The Sun. — London, England, 1846-06-16 00:00:00

RAILWAY 00MIVIITTEES, (YESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSIVIOILTTI3, (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) -Ur. W. Cubitt, sen., was next called, and gave similar evidence to that of 3lr. W. Cubitt, jun. He said that the line was laid down by the latter under his direction, and subject to his approval or disap proval. He himself went over the line In the first instance. la cross-examination he said, that the engines would be adapted ra the gradient of 1 in SO, by tasking the cylinders somewhat larger 1112 n in ordinary engines. This being the case for the London and Ports - mu:nth, Mr lio2z proceeded to open the cae. for the Guildford, Ch:.hes - Portsmouth, and Fareham. Having addressed the Committee at great length, the Learned Counsel called Mr. Locke, the engineer, whose evidence occupied the Committee for nearly an hour, and was not concluded at four o'clock, at which hour they rose, and ad journed till to-morrow at eleven. GROUP 11. WTOBECII, ST. IVES, 31T2CCTION. AND CAMBRIDGE The Committee appointed to hear the cases in this group met to-day at I I o'clock; Earl Grey, chairman. Mr. CuowrnEa appeared for the promoters of the above line, which was opposed by the Lynn and Ely. After a brief address, the promoters proceeded to call evidence. TEE LONDON AND YORE (WAXE.PIELD BRANCH). The Committee met this clay at eleven o'clock. Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM appeared for the promoters, and in a Speech of great length and ability laid the points of the case before the Committee. After the Learned Sergeant concluded evidence was called. Mr. Beckett Denison, Mr. Laseelles, and several merchant were called, who spoke to the great necessity of the Wakefield branch of the London and York line. HOUSE OF COMMONS. NEWCASTLE AND EDINBITROIL__ AND DIRECT GLASGOW STINCTIwx_. The Committee met to-day at eleven o'clock. when the cross-eta- Minatien of Mr. Green was resumed. Mr. ed as to tt e estimates, John Miller, , Mr.Tayior. . Mr. Bell, and other witnesses were examined price of land, &e. wa s examined as to the traffic on Mr. Marshall, of Leith , the route of the proposed line, which appears to be rapidly In creasing, as was a lso the trade of the manufacturing district around Galashiels and lia.wick. The gross income from the various sources of traffic he estimated at 28,362/. He described the di rec ti o n in which the traffic to and from th e manufac turing district was now carried. That it was carried partly by Berwick and partly by Leith, the two Principal seaports through which goods were forwarded to and from England. That a circle w ith a radius of seven or eight miles embraced the whole of the manufacturing, towns, such as Galashiels, Selkirk, Melrose, and H a wiek, with other towns, such as Jedburgh and .Roxburgh, and that from the centre of the same district the distance to Newcastle would be about forty miles shorter by the route of the present line than by way of Kelso and Berwick. The witness then entered into details of the population, showing that the rate of increase was actually greater at Galashiels and Hawick than in the manufacturing towns of Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow. That while the population of the first-mentioned towns had increased 35 and 40 per cent. since 1831, the in crease at Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow, was respectively 23, 30, and 35 per cent. He next proved from the value of the manufactured goods, and from the amounts col lected at the toll-bars, that the traffic was doubling itself about every five or six years. The value of the goods manufactured in Hawick had increased from 140,0001. in 1839 to 270,0001. in 1845. He considered the extension of the line to Jedburgh an object of the greatest importance to Ilawick, Galashiels, and other ma nufacturing towns, as the trade with England was ra pidly and steadily increasing. In his cross-examination witness entered into additional details, shon ing that the rate of increase in the passenger traffic was in almost every instance much greater than 150 per cent. ; that in districts in Scotland similar to the one that the proposed line would intersect, the rate of increase was so high as 400 or 500 per cent. The cross- examination of this witness was continued on some other points, but nothing was elicited to affect the evidence which he had pre viously given. The Committee then adjourned till twelve to-morrow, 'when Mr. Stephenson, civil engineer, will be examined. GROUP H. CORNWALL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) IMPORTANT DECISION. -- Mr. Aurrui replied at considerable length. At the conclusion of his speech the room was cleared. Upon the parties being called. the Chairman stated that the Committee had decided that the preamble of the Cornwall Railway was proved, with the exception of the Doullboys branch. They gave no opinion as to the central line. The question of central accommodation will sa left open for a future period. The Committee then adjourned at six o'clock till twelve to =flow. GROUP VIII. AYRSHIRE AND GALLOWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Blythe, civil engineer, was examined, for the purpose of show ing that the estimates would not be sufficient to construct the works, and that the line, from the nature of the country, would be difficult of construction. Mr. Anderson, accountant, who had on a previous occasion taken the traffic along the route of the line from Dalmellington to Castle Douglas, deposed that he calculated the probable amount from pas sengers, goods, sheep, and cattle, at 7,4131. This was allowing 150 per cent. for increase. The promoters of the Bill set it down at 14,0001. Mr. Miller, C.E., corroborated the evidence of Mr. Blythe as to the Insufficiency of the estimates and the nature of the country. It was a route for a railway such as he would never have advised. Mr. Sergeant BELLASL3 then summed up the case for the oppo sition. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock, when counsel for the Bill will reply. GROUP XIV. DOVER AND DEAL. (Coatinued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Committee adjourned shortly before four o'clock, till to morrow. GROUP XVII. MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON AND SOUTH-WESTERN (ROMSET AND RED MILIDGE BRANCH). The Committee met this morning at half-past twelve o'clock ; the Bon. Mr. E. Yorke in the chair. The promoters commenced their engineering evidence, by calling Mr. Bidder, who was examined by Mr. JAMES—IIe said he was one of the engineers to the line conjointly with Mr. Robert Stephen son, and that the project originated with some gentlemen of influence In Manchester and Southampton, and with others connected with the Midland Railway, all of whom were desirous of obtaining a direct and uninterrupted communication from north to south. He had his attention first called to the line in June or July last, before any prospequa was issued to the public. The line com menced by a junction with the Bristol and Birmingham line at Swindon, in Gloucestershire, near Cheltenham, and would run in a nearly direct line to Southampton ; so that there would be about 88 miles of now railway. The terminus at Southampton was projected near the quays, and would have an independent terminus, which he considered advisable ; but the two stations were intended to be con nected by tramroads, to be worked by horses instead of locomotives. An independent terminus was necessary to meet the wants and wishes of the inhabitants, as also was a railway connexion with the existing pier. A railway which did not accomplish this object would, in his opinion, be defective. There was no difficulty in carrying the line of rails along the quay, as at Yarmouth and Liverpool—the quays of the docks at the last-named town possessed several tram roads similar to those proposed to be constructed in con nexion with the terminus of the Manchester and South ampton. The connexion of the terminus of this line with the South- Western in any ether way than that proposed would leave destroyed the integral character of the project. That was one of the objections to making the South-Western their terminus also. Leaving Southamp ton the line ran for two miles parallel with the Southampton and Dorchester Railway, which they might use for a portion of the Man chester and Southampton. The Greenwich line, for instance, and the Croydon line, accommodated the London and Dover, and the London and Brighton, by the laying down of additional lines; so that if an arrangement were come to with the South oVestern they might run along the Southampton and Dor chester to Redbridge, a distance of three miles. From Redbridge they had adopted the course of the Andover canal as nearas possible, and would run almost on the surface of the ground. At Romsey the line would cross under the Bisbopstoke and Salisbury line. From Romsey persons coining from the north might take the Bishopstoke line and proceed to Portsmouth. Taking the canal to Andover avoided to a great extent interference with residential pro perty. The conversion of canals into railways was found a great advantage. Ira the course of the line to Marlborough from Andover, 20 miles, the property of the Marquis of A 3 lesbury, was intersected altogether for L 3 miles. That nobleman was the largest land 4awner whose property they passed through. Ills Lordship had assented to the line, arid his eldest son, Lord Bruce, was one of the intraaging committee. At Swindon it would pass under the Great Western Railway on a level by a bridge, the span of which would be 25 feet high and 14 wide. A " girder" would be placed two feet under the Great Western line, and the bridge scooped out. Bridges similarly constructed were to be found on the Newcastle and Darlington, and the Northern and Eastern at Rye-house The line then pursued its route by Cricklade up to Ciren . cester, then up the valley of the Churn to Cotti hills, which were tile-tunnelled, that point being in fact the great eagineering feature of the line, as the works would he of a heavy character, with a gradient which would have to be worked by assist ant power. The tunnel would be three miles and a-half in length. The line then joined the Gloucester and Birmingham at the 44th mile, by which access on the ono hand was obtained to Birmingham, and on the other, by the Worcester and Wolverhampton to Wolverhamp ton, and by the Manchester and Birntingliam to Lichfield, which line he believed had passed a Committee of the House of Commons. In fact they obtained a direct northern communication by lines, whose interests wore identical with those of the Manc!:ester and Southampton. From Wolverhampton they went along the Grand Jnnctisn up to Manchester. The Oxford, Wor cester, and Wolverhampton was, he understood, to be laid lewd on the narrow, instead of the broad gauge. The exist ing break of gauge was a serious inconvenience. The distance saved between Cheltenham and Swindon, as compared with the esis'ing mode of communication, was 17 indes. The entire distance from Manchester to Southampton was 212 miles, and would save milks, as compared with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver hampton route to Manchester, and as compared with the Rugby route, 19 miles; lint he understood the Great Western were ;a be compelled to lay down the narrow gauge front Oafonf to Rugby, instead of the broad gauge, as originally in tended. ,The estimated expense of the eighty-eight miles of ,cw rallwa; was 1,506,808/., Including a surplus of 75,1191. for con- IMaeneles„ The estimate was taken at the rate of 17,0001. a mile. Meru would .1* two tunne ls , w hich he estimated at SOL a yard. ee Ta nat ea re " e r tion alla ttljun were un d er der 50,000 yards a mile. The cost for would be conveyed the average. amount. Coals he ex pectedor 16s. a ton.: Looking t4t Southampton and sold there at 15s. rence to it. amonitog the line, therefore, with refe and tus imication from north to south, at its cost of construction , bi r i e i s:nt means of communication, he was of opinion that it would jectors. emtuterative line to Its pro- The witness waresamined at ma ". _ on behalf of the G Western suway. Th e !Wan* with the Great Western at Swindon, would form the shortest ' connexion from London to Cheltenham.. Persons going to Cheltenham h lXt t e o l • twice at Swindon and at Gloneestei change their earrlaves Aso examined by Mr. HATaraToti with respe c t. The witness was a l9- tO the proposed station at Southampton. The committee adjourned until twelve o'clock on Wednesday, • GROUP XVIII. TrirATrie GREAT V7ESTERN. Mr. Sergeant Kixonit&KE addressed the Committee for Mr. Frampton. a petitioner against the Bill. Several witnesses were caned to trove the exten t of damage done to the property. The Committee adjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XX. LONDON AND WrNDSOR. T (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Witnesses were also examined as to the probable effects of the proximity e f the line of railway to the powder mills at Hounslow. The genera!' _result of the evidence was, that there was not much ground for awrehension. The Comtaitt.ce adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXI. BRISTOL ai ld lIIRVIZNGHAIK (GLOUCESTER AND siVONEHOUSE JUNCTION). Considerable delay Look place this morning owing to lion. Mem bers not arriving suffiCtently early to form a quorum. Evidence of a routine' wature in support of the Bill, which closed the case for the promote., was gone into. Mr.Clusr addressed the Committee at great length on behalf of the Creat Western Company, ire ppposition to the Bill. Mr. itILDTAHD replied for the promoters ; and at the conclusion of the Learned Gentleman's apeeett the Committee adjourned. 111:0'01' 2CI.X 111. (Continued front our -Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Evidence In support of the statement was heard during the re mainder of the (lay, and the Committee adjourned at four o'clock. GROUP XXXIX. The Committee reassembled to-day ,at twelve o'clock, and re turned the congideration of the OLDHAM DISTIILICTS, t►hlch wag adjourned on Wednesday last. The evidence was on the 1151141 point'. and in conformity with that orthe preceding day. GROUP XLI. are&CllLlitrAN, DANWZIN, AND DOLTON. R e ee committee me this morning at the usual hour. d ew . u C l eramittee w as • occupied the whole of the day in hearing evi uw support of th, a Une.—Adjourned at four O'clOCk, Until GROUP XLVI. NEWCASTLE AND EDINBURGH, AND DISSECT GLASGOW TUNCTION. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Miller, engineer, was examined, and bore testimony to the advantagk s of the line in an engineering point of view. Alter hearing some further evicitmee, the Committee adjourned. GROUP LIII. SHREWSBURY AND BERMINGNATett. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Meters. Kendrick and Wagstaff, manufacturers, having given their evidence in favour of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve toanorrow• GROUP LIZ`. =CZ= za Z.37.7ZDZIZZ gait. I f Vir Xl7 ZE BRANCII. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The address of the Learned Counsel occupied the major part of the day. Mr. CALvERT, on behalf of the London and Birmingham Company and other opponents, then addressed the Committee, and at the con clusion of his speech the Committee adjourned. GROUP LW. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning ; Mr. Swart in the chair. EAST AND WEST INDIA DOCIKS AND LON DON AND BIESSINGEAriI =NOTION. amined at some length on beh a lf o f land holderswho opposed the line, but his evidence was in no way shak en . 3r rt nobe Stephenson was then called to co rro b orate Mr. Martin's Th ir i . s M cl a s r e ti vl n " was resumed.cross-ex N testimony, which he did both with regard to the estimates and the engineering features of the line. lie gave a decided opinion that the line would prove of great benefit and advantage to the public and the commercial Interests of the country. Some other evidence of a formal character was then put in, and the case for the promoters closed. The Committee then adjourned. THE LONDON AND GROUP BIRM VII INGHAM GRAND JUNCTION, AND MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY AMALGAMA TION. This Bill was then proceeded with, but as It was an amalgamation Bill, the Committee declined passinz the preamble until they shall have conferred with the Board of Trade. NORTH UNION. This was also an amalgamation Bill ; the clauses were gone through, but for the reason above given_the decision was postponed. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock until twelve to-morrow. GROUP LVIII. NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON ZUNC TION. The Committee on this group assembled at one o'clock ; the Right Hon. Edward Ellice in the chair. . The group referred to this Committee comprise the series, the object of which is to consolidate the several lines between Northum berland and Devonshire, partly by amalgamation, and partly by the purchase of canals and other similar property. The line first taken was that of the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Company, whose line would be forty-five miles long, as originally projected, but it is now shortened by three miles. There are 10,000 shares of 1001. each. The usual meeting of shareholders had been held, by whom the lino had been approved. The object of this line is to Improve the ac commodation between the north of England and London, and that is the peculiar province of the London and York Com pany, who oppose It on the ground of an interference with the traffic which they expected. The right of this Company to appear and give evidence was then tFicusieti:and it was ultimately decided that it could not be allowed. MIDLAND RAILWAY AND PURCHASE OP OELKIIADI CANAL• --- On this Bill being brought under the consideration of the Com mittee, Mr. Hawley, the chairman of the canal company was called, who stated that the Midland Company had last year agreed to purchase the canal, with a view to its adoption as a part of their line. Since then, however, a more advisable route had been ascer tained, which runs throngh the estate of Lord Harborough. The canal consequently had become comparatively useless to the Midland Counties Company, but as their line would ruin the canal, the Company had still to abide honourably by their bargain. The canal consists of .521 shares, of 130/. each. In 1814 a dividend of 2/, per share had been paid. The whole amount of dividend, in conse quence of the cessation from business since 1814, had been only 1 per cent. The witness then generally testified to the traffic on the canal. Mr. PAGZT cross-examined, but the testimony elicited was all con firmatory of the previous statements of the witness. The Committee adjourned a little after four o'clock till twelve to morrow. GROUP LXI. The Committee, comprising Sir John Duckworth (chairman), Capt. Boldero, Mr. Philpotts, the Hon. Thomas Vesey, and Mr. Walker, assembled at one o'clock, when, after a long dispute as to which case Should be t tken first, Mr. ANDREWS opened the case of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway Company, the object of whose Bill is to purchase the Glasgow Garnkirk and Coatbridge Extension Railway. The last railway was before Parliament in 1844, when it was opposed by the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Company, in consequence of a portion of the line running parallel with its own line. The object of this Bill was to carry out the agreement entered into by a e.lause of the Act for making the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway, which provides that the Monkland and Kirklntilloch Railway shall have a right of purchase within one year after the opening of the railway just named, pro vided they were ready to give 30,0001. for the property. A power of purchase was also reserved to the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. The latter Company oppose the purchase, as also do the Caledonian Company, the Caledonian Com pany having obtained a right to traverse both the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. It was alleged that there was to be an amalgamation of the Edin burgh and Glasgow and the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Com panies, but this in no way affected the case or prevented the right of the latter company to the power reserved under the clause of the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Rail way. The Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monkland Junction runs into the east of Glasgow, and is promoted by the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Company, at least is leased to them, and is to be worked by them. If the extension of the Garnkirk, Glasgow, and Coatbridge were to pass from the hands of his clients the Wishaw and Coltness traffic would have to pass over two other lines of railway, while if it were to be given to those whom he represented it would pass only over one property. An additional reason is given in the superiority of the stations, which will give a peculiar advan tage. But he principally relied upon the right of purchase upon which he had opened, and he thought the Caledonian Company could not make out the shadow of a case. Beside the petition of the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Company, there are the petition of Thomas Houldsworth, Esq., and other landowners ; but he be lieved that their opposition would be of no avail. The Learned Counsel then put in the several documents, when The CHAIR AN stated that there had been but little experience of the effect of Mr. Duncombe's resolutions, and he was therefore doubtful whether there should not be a power to revise the rates; but it was ultimately decided that the question should be left. Mr. SergeantWaaNCllAM, who appeared for the Caledonian Railway, Company, the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Company, and for Thomas Ifouldsworth and others, examined Mr. Ady, as to the portion of the railway that it was proposed to purchase, and his re plies went to prove that the lines were, if not identical, so nearly so, that the necessity of the purchase was imperative. The maps, however, pnt in are on so small a scale, that the actual position of the several lines was very indistinct ; and it was agreed that a better map should be put in. On examination it appeared that the Ballochney, Slamannan, and the Airdrie and Monkland Junction, and the Airdrie and Bathgate Extension, were to be amalgamated with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company. The whole of these amalgamations have been agreed upon since 1844, when the Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Company obtained their Bill. On re-examination by Mr. Sergeant ANDREWS, the witness stated that without this Bill the stations on the Edinburgh line and the Monkland Junction line would be 'early useless. The Edinburgh and Glasgow line is two miles longer than the Coatbridge line, and four miles longer than the Airdrie line. Mr. Ady's was all to the same effect, with the addition that this contested part of the rail way was made simply to relieve the traffic on the Monkland and Kirkintillock line, on which at this point there is a great difficulty to back or change the carriages. GROUP LXIV This Committee re-assembled to-day at twelve o'clock. Present, Mr. T. S. Duncombe (chairman), and the other Members. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN (MUL• LINGASL TO ATHLONE). The returns in compliance with the Chairman's resolutions having been put in. the evidence in support of this Bill was proceeded with. Sir J. Burgoyne was examined by Mr. MCB,PHY, and gave evi dence generally in favour of the line. Some further evidence in corroboration of the preceding evidence in support of the Bill was heard, after which the Committee ad • journcd. increasing d:qnands of the Americans. But if England must strike the blow. it will be t:old!y and decisive y struck, that all may be over between one colt n merchant and an ,, Vier. Some fine morning we shall read in the papers that an English " experimental squadron" has destroyed the American fleet or bom barded New York. The south and east will clamour for peace ; the west, whom no red-coats can trust, will not yield, but will probably refuse to pay. The notion of America's present military strength will then burst like a; i.e.p-Jubble.—Augsburg Gazette. - THE suN, LON'I ON 3 TUESDAY_ EVENING, rtYllrd vs, WA. GROUP LXV. This Committee met this morning for the first time in Room No. 1. The Committee consists of Dr. Bowring (chainnan), Mr. Cumber land, Mr. Howard, Mr. Saunderson, and Mr. Phillips. The Group comprised the following Bills: — Dublin, Dundrum, and Enniskerry. Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction. Great Leinster and Munster (No. I—Carlow to Kilkenny). Great Leinster and Munster (No. 2—Kilkenny to Clonmel). Dublin and Kingston Extension ; and the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin. The Dublin, Dundram, and Enniskerry Railway, the Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction Railway, and the Great Leinster and Munster (No. 2—Kilkenny to Clonmel) being unopposed, were referred to Mr. Greene in the usual course. GREAT ILIWNSTEN AND IAVNSTEN. (No. 2 ZILRENNT To CLONPAZI.). Mr. TAYLOR (with whom was Mr. Clements) opened the case on the part of the promoters of this Bill. It was not an Act which he wished to obtain for the incorporation of a new company, but for altering and amending the provisions of a Bill obtained long since. The Learned Counsel was proceeding to point out the great ad vantages which would be conferred by the line, and the nature of the opposition given to it, when he was interrupted by The CHAIRMAN,whO considered that the opposition of the land owners was merely a question fur compensation. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow, that some arrange ment shoul , l be come to in the interim between the opposing land owners and the promoters. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEE. HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met at about two o'clock, in Room 1, House of Lords ; Lord Shaftesbury in the chair. There were six Bills on the list, but of these only two were dis posed of. These were the BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (TRINE TO BANBURY), in which the; standing orders were declared complied with ; and the BRIDGWATER. AND TAUNTON CANAL, RAILWAY, AND HARBOUR, which was also passed. Their Lordships, on resolving themselves into a Select Committee on Merits, proceeded to dispose of a list of thirteen Bills, of which, however, six only were railway Bills. Of the latter, four were sub jects of decisions. GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND. IMPORTANT DECISION. The Great North of Scotland Bill was passed, but with an amend ment, which the Committee intimated would apply to all Railway Bills in future. The effect of the amendment was, that at every level crossing of a turnpike or public road, there should not only be a gate across the railway or acro.s the road, but there should also be a lod ge. We understand that it is intended to act upon this rule uni- Il e i r A a r' T OEIDISBY AND SHEFFIELD JUNCTION EXTENSION This IMU was v. the One of the as Northern Railway, but a few days ago. The Committee also was the (No. 3). an ztl i AN D NORTHERN (TAY FERRY). turnmerabie branches of the Edinburgh and 11" Bible Paned through the standing orders ordered the case er th e ARBROATH AND rOltrAitkm to stand over till Thursday , order ,_ ENDMENT give time for the a dj us t- M ent of some of the clauses. Their Lurdslilps rose at about four o'clock and . d . or. ..-----__!---,—...._ punted till to mor:o MIDLAND AND EASTERN coUN_ TIES RAILWAY. A special meeting of the proprietors and shareholders o f the Midland and Eastern Counties Railwace stook ook pl the ace session al. yesterm day at the London Tavern, in pursuan orders of both Houses of Parliament, for in the purpose of con sidering their Bill at presen t depending Parliament, tled 4 , A Bill for making a railway from the Cambrithedge Lon- li of the Eastern Counties Railway at Cambridge to Lon don and Birmingham Railway, at or near Weedon, in the county of Northampton." The SECRETARY having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The Chair was taken at one o'clock by Mr. Cobbold. The CHAIRMAN said that a report had been drawn up by a committee of the shareholders to consider what would be the best course to take with refere nce to proceeding with or discontinuing the Bill. Mr. ILtamsoN then read the shareholders' report, which merely stated that the line would pay if it were constructed, and that about 3001. more would be the only expense incurred in obtaining the Bill ; that there had been some expenses in curred, and that it remained with the shareholders to con sider whether in the depressed state of the money market they would empower the directors to proceed. The votes were then taken, and the Bill was unanimously carried. CALEDONIAN EXTENSION RAIL WAY. A special meeting of the sc iipholders of this Company was held yesterday, at twelve o'clock, at their offices, 28, Parlia ment-street, to decide as to proceeding with their Bill. The meeting waa Merely pro forma on account of au advortio ment having been omitted from the Edinburgh Gazette, an- , nouncing the meeting held a fortnight ago , and which was fully reported in The Sun. There was no opposition 10-(1,,y, and there was 25,000 shares produced for proceeding with the Bill. Mr. Hope Johnstone, MT., the chairman of the Company presided. LAW Ii TELLIGEN CE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, June 15. (Sittings at Nisi Priuß, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a Common Jury.) COODWIN AND ANOTHER V. HEAD AND OTIIFIIS. Mr. Hill appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Jervis for one of the defendants (Air. Head). The cthcr defendants did not appear by counsel. This was an action brought by plaintiffs, who are law stationers at Birmingham, for 600/, the amount of their ac count for law stationery, advertisements, &c., supplied to defendants, who are provisional committeemen of the Wol verhampton, Chester, and Birkenhead Junction Railway. Verdict for the plaintiffs for the amount claimed. NEWTON V. PRITCHARD. Mr. Watson, with Mr. Brown, appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Jervis, with Mr. Miller, for the defendant. This was an action nearly similar to the last. The plaintiff is a surveyor in Chancery-lane, and surveyed in the month of October last a portion of the Thame Valley and Oxford Junction Railway, and also a portion of the Ipswich and Southampton Railway. The agreement for the former was at the rate of thirty guineas a mile. Plaintiff received 1001. on account, and the present action was brought to recover the balance of 1021. Verdict for the plaintiff for 100/. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.) OLD COURT. Maria Allen, 35, a respectable-looking woman, was in dicted for stealing a handkerchief, value 25., the property of Abraham Ramstadt. Mr. BALLENTINE defended the prisoner. It appeared that the prosecutor was a German, and his wife kept a clothes-stall in the Jews' Exchange in Cutler street, Houndsditch. On the 28th of May the prisoner pur chased a small quantity of lace at the stall, and it was alleged that she took the opportunity of snatching a silk handker chief from the board, and flung it under her arm. The wife of the prosecutor, however, and another woman, named Phillips, observed the movement, and taxed the prisoner with the robbery, and she then dropped the handkerchief. In cross-examination it was admitted that the prisoner was pounced upon and hustled by a numiser of Jew clothes dealers, and that there 'was a great outcry raised about the " lady thief ;" and it also appeared that the woman herself requested a policeman might be sent for to protect her. Mr. BALLENTINE, in his address to the jury, said that the prisoner was a respectable married woman, who had never had the slightest imputation upon her character till the pre sent transaction, and he said that there was not the slightest foundation for the charge, which was only trumped up for the purpose of extorting money. The Learned Counsel con cluded by calling several respectable witnesses, all of whom testified to the respectability, good conduct, and character of the accused. _ The RECORDER having addressed the jury, they immedi ately returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Upon the application of Mr. RALLENTIXE, the prisoner was ordered to be at once discharged from custody. Wm. Lewis, 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing 121. 17s. 6d., the moneys of the South Eastern i ltailway Com pany, and he was sentenced to be imprisoned and kept at hard labour for four months. THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES. The military strength of the United States is usually far overrated • we are blinded by her immense natural resources, and do not consider that these resources, from want of a sufficient population, are only to a small ex tent developed, and from the weakness of the Central Government can be but imperfectly employed. We rather estimate America by what she may possibly he at some future distant period, than by what she actually is at this moment. _ _ The most exaggerated ideas are entertained of her naval power ; we fancy her a rival of the English. The American navy in 1845 consisted of the follow ing vessels :—eleven ships of the line, viz., one of 120 guns, seven of 80, and three of 74 ; seventeen frigates, mostly of 44 guns, with a total of 738 guns ; thirty-four smaller vessels, of 30 to 6 guns ; two steam-boats of 500 horse-power, one of 220 horse-power, and one of 120 horse-power, total 1,360 horse-power. The American fleet in 1845 was manned with 6,100 sea men, of which only 960 were American born, the majority of the remainder being English. In this statement are comprised the unseaworthy vessels. The greatest force the Americans could send to sea within one month being five ships of the line and six first-class frigates. How ever, America has important sources for her navy in her numerous merchant-ships and steamers, employing about 63,000 men, of which, however, above 40,000 are born Englishmen. The English royal and merchant navy employs 288,630 men. A great merchant navy can only befof importance when backed by a strong war navy, in which the seamen brought up in the former can be made available. The American army in 1844 consisted of 8,616 men; this, in proportion to the total population, is but 1-22 of the French army, and 1-26 of the Bavarian army. Al though the Americans have done much, by their military school at Westpoint, to diffuse military science; and al though they have, even in time of peace, a dispropor tionately large number of officers, yet are these insuffi cient to give the necessary readiness toll skill to an army suddenly and largely increased in time of war. Of a sufficiency for the militia, rated at 1,750,000, or 9.2 per cent. of the population of 1844, 18,980,000 inhabitants, or of any supply of available cavalry or artillery far even the greatest necessity, no idea can be entertained. Without these, in open ground, like the whole coast land of the States is throughout, Napoleon's guard itself could have done nothing, much less a militia, with only a sprink!ing of military know ledge and forms. The preponderance of agricultural population will, however, cause this militia to have a line ph)bical appearance, containing many strong, robust men, and also, what cannot be too highly prized, many of them will be practised marksmen. Still, the more the physical condition of the army is set forth, the more is the total want of organic homogeneity felt, as also the principal quality of a regular army—subordination. This will also be increased by the unrestrained freedom of the Americans in their civil life. No illusions ought, however, to be allowed with regard to the number of militia that can be brought together. Male labour is there scarce. At harvest-time the militia will disband itself, and for such periods the enemy will reserve their chief attacks. One of the greatest obstacles to a good and especially long-enduring conduct of a war, is the want of a strong central Government, whieh can dispose unrestrictedly of the military resources of the confederation. The diffe rent states of the Union will feel the burden of the war is very various proportions, especially the states on the sea-board, as navigation and trade will be at a stand still. Among these in particular, whither the war will be ac tractedby the thicker population, the number of large, rich towns, and perhaps also by a commercial jealousy of its flourishing manufactures. The sudden fall of all sorts of paper in consequence of a war, as well as the change in the value of the precious metals and all other articles, will cause a change in the money-market and state of credit, that would be felt throughout the Union, but most in New England, as the seat of the greatest trading capitals. The Western States, on the contrary, will only feel the war in its effects of a stoppage of the sale of their pro duce, and increase in the price of manufactured goods. The successes of the Americans in the war of inde pendence, as also in the war of 1812-15, have caused the Americans greatly to overrate their own military strength. They ascribe these successes to their strength, while, in fact, they only resulted from a rare combination of fortunate circumstances. In the war of independence tho capitulation of Burgoyne at Saratoga was the foundation of all subsequent successes, by giving occasien to the alliance with France. The disparity in the talents of the respective commanders, the French alliance, and the then pending war, in which England was engaged with France, Spain and Holland, were all causes of the success of the American arms. The war in 1815 showed repeatedly in the highest degree the little dependence to be placed on the militia, and proved that quadruple superiority cannot compen sate for radical deficiencies in a military power. How ever, they seldom speak in America of the numberless defeats sustained by the Americans in their own states and in Canada ; they only speak of Jackson's victory in New Orleans. General Jackson would not, however, have been so successful before New Orleans but for the delay and errors of the English commanders. The chief stratagetic idea of England in 1812 was to attack the largest and most popular cities that could contribute most to the war-taxes, and to waste the sur rounding inhabited country. As the prevailing winds on the American coast are favourable to voyages from north to south, and vice versa, these expeditions would follow quick upon one another, before the Americans, concentrated on one point, could be again dispersed. These tactics will serve for another war, as troops would be quickly transported from one part of the coast to another with ease and speed, and on the other side, the importance of the coast towns has enormously increased since that period. New York in 1844 had 431,000, Philadelphia 310,000, Baltimore 161,000, and Boston 118,000 inhabitants. The United States have certainly a great number of steam-ships, but compared to England but few large sea-going steam-ships ; they aro also wanting in means of armament and practised men for the marine and ar tillery service. Nor are those procurable endowed with that obedience and endurance in danger peculiar to dis ciplined troops. The American river boats might cer tainly be fitted for sea by widening the keels, and other wise strengthening them, but their mode of construction, and the weakness of their machines, would unfit them for warlike purposes, or speed in a heavy sea. In spite o f t h e i r di spropor ti ona t e l y sma ll means of re sistance, the Americans, blinded by their cheaply gained glory in the wars of 16 and 1812.15, persist in chal lenging the English bi:th eir chichanery an d rhedomen twaadre, which,of all kw hile it could kinds. 're latter are . slow to commer ce a result few real advant ages , would cause them t h e most sr3u ft! s injury. The Southern States produce thre e -f ourt h s of million and a half of the E ng li s h people atirebwhich employed.wia ow, then, would all these p eo pl e b e supported w hen How, t h e s upply of cotton fails ? What would become of the great sums lent by the English to America ? How would the East Indies stand, when a part of the force now main wiping order there was withdrawn to be employed against the United States ? Would not Canada rise, espec i a lly if E n gia m nd er r ic e a fu n r asntdo t a n d e m re i b t y he fo r r w ee h s ea d t ow at n any e land, now so kept up by the present fetters, strong rt l oe o r w s 9 differential duty . bring the greatest part of its Could England Egypt, she would d oubtless hold from India and value lower rat e a c t ea Canadian against America are o n, chained are bays thanoubtless hold a firmer tone than n ian which although only of by masked conces sions if of iron. If even E n g la nd when the hands of thegiantcott will this in the end pre serving peace . yet awhile,. still all, come to war. The avail nothing ; it will, in spite o f Ore on, nor' in and diplomatic hoodwinkings, succeed in real causes of quarrel do not lie in g Texas, nor in blexico, nor in Canada, but in the ever MITCH MAIL. WEIMAR, Junr s.—The presence of his Llai, , sty the King of the Netherlands, gives great pleasure to the inhabitants of Weimar, who crowded about the palace in order to see the august father of the Prin cess, whose affability has gained all their hearts. There is a constant succession of fetes, and yesterday we were most agreeably surprised by the unexpected arrival of the King of Prussia. In the evening their Majesties and the whole of their grand ducal family went to the theatre, when Schiller's William Tell was performed by the King's desire. To-day the King of Prussia and the Netherlands, with the Grand Duke, and the Hereditary Grand Duke went to Weissenfels, to be present at the opening of the railway from Thuringae to Merseburg. GRONINGEN, JUNE B.—We receive from all quar ters the most favourable accounts of the state of the crops ; the fears that were entertained respecting the disease in the potatoes, are much diminished, and this fine weather will, perhaps, wholly put an end to all signs of an evil which has caused so much apprehension. THE HAGUE, JUNE M.—His Majesty is expected to return to the Hague on Friday or Saturday next, from his visit to Weimar. ROTTERDAM, JUNE 10.—The Rotterdam journal gives very long and detailed accounts of the regatta of the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club, which took place to-day on the Maas. The weather being extremely fine vast numbers of spectators assembled to witness the animated scene, the interest of which was heightened by the presence of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Orange, and Princes Alexander and Henry, the latter of whom distributed the prizes. THE HAGUE, JUNE 11.—The Government of the Dutch possessions in India is preparing a grand expedi tion against Bali. At the departure of the last packet boat from China, a body of 3,000 men of all arms were assembling at Batavia, Sourabaya, and Samarang, and was to sail on the 15th of March, on board a numerous flotilla of transports, gun boats, and steamers, among which was the steam frigate Bruno, Capt. Smit Vanden Broecli e. A melancholy disaster has just occurred at Flush ing. One Roel Stales, a labouring. man, and his wife had gene from home to their work, leaving five children under the care of the mothcr of Stales, a woman of great age. This woman went out to fetch some milk, leaving the five children by themselves. Sud denly the house was seen to be in flames, which spread with such rapidity, that notwithstanding the prompt aid of the neighbours, it was impossible to save the poor children, and all five perished in the flames. THE ELECTION OF A. NEW POPE. " The following," says the Conslitutionnel, " are the prin cipal ceremonies observed at Rome oa the death of the Sove reign Pontiff:— "As soon as the reigning Pope has ceased to live, the Pope's Great Chamberlain, accompanied by the clerks of the Apostolical Chamber, is conducted to the bedroom of the deceased Pontiff, where he verifies his mortal remains, and receives from the hands of the Master of the Chamber the fisherman's ring.' This ring, and the seal of bulls, called the leaden seal,' are broken by the chief master of the cere monies in presence of all the Cardinals. The Pope's Great Chamberlain then holds a congregation with the same clerks, and in this re• union he appoints all the officers of the Chamber. ":Twenty-four hours after the Pope's death, his body is em balmed. In the evening of the third day it is transported to the Church of St. Peter's with the same pomp that sur rounded the Sovereign Pontiff on solemn occasions; there is also a detachment of artillery, which forms a part of the cortege. The body thus embalmed remains exposed in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament during three days, the head turned towards the altar, and the feet touching the railing which encloses the chapel. The people pay their last homage of respect and regret to the mortal remains of the Pope by kissing his feet between the bars. "A large and rich catafalque is raised during this period in the middle of the principal nave of the basilica. The por trait of the deceased Pope, and the most memorable events of his reign, are painted in grey colours, and ornament the different sides of the mausoleum. The funeral commences in the evening of the third day by the ceremony of interment, which takes place in the presence of the Great Chamberlain, the Cardinals appointed by the deceased, and the clerks of the chamber. The body, inclosed in a triple coffin, is after wards placed near the chapel of the choir until the time of sepulture. "The funeral ceremonies last during nine days. The cardinals, prelates, magistrates of Rome, officers of the pon tifical household—all those, in fact, who usually assist in the Papal chapels, are present at these ceremonies. The Sacred College assembles before the funeral mass, in the sacristy of St. Peter's, and there appoints the different public officers for the Government of Rome, the Council of State, and the Conclave." ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. SITTING OF JUNI 8. M. Dumas read a long report of the process employed at the Royal Printing-office for printing upon stone, and in colours, the large geological map of France. It would be tedious to our readers generally to follow M. Dumas through the whole of his report, however interesting it may be to printers, who are well acquainted with all the technical details into which he enters. It will be sufficient for us to state that which has been done upon a rather smaller scale, with the must perfect success, by other lithographic printers, and in particular by M. Engelmann, to whose genius and perseverance so many beautiful improvements in lithographic printing are due, is accomplished at the royal printing office upon a more extensive scale, by the mechanical precision which has been attained. Printing in colours, whether from metal types or stone, is, as our readers may suppose, a repetition of the process for as many colours and shades as are required. If in letter-press printing, for instance, it be re quired to print a sheet in six or seven colours, there are the same number of forms set up, each containing the words which are to be in one particular colour. The press-work upon one colour being accomplished, another form, containing the letters to be printed in a different colour, is brought to the press, and the sheet is so adjusted that the colour may fall nowhere else ; this process is repeated as often as the colours are to be introduced. There must be the greatest care and precision used. It is the same with lithographic printing. For as many portions of the print as there are to be portions in different colours, there are so many engraved stones, and success in the operation depends upon the ma chinery, by which the sheet is made to adapt itself exactly to each. The novelty at the Royal Printing -office appears to us to consist entirely in the extent to which this mode of printing is carried, for it appears that no less than 23 or 24 lithographic stones are used for the same map. The me chanical part of the process is evidently, from the description of M. Dumas, admirably contrived; but whilst due honour is paid to the art and ingenuity evinced in the process at this establishment, we think it is only fair to speak in terms of almost equal praise of the individuals who have, with so much public spirit, and at so great a sacrifice of money, brought the art of lithographic printing to its present state. A long letter was read from M. Boussingault to M. Arago, relative to a tree struck by lightning last month, and which the writer saw and examined after the accident. M. Bossingatet gives a very detiiled account of the appearance of the parts rent or carbonised by the electric fluid, but they are wholly without interest, for the writer admits that it dif fered in no essential point from what has been seen in other cases of the same k ind. What, then, it w ill b e no d ou bt asked, was the writers object in this long letter ? It was simply to enable 51. Boussingault to repeat an opinion which he has frequently expressed, that the belief that the electric fluid leaves behind it a strong odour of sulphur is a vulgar error. He says he was assured by some persons that this tree gave out such a smell, but that having himself visited it he was convinced that there was no smell of sulphur, and that the real smell was precisely the same as that in the manufactories where vinegar is distilled from wood. These two odours are very unlike, and consequently if M. Botts singault is right, persons who fancy that the electric fluid leaves behind it a smell of sulphur are wrong. M. Bons singault adds, that in no case has lie found a sulphurous emanation from any article struck by lightning. In the present case, however, he candidly admits that a person who accompanied him in his visit to the tree was of opinion tha the smell was sulphurous, "notwithstanding all his efforts to dissuade him from it." M. Boussingault is a great authority in scientific matters, but his companion seems to have thought that, independently of science, a nose is a nose, and that be had as much right to smell or fancy that he smelled sulphur as M. Boussingault had to smell or fancy that he smelled the vinegar of wood. Cornay gave a description of a new sound or rrobe for detecting the presence of urinary concretions and cairn- de posits, and which he calls a stereoscope. It is an irgenious contrivance, and will, we believe, be found of Lractical benefit. A communication was received from Monsieur Bouchardat on the functions of the roots of plants. He states that if the roots of plants be plunged in a solution of several salts so weak as to be without chemical action upon the tissues, the plant will absorb these salts in equal proportions. M. de Saussure came to a different conclusion, but this arose, says M. Bouchardat, from his not having taken into ac count the secretion which goes on simultaneously with the absorption. A communication was received from M. de Nothomb, on the use of ammonia in the preparation of plates for photographic impressions. hitherto it has been considered important to carry on the process of photography in places as free as possible from ammonial emanation. M. de Nothomb is of quite a different opinion. He says, nothing tennis so much I o increase the rapidity of the operation as the use of ammonia. After preparing his plate in the usual way with the vapour of iodine, &c., lie exposes it to the vapour of a solution of ammonia, and at the end of twenty or thirty seconds, it is, according to his account, in a much better state than it would otherwise be to receive the impression that is required in the camera obscure. There was no other paper of general interest read at this sitting. THE SPECIAL BURDENS OF LAND. —The agricultural hundred of Lonsdale, which in 1815 contributed 16 per cent. to the county rate, now contributes but 41 ; the manufactu ring hundred of Salford, which contributed but 14 per cent. in 1815, now pays 434 per cent. In other words, where Lons dale formerly paid 161., it now pays but 41. 15s. ; and where Salford paid 141. it is now charged with 43/. 153.—Lancaster Guardian. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE CROYDON RAILWAY.— On Saturday afternoon, a fatal accident took place on the line of the Croydon Railway, to a man named Thomas Field, aged thirty-five years, a workman employed in the carriage department. Ile was at the Croydon station at the works now going forward, a few yards from the platform, and endeavoured to get across the rails, as a special engine was nearing the spot.. Several persons called to him, but he heeded them not. In a second afterwards, the trout part of the engine struck the deceased with frightful violence, forcing him about twenty feet forward on the line, and before any person could reach him, or render any aid, the engine again knocked him down and passed over him, when the unfortunate man was found in a frightfully mutilated state, and perfectly insensible. He was taken to the hospital, where he was found quite dead, having expired on the way. SWARMS OF BEEs.---During the past week many hives of bees in the town and vicinity have each sent out a strong independent colony. A swarm was discovered on Friday night in ngg the Kelso Libra r y- room, on the Chalkhetigh, which was secured in a hive by the libr ar i an next morning. There is little doubt that this was a swarm cast o ff from a hive beloin to Mr. Ferguson, in th e garden at Abbey Gre en, on the Friday afternoon, as they were fol lowed a good way i n th at direetion.—Kelso Chronicle. DEATH OF A RCHBISHOP POSADO.—WQ regret to h ear of the death of thi s eminent man, the head of the nomad Catholic Cluirg4 Lu 3.102tiM tie expir e d 04 the 24 or Nay, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, June 15. Their Lordships met to-day at Five o'clock. MESSAGE FROM THE. COMMONS. Messengers from the House of Commons brought up several bills. CORN-LAWS. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented petitions from Cornwall and several other places against the corn-laws. The Earl of ELDON presented petitions from Lancashire and other places to the same effect. FREE CHURCH SITES. Lord CAMPBELL presented petitions from Ayr and other places in Seltland, respecting the granting of sites for the erection of places of worship for the Free Church of Scotland. NEWRY AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY. The third reading of this Bill having been moved, a discus sion ensued. In reply to a question, Lord ELLENBOROUGH said as securities were given by the parties promoting the Bill that the harbour should not be injured by the railway, the consent of the Admiralty was given to its passing in the way complained of by several Noble Lords. Lord STANLEY considered that there was no ground for postponing the decision of the Committee. Some confusion prevailed here, and after a few words from some Noble Lords, Lord CAMPBELL said that he hoped they would read the Bill a third time. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. On re-entering we found that the amendment had been ethdrawn r.r.(l the Bill had been read a third time. CHESHIRE AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION SOCIETY. Lord DELA:MERE repeated that what he bad said the other night as to his never having subscribed to the Cheshire Agri cultural Protection Society, or any other association of that sort, was perfectly true, notwithstanding what had been said by the Noble Duke on the cross benches (the Duke of Richmond). At the time when the Anti-Corn-law League sent its emis saries throughout the country distributing pamphlets to alienate tenants from landlords, and interfere with the registration, and not only with that but many other things, at that time he with many others attended a meeting at Northssich, with a view to taking measures to counteract the operations of the Anti-Corn-law League. It was true that he contributed his poor pittance, only 251., that the committee might have funds to pay for legal advice, for advertising, and such like. The aloble Earl denied, howev,r, having been either before or after a member of the Central Agricultural Association. Had he known at the time that the Noble Duke made his statement, that he was making such a state ment, he would have risen at the time; and he did so now, at the risk of delaying important business, only that he might vindicate his own character. 'Fhe Duke of RICHMOND said it seemed that Noble Lords in Chester did not hear or did net remember much. He did not charge the Noble Lord with any offence beyond what had been committed by many other Noble Lords—the changing of their opinions on the question of protection, and that the Noble Lord had been a member of a protection society. He (the Duke of Richmond) had had in his pocket since the commencement of the discussion on the corn-laws a list of Noble Lords who had belonged to protection societies—(Laughter)—and before it had concluded he would in all likelihood read it, when it would be found very curious and instructive.—(Hear ' hear, and laughter.) In 1644 there was a large meeting in the county to which the Noble Lord belonged. It met in the Market-hall, and it was so large that it had to adjourn elsewhere.—(Hear, hear.) The first resolution which was proposed at that meeting, and they had heard from the Noble Lord that he was present at it, was to the effect that "the society be formed for the protection of agriculture, to be called the Chester Agricultural Protection Society, and that the society be not only formed to protect the landed interest against the destructive proceedings of the Anti-Corn-law League, but also to oppose all measures that may be brought forward having a tendency to deprive the agricultural inte rest of such protection as they are so justly entitled to. —( Laughter.) That such a society shall not interfere with any political subject except those having reference to agriculture, but that every endeavour shall be made to afford the tenant a return for his capital, and his labourer a fair day's wage for a fair day's work.' " This resolution was moved by the Right lion. Lord Delamere.—(Cheers and laughter.) It is on that paper (continued the Noble Duke) that I rest my justification. I agree with that resolution, and was in hopes the Noble Lord did also. Lord DEL AMERE was pr& sent at the meeting, which was very numerously attended, so numerously that they were obliged to adjourn it; but that adjournment did not take place from the large numbers that attended, but took place from being ousted by the Anti-Corn-law League.-(Laughter.) The resolution was moved by him as the Nobluke had stated, but it was with many others in connexion with the subject for which the meeting had been called together; but then they must recollect that it was moved at a time when the Anti- Corn-law League first introduced paid emissaries into Che shire—it Via. 3 when these persons introduced themselves into that county, and endeavoured to separate the farmers from the land owners, and the labourers from the farmers, and to create general disunion in the county, that this meeting was con vened, for the purpose specified, as well as to promote the registration of votes; but he never eansidered that he be longed to that society ; and he could prove by two of the largest landowners in the county that he had been frequently invited to attend their meetings, but that he had refused to do so. And, besides, he never paid a halfpenny to it, except 25/. —( Hear, hear, and laughter)—which he subscribed to coun teract in some measure the machinations of the Anti-Corn law League. Lord COMBERMERE read the letter from the Secretary of the Agricultural Protection Society in Cheshire, in which it was stated that Lord Delamere was a vice-president of the society.—( Great laughter.) CORN-LAWS. Some confusicn here ensued horn the fact of several Noble Lords not understanding the position in which the question of the Corn-laws then stood. The LORD CHANCELLOR stated that it arose purely from an accident that on the last night of debate they did not go into Committee on the Bill. The Chairman of the Corn mittee not having been present, it was agreed by their Lord ships present that they slit uld go into Committee that day without an! further debate. Lord STANLEY confirmed the statement of his Lordship, and hoped that he would not be deemed irregular in presenting a petition, which was every way worthy of their attention. It was a petition from certain bankers and merchants in London. They had not hitherto petitioned their Lords'nirs, nor would they have now done so, had it not been for the petition which was presented, he believed, by his Noble Friend the President of the Board of Trade, purporting to represent the general feel ing of the bankers, merchants, and commercial men of the city of London, in which it was stated that, in their opinion, the passing of this measure would lead to the progressive prosperity of every class in the country. If there were any class for whose interest this Bill was supposed to be especially designed, it was the mercantile and commercial classes, and no doubt a con siderable impression was produced on their Lordships' minds by a statement coming over from his Noble Friend, who held himself a high official situation. It was the presentation of that petition, and that alone, which brought them from their private and important con cerns to present the petition which he had the honour of laying before their Lordships. After adverting to the petition which had been presented by his Noble Friend, the petitioners went on humbly to state (and the signatures to the petitions furnished statements that were correct) that they doubted very much whether that petition could be considered as representing the general opinions of the merchants, bankers, and traders of the City of London. The petitioners humbly desired to leave the consideration of this most important measure to the delibe rate wisdom of their Lordships, representing that, inasmuch as the commercial and manufacturing interests of this country were in a state of activity and prosperity, there was no ground for asserting that the said measure was essential to the progressive prosperity of any class in the community, or even for maintaining the present active state of commercial prosperity. The petitioners humbly believed that the Bill in question was an experiment on the most vital branch of national industry, involving conse quences the magnitude and extent of which it was impossible to foresee, and calling for the most deep and anxious considera tion on the part of their Lordships' House.—( Hear, hear.) Now he hoped he should not be told that this petition did pray their Lordships to reject the Bill in question. He had already stated that it did not do so. But they protested against its being supposed that it was the general feeling of the mercantile gentlemen of London that it was essential to the interests of this country that this Bill should pass ; and they prayed their Lordships not hastily to adopt so hazardous and so great an experiment. Now, he felt that the importance of this petition depended upon the signatures attached to it— ( Hear, hear)—and he should not, he hoped, be deemed to be trespassing unduly on their Lordships' time—(Hear, hear) —if he stated that the petition was signed by the Chairman of Lloyd's, by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the London Dock Company, by the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of the East India Dock Company, and by a very considerable number of Bank directors. A Norris Lonn—How many? Lord STANLEY believed six—(Heer, hear)—had signed this petition. Perhaps the Noble Friend who asked that question would like to know some of the principal names at tached to the petition. Among the merchants were some of the greatest firms in the City—Sir Frederick Purses, Messrs. Tritton, Messrs. Baring Brothers, Messrs. Frederick Tooke and Co. Among the shipowners were the Messrs. Tindal and the Messrs. Soames, two of the largest shipowners in the City. Among the shipbuilders were the Messrs. Curling, Young and Co., the largest firm in the City. There were thirteen firms which were connected with the foreign trade; several in the silk trade, and several in the iron trade ; all without ex ception who were engaged in the Canadian and Australian trade—( Hear, hear)—besides many others engaged in the foreign and colonial trade of the country. These had signed the petition with no intention of interfering with the decision of their Lordships' House, but they prayed that their Lordships would not believe that the feeling of the commercial and mercantile classes universally called for the measure which had been introduced into their Lordships' House, and only sought to provide against the opinion of these classes being misrepresented. By laying, therefore, that petition upon their Lordships' table, he (Lord Stanley) meant not to stay their Lordships' progre!s with the measure, so much as with a view that their Lordship might hesitate before making the vast experiment which he was afraid they were about to make, and that they might enter with caution upon alterations so important in the affairs of the country. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said, that it would be in their Lordships' recollection, that he had had the honour of laying another petition on the table of the House, signed by the merchants and bankers of the City of London, in favour of the measure. He was not aware that it was the intention of his Noble Friend to present such a petition, otherwise he might have been pre pared with an analysis of the signatures attached to that pre viously laid on the table, as a set-off against the statement which their Lordships had just heard. He did not mean to detract from the weight due to the petition just presented, This petition of the merchants, bankers, and traders, it was said by the Noble Lord( Stanley), did not represent the general feeling of the community. What he (Lord Dalhousie) then wanted, was, that the two petitions should be placed against each other, and let their Lordships weigh their relative numbers and respectability. Let them not come forward with false pre tences. It was but just that he should mention that the peti tion he presented contained the signatures of 24 or 26 Bank directors. The directors, he believed, on the other side, were six. It was signed by 14 other bankers, and appendetdtLoem t were the signatures of 267 merchants and traders. place the petitions side by side, and he was not afraid of the result. the Lord STANLEY said he had no intentionct owfasc,hahregianidg not Noble Lord with misrepresentation. know he nature of the petition retfeeTrrdhraeeydfitohebmyeatnhtethNeodbalye Lord, till it was brought to him ye_ when it was presented before yesterday. The petition o pur ported to be the petition ftlaiendbatnekebresiievmeedrcihtanwtass, then traders of the City of London, stated the petition . did not represent the general opin?tiohnel. lie had answer was, if it did not represent the general opinion, why had no contrary petition being presentedaga , i m ns p t ar it e been instructed to state, that if they would c tures of the two petitions, they would find that they repre sented more than threefold those from whom his Noble Friend (Lord Grey) presented a petition. Earl GREY said if they would examine the petition as originally drawn up, they would find that it had contained these words, and that they had subsequently been erased : in the view of th e pet i t i oners, for And so little ground i$ there, urging your Lordships to pass this measure with the least pos. Bible delay." Ftut it appeared this language conveyed an opi nion too strong for them to agree in. and it was left out, and in the place of it, " That it ought to pass with the least possible delay."—( Hear, hear.) But they did not them to throw out the measure, and he wished their Lordships to remember that this petition, which was presented as a coun ter-petition to the one he (Lord Grey) had been entrusted with, stated that there should be no longer delay in passing it into a law. Atter a few words from Lord ASHBURTON, Lord BROUGHAM said it was important they should know whether those petitions represented or did not represent the feelings of those from whom they were stated to have emanated. his Noble Friend did not represent that it emanated from all the merchants, but from a very respectable portion of them. One thing should not be lost sight of in referring to this pe tition. By striking, out that passage they showed that they were not for unnecessary delay, and they felt that if the Bill was to pass, the sooner it passed the better. He hoped their Lordships would bear that in mind, as they were just now going into Committee. If an amendment were there proposed, a delay of some months would take place, and the prayer of the petitioners would be thereby frustrated. Lord COLVILLE, who was very inaudible, was understood to say that he had listened with very great attention to the ar. guments used by the Noble Lord ( Lord Stanley), and he felt that they were perfectly conclusive on the subject. He did not confine himself to its operation on landed proprietors,- farmers, and cultivators of the soil, but he believed that it would be injurious to all classes of the community, and was only a link in a chain which would entail the most disastrous results . on the people of this country. He should, therefore, oppose it in all its stages. During the period he had had the honour of occupying a seat in that House be had great plea sure in fighting under the banners of her Majesty's Govern ment, but in the present measure he regretted he could not give them Isis suport. The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S rose for the purpose of calling attention to a statement made in a speech, and delivered by a Noble Lord whom he regretted to see was not in his place. He would venture to say, however, that the Noble Lord had been totally misinformed on the subject, or he would not have endeavoured to impress such an erroneous view on their Lord ships' attention. He referred to a distinction which had been drawn by a Noble Lord ( Lord Stanley) between the sources of the revenues of the Right Rev. Prelates on the bench, and the other portion of the clergy. He was sure the Noble Lord did not intend any reproach upon the Right Rev. Bench, in alluding to that subject, but as it was commented upon else where, and might possibly be misconstrued by the country at large, he was entitled to show that the facts on which he grounded his observations were totally erroneous. As to his own income he had to say that the one-third of it only was derived from fixed payments, and that two-thirds was subject to the variation of the prices of agricultural produce. He did not mean to make any observations on the income of any of the other pre!ates, but with respect to his own he was suffi ciently well informed, and the statement he had now made was perfectly correct. Lord STANLEY complained of not having been informed of the intention of the Right Rev. Prelate to refer to this sub. ject. The Right Rev. Prelate did not hear what he (Lord Stanley) said on that occasion. The speech of the Right Rev. Prelate which called forth his remark. had been addressed to the subject of motives with regard to the passing of the Bill, and he had stated, that although their Lordships might not be influenced by selfish motives, yet such an opinion would attach to their character out of doors if they did not pass it. In com menting upon these expressions, he (Lord Stanley) said that the Right Rev. Prelate would be as little inclined to be influ enced by his own interest as any of their Lordships in coming to a vote on that question. If anything offensive was said, it was entirely on the part of the Right Rev. Prelate. All that he (Lord Stanley) bad said was that his (the Right Rev. Pre late's) motives would be as pure as those of their Lordships, and that should the present Bill pass, the parochial clergy, whose incomes fluctuated with the value of corn, would become losers unless all other articles fell in the same ratio as corn. The Right Rev. Prelate stated that two-thirds of his income was derived from a source subjected to the variations of the price of agricultural produce; but as there was one-third of it, he admitted, derived from money payments, he (Lord Stanley) endeavoured to show that, under those circumstances, he would not be a loser by the change. Had the Right Rev. Prelate consulted him in private, he would have explained to him that he intended nothing derogatory to either him or any of the other Prelates on the bench in the -Observations he had thought it his duty to make on that occasion. The Bishop of SALISBURY was not in the House the other night when the observations that occurred took place ; but it was stated to him in a somewhat invidious manner, and was commented upon more invidiously. He was ashamed to be called on to explain. He could not be influenced by such motives, in giving his vote on that Bill. There were twenty-six of his Right Reverend Brethren who occupied seats in that House, and of that number fourteen of them could not in any degree be classed in the category of the Noble Lord. The injustice, however, to the parochial clergy, he apprehended did not arise from the passing of the present measure, but from the Bill for the Commutation of Tithes, and that opinion he had uniformly held. With regard to four of his Right Reverend Friends, three of them paid annually to the Ecclesiastical Com missioners fixed and certain charges, and the operation of the Bill, if it reduced the price of corn, must necessarily be injurious to their interests, yet three of them recorded their votes it' favour of it. Two-thirds of his Right Reverend Friends were therefore removed from the imputation of being influenced by such motives, and though one-third of them were certainly in the habit of receiving a fixed income, he did not believe that in deciding on the merits of the Bill selfishness would form any ingredient in their decision. He claimed no exemption from any charges fairly brought forward, nor from any strictures made on the character of the bench, but he thought that, with regard to the present, the imputation made upon them was by no means deserved. The Earl of MALMESBURY was of opinion that the Right Rev. Prelate who had just spoken had evinced too much susceptibility, with regard to the observations made by the Noble Lord (Lord Stanley). There was not a single Peer in that House who would more unwillingly utter a word bordering in the slightest degree to impugn one sentence which had fallen from the Right Rev. Prelate; but he could not but disagree most strongly with him in an imputation which he had made against the Noble Lords who differed with him on that question. The Right Rev. Prelate stated that the Noble Lords were actuated by selfish motives and interests in the course they were pursuing on the present question. The Right Rev. Prelate had misrepresented a speech of his with respect to the manner in which the clergy of this country would be affected by the Government measure. Now what he hail said was, that the people would see a wide difference in the condition of the clergy and the Right Rev. Bench, and judge accordingly of the comparative injury which the measure would entail on both. Not one word had dropped from him which could, in the slightest degree, cast an imputation on the Right Rev. B enc h. There was one Right Rev. Prelate, for whom he entertained the greatest respect, and by whose counsels he would ever be guided, out of that House, as far as the infirmities of human nature would allow him, but this he would say that however superior the Right Rev. Prelate might be out of the House, he (the Noble Lord) was in all civil matters his peer in every degree. The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S, in a very low tone, ex plained. The Right Rev. Prelate was understood to say, that he had not imputed selfish motives to the Noble Lord, nor to those Noble Lords who voted contrary to him (the Bishop of St. David's) on this question. Lord HARDWICKE defended the Right Rev. Prelate, who he did not consider to have used one word contrary to the rules of debate in that House. Nor did he think that anything had been said by any Right Rev. Prelate who ad dressed the House on this question till the speech of the Right Rev. Prelate the Bishop of Oxford. The Right Rev. Bench had always abstained from indulging in anything like harsh or unseemly language. The conduct of the Right. Rev. Prelates in the debates of that House was a bright example for their Lordships, and it was to be regretted that one Right Rev. Pre. late had so broadly differed from the others. This was, no doubt, owing to the want of knowledge of how the debates were conducted in their Lordships' House, and not from any wish to deal in harsh language. From whatever cause the imputations of the Right Rev. Prelate had been made, it was to be exceedingly regretted. The Bishop of OXFORD said it was necessary for him to say one word in reply to the lecture which had been read him. He fearlessly challenged any one of their Lordships to show him that he had used anything which could be called im proper. He might, on a great public question like the pre sent, have used words in the heat of debate, which he would wish unsaid, but he was not aware that he had done so—if lie had offended any Noble Lord he humbly begged his pardon. He could not, however, allow himself to be taunted with being a young man, and therefore unqualified to understand the rules of their Lordships' House. Why, he had been reading for twenty years and studying books, men, and things, and that being the case, he thought himself capable of giving a plain opinion on a great national question like the present.— ( Hear, hear.) He did complain to their Lordships of the pseudo lectures which had been read to him, because he thought that he had not deserved it.—(Hear, bear. ) He had been the intimate friend of the Noble Lord who last addressed the House, but could not allow him to impute motives to him (the Bishop of Oxford) which he could not prove. The Earl of WINCIIILSE A said, that if ever there had been a lecture delivered in that House it was delivered by the second Right Rev. Prelate who addressed the house in the debate on this measure. The Right Rev. Prelate was pleased to designate a speech made by a Noble Lord on the oilier side of the House (Lord Stanley) as one the argument of which was total rottenness. The Right Rev. Prelate said that this was totally a landlords' question. This he denied, and, not with standing the eloquence of the Right Rev. Prelate, he had failed to prove it so. The Earl of GALLOWAY said, that he saw nothing in the speech of the Right Rev. Prelate but what was perfectly con sistent with the rules of that House ; and he, for his own part, sincerely thanked him for the information he had given on the subject ; for that speech certainly convinced him (the Earl of Galloway) of the necessity of the measure. ssity LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL. The Duke of RICHMOND wished to know from her Ma jesty's Government whether they had taken the Lunatic Asy lums Bill into their consideration with a view to its amend ment ? The Duke of WELLINGTON said that her Majesty's Go vernment would re-consider the Bill before it was again brought before the [louse. The Duke of RICHMOND said that with this explanation he was perfectly satisfied. He had to present a petition from Droitwitch en the subject. lle also wished to know if her Majesty's Government had taken into their consideration the subject of providing an asylum for juvenile offenders after the term of their imprisonment had expired ? The Duke of WELLIN I II P T O O . R N TT s hA a el id 3o t i h uN a b t en.f h oT e rLeL h t a .h d ei i r nquired into the matter, and there would, no doubt, be a Bill brought o in to provide for the deficiency which existed with regard to juvenile offenders. RECOVERY OF SMALL DEBTS BILL. Bill. Duke of BUCCLF UC.I-1. moved the f irsn t d r o ea rd d e in re g d o t f o tl b ii e s The Bill was accordingly read a first time, a printed. . had given 0 n Theirthe, C Lordships o rn TILE Importation R having Bill,resolved o amendmentsu Ag ei artOsac themselvesnad which hdi ni ( i s, into all l t i cdo he ael taus that beledhl.it: I Committee tiinjo . wur dra .s the rr n h h e is p tl u a k t e y of to i r 3 n U ov C e k t l h N e tsnloojtpitesheewoaras agricultural ceaulwftouhrrimElhe former interests oeuv lednidngo of this country, and it was to if rossible, any portion of that evil which avert, if that all the words in the first clause, after the words " in o the schedule to this Act annexed be omitted." The effect of this would be, that instead o f as at present Bill, there would be a p ro t ect i on of lOsproposed by the The protection giv en b y t h e measure W when as at corn onlyw a was s a . t i 4 a B n s d . this could not be looked upon as a tr s a e r e y o , n i d t was a, dNeelubslprotection, but on the con and spirit of the hoped that now the Bill was read delusion. He who had voted for the principle s t a h c e rific i in n g terest h s l, at all would now be found ready to their of vot t e h s e on agr a icul f t o u r r m is e t r s, He would not further occupy their attention. Ills object was that, after 1849, the schedule now in the Bill l. should still eon tinue in it. He would now conclude, by moving that the words in th e c l ause, " after the Ist of February, 1849," be omitted. The Earl of RIPON rose to oppose the amendment just proposed. A Noble Lord, who spoke the other evening, stated that he could not see how they came to introduce a mo dified sliding scale, unless it were a species of compromise in order to satisfy those wha had an objection to it. He (Lord Ripon) meant to say most distinctly it was never introducad with any such motive ; if not satisfied with the principle of the Bill, no miserable compromise of the kind would induce him to support it. He supported the Bill on account of the condition of the country, and he conscientiously believed i t would be for the advantage and improvement of the people. The reason why the clause was i n tr o duc e d was, that in a grea t change like that proposed to be made, s o me time should be given before the proc e ss hitherto i n o p era ti o n should be aba r e . . Boned. He thought it was advisable that some time shou l d elapse before the principle of the Bill was brought into 1 . 1 1 2 l operation, and the clause was introduced with that object. It did not interfere with the principle of the measure beyond meeting the temporary evils that would arise from the great change proposed. With regard to the amendment, if they agreed to it, it would involve a complete alteration in the principle of the Bill because it would gi.le, permanence to the principles of protection which was soug ht to be got rid of by this Bill. Those who think the principles of the Bill correct cannot therefore support the amendment of the Noble Duke. The amendment was objectionable eve:l.s! it regarded the obj e ct soug ht t o b e o bt a i ne d. It was propo-e ° with the object of preserving a remnant of protection, when they said almost in the same breath that such a remnant was not worth having. Protection of such a sort, he believed, would turn out most inefficient ; it would not be worth anything to the agricultural interests. He would at p rese nt confine h is remarks to these general ob serva ti ons on the amendment, giving the grounds on which he thought it ill advised to male the alterations proposed. Lord CLAN CARTY supp or t e d th e amen dment. Wb i _ e t they looked at the present fl our i s hi ng s t a t e o f th e country, tu el could not avoid coming to the conclusion that they were oi debted to protection for it. Th a t p ro t ect i on was at the botto m of all their prosperity hid been proved by conclusive arguments in the admirable speech of the Noble Lord the Secre-. tary for the Colonies, which, howe v e r mac h it had been cavi lled at, had not been answered.—( H ear , h ear .) They Were told that the Government had acted from the force of circumsta ns r —not the pressure from without or the pressu re of the An,t. s i . ... Corn-law League, but from the growth of the population. "' that point, though he was as desirous as any °Le to see the people supplied with an ample amount of the necessariesoflife, he did not think the measure in question would yield that r esul t - Ile believed if they removed protection from native industry it would leave the condition of the population worse than it ". before. He had heard it stated that the landlords woo° be either very ignorant or very good-natured if they allovred thee. corn-laws to be repealed. To that he would only was for the general good of the people would also be for thbe.. terests of the landlord, and the principle of protection he .a landlords to be of that character. He thought that the Irish had been hardly treated in the present question, as the measure would press on them with peculiar severity. T he effect to tuba say, that IC%: . not be confined to them, but it would be brought home to the great body of the occupiers of land in the country. It was f tenant farmer that would principally suffer by the passing % this measure. He had read with delight a most able speen, delivered by a Noble Lord whom he saw opposite (LOT° Monteagle) some time ago, when he was a Member of the other House of Parliament, on the subject of the repeal of the legi" lative union between England and Ireland. Now the first point on which that Noble Lord insisted, en the advantage to Ireland of a maintenance of the union, was the privilege it e ll : joyed by trading freely in c o rn w ith thi s coun t r y, a n advantag`i which was increased by other cou n t r ies b e ing deprived o f that privilege. New, according to the Noble Lord's own show.: ing, this measure would have the effect of ruining Ireland_ which was mainly an agricultural country. If the price o r f corn fell, so must their incomes and rem u neration for lab our and capital expended in the produ c ti on of that article of fo od. In conclusion, he would remark, that all he asked for " be half of the farmers of the United Kingdom was the minimu m of protection, compatible with the interests of them and the country at large. The Earl of STANHOPE, in rising to oppose t hi s Bill , said that the Ministry did not dare to appeal to the count r y on this question. They would, however, be compelled to do so before the lapse of twelve mo n th s . H e d enounce d many mem bers of the Cabinet, as base, pusillanimous, and perfidious , for the part which they had taker, on this Bill. They had acted as base sycophants and se rv il e a dh erents o f a Minister—b ad acted like filthy reptiles, and ought never to have been take," nut of that obscurity i n w hi c h t h ey h a d f ormer ly been. I assured their Lord s hip s th a t h e ever h a d b een an d e ver wool e be an honest, consistent, an d fi rm a d vocate o f a ll branches o f native industry. Though their Lordships were not elected 11 constituencies, they w ere y e t respons ibl e to th e i r God an d their country for their conduct.—(Hear, hear.) He con' tended that even if the present corn-laws were Per mitted to remain untouched, the British farm er would not then have s uffi c i en t protection.--(H ear i ) e ' , Could it be believed that the same persons t h at h a d broug h t forward the sliding-scale in 1842, on the ground that it ga y ' additional protection to the British farmer, should now intro duce a measure to abolish protection altogether ? In voting Or the amendment of the Noble liuke on the cross-benches (th e Duke of Buckingham) he should not consider himself bound to support the sliding-scale. He should consider himself per; fectly free on this question to vote hereafter as he *10 01 " please. —( Hear, hear. ) Lord BEAUMONT supported the amendment because the! were about, after the experience of three years only, to abandon a most important source of the public revenue. The second ground on which he should support that amendment was. he' cause he believed, quite contrary to the opinion of the Nobl e Earl opposite, that instead of it being an advantage to the farmers to have this delay and allow the principle of free trad . e , to enter into operation gr a d ua lly, it wou ld be serious an d dangerous to him. The third and, perhaps, the stronges t reaon for his vote in support of the amendment was this, that whilst they had no right whatsoever now to legislate on this subject this, year, for another Parliament which would sit before the time came on for their Act coming into operation—whils t they had no right this year to adopt a principle which they durst not and would not attempt to put immediately into forces but whieh they saddled upon others—another Parliament would be elected which would be called upon to settle this question. Again, at the present moment, things were in such a state that they could not know how long they would last. If they were right, why not carry out the principle ?—( Hear, hear.) It certainly did not savour of courage on the part of the Ministry to act in the manner in which they had done, and he did not not know whether it was quite honest on the part of the pre sent Parliament to carry such a measure as the present in the manner proposed. Why, what were they doing ? They were diffusing the great and paramount evils which they themselves knew would be attendant upon it, and they were thrusting them upon a future Parliament. It was also a fact that they were giving an opportunity to foreigners to be prepared at the end of three years to overflow the market ; and not alone that, but they gave opportunities to bad tenants to exhaust their land. Again, they would prevent persons, the year before the measure came into operation, from sowing corn, and there would be a great deficiency in the home market. He felt cer tain that such would be the effect of the measure of the Go vernment. If the Government considered they were right in their principle, they should have gone on with it, out of mercy to the 13riti,h farmer. Whoever bad framed the Bill was the greatest enemy to the British farmer that could be.—( Hear, hear.) But if they passed the Bill as it at present stood, ho would tell them that they would be making the farmer a free-trader. What right would they have to tax his malt, or prevent his growing tobacco, and the thousand other restrictions which had been imposed upon him by their statues, and which would not be removed by the present measure ? They had no right to continuo those restrictions, and pass the corn-law. It was not just, nor ought it to be borne. He considered that giving up a fixed duty was a gross sacrifice of revenue ; and, by carrying this principle out revenue would suffer, while no one would be benefited. On these grounds, therefore, he would support the amendment of his Noble Friend on the cross benches. The Marquis of BUTE said that if the Bill did not offer such a protection as was necessary to the farmers, it was his opinion, and that of all the farmers with whom he had ever spoken, that it was better to have no protection at all. In those branches of commerce in which he was engaged he had found protection to fail ; and he had his doubts whether pro tection would be really beneficial to agriculture. His expe rience enabled him to say that the farmer did not participate in the fears expressed in that Howe ; nor did he believe the measure would have the injurious effects predicted. The Earl of HARDWICKE said he would not have again risen, did he not feel the great importance of the subject. lie did not agree with the Noble Marquis who had just sat down, in the opinions he expressed with regard to farmers, who he believed were strongly in favour of protection. Much was said about stability with regard to these laws, but he believed that it they went on as they did they would have no stability. (Hear, hear.) His Noble Friend must have a bit of laud which no one else could produce—that no land should be culti vated for wheat sinless it could produce thirty-two bushels an acre. Lord KINNAIRD—I said thirty bushels. The Earl of HARDWICKE—W e II then that was lowering it again, and that was an important admission from the head of the League.—(Laughter.) He would like to see all land produce twenty bushels an acre. Not to aultivate land with out producing that amount required by the Noble Lord would indeed be to starve the people. ( The Noble Lord then proceeded to read several statistical documents in support of his arguments.) He lived himself upon land of a heavy clay soil, which produced but twenty bushels an acre ' • it was just that soil which would b e t h rown o ut of cultivation by the introduction of the present measure. To make that land produce thirty bushels an acre would be to expend au immense capital which would never, with this Bill passed into a law, bring an adequate return. Mr. Cobden said to the landlord:, you will raise your rents—to the farmer, you will increase your profits—to the manufacturers, you will lower your wages.—(Haar.) This gentleman was the Pro metheus of the day.—(Laughter.) He had something good to offer every one, not, however, forgetting the manufacturers -( Hear, hear.) When they came to the poor clay soils of Eng - - gland, after the passing of the. Bill, they would find n otbing but a ruined tenantry, and a barren land. What w ould . the - county constituency of this country say—would they nave confidence in the meas u re s o f th e i r Lord/hips' Holl3 e, They were a loyal people, but they were like all Plihe'avtheeyeverere not dead to an injury, and they would demand t ( Hear, hear y ; thing wiped off in the shape of taxatio . n t;(1 the amount of With the prospect of a plentiful le h t ar.l , was the strongest grain whirls this measure would reduction would take place in the reason to believe that a great if t h e Bill passed, a feeling price. He was persuaded atht country, which would lead to would be excited throughout the • he w e b h t e ich were now placed upon the land.. collec tinge o r f et tithes, rev e t n h u e e tax withdrawal of protection,• felt certain that with the withdrawal and • they would mode equalization commercial classes a fair a general change in the There wouldp n• and the other borders sharehave t ofo transfer te bhuarvd t 9 : 1 - e relieve the 'sever e on landed that were made to bear at present so property. Before sitting down, h e would refer to a petition, from an important body, on the present question. He referred to the Bedford Cur poration,„ the members of which were greatly alarmed at the proposed withdrawal of protection. The land of the level was entirely kept in its present state by artificial draining, principally through the steam engine, and after the expenses of preservinte, it were met, the returns were so small as only to yield lie. an acre. They took this low rent, as there were hopes tls ultimately the land would be preserved by natural drainit4, as the course of things was tending to that point. If they bflowed. the • all to pass, they would be doing that which would, he was persuaded, inflict a most serious injury on the cultivators of the soil. Still, whatever might be the operation of the Bill, he considered the measure ought not to be carried without an ap peal to the people. He was against any change of opinion in the Government leading to such a measure being carried by the House, until such time as the constituencies of the empire were appealed to.—(Cheers.) Lord KINNAIRD rose to reply to the Noble Lord, and to support the Bill as it stood, as he thought it would be far the benefit of the farmers themselves. He supported the Bill, be cause he believed its adoption would lead to the removal of all. protective duties. Noble Lords should consider that there was a great difference between a protective duty and a duty for the purpose of raising a revenue. From twenty years' ex perience he felt certain that land could not be profitably culti vated unless they could raise thirty bushels an acre on it; and if that were done, it would enable them to sell it at a mode rate price. He admitted that some danger might arise frnrra the sudden importation of a large quantity of foreign grain, but he did net think it would be so great as apprehended. He would mention a fact on this point. A friend of his told him that there was corn now in bond that could not be sold profitably at less than 60s. a quarter. This was wheat. that had been introduced at the early period of the session— ( Hear, hear)—this, therefore, need not alarm them. A Right Rev. Prelate the other night said the reduction of price would be met by a reduction in wages ; but that he (Lord Kinnard) did not think would he the case. He believed it would be the interest of landlords to pay good wages to ensure efficient service, and he further theught, with efficient farmers and a,