The Sun. — London, England, 1846-05-19 00:00:00

by a swivel bridge ; but on what grounds the proprietors of that canal opposed them, he was at a loss to know, as they formerly adjusted the matter with them by the insertion of clauses. It was rather an uncommon thing for a* rail way to cross a canal by such a bridge, but no uncommon thing for a turnpike road, by several of which this very canal was crossed. On the northern side of the Severn the line was opposed by Mr. Hoskins, M.P., and Mr. Horton, the joint owners of a large estate there, but as there was no resi dential character about it, and as the railway would not ma terially affect it he was sufficiently sanguine to hope that their opposition would not be of a very formidable character. There was also a short branch to the town of Swansea. Their main line passed by that town, but in order to make their line perfect they proposed this branch, which would be a mile and a half long, one line of rails being devoted to goods and the South Wales passengers. This branch would form a junction with the Oystermouth Railway, which ran to the Severn, and relieved ships of their cargoes. The rest con sisted in deviations for the purpose of improving the line. There was a deviation near Bridgend, called the Margem deviation, which would join the Llvnvi Valley Railway, and which was petitioned against by Mr. Talbot, a large land owner in the vicinity, but as it was considerably removed from his property, which did not partake of a residential cha racter, and as it would save a distance of two miles, and be of groat public advantage, he trusted the Committee would see the necessity of construct:llg it. The main line was 136 miles long, and the Swansea deviation 61f miles, which would i:aprove the line, and shorten a tunnel, in addition to heightening the bridge across the river to 75 feet. The ca pital was 200,000/., which, in fact, was their old capital ap plied to a new purpose. Mr. Allinson, Mr. Gould, and Mr. Nicholson, co downers in the Forest of Dean, testified to the injury which the coal trade of the forest suffered from the want of continuous railway c ommun i cat i on, and the great advantage which those engaged in that trade would derive from the con struction of the railway. Other witnesses conne c t e d w ith th e district also testified to the ad van t age o f the l i nes, an d t h e C om mittee ad journed until to-morrow. GROUP XXXVI. This Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual hour. *DOME AND DONCASTER.. The traffic evidence on behalf of the promoters of this railway was continued. Mr. Vickers of Sheffield, and other witnesses were ex amined, and corroborated the evidence already given. Mr. E. B. Denison, M.P. for Yorkshire, examined—Was well acquainted with the course of the prop ose d li ne. In his opinion it would be convenient for the conveyance of coals. The Whitgift branch was an essential part of the plan, and was projected for the conveyance of coals for vessels of large tonnage lower down than the port of Goole. The traffic would be remunerative. Cross-examined—lf a large vessel could be loaded at Goole as at Whitgift, he would not think the proposed branch to Whitgift necessary. Mr. Pope, a retired coal merchant, gave evidence as to the great advantage of opening up amarket for Yorkshire coal, which would b e the case if the proposed line were constructed. In addition t o g i ving increased facilities for transit, there would also be great advantage ih regard to cheapness. The CHAIRMAN suggested that sufficient evidence had been given of the advantage of the project in an agricultural and commercial point of view, and he would therefore suggest the propriety of proceedi ng to the engineering evidence. Mr. George Leather, civil engineer, was then examined. The length of the line was 19 miles, 2i chains, and the Whit gift branch 7 miles, 4 chains. There were no tunnels cr viaducts, and no peculiar engineering difficulties. The steepest gradient was 1 in 200. The total estimate was 3 93,9141., which was nearly 15,000'1. per mile. This included stations, &c. The Committee aljourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow. GrtOUP XXXVII. SOUTH YOILICSHIRE CANAL AND RAIL- Wll.l/ COMPANY. The Committee to which this line is referred met to-day at 12 o'clock, in room No. 3L Mr. Bartholomew, the engineer to the line, underwent a brief examination. Ills evidence went to show that the line was one admirably calculated to give every accommodation to the surrounding distriat, but, in consequence of the nature of the country, heavy gradients were unavoidable to a cer tain extent. The engineering difficulties were by no moans Very great. By Mr. Ausnx---At one point on the line there is a gradient of 1 ie 50. Such a gradient could not be worked with a full load unless with two locomotives. A single engine would work it with half a load, even in greasy weather, and would certainly do so well in wet weather. Cannot say whether it would ever be impracticable, as he often travels up a gradient of 1 in 80 in the worst weather. A gradient of 1 in 50, is certainly not a good one, which would always involve difficulty in working. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock until twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XLI V. TORIC AND GLASGOW ITICCON-YORE AND CARLISLE: Our reporter is requested to state that in his report of the proceedings in this Committee on Friday, which appeared in The Sun, an error of some importance occurred. It was said that Mr. Talbot appeared for the York and Carlisle Railway, and complained that the Yorkshire and Glasgow were only prepared to go to the House of Lords with 5 per cent. on their required capital, while his clients were prepared with 10 per cent. The reverse was the fact. Mr. Talbot was for the York and Glasgow, and complained of the want of funds of the York and Carlisle. In other respects our report was correct. The Cemmittee met this day at the usual hour, having adjourned from Friday. Lord Palmerston took the chair, and all the Members were present. They proceeded with the case of the CI.ITILEROE JUNCTION. The crons-examination of Mr. Greenwood occupied the Committee for about three-quarters of an hour. No impor tant fact was elicited. Mr. BILENTD stated, on the part of the Clitheroe Junction, that the arrangement between Mr. Taylor's engineer and the engineers to this line and the Blackburn and Clitheroe, had been satisfactorily concluded, it being agreed that the injury to his property should be avoided by a deviation. Mr.Goocb was called to explain the nature of that deviation. The matter stood over, on account of the absence of Mr. R. Stephenson, who was to be examined on the part of the promoters of the Bill. Mr. BRENTD said that Mr. Stephenson would be the last witness, and that, with the exception of his evidence, the case was completed. Sir THOMAS Pamirs then opened the case on the part of Mr. Peters, of Duncan Hall, a petitioner against the Bill. His address occupied a considerable time. The Learned Counsel said that Duncan Hall, an ancient building in the Elizabethan style, was originally a baronial castle. It had long been in the possession of the family of Mr. Peters. It had, however, been very much neglected up to the time of Mr. Peters' grandfather, who, having made consider.. able improvements in his property, left the estate to his second son, the father of the petitioner. Large sums of money had been expended en the estate during the last 20 years, and within these 15 years as much as 30,0004 had been spent on it by the present occupier (the petitioner). The Learned Counsel denied the assent of Mr. Peters to this scheme, which was asserted to have been given shortly before the present session. Mr. Peters had refused his assent the instant he understood the nature of the proposed line, and the manner in which it passed through his property. Mr. Cawley was recalled, and stated that the line between Accrington and Manchester would be opened in about two years. He handed in lists of the number of mills, factories, &c., upon this and the Blackburn and Clitheroe line. Mr. Robert Stephenson was then called, and stated that a tunnel through Mr. Taylor's property would cost 100,000 i., and that it was impossible to avoid the gorge in which the estate was situated. Mr. MF.s..nivai_r, on the part of Mr. Taylor, said that that gentleman was not satisfied with the arrangement made with respect to his property. The Learned Counsel addressed the Committee at great length, concluding by saying that this line, as well as the Blackburn and Clitheroe, was a mere coal-owners' speculation, and would give no public accommodation that would justify the injury to private pro perty. Mr. Merivale was about to call witnesses on the part of 'gr. Taylor, when • The Committee ordered the room to be cleared, and on our return, in about a quarter of an hour, The CHAILMAN said that the bias upon the minds of the Committee was that the preamble of the Bill was not proved. They did not, however, give any formal decision, and would not give any without asking whether Mr. Wraugham thought he had a right to make any further ob servations, or call any further evidence ; or whether he thought any further observations, er any further evidence, would be of avail ? Mr. Sergeant Wrangham not being present, some delay ensued. On his arrival, however, he said that he would not attempt the Quixoti c t as k o f conv i nc i ng th e C ommi ttee when their minds were made up ; but as he under stood that their objecti on t o t h e Bill was f oun d e d upon the injury .to Mr. Taylo r ' s property, and not upon the general principles of the Bill, he would suggest that the same course should be adopted in this case as was taken by the Committee o f w hi c h Lord Harcourt was chairman,, . respect of th e Siseborough and Petrborough line, which rese m bl ed this precisely. preamble should b e declared proved,but e proposed th a t th e Tata claigakesleiothuladt be inserted to the effect th at the promotersasooui e d s not part of the line which pass e d through Mr.y 1 property until they should bring forward a Bill for additional provisions, which might be done next sess i on. The_ promoters might then be enabled, on passing the additional Bill, in the course of next session, to pass through the estate of Mr. Taylor in a tunnel, which they had shown they could not do at present. A long and desultory conversation ensued, and ended in tha Committee deciding that they would not give their formal vote until the case for the Blackburn and Clitheroe was completed, in order that the promoters of this Bill might have the right of cross-examining the witnesses called on the other side. "In short," observed the Noble Chairman," " We will keep you alive as long as they are swimming."— (A laugh.) X IYOZSRIIIRE AND GLASGOW UNION, HOAX AND cluzzaszE. THE "INTERRUPTED UNION." ' Mr. TALBOT, on the part of the promoters of the former of these two Bills, said that he had given notice to the parties to the York and Carlisle that he would propose the introduction into the memorandum, which the Com mittee had agreed upon in the course of Friday, certain words which would empower the general meeting of the shareholders to order that some certain part of the amalga niiited line should be first constructed. As the parties were not now in attendance he would not press the motion at present, but he wished to have the per mission of the Committee to give notice to a meeting of the York and Carlisle shareholders, which would take place to morrow (Tuesday) at Kendal, that he would move for the insertion of the words in question. The CIIAIREAN said that he did not think the Committee would assent to the insertion of the words, as they wished the parties to be compelled to proceed with both lines together. His Lordship, however, was understood to say that the motion might be brought forward on a future occa sion, and that the Cor4mittee had no objection to the service of the notice upon the meeting. The Committee now adjourned, it being half-past four o'clock. GROUP LIV. This Committee re -assembled to-day at twelve o'clock. Present, Mr. Bannerman (chairman) and the other members. MIDLAND RAILWAIr (LEICESTER AND SWANNINGTON ALTERATION AND BRANCHES). Mr. HOPE opened the case for the promoters of thi s B ill. Mr. Liddell, engineer, examined by Mr. HorE—Did not think the line would do injury to any property whatever except Mr. Smith's, which was a small bunting-box. He believed even that could be avoided. The level crossings were not likely to do any injury, and the line was generally free from engineering difficulties. Cross-examined by Mr. WADDINGTON for the petitioners— The diesentiente were the owners of more than one- half of the land through which the line passed. The present line was not the one originally laid out, which went nearer the town of Leicester. They decided on making the present line late in November, so late that they had hardly time to make the change, and were unable to inform all the landed proprietors along the line that they intended doing so. The line crossed six prin cipal turnpike roads. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 18. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. CORN IMPORTATION BILL. Messengers from the Commons brought up the Corn Impor• tation Bill. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. The Bishop of LONDON presented several petitions against this Bill. Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Lonsdale, and Lord Kenyon pre sented several petitions to the same effect. The Duke of CLEVELAND p resen t e d severa l pet i t i ons against the Charitable Trusts Bill, including a petition from the T R rouyAsylu m ,satlsßs donationst c e 0 i 03 that St. the was se whollysame suppor te d t e d T b h y e tionerschari table ande i i nto ob operation,eq ues ts, a t a il s! ) s that as subscriptions should bse rip ti 0 thens would Charitable cease to be bequeathed. Lord CAMOYS presented a series of petitions against the Charitable Trusts Bill, from the Catholics of the following places :—Derby, Warwick, Stourfield, in Worcestershire, Leicester, Suffolk, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Birmingham, and Somerset. The N o bl e L or d was f u ll y f i ve m i nutes in handing in the petitions, and sometimes so many as three or four from each place. The Earl of WARWICK presented several petitions to the same effect. The Earl of STRADBROKE presented a petition against . any alteration in the corn-laws. The petitioners stated that the present law was most beneficial, and desired that they would not sanction any alteration.—( Hear, hear.) THE CORN IMPORTATION BILL. The Duke of WELLINGTON moved the first reading of this Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND—My Lords, it is not my in tention to go into the whole question of the dangers which aro likely to be produced from the proposed repeal of the core laws, yet still I cannot permit this Bill even to be read a first time in this House without entering my protest against it, and without making some few observations to your Lordships. My Lords, I conceive that Sir R. Peel was not authorised in proposing to the present House of Commons these great and extensive changes. I think that he was not justified in aban doning those principles of agricultural and British industry which he for so many years ably and eloquently advocated, and for the maintenance of which a large majority of the representatives of the people in the year 1841, at a general election, were sent to the House of Commons. My Lords, I believe that it is quite impossible that this measure can be laid upon the table of this House without violated promises and broken pledgers. My Lords, I for one am sorry to see in the present day, the great distinction which some even make between public and private honour. There is one whose pri vate life bears, and bears truly the highest character, and whose word at Tamworth, I am sure, would be as good as his bond, but he does not hesitate as Prime Minister of this country to tell the House of Commons to withdraw from an agreement which was unwillingly acquiesced in in the year 1t342 by the agricultural interest. He has not only done that, but he has abandoned and thrown overboard all his former principles. He repudiates his previous speeches, and he denies the truth and soundness of the arguments which through a loeg life he has supported. Sir Robert Peel;my Lords, yielded to the clamour of his opponents. He joins with his enemies—he abandons his party—he leaves his friends —those friends who had placed too great reliance in his state ments as Prime Minister. Putting aside all those civil dangers, which, I think, those rash changes will bring about—putting them all on one side for the present, I ask your Lordships whether, if such conduct is pursued by statesmen and the l ea d ers o f par ti es , th ey can h ope to retain that confidence which ought to exist in public men. Such conduct is destructive of that confidence which is abso lutely necessary for the weal of this country in trying times— and, my Lords, we know not how soon those trying times may come.—(Cheers.) And if there be no confidence on the part of the public in those public men, how, I should like to ask, can you secure a good Government, and prevent anarchy and confusion from being rife throughout all quarters of the land. My Lords, I dislike much to speak harshly of any man, and I will not impute unworthy motives to any one; but, at the same time, I deeply regret the events which have occurred since November. My Lords, I think that Sir Robert Peel in November had but one honest, straightforward course to pursue. Instead of throwing up the office which he held under his Sovereign (Cheers) the straightforward, honourable course he should have pursued was to have recommended his Sovereign to have dissolved the Parliament—( Hear, hear) — and to have then gone and appealed to the people. Are the people to have no voice in these great changes 1 He ought to have gone to the people on the hustings—on every hustings in every city, in every borough, and in every county of tine empire, and to have asked them whether they, too, had changed their sentiments, from becoming panic-struck by the idea of disease in the potatoes, and some supposed large collection of money by the Anti-Corn-law league. He should have gone to the country, and he should have asked them to have released him from his engagements, and to have relieved his servile followers from other engagements and from the promises which they gave to them on the accesion of Sir Robert Peel to power.—( Hear.) My Lords, 1 think that we have a strong Parliamentary claim, if we like to make use of it, to ask your Lordships to delay the consideration of this Bill.—( Hear, hear.) Your Lordships cannot but remember that the Prime Minister, in explaining his new measures at the commencement of the session, stated that this measure would be the part of a great and comprehensive plan. My Lords, if that be correct, we should be justified in asking that the whole of the measures which are included in that comprehensive plan should be on the table of the House before we should be called upon to give an opinion en any one of them.—(Hear, hear.) But, my Noble Friends, the Protec tionist party in this House are willing to waive that objection, and we are not prepared to say that we will ask for more. We are prepared to consider the motion which it is understood the Government intend to make this evening, that the consideration of the second reading of this Bill should be taken on this day se'nn!ght. My Lords, on behalf of my Noble Friends, on behalf of the industrious classes of this great country, we are willing to concede that ; we are willing on their part to waive that objection which we might have taken ; we only ask, confiding in the greatness of our cause, a fair field and no favour, and then, my Lords, we believe that with this fair field, and without favour, we shall be enabled to induce your Lordships to de that which is one of the paramount duties of the Horse, to prevent rash legislation taking place in consequence of the clamour of interested individuals. Lord BROUGHAM—My Lords, I wish only to express my entire concurrence in the course taken by my Noble Friend, though I entirely dissent from every other word which he has uttered to your Lordships. Nothing can be more fair and candid, and open and manly—in one word, more every way fitting and consistent with the character and conduct of my Noble Friend than the course which he takes with regard to the first reading of a Bill thus brought from the other House of Parliament, in wanting to discuss it fairly and fully this day se'rmight. But, my Lords, I enter in one sentence, my solemn protest against my Noble Friend saying that a statesman has committed an act of dishonour, has committed an act impeach ing the integrity of his character, and lowering his fair fame amongst statesmen, who, yielding io reflection, reason, and conviction, conscientiously altersopinions formerly entertained, and acts upon that altered view; and that such a statesman in these circumstances placed, is called upon to vindicate his honour, his integrity, and his motives. But, says my Noble Friend, why did not he dissolve Parliament and appeal to the people. My Lords, lam guilty if my Right Hon. Friend at the head of the Government deserves reproach. in not dissolving on the great question, for I was a friend of the Reform Bill in 1831, and never dreamt of dissolving and appealing to the people, till we were defeated by a party which tl.en was assembled in this House. But, my Lords, some of my colleagues, some of my most esteemed colleagues—if I mistake not, my Noble Friends on the cross benches—who charge, Sir Robert Peel with not dissolving, had upon re flection, honestly and conscientiously, resisted to my great de light, and to the great glory of those who advocated the Reform Bill,. and refused to join in any dissolution until the Par liament then assembled was found unfitted, as we could have wished, for the purposes which we intended to have laid before them.--( Hear, hear. ) After a few words from the Duke of RICHMOND, who denied that he had ever voted against the Reform Bill, The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said that he conceived that it would be in better taste of their Lordships not to indulge in any personal invective on this question, as to whe ther the Prime Minister of the country had charged his poli tical opinion. He had sat long enough in that House to see those individuals who were now bringing forward a question of a personal nature repeatedly change their c.pinions. His Noble Friend himself had repeatedly , changed his position in that House, and after that he should not judge the Prime Minister for having deliberately come to a judgment on this question after a very long consideration. He would only say these few words with reference to a statement made by the Noble Duke with regard to suppressing all personal invective, which had appeared in another case so disgraceful, and which he hoped would not be found in that House. The Duke of RICHMOND wished that the Noble Lord who had spoken would practice what he preached. He gave his opinion against personal invective, and then made a violent attack against him (the Duke of Richmond). He (the Duke of Richmond) had said that he did not wish to express any in vective against Sir R. Peel. He was very anxious . to express of his the o) secondi dnoistcutossbiorningofintthoeapnryespeanrtt nature, but he felt so strongly en the subject, that he thought nionb r e e c a a d tl in se g h o e f was the Billan an x iou s it right to speak at once. What he had at present stated was not to offer any objection to the Bill ; be was merely anxious that nothing should take place on the consideration of the second reading of the Bill of a personal nature, and he had, therefore, judged it right for all parties that he should state what he should feel. Mr. Samuel Smith Harris, of Leicester, examined—Was a surveyor, and employed by the Company to survey the Leicester line, and furnished the estimates to Mr. Liddell. The line was well adapted for the purposes proposed by the promoters, though not as well as that originally pro posed. There were no road trustees opposed to them, and, with the exception of one of the petitioners (Mr. Smith), there was no ground whatever for complaint of residential in jury. The Corporation of Leicester passed a resolution in favour of this line. Cross-examined—There were three lines laid out. There was one more direct than the present, but it would cost 15,0001. or 20,0001. more. Mr. Hudson examined—Was chairman of the Midland d Cm i o ree p te a d n the e Ar present, l. ilar and con formity, Sir.L il i e dd h el a l d to an alte in r te th rv e ie lin v e w to it as he thought, with the expressed wishes of Mr. Harris. Considered it 4 matter of great importance that the working of the line from Ashiy-de-la-Zouch to Leicester should be in the hands of the Midland Company. Cross-examined—His impression was distinctly that Mr. Harris had pointed out this line as the one he preferred,and his general order to surveyors to inform land proprietors, &c., of the change that might take place in the line. Mr. Woodhouse, engineer, was examined, and deposed to the generally favourable features of the line in an engineering point of view. Mr. TiorE said he was unwilling to weary the Committee by going into evidence on the traffic, as the greater part of the line was unopposed. The Committee considered it was unnecessary to do so. The case for the Bill here closed. Mr. WanntxGToN said, he thought it would be more ad visable if he acted in accordance with the plan adopted on several occasions in Committees and reserve his observations until the conclusion of the evidence pro and con. He m ould, therefore, proceed with his evidence. Mr. J. Harris examined—Was brother of Mr. Harris, the petitioner. He heard of this line on the 15th of November fast for the first time. Believed that this line would ruin the estate of his brother. He stated this to Mr. Liddell, who, however, refused to make any alteration. Was quite sure that his brother had never stated to Mr. Liddell what it was the impression of that gentleman he had done. On the contrary, he heard him distinctly state to Mr. Liddell that he regarded the carrying on of this line as a tyrannical proceeding, and one that he was determined to resist. Earl GREY presented E everal petitions against the Charita• ble Trusts Bill. FREE CHURCH. The Earl of ZETLAND presented several petitions from the inhabitants of Scutland, complaining of the difficulty which members of the Free Church experienced in obtaining sites for their churches. Lord BEAUMONT—I beg to present a petition against the measure which was read a first time this night, from North Lincolnshire. CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that in rising to move the second reading of the Charitable Trusts Bill, he felt that he had not a very agreeable task to perform. He had had an opportunity of explaining in detail the nature of the measure, the principles on which it was founded, and the evils which it was intended to remedy, and he confessed it was no pleasing task to him to go over again the same ground, and he feared that it would b e a a still less pleasing task to their Lordships. This was his only ground of discourage ment. In consequence of the extensive combination through out the country against this Bill, he felt a strung impression against it had been made upon the minds of many of their Lordships. He recollected upon one occasion, in the House of Commons, Mr. Fox quoted the saying of a learned Nunquam magic libenter loquor, Quam quiem quod loquor, A uditoribus displacet." He (the Lord Chancellor) need not take so pugnatious a com pliment to the individual to whom he refers ed, and he should feel greatly discouraged if, upon this occasion, he had stated any thing which would not have the effect of gaining over their Lordships in its favour. He would not trouble their Lordships by going into detail with respect to the circumstance under ' which this Bill was framed. Their Lordships, no doubt, all recollected the Commission which was issued at the in stance of his Noble and Learned Friend. That Commission sat for a long period of time, and made various able reports with respect to the charities of this country, and they concluded their reports by recommending some legis lative measure, for the purpose of more effectually controlling the administration of charitable trusts. Before that report, or rather before the last report had been finally issued, a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed, which was composed of some of the most able, active, and intelligent Members of that House, for the purpose of considering that report which had been given, and for the purpose of coming to some con clusion, and giving sense advice upon the subject. That Com mittee finally reported, after much inquiry and much considera tion, that it was necessary to appoint a permanent Commission for the purpose of superintending the administration of the charitable trusts of the empire, and they recommended also that that Commission should be clothed with authorities and powers similar or analagous to those contained in the present Bill. His Right Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, acceded to the desire so generally expressed, and requested him to prepare a Bill for the regulation of these charities. He undertook the task, and introduced a Bill for this purpose the session before last. At the request of a Noble Friend of his and of other Noble Lords he consented to allow the Bill to stand over till the next session. Ample op portunity was by this means affofded for the consideration of the question in all its details. It was read accordingly a second time last session, with the understanding that it should be referred to a Committee for their consideration. That Committee was composed of several Right Rev, Prelates and other Noble and Learned Lords, well qualified to examine it in all its bearings. The measure was canvassed day after day for a length of time, and alter a long deliberation that Committee made its report. The Bill was then read a third time and passed, though some 'opposition was murmured against it by his Noble Friend. It then went down to the other House, but in consequence of the pressure of business there it was found impossible to give it due consideration. After such sanction, after such a concurrence of opinion, he was at a loss to under stand the cause of the present opposition. What, he would ask, were the grievances which were complained of and what were the remedies propo:ed ? He would, now with the permission of their Lordships, direct their attention to the state of the question. Every one knew that the only tribunal before which such complaints could be brought was the Court of Chancery ; no other tribunal exited that took cognizance of those irregularities against which the present measure was directed. Th e system of the Court of Chancery was absolutely adapted for these purposes. It had been presided over by a series of men eminent for wisdom and learning—( Hear, hear) —and were it not for one circumstance, he never should have introduced a Bill of the present description. Unfortunately there were few charities over which the Court of Chancery had control. No man of sane intellect would recommend for a moment that a small charity should make any application to the Court of Chancery for interference. Sir Samuel Romilly endeavoured to remedy the evil, and he brought in a Bill to alter the law—but the alteration produced but a very slight mitigation of 'the evil. Their Lordships might consider that the evil was not very extensive, but he would inform them that there were 15,000 charitable trusts not exceeding 51. a year. There were 18,000 charitable trusts not exceeding 101., and there were 24,000 not exceeding 201.—(Hear, hear.) When he mentioned that to their Lordships, they would at once see the necessity of adopting some remedy for the evil. When he stated this case in general terms, it was not possible to make so strong an impression on their Lordships as he should do in adverting to two or three instances—instances taken from the reports of the Commissioners. He would take the case which had been before mentioned, the case of Ashley, in the county of Lincolnshire. That was a rent charge of SO/. per annum, a charity of no inconsiderable value, and which was something beyond the generality of these charities. The trustees died without assigning the trusts. The charity was founded as far back as the 16th century ; the rent charge was paid up to a certain time, and the property was sold, and the person who purchased it paid the rent charge for one or two years, until he applied to his solicitor, by whom he was warned that he could no longer pay it with safety, as no person could give him a proper discharge. The consequence was, that no rent was paid, and the arrears ran or, for some time, until at length somebody recommended that an informa tion should be filed. The cause was brought on in Chancery, and a decision was given for the payment of the arrears, which amounted to 3751. Th e d ecr ee was m a d e , and the costs amounted to 400/. The costs amounted to more than the funds they sought to recover. Was this a state of things that their Lordships would allow to continue, without applying a remedy? He would state another instance in which the ques tion was as to the administration of a charity, and in which all the parties were desirous of having the object promoted. This was the case of Battle, in Sussex, in which an o ld h ouse, or mansion, which was l e f t an d now falling into ruin, and which the trustees undertook to sell, and to invest the produce in pur. chasing in the stocks. The application was made to the Court of Chancery, and the Master decided in favour of the sale. The produce was 1,3501., and the costs amounted to upwards of 330. That undefended suit, to which there was no opposition, cost exactly one• third of the amount of the whole charity, which third was spent in proceedings to secure the purchase money of the property, and to which proceedings there was no op position. The instance which he should further describe was one attended with a similar result. It was a case of a lease granted to certain trustees, at a place called Lanford, in Essex. The property was let to the trustees, at a rental of 601., and it was suggested by some person that the property was under rated, and an information was filed in the Court of Chancery to investigate the transaction. The proceedings went on for a considerable time until both parties became tired of it, and agreed to stay further proceedings, and each party to pay their own costs. The costs of those proceedings amounted to 6501. Was it necessary that he should proceed further to state in stances, for he thought that those given had already satisfied their Lordships that the administration of justice, however well it might be adapted in its machinery to these trusts, was not calculated to do justice in the case of smaller charities, much less in charities of a still smaller character—to the amount, perhaps of Si., 101. er 20/. per annum, making a total annual value of 24,000/. He could multiply instances of that kind which could be quoted almost out of number, by referring to the volumes of the report of the Commissioners. It was not necessary for him to rely on general reasoning, be would refer to the report'of the Commission. When he told them that the Commission recommended informations to the extent of 385 as the result of their inquiry even in the case of larger charities, their Lordships could understand the extent of the abuses which exists din the smaller charities. He would, call their Lordships to authorities on this subject. The autho rities to which he referred were those of Lord Kenyon and Lord Eldon, with respect to the weight of which no difference could be entertained. Lord Kenyon raid, that whoever twheere eh r e e r d i u ti c e e e d. of L t o h r e d k E ie ld g o d n o , m ex amined th e state of the grammar schools in the kingdom, would see th e l amenta b le condition to which most of them Would their Lordships allow this state of things to continue? Now, in wer li e ke g m re a ss tr y er, said, that how were these trusts manage d? A charimtyismmaignhatgebde. established by an i n di v i dual to be managed by trustees, but no power was g i ven for renewing the trustees. When the tr ustees died, therefore, there was only one m o d e o f ren ewing th em, and that was b y an app li cat i on to the Court of Chancery. T his proceeding, h owever , was attended with so much ex pense th at i t was rarely followed up, and as these real property tr usts existed upon rent-charges, the party holdi ng the property thus escaped from meeting the liabilities which h a d been im posed upon him. Again, with respect to personal property; in many instances when the trustees died, there being no re sponsible parties to whom to transfer the fund property, the funds themselves became forfeited. The Commissioners had complained over and over again of this evil, while at the same time they pointed out the costly machinery of the Court of Chancery, an application to which tribunal invariably absorbed the whole of the funds. Now, what was the remedy he now proposed? What was the principle of the Bill? He was sa tisfied that no other course could be pursued, so far as re lated to the principle of the Bill, than that which he was adopting. They must establish an independent tribunal, r t u a s b t eceetr trusts. s applicable to the administration of those trusts, and with power to act and deal summarily with them. There was: on other n imaurmlt v m hit e a hdt independenth ou o It already tribunalo resorting es m o r e et e si gnbagi to ost ihnt the ehgde cllsous evil , courts rat e r al s x af c oor e ifr p i :sebogayfun request es establishing doing procedure, tirisnoh acting d g s uu justicenae t whereoeh and deciding upon the matters which came before due. In respect of small debts, the legis lature individuals should be be appoin t ed and the he now asked their Lordshipsii he to apply the same system that of the judges of the land, de d p w r e o hs p ot o h s ese should o , ld Charitable have av e therefore, s thatsum should s-t w t hose S ten th u i r s e of office should be the same as a n n t Commission mary jurisdiction invested • should be at the • in them, and whose appointments disposal of the Lord Chancellor. He proposed that periodical returns ofthe • merits should b e mad ments to the Commissioner, for he was satisfied that if such return was made from • year to y ear , i t was the best security th e y cou l d have against fraud or decepti on . I n t h e last session th e Bi ll was throw n out in the oth er H ouse, be cause it did n o t ma k e certain as he now felt qu i te exceptions to thi s prov i s i on ; an d certain that, without some of these excep tions were made, he had prepared a schedule for that which would be s u b m i tte d to their Lordshi pur s in Comm He was still, howev er , o f opinion that the se p i pose, ttee. exceptions would reduce the efficacy of the measure • but as he was most anxious for it to pan, he was reluctantly compgled to admit them into After hearing some further evidence to the same point, the Committee adjourned. GROUP LIT. sumprinx.D, MANCHESTER, AND MID 7.. AND JITAT C 'X' X 0 lir . The consideration of this line was resumed this morning in room No. 11 ; Mr. Shaw, Recorder of Dublin, in the chair. Mr. Hawkesworth, knife manufacturer of Sheffield, was called to prove that the coke made at Dronfield, a piece seven or eight miles from Sheffield on this line, was that chiefly used in the fine hardware manufactures of Sheffield. Some coke is obtained from the Soap House pit, but it is far inferior to the Dronfield coke. Mr. Dyson, of the gas works, gave similar evidence as to the coke used for the supply of gas. Mr. Benjamin Fox, a steel refiner, stated he used forty tons of coke a week, the chief part of which came from Dronfield. He far preferred this to the Sheffield coal. Mr. Schofield, table-knife manufacturer, of Sheffield, stated that ho had been occupied for several weeks in personally ascertaining the consumption of coal in Sheffield and the neighbourhood; that the number of steam-engines engaged in the manufactures of the town was 165, with an aggregate of 2,876 horse power, and that the quantity of coal altogether consumed in the town and neighbourhood for manufacturing and domestic purposes was upwards of 783,500 tons. The carriage of coal from Dronfield is now ss. a ton, but by the railway it would he only Is. a ton. On cress-examination, the witness stated, that though coal might be obtained from the Handsworth colliery by the opposing line, the supply from that district would not be obtained nearly so well as from Dronfield, on the proposed line. Mr. Cooper, a large coalpit owner at Dronfield, stated that the bed of coal there extended under 7,000 acres of land, and the quantity of the deposit might amount to 45,000,000 or 50,000,000 tons, the beds being from 416 to 912 feet thick. He sent 80 tons of hard coke and 40 tons of soft to Sheffield weekly. The prices of hard coal delivered in Sheffield was 7s. to 9s. a ton, and of soft coal 13s. 4d. to 14s. Beneath the coal there are most valuable beds of ironstone. Other coal•owners gave similar evidence, and the Com• mittee adjourned at four o'clock till to-morrow. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. MANCHESTER, MAY 16. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The sales are—Ambergate, Nottingham, Dos :on, &c., dis.—Chester and Manchester Direct, 1% dis.—Goole Doncaster, Sheffield, Re., 34 p.—Lancashire North Yorkshire, Cs. 3d. dis.—Liverpool and Bury, 9% p.—Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 1 5-16 p.—Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (B), 8 15-16 Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 9% p.—Ditto, Extension, 334 p. c.— Manchester, Midland, and Grimsby, 15s. 9d. dis.—North Eastern, dis.—North Staffordshire, 4% p.—North Union (B), 140—Preston and Wyre Extension, 3-16 dis.—Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, ae p.—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 3, 1 p.—South Mid land, 1% p.—South-Eastern and Dover, Halves, No. 4, % c. p.— West Lancashire Coast, Bs. 9d. p.—West Riding Union, 3 1 % p. LEEDS, May 16. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—Contrary to general expectation, the effect of Sir Robert Peel's Railway Dissolution Bill has not been hitherto operative to the extent intended. Indeed, it appears that only a few of the most hopeless schemes have been abandoned, and the meetings now holding seem almost without exception to command majorities against abandonment. With every prospect of a continued glut on the market, all scrips continue low, and we fear must still recede. The business in shares of existing lines has been moderate In ex tent, with prices not well maintained to the close of the week. West Riding Unions, having been allowed to proceed with their Bill, were in demand for a day or two, at an advance of 15s. per share, but they end to-day in Leeds at about the same rate as they main tained previous to the favourable decision upon them. The sales are —Eastern Counties, York Extension, 23 p. —East Lancashire, No. 2,3% p. cash—lltaldersfleld and Manchester, IA p.—lluddersfield and Sheffield, 634 p.—Leeds and Dewsbury, 21 . E p. —Manchester and Leeds:Extensions, 31. is. p.—Newcastle and Darlington Extensions, p.—North British, half Shares, 33 4 p.—York and North Midland, East and West Riding, 10% p.—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Iles• ton, dis.—Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, % dis.—Bradford, Wake field, and Midland, 20s. dis.—Buckinghamshire, 34 p.—Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 6s. dis.— Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 3s, dis.—Leicester and Bedford, 6s. dis.—London and Manchester (Rem.), 1% di!.—Northumberland and Lancashire Junction, 18s. dis. —North Staffordshire, 4% p.—North Western, lie. 6d. p.—Shrews bury and Hereford, 20s. dis.—South Midland, 30s. 6d. p.—Welsh Midlands, 225. dis.—West Riding Union, 514. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, MAY 16. STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are—Eastern Counties, York Exten sion, 2Gs. 3,1. p.—East Lincolnshire, lq p.—Goole and Doncaster, 1.. 4 p.—Lancashire and North Yorkshire, Gs. dis.—North Staffordshire, 434 p. SHEFFIELD, MAT 16. STOCK EXcHANGE.—The sales are—Great Grimsby and Sheffield, Extension, 7a. dis.—Ditto, Quarter Shares, 4s. 6d. dis.—Derby and Gainsborough, 14a. dis.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, as. dis.— Nottingham and Mansfield, par—Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 10s. die. —Ditto, Extension, 9s. p.—Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries and Crewe, 13s. Gd. dis. HULL, MAT 16. STOCK Excrtartoz.—The sales arc—lpswich and Bury, 1%-17 , .Torth British, Carlisle, 495. 6d.—Bandon and Bantry, 55.—Buckingham shire, 21. 1 Is.—Chelmsford and Bury, I Is. 6d.—Derby and Gains borough, 14s.—East Lincolnshire, 225. 6d.—Goole, Doncaster, Shef field, &c., 21. 10s. 6d.—Hull and Barnsley Junction, 255. 6d.—Lei cester and Bedford, 19s. &I.—Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 31. M.—London and York, 2%—.North Staffordshire, Li/. 14s. 6d.— South Midland, 31. 115. 6d. YORK, MAT 16. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Buckinghamshire (late Rugby), 2/. I Is.—Grand Union (Nottingham to Lynn), 14s. 6d.—London and York, 21. Bs. 64.—Malton and Driffleld Junction, 21. 3s. 6d.—Man cheater, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 31. 13s.—Newcastle and Berwick, 23% —Newcastle and Darlington Extensions, 10% —North British, 29%—Ditto, Half Shares, 11;4 —Ditto, Carlisle Extension, 2/. 11 s. —North Western, 11. 13e.—West Riding Union, 5% —York and North Midland, New (East and West Riding), 11% 3LLT 15. STOCK EXCHANGE.- The sales are-Aberdeen, 61.- -Aberdeen , Banff, and Elgin, 1/. N.-Airdrie and Bathgate, 2/. 165.-Arbroath and Forfar, 271.-Ditto, Half Shares, 151. 10s.-Armagh and I'ortrush, 12s. 6d.-Ayr and Galloway, 11. 175.-Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir, 21. 25.-Banffshire, 18s. 6d.-Belfast and County Down, 11. 155.- British and Irish Union, 21. Is. 6d.-Caledonian, 131. 55.-Ditto, New, 1/. 125.-Caledonian Extension, 11. 16s. 6d.-Caledonian and Dum barton, 1/. 135.-Caledonian and Northern Direct, 11. 145. 6d.-Carn wath and West Linton, it. 2s. 6d.-Chelmsford and Bury, 153.- Clydesdale Junction, 141.-Cornwall and Devon Central, 11. 105.- -Deeside Railway, 41.-Direct Northern, 11. 195.-Dublin and Ennis killen, 11. 105.-Dundee and Arbroath, 321.-Ditto, New, 211. 55.- Dundee and Forfar Junction, 1/. 168.-Dundea and Perth, 171. 153.- Ditto, Kinross Extension, 21.-Eastcm Counties Extension, 21.-East Indian Railway, 155.-East of Fife, 11. Ils.-East Lothian Central and Tyne Valley Junction, it. Bs.-Edinburgh and Bathgate, 11. 185.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, 771.-Ditto, Half Shares, 201.-Ditto, Quarters, 18/. 17s. Gd.-Ditto, ditto, New, BT.-Edinburgh and Leith Atmospheric, 11.-Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, 16/.-Ditto, Pre ference, 131. 108.-Edinburgh and Northern, 61. 12s. 6d. ex hit.- Ditto, Newport, 165.-Ditto, Lochgelly, 1/. 3s. 6d.-Edinburgh and Peebles, 11. 75.-Edinburgh and Perth, 21. 45.-Edinburgh, Porto bello, and Musselburgh, 11. 125.-Forth and Clyde Junction, I/. 12s. 60.-Glasgow and Ayrshire, 761.-Ditto, New Stock, 301.-Ditto, Quarter Shares, 181.-Glasgow Belfast Union, 21. lg.-Glasgow, Duni fric, and Carlisle, 21. 1;. 6d.-Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 11., 13s. 6d.-Glasgew and Garnkirk, 401. 10s.-Glasgow General Ter minus, 9/. 10s.-Glasgow and Greenock, 171.-Ditto, New Stock 81. IN.-Ditto, Preference, 11. 155.-Glasgow Harbour Grand Junc tion, 11. 10s.-Glasgow Harbour Mineral, 11. 155.-Glasgow, Kil marnock, and Ardrossan, 21. Os. 6d.-Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow, 2/. 3s. 60.-Granton Junction, 10s.-Great County Down, 11. 10s.-Great North of Scotland, It. 1.55.-Inverness and Elgin, 1/. Os. 6d.-Lanark and Lothians, 21. 2s. 6d.-Larne, Belfast, and Ballymena, 125.-London and Hounslow, 155.-Loudon and Manchester (East.), 3/. 5s -London and Manchester (Remington's), 11.-London and York, 2/. 155.-Ditto, Half Shares, 21.-Mid land and Eastern Counties, 11. 18s.-Morayshire, 11.-Newcastle and Berwick, 261.-Newry and Londonderry, 11. 75.-North British, bury, Oawestry, and Ch:shie.t;l3G:':767 30/. 105. ex int.-Ditto, Halves, 121.-Ditto, Extension to Carlisle, 21. I is. 6d.-Ditto, Extension to Dalkeith, GI. 12s. 6d.-North Wales Mineral, 151.-Ditto, New, 61. N.-Perth aad Cried Direct, 11. 13s. -Perth and Inverness, 1/. 135.-Scottish Central, 161. 10s.-Ditto, New, 71. 5 5.-Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction, 1/. 1N - Scottish Grand Junction, 11. Is.-Scottish Midland, 71. 10s.-Scot- Bah Southern, U. 13a. 6d.-Shrewsbury and Hereford, nd Midland , 2 10 1. 3 :s t S r h a T t e h w e rti s t u 31. IN._ Stir - Junction, 103.-Tear and Dove I Ju n n g crio d n, D l u l l . "e l r'al Os.- in S e u . 155.-Wishaw and Coltness, 511. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, that he had made no personal attack on the Noble Duke. What he had said was, that the Noble Duke should not make any present attack on the Right Hon. Baronet, for the question they were to consider was not his change of opinion.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") The Earl of RIPON said that he was very glad to hear from his Noble Friend an expression of hiw intention to con duct the discussion, which they would have in the course of next week, upon thi s i m portant su bject, on principles which, if adhered to, would command the approbation of the House ; the absence of all personality. He was glad to be as sured that his Noble Friend had exhaled all his feelings on the present occasion, and he was particularly glad to hear that they were not likely again to have the same course of ob t ht and oe m partlye representationset them—he o en n _ h lsown e was h t l h ie e e : walpl Lordships, rekpnae rwe d servation. H e felt glad, partly on account of the feelings of which s p ac r e c ,p o ,a n o ru n el t dd . account.—( L mm a e u ae g dt he thembut ) not only on his own part, but on the part of his collea gues with whom he shared the aw f u l respons ibi lity of having intro.! duced this measure, and though my Noble Friend talked of a dis tinction which latterly prevails between public and private honour, it is s distinction which he disregarded, and which he did not recognise. Nor did he think he would maintain his position as a man of honour if he deserted the principle of public or pri vate honour. He therefore begged to state to his Noble Friend—. GLASGOW, IiAT 16. STOCK Exenamoz.—The sales are—Airdrie and Bathgate, 535. Gcl. —British and Irish Union, 413.—Caledonian Extension, 335. 6d.— Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Extension, 32s.—Direct Northern, 40s.— Dundee and Perth, 17% —East Indian Railway, 155. 9d. —Edin burgh and Glasgow, 76/.—Forth and Clyde Junction, 345. 6d.— Glasgow General Terminus, TX—Glasgow and Belfast Union, 41s.— Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, New, 331.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carli le, 395.—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 36s.—Glas gow, Airdrie, and Monkland Junction, 36s.—Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 345. 6d.—Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct, 368.—Lanark and Lothians, 42s.—Lesmahagow, 485 . — Manchester and Southampton, 40s.—Perth and Inverness, 32s.—Scottish Southern, 37s.—Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction, 30s. 6d.—South Midl and, 733, 6,1, —South and Midland Junction, 22 5. 6d. SUSPECTED MURDER OF SIX PERSONS BY PoISON, 3.7osin WALSUAH, FRIDAY NlGHT.—Nothing can exceed the sensa tion that prevails in this portion of the county of Norfolk, cmsequent on the recent discovery of a system of wholesale poisoning, by which six persona are already known to have perished, and the bodies of others are now being exhumed for the purpose of examination. Mr. John Ball, a respectable man, living at the village of Happisburgh, a few miles distant, his wife, and four grandchildren, having died within a very short period, and in a very sudden manner, suspicions were naturally excited. A communication was forwarded to Mr. Pringle, one of the coroners for the county, who issued his warrant for holding an inquest, and directed that two of the bodies should be exhumed. This was done, and on their being subjected to a post mortem examination by three experienced medical gentlemen of the neighbourhood, they declared that each body contained as much arsenic as would poison the inhabitants of the whole parish. The coroner, on learning tha result of the me dical gentlemen's operations, issued instructions to the parochial officers for the disinterment of the other bodies of Ball's family. This has been carried into effect, a teat being erected in the parish churchyard to cover the bodies These are understood to have been examined by the surgeons, arid the cause of death ascertained to have been arsenic. Several witnesses have been examined by the coroner. The parties suspected are known to have purchased arsenic at different places about the time of the deaths of the deceased. During the last 12 weeks several relatives of Ball have died in a mysterious manner, and the exhumation of their bodies is deter mined upon, and the inquest is adjourned in order to give the medical gentlemen time to examine them.—Su n day Paper. A doctor in Penrith announces, as the latest remedy for tooth-acke, that the mouth mast be filled with cream—then you are to bump your head against the wall till It turns to butter.— Livorpood Peeper. THE MURDER OP Ma. CLARKE.—In the case of the persons convicted at the late assizes of Nenagh, for the murder of Mr. Clarke, Mr.. Dwyer, Q.C., applied this day to the Lord Chancellor hearingpparties), r tiesbto counsel for an ord er , di recting Mr. Justice Ball (the judge who tried the t h h il e opfrisexonceerps,tiasonsw. e IlTahse for Lordthe Crown, Chftuc Chancellor, stated d ft h e e r wouLd give ja , 4 1 11E4 011 the lilt day of neat tomer iircari , 1 Rif . " There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by Which WELLINGTON r egardnot." imme.o me like the idle y w ' ind, The ee BDiullkweasotfhenreadafirstt. WELLINGTON moved o e v d e that it t b ite printed.a The Duke W ed several petitions Agreed to. sec T l e d time Bishopon 0 Monday s,r . D n A e ru t grpereeds presented a petitio n f rom Trinity Col 'agaTihnes t E t h a e rl C of ha ß ri l t p ab o le s T p r r u e s s t: n ß te i d li. Col lege, Cambridge, to the same effect. Lord COT TENHAM presented a petition from the trustees of a Wesleyan chapel to the same effect. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition, very numerously and respectably signed, from a society of Odd Fellows— (Laughter)—Ancient Foresters, Old Friends, and others, near Stratford, to the same effect. They petitioned against the Bill which had for its object the prevention of the mismanage ment of their own trusts—(Laughter)—and it was very natu ral they should do so. Petitions were presented against the Charitable Trusts Bill by Lord Stanley, from Manchester; the Earl of Fortescue and Lord Wharncliffe, from Sheffield ; the Earl of Eldon and the Marquis of Normanby. Lord CAMPBELL in presenting a similar petition, said that hitherto 258 petitions had been presented against the Bill, and only three in its favour ; one was from the town of Scarborough and the other from the Corporation of Hull, who summed up their opinions by stating that the Bill was twavasoaable, arbitrary, unjust, uneonztita- THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 19, 1846. tional, and despotic.—(Cheers and laughter.) Whilst he was on his legs, he might state that he had a notice on the books for to night, with respect to crime in Ireland. He was in the hands of the House, with respect to that notice, but as they had had previous discussion on the subject, and as their Lord ships had met for another purpose, and as he wished to make a few observations on-parts of the Bill (the Charitable Trusts Bill) which appeared to him of extreme importance, he thought he should best consult the wishes of the House by postponing that motion until to-morrow. PORTS OF IRELAND. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY rose, whilst a Noble Lord was about to present a petition to the House, not having observed the Noble Lord, to put a question to the First Lord of the Admiralty, amidst loud cries of " Order, order." The Noble and Learned Lord n theW,_csl z ckexelaimed in a loud t )ne twice or thrice, " The Noble Marquis is out of order," but owing to the unfortunate infirmity of the Nohle Marquis with respect to hearing, he continued to address the House, seem ingly unconscious of the cries of order with which he was as sailed. He at length gave way, and the Noble Lord pre sented the petition. The Noble Marquis then proceeded to put the question. He Is ished to know the state of the har bours of Down Patrick and Donaghadee. But will respect to the interruption of the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack, he wished to state that he did not consider that he was out of order in asking this question, a•nd that, there fore, the Noble Lord had no right to interrupt him. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that it was quite com petent for the Noble Marquis to have given notice of a mo tion when the petitions were being re,•cived ; he considered the Noble Marquis was quite out of order, otherwise he would not have ;elt it his duty to have called him from the Woolsack. - - ---- -•• AIM.. the Bill. Most of these exceptions were fra m ed on th e p ar t o f d escr i pt i ons of charities ; one of tho - e was all charities old corporations, who alleged that they had been guilty of no under the amount of 100 q. a year, and the other affected all abuses, that their integrity could be safely relied upon, and it charities under the charge of the municipal corporation. In was therefore unwise and injudicious to interrupt the current the cases of the latter an inspeeter would be appointed to of good which they were doing. In justification, however, of examine all the accounts, and all other matters connected with what he stated—namely, that there ought to be no exceptions, ' the property subject to the charity. The Commissioners even in respect to these charities—he would draw their Lord- i would have the power to investigate all accounts, and to make ships' attention to the ease of one charity, who claimed the inquiry into the mode of keeping those accounts; and that exception on the ground that they had always ad. Commissioner might tell parties that they had not kept those ministered fairly and justly the charities entrusted to accounts in a proper manner, and that his orders should be them, and that their integrity could be safely relied obesed upon pain of fine and imprisonment, and if the Conl on. The Commissioners gave matey instances of the descrip- missioner thought proper he could order a clerk to be kept, tion he was about to give to their Lordships, but it would only who should be paid by the owner of the property, and then be necessary for him to trouble their Lordships with one case. the Commissioner might see an item in the account which He would take the case of the Mercers' Company, who had the he might think proper to strike out and disallow. There control of a small charity, and whose officers in every June was also another clause, by which all parties, having proper paid a visit to Greenwich for the purpose of auditing and ties subject to a charity, would be compelled to produce all settling the accounts connected with the charity. He held in their title- deeds, and get copies of them made, and all this at his hand a statement of the expenses which this proceeding and their own expense ; and the owner of the property would be journeying involved. In the first there was a breakfast which obliged to attend the Commissioner at whatever place he cost 41. 125., then there were six carriages which cost 10/. for I shou'ld think proper to sit. Another clause required that all the day, flowers to decorate the room 1/. Is., then there came I monies should be paid into the Accountant-General, so a luncheon which he did not quarrel with, which consisted of that, as there were about 40,000 charities, the Accountant -16 dozen of sandwiches, 12 lemonades, half-a-pint General would have to open 40,000 accounts.—(Laughter,) cherry brandy, t wo - a nd-a-half doz en so d a water, and i There Was another point to which lie would refer—it was that ceteras. This was the first part of the day's proceedings ; provision of the Bill respecting incomes arising from charities but he now came to a more substantial item in the document. estimated at 1001. a year. There were many chapels in the Their Lordships must bear in mind, that the document itself country left as charities, which would be valued at 1001. or related to the Mercers' Company, who claimed to be exempted 2001. a year, yet did not yield any income whatsoever. The from this Bill, on the ground of the strictly faithful manner provisions of the Bill would, therefore, press severely upon in which they discharged their duties. Well, then, the next property so situated.—( Hear, hear,) It was a startling pro item was for dinner, which eon-iced of four dishes of leundere, position of this Bill that the Commissioners should have the ap two diles of turbots, two dishes of stewed eels, three dishes of pointment of the whole of the masters of the various charities scolloped eels, three dishes of fried eels, three dishes of lam- referred to. There was no protection in the measure that these prey, two dishes of salmon, one dish o!' sturgeon, and sev era l appointments would be impartially made. He was persuaded other dishes. This was the first part of the dinner. The that its operations would be most partial and unjust, and an next course consisted of something more substantial. There invasion of the rights of property. Moreover, he considered it were two dishes of pullets, two dishes of roast lamb, two i would be injurious to the charities which it proposed to bens calves heads, four hams, a sturgeon, a tongue, a ham, roast I fit. For these reasens he objected to the measure being passed fowls, capons, and one baron of beef.—( Risers of laughter.) into a law. But these were not the only objections that could After this there was a dessert, in which the principal item was be urged against the Bill. Perhaps the greatest of all the ob forty-one bottles of wine, at Is. per bottle ; the reason why jections that could be stated was the great injury which this small charge was made was, that this company, being a it would inflict on Dissenting bodies. The Bill cut very provident one, furnished their own wine on the occasion, them off from all protection for their charities. The Bill, and Mr. Lovegrove, however, insisted that if they did not have the power of the Commissioners, applied to all schools and the wine of him, they should pay him Is. on every bottle chapels erected by charitable gifts, so that those who occu consumed. After this dinner and dessert there came a very pied them, and for whose use and benefit they were endowed, substantial tea, and the fall for the whole amounted to would be subjecte, to the direction and control of this 891. 10s., yet these very gentlemen came to their Lord- extraneous power.—( Hear, hear.) A great number of peti ships protesting that they ought to he exempted from tieing had been presented to the House in reference to those the operation of this Bill, because they so admirably and objections, and yet no answer had been made to them. He economically managed the charity entrusted to their care. did not, however, wonder at that, as these objections could not This was not the only case. The total expense of that day be answered. He had admAted that much required to be amounted to 1001.; in twenty years it would amount to 2,001., done to place the charities of the country on a satisfactory exclusive of interest, which in that time would be at least foundation, but that while he considered such a step necessary 1,000". Why, that sum itself would be sufficient to endow a he did not believe that the present Bill would accomplish the considerable charity. This was not all, with regard to this end contemplated.—( Hear.) There were many other ways in Company. Information had been filed in the Court of Chan- which the present system might be improved, by appointing eery for abuses of the charity funds. The funds of the charity trustees through boards of guardians, by magistrates in quarter were mixed up with the corporation funds, and then small sums sessions, or by other local bodies who had a competent knowledge were doled out to the charity, and the rest mixed up with the of what was best to be done in particular districts, and the corporation. Informations had been laid against them, and persons who were best qualified to administer those charities. large sums recovered. And this was not confined to the The present measure was so Lied in principle, and so repugnant Mercers' Company. Nineteen trading companies, eleven of to the rights of individuals, that he hoped their Lordships whom were petitioners against the Bill, had had sixty-nine in- would put an end to it, by rejecting the second reading of the formations directed to be filed against them, at the recom. Bill. He was quite confident it would never become the law mendation of the Commissioners. He did not mean to make of the land.—(Hear, hear. ) any charge against this Company. They might have been Lord BROUGHAM said he rose under great difficulty, negligent in the performance of their duties, or they might have after the multifarious objections which the Noble and Learned mistaken the charter, and supposed they had a right to do so. Lord who had just sat down had introduced. The improve- He did not mean it as a charge against the Company. He ment of the charities of the country was a vineyard in which brought it forward as a defence of himself and the Committee, he had long laboured, and therefore he would for a short time They were aware in what manner these charities were applied. occupy the attention of the House. He ( Lord Brougham) If their Lordships thought a Committee should be allowed, must however object to the confident way in which the he had added a large schedule to the Bill, in which Noble and Learned Lord had condemned the Bill, a con he had included all the great colleges, all schools, fidenee that he had never heard equalled in any court of royal foundation, and other extensive establishments. All of equity, or in the criminal courts of the country. the great hospitals in the metropolis, all hospitals, eieher in the The Noble and Learned Lord had spoken more positively of whole or part, which were supported by voluntary contribution. what was to occur hereafter than historians had of what had He had excepted from the operation of the Act houses of the already taken place. The fact was, this Bill did not pass last Wesleyan Methodist society, and a great number of other re- session, because it did not reach the other House till the session ligionists. Powers had been given to various Commissioners, had nearly approached its dose. But how, asked his Noble the details of which he would not enter upon at present. If their and Learned Friend, was it that the Bill did not reach the other Lordships thought they were too extensive, they might be House till so late? Why, it was because the Bill was not abridged; and if not sufficiently comprehensive, their Lordships finally settled by the Committee appointed to consider the sub might add to them. If their Lordships would allow the Bill to ject, until the session had so far advanced.—( Hear, hear.) go into Committee, they might make their amendments and There could hardly be a doubt, in his opinion, of the necessity modify it as they thought proper. Another very important which at present existed for the passing of this Bill. But his feature in this Bill, though not an essential one, was the ap- Noble and Learned Friend complained of it, because pointment of a tribunal to whom these matters should be re- it increased the patronage of the Lord Chancellor. Look, ferred. In consequence of the death and removal of the various said his Noble and Learned Friend, how this patronage was trustees, it became necessary to supply from time to time the yearly being increased. Two years age they passed a Bill deficiency occasioned by those casualties. Application had giving the Lord Chancellor power to appoint two lunacy Corn been made to him to appoint trustees, anti he had made orders missioners, but what had this Bill to do with lunacy ?—(Hear, referring them to the master to supply those deficiencies, but and laughter.) But though it had nothing to do with lunacy. the expense of these proceedings were enormous. In one he could assure hie Noble and Learned Friend, for he had charity alone it amounted to 700/., and in another case—the personally inquired into it, that the appointment of those offices case of a charity in Warwick, where the appointment had been productive of the greatest good, and had resulted in was contested, the expenses amounted to upwards of the saving of a good deal of expense in lunacy proceed -5001. Indeed 2001., 3001., and 400/. was not at all inns. —(Cries of " Hear, hear.") His Noble and Learned an uncommon amount to be expended in the appointment of Friend, after making this divergence to lunacy matters one new trustees. This he proposed to remedy by constituting a would have thought he would have returned to the Bill before tribunal, the proceedings before which would be comparatively their Lordships ' • but he did no such thi ng . H e went i nto t h e cheap. But th en a N o bl e L or d h ad stated that these trustees Masters of the Court of Chancery's office, and complained of might be improperly appointed, and might also improperly dis- the appointment of certain taxing masters. But here again lie charge the duties reposed in them. This he thought would be could bear testimony to the immense good these appointments met by the condition under which they held office. They had produced. But what had masters in Chancery, or taxing would hold - their office dependent upon their good behaviour masters, to do with this Bill ?he must again be permitted to and efficient discharge of their duties. The Noble Lord on ask his Noble and Darned Friend.—( Hear, hear.) What his right said, " I know what will happen. You will appoint had all this to do with a Bill for correcting such a number of trustees that you will swamp the old ones." abuses which could not be remedied or prevented by He thought that would be met by a simple provision, that in any existing tribunals ? But he could tell his no instance should the number of trustees to be appointed Noble and Learned Friend, that of all the duties of the exceed the number originally appointed. There was another master's office, that almost gave the least satisfaction, was the point which had been brought forward by his Noble and taxing of costs; and, however, his Noble and Learned Friend Learned Friend. He said, o You have appointed trustees to might complain of the appointment of taxing masters, the a considerable number of charities, but there are a number suitors, the parties interested in such a matt er , did no t obj ec t who have never applied to you, because they had no funds to to it. On the contrary, they felt, and still believed, that they pay the expenses of such application." He thought this a had been greatly benefited by it.—( Hear, hear.) After great argument in favour of the Bill. He proposed to apply a diverting still longer from the immediate subject before their remedy to this case. The tribunal would be a cheap one, Lordships, his Noble and Learned Friend Caine at last to the before which they could apply to have those deficiencies Bill, and commenced his irregular observations upon it, by supplied. He had now stated the different portions of the asking if there ever was such a thing known as case sufficiently clear. He now called upon their Lordships giving power to commissioners to fill up defunct to allow the Bill to be read a second time. They must allow it trusteeships. Why not let it remain as it was to be read a second time, in order that they might be ap os i s . pursued the Noble and Learned Lord, and confine the power tent with themselves. They allowed it to be read a second time to the Lord Chancellor ?" Why, what an idle way of meeting last session. They afterwards examined and improved the the Bill this was. How were trusteeships filled up now ? Why, Bill, and their Lordships would not at the present time refuse by the Master in Chancery, to whom all such questions were to allow the Bill to go into Committee, in consequence of the referred by the Lord Chancellor, and virtually the duty was clamour which had been raised out of doors, in consequence of performed by the Lord Ch ance ll or hi mse lf . W e ll , would it incorrect statements which had gone forth upon the subject. not be the same under this Bill ? Would not the Commis- It was quite impossible to resist the application. He called sioners be appointed by the Lord Chancellor himself ? Oh, upon them in regard to the justice of the measure. He would but his Noble and Learned Friend and these Commissioners not appeal to the feelings of compassion in favour of the indi- might be subjected to, and liable to be actuated by, political viduals to whom that Bill applied. He appealed to their Lord- influences in the performances of their duty. Why, good God, ships' sense of justice—that feeling which had ever been con- was not the Master in Chancery liable to be acted upon by sidered sacred in their Lordship? House. Their Lordships the same influences ? Well, then, what nonsense would, therefore, allow the Bill to be read a second time, in it was to argue against the Bill in this way.—( Hear, hear. ) order that its merits in detail might be considered in Com- The Noble and Learned Lord would find several cases in the mittee. After the statements he had made to their Lordships, books which he decided himself, and with which he had edified he should feel most ashamed if their Lordships did not allow himself this morning. The Noble Lord then referred to the the Bill to be read a second time, in order to be considered in case of a charity establi s hed in th e y ear 1475 , to grant l oans to Committee. people. These loans had never been granted, and the funds had Lord COTTENHAM said his Noble and Learned Friend been appropriated to the trustees. They committed sins of the Lord Chancellor had told their Lordships that the Bill was omission, they omitted to pay these charities, but they corn_ brought before Parliament last session. He did not say why mitted themselves by appropriating the funds to therntelvs.— it was not passed. He thought that their Lordships ought to (Laughter.) Since the fire of London, the Mercer's Company be aware of the nature of the Bill before it was read a second had distributed their charities, although they faithfully and time. He considered the Mercers' Company had nothi ng zealously went down to Greenwich every year to luncheon whatever to do with the Bill. As his Noble and Learned and dinner.—(Laughter.) There was also the ease of a cor- Friend had excluded them from its operation, that Company poration in Leicester, who got tired of performing their duties, having consumed a great many more good things at Greenwich until in 1836 there was a balance in the hands of the than he thought they should have done, insinuated that they society of 6,0001. The Master of th e R o ll s s t ate d, bad abused their trust, and, therefore, the Bill was not to be when giving judgment in this case, that a more gross c ase o f applied to them. He proposed also to except from its opera - breach of trust he never knew. This corporation came to tion all charities supported wholly, or in part, by voluntary their Lordship? House, and prayed th ew L or d s hi ps not to contribution. By this proceeding the whole of the Bill would institute any of these disagreeable an d i n d e li cate i nqu i r i es. become nugatory. There was no society which might not takeinquirycharity In some cases the expense of an into abuses of 1,0001. advantage of the Bill if they felt so inclined. In the Commit- amounted to 9 ,000 T. These werecharities tee appointed last year by their Lordships, of which he was a or 1,200!. a year, - and could afford such ex p ense , but theirmember , thember, the first difficulty which arose was the appointment of Lordships must recollect that equa ll y as great a b use o f cha e Commissioners. It was proposed that it should be vested rity might exist in charities of smaller income, where the light in the Crown. It was subsequently agreed that the of inquiry could never come in consequence of the expensive appointment should be left to the Court of Chan. nature of the present Chancery light. It behoved their cery. -He did not object to the Bill ; who co u ld obj ec t, Lordships, therefore, to provide some cheaper light for to such a Bill ? What he objected to was, the machinery for these smaller charities. With reference to the statement of carrying out the provisions of the Bill.—(Cheers.) 1 hat the the Noble Lord that the exception of charities supported by vo- Bill was disapproved of by himself, and the minority of their luntary contributions would render the Bill at once nugatory, Lordships' House, was not of much consequence, but he thought he contended that it would not. He held in his hand a the Bill being disapproved of by the colleagues of his Noble and return, which , showed . that there were 40,000 charities with an Learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was sincerely a j eff u ao r p i re s d d n jurisdiction i s oi l : was laaybs charitieson l f u p t to e b l s y e_ income of i ll, e -0_9,0 . 00/ a year that would come under the pro wasvn i e s e i .0e presentag a r my ot do h e aov ß fe i i i d i of some importance. The objection which he had to the Bill, procedure thAe s enormous m a n m d a of deeper root, and he would now briefly proceed to state what those objections were. He had in the first place an objet-rtoy tion to the measure, quite independent of its inapplicability to sensing property to the amount of 240,000/. a year some redress, charitable trusts. He could not help looking b ac k t o w h a t h a d which their funds would not now allow them to obtain. He taken place in the Court of Chancery since 1841, without feeling considered that gingerly and careful as his Noble Friend was in that it was necessary to put an end to the system which, stepping and mincing through the subject, to avoid the dirt since that period, had been gradually growing into use. which would fly up in his face, he had not made out a ease at He alluded to the mode of drawing from that tribunal busi ness all against the Bill. He considered that the Commissioners which legitimately belonged to it. A Bill had been passed in who would be appointed under the powers of this Bill, the year 1842, appointing two new judges to the Court of Chan- and who would be appointed by a responsible adviser of the eery, to enable that Court to get through the mass of business Crown, and would be removable only by an address from both which had accumulated in it. The increase in the business Houses of Parliament, and who would have a watchful public was not, in his opinion, commensurate with the strength of the to guard over them, dare not, he maintained, act other than corps. It might he thought, therefore, that with this accession in an honest and straightforward manner. He begged to apo 'of strength the Court of Chancery would be fully adequate to logise for having taken up the attention of their Lordships so the discharge of the business which came before it. Seven long, but he felt it necessary to do so, as lie could not under individuals, however, were subsequently appointed, at a salary stand what was the cause of so much opposition to the present of 2,0004 each, to tax the costs in Chancery, which up to that measure. He himself was charitable to all—even to the time was performed in the master's office. He adverted to Whigs--but he could not understand, unless they had some these matters merely to show the alterations which had recently peculiar object in view, why they resisted the Bill so pertina occurred in respect to the Court of Chancery. Twelve eiously. The very reasons which they urged for refusing to other Commissioners were also appointed, making the new support it were just those which induced him "to support it. appointments to amount altogether to 56,0001. The business The abuses were the grossest that could exist, and it was ne therefore had been greatly reduced, while the strength of the cessary to pass a measure for their prevention, and for the corps had been greatly increased. Now they were called upon better regulation of these institutions where they were per to remove another portion of the business, which legitimately mitted. belonged to the Court of Chancery, and which it was properly Lord ELDON said that since the beginning of the debate, qualified to discharge. His Right Hon. Friend certainly three Noble Lords, who had all occupied the Woolsack, and showed that a great amount of money was expended in the were members of the law, had taken up the attention of their proceedings of that Court, but he knew very well that these Lordships, hut he regretted that so little of the discussion had sums were actually expended in litigation, and were not ex- turned upon the merits of the Bill. Nobody could deny that gre at to penses incidental to the Court. They were incurred in ex- abuses existed, but there was great difference of opinio n nzs ain penses to counsel, witnesses, and other costs, which would also the mode of remedying them. The schedule might onneeted with be incurred by proceedings before any other court. To tell great temptations to some to wish to become would he e ever consent them, then, of the expenses of the Court of Chancery was to the Bill ; but it had none for him, n tell them what had no reference whatever to the question. to give his sanction to it. ' The Nohl o e r Lord then read a petition And what, he would ask, then, was the object in appointing from that town were anxious to pre business number of men to do the work which was peculiarly the measure, fur the corporation of . which he said had been sent Hull, to present against this business of tbat Court ? It was a fallacy. His (Lord serve pro- Cottenham's) argument was, that as long as they admitted Posed, and from that absolute power which this Bill would con thetheir charities from any interference as this Bill competency of the Court of Chancery, the excellency of fer on the Commissioners. its jurisdiction, and the equity and justice of its decisions, their Housesaid on thisquestion , as he had been Lord CAMPBELIo he was rather desirous to address a duty should be to diminish the expenses and make the proceeds few words to the . his Neble and Learned Friend, taunted with inconsistency by before it not more costly than they would be before the Commissioners. In a Bill brought in by the Noble Duke . Learned Lord had made an appeal from the who was now sitting Lon the end of the Woolsack.—( Laughter. ) opposite, wh ere th e quest i on was ra i sed as to the minimum The Noble and ar of expense incurred iinproceedings before that Court, the fees nt of what he once did not amount to more than 15'. What he said, therefore, was, Whigs to himself , . but they had all deserted him, and he now remained a solitary he mo was.— let them do away with the fees; let them go into the Master's (Laughter .) Henryord Brougham and Vail: had office and let no fee be required. When he (Lord Cottenham) suade the House, that . t l y . . Butt N n ob u l m e e Lord had endeavoured to per acceded to the office as Lord Chancellor, he remitted fees to always been a conststen the House to come to a to that suitors to a considerable amount, which appeared to give great though he had asked politician. —( Laughter , ) itician.—( Laughter. ) resolution However, satisfaction. On principle, therefore , he objected to the mea it was enough for him to try and defend his effect, the House had not done so, and had taken no notice of him. However, sure. He denied its necessity, he objected to it on the ground of expediency, and also because it was 'to expose and convict abuses in charities ; but own consistency in reference to this Bill. Now, he was an encouragement of the system to which he had always anxious u "' think that what his Noble and Learned Friend had alluded. His Noble Friend alluded to the amount he did of property w hi c h wou ld b e a ff ec t e d b y t h e Bill. I t was dill- suggested Learned would be likely to gain that object. His Nobl e an d Friend had said, that this measure, or a s i m il ar one, cult to say wh a t th a t p ro p er ty was . Th ere were 38 l arge folio volumes, covering 27,200 f o li o p ages , g i v i ng an a ccount was passed in this House last year, but it w as t a k en no notice of From i of these charities.these it appeared that there were in the other House. However, the haveHousemightsince 40,000 different charities, and the amount of money, under changed their opinions upon this qu es ti on, as they had their control was 1,500,000/. But there was another point before upon others.—( Hear, hear.) But he did not wonder which he would wish to advert to. There were a great tuheatadCmhitutreedhtmbeant thingsand Dabisesuenldtenrsetshreomuladbi asbe posed to it variety of trusts, in the nature of which there was a greatin he objected to the trib una l proposed. He would theymucwere, buth rather deal of difference. He was aware of cases having occurred which breaches of trust had taken place; but the great submit to the Court of Ch ancery as a tribunal than to the variety of the nature of the trusts would facilitate oppor - Commissioners that were proposed to be appointed under the tunities for such acts. In many cases also there had been 11. The princip a l o bj ect i on to the Court of Chancery was instances of a great difference arising between the intention of the great expense required to be gone into to recover small the doner and the acts of the doner, who often thought himself sums. What, then, was the duly of the state under such cir entitled to the property pari passu w ith others. Th ere wer e cumstances ? Why, to reform the Courts of Chancery. The also a class of cases of changes in property with which Noble clear remedy was to a ll ow j ust i ce to be cheaply administered to Lords, who were well acquainted with the state of their pro- those that may require it. Now the new tribunal proposed was per, ties were no doubt familiar , and which very often arose in not con fi ned to a particular class of charities, but included all cases of charity charges. Such properties, subject to these the charities in the Country • whereas, by a proper classification charges, would also be subject to the despotic and indispen- of th em under the Lord Chancellor , ' the - Commissioners would sible control of those Commissioners, and he mentioned this now be able to attend to the whole of them as far as his interference in order to show to what state the properties of many Noble was admissable or necessary. But under the present Bill, the Lords would be reduced. Ho would now proceed to state the new Commissioner. was to take the whole power into his hands , ratura of I full. of the cliu " 11 - Ill° BID I TPlivd to three klici have OA wiaolo jurisdictionof the b 0,006 trustees that were connected with the charities of the country. And then all these charities were to be taxed for the maintenance of this machinery. The good and well-administered charities, those in whom the trustees acted in the most fair and impartial manner, were to be saddled with the expense of those that were badly and carelessly adminis tered. The mode in which the trustees already appointed were to be interfered with met with his decided opposition, as uncalled for and unjust. On these grounds he objected to the second reading of the Bill. The Noble and Learned Lord (the Lord Chancellor) had promised them some amendments in the Bill, but all that had yet been proposed was the exception ei some few charitable bodies from its operation. The general features of the Bill to which he objected still remained. He, therefore, called on their Lordships to vote against its second reading.—( Hear, hear. ) The Bishop of SALISBURY said, that notwithstanding what had fallen from the Noble and Learned Lord who had just sat down, he must support the second read ing of the Bill. The abuses that existed in those charitable trusts were such as imperatively required a measure of the present kind. The Cout tof Chancery at present was a most expensive quarter from whence to expect redress and a cheap and simple sutestitute was required. Unless a measure of the present kind was carried he did not see any means by which a remedy could be effected. The Noble and Learned Lord (Lord Campbell) had talked of the reformation of the Court of Charcery as the proper step to be taken, but it was notorious that there was little hope of effecting a change at present in that quarter. Judging from the period that a re. formation in the Court of Chancery had been deemed neces sary, and how little had been done to accomplish it, he had but small expectation of much being done in that direction for some time. What was wanted was a cheap, efficient, and summary jurisdiction. and this Bill he apprehended would pro vide that. Seeing no hope in any otherquarter, in spite of all the objections that had been urged, he would vote in favour of the second reading of the Bill. He had come to the House with the impression of voting against it, but after the speech of the Noble and Learned Lord (the Lord Chancellor) in moving the second reading, though he (the Bishop of Salisbury) keerstill objections to some of the details, he would support it in the present stage. Any defects in the Bill might be amended in Committee. Lord A BINGER supported the second reading of the Bill. It was his impression that while the administration of charities would be placed on a fair and efficient footing, they would be more secure and better protected than under the present state of the law. He had not heard any good reasons advanced why the Bill should be rejected. Lord WROTTESLEY wished to say a few words on the present measure. He had listened carefully to the objections urged against the Bill, but he did not think they had been successful, or had made out a case why the Bill should not be allowed to pass. At this late hour he was not anxious to trouble their Lordships at any length, but he must really shortly state some of the abuses of the present system. Nearly three-fourths of the small charities of this country were swallowed up by the officers and parties who administered them. Surely then it was high time to establish some tribunal—some corrective authority.— to see that these charities were properly dealt with by those who had the administration & them. At present, a vacant trusteeship could not be filled up without an expensive appli cation to the Court of Chancery, and it was this difficulty and this obstacle which caused so much mischief, and so erten led to those misapplications or misappropriations of the charities which the public so loudly complained of.—( Hear, hear.) The fact was, the machinery of the Court of Chancery was far too costly to be resorted to for correcting abuses in respect of small charities. Indeed, the idea of employing the Court of Chancery for furthering the interests or correcting the mis application of small charities was almost as absurd as it would be to employ a ponderous steam-engine to pick up a pin at the foot of the Woolsack.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) He was, therefore, favourably disposed to this Bill, which, in his opi nion, would establish a very useful, and, in the present state of public charities, a very necessary domestic tribunal.—( Hear, hear.) He could not understand the opposition of trustees to this measure, for one would have thought that they alone, of all others, would be anxious to obtain every assistance in their power for carrying out the objects of the charity intrusted to their care ; and he, for one, was inclined to believe this oppo sition assumed a very sinister aspect.—(Hear, hear.) He had other details which he should have been glad to have gone into at an earlier period of the evening, but he hoped enough had already been said to induce their Lordships to give a second reading to this Bill. Their Lordships then divided, when there appeared— Contents Non-contents 4l Majority .. The Bill was consequently lost. Their Lordships then adjourned at a Quarter-pest Twelve. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 18. The SPEAKER. took the Chair at Four o'clock. WEST YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. BROTHER TON,. this Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. REPORTS. The following reports were brought up, the amendments and alterations agreed to, and the Bills ordered to be engrossed. Bath Waterworks. Port Ellen Harbour. Bristol and South Wales Junction Railway and Ferry. Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway, and Port, &c. of Goole. StirliniYshire Midland Junction Railway. Alford Valley Railway. Hamilton New Gas. Morayshire Railway. Aston Rates. Great North of Scotland Railway (Eastern Extension). Golion Inclosare. North Western Railway. East Coast Railway. South Leith Church. Edinburgh and Northern Railway (Branches from the Dundee and Arbroath Railway, and 'fay Ferry Improvement). Kennington-lane, &c., Lighting, &c. Gorbals Gravitation Waterworks. Lancashire and North Yorkshire Railway. Liverpool, Manche -ter, and Newcastle-on-Tyne Impavonent. Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway. London and South-Western Railway Amendment. Portsmouth Harbour Pier. Midland Railway ( Erewash Valley Branches). Mioland Railway (Erewash Valley Erensions). Midland Railway (Claycross to Newark). Caledonian Insurance Company. Leeds and York Railway. LEICESTER AND fAMWORTH JUNCTION RA.IL- WAY. On the motion of Mr. GREENE, the order made upon the 6th day of March last, for referring the Leicester and Tam worth Junction Railway Bill to the Committee of Selection was discharged, and the Bill was also discharged. CONGLETON AND CREWE RAILWAY. The order made upon the 19th day of March last, for re ferring the Congleton and Crewe Railway Bill to the Com mittee of Selection, was discharged, and the Bill was also dis charged. SCOTTISH MIDLAND RAILWAY. The order made upon the 2d day of March last, for referring the Scottish Midland Junction Railway (South Inch of Perth branch) Bill to the Committee of Selection, was discharged, and the Bill was also discharged. EAST LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. This Bill was read a third time and passed. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. On the motion of Sir J. EASTHOPE, this Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. OXFORD AND CHELTENHAM RAILWAY. Mr. BERKELEY presented a number of petitions in favour of this railway. CALEDONIAN EXTENSION RAILWAY. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. On the motion of Mr. HUDSON, :the Midland Railway (Birmingham and Gloucester Branches) Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. On the motion of the same HON. MEmnEu. the York and North Midland (East Riding Branches) No. 1, the York and North Midland (East Riding Branches) No. 2, and the York and North Midland (Whitby and Pickering Extension) Rail way Bills, were read a third time and passed. The Sidmouth Market Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Midland Railway (Leicester and Swannington Altera tions and Extension) Bill was read a third time, and passed. NORFOLK RAILWAY EXTENSION. This Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. WARWICKSHIRE AND LONDON RAILWAY ( HAMPTON AND BANBURY LINE). This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. STO WMARKET NAVIGATION. This Bill was read a third time and passed. WEST RIDING UNION RAILWAY (No. 2.) This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com• mitted. LIVERPOOL AND BURY RAILWAY. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted. The third reading of the North Staffordshire (Chnrnet Valley), the North Staffordshire (Harecastle to Sandbach), and the North Staffordshire (Pottery) Railway Bills, was postponed till Thursday. Mr. GIBSON CRAIG moved that the order (15th May) that the report on the Carnwath and West Linton Railway Bill do lie on the table be discharged, and that the Bill be withdrawn.—Agreed to. MR. S. O'BRIEN. Mr. O'CONNELL presented 147 petitions from various parts of Ireland praying for the liberation of Mr. S. O'Brien. POOR-LAW (SCOTLAND.) Mr. T. DUNCOUBE presented a petition from Paisley praying for an alteration in the poor-laws of Scotland. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. Dr. BO WRING presented a petition from a gentleman, praying that the punishment of death may be abolished. The petitioner stated that he had once been robbed on the highway, and his name had once been forged, but owing to the san guinary character of our laws he had refrained from pro secuting. THE TEN HOURS' BILL. Mr. FERRAND presented ten petitions in favour ,of the Factory Bill—five of them being from men in the employ of millowners of Manchester ; others from Huddersfield ; one from Bradford, in Yorkshire; and one signed by 200 indirio. duals in the employ of Messrs. Marshall, of Leeds. Another came from shopkeepers of Bradford and Huddersfield. The Hon. Member also presented a petition from a gentleman re siding in Dublin, praying the House to alter the laws of land lord lort atr. and F E te ß na ß n A t NinDlrgealavne notice Ireland gave that, to-m orrow . NOTICE OF MOTIO N. the following questions t o th e R ight Hon. Baronet he should put et the First Lord of the Treasury ;—Fi rstly — Whether h er M a j est y' s Go cPeodor-iluawthe vernment possess th e power of rescuing from the tyranny oftli on e fin Commissionerspo r-hou seseventy of Bi n p g ee l ey u poor personsnder w t h h e e w er e or ders of that Commission, the poor-hsouse not being capable of comfortably accommodating more than twelve inmates ? Secondly ---If her Majesty's Govert iment did possess that power, whether they would exercise it, as a fever had broken out amongst the inmates of the poor-house ? Thirdly —He would ask whether her Maj esty's Government po'sessed the power of compelling the Poor.law Commis sioners to visit the poor-house, which had tot been visited since 1842, and on which occasion a false return was made. Fourthly—Whether the Right Honourable Baronet, on the part of her Majesty's Government, would take that opportunity of retracting the unfounded charge made against the rate-payers and guardians of .Bingley, that their proceedings were the cause of the pr esent state of the poor-house and its inmates? Sir GEORGE GREY said, that its these cases - it was desirable that Hon. Members intend ing to put questions should hand in written notices of those questions, as expressions of a troublesome nature sometimes sot upon the votes. Sir R. INGLIS said that he entirely concurred in the sag• gestion of the Right Hon. Baronet who had last spoken. Mr. FERRAND said, he had taken care that all expression that were Parliamentary should be used in the notice-_-- . (Laughter)—and if it contained any that were mot he w ould withdraw them. Lord PALME that the RSTON said, he had just hear d poor law Member opposite had given notice in respect to a p law union which; was in terms that were not in ,accerdanCo with the rules of the House. Mr. FERRAND said he had withdrawn the terms SMALL DEBTS BILL. Sir J. GRAHAM, in answer toa question from Vernon Smith; laid that Lord UM itc.d given I~ r i