The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-23 00:00:00

t trb Ebition SUN OFFICE, Seven e' Clock. RAILWAY COMMITTEES (THIS DAY) ROUSE OF LORDS. Thlt DELTAST AND COUNTY DOWN. Their Lordships having formed themselves into a Corn mitte cm merit?, proceeded to hear the case of the Belfast and County Down Railway which was unopposed. The Bill having gone through the customary forms was declared by their Lordships to have passed, and will be re ported to the House and set down for a third reading. HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP IX. _ _ THE GLASGOW H ARBOUR. MINERAL TERMINUS. _ (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) To the eIIAIRMAN.—The width of the basin at the mouth is 40 feet.. it could be made 55 feet with the present esti mate, and he thought it would be wise to make an alteration in that respect. This closed the case for the Harbour Mineral scheme. Mr. Gray, the deputy-chairman of the Clyde River Trust, was here called, and shortly examined by the Chairman re specting the dues to be charged in the Mineral Harbour Basin. The Mineral Harbour dues were to be charged on goods, except that the charge on coal was to be hi. per ton on each bottom, instead of 2d. With this exception the harbour dues were chargeable independent of the scale of charges given in schedule A of the Harbour Mineral Bill. Mr. HILL, on the part of the Grand Junction Harbour scheme, said it would be a great convenience to him if his opening statement was put of till to-morrow morning. The Committee, after some deliberation, assented, and the promoters of some of the other schemes in the group not being ready to go on, the Committee adjourned till to-mor row at a quarter to twelve. GROUP XII. GLASGOW, PAISLEY, E.II.MAENOCZ, AND AYR, No. IL (IRVINE BRANCIEES.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The allegation having been concluded, The agent to the Bill said there were some statements in the end of the petition, about "errors and fraudulent con trivances," which had made a great noise in the country, but which had not been proved. The Committee said they had nothing to do with such statements, as they had not been entered into. HAINXIMON AND STRATNA.VEN LINE. This line was opposed by John Tenant and others. The agent to the Bill said they had given notice in this case of their intention to lease and to sell to another line. The line would not pass through any county but Lanarkshire. The length of the line is 9} miles ; the estimated cost 117,000/., or at an average of 13,000/. per mile. The first allegation of the petitioner was that the sections and plan did not show any datum horizontal line. The agent to the Bill admitted the allegation to some extent, but explained the error by reason of an accident having occurred to the engineer; but it was afterwards corrected. Standing orders not complied with. Several other errors of this class were alleged, some of which were admitted by the agent. The standing orders were declared not to have been com plied with, and the Committee then adjourned. GROUP XIV. NORTH RENT LING. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) In the course of these cross-examinations, Mr. Vignoles stated that the cost of the line between Southwark and the point of junction with the Croydon Railway would be about 292,904/., and the cost of land and stations for the same portion of the line would be perhaps 300,0001. This part of the lines would be partly on a viaduct, partly on embankments, and partly on retaining walls. The estimate was not sufficient to make a viaduct the whole length, but it was sufficient for the purposes of the railway, laid out in the manner he had just stated. The CHAIR LAN-Will yeur estimate enable you to provide for openings under the viaducts and embankments ? Mr. Vignoles—Certainly it will. There will be several openings. The CamumAx—Besides those for existing roads? Mr. Vig,noles—Yes. The Cumitat.tx—How much of this part of the line goes over fields and gardens ? Mr. Vignoles—About a mile and a half. The CIIAIRMAN—Do you contemplate that this will at some time be built upon? Mr, Vignoles—Yes, I do ; and I have provided 'for openings accordingly. Mr. CaLvERT—Are there no sewers on this part of the line? Mr. Vignoles—Not many; and the consequence ig, the land is marshy and a nuisance. The other day a child fell into one of the ditches, and was smothered before assist ance could arrive. Had there been a sewer, there would have been no ditch. Mr. CALvErr—When was your estimate made ? Mr. Vignoles—About three months ago. Mr. CALVERT—Have you made no allowance since for the increase in the price of labour and materials which has taken place since that time ? Mr. Vignoles—No, lam not aware that the price of labour and materials has increased; at all events, I have not found it so where I have works in different parts of the country. The witness was then re-examined by Mr. Sergeant WIUNOHAM on behalf of the promoters of the North Kent line. The witness stated positively that the Kent had a priority of claim to the North Kent district, for in 1836 he assisted in bringing a line before Parliament passing through North Kent, and running from London to Dover. That line, which was identical with the present one from London to Chatham, was opposed by the South-Eastera Company, and thrown out by Parliament In 1843 he proposed a line to Sittingbourne, and at this time there was only one other line in the field, but that one did not go fluffier then Gravesend. With respect to that part of the line between Southwark and New-cross, the station at London-bridge was quite inadequate for the traffic likely to come upon the North Kent line, while it must be evident to every one that his own station in Union-street, was amply sufficient for the North Kent traffic, and so situated that it would give better access to the west, and as good access to the east of the metropolis, as the station at Londen -bridge. The bridge crossing the Medway hsd been approved of by the Admirelty. His line of last year went much nearer to the Powder Mills of Faversham than the present one, but he did not alter the direction of the line, because he thought passing so near to the powder-mills would be dan gerous, but because he wished to remove the prejudices of the people in the neighbourhood. Mr. J. O'CONNELL-NOW, Mr. Vignolles, I wish to ask you a question ; but for fear yon should not be competent to speak to this point, I will mention the matter first. It re lates to third class fares. Mr. Vignolles—Ob, yes, I can speak to that point. Our Parliamentary low fares will be three farthings per mile, and I propose for the short traffic, such as to Woolwich, the same description, or perhaps a better description of accom modation will be given to third-class passengers than is found on the Dublin and Kingston Railway. Mr. O'CONNELL—No doubt the accommodation on the Dublin and Kingston Railway is very good; but great com plaints are made of some lines that they keep their third clasa passengers a long time on the road. Mr. VIGXOLES-It is my wish and intention that third class carriages should be attached to every first class train. In m y opinion companys will always find this to be the best • le prineip . Mr. O'CoxNELL—With regard to Sunday travelling, how do you propose to run the trains? Mr. VIGNOLES—I propose that except during divine ser vice trains shall run for the short traffic as often as possible, and I think it is much less a desecration of the Sabbath to give the working man an opportunity of breathing the fresh country air, than leaving him to drink in public houses, aad entail the air of a smoking atmosphere. Mr. Tite, the architect, proved that the estimated cost of the land on the line was 894,8181. to which he added 100,0001. for building stations. This estimate included everything. In the course of cross-examikation, he said his estimate was based upon the calculation that the minimum width of the line between London and New Cross was 60 feet, and maximum between 80 and 90 fees. The Committee adjourned at Four o'clock till Twelve o'clock to-morrow. GROUP XV. The Comntittee met, at twelve o'clock, in the Bail Court ; present, Mr. O'Connell, chairman, Mr. Mackinnon, Captain Hatton, Sir R. Price. 111ZIGHION AND CRICHES'rEIit (BOGNOR AND LITTLEHAIVINTON BEANCEES). Counsel, Mr. Austin and Mr. Merewether. Agents, Burke and Co. CRICRESTBR AND BOGNOR. Counsel—Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Clarke ; Agents—Deans, Dunlop, and Co. Mr. 'llowE opposed the Brighton branches, on the part of the Duke of Richmond and other landowners, and the Com missioners of the Felpham Level. Mr. JOHNSTONE complained that the line he appeared for had been considered as an opposing line to the Brighton branch, and that if so considered, he had been unfairly treated, inasmuch as the Bill having been read a second time on Thursday last, the standing orders of the House had not been complied with, giving them seven clear days' notice. His objections were overruled. 31r. AUSTM said the Bill on which he appeared was for two branches. The one, to Littlehampton, started from the Leo minster station, o n t h e B righton and Chichester line, would be 1 1 4 miles long, and would cost 10,0001. The other branch left the earns line at Woodgate, for the town of Bognor, a bathing-place well known, and n ly . l g eight mile Littl e hampton, and seven mil es south-east of Chiches s te w r es l;; f The length would be Bi miles f rom Weougate to the sea, con structed at a cost of 85,000/. Thera would be no engineering difficulties on the line, and it would be of great importance, as connecting, through:the Brighton line, Bognor and B r ighton and Lewes. The opposing line from things an to Chi c hester was in the present state o f an absurd project. Mr. Austin said it was six l ea ding to no town except Chichester, and that welithotnte ex i s ting communication, r g, the distance by that line toßrigrgehattoein and to Lewes, and to London, would be eight mil es than by the other, and besides that disadvantage, the cost of constructing it would be 80,000/. The opposition to the Brighton line was unimportant ; the Duke of Richmond was the owner of only one field ; and the opposition of the Commissioners of the Felphant Level was met by a clause which he (Mr. Austin) was pre pared to introduce into the Bill, binding themselves to clear all embankments and dikes on the level. Mr. MEREWETHER proceeded to prove these things by tritnesses. Mr. Rastrick, thelengineer, being called, gave evidence that the eections of the Bognor and Chichester line showed erro meows levels, in consequence of which, that line would be 16 feet below the other rails, where it was proposed to join them at Chichester, and that they had been tested by survey, and found incorrect. Mr. JonssToxi: begged, on the part of the Bognor and Chichester line, to have the examination postponed till Wednesday, that he and his friends might have the oppor tunity of considering the point of error which had been un expectedly raised, and especially that the engineer might survey the ground. The Committee having decided on going on with the case to-morrow, adjourned. GROUP XVI. EAMPTON BRANCH. The Committee on Group No. 16 met at twelve o'clock t o day. The objects of its inquiries are the several railways projected to complete the communication between the metropolis and the southern coast between Beachy Head and Portland. It is but a duty to the public and the other gentlemen who act as the official clerks ,'4 the House of Commons to observe, that the first instance I of incivility, and a want of th a t o bli g i ng di s p os iti on w hi c h ' I forms one of the greatest amenities of life, and which is cer tainly one of the greatest expeditors of business, was expe rienced by us to-day in the deportment of the person who officiates as the clerk of this Committee. The public have a right to know the whole of the proceedings in the several Com mittees, and the duty of a reporter is sufficiently arduous and the responsibility sufficiently important, without being sub jected to the impediments of a jack in office, who appears to have a greater experience of puerile self-sufficiency than of a sense of gentlemanly urbanity and of public duty. Hap' pily the House of Commons is sensible of the importance of the opinions of the public, and the Members themselves , invariably exhibit that courtesy of which their subordi i nate has, in this instance, shown a most sadly deficient knowledge, the exhibition f which to-day was for a time an impediment to the obtaining of that information to which by prescription at least the public have acquired a title. After some discussion on the arrangement of the business be fore the Committee, Mr. ALEXANDER said, that he wished to inquire what course the Committee intended to pursue. It was decided that the Hampton Court branch should be taken to-day, and that the Epsom branch should be taken on Wednesday. The Committee, which comprises Sir Charles Douglas, chairman, Mr. Lockhart, Lord Pollington, the Hon. 0. Duncombe, and Mr. Blewitt, having thus arranged, the Chairman called upon Mr. HILL, who appeared on the part of the South-Western Company, said that the object of this Company was rather with a view to the accommodation of the public than with a view to profit. It was intended to deviate from the present established line at about a mile below Ditton Marsh, and to terminate near to the bridge at Hampton. The cost would be about 40,0001., half of which was for land. It having been intimated that opposition was to be pro duced on behalf of the Western Green Chapel Trustees, Lord Hotham, and another gentleman, Mr. Him, called Mr. John Wilson Croker, who stated that he lived at Monlsey, within about a mile and a half of the proposed line, and was satisfied that it would be of great convenience both to the public in the metropolis, and at Hampton and its neighbourhood. As an illustration of the utility which this line was likely to be, he might say that the first passenger line which had been esta- ' blished between Paris and Versailles, which places bore re spectively much the same positions as existed between Hampton and London, and in France, they had not been content with one line, but had established two; one on each bank of the Seine. Between Hampton-court and London there were no less than twenty-two omnibuses and coaches constantly passing, while on the main line of the railway there was not a single conveyance of that kind. Every landowner but one was in favour of the line. Mr. Sharpe, the principal landowner, though not summoned to give evidence, had requested him to state his perfect con currence in the plan of the Company. To the inquiry of Mr. H. J. HODGSON, who appeared for Lord Hotham, Mr. CROKER said that his Lordship had not signed the petition for this extension. Mr. Edward Jesse, conservator of the royal parks at Hamp ton, and author of the celebrated works on natural history, stated that he had known the neighbourhood for many years and believed this line would be highly advantageous to the public, in consequence of the great influx of visitors to the palace at Hampton-court, of whom as manyas 8,000 had been there in one day. In the winter the visitors chiefly consisted of the lower classes, who generally came Were on Mondays and Tuesdays. During that season the visitors were certainly few, but there was a large influx from early in April to the end of October, to whom this railway would be a great convenience. Mr. Giffard, of the Admiralty, gave similar evidence, and then further stated that for himself and other gentlemen, whose duties required their constant presence in London, it would be a great convenience, inasmuch as it would very greatly reduce the time of the journey. At present it took him twenty minutes to get to the train, and three-quarters of an hour to get from the train to his own residence at Hampton, a distance of only four miles. The amount of traffic might be gathered from the fact, that on his journey to town three omnibuses drove up at once to the station. He felt assured that by the construe tion of this line the value of property at Hampton would be greatly increased. After a little discussion respecting the right of Mr. Evans to be heard in behalf of the trustees of the Weston-green Chapel, he was allowed to proceed, after stating that the two grounds on which the trustees opposed the line were, firstly, that the line would take their ground and chapel ; and se condly, that the congregation would be disturbed by the passage of the trains, which would be only 80 yards distant. The first ground was done away with, by the declaration of the Company that they would use their powers of devia tion, and leave the chapel th e di s t ance s t a t e d f rom th e li ne. As to the second ground of objection, Mr. Giffard stated that there had been a church built lately with the appro bation of the ecclesiastical authorities, within sixty yards of the line, and that the congregation in that church were not disturbed by the passage of the trains. He thought there was a doubt of this, because a relative of his had a house upon the brow of the cutting through which the railway passed, and where no disturbance was experienced. On Mr. TALBOT inquiring as to the course the Committee would pursue with respect to the traffic tables which he had to put in, and which were very extensive, Mr. Eva.ss again pressed his objection, which Mr. Talbot proposed to meet by going to a jury for the value of the chapel, which was both small and' unconsecrated. It was at last determined by the trustees, as announced by Mr. Evans, that they would not withdraw their opposition. Mr. Locke, the engineer of the Company, was then called by Mr. Austax,who stated that the line commenced near the 12th mile on the main line, near the Ditton station, the length of the branch being nothing less than two miles, throughout which there would no engineering difficulty whatever—the cost would be 40,0001. the smallest carve would be one of twenty chains throughout three furlongs. The line affected no ornamental or residential property what ever, and there is a good deal in the neighbourhood. There was no petition from landowners upon this point. The line was intended to be a double one, the working expenses amounting to 2,181/.; the returns, according to the traffic table, would amount to something more than 5,0001., leaving a profit of about 3,0001. a year. One public road would be crossed on a level. To Mr. HonosoN, Mr. Locke replied that there was in tended to be a station near part of Lord Ho tham's property, the line being conducted partly on an embankment, and partly on piles. No difficulty was apprehended from the flooding of the mill stream, be longing to Lord Hotham, as, whether the station were erected solid from the ground, or on piles, it would in no way affect the stream, which could go off in no other way than by the direction which it was now intended should be given to it by the line. If any objection were raised to a fixed bridge, he was was quite prepared to give a swing I bridge instead. TO Mr. EvAxs, Mr. Locke replied that the gradients on the line, were one of 1 in 1,560, one of 1 in 396, and one of 1 in 126; the rest of the line would be level, and none of those gradients in any way interfered with the chapel property. The nearest point from the centre of the line, fromthe front of the chapel, was about 80 yards, and there would be about 57 yards from the foot of the embankment to the chapel and he thought it very possible that the passing of a train or of a carriage alenglthe common road might possibly dis turb the congregation in the celebration of divine worship. The South Western Railway now passes within thirty yards of Trinity Church, in Argyle-street, Lambeth, and that of the Church of St. Mark's, the railway having been sanctioned by the Archbishop. Every provision had been made for the safety of passengers along the road, which was crossed on a level near the chapel. To Mr. AUSTIN, Mr. Locke replied that he had given a full assurance to Lord Hotham that he would undertake that the construction of the bridge should not stop the mill one quarter of an hour sooner, or obstruct its working one minute longer than before the making of the line, with which assu rance his Lordship had expressed himself as being perfectly satisfied. To Mr. HODGSON, Mr. Locke said that he could firmly assert that no backwater should exist after the construction of the railway. Mr. HODGSON said, that notwithstanding the proposition of Mr. Ausitn, in consequence of Lord Hotham not having been put into a position to oppose the Bill in the Standing Orders' Committee, he should still continue his opposition elsewhere. Mr. CRAWFORD stated that the value of the land to be taken was, 2,8801. is. 9d., including all collateral damage. If any injury was done to the mill-stream it would be easily calculated in money, for he had made such decisions himself. After some observations by Mr. EVANS, who, on the part of the trustees of Western-green Chapel, showed the diffi culty in which that body would be placed in finding another site, Mr. Schofield was called, who stated, that he was one of the trustees—that the chapel bad been erected in 1804, that its dimensions were 46 feet by 28 feet, beside the vestry and other adjoining buildings ; that there was a garden attached, and that the value of the property, which was freehold, was 6001. or 700/., if another such property were to be found by the trustees. A clause was then tendered by Mr. Hope for the Company. which, he thought, ought to satisfy the trustees. On this the Committee divided,:and on the r e-admission of strangers the Chairman stated that the Committee had decided that the preamble had been proved, subject to the introduction of the clause tendered by Mr. Hope, which the Company expressed their readiness to include. The Committee then went through the clauses, which were agreed to, with a few unimportant amendments, and the re port was ordered to be brought up. REIGATE BRANCH. Mr. HOPE made an application to the Committee to abridge the time for taking the consideration of this branch, upon which the Committee decided that as the private opponents of the Bill had appeared they would dispose of the uncon tested Bills, and then take the Reigate branch as the first of the competling lines. CHENTSETI AND SOUTH-EGNAM. Mr. HOPE in bringing this branch before the Committee, said, that this was another of those small branches which the South .Western Company had projected with a view to the accommodation of the public than to profit, like that of which the Committee had just disposed. The line was to be six miles in length, and was to run from the main line, near Weybridge to the foot of Staine's-bridge. The distance would be materially shortened, and the two chief towns of Surrey, Guildford and Kingston, the two chief towns on which Chertsey and Egham depend, would be relieved from long and circuitous routes. The several details would be given to the Committee, so that he would not anter npou :hem. The Company were quite ready to accede to a desire expressed by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and carry the line into Staines itself. Staines had a population of between 4,000 and 5,000 placed in the centre of a rich agricultural district, which greatly required railway accommodation. One instance of this h this was sh own i n th e h e avy cost of the car r i age o f li me , a aanaure much required by the seil in the neighbourhood. That cost cost w t /. woulda tboen,rewdhoecreead to sby t t s h . e Bd fo . ramattoinon to C ve h r e y rt u se s y ef a u n l d in 2s. 6d. t o E g h am . Th e li ne was lik e l y a l so t o b e of Guildford andinga better access to the county t owns both Kingston during the holding of petty ses sions and the assizes. A good avenue would further be opened for the trad e , districts of the country. One other the eastern and we s t ern other advantage would be one which ought not altogether to be the facility of access which the construction over—that was w ould give to the Court, to the Isl e of White, t Brighton.ionanotifl.his line The only opposition was offered on the part of vans, late Sheriff of London , but whose objections the Company w ere anxious to meet by every means in th e i r power ; x; several of the witnesses were required to be at the Assizes to-morrow at Kingston he (Mr. Hope) trusted the Committee would pass through the evidence as quickly as they could. Colonel Thomas Challenor, of Portland Park, on Virginia Water, a considerable landowner, testified that the traffic by that of his property had so decre wed ad thirty-two G coaches, which hod been put off the roinstead b Y the reat Western and South Western Railways, there was only one every other day. Property had consequently declined in value. It now cost him 245. to get a waggon load of chalk from Guildford, and that he could only get oc casionally in the winter. The railway would .reduce this expense, that both he and his neighbours could obtain this manure, and thus would render their land twice as pro ductive as it was now. So far as the Court was concerned, he had to observe that Windsor was now eighteen miles from the Farnborough station, and there WU no emir) , post be tween the two places, a distance far too great to send an escort of cavalry. As a magistrate, he conceived that this branch would be very advantageous in improving the com munication between the several parts of the country and the country towns. Indeed, in every way the line would be beneficial. By a cross-examination of Mr WORDSWORTH, who ap - peared on behalf of Mr. Evans, it was shown that the dis distance between the neighbourhood of Colonel Challoner's estate and Guildford, would be increased in consequence of going by the railway by 7 miles, and to London by 2i miles. About sixty prisoners were annually sent from his part of the country to Guildford, the expense of whose transmission would be reduced to one third by the railway. Captain CAVENDISH, a magistrate and agriculturist, con firmed Colonel Challoner's evidence, particularly as to getting coal and chalk from the south east, as also the transmission of prisoners. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock. Sub-Committee No. 1. PAISLEY, BARILIIEAII, AND EYELET LINE. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The Learned Courtsm. commented upon the opposition offered, and then proceeded to call witnesses in support of his case. Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS, who now entered the Committee room, argued that he was entitled to be heard in opposition for the Ardrossan Company. They were a competing Com pany, inasmuch as they proposed to carry coals from the Penton collieries to Irvine. Sir T. PHILLIPS replied. He contended that his Learned Friend should not be heard as competing, for he proposed only to accommodate the town of Irvine, whereas the parties he (Sir T. Phillips) represented intended to carry the line on to the port itself. The Committee decided that the only branch to the Pen ston Collieries should be held as competing. Mr. Miller, C.E., then, after explaining the course of the present Ayrshire Railway, described the proposed branch to the port of Irvine as commencing three miles from Kilmar nock in order to remedy the preseet very circuitous route. The country was peculiarly even ; there would be no tunnel ing; the steepest gradient would be 1 in 75; the smallest radius of a curve of 15 chains. The estimated cost 80,0004 Cross-examined by Mr. WHEATLEY, Q. C.—The Preston branch did go through some fields belonging to Mr. Guthrie, and very near one of the farm-Louses. If the line were diverted the estimated cost of 4,000/. would be nearly doubled. The Company was most anxious to meet the wishes of Mr. Guthrie as far as possible. It was suggested by the Committee, that . Mr. Miller should try to effect an arrangement with some engineer representing Mr. Guthrie. Mr. WHEATLEY contended also, that the compensation should be made to Mr. Guthrie for " way leave," this branch proposing to yield a way to certain private collieries, which would come into opposition with Mr. Guthrie's. Sir T. PHILLIPs replied that no claim of the kind could be made by Mr. Guthrie. After a few words from Mr. WHEATLEY The Committee decided that Mr. Guthrie was not entitled to compensation for " way leave." Mr. Robertson, Provost of Irvine, was then called to prove the benefit to Irvine from the opening of these several branches. Mr. Chrisler, mineral surveyor, estimated the traffic on minerals by the new lines at 5,364/. lls. Bd., and the increase on the existing one of 5,833/. ss. Bd. Mr. Anderson calculated that the goods traffic between Kil marnock and Irvine would be 4641. 12s. 10d., and pas sengers 757/. lds. Tho Bill was then ordered to stand over as previously ar ranged, and the Cummittee adjourned. Sub-Committee No. 2. CRELMSPOND AND BURY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) It was then alleged that the proportion of the rate of incli nation at various points was inaccurately marked. Several instances of the alleged omission were established. Several allegations to the same effect were not sustained. It was then alleged that on the section at a certain point one road on the main line at the 10th mile and seven and a. half furlong which was to be lowered was not correctly marked on the Stowmarket branch. This allegation was abandoned. It was then alleged that the alterations on the cross sec tions were not marked in figures on the said branch. This allegation was not sustained, the Committee being of opinion that the allegation was not sufficiently specific. It was then alleged that there was no specific reference to certain cross sections on the Stowmarket branch. This allegation was sustained with respect to the road, 3 A r which was omitted on the plan deposited with the Clerk of the Peace for Suffolk, and 6 A. The next allegation was, that the plans deposited with thee Clerks of the Peace for the Counties of Suffolk and Essex, were not duplicates. This allegation was substantiated with reference to the point at the road marked on one plan 17 feet 6 inches, and out the other 16 feet. Mr. WEBSTER objected that the allegation should have stated upon which plan the respective figures were marked. The Committee overruled the objection, and found th.tt the allegation was sustained. Some other allegations to the same effect were anmittfid , which terminated the case for this petition. Mr. ELLICOMBE said he appeared in support of the neon t petition from Mr. W. Stevens. He was unwilling to occup y the time of the Committee by going into that ipf— tition as it contained several allegations which bazd been sustained in those which had preceded. The number of allegations substantiated was so large that he advised kis client not to press his petition. After some discussion, it was agreed to take or two distinct allegations, which was accordingly done. These allegations stated that there were some inaccures ies as to the marking of the gradients on the plan deposited in the Private Bill-office, which were sustained. There was another petition, which was not pressed, .and the CHAIRMAN announced that in the case of this BilL the standing orders had not been complied with. The Committee then adjourned till to• morrow. Sub-Committee, No. 6. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) SCOTTISH SOUTHERN. This line is to commence at Stranear and terminal, at Dunmore. The length is seventeen miles, and the satins tted cost 30,000/. Engineer, Mr. Miller; Parliamentaty a; nts, Messrs. Deans, Dunlop, and Pope; solicitor, Mr. Di‘Ge verge. The Committee decided that the standing orders ha d not been complied with, in respect of the datum fixed p oint which was not near one of the termini. In all other re ep ects they declared that the standing orders to have been cor ap.lied with. LESMAHAGOW, DALSERP, AND COR BRIDGE MINERAL. JUNCTION. ---- • The promoters of the Bill seek for powers to coast and a mineral branch to Wislaw and Coltness Railway. Length two miles, estimated cost 50,000/. ; engine( r, Mr. J. Adee ; Parliamentary agents and solicitor, same as in the last-named Bill. The SPEAKER having been announced to be at l raying during the consideration of this Bill the Commit ten ad journed until to-morrow, when it will again come, 'before them. STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEMS. HOUSE OF LORDS. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH RAI LWAY. This was the next line which came under the oors sideration of their Lordships. An objection was entered. a& ainst this Bill that the names of parties who were promoters of the Bill last year, and whose connexion had ceased, with the line, were still retained to the Bill. The Committee decided that, in consequence of a resolu tion passed last year—that every Bill should come before the Committee in precisely the same state as when it was referred back last year, those names were of necessity retained, and they therefore recommended that the Bill should be allowed to proceed, on the parties undertaking to strike out the re tained names, and producing a Bill signed only by the pre sent promoters. The Committee adjourned till to-morrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS. EXETER GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) The decision with regard to the former allegation was postponed, till a witness was sent for, and with regard to the latter. Mr. VENABLES, on the part of the promoters, presented a document from Lord Bridport and Mr. Thomas Hoskins, two of the petitioners, assenting to the line. The Committee was of opinion that they "could not receive their assent as a withdrawal; that the proper course would have been to have announced their intention to Parliament by another petition. With regard to the numerous inaccu • racies in the plans, the disagreement between the plans and sections, and other engineering points, alleged as not in con formity with the standing orders, some of them were aban doned, and many of them were held to be immaterial, but still to amount to noncompliances. There were 75 allegations contained in this petition, which occupied the Committee till four o'clock, when they adjourned till to-morrow. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. CHESTZR CUP. 8 to 1 agst Wadlow's lot 12 to 1 agat Sweetmeat 20 to 1 agst Clumsy 20 to 1 agst Miss Burns 22 to 1 agat Best Bower 25 to 1 agst Hope 30 to 1 agst Mermaid 30 to 1 agst Fitzallan 35 to 1 agst Arthur 40 to 1 agst The MrAgnet 40 to 1 agst Billy Purvis 50 to 1 agst Discord 100 to 1 agst Libel—taken Six o'Cwcic. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 20 to 1 agat Marquis of Conyngham NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 4 to 1 agst Godfrey 5 to 1 agst Morpeth DERBY. 14 to 1 agat Brocardo 35 to 1 agst Malcolm 50 to 1. agst Poynton MPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OFCOMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a few rnintues to Four SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time and passed, viz.:— Scottish Central Railway (Denny Branch). Scottish Central Railway (Alloa Branch). Scottish Central Railway (Crieff Branch). Scottish Central Railway (Perth Termini and Stations). Strathtay and Breadalbane Railway. Caledonian Northern Direct Railway. Caledonian Railway (Langholme Branch.) S'irlingshire Midland Junction Railway. Caledonian Railway (Clydesdale Junction Railway De viation). Caledonian Railway (Glasgow Termini and Branches). Caledonian Railway (Carlisle Deviation). Pella, and Govan and Clydesdale Junction Railways Amalgamation. Caledonian Railway (Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coat- Gl b a r s i g d o g w e , R S a t i r i a . w th ay am P en ti , and Le "haae).smhagow Direct Railway. GlasgWeow Branch)., Paisley, and G reenock Railway (Bridge of ir Caledonian, Polloc and Govan, and Clydesdale Junction Railways Amalgamation. Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilstoa Direct Railway (Branches to Paisley). Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton Railway Amendment. Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge Railway Extension. Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway. Wester.- 3 uper-Mare Pier. Banffshire Railway. Bridhouse Sewering, Draining, and Lighting. Plymouth Cemetery. Taunton Gas. Yeovil Market and Fairs. Stockton Gas. Dudley Canal and Birmingham Canal Companies Amal gamation. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail way (Stour Valley Line.) Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley Rail way (Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Line.) Midland Railway (Leicester and Swannington Railway Alteration and Branches.) Midland Railway (Burton-upon-Trent to Nuneaton). SOUTH WALES RAILWAY. Mr. VIVIAN moved the second reading of the South Wales Railway Bill, when Captain BARCLAY hoped that the Hon. Member would not press the second reading. It was well known that the Board of Admiralty were opposed to the crossing of the river Severn at the Aust ferry, which was con templated by the South Wales Company; and when the Bill should be carried before the Committee of the House, with this fact before them, it was certain that the Committee would not allow the work to be pro cee4ed with. He understood that, in order toget over this difficulty, the parties promoting the measure had a plan by which they proposed to carry tho railway under the river by means of a tunnel. The Board of Admiralty would, in his opinion, object quite as strongly to that mode as by the former proposed plan of a bridge, as it would completely prevent any future improvement in the navigation of the Severn. The Hon. Gentleman then read a letter which had been received from the Admiralty Board, in which their Lordships expressed their strongest objection to the river being crossed by a bridge ; and, in fat t, any method of crossing the river which should interfere with its bed or navigation. He hoped that the second reading of the Bill would be put off for a week, in order that the opinion of the Lords of the Admiralty as to the proposed tunnel might be obtained. He should, therefore, move that the second reading of the Bill be adjourned to this day week. Mr. RUSSELL hoped the House would bear in mind the circumstances which attended the proposed railway. He could assure the Hon. Gentlman °that the Bill was now framed in a mode which was deemed satisfactory to the Admiralty. He had in his possession a letter from the First Lord of the Admiralty, which stated that the Admiralty Board would give their entire assent to the mode proposed by crossing the river by means of a tunnel. Captain BARCLAY said, if he had known that the Admiralty.had given their consent to the making of a tunnel, he would not have opposed the second reading of the Bill. The question was then put from the Chair, and the Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. MIDLAND RAILWAY.—PURCHASE OF OAK HAM CANAL. Mr. PACKE opposed the second reading of this Bill, as he did not deem it advisable that the canal should be stopped. It was a question which involved the whole canal interest of the kingdom, and he would ask the House to consider how far a railway company should be allowed to interfere with the working a canal, and whether such a mode of proceeding would not eventually prejudice the interests of the public. He begged to move that the Bill be read a second time this day week. Colonel SIBTHORP thought it was high time that some check should be given to the monopolising system of the various railway companies. Mr. FINCH thought there was no good and valid objection to the second reading of the Bill. The canal which the Honourable Gentleman had spoken of was the worst in the kingdom, and the great body of the proprie tors of the canal were favourable to its sale. The rail way company proposed to furnish a better mode of conveyance than that which was furnished at present by the canal ;: and he therefore trusted that the House would not entertain the objection of the Hon. Gentleman to the second reading of the Bill. After a few words from Lord G. SOMERSET, Sir JOHN TROLLOPE said that the Company would enter into any arrangement to make the Canal more advantageous to the public. The amendment was then withdrawn. FORTH AND CLYDE RAILWAY. Mr. FORBES presented petitions from Stirlingshire and Perthshire in favour of the Forth and Clyde Rail- way. MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, AND NEW CASTLE JUNCTION RAILWAY. An HON. MEMBER presented a petition signed by 4,000 persons, in favour of the above railway. Mr. GREENE brought up the report on the Scottish Grand Junction Railway Bill, which was ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. ENTWISLE presented a petition from the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Company against the North British Railway. LONDON AND NEWCASTLE RAILWAY. Mr. DUNCAN presented two petitions in favour of this Bill. BOLTON WATERWORKS BILL. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from the township of Little Bolton, in Lancashire, against the Bolton Water works Bill. WEST RIDING UNION RAILWAY. The HoN. GENTLEMAN then moved that the minutes of evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on the petition for the West Riding Union Railway Bill, on the 12th and 13th days of February, 1846, be referred to the Committee on the Petition for the West Riding Union Railway Bill, presented en the 10th day of this instant March. Sir G. - CLERK considered that this mode of pro ceeding would be altogether irregular. The promoters had had the consent of the Coiximittee appointed to in quire into their petition, and they had leave from this Committee, under peculiar circumstances, to present a fresh petition to that House for leave to in troduce a fresh Bill. But the present petition was to refer the evidence taken by the Committee upon a former occasion to the Committee which might be appointed to hear the petition since presented. He did not consider that it followed that the Bill now to be brought in upon the new petition was similar to the Bill introduced upon the first petition. He had heard no reason stated why the petition should be acceded to, and he must, therefore, object to the motion of his Honourable Friend. It was a motion of an unusual character ; the petition upon the present Bill was altogether a new and substantive measure. It would have to stand upon its own merits. Another Committee would exercise their own discretion upon it, or they might call further evidence, and would obtain all the information they might require. lie could not, therefore, see how evidence taken upon a former occa sion could be made to apply to the measure under con sideration. Lord MORPETH considered that the customary course of proceeding in this House would be against entertaining the motion at present. With reference to the Bill to which this petition applied, the promoters were fully confident of its merits ; they did not wish for any concealment whatever.—(Hear) The Bill to be brought in was a fresh proceeding alto ther, and they would have the usual means of opposing it ; and he therefore trusted that the House would com ply with the recommendation of the Hon. Member for Oxford, and not entertain the petition. Mr. MUNTZ said that he was not aware that he was seeking for anything irregular in moving for the evi dence. Ho was not an interested party in the Bill, and he would be the last person to press for anything ir regular ; ho would, therefore, beg leave to withdraw his motion. LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY. Mr. O'CONNELL brought up a report from Group 15 on the London and Brighton Railway, which was ordered to lie on the table. Mr lIUME said he had two petitions to present, partly of a private nature, and yet they might be called public, when the importance of the subjects to which they referred was considered. They related to the na vigation of the country. The one was from the Parlia mentary trustees on the river Clyde. It stated that a railway company, which had brought in its Bill last Session, and which was for eleven days before a Com mittee, and which was at length rejected, had this year come forward with the same propo sition. The trustees had opposed them, at an expense of 5,0001., and they begged to be protected against this continual annoyance. The other petition was from the inhabitants of the town of Warrington, against a rail way company which had made three several attempts to cross the Mersey. 3,000,000 tons of goods passed up and down this river annually, and the powers they sought would be a great injury to the navigation. He begged to say that he would at some fu!ure time call the attention of the House to this subject, in order that some means might be devised to prevent the annoyance and expense. Mr. BANKS presented two petitions against the Midland Railway, from the residents and landholders on the banks of the Oakham canal. The petitioners stated that the Company was about to purchase and disuse the canal, and that would int er f ere w ith ce rtrin privileges which they enjoyed under the Canal Act. Lord WORSLEY moved that it be an instruction to the Committee on Railways, Group No. 9, to proceed with the consideration of the Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction Railway Terminus Bill, but after a short dis cussion, in which Lord G. Somerset and another Hon. Member took part, the Noble Lord withdrew his motion. , AMALGAMATION OF RAILWAYS. Mr. W. PATTEN then moved that a Seleet Commit tee, to consider how far, and under what regulations, the further amalgamation of railways wovld ba consistent with a due regard to the commercial and general inte rests of the country. In moving this motion he did not mean to disparage amalgamations of railways in general, because he did believe that, with proper regu lations and proper restrictions, amalgamations might be rendered more beneficial to the promoters and more con ducive to the general interests of the country. The ex tent to which it was proposed to carry amalgamations was so great that, in his opinion, it was desirable that the House should be in possession of more accurate information and more practicable results in relation to amalgrmation generally before the House proceeded to commit itself to the extent now proposed. The amal gamation Bills before the House amounted to thirty three, and they comprised railway communications ex tending fro m one end of th e coun t ry to t h e ot h er . At first sightit would only appear that some of these Bills related only to particular districts, but in two in stances there were Bill s b y w hi c h fi ve or s i x separa t e companies were proposed to be placed under one ma nagement,and which proposed to remove that competition which the public had hitherto relied upon for protection. There were some of these Bills to which he thought public attention was not sufficiently drawn, though they materially affected the commerce of the country. It was not alone on railway schemes that such was the case, for he held in his hnnd a list of canals which it was sought to amalgamate or unite with the canals, the object being most manifestly to encourage the old system of water carriage, which was found to be most inconvenient. The question assumed such an importance, that he believed if the House did not take measures to regulate and restrain the speculations of capitalists, the result would be very ruinous to the country. To give an illustrationlof what was going to take place he might mention that there was a project to connect Scotland with the city of Bristol, crossing an immense district of country. Now, it struck him that it would be impossible to get a company who could raise a sufficient capital to carry out such a project. He would not have objected to the Chairman of the Committee of Selection appointing a group of Members possessing the confidence of the House, to make the necessary arrangements which was sought to be obtained by the motion which he (Mr. W. Patten) now sub mitted. He for one, however, at the same time must say that such a course would be an unusual one, and one to which some objection might be taken. It was a question also that might be left to the consideration of the Committee appointed at the suggestion of the Honourable Member for Inverness (Mr. Morrison), and he (Mr. Patten) would no objection to its being referred to that Committee, providing the inquiry into these amalgamations could be proceeded with at once. It was important that on such a subject no delay should take place. If the consideration of the subject was put oft' till the middle of the session, the consequence would be, that many of the Bills would either have to be adju dicated on without the result of the inquiry, or else the Bills would have to be put off till next session, .to the great inconvenience of the promoters of these schemes. It was to obtain the opinion of all parties throughout the country, whose practical knowledge and experience enabled them to give advice, and in order to place the best information on the subject before the House, that he proposed the present Committee. —(Hear, hear.) He thought the report of the Board of Trade on this question had not been attended to enough last session. Had the Committee acted more on the suggestion of that report than they did much of the evil complained of would have been avoided. Mr. ENTWISLE concurred in the remarks that fel from the Hon. Member who supported the appointmen of the Committee. COMMONS' SUMMARY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. Several railway Bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed. Mr. VIVIAN moved the second reading of the South Wales Railway Bill. Captain BERKLEY moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day three months. He objected to the railway crossing the river Severn by a bridge, and he was sure the Admiralty would object to a tunnel. Mr. RUSSELL said that it was not the intention of the South Wales Railway to cross the Severn by a bridge, that they intended to do so by a tunnel, and that the adoption of that plan was consented to by the Admiralty. After this statement the amendment was withdrawn, and the Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. On the motion for the second reading of the Midland Rail way (Oakhant Canal purchase) Bill, some discussion took place on the amendment of Mr. PARKE, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, which ended in the mo tion being withdrawn, and the Bill read a second time, and ordered to be committed. After a short discussion, Mr. MuarTz withdrew his motion, that the minutes of evidence taken before the Sub-Committee on the petition for the West Riding Union Railway Bill, be referred to the Committee on the petition for the West Riding Union Railway Bill presented on the 10th inst. Lord WORSLEY moved, pursuant to notice, that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Railway Group No. 9, to proceed with the consideration of the Glasgow Harbour Grand Junction Railway Terminus Bill. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn. Mr. W. FATTEN then moved for a Select Committee to consider how far, and under what regulation the further amalgamation of railways would be consistent with a due re gard to the commercial and general interests of the country. HOUSE OF LORDS. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat on the Woo; sack at five o'clock. WEXFORD AND WATERFORD RAILWAY. The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition in favour of this line. CORK AND WATERFORD RAILWAY. A NOBLE LORD presented several petitions in favour of the Cork and Waterford Railway. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Lord DENMAN presented a petition from a person named Robert Green, who is now confined in the Queen's Bench Prison for debt, praying their Lordships to amend the law for the relief of insolvent debtors, in order that persons imprisoned for debt might regain their liberty without going through the Bankruptcy or Insolvent Courts. POOR-RATES. Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from Tiver ton complaining that the poor-rates fell heavily on the owners of real property, that other parties were ex empted from them, and praying that they should be superseded by a national tax, and that if any deficiency took place, it should be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund. lie could not exactly agree in the prayer of the petition, but he could not help stating that the proposed law of settlement did not meet with the approbation of the country, as it would pres heavily on the agricultu ral portion of the community. TI nits. Lord CAMPBELL inquired if the Lord Chancellor intended to introduce any Bill with respect to the levy ing tithes this session, as there was considerable differ ence of opinion on the subject? The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the case came under the consideration of the Court of Queen's Bench, and they were equally divided upon it. The same case came also before the Court of Common Pleas, who were also divided upon it. Under such circumstances, he con sidered it to be a very proper subject for legislation, and he proposed very soon to lay on the table of the House a Bill baying special reference to it. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Archbishop of York, against the London and York Railway. The line pr,posed to pass within a quarter of a mile of the windows of the Archiepiscopal Palace, at Bishopsthorpe, and would cut off all communication with his farm-house. Another line of railway ran within a mile of the palace, and he prayed the protection of the House against such interference. It was not for himself so much as for his successors that he made the present stand. - FEVER HOSPITALS (IRELAND) BILL. Earl ST. GERMANS moved the second reading of this Bill, and in doing so he hoped their Lordships would pass the Bill with as little delay as possible, as it had been ascertained from returns that had been laid upon the table, that fever was rapidly on the increase in that country. _ 'The - Bill was then read a second and a third time, and passed. STATE OF IRELAND. Earl GREY, in rising to move that an humble ad dress be presented to her Majesty, relative to the state of Ireland, felt bound to apologise to their Lordships for thus bringing forward a subject of such extreme difficulty, and to which he felt unable to do justice. His only excuse was this, that he had not found any other Noble Lord to do so, and he felt compelled by a sense of duty to introduce the matter. The measurs which had been introduced, with reference to Ireland, were, in his judgment, of such a character as to render it imperative on the House to take the earliest opportunity, after having seen these Bills, of declaring by their assembled votes that those measures were in themselves quite in adequate to cure the social evils by which Ireland had been so long afflicted, and that they were only justified on the supposition that they were intended to give time for the application of other and more effectual remedies. —(Hear.) It was the object of the motion that he now submitted to the House to call upon their Lordships to express that opinion, and he only earnestly wished that the task had rallen into other and worthier hands. But as this was not the case he had only to intreat their Lordships' indulgence to their very imperfect manner, in which he might fulfil the duty he bad imposed upon himself. In bringing this subject before them, unfor tunately, there was but Ittle need to dwell upon the un happy condition of Ireland. They had heard enough of that from those placed higher in authority than he was. The Noble Lord opposite, on behalf of her Majesty's Government, in introducing the different measures, had described the state of society as most awful to contemplate —as a state of society in which there was no security to life or pro perty, as a state of society in which the extreme wretchedness was most appalling, in consequence of the partial failure of the potato crop, a failure which was likely to lead to famine and pestilence, unless counter acted by the measures introduced by her Majesty's Government. This was the state of things described by her Majesty's Ministers, and unfortunately this was not an accidental nor an extraordinary, nor an unlooked - for calamity. It was but an aggravation, and not a great aggravation, but a chronic and habitual state of Ireland. The evils of that unhappy country were not accidental, they were habitual. The ordinary condition of that country was one of wretched ness and lawlessnes. It was so described by every com petent authority, and nointelligent foreigner who pushed his inquiries as far as Ireland but gave it this description. It was a digrace and a reproach to any country, a standing disgrace to England, that Ireland should re maind in the position in which it was. It was regarded throughout the Continent, he assured them, nod they pleased, but there was no foreigner—French, Ger man, Ameri can , or I ta li an, or any nation of any foreign country, however different in form of government, who visited Ireland who did not turn and congratulate himself on the state of his own country. It was a greater disgrace because this state of things had been created by our own policy. The mere fact saved all forms of argument and was a conclusive irrefragable proof that it was the fault of our Government. Now could they lay to their souls the flattering unction that it was misgovernment alone that caused this state of things. They cannot say that whatever state of things existed it was not their own fault. The Government of Ireland before the Union was the most ingeniously bad that was ever contrived—it was the Government of a corrupt minority sustained by the su perior power of the Parliament of this country, and it triumphed over the good l eg i s l at i on of those opposed to it, S and left behind it fatal and irreparable evils. No man could have a stronger opinion than himself of the venality of the Gover nment which existed in Ireland be foe the Union. The Union, however, was a matter of history. Half a c entury or more than fifty years had elapsed since that measbre was carried, and for nearly fifty years Ir e l an d had been under the control of the Imperial Parliament of England. Another generation had since grow n up, and was now passing away and giving place to another ; and he asked what impression had been made on the evils of Ireland since that time. He could not deny that many good measures had been passed, and he was the &Ist to acknowledge and approve of them. He believed that several measures had been adopted, many of which he hoped bad contributed in some respects to improve the condition of Ireland, but in the worst and leading symptoms no improvement had been made. On that point he could quote high authori ties. He found that the Commission presided over by a Noble Earl, not then in his place, had said, the year before last, that a slight improvement had begun in agriculture in Ireland ; but there was evidently no advance or improvement in the condition of the labouring classes In the report of that Commission they were informed that the aericultural labourers still suffered great priva tions and hardships ; that they depended upon casual and precarious employment for their subsistence ; that they were badly housed, badly fed, badly clothed, and badly paid for their labour. And the Com missioners concluded this part of their statement by saying—" We cannot forbear expressing our strong sense of the patient endurance which the labouring classes generally- exhibited under sufferings greater, we believe, than the people of any other country have ever endured." This was an authentic statement, and came from a Commission appointed only the other day to inquire into the state of the people of Ireland. It was a report describing the state of things in that country before the failure of the potatoe crops, and they told them that the sufferings of the great mass of the people of that country were s reater than those endured by any other country in Europe.—(Bear, hear.) This was indeed a field for statements, and coming from such a quarter could not be without founda tion upon equally authentic informasion. Ile (Lord Grey) could state that the condition of Ireland was much worse now than formerly ; he meant that the whole mass of the nation were dissatisfied with the in stitutions under which they lived.—(Cheers.) A strong, a deep feeling of hostility to that form of Government under which they were placed, seemed to him to be rather gaining than losing strength.— (Hear, hear.) He was led to that opinion by what he heard fall from the Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department two years ago. lie heard that Right Hon. Baronet say — and the statement made a deep impression on his mind — he said in answer to a speech of a Noble Friend of his, that he distinctly admitted that we held military occu pation of Ireland, and that that country could not be governed by any other means—that it was occupied by troops, but not governed like England. This was a statement made by the Secr tart' of State for the Home Department. He (Lord Grey) asked if that state of things ought longer to continue? It lead -him to infer that there must have been something wrong in the policy they had pursued, and that some measures different in character were required to meet the exigencies of the country. That was the inference which arose out of these pre mises. He could not understand how a man who was in his reason could arrive at a different conclusion. He repeated that a change was absolutely necessary. But her Majesty's Government proposed to continue the mea sures which had hitherto been pursued—measures which had increased instead of decrease the evils under which Ireland laboured —they proposed doggedly to persue. He asked how they could expect but that their mea • sures would condemn the old termination. Money and coercion had beeen the whole policy of her Majesty's Government. There had been no lack of money, hut it had failed to re medy the evil. The statement he had made showed that some remedies, other than those adopted, were required to meet the condition of Ireland. It was impossible for this state of things to continue with credit to this country.—(Hear, hear.) Should it be told him that the condition of Ireland was in such a state that it was impossible for them to alter it. He would sas that that was a libel upon common sense, unless, indeed, it was not in the wish of the Legislature to alter it. Ireland was gifted by nature with great resources. She had great coasts and harbours— she had great water-courses—and, indeed, her great natural resources were not to be denied. When the people of Ireland were removed from this condition, they would become better affected towards this country. Their dispositions were not averse to a friendly relation with us, but the misgovernment which they had experienced alienated them from this country. We see them in the colonies—we see them in America—we see them in all parts of the world distinguishing themselves, and taking most important positions where their energies and talents were brought to bear. We see them here at the hardest work, and their industry and good conduct was most exemplary. He had himself seen them'in that part of the country with which he was connected, and he had found them grateful for the labour which they had got. They were thankful, they were well-con ducted, and they were buoyant in spirits ; they were not given to quarrel ; to be sure we saw them sometimes rather thoughtless with regad to themselves, but we al ways found them open and warm-hearted, and an excel of gratitude not indeed for favours, but for the employment given them by the people of this country. Why, then, should such a people suffer such unparalleled misery as they were now suffering in Ireland ? Was not this the fault of the Legislature which kept them in such a state ?—(Hear, hear.) He said then that it was possible for Parliament to in terfere with effect to remedy these grievances. He was not of opinion that evils of so long standing could be remedied all at once, but he was persuaded that if the consideration of them wa undertaken with proper earnestness and simpleness of purpose, and without regard to preconceived opinion that they could, in a short time, give evidence of what could be done for the good of Ireland, in pro ducing a better state of things than what at proseni existed, as well as a better ordered community. H, repeated, that if Parliament discharged the duty hich was incumbent upon it, no despair should be entertained of success, fer they might depend that the blessing of Providence would attend their endeavours. The fault he had to find with Government was not for what they had done, but for what they had omitted to do. He complained of the measures as being inade quate. Not that they were in the wrong direction. He thought that the means by which they proposed to carry out their intentions were ill adapted for the purpose. Ii he rightly comprehended her Majesty's Government. their object was this: It was to increase the protection tip life and property in Ireland, and to secure protection to honest industry, and better rewards for labour. They con sidered these two subject so closely connected as to be inse parable, and to make it impossible to say which was cuase and which was effect. If the resources et Ireland were looked at it would be at once seen that the great desideratum was security, and if its poverty and wretchedness were considered, it would be difficult to deny that want of employment and the absence of re ward for honest labour had much to do in producing them. Such a state of the iAW could only tend to increase and aggravate the existing evils ; no remedy that the Government could apply would be effective, unless a remedy was applied to both at the same time. Employ ment should be given to the people of Ireland by pri vate enterprise and industry, and by no other means could the Government hope to achieve their present ob ject. These were the views he understood the Government now to have; and he also understood that the motives of the present Government, in bringing about an im proved state of things in that country were right and good, and indeed it would be difficult for the Government to do more. Those measures of the Government were judicious and well-timed, and he had no fault to find with them. But he could not forget that the perma nent employment of the Irish people depended upon private enterprise and capital being ex tensively employed in that country.—(Hear, hear.) No country could be in a wholesome state that depended upon the Government fur mere artificial means of em ployment. When they looked at the present state of that country, and the amount of em ployment given to the people by the Govern ment, they should see that it would be literally and en tirely inadequate to the purposes for which it was in tended. Such measures would accomplish no real im provement, unless, at the same time the state of the coun try was such as would encourage the investmentofprivate capital and enterprise. But this could not be expected until persons and property were made secure, and that security established on some better and more solid foundation than at present existed.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.") Until that was made certain, it would be utterly impossible to expect that private enterprise to any great extent would take root in Ireland, for such security in any country was no less necessary to its pros perity than the existence of life itself. LORDS' SUMMARY. The Lonn CHANCELLOR took his seat on ~ the Woolsack Al Five o'clock. Various petitions having been presented, Earl GREY rose to move that an humble address be pre sented to her Majesty, humbly to submit to her Majesty that this House, in compliance with the recommendation in her Majesty's most gracious speech from the Throne, has taken into consideration the frequency with which the crime of deliberate assassination has of late been committed in Ire land, and that we hope that the adoption of measures calcu- lated to give increased security to life, and to bring to justice the perpetrators of so dreadful a crime, may be the result of our labours . ; that we have also given our sanction to the measures proposed to us for relieving the distress occasioned in that part of the Tjaited Kingdom, by the loss of a large part of the potato crop of last season ; that having thus attended to what appear to be the most passing exigencies of the actual ;condition of Ireland, we think it right hum bly to represent to her Majegy that Parliament has re peatedly found it necessary to make provision, by temporary measures, for difficulties with referenDe to that country, simi lar in character to those which have now demanded our at tention, grants having on various occasions been made for the relief of the Irish people from the apprehended miseries of famine ; the Executive Government in Ireland having also from time to time been armed with extraordinary powers for tha repression of crimes • that we observe with deep concern that the necess i t y w hi c h has now again arisen for measures of this description, proves that their adoption heretofore has failed in eradicating the evils against which they were directed, and that the progress which might rea sonably have been hoped for has not yet been made in re medying the social disorders of Ireland. That we are im pressed with the conviction that, under these circumstances, merely to grant pecuniary assistance for the relief of present distress, and to pass severe laws for, the detection and pun ishment of crimes, cannot be considered as fulfilling the duties of the Imperial Parliament towards Ireland, but that measures ought, without further delay, to be adopted for the purpose of effecting a real and permanent improvement in the condition of this part of her Majesty's dominions. That to this end it should be the aim of her Majesty's Govern ment and of Parliament, by giving to the Irish people confidence in the equal administration of justice, to obtain their co-operation in the enforcement f the_ e law, and by remedying real grievances to a l o lay the spirit spirit of discontent to which the prevalence of outrages and the people, is to be traced: that without the co - op eration of the people, the enforcement of the law must ever be uncertain and unsatisfactory, and while the spirit o f discontent b e e et con tinues to prevail, no system of repression,however severe, can be expected to prevent its breaking. out from time to time in acts of outrage: that a change in the temper and 1111 • 41 : 1 PrOTOLUOilt • dispositiou of the people, brought about by in the laws, and in the mode in which they are adml tered, is therefore required for the establishment, upon solid foundation, of the good order and security indispensa bi f necessary far the development of the industry of the nation, and the improvement of its great natural resources, wherebi alone the periodical recurrence of insubordination and di* tress, can effectually be guarded against : humbly therefor: to assure her Majesty, that we shall be ready to co-ope ra t t r with her Majesty in the adoption of measures having for their object to allay the discontent and conciliate the eue c tions of the Irish people, in the earnest haps that, by the blessing of Divine Providence, peace and prosperity 13 ' 1 % thus be established in Ireland." The Noble Earl then w en into a etail of the evils under which Ireland suffere d ' and attributed the greater part of those evils to misgoverum en. The Noble Earl accounted for the failure of all past attempts at conciliating the Irish people by the fact that they bad 11 9, confidence in the Government, and that, consequently , P„r_ e l rate enterprise was dead; and until they establish good o r° ' upon solid foundations, without having recourse to extraor dinary power, they never could succeed. He saw nothing? the measures proposed by the Government to inspire with a rational hope that they would be enabled to establis good order without recourse to extraordinary measures. (LEFT SPEAKING.) EXECUTION OF W. SPICER' FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE. , Soon after daybreak, on F r id a y, th e wo rkmen we t " actively engaged in erectin g th e sca ff o ld i n front of es t new County Gaol, and at an early hour groups of per; sons were to be seen wending their way towards the sr, to witness the progress of the works. The mead,°!.. h " below were thrown open by the occupiers, into wnir dersons of every age and size hastened by hundreds' long before the appointed hour of execution—twelve o'clock. There were, at the lowest compu ta tion, 1 wards of 5,000 persons present, and the majority ws most decidedly composed of women, many having infa nts in their arms. The wretched culprit, William Spicer, throughout the whole of Thursday, appeared very penitent, and It i ! symptoms of contrition, for some time past, induced Ille attendants and others connected with the gaol to believe that he was prepared for the solemn event wh ich awaited him ; indeed, his expressions and demeen ° "" , could lead to no other conclusion. Many hours wel spent by him in perusing the sacred volume, it° in devout meditation. He retired to rest bei tween eleven and twelve o'clock last night, and 614 soundly until about his usual hour of rising this mernit' and, having dressed himself, partook of a hearty b reaks fast. The whole of the prisoners attended service in t ° chapel at nine o'clock, and after the reading of the P i ,,r ere, a brief address suitable to the occasion was vered by the highly-esteemed chaplain, the W l ' Field, who has been unceasingly attentive to the unfor tunate criminal ever since his incarceration. Servic e , being concluded, each prisoner return* d to his cell, an from about halt-past ten until a little before t welve; Spicer was engaged with the chaplain, when he returned to his own room. Upon one of his attendants expressitlgt to him a hope that he felt resigned and happy, SPi re s repeated the following passage from the Psalms i l l , expressive of his feelings, " Yea, though I wel o through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear P evil, for Thou art with me ; Thy rod a nd Thy staff thef t , comfort me." The fatal hour having struck, an offieci. went to the room for him, upon seeing whom, and ant i % , pating the purpose for which he was wanted, be °li e d " Shall I pull off my neckerchief ?" and being ans ei t t , in the affirmative, he did so, and placed it in his leaving it upon the table. He was then brought in t o room below, where he underwent the process of pinion u without being in the least degree excited. The i nouris tbe procession here formed, headed by Lieut. Hackett , • s i governor, the chaplain following, reading the bu n service, the culprit, and the officers of the Pll e _ ri „," moved slowly towards the scaffold. The astonishing u " . • - • ness the prisoner maintained in ascending the steps 5 : 4 the subject of universal remark. Having arrived en drop, he placed himself beneath the beam, but direey, afterwards turned round and heartily shook hands 'v i m the governor, who asked him if he had anything to e i t s , ‘ , e ; to which Spicer replied br saying, " No, good b y e s give my love to your family. ' Calcraft, the e xecutio n ,1 from Sewgate, then drew the cap over the wretenn`i culprit's face, and was about to adjust the rope ar cu m the criminal's neck, it being already suspended 50 her beam, when the noose was found not to reach furt than the middle of his face, and a few minutes s l o• n g before it could be properly done ; and yet dur n l - b. this time not a muscle or limb i n Spi ce r was si e s served to move. At length the necessary preliralc w- r , were arranged, the chapl a i n cont i nue d to rea d the s e w; vice in an audible voice, and at a given signal the re sustaining the platf o rm on w hi c h t h e cu lp r it stood t e to withdrawn by the executioner, and he was launched w ee eternity. He made a few convulsive throes, and ° i s raised his hands, but in a few short minutes life !g ot quite extinct. There was no expression of feeling i re . the man on the part of the vast multitude, who then or turned homewards. The body, after hanging env ° ,b; was taken down, and buried within the precincts ' re gaol, nearly close to the last convict, Jennings. Th e 0 maining spectators then quietly dispersed, and the assumed its usual tranquillity.—Reading Mercury. EXTRAORDINARY AND MEL AI4. CHOLY DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN . o is On Thursday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Brit an , Tavern, Commercial-road, Limehouse, on the body ' 2 1 0 . 6 male person, apparently about twenty-six years of whose name was unknown, and accordingly so describ e " the inquisition. The first witness examined was Mr. Charles Clenton, proprietor of the above tavern, who deposed that on the 1 0 of February last the deceased came and engaged a pertnie sp d in his house; he went by the name of Mr. St. George, .4, •epresented himself as connected with the shipping intern Witness believed it to be a fictitious name, fro m the gel],rlP tenor of his conduct. He was of very gentle m anly aPP7k: ante and manners. On Thursday morning, about one o'clo[ot he retired to bed, quite sober, having only taken a 010 brandy and water, and smoked some cigars in the P ° coffee-room. A Ted By the Coroner—Deceased was of sound mind an" . de st gentlemanly in his manners ; b u t th er e was an e v ! t i s ig anxiety to conceal his real name, he having cut the inl from his linen. Edward Lexton, the waiter, said that on d esce nding, 0 1 stairs adjacent to the deceased's bed-room, on the Enornin!for Thursday last, the deceased called to him in a faint voic`tbe assistance. He went in and found the deceased lying °n be bed. He was unable to sp e ak f or some m inutes , when biS said he had been reading in bed and f e ll a sl e ep ; nnd'ne' Ore shirt on fire, he jumped out of bed, and extinguished theoto as best he could. It happened at thre e o ' c l oc k, but he 11 ,.. not call for assistance as he was u nw illi ng t o disturb Ow mates of the house although in great pain. . Mr. Adolphus Burrell, :urgeon, of the Commerela f r ool said he was called in and found him dr ea df u lly borne: t 00 the right arm and shoulder dow n t o th e hip. He /4— toolt favourably until Tuesday morning, when collapse f t he place, and he died in two hours. Death was the result injury sustained by the burns. Ott After deceased's death, his desk was opened, wa n ', be a quantity of correspendence therei n , it a pp ea red tlu t "„oat brother-in-law to the Hon. G. F. N ug e n t, w ho is at Pidek in Ireland, to whom a communicatio n ha s been fno r . l c i ler o The jury returned a verdict of " Death from o°l burning." After the inquisition was signed, the C or oner, add r 7to Mr. Clenton and signing his wa rr ant f or th e burial ° body, asked what was intended to be done? l'll Mr. Clenton replied that h e s h ou ld k ee p th e body ° ,oo' premises as long as he could possibly do so, for its idea, bid lion, and the delivery of some rin gs , & c ., rema ining -- possession. LORD PALMERSTON AS A SPEAKER. -- All th i l l ; taken into acc oun t, L or d P a l merston i s, perhaps, th , e o ) l* debater among the Whig leaders of th e H ouse of C01 0 " n 0 . 0 In the different qualities whi c h, w h en com bined, 4o? render a man an orator, he is excelled by marlY Tholif° duals among his contemporaries. Lord John Russell e more tact, more intimate acquaintance with partYpo, tory (not with parties, for, in that knowledge, be t 0; Palmerston beats all men living, having been a frie,. °l oo almost every Government within the memory I P , greater skill in pointing allusions to the political e . „"" f o r se' opponents, and altogether morerefinement in the mansb - a cer, of his Parliamentary case. In eloquence, both of n ° o llo o tion or in delivery, Lord Palmerston is, of souse, 1 , 1 0 004 by Mr. Shiel or Mr. Macaul a y, an d even by men or s ' a far inferior rank as speake rs . I n soun d ness and 1, 0 - w it) argument he cannot stand a moment's comparis °ll l 6 o o , Mr. Cobden, or with Ea r l G re y ( w h en th a t n °l 6atiw does justice to his own powers) or even with . 0 0 1 " Buller. Each speake r o n hi s own s id e , i n f a ct, is ; r ater,' vance of him in some particul a r q ua lity o f the i,oro j Yet no one would for a moment hesitate to Pit i „ e g ys Palmerston amongst the first speakers in the Ired Commons, or would deny that he had derife l l j art hearing one of that noblem an ' s s p eec h es as m uch 1100 of its kind, as if h e h a d li s t ene d to t h e m ost O A or efforts of Macaulay, the m os t s pi r it• s ti rr i n g of SP ! 1 1 1 se ! the most skilful and sati s fyi ng o f L or d J o h n Ru'.',:, peculiarity in Lord P a lmerston whi c h gives 1 singular power of charming with an oration o da: whole, the several parts of which are lint, or attP lated to please. if critically an a ly se d, i s the fu o gtf , and hearty spirit of partisanship, not malignant, ° 1. 4 em s or mean, as is that of most zea l ous a d vo cates Z ea lous bodied opinion or interests, but frank, manly, oPen_ i ' mo st and undisguised, so mu c h so as to assu me ' 1 ".„ / " .- ere.; sportive character, as if Parliamentary po litics bo os' mere pastime, a kind of relaxation from th e nr diell cares or labours of administration or of t atn" - political life, in which all men are bound by a sort of t bsif e compact, answering to the laws of a game, to e i t il l utmost powers to excel or to overcome each other% or d sake of the distinction and applause which are the re" success.—Contemporary Orators, in Fraser. Pre" MMAJORlinosnrouT.—The Wigtonshire ree states that Major Broadfoot, who was killed in th t e bt :7ol conflict in India, was a native of Wi g t ons hire, sets°ft the se' Mr Broadfoot, a native of' Whithorn, and minister 0 ' cession Church, London. RAVENSNEST.—A new romance, under this 0,, pin bl I celebrated Cooper, is announced by Mr. Bentley to APP e . ar , / 00 6 2 1 ° .; days. In the present dearth of good works of fiction, A 11 ' , D oo. tints by this most admired writer may indeed be regarded 10 • all lovers of this fascinating department of literature. BIRTHS lite t ' On the 17th inst., at Harrow, Mrs. W. Oxenham, of a clatit i ,leiA rd Oa the lith inst., in the Belvedere, Weymouth, the lady of Gustavus Hancock, Esq., of a son. so"' f* On the lath inst., at Wandsworth, Mrs. R. H. Winstatiley, o X of I On the 19th inst., at Wood Hall, Downham, Norfolk, t he W. L. Jones, Esq., of a son. We *life On the 19th inst. , at Titchßeld-terrace, Regent's-park, ~.- Joseph Needham, of the Middle Temple, Esq., of a son MARRIED. e y e ,. 0 , ard ale On the 19th inst., at St. Pancras Church, Mr. Bclif 0, ... Benc h- s treet, Dover, to Miss Elizabeth M a ri a Austin, 9"" A. of Mrs. Guest, Tavistock-square. j oae o 6 Esq., of Great George- s t reet, Westm i nste r, to 31301/0' On the 19th inst., at St. George's, Wanover-squars , 0 . 14 Arp, (laughter of W. B roac k es, M.D., Cor k- s treet, _....../ gardens nali e youngestt. 0 134 On the 21st inst., in th e Polygon, Somers Town, Ed ward' A., son of 3tr. Wh inst., at Loitehead, agnd ed 26. of 131111..-- On the llth on, General Dived Hunter , Forfarshire, North Britain. age 21 ' dofor ir On the 14th inst., Mt .J. Hickman, of l'eckhana, ~,fa a On the 14th inst., Mr. Robert Russell, at Springfield, l' road, aged 43. i 6 11eAr- A drisitai On the 18th inst., i n S e ll woo d- p l ac e, Brighton , Skipsey, aged 89 1 14 , L ondon: Printed Rad Published by NURDO a t li n e d , I s ' r a l v n ,j t y e r : TThe in e Su c n oun Orti ty ce 3.1 1, jau l2 e6stexanodxio°,:d'o r of , 0 , r 28. 18 4% R. wxtic ! 3 uNDe Trai FRO 'Crux FitrITDA 4..12 t _IDDS of w °Dud a , st ar on T A LP Th e eh . the resolu Daily on tI Chaucer D irectors ',Writ o f sa arei allc Settle ihstsnt, fr Manche Ind Baton shock. Liverpoi instant, fr Londan an4l tiewcas. 3lst of NIA Orn Elev Each sh discharg I. o } ►e. --.....____ liE 1 : 11.1. . 8 . l a ' i l ' oe t a sd nen f r b u dreo a 3o t r : 7, hr ne. h e rf e i r h o e lhoc r ° : , i s hould att ot London toad with° '''oat of t: ....he share: CAL UE I. shareho " ti - -opsgal v ote for th Look t o abilities. JAE L. Th e c o , Llortion tc oubscrib er the Londol Relgian the necess: nUttee rec Share on t th e above . -Xliens es , Commit. AT This 1 The wit) ,um urc D, CM% fe Vita table) o , f 14 • taw tenors The see V* Direct —° nus, va ‘ a th belie: ; ~~ ~~ -_ SOlionn 7, A _.._.. diet fiber of E E ' a n du eonthi rtY day ~The Pre] .Ltiag J an oP veh.!ch s e mbers. -.em bers, tala, at t Z . Dretit t , gule tern "b4 hn h inn 4P rate wards. SOVk Lord Rossi lir August Usury Pov Chairman John Ashb X. 8..11 Ph ilip Pet henry Bro Parebro "llliam Tt 17'::'''':'--..wainCh.4l:ll44:Pr4thtinal":Dlll:l°.4:da:: ad urn:‘"AttsflaPcielo:.Yet d r:s:crie'de r lttrill. " ~ t oprs ai s n GUA ,0 • 1 1. L( 4 1 1 1 , "" 11 9 4,4 W ilu ß l `i r an vv eis . .H, t ho.. _ s aner t_ l Zltt n r: iwrge Jot 4 4 Loch Loy, '0• Rob ►tel Jo] 1 4.$' the 1 $ exc.es 4 ki t e jaVe of al amoi aye] .he !kri seve zo)it 2 7 p g e °e n. l'eur sans ed such 'ned in ~,1 4 4 F the 4t il lnch h*: c k2i w ov, in n th 0 3" the 41.10tice is 4 . 4 'it be rei an . -.4e4 ta J tar ILAW • t415.110Tc THE NUN, LONDON, MONDAY T EvirslN G2 MANICIros, 1546.