The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-07 00:00:00

and a , complete:lel, aarY, eu nblil le ) which the ti ed:f for the eree'l,", le only object e w4 i emselves. 11 . 1 11 / 0 4,ei1l al mus eum, 1 , 410 1 t; pro duce of tilt, •ed by a r e P elv to 4ll ' r of mail h m te " ;o 7 whi ehs fK ) !T it i n t o oth e r fi j;ri ,hat they teal ,. V I . tion. etket . another aern fl m achinerY o o o o ed the Galli<ol „ F 'a iivision 1 ,opet Pl ..) Sir, we g ibe, )osai whseb brie, •hich I have„ co g. t o w hich 1 035100. Ls ehinell , t i , 1 51 el f p eem—we s ie" ieoe, euntry r together. 100 ong lig l yeir t ''„°: he days e .e . ' silt Per4 Lich is Il e " jeAn' most all the n os ,4 !, lat there i, 43 0 „. 4 inbling 011 Le when w e tbe ce; vieties in. 0 03/, f *utellig o 1 v e e very P — be 0 4 is not t° s gp , g amend is ,til dep od i ; sYste lu _ B td.it s affordeue eirly deolerilbje,.! e upon thi' o o., th a t it is n ere l , l , / !i f l ° t O V Fli te: l ll.sl :f/ 5 7,1 the rein!, Di e o'. ters, pf the la'': e a,f o f educat i of , rs yg the Die that ▪ j eg itiln• PrP°° Vitit of Purchase 4, eon a's' "naa' ini antrie° in 0,,,r? ' the ad'cnS i jo 6 01 „d o ss we rate la° t ° tY (1 . be d,e,,lje is (he'tj Le pe O P" 4Pee ) th e COl ( howev e tii 'd be eport ce 't ;OClOtieo mice of tm te e the ,/ brongi d t ok' 3 Por :h 210 0 sa? that th e l a cVill ;ton, a° ;b o a). cent t° " u " lrnercial tbe well as f° llo articles, ,rhs,:to noneY• ' t o de of Or g lee, tent of ti e ° be I ' o 4 PT°P ertY f the h ,:e o table 0 00-.1 Souse of it irPj, in w hew det te o4l clearly lu u l tioit 4 ld be e ° onlY• IC . It/ One " 4 100 he i n form s id would b s is ui „, ier s ie , -.• her e olo tance t•an 0.80 • were, 4 ts titutiet' o u o ht PerP",sll , ition of try refits to 1) " ) osers oCie t l to B , o— 0 -f 00 0 0 • " EverY t have bo o r f 'row be n l est vorks of 1° 0 1( Dnapetition 1,1 part (p.i, 0). of gar, ;stowed' t o vie er p orn oo 4 large 0 41 ' me call f t iO° .L British . 4 it r e deel s "Of owe ived a t. ,j1 031 They 11 '7h 0 1;1 think " —e y . t he s whion t site, M el 0) treasur es 'et3i Rsione rs /I ,4o° l' id if the9o money , 0 erect OW ✓of inan tif' ll°. o , ;he disp ti f the wh ile° l3 (.4 1 wlc te stance ti 7ectecL ow ; )I jer 118 ' .1 6 ogy 1 01 .4 )118 to t he 4 ,1 Led tha 1,000 en of t he ,,,icb itution P-0/ 11 , i 8 , that sonn?gt.o.4 "cosi' icy to „ er e g time yv• SOle _ t 1 11 P/ I ; ' ing tias tjj d eager re ! c p, In to s• 10 )0r Locate , a a s th e g o.' 8 Vl5 ye/ ' I L9' 3 was p p. o f lLUStri° llS Ol ,4l , 5 , t o the pr t 3 ,TriVO a. 0 1 / t ote eve„nd 71 do w ience ffieult i o ,, °s Lord,J: parto For e arf e 'r a th t e, so• rt u g ° tj ' theY bew9 the olsbet*/ t 4 ri)00 08 ,. r elO d t ldeCt it . 48 , 0 ,y, er rho 11° `t Dul cool 0° r We eee, i &J ' ( deb th V. A l a s t ISt' . °j o ' re ao ta, , ado co, :14 nd sea let' i tS t3t /It' 3 10 ) it' l w 0 , 5„, nnP" , — l ,ic.l l "it art ' 1 ;00e? Dueo u rould he ;n ter'r, a nd ti hi c , she .41,0ty, yt to lc ' ;; )r , 4 b r s ee l " 0 e : use f t eo lyi cent ° f 1 ttain s e a u n • v- or tb; o 3o s re e la th vai ° as M 1 - e r! !orreg i° sePj it to t b of l "t" b et" suppl y ° o f not , ° lt i 4 bier.) Joe,' nev,,Th r 001 Sir j -- piP a Wi ll co fet.' oing 0 1 ' 4 owit jo re it Pso a w h it 15 u ter.). ) ,3 ' 11 )f 1 0 8 i.t the ei ~ t, an . tb - c hief 113 c It, ilher . p Ol l b" l ' o o' wer ; l l aiere l i e 0 P e lgete ttot en Waal .0 0 06 , t i . ce n e on" of n ,, 51e1 $ tho P -- f o te apP re ., e n tri er co.- t Da Hon tilon, O firr bl e ges ce i l nn vol sr" vote go N° t , lo se it. o g0e410,1 eree of es tioo 4 . o . ry so tlie ra iiti nosy 93,5, ori a co o: )11 10 00 10° „1 tro Y Plot of land which ever could be purchased in this me to t e s ti. . (Hear, hear.) Hereafter, if it should be submitted tags house that it was a convenient site among other 4 ; 1 ,53 for the National Gallery, which must be rempved. I,l;!`shere or other, for at present there was not a single (h 7. 1 ., where works of art could be deposited in safety— qs,:rt would be for the house fairly to consider that All L i en, and it would be entirely under their control. tti B " e Wished the house now to do was to agree to vote 'ttrl nl s o f 1 50,0001., which he desired to see under i th , e N s ,' et a Minister of the Crown, according to the as r - Ps' or , ll 'ed in the commissioners' report. He had never as t,;( 1 that the house should vote a sum of money to r b e. ti t Z ts ' i ';;,eut of the control of a Minister of the Crov on tliel ers i ,e,to the house. They had heard some remarks the ISp a k t 7 l 's•• It was the locality to which not only of th "lca of this metropolis, but the whole population he 6 this Kingdom resorted not two years ago, tr t i re could not believe that if the inducement hos e qual. the locality would be found convenient.. The kiatPetilber for East Surrey seemed to imagine this was tiie g te ,'lmpt to force a feeling for fine pictures amoeng the Ilist o ;, c eranninity, when the fact was the refercnenc oft e oas sni •'.Pictures was a very subordinate ports Iclts pictures report. The scheme they recommended tisnut,caither more nor less than to give an industrial educa elssio the People, and to bring the influence of sciepce, pi a SSIY, and of art upon the manufacturing production. to th 4 asore practicable more important, and more ur . gent hear , L ulterests of the country could not be conceived. r B 7,. e s ur.) This land was, in fact, virtually purchased, 48 p li ss - X lLe commissioners had entered upon a contract for tent s Z s te,, with the confident expectation that Parha uhes-71,' Lne country would assist them. (Hear, heal.) lass - c" e ,Purchase was fully completed, all further plans 'are ti: e s elve the consideration of the house, andheWa3 'clue would not consent to raising any buildings, the ass ,” el Penditure, without a very rigid scrutiny into all t he , A ..'a g e raelltS, and taking care that the whole talent of e -I:4l l ,trY should be brought into public competition. s "UH ar so' t s ' ea rs) He hoped the committee would agree to By doing so they would not agree to any exh t„ z• af :,:re beyond the purchase of valuable property, why jfrier might be dealt with as Parliament should think Pear, hear.) ts h s • SMITH complained that the Chancellor of the the e , 4 ; is q,iler had not answered the question satisfactorily of 1 t - 7,,Le lord the member for Totnes. The estimate was 4 4 O opt i veu,ced intheusual form, no detail was given, and s „, e ' the property they were about to purchase was . Abl e % - ung. They ought to have information of the pro wosfe s urther sums which would be required, and who t orci c o e responsible for the expenditure. the 'EYMOUR said they had not yet heard what was slaclitstr. ntity of ground to be purchased, or what portion Sthe made over to the public. r es I L AY wished to know if a conditional contract had ts - "ered into for all the land, because it was reported seLewner of a small portion of the land, four acres 70,000/. for it, and said nothing should induce The© take a farthing less. (Oh, oh.) 41 ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Ther\v-4 treated with the contempt it deserved. (Hear.) kse g e hnA w aa no conditional agreement whatever. Seventy sad 1 1 7 b een purchased by the surplus of the Exhibition, i '„arelt; e ce, c ommissioners offered to give the whole of their Nets ; to the public, provided the nation would assist (lift AI the object they had in view. There could be no t~aCtlealt. i n ma ngements satisfactory to the house eentrol and manaeement, but he wished it to be dis aSALubderstood that * the whole of the land purchased s • V s r ,given to the public. (Hear, hear.) ' 4 4 1, -. " -)3 dE was satisfied with the assurance that the (1 / 2 . 0 1 / 4 ould be under the control of a Minister of the iS s : 3 , but hoped the vote would be postponed until the WO of the property was before the committee. ' II ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it di alao be very convenient if the committee would now Wer e ,,,, 000 1 the vote. The country would understand they " u ° s t a3ri ng 150,0001. and receiving property worth thy. " 4 . CHAMBERS was at a loss to know whether e/'e contributing to the purchase of 70 or 140 acres. bae t , 4 ,'"ellded to vote against the proposition, because he oseeepot what w as to be done with the money. It was mss to which desirou s that the committee should know the which the land would be devoted, whether it tl'Aoslsl.-'erect proposed to a building on it, or whether it was e - ‘ 1 to us e te land for nothing/. (Hear, and a laugh.) qaisi`l'Prehended this was only the commencement of thia 8 for larger sums for the erection of buildings upon 11sister of land. He would not concur in any vote th e T t a tormation was not given of the appropriation of h S' 3 is r e ss ueY. (Hear, hear.) "ticiert ',I ( YUNG suggested that the Government should 4 at sf4 ,a,se to produce the maps before the money was paid 4 , Af t. ~,"'S„e Exchequer. Th,," . -KEENE thought the vote would be unanimous if k r s, was before the committee. s • LOCKE, having a strong opinion on the prin. 4 . St t ha vote, was induced to enter his protest against '"1101„, did not agree with the hon. gentleman opposite, s 't given th em a ver y l ow es ti ma te of the character Lats„ Vstun len and nr did he attribute their great perfection industrial skill to the Government schools t" 3 ,,,,oiti: r countries. He had no objection to one of the pro iPkee u... 3 Ma de in the course of the discussion, that mor•s 4 ,•'at wanted for the exhibition of some of our excel t'eatssi°l'"is of art ; but if it was intended to introduce a ~,- . ,s c atool in which degrees were to be established, and 4 ach Which individuals might be excluded—(hear, hear)- 7,the Polytechnic School at Paris—he felt bound to tea l th ,"" voice against such a proposition. It might . be 'aole s n Was only the first vote, and that it was only in 'est, Im -Lor the purchase of land, but he apprehended that Nlg e ent other votes which would follow, and the st r e fuen m ces a of which he dreaded. Pete,i C OWAN suggested that the vote should be post toss t he the plan in its details was more com pletely be- At comnittee thought if an institution was intended Us ts - ' ss to the Polytechni c S c h oo l i n F rance , as the hon. %h er "' for Honiton (M r . L oc k e ) seeme d t o ap p r ehend, ostie Wel' ould be great danger in sanc ti on i ng th e vo te with hutther inquiry. 4 0 ,Z 8 CHANCELLOR of the EXCH EQUER said the te tt gentleman opposit e (M r . L oc k e) made a s t a rtling m ite?, for which there was not the slightest foundation, Isntiassed an argument against the vo te which the hon. k t elban alre a dy ap p rove d o f. H e (th e Ch an cellor of the ok t rener) had heard of the hon. member's suggestion re *l,,thltbsg this school for the first time ; and ho could say 1 / 4 14C,?,m05t perfect confidenc, that there was not the imaginable ground for it (cheers). 1 1 . 1 . - vote was then agreed to without a division. O i tRAL OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. 0,; ( 10. Nig; next vote proposed was that a sum not exceeding Should be granted for defraying the funeral ex hita °f the Duke of Wellington. r ead,lultilE A thought the house ought to have anaccoun e t . 4 ,7aoles e- s" . the expenses of the funeral, before they pr 'Pk ° 0 this vote • indeed, if reports out of doors were Was not certain that they ought not to have a corn ea a ppointed to examine into many of the items of the i t,tile t ' s • A. HAMILTON said he could assure the honour 'Use - ' st e s ialher for Montrose that immediately after . the ksos s r- 4 ,° o k place means were taken to collect the various ~Nclst- S - " , and he held in his hand an abstract of those se nt, . rs e .,° far as he had been able to obtain them. The items were as follows :—Accounts in reference to tart.P.ablic works, 25,000/. ; the Lord Chamberlain and his ti,7•rshal, 33,0001. ; and expenses connected with mov tro, tr oops, 8500/ (exclusive of the cost of lodging the I t hOf e Prior to 'the 'funeral, not yet ascertained). Th e e gtess es 's" the accounts which had been received up to that amounted to 47,000/. ; and he believed the total " 'would not amount to 80,0001 . He could assure est ° , - ; oe that ev ry care should be taken to enforce the e sn ;.i te gid and Iris' economy in the settlement of those lot,ttottlarelees,l`ll:s-ussiy in ix te Y rre S d T ; UAßT said he was second to no man ir e s' e heration he felt for the illustrious hero whom they but he had to complain throughout i h , 11(1 e1: 3 • 11( Illet of the Government in this business—first, Zk4e lug the funeral, and next, in refusing the request a f Ore 4 18 i 8 honourable friend the member for Montrose s lcich "ue funeral for an estimate of the expenses, and t' h u_otit s ", B not even ready now. It would have been more . s son Ito have d ferred asking for the money until the ee",,,,,itbateassas complete. e He was not prepared to say ZDeC u r a Was excessive —(hear, hear)—but 80,0001. did t Zal, very large sum. He should be dm' posed to be . li- OusvB" far as he was concerned, when they were voting ° l l:auch an oc casion ; but when it was borne in t s _'•oo• o t ra i t the funeral of Nelson cost the country only i s m 4 t aura a mustsay there was a wide difference between 4 11. ss. d the cine they were now called on to vote. He know whether the expenses of foreign visitors of kerehTtl the occion of the feral whether were includ theyed ist,:fon d Chamberlain's acco i unt t un or he woweed to be provided for n the vote of 80,000/ ? connected with 14. , 11. i ntlera lsow advert to a circumstance N I % T hou which h a d ne personally great givenments on the day of the rah l s w s e re g such he as to arrangements d general approbation, act t a luect credit on all concerned, it was a dep . lorable I ts - ,"he l• i a,:s e. _ few days before several persons lost their lives ( l i t tes aa rla ess of the people to pay their respects towards t h , t oh, fr of the departed hero at Chelsea H . ospital. os s ter of °ln the Ministerial benches.) Was i u t m t s l t i s e n n ee a o U eoB ,:urPrise that he should advert to lei th a t ec the lives of at least three of histefensllscoirwte-hcereseat livesures ght s inv c e a 3 lon ? It was only justice precautions had been e)4' suer been preserved if greater by those who were t: A l' ,?, l lBil4 better arrangements male th'" 4 1b s i e He did not wish to say more—(cheers from t• th st erialista)-- e x c ept to express his very great regre I;: i e L kettg e ueral success of everything connected with that - " e r " wa s marred by that most deplorable event which _ ar ras se ssZu . , l sl J . ••g ments might have prevented. MANNERS said, having been responsible for a tosZ re of the arrangements to which the noble committee e lception he could assure him and the uPos °l )a th e fi rd b k . he Was moment a public fu . neral was determined e 4 • bssmost anxious that an estimate . should be pre nit? for ba " 141 :1 found, on inquiry, that, owing to the limited. Its ' atlq t :„iig the grea t preparations which were re ui- A°ssitr novel nature of . the service, it was perfectly g 4 444 b e pi a _ e , arrive at an estimate on which any reliance be e Wha e : n. ".• (Hear, hear.) So far as his part of the busi- Re: i e rned, the heads of all e expenditure had e rall 64, and he believed the noble lord and the house ss llse , bs' Y t n iv re e V i d . shortly have a n opportunity of testing the k ilo r Whi ch had b een incurred. In the department es h _ubt of t , ue (Lord John Manners) presided, a great nine and the most assiduous labour had been gre:',Pnte Only with the view of carryingout the ar eas; tut eeob at the most effective manner, but with the Vv as ' e u• ( s i -c 'ulY consistent with the importance of the op seF Peassi e e ar, hear.) He repeated he did not think it 1 1. 1 pce es , , ( I . ° Prepare beforehand an estimate upon which a s :. 11•Is n. ' bb.Pla . placed. eh ef said if the house was not furnished with an the actual expenses that had been incurred, he s 'alist eri ,;le the house. (Shouts of " Oh, oh," from the obsbe enenches.) ss!ervasiossa-NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER made an tT i 7 .. atti ened u t across the table, but it was lost in the uproar ti he N y. 0 . 4 1 13:, the hon. member for Montrose's intimation ba t r • S. c A. Tlide the committee. ?was reee ,'- . _'-c-ER then endeavoured to address the house, . Was unable Sy with such loud cries of " Oh, oh," that and -dant eg h e su proceed. After the apse of several ask moved that the chairman do h report progress, rl r• lit l ea ss v e_to sit again. (Oh, oh.) wa . alt; said the house was acting in a most die ;Neste a s i n Land if the Government would not keep their eed wiTT; e r .ordpr, it would be quite impossible to port th e business. (Oh, oh.) He felt bound to sup on!!!•• , I'l° l - i til3 ,u 4 S)! his hon. friend. "Y or then rose, but his remarks were hiB st di scord ed amidst loud cries of " Oh, oh !" and the trostegret a!tt noises. We understood him to express agreed a na tthe course taken by the hon. member for Mon- Ilia hope that the resolution would have been ght e without a dissentient voice. (Oh, oh, and s is r) b he t i x t giv ll iP g a r cs said he had no objection to the hon. mem eoa *4 a t rust u eque for the amount out of his own pocket, -4 eht t o ~ ee for the public, he (Mr. Hume) could not , be Course now Pursued. (Oh, oh') Mr. HUDSON—The hon. member talks a for as much lnout giving a cheue. I will give a cheque as w ill. (Roars of laughter.) The gallery was then cleared for a division, but *ono took place. On our re-admission. Mr. CARTER was found on his legs, but not one word in ten reached the gallery. He complained that the sum asked for was a great deal too much. (Oh, oh.) He was, however, almost surprised the Government were content with so little as 80,0001. Judging from the temper of the house, and the manner in which the other sums had been voted, they might have obtained twice as much. (Oh, oh.) A good deal was formerly said about precedent ; but in stead of the Government confining themselves to the pre cedent of Nelson's funeral, they required five times as much. (Oh, oh.) What was the use of consulting a pre , cedent if they were to multiply it by five? (Laughter.) Following the same course, if another public funeral should take place, they might ask the country for 400,000. (Oh, oh, and laughter.) Colonel SIBTHORP had heard scarcely anything that had fallen from the hon. member ' but he understood him to have used the word " metal." Now in some metal there was a great deal of dross, and he thought the metal alluded to by the hon. member would never circulate through the United Kingdom. (Laughter.) There was not a man or woman in the country who would not gladly give their penny to testify their veneration for one of the greatest men who ever lived. (Hear, hear.) The amendment was then by leave withdrawn. Lord D. STUART wished to know if the expenses of the foreign officers of distinction attending the funeral were included in the 80,0001. Mr. HAMILTON was not aware whether any expense had been incurred for foreign officers, but if that was the case he believed it to be included in th e vote. (Hear.) Mr. CARTER said he also had a qu estion to ask. (Oh, oh.) What was the cost of the f uneral car ? (Oh, oh.) No answer was returned to the question, and the resolu tion was put and agreed to. The Chairman then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. TENANTS' COMPENSATION (IRELAND) BILL. The order of the day having been read for the purpose of postponing the second reading of this and the other Irish law bills introduced by the Attorney-General for Ireland, Mr. KEOGH wished the honourable and learned gentle. man to give the house some opportunity of discussing these bills, two of which were of the most objectionable nature, during the present week. One of these bills was so objectionable that he did not believe it would receive the sanction of fifty members. The honourable and learned gentleman had been negotiating a postponement, but the Irish members were anxious to test his sincerity and consistency in the form of his bills as soon as possible. (Hear, hear.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND said if the honourable and learned gentleman in reality enter tained any objection to these bills he should have put an honest notice on the paper that they be read a second time this day six months. (Hear, hear.) He understood there would be no objection to the principle of the bills. The fourth bill, the Landlord and Tenant Right Bill, was sub stantially the same as that which had been introduced for the last three sessions. (Mr. Keogh : Certainly not.) His intention was to have postponed the bills, in order that they might be considered during the recess, but he was quite prepared to bring them on for discussion at any time. (Hear. hear.) Ultimately the second reading was fixed for to-day. The West India Colonies, &c., Loans Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Commons Inclosure Bill went through committee. STAMP DUTIES ON NEWSPAPERS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in moving for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to stamp duties on newspapers, observed that the schedule in the act of George 111. defined newspapers to be papers containing public news, intelligences, or occurrences published within the United Kingdom, or any remarks or observations thereon, or such as were published periodically, or in parts or numbers, or at intervals, not exceeding 26 days. There was a publication called the " Household Narrative," published by Bradbury and Evans, of which Mr. Dickens was the author, and it was the opinion of the Stamp-office that that paper, although published at intervals of not less than 26 days was liable to stamp-duty ; and accordingly an information was filed against the publisher to recover the penalties and duties incurred, the object being to obtain a decision of the court as to whether the publi cations were liable to stamp duty or not. The case was argued before the Court of Exchequer. Three judges were of opinion that the publication was not liable to stamp duty ; the fourth, Mr. Baron Parke, being of opinion that it was. The difference of opinion between the judges turned entirely upon the question whether the definitions that he had read to the house were distinct and separate definitions, or whether the third was merely a qualification of the first. The three judges were of opinion that the third was merely a qualification, and that therefore no publication was a newspaper which was not published at intervals of less than 26 days, Mr. Baron Parke being of a different opinion. This argument took place before the present Government came into office. When he came into office, he found that the law officers who preceded him were of opinion that the decision of the Court of Exchequer was not satisfactory, and that it was necessary to take the opinion of a higher court on the sub ject. He certainly quite agreed in the course adopted by his predecessors. And whatever might have been his opinion, he should certainly have felt it his duty to follow the course which they had pointed out, and therefore the appeal to the Court of Exchequer Chamber was deter mined upon. His right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer thought, however, that it was right to adhere to the opinion which was expressed by the majority of the Court of Exchequer, and he was extremely desirous, both for the sake of the public and to prevent litigation, that a measure should be introduced to support the opinion of the ma jority of the Court of Exchequer. This bill had, there fore, been introduced, which repealed that part of the schedule to which he had called attention, and gave such a definition of a newspaper as would exclude from the operation of the stamp duties publications published at in tervals of not less than 26 days. He trusted that no hon. gentleman would on this occasion enter into the discussion of the general question of what were called the taxes on knowledge, and that he would be allowed to introduce and pass through all its stages as rapidly as possible a measure which was calculated to be of so much public benefit. Mr. M. GIBSON said that he wished first to advert to a point of form. The learned Attorney-General said that he was going to introduce a bill to declare what a news paper was in such a way as to exclude from the operation of the present Newspaper Stamp Act certain monthly pub lications. He (Mr. Gibson) thought, however, that the de finition which the learned gentleman had given would ex tend the operation of the Stamp Act to publications which were not now liable to duty ; and if that were so, he presumed that the house should resolve itself into a committee upon the newspaper stamp laws before the bill was introduced. He thought that the proposed bill would extend the opera tion of the Stamp Act, because, from the Attorney-General's remarks it appeared that no papers were for the future to be considered newspapers which were published at a longer interval than once in 26 days, but that all papers published at less intervals than 26 days were to be considered news papers. Now all papers of more than two sheets, and at a higher price than 6d., might now be published more fre quently than once in 26 days, without being liable to stamp duty. These 9 however, would be brought under the operation of the Stamp Act by the new definition given by the Attorney-General, and therefore he thought that the introduction of the bill should be preceded by a committee of the whole house. Great injustice had been done to small newspaper proprietors throughout the country whose papers had been suppressed by letters from the In land Revenue-office. When, however, they proceeded against Mr. Dickens, a gentleman of great influence and popularity, they were frightened out of their proceedings, and brought in a bill to declare that these publications never had been newspapers. What compensation did they intend to offer to those persons whose papers had been suppressed on the ground that they were newspapers ? (Cries of " Hear, hear.") He was con vinced that when the new bill came to be discussed it would appear that the new definition of a newspaper was just as unsound as the old one ; and, if under it they prose cuted persons for publishing unstampe d papers, they would again be obliged to introduce a new declaratory bill. In a future stage of the bill he should feel it his duty to point out how completely inadequate this bill would be to define what was a newspaper. In conclusion he begged to ask the opinion of the Speaker upon the point of form to which he had alluded ? The SPEAKER said that no doubt, if the effect of the bill was to impose an additional stamp duty, it should be introduced by a committee of the whole home ; it was, however, impossible for him to say whether this would be its effect until it was introduced, and he had an opportu nity of examining it. Mr. GIBSON asked whether it would not bo better for the Attorney-General to keep himself on the safe side, and to move the bill in a committee of the whole house ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL remarked that, in his opinion, the bill would not bring within the definition of newspapers publications not now liable to the stamp duties. He would, therefore, take his chance, and introduce the bill then. Leave was then given to- introduce the bill, which was forthwith brought in by the Attorney-General. RAILWAY AMALGAMATION. Kr. HENLEY then moved for a select committee to consider the principle of amalgamation, as applied to rail way and canal bills about to be brought under the conside raton of Parliament. No doubt the house was aware that there were at present public notices given for a very considerable number of railway bills, he believed for 150 or 160,amongst which were more thantwenty which were called amalgamation bills. Some of these were of so extensive a character that the house had not hitherto had to deal with similar questions of anything like equal importance. It was not necessary for him to call the attention of the house to the vast magnitude and importance of this subject, because it would be evident to every one who considered this matter at all, that, if these amalgamations went on they would lay the foundation of a state of things which at no very distant period would force the house to consider whether the whole locomotion of the kingdom should or should not pass, or bo liable to pass, into one and the same management. For if the amalgamations proposed this year were allowed to be car ried into effect, there would be !2:1 natural tendency on the part of the groups thus formed to coalesce again, and to go on in this way until all the railways were united in one concern. The first practical question to which they had to turn their attention was, what was to become of these bills when they were sent, in the ordinary course of pro ceedings in the house, before the select committees ? He thought every one would agree with him, that it would hardly do to let matters of such vast importance go for discussion to any five gentlemen without some general view having been taken beforehand, and some general rinciple or regulation having been laid down, by which either in the shape of standing orders or other wise) t e attention of these several select committees might be drawn to particular points, and they might be desirre to express an opinion upon, or to call the attention of the house to those particular points as they arose in detail. Of course, if the house agreed to appoint such a committee as he recommended, the first point which they would have to consider mation was the prelimi nary question whether these large amalgamations shou be sanctioned or not. Of course it would naturally occur to honourable members what power the railways had of effect ing these amalgamations by arrangements concluded with out reference to the house, and it would be a question for them to consider whether such an arrangement, over which they had no control, might not press muc h more severely upon the p u bli c th an if th e y were made under the sa nction and up on the conditions laid down by Parliament. Sup pose it should be considered prudent not to negative amal gamations, but to place them under sound regulations, the course of inquiry would naturally branch into three or four ==_... _ THE SUN,' LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 7, 1852. SUBMARINE and EUROPEAN TELE GRAPH COMPANIES. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that MESSAGES between LONDON and DOVER arc forwarded, through the above Companies, from the offices, No. 30, Cornhill, London, and Clarence-place, Dover. Messages for the Coutineut arc tbrwarded from the offices, No. 30 Conlin, London. By order of the Board. G. L. PARROTT, Secretary 30, Cornhill, 17th November, 1852. CLERICAL, MEDICAL, and GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. The Assured may reside in most parts of the world, without extra charge, and In all parts by payment of a small extra pre mium. . _._ The small share of Profit divisible in future among the Share holders being now provided for, without intrenching on the amount made by the regular business, the ASSURED will hereafter derive all the benefits obtainable from a Mutual Office, with, at the same time, complete freedom from liability, secured by an ample Pro esiatary Capital—thus combining .n the same office all this advan tiageS of both systems. FIVE BONUSES have been declared; at the last in January, 1852, the sum of 131,125/. was added to the Policies, producing a lionua varying with the different ages, front 243 to 55 per cent. on the Premiums paid during the five years; or mom Si. to 121. 10s. per cent. on the sum assured. The next and future Bonuses may be received in cash, or applied at the option of the Assured in any other way. Oa Policies for the whole of Life, one-half of the Annual Premi ums for the first five years may remain on Credit, and may either continue as a debt on the Policy, or may be paid off at any tim,. Claims paid in THIRTY DAYS after proof of death, and all Poli cies are INDISPUTABLE except in cases of fraud. INVALID LIVES may be assured at rates proportioned to the increased risk. The Assurance Fund already invested amounts to £850,000, and the Income exceeds £136,000 per annum. The Accounts and Balance Sheets are at all times oven to the inspection of the Assured, or of any Person who may desire to assure. Tables of Rates and Forms of Proposal can be obtained of any of the Society's Agents ; or of GEO. H. PINCKARD, Resident Secretary. 99, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London. TIIEA.TICZ ROYAL. IIAYMARKET. Farewell Season a Mr. Benjamin We ,ster as Lessee awl Manager. TIILS EVENING Will be performed the new Petite Comedy of A NOVEL EXPE DIENT. After which, the very popular and highly attractive Comedy of MASKS AND FACE; or, Before and Behind the Curtain —by Messrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart, and Parselle: Mrs. StirlinJ ' Miss Ross Bennett, Mrs. Leigh Murray, and Mlts Fanny Maskell. To be followed by the Farce of A CAPITAL MATCH. To conclude wi h YOUR LIFE'S IN DANGER. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENLYG Will be performed a Dramatic Story, in eight acts, entitled A CHAIN OF EVENTS. Characters by Messrs. Charles Mathews, F. Matthews, Roxby. Baker, Suter, Belton, Horncastle, Butler, Ro stere, and Monner ; Madame Vestris, Mrs. F. Matthews, Miss St. George, Miss M. Oliver, Miss Rosins Wright, Miss Martindale, Mrs. Horn, Mrs. Macnamara, Mrs. Foote, and bliss Foote. To conclude with A HOUSE OUT OF WINDOWS. Characters, Paul Potter and Mr. Robert Roxby. - -- - ----- Sole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Alleroft, 15, New Bond•street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Open for the Season. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, The popular new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, Miss Collins, Miss Laura Honey, and Mrs. Keeley; Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Emery, Cullenford, 0. Smith, &c. After which, the admired Farce of A MODEL WIFE. To conclude with the Comic Opera of GOOD NIGHT, SIGNOR PAN TALON. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING Will be performed the new and original Play, in five acts, by West land Marston, Esq., entitled ANNE BLAKE. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Kean, W. Lacy, and Addison ; Mrs- Winstanley, Mrs. Daly, and Mrs. C. Kean. To be followed by THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal character by Mr. C. Kean. To conclude with THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER, in which Mr. Wright will appear. ASTLEY'SS ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Great and unprecedented success of Uncle Tom's Cabin, which nightly increases in popularity and attraction. On TUESDAY, December 7th, and during the week, the perfor mances will commence with the new and highly successful Eques trian Drama of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, with all its exciting and interesting Equestrian and Dramat'c effects. To be followed by Fatty's Equestrian and Gymnastic Scenes in the Arena, supported by the fist native and Continental talent. To conclude yvith the popular Farce of THE D EVIL TO PAY. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Doors open; at lialt-past Six a'clock; Box-odiee open daily from Eleven to Fo or. HIGH WATER AT LOND, lON 'BRIDGE. Trim DAY Morning 9 min. after 10 I Eve) ling 42 min.aft. 10 T e -Moaaow—Morning 14 min. after 11 Evel2ing 42 min.aft. 11 distinct heads. (Hear, hear.) There would be first, the conditions to be laid down to guard the interest of parties who proposed to amalgamate, which were by no means of a simple character. (Hear, hear.) It must be deter mined whether the parties should be obliged, before they got their amalgamation act, to consolidate their own laws, so that the shareholders should know what their interests were ' • and, at all events, their rights and interests should be defined in so clear a manner that when the Legislature came to marry these parties together, they should have a better chance of knowing what their inter ests were, and how they would be affected. by amalgamation. (Hear.) Another class of parties whose interests should be guarded were the lessors of railways. There were rever sionary interests in these lessors which may or may not be injured by amalgamation. But Parliament should take care that their interests were properly looked after. There was also another class of persons who perhaps might have no locus stcouli before a select committee, but who might be deeply interested in amalgamation. These were pro prietors of canals or lines of railway running parallel or near the parties who proposed to amalgamate, who might be deeply affected by this amalgamation, and who should not be shut out from having their interests properly secured. They came, then, to the larger and more important question —how the public interest was to be guarded and watched. Tho first question was by what means security should be taken that the railways should be kept open through their entire length and breadth ; and that no portion should be shut up, by which means the public would be deprived of accommodation which they had previously possessed. How far such a course as he proposed ought to be enforced as to the gross returns on these lines, and on each parti cular portion of these lines, was also a question to be con sidered. The next point was as to fares. At present the railways wore running within the maximum tolls allowed by law ; but he thought it quite proper that it should be carefully looked into by this committee, what provision should be laid down to guard the public against having tolls unduly levied. Another point was as to the general power of regulating railways, and this must also come under the committee's consideration, who, however, could not judge of it without looking closely, not only into the powers already existing by law, but also into the way in which they had been exercised. As regarded the desira bility of any Government control, there was, he thought, no question that any such must be limited to this extent—that you should not in any way relieve the railway bodies of the responsibility of their acts ; that you should not carry it to such a point as to run any risk of an interference which, under any pretence whatever, could be thought to relieve the railway bodies of their responsibilities in carrying on their affairs—which they did, though, generally, he was bound to say, for the advantage and benefit of the public as well as for their own. Before concluding, he would say a few words with regard to the quantity of acci dents which had occurred on railways, with a view to dis sipating the erroneous impression that accidents had very much increased. The different railway companies were obliged to make returns to the Board of Trade of all acci dents where any serious injuries occurred. " Serious in jury" might perhaps be an indefinite term, on the signifi cation of which the railway authorities and the sufferers would in certain cases disagree ; but, however this might be, there was no reason why . railway authorities should view such injuries differently in one year and another. So far therefore, the comparison would hold. His list com prised the ast three years, and accidents arising from causes out of the control of the parties injured. In 1850 there were 117 such accidents ; in 1851, 122 ; and in 1852, up to the 30th November, 104. There had then certainly been no increase of accidents ; on the contrary, rather a di minution ; and at the same time the traffic had very much increased, and especially the excursion traffic—the kind of traffic to which many of these calamities had been attri buted. He begged to conclude by moving for " A select committee to consider the principle of amalgamation as applied to railway or railway and canal bills about to be brought under the consideration of Parliament ;" and he had been requested to add, "to consider the principles which ought to guide the house in railway legislation." Mr. LOCKE was glad that it was not intended to dimi nish the responsibilities which at present attached to rail way bodies. If he understood the right honourable gentle man correctly, the committee was to inquire into the powers of railway companies, and also to inquire how far the powers allowed had been fulfilled. He would put this case :—A company came to Parliament, and asked for powers to complete a railway ; these powers it allowed to expire, and after the lapse of a considerable time left the landowners and the country totally without the line they had expected. Such companies there were in Parliament this year, asking for other powers, whilst not having exe cuted those already granted them. That was a case requiring consideration. But he could instance a still stronger one. A railway company obtained power from the house to execute a railway of given length; after three or four years their funds became deficient ; they determined to stop all fur ther proceedings • they appointed a committee ; that com mittee recommended them to go half way, and no further ; the shareholders agreed. What, he asked, would be the disposition of Parliament with reference to such a company—a company which, having obtained powers on the supposition that it had a right to take merely a portion of the line ? Ho wanted to know whether a case of that kind would come under the operation of the committee ? If so, he should be satisfied ; if not, he must himself press it upon the attention of the house. Mr. HUDSON hoped that Parliament would not force upon companies the execution of schemes which must in volve considerable loss. He trusted that the right hon. gentleman would confine his committee to the principles which he had already laid down. They were extensive enough ; indeed, he thought far too extensive. Do not let them go into the question of abandoned railways, and call upon companies to complete worthless schemes. He was rather surprised to find. the hon. member opposite (Mr. Locke) proposing what he did. Ms. LAING, himself interested in railways, thanked the right honourable gentleman for this measure, as well as for the terms in which he had spoken of that interest. 'These questions were of that importance that made it desirable they should be investigated, and settled, as soon as pos sible, on some sound and intelligible footing. No persons were more anxious than railway directors for this, and he did hope that an effort would now be made to remedy the evils of railway legislation, and settle it on a sounder and better basis for the future. In 1844 a select committee was appointed, and, after very careful investigation, laid down principles which he thought were never impugned. Those principles, unfortunately, were swept away by the torrent of speculation in 1845. And what was the conse quence ? The consequence was that we had now about 7,000 miles of railway, which had cost on the average about 36,0001. sterling per mile. Look at the cost in other countries—in France. for example—where, the price of iron and materials being higher, you might expect the cost of a railway to be greater even than in England ; ib was, in fact, many thousands a mile less. He believed there was no more certain propositions than that the cost of anything, whether railway travelling, corn, or cotton, would in the long run be regulated by the prime cost of the article. If they, therefore, multiplied lines of railway where one would suffice, they incurred so much the more expense, and in the long run the public would have to pay so much the more for the accommodation afforded. A great source of the complaints now so rife amongst the public arose from the state into 'which the property of the companies had been brought by legislation and other cir cumstances ; for, after so many years increasing traffic, it would be found, on looking at the share list, that the great bulk of it was at a discount, or paying very inadequate returns for the capital invested. With regard to the acci dents on railways, their number had been much overrated. Looking at the number and speed of the trains, and the number of passengers they conveyed, the wonder was, not that so many, but that so few, accidents should have taken place, and that the number should be small when compared either with what took place under the for mer system of travelling or on the foreign railroads. The true interests of the public and the companies were, he believed, identical ; and if amalgamations were to be carried into effect, it must not be on the ground of ad vantage resulting to the railway interest, but to the public. The extravagant cost of the railways of this coun try sufficiently showed the vice of the system under which they had been constructed. We had now 7,000 miles of railway, which had cost at an average 36,0001. a mile, or 250,000,0001. in the whole ; whereas the French lines had been constructed at an average of 25,0001. a mile, and from 15,0001. to 20,0001. for the blanch lines. There was thus a positive loss shown, as incurred by the English companies, of 10,0001. a mile, or 70,000,0001. in the whole, which, for all practical purposes, might as well have been thrown into the sea. He doubted not that if our railways had to be made over again, the saving of cost might amount to fully this sum. Mr. GLADSTONE was glad that the right hon. gen tleman proposed to appoint this committee. It was quite obvious that the subject of railway amalgamation among the great companies deserved every attention. Even if it had not now been proposed to amalgamate those concerns, yet the state into which railway companies without legis lative powers of regulation had come would by this time have deserved the attention of Parliament, and the amalgamation which it was now proposed to effect gave a favourable opportunity of re-opening the whole question. He agreed entirely with what fell from the right hon. gen tleman the President of the Board of Trade, so far as it went ; but he could not help hoping that the matter would be carried a little further, and some solution attempted to the great difficulties which had heretofore attended the question of railway legislation. Ono great effort to solve those difficulties had been made by the Government of Sir It. Peel in 1844 and. 1845, which failed in the face of diffi culties which had undoubtedly prevented its being fol lowed up hitherto. At the same time, he thought the ex perience of 7 or 8 years had produced great regret in the public mind that it had not been followed up. They had seen enormous evils resulting from the incapacity—he was sorry to use this term, and on no other subject would he consent to use it—or the cowardice of Parliament in dealing with the subject. Parliament had never grappled with its difficulties, and the consequences had been the loss of 70,000,0001. of capital, as stated by his honourable friend who spoke last, the execution of the works in a less perfect style, and a great increase of public dis satisfaction. Not only this, but railway speculation in times of commercial prosperity assumed so extravagant and feverish a character that all parties ran mad with it, and it became one of the great causes of commercial derangement. (Hear, hear.) He was one of those who thought no good was to be effected by the intermeddling of government de partments. The only method to which he looked with hope, as likely to yield advantageous results and lead to a better system, was the establishment of a community of interests between the railway companies and the public. He trusted that Government would not rest satisfied without an endeavour to introduce not only better principles, but better regulation in the conduct of railway business. Mr. COWAN had heard with great satisfaction what had fallen from the President of the Board of Trade. He wished to know what the effect of the committee would be with regard to proceeding with the new railway bills? General ANSON felt that increased control on the part of Government would be necessary if the amalgamation of companies should be carried out, and was of opinion that the public interests would thus be better cared for. He wished to assure the house that the company with which he was connected would be satisfied with any decision to which Parliament came, the system hitherto pursued being extremely injurious to all who had invested their capital in railways. Mr. MANGLES hoped the right hon. gentleman would not stop short merely with the report of the committee, and thus throw the whole subject over to any future com mittees that might be appointed. Mr. E. DENISON thought that most of those who had examined the question had come to the conclusion that competition was no security to the public as regarded rail ways, and trusted that their legislation might be founded on this principle. Mr. HENLEY said it would be for the committee to de cide whether the new bills should be suspended or not. With respect to its composition, ho thought it should con sist as much as possible of gentlemen unconnected with the railway interest, and hoped that would be the general wish of the house. The motion was then agreed to. The other orders of the day having been disposed of, the house adjourned at a quarter before two o'clock. tion. The circles have been those presided over successively by the intellects of successive statesmen—those of WILLIAM HUSKISSON, those of CHARLES VILLIERS, those of RICHARD COBDEN, those of JoHN BRIGHT, those of ROBERT PEEL -- and now lastly, those of the present CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. At first, we were only striv ing to obtain the abrogation of the obnoxious Corn Laws. Then came a series of admirable tariffs, opening the ports wider and wider for the admission of an extraordinary variety of important articles of consumption. After bread had been cheapened, sugar was cheapened. After glass had been af forded the same release from restrictive imposts, bricks were allowed a like enviable opportunity. Then came the extension of similar advantages to shipping—advantages already proved to be so beneficial to the operations of commerce generally. The abrogation of the Corn Laws was very speedily followed by the abrogation of the laws affecting Navigation. What Sir ROBERT PEEL commenced, was continued by Lord JoHN RUSSELL. It now appears, happily, to be in a fair way of still fur ther development under the auspices of the Right Hon. Gentleman the present gifted CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. It were scarcely rational—not to talk about its being ungenerous—to taunt Ministers with their acceptance of Free Trade, and their abandonment of Protection. Surely, Convert in this matter cannot justly be regarded in the light of a word of opprobrious signification. For, more or less, we are all, of us converts to the be lief in unrestricted competition. Sooner or later we have been all of us converts : for the truth was first broached by the author of the " Wealth of Nations," as already intimated ; and, one after another, we have almost all of us come at last to recognise the accuracy of the assertions made in this matter by that greatest of political philoso phers. Mr. HUSKISSON recognised it very early, , for he was a man of forethought, and one whose intelligence upon many subjects was greatly in advance of his generation. Still, he was a convert, for even he was at one time a conscientious advocate of Protection. Was not Sir ROBERT PEEL avowedly a convert from opinions he had previously advanced with such eloquent and indomitable perseverance ? He changed too, because he was a man of un questionable prescience, and he changed openly because he was a man of most chivalrous courage —a genius distinguished in an eminent manner by the splendour of his magnanimity. Was not Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in like manner, an acknow ledged penitent once upon a time in the good old city of Edinburgh ? Did he not make a formal confession of the fact in a rather celebrated document ? Well—Ministers are converts too, like so many of their predecessors. Only, instead of declaring as much through a " Letter" or through a proposal for an " Order in Council "—Lord DERBY boldly blurts out the truth through the Speech from the Throne, and Mr. DISRAELI through a financial statement. However this may be, the gratifying fact can no longer be matter for conjecture or cause for hesi tation. We are now all of us (whether in belief or in practice signifies nothing) Free-traders to the backbone : and for the avowal of this final triumph of unrestricted competition we shall long have reason to look back with gratitude to the present brief but memorable Session of the Imperial Le gislature. There is an unhappy craving after notoriety . _ that leads persons so afflicted into all manner of absurdities. Ridicule, contempt, anything rather than pass in the undistinguished crowd -without notice or observation. Digit° monstrari eundo, to be pointed at or talked of is the great desideratum. It matters little whether they are spoken of in terms of commendation or censure, whether they obtain approbation or the reverse. The former would of course be preferred, but it is not quite so easy of attainment. The path to the Temple of true Fame is too tedious and difficult —the way too long and arduous to suit such tem peraments. The goal must be achieved by a sud den exertion, and as the spring upwards is im practicable, the plunge downwards is generally resorted to. Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY appears of this mind. From the time that he called the public attention to the family quarrels in which he was unhappily involved, when, unable to administer his favourite remedy—" a punch in the head" to " his big brother," he did his utmost to bring the ancient name they bore into disrepute. There has been an incessant straining after effect—a feverish anxiety to rush into print, on any and every occa sion. DOGBERRY himself was not more solicitous to be written down an ass, than the ex-Member for West Gloucestershire. It was so at the time of the Great Exhibition. It is so still. Indeed, the ne cessity is more pressing at this moment, as the Honourable Gentleman no longer possesses a seat in Parliament, by means whereof his antics might be prominently shown off to the community. Mr. BERKELEY has now adopted the expedi ent of lauding " Protection," of hugging the defunct monster, as a mode of attract ing the coveted notice. He exhibits the zeal of a convert in his proceedings, arraying himself side by side with the SIBTHORPS, CHOW LERS, FOSKE'TTS, &c., &c. The device was inge nious—the result certain. The mental calibre of the man who ratted to Protection must necessarily be of an extraordinary description. We might not feel any great astonishment at those who, true to their ancient predilections, continue blind to the changes that have taken place and are daily occurring, but we cannot help wondering at the man, once a professing Free-trader, who would advocate the reimposition of a bread-tax, and who actually glories in his infatuation. But even Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY has not the hardihood to deny the general prosperity at present enjoyed by the industrious classes—or that it is partly ascribable to the Act of 1846. He merely declares that "it is incorrect to assert that it arises solely from recent legislation, or the abroga tion of the Corn Laws." This is a virtual admis sion of the existence of that prosperity, and also that the welfare and happiness of the working man is in some degree promoted by the legislative recognition of Free Trade. Oh ! but for some thing else they would not bo so well off. Every man able and willing to work, would not be cer tain of obtaining remunerative employment—of receiving a fair day's wages in exchange for a fair day's work. " Had we as many labourers in the United Kingdom now as there were in 1846," he exclaims, " the rate of wages at present paid, must and would have been infinitely lower, or half the hands been without occupation." Here is a perversion of a distinct fact, on which he founds his subsequent argument. We join issue on the premises. We deny that the labourers in the agricultural districts of England are less numerous at this moment than in 1846. There are, fortunately, fewer unemployed. The work houses are no longer crowded by able-bodied paupers, but there are as many free families in villages and hamlets, and scattered cottages, earn ing their daily bread by their daily labour, as in 1846, or in the most palmy days of Protection, and they are in the enjoyment of comforts previ ously unknown. They are no longer unprofitably consuming the resources of the country, but are, as they ought to be, the creators and producers of national wealth. It is true that there has been an extensive emig,ration—that landed proprietors have availed themselves of the funds provided by the colonies, to get rid of the idle and worthless, the permanent inmates of the workhouses, sending persons very different from the class bargained for by those who supplied the means. Many industrious and well-disposed personS were also attracted by the promise of the unstinted abundance, the ample provision which they would readily obtain in Australia ; but the numbers who left their native shores were not more than equivalent to the an nual increase, others spring up to supply their places, and there are at this moment in England as many labourers as there were in 1846. This fact may easily be ascertained by looking to the emigration returns, and comparing the numbers of English labourers vc lo have sought th eir fortunes in other climes, with the average a ddition to the population, which. experience teaches us must have occurred within the same period ; and we venture to assert, that the former will not more than counterbalance the latter, if it should in deed be equal thereto. The English labourers are still on English ground. We readily grant that, inasmuch as employment can more easily be obtained in almost any district, we do not so often witness the deplorable spectacle of able-bodied men being " passed along" to the respective parishes in which they may claim settlements. But, were it otherwise, were there indeed fewer labourers in the agricultural districts in 1852 than in 1846, it would not sustain Mr. BERKELEY'S argument, that " the rate of wages at present paid must and would have been infinitely lower, or half the hands been without occupft tion." To establish his case, he should have shown that there is less demand for labour, and that fewer men are employed in agricultural pur suits at this moment than at the similar period of 1846 ; and this we defy him to do. It is noto rious that the land has not been deserted, or farms suffered to remain idle or uncultivated. There is still, despite Free Trade, ample competition for any vacant farms. Even Mr. BERRET,EY will not venture to assert the contrary. Nay, more, there is, we are happy to say, a very considerable im provement in the general cultivation of the soil. The farmers--to their credit be it spoken—are laying their shoulders manfully to the wheel, and endeavouring to meet the increased competition by more strenu. ens and energetic exertions than were formerly required at their hands. No longer able to rely on an artificial enhancement of prices, they seek to obtain larger returns from a superior style of cul tivation. This will be acknowledged in the'Agri cultural Association. Even FOSKETT, the " Hero of a hundred Protection Societies," will render that act of justice to his brother farmers. How, then, has this improved cultivation been effected Has it been done without hands, and by merely wishing or speaking on the subject ? No ; it has been achieved by the thews and sinews of British labourers—the English soil has been fertilized by the sweat falling from English brows : increased toil, expended in the fields, has led to increased produce—to an improved condi tion of agriculture. There may possibly be iso lated cases, where the occupiers of land have diminished the number of their farm labourers, but such is the exception, not the rule ; and wherever it has occurred, it is perceptible in the deteriorated, not in the improved, aspect of the land. There is, then, at least as many labourers employed in the cultivation of the land as in 1846—at least as great a demand for agricul tural labour. And if the supply continued equal, the number of labourers being the same at one period as the other, on what principle can Mr. BERKELEY assert, that " the rate of wages would have been infinitely lower, or half the hands been without occupation ?" His argument, then, is mere empty declamation, without a particle of foundation on which to rest. The state of the West India Islands, or of British Guiana, in which Mr. BERKELEY is chiefly interested, is beside the question of the Corn Laws. They were suffering as deeply—at least the com plaints were as general and as loud—long anterior to 1846 as they have been since. We cannot see how the imposition of a bread-tax would in any degree benefit the inhabitants of, or owners of, property in these colonies. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. The SPEAKER acquainted the house that he had received Reports from the Examiner of Recognizances, stating that the recognizances to the election petitions respecting the following places were unobjectionable, viz. : Waterford County. Wigton. Kingston-upon-Hull. Knaresborough (1). Cockermouth. Gloucester. Knaresborough (2). Carlow County. Derby. Bradford (1). Rye. Huddersfield. Boston (1). Boston (2). Cirencester. Maldon. Limerick. Maidstone. New Windsor. Mallow. King's County. Bradford (2). Leominster. Dartmouth. Taunton. . , The SPEAKER also informed the house that the recog nizances to the election petitions respecting the following places were objectionable, viz. : Hastings. I Carlisle. ADVERTISEMENTS, &c. Petitions for repeal of the duty on advertisements, &c., were presented from persons assembled in public meeting at Exeter Hall ; Barnstaple ; William Bendall and others ; printers and others in the employment of Messrs. Jarrolds, Norwich ; James Greig ; members of the Finsbury Knowledge Tax Repeal Association ; pro prietors and others of the Dumfries Standard newspaper ; newspaper proprietors of Liverpool ; Edward Hamilton and others ; James Smith ; and William Edward Bax ter—to lie on the table. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, MONDAY. Her Majesty, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Princess Alice, and the Prince of Leiningen, attended divine service yester day morning at Osborne. The service was performed by the Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley. The ladies and gentlemen in waiting and the domes tic household were present. A deputation from the Shipowners of Liverpool on the subject of the English ships lying deserted by their crews in Australia, had an interview with Sir John Pakington, yesterday, at the Colonial-office. The de putation consisted of Mr. Mackenzie, M. P., Mr. Turner, M.P., Mr. Mann, Mr. Bates, Mr. Deltolf, and Mr. Thomas Bold. A deputation including Lord Seymour, Viscount Mahon, the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, Shßobert H. Inglis, and Sir Henry Ellis, had an interview with the Earl of Derby yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. _ _ _ The Marquis of Salisbury had an interview with Mr. Secretary Walpole yesterday, at the Home-office. A deputation from the Highway Boards of Hanley and Shelton, Staffordshire, had an interview yesterday with the General Board o/Health, at their office, White hall. The deputation (who were introduced by the Honourable E. F. Leveson Gower, M.P., for Stoke upon-Trent) consisted of Mr. Henry Buxton and Mr. James Capewell. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Down ing-street. THE DUKE'S FUNERAL.—A Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, issued yesterday, contains the official report of the "proceeding," at the lying in state and inter ment of the late Duke of 'Wellington. THE ORDNANCE ESTIMATE. — Yesterday the supple mentary estimate of the ordnance department was issued, amounting to 92,6581., of which 70,8251. is for raising 2,000 non-commissioned officers and men for the Royal Artillery, and for the purchase of 1,000 horses as to pay, &c., of the ordnance military corps ; 5,1331. for the commissariat and barrack supplies • 2,7001. as wages • and 14,0001. as ord nance stores ; making the total 92,6g81. CONTROVERTED ELECTlONS.—Yesterday the examiner of the recognizances decided that in the case of the peti tion against the return for Carlisle, affecting the seat of Sir J. Graham and Mr. Ferguson (Liberals) ; and in that of the return for Hastings, affecting the seats of Mr. P. F. Robertson and Mr. M. Brisco (Conservatives), the recog nizances o f the petitioners were informal and invalid, and, of course, the petitions fell to the ground. THE DERBY ELECTlON.—Yesterday, this committee, consisting of Mr. Goulburn (chairman), Sir W. Moles worth, Lord Barrington, Lord H. Vane, and Mr. Deedes, re-assembled in committee room, No. 8, to consider the e matter of the petition of inhabitant householders of borough of Derby, alleging the existence ofncs l Y that the bribery and corruption at the late election,e Secretary-at-War, the Right Hon. Win B in re a t s h fo o rd p , e w ti a ti s on a party thereto ; the allegations contained being rebutted on behalf of Major Berosford, by counter allegations to the effect that the char,geettinbrnueesttiieonn was the result of, conspiracy, falsehood,karn I who had managed the jury. The evidence of Mr. Fleu to Conservative side in 1847, and Major Beresford, was i taken. i ITeheesallistltiahtenheinfitrsret becamene acquainted with Frail "i 1848, through the Major, and, s ubsequently, he saw Frail in company with the Major on severa l o ccasions at the Carlton, the National, and 77 Pall-Mall. At the close of this witness's evidence, the pro ee were adjourned. c- ROBBERY BY A B A NKER'S CLERK-Yesterday, Thomas Sandys, a clerk in the banking-house of Glyn and Co., was brought before the Lord Mayor upon a charge of having stolen a 501. note and two 30/. notes, the property of his employer s. Mr. Mullens, of the finn of Bush and Mullens, solicitors to the Committ ee of Bankers for protection from felony and fraud, attended for the prosecution. The prisoner was remanded. IMPORTS FROM IRELAND.—Yesterday a return was issued, showing that in 1849, grain of Iri s h growth to th e amount of 844,501 quarters were imported into Great Britain ; 751,146 quarters in 1850 - and 850,068 arters in 1851; whilst of meal and flour 1,176,920 quarters were im ported in 1819 ; 1,055,241 quarters in 1850 ; and 823,129 quarters in 1851. In 1849, of live stock the number from Ireland into Great Britain was 520,756 ; in 1850, 475,192 ; and in 1851 the number was 474,203. BURSTING OF A RESERVOIR. —A serious flood occurred en Sunday near Bury, in Lancashire, by the bursting of a reservoir, by which, though happily no lives were lost, .. an immense amount of property has been destroyed, . 44 . • , • • I g Iti Ar y iVo LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEIIII3ER 7, 1852. Although the present extraordinary Session of Parliament has been extended beyond the period originally anticipated—it is certain to terminate very speedily in consequence of the approach of Christmas. February will be the limit of the prorogation—until which time tb:e country will have ample leisure to cone the results of the past, and to meditate over the prospects of the future. Experience will, under these circu instances, more than ever influence the character ,of the national anticipations. It will be rememb4 axed by the ma jority of the more reflective observers throughout the country, that the most significant, truth proclaimed by the New House of Commons is —that there is no longer principal, a nd. certainly the any chance of retrogression. The policy of Great Britain is now definitively decided— it is onward— a policy of progress, and of impro'crement. Free Trade is accepted even l e aders of the Protectionists. :Monopoly can no more be dreaded in by the mo A enthusiastic the old direction —it has yielded up its claims entirely to the trium phant principles of unrestricted competition. Instead of endeavouring to force Vie people back abandoned by them in 1846—the , Cabinet upon the re-acceptance of the co mmercial code pre sided over by the chiefs of the country party, inno vation. Cheap bread is bles sing to the communit an iutevitable Pon the pathway of h a ve actually advanced u last, but seeing it, they find it by no Y—th e y see that at means enough for them under the circum stances. They consequently propose that not merely cheap bread—but that cheap tea, and cheap beer into the bargain, should be supplied to the population. If the benefit of consirmers is really to be the object of legislation —let that benefit, say they (and reasonably enough too), be sought out, not in one direction alone, butt in all direc tions, with impartiality. If we remit the duties upon corn, let us at least relax theca. upon barley. If we must needs have a Tariff supplying: the n ation with divers articles longer cursed with the interdict of the Customs — let us have tea (decidedly one of consumption no of the necessaries of life to a vast proportion of the multitude) as rea sonably as we possibly can, without any grievous injury to the revenue. This is au. good—this is to all the reasonable—there of is the a lo p in it that appeals Illation. It is ab solutely, so far as the sy stem goes, as nothing, if common sensepgcie we restrict competition to this article of consumption that, to this necessary of life and that— unr estricted ad. - - without man fullythat class e of xtending it requisite :. Free-traders themselves were the firs t to recognise the justice of importation s the argument, and, ther efore, i t so. happened that from no part of the House on :Friday evening did warmer applause gree t thos e ea rlier portions of over y m r p thet whole category of the Financial Statement submitted_ to the Legisla ture with such very masterly l':ucidity by the CHANCELLOR of the Tx 4 CHEQUER, than—strange to remember—the occupants of the benches of the Opposition. Here was turning tables with a vengeance. Cons , 3rvatives were expanded, intellectually and :na orally, Reformers. Wisdom had again been learnt at the knees cif the political GAMALIEL. .As Sir ARCHI BALD ALISON says so admirably in his Great His tory, the original advocates of Free Trade were ICISSON. SO it ADAM SMITH and QUESNAY , and not either COB DEN, or BRIGHT, or PEEL , or Hus has fallen out—the pebble dropped into the deeps of opinion by the hand of the plilosopher, has 'wakened circle after circle in i perpetually in creasing expansion. The pebbl to in this in stance was the truth of the system now known as the system of unrestriicted competi- ~~=. into - A-731t:1 MONEY AND COMMERCIAL '.kl 7 ElfS. • • CITY, Two •s 4 CA6a d-S-6A -aN The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 4,000 bales, all to the trade, the mar ket was heavy, and prices of all kinds were per lb. lower than on Friday last. The sales com prised 3,500 American ; 150 Pernam and Maran ham, at 61 to 6 ; 50 Bahia at 62 to 6i ; 150 Egyptian, at 61 to 9 ; alid 200 Surat, at 3 1 to 41 per lb. Railway shares were dull. The letters and papers by the Canada were de livered this morning. They do not add much to our previous information on commercial topics in the United States, but the question of reciprocity with Canada still excited considerable interest. One party writes from Washington as follows : " We learn that there was a conference yesterday, held in the Executive Chamber—Governor Hunt, Mr. Merritt, long a member of the Provincial Parliament ; and the Hon. David L. Seymour, Chairman of the Com mittee of the House of Representatives, being present — with reference to the reciprocity question—a matter of high interest at this time to both countries. It is a sub ject which is likely to engage attention in Congress and out of it during the next session. Several members of the Canadian Parliament have taken advantage of the recess to visit the States, with a view to ascertain, as far as possible, the general sentiment this side the line on the subject. Among these are Mr. Merritt, Mr. Christie, M.P.P., and others of the liberal party of the province." The total estimated expenditure of Canada for the current year is 774,234/. Bs. 9d., and the total estimated funds are 1,008,520/. ; leaving a balance to the credit of the Province of 134,2851. Us. 3d. The expenses of the Legislative Assembly for the currant year are 35,9331. Bs. 6d. ; for the Legislative Council 7,3451. The Militia Staff amounts to 2,080/. ; Pensions 6441. To Hospitals and other charities 22,0501., and for public institutions, such as Colleges, Schools, Literary and Historical So cieties, Mechanics' Institutes, &c., 4,350/. ; 2,0001. of this is to the Provincial and. Agricultural Asso ciations of Upper and Lower Canada. One of the most important items of expenditure is, that for the dissemination of useful agricultural instruction throughout the Province, and for facilitating im migration, for which purpose 2,0001. are set apart. The necessity for disseminating useful information in reference to Canada, whose resources are but very inadequately understood, must ' strike every one who takes any interest whatever in the colony. , The operation of the Bank Act of 1844 is silently, but surely, proving its restrictive power, as was always expected, and it is, probably, only the large influx of gold that has counteracted the effect of this, in conjunction with the increased facilities of communication which so greatly economise labour. The Act of 1844 provides that, if a Bank fails, its circulation cannot be transferred to another bank ; and, further, that any bank wishing to discontinue the issue of notes, can have Bank of England notes supplied of equal amount. In all cases, therefore, the cir culation given up is not lost. Prior to the 12th October, 1844, nine Banks ceased to issue—the amount of their notes being 160,4351. The Cam bridge Bank of Humphrey and Son was closed in 1845, and the Western District Bank was dissolved. The two had not much over 20,0001. The rest adopted Bank of England notes. Since the Act of 1844, thirty two Banks have ceased to issue, twenty two of which have failed or been dissolved. The names are as under : Whitby Bank, Frankland & Wilkinson ; Suffolk Joint Stock ; Dover Union, Latham ; Stockton and Durham County ; Romsey and Hampshire, Win. Footner ; Leeds and West Riding ; Leeds Commercial Joint Stock ; Abingdon and Wantage, Henry Knapp • Penzance Union, Ricketts, Enthoven, and Co. ; Leek and Con gleton, Fowler, Gaunt, and Co. ; Salisbury and Ford ingbridge, Brodie ; Shaftesbury and Hendon, Brodie ; Shrewsbury and Market Drayton, Adams ; Honiton, Flood ; Bridport, Gundry ; St. Albans, Story ; Wrex ham, Kenrick ; Yeovil, Batten • Christchurch, Tice and Welch ; Reigate, Nash ; Bedford, Trapp ; Peter borough, Simpson ; Oxford, Morrell ' • Marlborough, Ward ; Bromsg,rove ' Rufford ;Stourbridge, Rufford. ; Newport, Williams ;Warminster, Everitt ; Stourbridge, Bate. The result is that thirty five private Banks have ceased to issue—the amount being 497,788/. and six Joint Stock 85,4591. ; total, 583,2471. since 1844. The Dutch Government expects successfully to carry out its plan for converting the 4 into 31 per Cent. Stock. The capital to be dealt with is 252,158,000 florins, and the saving of k per Cent. would amount to 630,395 florins per annum, or supposing an allowance of 1 per cent. to be paid in money to those converting, and the expenses inci dental thereto included, the net saving would be only 504,000 florins. The new bonds issued at 98 to 99 would soon reach par, it is thought, because the highest rate of interest paid on any portion of the Dutch debt, will hereafter be 3. The bonus of 1 per cent. in cash, moreover, will be a temptation, as it represents four years of the per cent. dividend to be taken off: at Ham burgh, last Friday, the exchange on London was lower. A Memorial to the Sultan lies for the signature of the Turkish Bondholders, at the office of the Spanish Bondholders' Committee. The Roman Emperor, from Sydney, brings dates of Sep. 2, and 6,400 oz. in Gold. There are good accounts for one or two of the mining companies. In Stocks there has been less doing and the market is a shade worse than yesterday ; the New 3 per Cents. have been 103/ to 104 ; Bank Stock is steady at 222 ; Consols have realised 101 i for transfer, and 1011 ff for account ; Exchequer Bills of March are at 68s. ; and India Bonds at 80s. premium ; South Sea Old Annuities bring 99 k. Foreign Stocks are rather flat. The Ministerial `difficulties at Madrid 'have caused the Deferred Spanish Bonds to recede to 24i and 24 ; the Turkish Loan is 2 premium ; Mexican Bons are 24. to 25, and steady ; Brazilian 41 per Cents. are 97g- to 98 ; Dutch 2 per Cents. brinn. 66k. Railway Shares have been flatter this morning, and there has been rather a fuller supply of them on the market. This is not the result, however, of sales by real holders, but simply of speculative dealings, and founded on the temporary dullness in other departments of the Stock Exchange. Dur ing the Christmas holidays, a large traffic may be expected, and this should give confidence. The re-action in prices is about to 1 per cent. in the case of some of the old lines, including Great Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire and North Western. Norfolk have risen 21. to 3/. French Shares are all lower, to the extent of 4 to 5 per cent. The business doing is very small, and when speculators realise, there is a difficulty in prevent ing a decided reaction. The Gold Mine Shares have be en in request at very full prices, Australian tend upwards. and the A r emarkable advance h as occurred in the Aus tralian Bank Shares. Australasia have risen Si. to 61. ; Union of Australia, O. to 5/. ; and the New Banks also are higher. At the South Australian Copper Mining Meeting held yesterday, the report of the committee of inves tigation was confirmed and adopted. The prelimi nary expenses, it was shown, had only been 1,0301.; the staff and engineers are to start in about 10 days. The directors have agreed withthe colonial govern ment to pay for the passage of twelve men with their families, at 261. 10s. each, and the remainder will follow. The cost-book system for the future operations of the company was adopted. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) BUSITICES done. Bank Stock 222 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.. .......•••••' 1004 3Nepw 3 per Cent. C c o e n n s t o . ls An A n nn ui u ti i e t s ie ............•.... .. .. .... .. .. ... . 31 Ditto 30 Years, Expire 12 t h Oct., 185 •• • , 66 i1 37 16 6 Long Annuities, Expire s th J an., 1860 • 6 11-16 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 India Bonds, £lOOO 30 Ditto, under £lOOO South Sea Old An nuities ON C onso ls for Account... ...... ....... ••• ••• ••• ••• 104 E x chequer Bills 1 3 d. March. £lOOO 6B £5OO Small ---• PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS D AY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. .. .............. Ditto 4i per Cent Bueno s Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent..., .74 8 D a nish 5 par Cent G re nada Bonds, per Cent. ..... ............ 107 ...... Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent .... Mexican 3 per Cent ......... • ... Ditto for the Account ................ Peruvianßus Peruviansian 6Bonds,pe Deferredrnipt3e.pri Cent ec. .. .. .. ent. per Cent S s ai pa ln s i h an ßo t a n s d , s, 5 Ditto Deferred, 3 per Cent. Swedish Loan Turkish Loa n , 6 per Cent 1852 Belgian Bonds, 4A per Cent. Ex. 23fr Dutch Exchange per Cent Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates.. June. 71 Gs 71 24" loq 6 66A 6 1041 97 611 x 511 24 0 2 1i 2p 99 66?. 7 .. 981 THREE O'CLOCK. ........... 101 t ........... ion Consols Ditto January Account .. —_--- -- THE YELLOW FEVER.—A fatal and malignant case of yel'ow fever has just occurred at Southampton ,to a man who had been the second engineer of the La Plata steamer. He came home in excellent health, but was attacked by the fever directly after he landed, and he never rallied. It is said another of the crow has also been overtaken by thi s terrible malady, an d he now lies in a very precark us state. THE NEW IMPERIAL CROWN OF NAPOLEON 111. is said to be not only a master-work of the jeweller's art, but one which will surpass every royal ornament in its richness an d precious stones. The j ewe ller, Lemonnier, h in as pea be rls' en sent to Russia to purchase various costly stones, and the Princess Matilda, who has a collection of rare black pearls, has placed them all at the disposal of the artist entrusted with the ornamentation of the crown, which is to be completed by the end of the year. `~ .~. f~'~.- \ :2:1 THE WELLINGTON SUN. ON THURSDAY THE", ISTn ULTIXO, AN EXTRAORDINARY EDITION OAF THE SUN WAS PUBLISHED, CONTAINING A SPLENDID PORTRAIT OF THE LATE DUKE OF WELLINGTON , WITH IIIS AUTOGRAPH, AND A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE GRAND NATIONAL FUNERAL 7 AND IS NOW ON SKLE. ORDERS RECEIVED BY ALL NEWS AGENTS, AND AT THE SUN OFFICE, 112„ STRAND, LONDON. ~.~