The Sun. — London, England, 1848-07-05 00:00:00

NORTH WALES RAILWAY. ; 4 , ,lt'l. ;, vi ~.~ i. , .•• • • ~ti ` '`' ~-_r ~~ ~:`•_. IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 4. Their Lordships met at Five o'clock. The Earl of BANDUN presented a petition from the merchants and inhabitants of Cork against any altera tion in the navigation-laws. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from Ayr against the Scottish Registration Bill. Lord CAMPBELL presented some petitions with a similar prayer. • JUVENILE OFFENDERS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions with a similar prayer; also a petition from the city of London, complaining of the increase of juvenile offenders. The Noble Duke said that if the Government did not intro duce a measure on the subject, he should lay on the table a Bill for the purpose of withdrawing juvenile offenders from trial, and of consigning them by a sum mary process to a place of reformatory punishment. Lord KINNAIRD urged upon their Lordships the necessity of attending to the condition of the vagrant children with which the metropolis and the large towns were infested. _ Earl GREY admitted the necessity of some alteration in the method of treating juvenile offenders, but was not prepared to discuss the subject at the present moment. After a short conversation the petition was laid on the table, and several other petitions to the same effect were presented by the Duke of RICHMOND. LAW OF MARRIAGE. The Marquisni LANSDOWNE laid on the table the report of the Commissioners on the law of Marriage, Lord 110NZ'E AGLE, pursuant to notice, presented a petition from an individual, complaining of the conduct of the direCtors of the North Wales'Railway. The pe titioner was one of the original shareholders in this line of railway, which was intended to run between Carnar von and Bangor. The act authorizing the construction of the railway passed in 1845, and two instalments of 10 per cent. were paid up by the shareholders. Soon after a change in the direction of the company took Place, and one of the first proceedings of the new di rection was to lend the money of the North Wales Rail way Company for the purpose of completing another railway with which the North Wales Railway had no thing to do. Many of the members of the new direc tion were also directors of the London and Richmond Railway Coinpany, and to this latter company the money of the North Wales Company was lent. But, as the North Wales Railway Company were not empowered .by law to lend, nor the London and Richmond Com pany to borrow, the course taken was not to lend the money to the London and Richmond: Company in its' corporate capacity, but to private in dividuals connected with the company on their notes of hand. After a time the Richmond Railway was made, and sold to another company. The directors of the North Wales Company, having lent the money of the company on insufficient security, and contrary to law, nevertheless thought proper, when this took . place, to repeat the experiment, and they lent the money of the company to two other individuals. A • shareholder ap 'plied to inspect the accounts, and after some resistance he was allowed to have access to them. Their Lordships would hardly believe in what manner those accounts were kept. He held in his hand a copy of the very account in question, and he - found these entries— " Loan to'` A' for 'investment, 1,5001." "Loan: B' for ditto, 1,200/." " Lo'au. to .' - 0' for ditto; 4,0001." "Loan D' ' for dine, 8,0001." "Loan- to !B' for ditto, 3,000/." " Loith to" F' fordittc,. - 1,000/.'s " Loan . to ' (;1' for ditto, '1;006/."'' It fact; the accqunt was a cYPher — Whiere eiptahiedl '4othing.- • The parties as' ed for an explaftatio - voaeq.ts who were represented by the. letters A.;' , "8," 0;" " E" !.I'," an d Q," but that Wrarlefuse& These were the tit° main 'ille„,aitidisis &Aligned its this petition r trameit, first, a 'xi l l'iiiiioaintieff thet p unds from thearposes or which they ;were Parliament, from the North Wales Railway Company to the London and Richmond •AtifYrahc o mpany ' lititt4..secondky, the modein which ti6counts wefiekelit' The answer of the directors to latter 'charge 'f'elatkt 'a ' most curious fact. They 'stated that' this Mode,oP•keeping , accounts---nathely, that of putting forward an uzintelligible account be in •_. speeted - by the -Aftreholders, and keeping .0 private ledger for theil.' o,wtrusrel vNti.the commorreocrse taken by other railivale ebosiiiinlOtottnt•they-justiged them - selve*'bY this tebit Ortvariftlitidry pleEr. !bought it behoved their Lordsh i !Avid the Realism:tent to. bake notice of this Matter. - flekhlitild•dohtecttigniseilat present with . • • presenting thd petrtiehr but, if - ,,,the. subject should be• - allo wed t6g? trierlei *Op, he. ceitrieivettAfteir,Lordships , would partly' phi lain; tbethselvea oceesiiory to a 'szsteni frAtiff: -Otthe partiea••htfkotit nothing. He bad no cot' tiekkin •ivith either !of. the:PO - lei:011es. The faCtsAvere edinittecl'hiyihoth• sides ;And thy, clearly Shovied a departnte-from the :law' 'of ,the, laihei, and a 'violation of VpubileAruat. The prayer of they setition iVis;that tißillinight be passed to exclude these•tarties: from - die direction,.and to appoint others to carry out . the Sb important di&he consider the question that - he should 'be inclined at a future day to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into these facts, 'And to report upon them to the Honse. • Earl GRANVILLE suggested, that whpther• the Noble Lord brought forward a Bill or moved for a Select Committee, it would be better that he gave a formal notice of the course he intended to pursue. Lord WLLARNCLIFFE considered this to be one of the most scandalous cases that had occurred in the mis - nau.ua.gement of railways. -He considered it to be highly incumbent on their Lordships to apply a corrective and check upon these proceedings. - Lord REDESDALE said, that unless some Noble Lord should hereafter make a statement on the other , side that should satisfy their Lordships, be considered this was a case in which the Legislature ought to inter 'eye. These great bodies ought to be compelled to ren der ac ousts of their proceedings. If they concealed 01ein from the shareholders, they could never hope to Possess the confidence of the public. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said it appeared to him to be a subject of very considerable importance. It had been said that there was a Bill pending in the other Rouse of Parliament to facilitate the dissolution.of one of these companies. lie had not seen that Bill, but he thought that uo such step should be taken without first ascertaining, the state of the accounts, because Parlia ment might otherwise be sanctioning a great injustice. Their Lordships ought not to allow any facilities what ever to the parties until after a full investigation into these facts, especially after a Bill had been rejected which would have enforced a distinct and bona fide audit of all these vast budgets that were going on in the country under the direction of these companies. Lord MONTEAGLE said, that before the Bill em powering the company to etfect a dissolution reached their Lordships' House, he should move for a Select Committee to consider and report on the facts stated in the petition. The petition was then laid on the table. GAME CERTIFICATES FOR KILLING HARES BILL. On the motion of the Duke of RICHMOND, This Bill was read a third time. Several amendments were then added by way of riders, and the Bill was passed. The third reading of the Certificates for Killing Hares (S 13i11 was postponed till Thursday next. 'heir L rdships then adjourned till Thursday next. .IioTISE OF COMMONS, July 4. El's :UN:Mt:RED ESTATES (IBELAND) BILL. (Cona.ooed iron our Afternoon E lition of yesterday). The tiOLIGITOR-GESERAL was very desirous, in a few words, to explain the objects of the Bill; but as the principles of the measure had already been amply discussed, he hoped the House would not raise another debate upon it before they went into Committee. The simple object of the Bill was to make land marketable in Ireland. At present land was not a marketable com modity in Ireland, owing, he supposed, to the peculiar state of the country. From returns which had already been laid before the House, it appeared, even during the time of the greatest distress in Ireland. capital was con stantly coming over to be invested in this country which would have been applied to improving the land in Ireland had the law relating to the transfer of that commodity been simple and easy of attainment. Under the present system there were two registries of property, but they were so exceedingly defective that it was most difficult and embarrassing in effecting a transfer of landed property in Ireland. These registries, for in stance, contained accounts of the encumbrances which rested upon the land of Ireland, and before a piece of land could be sold the vendor was obliged to prove that all the registered encumbrances had been satisfied. The complicated nature, however, of the law of mortgaging in Ireland rendered it extremely difficult and expensive for the vendor to do so. In this country that difficulty did not exist, and by this Bill it was proposed so to simulate the law 'of the two countries that the difficulty which had hitherto existed in proving that old encum brances had been satisfied should be removed. It was proposed to do this through the medium of the Court of Chancery, which would have power to order the sale of encumbered estates upon the owner and purchaser co®_ plying with certain regulations to be established by this Bill. Provisions had been introduced into the Bill to prevent anything like an improper or fraudulent sale of property. It was proposed to give the fullest notice to every person who might be interested in the property before any sale could take place, and on it being proved satisfactorily that these notices had been given the pur chase -money was to be paid into the hands of the Accountant-General. If, however, there should be any fraud the whole proceedings would be perfectly bad and void, and the sale might be set aside at any time when such fraud was discovered. in fact, wou ld b e t o g i ve t h e rea l The effect of the B ill, owners of the property a much better price than they could obtain under present circumstances, and it there fore would be a great boon to the landlords of Ireland. It had been urged as an objection to the Bill that it would have the effect of depreciating the value of property, by throwing too much land into the market at on ce, but that was easily an. swered, by stating that perso ns so thinkin g might del a y the sale until the market price was higher. There no doubt would be a good deal of legal oppOsition in that House to the Bill. He was one of the profession, and considered that it would certainly be the means of taking a great deal of business out of their hands—(Laughter) —but he supported the Bill on public gr'ounds, think ing that it would confer a great benefit upoh ' Ire land. It would not interfere with any other Bills' which had been proposed for giving relief to Ireland, it having been thought desirable to confine it exclusively to the emancipation of land, and not to incorporate with it anything with respect to tenant-rights, or the improvement of land. The Bill would give to persons a full, expeditious, and safe mode of investing capital iu Irish lands, and it was well known that a vast amount of capital through out the country was socking for investment at the present moment. There could be no dOubt that if persons could get a clear title to property in Ireland it Would be - the means of bringing a great influx of capital . THE to the country, and thus tend in a great degree ;to, im prove its condition. He Was sure that there was but one common] feeling .in the House, tO make it an efficient Bill, and the Government would be thankful to receive any suggestion which could make it more per-. feet, it being a matter of considerable complication and difficulty. There was a great deal of technicality neces sarily involved in the measure, but the Government had endeavoured to avoid that as much as possible, in order to lay down broad and intelligible principles.. He, therefore, was of opinion that it would fully meet the object it was intended to accomplish without doing serious injury to any person, and trusted that it would receive the general approbation of the House.—(Cheers.) Mr. NAPIER deprecated the provisions of the Bill, which he said would be destructive to the sacred rights of property in Ireland. The real effect of it would be to compel the sale of every estate in Ireland, because there was no estate in that country which, under the designation contained in the Bill, would not be considered an encum bered estate. The Bill, therefore, would be appli cable to every estate ; and a more reckless and injurious measure, and one more ruin ous in its ultimate result, he could not conceive. In the Court of Chancery, he understood that a pur chaser is not expected to complete his purchase, unless it could be shown that the title which was about to be vested in him was good; but wader the Bill this salu tary power would not. prevail.—(Hear.) He denied that the Bill would be a boon to the landlords of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) They could not be too careful with respect to right titles, because if they did not do so, endless litigation would be the result. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman they gave several technical and legal grounds to show that the Bill would operate most injuri ously, if not ruinously, on the landed interest of Ireland. He had the authority of Sir Edward. Sugden for saying, that proceeding by means of a bill instead of a petition, as provided by this measure, were the most inexpensive and conclusive.—(Cheers.) He felt it his duty to oppose the Bill. Mr. MONSELL said it would bo a matter of sincere regret if it went forth to the public that the sentiments enunciated by the Hon. Gentleman who had just re sumed his seat were those entertained by the majority of Irish Members—(Hear, hear)—because the Bill, he sincerely believed, would be the means of mitigating much of the misery that prevailed among the tenants on encumbered estates in Ireland. When the House considered the condition, the social position of Ire land, they would pause, he was sure, before they threw out this Bill, which was looked to as their only means of relief by the poor. If in other countries the. onus probandi rested with those who desired change, in Ireland the onus probandi rested with those who wished to preserve a System fraught with the greatest misery. Having read the testimony.. •of Mr. Booth in support of his view, he proceeded to say, .if landlords and tenants k new: their interests and wished to, promote Their-welfare, they. would agree in desiring such a'retnedy as' this, in order that the present system might be Vitt :an it'd to." (Hear, hear.) The Honourable 4nii , Learned Gentle man said such a measure &lila only -bos Justified by .an " overwhelming neeeseity."; , 4(Elear.); Whitt: did he mean by snch A. staternent? ' Sufely'a44;" over whelming necessity" existed for thianietitser4aat the pre sent Moment—(Hear, hear)Hfor the State . ' Of things _in Ireland were such .as to threaten ,a broodylevolutien. They had to consult the interests Of' theliviegrat4er. than those of the dead, or the Indefinite ;wislep terity.—(Elear, hear.) The landlord Would derive little advantage from The sale of his estate; 11‘ could not commit any...trickery in respect of it, neither'could . he expend the money it Might - lettliee' as" ,. he tkioight pro- . per, .as it was to. be paid lure' the Court , of Chan. cery, and appropriated to those who hat the greatest claims to the proceeds.' Ile eonsidered that the selling of small portions would also tend to. the, advantage of the country,.because it was most essential that a class of persons having an interest ihthe same,.l should be fostered.- 7 (Hear.) He ' , hoped the; Got4l-ii . :- .1 ment would pass the measure with all COnveithint haste,.. but not, however, without listening te'- all reasonatle amendments. Sir GEORGE GREY hoped' :the w ould rise (the time b e ing halt-past three) tleitik.'ll4, o'clock, as the Speaker -had been some tin* tes'ilie: chair and would Most likely occupy iklasany hinfritafter ' the House resumed. He s houlds.vs,AlTiday mention a .. day for preceeding with' the Bill. Mr. -B. OSBORNE `-deprecated the speech 'OrAlte Honourable Baronet the Member forYClare (Sir Lucius . O'Brien), as a 'party " move" artd , r4nite foreign to the subject before the House, as he had related ;anecdotes to the House which had no...relation to the: subject before it, and then concluded with an amendMent. - kle hoped - the House-, would decid sk that amendment before they rose.-(Hear, li;a:r.) Mr. GROGAN - suggested 'that the' Bill should be.re feired to a Qounnittee upstairs; where all the minute .points in the measure could be disetisse& - Sir G. GREY hoped the Muse would 'con.ieht to rel.: neve the Speaker. As lie'belidved the Hkaa, -Baronet did not intend to proceed with his amenchnent t he hoped ho would withdraw it.--(Nck no.). Well,-Ite ;rei new it before they-went into Conitaittee;:if he 111 Ought proper. , , . . Sir L. O'BRIEN declined . to withdrave his amend ment.=(Crins Of "Adjourn," '‘.l)ivide:") , .. Mr. HENLEY:moved the adjournment of the debate: , The SPEAKER put the Motion, tuad. as there were a great many'4 4 styes," and a nuniber of "Imes," the leries were , cletired for:adiviaiOn; hut notaosiotok place. The House then arljouined'until Riirs,ce:clock The SPEAKER resumed Vhe ,Chair at a Quarter past Five o'clock. . LEGAL EDUCATION. Mr. G. A; HAMILTON asked4he Attorney-General whether steps bate been taken by her Majesty's Go vernment, or by the Inns of Court, or the King's Inn, Dublin, to give effect to any of the recominenJations with respect to the improvement of legal education contained in the report of the Select Committee on that• subject, presented 25th of August, 1846. Also, whether it is intended to introduce any measure by which Irish barristers may be authorised , to practise in courts i❑ England, and English barristers in courts in Ireland,• in which they are now by law competent to preside, or by which a reciprocity of practice in the profession in both countries may be established. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that it was not the intention of the Government to introduce any measure on the subject, and that it was not a matter which came within the province of the Government. THE WEST INDIES. Mr. HUME gave notice that he should to-morrow ask the Hon. Gentleman the Secretary,of the Colonies whether any dispatches relating to the condition of the West India Islands, and the number of labourers brought from Africa in the course of the year, had been received by the packet which had arrived to-day. TURNPIKE THUS Mr. COLVILE inquired whether it was the inten tion of the Right Honourable Baronet to bring in ' a Bill in the ensuing session relating to turnpike trusts; and if not, whether he would have any objection to introduce any clause in the general Turnpike Act to re lieve particular districts, one of which he mentioned, from the stringent operations of the Act? Sir G. GREY had intended to introduce a measure in the present session, but the vast amount of other and more urgent business had prevented him from doing so. He should be sorry to give a decided opinion with re spect to any particular district; but, at the same time, he should be extremely happy to consider any parti cular case that might be laid before him. THE KAFIR WAR. Mr. V. SMITH asked the Hen. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether there had been re ceived, and if so, whether he was prepared to lay upon the table, any report from the Cape of Good Hope re lative to the expenses of the Kafir war; and also whe ther there had been received a report on the general state of the Cape of Good Hope, said to have been pre pared by Sir Henry Pottinger, the late Governor, prior to his proceeding to the seat of his Government at Madras? Mr. HAWES said, in reply to the first part of the question, he hoped to be able to lay the report on the table in a very short time. With regard to the second question, he had not received any such report as that stated. THE RAILWAY COMMISSION. Mr. BANKES then rose to ask for leave to intro duce a Bill to abolish the Railway Commission Act. One of the Ministers had stated that the House of Com mons was entirely to blame for all the extravagance into which the Government had been driven. It this were so, the time surely had arrived when it was in cumbent upon the House of Commons to redeem its character in this respect ' • if so, the House of Commons should exercise a greater degree of vigilance than it had hitherto done. He did not admit the charge on the broad ground .on which it had been made. The Go vernment were responsible for adopting the sug gestions that were made to them. It was gene rally admitted that the railway board had not given satisfaction to the public and railway companies. It was necessary that he should direct the attention of. the House to the manner in which Government had ex ercised its authority in reference to railways. The power was first given to them in 1839, and the Act giving the power remained in force down to 1844, when it was repealed, and another Act passed establishing a railway department of the Board of Trade. From 1839.t0 1844 the cost to the country of Government interference in railway matters was only 1,3701. ; from 1844 to 1846 it was 3,3601. In August, 1846, an Act was smuggled through Parliament almost without discussion creating the Railway Commission, and it appeared that the ex pense of that Commission from the period of its first existence amounted to no less a sum' than 17,0001. He had stated, when he had before brought the subject before the House, that this charge of 17,000!. was for a year and a quarter; but he had been corrected by the Chancellorof the Exchequer, that it was for a year arid live months. Now, he found that 'the Right Hon. Gentleman was in error, as the commissioners had not entered into office until the 9th of November, so that it was, in fact, for a year and two months that the charge was made. The Act passed on the 28th of August, and the commissioners sta4ed in their report that-they entered upon the. dut;es of their office o❑ the "ath of November, 1846. The charge 'for the Railway Commission for the present' year was 13,5221. The Noble Lord had said, as he understood him, that it was not his intention to fill up the office of Chief Railway Commissioner now, but he had not engaged not .to do so at some future time. Lord.J. RUSSELL had said that he should not fill up the office, and that he should not ask for any salary on account of the office. Mr. BANKES resumed—He had brought the matter before the House six weeks ago, and his motion had been defeated, but only bysa small majority. The amount, it was true, was not large; but the question was valuable as one of economy. It had been said that the session was nearly over, and that the House had done nothing. But as far as it bad been iu the power of that side of the House, they had if:aim:led upoh the Government the t SUN, importance of economy. The Government had wished to impose a five per cent. income-tax, and if Hon. Gen tlemen around him had only prevented that they had done something, particularly as the Government had thereby been indueed to revise their estimates, and had saved half a million without having, as he supposed they would assure the House, in any degree infringed upon the efficiency of the public service. He now called upon the Government to revise the expenditure incurred upon the Railway Com mission, which might have been a very proper experiment, but which had been followed by no be neficial, results whatever. A blue book of 200 pages bad been, it was true, printed, which might just as well have been contained in twelve pages, so that he had not only to regret the ether expense' incurred by the com mission, but that the House had also incurred the ex pense of printing these very valueless records. A Committee of that House had, it was true, recommended the appointment of a Railway Commission, but they had no idea that so great an expense would 'have been in curred, and nothing would be found in their report which would in any degree justify so large an establish ment as the Government had thought proper to appoint. Here was a charge amounting to four times the sum expended when the duties were as well performed as they were now—he did not say that they were as well performed now as they ought to be. What was the good performed by the commissioners which would justify Parliament in voting this amount ? He did not say it was desirable that the railways should be left with out supervision, but his complaint was that there was no supervision in the present Bill. During the last session of Parliament it was a matter of common occur rence for Committees of that House to be delayed for two or three days, and be compelled to adjourn from time to time, in consequence of the non arrival of the reports of the Railway Com missioners. And when the reports were received they were of very little value. He thought it would be better for the House to leave the matter to the Board of Trade, and if that Board appointed persons competent as scientific men, the House would then obtain what they could not from a Board constituted as the Railway Com mission was, and their reports and proceedings would obtain the confidence of the public, which was of itself a great advantage, besides the benefit of a large reduction of expenditure. The Hon. Member concluded by moving for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the Railway Com mission. Mr. LABOUCHERE would admit that it was the duty of the House to economize the public money in every way consistent with the due performance of the public service. The present salaries and expenses of the Railway Commissioners (after deducting the salary of the Chief Coinmissioner, which office it was not proposed to fill up), and 'including 'the contingent ex penses of the department, were 10,7001. He believed the expenses incurred by the department of the Board of Trade which had the superintendence of railways was about .4,000/. per annum. But it was a great mistake to suppose that if the House sent back the railway business to the Board of Trade as' a red .:7o,T board, it 'could be discharged at the same ex ;penaci as ,fornierly. The business had • enormously increased since that time in every way, pf thkgreat development of the railway system, and on account Of the expense which that development occasioned, bet Still more ott account of the additional functions which ;Varliament ,had from time to time thrown upon the Railivai.Co m i 4 ii b io ne es, and which, of course, must be performed hy.thae board. His epinion, then, was, that as a matter of economy the House would deceive them- Selves if they,thenght that a great saving would be .effected by 'abolishing this Commission and transferring , its duties. back, to the Board of Trade, The report of h C cen a - issioners,*which had been lately laid : t 4p l: alw t i i ie • t a a Y bio, contained an account .of the important funeticuis aid,dutiee which froth tine to time it had beef' the'pleasurenf Parliament to throw upon that conimis must be admitted upon a perusal of that re iii;oint,,t,. a h n i t Leadilition the business' to that which had ~,been tranheted by the -Board of Trade had been lei.) , "litrge. The Itight,'Hon: - Gentleilittd. then, )abeerifing that he Was, tin siilling tn:"Weary the - House'alith details,read f'froiri the report seleral heads ' or item Of '.'rail *etai'rbtiSitiesS; 4 tinder' ' which 'the, - Attie done ` or the Ccontiiiiiinfieri:","Tuid= „beets~ ireatly-: itpreasea . 'Since - the 'Ptrl6d ' ' Whin ) tile' ' duties' alert) '• performed by the Boa rd of Trade. He observed :thee prior to - 1543 rihiie , i - Tre lkly - 1,962 , -.oiletrihrt t ilway open in this - Vdfn'try; Alice - Which, a; MO! miles had, been opened, and , at this-end-of the, fear it might be expected there would -he a further ad dition of :r,200' miles. This great deve lopment•: of railways had' thrown 'great laboUr and ex . - pense upon the Comaiiision, besides those' duties which -were connected with the - openinglX lines and -of inspec thin. 'With respect to inquiry into cases of accident, he had the satisfaction , ol4 - Stating that, partly owing 9 . the -irseful•saggestions which. aka Govirument bad received -from various, railway. companies who had come forward and 'met them_int4lrankest spirit s accidents upon rail wtys had e very greatly diminished--(hear)—that raik • waYs, were safer-.than' they were, and that the system "had worked' well in this respect, as regarded the security ' of:. the' public when. travelling. The heads of by-laws -and eiesp trains bad also caused much additional business to the Commission. The lion. Getitleman had, amused. the commissioners .of not having done their Atluty:in enforcing the provisions of the Rail ,atisy: acts.. Cases, 'ef. that kind had come ',before them, and it had been considered that generally the best' .aourse to.. pursue. was one which by amicable adjust ment secured justice to the public, and avoided litigation and dispute. 'A most important question had lately' nrisen under this head 'with a powerful railway company, and as it was now pending he would make no further allusion to it, except to remark :that the case had re'-' ceived the most anxious attention, and that the Commis sioners were prepared to take whatever course the exi gency might require. He might add, that other arduous duties had been thrown upon the Railway Commis sion by the numerous applicatiOns for extension of time. His doubts as to the propriety of reverting to the old system rested much more, however upon the nature or quality of the" business to be transacted by the Commis sion, than upon the amount of it. The questions referred tn'the Railway Department involved nice questions of law and an immense amount of property - . This rendered it highly important if the House chose to refer such matters to a Government departnient, that that depart ment should be so constituted as to give weight to its'de cisions and carry with them the public respect. The queatiOns ought to be determined by men of high station and of prominent and established cha racter ;: for that was the only shield which a public department charged with such duties could present against the shafts of calumny which were too frequently aimed against it. He attributed the failure of the Rail way Department of the Board of Trade, under Lord Dalhousie, notwithstanding the great talents and energy which the Noble Lord brought to bear upon it, to the fact that he bad the advice of persons who were perhaps not exactly in the station or of that established and well known character which ought to be possessed by those who advised with a Minister of the Crown. It was of the highest importance that a department to which such functions were intrusted should be so composed that their decisions Should convince Parlia m ent an d th. country, ie not of the wisdom of those decisions, at least of the ,perfect impartiality and independence of the grounds upon which they were given. To do this it was necessary that they should be assisted by eminent legal 'ability, and that men of the station and reputation to. which he had just adverted should compose the board. lie could not refer to the name of. Sir Edward Ryan without expressing his conviction that the House and the public were largely indebted' to that eminent and Learned Gentleman for the assistance he had ren dered the board. It was a mistake to`suppose, as had been asserted, that the decisions of the Railway Com missioners had not .been attended to by Committees of that House, and he believed there was only one instance in which a decision of the Committee had been de cidedly contravened. His opinion was that it :would be a very ill-advised step toiput an end to this Commission, - and to insist upon transferring the business bapk to the Board of Trade. At the same time he admitted :he. was not altogether satisfied with the state of the railWay' business of the gauntry even under this Commission.— (Hear, hear.) Constituted as the Comtnission was,_ he' believed that its duties were well performed, and its services useful • yet it might be made more us e f u l t h an it now was. Other questions and subjects might be brought before it, and he hoped to see its in fluence over railways gradually extended. With respect to the Tidal Harbours Commission, he agreed that it was a question worthy oCatterttion whether that commission might not be abolished, and its duties be discharged by the Railway Commission, with the assistance of a single officer from the 'Admiralty. All these subjects, how, ever, were receiving the attentive consideration of a Committee, the report from which would be shortly be fore the House, when it would become their duty to take the whole matter into consideration, with a view of making such ultimate arrangements as would promOte economy, and conduce to the public advantage. It would now be preinatUre to abolish the Commission and insist that the Board of Trade should resume railway functions, and he trusted the Hon. Gentleman would leave the .affair in-the hands of the Government. Mr. GLADSTONE would be brief in his remarks, although the matter was important and concerned the character of the House. The ground adopted now by the Government was different from that they had before' taken. .Then the complaint was, that the Commission had been instituted at a great expense; and . that it had been held out that duties were to be provided for it by .Act of rarliament, but which duties were never created at all. The Government had not, however, met the motion of the Hon. Member for l)orsetshirc with a- direct negative, but as a question of time, advising the house to waft for a report, when they would be in a position to come to a decision. The Railway Commissioners had reported, and to what effect? Not in favour of impo sing these new duties upon thorn. The whole idea upon which the Railway Commission had been founded had utterly vanished into thin air; and it was evident no .notion was entertained of imposing upon the Commis sion those duties which Mad been intended to be per formed when it was constituted, and without which no one would have dreamed of appointing it at all. The House was invited to leave the matter in the hands of the • Government, and a careful consideration • was promised; but that was not the way the Members .of Parliament could look their constituents in the face, at a time when the east expenses of the country and the ne cessity of retrenchment were talked about.—(Hear, hear.) Some pledge should be given of a clear intention to take up the subject effectually. The Railway Comimissioners in their report had evidently, for all practical purposes, abandoned the notion of their acquiring those extensive duties for the performance of which they had been really appointed. Upon the resignation of Mr. Strutt, it was evident that there was no longer an intention on the part of the Government to commit these duties to the Commission, for Mr. Strutt himself had said that he would not hold office without those finictions, and his abandonment of office marked to the House. that the Government had no purpose of proposing to Parliament a measure on a comprehensive basis. How then was the maintenance' of this expensive Commission to be justified. when there was no view of giving it prac tical effect?—(Hear, bear.) This was a question of economy; but he did not overlook the importance of the duties to be discharged by the Commissioners, and he fully, agreed that such duties must not be intrusted to inferior perions; but still the Right Hon. Gentleman bad not done justice to the functionaries who had served under Lord Dalhousie, and who, like General Pasley and Colonelllarness, were men of high eminence and ability, and received high salaries. As regarded the en gineer officers,:theft eeret of the charge appeared to be this—that their pay was doubled in order to increase their efficiency. As to the increase of railway business, no doubt, as regarded the duties to be performed by cap tains of engineers, and as to the accumulation of a mass of correspondence, there had beers a great increase, but as regarded difficult, delicate, and responsible functions, there had been no increase at all, but, on the contrary, a decrease, since the 'time when the duties of this board were discharged by Lord Dalhousie with an establish ment costing the country ene-third of the present. He had read the rem& of the Commissioners and traced ma nifest indications of the difficiilties which arose from having been appointed to an office without their duties having been defined beforehand. The Right Hon. Member proceeded to ridicule the trifling nature of the details with which the Commissioners swelled out their report, in stancing particularly a case on the 27th page of a private 'belonging to the' Sappers and Miners having been, it was alleged, overcharged for his luggage by a railway company, and in which, after a gigantic effort, it had been decided, with the aid of the law officers of the Crown, whether or not twopence per ton per mile should be charged. He did not think that the weight attach ing to the recommendations of the Commission had in creased any more than the delicacy and difficulty of their duties. He bad never heard that Lord Dalhousie h a d been assisted by incompetent men. In some few conspicuous instances the report of that Noble Lord might not have been attended 'to, but it should be re membered that he had had a great number -of reports to present. The reports certainly did not meet with very general support, for ,Many members of the Com mittee said they did not understand them, and with respect to the expenses 'of the Railway Board, every one must concur with him in saying that they ought not to pay, 12,0002 a-year' for that which might be done for 4,000/. Mr. R. V. SMITH rose amidst loud cries of Di vide." He said it was not quite decorous for the Hon. Member for Sunderland to raise a cry of " Divide," when he and-the Hon. Members near him were known to be deeply interested in railways. There was quite a sufficient number of gentlemen in the immediate vicinity of that Hon. Membef to form an excellent provisional committee, He admitted that there was not sufficient business to occupy the attention of the Railway Commis sion, but he contended that tkis was not the time for introducing such a measure as the Bill of the Hon. Mem ber for llbrsetshire. It would not have escaped the recollection of the House that the Committee on the miscellaneous estimates had considered the expenses of the Railway Commission; had agreed to certain iesolu tions regarding them, and not many days since they had presented a report to the House on the subject; still they had not yet before them the evidence either of Mr. Strutt or Sir F. Smith; and he thought that they ought not to decide so important a question as the pre sent till they were in possession of the information which that evidence contained. Lord J. - RUSSELL said that, before the House divided, he wished to state how far he agreed with the Honourable Member for Dorsetsbiro, by whom the present motion 'was made; and how far he agreed with the Right Honourable Gentleman the Mem ber for the University of Oxford. He quite agreed that the Railway Board had more persons belonging to' it with high dalaries than was necessary for the business to be performed; and unless some ar rangement could be adopted, by which other duties might be assigned to them, he thodght that a great alteration must; take place before the next session of Parliame.ntan alteration, probably, by which that board would be 'much 'reduced in numbers. But hedid not agree -with the Hon. Gentleman opposite in think ing that the salaries of those who might be retained ought'iO hi,' reduced; he did not agree with him that low salaries wo u ld emigre a good' deportment, and he was quite surprised in hear Such a sentiment maintained. If the Hon. 'Member did not wish for a useful 'and e cient supervision, let hini say so; that would be intelligible; and then lot him propose that the whole motion 'be left in the hands of the House of Commons. That, at all events, wbutd be a better plan than to have a depart ment upon row salaries. ' The worst possible way would be to'have . a numerous board with inferior salaries, for that would 'be offering to the members of the Board a temptation to leave the public service for other employ-, merit. Them was 'a case which eame under the notice of the Gdverntattnt, in which the engineer quitted the. public service and went into that of a private company. The case to which he alluded was Mr. Codrington'e. Then there was Mr. Laing, who put on his barrister's gown, and found that 'he did better by followipg his profession than by remaining in the public service. Such examples as these'eause3 it often to be said that it was very batfeeonomy - to pay ajudge less than a leading barrister tould obtain in • his profession, for such a practice 'Led' to the advancement of inferior lawyers to thdbench: • If they were to have a railway board at all,' it wodld.be better to have it at an expense of 3,000/. or 4,000/. 'a: year, and get , the business of the department perfdime& by men of station, , who would be not likely to quit`'p"(ibll for priiate"'Sersice. having thus shortly stated his 'opinion of the Bill, he should content himself' with repeating' that it would be better to haVe 'no 'loaid than numerous department in paid. Mr:BANKES, in explanation, said that what he pro posed to du was to repeal all the existing Acts, and then kart, the Noble Lord to bring in whatever Bill he thought proper. The House then divided, when there appeared— Forthe motion Against it Majority--- —ll INTERFERENCE WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. M r . URQUHART, pursuant to notice, moved " That in the opinion of this House, interference in the internal government of other countries is detrimental to the inte rests, and derogatory to the honour of this country, as well as to the interests and honour of the countries in behalf of which such intervention is assumed to be exer cised. That this practice of intervention has led to or excused the increase of the military and naval establish ments,. and thereby of the public expenditure, to the great oppression of her Majesty's subjects, and par ticularly of the class which depends• on daily labour for daily food." He contended that the Go vernment of this country uught to be very cautious hew they involved us in war, considering that we laboured under the great disadvantage of possessing but very insufficient means for carrying on hostilities. It was also not to be forgotten that at the present moment the House of Commons was almost overvvhelinned with busi-' ness, and that business was . now going on increasing with an accelerated pace. The law and practice of Eng land was agairnit any interference with the domestic affairs of our,neighbours, and, in his opinion, we ought never to interfere with any questions, either of dynasty or of constitution.. He wished that an opportunity might be afforded to the Noble Lord opposite to give the floue an explanation of the policy which he intended to purstie,..Whieh he hoped would be not altogether unin ffuene4bY irte experience that he must have had of the evils of luteriention, at the same time that he might, oa the present occasion, be anticipated by a " count out." Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and, as forty 'Members were not present, the House stands ad journed to to-morrow (this day). The adjournment took place at a Quarter before Eight o'clock. , LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 5, 1848. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proeeedings of the House of Commons.: TUESDAY, JULY 4. RAILWAY COMMISSION. Motion made, aad Question put, " That leave be given to bring in a Bill to repeal the Railway Commission Act." The House divided:— MINORITY—AYES, 62. Anstey, Thomas C. Ellice, Edward Meux, Sir Henry BaiWe, H. J. Fitzgerald, R. A. Millings, J. 11. Beckett, W. Forbes, William Neeld, Joseph Bentinck, Lord G. Galway, Viscount Newdegate, N. Beresford,•William Gaskell, J. M. Piowden, W. H. Berkeley, Captain Gladstone, W. E. Pugh, David Blackstone, W. S. Glyn, George Carr Sandal's, George Boldero, Henry Greene. John Sibthorp, Colonel Buck, L. W. Hall, Colonel Sidney, Alderman Buller, Sir J. Y. Heald, James Smyth, John G. Cardwell, Edward Henley, J. W. Stafford, Augustus Chaplin, W. J. Herbert, Sidney . Stephenson, Robert Christy, Samuel Hervey, Lord A. Tyrrell, Sir J. Clive, Henry B. Hildyard, T. B. Urquhart, David Cobbold, John C. Hodgson, W. N. Vyse, H. Colvile, C. It. Hudson, George Waddington, David Compton, H. C. Humphery, Ald. Westhead, J. P. Disraeli, B. Ingestre, Viscount Williams, John Duncan, Viscount Keogh, William Duncombe, 0. Lincoln, Earl of Tzuzas. Duncuft, John Locke, Joseph Bankes, G. Edwards, Henry Mackenzie, W. F. Spooner, Richard THE "COUNT' OUT" LAST NIGHT. The ialowing Members were present when the House was counted out last eight, 10 of the 29 present being members of the Government:— . . Itestill, Lord J. Frewen, C. H. 'Baines, M. Sheil, - R. L. Palmerston, Lord Galway, Lord Hill, Lord Marcus - Herbert, Henry Smith, J. B. . Humphery, Alderman Baring, Sir F. T. s Stuart, Lord D. Denison, J. E. Cowper, Hon. W. Thompson, Colonel Keogh, William Milnes, R. M. Bellew, R. M. Somerville, Sir W. Romilly, Sir:J. . Rich, - Henry Dunne, Colonel 'Bretherton, J. Grey, R. W. Lewis, George C. Hume, J. Hudson, George , Urquhart, D. ' Bowden, W. IL. C. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the Rouse of Commons.: NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. TUESDAY, JULY 4. The following Bills are ordered to be read a third time on Thursday, July 6:— Leith Municipality and Police Trusts, Markets, Paving, and Sanitary Improvement. Monkland and Kirkintilloch, Ballochney and Slamannan Railways (Amalgamation or Sale or Lease, and Amendment or Repeal of Acts). Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midlands Junction Railway Deviation and Branches. Royston and Ilitchen Railway (Extension to Cambridge and Branches). NARRO W ESCAPE.—Shortly after two o'clock yesterday afternoon, tho Lalla Rookii, Putney steam boat, was alongside Blackfriars pier taking in passengers at which time the Waterman No. 9 also arrived. In en deavouring to reach the pier the latter ran against the former vessel, slightly causing her to lurch, when a re spectably-dressed man, about 60 years of age, who was leaning against the hand-rail at the head of the Putney steamer, was, by the jerk, instantly precipitated into the water. The tide running towards Westminster he floated with the stream till he was opposite the gas-works on the western side of Blackfriars-bridge, when he was picked up by a wherry, which had put off to his assist ance, apparently having received no other injury than the ducking, as he was able to walk home. THE DUKE OF 'BUCKINGHAM AND HIS CREDITORS. —On Monday last a case was to have been heard in one of the courts of law in London between the claimants to the personal property of his Grace the Duke of Buck ingham at Stowe. The dispute was between the mort gagees of the property and certain execution creditors, for whom the property was held by the late sheriff of this county. Several witnesses from Aylesbury and the neighbourhood were subpcenaed, but their attendance was not required, in consequence of the execution creditors withdrawing their claim. It is announced that all the valuable effects at Stowe will be advertised for sale forthwith.—Bucks Advertiser. The Monkey steam-vessel proceeded to Chatham on Saturday with Commodore Sir Gordon Bremer, K.U.8., X.C.11, and returned in the evening. MAJORITY-NOES, 73. Abdy,:T. N. Forster, M. Pechell, Captain Anson, Colonel Grey, Sir George Rice, E. R. Baines, M. T. Grey, R. W. Rich, Henry Baring, Sir F. T. Hawes, Benjamin Robartes, •T. J. Bellew, R. M. Heneage, Edward Russell, Lord John Berkeley, Captain Henry, Alexander Russell, F. C. H. Boyle, Colonel Herbert, H. A. Rutherford, A. Brotherton, J. Heywood, James • Shelburne, Earl of Buller, Charles Hobhouse, T. B. Slaney, Hobert A. Butler. P. S.: Jervis, Sir John Smith, R. V. Camilleld, Colonel - Labouchere, lienry Smith, J. Benjamin Clay, James Lascelles, W. S. Somerville. Sir W. Clements, Charles Lewis, G. C. Stansileld, W. R. C. Courtenay. Lord Marshall, J. (G. Tenison, E. K. Cowper, W. F. Martin, John Thompson, Colonel Craig, W. G. Maule, Fox Townehend, Captain Davie, Sir Henty. Morpeth, Viscount Ward, H. G. Deedes, W. Morison, Sir W. Watkins, Colonel Denison, J. E. Morris, David Wilson, James Hondas,' Admiral 31 ostyn, E. Wood, Sir Charles Ebrington, Viscount Mulgrave, Earl Wyvill, Marmaduke Elliot, J. E. Ogle, S. C. Evans, William Ord, W. Tattles. Fagan, Williams Paget, Lord Clarence Tuthell, Henry Ferguson, Sir R. Parker, John Hill, Lord Marcus Fitzpatrick, J. W. , Patten, J. W. -, LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, July 4. (Trial at bar, before the full Court and a Special Jury., ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. HALLETT. This was a trial at bar to try the right of defend ant to enclose an estate near to Epping Forest. It ap peared from the evidence that a few years ago the defendant bought a freehold estate of 73 acres of arable and woodland, on the borders of Waltham Forest, and subsequently he enclosed the wood portion of the estate. The Woods and Forests, however; interfered to prevent the enclosure being completed, resting their right to do so on the ground that the wood was a portion of Walt ham Forest, but the defendant disputed the title- of the Crown, and the present trial was had for the pur pose of deciding the question. The evidence adduced proved beyond all doubt that the land formed part of the forest up to the time of the defendant taking possession,, and he therefore consented to allow a verdict to be entered for the Crown. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. (Before the REcORDRR.) Charles Sully, an old man, surrendered to answer a charge of unlawfully publishing a libel. Mr. Ballantine prosecuted ; Mr. Parry appeared for the defendant. The LEARNED COUNSEL, in opening the -case, said, the prosecutor of this indictment was a gentleman named Cluff, who resided in Spital-square, where, be carried on an extensive establishment as a silk weaver, and was possessed of considerable property which he had amassed by his own industry and exertions. Some persons in the neighbourhood had, however, thought proper to cause a pamphlet to be published, reflecting upon the character, of the prosecutor,. and casting im, putations upon him which it was impossible for him to pass over ,unnoticed. The L earne d C ounse l then read some extracts from the pamphlet in question, which, was entitled, ." A Tale of the Nineteenth Century: or Paddy Olaf,. the Bane of Commerce and the Weaver's Curke and appeared principally to consist of a tirade of abuse„ among other things, charging the prosecutor with hav, ing formerly kept a " dolly " shop, and receiving stolen.. property of every description ; and alleging that this was the source of his. present prosperity. Mr. Ballantine said, that the present defendant had merely published one of the pamphlets, and, taking into consideration his age, there was no desire to inflict punishment upon him; .but the object of the pregent prosecution was ,to teach him and other persons similarly situated that,they could not be the means of publishing defamatory statements of this description.witlviniputiity, The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Mr. PARRY then appli e d f o r th e cos t s o f th e defendant, and he said that by the Act of. Parliament sth and 6th Victoria, defendants who were acquitted upon a charge of tliis description were entitled to their costs .from the prosecutor. „ . - Mr. BaLiatcrunt said,. that if he had been aware "con ducted a course would have been t a k en , h e s ho u ld have con ducted the case. in a different wanner. . The RECORDER, upon referring to the statute, said, it appeared to him that the parties were in a similar posi tion with regard to costs as if the cause had been tried at Nisi Prins, the costs being allowed to those who obtained the verdict. He should have declined to make any order for costs even had it been in his power to do so; but he could not help expressing his opinion that it was rather an ungracious .application on the part of the defendant for costs under the circumstances. NEW COURT. (Before the COMMON SERGEANT.) John Atkins, 28, barman, John Smith, 22, and Caroline Smith, 21, were indicted for unlawfully uttering coun terfeit, coin. ' Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution; Mr. Robinson defended the two Smiths: It appeared that the prisoners, all of whom were very well dressed, drove up to the door of the Camden Arms, near Kensington turnpike, on the Cup day of Ascot Races, and called for some liquor, tendering in payment a bad half-crown, and receiving the change. The pri soners then, it appeared, drove lower down the road, and at another public-house, called the Marquis of Gran • by, they succeeded in passing a counterfeit crown-piece in the same manner. Thence they proceeded to the Red Cow at Hammersmith, and to the Crown at Chiswick, at which latter house Atkins attempted to pass a counterfeit crown-piece, but the fraud was dis covered, and he then stated that he had received the bad coin from a toll-taker on the road. He was de tained, and the other prisoners were allowed to depart; but upon the police receiving information of their conduct along the road they were pursued and taken into custody at Bedfout, when they told the same story as the other prisoner, Atkins, and asserted that they had received the counterfeit coin at the different toll houses as they passed along. 17s. in good silver wore found in their possession. Mr. Powell, the "Inspector to the Mint, proved that the whole of the pieces passed by the prisoners were counterfeit, and he said that the crown pieces, were of a very superior description, and were all from the same mould. The jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to be kept to bard labour for nine months. William Shells, 50, was indicted for feloniously stealing a number of bank -notes and sovereigns, amounting alto gether to the sum of 253/., the moneys of Samuel Charles Whitbread and others. The prisoner pleaded Guilty. The COIIIMON•SERIEANT sentenced the priioner, who had been before convicted of felony, io be transported for ten years. Sarah Poole, 28, was then charged with feloniously receiving part of the money stolen by the last prisoner; but as Mr. BODKIN declined to offer any evidence In support of the charge, John lle heju ze ry son, returned forthe a m v u e r r d d e ic r t o o f f l N vi o l t liara Gniffltye.4y The grand jury returned a true bill aga inst George J Wood house, in Coldbath-fields Prison. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Charles Scimuel Whitbread Eicke, a clerk in the Money-order-office, at St. Martin's-le-Grand, was sum moned before Alderman Salomons, for unlawfully de facing a half-sovereign. A clerk from the office of Mr. Peacock, the solicitor to the Post-office, attended to watch the proceedings. Thomas Walsh, a brass-finisher, living in Halfnioon passage, Ald ersgate - street, stated that, about ten o'clock on Friday morning last he tendered one sovereign and one half - sovereign, to be forwarded to Margate. The defendant took the money, and, after putting it into the scales, said it was full weight, but that it was lead, and he then handed it to some other clerks for their inspec tion. They returned it to Mr. Eicke, who at once took up a ruler and bent it nearly double, after which he returned it to witness. He told Mr. Eicke not to deface it, as he would not be able to pass it elsewhere, but he persisted in doing so. When the half-sove reign was returned to him he immediately went to two places, and after its being filed twice and weighed the parties declared that it was good gold, and very little short of the proper weight, as after the two filings it was only 3d, deficient in value. He thereupon went back to the office, but they would give him no remedy, in con sequence of which be summoned the defendant to this Court. Alderman SALOMONS asked Mr. Peacock's clerk if he had any questions to ask the witness. The clerk replied that he had not, as the chief point was whether the half. sovereign was full weight when presented. He did not deny now that it was gold. Joseph Wagstaff deposed to seeing the defendant double the halt-sovereign with the ruler. John Sergeant proved that he saw it weighed at Mr. Scales, in Barbican, and that it was then rather light. He went back with the complainant to ascertain the name of the clerk, but it was refused. Mr. Peacock's clerk said that it was a general order at the Post-office to give no names. Alderman SALOMONS asked the clerk what was his defence ? The clerk replied that he intended to call a witness to prove that it was light when tendered. Richard Jude, also a clerk in the same office, said, that on the defendant giving the half-sovereign to him for the purpose of examination, he came to the conclu sion that it was not good, as the sound was bad, and it did not look well. He placed it in the scale and found it was light. It was very soft, and by pressing it be tween the thumb and finger it might have easily been bent. Alderman SALOMONS asked the witness if it was the practice at his office to deface coins that were presented? —He replied it was when bad money was tendered. The clerk from Mr. Peacock's office said, that under the Act of Parliament 2d William IV., clause 13, any person was empowered to cut, break, or (If face any coin that shall appear to have been diminished otherwise than by reasonable wearing, and that the person tendering the same shall be at the loss. Alderman SALOMONS observed, that the act also fur ther stated, "that if the same was of duo weight and appeared to be lawful coin, then the party so cutting or defacing the same is required to receive the same at the rate it was coined for, and in case of dispute it way competent for the parties to go before any justice of the peace, who was empowered to settle the affair." Robert Tyrrel, a constable at the Money Order-office, deposed to the complainant returning a sec ,nd time to the office, when he saw it placed in the defendant's scales, and he observed it was considerably lighter. He told the complainant that if money was light it was the' cus tom to deface it, and that if he had gone to the Bank of England they would have done the same, and he could have obtained no redress. Alderman SALOMONS thought it a hard case, and ordered a pair of scales to be brought ; and on the coin in dispute being weighed it scarcely turned the balance. The defendant himself weighed it. Alderman SALOMONS said, that he much doubted the power of the Post-office to deface the coin of the realm; but in the present instance he Inuit state that there was a little sharp practice in the office, particularly when, even after the filings had taken place, the deficiency was so slight that it would barely turn the beam. He had, therefore, come to the conclusion that it was of due weight when presented by the complainant. The clerk was wrong, and he hoped that he would take his advice and give a full-weighted half-sovereign in exchange for the one produced. The defendant, after speaking to Mr. Peacock's clerk, at once consented to give Mr. Walsh another, and to pay the costs; after which all the parties left the Court. MARLBOROUGH-STREE T. William Cameron, coachman to Sir H. W. Barron, was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with having as saulted police-constable Stride, 83, while in the execu tion of his duty. The constable said he was on duty at No. 12, Lower Grosvenor -street, where there was a party, and his busi ness was to keep order and see that the carriages con formed to the rules which had been laid down by the proper authorities. The defendant was called and he drove up to the door, but word was passed out that his master was not ready. The defendant kept his place and would not make way for other carriages, and when told to go on by witness he replied he would see him d—d, and then began flogging him with his whip. Thomas Mould confirmed this statement, and said while assisting to take the prisoner into custody he was struck a violent blow o❑ the mouth. Mr. BlNG'lam would not inflict a fine, but sent the defendant to prison for 14 days. MARYLEBONE. William Davidson, a man who has been repeatedly convicted for assaults upon policemen and other persons, was placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton, charged with 'having committed a most brutal and savage out rage upon police-constable Clouting, 166 D, who, in consequence of the injury inflicted upon him, has ever since the occurrence, which took place upwards of a week ago, been incapable of doing duty. It appeared that on the 27th ult, th e p r i soner was fighting in Salisbury-street, Portman-market, and that on his being taken into custody, owing to his noisy behaviour and refusing to go away, he struck the officer a tremendous blow with his fist, and nearly strangled him by thrusting his right hand between his (the offi cer's) stock and his throat; in addition to which, he kicked him with all his force in the lower part of the stomach. The ruffianly fellow was at length secured, principally through the assistance of Mr. Alderson, landlord of the Royal Champion, and, alter much re sistance, he was conveyed to the station-house. He was fined in the full penalty of 5/, ; in default of payment, two months' imprisonment. WORSHIP-STREET. Yesterday Samuel Watchman, alias Captain Watch man, an elderly man of about 60 years of age, was placed at the bar before Mr. Hammill, charged with ote taming various sums o f mone y b y means o f f a l se and fraudulent representations. The prisoner had been several times remanded, and at the former examinations three charges were gone into against him—the first preferred by a coffeehouse keeper in Bishopagate, and the others by victuallers at Whitechapel, from each of whom he had obtained' money upon the representation that he would shortly be in possession of a third share of an estate worth 675,0001, placed in the hands of four town bankers, whose names he gave, but where, upon making inquiries since he has been in custody, it has been ascertained that his statement was an entire fabrication. It is ne cessary, also, to mention that at the house of each of the persons he had so duped he was accompanied by a well dressed and very good-looking young-woman, whom he passed off to all persons who had communication with him as his wife. Mr. James Balls, a tailor, of Ipswich, now presented himself, and complained that he had been imposed upon by the prisoner in a manner which was marked by pe culiar treachery and turpitude. This witness stated that the prisoner was introduced to him about a twelve month ago as a Captain Watchman, and told him that he was shortly to come into the enormous fortune the had described to the prosecutors in the other cases, but that he was then unfortunately involved in some embarrass ment. His manners were so plausible and frank that ho was induced, without hesitation, to receive him into his house, where he was treated with great hospitality and kindness until a short time since, when he abruptly started for Londou. with the avowed intention of taking possession of his property. During the time of his stay with him, numerous letters relating to the money, and signed " Ulysses Walker," arrived at the house for the prisoner, who explained to him that the reversionary interest in the estate had originally devolved upon his correspondent Ulysses Walker, his sister Pene lope, and her brother Zenophon Walker, but that but that the latter had recently died, and they had there fore determined to invest him with the share which had elapsed, as a recompense for important services he had rendered the family, and both of them would post pone their intended marriages until the division of pro perty could be effected. Soon after the prisoner reached London he transmitted him a letter, in which he ex pressed his intention to appoint the witness his steward, and followed this up by several others, strongly urging him to send his wife up to town, as he, was anxious to introduce her to Miss Penelope Walker, who was in immediate want of a companion, and that when the witness found it convenient to join her they should both be handsomely provided for as long as they lived. These repeated solicitations so convinced him of the prisoner's sincerity, that ho sent his wife up to London, under the care of a female friend and her father, to meet the pri soner; but he was afterwards much surprised at finding that no notice whatever was taken by her of any of his letters, and he remained in most painful suspense as to h er safety, until, happening to take up a newspaper, he was thunderstruck at seeing an account of the prisoner's examination, in which it was conclusively shown that his wife had fallen a victim to the prisoner's artifices, and had been some time living under his protection. The witness added, that as soon as the dreadful fact reached him, he hurried up to town and had an interview with his wife, from whom he learned that none of his letters had ever reached her, and must have been intercepted by the prisoner to promote his infamous designs upon her; and the mental suffering to which he had thus been subjected, in addition to the pecuniary losses he had sustained through the prisoner's rascality had had such an effect upon him that he had been compelled to abandon his business, and give up everything, and was now reduced to both want and wretchedness. Inspector Scott produced a letter he had received that morning from Mr. Hutchinson, au overseer at Ipswich, which stated that, so far from the prisoner being con nected with any such wealthy persons as he had repre sented, he had occupied a house rated at 81. per annum there, for which he had been twice excused payment of his rates on the ground of poverty, and that he was a married man, with a wife and three children. The prisoner still persisted in the truth of his asser tions, and, as he had doll° at each previous examination, asked the magistrate to indulge him with another week's remand to establish them; but _ _ Mr. liAmbuLL said he had had opportunity enough to do so already, if they had any existence in reality, and he should therefore at once order the depositions to be taken, and commit him fur trial upon three of the charges gone into. The prisoner then asked to be allowed to find bail, which was ;ranted, but, as before, he was unable to pro cure it, and in default was carried off in the van. THAMES. James Johnson, a Swede, Charles Jarvis, and John Andrew Marion, were brought before Mr. Ballantine, on remand, charged with stealing 180 dollars, the monies of Johann Hurting, a German farmer. Mr. BALLANTINE would leave a jury to say whether one or all of the prisoners were guilty or innocent. and should therefore commit them to the Maidstone assizes for trial. Mr. Pelham hoped bail would be taken for Mr. Jarvis. There were gentlemen present who would enter into sureties to any amount. Mr. Humphreys made a similar application for Marion. Mr. BALLANTINE would consider of the proposition to bail the prisoners Jarvis and Marion, and give his de cision to-morrow (this day), but he should not take bail for Johnson. He ordered the depositions to be taken, and committed the prisoners. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —A WONDERFUL CURE OF AN ERUPTION IN THE FACE BY HOLLOWAY'S OINT MENT. The editor of the Guernsey Sun, publishes in his paper, of the 20th of February, a most extraordinary cure which ho wit nessed by the use of Holloway's Ointment, in the ease of a child whose face was entirely covered with scabs. By his recommendation, the parents of the child tried this invaluable remedy, and in the space of one week, to the astonishment of every one, the face was perfectly healed. This ointment is peculiarly adapted for the cure of burns, scalds, scurvy, and every variety of akin disease. Also for old wounds and scrofula, cancers, bad breasts, and sore legs. Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, No. 244, Strand, London. TAB NEW HOUSES 01' PARLIAMENT.-011 Monday the last portion of the old House of Commons called the Speaker's house, the adjoining committee rooms, and those forming the centre of the cloisters were being re moved. The entrance•hall to the new House of Com mons slid the western window to Westminster-hall have attained their elevation, and are rapidly approaching complet don. The new House of Commons, it is now stated, will positively be ready for Members next session. Orders have been issued for the removal forthwith of all the temporary erections at the oast entrance to West minatgr-hall. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Medusa steam packet, Lieutenant-Commander J. 0. Bathurst, was inspected and her crew mustered by Captain Charles Eden, the Flag• Captain, for the Commander in• Chief, this morn ing., after which she was paid advance, and went out of harbour to Spithead. She , sails this evening for Malta. • The Merlin steam-packet, Lieutenant-Commander Turner, was hauled into the stream to have her com passes adjusted this morning. She will sail to-morrow, if possible, for Lisbon. The Helena, 16, Commander Smith, bent rails this morning. The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain Hall, was taken into the basin to-day to refit. Wind, W.S.W., strong breezes and thick hazy weather. Woomvicri, JULY 3.—The Lords of the Admiralty► with a party of their friends, went down the river from London to Blackwall on Saturday in the Dryad, Wool wich Company's steam-packet, and from Blackwall to Gravesend in the Black Eagle, Admiralty yacht, and by railway to Chatham, to witness the launch of the Mars, 80 guns, at that port. The band of the Woolwich division of Royal Marines were on board the Black Eagle, and she proceeded round to Chatham, to embark their Lordships, and returned to Blackwall at eight o'clock P. N. The Reynard steam-vessel, fitted with a screw-pro peller, was tried down the river on Saturday to ascertain the working order of her engines, and will be tried again next week. The trial on Saturday afforded no fair op• portunity of testing her speed, and she went onwards as far as Sheerness, returning in the afternoon. The Conflict steam-slop, 400-horse power, went down the river on Saturday on a preliminary trial. The Onyx, the Firebrand, and the Reynard steam vessels have been taken into the basin to be made ready for service, and the Dover steam-vessel was taken into dock on Saturday. The Rifleman steam-vessel left Woolwich on Saturday for Portsmouth, to serve as a tender to the Powerful, 8 4 guns. The Myrmidon steam-vessel is under orders to leave Woolwich for Sheerness immediately on her guns and carriages being put on board, to serve as a tender to the Ganges, 84 guns, at that port. The Athol! troop-ship, Master Commander Peartio was paid wages in advance to-day, and will leave Wool' wich on the 4th, with two companies of the Royal Artil' lery for Quebec. PLYMOUTH, JULY 2.—Her Majesty's brig Ranger, with mails for the coast of Africa, goes to sea to' morrow. The merchant barque Cecilia, Captain Pearce, frog! Port Phillip, February 15, with wool for London, landed mails here on Friday, and proceeded up channel. Wind N.W. by W.. stiff breeze, with occasions showers. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, JULY 4. _ _ _ STOCK EXCHANGE. —The market was better, with prices still rising, The sales are—Great WeStern Quarters, I/1 dis.—Ditto, Fifth Shares, par—Ditto, New, 1 1 4 dis,' London and North-Western, New Quarters, 1 p.—South' Eastern and Dover, 24. LIVERPOOL, JOLT 4. STOCK EXCHANOII.—The share market to-day has bees rather depresssed.—Little business has been done, and pried are only nominal. The sales are— Ambergate, NottinghatS; and Boston, 21. 18s. 9d. dis.—Birkenhead, Lapcashire and Cheshire Junction (late C. and B), 22/. Shares, 7% ' dis, Lancashire and Yorkshire (late M. and B.), Fifths, 1% dis —Ditto, .10/. Preference, 6 per cent., A p.—Ditto, Prestos and Wyre, No. 1, 34 1 4—Ditto, Preference, 5 Per cent., and div., No, 2, 55142—Lancaster and Carlisle, 51—London 50 North-Western, New Quarters, p.—Manchester, Sheffield' and Lincolnshire, One-Eighth Shares, 1 % 101* Preference, 101-Midland Stock, 102 1 , .c.—Ditto, NeA Halves, 6% dis. ex jut. , -Shrewsbury and Birminghanif 9/. 12s. 3d. Shares 09,34 dis.—South-E as t e r n an d D ov er, No. 1, 9 dis.—Ditto, 10% dis.—Ditto, NO. 4, Third,' 27 c. dis.—York, Newcastle, an Berwick, G. N. E. PO chase, 1% p. MANCHESTER, Jurx 4. STOCK EXCITA NOE. —The sales are—Birkenhead, Limey shire, and Cheshire Junction, 31/. - Shares, 7 1 4 dis.—Esfit Lancashire, Preference, 5 p:.—Lancashire and Yorkshire , Fifths, 1% . ,ii , .—Ditto, Preference, 6-16 p.—London and North-Western, New, 7,4 p,—Ditto, M. and B. Quarter 9 (A and ..B), p.—Ditto, Quarters ,(C), 2 11-16 r; Manchester, Sheiliehl., and Lincolnshiii, ) .reference, 100 ---Islqt,tuStaffordsliire 2 7-16 dis..—SonthlEastein and Dover' Rio. '4, Thirds, 2 13.16 dis.-York, Netviaitle, and lierwir Preference, 1 1 4 p. . BIRMINGHAM, JULY 4. • STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales ;are—North ,p ta ff or d s bir* 48s. 9d. dis.—Shrewsbury and Birraiugham,.6l4 3d.—Sout h Staffordshire, 635. 9d. dis. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, JULY 4. STOCK EXCH ANG'dale was—North British' Thirds, I/. 18s. 6d. dis. THE GREAT NORTHERN RanwaY.,Yesterdal the works en this line, between the proposed terminus at King's-cross and Copenhagen-fields, and between Bar' net and Finchley, were resumed, having been disconti' nued during the momentary panic of 1847. A consider: able portion of the works between Peterborough 00 London is executed, the heavy parts, that, if altogethe r suspended, would have materially retarded the opening of the through line having been carried on. The Jill° from Gainsborough by Lincoln, Boston, and Peterbo' rough, together with the E as t Lincoln shire line WSJ Boston to Grimsby, and between Doncaster and th e West Riding of Yorkshire, are nearly complete, and sr e , expected to open tor public traffic during the preset" month. A great many of the poor navvies (1,200 15 number) who were suddenly thrown out by the wate r breaking into excavations for the Sunderland docks now finding employment on this line. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM. Yesterdsi f afternoon the half-yearly meeting of the supporters 0 this institution was held in th e Bridge-house Hotel, Jur' Rowan in the chair, to receive the report of the comEni P tee of management on the society's affairs. The secrs tary read the report, from which it appeared that 1,80 0 ',1 had been collected at the lest dinner that the funde d property figured 6,6001., eictusive of 2,000 l lodged W 1 two brewers at five per cent. It further appeared thr l ' there were three vacancies in the asylum which would b° immediately filled up, and that a fancy fair would be soon held in aid of the asylum. The report was adopte d ' thanks were voted to the offic e r s o f t h e past year, the vacancies in the committee for the ensuing year war' filled up. After which, and a vote of thanks to th e chairman, the meeting broke up. OXFORD COMMEMORATION.—On Monday the pr°: cession of racing boats took place. As the various crew' passed the boat at the head of the river (Christ Church)' they saluted it by tossing their oars and cheering, was responded to by the spectators on each aide of u" river. There was an immense number of persons pre' sent, but the unpropitious state of the weather was great drawback. This day the Bishop of Hereford Hampden) preaches the annual sermon in behalf of infirmary. In the afternoon the oratorio of " Th e Creation" will b e p er f orm ed i n th e th eatre. A b a ll St. John's C o ll ege w ill t a k e pl ace i n t h e evening. ,", was agreed by the hebdomadal board t o p ropose t h a t tm, honorary degree of D.C.L. be conferr e d on th e followilln° individuals:—Earl of Harrowby, Baron Hugel, Sir v' Arthur, Bart., W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Sir C. G. Morgo Bart., J. Masterman, Esq., M.P., A. J. IL Hope, Es'? M.P., H. Hallam, Esq., the historian, W. Cotton, Esl A. H. Layard, Esq. JOHN MITCHEL.—The authorities of the " vexed Bermoothes" are likely to have some trouble keeping this gentleman under bolt and bar, if the folio ing statement contained in an extract from a New Yet' . paper (the San), is to be relied on as based on anything more substantial than Yankee imagination:—“A dep u tation of the patient's friends in this and other cities i ) „ the United States, numbering about two thousand , organising, we learn, with the intention of c harter/ 1 1 three or four 'l ong , low, black rakish looking T essels' provided and munitioned in case of accident, and pay him a visit, as it is th ou ght that the ai r o f t h e ma i n lir; may be better for him than that of Bermuda, es pecial'', as his lodgings th ere a re very clo se an d confined. Th trip of the deputation, which is to be called a hunt,' promises rare sport, as the party intend taking all kinds of hooks, spears, and fowling-pieces, to be pry pared for any game that turns up. It i s hoped that Mitchel will be of good cheer, until his medical frier from the United States arrive, and that they will tot with no accident or delay on their errand. The del tation, to avoid all display, will hoist no flag, and car! no Government passports. John Bull, no doubt, 1 11 , be on the lookout for these 'long, low, black-100k°' schooners.' " BIRTHS. On the Ist inst., at Gale House, Littleborough, the WY J. Molesworth, Esq., of a son. On the Ist inst., Dirs. J. Gutteres, of a daughter. On the Ist inst., at Camden-villas, Pe c kh am , Surrey, th wife of W. L. Mullens, of a son. On the Ist inst., at Bayswater, Mrs. C. Furlonger, of A 21 0 On the 23 inst., at Barnes, Mrs. M. Hornidge, of a 80n..e. On the 3d inst., at Skumer•street, the wife of Dir- Lutwyche, of a daughter. On the 30th ult., at Glocester-place, Portman-square, '- wife of T. Carfrae, Esq., of a son. f On the Ist in s t., a t U pper Cl apton , M rs. F . Janson, - n daughter. Oa the Ist inst., at Chester-terrace, Regent's-park, t ft° ' W. J3enett, of a daughter. ' On the Ist inst., at Woodford, Essex, the wife of A. COP ' man, jun., Esq., of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 28th ult., at St. Mary's, Paddington, the Rev. b Ambrose, rector o f F r imley St. M ar ti n , Suffolk, to Elizabet h ; t ‘ only child of Captain Liveing, of Prospect-place, Maida-IiP T , On the 29th ult., at Mortlake Church, Surrey, the Rev., N. Irwin, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, to Emily Maria War li f Alexander, youngest daughter of the late Major-Genera l Alexander, Hon. East India Company's Service. On the 29th ult., at St. John's, Gateshead Fell, Mr' 1 4 Borries, jun., o f N ewcast l e - upon -Ty ne , t o H anna h Sol youngest (laughter of T. Wilson, Esq. DIED. On the 29th ult., at Smarmore Castle, county of I,ol o ' Ireland, aged 30, Randal, eldest son of G. Taafe, 'Esq. On the 30th ult., at Bath, Lady Lester, of High Hall, Si °- borne, Dorset. ,j On the 30th ult., Mary, the relict of the late Captain Fox, R.N., of South-town, Dartmouth, aged 83. At Croydon, on the 2d inst., Martha, wife of J. Oswal d Esq., aged 50. ft• On the 2d inst., at Ashdon, in the county of Essen, Barber, Esq., aged 78. On the 30th ult., at Tilinan-street, J. Sone, Esq., aged 5 i 7 ; On the 30th ult., at Islington, John Bourdelain, Esq., l a of the Commercial-chambers, Mincing-lane, aged 78. On the 30th ult., at Eaton-square, the infant daughter A. G. Roberts, Esq. On the 30th ult., aged six months, the infant son of u n . Co Legh, Esq., of High Legh, M.P. On the 29th ult., at Hastings, aged 97, Mrs. Ann Gib widow of W. Gill, Esq. 1 t s London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , n ° No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tits Sun O ffi ce, No. 1 a l Strand, in the. Precinct of the Savoy f in thl cowl Bliddleeen, Wedneaday, July 5, 1848. SIIU again 'l'h 011 th Iv., Th Hop for 0 viz., Linel on a( giver day day I rj• 12th DER chael build aoutt moan Al; LEA Orou per I Fu at tia rlelt: I torn day, of Tu tures hibit and the I Op Sata her: Mgt] ceivE hab:l furni Spiel Th Six, Stet ance brit don 1 are 11 drat Four scale PRE Age PRE Age Pr G 7, I lf( fallil Two will with for e or n artic Emil Yelli ..... UNI Ilyg out 1 eine uu tl t .`•