The Sun. — London, England, 1846-04-06 00:00:00

i- r trto 441-01 4 4 SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) GROUP VIII This Committee met at three o'clock to-day, for the purpose or settling their report on the Edinburgh and Peebles branch, which being done, thily adjourned till Wednesday, the 29th Instant. GROUP IX This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Wormley In the chair. All the members of the Committee were present. WEST or SCOTLAND JUNCTION. The evidence on behalf of this Bill was then resumed. Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., was recalled and examined, in continua tion of his evidence of Friday last —He had not seen the letter in which it was represented the Ad m ir a lty did not intend interfering with the promoters proving their case before the Committee. He could hardly believe, from what he knew of the sentiments of the Admiralty, that such a letter was a correct repre.fentation of their feelings. He would wish to hear the letter read, and the name of the writer. (The letter was then read, which was to the effect that the Admiralty would not interfere with the Bill procveding before the Committee, and signed by Mr. Law.) The ',fitness said the signature was that of Lord Ellen borough's private secretary. He thought that yet the whole area between Ciast - ,ow Bridge and Stockwell Bridge, fifteen acres in ex tent, would be thrown open into a larg3 dock for the accommoda of shipping ; and the Glasgow Bridge be made of two arches, with a centre arch capable of being opened for the passage of vessels upwards and downwards. He thought that it would be much better to carry a railway over the Clyde, above Buthergleu. If the West of Scotland viaduct was passed, the im provements he proposed in the river would be at an end. He had presented a petition, signed by 26,000 persons, against the Bill ; also a petition from the merehants' house. Cross-examined—No man in his senses would incommode the navigation of the river by creasing it with a bridge, when all the ad vantages of the junction could be obtained by a ,short detour. The tidal course of a river was a public highway, and ought to be kept clear for their accommodation. 3lr. Sprat, a director of the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway, de posed that the proposed abandonment of the mineral branch on the north side of the river, would be a great inconvenience to the rail way which he represented. The directors of that line had obtained powers to form a union with the junction scheme, which, if the harbour branch was given up, would be rendered nugatory. Mr. Anderson was examined generally as to the proposed viaduct over the river being:an " eye-sore" to the beauty of the river at that place. It would obscure the view altogether of the present handsome bridge. Besides he did not think it could be built without interfering with its foundations. Cross-examined—As a trustee of the Glasgow. bridge he would not object to the proposed viaduct if it did not endanger the present bridge. lie believed that the majority of the trustees decided not to oppose the Bill, providing the crossing of the river was effected be low, kuid not: exactly over, the present bridge. He was in the minority on that resolution. To Mr. ARCHBOLD—He did think it would be of much advantage to take large vessels above the bridges. It would, in his opinion, be best set apart for small vessels. Mr. Charles Atherton, civil engineer, said he had carried on the works of Glasgow-bridge as resident engineer at the time it was building. In boring for the foundations he found that a great por tion was quicksand, especially on the south side of the river. Mr. Telford considered the building of the bridge a work of great difficulty. The expense of that bridge under water-mark was greater than above it. The piers of the existing bridge were so light, in order to give a 3 much water-way as possible, that it the piers of the proposed viaduct were to be but a continuation of them he could not see how they could stand with such elevated arches. The Committee at the close of this witness's examination ad journed till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. GROUP X EV. S OUT H-EASTERINT. The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock. Present—Mr. Protheroc (chairman), Lord Emlyn, General Lygon. Mr. J. O'Con nell, and Mr. Grogan. Mr. Sergeant Waexonem resumed the examination of Mr. George Milder - The witness stated that there is a road running between the South-Eastern Railway and the Arsenal at Woolwich. That road by the Arsenal is 10 feet above the level of the rails of the proposed South-Eastern Railway. The branch line to the Arsenal would therefore be I() feet under that road. There is also a road running between the Dockyard wall and the South-Eastern line. That road has various levels, it is in one place from 10 to 12 feet above the level of the railway. The worst gradient on the South-Eastern, between London and Woolwich, is lin 121. The ruling gradient is 1 in 150. Tire gradient of lin 121 is a mile and a half long. The worst gra dient on Mr. Vigneles's line, between the same points, Is 1 in 11S. That is not the ruling gradient. The South-Eastern line to Wool wich is 33 cint:ns longer than the North Kent line. Last year the line was to cross the Croydon Railway upon ,!t it was to be altered. Mr. Vignoles proposed ze the ;inc. The South-Eastern Company propose to form ,0 tin.:er the Croydon line this year. Mr. Vignoles' line passes , :att•lg to einhan%rnent between Crayford ant Erith. A station c would necessarily be on the natural surface of the ground. A e - tt sit at that point would be most inconvenient and remote from the heavy trafff - ... Cannot say whether the South-Eastern line, as proposed tans year between Dartford and Stone, is the same course of iiee as the one proposed last year by Mr. Vignoles. Has not seen Vignoles' plan since last session. Had agreed with t.e Rochester bridgtwardens to make such a bridge as the one proposed by Mr. Vignoles, or, rather the one proposed by the Admiralty. Has not se.ei any letter front the Admiralty to the bridgewardens, requiring a bridge to be made according to the plan by Mr. Vignoles. The bridge proposed by the South-Eastern this year differs from the one pro po,ed by them last year, but only in consequence of the wish of the br,k4ievarile , ls that the bridge shoulJ be made of stone and more or the nental. Cannot say if the South-Eastern crosses the river in the snr.l3 line as the North Kent, as proposed by Mr. Vignoles. Cannot say what inunl)er of level crossings occur as the South-Eastern Com pany. Al - ,ont 52 occur in the length of 53 miles. When the train stops at C .nterbury, on the South-Eastern line, it would have to • , rt up a eralient of 1 in 79. 11- Ea. a 1,v(.1 to go MI th,ir liu 1.;;; Mr. Dawsox (who appeared in support of a petition by Mr. Eve:yu against the proposed line)—On leaving the Greenwich line the StAth- Eastern Railway will cross Mr. Evelyn's land on an em - K'IOW3 a road called Coney Hall-lane ; that lane need not be The line will pass over it an elevation of 20 feet. It is wt %men! I )wer.A. led by erne garden ground, over which the line passes on an enibankrnent. There is also a lane called " Loving Edvrard's-lanc," which will be lowered three feet, and crossed at au elevation of tit* teen feet. By Mr. ALVERT (who appeared in support of a petition presented by Alt. John Sydney Smith and Mr. Angersteln against the proposed line)—Mr. Smith's land is by Lewisham, near Mordaunt College. The land is passed by a cutting of twenty-five feet in depth. The wall of the residence is also affected, or is within the Iknit of deviation. There is a tunnel at about one hundred and fifty yards from either property, which is a very pret , y oritzunental villa and grounds. Mr. Augerstein's property is a little further on. It is called Woodlands. Woodland House is - about a quarter of a mile from the railway. The lice is a tunnel on entering Mr Angerstein's property, and continues 600 yards. It then opens into a eatting 60 feet deep, on emerging from which it proceeds 90 yards on the surface, and nal:, descends into a cutting ISO yards and 40 teet deep.- Does not know how Mr. Angerstein's house and property supplied with water. The ground rises from ➢lr. A n 7,erst-•in's house. Mr. Bloc (who appeared in support of a petition by the Maid erme and Rochester Navigation Company, against the prapesed line ) —A` ,e river, mar Maidstone-bridge, is to be crossed by a viaduct ,d' 7",i0 yards. There will be five arches over the river, and three or four piers will be in the water. The viaduct is abJut 77 yards from the bridge. That distance does not include the limit of deviation. The piers will be formed of brick or stone, and will be six I*. et in thickness. The coffer dam required would not be more than two feet from the work. Would not attempt to tOnn all the piers at once, so as to obstruct the river. It is abso lutely necessary that the titer should be crossed by the railway. If the Committee were to refuse to allow the South-Eastern line to crdis the river, their Mid Kent scheme would still demand the same powers. . - . ''' Mr. .MEREWETHEit (on the part of the promoters) —The line awl viaduct will not affect the navigation of the river. The line does not actually cut through the ornamental property of Mr. Angerstein. The field traversed by the line is separated from the ornamental pro perty by a public road. Mr. Sidney Smith holds his property nutter Earl St. Germans. Ample compensation would be given to them, and ample accommodation would also be given to Mr. Ecehu_ With regard to the branch line to the Arsenal, it could be worked by locomotive power, if such should be the wish of the au tnorities. 7 here is no road at Woolwich which would be at all in jurad by the line. Last year the South-Eastern proposed to cross the Croydon Railroad on a level. The atmospheric pipe has since been laid down to the South-Eastern. Consequently it passes under the line this ye tr. If Mr. Vigneles' line were in the centre of the vd lage of Cray - ford the approach to it would necessarily be extremely inconvenient. Mr. Vlgnoles approaches Rochester bridge on a curve of 10 chains radius. Any great degree of velocity would be unsafe on such a curve. The approach of the South-Eastern line is under more favourable circumstances. The lines near Chatham run very close to each other as there is only one course for a railway to pursue in that neighbourhood lle-examined by Mr. AusrlN—The area of the London-bridge sta tion is tour acres, exclusive of the Greenwich station. That includes the approaches. The South-Western station is five acres, but there Is as acre and a rood that may be made available in case of enlarge meat, His estimate for the metropolitan property to be occupied by tlw North Kent line is correct. It is impossible to estimate the cost of z ieriatring what may appear trumpery property. At the junction of Mr. Vignoles' line with the Creydon, there is a gradient of 1 in 75. and also a gradient of lin 100 near Woolwich. There are alto gradients of lin 100, and also of 70 and 80 on Mr. Vignoles' - tentative lines, and witness believes that one of the alternative lines is to be adopted. Witness considers that good gradients or spots where there is heavy traffic are very desirable. Would lay out 100,0001. to secure a good gradient on say spot where heavy traffic is concentrated. The cost of working on the southern loop of the South-Eastern woald not be 4 per cent. on the cost of the North Kent expenditure on the Boughton-hill cutting. He (Mr. judder) had so adopted his gradients to the localities as to derive a considerable advantage to the rim- Thentum of the trains on arrival and departure. Tte South Eastern would, therefore, have a decided advantage over the North Kent. Is decidedly of opinion that the South Eastern could be worked in a manner in every way superior to the North Kent. In tite first year of the opening of the Gravesend and Rochester Rail way, the number of passengers carried was 395,000. The weekly rein us of this year show an increase of 7a per cent. on that number. The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XIX. The Committee re-assembled this day at the usual hour. Preset.t ' Lord Harty Vane, (chairman) , the Ea rl of March, t he H on. Francis Scott, Mr. D. Morris, and Mr. Phillip Bennett. BILIDGEWATEIL AND AND PIER. MINEEAD RAIL WAY H The consideration of this proposed linen( railway was resumed. Mr. Thomas Morle, Mr. Stadowick, and Mr. Buller were called, and severally examined. These parties are residents, and carrying on bus ness in places through which this line is proposed to run. The testimony of these witnesses was to the etiect tllat the connexion of Minehead with Bridgewater would be advantageous to them selves and to the agricultural community of that part of the country. Mr. James Murray, a civil engineer, had had great experience for the last fifteen years in the erec, ion of piers and bridges, and con sidered that Minehead was the most eligible harbour in the Bristol Channel for the erection of a pier for the accommodation of the public. He thought the estimate which Mr. Barnett, the engineer of this line, had produced, was in every respect sufficient for its con struction. Other witnesses were produced, who spoke to the amount of traffic exi.+ling• in that district. -••• • - - - The. written assent of the Admiralty to the proposed pier was put ‘n. Tills closed the case of the promoters. MO. Mr. TALBOT, Q.C., (who appeared in support of the interest of ,r PerigTine Acland, a landowner, through whose property the proposed i.ei would run) proceeded in a speech of considerable length, contencilng that the present was a scheme got up to serve the ends of private individuals, regardless of the injury to property and the useless expenditure of money. He contended that the trade at prese nt existing with Bristol and the south of Ireland would Lot , o to Minehead; endeavoared to be proved by the promoters of this ce n e ine, even if the proposed railway and pier were completed, but that diilford would be eventually the port for the importation of Irish produce. The Learned Counsel concluded his address by call ing on the Committee to decide that the preamble of this Bill had not been proved. Mr. King and Mr. Boyle, the former an agent of sir P.A.eland, the fatter a solicitor, were then examined. It being now four o'clock, the Committee adjourned till twOve to-morrow (Tuesday). GROUP XXI. (Continued front our Afternoon Edition.) LONDON AND OXFORD. -- The room was then cleared in order that the Committee might formally vote on the subject. Parties were admitted in a few minutes, when the decision of the Committee, that " t blehe pream of the London and Oxford Dinet Itailway had not been proved" was announced ilimnAßD said, after the decision of the Committee, he should vritlidraw all opposition to the branches proposed by the Great "W'estorn Company. All oilier opposition having been withdrawn, the Committee pro seeded with the yrzcorentz AND IWAIDENHE AD (GREAT WESTERN BRANCH). ]if. _Robert Wheeler, the deputy ch airraan, and in favour o te, and tett:Vied to the advantages which the trade of the districts through % - hlch It was designed to pass would derive from it. Mr. Neaie; agent of Lord Carrington, Mr. Yenables, and Mr. Rose gave similar evidence. Mr. Gibbs, surveyed the branch in 1844, and again su veycd It la, , t year. There were no engineering difficulties. The estimat ed c ost was 134,6531., with a surplus of 15,0001., making the capital 150,000 L It would be l miles and 54 chains in length. trxnutioz BIIANCH (GREAT WESTERV) This branch was then proceeded with. Mr. Brune, who was examined by Mr. TALBOT, said its length Would be 2 miles and 47 chains, and the estimate 50,000/. The works were very light, nearly the whole of the line being on the sur face of the grotuni. There was a short curve at the junction with the Great Western DECISIONS, 'he Committee then declared the preamble of both the 131113 to have Nato proved. The "eratnittee then adjourned until to-morrow, when they will take the el: , t 46 into consider 4494. GROUP XXIX. This Committee re-assembled this morning, in room No. 19. Present, the Right Hon. H. Labonchere (chairman), Sir J. Duck worth, Sir W. Molesworth, Mr. J. A. Smith, aad Colonel Rawdon. RUGBY AND HUNTINGDON. The evidence as to the traffic expected by this line from Kettering in the event of its being constructed, was resumed by Mr. Warren, counsel for the promoters, calling on Mr. George Gill, an ironmonger and seedsman, living in Ketter ing, who confirmed the evidence as to traffic (which we reported at length on Friday last). Witness confined himself chiefly to the great accommodation it would afford to the inhabitants of Kettering. Mr. Bryan Smith, a timber merchant, brlckznaksr, &c., confirmed the Pstimony of the last witness. Mr. Douglas, the solicitor to the promoters, in the course of his ex amination, proved the existence of an agreement entered into between theepromoters and the Duke of Buccleuch to make certaia deviations of the proposed line, for the purpose of making a nearer approach to the town of Kettering, provided the landowners through which the pro posed deviati•n would pass would consent, or, if not, that the next Parliament would consent. _ _ Mr. AusTIN here made an application to the committee for the purpose of moving that the Bill do not proceed further, and pro ceeded to call their attention to a case where an agreement had been entered into two sessions ago, between the promwers of the Coventry and Nuneaton line, and Mr. Newdegate, Member 'or South Warwickshire covenanting that a portion of that line should not be constructed, and which agreement was held by the Committee, by whom the merits of that line were considered to be fatal to the further progress of that Bill. The present case was an analogous one, and the same objection would apply Mr. MACAULAY and Mr. Rawfaxsos followed on the same side, and the former gentleman read a decision given by Lord Denman in the ease of Howden v. Simpson, in confirmation of the views of the case as laid down by Mr. Austin. Sergeant WRANGHAM, with Mr. WARREN, on the part of the pro moters, contended that there was no identity whatever between the two cases ; and the former gentleman adduced the ease of the com petition between the South Western and Great Western Railways the session before last, when an agreement for a similar deviation, dependent on the assent of the Duke of Wellington, was not con sidered to be fatal to the project of the former Company by the Com mittee of the Lords, to whom the rival lines were submitted. Mr. Atraxix replied, and contended that no answer had been given to his objection, and that the Committee could not grant powers which might never be exercised, and which required the subsequent assent of landowners on the line, and failing that a subsequent appli cation to Parliament. The room was then cleared for the deliberation of the Commit tee. On our re admission, The CRAIEMAN announced the decision on the point :—" The Committe have determined that the promoters of the Bill do pro ceed with the case." _ Other witnesses were then examined to show the amount of traffic which the line would give along the towns on the western extremity. Formal evidence vas then given as to the stoppages of trains, po- pulation, returns, &c., when the further consideration of the case was postponed till to-morrow. The postponed clauses as to to'is, &c., of. the RAMEY AND STAMFORD were then agreed to, and the Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to •morrow, when the engineering evidenee of the Rugy vne Hunting don line will be proceeded with. Sub-Committee No. 1. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) WEST LANCASHIRE. The object of the Bill is to connect Liverpool with the watering town of Southport. The length of the proposed line_is 17 miles ; the cost is estimated at 200,0001. The engineers are Mr. Bidder and Mr. J. Lowe; Messrs. Parkes, Coates, and Co., are the Parliamentary averts ; and Messrs. Earle and Barry, of Manchester, are the solicitors to the Bill. _ _ _ Mr. Parrr appeared in support of a petition from five persons, con taining the usual allegations as to defects in the plans, sections, and book of reference. Dir. COATES, for the promoters, opposed the reception of the peti tion, on the ground that four of the petitioners had presented to the House a counter-petition for leave to withdraw their names from that which Mr. Pritt now proposed to press upon the Committee, the fifth petitioner, Mr. Johnson, the solicitor to an adverse railway company, not being an owner or occupier of land within the limits of deviation, nor otherwise having any interest which could entitle him to be heard against the Bill. After some lengthened discussion the room was cleared, and the Committee deliberated. On the re-admission of the parties, The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee decided to hear the petitioner, and Mr. Pairr proceeded with the allegations. After hearing evidence in support of the petition, the allegatiols were sustained in several instances, and the standing orders were declared not complied with. The Committee then proceeded with the case of the SOUTH DEVON (No. XL) The object of this Bill is to authorise certain alterations in, and extensions of, the South Devon Ra Tway, and the formation of branches therefrom to Tavistock, Brixharn, Kingswear, and several other places. . . _ There are in all seven branches of lengths varying from fifteen to twenty miles. The engineer is Mr. Brunel ; the agents are Messrs. Burke, Pritt, Venables, and Co. ; the solicitors are Messrs. Howe and Hunt, of Whitehall, London; Messrs. Whiteford, Ilervito, and Tucker, of Plymouth; and Messrs. Button and Kennaway, of Exeter. The formal evidence having been gone through, Mr. I'ARKES appeared to support the petitions of the Rev.'Mr. Searle and Mr. Watts. The allegations were not sustained. In consequence of the absence of witnesses on the part of the pro moters, the further consideration of the case was postponed till to morrow morning. The Committee then proceeded with the consideration of the DIRECT NORTHERN. The object of this Bill is to form a direct line from London to 'York, with branches to Bedford, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Newark, Lin coln, Sheffield, and Leeds. The length of the line. with the branches, bi 263 miles. The cost is estimated at 5,400,0001. John Millar is the engineer. The agents are Messrs. Webster and Co.; and the solicitors are Messrs. Johnstone, Farquhar, and Leach. The formal evidence having been received, The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve o'clock to morrow. sub-Committee No. 2. STAINES AND EZINZEIn . (Continued from •ur Afternoon Edition.) Several allegations were sustained, and the further consideration of the me was postponed till twelve o'clock to.inorrow. LONDON AND IBITLIVZINGIIII.IVI (ST. ALEANS AND LITTON BRANCH). PETITION FOR ADDITIONAL POWERS. The further consideration of this Bill was also postponed, and the Committee adjourned. N. 3 WOR.CZSTEIR., Hratzrortp, ROSS, AND GLOUCESTER. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The Committee was occupied the remainder of the day in consi dering the allegations of the petitions against the Bill, some 01 which were sustained, and the standing orders so far not complied with. Sub-Committee No. 4. LAUNCESTON AND SOUTH DEVON (No. II.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) These allegations haTing been disposed of, the Committee declared the standing orders not complied with. EAST AND WEST OF ENGLAND TUNCTIOI7. This Bill was called on, and the formal proofs occupied the Com mittee up to the time of their adjournment. The Committee rose at a quarter past three o'clock, and a lourned, as we understood, until after Easter, but did not fix their day of meeting. Sub-Committee No. 6. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) IPSWICH, NORWICH, AND YARMOUTH. This is a Bill to connect Norwich and Yarmouth with Ipswich, at which place it will form a junction with the Ipswich and Bury line. Its length will be seventy miles, and the cost is estimated at 1355,0001. The engineer is Mr. iteunle, and the agents are Messrs. Dorrington. Mr. Coates appeared as agent for several petitions against the line. The first allegation against the Bill was that the point to which the datum line was referred was not sufficiently described. Several wit nesses were called to prove that they could not find the point in question, amongst others, Captain Morrison and Mr. Bruit, The point to which the line was referred was " fifty feet below the flat stone by the parapet of the bridge over the canal on the Ipswich and London road, and level with the crown of the said bridge." It appeared that there was no other flat stone near the summit of the road-way of the bridge, and the principal point in dispute was, whether the " crown of the bridge " meant the summit of the road way, or whether it applied to the road at the whole length of the bridge. _ _ _ The Committee then declared the allegation not proved, and the standing orders complied with, but the Chairman observed that a better datum line might well have been chosen. All the allegations up to the 94th were withdrawn. This allegation, and chose following it, occupied the Committee up to four o'clock. They were, however, of no public interest, re erring chiefly to questions as to whether certain roads were public or private roads ; and similar points, on some of which the Committee divided for and on others against the promoters of the Bill. _ Having been occupied the whole day with the evidence and dis cussions on this Bill, the Commits v adjourned at four o'clock till twelve o'clock to-morrow. STANDIN G ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE OF LORDS. Their Lordships met this day at the appointed hour. Present, the Earl of Shaftesbury (in the chair), Lords Redesdale and Hawardeu. DUBLIN, DUNDRUM, AND INNISKERRY. This case same before the Committee on second reference, in order that the promoters of the Bill might prove the second lodgment of 5 per cent. in the Accountant-General's hands, and the signature of the directors. Tue certificates having been proved, the Committee decided that the Bill had passed the standing orders. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY OF IRELAND (MULLINGAR 10 GALWAY). This cake came also before the Committee on second reference, in order that the promoters of the Bill might have an opportunity of 1 roving compliance w,th Lord Whamcliffe's standing order, prows of which having been entered, the Committee decided that the stand ing orders had been complied with. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY OF IRELAND (LIF FEY BRANCH AND LONGFORD DEVIATION). This case came on for hearing on the same point, and the proper proofs having been put in, the Committee Qec.ded that the Bill had passed the standing orders. BRIGHTON, LEWES, AND HASTINGS (EASTBOURNE HAIL SHAM) RAILWAY. This was the next case which came before their Lordships—it was unopposed, and the usual proofs having been gone through, the Com mittee decided that the promoters of the Bill bad complied with the standing orders. NEWRY, WARRENPOINT, AND ROSTREVOR RAILWAY. The hearing of this case was adjourned until the 23d instant, for the production of furthcr proofs. TE3IPLE3IORE AND NENAGH RAILWAY. The deposit of 10 per cent. having been proved to have been lodged in the Accountant-General's hands, and the other usual proofs having been entered, the Committee decided that the standing orders had been complied with by the promoters of this line. THE LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. This case, which had been so frequently adjourned, came on before their Lordships and occupied their attention for a considerable por tion of the day. It may be in the recollection of our readers, that we stated a question arose as to whether the money deposited in the Accountant-General's hands, under the original deed of the Company, was available for the Company who came before the Committee with a new deed, there being many new names to it, and a portion of the former promoters having declined further connexion with the Company. It was argued that the pre sent Company had no legal claim upon the fund in Court. The Attorney-General and Solicitor-General having given their opinion that the fund was available for the present Company, Lord SiLarmssuity intimated that the Committee coincided in that opinion, and they therefore decided that the standing orders had been complied with. BRIGHTON AND CHICHESTER RAILWAY (STEYNING BRANCH). This case, which was formerly adjourned for want of proof of com pliance with Lord Wharneliffe's order, was decided to have complied also with the standing orders. The Committee adjourned at five o'clock. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. SLY O'CLOCK. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 13 to 1 apt Corranna 16 to 1 agst Nike 16 to 1 agst Beaumont 16 to 1 agst Spur 18 to 1 agst Arthur 20 to 1 agst Thrapston 20 to 1 agst Dexterous CHESTER cur. 12 to 1 agst Sweetmeat 14 to I agst Weatherbit—taken 20 to 1 agst Best Bower 22 to 1 agst Clumsy 25 to 1 agst Miss Burns 25 to 1 agst Hope 28 to 1 agst Vitula—taken' 28 to 1 agst Crim Con—taken 30 to 1 agst Mermaid—taken DERBY. 4 to 1 agst Sting 12 to 1 agst Brobardo 20 to 1 agst Traverser 25 to 1 agst Igo 25 to 1 agst Tom Tulloch 40 to 1 agst Malcolm OAKS. 7 to 1 agst Col. Peel's lot Wito 1 stet Vanig IMPERIAL PARLIAMEI\T. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, in the absence of the Lord Chancellor, took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'clock. INDEMNITY BILL On the motion of Earl ST. GERMANS, the Indem nity Bill was read a third time. THE MIDLAND AND GREAT WESTERN (IRE LAND) AND THE CORK AND WATERFORD RAILWAYS. Lord MONTEAGLE, in rising to present two peti- - dons from shareholders in certain railways, said that they both illustrated a mistake under which the public laboured with respect to the power and right of share holders in railways generally. These were both petitions from shareholders who objected to the further progress of Bills in which they themselves were interested ; and the misapprehension that he alluded to was, the common mistake that shareholders could not petition against Bills to which they had given a previous assent ; so that it was perfectly competent, and, in fact, was in the power of the shareholders of a railway, if they sub• sequently saw reason to alter the favourable opinion which they had formerly expressed with respect to it, to take steps to prevent its receiving the assent of the Legislature. Ile could not bring himself to believe that the allegations contained in these petitions were un true, because they appeared to be supported by good grounds. The first petition was from. a num ber of shareholders in the Midland and Great Western Railway of Ireland, and was signed (as we understood) by one of the Members of the city of London, and set forth that a great number of those who had signed the contract deed were not persons in a condition to do so. as immediately before depositing the list several persons subscribed their names for very large sums in which the shareholders admitted no deposit was paid by them, and that it was their belief that they had no intention to subscribe the amount of the capital which they had so engaged to pay. If this were true, and he could not doubt it, the Company, in the event of obtain ing their Bill, would be left without the means of completing their works. He therefore trusted the Noble Lords to whom the Bill had been re ferred would tike the trouble to read the petition in order that they might ascertain whether it contained any just grounds for impeding the progress of the Bill. The other petition was from the city of Cork, against the amalgamation of the line with the Limerick and W aterford. The petitions were ordered to be referred to• the Committees on the Bills. LONDON AND YORK (EASTERN COUNTIES). The Earl of lIARDWICKE presented a petition against this - line, and praying, in the event of its passing, that proper clauses would be inserted in the Bill for the protection of the property of those through which it would pass. SCOTTISH GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. The Marquis of BREADALBANE presented a pe tition from Glasgow, in favour of this line of railway. He also presented a petition from the Presbytery of the Free Church of Biggar, in Lanarkshire, complaining of the proceedings of the labourers employed on railways in that neighbourhood, and the desecration of the Sab bath. The petitioners prayed for an investigation. LIMERICK HARBOUR. The Earl of CLARE presented a petition from the Bridge Commissioners of the city of Limerick, in favour of the deepening and improving of the harbour of that city. The Noble Lord, in doing so, called the attention of the Honse•to a report of the Tidal Commissioners, setting forth the great necessity for the alterations and improve ments prayed for. 85,0001. bad been expended on the harbour of Cork, and about half a million on the Upper Estuary of the Shannon ; therefore, he thought some thing ought to be done for the harbour of Limerick. Lord ELLENBOROUGH said he was not prepared then to give an opinion. He believed that gross abuses had hitherto prevailed in the management of that har bour, but if a Bill was introduced to effect a change, or carry out an improvement of it, it would receive every attention from the Board of Admiralty. The Noble 1, , ,rd then presented a petition from the corporatiOn of Newry against the Newry and Roscommon Railway. He was only made acquainted on Saturday night that the Bill was before Parliament, and he was informed (and he believed correctly so) that it would be read a third time to-day. He was at the same time informed that the consent of the Admiralty had in the usual way been given to the passing of the Bill, but that a report had appeared directly adverse by the Tidal Commission ers. He (Lord Ellenborough) had requested the en gineer to make a report on the subject ; that re port had been presented, and it was favourable, and as the consent of the Admiralty had been given to the Bill, perhaps the best course would be to allow the Bill, which has gone so far in that House, to pass, and when it had been sent down to the House of Commons, inquiries could be made during the recess into the true merits of the Bill, and such amendments could be made as might be found advisable. Lord MONTEAGLE thought it was not consistent with the wisdom or decorum of their Lordships' pro ceedings, to allow Billa to pass a third time, which would have to be amended in the other House. He hoped that this Bill would be postponed until the Admiralty should be put in possession of the reports and plans on this subject. He thought that a wise and wholesome controul on the part of the Admiralty was necessary to secure the interests of the public. He knew from his own knowledge that many mischiefs had arisen from the inefficiency of public works with re spect to tidal harbours. Their Lordships sometimes passed Bills, leaving out certaln parts to be under the controul of the Admiralty and the Board of Public Works for the time being. Now although he (Lord Monteagle) had every respect for these Com mittees, although he had every confidence in the mode in which they exercised their functions, yet he thought that every Bill which passed that House, should be perfectly complete ; and that no public office should have it in their power to alter or amend it. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said, that he would have no objection to adopt the course recommended. The Board of Admiralty had then before it the report of their own engineer, in favour of the railway. An other report had been presented to himself personally. by a gentleman against the Bill, and under these circumstances, it would hardly be fair for the Admiralty to decide on the one way or another without further investigation. He might state for the satisfac• Lion of his Noble Friend that an officer had been ap pointed for the purpose of examining into these matters; he reported afterwards to the Board of Admiralty, who decided on a full consideration of the case submitted to them. The Earl of ROSEBERRY said that, as Chairman of the Committee, before which this Bill had been inves tigated, he might say, that they had given it their ut most consideration, and no Committee of their Lord ships, he was sure, could have taken greater pains to com pare the evidence with the view of arriving at the truth. Captain Washington had been examined by the Com mittee previously to the Committee having come to a decision. He thought it necessary to say these few words upon the subject. Lord - ELLENBOROUGH understood that Captain Washington was present when Mr. Wallace was ex amined before the Committe ; he, however, dissenting from the opinions of that Gentleman, had volunteered his evidence upon the occasion. Earl of ROSEBERRY had no recollection of these circumstances alluded to by the Noble Lord. .The Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought it was a case calling for the interference of Parliament. The motion was then agreed to. THE LATE VICTORIES IN INDIA. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose, pursuant to the notice he had given, to ask a question of the Govern ment upon the subject of the great and glorious events which have recently taken place in India. Before he put that question, he would however perhaps be per mitted to express personally the regret which he felt at not having been present upon the former occasion. It was perfectly impossible for him to attend upon that oc casion. He thought the motion had been brought on without se.fficient notice, owing to the circumstance of their Lordships not sitting upon Wednesday. It would have been impossible for him or any other person, to add anything to the valuable testimony which bad been borne upon that occasion to those great awl glorious services by the Noble Duke connected with her Majesty'e Govern ment. The Noble Duke (the Duke of Wellington), w h o h a d been in the scene, and had WOD those victories which added honour to his name, hoped he had lived to see the maintenance of our territory on the banks of the Sutlrj brought to a final consummation by the gallant victorie:, which had crowned the exertions of Sir Henry Hardinge and Sir Hugh Gough.—(Hear.) Know ing this, and confirmed in it by the evpressions of his Noble Friend (the Earl of Auckland) who sat behind him, who, from his acquaintance with India was well able to estimate the difficulties of that service, and who, on the occasion of passing a vete of thanks to the army, confirmed, in a most clear and satisfactory manner, the statements then made. Having ventured to say this, in excuse for himself, he begged to ask a question, whether any communications on the subject would be produced, or that they might have some additional information to that supplied in the newspapers ? Was it the intention of her Majesty's Government to produce all the papers re lating to those military transactions ; but he was par ticularly desirous to - know whether the proclamation of Sir W. Hardinge, the Governor-General of India, after the last and decisive battle and the treaty which it was stated he had concluded with the Seikhs, after the battle of the 17th of February. would be laid on the table of the House ? He did not ask that question, with any idea that those papers could be made the foundation of anything objectionable to the policy of the Government in that quarter of the world.— (" Hear, hear," from the Duke of Wellington.) On the con:rary, if he felt any anxiety to see those papers, produced, it was because they contained the proclama tion to which he had referred, which se as issued by the Governor-General on entering the Seikh territory, arid because he feeling his policy would_be,found satisfactery to the Parliament and to tt e country.—(Cheers.) Ile felt satisfied that this great conflict was not produced by any invasion on the part of the British.—(Cheers.) It had always been the safety of the Indian Govern meat to depend on the satisfaction and protection which they gave to the natives of that quarter of the world, the prosperity given to their trade and commerce, and the improvement affected in their social existence. (Hear, hear.) Next to that should stand the fact that all the nations of Asia should under stand that the Indian Government were not desirous of conquest, but security ; and that it was not wits them a question, beyond this, whether those Go vernments were perfect or imperfect, Mahometan or Hindoo ; their only desire being to recognise them as allies, and to treat them as equals.—(Hear, hear.) He felt, therefore, peculiar satisfaction when he saw those principles laid down in the proclamation alluded to.— (Hear.) No doubt in doing so the Governor-General had but acceded to the views of her Majesty's Government ; and in doing so they (as a Government) might challenge the world fur an example to such a course.—(Loud cheers.:, So much it was his duty to state on the present occasion ; they would see that security and not conquest was the motive that led to the late great and glorious results He was aware that the reports bad reached Government, and he was consequently surprised that no mention had been made respecting rewards to be confers ed upon the several officers engaged in these operations. He hoped that some such communication as that to which he had alluded might he made iu that matter as to set every one at rest with regard to the intention of Government, and that no long time would elapse before her Ma jesty's most gracious intentiors were communicated to the House. He wished that the unusual course which had been pursued in this business of making a communi cation to this House without laying the requisite papers on the table had not been adopted. The Earl of RIPON said that it was impossible to express his regret • at having been unable to e:ijoy the benefits - of his Noble Lord's attendance when the vote of thanks to the officers of the Indian army was so unanimously and satisfactorily carried through the House. The facts were that he had asked this question on Tuesday evening at which time the official accounts had not reached her Msjesty's Government, and when no answer could be given. Those accounts were received on Wednesday morning, and, as the House of Commons were sitting on that day, it was thought better to give notice in that liouse, and so to depart from the usual course. He was not at that time aware that his Noble Friend was • out of town, and he bad addressed a letter to him accordingly, but, on discovering that fact, he had added another - communication to his Noble Friend,. who was confined to his bed by the gout. That was the reason why sufficient notice had not been given to his Noble Friend (the Marquis of Lansdowne) of the motion for Thursday evening. He was truly rejoiced to find that the conduct of .the Governor-General, and that of the several officers associated with him, had met, as it deserved to meet with the full approval of his Noble Friend. With respect to the question which his Noble Friend had put, he might say that, in point of fact, all that had been received up to the present time was that . which had been already pub• lished in the Gazette. All the arrangements however with regard to the remainder of the intelligence had not been reduced to proper form, but as soon as they were care would be taken that they should be immediately ltkid before their Lordships:. Until those documents were ready, it would be itapossible for him to lay :any, further intelligence bcfare them. With respect to what. his Noble Friend had asked as to whether - any communication had been re ceived from her Majesty with regard to the I , onours to be conferred upon those great men who had achieved those great victories, he could only say that at the present monient he was not authorised to make any statement upon that subject, but this he could say, that no sooner had her Majesty become aware of the events which had occured, and the services which those two individuals had rendered, then she gave her commands for the patent of Sir Henry llardinge and Sir Hugh Gough.— (Cheers)—a proceeding which world confer honor not only upon those two individuals, w.lio had so richly deserved it, but on the country for which they had fought.—Cheers.) THE POLISH INSURRECTION. Lord BEAUMONT said that he had given notice to the Noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs that it was his intention to put a question to him to-day, and he understood from him that he had do ob;ection to his (loin , so. The question that he intended to put to the Noble Earl regarded recent events in the provinces of the Austrian t mpire. In putting that question, he should not apologise to their . Lordships for bringia it before them, nor should he pause lo ask them to reflect wheth( r there was combination, any treaty, or any international custom which 'gave him the privilege of bringing the subject before them in that place. Ile claimed the privilege and the right to do so on far higher grounds ; ha claimed it on the ground that he believed that all European states had entered into a tacit compact to advance civilization, and to arrest the continuation of any barbarous custom or law, which had hitherto existed in Europe. A re volution had recently occurred in some of the Aus trian provinces, which all must deplore.—(Hear.) LORDS' SUMMARY. Lord BEAUMONT, after a most vituperative speech against Austria, asked if it was true that the Austrian authorities had instigated a servile war against the landed aristocracy in Wilkie, and had rewarded the peasantry for killing the nobles by paying a sum of money for the head of every noble, if any means had been taken by the Government of this country to express its disapprobation of such conduct? The Earl of ABERDEEN replied that the subject was one not affecting British interests, and that the statutes on the subject were so contradictory, that it was almost im possible to ascertain the truth. From his knowledge of Prince METTERNICH', he felt that it was as impossible for him to adopt the course alluded to, as it would be for any of their Lordships Certainly since Gallicia had been under the Austrian Govern ment the condition of the peasantry had been much ame liorated, and it was therefore natural that they should be actuated by feelings of loyalty towards Austria. lie did not think it his duty to interfere in the matter. The accounts he had received from the British Chargé d'Affaires in Austria gave a very different account of the transaction, and represented that the nobility had fallen in theirattempt at coercing their peasantry to take part in the re bellion wb ich the peasantry strenuously so successfully resisted. Now, in all this lie saw nothing but what was praiseworthy. But he had received no further information on the subject, and lie could not state how much of the published accounts were true or false. After a few words from Lord KINNAIAD, the subject dropped. . (LEFT SITTLNG.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKTM took the Chair at Four o'clock. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and or dered to be committed, viz.:— Inverness ;;d Elgin Junction Railway. Dunblane, Donne, and Callander Railway. Tramore Embankment. Sidmouth Market. Severn Navigation. Manchester Markets. Caledonian Insurance Company, Carshalton Rates. Hull and Lincoln Direct Railway. St. George the Martyr (Southwark) Rectory. Westruther Roads. Port Ellen Harbour. Edinburgh raving. Leith Paving. Airdrie Police. Greenlaw Roads. Sligo Ship Canal. • Halesworth and Norwich Railway. Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe Railway. East and West India Docks and Birmingham Junction Railway (by order). London ard Windsor Railway (by order). ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY BILL. Mr. HAWES moved the consideration of the report of the abuve Bill, when Mr. ROEBUCK objected that this was not a strictly Private Bill, and therefore he should oppose the con- sideration or the report. The SPEAKER said that the Bill, in his opinion, was strictly a Private Bill, although it gave extended power to the Company proposing it. Mr. ROEBUCK contended that notice ought to have been given to. each Member of that House who repre ented a borough of the provisions of this Bill. What had been the effect in London ? The Corporation of London had carried a clause to be inserted, which ex. empted them from the operation of this raeasure. He thought that similar justice ought to have been done to Bath and other cities. Lord MORPETH observed that he had been re quested to, interfere with the progress of this Bill, so far as to ask that the evidence upon it be printed. He would ask that some Hon. Member who had been on the Committee would state whether, he thought that in justice to other . parties who might be interested, this ought not to be done. Mr. HAWES said, if the Mouse thought that the powers were too large, he, on the part of those interested in the Bill, would consent to any proper limitation of them, but hr as s erted that no public inconvenience would result from the passing of this measure, as several Acts were already in existence which professed similar exten sive powers. Mr. ROEBUCK contended that as this Act gave powers to enter into contracts with all railway compa nies, it was deoidedlia first or second, and not a third class Bill. He could instance a case in point, where the same objection was entertained by the Standing Orders Committee of the House. The Railway Guarantee Incorporated Company was introduced into the House as a third class Bill, but as it gave powers to treat with all railway companies, it was held to be a first, and was therefore throv.n out as a. third class Bill. This Act, in a similar manner, gale the Company power to contract with the railways in the kingdom. The SPEAKER said, that in his opinion, the Bill was strictly a third class Bill. After a ft.w words from Lord G. SOMERSET, which was net audible in the galiery, Mr. HAWES sa id h e should have been better able to discuss the technical objections of his Hon. and Learned Friend, if be had given him notiee on Saturday, that it was his intention to make them. But after what had fallen from the Noble Lord and the Speaker, he should postpone the further consideration of the subject until after Easter. Lord MORPETII also postponed his motion for the printing of the evidence adduced before the Committee until the same period. NORTH KENT RAILWAY. Mr. HUME said he had a petition to present from Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, the chairman of the North Kent Railway, which was of a peculiar nature, but be fore he presented it he wished to ask a question. It stated that a petition had been presented by the Hon. Member for Southwark (Sir W. Molesworth) agairat the Bill, ap.d expressing a wish that it would ba taken from group 14, and referred to the Corn mittee to be appointed in the City of London. He believed the line was not intended to cross the Thames, but to run to Camberwell, about two miles from the river, and was to have a terminus in Union street, Southwark. He wished, therefore, to ask whether, when the Bill had been classified with another, which proposed to make,a line from Union-street to Southwark-bridge, it was competent for the House to take it from the Com mittee and to refer it to the Commission to which he had referred ? The SPEAKER was understood to say, that it was competent for the House to order a Bill to be so referred. WIG AN ELECTION COMMITTEE. The following Members, appointed to serve on this Election Committee, appeared at the table of the House, and were sworn :—Sir W. Heatheote, 'and Messrs. E. Denison, Totter, Botfield, and Intnbton LONDON AND NEW WINDSOR RAILWAY. Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from certain inhabitants of the city of Westminster, in favour of this line of railway; also one,from the parish of St. Mary Abbots, to the same effect. The following Bills were read a third time : Eastern Union and Ha'lleigh Junction Railway. Maldon, Witham, and Braintree Railway. London and Brighton Railway( East Grinstead Branch). Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway Amendment and Branches (No. 1). Glasgow, Paisley,Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway Amend ment and branches (No. 2). South Eastern Railway (No. 7) (Exteesiou of stations at Ashford). Brighton and Chichester Railway (Bognor and Little hampton branches). Scottish Grand Junction Railway. The Manchester Markets Bill was read a second time, on the motion of Mr. Mark Philips. The third Reading of the London and Brighton (East Grimstead Branch) Bill and Brighton and Chichester Branches Bill were postponed till to-morrow. Mr. KEMBLE moved that the . second reading of St. George the Martyr (Southwark) Rectory Bill be post poned until Monday the 27th day of April. No one regretted more than he did that there should be any cause of division between the rector of St. George's Southwark and so respectable a body of people as his parishioners. If the pltstponernent of the Bill would tend to have a good effect as he apprehended it would be hoped the House would concur in his motion. Sir W. MOLESWORTH opposed the postponement. some valid grounds ought to have been stated for such a ,course; and as that had not been done he did not see why they should violate the standing order of the House, that there should not be more than 21 days between the first and the second reading of any private Bill. This Bill was to exempt the rector of the parish from the payment of rates. To show the excitement which the Bill had produced he (Mr. W. Molesworth) had received a petition from the ratepayers, signed by 2,000 out of the 2,500 ratepayers composing the entire parish against the Bill. The petition was also signed by the churchwardeps,. with all the parish officers. He should therefore oppose the motion Ly theilon Member. Mr. ANTROBUS supported the motion. Mr. HAWES considered that as no valid reason had been assigned fur the postponement, he thought the House should not depart from its own standing orders. Sir DE LACY EVANS was of a similar opinion. Mr. KEMBLE thought that the House were not per fectly aware of the precise effects of the motion which he had made. He would ask whether he was not bound to present a petition which had been signed by the ma jority of his constituents ? The rector himself had not the slightest apprehension that the kecand reading of this Bill would be bronglit on before Easter. As regarded the sessional orders he would remind the House that they had several times been set aside; and in the case of this Bill, he ought to observe that it was only introduced on the 19th of February, and he thought, therefore, that the House would not refuse what appeared to him so reasonable a request as its delay. Mr. HUME thought that no reasonable grounds had been made out for the delay. If an Hon. Member had a duty to perform to his constituents, he had also a duty to perform in obeying the orders of that House. The rector came before that House with a Bill to serve his personal interests, and as was allowed, it lwas quite opposed to the feeling of his parishioners, what reason was there therefore for the suspension of the standing orders. I: the business of that House was to be sa.isfactorily conducted the suspension of the orders was not to be lightly made, and he hoped there fore that the object of this motion would not be granted. . . Mr. SPOONER thought the orders in this case might b e very well dispensed with, and there was soome3hing of a claim for that request, as although the rector ap peared as a single party, yet there were several other individuals of influence who were anxious respecting it. There was sufficient reason for the suspension of the sta. - Kling orders in the feet that, acceding to this motion woi tld allay much angry feeling, and lead to no injurious resalts. 11 WARBURTOS submitted that if the House asset tfed to the validity of the reasons assigned by the Hon. _Member for bringing in this Bill, Hon. Members would be in a worse position now than before the passing of the standing order that existed against such a propo sition..—(Hear.) fly the order being strictly adhered to, - Hoe. Members were aware that if it were not com plied a ith there was an end of every Bill in the same predicament; but if the rule be departed from there would b e an end to all certainty, Mr.. J.. COLLETT, amidst loud cries of " Divide divide," said he would oppose this Bill upon its m er it s , for he considered it nothing more nor less than a gross attempt a.fjobbing, and if any additional instance were wanted, Ci.is would supply it, of the grasping and un christian spirit of the clergy, who now sought to get themselves •exemptid from any liability to the support of the poor.-4 Hear, hear.) On these grounds, he would give the Bill his most determined opposition. AIderman..HUMPRIES hoped his Hon. Friend would withdraw the Bill, as it was quite clear that it would not pass the Heels e even after Easter, and he had not heard any one say tr. word in favour of it, while it appeared that all the parish knees were against it. Mr. WILS C'N PATTEN, amidst loud cries of " Di vtde,': was understood to say he hoped his Hon. Friend would bring ti.se question before the House at once. Mr. LABOI3 CHERE hoped that the House would not for one mo went listen to the proposition of the Hon. Member opposyito, but adhere to the sessional orders. What were they asked to do ? Why they were asked to postpone the second reading of a Bill, not upon its merits, but beest•se of its demerits He hoped, for the sake of maintaiining the dignity of the House, Hon. Members would mot sanetion such a proposal, Mr. GREEN E suggested that the motion had better be withdrawn, a red not let the House be put to the un necessary trouble of a discussion. Mr. KEMBL E was the last man to put the House to unnecessary trc utile, and after the strong expression of opinion expresst d on both sides of the House with re spect to the Bill, :he should withdraw his motion. The motion a a3 accordingly withdrawn. Mr. lIUME understood that, in withdrawing the motion, the Bill. dropped. Mr. KEMBLX. said his motion was for postponing the second readistg of the Bill till the 27th inst., but of course it would b e competent. for him now to move the second reading v'Kthin the twenty-one days. He appre hended, however., that the promoters, acting upon his own advice, wotild withdraw the Bill altogether. Viscount SANDON embraced that opportunity of asking the question, of which he had given notice, re lative to the ins.nner of treating railway Bills-? The occasion which the Hon. Member for Sheffield presented was a fitting oppportunity for him to do so. He would now therefore, present a petition front merchants, bankers, and others, of Liverpool, praying that Parliament will take steps for postponing the passing of any considerable number of Railway Bills this session ; and, in doing so, he would ask Sir Robert Peel, whether he was prepared to advi te any course which shall have that effect. The petiConers stated that they had heard that there was great depression in all branches of commerce. Messrs Truma n and Cooke, brokers, stated that the various branches of commerce were severely depressed. Not only has. there been a great fall in prices, but in the demand _for goods in the Indian and China trade. The principal cause of this they said was the enormous amount or .railway undertakings which had sprung up, and which were absorbing the capital of the country. It had beer' proposed that Parliament should not pro ceed with tlt e Railway Bills before it without hav ing a meetirkg of the shareholders of the various lines, so that no Bill should be gone on with till the sanction of the great majority of the shareholders was obtained. lie would propose that no sanction should be given to nny railway Bill, where after a meet ing of the shmreholders, the House was petitioned by a majority o f that meeting, not to allow such Bill to proceed. This would prevent many ofthe schemes which were isn't likely te turn out good speculations, from being passed. He hoped her Majesty's Govern ment would give this important matter their fullest con sideration. Sir R. PEEL .said there wore few persons in thii` Hun: e who could not at first have seen that many of the railways which were sought to be sanctioned were not profitable speertlations. There had been a spirit of spe culation for sum e time past, but he thought it could not be checked by that House. The speculation in railways was the same as the speculation in South American Bonds, and the interference with one would be an interference with the other. Ti experience of time would prevent these railway operations from being too largely indulged in. Re thought that there was .uo greater right to interfere with this question than in the ordinary commercial speculation s for he went on Ole principle that every person was the , best judge of his own concerns, and was best competent to manage his own affairs. At the same time, consider ing the extensive powers the House had in railway spe culations, it was in some measure a party to them. Speculations of this kind differed from the ordinary run 44 speculation in the respect that the Legislature was called upon to take away and interfere with private property for public purposes, and it ap peared to him that the House might, therefore, inter fere with respect to that species of speculation. As far as the individuals themselves were concerned, he had no pity for them, for this sort of speculation would never be corrected except from the per sonal suffering of the party—(Hear, bear)—for many of the speculators diverted their money from their ordinary courses, and from the trade from which they derived their subsistence. At the commence ment he, on the part of her Mnjesty's Governmet, gave it as his opinion that it might be possible to interfere with this habit by putting a check upon some of the railway Bills. He spoke with considerable hesitation on this subject, as it might be unwise for the House to it t eere on this subject. His Hon. Friend the Member for Liver pool culled the attention of the Ilouse to this subject. (LIFT SPEAKING.) NOVEL METHOD OF RELIEVING THE DISTRESSED.- The following method of relieving the unemployed operatives has been adopted by Mr. Abraltam Bairstow, of Horton. A square yard is chalked out on the causeway, on the highway-side in front of his house, and he will pay one shilling a day to any man who is destitute of employment if he will stand within the square six hours a day fi r twenty days, viz., from nine o'clock in the morning to twelve at noon, and from two to five o'clock in the aiternoon. One man has already accepted this benevolent offer, and is attracting a large mum ber of spectators every day.—Bratfford Observer. ACCIDENT TO RIGBY WASON, ESQ.—We learn with regret that Itig,l4y-Wason, Esq , of Corwar, late Ni'.. for Ipswich, while out inspecting some improvements on his estate on Tuesday last, met with a severe accident by falling from his horse on some rough stones. Dr. Wilson and another medical gentleman were speedily in attendance, when he was discovered to be much injured about the head. We are happy to learn, however, that the wounds,. though severe, arc not considered dangerous.—Ayr Advertiser. .. ~..~ INSTRUCTIONS to COMMITTEES OF RELIEF DISTRICTS IN TOWNS IN IRE LAND. (Etracted from minutes of the proceedings of the Corn • missioners appointed in reference to the apprehended scarcity.) The Commission having had under their considera tion the necessity of establishing local Committees, pro perly organ;zed, in towns where destitiitioti is likely to prevail, through whose superintendence the approach and progress of distress, in such localities, may be watched, and the means of relief administered, according to the instructions of Government, it is resolved— I. That the Mayor, or, where there is no Mayor and Aldermen, the Chairman of the town Commissioners of any town in which it shall be established, on good and sufficient grounds, that extreme distress is near at hand, in consequence of the failure in the potato crop, be requested to convene‘a meeting, composed of the follow ing classes: — Mayor and Aldermen. The town Commissioners (in towns where there is no Mayor or Aldermen.) Clergymen of all persuasioes. Chairman of any Poor Law Union, which may include any part of the town. Poor Law Guardians of electoral district or districts. Magistrates of Petty Sessions. That this meeting should select, from amongst them selves, not more than twenty members, who, with the resident Magistrates (if any), Cost-guard officers (where available) and an officer of the Board of Works, should form the Local Relief Committee. II That each Committee should hold regular periodi cal meetings, at a place or places to be fixed by them, where all Committee business should be transacted ; and that regular minutes should be kept of the proceedings, in a book to be supplied to them from this Commission, and that three members should be a quorum. 111. That it is evident, and is also in strict accordance with the, views and instructions of the Government, that the owners of property, and other rate-payers, are the parties both legally and morally answerable for afford ing due relief to the poor, and that the same parties are, from their local influence, and their knowledge of the situation and wants of the people in their neighbour hood, best able to furnish such relief, without waste or misdirection of the means employed. That the measures to be adopted by the officers of Government, are to be considered merely as auxiliary to those which it is the duty of the persons possessed of property, in each neighbourhood, to adopt. That the Local Committee should, therefore, put them selves in communication with such persons, and should solicit subscriptions from them, proportioned to their means, and to the extent of distress in the locality to which they belong. That where, notwithstanding such subscriptions, some assistance is likely to be required from the Government, a list of the sums subscribed, together with a list of in dividuals from whom subscriptions might have been ex pected, should be confidentially brought under the notice H of the Lord Lieutenant, who, after due consideration of the case, will determine on the sum to be contributed, from the funds at his disposal, in aid of the local sub scriptions. In cases where there mar arise a scarcity of food, within a district, or the price of food may have been artificially raised, the Government will be prepared to transmit to the Local Committee, at cost price, including the ex penses of carriage, a quantity of food corresponding to the amount of subscriptions paid in for that purpose, and to place that food in the hands of the Local Com mittee, for distribution, on their own responsibility, at cost price, or as wages of labour to destitute persons un employed on local works, or when absolute destitution is united within ability to labour, in gratuitous donations. I T. That, in cases where any assistance is afforded by Government, either in aid of local subscriptions, or otherwise, the following rules are to be invariably ob served in the administration of relief :- Ist. A task of work shall be required from every per son capable of giving it, who applies for relief. 2d. The payments for the work performed shall be made in food, and shall, in every case, ce limited to such a quantity of food as will be sufficient to support the workman, and the helpless persons of his family. 3d. If, in any case, it be impracticable to pay in food, the payments in money shall be limited to what is ab solutely necessary for the above purpose. 4th. Gratuitous relief shall be afforded only to those persons who are entirely incapable of giving a day's work, and who have no able-bodied relative on whom they are dependsnt, and in these cases only, in which their reception in the workhouse of the union to which they belong, is, from want of room, impracticable ; and, lastly, sth. The works in which destitute persons are em ployed, shall be in prosecution of some public improve ment, approved of by this Commission, within, or adjacent to, the distressed locality, and shall be such as will be capable of being brought at once to a close, when the circumstances of the people are improved. V. That the Committee should be prepared with plans or suggestions of small useful works of public improve ment, for the employment of the destitute poor, in all cases where relief is given to the able-bodied. VI. That the Committee should divide the town into districts, and should obtain minute reports of the cir cumstances of each family, from whom application fur relief may be made ; that at their meetings certificates or tickets should be given to such only as are ascer tained to be without means of providing for their fami lies ; that such tickets or certificates be the authority to the buperintendent of the Public. Works for receiving the persons to whom they are granted ; and that a re gister of all certificates or tickets granted by the Com mittee be preserved in a book, to be supplied for that purpose by this Commission. VII. That the secretary, or person officiating as such, of the Committee, should take charge of the books, and other documents, and should conduct the correspondence with this Commission. VIII. That towns in which there is no mayor and aldermen, nor town commissioners, be considered as coming under the class of county relief districts. J. P. KENNEDY, Secretary. Castle, Dublin, 14th March, 1846. THREATENED ATTACK BY INDIANS. _ - MAY s.—On account of our animals, it was necessary to remain to-day at this place. Indians crowded name- rously around us in the morning ; and we were obliged to keep arms in band all day, to keep them out of the camp. They began to surround the horses, which, for the convenience of' grass, we were guarding a little above, on the river. These were immediately driven in, and kept close to the camp. In the darkness of the night, we had made a very bad encampment, our fires being com manded by a rocky bluff within fifty yards; but, notwith standing, we had the river and small thickets of willows on the other side. •Several times during the day the camp was insulted by the Indians ; but, peace being our object, I kept simply on the defensive. Some of the Indians were on the bottoms, and others haranguing us from the bluffs ; and they were scattered in every direction over the hills. Their language being probably a dialect of the Utah, with the aid of signs some of cur people could comprehend them very well. They were the same people who had murdered the Mexicans ; and towards us their disposition was evidently hostile, nor were we well dis posed towards them. They were barefooted, and nearly naked ; their hair gathered up in a knot behind ; and with his bow, each man carried a quiver with thirty or forty arrows partially drawn out. Besides these, each held in his hand two or three arrows for instant service. Their arrows are barbed, with a very clear, translucent stone, a species of 'pal, nearly as hard as the diamond ; and, shot from their long bow, are almost as effective as a gunshot. In these Indians, I was forcibly struck by an expression of countenance resem bling that in a beast of prey ; and all their actions are those of wild animals. Joined to the restless motion of the eye, there is a want of mind—an absence of thought —and an action wholly by impulse, strongly expressed, and which constantly recalls the similarity. A man who appeared to be a chief, with two or three others, forced himself into the camp, bringing with bim his arms, in spite of my orders to the contrary. When shown our weapons, he bored his ears with his fingers, and said he could not hear. " Why," said he, " there are none of you."-Counting the people around the camp, and including in the number a mule which was being shod, he made out 22. "So many," said he, showing the num ber, " and we—we are a grea t many ;" and he pointed to the hills and mountains round about. "If you have your arms," said he, twanging his bow, " we have these." I had some difficulty in restraining the people, particu larly Carson, who felt an insult of this kind as much as if it had been given by a more responsible being. " Don't say , that, old m an ," sa id h e ; " don ' t you say that—your lifes in danger"—speaking in good English ; and pro babl:,- the old man was nearer to his end than he will be before he meets it. Several animals had been necessarily left behind near the camp last night ; and - early in the morning, before the Indians made their appearance several men were sent to b r i ng t h em i n . Wh en I was tth begin ning to be u neas y at t h e i r a b sence , they returned with information that th e y had been driven the tarcks, in a short distance they found the off from the trail by Indians ; and, having ! out upon bushes. In the evening I gave a fatigued horse to a r feast; and the village which e an f i n mls cut up and spread a with the others, who loud complaints f Many of the rocks of the partial dis hoifm the off Indiansrrue4foror someried to tribution.ala share these Indians had long sti c k s , hooked at the end, which they other small animals, from their holes. Th ese belong to the people who are generally known under th e Fizards, and ns , of Diggers ; and to these I have more particul ar ly haarreference, when occasionally speaking of a people whale sole occupation is to procure food sufficient to sup port existence.—Captaiu Freemont's United States' Ex -wloring Expedition in Oregon and California. TAE ARMY OF THE SUTLEJ.—There is one little cir cuctstance connected with a portion of this gallant army of so t oching a character, that we cannot forgo the delight in recording it in our colums. Amidst the din of battles and the - wild hurrahs of victory, the wail of distress from his native lan. d reached the Irish soldier on the remote banks of the Sut lej. His heart responded to the call, and within a few day s the Irish soldiers subscribed no lees than 8401. to the re lief of their suffering fellow-countrymen, and this sum they plat ed in the hands of their veteran commander, Sir Hugh Goucfs., himself an Irishman, for transmission to the scene of distre tic Having thus discharged their duty to the God of Charily, they went with lighter spirits to the stern per formar.oe of their military duties to their Sovereign and their coturtry.— Observer BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, APRIL 3.—Scarcely any brasiniss has been transacted in West-India sugar this week, o wing; to the want of supply ; but for Mauritius there has been a good demand, and about 5,000 'oats have found beivers at extreme rates. For Bengal there has been but li/tle inquiry.—Bristol Mercury. Sir Harry G. Smith, who commanded the British and native troops in the recent , ngegement against the Seikh army, is a son of the late Mr. Joint Smith, surgeon, of Whittlesea, Cambridge shire, and brother to Charles Smith, Esq., captain of the What e sea troop of Yeomanry. Sir Harry served in every action of the Peninsular war, except Talavera, and he was a staff Officer at Wa terloo.—Limerick Chronicle. DUTCH MAIL. Tun HAGUE, APRIL I,—The Government has Jae sent to the Second Chamber of the States General its answer to the observations made in the Provisional re port, on the project of law relative to the conditional augmentations of the imports and export duties of yeti oni articles." We see in this document, that the Govern ment has observed with satis;action, that the Second• Chamber had found in the circumstances in which the Netherlands are now placed with respect to Belgium sufficient motives to assent to the proposals which had been made to the legislature. The Government, on its part, sees no difficulty in yielding to the desire expressed by the majority of the Chamber to remove from the project of law, the gene ral tendency which had been given it, to render it ap plicable to Belgium alone. We have received, by way of Sincapore, accounts from Batavia of the Ist of }February, they inform us that in consequence of the failure of the potato crop in Holland, orders have been given to export a large quantity of rice. Ships laden with colonial produce for the Government were authorised to take one-third of their cargo in rice, other Dutch ships, which desired to take in rice, were admitted for that purpose, into the smaller ports, where there are no Custom-houses, and the duty on exportation is excused. With respect to the robbery iu Riouw, which we mentioned in our number of the 28th of February, we learn from the official account, published by the Government at Batavia, that a baud of about fifty Chinese, forcibly entered the house of William Koek, an English mer chant, settled at Riouw, in the night of the 11th of December, and having secured the inmates, began to plunder the house, &c. Mr. Leisk, an English seaman, who resided with Mr. Koek at the time, succeeded in making his escape, and giving an alarm, which made the Chinese hastily take flight. The patrole which came up was not, however, strong enough to capt u re any of the thieves in their flight. The inmates of the house escaped with some slight ill usage, the value of the property stolen is estimated at 1,070 florins. This crime is attributed to plots among the Chinese at Sinca pore, who have extensive connexions, and are much feared by their countrymen, to which it may be as cribed that no discovery has been made of the robbers, though a reward of 1,000 florins has been offered. It is in contemplation at Timor-ke pang to establish a depot of coals, for the use of steam-boats between Sincapore and the Dutch coast of Australia. THE HAGUE, APRIL 2,—The First Chamber of the States General, in its sitting yesterday gave its a- sent to three projects of law :-- 1. That for regulating the excise on sugar. 2. That for making an extraordinary grant to the Benevolent Society. _ 3. That for transferring to the budget for 1846, cer tain sums granted for 1845 for the Mint. HAMBURG MAIL. FROM THE GALICIA FRONTIER, MARCH 19.—The arrests in Poland and Galicia still continue. Count Potolucki and his family have just been taken by General Armes to Cracow; he is said to have been one of the most zealous adherents of the insurrection, and it is reported that on his estate of Bo brok, in the territory of Cracow, a lime-kiln was found, which was converted into a manufactory for arms, in which there was a considerable stock of weapons of every kind, with scythes and pikes. His request to remain under the protection of Russia was refused, because this was only granted to those who delivered themselves up with arms in their hands, whereas those who came clandestinely into the country to seek for protection were given up to the military tribunal at Cracow. MARCH 20.—The melancholy fruits of the insurrection, which, if not occasioned, was powerfully supported by the aristocracy and part of the clergy in Galicia, begin already to appear in all their frightful consequences, according to the accounts from Rozeszow. The peasants come in bands to the tribunal of the Circle, and demand the reward of their heroic defence, as they call it,of the throne and the monarchy, Their modest requests are confined to the abolition of the Corvees, the division of the estates of the nobles who have been killed and taken prisoners, of which they claim the half, the abolition of the monopoly of salt and tobacco, and exemption from military services. It may be conceived with what astonishment the governor listened to these bold demands. It seems that this state of things has given occa sion to some precautionary measures ; for these last two days all courtiers and diligences arrive at the frontiers with a military escort. We leave it to the statesmen of Aus tria to settle the question of this emancipation of the peasants, which would change the whole Austrian system of Govern ►nent. The most melancholy is, that it ia now difficult to gain the confidence of the peasants. The priests and the nobles have no influence over them, and the officers of the Circles meet with no attention to their exhortations. The Bishop of Cracow has returned to his flock. GALICIAW FRONTIERS, MARCH 21.—The accounts from Galicia are more favourable. Tranquillity is restored. The organisation of the public authorities, in those places where the justice and police officers of the nobles had been broken up, proceeds with tolerable rapidity; and it is hoped that the praiseworthy activity of the high imperial -authorities will soon effect what is necessary. The country itself has of course sustained a severe shock, and years may pass before it entirely recovers, which is the more to be regretted, as Galicia has of late made considerable improvements. Thanks to the regulations of the Paris propagandi, which had forbidden its partisans to sell corn, that the revolution, at least immediately after it broke out, might not be in want it is not likely that there will be any great scarcity in the country, because large stores of pro visions have been -discovered on most of the estates, and others are found every day. On the whole about fifty emis saries of foreign Polish committees have been partly killed and partly taken prisoners. The number of insurgents now subject to judicial inquiry may amount to 2,000 in Galicia alone, of whom the least guilty will probably be soon dismissed. On the whole, as the proceedings are concern ing facts and not plans of conspiracy, they wall proceed rapidly, and probably be terminated in a few months. The roads are everywhere secure, and remittances of money are again forwarded by the Post-office to Galicia. The Prussian resident at Cracow has received instructions rom Berlin to co-operate, to the utmost of its power, in the restoration of the Senate of Cracow.—Hamburg P aperst March 31. COTTON CULTIVATION IN INDIA. (From the Bombay Times.) The publication, in our paper of the 7th instant, of the epistle of our correspondent, " Mr. John Thomas, broker," together with the letter of " Indophilus," to which he referred, has led to our being favoured with the subjoined interesting Communication, descriptive of the experiments in cotton cultivation at Dharwar. Ti's information given as to the efforts of the Ryots "to ex tend the growth of the exotic plant, is in the highest degree satis+actory, and goes far to prove that the idea so generally entertained as to the apathy of na tive agriculturists, and their aversion to innovation, is, if not groundless, at least of far more limited application than parties have hitherto believed. We trust that Mr. Miller will take an early opportunity of sending us an account of the successful experiments with the saw-gin, to which he alludes in the concluding paragraph of his letter. " To the editor of the Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce " Sir,—fn the letter on the subject of cotton culture in India,' republished from the London Times in your issue on the 7th instant, Indophilus has, as you have snggested, somewhat exaggerated' regarding the extent of tha New Orleans cotton planted in Dharwar. This is, however, confined to his figures: the main inference, of the decided suecess attained, and the important fact that the culture is increasing and has been taken up by the natives,' is fully correct, and will be satisfactorily shown, I doubt not, by an exposition of the real state of the case, which, with your permission, I will here give fur the information of your readers. "Tho expt riment was started at Dharwar in the sum", mer of 1843. That seas on t h ere was about GOO acres or New Orleans cotton sown, but not more than 300 acres cultivated ; the other moiety, owing to the unavoidable absence of the gentleman who had it planted, was al lowed to run to waste, and the little it produced was not taken into the estimate of the season's out-turn. Of th e , 300 acres culti va t e d , 80 acres were i n the Government farm at Koosghul ; the rest was planted by the Ryots. A portion of the produce of the latter was sent to Chins, and realised 7 tales 2 macs per picul, the highest price then ruling. Another portion was shipped to Liverpool , and brought 30. per pound last May. In 1844 there were sown and cultivated about 2,100 acres-225 acres in the Government farms, and the rest by the Ryots. Th e produce, about 245 bales, is partly in Bombs,' and partly on the way there; and will, I doubt oob! shortly be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce for its opinion. In 1845, we had seed enough to plant 17,000 acres, of which upwards of 10,000 acres ba/ e „ been planted. The whole would have b een sown but for the almost total want of rain throughout the north' eastern part of the disthiet, and one entire ,ialooka rn the south. Of this quantity, 900 acres, or thereabout s has been planted by the Ryots on contract for Govern' ment—the rest, upwards of 9,000 acres, on their oW account, Government having abandoned the expert' mental farms. The picking of this clop has now cola' numced in parts of the district, and the prospect is very good, both as to quantity and quality. " Mr. John Thomas seems to infer that thousands of acres ought to produce tho usan d s of bales. The. , . would do for the banks of the Mississippi, where land it worth five dollars an acre per annum, and the cost O f cultivation at least ten dollars more ; but here, in the plains of the southern Mahratta country, at one rue per acre rent, an d t wo an d a half rupees cost of cult s ' vation, 501 b., or th e e i ghth of a bale per acre, is quite satisfactory, and pay s very well. " I might add something further in regard to the se e ' cess we have had here with the saw-gins, which I e°, e ; sider as sati s f actory as that with the introduction of t' New Orleans c o tt on, b ut w ill not trouble you further $s present. " W. R. MILLEX "Koosghul, Jan. 14, 1846." _a BIRTHS, 1 01. On the 23d inst., in Upper Seymour-street, Portman-square, Daniel Gwynne, of a daughter. 04 ' On the 27th ult., at Bryanston-square, Broad , / of a daughter. gi * On the 31st ult., at Monnington Rectory, Herefordshire, Gilbert F. Lewis, of a son. , Of On the 31st ult., at Ea g l e ' s C a i rn i e, North Britain, the 15— Captain the Hon. George Grey, R.N., of a son. On the 27th ult., at Athl one , th e lady of Captain J. E. Robsrto 6th Royal Regiment. of a daughter. On the 3d inst., at Maida-vale, Mrs. John Murray, of a detail:4' On the 2d inst., at North St o k e, O xon, the lady of the Rev. It ° R. Ilurle, of a son. MARRIED. O' On the 2d inst., at T r i n i ty Church, 3larylebone, Liente r w, Colonel Perceval, late o f t h e Grenadier Guards, to Caber daughter of the late J. R. Parker, of Upper Harley-street. vrff On the 2d inst., a t S t. Pancras Church, the Rev. Thonata..,', Rector of Ernberton, Rucks, to Mary Ann, relict of the late % n i l . ' Foster, Esq. 6( 10 On the 2d inst., at Southborough Church, Kent, Frederick itob Esq., to Susanna, daughter of the late T. Child, Esq. 11 10° DIED. On the 24th ult., at West Hatch, Chigwell, Essex, Samuel Abbot, of Trinity College, Cambridge, aged 21. On the 24th ult ,at Park-hill, Clapham, Jelin, infant aOll of Nicholson, Esq On the 29th ult., W. Hughes, Esq., late of St. John's, South , ' , te o Onthe 29th ult., at Radsliff, New Ferry, Ch es hi r e, Eliza, Edward Lane, Esq. —.O e London : Printed and Published by A' 1;IIDO YOUNG, of t re e *,,iiit Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, N 0.112, Strand, in th e 410 of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex, Monday' 6; 1846.