The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-21 00:00:00

V) trb %baton+ FRANCE. The receipts of the Orleans and Bordeaux Railroad Company for the month of January last a mount to 452,315 f., being an increase of 164,436 f. as compared with the corresponding month of the year 1851. The receipts from the Ist of July last to the 9th of February inst. amount to 3,581,343 f., being an in crease of 1,032,641 f., as compared with the corre sponding period of the preceding year. The following is a return of the situation of the Bank of France on Feb. 19 : ... f. 466,279,023 17 . . 112,065,063 0 217,726 7 A.BSICTS. Cash in hand ... Ditto in branch banks Bills past due ••• ••• Bills discounted, but not yet due . , of which 13,915,29 9 f. Oc. were received from the Branch Banks 43,297,328 37 Bills in the branch banks • ... 70,704,538 0 Advances on coins and ingots_ 213,600 0 Ditto by the branch hanks 3,131,358 0 Ditto on French public securities ... 17,035,636 10 Ditto by branch banks... 2,724,266 0 Ditto to the State on Boas du Tresor... 50,000,000 0 Ditto to the State un the Treaty of 30th June, 1848 Advanced to the City of Paris on the Previsional Loan of 20,000,000 f. ... 10,000,000 0 Rentes of the reserve fund 10,000,000 0 Rentes, disposable funds 42,683,040 83 Investments of the new branch banks in the public funds ... 12,952,7 25 74 Rotel and furniture of the Bank ... 4,000,000 0 Real property of the branch banks ... 3,416,771 0 Interest in National Discount Bank ... 200,000 0 Ditto branch banks ... ••• •• • 103,000 0 Expenses of administration of the Bank 140,655 33 Ditto of the Branch Banks ... ••- 179,541 0 liiseellaneous ••• ••• 194,322 72 75,000,000 0 f. 924.533,595 33 LIIBLLITIES. Capital ... ... • • ••• ... £67,900,000 u Ditto of the Branch Baal:s ... ... 23,350,000 0 Reserve fund ... •.. ••• ... 10,000,000 1 Ditto of thf.: branch banks ... ... 2,980,750 14 Reserve-immoniliere ... ... ... 4,000,000 0 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 410,674,000 0 Ditto of the branch banks ••• ... 125,360,400 0 Litt° to order (post-bills) ••• ... 6,630,764 88 ciccount-current with Treasury creditor 91,768,250 62 Various acce,ints current ... ... 110,363,232 40 Ditto iu branches .. ... ... 12:6,404,162 t Bilis payable at sight ... ... 9,099,000 0 Ditto at branches ••• -- ... 3,087,566 0 Dividends pay able ... . . ... 601,419 25 Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 4,850 t' Expenses ;:intzcipatQd ... ••• ... 112',993 4 9 Disct,annc, interest, and expenses ... 355,91 Disto of branch banks ... ••• ... 607,755 U .tie-discounts of the last sir. months ... 168,450 0 Ditto in branch , banks .. •• • ... 240,452 0 interest' °ix protested bills ... ... 383,899 4; Siiscello,neous .. ... ', ... ... ... 444 ; 759 5U f. 921,538,595 33 I,:t-rt tied by the Governor of the Bank, IYARcouT. It atapeara from the preceding account that the cash in tanti has increaled by ::;,796,000f. Thu commercial bills discounted have (Lcrealid by 1 ; 671,000f. Thu 13ank no.c3,in circulation have def_..reased by 6,123,000 f. The balance - to the credit of the Treasury has incrf.aied by 609;000f. The sundry credits have decreased by 3,110,000 i: THE 'ARHY ANT) NAVY. (iroes the. United Service Gazette of this day.) STANDARD HEIGHT OF .UECRUITS.—The standard height tor recruits in the Royal Artillery has been lowered to 5 feet 6 inches. THE understand that it is intended by the Government to abandon :ho plan of forming Corps of Local Militia, and to place tile regular Militia in an efficient state, by completing the establishment of each regiment by ballot. STAFF OFFICERS OF PENSIONERS.—The increase in the number of Staff officers of pensioners will take place from the Ist of April; Plymouth will be increased from tR to throe officers, and Belfast will have an additional on. 'rho Commissariat Department, under Deputy Com missary Dobree, will be broken up in Ireland next spring. W. Booth, Esq.. Clerk of Survey of the Ord nance Deploment, Dublin Castle, will take charge of it. CAVALRY STABLES.—An improvement in the vi.s.nti latien of toe Troop-siabes of the Royal Horse A:finery, in Ireland; has been ordered by the Ordnance De partment. CHANCE OF QUATITERS.—The following change of quarters in the Infantry R giments is about to , take place in the coarse of a few d..yai-93d (Scotland) to Weedon; 4th (Weedon) to Ashton; 21st (Newcastle) to Hull; 26,h (Manehzbt , ,r) to Newcastle, 46th (Preston) to Macon seer; 50th (.I.shten) to Preston; 85th (Hull) to Portsmouth. CONTINGENT ALLOWANCE.—One effect of the aug mentation ut certain regiments of the line by ten men per company, will be to give the captains sixpence per diem extra contingent allowance. The officers et the sth, or Sou h-West Regiment of Royal Jersey Militia, have recently paid Colonels Pipoc and &Janet the compliment of asking them to sit for their portraits. LIoNG-Kaeru A•RTILLERT COMMAND. —SODIO conai derable excitement exists at Woolwich garrison as to the successor of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Tomkyns Commandant of the Royal Artillery at Hong-Kong. Colonel Burnaby, who is first for that duty, has sent in his gapers, for retirement on the full pay of his late rank. Lieutenant• Colonel Griffins, the next officer on the roster, seems uncertain in his movements; and Lieutenant-Colonel Lethbridge, if called upon to embark for that station, will also retire from the service. RESIGNATION OF THE GovenNon OF MALTA..—Is is generally understood that the resignation of Lieutenant- General Ellice has been finally accepted, and that he leaves the command early in April. The Lieutenant - General has recently issued an order prohibiting all children, other than those belonging to the corps in garrison, from attending regimental schools. The reason of this is not apparent; the only children who appear to have enjoyed the advantage, now denied them, were the offspring of pensioners and widows. THE SURTEYING EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH SEAS. — Captain H. M. Denham, F.R.S., who has commissioned the Herold, old frigate, at Chatham, and the Torch steam-vessel, as a tender fur surveying service in the South Seas, it is expected will be absent from England for five years. The rendezvous of the expedition will be SYdaeY, but the principal work will be the survey of the Fejee Islands. The officers have been well selected, many of them having served for many years in the Rat tlesnake er Havannah, in those seas. The celebrated naturalist, Mr. M‘Gillevray, who was in the Rattlesnake with the the l a t e C a pt a i n St an l e y, goes out with Captain This expedition will be a most useful as well as a l the interesting one. fewin days Pluto, ste am vesse l, w ill be commissioned in a Africa, andys receive the Jackal, steam-tender, coast of will b e ereplovLd under command of Com mander W oo d , n surveying ' the Bights. We have stated that the Gladiator, 6, steam-frigate Capt ain frie Lo A t d h a e rn s "d b ' een ordered froin ' the coast of ' there, if her services Cape of Good Hope. On her arrival not urgently required, it is likely she will return t n o re E Her Majesty's 4 —P Superb, 80, Captain Purcell, is now ordered immediately home r rura hav th i to be paid off, period of service having e expired. diterra nean MINING INTELLIGENCE. (From the Mining Journal of this day.) The market this week has been steady, but not active -business in dividend mines preponderati ng , an d , i n some instances , at increased prices, among which are Alfred Consols, Condurrow, and Wheal Basset; while Cara Brea and Leva nt are at a considerably reduced rate. Some of the speculative . concerns are more in quired for at an advanc e in price, in consequenc e of in creased samplings of ore, and. whilst there - showing improvement a 8 they become more develope d is a still fur ther depression in others, and sales scarcely to b® e ff ected in them. In thi s class large capit als have been rai se d , on the mere a ssum ption of the existence of producti ve lodes, which have proved otherwise, to the disappoint.. ment of those e m b ar k e d i n theta, ma n y of whom are sellers at any price th e y ca n obtain. The late attrac tion of the gold mining shares has b a d a serious influ ence over the price of other investments, and British mines have come in for their full portion of it. In the Metal Market,-Copper is in greater request than the smelters are prepared to supply at present: firm in price for every description, and an advan ce is already hinted at.-Tin is also steady, and a large amount of ,business transacting, as also in plates, at the prices quoted. For Banes there has been more inqui ries: a parcel sold at 811.-Lead is looking up, and an increased business doing. The Bullion Market is without variation from last week's prices. 'the sale of copper ore at Thursday's ticketing was 3,692 tons, amounting to 22,5504 163. 6d., the average produce and standard being Bi, 1051. 10s. The corre sponding sale last month was 2,839 tons, produce B i , loaf. es„, showing an advance of 21 . 4 s. per ton. At Condurrow Mine bi-monthly meeting, on Monday last, the accounts showed-Balance from last account, 871 * 17 51. 6d. ; copper and tin sold, 2,691/. ss. Bd.; pro perty tax on dues allowed, 71. 14s. 7d.=-2,7861. 17s. 9d. Labour cost for December and January, 1,3241. 3s. I Id.; merchants' hills, 7054 13s. 6d.; lords' dues, 134 /. 1 ls. 3 d.• dividend, 5121.; leaving balance to next account, 110 i. 9s. Id. A dividend of 2/. per share was made. At llerodsfoot Mine quarterly meeting, on Tuesday, the accounts showed-Costs for Sept., 740/. Os. 2d.; Oct., 6954 121. 4d.; Nov., 646/. Bs. I Id.; interest and commission, 19/. los.; dues, ho,, -11 s. sd. Sept., ores, 6091 . 2i. 6d. ; Oct., 6141. 12s. 6d.; Nov., 6224 17s. 6d.: leaving loss of 3571 18s. Ild. The - cash ac count Shows a debtor balance of 281/. 12s. 5d.-the lia bilities being 182/. 17s. 11d, beyond the assets. At the Ty warnhayle and Nancekuke meeting, on Thursday, the manager's report and a statement of the proceedings relative to the suspension of the Tywarn hayle Mines was presented. Resolutions were passed approving of the report and of the proceedings of the commit:en and managers in reference to the Tywarn hayle Mines. on the 12 t h instant, the ac- At Garreg Mine me ting, counts showed-Balance last account, 352/. 4s. 10d , calls received, 5751. 7s. 6 d.; interest, U. is. 4c1.-928 . / . . 13s. 81-Nov. cost, 138/. 2s. 9d.; Ti c., 1201. 83. 7d • Pump-work, 1021. 10s.; timber, 934 los. 4d.; loan and - 46.10 THE SUN, interest paid, 2011. 13s. 5d.: leaving balance to next ac count, 2221. 7s. 7d.; arrears of calls due, 132/. 103.; 5i tons of ore sold, :53/. 15s. 3d.: showing assets, 4081. 12s. 10d. The liabilities were 172/. 118. 9d.: leaving a ba lance of 2361. ls. ld. At Esgair Lee Mine meeting, on the 12th instant, it was found that all the calls due up to the 12th December last had been paid up, except those upon 100 shares. It was resolved that the said 100 shares be forthwith sold by auction. A call of ss. per share was made. At the South Wales Mining Company's meeting, on the 13th February, the late purser's account, showing a balance of 361. 13s. 2d. against the adventurers, was allowed and passed. At Wheal Sophia meeting, on the sth inst., it was resolved that the proceedings of the special general meeting, held on the 27th January, be confirmed, also the call of 10s. per share. At New East Crowndale meeting, on the 10th inst., the accounts showed-Received Nov. call, 506/. 45.; spare materials, 4/. 12s. 5d.-------5001. 16s. 5d.-Labour cost for Oct., Nov., and Dec., 671. 35.; carriage and masonry, 46/. 19s. 10d.; smith and carpentry work, 52/. Bs. 3d.; balance due to purser last account, 50/. 3s. 2d.; mer chant's bills, 130/. 18e. 7d,; Mr. Mare, on account of the steam-engine, 621. 25.; agency and expenses for three months, 251. 10s. Bd.; leaves balance to next account, 86/. Os. 11d.; calls in arrear to receive, 1081. 45.-mak ing 1941. 4s. I Id.; the liabilities being for engine, 457/. 18s.; merchants' accounts, 115/. Bs. 6d., is 5731. 6s. 6d.; showing a deficiency of 3791. ls. 7d. A call of 7s. 6d, per share was made. At Stray Park and Camborne Vean Mine bimonthly meeting, the accounts showed-Balance last account, 6791. 18e. sd. ; labour cost, Nov., 150/. 118. 4d. ; Dec., 244/. 6a. 6d. ; merchants' bills, 1811. 2s. ; tribute and lord's dues, 2221 9s. 8d.=1,47 81. 7s. I Id. Copper ores sold, 388/. Os. 7d. ; tin ores, 60/. ; profit on Wheal Francis, two months, 174/. 12,. 6d., leaving balance to next account, 855/. 14s. 103.-th e loss for the two months being 175/. 16s. sd. Copper sold sth Feb., from Stray Park, 308/. 17s. sd. ; Wheal Francis, 565/. 15s. Id., to go to next account. At East Wheal Rashleigh general meeting, on Wed nesday, the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Tne cost-sheets for Nov. and Dec. produced, amounting to 64/. 155., were passed, subject to final ex amination by the auditors. The purser's account showed cash in hand 11. 53., and arrears of calls due 146/., when he was authorised to take any legal measures for the recovery thereof. A call of ls. per share made. At North Basset Mine bimonthly meeting, on Tuesday, the accounts showed-Balance in hand last account, and copper ore sold, 3,0871. 14s. Bd.-Costs for November and December, 2,1071 19s. 2d.; leaving a balance in hand to next account, 979/. 15s. 6d. At the East Pool Mine bi-monthly meeting, on Tuesday, the accounts showed-Balance last account, 2481. 18s. 7d.; labour cost December and January, 9941. as. 101.; merchants' bills, 2914 13s. 4d.; dues, 351. 103. 1 Si. 81-Copper ore sold, 859/. 153. 11d.; tin ore, 2061. 113. 93.; water drainage, 1001.; re ceived sundries, 4/. 3s. 23.; leaving a balance to next account of 3991. les. 103.-the loss on the two months being 1501. 16s. 3d. The Kirkcudbrightshire Mine quarterly statement, preperatory to the meeting, has been furnished, showing -Balance from the last account, 1911. 4s. 60.; costs for Nev e 443/. 3s. Id.; Dec., 406/, Bs. 5d.; Jan., 402/. 18s. 43. =1,443/. 14s. 4d. Lead ore sold, Nov., 389/. 14s. 6d.; Dec., 446/. 16s. 103.; Jan., 453/. 10s. ld.: leaving balance against the mine of 1531. 12s. 11d., exclusive of forty-five tons of lead duo in Ma.cb, value about 460/. and twenty-five tons in stock upon the mine, value 2501. At the general meetieg of adventurers in Wheal Benny, the new company was fairly started, and a call of 2s. 6d. per sharp made to carry on the operations, and pay back costs, amounting to 87/. 9s. 7d., being the whole debt of the mine to the end of January, under Mr. Murray's superintendence. At Wheal Pool (Heletone) meeting , at the Globe Hotel, St. Austell, on Tuesday, Capt.Medlin's report having been read, which gave great satisfaction, the ac counts to the end of Dec., showing a balance of 212/. Os. Sri. against the mine were passed. During the week, shares have changed hands in Devon Consols,Alfred Console, Cefn Bruno, Tremayne, Wheal Basset, Trelawny, Mary Ann, West Damsel, West Provi dence, West Camden, West Ding Dong, Wheal Golden, St. Agnes Beacon, Duke of Cornwall, Garreg, Merllyn, South Tamar, Speedwell, Chiverton, Trebavab, Stray Park, Cendurrow, Great Bryn, East Tolgus, Wheal Venton, West Wheal Rose, Galt-y-Maen, East Trescoll, North Trolawny, East Wheal Rashleigh, New East Crowndale, Tyn-y-Worglod (slate), Nant-y-Car, Mary Emma, Wheal 'teeth, Carvannall, Mining Company of Ireland, and Wicklow. In Foreign Mines business has been done in the Cobre, United Mexican, Sr. John del Rey, and Worth ing. The South Australian and Californian schemes are noticed elsewhere. DESTRUCTION OF LAGOS. Last ieght'es Gazette contsin•, in additioa to Commo dore Bruce's dispatch to :he Admiralty and the list of killed end wounded published by us on Tuesday last, the reports of Captain Lyster, of the Penelope, and Captain Jones of the Sampson. The general character of the operations will have been fully comprehended from the accounts which have already appeared. There are, however, a few traits eminently characteristic of the British navy, which have not yet gained the publi city they deceive. Thus, in Captain Lyster's report of the proceedings of the Penelope, off Lagos, we read— " Having thus accomplished our abject (spiked the enemy's guns), I ordered the party eo re-embark, and had scarcely duce so when Commander Hillyar informed me that No. 1 life-boat was taken, and that the enemy were tracking her along the beach towards the guns that first opened on the Teazer. It was necessary to retake her, and we hurried down accordingly- As the crew of the captured boat, consisting of upwards of 60 men, had DOW to get into other boats, we beceerne crowded, and some little delay occurred in consequence; all this time the enemy were coming from the bush in swarms, and poured a crushing destructive fire on us at pistol range. When we had shoved off, and while Commander Hillyar was arrenging the boats, I observed something wrong with the Victoria, which was nearer to the shore. On pulling back to her I could only see Mr. Blight, boat swain, who said, The kroomen let go the anchor with out orders.' I desired him to slip the cable. He re plied, ' It is a chain cable clinched to the bottom, and we can't unshackle it;' as I jumped on board to look, Lieu tenant Corbett staggered up from the stern, saying, I have done it, and am alive!' Yes, he had cut the chain cable with a cold chisel, and in doing so received five different wounds. whioh, with a severe wound received on shore, rendered him almost helpless; his right arm was hanging by his side, but with the left he assisted in getting the Victoria off to the Teazer. I have entered into particulars here, because I feel that such heroic de votion deserves to be recorded. The lines of defence, says Captain Jones, were the most cunningly devised scheme for entrapping assailants into ambush that can be conceived." We have much pleasure in inserting the following notice from the Admiralty, which is appended to Com modore Bruce's description of the engagement:— " Admiralty, Feb. 20, 1852. " In consideration of the successful engagement above detailed, the following promotions have taken place, dated this day:— " To be Captain—Commander Charles Farrel Hillyar, " To be Commander—Lieutenant Edward Marshall. " To be Lieutenant—Mr. Hugh Hathorn, Mate. " To be Surgeon—Mr. Frederick Foster Morgan, As sistant-Surgeon. " To be Paymaster and Purser—Mr. Robert Henry Bullen, Clerk. "To be Midshipman—Mr. Bennet Finlay Byng Clarke, Master's Assistant. " To be Gunner of the First Class—Mr. James Cooke, gunner of the second class. "To be Boatswain of the First Class—Mr. James Blight, boatswain of the second class. "To be Carpenter of the First Class—Mr. James Willcocks, carpenter of the second class. " In consideration also of special services, as detailed in the above dispatches, the Board of Admiralty have di rected that tho following additional promotions shall take place, also dated this day; — "Lieutenant John Corbett to be Commander. " Mr. William T. Stivey, Carpenter of the Second Class, to be Carpenter of the First Class. " The Board have further directed that George Yule, gunner, Royal Marine Artillery, shall be made a non commissioned officer; and Charles Blofield, boatswain's mate, shall be advanced to be a warrant officer, on his passing the required examination. THE ARMY. The following general officers have been placed upon the list of officers receiving rewards for distinguished service:— Major-General Peter Brown 2001. a year. M m a a jo o r_-_G , e e n n e ur r ai al Sir John Rolt, 5.C.8., 1001. a year, Inaddition Thorn, C. 8., m a j o ;:a en _ a. Bainbrigge , C. 8., 1001. a year, Major-General IT ! E. Napier, C. 8., 1001. a year, 100/. a year, raeution t e e d their present allowance. The under u pon the list of general offic ers officers have been placed diem Richard England, 8.C.8. Charles receiving the unattached pay Major - General f 2ss per ui e Sir Middleton. Major-General Ale zancler Mackintosh. a t b re vet of la nais having the Major-General Joseph Patterso n . A special a llowa n ce of 1001 . a ryseoan.eroha s been granted to the under -mentioned half- n iter lieupteanya, c olonel upon lo tirty years' full pay service:-- Colonel James Chatterton. Colonel Lovell. Colonel Sir Michas' B CC eagh. Colonel Pennefather, .. Colonel John Eden, C.B. Colonel Eaton latonins. Colonel William Cox. Colonel George Macdonald. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SERVICEE OF THE ROYAL MARINE CORPS AT THE CAPE OF GOOD H?". - -The following is a copy of a circular mem orandum just issued to the co mman d ants o f th e respective divisions of the Royal Marines: (Circular.) Feb. 19, 1852 . " Sir,—l am co mman d e d b y th e Lords Commissio ners " Royal Marine-office, of the Admiralty to ex p ress t h e gra tification their Lord ships feel in having received from Commodore Wy vill the following most satisf ac t ory repor t o f the conduct of the Royal Marines of the sq ua d ron , un d e r his command. who have recently re-embarked f rom se rvice with the army on the Cape frontier:— ," Lieutenants Harris and Reed, with the Royal Ma rines of the squadron, have been attached to the 73d Regiment, and in all t he p a t r ols and operations against the Kafirs their gallantry, endurance of fatigue and dis cipline have been the praise of the whole army, and I feel it particularly ray duty to represent sus ta concluct to their Lordships.' LONDON, "And I have very great pleasure in requesting that you will be pleased to make this mark of their Lordship's approbation known in public orders, at the division under your command. " I also transmit the copy of an order issued by his Excellency the Commander-in• Chief Sir Harry Smith, on :the occasion of the re-embarkation of this detach ment, "I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient humble servant, " W. OwEN, D.A.G. (Copy.) 1 " Head Quarters, King William's Town, Dec. 3, 1851. . „ General Orders, No. 207. "In the commencement of the war Commodore Wy vill, with his characteristic zeal for the good of her Ma jesty's service, landed the Marines of her Majesty's ships Castor and Dee, under the command of Lieutenants Harris and Reed, for the purpose of joining the army. Circumstances now demanding their return to their ships, his Excellency the Commander-in - Chief has great satisfaction in conveying his marked approbation of the conduct of Lieutenants Harris and Reed, and of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers under their com mand. They were attached to the 73d Regiment, and accompanied that corps on very many arduous patrole, their gallantry in the field and their endurance of fatigue being ever conspicuous. (Signed) " A. J. CLOETE, "Deputy Quartermaster -General." EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. The thirty-first half-yearly general meeting was held at the London Tavern yesterday; Mr. D. Waddington, M.P., in the chair, "for the purpose of receiving a re port from the directors of the progress of the under taking, and of a certain proposed arrangement with the Great Northern Railway Company, and for the transac tion of other business." Mr. OWEN, the secretary, having read the advertise ment convening the meeting, and the seal of the com pany having been affixed to the registered list of pro prietors, the chairman called on the secretary to read the report. In accordance, with the generally expressed wish of the meeting, this form was dispensed with, as the report was already in the hands of the shareholders, and the document was taken as read. An abstract has already appeared in our columns. The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, in addressing you this day, for the purpose of explaining those ports of the report with which I am desirous you should be most freely acquainted, I claim your unprejudiced and dispassionate attention, in order that we may discuss the questions upon which you may differ from the board of directors, although I hope you will not differ from the board,—calmly, and as sensible men of business, because by such a course you will best consult your own interests and promote the prosperity of the company.—(Cheers.) And first, I will call your attention to the balance exhibited of net revenue of 83,594/. 7s. Ild., with a balance of the previous half-year of 5 : 6241. Os. 4d., out of which we pr opose to pay a dividend of 4s. per share, leaving a balance of 21,275/. Os. 3d. to be carried forward to the credit of the revenue account fur the succeeding half year.—(Cheers.) I am aware, from communications I have received from some of the proprietors, that with this balance iu hand it is contended by many that we ought to pay a larger dividend.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") But, gentlemen, I think we have seen the error of paying the utmost amount of dividend which the funds of the company have beat previously represented as able to afford; and the board, looking at the extraordi nary traffic during what is called the Exhibition half of last year—for it must be assumed that a large propor tion of our increased traffic during that period was de rived from that source—and that there would be no similar incentives in the ensuing year to travelling and traffic, it was thought the best course to declare only a dividend of 45., and to carry forward the large amount of reserve I have named. But al though, no doubt, we did derive in the ag gregate a large amount of traffic from the Exhibitiou, the directors do not think that the whole of our in creased receipts were fairly attributable to that alone, because it no doubt interfered greatly with the pleasure traffic from which so large an amount of the summer re ceipte of this company are derived, and many of the re gular customers of the company who would have been compelled to travel ever the line availed themselves of cheap trips; but there is no denying the fact that the company did derive some benefit more than under ordi nary circumstances they could have expected to realise from the Exhibition. I hope and trust, therefore, the shareholders wiil approve of the decision of the board as a wise and safe policy, for even supposing that we go on improving, as I trust wo shall, and our receipts should show no diminution from the absence of the Great Ex hibition in the ensuing year, the money will still be there, and you may have an extraordinary dividend hereafter.—(Loud cheers.) You will be glad to hear, in the meantime, that so far, our returns have exhibited a very satisfactory increase; for in the twelve weeks folk lowing the closing of the Exhibition we received an ad ditional traffic of 5,997/. 17e.—(Cheers) —and this, not- withstanding the reduced rates to which that traffic was subjected, in consequence of the competition of the Great Northern Railway Company. Passing from our receipts to our expenditure, it is a source of great gratifica- tion to your directors that they have the opportunity of stating, through the medium of the balance-sheet, that is large amount of reduction has taken place; and that our locomotive superintendent, Mr. Gooch, feels that this is nut the minimum of your expenditure.—(Cheers). It is a source, also, of great satisfaction to the directors that in comparing the details of the expenditure account with past reports, we find that with one exception only (leav ing out of the question rates and taxes, over which, I am sorry to say, we have little or no control) that every branch of the service is carried on at ea reduced cost. The only exception is in the goods department, and that, arises from the tact that our incessant traffic required! additional sacks to lend out to the public, and additional! tarpauliugs to protect that increased traffic from the! weather. The expenses of these have been charged tol the revenue account. After referring to the Eastern policy in reference to the. Counties ke andt and GrecatoNesoterrthfoerrdn and the s ettlements of the questions in reference to them, he touched upon their arrangement with the. Great Northern Company. By that arrangement (he said) we take upon ourselves a guarantee of the Great Northern for 16,600/. per annum, in respect to their line from Hitchen to Shepreth. I will state the operation of this agreement somewhat more fully than it is detailed in the report. We take upan ourselves a guarantee of 16,8001. per annum, for which there will be handed over to this company eighteen miles of railway from Hitchen to Shepreth, the eight miles beyond Shepreth to Cambridge being our own line. The terms are, that the Eastern Counties shall not run less than three trains per day between Cambridge and Hitchen, the hours and speed to be fixed by ourselves. We book through to London if we think fit, and the Great Northern is to allow us, and we are to receive not only our own rates over own line from Cambridge to Shepreth, but the maximum toile allowed by Act of Parliament for the distance between Shepreth and Hitchen, and 60 per cent. upon the other 62 miles; and so in booking from Royston we are to have our fares upon our own 12 miles, and 60 per cent. upon the 32 miles: over the Great Northern. In addititon to this we have obtained a bonus on all the traffie passing Peterborough. Thus, taking any given point in this line to a given point on our line, the fare between which shall be 205., and the mile age upon each line represents 103. we are to have o u r own 10s. and 20 per cent. out of ;heir 103. With this bonus and the privilege of 60 per cent. on the London traffic, we anticipate that the 16,0001. drawn from one pocket will be put into the other. But we shall obtain besides many contingent advantages. For instance, the Great Northern Company, being bound to give us our own rates, over all our own districts, or otherwise to pay a penalty of seven times the amount they receive, we cannot suffer in any way by competition from the Great Northern. In addition to that the Great Northern agree within a boundary mark, which includes Hunting don and Peterborough, and charge equal rates to. Lon don, there is a different boundary to be drawn close to their line, starting on the loft from Holbeach. After some farther remarks he moved the adoption of the report. Mr. RILEY seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. Mr. GEACH, M.P., moved that out of the 21,000/. to be carried over, they should give the chairman 1,500/. for his services for the past nine months, and that he should be paid at the rate of 2,0004 for the future.— (Loud cheers and cries of "No , no.") They must consider that if they could not manage their own affairs, they must delegate that power to the board of directors, and that being very large, it must be delegated to one.— (No, no.) They had a revenue of 800,000/., and their success depended upon the way that it was managed. They had got the right man to do it—they had his almost undivided exertions, therefore, he was amply entitled to the remuneration he had named.—(No, no.) Mr. Nonaes rose to a point of order; the proposition before them, at the present time, was the adoption of the report. Mr. QUILTER, in answer to a question from Mr. Box, said the amount of capital of the Norfolk Company re mained at 2,130,000/., on which they were entitled to receive interest and dividend. Mr. Howse moved that the dividend be ss. —(Hear.) Mr. Box seconded the motion, and said he felt so strongly on the point, that he should be inclined to go to ballot on the question. The report was then carried amidst loud cheering. Mr. GEACH, M.P., then brought forward his motion above alluded to of the remuneration to be allowed to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. KNIGHT. The motion, having been seconded, was, after some discussion, carried amidst loud cheers. The CHAIRMAN said he could not find words adequate to express the gratification he felt. He had never for a moment anticipated this vote at their hands; but having passed such a resolution, he thought it unworthy his name, unworthy his country, and unworthy their confi dence, if he did not devote the entire of his time and energies for their interests.—(Loud cheers.) He could assure them that when he found himself inoperative for good, salary should not keep him one moment in his po sition.—(Loud cheers.) Lord Alf re d P aget and M r. W a ddington were then re-elected directors, and in appropriate speeches returned thanks. T th h e e C Mr. Re eves was also unanimously re-e l ecte d au dit or of eo u ta a p i a n u ae y in said he w i s hed to name a subject before the me e ti ng bad brought under their at institution in notice o the establishment - They could not vote ) : separated which had reference to the men employed at their works Stratford. Mr. Gooch mechanics' laying it before the tehuemproprletors,an of a e to recommend that 500/. be voted towards the any w o i f th their work- o h ra ai wsh ohpiwished purpose money for t d h establishment of that institution. They gr eat many a man y men at their works at Stratford, and he thought at the present time, when there was so much dissatisfac tion existing amongst men and - their employers, that it. SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1852. was essential to keep up a good feeling amonst them. He hoped they would give the board their authority for carrying it out. The meeting unanimously agreed to leave it to the discretion of the directors, and after a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated. IMPROVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRA TION OF THE POOR-LAW. (?RODI A CORRESPONDENT.) BOLTON, FRIDAY. — On Thursday evening a public mee ti ng o f th e inhabitants of Bolton, Lancashire, was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament in favour of such a change in the present administration as will do away with the present system of keeping paupers in complete idleness or useless task work, and enable the guardians to avail themselves of the best means within their power to render the workhouses self supporting, by employing the distressed in works of a remunerative nature. The meeting took place in the Town Hall, the body of which was well filled by the middle and working classes, the platform being reserved for the magistrates, clergy, poor-law guardians, &o. The chair was taken by Robert Heywood, Esq., J.P., who briefly addressed the meeting, and introduced Mr. G. Stark, who appeared as the representative of the Poor law Association, to expound its principles. Mr. Stark, after an address of considerable length, in which he vindicated the abstract right of every human being to labour for his own subsistence, demonstrated the failure of the Poor-law Amendment Act to carry out the designs of its framers—showed that, notwithstanding this promise held out that the measure had been passed to mitigate the evils of pauperism and relieve property from the pressure of poor-rates, pau perism still existed, and nearly 100 millions sterling had been wrung from the people for its support since the Passing of the measure—proceeded to refer to practical illustrations of the advantages of the reproductive system as presented in different unions, parti cularly in Cork and other Irish unions. Although they were in the habit of despising anything that ema nated from Ireland, asking, as it were, " Could any good come out :of Nazareth?" still,; he contended, the Irish people bad the common sense to take the initiative in this matter, and the English people, in dealing with their poor, would follow the example of these few Irish unions if they had any regard for humanity and economy. Mr. Stark referred to various objections that had been raised by so-called political economists and mock philanthro pists against the principles of the Poor-law Association, and resumed his seat amidst considerable applause. Mr. EDMUND ASHWORTH, J.P., proposed the first resolution, to the following effect:— " That in the opinion of this meeting the substitution of reproductive employment of tie destitute instead of compulsory idleness or useless and degrading task-work, is not only calculated, under judicious management, to ameliorate their condition, by preparing them for a life of industry and self-reliance, but that it is fraught with great advantage to the community by reducing the bur den of poor•rates, and diminishing the number of per sons exposed to the temptations of crime." Mr. J. WINDER, an influential and painstaking mem ber of the board of guardians, seconded the resolution, and in doing so made a statement of the number of able bodied persons (about a thousand), both inside and out side of the workhouse, who were supported by the com munity, and not permitted to contribute, by their labour, to their own support. In very forcible terms Mr. Winder denounced the absurdity of .the present system. He was convinced that the poor people were not only able, but most willing to support themselves. The resolution was supported by Mr. Parkinson, T.C., Mr. Richardson, several working men in the body of the room, who made excellent speeches, and it was car riee unanimously. Mr. RICHARDSON moved, and Mr. CULLEN, J.P., seconded, a petition to both Houses of Parliament in favour of the general enforcement of the reproductive employment of paupers. The petition was serried unanimously, and ordered to be entrusted to Sir Joshua Walrosley in the House of Commons, and the Right Rev. the Bishop of Ripon in the House of Lords. A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chair , man, and another to Mr. Stark, the meeting separated. MURDER IN SC OTLADID. very determined murder, arising out of a quarrel, was committed on Satur day evening, in Dunfermline, one of the principal towns in the county of Fife. The parties implicated in the quarrel were an Englishman and an Irishman, both of whom were employed in the malleable iron works in the neighbourhood of Dunfermline. During the week they had quarrelled se veral times, and on Saturday last, which was pay-day, the quarrel resulted in a fight, in which, according to report, the Engiishman had the worst of it. This fight took place at an early period of the evening. The Englishman, thirsting for vengeance, went into a butcher's shop at a subsequent period of the evening, and on pretence of requiring to cut some meat that he had previously purchased, borrowed a knife from the butcher. Armed with this formidable weapon, he walked about the streets for several hours in quest of the Irishman, whom he unfortunately discovered in the High street of Dumfermline about eleven o'clock, when he ran up to him and thrust the knife into his side. The Irishman, who was a very young man, immediately fell, and was carried into a shop close at hand, where he expired in the course of twenty minutes. The murderer made his escape out of town without delay, but was apprehended in a wood, about four miles from Dunfermline, in the course of the following day, and lodged in gaol. HOOFING COUGH.—In Cornwall a slice of bread and butter. or cake, belonging to a mtrried couple whose Christian names are John and Joan, if eaten by the sufferer under this disorder, is considered an efficacious remedy, though of course not always readily found.—Notes and Queries. _ . . AFFAIRS IN CHlLL—Letters from Valparaiso to the 26th of December mention that on the Bth of that month a battle took place on the plaits of Longomilla be tween the insurgents under Cruz and the Government troops commanded by Bulnes, in which upwards of 3,000 men were put hors de combat. The engagement resulted in a kind of compromise favourable to tie Government. It is said that in the heat of the trs4lee the )pposing parties threw away their firearms and fought with their knives. THE LONDON GAZETTE, Feb. 20. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. Crawford•etreet, Marylebone. Flartetse,ma ncobb, gr ocer , C an t er b ur y. draper, BANKRUPTS. Simon Abrah am Kis ch, tailor sad robe maker, Bed ford-street, Covent - garden, to surrender March '2 and Frederick William P 30, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee; Laurence, Bread -street, City. William Elphs Holland, brewer, Portland-place, Ken nington, March 5 and April 2, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch lane, Lombard-street; Lawrence, Hews, and Boyer, Old Jewry-chambers. Job Clark, bolt manufacturer, Willenhall, Stafford shire, March 2 and 24, at half-peat eleven, at the Bir mingham District Coyrt, v a-PY, official assignee, Bir mingham; Brown, &Awn; Hodgiora, Birmingham. Thomas Myring, bridle cutter, Walsall, March 1, at half-past ten, and March 2 7, at me, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Thomas, Walsall ; Hodgson, Birmingham. George Greenstock, milliner, Bristol, March 9 and April 6, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol. Cornish and Parnell, Bristol. William Savage, druggist, Bradford, Yorkshire, March 9 and March 30, at eleven, at tle Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Foster, Bradford; Porritt :and Swithinbank, Leeds. Francis Ingham, grocer, Dcncaster, March 6, and ;April 17, at ten, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, lofficial assignee, Sheffield; Smith, Doncaster. Christopher Steadman and Charles Siddall Bakewell, joiners, Manchester, March 5 end April 2, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Mackenzie, official assignee, Manchester ; Sharp, Verulam-buildings, Gray's Inn; Rowley, Manchester. DIVIDENDS. At the Court, Basinghall-street. W. Levy, White's-row, Spitalfields, maccaroni and vermicelli manu facturer , March 12 at eleven-O. Gray, Great Tower-street, City, builder, March 12, at one- C. Holthouse, Great Tower -street, City. sugar broker, March I'2, at twelve-W. Powell, Jeffery's-street, Cam den-town, builder, March 12, at eleven-J. Boniface, Eastergate, ',Sussex, malster, March 12, at twelve-L Boyd, Spital-square, silk manufacturer, March 16, at twelve-C. J. Sanders, Collingwood-street, Blackfriar's road, provision merchant, March 16, at one-S. Lock Stoke D'Auberton, Surrey, auctioneer, March 12, at half-past eleven-C. Walk er , B as i ng ha-street, and of Leeds, woollen cloth manufacturer, March 12, at eleven R. Fowke, Wolveihampton, chemist and druggist, March 18, at half-past eleven. In the Country. E. Leigh, Glossop, Derby, cotton manufacturer, at the Court, Manchester, March 15, at twelve -R. Heardman, Manchester, wine and spirit merchant, at the Court, Manchester, March 15, at twelve-T. Brighouse, Liver pool, contractor, at the Court, Liverpool, March 15, at eleven-J. Warburton, ,Liverpool, tailor and draper, at the Court, Liverpool, March 16, at eleven-R. D. Reeves, Liverpool, and R. H. Dawson, Oxton, Chester, wine and spirit dealers, at the Court, Liverpool, March 15, at eleven -R. H. Dawson, Horton, Chester, wine and spirit dealer, at the Court, Liverpool, March 15, at eleven-R. Reymour, Sunderland, linen and woollen draper, at the Court, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, March 17, at eleven-J. Richards, Merthyr Tyd vil, Glamorgan, woollen draper, at the Court, Bristol, March 17, at eleven. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS. E. Hyrorns, John-street, Tottenham-court-road, pianoforte manufacturer, Is., Feb. 23, or any subsequent Monday within six months, between eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Cannan, Aldermanbury. J. Griffiths, Strand, linendraper, 'lid., Feb. 23, or any subsequent Monday, within six months, between eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Cannel], Aldermanbury. J. Limbird, Strand, stationer, Is. 9id., may Wednes day, between eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whit more, Basinghall-street. T. Wallis, jun., and Swan Wallis, Leeds, linen drapers, Is. 74d., any Wednesday, between eleven and three, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghsll-street. W. 1.1, Luekins, Kennington-lane, coachmaker, any We dnesday, between eleven and three , at the o ffi ce of Mr. Whitmore. Basin h a ll-street. G. G. Coldrey, Lawr ence-lane, merchant, 2d., any Tuesday, betwee n el even and two, at tho ,office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall-chambers. C. S. Smith, Louth, draper, lid., any Tue sday, be tween eleven an d two, at the office of Mr. Pennell , Guildhall-chambers. M. L. Benausan and Co., Great Prescott -street, mer chants id , any Tuesday aetwee n eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Pennell, Guildhall -chambers. NOTICES OF CERTIFICA TES. In the Country. J. Williams, Bristol, shipowner, March 2, at eleven, at the Court,.Bri a t a l.....R, Seymour, Sunderland, linen -draper, March , 12, -14 v-eleven, at the Court, Newcastle upon-Tyne—D. Boobbyer, Tavistock, Dew onshire, iron monger, March 16, at eleven, at the Court, Exeter—E. Wilkinson and T. Bentley, Liverpool, tailo - rs, March 15, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—J. Cooper, Liver pool, butcher, March 16, at eleven, at the Court, Liver pool—G. Brear, Wakefield, innkeeper, March 16, at twelve, at the Court, Leeds—S. Maion, Newcastle under-Lyne, draper, March 17, at half-past eleven, at the Court, Birmingham—T. U. Anderson, Wellington, Shropshire, mercer, March 24, at half-past eleven, at the Court, Birmingham. CERTIFICATES GRANTEEI. J. G. Watson, Sunderland, Durham, grocf?r, certificate of the third class, twenty-one days after 3?eb. 10—W. Young, Newport, Monmouthshire, victualler, certificate of the first class—J. Warburton, Liverpool. tailor and draper, certificate of the first class —C. Pfiget, Wigan, Lancashire, scrivener, certificate of the first class—T. Birch. Manchester, common brewer, certificute of the se cond class—R. Fowke, Wolverhampton, chemist and druggist, certificate of the second class —T. Carr, Don caster, innkeeper, certificate of the third class, twenty one days after Feb. 13. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. M‘DonaTcland If. 141'llonald, Liucoln, drapers—J. Mawdesley and J. Holt, Tottington Dower End, Lanca shire, cotton spinners—J. Briggs and J. Colbock, Hud dersfield, Yorkshire, teazle and pelt dealers—J. L. Torey and S. L. Torey, Spitalfields, cap peak manufac turers—O. Gilkes, W. Bouch, E. Gilkes, J. Wilson, and C. A. Leatham, Middlesborough, Yorkshire, iron foun ders (so far as regards 0. Gilkes)—T. S. Gladstone and P. Serjeantson. Liverpool, brokers—W. P. Dudden and E. Dudden, Coventry-street, St. James's, woollen dra pers—J. C. Austen and H. Austen, Wadhurst, SuQsex, auctioneers—G. Halbeard, J. Wellings, and T. Stamps, Birmingham, papier macho manufacturers (so far as re gards J. Wellings)—A. Sheard, G. S. Dyson, J. Wild, J. Jessop, T. Newhill, J. Smith, J. Wilby, J. Wood, H. P. Pontey, and J. Berry, Dalton, brewers—R. R. Sale and W. Williams, Liverpool, block makers—F. Wilkin son, H. Wilkinson, and T. H. Greaves, Nottingham, dyers (so far as regards T, H. Greaves)—G. Robinson and P. Kelham, Manchester, merchants—J. R. Cattell and R. Hills, Hood-lane, City—J. Pearson and W. Daly, Stockport, Cheater, cotton manufacturers—E. Collier, F. Collier, and H. Collier, New Broad-street, City, merchants (so far as regards E. Collier)--41. Ayre and E. Calder, Bristol, solicitors—W. Smith, C. E. Crever, and W. F. Smith, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, solicitors (so far as regards W. F. Smith)—W. Mott, G. Mott, and R. Mott, \Vhitechapel, grocers—J. Ainley, J. Taylor, and J. Shaw, fulling millers (so far as regards J. Shaw) J. Du rance and J. Durance, jun., Lincoln. stone and marble masons—J. Broad and G. Gulliver, Windsor, coach iron mongers—T. Towns and C. Packer, Oxford-street, pianoforte manufacturers—J. Bacon and W. Bull, Ox ford-street, licensed victuallers—J. R. Macfarlane and J. D. Pritchard, Warrington, Lancashire, manufacturing chemists—F. Pettit and T. Argrut, Newmarket, St. r M u a g ry Su h., Liverpool, ool hrn , a wh e o s l s esa m le ak g e r r o s— oor J s_ . J G . a H rd . in vv er and H. illiamson and J. White, Manchester, oil merchants. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. R. F. Jennings, Holswortb, Devonshire, attorney. W Stephens, Gellygaen, Glamorgansbire contractor. J. Bland, Denbigh, Denbighshire, chemist and druggist. A. Atherton, Yatton, Somersetshire, innholder. James Unmoral, West Derby, Lancashire, journeyman cabinet maker. Joseph Smallman, Strood, Kent, wheelwright. Joseph Smith Laceby, North Killingholme, Lincolnshire S. Birkit, Barton-upon• Humber, Lincolnshire, hatter. W. Knott, Brigg, Lincolnshire, vessel owner. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. W. Shaw, Glasgow, jeweller, to meet Feb. 24 and March 16, at twelve, within the Glasgow Stock Exchange. G. Smith, Leith, merchant, to meet Feb. 26 and March 18, at twelve, within the New Ship Hotel, Leith. G. Dunlop. Kilbagie, Clackmannon, distiller, to meet, Feb. 26 and March 8, at two, within the Royal Oak Hotel, Alloa. W. Donald, Aberdeen, distiller, to meet Feb. 25 and March 16, at twelve, within the Royal Hotel, Aberdeen. IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 20. LOCAL MILITIA ACTS. DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY. On the order of the day for bringing up the report o the Committee on the Local Militia Act, Lord J. RUSSELL said—Before the report is re ceived I wish, as there appears to be some objection to allowing me to bring in the Rill, to recapitulate what are the principal provisions of the Bill which I propose to bring in. I said the other day that we meant to prc ceed on the basis of the local militia in organizing the force we mean to call out. Not, however, in exact con formity with the provisions of the Local Militia Acts, which do not appear to be suitable to present circum stances, but modifying them as appeared requisite. The object is to obtain a considerable force and number of men who shall be trained for a small portion of the year, and who, in case of war, may be so disciplined and so far useful as to be brought to the coast, so as for some months to supply the place of the regular troops and allow the army to be recruited. This Bill is to accomplish that object by means the least burdensome to the country. In the first place, then, we propose that instead of taking the ages of those who are to serve either from 18 to 30 or 45 years, to take them from 20 to 23, and afterwards from 20 to 21 years—an age of life when men are not usually married, and therefore not taken away from their families, and whilst it is less burdensome to them, it is also a less expense to the country. Having these men chosen by ballot in the proportion of one-fifth of all who are of the prescribed age, we then say that with regard to the substitutes we do not adopt the provisions of the Militia Act or of the Local Militia Acts, but we propose that the persons balloted for and chosen should be at liberty to find sub stitutes, but these must be taken out of the same lists — that is, the lists of t h e same district and age to w hi c h t h e perions chosen belong — but as it i s on l y one -fi ft h we ding would to take , the r e would be no great diffi cu l ty i n finding those s ubstitutes. Th e number proposed to be trained ld be, in the first year, 30,000, then aug for the fi rs t year, of 28 days, and mentieg i n sl umbers each ye ar until a force of 150,000 men was obtained. We propos e th at they should be duringtrai ne e d abyeach a of peace; but the ob j e ct is to secure a f orce w hi ch may be made immediately useful in time of war . The pro visions of the Local Militia Acts re f erre d to called out that force in ease of actual i nvas i on or the e fsetrhveice subsequent, to serve of 14 days. What I have stated a p p li es to a time four y ears w hi ch they are enemy appearing on the coast, and they only allowed the local militia to be called away from their own coun ties during the time of actual invasion, or whilst the enemy was on the coast, and for six weeks after either of these occurrences took place. It is obvious that in any war in which we may in future be engaged with any of the great powers of Europe, or with the United States, that provision would not be sufficient for the pur poses intended; and, therefore, we must deal with the matter as the change of 'circumstances requires. What w e propose then to do is, that in case of invasion, or apprehended invasion, the Government may call out thoae local bodies far a period not exceeding six months with the provision that that period may be extended to twelve month.s in case Parliament should deem expe dient. We conceive that if this body were thus or ganized, having been originally trained, they would be a force exceedingly valuable for the purposes of the defence of the country from invasion, and at the same time there would be every facility afforded both for calling out the regular militia, if that were thought desirable, or for greatly increasing the army to such extent that there would be no longer danger of there not being a sufficient force to defend the country. With respect to the officers, I have al ready stated it was intended that the lords-lieutenant of the counties should have the power of naming two thirds of the officers, while the remaining third, includ ing the field officers, would be appointed from the half pay regiments of the line. These, I stated, formed a general outline of the plan embodied in the Bill, but I feel that it is impossible for the House to judge of the plan and of its efficiency—whether it will furnish a sufficient force, and in a manner least burdensome to the country—without having the Bill before it; and all I ask of the House is to allow me to place the Bill on the table. I shall be quite ready then to discuss the plan— either to pass it as proposed, or to adopt any better pro visions that may be suggested. But Ido ask, as a Mi nister of the Crown, to be enabled to place the Bill be fore the House, and let the House and the country decide upon it. I should say likewise that we propose in this Bill to repeal the existing Acts with regard to the local militia, and therefore this Bill would be complete in itself. The present mode of 0b ... taining men for the Militia is exceedingly dilatory, and would require not less than ten weeks for the purpose.; it is desirable, therefore, to make the pro cess _ more speedy and effectual than it now is. It woul d likewise be necessary to introduce a Bill for amen ding d and consolidating the militia. I understood t h en as o to n- Member (Mr. Hume) wished to raise the question whether the militia force ought to be called out , t a cnarn that reason I postponed the report ofesttion nd for being ittee die , for the purpose of admitting of the q :adduced the other cussed, and I think that the arguraenn, es pecially the ar night in support of the measure, a a guments of the Noble Lord p e m ber for Tiverton thciusive upon the subject. (Lord Palmerston), were e t ° lo n at the House would ever There being no prospect adopt a measure for addin g some 30, 000 or 40,000 men e United Kingdo m, it is necessary th a t to the army 0- the there should be bo dy of militia to enable the country to prepare for a immediatebr defence in case of atta c k, w i th ready and part l y trained, so as to be at once av ailable. I should propose also that in case of war they m ight be sent to any part of the Un ited Kingdom. Lord PALMERSTON said, it was not a part of my wish to prevent the Government bringing in a Bill to provide a force which may be required for the defence of the country. On the contrary, I wish to promote such a measure; but I think it of importance to the public service and to the convenience of the House, that a Bill containing several details should be brought in founded upon a right principle; for if a Bill is brought in, founded upon a wrong principle, it takes more time to work it to a right principle than if it had been introduced originally on a principle applicable to the purposes for which it was intended. From what the Noble Lord has just stated, I think there is an essential difference between the title he means to give his Bill and the substance and provisions of the Bill. And the object of one of my amendments which I propose to move is simply to pl a ce the title an d the provisions of the Bill in harmony with each ot he r. With regard to the first amendment it is quite u119140Q tionable, according to what we have just beard, because whether the Bill to be brought in shall relate to the regular militia or to the local militia, it must be a Bill to amend and consolidate the existing militia laws , and from the statement of the Noble Lord that he in tended to repeal the existing Acts, and to consolidate all the legislatioa on the subject, the addition of the word " consolidate" is necessary, for simply amending would not accomplish the purpose. But the main point is whether the measure we are to have is to be founded on the regular militia or the local militia. There is a very essential distinction between the two, and that distinc tion has been entirely lost sight of in the observations just made by the Noble Lord; for in proposing to bring in this Bill, which is to be totally founded upon the local militia, the Noble Lord has very nearly described a Bill founded upon the regular militia. Now what I humbly conceive requisite is this. We are in a political and geographical position which exposes us--I hope not with much probability—to the possibility of finding ourselves involved in war; we are liable to be invaded in case of war by a very considerable and formidable force. We have not in time of peace a regular army sufficient, in my opinion, to meet an emergency of that kind. It would not suit the habits of the country, or the finances of the country, to follow the example of the military na tions of the continent, who, in times of peace, maintain a standing army sufficient to defend them, et all events, in the commencement of any war they might be in volved in. With respect to our regular army, that por tion of it at home is necessarily small in time of peace, and insufficient to meet the various contingencies to which we may be exposed on the breaking out of the war. And be it remembered that the change which has taken place in navigation by steam renders the clanger more imminent on the breaking out of a war than it was formerly. We have, then, to provide, not tor a danger which may happen at the end of six months, but at the end of a fortnight or a month, upon the declara tion of war. And how is that danger to be provided against? The only rational mode is to have in time of peace a considerable force organized of officers and men drilled, disciplined, armed, (quipped, and ready at the shortest notice to come to the aid of the regular army at the breaking out of a war. That is the first thing. I want a force which shell be ready trained and suffi cient for ordinary purposes, end which you can lay your hand upon at the shortest possible notice. So tar it is immaterial what you call it, whether local militia or regular militia, provided it be equipped, armed, and trained, and liable to be called out at an Early period. But the local militia is not such a force —as, according to the law under which it is formed, it is not liable to be called cut except in cases of actual invasion, or the enemy appearing in force on the coast.—(Hear, hear.) But that would be too late. It would be shutting the gate after the steed is stolen -- (Cheers and laughter)—barring out the robber after he has got into your house.—(lieuewed cheers and laugh ter.) If you are not to call out your defence till the enemy has landed on the coast, or is lying iu Torbay, it will not come in time for the purpose you want it for. So far the local militia is thrown over by the Noble Lord—still he preserves the title. The next point I would enforce is, that the force so called out in time, armed and equipped, should be liable to serve in any part of the United Kingdom in which its services may he required.—(Cheers.) We are two islands, and we must not disguise from ourselves the danger that may impend in consequence—that there may be a landing of the enemy, not on one part, but on two or three different portions of the coast, and therefore your defensive force in aid of the regular army must be applicable to every portion of the United Kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) The local militia is not so. The Local Militia Acts distinctly provide that the force shall nut go out of Great Britain. The Noble Lord then says his local militia cannot be local—(Laughter)—that is, that it can be applicable to the whole of the United Kingdom.—(Hear.) It is, in fact, a name which dues not describe the new character of the force. I highly approve of that change in the Noble Lord's plan, that the force called out should be appli cable to all parts of the kingdom ; but such a force so called out is not a local militia—it is a regular militia.— (Hear, hear.) In former times the militia of Ireland was liable for service only in Ireland, and that of Great Britain only in Great Britain; but in the year 1814 an Act was passed by which the militia was made liable to serve in every part of the United Kingdom. I wish this force to be such a one.—(Hear, hear.) Having some little interest in Ireland, I am anxious that that count' y should be safe from invasion. It would be no satisfac tion to me if the enemy landed in Ireland to tell me here there are 200,000 local militiamen in England, and you must do what you can for yourselves in Ireland, by means of whatever voluntary force may be afforded you. Then the Noble Lord has so far abandoned the form and character of the local militia that the force which he has described as that which he would organize is a force identical with the regular militia, and distinct from the local one. There is another point equ a ll y essential —namely, that the force so called out should be liable to remain embodied so long as was necessary fur the de= fence of the country and the public service. The local militia was not such a force. It was liable to be called out after the enemy was landed or actually in force on the coast, and it could be kept embodied no longer than six weeks after that enemy had been expelled or been prevented from landing. That I humbly conceive is not enough; for your liability to danger does not cease with the sailing away of a squadron from the coast, or with the expulsion of a body of troops who may have landed on some part of our territory. Your local militia then is insufficient. But here again the Noble Lord throws over the provisions of the Local Militia Act, though he still retains the name. Here then we come to the great practical defect of the plan of the Government. It is neither one thing nor the other—it is neither a local militia nor a regular militia—it is to be so far a local militia that it is to be different from the regular militia. And you will have a regular militia, besides this local force of 200,000 men, to be kept embodied for 6 months or longer, so as to facilitate the augmentation of the regular army. Now see what you will involve yourselves in. On the breaking out of a war you will have 200,000 men engaged for this local militia. At the same time you will proceed by a double process to a large enlistment of men for the regular army, and also to ballot for she regular militia. You will be recruiting men for the regiments of the line, and at the same time ) ou will send out the militia ballot to bid against and coun teract that enlistment.—(Elear, hear.) That is a very unwise and unmeaning proceeding. It would he far better that you should have in time of peace an adequate 'force as a reserve to your regular army, which you 'should call out in time of war, and when you have got it embodied you should keep it, being a trained and dis ciplined force, and let it remain as a part of your garrison in time of war. It would relieve you from the necessity' of going into the market and bidding against the recruit ing service for the organization of a great body of men for a temporary purpose. In the course of the last war it never happened that you were able to add more than 25,000 men to the regular army by voluntary enlistment. B u t you would require a larger number than that if you were engaged in war. You would have to send rein forcements to your garrisons abroad, and to augment the home defences; and it would be at least two years before, with any degree of safety, yo u cou ld di s p e nse with the embodiment of that reserved force which would be dormant in time of peace, to be brought into activity in time of war. For these reasons it appears to me that what the country wants is that we Should call out " the militia."—(Hear, hear,) It is a force which has existed in much the same shape that it has now assumed since the year 1665, It was remodelled in the time of George 11., and was improved in the time of George 111. Various Acta have been passed since, all of which may be conveniently put into one; but there is a system which has existed nearly two centuries, and in the preamble of the Act which constitutes that force its purposes and objects are dis tinctly explained. The Act says, that, " Whereas the militia force under the command of officers within Great Britain (it would be within the United Kingdom accord ing to the present law) is essential to the defence of the kingdom, and by virtue of its constant readiness to render effective service has been found of the utmost importance as a national defence of these rdalms," These are the terms on which the militia was foun m de b d • The local militia was perfectly different. The preamble of p of the Local Militia Act states that 66 Whereas it the ex pedient in the present circumstances of Eu ro p e local militia should be established, and under e ase of restrictions in England be called forth force, may certain inva sion in aid of her Majesty's regTuhlaer ne locala m i lit i a was it please your Majesty," & c. m ili t ia, and not a element of the thus a resource for the regular kingdom. It was net the substantive force in itself, forming an permanent defence of the oow require—namely, a species of force which de reserve, to be brought force that would form a sere)! e circumstances rendere it into immediate immediate use in cas ow into any details alto sub_ I will not go n cessary. y o ject, stitutes and local 0 arrangements —that is not na b . impress upon the House that the What I wis e h t is 'elie regular militia, and not a force which regular militia nor a local militia. The force force we wa.._ i s is neither a inothing new; the regular militia I speak of trained in the year s 1821 an d 1822 , and again in the As to the arguments which I have heard year 1831.Yad e vanc ad against the character of the regular militia, I do not think them of any force. I have heard it said that the regular militia is a bad thing, because of the substitutes; that you cannot rely on the substitutes — that in England they "roules not come out when the regi wants were embodied —that in Scotland they would not like to serve against the enemy —and that in Ireland you could not trust the men enrolled—that is to say, that in England the men are unpatriotic; that in Scotland they are cowards, and that in Ireland they aro traitors.— the s. (Hear.) All th e o bj ect i ons I h ave heard against . militia are founded up on a ra dical distrust of the people of the United Ki ng d om . N ow , ontiint contrary, I am of this prepared to confid e i n the people—(Cheer s ) — but of I am BUN, that if you cannot trust the population n er you had much better the country to defend themselv(ecs;lers. ) If you cannot trust the people of give up the matter at England°Ce to come to their standard when their standard is in vaded—if you cannot rely upon the people of Scotland to fi g ht against the enemy wi t h their ancient bravery, or u pon the people of Irel an d t o defend their own co untry from attack, let us at once force.—(Cheers.) Let ua send for send for a Ittiss-an an Austrian gerr i s on,—(Renewed cheering.) And with s h am e and confusion confess let us that England is n o longer England, and that the people o f thi s country h av e no no l ong er the spirit to defend themselves, a nd their familie s , f rom t h e ene th;i.r homes, ( L ou d cheers.) Sir, that is not my opinion. In- (E nt hueiastic cheering.) I am convinced that the p e ople of this country have a full sense of the value of all they possess—that theythave a spirit to defend it, and a spirit to maintain independent the liberties of their country, and that they are not likely to give way to any foolish and unreasonable fancies, bat that they are prepared to guard them selves against dangers which may be possible, if not immediately probable.—(Hear.) I am convinced, if the Government and this House appeal to the people of F.iog land and chow them what danger, they an liable to, open their eyes to the value of the stake they have to, defend, and call upon them for moderate exertions for its preservation, you will not find the tubstitates in Enp. land falling away from their colours; nor in Scotlaods less disposed to show the manliness of their character; nor iu Ireland will you find them betray the country to which they belong. But you will have a force which, costing very little, will, at the same time, show to ail the countries of the world that you are prepared, in case of need, to detend the land you live in; and by that means you will oppose with effect any attempt at invasion, which a local force could not resist; and you will main tain the country in that position of respect to which on every account it is so eminently entitled. I beg, there fore, to move, in the words of my amendment, to insert'4 atter the word " amend," the words " and c onsolidate;,, and to omit the word " local" before the word "militia." The Noble Lord rebucced his seat amidst, loud cheers. The question having been put from the Chair, Mr. M. GIBSON wished to say a few words on the question. He regretted it should be thought necessary to macro those appeals to the voluntary contempt of danger which was said to pervade all classes of her Ma jesty's subjects. He had no doubt that it was so, but be did not think it necessary to go into that question. All those statements which they had heard of a common place character threw no light upon the question be fore the House, which was a matter of the expenditure of the public money. It was a matter of regret that it should be deemed there was any necessity fur applying any part of the existing surplus of revenue to increase cur army. Looking at the position of this country , with its growing population, and the great difficulty there was of pr ov idi ng remunerative labour for a large portion of the labouring classes, it appeared to biro it would be very di-sirable, if possible, to supply the sur plus, as far as they could, to rei,eal such taxes as stood in the way of the employment of labour—(° ll ' oh)—or of the happiness and contentment o f her Ma jesty's subjects.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") It would be s wiser policy, if a surplus existed, to apply it to the re peal of the most oppressive taxes, and thereby to pro mote the interests of the working class. If a case was made out, however, for an recreate in the national sans' merits, he (Nlr. M. Gibson) would Lot object to enter tain but no suck case had been made out, and yet the Howie was culled upon to increase the armed force either in 'he maaner proposed by her Majesty's Govern ment or by the Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton. Few or none of those who had spoken on this question seemed to be aware of the source of the danger propos"' to be met, or of the probable cmployment of this / 11.- creased force; but, never,h-less, the House was c alled ou to reverse a course of policy which had been pursued by this country for thirty-iieven years with signal suc cess, and to vote a large arm( d force on some vague stir.. mises of something that might possibly happen. The special reason adduced fur this act was the maintenance of the balance of power in Europe —the continents' equilibrium—that was the statement of the Noble Lord, at the head of the G overnment; while the statement or the Noble Membk r for Tiverton was, that England bad political interests in all parts of the world which it was necessary to protect. and defend. Was the House pre pared to give its sanction to this principle of the Euro pean equilibrium? It they did, it was quite clear th at this country might be called on at any moment to inter fere in continental politics. He (Mr. Gibson) for one disputed the policy of the balance of power, err posing it was capable of being maintained; but he 318° disputed the pr a ctic a b i li t y o f k eep i ng t h e nations 0f Europe within the limits, either of territory or power, which the treaties on which this equilibrium was bases propounded. H e o bj ec t e d a l so to ice political interest alluded to by the Noble Member felt Tiverton. The poli tical interests of England in his (Mr. Gibson's) opinion, lay altogether within the shores of the United Kingdom' and he could not consent to step beyond those bboree with an armed force. He was, therefore, against poll deal interests in different parts of the world; and be pro tested strongly against all interference, on the part of this country, in the internal affairs of other nations. (Bear, near.) The Noble Member for Tiverton wen" a regular and not a local militia; and he asked, ell the Government afraid to trust the people of Scotian', and Ireland—whether this one were cowards or the other traitors? If the people were to be armed, he (Mr. Gib son) son)did not know w h e th er i t wou ld not b e w i se policy 113 hesitate before armi ng th e p eop l e o f Ireland—(cries of "oh,") not that h e f or an i nstant di spute d t h e loyalty of the Irish people or devotion to the Crown, but because be was not quite sure they might not feel dissatisfi ed with some of their p-culiar institutions. For instauc.e , could it be expected that a Catholic people with arras 1 ° their hands would fight for the maintenance of a Prates' Cant Church, which cost them immense sums of mooch and was not of the slightest advantage to them, 'lle Noble Lord (Palmerston) would, however, send th e English militia to Ireland, and bring the Irish militia to England. Viscount. PALMERSTON—Yes. Mr. GIBSON—That, however, showed that the Nobl e Lord had no confidence in the people of either country. The Rome Secretary had said that a regular militia was an offensive force," and that he was not therefore prepared to agree to it. If the militia was armed ac cording to the proposal of the Noble Lord (Palmerst on) it would be an e` offensive forc e ," ca l cu l ate d to alar m ' Europe. He (far. Gibson) was surprised at the g reat discrepancy cf opinion that prevailed on the subject under discussion. The Noble Lord at the head of the Government told the House he had consulted the Duke of Wellington and the Master-General of the Ordn ance on it; but the Noble Lo r d h a d certain ly not tak en Duke of Wellington's advice; for in the letter written by that illustrious individutt some time ago it stated ho had advised the militia to be increased and or ganised to the same number and in the same manner as o in the last war, which would give a force of 150,000 men, and so effectuelly to esoablish the strength ° ,s the army. He (Mr. Gibson) thought the Hong was clearly at least consider the possibility of peace. Fur 37 year s a particular policy had been acted on by this cotintri t through which peace was maintained. A differeans policy was now proposed, and yet no special reason assigned for its adoption which would not have P equally valid at any time in that long period. Beside this, there had never before been a large increase of national armaments contemplated without allusion being made to it in the Speech from the Throne. That S P eech -: however, said that all the foreign relations of this cobultolid try were pacific; and the Noble Lord Palmerston) h boasted that he lett England in a state of amity with a ot g h r e , r at nations. pertien A ef nd tn y e et ti t in he e N in oble Lord said that thr° c obs stantly urging on her Majesty: a e c s o t Gn i o n, nvi Government Tilteb safetye e n r that e. ered c H o e un ( tr m y r. was G inbostnnsa)fehaidn always e ay cl absence of a i iiiiitiaicr of beat e guarded by twothe yneaavyrs, ago w o a nd the ss r t e P t, ° t , (EltgtlidendCowmasme eerefore same effect. The arming of the militia conk , t h i c i, the only be the first step towards that past policy w Th e ely, Committee in question so strongly condemned wit h the the interfetence of Engla, as a military paier'ord ga" nations of the Contineue—(Hear.) The Noble 1 1e0 st be , • no instance of any country which England w e ': a ppeare d treaty to protect, except Portugal; but it no of the that Portugal was l e f t d e f ence l ess by the wither 4-, o nly British fleet fr om t h e T agus , especially as it i v ' eue sion short time since the Portuguese fleet was sold b y by the Governm e nt o f th a t nation. If he (Mr. LiesFbou_u_id was obliged to vote on the question at issue, he n prefer the proposition of her M,ajjer:teyrs'atoGroo=taanesnet:s: that of the Noble Lord (Lord 1 a . is country to an considered the latter es inviting nd at the HOD. Member for of fensive policy. The p H st a ra M e sneered at the peace e ; em bu la t t e r d i f d o for hat Middlesex on .e b ni ad , should o n u a l t d i national avoided?ble slo the West Riding of Yorkshire; her t d wYa o st f hnao t tt he Government bed , n b e r r thatm e an war.to v inferas riot th that p uce oh p se l The Noble Isoerds atspeech on the subject, which might be however, mad o a pa ce -meeting , when he talked of the ab . 8 8 p ll dkietny :t f nations meeting to shoot each other with minis rifles and needle-guns . He (Mr. Gib s on) was right g l a d the principle he espoused was supported by The Hon. Gentle manthe sanction of such high authority, the country defenceless, but the contrary, when the 12e concluded by re peating nation y wn h e c m e e s n s t t o f aßd the however ,s e e h o ff o l u r y for l ;t e t h a ae s 3n e 7d d hv ee different ar ssv toh armament. Govern ments r : T r funds for i ts could not ag ree in a vote which would be a direct censure on the emi nent persons who comosed those Governments, and whose duty it was to see p that these funds, amounting 16 millions a year, were duly expended'. He believed f. protection entrusted e increased a : t be had no wish to leave the country to be in an adequate state of defence; be believed the present panic had no foundation, and that it was got up for political purposes; and ' he hoped , therefore, that the House would not agree to the general proposition nor to the amendment. Lord J. RUSSELL—I can well understand the course taken by my Right Hon. Friend and those Hon. Mar beta who usually act along with him. My Right Hon. Friend, as well as the Hon. Member for Montrose, con- eider the country is sufficiently defended by the naval force. Now, with every respect for the efficiency of that force, and with every belief in its bravery and galloull do not at a ll think it would be prudent for u s to rest all the hopes, all the safety of England upon that force alone.—(Hear.) 1 am not doubting for a moment that they would encounter any enemy they might meet with their usual bravery and success; but, considering th e state of the elements upon occasions, and considering, also, the manoeuvres which such enemy might have re course to, Ido not think that it is always possible Shel would chance to meet with that enemy. I c annot' therefore, now, any more than in 18 48 , express it as ~ belief that it is safe for this country to rest her secu rity exclusively upon her naval detences.—(Hear.) We W. then, the army; which, according to its numbers, 02!.: I am free to admit, a most valuable and efficient fo.refi But the army is not sufficient in point of nu eehZ r d to cover the wide extent of coast presented_ .0 b y this country; and therefore it is not, so far, capstPt. ht preventing invasion. I therefore differ from my In ce Hon. Friend as to the necessity of an auxiliary te r such as is proposed in the militia. I shall not now ea into the queetion of the ba l a nce of power raised by v r Right Hon. Friend, further than to say, that, aft!e_o, the whole rests upon the:question of national . nd U tu , dence.—(Cheers.) We put it every year into thnei_lo,o tiny Act, and it is the principle of that indepe. that there should be no power in Europe of such . ;1 13 ., ture or magnitude as to menace the tranquillity: o_e_ub dependence of other powers.—(Hear.) But 0 3 It g ht II Y , 133139 V clearly understand the position taken up by .B i . v Hon. Friend, as opposed on principle to the 1 n e itien the confess that I do not at all understand te g to taken up by the Noble Lord (Palmerston) i o n u r e di a it. For the Noble Lord has come forward casion, not to dispute the second reading o.fa there;ection or the ground of principle—not to propose it J. 911 the hut to Isar alteration in any of its other stages; - oe bop Minister of the Crown that he shall not PrOPQ ° Pell 11lea, to u Stop, It,- I ~,' 8 t. th e c alibi that der i zot 1 Your out I tak e all ?slue' §Pa it ttC !Pq not ex tii eti ti i hot] do i ; ;I