The Sun. — London, England, 1846-03-28 00:00:00

POPI tons is incompetent to entertain a measure which is neeesary • for the public good.—( Cheers.) If you were to admit that doe • urine, you would shake the foundation welch a Legislature 'mould be based. Why that doctrine was not maintained at . the time of the union between England and Ireland. It Vas not maintained in this country by Mr. Fox. It was slightly alluded to by Mr.. Sheridan, at .the time when the message about the union was delivered. Parliament Isis elected without having the slightest ' , event to the principles maintained by the constituencies. Mr. She ridan slightly hinted his objection to the competence of Par hatnent to deal with the question that came before it, in his time, respecting leland. But Mr. Pitt met that obj(setion at The onset—he it in the following manner s—Mr. Pitt said, the first objection that. I have heard made by the Hon, Gen tleman opposite was that the Parliament of Ireland was in ' "supetent to entertain the discussion of the question, or rather to act upon the measure proposed, without having previously 'Obtained the consent of the people of Ireland, and the whole constituents of the Irish Parliamentary representatives. This point, Sir, of so much importance, that I think, if we did s hot possess the power of dealing with these questions without Irst appeatth g to the country—l submit that you recognise ,nis principle it would be a most dangerous one if ; indeed a more li ,,!ngerous one could not be adopted in a civilised state. what a state of things we should have if this principle were adopted I If that principle be a true one, look to the extent la which it may be carried. If such an argument be held to be good, then the dealing of the question of the Principality ' ) f Wales was not justly carried on, because the then Parlia- Ment did not appeal to the.sense of th« it • , nstituents. Indeed t he very law of succession to the English throne was not "Ibtly made if this principle was a true one." Then, if that were said of Ireland, what shall we say of the present proposal, 'which is to affect the whole of the United Kingdom ? What s hall we say of that law which was made for the admission of • R oman Catholics to seats in this House? We made no ap- Peal to the country. Whatever may have been thought of the Pl'apriety of the present measure, I never heard it said that it Would be unfair to discuss such a question without. appealing to the constituencies of the country. lam sure that no one will Were soberly contend that that principle is constitutional. If it allowed to be a good one, then as Mr. Pitt had very pro- PerlY said, the right' of succession to the English throne was oery questionable. Sir, I contend that there could not have '""tri' "a more ,dangerous example"—( Hear, hear,)—a more Purely democratic precedent (if I may use the expression) than that this Parliament should have been dissolved upon the Potted of its incompetency to decide upon any question'ef this • nature.—( Hear, hear.) And therefore, Sir, I am ready to take th e respons ibili ty o f n ot h av i ng advised her Majesty to dissolve Parliament for the purpose of appealing to the country su this measure. Now, Sir, I am not aware of any other matter relating to this question, in which I am personally concerned, tuft of which I dare not have given a full explanation. If there is any point in my conduct which 1 have omitted to ex , r e sin, I shall be quite ready to afford any explanation which may desired, and answer any question that may be put to me w ell now, Sir, I come to the question itself. Is it for the Istablic interests that under the present circumstances of the country, and in the present state of public feeling and opinion " - sits it advisable, I say,' that we should at the present time Sither refuse to modify the existing law, in order to meet the ! t igresses of the people of Ireland, or that, having modified 1 4 we should still have a continuance of the present corn-law, c 'e whether it would not be better to adjust permanently and S atisfactorily the whole questton?—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. I leigher who spoke last says you might have dealt with maize ; that was an article of food fit for the Irish people; you need ° , lly to admit that and do nothing else. Now, Sir, I con dder that if Honourable Members wished to undermine ~,t 4O existi ng corn-l aws , no better pl a n could be adopted than that proposed by the Honourable Member. What ! to hold out to the people of Ireland, suffering under severe pri "salon, that maize is food good enough for them—to tell them that the . law should be altered so as to admit maize, but wheat tud barley shall not be admitted. Sir, by such conduct, you :id rouse a storm of indignation against the laws you With reference to maize? There is at present a duty of eight illings upon that article. You say that Government ou:sht to ti. Y maize and remit the' duty on it, so that by supplying it to . People of Ireland, the Government would lose nothing. 0 , 01 , Sir, our doctrine is that the Government cannot support people of Ireland. We are powerless—we can do nothing without earnest, instant, local exertion, on the • uf the wealthy classes of that country. We say, that the nties of charity, thou2,h not legally enforced, are imperative °l all those classes. The duty of the landlords of Ireland, and all classes possessing property in that country, i 3 to miti '4,t, by all means in their power the evil, and the calamity. tf nich has befallen their country.—(Cheers.) It is not suffi = . 11 1 eht for us, th a t we should pay the duty upon maize, and en reimburse the Treaslry the amount of duty so paid. But , tiarit a y r; we to say to those who we are inciting to. seta of Are we tiv say to them m —the potato crop is failing— i general distress is felt throughout this country t. con,equenee, and the food must be supplied, ' !'t You shall pay a duty of es upon all maize which you shall „ )f .'tribute among the suffering poor. You shall pay also a duty !,es. upon wheat, and there shall be no relaxation whatever of %e la w ?--(Hear, hear.) DO you not think it would be 4)ripno,s:tible in a state of distress, even to the extent which you deny to exist—would it be possible to vote half a million of money from the English treasury towards the -N PPort of the people of Ireland, and to incite the Irish pro , Z i eln-s to acts of charity, or to the purchase of food think reliev e the necessities of the people? Do you in the face of Belgium, Prussia, and Holland P admit the necessity of adopting every natural o e f t , autio n to remove impediments on the importation food —to propose a vote of half a million, and to buy t `Prtl for the people of Ireland at Bs. duty, and make no relaxa. • What ever ? I t wou ld h ave b een i mpo=s ibl e . Th e H on . t i e mber, the Recorder of Dublin ( Mr. Shaw) said he could dc , ny there was great scarcity in Ireland. I should doubt his it o a rd if he said otherwise. He could not deny there was great r eitr, and great danger of the disease, but these were coin -I,loln thing s i n Ireland—this is the general state of Ireland. ~Zse are the lion. Member's own words upon the subject t— oll „large portion of the Irish people are always nearly te n th-- r verge of destitutien—there has been no year re Is e r e coction en tsa staments, with ssitl; nl t 'ec to lle disease, when he id 'might not have been made truth." Well, be it so. The admission of the Member goes some distance to mitigate the present gen e Y • but it has been said the present is a labourer 'S t oesti n benefit n. Well then, is the maintenance of protection a to the Irish agriculturist? And does protection come b,,e t, 'lts • ) In that p ar t o f th e U n it e d Kingdom it has always n contended that protection was absolutely necessary to the merests of those persons who depend upon agriculture. Has rThotection, then, b roug h t you to t hi s — t h at t h e agricultural ourers, who form so large a portion of the Irish people, are always living 'on the verge of destitution?—(Cries of oh," and cheers.) Is it true, also, that there been no year in the recollection of the ,°,nourable Member when some r atements with t c:rence to disease might not have been made ?" Be it se %it This is the permanent annual state of Ireland under , r ` o operation of your restrictive laws. Is not that then a 1 4 , s n argument in favihir of the abolition of the existing corn- AN Ho sT. MEMBER—Why did you not repeal them before? Sir ROBERT PEEL—The Hon.. Member asks why I did bef o I • t before ; I answer that, although we have not done • o ro te' that is n o reaso n for not doing it now. You are so eh.° l eu by the f or ce of these arguments that you are reduced to (tnreess:ty of asking us why I did not do it before ?—• 4, efts. ) Sir, we have been neglecting our duty in not doing ,fnre ; but that neglect of duty, Sir, is no reason why 4 ...in0u1d continue to neglect our duty now.—(Cheers. ) sti :re have a great failure of the potatoes in Ireland, which con ele`tt_ate the food of a large portion of the population there, and v s _aanger threatening of having a population of many millions a 'q are'dependent for their supply of food upon such an article s i l el Patatoefs„ subjeet to such a course of quantity and dete ,iiation of quality in the course of Providence we have been the "ed with in the present year; and hearing, as we have, from to lion, lion, Member, the .general and permanent rate of the ts i k t rYs is it not, I say, a cogent and unanswerable reason for k , tug some permanent change in the system ? To do °tie ng such a case would be impossible. To modify i la ` existing law, and to prop ,se such a change I, t au system of the country, as , professed by , the Hon. Mem foe southamption, would be merely to excite and en ' ts uar ,age agitation, lead to no .beneficial result, and tact' be rejected by the agricultural population—would, in eg" Would be laughed at and scouted by them. It would t i l a t no good. There is; therefore, no alternative, except ad j u stment to lay the loundation of an ultimate and satisfactory aiJustnaertt of the question. .My firm conviction is—charge e if yon please with treachery--that the safest and the best Node • 3 , 11 t , of settling the question •is that proposed by her Ma t/ B . Gove'rnment.—(Linid cheers ) The Noble Lord the th e alher for Newark asked me repeatedly if I proposed to ruin the a gricultural interest? Sir, I attach the utmost importance W: 11 C prosperity of that class.—( Cheers and counter cheers). e,„lt ,Sir, do I not know why I have not as much right to feel as Ira an interest in the prosperity of that'class as those Hon. t rnbers have who have sneered at and received with scorn tay . ai tta aluntons upon the subject.—( Loud cheers.) I attach the s e ..int importance to it. I think, Sir, for great political sC u ,, ,aat that it is of the utmost importance that the agriculturists think, a great weight in the government of the country. • ol with Burke, that land is the safest basis of political A p w ar in any country. He says that all writers -4,41,..ta.tie speaking of t'ae Grecian states, and Cicero kLi ag of the Romans—that all writers upon politics e attached the utmost importance to the landed kf t :Cest. They always considered that it was the , 11 It ba s i s o f a so und protective Government. I remain, Sir, l k ;hat opinion, and deeply should I deplore the day when the 42ued interestSov ereigas.—( w exclu Lou dded fcherom its full share in the coun armyners. ) Burke said that it teas 4nte for this country that the landed interest was so pre r-tainant as to direct the Government of the country, and the :non of that was, he said, that the landed aristocracy and rnprietors have never been a class disassociated from the ge oeral cheers.) They had never been gl ) nsed to public opinion—they have always preserved and fl "a an unity of interest. Now, Sir, this is just the question. ben3' what means shall we secure a continuance of this just and ficial power to the landed interest ? Will it r em 1 . 3 y maintaining your privileges upon grounds of r ietiveness and exclusion of food to the people of this i t Titry ?-04 No, no," from the protectionists.) Well, then, ti nal offends the Hon. Members, I will not use the teem ex i‘'sion of food. I will say by the imposition of taxes upon the all Porteti on o f f oo d. Will it, I ask, more conduce to the per p.'acut quiet and legitimate interests of the country that the sent, corn-laws should be repealed , or that the y la i should re • t a ' n in tact. My o ,inion is, and I repeat it — accuse me of i r j a anhery if y ou please—that you will satisfy and maintain the tbe amlice of the landed interest, by now making these arr!nge- Nr ati rather than, in the present state of feeling arid opinion, tinaciously contending for the continuance of the existing tliwt!--tl.at is my opinion. Take, fur instance, the taxes on ter and b-lean which have not existed for more than ti f t ,"'Y ye ars , is it safe, I say, to rest the privileges L et " ariitocrr cy and landed proprietors upon such a foundation? 4% . egusider the bearing of the corn-law en the land, which s litt ri tained, as it onght to maintain, a just and legitimate a m the country. We have to deal with a population which, of ~."'"lng to the census of 1841, consists of about 19 millions et), ° "Ple—l am excluding Ireland. Bat you have in this \r, nt rY a pnpulation of 19 millions, and how are they divided i) re 4 t have of the agricultural interest 1,5)0,000—of landed pro at,d ors, of farmers and occupiers, above 20 years, 1,500,000; 1,7c.,0t1 have of labourers employed in other occupations, enN n ' t-)0 , including miners and quarriers. You have L k ;' a ged in commerce above 3,110,000, and you bil:0_2 0 0,000 belonging to professions, and you have 200 ,0 ":, persons of independent property, not including atet, e - `' Paupers and lunatics ; the rest of the population are Pop u i: t . and children. What an immense proportion of that res t u .,%1 consists of persons who earn their subsistence by tli oa ..!•' I bour—what an immense proportion of persons of all how'taniust subsist on wages below 30 shillings ! Just consider Peopl e z atinn, apart from food, bears upon that class of the YOU raise about 32,000,000/. by taxes, by customs and tin o f Or take the articles which enter into the consump tutarn a here having leas than 30 shillings a week. I have a el% 0 '; !'e of the ar ti c l e s. which are used by families in that meat„afe—independent of bread, butter, cheese, a little Now t h- , 'Jot's, lard, candles, soap, and a small portion of tobacco. t, ve nt ere t . is not one of them, which is not taxed. It is from !'eee s ,,, r sympathy that you tax them. In my opinion it is ;t l di reet that you should raise a great part of your revenue by no, e taltation, but all indirect taxation is unequal. You tf •• st4 h 4 shed a great &aim on the confidence and gratitude b the co , tlrd e I ‘trY, that you did take upon property an annual 4ci et 4 0 , 0 00,000/., not alone that it might supply a •P de that you might relieve the labouring classes of that this is the best time for the introdaction of this measure" Con sider all these thlngs—COhtider how long this law,Could have been Maintained. it Might. be Maintained for a time, but it cannot lib permanently secured with that degree of good feeling whip A so. w • sential to a good Goircrnmentt , and 'tit could not; is inet the tirrie most favourable for, the altelifien, The eidamitiei Of trblaiid Were the pages of this,tileasAre, tilt the' Woiiiti not in themselves justify the Alteration, orthe law.- It forces on you the necessity of consider ing what you will do When the period of suspension arrives. The calamities I have spoken of would force that considerat ion upon you. Now these are the . reasons I had :for the alteration of the law, and for which, with a clear conscience, I have encountered obloquy, and submitted to the lois of rein' betitideilU, which I deeptylattlentt biit Which I must incur. —(Hear, hear; from the Ptoteotionists.)--The Hon. Gentlenian has said that the proposal Of thli measure was sortie, pdlitidal manittivEe. What object could I haver—(Hear; heat ; cepa thd OPposiVon.) 11 hat end cohild I arisivtf by Making Snelt a prOoosiiio 1I this ? I Wished to, relkie a tktible calamity. • nondurable Gentlenien have told me, with assurance, that my stay in office, as a Minister, will not be long.—(Wear, hear, from the Protectionists.) Well then, the more confident they should feel that this is no political measure. (Immense cheering from the. Opposition.) Honourable gentlemen_ ask me how long I can cornt Oft hid support of the Hen. 'Gentlemen eprosite lam ftank with you, as I have been on all otheroccasions. —(" Oh, oh," from the protectionists, and loud cheers from the oppo sition.) I have no right to place any confidence in their support, but it is by their agency this measure will most probably pass into a law. It is not on personal, but ou public grounds, that I feel, as a public man, the obligation I am under to those. Hon, Gentlemen for their suppett of the present Measure. dlowever much I May be indebted to them for not doing anything to embarrass the progress of the present bill, I feel I have 'no right to claim their fliture support. That question settled, the difference between us will , remain the same as before. I freely • admit that I cannot expect the support of those who now advocate protection, after taking the course on the.present question which my public duty has induced me to take. That connexion which has for merly existed is no doubt at an end, and I feel I have no right to look for support from that quatter.—(iiear, hear.). Sill less have I a right to expect to carry on the Government, and maintain my present position, with the support of those Hon. Gentlemen who have supported ins on this side of the House.—(Hqar, . hear.) This being the •case, on any great measure of policy, I admit that with the assistance of 112 Members, or one-sixth of the Members of the House of Commons, I shall not be able to carry on the bu siness of the Government, and that it is right to suppose that my p esent tenure of power is nearly at an end.—(Cheers from the pro• tectionists.) Let this measure pass into a law—suspend your in dignation till then,. and I will ask you no further to follow me. — (Hear, hear.) I shall then pursue my owu course, and it will be for those Gentlemen on the Opposition side of the House to decide on theirs —(Hear, hear.) I hope they will permit this measure to Ise passed at once, let the future be what it may.—(Hear, hear.)' I deeply deplore the loss of confidence of those who have hitherto been my supporter's.—(Hear, hear.) That affects me infinitely more than the loss of political p .wer.—(Hear, hear.) Your accusations affect me the less, because I feel that I am honest, and that my Motfres are - pure.. Every man has within his own bosouithe scales that determine the real weight of reproach that ought to attach to hie conduct. •If I 'had acte,di.from corrupt or unworthy motives, then one-tenth of the accusations against me would have proved fatal to my existence as a public man. You may think that I took too great precaution respecting the potato failure in Ireland, and that events will prove that I was mistaken in supposing such precaution to he necessary. But if so the motive—the saving of a whole people from a dire calamity of a natural famine, will plead my excuse. I Will not say that the measures I have proposed will save that country from this calamity. I only speak of the motive.— . those burdens which press upon them. I have before me a return of the expenditure of a labouring man in the receipt of ten shillings a week in summer, and eight in winters with a wife and one child. I leave Mit bread the following - articles etiteied into his weekly con sumption t-s-fotie gallons of beer, bacon, beef, butter, 'seine sugar, some tea, some soap, some candles. All of- these articles, with the exception of candles sre taed in directly. We have reduced the.dety dti salt beef, and the duty on butter and cheem. hiot. can you repent for having made that redeetinn7-( Hear, hear.) ' The man died and left a wido* and one child ; she earned 4s. 61 a week, the guardians allowing Is. 6d. a week to her for a pensiOn. What was her oddly? Rent, ls. 6d. ; candles and soap, 40.3 butter, 21d. ; tea, lid. In that case, the soap was taxed, the butter was taxed, the tea was taxed, and the sugar was taxed.-( Hear, hear.) I will new take the wages of a Yorkshireman, living more com fortably. These were not fictitious cases." 'this man earned fifteen or sixteen shillings a Week, -and he spent fourteen. His expenditure was as follows :-There is beef, 2s. ' • sugar, 7d. ; grease, 3d. ; candles, 2d. ; butter, Bd.; soap, 3d. ; tea and coffee, ls. 6d. ; oatmeal, lid. His expenditure :was Bi. out of 14. • Now, the great proportion of the rood of the poor ponsistedin flour, something In Sugar, something in meat; but more than half in flour. Well, suppose. you pass the law the Government propose, will it not produce a reduction on the most important articles-and will you not most materially add to the comfort and enjoyment of the poor? Let me assure you that this is by far the most important part of the measure.- ( Hear, hear.) . It is impossible-it is impossible to over-rate it. I am quite aware of the sympathy which actuates you for the poor ; I donot agree with those vsho 'charge you - with a want of sympathy ; Ido believe that there is as much sincere and honest desire on your part to sympathise with the peer, as there exists in this .House. But you cannot 'increase direct taxation. I believe you would if you could-but you already raise seven millions in stamps-five millions in property-tax-four millions by the assessed-taxes, and these are limits beyond which you cannot possibly go. If yen add to the income-tax, you will not be benefiting the poor. Though the taxation may appear - to be falling on the rich, it will have no less injurious effect. The Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, would have me to state what the price of wheat would beg after the abolition of protection. Well, I have repeatedly replied, and I once more state, that it is impossible for me to know what the price may be ..hereafter. The Noble Lord in reply to that said, that in ,1835, a cargo of wheat had come to this country from Dant zit, the price of which, after all expenses were paid, amounted to 395. ; and insisted that, supposing there was no duty on the importation of foreign wheat, the price would fall to the same level as it did then. I am not prepared to admit that the price would be lower, for the comparison he made was not a true criterion by which the matter could be tested. That was my statement.. The Noble Lord had got a return of certaincargoes of corn that came to this country frorrsDantzic, and he contended that because in 1839 the price-of corn amounted to only 26s , that if you establish free-trade . the price must ne cessarily not exceed that amount. I firmly believe, however„ that if a free-trade in corn existed at this moment, the price would not be less than 395.-the price which it was in 1835. It is impossible, however, to argue what the price of corn may be when the ports are freely opened; for until the system is in operation, no argument can be raised on the matter which can be relied on with any degree of accuracy. You sent Mr. Jacob to the Continent, to report what the price of corn was in the different states of Europe. He said in his report, that although there would be a large surplus of corn to be imported into this country, he could not think the price would fall below 38s. That was the true state of the case. If you encourage production abroad, there must necessarily be a fictitious price given to corn, and the Noble Lord argued from the instance he brought forward, that that price would be the rule in all cases. It was for that reason that I said, that even were there free- trade in corn in 1835, the price would not fall below 355. The British consuls in different places were also required to re sort what was the quantity of wheat which could be annually sent to this country from the places where they respectively re sided, and at what price. Now what was the answer? The general answer was, that it tonld not be im ported free on board under 465. .6d. per quarter, and that general freight- would amount te 4s. 6d. In one place the price was 39,. Id., and the freight from 4s. 6d. to ss. At Dantzic the price was 40s. and the freight 3s. 6d. At Hamburgh the price was from 35s to 465., and the freight from 2s. 6d. to ss. Relying, then, upon the opinion of Mr. Jacobs, and relying -upon the returns of your own consuls, as to what the price of wheat would be free on board, at those ports from which it may be expected-relying upon these two Parliamentary returns, I repeat to ' you, that with free trade in corn, the price will not be reduced below 395., as it was in 1835, In 1822, although agricultural distress prevailed to a very great extent, the price of wheat did not fall below 385., and in 1835 it did not fall below 393. No foreign competition existed in either case, and although in 1835 the price fell to 395. Id., that depression was entirely to be attributed to the abundance of your own ha:vest. In 1836, following the example of 1822,.n0 foreign corn was admitted, yet a Parliamentary , Committee was appointed to see what remedies could be applied for the purpose of relieving the great distress which then prevailed. I was attempting, therefore, to show, looking at the immense population-looking at the enormous masses of people who made wheat the principal -source of subsistence, of what great importance it was that the price should be as moderate as possible. I have shown, then, that half of their expenditure went to the purchase of wheat, and I wish to know what we can do better than to make this article as moderate in price as we can ?-( Hear, hear, and cheers.) If we can give a guarantee that the price would not rise above 70s. or 80s., surely that would be 'an advantage of immense importance to the labouring classes. We are about to try . maize, arid other articles, to meet anything like a rise in corn. Suppose corn should fail, we shall have maize to make up for the failure ? and I am sure if that article should fail that we shall not be exposed to such extreme want from the fact of our having Indian maize to rely on Taking the whole circumstances into consideration, I do consider that , the labourer's interest is deeply at stake in this question. I do think the condition of the agricultural labourer ought to be a question of consideration. If than yon can rely upon the system of protection, why is it that you cannot exhibit a happier condition of the labourer than we have at pre sent ?-( Hear, hear. ) Colonel SIBTHORP-Give protection to corn. Sir R. PEEL-Yes, you have had protection to the agri cultural interest, and hat is the condition of the labourer ? You have had protection to corn, and what is the result ?- ( Hear, hear.) If the price of corn had such an effect upon the wages of the agricultural labourer, why is it, that the wages of the manufacturing labourer has been much higher than the former class of labourer, at a period before the rise in corn took place. But there is no comparison between the wages of the agricultural labourer and the price of wheat. If the wages of the agricultural labourer varied with the price of wheat, why were wages 13s. in Kent, when they were only Ss. in Wiltshire? Now, as we find the labourer employed in the manufacturing districts, we invariably find that wages are much higher, and indeed the wages of the agricultural labourers adjacent to a manufacturing district are always higher than in the purely agricultural districts. If this is not the ease, how is it we find the agricultural labourer paid 13 s. in Lincolnshire, and Bs. and 9s. in Wiltshire, and oth r places? Why, because, not only was the land adjacent to a manufacturing district; but because it was brought into better cultivation than in other places. I I a. wish to show that where skill is employed to cultivate the land, remunerating prices can be had for the farmer and the were mutual and reciprocal injuries to each country. He_ thotight that the example of this country would be more beneficial than any negotiation into which they had entered. jle Acid trig therti,was,ito reaiigiu to conatder that free:trade In aim Would not be at ad - trantageints to the country as free : trade. In other cenimodity; but by free-trade he did not mean trade free from all duty—(Cheers from the beaches below the gangway)--' which they were obliged to have for the purposes of revenue. but such taxation as was levied for the prevention of export or import—(Hear, hear,) —and not free. trade iu the abstract. His own opinion was that corn should not be an exception from this rule. He bad been always for n, fixed duty, andniight it be permitted him to say he Sind riot takbh tip his ',pillion,' When the late Government were in articulo mortis, for he held them in the years 1830 and 1840, When there was no prospect of a dissolution, His wish would have been a low fixed duty of about four or five shillings, which could have been eiteetect *ithollt any great transition or prejudice to the feelings of anY clash hi the bOitiniiinitY, lint Members in that House must see what they can have, and not what they would. have.—(Cheering.) His Noble'" end Ilonourable Friends have abandoned fixed duty in despair. The Anti-Corn law League profess that nothing will satisfy them but total repeal; . and finding d flied .dtitY otit of the question; he had no hesitation in giving his cordial support to the, nieastire of the Government. The commissioners who had been appointed under the Enclosure Act received 46 applications for land, acid they had a Bill before the House for the purpose ofrescuing 400,000 acres of land frem the Ger man ocean. Now he would ask when this was the case, what ground was there for apprehending that this measure would throw land out of cultivation. He t tated that the landowners would be sufferers trent the Winterise influx of foreign corn, but he would ask, where was the immense quantity of corn to come from.—(Cries of " Divide, divide, and adjourn.") Prices would rise abroad when they went Into the foreign market, and there would, therefore, be no great alteration in the prices in this country. He denied, .therefore, that .there would be any alteration in the prices. —(Hear, hear.) But if it was admitted that the change would have the effect of making the price of corn lower, that was a confession that their rents at present were too high.—(Cries of " Adjourn, and divide.") The English aristocracy were a proud aristocracy. They ought to be proud. If they failed in their appeal to their sense of justice, they should appeal to their pride.—(Cries of "Divide, divide.") This question would increase the wealth and prosperity of the country, and it would do more—it ` would preserve' peace.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then centinued : —lf monarchies are ambitious and threatening—ifdemocracies are encroaching and aggressive, and that you wish to bind them to keep the peace, fetter them with commerce —(Cheers.) If yeti wish to Inspire them with. better feelings, and imbue their minds with more just and moderate sentiments, spread before them the book of the merchant, and in that volume they will find more conclusive arguments than they would perceive in the pre cepts of the wisest moralists, or the sagest doctrines of the greatest statesmen.—(Cheers.) Upon these grounds I will support the mea sure before the House, because, in my opinion, it is calculated to ad vance the public welfare, to promote the comfort and prosperity of the country, and because it is founded on principles which will secure to mankind the great and incalculable blessing of interna tional peace. (The Noble Lord resumed his seat amidst great applause.) Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. The House then divided, when there appeared : For the Second Reading.... • • • Against it ..... 214 Majority for the Second Reading.. • • 88 On our re-admission we found Mr. F. MAULE inquiring whether the further progress of the Bill was postponed pro forma for a week, or whether Government in tended to go into Committee on it next Friday? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was the in tention of Government to proceed with the measure on Monday next. • Lerd G. BENTINCK wished to know when the Committee of the Customs Bill would ioe fixed? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER named Thursday next. The Burghs (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The report on the Indemnity Bill was brought up and received, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Monday next. Mr. F. MACKENZIE moved for a Select Committee to take into consideration the system of granting certificates for public-houses 1n• Scotland. After a few remarks from Mr. F. MAULE and Sir J. GRAHAM, the motion was agreed to. • • On the question that the House adjourn, PROTECTION (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. C. BULLER wished to know whether Government intended to take the first reading of the Irish Coercion Bill on Monday ? He regretted that such a course would interfere with the progress of the Corn-law Bill, and thought that the Government would do well, before asking the House to read the Coercion Bill a first time, to lay on the table the various returns on which the Bill was founded, and in the meantime to postpone the first reading. Sir J. GRAHAM regretted as much as the Hon. and Learned Gentleman slid that anything should interfere with the progress of the Corn-law Bill. The Government had intimated their intention of taking the first reading of the Protection of Life (Ireland) Bill on Monday next, and intended to abide by their intimation. It had not been found possible as yet to obtain the returns in the perfect form which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman wished. He had hoped that the Bill would have been read a first time as a matter of course ; and though he regretted the resistance intended to be offered, it would nevertheless be his duty on Monday, at five o'clock, to move the first reading of the Bill. After a few words from Mr. F. MAULE, who urged on the Go vernment the propriety, of considering between that night and Mon day next whether they had not better pospone the first reading, The House adjourned at a few minutes to Three o'clock. (Loud cheers.) I say, with this unfOrtimate prospect before me; even admittin; that t e precaution I took iv,as ,spmfluous, I can only say, with Burke, under similar circumstances., 'lie said, In every pressure of affliction, in sickness, in penury, fn difficulty, and in distress, I will call to mind that accusation, and be comforted." It is no reproach to be attached to me, even if the precaution was superduons. :But, in Junk or July next it will be established whe ther my precautions were founded in truth, and my motives wor thy. Hut - I speak of this measure not as a temporary, but as a per manent measure; and if I fall, I shall have the satisfaction that I fall because I prefer the general interests of the people to that of party. I shall have the satisfaction that, during my official career, my object ias been to mitigate monopoly—to increase the demand for industry —to remove restriction from commerce—to equalise the burden of .axation—and to ameliorate the condition of the labouring cla.sses.— . (The Right Boni Bart .resumed his seat amid long and loud cheering.) Mr. S. O'BRIEN rose amidst loud cries of "Divide, divide." He said, if they had any objection to hear him, then he had no objection to move the adjournment of the debate. He rosein consequence of some remarks which had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet, and to vindicate the, position of that porlon of Hon. Members who advo cated protection, and with whom he acted. The Right lion. Baronet said that if hd fell he would fall striving in his official career, to mitigate monopoly, and Improve the condition of the people. He thought that the Right Hon. Baronet, skilful as he was in addressing the House on any personal matter, had not in this instance been peculiarly happy in making out his case. If the Right Hon. Baronet did fall, it would not be as he himself expressed it, in striving to mitigate monopoly, but in consequence of his desertion of those principles which had guided him previous to the last three years. The principles which the Right Hon. Baronet now espoused might be right or wrong, but for the ten years preceding these last three years, it was the chief object of the Right Hon. Baronet's life to construct and build up a party, and he (Mr. S. O'Brien) thought the principles he then advocated were just, sound, and true.—(Hear, hear.) Nobi' and well had the Right lion. Baronet then laboured, and well had his party supported him.—(Cheers.) The result was that the Noble Lord the Member 'for London 'was removed from these benches to the Opposition. He (Mr. S. O'Brien) did not know what influences had been at work to occasion the change In the opinions of the Right Hon. Baronet —he did not know what influences had led to his fall. — (Cheers and cries of " Oh, eh.") He did not know what machinery had been at work, but he would never admit that the Right Honourable Baronet had yet stated his case fully, and, RAILWAY COMMITTEES (YESTERDAY.) therefore, not fairly, when ' he stated that he fell because he had laboured to remove restrictions on imports. He thought that the Right Hon. Baronet, before entering upon the agricultural de tails with which he had favoured the House that evening, should have furniihed them to Hon. Members on that side of the House who were docally Interested. • The Right Hon. Baronet, indeed, said that he was willing to give those tables of wages and estimates of the prices of wheat to Hon. Members who might be locally con nected with the districts referred to. But what good would that do i Long before they could have corrected his errors—long before they could have observed his fallacies, millions would have read 'what the ;Right Honourable Baronet had said, and • this ' measure would be in too advanced a stage to combat it with any degree of success. Many of the county Members connected with the several localities t> which the state- H OUSE OF LORDS. THE DUBLIN AND ENNISKILLEN. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. J. C. Morris, cross-examined by Mr. BOYLE—The grand jury of Meath preferred this line to that of the North Midland Company, because It would pass through the heart of that country. This line would accommodate 580,000 people. I see the name of Donnybrook -included in the list of parishes which it is said this line will accom modate. Why do you include it?—Because there's a great fair there. Yes; for who has not heard of Donnybrook fair, but they cannot derive much traffic from that source ?—There is a great many horse-dealers who attend the fair. What side of Dublin is Donny brook on P—On the south-east side. And on what side is Clonullagh, the proposed terminus of this railway?—On the north-side.—(Laugh ter.) He did not think that Tyrone was a grazing county. Solve of the parishes included in the list were much more distant than five miles from the line: It was not a general rule in Ireland that the produce was sent to the nearest port. The traffic which was carried from the north- of Ireland to Dublin was very great, and would include more than agricultural produce. Mr. Joseph Hill was next called on behalf of the promoters. Had been employed by the Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland as valuator. Was well acquainted with the district through which this line would pass, and believed that it would afford the best communication to the district. Mr. Barnes, a magistrate of the county of Meath, wp.s of opinion that there would not be as much traffic and passengers on the line through which the North Midland would pass as on that of this Company.: Drogheda, through which this Company's line would pass, was an export town to the county of Meath. After some further evidence in favour of the line in preference to the opposing scheme, - Mr. ALEXANDER,. Q.C., on the part of the' opposition , applied to their Lordships to have the case adjourned until Monday, on the ground that the opponents wished to consult their engineer, and that Saturday w as the.only day on which he was disengaged. If their Lordships decided to proceed with the case to-morrow, it would be a great inconvenience to the North Midland Company. The Cnsinmsx said that their Lordships would have preferred sitting to-morrow, because on Tuesday they were afraid that they would not be able to sit. It was ultimately agreed that the Committee should stand ad journed until Monday. • Mr. John Farrell, another magistrate for the county of Meath, stated that he was possessed of considerable property near Kells, and was well acquainted with Meath.• The amount of cattle produced there was very great, and the owners preferred sending them to Dublin for sale and exportation. ‘Navan was a very important town and as this line passed through it (which the North Midland did no, ) * lie should much prefer it to the opposing scheme. Cross-examined—This line would be more advantageous to the Crosa-examine Ba d ei b ndl Ks ]s atierjll. bus a rn, :nu branch leh r dn fi . min h h o ipidea tt lhna p ny p d e appeared r shouldhe of people of Trim and Athboy than the opposing line, beeause it was g more' dire.ct. 'heir join in Railway h a n a l oirltehC, who coc t n i n o nn e t b i nt t r ee h emi L e a l at o t pl r lfN d a a o s t ff af h ev o l t r p "fh d o s er sanctionmthemost d e i Belfastreet econnection n J n u e n e c i o o n n branchby y railwayt o 1( e w l s i t , h would you r from th VE ef e l t t nearest port, viz., Drogheda ?—Certainly it would. Mr. Lambert Disney; a steward of Lord Farnham's estate, near ments of the Right Hon. Member iiiTreference, knowing that he in tended to express his opinion on that question, had pointed out many contradictions, many errors in those statements, but he did not feel himself justified at that late hour to enter into details, with a view of exhibiting these inaccuracies. When the Right Hon. Baronet entered into an analysis of the domestic expenses of a Yorkshire la bourer, he but introduced a statement the Noble Lord, the Mem ber for the West Riding of Yorkshire. He (Mr. S. O'Brien) was most anxious that the motives by which Hon. Membere on that side of the House were actuated in their opposition to this Bill, should be fairly stated, and he thought it would be advisable, hy,Hon. Gentlemen Oppotite, as they might; if so inclined, have embarrassed the Government to a greater degree than they had done, —they might, for instance, have moved an 'address to the crown, for a dissolution of Parliament. They might have asked for a vote of want of con fidence in the Government.—(Cheers, and "Oh, oh ;")—and they possibly might have caught some stray votes by the adoption of such a course.—(lronical cheers, and " Oh, oh.") But they had acted in a fairer manner, and he was sure that the Hon. Member for Stock port would conclude, at least, that they had adopted the fair, the open, and the manly eourse. They were determined to bring the question of protection into the open field, and if they were beaten upon it, they had the consolation at least of knowing that they had not incurred disgrace—although left to fight the battle by themselves, the country would have the satisfaction of knowing the energy, the support, and the zeal, which had been exhibited by those around them, and especially by the younger members.—(Cheers and laugh ter.) This was no question of modification ; they had supported the Right Hon. Bart. in his different changes, but this was a question of total remiss ion of duty ; and when they considered the tremendous interest involved, the mighty nature of the consequences that might follow, they could not give their support to the ill-timed measure proposed by the Government. The Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, had said that the averages spoke untruly in the present year. He said that the price had varied from 485. to 745., and he, therefore, argued against the sliding scale. Now, when the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn, in quired of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government. what he was going to do with tithes, the Right Hon. Gentleman im mediately answered that tbe averages, would answer fog that. They said the averages, were delusive with respect to the foreigner, but they kept them on with respect to tithes. That was manifestly an injuVice. He was ready' to admit that the Right Hon. Baronet had not exaggeratedthe state of Ireland ; and to give him the best proof that he felt so, he might state, that as soon as he (Mr. O'Brien) could get away from • these discussions, he intended to go Over, apd see what he could do personally to mitigate th, distress of that country. He did not, however, think that the temporary distress of Ireland had ar.ything to do with the measure they were discussing, and as a perpetual measure it must ultimately increase the difficulties of the poor of Ireland. • The Right Hon. Baronet had given them no cal culations upon' which to found this measure. He had told them nothing about the price of corn.—(lronical cheers.) Ile understood. that rimer. Ilea. Gentletnen qpposite :whenever -the, leastallusion was made to money on that (the Ministerial) side of the House, assumed that the interests of the protectionists were mercenary. He could not but remember that the Hon. and smiling Member for Durham, when the question of a penny a pound upon cotton wool `was proposed, was most anxious upon that subject. HQn. Gentle men could not deny• that the landed interest had legislated upon their convictions, and now, when the Legislature was about to be come commercialor ' manufacturing in its character, he trusted that at least the supporters of the new system would acknowledge that the protectioni4ts had battled to the last for what they believed to be true. labourer. Colonel SIBTHORP—The wages were higher because there was a remunerating price for corn? Sir R. PEEL—There was just as much a remunerating price in the parts where low wages were paid, as in the others ; and I think the Hon. and Gallant Member might easily reason that to be the fact, without any material stretch of his logical faculty.—(Loud laughter.) This, then, being the case, ‘ •can we say that the state of the agricultural labourer is as it ought to be? Was the state of the men who had to work for their bread so laboriously in that state which it ought to be? Are you, not, then, I ask, deeply interested in rendering less irksome the social condition of the great mass of the popula- tion of this empire ?—( Hear, hear.) Believe me, the great point which you have to attain is to appease the apprehensions of the people, and that the only way .to attain that is to let them have, in the first instance, abundance of food.—( Cheers. ) You may in vain attempt to induce habits of cleanliness and purity in their dwellings, and all the other elements of social comfort, but they will fail, if you do not give them, in the first instance, abundance of f4od.—( Hear, hear.) If there be any apprehensim on the minds of the population that there is likely to be a scarcity of food, depend upon it it will be in vain for you to try and induce any improvement in their social condition. Hon. Members may laugh at this if they will ; but allow me to tell them that the last three years' experience must have proved that lam correct. I will quote a few figures, in order to show that I am correct, and I will quote none that lam not prepared to verify. Now take the variations in the prices of wheat from •the year 1837 to the present time. I took care to have accounts furnished me from farmers in the purely agricultural districts, of the amount of wages paid to their labourers from the year 1837 to 1844 inclusive, and it amounted to this in the Sudbury Union in Dorsetshire. The sums I am now about to qu te are those which the labourer received in money • and in beer, and the comparative amount of wages in summer and in winter. Let me also remind the House that since the year 1837, prices of corn and of labour varied very much. In the year 1837, the price of wheat was 555. 10d. ; in 1838, it was 645. 7d: ; in 1839, it was 765. Bd.; in 1840, it was 665. 4d. ; in 1841, it was 665. 4d. ; in 1842, it was 575. 3d.; in 1843, it was 505.; in 1844, it was 51s ; and in 1845 it was 555. 10d. Therefore you see that since 1837 to 1845, the price of wheat varied In the proportions which I have stated. But now let me observe that , I have also seen a disposition in this country, I regret to say, to substitute the potato for wheat. We have heard much of the allotment system, and we have been told that it has been adopted most benevolently ; but I shall only say that I think this feeling only tends to reduce the peasantry of this country to the state of the Irish peasantry—(Hear, hear)—and I should consider it a groat calamity indeed that the potato should be substituted its this Country for the use of wheat.—(Elear, hear.) I will now give you the variation in the rate of wages in Dorset from the year 1837 upwards. In 1837, the wages amounted to 10s. ; in 1838 to 1 is.; in 1839 to lls.; in 1840 to I Is.; in 1841 to I Is. ; in 1842 to 113 ; in 1843 to lls. ; and in 1844 to I Os.—(Bear, hear.) In East Suffolk, the variation of wages has been from Bs. to 10s. per week, and the supply of labour in that quarter is greater than the demand ; and consequently the farmers pay what they like. In West Suff dk the wages paid fluctuate between 9s. and IN. per week, that is when task labour is not employed. lam not saying that 10s. per week is the maximum of wages, because I know there is extra pay in the harvest... Now is this not demonstrable of the fact with which T set out? —( Hear, hear.) If I show you that in eight years, there being no rise in the rate of wages, but a consid-rable advance in the price of corn, do I not demonstrate the position with which I set out?-(Cheers.) Ilave I not proved the fallacy of the doctrines of Hon. Gentlemen who contend for the opposite?—(Renewed cheCrs.) Therefore - we cannot continue the existing law on the ground that it is for the benefit of the agricultural labourer. I believe that Adam Smith's doctrine is true, although he says in some part of his works that there is a tendency in the rate of wages to increase according to the price of corn. tie says that the rate of wages depends on the country being in a flouri hing state, and the amount of capital ap plicable to the labouring interest., And it is the flourishing state of agriculture, manufaeture and commerce, and not the price of pro vision, that regulates the rate of wages. So I say, that by removing the restrictions on in ustry, we can increase the demand for labour, and that is the mode by which we , are to raise the wages of the agri cultural labourer, and not by raising the price of food. Let us observe what advantages we shall gain by it. It eannot be denied that we shall guard against the rapid increase of prices, and relieve ourselves from the responsibility of regttlating the supply of food. My Right Hon. Friend has told me what has passed since this urea sure has been brought forward. I could prove to you, if I thought it necessary, from various parts of this country ; that there is no tariff with respect to the pric.s of land. I could adduce an instance re specting Scotland. There have been 11 farms in Roxburgh let since the proposal of this measure by Government. I could prove the enormous price given for land in this country, and where capital and skill are most employed there is no apprehension of this measure. I could prove that in Lincolnshire several farms have been let since this measure was introduced. I could show that the agricultural portion of the community exists on this subject. If a law could be maintained, that would protect bad farming and insufficient capital protection is the law best calculated for such a purpose. I do not deny that there may be individual cases of injury. There may be suffering—there will be property encumbered, and tenants in jured, but on the whole, compare that injury with the advantage you gain—compare it with the security you gain against ruinous prices— with the comfort you secure to yourselves, in not being responsible in times of scarcity for the supply of food. Compare all that with the advantage that may be done, and see from which side the most bent is likely to accrue to the agricultural interest. Look at the probable advantage to the labouring classes; look at the security of your own positions, which I believe will be elevated, and not depressed, and the legiti mate influence you will exercise in this state of thing In making this concession, my firm belief is that I do not act as r enemy to that interest with which my own is so intimatelyidenta In making this proposal on the part of the Government, I intem" led it to be for the benefit of all classes ; for you could not expect to c s p , tinue enforcing the endurance of protection. Was not the case rine for the agricultural interest to consider impartially 7 , You say tat the present time is one of prosperity, and is not that an add' ji oral a-gument in favour of this measure? You can alter it wit l het lour to yourselves, and without fearing the:infliction of injury The . f lon. Gentleman who spoke before me said that there was r scarcity this year. He said that ate would get over + .4,fett.t 1 . :w out any cause for apprehension, Is not that an ma -., 0f , addtgAza Vab, A thboy, was next examined in favour of the Dublin and Enniskil len line, which he considered by far the more preferable project. He should' oppose the line of the North Midland, inasmuch as it would pass through the estate of Lord Farnham, and compel him to change his residence.' The county through which this line would pass was a very impgrtant and commercial tract of country. Cross-examined—Did not know that there was any partichlar traftle. between Athboy and Duushoughlan ' but he believed that it was only to justify the formation of a branch from the main line of this corn- any. he had never sent any cattle to Drogheda. He was more particularly acquainted with the county of Meath, and as regarded that county, he was certain that this line would be more advantage ouslo the public than the opposing sceme. The evidence of this witness having been concluded, the Committee adjourned until Monday. Lord PALMIRSTON then rose amidst loud cries of " Divide, di vide." He wished briefly to state and explain the vievp which. he had been induced to take of the two important qUeStions which formed the subject of their discuseion—the one question commercial and the other constltutional—(Hear, hear.) He thought that the Government were completely justified in de parting from the party engagements into which they had entered on the formation of the present Parliament. He believed that public men were public property—(Cheers)—and that that which eon , cerned the public interest should be discussed without consulting the particular interests of a private class, which must be in opposition to the general good of the country. The Government had introduced measures this year, not so much at variance with their former opt= nions as with their former practical course.—(Hear, hear.) A large section of those nip) were their former supporters were content with merelyopposing the measure on the ground of its being dangerous to a certain class in the country; an'i, because they held that opinion they ware determined to withhold from the Right Hon. Gentleman that stlaport Which they had hitherto accorded to him. That' section of politicians had asserted that the Meitibets Of the Government had betrayed their followers.—(Hear, hear.) Bet he could not acquiesce in the doctrine which was implied in that charge, for, while they made it, they also fairly acknowledged that the Govern ment had been actuated, in the course which they had pursued upon this occasion. by a Sincere conviction that they were doing that Which the public interests required.—(Hear, hear.) And the charge implied that public men should obey the engagements which they had contracted with their party rather than de that which was consistent with the public interests.—( Hear, .hear.) He, on the con trary, held that, however' impOttant political associations were for the useful working of the British Constitution, and however the man belonging to a party was bound in his political relations to act in accordance with his political associates, yet he would say, that any man Who held the relation of Minister of the Crown, should consider the interests of the country in preference to those of any political party with which he might be as sociated.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that the Government had placed upon a somewhat too narrow ground the justification which they had advanced for the change which had taken place in their con duct. They had ascribed that change to their experience of the last three years ; but he thought they might have said that it was rather to the experience of the last four yearsthe debates of the last four sessions, the speeches of his Hon. Friend the Member for Stockport —(Hear, hear)—and of other Gentlemen on his side of the House, who, session after session, had advocated the measure in eloquen t unan swerable speeches — (Hear, hear)—that their change had been effected. It was very well for Gentlemen who sat listening to the debates, and others who came down at the eleventh hour to divide in the lobby, to record the triumph of their party—it was very well for such to maintain, session after session, and year after year, their old opinions; but the case of the Minister of the Crown was very different.—(Hear, hear.) The Mihister of the Crown had to sit throughout the whole of the debates—(Hear, hear, and laughter), and listento the speeches, and moreover find arguments to answer the objections brought against the propositions of the Government,' and those arguments must be such as must not disgrace a Minister of the Crown.—(Hear, hear, and cries of ." Question.") The Members of the Government were obliged to watch the progress of the public opinion, and concede to the requirements. of the intelligent and just men of the country.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord then.proceeded in the following terms :—There are certain climates which are specific cures for certain diseases. — (Loud laughter.) And I would venture to say I would take any men who are labouring under the most acute and inflammatory type of the protectio.n fever, that, after a time—after they had for a few months breathed the free-trade atmosphere of Downing-street—they would be altogether cured !—(Laughter.) Now, Sir, with regard to the commercial part of the question. Having taken the liberty some years :.go of expressing a wish that the word " protection" might be blotted out from our commercial vocabulary, I cannot but hail with cordial pleasure measures which have so great a tendency to carry that 'wish into effect.—(Cheers.) Sir, protection is, no doubt, a plausible word ; and many are the evils which mankind have had to ereaure from plausible words cloaking and disguising injuries.— (Hear, `hear.) What does protection in the commercial sense mean? It means nothing but the injury of the many to the benefit of the few— (Loud eheers)—with this difference, that the injury to the man: v is real, and the benefit to the few is for the most part delusive. Ther a can be no benefit to any class of men unless they are stimu lated to exert their industry, and intelligence, and activity to the utind st extent ; but protection is a baneful influence which para lyses the vital energies of human industry, which curbs de velo, ament and cripples its growth, and so far from benefiting the. parties for whose advantage it is intended, it frequently lei svee them perhaps even in a worse condition than they would have be An if that protection had not been afforded.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, Len I say, protection being injurious to the many, and not even ad vantageous to the few, it is against one of the fundamental maxims which ought to guide legislation—namely; that you should legislate for the benefit of the many, and not for the advantage of the few. — (Cheers.) But it is contended that free trade and the absence of pro tection must be very well for a country in a natural state of society, but that we are in an artificial condition—that we have large esta blishments, naval and military, to support—that we have a great debt, whose interest we are bound to pay—and that we cannot afford all these expenses unless with the principle of protection. I hold that to be a complete fallacy. I hold the position not only to be un true, but to be the very reverse.—Wh .--eers.) What is the effect of protection? Why, the meaning and effect of protection that you should, by artificial taxation, raise the price of commodities that come from abroad, and by that means raise the price of the like commod ities at home—that you should make com modities dearer than they would otherwise be, and, as I contend, worse than they would otherwise be.— (Loud cheers.) Ile believed that the high tariffs of France Lou England HOUSE OF COMMONS. GROUP IX. WEST or SCOTLAND ZUNCTION. 'Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday. Mr. sergeant BuLlsis briefly cross-examined the witness with the purpose of showing that one of the alternative branches would interfere at a crossing with the Barrhead and' Neilston Direct Railway. Mr. Wthsoic, ironmaster of Dundyvan, near Glasgow, was next called in, and was undergoing examination as to the great advan tage the proposed junction would confer on the trade of the sur rounding district, when The CIIAIRMAN interfered. He said he had sent to the Admiralty for Captain Washington, one of the Tidal Harbour Commissioners, to be examined as to the crossing of tll.e Clyde ; and as that gentleman had arrived, it would be convenient to take his evidence at once. Captain Washington was then examined, and said his attention had been called to the Harbour of Glasgow last year. He gave evi dence then against the proposed crossing of the Clyde, but he had not attended to the present plan. [The plan was here produced and placed before the witness.] Looking at the plan he considered it a decided improvement on the plan of last year, still he objected to it. It would stillinterfere with the harbour, and rather than the smallest obstruction should be offered to the navigation, he would prefer that the present bridge be pulled down, and one of two or three spans built in its stead. Ile would also prefer that it should be built further up the river. A letter from the Admiralty was here produced, to the effect that the Admiralty would not interfere with the present plans, but leave the matter to the Committee. Captain Washington, in continuation, said he believed the Admi ralty would not put a veto on the plan, but submit the whole matter to the discretion of the Committee ; still he was certain if the subject was left entirely to them they would decide against the proposed Plan. At the close of the examination the . room was cleared. On our return, The CHAIRMAN said there was one point oil which the Committee required spccial engineering evidence. It was about the proposed junction in the tunnel on the north side of the line. Unless the pre sent impression was removed about the danger of that junction, there would be little use in occupying time with the other parts of the case. Mr. Sergeant ANDREWS said they would be prepared with evidence on that point on Monday morning. The Committee then adjourned till Menday at twelve o'clock. GROUP XII. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition 0 yeeterday.) The Committee then decid that the preamble of the Bill, TEE GLASGOW, PA ISLEY, KILMARNOCK, AND AYR. (No. 3 -WITH ER,ANCIIES TO I.AVIPITS AND LESMAIIAGOW), was proved, as also TUX GuasGovr, EXLIVIARNOCIC, AND ARDROSSAN. The Committee intimated that when the clauses of the latter Bill same to be considered the one which referred to the purchase of the harbour would require to be amend he ed. The clauses of the first named Bill were then agreed to and t Committee adjourned. GROUP XIV. NORTH RENT. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) By Mr. Sergeant WitANGHAM —There would be a loss to the pro prietor, but that loss might be estimated and compensated in money. In the absence of Mr. Austin, he proceeded to address the Com mittee in support of a petition against the proposed line by Messrs, Hall, the proprietors of the gunpowder-mills in Favers ham. He called Mr. Coller, an assistant to a surveyor In Canterbury,who proved the accuracy of the plan of the mills, and the course of the intended line. Mr. William Hart, a superintendent and manager of the business of Messrs. Hall—The mills originally belonged to Government, but were purchased in 1823 by Messrs. Hall. The mills existed in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The business is very large, and the average sale is about 500 barrels of powder per week. Is in the habit of contracting with Government. Within the last fortnight Messrs. Hall have contracted to supply 2,340 barrels of powder. By Mr. Sergeant Waexunera—Cannot explain the process as carried on in the different mills. Mr. Wm. Monks, foreman to Messrs. Hall, stated that he had been employed 24 hours. The materials for the powder are prepared in the saltpetre refinery, and are then taken to the other mills. There are six pairs of runners, or millstones at the Osprich Mills, and in the other mills the number varies from two to ten pair. Af ter the runner is turned round once or twice on the materials, they are called " mill cake," and is stronger than when it is in a manufactured state. A two ounce charge of "mill cake" will send a 68-pound ball 20 feet farther than a 2 oz charge of the manufactured powder. The contents of a Darrel is 1001135., and there are "charge houses" in all the mills. The charge house of the Osprich Mills contains from 30 to 40 barrels of powder. The mills are 185 yards from the line. The mills are built of slight materials, to mitigate as much as possible the effect of any explosion, but the charge houses are built of very thick masonry, and in case of an explosion, it would be very violent. Great precautions are taken to avoid accidents. The men enter the mill with list shoes. The powder is very volatile, and the roofs of the mills are covered with powder dUISt, es also the trios round it. AMO pump is kept THE SUN, 1:,ON DON, SATURDAY lIN_ING, MARCH 28, 1846. GROUP XVI. EPSOM BRANCH. Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) • Mr. Butcher, a surveyor at Ewell, and proprietor of brick-fields in that parish, testified to the non-interference of the line with orna mental property, and to the low value of the land. He made nearly a million of bricks, some of which he had attempted to send to London, but the cost was 1/. a thousand, and the carriage beat him. On the railway he could transmit them for Tess than ss. a thousand, an advantage which he should be very glad to obtain, From his profession he had much intercourse with the middle and hjgher classes, and he was convinced that their feelings were de cidedly in favour of the South-Western branch. Mr. Steel, a resident of Epsom, stated that there were about 12,000 sheep, 3,000 oxen, and a number of lambs, calves, and other stock which might be sent much more advantageously by this line than the other. The posting was also chiefly to the West-end. On the Derby day tile number of persons present on the race course were from _lBOOO to 200,608, which were chiefly persons from the London side of the country. He had been to every respectable house in Epsom, and he could say that the feeling was almost unanimous in favour of this line. With r e s p ect to the petition against the line he had ascertained that fifty of the 'petitioners had signed this petition ; fifty had declined to sign, icst they should ap pear foolish, though anxious to do so ; thirty were en the list of those excused on account of their poverty from paying rates ;. fifty were lodgers, paying no rates at all ; and the remainder squatters on the eommon. All the magistrates had signed in favour of this line, and the only person of respectability who had signed the other was the vicar and Mr. Northey, who was lord of the manors both of Ewell and Cheam ; the latter of these gentlemen, however was decidedly in favour of the South-Western line. . • • Mr. Mason, of the Spring Hotel, at Ewell, testified to the feelings of the inhabitants, which he had gathered by going round with a petition. The reason why the vicar had not signed was, his having sold a considerable quantity of land to the Croydon Company, and he therefore thought that it would not look well to support their opponents: The petition from Ewell in favour of the Croydon line had been chiefly signed by persons occupying cottages of from 4/. to 6/. a year rent. He had been a coach proprietor for the last seven years, and up to that time there were twenty-six coaches which passed his house, twenty of which went to the West-end. The witness spoke also to the value of the land and the feelings of the people. At this point the room was cleared. When the public were re-admitted, the CHAIRMAN declared that the Committee were of opinion that it was unnecessary to offer any opposition, as the preamble of the Bill had not been proved. FARNHAM AND ALTON BRANCH. On inquiry by the CHAIRMAN as to whether the parties were ready to proceed, Mr. Goldsenid said he appeared on behalf of the Reigate and Reading Company, to oppose part of this scheme, , and Mr. Wordsworth appeared on behalf of several landowners, also in oppo • sition to the line, of which the Sonth-Wostern Company are the pro moters; but it being suggested that the inquiry had better be adjourned until Monday, the Committee acceded. GROUP XIX. This Committeee assembled this day at twelve o'clock ; present, Lord Harry Vane (chairman), the Earl of Marsh, the Hon. Frances Scott, Mr. David Morris, and Mr. Phillip Bennett. The further consideration of the proposed line of the EXETER AND EXMOUTH was proceeded with. Mr. ROWE and Mr. Comm:um appeared on the part of this Bill, who produced several witnesses, residents iii Exeter, Exmouth, and Topsham, all of whom advocated- the present line now under consideration, as it afforded more facility and ac commodation to :the public than tae opposite scheme. The principal objections they advanced against the rival Bill were--the passing the canal, and the stations they had selected, more parties erly the one at Topsham, on account of Its being so far removed from the quay. Mr. Locke, engineer of the Exeter and Exmouth Railway, did not approve of the application of the atmospheric principle in crossing the canal, and considered that when an equally advantageous com munication .xmld be effected without, it ought to. be selected in pre ferenca. His estimate for the construction of this line was 100,0001. Yr. Whiter had been on the Croydon Railway, in order to ascer tain the success of the atmospheric principle on that line. A long discussion ensued relative to the respective merits and advantages of the locomotive and atmospheric principles. This witness was still under examination, when at four o'clock the Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock on Monday next. GROUP XXI. LONDON AND OXFORD. :Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. Wm. Hatton, farmer and carrier, in the parish of Ashton Rowell, 11 miles from High Wycombe, said he carried 700 or 800 tons of goods a year, which he should send by the line if it were made. The line to Wycombe proposed by the Great Western Company would be of no advantage to him as it would be 11 miles from his place of business and was indirect. The station of the London and Brighton offered advantages which the Great Western station did not possess because it was near Newgate and Smithfield markets. Mr. VENABLES, who appeared on behalf of the landowners who have petitioned against the line, inquired of the promoters of the line if tliey intended to proceed with the Southall branch ? Mr. CALVERT said he was not in a position to say that they would not proceed with this branch. He believed, however, that Parlia ment would adopt such a course as to preclude its construction, on account of the diversity of gauge, Mr. Payne, a farmer, at Saunderton Lea, six miles from High Wycombe, spoke to the advantages which the line would confer on the inhabitants and trade of the districts through which it was de signed to pass. • Mr. Simmonds, chemist and gas manufacturer, at Thome, stated that he used 115 tons of coals a year, which he had from Newcastle, for which he paid 15s. Bd. per ton in the pool. The cost of transits would be materially reduced if the line to Aylesbury were continued to Thame. Mr. Tiplock, a linen-draper at Thome, said he bought his woollen goods in London, as they got them better there. Thinks if they had a line from Thame to the north that they should still buy them in London. He now went four times to London yearly ; but if the line were made he should go twelve times in the same period. Mr. R. H. Cowland, carrier, Thome, said he now sent the goods he had to convey, at three tons a week, to Aylesbury, and so on to London by the London and Birmingham line, or by the same line to the north. A line from Thame to join the Aylesbury line would be very beneficial. Trade had greatly fallen off in Thame, owing to the Great Western and Birmingham lines. Mr. I. Stone, also a carrier, and Mr. Phillipps, cattle-dealer, Thame, gave evidence in support of the line. Mr. TALBOT inquired if the promoters of the Bill intended to pro ceed with the short branch into Oxford, which is proposed to form a junction with the Great Western? Mr. HILDYARD said, as he stated in opening the case, the branches to the Great Western were proposed in order to obviate the difficulty in which they were placed by, the report of the Gauge Commissioners. He would answer the question of his Learned Friend if he would tell him whether the broad or narrow gauge would be adopted or not on all the lines in the Company. Mr. TALBOT said the question was one which the Prime Minister could not answer. It was important that the question should be then decided, as the construction of the branches would affect the es timates. _ . After a short discussion, Mr. HILDTARD undertook, at the request of the Committee, to re reply to the question, if possible, on Monday. The Committee then adjourned until that day. GROUP XXV. The Select Committee apppointed to consider the merits of this group` re-assembled at the usnal hour this morning, in the West minster Sessions House, the lion. M. Lascelles in the chair. HARWICH AND EASTERN UNION. The business of this morning was commenced by Mr. AUSTIN opening the case on behalf of the promoters of the Easto' a 'Ur Lou nd Harwich Junction Railway. It was clear, he said, rrom the fair and very creditable evidence of Mr. Braithwaite, that, so far from shortening the distance between Harwich and the metropolis, the advantages of the two lines were about equal ; but between Har wich and Ipswich the Eastern Union line had a great advantage over its rival, in so far as it shortened the distance by six miles. It shortened, in fact, the present distance between Harwich and Ips wich, which was nineteen miles by six miles. It must be remembered too that formerly parties wishing to go from Harwich to the midland counties, and the centre of Eng land, had to go round by way of London, but this he hoped :would never eceur again ; indeed it could not, for there was a, lin,e thA3 Eoritk oroorfitraction from IpsWich to,. fury St :Edmund's, which was now reported to be extended to Norwich and Cambridge; -- passing by way of Stowmarket and other important towns, and between all these places and Harwich the distance by the line he was now advocating would be shortened by six miles. It was clear, therefore, that the Eastern Union line was upon broad merits the best of the two ; but some inci dental opposition had been raised to it, by bringing forward some thing which had taken place with respect to the Admiralty. Now, he wished to have this point cleared up. He would admit that the Admiralty could stop the construction of this portion of the the project; but the Committee ought to discard this consideration, and look at the two Bills and decide upon either upon its merits, as adduced by evidence. This was the course adopted last session in the case of the Great Western and South Wales Railway, which proposed to cross the Severn a little below Gloucester, by means of a bridge,, planned by Mr. Brunel; but the Admiralty, who were extremely jealous of schemes which could be in any way supposed to obstruct the navigation of the Severn, objected to this bridge. The Committee, however, saw that the proposed line would be of great public advantage, and they determined upon reporting to the House in favour of this railway, including the project for the bridge ; but the Admiralty's objection was supported by the Government, and the consequence was that the Bill was ordered to be re committed. Accordingly the Bill was recommitted, and the Committee again reported in favour of the Bill, leaving out the bridge. It was afterwards sanctioned by the Legislature, and now the line was being made without the bridge. Now that was precisely the course which the present Committee ought to adopt. Let them report on the merits of the two Bilis, and if they did so, he was sure they would decide in favour of the Eastern Union line. Now with regard to the matter of the Admiralty, he contended that the Board of Admiralty had given no adverse deci sion in respect of the Eastern Union line, but he would admit that they had declined to receive a deputation from its promoters. But it was said that the Admiralty had sanctioned the rival line, and if they had, he could assure the Committee, that if such were the case, it must "apply only to the pier at Harwich; and if the Com mittee would just look at the plan, they would see that Mr. Locke had so prepared thew, that he could make Mr. Braithwaite's pier within his own limits of deviation. But without wishing to impute anything improper to the Admiralty, he complained that if they had given any opinion at all in favour of the rival line they had arrived at that opinion through ex parte statements and ex parte information. It was just as if the judge had called in the plaintiff and the jury into a private room, and there decided the case in the absence of the defendant, and when the poor tea defendant applied for permission to urge his defence, instead of obtaining a hearing, the door was slammed in hi s face. lie could not help thinking, therefore, that the Board of Ad miralty's opinion in favour of the rival line had been obtained through the mancenvring of the promoters; Indeed, the correspodence which had passed between the promoters and the Admiralty bore out this conclusion. The Committee, he trusted, would throw overboard this opinion, and decide upon the merits of the two Bills. If.they did so, he was satisfied they could not do otherwise than pass the Eastern Union Bill, because the evidence preponderated in its favour. Evidence of a general character was then adduced in favour of the line. Witnesses from Manningtree, Ipswich, and Harwich, were called to prove that the Eastern Union line would afford more ac commodation to those towns than the Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction line. Mr. Ransom, an extensive ironmonger at Ipswich, who was well acquainted with the trade of the East Anglican districts, preferred the Eastern Union line, because while it gives a direct communi cation with the metropolis, It also shortened the distance between Harwich and Ipswich. At present, the steam-boat communication between those places was extremely uncertain. On cross-examinathm, the witness admitted that there was a project before the present Committee, known as the Stour Valley Railway, which would carry that traffic from the midland counties and the north, altogether away from Ipswich, but he thought it would be more advantageous to take the traffic through Ipswich. The Stour Valley line ran to Sudbury. The local authorities of Ipswich had laid out 120,00 01 . in the improvement of the port, and it was altogether a rival port with Harwich. The Committee adjourned, at four o'clock, until one o'clock on Monday. Suli-Cemmitte No. 2. • BRITISH AND IRISH UNION RAILWAY. (Continued froth our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Several allegations were abandoned, and some were admitted. The nett class of allegations was to the effect that the lands, &c., on the line were not numbered OR the plans. some instances of the alleged omission were adduced and sus tained, which concluded the case for the petition. The Committee found that in the case of this Bill the standing orders had not been complied with. GREAT EASTERN AND WESTERN. The object of this Bill was to connect the iron district of South Wales with Herefordshire and the maufacturing districts of Stafford shire. The length of the line was about seventy miles, and the amount of capital 1,2,30,000/. Engineer, Mr. Griffin; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Burke and Co. There were two petitions against the Bill. Mr. BURKE said that, with respect to one part of the formal proofs, he had to solicit the indulgence of the Committee. It was that which related to depositing the plans. These plans had unfortunately not been deposited until the lit of December, in consequence of the illness of the engineer, who broke down through physical debility; but he at each mill to wash of that postaer. 'The contents of the magazines was prepared to produce evidence to show that neither money nor are removed by water. The "Ore Creek" comes close up to the mill. labour had been spared to make the deposits as soon as possible. By Mr, Sergeant WRANGRAM —The powder, when in the state After some deliberation the CHAIRJEAN (Mr. E. Yorke) agreed to called the " green charge," is r a explosive as the manufactured hear the evidence in question. powder.. The magazines are built much stronge^ than the mills, in I Evidence was then given that all due diligence had been used by Ural to IteeP the powder safe. There is a s.eam-engine at work the promoters, who had succeeded in depositing their plaits before the near the Osprich Mild. It is about la yards distant, with its boiler, office hours on the Ist of December. chimney, and furnace. Mr. Hall resides in d cottage about 60 Mr. Shepherd, a surgeon,residing at,Towcester, was also examined— Tards from the mills. There is also a gas factory within 60 He stated that he attended Mr. Garvatt, at that time engineer of the yards of the mills. There is a steam-engine on the Company, at Worcester, in October. Mr. Garvatt was labouring premises called: the Bennett Mills, which. contain from 50 under a severe disease, ealculated to produce nervous irritation, and to 70 barrels of powder in the charge house. 0ne....0f the charge was quite unfitted to attend to his business. houses abuts on the public road, but the wails of it are *built very Cross-examined—On the 30th of October and 2d of November Mr. thick near the road, and very thin on the inside, so ;as to direct the Garvatt was able to go to London and to attend business, and during explosion away from the public. • Explosions have taken place in his attendance he found him with maps and other documents before nearly every mill, but no explosion has extended its influence to the him, and surrounded by clerks. distance of 109 yards. At a distance of 50 yards windows have been The Camastattagd, that as far as the fact went they must find broken, but that is the extreme distance at which' he has known that the standing orders had not been complied with, with reference damage to be • done. The end of the mill facing the magazine or to their non-deposits of the plans in the proper time. The mitigating charge house is made strong, and no explosion has hitherto reached circumstances might be stated above 'Stara. the powder contained in it. About 401bs. of powder are placed The other formal proofs were then proceeded with and couclgded. under the runners at a time. One of the - petitions had relation to the non-deposit of the plans, all* Captain Tulloch, of the Royal Artillery, stated that he is super- was therefore not pressed. intendent of the Government powder mills at Waltham Abbey. The air. BAXTER, solicitor, appeared for the next petition, from John green charge is very explosive, but the mill cake is much more so. Colburn, which stated that he was one of the subscribers to the In 1843 au explosion occurred, which destroyed a counting-house 216 Company. The first allegation was that the plan originally proposed to go yards distant from the ignited powder. Mr. AUSTIN was proceeding to cross-examine this witness, when from Yarmouth to Swansea, whereas it now proposed to effect a The announcement was made that the Speaker was at prayers, and junction with the Vale of Neath Railway, and, therefore, that the Cenimittee adjourned until twelve o'clock on Monday. petitioner was exonerated from all liability. The Committee decided that in this case the standing orders had been complied with. An allegation with reference to an error in the supplemental con tract was sustained. The Committee then adjourned. Sub-Committee No 4. WIIITEEIAVEN AND FURNESS JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yoatorday.) Other allegations of a similar nature were sustained. In the case of another petition, the CHAIRMAN expressed a doubt that the petitioner was entitled to be heard unless he had a direct or indirect interest in property within the limits of deviation. Mr. PRITT submitted that in other Committees in had been ruled that any person could petition on behalf the public. The point was ultimately reserved, and the Committee adjourned. Sub-Committee No. 5. TIIETFORD, BURY ST. EDMUNDS, AND NEWMARKET. (Continueel from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The next allegation was that no notice had been served on the surveyor et - highways in respect of a certain road which would be crossed by the line. The surveyor himself was called to prove that he had received no notice, and the Committee declared the allegation proved, no evidence being given on the other side. The remaining allegation of this petition were utterly uninteresting to the public. The petition of David Barty and others was next taken. It de pended chiefly on discrepancies in the gradients, &c. Several of the allegations were dismissed, as not being properly worded, and several were declared to be proved. The Committee refused to admit several objections as to minute discrepancies in the • - plans. It appeared in the course of the day that the petitioner, Mr. Barty, was the secretary of a rival railway company. Only one allegation of the next petition, that of a Mr. Benton, was entered into, the others being identical with those of Mr. Barty's petition. This allegation was that the junction of the proposed line with the Norfolk Railway was'ditThrently marked in the plans and sections, its distance from the principal station not being the same. This allega tion was delared proved. After disposing of several otherpoints, the Committee gays their decision that the, standing orders were not complied with. They then rose at four o'clock, and adjourned to Monday at STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES. HOUSE - OF LORDS. (Continued from our Afternoon . Edition of yesterday.) CLONMEL AND THURLES RAILWAY. This case was adjourned for the want of one witness, who was not in attendance. The length of this important line is 38% milesi including a branch to St. Civardagh Colliery. The capital of the Company is 400,0004 Solicitors to the lir.e, Sir Matthew Barrington, Son, and Company. GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EXTENSION AT CORK. The formal proofs having been entered in this case, the Committee adjourned it until Monday neat, in order to give themselves time to consider what quantity of land they should allow for the bundling of a station at Cork. The promoters sought for fifty acres, and it was urged that thirty would be sufficient. The following lines were then adjourned to give time for the ex amination of certain clauses in their respective Bills: MALLOW AND KILLARNEY ; OMA.GII, DUNGANNON, AND PORTSDOWN ; AND TUE DUBLIN, BELFAST, AND COLE RAINE RAILWAY. In the case of the London and York Railway, their Lordships inti mated that they would further adjourn their decision until Tuesday next. Their Lordships adjourned until Monday next. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sub-Committee, No. 3. (Continued front our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) THE LESMAIIAGOW, DALWLSERF, AND COATBRIDGE RAILWAY was allowed to be proceeded with. NEWPORT, ABERGAVENNY, AND HEREFORD RAILWAY was also allowed to be proceeded with. BIRMINGHAM, LICHFIELD, AND MANCHESTER was also allowed to be proceeded with. BEDFORD AND CAMBRIDGE RAILWAY was not allowed to be proceeded with.. The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday next. Sub-Committee, No. a. Cr " (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) MIDLAND (CLAYCROSS TO NEWARK) RAILWAY. The object of this line is-to construct a branch from the Midland Railway at Claycross to the Nottingham and Mansfield Railway at Newark. Estimated cost, 580,0001. ; Parliamentary agents, Messrs, Burke and Co. ; tngineeers, Messrs. Stephenson and Swanwich. The formal proofs having been given by Mr. Grubb. The Committee postponed the further consideration of the case till Tuesday to hear the advice of Mr. Cramp and Mr. Charles Lee. The case will be the first taken on Tuesday. MIDLAND (NOTTINGHAM TO MANSFIELD) RAILWAY. The projectors of-this line propose by it to connect Nottingham and Mansfield—the distance being 16 miles. "Estimated . cost, 275,000/. ; P a rliamentary agents, Messrs. Burke and Co.; englneere, Messrs. Stephenson and Swanwich. The formal proofs having been given, a question arose as to the publication of the required notices for three successive weeks in the months of October and November last, and as to the delivery of the notice at the office of the Gazette two clear days previous to the time that would allow of these three successive publications. It appeared that in this case one publication took place in December. Mr. VENABLES contended that, although the last notice did not appear till December, he was prepared to prove that the notice was delivered in sufficient time to allow of the three successive publi cations. The Committee did not think this a satisfactory answer, and re ported that it amounted to a non-compliance. WEST CORNWALL RAILWAY. 7.:The objeet of this line is to connect Kenwyn, In the county of Cornwall, with Penzance, a distance of 45 miles. Estimated cost, 500,000/. ; Parliamentary agents, Me.ssrs. Burke and Co. ; engineer, Mr. W. Johnson. Ihe formal proofs having been given, the further consideration of the case was postponed till Tuesday. . The Committee adjourned at four o'clock. - - FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. WAR-OFFICE, Mancil 27, 1846. 4th Dragoon Guards-Lieut. T. 0. W. Coster, to be Cap tain, by purchase, vice Rochfort, who retires ; Cornet F. H. G. Nicolls, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Coster, March 27. Bth Light Dragoons-Lieut. A. C. Lindsay, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Jenkinson,who retires; Lieut. J. S. Naylor, from the 83d Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Lindsay, March 27. 16th Light Dragoons-Cornet G. B. Williams to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Leigh, o retires ;I. N. Fello ews, Gent. to be Cornet, - by purchase, who retires ; I. N. Fellowes, Gent. to beCornet by purchase, vice Williams, March 27. • Ist or Grenadier Regiment. of Foot Guards -Captain C. Randall, from half-pay unattached, to be Lieutenant and Captain, vice Brevet-Major Somerset, died of his wounds ; Ensign and Lieutenant C. L. B. Maitland to be Lieutenant and Captain, by purchase, vice Randall, who retires ; J. Evelyn, Gent., to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Alaitland, March 26. Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards -Ensign and Lieut. J. R. Wigram to be Lieutenant and Captain, by purchase, vice the Earl of Caledon, who retires; U. Canning Lord Dunkellin to be Ensign and Lieutenant , by purchase, vice Wigram, March 27. • 2d Regiment of Foot-Capt. A, Campbell, from the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, to be Captain, vice Hamilton, who exchanges, March 27. 3d Foot-Captain J. T. Liston, from the Bth Foot, to be Captain, vice Speedy, who exchanges, March 27. sth Foot-Second Lieutenant H. Knapp to be First Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Gretto n, who retires ; F. H.rca v . Pen- ice der, Gent., to be Second Lieute nant, by pu Knapp, March 27. 6th Foot-Lieutenant G. G. Webb, from half-pay 2d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Muller, promoted. 7th Foot-Lieut. W. R. Browne to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Cummin, who retires; Ensign W. H. D. Fitz gerald, from the 72d Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Browne, March 27. Bth Foot-Capt. James Speedy, from'3d Foot, to be Captain, vice Liston, who exchanges ; Lieut. C. F. B. G. Dickenson to be Captain, by purchase, vice Lavie, who retires ; Ensign R. S. Baynes to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Dickens o ; Gent. Cadet H. Xiinenes, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Baynes ; Surgeon J. C. G. Tice, from 69th Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Gardiner, who ex changes, March 27. 12th Foot-Lieutenant W. H. Queade, from the 40th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice S. Reed, who retires ou half-pay, March 27. 28th Foot-Lieutenant J. G. R. Alpin, to be Captain, with out purchase, vice Brevet -Major Hunter, deceased; Ensign F. G. Moore, to be Lieutenant, vice Al pin ; Nov. 20, 1 845 . 50th Foot-Assistant - S ur g eon C. F. Stephenson, M.D., from the Ist Foot, to be Assistant -Surgeon, vice Brummell, whose appointment has bee cancelled, March 27. 54th Foot-Lieut. A. Gillespie, from half-pay 2d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Jackson, appointed Paymaster of the 6th Dragoon Guards. 61st Foot-Captain J. B. Thomas to be Major, without purchase, vice Verner, deceased ; Lieut. T. W. Hudson to be Captain, without purchase, vice Thomas ; Ensign A. Arm strong to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Hudson, Dec. 7. 64th Foot-Lieut. the Hon. G. F. W. Yelverton, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Stirling, whe retires ; Ensign J. B. Burne, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Yelverton ; W. W. Pogeon, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Burne, March 27. 66th Foot-Lieut. F. Gildea, from half-pay 2d Foot; to be Lieutenant, vice F. Smythe, who exchanges, March 27. 69th Foot -Surgeon W. Gardiner, from the Bth Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Tice, who exchanges, March 27. 70th Foot-Ensign F. W. Dowse, to be Lieutenant, with out purchase, vice Rutson, who resigns ; J. A. Fead, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Dowse, March 27. 62d Foot-W. A. H. N. Kellett, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Fitzgerald, promoted to the 7th Foot, March 27. 73d Foot-Lieut. W. C. O'Brien, from the 40th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice D'Arcey, promoted, March 27. 87th Foot-Second Lieut. 3. H. le Conteur to be First Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Robinson, who ti rch reres ; E. Stanley, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant , by puase, vice le Conteur, March 27. 92d Foot-Lieutenant W. Alexander, from half-pay 24th Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice R. Petley, who ex changes ; Ensign A. W. Cameron to be Lieutenant, by pur chase, vice Alexander, who retires; Gentleman Cadet A. M'Donald, from the Royal Military College, to be En sign, by purchase, vice Cameron, March 27. Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment-Captain G. V. Hamilton, from the 2d Foot, to be Captain, vice Campbell, who ex changes, March 27. Baevrr.-Captain C. Randall, of the Ist or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards, to be Major in the Army, July 22, 1830 ; Capt. T. F. Tait, of the 2d Bengal European Regiment, to be Major in the Army in the East Indies, March 27. Rosin-nu, STAFF.-11. C. Martin, Gent., to be Assistant • Surgeon to the Forces, vice Hardie, who has absented him self without leave, March 20. MEMORANDUM.-STAFF.-The date of the commission of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gough, of the 3d Light Dragoons, to be Quartermaster-General to the Queen's Forces in the East Indies, is 20th March, 1846. The Christian names of Assistant -Surgeon Innes, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, are John Harry Ker. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenaut of Lanark. Sir W. C. Anstruther, Bart., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, Feb. 28 ; _J. Lumsden, Esq „ to be Deputy-Lieutenant„. Feb. F.. H. Vere, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, March 2 ; T. Wal rond, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant ; H. Dunlop, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, March 3 ; T. M. McNeill Hamilton, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, March 4; J. Finlay, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant; Sir J. Campbell, Knt., to be Deputy- Lieutenant ; J. Hamilton, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant; 3. Dunlop, Esq., to be Deputy- Lieutenant : A. Buchanan, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, March 6. BANKRUPTS. Jolty Charles Barratt, ewer and gilder, Strand, to our , render April 3, at half-past twelve, and May 8, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Birchine lane ; Taylor, Moorgate-street. David James Kinghorn, baker, Boston-street, Maryls bone, April 7, at two, and May 8; at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; T. and D. Harrison, Walbrook. Jonas Tebbutt, auctioneer, Cambridge, April 3, at eleven, May 8, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Wilkin, Furnival's Inn, London. William Rogers, draper, Lewes, Sussex, April 4, at half past two, May 23, at eleven, at the Court of Ba nkru p tc y . Follett, oficial assignee, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street ; Soles and Turner, Aldermanbury, London. Robert Clifton, brewer, Brandon, Suffolk, April 2 and May 11, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Tur quand, official assignee, Old Jewry Chambers, City ; Ilene man, Basing-lane ; Wayman, Greene, and Smithies, - Bury St. Edmunds. Joseph Timmins, brick-maker, Cayeham, Ludlow, Shrop shire, April 14 and May 8, at eleven, at the Birmingham Dis trict Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; mere and Beale, Birmingham. Benjamin Mercer Burroughs' ironmonger, Liverpool, April 7, and May 8, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool; Chester, Staple Inn, London; Tyrer, Liverpool. John Arkell, miller, Donnington, Gloucestershire, April 14, and May 12, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee ; Brookes, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire; Short, Bristol. Thomas Edmoad, merchant, Liverpool, April 16 and 30, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, of - cial assignee, Manchester; Atkinson, Saunders, and Atkin son, Manchester. James Featherstone and Robert Kirkpatrick, iron-founders, Manchester, Aprlll6, at eleven, and May 1, at twelve , at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester ; Fisher and De Jersey, Aldersgate-street, Lon don; Barker, Manchester. Jesse Hall, share-broker, Rochdale, April 9, and 30, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official ass i gne e, Manchester ;' Norris and Co., Bartlett's-buildings. Holborn ; lleaton, Rochdale. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, the produce of the British possessions in America, computed from the returns made in the week ending March 24, - 1846, is 335. sid. per cwt. DIVIDENDS DECLARED. W. H. Isard and H. Edwards, upholsterers, Kennington row—first div. of is. in the 'pound, on any Saturday, _at the office of Mr. Green, Aldermanbury. A. Lett, timber merchant, Commercial-road, Lambeth — second div. of Hid. in the pound, on any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. R. B. Clarke, plumber and glazier, Gower-street North, St. Pancras—first div. of llid. in the pound, on any Wednes day, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. E. Jones, sen., pasteboard manufacturer, Budge-row—first div. of 3s. in the pound, on any Wednesday, at the office of Mr. Whitmore, Bhsinghall-street. J. Tomlin, shipowner, St. Michael's-alley, Cornhill—first div. of 20s. in the pound, on any Wednesday, at the`office of Mr. Whitmore, Basinghall-street. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. R. Hulse, chemist, Little Tower-street, City, April 21,. at eleven—W. Ward, auctioneer, Manchester, April 21—W. Bromley, scrivener, Gray's Inn-square, Gray's Inn, April 21, at eleven—W. Gill, poulterer, Leadenhall-market, April 21, at two. In the Country. W. L. Kelly, printer, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, April 22, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. . j PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. Clark, T. Cowan, and J. Cowan, millers, Rotherhithe —S. Heakin, T. Buckley and M. A. Buckley, Pontesbury, Shropshire—J. Jackson and J. Stinson , frame smiths, Mans field—R. James and J. Woodburn, printers, Liverpool—S. Staniforth, G. Hutton, and J. Rickett, corn millers, Sheffield —J. Nicholson and T. •Drew, linendrapers, DevonpOrr—J. Fowler, jun., and B. Fowler, cordwainers, Malmsbury—J. Orton and F. Donnison, mustard manufacturers, Newcastle upon-Tyne—W. Carling and W. Milbourne, stockbrokers, Bishopswearmouth—J. Chadwick and T. Ashworth, manu facturers, Manchester—R. Wheeler, R. Wheeler, jun., and T. Wheeler, bankers, High Wycombe—J. Philpotts and C. S. Weaver, shawl warehousemen, Holborn-hill—R. Beal l and C. Watson, wheelwrights, Spencer-street, Shoreditch 7 -C. Maggi and M. Cave, dress-makers, Regent-street—G. Jones and P. Williams, coal-masters, Birchill's Colliery, Stafford shire—B. Hamer and J. Lund, cotton-spinners, Heywood, Lancashire—M. and J. Hayes, dentists, Bedford-court, Co vent-garden—J. Price and T. Davies, druggists, Aberga venny—W. Billing and J. Hall, flour dealers, King's Lynn, Norfolk—W. B. Perks, J. Perks, and W. Riddell, brewers, Burton-upon-Trent (so. far as regards W. Riddell). COURSE OF EXCHAI Amsterdam ......C F. 12 9% Ditte, at sight • • .... 12 6 Rotterdam . • •2 U. 12 10 Antwerp • • •• .. .... 26 15 ilamburgh ......M.B. 13 153¢ • Paris, 3 days' sight • . 25 80 Ditto, 3 months .. 26 5 Marseilles •••• • • • ..... 26 5 Bourdeaux..... . Frankfort on Maine.... 12230 Petersburgh, 3 Us . • Berlin •• . .... • • Vienna, effec. .... ••• • .• 10 103 Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 10 10% Madrid ••..•••• • • • • • • 36 m Cadiz • • •• • : •• • • .... 36% Bilbao.. Barcelona • • • • .. • • • • • • qGE.—(YESTERDAY.) Gibraltar.. • • .. .. Leghorn .. . ......... 30 75 Genoa .. ••••..•• • • • • . • 26 1S Venice................ — Naples .. •• • • • • 39 3 4 Palermo, per oz .. 119 Lisbon...: 52 , 4 Oporto .. . ........... 52 X Rio Janeiro ••. • • . ••• 24 Bakia .. . • ...... . . Buenos Ayres .. ••• • • • New York, 21 days' sight ? Philadelphia ... • • • • • • • - PRICES OF BULLION. PER OZ. Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 Portugal Gold Coin .. 3 17 5 New Doubloons .... 0 0 0 New Dollars ••..• • • • 0 4 9% Silver in bare •• 0 4 11 3( Seville.. • • • ..... BANK OF : (From last Ni 4n Account, pursuant to the Act the Week ending on Saturday, th, ISSUE DEP ENGLAND. ight's Gazette.) 7th and Bth of Victoria, sap. 32, for Le 2l st day of March, 1846. 'ARTMENT. Notes issued ..... 27,264,475 Government debt . • 11,015,100 Other securities •• • • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 11,554,194 Silver bullion -•- • • - 1,710,281 £27,264,475 X 27,264,475 r. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. Dated the 26th day of March, 18 BANKING D : Proprietors' capital . • 14,553,000 Rest ••••••• . .. .. .. 3,780,00 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners, of National Debt, Say- in,,ms-banks, and Di vidend accounts) . • 7,065,422 Other deposits Seven day and other bills . • . • • • • • • 921,887 X 43,676,521 Dated the 26tk day of March ,18, lEPARTMENT. Government securi ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 13,136,440 Other securities •• .. 21,806,194 Notes • • • • Gold and silver coin • • 700,222 Z 43,676,621 3fIRSTIALL, Chief Cashier. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of March 27.) SUGAR..—To-day there was a fair business transacted in the West India sugar market, and stiffer rates were paid for all kinds, making the advance since last Friday 6d per cwt ; the quantity sold amounted to 300, so that in all 1240 hhds and trcs have been disposed of during the week ; the market closes firmly for all kinds of home trade sugar. REFINED.—To-day refined goods were taken sparingly by the home trade, and prices are not so firm, brown lumps, ac cording to quality, selling at 63s to 645, and standard lumps 64s 6d to 65s per cwt.. Bonded Crushed Sugar is sparingly dealt in, and 34s 9d to 35s is the value of first sort for forward delivery. MAURITIUS.—AII descriptions have been much in request for grocery and refining purposes, and the rates obtained are fully equalto those previously quoted, indeed in some cases they are Gd per cwt above, although the market has been abundantly supplied, and the Sugar brought forward has again consisted chiefly of the better kinds. Privately several parcels have been disposed of. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon two parcels of Bengal Sugar amounting to 1,769 bags were offered at public sale, and sold at full market rates. Of Java 903 baskets duty paid with certificate were offered, a superior parcel, and sold for Refining at high prices. FonEurg.—To-day at public sale 223 packages of Savanilla Sugar were sold at the full value. The principal transactions privately during the week have been 500 chests of brown Havannah at 18s, and a floating cargo of fine yellow, but the price has not transpired. MoLAssas.--3:here has been a much better demand for West India, and the business transacted. has been greater than for some time; the rates paid have been rather above those that previously existed. In Honey there has been a good deal doing, but upon rather lower terms. TEA.—Although rather lower rates have been again taken for Congou of all kinds, still the trade purchase only ample for their immediate wants. Pouchong has been sparingly dealt in, but little reduction has taken place in the value. Twankay has been in good request, but not at better prices. For Hyson prices rule low, still there are few buyers to be met with. COFFEE.—This afternoon there was no public sale of any kind of Coffee, and the amount of business transacted pri vately was small in all descriptions. The value of good or dinary pale native Ceylon 46s to 478 per cwt. RICE.—To-day Bengal Rice met with little attention, and 2,182 bags at auction were nearly all taken in at about the former value. Snags—To-day, at public sale, 567 bags of White Pepper were only in part sold at rather lower rates ; 140 cases of Bengal Ginger went at 27s to 298 for middling flinty home consumption kind, 25s to 26s for low, and 24s 6d for sea damaged, being lower prices. SPIRITS.—Vor Demerara Rum rather lower rates having been taken this week, tempted buyers to operate with more freedom. The market has a dull appearance for Leeward Island. Calcutta is not to •be obtained upon lower terms. Jamaica has been sparingly dealt in. Brandy has met with less attention this week for all purposes, but holders evince firmness and t i b n he s ee i n s d t estlmppa sparingly rate.ndfgulhiyias dealt be s n F bb o yr r sfi ate exporters, 2ssd Geneva at to f o 23 r s s home dbut 2 c common consumptionsm2 d n o n British a Corn Spirits are selling at 10s 6d pergall nett cash, Gin 22 per cent. under proof at 8a 10d, and uuderproof 9s 4d per gallon. HEM:EY-ON-THAMES REGATTA.—The admirers of aquatic sports will be pleased to hear that arrangements have been made for this exciting regatta, which will come off in Henley-reach. The event this year will be on a magnificent scale, the qualifications for contest for the Hundred Guineas' Grand Challenge Cup, eight oars, being subject to the usual conditions. The Cup now held by the St. George's Club will in future be called "The Ladies' Challenge Cup." It is of sixty guineas' value, and will he rowed for in an eight-oared boat, by any college or amateur slab. The District Chal lenge Cup, value fifty guineas, is to be struggled for in four-oared boats, bTyaiilyes, flm Windsorcluho,orresideirt ai , id Oxford.belogiligto any town on the bauks of the Thames, ACCIDENT TO A RAILWAY TRAIN AT PADDINGTON. —On Wednesday night an accident occurred at the Paddington ter minus of the Great Western Railway, which, although fortunately unattended wills loss of life several carriages were rendered unser viceable, and a few passengers sustained slight injuries, in conse quence of the down mail having come into collision with a train of empty carriages. it appears that the porters were forming the early morning trains, and for that purpose the Pollux engine was employed to propel the empty carriages across the down line. This engine mot having sufficient power, a messenger was dis patched for the assistance of a more powerful locomotive, and to stop the mail, but not having sufficient time, the mail train had started before the carriages could be got clear off the line. The con sequence was, that the Hydra engine, belonging to the snail train came into violent collision with them, breaking two first-class car. riages, two second-class, and two vans, and causing serious injury to the engine, which was thrown off the line. The guard of her Majesty's mails received an injury in his head, but proceeded to Cheltenham. A few of the passengers sustained bruises. After an hour's delay, the line was cleared, and the train proceeded, pr op elled by the Pilot Engine. , Middlesex, the smallest county but one in England, is richest in railways, having an annual income from them of 960,4431. ; Lancashire stands for 593,515/. ; Surrey for 191,0181. ; Durham for 171,0191. ; Derbyshire for 104,204/. 1 • an d Yorkshire for 93,5197. The total amount of railway income in 1843 was, for Eng ' land and Wales, 5,417,G09/., and Scotland, 181,3.337. ; since which ' period a material increase must have taken place. At the dote in qu D es is ti p o a n te n h o e l s es w s e t re han sea w t t en ar ty y ce es a tordsy nties ineEnninging from the Colonial , and, and Ave in Wales, were without railways. office for the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. .1 -,-:. , :~