The Sun. — London, England, 1848-06-09 00:00:00

hots la; iaepN had c o ll ec t e d , were f u ll y corro b ora ted, in their ar -elons as to the ignorance, carelessness, and stu oideY of the masters o f our commerc i a l mar ine, by the C adence of many gentlemen of great and long experi nce • in fl u , tin c e trade. Mr. Soames, among others, dis :a stated that of late years the character of the Asters in our commercial marine had so deterie led, th a t f oreign masters were . now regar d e d i n 4 9st all foreign parts as decidedly superior in pro ssional compet enc y an d p ersona l trusw o rthiness, and ieferred ac cor di ng l y. T hus, f ore i gn s hi powners have far improved the character of the masters of their ~.1 .33°18, that i n a f ore i gn por t a p re f erence is given a' theta over the English masters, because they take the evidence better care of their ships and cargo. Such . was 11. evidence on this point. Then, again, the American th lr made quicker voyages than ' English ones, though 4 ., iii . e erWicaas n ascribed very candidly by Captain Briggs, an 14 rtnegs master, to the crew having an interest in t e of the voyage, and thence acquiring a more Perfect knowledge of the currents. But all this only ?rov e d b et a es how superior foreign masters of ships were , s o w in knowledge and conduct, to English shipmasters. tillinitriellel, in e w e a e r n e i were the late Government of this fact, unction with Sir G. Cockburn, had drawn a l e ) d ft scheme for the voluntary examination of masters to enatttes of merchant ships; and latterly he was glad Of ta n ' whot increase had taken place in the numbers tough°s°voluntarily applied to be examined, so that , the blue book which he had quoted had been p e 6 Painful and disagreeable, it had produced some f o Zresults by stimulating the masters of English ships te.""orae better qualified for their profession. With tm, 'Pect to the effect produced by the navigation-laws er an i Lthe commerce and shipping of the country, the &C Z' as far as America was concerned, would be na. °- " e by undeniable figures to be a loss to England, Re ii aa Particularly in regard to the carrying trade. the Present heard it said that the Americans so well liked o en resent working of the navigation-laws, and of their iro u b l e°ll ,nter system of protection, that on no account tlia - Z t ., n ey consent to any change in them. Such was iiii a e - ,7 6 : rine of Mr. Dunbar and others before the Coin bee; in fact, Mr. Dunbar stated that the American . a feradirect advantage over an English merchantman in leai n el tn Port under the present navigation-laws of both fro w ns ' - As far as the heavy bulky articles which come /or the Shores of the Baltic, the navigation-laws con- Wit a e s d a .._, ° ° advantage whatever upon England. But he aboiiiroY to admit that any advantage derived by the the -O n of those laws to the commerce and shipping of date°untry would be very dearly purchased by any 4 Uti rs% ° ll of the number of seamen. It was from the oer„ !Niel navy of England that the country derived th e I T O strength at sea. The great supply of men for %vie ritis b navy must always come from the merchant to 0o e, Raving endeavoured, very feebly he was aware, itais: t Qat the reasons of his Right Honourable Friend 3 % going into Committee, he should content himself chi t e a :lPressi ng his firm belief that the contemplated tlais e e w ould be productive of good and not of harm to lead°lninercial navy and the general interests of Eng nu ho ne remark he must, however, make to that was, le sh:pe could b e en t er t a i n ed of making any progress tssolj r °Posed Bill, which was to be founded on the ,40 4 ,V05, unless the Government would consent to lay its d ata "? table of the House the entire measure with all Pre pare If If that were not done, how could people be reit i Zen to discuss it when the House went into Com „nis - , e , on: the Bill in the middle of July, for that Vo tai Ze earliest time at which it, could reach the Pow ea , ll e stage. He must, however, object to the op ar • that it was proposed to reserve of suspending the Oil, i ll a ti°4 of the Bill by the agency of an order in Colin dela,ease the American Legislature should refuse or kr, y ° agree to carry into effect the promises made by tl eto ancroft in the letter read by the Right lion. Gen 'Rd ,"„ °PPosite. Such a power was not constitutianal, eti ßt - t int not to be vested in any Government. The tioi ,;', l4 °n• Baronet concluded by expressing his inten kt voing for the Cemnsittee. (111 • . C4 RDWELL said that the question they had to ~, ew e tiov was , not whether or no they would agree to the hke e r : r nent proposal, but simply whether they would NI ,::' Consideration the laws rtnich regulated the na • aes„- t-41 of the country. At the commencement of the Of the ° her Majesty bad recommended the considerati /1 0 ,se law s in the speech from the throne, and the lik - e ; °f Commons, in its address, in answer to the 4 bitl ic r i h ti f u r n o . lb the throne, unanimously promised their con- Since that time several documents had been p ept ° l l the table of the House, two from the most im eat! Enit countries with which this country had commer fsearelations, namely, Prussia and America. The one V, Prussia intimated that the advantages which he " 41 ships enjoyed in Prussian parts would Were w ithdrawn, unless corresponding advansttares s oir e conceded ; while that from the United tn et r 9i l every relaxation, provided their advances were • ha d l u, a corresponding spirit by this country. They of o -1140 received documents from the most important uf_ f ar e 1 colonies , complaining of the grievances they . s y i s under the e operation of the navigation-laws, and • 4:. , pri the face of all these , facts, the Right Hon. Mem- Se; or Stamford proposed, by a preliminary motion, to i..Z 4 stop at once to at. attempts at inquiry. For that tr a. !on alone he (Mr. Cardwell) must oppose the Ri g ut a Member's motion. He could not conceive that " had , Powners or seamen any reason to apprehend the s, Petition of foreigners, provided that in all things they 4 6 Put on terms of fair and perfect equality. When eat.tereembered that British seamen were the descend • the of Blake and Raleigh, who had carried our flag to te eh t erootest parts of the world, the descendants of the t eat Who had conquered the Armada, he could not con lvelle date our maritime power from an order of Crom kors4 an Act of Charles ll.—(Hear.) It would be no ' tiatijeasonable to take these Acts as the spring of our %ea Inio strength, than was the old practice of Spain e ll ike ss ,tugal, who used to take possession of distant .rop e :"°a under the authority of a bull obtained from the Il ssas What were the true elements of maritime sue the N atural aptitude and hardihood in the people, and oeet.!;(4session of a large amount of capital.—(Hear, 11 1,,t0p ; I\i iiw, what country in the world would bear a ' 'fle i t ir .`soll with this on either points?—(Hear, hear.) Sl:i ii ,t lion. Member for Stamford had said that in aqiiti k „l l , 4 bg this question into consideration we were zcer - ",„`"og sixty millions of capital. Was there any sot ait " a vilutry in the world that had the same amount h L el spi t t - e it l a shippinge—(Hear, hear.) And with_!ue aa aar.) a :suet need we fear from competition ?—( Hear, . Zteti ee 'T had been told by men of considerable ex - I 4 7 . 4 3 4,,""t ship building was so cheap in the . Adriatic, F e l ler ; a ll °,o. hardy, as to make competition in that ea a 'rte sa - o bject of alarm. But be looked to the port i tes 'alee ee s '!n e d he did not see in the accounts of British tti lit e t 1 tl.„ l '? re any ground for apprehension. He had or k it r e t , at competition was to be apprehatt_ele_d , fron: s t ths ! out if he looked to our trade with hussi , b a t4 o Pos t r Z i tion maintained by British shipping in the hbi ti oq ''' aansburgh, he saw little cause for appre te b e t eo l n either quarter. He found that our shipping t o ! p ttt gradually increasing. The tonnage entering talh a I ° J,Liverpool, which in 1816 was 642,000 MNit t i 1 845, 2 819 000 tons, and of that increase tieda a . . a ~ . of 4 Was British shipping. We were greatly I lia 14 thatn'erica, but it would appear that some par ‘ll he ad a Country reciprocated our alarm. He held in G sand Country Protectionist document—being . 4.eTolotti: delivered to the American Institute by Mr. 14,te Frederic wh_ ,0 he presumed, might be called the k t to aoa ederick Young of America. Speaking of Bri ltV eil te ge , Mr. Tolemache said that the British ton ittokl, j r , i n g the States was, in 1830, 87,281 tons, but . tik h , 4 t jahin. 835 , increased to 529,922 tons. On these tiketl thl t 'lets being communicated, Congress re (taik‘insta, ' the existence of such a trade, under such of isikttlee?"' was a remarkable commentary on their Wit eci -e an) want of sagacity in the administration ha t to ta,; ll 4niercial concerns, and made a powerful ap silo i the tracovernment to take some steps, so to pre tatklitorestr of the States ; being made subservient to N ar, the of the British colonies.—(Hear.) It would ke": ll iar to !!!. that Protectionist apprehensions were not sv e :th et f tt uis country ; and it was some comfort to t k, ak i n th e - our competition with Americans, the latter, 4 , F i i ii, n ir ow _ ri , u country, had no great grounds for 4 411: 1i d il l "' °4l %) By another report of Congress, (Le atm, at the whole registered tonnage of the United Ne 4l l °lld w ill s 1815 , 854,000 tons. In 1818 it had gone • P6 M- 11 30 n ' 5l °illy 606,000. In 1846 it again rose, and titrot e eT° tons. What had been the increase in the a _ a 4 s o l o ? „ In ton tons , of Great Britain in the mean ,,,,its:uoo,„,-1,4 it was 2,500,000 tons ; in 1846 it was ,''4- I ;fion let \'`?•ear, hear.) But from the American in ittier.olise tug; must be deducted for the fisheries. '44h:l e -4 aware that in war time no American ` % NI, i," 101 1t or e „ M PloYed in the fisheries, but on the este aNeLWlstsai a ij e ace they again made their appearance ; - i f ile e - E,e, te er ? Pear, if we deducted them from the whole tee o.' p tils.__,!. l ,ad been no increase in American tonnage Naiora I , kstear, hear.) The Right Hon. Member PikeN° d e prd , in the course of his powerful speech, r etb. lo t ott:ration of British shipowners in 1333, com- CIV 4 Ito air Prospects, and had shown by subsequent tile,' Carew little real cause" there was for fear. He L i vit‘ ti tPo la o i) Would refer to the Committee of 1833,1f0r v, -g eiv,, en gie en el li_ a ner the attention of the House to the :Its f t ahip,," "3: Air. Aiken, of Liverpool, a most ex it d•gett 3 " n er• Mr. Aiken admitted that there 1 4e ld not orna distress among the shipping interest, . heu,sUbj eo t t ttl ribute it to the reciprocity treaties, the tt -e e - of a pprehension. He was then asked 40 ' i f th Itthas_ao..;ol3:444l.deg restrictions were removed he would f t Ida a her his ships abroad. His answer teaecilndiecluire afferent be nothing saved, as he *-seed to . articles, which must be brought Oilld , 1 4 sh o _! Blatant places. Mr. Aiken then pro ' removal of the timber duties ' tiobL,4l4t-Zmirl2beZyg-iaettrielaolitob shipowners, and pointed out 44 L the em abolished Liverpool and not Bremen tia p et ° , ot aerv Porium of ship-building. He con e taZion. , / ,,J;b_l? that he did not fear anything from ze ebiastir e of e question that now arose was whether titi Cets f or ...nlic Government was calculated to effect me t o high t 7.;. 11 hit was brought forward. He agreed t ,te e tz eetor ftonourable Friend that this was not the Zi ;tile th er t e o_tu e the details of the measure; at the iZolieit e arest , 31 7.,re some of the provisions which, as es With sne face of it, it was very difficult to IN 'or Lie principles and policy of Mr. Huskis set, ]rein 6tanee, vell'l b • bl G tia t t°faire ow ., .. 1 e tee Right Hnnoura e en tet7les 0 , 4 1,1 tnat the British shipowner was . to bt oh ta l 41 1 th e 1 ,,'" e qual competition with the ship . - aatil Who to t h e °rid, he imposed upon them an obit etill ,°!.l t h manning of ships from which those Ih. 43 eh allowed t 10 . 1 t 1 - 1° P tie"d itb re g a r d have to compete . were free. 41 % 4 he e"°where th o ey the building of ships in the were told that the shipowner ever h m eisp eat r 0 build his ships where he could do so q.i,„ not s a i a d t e , but the Chancellor of the Excise tigiOar p ro .them that he was about to make ltr "rube I ' 4 • - , th e r-.. a ,P9r 1 with regard to the import of v . as am re sult a if he understood the proposition /et-fee ]ship °nld be that the raw material of the -.14, tur ea o be sub' I reat t : . l . :4C4 s teet to a high duty, while the lha l 1 1,.. Qeatl e „ V ere to be admitted free. Then the L ., q ttah . th ftt it an proposed to exempt tbe coasting ""te of 1 42 T a matter of any great importance, s 'arra that a proposal for opening that trade would occasion. It would have been well had the Right Hon. Gentleman succeeded in preventing alarm, but he believed that the proposals he had brought forward had created very great consternation amongst those interested in the shipping trade, and that the ex emption of the coasting trade had had no effect what ever in preventing it. The general feeling was that if they were going to establish freedom at all, they should have looked for freedom from America in regard to the coasting trade. These were the reasons why his Right Hon. Friend had urged on the Government to introduce measures in the way of reciprocity instead of in the way of retaliation. He was surprised that no member of the Government had as yet risen to answer his Right Hon. Friend's speech in that respect.---(Hear.) He wished to impress on Ministers how it was that they would fail in obtaining freedom and equality from the manner in which their proposition was brought forward. The Hon. Member for Westbury, referring to the tariff previous to the year 1846, said: " If yon proceed on the principles of reciprocity you will be taking a retrograde step, for the principle you then laid down was, that you would pay no regard to what other nations did, but that you would do what was right in regard to commerce, and leave other countries to follow your example or not as they pleased." That was, without doubt, the principle then laid down as to imports generally, and it was the correct one, for, if you took the raw material of other countries, it was evident they must take your manufac tured goods in return, but the same rule did not apply to shipping, for the same ship which brought the raw ma terial from the Baltic would take back the goods which were to pay for it; and if the countries from which the raw material came maintained an artificial system of protection against our free system of trade in the matter of carriage it must tend to their advantage and our dis advantage. In this respect Ministers were departing from the principle laid down by Mr. Huskiseon. It appeared to him that the same reason which prevented their proceeding in the way of reciprocity should prevent their proceeding in the way of retaliation ; and he hoped some member of the Government would explain how it was that the obstacle in the way of reciprocity was not equally an obstacle in the way of retaliation in regard to those countuies to which we were bound by the most-favoured-nation clause. He, however, believed that the original intention of Ministers was to proceed in the way of reciprocity, and that was, in effect, the demand made by Prussia and America, through Mr. Bancroft ; and from the Noble Lord's (Palmerston's) letter in answer to the demand of that gentleman, he had a right to assume that that was the way ;the Noble Lord proposed to proceed, and not in a way in which while certain dangers were incurred under the retalia tion clause, we shut ourselves out from availing our selves of the advantage we might obtain from recipro city. His Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Herries) invited him, having those feelings, to join him in throwing an obstacle in the way of the Bill. He would state why he could not. In the first place, he must be allowed to say that his Right Hon. Friend's proposition appeared to him to be very vague and indefinite ; and then the evidence taken before the Navigation Com mittee, and his own experience when a member of the Government, proved to him that the existing navigation laws not only were full of absurdities and anomalies, but in many instances actually injurious to the British shipowner. And with regard to the fear of foreign competition, it was a libel on the British name to say that we were not able to compete on equal terms with any nation in the world. What the Legislature ought to do was to secure fair play and free competition—let there be effectual freedom and unlimited means of inter course, and the greatest amount of advantage would then be conferred on British shipping and British trade. He had only further to express a hope that such a settle ment of this question might be effected during the present session as should secure this important interest against injudicious changes for the future, and place it on a firm end satisfactory footing. The CHANCELLOR of the 'EXCHEQUER agreed that this was not the proper time to discuss the details of the Government measure. He could not understand on what general grounds the measure could be opposed, unless it was to be contended that it was advantageous to this country that we should enhance the price of those articles we required for our manufactures. Only a short time ago Parliament had found it necessary to suspend the navigation-laws to facilitate the import of corn; they had then experienced the benefit of that relaxation, and he could not see how they could refuse to alter them so as to admit those articles which were in constant de mand for the maintenance of the people and the carry ing on of our manufacturei.—(Hear , hear.) As to the apprehended danger to the shipowner, it was an established fact, that wherever we were on terms of fair and equal competition, we could compete successfully with any country in the world. The same might be said of the shipbuilder. We built ships as cheaply as America or any other country, and there was no reason why, if the trade were thrown open, we should not be able to compete with other nations. He did not agree with the Hon. Gentleman that it was necessary, in order to enable us to do so, to remove the timber duties. It had been abundantly proved in the debate that even with those duties we were able to com pete with the shipbuilders of every other country. The Hon. Gentleman also adverted to the invitation given us by America and Prussia to relax our navigation-laws. Surely Prussia had a right to demand from us the same advantages she conferred ; and as for the United States we would clearly be gainers by the proposed change ; for at present they had the advantage over us in the carrying trade. if the system of restrictions were adopted, he believed that we should lose much more than Prussia, into whose ports, in 1846, there en tered no less than 2,000 British ships. Our colonial trade stood upon a different footing, and it was pro posed to relax the restrictions on it, with a view not to our own benefit, but that of the colonies themselves. (The Hon. Gentleman entered into some details to prove these positions, but in so rapid and indistinct a manner, and amidst so much noise in the House, as to render it im possible to collect them with accuracy.) With regard to reciprocity treaties he admitted that much might be said in their favour. The Ministry thought at one time that they would be the most convenient mode of proceeding; but the more the Government had looked into the ques tion, and considered its difficulties, the more they felt satisfied that it would not; and they slowly, but with conviction, arrived at the conclusion, that it would be better to legislate upon general principles, reserving to themselves in special cases, the power of retaliation. But, in reference to America and Prussia and the northern powers, who were, after all, the competitors feared, if they threw open their ports to us, we ought to throw open ours to them. Under the existing law, any foreign ship had the power to warehouse goods in a Bri tish port; but the power of removing them for consump tion depended upon their coming in British ships; so that if a foreign ship loaded a cargo of Indian corn in one of our warehouses, it could not, even in case of famine, be taken out, without an order in Council, and such orders had frequently been issued. He might refer to many instances in which similar relaxations of the law had been made by orders in Council; and this proved that the proposition now made by the Government to retain the power of the Queen in Council to impose countervailing duties was not new in the legislation of this country. These powers had been retained in the statute 59th George 111., the 4th and sth George IV., and the Bth and 9th Victoria, chap. 90. The statute 4th and sth George IV. presented a case precisely in point; and it had been strictly followed in the present proposal. From 1817 up to 1822 the United States of America were not allowed by law to trade to the British West India colonies; but such American States as were then dependencies of European Powers might so trade. In 1822, however, an Act passed which for the first time al lowed American ships generally to trade to the colonies. The concession by the 15th section of the Act of 1822 en abled the King in Council to prohibit, if he thought fit, by Orders in Council, the vessels of any one of the Ame rican states to trade with the colonies, if those states did not admit British vessels to trade from their ports to the West Indies. On this the Americans imposed tonnage dues on British ships, and in consequence the powers of the Act of 1822 were increased by an Act passed in 1823, which enabled this country to impose additional tonnage duties not only on American ships, but also on the goods brought in those ships to the West Indies. These powers were further increased by the Act of 1824, and these powers had been acted upon with success, and eventually in 1827 or 1828 the trade and vessels of the two countries had been placed upon an equal footing. This showed the advantage of retaining amidst the concessions now proposed, the powers hereto- . . fore kept, and which it was advisable to keep, in order to exercise it, should any exceptional case arise. As there would be many future opportunities afforded him, he would not now go further into the question than to say that with all his old Admiralty experience he could not admit that the proposition of the Govern• ment would have an injurious effect with, regard to the manning the British navy. On the contrary, he be lieved there would always be an ample supply to meet any demand, and that, as heretofore, the military marine of this country would continue to be superior to that of any other nation in the world. Sir C. BURRELL, who spoke in an inaudible tone, and amidst loud cries of " Divide," was understood to say that he considered that the greatest benefits had been conferred upon this country by the operation of the navigation-laws; and believing that the change proposed by her Majesty's Government to bo made in them, would have a most pernicious effect on the interests of all classes of the community, he should vote for the proposition made by his Right Hon. Friend near him (Mr. Herries.) Mr. DISRAELI (after a long pause during which the cries for a division were general, and after strangers had been ordered to withdraw) rose and said that he under stood that several Hon. Members who wished to take part in the debate had left the House in the expectation that it would be adjourned. He should do his best to enable those Honourable Members to fulfil their inten tions, by now moving that the debate be adjourned. Lord J. RUSSELL said he confessed he was sorry the debate should be further protracted ; but he honed, if it was now adjourned, it would be on the undertaking that it would be brought to a conclusion to-morrow (this day). If not, he should, instead of moving that the House adjourn for the Whitsuntide holidays, be com pelled to move its adjournment to Monday next. The•motion for the adjournment of the debate until to-morrow (this day) was then put and agreed to. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. Lord MORPETH moved the further consideration of the report objected to its p roc eeding at that late hour, especially as several Hon. Members, including the Hon. and L earned Member for Coventry (Mr. G. Turner), who h a d l e f t the H House, had new clauses to propose. Lord MORPETII said those clauses could be discus sed on the third reading, whic did not propos e to take until after th e Whitsuntide recess. he i After a short conversation, n which the Attorney- General, Sir H. Willoughby, and Mr. Walpole took part, Lord MORPETII consented to postpone the further consideration of the Bill till this chly. Mr. WYLI) asked whether it was the intention of the Noble Lord, after giving up the smoke prevention clauses of this Bill, to adopt the Bill for that purpose which bad been brought into the other House by Lord Redesdale? L,ird MORPETH said ho was not prepared to say that he would adopt the whole of the clauses of that Bill. HIGHWAYS BILL Sir G. GREY, in nnoyitg tl:Tesecond reading of this Bill, said he had made some alteration in it which would remove an objection that was made to it on the first reading. Mr. HENLEY hoped a distant day would be fixed fur the Committee, in order that the Bill might be well con sidered by the country. Mr. FREWEN thought that a better Bill might be framed if the matter were referred to a Select Commit tee. The duties of the district surveyors to he created by this Bill, would be as well discharged by the county magistrates. _ _ Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said the power of borrow ing money on mortgage of the rates was a dangerous power. _ _ Sir G. GREY said the Bill contained such a power ; but under the proper regulations. Sir W. JOL•LIFFE strongly objected to the clause which gave the power of apportioning rates amongot several parishes. After a few words from Mr. BANKES, the Bill was read a second time. DUTIES ON SPIRITS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that early in the session he had announced his intention of introducing two measures for the sake of removing some of the reetrictions imposed by the existing excise laws on spirits; and ho would take this opportunity of doing so, that the Bills might be considered at Whitsuntide. As these were measures almost entirely of relaxation, he hoped they would afford satisfaction to the parties inte rested. The duties on stone bottles, sweets, suctions, glass, vinegar, and tiles, had been repealed; those on paper and soap had been reduced; and a considerable relaxation had been made in the laws affecting malt, paper, bricks, and other articles. The beneficial effect which had resulted from these changes was best shown by the marked decrease which had taken place in the num ber of excise prosecutions. In 1832 there were 4,309 ex cise informations heard before magistrates; in 1847 the number was 1,688: being a diminution of 2,621. Before the Excise Commissioners in 1832, 974 cases were heard; in 1847, 206; being a diminution of 768. The informations in the Exchequer amounted, in 1842 (only five years ago), to 183; in 1847 to 74; being a diminu tion of 109. This showed that the laws were adminis tered with as much consideration as possible. The Bills he had now to introduce referred only to spirits. The first related to warehousing spirits without payment of duty, both for home consumption and exportation. In England this was not permitted, but it was in Scotland and Ireland. The first Bill would put the English dis tillers on the same footing. It would also give the Scotch distiller power to warehouse Ills spirits without payment of duty in any part of the kingdom. As to spirits for exportation, the present law gives an undue advantage to the foreign trade. A Dutch dis tiller might warehouse his spirits here, take them out when he thought proper, and then export them to our colonies. He therefore proposed to give the home distiller the power of warehousing rectified, but not sweetened, spirits. It was impossible to allow the spirits to be sweetened before they were put into bond, but they might be sweetened in bond. The only exports of spirits took place from Scotland, from which 90,000 gallons were exported. He proposed to allow spirits for home consumption to be equally bonded in the three countries. With regard to spirits for export he proposed to allow them to be bonded in the Customs warehouses, but in that case they must be exported. and could not be taken out for home con sumption. So far as related to the first 11111. The second measure related to the present system of permit survey. In conformity with the report of the Commissioners of Excise inquiry, who stated that the permit system was attended with great inconveniences without any corre sponding advantage, he proposed to reserve to tLe Board of Excise the power of examining spirits in stock or in hand only in circumstances which would justify a sus picion of fraud. He proposed to relieve the spirit dealer from the necessity of permits, and from the sur vey of the excise officers•. They would, however, be re quired to keep certain accounts of stock, and to send a certificate signed by themselves when spirits were sent from one place to another. The only other important provision in the Bill was, that it permitted to persons who now took out a 101. license to sell a less quantity of liquors than they now could on their takin g ; out a sup plementary 51. license. The least quantity of liquors which they could now send out was two gallons ; but, under this Bill, they could sell any quantity not less than an imperial quart. Every dealer would be re quired to have a book in which the quantity of spirits sent out was to be inserted. This would be in the na ture of an invoice. He intended to apply this 'provision to the three countries, although he confessed he had doubts whether it ought to be extended to Ireland, in consequence of the illicit distillation which was carried on there. The resolutions having been read, Mr. COWAN would nut oppose the resolutions, but he did not know whether the measure would be satis factory. He expected that the Right Hon. Gentleman would have announced an intention to alter the licensing system, which was productive of much immorality in Scotland; but he was sorry to find that that was not so. He must also express his dissatisfaction that no relaxa tion was to take place with respect to that body of ma nufacturers to which he belonged, and that they were to be still subject to the delay and vexation of the excise regulations. He wished to know whether a full allow ance would be made for the waste of spirits in bond? Mr. CALLAGHAN was glad that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was about to relax the excise regulations with respect to spirits.. He hoped the Right lion. Gen tleman would allow the distiller for the whole of the waste of spirits in bond, and that he would place the Irish distiller in the same position as the Scotch distiller. Mr. G-ROGAN hoped that the Right Hon. Gentle man would attend to the suggestion of the Hon. Mem ber for Cork, and place Ireland in the same position as Scotland. _ _ _ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would allow for the waste of spirits in bond intended for exportation; but not for spirits in bond for home con sumption. The resolutions were then agreed to, and ordered to be reported to the House this day. Mr. BROTHERTON here rose to move that the House adjourn, but no notice being taken, he resumed his seat. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT (IRELAND) BILL. Sir W. SOMERVILLE moved that the House do go into Committee on this 13111. Mr. GROGAN really must object to going on at that hour of the night. _ _ _ Colonel RAWDON said there were 1,700 persons languishing in prison in Ireland for small debts, who would be released if this Bill passed, and he therefore hoped Mr. Brotherton would put his nightcap on his head, and permit the Bill to be proceeded with forth with.—(Laughter.) Mr. BROTHERTON objected to enter on an Irish debate at that hour. The House, however, resolved itself into Committee, and the various clauses of the Bill were agreed to with out discussion, and with a few unimportant amend ments. Mr. GROGAN urged that the operation of the Bill should be postponed from the Ist of November to the Ist of January next. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said tha statement of his Gallant Friend behind him (Colonel Rawdon) disin clined him to postpone bringing the Bill into operation. Mr. GROGAN said, the only remedy the traders of Dublin had against a debtor was the remedy of arrest and imprisonment. Sir W. SOMERVILLE thought these poor debtors might have the privilege of spending their Christmas out of prison. He declined to give way on this point. Bill to be reported 15th June. GAME CERTIFICATES FOR KILLING HARES BILL. On motion for the third reading of this Bill, Colonel SIBTHORP moved that the House do now adjourn. The motion was not seconded, and the circumstance gave rise to some cheering. Colonel SIBTHORP then said he should oppose pro ceeding with the Bill at that hour as vexatious.—(Oh.) Ile was astonished to find his lion. Friend the Member for Sunderland permitting the Bill to proceed at that late hour.—(Renewed cries of " Ob.") He did not wish to obstruct the business—(oh)—but he should move that the Bill be read that day six months. This amendment was not seconded, and also fell to the ground. The SPEAKER then put the question that the Bill be read a third time. Colonel SIBTHOEP—I shall divide the House. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the gallery was cleared, but no Member being found to act as teller with the Gallant Member for Lincoln, no division took place. On re-admission to the gallery, Mr. FRE WEN was moving the following clause : " Provided always, and be it further enacted, that no thing in this Act contained shall be construed to extend to allow any person or persons not having a game certi &ate to use any engine or wire, commonly called a snare, or any trap of any description for the purpose of killing or taking any game or hares." On the motion that the clause be brought up, Mr. HUDSON defended himself from Colonel Sib thorp's complaint that he had thrown him over. He did not disapprove of the Bill, or he should have been very happy to do anything ho could to co-operate with his Gallant Friend. Mr. COLVILE objected to the clause, and hoped it would not be pressed. The clause was put and negatived; and the Bill was :hen read a third time. FRAUDS IN THE SALE OF BREAD. Mr. SPO3NER (for Mr. Bankes) moved for leave to bring in a 13111 to provide more effectually for checking frauds in the sale of bread and other articles of provi sion.—Leave granted. The House adjourned at Half-past One. The Observer, of Sunday, June 11, will give all the particulars connected with the Chartists' movements, the prosecutions, examinations, and commitments, of the principal leaders. The extensive publication of The Observer commences at 6 o'clock, Sunday mornings ; Monday's edition of The Observer, best for the country awl abroad, Monday afternoons at 4. The Dowager Duchess of Roxburgh and family, Colonel Gordon, Captain Holt, R.N., &c.. were amongst the numerous passengers who arrived here yesterday morning by the Antwerp Company's steamer Antwerpen, Captain Jackson ; the sea passage occupied ;seven hours only. THE LONDols___ FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 9, ,1848. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. THURSDAY, JUNE: 8. PAISLEY, BARRHEAD, AND IItiRLET RAILWAY BILL. Report considered ; Motion made, and Question proposed, `'That the Amendment s ma d e b y the Comm i ttee to the Bill he now read a second time :"—Amendment proposed , to leave out from the wor d s " That the " to the en d of the Question, in order to a dd t h e words " Report be taken into further consideratio n upon this day six months," instead thereof:—Question p u t, "Th at the words propose d to b e l e f t out stand part of the Q ues t ion. " The House d i vi d e d : MAJORITY —AYES, 60. Bentinck, Lord H. Greene, Thomas Repton, G. W. Bowring. Dr. Male, it. 8.1 : Seymer, H. K. Bramston, T. V. Hall, Sir Benjamin Simeon, John Brotherton, Joseph Henley, J. W. Somerville, Sir W. Brown, W. Hobhous e , T. B. Sotheron, T. Buller, Sir J. Y. H ope , Sir J. Stafford, Augustus Clive, li. B. Hume, Joseph Stansfleld, W. R. Cobden, R. Hutt, William Stanton, W...E1• Courtenay, Lord Inglis, Sir It. H. Stuart, Lord J. Crawford, W. S. Keating, Robert Tairourd, Sergeant Dalrymple,;Captain Kershaw, James Thompson, Colonel Deedes, W. Lascelles, E. Thornely, Thomas Drummond, Henry Lygon, General Tyntc, Colouel .. Drummond, Home Mackinnon, W. A. Walsh, Str J. Duncan, George M a i tland, Thomas Willcox , B ro d i e Duncombe, A. Martin, J. Williams, John Dundas, G. Morgan, IL K. G. Williamson, Sir H. Ellice, Edward Morris, David Willoughby, Sir H. Evans, John Oswald, Alexander Wilson, Matthew Ewart, William Packe, C. W. Wortley, J. S. Fergus, John Patten, J. W. TELLERS. Forster, Matthew Pilkington, James Bouverie, E. P. Greene, Joists Rapkael, Alexander Hustle, Archibald :MINORITY —NOES, 35. Baillie, H. J. Fuller, A. E. Sidney,:Aiderman Bankes, G. Glyn, George Carr Spooner, Richard Barrington, Viscount Hanmer, Sir J. Staunton, Sir G. Berestord, William Hill, Lora Marcus Tenison, E. K. Paget, LLord r d W. Berkeley, Captain Houldsworth, T. Vane, Lord H. Cayley, Edward S. Ingestre, Visct. Villiers, Charles Conolly, Colonel KePPel, George T. Vyvyau, Sir F. Disraeli, B. Locke, Joseph: Douglas, Sir C. Duncan, Viscount Maule Fox East, Sir J. B.TELLERS. French, F. Plowden, NV. to. Mackenzie, W. F. Frewen, C. H. Rolleston, Colonel Buck, L. Clarence Waddington, H. HD.aysi.ii SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. ASCOT HEATH RACES.—Tnuesnee. The number of valuable prizes which composed the bill of fare for the "grand day" would, under more fa vourable circumstances, have insured an immense com pany; the absence of the Queen, however, proved a great drawback, and unfortunately the weather, so propitious on the first and second days, turned out most unfavour able; heavy showers fell during the whole of the morn ing, with an effect upon the attendance that could not escape observation. The stands, it is true, were very nearly full, the carriage enclosure put on a good front, and the foot people numbered ten to one compared with Tuesday, but, for a "Cup Day," the falling off was ex traordinary : of this fact the trains from Paddington and Nine Elms, the sale of cards, and the receipts of the va rious stands and booths, furnished ample evidence. For the first time within our recollection the Queen's Stand was closed ; this obliged many ladies of distinction, who were formerly allowed the privilege of occupying the royal apartments during the absence of her Majesty, to resort to the Stewards' Stand; this was crowded with persons of high rank, amongst whom we noticed their Serene Highnesses the Duke of Mecklenburgh Strehtz, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, and the Prince of Hesse: their Highnesses the Princess Metternich, Prince Richard of Metternich, and the Princess Melanie of Metternich; the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, Mar quis and Marchioness of Drogheda, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, and the Countess of Wilton. His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, attended by the Hon. Captain Macdonald, was also present; also the the Earl of Cardigan, Earl Rosslyn, Lord Vivian, Lord Dunkellin, Sir Hugh and Lady Campbell, Colonel ,Cha loner, and most of the titled and distinguished persons whose names is e published in our last. The crack event for the day was the Emperor of Russia's magnificent gift, which at one time bid fair to be a heavy betting race. The Hero and War Eagle met last year for the Doncaster Cup, the former stale from running on hard ground, his opponent a fresh horse. War Eagle won easy, but, for the reason stated, few attached any merit to the performance. The Hero was this year said to be quite himself, and War Eagle's race at Chester showed an improvement on his three-year-old form; both, therefore, were strongly fancied, and up to the Thursday before the meeting it was quite an open race—from that day War Eagle lost ground, and al though ho won easily on Tuesday, it was the prevailing opinion that he would not come to the post. The opi nion was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by a decla ration that he would not start. Flatcatcher had previ• ously been in some favour with his immediate party; War Eagle's withdrawal brought him more strongly into favour, and on Wednesday night, at Windsor, he was backed for a considerable sum by his owner at 2 to 1. The Hero party also became more sweet, as much as 2 to 1 having been laid on him to a good deal of money. Saddle was mentioned as a probable starter, but the race, taking the betting as a criterion, was reduced to a match. We need only add that the Hero maintained his preemi nence by winning with the greatest ease imaginable. We understand that his owner has sold the Vase to John Day, jun., who intends to present it to Lady Mill as a mark of his gratitude for the generous protection and assistance he received from Sir John Barker Mill, dur ing a most trying period. The New Stakes were carried off in gallant style by a two yrs old of Mr. Green's, which was aterwards backed for the Derby at 20 to 1; both the three yrs old stakes were won in a canter by Glendower. The day's racing, although not distinguished by any exciting contests, was good, and but for two or three heavy showers, would have left nothing to complain of; it was brought to a close about half-past five o'clock. The St. James's Palace Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h ft, for three yrs old colts, Bst 71b, and fillies, Bst 41b. Old mile. (4 Subs.) Mr. Payne's Glendower ••• (Nat) 1 ls Colonel Anson's Backbit er 2 Betting-4 to lon Glendower, who waited to the stand, and won easily by two lengths. R un i n 1 min. 54 secs. Her Majesty's Plate of 10 0 gu i neas ; three yrs old, ist 2 1, 1 o b ; s t four, r a , t 9 thest Nw Milepost, 21b; e five, 51b. Lord Exeter's Tophana, 3 yrs... ... ..• ••• 2 4 to 1 on Footstool, who ma d e a ll t h e runn i ng , and won very easily by two lengths. si a x nd an g d o once round. ls t Lord Clifden's Footstool, 5 y rs (Robinson) 1 A Piece of Plate, value 500 sovs., the gift of the Emperor of Russia, added to a Sweepstakes of 20 soya. each; for three yrs old, Est 101 b; four, Bst 51b; five, 9st; six and aged, 9st 31b; mares and geldings allowed 31b. About two miles and a half. (15 Subs., 2 of whom did not name.) Mr. J. B. Day's The Hero, 5 yrs (A. Day) 1 Mr. B. Green's Flatcatcher, 3 yrs (carried 6st 121 b).. 2 Duke of Bedford's Saddle, 4 yrs —• •• Mr. Pedley's Foreclosure, 4 y rs ••• ••• 4 Betting-2 to lon Th e H ero, sto 2 ags t Flateateher, and Bto 1 agat Saddle. Foreclosure, with The Hero in waiting, cut out the work for rather better than half a mile; he then resigned his birth to the crack, who im mediately took a lead of three or four lengths, which be maintained until half way up the distance, here Flat catcher made his effort, and on sufferance got so near that his admirers fancied his chance was not quite out; chance, however, he had none, The Hero winning with the greatest ease by a length, Saddle a bad -third. Run in 4 min. 34 sect. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h ft; for three :yrs old colts, Sst 71b, and fillies Bst 31b ; those got by stallions or out of mares that never bred a winner, allowed 41b; if both, 61h. Swinley Course. (el Subs.) Mr. Payne's Glendower (411))... (Nat) 1 Lord Exeter's Swordplayer ••• 2 Colonel Anson's Backbiter ••• 3 100 to 15 on Glendower. Swordplayer made play, followed by Backbiter, Glendower waiting. No change till near the stand, when Glendower went in front clear of his horses in two or three strides, and won in a canter by three lengths. Run. in 2 min. 46 secs. The New Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 100 added; for two yrs old colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 31b; winners extra. T.Y.C. (38 Subs ) Mr. B. Green's Garrick, Bst 71b ... (Robinson) 1 Mr. Payne's Glauca, Sit 81b, including. 51b extra ... 2 Lord Lonsdale's cby Epirus, dby d'Egville, Bst 71b 3 Mr. J. B. Day's Whitley, Sat 71b ••• ••• ••• 4 Mr. Death's Cmsarian, Bst 71b ••• Mr. Hussey's Maiden Blush, Bst 3lb ••• Mr. W. Elam's First Chance, Bst 71b... .: . 0 . . Betting-5 to 4 agst Garrick, 2 to 1 agst Glance, 4 to 1 agst Maiden's Blush. Garrick made all the running, and won easily by a length; Epirus colt a bad third. Run in 1 min. 16 secs. The Visitors' Plate of 100 sous. (handicap), by subscrip tion of 5 sous. each; the surplus, with the entrance of non-subscribers to go to the second horse. Once round and a distance. Lord Clifden's Footstool, 5 yrs, 9st llb (Robinson) 1 Mr. Combe's Trouncer, 4 yrs, ist 4lb Mr. J. Day's Milliner, 5 yrs, 6st llb 3 Mr. Greville's Geraldine , 5 yrs, 7st 41b 0 Mr. Osbaldeston's Chat , 4 yrs, 7st 21b 6.. 0 Mr. Shelley's Tarella , 4 yrs, 6st 101 b Lord E E. It. Exeter 0 • Mr. Bartley's Grist , 3 yr s, sst 81b :: s rlTte'issiPWlTaeteerYcorsei sst • Illb 0 Weathercock, 3 yrs, sst 111 b ... 0 Lord Chesterfield's Sampson, 3 yrs, sst 61b n Sir J. Ilawley's Lovelace , 3 y rs, sst 31b - 0 Betting-3 to 1 agst Tisiphone, 4 to 1 agst Footstool, 6 to 1 agst Tarella, 6 to 1 a g st Geraldine, 7 to 1 agst Milliner, and 10 to 1 agst Trouncer. After considerable delay at the post, occasioned by the restiveness of Grist and Lovelace, they got away, all on good terms except the two mentioned, both of whom lost two or three lengths' start, Tarella leading, followed by Tisiphone, Geraldine, and Sampson. This order lasted to the top of the course, where Tisiphone went in front ; h er l ea d, however, terminated at the Swinley post, and Grist went on with the running, attended by Geraldine, Tisiphone third; these three formed the front division to the turn where Geraldine and Gri st declined ; Tisi phone gave way at the distance, and Trouncer took up the work, fol lowed by Milliner. Footstool, who had been lying quite away from his horses, now began to draw to war d s hi s horses; at the stand he pass ed Milliner, and challenging Trouncer a few strides from home, won cleverly by a length; Milliner a bad third. Run in 3 min. 50 secs. The Stand Plate of 70 sous.; three yrs old, 7st 71b • four, 9st; five, 9st 8 1 b; six and a g ed, 9 st 1 21 b; mares and geldings allowed 31 b ; horse s entered to be sold for 400 allowed 31b; for 300, 71 b ; for 2 00, 121 b; for 100, 201 b. Svvinley Course. Lord Chesterfield's Lady Lurewell , 4 yrs (100) (Nat) 1 Lord W. Powlett's Franconi, 3 yrs (100) Mr. G. Hobson's Passion Flower , 3 yrs (100) • ••• 3 2 Majorße Betting-2 P n crit—t's 2to 1 ::. Lord Exeter's Hecuba, 3 yrs ( 100 ) ••• "' 4 W. Wortley's Premier, 4 yrs ( 100 ) Holloa, agst 3 Ladyyrs (1 O L o u ) r e w e 5 to 2 agst iran °- Fran coni, and 6 3 to 1 agst Hecuba. Holloa took a clear lead at starting, and was two or three lengths ahead at the turn into the old mile; in making this he bolted and fell, and Passion Flower went on with the running to the turn into the straight course, where she was passed by Lady Lure well, who led to the end, and won easily by a length. Run in 2 min. 47 secs. MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MA GISTRATES. Yesterday a general meeting of the magistrates of the county of Middlesex took place at the Sessions-house , , Clerkenwell, for the transaction of the financial and other business of the county; Mr 11. Pownall in the chair. A report of the committee of justices for superintend ing the erection of the New Lunatic As) lum at Colney Hatch way laid before the court. It stated that the Com mittee had selected the plan submitted to them by Mr. Daukes, o f 14, Whitehall-place, architect, and it was estimated that t h e cost of the building, according to those plans, would be 114,000/. The Court received and adopted the report, an d i t was resolved that the sum of 114,0001., to be rai se d b y mortgage on the county rates, should be placed at th e di sposal of the committee for the purposes of the asyl um. Mr. Rosu sa id h e would give notice that he should move that an additional 1001. a year be added to the present salary (4001. a year) of the Rev. George H. Hind, the chaplain of the Westminster House of Correc tion. That gentleman had solicited it at the hands of the visiting justices, on the ground of long servitude and increase of duty. A long discussion ensued, and the general feeling of the Court being that it any alteration were requisite, an assistant chaplain should be appointed, and not an in crease made to the present chaplain's salary ; therefore Mr. Rose withdrew his notice of motion. Mr. WALESBY moved, pursuant to notice, " That the visiting justices of the House of Correction at West minster be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding 10,0001. in making additions to and alterations in that prison, for the more effectual warming and ventilating the same, for providing 329 additional sleeping cells, and for executing such other works as have been sanctioned by the Secretary of State." Mr. ROSE seconded the motion. Mr. ARMSTRONG moved as an amendment, that it would be much more beneficial to the public if 10,0004 were spent in the promotion of industrial schools. He said they wero refining luxury for felons, and holding oat inducements for them to commit crime, while they the commission of theft. ought to do their utmost to empty p r i sons, and prevent After some discussion the amendment fell to the ground, and the motion was carried. It was resolved that the 10,000/. should be raised on mortgage of the county rates. _ After transacting some desultory and routine matters ,he Court broke up. THE REFORM MOVEMENT. A meeting of the rate-payers of the parish of Lambeth was held yesterday evening, at the Vestry Hall, for the purpose of supporting the motion of Mr. Hume for an extension of reform. Mr. Hunt (Churchwarden) pre sided. Mr. BYRON moved the following resolution, viz.:— " That in the opinion of this meeting, the Commons House of Parliament, as now constituted, does not re present either the views, the feelings, or the interests of a large majority cf the British nation, on whom falls with most disproportionate and increasing pressure, an enormous burden of taxation, and who had no voice in the control of that burden, or any other legislative enactment." Mr. EDWARDS seconded the resolution, which was carried most enthusiastically. Mr. GRADY moved the next resolution, which con demned the announcement of Lord John Russell in Par liament, with reference to the extension of reform. Mr. BOULT seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. PEARSON, M.P., said that he concurred fully in the views and sentiments of the meeting. He expressed his own views the other day in a letter to the Electoral As sociation of Lambeth, of supporting Mr. Hume in his motion. lie, however, thought that they should not say that they considered the questions contended for in that motion as final. He might safely state that his friend and colleague coincided with his views. L was then unanimously agreed that a petition, em bodying the resolutions, be drawn up, signed, and pre sented to Parliament, and that the members for the borough bo requested to support the same. The meeting then separated. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. THE ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY. PORTSMOUTH, JUNE B.—Tha Deputy Adjutant-Ge neral devoted this day to an official inspection, or grand annual field day, of the Artillery branch of the Royal Marine Corps at Cumberland Fort, about four miles from Portsmouth, where a large assemblage of the rank of the locality were congregated to witness the day's evolutions. The review opened with practice from a sea service battery, mounting one 68-pounder, 'three 32-pounders, one 32-pounder carronade, one 24-pounder (all at targets placed at a range of 425 yards), and three 10-inch land service mortars in rear of an epaulement, at a flag-staff placed at a range of 560 ;yards. The whole of the evo lutions of the day were under the immediate command of Colonel Gibsone, the Commandant of the Marine Ar tillery Corps. Besides the colonel, the officers attached to the above battery were Major Castieau, Captain Henry, Captain Fraser, Captain Langley, and Lieu ' tenants Ireland and Mawbey. The practice from the above battery was most perfect, the targets being literally blown to atoms upon the butt at every round, and the shells falling around the flag staff like cricket balls at a wicket. The heavy battery on the beach under the Fort was next exercised under the direction of Colonel Gibsone, Major Castiean, Captains Henry and Parke, and Lieu tenants Ireland and Alexander. The practice was from one 8-inch howitzer with common shell, at a flag moored seawards 1,350 yards; one 12-pounder medium gun with common shell, at the same target ; one 24-pounder howitzer, one 12 pounder ditto, and one 6 •pounder light field-piece, with a spherical case, at a flag seawards, moored at 900 yards' range. The precision of this fire will be understood by the fact of the flags being riddled at every discharge except two (six rounds were fired); and at last the flag on the latter staff was shot away. Rocket practice was at the same time going on from 12-pounder, 6-pounder, and 3-pounder tubes and Col. Colquhoun's 3-pounder rocket guns, under the direction of Captain Fraser and Lieutenant Draffen, and although a stiff breeze was blowing, which had considerable effect upon the missiles, they were all projected with extra ordinary, if not unprecedented, accuracy towards the mark. After the review Colonel Gibsone entertained the Ad jutant-General and a select and brilliant circle at a dejeuner within the fort, and in the evening gave a sumptuous entertainment to the Adjutant-General and the elite of the corps and garrison. The Amphion, 36, Captain W. J. Williams, arrived at Spithead this morning from Kingstown, Dublin. The Bellerophon, 78, Captain Barnes, sailed this morning for Plymouth. The Vindictive, 50, Captain Michael Seymour, was officially inspected and her crew mustered by Sir Charles Ogle this morning, prior to that fine frigate coming into harbour to be paid off. She sailed in with a stiff breeze in truly magnificent style at five o'clock. The Firebrand steam-frigate. Captain Charles Hope, was also officially inspected at Spithead this afternoon by the Commander. in-Chief, prior to being paid off at Woolwich, for which place she left this evening. Commander Hewlett, of the Excellent, attended both inspections to superintend the gunnery in lieu of Captain Chads, absent on leave. Wind S.W., fresh breezes and cloudy weather. PLYMOUTH, JUNE 7.—Yesterday afternoon the brig Thomas Snooks, Kreeft, master, 31 days from the coast of Africa, passed up Channel, having landed hero Mr. Thomas L. Ingram, Lieutenant-Governor of Gambia, and Lieutenant S. B. Gordon, late Civil Commander of M`Carthy's Island; some mail bags for the Post•office, and dispatches addressed to the Secretary of State. Passengers gone on—the Hon. R. Lloyd, three children, and servant; Mr. R. Kueppenburg and Mr. B. Kneppen burg, of Bremen; and Captain W. Richardson. The Thomas Snooks is laden with bides, wax, ground nuts, and a general cargo. When she sailed on the 6th of May, left there the north country brig Jordison, two or three American and about ten French merchant vessels. Spoke, on the 18th of May, in lat. 30 12 N., long 39 W., the schooner Peterel, of Liverpool; and on the 28th of May, in lat. 42 35 N., lon. 2 18 W., the American barque Douglas, from New York for Antwerp. THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS; OR, ROMANCE AND REALITIES OF EASTERN TRAVEL. By ELIOT WARBURTON, ESQ.—A seventh edition of this popular work has just appeared, most opportunely for all Eastern travellers, as the author has revised and corrected it down to the present moment. "It is because Mr. War burton happily blends so much of the knowledge which every traveller to the East should possess to make his tour agreeable with picturesque description and ani mated narrative, that we think so highly of it as we do, and warmly recommend it to all who think of pursuing the same route, or who wish to know the present aspect of countries:which must always be regarded with interest. The author is an instructive guide as well as a pleasant companion. The view of memorable objects calls into requisition the treasures of his well -stored mind, and he pours forth valuable information and spirited descrip. tion with the happiest effect. His details, too, of the best mode of travelling—the demeanour to be observed towards the guides and natives—the necessaries required —the climate—the best seasons for moving —and the ex penses of the:tour are concisely given, and obviate the necessity of any other guide book." —Court Journal. Bell's lje in London, Sunday, June 11, will give the most correct original account of the four days' Ascot Races, including engravings of the cups.—Price of Bell's Life, 40 folio columns, O. Belts Life, as a sporting journal, is unequalled in the extent and accu racy of its details of all matters interesting to the sport ing community. The sale exceeds 27,000. It is the best medium for advertising races, coursing, steeple chases, regattas, stallions , horses, dogs, and sporting books, and, nfact'everything to which it i s d es i ra bl e the sportsman should be attracted. Th e terms are—for ooe advertisements not exceeding seven lines, 7s. ; all above that, Is. a line. A s in gle advertisement in b Bell's Life may be equal to half a dozen insertions in some journals.—Of f ice, 170, Strand. FIRE AT BRISTOL. —On Wednesday morning a fire,' which was attended by loss of life, broke out upon the Broad- quay, Bristol, in the Seamen's Waterproof Clothing Establishment of Mr. Park. One Ann Jack son, the wife of a sailor, was burnt to death. Besides the destruction of Park's premises, several others were much damaged, among them the soda water manufactory of Mr. Price, the Garrick's Head Tavern, and the shop of Mr. Bryant, hairdresser, IRELAND. DUBLIN, J UNE 7.—The intelligence from the pro vinces this morning, always excepting the state of the crops, which is most promising, is of no interest. MEETING OF THE CONFEDERATION. Last night the Music Hall was crowded. The Con `federate clubs marched thither as uitial. The chair was taken by Francis Morgan, Esq., one of the solicitors to the Corporation. The CHAIRNAN, in addressing the meeting, said the time approached when the post of honour would be the pose of danger. lie trusted that the conduct of those whom he saw before him would be firm. These were times when every man who wished to preserve the rights of citizens would soon bo called upon individually to as sert them. Let him tell the Government that he was anxious to preserve his oath of allegiance to her Ma jesty, but he wished it to he remembered that his alle giance was promised conditionally with the protection he received; and if some of the outrages which had oc curred within the last few days were again attempted, who could answer for what the next week would bring on? He could scarcely trust himself to speak of the mockery of all law and justice which was attempted in the case of the martyred Mitchel. In the person of John Mitchel, trial by jury had been rendered a mockery; in that of Maguire the Habeas Corpus Act was suspended. These boasted pillars of the constitu tion were trampled to the dust by their English Go • vernors. Therefore, he besought them to be steady and firm, for the time was coming when the support of every individual citizen would be wanting for Ireland. Pold and chivalrous men would address the reeetin. would entreat them not to add another viecLui to the savage law which had been passed. Enough had been said and written; they knew what was demanded of them. Let them then commence to do it in silence and determination.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. DILLoN came forward, and submitted a statement of facts, which had been put together not so much to convince that meeting as all those who read the English language, that John Mitchel had been swindled out of his liberty —a fact that would remain a lasting record of Whig infamy. The Learned Gentleman said that a careful investigation had been made by Mr. Ray and his associates in Conciliation Hall, as to the character and position of persons upon the jurors' list, and they could prove that no less than 800 upon that list were in a higher position in life than the Protestants who were put upon the panel. A jury was packed to try John Mitchel, out of a jury list contain ing two Catholics for one Protestant, which furnished an irrefragable truth that it .vas packed. By such expe dients as th ese J ohn Mitchel was found guilty and trans ported. H e to l d Lord Clarendon nthis, that for one Re publican in Ireland that day month there were twenty in Ireland th at night. Bat,perhaps, the object was to strike terror i nto the Confederation. If that was their object, he pronounced it to be a failure. He would con clude with one observation, months from that nightt namely, that if within two in such a position —were it e people of Ireland were not not organized and so armed, that the packing of a jur would be a very unsafe ex periment in Ireland----thenyhe said they deserved to re- Cheers.) .Ere was there main slaves to the end of tim e Mr. C. G. DUFFY then Came on behalf of the Council of the ICwoanrfcLederation, to tell them that an offer for union had been made to them from Conciliation-hall. He was authorised t o state to them that it was propo se d t h at the m eetings of th e Repeal Association s h ou ld b e suspend meetings of the Irish Confederation shou . Idb° that the pended—(" No," cries of " O r d er, " and slight con fusion)—that all all past differences should be f o te (Hear, hear)—and that they sh ou ld un i te in a gnoetwn— as- sociation to find a short, sharp, an d rap i d road to inde pendence. Think for a moment o f th e f ull meaning of such an offer. It meant that all the power of Ireland, to a greater extent than the Queen could wield it, should be given to the new association to fight the battle of Ire land's liberty. The question they would ask first naturally was, on what principle were they asked to enter that new association ?—(llear.) He, for one, answered without hesitation, the principles Of the Irish Confederation. The next question that would naturally arise was, fur what purpose would this new body be orgznized? Voice—To handle the pike.—(Order.) Mr. DurEr—He would tell them that it would not be instituted for making any more speeches. The main purpose which he looked for accomplishing by it was the planting of Ireland thick with IN peal clubs, and to knit them from end to end of the land. (Mr. Galway, of the Repeal Ass , ciation, here entered, and was loudly cheered.) He had been watching anxiously the pro gress of the Irish Confederatior. For the last month its progress halt been rapid. At the next meeting they would lay before them the fundamental rules of the new association, one by one, with the opinion of all the clubs in Dublin upon them, Rod they would then ask them to determine whether the proposed union should take place or not. Mr. THOMAS F. MEAGHER next presented himself, and was received with loud cheering. lle said—Citizens of Dublin—Since we last assembled in this hall an event has occurred which decides our fate. We are no longer masters of our lives; they belong to the country, to liberty, and to vengeance.—(Cheers.) Upon the walls of Newgate a fettered hand has inscribed this doctrine —" We shall be the martyrs or the rulers of a revolu tion."—(Great cheering.) " But two, three—aye, hun dreds shall follow me,' exclaimed the glorious citizen who was sentenced to exile and immortality upon the morning of the 27th of May. - (Cheers.) Such was his prophecy then, and his children sh a ll li ve to see t h at prophecy fulfilled.—(Hear, hear.) Let no man distrust these words of mine. Whilst I speak them I am fully sensible of the obligation they impose—it is an oblige ' tion from which there is no exemption but through in famy.—(Cheers.) Claiming your trust, however, I well know the feelings that prevail to a great extent among you—doubt, depression, shame. Doubt as to the truth of those whose advice restrained your bearing; depres sion, inspired by the loss of the ablest and boldest man amongst us ; shame, excited by the ease, the inso lence, and the impunity with which they hurried him in chains from the island to whose service he sacrified his all on earth—all which made life dear, and honourable, and glorious to him—his home, his genius, and liberty. —(Cheers.) In this feeling of depression —of shame—l deeply share ; and from the distrust with which some of you at least may regard the members of the late council of this Confederation, I shall not hold myself exempt. —(Hear.) If they are to blame, so am I. Between the hearts of the people and the bayonets of the Govern ment I took my stand with them, and against those who scoffed at prudence as a crime. —(Hear.) I am here to answer for it. If you believe that my act was the act of a dastard, treat me with no delicacy —treat me with no respect—vindicate your own courage —the necessity and the perils of the cause forbid the interchange of courtesies.—(Cheers.) Whatever odium may attach to me, I am ready to endure it ; but do not for a moment suppose that the withdrawal of your confidence will have any influence upon my exertions.—(llear.) No! in ranks beside the poorest artizan amongst you, I will freely act under any executive you may decree. With the intellect and heroism of the democracy from the workshop, the field, or the garret, I will press on with you to the death. I will be the soldier and the subject of the plebian king. —(Cheers.) Tho address to the people of Ireland, signed by William Smith O'Brien, bears witness to your generous desperation. It states what is the fact, how ever Castle organs may question it—that thousands of the confederates bad pledged themselves that John Mit chel should not leave this island but through their blood. —(Cheers.) We are bound to make this statement in justice and in honour—you would have fought but that we seized your hands and bound them.—(Cheers.) Let no vile tongue spit its slime on the people ; they were ready for the sacrifice, and if the signal had been given which they panted to receive, the stars would burn to night above a thousand martyr graves.—(Cheers.) On our heads be the sarcasm and the reproach. Previous to the trial we laid before the clubs the reasons which compelled us to oppose the project of a rescue. The concentration of 10,000 troops upon this city, the incomplete organization of the people, the insuffi ciency of food in case of a sustained resistance, the uncertainty as to how the country parts would support us, and to what extent—these were the chief reasons which drove us into antagonism with your gene rosity, your devotion, and your intrepidity; and to the course we advised the members of the clubs at length give a reluctant sanction. I do net think I would act a candid part if I did not state that the day subsequent to the arrest of Mr. Mitchel I gave expression to sentiments having an opposite tendency to the advice to which I allude. At a meeting of the Grattan Club on that day I stated we ought to come to the resolution to resist by force, in case of conviction, the transportation of John Mitchel—(Loud cheers)— which and, at the worst, that the s hip cheers bore him should sail upon a sea of bl oo d—(L ou d .) I said this, and I will not now conceal it. I said this, and I will not now shrink from the reproach of having acted otherwise. Upon consideration and con sultation with some of the leading members of the Con federation I became satisfied these were sentiments which, if acted upon, would associate my name with the ruin of the cause. I therefore felt it to be my duty not to shrink from the responsibility which the avowal of them might entail, but to avert the disasters which the enforcement of them would ensure.—(Hear, hear.) Call me coward, call me renegade—l accept these titles as the penalties which a fidelity to my convictions has imposed up on me. It will be for a short time only. At the end I see the path which I have been ordeined to walk; no object intercepts my view, and on that closes upon that path I can read no coward's epi taph.—(Cheers.) Bitterly, bitterly indeed, might the wife and children of our illustrious friend lament the loss they have sustained if his example failed to excite amongst us that defiant spirit which, in spite of pains and penalties, will boldly soar to freedom.—(Cheers.) I should not say that I feel depression; his example, his stern fortitude, and tranquil heroism forbid it.— (Cheers.) Let not the banners droop, let not the batta lions roll back when the chief is down—(Cheers)—you have to avenge that fall—(Cheers)—until that fall shall have been avenged, a sin blackens the soil of the nation that will repel from you the sympathy of every gallant to o foeplllow h (Cheers.) F orwar d ! forward! we are pledged m— (Cheers)—once again they shall have to pack a jury box; once again they shall have to exhibit to the world the frauds and mockery upon which their power is based; but the English shall never, never rest in this island.—(Cheers.) The conquest begun 700 years ago by the Normans shall never be com pleted. From the blood that drenched the scaffold in '9B the felons of this year have sprung—(Cheers)—and if they shall fail, peace, and loyalty, and debasement may for a time resume their reign —the snows of winter, the flowers of summer, may close the proscribed graves, but from those graves there shall be a resurrection.— (Cheers.) The question which has been debated for centuries, at one time in fields of blood, and since that time in a party senate, amidst the jeers and yells of fac tion—the question as to what shall be the fate of this island —must he this year determined—(Cheers)—the end is at hand, and so get arms and prepare.—(Cheers.) Organize your strength, your intellect, your enthusiasm. _ -- --- A truce te-cheeii, — and speeches, and banquets --to im portant resolutions that resolve nothing —to magnificent displays that are preposterous deception. Substitute de fined action for driftleSS passion, and in the intelligent' distribution and disciplined exercise of your powers—let the country manifest its purpose, and give permanent effect to its ambition.—(Cheers.) Mr. O'GonatAN, jun., and others, addressed the meet ing in similar sentiments, and the meeting broke up. The clubs went away peaceably. AN INSPECTOR OF POLICE AND TWO CON STABLES SENT FOR TRIAL TO SESSIONS. Inspector Walpole, and two constables of the A divi sion, appeared before the magistrates at the head police office, to answer the complaint of Mr. James M`Cor mick, of Christ Church-place, for wilful and malicious trespass. The complainant is proprietor and printer of a weekly unstamped paper, called the Irish National Guard, and the charge made against the police-constables and in spector was for having torn from his shop window pla cards relating to the said publication, and of which the following is a copy : " A PROCLAMATION. —T O ALL IGNORANT AND DE LIMED POLICEMEN.--" Whereas the Captains of 'The Irish National Guard' have received several disnat ches from their country depots, relative to the conduct of cer tain police, in tearing down their bulletins, announcing thestrength of each week's columns; and also endeavour ing to prevent respectable non-commissioned officers from billeting. The Irish National. Guard,' now here by give notice, that they will prosecute all such parties so offending ; and the Captains further inform all such detective jackal's, that "The Irish National Guard' is regularly marched, once a week, for inspection, to her Majesty s Stamp-office, having been previously drilled and inspected by the said Captains and the printer to the service, who is duly licensed. The Captains of The Irish National Guard,' therefore, command all their agents and non-commissioned officers in the out posts, to notify to them any rash attempts that may hereafter be made to surprise their depots, to cut off detachments, or prevent The Irish National Guard' from marching through the length and breadth of Ireland, England, Scotland, and our ancient possession the Isle of Man.—Signed by order of the Captains, at their Castle, 16, Christ Church-place, Dublin, this Ist day of June, 1848. " JAMES M'CORMICK, Licensed Printer." Proof was given of the circumstances attending the taking down the placards. The charge was undenied by the defendants, but the Inspector and Mr. Superin tendent Walsh justified the act, on the plea of orders to that effect from the Commissioners. After a lengthened hearing, the Magistrates decided that the posting of the placards on complainant's shop window was not an offence at either common or statute law; that there was nothing seditious or indecent in the character of the document, whatever might be the cha racter of the publication to which it referred; and that if there was obstruction by it to the public thoroughfare, it was consequential, and not direct, and therefore not chargeable as against Mr. M'Cormick. Under these circumstances, the Bench decided on sending the inspec tor and his subordinates for trial to the City Sessions. Informations were accordingly sworn by Mr. M'Cor•. mick and his sister. IMPROMPTU ON HEARING JENNY LIND'S EXQUISITE INTERPRETATION OF LUCIA, IN DONIZETTI'S OPERA, " LUCIA DI LAM MERMOOR," ON SATURDAY NIGHT. Enchantress, say, ere you depart, Is it true homage to thy art, Poor tribute of this feeling heart, My silent tears? H. J. ST. LEGER. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JUNE 8. STOCA EXCHANGE —The share market is again buoyant, and more business is being done. The sales are—Birken head, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction (late C. and B.), 274 10s. Shares, 13 !,6 —East Anglian. at. I us. Shares, 3/. Is. 3d. — Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths (late M. and 13.), I%i dis.—Ditto, 32/. Shares, 7 c. 10/. Pre ference, 6s. 3d. P.—London and North-Western, 123—Ditto, Quarters, H. Is. 3d. p —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin coln Quarters, No. 1, 4 % dis.—Ditto, 204 Shares, 8 1 ,4 dis. —Midland Stock, 102 —Ditto, New Halves, 6 , 4 dis.— Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 9/. 12s. 3d. Shares ( B), tbs.—Solidi - Eastern ant D over, No. 1, 91,4 No. 9 , 10 ti C. dis.—Ditto, No. 3, .dis,—Eitt o , N o. 4, Thirds, 3 c. dis, MANCHESTER, JuNE 8. STOCK EXCITANGx.—The sales are—Birkenhead. Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 7 9-16 dis.—Ditto (late Chester and Ii rkenhead ), 13—East Lancashire, Quarters, Preference, 3-16 p.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 32/. Shares (late Ex tension), 6 3 4 dis.—Ditto (West 'Riding Union), 3 11-16 dis.—Ditto, Preference, 5-16 p.--London and North. Western, 124—Ditto, Quarters e), 2 5-16 p.—Manchester, Sheflield, and Lincolnshire, Quarters, No. 2, 15—North Staffordshire, 2% dia.—South-East ern and ver, No. 4, 2y B die. 13 IRUINGLIAM, JUNE 8. STOCK ExcHANGE.—Th e sates are—London and North. Western, 12 4—Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 271. dis.—North Staffordshire, 48s. 9d. dis. —Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 863 3d. dis.—llitto (B), 58s. 9d. dis.— Great Western, par. SWEARING-IN SPECIAL CONSTABLES.—Yesterday W. F. Walesby, Esq., and Hector Rose, Esq., two of her Majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Middlesex, attended at the vestry-room, St. Martin's place, Trafalgar -square, to administer the oath to such persons as might desire to be appointed special constables, and to renew the warrants of those already sworn. Up wards of three hundred persons were enrolled, exclu sive of the whole of the men from the Branch Post office, Charing-cross, and a great many gentlemen students from Ring's College, the magistrates being en gaged incessantly signing the warrants from four until seven o'clock. They will attend again to-day from eleven until two. Magistrates will also be in attendance this day for a like purpose at the different parochial vestry rooms and metropolitan session-houses. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—At the exhibition of the Horticultural Society on Tuesday last, Mr. James Cuthill, ;of Camberwell, exhibited a new strawberry, called the Black Pri nce . I t i s an excellent sort for early forcing, and a most prolific bearer, as may be conceived when we say that the plant shown had on it upwards of two hundred fruit of a medium size. Mr. Cuthill also exhibited a dish of ashleaved kidney potatoes, perfectly free from disease, grown in the manner recommended in his pamphlet. TEN HOURS' BILL DEMONSTRATION IN MAN CHESTER.--On Wednesday evening last the friends of this measure celebrated the first anniversary of its be coming the law of the land, in the Free-trade Hall. Between three and four thousand operatives sat down to tea. Amongst those present were Lord Ashley, M.P., John Fielding, Esq.. the Marquis of Blandford, Lord John Manners, the Hon. Mr. P. Cowper, M.P., Charles Hindley, Esq., W. B. Ferrand, Esq., Rev. Mr. Hunting ton, and a large number of gentlemen and clergy from the surrounding towns. The Rev. C. D. Wray, Vice - Dean of Manchester, was in the chair. Resolutions of thanks to all those noblemen and gentlemen who bad long and successfully laboured to secure this Bill were moved and seconded by operative spinners, all of whom expressed their great satisfaction at the working of the measure. These resolutions were responded to by Lord Ashley, John Fielding, Esq., Lord John Manners, the Hon. Mr. P. Cowper, Mr. B. Ferrand, and other gentle men. The meeting was exceedingly enthusiastic, and did not separate till after eleven o'clock. BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.—Last evening a meet ing of the members of the Political Union anti other per sons favourable to the six points of the Charter, was held at the Town-hall. The attendance was most nume rous. At half-past seven o'clock J. Baldwin, Esq., was called to the chair. The following resolution having been carried unanimously, the meeting separated peace ably:—" That this meeting is of opinion, that the misery and distress of the country are the result of a system of legislation, established by a Parliament which does not justly represent the t rs d ing c l asses o f t h e United King dom, and which excludes the whole of the labouring po pulation from votng; and therefore this meeting ocenly and unequivocally declares that the statemees made by Lord John Russell recently, in the Hoase of Commons, is an evidence of the lamentable ignorance of her Ma jesty's advisers, as such, as seriously to endanger the peace of the country, and the safety of the throne; and further expresses its deliberate opinion that the present . Ministry are fully respon s ibl e f o r th e diagass of the country, and the lamentable consequences which have resulted therefrom." ASSOCIATION FOR THE AID AND BENEFIT 01 DRESSMAKERS AND MILLINERS.—The annual meeting of this association w as h e ld at the rooms o f th e Statistical Society, St. James's-square, yesterday afternoon; the Earl of Arundel and Surrey, M.P., presiding. Lady Ashley, the Countess Grey, Lady Arundel, Lady Syd ney, Lady R. Grosvenor, Miss Copley, and other ladies of distinction were present on the occasion. The chair man haying expressed the gratification with which be attended that day as the deputy of Lord Ashley (the president of the institution), who AMC unavoidably absent upon other business, called upon R. D. Grainger, Esq. (the secretary), to read the report of the society tor the past year. That document s t a t e d t h at t h e progress of the institution during the year just expired had been very satisfactory and encouraging. The committee had caused careful inquiries to be instituted into the number of hours during which milliners and dressmakers were now employed daily in the metropolis and in country towns, and the information received warranted them in stating that a marked abridgment of their duration had resulted from the effbrts of that institution. It is now generally believed that at no di s t ant per i o d the hours would be universally reduced to twelve hours per diem. The registry of applicants for employ ment kept by the society was steadily increasing; 1,273 persons having been registered upon the society's books free of cost last year, 523 of whom had been provided with situations through the society's instrumentality. The registration system tends materially to promote the reduction of the excessive hours of labour, by providing employers with extra assistance whenever they have large orders to execute. Medical relief is afforded to the class whom the society seeks to benefit, at the rate of ss. per annum each; and last year 94 persons had subscribed to procure themselves this species of advan tage. A provident fund is connected with the society, to induce saving habits among dressmakers and milliners, by holding out attractive rates of interest for the deposit of small sums of money, and 1741. had been entrusted to the society under this head during the past year. The total receipts were about 3401.—a smaller sum than they amounted to in the preceding year; and the balance in hand is '2O/. 16s. The report having been unanimously adopted, the meeting was subsequently addressed by Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P., G. liedmayne, Esq., Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Brewer, Dr. Dixon, Dr. Aidis, Dr. Hodgkin, F. L. Clarke, Esq., &c., in support of the claims of the society, and the proceedings closed with the usual forme.l resolu tions and routine business.