The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-17 00:00:00

SUN, THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION - The following " Report" has been published i u the shape of a Blue Book: 18 51,, Admiralty, Arctic Committee , Nov. 20, The committee appointed by their Lord ahups' letter of the 22d of October to inquire into and report on the conduct of the officers intrusted with the com mand of the late expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin, and whether everyth in g was done by ecute the th em carry into effect their instruc tions, and to pros searoh for the missing ships, commenced their that prconleed ings on the 24th ult.; an d, conceiving y t (,) distinct inculpations are t hose contained in Mr. Penny's letters to their Lordships of the 15th of September and the 10th of October, we considered it our duty to direct our attention in the first instance to this part of the sub ject, and we aocordingly examined Mr. Penny himself, and all the principal °facers of the Lady Franklin and Sophia, with the view of ascertaining satisfactorily every circumstance connected with the exploration of Welling ton Strait and the channels discovered above it, and how far Mr. Penny's subsequent statements are in con formity with those he so distinctly expressed in hie let ters of the 4th and 11th of August, addressed to Cap tain Austin; and having obtained all the information in our power, and most carefully considered the whole question, we are of opinion that Captain Austin could on ly put one construction on Mr. Penny's two 1€ tters re f e rred to, and that, having been thus assured by him that the open water found above Wellington Straits was (to use his own expression), from " the fearful rate at which the tide runs (not less than six knots) through the sounds that divide the Channel, dangerous even for a boat, ;much more to a ship, unless clear of ice, which fro its present appearance would not be so that sea son," impracticable for navigation at that time, and that the shores and islands on both sides had been thoroughly examined by the exploring parties, without any traces of the missing ships being discoverable, we do not think Captain Austin would have been justified in commencing a fresh search in a direction concerning which he na turally considered himself to have received such authen tic information. 2. It will be observed that in Mr. Penny's letter, of the 4th of August, 1851 (from which we extract the pre ceding paragraph), he distinctly acquaints Captain Austin of his fixed determination to return immediately to England, and that nothing is to be found in it in any way expressive of his wish for a further search in Wel lington Strait, and the channels connected with it. In his journal, also, several remarks occur, all equally dis couraging and fully indicative of his opinions at that period; and we can only account for his subsequent change of language on his arrival in England by his considering (as he himself states in his evidence) that "he found everybody disappointed;" that it had been said " more might have been done;" and " that he therefore wished to have the means of going out again;" but we are bound to state that the evidence brought be fore us has not, in our opinion, corroborated the state ment that he expressed to Captain Austin at the time any such sentiments; and it will be seen that Captain Austin distinctly denies having received any communi cation to that effect. 3. Some desultory conversation, h ow ever, certainly appears to have taken place on this subject when Cap tam Austin and Mr. Penny met on the 11th of August, 1851, and it was for this reason that the former (very prudently and properly, in our opinion). pressed Mr. Penny so strongly for his opinion in writing. 4. We think, therefore, that Captain Austin could only form his judgment on Mr. Penny's written nOiniuli nientions, which, although very laconic, were sufficiently explicit, and that, under all the circumstances of the case, much weight is due to the feeling expressed by , Captain Austin in his evidence, that as Mr. Penny's ex pedition was, cquaily with his own, equipped at the pub lic expense, acct receiving its orders from the Admiralty, although independent of his authority, he considered himself bound to abide by the strongly-expressed opi nion of the officer who had by mutual agreement under taken that particular portion of the search, that " all had been dune which it was in the power of man to accomplish." 5. We beg to remark on this part of the subject, that although Mr. Penny endeavours to draw a distinction between Wellington Strait and the channels to the sorth west, which he has since named Queen Victoria's Chan nel, no such distinction appears in the crack chart deli vered by him to Captain Austin at the time, and which we annex to this report; and we, therefore, think that Captain Austin could not fairly be expected to recognise any distinction between the upper and lower part of this channel. 6. It appears to have been under this impression, which we think Captain Austin fully justified in enter taining, that after finding Wellington Strait closed, the ice still presenting the same impenetrable barrier it had done in 1850, he thcichd on ccoupying the remainder of the navigable season in the examination of Jones's Smeel, to which inlet hie own instructions, as weli as Mr. Penny's, directed attention, but which the latter had been unable to explore in the preceding season. 7. We think that considerable benefit might have arisen, especially with reference to future operations in Wellington Strait, it one of the expeditions had re- realned near the entrance about a fortnight longer, in order to obtain the latest information of the state of the ice in that direction, and therefore the probable practi eebtiity of the navigation of this strait, and we think this might have been accomplished by Mr. Penny without involving any serious risk of being detained during the winter; bus we are clearly of opinion that as no certain traces of Sir John Franklin's ships had been met with in any direction beyond their wintering place at Beechey island in 1845-6, and no record of the route intended to be pursued by them could be discovered, after the most diligent [sad repeated search (thus leav ing this question a mere matter of conjecture), both Captain Austin and Mr. Penny were fully justified by the tenour of their Lordships' instructions in not risking their detention in the ice during another winter; and we beg to add that all the most experienced Arctic officers in both expeditions appear to have unanimously con curred in opinion as to the expediency of returning to England. 8. With respect to the conduct of the officers intrusted with the command of the expeditions and several,explor ing parties, we moat gladly express our highest and most unqualified admiration of the seal, energy, intre pidity, and perseverance with which every individual amongst them performed their respective duties. They appear to have been animated by a common feeling of determination to endure every hardship, and brave every danger, in their endeavours to obtain souse traces of their missing countrymen. The journeys accomplished under the most difficult and trying circumstances far ex ceed both in distance and duration any to be found in the previous records of Arctic exploration iu those parallels of latitude; and the arrangements made by Captain Austin and Mr. Penny were so well considered and so complete that all their parties returned (with only one exception) in perfect health, and without having experienced any sufferings beyond those which were in " Parable from severe fatigue in such inclement regions. 9 . With respect to the results of the late expedition, as regards the search for the missing shi p s, on which their Lordships desire our opinion, we may remark tatadtein the first place, it is a matter of no sma ll interest actrnportance to have ascertained wit h certaint y the exact position i n w hi c h they passed the winter of 1845-6, while the careful and minute exploration of the coast to the southwardLieutenanti and westward by Captain Ommaney and whatever of 6 ` t eliatock without discovering any traces very strong presumption John Franklin, would seem to afford a and conjecture,t that he did not pass that way; therefore, naturally turns towards IfCel lington Strait, to one it is well known he had often looked as affording see by of west, and which we a passage to the north examination of the upper pouibieout p l a e rt of the channel appetite to in that direction. form at least a 10. It is not withoutr considerable hesitation and anxiety that we proceed to to the last point; on w hich their Lordships eeque e s p t l y o from any namely, n w hat benefits can be expected anTfurther re of opinion that such sea rc h should e lle p ros esea rch, with t he means and direc tions in which com mitteeb are c utest." g w ho considered ar e t. : I with feelings coldness or indifference the th b o e s i e n should dee . ply grieve at 11. We capable of treating natural and praiseworthy. of formation of the fateof • still without certain in their nearest h in this state and dearest relatives, ; e " and awtheonaturally cling to hope "even against sefuthoughts (as o a p e ' rly towards might be expected) turn g e direction; but w r e th : r e e x9l°- rations, is any and every . derin ealml a d av- felt, at the same time, while cons' g an e .. e . carefully this dif f icult question, that we have equally important duty to perform towards those brave this meritorious m en whose lives must be risked in a m nous and b t eir manner it may be perilous search, and to reflect i n w.asafety. best conducted w ith a due regard t o thinto 12. Taking, theref ore , a ll these circumstances consi deration, we have, after a most careful and anxionsehdie liberation, decided o n recommending to t h e ir Lord ps that an expedition should be dispatched next whichyear to Barrow's Strait , consisting of the same ships com posed Captain Austin's division, namely, two Bailin, s hips and two steamers , with orders toproceed direct to Beechey Island , and to cons ider that harbour—beyond which we think one sailin g shi p and one steamer should on no account be taken—as the base of future operations. 13. We consider any further exploration in the direc tion of Melville Islond or to the south-west of Cape Walker wholly unnecessary; and rai would, therefore, propose that all the strength and energy of the expedi tion should be directed towards the examination of the upper part of Wellington Strait; and we are of opinion that by the adoption of the Jame careful and well-consi dered arrangements which were attended by such satis factory results on the late occasion this examination may o be effected without an y serious risk of loss or usag es. 14. If, on arriving at the proposed rendezvous early l r il en A a n gast, the barrier of ice at the entrance of the Strait iters any attempt to penetrate it unsafe or imprudent, may, e - • convey boats reraaps still be poseibie to on runners or sled' sm all " lanes' which m a y es, or by any offer, and launchwater above, and by this means dep o t s them into the open "'" l ePets of provisions may be advanced to the most convenient Pointesuch further information obtained during the , and as might very remainder of the navigable season ranch facilitate the operations of the en suing spring. 15. These operations m early as possible in the season eat, in that case, be commenced as forward with as ranch pushed rapidityl?eason of 1853, and pru dence, it being clearly understood as is consistent with by all the exploring parties that they must return to the depot at Beechey Island in goo d tune for the ir embarkation of August at lutes t. The object in by the middle sect in view would be to examine the uppe r part of W e lli ngton Strait, as far beyond Mr. Penny's north-western advance as possible; and if Sir John Franklin did really di rection, it appears h i g hl y im p r obable that proceed s in that ome traces of his expedition. s hould not be discovered "" by the ex ploring parties in. their search. ie. If, on the other hand, Wellington Strait is found open and navigable on the arrival of the expedition in the summer of 152, we think one of the sailing ships!, with a steamer, might proceed at once to take advantage of this opportunity, if the officer commanding should judge such a measare safe and prudent, and be thus placed in winter quarters in a more favourable position for commencing the land search in the spring ot 1853, bat with the most distinct injunctions not to advance to such a distance as to endanger their return to the depot, or their communication with it in that year; and it should be enjoined with equal strictness, that, in the event of any irreparable disaster to the ships so pro ceeding, or if they should be too firmly fixed in the ice to be extricated during the summer of 1853, they are to be abandoned, and the crews brought down to the depot. 17. If is, however, proper to provide ;for one possible contingency—namely, that of the difficulty of travelling at a late season, rendering the retreat of the crew to Beechey Island more haas,rdous to their lives than their remaining by she ships (if they are only frozen up) another winter; and in that case the division at Beechey Island, which will be still amply provided with provisions, &c., must remain also until the following year; but this is, we hope, an improbable supposition, and our confi dent belief is, that with the improved equipments and appliances of all kinds which past experience will dic tate, such an exploration may be made in the early part of 1853 as to enable the whole expedition to return to England before the close of the navigable season. 18. It is obviously impossible to provide in a report of this kind for more remote and less probable contin gencies; but their Lordships' instructions to Captain Austin (paragraphs 4 and 7), contain all the discretionary power with which an officer under such circumstances can be intrusted; and we conclude they will be embodied in any future orders on the same subject. 19. We have thought it right to request from the several gentlemen named in the margin* their opinions on this interesting but most difficult question; and we annex their replies, to which we beg to call their Lord ships' attention. 20. We have also requested from Captain Austin and the officers specially employed in his travelling parties such suggestions as to practicable improvements in equipments, clothing, and provisions, as their recent ex perience so well qualifies them to offer. They are an nexed to this report, and will be found of considerable importance. 21. Although our instructions do not advert to the report of the loss of the missing ships received from an Esquimaux named Adam Beck, and to which Sir John Ross in his evidence still attaches much weight, we beg to state that a paper written by Adam Beck, in the pre sence of Sir John Ross and Captain Omme,nney, and purporting to be the substance of information commu nicated to him by another Esquimaux, now in England, named Erasmus York, on the subject of the loss of the ships and the murder of the crews, has, on being trans lated before us by a Moravian missionary, well ac quainted with the Esquimaux language, proved not to contain a single word relating to this occurrence. 22. Adam Beck's subs&quent deposition, which was sent to Copenhagen for translation, has not yet been re turned; but if their Lordships should consider any fur ther inquiry necessary, we would only express an earnest hope that it may be conducted separately, and not al lowed to interfere with the early arrival ot the proposed expedition in Barrow's Strait. 23. With respect to the efforts now making to afford relief to the missing ships in the direction of Behring's strait, we do not venture to offer any suggestions, beyond a hope that, until further accounts are received from Captain Collinson and Commander li`Clure, the Plover may he kept fully provisioned. We have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient ser vents, Wm. BOWLES, Rear-Admiral. ARTHUR FANSHAWE, Rear• Admiral. W. E. PARRY, Captain. F. W. BEECHEY, Captain. GEORGE BACK, Captain. To Mr. J. Parker, M.P., &c., Admiralty. * Rear-Admiral Sir J. Rose, Rev. Dr. Scoresby, Captain Austin, Captain Kellet, Captain Ommanney, Sir John Ri chardson, Mr. W. Penny, and Mr. A. Stewart. THE HOLMFIRTR CALAMITY. Nothing further transpired at Holmfirth up to Friday evening. The coroner's jury viewed the bodies re covered since they last met, but nothing will be done in the way of taking evidence until Wednesday next. A new-born child has been found in the river opposite Hinchcliffe mill dam; but it is supposed to have been purposely placed there since the accident at the reser voir by some unnatural mother to conceal her shame. A large and influent ial meeting was held at Bradford on Friday for the purpose of originating a subscription for the relief of the sufferers by the late calamity at Hulmfirth. Resolutions were passed appointing a com mittee to make an active canvas' of the town, and col lect subscriptions on their behalf. A subscription list was opened in the room, and upward: of 1,0001. was contributed before the meeting broke up. KEIGHLEY.—THE RESERVOlR.—Considerable alarm and rumour have prevailed in this town during the past week respectinz the strength and stability of the em bankment of the Keighley reservoir, situated about five miles above Keighley, on the edge of the moor sepa- 1 rating Yorkshire from Lancashire. This reservoir, we understand, is about as large again as the one at Holm firth which burst. The valley down to Keighley is much more contracted, and the buildings are in greater danger, supposing an accident occurred. Scores of p•ople living on the edge of the beck, which runs down from the reservoir, left their dwellings and slept in other parts of the town. We believe, however, that their alarm was premature. Good watch has been kept and several workmen employed about the embankment, so that it is thought no danger need be feared.—Leeds Mercury. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Who kill'd cock-robin? I, says Lord John, with my bow and arrow, I kill'd cock-robin. from fromrn i t t e ljd the ot rodOt Sta,--But does not Lord John claim here a greater feat than belongs to him ? He may have been the i n strument that bent the bow and let fly the shaft, but who put the bow and arrow in his grasp, and bade him take aim at his companion in the Ministry ? Now, the said arrow having been submitted to in spection, is evidently of German stick, feathered from the Prussian eagle, and pointed with some of the base metal, once attempted to be circulated as coin in Cobourg, for which a certain petty potentate was pretty smartly fined by the Diet, and for which delinquency a certain purse was pretty heavily drawn upon. The arrow thus prepared, it a pp ea r s , was handed s h b e or s n o e v e q r u e i i g v e n r of o t n h e t s h e e r e l a 3 l t m h 3 , l and levelled John's bow on Sunday, the 14th of De cember. The victim, fully se ns ible of the armoury w hence the shaft was issu e d, an d smarting at the many affronts recei v ed fr om the same quarter, and the offensive injunctions and threats of dismissal con veyed to him in 1850, was evidently too proud to a ttempt to shield himself from the blow now so deli berately aimed for his destruction. Having also been at Osborne for an audience—though not as a guest— on the 12th, the Minister must have felt that any explanation required ought to have been asked direct of himself, and not insidiously by a letter on the fol . lo wing day through another. When contempt was thus bred, who can wonder it was shown by silence ? Twang went Lord John's bow accordingly on Sa turday, the 20th, and down with glee a dispatch is dispatched by train to Windsor to boast of what the grea t little man has ventured, of his own free will, and on his own responsibility , as he affects to believe and declare. With still grea t er glee certain German eyes, on opening the dispatc h-b ox with his own key , feasted on its conten ts, and the a g ent for the conti nental alliance , in the fulness of satisfaction, must needs convey the intelligence, by that very night's post, to the emissary Ra dowitz, so g raciousl y received as a guest at W indsor when the Foreign Secretary w as excluded. Such ne ws easily sped to Vienna by the 23d, on which da y the letter was written, certi fying the intelligence a s pu blished b y the Breslau Gazette on the 24th. So much for foreig n e y es with foreign interests at heart, and foreign principles for conscience, having access to all official documents subs Now, who kill'd cock-robin ? A WARNING VOICE. R.EFoRAI OF EPITAPHS. A correspondent of the Builder says—ln your late numbers you have published some instances of curious aa d inappropriate epitaphs on tombstones. I have a coll ection of such i n my possession, and now send you a few from it. From Dorchester, Oxfordshire:— " Her e lies the body of --...., an honest man, And when p he e d v i o e n d sh h i e r owed nobody nothing." " ThiEliwedding- day app o i n t e d was , From And wedding clothes provided; But when the day arrive did, She sickened and she died did." From lllverstone: " Here lies my Wife, Here lies she : Hallelujah, liallelujee." surrounded alller;?lii:atswtoerbr-o-thers, by misfortuott From One dy'd of his wounds, and the I cannot reco llect where I saw thedrownded." following, answ er for its being genuine:— but I can " Sacred to the memory Of Bliss Martha Gwynne, Wh o was so very pure within, She burst the outward shell of sin, And hatched herself a cherubim." [Several other correspondents have favoured ( l i r with collections of similarly . di s t r essing outrages sense,d good taste, propriety, and rig ht feeling; but go od : 43 7210 t think it desirable to p rint them. Our object to aid in awa kening attenti on to the orrors that have been • committed in this resp ect, with the view of inducing th adoption of a better course. The case is fully proved, and needs no strengthening. —ED. Builder.] REMARKABLE FULFILMENT OF A DREA3l.—Dllring the night of Tuesday, Willi am J ac k son , a railway labo urer, res iding at Green liatnmerton, near linaresborough , d reamed that he should be killed on the railway. He awok e and told his wife of the circumstance, whereupon she implored him not to go that morning to his usual labour on the line ; not withstanding whieh he did so, when, strange enough to sta te, h e a ccidently fell fr om a b allast train in the neighbourhood of Flaxby, and was run over, both his legs and right arm being crushed in a dreadful manner. He was brought to the Wheat Sheaf Inn, in this town, where he expired three hours after his arrival. The poor man has left a widow and seven children to bewail his loss.—,Bradford Obs erver, I THE RAILWAY INTELLIGEN CE. LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, at the Nine Elms station, Vauxhall, for the purpose of receiving the report, declaring a dividend, electing three directors, and on general business ; the attendance of proprietors was very large. Lord Morley, the vice-chairman, presided, in the absence of Mr. Chap lin, M.P., who was prevented from attending by indis position. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the secretary read the report, of which the following is an abstract:— " The net revenue for the half-year ending December 31, 1851, amounts, after deducting interest on loans and all other preferential charges, includ ing an extraordinary charge of 10,0001. referred to below, to The surplus from June 30, 1851 2,320 16 1 The balance applicable to dividends, therefore, is From which the directors recommend that a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 5i per cent. per annum be declared, amounting on 6,695,2181. to 175,7491. 95. 5d., leaving to be carried over to the next half-year 8,5481. Os. 9d. The revenue of the half-year ending December 31, 1851, having received the increase due, directly and indirectly, to the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, presents an exceptional result, which prevents it from serving as a criterion from which to judge of the progress of the ordinary traffic. Its prin cipal features are, briefly, an increase of receipts as com pared with the corresponding period of 1850, of 69,113/. Is. 5d.; an increase of expense of 10,8021. 9s. ld. The number of passengers, in comparison with the number in 1850, has been as 1,827,870 to 1,370,788. The num ber of train miles run as 1,126,498 to 951,029. The greateri portion of this additional business occurred in the three months of July, August, and September. The continental traffic formed an important item in the in crease arising from the Exhibition, the numbers of con tinental travellers reaching nearly 1,000 per week during such period. The increase of numbers daring the same period on the main line was about 216,011, and on the Windsor line about 241,072. The increase in the goods and live stock traffic during the last half-year, as compared with 1850, has been, it will be seen, at the rate of about 831. per week, or a total of 4,2861. lls. sd. The receipts from season tickets have improved as 2,9551. to 4,1441, and the number extant has largely increased and is increas ing. It is satisfactory to find that the reaction in the regular traffic, which was anticipated as a probable re suit of the cessation of the excitement produced by the Exhibition, has not yet been appreciably felt by this company; the receipts, counting from one month after the closing of the Exhibition to the present time, having been better by 4,736/. than for the corresponding period of 1850—the same number of miles being opened during each period. The passenger tax on the excursion pas sengers carried during the Exhibition, at end under Id. per mile, in first and second class carriages, has been re tained by this company on the ground of such receipts being legally exempt from the tax. The claim of the Inland Revenue Commissioners for payment of duty on this item is, nevertheless, being prosecuted at law, which the directors cannot but regard as an inequitable and unfair proceeding, when it is considered that it was by means of these excursion trains alone that the mass of the people were enabled to visit the Exhibition, and that such trains afforded the very accommodation which the Act providing ;or the drawback of the tax on tares at and under Id. per mile, was framed to encourage—viz , the securing to the poorer class of travellers the means of traveling at moderate fares and in carriages protected from the weather. In connexion with the subject of plant or carrying stuck, the amount under this head has reached the total set down in the estimate of February, 1850, as the limit to be charged to capital— viz., 570,160/. The capital account for plant, in accord ance with the pledge given, having been closed at the sum above stated, the additional plant required for addi tional traffic, will have to be defrayed out of revenue by successive instalments spread over five years, and a re serve account has been opened to liquidate the cost of such plant. To this reserve account 10,000/. has been carried from the revenue of the last half-year. Persuaded of the importance of making the nearest practicable ap proach to the object so much wished for in railway management, and us yet found so difficult to attain—the closing of the capital account, tho directors propose that the principle of the reserve fund, commenced for the first time this half-year, to provide for additional work ing stock, be extended to such future additions to sta tions and sidings as are found to be necessary for the de velopment of traffic; and that the expense of such addi tions, instead of being charged to capital, according to the practice sanctioned by commercial usage, be also by this company from this time forth put to a reserve ac count, and paid off by revenue, by means of instalments, spread over a given number of years. The directors know no other way of practically closing the capital account, as regards lines opened for traffic, the business on which is increasing; and it is in this conviction that they adopt the course in question. The line from Farnham to Alton is satisfactorily proceed ing to completion, and will be finished in the course of th present half-year. The North and South Junction Railway, 3i miles long, connecting this line with the London and North-Western line, and the railway system of the north and east of England, and the port of South ampton with the docks and warehouses of London, is expected to be ready for opening in the autumn of the present year. Ia consequence of two proposals made to your board during the last summer by the landowners and other influential persons locally interested in the extension of this railway westward, the directors found it necessary to call the proprietors together on the 16th December last, in order to submit these proposals to them, and after a careful consideration of the subject they recommended that the company should sanction en arrangement with the promoters of the central lino pro ject from Salisbury to Exeter, which was almost idens tical in design with that line for which this company, in 1848, obtained powers to construct, and for which object the proprietors of this company then entered into most onerous engagements. This arrangement did not in volve any subscription from this company to the capital for constructing the new line, nor did it involve a ny absolute guarantee. The recommendations of this report were not, however, accepted at that meeting, but a committee of shareholders was then ap pointed to examine into the proposals of the central and coast schemes of extension. The report of that com mittee, of the 22d of December, was adopted at ad journed meetings on the 23d and 31st of December. This report contained the recommendation that the pro posal of the central scheme should not receive the sanc tion of this company, and went on to say that the pro posed extension of the coast lino from Dorchester to Exeter, would add materially to the value of this pro perty, and that it deserves every encouragement and aid which the proprietors individually may be disposed to give it.' The promoters of the coast line have subse quently to this period submitted proposals to your board, but from the nature of these proposals, and the wording of the shareholders' report, the board did not consider themselves authorised to treat upon them; they will ac cordingly be submitted to the meeting of this day by the promoters. Your directors have made arrange ments with Mr. Brassey for completing the works from Basingstoke to Andover as a single line, and at a re duced cost—viz., 74,000/. The works are therefore re commenced. In regard to the remaining portion of the line between Andover and Salisbury, the directors are pursuing the inquiry recommended in the committee's report as to obtaining the lowest estimate at which the works between these places can be completed." The CHAIRMAN, in moving that the report be received and adopted said—Gentlemen, I think you will all agree with me in congratulating ourselves upon the success of the traffic during the last six months; and although we may certainly, in a great measure, attribute the vast in creaseyepeontegsnsitngiexelosuwiets et—ir h onlb i nif c (ptti h coihyeonirh h nuhme a tkaecha s srl enos t we a s)tgnee k —hrdt e ee, bnmraetet but, traffic b a t: fiuteuc:seseentol fairlyto the congratulateG re a t Exhibition, ourselves we h ne a eeo v t hf i mnreteguhecsecotmt Exhibition orn d xao e hrikinyb, satisfactory tittotihhoteenhretesr it ifhnffiaaceeest pe the thator been a satisfactory increase as compared with the same period last year.—(Cheers.) When we look at the number of houses building along the whole course of our line, I think we must be satisfied that, according to the ordinary nature of things, this increase will go on and continue; and, when we look at the fact that our station at Waterloo-bridge is the most central, and there fore the most convenient, of any terminus in London, we cannot but feel that that circumstance must operate upon those who prefer living at some little distance from the metropolis.—(Loud cheers.) In alluding to the traffic arrangements for the Great Exhibi tion, it is impossible too highly to praise the zeal and activity of your servants on that occasion.—(Hear, hear.) They all, from the porter upwards, exerted themselves to the utmost, and it was owing to their ju -dicious arrangements, and the ability with which they carried out those arrangements, that we have been enabled, under the guidance of Providence, to carry the thousands and thousands of persons who flocked to our line, not only without any fatal accident, but without materially interfering with our ordinary local traffic.— (Cheers.) The directors have given a gratuity to each of the servants who were engaged in this traffic during the Exhibition, accompanying that gratuity with a letter expressing their thanks for the zeal and assi duity with which their duties were performed at a time of very great pressure.—(Applause.) The direc tors have borne in mind the frequently expressed wish of the proprietors that the capital accounts of this com pany should be closed, and they have accordingly di rected that for the future all the plant, all the increase in the stations, and any additional sidings, which may be required shall be transferred from the capital to the revenue account.—(Cheere.) This will of course mate rially facilitate the object we have in view of closing the capital account altogether. The auditors have approved of the suggestion, and I fl a tter myself that the manner in which yo u ' received that announcement shows that it ise itteuts e tese e eey t ltn s to y i _aoirudrooaf.pHpreoablathti,on.—(Loud cheers.) An allusion is made in the report to the fact that we were obliged to _build new offices for our clerks and officers. It is abso lutely e t d h , a y t en t d h that should be the case, for the ffitH ces are perfectl unfit for . the purposes for which y ar e the medical officer of manent ud b s uil shall be determined to (Hear, hear.) manner as A PROPRIETOR —I s that to brin g ttoh assures perwoeeaetde r with 1 0 aiot Waterloo-station, that ttahtai otn newbuwhenever offices are it The them into will be Fonsttirounct wedithinthseucphera. i d a i r ng as regards the health of our officers. — into conyanc account? the completion of the Waterloo The CHAIRMAN —No. h t ore o or teshbteea proposals erection put encos, ;if amo t t o nah dee t he eat opaatophs r r ate e t riv portion revenue that sum will be applicable fo o fli ces ,—(Hear, hear.) Some will o be sub mitted to you by the proprietoisre It wall be for you to decide upon those prop o sa ls. The directors did not think they were justified by the wording of the report of the committee which you sanctioned, to take those resolutions into their con sideration, because the encouragement to the scheme which is given in that report is merely given in this way, that the shareholders should encourage it indi vidually.—(Hear,hear.) It does not go beyond that, ed by your directors that the coast a nd it was presut 12 scheme was preferred to the central scheme, because in the one case there were ao guarantees or stipulations de manded; and in the other case such guarantees were required.—(Hear, hear.) The matter is left entirely in your hands to deal with as you please.—(Hear, hear.) The directors have taken the same view as the report of the committee, with reference to the completion of the line between Basingstoke and Andover, and they have entered into a contract with Mr. Brassoy to com plete a single line at as small an expense as possible , a nd s upersedes one o f a muc h heavier nature, previously in e xi s t en ce. —(Hear.) The di twhheicchonwtraasct rectors do not think the vast interests embarked by the South-Western shareholders would be secured if that line were to be in the hands of an independent party, so as to be sold to the highest bidder.—(Hear.) With regard to this line, when we were discussing the merits of the central scheme and the coast line, the expenditure required for the completion of the line was one of the great objections to the central scheme. The directors were fully aware at the time that it was essential for the interests of the company that this line should be ma de, and they only wished that the traffic of the cen tral line should come over it in order that it should pay better then it is likely to do.—(Hear.) From what has occurred since we discussed the merits of these two o nes —the fact that we are compelled to com plete lino and the fact that stipulations are the coast company more onerous than h d hdes edemandeded by th e cen t ra l, ma y open your eyes to dt th eo e ms r ea e nt ason why the directors preferred the one line over the other.—(Hear.) I have great pleasure in informing you that your chairman is gradually recovering from the severe illness under which he has been labouring — (Cheers) —end I trust that in the course of a short time we shall again have the benefit of his advice and assistance at the meetings of the board.—(Cheers.) One word with respect to the candidates offering themselves for re-eleetion. Of course it rests entirely with the shareholders whom they will elect, and it will only be for the directors to support those candidates, whom they think most competent to fill the situation. So far as I am myself concerned—and I believe I speak the feelings of each individual member when I say that we shall regret most exceedingly the loss of any of the three directors with whom we have been acting, who have m i m p o rtant dutie s an d trusts con fided to them—(Cheers) —I o s tcrud al o that h s will be conduct e d w ithout any personal vitupera tion, tion, and with out t h at con f u sion, and disorder which a l, conscientiously, and ably discharg ed the the contest, whatever may be its resul t, YI regret to say h as b een so frequently the characteristic of our meetings.—(Cheers.) Our first business will be z the adoption of the report; our next the declaration of the dividend. The different candidates will then be moved and seconded, and if the minority should demand a poll, it will commence immediately after the show of hands and continue till eight o'clock. It will then be transferred to the York-road, and cuutinued on Friday and Saturday from ten o'clock till five. On Monday and Tuesday the poll will be in the hands of the scruti neers, and on Wednesday at two o'clock we propose to make the final declaration.—(Hear, bear.) The Noble Chairman concluded by proposing that the report be received and adopted. Mr. UPCROFT seconded the motion. Mr. KAY wished to ask a question with respect to the Bodmin and Wadebridge line. From the accounts it was impossible to ascertain the cost of that line, and ho was desirous of knowing the actual expense which had been incurred. He wished also to receive some explanation with respect to three items connected with the Steam packet Company. There was a charge against the re venue account of 2,000/ ; a charge for steam-packets working a ccount o f 4,752/. 9s. 11d.; arid a charge on the capital account of 2,1031. I Is. sd. These three items amounted to nearly 8,000 per annum, and the inference he drew from the accounts was that this was an actual annual loss to the company.—(Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN said with respect to the steam-packet company, the two last amounts referred to by the honour able proprietor were actually on the credit aide— (Laugh ter)—aud the 2,0001. was interest upon a debt of 50,0001—(hear.) Mr. UZIELLI said the expense of the Bodmin and Wadebridge line had been 35,9261. 16s. 3d. There was still a small payment to be made in liquidation of the advances made by the commissioners several years ago, about 1,000/. Mr. KAY—What is the profit? Mr. UZIELLI—I don't see any.—(Laughter.) A PROPRIETOR complained of the law expenses of the company, which during the last halt-year amounted to nearly 8,0001. He thought a great portion of the legal expenses would be saved by the appointment of a law clerk, with a fixed salary.—(Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN skid the subject now broached was considered some time ego by the directors, and very fairly and honestly met by the solicitors to the com pany, but as the Parliamentrry expenses were then about closing, it was not thought desirable to make any alteration. The SOLICITOR to the Company explained that a con siderable amount of the conveyancing bills paid during last year were applicable to a period some time previous, and he believed the sum referred to included a large amount of vendors' costs for conveying the land. Mr. LOCKE, M.P., said that in 1850 the estimated lia bilities of the company amounted to 640,0001., and at that time he was most anxious that some state ment should be laid before the proprietors, showing how those liabilities were to be provided for. In structions were given to the auditors to report every six months upon the expenditure of capital, in order that it might be seen whether the estimates were ex ceeded or not. At the first meeting which took place afterwards it appeared that out of the 640,0001. the sum of 280,0001. had been expended, and at another half-yearly meeting the expenditure was reported to have reached 399,3001. In the present report there was not one word from the auditors on the subject, and be suggested that the report should be amended in that respect. He also complained of the omission of the usual statement with respect to the mileage and the locomotive carriage de partment, and suggested an addition to the report on that point also.—(Hear.) Mr. ALEXANDER HOYES, one of the accountants, said the complaint of the honourable proprietor was in some respect well founded.—(Hear, hear.) He could not say the matter had been forgotten, but he and his colleague had not thought it necessary to report on that subject on the present occasion. Of the 640,0001. there still remained a sum of 180,0001. before that amount would be exceeded. In some cases, no doubt, the amounts estimated had been exceeded, but in others a saving had been effected. He held in his hand a full detail of those matters, which it would be impos sible to state without making a voluminous report. Perhaps the honourable proprietor would be satisfied if a complete report should be made next half-year. The SECRETARY said it had been found impossible to complete the table referred to by the honourable pro prietor. in consequence of the suspension of one of the clerks for misconduct. The information with respect to the locomotive en g in es was now ready, and might be added if the report was to be sent round again. After some further discussion the subject dropped, and the report was unanimously adopted. A dividend at the rate of 5/ per cent. per annum was then declared, subject to the income-tax, to be payable on and after the 28th of February. The meeting then proceeded to the election of three directors. The three retiring directors nominated were the Hon. F, Scott, -I 13 -, Mr. H. C. Lacy, M.P., and Mr. W. Reed; the new candidates were Mr. Sergeant Gioia lee, Mr. T. W. Help, and Mr. C. S. Mortimer. The candidates having severally addressed the pro prietors, a show of hands was taken, which the chair man declared to have fallen on the retiring directors. A poll was then demanded on behalf of the other candi dates. Mr. Alexander Hayes was unanimously elected audi tor of the company. Captain MOORSOM, as a proprietor, and as the repre sentative of a committee which had made a proposition to the board and the proprietors calculated to serve the interests of the company as well as their own district, proposed the following resolution:— " That this meeting, in carrying out the recommen dation of the committee of proprietors appointed on the 16th December last, so as to secure the construction of a coast line in connexion with the lines of the South- Western Railway Company, request the directors now to make such arrangements with the provisional com mittee of the coast line as would effect the object co - sistently with the beat interests of this company." Mr. BUCKINGRAYr seconded the motion. After considerable discussion, in the course of which several amendments and alterations were suggested, Mr. LocKE moved that the proposal of the promotors of the coast line be remitted to the consideration of the directors, and that they be requested to consider the same without delay, and also any new proposals of the promoters o f the central line, and report to a future me eting, or take such other means of communicating their opinion as they ABM think fit. Mr. KAY seconded the motion. After several amendments had been moved and divided upon, the motion of Mr. Locke was agreed to. The pro cee di ngs term i na t e d with a vote o f t h an k s to the chairman and directors, which was briefly ac knowledged. THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE BRIGHTON PA.. YGIZT —The i nques t on the body of Mi ss Mi c helson, of 11, one of Parade, Brighton, who was killed by the falling of the gates of the Brighton Pavilion, in a storm on i ht Tuesda y last, was resumed at the Town Hall on Wednesday night, 111r"d' by adjournment, again on Thursday night, be fore of • F. R. Gell, one of the coroners for the eastern divi sion __ Sussex. The unfortunate lady, who was unmarried, 38 years of age. After a long consultation, the jury re turned a verdict of " Accidental death-" They added an ex pression of opinion that a similar accident was to be appre hended at th e other gate in consequence of the hinges being of cast ir on , and the recommended that the present hinges be replaced by hing es o f wrought iron , o r that such m eas ures be taken by the local comm i ss i on ers as they may de na cessarY to protect the this morn public from any recu rrence of susuchac cidents. Mi ss Langridge, who, alth ou g h bru i sed, rot w ose seri ously injured, is reco vering; a nd Mr. Sheriff wh c "regarded as very precarious, lit!s, ing had som e refres h in g sleep, and his recovery is now confi dently anticipated. EXTENSIVE SMUGGLING —On Fri day thirty-t wo IN LIVERPOOL. tierces, entered as containing pork and ham, were landed in the Albert D oc k, Liverpool, from the ship Charles Sanders, recently arrived from America. On Satur day the Customs had them examined. Five tierces were opened, and out of the live four were found to be almost tilled with leaf tobacco. The remaining tierces and the ve sse l were then seized. The Charles Sanders belongs to a Liver pool firm, who deny that they had any knowledge of th e transaction. , FRANCE A portion of the property belonging to the heirs of the late King Louis Philippe was put up to sale on Saturday in the Civil Tribunal of First Instance of the department of the Seine, with all the formalities required by the law. The property was composed of three lots, namely, w hat is known as the Pavillon de Wurtem berg and its dependencies ; a house, situate at Neuilly, and an orchard appertaining to the great park of Neuilly. The first was sold for 95,000 f., exclusive of charges ; the second, 9,000 f. ; and the third, 7,050 f., The sale attracted a considerable number of persons, no doubt in consequence of the decree of confiscation of the 23d •f January. It may be right, however, to observe, that the sale was without reference, and may be said, not withstanding that decree ; and the fact of its not having been arrested by the law officers of the Govern ment in consequence ofthat decree has appeared strange, and in fact inexplicable to the friends of the Princes of the Orleanz family. The sale was decided on before the decrees in question, indeed, in virtue of an order of the Tribunal of First Instance of this department, hearing date the 12th of April, 1851, the 23d of July of the same year, and the 10th of January, 1852, and at the request of the heirs of Louis Philippe ; and it would appear as if the execution of that order took place in order to try whether the decree of confiscation would be attempted to be carried out by the Government. No opposition, how ever appeared, though the sale had been previously made known, and the Procureur of the Republic was present. It is not, however, believed by the friends of the Orleans family that the absence of interference on the part of the Government is any indication that the wrong committed by that decree is intended to be remedied by its repeal; but they declare they believe themselves unable to explain the fact of nothing having been done or said to put a stop to the proceeding. The orders for carrying the decree into execution have not yet been transmitted by the proper officer to the party charged with the management of the property. LONDON, TUESDAY E VEN IN G-, BELGIUM. In the sitting of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium on the 10th, one of the Members, M. St- NATE, made some very offensive remarks on Eng land. In the sitting of the following day the subject was again alluded to, and the discussion terminated as follows : "M. d'Hoffsmitt, Minister of Foreign Affairs, pro tested against the language used by M. Sinave with re spect to the Britannic Government. The Minister affirmed that the Belgian Government had only to speak in terms of encomium of the good faith, sympathy, straighttorw ard dealing, and kindness of QucenVictoria's Government towards Belgium. In presence of such friendly conduct on the part of the Cabinet of St. James's, the Government protested energetically against the language of M. Sinave. " M. Sinave said—The words which I pronounced yesterday I maintain to-day. The English Government is a Government of pirates. " The President—M. Sinave, withdraw your expres sion or I shall call you to order. " M. Sinave withdrew the expression." The Emancipation of Brussels states that M. EMILE DE GIRAILDIN has written to the Prince PRESIDENT to solicit permission to return to France The Precurseur of Antwerp says—" M. (-;-_REPro, who has completely given up all connexion with poli tical affairs, has, it is said, just been engaged as fore man in one of the principal silk manufactories in Switzerland. Before entering on political life, he was considered as one of the most skilful and intelli gent workmen in that branch of business." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb.,!l6. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo: sick at Five o'clock. MAYNOOTH GRANT. _ _ The Earl of Re DEN presented a petition from the Protestants of the city of Dublin against the continu ance of the grant to Maynooth. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that since he had given notice of his intention of putting a question to the Noble Marquis opposite on this subject notice had been given in the other House of Parliament for the appointment of a Committee on the subject; and there fore the only question which he could put now would be on what day it was intended to move for a Committee i❑ this House. He should also wish to know whether, on moving for these Committees, her Majesty's Govern ment were prepared to lay before them ample informa tion on the present condition of the country; and he would venture to hope that that information would com prise all the papers necessary to throw light upon his (the Noble Earl's) rectal from India. Whatever might have been the motives which induczd Sir Robert Peel to refuse the production of these papers, eight years ago, they could now exist no longer, and he thought that when the time came to fix the nature of the future government, these papers would be of the greatest use in considering the relations be tween her Majesty's Government and the government of the Court of Directors. With regard to the latter part of his question, relating to the armament sent to Ran goon, he would wish to be informed whether the Indian Government had taken care to ascertain by trustworthy agents the truth of the representations which had in duced the Government to dispatch the armament. He could recollect the circumstance attending certain claims brought forward by a celebrated person—Don Pacifico. Athens rejoiced but in one Don Pacifico, but he could assure the Noble Marquis that there were dozens of Don Pucificos at Rangoon, if there were not the strongest misapprehensions and grossest misrepre sentations on the part of all persons who at any time had been indirectly connected with India, and who bad written with regard to Rangoon and Ave. Rangoon was the sink of Asia; it was the Alsatia to which all went who could not live elsewhere—persons who found the rest of Asia too hot for them, and who went there and endeavoured to obtain a new reputation and new for tunes. He was the more inclined to regret that this course was not adopted, because as soon as the commo dore arrived he found the case different from what he expected it to be. All sorts of persons came with griev ances; all the Don Pacificos made their complaints, and it was said that he was obliged to send to Calcutta for fresh instructions. He had no doubt the King of Ava would do justice, but he felt confident that he would do no more than his commissiouers recommended him to do. He should like to know distinctly the grounds on which the expedition was sent to Ave; whether any attempt had been made to ascertain the truth of the statement which had been made? And if the Noble Marquis could tell him, he should like to know what the objects of her Majesty's Government were, and to what extent it was intended to press on the Government of Ava conditions which might not be altogether acceptable to them? -- - The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was, of course, the wish of her Majesty's Government to afford all the information relative to the important subject of the future government of our Indian empire, in order to enable Parliament to form that deliberate judg ment which the subject merited, and when that information was produced it would be for the Noble Earl, if he did not think it sufficient, to move for any addition. With regard to the latter part of the Noble Earl's question, the arrival of the Indian mail had happily brought intelligence that the dispute with the Government of Rangoon bad been settled in an ami cable manner. He, of course, was not aware whether the King of Ava was sincere in the arrangement, but he could say that no steps had been taken by the Indian Government to dispatch an armament to that quarter without having been fully satisfied that several British subjects had been treated by the authorities at Rangoon in the most unjust and vexatious manner. The state of the question was this :—ln June last a distinguished officer employed by the company, Colonel Ogle, then superinten dent of the nearest settlement to the port of Rangoon, re ported to the Governor-General and Council that a merchant of high respectability and character had satisfied him that he had undergone at Rangoon grievous acts of injustice ; and Rangoon being a port occasionally resorted to by European ships for the purposes of commerce and shelter, he thought that redress ought to be demanded. It was represented to him that a person having been led into Rangoon by the ignorance of his pilot, and having found fault with him, the man threw himself overboard ; that it was then laid to his charge that he had endeavoured to drown the pilot, the object being to obtain pecuniary compensation which he was not entitled to pay; and that the merchant and his crew underwent the most vexatious treatment. The Governor of Rangoon directed a court of arbitration to be held on the subject, and that court having pronou n ced in favour of the captain of the ship, the Governor arbitrarily set aside the award and required him to pay the alsoarge the deceased a considerable sum of money ;. a It was amount for the benefit of the Governor h r also represented to Colonel Ogle that anoth a e obliged to pay suffered vexatious treatment, having bee been accused of the himself. eerchant had wages he was not entitled to pay, and murder of a man who died from natural cazse. in India the ations were of a kind so enormous pencil Colonel Ogle N OTO upOn this expe to submit to the President and C ground - upon diency of obtaining redress. Itotahsat. the Governor-General the responsibility of Colonel (30ti; the President and Council, of.lndia, in communication w s ufficient force to demand Rangoon with a s suggested it to be his opinion that Commodore Lambert should be sent to &in eases. When he came there he reparation in those p_e was, as the Noblesharl had stated, assailed by several Don Persons came to the Commodore and made Mane per Pacificos. their grievances; and those cases exceeding statements of cas e for which. he was ordered to demand re d ress, t h e specific he exercised a wise discretion by abstaining frroesmenptreoaceteodbinegsos against t he gevernor,whose conduct was re uniformly unjust and . . exorbitant; but he feted with justice and propriety, addressing, in most decisive terms, the King of A va , demanding reparation ; and the result was, that the ici n g a pproved of the course which Commodore Lambert had taken ; he admitted that satisfaction was due from him ; and the governor who had so misconducted himself was imme diately removed from his place. An arrangement was made which he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) had no reason to think would not be fairly carried out ; the course proposed was to send two persons to the spot, to find the nature of the injustice which had been done, and the compensation which was due. He must presume this would be , such as the nature of the case required; and it appeared to him that Colonel Ogle re presenting the British interests, the Governor-General, and the Commodore employed, had done their duty in a most satisfactory way, with a view to the interests of the count'? and the honour of the Crown.—(Hear, hear.) THE TROOP SHIP MEGA:ERA. The Duke of MONTROSE wished to ask a question ofitillade Government with reference to the ship Me sera, whie. h . , wan re s been employed to take out troops to the Cape, aa coin ference to which a letter had appeared in the plaining of the want of accommodation for the consequence men, as well as for their arms and baggage , Pa They had Toigceers and of the quantity of ordnance stores 04 board. FEBRUARY l7, 1852. also been embarked at Dover, and within forty-eight hours had encountered a heavy gale in the Channel. The sea stores and stock belonging to the officers were placed on deck in a most disgraceful manner, and from the want of proper caulking the water poured into the vessel in a most unusual manner. The ship had arrived at Madeira, and by private letters which he had received, he learnt that this defect con tinued throughout the voyage, to the great discomfort and annoyance of the troops. He wished to ask what amount of ordnance stores were on board, and to whom the blame of the inconveniences complained of attachel? The Earl of MINTO (who was all but inaudible in tke gallery) was understood to say that the ship had been fitted up with more than the usual care; that inquiry had been made as to the number of men she could take, and the autho rities at Sheerness stated that 702 men could be conveniently accommodated in her; that 677 officers and men were sent on board; and afterwards, when the Birkenhead was fitting out to convey troops to the Cape, the Admiralty suggested that 100 of the rifle corps should be transferred to that ship, but the answer was, that the officers preferred remaining to gether. The ship was fitted up with every comfort; she sailed in bad weather; and if the master had done his duty, he would have taken shelter, and completed his stock at some other port than Plymouth. Lord COLCHESTER did not think it had been sufficiently explained why the troops were embarked at Dover instead of in smooth water ; and he thought that an officer of greater rank than a master in the navy should be appointed to the command of ships conveying troops. The Earl of MINTO made some observations, which were inaudible, but was understood to agree to the suggestions that an officer of higher rank should take the command of troop ships. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII would recommend the Noble Duke by and bye to move for the doctor's report, which would be the true test of the conduct of the Admi ralty. It was inure important that 400 troops should be landed in a state of efficiency than 600 suffering from the effects of the voyage. This subject had been brought under his attention by the expedition to China, when the 98th Re giment fell to pieces as soon as it landed from the want of proper accommodation on the passage. The Megmra must have been overcrowded. Her burden was 1,400 tons, from which the machiaery had to be deducted; and there ought to be one ton and a half, if not two tons, to every man. He should move for a return of the number of persons on board, 6 including the crew, consisting of 200 persons, and the women and children. _ _ _ Earl GREY had no objection to the return, but would ad vise the Noble Earl to wait for the doctor's report. - He had the satisfaction of stating that all the regiments which had hitherto been sent out to the Cape had been landed in a most sal tisfactory state. The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND defended the con• duct of the master of the Megtera, which the Noble Ear (Minto) had impugned. THE PATENT LAWS. Lord BROUGHAM said that he would recommend their Lordships not to adopt two or three of the amendments made by the other House of Parliament in this Bill last session, giving to the patent agents a perpetual monopoly; but, setting aside those amendments, he hoped their Lordships would agree to a measure embodying the clauses in the Bill of last session; and such was the measure which he had introduced the other night, and which was read a first time. He wished to make this explanation because the Noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who brought in a Bill on the subject last year, was not present when his Bill was read a first time the other night. Lord STANLEY, of Alderley, said the Government Bill of this year was very similar to that of last year. SECRETARY OF BANKRUPTS' OFFICE ABOLI TION BILL. On the motion that this Bill be read a third time, Lord BROUGHAM said it had been stated in the other House that this Bill was a job of Lord Cottenham's ; he could only say it was a job to get rid of 3,0001. a year now paid by the public. After a few words from the LORD CHANCELLOR, who said the officer who held the appointment was quite ready to give it up, the Bill was read a third time and passed. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 16. The SPEAKER took the Chair at a tew minutes before Four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Captain DUNCOMBE took the oaths and his seat for East Retford. PRIVATE BILLS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed: — Aberdeen Boys' and Girls' Hospitals. Athlone Markets and Customs. Barnstaple Markets and Fairs. Belfast Gas. Birkenhead Docks. Birkenhead Dock Trustees and Birkenhead Dock Company. British Empire Mutual Life Assurance Company. Deeside Railway. East Anglian Railways. Exeter Roads. Forth and Clyde Navigation. Frome, Yeovil, and Weymouth Railway (No. 1). Frome, Yeovil, and Weymouth Railway (No. 2). Great Western, Shrewsbury and Birmingham, Shrewsbury , and Chester, Shrewsbury and Hereford, Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and ,Cheshire Junction, and Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway Companies. Ipswich Dock. Kingston-upon-Hull Dues and Docks. Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction Railway. London (City) Improvements. London (City) Small Debts Extension. Londonderry and Coleraine Railway. Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway. Patect Solid Sewage Manure Company. Retford and Littleborough Road. Skipton and Craco Road. South Staffordshire Railway. South Wales Railway. Sunderland Waterworks. Ulverstone Waterworks. York and North Midland and East and West Yorkshire Junction Railways. RAMSGATE ROYAL HARBOUR BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this Bill, Sir F. BARING requested that it might be postponed, as the Admiralty were in negotiation with the part ies upon the subject. Mr. HUME said the Bill ought to be taken up by the Government, n order that the obnoxious tolls which were levied upon the British shipping going from the north to the south might be abolished. Sir F. BARING said that was the object of the post ponement. Mr. WAWN said it was the bounden duty of the Government to repeal these tolls, since they had abo lished the navigation-laws. The Bill was then ordered to be read a second time ou Monday next. PETITIONS. Mr. MACGREGOR presented six petitions, nume rously- signed, from the distillers, brewers, landlords, house factors, and spirit merchants of Glasgow and its neighbourhood against the Public Houses (Scotland) Bill. The petitioners set forth that the amount of spirituous liquors made use of is Scotland was by no means disproportioned to the population, as the framers of the present measure erroneothly assumed; nor did it amount to the quantity of spirituous and fermented liquor consumed in England, France, and other Euro pean states; and therefore that it was " a gross and de liberate insult" to the people of Scotland, to assume and assert that a different system of legislation is necessary for them to restrain their intemperate habits than is re quired for the rest of her Majesty's subjects. Mr. J. ELLIS presented a petition from Leicester against church rates. Mr. J. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Mac clesfield, praying for the abolition of the post-horse duty. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from Liver pool, praying for the abolition of the Maynooth grant Mr. B. HUGHES presented a petition from Wales, praying for the abolition of the post•horse duty. Sir G. CLERK presented a petition to the same effect from Dover. Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from Dublin, praying for an amendment of the Irish Poor-law. Mr. CROWDER presented a petition from a place in the West of England, complaining of the continuance of the Kafir war. Mr. EWART presented a petition from the Society of British Artists for the grant of part of the National Gallery for the purpose of exhibition, in the event of the removal of the national pictures therefrom. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Drog heda, in favour of the Tenant Right Bill; and, also a petition from Rochdale, in favour of national education supported by local rates, in Aulnr.nisSkCirieLn,LYpraypirnegsenfoterdontwaoinponetdimtioenest offrotmhe poor-law. placeslrish Mr. HUME presentedapetitioonf tfhreeinp colonies, praying for a reduction osthteegAe levied d li o an n colonial letters. ONT presented a petition M Mr. GEORGE THOM b praying rlt for E the ßU C ab K ol p tti o Sheffield,resented9l..„liixaepseotnitilo,nnowirioemdg. ainst the Militia Bill. .61 O'aONNOR. from the Tower Halle . ts_a Mr. Fe argue O'Connor incarcerationent er d e d tthhanet appearan c e. House c o i s d h b o shortly after em e d ath-fields four o'clock. Ills er 13 walkedlla er a s round s nothingeg a t h e h o a f n a ds ge t la vi t t le h m t a h n e . most to indicate that clad endured a punishment so de r d• pprailseoannhdaesanreo w t o i h ni rn Pr ll v : d be h y l o s n not to see prominent of the impossibletg y ksw re a c s egnition was returned rather that for a thi s s ho a r t- t on the Government benche s goosets lu n e g eme mp t s to ta tet at tnse down fr f wh e i seun e inti l while, and obtruded his observations upon several of its occupants. Lord J. Russell listened to him for a few minutes, nodding his head by wa y of assent; but at length, finding the interruption unpleasant, sou gh t a refuge the inn dispatch box which laid on th e Amon g other Members with whom he shook ' h t' and s . were Mi. Spooner, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Milner Gibson, an d Mr . Ba ines ' Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from a public meeting at Salford iu favour of secular education sup ported by local rates. DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND. Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice of an amendment to the moti o n of an Hon. Member opposite in regard to the disturbed districts in Ireland. The amendment was to the effect that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the immediate causes of crime . and outrages i n Armagh, Monaghan , nod Louth, and into the efficiency of the law for their suppGression. BYURANTS. Mr. HUME moved for a return showing the number w i t h emigrantsonoard, during the last fi ve of vessels which have sailed b from ports in the United distinguishing whether each ports are under the lyiehatl;oLtie super i n tendence o f an emi g ration offi c er or not; with a stateme nt, so far as the sam e can be made out, of the number of such ships which have been wrecked or destroyed at sea, and the number of lives so lost. — Agreed to. COLLECTION OF PUBLIC INCOME. Lord JOHN MANNERS moved for returns of the annual charge upon the public income for the collection of the excise duty since 1842, and the number of men e mployed in the department on the sth day of January in each year, together with the names of any article; on which the deti. , .; I),yq been sane-led, av d the erneur,t of such dunes; and of the annual charge during the same period of the expenses connected with the collection of the Customs revenue, together with the names of aDY articles on which the duties have been repealed, and the amount of such duties.—Agreed to. WAR ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. Mr. HUME inquired whether the Government were prepared to lay on the table any information with re gard to the causes of the war on the west coast o Africa, in which 70 men and officers had been killed or wounded. Lord J. RUSSELL said he would have no objection to lay on the table the correspondence which had passed on the subject. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER. Mr. FOX MAULE gave notice that on Friday next, the 27th, he would move for the appointment of a Select Committee to take into consideration the present state of the atlairaof the East India Company, and to inquire into the operation of the Act of William IV., and to report thereon to the House. IRISH CENSUS. In reply to Mr. HA MILTON, Sir W. SOMERVILLE said the general census of Ireland for 1851 would not be completed till August in the present year. He would, however, be able to lay some statements before the House in regard to the po pulation when the Irish Franchise Bill camp under discussion. MANCHESTER AND SALFORD EDUCATION BILL. In reply to Mr. W. PATTEN, Mr. BROTHERTON stated that he had agreed to postpone the second reading of his Bill until Wednesday week. The order was then read and fixed for that day. EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND. In reply to Mr. MACKENZIE, Lord J. RUSSELL stated that a measure was in Pre' partition on the subject of education in Scotland, which he hoped to bring in in the course of the present session. FIRE IN THE HOUSE. Mr. SPOONER wished to know whether Lord Sey mour could give the House any information with regard to the fire, or alarm of fire, in a Committee-room of the House on Saturday? Lord SEYMOUR said he had not yet received a re port upon the subject, but he had heard it arose from an mane of gas. POPULATION RETURNS. Sir B. HALL said a return of the number of electors in the different towns had been made out and delivered this morning, which was inaccurate as to the numbers returned for Finsbury and Marylebone; and he should be glad to know if it was intended to correct these iliac euradee? Slr G. GREY was not aware that there were any, but he would make inquiry into the matter. Sir DE LACY EVANS said Westminster was re turned as containing a population of 120,000, whereas it was 220,000. Mr. GEORGE 'PHONIPSON said a similar mistake had been made in reference to the Tower Hamlets. HARWICH ELECTION. Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notice that he should to-morrow move that a new writ be issued for the borough of Harwich without previous notice. THE MILITIA. Lord J. RUSSELL then moved that the part of her Majesty's Speech which related to the raising of the militia bo read. This having been done, the Noble Lord moved that the House do resolve itself into a Coln" mitten for the purpose of taking into consideration the lees relating to the militia. Mr. HUME hoped the Noble Lord would state what was to be done before going into Committee. He saw no necessity fur calling out the militia; on the contrary, be thought such a proceeding would, p p r ,, o a i e l e u e e b o le gr p e a a r t ti e e t s el f a re n tu d m th e e c i h r c h o u n ut fu e s s io , n e , n a d s t it hu w s ou b l e d t h e l th means of breaking up their businesses. Lord J. RUSSELL thought it b e tt e r to state wha t he intended to be done when they got into Committee, as the House would then hav e th e o pp ortu nity of asking questions upon the details. Mr. REYNOLDS wished to know if the proposed measure was to apply to Ireland. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he would state 1.0 Committee. The House then went into Committee, when Lord JOHN RUSSELL again rose and said, i n 048 he made a statement to the House with respect to the defences of the country, and in the course of tlist statement he said he thought it would be desirable it; form a foundation for a permanent reserve force in t 0 country, to meet the wants of the active service in Os. of attack. Unfortunately the proposition for militia force did not meet with any very geae ral approbation, and it was ultimately w ithdrawn• ho (Hear.) Ho merely recalled the recollection 0 C !„, House to the circumstance to prove that in the opis'' e of the Government it was then, as indeed it was now, l , s s to make some additional provision for the defence of the country.—(Hear, hear.) At that time King Lou ! Phlilipe was on the throne of France, an d there wa s a l :: sign whatever of any approaching danger; nets indeed, was there any now, but it was lie d i. theless still necessary to make some "" tional provision for the peace of the countrp without in any way intending to throw any d oubt uPen the assurance of her Majesty that we wer e at pace' and hoped to remain so, with all the world." 7 (Hear, bear.) But at the same time it never could..n,e. as sysrm. countryedv v t h oe aomtu might h etboefu._snretcri secure et in auf rceettmh have position vhe e tdos ur l iegkpeeer repel u h f a t v o i f , r seiner tier gression on the part of seine powerful enemi'toe the we es were hiE übreopuendtebydetfreenadtytitiLl leap t° Of might have some dispute with respect I n the right of some of her Majesty's subj,cts abroad• third many place, es° act to attack. An Hon. MEMBER asked what countries ? A by' Lord JOHN RUSSELL s • aid we were bowl - „„ i treaties,Queen of Fort l3s for instance, to protect the ln the and other similar states en the continent. ha d fourth place, fur more than a century w e es ted been closely connected and deeply inruroPe' in the maintenance of the Continental system of - re sist and under that system we might be called upon In t he any aggrandizsment or increase of power n a t bst in case part of any state that was a party te w system, or to maintain our moral strength . eot o f corresponding with foreign nations upon the sub tha t any supposed or actual increase of territory red wuy.—(l - lear, hear.) It was necessary to he P re : a /elf for such emergencies as those, but unfortuarieen there was another question which ba d f o r a topican and in iu r b s o books, in of late years to show the necessity so mu ch reserved militia force, and which had been hie in m re a v d ie e w a s the other side of the Channel, briefly' was quite unnecessary for him to more tha n that that allude to it.—(Cheers.) He referred to the a . e sion since the invention of the steam teloenvsTjored ii i l vt P b alljP t . sh h is et sae t d t this country could no longer be r iy, ob so saes from aggression as it was for we by t he un invasion was rendered almost impossible stacks which nature had thrown in the way ' o f Those 0 obstacles or at least marl . ore had, however, or in a great Inea' sv i g ation moved by the development of steam n fficn ity el and there was now no longer the sanic st a ed t former ly. effectiug a landing upon our coast Sso'rcuexmist it 0 1 —(llear, hear.) Now, under these the militia, the thought necessary to reorganizeuuturious fact that this more so, as it was a so large a military force up country did not keep d.d to hence this wa s a for its protection as t all its nei ghbours, subjectl3 w hich in the peculiar et a of continental a ffa ir s called for the immediate attention Hear, hear.) He would sal of the Leglature--( our and only a few words, with regard to few words, he With respect to our naval forces military forces. res ent, make a single observation at to believing that it would be much better ' .l hi e Right Honourable Friend the First L e !, b of the Admiralty to disclose what was to be done w" l , , that branch of the subject on a future occasion.--(3esbe b ea r ) Now, with respect to our military force, as would take the opportunity of stating that it s proposed to increase the number of our regular trooPo by 4,000, and the artillery by 1,000 men. The , " b a d a l' numbers together would than „ not make more n g on ready been drafted off for the purpose of c arryi . the IC —eft war.—(Hear, hear.) With regarde to the second ' r. that t he to he stated Commande r -i n -Chi e f an d t h e M as t e r of the Ordnanee had turned their attention to the improved arms An muskets which had been introduced, and were well k e n_ to have a much longer range than those used forra.rt7t4; and steps would be taken to furnish the army with ton . improved arms when they were found to be succesrsen The Noble Lord then proceeded to state the natu,,...usi his Bill for amending the laws relating to the „lq 3o militia. He detailed the objects and provisions of . 1 :01 and said the militia previous Acts on the subject, he now proposed would be of a very different _lO scription. He proposed, in the first place, to ,ca: ha t with regard to the officers. Ile propose ° n t, a change two-thirds should be appointed by the Lord-Lieu t e e an d one field officer and one-third of the captains by re. Crown. The Lord-Lieutenant would] not.; r aw -- strieted as to the qualification of the on' tho se he would not be required to appoint onli e wou ld also be property in the county. Th er a ra erlY also be an alteration with regard to the men- - tc r o f it 3 all were liable to be balloted between the ages of and 30. Now he thoughr, if a shorter number years was fixed as the limit, there would be a t os s diminution in the cost of the militia, as well as s F ha t relief to the population. He, therefore, proposeds l d for the first year the ages between which personstortvs be subject to ballot should be between twenty and e ats three. In future years the limit would be froin_tvTroit to twenty-one years of age. The fit'st,,ooo - give about 80,000 men, and in the secondoe' ;fle OW - - The balloting would be conducted upon the 00 ._, b e principles:—one -fifth of those balloted r_rasin. taken, and ten per cent. of those e to W et ing would be left as a reserve all oases in which excuses were made orunon lifications proved. There would be the same exa s a,L oio Provo' d and the same right of appeal as formerly. „ A s ad had :st, to had been introduced to enable persons ld be" 30 to volunteer for the local militia ; they woh serve one year less than the balloted militia. __ w , four Y • e d service of the local militia would be air they might be re i c i resa and by an order in Council an to serve six months longer. The Crown, on a s a i e ls addittou a, might require au dditioa from both Houses, s mouths, making alto g ether twelve month.th aced wl serv i ce when the country was men .. cre to dsag es i Next came the que3tionas to how the men battali on trained. The militia would be formed into on fur fourte e r the an d t hey would have to assem ble , ve e or consecun s „etAr• twenty-eight days (not necessarily ebssene n ' f ed '‘ .l fi rs t rar, ' re traini n g They would nave to undergo three ) hours 9, , f d a y i drilling, • which would be counted n an d allo oe A tit. They would have the VW ~,„, m u ggy PP- Kepler Doldi9ro, 011 " r-