The Sun. — London, England, 1848-04-07 00:00:00

BANK RETURNS. (From the London Gazette of Tuesday.) An Account, pursuant to the Act seventh and eighth Victoria, cap- 32, of the Average Amount of Bank Notes, of the several Banks of Issue in England and Wales. in Circulation during the Week ending Satur day, the 25 th day o f March, 1848:- Average PRIVATE BANKS. Amount. Abingdon Bank, Abingdon-Knapp and Co.- - kndover Bank, Andover-Heath and Co - Ashford Bank, Ashford-Jemmitt and Pomfret 9,636 kylshaca Bank, Aylsha m-R. and G. Copeman 5,130 Aylesbury Old Bank, Aylesbury-Rickford and Hunt Baldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswade -.flank, Baldock-Wells , Hogg , and Lindsell 27,925 Barnstaple Bank, Barnstaple-Drake and Co 11,65 5 Basingstoke and Odiham.: Bank, Basingstoke- Seymour, Lamb, and Co Bedford Bank, Bedford-T. Barnard Bedford and Bedfordshire Bank, Bedford- Trapp, Halfhead, and Co. 3owdley Bank, Bewdley-Nichols, Baker, and Crane Bicester and Oxfordshire Bank and Oxford Bank, Bicester-Tubb and Co. Birmingham Bank, Birmingham-Attwoods, Spooner, and Co 23,344 Birmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Birming harn-J. L. Moilliett, and Sons 13,265 s3landford Bank, Blandford-Bastard and Oak 7,772 Boston Bank, Boston-Garfit and Co 59,228 Bostoa Rank, Boston-Gee and Co 13,720 Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater-J. &J. Sealey 8,168 Bristol Bank, Bristol-Miles, Harford, and Co. 29,319 Broseley and Bridgnorth, and Bridgnorth and Broseley Bank, Broseley-Messrs. Pritchard 19,330 Buckingham Bank, Buckingham -Bartlett, Parrett, and Co. Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury Bank, Stow- Market Bank, B ur y - Oakes, Bevan, and Co. 70,005 Banbury Bank, Banbury-Gillett and Tawney. 25,471 Banbury Old Bank, Banbury-Messrs. Cobb 36.683 Bati: City Bank, Bath-Moger and Son Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard Bank, Leighton Buzzard-Bassett and Grant 31,019 Birmingham Bank, Birmingham-Taylor and Lloyds . Bradford Old Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire-H A. and W.M. Harris and Co 11,438 Brecon Old Bank, Brecon-Wilkins and Co 50,070 Bridport Bank, Bridport-S. and W. E. Gundry - Brighton Union Bank, Brighton-Hall, West, and Borrer ... 98,910 Burlington and Driffield Bank, Burlington- Harding, Smith, and Co 10,944 Bury St. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds- J. Worlledge and Co. Bromsgrove Bank and Stourbridge and Broms grove Bank, Bromsgrove-Rufford, Biggs, and Co. Cambridge Bank, Cambridge-Mortlock and Sons Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cain bridge-Messrs. Forsters Canterbury Bank, Canterbury-Hammond and Co 27,233 • Carmarthoa Bank, Carmarthen-Morris and Sons Chertsey Bank, Chertsey-Messrs. La Coste Colchester Bank, Colchester-Round, Green, and Co. Colchester and Essex Bank, Witham and Essex Bank, and Hadleigh Bank, Suffolk, Colchester -Mills, Bawtree, and Co 32,179 Cornish Bank, Truro-Tweedy and Co. Coventry Bank, Coventry-Little and Wood cock City Bank, Exeter-Milford and Co 15,865 Craven Bank, Settle-Birkbecks and Co. Christchurch Bank, Christchurch-Tice, Welsh, and Co 1,520 Cardiff Bank, Cardiff-Towgood and Co 5,911 Chepstow Old Bank, Chepstow Bank, Mon mouth Old Bank, Monmcuth Bank, Brecon Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank, Chepstow-Bromage, Snead, and Co. ... 5.958 Derby Bank, Derby-Messrs. Evans Derby Bank, Derby-Smith and Co. Derby Old Bank and Sc a r s d a l e an d Hi gh Peak ' Bank, Derby-Crompton, Newton, and Co 25,257 Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes-Hughes Locke, and Co 11,531 Piss Bank, Diss-Oakes, Fincham, and Co 10,130 Doncaster Bank, Doncaster-Leatham, Tew and Co . Doncaster Bank and - __Jr Ban. Cook and Co. Darlington Bank, Durham Bank, and Stockton on-Tees Bank, Darlington-Backhouse, &Co 66,754 Devonport Bank, Devonport-Hodge and Nor -9 man ............................................... 460 .. •• Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank, Dorchester-Williams and Co. East Cornwall Bank, Liskeard-R o bi ns , Foster, and Co. East Riding Bank, Beverley-B ower, Hutton, and Co. Essex Bank and Bishops Stortford Bank, Chelmsford-Walford, and Co. 42.232 Exeter Bank, Exeter-Sanders and Co 23,787 fakenham Bank, Fakenham-Gurneys, Birk beck, and Co. Farringdon Bank and Bank of Wantage, Far ringdon-Barnes and Medley ~, 6,211 Farnham Bank, Farnham-Messrs. Knight 11,875 Faversham Bank, Faversham-Hilton and Co 4,850 GOfialming Bank, Godalming-Mellersh and Keen Grantham Bank, Grantham -Kewney and King 16.017 Guildford Bank, Guildford-Messrs. Haydon... 11.190 Grantham Bank, Grantham-Hardy and C 0.... 22,705 Hastings Old Bank, Hastings-Smith, Hilder, and Co. 22,386 Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford- Matthews and Co. Hertford and Ware Bank, Ware-S. Adams and Co 21,074 Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-hull Bank, Hull -Smith, Brothers, and Co. Huntingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting don-Rust and Veasey Harwich Bank, Harwich-Cox, Cobbold, and Co 4,875 Hemel Hempstead Bank, Hemel Hempstead- Smith, and Whitting•stall :9,034 Honitor. Bank, Honiton-Flood and Co. Hertfordshire, Hitchen Bank, Hitchen-Sharples and Co, Hereford, Ross, and Archenfield Bank, and Ross and Archenfield Bank, Hereford-M organ , Hoskins, and Co 18,499 Ipswich Bank, Ipswich-Bacon and Co. Ipswich and Needham Market Bank, Suffolk, Hadleigh Bank, Manningtree and Mistley Bank, and Woodbridge Bank, rpswich- Alexanders and Co. Kentish Bank, Maidstone-Mercer, Randall, and Mercer Kington and Radnorshire Bank, Kington-J, Davies and Co Knighton Bank Knighton-J. Davies and Co 6,915 Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon Old Bank, Knaresboroug,h-Terry and Co and . . Co. ......... .......... . .. .... ........... Kettering Bank, K ette ring_G o t c h and 50n5..... .. •. 367:604632 Longtoa Staffordshire Bank, Lan e E n d_ liarvzy and Son ................ . . Leeds Bank, Leeds-B ec k ett and . . 5,445 Leeds Union Bank, Leeds-W.Williama ........ 49 ' 786 andC)........ . .............................. n: 32,28 Leek and - Staffordshire Ba n k, an d Leek .... 4 Congleton Bank,Leek-Fowler,Gaunt, and Co. Leicester Bank, Leicester-Pagets and Kirby... 25,027 Lewes Old Bank, Lewes-Molineux and C 0.... 30,8 50 Lichfield Bank, Lichfield-Palmer and Green... 20,785 Lincoln Bank, Lincoln-Smith and Co 78,014 Lan peter Bank and Llandilo Bank Llando ve;:y-David Jones and Co. Loutzhhorough Bank, Loughborough-Nliddle tuns and Cradock 19,421 Retford Bank, Doncaster Lymington Bank, Lymington—C. and S. St. Barba Lynn Regis and Lincolnshire Bank; Lynn Regis —Gurneys and Co. 86,238 Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Lynn Regis— Massey and CO. Macclesfield Bank, Macclesfield—Brocklehurst and Co 10,327 Manningtree Bank,Manningtree—Nunn and Co 6,205 Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts Old Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank, and Hungerford Bank, Marlborough—Tanner and Pinckney Marlborough and North Wiltshire New Bink Ma rlborough —Ward, Merriman, and Hillier 6.889 Merionethshire Bank, Dolgelly—Jones and 4,758 Miners' ''''''' Willyums and Co 13,597 Monmouthshi,rrur°re Bank, Ab er ,,, av Agricultural and Commercial Monmouth eica B ' a nnY—Baileys and Co 33,057 Bank, Chepstowit'a TiMonmouth Bank, Brecon and Ross and llerefokti Chepstow Old Bank, —Bromage and Snead ''''''' Bank, Monmouth Monmouthshire Newport. —W. Williams and Sons ... Bank, Newport 1 Sleaford and .6 ...................... 11,343 Newark Bank, Newa r k_u o ,i f Newark and Sleaford Bank, r Y s and 11utton 29 115 Newark Bank, Sleaford—ir d and Co ....... aud kY, Peacock, ..................... Newbury Bank, Newbury—. Bunny a n Newmarket Bank, Newmarket -E' --cbc()" 44,177 mond, and Son 17,495 Norfolk and Suffolk Bank, 11i55—TaJ10r........... 17 ,514 Dyson ........................ Norwich Crown Bank, Norwlch ... ............. 21°76 Hudsons ........................ arv° Y s an d Ifforwich and Norfolk Bank,. 40, "' nets and Birkbeck .........Gur ........ Nottingham and Not tinghamshirell..;n - k . ..... tingham—lhrt, Fellows, and Co . . Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton—CraddC . ....... 9 ' 0313 C 0..................................... e and Naval Bank, Plymouth—Harris, . .... 4,325 .... C 0... New 22 022 New Sarum Bank, Sarum—Hetley, Everett, an d Co Nottingham Bank, Nottingham—Smith and Co. 26''928 twikt s ,, ,nd Oswestry Old Bank, o s .. tl - and Co 10.406 and R. Morrell 10,295 'ford—Robinson, Parsons, 46,875 V. oxr. ow ; . .TOnbri. Bani, "4 se?, Beaching and Sods;.. ..... Witay 1315.,k Witney—Willismo, Gulch, and C0,;.-, 8,133 28,885 Tonbridge and Tonbridge Foobrid g e and Tonbridge alct Bank, Tonbridge— Average Pease's Old Bank, h u ll , the Hull Old Bank and A mount. Beverley Bank, Hull —Pease and Co 45,421 Penzance Bank, Penzance—Batten and Co 9,832 Peterborough Bank and Oundle Bank, Peter borough—Mesqrs. Yorke Peterborough Bank, Peterborough—Simpson, White, and Simpson 10,473 Pembrokeshire Bank, Haverfordwest—J. and W. Walters Penzance Union Bank, Falmouth Bank, and Truro Bank, Penzance—Rickets, Enthoven. and Co Reading Bank, Reading—slmonas and Co 24,901 Reading Bank, Reading—Stephens,Blandy, and Co 22,400 Richmond Bank, Richmond—Stapleton and Co 3,940 Ringwood and Poole Bank, and Town and County of Poole Bank, Ringwood—Ledgard and Sons Rochdale Bank, Rochdale—Clement, Royds and Co 3,491 Roche s t er , Chatham, and Strood Bank, Roches- ter-Day and Nicholson 7,880 Royston Bank, Royston-Fordham and Sons... 14,063 Rugby Bank, Rugby-Butlin and Son 14,092 Rye Bank, Rye-Curteis, Pomfret, and Co 13,430 Reigate and Darking Bank, and Reigate, Croy , don, and Darking Bank, Reigate-Nash and Co •. 10,343 Ross (Ad Bank, Herefordshire, Ross-Pritchard and Allaway Saffron Walden and North Essex Bank, Saffron Walden-Messrs. Gibson Salop Bank, Shrewsbury-Burton, Lloyd, and Co 10,115 Scarborough Old Bank, Scarborough-Woodall and Co 20950 Shrewsbury Old Bank, and Shrewsbury and Ludlow Bank, Shrewsbury-Rocke, Eytons, and Co Sittingbourne and Milton Bank, Sittingbourne -Valiance and S on 2 ,504 Southampton Town and County Bank, South ampton-Maddison and Son Southwell Bank, S ou thwell-Wylde and Co 11,920 St. Alban's Bank, St. Alban's-J. S. Story 976 Salisbury Bank, Salisbury-Messrs. Brodie Shaftesbury Bank, Shaftesbury- Brodie and King - Southampton and Hampshire Bank, Southamp ton-Atherly and Fall Stone Bank, Stone-W. Moore 5,679 Stourbridge Bank, Stourbridge - Rufford, Wragg, and Co Stafford Old Bank, Stafford-Stevenson and Co 13,342 Stamford and Rutland Bank, Stamford-Eaton, Cayley, and Co. Stourbridge Old Bank, Stourbridge-Bate and Robins Shiewsbury and Welshpool Bank, Shrewsbury -Beck, Downward, and Co. St. Alban's and Herts Bank, St. Alban's-Gib son and Stuart Taunton Bank, Bank, Taunton-Messrs. Badeock Tavistock Bank, Tavistock-Gill, Rundle, and Co 9,614 Thornbury Bank, Thornbury-Rolph, Yates, and Parslow Tiverton and Devonshire Bank, Tiverton-Duns ford and Barne 7,147 Thrapston and Kettering Bank, Northampton shire, Thrapston-Yorke and Eland 9,495 Tring Bank and Chesham Bank, Tring-But cher and Son Towcester Old Bank, Towcester-J. and S Percival 6,073 Union B an k, Cornwall, Helston-Vivian and Co. Uxbridge Old Bank Uxbridg e -Hull, Smith, and Co. .......................................... 17,397 Wallingford Bank, Wallingford-Wells and Co. 7,368 Warwick and Warwickshire Bank, Warwick- Kelynge, Greenway, and Co. 24,372 Wellington Somerset Bank, Wellington-Fox, Brothers West Riding Bank, Wakefield, and Pontefract Bank, Wakefield-Lea , tham, Tew, and Co. Whitby Old Bank, Whitby-Simpson, Chap man, and Co 13,303 Winchester, Alresford, and Alton Bank, Win- chester-Bulpett and Co. Winchester and Hampshire Bank, Winchester -Wickham and Co Weymouth Old Bank and Dorchester Bank, Weymouth-Elliott and Pearse Wirkesworth and Ashbourne Derbyshire Bank, Wirkesworth-Arkwright and Co. . 30,216 Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank, Wisbech- Gurney and Co. Wiveliscombe Bank, Wiveliscombe-P. and W Hancock Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton-Good ricke and Holyoake. Worcester Bank, Worcester-Farley, Lavender, and Co. . 9,603 Worcester Old Bank and Tewkesbury Old Bank, Worcester-Berwick, Lechmere, and Co 70,960 Worcestershire Bank, Kidderminster-Farley and Turner Walsall Old Bank, Walsall-Charles Foster and Sons Warminster and Wiltshire Bank, Warminster- 4,064 6,393 ' 9,487 Everett and Co. Wrexham Bank, Wrexham—S. Kenrick 949 Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton— Messrs. Fryer Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank, and Halesworth and Suffolk Bank, Yarmouth—Gurney, Birkbeck, and Co. Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk Bank, Great Yarmouth—Sir E. K. Lacon, Bart., and Co 10,588 Yeovil Old Bank, Yeovil—E. and J. Batten York Bank. York—Swann. Clough, and Co 38,172 7,515 THE JOINT-STOCK BANKS. Bank of Westmoreland, Kendal Barnsley Banking Company, Barnsley Bradford Banking Company, Bradford 41,305 Bilston District Banking Company, Wolver hampton . 9,226 Bank of Whitehaven, Whitehaven Bradford Commercial Banking Company, Brad ford .... ..., Burton, Uttoxeter, and Staffordshire Union Banking Company, Burton-upon-Trent - 58,578 Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking Company, Chesterfield Cumberland Union Banking Company, Work- 7,515 ington Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Banking Com pany, Cheltenham Coventry and Warvvickshina Banking Company, _ Coventry Coventry Union Banking Company, Coventry , 12,322 County of Gloucester Banking Company, Chel tenham Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company _ _ - Carlisle Carlisle City and District Bank, Carlisle 17,666 Dudley and West Bromwich nanking Company, Dudley Derby and Derbyshire Banking Company, Derby 20,112 Darlington District Joint-Stock Banking Com pany, Darlington 18,172 East of England Bank, Norwich Gloucestershire Banking Company, Gloucester 124,420 Halifax Joint-Stock Bank, Halifax. 12,630 Huddersfield Banking Company, Huddersfield 31,800 Hull Banking Company, Hull 27,690 Halifax Commercial Banking Company, Ha lifax Halifax and Huddersfield Union Banking Com pany, Halifax 25,789 Helston Banking Company, Helston 1,259 Herefordshire Banking Company, Hereford 16,428 , Knaresborough and Claro Banking Company, Knaresborough 23,806 Kin gsbridge Joint-Stock Bank, Kingsbridge 4,120 Lancaster Banking Company, Lancaster . 57,824 Leeds B an ki ng Company, Leeds Leicestershire Bankin g Company, Leicester .•• 66,118 Lincoln and Lindsey Banking Company, Lincoln 43,773 Leamington Priors and Warwickshire Banking Company, Leamington Priors Ludlow and Tenb ury B ank, Ludlow Moore and Robinson's Nottinghamshire Bank- 8,070 ing Company, Nottingham Company, Nottingham ~,,,•_ . Newcastle, Shield s , and Sunderland . ..... Stock Banking Co m p any , N ewcastle .. 1 .... ......... t: g. 11,160 National Provincial B an k o f England, .. ham, Head-office, 112,, .Bishopsgate-street London 346,480 North Wilt:, Banking Company, Melk ........ .. Northamptonshire Union Bank, Northampton. . 4 4 3 8 ; 9 5 7 4 5 6 Northamptonshire Banking Company, North ampton ........ 21,120 North and South Wales Bank, Live r p oo l ....... • 1403 G Pares's Leicestershire Banking Company, L e i- , cester Saddleworth Banking Company, Saddleworth... 1,682 Sheffield Banking Company, Sheffield 36048 Stamford, Spalding, and Boston Banking Com pany, Stamford Stuckey 's Banking Company, Bristol Somerset shire Bank, and Somersetshire Bank, Lang port: ............................. .. ...... Sh ro pshire Banking Company, Ifr nall ... Stourbridge and Kidderminster Banking Com pany, Stourbridg e Sheffield and liallamshiro Banking Company, , 17,995 Sheffield Sheffield and Rotherham Joint-Stock Banking Company, St-ilioid Swaledale and Wensleydale Banking Company, Richmond .. . - 45,445 Storey and Thomas's Banking Company, 9,980 Shaftesbury Sheffield and R e tf er d Bank, Sheffield . . Wolverhampton ai id Staffordshire Banking Com pany, W o l ver h ampton Wakefield and Barnsley Union Bank, Wakefield 11,283 Whitehaven Joint -Stock Banking Company, W hitch aven ••26,285 Warwick and Le.ii;n.gton Banking Company, Warwick ... trigia.. West of South Wales District 31,868 Bank. Bristol . Wilts and Dorset 130iiking. . 65,097 anking Company, Company, Salisbury 56,764 West Riding Union B dersfield Whitchurch and Ellesmere ...... ... •• ................... 25,742 Whitchurch ........... an king • Company, Worcester City and County.. ing Company, yi e. ' ll ' ' 1 . , : ................ 2,970 Worcester... .. .......... ........ .. ....... ............. 4,289 York Union Banking York City and County Bailing ' Co ° ............ 70,971 Yorkshire Banking Company, LeeranY,York 82,237 . P. DEANS, Registrar of .................. • Stampaucl Tuts, April 1, no, urns. 6,936 AMERICAN NEWS. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY MORNING. MEXICO. SUN, LONDON, The New York packet-ship, Fidelia, Capt. Yeaton, has arrived. She sailed on the 16th ultimo, one day later than the John R. Skiddy, which reached this port on Monday afternoon. Although the news from the United States is meagre and unimportant, the intelligence from Mexico will be perused with inte rest and attention. The steam-ship Cambria had not arrived out at New York when the Fidelia sailed. The Fidelia does not bring any specie. An arrival from Vera Cruz, at New Orleans, brings intelligence that the attack made by the guerillas on Colonel Briscoe, of the United States army, and a small party under his command, had been successful to a certain extent, inasmuch as the former captured the mules belonging to the Americans, and burned most of the waggons. Colonel Briscoe was compelled to leave his killed and wounded behind him, and make his way to Cordova. The latest advices from the city of Queretaro state that all was quite there, and that the idea of speedy peace was the all-engrossing topic with the people of all classes. FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 7, 1848. the two children of the eldest son, William, were the sole parties entitled to an interest in the property in question. The present appeal was, therefore, against that interlocutor. Mr. Stuart Wortley and Mr. Anderson were counsel for the appellants; and Mr. G. Turner and Mr. Holt supported the decision of the Court below. Mr. S. WORTLEY concluded hia reply to-day, and Their LORDSHIPS postponed giving judgment till Thursday next. COMMITTEE FOR PRIVILEGES AND ELECTION FOR RE- PRESENTATIVE PEERS FOR SCOTLAND. The House will sit in a Committee for Privileges on Tuesday next, April 11, for the purpose of taking into consideration the resolution of the House of March 21, with respect to the election of Representative Peers for Scotland; also to consider the cases of The Saye and Sele Barony; The Crawfurd and Lindsay Peerage; The Marquis of Drogheda' , ',aim to vote for Repre sentative Peers for Ireland; The Earl of Lanesborough's claim to vote for Repre sentative Peers for Ireland; and Lord Dufferin and Claneboy's claim to vote for Re presentative Peers for Ireland. ELECTION COMMITTEES. BODMIN. (Continued from our:Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The rest of the day was taken up with Mr. Sergeant Wrangham'sl summing up on behalf of Mr. Lacy, and Mr. Wordsworth's reply to the case of the petitioners on behalf of Mr. Wyld. The Committee adjourned at four, till eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. GENERAL COMMITTEE OF ELECTIONS. The General Committee of Elections re-assembled yer erday afternoon at two o'clock; Mr. Fox Maule in the chair. The parties engaged in the prosecution of the Chel tenham, Walsall, and Leicester petitions (being the three cases which stood for nomination to-day) having been called in, The CHAIRMAN announced that in consequence of the Election Recognizances Bill not having yet passed through the Lords, they were not in a position to justify their striking any ,petitions to-day, and as there would be a further delay before the Bill could pass into a law, the Committee had determined to adjourn the appoint • mentof the Cheltenham and Leicester Committees till the 4th of May, and the Walsall, Dublin, and Longford Com mittees till the:Bth of May. The Committee then adjourned. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 6. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. ODD FELLOWS. The Duke of WELLINGTON presented several petitions from the societies of Odd Fellows, praying to be put on the same footing as friendly societies. ANSWER TO - THE ADDRESS. Earl FORTESCUE, the Lord Steward of the Royal Household, brought up her Majesty's answer to the address of their Lordships, congratulating her Majesty on the birth of a Princess. The following is the answer : "My Lords,—l have received your affectionate and loyal address with the truest satisfaction. I sincerely thank you for your congratulations on the birth of a Princess, and the regard which you express on this occasion for my person and family." NAVIGATION-LAWS. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from Glasgow against any alteration in the navigation-laws. DENUNCIATIONS FROM THE ALTAR. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL presented petitions from different parts of Ireland against denunciations at the altar. Earl FORTESCUE presented petitions from several societies of Odd Fellows praying to be put on the same footing as friendly societies. Lord BEAUMONT presented similar petitions. The Bishop of WINCHESTER presented petitions from Winchester and Salisbury against the duty on charitable bequests. EASTER RECESS. _ . . Lord STANLEY wished to know from her Majesty's Government at what period they intended to propose the adjournment of the House for the Easter recess, and for what duration ; he also wished to know whether, sup posing the Jewish Disabilities Bill came up from the House of Commons before Easter, it was their intention to proceed with that measure before the Easter recess? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE did not see any reason, at present, why the usual coarse should not be adopted, of moving the adjournment of tho House on Tuesday in Passion Week, till the Tuesday week following, nor did he see any reason why the measures alluded to by the Noble Lord should interfere with the adoption of the usual course. PROPERTY TAX BILL. The Marquis of LA NoDOWNE then rose to move the second reading of the Property-tax Bill. The Noble Marquis went at some length into the provisions of the Bill and the exigencies of the State that required the re-enactment of the property-tax for three years. The ordinary revenue of the country, according to the estimates of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, would this year be below the demand upon it, and it was to compensate the deficiency that it was proposed to con tinue this tax for three years longer. It had been said that that deficiency might be obviated by a reduction of expenditure, but it should be remembered that by far the larger proportion of the revenue of the country was pledged to the public creditor, and it was only on the smaller portion that any economy could be practised. The total amount of interest on the funded and unfunded debt was, in the present year, 31,280,6001. As regarded that sum, Parliament had no option. Now he would state the sums in which they bad something like an option. The estimate for the navy was 7,776,606/., for the army 7,162,9961., and for the ordnance 2,924,8394, making a total for military purposes of 17,864,4351. In stating that, he was sure he had used no argument to induce them to agree to that amount. Those estimates were the same as those of last year, except in two particulars, and he did not think that that was a moment when they could safely reduce their military forces. There were, in addition, other items of expenditure amounting to 4,006,0001., making a total of 53,140,0001. to be provided for. He would now state the items of income. The Customs' du ties would, it was estimated, produce 19,750,0001., and the Excise 13,000,0001. These estimates were lower than the actual amount produced by those branches of revenue last year, the total estimates for 1848 being only 32,750,0001., while the revenue in 1847 was 35,044,0001. The duties on stage-carriages were estimated at 500,000/.; stamp duties, 7,200,0001.; assessed taxes, 4,340,0004; and Post. office, 900,000/.; making a total of 46,050,0001. That was the whole ordinary revenue of the country, and, under these circumstances, it was ne cessary to impose some additional tax to make up the deficiency, amounting to upwards of 7,000,0001. Indi rect taxation was, doubtless, the best mode of raising the revenue, but there were limits to it, and, in the present instance, it had been deemed advisable to recommend the continuance of the property-tax for three years. The produce of this tax would make the estimated revenue 51,950,000/., still leaving a deficit of 1,750,0001., which would, however, be met from the balances in the Exchequer, now very large. There was one item of expense in the estimates for the present year, however, which would not again occur, namely, a sum of 1,100,000/. for the expenses of the Kafir war, which had been happily terminated by the energy and skill of the present Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. He next felt ha ppy to inform their Lordships that there has been, for the last three years, a balance of from 5,500,0001. to 6,500,0001. in the funds of the Exchequer, which can be drawn on at any time, whenever a deficiency in the income of the country occurs, and he thought that there was a great advantage in having such a balance in the hands of the Exchequer, to meet such exigencies as the present times demand. He should also add, that the events in other countries fully justified the Government in protecting the security of the Crown, and the peace and safety of the people. Ile should, therefore, in conclusion, say that, considering the great utility of such a measure, ho hoped that their Lordships would join with him in supporting the second reading of the Bill, Lord STANLEY said that he did not think it neces sary to trouble their Lordships by following the different arguments of the Noble Marquis (Marquis of Lans downe), because he fully concurred with them. Ho con sidered that it was very judicious to place this country in a state of defence for the security of the Crown and the safety of the British subjects. lie should at the same time say that he fully approved of the opposition offered by the House of Commons to the intended augmentation in the income-tax, because such would lend it rather an inquisitorial character, which should be guarded against by every possible means, and he was assured that the expenditure of next year would not be more than the revenue. Notwithstanding his approval of the jealousy evinced by the public and the House of Commons on that point, he at the same time also approved of the judicious regulation of the Government to keep at all times in their hands a balance sufficient to make up for any deficiency that might occur. He did not consider that the sum of 1,100,0001., expended in carrying on the Kafir war, should be attributed to one year, because the same had been spread over two years, and he regretted that Sir Peregrine Maitland, who served so honourably in the Cape of Good Hope, should, through some unfounded information to the Government, have suffered so much both in his personal feelings and pecuniary interests through such an information ' Ile should also say that, considering the ev en t s o f other countries, that nothing was more judicious on the part of the Government than to keep u p, an d i ncrease necessary, the naval and military serv i ce o f this cot; if coun try. And he felt perfectly convinced that Government could not reduce the taxation as had been suggested by many Member of the House o! Commons, but there was one specific method of die effecting s that,. namely, by an indirect taxation, for a as taxation is not needed in any free country suchthis, except in the dangers, difficulties, and emergencies of war.—(Hear, hear.) He knew the feelings of the people on this sys tem of direct taxati on , and could assurethe House that the country did n o t consider it a temporary, but a per manent, measure, an d as one dangerous to' their best interests. He was willing to give his support to the second reading of the Bill, but should at the same time enter his protest against any system of direct taxation. He hoped that, when this country would recover from the paralysis under which she at present labours, Go vernment would retrace the steps they have taken re specting direct taxation, and so alter their present sys tem as to raise by the indirect mode as much as is re quired, because suc h a system as direct taxati on i s obnoxious to their interests, and injurious to the well being of the constitution.—(Hear.) Earl GREY said that he would wish to say one word in reference to the expressions used by the Noble Lord (Lord Stanley) relative to Sir Peregrine Maitland, lle COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. There is not any striking news under this head. The New York Express of the 16th contains the fol lowing : Freights are very dull. Cotton is taken to Liverpool at 5-32 d, Grain sd. Exchange on England is dull at 109 f to 1091. The money market is tight. Stocks have fallen off, and there is less disposition to purchase. By the last official return of the Secretary of the Treasury, viz., 21st February, the amount then on hand subject to draft, in all the Sub-Treasuries, was only 2,097,188 dolls.; the amount in this city was 188,499 dolls. This is running the balances down very close. It shows one thing pretty clearly that, although the Government may receive a large amount of specie, it cannot keep it long. In this city the balance has at certain periods run up to two millions, but its vaults have retained it but a short period. The Government can now afford to run its balances closer than usual, as they can turn their stocks into money instantly. A large amount of money has been lying idle to be invested in the loan of the Government, and the parties not being suceessful, are now directing the amount to other objects. A large batch of merchants' paper was taken to-day at nine per cent- per annum. THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. The National Convention re-assembled yesterday morning at nine o'clock ; Mr. P. M'Grath in the chair. The Government reporters sent on Wednesday again attended this morning. The hall was crowded to excess. The CHAIRMAN requested the delegates to abstain from the expression of such terms as were but too commonly indulged in yesterday in reference to his own particular duty, which had bean designated as harsh and despostic. He would endeavour to fulfil his duties im partially and fairly, and give every man a fair hearing. ..... ADDRESS TO THE COUNTRY. Mr. KYDD then brought forward a motion that an address be issued to the country, laying before the working classes the social condition of the labouring men throughout the empire, and the necessity that exists for improved legislation on the part of the Govern ment. Mr. FUSSELL seconded the motion.' Mr. FRANCIS and other delegates supported the motion. Mr. CUFFAY did not see that any necessity existed for the promulgation of such an address. The condition of the working classes was well known, and it seemed to him that it would be premature to issue it (even if thought otherwise advisable) before Monday or Tuesday, when they would be better able to say whether or not it would be necessary at all. Mr. Clarke, Mr. Ernest Jones, and Mr. Gleniston supported the proposition. After some discussion, the proposition was carried, and a committee was appointed to prepare the address, consisting of the following delegates, namely :—Kydd, West, Doyle, Marsden, Grant, Leach, and Wild. FROST, WILLIAMS, AND JONES. Mr. FEARGUS O'CoNNoR wished to know what peti tions were received, or preparing, in the different districts, praying for the restoration of Frost, Williams, and Jones? He also moved that a committee, consisting of three persons, be appointed to prepare a petition to be signed by the members of the Convention for the same purpose. The following were named as the committee: — Messrs. Reynolds, Wild, and Dixon. RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHARTIST EXECUTITE. Mr. CLARKE then read a series of resolutions proposed by the Executive Council to be adopted by the demo crats throughout the country, in the event of the petition being refused. The first resolution—That in the event of the petition being refused, her Majesty be memorialised to dismiss from her councils her present Ministers, and to call to her aid men whose principles would be in consonance with the people's charter. Mr. WHEELER seconded the resolution. Mr. ADAMS, by way of amendment, proposed that the Conference should consider the steps necessary to be taken previous to the presentation of the petition. He thought it would be premature to think that the petition would be rejected at all. In the event of its rejection he would be prepared to go on with the majority of the Convention, were it even to the scaffold. Mr. CUFFAY said that the sub-committee in London had prepared the ceremonial required for conveying the national petition to the Houses of Parliament. Mr. F. O'CoNszoa said that he had not been idle on this occasion. He had prepared two carriages, one 20 feet 4 inches long, decorated with flags and mottoes, for the conveyance of the deputation, and another for the carrying of the petition. These would be drawn by 12 horses. Mr. WHEELER thought that an address should be issued to the shopkeepers on the line of route, assuring them of the determination of the Convention to use every exertion fur the protection of property, but re commending them to shut their shops during the passing of the procession. Mr. ERNEST JONES thought that that portion of the address which recommended that the shops should be shut should be withdrawn. Several delegates joined in the same request, and Mr. WHEELER expressed his readiness to withdraw it. Mr. M'CARTHY objected to their taking on themselves the duty of.the police. These were paid for the pro tection of the lieges, and he thought that they should be allowed to conduct their own duties. The proposition for an address was carried with only two dissentient voices. Mr. WILD reminded the Conference that by taking motions handed in by delegates, they were throwing aside nCe aside Ana b e y a t gain h e in t r r e o a d d u e t h t i e o n resolution h w e h e i i c e h r, h s a m d o been , the resolutions pr o p ose d b y t h e E xecutive. throw and moved that it be adopted. Mr. WHEELER seconded the proposition. Mr. REYNOLDS thought they should have no more necessary constitute the themselves example I.— (liar, hear.) of that Parliament that sat in th e re i gn of Charles submission, no more p rocrast i nat i on. If the people ' s petition were rejected th e y s h ou ld cons i der it a declara tion p tion eo o p f le w ,s a i r ,a a r g i a ja m m s e t n t t h , cou ntry e andi fy copy nee e ; insteadw•as therefore that th e opposedconfer Conference tehsi should o r u e ;d o 1 bue tione,and propos e d ie l permanent. Mr. CUFFAY supported the amendment. The Execu tive shrank from the responsibility imposed upon them now that the crisis was come, instead of being prepared, as they ought to have been, to lead the Chartists of the country to the death if necessary. Mr. BRCrNTERRE O'BRIEN dissented both from the programme and the mode of Mr. Reynolds' amendment. He maintained that they only represented a small section of the people of this country. There were vast numbers of the working classes who placed no dependence upon Mr. O'Connor or himself. These men should be in vited to join them, and for that purpose he proposed that this Conference should be held to be only the pre cursor of a truly national convention to be called at some future time. Mr. LOWRY seconded the amendment proposed by Mr. O'Brien.—(Hisses.) Mr. FEARGUS O'Cototott denied that the Executive desired to shrink from any responsibility that might attach to them. So far from it, he declared that he was prepared to abide by the decisions of the majority of this Conference. The object of the Executive was not to retard or delay this movement, but to secure and strengthen it. Did he wish to retard this movement ? Was he not to be found always in the front of danger ? Would he not be the first mark for the finger of the law, or the mark of the enemy ? Some men looked to posthumous fame rather than to the ease of an ignominious life, and so help him God, he would rather die a martyr than live a slave.—(Cheers.) Ile prayed them now, and he felt that he could beg it on his knees, not to damage their good cause by any pre mature step, which might be found irretrievable. Mr. CHILD rose to move a third amendment—That the motion n ow before the Conference be adjourned till after Monday next. Mr. DomovAN supported the original motion. Mr. TATTERSALL said that this question was more important than many members there seemed to consider it. It was simply a question of peace or war. If they said war, were they prepared tor this ? Lord John Russell was, to all intents and purposes, king of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Vales, for the Queen would not oppose his and the Cabinet's wishes. Were the Conference,then, prepared to thrust themselves forward in opposition to the Government. He represented Lancashire, and he knew that the lads of Lancashire, if the petition were rejected, would say, " We'll fight for it;" but he did not wish this. He would, therefore, move another amendment:—" That the people should hold meetings over the country on the 12th of April, to consider their present circumstances, and to give instructions to the Conference for their future guidance." Mr. LINNEY seconded the amendment. Mr. E. JONES moved onother amendment--" That in the event of the petition being rejected, the people should hold simultaneous meetings to demand the disso lution of Parliament and the dismissal of Ministers ; to elect delegates to a new Convention , and to instruct this conference to sit permanently until the meeting of the new National Convention. Mr. CLARKE seconded the amendment. Mr. STtrizEtrsat; supported it. li© protested against . any sacrifice of human blood when they were not pre pared to carry out their intentions successfully. ➢lr. LUNN supported Mr. Tattersall's amendment. Mr. ERNEST JONES, Mr. SIIIRRON, and other dele gates, supported the amendment proposed by Mr. Jones. The Conference afterwards adjourned. At the re-assembling of the Convention, at half•past two o'clock, the discussion on the resolutions and amend ments before the Conference was resumed, and each delegate whoj addressed the meeting gave his reasons for supporting one or other of these. Towards the conclusion of the sitting Mr. Tattersall and Mr. Child withdrew their amendments, and gave in their adhesion to that proposed by Mr. Ernest Jones. Mr. CLARKE withdrew the resolutio❑ proposed by the Executive, and accepted instead the same amendment. The whole series of resolutions as amended was after wards agreed to. The Conference then adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. ROYAL MAIL STEAM-PACKET COMPANY. The annual meeting of the shareholders of this com pany was yesterday held at the London Tavern, for the purpose of transacting the ordinary business of the company. The chair was taken at one o'clock by A. Colville, Esq. The notice convening the meeting having been read, the Secretary proceeded to read the report, from which it appeared that there had been an increase both upon the receipts and expenditure during the past year. The charges for cost, freight, and other expenses for coal, as well as those for wages, port charges, and pilot age, coal sacks, and office and law expenses, although with an augmented business, were in the aggregate 6241. ss. 6d. less in 1847 than in the preceding year. On the credit side of this account there was a decrease in the homeward freight, arising from diminished ship ment . Mexico, and there was less receipt onial and ho mewar d passage - mone y, fromm e n t n f which was also chiefly to be attributed to the hostilities in that country. The total receipts, however, from freight and passage-money in 1847, exceeded those of the previous year by 5,845/. 9s. 6d. The balance upon the profit and loss account for 1847, after charging the dividend declared in October last, amounted to 74,018/. 13s. 5d., subject to the payment of the forthcoming dividend. New boilers had been re quired for the Severn, new side levers and iron beams for the Avon, as well as extra repairing and materially strengthening the 'l'eviot, amounting in the whole to 13,5651. Bs. 7d., and were charged in the profit and loss account as not being properly chargeable to the working account of the year 1847. By the balance-sheet it would be observed that the sum standing to the credit of the insurance account, after deducting the cost of the Great Western, purchased to supply the place of the Tweed, amounted to 49,9631. ls. 2d. The investment on this insurance account, how ever, had not been diminished, amounting on the 31st of December, 1847, to 74,2811. 55., to which was added in January last the sum of 25,0001, making a total of 99,281/. 55., invested in the purchase of 105,8681. 7s. 7d. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock; the general in vestment of 55,000/. remaining as at the end of the year 1846. The directors announced their intention to assimi late the working account, in future, to the method in which the annual accounts were prepared, as the effect of the company's operations would by that means be more distinctly exhibited. Since the last general meeting was held, an arrangement had been made, giving to the West India Colonies a direct monthly postal communication with the Northern States of America, by which the company's operations were extended to New York ; and this new line, tiff Bermuda, would be commenced on the 7th of next month. The company, however, were at liberty to dis continue this branch of service, should it be found hereafter that, contrary to expectation, it could not be maintained with advantage." The directors having taken into consideration all the circumstances of the company, recommended a dividend of 21. per share, exclusive of income-tax, the same to be payable on and after the 10th instant. From the statement of accounts laid before the meet ing it appeared that the total receipts of the company for the past year amounted to 412,9621. 7s. Bd., the dis bursements to 300,661/. 185. 1.0 d., leaving a surplus of 112,3001. Bs. 10d. The total balance in favour of the company, after deducting losses and extraordinary out lays for the year 1847, was 99,9881. 13s. sd. The balance in hand from the year 1846 had been appropriated for the payment of the dividend, declared Bth of April, 1847, amounting to 25,9701., and had carried to the credit of the reserved fund, the sum of 54,594/. 15s. 11d. The following general balance-sheet was also laid before the meeting:— Di. .C. a. d. To cost and outfit of steam-ships, &c., Dec. 31, 1846 ... 803,748 13 3 Add the Conway... 39,745 17 11 843,494 11 2 Deduct the Liffey, sold ... ~, 4,000 0 0 839,494 11 2 To stock of coals, coal sacks, &c 29,374 0 9 To stock of boilers, engineers' and other stores ... 21,711 17 8 To London and Southampton pre mises, Jamaica wharf, and Pacific Treasure houses ... ... 4,591 16 9 To insurance investment in Three- and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock ... 74,281 5 0 To general investment ... ... 55,000 0 0 To ships' pending voyages ... ... 10,081 13 1 To bills receivable and cash balances 39,453 3 1 To Contract money due this day ... 60,000 0 0 51,133,988 7 6 Ca. £. s. d. By capital stock, Dec.3l, 1846 £888,835 Arrears of calls received 1847 150 888,985 0 0 By dividends unpaid ... ... ... 3,134 1 3 By insurance account ... .. ... 49,963 1 2 By bills payable and outstanding ac counts :: : 7 7 4 0 , , 0 6 1 1 8 9 1 13 6 6 5 —•—. ". ". 47,267 15 2 By reserve fund By profit and loss ::. . £.1,133,988 7 6 The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report. A PROPRISTOR moved an amen d men t, t o th e e ff e ct that the dividend be increased to 2/..55. per share; the motion, however, found no seconder, and of course fell to the ground. Some discussion took place upon the amount of remu neration paid to the manager s of the company, after which the report was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Masterman and Captain Nelson were re-elected tthheetcainoillainu of one a h was elected auditor of the gentleman was also elected one of the directors who re tired r c e t ;c o sof andor in ap C company. The thanks of the meeting were then voted to the Chairman, and the meeting broke up. - - - LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, April 6. The h t n oh e e ll a o r r, a L p o p r e d a ls. The Campbell,P Peers present h:leoruesethseatLtooday ne Lord C hancellor, AND OTHERS V. GU ERSON AND OTHERS . The arguments i n this part-heard appeal were re sumed and concluded to- day. The case came before their Lordships upon an appeal against an interlocutor of the Court of Session in Scotland, and the question at issue was whether the appellants were the lawfully born children of one John Lapsley, of Glasgow. It ap peared that in the year 1798, one William Lapsley, a grocer in Edinburgh, died . In 1792, he had exe cuted a trust disposition and settlement, by which he conveyed his heritable property, situated in Virginia street, Glasgow, in favour of trustees in behalf of his children, William, Robert, Jame s , an d J o h n , in life rent, and to their children in fee and property, equally among them. The sons Robert and James died without leaving any issue. William, the eldest son, settled in Montreal, where he married and died, leaving two children, William and Sarah Agden Lapsley. In February, 1819, these two parties were served and returned nearest and lawful heirs of provi sion to their grandfather under the trust disposi tion. William and Sarah, therefore, their uncle, John Lapsl e y, n ot having lett any lawful issue, were in feft in the heritable subjects in Virginia. street. In the course of time, the property was purchased of their guardian, with their consent, by the father of the respondent, for 1,4001., and until 1834, the respondent remained in q u i e t possession, at w hich p eriod the ap pellants, a B n l t o s : as i t ee(children interestof John i L it a , and P3ieY' who had died contended that William and Sarah bad no title beyond one half. The appellants raised an action of declarator of legiti macy and putting to silence. The respondent, on the other hand, had brought a reduction of the service pro cesses the ju d gment a pp ea led th e ir father, was a woman of the name of the a p p ell ants, an d in these conjoined from was pronounced. The m ot h er of the ap p e llants, and who was alle g ed by them to have been the lawful wife of John Lapaley, of Janet 2,l.liinla This female ori g inall y married a bake r o f the name ' of Kidd, an d u p on his death she afterward s un i ted herself to one William Paul, who subsequ ent l y went out to t h e United States, in conse quence, as it w as imputed, of the intemperat e habits of his wife. P au l went away in 1 801, and settled at N ew York, l eav i ng letter th at h ad been receive d f ro m Paul was to his his wife Janet in G las g ow. The last brother Thomas, and bore the date of 21st of May, 1804 . From this period it would s eem there had been no tidin gs of him. After Paul had bee n g one so me time, his wif e . contracted an i n timacy with John Laps ley, a n d o f this connexion the appellant Robert, and the mother of the two other appellants, wero the alleged offs p r ing, their statement being that, from the year ISO 7, those parties had cohabited as man and wife, and were habite and repute married persons. When the matter had come before the magis trateshcleirlsderlef,n as of Glasgow in the month of April, 1810, three by months after the death of John Lapsley upon a memo rial from Janet M.'Kinlay, praying for aliment for the deceased th applica tion on the ground mainly that there was no opposed the hanevidence of the death of Paul, her former hue d. The magistrates directed aliment, and gave i_t a coir , mission t o A mer i ca to ta k e p ro of of the death o f I! ul, of which fact at that moment, they said they had no satisfactory evidence. The aliment, therefore, was awardeda to h er c hi ldren as the illeg i t i mate i ssue o f J o h n . 1 -4 PaleY• The matter was be fore the Court of Session when the Court pro nounced an interlocutory judgment to the effectthat the the appellants were not proved to have been the legiti mate issue of a legitimate marriage, and therefore, that • _ could assure the Noble Lord and the House that he had always respected the character of Sir P. Maitland, both as a soldier and as a) servant of her Majesty; but he should at the same time say that, if a more firm and de cisive rule of control were observed by Sir I'. Maitland, the expenses would be much less, and that opinion was strengthened by the information of many authentic wit nesses. In a word, he believed that he was liable to the charge of many errors.—(Hear, hear.) Lord LYTTELTON said that he felt fully convinced that the information received by the Government was of a prejudiced nature against Sir P. Maitland, and that his conduet was always worthy the esteem of his brother officers. The House then adjourned. DOUSE OF COMMONS, April 6. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. THIRD READINGS. The Kettering Small Tenements Rating Bill and the Leicester Cemetery Bill were read a third time and passed. Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition from Lei cester signed by 4,000 persons praying for the abolition of the present law for rating, and the adoption of the national rate. Sir THOMAS BIRCH presented a petition from Liverpool, complaining of the usurpation of the ec clesiastical courts of civil rights, and praying for redress. ANSWER• TO - THE AIiDRESS. Mr. LASCELLES, the comptroller of the royal household appeared at the bar in the Windsor uniform with his wand of office, and brought up the answer to the address of congratulation of the llous,,g of Commons to her Majesty on the birth of a Princess. The follow ing is the answer : " I return you my hearty thanks for this dutiful and affectionate address, and I cordially receive your con gratulations on the birth of a Princess. _ _ " I gratefully receive every additional proof of your cordial attachment to my person and family." Mr. FOX MAULE presented petitions from different parts of Scotland in favour of the Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill. _ THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. Mr. F. O'CONNOR presented a petition from forty nine delegates in National Convention assembled, and representing five millions of people, praying for the liberation of Frost, Williams, and Jones. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL apprehended that the petition could not be received, inasmuch as it stated that it came from the " National Convention." Mr. F. O'CONNOR reminded the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that similar petitions were allowed to be received under Sir Robert Peel's Government, and as a convention of 49 delegates was recognised by the law, he could not see what objection there could be to the re ception of the petition. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was decidedly of opinion that the petition was not legally worded, but he hoped the Hon. Gentleman would not press its recep tion till he had had time to look into the authorities upon the subject. Mr. F. O'CONNOR said the request of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, coming as it did from the first law officer of the Crown, sounded very much like a command, but as a matter of courtesy to the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, he would not press it. The petition was accordingly withdrawn. LYME REGIS ELECTION. Mr. HUME gave notice that on an early day he would call the attention of the House to the Special Report of the Lyme Regis Election Committee, with the view of instruction being given to the Right Hon. the Attorney-General to prosecute Mr. James Ed wards for the bribery set forth in the minutes of evi dence. IRELAND. Mr. HUME gave notice that immediately after the Easter recess he would move a resolution to the follow ing effect:—That the time had arrived when all just complaints on the part of the people of Jreland ought to bo remedied, and when the promises made by both Houses of Parliament in the year 1833, ought to be fulfilled ; namely, that the burdens of the Church Establishment, respecting all vested rights, should be mitigated; that the Parliamentary suffrages of the people should be placed on the same footing as England and Scotland; and that a satisfactory Registration Bill should be brought in, and that the same franchises should be given to the municipal corporations of all towns, boroughs, and cities in Ireland that was enjoyed by the municipal corporations of the boroughs, towns, and cities of England and Scotland; that, lastly, the grand jury laws should be amended, so as to lead to a general equalisation of the rates now imposed upon the people. MANUFACTURE OF PIKES IN IRELAND. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL gave notice that to-morrow he would put a question to the Right Hon. the Secretary for Ireland relative to the report of a case that had ap peared in the Dublin papers, and in which the manufac turing of pikes was traced to a subordinate of the police. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. Mr. DIVETT moved for an account of all fees and emoluments received by each of the messengers of the Court of Bankruptcy in London and in the country; showing the date of the fiat, with the name and descrip tion of the bankrupt, and the number of days allowed for possession in each case, on taxation of the messen ger's bill, for the last five years, ending the 25th day of March 1848.—Agreed to. Mr. COWAN presented a petition complaining of the treatment the Rev. Mr. Shore had received at the bands of the Bishop of Exeter. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then replied to several questions that had been asked of him in connexion with this matter, he could not say whether the question would be reported by the Bishops to the Court of Queen's Bench ; and it was not his intention to introduce any measure on the subject, as the whole question of ecclesiastical procedure was under the consi deration of the Government. JOINT-STOCK BILL. In reply to Mr. lIU2vIE, Mr. M. GIBSON stated that this Bill would be pro ceeded with as soon as the public business would allow. BRITISH GUINEA. Lord G. BENTINCK wished to know from the lion. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies if the statement in the Royal Gazette of the 7th of March, which arrived yesterday by the steamer from the 'West Indies, to the effect that the Court of Policy had come to a resolution to postpone voting the supplies until the 15th of May, in consequence of the dis tress that prevailed in the colony, was true ? Also whether the free labourers who had left their employ. ment at Christmas had yet returned to it, and whether the tillage of the sugar crop, and in fact the tillage of the entire land, had not been in a great measure re tarded in consequence ? Also, whether he would have any objection to lay a balance sheet of the revenue and expenditure of Ceylon for 1847 upon the table of th• House? _ , Mr. HAWES replied, that it appeared by the Royal Gazette that the suspension of payments until the 17th of May had been agreed to. The suggestion was made by the Council to the Governor, and he assented to it. From the last dispatch received from the Governor it seemed that the labourers who had left their work had not then returned to it ; but there was a confident belief that everything would be arranged to their satin• faction, and that the tillage of the land would shortly be resumed. He should have no objection to lay a balance sheet before them with respect to the financial condition of Ceylon up to June, 1847. ORDERS OF THE DAY. Mr. OSBORNE wished to call the attention of the house to a question affecting its privileges. Perhaps Hon. Gentlemen were not aware that yesterday a reso lution was moved by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Montrose which would have the effect of preventing any expression of opinion upon the order of the day. The SPEAKER said, the Hon. Gentleman was not entitled to bring the matter forward as a question of privilege. Mr. OSBORNE then gave notice that he should to morrow move the rescinding of the order. CENTRAL AMERICA. _ _ Mr. HUME gave notice that he should to-morrow ask a question with respect to three British vessels which had been attacked (as we understood) on the coast of America. Earl LINCOLN moved for a return of all new places created, and appointments made since the 19th day of March, 1845, whether under any Act of Parliament, or by any other authority, and of the names of the persons appointed to them; stating separately the salaries of each, and the estimated annual expenses of the estab lishments in connexion with such appointments (in continuation of Parliamentary paper, No. 595, of session 1845).—Agreed to. CHARTIST DEMONSTRATION. Sir J. WALSH wished to know from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had received any information with respect to a num ber of persons called Chartists intending to meet at Ken nington Common on Monday next, for the ostensible purpose of forming a numerous procession to move through the streets of the metropolis, and presenting a petition to this House in favour of what was called the six points of the Charter; and if the Go vernment had had its attention called to these circum stances, were they prepared to take those measures which might bo necessary to secure the independence of the House from being overawed by any meeting calcu lated to intimidate them, and likewise to aid in the pro tection of the peaceable and loyal people of London. Sir G. GREY said—l now hold in my hand a notice, which I believe was published yesterday, signed by three individuals, o ne of whom declares himself the secretary, I presume, of the Chartist Association, in which he st a t e s that a Convention , consisting of forty-nine delegates, will assemble in a particular place upon a given day, and some following days, for the purpose of s uperintending the presentation of a petition to Parliament, and to advise the adoption of such other course as they may think fit for the purpose of securing the enactment of the People's Charter. A great metro politan demonstration will accompany the petition, and persons are invited to attend at Kennington-common, where the route of the procession would be prescribed. The attention of the Government having been called to this notice, and other information having reached me respecting the intended proceedings upon Monday next, the Government have directed a notice to be issued, which they hope will be published in the course of half an hour, pointing out that, by the statutes and the common law of these realms, such procession is illegal, and warning all loyal and peaceable subjects of her Majesty to abstain from taking any part in the proceedings, and to give their best aid in maintaining order and preventing any breach of the peace that may ensue. --(Loud cheers.) Mr. F. O'CONNOR said that the course pursued by the Government would be taking the people utterly by surprise. There were several precedents in favour ot, these processions. In the year 1831 a procession er 100,000 or 150,000 persons marched down to this Hong° and presented a petition in favour of the Reform Bill' In 1E34 a procession of 100,000 also marched down 1 ° this House while it was sitting, and presented a peti" tion in favour of the liberation of the Dorchester Is: bourere. A large demonstration of sailors also w alked past this House a short time since. Those person! who have put their names to the document referred to by the Right Honourable Baronet, have this day passed resolutions that every man wh ° joined the procession should be a special constable 1 himself, and they pledged themselves not only to prf serve the peace, hut to take any man into custody lof t might attempt to violate the rights of property. "•' was not the intention of the people to come down to the door of the House, they were to ids!" gone over Westminster• bridge. He had never in ill life attempted to palm a falsehood upon that House , s o had he thought that the parties had any sinister motive or view, or any ulterior design, he would not for a momen t have lent his sanction to the proceeding, or have joi n° in that procession. He believed that it was a constite' tional right of the people to assemble in that manner' and he trusted that the Government would not further interfere upon the occasion than to preserve peace' He hoped that the people would be allowed to come down in procession as was intended to the House. tie should consider himself unworthy a seat in that Hou se if h e lent himself to any demonstration calculated to cite the people to the slightest infraction of the peace. Sir G. GREY—With respect to the people being take o by surprise, I can only say, that at the earliest monfeot at which the Government could deliberate after they re,: ceived the information, they directed the notice to wh ics I have before referred to be issued, and it may 00 doubt be in the possession of the Hon. Member for Not' tingham this evening.—(Cheers.) That notice will state what, in the opinion of the law advisers, the law of the land is upon the subject, and, without reference to pre . cedents, I am sure, after having avowed the opinions he ' has with respect to the good conduct of the people he will, I am sure, be the last man to encourage any 1)04 of men summoned to join an assembly to violate the 4 0 ' Mr. HUME said that upon a former occasion it had bee°, asked if a peaceable procession was illegal, and Lo r ; Melbourne's Government had stated that it was not, av° they refused to interfere. He (Mr. Hume) though t that it would be dangerous for the Government le interfere at the present time, and he hoped that thef t would be induced to withdraw this notice.—(Cries " No. no.") PROTECTION OF THE CROWN AND GOVERN' MENT. Sir G. GREY—I beg, Sir, to give notice, that I shall , to-morrow, move, before the other orders of the day' fur leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the better 0 9 : curity of the Crowa and Government of the United kingdom.—(Loud and long-continued cheering). MEXICO. Mr. URQUHART gave notice that he would, to' morrow, ask her Majesty's Government whether Of, had taken any steps to secure the i n t eres t s of British bondholders in Mexico, in case of the cession ° any of the territory belonging to that republic to the United States. CROWN OF BELGIUM. The Hort. MEMBER also gave notice of his i n tentiot t to ask her Majest) 's Government whether they 1111 ,, c1 given any guarantee for the Crown of Belgium, or bou t ! in consequence of the recent events on the Contine o " entered into any engagement to maintain the existi l3 % order of things in that kingdom. CENTRAL AMERICA. The HoN. MEMBER also asked whether, by consultivg the law officers of the Crown, or obtaining the authori a l of the Privy Council, the requisite steps had been tale'" to legalize the hostilities carrying on in Central Americo' ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. Mr. BOUVERIE postponed his motion relating to tb ° Ecclesiastical Courts till after Easter. WASTE LANDS OF IRELAND. Mr. F. FRENCH then rose to bring forward his motie ll for leave to introduce a Bill to facilit a t e th e reclamale"„ of Waste Lands in Ireland, and said the time had cool i e when that House must attend to the int e r es t s o f Ireland' the time had come when the people of that countri t would take no excuse for an y neg l ect o f the, wants, and be therefore trusted the House would indulge him with its attention while he points v out a plan by which much of the misery and suffering of Ireland might be mitigated.—(Hear, hear.) At th e present moment there were upwards of half a million of agricultural labourers out of employ in Ireland; and if they did not adopt some such meastlr e , as the one he was now about to propose, how were the) to find employment for this large multitude? Emigratil co uld not be resorted to, for the p eo pl e wer e 11° disposed to emigrate, nor would the inbw bitants of the British colonies receive thel l if they were. What better course could be adopte",i under these circumstances, than by doing what he already been done in this country to a large exteett namely, setting the unemployed to reclaim the west!, lands? All the Committee that had be en a pp o i n ted t" inquire into the matter had agreed in o pi n i on that th e greatest good could not fail to result from the reclahls; tion of waste lands. The Committ ee o f 1830 s tate' that 5,000,000 acres of these lands might be profitably r e :, claimed. It had been stated th a t b og l an d w hi c h reclaimed would, after a given time, return to its origin a l state ; this had been proved by practical experience 13° only in Ireland, but in Sweden and other parts of Eurollei Such a measure as this would prove of the greatt l e advantage--it would reduce the rates and save the property of the country; and, in order to s e , that the money to be vo t e d was p ro perly gr o pended, a central Commission should be app o i n ted t . superintend the ex p e nditure in the different localitil' e As an indivividual Member, he had no power to prolle o by his Bill for the raising now rates, but he proposed td establish two unpaid Commissions, who should be a dds to the Board of Works, and that the funds to be raised fe e r carrying on their operations should be provided by the Chancellor of the Exchequer advancing money to te ; counties upon the same terms and same principles tbl, the Russian Government advanced money to their lsn banks. The establishment of such land-banks in Irelall would prove of great benefit to the people, while it wou ld avoid the necessity of making any demands upon the public Exchequer. Without, therefore, troubling t" House any longer, he begged to move for leave to intr°' duce the Bill of which he had given notice.—(Hear.) Mr. P. SCROPE seconded the motion, and thougv that the Government should have brought in a measur e for improving the waste lands of Ireland as an auxiliari means of raising the social condition of Ireland. I/: was of opinion that if th e y h a d b roug h t f orwar d suc h ", measure when the potato crop failed, it would W A ' saved many millions to the people of this country, se', saved many lives of the people of Ireland. He could 13 °: or h eb e m l s p eirn a vd t a t t r hi i o b int u ns t i ot n hi g atth t hee moneya Rightbs e n m e lli e go o inl f t. s b u e c h lost st in ate th e r f o m ibn e n a ot su thh re eerv t i o vnvou tl a " ,i, s in aid l . rela A nd nd th th a e n Baroneta Iwrienlganidt a in t to ma th e e nt boz as be that it was not improbable that more P money would be lost there f or other purposes. There were 740,0 00 persons employed un d er t h e L a b our-rate Act 10 t ; year, and t h e same number of persons would be without employment this year as the summer AP" proached. They would not only be wandering about Ir e ' land, but they would again come over to this country' and overflow its labour market as they did last year.'" (Hear, hear.) What he desired was to substitute a sr: cies of employment of a productive character, for whte" labour now appeared to be thrown away. If the re' sources of her land were fully developed, there would b e ample employment for the population of Ireland. B e giving eff ec t to s u c h a s y s t em , th e y wou ld h ave a c hatte; of creating in th a t country t h e m iddl e c l ass which We,, so much wanted th e r e . Th e o bj ect i on w hi c h m i g ht by urged to all he proposed was very likely to be the dO: 4 eulty of finding mon e y f or a ll t h ese wor k s. H e b e li e ved however, that money would b e a d vance d to cap i ta list , ' as fast as the works proceeded, and that there wet: ether means of raising money if it was required. With all the evidence before the m , h e truste d the su bj e ct would be taken in hand by her Majesty's Government' If it were not, the responsibility must rest upon the" shoulders. The question having been put, Sir G. GREY said he did not offer any oppositio n to the introduction of the Bill. The subject was red important. There could be no doubt that much employ' inent might be found for the people of Ireland by the reclamation of waste lands, and that such a measure 0 the present would be of great importance as an au x iliari ci to the poor-law. The subject, however, w as surroun ded with difficulties, and if the Hon. Member got over them he would be exceedingly fortunate. He (Sir G. GreY) understood that no vote of money was to be asked tort and certainly that was very much in favour of the Bill' But he reserved himself on details until another oppor' (unity. Mr. S. CRAWFORD expressed his concurrence ie the object of the Bill ; and leave was then given. POLITICAL OFFENDERS. Mr. F. O'CONNOR next rose to move an address to her Majesty, that she would be graciously pleased to extend her royal pardon to John Frost, Zephy niah Williams, and William Jones, and all poly tical offenders. The Honourable Member said h, ° , addressed the House upon this occa s i on , as on all other occasions of the same sort, with considerable da' culty. He had himself been for some time past 50 inti mately mixed up with what were called political offenders' that he could not but feel that his bringing this subject forward bore somewhat of a personal character. Ile hoped that nothing which he might say with respect to to the trial of Messrs. Frost, Williams, and J o nes would prejudice the House against the motion which be was about to submit for their consideration. The Hoe , Member then recapitulated the circumstances which characterised the proceedings in question, and stated 0 a fact that one of the jury came after the trial to hirm and admitted that he had impersonated another person whose name was on the panel. When the case wile argued before the judges in error, six were for quashing the proceedings as informal, whilst nine were of opinioh that the verdict ought to be maintained. In claiming the royal mercy in favour of Frost, Williams, aria Jones, he did not so much rest his motion upon any fault in the legal proceedings, as upon the, higher ground that Christianity taught a lesson ol forgiveness when error had been sufficiently expiated by suffering. Besides, there must have been something essentially good in the characters of the three persons ie question, for it had recently transpired that Frost was, now tutor in a cl e rgyman's family, a situation he could not have held had he not been possessed of many admit' able qualities. Were these persons, let him ask, t o be punished for the sake of terror, and in order to hold 00 an example to others? He therefore asked the Govern' went whether no concession was to be made in the case of Frost and his companions ? Hitherto no concession had ever been made to public opinion by the Government