be opposer. to aien otSer "ten atith a ittbjeht de thl.3? spirit of the debate in the way in which, it ha l% thttutate I. tilde opposite were quite prepared to meet the preferred taking a dinerent 'es:Meant Ai , to the criminations &Acuity by an apheel to the country. Was it so light a aed reerhhieattona thest lehatelsee place, he left the course taken thing to have an election where they had banded agaitist lel the GnYiehnilieht to be attacked as it might by their friends, ; each other the agriculturist and the protectionist.—( Hear.) and defended as it best could by the Government themselves. The question to be considered was one of the gravest cha- It must cot be forgotten that they had in prospect the total re- : ratter. It was the question of the :supply of food to the !Jell of the corn-lows, and yet they were cursed with the people—one of the most exciting of all subjects. How wotild elelintentale fee three sears. The /l en. elemhm for tins pity teeet e tete etste of jeelerie hi an it t$ edit eoblitr) 0 Lisittlon hid. in the year le ise pr.' !id: the mete i n eate s h Cr fit ii-euld be the a r guments used at a general election ? the corn t ra d e wo u ld en, and tesosaitted, that itoustia corn was Oa one side the massufeeturers would say that the labourer was then at a low priest (61e. 2d. ), bread was not a bit cheaper for deprived of his food by monop sly ; on the other, the agricul. the eoremiliee. The Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down turists would say that the manuiseturers were seeking the de hail tton his error, and he trusted that. he would impress upon struction of the peasantry. Those were not very safe the Government the necessity of repealing this pernicious sys. argumeri l ts to etc ,at a general eleethin. Unit* tern, which had nothing whatever to do with pre:eel-ion. fat Hon. rsaeiuhers opposite were perfectly satisfied of this, was doubling . the absurdity of the Renner system by rendering they would take upon themselves a heavy responsibility, it uncertain at 'thee pflee corn could be sold. What they had by throwing the country into confusion. upon such a question (lout t tcS should have done well, so as to put a stop to that as this. Suppose Hon. Gentlemen opposite were to succeed, and agitation which had existed, and which was so mischievous in were to get a protectionist Government strong enough to it, effects. The season was favourable for the adoption of se teiemph over ch atm minority in that Hoene erduld they have no a measure. The unprecedented accumelation of edit, *go tidal caner smarties to contend with? Let them look to the history feared by Hon. Gentlemen rt./trestle, was not to be found, and of every administration since the year 1815. From that time the scarcity of roach and. the peculiar circumstances of the time, , to the present there had been one constant course of relaxation. would protect the farmer from any sudden increase in the Whether they looked to the administration of Lord Liverpool, competition in corn, The farmer expected, with the Hon. lor of Mr. Huskisson, or Lent Grey, the whole course of the Gentleman, that there would be a great increase in corn, but he I policy—the commercial eolicy of this country-nharl had a believed there would be a great diminution in the cultivation, I tendency to relaxation, What did he dm* from that? Why, and at the end of three years the farmer would find himself i that there was a kind of fette-trade iidluenia always raging unprotected and exp wed to foreign competition. He sm ile I ill DoeMinaastreet.—(Cheering and counter cheering. ) not discuss all the burdens on land attested he tate. Men. Oren- It was not. as they supposed, a faction arrayed against them, tlemen opposite. He would feet upon the highway-rates, but it was owing to their cause being averse to reason and jus &c. ; but he word*) city 'say, with regard to the poor-rates and lice, that they, tie protectionists, were unable to succeed. counteettles, the burden was left on real and legitimate pro- Their castle, in fact, was built upon the sand, and not upon perry. It fell as heavily upon houses as it did upon land. the rocks and nevem tar leter it ttetild fill to the grethid. He There was. a burden on land which he had not heted teobld root trouble the House with any further remarks, but alluded to in this debate, althotteh the lion. Member for Lin- should sit down, expressing his cordial assent in the measure of colnshire had elite - led to it. it was one which put very little the Right Hon. Ba"onet. money in her Majesty's Treasury, and yet fell very heavily on Mr. SHAW wished to refer to some official documents re the lauded proprietors. It was the property duty on the trans- latiog to the famine in Ireland, From, the first he had stated, fer or mortgage of small estates, and rendered their sale en- that While he Meowed of etieett preciiiion that could be taken tremely difficult. It fell very heavily en the change leariefer to avert the possibility of a great calamity, or to alleviate the of large properties. They ha l a tight to demand that there sufferings of a large portion of the Irish people, still should be a Bill to thaole them to.sell their land in the he thought that the potato failure in Ireland had dearest end to purchase in the cheapest market. He been exaggerated.—( Hear, hear.) He was aware of the invi thought that the law of real property would not only dious statement made in a morning paper, hut at the same time be found to be a burden on land, but socially and he felt it to be iotetSbent tin hittl to state in till sincerity what politically mischievous. He denied that the echette that greet lie belieaed to be the real state of the case. He admitted that and comprehensive which proposed us telleie Scotland from there seat a large portion of the Irish people who depended the burden caused by the Maltitenance of one large prison, and upon potatoes for subsistence, and any failure in the potato yet left this telimee grievance untouched. He did not mean t o crop must of necessity have the effect of reducing the con say that nothing had been done since the report of the Real dition of some of the people of Ireland. A partial failure in Property Commissioners, but he did think, that according to the the crop he was quite ready to agree had taken place, and he recommendation of the Commissioners, some Bill should be had therefore given a ready support to all the remedial mea brought in to alleviate the present system. A very remark. Wes Which the Government had proposed for affording em able proof might be given of the supposed etTect of the law of Ployment to those who were unemployed, and giving : medical real property on the value of land. In this e•iuntry, where so aid to those who were suffering from sickness. He had been much social importahce was connected with the possession of charged with &ceasing the Government of hiving wilfelly exag land, land was sold at fewer years' purchase than on the g"rated this subject; he could assure the House he had never Continent. Co the Continent land was worth 45 yeara' pur. said any thing of the sort. He had said that the Govern chase in some eases, and in England from twenty-seven to ment had exaggerated the subject, hut he never meant to ac thirty years' purchase. In the sale of an estate in Somerset- cuss them, or those from whom he received the information shire, it hail cost the vendor 4,6001. and the purchaser I,oeoh with doing so intentionally. He had, however, been challenged The same evils relating to property that existed in Ireland to prove the statement he did make, and he was now prepared, were to be found in Scotland. In the Highlands of Scotland if the House would allow him. to put in that proof. Now, the there was found the same want of employment anti the same first document laid before the House upon this subject was the absence of a middle class and though them evils were not at report of Prefessor Piaetair, and elr. Tilney, who stated present aggravated with religious contention, that state might in November last, that from their experiments thy had come soon b e brought abeut by the treatment which the Free to the conclusion that half the potato. crop in Ireland was tie- Cherch was iikely to receive from the landlords of that cows- stroyed. Now, any practical man at all acquainted with the my.—( Hear, hear.) Wales, like Ireland and Scotland, was subject, or with Ireland, must have known that this was an sdso suffering, not from the oppression of the pour-law, or the erroneous conclusion, and a subsequent report proved it to be operation of the " Bastiles." as they were called, but 'by the so. In January it was ascertained by another Committee ap eircurnstanees in which the hold, rs of property were placed. printed by the Government, that instead of there being a de t'nless the burdens imposed cm real property were removed, it thiency of one-halt, there was only a deficiency of one-fiah would be immiesible to get rid of this state of things. It. wa,, A return was moved for by his Honourable Friend, therefore, absurd to call the measure of the Government * the Member for : Somerset, and it had been since great and comprehensive one. Ni, measure was entitled to be laid before the Hou e, which gave the highest called such unless it grappled with this stem of thiegs, and prices of potatoes in the various market-towns in Ire ramie a final arid satisfactory settlement of the difficulties that trod in the week ending the 23.1 January, and this document surrounded personal and real property. The Government afforded him greater demohstrative proof that he was perfeotly were bound to suggest some plan to meet the evil ; or, if they correct when he stated that. the Government had exaggerated were not prepared with a plan, then they ought to reappoint upon this subject. From these returns, it would he seen that, she Real Property Commissioners, to Inquire into the subject, in the week ending the 23d January, the average price of go and to report to the House, that it might legislate upon it. tatoes in all the market towns throughout Ireland was 4d. per Mr. le ASHLEIGH said he coule not remain silent on the stone, and under 3s. per cwt. It did uot require a man at all present occasion after what had been stated. He had no hesi- acquainted with Irehted to know that this was approaching a tetion to say that if this measure passed it would be only famine price; arid, indeed, he would venture to declare that it giving a bolos to agitation. He asked the Rlght Honourable was not more titan a remunerating price. Now every body Baronet how he could consistently support the agitation of the trust admit that price was a fair criterion of the existence or Anti-Corn-law League —( Laughter from the opposition non•existence of scarcity. These reams then fully proved benches) --seeing that from his position he was bound to put that there was na scarcity ; and in point of highness of down agitation ?—(Laughter and ironical cheers from the op- price, the figures in this return could not, for a position benches.) The Member for Stockort might laugh a t single moment, he cempared with the figures of 1817. what he stated, but he (Mr. Rashleigh) was not to be put He would now refer to the statements that had been made by down by him and the crew that sat behind him._( Cries of the medical officers of the public institutions in Ireland, of " Order.") He was astonished at the course the Right Hon. whom he believed there were about 600 or 700. He had Baronet was now taking, seeing the opinions that he held no analysed those statements, and it appeared that out of longer than about twenty-one months ago, in July, 1844, in a the 108 who sent in the result of their inquiries, in reply speech he then delivered. That speech so well expressed his to the circular that had been forwarded to them by the Go ( 'Mr. Rashleigh's) views, that he would read it. The Hon. vernment, respecting the failure in the potato crop, there were etember then read the er ram, which was to the effect that only twenty-nine who gave any positive opinion that the fever it was ihpossibla to carry out the rigid principle of poleical at present raging in Ireland was to be attributed to the blight economy, and that a repeal of the principle of protection would in the potato crop. There were also seven who said, that interfere with leases, derange the labour market, and affect the fever, or some other epidemic at present existing in Ire established interests in a most injurious manner. He (the land, was not at all attributable to bad food.----( Hear, hear.) Right Honourable Baronet) was then against any- They said that it was to be attributed to the wetness of the thing like the repeal of the cornelews. Now he season, insufficiency of clothing, and other similar causes. ( Mr. Rashleigh) would ask that Hon. Gentleman to give the Some of the medical officers certainly recommended the esta- House the reasons which in such a short time bad produced blishment of fever hospitals in Ireland, and it appeared that this monstrous tergiversation. He called on him for satis- of the 500 men and women whom the fever had attacked in the faction on this point. If the present measure was passed in county of Cavan, and other places, there was not one that House, he hoped the other House would do its slaty, and that WAS net an able-bodied, well-fed individual.—( Hear.) save the country from the rain that threatened it.—(" Oh. He also held in his hand a letter from a clergyman of the oh !" from the Opposition benches.) He cared nothing for Established Church of those districts, to prove the fact that their contempt tie lived far enough from their smoky the epidemic with which the people had been attacked was not region. He knew both them and it, and he also knew their the result of bad food. He also saw, from the returns which exact strength in the affections of the operatives. It was well had been made by the medical officers, that one great evil known that these Leaguers dared not call open meetings in the during the present calamity prevailing in Ireland, was the manufacturing districts, as they would be sure of defeat from great distance which they had to travel to attend to the cases of the poor people over which they tyrannised so severely. Some- the sick afflicted, and this naturallyeecommended the establish thing was said the ether night of the state of the mining dis- ment of fever hospitals in that country. lie was perfectly tads. He represented one of these districts, and he only willing to admit that those medical officers had every right to asked the Hon. Member for Stockport to come down, and he make those suggestions, because they had to attend in many in would find the people comparatively well off, and they had no stances patients who resided at twelve miles' distance. He had truck system among them. With regard to the mining trade, endeavoured to show, by the very returns which had been made he would only say, that respecting the duty on copper ore, if to the Government, that the cause of fever in Ireland the Government proposition was carried out, it would lead to was not the apprehended famine • and if the House would bear the ruin of that branch of mining industry. He had had seve- with him a little longer, he would show, from the extracts of ral letters on this subject, and they all gave expression to such several communications which had been addressed to him on an opinion. The Hon. Member then read extracts from two the present state of Ireland, that the Government were not letters, wl.ich were strongly condemnatory of the proposed justified in stating that there would be an unprecedented alteration in the tariff regarding, copper ore. One he stated famine in Ireland during the ensuing summer. The first was from a party in Cornwall, that employed 3,000 people, witness that he would quote was his Hon. and Learned Friend Such were the general opinions he believed in that part of the Judge Torrens, a man of considerable experience in the affairs country, the feeling being decidedly against the policy of her of Ireland. That Gentleman stated that he had passed through Majesty's Government. It was with great pain that Omagh, in the county of Tyrone, and that he had not beer, he must vote aeainst the Right Hon. Baronet, but struck by any appearanee of starvation.—( Hear, hear.) He still he was not to be dragged through the mire with had also passed through Fermanagh, Donnegal, Londonderry, him, and must act up conscientiously to the principles and other •adjo ning counties, and he must confess that the upon which he had been returned to Parliament. appearance of the people and the country generally was similar He was elected in 1511, not as a pledged advocate of the corn- to that of previous years. He had also a written eomniuuica laws, but he was expected to advocate the agricultural interests tion, dated the 17th instant, from a gentleman who was a grand of the country. He could assure the House that he had felt it juror in the country of Kildare, and whose residence his duty to maintain the fixed principles which that side had was in the county of Wexford, and in that statement now seemed to abandon, and he was determined, while he re- he said that flue present mount of the distress in Ireland tamed his seat, that, however others might falsify those grin- had been greatly exaggerated.—( Hear, hear.) Last Saturday ciplee, he would preserve his own consistency. at Naas he purchased good potatoes at sarl. per stone—( Hear, Mr. BARING would have bsen much disinclined to have hear )—en on the 18th inst. so pleentul was the supply of good come forward on this subject, but as it seemed a settled arrange- potatoes at the same market, that they were selling at 3ed. mint that the question should be debated in a given time, he per stone. The same was the case in Enniscorthy and Wex felt some little anxiety that tire debate should not pans over ford. He would now go to the south of Ireland. A gentle until he had expressed his cordial suppert. of the measures in- man living in the neighbourhood of Cork had stated, that treduced by her Majesty's Government. And, although he did never within his memory or experience had he seen less starve not mean to deny there were many points in the proposition of tier; in his &strict ; and a clergyman of the Established the Right Hon. Baronet which might properly lead to discus- Church in that district had stated, in a cominuni ; yet, looking at the question as a whole—looking at cation to him (Mr. Shaw), thet the question of the it as giving so much present good, and as combining corn-laws si rand be settled upon its own merits, and the seeds of so much future benefit, he would that the failure of the potato c, op had been greatly give the measure his utmost- support. fee exaggerated for the mere purpose, as it would seem, of making thought that, after !tearing the speech of the Hon. Member for out a case for the repeal of the corn-laws. The potato panic in Lambeth that. evening, it was quite unnece.sary for him to that part of the country was, according to that gentleman's notice the observations of lion. elembers on the other side statement, vox et pr tterea nihil, When tile pits were opened until that specs h had been t reeled to. Nothing new hail been in that district tie. valor.s ere universally found to be very developed in tee course of the debate, unless, indeed, it might good. A gesialeinan residing in Donnerail made similar state. be the formation of a third party, diametrically opposed in meats. The last letter a orn which he would quote, was one their heeling principles to the two great parties which had from another gentleman living in the South of Ireland, dated been wont to divide the House, and which now stood in a per- the 24th inst., (and he would here remark, that all the letters teeth, independentposition. But to that party he (Mr. Baring) which he possessed on this subject were volunteered, with the would he um fined to put the etwttion — what course did they exception of the last-mentioned sm.) He (Mr. Shaw) had tressed to follow on the present occasion ? lie agreed with written to that gentleman to know what was the actual state of his lion. Friend the Member for Liskeard. that a great pmes the potato crop in Ireland, and in reply he said, ought to have some great guiding principle ; and he consi- that it was a most singular fact, that the injury to dered, further, that that party were bound to express to the that crop appeared to be the most where the greatest care had House the course they intended to follow. He trusted it was been taken to event it, and that whenever the plans recom unnecessary to ashlre Gentlemen opposite that in any remarks mended by the Cernmissioners were adopted, there destruction he should be obliged to ink. .no personal disrespect was meant was sure to !et it.— ( Hear, hear, and laughter.) But, on the to any of them. He admired the spirit and the ability which whole, it appeared that the potatoes were in a very good con they had evincee under peculiarly difficult circum- dition, and that fasmers would be glad to supply thousands of stances him, which might be deemed harsh or ( and, therefore, if any expres s ion sh o u ld dro p stones of p otatoes at 3d. per stone in the count y of Cork,— from ; Hear, hear.) It appeared, then, that the quantity of potatoes ssvere. he hoped it would not be attributed to any unfriendly in Ireland was muck greater and better than was supposed; or hostile feeling. It was vele , well to create a resistance to and his correspondenis had stated it to be their firm belief that the Government measure—very well, indeed, to propose a dif- the present cry of famine in Ireland had been raised for the ferent course ; but he would remind Hon. Gentlemen that the purpose of aiding the repeal of .the corn-laws —(Hear.) public and the country received the proposal of the Government He hoped he had now redeemed the pledge which he had made at the commencement. From the very important nature with asclarnation, and he thought that when gentlemen oppo- made at the commencement. From the very important nature site had taken it upon themselves to form a party—when they of the question, he thought the House would excuse him for expressed their disapprobation of the p olic y p ursued by t h e going so much into detail as he had done. For himself be Right Hon. Baronet — when they stated that he was unworth y could not see how any thinking man could support the proposed of further confidence, surely he (Mr. Baring) was entitled to alteration in the corn-laws without consumatmg a contingency ask, when they thus disapproved of the preseat measure , as fearful as that of which the Right Hon. Baronet appeared what was the one they themselves were prepared to place before so apprehensive.—( Hear, . , hear from the protectionists.) Ac• the country? He had listened with considerable attention to corning to the Right Hon. Baronets own showing, his ) the long debate which had taken place, and he had endeavoured remedy was too late for the disease.—( Hear, hear. He to fathom the future course of the protec , ionist party if they believed that if these measures were to pass they would be rejected the present measure. The Hon. Member for Somerset disastrous in their effects to England, and more so to his own had said that this battle was for all, and that they would accept country. —(Hear.) He could not forget that his country of nu compensation. He should be glad to l e ar n , if thi s had exported 3,250,000 quarters of corn to this country opinion was the opinion of the party ;he should be glad and he could not think how a repeal of the corn-laws woui, to learn what they proposed to lay before the country still prevent the exportation of that article. He was not, he if they rejected the proposal brought forwurd by the Right owned, a "political economist," but he fancied he knew Hon. Baronet. Let them recollect the admission made by the something of common sense.—(Protection cheers.) .He Right Hon. Gentleman, ashen bringing forward this proposi- thought they might as well tell the baker and the butcher lion on a former day. He stated that he conceived it neces- that they would be able to live better on the stock which sary, as early as the month of November, to take precautions might remain on their hands, as to tell the Irish farmer he to meet the scarcity anticipated in 'he country, by issuing an would be able to live better when he lost his Sot customers. — Order in Council for the suspension of the corn-laws. It was (Hear, hear.) There was something unaccountable to him now admitted by all, that the Right Hon. Gentleman ought to in the conduct of the Members of the Government. The have issued that order. It was objected against him that he Right Hon. Baronet, the Vice-President of the Board of had not done so, and with that admission before them, he again Trade, had cot even vouchsafed to the House the information asked Hon. Gentlemen opposite why they delayed any declare- that he had changed his opinions upon the subject. He lion as to their future intentions? He (Mr. Baring) indeed seemed like a piece of of official mechanism, and he (Mr. had heard of the British lion, he had heard of native industry, Shaw) thought that if the Right Honourable Baronet at the and he perfectly admired the spirit of th e Isoble L or d, w h o , head of the Government had not changed his opinion. speak ng on this question, asked them what measure they they would have heard nothing at all of the opinions of the were prepared to bring forward—was it the sliding scale Vice-President of the Board of Trade. He wished to suggest that they were prepared to substitute? Perhaps he might to him that a passage with reference to Caliban might be made ask what argume , ts they were prepared to bring forward applicable to himself : in favour of the sliding scale? They were told by some, " Ban I ban! Caliban, that if they did not give to protection a fixe i duty, there could Get new master, if you can." be ro reliance placed upon it. They were told that a fixed He, thought he would then he "a much better man."—(Loud duty was better than any other mode of protection. Hon. I sheers from the protectionists.) He thought it rather hard Gentlemen opposite were quite ready to meet the distress el that Hon. Members opposite should ask questions, first with Ireland by a suspension , of the eern-laws.—( Cries of " N o , reference to the policy of the Government. He thought it no.") He would like to know how they screed go to the cenntry was very annoying for Ministers to answer such questions. He to defend the sliding scale, w hen they h a d expressed their readi- remembered an occasion of that sort, and the Right Hon. ness to support th e Right Hon. G en tleman in a snwstension of Baronet, in answer to similar questions, said, "Do not suppose the corn-laws.--(No, ) Then lee had th . rounderstood ! that I contempl a t e keeping myself in power by proposing them, but it was ,certainly a misunderstanding in which nine- measures of the same kind as yourselves (referring to the teen-twentieths of the House shared.—( Cheers ! ) The Hon. Whigs, whom he had then thrown out) ? I tell you Member for Somersetshire had stated that he would he , frankly I purpose nothing of the sort."— ( Loud cheers.) ready to support suspenstere and he stated that the fame's He (Mr. Shaw) believed that the lion. Gentlemen who sat were ready to do so ton. it a fixed duty Hon. Gentlemen around him acted upon one simple p r i nc i p l e . Th e y o pp os ed opposite were prepared to support? He was afraid . that the ' what they thought wrong, they supported w hat th e y th o u g ht time was passed tor such a settlement of the.queshon. He right.—(Preteetionist cheers.) li e was persuaded that they thought that Hon. G e " l " men were perfectly justified by the had no thought of office. They were not so full of that as the circumstances in ehanging their ertue tons. He asked them Hon. Gentlemen opposite; they were not so apprehensive of again, did they believe that they were prepared to go to the an appeal to the country as they were. They would take a country in the qu. stien of a fixed duty? If they were deter- manly and a shaightfewaverdhourse. They could not see • that mined to &there to a sliding s cree, to what sliding scale did a Minister with only 112 followers 'could long eenthaue in they propose to attach themselves ? The country had a right ' power.—( Loud c h eers f r o m the protectionist*. And if they to know w h et h er they had settled atoongst themselves the , succeeded in obtaining a majority at the next election, t h ey scheme which they were prepared to adhere to. He would : would not lung want a leader either in that or in the other ask the Noble Lord wile hat led the protection party so ably House.—(Clieetts.) He hoped, however, should the Bill pass (Lord George Feentitick) to state to the country what into law, that his anticipation of the measure would not be business scheme he was prepared to stand upon, realised. Of this however he was sure, that throughout and go to the country with ? There could be no this generanon ..it, would leave an indelible stain upon the doubt that the majority of that House fieriur efsneatentweette.of, Enhigh . d.—a Hear, and cheers.) It could not. 'he measures of her •Mejestvh Goeernraelit• The expects. he said that marentrattirion tiatrVeti‘l,l OW by theentellonters titne of non. Quaaemea oppoite Wad that the mop would of the Cebioot. OulY three Umbers of the 0104114 of November had given any explanation at all. The Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government had rested his Shrewsbury and Dirmingiiani. Worcester and Pertlidynllaen. Guildford, and lteig :te. Midland (Erewash Valley Branches). Midland (Ercwash Valley Extensions). Birtningham; Attavcrbampton, and Dudley. Buckinghamshire Ch'ing try T'ahalrirry): Bristol and Birmingham (Gloucester Mid Stdnehottse). Shrewsbury and Herefordshire. London and Birmingham (;tirmingham Extension). MONDAY, stAitCli 30. Northumberland and Lancashire. change of opinion mainly upon the ground of the failui e of the pAatit crop in Ireland. He thodeit, lioirever, thatthe position would fail him, after having heard the state:aent which he had just read to the House. It was a remarkable thing that he shoald have suffered Ws opinions, backed by the experience of forty years, to be changed by the fears of a few months. It was so sudden as to spread a consternation thrJughout the country; but when it came to the smaller fry, their conversion was realty miraculous.—(Cheers and laughter)—insomuch ci that; hd4l !tot the tvedion beep an important one, it would have been sufficient of itself td have LICENSING MEETING for the CITY. Yesterday morning a special session for the City of London, Was held by adjournment at Guildhall, before the Lord Mayor, Aldermen Laurie, Sir James Duke, Moon, Wilson, Challis, and Hooper, for the purpose Of granting licenses to new houses. There were 12 applications for license•, or extension of li censes to public-houses, and 26 applications for licenses for playing billiard 3. James Dickens Saltner applied for a license for No. 4, Guild hall Chambers, and 33, Basinghall-street. The premises were formerly the White Bear Inn, and it was intended to carry on the business without a sign. It was supported by all the Ward authorities—Granted. Themes Stephen Taylor applied for the extension of the license at a }MOSS called the Dark House, Dark House-lane, to a house, No. 16, Upper Thames-street. It was opposed by the ward authorities, the Rector, and several inhabitants, on the ground that there was no necessity fur the extension by which the license would be brought up in Thames-street, although there were three other houses in Dark-house-lane. One of the ALDERMEN said all those houses were City pro perty. Mr. CLARKSON, for the applicant, said this house was the only one kept open at night for the accommodation of the market people and persons going by late and early steam boats.—License granted. WM. DUNN, CROWN AND SCEPTRE, 19, OLD CHANGE. Mr. LAURIE appeared against this application on the part of the ward authorities, and fifty-five of the inhabitants. i There are only 220 houses in the ward, and twelve licensed houses; three others had been shut up within the last twelve months in consequence of business in the neighbourhood having fallen off through several inns having been given up, and the business carried nearer to the different railway termini. Mr. Ceantesoer showed that this was formerly a licensed house, and now kept as a beer shop, the petitioner not having had the means to take out his license, his house having been robbed and his cash-box stolen.—Granted. James 'l'. Cuthbert applied for a license to a house No. 14, Great Distaff-lane.—Granted. James Pickworth applied for a license is dining-room Ne. 38, 'Throgmorton-street, exactly opposite the Auction-room Colfae-house. —Refused. John Hartley Butterworth applied for a license to houses No. 39 and 40, King-street, Cheapside. Mr. LAURIE opposed, and stated that the applicant had been bankrupt in 1838, obtained his certificate in 1840, and took the benefit of the Insolvent Act in 1844. Yet he now stated that he had laid out 3,0001. on it. He (the Learned Counsel) considered it highly improbable that the money had been laid out, but that the lease had been mortgaged— at all events his property was subjected to the claims of his creditors. Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Court, and the license was granted. George Edward Healey applied for a license to a house, No 18, Old 'Change ; it was in another ward, but exactly opposite to the Crown and Sceptre, granted above, and within three doors of another, licensed house.—The license was refused. Messrs. Ring and Bryman applied for a spirit license to " Birch's," on Cornhill.—lt was granted without opposition. Joseph May applied for a license to a house at the corner of New-street, to be called Victoria-street. It was strongly opposed. Mr. BODKIN supported the petition, and stated that the house had been built by Messrs. Calvert and Co., the brewers, on ground leased to them by the Corporation ; the ground bad been take❑ with a view of inducing others to purchase also, as without that being done, the Corporation could not carry into effect the improvements; they desired to open a direct road from Farringdon-street to the northward—some difficulties had existed but were likely to be overcome.— Granted. James Ramsden obtained a license to dining-rooms, No. 6, Clement's-lane. John Benjamin applied for a license to a house, No: 20, New street, Gravel-lane, Houndsditch. One house had been licensed last year near the spot, but that had not been opened.—Refused. William Daises, for a house, King's Head and Lamb, Thames-street, transferred from No. 50 to No. 49.—Granted. The licenses suspended at the last Riesling were renewed. The other business was of no interest. brought ridicule on the question. Then they had the explanation of one of the greatest of living men, one who had served for half a century his Sovereign and his country, in such a manner, as he supposed, no other subject had ever done. He might think it right tp do that which he had advocated ; he could add nothing to the fionoiiri which citeady t•rovrded upon him by the passing of the present measure, and England mriSt at least be silent upon the subject. They cannot wither the lani els of Waterloo. One other Member also had declared his principles, and he had stood by them, and declared his intention of doing so► By his manly and straightforvrard clurse, he has (lone much to reAern the hood& of the order to which he be- louged.—( Hear, hear.) It was not that the conduct of that Minister had shaken public confidence in public men—it was not that it bad affected the character of the country —it was not that it had broken up parties, and arrayed constituencies against their representa tives and representatives against their constituencies, man against Man, hrdther against brother, father against son and son against father, but it had confotitided all the relations of social life.—( Hear, hear.) They must all share in the Oil, they must all participate in the sorrow, but let this be their consolation, that they on his side of the House had, at all events, escaped the degradation. The CHANCELLQR of the EXCHEQUER and Mr. Alexander M'Carthy both rose et the sadte time, and there was a loud cry for the new member, who, however, gave way to the Right Honourable Gentleman, who said that he presumed that the cheers which greeted the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman were to be attributed to his peroration, in which he had animadverted with his accustomed severity, for he could not believe that any of the Honourable Gentlemen who had given ordinary agent. tion to the arguments urged during the debate, or to the docu ments laid upon the table for the information of this House, as to what was passing in the different portions of the empire, could have intended by those cheers to assent or approve of the statements made with kespett to the scarcity in Ireland. His Right Honourable Friend commenced his speech by stets ing that he was prepared to. confirm those statements at which he h d formerly hinted, namely, that there was not that great scarcity of food in Ireland, and that the allegations of famine were made to support the Government; and be referred to the documents which had been laid upon the table. He heard his Honourable Friend's statements with considerable surprise, which was increased the more when he recollected that they were made by an Irish gentleman, who ought to be acquainted with the state of his country; and when even gentlemen, agreeing with him in opinion respecting the measure, ad mitted the existence of scarcity. Ile might allude to the Mem ber for Somersetshire, who stated that he was deeply impressed with the distress in Ireland—( Hear, hear.) And what were the arguments on which he grounded his opposition to the measure? In the first place, he represented that nothing more than the ordinary scarcity existed at the present moment in Ireland. —( Hear. hear.) And what was his inference, when they had a people suffering under that degree of scarcity and sickness which was described in these papers? Why, they were told that that was the or dinary state of the people of the country, and he c msidered it consistent with his duty to object to the measures of the Government—( Hear, hear)—the object of which was to introduce food more extensively among a people whose ordi nary state was so frightful as had been depicted.—( Hear, hear.) What was the state of the people at that moment? Let them :eke the most favoured part to begin with, and .et them hear what was the slate of Ulster. We read that fever, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, had increased considerably, and - it was attributable to the use of unsound potatoes. Take Belturbet, " Diarrhoea and dysen tery, and diseases of the alimentary canal, had increased in consequence of the bad potatoes and the bad food." Let them go to Clare,—" A large portionof the people there are attacked with colic and fever, and are ;daily getting worse, from the unsound food." Let them bear in mind that these were comparative statements, and were not the effects of the ordinary famine which the Honourable Gentle man considered they ought to pass without heed.—(Hear. l In the county of Antrim, in January, 1845, the price of potatoes was 3d. per stone, and at the same time in 1846, the present sear, the price was stated at 60., thus showing an increase in the price of the food of the people of more than 100 per cent. His Hon. Friend stated that such a sum was not excessive, but he did not understand how he could come to such a conclusion, when he compared the increased nrke with their ordinary price, Another circumstance perfectly well known invested the case with additional aggravation, anti that was when the potatoes were discovered to be unsound there was an evident desire to dispo - e of the article. In the early part of the year, those persons that believed their potatoes unsound rushed into the market and sold them before they became un saleable. That increase in the price did not, therefore, repre sent the real misery and destitution that prevailed in the coun try, as the premature rush into the market con tributed to keep down the price, which would otherwise have been raised to an enormous height. He did not profess to have an intimate knowledge of agriculture, either in this country or elsewhere; but, from the paper before him, he perceived that their ordinary price was 241. and 1 3 / 4 d. ; and that at Bush Mills they had risen from 2d. to 3d. per stone ; at Carrickfergus from 3d. to 6.1. ; and as Cushindale from 2d. to 4 1 / 2 . His Hon. Friend state d that tome parts of Ireland were not deficient in this food. He admitted that in some parts of the county of Wexford, and other places, the crop did not suffer so much ; but the fact was, that the failure had spread over large districts, and that in many places large pits of potatoes had become so putrid as to be unfit even for the food of animals; and those which had not arrived at that state of decay were so generally damaged as to be totally unfit for use. His Hon. Friend stated, that those Hon. Gentlemen sent over to Ireland to investigate the state of the crop had recommended remedies to be applied, which had not contributed to stay the progress of the disease. The accounts received from Ireland showed that the people were not inclined to adopt those remedies, and it was quite clear that none of the loss was to be attributed to that report. He would be glad to find that the reports of the condition of the crops were untrue and exaggerated, but, for his own part, he received accounts from gentlemen connected with the com missariat confirming those reports, and proving that the decay was universally prevalent. The Honourable Gentleman had quoted Mr. Justice Torrens to prove that the ! accounts were exaggerated, but that individual, from the hasty way in which he went from town, could not form a correct opinion on the subject. This was no ordinary difficulty, and it behoved the Government to come forward in the way they had proposed to meet the case, and not to defer dealing with it on the statements of the Hon. Gentleman. His Hon. Friend said he could not reconcile to himself the means by which the Government proposed to meet the emergency, but he did not consider the consequences. He was not re sponsible, and he therefore ought to make allowance for those who were placed in a different position, and who re commended those measures which they thought esstential to meet the necessities of the case. His Hon. Friend the Member for Lincolnshire, exsressed a fear that the result would extend over a series of years, and it became therefore the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Shaw) to consider rather what measure should be adopted to meet tite exigescies of the case than to make light of it, or to state that the reports connected with it were exaggerated. He would not detain the House longer, as he had already spoken on tile question, but he would sup port the second reading, believing that every other considera tion should give way to the necessity of providing sustenance for the people Lord MARCH opposed the motion. He would allude to the observations made by the Hon. Member fos Hull. He confessed, when he beard that Gentleman coming down to the Bills of 182t4, that he considered he was about to pro ceed to the law of 1842 ; but, by some coincidence he stopped short there, and left them to conclude that he was satisfied with that law. He had heard nothing from the Treasury Benches, nor from the Opposition, to make him alter his o;tinione on the corn-law. The Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Culenies, in seconding the law to which he now alluded, said that he proposed it because he de sired to promote protection. That was the opinion of the Right lion. Gentleman. When they (the protectionists) stated therefore that they were apprehensive that the effect of the coin-law would be to throw laud out of cultivation, they ought to be entitled to some relief, and more particularly when it was recollected what opinions were formerly ex , pressed on the subject by the gentlemen on the Treasury benches. Having concluded reading a quotation, he said he would not weary the House by reading other authorities at that late hour of the night, though he could do so in support of his ar gument. He would contend for it that the real parties to be injured by this measure were the labourer and tenant-farmer, who , would be compelled to go abroad to avoid the poor-rates, and other assersed taxes. The yeomen, too, a most useful class of men, would be injured by it, and would discontinue their employment to labourers. The shopkeepers would suffer much, and would be compelled to share in the common ruin of all. Therefore, he felt it his duty to the constituents who had roomed him to this House to save them from the panic that would be the result, and, prevent it from triumphing over safe, and sound, and wise legislation. Mr. FINCH moved that the debate be then adjourned to Thursday, which was agreed to. Mr. WYSE presented a B:11 in favour of Art-Unions, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. RAILWAY TERMINI IN THE METROPOLIS. Sir R. PEEL stated that, in reference to the subject of railway termini in and about the metropolis, her Majesty had been pleased to assent to a royal Commission, and had com manded him to state to the House that she would be prepared to give directions accordingly.—( Hear, hear. ) The House adjourned at half-past Twelve o'clock. [d • ' - - RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (It ES TERD AY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Theft Lordships then formed themselves into a Committee cn merits BANDON AND BAWTRY RAILWAY. In this ease the Committee decided that the preamble had been proved, but adjourned the case till Thursday for the engineer's report upon the crossing of levels and amending the schedule of tolls. co:MK, MACROOM, AND KILLARNEY. The Committee came to a like decision in this case, and adjourned it tiff the want of the same evidence. BALLYMENA AND BALLYMONEY. This Bill passed through the Committee, and will be reported to the House and set down for a third reading. The Committee then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP VI. EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN. The Committee who have charge of Group No. 6 sat at twelve o'clock, in the Court of Queen's ?tench, Sir John Hobson chairman. The objects of the line are to make branches to the harbour of Perth and Pettycar, and to pass close to the town of Dysart by means of a deviation. The line came before a Committee last session, and a Bill was procured, but the line was prohibited to be made until the parties should procure the permission of the town council of Perth, as the branehes proposed to pass through certain property, called the Inches, belonging to the Corpora tion of Perth. This approval the Company had now procured, and Proposed to insert a clause in their Bill to that effect. A short time after the general case had been opened, the Court was cleared, and on there-admission of the parties, The ("UAIRMAN said, that as it appeared to the Committee that the parties were not in a fit state of preparation they would adjourn until Thursday. Mr. Sergeant BELLasis said he was prepared to go on with the branches, and that he understood there would be no competition. The Committee agreed to hear the case, and the Learned Sergeant proceeded to state it. He placed a map before the Committee, by which lie said it appeared that the branch to Perth did touch a corner of one of the Inches, which gave the Perth authorities a locus standi before the Committee. Mr. Granger, engineer, was then examined—He deposed that the proposed line of last year was objected to by Lord Rosslyn in con sequence of its too close proximity to Dysart House ; but in the pre sent plan the line was altered so as to remove that objection ; it would be of great importance to all the lines to have the branch to Perth harbour made, and it was proposed to work it by horse power. The Scottish Central Company proposed to make the line from the harbour to the mouth of the tunnel ; this Company proposed to make the same line last year, but both were abandoned in consequence of its proximity to the Penitentiary. The Central Company had re :Awed their proposal this year. Mr. PICKERING said he appeared on behalf of the Central Soottish Company to oppose this branch. 'air. Sergeant BELLASIS said that no opposition could be entertained unless It came before the Committee either as a petition or a com peting line ; but the Scottish Central did not appear in either capacity. Mr. PICKERING said that the Edinburgh and Northern Company had not, either by their Bill of last year or this, taken power to build their south-eastern station in the place indicated by the mar. Mr. Sergeant BELLASIC said that he would withdraw the branch to the harbour, as he now understood there was a competing line ; but with respect to the other two branches there was no opposition. Mr. PICKERING suggested a postponement of the other branches for the present, as another Bill would come before the Committee which would materially affect the proposed position of the Perth termini and stations. Mr. Sergeant 'lmams said his Learned Friend did not appear in any capacity against the other two branches, and therefore he would suggest that the Committee should dispose of them. The Committee then declared the preamble of the Bill proved, and agreed, at the request of Mr. Sergeant Bellasis, to postpone the con sideration of the clauses until to-morrow morning. Mr. 'timeline° said he would oppose some of the clauses. PERTH AND eniErr MINE. A protracted discussion took place upon the question vs to whether this Bill should he proceeded with to-day. The object of this line Is to make a branch from the Scottish Cen tral Line to Illockford ; the length, 13 miles ; the branch 7 miles ; and the estimated cost 300,0001. The Committee finally agreed to adjourn the case till to-morrow. GROUP IX. • This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Worsley in the chair. Tile CLIATEMAN said he had made the motion last night for the Grand Junction Terminus to proceed iu Committee, but it had been objected by several members of the Committee of Selection that the course was irregular, and might interfere with the presentation of petitions against the Bill. On that ground he suggested that the pro moters should proceed and give evidence, the Committee reserving th jr. decision till the proper time had expired. ♦ll the cognise] on the other side absenting to this course, the consideration et the Bill was proceeded with. GRAND JITIOTCTION 8A118017.12. TII3II.IWINITS. Mr. Hill and Mr. Sergeant BeHeels appeared for t a re Mr. Elope for the Clyde River Trust ; and Mr. Sergeant alurpbv for Mr. John Maxwell, who petitioned against the Bill. 31r. Hsu opened the cue on behalf of the 111.1. He started with a review of the evidence adduced on behalf of the two other schemes. as compared with the merits of the Grand Junction scheme. A great deal had been said on behalf of the Harbour Mineral scheme, and that It was necessary for the east mineral traffic that was springing up. Now he had doubts of the great traffic expected, and especially he did not think there would be in Glasgow any exten sive exclusive mineral traffic. A great number of the ships that came to Glasgow shipped coal as ballast, and also mixed it with general cargo ; and hence there was a necessity for a terminus that would accommodate those two traffics at once. The Harbour Mineral would be of no use for such an object, while the Grand Junction was in the best situation for that purpose. He believed the mere collier trade of the west of Scotland would hereafter be mainly confined to other ports —to Greenock, Ardrossan, and Troon, while in Glasgow coal would be generally mixed up as part of general cargoes. It a great mineral traffic sprung up lu Glasgow, then both the Mineral Harbour and the Grand Junction would be required ; but if it was as he repre sented, then the Grand Junction alone would be quite sufficient for all purposes. As for the general terminus, it was neither one thing Ister•the other. It professed to separate the mineral from the general traffic, yet it intertembln that respect quite as much as the Grand Junction, while it did not accommodate the shipping in the harbour near so well. Then let them compare the estimate of the Grand Junction with the other two. • The Grand Junction was to cost but 60,0001., while the others were•to be do: ble the sum, and to be twice as long. The Learned Gentleman having dilated on these points, and dwelt on the advantages, engineering and otherwise, of the line for which he appeared, concluded by calling his witnesses. The CHAIRMAN said that before the witnesses for the Grand Junc tion scheme were called, he wished to examine the Glasgow Har bour-master, respecting the three lines, as he understood he was in the room. Mr. William Johnstone was then called and examined by the CHAIRMAN—HO had been harbour-master for 17 years. Witness's evidence was in substance to the effect, that the general terminus, was decidedly superior to the other two. The general terminus would possess all the advantages without the disadvantages of the others. The Grand Junction was too high and the Harbour Mineral too low. The general terminus was 1,200 feet below the present quay on the south side. In cross•examination the witness admitted that last year he had been one to a report decidedly objecting to rails being laid along the quays, and also to coals being shipped at the Name place wills the general trade. He thought, however, that the general terminus was not liable to the objection contained in that report, as the latter referred to the crowcid parts of the north side of the river. Th e e vidence on behalf 4,. - 4 the Grand Junction was then proceeded with. was called, and briefly & Mr. Dinnie, land surveyor and builds. , {t down at about examined as to the value of the land. ire se;. 1, and hence 33,700!., but 14 , 000 /. of it w ou ld be available to be the real cost would be but 19,709/. This estimate includes l the land for the depot, and also covered all damages done to prOpefty. No point of material importance was elicited by the croteeexemie nation. Mr. Broome, contractor, was next examined. He agreed with Mr. Binnie's estimate of land. Witness had valued the works and set them down at 32,5001., exclusive of rails, sleepers, or chains. Mr. J. :11'Culloeh, was called, and examined simply as to the cor rectness of the previous evidence, which he corroborated. Mr. Gale, civil engineer, examined.—He said the present line was one of the best he could devise. It did not much interfere with the buildings in the neighbourhood, and those were buildings of an infe rior character. The gradients on the banks that approached the har bour were lin 110 each respectively. The gradient at the connexion with the Pollock and Govau Railway was ene in 77 ; and that in connexion with the Barrhead and Neilston line, was one in 63 ; the other gradients were very easy. The sharpest curve on the forks was a radius of five chains, and on the main. line a radius of seven attains. These were not engineering difficulties in a mineral line. His estimate of cost was 61,6811., that would meet all expenses. In cross -examination witness said there would be no danger on such curves or gradients, as they would be worked slow. They might go safely at the rate of ten miles an hour. Horse power was proposed for traction along the quays. The Committee then adjourned at half-past four o'clock, till half past twelve o'clock to-morrow. • GROUP Xi!. GMII3 GOVI AND WEST OT SCOTLAND DISTEXCT. --- - Members present, Mr. V. Smith (chairman), Mr. T. D'Eync,onrf, Mr. Langstou, Mr. W. Hamilton, and tiles lion. IV. fitiMaUriCk. TEM GLASS-0 W, PAISLEY, /CILIVIAZNOCK, AND AYR ENTENSION. Mr. Winans!, Q.O , called John klinnilton, the tenant on a farm belonging to Mr. Guthrie. the opponent to the scheme, to show the injury which would be done to the farm of Capering Stone. The line laid down was the viry worst that could he adopted for the purpose of ruining the farm. He had formerly paid NO/. per annum, but by his late lease he agreed to pay b7Ol. Ho had lately expended a con siderable stun upon the f.rm-house, which would be so much lost, as the proposd line would come so close ae to deetrey, in a great mea sure, the house !WV. Mr. Moffat, engineer and manager of the irdrossat Railway, was acquainted with the line proposed to be carries! to Mr. Macready's collieries. Ile did not see that there existed any difficulty in carry ing out the lines of deviation. Which Would certainly be much less injurious to Mr. 011thrie'S property. bilr. Macready bad entered into an agreement to send two-thirds t7if his produce by the Ardrossan Haan* ; the rainatalng third was reae:ved for `o nme consu a m mpount tion. Ills output was front 16,000 to 10,000 tons— he the ch reached 25,000 25,000 Its could se nd the surelus."!lielas • yrsose. he be _ ai-eem nt was to last doling the period of Ms 1 c, lieved was twenty-five years. A Plat the contract referred use rendered WI/AILEY the Mr . const ruct i o n of this branch unnecessary, beca, e to ven thettalt made, Mr. Macready could not send coals otherwise than by the Ardrossan Company. Mr. Christie, mineral surveyor, was examined by Sir TROPIAI ?imams, to show that with increased facilities to the market of Inane, the "output " instead of being as at p re sent 30,000 tons, would be at least 72,000 from Mr. Macready's pits. The Cite lEXAN would wish to hear another witness as to the pro duce of the collieries, as such a discrepancy existed, between those already examined. William Anderson was called. The quantities of coals that hail passed in the month of October, between Preston +vineries and the port of Irvine, was above 2,000 tens, or above 36,000 tons per annum. Cross-examined by Mr. Wasansr—He had given. the usual directions to the person he had stationed there. Mr. Witaanor then addressed the Committee against the branch. He contended that there was not &tittle of evidence to show that any public advantage could be derived front the construetion of this branc4 ICILDIAEN OC It, AND lII.A.SGO IV, PAISLEY', AYE:, No. 111. (LAMPITS .1).1":1) LESMAIIA.• GOV.T ZRAIJ CZIES). Mr. Hope and Sir Thomas Phillips were for the promoters ; Mr. A us tin and Mr. Gregg for the opponents. Sir T. Putman objected to Mr. Austin, as having no locus slandi, his line not being a competing one. Mr. AUSTIN replied, and the Committee decided that the lines should be beard together. Sir Thomas Phillips then described the course of the line from Kilmarnock to Strathaven. The length was seventeen miles, nine miles of which was through a rich mineral country. The estimated cost was 230,0001., and by it a connexion would be formed between the eastern and southern districts of Scotland, and the important ports en the west. Mr. John Hamilton, of Braehead, factor to his Grace the Duke of Portland, proved his Grace's assent to Vie formation of this line, s‘hich was greatly calculated to develop the resources of the mineral couutry around Galiston and others of his Grace's manors. Time country was a very rich agricultural one, and studded with populous vil lages, which would be greatly benefited by this line. Fur want of such accommodation, the goods from Gaiston, and other towns in Ayrshire, were obliged to be carted to Glasgow. Mr. Charles Brown, coach proprietor, Kiltnarriock, said that fou r coaches left that town for the towns of Newmilus, Darvel, and Cal ston, and he calculated the passengers at about 30,000 a year. The passengers travelling by cars he supposed about from 9,000 to 10,000. There was also a large trade in agricultural produce. Mr. AV. HENDERSONI, residing in Hamilton, per week 2,400 cattle were sent annually to Rutherglen , and 60 There were lime fields in the district week to Glasgow. much used for agricultural pur poses. _ _ Mr. CHRISTIE proved that the minerals in the district through which the line was proposed to pass were of the most valuable character. He estimated the traffic in minerals alone at above 6,0001.. which he conceived would be trebled in 10 years. Nir. William Inderso,t, tratilc-taker, proved the returns of traffic between Strathaven and Kilmarnock. The total revenue in passen gers, goods, minerals, and parcels, was 16,3141. 185. Bd. This closed the traffic evidence. Mr. James Home estimated the value of land and intersectional damage at 22,7001. Mr. Miller, C.E., said that the length of the line was eighteen miles. The estimated expense, including land, was 230,000/. The heaviest gradient on the li,,e was one in forty-seven; and he had but one level crossing, at a point where it was intended to place a station. it was intended to have the use of an assistant engine to propel heavy trains. The expense of working this line he calcu lated at 33)i per cent. lie was certain that no better line could be laid out. The table of assents and (117-sects was then put in. The Committee then adjourned. GROUP X 11". NOE.TH ILEN'r The Committee to 'will , It this hie is referred met to-flay et twelve o'clock, Mr. Protheroe in the chair. Mr. TALBOT proceeded to re-exiirilhe Mr. Tite, who stated that he had keen in the habit of examining all. kinds of property for railway cotnpautea. /las .6Xatulard .the pro. Fly ve Otorazi. it if it Z1P416114 tOMatill eg Pnrai THE CORN TRADE. - - LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.—There is a fair quantity of dour from Ireland this week ; but of other articles thence and coastwise the arrivals are limited. We have had a tolerably good demand for wheat, and more particularly fur old, for which very full rates have been ob tained. The inferior descriptions of wheat have had little attention. Flour has had a steady sale, and both sacks sand barrels maintain late prices. Oats and oatmeal have each commanded a small advance. Barley, beans, and peas, are without alteration in value. TUESDAY.—At to-day's market there was a mode rate supply of wheat from the farmers, and Mark-lane ac counts being better, our millers were obliged to give rather more money for good wheat; secondary sorts unsaleable. In beans, peas, and barley, no alteration. Several samples of oats showing, and rather more money paid. In Linseed the business passing is immaterial, and the arrivals are not large. Linseed cakes have been selling at lower rates, and more buyers have come forward in conse quence. No rapeseed in the market. Rape cakes arrive more freely, and sales are effected at full rates. Bones are in good demand. Guano moves off pretty freely at a shade more money. WAKEFIELD, FRIDAY.—The supplies of all grain are MO derate. We had more business doing in wheat to-day, and in some instances the finest qualities made rather more money ; there was also a better inquiry for common sorts. Fine barley was easy sale, other descriptions in slow re quest at previous rates. Beans sold at a slight advance. Oats I ,d. per stone, and Shelling 6d. per load higher. Malt as before. WARRINGTON, WEDNESDAY.—At the market the supply of wheat is rather short; prices were about last week ' s quotation, with a slight tendency downwards, say 7s. to 7s. 6d., 7s. 9d. and Bs. per 701 b. Oats (seed) 3s. Bd. to 4s. per 451 b. Flour, best seconds, 365. to 38s. Meal, 335. to 345. per 240 lb. Of potatoes there were very few at the market, and all were sold at 6d. per load more money; Pink-eyes, ils. 6d.; Radicals, for seed, were dull sale at 6s. to Bs. per load of 25514 DOMESTIC TRAGEDY. YorriscalAss, Fatrox.—About five years ago, a man named John Elinor, a sinker-maker, who, during the greater part of his life had resided in Parliament-street, in this town, Was induced by a brother who is well off in the world to leave his residence and occupation in Nottingham, and go and re side near him at Codnor Park, for the purpose of managing a public-house, and rendering his brother other services, and soon became habitually melancholy. His wife, to whom this change appears to have been equally distasteful, died about twelve mon. he since, and left him still more me lancholy than he had been previously. A few months since he returned to Nottingham, and was about to take up his abode again in the town, when his only daughter died, who had been married to a lace-maker named Smith, and left two children, the eldest of whom was a girl named Elizabeth, aged about twelve years. Smith having married again soon after the d'-ath of his first wife, and his eldest daughter being dissatisfied with her mother in-law, she went to reside with her grandfather, who re turned with his charge to Codnor Park, with the idea that he could there vrovide butter for her future comfort and wel fare. For a tine Elinor was more cheerful in the society of his little granddaughter, but latterly his health failed. He is said to have been constantly tormented with the idea that he should be left to want in his latter days, if his brother should die before him, and that his little granddaughter, of whom he was very fond, when left alone in the world, woald become a prey to the designing, and might spend her days in vice, or suffering frign the most abject want. It had been customary for old,John Elinor to visit his brother early on at the morning of each : day, rtathutaterefn b erd u t ( t o). fd ark becamefmoya having forced mind, alarmed, hoaepn,ednt omitted,htelhvr that fteloi t nir o i heoi d tiws o w:. ha se s go : I , :hs toe ak is b neroeytph, leuernsreuicsaallideti hear, I ,f n th e :l itmelancholynhiileadf, to his house, and finding it closed, and being unable to make dis covered that the wretched man had strangled his grand daughter daring the night, and that he had then hanged himself. Both were quite dead. There is no doubt that excessive melancholy in this case terminated in insanity; and an inquest having been held upon the bodies, a verdict to that effect has been returned. The Confiance is ordered from Devonpqrt to Cork, to be placed under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot, the Commander-in-Chief there. [The following brief notices of two of the leading Sunday journals has just appeared in a pocket volume of the " Newspaper Press Directory for 1846," containing particu lars of each newspaper published in the United Kingdom, a work of great utility for general reference, as affording a com plete picture of the newspaper press, edited by Charles Mitchell, (474 pages). 1 " THE OBSERVER. " Sunday and Monday, Price 6d. Established 1792. " ADvocacy.—Liberal—Theatrical. Not any of the news papers published at the close of theweek display more activity or success than this in the acquisition of news which, after the preceding six days has been swept and exhausted by the immense resources of the dailys ; and this is the great diffi culty in a weekly. The Observer is remarkable for the terse ness of its political and literary criticism, and exceeds most of its contemporaries in the amplification of news. However eager and active the numerous papers may have been in collecting it from town and country, The Observer is at all times sure to contain a great deal of original infor mation ; and that air of novelty which other journals un successfully aim at, The 'Observer attains by extraordinary exertions in the way of Exclusive Intelligence," Additional Accounts,' and Further Particulars.' Hence, for the active minded middle and upper classes, as well as the circles of royalty, it is very appropriate and acceptable. It seeks not sum mary of general intelligence. I t certainl y p ossesses sources b to ut cl t o o th e e ni t a h r e ge top u i p c o s n of t t b h em. e we a ek ndwg i i th il- p e ot h h c e s t t ic a a n l d c c oj o n rn e r ct i u et r e e s si no ordinary ahroywcesh,earrascetcerrellyft:rinifeitrhclerese poli tical ra li t te, oonn in doif T e he Observer it is sure to be announced, and wduess of conjecture often anticipates public events grortiaLfreltemalaillnoteourfsorririprnelmarkably. To these and other spirited arrange ments is its success attributable; and it is obvious that no pains are spared to secure tlent of the most efficient kind — in illustration of which we may state, as a well-known fact, that there are no less than five editors. I t should not be lr.st sight of, that it is almost entirely of a political complexion. at least deals chiefly with the more public topics of the day. It gives, however, great prominence to Drama—nherein its opinions are deemed classical' as an authority. Published by William Clement, 169, Strand." " BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON. " Saturday, Price 6d, Established 1820. " ADVOCACY.—LiberaI—SPORTING. Its name almost suf ficiently describes it : importing, as it does, its character as , emphatically the sporting paper: sports and games of all de scriptions are advocated and depicted in its ample columns— from pedestrianism to pugilism, cricketing, sailing, racing, hunting—profound in all the mysteries of the " ttuf," or of the "ring,"—very deep in betting: and shrewd in conjec jectureas to winners and losers; loOked up to by " trainers:" appealed to by sporting characters all over the country. Its editor often referee or stakeholder, and arbiter of occasional disputes; and regarded as a sort of guardian of the interests and honour of the sporting world. The sitcce, , s of this jour nal is mainly attributable to the business-like discernment of its spirited proprietor, Mr. Clement, who has never lost sight of judicious malgamatiort and'first-rate talent: . - , - " - I ) *Msd tleraut, 170, Strad." HOUSE OF LORDS. MINORITY ON LORD GREY'S MOTION ON MONDAY NIGHT. Morley Cony ngham F o l ey Cantonal' Clarendon Fitzwilliam Fortescue Cotter ham Carrington Anglesey Suffolk Clanricarde Grey Auckland Torrington Besborough Lilford Lord Dacre paired in favour of Lord Grey's motion with Lord Brougham. PARLIAMENTAItY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons, MONDAY, MARCH 23. Customs Duties Bill—" to alter certain Duties of Customs," pre sented, and read a first time; to be read a second time on Thursday, and to be printed. The following Petitions for Railways ►ere reported, and th• Bills ordered to be brought in by the undernamed Hon. Members : Preston and WyreltallWay. Harbour, and Dock (Longtidge Jbuction) —Mr. Patten and Mr. Clifton. Perth and Inverness—Mr. H. itaillie and Mr. C. Bruce. Preston and Wyre Railway, Harbo , ur, and Dock (New Dock and Railway)—Mr. Patten and Mr. Clifton. RAILWAYS Committee nominated Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord John Ruggell, Mr. Morrigon, Mr. Hudson, Sir George Grey, Sir George Clerk, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Warbur!on, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr George flarnllton, Mr. Parker, Mr. Hume, Mr Charles Itugs2ll, and Sir John Easthope. No. 8. Mr. t Select Committee on Group N o. 4 . Mt. G. W. Hope app ointed Chairman, , ice Mr. HAMS, appointed - •ren t . selected. and added to the Committee, vice Viscount ‘tt Bernard, discharged. the Select Committee on Group Select Committee on Group N o. 8 . Mr. Hawes appointed Chairman , vice Mr. Sotheron, appointed Chairman of the Select'Committee on Group No: 20. Chairman 01 Colonel l'aget selected. and added to the Committee, vice Earl of Shelburne, discharged. Select Committee on Group No. 28. Mr. Sotheron appointed Chairman, vice Mr. G. W. Hope, ap pointed Chairman of Select Committee on Group No. 4. Select Committee on Group No. 34. _. ... . . _ . . 11r. Christie and Mr. Walpole. seleetedTa-nd. added to the Com mittee ; Mr. Oswald and Mr. Gooch, discharged. - ;u Nos.l aty, . 7 1 , pr i !1 1, 2277. 30, 36, 37, a nd 40, to meet in The COlnniittee of.Seleetion have appointed the Select Committees , r g m u 1:8 th ß e t ‘ i v i e e e l k " belZiantii?oy SECOND READINGS OF RAILWAY BILLS FRIDAY, MARCH 27. Midland, Barnsley, Sheffield, Dewsbury, Leeds, and Bradford. North of Norfolk. East Dilellaniand Norwich?' WI ‘ilt 1a01142044 11.40V41101.11, 3iatkgate4Wo4l. . 411. . :n:a11 pieces of land and some small houses. The land is ♦ery' bad drained. Has offered Mr. Stephens to take the valuationth . and' • respectable person, and double it on the part of the Company. -The land „ altogether is about 10 acres, and the demand made for it was s'.' o preposterous that witness could not for a moment comply with it: The case for Mr. Stevens is only a case far compensation. With re gard to property of Sir T. Wilson, near Woolwich, it is not materially injured by the line. The property of Sir Wm. Gossett is more injured. by the line than that of Sir T. Wilson, and he has at once accepted the compensation efrered by the Company. Mr. Roupell has also accepted the suns offered. • Mr. AUStIN, on the part of the promoters, said that lie saw by the minutes that his friend Mr. Sergeant Wrangeturi had asked yester day afternoon for leave to re-gamine Mr. Vignoles. Re was sorry to say that the request had been made in the absence of all the leading counsel. He conceived that the Committee would not de clda on so material a point without allowing it to be discussed. The usual course in these Committees was that where there were two competing lines evidence should be at first taken hi favour of the first hue and against the ee.cend line, and when that case was con cluded the second line should bring forward evidence in their own favour and against • the first line. When their evidence had con cluded they were not to be allowed to recal the witness and go through their own case stain. Mr. Luxe's', on the part of the South-Eastern line, said that he hoped that the Committee would not depart from the decision they had given the previous day. The permission to recal the witness had been already given. After some further discussion, The Committee retired to consider the point. After an absence of twenty-five minutes, the Committee returned. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had decided to adhere to the practice of former Committees, and should allow the North Kent line, when the time came, to produce any evidence they might please against the South-Eastern line. Mr. Vallence, cross-examined by Mr. G.:smuts% stated that he is solicitor to the Greenwich Railway Company. In 1844 be received a proposition from Mr. Vignoles, and a similar one from the South Eastern Railway Company. Was in possession of the proposition of the North Kent Railway before the South-Eastern Railway. Mr. Miller stated that he is a civil engineer, and has had a good deal of experience in the construction of railways. His attention has been directed to North Kent, with a view to the formation of it railway. s llas examined the line of railway proposed by Mr. Vig noles. Thinks that it is laid out so as to meet the wants of the district. The stratum through which cuttings will have to tie made is favourable. The estimates made by Mr. Vignoles appear to be amply sufficient for the work. The line passes within 180 yards of a powder-min, but did not consider that it .e dangerous. Is constricting a line In Scotland which puss! much nearer to a very large powder mill. The Lord Advocate has examined that part of the line, and, aided by competent advisers, has pronounced it to be quite safe. By Mr. At-STlN—Went down to view the line on Saturday morn ing, and returned on Sunday evening.• If the work of the line is of the kind Inserted in the estimates, the prices are amply sufficient. The line he is constructing in Scotland passes quite close to the powder mills on both cuttings and embankments. Mr. Locke stated that he had been over the North Kent line, and hail examined it rather particularly. Is of opinion that the line is very well laid out, and passes through geed soil. There is no diffi culty in the works, and the estimates appear ample fee the works to be executed. By Mr. Cocknuate, who appeared on the part of the South-Eastern Railway—lles examined the line about three weeks ago, and was engaged two days in the survey. There is some clay o n the surface of the soil, but not much. It does not go to any depth. Balton hill is the place where the heaviest works are on the line. The gradient on the North Kent line there is I in 132, but It is worse on the South-Eastern, where it is 1 in 80 or 90. By Su' W. RIDDLE (who appeared for the promoters)—The works near the fortification at Chatham are rather expensive, but very sub stantial. _ . _ James Henry Andrews stated that he made some boring near Balton-bill, to examine the strata. On the west side of the hill wl3, nine feet'of yellow clay, then twenty-seven feet of black clay, then six feet of sand, a thin layer of sandstone, a thin layer orgravel, six feet of blue sand, seven feet of red sand, twenty-three teet Of sharp sand, and forty feet of blue sand. The total depth of the shaft was 121 feet. By Mr. ALEXANDER (whe appeared for the South-Eastern line) — Has been occupied before in boring through zeclogical strata. Sunk two shafts with a distance of 5-Bths of a mile between them. The depth of one shaft was 121 feet and the other 100 feet. Both shafts are in the ceLtre of the proposed tunnel. In the eastern tunnel there is on the surface four feet of yellow clay, sixteen feet of black clay, seven feet of white sand, five feet or veiny sand, five feet red sand and sandstone, seven feet of sharp red sand, one foot of iron stone, fifteen feet of sharp, clear sand, and thirty-eight feet of blue sand. Mr. Hawkshaw stated that he is an engineer. Mas been over the ine ]aid down by Mr. Vignoles, and has found that it is well laid Cross-examined by Mr. LAING (who appeared against the pro jected line)—Has had a good deal of experience in the management of amalgamation in railway companies. Has expressed himself in favour of having a number of railways under one system of manage ment. Thinks it generally advisable that short lines should be at tached to the most important line in their neighbourhood. The North Kent line is one of more importance than the South-Eastern. Does not think that any benefit caused by competition would be equal to that of united management. Competion would make the Company more active. The CHAIRMAN intimated that this course of examination was not regular. Mr. Essen, examined by Mr. GOLDSMID—Is the solicitor to the Bridgewater Railway Company. In 1844 received a proposition from the North Kent Company. Had not at that time received any pro position tram the South-Eastern Company. By Mr. COCKBURN—Became agent for the Bridgewater Railway Company during last session. By Mr. GoLtisstin—The Admiralty had gives its consent to the bridge at Rochester, as proposed by the North Kent Railway Company. Mr. Brunel, examined by Mr. TALBOT in support of the line— Has examined several points of the proposed line, particularly the works at Chatham and the Bolton Tunnel. Has examined the strata near Bolton-hill, awl there will be no difficulty in forming a tunnel, Has observed lifeline between Chatham and Sittingbourne, and it is very judiciously laid eat there. Had examined the country also last year, and had observed that the line passed within twenty yards of the powder mills ; it appeared safe then, and must certainly do so now, when the distance is 180 yards. By Mr. COCKBURN—Was about eight hours at Bolton. The powder mill may be passed safely by the trains. The trains would not affect the mill at a distance of 180 yards ; nor would the explosion of the mills affect the trains at that distance. By Mr. TALBOT—No great length of time was necessary to ex sunine.the strata at the shaft. Mr. Miller, examined by Mr. TALBOT—Is an engineer, and has gone into the expense of the proposed bridge at Rochester. Has also estimated the expense of a bridge for the bridge-wardens before the existence of the North Kent Railway Company. Mr. TALBOT then announced that the case on the part of tile North Kent line was closed, with the exception of a few words which he wished to have from Mr. Tite, on the subject of the valuatiOn of land along the line. Mr. Tite was not then present, nor could he be ins , mediately called. Under these .circumstances, he proposed to close his case, reserving to himself the right of briefly examining Mr. Tite to-morrow morning, and also of producing a letter which had been received from the Board of Ordnance. After a short discussion, Mr. Dawsosi (who appeared in support of a petition against the proposed line by Sir John Evelyn), then proceeded to address the Committee very briefly. The promoters of the Korth Rent line here requested permission to add the evidence of Sir Frederick Smith, as to the safety of the trains passing the powder-Innis. Sir F. Smith stated that he had examined the course of the pro posed line last year. It passed very close to the mills, but was not unsafe. The danger, if any, might be prevented by covering the line with Iron roofing. Hy Mr. MERIIEWETII£II (for the South Eastern line.)---If a line of railway were at a distance of 200 yards front a powder-mill, the explosion of 40 barrels of powder would give a concussion, but would not occasion any serious damage. The powder in that state called the " green charge" is nearly as strong as the powder when quite prepared for use. The powder-mdls are generally very strongly built, and there would be very heavy materials thrown in case of an explosion. Remembers an explosion which occurred last year at Dartford or Hounslow. The stones which were split were very massive, but they were not moved far. Thinks that the rail way at Chatham would be better if under the fire of the guns front the fortification. Cannot say whether the station should be under the fire of the gulls. At Gosport, there is a station both inside and outside the works, and the one inside is safer, though not under the firs cf the battery. The station outside the battery is under the fire of the cannon, but is not so safe. The Connuittee then adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. CIIZOITP XV. The Committee met at twelve o'clock, in the Bail Court. Present, Mr. O'Connell (chairman), Sir It. Price, Captain HattEl, Mr. Hind ley, and Mr. Mackinnon. ERIUIITON AND CHICHEETEn. !,300VOR. AND LITTLEHARIPTON BRANCHES). BOGNOR AND CHICHESTER. Mr. J. J. Jontisow, counsel (with Mr. Clerk) for the Bognor and Chichester que, intimated that engineers had gone down to Chiches ter last night to test the surveys. He said his Learned friend on the other side ought not to proceed with the cross-exam:nation of Mr. Hastrick, attempting thereby to establish a negative against the line, which he opposed before the merits of that line had been proved. Ile thought the Committee ought to take up each line on its Jrvn merits, and on its own merits alone. The 'CliAntatan intimated that the Committee, I.n a great measure, agreed with hint. Mr. Itsumvarsaa load that he submitted to the ivill of the Com mittee, and that his case was closed, except as to the cross-exami nation of air. Restrict, which he would feel himself at liberty to proceed with at another time. Mr. JOIINSON NEALE opposed the Brighton branch to rOgnor en behalf of Mr. Richard Clarke, landowner at Bognor. and caltNi evi dence to show that the Brighton Company had beer guilty of a brCach of faith and agreement. Mr. Hastrick, on his cross-examination by Mr. NEALE, said, that Mr. Clarke had projected thepresent Bognor branch previous to flee Brighton Company taking it up, and that he (Mr. Bootlick) etn senteti to become engineer of the line, and had the surveys made and paid for: He (Mr. Bootlick) thought afterwards it would be more advisable that the Brighton Company should snake the pro jected line, and made use accordingly of the surreys already taken to make up the sections and plans for the Brighton Company. Several witnesses were called on the part of the Chichester direct branch, to show that the great preponderance of public feeling in Chichester and in Bognor was In favour of the Chichester and Bognor line. Mr. J. J. JoustsoN, previous to adjournment, submitted to the Committee that the objection taken on the other side to the Chiches ter line, its tho case of error in the levels laid down in the sections, was a "Standing order" point, and therefore that the Committee was precluded by one of the standing orders from examining it. He suggested that an inquiry should be made whether this was not so in the, present.case. Sir. .MEREWETIIER contended that it was not a standing order obl.ctien, and it came within the province of the present Committee. under tile 20th section of the Land Clauses Act, limiting the Cuttings to 5 leer in the country and 2 feet in the towns. The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock trnmorrow. GROUT XVI. CITZP.,TRITY AND EGNA.M 131ZANCN. The Committee Oil the members of which were present) met at twelve o'clock, when Mr. Wordsworth submitted a plan by which the branch could be made Without interfering with his property, and it was agreed that it should be submitted to Mr. Locke'. conaide re tion. Mr. Briscoe, a magistrate and gentleman of property, gave evi deuce similar to that of Colonel Chatloner yesterday. Mr. Edgin, who resides within half a mile of Eghani, stated that a great advantage would be afforded by this railway, and that Colonel Chalioner had understated the number of persons whose attendance was required at the petty sessions it was 160 per annum en an ave rage, which information he had derived front the clerk. In conee quence of the obstruction of traffic, and the convenience enjoyed by other places, the value of property had greatly declined, and there were at the present time 67 houses unoccupied in Egham. lie perfectly concurred in the opinion that a great advantage would be derived from the cheaper conveyance of chalk to that district. To Sir C. Di:melees —Mr. Edgill replied that the empty houses were of the smaller size. me. Whitton, a hanker at Egham, confirmed Mr. Edgill's etate ment resi4oting the disadvantage accruing to Egham from the want s( A r l a it il t " l; as co .. nvertiailos: Dien ensued respecting Mr. Evans rests, sited Mr. le eZ the int on which dswerth, on his behalf stated, that al , he had ulterior designs, In evn;eh he should p ;ably show the propriety and force of I& - client's case, he should not cross-examine ou the pUbile Peri° of the case. The Committee then decided that it are. A unnecessary to call any farther evidence on the traffic merits Of the ieranch, but Ong , the engineer and the surveyor should be called. Prior, however, to the examination of Mr. ',Locke, a conversation took place between that gentleman and Mr. Evans's surveyor, but the remit was a disa greement in opinion as to the avoidance of Mr. Evans's property, and the plans were submitted to the Committee. Mr. Locke was then called, and stated part of his evidence re specting the course of the line, and its engineering character. There e were three roads crossed at a level, bat he had preferred that lit it better of traverse in a flat country, because he Ilion than raising embankments or bridge approachee, would Ithieh f Ch rt have the further disadVantage of interfering with the town be soy. The estimated cost of the lin e, including the land, wome, 100,0001 e; the annual expenses were estimated at 3,e971., as,il the returns, 9,6301., leaving a rough profit of 5,6001., giving' an average of five or six per cent. With reepect to Mr. Evans's propetty, he was imuced to refrain from going Into the opposition, because, in the first place, line, as leki mat, lute:ferred less that it would otherwise do with the property both[ to the right and left ; and, secondly, because the Company were pledged not to deviate towards Mr. Burnett's property, thirdly, it would interfere with Lady alontford's property, and the deviation, as proposed by the other side, would throw the railway into a village. The distance from Mr. Evan's house was about 140 yards. To the Cnetemee--air. Locke realied, that the engineering diffi culties occasioned by the alteration were immaterial, although the change would be rather prejudicial than otherwise. To Mr. Woanswoent —Mr. Locke stated that the change wean:. effect the curves, and render the line more inadvisable than it was as now laid out. The line would certainly interfere with the 'view of the copse on St. Anne's 11111, which was an ornamental object, as seen from Mr. EVAIIS'S house. The hence also would be somewhat interfered with be the bridge near the property. The reason for taking the course they did was, that the deviation would oblige the' Company, not only to infringe on their engagement with Mr. Bur. nett, but also with Lady Idontford's property, and the village he had spoken of, in which, if the line were carried that way, at least half a dozen cottages would have to be ,palled dawn; and other lands and grounds, would be effected lie,ides. By sharpening the curve, perhaps the village might he avoided, but the change would be inconvenient. The deviation proposed by Mr. Evans would carry the line through the parsonage-house, and there appeared to be no means of avoiding that difficulty. Mr. Crawler was recalled, and stated, that he valued the land for the line, the varue of which land was 24,3351. 3s. 10d.. including eectional damage. Ile knew a Mr. Evans'S house, which is a good. geittlelltafily reeldereee; lee it: floated' the ]sited awrtiir Ulu tic railway. PAX GAY 11 Is* " • ,P*4- -~~ * 1