The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-24 00:00:00

YORK RACES. (THIS DAY-BY EXPRESS.) The Bramham Park Stakes of 100 Bove. each, 30 One mile and a half. Ladybird The Lamb The Filly Stakes of 15 sous. each, &c. Two miles. Queen of the May Camphine Loadstone The Old Produce Stakes. ... 1 ... 2 walked over Queen's Plate of 100 guineas. Inheritress Tuscan ... ..• ... ... THE GREAT EBOR HANDICAP OF 200 SOVS Mr. S. L. Fox's Meaux Captain Harcourt's Ellerdale ... Mr. B. Green's Sylvan... Mr. Murphy's Dough ... Ellerdale and Sylvan ran a dead heat for second place, Fifteen started. ... o ... o fourtblibritton SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock ELECTION COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) CHELTENHAM. At the sitting of the Committee this morning, Mr. R. GURNEY applied to the Committee to substi tute the name of Mr. Gardner for that of Mr. Berkeley in the return made by the Mayor of Cheltenham. He grounded this application upon the fact, which he proved, that a notice was given to the electors some days before the election, that inasmuch as Mr. Berkeley had been guilty of treating at the previous contest, he was ince pacited from offering himself again as a candidate for the seat. Mr. JAMES, on behalf of the electors, resisted the ap plication on the ground that as Mr. Berkeley had de clared, both in print and at the hustings, that he was not disqualified, they bad no right to presume that the notice given on the other side was legal, until a tribunal had decided upon the truth of the allegation it contained. The Committee took the same view of the matter, and refused the application. They then agreed to a resolution declaring the Last election for the borough of Cheltenham to be a void election, and their labours terminated. HORSHAM. This Committee were engaged the whole day in re ceiving rebutting evidence of the alleged briberies com mitted by Mr. Fitzgerald, the sitting Member, and his agents. THE NORTHERN COUNTIES UNION RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprie tors of the Northern Counties Union Railway was held this afternoon at the. London Tavern; Major Beresford, M.l'., in the chair. The report expressed the regret of the directors at their being unable to obtain Parliamentary sanction to remove the restriction which their original Act imposed on the outlay of capital. A large amount of arrears still remained due on the first and only call. The call was made in April, 1847, and the arrears now duo amounted to 37,3951., out of a sum of 89,5051. Under these cir cumstances, the directors deemed it prudent for the pre sent to curtail all further outlay, and to economise ev e ry expense. With this view the office establishment had been reduced, the engagement with the engineer had been terminated, and it was intended that the remuneration hitherto paid to the directors should hereafter cease. Ihe balance-sheet showed that the expenditure of the last half-year amounted to 18,7111. ss. 6d., while the ba lance in hand was set down at 76,7914 1 Is. 7d. The total receipts of the company from the commencement up to the present time amounted to 206,4701. 3s. 4d. The report was adopted, after which the directors were authorised to forfeit 162 shares upon which the calls had not been paid. This closed the business of the half-yearly meeting. The shareholders then resolved themselves into a special general meeting, for the purpose of deciding upon the future proceedings of the company, Major Beresford still retaining the chair. The CHAIRMAN said it was the general opinion of the board that there were three courses open to the adop tion of the shareholders, namely, to authorise the direc tors to make a heavy call and proceed with the works; 2dly, to dissolve the company ; or, 3dly, to suspend tho works till the arrival of better times. In the existing state of things the two first courses were impolitic, if not absolutely impossible, and ho therefore recom mended the shareholders to rest upon their oars, and wait till they had an opportunity of seeing what other companies would do. Atter a lengthened discussion it was proposed and carried unanimously, that the directors be invested with full p 'Avers to treat with all parties for the suspension of the works, and to enter into agreements for the sale or leasing of the line, such sale or lease not to be fulls' carried out , without the sanction of a special general meeting of the shareholders. 'Thank, were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting terminated. EAST AND WEST INDIA DOCK AND BIRMINGHAM JUNCTION RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) A meeting of the shareholders in this company was hell today at their offices, 12, Old Broad-street, when Mr. Thomas Young the deputy chairman of the coin pai,y presided. 'I he advertisement convening the meeting having been rend, a report was submitted by the directors, !rem which it appeared that though some difficulty had been experi enced in obtaining possession of the property necessary for the formation Af the line, contracts had been let advan tageously for three portions, and six miles and a half in length is now in the course of rapid construction. A conditional agreement has been entered into with the Blackwall Railway Company, by which the traffic of the junction line will be carried over that line, and in consideration of the formation of a branch of about half a mile in length by the Junction Company, so as to meet the Blaclo% all extension line at Bow, the company is to obtain the free use of the termini both in Fen church-street and at Blackwall. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts from calls, interest, transfers, and other sources, were 242,186/. 18i. 2d. The disbursements were for the pre limiriary expenses of the company, 11,2201. Ils. Id.; for the purchase of land, 182,083/. Bs. 3d. ; expended upon the works, 18,9001. ; making a total, with some addi tional minor items of 234.930/. 2s. Bd. ; Which left a balance in hand of 7:2561. 15s. 6ci. The CHALIIMAN, after a brief recapitulation of the several heads, arid having pointed out the advantages which must accrue to the property from working har moniously with the Blackwall Company, moved the adoption of the report. After some conversation the resolution was adopted, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman and di rectors, the meeting was dissolved. NORFOLK RAILWAY COMPANY (THIS DAY.) A general meeting of this company was held to-day at their offices in Guildhall-buildings ; Mr. Dove in the chair. The report, which was very brief, stated, that in accordance with the resolution passed at the special gene ral meeting of the proprietors of this company, on the 2d May last, the agreement with the Eastern Counties Com pany was duly executed and exchanged; and upon the 7th May all the lines belonging to this company were placed in the hands of the Eastern Counties Company. A joint committee, composed of three directors of the Norfolk board and four directors of the Eastern Counties board, has been appointed, and the traffic continues to be fur ther developed, while the expenses of working the line have been considerably reduced. The amount to be re• ceived from the Eastern Counties Company on traffic account, added to the receipts up to the 7th of May, enabled the directors to dtalare a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per aunum, being at the same rate as that payable by the Eastern Counties Company fur the past half.year and for the future. The proprietors of this company will be entitled to receive the same dividend as shall from time to time be declared upon the Eastern Counties stock. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, stated, according to the terms or the agreement, the Eastern Counties Company had guaranteed a dividend upon capital to the extent of 2,300,000/. The motion having been seconded, Mr. YATES was proceeding to express his want of confidence in the management of the company, and to show that the lines had been constructed at a far greater expense been than was originally contemplated, it having held out to the public, on first starting the project, that the li ne could be made for 10,0001 a mile, that afterwards, when under contract, the directors had stated that it would not, at the outside, cost more than 15,000/, w a hnieilltsthioerrietas n. real fact that it required more than 23,000/. directors, s lieh when going on to impugn the conduct of thien'tEri e Mr. CUNAR D , and put it to the meeting whether the matter was not altogether irreleva n t t o th e object of the meeting, d a motion was almost unani mously passed to prevent any uritnher discu ss i on . Mr. PzTo, who quite agreed the pr o p r i ety o f t h e resolution just passed, did not howev e r wish M r . Y ates ' s as sertions to go forth uncontradi eted, and asserte d that no increase of outlay had b een di re ctors until they had first obtained the sanction of the decided upon by the shareholders, and he eulogised in the highest terms the co nduct of Mr. Hudson, and those who acted with him, on the part of the Eastern Counties Company. gua ranteed amount of 2,300 , 0001 . was suffiei The en tlY ample for that sum was ne ver likel y to be ex pended , , In answer to questions, Mr. Prro stated that with the exception of two accounts, which might amount to gether to about 18,000/, all the debts of the Norfolk Company had been discharged; that it was not intended to make calls for any other purpose than to pay off de bentures, which might, during the present year, require about 25,0004, and that if the times were hard and the mortgagees chose to renew their loans, uo calls would be undo now for that purpose. The report was then adopted, and a resolution was passed for the payment of a dividend of 21. per cent., and two shillings a share on the new shares on the 7th of September, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman and directors, the meeting separated. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. CANTERBURY RACES—TUESDAY (Concluded). The City Members' Plate was won by Margaret Catchpole, WEDNESDAY. Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas. Heats, two miles. Mr. Harrison's Pyrrhus the First, 5 yrs, 10-t. A. Day 0 1 Mr. E. R. Clarke's Alpheia, 3 yrs, Sst 21b Sir J. Hawley's Miami, 4 yrs, 9st 61b The Ramsgate Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 50 added. Mr. Lawley's Alkali, 6 yrs, lOst 21b ... (Planner) 1 1 Mr. Hawke's Milwood, 4 yrs, 9st llb ... 2 2 Mr. Ayres' Wee-bit, 4 yrs, 9st ... he,. Both heats won by a head. The City Plate, one mile, was won in three heats, easily, by Mr. Sherrard's Catherine, 4 yrs, (Planner), beating Dean Swift, 6 yrs, Margaret Catchpole, 4 yrs, and two others. BASINGSTOKE RACES.— SECOND DAY. The Basingstoke Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 25 added, once round (8 Subs.), were won, in four heats, by Mr. W. Sadler's Faith, 3 yrs , Est 11b, beating Lady Frances, 3 yrs, Est Ilb ; Grist, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b ; and five others. ei The Stewards' Stakes of .4 sows. each and 20 added, one mile and a half, were won in three heats by Mr. Death's Urania, 5 vrs, 6st 111 b, beating Mr. Bray's Prospect, 5 yrs, 6st 111 b, Rosalind, 4 yrs, Bst 31b, and six others. The Trades' Plate for beaten horses, one mile and a quarter, was won in two heats by Grist, 3 yrs, ist 11b, beating Moodkee, 4 yrs, Bst 41b, and Huntsman, 3 yrs, ist 11b. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woo sack at Five o'clock. The Petty Bag-Office Bill was read a second time. The Commons Inclosure Bill passed through Com. mittee. The Stock in Trade Exemption from Rates Bill was read a third time and passed. The Outpensioners Bill was read a third time and passed. The Borough Incorporations Bill was read a third time and passed. The Commons Amendments in the Payment of Debts out of Real Estates Bill, were agreed to. Lord DENMAN presented a petition from Jamaica, praying their Lordships to continue to the planters of that island the protection which they hid hitherto en• joyed against" slave-grown sugar as the most effectual method of discouraging slavery. VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. Lord MONTEAGLE then rose to move for certain' papers relating to the grant of Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's Bay Company. Vancouver's Island was situated in a temperate amate, was fertile, was rich in mineral products, and possessed some 'of the finest harbours in the world. From its geographical position, it would eventually become the emporium of the trade between China and Ame rica and Europe, and this island it was proposed to grant to the Hudson's Bay Company. He was astonished to find that his Noble Friend had con sented to this grant, because his Noble Friend had been the first to enunciate the principle that colonial lands should never be granted, but should always be sold, and yet he proposed to grant Vancouver's Island • to the Hudson's Bay Company. This island hid valu :able veins of coal beneath its surface, and 'the whole of this territory, 250 miles long, and from 30 to 40 miles wide, with its coal mines an d i ts iharbours, was to be granted to this company. without any provisions being made for the colonization lot for the government of this island. The Hudson's Day Company was of all companies the one the most ,untitted to undertake any scheme of colonization. The Noble Lord then proceeded at great length to detail the history of the company from its original in stitution in 1670 up to the present time. (LEFT BI'EAKIXG.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair ut Twelve o'clock. THE CITY OF LONDON SEWERS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. ' UNLAWFUL OATHS (IRELAND) BILL. Sir G. GREY moved the third reading of this Bill. Mr. S. CRAWFORD proceeded at great length to review the course of legislation which had been pursued towards Ireland during the past year, and complained that the Government, instead of remedial measures, had coerced the people and aggravated their distresses. The Hon. Gentleman received an intimation from the Speaker that he was travelling away from the object before the House, and brought his address to a close by inquiring if the Government intended to introduce an efficient Landlord and Tenant Bill next session. Sir GEORGE GREY said that Government had in troduced a Bill on the subject, but the Government had dot been able to pass it into a law during the present Session. They hoped early next session to introduce and Oast; an efficient measure. _; Mr. S. CRAWFORD said the Evi c t e d T enan t s Bill had proved altogether ineffectual. With respect to the lamentable condition of Ireland, he might say that they could not feel surprised that rebellion had broken out when whole families were driven from their holdings to starve and die on the highways. Mr. I'. SCROPE said no peace could exist in Ireland until the relations of landlord and tenant were placed on a more satisfactory footing than at present. Mr. O'CONNOR opposed the Bill, and moved that it be read a third time this day six months, which lacking a seconder fell to the ground. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE COURT OF ROME BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the House go into Co . nmictee on this Bill. Mr. C. ANSTEY opposed the motion, and blamed the Government for pressing on the Bill with indecent haste, considering the altered spirit of the times. More than appeared on the surface was involved in this ques tion—not only the pacification but the well-being of England, in which by this measure they risked a civil war. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman concluded by moving that the House should resolve itself into Com mittee on the Bill that day three months. Mr. URQUHART seconded the amendment. Sir J. TY BELL believed that the House of Commons was sitting at the present late period of the year, in consequence of the long speeches of the Hon. and Learned Member for Youghal, added to which it was popularly considered that the Noble Lord the Member tor London was not indisposed to protract the session. It was also generally considered that it was the intention of the Government to rule Ireland through the Bishop of . 1 - tome, and that, he believed, was the reason for the introduction of th's Bill. (The Hon. Baronet here read a letter he had received from a friend in Ireland, which contained severe reflections on a Roman Catholic priest at Kenmare River.) Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL rose to order. Sir J. TYRELL said that the Hon. Gentleman was so seldom in the House that he was probably ignorant now of its rules.—(Laughter.) He thought the best course fur the Hon. and Learned Gentleman to adopt would be to return to Conciliation Hall. Mr. J. O'CONNELL—I intend to do so.—(Laughter.) Sir J. TYRELL, after some further observations, stated his determination to oppose the further progress of the Bill. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, if the Hon. Member for Youghal's statements were unintelligible, those of the Hon. Baronet were far more so. The Hon. Baronet not having a villa at Richmond, which he considered it a crime fur him (Lord John Russell) to have—(Laughter) —could not attend the discussion on the second reading of the Bill, and ho wanted now to have that discussion renewed; and therefore it was that he opposed the com mittal of the Bill, while he asked with the same breath what were its objects. The Hon. Baronet had read letters that recommended the . extermination of the Catholic priests in Ireland. For his own part, he be lieved, - and it must be known to many, that the Roman Catholic clergy had used the utmost exertions to prevent their flocks from joining in the late rebellion in Ireland. He deprecated the course adopted by the Hon. Member for Youghal and the Hon. Baronet, anti trusted that the House would not hesitate to go into Committee on the Bill. Mr. R. SPOONER opposed the committal of the Bill, believing that they had not been dealt fairly with by her Majesty's Government with respect to this Bill. He thought this was an occasion on which they ought to tell the Government that they had deluded the 31embers of the House with respect to this measure. It was an attempt to force, in a most unconstitutional manner, this measure upon the House. lie would put the Noble Lord to the test of his consistency upon this measure. He asked him to delay the measure for a week, have a call of the House upon it, and if Hon. Members did not respond to that call he could assure the Noble Lord he should have no factious opposition from him. Lord J. RUSSELL denied that he had taken the House by surprise in persevering in the Bill. Mr. MACGREGOR would cordially support the fur ther proceeding with this Bill in all its stages, notwith standing the uncalled for, and, as he believed, the impru dent opposition that had been made to its further progress. Mr. FORBES opposed the committal of the Bill. Mr. J. O'CONNELL had been charged with g be' absent from the House. He admitted that he had been,in- hut the reason for his being so was his anxiety to do all in his power to preserve the peace of Ireland— (Hear, hear) and he believed that very few Members present would not be ready to admit that h o had done all in his power to accomplish so desirable an object. He opposed the further progress of the Bill as paltry and impolitic.--(Hear, hear.) With out the intrigues proposed by the present Bill the present Government might govern Ireland satisfactorily if they would only do justice to Ireland. He believed that the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome would not accept the measure, but should he unfortuately be persuaded to do so it would be rejected by the whole of the Catholic popu lation of Ireland. The Government might depend upcn it, if they alienated the Catholic clergy of Ireland from the people, the worst results would follow, and as evidence of that he might state that in those parts of Ireland where the late disturbances had taken place the clergy were estranged from the population. Ile could not Con sider the opposition factious that was put forth to prevent the further progress of the Bill. fvetheeßf il t l h , e he h l e ie st vin r g esu th lt a s. t its ffe pas s s o i Lord DRUMLANRIG supporte d t h e f urt h er p rogress p n p g or w te o d uld th b e e B p i r i o l d h u e e: O ti because he wished to act in conformity with the two undoubted champions of the country, common justice and comm on Sir C• B sense.—(liear, hear.) LL had such objections to the Bill, that he . was U t titteErmined to give it every opposition in his power. Sic R. INGLIS then moved that the dobateshould be adjourned, and stated that if he succeeded in that mo tion, he should move that it be adjourned to Wednesday next. Lord JOHN RUSSELL had no objection to the de bate being adjourned, but could only consent to its being adjourned to half•past five o'clock. Sir R. INGLIS then moved, as an amendment, that the debate should be adjourned to Wednesday. The House divided on the motion, when there ap peared— For Sir R. Inglis's amendment Against it .. ... ... Majority against the amendment ... —45 ... 28 ... 73 The debate was then adjourned till six o'clock. Sir J. TYRELL wished to know if the Government intended to bring the priests to whom he had alluded to justice for having torn down the Lord-Lieutenant's proclamation. Lord J. RUSSELL said that such matters were left to the discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and if the Hon. Baronet sent the necessary proofs to his Ex cellency, there could be no doubt proceedings would be instituted. SUPPLY. The report on the Committee of Supply was then brought up and agreed to. BANKRUPTS' RELEASE BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. POST•HORSE LICENSES (IRELAND) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postpone(' till after the other orders of the day were disposed of. POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS (CHANNEL ISLA NDS). The Committee on this Bill was postponed until the other orders of the day were disposed of. DISTILLING FROM SUGAR BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postponed until after the other orders of the day were disposed of. RENEWABLE LEASEHOLD CONVERSION (IRELAND) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postponed till to morrow, at twelve o'clock. TRANSFER OF LANDED PROPERTY (IRE- LAND) BILL. The report on this Bill was received, and the Bil was ordered to be read a third time to morrow, at twelve o'clock. BATTERSEA PARK BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. LOCAL ACTS BILL. The report on this Bill was received, sad the Bill was Qrdered to be read a third time to-morrow, at twelve. SLAVE TRADE (EQUATOR) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was ordered to be pro ceeded with alter the other orders of the day were dis posed of. SLAVE-TRADE (MUSCAT) BILL. The Committee on this Bill was ordered to be pro. needed with after the other orders of the day were dis. posed of. DUBLIN POLICE BILL. This Bill was ordered to be read a third time after the other orders of the day were disposed of. FEVER (IRELAND) BILL. The report oa this Bill was read, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to. morrow, at twelve o'clock. WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENTS BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and the repot was ordered to be received to-morrow, at twelve o'clock MONEY ORDER BILL. The Lords' amendments to the Post•office Money Order Bill were considered and agreed to. The House adjourned at Four to Six o'clock. The House resumed at Six o'clock. CHELTENHAM ELECTION. Sir WILLIAM CLAY brought up the report of the Cheltenham Election Committee, declaring Mr. C. F. Berkeley to have been unduly elected, and the election to be a void election. POOR REMOVAL (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. CLEMENTS stated that it was not his intention to persevere with this Bill t and the order for its committal was directed to be discharged. PETITION. Sir C. LEMON presented a petition against the re moval of the duties on copper ore. Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from the Reform League of England praying for Par liamentary reform, and complaining that many of the evils the country was at present suffering from, arose from a defective Parliamentary representation of the people. The petition also prayed that the House would be pleased to address the Throne, praying that her Majesty would not prorogue Parliament till the House had provided means to remove the distress which prevailed throughout the kingdom. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from the medical officer of a union in Pembrokeshire, complaining of the conduct of the Poor•law Commissioners. The Honourable Member also presented a petition from four medical men of Worthing, praying for the abolition of the Act of Charter to the College of Surgeons. (LEFT SITTING.) THE EXPLOSION IN ALBANY- STREET. Last evening the inquiry, adjourned from Monday last, concerning the death of Mary Bentley, one of the sut ferers by the explosion in Albany.street, was concluded by Mr. Wakley, at the Chester Arms, in the above street. A model was fixed in the inquest-room of nearly the same dimension as the meter destroyed, and the Co roner and jury here viewed the situation; and the mode adopted by the boy Lucas in putting in and taking out the bhutti rs was explained to them. S. May said he was a gas. fitter, and worked for Mr. Howell, in Albany-street, and had been frequently to No. 60, Albany -street, to take water out of the gas pipes. There was sometime s too much water in the meter. He thought dry meters the best. H. Larkin, an inspector of the London Gas Company, said—l have been twice to Mr. Loten's to inspect the gas; the first occasion was in June last, and I went to take the register of the meter by order of the office. No complaint was made. I went again on the 20th of July in consequence of an order from the office on account of want of light. I found there was not sufficient water in the meter. I put some water into it, and the gas in the union burnt very well then, but the light of the side burner jumped. I sent Mr. Cogan, gas-fitter of Mun ster-street, to see what was required. By the CORONER—I made no complaint about the position of the meter. We use both wet and dry meters. The choice of them generally depends upon the tenants. The most modern invention is the dry meter. I should recommend the water meter myself. There are more of the latter used by the company than dry meters. When I was at Mr. Loten's the second time no complaint of the gas escaping was k made. If there had been an escape I must have discovered it, because I had a candle with me. W. Cogan, a gas•fitter, examined—Went to No. 60, Albany street, at the request of the last witness, to ex amine the meter and repair the pipes. That was about three weeks before the accident. The complaint made was that the gas-lights at the side of the ~hop jumped. That was caused by the collection of water in the pipe, which was corrected. Nothing was said about the gas escaping. Mr. Hinde, the secretary of the London Gas Com pany, put in a lever received from Mr. Loten, complain ing of being nearly without gas for a whole week, but in it he made no remark about the escape of gas. Cogan was directed to examine the model, and in answer to a juror said that it was p••rfectly possible for shutters drawn in and out against the meter and the main gas-key to turn the gas off; a violent blow might break the cock. In answer to the Coroner, the witness said that he never complained to Mr. Loten of the dan gerous position of the meter. Knew plenty of places where there were meters situated as Mr. Loten's, but he could not say if the shutters were placed there in the same way. By Mr. Hinde—l am positive there could not have been any escape of gas at the time I was there, because I tried all the pipes, and used my blowpipe to solder a part where I took water from. Mr. Hind° begged to observe that the company were desirous of showing that there had been no complaints made of an escape of gas. Mr. Wm. Douglas, collector to this company, proved that he called on the 28th of July for payment, but no complaint was then made. It was his custom, if com plaints were made, to make a memorandum of them and report them to the board. George B. Petitt deposed to fixing up the gas fitting s at No. 60, Albany-street, about nine years ago. li e fixed the meter under the shop-board by direction of Mr. Hatfield. He had fixed many meters like it, but could not say whether the shutters were take❑ in and out of the shutter-box. When Mr. Hatfield suggested the placing of the meter, be told him that some protec tion of wood-work would be necessary, and he said he would do it himself. Mr. Richardson, the superintendent of the Imperial Company, said he had caused the main pipes of the London Company and also the imperial to be uncovered, and ho could assure the coroner and jury that there was not the slightest escape of gas discernable. This being the whole of the evidence, The CORONER addressed the jury. lie trusted that the melancholy event would teach a useful lesson to those who were in the habit of burning gas, and that the moment an escape was found means would be imme diately taken to remedy any defect. With reference to the fixing of the meter, it was a matter of congratulation —if, under the circumstances, they could congratulate onnoeoathr meter similarlyneother—thatal fixedthoughs could trictse beu archhafodbnd in the been made, neighbourhood. The jury, after an absence of half-an-hour, returned the following special verdict—" That the death of Mary Bentley was caused by a mortal fracture of the skull, oc casion by the accidental explosion of an admixture of coal gas and common air in the house No. 60, Albany street ; and that whether the said coal gas escaped into the said shop in consequence of an accidental blow given to the meter or fitting thereof, by the removal of a cer tain window shutter, there is not before the jurors suffi cient evidence to show." y a a r t h i n i g B h highly r . s C p i o c va lli bElßo ll py l oo l ouL T D, l g l g i V A e E n N e r E n F s a n n ° A o i rfl. t t_h eT C nh a p sm e N d 1) PIRACY f 11, who for a length of time has been man ager of the s fi i r l w of Orr and Barber, well-known merchants of this port, was placed ut the bar, before Mr. Rushton, the stipen diary magistrate, under the following circumstances:— In the book found at the house of Murphy, wh o was committed for conspiracy on Monday last, amongst other names appeared that of the prisoner, and thi s circum stance, taken in connexion with other information in pos session of the authorities, induced them to issue a war rant for his apprehension. The warrant was executed yesterday at the office of his employers, in South Castle street, and he remained in custod. y until he was brought before the magistrate this morning, when the evidence against him was produced. Mr. Rushton said that the prisoner must be com mitted for trial, and stated that he much regretted to see a young man occupying such a position as he did placed in such circumstances. He had been connected with a society which had for its object an extensive and deeply laid scheme of conspiracy. His handwriting had also been spoken to, which proved that he had been a member of the society up to the time he was taken. He did not doubt that he had been made the dupe of older and more designing men; but he (the magistrate) had no alternative but to commit him for trial, and he did so upon the evidence which had already been brought for ward against the prisoner Murphy. The prisoner was then fully committed for trial at the present assizes. There is a rumour in town to-day that Cuddy, who was last week committed for conspiracy, has deter mined to turn approver, and some curious disclosures are expected. Preparations are now being made for the trial, which is expected to come on at the latter end of next week. CAPTURE OF PIRATES. Her Majesty's sloop Scout, on her way to Foo-chow foo on the Ist inst., when opposite Chimmo Bay, fell in with a fishing boat, the crew of which pointed out two auspicious-looking junks standing otf the land, which they stated had that morning attacked some trading ves sels working up the coast. The Scout immediately gave chase, and fired at the smaller junk, which tacked in shore. Three boats were then dispatched under the command of the senior lieutenant, E. G. Blake, which took possession of her. tike was found to be armed with a two. pounder, gingalls, matchlocks, firepots, &c., and carried a crew of 32 men, several of whom jumped over board and were drowned. Four men were found in her hold bound hand and foot, who said they had been taken out of a fishing boat two days pre viously. The Scout having secured her prize, tacked in pursuit of the larger junk, which she hailed, and ordered to lower her sail, but as she still kept her course the forcastle guns were fired from the Scout, which being returned by the junk, a running fight was kept up for nearly three hours, when the junk got into shallow water and the wind fell. Two boats were dispatched under Lieutenant Josling, who commenced firing as soon as he got within range. The boats pulled alongside under a shower of bullets and stinkpots, by which one seaman was killed, and Lieutenant Jesting, Mr. Midshipman Stanley, and four seamen were wounded. The wind having again sprung up, the Scout ran alongside the junk, under a heavy fire from giegalls and matchlocks, while numbers of firepots fell on deck, wounding Com mander Johnston and two of the crew; another sea man was wounded by an explosion of gunpowder on board the prize, which on being taken possession of was found to have a crew of 120 .men, with four 6-pounder guns and an immense number of gingalls, matchlocks, and other Chinese weapons. Shortly after she was captured she fell over on her beam -ends and went down. Only thirty-six of the pirates were secured, the rest bating 'been either shot during the engagement, jumped overboard of their own accord, or gone down with the vessel when she sank. The sur vivors were handed over to the mandarins at Amoy. It appears these two pirates were lying in wait for the Amoy sugar junks, now daily going northwest; and the destruction of them by the Scout is said to be considered by the native merchants at Amoy as a most acceptable service. —China Mail, June 15. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN ClRCUl7'.—Liverpool, Aug. 21. (Before Mr. Justice CeessvvEm..) Alexander Worrell, John Street, Isaac Jackson, and Catherine Gibson, were indicted for a burglary in the house of Joseph Crossley, at Salford. Mr. Pollock and Mr. Wheeler conducted the prosecu tion; the prisoner Street was defended by Mr. Monk, and Jackson by Mr. Mew. Worrall pleaded guilty. It appeared that the shop of the prosecutor had been entered by the skylight, and a large quantity of pro perty had been removed. The chief witness against the prisoners was a person of the name of Bacon, who al • leged that he had been in the company of the prisoners at a public-house in the neighbourhood the night of the robbery, and that he was solicited by them to join in it. They bad several times asked him before, but he had always declined. He said, however, that he had gone to the house with the others; that it was pointed out to him as a place where robbery could conveniently be com mitted, as no one slept in the house, and that he was wandering about the neighbourhood while the robbery was committed. There was no other direct evidence against the prisoners, except some casual observations which were sworn to have passed in the dock while be fore the magistrates between Jackson and Street, im plying their presence at the robbery. The jury found Street and Jackson Guilty. His LORDSHIP sentenced Street to be transported for fifteen years, and Jackson and Worrell for ten. Michael Hogan was indicted for cutting and wounding John Williamson, a constable, in the execution of his duty, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Mr. Cobbett conducted the prosecution; Mr. Pollock the defence. It appeared from the statement of the prosecutor that he was on duty at Manchester, late at night, when he found a number of women of loose character making a noise in the street. He told them to move on; while he was doing so, the prisoner came up, and asked if he had seen the woman whom he (the prisoner) was looking for, using at the same time some very coarse expressions. The officer took him by the shoulder and told him to go home, on which the prisoner drew from under his cost a bar of iron about two feet and a halt long, having a han dle formed by twine lapped round it, and struck him blow on the temple, inflicting a severe wound. The pri soner then ran away, but was pursued by the prosecutor and another officer. He ran into a court, but found there was no exit at the other end. In returning he met the prosecutor, and again struck him, but was fi nally secured. The weapon he used, and which was now produced, was a most murderous one, having a sharp point at one end, and being formed like a chisel at the other. Witnesses were called for the defence, to show that the prosecutor had behaved improperly to one of the women in the street, who appeared to be the prisoner':; wife, and afterwards assailed the prisoner when ho in terfered in her defence, but this was not made out. Verdict, Guilty.—Sentence deferred. CROWN COURT. --Liverpool, Aug. 22. (Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.) John W hittwn was indicted for having, on the 34 of April last, committed a violent assault on Richard Blee, a collector of accounts, residing i n A cton - atreet, in Manchester, with intent to do him some grievous bodily . . injury. Mr. Pow.ocK stated the case. It appeared that in the month of January last the pro secutor called upon the prisoner, who owed an account to Mr. Whitehead, surgeon, of Oxford-street. It was arranged at the prisoner's request that the account should be paid by instalments of one shilling per week. On the 3d of April the prisoner went to the prosecutor's house, ar,d, being drunk, threw down a shilling upon the table, and said to the prosecutor, with an oath, " Tell me whether you will take it or not." Seeing that the pri soner was drunk, and his wife indisposed, the prosecutor asked the prisoner to leave the house, and come again when he was sober. Ile declined to do so, and became very abusive. The prosecutor then turned towards the fire, and tcok up the poker to stir up the fire. The pro secutor's wife then said to the prisoner, " Do, for God's sa k e , m y good man, go hom e , an d come again when you are sober," when the prisoner struck her a violent blow on the mouth, which knocked her down, and rendered her insensible. The prosecutor, on hearing the screams of his wife, hastily turned from the fire with the poker in his hand, when the prisoner wrested it from him, and struck him with it on the head. The blow cut the prosecutor's head nearly to the bone, and a niece of the prosecutor's then gave an alarm to the neighbours, which caused some of them to run into the house, whore they found the prosecutor bleeding from the head, and his wife fainting. The prisoner had the poker in his hand, and threatened to kill any one who came near him. The poker was ultimately taken from him, and he was appre hended. Several witnesses having proved these facts, Mr. Golland, surgeon to the Manchester police force, stated that he attended the prosecutor and found a seri ous wound on the head, which, for some time, he thought was dangerous. The jury, after some deliberation, found the prisoner Guilty of an assault.—Sentence deferred. Willan pleaded guilty to having, in Salford, in June last, forged the endorsement to a bill of exchange, with intent to defraud Wm. Charles Brown.—Sentence deferred. Samuel IT orthington, 27, was charged with having, at Pendleton, on the 27th ult., stolen a variety of articles from the house of William Hesketh, and having afterwards burglariously broken out of the said dwell ing-house. It appeared that on the night of the day in question, and for two or three previous evenings, the prisoner had slept at the house of the prosecutor, his brother-in-law, at Pendleton; that during the night of the 27th ult. he left the house of his brother-in-law, and that after he had gone, a clock, some candlesticks, and a quantity of wearing appar e l, w ere m i ss ed. The prisoner on the following morning went to the detective office, at the Town-hall, Manchester, and gave himself up for the robbery. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner, who was convicted of felony at the spring assizes for 1847, and was sentenced to imprison ment fur fifteen months, was now transported for seven years. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT'. George Thomas Witchell, 25, postman, was indicted for stealing a post letter, containing two sixpences and a pawnbroker's duplicate. The same counsel were engaged for the prosecution, and Mr. Ballantine was engaged for the defence. This charge was clearly established against the pri soner. He was engaged in sorting letters, and was ob served by one of the inspectors at the General Post office to act in such a manner with regard to one of the letters as excited his suspicion. The letter in question was found shortly afterwards in one of the water-closets , torn in half, and its cont en ts abstracted. The duplicate was found in th e c l oset and on the prisoacr being ques tioned he a d m i tte d hi s gu il t . He had, it appeared, been married shortly b e f ore t h e o ff e nce was committed. The jury fo un d th e pr i soner Guilty. li'lltiant H arvey , a in dictedpost office for sec re ti ng and stea li ng a newspaper, value :id., the property o f t h e P ostmaster -G en eral. office letter-carrier, was Mr. CLARKSON said that the offence with which the prisoner was charged was not felony, but misdemeanour, created by a recent statute, which enacted that if any person employed in the Post office embezzled or stole any printed paper open at the sides and sent. through the Post•office, whether a Parliamentary paper, news paper, or any other document of a similar character, he should be deemed guilty of the offence of misdemeanour. The Learned Counsel said, that in consequence of the numerous complaints of irregularity in the delivery of marked papers vassing through the post, this enact ment had become necessary; and, although he property stolen was not of any very considerable value, yet it was perfectly clear that the offence was one of a very mischievous character, and which required to be re pressed. He then stated the facts, from which it ap peared that on the 13th of July the Times newspaper was posted addressed to a lady named Robinson, in the New-road, Croydon, and this paper never came to hand. A few days afterwards a search was made in the house of the prisoner, who is a postman ut Croydon, and the fragments of a newspaper, which, fritm certain marks upon it, there was very little doubt was the one sent to Mrs. Robinson, were found in it; and on his being ques tioned he at first refused to give any explanation, but at length said that he could not account fur the possession of the paper. These facts were proved by the witnesses, but Mrs. Robinson, in answer to a question put to her by Mr. Ballantine, said that she had known the prisoner as a letter-carrier for a considerable period, and he had always delivered her letters and papers correctly, and she thought he must have tOrgotten the paper in question. Mr. BALLANTINE adopted this line of deleitcs, and urged that it was not probable a matt who bore a good character, and who had for a long period conducted himself with propriety, should sacrifice his position for the sake of an article of such trifling value ; and that it was far more likely he had taken the paper home by forgetfulness, and while lying about it had been torn up either by his wife or some other person. Several highly resptctable witnesses, who had known the prisoner a great number of years, gave him an ex cellent character for honesty. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The Learned BARON remarked that although they had come to this conclusion, it was clearly a case in which it was the duty of the Postmaster-General to in stitute an inquiry. Where suspicion was directed to a public officer there was no alternative but to send the case before a jury, in order that it might be properly in quired into. _ The jury said they quite concurred in the observations of his Lordship. They thought it was a very proper case for inquiry. . _ _ Mfr.BAILANTINE said, on the part of the prisoner, he did not offer any complaint of the proceeding. Indeed, the experience he had had of the manner in which the solicitor for the Post-office performed his duty satisfied him that no case would be sent for trial which did not demand an inquiry to be made for the interest of the public. John Prenderville. 39, letter-carrier, was indicted for feloniously stealing a letter containing a cheque for 291. 7s. ld., the property of the Postmaster-General; and on a second count he was charged, in conformity with the statute, which has only become law within the last few days, with feloniously receiving the cheque, knowing it to have been stolen. The same counsel were engaged for the prosecution. Mr. Prendergast defended the prisoner. The evidence adduced in support of the indictment was of the most conclusive character. It appeared that on the Ist of July a gentleman named Grainger, who carries on business in ,the City, enclosed a cheque for 291. 7s. id. in a letter addressed to Mr. Ponsford, , South Wharf•road, Paddington. The letter was never received, and on the 4th of July, three days afterwards, the prisoners went to the establishment of Messrs. Moses, in the Minories, accompanied by another man, and represented his name to be Marshall, and required clothes to be made for himself and companion, the price of which amounted to 71. 12s. On his being asked for a deposit he tendered the cheque in question, and Messrs. Moses having sent a messenger to Messrs. Stone, Martin, and Stone's, where it was made payable, and ascertained that it was a genuine cheque, they gave the difference, and it was arranged that the clothes should be ready and be sent for on the following Thursday. The cheque, it appeared was marked " and C 0.," so that in the ordinary course it would only be payable through a banker, and Messrs. Moses having endorsed it " Bank," they keeping a banking account at the Bank of Eng land, it was paid in due course. On the 10th of Jelly the prisoner sent a boy with a letter to Messrs. Moses, requiring them to deliver up the clothes, but in conse quence of a communication they bad had with the Post office authorities the boy was questioned by the police, and from his statement suspicion was immediately directed to the prisoner, who, directly afterwards ab sconded. In addition to these facts it was shown that the prisoner was employed on the Ist of July as a su pernumerary letter carrier in the North Paddington district, and it was suggested that by some mistake in the sorting, the letter in question, which belonged to the South Paddington district, had come into his possession. The prisoner was followed to Liver pool, where he was taken into custody by Peake the officer, and he then made a statement to him that he had met a person, with whom he had some slight acquaint ance, who told him that he had found a cheque which could only be cashed through a banker's, and he advised him to go to Moses' and get it changed, and he con sented to accompany him. Ha declared that in the first instance he had no suspicion of there being anything wrong about the cheque, but ho admitted that he did subsequently suspect it had been improperly obtained, and lie was, therefore, induced to abscond for fear of the consequences to himself for the share he had taken in the transaction. Mr. Baron PLATT, at the close of the case for the pro secution, remarked that Messrs. Moses appeared to have acted very incautiously in taking a cheque from a stranger which they could see, by being marked " and Co. " was only intended to b e p asse d th roug h a b an k er , and giving validity to it by sending it through their own honker; and he said they ought to have detained the cheque, and not have assisted in passing it. The jury found the prisoner Guilty of feloniously re. ceiving the cheque, and he was sentenced to be transported for ten years. POLICE INTELLIGENCE, CLERKEN WELL. Gearye Colesbrook, a journeyman baker, was placed at the bar before Mr. Combe, charged with having assaulted several officers of the G division. The prisoner exhibited a severe wound on his head, and was otherwise most dreadfully injured. MMr. Robinson attended to conduct the defence. Wlt appeared from the evidence of police constable 52 G, that on Sunday morning the 13th inst., at about half past twelve o'clock, there was a disturbance on Saffron hill, where the prisoner and other persons had assembled together. He ordered the prisoner to move on, which he did. Subsequently he was found further from the spot sitting on the step of a door. lie refused to leave when requested to do so, and became violent, kicked wit ness several times on the legs, and once on the mouth. Assistance arrived, when the prisoner resisted and called for a knife, threatening to kill them. Mr. Robinson inquired. whether the prisoner was not seized and dragged by them, and called out for a knife in order to cut his neckcloth to prevent them from strangling him ? Witness—No, he called for it to kill us. By Mr. Robinson—l struck him once on the arm with my staff. The people called out " Shame!" from the windows. The prisoner bled profusely. The officers were also bleeding through the prisoner's violence. They were followed and pelted by the crowd. He was kept in the police-yard five hours after the charge was taken, when he was bailed and sent home in a cabriolet. Taylor, 130 G, corroborated this evidence. Witness struck him over the arms with his statE The prisoner was violent in his resistance, and kicked the police. Mr. Robinson—Pray, was he not covered with blood in consequence of your violence? Witness—No; not through mine. Constable 85 G, was in Turnmill-street when he re ceived information that two officers were nearly mur dered on Saffron-hill, and he proceeded thither, and found policemen 52 and 130 G with the prisoner on the ground. The prisoner kicked witness on the nose. Saw the officers strike the prisoner with their staves. 153 G was called to assist. The prisoner resisted. Witness struck him on the arm, and once or twice over the legs with his staff. George Henry Adams, undertaker, of Easton-street, Clerkenwell, a special constable, deposed to having seen the prisoner kick 52 G. Mr. Robinson suggested the ne cessity of allowin g some one to examine the prisoner 's legs. Be had re cently broken his leg by accident, and it was now in a most shocking state through being beaten with the officers' staves. He (Mr. Robinson) never saw so bad a leg, and it would be a considerable time before he would be able to obtain a livelihood. The prisoner here burst into tears. Mr. CONDE — The question is, whether he did not bring it upon himself ? Mr. Robinson called Mrs. Elizabeth Slade, wife of Mr. William Slade, master hatter, of 16, Hatton-wall, Hatton-garden, who said she was awoke out of her sleep by a noise in the street. She opened the window, and saw the police men dragging the prisoner, who was exclaiming, M y dear sirs, it you will let me alone I will go quietly with you." The police had tightly h o ld of his neckcloth, and nearly strangled the man. Ile called out, " Give me a knife for God's sake, to cut my handker chief, or I shall be choked." She knew the prisoner to be a hard-working, quiet, sober man. The People called out "Shame !" Another witness spoke as to the prisoner's sobriety. Mr. Robinson addressed the Bench, and censured the violence offered by so many officers with their staves, and begged that his client's present injured state might operate in mitigation of any punishment that might be inflicted, if it was the intention of the Bench to convict. His client was a little man, and it would be absurd to think that it required four officers to use their staves for the purpose of securing him. Mr. CONDE said, that there was no doubt the prisoner resisted and assaulted the police whilst in the execution of their duty, and that it required violence on the p art of the ?olive to take hi m to t h e station-house. He should tine him 205., and were it not for the injuries he had re ceived, he would have punished him more severely. The prisoner paid the fine and was liberated. WIGAN.—DISCOVER] OF THE _MINERS LOST IN LOWER PATRICOFT COLLIERY, lY FLOODING OF THIS RIVER DOUGLAS. —Early on Sunday morning the bodies of three men and a boy, lost by the flooding of the Ince Union Colliery, by the overflowing of the Douglas, about nine months since, were discovered in the workings at a dis tance of between two and three hundred yards from the pit shaft. The lamps of the unfortunate colliers having been found near to the spot, a clue was thus obtained to the discovery of the bodies. They were in a far decomposed state. After being placed in coffins, they were removed to the Brit ann i a Inn, to await the inquisition before the Coroner. Two of them, named Rutter, were, we under stand, found clasped in each other's arms, and the other two were very ne ar t o t h em. A l l appeare d t o be aware of the fate which awaited them, and it is feared by many that they were alive some time after the first flooding of the pit. —Liverpool Mercury. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 23. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) THE GRANT 'lO THE DISTRESSED POLES. On the question that 10,7001. to defray the expenses of the allowance to the Polish refuges s, Mr. OSBORNE said it was high time this vote was put a stop to. At first the grant was only conceded for one year, but although there were thousands of their own fellow-coun trymen absolutely starving, it was still proposed to put the country to an expense of 10,000/., to support parties who were strangers to the land, and many of whom were, by their own industry, placed beyond the want of such assistance. He found by the last report of the Society of the Friends of Poland, that several of the parties who were participators in the proceeds of this vote were actually engaged in thriving trades; for instance, there was one refugee in re ceipt of a pension of 451. per annum who filled the office of teacher to the French Schools; another, with an unpro nounceable name, who cartied on the business of a fencing and dancing master at 101, Sloane-street; and a third named Albert, who kel,t one of the fittest tobacconist's shops in London. In fact, there appeared to be a list of about twenty of them. who were all in receipt of pensions, and who were all earning good livings in business. They must be just before they were liberal, and while their own countrymen were suffering so many privations, it was high time that they bad abolished this grant of 10,000/. a year, and he should therefore take the liberty of dividing the Committee upon the vote. But, independently of the vote itself, there was an expensive staff kept up to superintend the dis tribution of the fund. The secretary received 275/. a year, his clerk received 601., and these two sums, together with the Polish officers, made up an additional expense of 7001. a year; and as it was high time a stop was put to this spe cies of extravagance, he should certainly give the vote his most decided opposition. Lord DUDLEY STUART—Mr. Bernal, I ant very sorry to hear the observations which have just fallen from my Hon. Friend with respect to this vote. I be lieve when the whole subject comes to be fully and pro perly considered that both my Hon. Friend and the House will entertain a different opinion with respect to the grants, and that he and they would admit that it is based upon the broadest grounds of justice, and' ought to be continued by this country. I know very well that nothing gains more popularity than an Hon. Member advocating a reduction of the public expenditure either of large or small amount, and who points, as the ground for. doing so, to the distress of our own people.—(Hear, hear.) Those who come forward and adopt this line of policy are sure to meet with a cheer—not in this House alone, which cheered the Hon. Member when he ex pressed a desire that the grant should be abrogated alto gether, but in all assemblies in which, my Honourable Friend, or any one else, may enunciate such sentiments. —(Hear, hear.) I think, however, I shall be able satis factorily to show the House that it would not be justi fied in doing that which has never yet been doee—l mean, stopping those charitable grants which it has ever been ready to vote to persons in distress.— (Cheers.) I think, if the House were to stop this, grant to the Polish refugees in this country, that it would commit one ot' the most ungrateful acts ever done by the British Parliament, and besides, acting accord ing to the Hon. Gentleman's advice, would conter no ad vantage whatever on ourselves.—(Hear, hear.) My Hon. Friend has made several statements which I think evince that he is not well informed of the whole circum stances of the case; and whilst the Hon. Gentleman complimented me upon my kindness to the Poles, he said the expenditure of the whole of the grants was con fided entirely to me. Mr. OSBORNE—I said great trust was very properly reposed in you on the matter, and that your advice was invariably sought with respect to the eligibility of the parties seeking aid to receive it. Lord D. STUART—I cannot but feel grateful for the sentiments which my Hon. Friend entertains with re spect to me, and for his explanation that I had not the complete control of the fund, It happens that I have no control over the expenditure of the grant. Mr. OSBORNE said, nevertheless, a statement to the effect that the Noble Lord had the entire control of the grant was in the evidence of a man named J ebb. Lord D. STUART—I call upon the Noble Lord on the Treasury benches (Lord John Russell) to confirm the statement I have made, that I possess no control over the expenditure of the grant.—(Hear, hear.) I have no control over it at all. There was a time when I had.—l mean when the grant was first made. The dis cretion of deciding who were fit recipients of the grant was in the first instance confided to me. This was done by me for four years, after which time the Treasury took the expenditure of the grant into its own hands. My Hon. Friend complains that an expensive staff is kept up for the management of the office entrusted with the expenditure of the money. —(" Hear, hear," from Mr. Osborne). Now, during the time that I had the management of the grants, there was no charge whatever.—(Cheers.) I repeat at that time no charge was made connected with the ex penditure of this charity .—(Renewed cheering.) Then my Hon. Friead says, that persons are on the list who are carrying on very good and profitable occupations. Now, I should be very glad indeed it my Hon. Friend could prove that the persons. he names are carrying on the lucrative occupations ho mentions, t ecause if they are in such circumstances they should not receive any aid out of the fund ; what they improperly receive should be handed to the really indigent. Ido not deny that many are in busi ness, but I would ask the commercial men of this House, if it be not possible to carry on a large and ap parently thriving business without, in point of fact, realising any profit whatever.—(Hear, hear.) If per sons, I repeat, are on the list who ought not to be there, and this is proved on inquiry, I shall for my part feel no objection to their being removed; but I think you would carry the severity of security far beyond its limits—you would be guilty of an unusual degree of carefulness in the expenditure of the public money— if you were at once to stop this vote. There would be something harsh in the adoption of such a course in ap plication to the case of the Poles of such a public proceed ing, if you would so proceed--something so unusual in such a course—for it has never yet been adopted—that I cannot think this British House of Commons will con sent to it.--(hear, hear.) There would be something harsh in that course of proceeding. Whilst I had any control over that grant, and when I have had occasion to recotntnend to the Government persons fit to receive aid, I have invariably been at great pains to ascertain that they were either young persons without the means of support, or persons of more mature years in a state of destitution. I think, if my Hon. Friend will inquire into the way in which the grant is administered, he will find that the whole of the control which I have over it consists in recommending deserving persons. One person has been placed on the list in consequence of a vacancy, and three have been removed in consequence of not being fit recipients of aid. The Committee of Miscellaneous Estimates recommended that the substitution of others for the three struck i off should not take place. ,Sir, when I. recollect the feeling that was displayed by the House at the time the grant was first voted—when I recollect that at that time the House and the country considered that the persons w horn it was proposed to relieve out of it were persons who had fallen in them advocacy of nationality and liberty, and that the House was pleased unanimously to grant them aid, I am surprised at the state of feeling on the part of some Hon. Members now, When I say I recollect that these refugees have been brought into their present state of destitution in consequence of their attachment to the cause of liberty, and the indepen dence of their country—that they were influenced in an eminent degree by these sentiments of liberty and attachment to country, which have ever distinguished this country, and been so highly appreciated by its people, when evinced by others —that the vote was ori ginally passed without a dissentient voice —(Hear, hear) —and though often objected to, and its policy discussed in this House, yet never abrogated, I confess I cannot think that this British House of Commons will revoke all that it has done —that it will stop in its career of benevolence to unfortunate, brave, and deserving per sons.—(Hear, hear.) Not only was no objection made to the grant, but in 1838 a proposal was made to in crease it ; and, although the then Chancellor of the Exchequer was averse to it, so strong was the feeling on. both sides of this House. and out of it, that it was raised from 10,000/, to 15,0001.—(Hear, hear.) I do not deny that it was voted for only one year.—(" Hear, hear," from Mr. Osborne.) There can be no doubt about that, but the feeling in favour of it was so strong, that it was continued.—(Hear, hear.) It was voted for the first time in the year 1834, and the next year in reply to a question, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that he should feel great pleasure in continuing the grant if it was the wish of the House that he should do so, and the announcement was re ceived with loud cheers by the House.—(Hear, hear.: It was then increased to 15,000/, and as the claims fel, in it was reduced to its present amount, 10,7001. Mr. OSBORNE—The whole charges upon the grant are not included in that. Lord D. STUART—Yes; that sum includes the en tire charges upon the grant and the cost of its adminis tration. If my Honourable Friend will turn to the evidence collected upon the matter, ho will find that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had stated that in the course of a few years the grant would be totally abo lished.—(Hear, hear.) Do Hon. Members suppose that this grant is the only one made on behalf of those who have been driven from their native land to seek a shelter in this hospitable country—that it is anex o cLtio tha nn t ia i made is in favour of these brave and gallant pep s i somethingpo licy th of r d t h o i t s '— c t o h u a n t t i r t )r i . s to n entirelypersons ndleyow ndeol principle inik.oeerthtthha the fnonrfo the r tu i n . a o t l e e sPo whichs w % e V h h y ti • v , e S u i r n , h ‘ e v s e i t h a a t i v n e g l o y n refugees ) o T f a h l e m o o n s i t y a d l all tr t e h r o e n n e u e t i b o e n t s w o e t e ' n the th et: grantr ( t o L o t h u t e l c P her o e les s a . nd to the unfortunate persons who have come to our shores from other lands in a forlorn state is this, that less has be , n granted to the P o l es t h an almost to any other distressed people.—(Cheers.) If, Si r , we look into the records of P ar li ament, and read what was done, in this respect, in former times, we shall find that refuges from all parts of the world have received aid from this country —not to the amount which the unfortunate Poles have received, but I an immensely increased amount. In 1800, the grants made by Parliament for the relief of refugees from all parts of the world amounted to co less a sum than 250,0001. for one year; and if you look at the amounts of the different grants, yon will find that they vary from 1 50,000/. anti 160 0001. to 167,0001. These immense sums were voted once for French and Dutch refugees, and in fact for the relief of per-ons from all countries ; and in later times large sums were granted to the Spanish refugees. I think, therefore, that the Polish refugees may bo allowed to enjoy this very small sum, the more especially as the claims upon it are very large and are increasing. But do not let Hun. Gentlemen suppose that this country stands alone in its generosity to the Poles. It ma ) truly he said that England is the richest, and at the same time the most generous nation in the world — (Hear, hear) —but 1 may be permitted to say that in the case of the it has not shoe, n much liberality - - since this grant amounted originally to 10 000/., then to 15.000/., and now it is gradually diminishing —com p ered with what other countries have done towards the support of these unfortunate persons. No country which enjoys a free constitution has omitted to send large sums of money for the relief of the distressed Poles. Switzerland—po u r Switz gland—has aided them. One of her cantons has given halt the sum voted by this country, and Belgium has also given them their aid; the bounty of Franca has been greater than the rest. I held in my hand IA paper, which I have procured frotn France, w hich contaies a statement of the sums voted in aid of the Poles during the time we have also so gene rously extended aid to th, tn. From this paper it ap pears that from the time we began to as-ist them the French Chambers have not voted but 10,000/., as we have done, butloo,oool. or 2,500.000 francs.—(Hear.) Lest year it amounted to 50,0001.—(Hear)—and this year a sum of nearly like amount has been voted. Mind, I am not at all saving that we should continue this grant because France has given so munificently. because I do not deny that the Poles have a greater claim upon th e g eneros i t y o f F rance t h an upon this country ; I merely mention the fact to show that what we have done is not so extraordinary as the Hon. Gentleman would wish to lend the House to suppose, and that we do not stand alone in our benevolence. Ido not blame the Hon. Gentleman for advocating economy. am as anxious for economy as any man, which is evi denced by my votes; but if you carry out the principle of economy, let it be real in its nature, and not apply it to such a miserable sum as this; do not take away from these unfortunate persons the miserable pit tance they are now receiving, and thereby bring them to the most abject state of destitution. To show that I advocate economy in the public expen diture. I may state that I voted with the Hon. Gentle man the Member for Montrose for the reduction of the army and navy. A reduction in that expenditure would confer a real good upon the country; it would be felt; but if you reduce this miserable dole, it will go forth to the world that England, notwithstanding all her great ness and her wealth, was carrying the principle of eco , notny to an extraordinary extent. Its abolition would confer no good upon the country at all; it would not give one man half a glass of beer more, or one woman an additional teaspoonful of tea.—(Hear and laughter.) It will, however, do this. If you withhold the grant it will place an additional burden upon the parishes in which the Poles reside, and the rates will have to be in creased in consequence; for when you take away the - little aid you now give them they cannot be permitted to die of starvation. The grant will therefore have to be paid in some other and less palatable way. You could not apply to them the Alien Bill which has un happily passed through this House. If you were inhuman enough to desire to apply it to them you would bo unable to do so, for you could not send them out of the country by force after the length of time they have re sided here. The Act was not passed for any such pur pose, and such a construction of it would not be toleratd for a moment.—(Hear, hear.) Then, again, this grant does not aggravate the distress of the country, and the people know this full well. If you doubt it, I ask where are the petitions against the continuance of the grant? The feeling of the country is not against it. Is the table, I ask, covered with petitions seeking its abrogation ?—(Hear, hear.) Whenever I present myself at a public assembly I find myself flattered instead of condemned for my exertions on be half of' the Poles.—(ilear, hear, and laughter.) It is all very well for my Hon. Friend to ridicule what I am saying, but I merely proclaim a fact—(Hear, hear). — and it he had been present he would have found that what I state is correct. Why not cut down other ex penses, not one of which was more necessary than this grant to th e P o l es ? W hy, if we are to carry out a rigid system of economy do we buy pictures for our public galleries, or Elgin marbles for our mussums ? — ( ll ear, hear.) Why if this principle is to guide us, do we maintain all the splendour and dignity of the Court, and which it is the right of the Sovereign to keep up? I say that this grant to these unfortunate, brave, arid virtuous men does more to uphold the dignity of the Sovereign and the character of this country than all the proud array of the Palace and the Court. I believe that the people of this country would rather assist struggling men in distress than pay for all this uselessness. How does it happen when this grant is objected to that the House acceded to the last sum specified in the miscellaneous estimates for the entertainment of foreign princes —(Hear, hear)-- for the entertainment of foreign sovereigns, foreign princes, and foreign grandees, whom the people stare at? —(Laughter.) Th e y wou ld f ee l l ess p l easure in doing so if they knew that the princes sent here are entertained, when here, out of the pockets of the people. In looking over the votes for this purpose during the last few years, I find that almost every sovereign and foreigner that exists has been here. I find in the list the Emperor of Rus sia and the King of Holland—(Cries of '` Question, question.") I am speaking to the question. lam showing that there a r e o th er t hi ngs to cut d own besides this small grant to the Poles.—(Hear, hear.) lam showing that we have had nearly every sovereign in the world here, and that we h ave enterta i ne d t h em magnifi cently out of the pockets of the people of England, for whom Hon. Members profess to have so much regard. Read the miscellaneous estimates, and you will find whole pages of the expense of bringing them over, entertaining them here, and taking them back. —(Hear.) They would find that a vast expense had been incurred in carrying the King of Greece to Bavaria from Greece, and taking him somewhere else; they would find all sorts of things of this kind. For instance, an enormous sum had been expended in entertaining Ibrahim Pechts.—(Roars of laughter.) You had, for instance, to pay the expense of bringing him from Alexandria to India, and also the expense of bringing over three Egyptian young gentlemen to Englanc—(Laughter)—and from 2,000/. to 3,0001. was expended in entertaining them. Ido not say that you ought to cut these down, but if you wish to do so, surely you have an ample field without trenching upon the seipend to the Poles. I am not one of those who wish to do away with all the splendour that attach to a Court and Government, but I seriously think that some reduction might with propriety be made.—(Hear, hear.) I do not wish for republican simplicity, but I say if you wish to reduce the national expenditure, I do not think it would be well for you to take away that assistance you have now, for so many years, so generously given.—(Hear, hear.) I ask you, if the Poles stood in need of this aid years ago do they not in a much more degree stand in need of it now? Whatever may be the views entertained of the conduct of the Poles in the affairs of the continent —and I shall be ready at the proper time to defend it—l do not think the House will act so ungenerously as to condemn the Poles on that account, and to make their conduct a plea for abolishing the grant. I must say that the conduct of this country to the Poles has been most exemplary. In former days the Polish Diet acted in a way not un like the English Parliament. As it was not indifferent to English distress or English exiles, a large su m of money was voted for a e aisiderable number of years for the Pules, during the time of Charles the Second.-- (Hear, hear.) If Honourable Members would look into the Blue-book they would , find that In consequence of deaths and departures the grant, was reduced to its present amount; and it is in sapid pro gress, according to the report of the committee, towards hnal extinction, the number on the list having, in 1538, been 680, and being now reduced to 365. It must also be allowed, and that too appeared from the evidence taken before the Committee, that the conduct of the Poles in this country was, with few exceptions, exem plary. They had been brought into their present un happy condition by their patriotism and their virtue. I must protest against being supposed indifferent to the distress of our own countrymen, but this grant did not aggravate that distress; the refusal of it would in no de gree alleviate it. I hope therefore my Hon. Friend will not press his opposition to it.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. HENLEY said the Noble Lord had made out as g ood a case as he could in support of the grant, but he had failed to show that during all the years these Poles had been hers they had been unable to make a subsistence, and, next, to find their way back to their own country.—(Hear, hear.) It was not right they should continue a burden on the people of this country, many of whom, owing to their distresses , would be glad of pensions. He did not think this grant should continue for ever. He should vote against the grant, unless the Government told the House that it would not be con tinued.—( Hear.) Mr. BRIGHT said it was surprising that the Poles in four teen years had not been able to provide for themselves. He could not but think that the Noble Lord was gratifying favourite notion at the expense of the people of this country, and at the sacrifice of his duty to his constituents. The case was much worse than had been stated. Oat of the whole time the money had been paid but one P o l e had been magnanimous enough to resign. He deprecated John Bull being made a mulch cow by the inhabitants of other countries.—(Great laughter.) In 1834 the House acceded to the grant on the distinct understanding that it would be but temporary. -7 (Hear, hear.) He tru s t e d t hi s would be the last vote, or a" least the last but one, and that the Government would give a pledge to that eff ec t.—( H ear, hear.) It was the saving , small sums that made a large general saving. Mr. HUME s a id h e was one of the Comm. ittee to whom the allotment of aid out of the vote to the distressed Pole, was granted. The sums very small, b u t t h ey were given merely, he admitted, were ely as aid, and in or der to support th em unt i l they could support themselves. That principle had been altogetuer contravened. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer would give a pledge that this and other grants would be reviewed and not pressed again if found that they could be dispensed with, he should advise his Hon. Friend not to press his amendment. The Pole and every other foreigner could now return to his own country. Mr. OSBORNE intimated that he could no t consent to the suggestion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER reviewed the circumstances under which the money was granted. The vote was one which could not be aonsidered a permanent charge upon the country.—( Hear, hear.) He did not think the House would be disposed to take away this aid from old persons who had been long in the receipt of it—that would be an act of cruelty; but young persons able to earn their own living could not be allowed to receive it. He assured the House that the list should be carefully reviewed. Sir J. TYRELL did not wish to act cruelly, but in bi g Opinion the Chancellor'of the Exchequer had not made out : strong case for its c o nti n u a nce. He thought they would d well to allow 4,0001. this and discontinue it next year, unless_ the Noble L or d t h e M em b er for Marylebone (whom much complimented) could show a very urgent case for its continuance to certain parties. Lord R. GROSVEN OR accounted for the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Bright) calling John Bull a milch cow by his having sat seventy- three days on an Irish Committee. He thought the plan of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the best. Mr. 11. BERKELEY said, when they had a heart to feel for the woes ot foreigners, he trusted that some share ot their humanity would be given fbr the distressed people at home. Constituents generally remarked that the House afforded liberal aid to foreigners whilst they neglected the distressed condition of the people at home. 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