The Sun. — London, England, 1848-03-01 00:00:00

TkIE SUN, ),ON DON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 1, 1848. Va. - - - -- _ tarry out ` the , . t same principle in the administration of i been suggested by some ! for it was extremely hard , enart y ..,:__ 'Nhich . they did in the administration of jus- , that the support of the poor should fall entirely on :ties spat as they imposed the penalty for crime on I one class. It ought also to be borne by the place 'the locality in which it was committed, so they I holder and the fundholder. Another important . .n , make the locality in which destitution existed ' question for the committee would be the operation of .bear use e7xpense.—(Flear.) 1 what was called the " quarter-acre clause." Alto- Mr. it.. M. FOX (Longford) said the Right Hon. I gether a strong case for inquiry had been made out. Crentlemt m (Sir G. Grey) was mistaken as to the Mr. CLEMENTS had heard with deep regret object of the Bill of which he had given notice. It that the Government meant to refuse the Committee. I'M not t o provide for the support of the poor of Ire- The unions in Ireland were, on an average, three land by a town-land rating, but of the able-bodied times the size of those in this country; their extraor- Poo r . only. The infirm poor he proposed to provide dinary size utterly preve nted the p ro p er working of for by ar. ;Ilion rating- lle intended to have pro- the law. He disapproved of the employment of the posed the,. levying of a tax upon all property other paid guardians, and hoped they would be got rid of than lan? L e d, in order to create a fund to be placed in jas soon as possible.---(Hear, hear.) In some of .._ lll3 h . a_ne.ts of the Poor-law Commissioners, as a rate the unions there were as many as twelv e relievin g i_u aid of that to be raised, where the other rate officers, while in no union in England were there exceeded a certain amount ; but as he saw no likeli • more than six relievin g officers, In the north of Ire -11• 1 , of his being able to carry out his views upon land, where the unions were only half the size the subject, he should not bring forward his Bill, I of those in Connaught, the law was found to work ho ping, however, that the Committee now moved for much better. The necessary effect of too large unions would be granted. was to diminish the stimulus for the employment of C olonel CONOLLY supported the motion. labour, and to increase the rate in consequence. — . Isn Host. MEMBER, who said he represented a place (Hear.) The Hon. Member for Surrey had alleged Fl the west of Ireland, declared that he was not that as the cost of maintaining a pauper in Ireland int lividually opposed to a Poor - law in Ireland, neither I was only about half the cost in England, the aggre -1" is the constituency which he represented ; but both gate amount of the poor-rate would only be one-half tie sired t o see a better regulated system established— in proportion. But this was not the case, for while 9 Lear, hear)—by which they would have more of the average amount of rate in Ireland was Is. 34d. in lls 0 management of their own affairs in their own the pound, in England it had only been ls. 71d. The bunch, a n d h e h o ped, therefore, that the Government gross valuation to the poor-rate in Ireland was thir• would yield to the appeal of the Hon. Member for I teen millions, in this country it was sixty-two millions; Riortarlington. and as the valuation in Ireland was much nearer the Mr. FRENCH denied, as was alleged by the Hon. net value than in England, the burden of the rate was Idember for Surrey, that Ireland was taxed for the proportionally heavier. Last year the amount of p oor at th e same rate only ea this country. It was, poor-rate levied in Ireland had been 970,000/., or • sal s the contrary, much more heavily taxed ; for about Is. 6d. in the pound. Iv bile Ireland was rated for the poor to the extent of Mr. LABOUCHERE expressed his regret that Isi 000,0001., on a rental of 13,000,0001., England was the Government felt themselves obliged to oppose the •on ly tax e d t o th e e xtent of 5,000,000/. on a rental of I motion for a Committee, supported as it was by so •56,000,0001.—(Hear, hear.) Such was the growing large a majority of the Irish Members.—(Hear.) Pofrerty of Ireland that the poor-law tax would soon They did so because they believed that if the motion lbt double its present amount Even at present it was carried it would have a tendency to paralyse W 5 is consuming the capital of the middle classes, the exertions of those who were now endeavouring to ?vh ile to the poor it proved a complete mockery. He carry out the working of the poor law, on which the !ld ascertained that the mortality amongst the subsistence of thousands was at that moment de -14.9,000 p oo r in the workhouses of that country pending. When the poor-law was in full operation, equalled that of the metropolis of England, namely, and when its working had been tested by experience, 1,000 per "peek. he did not mean to say that the object of those who Mr. HU'ME hoped the Government would not supported the present motion was not worthy of con teunions ftnse an op portunity to the Irish Members of proving sideration. He couldl not, however, help believing their case ; and, as some of them laudably observed, th a t the wish to make the area of the as nearly of preventin g their country from being any longer a as possible co-extensive with private property was at burden to th is. The Government would be acting the bottom of the present motion. To that principle against their own principles if they refused the Corn- he had a most decided objection, because he believed mittee n ow moved for. it would offer temptations to the system of clearances. Capt. JONES opposed the appointment of a Corn- His opinion was, that the area of taxation , ought to mittee, r aslikely to interfere injuriously with the be lar g e enou g h to combine communities that would oper a ti on o f th e l a w. The Hon. Member for Ros- not be too extensive, and that they should not be so Common, 'WI so supported the motion, was opposed to small as to make it rest on individual property. He the law al together, and it was evidently with the view could not hold out a hope that the commission would, of opposing .it that he asked for a Committee. as a principle, enter upon the task of revising the area Mr. FAG AN considered inquiry to be absolutely of taxation. necessary resspecting the mode of administering relief, The Earl of LINCOLN said he would support the transrrsiesion of paupers from England, the c harge the Government on the present occasion, because he upon the occupier, which he considered to be too thought the granting of a Committee would be much, and.: :upon several other miner matters. He, likely to counteract the efficient operation of the poor therefore, cordially supported the motion, the neces- law. He thought, however, that the Members from sity for which was well borne out by the testimony Ireland had grounds of complaint against the Go afforded by in the Hon. Members who had spoken vernment on this occasion, because every member of from the sister kingdom. the Government who had spoken had given a some- Sir J. WA LSH joined in entreating the Govern- what different explanation of the object of the Com ment to contsent to the appointment of a Coin- mission. —(Hear, hear.) He believed that a Com mittee on this; most important subject. mittee of inquiry would only confuse the subject, and Mr. S. CRAWFORD contended that the returns lead to no beneficial result. Some members of the - 'nada to Parliament showed that an inquiry was im. Government would, he hoped, yet rise and tell the peratively necessary. The evils of the present system House what was really to be the duty of the Corn demandeee that such should be the case, and that some mission—what it was to do and what it was not to intermediate course should at least be adopted. Look- do. If it was only to regulate boundaries—to take a ing to the whole operation of the law, and its results, bit from one union and to add a bit to another—he he cordially joined in the motion for the appointment did not think that was any answer to the motion, and 'of a Committee of Inquiry. he must say that it was a mere delusion. Major. BLACKALL also supported the motion, Mr. LABOUCHERE said that what he stated observin that the time had arrived when inquiry was, that the Commission was not to investigate with Was not only fitting, but absolutely necessary. In a view to change the area of taxation as a general some unions actually one-half of the population principle ; but he did not deny that where the elec were receiving relief; and a greater number even toral districts were inconveniently large, especially in than the number of those rated. By reducing the the west of Ireland, they would be diminished in area of taxation it would become the interest of extent, and increased in number. every one to give all the employment he could The Earl of LINCOLN resumed—Did the Right in order to keep down the rates in his own district. Hon. Gentleman mean as a general rule to say that It was an important question also, whether in t here was to be no re-o p enin g of the q uestion as to a country like Ireland, where the whole burden the area of taxation ? Because if that were the case of taxation fell upon the land, it would not be the Government ought to speak out upon the subject well to render other species of property liable and let their intentions be known. As to altering to the poor-rate.-:-(Hear, hear.) This was an addi- the Irish poor-law, in respect to substituting town tional reason for granting the Committee asked for. lands for electoral divisions, no real friend of Ireland The Hon. Member for Surrey, while opposing its could have proposed such a measure. If the Com appointment, had adduced the strongest reasons in mission which the Government intended to appoint was to be, a working Commission, then it would effect support of the motion, such us the charges that had been made against the guardians of different unions great good. But he hoped it was not proposed for the and other matters. The Right Hon. the Secretary mere purpose of passing the whole question by. First of State had opposed the Committee, because its let the Commission get into operation and show what object was not defined in the motion ; but, surely, it was likely to do, and then if it was unsatisfactory this was nothing unusual when a Committee was let the present motion be renewed. The promoters of moved for. the Hon. and Gallant Member's Committee would by Sir GEORGE GREY What I said was that persevering only hinder their own views from being no definite subject of inquiry was proposed for the carried out. He hoped, therefore, the motion would Committee. be withdrawn, for if it was not, entertaining the same Major BLACK ALL thought that sufficient wishes for the good of Ireland that were avowed by round had been laid for the appointment of the the Hon. and Gallant Member, he should deem it his Uommittee. As the law at present stood, if one duty to vote against him. electoral division in a union was unable to pay up Sir G. GREY, in explanation, said that the Hon. its arrears, the guardians might go on levying new Baronet, the Member for Clare, was quite aware that rates on the other divisions which could p a y ; and he had received an urgent application from several be conceived more calculated Members for Ireland, requesting him to nominate a surely nothing could commission to inquire into the present electoral divi to generate carelessness in the expe nditure. Mr. AGLIONBY implored Minist ers to consent sions as regarded the administration of the Irish P law, for the purpose of reducing their extent. to the appointment of this Committee. Th ei r oppo sition to it could only rest on information received He had then told the Hon. Baronet that he had from officials in Ireland ; and on that ground it was always been most willing and ready to appoint such important that other evidence should be heard. a commission, but that, having recently been in com- An Hon. MEMBER, whom we did not recognise, munication with the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland on said that feeling the inconvenience which must arise the subject, he expected to receive from that Noble from withdrawing a number of officers from Ireland, man a plan already marked out for the appointment to give evidence before the Cemmittee, he must op- of a commission and the nature of its inquiries. Two pose its appointment. or three days ago he did receive that plan, and then Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the law was he had informed the Hon. Baronet the Member for imperative as to the appointment of relie v i n g o f Clare, that a division of unions might be desirable , officers by the Commissioners; and yet this had been made and that as he and others were not able to effect a serious ground of complaint by the Hon. and Gal, that object, it might be done by means of a commis lant Member for Donegal (Col. Conolly). It was sion. But, at the same time, he stated that the Go also imperative on relieving officers to give relief in vernment objected to any proposal to diminish the area of taxation, as that might lead to extravagant sudden and urgent cases • and if this or any other of expectations which could not be realised. All the the requirements of the law were not complied with, the Commissioners would naturally be blamed for Government could hope to effect was, to divide large electoral districts where they were found to be too not compelling the guardians to do their duty. The Hon. and Gallant mover (Colonel Dunne) had laid large • ; but they could not undertake to lay down much stress on the state of things in the u nion of rules for the observance of the Commission , a nd, therefore, though he would not pledge himself to such Ballyshannon ; but this, it should be k nown, had a step, he had no doubt but that the result of the in been one of the most difficult unions in Ireland to uir propose d qy would be to recommend a division of the manage. In the Donegal union, the sal aries by the guardians for schoolmaster, porter, and other electoral districts. officers, had been so ridiculously small -8 1 . a y ear for Mr. WAKLEY said that the Right Hon. Baronet had confined his explanation to the question of else the schoolmaster, and 61 . for the p orter—(Hear, bear)—that the Commissioners were com p elled to in- Loral divisions ; an d the Noble Lord who had recom mended the motion to be withdrawn had also referred feelers, otherwise it would be impossible to obtain only to the same point. He hoped, however, that on proper officers. The Commissioners had been blamed for dismissing certain hoards of guardians. Let the the present, as on recent occasions, Ministers would House read the papers on this subject, and they would see the error of their ways and relent so far as not to oppose the nomination of a Committee. After the be satis fi ed that the Commissioners had endeavoured statements that had been made that night there was a wou ld greater to perform their duty in the best possible manner. He had always thought that the Irish poor- law necessity than ever to nominate a Select Com mittee. When so striking a phenomenon was exhi require considerable modification before it was made bited, as that of the Irish Members all agreeing upon to work unexceptionably ; but as yet it was quite pre mature to propose any alteration — for the law had the motion, it was treating them with great disrespect not been fully enforced. A commi t t ee of in- not to grant it. There was a precedent for the mo quiry at the present moment would b e absolutely tion, for the English poor - law was only passed in the middle of 1834, and at the beginning of 1836 a Corn nugatory ; for when the law was brought into full mittee of inquiry was appointed, which sat during operation, a further and fuller inquiry might become necessary. The area of taxation was not unalter- the whole session. One Honourable M e mber had ably . fixed ; it might became the duty of the Corn- stated that there were thousands of Irish poor starv enissioners or the Legislature materially to reduce ing, and what did the Right Honourable Baronet it, but not certainly to the extent of the townland (Sir George Grey) reply to the statement? why, that Only. It was most important that the House should the Irish poor law had not been enforced. Was that a reason for refusing an inquiry ? Was it not rather take care, in stimulating employment, not to decrease a ground fur instituting an inquiry ? The House had the stimulus to labour, nor to relieve the large landed al io heard of the extraordinary length of some of the proprietors from the duty of supporting the poor. (Hear, hear.) Let them beware of holding out in- unions, extending to forty-six miles from one ex treme to the other. This could only be regarded as ducements to clearances.—(Hear, hear.) On the a device for torturing the poor. It had also been estates of many proprietors there was not a single pauper, those estates being tilled and cu l t ivated by complained that the poor - law of Eng land, and that of labourers from contiguous districts : and surely it Irela, were unequal in their operatio n ; but from was not intended to relieve such landow ners from all that he had heard stated respecting the Irish poor the support of the poor altogether. — (N o, no. ) But law diet, he should pronounce it to be the worst ever et invented. The test applied to the Irish, as it ha d such would be the effect if each town l a nd were yet been done to the English, workhous es was made responsible for the support of its ow n poor. Pry them as uncomfortable as possible. — (M u rmurs.) Yes, he repeated his assertion. The The reduction of the area o f ta x at ion w as a most to render important and difficult question, and would de- real workhouse test in Ireland, as in England , w as wand the most careful con sideration, The Corn. missionen had now the power to divide and subdi- excessive discomfort ;and in order that the test should be most fully applied, the guardians of the poor had, tide unions ; but such changes could not be effected without shifting the burden of p au p erism from one he was credibly informed, sought out the very worst species of food that human beings could subsist on, set of ratepayers to another , a nd motives were in in order to provide that for the workhouse inmates.— consequence imputed. This had ta ken p lace in the (Cries of " Name, name.") The gentleman from only case in which a division had hitherto been made, whom he had this information was sitting in the that of Dromore West, which certa inl y a pp eared as clear a case as possible for a divisio n. A g reeing in House and heard him make the statement, but not having received his permission he could not name much that the Hon. and Gallant Me mber (Colonel him.—(The Hon. Member for Cork here spoke to Dunne) had urged, he thought the app ointment of a 'Committee of inquiry at present would be most ill- Mr. Wakley.) He was authorised to say that his informant was the Hon. Member for Cork.—(Hear.) timed. It was not known what the amount of rate or of out-door relief was like l y to be. On many Mr. PAGAN ros®, and begged to be permitted to state that he had been informed by a board of guar other points they were equally in ignorance. The diens in basis of a well-considered poor - law was m ost essen- h.eland, that as the English workhouses had applied the system of adopting the worst possible tial for the superstructure of the w elfare of Ireland ; species of food for the poor , so they thought the e and it behoved the House to be m ost careful lest recedent was one which ought to be observed in they should take a wrong step in the matter by dis turbing the existing law before they were in posses- Irel The Earl of LINCOLN sa id t ha t he had visite d and. sion of su ffi cient information as to how it had worked and how it was likely to ope rate.— ( Hear, hear.) the workhouse at Cork, and he could bear w i t ness Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN said the appointment of the that he wished to God every poor man o ut of t h e Committee was unanimously desired by Irish Members English workhouses had as good food to eat as the and if it was denied by an English majority, it would paupers at Cork get. The bread served out to th em convince the Irish people more strongly of the neces- was as white and as good as that eaten at the table of sity of having a Parliament to manage their own af- any gentleman in that House. fairs. H e thought it important so to arrange the Mr. WAKLEY resumed. The Cork union was unions th a t landed proprietors might have an induce- not the one referred to by him, nor could it be, so meat rather to employ the poor t han to p a y increased long as the board of guardians had amongst them one s rates td this would be attained by. decreasing the so kind and so liberal hearted as the Hon. Member f Cork. T' h - Id , ut upon the food served out in the workhouses in Ireland? He could answer that question by averring that able bodied labourers were for weeks in the workhouse without receiving an ounce of animal food. Was that fit treatment for human beings, whilst the cattle were all sent to England for sale ?—(Oh, oh.) It might be unpleasant to hear, but what he said was nevertheless true. He hoped the House would not narrow the question down to the views expressed by the Right lion. Baronet (Sir G. Grey), but that they would look to it as affecting the welfare of many thousands; and in his opinion the Government, so far from opposing the motion, ought to seek to make the inquiry as searching as possible. Mr. C. BULLER said he had hardly thought he should have had to intethre in the present debate for the purpose of defending the English poor-law, and he did so merely to show how little dependence was to be placed on information held at second hand. The lion. Member for Finsbury had deplored the intolerable abuses of the Irish poor-law, because, as he stated, the unhappy peasantry were put on a low description of food, worse than they had been accus tomed to—the same, in fact, as had been given in the English workhouses. There were many gentlemen present who were conversant with the working of the English poor-law, and they must be aware of the truth of the lion. Member's illustration.—(llear.) It had never been the policy of the English Commis sioners to encourage the use of bad food, and when he told the House that they were standing out at that moment for four meat dinners per week in the work houses, he thought that very little dread would be felt on that score. But it was a great misfortune when gentlemen of quick imagination and eloquence picked up the facts they had to state in the course of the speech they were making. They had all heard the prompting which the Hon. Member for Fins bury had undergone, and how an Irish union had, in the course of his speech, swelled from 36 to 60 miles in length.—(A laugh.) Before an Hon. Member came forward in that House to complain of the dietary in the Irish workhouses, he should remember what the habitual food of the peasantry had been—(Rear, hear)—in how many cases the honest and industrious peasant had been unable to get as good.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member had taunted the Govern ment with having " harked back" on other questions, and asked them to do so on the Irish poor-law. He (Mr. Buller) wished to ask the House of Commons whether it had so far seen the error of its ways in passing the Irish poor-law, as to be ready to hark back at the bidding of the Hon. Member ?—(Hear, hear.) He asked the qnestion, because it was on that ground the Committee was asked for—it was felt that its appointment would be a heavy blow and discourage ment to the poor law.—(" Hear, hear," and "No, no," from the Irish Members.) Oh, yes, the Irish Members of all religions and politics were unani mous on that point. The broad plain issue of this motion was not to inquire into any particular fact, or class of facts, connected with the poor law—it was to inquire into the working and efficiency of the poor-law in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) He said and maintained that it was deliberately putting the whole of the poor-law again in issue, and its working would be completely paralysed during the sitting of the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) The Go vernment did not refuse remedies when they were necessary, or to make strict inquiry into the details of the law, but that was a very different matter from taking its administration out of their hands altogether. He trusted that if inquiry were deemed necessary it would be entrusted to those who had to administer the law—(Oh, oh)—and that nothing would be done to inspire the Irish people with any doubts as to the intentions of the British Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. GROGAN said that the speech of the Hon. Member for Liskeard was very happy, but it did not at all coincide with the statement which at an earlier peaiod of the evening had been made on the part of the Government. But, to bring back the House to the sober question, here was a point • on which all the Irish Members had called for inquiry, and he could assure the House that all the Irish people were anxious in the cause. If English Members wished Irish paupers to be supported at home, they would support inquiry into the operation of a law under which the capital of Ireland was rapidly disappearing. Sir W. SOMERVILLE explained. Sir A. BROOKE could attest the lively interest felt in Ireland on this subject. He felt it his duty to support the motion. Colonel DUNNE, in reply, said that he could not have made out a more complete case for his mo tion than that for which he was indebted to the Hon. Members who opposed it. Nobody could deny that the poor-rates of Ireland were rapidly absorbing the property of the country. Mr. WALTER did not rise to detain the House by any observations on the Irish poor-law, with which he was free to confess he was but imperfectly acquainted, but merely to congratulate the Govern ment on the fortunate appointment they had made in the selection of a gentleman as President of the Poor-law Commission who had had the boldness to assert in that House that it was not the object of the new poor-law to offer to the poor of this country a worse diet in the workhouse than they could obtain out of it. To say nothing of the famous document which had been exhibited in the House, and which was thrown out as a feeler as to what was the lowest diet the poor could exist upon, had the Right Hon. Ge ntleman forgotten to what circumstance he owed his ap pointment ?—had he forgotten that it was to the practice which was proved to have prevailed in the Andover union, where, in consequence of the in sufficiency of the diet, the poor had had recourse to gnawing raw hones to satisfy their hunger?— (Hear, hear.) lie (Mr. Walter) was gled to hear that the Honourable and Learned Gentleman had, since his accession to office, been engaged in an endeavour to improve the diet in the workhouses; but whatever might be the case now, that could not affect the merits of the original object of the law, and he should have been wanting in the duty he owed to his constituents, and the respect he owed to that indi vidual who, while he lived, was always the determined opponent of that law, if he had not risen in his place to express his astonishment at the extraordinary state ment of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman Mr. C. Buller).—(llear, hear.) After a few words from Mr. WAKLEY, The House divided, and the numbers were— For the motion • ... • lOl Against it Majority TENANT-RIGHT. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUESDAY, FEB. 29. POOR-LAW (IRELAND). Motion made, and Question put, " That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the working and efficiency of the Poor-law in Ireland." The House divided:— Mr. NE WDEGATE moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the law and custom of different parts of the United Kingdom, as between out going and in-coming tenants, and also as between landlord and tenant, in reference to un exhausted improvements or deterioration of land and premises occupied for agricultural purposes. Mr. PUSEY seconded the motion. Colonel SIBTHORP opposed the motion, it being his opinion that these matters should be left to arrangement between the parties concerned. He moved that the question be adjourned till that day six months. The SPEAKER, however, having intimated that this amendment was informal, Colonel SIBTHORP moved that the debate be adjourned. Sir G. GREY said that, certainly if there was to be a debate on the motion, it had better, at that hour of the night, be adjourned. Mr. PUSEY thought that inquiry on this subject would be useful. Mr. CHRISTOPHER, on the contrary, was clearly of opinion that legislation upon the relations in questton - rwould be only leading the agricultural interest still deeper into the mire. Mr. W. MILES hoped the Gallant Member for Lincoln would withdraw his amendment. Mr. HEATHCOTE was as much against the sug gested Bill as any man, and he thought the clearest way to settle the question would be to appoint a Com mittee. Colonel SIBTHORP withdrew his amendment, and the motion was then agreed to. EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER postponed the appointment of those Committees until Friday. ELECTION RECOGNISANCES BILL. Mr. WALPOLE obtained leave to bring in this Bill. The House adjourned at half-past Twelve o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceeding, of the House of Commons. TUESDAY, FEU. 29. The following Railway Bills were ordered to be brought in:— East Anglian (Ely and Huntingdon Railway Extension of Time). Caledonian (Purchase or Lease of Wishaw and Coltness Railway). Caledonian, Lancaster and Carlisle, and London and North-Westerr. (Lease of Scottish Central Railway). Edinburgh and Northern (Roscobie, Keltyhead, and Glencraig Branches, &c.) SINGULAR SEIZURE OF SMUGGLED TOBACCO.— Late on Monday evening, as Messrs. Bayford and Lewins, officers of Excise, were proceeding up Great Russell-street, Bermondsey, they observed a man carry ing a heavy burden on his back, and on reaching him, Lewins (having some suspicions of the contents) placed his hand upon the package, upon which the man immediately threw it backward from his shoulders, knocking the officer down, and the bundle falling heavily upon him, at the same moment making a very hasty retreat. As soon, however, as the load could be removed, the officers pursued the man fur a considerable distance, but he contrived ultimately to make his esce_pe. On their return to the spot where they first met with him, they proceeded to examine the bale, which turned out to be a large quantity (beta een 200 and 3001bs) of leaf tobacco of a very fine quality, which, of course, had been smug •led. Th' -Off then conveyed the prize to the Excise company was owing to the misplaced confidence in its ad visers, not only by the directors but by the shareholders themselves, echo had approved the contracts when they were submitted to them by the directors. He trusted, however, that the line, when completed, would prove sufficiently remunerative to atone for their past misfor tunes. The local traffic was very considerable, and of such a natare as to prove profitable to the promoters of this railway. The CHAIRMAN vindicated himself and the board of directors from the charges brought against them of neglect and culpability, as they had bestowed consider able care and trouble upon the proceedings. After some considerable discussion the report was agreed to. It:solutions authorising the forfeiture of a number of shares held by defaulting shareholders; for authorising a deviation in the line of railway as at present autho rised to be made; to increase the number and reduce the amount of the shares into which the capital is divided; to merge and r e -i ssu e c ertain shares subject to forfeiture, and to amend the Act relating to the railway, were also agreed to. The thanis of the meeting were voted to the Chair man, and the meeting brekt up. CHARING-CROSS BRIDGE COM- company in respect of the float, and to report thereon to a subsequent meeting. The following gentlemen were appointed the committee, namely,•—Mr. Cope, Mr. Elkins, Mr. Muriel, Mr. lludall, and Mr. Brown. The above resolutions were arrived at after a very long and diffuse conversation. Another committee was subsequently appointed to examine into the financial position of the company, and the meeting separated after a sitting of four hours. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business of the day. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF TUESDAY. D OWNING- STREET, FEB. 28, 1848. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Edmund Murray Dodd, Esq., to be a Puisne Judge of the Su preme Court of the province of Nova Scotia. Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint the Rev. William Abiah Newman, Master of Arts, to be Chaplain for Cape Town, in the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope. WHITEHALL, FEB. 28. The Queen bas been pleased to present the Reverend Angus Logan to the church and parish of Tongue, in the presbytery of Tongue and county of Sutherland, vacant by the transportation of the Rev. Hugh MtKen zie, late minister thereof, to the Gaelic church of Cromarty. CAMBRIDGE-HOUSE, FEB. 25. The Duke of Cambridge has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Edward Burney to be one of his Royal High ness's Chaplains. CROWN OFFICE, FEB. 26. lIEMZER RETURNED TO SERV: IN THIS PRESENT PAR LIAMENT. Borough of Devizes - Lieutenant-Colonel James Bucknall Bucknall Estcourt, of Estcourt, in the county of Gloucester, in the room of William Heald Ludlow Bruges, Esq„ who has accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds. WHITEHALL, FEB. 18. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Richard Green wood, of Skipton, in the county of York, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, FEB. 25. The Lord Chancellor has appoinied Thomas Charles Augustus Brine, of Wimborn Minster, in the county of Dorset, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, FED, 26. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Henry Jubb, of Herringthorpe, near Rotherham, in the county of York, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire. Berwickshire Regiment of North British Militia- Thomas Shairp, younger, Esq., to be Captain, vice James Pringle, promoted, Feb. 25. BANKRUPTS. William Hurst, jun., licensed victualler, Bagnigge wells-road, to surrender March 9 and April 14, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, assignee, Basinghall-street; Laurance and Flews, Old Jewry chambers. William Henry Rains, wine and commission merchant, Liverpool, March 17 and April 14, at eleven, at the Li verpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liver pool ; Sharpe and Co., Bedford-row; Banner, Liverpool. George Wilkins, builder, Bristol, March 16, and April 11, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Miller, official assignee, Bristol; Ayre, Bristol. Stephen Bennett, teazle dealer, Bristol, March 16 and April 11, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Hutton, official assignee, Bristol ; Crosby, Bristol. William Francis Chapman, corn dealer, Worcester, March 15, and April 18, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham ; Rea, Worcester; Wright, Birmingham. Daniel Ross and Edward Tatham, hat manufacturers, Union-street, Southwark, March 10, at one, and April 17, at eleven, at the Court, Basinghall.street. Graham, official assiguee, Coleman-street; Hartley, Southampton street. George Farr Arnold, carpenter, Apsley Guise, Bed fordshire, March 10 and April 17, at half-past eleven, at the Court,Basinghall-street. Turquand, official as signee, Guildhall-chambers; Gant, Nicholas-lane. Charles Tottman Chapman, livery stable keeper, Cam bridge, March 10, at two, and April 4, at eleven, at the Court, Basinghall-street. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry; Thorndike, Staple Inn; Bevill, Cambridge. James Lewis Kennaby, cork dealer, King-street, Snow hill, March 12 and April 12, ;at twelve, at the Court, Basinghall-street. Johnson, official assignee, Basing hall-street; Bickley, Moorgate-street. John Atkins, wine and spirit merchant, West Cowes, Isle of Wight, March 7, at halt-past twelve, and April 7, at twelve, at the Court, Basinghall street. Pennell, official assignee; Harper, Kennington-cross. Joseph Beaman,: iron manufacturer, Southwick, Staf fordshire, March 15 and April 8, at eleven, at the Bir mingham District Court. Christie, efficial assignee, Birmingham; Dudley, Dudley; Motteram and Co., Bir mingham. William Wood, licensed victualler, Waddington, Lin colnshire, March 17 and April 7, at eleven, at the Not tingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Nottingham; Brown, Lincoln; Bewley, Nottingham. Dovey Hawesford and John Haweaford, iron founders, Bilston, Staffordshire, March 15 and April 13, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. .Valpy, official as signee, Birmingham; Sparrow Wolverhampton; Mot teram and Co., Birmingham. James Lewis, mercer, Herefordshire, March 14 and April 18, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assigeee, Birmingham; Davies, Here fordshire; Fuller, Birmingham ; Jones, Gray's Inn- Lquare, London. Thomas Batt Shuttleworth, brush maker, Sheffield, March 10 and April 22, at ten, at the Sheffield District Court. Freeman, official assignee, Sheffield ; Nixon, Clifford's Inn, London; Binney, Sheffield. John Sankey, blacksmith, Birkenhead, March 17 and April 1-;, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official assignee, Liverpool; Vincent, Temple, London; Atkinson, Liverpool. William Carter, innkeeper, Exeter, March 9, at twelve, and April 7, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Her naman, official assignee, Exeter; Daw, Exeter; Terrell, Gray's Inn-square, London. DIVIDENDS. At the Court, Basinghall-street. R. IL Pugh, Aldermanbury, warehouseman, March 21, at eleven-J. M. Machin, Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, wine merchant, March 21, at one-R. More, Norwich, coal merchant, March 21, at half-past twelve-E. B. Smithies and J. A. T. Mathews, Great .Dover. road, New ington, glass and lead merchants. In the Country. T. Avant, Dawlish, Devonshire, upholsterer and cabinet maker, March 23, at one, at the Court, Exeter- J. Wetherell, Manchester, publican and wine and spirit dealer, March 23, at twelve, at the Court, Manchester -T. Chatto, Morpeth, Northumberland, linen and woollen draper, March 21, at twelve, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne-T. Snaith and G. Snaith, Bishop Auckland, Durham, ironmongers and plumbers March 23, at eleven, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne- W. W. Spence, Nem castle-upon-Tyne, woollen draper, March 23, at twelve, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne -G. Brown, Shiffnal, Shropshire, banker, March 23, at eleven, at the Court, Birmingham. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS. W. D. Hay, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, baker, Bd., on Saturday, March 4, or any subsequent Saturday, be tween the hours of ten and three, at the office of Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. H. Wanstall, Durham, grocer and tea dealer, is., on Saturday, March 4, or any following Saturday, between the hours of ten and three, at the office of Mr. Wakley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. S. Stott, J. Stott, and W. Stott, Bacup, Lancashire, cotton spinners, 6s. 21d., on Tuesday, March 14, and every following Tuesday, between the hours of eleven and one, at the office of Mr. Pott, Manchester. J. Harford and W. W. Davies, Bristol, and Ebbw vale and Sirhowy, Monmouthshire, 2s. Bd., on Wednes day, March 1, or any subsequent Wednesday, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Hutton, Bristol. NOTICES OF CERTIFICATES. At the Court, Basinghall-street. G. Windle, Judd-street, Brunswick-square, haber dasher and hosier, March 2], at twelve-T. Bromley, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, grocer, tea dealer, and corn dealer, also at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, brick maker, March 21, at twelve-11. J. Hammon, Thread needle-street, architect, and Greek-street, Soho, jewel case maker, March 23, at eleven-T. T. Cattley, Cousin lane, Upper Thames-street, and Vimiera-place, Wands worth-road, colour merchant, March 23, at eleven-J. M`Ce eorge, Wardour-street, Soho, ironmonger and smith, March 23, at twelve -J. Sawyer, Egham, butcher, March 23, at half-past twelve-VV . . T. Rickard, Regent street, Mile-end-road, manufacturing chymist, March 23, at half-past one-W. Giblett, New Bond-street, butcher, March 22, at half-past one-G. Burr, East Farleigh, Kent, market gardener, ,March 22, at half.past twelve- G. Garner, Noble-street, commission agent and ware houseman, March 22, at twelve-T. C. Medwin, Hol land-street, Clapham-road, and Borough-road, engineer, March 22, at one-J. M. Lee, Cornhill, underwriter, March 24, at two-F. Mackie, Southampton-row, Rus sell-square, tailor, March 22, at twelve. In the Country. T. N. Benard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, merchant, March 23, at eleven, at the Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne-J. Richards, :Merthyr Tydvil, Glamorganshire woollen draper, March 23, at half-p as t e l even , a t the Court, Bristol -T. Sartain, jun., Holt, Wiltshire, sheep and cattle dealer, March 23, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol -NV. T. Morgan, Neath, Glamorganshire, draper, March 30, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol-T. Burley, sen., Wolverhampton, grocer and tea dealer, March 22, at eleven, at the Court, Birmingham-W. Sutton, Stock port, Cheshire, cotton waste dealer, March 22, at twelve, at the Collet, Manchester. At the Court of Review, March 21. W. Walker, Birmingham, hosier and tailor-E. Maude and G. Maude, Northileet, Portland cement manu facturers-J. Hughes, Fronhaulog, Carnarvonshire, miller, corn factor, and quarryman-W. Trice, High street Stepney, grocer and tea dealer-T. Pope, Kid broke, Kent, cowkeeper and milkman-W. Bate, Bridg north, Shropshire, millwright-W. Jones, Liverpool, merchant-T. Berridge, Manchester, dealer in cigars and tobacconist-W. I. Barker, Sunderland, auctioneer, stock and share broker, and commission agent-H. E. Field, Mark-lane, eating-house-keeper-J. Russell, Leamington Priors, grocer-W. Fitzpatrick, Walsall, Staffordshire, railway contractor and brickmaker-W. IL nodding, Gloucester-place, Portman-square, surgeon and apothecary-J. Hill, jun. , Southampton, builder, surveyor, and brickmaker-G. Miners, Winchelsea, Sussex, wine and spirit merchant -T. B. Figgures, Blockley, Worcestershire, corn dealer-J. Hills, Billeri cay-, Essex, auctioneer and appraiser. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. C. E. Secretan and T. H. Capper, (,gauge-alley, CQra. PANY. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday, at one o'clock, at the offices, Villiers-street, Strand; W. Hawes, Esq., in the chair. The clerk (Mr. LIWRANCE) read the following report: "Your directors have the pleasure to report that the tolls received in the last six months, amounting to 3,1831. 10s. Bd., have exceeded, though to a small ex tent only, those collected in the same months of the years 1845 and 1846. This sum will enable the proprietors, after discharging the current expenditure, to declare a dividend at the rate of four per cent. per annum on the capital stock of the company for the six months ending 31st January, 1848. The rapid progress of the works of the South-Western Railway, and the probable early completion of the temporary station near the York-road, have induced your directors to give instructions for the improvement of the access to the southern terminus of the bridge, under the provisions of the company's Act, Bth and 9th Victoria, for that purpose. The vast traffic which will be brought to the York-road station, as soon as the extension of the South-Western Railway is com pleted, cannot fail to produce most beneficial effects on the receipts of the bridge. Your directors regret they have been unable, after repeated efforts in various chan nels, to procure a loan in the manner contemplated at the last special general meeting, and other means must now be adopted to raise the funds required to pay the pressing liabilities of the company. Your directors regret to an nounce, that the offers they have made to the directors of the Market Company to refer the only point of dif ference now open between the companies to the decision of two directors chosen from each board, has been de clined ; and the question as to the claim of the Market Company for compensation for the alleged delay in open ing the pier, still remains to be decided. By the half yearly accounts it will be seen that the capital account is indebted to the revenue account in the sum of 1,7071. 15s. 9d, which cannot be repaid and distributed in dividends as it ought to be, till new capital is raised. By the revenue account for the half-year ending 31st January, it appeared that the receipts had been 6,672/. Bs. 11d., which, after discharging the following— sundry charges for printing, petty cash, advertisements, &c., &c., 651. 55.; interest account, one year Exchequer Loan Commissioners, bankers, &c., &c., 1,3961. 14s. 9d.; rates and taxes, 5161. 9s. 2d.; salaries, 1501.; works, toll collectors, repairs of gates, gas, Hungerford Market Company law charges, 560/. Os. 11.,—left a balance of 3,9831. 19s. 11d." The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the meeting. He said their affairs were brightening; the toll had gradually and steadily increased during the half-year, and he ex pected that as soon as the South-Western Extension was carried to the opposite side of the bridge, that a further accession of traffic would take place. The most impor tant matter for their consideration was what was to be done with the new quarter shares which they authorised them to issue at a former meeting, for the purpose of raising funds to discharge their outstanding and pressing liabilities. More shares, it was understood, were not to be disposed of until the shareholders had been further com municated with. He was now sorry to inform them that the directors had been unable to raise the requisite funds on the security of their shares, although it was right to state that they could have done so in the early part of last year, when the shareholders refused to invest them with the requisite authority. The directors having made this communication to the meeting, would use the best means at their command to raise money on the shares. They would, however retain as many as possible in the hands of the company. Mr. STUTELEY, the chairman of the Market Com pany, regretted exceedingly that a clause had been in serted in the report, stating that the company which he represented had refused to refer the only point of diffe rence now open between the two companies to the deci sion of two directors chosen from each board, because it could not fail to lead to the inference that a misunder standing still existed between the two bodies.—(Hear, hear.) On the 20th of May, 1847, a letter was received from the Bridge Company, bearing the signature of Mr. Curtis, the solicitor, stating that a difference of opinion was likely to arise with respect to the float, and sug gesting that it should be referred to the arbitration of two banisters. The proposition was acceded to ; but since then, up to the 2d of December, nothing but pro , crastination on the part of the Bridge Company had taken place.—(Hear, hear.) On the day he had men tioned a proposition was received from that company, offering to refer the matter at issue to two , di rectors of each company. Looking at the delay of several months that had taken place, and to the ap• parent difficulty of bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion, (fur they had experienced much difficulty in the past by settling matters by arbitration) the Market Company refused to accede, and actions had been com menced by the Market Company for the enforcement of their view of the understanding with respect to the float. The CHAIRMAN said the Bridge Company wished to refer the matter of the float to arbitration, because they believed it would be amicably settled, and that some other matters of minor importance could be arranged at the same time. The question what money, if any, was due to the Market Company for the delay in opening the float was really the only question at issue. The Market Company not having. appointed any arbitrators, the Bridge Company offered in December to refer the matter to an amicable settlement by two directors from each board, which proposition was rejected. This showed that they did not wish to get the shareholders into law, though many charges to that effect had been made against them. Mr. FLADGATE (one of the solicitors to the Market Company) stated, in explanation, that an order for re ference was drawn up and dispatched to Mr. Curtis, who after considerable delay refused to accede to it. The CHAIRMAN said there were several special meet ings at the time in question, and that a reply was re turned at the earliest possible moment. Mr. CURTIS said he felt it his duty to advise the di rectors not to accede to the propositions which emanated from Mr. F.Fladgate. He objected to the proposition with respect to costs, which, if they had been returned at 60s. would have saddled the whole of them upon the Bridge Company. It was not usual for costs to abide the event of arbitration, and that they should be settled by the arbitrator. The CHAIRMAN stated, in reply to a question, that the market company claimed nearly 1,0001. The question turned upon the costs. Mr. ELKINS differed with Mr. Curtis with respect to the practice of arbitration. The principle to which he objected was becoming more into use every day. After much discussion on the points, Mr. BROWNE complained that the directors had made it appear in their report that existed on the part of the Market Company towards the Bridge Company. Mr. FEw said if the dispute was carried into a court of law that the liability of the company only would be tried, as the judge would no doubt refer the amount of compensation to a barrister. A SIIAREHOLDER—I think the best settlement we can adopt is to take the whole matter out of the hands of the lawyers.—(Laughter.) As long as they have got a farthing they will not leave us, and we shall not get a dividend for the next three years.—(Hear.) In reply to questions from Mr. ELKINS, The CHAIRMAN stated that they had paid the en gineer a balance of 5001. ; 2801. under the head of " bill receivable" was owing by the clerk, who at first received but a small salary. The directors had given him a little temporary accommodation, in order to enable him to pay up a few shares he held, which, owing to the bad ness of the times, he had been prevented from doing.— (Hear.) The liabilities did not amount to so large a sum as was stated in the last report. He was authorised to state, though he had not been able to get a final ac count from Mr. Chadwick, that his claim would not be so large as that mentioned in the last financial statement. 1,0001. would more than cover the suit of the Market Company.—(A Shareholder—That is a pretty good sum though.) The costs of the Bridge Company were 2724, and of the Market Company 1751. 13s. Gd. The costs of the sale of the bridge and the Parliamentary charges for the last two sessions would be more than covered by the interest saved upon the 1,000/. of Messrs. Jackson. —(Bear.) The directors stated this two years ago. An arrangement had been completed with the Messrs. Jack son to the effect, that they should seekino interest up to Ist of January this year. Some time ago the claim of Messrs. Jackson might have been paid by 9,0004 ; but it could not now be settled for less than 10,000/. Mr. BROWNE took credit to himself for offering the payment of the 9,0001. The increase of the tolls was gratifying. 'The CHAIRMAN said the bridge had only been com pleted two years and a half. They might have wasted money in various ways—(gear, hear)—but they bad done the best they could for the protection of their pro perty. The Hungerford Market Company . had, it was true, lent their money, but they had had their quid pro quo. They had had great difficulty in raising . money. 500 shares were at one time put up to auction, but they could not dispose of a single share, though they after wards rose to 20 premium. They had been driven to raise money disadvantageously. They had wished to refer hundreds of matters to the Market Company for arbitration, but the Market Company had never done so. The ordinary law expeuses of the company paid to hi s brother-in-law were under 44/.—(Hear.) The report was received and adopted, with the omis sion of the paragraph respecting the Hungerford Market. The next resolution, declaring a dividend of ten shillings upon each original share, and of sixpence a share upon each fifth share in the company for the half year ending the 31st of January last, was also put and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. BROWN, it was resolved that a committee of five shareholders in the Charing-cross Bridge Company, not being holders of shares in the Hungerford Market Company, should be appointed for -se of iuveatigeting the claims of the letter -,.., hill, stockbrokers—J. Nicholson, sen., J. Nicholson, and W. Nicholson, Kendal, Westmorland, hosiers and manu facturers—L. Cherry, sen., and IV. Cherry, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, drapers and tailors—J. T. Clay and W. Eddison, Rastrick, Yorkshire, fancy woollen manufac turers—ll. Hudson and W. Hudson, Leeds, paperhang ing manufacturers—R. Hadland and J. Lackland, St. Helen's, Lancashire, crown glass manufacturers—J. Webster and R. Harrison,:St. Helen's, Lancashire, house builders—J. Knaggs, Mornington-crescent, Hampstead road, and W. R. Rogers, Mortimer-street, Cavendish.. square, surgeons—J. L. Godwin and H. Barber, Bristol, tilers—J. Waterman, sen.. and J. Waterman, jun., Brenchley, Kent, maltsters and farmers—T. Samson and E. Samson, Hoxton-square, Shoreditch, cabinet makers —R. Brimer and J. Wakefield, :Manchester, crucible manufacturers—J. Stringer and A. Ogden, Lark-hill, near Middleton, Lancashire, roller makers—G. Finnis and J. Ronalds, Ilythe, Kent, upholsterers—J. Wignall and R. Curwen, Fleetwood-upon-Wyre, Lancashire, timber and slate merchants—J. Yates and H. Yates, I'rescot, Lancashire, stonemasons and builders—Mary Evans and 0. Jones, Ruthin, Denbighshire, grocers and drapers—T. Cooper and T. Massey, Church Greeley, Derbyshire, earthenware manufacturers and farmers—E. Savage, C. Smith, and E. Tasker, Birehin-lane, Cornhill, engravers (as far as regards E. Savage)—John Hockley Woodrow, sen., and John Hockley Woodrow, jun., Hat ton-garden, tailors and drapers—J. Nicholls, R. Cordon, and J. Adams, Staffordshire Potteries, earthenware manufactures (as far as regards R. Cordon)—W. Cyplea and G. Barker, Longton, Staffordshire Potteries, earthen- Manufacturers—W. Aielewoocl and W. Frankish, Ro therham, Yorkshire, spring manufacturers —W. M. Brow ne and E. H. Browne, Peckham-rye, Surrey, builders and brickmakers—J. Hargrave, R. H. Bell, E. Bell, and E. Hastings, Monleten, Durham, paper manufacturers-- G. Duncan and G. Newman, builders—Martha Robin son, Jane Kerslake, and Anne Robinson, Bath, milliners and dressmakers—R. F. Swift and E. Smith, Wordsley, Staffordshire, ironfounders and smiths—A. Cockburn, A. Cockburn, and H. Smithes, London and Oporto, merchants (as far as regards A. Cockburn)—J. Wilson, J. King, and J. G. Copley. Manchester, cotton spinners —G. Ware, B. Ware, and Mary Ware, Bimbury and Boxley, Kent, farmers—V. T. Higgins and W. H. Higgins, Liverpool, iron merchants—C. Morgan and A. Clarence, Bradford, Yorkshire, tea dealers—A. Mayhew and T. A. F. Reynolds, Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn, attorneys. INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. Silas Cressey, Fiddeford, Dorsetshire, hosier. Peter Mullen, Sandgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, publican. William Bailicliffe, High Seacombe, Cheshire, and Li verpool, paper hanger. Woodgate Durrant, Tunbridge Wells. William Gwillim, Lugwardine, Herefordshire, surgeon. Thomas Eine and Henry Hine, Sidmouth, Devonshire. John Bill, Birmingham, baker. John Biddle, Birmingham, butcher. Samuel Young, Loughborough, Leicestershire, ware houseman. Edward Waters, Liverpool, boarding house keeper. John Symington, Welford, Northamptonshire, police officer. Hector Parsonage, Birmingham, paper hanger. Luke Lock Packwood, Birmingham. Thomas Vaughan, Birmingham, stonemason. Thomas Calderbank, Broadheath, Cheshire, shopkeeper. John Jowett, Clayton, Yorkshire, manufacturer. John Tonge, Little Bolton, Lancashire, provision dealer. Frederick Hale, Hurst, Wiltshire, cattle dealer. William Strangeways, Richmond, Yorkshire, butcher. Robert Dunn, Little Budworth, Cheshire, farmer. George Potter, Kirby-moor-side, Yorkshire, ironmonger John Webster, Harum, Yorkshire, farmer. John Newby, Kirby-moor-side, Yorkshire, innkeeper. Thomas Dewhurst, Liverpool, grocer. Richard George Bibby, Liverpool, inspector of police. William Baynes, Liverpool, shopman. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. J. Steel, Sanquhar, merchant, to meet March 4 and 26, at twelve, within the Queensbury Arms Inn, San quhar. F. Borland, Glasgow, merchant, to meet March 6 and April 3, at one, within the Star Hotel, Glasgow. A. Richardson, Abbey, near North Berwick, farmer and insurance broker, to meet March 4 and 25, at one, within the George Inn, Haddington. G. Campbell, Edinburgh, cattle salesman, to meet March 7 and 28, at one, within Dowell's Rooms, Edin burgh. T. Dunn, Glasgow, wood merchant, to meet March 6 and 27, at two, within the Black Bull Inn, Glasgow. W. Paul, Edinburgh, accountant, to meet March 6 and 27, at two, within Stephenson's Rooms, Edinburgh. G. Brownlee, Mid-Calder, merchant, to meet March 6 and 27, at twelve, within Stevenson's Rooms, Edin burgh. J. Borrows, Glasgow, baker, to meet March 6 and 27, at twelve, within the Albion Hotel, Glasgow. J. and A. Porteous, Kilmarnock, and Canonmills, near Edinburgh, to meet March 6 and 27, at two, within Ferguson's Ship Tavern, Edinburgh. E. M•Letchie. Glasgow, wine merchant, to meet March 6 and 27, at twelve, within Comrie's Hotel, Glasgow. RAILWAY SHARE 31ARKETS. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 22. STOCK EXCHANGB.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction (311. Shares), 6% dis.—East Lancashire, 19 c —Ditto. New, 5 1 / 2 dis. c.—Lancashire and Yorkshire (late M. B. and B.), 11 dis.—Ditto, Fifths, 1 e. dis.—Ditto, Fifths (West Riding Union), 3 1 4 c. dis.—Lon don and North-Western, 130—Ditto, New Quarters, 3 1 % p. —Ditto, Quarters (A), c. p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Preference, 1% dis.--Midland, Halves,s c. dis. —South-Eastern and Dover, So. 4, 2' , " dis.—York, New castle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Purchase), A', p. DIANCIIESTER, FEB. 29. STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are—East Lancashire, New, dis.--Edinburgh and Glasgow, 39—Lancashire and York shire, Fifths, 1 dis.—London and North-Western (Manches ter and Birmingham), Quarters (C), 2% p.— Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, ['reference, 1 / 8 dis.—North Staf fordshire, dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, No 4,2% dis. BIitMINGIIAM, FEB. 29. STOCK EXCBANGE.—The sales are—North British, Ex tension, 3s. 9d. dis.—North Staffordshire, 1 dis.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 3% dis.—Shropshire Union, 3 dis.— South Staffordshire, 2 1 % dis. YORK, FEB. 28. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Great Northern, fli A ;, —North British, Thirds, 21s.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Extension, No. 1,17 1 A—Ditto, No. 2 (late New Berwicks), 10;—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 8 1 %. EDINBURGH, FEB. 28. STocK EXCHANGE.—The sales arc—Caledonian, New (81. 15s.'paid), 41. 10s.—Dundee and Northern Junction, 295. North British, Quarters, 41. 10s. cash.—Ditto, Thirds, 235. WIDTH OF STREETS AND POWER OF BUILDINGS ACT TO PREVENT NARROWING THEM.—A building owner, Mr. Harvey, had commenced the erection ot a detached house in the Lewisham-road far before the fronts of the adjoining houses on one side, on a line laid down by the district surveyor who had been previously employed by the owner to make a plan of the land for budding purposes. The owners of the house next ad joining, thus materially injured, laid an information through their architect, Mr. George Godwin, jun., before the referees; meetings were held, at which all the parties attended; it was evident that laying down the line the houses on both sides had not been considered; and the referees (Messrs. noshing and Shaw), made an award, the effect of which would be to put back the house in question very materially, and slightly lessen the injury to the adjoining owners, and to the appearance of the neighbourhood. The registrar, however, thought it his duty to withhold the seal of office, on the grounds that the " building in question being a separate and detached dwelling-house is not a projection within the meaning of of the Metropolitan Buildings Act, and that there is no rule in the Act which prohibits the erection of such a building in the circumstances in question. In opposi tion to this view, Mr. George God win has pointed out to the Commissioners of Works, to whom the matter has been referred by the registrar, that the competence ot the referees to determine the line of front, and award against the projection of the building before that line, has been admitted by the registrar on many previous occasions. The question is a simple one. have the re f e rees power to determine what is the general line of fronts, and to enforce or prever.t projections before it? If they have not power to determine it in this case, they have not in any other, as the Commissioners of Woods will speedily find out, should they be led to confirm the registrar in his refusal to affix the seal.—Builder. MEETING OF GIBSON AND BRIGHT'S ELECTION COMMITTEE.--MANCHESTER, ITUESDAY.—A1 T UES DAY.—A meeting of this committee was he ld this afternoon, i n a room in 4 Newall's-buildings , for the p ur p ose of memorialising the Right Hon. Thomas Milner Gibson and John Bright on the subject of Lord John Russell's budget. The chair was occupied by George Wilson, Esq., president of the committee, and the meeting was addressed by Alderman Watkin, James Watts, George Hadfield, and Archibald Prentice, Esqrs., &c. &c. A memorial was adopted condemnatory of the income-tax as it at present stands, and the legacy and probate duties, and suggesting a tax upon landed property. A resolution was afterwards proposed by Mr. Nelson, and seconded by Mr. Whyatt, condemning the conduct of Mr. !shiner Gibson for his vote upon the window-tax and the grant for the Kafir war. The meeting was attended by about 300 of war most respectable merchants, manufacturers, &c., and was most enthusiastic in its denunciations of the tilinis terial budget. Several rounds of applause were given for the French nation, and resolutions callin upon the Members for this city to oppose any aggressive move ment that may hereafter be made by the Vovernment on the French nation. THE NEW NOVEL, "ANGELA," 13.4 THE AUTHOR OF " EMILIA. WYNDEIAM.”—" If life were given to us," says the Atlas, " only for ease and enjoyment we should desire nothing better than' to he upon a sofa and read of ' Emilia eternal new novels,' by tho authoress Wyndham.' It would be but a poor pretence not 'to write the feminine noun. Such novels as ' Emilia Wyndham' and 'Angela are so womanly—they have a grace, a tenderness, a trustingness, a faith in the holiness of affection and the virtue of self-discipline, such as we never expect to meet with in the works of the master artist. Such pictures of female heroism, whether in doing or iu suffering, are beyond the reach of man. ' Emilia Wyndham' was a delightful illustra tion of one aspect of womanly duty; ' Angela' resembles it with a difference, It has the same appreciation of the dignity of patient mbroission to the will Of God, com bined with an active performance of human duties ; but the circumstances which call forth an assertion of these qualities are in the two novels widely different." YEOMANRY (IRELAND).—EI conformity with a return moved for by Mr. Ilume, a statement of the number of officers and men of the yeomanry in Ireland on the Ist of January, 1829, 1835, 1840, and 1847, has just been laid on the table of the House of Commons. It appears that in the year 1829 there were 1,157 com missioned officers of the yeomanry, 35,258 non-com missioned officers and men. For the years 1835, 1840, and 1847 the return is nil, the yeomanry having bees disbanded en the 31st Qf March, 1634. MINORITY-AYES, 101. Adair, Hugh E. Fitzwilliam, G. W. Newdegate, C. N. Adair, R. Shafto Forbes, William Newry, Viscount Adare, Viscount Fortcscue, Chichester Nugent, Sir Percy Aglionby, H. Fox, Richard 31. O'Brien, Sir Lucius Alexander, N. French, F. O'Brien, Timothy Ansley, Thomas Gore, W. 0. O'Brien, W. S. Archdall, Captaia Grace, 0. D. J. O'Connell, o 3l. J. Bateson, Thomas Greenall, Gilbert 0 Connor, Feargus Blackail, S. W. Greene, Joint Osborne, Ralph Blake, M. J. Grogan, E. Pechell, iCaptain Bourke, Richard S. Gwyn, Howel Power, Dr. Boyd, John Hall, Sir Benjamin Reynolds, John Bremridge, Richard Hamilton, G. A. Rufford, Francis Brooke, Sir Arthur Hamilton, J. H. Sadleir, John Bulibury, W. Mayes, Sir:E. St. George, Chris. Burke, Sir T. J. Heald, James Scholefleld, William rurroughes, PI.:,N. Henley, J. W. Scully, Francis Callaghan, D. Herbert, Henry A. Spooner, It. Carter, John B. Hood, Sir Aloxander Stafford, Augustus Chichester, Lord J. Hume, Joseph Stuart, Lord Dudley Clements, Charles Keogh, William Sullivan, Michael Clive, 11. B. Ker, Rickard Talbot, J. IL Cole, H. A. Lawless, Cecil Tenison, E. K. Cottony, Col. Macnamara, Major Thompson, Colonel Corbally, M. E. 11`Naghten, Sir E. Wakley, Thomas Crawford, W. . Matter, N. Walsh, Sir J. B. Dawson, T. V. Meagher, Thomas Walter, John Deering, John DeTerellX, John T. Dod, J. W. Dulicult, John Manon, O'Gorman 'Watkins, Colonel Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Williams, John Meux, Sir Henry Willoughby, Sir H. Monsell, William Yorke, E. T. TELLERS. iagan, Willinm Moore, George H. Ferguson, Sir R. Mowatt, Francis „' nolllott, J. Fitzpatrick, J. W. Abdy, T. N. Adam', Sir T. Muntz, G. F. Dunne, F. P. apler, Joseph O'Flaherty,'Anthony, Aleock, Thomas Anderson, Arthur Anson, Colonel Anson, Viscount Armstrong, Sir A. Arundel, Earl of Baines, M. T. lialdock, E. IL Barnard, E.G. MAJORITY-NOES, 165. Fortescue, J. W. Paget, Lord A. Galway, Viscount Paget, Lord C. Glyn, G. C. Paget, Lord;George Godson, It. Palmer, Robert Graham, Sir James Parker, John Greene Thomas Perfect, Robert Creolell, C. Pascoe Peto, Samuel Grenfel , Charles W. Pigott, Francis Grey, Sir G. - Pilkington, James Grey, Ralph W. Pinney, W. Harris, lion. Capt. Price, Sir R. Hastie, Alexander Pugh. David Ilastie, Archibald Pusey, Philip Hay, Lord J. Raphael, Alexander Ilayter, W. G. Renton, John C. Headlam, T. E. Ricardo, Osman Heathcoat, John Rice, E. It. Heathcote, G. J. Rich, Henry Heneage, G. H. W. Robartes. T. J. Henry, Alexander Russell, F. C. H. Heywood, James Rutherford, A. llindley Charles Salwey, Colonel Hope, Henry T. Scrope, G. P. Howard, C. W. Seymour, Lord Inglis, Sire R. Shell, R. L. Jervis, Sir:John Shelburne, Earl of Jervis, John Simeon, John Jolliffe, Sir W G. 11. Slaney, It. A. Jones, Captain Smith, Vernon Keppel, G. T. Smith, J. A. Kershaw, Jaßans Smith, J. Benjamin Kildare, Mai4ftls Somerville, Sir W. King, P. J. Spearman, IL J. Labouchere, Henry Stanley, E. J. Lascelles, W. S. Stanton, W. 11. Lincoln, Earlief Strutt, Edward Lindsay, Colonel Stuart, Henry Litt/eton, E. R. Thicknesse, 'Ralph Mackenzie, W. F. Thornely, Thomas li'Gre3or, John Trelawny, J. S. Mahon, Viscount Tynte, Colonel, Maitland, T. Verney, Sir H. Marshall, J. G. Vesey, Hon. T. Martin, , J. Villiers, Charles Matheson, Alex. Vivian, J. E. Matheson _Colonel Walmsley, Sir J. Melgund, Viscount Ward, H. G. Miles, William Wawn, J. T. Mitchell, T. A. Willcox, Brodie Moffatt, George Wilson, Matthew Morgan 0. Wood, Sir Charles Morpeth, Viscount Wortley, J. S. Morris, David Wyvill, Marmaduke Mostyn, E. M. L. TELLERS. Mulgrave, Earl Tunicll, 11. Neeld, Joseph Hill, Lord Marcus Barrington, Viscount Bellew, It. M. Berkeley, Captain Birch, Sir Thomas Blackstone, W. S. Boldero, Henry Foyle, le Colonel i _. _ _ Brind,Thomag Bright, John Brisco, M. Brotherton, J. Brown, W. _ Buller;Sir, J. Y. Buller, Charles Campbell, W. F. Castlereagh, Vise. Cavendish, C. C. Cavendish, G. 11. Cayley, Edward S. Chaplin, W. J. Charters, Francis Christopher, R. Christy, Samuel Cobbold, John C. Colebrooke, Sir T. Coles, Henry B. Courtenay, Lord Cowper, W F. Craig, W. G. Cripps, W. . . , Dalr „ ymple, Captain Davie, Sir 11, Deedes, W. Denison, J. lE. Drummond, IL Duncan, George Dundas,:Admiral Dundee, Sir D. Duzdas, George Edwards, Henry Elliot, John E. Evans, William Fergus, John Fordyce, A. D. Forster, Mathew TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. Six, —On Monday, the 28th, the Chancellor of the Exchuer abandoned his intention of increasing the income-tax to 5 per cent. He further proposed to take the expenses of the Kafir war out of the ba lances lying in the Exchequer. It strikes me forcibly that this last is not a diminution of the expenditure. The further discussion was deferred till Friday. On the same evening Mr. Hume asked Lord John Russell whether it was the intention of Ministers to interfere in any way in consequence of the changes in the form of government in France ; and was answered most distinctly in the negative, which was received with cheers from all parts of the House. Some of the orators on the Opposition side attempted in the course of the evening to draw the Prime Minister into debateable ground; and intimated that Mr. Pitt had made the same kind of declaration,—by way of inferring that a good-jolly war was possible after all. But the result was only a repetition of the declara tion. A mischievous race, these orators ! On Tuesday Lord Palmerston was asked by Mr. Monckton Mines whether he had any information on the course intended to be pursued by the French Government towards foreign Powers. And the Minister replied, that he had this day assurances from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, that it was the intention of the French Government to maintain all the existing relations with foreign Powers, unless attacked. Nearly six hours were afterwards spent in debatit upon a motion for a Select Committee on the work ing of the Irish PoorNlaw ; which was finally ne• gatived. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, T. PERRONI4:T THOMPSON. Blackheath, London, March 1, 1848. LONDONDERRY and COLERAINE RAILWAY. The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders of this company was yesterday held at the offices of the company, No. 5, Church-passage, Guildhall, for the purpose of receiving a report and statement of accounts from the directors, and for the transaction of the'ordi nary business of the company. The meeting was also made special for the purpose of considering the subject of the forfeiture of certain shares held by defaulting shareholders, and for taking into consideration the draft of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament, autho rising a deviation in the line of railways as at present authorised to be made. The chair was taken at one o'clock by the Chairman of the company, Johu Griffith Frith, Esq. The minutes of the last meeting having been con firmed, the Secretary read the report, from which it appeared— " That this project originated in the belief that if the railway could be taken along the shores of Lough Foyle, and within the Slob Lands, to be reclaimed from the sea, the land so recovered would be of value sufficient, not only to pay for the works necessary for the reclamation, but also for the railway itself. " Contracts for the embankments necessary to "com plete the reclamation were entered into with Messrs. Bromhead and Hemming, at prices advised by the e ngineers to be moderate, the contractors stipulating to perfect the works by the first day of January, 1849. Looking at the character of the work, the directors were advised to make an advance upon plant, upon condition of double that sum being expended by the contractors for the same purpose. The works having thus been placed under contract, were commenced; but the directors regretted to be obliged to state, that notwithstanding they had afforded every facility to the contractors, and made the required advance upon plant, the contract for the embankment was not duly, or at all satisfactorily, carried on, and the directors became convinced that the contractors were unable to carry on the entire works simultaneously ) and hada proposed enclosures, leaving all l their energies should be di rectedthe others in a be yance until that was completed; but e e one o d f t t h h e a t thre e eve n with this limit the works did not make that pro gress which the directors felt they had a right to expect; and the directors had to report that they felt, under the circumstances, that they had no alternative but to take the contract for the reclamation out of the hands of Messrs. Brombead and Hemming. " The present arrears of calls amounted to 64,0001.; of this it was computed the sum of 50,0001. would be paid, leaving 80,0001. to be provided for the completion of the middle enclosure in two years. " When the three enclosures shall have been com pleted, the number of acres belonging to the company would be 10,200, being 2,000 acres less than originally designed, the difference being caused by the Admiralty having required the line of embankment to be set back landwise, within the line chosen by the engineers. But taking the diminished number , of acres, as by the pre sent plan, at the valu e of 504 per acre, being twenty per cent. under the lowest estimate put before tbe Parlia mentary Committee, they would produce 510,000/4 enough, in all reasonable probability, to pay for the re clamation, and also to provide the capital necessary for the construction of the railway. Haying regard to this statement, the directors would submit that three plans suggest themselves for consideration. First, to stop, and to keep the present works from falling into decay. Second, to proceed at a speed such as will serve to complete the Middle Enclo sure in two years. Third, to fiud the means necessary to complete it in a shorter time. The first of these plans would plainly 1;e disastrous, and could only be justified by the insolvency of the company. • " The second promise d a safe termination to the first and most important part of the work, but protracted much beyond the time anticipated, or necessary for its completion. " The third seemed to your directors the best way of forwarding the interests of the company under the pre sent circumstances. It presented, however, the difficulty of finding the sum within the time required. The diffi• culty did not appear to be insuperable, and might be met by seeking part of the sum required in arrears of calls, and the remainder either in a loan, or an issue of prefe rence shares." Mr. BUTTS stated that he had lately paid a visit to the works upon the line, and ho regretted to see the state in which they were. It appeared to him that the present deplorable position of the company was owing entirely to the management of the parties having the control of the contracts and works. The sum of 200,0001. had been already expended, and they had nothing whatever to show for it. A tunnel had been made, but there was no c ommuni cation with it, and the whole of the works he could look upon in no other light than that of " splendid ruins." Mr. TYRELL, the solicitor to the line, said that al though the expenditure might at present appear useless, sity of having a Parliament to manage their own at- ii.n.) KeilLiciliatt IL. ~,,,,", ~..,„..„,. but be contriveu u iLL,,,at" ) , 1 / 4 , ..,,,,,, tilb Vb1.5 5 1/tl. kill LIMil uvi,...a.kE, .........,. ..., -- fair s . H e thought it important so to arrange the Mr. WAKLEY resumed. The Cork union was return to the spot w here they first met with him, they made, but there was no communication with it, and carried unanimously. SUL , V . 7 VI , lialll ..JA. ay.“....,...,.... unions that landed proprietors might have an induce- not . the one referred to by him, nor could it be, so proceeded to examine the bale, which tu rne d o ut to be a the whole of the works he could look upon in no otherne , It appears that in the year 1529 there were 1,157 com- ment rather to employ the poor than to pay increased long as the board of guardians had amongst them one large quantity (bete een 200 and 3001bs) of leaf tobacco light than that cc " splendid ruins." committee of five shareholders i n th e Charing-cross Blockley, Worcestershire, corn dealer—J. Hills, Billeri- ,it was resolved that a Sussex, wine and spirit merchant —T. 8.. Elpures missioned officers of the yeomanry, 35, 9 58 non- com- rates • and this would be, attained by decreasing the so kind and so hheral hearted as the Hon. Member of a very fine quality, which, of course, had been smug- Mr. TYRELL, the solicitor to the line, said that al.motion n o ay n r ie of nt ; o r. . mb ß epi ß ann O gy W , should be appointed for missioned officers and men. For the years 1835, 1840, for Cork. The question he would put upon the gled• The officers then conveyed the prize to the Excise though the expenditure might at present appear useless, Bridge iiu O n n g e rCf the o o r ° a m d holders of shares in the cay, Essex, auctioneer and appraiser. size of the unions. This was a fit subject for inquiryPARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. and 1847 the return is nil, the yeomanry having been as Was also the rating of personal property, which had dietary point was, what was the proportion of animal warehouse. it would not ultimately prove so. The position of the the purpose of investigating the claims of the latter C. E. secretan and J. 11. Capper, Change II "a•-eYp Corn- disbanded on the 31st of March, 1634. 1 I