The Sun. — London, England, 1848-05-12 00:00:00

- _ IiCATION AL PROVINCIAL BANK OF ENGLAND. The annual general meeting of the proprietors of this - bank took place yesterday at the comp an y 'shouse, Bishops proprietors present, we oh gate-street. Amone - st the served Sir David, Scott, Bart.; Sir John N. R. Camp bell, 1i.C.11..; Sir Alexander Crichton; George Norman, of Bath; Captain Warren, Re Robert Bell, Seq.; R. Hichens, Esq.; Edward Stewart, Esq.; C. A. v a i p y, E s q.-, Isaac Nicholson, Esq.; C. H. Ellis, Esq.; V. Brown, Esq., &c. &c. J. FECTOB, LAURIE, Nig., took the chair at twelve o'clock, and after congratulating the proprietors on the flourishing state of their affairs, and the manner in which the.company had withstood the storm of the last year, predicted that the time was not far distant when it would stand. second to none of the banking establish ments of this country, with the exception of the Bank of England. The worthy Chairman then read the fol lowing report, and moved its aclption by the meeting : " In meeting the proprietors at the close of a year of much anxiety to all connected with banking and mercan tile pursuits, the directors consider it matter for con gratulation that they are enabled to present the state aliment which they have now to submit, as the Fifteenth 4nnual . Report upon the company's affairs. " Ins unnecessary for the directors to enter into any detailed notice of the circumstances of the past year, which must be fresh in the recollection of the proprietors. Throughout it was marked by occasional monetary pres sure of an intense character, followed by great com mercial distress in the metropolis and some large towns; but it was only on a recurrence of the crisis of April, toward the close of the year, that the tranquillity of the agricullural districts may be said to have been disturbed. The main cause of the difficulties in the money market in April had not escaped observation in the provinces, although then exempt from pressure, and the temporary relief which was telt in the middle of the year, rather lulled, than dispelled the fears, which the first effects of the restrictive action of the Banking Act of 1844 had produced. Accordingly as the year advanced and symp toms of returning derangrment disclosed themselves in the declining reserves of kfre Bank of England, great ap prehension was diffused throughout the country, which gradually increased from week to week as the approach of danger became nearer and more certain. In October the second crisis of the year occurred —great distrust prevailed in many of the agricultural districts, especially in Wales, and several country banks were forced to yield temporarily, at least, to the pressure. " In order to be fully prepared to meet any demand that might he made on the branches of the National Provincial Bank of England, the directors deemed it advisable to realise a portion of its reserve investments in Government securities—a step which, though pru dent at the time, and now producing the happiest influ ence upon the business and prospects of the establish ment—the natural effect of the great resources which, in the emergency, it displayed—was necessarily attended with some sacrifice. Too stock sold, however, has been all replaced, and the loss arising from its temporary conversion has been wholly met out of the profits of the past year. " In adverting to the commercial character of the year, the directors have to observe with respect todthine extensive failures In the corn trade, which occuhrerenhm its commencement, that by timely precautioniht,s Witi; pany is . likely toerijoy complete immunity fromh regard to the disasters which occurred in othbankeraes of trade, it was not to be expected that the could altogether' escape, but on the other hand, the high rates of interest which prevailed during the greater part of the year, haVe Considerably augmented the company's revenue, and the, direetors are happy to state, that after making ample provision for all the contingencies of this extraor di na ry season, they are still enabled to maintain the usual dividend of 6 per cent., and at the same time to add to the reserve fund." Th e CHAIRMAN then read the follo wing yearly sum mary of the accounts :- 1847. Jan. 1. Amount of undivided profits... 79,073 I s. d. 9 10 I.)ec. 31. Net profits of 1847, after mak ing allowance for bad and doubtful debts, and a propor tion of preliminary expenses 32,506 3 4 —Makin; a total 0f... 111,580 3 2 Deduct Dividend on Com pany's Stock for 1847 ... 24,649 16 0 Leaving undivided Profits at 31st Dmember, 1847 ... .£86,930 7 2 And making an addition to the Re.erve Fund of 7,8561. 7s. 4d. The following directors go out of office by rotation, but being eligible for re-election off,r themselves ac cordingly, vis.:--Isaac Nicholson, Esq , Edward Stewart, Esq., and Sir David Scott, Bart. Mr. BROWN, in seconding the adoption of the report, congratulated the proprietors on the state of their affairs. The past year had been pregnant with monetary pros anre, which had produced greater severity and suffering than had ever been known to the commercial community of this twountry. These adverse circumstances had produced incalculable losses to individuals, and yet, notwithstand ing these trying circumstances, the condition of this batik, ' as the report laid betore the meeting proved, was highly satisfactory. It was certainly true that the pre sent aspect of public affairs was not very encourag ing, and that a considerable time must elapse before confidence could be restored, but it must be a source of great satisfaction to the proprietors to find that through the whole width and breadth of the country the credit of the Bank stood unimpaired .—(Cheers.) It must also be a matter of great congratulation to the Bank, that in :\ orth Wales, during the Ae vete run that took place among the banks there, the Bank had acquired additional credit from the fact of the prompt manner in which it had met every engagement—(Hear, hear)—and the liberal assistance it had rendered ta the neighbouring district:,—(Hear, hear.) He was c )nrinced that the fruits of this libera lity would soon be manifested by a rich harvest to the company, in an extension of its usefulness and in the beneficial employment of its capital. The report was th-n unanimously adopted. Isaac Nicholson, Esq., Ed w ard Stewart, Esq, and Sir David Scott, Bart, the directhrs who went out by rotation, were unanimously re-elected. A vote of thanks was unanimously carried to the Chairman, directors, and Mr. Robertson, the manager of the Bank, and those gentlemen haring returned thanks, the meeting separated. lONIAN BANK. The annual meeting of the proprietors of this bank took place yesterday, at the company's offices in Great Winchester-street. Oliver Farrer, Esq., took the chair „shortly after one o'clock. The directors that went out by rotation were re-elected, after which The SECRETARY read the report of the chairman and directors, which showed that the affairs of the bank were in a most flourishing condition, and that after meeting all the heavy demands that had been made upon them, in consequence of the late znonetary crisis, they were enabled to continue the usual dividend of six per cent., and add a sum of 2,5 , 111. Ss. 10d, to the reserved fund. The report, utter a snort discussion, was unanimously adopted, and a vote of ehanks was carried by acclama tion to the chairman and directors for their excellent tnanaiement of the affairs of the bank. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, stated that in two of the islands, Zante and Cephalonia, a considerable run had taken place upon the bank for specie, but he was happy to say that that. run had been most promptly met by the bank, and that confidence had been re stored.—(Cheer;.) lie was happy also to add that the greatest alacrity had be en s h own in those islands as well as Corfu, by the principal inhabitants, in exchanging their specie for the notes of the bank. Thanks having been carried unanimously to the Secre tary, for his great exertions on behalf of the company, she meeting separated. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. AFTERNOON SITTING. Mr. WEST brought the question of the repeal of the un ion before the deleg ates b y p ro p osin g a resolution the following effect :—" That the Assembly declare i° ts deliberate convic tion that the so called union between Great Britain and Ireland vats unjust in principle, inas much as it abrogated the right of s elfgovernment , and kad multiplied English taxa tion and Irish grievances they desire that the commissioners sent to the country by the Executive should be requested to advocate the repeal oft the union, and on all occasions to fraternize with Irishmen." Mr. KYDD seconded t he motion, w hich, after con s deratde discussion, was unanimously agreed to. The Assembly then adliurned. ELECTION COMMITTEES. LONGFORD. The Longford Election Committee re-assembled yester day raornino• ; Mr. Bouverie in the chair. The whore of the day wus taken up with the argu rnenta of counsel relative to the power of the Committee to re -open the register. At the close of the arguments' t h e Committee ad journed th e i r d ec i s i on t ill t o m.,rrovw. RXILWAY COMMITTEES. GROUP V. CIitSTER AND HOLYHEAD. This Committee re-assembled yesterday morning ; Sir Robert Peel in the chair. The Committee passed the preamble to this Bill. 'Nearly the whole of the day was occupied in con 3idering the clan,es, but eventually the whole of them were agreed - to, and the Chairman was instructed to re port .tho Bill to the House; SWIM-WESTERN (PURCHASE OF STEAM BOATS). Mr. AUSTIN then opened the case for this Bill, and afterwards called Mr. Tite, the architect, and Mr. Locke-, the enginoery to prove th at i t wou ld b e a great oflvantage and convenience to the public if the South- Western Company were allowed to establish on their own responsibiiity a fleet of steam vessels to ply between Southampton and Havre. The chse had not closed whon the Committee ad journed. GROUP XIV. r. Eliot Yorke in the chair. EXETEg, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER. The objections to the subscription enntracts of the South-Western Company having failed, the Committee &aired the preamble to be proved. The clauses having been agreed ti, the Chairman was instructed to report the Bill to the House. NORTH-WE STERN RAILWAY. Mr. MEREWETEIEB. then proce( ded to open the case for. the promoters. at the Bill. Tne object of the B i ll wes to authorise the construction of three deviations, a t Casterton, and Sudburgh. These deviations - would effect a considerable saving both in distance and expenditure. The Bil was opposed by Mr. HoPE, on behalf of the Lancaster and Callisle Railway Company. The case had not cloed when the Committee ad journed. WAVENEY VALLEY AND GREAT YARMOUTH RAILWAY. A meeting of the shareholders in this company, as well as in the Waveney Valley and Great Yarmouth, and also in the Norfolk (Waveney Line), was called for one o'clock yesterday, at the London Tavern. - Wilshere, Esq, took the chair at the appointed time. The CHAIRMAN stated that no arrangement had yet been made with the Norfolk Company (now amalga mated with the Eastern Counties), but that the directors expected an offer would be made by the Eastern Coun ties in the course of the next three weeks. The directors considered that the prospects of the company were more satisfactory now than they had been for some time past. He begged, therefore, to move the adjournment of the meeting for four weeks, in order that the negotiations now going on might be brought to ma- turity. A motion to that effect was then adopted, and the meeting separated. KILLARNEY AND VALENTIA RAILWAY. LThe adjourned meeting of this company was held yester day at twelve o'clock, at the offices of the C or n Ex change-buildings ; R. Spooner , Esq ., M.P., ithe chair The report and accounts, abstracts of which being have already appeared, were approved of, the accounts rendered subject to the approval of auditors, who were appointed at the meeting. The retiring directors were re-elected. BIRMINGHAM AND and Oxford XFORD The propri g rnoon at the King's Junction Arms, in Railway pa 1 ace_y m J , t L o - r N s UNCTION RBAirtfiWn Ah—nim. Palace-yard, adjournment from ' Purstuhaevvs in the chair. last week; Mr. William 3 1 ,a_t follow i n g resolution:—" It yesterdayntattoe MY. PAYTON moved tanreate petitions have been pre appearing that two Oxford Junction Railway Company Birmingham and conferring additional powers on the rented to the House soefpCommons in the name of the Company, with reference to an 12thof November, 1846, for the pur chase of the aGgraeiantt.tw,t,heestoßrinll iftoarawc ay agreement of the Birmingham and Oxford Junction. Birtningiam, Wolverhampton and Dudley Reil and the resolved that Messrs. Dobrie, Colmore, and Beal way, chase by them be, and they are hereby directed to a pp ear on b ot h or e ither of s uch p eti counsel and agents t o a pp ear on b e h a lf o f this tions as may be ad v i se d by counse l, in support of b o th or e i t h er o f t h e sa id e ° t Y 'ore the Committee s o f t h e houses of gild dt company r i d ttion a es n n3 d Pb Commons, and that no other persons do ap pear for, or represent, this company upon the said peti tions, or either of them, before any such Committees." The motion having been seconded by Mr. PAGET, The CHAIRMAN said a similar resolution was pro posed at a former meeting when Mr. Muntz, the Chair man of the company, declined to put it; upon that pre cedent he should decline to put this one. A PROPRIETOII asked the Chairman if he had any objection to enter into an explanation of any other rea , ons he might have for not putting the resolution. The CHAIRMAN said he had much rather not. Mr. PAYTON then put the resolution himself, and de clared it to be unanimously carried. ad journed thetill or to-morrow utlr (this i day).aY•roN, the meeting then FRANCE. The following is a report of the proceedings in the National Assembly on Wednesday : At twelve o'clock M. Buchez, the President, took the chair. M. Seaard, who first ascended the tribune, reminded the Assembly that, on the previous day, it had adopted the proposition of Citizen Dolmas to the effect of appoint ing an Executive Committee of five members. In the in terval reports were circulated, and that morning he had heard in the Hall of Conferences, that some members of the Provisional Government whose names had been in scribed on that " list of conciliation," had manifested a desire not to accept those functions should their col leagues not be chosen from amongst its members, or should certain names remain inscribed on it. He had been requested by a number of representatives to wait upon the members of the Provisional Government who were said to have expressed that opinion, and he had the satisfaction to announce to the Assembly that they had made no such declaration. M. Martin de Strasbourg next rose, and stated that the venerable Dupont de l'Eure had just told him, and authorised him to inform the Assembly, that it was im possible for him to acept a seat in the Government. This declaration excited loud murmurs, and several members observet; that, having rejected the resignation of Beranger, they had an equal right to reject that of M. Dupont de l'Eure. When silence was restored, M. Beaumont ran up to the tribune and said, that he could not understand the possibility of excluding the venerable founder of the Republic from the Executive Committee. M. Berryer observed that the omnipotence of the As sembly was compromised by a discussion of proper names. Its vote should not depend on the will of any of its members, or be influenced by lotteries. The re volution had sufficiently revealed the men entitled to the confidence of the country, and their names should not be oalloted at the tribune.; M. Jean Renaud replied that there were no lotteries in the Assembly, and that one of the lists alluded to had been prepared by 150 members. M. Barbes then rose and moved that each represen tative should proclaim aloud the candidates in whose favour he voted. This proposition, however, was re jected by the Assembly, not more than twenty members having supported it. A ballot then commenced, which gave the following result: — Number of Voters ..• ... 794 Absolute majority ••• ... 398 Arago... ••• ••• ... 725 Garnier Pages ••• •• ••• 715 Marie ... ••• ••• ••• 702 Lamartine ... ••• ••• 643 Ledru Rollin ••• ••• ... 453 The five members having obtained the required ma jority were proclaimed members of the Executive Committee. M. Wolloski next ascended the tribune, and pro posed the immediate appointment of a committee charged A ith devising measures for the improvement of the condition of the labouring classes. M. tVollowski afterwards announced that in the morn irg of that day the delegates of Posen, Cracow, and Gallicia had waited upon him with an address, for warded by the Polish patriots to the National Assembly, in which they described their sufferings, and demanded the assistance of France. lie trusted that the Assembly would invite the Executive Committee to take into con• sideration the prayer of the memorialists. He en treated, moreover, the Assembly to address, without delay, an appeal to the German nation and (he Frankfort Diet to join France in resuscitating ancient Poland. M. Doucoux, who spoke next, supported the prayer of the Polish patriots. The French Revolution, he said, should be humanitaire as well as political, and he thought that the Assembly should prepare an address to the whole world, in which it would express its determi nation to uphold everywhere the principles of which it had asserted the triumph in France. zk. Member asked M. Lamartine if he saw any incon venience in giving the Assembly any information he had received from .his diplomatic agents on the situation of Italy, or if he preferred that the Assembly should fix a day to hear those explanations. M. Lamartine replied that he was ready to give those explanations, if the Member insisted, but that it would he preferable to appoint a day for the purpose. He, however, would state beforehand that when the co eperation of France was necessary to Italy it should not be denied, and the Member need not apprehend that the events It er:ts .m i, ,o,f,,u,iisls Minister of an La 1831 should occur again in 1848. r_ i onday ne x t was fi xe d to hear those explanations. cthbeonurroasnd Progress.etopropose the appointment a p r ,;j n P t e m u , p n i n t o showed such a that n there , was and nth() the necessity propositionfor w t h a e a u to na i n n i q m u ‘ int o , The C ambr th , decided to appoint a commission i ea rh :l adjourned at six the state of the working classes, and t- COMNIERCE AND Ikii:',,,lt. MAN CRESTE — -----7-7 ' -- " -- 11 , ,-, t „. transmitted b . ;VI AC B r E u R RE, OF Secretary Palmerston, ecretary of m m y e t r h e e e di rectors following memorial rectors of the Manchester was State for Viscount Palmerston on Thursdayhamber of Co press ' To the Right Hon. the Lard Viscount last'---- m.P., her Majesty's Principal Foreign Affairs, &c. &c. e ro th e_re T e I.alisitdyoluarnumfeamctourrieasliasttaldliensicrheeectsit;irn:er 0 f " The Memorial of the Directors of the Chamber your Lordship th.- ir extreme anxiety tutiPe:nSbC°: positionl:a. in which British commerce to the ne a nir ; g at this moment, placed, in consequence of the un ce fo r e r t t - a : nate hostilities which have arisen between States o:: the German Confederation and the king dom of Denmark. That your memorialists he a rd with great satisfaction a short time ago, that the mediation of the British Government in this quarrel had been sought and conceded, but subsequent occur rences have so obscured the hopes of an earlyd e pacifixc iteca d, tiun which the promptitute of you that they now consider it their ditty respectfully to place before your Lordship the baneful effect which this un happy war has already had upon the commerce of this di s trict, and the fearful consrquences which they appre hend from a protracted continuance er of it. th e Thatimypoort ur memorialists have no wish to exaggae ance of the British commerce to the river Elbe, but they believe that that trade absorbs of the gross hosiequantity, y er cent of cotton yarns exported, about 33i per cent.; r. ; about 1514 per cent.; woollen yarns , about 48 p woollen goods, exported in yards, about l4i to 13 per cent. ; ditto, in pieces, about 22 p er cent. ; whilst at the same time Hamburgh constitutes a necessary vent for an immense value of the pro duce of foreign countries out of Europe , which, tos p e although such' i produce countries, b be our navigation-laws i oßritish s turbid good s exported to h importedtornbisesehherfn e Great Britain. 'The direct trade fu ore, a large share of the employment of our operatives, but yo u eiemate, in their present haste, do not venture to the extent to which that en r at this instant, and the ted by the indirect trade; employment is further af both, however , are destroyed - shipping employed in the lag hostilities ; and thus has as idle, by the exist- pro m?. amount of depression been, added to that which nous unhappy circura• stances had so long gathered around us, that your memorialists cannot contemp lat e an extended duration of it without grave apprehension of most appalling c o nseque nces, both to the well-being of our long suffering and patient people, and perhaps to the peace of the district. Impressed with these sentiments, your memorialists humbly but urgently pray that, notwithstanding. adverse circumstances, your Lordship may continue, %vith your accustomed zeal and energy, that peaceful mediation which was in the first in stance so promptly g ranted; and that your Lordship may not be deterred by difficulties from endeavouring to re store to the belligerents that state of peace and quiet which is not less grateful to feelings of humanity than necessar y to the progress of iadustry and civilization." —Manchester Guardian. THE PORTFOLIO. (From Punch.) 46 1. "VISCOUNT PUMICEiTONE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE ENGLISH AMBASSADOR AT CONSTANTINOPLE. Esteemed Sir—l have to desire that you will wait on the Grand Vizier and convey to his Excellency the sentiments which actuate this Government with regard to the present position of the Ottoman empire. "You will state to the Grand Vizier that the line of politics pursued by the Sultan can by no means meet with the approval of this country. Reforms are needed in the administration and in the religion of the Ottoman empire, the adoption of which you will urge with all the energy in your power. " The spectacle of a Sultan surrounded by at least 500 wives is odious to Europe, and unworthy of the present age of civilization. Her Majesty's Government blushes to have to acknowledge, post after post, the birth of princes an d p r i ncesses f the family of Abdul Medjeed ; and, as England has not the slightest pre tensions to control the actions of any state with which she is in alliance, you will point out to the Government of the Porte thgt his Imperial Highness is at perfect liberty to select any one of his wives which be may prefer, but he must send back to their parents the re maining 499. " The religion at present professed by the Sovereign of the Turkish empire, and by a considerable portion of his subjects, is, you will have the goodness to inform the Grand Imaum, an exploded superstition, and an in sult to the civilization of Europe. It must no longer be allowed to exist in this quarter of the globe, "You will therefore request his Excellency, on the part of this Government, to subscribe the Thirty-nine Articles as soon as may be ; and also, at his earliest convenience, to learn the Catechism. The Mollah of Exeter, an English Bishop, will go out to conciliate the Turkish clergy, and will be Patriarch of Constantinople. " Further reforms will be the subject of future com munications. Among these you may mention our de sire that the Turkish Government should establish gas lamps, trial by jury, weekly and Sunday newspapers, Harvey sauce, two Legislative Chambers, and the 101. qualification for voting. " I am, &c., "PUMICESTONE, Downing-street. "To IL E. Sir G. Goosoquill." " IL-FROM THE GRAND VIZIER TO H. E. THE ENGLISH AMBASSADOR. "In the name of Allah I The Grand Vizier has re ceived the chaplet of roses from the paradise of Down ing-street. The eloquence of Pumicestone sings out like a nightingale from amongst the flowers. It is sweet to listen to his music. " But the nightingale, though sweet, is melancholy; and who does not know that there are thorns in roses? They have pricked the fingers of the Grand Vizier. The notes of the British bulbul have made the Padishah sad in spirit. "Why should he part with any of his wives? Let him who has too many sew them in a sack. The chil dren of the Father of the Faithful will not be so costly to his country as are many of the rosbuds of the Joy gardens of Pimlico. " The Exeter Mufti shall be welcome to the holy men of Constantinople. If Pumicestone Pacha will change his religion, the Grand Vizier will be baptized. If the English Mollah is constant, why should the Turkish Imaum be a renegade? Let them come and each have his say. It they brawl and quarrel too much, let either be accommodated with a bastinado. "In respect of the other reforms proposed by Britan nic wisdom, the Grand Vizier will respectfully ask—Are Britons the only possessors of beards? 'Who is it that rules in his own house?—ls it the lord of the house, or his neighbour? Pumicestone is a sage, but we too have sages. " Once, in the gardens of delight, overhanging the Bosphorus, the young prince Shukoor Khandee, son of the Light of the Universe, found the egg of a peacock, which he took to the Sultana Valide, the mother of the sovereign. Look, 0 Grandmother,' said Prince Shu koor, this outer surface that you see is what they call a shell. Within the shell is a white slimy fluid, within the white a yellow yolk. I prick the head of the shell with a pin; I place it to my lips, and suck in, and lo! I withdraw the yolk and the white from the shell, and they slip down my own throat.' " 0, wise in thine own conceit!' the Princess an swered. ' Dost thou teach thy father's mother how eggs are eaten? Lot I knew how to suck them before thou camest into the world!' And, clapping her hands for Meerour, the chief of the eunuchs, she bade him apply the bamboo to the Prince Shukoo r. " Do we not also know how to suck eggs, 0, Ambas sador? So write to Pumicestone Pacha, and bid him to operate on his own henroosts. " To the British Minister." "KABOB PACHA. "111.-PROM VISCOUNT PUMICESTONE TO 11. E. LORD TAPEWORM, OF ST. PEIERSDURGII. " You will have the goodness to communicate to 11. E. Count Grogenoff the opinions of this Government upon some late acts of Russian policy. They by no means meet with the approval of her B. Majesty's advisers. " The treatment of Poland can never be looked upon by this country but with feelings of indignation and pity. You will urge upon the councils of his Imperial Majesty the instant necessity of changing his method of adminis tering the affairs of that unhappy portion of his empire. " You will recommeed H. I. M. immediately to re cognise the independence of the Circassian tribes, and to send to Schamyl Bey his order of St. Nepomuk of the first class. " It is the desire of this Government that trial by jury should be immediately established throughout all the Hussies, especially in the Calmuck provinces of the em pire. The Tartars on the Cbinese border imperatively require slate-roofed houses, with thorough drains, and gas and water laid on. It would be advisable to have a Methodist meeting-house in their villages, and that the English system of pauper relief should be adopted throughout the Russian empire. " We would suggest to H. I. M. that a window-tax would be an advantageous impost to levy on the Cossacks of the Ukraine, and that a water-rate on the Don and Volga might conduce to the increase of his revenue. "The uniform of the Preobajinski Regiment cannot but be highly displeasing to her Majesty's Government; the yellow coatee and pink breeches of that corps neither harmonize with the silver helmet nor the green morocco boots which they wear. A great and august authority on military costume in England is anxious that changes should take place in this particular cou sonant to the spirit of the times and the advance of freedom. "The cut of the Emperor's whiskers had been viewed in this country with the deepest grief. Instead of growing them over the cheek. bone, you will have the goodness to suggest to his Imperial Majesty the ne cessity of altering their direction ; a portrait of a dis tinguished military officer is sent out for this purpose, to which his Imperial Majesty is earnestly invited to give his attention. "The usage of the knout is not viewed by this coun try with pleasure; nor the practice of eating tallow-can dles, in which some of the subjects of his Imperial Ma jesty fatally indulge. It will be as well to abolish the knout, and to retrain from making use of dips in the manner described. " the dinner hour of the Court of St. Petersburgh might be advantageously changed; the censorship of the press ought to be abolished; the serfs ought to be repiesented in Parliament; the fares of the droskies in St. Petersburgh diminished. Gas should be laid down in Siberia; the Empress's maids of honour reduced in number; London porter, missionary meetings, new po licemen, and daily papers should be established in all the principal towns of the empire;_ and it is very desirable that the middle classes of St. Petersburgh and Moscow should eat shoulders of mutton and baked potatoes on Sunday, instead of their present unwholesome meal of fish-oil and hemp-brandy. " You will communicate to the above purport with the Government of his Imperial Majesty. " PUMICESTONE. " To H. E. Lord Tapeworm." " IV.-7ROH THE RUSSIAN MINISTER TO THE ENGLISH AMBASSADOR. . " I have the honour to acknowledge the reception of your Excellency's letter, containing the proposal of his Excellency, Milor Pumicestone, for the better regulation that of this empire. " 11. L M. is profoundly touched by the interest which 11. E. deigns to take in the affairs of Russia. H. M. is charmedtie by the modesty of a philanthropy so universal. soon permit him°Peg s l : 0 re is no doubt but the English empire is at present happywill most that its statesmen have time to consider what __ conduce to the welfare of other countries, and all the rest of the ' the English " H. I. M. w?..lrlomtny, world cannot do better than let manage for themselves. " 11 ' I. NI. h in the Engli s h that the state of the country will esires to know when flogging will cease the nln, timea to abolish the use of the knout, and at affairs of his empire a ^t ,t fail to have a Chamber of Peers convinced that hereditasr Commons for the regulation of the soon as his Imperial mind is and a Chamber meanwhile y ea wisdom of necessity belongs to the nobility ; in th , e fi n n n d d councillors nwhile he is content to select without the noise and trouble of as pure as Mr. Attwood other questions e h l i e s c o u w on n s S: h en e a c t a e n ; into reforms of his 's agreeable and as wise as Colonel Stiitherp rs . " His Majesty will not enter into h y l inte . rested in which are touched upon in hi , s Ebextct.oerileelaehnacoi things, he letter ; but his Majesty cannot enter• own states at this moment, so deeply the affairs of Ireland—which wishes to see tranquil. " As soon as that country is quiet and industri ous , his Majesty pledges himse lf that he will w ithdraw his , Warsaw; that he will grant free rebellion a nd inculcate the mur der of the Gove rnment authorities. But in ord thePum mean while, his Imper ial Majesty suhmits to Lice ' garrisons t n o s preachfrt'lll a stone, that it is possible that even English institu me people who com tions are not suita ble to all countries; that even against English laws there are so plain, and would rebel; a nd that his Imperial Majesty feels himself strong enough for the present to manage THE SUN,. LONDON,_ FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 12, 1848 his own affairs, without the obliging intervention of his Excellency Viscount Pumicestone. " I beg your Excellency to accept the assurances of, &c., " BARON STRONG ENOFF GROGENOFF." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 11. Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. Messengers from the Commons brought up certain Bills which were respectively read a fi rs t t i me . Earl STANHOPE presented several petitions against the Poor Removal Bill. Lord PORTMAN presented petitions from Bath, Bridgewater, Shepton Mallett, and several other places, in favour of the Jewish Disabilities Removal Bill; also from several lodges of Odd Fellows in Somerset hire and Gloucestershire, praying for the legalization of their so cieties; and from Bishops Castle, praying for an altera tion in the law regulating turnpike trusts. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented several peti tions from Birmingham and other places in favour of the Jewish Disabilities Removal Bill. IRISH ENCUMBERED ESTATES BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the third read ing of the Irish Encumbered Estates Bill. Alter a few words from the Duke of LEINSTER, the motion was agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. PETITIONS. The Bishop of WINCHESTER presented several petitions in favour of sanitary reform ; also several peti tions from places in Hampshire in favour of the Jewish Disabilities Removal Bill. ECCLESIASTICAL DISTRICTS BILL. The RICUIT REV. PRELATE then gave notice that he intended on Monday next to move the second reading of the Ecclesiastical Districts Bill. ODD FELLOWS' SOCIETY. Lord BEAUMONT moved the appointment of the Select Committee on the Provident Associations Fraud P revent i on Bill. —Agreed to. CROWN LIVINGS. The Bishop of LLANDAFF postponed to Friday week his motion on the subject of presentations to Crown livings, which stood for Tuesday. MAIL CONTRACTS. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII complained that only one month's notice had been given by the Govern ment of the renewal of the contract for the conveyance of the mails to Alexandria. The Marquis •of CLANRICARDE explained that although only one month's notice of the renewal of the contract had been given, yet the Government had the power of rejecting all the tenders that might be made, if it should be of opinion that none of them were ad vantageous to the public service. BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. Lord REDESDALE reminded their Lordships that last session a Commission had been appointed to report on the best means of providing for increased railway accommodation between Birmingham and London. That Commission had not yet reported. He wished to know when it was probable the report would be laid upon the table? The answer of Earl GRANVILLE was inaudible in the gallery. NAVIGATION-LAWS IN INDIA. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH moved for certain returns relating to the operation of the Navigation-laws in India. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE did not object to the furnishing the returns, and the motion was agreed to. DEFALCATIONS IN INDIA. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH then said, he wished to call attention to the fact, that it had been discovered that more than one or two of the officers connected with the Supreme Court of Justice in India had been found defaulters in their accounts. He hoped some measure would be introduced to guard the public against the re petition of such disgraceful c,,nduct. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed with the Noble Earl, that the transaction alluded to by him was (if the most disgraceful nature. Immediately on its be coming known to the Government in India, steps had been taken for the removal of one of the highest officers of that Court. An investigation had been going on, and a case had been submitted to the law officers of the Crown, with a view to ascertain how the matter stood in a legal point of view, and as soon as they had given their opinion, a Bill would be introduced, if necessary, to correct the evil. Lord CAMPBELL presented petitions from various Odd Fellows' lodges praying to be put on the same foot ing as other friendly societies. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 11. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. PRIVATE BILLS. On the motion of Sir. WM. HEATHCOTE it was ordered that every memorial complaining of non-com pliance with the Standing Orders in reference to petitions for additional provision in Private Bills, and to Estate Bills brought from the House of Lords and referred to the Examiner, be deposited in the Private Bill-office, together with two copies thereof, before twelve o'clock on the day preceding that appointed by the Examiner Cor the examination of any such Petition or Bill, and that the Examiner be at liberty to entertain such memo rial, although the party (if any) who may be specially affected by the non-compliance with the Standing Orders shall not have signed the same. NATIONAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND). The National Monuments of Scotland Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. GALVANIZED IRON COMPANY. The report on the Patent Galvanized Iron Company Bill was further considered, and agreed to. Lord R. GROSVENOR presented a petition from Brantford in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. Colonel MURE presented a petition from Paisley against the Poor-rate Assessment Bill. Sir T. BIRCH presented a petition from Liverpool against the Health of Towns Bill. Lord HOTHAM presented petitions from Yorkshire against the sale of spiritous liquors on Sunday. Sir D. DU:sIDAS presented several petitions from Sutherlandshire, praying for sites for the Free Church of Scotland. Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from 600 solicitors in Ireland, praying for the appointment of more Taxing-offices in Ireland, in order to render the Taxing office more efficient. Sir 'P. D. ACKLAND presented a petition from the clergy of Devonshire, complaining of the mode in which they were assessed to the property •tax. Mr. DIVETT presented a petition from a place in Sussex against the Health of Towns Bill. On the motion of STAFFORD, leave of absence was grantedt to Lord Henry Lennox, for ten days, on ur gent private business. On the motion of Mr. SPOONER leave of absence was granted to Mr. Rufford, for a fortnight, on account of a domestic affliction. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from a place in Lincolnshire in favour of household suffrage, and pray ing for other reforms in the Legislature of the country ; also a petition from Wisbeach against the sale of spirituous liquors on Sunday, Mr. EWA RT presented a petition from the in habitants of the boroUgh of Lochmaben, praying for a municipal reform of those boroughs in Scotland which were excluded from the Municipal Reform Act, and in which the principle of self-election still prevails. Mr. EGERTON presented petitions from places in Cheshire against the sale of spirituous liquors on the Sabbath; also petitions against the Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill. EXCISE LAWS (SCOTLAND). Mr. DUNCAN wished to know whether the Chan cellor of the Exchequer had taken into his consideration the working of the present excise-laws in Scotland, and whether it was his intention to bring in some measure built upon a better and juster system than was. the case with those laws ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was quite aware of the importance of the subject, and early in the session he had hoped to bring in a Bill to remove some of the objections which were entertained to the present laws. Two Bills bad been drawn up on the subject, and the only reason he had not brought them forward was that in the present state of the busi ness of the House there was uo immediate chance of going on with them. POST-OFFICE COMMUNICATION WITH THE UNITED STATES. movedfo h r er Majesty's Government and copies of extracts from the cor A r i e r s . p fl on UME dence between the Minister of the United States respecting the rates of postage and the differences respecting the Post-office department. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER re gretted that the Government had not succeeded in effecting arrangements with the United States, but still he hoped that they would succeFd in doing so, and until then he did not think it expedient to produce the cor respondence. THE REVENUE. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to know the financial condition of the country at the present moment ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that the past week s howed a great improvement in the condition of the finances of the country, which was grati fying, inasmuch as it was considerably above the aver age for some time past. AMERICAN POSTAGE. Mr. BRIGHT inquired, with respect to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Montrose on the subject of American postage, whether the American Legislature had not adopted a retaliatory principle in consequence of the.postages charged by this country, and adopted an increased rate of postage, which was intended to be continued so long as that rate continued. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had received information to the effect that the Ameri• cans had agreed to charge a higher rate of postage upon their own citizens, but that it would in no way affect the citizens of this country. DENMARK. Mr. URQUHART inquired whether the recent block ade by the Danish Government was legal, in accordance with the terms of the treaty of 1720, with respect to Russia and Prussia ? Lord J. RUSSELL replied that the treaty in ques tion did not apply to the recent disturbances between Russia and Prussia. THE WEST INDIES. In reply to Mr. HUME, Lord G. I3ENTINCK stated that he did not expect the Committee, of which he was the chairman, would be able to make their report for three weeks or a month. Mr LAROUCHEHE said that 234 distinct proposi tions had been propounded in connexion with the matter, and that as a matter of course some time was re quired for their consideration. Mr. FIUME hoped the Government would take the matter into th e i r own h an d s. He was prepared to bring Lis motion forward on Monday, but if it was the wish of the House he would not bring it forward before the report was presented. He would, however, state to morrow what course he should adopt with respect to the matter. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that, after to-morrow, he should move that the public business should com mence at half-past four, instead of five, as heretofore. HORSHAM. Mr. GORING then moved, pursuant to notice, "That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new writ for the election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the borough of Horsham, in the room of John Jervis, Esq., w hose election has been determined to be void." His Honourable Friend had withdrawn his motion on this subject on the express understanding that the Noble Lord should bring in a Bill upon the subject ; that Bill had been brought in, but the further proceeding with it had been postponed yesterday, in order, as he understood, that another Bill might be proceeded with. Now he deprecated the adoption of such a course, as the result would be that Horsham would be unrepresented till that Bill had been decided. Ho trusted that the borough of Horsham would not be allowed to remain in hot water during the whole of the present session. Lord JOHN RUSSELL had certainly advised the House not to issue the writ for Horsham, on the ground that it was advisable to have an inquiry on the subject. It did not appear to him material whether the inquiry should be by the House or by commissioners. He had, however, taken the opinion of several Members, and they were of opinion that inquiry would be better effected by commission rather than by Bill, and on that ground the Bill had been postponed. Mr. HUDSON did not believe the Noble Lord would have any difficulty in passing the Govern ment Bill, if they had a bona fide desire that it should do so. He therefore could not understand why it should be postponed. He trusted the Noble Lord would at once proceed with the Bill. Lord J. RUSSELL reminded the Hon. Gentleman that when Mr. Hume's motion was before the House he expressed an opinion that the writ ought to be delayed until an inquiry had been instituted into the amount of corruption in the borough. Lord H. LENNOXregretted that he had so completely misunderstood the Noble Lord when he had the honour of moving the writ for the borough of Horsham. On that occasion the Hon. Member for Montrose moved an amendment, which the Noble Lord partially acquiesced in. The Noble Lord seemed at the time to think that the circumstances of the case demanded an inquiry, and it was therefore necessary that the issuing of the writ should be postponed till the Bill authorising the inquiry had been passed. Mr. HUME rose to disabuse the mind of the Hon. Member for Sunderland of the notion he appeared to entertain, that this general measure would involve the country in expense. It would rather save expense, and he could not help thinking that Govern ment was pursuing a wise and constitutional course. No one who had read the evidence taken before the Horsham Committee could conscientiously say that there had not been improper proceedings in that borough. Mr. F. O'CONNOR was as anxious that abuses should be inquired into as any man, but he must protest against the proposal to select a few boroughs out of a number to strike an average of the amount of corruption in each. There ought to be a separate inquiry into the state of each borough. Sir G. GREY said that ,was what Government pro posed to do. Mr. MANGLES hoped . the House would not consent to the issuing of the writ till the inquiry had taken place. Every Member of the House knew that in almost every small borough throughout the country, say of from 500 to 550 voters, about 220 voters were sincere and honest Tories or Conservatives, and about the same number Liberate or 'W hags; and then there were between forty or fifty dishonest men who could turn the scale either way, and were disposed to sell the election to whatever party chose to buy it. However they might shut their eyes to the fact, every person knew that it was the case, and that there v, as no chance of getting the election unless with the assistance of these men. He, therefore, did hopo that the Government would take measures to purge the laws of the abuses which existed in them. Mr. STUART said he wished to know what was to be done with the borough of Horsham, and be, more over, wished to hear the Government explain and justify the course which they had taken with respect to that borough and the other boroughs involved in the Bill of the Hon. Baronet. He contended that the course which was proposed to be taken was unconstitutional with re gard to the House, and not creditable to the Govern• meat. No person could understand what the object of the Bill was; but if the Government meant to do justice in punishing the offences they could not do so by inquiring all over the kingdom where similar offences had been committed, but by applying themselves to one case of gross delinquency when they found it out. The ques tion now before the House related only to the borough of Horsham, and he could hardly think that the House would be satisfied with the conduct of the Government, which tie considered unprecedented and highly improper. Sir R. H. INGLIS said it was for the House to deter mine whether the special circumstances urged against the issuing of the writ were sufficient to induce the House to refuse to issue the writ. But it was for the electors who petitioned against the return to show that the condition of the borough was such that the writ ought to be re fused. The House having granted writs in the cases of Lancaster, Carlisle, Sligo, Aylesbury, and Harwich, he could not sec any reason why they should refuse to issue the writ. Mr. STAFFORD supported the issuing of the writ. Lord J. RUSSELL expressed his intention, it the Bill proceeded, that he should proceed with the Bill which the Government had introduced. Sir J. HAMMER said if the House would not accede to the second reading—(No, no)—he would suggest that the Bill, with the amendments, should be printed, and that the second reading should stand for the 7th of June. After a pause the Hon. Baronet said, the Noble Lord had stated that he would give him this day week. Well, he would bring it on this day week. Mr. HENLEY would vote for the issuing of the writ, because, what with the Noble Lord's Bill that he would not go on with, and the Hon. Baronet's Bill that he could not go on with, the unfortunate people of Horsham were between heaven and earth.—(A laugh.) The SOLICITOR GENERAL objected to the issuing of the writ. Sir R. PEEL certainly had at first some doubts as to the propriety of suspending the issuing of the writ for Horsham, but those doubts were removed when the Noble Lord at the head of the Government stated that his object in proposing that postponement was that further inquiry might take place. On that under standing he had consented to the postponement ; but he certainly understood that the inquiry on the part of the Government was to be instituted immediately. He thought that the best course to be pursued would be, that the Government should undertake the conduct of the Bill, for the purpose of insti tuting and proceeding with the inquiry. The in definite suspension of a writ was a serious matter, and this question ought to be disposed of with as little delay as possible. Considering, therefore, that the Solicitor-General had been consulted upon the clauses of this Bill, and had actually undertaken to explain them to the House, surely, it would not be a great addition to his trouble it he himself were to take up the Bill on the part of the Government.—(Hear, hear.) Lord INGESTRE said he should vote for the issuing of the writ. Mr. COL VILE wished to know whether Sir John Hanmer intended to bring his Bill on the first thing on Thursday? Sir JOHN HANM ER replied in the affirmative. Mr. E. DENISON said though he did not intend to vote for the issuing of the writ now, he could not consent to its indefinite suspension, and unless some satisfactory result was come to on Thursday next, or Government took up the Bill, he for one would not withhold his vote fur the issuing of the writ. Mr. GORING said he was not averse to inquiry, on the contrary he was in favour of it, and had no objec tion to place the borough of Horsham in the schedule of the Bill. He could not, however, consent to with draw his motion for the issue of the writ. The House then divided, whe❑ there appeared— Fur the issuing of the writ Against it Majority LUNATIC ASYLUMS (SCOTLAND) BILL. The LORD ADVOCATE moved the second reading of this Bill, and said that he wished to state that a better regulation of lunatic asylums prevailed, considering the absolute and abject condition of pauper lunatics in Scot land. Look, said he, to the state of that country, and when you are given to understand, on the most undeni • able proofs of the Commissioners appointed to investi gate into their wretched condition, that there are in Scotland twenty-four counties without one single luna tic asylum, will you not say that their affliction is worthy of the consideration of the humane and chari table ? Then there are six counties where a few hospi tals or asylums exist, and to those gather all the afflicted, or at least as many as can possibly, from the twenty four to which I have already alluded. At present there are in Scotland 3,400 lunatics. Of these there are 1,660 who can support themselves; of the pauper lunatics, 1,770 have not a solitary cell in any asylum throughout the country. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then alluded to the number of lunatics in several of the counties who were able to support themselves, and to the quadruple number of pauper lunatics, and implored the sympathy of the House and the country to redeem crea tures suffering the most agonising torture, both mentally and bodily. He then, in a most pathetic manner, de scribed some melancholy sufferings of those creatures, and trusted that the House would evince its well-known generosity to fellow-creatures and fellow-subjects who are doomed to such afflictions. From the communica tions he had received, and the statistical returns he had seen, he had every reason to believe that the measure would be attended with considerable success. In order to make it the more extensively efficient, he should pro pose that it go th:ough a Committee up stairs, where its defects might be the better corrected on a discus sion. —(Hear, hear.) After a few words from Mr. F. MACKENZIE, Mr. HUME said ho should not oppose the Bill, be cause he took it for granted that a Committee up stairs would deal with it properly, and he hoped that in parti cular the question of expenditure would receive due consideration. Mr. AGLIONBY said he believed the Bill was not wanted in Scotland, though he should not now oppose it on principle. There was a very excellent asylum in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, which occasioned some expenditure to the inhabitants of the district, and the operation of this Bill would be to increase it. After a few words from Mr. FORBES, Mr. EWART said he should give his support to the Bill of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Lord Ad vocate, but would beg to call his attention to a circum- Le Juts stance connected with the subject. Dumfries possessed perhaps the finest asylum in the kingdom, and therefore he hoped that an exemption might be made for this place, which could include as a district the counties of Dum fries, Kirkeutlbr;ght, and Wigton. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL of SCOTLAND ex plained, that the Bill in such a case would not occasion An unnecessary expenditure. Sir G. GREY supported the Bill, and approved of the Lord Advocate's plan of referring it to a Select Com- mittae up stairs. Mr. S. WORTLEY supported the Bill, and said that his experience i❑ the county of Bute fully bore out the correctness of the principle upon which it proceeded. Sir D. DUNDAS also supported the measure, which, be said, was really an act of charity towards the un fortunate persons who would be the objects of it in _ Scotland. The LORD ADVOCATE having explained, The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be referred to a Select Committee. REMOVAL OF ALIENS BILL. On the order of the day being moved to read this Bill a third time, The Earl of AU/sTDEL and SURREY read an ex tract from a letter of 15Iontalembert, in which he dis- claimed having ever excited any hostility to England, hut hoped at the same time that she would do justice to Ireland. Mr. MOWATT moved that the Bill be read a ,hird time that day six months. He thought the Bill was a gross outrage on public opinion, and that the Government ought by this time to have stated some case upon which he might ask them to pass the Bill. If the country were in that state of peril which the Noble Lord at the head of the Go prnment would have them infer, it would be the more easy for them to state that case, and their negligence in that respect was, therefore, the more culpable. He thought that the right feeling of the people of this coun try would at all times, if there were necessity, be suffi cient to counteract any designs of foreigners against the peace and security of this country. It would, were there any attempt on the part of foreigners to disturb the quiet of the country, be as easy to track them as it would a wild beast. They had had nothing of late but a series of harsh and illiberal measures at the hands of a Government calling itself not only liberal, but the light and spirit of the age in this country.—(Hear, hear.) First, they had in this session, the Irish co ercion Bill ; then they had " the'Gagging Bill;" and now they were about to be afflicted with the proposed Alien Bill. He considered it a most silly, childish, uncalled-for, and, he must say, tyrannical Bill—a Bill which was an outrage on the common sense of the day - . He had had much intercourse with the people of the continent, and in particular with the French, and all the foreigners with whom he had communicated agreed in strongly condemning the Bill, which they pronounced as a Bill calculated to exasperate the violent party in Re• publican France against this country. It was true that they had had a revolution recently in France; and he must say that it was absolutely called for, and that he was not sorry for it. This Bill was intended to stop the progress and influence of " propagandism" in this country; but it would be utterly inoperative for that purpose, for every well-educated man was now a propa gandist of liberal opinions. —(Hear.) The Hon. Mem ber concluded by proposing that the Bill be read a third time that day six months. Mr. HUME seconded the motion. He deeply la mented that such a Bill had been brought forward by the present Government—a Government from whose cha racter the country and the world had a right to expect better things; and he regretted it the more, as it was a Bill calculated to injure the character and interests of this country. It was a measure to be deprecated in the strongest manner, and for those reasons, and the reasons he had already expressed on the subject, he should second the motion that the Bill be read a third time this day six months. Lord DUDLEY STUART could not allow the Bill to go to a third reading without again recording his opinion against it. He did not see any necessity for such a Bill at the present time. He was not aware of any circumstances that could at all justify it; and he considered it a Bill calculated to injure the cha racter of this country. It would affect the liberty or interest of many thousands of foreigners located in this country, and was in that respect a power that ought not lightly to be vested in the bands of any one man. He would refer the House to the speech of a late noble and excellent Lord, Lord Holland, against a former Bill of the kind now before the House. That Noble Lord, from whose speeches he was fond of quoting, in speaking of the Alien Bill, used these words —" You contract the spirit of our law, you shake the very foundations of British justice, when you entrust such a power over the lives, liberty, and property of any set of men on the principle that the power will not be abused." He had given notice of two clauses, which he proposed to add to the Bill. Mr. MUNTZ had very great pleasure. in supporting the amendment, and he only wished that it was in his power to throw out the Bill wholly. He had mixed much with foreigners, and he thought the alarms of the Government were only worthy of an old woman. Mr. EW ART could not allow the Bill to pass the third reading without expressing his entire disapproba tion of its whole principle. Such a Bill showed a want of confidence in the constitution of this country ; but if the constitution was good for anything, it would, with out the aid of this Bill, resist and correct any attempts which might be made by persons coming from other countries to disturb the institutions of this. Mr. FORSTER thought it unnecessary for him to say one word in explanation of the votes he had already given on this Bill. If he thought the Bill necessary for the preservation of the peace of this country, he should feel it his duty to support the measure ; but he consi dered it wholly unnecessary. He objected to it on the ground that foreigners would be driven by it to think most unkindly of us ; and he could not taut believe, with respect to the circumstances said to call for it, that the Government must have been deceived. Sir H. VERNEY would ask Hon. Gentlemen if they were prepared to allow foreigners to come into this country, and interfere in designing and fomenting plots to disturb the peace of the people? Hon. Gentlemen had ridiculed the Government, as being influenced by timidity and panic ; but he could assure those Hon, Gentlemen that he knew of a country that had been lost by panic. His opinion was, that it was the wisest and justest course that the Government could have pursued, and he should, under all the circumstances, support the Bill. Mr. G. DUNCAN had voted on twelve different divi sions out of seventeen in favour of this Bill, and he was quite prepared at present to support the measure, as her Majesty's Government said they required it. Sir GEORGE GREY admitted that nothing could be more fair than the manner in which Honourable Members opposed this Bill. Honourable Members had expressed themselves at a loss to know the grounds on which her Majesty's Government could justify their introduction of this Bill. lie did not wish to intro duce any names into the discussions on the Bill ; but the circumstances that had come to his own knowledge with reference to foreigners—not such foreigners as the lion. Member (Mr. Muntz) had spoken of his acquaint ance with, hut foreigners who were here for the purpose of interfering with and disturbing the institutions of this country. He did not mean to say that this Bill was brought forward in a dastardly spirit to protect the people of this country, who were impressed with the most loyal attachment to the constitution of the country, and prepared to put any disturb ance down that might be attempted. But looking at what was taking place in other countries and in Ireland, he thought the Government were entitled to some credit for the steps they had taken to secure the peace. The Government thought that under the circumstances of the present time, and looking at the pro pagandism, not, he would say, on the part of foreigners in this country, but in other quarters, that they were bound to look to the security of the Crown and Government; and they now asked only for a Bill of this kind, having for its exclusive object the preservation of the peace and tranquillity of the country. He thought that the objections to this Bill would be best answered by its being known that the Government possessed the power given by the Bill in its own hands. With respect to the hospitality of this country, it was well known to be at all times proverbial; but should any occasion arise, then it was well that the Government should possess the power of dealing with it—a power which it would exercise, and which he should not shrink from exer cising. The Hon. Member for Birmingham (Mr. Muntz) had spoken of foreigners; but he was quite sure that it was not from such foreigners as he was in the habit of associating with that the danger was to be appre hended; and it was against that class only from whom danger was to be apprehended that the powers of this Bill were intended to be exercised. Mr. MILNER GIBSON said that those who believed that the laws of the land were not sufficient to prevent aliens from interfering with the constitution, had an ample justification for supporting this Bill. For himself, he thought that a foreigner should stand precisely upon the same ground that an Englishman did. Had a foreigner less need of the safeguard of our laws than an Eeglish man? He thought that, if anything, he should be treated with greater consideration, but at least he should not be placed in a worse condition.—(Rear.) Mr. BROTHERTON said he was bound to give his confidence to a Government who had hitherto voted for every liberal measure. If they asked for this Bill, if they said it was necessary, ho would give his vote of con fidence to the Government, who were looking to the peace and welfare of the country.—(Hear.) Mr. COBDEN said the speech of his Hon. Friend the Member for Salford was not a speech in favour of the Alien Bill, but of the Ministry. His Hon.. Friend had given his reasons for the vote which he was about to give, and had deprecated any misinterpretation of the motives by which he was actuated ; but he was sure that there was no Member of that House who had less reason to be anxious on that score.—(Loud cheers.) The speech of his Hon. Friend had, however, confirmed him in an opinion which he had long entertained—that they were prone to pass bad laws, not because they approved of them, but because the peculiar state of parties induced a large number on that side of the House to support the measures of the Government, whether good or bad, be cause for fifteen years they had been in the habit of voting with them.—(Hear, hear.) On the other side of the House, olso, a large portion voted for the Govern ment, because they themselves were not prepared to take the government on themselves—(Hear, hear) — while another section on the same side supported the Government, because they wished to prevent the latter from coming into power.—(Hear.) This was a very un fortunate responsibility state e OOO nf s public cr nie t e h fn ne i cri n neeg, reference c by )bn, to pc andl a teh u a ed s e s u m le drdoe friendships removed them, p r all o l o insteadt h e e d a old nt do i i m n ni g dt ea ur e : withos o a l f d tviso h fty o i s nt t g i n l e it i i r es. lie had, for some time past, made up e sov e g d o good or di sregard his mind to give his vote quite independently of all parties; and he believed the country would never gettingsuc cMeeedmbiliersr escaping o lbda distinctions s m t i e n a o s t u i o r e n s , untilof party,her th and treated questions on their own merits. He was quite sure that, with respect to the great questions wit which he had been identified—he alluded particularly to the measure connected with free trade—not one would have passed, had not its supporters resolved to treat Whig and Tory the same. In all future questions in which he might take an interest, he should continue to regard them in the same light. The Alien Bill had been so exhausted that it was unnecessary for him to dwell upon it. There was, however, one point of view in which it had not as yet been regarded. It ap peared to him, that whilst the Government were passing alien Bills, and Bills for the protection of the Crown and Government, it was a proof that they were taking the wrong direction as to what was the best course for satisfying the country and maintaining our institutions. —(Hear, hear.) It seemed to him that the Government had not profited by the examples set on the Continent, where they had seen repression and coercion fail of their purpose—(Hear, hear)—and Governments prostrate, because they had not taken the wise course of conciliation and concession. The Government was seen still follow ing the old course of coercion and repression, b u t no measures were propounded calculated to increase the attachment of the people to the institutions of t his country.—(Hear, hear.) He would venture to say that the country was at this moment looking most anxio usl y —not for coercion, not for ganging Bills, not for B ills for the protection of the people against aliens, but for the announcement of remedial measures—(Hear) ---ex" petting to hear the Government prepared to put our representative system in harmony with the spirit of the age.—(Hear, hear.) They were not prepared to see the w hole world in motion, and this country standing still, or taking a retrograde movement.—(Hear, hear.) Th e country was also looking to retrenchment and econornY, and I will venture to say (continued the Hon. Member) that, if you wish to maintain the monarchy againt re publican innovation you will do more towards the accomplishment of your object by cutting away much of that barbarous splendour which belonged to other times, to the cost of the country, and the aggrandisement of the aristocracy.—(Hear, hear.) You will do more to recon cile the people of this country to monarchical institutio ns by removing some of these useless and mischievous SP . pendages to royalty, than by preventing the people from discussing republicanism. I entreat the Governme nt not to think there is a passive acquiescence in the men" sures they are now passing in this House. I have 0 ", plained why you have a majority. The feeling out of doors is very differ ent.--(Hear, hear.) If you want 10 maintain your institutions do not pass coercion Bills, but resort at once to remedial measures; reform yourselv es ! and retrench your expenditure.—(Hear, hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL—The Hon. Member for Falmouth: (Mr. Mowatt) complained that the Government bad, at the beginning of the session, introduced various tner sures of coercion, and said that they were abandoning th e principles which they had formerly professed, and wer e acting against the constitution of the country . as gen e " rally recognised by the people. It has certainly beets our fate to have to introduce measures which were in' tended for the purposes of repression. If such measures were not necessary, we were not justified in introdueb4 them; if they were necessary, I think then we sho uld have been much to blame, had we refused to perfortO that which was our duty to the well-affected and well disposed people of this country, from any fear of such putations as the Hon. Gentleman has thrown out. -- (Hear, hear.) But I think there are some teats by which the utility and necessity of such measures may be tried. One test is, whether such measures as we hate hitherto introduced, and of which the operation has bee n in some degree seen, have been successful in diminishing crime and the excitement to crime, whether they hal been successful in allaying that state of disturbance 05 uneasiness which prevailed in one part of the United ICiag dom. And a second test is, whether those measures hal e operated with as little disturbance as it was possible to give to the ordinary and usual enjoyment of the liberties of the people of this country.—(Hear, hear.) In s poilt,: ing of those measures, and applying these tests --fol lowing the example of the Honourable Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire—l do not mean to make and distinction between W hig and Tory—(Hear, bear)' because I believe that both parties, in these times, whatever may have been the distinguishing characteris tics which belonged to these parties in anterior periods of our bistory, have been earnestly and equallY to maintain those constitutional liberties so long the boast of the inhabitants of these islands. N e ri v e b has regard to the first measure introduced by LlStrrish Arms been described as a coercive measure — the last autumn, Bill—we found that there began to prevail, the life a dreadful frequency of crime in Ireland, making of every individual unsafe, and either driving meu.fromws anxioa;iies the country, or exposing them, e,s they returned ho from market or any other ordinary business, to be way laid and assassinated from behind:the hedges; in short, redlieing the country to such a state, that every one wh o _ was a possessor of property, or bad a n y thin g to tw, with its management, even down to th e small farmer, was made to feel that ho could no t safel y inhabit the country.—(Hear, hear.) Sir , we introduced a Bill. which I do not think interfered with the ordinary eU ployment of the people of Ireland, which was not ope n to the objection that attached to the various Bills tha t have been introduced with the same object at othe r times—that of confounding the innocent with the guiltY; for this Bill, while it left the innocent in the en j o ymen t of all their privileges, took effectual pains to dinart u those who were intent upon crime, and in th: re d o w , e nu t cA h e enapddvr have habit of committing crime. I am happy to s k e i a great h hmr a eeu t aput t e h nom e tpel l hoe a .af s . n t egl a r ei c mfi c h o nea u ds n it which b t nh s eaclt in tni into tto r ol e B c st4 e hh i 7eo v :v e ct d ohhn n e odsnwi condition noTne t b ? - r of crimes amounted to 5,2.09, in April, 1843, they 0 1 1 1 amounted to 1,196. Homicides, which in April, 18 e 7 1 . ,' were twenty-four, were in April, 1848, only nine. - "I crime of firing at persons had diminished from nineteett in April, 1847, to three in April, 1848. The er, i°l o of demand or robbery of arms had diminished i r° o ( 67 in April, 1847, to 12 in April, 1848 ; the crime bearing arms from 16 in April, 1847, to 7 in Ari l ias d In the same way several other crimes have dienli" l a h r e e d very greatly : and even in the last month, as coooPhee with the preceding, the diminution in the total Mem o ) of crimes has been from 1,429 to I,l96.—(Hear , he te s() I certainly should not omit to mention that in h o circuits, those of King's County and Roscorolo°, ° ; 34 s. offences against the person are reported in Apri l ' ` t he Therefore, whatever language may be used agai n t Government for having introduced the Bill wbic u i, carried through this House before Christmas, it la great satisfaction to me to have been instrument:, in passing an Act, owing to the consequences of "' hie eetl a great measure, there has been secured greater Iwo to life, and men are enabled to carry on their °cell?' w as with safety in that country, free from the appreh elj get , of continual and barbarous murders.—(Cheers.) st er sir, we introduced very lately a measure for the g re w: , security of the Crown and Government of this con° Iv The main features of that measure were features ° i : ‘ , 131 0 1 5 11 gation—mitigation of the law of treason as it prev''' o old stood. But we did that to which I think no one e t wit well object, seeing that if a measure in reference so o af crime was necessary for England, it was no less nec e e s o etr for Ireland; and if it wer e p ro p er t h a t we in this;' t hat try should be subject to suc h a l aw , i t was no less ' t o ot, the Irish should be subject to the same law. --( ve rf hear.) Though that Act has been in operation but e a ha s short time, its effect, it s success f u l effect, in Ireland bet been very visible.—(Cheers.) Every one will reto e lthe that, six weeks a go , it was i mposs ibl e t o re ad ea ° 030 16' papers from Ireland without seeing that men were gre at ing a great bravado of their courage; wi e w s - thel emphasis, and with great demonstration of Wa a ;i o o were about to do, they declared it was their inte nt- r ooPs' make war against her Majesty and her Majesty's "„etrl% and to sever Ireland from its allegiance to this a °- , e ies; and they spared no kind of invective, not oii l )' 'pie 0 ' the Crown and Government, but against the Plied, this country.—(Cheers.) It has appeared lately, 1 cl ef , that those persons, although they spoke in ti_h,l9o, and spoke so very much because they were in Da ° t actually under the security and protection of thaetioa, Government which they professed their deter JO, to overthrow and anuihilate.—(Che e rs.) Ab d ees terr, happen that when on one occasion the coratu'ot e her Majesty's troops had not forces immediatelY o f the disposal, in order to protect the persons of s°Pieseere to worst of these would-be traitor s —th os e persons. e stY C danger, not from her Majesty' s t roo p s a nd her 0 1 f ed police, but they required the assistance of th e ° c ens e ' troops and police in order to save them front tur s ehic e ; quences of those harangues and those writings' ne other they had so freely indulged in Dublin and selnit , hoog o places.—(Cheers and laughter.) But, Sir , 11 ,g0s 0 those very persons were so willing, a few weeks 0 01 1 0 submit to the penalties of high treason, and so !retie° _ declare that they must either put down Lord CL a etr oaf or that Lord Clarendon must put down them, W oo Ol d " , has been entirely changed.—(Cheers.) it,ine.eu n i most mild and mitigated treason—the most .." I „re water sedition—(Laughter)—so weak a In'% - ny h e , treason, insubordination, and rebellion, that it ra,.. ci become quite fiat to those whose appetites d iet for_ viously been tickled by the highly flavoured cursoos.l merly prepared and administered by those Ph i re gsr (Great laughter.) Therefore I say, wit e l i Off, to that Act, which met with so 133U ' ulle P- • sition in this House, that it has been Yert w gii i for its purpose, and has had the effect of e i ti r deh gerlt great measure this very inflammatory and t wat language. At the same time, I venture to asa e het i i has not in the least degree diminished or O r sp eet proper liberty of discussion in Ireland with ree oti ee to any measure of the Governme(Hear.) / the night say that any one who really wishes to discuss _ yo . ig sures of the Government—whatever faults ir e y o gi:, wish to find with them, or whatever e pithets,' is Al l e l e wish to apply to the conduct of the Governme nt th is A o as much at liberty to do so as he was before be t oe be passed. He must keep within certain litnit s ,; not use seditious language. Such was the ' ‘ , s t . t he 0 0e , land befere this Act passed; such is the law,_`;ill n now.—(Hear, hear.) Then we come to tn . , eer tsP o before the House, to the effects of which ra y S i lo cannot speak very confidently; but certainly_ _ to et_ et , Hon. Friend near me (Sir G. Grey) bu s efl c reason to think that it will have a ee" 9,0 e aft I wish to disclaim its being directed against n ation- tei ticular Government or any particular __a i nt o o pie hear.) It is quite untrue that it is st th e e re°' against the French Government or even to t" e re' respe ct ot ° 'a of France.—(Hear, hear.) With ree so t have an the vernment of France, lam sure we , Pro' a admire if collect with the strongest feelings conl °' Pr o ' no one ,f the Go' a moment of great peril, when I r ish visional be the fate next day of the members of t he fri o visional Government, one of the members s.O tee a wls vernment, Mons. Lamartine, held langvue4 q uest;_;„). deputies, who, to say the least, for a o purpose, bad gone to the French It cap to th e "su ee ti l laneuaee which, while it exposed hint A w ort 00 e e • terror an • ai h ieh any ruffian who wished to carry to h i° e it into this country, was . both honourable toyim as a minister ou'ae, e er e tts• and praiseworthy at wh a6 ! r showed that he reall had at heart, 0 „ might be to himself, the maintenance w ~. ~ :~~~a