The Sun. — London, England, 1846-06-23 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (Y ESTERDAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS, OARTBRIDDIA AND OX1 1 0111). (Continued from onr Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Yr. TrADDMOToI (on the part of the promoters) then proceeded to =Mine Lord pecan, who said he was chairman of the Cambridge and 01- ford Company. and who gave evidence in favour of the line. Other witnesses were then called, and gave similar evidence. They were cross-examined by Mr. Talbot, Mr. Midgard, and Mr. Corry, on the part of the Duke of Buckingham, who petitions against the Bill on the ground of injury to his property, and by Mr. Calvert and Mr. Wells, en the part of several petitioning landowners. Their Lordships were occupied the whole day with the general evidence, and rose at four o'clock. They adjourned till to-morrow at eleven o'clock. 'OCX, AND AZ- 'ON. OL.A.SCIOW's, DROSSAN, (Continued ftom our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) - - . The Counsel on either side having been enable to agree, and being still unable to settle their differences, occupied their Lordships for some time in a fruitless discussion, which ended in their leaving the room to make an arrangement amongst themselves. The disputed clauses being settled on the return of the counsel, this Bill was passed finally. The Committee proceeded with the GLASGOW, BARRI/1141D, AND NEZISTON. Mr. ♦rsriw opened the case, and called several witnesses whose examination occupied the Committee up to four o'clock, at which hour they rose, and adjourned till to-morrow at eleven. IlDnwarracut AND NONTIM.II2I. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) Tha caSa for the promoters occupied the Committee up to four t, when the Committee rose and adjourned till to-morrow, with Vie understanding that Mr. Hope would not call any mere wit tiesks„ Room D. swrzeToN AND LINCOLN. This Committee resumed its sitting at eleven o'clock in Room D ; all the Members present. Densaster, We Mr. DENISON addressed their Lordships at considerable lengthk agalmt the proposed line, which is a branch of the field, and Leeds, on behalf of Sir Joeepis Co pl ey. whose mansion would b e Incommoded by the proximity to t re te y, li wi ne r ,.w c h b i a c r h le z i a l s o t c e xi s: titled to by Lord Francis Egerton, Lord G wi M.P., Mr. Denison, 31. P and several other b t:esses, though it was • , wa ll might b uilt so as tr.. shut admitted to Mr. Hildyard that a cut the railway from the dwelling, and addressed r the u n ' Committee ls ; aft e r on w h jch behalf of Mr. Serjeant WRANGRA the London and York Railw n Y . urging their Lordships to defer th e i r decision till next session, when the merits of the South York sine would have been brought before their Lordships, and a fairer estimate of the merits of the competing lines wonl4 then be arrived at. Mr. Ilmovano contended that a great injustice would be in flicted on the public if their Lordships suffered the South York line, which had been rejected by a Committee of the other House, to interrupt their decision with regard to the Swinton and Lincoln, which was to connect four towns with large populations, namely, Doncaster, Sheffield, Rotherham, and E sl arn sy, by IN miles only of railway. Rotherham was the greatest cattle-market in the north of England, and the coal for 4 or 5 miles round Barnsley was ten feet thick, of excellent quality, and low in price. A preference would not be given to the Derbyshire coal as had been alleged, and the company tvere ready to do anything in reason to remove Sir Joseph Copley's objections. Mr. DExison stated that even were Sir Joseph Copley not con nected with the South York nothing would reconcile him to the pro posed line. The Committee deferred their decision, and intimated that they would to-morrow morning take the Sheffield and Lincolnshire line, which also asserts Its right to be considered a competing line. Their Lordships then adjourned at a quarter-past four o'clock. 110 USE OF COMMONS. GROUP 11. The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of these Bills eouiprised iu this group re-assembled at the ustu hour this morning. Lord Morpeth in the chair. WEST COENWALL. . • • Mr. COCKBURN made a short address to the Committee on behalf of the opponents of this line, after which Mr. SMITH replied. The room was then cleared, and the Committee baying remained some time in deliberation, the parties were re-admitted, when The CHAIRMAN announced that the preamble of the West Cornwrll Railway was proved, and the Committee required certain alterations to be made in the clauses with respect to several of the whatil near the line. GROUP XIII. This committee met to-day -at one o'clock, Sir William Clay In the chair. CALEDONIAN EXTENSION. The case on behalf of this line was resumed, Sir WALTMI RIDDELL intimated that it wag the intention of the promoters of the Bill to adhere to the course mentioned by Mr. Cockburn—namely, the stopping of the line at Muirkirk. This was done under the impression that a line which was stated by the other We to be under construction from Ayr to Muirkirk would be bona fide carried out. In each a case it would be manifestly absurd for two lines of railway to be constructed parallel through such a dis trict of country as that from Muirkirk to Ayr, and hence the promoters of the Caledonian Extension thought it advisable to give up that portion, and retain all the rest. Should the line from Ayr to Muirkirk not to be made, then the Caledonian Extension would come before Parliament in another year for that portion. The examination of witnesses was then proceeded with. Mr. Ferguson, mining engineer, and lessee of the Lesmahagow Collieries, gave evidence as to the extent and character of the coal fields along the route of the line. The Muirkirk field was six miles long by one broad, and the aggregate thickness of the coal seams, was forty feet. The Glenbuck coal-field was an extension of the Muir/ark field, only It was richer in gas coal. This coal was 2s. a ton at the pit bank, and 40,000 tons a year could be easily raised if an outlet was given for the sale of them. The present line would effect an opening to the east and west. The Doeglas coal-field on the route of the line was also a valuable one. The area of the coal-field was about 30 square miles, of an ag gregate thickness of about 60 feet. Three feet of it was gas coal, which had scarcely been wrought at all. Iron-stone was also abun dant, both clay and block-baud. The block-band iron-stone alone could supply 10 furnaces for 32 years, and the clay-band iron-stone could supply them at least ten times longer. The Lesmahagow eoal-field contained 40 square miles, and was, in the aggregate, 25 feet, of which 1 foot 9 inches was gas coal. The greater part of the latter coal was sent by carts to Glasgow. The line would be of great advantage to all these coal-fields. Black-band iron-stone was also found in large quantities in the Lesmahagow field. lie had no doubt that, if the line were funned, it would lead to the establishment of iron works. Williamson and Mr. Williams, mining engineers, corroborated the evidence of the previous witnesses. Mr. Adam Black, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, examined—lle was Chairman of the Edinburgh and Leith Gas Company, and he was of opinion the opening up of the Lesmahagow coal-fields would be of great benefit to the company in supplying Cannel coal at a cheap rate. The witnegs also deposes that Edinburgh, being the head seats or law and education in Scotland, there was a considerable traffic in passengers between that metropolis and Ayr. Mr. Scott, factor to Lord Douglas, deposed that his Lordship approied of the line on public grounds, and that the line would I,e of the greatest pos-ibis advantage to the agriculture of the district. The line passed for twenty miles through Lord Dougla3's property, end would open up in the most direct manner the markets of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Ayr. The Ctinimittee then adjourned till to-morrow at twel►e o'clock, GROUP XVII. MANCHESTER AND SOI This Committee re-assembled this day at one o'clock, the Hon. E Torte in the chair. Mr. W. Nicholas, who had rented the Luggershall toll-gate on the high road between Cheltenham and Southampton for many years, stated that the amount of toll had decreased at the rate of 101. a year; but it came out in the cross-examisation that, all parsons going to the important fairs of Weyhill and AppleshaW, could easily avoid the gate, and •no doubt'did so. None of the shell) coming or going to these fairs passed through this gate. Mr. John Banning. toll-collector at the Collinborne-gate in the same district. deposed that his receipts had very much diminished ; but he admitted, in his cross-examination. that this amount did not represent the local traffic, because this gate could also be avoided. Mr. Samuel Robbins, re-siding at Tewsey, where he carried on the business of a timber-merchant, said there was a good conveyance tor timber by the Kennett and Avon canal, and that, so far as that neighbourhood was concerned, it would not use the railway for the conveyance of timber. By the CHAIRMAN—No railway was nearer than eighteen miles. Cross-examined by Mr. .AXE. 9 —Supported the project for convert ing the Kennett and Avon Canal into a railway. He made a pro posal to the Manchester and Southampton Company to bring their line nearer his wharf, not because he could get timber cheaper by it, but because he should be able to sell his wharf for a larger slim. Mr. John Harris, was proprietor of a coach which ran for twenty years between Cirencester and Cheltenham, which he discontinued because when the railways were opened it became unprofitable. This, with the exception of the engineering evidence, closed the case on behalf of the South-Western.l Mr. Austin, to-morrow, will open the case on the part of the Great Western. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow. GROUP XVIII. anarrsnm, YEOVIL, AND DOR.O ETAT= (LONDON, .BAZILSZWILW, AND JITNCTION). This Committee met to-day; B. 'Denison, chairman. Several clauses and amendments were agreed to, and added to the Bill as originally proposed, having for their object the protection of the interests of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway. 31r. AUSTIN made an application to the Committee, on the part of the Great Western Company, to reconsider the preamble of the Exeter Groat West:Tii Company, and allow them to con struct the branches as proposed in their Bill from Ax minster: to Bridport and Wimpole to join the Bristol and Exeter. The Learned Counsel contended that the Committee had power to do so if they thought proper. The CHAIRMAN stated that the first question to be decided was whether the Committee would entertain such a proposition. The room was ordered to be cleared. Upon the parties being Called in, The CHAIIMAN stated that their application had come too late. LONDON, NEWBURY, AND BATH DIRECT. In the absence of Mr. Sergeant WIANGII.33I, who was engaged in the Doncaster and LaeZs room, Mr. MEREwETITER, at the request of the Chairman (who sug gested that It was an excellent chance for a junior), opened the case in an able address on behalf of the promoters of this scheme. he Learned Counsel entered Into a minute history of the London, ""wburY, and Bath Canal Company, who were the principal prl rs of this line, and showed that they had suffered considerably in " n efttuen dinimtu ce of the c ons t ruc ti on of t h e G reat W estern Ra i lway, t h e i r state d :to tt lr _n_g le faln from 30s. per share to 7s. Gd. After having est i mate . , er ;a:rttee the cours e of the proposed line, the length, a railway, tilt and the other requisites for the constr u ction of opinion th a t the CereThAte oisel, concluded his speech by stating his nrmously decide that the me ' Di va h n r ln . g heard the evidence, wo u ld u na - At the close of his n..e4u, bk or the Bill was proved. o'clock to-morrow.the Committee adj ourne d till twelve GROUP xx. SURREY' IRON 3LELXIAIiav mut B"neet (Continued from our Aft ernoon Edition 074)....__,_). The evidence of the oppo nents having been c0nem.77"47.-) tbs . Illittee postponed their decision. Cent LONDON, nomwszovr, AND WESTlring. Mr. CoCißrAN's summing up of the evidence in support or this line occupied the Committee through the remainder of the sitting, when they adjourned till two o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XXXI. NIZZEITOL AND. BINVIINGNA24 (SATE BRANCH). The Committee re-assembled this morning at about half-past twelve. and proceeded with the examination of witnesses In favour of the above Bill. Mr. Bachelor and other witnesses were examined, and gave general evidence in support of the Bill, and the Committee then ad journed. GROUP XXXIII. WORCESTER. AND vrEassoN. HAMPTON AND ASUCEITECH, HAMPTON AND BANBUET. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) 'Viscount Villiers and other witnesses gave similar evidence against the.lines, chiefly on the ground of the injury that would be done to property in the district to be traversed, in consequence of the inter ferenee with the fox-hunting pleaoures of the county of Warwick. The Committee akiourneel at four o'clock till twelve to-morrow. GROUP X.:CCV II I, WiTAZ.ZPZELD TO LEEDS (mnmawn Ez. TZ.TeSION). Several witnesses were called this morning, who gave evidence in Favour of this extension scheme of the Midland Railway. The evi dence was brought to bear upon the present inetficient mode of com munication between the important towns of Wakefield and Leeds. The Coniatittte adjourned till twelve to-morrow. GROUP LIII. This Committee re-assembled this morning In Boom 26 (Grand Corridor), at the usual hour. Present, the Hon. E. Lascellee (in the chair), the Earl of Arundel and surrey, Mr. Llildyard, Captain Dalrymple, and Mr. H. Clayton. 41 =7=3/Guass, Du1n.377,_ alga womprai HAMPTON. -- The Hon. Mr. TALsot Q.C., opened the case on behalf of the pro moters. After a few remarks, he contended (and he said he would be able to show by evidence) that the parties whom he represented lad a preponderance, and under the circumstances a most remark able Dreporderance of the opinion of merchants in the manufacturing lwricts tbxough which this and Um rival lines proposed to poi. • This line would possess this great advantage over its rivals, viz., that it would not be amalgamated with the London and Birmingham and the Grand Junction, thus securing to the manufacture - s of that dis trict and the public at large the advantages of competition. This was an entirely independent company, devised by the priuci al ironmaeters of the district. Unless the Committee were prepared to establish in the hands of the parties named, as it seemed to him, one of the greatest and most overpowering monopolies that could ever be con stituted by the cupidity of companies coalescing for the purposes of profit, they could hardly assent to the propositions of his Learned Friend. The Committee might grant the line which he re presented without a single qualm as to the erect which it Might produce upon the dividends of the eetisting canal. They might legislate with perfect freedom upon this point, for the proprietors had already provided against any loss which they might sustain in this respect. In fact, this railway had been laid out for the purpose of preserving the proprietors of the canal perfectly harmless. A man could not, by the proposed Shrewsbury and Birmhigham, pass from Stahel to Dudley. No ae commodation was given by it between Walsall, Blisters, and Dudley, er West Bromwich and Walsall, all of which were crowded and roost important towns. In order to remedy the defects of his line, Mr. Stephenson proposed to unite with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton a line which he abominated, and spurned+ and one too, which the promoters of his line said they believed would never be made. And then, as to the an-important question of the sta tion at Wolverhampton—whether it should be on the high or the los level—Mr. Brunel and Mr. Locke entertained th e opinion , that t h e a low level was the better plan, whilst Mr. Stephenson an;entertained contrary opinion. Now, he thought, that hil (Mr. Tal ) sanction of Parliament. If the Committee decided thatth ought to be right, a priori, and for this reason, that theeyhhhcadh level e one.uldecision hhave e th e y we yollaate -, was the better of the two, they would m n ak a e haard the Parlia ment on this question appear to be a nf be a tw in ee il i e s . Tiptonwhy. nei ther toned this, the Shrewsbury and Birmingham and a canal running the distance h at. Wolverhampton, at a In " Punch"— (Laughter) —nor in Bradehaw's map could they tind o fi f ve st - l eig m ht i hT who had been brought for a similar case. The witnesses ward in support of the Shrewsbury, and Birmingham as far as regarded the accommodation which it would afford be tween Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, did not live within ten or twelve miles of Wolverhampton ; and, therefore, were not locally acquainted with the district which they were ealled to speak ot. lie complained that by statements in local newspapers the promoters of that lime had attempted to mislead the public with regard to the accommodation which their line would afford. Their line would cause an enormous deStruc tion of property, and it w ou ld bl oc k up the access to all the principal works of Wolverhampton. All the advantages which they proposed to aft rd to the people of Wolverhampton would be afforded by the line which he represented. The evidence of Mr. Stephenson with regard to the advantages of a high level at Wolverhampton had, in his (Mr. Talbot's) opinion, been shattered to pieces. In stead of having absorption of momentum, Mr. Stephenson would have acceleration by his high level station, which would form a sort of pinnacle, which would be in all respects- highly objectionable. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to enter into'a comparison of the proposed stations at Birmingham. He admitted that Mr. Stephen son's would be central, but he also maintained that his (Mr. Talbot's) clients' station was still more central, whilst it vronld afford infinitely more accommodation to goods and passengers arriving from Wolver hampton. He contended, too, notwithstanding the evidence that had been laid before the Committee, that this company's stations would be as near to the banks, post-office, town-hall, &c., &c., as that of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham. He then pointed out, by the aid of a most excellent model of Birmingham, the situations of the pro posed different stations there, the property which would have to be de stroyed by each, lice. The gradients of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham line as it entered Birmingham were of a most difficultdescriptien, and Mr. Stephenson, in order to get out of that difficulty, said that simi lar gradients existed in some of the lines entering London, Manches ter, and Liverpool, but he (the Learned Counsel) trusted that would not be accepted as a sufficient reason for their approval of his scheme. The Shrewsbury and Birmingham would also pass over a burial ground in Birmingham, which might have been very easily avoided. They were all fiercely opposed by the trustees of the roads to pass, and however important the con struction of a railway might be in that district, he conceived that it was the duty of the Legislature to take care that, by their decisions, they did not deprive the public of the advantages of the existing highways, which the Shrewsbury and Birmingham pro posed to destroy. Mr. Fowler, one of the witnesses called in sup port of that scheme, in his evidence, stated that it would afford ac commodation to a greater number of works than either of its rivals, but he made this most serious omission—he forgot to state that, although it might accommodate more numerically, it would not accommodate nearly as much as this did the most important works of the district. There was one point, and one point only, upon which ids clients pleaded guilty to something like omission, which had been of course made the most of on the other side. Their line went nearer to Darlaston, which contained a population of 8,244. His defence was this, that the Grand Junction ran within three-quarters of a mile of that very town, which was very inconsiderable when compared with the other towns which the lines would accommodate, its principal business c onsisting in the manufacture of hinges, bolts, &c. But, as regarded the difference of accommodation proposed to be afforded by this line and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham to the people living between those two places, the rival companies bad made use of the pot and kettle argument. If he were to be told of freaks of management, &c. he could most successfully retaliate on his Learned Friend. The wed lock of tire Shrewsbury and Birmingham with the canal in that district would entail the most serious consequences as regarded the interests of the public. The cost of that line would be 1,200,0001., whereas the whole of the line which he represented would cost ne more than 700,0001. ilia clients would have to construct only In; miles of railway in common with the South Staffordshire, whilst the rival line would involve the expense of 26 miles. This line would be the freest, the moat independent, and the best ; it would not be under the influence of a council sitting at Euston-square, who could have no interest in the district. The Learned Counsel having concluded his speech, of nearly three hours' length, and resumed his seat, rose again in a few minutes, and stated that since he had tho honour of addressing the Committee he had the happiness to hear that an arrangement had been entered into between the Trent Valley Midlands and the South Staffordshire junction, which would have the effect of assigning all the lines on the south of Walsall (which would include Dudley) to the former Company. Lord Hatherton was then examined by Mr. Sergeant Ktreeesge, on behalf of the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley line. His Lordship stated that he was a landowner and mineral proprietor in South Stafforahire, and that it was of the very greatest importance that that district should have the advantage of having a direct railway communication with Birmingham and other large towns. Those ad vantages would be best afforded by the scheme under the consideration of the Committee. The London and Birmingham ltailway had not been of the slightest advantage to South Staffordshire. The greatest landed proprietors of the district through which this line would pass, as well as the principal ironmasters, were the promoters of this scheme. If the proposed amalgamation of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham with the Grand Junction were carried out, to say the least of it, a great and permanent evil—in fact, the most extensive monopoly that Parliament had yet sanctioned—would be inflicted upon the district. He conceived that the high level adopted by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham at Wolverhampton would be most in convenient, and would entail a serious destruction of property. All the lines entering Wolverhampton ought to meet ; it was chiefly an exporting town, and would be decidedly best accommodated by the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and budley. Cross-examined by Mr. HOPS —He had no recollection of having given instruction to agent to sell land to the Shrewsbury and Bir mingham Company on the erection of their high level station atWol verhampt on. He could not say of his own knowledge whether that station would cause great destruction of property, but he had heard "several say so, and being a chairman of this Company's line, he believed the rumours. This line would have the advantage over its rivals of being on the broad gauge, which, in his opinion, was the best and safest. Ito believed that the amalgamation of this Company with the London and 'Birmingham would be beneil cial to the public and the parties concerned. About half-a-dozen of the principal iron-masters were in favour of the Company's line, and there could he no doubt that several ot the roost wealthy and re spectable Iron-maters were in favour of the Shrewsbury and Mr- Iniegham. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock until twelve to-morrow. GROUP "XIII. MIDLAND RAILWAY (PURCHASE or OAICHAPI CANAL). The Committee were occupied during the greater part of the day on the clauses of this Bill. GROUP TAX. This Committee, consisting of Mr. E. Buller (chairman), Mr. Parke, lion. E. Gore, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Plumptre, assembled to-day, at one o'clock, in Room 16. The following Bills have been referred to this Committee, viz. : Huddersfield and Sheffield, and Manchester and Leeds Railway and Amalgamation. Liverpool and Bury, and Manchester and Leeds Railway and "Amalgamation. Manchester and Bolton, and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway, and Manchester and Leeds Railway Amalgamation. Manchester and Leeds, and Leeds and Bradford Railway. Manchester and Leeds Extension, &c. Blackburn and Preston, and East Lancashire Railways Amalga mation. Lancashire and Preston Junction. Lancaster and Carlisle, and Lancaster Railway Amalgamation. Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway (Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canal Purchase). The list having been read by the Clerk, the CIIAIRICAN directed the Huddersfield and Sheffield and Manchester and Leeds Railway and Amalgamation, and the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Man chester Railway, &c. Bills to be referred to the Chairman of the Ways and Means, the same being unopposed. BLACKBURN AND PRESTON, AND EAST LANCASHIRE AMALGAMATION. Thls Bill was opposed by the lessees and occupiers of the collieries in the district through which the railway proposed to pass, on the ground that the rate of tolls, namely, 134 d. per ton per mile, was ex cessive, and that the same should be reduced on short distances to the same rate as the Grand Junction Railway. Mr. Crofts appeared in support of the petition against the Bill, and Mr. Coates (Parliamentary agent) on behalf of the promoters. Mr. J. Grundy, solicitor of the line, was examined, and stated that the proposed amalgamation would be most desirable. Mr. Sinclair said that the line, in an engineering point of view, was extremely favourable. _ _ . Both witnesses were cross-examined, but without invalidating their evidence on direct examination. The room was cleared, and on our re-admission the Chairman an nounced that the Committee had decided that the preamble of the Bill was proved. The chimes of the 11111 were then agreed to. and ordered to be reported. GROUP LXIV. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN (aluzznemaa AND ATHLONE). The portions of the subscribers' agreement which were non eat on Saturday were produced. The clauses of the Bill were then gone through seriatim, and ordered to be reported. Mr. AUSTIN. 4.C., said, he had to make a very important applies tion to the Committee, namely, that they should re-consider the Irish Great Western Bill either in whole or part. The decision of the Com• mittee had been most unexpected, as they had encountered no oppo sition in their passage through the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and he entreated the Committee to re-consider their deci sion, and not deprive Ireland of the advantages which this railway would confer. Mr. ALEXANDER, on the part of the Midland Counties, opposed the application. The room was cleared, and on our re-admission. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had decided, with resp2ct to the application of Mr. Austin, that such could not be entertained by the Committee, except under an express instruction from the House. The Committee then separated. GROUP XLII. LIVERPOOL, ORDISRTRIL, AND PRESTON. The Committee re-assembled at one o'clock this morning, and were engaged in hearing evidence against the Bill. Mr. Skersbreck, Mr. Erie, agent for Lord Derby, and Mr. Cred well, were examined against the Bill, and the case for the opposition was not concluded when the Committee adjourned. GROUP XIX. ,ruii:rhh.tus..Coranittee met this morning for the first time in Room No. 1. ituum,g.itte, consisted of Mr Bickham Escott (chairman), Mr. lar. J. Touemache, Mr. Henry Berkeley, and Mr. Goring. wil: ; 7.7,ll d eci :.Z - 7.4 , , F i rt eg d a m p rns u res P ie t w o t ere— x j t u en u s e i t o ie n n to Am th a e ig C a al ni ed au o e n i l l a . n Rail 2d. Cockermontn 3d. Furness Extenat o Z i-G rktuatott Extension. 4th. Caledonian (Carlisle 'Devi .sth. Whitehaven and r um ... Von). a n T d h li e ir L k a s n a c n a t s o t n er D a evi nd ati r o r n e ) s . t., ju s :nencu ttiot, Am (ifirh ale i a tehaven Extension part of 'co. 1,) was transfedrreNsd,etroe a refe th rr er ed co th r,,,,,,,ltio . T ( h t e he 3 latter l litr. Greene an( r s e t n h i ii r ri f i l n i' g being Biuis, u t h n e op f i N rsl e taken ' we., and rjk t r i f le r rijk e jn i g a- —ll7 n o - Fp ir p: THE LANCASTER AND C aZZ 'Zsiall 1avyv.,.,•.- T S h l e o fo N rra T al T O THE T T h h e e lion to the preamblfe,haviiCigikbeLenEg7ve°nN, ration of Carlisle, the only behalf of the Corpo Certain clauses on C cra l us iß es 'u of x tl d ie ec ß la i r ll e'l-etlrlee opposing petition, were also inserted. t p h r e e l a i ln pai ble se p d r , Ove d. CALEDONIAN (CARLISL E il The only opposing petitioner to the line svasLoZrdVl.XoansdTaile°. 37). Messrs. Forsyth and Boyle appeared on behalf of the promoters, and Mr. Lyon on behalf of Lord Lon.sdale. Mr. FORSYTH op e n e d th e case . The Caledonian Railway connecting railways running wlllalso connecting England and Sc o tland, and the object of the presen t w ag to facilitate the arrangem ent o f h av ing one station for all th e running into Carlisle. The present station of the Caledonian Rail way was half a mile from Carlisle, and the company wished to bring it into the town to Crown-street. The length of the extension was a mile and thirty-five chains, and the cost 50,0001. There were no engineering difficultiee. After the examination of witnesses, Tile Cnalamax declared the preamble of the Bill proved. A clause was proposed on behalf of Lord Lonsdale, the ihrther consideration of which was postponed till to-morrow. COCILEHMOUTH AND VZOILICZNOTON EXTENSION. The formal proof in this Bill having been given, The CuAtamAN declared the preamble proved. The clauses were then passed. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow. GROUP XLVI. NEV7CASTI.N AND CARLISLE. The Committee on this group met at twelve o'clock, In Room No. 13 ; present, Mr. Bramstone (chairman), the Naval of chaudps, Lord Alfred Churchill, ad Dir. Xenia. It will be reMellabered that this Bill was brought under the cons sideration of the Comas tree as an =opposed Bill, ant the preamble was declared to have been proved. Subsequently, in consequence of certain etrcumstance.i with reference to the steepness of the gradients cc r m e. in co g m to m t i h ttai e knowledgeoftheßi ll of w the a: C n o e m w mi ssa t r te y e . , th T e h y e w pr e o re m il e o r p s in i i in on in t e tt a ately reqUested that no re-committal should take place, but that evidence should be heard 11 ith reference to the gradients and curves. This cpurse was acceded to, and tie Committee entered upon tilt case to -day; Mr. Xxotartas, on the part of the promoters, very briefly opened the case. EN stated that the obieet of the line was to convey mineral productions from ties mining districts at Alstone to the Carlisle Rail way. as the mineral traffic through that part of the country was amply sufficient to maintain a railway. The length of the line was to be seventeen miles, and the estimated cost was 280,0041. As the line was to pass through a district of a rough character, and which was also abounding in mines, the gradients and curves were neces sarily severe. There were gradients of lin 33 and lin39 ; but he would be enabled to show the Committee that on various other rail ways gradients of a much severer character might be worked with perfect safety. The Learned Counsel then called Mr. Bourne, the engineer to the line, who proved that the railway could be worked with safety. The gradients were severe, as the nature of the country 'Amid not permit them to be otherwise ; but there were muck more severe gradients daily worked by locomotive power on other railways, without any inconvenience being felt. Mr. N. Wood, examined by Mr. Isionsia .an engineer, confirmed this evidence, and proved that a most extensive and valuable tract of mining country, which was now lying useless for want of proper means to convey fuel to it, would be laid open by this railway. Mr. lisoWLes, on the part of the pomoters, offered to insert a clause in the Bill restricting the company from working the gradients of 1 in 332, and:one in 39, unless by stationary engines, without the consent of the Board of Trailer The CHAIRMAN inquired whether any penalty would attach to the Infraction of the Act with regard to such a clause ? Mr. KNOWLES said that to disobey an Act of Parliament was an Indictable offence at common law. The CHAIRMAN would prefer that some specific penalty should be introduced into the clause, giving to the Beard of Trade the power of enforcing it in case of non-compliance with the Act. If they were only to be restricted by fear of indictment the Board of Trade might not hear of any disobedience until sorne serious accident occurred. The required alteration was then made in the Bill, and the Com mittee proceeded with the clauses of the Bill, which were all acceded to. GROUP XLVII. This Committee met again in Room 25 (Grand Corridor), at twelve o'clock this morning, and were occupied during the whole of the day in discussing the clauses of the SWAN SEA VALE Railway Bill. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock until twelve to-morrow. GROUP XLVIII THE 141..1rNV1 VALLEY. The Committee met again this day at twelve o'clock. Mr. Aid ham (chairman). The evidence for the promoters was proceed with. A long cross examination, off behalf of several landowners on the line, took place, but nothing of importance was elicited to endanger the case for the line. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met to-day at one o'clect, in Room 1, House of Lords; present, - Lord Shaftesbury (chairman), and;Lords Hawarden, Redesdale, Richmond, and Winchester. There were on the list thirty-two Bills, which, with one exception. were all railway Bills. Decisions were made in the following cases:— MORAYSHIRE. This Bill, which In the brevity of its title, Is only surpassed by the " Deeside," which was disposed of on Thursday, was one of those in which the standing orders of the House had been complied with by the parties. ASHBURTON, NEWTON, AND SOUTH DEVON. Standing orders complied with. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND MIDLAND JUNCTION. The Comrsittee decided that the promoters of this Bill, which had been adjourned from Friday, in the absence of one witness, had complied with the standing orders. The following Bills were called on, and having been part heard, stood over for further proofs : YORKSHIRE AND GLASGOW UNION. Adjourned till to-morrow. NORFOLK (YARMOUTH EXTENSION AND LOWESTOFT RAILWAY LEASE), .also adjourned till tomorrow. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND GREENOCK (POLLOC. AND GOVAN) GLASGOW SOUTHERN TERMINAL. Both adjourned till Wednesday. CALEDONIAN (GLASGOW TERMINI AND BRANCHES). This case stood over till to-morrow. The Committee then resolved themselves into a SELECT COMMITTEE ON MERITS. The list contained sixteen Bills, of which seven only were railway Bills. ' Of these the following were disposed of : STIRLINGSIIIRE MIDLAND. This Bill was virtually passed. The decision, however, stood ever, on the absence of one witness. GLASGOW, STRATHAVEN, AND LESMAIIAGOW DIRECT. The preamble was declared proved. A clause was inserted, in conformity with the resolution of the Committee, as to placing lodges at all level crossings un public roads. LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY ACTS AMENDMENT. This was a third-class Bill. The proofs as to the standing orders and as to the merits of the Bill were proceeded with at the same time, and the Committee declared the standing orders complied with, and the preamble proved. The Hamilton Niw Gas Bill was passed. THAMES HAVEN DOCK AND RAILWAY. This Bill was virtually passed, but one witness being absent, its further consideration was postponed till to-morrow. BALLOCHNEY. Laconic again ! This Bill belonged to the third class, and was treated in the same way as the London and South Westeru Amend meld, above mentioned. It was passed. STANDING ORDERS. Their Lordships then resumed the form of a Standing Orders'Com mittee, and proceeded with the remaining Bills on the list. LONDON AND CROYDON (THA3IES JUNCTION BRANCH). The Committee declared the standing orders complied with. LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE (NORTH EASTERN). Their Lordships made a similar decision in this case. SCOTTISH CENTRAL (DENNY BRANCH). Standing orders complied with. MONKLAND AND KIIIKINTILLOCH. The same applies to this Bill. The Morecombe Bay Bill was also passed. GLOUCESTER AND DEAN FOREST RAILWAY. This ca.;e, as well as that of the WISHAW AND COLTNESS (GREENHILL BRANCH), was postponed till to-morrow. So also was the FLEETWOOD, PRESTON, AND WEST RIDING JUNCTION, and some ethers. st NEWMARKET AND CHESTERFIELD. The standing order. were duly declared complied with. • CALEDONIAN (MID-LOTHIAN BRANCH). HUDDERSFIELD AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY AND CANAL (HUDDERSFIELD DIVERSION AND COOPER BRIDGE BRANCH). SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER LYNE, AND MANCHESTER (DITEIISFIELD, WORSTIOROUGII ANU OTHER IIRAN(;IIES). SHROPSHIRE UNION RAILWAY AND LANAI. (NEWTOWN TO CREWE). The aboveltills were postponed till to-morrow. The Committee then ruse at about a quarter to tire, and adjourned till to-morrow at one. THE MIDLAND AND EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. An adjourned special meeting of this Company took place yesterday, in consequence of there not having been a sufficient quantity of scrip represented at the previous meeting. J. C. Cobbold, Esq., took the chair.. The Secretary having read the advertisement convening the meeting, the votes were proceeded with, when there was found a large majority in favour of proceeding with the Bill. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH; June 22. DONALD9ON AND OTHERS V. E33IITD. This was an action founded upon one which was decided on Saturday, entitled Donaldson, &c., v. Bird, brought by the Westminster Commissioners of Sewers against a con tractor for the imperfect construction of a sewer in Portugal place, Paddington, when, after a trial which lasted the whole day, a verdict was given for the piaintiff— damages 2311. 10s. 4d. The verdict was accompanied with the inti mation that the jury were of opinion the whole work had been executed to the satisfaction of the then acting Com missioners of Sewers. The plaintiffs having succeeded in that case, proceeded to-day against the contractors' surety, and several witnesses were examined on the point at issue. The case closed by a long and able address by Mr. Jarvis for the defendant, when the jury retired, and after an absence of about two hours they returned a verdict for the defendant. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. William Manfield was indicted for feloniously ribbing and throwing Elizabeth Pullen upon a certain stone pavement, with intent to do her some bodily injury, dangerous to life; with intent to murder her. The circumstances of this case will be in the recollections of our readers. The prisoner and the prosecutrix cohabited together, and on the day in question it appeared that they were quarrelling, and the prisoner beat the prosecutrix in a most cruel manner; and he was heard to say he would throw her out of the window; and almost at the same instant the unfortunate woman was seen to fall from the window, and she was picked up in an insensible state and covered with blood. She was taken to the hospital, where she remained for some time in a most dangerous state ; and upon the ma gistrate taking her deposition, she, to the astonishment of every one declared that she had thrown herself out of the window. The unfortunate woman was called as a witness, and she repeated this statement; but from the manner in which she gave her evidence, it appeared very evident that she was actuated by a desire to screen the prisoner from the conse quences of his brutality. The RECORDER inquired whether a surgeon was in at tendance to speak to the nature of the injury received by the prosecutrix 7—The Police constable said that Mr. Bur rell, the magistrate who committed the prisoner, considered the evidence of a surgeon was unnecessary. The RECORDER said he was very much surprised that the magistrate had given such an opinion. The prisoner was charged with inflicting a bodily injury dangerous to life, and they had no evidence of a surgeon to show the character of the injury. Directions were then given that the constables should go to the hospital and procure the attendance of the surgeon ; and in a short time he entered, and seated that the gentleman who had attended upon the prosecutrix had gone out, and it was uncertain when he would return. In answer to further questions put by the RECORDER, the constable stated that the prosecutrix was found lying upon the ground perfectly insensible, covered with blood; and a portion of her hair and :some blood was also found on a brick upon which she had fallen, lie also stated that she was three weeks in the hospital before she could be removed. The prisoner in his defence said that the woman threw herself out of the window, because he would not let her go out of the door. The RECORDER, in summing up, said that it wr•uld have been more satisfactory to have had the evidence of a surgeon ; but still it would be a question for the jury, supposing they should consider the facts to be proved, whether they could entertain any reasonable doubt that the injury received was calculated to endanger the life of the prosecutrix. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The RECORDER told the prisoner he had been convicted of a capital offence, and judgment of death would be recorded against him. The sentence of death would not, however, be carried out, but, taking into consideration the brutal charac ter of the offence, he should feel it his duty to recommend that he be transported for the term of his natural life. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. _ y, a labourer, wiSOUTHWARKifs charged with making a ver Traz" " Rlchb /det-- -, buee n m rin au t_e . d attempt upon his life in High -street , stated that while . plies the inhabita n ts uthwark, in *• on duty that morning with • m g a pump which hanging by the neck from al:ming-water, he saw sup placd a silk handkerchi ; , t l l 3 le w ort, around wtiackfFulant (the policeman) immediatelyydretivehouhtehwas enspendef:ii! had handkerchief, and the defendant fell heavilyis knife and cut his lie, however, recovered himself, and s on the ground. ran away with great speed in the directionlringing of upon his feet, the Dover road, but he was pursued, and eventually secured, s mart chase. Whe n taken to t he station-house se after a lt a great deal of an g er at bein g interf ered with in expressed violent hands upo n himself, and complained that distress inlaying the cause, and added that he would be muc h better was out of the world than in. When questioned by Mr. COTTLVGIIAM, the defendant he was a d,ck labourer on the south side of the riv said that work was so slack, he, as well as hundreds of eort„hbut were thrown out of employ ; and that being red uced er t s c : great distress and being shut out of his lodgings, he selected the spout of the pump as the means by which he would - de prive himself of life. Mr. Carrnicatax said that if a man was industriously inclined there was plenty of work for him to do, either on railways or in the fields around tbo notropoli,; 11114 that if he did not send for some of his friends to be hail that ha would not repeat the a:tempt upon his life, he mug be sent to gaol. The defendant said that he should not send for airy one, and that he should like to be sent to prison. The magistrate committed him to gaol in default of bail. LAMBETH. Mr. William Evans. the piqua tea-plant manufacturer, and master of the boy George Thomas Benwell, whose body had been found in a pond at the back of his master's pre mises on the evening of Tuesday week, attended before Mr. Elliott to answer to a summons taken out against him by a female named Elizabeth Theobald, and which charged him with detaining a gown, a coal-scuttle, and other articles, her property. The case was discharged, the complainant failing to show that the property was hers. The case respecting the suspicious death of the lad Ben well was then entered upon, and Mr. Hooke, the Vestry Clerk of the parish of St. Giles, Camberwell, who had also attended the inquest, was present, by direction of the paro chial authorities, to watch the proceedings and assist in the investigation. Evans had a considerable repugnance to enter the dock in which the prisoners upon serious charges are usually placed, but was told by the magistrate that no distinction should be made in his case, and he then got into it. Mr. Hooke said that it was not his wish to give Evans into actual custody, but merely to submit the evidence of some witnesses who were in attendance by the direction of Mr. Norton, and leave his worship to deal with the case as be thought proper; and, therefore, as far as he, as the represen tative of the parish, was concerned, he did not wish to press that Evans should stand in the dock. Evans, on hearing this, hurried down the steps of the dock, and took his station in front of the bench, where the defendants in assaults and trifling cases stand. The first witness called was Elizabeth Theobald, of 24, Duke•street, Bloomsbury-square, and who was the complain ant in the former case, and who deposed that she had known Mr. Evans since the month of October, 1842, and had as sisted him in the manufactory, and had further been ap pointed by him his sole agent for the sale of his tea. She also knew George Benwell, who was in Mr. Evans's service as an errand-boy and packer, and was aware that the latter had treated the former with great violence. She herself had seen him on one occasion fling a log of wood at him, but it mis-ed him, and on other occasions she heard Mr. Evans threaten to kick the youth. Mr. Hooke—Are you acquainted with the handwriting of the deceased lad, George Benwell? Witness—Yes, sir, very welt. ➢ir. Hooke—Then, now look to the chalk writing on the two panels, the door and the log of wood, and tell the Court whether it is or is not in the handwriting of the deceased George Benwell? Witness (after examining the writing minutely)—lt is not in the handwriting of George Benwell. lam certain of that. _ _ Mr. Hooke—ls it in the handwriting of any person pre sent? The prisoner objected to the question as being unfair, upon which Mr. Hooke asked the witness if she knew it to be the writing of anybody else?—The witness replied that it re sembled more the writing of Mrs. Benwell, the stepmother of the boy, than any one she knew, but the hand certainly was most familiar to her. Mr. Hooke—Are you aware whether the boy had a receipt for the manufacture of the piqua tea? Witness—l sent him the receipt myself. Mr. Hooke—And was Mr. Evans aware of the fact ? Wit ness—He was, sir; for I let him know of it at the time. Evans cross-examined the witness at great length. She denied having charged him with a nameless offence with two persons, who he named, and who, she said, had been members of his "community." She denied also having ac cused him of having murdered his wife in America. but made no secret of his keeping poisons in his house. Told the stepbrother of the boy about his (Mr. Evans) keeping pois,ms in his house, but did not tell him that he (Mr. Evans) had said that the way he used to get rid of his boys in America was by tying a weight to their neck and throw ing them into a pond. Evans here said, that the witness had resorted to every possible means of traducing, maligning, and blasting his character, and declared that the greater part of her statement was wholly devoid of truth. Amongst other things she declared that he had told her he had fifty clerks in America, whereas he had but six. In reply to a question from Mr. Hooke, the witness said that Evans told her he had been a medical man in America, and had been called Doctor Evans. Police-constable, 153 P, said that on the night of Tuesday week, at about half past ten o'clock, he was informed that the body was in a pond at the back of Mr. Evans's premises. He hastened there, and on reaching the pond the body had been gos out. The hands were tied, and a 281 b. metal weight was suspended from the neck. The body was quite lifeless. He (witness) saw the writing on the door and panels produced, and Mr. Evans told him it had been done by the deceased. Evans also told him that on leaving home on that morning, and while going up Sydenham-bill, thought struck him that it was not safe to have left the de ceased at home. Evans—Yes, that's quite right; I had these feelings. Witness, in continuation, said he did not know either Evans or the deceased before, nor could he say who took the deceased out of the water. Evans observed that this witness spoke the truth, and he should not, therefore, ask him any questions. Mr. Thomas Bishop, a general dealer in Union-street, Borough, and step-brother to the deceased, was next ex amined, and declared, to the best of his knowledge and be lief, that the chalk writing had not been written by Ben. well, though when he had first seen it he was of a different opinion. In his cross-examination by Evans, the witness acknow ledged that the witness Theobald had told him she had de stroyed a quantity of poison which she had found in his (prisoner's) house. She also said that he had informed her that the way lie got rid of boys in America was by tying a weight round their necks, and throwing them into a pond. Evans here drew the Magistrate's attention to the fact. that the witness Theobild herself had denied this in her cross- examination. Mrs - . Theobald said she had no recollection of having men tioned it, and did not believe she had. The son of Evans, a boy of 14, was next examined, and gave a minute description of what had taken place on the evening in question. lie swore positively to the chalk writ ing having been done by the deceased. and the only suspi cious part elicited was that his father had been home for more than half an hour before any alarm was given in the neighbotirhoo'l ; but this Evans attributed to the miscaleula tien of time by the boy. The step-mother of the deceased, llsnnah Benwell, was called, and also swore to the chalk writing being the de ceased's, and said that the deceased had always spoke kindly of his master. She denied that she had any intention to marry Evans; that any improper intercourse had taken place between her and him; and declared that if she sus pected that Evans had anything whatever to do with the death of the deceased, she should herself be the first person to bring him to justice. This witness as well as ISIr. Bishop admitted that the deceased had spoken of suicide, and men tioned that he considered drowning was the easiest death. inspector Campbell was examined, and Mr. Ilooke read a statement made by Evans himself before the coroner and jury. It appeared that he refused to be sworn, from some religious scruples, but made a lengthened statement. Mr. Hooke said the only part in the letter to which he should direct his 'Worship's attention was the fact o f hi s say i ng h e returned to his premises at nine o'clock, whereas no alarm had been given, nor the body found until half-past ten. Mr. ELLIOTT observed, that he had li s t ene d attentively to the evidence, and his impression was that it was not sufficient to justity hind in detaining any party; but at the same time he would recommend those engaged in the inviry still to pursue it. Evans said that he had been grossly calumniated, as he was as innocent of the charge imputed to him as any person present. THAMES. William Finch, a mechanic, was brought before Mr. Ballantine, charged with thrusting a red-h o t i ron i nto t h e face of a woman named Ann Pitt, by which s h e was severe l y injured. It appeared from the evidence that the woman resided in the house of the prisoner in Chambers -str ee t, Whit ec h ape l, and that on Saturday a quarrel took place between her and Finch, which gave rife to bad language, and neither party were very choice in their expressions. At last the prisoner was greatly provoked by some gross epithet applied to him, and lie left his forge, at which he was engaged, with a piece of red-hot iron he was using, and thrust it with great vio lence into her face. The flesh was burnt, and her eye was injured by the blow. The assault was clearly made out by the complainant and another witness, and it was proved by a policeman, named Sutherland, that upon taking the prisoner into custody he admitted that he struck the woman, and that he was in a passion at the time. The prisoner, in defence, said the woman struck him first, and used the most annoying and opprobrious lan guage, and that he did not strike the complainant with the iron intentionally. Mr. BALLANTINE was satisfied the prisoner had committed a very cruel assault upon the woman, and as she did not wish the case to be sent to the sessions, he would dispose of it summarily. He sentenced the prisoner to pay a fine of 51., and in default committed Lim for two months. THE PENITENTIARY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR—Would you be so kind as to allow me, through the medium of your valuable paper, to make known an evil which ought long ago to have Occupied the attention of the proper authorities? It is with respect to the Penitentiary. The patrons of your journal have no doubt read several cases of death that have occurred from time to time in the above mentioned prison, which was said to be caused from its prox imity to the river. Now let any person tak , t an airing, as it might be styled, to Vauxhall-bridge, and immediately oppo site this vast pig-stye their noses will be assailed with the most disgusting effluvia, evidently proceeding from one of two causes—either from dead carcases which are allowed to accumulate on the bank of the river,* or very deficient drainage within the prison walls ; in either of which cases the most malignant disorders are liable to accrue, and not less dangerous to the inhabitants of the vicinity than to the prisoners themselves. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, BON SENT. [ l ' The stench, we believe, arises from a bone-manure wharf in the neighbourhood, on the Lambeth aide of the river.--En. Sun.l Trul WEATHER.—Between eleven and twelve o'clock last night the metropolis was visited by a pretty smart thunder-storm, which lasted for about an hour. In the early part of the evening the atmosphere was heated to the most suffocating degree, and full warning of the coming storm was given towards the close of the evening, by the brilliant corruscations of sheet lightning which continued to illumi nate the horizon for two hours. Shortly after eleven o'clock it became more vivid and intense, and rapidly assumed the character of a decided thunder-storm. For half an hour the lightning was exceedingly vivid, accompanied by loud peals of thunder. The storm was attended with a very heavy fall of rain, which, though but of short duration, produced the most grateful coolness. A few more hours' rain would tend much to the comfort of the hapless mortals doomed to the metropolis, for our climate for the last week or two has been worse than tropical. It is contemplated to make application to the Post master-General for a branch receiving -house to be estab lished in the Commercial road, near the entrance gates of the West India Docks. At present there is no receiving house for half a mile either way from the place, which is found extremely inconvenient, and it it believed that the establishment of a place of the kind in the quarter alluded to will be found to be quite requisite for the accommodation of the numerous parties connected with the docks and the adjoining neighbourhood, and will be a great convenience to the public. EFFECTS OF THE WEATHER.—We are informed that the heat has seriously interfered with the working of many collieries in this neighbourhood ; the Managers have found it very difficult, and even impossible, to maintain a proper state of ventilation. Ven tilation is usually effected by means of furnaces at the bottom of the mines near the pits' mouth, the heat from which so rarifles the at mosphere as to cause a continual rush of pure air into the mine. Tho intensity of the heat, however, during the last few days has so rari fled the air above ground f 1.5 to render this plan ineffective. We have heard of several collieries which has suspended operations for the present, in consequence of the dagger arising fr Q ua this cause. — ifoggyater Evuniner. MURDER AT MANCHESTER MANCHESTER, SATURDAY EVENING.—Thia morning con sider,ble excitement was croatett in the neighbourboid of Oaf }rd-road, by the discovery of the body of a youth in what is commonly called the " Black- brook,", which runs through the adjoining township of Chorlton-upon-Medlock. Owing to the extreme drought of late the brook is almost dry, there not being more than three inches deep of water at the spot where the body was found. The body was lying with the face uppermost, but neither the face nor body was covered with water. The body was first discovered by Mr. Batty's ostler, who had come earlier than usual to work, to clean the harness, being employed during the day at hay-making. On opening the window of the harness-room, which overlooks the brook, about four o'clock in the morning, he discovered the body. Ile and his companion immediately went out, and finding a polieeman at hand, told him of the circumstance, and on going round, saw the body as already described. It was taken out and laid on the bank, and was at once recognised as the body of a boy who had for some time been known in the neighbourhood as a hawker of blacking and blacklead. A tin box, with handle, in which he carried his blacking, was found near him, partly im. mersed in the water, with part of the lid broken off. Notice was, of course, immediately given at the police-office, the body was removed into Mr. Batty's stable, where it now lies, and in the course of the day a post mortem examination was made by Mr. Galland, who at once declared that death had not ensued from drowning, but from a blow on the head, over the right temple, which seems to have been inflicted by a blunt instrument, such as a heavy club or stick. There was no blood or external marks of violence on the body, but when taken out of the water and laid face downwards, some blood and water came from the mouth and ears. The name of the deceased is George Wray, whose father is a blacking manufacturer, residing at 324, Deansgate, and he had been out during the day, supplying the small shops in the neighbourhood. No money was found upon the boy when searched, although`his father states that he should have bad 16s. or 18s., from the quantity of blacking which had gone out of the box. On the police making inquiries in the neighbourhood, it was soon discovered that the deceased had been seen in company with some boys near the spot where the body was found, as late as 11 o'clock on the preceding night. Two of these boys were immediately taken into custody, the oldest being about 17, named James Siddon, residing at 37, Jenkin son-street, the other fourteen, named Joseph Dean. On searching these boys, a knife, two combs, and two handkerchiefs, were found upon them, all of which have been identified by the parents of the deceased as his pro perty. Some money was also found upon them, on some of which bits of blacking were found. THE MELANctIiiL L:iss OF LIFE OFF GREENOCK. The recent sad accident on the Clyde by which Mr. E. G. Ilberry, the superintendent of the locomotive department of the Greenock Railway, and his cousin, Mr.. Howel, lost their lives, created the deepest sensation, not only at Greenock, but at Glasgow and Paisley, where the unfortunate gentle men were highly respected. Since the night of the fatal oc currence the Lord Provost has been assiduously engaged in investigating the circumstances of the collision, and sufficient has been adduced to warrant the arrest of the owner of the steamer occasioning the loss of life. In addition to the par ticulars which have alfeady appeared concerning the catas trophe, it appears that the deceased gentlemen left the shore about a quarter to ten o'clock in a new boat belonging to Mr. Ilberry, for the purpose of enjoying a cigar in the cool of the evening. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and they scarcely rowed out 60 yards when they observed a steamer bearing up the river, and perceiving her course was direct upon them they pulled further out into the channel. Still finding from some extraordinary, and as yet unexplained cause, that the steamer was proceeding towards the boat, notwithstanding she had been rowed to a considerable distance from the ori ginal poAtion, Mr. Ilberry and Mr. Rowel called out to those on board the steamer to port her helm. The facts have been fully established by the sister of the unfortunate Mr. Ilberry. who watched the movements of the boat from the window of her brother's house, and the deplorable scene that afterward, occurred. It seems that not the least notice was taken of the cries of the deceased gentlemen. T ey were pulling with all their might to get out of the way of the steamer, and so continued till she came down upon teens at her full speed, cutting the boat in halves,. and killing its unfortunate occu pants. The steamer proved to be a new powerful iron one not 3-et named, built by Barr and 11.‘Nab, of Renfrew, and on the authorities boarding her after the unfortunate occur rence, they were surprised at finding no pilot or person acting in the capacity of captain on board. She was in charge of Mr. 111‘Nab, and the excited condition of those on board, and the reckless way the vessel was stated to have beet, travelling, induced the official to arrest the principal. Mr. M'Nab, who was subsequently liberated on provid ing satisfactory sureties. It is alleged by thosf who were on board the steamer, that they called to the gen tle:nen in the boat to get out of the way—but from their confused manner, they probably did not understand their calls, and hence pulled into the danger instead of out of it Be that statement correct or otherwise it has been satisfac torily proved that the course of the steamer was contrary t.• the rules of the river navigation. The channel where tht accident happened is between three and four miles wide, and her track should have been more in the centre of the chan nel. The vessel was on an experimental trip, aad it is as serted that she was, at one period of the day, going at tht -rate of eighteen miles an hour. The course she to..k, which unhappily has led to the shocking affair, can only be ac. counted for from a desire for testing her capabilities in stilt water. Experimentalising, however, at so late an hour of the evening, at such remarkably quick speed. and so near the shore, on a busy river, is fraught with the greatest danger, and now forms the sub ject of a very strict investigation. The Lord Provos has forwarded the minutes of evidence relating to the catas trophe to the Judge-Advocate at Edinburgh, who will de termine against whom prosecution shall be instituted. The funeral of the deceased gentlemen took place on Friday, and seldom has such a mark of respect been witnessed in or neat Greenock. Their remains were followed by thousands. Amongst the mourners were the Sheriffs. Bailies, and the principal clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood. Mr. Rowel was the treasurer anti secretary to Messrs. Stephen son and Mackenzie, the contractors for the new harbours a. Greenock, and was in his 50th year. M . Ilberry was a vert promising young man, and was in his 22d year. 'He had ontj recently entered into a contract with the Caledonian Coin limy, on the construction of 75 locomotives and upwards o 300 carriages and trucks. The unfortunate young lady th, sister has sustained a severe shock by the catastrophe sit witnessed, and has since been confined to her bed. It is ;. question whether she will survive the calamity.— Glasgow Herald. RAILWAY FROM THE MISSIS SIPPI TO THE ATLAS no. (From the Railway Herald.) The citizsns of the Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South CarAina, are making gr, at efforts to complete the Great Southern Railroad to connect the Mississippi river with the Atlantic. The line is to connect Jackson, in Mississippi, with Montgomery, Alabama ; the distant. is 103 miles in Mississippi, and 124 miles in Alabama. or about 240 miles on the probable course to be taken. Fron Jackson, by the railroad now in use, to the Mis sissippi river at Vicksburg, and a branch to Natchez and eventually westward to Texas. At Mont gomery, this railroad is to connect with the Montgomery and Westpoint Railroad, of which about forty-five miles are completed, and the remaining forty-five miles in progress, and reostl) graded to to finally completed next year to Westpoint ; from tbenc. to the Macon and Western Railroad is fifty-three miles. The rights to make all these connexions are granted This railroad will bind the Charleston and Savannah, lines of railroad already made or in construction, con necting all the points with the Mississippi river, the ocean, and the interior. The estimated cost i‘ 3,000,000 dollars, towards which the Company has granted 500,000 dollars of the two per cent. fun of Alabama, set apart for this route, but loanet! out to the Montgomery and Westpoint Railroad Corn pany ; and also the two per cent. fund of Mississippi. amounting to some 300,000 dollars more ; these two sums are gifts granted to encourage foreign subscrip tions for the Company's stock. And there is a Bit, before Congress, and now in the Senate, for giving the sale price of the alternate sections of United States lands along the Hese for a certain distance from the railroad ; so that it is estimated that a subscription of 150,000 dollars only in hard money, every four months, will be sufficient to commence the works, or 450,000 dol lars yearly ; and it is observed that the climat. and soil are favourable for the perpetual use of the road. without any interruption from snow, rain, or other im pediments. The subscription is for a capital of 3,000,000 dollars, in shares of 100 dollars each, 5 dollars in six months, 5 dollars in eight months. 5 dollars in ten months, and the remainder as called for, not closer tha , ten dollars every sixty days, and the company to go into activity when 500,000 dollars shall be -igned for. The Company is perpetual, and has power to purchase any railroad that shall be directly or indirectly connected or in communication with their railroad. The Governm-nt funds granted an only to be issued when a lilt( sum of subscription money has been expended on the works. When this railroad is completed the time of travel will be lessened on the whole line to two days at least ; between Charles. town and St. Louis, six days ; New Orleans, three days; Galveston, five days; and between Vicksburg and Washington city, a little over four days ; a nd New York, five days ; and on the completion of the Chatta nooga and Nashville Railroad, this will be the ordinary route of travel from Nashville to Vicksburg, in forty eight hours. The distance to Vicksburg from Savannah is set down at 670 miles, and from Charlestown at 790 miles. ARTESIAN WELLS. The artesian well commenced on the Southampton Common in 1838, with the intention of obtaining from it a bountiful supply of water for the town and which has been carried to the depth of 1,300 feet, at an' expense to the town of 12,886/., and to the contractors of 11,176/, above that sum, was, on Thursday, transferred to the commissioners of waterworks in its unfinished state, the contractors having refused to go on with the wark unless guaranteed their expenses and fair profits by the commis sioner?. The work was commenced in 1838. The first 78 feet of soil was found to be alluvium, the succeeding 304 feet London clay, the following 97 feet plastic clay, and the suc ceeding chalk, in which the boring has been carried down the great depth of about 821 feet, being a total of near 1,300 feet, and giving no indication by which a judgment can be found as toShe depth to which the chalk may yet extend; and experience has shown that the chalk will not yield the water required, and that the great stream sought for must be obtained from under the chalk basin. The well, in its present state, will yield, by pumping, from 7,500 to 10,000 cubic feet of water per day, but that is but a fourth of the quantity it is calculated will be required for the rapidly increasing demands of the town. A CHILD SUFFOCATED BY HIS BROTHER.—Yesterday an inquest was held before Mr. W. Baker, jun., at the Bird cage, Birdcage-walk, Bethnal.green, on the body of William Clark, aged seven weeks. It appeared from the evidence of the mother, that on Saturday evening last she left the de ceased and his brother, a little boy about two years of in bed together. On her return shortly afterward a s, ce sn the dis covered her son Henry lying on the chest and t. who and deceased, apparently asleep. She endeavoure d . ea f a r w m a e k o _e f , deceased, but could not do so. She b o ecir n m conveeyd him to Mr. Wallace, The pronounced the jury returned a verdict of ND —Accounts have just DEATH OF decxreaseld)c:l:vie b een . _ w as o e r o ld f . this celebrated naturalist with whom he n and companion of the e " t A licti c m id a b en s o u i t d r t t , d e e e a d th ee .' llinealetkimae;' arrived in England of t gt hed ath ec e e tra velled over a great part ofGRAVESEND.O Saturday, bright as the STORM AT sun shone in the metropolis, ther e was a heavy fall of rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning, in the neighbour hood of Northfieet and Gravesed. Towards the middle of the day the rain fell in torreuta, IMPERIAL It' R. Lt 11 Pi4;IN T. F(Jr'SE r)F LOROS „Tyne 22 The Loran CHAtscELLott took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. SUPERANNUATION TO POOR-LAW OFFICERS. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from the poor-law ;uardians and other officers of the poor-law union of Warring ton, praying that superannuation allowances might be made to poor-law officers. FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition frost a Presby terian congregation in Durham, sympathising with their Free Church brethren i❑ their present destitution of sites for build ing places of worship upon. Lord PORTNIAN gave notice that, on Thursday, he would ask the Noble Lord, the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests, what Government proposed to do with regard to the Metropolitan Building.' Act ? The Marquis of LONDONDERRY announced his inten tion to oppose the third reading of the Liverpool and New castle-upon-Tyne Junction Railway Bill. There were circumstances connected with that project which ought, he said, to have been shown up to the country and the public. For in stance, out of 80,000 shares the managing committee had engrossed 60,000. Lord HEAUMONT said the Noble Nfarquis had been mis informed as to the character of the undertaking. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY entirely agreed with the Noble Lord who had just sat down. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY explained. He thought the present scheme was a monstrous monopoly, when he found that out of 80,000 shares 60,000 were taken by the Committee, 20,000 only being left to the public. Mr. Hudson was the chairman of this company, and his object was to establish a great monopoly in the north of England. Lord BEA um oNT said that the Noble Marquis had ad mitted that he was not in any way connected with any railway undertaking. Now, if the Noble Marquis had not made that admission in so many words, his speech on the presentation of this petition showed clearly enough that he could nut be con nected with a railway. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. Earl ABERDEEN laid on the table the copy of a recent convention entered into between the English and Prussian Governments as to international copyright in the two countries. CLARKE'S DIVORCE BILL. On the motion of Lord BROUGHAM, this Bill was read a second time. THE CORN-LAWS. Lord ASHBURTON rose, in pursuance of notice, to move —" That whatever may be the alterations which it may be expedient psrmanently to make in the laws regulating the introduction of foreign corn, it is the opinion of this House that the sudden importation of the large quan tity of wheat now in bond at a very low rate of duty, while the prices are moderate and the prospect of the approach ing harvest is promising, may be productive of great injury and injustice to the cultivators of the soil of the United King dom, and that some better provision against such a calamity should be provided than is contained in the Bill now before the House " He did not intend, after the long discussion which had already occupied the attention of their Lordships on the subject of the corn-laws, to trespass long upon their attention, although the subject was one of the most important character, and one which demanded their most calm and deli berate attention. He did not expect to be able to its verse the decision to which they had recently come on tilts question. He could not say that the policy of the Government with re gard to the corn-laws met with his approbation—he could not say that he became a party to this hasty, hazard ous, and dangerous question—he could not say what might be the usage of the Parliamentary Cabinets; bus this he could say, that he believed that there was no object to be gained. This question was only of importance as it affected the corn question, and he was, therefore, disirous of coming to a decision to-night. He was well aware that it was asserted that there was a large quantity of corn imported into the United Kingdom. He was also aware that there was an objection on account of the taxes. Now, it was well under stood that there was a large quantity of corn imp rted into the country ; and he had understood that a decisios was to be come to at the present moment. If this House were to be consulted, he understood that a division would be come to on Monday or Tuesday next, when, perhaps a majority might determine the question. A return, lately made to their Lordships' House, snowed the amount of wheat in bond was 2,000,000 quar ters. Since that time there had been a considerable in crease in the quantity imported into this country. It hail been pouring in from every part. and merchants have been buying immense quantities to meet the rumoured famine. In one week only, in Liverpool, 56,1110 barrels of flour were imported between Ist and 9th June ; 51 vessels, laden with corn, had entered the various ports of the United Kingdom. Of this number 32 contained wheat, 5 barley, 12 oats, and 2 peas. the Noble Lord had said that even if this quantity of corn were to come in, it would not make the produce of farms wholly unsaleable. From that opinion he totally differed, for a great sale of food was of much importance to the country, and under the Noble Lord's r opinion, the imagined security of great abund ince would not be a security against great dearth. The Noble Lord had on a former occasion said that they were mistaken in supposing that all this corn would come in; it would not come in at all because it cost the importers 60s. ; and what chance had they of this ever being brought in at that price at which it could not be sold at a profit ? He was sure that ten days would not elapse before every holder of corn would bring it in, for if they did not they would be caught by the decrease of duty. The latest price of corn was 525. 10d., and by the new Bill, if that became the average of six weeks, the duty would immediately rise , because 535. was the rate at which, according to the new Bill, the corn was to come in at 4s. The average quantity of corn introduced into this country was 550,000 quarters a year, and he wanted to know what pros pect they had now, in the present state of things, of requiring five times that amount?—(Hear, hear.) How could their Lordships sanction such an injustice to the tillers of the soil of the country?—( Near.) But he had only stated what had been the average of the last three years, and it might be said that in 1839, 1840, 1841, and 1842, there was a considerable deal more corn wanted in this country than 550,000 quarters. Let the House, however, look to the years 1532, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, and 1837, and they would see that the average for six sears running was under 5'i0,000, clearly showing that the larger quantity was the ext,t‘p ' lion, and not the rule. He therefore entreated Noble Lor !s to consider this question calmly, clearly, and dispassionately, and if they were determined to try a desperate experi ‘nent 1 t them do it cautiously and carefully. or not at all. On a former occasion, when it was proposed to remit some protective duties, steps were taken to prevent the evils that might arise from the sudden withdrawal of protection. In 1822 the Act was pass, d, and Mr. Huskisson kept the old law in operation till the prices had reached a certain amount. Again, in 1826, that statesman let in 400,000 qrs. of wheat, or about else-fifth of that which would be admitted in now, and so careful was he to prevent any violent oscillation of price that oe provided that one-third of it should be introduced every month, thus extending it over the period of three months. This was also while the ditty was kept at 10s. a quarter. Such was the cautiousnees of the Government of that day. when there was no comparison of the change proposed with that now before the House. He was persuaded there would be no diffi culty in making an arrangement of this kind now. He had ern much hope, however, as they professed a great deal of •ympathy for shippers and manufacturers, but they had very little sympathy for the poor cultivators of the soil.—( Heat, hear). He complained that their Lordships, in passing this measure, appeared to act too carelessly with regard to the interests of the parties whom it would affect. He had occupied their Lordships' attention longer than he could have wished; but he had sonfined himself simply to facts. He had not occupied their Lordships' attention for the purpose of calling upon them to retrace their steps. Would te God that he could persuade them to do so.—(Hear, hear.) He had not the slightest hope of being able to do so, but he begged of them seriously to consider what would be the effect of their decision on this question. Their Lordship should not, in justice, interfere with the present prosperous state of things unless a sufficient case were made out. The Noble Lord concluded by moving his resolution. The Earl of DAL HOUSIE said that he had al ways risen with great dif f idence in making a reply in that House, but he never felt less difficulty than at the prsent moment, for he firmly believed that a better case could not be made out than that which had been submitted to their Lordships. Now it had been stated that the quantities of corn now under bond was 1,500,000 quarters, while in fact the whole quantity was only 9,000 quarters. He conceived that those facts sufficiently showed that there ought to be a protection for native industry. There ought at any rate to be some security, and if this security were given there was little doubt about the question ; but whether the question were settled this way or that he con ceived that seine sufficient security should be given for the ob servance of the compact. In the southern parts the scarcity was owing to the alarming drought ; from one end of Europe to the other the same sad effect was felt. Any Noble Lord who was in the habit of reading the newspapers might see that in Poland, hussia, and other corn producing countries, the people were not in a state of deficiency, but they might almost say in a state of starvation and death. It scat also notorious that in the south of Europe, Natolia and other provinces, the people are actually dying by the road side. He would, therefore, repeat the phrase, that nature, in her various elements, was arraying herself in a conspiracy against them. The Noble Lord had stated that an immense quantity of corn would be forced into the market, such as had never been heard of. He quoted the returns for the years 1844, 1845, and 1846. Why he did not quote the returns of the preceding years he (Lord Dalhousie) did not know. He supposed it was numero stmeto, a sacred number. He would call the attention or the House to the fact, that the year before, in 1843, there were 840,000 quarters of wheat. imported, being more than double the quantity imported in the year 1844. He could inform their Lordships, that during four weeks in the year 1842. under the existing law, there was admitted 2,100,000 quarters of wheat. Lord ASHBURTON— At what amount of duty ? Earl of DALHOUSIE—The average price was from 645. to 61s. 10d., and the average duty was, he believed, from Bs. to Ils. per quarter. There was also admitted 2.017,045 quar ters. And this quantity of wheat, be it remembered, had been admitted at the same amount of duty as that Proposed by seve ral Noble Lords themselves in the course of the late debate. While his Noble Friend told them that they should not pro ceed hastily, but should do something to let that large quan tity of corn out of bond, he would tell them that her Ma jesty's Government had adopted such measures. They were well aware that, on the passing of any resolution affecting any particular duty, a Treasury order was issued for the admission of the article un the intended reduced price, bond being given that in case of the measure not passing into a law, the duty should be repaid to the Treasury. He felt it necessary to oppose the motion of his Noble Friend, for it was calculated to do more mischief to the holders of corn than it did good to them. The resolution, if passed in its present shape, would refuse to admit corn which had been a long time in bond, un less certain conditions were complied with, while the corn which arrived flue week after the passing of the resolution would escape the resolution altogether.l resolution He would repeat that if their Lordships adopted this a r s e r c u ha s they would commit a most unjust act, because, their existing law of 1842, did not allow corn In to be hb his Noble which, by tlis Noble im ported until it reached a certain price. Friend's resolution, must be 60s. per . although he Friend admitted that in the course of his ' l s t admission.—( Hear, hear.) did not mean to have made hear . ) If this resolution were passed, it woutlehdnaagtmapgoreoudpnotsinetodtbhayn; absolute prohibition. T he corn trade had net expected esuchop cle wohurosewearse. *his Noble Friend, and he ( Lord Dalhousie) again contended tha those individuals would . be most seriously in , if it were passe 1, Why, they had jured. His . Noble . Friend had said, take time. been discussing this question of the corn-laws for the last live months.—(Hear, bear.) Time, the re f ore, was not an element i n the consideration of this questi on. The individuals con ' cerned had kept their grai n in bond, burde ne d b y all the ex pense of so doing durin g t h e whole of the last five m ont h s , w hil st the s they peechadhes i been discussin g the corn question. During ts the House of Commons they had not heard a word whispered in support of the cours e recommended by the resolution of hi s Noble- Fried, nor had a wor d been whispered to that effect in their Lordships' House during the whole of these discussions, and yet the Noble Lord now ca e forward and tilted their Lordships to pass an e.r werepost e l d aw b . t A he n i d r this w's not a ll, f ur if - this resolution Lordships, h e su b mitted to their Lordships that rhey wo y uld be completely deluded in their intentions to serve the interest of the parties for whom the Noble Lord had shown so much Fomrrlsseration. They would even Injure toe orders of grain in the most se r i ous manner. —(H ear, h ear. ) His Noble Friend had tdrerted to the can of 1826, but there was no re- semblance betweer the two eases, Grain in 18213 was &de meted because of the scarcity which then existed, and there fore there was something like a plausible reason for the course which was adopted in the year 1526.-- (Hear.) But he re .eated, that for the last five months they had been discusssing the question of the repeal of the present corn-laws, and that the unfavourable effects, if there were any, had been produced long since.—( Hear, hear.) All transactions with respect to corn in bond, external as well as internal, were now finished. He firmly believed that what ever would be the effect of the Corn Bill now pending, the interests of the cultivators of corn would be best served by as speedy a settlement of the question as possible.—(Cheers, and ironical cheers.) He well understood the cheer of the Noble Duke on the cross-benches, and of the Noble Earl opposite, but he would repeat that expression of his opinion. He must, however, admit that the conduct of the Government in pro posing by their Bill a delay of three years, was wise and just. —( Hear, hear.) He was certain that the worst thing that could happen to those opposed to the corn question, would be to postpo n e th e p ass i ng o f t h e measure. T here had been a large importation of silk expected, and it was thought that that supply would lower the price of that article ; but such was not the fact, for since the supply that had been received, the price had materially advanced.—( Hear, hear.) He believed that the same would be the case with corn. He trusted their Lordships would not give their support to the Noble Lord's resolution. Lord KINNAIRD said that what he stated on a former evening was that he not believe there could be great quan tities of corn imported at much less prices than it could be sold for in this country. Indeed he was sure that the supply would be most deficient from abroad, and as a proof of it he had had a conversation with a gentleman from Holland, who in formed him that the supply of corn in that country was very small, and that he had come to England to purchase a large quantity. He held in his hand the report from Mark-lane of that day ; it stated that corn had advanced Is., oats the same, and that the supply was very short ; no panic was expected. Earl GREY trusted that the House would not agree to the motion of the Noble Lord, without at least something was pointed out as the result of it. The Noble Lord (Dalhousie) had shown the injury which the resolution would do with re• spect to the corn in bond. Was this resolution a roundabout way of throwing out the Bill which stood for a third reading on Tuesday? Lord ASHBURTON—No. Earl GREY—The Noble Lord said, no. If he did not mean to throw it out, why bring in such a resolution ? It was shown that such a resolution would have the contrary effect to that intended, If it really was an intention to defeat the mea sure, why not make an amendment to the third reading ? If it was not to throw it out, but to give time for a new measure to be formed, why not have moved that the third reading be postponed fora fortnight, so as to give time fora measure to be prepared ? He looked upon this motion as an indirect attempt to throw nut the Bill, and he hoped their Lordships would not sanction it. Lord REDESDALE said the Noble Lord who spoke last had misunderstood the intention of the Noble Lord who had moved this resolution. It was said that the resolution would do great injury to the importer of corn, but was the injury which would result to the grower by the passing of the Bill DOE to be taken into account? He would support the reso lutioe. Lord ELLENBOROUGH agreed with the President of the Board of Trade, that the effect would be contrary to that intended by the resolution. He trusted that they would not delay the measure by passing this resolution. but that they would at once se ttl e th e i r mi n d s u p on th e s ubject, and ease the anxiety of the public, who looked forward to the passing of the measure. The Earl of WICKLOW said he would support the reso lution, not with the vi tw of throwing out the Government measure, as was stated by the Noble Earl ( Grey), but becuse he thought it one w hi c h, i f carr i e d, wou ld h ave a most b en eficial effect. Lord ASHBURTON replied. He did not wish to take up their time at any length, but, as a measure of justice to the agricultural interest, he had felt it his duty to propose the re solution. He had, after the expression of their Lordships' opinion on the Corn Bill, no desire to keep back that measure by anything he could say or do ; still t here being great danger likely to arise trom the sudden introduction of such a .arge quantity of grain, he considered it was incumbent on them to guard against any evil that might arise. He felt strongly ou the point, as he thought the danger was very great. It was for them to take it into their grave consideration add decide accordingly, and he would now leave it in their hands. Their Lordships then dis ided on the resolution— l.ontent Not content Majority against the resolution. —23 COSI OalS' DUTIES BILL. On the motion that the House resolve itself into Committee on this Bill, The Duke of RICHMOND rose to present a petition from a number of Macclesfield silk weavers, against those porti ons of the new tariff affecting th e branch of trade in which they are interested. The petition, which the Noble Duke read the length, and commented on as h e went along, w as t o th effect that if he existing protection was w i t hdrawn from the branch of t ra d e i n wn i ch t h ey were en' a gaged, it would b e ru i ned. He also pr asente _ petition from the Spi ta lfi e ld s weavers, pray i ng to be heard by counsel at the bar o f t h e H ouse, against the repea l of the duty the on foreign silks. The Noble Duke said he had given ltP conviction that the Corn Bitl would not pass—still, though he for a that Bill wou ld now pass, t h oug h i t m i g ht be only a temporary period, yet toat was no reason why he s hould give up the case of protection. He still adhered to that principle, and would take every opportunity of standing up is defence of native industry. He would suppotl the prayer of the petitions tie thought th e y oug h t to b e a ll owe d t o b e heard by counsel that was all they required; and surely their Lordships would not deny that which had been allowed to the corporations of England, ..nd other parties whose rights were about to be in vaded. The Spitaltieids weavers had suffered much, but they had been ever loyal to the Sovereign, and their case, therefore, was one that claimed their esi , ecial consideration. All they asked was, merely to be listened to for a short time by the counsel which they had instructed to appear in their behalf. He would conclude by moving that the petitioners be heard by counsel at the bar of the House. The Earl of DALHOUSIE must, however ungracious the task, oppose the motion that hat been made. He admitted that in many cases counsel had been heard in regard to particular measures, but these cases were different to the one of the present petitioners. In the former the cases were when particular trades or interests were to la.e affected by some special measure, whereas this was a general measure, only incidentally affecting the re itoners as well as a great number of other individuals. The Noble Lord here cited the cases in question, and against them referred to several circumstances in which the House had ruled that measures of general policy could not be appealed against by any special interest. If the Spitalfields weavers were heard against the present measure, how could they refuse other trades that would be affected by the Bill. who might pray for a similar privilege! —( Hear, hear.) The public business of the e eintry he was persuaded could not go on if such .1 precedent were glowed. Lord BROUG fl ANI considered that there was a great amount of difficulty and intricacy in the silk trade, with which their Lordships could not be made coneersan unless they were to hear some person specially in structed. The Noble Duke on the cross-benches had made certain statements with reference to the amount (.f protection. The petitioners had stated, that if they were allowed to be heard at the bar they could prove that the real amount of the protection was reduced at least 50 per cent. He (Lord Brougham) had nothing to say in opposition to the principle of the Bill, but he should be sorry to exclude any in formation front their Lordships. He had every confidence ia the integrity of the petitioners. and he did not think that it was for any purposes of delay that they proposed to be heard at the tar of their Lordships' House. He did not think that it was any answer to the petitioners to say that. they were not the only sufferers by the proposed measure. He should most cers tasnly wish to have the parties heard. He did not. know how his Noble Friend on the Treasury benches could make the statement that there was no precedent for the measure. In the year 1808, he (Lord Brougham) had himself been heard as counsel at the bar of the House, and had been allowed to examine forty or fifty witnesses on the subject. He had made speeches on the sub ject. A short-hand note of the proceedings was taken by Mr. Blanchard, which was printed for the use of their Lordships. The original might no doubt be obtained from the executors and assignees of that gentleman. In the year 1812, it turned out that they were right in the conclusions to which they ar rived. Counsel were also heard against the Municipal Corpo rations Act. He thought that when their Lordships were passing any great measure, they should not hurry it for ward without knowing the hearings and details of the case. He considered the Spitalfields weavers were a most deserving body of men, and that they deserved the kindest attention of their Lord ships. They were a numerous, ingenious, and industrious class of people. He had known them in prosperity, and he had seas , them in their accumulation of distress. He had seen them at the time when the Spafields' rioters held out great expectations to them—those riots which ended in :he execution of the sailor Cashman. They baldly and manfully bore up under their disappointed expectations. He would certainly vote in favour of the motion if it was pressed to a division. Lord ELL ENBOROUGH was always sorry to differ with his Noble and Learned Friend. He thought he was flushed with the recollection of his early victories. He thought such a proposition would tend to the destruction of all public business. The Noble Lord had stated as a reason for hearing counsel at the bar, that their Lordships were not sufficiently versed in the mysteries of the silk trade. Their Lordships might obtain more information from the evidence before tbe House than from any counsel who might be supposed to in struct th , it Lordships. If the petitioners were allowed to be heard on behalf of the silk trade, why should they not be heard en the linen, the cotton trade, and the timber trade? If their Lordships allowed counsel to be heard at the bar on. behalf of the Spitalfields weavers Against the Bill, it would he their duty likewise to hear speeches from counsel representing all the tra d es that would be affected by this Bill. The Noble Duke took upon himself to say that if counsel should be allowed to speak against the Bill, he should pledge himself that they would not make long speeches. He (the Earl of Ellenborough) hail the greatest respect for lawyers,. but he had ; and if that also a particular respect for their Pn"r of In tl a ta li n in I nocnegf speeches. —( Laughter. ) He had suffered Member be r of their loornd their permit eac.ira oar eaonulrosuenttotob been of interminable r shi long speeches since he had s Should House. To thos-s long wi t sh to the silk trade, nee why speeches of add evidence length hit ree o n' f dP trade which the passinegPtiorfatitehlswßitilhl teasN o b t l Noble and h e Learnedddone with F r h i an obstruction might theire sp e e Lordshi ps o ff t oredcestsh;i t a every n ot during the present session on this sub ") Practically it would be so. He y ,l ; r i a t nc would, in fact, to further legislation in th th a e jest.—(Cries " f " No, no. gave the Noble Duke on th eross-berches every credit for if 'heir Lordships mlrnit b°. ted thrown d o id bs e t o a n ele e s nd ay of the Corn-law A 'Won Bill, but he this proposition, they could not ' not having mischief which it must restrain the operation of the involve. l'he the of the whole measure was most important part of of Parliament at the submitted to the consideration They had heard commencement of the present session. tioned the cour se something about precedents, but if they sano rse proposed, he adoconcluded that they would pt a most dangerous course. If their Lordships agreed this p r o posit i on they would establish a principle fatal many to cases to th e process of leeislatios in the most important mat ters. He eonsideted the unnecessary delay that this courses must occasion. He begged of their Lordships to reject the motion, and they would remove all obstructions from the paw ing of a measure which would cause great relaxations, which he believed would be branches of manufacture.—( Hear, hear. ) Lord BROUGHAM—My Lords, I beg to assure your Lord• ships that you need not fear any petitions from any other body.—( Dissent.) We can shut the door against them. (Cries of " Oh, ( h.") We have a right to say " why did net you petition before Cries of " Divide, divide.") The Duke of WELLINGTON—My Lords, before your Lordships decide upon this point I wish to remind you what the question is. It is that counsel should be heard in the Committee upon this Bill in favour of the petition of the Spitalfields weavers. Now, my Lords, I beg your Lordships to recollect that in the Committee on this Bill will be COM. sidered the details of the Bill. Your Lordships will examine the details of the Bill, and you will find that there are certain duties there to be levied upon silk and silk goods, of which the details are to be given in the schedule. Now, my Lords, I beg to recal to your Lordships' recollection that you cannot, consistently with the common practice upon Bills of Customs and Bills of Supply, make any alterations in the Comnuttee on these details without an infraction .of tho rules of proceeding is ' , Weds end which have how existed for about 200 pars iia • q THE SUN, LON/90g, VUESIJAV tVVNING, JUNE i S frc tax se4 ve