The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-19 00:00:00

rt trb lattion SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock, RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) Sub-Committee, No. 1. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) MANCHESTER AND SOUTNADIPTON. -- - Mr. BURKE, on the part of several land-owners on the line, proceeded with the various allegations in the petitions against the Bill. The first allegation was, that property numbered 109 on the plan was not correctly shown. Mr. Lutton, the owner of the property, was called. He stated that there was a field not shown on the plan. Examined by Mr. ELLICOMBE—Had signed the petition against the Bill. Understood it to be the petition. It was on a sheet of parchment, and its contents, he understood, were against the Bill. Had not read it. One of his fields was not shown on the plan. The Committee decided that the standing orders, in this instance, had not been complied with. The next was a similar allegation against that part of the plan numbered 115. The allegation was sustained ; several allegations were overruled. The next allegation was, that the plans did not show the crossings of several highways in the county of Gloucester, and that many of them numbered on the plans were not shown on the cross sections. The Committee were of opinion that the allegation was not sustained. Several allegations against the plans, with regard to mis description of property, were sustained. The next allegation was that the promoters had numbered property en the plans as belonging to the Marquis of Ailes bury, whereas, in point of fact, it belonged to a Mr. Everett. Mr. Everett examined—The property in question be longed to him, and not the Marquis of Aylesbury. The Noble Lord's property adjoined his, but there was a boundary which divided their fields. Mr. ELLICOMBE called Mr. Collins—ls agent to the Mar quis of Aylesbury. He had a plan of the Noble Lord's property, which showed that certain fields in the occupation of Mr. Everett belonged to the estate of the Marquis. The plan, it was true, was twenty years old, but it was shown to Mr. Everett when the promoters went over the ground, and he did not object to that plan. Witness understood it to be the property of the Noble Lord. The Committee were of opinion that the standing orders had not been complied with. The CHAIRMAN said he it ould report specially to the House the circumstances connected with this non-com pliance. The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to morrow. Sub-Committee No. 4. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH TORHSHIRE• (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) A Mr. Hewick was called, on the part of the petitioner, to prove that between two sheets of the plan which he had measured there was a discrepancy of twelve feet. In cross examination he admitted that the shrinking or expansion of one sheet of paper would produce a discrepancy between the two parts of a plan, but on re-examination he said that the same discrepancy existed in the plans sent to the House of Lords, and that it could not occur that the sheets would shrink or contract so as to produce the same discrepancy in both sets of plans. Mr. Hawkshaw, the engineer, was then called on the part of the promoters of the line. He said that in the course of preparing the plans, an impres sion was transferred from a paper called the " trans fer wee' to a lithographic block, and that it commonly occurred that this paper being wet, either shrunk or got wrinkled, so as to cause an apparent discrepancy in the plans, which discrepancy would appear in every copy of the plans. The discrepancy in this case was, on the paper, about 1-20th of an inch. The objection fell to the ground. Two of the allegations of the petition were abandoned. The ' allegation that " the cross section of the highway marked No. 13 does not show the present road, nor the gra dient of the new or altered road," fell to the ground, as it appeared that the present road was shown in the cross section. Another allegation was that there was no trots section of a public road in the palish of llaysden. In support of this allegation, a witness was called who said that this road was a public road; a bridle road, and a carriage road, but a wit ness was called on the other side, who said that it was only an " occupation road," being for the use only of the persons to wbose houses it led to. It was not a carriage : road, but carts sometimes passed through it. It ran parallel to the turnpike-road. If he were on that road, and were told to go back, he would do so, unless he were going to one of the houses to which it led. Objection overruled. Witnesses having been called, in support of, and in opposi tion to, several other allegations of the petition, the further consideration of the Bill was adjourned till to-morrow. WHITEHAVEN AND FURNESS JVNC rION (WEITERAVSN EXTENSION AND NISH- SANTON DEVIATION). • This Bill included two projects, one to connet the White haven and Furness Junction and the Whitehaven and Mary port Junction Railways, and the other to deviate and im prove a portion of the original line at Kirksanton. Length of extension, three •quarters of a mile ; estimated cost, 25,0001. Length of deviation, two miles ; estimated cost, 11,0001. Engineer, Mr. George Stephenson ; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Jones and Walmsley. Standing orders complied with. In the case of the Mitcham and South-Western Railway, the witnesses not being in attendance, the matter will stand over till the next meeting of the Committee. At about half-past three o'clock the Committee adjourned over to Monday next. Sub-Committee No. 5 MIDLAND AND EASTERN COUNTIES (CAMBRIDGE TO lITEEDON). (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The Committee decided, after hearing many other similar objections, that the standing orders had been complied with. CAMBRIDGE AND LINCOLN EXTENSION. The object of the petitioners is to form a railway from Lin coln to York, with a Branch to Churchfenton. The estimated cost was 860,0001., and the length 59 miles. Thelline was opposed, on the ground that the fixed point from which the level was taken was marked on a wooden post. The Committee postponed their decision until to-morrow, at twelve, after which they i.djourned until that hour. Sub-Committee No. 6. There not being a quorum of this Committee at the time appointed for its sitting, it stood adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow (Friday). TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. SIX O'CLOCK. CHESTER CUP. 7 to 1 agst The Three-year olds 22 to 1 agst Best Bower 22 to 1 agst Sweetmeat 22 to 1 agst Mermaid 25 to 1 agst Whinstone 35 to I agst Cataract 35 to I agst Fitzallan 40 to 1 agst Hope 40 to 1 agst Inheritress DERBY. 9 to 2 agst Sting 15 to 1 agst Brocardo 22 to 1 agst lago 25 to 1 agst Spithead 30 to 1 agst Malcolm 33 to I agst Tibthorpe. OA 1:S. 8 to 1 agst Forth's lot MADRAS RAIL WA Y.—(THIS DAY.) The general meeting of this C.anpanv was held to-day, at twelve o'clock, at the office., No. 2, Winchester-buildings, o.d Broad-street; Mr. J. Arbuthnot in the chair. After the advertisement calling the meeting had been re cited, a report was read, of which the following is an ab stract : The Court of Directors of the East India Company receg nive, in the fullest manner, the importance of the introduction into India of railway communication. but state that the construction and management of railways in India should be entrusted to private ent •rprise and capital ; and they direct the Supreme Government of India to report to them the re sults of the investigation of the committee of engineers, ac companied by the opinions of the Supreme Gover meet upon the subject. As soon as this was ascertained several gentle men, who were acquainted with the great progress which the very complete and accurate information which had been ob tained by Capt. Worster's survey of' the line from Madras, to Wallajahnuggur, took steps for the construction of the line from Madras to Wallajahnuggur and Arcot, with ultimate extension to all parts of the Madras territories, that might be warranted by the succes of the first line. It was re solved to limit the capital to be raised, at first, to the esti mated amount required for this object alone, which was 50 0,0001., divided into 25,000 shares of 201. each ; on which the deposit, as fixed by the Joint-stock Act, was 2s. each. The number of shares reserved for Madras was 5,000. The number which each member of the provisional committee Was limited to was one hundred. The s„,-se number of shares applied fir by the public was 70,000 ; and the w n a u s m i be 6 l s ctua y allotted to the applicants ' - in this country been paid upon Of these the deposits have 19,885, and of the 2,730 shares which have lapsed from noni-payment, 1,050 have been re allotted to fresh applicants . There remain at pre sent 2,065 shares at the disposal of the Coin . patsy, exclusive of the nu.obr reserved for Madras. The line runs nearly due west from Madras to Arcot. a dis tance of sixty-five miles. The avenoi, cutting of any e rise is 1 in 645, and • the steepest gradient, 1 in 180; inundatio • soil is most sequence, anti no tunnelling whatever. con ' favourable, and in 110 part subject to ,t;m n ou th n e t sequ ence. In 1837 the annual traffic of ee e d s u b o a f tN a v l e l y . " 1 " termini was estimated at 30,000 tons ; but the present passengers aa troadway ,10,,, b an o e t :-. of imports alone into Madras by land is estimat ed at 000 ton a-day, or more than three tunes the amount of • eor e and exports, nine years ago. The number of tween the termini has recently been estiin ya a i t .d e, With rails of 'Nibs. to the annually. t capable of receiving a double line of ; rails, but to have onfv 1 one at first, with sidings at intervals, the cost of a railway between Madras and Arcot would certainly be under 5,000/. a mile, and it is fully expected, that within a year after the line is opened, there will be a profitable return. The Directors now only await the decision of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to commence their operation.. The antoent Maid as deposits on shares, to this time, amounts to 1,684. IU,. Of this 1,5ta1/. has been ex pended or is due fir preliiiiiiiary operations, including the law expmses, the d,: , tl of settlement and complet.l• registra:ioo. A provisional committee hos bf Cu binned at Madras, con sisting of thirtern gentlemen of the highest rank in the colli psny's service ; of members of the purcipal house i of busi ness at Madras; and of the legal profession. A &TWA:Lion from the committee Ivid waited on the Marquis of Twecddale, Governor of Madras, with the view of obtaining the support of the local Government in carrying out the objects of the company, and had met with a most encouraging receptkii. 'fhe directors have also addressed the >upreme Government and the Govern ment of Madras, bnt have not yet received replies to their ante communications, but hope to do so at an early period, and t e e t will lose no time in making the shareholders acquainted pout of the result of th ese app li cat i ons, as well as of the decision poll, of the Court of Directors, when it shall have been obtained, Lib. In moving the adoption of the repor t, the Cu dispt stated that, according to th e regulations of the East In d ia A and Company, it was necessary for th e Company's official engi " : seers to survey the line, but as that wou ld b e b oth a dila tory and expensive operation, the direesutrvorse3hs of thewlbeene n n i g a i k n i e nf ar wishe interest to obtain the adoption of the object of the Madras Rai lwa y b y the C om mittee of Engineers b' we knc inti: and him THE SATIN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARI 19. 1846. Bengal, and the directors were daily waiting for the result of their application. Mr. CHRISTIAN said that before the report was adopted, he wished to know what course the directors intended to pursue with respect to the shares which had been allotted, but not paid up on. He had himself purchased 75 shares at 255. pre- , noiuru, but the party of whom he had bought them refused to sign any deed or paper which would make the purchaser entitled to the certificates, without a bonus of 51. This he (Mr. Christian) refused to give, b e lieving the claim to be nothing more or less than a dishonest extortion. He now wished to know whether the directors would take the bankers' receipts in exchange for certificates, from those par ties who were not original shareholders. After some conversation, the CHAIRMAN replied that every facility would be given by the directors for the certificate of the property of the Company to those who were entitled to it, and the matter dropped with that assuranee. On the propolition of the CHAIRMAN, J. A. Arbuthnot, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel Abdy, N. B. Ackworth, Esq., and IV. S. Binney, Esq., who should retire in rotation, were re-elected as directors. Some objection was offered by Mr. LtrinxiA, to the re election of these gentlemen, on the ground that they were not practically acquainted with the working of railway com panies. and had been parties to an unnecessary expense in the complete registration of the Company, which was not re quired for the transfer of the scrip. The CHAIRMAN explained that the directors had consi dered themselves liable to the provision of Bth and 9th Vic, the Joint-Stock Companies Act, and their proceedings, therefore, would not have been legal without complete re gistration. Several shareholders expressed their perfect conviction of the eligibility of the gentlemen for the office they sought, on the ground that the business of the Company had been well managed; that Mr. Arbuthnot and Mr. Binney were at the head of large Indian commercial firms, that Mr. Ackworth and Colonel Abdy had both had great experience of Indian affairs,—the former as a member of the bar of high standing, whok t n es ew w t e h re e country well. osl and A t.t theer those latter o o h s s e a rva to military o t in he an C ondida elected. Captain Ommaney and Mr. Gowan were re-elected auditors. By the statement of accounts distributed at the meeting it appeared that the amount received for deposits was 1,6751. 10s., and the expenses 2341. 15s. 2d., leaving a balance of 1,4401. 14s. 10d. to be carried to the next account. Thanks were voted to the Chairman and Directors, and the 'nesting separated. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. THE ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE. Lord DACRE presented a petition from (as we un derstood) the county of Hertford, praying the House to interfere in order to prevent the influence of the Anti-Corn-law League at elections. He (Lord Dacre) thought that this petition was deserving of the greatest consideration. The petitioners prayed that their Lord ships would be pleased to institute an inquiry into the practices of an association calling itself an Anti-Corn-law League, in order to prevent their improper interference at e!ections. Lord KINNAIRD said that this was the second time the Noble Lord had called their attention to the proceedings of the Anti-Corn-law League. Those pro ceedings were not private ; the Anti-Corn-law League courted inquiry, there were nothing secret about them as to the mode, to use the common phrase, in which they got hold of the counties ; and he could assure the Noble Lord that there was no danger of the 40s. freehold electors being in any way assimilated to the 40s. freeholders of Ireland. Men professing every shade of politics, men belonging to every party, had bought these freeholds, not for the purpose alone of furthering the objects of the League, but because they wished to be come voters in the counties with which they wereconnected. If the Noble Lord wished to go into an inquiry he would be glad to do so. The Anti-Corn-law:League were only acting legally and constitutionally in their present pro ceedings, and not like others who created votes and ex ercised influence in elections for far worse purposes. Was it not notorious that Buckingham bad become a nomina- - tion borough though on • prorrie or having purchased a gre st number of houses to extend his influence ? If the protectionists proceeded in their present course, and sue ede_il in g , •tting a di's'ilution of Parliament, they might succeed, through their nomination boroughs and county in obtaining a party adverse to free trade; but if they did, let them depend on it, that .ini,tead of having a legal and con stitutional body like the Anti-Corn-law League to contend with, they would raise into existence far worse political bodies, and bodies that might seek to change the constitution of the country. MINISTERS' MONEY. Lord CAMPBELL gave notice of his intention to present a petition from the city of Cork in focur of the abolition of Ministers' money. CORN LAWS. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition in fa your of the total and immediate abolition of the corn• laws. Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from North umberland in favour of protection to agriculture, signed by upwards of a thousand persons, and in doing so said he wished to make a few rercarks on what had fallen from the Noble Lord (Lord Kinnaird) who had ad dressed the House. He (Lord Redesdale) was of opinion that the Anti-Corn-law League was an unconstitutional body. Though its pro cee din gs m i g ht be in agreement with the letter of the law, they were contrary to the constitution of the country in endeavouring to return county representatives to Parliament. Was it not unconstitutional for residents at Manchester seeking to return Members for Cheshire? When he saw a body in London interfering to secure the return of a Member for Hertfordshire, be said that was an unconstitutional interference, and unless some thing was done by Parliament to check this, they would have a number of persons creating an influence in the different counties of England, contrary to the intention of the Legislature, and contrary to the spirit of the: constitution. He denied that the manu facturers of Manchester had a right to inter fere iu the election of a Member for a county, That this interference was going on was as notorious as the creation by the Duke of Bedford of the faggot voters. He subdivided his property, so as to produce a number of votes, and that was held to be an undue influence with the electors of Huntingdon. Suppose the manufacturers of Manchester came forward and swamped the constituency of Huntingdon. That constituency would not then be pro perly represented. If they permitted this in one case it would ultimately extend to every constituency in the kingdom. Unless Parliament took proper step:—should the matter not naturally drop—the consequence would be that Parliament would cease to be the most important body in the country. A great deul that was going on in Ireland and in this coun try had a great tendency to lower Parliament, espe cially the House of Commons, because that was the body more immediately attacked. It might be said, that it the wants of the agitators were granted, this matter would drop of itself. But that was not the answer that should be given to such a case as this. It was because they knew that their constituents were against them that they endeavoured to deprive them of their constitutional and fair rights, and the effect of conceding Irish measures would only be an encourage ment to other agitators to look for the same. For Parliament to be influenced in such a way, and by such a cour,e of proceeding, was contrary to the spirit of the cony titution. ) Lord KINNAIRD said that it had been the practice t for years to make votes in that way, and, in fact, the watchword with many agitating bodies was " Register ! register ! register !"—(Cries of " near, hear.") Now - be wished to know what the Anti-Corn-law League - had done beyond that ? They attended to the registry, and increased the voters, and the same - was done by all registration committees.—(Hear, hear.) ' In Scotland it was only necessary to sell a property of ' 200/. value—reserving the title-deed—to make an agent ' a voter ; and such was certainly done by the Peers and . owners of lat.d. Ile agreed with the Noble Lord oppposite that such was an abuse that required to be reformed. He did not think it right ; but ut the same time the parties were justified in using all constitutional means to effect their object.—(Hear, hear.) However, he thought that all such practices would terminate with a repeal of the corn-laws ; for, after that time it could not be of use to any party. Earl GREY concurred, to a great extent, in the observations of the Noble Lord opposite, that the existence of such a power as was wielded by the Anti-Corn-law League was a very seri ous evil ; at the same time, he should say that he considered it as nothing more than the symptom of a greater and more serious evil— a grievance against which they had found it necessary to take fresh measures, as those the Noble Lord bad mentioned, in order to.remedy it. The Noble Lord had said, sr .d said truly, that the extent to which the grievance complained of had been going on in this country and in Ireland was calculated to lower the authority of Parliament; and . he (Lord Grey) should say that he cordially: agreed in much that had fallen from the Noble Lord upon the subject. But what he (Lord Grey) would say was this; that it was Parliament itself which had in a great measure caused the evil, and it was not by the means his Noble Friend had suggested that it could be put an end to. It was not by any meature of law that they could expect to put down either the Anti-corn-law League, or the Catholic association.—(Hear, hear.) The real remedy for the evil lay in the hands of the Legislature—by the Legislature taking the lead in pub lic opinion, instead of lagging behind. The Parliament should not have waited, as it had done, to be compelled by u the voice of public opinion to afford remedial measures; redressed that the Parliament b aw t . l it should have been the first to have come forward ,sas i emove . rhe evils complained of.—(Hear, hear.) It by taking timely care that all real evils should be than he did the r public, need apprehend no turbu lence from the No man could feel more strongly ~,tieT increaseparliament in modern times of the difficulties by they had drawn them up a o r i l l iaent had been beset, but themselves th by delay, instead e tho h t a ie, d the power to do 1 4, f using their influence while so, to prevent their existence, that it was owing to those courser, he would say, a s u s d not . to the NobleA Association that Anti-Corn-law League, or the t C he a the evils complained of by gained existence. Lord opposite Lord ASHBURTON said, that if such were the opi. nion of the Noble Lord who had j ust sat d own , it would also lead to the conclusion that it was perfectly l ega l and constitutional for the people to join together and raise a great league for the purpose of disserninatiug the opinions that body entert ained. If so, then, the public were all on one side, and if the Parliament had been could result, behind, as the Noble L ord had stated, no harm result, for there was no necessit y to urge upon them to do anything while the the p eo p le did it for themselves. According to the doctrine of the Noble Lord the people, in doing what his Noble Friend near him had complained of, were only exercising constitutional right. But in his (Lord Ashburton's) opinion, if this unconstitutional interference with other constituencies by the League had not taken place, and other counties were let alone, then the real opinion of those constitu encies would be known to Parliament. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE postponed the pre sentation of the petition (of which he had given notice) from the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land, respecting convict labourers, till that day week, by which time their Lordships would have had an opportunity of read• ing the papers which treated of the colony. RIO DE LA PLATA. Lord BEAUMONT, in rising to move for the corres pondent which had taken place between this and other countries, with regard to the intervention in the affairs of Rio de la Plata, trusted that he might be allowed to place before their Lordships the circumstances which had led to this intervention.—(Hear, hear.) He was induced to review the motives which had actuated England in this instance, because he considered that the course the Noble Earl opposite (Lord Aber deen) had pursued was al most impolitic one, and at variance with the principles which the Government of this country had adopted. At the termination of the war between the Brazils and the Argentine Republic, a convention was entered into in 1821, constituting an independent Republic, under the name of Uraguay. By the terms of that convention it was agreed as been the two Powers of the Brazils and the Argentine Confede ration, that Uruguay should be constituted anindependent State. To that convention the only names signed were those of the Minister of the Brazils and of Buenos Ayes. He would now proceed to explain the proceedings con d with the pending dispute. This convention took place in 1828, but subsequent to that period a serious dispute arose between two parties in the Argentine con federation. A war in consequence burst out between these tiro parties, the one of which were known by the name of Unitarians, and the other as Fet era istF. Geniral Roses was at the head of the Federal patty, and the leader of the Unitarians was Riviera. About this time it was well known that the President of Buenos Ayres was assassinated, and subsequently General Rozas, at the head of the Argentine Confederation, attackgd Buenos Ayres. Everything' was done to establish order in the Argentine Confederation, as well as with Buenos Ayres, but it so happened that a number of the Unitarians under the head of General Rozas collected and made an attack on Buenos Ayres. The Noble Lard then proceeded to enter bite the particulars of the sub sequent dispatches between Buenos Ayres and the Ar gentine Republic, contending that the French had inter fered in a most unjustifiable and improver manner. General Oribe, he contended, had been freely elected the President of the Baird's Oriental, and had interferee in the affairs of that report, to please the mushroom party who had fled from Buenos Ayres ; and, along with some foreigners, had endeavoured to regain their footing in the Argentine Confederation. — General Reviere expected to come to terms of peace with Buenos Ayres, but he did not do so. He continued to invade the Argentine Confederation. He was subse quently defeated, and in a short time General Art-b)ere succeeded in placing himself between Riviei e and Buenos Ayres. Arebiere, certainly, invaded the Argentine territory, but he did so for the sole purpose of supporting the legitimate authority. It was in this state of affairs that the Noble Earl opposite at the instigation of the Viscount Abrantes thought proper to interfere in this matter. The people of Monte Video were in favour of the legitimate autho rity. The party in the town who supporLed Riviere was composed of a few French Italians. At one time there were only 180 of the inhabitants armed, and shortly after that number was reduced to 50 but then England interfered. But for this interference, a permanent peace would have ensued. Our interference having come too late, the result was that we had caused more bloody scenes than if we had not stepped in at all. The object put for ward by the Noble :Earl amongst others, was to throw open a certain river—the river Canava—for the benefit of com merce. Now this river belonged to the Argentine Confederacy, and if this country thought proper to in terfere with the rights of that country, the Americans might turn round and say that they would come (:own the river St. Lawren ce. Again, he would wish to know whether there existed a convention between England and France on the sub ject ? Could anything be more contrary to practice, more dangerous than for two great and powerful State,, naturally eupposedto be ambitious of conquest, to inter fel e with States where the people were led to believe that tie re existed no connection ? They acted without conven tion, or without any positive deed which could be shown to be an instruction from the Minister. How %as France bound by any deed that she did not possess the same dangerous and aggressive object ? There might be an understanding ; but if there was, let it be produced. Such a course of proceeding wus most ruinous to British commerce, as would be seen here after. He contended that such a course of proceeding was followed up for the mere purpose of supporting a faction—an armed ane rebellious faction in Monte Video, who were getting up eoery kind of evil passion, and for them atone had the British Government interfered against General Roses and the state of Buenos A) res. guardians of the West London Union against the esta blishment of district asylums. Sir T. ACLAND presented several petitions from several parts of Devonshire, praying that the House would not sanction any measure for repealing the pro tective duties. Mr. B. ESCOTT presented a petition, signed by a large number of the inhabitants of the city of Win chester, expressing their satisfaction at the measure then under the consideration of the House, and re gretting that the repeal of the corn-laws was not effected immediately. Mr. H. HINDE gave notice of his intention to put a question to the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, in order to know if it was the intention of Government to make any proposition founded on the report of the Gauge Commissioners. LAW OF SETTLEMENT. Mr. WOBEHOUSE said, that on Tuesday last lie gave notice of his intention to put a question to the First Lori of the Treasury on the subject of the proposed new law of settlement ; and he had been given to understand that the Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment was now prepared to give him an answer. He wished to know %%hen the new measure alluded to some short time ago by the Right Hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, was likely to be laid upon the S table of the House ? Sir JAMES GRAHAM said the Bill was alrcady prepared, and it was his intention, at an early period, to lay it upon the table of the House, but it was not his intention to press it forward, or bring on the discussion upon it until the measures relating to the food of the people had been passed into a law.—(Hear,. hear.) An Hos. MEMBER wished to know if the Bill would provide if a Live years residence in a particular parish would give a person a settlement. S'r JAMES GRAHAM ilecliued to enter into par ticulars. COUNTY WORKS PRESENTMENT (IRELAND) On the motion of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, this Bill was read a third time and passed. DRAINAGE (IRELAND) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. Sir J. GRAHAM explained that under the former Act the assent of two-thirds of the parties interested in the drainage of certain districts was necessary before a plan of that purpose could be adopted. The Bill in its original state provided that the onus probandi should fall . on the dissensients. The Honourable Gentleman, the Member for Kildare; had, however, suggested, that the old plan should be adopted, which had been agreed to, and a provision to. that effect was introduced into the Bill. INTERFERENCE AT ELECTIONS. Mr. COLLETT stated that before he brought forward his motion, of which he had given notice, he wished to have the standing orders upon the subject read. This request having been complied with, the lion. Member pro ceeded to state that he had always been an advocate for short speeches,and upon the present:occasion he would not act in opposition to his conviction, but as no other Hon. Member had given aey notice upon the present subject he considered the occasion opportune for trespassing a short time on the attention of the House.—(Considera ble laughter was caused in the House in consequence of the Hon. Member read* his speech.) The Commons (continued the Hon. Member, glancing at his paper) had suffered by the interference of Lords of Parliament, Peers and Prelates, at their elections. He (Mr. Collett) assured the House, that in default of a better man, be considered it his public duty to call the attention of the Ilouse to this infiingement of the Lords on the liberties, the privileges, and the standing orders of this House. —(Laughter and cries of " Order.") He did not himself propose. any fresh remedy ; he considered the law, as it stood sufficient for the purpose. He had commonced by getting their clerk to read to them the standing orders of the House upon the subjecs.— (Consideruble laughter, in consequence of the Hon. Member's continued glances at his paper.) He should, upon this occasion. move for a Committee of privileges to inquire Into this point, and report the result of their inquiry to this House. He would then have an oppor tunity of showing the country the defects of the Reform Bill, and also how the country was mocked by this Bill in not obtaining those benefits which had been presented to them by the Noble Lord (the Member for the City of Lcnden). Numerous instances were well known where improper use was made by parties to influence others in procuring seats in that House.—(Cries of " Order, order.") The SPEAKER said, he hoped the Hon. Gentleman was not reading his speech.—(Shouts of laughter.) Me. COLLETT said.lie always endeavoured to check wrcng by doing right. He was sorry to see a Member of Parliament not returned to that House after vacating his seat, while others more inefficieet succee , ed to that honour.—(Laughter.) Her Majesty was pleased to ap point a certain lion. Gentleman to an office of high trust and honour—he meant the Secretary to the Colonies. He was a gentleman of much distinguished ability and talent, and one who would be very useful to the Right Honourable Baronet on the present occasion in forwarding the measure now before the House.—(Great laughter.) He would, however, give his vote without reference to any party, as his object always was, and would continue to be, the improve ment in the condition of all the lower and mid dle classes.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) But " Man, proud man, dressed in a little brief AnthoritT, plays such fantastic tricks Before high Heaven, as make the angels Weep."— ( Great ._ laughter.) He asked the House, he asked the country, why were they deprived of the presence of these Right Hon. Gentlemen. Echo answered why? and the voice of nn outraged country—(loud laughter)—demanded why Mr. Gladstone did not come forward to represent Newark. The answer was, that the Right Honourable Gentle man was in, opposition to the vie vs of the patrons of Newark, and they had oruered their country agent to look out for some more tractable Member —(Hear, hear.) Nearly the same circumstances had taken place in the representation of Chichester and Buckingham, because their Graces of Buckingham and Richmond were not the same way of thinking as the Minister. They therefore returned two inexperienced youths.—(Loud laughter)—and the country lost the services of Sir Thomas Fretnantle, whose loss seemed irreparable—(Hear, hear, and cheers)—at the present moment, as he was preparing a number of Bills that would confer vast benefits on Ireland. He would now call the attention of the House to the bo roughs of Buckingham, Chichester, and Woodstock, and he would read a copy of his charges in reference to them, but, for the sake of making the case plainer, The Hon. Member then read the standing orders of the House on the interference of Peers in the election of Members of Parliament down to the 14th of December, 1699, and proceeded to detail the precedents which the records of Parliament presented on the subject. Oa the 18th of November, 1702, a case occurred, when a charge was preferred by Sir John Paken ham against Dr. Boyle, the Bishop of Worcester. The consequence of this was that an inquiry ass made into the nature of the settlement inta which the Go vernment had entered, On inquiry, and under the cir cumstances, it was decided that the Bishop of Wor cester had committed a breach of the priviteges of the House, and an address was presented to her Majesty, the Sovereigu of the time, Queen Anne, to advise her to remove the Bishop of Worcester fom the post of Lord Almoner to the Crown. The de cision had been confirmed by:the Learned Attorney General of the period. Another cir cumstance had occurred which had respect to the Bishop of Carlisle, and in which Parliament had felt it a duty to interfere. In that case the decision of the House was shown by a majority of 156 against a minority of 136. lie might refer to a fuller case, of the Duke of Chandos, where, in consequence of an interference with the town of Southampton, Sir NiJames Bridges had been deemed guilty of a breach of the privi leges of the House. This was allowed to be a breach of the privileges of the House. lie trusted, therefore, that that House would come to the same opinion which he had already formed, and which was quite in conformity with the opinion of the Attorney-General on the question. He then came to the boroughs against which he brought the charges. Ile had in his hand a book called "Docli's Parliamentary Companion," in page 101 of which it was openly and unreseri edly stated that the borough of Chi chester was under the influence of the Duke of Bucking ham. He found that theMembe:sett rued for this borough e ere Gerd Arthur Lennox and John Abel Smith. With John A. Smith he did not wish to have anything to do. He believed that the diction of Lord Arthur Lennox for Chichester in. 1841 was carried by the Couseruative interest. The next election for Chichester was in the last year, when Lord Arthur Lennox, doubtless in consequence of his talent and qualification, was promoted to the office of clerk to the Ordnance. lie was again elected for Chichester without op position, at least hefound on the notices of the House, dated January 22d, 1845, an entry of the fact of Lord A. Lennox having taken his seat. On eivouA have supposed tE at for that time the Noble Lord was secure in his seat ; but no, he found in the returns that he had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds on the 3d of Feb ruary, and the seat for Chichester was again vacant. Now, with respect to the city of Chichester, he verily believed that the rights, liberties, and privileges of the Commons of England had been infringed by Charles Gordon Lennox, Duke of Richmond, and Lord Lieu tenant of the county of Sussex ; fur, in the first place, that noble personage had been Instrumental in procuring the resignation of a seat in that Hcuse by the late representative of Chichester, Lord Arthur Lennox, and had been immediately concerned in procuring the return of its present representative, Charles Henry Gordon, Lord Lennox. Ho now came to another case, viz., that of Newark, and he found, in reference to that bo rough, " Dodd's Parliamentary Companion," page 17, stated openly, unresrvedly, and directly, that the Duke of Newcastle exercised considerable influence in the election of its representative. Now, the Members returned by this influence in 1841 were Lord John Manners and William Gladstone, Elq., but the latter some short tuno ago re signed his seat, and John Stuart, Esq., was returned by the same influence to serve in his stead. —(Some impatience was here manifested by several lion. Members, whilst others cried "Go on.") The lion. Member then proceeded to complain of a similar unconstitutional interference being continually made by the Duke of Marlborough with respect to the election of the member for Woodstock. In proof of his assertion he quoted theinstance of Sir F. Thesigers return previous to his appointment as Attorney General. All this, he verily believed, he should be able to prove ; and, in addition, that the Duke of Marlborough's agent, whose name was Hewitt (as we understood) had been appointed by that nobleman to fill the office of a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant of the country, as a reward for aiding and obtaining Mr. Thesiger's return for that borough. COMMONS' SUMMARY. The House met at Four o'clock. Mr. T. O'BRIEN took the oaths and his seat for the city of Cashel. Mr. LOCKHART took the oaths and his seat forSelkiik. Several railway Bills were read a second time, and or dered to be committed. Various petitions having been presented, Mr. HODGSON HINDE gave notice that to-morrow he should ask if the Government intended to introduce any legislative measure founded on the report of the Gauge Commissioners. Sir J. GRAHAM, in reply to Mr. WODEHOUSE, said that he would place his Bill for regulating the law of settlement on the table of the House on an early day, but, that he would not press it forward until the Bill regulating our commercial policy should have been passed. The County Works (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. • The Drainage (Ireland) Bill was read a third time. Sir J. GRAHAM moved a new clause, authorising works to be undertaken on the consent of a bare majority of the proprietors, instead of requiring the consent of two thirds, as at present, and throwing the burden of proof upon those who affirmed that the consent of the ma jority had been obtained. The clause was agreed to and added to the Bill, and the Bill was passed. Mr. COLLETT then rose to move for a Committee of Privileges to inquire into the causes that led to the vacation of their seats in this House, by the Members lately representing Chichester, Newark, Woodstock, and Buckingham, to make inquiries as to the elections of the present Members for those places, and to inquire how far the standing order against the interference of Peers in elections had been infringed. The Honour able Member commenced reading his speech, and was met with loud cries of " order." He, however, con tinued to read amidst loud cries of "order," intermingled with laughter, which occasionally rendered him in audible. The excuse for the old nomination boroughs had been, that they insured seats for men of talent ; but in these new nomination boroughs talent was re jetted. Why, he would ask, had Mr. GLADSTONE been prevented from coming forward as a candidate for Newark ? Why, because he was a member of the Government of the Right Hon. Baronet, and the Right Hon. Baronet was opposed to the Duke of NEWCASTLE. In the cases of Chichester and Buckingham, Sir T. FREMANTLE and Lord A. LErestox had been compelled to resign by the Dukes of BUCKINGHAM and RICHMOND, and two: inexperienced youths returned by those Noble Dukes in their places, and thus the House had been deprived of the services of the best Irish Secretary at a most important period. Now, by their own standing orders, the interference of Peers in the elections of Members of that House was declared a high breach of privilege. The Hon. Gentleman then read from the journals sive ral cases in which the House had noticed the inter ference of Peers in elections. The Hon. Member would, first of all, draw the attention of the House to Chichester. On referring to " Dodd's Parliamentary Guide," he found it stated under the head of " Chichester," that the Duke of RICHMOND'S influence returned one Member for the city. Lord ARTHUR LENNOX, who had frequently represented Chichester, had accepted office during the last autumn ; he had been re-elocted ; had taken the oaths and his seat on the 27th of January, and on the Bth of February a new writ had been moved for. The Hon. Gentleman then quoted from various newspapers the accounts given as to the cause of the resignation of Lord A. LENNOX, and the election of Lord H. LENNOX, and declared his opinion that the privileges of the House had been infringed upon by the interference of CHARLES Duke of RICHMOND in the representation of Chichester. In Newark, it ss as stated in Dodd's Parliamentary conepa nion, that the Duke of NEWCASTLE'S influence was great. The Honourable Gentleman then re lated the history of the last election for Newark, and stated that he believed that in respect to that bo rough the privileges of the House had been infringed by HENRY PELHAM, Duke of NEWCASTLE, who had concerned himself in the election for Newark. He next referred to Woodstock, and related the history of the various recent elections for that borough, concluding by declaring that it was his impression, and he ♦erily believed the privileges of Parliament had been infringed by George Spencer Churcnill, Duke of Marlborough, by his having concerned himself in the election of Members to serve in Parliament for the borough, all which charges, if a Committee were granted, he verily believed he should establish. He then referred to the case of Buckingham, in which the Duke of Buckingham. LORDS' SUMMARY. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. Lord DACRE presented a petition in favour of a repeal of the corn laws but asking inquiry into the pro ceedings of the Anti-Corn-law League. The Earl of KINNAIRD said that the Corn• law League ware only acting constitutionally and courted inquiry into their proceedings. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from Linlithgow in favour of the total and immediate repeal of the corn laws. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE postponed the presenta tion of the petition, of which he had given notice, from the colony of Vaa Diemen's Land, relative to the con victs of that colony. Lord BEAUMONT moved, pursuant to notice, for papers relative to the interference of England and France in the affairs of Rio de la Plata. He believed that nothing was more dangerous than such an interference as had taken place. He believed that the interference had taken place for the support of a faction and nothing clue. (LEFT SITTING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at ten minutes before Four o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. Mr. T. O'BRIEN took the oaths and his seat for the city of Cashel, in the room of Dr. Stock, who has ac cepted the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. Mr. LOCKHART took the oaths and his seat for the county of Selkirk. RAILWAY BUSINESS. The following railway Bills were read a second time, and were ordered to be committed :—London and South Western Railway (Farnham and Alton Branch) ; Lon don and Brighton Railway (East Grinstead Branch) ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction Railway ; Wisbeach, St. Ives, and Cambridge Junction Railway ; and Brighton, Lewes, mid Hastings Railway Devia tions, and Eastbourne, Hailsham, Seaford, and .New haven Branches. The London and York Railway Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time. Mr. GREENE moved that no notice for a Committee on a petition for a private Bill be received at the Private Bill-office which shall fix for the first meeting of sec committee any day later than Friday, the 6th da•. of March next. That no notice of postponement of any such committee be received at the Private Bill Office ex cept by the authority of the Committee on Petitions for private Bills. That no private Bill be read a fir.t thee later than the next day but one after the report of the Commttee on Petitions, or of the Standing Orders' Com mittee, on such Bill, as the case may be, shall have been laid on the table, except by special order of the house. That there be no more than twenty-one clear days be tween the first reading of any private Bill, not being a railway Bill, and the second reading thereof, except by special order of the House. That no private Bill, not being a railway Bill, which shall now have been read a first time, shall be read a second time after ten clear days from this day, except by special order of the House.—Motion agreed to. Mr. WOOD presented several petitions in favour of the West Riding;Union Railway Bill from:various places in Yorkshire. STANDING ORDERS. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET moved that Nos. 7, 8, and 9, of standing order 87, be rescinded.— Agreed to. THE MACCLESFIELD AND LICHFIELD RAILWAY. Mr. MUNTZ withdrew the petition intended to be presented in favour of the Macclesfield and Lichfield Railway. CHURNET VALLEY BRANCH AND NORTII STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. The same HON. MEMBER also presented u petition in favour of the above-named railway Bi ll. THE CORN-LAWS. Mr. OSWALD presented a petition from the city of Glasgow, praying the House to pass into a law the , proposal of her Majesty's Government in favour of free trade. Mr. BROTHERTON also presented a petition, signed by 2,000 of the inhabitants of Ratcliffe and Pilkington, to the same effect. Sir W. SOMERVILLE presented a petition from Drogheda, to the same effect. Mr. SM.Y THE presented a petition from a Peace Se ciety deprecating war. Captain HEATHCOTE presented a petition from Plymouth (as we understood), signed by upwards of 2,000 inhabitants, in favour of the Government isicasu:(. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from Gravesend, in the county of Kent, signed by the Mayor and Alder met), in favour of the Government measure. Mr. GISBORNE presented a number of petitions to the same effect. HANDLOOM WEAVERS. Lord G. BEN TINCK presented a petition, si g n e d by 4,756 handloora weavers in Spitalfields. The peti tioners stated that they viewed with alarm the sweeping changes proposed by the Goverment, supported by the cry or cheap bread, which, in the opinion of the peti tioners meant low wages, therefore they prayed this Hou.e not to sanction the proposed measure. CHAR TIST CONVICTS. Mr. SHARM AN CRAWFORD presented a petition signed Airdrie, e 4 , , i o n oO sc o o p t e la r n at d i: , P e r s a o y f in tl g le fo to r w th n e; , a tr l o so m allanpeZtostnerfrosmig liberation of Frost, Williams, and Jones. TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. COOPER presented petitions from Wigan, and several other places, in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill. METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ASYLUMS. Mr. PATTISON presented a petition from the (LEFT SPEAKING.) LOSS OF THE BENCOOLEN. INQUEST ON ONE OF THE SEAMEN. An inquest was held on Tuesday, before Mr. Reyes, county coroner of Lancashire, touching the death of George Ellis, steward of the Bencoolen, which was lost on Saturday week, on Taylor's Bank. The inquiry took place at the house of Mr. Robert Rainford, of the Blun dell Arms, in Crosby, and, owing to the peculiar circum stances of the case, excited more than ordinary interest. Previous to the commencement of the investigation, Mr. Ripley stated that he was owner of the vessel, and he wished for a most searching investigation into the whole circumstances, so as, if possible, to ascertain the cause of the unfortunate disaster. It would, he believed, be proved in evidence that the loss of the vessel, the sacri fice of so many lives, and of so much property, had not been occasioned by the usual course of events in such cases. It would be proved that the weather was mode rate, that the atmosphere was clear, and that the ship was in good condition ; and if these pleadings were proved, it would, he believed, be incumbent that the inquiry should go fut then, and that they should look into the causes that had produced the disaster. It was of no consequence to the poor fellows whose lives were lost, or to him as the owner of the ship, what the result might be ; but circumstances might arise in evidence to show the necessity of adopting measures to prevent in future such loss of life and of property. The first witness called was George Grey, who de posed as follows:-1 live at Stockton-on-Tees, in the county of Durham. I was a seaman on board the barque Bencoolen, which left Lima on the 13th of Oct., and made the west of Ireland on the 6th inst. We took our pilot on board at eight o'cicck on Saturday morning, at Redwharf Bay, in Anglesea. The weather was at that time bad; it was blowing a gale of wind from the W. to W.N.W. That was a favourable wind for us. We passed the Bell Buoy at half past six o'clock at night. The wind had then abated a little. It was a beautitul moonlight night—quite clear. The pilot was walking the deck; he was sober, perfectly sober, so far as I know. We were right abreast of the Formby light-ship when the vessel struck. The tide was flowing ; it would then be about too hours before high water. It was high water at twelve minutes past nine that night. She struck several times upon the bank, and never got off. The wizen-mast went over in ten minutes after she struck. We lowered the. quarter boat in about ten minutes after striking, and five seamen and three boys got into it. The steward was in, but he went back for something, but before he could return, the boat had broken from the vessel. She had been fastened with a three-and-a-half inch rope. We tried to get back to save our fellow-creatures aboard of the barque, but we could not—the sea and the wind drifting us away. We got into Liverpool about half-past nine o'clock, and gave every information of what bad occurred. I believe that in twenty minutes after the vessel struck she totally disappeared. She had two boats aboard—the quarter boat and the launch, beautiful boats. The name of the pilot was James Greenwood Harding. He appeared to be about forty years of age. I have not often sailed out of Liverpool. The pilot seemed quite attentive, and seemed to understand the management of a ship— quite so. I have seen the deceased. His name was George Ellis. I did not see the cook in the boat. The boy said that the cook went back for his hat. The rope broke. I expect that some one threw tl.e end over. It was not the intention of the captain to go into the boat. The steward put the captain's writing desk on board. The captain ordered the boat to be lowered. He and the pilot at the same time gave orders for the longboat to be launched. We had no head-sail at all. The vessel steered well. The wind was aft. The wind was on her larboard quarter coming up the Vic toria Channel. No orders were given for bracing the yards till she struck. I heard no orders to alter our course when we came to the Formby light-ship. I was forward, and heard no such orders. Mr. Rowland—May I ask you whether, from the time the pilot came on board, you had an opportunity of seeing and marking his conduct ?—Yes. Did he give his orders well. ?—Yes, he seemed to give them very well. To Mr. Cooke, superintendent of pilots—l cannot say how the wind was in crossing the bar. The ship's head would be about S.S.E., as near as I could tell. We had close-reefed foretopsails and double-reefed main. Mr. Rowland—You state that the pilot came on board at eight in the morning, and that he was then perfectly sober ?—Yes. Had you an opportunity of observing him, say, an hour before the disaster took place ?-ob, yes. Was there then any apparent change in his conduct ? —None whatever. He was just as perfect as when he came on board. Mr. Ripley—l suppose the captain was sober ?-oh, yes, perfectly sober. I never saw him drunk. Captain Clarributt was as nice a man as I ever sailed with. In eluding tie pilot, there were twenty-cne persons on board the ship, eight of whom were saved. Mr. Ripley— I believe that in coming up the channel, the course of the vessel was not altered, and that when she was on shore her head was E.S.E. ?—When she struck I ran to the wheel myself, and her head, by the compass, was then E.S.E. I believe, from the position of the red light, that her course had not been altered at all. Benjamin Sparrow, an apprentice on board the Ben coolen. was next called. Ile deposed that the cook and steward both got into the boat. The cook went back to get his hat, and had not an opportunity of again getting into the boat. The steward, after putting the captain's desk into the boat, went back for something else. The boat filled almost immediately after being got out, and the people on deck hove buckets to them, so that they might bale her. When they got clear of the water, they were a long way from the ship. The rope broke—it was not cut by any one. He jumped into the boat without any orders. He did not hear any orders given by the captain or pilot that the boat should return to the ship. All hands were on the poop, and the captain called out, " Cut away the long boat." After that no attempt was made by any one to get into the quarter boat. Thomas Brooks, a fisherman, stated—On Sunday morning last, about seve•i o'clock, I was looking at my fishing-lines, on Little Crosby liberties, when I found the body of the deceased. It was lying on Charles's Bank. It was then low water. I hoisted a signal fur assistance, and three men came. We carried the body about a mile to shore, and lodged it in the house of Mr. Rainford. David Lloyd examined—l am the master of tha Formby light-ship. I recollect the night of Saturday week, when the Bencoolen was lost. She came directly up the Victoria Channel, on our larboard side. Th, wind was then N.W. I was at the time on the deck of the light-ship, and expected that she would not get clear of our buoys, and I went forward, to be ready in case we should want the helm shifted to one side or tl.e other. She passed so close to our buoys that we could have thrown a stone aboard of her. Mr. Cooke, superintendent of pilots—Bow Ras she steering when she crossed your bows ?—She hauled up to the N.E., and steered to the N.E. for a considerable time before I heard a word to say keep her away. Then there was a great noise, and they hoisted the foretop mast staysails and then the jib ; but by the time that the jib was half-up, she was on shore. Mr. Ripley—When she passed your bows, I suppose that, if the helm had been put the right way, she would have gone up the channel 7—Yes ; but I suppose slw got into shallow watEr, and then she would not answer so soon to the helm. But when she was passing the floating-light, if the helm had been put aport, she would have answered it ? —Yes, she would. Mr. - Cook—How must her helm have been put ?—lt must have been put to the starboard. I heard them say on board, " Port the helm!" " Hard up with the helm !" That was after she passed the buoy ?—Yes. Mr. Ripley.—She was in danger then?—l considered she was. She was [Lahore when the jib was got up; but, when the foretopmast staysail was loosed, she was no' ashore. lam perfectly satisfied (continued the witness) that the helm must have been put to the starboard when she crossed our bows, or she would not have gone to the N.E. Mr. Ripley.—When the order was given to port the helm, where was she?—To the eastward of the light ship, nearly abreast of Taylor's buoy. Do you think she had struck then?—No, not then. She kept her course to the N.E. till they hoisted the foretop mast staysail and shivered the maintopsail, when she seemed to take off a little; but she did not go very rapidly, and then I saw the jib go up, when she stuck fast. After I perceived she was fast, in about ten minutes she disappeared altogether. The surf was mak ing a fair breach right over her. Mr. Ripley—Do you think the pilot was at any time in fear of the ship coming in contact with the light- ship• and that the course was altered to avoid that?—l don't think there was any danger of that. He could have gone on either side of the light-ship with a N.W. wind. Mr. Cooke— How was her head when she stuck fast? —S.W.; but she might have caught the ground before that. Did you observe whether there was a sea on the Vic toria Bar when she came up?—There was a heavy sea there at daylight. I cannot say what there was at dark. You have been at sea a long time?—Yes. Do you fancy that a man competent to bring a ship over the bar could have made such a mistake as starboard for port, at such a critical period? The Coroner—Oh, he heard the order given to port the helm, and it was not obeyed. George Grey re-called—There was no order given to hoist sail till the vessel struck. Then there was an order to hoist the foretopmast staysail, and afterwards the jib. George Spencer was at the helm. He was lost The last witness says right about the orders given. They were, " Hard up with the helm!" and " Port the II( lni!" but then the vessel had struck. After she struck I rushed to the helm, and put it hard up. When we were passing the light-ship I was forward. The word " Put up the helm!" might then have been given without my hearing it. " Hard up!" said the captain and the pilot. It was hard up when I received it. Mr. Ripley—When was the course altered? It was when she got close into the light-ship. She want un considerably ahead, and then there was a great deal of noise abroad—cries of " Keep the. helm hard up," &e., as if come mistake had been made. The ship went along some time after the hoisting of the sails, but she was thumping all the time. Mr. Ripley—lt is clear that the vessel had struck when the order to port the helm was given. Mr. Lloyd—Yes. Mr. Ripley—Now, as a nautical man, Mr. Lloyd, what is your opinion of the cause of the loss of that vessel ? do you think it was the fault of the pilot I could not say it would be the fault of the pilot ; but I think that the ship might have kept away sooner. Was she under proper sail ?—She was not under pro per sail at the time. She ought to have had her head sails on, the topmast staysail at the least. And if she had had her head-sails on ?—The ship would have been more liable to keep away more quickly. She would have been more manageable 7—Yes, sir. The sails are always set and taken in by order of the pilot on board 7—Yes, as soon as a pilot goes on board a ship it is under his command. Your light-ship was in its proper position?—Yes, quite correct. Lieutenant Lord—And all the buoys were in their right places? Was there not an American ship passed at the same time? Witness—Yes, in five minutes after wards. Which way did she return?—She gave the light-ship plenty of sea room. She did not come on one side of it, and then luff to the other. ShQ came straight in, and one course would have taken her the whole way. George Lewis examined—l was on board the light ship at the time the Bencoolen came up. She bore to the northward of us, with her two topsails set, and the master said, "She will be sure to go on that way." We heard shoutings out, and saw the foretopmast staysail got up, and she shivered her mainsail, and presently she loosed her jib, but before that was up she was aground. Ten minutes after she was on her broadside. She passed us, and came to on account of having no headsail. In coming through a narrow place like that, she should have had her head sails set. _ Mr. Wm. Lord examined—l am the marine surveyor to the Dock Trustees, and produce a chart of the dif ferent channels to the port of Liverpool. I was down there yesterday afternoon surveying the banks. There has not been any alteration for the last seven years. The buoys are in the same positions as they are laid down in the chart. All the lights are in their proper positions. Mr. Ripley—l would ask you, Lieutenant Lord, as a nautical man, whether the Bencoolen came in under proper canvass?—l should have preferred more head sail on the vessel. _ _ If she had had head sail, would she have answered her helm better ?—The probability is that she would. What number of vessels enter the port of Liverpool through the Victoria channel 7—Last year, 28,861 ves- sels entered. Since the channel was first opened in 1839, there have come in and gone out through that channel, 141,680 vessels. That is pretty good evidence that the buoys and lights are not bad. Mr. Cooke.—You have heard the evidence given; what is your opinion as to the cause of the loss of that vessel, going as she was six knots an hour, and altering her position to the N.E. when she should have gone south and east?—l thought at first that *he might have broached to; but I am now of opinion that the helm has been put the wrong way. Mr, Cooke.—Nothing could have brought her into that position without the helm having been put to star board?—l am inclined to think so. Mr. I). Rowland.—Mr. Ripley, in opening the case, intimated very distinctly that there was an ulterior object in conducting the investigation in this way; and at the same time he made a very broad and strong statement, involving the general practice of the pilotage establish ment of the port. In reference to that statement, I wish to propose one short question to Lieutenant Lord. Dur ing his connexion with the port of Liverpool, I should like to ask him what is his opinion as to the general efficiency of the establishment? Lieutenant Lord—l think, taking the Liverpool pilots collectively they must be a very skilful set of men ?—I have no doubt about it ; for it is impossible that so many vessels could enter and quit the port in safety unless they were so. Mr. Ripley—Of course there are exceptions ? Yes, there are exceptions. Mr. D. Rowland examined—l am the Secretary of the Pilots' Committee. Before giving thy evidence, permit me to make a preliminary remark. The Pilots' Com mittee, yesterday, on having an intimation from Mr. Ripley of what would, in all probability, form the cha racter of this investigation, instructed me, their secre tary, to furnish on this occasion, the fullest and most complete information that could be given relative to the pilot who had charge of the Bencoolen. I have accord ingly extracted from the books everything in reference to him. His name was James Greenward Harding. He was bound apprentice to No. 7 pilot-boat on the 19th of February, 1827. On the 22d efJune, 1830, he obtained his license. From that time up to the 16th of March, 1840, nearly ten years, no complaint against him appears on the report of the proceedings of the Committee. He was a particularly sober man. No charge to the con trary has on any occasion been brought against him. On the 16th of March, 1840, he was for the first time brought before the Pilots' Committee on a complaint of Pile St. Croix, for getting the ship Ceres on Hoylake bank, on the sth of February in that year. The judgment of the committee on that case was—" James G. Harding is found to have been wanting in judgment, aad is hereby severely reprimanded, and admonished to be more care ful in future." On the 3(1 of Feb., 1842, he was again brought before the Pilots' Committee en a complaint of Captain Jackson, of the barque Jackson, for grounding the said vessel OR Burbo, on the 80th of January in that year. The judgment of the committee in that case was That he should be re• examined by the examining committee, that that committee should report, and that in the meanwhile he should leave his license with the secretary." On the 19th of August, 1844, having been re examined by Messrs. Nickels and Atkinson, two of the examining committee, he was found fully qualified, and was recommended for a full license, which was granted to him. On the 12th of May, 1845, on a complaint of Holderness and Chilton, for getting the barque Lady Constable on shore on Burbo Bank, on the 6th of that month, the judgment of the committee was—" That his license should be withdrawn on the score of gross inattention to the critical position of his vessel, which ought to have been brought immediately to anchor." On the 23d of June, 1845, he petitioned to have his license restored to him. That was granted; but he was told that if he was again brought before the committee on a charge of inat tention, he would be dismissed the service. Unfortu- nately for him; be would never again have the opportu nity of appearing before them. A good deal of ersation having taken place' arising out of the evidence of Mr. Rowland, George Grey was re-called, and stated that the tiller ropes coolen were in perfect order, and the ship an swered to the helm very well. of the B en. The Coroner briefly summed up, and the jury re turned a verdict of accidental death. WESTMINSTER ELECTION.. It was a considerable time after the final result of the polling was made known that General Sir De Lei Evans, the successful candidate, appeared on the bust" ings ; but the vast multitude which had been vent°, lating as the time of decision drew on, and could not have numbered less than 10,000, waited with vest P s ' tience for his arrival. • Mr. J. M. O'C•NNELL, M.P., in the meantime dressed the crowd by way, as he said, of keeping til e ,./ quiet till the General came; and this he felt himself t h e more fi t to do as he had kissed the blarney stone 1" Ireland. (We were quite unable to hear the flop. G en' tleman's address.) General Sir DE LACY EVANS arrived on the hustings 11 ,! Covent• garden at about five o'clock, and wee greeted wilt; immense cheering. When this had subsided, he said, s; was extremely sorry that they had been detained there, long, which was entirely owing to an accident , . lic e ‘i knew that he was under the orders of the ge,ne'd. committee. The committee desired that he shoula6,o dress the people from the front of the central comintt, room, and when he had done so, they t hen ordere d to go home.—(Laughter.) He was extremely sorrY P re he had complied with their orders, but a friend had c°l after him and brought him there.—(Laugh ter.) was, he said, extremely gratified—he was delighted co that he had returned amongst them again, for he saw b y „ e d result that those political feelings still lived and bur r in in their bosoms, and would lead them on to still B re a victories in the cause of liberty.—(Cheers.) He b el l e :et they were aware that the o ffi cial returns were tic' 4 s / made, but they had reason to expect that the 13 30 P g ri t o which had declared in favour of the best interest s city of Westminster, and of the cause of the pec,P,l e re st this country, would not be less than 800. --(-1 cheering.) He thought, that taking into account dila, considerable attempt had been made to take thetc b3 : 9 o prise, the result would teach them a lesson agnin s 'Ast occasion when they might have the opportunity of tbeow,,, party; they would not then confine their major it y 800; they would double that number.—(Loud ch e A e ls His honourable opponent yesterday told them, au 01l (Sir De Lacy Evans) was amused at it, that the ' t he of that election would be a great moral lesson to led people at large. He (Sir De Lacy Evans) ivs 4 that there was one point, though they disagreed ow e d others, that yet there was cne which they were s f 4 trf upon. Yes, it would be a moral lesson to the cot ta respecting the character and conduct of public, !de generally.—(Cheers.) He had not much rernsinlpel him of the strength of life, but whatever be posse be he would spend fur them in a continued effort d id found faithful to the trust which they had irer s ., e- 0 01( 1 him. With these few and brief expressions tie - set conclude by telling them that they would have to 0 , 1 ,, there again to-morrow, at, he thought twelve o'elon4 (A voice, " Two o'clock." Mr. J. M. O'Connell, te r,) twelve o'clock, and you'll be quite sure," Laugh for In the meantime he begged again to thank tbensbo the high and honourable distinction which the!,bot conferred upon him ; the more honourable ' O . it was not his first election, for now their Aftnire, pressed their confidence in him for the tt l e ." - 01 and their judgment on his past conduct. He b e r n congratulated them on the victory which he had y i— wes their exertions.—(Great cheering.) He said he oil reminded of one thing, and he was glad of it , t hli they had at that moment upon the throne dot, country a sovereign—a Queen—(Cheers) -1 15 P e ,„o o perhaps, in all the relations of private life, as nor generous and patriotic in public feeling—she Iwo ti bleb trader. He proposed three cheers for the Queen, // Ap o, was responded with three hearty rounds from the "- mass which crowded the square. The meeting then separated. THE INVERNESS RIOTS. o r I INVERNESS, FEB. 11.—Peace may now be said to be 8,6 lished. There were no potatoes to-day in the market, 101 cargo has been shipped while no obstruction has been 0 ';to When down at Use pier only two constables were seell°o ground; but we afterwards saw that members of the,... oe were stationed at convenient intervals along the streepie that in case of an attempt at rising by the poPu lacl alarm might be conveyed, as by telegraph, to the Toe' ll t ; the where the whole constabulary were in attendance, an d . pt Castle, where the military were also kept in readine s ,7o” there was not a symptom of movement, and the went on without molestatien. All the prisoners taken are yet in custody. As " t - , tl O , will necessarily be high, and as the prisoners belong , e ta humblest grades of society, very likely few can cortintd, this privilege till the time of trial. Probably the lief Advocate will not indict the whole, but select the g u . l ui etl• persons, to make them an example to their fellow-toTinbeit The evidence of the rest may be necessary to convlc associates. Ths test of the feelings of the people has now been li t t e n t il the result is on the side of peace. Yesterday nothingd the be said, as there was nothing to call forth the ange,r co " OS: populace. To-day the event, which always brought to u stlP in hostile opposition, recurred without producing iti e rs effect. This augurs, and it is hoped with truth, that ut. es' an end of outrage for ' the present. The whole car is pected to be under hatches to-night, and the vessel I n cleared out immediately, as too dangerous to be keP t orcoll: neighbourhood. The next communication probablT gee,' vey intelligence that peace is established, the military ref away, and that an eventful period is ended in the lu'w - , Inverness. Already everything bids fair for the trial order, and the final suppression of its enemies. ROYAL 4 Lectures k on ,, • I t' .• . datt . 1 04 PredneE series of LE 1 40ritings ai a 6„ lll e,tratd b . • .fir. on th , _thorkilel ng Model ea or CO'A old descen vt_PILYSOSCC Cllll l om ,„ wad DIVE] ' 414 Wen to Bab DON is The Public Mil ace the d ispatehed Tmcstivetrpooi, &piton *Minn, Cr R ANI; ist ..A.,Tlihe Public , the E.! n, nningh m a neater tha( lea t the and n Oelteral Manage) () S r 4 E A T A 1 The Direct e 44°11 ‘ Of lion.. tilt or ht,reli Year. ! r iot at t„a rate ell APPll cat ions ma ) ce ' P4cklingtot, `v -E] holden ll_e 3, January bt.„' r : Provi sion , tot, " rden th 7 the Z ff i d "o-Vect it - '" e es of the iteh reet, Loncli,r Val b e • bt et c . B „2°'e — "Y t 11 Y ....L: ir tb. 11, 13" e. RS !Co • -- `Kint, "th e Wort StII„ C°I P PI aq 3)11 p 61 , Lary etierk i : Row, E s , En ()Li , 11 14 let o " 1 1 ) r e v is ,iirvertterai use v i rlaluga Ct 11 0 ,1 1 , (44: 1 the w ;Ittatillato, W here 1 'TIIPet Niy a ttalis *here a 9, Dru stt _ ird b eci Plintd • - :cornnra U Is t IV - hi s t 44, 'M uted ra t heatr es 44 % Nile: tit 4 4 44 the O Y 4 4411°NA t4 tet hk ,_ t he iZtA tl4l2l4 re spee, , li: : 4 110 st: tis f[ Tai te; 4 1 13 : 48 :4 - ear, tar t oaz l e l tl i tot s 4 %4 44° th %II o f a The .4 1r I ' t eesa I 'cit t .,, ar ' l4 g fro ' 1) I terttinna. • 14 I WO 8 . ot '4% Prose 4 11, 441,,, Hen g 4 lit e ' Am„,. ity • it . r "nler, 4, v al i ttra, F. I' NI 13 144 111 V ti - • 41 1 an, ' , ger , 1 1 1.4,,,, 5 _0 Fr: t, ; 1 - `utt k I % , toi ni ,an„ . s . n etio 4 ill "v 4 intturanile,.etrtet ll 'istrd ~ e . „ 141, t : t 3 ' t, 11) r :'c's al I tt; ll .. P4n Y. b ' C,! sur4i address t eti wv et , t,l 1 - 1 4t C i tqh 4t4 tar rdu 1 1, 4 1 1 ; r% kis. 11 1 „ in hen 4 , ekl „ e, Esc STATE OF TRADE. g ? pre' MANCHESTER, JAN. 17.----This market fully pates in the flatness and absence of demand vi11i ° , 3 1 .404 1 veil at the present time in all the principal ne ll ;i 0 e0 commerce throughout the country. Very little bu o has been done during the last three or four clsr , el b in yarn or goods ; but, though some few parties let" submitted to lower rates, prices are, in general , t OO ably well maintained ; the spinners and manilf° 3 9 oP evidently believing that the peculiar circumstan c o %et fecting the money market will not be of much I°l3 continuance. A rl ROCHDALE, FEB. 16.—We have had a du ll 17) ber ° to-pay ; a very limited quantity of flannels ha s o cler , sold at last week's prices. The wool market has ti gone no change since last Monday. c D yke LEEDS, FEB. 17.—At the percent juncture O . 1 3 r affairs, it can hardly be expected that business in 1 5 ;,.." ral should resume anything like activity or buoys° l 4 our markets do not offer an exception; they reina ili f t ett , quiet, with steady price. The latest accounts ur AO America are considered more satisfactory; and, c o , ,or 0( with the anticipations of a telling majority in fa to the the Ministerial measure, infuse a better spirit i n trading community. ide t ' HUDDERSFIELD, FEB. 17.—There has been conso; , rable demand for goods adapted for the shipping a tr he cle; but there is a great sc arc i t y o f thi s qua lity o f 0 40 0 ' manufacturers being deterred from providing 9 01 1 until the present corn debate is settled, and the hold iT the approaching wool sales is known.—Mane Guardian. „ A ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN f oe e l On Monday morning an accident of a serious nature occurrn o - el, Groat Western Railway, between Box and Middlehill If' which the lives of several persons were end ang ered ; and nioured that one person was killed. It appears that the up - t. Bath had an open truck, containin g several ,„note,°_, attached to the train ; and when between Box and Middlehl 011 . 1 2 the tire of one of the leading wheels of the truck new °, i 1 0 ,e c. used such an oscillation, that either through fear a nutelt the f 70. out, or were thrown from the truck by the motion. -74.,` t 11 0 7 4 engine -driver nor the guards were cognizant of any sell, 0% entering the tunnel, the echo of the screams o f those In s od alarmed the engine -driver, who instantly stopped the tratoj e on. s c e g. jug back it was discovered that nine persons were on rp ei to s...riously injured that it was considered necessary to take tr Bl hospital at Bath, and one of them, it is said, has since di ed' iod ttl& stoppage the mail was nearly three-quarters of an hour a"' - pis it tP" ...4a Another detention took place the same day to the up daY"''', i he.,,,tll. but, fortunately, unattended with serious consequence. ge r de , was propelled by the Proserpine engine, which, when het w, evs.A.F lingford-road and Reading, broke one of its cranks, 50 du': WM4 was totally disabled. On arriving at Reading station, an up.'" tter d et train happening to be there, its engine the (the Hercules) w„„.'" it ahead of the Proserpine, and conveyed it to S l ough, L.'"„ station the disabled engine took the train to Paddlilgt°"' pfi g arrived nearly an hour behind time. g NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSES.—On Satur day of the receipts and payments on account of the din 4 " - t ed men e re for the northern lighthouses for the year 1844, Pr - pa r 0 , Parliament, was printed. The receipts for the 46,632!. 6s. 5d., to which was added a balance n i ,„;Ergi 32,904/. 6s. 4d., making 79,5361. 12s. 9d. The toi- 9 - , flints were 40,0251. 16s. 3d., leaving a balance of 16s. 6d. letter 11 . , 0 A Loss OF THE TRIAL, OF GLASGOW.--.. been received at Lloyd's, from the Admiralty, el ee , fr° — copy of a letter received through the Foreign i li he e, f a ; the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs at t he is i f porting the wreck of the Trial, of Glasgow, 0 1,, Cr° ult., near Villa Real de St. Antonio, MontVim'''. saved. BIRTHS. o f G TrO r' On the 15th of December last. at Calcutta. the WY Esq., of the Bengal Medical Establishment, of a We. 4 t he P . ' On the 14t1r inst., at Uumington, Suffolk, the lady 0 of Miller, of a daughter. the ladl ' On the 15th inst., at Aldborough Lodge, Yorkshi re, of .i. T. Weodd, Esq., of a daughter. On the 15th inst., at St. James's-terrace, Liverpool, the if ° An do Bourne, Esq., of Heathfield, of a daughter. WY of the Ales On the 16th inst., at the Terrace, Putney, D o v er. 311ddleton, Esq., of a son. On the 17th inst., in Baker-street, Portman-squar e r Ce 4 of a son. te e, Keming lig • On the 17th inst., at St. George's-terrace, oct, of a son. D. a• °ad' On the 13th inst., at Herne-bay, the wife of On it" Y „ lA A A of aaughter. the 13th inst., Mrs. Thomas GurueY , 0., vac,- g Wandsworth-road, of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 9th of December last, at the Cathedral , Anderson, 0.14., Bengal Artillery, to Frances Sophia dau 4 hter of the late T. C. Plowden, Esq., B.C•B. t On the 12th inst., at the parish church, e....,p bter Archer, 4th Dragoon Guards, to Eliza, eldest a."' C.Aalreauttittae,..l:Juorirgeli R ev. Swetenham, Esq., of Sornerferd, Chester. e the Th orn Ile a 3 On the 12th inst., at St. George's, Hanover Wir t ,' e la te Blunt, to Charlotte Mary, second daug hter 0 o f VI; Daniell, Esq., of Little Berkhamstead, Herts. _,, cigor ty . , _ Oa the 12th inst., Lieutenant-Colonel W. Antrim, Deputy Quarter-Master-General, ,7.gment, M`Gildowny, youngest daughter of the late J. 1;4" inure, Antrim. b‘db On the Gth inst., in London, DlED Colon el Thar"' DuudAS carnP 00 4$ late of her Majesty's 50th Regiment, aged 79' wieloW of On the 13th inst., at Ashurst, Kent, MarY , of t he Is. au" o' On the 15th inst., at Hastings. Elizabet h ' ' Yu° Farley, Rector of Ducklington, Oxfordshiree ' the c., int ent de room. On the 16th inst., in New Millman -5a t of J. ti R. Garland, Esq. w idow D al.r- On the 12th inst., Rachel Hutchinson, of Eeq, Esq., late of Ilighbury•park, aged es • „ us , porw , to On the 12th inst., at Laverstoke, Wu 'o o ' l ' stoke tho u 13 , Hants, aged Cavendish -r oad. 91. st. johife Onth inst., in ; Gore Matson, late Captain in the 59t h oa pg. I ct At Swansea, South Wales , Mar y t of , Anne „hoent• `, roc in i I7ondou: Printed acrd Published by Strand, Pt inter, at The Sun Office,:illideTß. l e l s l32 , 2 Z S , trY T a llll d4 d llB / 1 elei of the Savoy, In the County of 19, 1546.