The Sun. — London, England, 1848-07-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 4. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. The Earl of BAN DUN presented a petition from the merchants and inhabitants of Cork against any altera- Lion on in the navigation-laws. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from Ayr against the Scottish Registration Bill. Lord CAMPBELL presented some petitions with a similar prayer. JUVENILE OFFENDERS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions with a similar prayer; also a petition from the city of London, complaining of the increase of juvenile offenders. The Noble Duke said that if the Government did not intro duce a measure on the subject, he should lay on the table a 13111 for the purpose of withdrawing juvenile offenders from trial, and of consigning them by a sum mary process to a place of reformatory punishment. Lord KINNAIRD urged upon their Lordships the necessity of attending to the condition of the vagrant children with which the metropolis and the large towns were infested. Earl GREY admitted the necessity of some alteration in the method of treating juvenile offenders, but was not prepared to discuss the subject at the present moment. After a short conversation the petition was laid on the table, and several other petitions to the same effect were presented by the Duke of RICHMOND. LAW OF MARRIAGE. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table the report of the Commissioners on the law of Marriage. NORTH WALES RAILWAY. Lord MONTEAGLE, pursuant to notice, presented a petition from an individual, complaining of the conduct of the directors of the North Wales Railway. The pe titioner was one of the original shareholders in this line of railway, which was intended to run between Carnar von and Bangor. The act authorizing the construction of the railway passed in 1845, and two instalments of 10 per cent. were paid up by the shareholders. Soon after a change in the direction of the company took place, and one of the first proceedings of the new di rection was to lend the money of the North Wales Rail way Company for the purpose of completing another railway with which the North Wales Railway had no thing to do. Many of the members of the new direc tion were also directors of the London and Richmond Railway Company, and to this latter company the money of the North Wales Company was lent. But, as the North Wales Railway Company were not empowered by law to lend, nor the London and Richmond Com pany to borrow, the course taken was not to lend the money to the London and Richmond: Company in its', corporate capacity, but to private in dividuals connected with the company on their notes of hand. After a time the Richmond Railway was made, and sold to another company. The directors of the North Wales Company, having lent the money of the company on insufficient security, and contrary to law, nevertheless thought proper, when this took place, to repeat the experiment, and they lent the money of the company to two other individuals. A shareholder ap plied to inspect the accounts, and after some resistance he was allowed to have access to them. Their Lordships would hardly believe in what manner those accounts were kept. He held in his hand a copy of the very account in question, and he found these entries— " Loan to A' for investment, 1,500/." " Loan to B' for ditto, 1,2001." " Loan to C' for ditto, 4,0001." " Loan to D' for ditto, 8,0001." " Loan to E' for ditto, 3,000/." " Loan to F' for ditto, 1,0001." " Loan to G' for ditto, 1,0001." In fact, the account was a cypher which explained nothing. The parties asked for an explanation as to who were represented by the letters " A," " B," " C," " D," " E," " F," and " G," but that was refused. These were the two main allegations contained in this petition ; namely, first, a misapplication of the funds from the purposes for which they :were intended by Parliament, from the North Wales Railway Company to the London and Richmond RailwaylCompany ' • and, second:y, the mode in which the accounts were kept. The answer of the directors to the latter charge related a most curicus fact. They stated that this mode of keeping accounts—namely, that of putting forward an unintelligible account to be in spected by the shareholders, and keeping a private ledger for their own use, was the common course taken by other railway companies, and they justified them selves by this most extraordinary plea. He thought it behoved their Lordships and the Parliament to take notice of this matter. He should content himself at present with presenting the petition; but, if the subject should be allowed altogether to drop, he conceived their Lordships would be partly making themselves accessory to a system of fraud. Of the parties he knew nothing. He had no connexion with either of the companies. The facts were admitted by both sides; and they clearly showed a departure from the law of the land, and a violation of a public trust. The prayer of the petition was, that a Bill might be passed to exclude these parties from the direction, and to appoint others to carry out the railway. So important did ho consider the question that ho should be inclined at a future day to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into these facts, and to report upon them to the House. Earl GRANVILLE suggested, that whether the Noble Lord brought forward a Bill or moved for a Select Committee, it would be better that he gave a formal notice of the course he intended to pursue. Lord WIIARNCLIFFE considered this to be one of I the most scandalous cases that had occurred in t he mis management of railways. He considered it to be highly incumbent on their Lordships to apply a corrective and check upon these proceedings. Lord REDESDALE said, that unless some Noble Lord should hereafter make a statement on the other side that should satisfy their Lordships, he considered this was a case in which the Legislature ought to inter fere. These great bodies ought to be compelled to ren der accounts of their proceedings. If they concealed them from the shareholders, they could never hope to possess the confidence of the public. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said it appeared to him to be a subject of very considerable importance. It had been said that there was a Bill pending in the other House of Parliament to facilitate the dissolution of one of these companies. He had not seen that Bill, but he thought that no such step should be taken without first ascertaining the state of the accounts, because Parlia ment might otherwise be sanctioning a great injustice. Their Lordships ought not to allow any facilities what ever to the parties until after a full investigation into these facts, especially after a Bill had been rejected which would have enforced a distinct and bona fide audit of all these vast budgets that were going on in the country under the direction of these companies. Lord MONTEAGLE said, that before the Bill em powering the company to effect a dissolution reached their Lordships' House, he should move for a Select Committee to consider and report on the facts stated in the petition. The petition was then laid on the table. GAME CERTIFICATES FOR KILLING HARES On the motion of the Duke of RICHMOND, This Bill was read a third time. Several amendments were then added by way of riders, and the Bill was passed. The third reading of the Certificates for Killing Hares (Seotland) Bill was postponed till Thursday next. Their Lo;dships then adjourned till Thursday next. HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 4. ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IBELAND) BILL (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday). The SOLICITOR-GENERAL was very desirous, in a few words, to explain the objects of the Bill; but as the principles of the measure had already been amply discussed, ha hoped the House would not raise another debate upon it before they went into Committee. The simple object of the Bill was to make land marketable in Ireland. At present laud was not a marketable com modity in Ireland, owing, he supposed, to the peculiar state of the country. From returns which bad already been laid before the House, it appeared, even during the time of the greatest distress in Ireland, capital was con stantly coming over tp be invested in this country which would have been applied to improving the land in Ireland had the law relating to the transfer of that commodity been simple and easy of attainment. Under the present system there were two registries of property, but they were so exceedingly defective that it was most difficult and embarrassing in effecting a transfer of landed property in Ireland. These registries, for in stance, contained accounts of the encumbrances which rested upon the land of Ireland, and before a piece of land could be sold the vendor was obliged to prove that all the registered encumbrances bad been satisfied. The complicated nature, however, of the law of mortgaging in Ireland rendered it extremely difficult and expensive for the vendor to do so. In t his country that difficulty did not exist, and by this Bill it was proposed so to simulate the law of the two countries that the difficulty which had hitherto existed in proving that old encum brances had been satisfied should be removed. It was proposed to do this through the medium of the Court of Chancery, which would have power to order the sale of encumbered estates upon the owner and purchaser com plying_ with certain regulations to be est ablished b y this Bill. Provisions had been introduced into the Bill to prevent anything like an improper or fraudulent sale of property. It was proposed to give the fullest notice to every parson who might be interested in the property before any sale could take place, and on it being proved satisfactorily that these notices had been given the pur ohase-money was to be paid into the hands of the Accountant-General. If, however, there should be any fraud the whole proceedings would be perfectly bad and void, and the sale might be set aside at any time when such fraud was discovered. The effect of the Bill, in fact, would be to give the real owners of the property a much better price than they could obtain under present circumstances, and it there fore would be a great boon to the landlords of Ireland. It had been urged as an objection to the Bill that it would have the effect of depreciating the value of property, by throwing too much land into the market a t once, but that was easil y an . swered, by stating that pers ons so thinking might delay the sale until the market price was higher. There no doubt would be is good deal of legal opposition in that House to the Bill. He was one of the profession, and considered that it would certainly be the means of taking a great deal of business out of t heir hands—(Laughter) —but he supported the Bill on public grounds, think ing that it would confer a great benefit upon Ire land. It would not interfere with any other Bills which bad been proposed for giving relief to Ireland, it having been thought desirable to confine it exclusively to the emancipation of land, and not to incorporate with it anything with respect to tenant-rights, or the improvement of land. The Bill would give to persons a full, expeditious, and safe mode of investing capital in Irish lands, and it was well known that a vast amount of capital through out the country was seeking for investment at the present moment. There could be no doubt that if persons could get a clear title to property in Ireland it would be the means of bringing a great influx of capital importance of economy. The Government had wished to impose a five per cent. income-tax, and if Hon. Gen tlemen around him had only prevented that they had done something, particularly as the Government bad thereby been induced to revise their estimates, and had saved half a million without having, as he supposed they would assure the House, in any degree infringed upon the efficiency of the public service. He now called upon the Government to revise the expenditure incurred upon the Railway Com mission, which might have been a very proper experiment, but which had been followed by no be neficial results whatever. A blue book of 200 pages had been, it was true, printed, which might just as well have been contained in twelve pages, so that he had not only to regret the other expense incurred by the com mission, but that the House had also incurred the ex pense of printing these very valueless records. A Committee of that House had, it was true, recommended the appointment of a Railway Commission, but they had no idea that so great an expense would have been in curred, and nothing would be found in their report which would in any degree justify so large an establish ment as the Government had thought proper to appoint. Here was a charge amounting to four times the sum expended when the duties were as well performed as they were now—he did not say that they were as well performed now as they ought to be. What was the good performed by the commissioners which would justify Parliament in voting this amount ? He did not say it was desirable that the railways should be left with out supervision, but his complaint was that there was no supervision in the present Bill. During the last session of Parliament it was a matter of common occur rence for Committees of that House to be delayed for two or three days, and be compelled to adjourn from time to time, in consequence of the non arrival of the reports of the Railway Com missioners. And when the reports were received they were of very little value. He thought it would be better for the House to leave the matter to the Board of Trade, and if that Board appointed persons competent as scientific men, the House would then obtain what they could not from a Board constituted as the Railway Com mission was, and their reports and proceedings would obtain the confidence of the public, which was of itself a great advantage, besides the benefit of a large reduction of expenditure. The Hon. Member concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Railway Com to the country, and thus tend in a great degree to im prove its condition. He was sure that there was but one common' feeling in the House, to make it an efficient Bill, and the Government would be thankful to receive any suggestion which could make it more per fect, it being a matter of considerable complication and difficulty. There was a great deal of technicality neces sarily involved in the measure, but the Government had endeavoured to avoid that as much as possible, in order to lay down broad and intelligible principles. He, therefore, was of opinion that it would fully meet the object it was intended to accomplish without doing serious injury to any person, and trusted that it would receive the general approbation of the House.—(Cheers.) Mr. NAPIER deprecated the provisions of the Bill, which he said would be destructive to the sacred rights of property in Ireland. The real effect of it would be to compel the sale of every estate in Ireland, because there was no estate in that country which, under the designation contained in the Bill, would not be considered an encum bered estate. The Bill, therefore, would be appli cable to every estate ; and a more reckless and injurious measure, and one more ruin ous in its ultimate result, he could not conceive. In the Court of Chancery, he understood that a pur chaser is not expected to complete his purchase, unless it could be shown that the title which was about to be vested in him was good; but under the Bill this salu tary power would not prevail.—(Hear.) He denied that the Bill would be a boon to the landlords of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) They could not be too careful with respect to right titles, because if they did not do so, endless litigation would be the result. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman they gave several technical and legal grounds to show that the Bill would operate most injuri ously, if not ruinously, on the landed interest of Ireland. He had the authority of Sir Edward Sugden for saying, that proceeding by means of a bill instead of a petition, as provided by this measure, were the most inexpensive and conclusive.—(Cheers.) He felt it his duty to oppose the Bill. Mr. MONSELL said it would be a matter of sincere regret if it went forth to the public that the sentiments enunciated by the Hon. Gentleman who had just re sumed his seat were those entertained by the majority of Irish Members—(Hear, hear)—because the Bill, he sincerely believed, would be the means of mitigating much of the misery that prevailed among the tenants on encumbered estates in Ireland. When the House considered the _condition, the social position of Ire land, they would pause, he was sure, before they threw out this Bill, which was looked to as their only means of relief by the poor. If in other countries the onus probandi rested with those who desired change, in Ireland the onus probandi rested with those who wished to preserve a system fraught with the greatest misery. Having read the testimony of Mr. Booth in support of his view, he proceeded to say, if landlords and tenants knew their interests and wished to promote their welfare, they would agree in desiring such a remedy as this, in order that the present system might be put an end to. — (Hear, hear.) The Honourable and Learned Gentle man said such a measure could only be justified by an " overwhelming necessity."—(Hear.) What did he mean by such a statement? Surely an " over whelming necessity" existed for this measure at the pre sent moment—(Hear, hear)—for the state of things in Ireland were such as to threaten a bloody revolution. They had to consult the interests of the living rather than those of the dead, or the indefinite wishes of pos terity.—(Hear, hear.) The landlord would derive little advantage from the sale of his estate. He could not commit any trickery in respect of it, neither could he expend the money it might realise as he thought pro per, as it was to be paid into the Court of Chan cery, and appropriated to those who had the greatest claims to the proceeds. He considered that the selling of small portions would also tend to the advantage of the country, because it was most essential that a class of persons having an interest in the same should be fostered.—(Hear.) He hoped the Govern ment would pass the measure with all convenient haste, but not, however, without listening to all reasonable amendments. Sir GEORGE GREY hoped the House would rise (the time being halt-past three) until five o'clock, as the Speaker had been some time in the chair and would most likely occupy it many hours after the House resumed. He should on Monday mention a day for proceeding with the Bill. Mr. B. OSBORNE deprecated the speech of the Honourable Baronet the Member for Clare (Sir Lucius O'Brien), as a party " move" and quite foreign to the subject before the House, as he had related anecdotes to the House which had no relation to the subject before it, and then concluded with an amendment. He hoped the House would decide on that amendment before they rose.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. GROGAN suggested that the Bill should be re ferred to a Committee upstairs, where all the minute points in the measure could bo discussed. Sir G. GREY hoped the House would consent to re lieve the Speaker. As he believed the Hon. Baronet did not intend to proceed with his amendment, he hoped he would withdraw it.—(No, no.) Well, ho could re new it before they went into Committee, if he thought proper. Sir L. O'BRIEN declined to withdraw his amend ment.—(Cries of " Adjourn," " Divide.") Mr. HENLEY moved the adjournment of the debate. The SPEAKER put the motion, and as there were a great many " ayes," and a number of " noes," the gal leries were cleared for a division, but none took place. The House then adjourned until Five o'clock. the maintenance of this expensive Commis‘ion to he justified, when there was nu view of giving it prac tical effect?—(Hear, hear.) This was a question of economy; but he did not overlook the importance of the duties to be discharged by the Commissioners, and he fully agreed that such duties must not be intrusted to inferior persons; but still the Right Hon. Gentleman had not done justice to the functionaries who had served under Lord Dalhousie, and who, like General Pasley and Colonel Harness, were men of high eminence and ability, and received high salaries. As regarded the en gineer officers, the secret of the charge appeared to be this—that their pay was doubled in order to increase their efficiency. As to the increase of railway business, no doubt, as regarded the duties to be performed by cap tains of engineers, and as to the accumulation of a mass of correspondence, there had been a great increase, but as regarded difficult, delicate, and responsible functions, there had been no increase at all, but, on the contrary, a decrease, since the time when the duties of this board were discharged by Lord Dalhousie with an establish ment costing the country me-third of the present. He had read the report of the Commissioners and traced ma nifest indications of the difficulties which arose from having been appointed to an office without their duties having been defined beforehand. The Right Hon. Member proceeded to ridicule the trifling nature of the details with which the Commissioners swelled out their report, in- stancing particularly a case on the 27th page of it, private belonging to the Sappers and Miners having been, it was alleged, overcharged for his luggage by a railway company, and in which, after a gigantic effort, it had been decided, with the aid of the law officers of the Crown, whether or not twopence per ton per mile should be charged. lie did not think that the weight attach ing to the recommendations of the Commissionthad in creased any more than the delicacy and difficulty of their duties. He had never heard that Lord Dalhousie had been assisted by incompetent men. In some few conspicuous instances the report of that Noble Lord might not have been attended to, but it should be re membered that he had had a great number of reports to present. The reports certainly did not meet with very general support, for many members of the Com mittee said they did not understand theta, and with respect to the expenses of the Railway Board, every one must concur with him in saying that they ought not to pays 12,0001. a-year for, that which might be done for 4,0001. • Mr. R. V. SMITH rose amidst loud cries of ' 6 Di vide." He said it was not quite decorous for the Hon. Member for Sunderland to raise a cry of " Divide," when he and the Hon. Members near him were known to be deeply interested in railways. There was quite a sufficient number of gentlemen in the immediate vicinity of that Hon. Member to form an excellent provisional committee. He admitted that there was not sufficient mission. Mr. LABOUCHERE would admit that it was the duty of the House to economize the public money in every way consistent with the due performance of the public service. The present salaries and expenses of the Railway Commissioners (after deducting the salary of the Chief Commissioner, which office it was not proposed to fill up), and including the contingent ex penses of the department, were 10,7001. He believed the expenses incurred by the department of the Board of Trade which had the superintendence of railways was about 4,0001. per annum. But it was a great mistake to suppose that if the House sent back the railway business to the Board of Trade as a rail way board, it could be discharged at the same ex pense as formerly. The business had enormously increased since that time in every way. o n account of the great development of the railway s ys tem, and of the expense which that development occasioned, but still more on account of the additional functions which Parliament - s had from time to time thrown upon the Railway Commissioners, and which, of course, must be performed by that board. His opinion, then, was, that as a matter of economy the House would deceive them selves if they thought that a g re a t saving would be effected by abolishing this Comm ission and transferrin g its duties back to the Board of Trade. The report of the Railway Commissioners, which had been lately laid upon the table, contained an account of the important f unc tions and duties which from time to time it had been the pleasure of Parliament to throw upon that Commis sion, and it must be admitted upon a perusal of that re port that the addition of business to that which had been transacted by the Board of Trade had been very large. The Right Hon. Gentleman then, observing that he was unwilling to weary the House with details, read from the report several heads or items of rail, way business under which the functions of the Commissioners had been greatly increased since the period when the duties were performed by the Board of Trade. He observed that prior to 1843 there were only 1,952 miles of railway open in this country, since which 3,860 miles had been opened, and at the end of the year it might be expected there would be a further addition of 1,200 miles. This great deve lopment of railways had thrown great labour and ea pense upon the Commission, besides those duties which were connected with the opening of lines and of inspec tion. With respect to inquiry into cases of accident, he had the satisfaction of stating that, partly on ing to the useful suggestions which the Government had received from various railway companies who had come forward and met them in the frankest spirit, accidents upon rail ways had very greatly diminished—(hear)—that rail ways were safer than they were, and that the system had worked well in this respect, as regarded the security of the public when travelling. The heads of by-laws and cheap trains had also caused much additional business to the Commission. The Hon. Gentleman had accused the commissioners of not having done their duty in enforcing the provisions of the Rail way acts. Cases of that kind had come before deem, and it had been considered that generally the best course to pursue was one which by amicable adjust ment secured justice to the public, and avoided litigation and dispute. A mast important question bad lately arisen under this head with a powerful railway company, and as it was now pending he would make no further allusion to it, except to remark ;that the case had re ceived the most anxious attention, and that the Commis sioners were prepared to take whatever course the exi gency might require. He might add, that other arduous duties had been thrown upon the Railway Commis sion by the numerous applications for extension of time. His doubts as to the propriety of reverting to the old system rested much more, however upon the nature or quality of the business to be transacted by the Commis sion than upon the amount of it. The questions referred to the Railway Department involved nice questions of law and an immense amounteof property. This rendered it highly important if the House chose to refer such matters to a Government department, that that depart ment should be so constituted as to give,weight to its de cisions and carry with them the public respect. The questions ought to be determined by men of high station and of prominent and established cha racter ; for that was the only shield which a public department charged with such duties could present against the shafts of calumny which were too frequently aimed against it. He attributed the failure of the Rail way Department of the Board of Trade, under Lord Dalhousie, notwithstanding the great talents and energy which the Noble Lord brought to bear upon it, to the fact that he had the advice of persons who were perhaps not exactly in the station or of that established and well known character which ought to be possessed by those who advised with a Minister of the Crown. It was of the highest importance that a department to which such functions were intrusted should be so composed that) their decisions should convince Parliament and the country, if not of the wisdom of those decisions, at least of the perfect impartiality and independence of the groundS upon which they were given. To do this it was necessary that they should be assisted by eminent legal ability, and that men of the station and reputation to which he had just adverted should compose the board. Be could not refer to the name of Sir Edward Ryan without expressing his conviction that the House and the public were largely indebted to that eminent and Learned Gentleman for the assistance he had ren dered the board. It was a mistake to suppose, as had been asserted, that the decisions of the Railway Com missioners had not been attended to by Committees of that House, and he believed there was only one instance in which a decision of the Committee had been de cidedly contravened. His opinion was that it would be a very ill-advised step toiput an end to this Commission, and to insist upon transferring the business back to the Board of Trade. At the same time he admitted he was not altogether satisfied with the state of the railway business of the country even under this Commission.— (Hear, hear.) Constituted as the Commission was, he believed that its duties were well performed, and its services useful ; yet it might be made more useful than it now was. Other questions and subjects might be brought before it, and he hoped to see its in fluence over railways graduallyextended. With respect to the Tidal Harbours Commission, he agreed that it was a question worthy of attention whether that Commission might not be abolished, and its duties be discharged by the Railway Commission, with the assistance of a single officer from the Admiralty. All these subjects, how ever, were receiving the attentive consideration of a Committee, the report from which would be shortly be fore the House, when it would become their duty to take the whole matter into consideration, with a view of making such ultimate arrangements as would promote economy, and conduce to the public advantage. It would now be premature to abolish the Commission and insist that the Board of Trade should resume railway functions, and he trusted the Hon. Gentleman would leave the affair in the hands of the Government. Mr. GLADSTONE would be brief in his remarks, although the matter was important and concerned the character of the House. The ground adopted now by the Government was different from that they had before taken. Then the complaint was, that the Commission had been instituted at a great expense, and that it had been held out that duties were to be provided for it by Act of Parliament, but which duties were never created at all. The Government had not, however, met the motion of the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire with a direct negative, but as a question of time, advising the House to wait for a report, when they would be in a position to come to a decision. The Railway Commissioners had reported, and to what effect? Not in favour of itnpo sing these new duties upon them. The whole idea upon which the Railway Commission had been founded had utterly vanished into thin air; and it was evident no notion was entertained of imposing upon the Commis sion those duties which had been intended to be per formed when it was constituted, and without which no one would have dreamed of appointing it at all. The House was invited to leave the matter in the hands of the Government, and a careful consideration was promised; but that was not the way the Members of Parliament could look their constituents in the face, at a time when the vast expenses of the country and the ne cessity of retrenchment wore talked about.—(Hear, hear.) Some pledge should be given of a clear intention to take up the subject effectually. The Railway Commissioners in their report had evidently, for all practical purposes, abandoned the notion of their acquiring those extensive duties for the performance of which they had been really appointed. Upon the resignation of Mr. Strutt, it was evident that there was no longer an intention on the part of the Government to commit those duties ,to the Commission, for Mr. Strutt himself had said that he would not hold office without those functions, and his abandonment of office marked to the House that .the Government had no purpose of proposing to Parliament a measure on a comprehensive basis. How then was business to occupy the attention of the Railway Commis , sion, but he contended that this was not the time for introducing such a measure as the Bill of the Hon. Mem ber for Dorsetsbire. It would not have escaped the recollection of the House that the Committee on the miscellaneous estimates had considered the expenses of the Railway Commission; had agreed to certain resolu tions regarding them, and not many days since they had presented a report to the House on the subject; still they had not yet before them the evidence either of Mr. Strutt or Sir F. Smith; and he thought that they ought not to decid e so important a question as the pre sent till they were in possession of the information which that evidence contained. • Lord J. RUSSELL said that, before the House divided, he wished to state how far he agreed with the Honourable Member for Dorsetshire, by whom the present motion was made; and how far he agreed with the Right Honourable Gentleman the Mem ber for the University of Oxford. He quite agreed that the Itailvtay Board had more persons belonging to it with high salaries than was necessary for the business to be performed; and unless some ar rangement could be adopted, by which other duties might be assigned to them, he thought that a great alteration must take place before the next session of Parliament—an alteration, probably, by which that board would be much reduced in numbers. But he did not agree with the Hon. Gentleman opposite in think ing that the salaries of those who might be retained ought to be reduced; he did not agree with him that low salaries would ensure a good deportment, and he was quite surprised to hear such a sentiment maintained. It the Hon. Member did not wish for a useful and efficient supervision, let him say so; that would be intelligible; and then let him propose that the whole motion be left in the hands of the House of Commons. That, at all events, would be a better plan than to have a depart ment upon low salaries. The worst possible way would be to have a numerous board with inferior salaries, for that would be °Gring to the members of the Board a temptation to leave the public service for other employ ment. There was a case which came under the notice of the Government, in which the engineer quitted the public service and went into that of a private company. The case to which he alluded was Mr. Codrington's. Then there was Mr. Laing, who put on his barrister's gown, and found that he did better by following his profession than by remaining in the public service. Such examples as these caused it often to be said that it was very bad economy to pay a judge less than a leading barrister could obtain in his profession, for such a practice led to the advancement of inferior lawyers to the bench. If they were to have a railway board at all, it would be better to have it at an expense of 3,0001. or 4,0001. a year, and get the business of the department performed by men of station, who would be not likely to quit public for private service. Having thus shortly stated his opinion of the Bill, he should content himself with repeating that it would be better to have no board than a numerous department in sufficieritly paid. Mr. BANKS, in explanation, said that what he pro posed to do was to repeal all the existing Acts, and then leave the Noble Lord to bring in whatever Bill he thought proper. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion Against it The SPEAKER resumed the Chair at a Quarter pas Five o'clock. LEGAL EDUCATION. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON asked the Attorney-General whether steps have been taken by her Majesty's Go vernment, or by the Inns of Court, or the King's Inn, Dublin, to give effect to any of the recommendations with respect to the improvement of legal education contained in the report of the Select Committee on that subject, presented 25th of August, 1846. Also, whether it is intended to introduce any measure by which Irish barristers may be authorised to practise in courts in England, and English barristers in courts in Ireland, in which they are now by law competent to preside, or by which a reciprocity of practice in the profession in both countries may be established. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that it was not the intention of the Government to introduce any measure on the subject, and that it was not a matter which came within the province of the Government. THE WEST INDIES. Mr. HUME gave notice that he should to-morrow ask the Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of the Colonies whether any dispatches relating to the condition of the West India Islands, and the number of labourers brought from Africa in the course of the year, had been received by the packet which had arrived to-day. TURNPIKE TRUSTS. Majority— —ll INTERFERENCE WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Mr. URQUHART, pursuant to notice, moved " That in the opinion of this House, interference in the internal government of other countries is detrimental to the inte rests, and derogatory to the honour of this country, as well as to the interests and honour of the countries in behalf of which such interventi o n is assumed to be exer cised. That this practice of intervention has led to or excused the increase of the military and naval establish ments, and thereby of the public expenditure, to the great oppression of her Majesty's subjects, and par ticularly of • the class which depends on daily labour for daily food." He contended that the Go vernment of this country ought to be very cautious how they involved us in war, considering that we laboured under the great disadvantage of possessing but very insufficient means for carrying on hostilities. It was also not to be forgotten that at the present moment the House of Commons was almost overwhelinned with busi ness, and that business was now going on increasing with an accelerated pace. The law and practice of Eng• land was against any interference with the domestic affairs of our neighbours, and, in his opinion, we ought never to interfere with any questions, either of dynasty or of constitution. He wished that an opportunity might be afforded to the Noble Lord opposite to give the House an explanation of the policy which he intended to pursue, which he hoped would bo not altogether unin fluenced by the experience that he must have had of the evils of intervention, at the same time that he might, on the present occasion, be anticipated by a " count out." Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and, as forty Members were not present, the House stands ad journed to to-morrow (this day). The adjournment took place at a Quarter before Eight o'clock. Mr. COLVILE inquired whether it was the inten ..on of the Right Honourable Baronet to bring in a Bill in the ensuing session relating to turnpike trusts; and if not, whether he would have any objection to introduce any clause in the general Turnpike Act to re lieve particular districts, one of which he mentioned, from the stringent operations of the Act? Sir G. GREY had intended to introduce a measure in the present session, but the vast amount of other and more urgent business had prevented him from doing so. He should be sorry to give a decided opinion with re spect to any particular district; but, at the same time, he should be extremely happy to consider any parti cular case that might be laid before him. THE KAFIR WAR. Mr. V. SMITH asked the Hen. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether there had been re ceived, and if so, whether he was prepared to lay upon the table, any report from the Cape of Good Hope re lative to the expenses of the Kafir war; and also whe ther there had been received a report on the general state of the Cape of Good Hope, said to have been pre pared by Sir Henry Pottinger, the late Governor, prior to his proceeding to the seat of his Government at Madras? Mr. HAWES said, in reply to the first part of the question, he hoped to be able to lay the report on the table in a very short time. With regard to the second question, he had not received any such report as that stated. THE " COUNT OUT" LAST NIGHT. The following Members were present when the House was counted out last night, 10 of the 29 present being members of the Government:— Russell, Lord J. Frewen, C. H. Baines, M. Shell, R. L. Palmerston , Lord Galway, Lord Hill, Lord Marcus Herbert, Henry Smith, J. B. Humphery, Alderman Baring, Sir F. T. Stuart, Lord D. Denison, J. E. Cowper, Hon. W. Thompson, Colonel Keogh, William Milnes, R. M. Bellew, R. M. Somerville, Sir W. Romilly, Sir.J. Rich, Henry Dunne, Colonel Brotherton, J. Grey, R. W. Lewis, George C. Hume, J. Hudson, George Urquhart, D. Plowden, .W. 11. C. THE RAILWAY COMMISSION. Mr. BANKES then rose to ask for leave to intro duce a Bill to abolish the Railway Commission Act. One of the Ministers had stated that the House of Com mons was entirely to blame for all the extravagance into which the Government had been driven. It this were so, the time surely had arrived when it was in cumbent upon the House of Commons to redeem its character in this respect ; if so, the House of Commons should exercise a greater degree of vigilance than it had hitherto done. Lie did not admit the charge on the broad ground on which it had been made. The Go vernment were responsible for adopting the sug gestions that were made to them. It was gene rally admitted that the railway board had not given satisfaction to the public and railway companies. It was necessary that he should direct the attention of the House to the manner in which Government had ex ercised its authority in reference to raihVays. The power was first given to them in 1839, and the Act giving the power remained in force down to 1844, when it was repealed, and another Act passed establishing a railway department of the Board of Trade. From 1839 to 1844 the cost to the country of Government interference in railway matters was only 1,3701. ; from 1844 to 1846 it was 3,3601. In August, 1846, an Act was smuggled through Parliament almost without discussion creating the Railway Commission, and it appeared that the ex pense of that Commission from the period of its first existence amounted to no less a sum than 17,0001. He had stated, when he had before brought the subject before the House, that this charge of 17,000!. was for a year and a quarter; but he had been corrected by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that it was for a year and five months. Now, he found that the Right Hon. Gentleman was in error, as the commissioners had not entered into office until the 9th of November, so that it was, in fact, for a year and two months that the charge was made. The Act passed on the 28th of August, and the commissioners stated in their report that they entered upon the duties of' their office on the 9th of November, 1846. The charge for the Railwa y Commission for the present year was 13,5221. The Noble Lord had said, as he understood him, that it was not his intention to fill up the office of Chief Railway Commissioner now, but he had not engaged not to do so at some future time. Lard J. RISSELL had said that he should not fill up the office, and that he should not ask for any salary on account of the office. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE TUESDAY, JULY 4. The following Bills are ordered to be read a third time on Thursday, July 6:— Leith Municipality and Police Trusts, Markets, Paving, and Sanitary Improvement. Monkland and Kirkintilloch, Ballochney and Slamaanan Railways (Amalgamation or Sale or Lease, and Amendment or Repeal of Acts). Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midlands Junction Railway Deviation and Branches. Royston and Kitchen Railway (Extension to Cambridge and Branches). NARRow EscAPE.—Shortly after two o'clock yesterday afternoon, the Lalla Rookh , Putne y steam boat, was alongside Blackfriars pier taking in passengers at which time the Waterman No. 9 also arrived. In en deavouring to reach the pier the latter ran against the former vessel, slightly causing her to lurch, when a re spectably-dressed man, about 60 years of age, who was leaning against the hand-rail at the head of the Putney steamer, was, by the jerk, instantly precipitated into the water. The tide running towards Westminster he floated with the stream till he was opposite the gas-works on the western side of Blackfriars-bridge, when he was picked up by a wherry, which had put off to his assist ance, apparently having received no other injury than the ducking, as he was able to walk home. THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM AND HIS CREDITORS. —On Monday last a case was to have been heard in one of the courts of law in London between the claimants to the personal property of his Grace the Duke of Buck ingham at Stowe. The dispute was between the mort gagees of the property and certain execution creditors, for whom the property was held by the late sheriff of this county. Several witnesses from Aylesbury and the neighbourhood were subpasnaed, but their attendance was not required, in consequence of the execution creditors withdrawing their claim. It is announced that all the valuable effects at Stowe will be advertised for sale forthwith.—Bucks Advertiser. The Monkey steam-vessel proceeded to Chatham on Saturday with Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer, K.C.H., and returned in the evening. Mr. BANKES resumed—He had brought the matter before the House six weeks ago, and his motion had been defeated, but only by a small majority. The amount, it was true, was not large, but the question was valuable as one of economy. It had been said that the session was nearly over, and that the House had done nothing. But as far as it had been in the power of that side of the House, they had impressed upon the Government the THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY _EVENING-, JULY 5, 1848 PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUESDAY, JULY 4. RAILWAY COMMISSION. Motion made, and Question put, " That leave be given to bring in a Bill to repeal the Railway Commission Act." The House divided:— MINORITY—AYES, 62. Anstey, Thomas C. Ellice, Edward Meux, Sir Henry Baillie, H. J. Fitzgerald, R. A. Mullings, J. R. Beckett, W. Forbes, William Neeld, Joseph Bentinck, Lord G. Galway, Viscount Newdegate, N. Beresford, William Gaskell, J. M. Plowden, W. H. Berkeley, Captain Gladstone, W. E. Pugh. David Blackstone, W. S. Glyn, George Carr Sandars, George Boldero, Henry Greene, John Sibthorp, Colonel Buck, L. W. Hall, Colonel Sidney, Alderman Buller, Sir J. Y. Heald, James Smyth, John G. Cardwell, Edward Henley, J. W. Stafford, Augustus Chaplin,,W. J. Herbert, Sidney Stephenson, Robert Christy, Samuel Hervey, Lord A. Tyrrell, Sir J. Clive, Henry B. Ilildyard, T. B. Urquhart, David Cobbold, John C. Hodgson, W. N. Vyse, H. Colvile, C. R. Hudson, George ' Waddinzton, David Compton, H. C. Humphery, Ald. Westhead, J. P. Disraeli, B. Ingestre, Viscount Williams, John Duncan, Viscount Keogh, William Duncombe, 0. Lincoln, Earl of Duacult, John Locke, Joseph Edwards,.Henry Mackenzie, W. F. TELLERS. Bankes, G. Spooner, Richard MAJORITY-NOES, 73. Abdy,:T. N. Forster, M. Pechell, Captain Anson, Colonel Grey, Sir George Rice, E. R. Baines, M. T. Grey, It. W. Rich, Henry Baring, Sir F. T. Hawes, Benjamin Robartes, T. J. Bellew, It. M. Heneage, Edward Russell, Lord John Berkeley, Captain Henry, Alexander Russell, F. C. H. Boyle, Colonel Herbert, 11. A. Rutherfurd, A. Brotherton, J. Heywood, James Shelburne, Earl of Buller, Charles Hobhouse, T. B. Slaney, Robert A. Butler. P. S.: Jervis, Sir John Smith, R. V. Caulfield, Colonel Labouchere, Henry Smith, J. Benjamin Clay, James Lascelles, W. S. Somerville. Sir W. Clements, Charles Lewis, G. C. Stanstield, W. R. C. Court•nay, Lord Marshall, J. G. Tenison, E. K. Cowper, W. F. Martin, John Thompson, Colonel Craig, W. G. Maule, Fox Townshend, Captain Davie, Sir Henry Morpeth, Viscount Ward, R. G. Deedes, W. Morison, Sir W. Watkins, Colonel Denison, J. E. Morris, David Wilson, James" Dundas, Admiral Mostyu, E. Wood, Sir Charles Ebrington, Viscount Mulgrave, Earl Wyvill, Marmadtike Elliot, J. E. Ogle, S. C. Evans, William Ord, W. TELLERS. Fagan, William Paget, Lord Clarence Tufnell, Henry Ferguson, Sir R. Parker, John Hill, Lord Marcus Fitzpatrick, J. W. Patten, J. W. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, July 4. (Trial at bar, before the full Court and a Special Jury. ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. HALLETT. This was a trial at bar to try the right of the defend ant to enclose an estate near to Epping Forest. It ap peared from the evidence that a few years ago the defendant bought a freehold estate of 73 acres of arable and woodland, on the borders of Waltham Forest, and subsequently he enclosed the wood portion of the estate. The Woods and Forests, however, interfered to prevent the enclosure being completed, resting their right to do so on the ground that the wood was a portion of Walt ham Forest, but the defendant disputed the title of the Crown, and the present trial was had for the pur pose of deciding the question. The evidence adduced proved beyond all doubt that the land formed part of the forest up to the time of the defendant taking possession, and he therefore consented to allow a verdict to be entered for the Crown. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD' COURT. (Before the RECORDRR.) Charles Sully, an old man, surrendered to answer a charge of unlawfully publishing a libel. Mr. Ballantine prosecuted ; Mr. Parry appeared for the defendant. The LEARNED COUNSEL, in opening the case, said, the prosecutor of this indictment was a gentleman named Clutf, who resided in Spital-square, where he carried on an extensive establishment as a silk weaver, and was possessed of considerable property which he had amassed by his own industry and exertions. Some persons in the neighbourhood had, however, thought proper to cause a pamphlet to be published, reflecting upon the character of the prosecutor, and casting im putations upon him which it was impossible for him to pass over unnoticed. The Learned Counsel then read some extracts from the pamphlet in question, which was entitled, "A Tale of the Nineteenth Century: or Paddy Cluff, the Bane of Commerce and the Weaver's Curse;" and appeared principally to consist of a tirade of abuse, among other things, charging the prosecutor with hav ing formerly kept a " dolly " shop, and receiving stolen property of every description ; and alleging that this was the source of his present prosperity. Mr. Ballantine said, that the present defendant had merely published one of the pamphlets, and, taking into consideration his age, there was no desire to inflict punishment upon him; but the object of the present prosecution was to teach him and other persons similarly situated that they could not be the means of publishing defamatory statements of this description with impunity. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Mr. PARRY then applied for the costs of the defendant, and he said that by the Act of Parliament sth and 6th Victoria, defendants who were acquitted upon a charge of this description were entitled to their costs from the prosecutor. Mr. BALLANYINE said, that if he had been aware such a course would have been taken, he should have con ducted the case in a different manner. _ The RECORDER, upon referring to the statute, said, it appeared to him that the parties were in a similar posi tion with regard to costs as it the cause had been tried at Nisi Prius, the costs being allowed to those who obtained the verdict. He should have declined to make any order for costs even had it been in his power to do so; but he could not help expressing his opinion that it was rather an ungracious application on the part of the defendant for costs under the circumstances. NEW COURT. (Before the COMMON SERGEANT.) John Atkins, 28, barman, John Smith, 22, and Caroline Smith, 21, were indicted for unlawfully uttering coun terfeit coin. Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution; Mr. Robinson defended the two Smiths. It appeared that the prisoners, all of whom were very well dressed, drove up to the door of the Camden Arms, near Kensington turnpike, on the Cup day of Ascot Races, and called for some liquor, tendering in payment a bad half-crown, and receiving the change. The pri soners then, it appeared, drove lower down the road, and at another public-house, called the Marquis of Gran by, they succeeded in Passing a counterfeit crown-piece in the same manner. Thence they proceeded to the Red Cow at Hammersmith, and to the Crown at Chiswick, at which latter house Atkins attempted to pass a counterfeit crown-piece, but the fraud was dis covered, and he then stated that he had received the bad coin from a toll-taker on the road. He was de tained, and the other prisoners were allowed t o d e part ; but upon the police receiving information of their conduct along the road they were pursued and taken into custody - at Bedfont, when they told the same story as the other prisoner, Atkins, and asserted that they had received the counterfeit coin at the different toll houses as they passed along. 17s. in good silver were found in their possession. Mr. Powell, the Inspector to the Mint, proved that the whole of the pieces passed by the prisoners were counterfeit, and he said that the crown pieces were of a very superior description, and were all from the same mould. The jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to be kept to hard labour for nine months. William Shells, 50, was indicted for feloniously. stealing a number of bank-notes and sovereigns, amounting alto gether to the sum of 2531., the moneys of Samuel Charles Whitbread and others. The prisoner pleaded Guilty. The CommoN-Sen.rEaNT sentenced the prisoner, who had been before convicted of felony, to be transported for ten years. Sarah Poole, 28, was then charged with feloniously receiving part of the money stolen by the last prisoner; but as Mr. BODKIN declined to offer any evidence in support of the charge, The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The grand jury returned a true bill against George John Heteson, for the murder of William Henry Wood house, in Coldbath-fields Prison. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Charles Samuel Whitbread Eicke, a clerk in the Money-order-office, at St. Martin's-le-Grand, was sum moned before Alderman Salomons, for unlawfully de facing a half-sovereign. A clerk from the office of Mr. Peacock, the solicitor to the Post-office, attended to watch the proceedings. Thomas Walsh, a brass-finisher, living in Halfmoon passage, Aldersgate-street, stated that, about ten o'clock on Friday morning last he tendered one sovereign and one half-sovereign, to be forwarded to Margate. The defendant took the money, and, after putting it into the scales, said it was full weight, but that it was lead, and he then handed it to some other clerks for their inspec tion. They returned it to Mr. Eicke, who at once took up a ruler and bent it nearly double, after which he returned it to witness. He told Mr. Eicke not to deface it, as he would not be able to pass it elsewhere, but he persisted in doing so. When the half-sove reign was returned to him he immediately went to two places, and after its being filed twice and weighed the parties declared that it was good gold, and very little short of the proper weight, as after the two filings it was only 3d. deficient in value. He thereupon went back to the office, but they would give him no remedy, in con sequence of which he summoned the defendant to this Court. _ _ _ Alderman SALOMONS asked Mr. Peacock's clerk if he had any questions to ask the witness. The clerk replied that he had not, as the chief point was whether the half sovereign was full weight when presented. He did not deny now that it was gold. Joseph Wagstaff deposed to seeing the defendant double the halt-sovereign with the ruler. John Sargeaut proved that he saw it weighed at Mr. Scales, in Barbican, and that it was then rather light. He went back with the complainant to ascertain the name of the clerk, but it was refused. Mr. Peacock's clerk said that it was a general order at the Post-office to give no names. Alderman SALOMONS asked the clerk what was his defence ? _ _ _ The clerk replied that he intended to call a witness to prove that it was light when tendered. Richard Jude, also a clerk in the same office, said, that on the defendant giving the half-sovereig❑ to him for the purpose of examination, he came to the conclu sion that it was not good, as the sound was bad, and it did not look well. He placed it in the scale and found it was light. It was very soft, and by pressing it be tween the thumb and finger it might have easily been bent, AliflllllPll S4l:OlfON9 nsked the ritnm if it Wag the practice at his office to deface coins that were presented? —He replied it was when bad money w,;.s tendered. The clerk from Mr. Peacock's office said, that under the Act of Parliament 2d William IV., clause 13, any person was empowered to cut, br,ak, or deface any coin that shall appear to have been diminished otherwise than by reasonable wearing, and that the person tendering :he same shall be at the loss. Alderman SALOMONS observed, that the act also fur ther stated, "that if the same was of due weight and appeared to be lawful coin, then the party so cutting or defacing the same is required to receive the same at the rate it was coined for, and in case of dispute it . was competent for the 'parties to go before any justice of the peace, who was empowered to settle the affair. Robert Tyrrel, a constable at the Money Order-office, deposed to the complainant returning a sec,nd time to the office, when he saw it placed in the defendant's scales, and he observed it was considerably lighter. He told the complainant that if money was light it was the cus tom to deface it, and that if he had gone to the Bank of England they would have done the same, and he could have obtained no redress. Alderman SALOMONS thought it a hard case, and ordered a pair of scales to be brought ; and on the coin in dispute being weighed it scarcely turned the balance. The defendant himself weighed it. Alderman SALOMONS said, that he much doubted the power of the Yost-office to deface the coin of the realm; but in the present instance he must state that there was a little sharp practice in the office, particularly when, even after the filings had taken place, the deficiency was so slight that it would barely turn the beam. He had, therefore, come to the conclusion that it was of due weight when presented by the complainant. The clerk was wrong, and he hoped that he would take his advice and give a full-weighted half-,sovereign in exchange for the one produced. The defendant, after speaking to Mr. Peacock's clerk, at once consented to give Mr. Walsh another, and to pay the costs; after which all the parties left the Court. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. William Cameron, coachman to Sir If. W. Barron, was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with having as saulted police-constable Stride, 83, while in the execu tion of his duty. The constable said he was on duty at No. 12, Lower Grosvenor-street, where there was a party, and his busi ness was to keep order and seo that the carriages con formed to the rules which had been laid down by the proper authorities. Tho defendant was called and he drove up to the door, but word was passed out that his master was not ready. The defendant kept his place and would not make way for other carriages, and when told to go on by witness he replied he would see him d—d, and then began flogging him with his whip. Thomas Mould confirmed this statement, and said while assisting to take the prisoner into custody he was struck a violent blow on the mouth. Mr. BINGHAM would not inflict a fine, but sent the defendant to prison for 14 days. MAR YLEBOPrE. William Davidson, a man who has been repeatedly convicted for assaults upon policemen and other persons, was placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged with having committed a most brutal and savage out rage upon police-constable Clouting, 166 D, who, in consequence of the injury inflicted upon him, has ever since the occurrence, which took place upwards of a week ago, been incapable of doing duty. It appeared that on the 27th ult, the prisoner was fighting in Salisbury-street, Portman-market, and that on his being taken into custody, owing to his noisy behaviour and refusing to go away, he struck the officer a tremendous blow with his fist, and nearly strangled him by thrusting his right hand between his (the offi cer's) stock and his throat; in addition to which, he kicked him with all his force in the lower part of the stomach. The ruffianly fellow was at length secured, principally through the assistance of Mr. Alderson, landlord of the Royal Champion, and, atter much re sistance, he was conveyed to the station-house. He was fined in the full penalty of 5/, ; in default of payment, two months' imprisonment. WORSHIP-STREET. Yesterday Samuel Watchman, alias Captain Watch man, an elderly man of about 60 years of age, was placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, charged with ob. taiuing various sums of money by means of false and fraudulent representations. The prisoner had been several times remanded, and at the former examinations three charges were gone into against him—the first preferred by a coffeehouse keeper in Bishopagate, and the others by victuallers at Whitechapel, from each of whom he had obtained money upon the representation that he would shortly be in possession of a third share of an estate worth $75,0001., placed in the hands of four town bankers, whose names ha gave, but where, upon making inquiries since he has been in custody, it has been ascertained that his statement was an entire fabrication. It is ne cessary, also, to mention that at the house of each of the persons he had so duped he was accompanied by a well dressed and very good-looking young-woman, whom he passed off to all persons who had communication with him as his wife. Mr. James Balls, a tailor, of Ipswich, now presented himself, and complained that he had been imposed upon by the prisoner in a manner which was marked by pe culiar treachery and turpitude. This witness stated that the prisoner was introduced to him about a twelve month ago as a Captain Watchman, and told him that he was shortly to come into the enormous fortune he had described to the prosecutors in the other cases, but that he was then unfortunately involved in some embarrass ment. His manners were so plausible and frank that he was induced, without hesitation, to receive him into his house, where he was treated with great hospitality and kindness until a short time since, when he abruptly started for London. with the avowed intention of taking possession of his property. During the time of his stay with him, numerous letters relating to the money, and signed " Ulysses Walker," arrived at the house for the prisoner, who explained to him that the reversionary interest in the estate had originally devolved upon his correspondent Ulysses Walker, his sister Pene lope, and her brother Zenophon Walker, but that but that the latter had recently died, and they had there fore determined to invest him with the share which had elapsed, as a recompense for important services he had rendered the family, and both of them would post pone their intended marriages until the division of pro perty could be effected. Soon after the prisoner reached London he transmitted him a letter, in which he ex pressed his intention to appoint the witness his steward, and followed this up by several others, strongly urging him to send his wife up to town, as he; was anxious to introduce her to Miss Penelope Walker, who was in immediate want of a companion, and that when the witness found it convenient to join her they should both be handsomely provided for as hang as they lived. These r repeated solicitations so convinced him of t he p risoner sincerity, that he sent his wife up to London, under the care of a female friend and her father, to meet the pri soner; but he was afterwards much surprised at finding that no notice whatever was taken by her of any of his letters, and he remained in most painful suspense as to her safety, until, happening to take up a newspaper, he was thunderstruck at seeing art account of the prisoner's examination, in which it was conclusively shown that hi s wife had fallen a victim to the prisoner's artifices, and had been some time living under his protection. The witness added, that as soon as the dreadful fact reached him, he hurried up to town and had an interview with his wife, from whom he learned that none of his letters had ever reached her, and must have been intercepted by the prisoner to promote his infamous designs upon her; and the mental suffering to which he had thus been subjected, in addition to the pecuniary losses he had sustained through the prisoner's rascality had had such an effect upon him that he had been compelled to abandon his business, and give up everything, and was now reduced to both want and wretchedness. Inspector Scott produced a letter he had received that morning from Mr. Hutchinson, au overseer at Ipswich, which stated that, so far from the prisoner being con nected with any such wealthy persons as he had repre sented, he had occupied a house rated at Si. per annum there, for which he had been twice excused payment of his rates on the ground of poverty, and that he was a married man, with a wife and three children. The prisoner still persisted in the truth of his assers lions, and, as he had done at each previous examination, asked the magistrate to indulge him with another week's remand to establish them; but Mr. Hamm'. said he had had opportunity enough to do so already, if they had any existence in reality, and he should therefore at once order the depositions to be taken, and commit him fur trial upon three of the charges gone into. The ;prisoner then asked to be allowed to find bail, which was granted, but, as before, he was unable to pro cure it, and in default was carried off in the van. James Johnson, a Swede, Charles Jarvis, and John Andrew Marion, were brought before Mr. Ballautine, on remand, charged with stealing 180 dollars, the monies of Johann Hurting, a German farmer. Mr. BALLANTINE would leave a jury to say whether one or all of the prisoners were guilty or innocent. and should therefore commit them to the Maidstone assizes for trial. Mr. Pelham hoped bail would be taken for Mr. Jarvis. There were gentlemen present who would enter into sureties to any amount. Mr. Humphreys made a similar application for Marion. Mr. BALLANTINE would consider of the proposition to bail the prisoners Jarvis and Marion, and give his de cision to-morrow (this day), but he should not take bail for Johnson. He ordered the depositions to be taken, and committed the prisoners. • [Alsv EnTisEmENT •] —A WONDERFUL CURE OF AN ERUPTION IN THE FACE BY HOLLOWAY'S OINT MENT. - The editor of the Guernsey' Sun, publishes in his paper, of the 20th of February, a most extraordinary cure which he wit nessed by the use of Holloway's Ointment, in the ease of a child whose face was entirely covered with scabs. By his recommendation, the parents of the child tried this invaluable remedy, and in the space of one week, to the astonishment of every one, the face was perfectly healed. This ointment is peculiarly adapted for the cure of burns, scalds, scurvy, and every variety of skin disease. Also for old wounds and scrofula, cancers, bad breasts, and sore legs. Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, No. 244, Strand, London. TnE N EW HOUSES OF VARLIAMENT.-011 Monday the last portion of the old House of Commons called the Speaker's house, the adjoining committee rooms, and those forming the centre of the cloisters were being re moved. The entrance•hall to the new House of Com mons and the western window to Westminster-hall have attained their elevation, and are rapidly approaching completion. The new House of Commons, it is now stated, will positively be ready for Members next session. Orders have been issued for the removal forthwith of all. the temporary erections at the east entrance to West naittster-ho,ll. NAVAL INTELLIGENCa PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Medusa steam packet, Lieutenant-Commander J. O. Bathurst, was inspected and her crew mustered by Captain Charles Eden, the Flag. Captain, fur the Commander in-Chief, this morn ing, after which she was paid advance, and went out of harbour to Spithead. She sails this evening for Malta. The Merlin steam-packet, Lieutenant• Commander Turner, was hauled into the stream to have her com passes adjusted this morning. She will sail to-morrow, if possible, for Lisbon. The Helena, 16, Commander Smith, bent sails this morning. The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain Hall, was taken into the basin to-day to refit. Wind, W.S.W., strong breezes and thick hazy weather. WOOLWICH, JULY 3..--The Lords of the Admiralty, with a party of their friends, went down the river from London to Blaekwall on Saturday in the Dryad, Wool wich Company's steam-packet, and from Blackwall to Gravesend in the Black Eagle, Admiralty yacht, and by railway to Chatham, to witness the launch of the Mars, 80 guns, at that port. The band of ' the Woolwich division of Royal Marines were on board the Black Eagle, and she proceeded rt,und to Chatham, to embark their Lordships, and returned to Blackwall at eight o'clock P.M. _ _ _ „ The Reynard steam-vessel, fitted with a screw-pro peller, was tried down the river on Saturday to ascertain the working order of her engines, and will be tried again next week. The trial on Saturday afforded no fair op portunity of testing her speed, and she went onwards as far as Sheerness, returning in the afternoon. The Conflict steam sloop, 400-hone power, went down the river on Saturday on a preliminary trial. The Onyx, the Firebrand, and the Reynard steam. vessels hare been taken into the basin to be made ready for service, and the Dover steam-vessel was taken into dock on Saturday. The Rifleman steam-vessel left Woolwich on Saturday for Portsmouth, to serve as a tender to the Powerful, 84 guns. The Myrmidon steam-vessel is under orders to leave Woolwich for Sheerness immediately on her guns and carriages being put on board, to serve as a tender to the Ganges, 84 guns, at that port. The Atholl troop-ship. Master Commander Pearn, was paid wages in advance to-day, and will leave Wool wich on the 4th, with two companies of the Royal Artil lery for Quebec. PLYMOUTH, JULY 2.—Her Majesty's brig Ranger, with mails for the coast 01 Africa, goes to sea to morrow. The merchant barque Cecilia, Captain Pearce, from Port Phillip, February 15, with wool for London, landed mails here on Friday, and proceeded up channel. Wind N.W. by W.. stiff breeze, with occasional showers. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, JULY 4. STOCK EXCHANGE. —The market was better, with prices still rising. The sales are—Great Western Quarters, I% dis.—Ditto, Fifth Shares, par—Ditto, New, l dis.— London and North-Western, New Quarters, 1 p.—South- Eastern and Dover, 24. LIVERPOOL, JULY 4. STOCK EXCHANOE.—The share market to-day has been rather depresssed.—Little business has been done, and prices are only nominal. The sales are— Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 2/. 18s. 9d. dis.—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction (late C. and B), 221. Shares, 7% dis.— Lancashire and Yorkshire (late M. and B. ), Fifths, 1 dis. —Ditto, 10/. Preference, 6 per cent., A p.—Ditto, Preston. and Wyre, No. 1, 34 1 4 —Ditto, Preference, 5 per cent., and div., No. 2, 55 1 / 2 —Lancaster and Carlisle, 51—London and. North-Western, New Quarters, 34 p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, one-Eighth Shares, SIA dis.—Ditto, 10/. Preference, 10 1 / B —Midland Stock, 102 1 / ', c.—Ditto, New Halves, 6 a die. ex int.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 91. 12s. 3d. Shares ( B), 3 1 4 dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 1, 9 dis.—Ditto, No. 2, 10/ dis.—Ditto, No. 4, Thirds, 27i 4 c. dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, G. N. E. Pur chase, p. MANCHESTER, JULY 4. STOCK. EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 311. Shares, 7 1 4 dis.—East Lancashire, Preference, 1 / 8 p.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, l g ;dis.—Ditto, Preference, 5-16 p.—London and North-Western; New, 74 p.—Ditto, M. and B. Quarters (A and B), I'l4 p.—Ditto, Quarters (C), 2 11-16 p.— Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 101,6 —North Staffordshire, 2 7-16 dis. —South- Eastern and Dover, No. 4, Thirds, 2 13.16 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Preference, 1% p. . . BIRMINGHAM, JULY 4. STOCK ExcHANGE.—The sales are—No:th 'Staffordshire, 48s. 9d. dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 61s. 3d.—Soutli Staffordshire, 63r. 9d. dis. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, JULY 4. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The only sale was—North British!, Thirds, 11. 18s. 6d. ths. THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Yesterday the works on this lino, between the proposed terminus at King's-cross and Copenhagen-fields, and between Bar. net and Finchley, were resumed, having been disconti nued during the momentary panic of 1847. A consider able portion of the works between Peterborough and London is executed, the heavy parts, that if altogether suspended, would have materially retarded the opening of the through line having been carried on. The lino from Gainsborough by Lincoln, Boston, and. Peterbo rough, together with the East Lincolnshire line front Boston to Grimsby, and between Doncaster and this West Riding of Yorkshire, are nearly complete, and are expected to open for public traffic during the present month. A great many of the poor navvies (1,200 in number) who were suddenly thrown out by the water breaking into excavations for the Sunderland docks aro now finding emplOyment on this line. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM. Yesterday afternoon the half-yearly meeting of the supporters of this institution was held in the Bridge-house Hotel, Mr. Rowan in the chair, to receive the report of the commit tee of management on the society's affairs. Tb e secre tary read the report, from which it appeared the st 1,800/. had been collected at the last dinner; that the funded property figured 6,6001., exclusive of 2,000/. lodged with two brewers at five per cent. It further appeared that there were three vacancies in the asylum which would be immediately filled up, and that a fancy fair would be soon held in aid of the asylum. The report was adopted. thanks were voted to the officers of the past year, and the vacancies in the committee for the ensuing year were filled up. After which, and a vote of than.lks to the chairman, the meeting broke up. OXFORD COMMEMORATION.—On Monday -the pro.- cession of racing boats took place. As the variorus crews passed the boat at the head of the river (Christ Church). they saluted it by tossing their oars and cheering , which was responded to by the spectators on each sidle of the river. There was an immense number of persons pre. sent, but the unpropitious state of the weathe r was a great drawback. This day the Bishop of Hereford (Dr. Hampden) preaches the annual sermon in beha If of the infirmary. In the afternoon the oratorio The Creation" will be perforru,d in the theatre. A ball at St. John's College will take place in the everting. IG was agreed by the hebdomadal board to propose , that the honorary degree of D.C.L. be conferred on the f Mowing individuals :—Earl of Harrowby, Baron Hugel, Sir O. Arthur, Bart., W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Sir C. G. Morgan , Bart., J. Masterman, Esq., M.P., A. J. B. Ho,pe, Esq.* M.P. H. Hallam, Esq., the historian, W. Cotton, ESql A. H. Layard, Esq. JOHN MITCHEL.—The authorities of the• " still" vexed Bermoothes" are likely to have some tr ouble keeping this gentleman under bolt and bar, if th e follow ing statement contained in au extract from a New Yofic paper (the Sun), is to be relied on as based on :anything more substantial than Yankee imagination:—" A depe ; tation of the patient's friends in this and other cities of the United States, numbering about two tho usand, ig organising, we learn, with the intention of cb artering, three or four long, low, black rakish looking vessels , provided and munitioned in case of accident, a ad paying him a visit, as it is thought that the air of the main land may be better for him than that of Bermuda, especially as his lodgings there are very close and confined. The trip of the deputation, which is to be called a turtle hunt,' promises rare sport, as the party jute, ad taking all kinds of hooks, spears, and fowling-pieces, Ito be pre" pared for any game that turns up. It is hoped that Mr' Mitchel will be of good cheer, until his medical friends from the United States arrive, and that they 1./ill tneeV with no accident or delay on their errand. The dep' tation, to avoid all display, will hoist no flag, and no Government passports. John Bull, no doubt, Wil l be on the lookout for these long, low, black -looking schooners. " BIRTHS. On the Ist inst., at Gale House, Littleborough, e lady Q i J. Molesworth, Esq., of a son. On the Ist inst., Mrs. J. Gutteres, of a daughter.. On the Ist inst., at Camden-villas, Peckham, Sri rrey, t" wife of W. L. Mullens, of a son. On the Ist inst., at Bayswater, Mrs. C. Furlonger r of a W l° On the 2d inst., at Barnes, Mrs. M. Hornidge, of a son. On the 3d inst., at Slonner•street, the wife of Mr. x's Lutwyche, of a daughter. On the 30th ult., at Glocester-place, Portman-sq care, t" wife of T. Carfrae, Esq., of a sun. On the Ist list., at Upper Clapton, Mrs. F. Jan, son, of gi daughter. On the Ist inst., at Chester-terrace, Regent's-pa rk, W. Benett, of a daughter. On the Ist inst., at Woodford, Essex, the wife of Char man, jun., Esq., of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 28th ult., at St. Mary's, Paddington, tho Rev. '/(# Ambrose, rector of Frimley St. Martin, Suffolk, to Et izabetw only child of Captain Liveing, of Prospect-place, MA ida-1 10 ,1: On the 29th u lt., a t Mortl a k e Ch urc h, S urrey , tb .E: Rev. ; N. Irwin, Ellesm ere P o rt, Ch es hi re , t o E m il y M ar l s % Wariot: Alexander, yo unges t d aug ht er o f t h e l ate M a j or - I 3 en eral Alexander, Hon. East India Company's Service. On the 29th ult., at St. John's, Gateshead Fell , C" L Borries, jun., o f N ewcas tl e - upon -Ty ne , t o H ann a! S e welto youngest daughter of T. Wilson, Esq. DIED. On the 29th ult., at Smarmora Castle, county of Lout l4 Ireland, aged 30, Randal, eldest son of G. Taafe, I 3 sq. On the 30th ult., at Bath, Lady Lester, of High II all, Wig ° borne, Dorset. On the 30th ult., Mary, the relict of the late I :laptain Fox, R.N., of South-town, Dartmouth, aged 83. At Croydon, on the 2d inst., Martha, wife of . Esq., aged 50. On the 2d inst., at Aehdon, in the county of E ssex, Barber, Esq., agd 78. 5 1 ' • On the 30th ult., at Milman-street, J. Sone, Esq., aged to On the 30th ult., at Islington, John Bourdelain, I ".:sq., of the Commercial-chambers, Mincing-lane, aged 78 • o f On the . 30th ult., at Eaton-square, the infant dat tghter - , A. G. Robarts, Esq. a Co On the 30th ult., aged six months, the infant son t. f ~.. Legh, Esq., of High Legh, M P. Gil i i On the 29th ult., at Hastings, aged 97, Mrs;. Aan widow of W. Gill, Esq. __.." London: Printed and Published by MURDO S 'OUI 14 °,'0 . 4 No. 112, Strand, Printer, at tile Sun 011ie( 5, No. Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in till cou O tl Middlesex, Wednesday, July 5 ; 184 e. ti r, b i t) s 1' II I) gi b ti 11 4 A a