The Sun. — London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

THE DIVISIONS AGAINST THE SUN, shall remember with gratitude when, every morning, ho receives his penny ne msplper. PoBLICOLA. KNOWLEDGE. (From the Weekly Dispatch.) Mr. Editor,—The conduct of oar representatives is not only closely watched just now, but they are fully aware that it is so, and aro evidently led thereby to conduct themselves more carefully. Even short memories wili last till hustings time. Let the caitiff tremble who has reason to dread the popular interrogatory. Votes, now, will not pass " unwhipped of justice;" nor, it may be, unwhipped of prejudice either ; for the nonsense, the selfish interests, and the bigotries of constituencies are telling upon the House of Commons, as well as their good sense, their patriotism, and their justice. All those who have electors now think seriously of those electors. When the Speaker puts a question to the Members, he often puts many a Member to the question. Feeling, as your readers doubtless do, a strong interest in the repeal of the imposts popularly described as Taxes on Knowledge, I have looked curiously on their behalf to the debate and the several divisions of Wednesday last. There are some things in them which deserve to be noted and remembered. The movers of the agitation against these taxes have ' not gone to work in, nor been animated by, a trading spirit. They regarded rather an intellectual result than st commercial profit. The Paper Duties, however ob jectionable in themselves, only came into their view as connected with the diffusion of intelligence and litera ture. Those duties stood last in their list as to import ance, though first by far as to the question of revenue. The conjunction of this item with the Stamp and Advertisement Duties, the addition of a commercial and manufacturing grievance to a purely intel lectual cne, and the co-operation obtained there by of influential parties connected with the paper snaking trade—all this has been effected in the political management of the agitation. A few votes have been gained thereby; altogether, I fear, the cause has been damaged. The tone of the discussion has been lowered. Success has been postponed, rather than accelerated. Another lesson has been added to the many which teach us, that there aro no tactics like simple and straightfor ward earnestness. The newspaper stamp establishes a practical censor ship of the press. It puts the entire cheap periodical press under the arbitrary power of the Board of Inland Revenue. Mr. Timms is the autocrat of this species of literature. He tolerates, and he destroys. Some publi cations he indulges with whole columns of intelligence; nay, be patronizes them with a stamp, which frees of post-office charge so much of their issue as is destined for the country ; while in other publications he will not allow the shortest paragraph. Timms nods or winks no longer. Forth comes a missive from Somerset-house, and the reluctant editor, who never dreamed of offence in just mentioning, perhaps, a Reform meeting which had been held, or which was about to be held, finds that he has only to make up his mouth for the muzz'e, or be buried alive beneath a crushing pile of penalties. Thus has journal after journal been suppressed. And thus will it be, with our legal definitions of a newspaper, until the stamp be abolished. What literary man, what man of active thought upon topics of deep interest, can communicate freely with the Public, unless by the grace of the large capitalists in whom the present system vests a monopoly of the media of communication? Talent is treated as marketable, and that tends to make it market able. Look at the large sales which are required to render a cheap publication profitable. How can its proprietor dare to confiont a popular prejudice? If 20,000 or 30,000 would answer, he could afford to tell the many, in plain terms, when they were wrong. But if 70,000 or 80,000 be necessary, ho has no such margin; he is faithful at his peril, and the bull will gore nim to death should he venture to take it by the horns. This is the gravamen of the chargss against the Taxes on Know ledge, considered specifically as such, and not as con nected with merely trading considerations. Now, topics of this higher kind were very much swamped on Wednesday by the allies of the cause, to whom I heve adverted. The protest against a degrad ing influence upon intellect was, to a large extent, merged in a protest against the exciseman. 'lle paper of which we herd most was brown piper, for the wrappage of parcels, or that of which little boxes are made to hold cotton threads. Had it been Disraeli's cue to speak, he would have had a fire field for sarcasm on this species of intellectual grievance. It was not from the study, but from the shop, that the complains came. When Learning should have spoken for Edinburgh, and Genius for Dublin, we heard little more than a sordid grumbling of the exciseman's being troublesome in the North, and of Ireland not being suffi ciently favoured by only having to pay a shilling upon the advertisement and a halfpenny for the stamp. Accordingly Mr. Cowan, who opened the adjourned debate on behalf of the shopocracy, did not vote for the repeal of the Newspaper Stamp. Mr. John Best, after supporting the first, or trading motion, voted against both the remaining propositions. So did the Hon. H. Ftzroy, Colonel Matheson, and Mr. J. Abel Smith. Sir E. Buxton, Mr. 15Ionsell, Colonel Boyle, Sir D. J. Nor reys, Mr. Osborne, Sir G. Philips, absented themselves. And a-negative was given upon the repeal of the News paper Stamp by Mr. M. Forater, Lord R. Grosvenor, and Mr. H. D. Seymour, S 3 much for the heartiness or the sincerity of those parties as to taxes upon knowledge. For some reason or other—l will not inquire why—they want an Excise duty taken off. For that end, though the sum is a large one to abstract from the revenue, they are ready to turn the screw upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But a penny paper for the people is no part of their plan. When we get to cheap news for the multitude they fly off. They stir not to obliterate the brand from the journal, or to dethrone the censor at Somerset-house. The vote of Mr. John Walter was very significant. Ho voted for the retention of the Paper Duty and of the Newspaper Stamp, and against the Tax on Advertise ments. Who cannot read monopoly against the public, and cheapness for the monopolist? Messrs. Brotherton, Perfect, and Tenison, voted against the repeal of the Paper Duties, and for that of the Stamp. There were with them Headlam and Thornely, who did not vote on the first division. The following went for the repeal of the Tax on Ad vertisements, having voted hostilely on the first divi sion:—Bailey (Monmouth), Brotherton, Castlereagh, Dalrymple, Freestun, Mostyn, Perfect, F. C. Russell, Walter. These may be added, who had not voted in that division; Some, at least, from accidents..—Sir W. Clay, Sir C. Douglas, Fordyce, French, Horsman, C. Lushington, The O'Gorman Mahon, Tenison, Thornely, and Tuffuell. The real Knowledge Tax repealers must measure their strength by the second diviaion (on the stamp). Their supporters were 100; less by seven than the minority against the paper duty, and by 16 than that against the advertisement duty. On that 100 they may rely; at any rate within sight of an election. And they are now in a condition to judge of the wisdom of being mixed up with the paper-makers. Let them iuvestigate the desertions and the additions. They gained not a vote in strength. The objection, as to the revenue, was a ggravated by a demand for a million and a qearter __Sterling, instead of less than half a million. And the cause itself was degraded into a common-place cry for the rerai,, , t) 1 (il of a tax which presses upon certain classes , though it the e oes ' i l l i T' l atlesei is, at the same time , inj urious to But we sae , how it i s th a t the House of Commons, even - on wnat is called the Liberal side of it, looks at a cries e t e i rel o e f h t a h r i ! B e eription. Few of them care whether the tion.r The question means of free mental communica subordinated to the profits of a paper-mill. The h oo l ? considered the box are put on the same level. Each is us a menufacture. More sisal is manifested to bar out hot but the exciseman than to stop the censor. One car, D i tuue li w ill tern rout. , wish, and almost expect, that ae r sho uPon them some day, in one of his bold freaks that he better under stands the intelllntual,wa willed_ vfishes of the people. The chief reason why he that he knows how feeble, in their support ' , party which he hen to lead, the dogmas of the materials, which have The Division Lists furnish full used, for holding* votes thould be never yet been . .. , the representative The body to a strict respone, recorded and anal, z f rom week to week, month to month, and from session to T Hesston, until the whole conduct of every in d ividual leember, through-- oat the duration of a Parliament, is before the public. It he is attentive or lc. It should appear how -a 0 shall have negligent,r consistent or capricious. 1.7 d of crotchett 4e ' " the statistios of slavery to party un son to ewe ' d"id`la lity, The majority have little TO . about eau:tents. They buy a nd brit): them, or in many cases d o withont them. For such, there is no responsibility, exce pt that of publicity. Yet even they m a y be capable of fee l . ineesome shame when a strong and continuous light i s thrown upon their doinge. At any rate, the expo sure will help us on towards Reform. Th e number of elec. tore, and the population of the places represented, should alweys be appended to the division. Let the people see how often they are out•voted and by whom. Reso lve many a majority into its constituent elements, atid it becomes a pitiful minority. W ere the stamp o ff , t h e re might be publications appropri a t e to this purpose. Con stituents might keep them as a pare n t keeps a character book for his child, with its good awn bad' marks. But U r ' Timms would call this news, end indite a letter of warning to the editor. Really, this is the most hypocritical country upon the face of the earth. From one of it to the other we cant about education. Our divines preach sermons, and oar states men make speeches in its praise. And then its progress is effectually stopped by the religious difficulty at one point, and by the fiscal difficulty at another. When children should be instructed, they are crammed and choked with theological dogm t. When the self-taught would read, the book or newspaper is taxed out of their reach. Church and Stets unite to pres. 3 dean the intellect. The arms of ignorance bare for their supporters a Bishop and a Chancellor of the Exchequer. The ono is as much a pretence as the other. To repeal thestani p and Advertisement Duties, supposing that on paper retained, would operate rather to increase than to diminish the revenue • and if tae letter were reduced en - helf, while th • • c two former imposts were abelishe.d, it is pro bable that th e ' would simpl y be would be very largo indeed. There Disraeli s r Lill i e repetition of the process which Zilr. T hey striking 6 Y set forth in his budget, couched in so The home markTZ3ci both of speech and arithme tic. extendsd. But until the foreign market would be alike system, there is ono thing ework our way into a better which Chancellors of the Exchequer will dread reere ., th mere than infidelity, and zha.t is aet a deficit, and Bi s h o p s The divisions on Wednesday popnlsr knowledge. Y were divisions against knowledge. They 'A inT a protest against light at present—they were a post te at against the ambition, corruption, and bigotry have nstn, until oat. But the time will come; and if it had their dream be Sir Robert Peel's memory, as he prayed it tne . glory of that the peasant blesses his name every night when be, eats his untaxed loaf, there is a similar, thou sno equal fame in stor e f o r th e statesman whom the sneclit4:i! FRANCE. On Saturday a grand mass was celebrated in the church of St. Eustache, on the occasion of th e blessing by the Archbishop of Paris of the busts of the Pre sident of the Republic, intended for the central markets. A considerable crowd already filled the church, when, at half-past 11 o'clock, the , gates of the porch were opened, and th e cortege en tered processionally, preceded by the band of the Municipal Guard. Immediately after the band ad vanced the Forts de le Halle, carry ing a bust of the Prince President, and followed by 100 young girls, dressed in white robes, with blue scarfs, and crowns of white roses on their heads. Then came another bust, placed on a richly-ornamented stand, which was to figure in the meat market, and a number of others, escorted by the members of the different corporations, to whici‘i they were des tined. After the busts walked the Prefect of the Mayor and Deputy-Mayors of the ar rPoonldicies,sement, the other civil authorities, and the officers of the Municipal and Nations l Guards. Mass was subsequently celebrated, after which the Arch bishop delivered a short address and blessed the busts. The cortege then left the church, installed the busts in the different markets, and, in the evening, the Dames.de la Halle gave a ball in the Linen-hall. LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 1852. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS, May 17. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his ECU on the Wool- Back at Five o'clock. _ _ The Duke of ARGYLL presented a petition from Edinburgh in favour of the inspection of nunneries. COMMON LAW PROCEDURE. In reply to Lord LYNDHURST, Lord CAMPBELL said the Committee on the Com mon Law Procedure Bill, which he considered would effect very great improvements in the administration of the law, would sit to-morrow and proceed with the con sideration of the Bill. THE CASE OF MR. MURRAY AT ROME. The Duke of ARGYLL said it appeared from the public prints that an English subject, named Murray, had been confined in prison, at Rome, for two or three years, for a criminal offence, and had lately been found guilty and sentenced to death, He wished to ask the Earl of Malmesbury whether any communication had taken place on the subject with our Consul at Rome? The Earl of MALMESBURY said about a week after he entered office, be received a dispatch from Mr. Free born, our Consul at Rome, stating that a gentleman of the name of Murray, the son of a meritorious officer in her Majesty's service, had been confined for thirty months in the prison of Ancona, on a charge of murder, but that subsequently, in consequence of representations made to the Papal authorities, he was sent to Rome. Mr. Freeborn immediately communicated with Cardinal Antonelli, and in reply he was informed that all justice would be done to the prisoner. He (Lord Malmesbury) had since received . a dispatch from Mr. Freeborn an nouncing the arrival of Mr. Murray at Rome. He (Lord Malmesbury), therefore,wrote to Mr. Freeborn re questing him to watch the proceedings against Mr. gar ray, and to see that he received fair play. Their Lordships were, however, aware of the very anomalous state of our relations with Rome. In consequence of not having an ambassador there, the Government had to proceed in such matters in a rather roundabout and underhand manner, which he thought was unworthy a great country like England. The Duke of ARGYLL asid that the explanation of the Noble Earl was perfectly satisfactory so far as he was himself concerned, but as this gentleman had been in prison for two, or, according to some of the papers, three years, without any protest on his behalf having been made by the Government of England, there ap peared to be some responsibility resting upon those who had preceded the Noble Earl in office. EXPULSION OF BRITISH MISSIONARIES FROM THE AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS. The NOBLE DUKE continued—My Lords, I also rise to ask my Noble Friend opposite whether he has any objection to produce the dispatches which have passed between him and his predecessors in office and the Austrian Government with respect to Messrs. Win gate, Smith, and Edwards. I confess, my Lords, that I edia kll peruse this correspond with some curiosity. As far as I have been able to form an opinion, the reply which has been given by my Noble Friend opposite to the Aus trian Government is far from satisfactory, and the answer of the Austrian Government I consider still less satisfactory. At the same time Ido not wish to be misunderstood by the Noble Earl as to the spirit in which I put this qu es ti on . l a m not anxious to express any opinion at alt upon the home policy of the Govern ment, of which no human being knows anything what ever, but there is one thing I am anxious to deprecate, and that is the supposition that it is to be imagined by any party in this House, that whoever may be at the head of the Foreign-office, he is not over to be anxious to vindicate the rights of British subjects abroad. I feel perfectly certain, that whatever political party may be in power, they will always be anxious to vindicate the rights of British subjects—(Hear, hear)—and to main tain inviolate those rights which it is the especial duty of the Noble Earl and of the Foreign-office to defend. After a few words from the Earl of MIN TO, which were inaudible in the gallery, The Earl of MALMESBURY said—My Lords, I am sorry to say that, in consequence of the correspondence not being complete, lam unable to prod: zee it. With re gard to what the Noble Duke has stated as to the main tenance of the rights of British subjects, I beg to give him my most solemn assurance that there is nothing I have had so much at heart since I had the honour to fill my present office as the faithful performance of that duty which especially devolves upon me—namely, that of maintaining inviolate the national law between this and other countries.—(Hear, hear.) If I understand my duty aright, it is not to argue with Other countries as to what shall be the particular law which they in their wisdom (or the reverse) may be pleased to establish, but to see that that law is carried out fairly with respect to her Majesty's subjects.—(Hear, hear.) That I think is my duty, and that duty I have endeavoured to discharge. My Lords, when the correspondence in question is com plete, I shall be happy to produce it.—(dear, hear.) The Marquis of BREADALBANE observed that the predeceesor of the Noble Earl in office had expressed an opinion that these gentlemen bad been most unjustly treated, and that they were entitled to some pecuniary compensation. He trusted the Austrian Government would not be allowed to escape, or to suppose that they could deal arbitrary towards British subjects, as they did to their own. These gentlemen were British sub jects, exercising legitimate and legal rights. For four or five years they had been permitted to exercise those rights unquestioned; but immediately on Lord Palmer ston quitting the Foreign-office they were ordered to ',cave the Austrian dominions. THE CASE OF MR. MATHER. Earl FITZ WILLIANI inquired whether any addi tional information had reached the Government with re spect to the proceedings of the Tuscan and Austrian Courts in reference to Mr. Mather? The Earl of MALMESBURY replied that the case of this gentleman was not quite settled, although he be lieved it was neatly so. Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY—I only rise for the purpose of stating that no communication with re gard to the proceedings against Mr. Murray, et Rome, had been received whilst her Majesty's late Government were in office. Ibeg to call tii9 attention of the House to the fatt, that the treatment of British subjects by fo reign Governments was regulated not so much by any imagined were held by the Government for the time being o tin i g h international law, law, as by the tenets which they Lord CAMPBELL stated that from personal observa tion he knew that great disaster arose in this country from our not having a properly accredited Minister at Rome. There was now at Rome a most honourable andof in h intelligent tas u way to t a k e care o f the inte rests t nca underhand man, who h a d b een appo i nte d b y t hi s country country. There was also a Mr. Petre, who filled the situation of attache to the mission of Florence, whose duty it was to take care of the interests of British. subjects in that part of Italy. But he (Lord Campbell) would venture to say that those gentlemen had not by any means that weight with the Court of Rome which would belong to a person who was the organ of the English Government ; and, therefore, the Court of Rome was abused with respect to the state of public opinion in England, and to that we might ascribe some of the late disasters which we had to deplore. He Iplieved that the Court of Rome was by no means disinclined to hear the truth. Even in the highest quarter there was an anxiety to be well informed, and he believed that if we had a Minister accredited to the Court of Rome the happiest consequences might be anticipated. If wo had such a Minister he would be able to lay before his Holi ness and the Roman Court the real state of public opinion in England and Ireland, and also to state what was the real interest of the English and Irish Roman Catholics. Ho believed that the consequences which would flow from such an appointment would be most salutary.—(Hear, hear.) THE MAYNOOTU ENDOWMENT. The Ma,rq its of BREA.DALBANE was proceeding to present some petitions against the Maynooth grant, but was reminded of the rule against the presentation of petitions atter a quarter past five o'clock, if the orders of the day were not disposed of. The Noble Earl then said that moat probably he would present these petitions on Friday, and ut the same time ask the Noble Eerl at the head of the Government what course they intended to adopt with regard to this important subject, with re spect to which the country tcok so deep an interest. COLONIAL BISHOPS BILL. On the motion of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, this Bill was read a third time and pawed. STOCK IN TRADE BILL. On the motion of Lord COLCHEiTER, this Bill was read a eecond time. HIGHWAY RATES BILL. This Bill was also of the same Nobl e L or d . TUE AUSTRALIAN GOLD MINES AND ITARRW E MIG R ATION. The Earl of read a second time, on the motion --OBY then rose to move for 1, A retur n o f vesssis w ith tonnage and number of emigrants (men, women, an d children specified), whic h have sa;led f rom p p of e migration to those British ports for Ssuch Australia and Victoria resp ect i ve l y, from Septem ber 1, 1851; also, 2, similar r e t urn for the previous five years , severa lly ; also, 3 , money now at t h e d i sposa l o f the Emigration Com missioners f or the ur ores settlements; also, 4, ex t rac ts from dispatches of the governors, received f rom th e Ist of March to the date of the ret urns, urging the emigration, and notif y i ng i n creased remittances being that made for noce ssiiy for increased purpose; and also, 5, copies of letters addressed to her Majesty'a Secretaries of State for the Colonies, fr om the Ist of D ecem ber last to the present time, on the subject of increased activity in supplying the great w ant of labour in the pas t ora l an d cgrical tural distri c t s of Australia, from Capta i n S tan l ey C arr, chairman o r t h e Committee of Austra li an co l on i sts. The Noble E ar l o b served that, toret th at t increased this araont demand w for not labour, uuffi is consequence of the recent discoveries of g o ld i u A ustra li a , a great social revolu tion had tak en place in the colony. Th e popu l at i on of Australia naturally looked to this country to make up the defici ency. A general feeling had got abroad, however, that the Government of this country had done nothing to promote emination to Australia, and that, in fact, they had attemptebl to enforca old regulations with regard to emigration which wera no longer practicable. The Go vernment, it was thought, hurl attempted to force up ;n Australia emigrants from. the rural districts of this country, whereas the people of Australia desire d emi— grants importati on of young persons from this coun try, from th e t owns. T he co l on i sts a l s o desired. thee Gover nment restrictions were so great that it was consi dered al most h opeless on the part o f the Australians to accomplish th e i r w i s h es i n thi s respect. The Earl of DESART observed it wa s p erfec t l y true that gr ea t appre h ens i o ns were entertained as to the evils which would the resu lt from but th abandonment of labour an d occupat i on en the part of those em ployed in Vi c t or i a an d other parts o f Now South Wales. Her Majesty's Gover nment, who, as their Lordships vs era aware , h a d not a very strong dispo sable for ce on the spot , h a d done the utmost to assist BANK OF FRANCE. The following is a mon thly re turn of the situation of the Bank of France up to May 13 : LIABILITIES. Capital . ... ... ... ~. f. 91,250,000 0 Reserve fund ... ... ... .... 12,980,750 14 Reserve-immobiliere ... ... .... 4,000,000 0 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... .... 496,467,700 6 Ditto of the branch banks ... -,.. 139,835,025 0 Ditto to order (post-bills) ... ~.. 6,470,243 94 Bills payable at sight ... ... .... 17,689,634 0 Account-current with Treasury credit( )r 87,895,718 36 Various accounts current ... .... 140,056,623 59 Ditto in branches 31,964,632 C Dividends payable ... . . ... 300,776 25 Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 2,802,485 19 Re-discounts of the last six months ... 408,881 0 Interest on protested bills ... ... 536,677 21 kliscellaneous ... ... ... ... 1,725,162 24 'f.1,034,384,408 92 ASSETS. Cash in hand Ditto in branch banks „,.... f. 490,963,226 60 ..... 106,821,687 0 Bills past due .•• • 250,878 48 Bills discounted, but not yet due, 4 f which 20,589,197f.0c. were receivet from the Branch Banks ... 47,936,016 48 Bills in the branch banks . . 82,173,686 0 Advances on coins and ingots... 2,538,700 0 Ditto by the branch banks _.. 2,706,976 0 Ditto on French public securities —.. 64,840,236 10 Ditto by branch banks... ... 5,504,673 0 Ditto oa railway shares and bonds —.. 6,425,000 0 Ditto by branch banks 2,329,445 0 Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor-- 50,000,000 0 r)itto to the State on the Treaty of 30th June, 1848 75,000,000 0 Advanced to the City of Paris on the Pr9visional Loan of 50,000,000 f. ..... 20,000,000 0 Rentes of the reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0 Rentes, disposable funds 55,635,896 32 Hotel and furniture of the Bank „... 4,000,000 0 Real property of the branch banks 3,571,772 0 Interest in National Discount Bank ... 294,006 60 Expenses of administration of the Ba,al: and Branches 932,384 41 lliscellanooll2 2,459,814 93 f. 1,034,384.403 92 Certified by the Governor of the _Bank, D'Anao UT. It appears from the preceding account that the cash in hand ills decreased by 3,500,000 f The commer cial bills discounted has increased oy 0,500,000 F., about 2,500,000 f. being for Paris, and B,ooo', 0001 for the de partments. The cash advanced on de posit of French eeeuritiei has decreased nearly 24,000,0001., in Paris about 25,000000 f,, and increased in the branch banks 1,000,000 f. Advances on Railway Stoc k have increased from 4,542,000 f. to 8,754,0001. The Bank notes in cir culation have increased by 3,500,000 E The balance to the credit of the Treasury has increased by 3,500,000 f. The sundry credits have decreased by 33,000,000 f in Paris, and increased nearly 6,000,000 f. in the depart ments. FRENCH RAILWAY 'TRAFFIC. The following are the last returns of the gross re ceipts of the principal French Railways : NORTHERN.—From April 29 to Xl5 ,y 5 : Passengers, 265,345 t.; goods, 278,681 f.; total, 544. 3 026 f. ROLTEN.—From May 2 to May 8: Passengers, 91,9191.; goods, 98,144 f.; total, 190,063 f. HAVRE.—From May 2 to May 8: Passengers, 32,498 f.; goods, 42,688 f. ; total 75,186:1. ORLEANS.—From May 3 to May 9: Passengers, 118,3171. ; goods, 137,3241.; total, 25.5,641 f. BORDEAUX.—From April 27 to til.a.y 3: Passengers, 56,141 f.; goods, 76,9041.; total, 133,04 51. VIERZON.—From May 3 to May 9: Passengers, 49,703 f.; goods, 56,1221.; total, 105,82 Sf. NANTES.—From April 29 to May 5 : Passengers, 32,5961.; goods, 39,1261.; total, 71,722 f. STEASBURG.—From April 29 to May 5: Passengers, 123,2611.; goods, 114,1981.; total, 238,4.59 f. BALL—From April 26 to May 2 : Passengers, 23,243 t.; goods, 28,6741.; total, 51,917£ MONTEREAU.—From April 29 to May 5: Passengers, 9,029 f.; goods, 13,9531.; total, 22,9821. LYONS. From May 2 to May 8 : Passengers, 194,9621.; goods, 170,5021.; total, 365,4 641. WESTERN.—From May 3 to May 9: Passengers, 66,3851.; goods, 30,458 f.; total, 96,8431. HAWKINS'S DIVORCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 17. This Bill, the second reading of which was postponed sine die from the 3d of April last, for the purpose of supplying additional evidence, was taken into farther consideration this day at half-past three. The Peers present were the Lord Chancellor, the Bishop of Nor wich, and Lord Redesdale. _ Evidence was offered of the payment of the damages, amounting to 7361. 165., recovered in the action of crim. con., brought by Lieutenant Hawkins against Lord Malden. .Mr. Warren, captain of the barque the: Earl of Durham, was called to prove th e p rec i se d a y on which Lieutenant Hawkins egiled from England to Halifax (16th May, 1850) in charge of his detachment. Ellen Young, lady's maid to Alm Hawkins, proved that she had been with her mistress during the whole of the period of Lieutenant Hankns's absence, and that during the whole of that time Mrs. Hawkins had not left England. She hcd been in the habit of undressing her mistress every night up to the time of the birth of the child, but she had never once suspected her of being in the family-way. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the second read ing of the Bill, said that an extraordinary a i f;?ct in this rs was at case was that the state in which Mrs. uw the time her husband returned to England h escaped the notice of all the personsd entirely whom she lived. Lieutenant Hawkins had left England on the 16th of May, 1850, and had not relttraed until the 23d of March, 1851, and it was quite impossible that he could have been the father of the child born on the 2d of June, 1851. That an act of adultery bad taken place in his absence was, under all the circumstances, without doubt; and taking into con sideration that the time of delivery so exactly coincided with the particuisr period when the supposed act of adultery had been alleged to have taken place, there was no doubt that it did take place in the early part of September, at the place which had been indicated in the evidence. The most singular circumstance, however, was that Lieutenant Hawkins himself should nut have been aware of the state in which his wife was when he rejoined her in England, and if this part of the case were not most completely proved, their Lordships would not give a second reading to this Bill without serious further consideration. It appeared that Mrs. Hawkins had already had two children, and her husked had therefore cohabited with her during two pregnancies; and yet on his return to this country he appeared to have renewed his relations with her in the ordinary way without evincing the slightest suspic i o n, and—it having been proved that there was but one bed he might in th • 0 their room—had continued to shop with her uP to, Ilsw - a ? m u s birthf. say, a quarter of an hour before the o the etald. It certainly did strike him as being m ost extraordinary that, although it had escaped e h i o r a f 3 e e l v f e s r h y o b a o l d d y h a a b ve out no h t, er, birth,o then the . have up yet tto the u t a e c n t a u n a t l f was ' child, once suspected that his wife Mrs. u&wet • .family -way. What took place when " cenclusive on this delivered seemed to him to be after the event haisd"" They found Mrs. Hawkins, the hotel where it happened, entreating the landlady of to Lieutenant Flawki , eccurred not to break it too suddenly complaint, and it mi g ht as he was subject to a heart that the effect of the t kill him, and they found, too, to leave him in a blow on Lieutenant Hawkins was by the tertible net'smiserably wretched state, stunned the first time. lie ote Lord he had hoard for come to the conclusion thatlT Chancellor) had therefore conscious of .he fact that his eat. Hawkins was wholly un -18 Wife • hebe thought, therefor e , that was in the family-way, he could with confidence recoret this " a case in which ,i,r6 a secx.d tecding to this Bill,nend their Llrd,hips to , thereb " " 1.; Hee kins the remedy to which ber„6 y giving I,:tit. s entitled. The Dill was then read a scepnd ' ......__ time. pla,:eci at the . b ------_--,--. POLICE INTELL/_---- tt'OilsiiiP-sTR sE ,; NC E. st-street, bar before Mr. D'll;'yrei(Jlecoruicrkt, l e f h c i s ir t g jl e i d w C V:" cutting an 1 Mil.) end, , livin g in Ws - 2n ‘,lderly man named Peter Yati39 i . • ' "tiading' and his bOll George Ytites, w h areb Y bulb th e ir lives haiibPeu placed in imminent dang, l .. Maria Yate3, the wife and mother O. P the o.s In r complainants, stated Lb': t fur a consi derable time past Ltoo pris)ner had enter lainal the most rarie e . • a feelings of animosity towards her husband and ace , a au on th e prccoding evening he called at the house in a state f intoxicatinn, and, forcing his way into the parlour ?a which they were seated, commenced assailing them with scurrilous aril threVentrZ epithets. They succeeded, with time difficulty, in cifcting his expulsion; but ho immAiaely began battering the street-door with largo stones and other missiles and created such a disturbance that the complainants went out and threatened to give him into custody unless he desisted from further an. noYance. The moment the threat was uttered the p/i. soner made a rush at her son, and raising his hand, in which he held an open clasp-knife, struck it with all his force into the lower part of his person. Her son instantly fell to the ground, exclaiming, "0, mother, I am stabbed," and the prisoner, after making a second stab at her son, which inflicted a frightful wound in the upper part of his face, suddenly sprang upon her husband, and made such a desperate blow at him with the knife as to snap the blade, and the lower part of it remained lodged in his head. The prisoner then dragged him to the ground, and was pro ceeding to further acts of violence, when several of the bystanders interfered, and secured him till the arrival of a constable, who took him into custody. The wounded men were then conveyed into the house, and a surgeon was immediately sent for, who extracted the broken portion of the knife, which was about two inches in length, from her husband's head; and having ascertained that her son had a dreadful wound in the abdomen, which penetrated the lower intestines, he directed their removal to the hospital, to which they were at once con veyed. Two certificates from Mr. Ridley Porter, house.sur geon at the London Hospital, describing the nature of the injuries the unfortunate men had received, were handed to the bench. Police-constable Ford, K 341, produced the handle of a large clasp knife, with the pointed part of the blade broken off, which he had found upon the prisoner; and stated that from his inquiries at the hospital that morn ing, he had ascertained that both men were in extreme danger, and that the youngest one had sustained such serious injuries that scarcely any hopes were entertained of his recovery. The prisoner declined offering any defence, and was ordered to be remanded for a week. NAMES. DESPERATE IRISICROW.—DanieI Hayes, 28, and Bridget Hayes, his wife, 29, residing at 7, Mill-yard, Rosemary-lane, were ch arged with assaulting Mr. St. Leger, proprietor of the George IV., Rosemary-lane, and also with assaulting several constables of the H division; Curly Holland, 20, a half-naked savage-look ing fellow, was included in the charge of assaulting the the police and stealing one of their rattles; and Thomas Moore, 19, was charged with lashing the mob to rescue the other prisoners and assaulting Sergeant Favy, 7 11. It appeared that the prisoner Hayes went drunk, be tween ten and eleven on Saturday night, to the George IV., where, on being refused to be served, he became very riotous, and the landlord succeeded in putting him out, and called the police. A struggle mimed, during which Hayes kicked at the most delicate part of his person, crying "I'll ruin you." In the meantime the prisoner's wife kicked and struck complainant behind, and his waistcoat was torn to tatters. When Aimstrong, 57 11, came up, he found Mr. St. Leger bleeding from the month, and seized Hayes. By this time a riotous mob of 200 persons was assembled, who assailed the constable on all sides, and the prisoner knocked him down twice , whereupon ha was compelled to draw his staff, which the prisoner wrenched from him. He then sprung his rattle, when Kelly, 130 H, came to his assistance, the crowd at that time having increased to five hundred persons, and he was severely kicked behind. The officers were nearly exhausted when 193 H came to their assistance, and seized Hayes ;• he immediately bit him in the hand, and kicked him on the legs. Mrs. Hayes then came up with a heavy iron bar used in fastening up shutters, which it seems she snatched from a shop, and struck him three blows, which smashed his hat to pieces, but fortunately did him no further injury. She then flung the bar at '193 H, but it only touched his breast. Both constables had very narrow escapes. Police•constable 193 sprung his rattle for more assistance, on which Curly Holland struck him on the chest and wrested away his rattle, which was broken in the struggle. The yells and threats of the mob were appalling, and the prisoner Moore was most active in hounding them on to " give it to the police." Sergeant Favy was struck with stones and brickbats se veral times in the back, and on turning round saw Moore in a stooping posture. The prisoners denied the charge, and Mrs. Hsyes would swear she had not the bar in her hand. Mr. YARDLEY said Hayes and his wife were equally had, and sentenced them to fourteen days' imprisonment each, and Holland to seven days. As for Moore, his conduct was that of a lawless ruffian inciting a furious mob as lawless as himself, and he should be locked up for a month. THE COAL AREA OF THE KINGDOM. It is indeed remarkable that so small a country should furnish so mighty a supply of fuel. We have 12,000 square miles of coal area—nearly one-tenth of the entire area of our entire island; but still this bears but a small ratio to the total quantity in all countries. According to the estimates of Professor Ansted and Mr. Taylor, the ascertained area of all the coal strata in the world is not lees than 150,000 square miles. And yet the an nual amount of coal worked and brought to light in the British islands is nearly double that of all other countries taken together,—so enormous are now our colliery operations. The number of coal fields in these islands, comprising districts de tached from all others, is about thirty; the num ber of distinct workable seams in these coal fields varies from one to eighty-four; the thickest seams in any one field varies from three to forty feet; and the aggregate thickness of all the seams in each field varies from three to two hundred feet. From these various coal fields there are now extracted not less than 35,000,000 tons a year, the value of which, including transit to the place of consumption, is about 18,000,0001. This estimate of about 102. per ton may seem small to Londoners accustomed to a price so much higher, bat in all the coal-mining and iron-smelting districts, the average is far under that here named. Of the 18,000,0001., it is supposed that about one-half is the value at the pit's mouth, and the other half the value of the transit to the consumer. The fixed capital employed in the coal trade, including mining machinery and transit machinery, is roughly estimated at 10,000,0001.—Dodd's Curiosities of Industry, SEABORNE MAILS. [N eaniflea that the mails are tient front the General roat-oillee by the night—and M by the morning--dispatch.] When made up in 1 From what When P LA01413. General Post -office port die- due. London. J patched. America (by brit. pia.) N May 21 .. Liverpool .. May 24 America (by 17.5. pht.) N May 18 .. •. Liverpool .. May 26 America (by U.S. pkt.) 11 May 25 Southampt. May 21 Africa (West coast)• • N l l4th of the month Plymouth June 3 Alexandria* • • ...... 17 , 19 th & 30th of mo. Dover .. May 18 Belgium N Daily • • .. • Dover .. Daily Brazil .. 31 9th of the month I ,Southampt. June 16 Buenos Ayres M 9th of the month ;Southampt. June 16 Callfornia(viaCkagrar) M 2d & 17th of month Southampt. May 20 Cape of Good Hops N 14th of month IPlymouth.. June 3 Constantinople* .. N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. May 20 Central America ...' M2d & 17th of mon. ISouthampt. May 20 Channel Isles .. N Mon., Wed., & Fri.' Sauthampt. Tn. Th. Sat Chili .. M 17th of the month Southampt. May 20 France & N Twice daily .. ;Dover Twicedaily Greece* .. Nl7thl7th27th ofmo 'Dover .. May 20 Eamburgh N Tuesday & Friday 'London Tema. eat. m Wednes. & Satnr. 'London lloa.Thur Honduras .. . N 17th of the mouth Southampt. May 20 Ireland N Twice daily .. .. I Holyhead Twicedaily India (via Sonthamp.) M 20th of the month Southampt. May 20 India (via Marseilles) Bth& 24th ef month Dover June 1 Mediterranean (via Southaxnben) M 20th of the month ,Southampt. May 20 Meditertanean (via meargeineo N Sth& 24tk of month Dover .. lace 1 Mexico M 2d of the menth..lSouthampt.l.Tune 5 Madeira • • •• 9th of the month ISoutharapt. 'June 16 7th,17th,19th,27th Malta* .• & 30th of month Dover May 18 Naplcs* N sth 15th 25th of me Dover May 22 Papal States* N ,sth 15th 25th of mo; Dover .. May 22 Peninsular •• M 7th 17th 27th ef mo' South ampt. May 26 Peru M l l7th of the month Southampt. ; Slay 2 0 Tuscany* Nisthlsth2sthofmo Dover •• May 22 West Indies g 17th of the month Southampt.l2day 20 TasCany* Nstla 15th25thofmo West Indies .. M , l7th of the month West Indies (etc Irrt Havanna & Nassau) M 2d of the month .. The malls to thooe o ountries thus star French packet vi Ma rseilles. ISoathaavt.lJune 5 kod (*) are conveyed by ANOTHER AGONISING SCENE AT A FIRE.— On Friday morning, at a few minutes before three o'clock, a fire broke out in the premises belonging to Mr. George Mew ling, boot and shoe maker, situate at No. 34, Featherstone-street, City-road. When discovered by the police the fire was making such rapid progress that the in mates, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Mowling, Mr. Flower, and two children, were scarcely able to stand on the flooring on account of the intense heat, coupled with which the smoke was of such a chariteter es to nearly stifle them. The neigh bours were runnia g to and fro endeavouring to procure ladders, but being unable the poor creatures were expected every moment to !fall a prey to the fury of the fearful ele ment. The Roya.l Society's fire-escape, however, came in sight, and was hail ed with of applause from the popu lace. 'The escape was instantly placed in front of the burn ing property, when Elden, the conductor, mounted the same, and brought the wi hole five persons down in safety from the top of the house, whilst the flames were issuing from the lower part of the premises. When the conductor entered the smoke was so 'dense that he could barely see the persons or keep from being suffocated. The firemen were unable to get the flames e:ttnnguished until the premises in which they commenced were :nearly destroyed, and some damage done to those on either s,ide, Non. 33 and 35, occupied respectively by Mr. S. Denton, coffeehouse keeper, and Mr. J. Slater, milliner. FATAL ACCIDENT.—Oa Saturday morning, at about nine o'clock, Adelaide Woolenough, aged 37, a ser vant, employed at . No. 13, Sidmouth-street, Gray's-inn-road, was precipitated fr om the third story window to the yard below, a height of upwards of 50 feet. In the course of the fall she burst throug h a skylight. The fearful crash alarmed the inmates of the; house, which is a reception or lodging establishment for foreigners, several of whom rushed out, and found the unfortunate woman bleeding profusely from her skull, and quite in sensible. Ta y lor, 81 G, was called in, and she was conveyed to the Royal Free Hospital, where Dr. Lane and other medical officers of the establishment ren dered every humane assistance. Her skull was fractured, her ribs were broken, and the whole framework of her body was shattered in a most dreadful manner. She expired soon after entering the hospital. LIVERPOOL AND THE AUSTRALIAN " 0 Nit% to the recent discoveries in the auriferous districts of Australia the passenger tra ffi c from Liverpool to I he ports . of Sydney and Melbourne has increased considerably, and bids fair to be a profitable source of income to the Liverpool shipowners. A =umber of large sailing vessels which have latterly been comp aratively idle are now in the various.grav ing docks, undergoing repairs and alterations , wit h a v iew of being used for the Australian passenger traffic service. At present emigrants arrive in Liverpool more quickly than they are carried out, in consequences of the numb er of s hips being less than the demand requires. A vessel will sail on the 18th with upwards of 600 emigrants from the Govern ment Depot at Birkenhead. The gold fever is affec tin g per sonsin respectable positions of life at Liverpool , a nd many aro preparing to bid adieu to that port. NEWCASTLE.—HIGHWAY ROBBERY. A daring robbery was committed on the uight of Saturday last, in the neighbourhood of this town. As Mr. Henry Gribbin , of this town, was on his way home from Walker, he was attacked by a man who overtook him, knocked him down, and robbed him of about twenty shillings in silver. The perpetrator of the felony ran off, but fortunately Mr. Gribbin was enabled to gi ve s u ch a description of him to the police as led to his apprehension, and he has ohne been committed for trial.— &et/nasal Journal. the colony in obviating the unfavourable results anti cipated from the recent gold discoveries. It had been stated by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that four companies of the 59th Regiment had been asked for by the colonists, to aid in the preservation of peace aiid order; wed the First Lord of the Admiralty had received a requisition to send out a ship to Mel bourne to assist in the same direction. The Noble Lord went on to say that ho had many misgivings as to the character of the emigrants who were now going oat, and who were of a class from whom he feared much danger was to be apprehended, and who were liable to the gold fever. Their first impulse would bo to rush to the gold diggings at once; and the influx of a large po pulation composed of classes not very disposed, perhaps, to consider their best interests, would tend rather to in crease than alleviate the evil. At the same time much evil would result from the abandonment of many fields of labour, in which it was desirable as much as possible to augment the supply of labour.—(Hear, hear.) It was the duty of the Government to facilitate the trans mtssien of emigrants, and they would avail them selves to the utmost of the funds at their disposal, in order to avert the evils which otherwise must re sult from the great influx of labourers selected only from classes least likely to consult their own real interests.—(Hear, hear.) It was a great question whether, after all, those who devoted themselves to agriculture might not realise more money by the high prices which would result from the abandon ment of so many fields of employment, and the great quantity of gold, than by going to the gold diggings.— (Hear.) And he believed that this would, in fact, be the case, and that such persona would at once earn a great debt of gratitude from the country, and derive great advantage to themselves—(clear)—proventing the waste of a large quantity of capital now invested in flocks of sheep, wandering (it might be said) without a shop herd.—(Hear, hear.) Lord PORTMAN wished to call the attention of the Noble Lord to the regulations of the Emigration Com missioners, which were, many of them, so minute that it was scarcely possible to comply with them, and they were evaded or disregarded in a way which the Com missioners would rather disapprove of. For instance, there was required a certificate of registry of birth and baptism. This might be easily obtained in country places, but in large towns there were vast numbers who would find it very difficult to discover the place of re gistry.—(Hear.) Then, again, the payments required to be made by the mechanics were larger than those re quired from agriculturists; and yet the mechanics were of as much use as the labourers. The certificate was too stringent in its requisitions, and was often on that ac count signed without much scruple with respect to the character of the persons proposing to emigrate, it being believed that the man who was rather an idle fellow, and somewhat of a poacher withal at home, would make a very good colonist or emigrant abroad. Earl GREY said the subject was of extreme import ance, and his opinion had always been that the money to be expended in emigration ought to be expended with a primary view to the welfare of the colony, being derived from the purchase of lands in the colony; and this principle had been laid down by Parliament, and had been pursued by various Secretaries of State. In conformity with this principle had been his instructions to the Emigration Commissioners, whom he had desired to consider themselves trustees for the colonists, and bound so to spend the money at their disposal as to pro duce the greatest possible advantage to the colony, and not to consider the interest of the landowners, who were pressing them with the object of getting rid of such persons as would rather be an incumbrance than an ad vantage to the colony. His Noble Friend (Lord Port man) entertained an opposite opinion, but he (Lord Grey) believed that an idle and drunken man at home would be an idle and drunken man abroad. In spite even of the existing regulations, attempts were made from time to time to defeat the vigilance of the Commissioners by giving false certificates; but the Commissioners would, to the utmost, resist those attempts, and would avail themselves of all the powers of the law to punish such scandalous misconduct.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord objected to the regulations as too stringent, especially with regard to mechanics. But these regulations were established at the earnest desire of the colonists, and when, some years ago, they had been relaxed, the result had been compl a i ne d of by the colonists, as tending to give them mechanics instead of agriculturis's. Men were very much the creatures of habit, and those who were accustomed to live in towns would not be content to live in solitude, keeping sheep. As regards the limitation in the number of children, it had arisen from the fact that illness always broke out when a great number were on board a vessel. He quite agreed that the money sent over by the colonists should be expended as speedily as possible—(Hear, hear)—con sistently with the due selection of emigrants. He was not unaware of the dangers referred to by the Noble Earl (Desert), but he believed they would not be di minished by any attempts to diminish the current of emigration. Since labour hail become more abundant, applications had been made to reduce the amount re quired to be deposited, so as to increase the facilities for emigration; but he hoped advantage would be taken of the gold fever to increase the sum thus payable by the emigrants. The Earl of DONOUGHMORE said he thought the class of young persons now shut up in workhouses in Ireland would be very fit for emigration to Australia. It was obvious that the class of persons now going out were going out only for the gold diggings. But he be lieved that the young persons to whom he referred would stay with the parties by whom they were hired. The result of their emigration would be greatly to relieve the over-burdened workhouses of Ireland.—(Hear.) Lord WODEHOUSE said the position of the Austra lian colonies interested this country greatly in conse quence of the trade in wool; and to relieve the colonists, and benefit that trade, it was rtquisite that the emigra tion should be not only abundant, but immediate. — (Hear, hear.) And the question was, whether a suffi cient number would be obtained in a sufficient time without relaxing the regulations of the Commissioners. —(Hear, hear.) The effect of these regulations seemed to be that none could emigrate except a class of persons whom we should be sorry to see go.—(Hear, hear.) The Duke of ARGYLL said the question was whether the regulations might not be to a certain extent relaxed —(Hear, hear.) The Noble Earl, lat h e! y nk at the head of —(Hear, hear)—and yet eligible emigrants be sent out the Colonial Department, seemed t a o b t e left t h at them.theßre yltacred in some degree, and he hoped would be altered yet more.—(Llear, hear.) towns, i g n u l f a ac ti t o , n t s he were e h r a e d to a r l e r m ea a d i y n The population of manufacturing such as Paisley, periodically recurring periods of de pressionwere exposed to and distress; and in consequence of this, and from the constant change of occupation manufacturing to • ltural, the weavers were found very well qualified agricultural, bexeeanetia Etc. Yet a regulation of the Commissioners excluded the weaver from the advantages of emigration.—(Hear, for a good deal of farming work—ploughing, fencing, hear.) He was persu aded many of these re gulations c might be altered wit h advantage to the mother c ountry and to the colonist s.—(Hear, bean) Earl GREY said the Commissioners wished not to take weavers if they could g ot labourers . As to the to the regulatio ns of the Commissioners, whic h , in some cases, had been fr audulentl y evaded, gra otifon the, itbboaarddboefengastaorpdpiaendaiinn not on conforming sequeue of Irishth conduct eai Th e Earl of HARROW BY s aid there was another considerat i o n besides the character of the cl ass of e emi grants who would most benefit the colony, and that was the lapse of time.—(Hear.) It might happen that the best possible class could not be obtained in the shortest time. And he wished to say that the weavers formed by n o means the worst class of emigrants.—(Hear.) The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said they had been found the best shepherds ever sent out.—(hear.) Lord REDESDALE said it must be borne in mind that it was eheaper to send the emigrants to America than Australia.—(Rear.) The Earl of DESART said the Government were anxious to spend on emigration the funds at their dis posal for that purpose; and that if the emigration were not sufficient, it would then be considered whether a relaxation of the regulations were advisable.—(Hear.) The motion was agreed to. PROTESTANT DISSENTERS BILL. The Bishop of SALISBURY rose to move the second reading of this Bill, which was, in substance, the same as had on two former occasions been introduced into their Lordships' House, and, on one occasion, had passed through it. When the Toleration Act was passed, in the reign of William 111., Protestant dissenters were re quired to register their places of worship in the court of the bishop, and before the clerk of the peace. The rea son was that the Act relieved them from penalties under various statutes, of the administration of which the bishops might naturally be considered guardians. The lapse of time and change of opinion rendered it desirable that regulations, which originally might have been very proper, should now no longer be continued. No one imagined that Protestant dissenters, who worshipped God according to their own consciences, should on that account be subjected to penalties. However much he regretted that any portion of his fellow subjects should be separated from him in worship, they ought not for that reason, to be exposed to any penalties in courts civil or ecclesiastical. He did. not desire, therefore, that the registration should continue to b e made in the ecclesiastical courts, and proposed that it should bo only before the clerk of the peace, (1 Tho measure, therefore, would provide that, and would be agreeable, ho hoped, to the dissenters. It . vott E!. so be acceptable to the -Church of England • us re loving her from a duty which did not prop er ly attach to her. No e htration, but • doubt it was merely a mattcat.co. licence;l.g and as la common parlance it was . c 11.d . there was a certificate of registration given, the meetings houses were called "licensed:' Tne Archbishop of CANTERBURY said the Incon veniences of the present system were so evident, and the remedy proposed by the Right Rev. Prelate so clear and simple, t hat it was unnecessary to say anything in con firmation of what he had stated. He should give the measure his support. The Bill was then read a second ti me. Th e Bishopric of Christchurch (New Zealand) Bill was re-committed and the report received. The Disabilities Repeal Bill was read • a third time and passed. The Repayment of Advances (lreland) Acts Amend ment Bill was also read a thtr • d Limo and passed. The Committee (Al Captain Warner's invention was nominated, and Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, May 17. The StEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock, • NEW EMBER. ma b r l t r h . e D n. . JUNE; took the M oaths and his seat for Car PRIVATE BUSINESS. teas T isfae li sd e ru fe a ll r o b w ou in r g . Bills were read a t hi r d time and Great Western Railway (No. 1). London and North-Western Railway (No. 2). The following Bills were considered and agreed to: — Blackburn and Preston Road and Bridge. Bury and Little Bolton Road. Brainley and Ridgewick Road. From°, Yeovil, and Weymouth Railway (No. 1). Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Liskcard Roads. North-Western Railway. North British Flax Company (Clawson's Patent). Rotherham and Pleasley Road. Tramore Embankment. York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway (Deviation of Bishop Auckland Branch, &c.) SECOND READINGS. The Sunk Island Roads Bill and the Watson's Hos pital (Edinburgh) Estate Bill were read a second time., and ordered to be committed. PE ri PIONS. Mr. JOHN EL £,IS presented a petition from Leicester against the Maynooth grant. Mr. MUNDY presented a petition from Derby to the same effect. Mr. T. BARING presented a petition from the inha bitants of Mauritius, praying that the downward action in the scale of duties on foreign sugars may be arrested, and that the general sugar duties, as now operating, may be maintained ; also a petition from the Legi s l at i ve Houses of the Isand of St. Christopher, complaining of increasing distress, and against the admission of sugar the produce of slave labour for consumption in the United Kingdom. Mr. WADDINGTON presented a petition from Mal don against the Maynooth grant. Mr. P. HOWARD presented several petitions from various places in the north against the Charitable Trusts Bill. . . Mr.:M'CULLAGH presented several petitions against the Militia Bill. Mr. HORSMAN presented a petition from the inha bitants of Frome, praying for a change in the law of patronage relating to the presentation of clergymen to livings. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Manchester in favour of the reproductive system of poor-laws; also 23 petitions from the same place against the Militia Bill. Mr. COWAN presented a petition in favour of the Patent Law Amendment Bill. Mr. REYNOLDS presented two petitions against the Charitable Trusts Bill. Mr. PETO presented a petition from Norwich against the enrolment of the militia. PARLIAMENTARY OATHS. Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice that it was not his intention to bring on his motion to-morrow relating to the oaths take❑ by Members of Parliament. METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS. Lord J. MANNERS gave notice that to-morow he should ask to move for leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend the law relating to the interment of the dead in the metropolis. DUBLIN FEVER HOSPITALS. Mr. REYNOLDS wished to ask the Noble Lord the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if any arrangements have been made to afford additional hospital accommodation to the poor, who are now labouring under malignant . fever in the city of Dubli n; an d if i t b e the intention of the Government to reduce the annual grants to the Cork street Fever Hospital and other charitable hospitals in the city ofDublin ? Lord NAAS said, from papers he received to-day, he entertained great hopes that the fever in Dublin was decreasing, but should it become necessary the Poor-law guardians had ample power to provide additional ac commodation for the poor suffering from fever. With regard to the second part of the question, it was intended to propose the same vote for the hospitals that was taken last year. Mr. REYNOLDS gave notice that to-morrow he should ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was not prepared to place the Dublin Fever Hospitals in their former position. Lord EBRI&GTON said, as prevention was better than cure, he should be glad to know if any steps had been taken to secure constant medical attention in the affected districts. Lord NAAS said that they were constantly under the inspection of the medical poor-law Commissioners. METROPOLITAN POLICE. Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE wished to ask the Se crete!), of State by what authority a portion of the K division of the metropolitan police wore ordered, on the sth and 12th instant, to attend divine service in St. Thomas's Church, Stepney, and in de fault of so doing were subjected to military drill?— (Hear.) In order that the House might understand the question he would state a few facts. On Wednes day, the sth of May, an order was sent down requiring the police division he had referred to attend divine service at a Protesta n t c h urc h, or to submit to an extra drill. About one hundred of the men, after expressing their surprise at the order, preferred g oi ng t o c h urc h, b u t thirty-eight of them were Roman Catholics, and they elected to undergo the drill. On th e f o ll ow i ng W e d nes day a similar order came down, when thirty-eight preferred the drill to the church.—(Hear, hoar.) Mr. WALPOLE said the facts were not correctly stated. No order had been given for a compulsory attendance at divine service, but as many of the men were unable to attend divine service on the Sundays, they were allowed time to do so on Wed nesdays, which was their pay day. Some of the men accepted the offer, while others declined it, and in order that they might not be idling about daring the half hour that they were required to be in attendance on a Wednesday, they had to go through a drill, which they would otherwise have to go through on another occasion. BIRKENHEAD DOCKS. Mr. HEADLAM. wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury why the account from the trustees of the Bir kenhead Docks, pursuant to an Act of the Bth Vic., di rected by an order of this House, bearing date the 29th day of July, 1851, an d aga i n directed by another order of this House, bearing date the 26th day of April, 1852, had not been laid before the House, and moved that it bo made forthwith. Mr. HAMILTON said the Treasury had nothing to do with those docks, but he had been informed by the secretary of the company that the reason why the ac counts had not been made up was that the books had been sent to London to undergo an investigation before a committee of inquiry. ANTIGUA LOAN. Mr. MACKINNON — wished - to ask the Colonia. Secretary what were the intentions of Government in reference to the loan advanced to the Antigua proprietors in 1842, in consequence of the earthquake there. Sir J. PAKINGTON said a memorial had been re ceived on tho subject, which was now under the con sideration of the Government. EMIGRATION. Mr. HUME wished to know from the Right Hon, Baronet if he was prepared to state what steps Govern ment meant to take to assist emigration from Scotland? Sir JOHN PAKINGTON could add little more to what he had said on Friday, but he had since been in communication with parties who were anxious to pro mote (migration, by benevolent and charitable means, from the Isle of Skye and the western islands of Scot land, and some means would be taken to assist distressed persons to emigrate to Australia.—(Hear.) All he could add in addition to this was that the subject was under the consideration of the Emigration Commis sioners. —(Hear, hear.) CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL. Mr. HEADLAM wished to ask the Attorney-General whether he was prepared to introduce into the Cha ritable Trusts Bill a clause exempting Dissenting chapels from its operation. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had received deputations on this subject from various Wesleyan bodies, but he must decline granting exemptions to any party. Mr. KEOGH put it to the Hon. and Learned Gentle man whether there was any chance of disposing of this Bill in the present state of public business, particularly as ha principle had not yet been discussed.—(Hear.) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it stood on the paper for to-night, but he should not bring it on after ten o'clock.—(Hear.) Tim principle of the Bill had been recognised by both Houses of Parliament, and ho was most anxious for it to pass into law.—(Hear, hear.) Ho would, however, state on Friday what chance there was of his doing so this session.—(flear, hear.) THE REV. MR. BENNETT. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said Perhaps he might be permitt e d t o take that opportunity of conveying to the Reuse the result of their inquiries, which Government had instituted with reference to the insti tution of the Rev. Mr. Bennett. The law officers of the Crown had reported to Government that her Majesty had no means of making any efficient inquiry i n t o th e subject through the medium of a commission, inasmuch as the commission would have no power to summon witnesses, or to compel the production of any necessary evidence that might be required. Besides, if such a commission were to issue, the Crown might be embark ing in a course of investigation which might assume a character of en ecclesiastical inquiry, which might be a direct infringement of the Bill of Rights. The Government had, therefore, acted in accordance with the legal opi n i on. Bet had ' they believed it possible, under the exiiting law that a person in connexion with another Church would be instituted to a living in the Church of England, in defiance of its professed princte plea, they wou ld not have hesitated, notwithstanding Bill to th peculiar a s p ect o f t h e sess i on, to b r i ng in a The law, remedy so anomalous a state of things—(Bear.) meet the however, it was thought would be sufficient to to prudent ryng case, and the Government had not deemed it i to give an advantage to the offending party by t fie was satis vindicate the law in an illegal manner d . pursued would tied that the course which they had r olear hear.) meet with the approval of the d H been , advised that 9 the Ilex Majesty's Government ba aremedy By the 3d present state of the law furnished B6 commonly called the and 4.h of the Queen, cap. open , to any parishioner Church Discipline act, p it was either to the Bishop of of Promo to ( appeal e l a cheers from the Opposi the diocese'irc'nica tion)—in which the o ff e nce was alleged to h ave the Bishop in whose diocese the committed, or to been preferment, and might call upon either offender now held . a commission of relates to ism) inqu i ry of those p investigate the circumstances. If there were to prove d before that commission a prima facie ca se against the offender, it w as i n the power not only of the prelates, but also of the parishioners of F ee nee, to call for a judicial inquiry, and on the guilt of the offender being proved to punish him either by de priving him of the benefice he then held or suspending hip, from his sacred functions. So far as her Ma jesty's Government had been able to learn, no steps had been taken by any of the parishioners of Promo to make any such appeal, and despite the iro nical cheer which had been raised on the other aide of the Uoase, her Majeaty'a Ciovrnment had attffi- ciciat faith in the discretion and in the seine duty of the prelates of 'the Church of England. that they could not suppose that thay would oppose any obstacle to the exercise of this legal remcdy. Her Majesty's Government had given great and painful consideration to this kubjec t, and they had coma to the conclusion—in which he thought the House. of Commons would agree with , them — that, before any other step were taken those who complained of a grievance ought to seek that redress which the present state of the law afforded to them. Mr. GLADSTONE wished to know whether the Go imminent had taken any steps to ascertain whether the conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells had been in all_points according to law. fi'he CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he could scarcely understand the point which the Hon. Gentleman wished to know. Mr. HORSMAN said he could not see that the remedy which the ...Right Honourable Gentle man hsd referred to, as being in the power of any parishioner, was one which would apply.to the case. The Rev. Gentleman now held preferment in the diocese of Bath and Wells, and part of the offences charged against Mr. Bennett had taken place on the continent, and what effect could the remedy relied on by the Right Honourable Gentleman have on that part? As another illustration he would refer the House to the Catholic Directory, published monthly, in which was given a list of perverts to the Roman Catholic Church, in which he read the name of Mr. W. J. E. Ben nett, late of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, as convert on truly 9th, 1851, and at the end of the announcement the thanksgiving, Deo gratias. Now, he would ask, what redress bad tho parishioners of Frome against this? The composition, too, of the tribunal —being composed of five clergymen nominated by the Bishop of Bath and Wells—was not very satisfactory. It was now a month since he had brought forward his motion; and be thought that, if the law officers had taken all that time to find out the existence of this tribunal, there had been a considerable time wasted. He gave notice that he should to-morrow move for a Committee of Inquiry into the truth of those facts which he had stated on a former occasion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought it would not be expedient to take any further steps until the present means of redress had been exhausted. Her Majesty's Government did not wish to mix them selves up with the circumstances of this case, and they did not feel it their duty to counsel the Queen to insti tute an inquiry, which they %sere advised, and which they felt by their own experience, would not result in any good effect. Mr. GLADSTONE said, that as the Government had not appeared to have taken any steps to inquire into tho conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, which on the occasion of the former discussion had been, stated to have been entirely illegal, he wished to give notice that when the opportunity arose he should be ready to show that that Right Rev. Prelate had acted throughout in entire conformity with the letter and spirit of the law. The subject then dropped. THE MILITIA BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Clause 14 was proposed, which enacts that voluntoeri should be sworn and enrolled. Mr. BRIGHT objected to the oatb, that in its present shape the militia might be compelled to set ve in Ireland or other parts of the United Kingdom in which they had not been raised. Mr. WALPOLE said tho oath was taken from the Interchanging Act, which allowed the sending of mili tiamen raised in England to Ireland or other parts of the United Kingdom, and the bringing the militia raised in Ireland to this country. But it did not follow that this power would be put in force, unless the necessity for doing so arose. Mr. ARIGHT—The object of the Interchanging Act was connected with a particular department of the duties of the militia—namely, the suppression of insur rection and rebellion within the kingdom. But that duty not being required of them under the present Bill, he did not see there could be the same necessity for sending the English militia to Ireland. A law of this nature ought not to be confined to one portion of the United Kingdom only, though he would not move that it should be extended to either Scotland or Ireland. AS , however, the Right Hon. Gentleman said there wags not the slightest possibility that the power would be us ed-- (No, no)—he (Mr. Bright) suggested that in this case the oath in the 42d Geo. IIL, which confined the or ora tions of the militia to England and Wales, should be substituted for the one referred to in the clause. Lord PALMERSTON hoped the Right Hon. Gentle man would not accede to the suggestion of the .Hon. Member for Manchester. The services of the m ilitia were originally limited to the island in which the force was raised. The object of the militia was not to put down insurrection, but to defend the country; and it being found inconvenient to confine the Irish militias to Ireland, and the English militia to England, Parliament thought proper to alter that description of sereie:e and enacted that thenceforward every militiaman should be liable to serve in any part of the United Kingdom where his services might be required.—(Hear, bear.) So far from seeing any reason for restriction in the fact that it was proposed by the Government to raise the militia only in England and Wales, he (Lord Palmerston) must say that it afforded an additional reason for ad hering to the arrangement made by the Act o f 18 12 ' The reason for which any militia was required wnu that an additional force might be wanted to We nal the country against invasion • and he bogged leave to 609, that Ireland was just as likely to be invaded in ease el war as England itself.—(Hear, hear.) The fact that the Government did not think it necessary at present tc raise a militia in Ireland was no reason for prevent in ; g the English militia from going to Ireland. On the con trary, it was a reason altogether the other way. Sir G. PECHELL said that seeing the Govan meet had consented to the appointment of a Select Coma antes of the House of Lords to investigate Captain We rner's inventions, who could say but they might be able to do without any militia at all?—(Laughter.) For his pa rt, he considered the inventions mere humbug; but as an in quiry was to be instituted, he would suggest the t thel f ought now to report progress and await the re suit 0 that inquiry.—(Laughter.) Mr. BRIGHT—The Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton (Lord Palmerston) had not allowed the L':orao Secretary to reply to his (Mr. Bright's) observat ,onsi because he entertained a fear lest that Right Hon. t 3ree" tlensan would commit himself.—(A. laugh and OM) The Noble Lord seemed to be quite a twin-brother of ' the Right Hon. Gentleman on these occasions. But the / rale Lord exclaimed the other night, " What, would yon treat the people of Ireland as if they were traitors?" Wb,/ then would the Noble Lord ex c l u de th a t p ar t of th e United Kingdom from the operation of the Bill? It sfe s a special ground of complaint against the Bill that e O- _ forcing it in one portio n o f th e ki ng d om on l y , t h e y t $0 01 '• ballotted men from that portion, and insisted upon t heir is serving in parts of th e U n it e d Ki ng d om to NVoieu. the Bill did not apply. That was not just deeding with the people of England and Wales. The Noble Lord's inconsistencies were interminable. As, ho PIE Ner he seemed to ba able to make the Government take any course he chose, he (Mr. Bright) would suggest t o that ho should force them to extend the measure to Ire land, so that men should not be - dragged from Eng) and and Wales to any part of Scotland or Ireland us .der such an oath as this. -- Mr:WiLPOI:E --- said that if it were intended to .entl ploy the militia to suppress insurrection or rebellion, the Bill might be objectionable if it proposed to send tY Lem to Ireland for that purpose. But it was only inter .ded to send them for the defence of the country, ae' , to enable the Government to bring over the troops oi' the lino from Ireland to England, in case this co•aiitrY should be invaded. Unless the necessity arose 'thi s power would not be put in force, but if that necesi ill did arise the power ought to be put in force, COl3O quently the power ought to exist in the Bitl.—(Heal ..) After a few words from Mr. CLAY and M r ' MoWATY, Colonel CHATTERTON trusted the Governor ev t would not take any advice from the lion. Gentler lel upon military matters. He hoped no alteration 'eve el' be made in the construction of the clause. Mr. HUME said the quesion was not a milit aTY question at all. The question was whether they vie Ill' oblige a man who was to be drafted against his „ N il to take the oath prescribed in the Bill—a Bill which. th°, present Gov e r nmen t wou ld never h ave procee d e d eseitih4 the late Government had not brought it in. Obj goi tionable, however, as he thought the measure, mtl , l l, his objection to it would be removed if the ballot clans e' were struck out. Mr. BRIGHT said they insisted upon the men tale an oath which would oblige them to serve in Irelso and Scotland as well as in England. To obviate thee anti to confine their services to England, he moved the 5 the oath of the Act of 1802 be substituted for the oat) I of the Act of 1811. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the question wee I I whether they would adopt the oath by which they would bo enabled to compel the attendance of volunteers u 1 those parts of the United Kingdom which required de fence, or whether they would substitute an oath whict providing for tho defence of England and Scotland would not enable them to send a kforce into 'relate d , whatever might be the necessities of the service the re. lie was sure the Committee would not hesitate a m cr . ment as to which to adopt. Mr. M. GIBSON said, as one part of the force was tv be raised by ballot, and another by volunteering, they should consider what was the oath which was naelV suitable to both, and that formed a reason for postponing a ny clauses of the Bill bearing upon the question until: the House bad decided whether any portion of the force should be raised by ballot or not. It was most unjust that the people of England, Scotland, and Wales shoul d bo subject to compu l sory service, and the people of Ire land not. Lord J. RUSSELL observed that the natural construc tion of the clause would be that there was no intention of taking the militia beyond England and Wales. Be t ' advantage if they when th e m ili t i a was embodied, it would be a great dis could not remove them to any part of the empire. With respect to Ireland, supposing ther e was a war, an d i t were necessary to have a militia, no doubt a militia force would be embodied in Ireland as well as in England and Wales. In Ireland be wig" observe that the militia was usually raised by volunteer" ing—iu fact, by beat of drum; but, at all events, if 1 1 were necessary, they would have a militia f o rce rais ed in Ireland, and then, as during the lat e war , they could, if they deemed it necessary, send a part o f the Eeglis" militia into Ireland end a portion of the Irish militi a into England. He could not, therefore, support the, amendment of the lion. Gentleman (Nlr. B r ight). regard to the observation of the Hon. Member for Moot rose (Mr. Hume), he begged to say that the Bill was not his (Lord J. Russell's) Bill, and ho had not the re" speesibility of it. Lord PALMERSTON said that in Ireland the militia force had been raised always by voluntary enlistment, and he apprehended that by th e ex i st i ng l aw r elating t