The Sun. — London, England, 1848-05-26 00:00:00

with the r - debate had g greatest ardour. During the whole night I •Iture h the 1 p a i . had advisedly excluded the Jews from sitting 1•n eit r „ r ianl "t This was not the fact either directly or f t - ' W 4",. There was nut even a declaration re quired Arians Je w or any one else, by , they Calvinists, Sucinians, bad ~ or any other sectarifins, to the effect that they . the slightest belief in any one document, upon the t li t pe a ce of which the Christian religion was sul ; )po t rt t e h .d e . p " I t Member was rev; ri dto do was to a l biur us . e trreutender, aud to uphold me succession of the To . f t i p li k sw ick; and he was rt quired to make these promises tthe faith of a true Christian. But that form did not re ior_e him to d ec l are himself a Christian, although he : . 4 rd. Brougham) did not mean to deny that a very pro p er °IO scientious feeling had operated in deterring the Jews h u ra taking the oath p rescr ib e d to t h e M em b ers of both . th e ns es of Pa rliament. Wh a t, t h ere f o re, became 0: _ . all taestfrgurn eats by whi c h the i r Lotdships ha d been a_l. tr• nauseated, t o the effect that the Parliament would nehristianised by the admission of Jews to a seat in d ak e e ll 2 u se of Commons ? The Housu,of Commons ha by 849.nchristianised itself, if this argument was good, d k riel e e n s d ti l a tis" up the Bill now before their Lordships, and nee case was tneca to been re p But, even su te ; r ts was as had been represented by the p ro s b i leLord . adraineilaelte ‘raord Stanley.), did the present form of oath as st red to llemb,:rs of the House of COMEno a n ‘ s , thoseer the purpose that Vk as attributed to it ? Were II ei , who took that oath before they took their seats 41 :2tians j lie could with safety say no—it did . not all e :: ° ln Purpose. The oath had the incurable and .omenhidedit let in the dishonest and unprincipled man r. the conscieetious man. With regard Pei the . a .i... =,iiit that,had been urged respecting the iMpOSn if 4 3 , i °I rslking about religion in the Legislative Hous es Ili ! , "it tvere admitted into Parliament, and that the woutiWtiotild effect the separation of Church and State, he . itilde,?nlY exclaim God above forbid that the Church the p rate should ever be separated, but if such a Bill as 71,1 e present were to effect that object, how did it happen s is the letting the Roman Catholics and the Dissenter Lett the tetti Rouse of Commons did not produce that result? step the House the Dissenters was a far more dangerous . teuPtthartletting in the Jews would be ; for the . Ditso the teste r g a much more active and bitter hostility ti,..., hutch of England than the Jews, who, to say the ath 4,n., cared nothing about the matter. As for theo t. e li o Lung out all but true Christians, let him remind_ 11 ,e firedShaftesbury sat in their Lordships HMIs fired il k, s es in the other House of Parliament. "e was to be i e l i °' epinion that, even supposing the Jews were the less c h in .° 'llrliiinaent, the Legislature would not be that d rid ttan than it was before, in the same manner ti riehrig j u stice to th e Di ssenters h a d no t in any way readyst 4 i anised it, his that again repeated that he gave 0 1144 "M to the Bill , at t h e same t i me h e mus t si) , p,rtancedld not think it b y any means o f so muc h ins eGnsidereati4 m any other m easures that were under the The Bi t of Parliament. ti p% red,ct? of OXFORD said he was sorry to u fi s n e d d , 4 Word wi th °T4 . that in the heat of debate he h d the Governtoreference to the Noble Lord at the head of not eert e t e nt which was not just, but which . he had drawn li ly froini.uttered in malice. The expression was sersaii on , hi m in the heat of the moment i by an ob fore, there nevertookolthe Noble Marquis near him. th e fi rst public opportunity of sayi i og e th o at r he to any 0t ; 33 1 c ant to attribute to Lord John Russell,. par had Patel Member of the Government, the having p Lord fore e° n in a job. He was aware that the Noble fo rs tubPPiorted the Jewish disabilities removal long be- His Noble be friend l s at election for the city of London. deal," (Lord Brougham) had, in his playful manner in to the yrat:her hardly by him; but he did not object oard at ft made by the Ne ble Lord, dad the .• ressions uttered h e,°PPortunity of withdrawing ex p as he had been Meant ts' Y ni t; and of stating publiclythat.h . e never —T he -B e ast any slander upon the Noble Lord. the quis of LANSDOWNE replied, and acquitted . towardsight Rey Prelate of any malignant intention nient,,,,n Noble iat aid head uf the Govern teas mese conduct, both with respect to the present eire ure, an ., is and s indeed, &iliac , ~ the whole of his public and -., mad been distinguished by the purest patriotism Ihdets,interestedness. 1r Lordships then divided, when there 9axpeared— nntent—Present Proxies 3 - 2 128 N nn-conteut—P re sent l3B Proxies —1 M. • ri Aeir a Th eo ray against the second reading 35 Lo P rdship s then adjourned at Two o'clock. 0 1-S OUSE OF CoMMONS, May 25 . The ul'Bsic.zu took the Chair at Four o'clock. lit NEW MEMBER. of _ 'ALILNEE took the oaths and seat for the city 4 41.7 1c1 in the room of Mr. Redhead Yorks, de- R t:4llede.followiTngMßßilDlsEre"relaNd G a S ibird time and sd II s'o, Brighton, and South Coast Railway (London q u ridg e an d N ew C ross St a tions, &c.) T:essterry Passage. ' lll e Direct Ferry. SECOND READINGS. Th b m e foilowing Bills were read a second time : 1 1 1 u —4lll r, Castle Blaney, and Carrickmacross Roads. ii3lotivich an d Wh e elock Turnpike Road. /It h Yorkshire, Doncaster and Goole Railway t rl le.nclment (Extension to Penistone and Altera uf Dod wor th B ranc h). the,"' . a.DRITMAON D presented a petition against Ter, " n otch Lunatics' Bill, and moved that it be re pr'eed to the Committee ; also a petition from the wit h Ytery of Perth against the Diplomatic Relations itorn Bill. kr e 1 )4 u tINCAN presented several petitions from lir es n o Z and other places in Scotland against the 1 , - "‘ Poor-l aw . gla:d AMILEY presented petitions from the Anti 114' Society an d ot h ers a t Bath, against the use of si r gr,9wn sugar in this country. \VALI'ISLEYL°Ie presented a petition from tre e -- " e rs signed by 2,800 Odd Fellows, praying that of ott4d heritable estates might be held by the societies Odd Fellows. ee,, P , A RLIAMENTARY REFORM. _ :1 7 A ",`' e t THOMPSON presented a petition signed latre's persons, from Bradford, complaining of the illiumlased e xpenditure of the country in a time of l emi al distress, but protesting against the slightest of to disorder and violence; and in favour I listri e u ~ ives t i s ti s uffrage, vote by ballot, equal electoral k tlf Ake 'Land no property qualification and payment d : - rs of Parliament, shorter Parliaments, an t al t t 11 ' 0 5 :.! e m of taxation. The petitioners stated te sts,h e K Bradford was exceedingly full of Char on. 1 i disclaimed an connexion with them. The C hartist er,rnber Presented a similar petition from the nion in the metropolis. Mr. 6 „ like C I TII presented a petition from Dumferin our of Parliamentary reform. pr. Itn,„„IiEALTH OF TOWNS. kingh '''l -KING presented a petition from Bir h ar u est% n favour of some sanitary measure to im . • hvoi lr tli v e condition of the poorer classes, and in Oa r .„I,,tila abolition of the window-tax. 4.1 4 , 41 ( 11- 1T presented a petition praying the ch urches Free Pas' a measure to enable the members of 'lurch es. Church of Scotland to obtain sites for Mr INT OXICATING LIQUORS. th e I,' TREL AWNY presented a petition against " of in toxicatin g liq G uors on the Sabbath. t 11 LII3ERATIN CONVICTS. flt,4 °II. MEMBvIt wished to ask a question 1 4 1; 4iiht Honourable Baronet the Secretary ee th e t-t Rome Department, which he consid D r ur d . nit the considerable public importance. I teril* e Year 1846, the crime , lap. sheep- WO. • .. lath w its very prevalent in the county of of Mon % wh om asid after considerable difficulty person a sadt:in suspicion had long rested was appr e hended __ e co li blited at Monmouth in January, 1847. li, waswas 4ntzleted ~„0 f the offence imputed to him, Ql I l anviii ~,D Y the late Chairman of the Sessio a n n s, Lord ars. tritterc ooraerset, to be transported for ten 41 re Y : th is Person had come back to this bad created u reated bl itch 4Lv ed a free pardon. His presence ba h second Petaan e°°,Bternation, because he Iltino. too had returned to the wa s s am t e . e locality been . %ale' the last few months, after having .1 0 ,.._, r ee . - , -u. both having tived .i. °f a similar offence, Inki er I r s re e d to know pardons. He therefore wished Ills liar circumstances the individual in question Sir, rato . 12rediZli ,_l-:REY replied that the person in q uestion, . It °Ce t i e'' Williams, was convicted in 1847,..an_ cl_shenin the pr to t en „, Years' transportation. On April 12E th ' a tlt "' Year he received a communication from signed eonvietathorities of the prison 15/ Sir w v, %B "nfined, enclosing a ce i r n tifi w ca h te inh iNntle,„ .13enjarnin Brodie, and another Ptisoa:11113) expressive of their belief that the medical sl tio r i , vat W as expressive with pulmonary consumP dang er 4 'l that further incarceration would en auld without life. Under these circumstances, ~"uich he any reference whatever to the crime of r.., 4 sed ,LWas convicted or the sentence that was 'vere ~e'll birn which he did not think was to n . tlerei4i4°e? th e circumstances, he felt justified in recoran,l,tbe authority with which he was vested, and I la tkionutted her Majesty to grant the convict her free , k r t „AFFAIRS OF SPAIN. 'ceiiiii. A„AFFAIR,S Wished to ask the Noble Lord the UP % „ Secretary whether he was prepared to lay to te the tabl e of the llouse any further correspond tonl relation to the affairs of Spain? 14 (1 41 lIALISIEItsroN said he had considered it Spai n tit Y to look over all the papers forwarded " 11 , to , e h•d whether any could be laid upon the ta . r b . le . , nicn "Its /I , lv . Made a selection for that purpose .. w not be In the h a s of the printers, but. they would The se reach, tO be laid on the table till to- . morrow. 4 .. . 1 21 3 a P s , ra consisted of communications which Vio u , t Bur had with the Spanish authorities pre refe,,re°l the 1 6th of March, the date of the negotiation kr. /1 ° in the paper already before the intimation House. frok sirANKES said he had received an .was tppr -.-, Bulw er to the effect that h e . c atetOr togellinve that the question he had given notice to -morrow ^-' i, ght affect him ; but he begged t4 t .. was hia bitez i ti oD, i n no degree whatever -- to reflect or bring in question our Ambassador at Madrid. Ills intentio , l was only to raise a question relating to the instructions he had ieceive(l, and to confine his observations to the correspondence which had already been laid on the table of the House. It appeared that up to the period of the date of that corresponderce the conduct of our Ambassador at Madrid had received the full and entire approbation, not only of the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, but of the w hole of her Majesty's Government, and his view of the case would in no way affect the Ambassador at Madrid. lie understood, however, now that a com munication was to be laid upon the table of the House which bore a date subsequent to that of the corre spondence before the House, and as Sir 11. L. Bulwer was anxious that this communication should be on the table before they went into the question, he begged to state that he should not bring on his motion to morrow, but defer it to the nex t su pp l y ni g ht, if the Noble Lord was not prepared to devote an earlier night to the question. Lord J. RUSSELL said of course the Hon. Gentleman would use his own discretion as to bringing his motion on to-morrow, but he begged to tell the Honourable Gentleman that it was the intention of Government to go into Commit tee of Supply to-morrow night, to enable him to bring his motion on. Looking, therefore, at the present state of public business, and bearing in mind that the discussion on the navigation-laws had to take place, he could not promise the Hon. Gentleman to devote another day to his motion; but if he determined to proceed with it to-morrow, Govern ment would be prepared to offer it their decided opposition. Mr. BANKES said, under these circumstances, he would persevere to-morrow. Sir DE LACY EVANS put it to the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether it would not be detrimental to the interests of the country to go into the question while they were ne gotiating with Spain ? Lord PALMERSTON did not think it would. Mr. BANKES wished to know whether our Envoy had arrived from Spain? Lord PALMERSTON replied in the affirmative. CASTLEBAR. Mr. BOURKE inquired, pursuant to notice, of the Secretary for Ireland whether it was true that a sheriff's sale of all the furniture and clothing had taken place in the workhouse of Castlebar, and what provision had been made by the vice-guardians for the support of the poor of that union since the period of the sale ? Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that it was true that the sale had taken place, but arrangements had been made by which all the paupers were still in the house. SPAIN. Mr. lIUME wished to know, after what had taken place relative to the departure of Sir Henry Bulwer from Madrid, whether it was the intention of the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs that the discussion on that important subject should take place without the documents be ing on the table of the House ? Lord PALMERSTON said that he had already stated that the correspendence was in the hands of the printers ; he was in hope it would be on the table to-morrow, and in the hands of Members on Sa turday. Mr. T. D'EYNCOURT trusted that the Hon. Member for Dorsetsbire would not, under these cir cumstances, press his motion to-morrow. Mr. DISR AE LI thought that this was far too important a subject to be discussed without the papers on the table of the House. He thought the Noble Lord might and ought to hold out the prospect of bringing on the subject other than that of some supply night. Lord J. RUSSELL had no doubt that, after the discussion on the navigation-laws which he was not willing to postpone, there would be a day for going into a Committee of Supply. He had, however, no anxiety that the Honourable Member for D o rsetshirej should postpone his motion if he thought proper to bring it on to-morrow. Lord MAHON considered the alternative to be, whether the discussion on this question should take place with or without the docu ments, or not at all. This was the alternative to which her Majesty's Government sought to reduce the House; but it was one, he trusted, they would not submit to. The transaction that had taken place in Spain was one of no ordinary character, and he thought it would not he unbecoming of the position of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government if he held out some prospect of an early day to discuss the question. Lord J. RUSSELL could not name any day for the discussion of the subject, but as soon as the debate cn the navigation-laws was over, supposing the House affirmed the resolution for bringing in the Bill on the subject of the navigation-laws, he had no objection before the second reading of that Bill that a day should be named for going into Committee of Supply. Mr. B ANKES, considering that it would be useless to discuss the subject without the documents being before the House, would not force on his motion to-morrow, but lie hoped the Noble Lord, in considering the question, would feel it to be of that importance that, for the sake of the Govern ment and the country, it ought not to be postponed unnecessarily. He would, however, leave his motion on the paper for to-morrow, with the under standing that it was not then to come on. ISLAND OF TOBAGO. Mr. GOULBURN wished to know whether the Government had received any information from the Governor of Tobago with respect to the state of that island. Mr. HAWES said he regretted that no informa tion at all had been received from the Governor of Tobago. Mr. P. HOWARD, seeing the Noble Lord (Lord Palmerston) in his seat, begged leave to ask him whether now, or on a future day, he would be prepared to say what progress had been made in the negotiations with regard to the mediation between Denmark and Prussia, or rather between Denmark and the confederated powers—a matter which was deeply interesting to this country, and he was aware that some of his constituents had been sufferers by the course of warfare carried on. Lord PALMEItSION said he conld answer the question of the Hon. Gentlemen at present, so far as was consistent with his duty, and he thought he might state that there was a favourable disposition on both sides to consider the proposals which might be made, with the view to an amicable adjustment of the diffe rences. He might state this factthat whilst on the one hand the Danish Government had taken away some of their blockades, on the other he had been in formed within the last hour that the Prussian Go vernment did not mean to enforce the order which had been issued by General Wrangel. EXPULSION OF ENGLISH WORKMEN FROM FRANCE. In answer to a question from Mr. DIYETT, Mr. HAWES was understood to say that a number of the workmen and their families who had been expelled from France, during the late disturb ances, had been assisted to emigrate, and that it was the intention of the Government to offer every rea sonable facility for the emigration of the rest who might be desirous of proceeding to our colonies. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME BILL. Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to know on what day it was the intention of the Noble Lord (Lord J. Rus sell) to proceed further with the Diplomatic Rela tions with Rome Bill, as it was still suffered to re main on the order• book of the House. Lord J. RUSSELL said the Government were desirous to proceed with two Bills of considerable public importance, which stood on the paper, before the Bill in question, and that until those Bills were in a fair way of being disposed of, he could not name the day on which he could take the Bill to which the Hon. Baronet had adverted. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. On the motion that the Speaker should leave the chair, Mr. SPOONER rose and said was done hewished to make n y d s ome observations with respect towhat the Noble Lord (Lord Morpeth) on Monday l ast. with a view to enable the parties interested mt ohvi i se n Atd y the ma tter to express their opinions, he should the House resolv e itself into a Commit t e e fortnight. After a g reat deal of ne g otiation the Noble Lord agre ed to introduce into the Bill cert a in clauses, in accordance with the wishes of certain deputations who had waited upon the Noble Lord from various parts of the country, and who left him on a positive pledge from the Noble Lord that he would introduce clauses to that effect in the Bill. The parties had evi dence that the clauses were printed at the request of the Noble Lord, ; yet at the last moment, with out making any communication to Hon. Members who had interested themselves in the matter, the Noble Lord caused six clauses to be struck out of the Bill without the House hardly knowing what was going on at the time. The parties interested had a right to complain, as many of them had a large quantity of capital Invested in waterworks, and as great injustice bad been done to them they ought to be allowed time to consider the altered posi tion in which they would be placed by the Bill. However . wever important the carrying ou t of this Bill was, was still more impo rtant that such an occ urrence as that on w hi c h he s animadverting should not occur again. He, therefore, called upon lion. Mem bers' to in justice all the parties, to maintain th at for the future no s uch sweeping alterations in a B ill should be ma de without the due deliberati on and consentt h eHouse. The Bill undergone great o f it, and therefore he changes,had did which had entirely .altered notolafeuealesd be itr. justified shoul in n pro o posing that those omitted duced. If such a proceeding had 'been taken by Any_ one else except the Noble Lord, he should have been justified in applying the terms "juggler" and " trick- ' ster" to him, but he respected his character, and could not suppose but that he had done so under a miscon ception. He did not wish to enter into a discussion whether the adoption of the clauses was advisable or not, but he took his stand upon the way in which they were omitted. For two years the parties in question had been endeavouring to convince the Noble Lord of the truth of the principles they contended for; and after they had convinced him of their value, it was too bad for him to turn round, after the pledges he had made, and destroy all he had done. The Noble Lord had made pledge upon pledge upon this subject, and upon no grourul ought the Noble Lord to depart from it. He should, therefore, move as an amendment, that this Bill be committed this day fortnight. Mr. MUNTZ seconded the motion. This Bill as it stood would act most unjustly towards the public; and as he was present when the Noble Lord gave the pledge he now called upon him to fulfil it. Lord MORPETH said, nothing was more painful to his feelings than that the Honourable Member should fancy that he had been wanting in firmness and good faith, and if the House were of opinion that such an imputation could be cast upon him he was prepared to ask the House to put him in a position to remove it. Be could not, how ever, bring himself to believe that the course the Com mittee had pursued was open to the charge which the Hon. Member had preferred against it, for he appre hended that the Bill in no way gave power to inter fere with the affairs of private persons without the intervention of Parliament; but he was quite prepared to introduce an express proviso into the 66th clause precluding every local board of health from supply ing water, with the consent in writing of any com pany, should such exist within the jurisdiction of the board, if that would remove the objections of the Hon. Member. Mr. 1N EWDEGATE thought if there was any blame to be attached to any one for the suppression of these clauses it was the Noble Lord. He thought the clauses necessary, and he believed that the country generally was in total ignorance of the real provisions of the Bill. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD trusted the Com mittee would agree to the proposition of the Noble Lord, which he considered to be a perfectly fair one. Mr. WILSON PATTEN objected to the with drawal of the clauses, believing that if they had been discussed they might have been rendered totally un cbjectiunable. After some observations from Mr. Henley, Mr. Slaney, and Mr. Hudson, Sir W. CLAY suggested to the Honourable Mem• ber for Warwickshire to withdraw his motion, be lieving that the couse pursued by the Noble Lori was calculated to promote the interests of the parties con- cerned. Mr. W. P. WOOD thought the clauses ought to have been retained, if only for the sake of settling the princi ple on which compensation should be paid. To the ex isting water companies the Bill was a sentence of anni hilation; for all householders would be compelled to receive the water supplied under this Act. In the case of Reading, 8,0001. had - been spent-2,00e/. by the water company and 6,000/. by the corporation; both which sums might have been spared had the principle on which compensation should be assessed been recognised by Parliament. The substituted clause was certainly bene ficial to the companies; and he hoped the amendment would be withdrawn. Mr. SPOONER asked when the proposed alterations would be printed. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said they would be in the hands of the Members before " the further con sideration of the report." Mr. SPOONER then withdrew his amendment (leave being given), and the House went into Committee. On clause 105. empowering local boards to borrow money, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave some expla nations, and introduced some verbal amendments, which were adopted, and the clause was agreed to. Clauses 106 to 110 were agreed to with some amend ments. On clause 111, providing for the repayment of money borrowed on mortgage, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed to fix the term for repayment at 30 years, without requiring one thirtieth part of the sum to be paid off each year. After a conversation, the clause as amended was agreed to. Clause 112, empowering mortgagees, in case of non payment of interest, to have a receiver appointed to col lect the rates, gave rise to some little discussion, Mr. HENLEY expressing doubts as to the sufficiency of the security, as the local boards could not be compelled to make a rate, and the ATTORNEY-GENERAL observing that they had a remedy by mandamus, but the clause was agreed to unaltered. On clause 113, giving local boards power to make by laws, and inflict penalties subject to the confirmation of the general board, Mr. BAINES suggested that these by-laws should not be confirmed, until public notice of them had been given to all the inhabitants. Viscount MORPETH consented to adopt the preli minaries suggested. Mr. HENLEY suggested that the confirmation of the by-laws should rest with the Secretary of State instead of the central board, in order that there should be greater security that they would not be repugnant to the laws of England. After a short discussion Lord MORPETII assented to the suggestion. The clause as amended was then agreed to. Clauses 114, 115, and 116 were agreed to with some verbal alterations. Clauses 117 and 118 were struck out. Clause: 119 was agreed to. Clause 120 was struck out. On clause 121, relating to the audit of accounts, being proposed, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved amendments, which provided that ten days' notice should be given of the time and place when the audit was to be made; that a copy of the accounts should be deposited at the office of the Board of Health, and that all persons should be allowed to take copies or extracts of them without fee. The clause, with the amendment, was agreed to. Clauses 122 to 145 were agreed to without any alte ration. On clause 142 being read, by which it was proposed that the dwelling of any individual might be entered by the inspectors of nuisances at any period between the hours of ten and four o'clock, for the purpose of making surveys of sewers, levelling and opening drains, &c. Mr. TURNER submitted that some cheek should be imposed upon the powers thus intended to be vested in the inspectors under the Act, and he proposed an amend ment to the effect that such surveys should not be made without the consent of two justices in writing, pro vided any objection were made on the part of the owner or occupier. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL having signified his assent to this amendment, it was added to the clause, which Ns as then adopted. The remaining clauses of the Bill having passed, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was intended that the Bill should be reported and reprinted at once, and that the report, with the various amendments, should be brought forward for further consideration on Thursday next, or such other day as the House might deem convenient. On postponed clause 67 being read, Lord MORPETH said that by this clause it was made imperative on the proprietors of water-works to supply houses with water at the rate of ld. per week, provided that the local board of health on the report of the surveyors had declared the supply of water to be insufficient in such houses. In Nottingham td. a week had been found sufficient for this purpose ; but as it had been represented that loss might accrue to owners of watere'vvorks by being compelled to supply water at that low rate, he had to propose an alteration in the clause to the effect that 2d. a week should be allowed. The alteration having been adopted, the clause as amended was agreed to. Colonel THOMPSON proposed that after clause 80, which had been postponed, the following pro viso should be added :—" Provided always, and be it enacted, that upon the petition of a majority of the inhabitant householders of any such district, it shall he lawful for the local board of health to provide suitable premises, in or near such district, for the purpose of being used as a burial ground for such district and neighbourhood, and to make by-laws for and with respect to the management and use of the pre mises so provided, and to charge for the use and occupa tion thereof." After a discussion, in the course of which several dif ficulties to the adoption of the proviso were started, Lord Liecotaf suggesting that the application should origi nate in a public meeting of the inhabitants, and Mr. TURNER proposing that the power should be compul sory instead of permissive, it was decided that it should stand over for consideration on the report, and that it should:be taken in conjunction with the 80th clause. In reply to a question from Mr. HUDSON, Lord MORPETH said that with reference to the smoke clause, several Hon. Members had suggested to him that the best way of dealing with that subject was by the Bill which had already made considerable pro gress in the House of Lords. He therefore proposed to omit the clause in question altogether. Mr. WYLD moved a clause to the effect that the assessed tax on funeral carriages and the post-horse duty on horses let for hire for funeral purposes, be abolished, on the ground that these imposts prevented the poor from availing themselves of the cemeteries for burying their dead. The sacrifice to the revenue would be un important, as the whole amount raised from this source was considerably under 6,000/. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clause which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had informed him was unnecessary, as, whenever the hire of the vehicle tend horses used for funeral purposes was not charged, the duty might be recovered back. Mr. WYLD doubted if any case could be shown in which the duty had been returned. The clause was withdrawn. The preamble was then agreed to, and the House having resumed, the Bill was reported and ordered to be reprinted with the amendments; the report to be further considered on Thursday next. JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES BILL. This Bill having been read a third time, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved a clause, em powering the Lord Chancellor to appoint district com missioners of the Court of Bankruptcy, or judges of county or local courts having jurisdiction :n civil matters, (xt be masters extraordinary for the purposes of this Act; which was agreed to. Dir,,ELEADLAM moved the following glance: -," That after an order absolute shall have been made execution shall not issue against any contributoiies of the company at the suit of any creditor, in respect of any debt due from the company, unless, on motion to the Court of Chancery, leave to that effect be given; and that upon such motion it shall be lawful for the Court of Chancery either to permit execution immediately to be issued, or to suspend the same for such period and upon such terms as the said court shall, in its discretion, think fit, regard being had both to the proceedings pending under this Act, and to the conduct of the shareholders against whom execution is sought to be enforced in obeying the same." _ Mr. M. GIBSON regretted that it was not in his power to agree to the proposal of the Hon. and Learned Member, on the ground that this Bill had no thing to do with creditors, but its simple object was to enable shareholders to settle their differences between each other by themselves. Creditors took no benefit from the Bill, and he could not consent to place them under the difficulties which this clause would create. Mr. TURNER opposed the clause as being totally at variance with every principle on which the Bill was founded. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the clause, which had received the sanction and support of many co mpetent authorities in the country, who h a d commun icated with him on the subject of this measure. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL opp ose d the clause, on the :grounds stated by the Right H on . Gentleman Mr. M. Gibson) who had introduced the Biil. The House divided, when there appeared.— For the clause Against it Majority The clause was consequently lost. Mr. WYLD then moved the following clause—" And be it enacted that all associations or companies formed for the purpose of working mines or minerals shall be liable to the operation of this Act." The clause was added by way of rider to the Bill, which was then passed. LAW OF ENTAIL (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the motion of the LORD ADVOCATE, the House resolved itself into Committee on this Bill- On clause 2 being proposed, Mr. D. M'NEILL suggested that a better mode than that proposed by the clause of altering the law would be to put both heirs of entail in possession and heirs of entail that were to come into possession on the same footing, and to enable both descriptions, at 25 years of age, to disentail the estate on the consent being obtaind of the heir apparent; and if there was no heir apparent, the consent of any limited number of the persons next in succession. This would be a better and sore simple course of legislation. The LORD ADVOCATE said that the suggestion of his Hon. and Learned Friend was adopted in the next clause. The present clause was necessary o h fo e greater efficiency and practical effect to that whicl lowed, and as it had been adopted by a majority of the Select Committee, to whom the Bill had been referred, he (the Lord Advocate) felt bound to press it. Mr. F. MACKENZIE observed that the clause had only been carried in the Select Committee by a majority of one, and, objecting as he did to the principle of the clause, he moved that it be struck out of the Bill., Mr. OSWALD supported the amendment. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the clause Against it Majority .............. --68 The clause was then agreed to. In clause 3 the LORD ADVOCATE proposed cer tain alterations, with the view, as he stated, of rendering the object of the clause more clear. After a few words from Mr. M`NEILL and Mr. MAC KENZIE, Mr. BOUVERIE moved as an amendment the sub stitution of the word " three" for " four," in the num ber of consents of heirs-substitute necessary to constitute a title. After a discussion, the Committee divided, when there appeared— For the clause. , B6 Against it Majority .. —69 The clause was then agreed to as amended. Clauses 4 to 11 inclusive were agreed to. On clause 12 being proposed, Mr. B. COCHRANE suggested with reference to this clause, and the two subsequent ones, that words should be introduced to enable proprietors to sell outlying lands to the extent of three-fourths of their improvements. Mr. HUME thought it advisable to adopt some alter ation of that nature. The LORD ADVOCATE said the subject bad been much considered, but he was of opinion that the clauses were better as they stood. The clause was then agreed to, as were clauses up to 35. Clauses 36 and 37 having been agreed to, the House resumed. The LORD ADVOCATE said there were some clauses in writing which he was anxious to introduce; but on account of the lateness of the hour he would not propose them until the bringing up of the report. The LORD ADVOCATE said that he hoped to bring it up to morrow (this day); but if the Committee wished, the report might then be read pro forma, and the discussion on the additional clauses taken on a future day, The report was then read pro forma, and its further consideration having been adjourned to Monday next, the House adjourned at a Quarter-past Ono o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. From the Votes and Procealings of the House of Commons.) THURSDAY, MAY 25. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolution was reported from the above Committee: — That in the case of the Alford and Boston Road peti tion, for dispensing with standing order No. 145, and to read the Bill a first time, the said standing order ought to be dispensed with, and that the parties be permitted to read the Bill a first time not later than three clear days from the presentation of this report:Resolution agreed to. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS• From the Votes and Proceedings o f th e House of Conunom.) THURSDAY, MAY 25. LAW OF ENTAIL ( SCOTL AND) BILL. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Second Clause (Heir in p ossess i on un d e r an existing entail, born after the Ist d a y o f M arc h, 1 848, may dis entail ; born before that date may do so with consent of heir next in succession, being heir apparent born after the Ist day of March, 1848) : Question put, " That the Clause stand part of the Bill." The Committee divided - MAJORITY—AYES, 87. A land, Sir T. D. Glyn, G. C. Paget, Lord Clarence Aglionby, H. A. Greene John Parker, John Baines, M. T. Grey, Sir George Patten, J. W. Bellew, R. M. Grosvenor, Lord . _R. Perfect, Robert Bentinek, Lord G. Mourner, Sir J. Pinney, William Blackall, S. W. Hastie, Alexander Pugh. David Bouverie, F. I'. Ilawes, Benj. Pusey, P. Boyle, Colonel Hayter, W. G. Reynolds, John Bright, John Headlam, T. E. Romilly, John Brockman, H. D. lieneage, F. Rutherford , A. Brown, W. Hobhouse, Sir J. Shell, R. , Butler. P. S. Hume, Joseph Shelburne, Earl of Buxton, Sir E. Hutt, William Smith, J. A. Chohneley, Sir M. Jervis, Sir John Smith, J. Benin Clay, James Keogh, William Smollett, A. Clements, Charles Keppel, George T. Somerville, Sir W. Clive, IL B. King, Peter John Talbot, C. R. Cobden, Richard Labouchere, Henry 1 hicknesse, R. A. Cocks, T. S. Lewis G. C. Th om pson, Colonel Conyngham, Lord A. Lincoln, Earl of Thornely, Thomas Cowper, W. F. Macnamara, Major T re lownY, J. S. Craig, W. G. Maitland, Thomas Tynte, Colonel Cubittt, William Martin, Samuel w a rd, B. G. 1 Dalrymple,;Captain Matheson, Colon e l W a tkins, Colonel Davie, Sir H. Maule, Fox Wood, Sir Charles Duncan, George Melguad, Viscount Wood, W. P. Duncuft, John Mitchell, T. A. Wortley, J. S. Elliot, John E. Morris, David TELLES.. Freestun, Colonel Mostyn, E. M. L. Tufnell, Henri French, F. Paget, Lord A. Hill, Lord Idarcus MINORITY—NOES, 19. Boldero, H. G. Forbes, Wm. Newdegate, N. Clerk Srl G. Godson, Richard Rufford, Francis Cobbold, J. C. Heneage, G. H. Vyse, B. 'L.- IL H ' Coles, H. U. Henley, J. W. Colvile, C. R. Hope, Sir J. TELLERS. Drummond, Home Lockhart, W. " - Mackenzie, W. F. Dundas, George M'Neill, Duncan Oswald, Alexander Filmer, Sir E. Neeld, Joseph slablipleucbtt: t,:ofTh at Third Clause (Heir of entail under an existing entail may dis-entail with certain consents)—Amendment proposed, page 2, line 37,;after the words " in possession shall," to insert the words " be the only heir of entail in existence for the time, and shall be unmarried, or not being the only heir of entail in existence, and unmarried, shall ,have obtained the consents of the whole heirs of entail, if there be less than four in being at the date of such co nsents, and at the date of I:espeatarieonAntni; Amendment." et presenting such application, or otherwise shall have obtained the consents of the four nearest heirs, who at the said dates are for the time entitled to succeed to such estate in their order successively, immediately after such heir of entail, in possession or otherwise, shall have obtained the consents of the heir apparent under the entail, and of the heir or heirs, in number not less than two, including such heir apparent, who in order successively would be 11 ,,p e_i r r o a Pro vided also, That the nearest heir of entail for the time, en titled to succeed to such estate immediately after such heir in any th a p g os e se e s t si t o w n e , n w ty li - e fi re ve an ) y ,e s a u ra ch e o un th p e l r e h te e , ir an e d xi ; s t , legal incapacity :—Amendment proposed, to the proposed Amendment, to leave out the word' four, in order to insert theth e wordwo rd ", four' stand insteadand part thereof: ef th The Committee divided:— MINORITY —AYES, 17. Archdall, Captabt Hodgson, W. N. Scott, F. Clerk, Slr,:G. • Lygon, Gen. Stafford, Augustus Coles, Henry B. Mackenzie, W,F. Verner, Sir W. - Drummond, Home W.Nelli, Duncan Fellowes, E. ' 3lelgund, Viscowit Forbes,mune . l'ilmer, Sir E. liceld, John hart W. Henley, J. W. Neeld, Joseph Lock, W.- __---_ P R a u t t t h e me n riup , J John Brown, Russell, Lord John B . alwe Y Colonel bThyollineire,kylK. K. Simeon,S , Clemente, icuaelrtnialr Butler, Sir sir T. . 1 S BB"l m n o itt l hil le : t jj t, : l l4 ,. A. Su Mitfeb.a ...--_ BIAJORITY—NOES, 86. e llivan, Aglionby, Henry Grey, Sir G. Sir W, Bellew, K. N. Blackall, S. W. Colonel B rown, E. P. Brown, W. Greene, Grey' Ralph JohnW W. so:henn Chartsris , F r a n c i S 1111111111 n31 1 I a:: n OO O na)s p b d .dtdi nt e i g i i iele ,e o cae lu Y s n I' ls i r' Charles W.b,,h' T. Tip Alexand er S arr .T G .h i j r l v : .e.fi :J s i Clay, James t i t:: S C ' harles Somerville. o n, Clive, Henry B. Hume, Joseph Stanton, IV, H W, Colvile, C. R. Hutt, William Conyngham, Lord A. Jervis, Sir John Talbot, c. el Cowper, WF. Keogh, William Taltourd, g Dalrymple, Captain Kappa, G. T. Thom ' —er g' ant Davie, Sir Henry king, P. J. D'Eyncourt, T. Lewis, George C. Townshond. Captain Duncan, George Lincoln, Earl of Ward, u „ G. 31acnamara, Major Watkins, c ,r , Duncuft, John Dundas, Admiral Maitland, Thom Wawn, j Dundas, Georges Matheson, J. Willcox, Brodie Elli c e , Lord Matheson, Colonel Williams, John Ellice, Edward 31aule, Fox , Williamso n . sli, H. Elliot, J. E. 3lure, Colonel Wood, Sir Charles—-- Emlyn, Viscount • O'Connell, M. J.. Wortley, ... Fordyce, A. D. Oswald, A. 4 S. Fox, Richard M. rage, Lord A. Freestun, Colonel. paget, Lord C. GOCISOI4.R. ' Taker, John ': mums. Tufnell, Reary Craig, W. G. RAILWAY COMMITI "EES, (YESTERDAY.) GROUP I.—WATERFORD AND KILRENI. vl RAILWAY ACT AMENDMENT.—PreambIe proved a clauses agreed to. DRU3IPELLER. Preamble passed and clauses agreed to. ABERDEEN.—The object of this Bill was to r wise ad ditional capital. Preamble passed and clauses ag reed to. ARBROATH AND FORFAR .—TIIiS was a sinail ar Bill. Preamble pased and clauses agreed to. EAST ANGLIAN.—This Bill was to extend tb .e time for completing the Ely and Huntingdon line. Pi eatable proved and clauses agreed to. GROUP lI.—SHEFFIELD AND MANCHESTER. .—The 1 Committee pa sse d t h e a b ove cowpony ' s B i ll fur .mprov ing their Humber Ferries, but deterred the clays , as. GROUP Tit STAFFORDSHIRE.—Tiw object of this Bill is to deviate the line at Wellington , 'Case opened and evidence taken. GROUP IV.—This group, which embraces the im portant question o f th e gauges, and the Birmingl mum and Oxford disput e , met and adjourned' again , till Mo nday. GROUP V.--NEwPonr AND PONTYPOOL.-C 'ase fur ther heard. GROUP VI.--GREAT WEsTEux.—Engineer tug evi dence taken in favour of the above company's Bill for making a lin e f rom Sl ough to Windsor. GROUP IX.—LONDONDERRY AND COLgrt AM: Clauses passed, and Bill ordered to be reported. NEWRY AND E NNISKILLEN.—PrOKIOter'S case closed, and opposition of the Marquis of Downshire heard. GROUP X.--DUNDEE AND PERTH,—The case of the above company's Bill, to form a junction through Dundee with the Arbroath line, was closed, but the Committee postponed its decision. GROUP XIV.--PAISLEY, BARRHEAD, AND litalLET. —Case opened, and evidence heard in its favour. ELECTION COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) LEICESTER. The evidence and arguments upon the application of the petitioners for leave to amend the recognizances, were resumed, and ultimately ,the Committee acceded to the application. The iicognisances having been accordingly amended, Mr. B. ANDREWS proceed e d to open the case of the petitioners, who sought to void t h e e l ect i on, on the ground that it was carried by gross b r ib ery and corrup tion. The briber y . consisted of sums paid to various voters for the services which were due from a former election; while previous voters who had no claims of that nature were presented with sums varying from 10s. to 285., or received a gift of some necessary arti c l e of dress. The parties who committed the bribery would be proved beyond all doubt to have been the agents of the two sitting Members, and when the Committee had heard the evidence, he was s ure th ey would have, no di ffi culty in granting the prayer of the petitioners. After the examination of one or two witnesses, the Committee adjourned till to-morrow. CHELTENHAM._ An objection wa s taken by Mr. WHEATLEY on be half of the sitting Member, Sir William Jones, to the ap pearance of the petitioner, on the ground that the recog nizances were invalid, the petitioners being bound for the penalty of 1,000/. only jointly instead of jointly and severally. The objection gave rise to a lengthened ar gument, and at its close the Committee adjourned their decision till to-morrow. DUBLIN. The General Committee of met this after noon and appointed the following Members to try the merits of the petitions presented against Mr. Reynolds's return for the city of Dublin:—The Marquis of Granby, Mr. M. Baines,: Mr. Sotheron, Mr. J. Bright, and Lord Robert Grosvenor (Chairman). UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE, MAT 24.—At a congregation this day the following degrees were conferred: — Doctor of Divinity by Royal Mandate—Henry Wil- kinson Cookson, 8.D., Master of St. Peter's College. Hon. Masters of Art—Viscount Bangor and the Hon. G. H. Stanley (son of Lord Stanley, Bickerstaffe), grand compounders. Bachelor of Divinity—Rev. C. P. Nicholson, Trinity College, grand compounder. Masters of Arts—J. B. Harrison, Trinity College; J. W. A. Taylor, Trinity College; E. E. Body, St. John's College; H. S. D. Smith, St. John's College, grand compounder; R. Barton, St. Peter's College; Thomas Woodcock, Catharine Hall. Bachelors of Arts—Robert Temple Frere, Trinity College; William Menlo, Trinity College; Thomas Bissect, St. Peter's College; William Reece Queen's College; H. H. Westmore, Queen's College; Frederick Lane Emmanuel College; G. E. Parry, Sidney College. At the same congregation the following graces were offered to the senate:- 1. To confirm the report of the Fitzwilliam syndicate of the 13th inst. 2. To appoint Mr. Cartmell, of Christ's College, one of the auditors of the University accounts, in place of Mr. Fowler, of Sydney College, who is unable to attend. 3. To add the names of Mr. Cookson, master of St. Peter's College ; Dr. Paget, of Coins College ; Mr. Birkett, of Emmanuel College; Mr. Warter, of Magda lene College ; Mr. Bateson, of St. John's College ; and Mr. R. L. Ellis, of Trinity College, to the syndicate of the University press. 4. To add the names of Mr. Burton, of Emmanuel Co llege ; Mr. R. L. Ellis, of Trinity College ; Mr. Atlay, of St. John's College ; and Mr. Fuller, of St. Peter's College, to the Fitzwilliam syndicate. The first grace (for the appointment of a practical builder as keeper of the Fitzwilliam Museum), was non placated, and lost ; the following is the voting : Black Hood House. White Hood House. Placet l5 I Placet l2 Non Placet l2 Non I'lacet l6 The other graces passed. Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Wednesday, the 31st inst., for the receipt of the University address. Tyrwhitt's Hebrew Scholarships.—The following gen tlemen have been declared the successful candidates for the above exhibitions :—T. J. S. Perowne, Corpus Christi College • Michael F. Sadler, St. John's College. F. B. D. Itamadge, of St. John's College, was declared by the examiners to have passed the examination with credit. COURT CIRCULAR. Yesterday was the birthday of her Royal Highness the Princess Helena. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent took leave of the Queen and Prince Albert yesterday morning, and quitted Osborne, her Majesty's marine residence, soon after ten o'clock, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce, and Sir George Couper. Her Royal Highness crossed• in the Fairy to Gosport, and travelled from thence by the London and South-Western Railway on her return to town. The Royal Children took their usual airings in the pleasure-grounds of Osborne. The Court will, it is expected, leave Osborne this afternoon for town. _ _ Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce and Sir George Couper, arrived at her residence, Clarence-house, St. James's, soon after three o'clock yesterday afternoon. _ _ Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge dined with the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, at Stafford House, on Wednesday . evening. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augusta Bruee, Sir George Cooper, and Lord James Murray, honoured the performance at her Ma jesty's Theatre with her presence last evening. Major-General D'Aguilar had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Mr. Gordon and Mr. Hodges had interviews with Sir G. Grey, yesterday, at the Home-office. A deputation from the various Water -works Com panies in the kingdom, had an interview yesterday with Viscount Morpeth and the Attorney-General, at the office of her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, in Whitehall-place. The deputation consisted of Mr. R. Spooner, M.l'.; Mr. J. W. Patten, M.P. ; Mr. J. Pilkington, M.P.; Mr. G. Whateley, Birmingham ; Mr. ter. E. Williams, Cheltenham ; Mr. W. Hale, Nor wich; Mr. R. B. Smith, Sheffield; Mr. G. Emmott, Old ham; Mr. W. Hoole, Rochdale ; Mr. Chadwick, Hay wood; Mr. B. W. Roberts, Rochdale; Mr. C. E. Cawley, Warrington•, Mr. J. Worthington, Ashton ; Mr. Davey, Norwich ; Mr. Vi nes , Reading; Mr. Hawksley, Not tingham ; Mr. Fever, Chester; Mr. Southgate, Graves end ; Mr. T. B. Addison, chairman, Preston ; Mr. Loseby, Leicester; and . Mr. R. Williams, secretary to the Birmingham Water -works. Sir Henry Bulwer visited Lord J. Russell yesterday. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a general meeting yesterday. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of Gibraltar. MYSTERIOUS ABSTRACTION OF NAVAL STORES...—. A case involving a serious charge against certain par ties, occupied the attention of Sir T. Bouchier, the Captain -Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard, assisted by G. Essell, Esq., solicitor, for several hours, on Thurs day last, and which ended in the committal of a person named Wilmott, a marine store-dealer at Chatham; and Messrs. Bevan and Troughton, parties carrying on an extensive business as ironmongers at Gravesend; the former being charged with having disposed of naval stores, and the latter with having naval stores found in their possession. Mr. Frail, solicitor, of Rochester, at tended on the part of Wilmott, and Mr. Southgate, of Gravesend, for Messrs. Bevan and Troughton, and the accused were liberated on heavy bail to appear and take their trials at the next assizes at Maidstone. The case has caused much excitement in the dockyard, and at pre sent a great mystery prevails respecting the store from which so large a quantity of copper metal, some hundred weights,. can have been extracted; and both Sheerness and Woolwich, as well as Chatham Dockyard, have each been named as likely to prove the quarter from which the plunder bad been obtained. SOCIETi FOR 'FRE PROPAGLTION THE GOSPEL. IN FOREIGN PARTS.—Wednesday afternoon, a meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster was held at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's, in support of the dis trict association acting as an auxiliary to the above society. The Bishop of London was in the chair; sup ported by Lord Lytt e lt on , th e Bi s h op of Madras, Sir J. Kirkland, the Rev. Ernest Hawkins, and several of the neighbouring clergy. The Right Rev. Chairman, in opening the proceedings of the meeting, remarked, that though the parish (St. James's) was one of the most opulent in London, its rental amounting tci 420,0001. a year, all the money it annually contributed to the society was only 70/. Several addresses were delivered by the gentlemen on the platform; and resolutions, to the effect that it was the duty of the public to provide spiritual instruction for the settlers in British colonies, were car ried unanimously. At the close of the proceedings a very liberal collection visa made. INATIONAL BANK OF IRELAND. The Thirteenth Annual General Me e ti ng o f the Propriet ors o f thi s B an k t oo k pl ace on W ednesday, at the Comp an y' s o ffi ce i n Old Br oa d- s t reet, for the purpose of re ce i v i ng the report of the di rectors, the filling up of th e vacanc i es i n th e dire c ti on , occasioned by those a mong th e dir e ctors who went out by rotation, and on o th e r business conne c t e d w i t h the Bank. T. L am i e M urray, E sq ., too k t h e chair shortly after one o'clock. Amongst the company present we observed, T. Lamie Murray, Charles Bianconi, of Clonmel; C. Fi tz - Simon, J. C. Ruding, Fowler Newsam, Octavius Ommanney, Roberti Sutton, jun., F. C. Brown, Mau rice O'Connell, M.P., F. B. Renshaw, A. P. Johnson, J. L. Wheeler, J. Wheeler, Rowand Ronald, Edward Power, of Clonmel; Patrick Quin, of Clonmel; A. E Jones, Charles Rule, W. L. Wheeler, J. B. Bacon, Augustus Vigne, George Coxhead, W. C. Phillip s , W . Sherwin, E. J. aniel, G. Carpenter. J. Hardy, W. J. Short, John Ransom, and Robert Macmahon, of Li merick, Esql.,; Sir B. M. Wall. of Waterford; the Rev. Hor. G. Chulmondeley, the Rev. Dr. Magee, and the Rev. Thomas Madge. The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, it is with con siderable diffidence that I take the chair on the pre sent occasion, when I recollect how often it has been filled by my illustrious predecessor—Mr. O'Connell —the founder of this institution; however, I shall endeavour to discharge the duties assigned to me to-day with impartiality,: and I trust I shall have the support of this meeting in so doing. I have now to call upon the Secretary to read the advertisement convening the meeting. The Secretary (N. S. KING, Esq.) having done so, read the following report with the accounts an nexed to it : "REPORT Of the directors of the National Bank of Ireland, made to the proprietors at the thirteenth annual general meeting, held at the office of the company, No. 13, Old Broad-street, London, on 'Wednesday, the 24th of May, 1848 : " On the occasion of the annual general meeting the duty . devolves upon the directors of submitting to the proprietors the result of the operations of the bank tor the past year. The annals of banking do not present a period of greater difficulty or excite ment, or one which bas required more anxious care and attention on the part of those having the respon sibility of large monetary establishments. "lhe fluctuations in the value of money, securities, and produce, large importation of grain, and a ten dency to undue speculations, with the full prospect of an abundant harvest, indicated early to the directors the danger that the year would wind up with panic and disaster. "In the early part of the year, while the country i a l w as under n u g n l d y e r lentan athbesolfuacteilditeifiescioetfnctyheofbfaonittoheitsdiectors impor tation, but they considered ithtoheir duty to withhold mna o dat i beyond o n from to unduepush speculatione c o a c erta in "In acting with increased l yv n h p o eri w o er d e . disposed on these views, the directors have vi g il ance and decision the satisfaction of stating that but few of the cutoiners of the bank was enabled to pass with abundant means have suffered, and the bank itself through the period of difficulty tis.nued deficiency in and A w i t t h t h o e u t s m a m u c e h t a i n m x e i e anxiety e o f l o o n s the potato crop in 1847, a produce so essentlindithe present condition of Ireland to the punctual charge of local engagements, the di sease engendersed by the deficiency of food, diminished exports, and in creased imports, pressed with unusual severity on the agricultural resources of Ireland. —" The people have met these trials with an adEni rable courage and resignation, and it is hoped that another abundant harvest may restore the country to its previous condition. " Notwithstanding these and other subjects con stantly before the attention of the directors, the pro gress of the bank has been satisfactory, and its pro fits have exceeded former years. Public confidence, in its ample resources and management is steadily increasing, and its future prospects are sound and healthy. "The bad debts having beeen written off, the directors have, out of the net profits of the year, amounting to 33,496/, 9s. ld., paid the two half yearly dividends, and there remains a surplus of 10,9961. 9s. Id. 4 A t the last meeting, the proprietors having con curred with the directors in the opinion that a re served fund of 50,0001. was sufficient, the directors have come to the conclusion of declaring a bonus of 10,0001,, to be divided rateably amongst the pro prietors, and which will be paid them with the next yearly dividend. " During the latter part of the year, it having been intimated to the directors that the London and Dublin Bank were desirous of dissolving that com pany, negotiations were entered into with the di rectors, which terminated in this establishment suc ceeding to its connexions in the towns of Dundalk, Carrickmacross, Wicklow, hells, Athy, Mullingar, and Parsonstown, with every prospect of advantage to the bank. The whole of these localities are, with the exception of Parsonstown, within the circle from which all banks of issue, except. the Bank of Ireland, had been excluded, until the extinction of the mono poly by the Banking Act of 1845. " By this arrangement the vacancies in the direc tion were filled up by three of the directors of that establishment, via., bir Ralph Howard, Bart., ALP. ; Octavius Ommaney, Esq. ; and Francis Carnac Brown, Esq. ; whose appointment by the directors will require confirmation by the proprietors. " There are now to be elected four directors in the room of A. P. Johnson, Esq. ; Fowler; IsTewsam, Esq. ; F. B. iienshaw, Esq. • and Charles Bianconi, Esq. ; whose time of office has expired, but who are re-eligible, and offer themselves accordingly, and three other proprietors have signified their intention of becoming candidates for the office, viz., John O'Connell, Esq., M.P.; Augustus Vigne, Esq.; and Rowand Ronald, Esq., and whose names are also submitted to you. " The undivided profits at December, 1846, were " Net profits for the year ending De cember, 1847 _ 33,496 9 1 £83,605 4 4 " Deduct half•year's divi dend to Midsummer, 1847 " Ditto ditto to Christmas, 1847 . 11,250 22,500 0 0 `" Leaving amount of undivided pro fits at December, 1847 £61,105 4 4 " Approved by the Court, (Signed) "OCT. OMMANNEY, Chairman." The CHAIRMAN said it was usual, before moving the adoption of the report, to ask if any gentlemen present had any question to put. If so, he should be extremely happy to answer it. EDMUND POWER, Esq., here introduced a question of a personal nature relating to himself, and moved a resolution thereon, which, not being seconded, fell to the ground. The CHAIRMAN said, it now becomes my duty to move that the report be adopted, printed, and circu lated amongst the proprietors, unless any one has any question to ask in respect to it before doing so. Since no proprietor seems desirous of asking any questions, I will now effer a few observations to the meeting. The report, as you will have heard, refers to the banking opertftions of the year, which ended on the alst December last. It is almo s t unnecessary to remind the meeting that com mercial affairs during the period, ha ve se ld om or never experienced such severe trials. It was also a peculiar year with respect to the staple produce of Ireland ; the failure of the potato crop for two successive years, caused much difficulty, and this circumstance alone required a great deal of attention on the part of the direc tors. Superadded to that we had to contend against the consequences arising from large importa tion of grain into that country, an d i n t o thi s . A s w e have stated in our report, th e di rec t ors were ena bl e d to bring the bank through that eventful period with scarcely any loss from those perilous circumstances. —(Cheers.) We early perceived that the conse quence of this derangement in the trade of the country would act, in a peculiar manner on the specie in the Bank of England. We took early precautions, and as frightful losses have taken place, bad we not acted with energy, decision, and judg m eat, this establishment would have experienced similar disasters. I am now happy to tell you that we have written oft all our losses, not only during the past year, but all that have arisen since the commencement of the bank. And here, perhaps, it may be necessary I should enlarge a little on the subject. You are all aware that this bank was first established about ten or twelve years ago. Like similar new institutions difficulties were encountered at the commencement—want of exper i ence and knowledge Of parties—but the bank early . received the confidence and support of the Irish public, which has gone on increasing from year to year ever b since. kd As a proof, however, of the resources of the bank and its success, I may state that besides . providing or thee-dividend annually, and a ugmenting . tke reserve fund to the sum of 61,0001., we have during the last ten years written off losses amounting to 17t k 000/. (Cheers) —of this sum some part of it belongs to preliminary expenses ; however, I am happy..to tell you that this year has comp leted the extinction of all the bad debts. So anxious were we to accupplish this object, that we wrote off out of the profits of the last year the sum of 29,156/. 4a. 6d. Independent of this sum, and after providing for the dividend, we have a surplus of upwards of 10,000/. i It may be'naturally asked f the bank, in writing, off so large an amount of bad debts, has done so after due consideration ? I beg to tell you, entertaining a feeling. of confidence in t he soun dness of the , bank and its *rowan profits, that the most rigid principles have been observed in regard to this proceeding. At the commencement of each year we have committee of review (i n w hich thee di ff erent committees unite) of the losses likely to be sustained on the securities held by the bank. The estimate formed by the com mittee amounts to 48,7981., and here I should ob serve that this estimate is part real and part appro.:l. mate ; but, looking at the question fully and carefully, the sum of 29,1561. is the amount that can be consi dered bad, and with this sum we have at once dealt. (Cheers,) I may almost challenge any other eats. blishment in England, or in Europe, to say that any similar institution, with such large transactions, and during such periods as it has passed through, to be able to say that but 19,0001. is the amount of transac tions of a doubtful character. I beg to read you what the profits of the bank have been for the last six years. From this you will be able to trace its progress, and form some conclusion as to its future prosperity, and the probable surplus beyond your dividend you may expect in succeeding years. In 1842 the net profits were 31,784/. ; 1843, 28,578/. ; 1844, 30,013/. ; 1845, 36,852/. ; 1846, 48,2921. ; 1847, 61,0021. These figures will speak for themselves, and on this subject I will add nothing further. The bank having arri this point, a n d th e reserve fund having last year ved at reached the su m o f 50,0001., a sum considered suffi cient while the bank keeps to a dividend of five per cent., the directors consider it is time the pro prietors should participate its the prosperity of the bank, and have come to the resolution of dividing the surplus of the year as a bonus. Some parties are of opinion that a dividend of five per cent. is not sufficient, but it must be remembered that every one per cent. dividend on our capital makes an annuity of 4,5001., and also requires a corres ponding increase necessary in our reserve fund; and the dividend once increased it makes it difficult to recede from it without creating disappointment and even suspicion. It is a kind o f pledge to continue it w h en once given ; and if a n y one year should be unfavourable, it gives a motive to avoid looking your affairs so sternly in the face as directors are bound to do. Entertaining these views, and the directors being determined to write off its bad debts on each year when they ari se , an d looking at the state of the bank, the directors hare come to the conclusion of appropriating the surplus. Let us hope that we shall be able to do so in future years, and, as I have given you facts on which to form con. elusions as regards profits, and having regard also to the superior manageme n t o f th e b an k , which time and experience has given it, you make your own calcu lation. I have now to move that the report be adopted, printed, and circulated amongst the pro prietors. Mr. M‘MAnort wished to know whether it was competent to any of the shareholders, without dis respect to the directors, to suggest any alteration in the report ? The CHAIRMAN said certainly; but he believed it was the usual course, if there was any objection to it, to move that it should not be received. Mr. M‘MalloN thought it would increase the con fidence that was at present placed in the bank if the 10,0001. was added to the rest, instead of it being given as a bonus to the proprietors. He had had con versation with various proprietors of the bank in his own district, and they had induced him to come there that day to watch their interests. They and he too thought that the object of 10,0001., divided among the shareholders generally, was nothing in comparison with that which must be the object of all the share- , .holders —namely, the uph o ldi ng th e stability o f th e had been withdra wn must from be th bank. Th ere was nothing in his opinion that gave large m rest. more security and con fid ence to t h e depos i tors t h an a recoe savingsllectedth banks, andatthe deposits he believed that those parties who had formerly pl ace d their d e p os i ts in the savings banks would bring thou to the National Bank.— hear The CHAIRM AN wished(t waso l tstae tot e proprietors that the capit a l o f the bank 00 7 0,coce, paid up by th e shareholders was: 4 unpaid was equally pledged to"WL; the amount aslarthe amount believed that th e rest was as the public. lie ment in propo r ti on to the dividegned.as laine y trought a tablish. great error existed w i t h respect to rests; the Bank of Engl an d, it was pledged to a e ; re f er cn de t. dividend, and their res t was only a2i years' 3e dividend. e The Provincial Bank.paid an 8 per cent. dividend, and their rest was not more than a 2ir years' dividend. The rest ought to be in proportion to the dividend of the bank. If, however, the Hon. Proprietor was anxious to make any motion upon it, he would be happy to put it. Mr. lll‘MenoN declined to make any motion on the subject. The CHAIRMAN then put the question that the re port be adopted, printed, and circulated among the proprietors, and declared it to be carried unani mously. The CHAIRMAN then said that the next business of the day was the motion for the confirmation of the three gentlemen elected by the directors during the past year. He should mention that their names were Octavius Ommanney, Esq., Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., M.P., and Francis Carnac Brown, Esq. These three gentlemen had come into the•direction by reason of the contract made with the London and Dublin Bank. This bank having succeeded to their con nexions, which he thought would be of great service to the bank, they thought it necessary that they should come and assist them in the management of their particular districts. He should also mention to them that there was the election in the room of other gentlemen who went out of the direction by rotation. if the meeting confirmed the election by the directors of Mr. Ommaney, Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., M.P., and Mr. Brown, they would displace three of the directors who went out by rotation. In conclusion, he might say that the three directors who had been selected were gentlemen of business-like habits, and Sir Ralph Howard was a gentleman of large property, and Member for the county of Wicklow.• He would now put the question, that the selection made by the directors of Mr. Ommaney, Sir R. Howard, and Mr. Brown be confirmed. The Worthy Chairman then put the question, and declared the confirmation carried. The Chairman then said that the next busines was the selection of three share holders as scrutineers, to take the ballot for the elec tion of directors, in the room of those who went out by rotation. A PROPRIETOR could not but express his surprise that any such proposition had been brought forward, as he was- convinced that they could not get better men of business in the direction than those they at present had. Some of their directors were abroad, and if it was desirable to have three gentlemen as directors, whose election by the directors had been just confirmed, why should they not be asked to with draw from the direction? The CHAIRMAN said that the directors had per• formed the duties that were imposed upon them. What they had done bad been confirmed by the pro prietors that day, and the ballot must now take place. The CHAIRMAN then proposed that Mr. Hardy, Mr. .M.‘Mahon, and Mr. Short should be appointed scrutineers. Mr. Nawsam, one of the directors who went out by rotation, was anxious to say a few words before that question was put. He had always done his duty towards the bank and the proprietors at large, and if re-elected he should continue to do so. The scrutineers having been appointed, the election of directors for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, and continued up to half-past six o'clock, when the scrutineers declared the result of the ballot. The CHAIRMAN then declared Mr. Renshaw, Mr. Bianconi, Mr. John O'Connell, M.P., and Mr. Vigils to be elected directors for the ensuing year. Thanks were then unanimously carried to the Chairman and directors for their able report, and to the scrutineers and secretary for their exertions; and these gentlemen having returned thanks, the meeting broke up shortly before seven o'clock. AN IMPORTANT NEW HISTORICAL WORK has just been published by Mr. Colburn. We allude to " The Court and Times of James the First," illustrated by Authentic and Confidential Letters from various Public and Private Collections, edited, with an Introduction and numerous Notes, by the Author of "Memoirs of Sophia Dorothea." These volumes comprise the confi dential correspondence of the reign of James 1., written to and from the principal Ministers, Ambassadslis, sad other persons, either connected with the Court or occu pying positions which afforded them means of obtaining the most secret information. The work contain, notices of almost every person of celebrity in the king. dom, bo that there is scarcely a family whose members have figured in the history of this portion of the seven. teenth century that will not find In these pages sone reference to their ancestors. SUDDEN DEATH OF HENRY FIELD, THE PIANIST. --We have profound sorrow in announcing the sudden decease of Henry Field, one of the most celebrated, and certainly one of the most brilliant, pianists of his day. According to the Bath Chronicle he expired very re cently iu that city (his native place) from the effect of a • paralytic seizure which interrupted bim (only a few days back) when in the middle of one of his most effective fantasias, on the occasion of a concert given in the Bath Assembly Rooms. Those who have ever listened to the extraordinary performances of this very remark able instrumentalist will regret his premature and un expected demise. And those who bad obtained the pri vilege of his personal acquaintance will long remember his many amiable characteristics as a man. As a musician, Henry Field has occupied throughout his life a very eminent position, and as a performer on the piano he was, even during the lifetime of Thalberg, List, Her; and Cianchettini, almost unrivalled. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —THE EARL OF ALDBOROUGH AND Ilom.owAT's )41:Lg.—An =tounding cure by this miraculous medicine, after every other means had failed. See extract from his Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 1845. redssor Holloway—Sir : I beg to acquaint you that your pills have effected sr cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach all the most. eminent of the faculty, at home and all over the continent, had not been able to effect ; nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or Ida-, rienbad. (Signed) " ALDBOBOUG11." These wonderful pills will • cure any difesse of the liver or stomach.—Sold (also Holloway's Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Establish/meta, 244. ISMINtit sh 4 by all megiolge vendors throughout the civlllllo4 werbh