The Sun. — London, England, 1848-07-18 00:00:00

"gimmi•.t. ty is of IS gar ," peal, t ap form ppose, 'ships isley, urn of •nuck, Lester, rfieid iouth- Dor n and to St. EX nittes nal in for their production, in accordance with the additional price of the commodity from which it , was manufac tured. He did not admit these claims to increased pro tection on the ground of their adoption of the system of rectifying their spirits. That extra expense in England would not exceed 21d. per gallon; and further consideration convinced him that he was right in the rejection of these claims on that ground. In the same way he had resisted the claim of the raw grain distillers on amount of the alteration of the corn duty. With respect to the malt duty, they claimed be cause a certain quantity of malt was indispensably ne cessary to enable them to distil from raw grain ; the proportion was 1-11th of malt to 11-11ths of raw grain. T o that extent they were entitled to some allowance, in consideration of the duty paid on. the malt so indispen 'ably used. They claimed per gallon, but lid. per gallon was a little more than they were actually en titled to. The next claim rested on the decreases, for which they asked 31rl. per gallon; and this was the amount put by Mr. Daley in his evidence before the Select Committee—the same amount as was allowed on rums; but a Parliamentary paper to which that gentle man had referred showed that in Ireland the deficiency duty allowed on spirits warehoused in Ireland bad only been equal to one farthiug 15.100ths per gallon, while on that warehoused in Scotland the allowance was 56-100ths of a farthing per gallon. These figures dif fered in a very slight degree from the statement he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had made in 1847. That statement gave 33-100ths ot id. for Scotland, an for Ireland exactly the same—a farthing and 15-100th d sof a penny. With regard to England there was not the same means of drawing an accurate conclusion ; but it was evident that if an allowance per gallon were made equal to what he bad stated, it would 1:e an equivalent for the whole loss from decreases to which spirits were subject in the warehouse. He bad been very anxious to allow the duty to be levied on the spirits coming out of the warehouse instead of at the worm's end, as at pre sent ; but he was sorry to !say the risk to the revenue would be to such an amount that he should not now be justified in incurring it. As between the distiller and the revenue this alteration would incur the risk of losing 100,0001. of duty, which amount would be sacrificed by only levying the duty when the spirit came out of bond, instead of levying it at the worm's end. So far as protection against colonial spirits was c oncerned, if he gave the British distiller id. a gallon—the utmost they themselves asked—this would be more than an ample protection for any loss they might incur by paying the duty at the worm's end. Taking lkd. as an equivalent for the malt duty, and :id. as an equivalent for what they would gain by being allowed to pay duty on the spirit coming out of the warehouse—this.would be infinitely more advanta geous to them than an alteration in the mode of levying the duty ; for in that case there would clearly be no reason whatever for putting an additional duty on colo nial rum. Agin England spirits were not warehoused at all, as a large quantity of Scotch spirits, and about three-fourths , of the Irish, were sent into this country without being warehoused, it was quite clear that a greater benefit would be conferred on the home distiller by giving him this protection than by altering the mode of levying the duty. He now came to the last item, the excise restrictions. A most formidable list of those re strictions had been made out by the Noble Lord oppo site (Lord G. Bentinck) in his resolutions ; but, viewing them in the intelligible, business-like way of pounds, shillings,tand pence, they did not run up to an amount which need alarm the distiller.—(hear.) Various doeuments stated the cost of manufacturing British Spirits at shoat 2s. the gallon, before the duty was paid ; of this, ls. 6d. was the cost of the raw material, and 6d. the cost of the manufacture. He did not deny that the excise restrictions interfered with the manufacture to some extent, butit was to an extent much less than was commonly believed ; and, in some instances, that inter ference had not been without utility for the protection of the distiller himself. Be that as it might, the supposition that out of the cost of manufacture, 6d. the gallon, more than one-third, was due to excise restrictions, was a sup position that no one acquainted with the expenses of production would readily receive. But that calculation was not borne eat by the information before the House. Gentlemen in stating their own case always took the most favourable view of it ; and there were some remark able instances of this in the case of the distillers' claims. To estimate the decreases at 30. per gallon, when he had shown that they did not amount to id., was a pretty strong proof of the partial view which gentlemen took of their own case. Two years ago a statement was put into his hand in which the distillers themselves estimated the expenses of rectification at 6d.; but by their statement given before the Committee this year the estimate had dwindled down to 3d. Two or three years before, their estimates bad been 10d. then ed. Hence, he was warranted in saying that statements made for the purpose of making out a case were not made with all the accuracy that was desirable. He held 'in his hand a statement of a claim made on the Board of Excise for loss by decreases on four casks of spirits im - ported into this country fro m Leith, on the 27th March ast; and the amount claimed was id. and 53-000ths of a farthing per gallon. The Chairman of Excise was a little astonished at this, and was led to expect that the instance was rather a singular one. He accordingly took the quantities of decrease on certain other casks imported by the same parties (Messrs. Frisk, Browning, and Co.) about the same time; and he found that upon twenty casks of Scotch spirits imported from Leith on the 23d of March, four days before the other, the actual loss amounted to 19-100ths of a farthing per gallon; and upon twenty casks imported four days later, the 31st March, the loss, calculated in the same way, was . 43.100ths of a farthing—in both eases infinitely less than the average as estimated by the chairman of Ex cise. That estimate had been formed on 9,591 casks of . Scotch and Irish spirits imported into London from the 6th April, 1847, to the sth April, 1848, and amounted to Id. and 42-100ths per gallon-50.109ths less than the average formerly stated by the chaim man of the excise. He did not deny that the loss might bo as stated on the four casks imported on the 27th March, as there were particular circumstances connected with that importa tion; but it showed how little single statements could be •" 1 relied on for forming a general average. Lord G. BENTINCK—Hear, hear. Especially with the excise. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the estimate of the chairman of excise had been more than borne out by the fact ; he had not stated the case so favourably to his own views as he might have done. The proper course was to take a sufficient number of facts whereon to found an induction, and then the conclusion would probably be right.—(Hear, hear.) In this way . 'the Noble Lord opposite would have found that the con clusion he had drawn from ;that single cargo was not borne out by the general average. No man could sup pose that, of the whole cost of the manufacture of spirits --4 d. a gallon—more than one-third was due to excise restrictions. But Mr. Patrick Chambers, a distiller, of Wixhaw, had sent in a statement, which appeared at Page 83 of the report of the Noble Lord's Committee ; ce was a highly respectable man, to whose statement credence might be given. Mr. FAGAN—Hear, hear. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was glad to hear his Hon. Friend behind him bear testimony to the character of Mr. Chambers, whose statement was the more entitled to reliance in this case, because it had been plain for another purpose. He stated the quan tity of barley consumed, the quantity of proof spirits pro duced, the whole items of the expense of manufacturing spirits, and the result of his calculation was that the net charge, including the expense of making malt, amounted to ltd. per gallon. He had no motive for exaggerating that statement either on one side or the other; there fore it might be taken as a fair statement of the cost at which spirits might be manufactured in Scotland. Could any one believe that more. than one-half of that cost, namely, twopence, was produced by the excise restric tions? Nevertheless, he proposed to allow 2d. a gallon for the whole claim in respect to these restrictions; and, tak - ing the test of the manufacture at 6d. a gallon—still more if taken at 3d., which he believed would be nearer the truth—it was perfectly incredible that the cost of produc tion could be enhanced at the rate of 2d. a gallon by the Excise restrictions. He saw no other grounds on which the distillers could claim protection against colonial spirits. In awarding 4d. per gallon as a differential duty to countervail the legislative disadvantages under which the distillers and producers of British spirits were placed be conceived he had given them a full equivalent. Look• ing at the relative prices of the two articles, the differ ence was not greater than would be compensated by the protection he proposed. In the draft report of the Noble Lord, at page 174, he took the average cost price of or dinary whisky at 2s. 3d., and of rum at 2s. 41d., and the prices of the other varieties ran very near each other. With these prices there was no reason to suppose that the English distiller would be ruined by the importation of rum at a duty of 4d. The whole amount of colonial spirits which had beeu introduced into this country last year was only three millions of gallons, out of a total consumption of upwards of twenty-six millions and a half; and and no doubt there had been an increased con sumption of rum last year, owing to the deficiency of the barley crop. But he did not suppose that, in future - years, there would be any such increase in the consump• tion of rum es to produce any sensible effect on the large mass of British spirits consumed in this country. With regard to the question of revenue, he assumed ' the loss at about 62,0001.; and he confessed he calcu ' lated upon an increased consumption sufficient to pro. duce that amount of revenue. An additional consump tion of 150,000 gallons in England would do it, or of 300,000 gallons in Scotland, or of 400,000 in Ireland, aupposing the increase to take place entirely in ono Country. It was not likely that the increase would take Place wholly either in one country or another ; but.he thought he might fairly assume an increase of about 200,000 gallons on the total consumption. Ile hoped it would be more, for the sake of the colonists ; and a re duction in a differential duty always operated in favour of The consumer. He believed the interests of both would be consulted by the measure he had hoeprosd; and he thought he had shown to any person would fairly consider the subject, that in maintaining a diffe rential duty of 4d. per gallon between British and colo nial spirits adequate compensation wee given to the British distiller, in respect of the malt duty, the de creases, the excise restrictions, and the other disadvan tages under which he alleged he was placed by the ex isting laws. With regard to the loss which would be Produced in the colonies or in this country, he did not profess to go into that at all ; his principle was, as far as legislative enactment was concerned, to allow the pro ducers in the colonies and in this country to come into competition on equal terms. That, he believed, would be effected by the proposal he submitted to the Com mittee ; and he would now conclude by placing in the hands of the Chairman a resolution, the effect of which was to substitute for the present differential duty of 9d. a duty of 4d. per gallon. The CHAIRMAN having read the resolution at length, Mr. FAGAN said the proposition now made differed Materially from that which the Right Hon. Gentleman hadatink this bims; que stion turned on benefit to the =loner; the consumer was not at all interested in a quantity of rum being introduced in lieu of a quantity of spirits of home production. On the contrary, the introduction of a more seductive and deleterious spirit, instead of being an advantage to the consumer, would have altogether an opposite tendency. Ho should not object to see the dis tilling interest of this country diminished by the spread of temperance, or by the duty being raised so high as to lessen the consumption of spirits. In 1846 the consump tion of rum in Ireland was only 74,000 gallons; last year, with a differential duty of 9d., it was 176,000 gallons. It was gradually increasing; and, should this measure become law, the people in Ireland would acquire a taste for that spirit, to their manifest injury. The Irish distiller, in particular, had great cause for com plaint, when he saw that his interest as a manufac turer was sacrificed to the carrying of a measure pro pounded by Government, which had not given satisfac tion to any party—sacrificed, too, in the teeth of the leaders and friends of the West Indi aparty, whose opinions were decidedly against the Government mea sure. If the measure were one of a comprehensive na ture, carrying out the principles of free trade and cheapening an article of consumption, it should have his decided support ; but when he found that a measure which had been universally condemned in the House and out of it was to be made the pretext for ruining the distillers—for such he believed would bo its effect—he must oppose such a measure. There had been something like a breach of faith with the distillers, for last year the Right Hon. Gentleman had stated that a protec tive duty of 6d. a gallon would only be a fair one. Not withstanding this, after receiving various representations from the distillers, he had made the differential duty equal to 9d., and the distillers looked upon that as a set tlement.—(Hear, hear.) The distillers were ready to carry out the principles of free trade in refe rence to their own trade as well as others ; and Mr. Currie, an eminent distiller of the metropolis, whose evidence the Right Hon. Gentleman seemed to have overlooked, had stated that in his manufactory 40,000 quarters of grain were annually worked up into 800,000 gallons of British spirits ; but that if the Excise restrictions were removed he could wcrk up annually 96,000 quarters of grain, and produce his spirits at la. 6d. per gallon, the average price, according to the Right Hon. Gentleman, being 2s. Hence, the restrictions were equivalent to an increase of 6d. a gallon in the price. He and other Irish representatives had been much dis appointed in the course taken by the Right Hon. Gen tleman : he therefore felt it his duty to oppose this mo tion. It was proposed, in the first place, to make an al lowance for the malt duty paid by the distillers ; but it should be known that scarcely any malt spirits were manufactured in Ireland, malt was little used in the dis tilleries except in Scotland. In Ireland the quantity of malt used by the raw grain distiller was nearly double that used by the raw grain distillers in this country ; and 23d. a gallon would be more like an equivalent for it than the 13d. proposed by the Right Honourable Gentleman. Atter a careful exami nation of the various calculations placed before the West India Committee, he found the allowance of a penny a gallon for plant was a fair one; and that the. Right Hon. Gentleman had entirely overlooked. For the alter ations between distilling and brewing which now neces sarily took place, and the consequent loss of saccharine matter, an allowance of 2d. per gallon at least ought to be made. As to the rectification, he believed the dis tillers were quite correct in estimating their loss at aid. a gallon under the present system of chargiog the duty at the worm's end. The Right Hon. Gentleman was mistaken in supposing that no rectification took place in Ireland; the Government distillers distilled twice in in order to produce a good article, and that was a species of rectification. That produced a loss of another penny, making in all 73d. per gallon. On the subject of the the decreases, the Right Hon. Gentleman had frankly stated to the Irish deputation that there would be no diffi culty whatever on that head, and he stopped all discuason. The justice of the claim was so evident on the face of it, that he could not do otherwise. The Right Hon. Gentleman had admitted that the West Indian distillers obtained a protection of aid. through not being charged the decreases ; hence, the British distillers were quite justified in claiming that amount, even if the loss on the decreases did not reach so much. But the Right Hon. Gentleman had made a mistake in his calculation. The mode of gauging adopted when the spirit came from the worm's end differed materially from tho mode of gaug ing them when they came out of bond ; and hence the miscalculation. One of the most intelligent distillers in Ireland stated that upon an aggregate quantity of 225,780 gallons of spirits shipped to England, the total deficiency was above 4,500 gallons, on which the duty was 1,8581. 10s., and this they had to pay in full. He contended that the sum of lid. a gallon was only a fair allowance for decreases. If the Right Honourable Gentleman persisted in maintaining the view he now took, he ought at least, for the sake of the home distillers, to keep the differential duty at 9d. Mr. Wood had stated before the Commit tee that he had no means of contradicting the state ment of the distillers as to excise restrictions, though he argued that where they claimed 33d. a gallon for de creases, only id. was due, and that therefore their claim for excise restrictions ought to be reduced in the same proportion. He admitted that 6d. a gallon was a fair protection, but argued that the excise restrictions ought to be fixed much lower than the distillers estimated them. Following out the calculations of the Chairman of the Excise and himself, the distilling interest in Ireland and Scotland would be seriously injured by this measure. According to the report of the Noble Lord (Lord G. Bentinck), the sincere and able advocate of the West Indian interests, that body had no just cause of com plaint against the present duties. He should, therefore, move as an amendment that the Chairman report pro gress and ask leave to sit again. Captain JONES thought the measure of the Govern ment would prove extremely itjurious to Ireland. Ho should. therefore, support the amendm. nt moved by the Hon. Member for Cork. Mr. REYNOLDS said it was the opinion of the Irish distillers that if the differential duty was reduced from 9d. to 4d. they would be almost annihilated. He thought the Government would not at least have gone below 6d., and that they would allow for waste end leakage. Ho under stood the Right Hon. Gentleman to gay to the Irish deputation that there would be no insuperable objection on his own part to make the duty 63. He thought that a great advantage was given to the colonial grower over the native grower by this measure, for it was after all an agricultural question—one between oats and sugar. The Irish and Scotch manufacturers had intolerable disadvantages to contend against in the Excise regula tions. The allowance to the colonial importer was 3d. fur leakage and natural evaporation, while the allow ance to the Irish distiller was only a farthing and a fraction of a farthing. He was a free-trader, but he was opposed to the application of free trade as contained in the present measure to Ireland.—(Laughter.) The Irish Members who voted for free trade in corn, and the Irish people who were in favour of that measure, acted with the utmost disinterestedness, for that mea sure was not for the benefit of Ireland. Ireland had, therefore, a claim upon the consideration of the House. —(Laughter.) She had been called the right hand of England; let them beware that they did He thought her into a left arm.—(Loud laughter.) and that that the colonies were a dra g u p on the country, she would be better without them. Mr. BARKLY looked upon the present proposition as part of the general measure brought forward for the re lief of the West India interest, and he would deal with it in that aspect. He differed from the Noble Lord, who deserved so much credit from tho West India body for his exertions in their behalf, with respect to this part of the question. He could only account for the Noble Lord's opinion on this subject by supposing, not that he loved the West India interest less, but that he loved cer• tain interests at home more. It was evident from what had been proved before the Committee, how much the price of rum would be under the 4d. duty; and he would be much surprised if its effect would not be to give great benefit to the West India body. As a West India owner, he would consider his situation much more desperate if they did not derive considerable advantage from the change of duty. The position of the home dis tillers had been much improved of late years, so that they had less to fear from competition than formerly. He thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer had completely cut away the ground from the Scotch distillers. If they were able to compete with the Eng lish distillers in the English market they had a very poor case indeed against the introduction of colonial spirits. In a pamphlet lately published, called " Ob servations on the Evidence before the Committee on Coffee and Sugar Planting," by a Scotchman, it was stated that from 150,000/. to 200,0001. was paid to five or six Scotch distillers as hush money. The same ob servations applied to Ireland, so that the consumers of this country not only paid the distiller here, but they also paid fur keeping t he Irish and Scotch hisky out of the market. The Chairman of the Excise, who was the best authority on this subject, said that 4d. would be a fair'differential duty, and he hoped the Government would not be induced to set aside an authority of so much weight. The colonies would watch the conduct of the Government in dealing with the question of the duty of rum, and would test the sincerity of their free trade opinions by the manner in which they dealt with it. If the colonists now saw free-traders linked together in support of a Government monopoly they would come to a conclusion that that body was a very selfish one. He accepted the present measure as an instalment of what was'due to the colonists. Lord G. BENTINCK assured the House that he had never heard any complaint from Norfolk barley-growers on the subject of the spirit duties. The Hon. Gentle man appeared so credulous about the matter of hush money, that ho really did not wonder at the rest of his arguments. When the Hon. Gentleman declared that the Chairman of Excise was the only person who gave reliable evidence before the Committee, he probably was not aware that Mr. John Wood had himself declared that what he had stated was mere matter of opinion, and that it ought to be taken by the Committee with con siderable deduction on that account. Mr. Wood took upon himself to arraign the evidence and impeach the statements of all the distillers of England and of Scot land. lie declared that people as high in station and character as himself—men whose veracity he could not pretend to question—were to be dealt with on the prin ciple of the rule of three as far as their evidence resocctng decreases was concerned.—(Hear, hear.) This was the Whig Chairman's insolent way of treating gentlemen and men of unimpeachable integrity. But in reference to this very evidence of Mr. John Wood: on the subject of decrease that in dividual was obliged subsequently to amend his own evidence, and to admit that ho had himself erred in the truth to the extent of 75 per cent. Who, then, was to he trusted—the trade, or this Chairman of Excise ? (Protectionist cheers.) But the Chancellor of the Ex chequer made another statement respecting the excise gauge, with a view to prove that the trade were wrong and the customs right. But why had not Mr. Wood made that statement to the Committee, where its truth or falsehood Could have been fairly tested? No, the statement was reserved for the House of 001111110118, where of course it was impossible to test its accuracy. Where Mr. Wood, therefore, gave au opinion, he ac knowledged himself that his evidence was worth very little; whilst where he spoke as to matters of fact it was clear that that evidence was worth still less. — (Hear, hear.) The preamble of the Channel Islands' Act of 1845, framed by the Right Honourable Mem ber for Cambridge, fully admitted the principle of the right of the British distiller to peculiar pros tection, in order to countervail the various burdens placed by the excise duties on that industry. The Hon. Member for Dublin had stated that, in acceding to the repeal of the corn•laws the Irish Members had involved their country in an annual burden of three millions sterling, and therefore he claimed mercy to the Irish in terest on the present question; but the Irish Members had been fully and distinctly warned, that did they as sent to that measure, they would be among the first to suffer from its operation, and therefore they were en titled to no commiseration for the injury they had wil fully brought upon themselves and upon their country. As to the West Indians, the pretended boon would turn out little, if anything. better than a mockery. They were there to do justice—not to favour one party or another, but fairly to assess the duties as was best adapted to the interests of the country. Give the colonists com pensation, but not at the expense of the Irish and Scotch distillers, but at the expense of the slave dealers, who were at present reaping all the profits of the sugar trade of this country.— (Cheers.) Mr. GOULBURN said that if the objections to the Government proposal were on account of the excise re gulations, his opinion was that those latter were if any thing too favourable to the British distillers —(llean) He denied the extent of hardship complained of ny that body as arising from the excise. In some cases the excise might be an inconvenience but in others it was an advantage, and in no case more so than that of spirits. It gave a great additional protection to the manufacturer against the frauds of his servants.—(Hear.) Tho heavy penalties had been much dwelt upon by witnesses before the Committee, but they were seldom inflicted, being, generally speaking, merely held up in terrorem to protect the honest portion of the manufacturers. When the grievances of the excise on spirits were spoken of, let them consider the case of soap. The excise was lid. on hard, and Id. on soft soap, while the duty on colonial soap irn • ported into this country was precisely the same, and yet he never had heard an instance of a British manufacturer complaining of the competition. In Ire land, also, there was no soap duty, nor was there any restriction on the manufacture, neither was there any countervailing duty on its importation into this country. And yet, what was the consequence? Did Ireland over flow the country with soap?—(Loud laughter.) The fact was, that England sent 6,000,000 cwts. of soap to Ireland every year.—(Hear, hear.) And this, notwith standing those tremendous excise restrictions of which so much had been said. He, therefore, excluded from consideration any allowance to the distillers on the ground of excise restrictions.— (Hear, hear.) The next point to which the Noble Lord had alluded was the question of decrease; and here he must express his dis sent from the Noble Lord's estimate of the value of the evidence given by the Chairman of the Excise. The Noble Lord attached no value to that gentleman's evidence because it had been given with diffidence. Lord G. BENTINCIC.—What I said was, that I had read the evidence of the Chairman of the Excise Board, in which he expressed himself diffidently as to the re strictions, but most positively as to matters of fact, and that in matters of fact he was wrong in the proportion of four to one.—(Hear.) Mr. GOULBURN had understood the Noble Lord to express himself as attaching no importance to the Chair man's opinion. For his part, he should attach the more value to a man's evidence who expressed himself with diffidence and caution.—(Hear, hear.) But to return to the decrease. The differences of opinion which had been exhibited on this point arose from one party rely ing on an isolated case, and the other taking a fair average spreading over a reasonable number of years. What he (Mr. Goulburn) contended was, that taking a fair ave rage of years—the allowance made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, namely—three farthings a gallon, was a fair and reasonable allowance for decreases.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore saw no reason for opposing the Government proposal on that ground. It there was one duty more than another with which the Excise au thorities ought to be satisfied, it was the excise paid on spirits in England: it gave them no trouble, being paid by eight great houses; and yet both the late and present Chairman had told him that, in their opinion, the advantage of the British distiller was too great as over his colonial competitor. The Noble Lord objected that the Government proposal would give a boon of only 64,0001. per annum to the colonial producer. Be it so, and if the advantage to the colonial producer were small, so would be the injury to the British distiller. If the latter could give 150,0001. to keep his Scotch competitor out of the market, he could hardly be injured by a sum of 64,0001. conceded to the colonial producer.—(Hear, hear.) He should not further detain the House, save by expressing his full concurrence in the justice of the pro posal which Government had submitted. Mr. FORBES regretted that he could not give his support to the proposal of her Majesty's Ministers. Mr. FAGAN intimated that as his object had been obtained by the discussion which had taken place, he would not call for a division. ...... . _ The CHAIRMAN—Then, will any Hon. Gentleman move that I leave the chair? Mr. FAGAN—I will move that you leave the chair. —(Cries of " Divide.") The Committee divided, when there appeared— Ayes 75 ...,. Noes I6S Majority —93 Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL declared his intention of giving every opposition to the main resolution. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his proposition would give the Irish distiller more pro tection than the colonial distiller. After a few words from Mr. CURISTIE and Mr. P. HOWARD, Mr. MAUNSELL moved that the Chairman report progress. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL suggested to his Honourable Friend, that at this period of the session he would nut attempt to defeat the Government by adjournment, but take the sense of the House on the main question. Mr. LABOUCHERE hoped also that that course would be adopted. The whole subject had been fully gone into before a Select Committee. He hoped that a course which used to be the exception, but which had lately become almost the rule, would not be persevered in. It was often complained that the Government were not active enough in passing the measures they brought forward, but if constantly met by that mode of opposi tion it was impossible for them to do so.—(llP4r.) Mr. KEOGH thought the motion of the Hon. Mem ber for Limerick not an unreasonable one; for Irish Members had been induced to believe, on the occasion of a deputation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that no such proposition as that before the House would have been brought forward. They had, on the con trary, been led to suppose that the si ttlement of last year, which was one of great importance to the distilling and agricultural interest, would not he disturbed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER re peated the reasons which had induced him to bring for ward the present resolution, and denied that any such hope had been held out to the deputation alluded to. Ile thought that the further consideration of the question ought, to be adjourned. After a few words in explanation from Mr. KEOGH and Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL, Mr. BARKLY said that, in justice to the rum trade, the Irish Members ought to suffer the question of the differential duties to be settled as speedily as possible, for the uncertainty that had prevailed so long had been very injurious to those who dealt in rum. Mr. D. CALLAGHAN urged the Hon. Member for Limerick to persevere in his motion for an adjournment of this question. Limerick t er lsld uic lu t o Col. DUNN E said that the evil which the present measu re would inflict i n Ireland was so g reat that, not withstanding time fo r he regretted the a t o h n e . loss of Member persist in his mo t i on to report progress. He had another r oe it c hs r, ahntediog must h rea son for wishing the debate to be adjourned, which b ecause every Irish que stion was brought on in the • the absence of the re p resentatives of WAS House durlng Ire land. Lord G. BENTINCK admitted that there was some truth in the Hon. and Gallant Member's last obser vation, for there was not an Irish Member on the West India Committee, notw i t h s t a nding the interest s of the distillers of that country were involved in the questions discussed by that Committee. If the Bon. Member for Limerick persisted in his motion be (Lord G. Bentinck) thought that both the Irish and scotch distillers had a claim to a postponement of the debate. After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN, Mr. P. S. BUTLER denied that the deputation of Irish Members had waited on the Chancellor of the Ex chequer with any dishonourable motives, and urged the adjournment of the debate on a question of much more grave importance than some Hon. Members seemed to suppose, on the ground that so many Hon Members were absent in the discharge of paramount duties at the as sizes in Ireland. The Committee then divided on the amendment that the Chairman do report progress and ask leave to sit again, when there appeared— For the amendment Against it 48 127 Majority Col. DUNNE then moved as a further amendmen t that the Chairman do now leave the chair, The Committee again divided, when there appeared — For the amendment 4B Against it 125 Mr. CALLAGHAN de M ni a e j d ori t t h y at the Irish — 111t 77 b were f act i ou s. —(Lau ghter.) t o b e factious.—(Lau hter ) He h gn ims e el s i had come into th e H ouse w i t h out ha 'tngs:lced. The consulted any other eCHANCELLOR Member as the ofh t course ex to E be u c EQUFR had no wish to accuse Honourable Members of being factious; bailittuotwol, Honourable e h su e rpnaeo q brt t ii i eo e f asdi‘it there hm.(ewrbeaeHvrwti Honourable been poopuorbsaaibtrelee d l hy i as forty Gentlemen, ri s t s u e ,s d for r tAip e omi n fiv bt,t,e, e hours, . ridisoodt present.iit not choose to be in their places at the proper time, subse quently to opiose the progress of a measure on the ground that it had not been properly discussed. Lord G. BENTINCK said the House was not so utterly destitute of speakers when the Honourable Mem ber for Leominster rose as that lion. Gentleman ap• peared to suppose, for he (Lord G. Bentiock) had risen to address the House at the same time.—(llear.) Mr. CARDWELL said that he, out of a feeling of re spect for the opinion of the House, had abstained from addressing it upon this subject. For if they were all to speak, they would go on speaking for evermore, and the progress of public business would be very much im peded. The West India interest was suffering exceed.. ingly. Their speeches would do it very little good, while passing the Bill would do it a great service. Mr. MACGREGOR addr es hich arose in SOMO mea sed the House amidst shouts of continued laught,er, w this ileges if the [hind, round ration prin ceded ought tld to rolley e that rrupt that 'Tern- TILE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 18, 1848. sure from the peculiar manner in which the Hon. Member held his hat behind his back. lle said that the business ot the House had been very much delayed by the long speeches which had been made from the opposite benches (the Protectionist). Ile was most anxious that a termination should be at once put to the discussion. Colonel DUNNE did not give his vote from any fac tious feeling of opposition. There had not been a thin ner attendance ot Members than was usually the case when an Irish question was discussed, and he could vouch, at all events, for the fact that there were plenty of Members willing to address the House. One of the chief reasons that he desired a postponement was, be. cause he expected the return of the Irish Members who were absent at the assizes. _ _ Lord JOHN RUSSELL—I cannot agree with the Hon. Gentleman who has just sat down. lam far from imputing uny factious motives either to him or to any one else. I appeal to them on the ground of public con venience ; and although they may think they are justi fied in the course which they are pursuing, yet it is quite impossible that this, which is the most important busi ness, should be deferred because Members happen to he absent—(Hear, hear)—becauso the Irish Members hap pen to be at the assizes. I heard it insisted upon, that this debate should be adjourned. I am quite ready to do so, provided that when the House meets at twelve o'clock this day, we go on with this Bill instead of the Highways Bill, as has been already arranged. I must go on, I cannot consent to postpone the question until the Irish Members return from assizes, and we must go on with tho question until we get through it. Mr. DUNCAN—Perhaps they would find themselves to-day in the very same predicament as they were now placed. The Irish Members would not have returned. Ho trusted that the Noble Lord would persevere. Mr. ANSTEY'S reason for his opposition was not that ho might prevent the West Indians from receiving this miserable compensation, but that her Majesty's Ministers might be compelled to frame their plan without detri ment to interest of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) There was a strong case, not only for an adjournment until to-day, but even for an adjournment beyond the session.— (Laughter.) They would afford no relief to the West Indians, and they would do a great deal of detriment to the people of Ireland. The gallery was cleared for a division, but none took place; and on our return we found Mr. I). CALLAGHAN addressing the 'louse, and repudiating having ever attended a hole-and-corner meeting of Irish Members. He would continue to move adjournments, in order to prevent the measure being hurried through the House with such indecent haste. After a few words from Colonel DUNNE, Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL urged the propriety of talc. ing the division that night. Repeated motions for ad journment injured the party which made them. The gallery was again cleared for a division. The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the resolution ll6 Against it Majority in favour of the resolution —79 The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to he received this day. The West India Islands Belief Bill was read a third time and passed. The Qtialifications and Registration of Electors (Ire land) Bill and the Light Dues Bill were discharged. SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had encoun tered so many difficulties with respect to this Bill, that ho begged to withdraw it The order was accordingly discharged. The other orders of tho day were then disposed of. The House adjourned at. a Quarter to Three o'clock to Twelve o'clock this day. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) MONDAY, JULY 17. RUM, &c., DUTIES.—(IN THE COMMITTEE.) Motion made, and Question proposed. " That in lieu of the Duties now chargeable, &c.:"—Whereupon Motion made, and question put, " That the Chairman do leave the Chair." The Committee divided : MINORITY—AYES, 75. Anstey, Thomas Fox, Richard M. 11PG regor, John: Archdall, Captain Fuller, A. E. Manners, Lord G. italdock, E. 11. Galway, Viscount Mastermait„rohn Bateson, T. Gaskell, J. K.: 3f (nisei!, William Bentinck, Lord G. Gordon, Adm iral Mor g an, O. I I I s e c i r i e t i s t r i o c r k d , , )v Lord ua 11. Gore, Granby,Go r e,ll . B. Marquis O of Newdegate„ N. Napier, Joseph Bourke, R. S. Greene, John .1 Noel, G. J, Bouverie, E. P. Grogan, Edward Norreys, Sir D. Nugent, Lord Halsey, T. I'. O'Brien, Sir Lucius iltlrroelandriied:,e, 11. Richard Gwyn, Bowel Buller, Sir J. Y. Hastie, Alexander O'Connell, M. J. Chichester, Lord J. Henley, J. W. Reynolds, John Cole, Hon. 11. A. Herbert, H. A. Sadleir, John Cowan, Charles Hildyard, T. H. Scott, F. Crawford, W. S. Hodgson, W. N. Scully, Francis Devcreux, John T. Hood, Sir A. Somerset, Captain Dick, Quintin Hudson, 0. Spooner, Richard Disraeli, B. Ingestre, Viscount Sturt, 11. G. Duncan, George Jones, Captain Sullivan, Michael Dunne, F. I'. Keogh, William Tyrrell, Sirl.T. T. Emlyn, Viscount Knox, Colonel Wawn, J T. Farnham, E. 11 Lascelles, E. Wodehouse,E. Ferrer, James Lockhart, W. TELLERS. Ferguson, Sir R. Lowther, lion. Col. Fagan, William Floycr, John M'Cullagli, W. T. Forbes, William MAJORITY-NOES, 168. Abdy, T. N. Frewen, C. H. Mostyn, E. Adana, Sir T. D. Gladstone, W. E. Ogle, S. C. Adair, R. Shaft° Glyn,yi. C. Paget, Lord Clarence Anson, Colonel Godson,'Oliehard Paget, Lord George Anson, Viscount Goulharn, llenry Palmerston, Viscount Armstrong, Sir A. Graham, Sir James Parker, John Armstrong, It. B. Greene, Thomas Patten, J. W. Baines, M. T. Grenfel , Charles W. Pechell, Captain Barkly, Henry Grey, Sir George Pennant, Colonel Baring, Sir F. 'f. G ty, R. W. Perfect, R. Bellew, R. M. (loivenor, Lord R. Pigott, Francis Itenbow4John hall, Sir B. Pilkington, James Berkeley, Captain Hallyburton, Lord _ Pinney, W. Berkeley, Craven Ilastie, Archibald Pugh, David Birch, sir Thomas Hawes, Benjamin Pusey, I'. Bowring, Dr. Hay, Lord J. Raphael, Alexander Boyd, John Ilayter, W. G. Reid. Colonel Boyle, Colonel Ileadlam, Thomas Repton, G. W. Brocklehurst, John llenry, Alexander Ricardo, Osman Brockman, E. D. Ilervey, Lord A. Rice, E. R. Brotherton, J. Heywood, James Robartes, T. J. Brown, W. Hohhouse, Sir John Romilly, Sir John Browne, R. 1). llohhouse, T. B. Rumbold, C. E. Buller, Charles Hodges, T. L. Russell, Lord John Butler, P. S. Ilogg, Sir J. W. Russell, F. C. Cardwell. Edward Howard, C. W. Rutherford, A. Carew, , ,W. P. Howard, J. K. Sanders, Cavendish, C. C. Howard, P. 11. Cavendish, W. G. Howard, Sir R. Childers,:J. W. Hutt, William Clay, James Inglis, Sir It. Simeon, John Clifford, Henry M. Jervis, Sir John S o merville, Sir W. Colebrooke, Sir T. Johnstone, Sir J S pe arman, 11. J. Compton. 11. C. Jolliffe, Sir W. H. Talbot, C. R. Cowper, W. F. Kershaw, James Thicknesse, It. A. Cr Craig, W. . Labouehere, Henry Thompson, Colonel Dalrymple, Captain Lacy, Henry C. s S Se h h 3 e e ' l b , e u I r r t: j e l L j , l . . o E : e .rp Earl of 0 f Th o rnely, T. 'Millwood, G. 11. Langston, J. H. Davie, Sir Henry Laseelles, W. S. ' TTONINI-ennelalecly,lejt r ,b: L John Deedes, W. Legh, G. C. Townley, R. G. Denison, J. E. Lemon, Sir Charles Turner, Edmund D'Eyncourt, T. Lewis, G. C. Turner, G. J. Duckworth, Sir J. Lindsay, Colonel Trite, Colonel Duncuft, John Littleton, E. R. Verney Sir 11. Dundas, Admiral Lockhart, A. E. Vivian, J. 11. Dundas, Sir D. Mackinnon, W. Ward, 11. G. East, Sir J. B. M'Taggart, Sir J. Willcox, Brodie Ebrington, Viscount 2ltarsM.ll, J. p. Williams, John Egerton, Sir I'. .Matheson, A. Wilson, James Elliot, John E. Matheson, Colonel Wilier', Matthew Easton, Earl Maule, Fox Wood, Sir Charles Evans, Sir De Lacy Miles, P. W. S. Wood, W. P. Fitzgerald, W. It. Milner, W. M. Fitzrwy, Henry Mitchell, A. T. Foley, J. 11. Moody, C. A. Fortescue, J. W. Freestun, Colonel Morris, David Rich, Henry Morpeth, Viscount T NNV7Y rn ivdedli : s James litteaEnr.Mr.y.a d t 1 k e CIVIL LIST PENSIONS.—The following is an official list of pensions granted between the 20:.h day of June, 1847, and the 20th day of June, 1848, and charged upon the Civil List (pursuant to Act 1, Vict., cap. 2):—Chria tian M'Caskill and Jessie M'Caskill, 601. each, " Addi tional pension. In consideration of the gallant conduct of their brother, the late John M'Caskill, and his death on the field of battle. In trust to Lachlan Martin Mathe son, Esq , and Rev. Alex. Macgregor."--Ilev. Theobald Mathew, 3001. In consideration of his meritorious exer tions to promote temperance in Ireland. —Leigh Hunt, Erg., 2001. In consideration of his distinguished lite rary talents.—Grace Anne Sirnson, Eliza Grace Pratt, Margaret Parker, Helen Jemims, and Francis Agnes Chalmers, 501.; widow and daughter (each 251.) of the late Rev. Dr. Chalmers. In consideration of his piety, eloquence, and learning. In trust to the Rev. Dr. Win. Hanna and Thomas Chalmers, Esq.—Frances Freeling Hood and Thomas Hood, 501. each. Children of the late Thomas Hood. In consideration of the literary merits of their father. In trust to William Elliott, M.D., David Salornons, Esq., and Thomas Reseigh._ Frances Christie and Mary Murray Christie, 25/. each. Joseph Bell. In late fath er i n t h e In consideration of the services of their father, the late Sir Archibald Christie. In trust to Captain Fred. G or d on Christie and Arthur Forbes, Esq.—George Newport, RMS., 1001. In consideration of his researches an d dis coveries in comparative anatomy and physiology. —Mar garet Morrice Bell and Caroline Bell, 50/, eac h, cdi improvement s g ri o h dy t e e er r ma s t ei o on f nt t of f e f t l th a he t e e l la P aw r b o on f u e fr s s s s o co r oft G l at e hn o ed r i. g r e I n trust to Alex ander ther Sinhea wivsa Eoirq,man;aaa and Thomas 501.,masGeorge Shaw, E sq .— Cawidow of General Frederick Maitland. In consideration of his distin. guished military services. In trust to Captain Frederick Thomas Maitland and Thomas Cotherton Garth, Esq. BRIGHTON, SATURDAY. --'About three this morn ing a most terrific storm of thunder and lightning burst over this town, awakening the:inhabitants almost univer sally from their slumbers. At the first outburst the whole horizan was one light. In a few minutes, how ever, the whole of the sky became black, and flashes of lightning and claps of thunder alternated with each other in a manner fearfully awful. Although no damage was done in the town, the neighbourhood was not so fortu nate. In the valley on the north side of the South Downs the storm was of greater violence than ever be fore rernemnbered. At llama's Farm, near Stone Pound Gate, in the parish of Hurstpierpont, a b arn was struck and wag soon reduced to ashes, with all its C. THE conteats, a horse I Ham's Farm • • an( a calf were burned to death. is in the occu A c if an adjoining out-building he 1 . hmaney at Harstpier t was also struck by tlightning and split into pon without, we are happy to a dd , fragmentF, I), having stated doing any bpf further rt lightning , ti ohntonaf i:mischief. i e f . fiirtsbtepsleeaeninwhlaattv, DUKE OF ATIIOL.---: rhe judgment in this case, which Tits Gr. CASE.—TORRIE &c . preliminary point of title, merely involves the was given E B T r i t L e T nshaw. shall bo judgmnent, made the following order:—.. The Lord Ordinary having heard counsel for the parties upon the preliminary de fenceotinieFprriidnacylpibeys Lo,n)rdwhlivcohryb.e founded s n d L e o d rd i s ii h s i . super the precise shape and extent of the pursuers' averments, when the record comes to be adjusted, with a view to closing the same; in the meanwhile appoints a record to s des consideration s f i o d r e i r h a t i i n o n t he thereof, aelld u e n r CI I be prepared on the whole case in common form; and to that effect appoints the pursuers to give in a condescen dence of the (acts which they aver and offe r to prove in support of their summons, by the first box-day in the ensuing vacation; and the defender to give in answers to the same by the third sederunt day of the winter session."—Scotsman. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIRCUIT.--Hertford, July 17. (Before the LORD CHIEF BARON.) CRAWLEY V. HICKSON. This was an action for breach of promise of marriage. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Hawkins were for the plaintiff; and Mr. Montagu Chambers for the defendant. Sergeant SHEE, on opening the case, said, the action was brought to recover compensation for one of the most grievous injuries that could be inflicted upon a woman— the breach of a solemn promise of marriage, and it was peculiarly aggravated when it was accompanied, as in this instance, by the seduction of the injured party. He then proceeded to state that the plaintiff was the daughter of a respectable farmer at Cadwell, on the borders of Hertfordshire, and the defendant was a cattle-dealer, liv ing at Gosmore, a village three or four miles from the plain tiff's father's farm. The defendant had been in the habit of going to the farm occupied by the plaintiff's father upon business during the commencement of the year 1846, and he very soon began to pay marked attention to the plaintiff, and in :the month of June of that year he became a frequent visitor, and was received as the acknowledged suitor of the plaintiff. The visits were continued constantly up to January, 1847, when, no doubt in consequence of an intimation that was made to him by the plaintiff as to her condition, the defendant all at once discontinued coming to the farm. During the intimacy that had existcd the defendant had frequently expressed his intention to marry the plaintiff, both to her father and her brother, and although the sudden discontinuance of his visits occasioned some surprise, yet, as the whole extent of his misconduct was not then known, no notice was taken of it, but in the mouth of July following the family of the plaintiff was thrown into consterna tion by the plaintiff being suddenly delivered of a child, of which it turned out the defendant was the father. Soon after this took place the defendant renewed his visits, and frequently attempted to join the society of the plaintiff, but he never renewed his ho nourable offer of marriage, and it appeared pretty clear that his object at that time was to endeavour to renew the dishonourable connexion that had subsisted between them, and that he had no thought of making her his wife. The family of the plaintiff, finding the position of affairs, endeavoured to ascertain from the defendant whether he had any intention of performing the solemn obligation he had undertaken, and after making excuses on the ground that his mother objected to the marriage, he at length flatly refused to marry the plaintiff, and she had in consequence been compelled to bring the present action. The Learned Sergeant said that he could not find in the case any circumstances to justify this pro ceeding on the part of the defendant. The young woman was as respectable by her position in life as the de fendant himself'. Their ages, too, were not at all incompatible with each other, the defendant being forty-eight, and the plaintiff thirty-five ; and it ap peared that, without any real cause for so doing, the defendant had wantonly cast shame and dis grace upon the plaintiff, and having effected her ruin, he now refused to perform the promise of marriage which, no doubt, alone had induced her to consent to his wishes. He did not know what excuse would be offered on behalf of the defendant on this occasion, but with regard to the assertion made by him when he was first appealed to by the family, that his mother would not allow him to marry the plaintiff, it was perfectly ridi culous. The defendant was not a child; he was a man of mature age, and quite competent to decide upon what was proper to be done in such a matter, and having so lemnly promised to marry the plaintiff, it was absurd for him to decline to perform it on the ground that his mo ther would not allow him to do so. The Learned Ser geant, in conclusion, said it would be unnecessary for him to dilate upon the pain and misery that had been cast upon the plaintiff by the conduct of the defendant; but he said he was sure that when the jury had heard all the facts, they would give such an amount of damages as would to some extent, at all events, afford her a compen sation for the wrong she had suffered. The following evidence was then adduced:— occupied a small farm at Cadwell, in Bedfords hire. In sister,G eorg a e n d Cr t a h w e3 l , ey b o d t e h p o r s e e s d i d e t d h a with i t t h h e t p h l e a i i r nt f i a ff th w er t rw h h i o s the year 1846, the family consisted of his sister Hannah, the plaintiff, his father and mother, witness, and a fe male servant. He knew the defendant, who occupied some land at Gosmore, about four miles from their farm , and he was also a cattle dealer. A short time prior to Whitsuntide, 1846, the defendant was in the habit of coming to their farm on matters of business, and very soon afterwards he began paying attentions to his sister. At first ho used to come only once a week, in the even ing, to visit her, but he soon came oftener, and he was frequently with her alone on Sunday mornings while her father and mother were at chapel, and witness was engaged about the farm. He was considered to be courting the plaintiff all this time, and about a week before Christmas, when all the family were present, he said that he and Hannah were going to bo married, and he asked witness what he in tended to make him a present of upon the occa sion. Witness told him that he could not afford to give him anything, and the same question and answer were repeated several times. Witness at length asked the defendant if he meant what he said, and ho replied that he did, and witness then said, if they got married, and should want a cradle, he would make him a present of one.—(A laugh.) The defendant replied that he would have something better than that, and witness then said that if he was determined to marry, what would he like to have? The defendant replied that he should like to have a very handsome sofa, and witness said he would give him one when he was married. The court ship went on until Christmas, rind shortly after that period the defendant discontinued corning to the farm to visit his sister. On the Bth of Jauuary, 1847, he met the defendant in Hitchin-market. Ile came up to him, and complained of being very ill, and said that he and Hannah were going to be married, but that his mother and sister would not let him marrry Hannah, and that they were quite distracted at the thought of his doing so. Mr. HAwKiNs—Did he say anything else upon that occasion ? Witness—Yes. Ho said ho knew the disappointment would bo the death of him, but that when he died be would b sure to leave all his property to Ilannali.—(Laughter.) Examination continued—Ho met the defendant again on the following market day, and he told him ho was no better.—(Renewed laughter.) He said his heart was very bad—he wanted to marry Hannah, but his mother would not let him.—(Laughter.) Mr. HawKiNs—How old ,is defendant? Witness— _ Nearly fifty.—(Renewed laughter.) Mr. ElAwatNs —And so he said his mother would net let him get n.arried? Perhaps she thought he was not old enough.—(Laughter.) Witness—He only said that she would not let him, and he told me his heart was .so bad that he thought some day he should drop down dead.—(Renewed laughter.) Examination continutd—Witness's sister was deli vered of a child on the 30th of July, 1847, and in the September the defendant came to the house and at tempted to renew his intimacy with the plaintiff, but as he said nothing about marrying her, the family would nut allow him to come to the house. Ho saw the de fendant a short time atter the child was born, at market, and asked him if he intended to fulfil his promise of marriage, when he replied that he should never marry, because he was forty-eight years of age, and ho should not live to see his fa m ily b roug h t up. itness told him he was a very false man for acting as he had done to his sister, and he said it was a bad job, but it could not be helped. In October the defendant came to his father's and canted his sister to let him have the child, but wit ness refused to have any communication with him, and ordered him out of the house. Upon another occasion he heard the defendant say that his sister might go to law with him if she pleased, but he did not care, for he had gut more money than all of their family put toge ther. Th e d e f en d ant f armed some land, and he iad often heard him talk of buying land, and also heard him say that he had money in the Bank of England. Cross .examined—The defendant lived with his mother who is an aged woman, and a sister, who is older than himself, and he believed they were both dependent upon him. According to his account they were both dis tracted when they heard of his intended marriage. His sister was still living with them. Did not know how much land the defendant occupied. William Crawley, the father of the plaintiff, spoke to the circumstances of the courtship between his daughter and the defendant, and said that in September, 1846, the defendant asked him what ho intended to give his daughter when they married, and witness replied,“ Times goes so hard with us farmers that we must not think of portioning our daughters."—(A laugh.) Mary Abbess proved that after the birth of the child the defendant made several presents of clothes for the child to the mother, and also on some occasions gave her money. Some other evidence was adduced, which showed that the defendant was possessed of two small copyhold es tates, comprising about ten acres, and that he was as sessed at 30/. to the poor rate of his parish. Mr. CHAMBERS then addressed the jury for the de fendant, and said, that after the evidence which had been adduced, he should not attempt to deny that the de fendant had made a promise of marriage and that he had not performed it, and their verdict must consequently be against him, the only question that remained being the amount of damages to which the plaintiff was en titled. In order to arrive at the proper conclusion upon this point it would be necessary for them to look at all the circumstances of the case, and see what real injury the plaintiff had sustained. He reminded them that the circumstance of the plaintiff having had a child ought not to have any weight upon their decision on the pre sent occasion. The defendant would still be amenable for that under another form of action, and all they had to do on the present occasion was to assess the damages the plaintiff had sustained by reason of the defendant not having kept his promise to marry her. What were the facts of the case? Here was a poor man, with two little copyhold estates, having a mother and a sister entirely dependent upon him, and if the plaintiff had been married to him, she and her children must also have been dependent upon his small resources, and therefore ho submitted the prospect was anything but a flattering one, and, so far as the marriage was concerned, it appeared to him that the plaintiff had sus tained very little loss by not contracting such a mar riage. It appeared pretty clear that the plaintiff herself looked at the matter in this light, for she did not seem to have made any complaint, and was living with her s family just the same as before and he expressed_ to.. la opinion that if some attorney had not interfered and the parties that there was a ground of action, the jury would never have heard of this cause. The Learned Counsel then called the attention of the jury to difference of the parties, and said there was a very great between such a case as this, where complainingthea.of young party was a:woman of mature ag% withtn- by a prac girl whose unctions had been trifle d tised seducer, and he expressed his think that a very all the circumstances the jury would the justice moderate amount of damages would satisfy of the case. • fly addressed the jury, The CHIEF BARON having brae plaintx — 3 I) maps, 1001. k they returned a verdict for the op i nion that under NORFOLK ClRCUlT—Bedford, July 17. The business of the assizes for the courav of Bedford commenced this morning before Mr. Baron Parke in the Nisi Prius Court, and Mr. Justice Motile in the Crown Court. The civil business consisted of two causes, one of which was referred, while the other, after giving rise to a question of some nicety touching the power of a judge at Nisi Prius to amend the record, was disposed of by the defendant submitting to a verdict. The calendar contains the names of seven prisoners, of whom one is charged with arson, ono with infanticide, one with rape, and the rest with larceny. CROWN COURT—(Before Mr. Justice MAtJLE.) William Francis Gilbert was indicted for having stolen two pieces of deal, two pieces of wood, forty pounds of lead piping, and 200 tiles, the property of the Duke of Bedford. _ Mr. O'Malley and Mr. Tozer appeared for the prose cution ; Mr. Wells and Mr. Fitzpatrick defended the prisoner. The prisoner has been for twenty-five years a tenant of the Duke of Bedford, occupying two farms, one called the Hormemoor Farm, and the other the Hundreds; the former of which has been in the occupation of some member of the prisoner's family for nearly forty years. In the month of October last the buildings and stock on the Horsemoor Farm, which was insured in the sum of 1,0001, were consumed by fire, and damage done to the amount of nearly 1,200/. Immediately after the fire measures were taken by the Duke of Bedford's agents for restoring the buildings, and a large quantity of mate rials was removed from the stores at Woburn for that purpose. It was a portion of these materials which the prisoner was charged with taking. For the defence it was urged that the taking had been for the purpose of using the wood for the benefit of the prosecutor, and under a well-grounded belief that neither the prosecutor nor his agents would disapprove of it. A great number of witnesses was called, end deposed to the high character of the prisoner, and to his having filled with credit, and for a long time, the chief parochial offices. The prisoner was acquitted. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-ROUSE. Jane Gavin was brought before the Lord Mayor, upon the charge of having attempted to extort money from a gentleman engaged in commercial pursuits, and resident in the City. The prisoner, it appeared, called with a child in her arms, at the complainant's counting-house, on Saturday, and asked for a gentleman who had formerly been there. Upon being told that he had gone away, she said " Oh, faith, then you will do as well," and handed to the come plainant a paper, soliciting subscriptions for a person afflicted with sore eyes. Believing that he had been humbugged by a former visitor who carried the very same same baby, he refused to take the peti tion into his " humane consideration," and told her his candid opinion of her character and trade. When the door was shut in her face she retired for a little while, but it was only that she might prepare herself for a more vigorous attempt upon his pocket. Finding that there was more difficulty in gaining admittance on her second application, she cried out, " Oh, upon my soul, if you don't let me in, I'll leave your child at the door, for you know as well as I do that it's your own."—(Laughter.) The LORD MAYOR—Did you ever see the woman be- fore? Complainant—Never; and when I told her she was an impudent impostor, she said " You -- it's your own, and every one says its like you." I then called a policeman, and gave her into custody. The prisoner's husband, when she was deposited in the Stn non-house, called to beg for her liberation, and said she had made the false charge when she was lushy (in toxicated). The LonD MAYOR—Is her husband here? The pri soner—lle's no husband of mine. He's only a man that lives with me. The LURD MAYOR—She is a most gross and dan gerous impostor, and I shall put her out of the way of doing much mischief for some time. Prisoner, you must go to Bridewell for six weeks to hard labour. BO W-STREET. Three young men, named John Bidwell, John .IVold, and William Follett Lynne, clerks employed in the Fo reign-office, Downing -street, were placed at the bar be fore Mr. Hail, the first being charged with assaulting a constable of the B division, and the others with dis orderly conduct, and obstructing the officer in the exe cution of his duty. Constable Golf, 50 B, stated that he was on duty about one o'clock on Sunday morning in Cockspur street, where he saw the prisoners, in company with several others, passing, and observing a young man commit a nuisance at the hall-door of a silversmith in Warwick-street, he remonstrated with him, and took hold of him for the purpose of removing him, when the prisoner Nold laid hold of him by the collar in such a manner as to nearly choke him, and in colisrquence Of the interference of the others, who kept shoving along, and otherwise obstructing him, the prisoner effected his escape. The prisoner Bidwell then struck him several times on the hat with his stick; and constable 87 having come up, he gave Bidwell into charge, while he obtained the assistance of a third constable to take the others to the station. Mr. Snell, a solicitor, said he was instructed to admit the assault upon the constable, contending that the ob struction was caused by the harsh conduct of the officer towards the young man he had in custody. Mr. HALL ordered each to pay a fine of Si., or a month's imprisonment. The tines were immediately paid and the prisoners discharged. MARYLEBONE. John _Newman, a labourer, aged 50, was charged bi - fore Mr. Broughton with having caused the death of Anne Fitzpatrick, a woman with whom he bud been cc habiting as his wife. From the evidence adduced it appeared that between twelve and one o'clock that morning policeman 132 I), while on duty at Lower-place, Will, sden, was attracted by the screams of the deceased. He immediately ran to the bank of the canal and saw the woman Fitzpatrick in the water. She struggled for some minutes to keep her self afloat, but soon sunk and was drowned. The &- ceased was heard to say to the prisoner, who was stand ing upon the bank of the canal while she was struggling in the water, " You rogue, Newman, you have done for me!'' The man and woman had been noticed quarrelling shortly before, adjacent to the canal. In his defence, prisoner said deceased threw herself into the water.—Remanded for a week. SUlClDE.—Yesterday, an inquiry was gone into before Mr. W. Carter, at the Swan Hotel, Stockwell, touching the death of Mr. John Thomas Perkins, agt d 42 years, a gentleman well known in the scientific world, who destroyed himself on Friday evening last at his pri vate residence, No. 20, Stockwell-place, South Lambeth. Elizabeth Sunderland stated that the deceased was her uncle. Ile was a widower, and for some time past wit ness had observed a marked change in his manner. Witness acted as housekeeper to the deceased, who carried on un extensive business at 39 I)udley•street, Soho, as a fancy card manufacturer. Deceased was likewise the inventor of a machine for cutting paper in large quantities, for which he had obtained a patent, but roin sera© cause this had proved a failure, ultimately ending in a loss of 3,000 . 1. He had since invented another machine for suddenly stopping railway trains, which several gentlemen of celebrity had seen and ap proved of, but owing to his heavy losses he was unable to carry it out. On Friday last the [deceased came home from his place of business very low spirited. About nine o'clock witness was called by deceased, whom she found standing at the street door. He shook hands with witness, and afterwards kissed his son. They re tired to the front parlour, and soon after witness went into the room, and discovered the deceased lying on the floor insensible. A bottle and a wineglass were on the table and on examining the former it ►vas labelled" lau- danum—poison." A surgeon was called in immediately, but deceased expired the following morning at five o'clock. Other witnesses having been examined, the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary Insanity." APPREHENSION OF DR. 111`DOUALL. ASHTON UNDER-LINE. JULY 16.—0 n Sunday morning, at four o'clock, Mr. R. Newton, the superintendent of police in this town, together with Inspectors Maiden, Dalgleish, and other constables, proceeded in a body to the Odd Fellows' Arms, kept by Mr. G. Downes, in Old-street, where they found Peter Murray M‘Dousll, the Chartist lecturer, in bed. He was immediately taken into custody on a charge of sedition, and attending an unlaw ful meeting on Monday, the 10th inst. Ile was con veyed to the Ashton police-office, where he at present remains. During the whole of Sunday the Town-hall was surrounded by Chartists, standing in groups in the market-place. Large numbers of the police kept pos session of the Town-hall. IM`Douall had addressed a public meeting the previous evening at Staleybridge, which was attended by the Ashton " National Guards" in military order. Both the reporters and police were prohibited from going into the meeting. room. The same course was adopted at the meeting held by M'Douall at Ashton on the 10th inst. We have reason to believe that many of those calling themselves members of the " National Guards" went armed with pikes, pistols, &c., to both the meetings. Thoy are said to number upwards of 1,000 in Ashton alone. Much excitement prevails amongst the Chartist body, owing to M'Douall being arrested. THE UNFORTUNATE CIPHER.—A merchant at Marseilles, having a business correspondent on thee Afr ican coast, bethought him, that as some members of his family had shown a partiality for monkeys,eys, he might brs gratify them by sending for one or two specimens of these h animals from Africa. Accordingly wrote spondent to procure two or thre e of the fines. harnseesilles. Chance to his corre- . A an d most ad mired species, and transmit th em to so ordered it that the mercha nt, in putting down the ou (in English or) between the figures 2 and 3, made the o very prominent, while the u re mained scarcely visible. S om e months afterwards a ship porter cams in all haste to the old merchant , and announced. to him that his me nagerie had arrived. " Menager y ! cried tho merchant. " Yes, a menagery, a whole , cargo of monkeys h a d arrived to his consignment! "rhe merchant could scarcely credit the announcement, until the letter of his correspondent was put into his hands. In that epistle the African negotiant, a man of the most uncompromising cx. actitude, excused himself very earnestly for not havir . been able, with all his exertions, to procure more than 1 64,) monkeys, in place of the 203 ordered, but promised, as soon a s possible, to fulfil the entire demand. The feelings of the honest merchant may b.! guessed when, on tr •"z to the quay to satisfy himself on the riubjitic'tobly"--"oteiT‘la.'; inspection, he beheld his 160 monkeys, and littered, and grinning at him withtae'mot)l'aued3agb(lde pertinacity. It was th e moment when reasonably doubt wh e th er it would h. —L e F o lk . be best a a o n laughmight o cry. So touch for th e va l ue of el.i)ers Viscountess Dowa ger Bollingbroke expired late in the past week at Torquay, Devon s hi re . her Lady ship, who was th e second wife of Richard, third and late Viscount Bollingbroko, W 144 formerl .13aronc i Humped. y the COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yost , rdly a court was held. THE SNOKII NUISANCE. Mr. EDKINS wished, for the sake of the public, to be informed by the Remembrancer what bad become of the Bill about which such a stir had been made for the abatement of the nuisance of smoke ?—(Hear, hear.) He had not recently heard of the progress of a measure in the success of which the inhabitants of the City 0C London, in particular, were so deeply interested. The RENEMURANCER stated that a Bill to abate the nuisance had been brought into the House of Lords, and passed by their Lordships, and it had been for some, clays in the House of Commons, but it had not yet been taken up by any Member there. Mr. EDECINS—The Bill may, if not immtdiately takes up in the House of Commons, drop altogether, as the session is near its close. I submit, then, that it is necessary to adopt some means of preventing - so:serious a disappointment as the loss of sucA a Bill would cause.—(Hear.) . Mr. ANDERTON said the City Members ought surely to press upon the House of Commons the consideration of so important a measure. If they did slot look to such matters, the City might as well be satisfied with the three Members it had, and not complain any more of a detective representation as regarded itself.—(Hear, hear.) In consequence of the proceedings adopted by the cerporation, a Member of the Upper House had in troduced a Bill for the abatement of a most injurious and disgusting nuisance. It was then the duty of the citizens of London to do all they could to obtain the im mediate attention of the other House to the accomplish ment of the object.—(Hear, hear.) It was suggested that a motion should be adopted on the subject, but the Court was decidedly of opinion that the notice taken of the state of the Bill was quite suffi cient, and the subject was dropped. The Court adjourned after petitioning for an amend ment in the County Courts Act. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, Mom:we—The workmen put upon the Prince of Wales, 110, and Windsor Castle, 110, some years since ordered to be built, and within the hest quar ter commenced, the former at this dockyard and the lat. ter at Pembroke, are taken off, as the present " Office of Surveyor of the Navy" has came to the determination of adding five feet to the length of each, and to make them mount 120 instead of 110 guns each. This patching is scarcely intelligible—how 5 feet can give the additional space required for an extra gun on either battery of each deck—the quarters for theguns in the Queen(" improve tneuts" upon which ship the above two were to be) are already far too small. These after-considerations upon work ordered and put in hand, and the child's play of pulling down and altering after the work has been for some time progressing, are scarcely credible. The Phernix screw steam-sloop, one of the advanced steamers in ordinary hero, was taken out to the measured mile in Stokes' Bay to try her speed and the working of her machinery. Rear- Admiral Deans Derides and Captain A. Milne left the residence of Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, the naval Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth this morning, at an early hour, and proceeded by the South-Western Rail way, by the half-past six train, for the Admiralty. We have no intelligence from the summer squadron since it proceeded down Channel on Saturday evening. Tho Racer, 16, joined the squadron that evening, at sun set, and proceeded with it. It, therefor©, now consisee of four line-of battle ships, one frigate, ono corvette, and four brigs—ten sail in all. The Sharpshooter, iron screw-steanaer, we stated, returned on Saturday , night to Spithead, having sustained, by coming in con tact with the Pilot) some considerable damage. Be sides losing her jib-boom, she sprung her bowsprit and started the knee of her head, and twisted her cutwater, so that ehe made some water. She will come into the basin, and, having been lightened, it is supposed the damage can be repaired without coming into dock. This vessel has never steered well, and, although she had no sail set on her mainmast, it was with great difficulty she could be got to wear. Her prototype in wood, the Rifleman, was also to have sailed with the squadron on Saturday ; but when about to proceed to Spithead on that day her screw would not work, and it was found to be impossible to hoist the screw on deck. She was con sequently brought into dock this morning, when it was found that a fishing net had become wound round the screw, and had jammed it in the grooves. She meat have picked it up in passing over the flats, when she came round from Woolwich. She will come out of dock this evening, and probably follow the squadron on Wed nesday next. While speaking of these two steamers, we may observe that both vessels are over gunned. At t in each vessel (when underneath they have no bear ing on the water, being built for the screw,) they at pre sent carry a long pivot gun of the great weight of 84 cwt., exclusive of coming. From the size and formation of these vessels a gun of half the weight and calibre would be much more appropriate, and better adapted for such extremely lean vessels. The Hermes, steamer, arrived from Woolwich at Portsineuth oe Sunday, and is taking in gearing for the Dauntle:s. Mr. Bellamy end a party of riggers sailed in her yesterday evening for Glasgow, to navigate that vessel to Portsmouth. The Trident steamereseel, Lieutenant-Commander Ri.k, arTivtel yesterday from Woolwich, and embarked a detecliment of the Royal Marino Artillery Company, commanded by Captain H. W. Plulte and First-Lieu tenant Mawbcy, consisting of 1 captain, 1 subaltern, 3 sergeants, 2 curperals, 2 bombardiers, 1 druzrner , and 50 gunners, to relieve a like detachment at Pembroke. commanded by Captain Dwyer. The Trident left with them last evening. Wind W., light breezes and fine weather. ROYAL DIA RZNES First-Lieutenants R. 'l'. Ansel', G. 11. Wriford, end J. Poore, of the Chatham, Plymouth, and Woolwich divisions respectively, are ordered to do duty in and be borne as supernumeraries on the artillery coinpanieg of the corps until further orders, and all Akers so borne are in future to receive artillery pay. Licutenant-Colonel Mercer and Captain H. C. Tate have each obtained three mouths' leave of absence. The alterations about to be made in the uniform of infantry officers of the lino will not, we aro given to understand, apply to the Royal Marines. Woonwieli, JULY 17.—The Reynard steam-vessel, Commander Crilcroft, was taken into the new eastern dock to-day, and, being the first to enter since the dock vvas finished and the caisson placed. It may be mentioned that the works were commenced by Mr. Peter Relt, the contractor, on the 21st of October, 1843, and that it is 300 feet 8 inches long by 92 feet 4 inches broad, with a depth of 26 feet 9 inches. Tho dock is capable of admit ting the Terrible steam-frigate, with her paddle-Loxes on, and she is the largest war steamer in the British navy. It is also capable of docking the largest ships-of war, aryl has ample accommodation for the Royal Albert, although that vessel is 700 tons greater in burden than soy vessel yet constructed for the Royal Navy. The dock just completed and now opened, as regards size, ele gance of form, material, and workmanship, is considered by competent judges to be the most perfect and splendid structure of the kind in Europe. The Arrogant steam-frigate, 46 guns, is to be taken to , Deptford to-morrow, to be fitted with her engines by Mesrs. Penn. LETTERS PATENT.-A Parliamentary paper pub -I;stied yesterday shows that the total number of letters patent for inventions granted in the United Kingdom in 1547 amounted t 0740, against 761 in 1846, and the total tees received thereon to 32,9774, against 34,1031. in the preceding year. Of this sum, 20,518/. was paid over to the Consolidated Fund, and 9,830/. to the several offices entitled to receive the same. `T We insertedßatipSaltrlargrosprhTruesEvelcitionngsEtheordeCatohmaatioartsi— fr. Richard l i e s } i the ard oldest Jones, clerk wherein Houseil stat e a d t. that Commons. that gentleman .%reare ot'th i e t r lg i i quested d t o a s a t state that clerktlia t u this n i t s h i a t t i c(o,srtraebelti,sMb establishment t or n n t e h l a l b s a e v s : i siou of . 1776-7,andbeingst u i enjoy ment of good health. Mr. continuous Gunnell has h a a n s d b i e n e a t h a t) pabcF TIIE NoWrif.--It i 5 servant term ot. aohnolevee on n 0 record. years, probably the longest co LIE SToCKING TRADE Lady Mackenzie to encourage i more and more gratifying to learn that t heun k r O b em tt i i t a t g ing among on the Gairloch property are becoming are now well known, successful. The Gairloch stockings d for them is increasingefforts made by every day. the women and the demand Nothin, can be fin and the stile of work. It ' the neatness of the patterns, ninitiated to conceive how well the is difficult for finer than the beauty of the colours, secret in Gairloch. t variouse r n s of ChOol "' Con of heather, at once curious and be tbhleisndinettearn.d twhearehmavuestsebeenspatnate. p retty , and admirably " L ouirs. Tho trade is now princi adapted for the kilt especially when warn pally, if not who will no doubt ably second the • lent lady vi l e h - o has done and is doing so much fur on that estate. Another description of Tartan the tenantryd socks are sent to the same establishment, benevo stockings and I at Tobermorry, under the inspection of a W a re e h n o ti u i s • manufactured by the section of the Central Board. The lad y enga r g ry e stockings are of plain colours, but the wool Toherw° is softand delicate, and the workm ans hi p so good, that they actually rival the far-famed articles knit by the Slietlanders. In Skye great exertions are making, as our readers know, to encourage the knitting trade, and the exertions of Captain Fishbourne, and the Edinburgh s ee ion of tho Central board deserve to be seconded by the public. Specimens of the Skye knitting, and stock ings made in Fearn and other parishes of Rosshire, under the relief operations, can also be seen at the Tartan Warehouse, the cntranee to which by the way has been vastly improved. While speaking of home manufactures —and various reasons suggest themselves ivity preference should be given to them—sin may men ti,:n that the manufacture of plaids for the Tartan Ware house has given employment during the winter awl spring to not a few of the poor people—half- weavecs, half-crofters;—end that others in various parts of the c6untry have had congenial employment in the fabrica tion of strong and curiously carved snuff-boxes, and other useful and fancy articles in wood.—lnverness Courier. IJESTRUCTIVE HAIL-STORM.—The thunder-storm of Friday afternoon seems to have spread over the whole country, and done great damage, the lightnicia. Fltting tire to buildings in several places, and the naa th , stroying the crops. Great damage has been sustained in Cambridgeshire. Some of the parties are insured in the Royal Farmers' Insurance-ofliee, and will of course be reimbursed, whilst others, who have not been so tirudent, will be very serious losers. One farmer, at Henley, in Oxfordshire, has - lost 50 acres of wheat out of 70; and (idlers at Woodstock, in the same county, have experience,l severe losses.—Mark-lane Express. Tun LEIGII PEERAGE CASE.—Barnett, the prin cipal witness in the late charge of murder against Lord , Leigh, at Warwick, died about tifteon mites flow Msu 1 chow, Oil Sunday.