The Sun. — London, England, 1848-02-11 00:00:00

TiiE SUN, LONDON., mirb Wibtictott SUN OFFICE, Scven 0' Clock. T A ONDON, BRIGHTON, & SOUTH-COAST RAILWAY. Notice is hereby given, that the ORDINARY MEETING of this Cornpany stands ADJOURNED to MONDAY NEXT, the 14th Fe bruary instant, at Eleven o'clock in the Forenoon precisely, to be holden i❑ the Large Room, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate street. CHARLES PASCOE GRENFELL, Chairman. THOMAS ;NO. BUCKTON, Secretary. London Tavern, Feb. n, 1848. LONDON,:.-MtIGHTON, and SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The half yearly meeting of this company was held to .day, at one o'clock, at the London Tavern, for the transaction of the ordinary business of the Company ; Mr. Grenfell, M.P., in the chair. The attendance of proprietors was very large; it was stated that nearly 200 were unable to obtain admission. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, The SECRETARY (.'Jr. Buckton) was proceeding to read the report, when loud cries arose from all parts ot th room for a larger room ; but The CHAIRMAN stated that the largest room in the house was occupied. A GENTLEMAN said there were more out of the room than in it, and hinted that the meeting would be a packed and a hole and corner one if they were not admitted. The CHAIRMAN repudiated the insinuation with contempt, upon which great uproar ensued. Mr. WILSON (the gentleman alluded to) did not wish to be offensive ; he considered that every share holder had a right to be present, and if this could not take place, he should withdraw. The CHAIRMAN said he was entirely in the hands of the meeting. He was most anxious that every pro prietor should be present.—(load cries were then raised for an adjournment, which appeared to proceed from the majority of the meeting.) The CHAIRMAN explained that they had sought the large room, but they found it had been engaged en a Friday for the last two years. Several gentlemen here stated that a great number in the room were not shareholders, and that they had got surreptitiously into the meeting. Mr. CASES suggested that they should either adjourn, to meet in the large room, or the Ilall of Commerce, at four o'clock. The CHAIRMAN said he had other duties to perform at the time nwntioned. He had to be at the House of Commons to support the Jewish Disabilities Bill— he would allow nothing to interfere with his duty to the Jewish body. Mr. Wisn.tw proposed that they should adjourn until one to-morrow, which was seconded. _Mr. TAYLOR hoped that efficient intans would be taken to admit none save the shareholders and the press. Ultimately, after much discussion and delay,_ a motion was carried that the meeting should he ad journed until eleven on Monday. j,n the large room. The following is the report 00o:red for presenta tion to the shareholders, which, -kern its importance, we give in ex'enso " In submitting the fullowlissiipet for the half-year ending 31st December , 1847, IWEr directors regret that the traffic of the cmnpany has suffered from the pressure of the times and the extraordinary crisis in the commer cial world, which have affected every branch of industry throughout the country. " The gross earnings cf the half-year are 250,6101., showing an increase cf 23,899/. over the corresponding period of last year. The additional mileage on which this'excess has been obtained is thirty-four miles, includ ing the Keymer Branch, opened in October, but not the Newhaven, opened on the Bth of December last. An analysis of the traffic shows the following results :—On the trunk line between London and Brighton, as com pared with the corresponding half-year of 1841, the re ceipts are less by 19,0271.; and on the Croydon line by 2,0801.; a similar comparison cannot be established with the new lines, as a large portion of them were not at that period open; but the decrease of revenue on the trunk lines demonstrates clearly the effect of the times, and must lead to the conclusion that the development of the extension lines has been checked and impeded by the £RIIO causes. " In reference to the progressive growth of railway traffic, when unimpeded by extraordinary causes such as have marked the year 1847, the following statistics are submitted for consideration. The receipts on the Brighton Trunk Line, prior to the opening of eny of the extensions, in the six months ending -1842 were 104,5341., or 1,850/. per mile, 1843 „ 113,314 L, or 2,005 per mile, or 8. per cent. Increase, 1844 „ 128,525/., or 2,275/. per mile, or 131- „ 1845 „ 143,964/., or 2,5481. per mile, or 12 - „ showing an increase in 1845, as compared with 1842, of 33 per cent., or proceeds equal to 2,5481. per mite. In the year just ended the receipts on the same portion of the line - were only 1,977/. per mile, clearly showing the influence of the times upon the traffic of your rail way. Upon the whole length of the line now open, the proceeds amount to 1,649/. per mile during the last half year. " Your directors have now to advert to the subject of expenditure. There is a considerable increase under the head of maintenance of way and works, which arises from the increased mileage at the charge of the company since the last report. " The next increase, a very serious one, is in the loco motive department, attributable not merely to the ex tended mileage to be worked, the high price of coke, and the advanced rate of freight ; but also to the fact that one of the manufacturers failed in his contract for the delivery of a large number of engines, intended to meet the exigencies of the autumnal traffic, by which the ex penses of keeping up the working stock in a state of efficiency were seriously augmented. A large supply of engines has, however, since been receive, which will ensure a more economical working of the traffic ; and in the important item of coke, also, a considerable saving Twill be effected, inasmuch as large quantities have, of necessity, been purchased, in conse quence of the company not having the means of mak ing sufficient for their own consumption. The coke made by the company is less costly and of far superior quality to that which has been purchased ; and, as additional ovens have been built at Kingston, and others will shortly be erected elsewhere, the company will be enabled to supply themselves ss ith nearly all they require. " It may be desirable to inform the proprietors, that no charge for engines, carriages, or other stock is car ried to capital, except for additions to the number of each class, rendered necessary by the extended mileage of the company. "Under other heads of annual charge, your directors would be misleading the proprietors were they to hold out hopes of any material diminution. They have effected as great reductions in the expenses incidental to the working of the line as they deem compatible with its efficiency; an exception, however, must be made in the case of the London-bridge Station, where a con siderable reduction is contemplated, and which is one of the beneficial results likely to arise from the friendly relations now subsistinc , between the Smith-E astern an d this company. Your directors also propose the re linquishment of the remuneration hitherto paid to them for the management of that station. " Tho tint of capital upon which the dividend ;is now payal* greatly exceeds that of the corresponding period of last year, arising not only from the increase of share capital, on which the balance is divisable, but from the interest heretofore deducted upon unproductive capital being now altogether charged to the current revenue, from the dates of the respective openings of the additional lines. _ "Your directors, under the circumstances above re ferred to, can only announce a dividend equal to IL per 501. share ; such dividend, if it have not the merit of rreiag lar ge , has at least that of being just ; and they confident, that if the propritors maturely weigh the present position of the company in all its bearings, they will have well-g r o un d e d h o pes for the future. Since the last report the Keymer and Newhaven Branches have been op ene d. The benefit derivable by the comp a nyfrem these lines will be considerable as soon as the co mmunication with Paris from Dieppe is completed, by the ope n i ng of the Dieppe Railway, which is exp ec t e d to t withstanding the existing place in March next. Not company has ca rr i e d na%disadvantages, however, this out five thousand passengers within the space of th ree months,connexion with th e boats of Company during the autumn, in the Brighton and Conti nental Steam-packet yfr ons Shoreham. The Hailsham, Eastbourne, and'an Deptfordih Branches have been suspended for the present. r e Branch to Hors ham is ready for opening, and has of the Rail way Commissioners. received the approval " No definite arrangement has yet their pro which u t b e t w een the Brighton and Portsmouth co you r directors entertain no doubt, from the feelingPauis, exists between th e res p ective boards, that ceedings will be regulated by a due regard to the in terests of all parties. In addition to the shares in that undertaking which were formerly the property of the an y, your directors , in accordance with Croydon Comp the arrangements for the amalgamation with the Ports mouth Company, subscribed for 4,000 shares therein, as comp lete your trustees, in order to • the requisite capital ; the agreement having precluded the shareholdersin the Portsmouth Company from participating in any capital beyond the amount then subscribed. " Your directors have the satisfaction to announce that an arrangement with the South Eastern Company has been entered into, which is founded upon the fol lowing :basis, viz.:—That the tolls payable by the one company to the other, for the use ot their re s p ective c linesarcommuted between London-bridge and the Croydon junc tion, ;7-the South-Eastern Company gran tin g to this comp any thefree use of the Bricklayers' Arms ; line and statio n they al so assign in perpetuity nearly fire acres of l an d at the Bricklayers' Arms station, as a goods depot for this company, and remit the payreert by this company of 25,0001., f or the alit(' line of rails on the Greenwich viaduct. " By the substitution of the Bri c kl a y ers ' A rms S tat i on for goods i n li eu of Nt Cross, this company w ill e ff ec t a saving in car t age and other r°" oth' e goods traffi c; an d b y the facilityrenses incident a l t o the afforded, an augmenta tion of this traffic is expected. A collat era l a d vantage, of no ordientryeimportaece, will also oalstetizwise h ave b een result in th e dimi nution of the outlay whi c h m, i cirrrd at. the Lot:don-bridge Station. " A resolution will he submitted to the releting for the conversion into stock of the fifteenth share to 38,0001., whereon five per cent. p r e f erence ' in a t ni er o e u s n t t h i l g s been abandoned since the last meeting. "It is proposed to take powers to borrow on mortgage 176,5981., under the authority of the several Acts for making the branch lines, passed in the 9th and 10th years of the reign of her present Majesty. " Four of the directors, Edward Wigai Edward Crowley, James Whiskin, and John Lawrie, Esquires, retire, pursuant to the Act of Parliament, but are eli gible for re election, and will offer themselves accor dingly." The accounts, which were very elaborate, showed the expenditure for tthe half-year to have been 119,8861. 6s. 5d., the receipts 251,076/. ss. 2d., and the available balance for dividend 131,1891. 18s. 9d. EXCHEQUER.—(THIS DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi Prius, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and Special Juries.) LONG V. RENNIE. In this case Mr. M. Hill and Mr. Willes appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. Martin, with whom was Sir J. Bayley, represented the defendant. The aetion was brought for the purpose of recover ing from the defendant, Sir J. Rennie, the sum of 8001., being the balance of an account alleged to he due to the plaintiff for professional service:, as a sur veyor, rendered to the defendant upon various pro jected lines of railway of which he was the engineer. The original claim of the plaintiff had been, it ap • peared, reduced in the month of May to a sum of about 2,699/. 14s. 3d., at which time an arrange ment was entered into, through the mediation of Messrs. Freslifield, solicitors, by which the plaintiff was to receive 1,000/. down, and a bill, at one month, for 500/., and a further sum of 800/. (the plaintiff having consented to reduce his claim to 2,3(101.) was to be pail within a m on th f rom t h e t i me o f th e de fendant's receiving from the various companies by whom he was employed the balances due to him. The defence to the action was that as the defendant had not received payment from the company for which the work had been done, the plaintiff having entered into an agreemen t t o rece i ve th e balance only in the event (f his so receiving such payment, he was Inot in a condition to sue the defendant. The case was before the Court yesterday, and oc cupied a considerable portion of time to-day. The jury finally returned a verdict for the plaintiff upon two of the ccunts, and for the defendant upon one of the counts inwhich the agreement was con cerned, leaving the damages to be assessed by the Court. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Frice Current of Feb. 11.) SUGAII.—Today there was a further decrease in the demand for all kinds of raw Sugar, both for home 1170 and exportation ; and prices are further depressed. The demand was extremely limited for West India, both for the scale and pan, only 70 hhds &e finding buyers at rather lower rates. '1 he market closes with much heavi ness for all sorts of Sugar. REFINED.—To-clay retina goo•r7s were eperated in with much caution by the home trade, and prices are further depressed, standard lumps selling at 549 Gd, and brown grocery 53s Gd. The tendency of prices is still downwards. Bonded Crushed Sugar is little wanted, and there is a desire to sell fine sort at 29i to 30s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afterroon four parcels of Beng,al Sugar amounting to 5,6.13 bags were offered at public sale, the demand was limited and not above half fOund buyers, white sorts at a reduction of 6.1 to Is, but strong yellow fetched the full value. DIACTRITHIS —This afternoon only a limited demand Was experienced by private treaty, and of 1.315 bags at auction, a sra:dl rart only sold, at a further fall of 6(1 per cwt. . . . FOREIGN. —AI thour i li the rates taken by private treaty e:thibit a reduction on those previously current of 6d to h per cwt, yet the home trade for the isost part re• trained from operating, whilst the demand has been limited from our refiners working under bond. On the part of exporters little disposition was shown to purchase. COFFEE.—This afterno. n a public salt: of 414 bags, 27 casks of Plantation Ceylon Coffee went off at very full rates, good middling bold, of a favourite mask, realizing 60s to 65s 6d, middling 545 to 58$, low middling 51s to 534, fine fine ordinary 48s to 495, fine ordinary mixed 42s to 435, pea berry 555 to 635 61, and triage 275. Native is still required, and 850 bags sold at 6d to is per cwt advance. Mocha sells more readily, and 105 bales at auction went 3s to 6s above former prices. Of Costa Rica 1,554 bags fetched the full value. TEA.—At the public sales which concluded on Mon day last, the demand was extensive for all descriptions of Green. Black also met with a good sale, scented and Pekoe Teas wore operated in with greater freedom. The total quantity submitted to public competition amounted to 26,540 pkgs, and the unusually large proportion of 16,000 pkgs found buyers at prices showing an advance on those current in tne private market, Congon of id, Imperial and Gunpowder 2d to 4.1, llyson 2d, Young Ilyson ld to lid, Twankay id to : 1 4 1 3, whereas other kinds of Tea fully obtained the former value. SPICES.—The supply of Pepper continues on the de crease, and none has been .offered at public sale this week. By private treaty• several parcels have been disposed of, and at fully former rates. Whits is much in request, and advanced id, to td. Pimento is in in• creased request, and realised a further advance of fl to id per lb : at auction, 237 bags were all sold. For Nutmegs the demand is more active, and as there is a less plentiful supply, prices are on the advance. For Mace there is a brisk demand, and holders show firmness. Cloves cannot be called cheaper, but the sales made arc of little moment. Although Cinnamon can be obtained upon the reduced terms of the last quarterly sales, still the purchases made have been of little interest. Of Cassia Lignea the supply of all kinds is scanty, and prices in consequence rule high, but not much inquiry has prevailed. For Ginger the market has an improving appearance, the demand is increasing, and prices are falling off._ _ _ RICE.—For Madras and yellow Bengal there has been a much better demand for exportation this week, and full rates are obtained, but the market has been well supplied. White Bengal is however little required for home consumption or shipping, although merchants are willing to make a further concession in the value cf 6cl per cwt, and the supply yet exceeds the demand: at public sale 3,140 bags Madras were disposed of. Cleaned Rice is not much required, and Town dressed Carolina can be easily purchased. INDIGO.—To day 743 chests have passed the sale, of which 301 were in the East India Company's hands. The biddings continue to be very animated, and the advance previously noticed is fully supported. COCHINEAL—The supply having materially increased this week, prices have suffered a depression of Id to 21 per lb for Honduras; the demand, however, has been good for all sorts. Of 231 bags offered at auction the chief part was disposed of. SPIRITS.—The market has been in a very dull state for all kinds of Rum this week, and so trifling have been the purchases made by exporters and the home trade, that it is difficult to quote prices with accuracy. The tendency is, however, downwards, and the neares rates are, proof East India is 7d, Leeward Island is 8d to is 91, Jamaica 30 to 36 per cent over proof 3s 9d to 4s 21, fine 43 3d to 4s 7d, and Demerara 26 to 38 over 23 101 to 3s 3d. For Brandy prices are not lower, but little has been done. Geneva is cheaper, chipping sort 23 31 to 2s 41. The quotation of British Corn-Spirit has heed reduced to 10s, and Gin is 2d cheaper. TauLow.—Today prices declined for P. T. C. to ‘s3s to 53s 61 on the spot, and 46e for the last three months of the year; few buyers were to be met with. The public sales went off ffttly, and upon lower terms. OlLS.—This afternoon, at public sale, 90 packages Cocoa Nut Oil in part sold at 55s to 58s for good an 3 fine; 170 casks Palm, good 36s 6d to 36s 9d ; and 30 tuns Sea Elephant 0:1, at 281 to 31/. IMPERIAL PA IMAM ENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woolsack shortly before Five o'clock. Lord PORTMAN presented a petition from some place in Somersetshire, praying for an enactment to prevent denunciations from the altar in Ireland. The Earl of ELLENI3OROUGH presented a petition from some place in Devonshire against Jewish emancipation. The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from the magistrates of Ayr with a similar prayer. Lord HATHERTON presented a petition from Stafford, praying that Odd Fellows' societies might be placed.on the same footing as other benefit societies. GA M E -L AW S. _ The NOBLE LORD then presented a petition from a meeting of tenant farmers held in Rlinburgh, praying for an alteration in the game-laws. He thought that some alteration ought to take place. He thought that hares ought not to be considered as game. They were most destructive, and every farmer ought to have the liberty of destroying them on his own estate. The greater number of convictions for poaching were for snaring hares. Hares should be placed upon the same footing as rabbits. He also thought that some important modifications ought to take place in the duty payable for a license to shoot, and that a person ought to be enabled to shoot on hi s own ground on paying a much less amount of duty than at present. So long as the qualification for shooting consisted in ,the pos session of 10 0 acres of land, there was no great objection to calling upon him to pay 41. for his license, but wnt i hey did awa y with the qua lification they shou license. He thought(' have lowered the duty on the g gamed every man should have the power of killin upon_ o the land he occupied, and b that the license should either done away with al together, or the duty should be so reduced as to place the obtain;ng of a license within the power of any man who occupied land. The Marquis of SALISBURY though that since the alteration in the law was made authorisingsithcee sale of game, the game was as much private pro perty as the trees on the farm ; and tenants, w h en they made their bargains with their landlords, were fully aware that same was to be preserved, an d made their agreements accordingly. Lord ASHBURTON thought that it would be almost a perfect remedy for the evils complained of as regarded the present garn.l:lws, if the Legislature were to pass fi measure disgarn,r,, bans, and placing them in the same category as rabbits. Lord PORTMAN t h ou h t it desirable that this dis cussion s h ou ld have taken place before the budget was brought forward, in order that the finance Minister might consider the propriety of lowering the duties on game certificates. He knew that the present high rate of duty prevented many farmers from taking out game certificates. JEWISH EMANCIPATION. The Earl of HARROWBY presented several peti tions against Jewish emancipation. HEALTH OF TOWNS. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from Stafford in favour of the Health of Towns Bill. ORDNANCE SURVEY. The Earl of ABERDEEN presented a petition from some place in Scotland, complaining of the small progress made in the Ordnance Survey in Scotland. The Duke of MONTROSE trusted that the Go vernment would adopt measures to remedy the evil complained of. If the survey progressed at its present rate it would take 35 years to complete it in Scotland. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE defended the conduct of the Ordnance officials engaged in the survey. The NOBLE MARQUIS then laid upon the table copies of certain communications which had taken place with the Austrian Government. RAILWAY COMPANIES' AUDIT BILL. Lord MON TEAGLE moved the second reading of the Railway Companies' Audit Bill, and is doing SO he wished at the outset to guard himself against the imputation that this measure was proposed in any spirit of hostility to railways. Some persons con tended that the Legislature should not interfere with rail :says, but he contended that railway companies should be watched with great jealousy by the Legis lature. It was said that railways were private pro perty, and the Legislature had no right to interfere with them. Why these companies owed their exist ence to an interference with the rights of private property—the right of private property in land— authorised by the Legislature for the public good ; and therefore the Legislature had the fullest right to watch and regulate the movements of railway directors. It was necessary the Legislature should exercise this right for the protection of shareholders. Since 1826, a sum of upwards of 324,000,0001. had been placed at the disposal of railway directors and proprietors, and this fact alone was sufficient to authorize the in terference of the Legislature to see how it was applied The sum placed at the disposal of Railway Companies during the years 1845 and 1846, a sum more than double the amount of that required for the Army, the Navy, and the whole administration of the United Kingdom. They had besides had power given them to enter the money market and to raise upwards of one hundred millions a loan. Parliament ought to take care this House should rest. upon a just foundation, and that houses lending should know exactly the security upon which they lent this money. This borrowing, how ever, rested upon foundations totally dif fcreet to any other borrowing power in the kingdom. They had an inducement to borrow at a high rate of interest, which no other body possessed in order to complete the works, and the exercise of this power contributed greatly to produce the late derangement of the money market. The Bank of England had recently held a large amount of these securities, and had been unable consequently to make advances upon the security of the floating debt of the country. Was this security what it pre tended to be ? That was a matter for grave consider ation. He had shown that Parliament possessed a right and authority to interfere with these rail ways if it should be expedient for the pub lic good to do so, but that question was not raised his Bill, which merely gave to share holders the power of insisting upon a stated audit of the accounts of the directors. At present the au ditors were so intimately connected with the directors, that the audit was, in fact, a mere matter of form, the real auditors being the directors themselves. Now he wished to give the shareholders the power of establishing a real and efficient audit of the accounts, perfectly independent of the Board of Directors. He did not propose to give the new auditor power of disallowing items, but to give him the power of un limited access to all the accounts, and the power of reporting thereon to the shareholders his opinion. a dividend might be made out of calls, so that a dividend of five per cent. might be declared at really the profits only authorised the declaration of a dividend of two and a half per cent., and thus only a mystification of accounts an illusory curity might be created upon which illusory security money would be raised. and that which was in fact a debt due by the com pany, would be represented as the property of the company. Now, if there were an independent system of audit established, this state of things could not exist, and the necessity for the establishment of some independent audit was becoming every day more and more manifest. He hoped that in all future Railroad Bills before the second reading of such Bills was con sented to their Lordships would insist upon a com plete audit of the accounts being laid be'ore the Com mittee. (LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. GLASGOW WATERWORKS. Mr. MACGREGOR presented a petition from the Lord Provost and town council of Glasgow against the Glasgow Waterworks Bill. ELECTION COMMITTEES. Mr. FOX MAULE brought up the second re port of the General Committee of Elections, report ing that they had selected the following Members for the Committee to try the merits of the return for West Gloucestershire :—Mr.Grainger (Chairman), Sir John Walsh, Mr. Aglionby, Major Cumming Bruce, Mr. R. J. Thcrnely ; and for the Committee on the Great Marlow election petition, Sir J. Peking ton (Chairman), the Hon. E. Mostyn, Sir J. Duck worth, Sir R. Price, and the Hon. H. Fitzroy. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed : Bristol and Clifton Gas Light Amendment. Clifton Bridge (Extension of Time for Completion of Works). Dover Landing Pier. Edinburgh Municipality Extension, and Trans ference of Police and Paving. Glasgow Waterworks Acts Amendment. Manchester Corporation Waterworks Acts Amend ment. Rutherglen and Strathbungo Turnpike Road. Worcester Turnpike Trust. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Mr.: E. DENISON presented a petition from Bolton in favour of. the Jewish Disabilities Bill. Mr. CHRISTOPHER. presented petitions against the Bill. The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY pre, sented petitions in favour of the Bill. Mr. LOCKHART presented pe:itions against the Jewish Disabilities Bill. Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition from Higham Ferrars against the Bill. Petitions were also presented against the Bill by Mr. Hodson, from Carlisle; by Major Beresford, from Saffron Walden ; by Mr. Plumptree ; by Mr. Buck, from Ottery St. Mary and Ottery St. Peter, in Devon shire ; by Mr. Miles, from Frome.—Petitions were presented in favour of the 13i11 by Mr. C. Lushing ton, from Westminster ; by Mr. Cobden, by Mr. S. Crawford, by Mr. Osborne, by Mr. C. Pearson, by Mr. Hindley, by Lord Duncan, by Mr. G. Thompson, by Mr. Shafto Adair, and by Mr. Gibson Craig. ARMY AND NAVY. Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition from Torquay, praying that both the naval and military establishments of the country might be abolished. RAJA OF SATTARA. Petitions were presented by several Members pray. ing for an inquiry into the case of the late Raja o: Sattara. POOR REMOVAL BILL. Mr. BAINES brought in the Poor Removal Bill, which was read a'firat time, and ordered to be read a second time on the Ist of March. ADMISSION OF THE JEWS. Mr. StaffoidP;eteda petition from a place in Northamptonshire against the admission of the Jews ; as also did Mr. Hudson, from York, Mr. Alderman Thompson and Hon. Members from Leicester, Sussex, Presbytery of Dundalk, and the Marquis of Granby; and in favour by Mr. Ellice,'from Coventry and Woles ton, in Warwick. ROMAN CATHOLICS. Captain PECIIELL presented a petition in favour of the removal of the Catholic disabilities. THE CURRENCY. Mr. lIUME presented a petition signed by the Chairman on behalf of a society calling themselves " Cogitators"—(Laughter)—who held their meetings at 79, Great Portland-street, Marylebone,, approving of the resolution of the House to inquire- into the currency, and praying , them to send f or R o b er t Owen, whose 30 years experience would enable the Committee t 3 obtain a great deal of useful informs tion on the subject. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Mr. HUME hoped the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Osborne) who had given notice of his intention to call the attention of the House, on the reading of the order of the day, to returns which had been pre sented with respect to the new Houses of Par liament, would postpone doing so until a future day. He was perfectly alive to the importance of the subject, but nothing would be lost by postponing it until Monday.—(Hear, hear.) Air. OSBORNE said, though he considered the matter more i mpor t an t t h an th e Chi e f C omm i ss i on er of Woods and Forests, he, was most unwilling, to oppose the with of the House, and should therefore postpone hi s motion and endeavour to bring it on next Monday. VRIDAY EVEKING, FEBRUARY 11, 1848. REMOVING TENANTS (IRELAND.) Mr. SCROPE said he wished to correct a stab :ment which be had made on the strength of a pan Iphlet written by a Mr. Tuite, a member of the Society of Friends. On the faith of Mr. Tuite, he stated that Mr. Walsh, a landlord in Tipperary, had turned 140 of his tenantry out of their cottages on to the common road without food or shelter. It appeared that this was incorrect, inasmuch as it appeared that posses sion was taken by Mr Walsh of 140 of the houses of his tenantry, but that he had not turned them out ; therefore, they did not suffer the miseries s hich Mr. Taite had described. He be lieved the pamphlet bad since been withdrawn, which led to the inference that the writer considered that the statements he had made were incorrect. lie (Mr. Scrope) believed it to be his duty to take the earliest opportunity of correcting the error into which. he had fallen. was imperative upon the Speaker to cause the lion. Member to be taken into :custody without any mo tion whatever.—(Hear ' hear.) He thought it most important that every llor,. Member should attend and perform the dutie s required of him, and if he were not yoesent when required it was the duty of the H.o . use to order that he should be fiaken into custody. Sir G. GREY s`Aii that, no doubt, it was quite lawful to order t:eie party to be taken into custody immediately. Mr. MUNTZ was of opinion that the present :Honourable Member ought not to be alit wed •to escape. There was great danger in not keeping strictly to the Act of Parliament. If the fir:it Member had been allowed to escape, the second would have escaped. All the Hon. Members had the same notice, and it was their business to attend in their places. The business of the house ought not to he allowed to stand still in consequence of the non n:„tendance of any of the Members.—(Hear, hear.) The motion was then agreed to without a division. Wray, from the 46th Foot, to be Asststant Surgeon, vice Johnstone, who exchanges, Feb. 11. Ilugh Powell Price, Esq , to be D3puty-Lieutelai t, Feb. 8. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant and Sheriff Prin cipal of Ayrshire. The Prince Regent's Royal Regiment of Ayrshire Militia-Patrick Blair, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Juhn Ferguson Gardiner resigned, Feb. 3. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Somersetshire. Noith Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavairj Ed inund Roger Robert Boyle, commonly uailed Viscount Dungurvon, to be Cornet, vice Thomas Davis, recsignd, Feb. 2, BANKRUPTS. Charles Kitto, dealer and. Chapman, Ferdinand- s , scet, Hampstead road. Aaron Woolf, furniture broker, New-road, Brighton. Charles Bryson, general dealer, Broad-street-build- ings, City. k‘Viilium Pearce, tailor, Croydon, Surrey. John Isaiah Grylls and Richard Booty Cousens, en gineers, Lianelly, and York-square, St •pney, Middlesex. Thomas Tipping, corn-dealer, Liverpool. James Noon and Thomas Harrison, cap manufacturers, Manchester. William Cookson, joiner, Manchester. Ld ard Hopwood, coach spring maker, Birmingl am. Robert Wake, merchant, Kingston-upon-lira Lemon and Moses Woolf, brewers, Pet. 7. nee. Ellen and Griffith Open, drapers, Holyhead. John Steele Rabblh, tanner, Barnard Castle. Benjamin Harris, corn merchant, Tewkesbury. William Curtis, auctioneer, Cheltenham. Thomas Willmott, surgeon, Upper Easton-street, Pimlico. Charles Laster Jones and Robert Cole, cheescrnon gers, Oxford- street. Joseph Burnside, timber-merchant, Richmond, York shire. Joseph Swift and Tom North Swift, chemist, Hud dersfield. WEST INDIES. Mr. HUME gave notice fir:4, unless the Hon.. , Member for West Gloucester should upon an early tiny bring forward his motion on the subject of th, West Indies, he should himself propose a series of re . solutions on the subject of giving to the proprieto ef_, of cs'ates in their colonies a full and fair trial w Vth respect to the effects of the employment of any - k i n d of labour which they might require. ATTORNEYS' CERTIFICATES. Mr. WARD presented a petition from a r mmber of solicitors, practising in Sheffield, prayi`sg for the abolition of the duty on certificates rec i eired to be taken by attorneys when admitted to F.adice. JEWISH DISABILITI AS. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a p.tition from per sons residing at \Vhitehaven, pray img that the Bill for removing the Jewish disabilities might speedily pass into law- WEST GLOUCESTERSTIIRE ELECTION. Upon the .Members nominated by the General Committee of Elections to, inquire into the truth of the allegations contained in the West Gloucester pe tition being summoned ta the bar to be sworn, it was discovered that Mr. 4 Charles Lennox Cumming Bruce, one of the nominated members, was not in the House, Mr. FOX MALILE said it now became his pain ful duty, in consequence of the Hon. Mem ber not being in his place one hour after the House had net, to move, under the 67th section of the Act of Parliament, that he be taken into custody by the Sere-mat. at-Arms. In making the motion, he must take the opportunity of drawing the attention of Hon. Memb ex s to the rules which prevailed in the nomination of VI( ise Committees. It appeared to him that such cases ass the one he was now dealing with arose from the circumstance of Hon. Members not being sufficiently attentive in consulting the panels upon which th it names were placed ; and he w - Juld most earnestly recommend Honourable MetnLers, not so much w ith the view of saving themselves trouble, as for ti e purpose of saving trouble and ex pense to the pa rties concerned, that they should consult the paneds in which their names were placed every day during the time the panel was under con sideration. With these observations it was his painful duty to move the resolution which he had just read. Sir R. H. fITGLIS suggested that in future the notices issued by the General Committee of Elec tions should be delivered to Honourable Members bona fide through the hands of an officer of the House. Mr. FOX MAULE directed the attention of the Hon. Baronet to the third section of the Act of Parliament, wherein it is stated that the clerk of the General Committee of Elections should give notice in writing to each Member who should be chosen to serve on Election Committees. Sir R. H. INGLIS said his suggestion was quite consistent with the Act, which evidently required that the notices should be personally delivered by an officer of the House. Lord HARRY VANE did not see the necessity of a personal service, but in his opinion four or five days' notice ought to be given to Honourable Mem bers before they were called upon to serve on these Committees. Mr. AGLIONBY agreed with the suggestion of the Noble Lord. The summons which he received to serve on this Committee did not reach him till late last night. He did not attribute this to the :neglect of the officer whose duty it was to deliver it, because it was left at his house so early as four o'clock yes terdty afternoon, but at that hour he had left home to attend the house,i and no doubt like many other Members, he did not return till late at night.—(Hear.) Sir W. HE ATHCOTE said the General Com mittee of Selection were bound, under the Act of Parliament to give the notices on the day of selection, and they had no authority to interfere with the rules laid down by the Act. It was the province of the House, and not of the Committee, to make the alterations suggested by Honourable Members. He trusted therefore that his Right Hon. Friend and the other Members of the Committee would be exonerated from any blame.—(Hear, hear.) Dr. BOWRING said there was no complaint of the conduct of the Committee, but he thought the hardship was considerable. Mr. THORNLEY said that in the votes of the House there was fourteen days' notice given of the day on which the Committee was appointed, and the panel from which the Committee would be taken. lie thought, therefore, Honourable Members could not blame the llouse. Mr. FORBES was sure that the Hon. Member had no intention wilfully to absent himself, he trusted, therefore, that the House would allow him to move that the debate on the subject should be adjourned till Monday. SlThe SPEAKER doubted whether he could put the motion, because the Act was imperative in its provisions, that when a Member who had been ap pointed on an Election Committee did not appear within an hour from the sitting of the House, he should be taken into the custody of the Sergeant-at- Arms. Mr. F. MAULE believed the Act was imperative, and that the House had no discretion ; he should, therefore, move that the Sergeant -at-Arms be ordered to take the Hon. Member into custody. Mr. HORSMA.N suggested the withdrawal of the motion, upon the understanding that all fees should be paid, and the subject considered on Monday. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the adoption of such a course would be incon sistent with the the dignity of the House and a wage of their time, as the Act was imperative.—(Hear.) Mr. HORSMAN—Then does the Right Hon. Gentleman that the Hon. and Gallant Member should be in custody to-morrow and Sunday ? The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER — Certainly. It was his duty to attend the house having been appointed on the Committee.—(Hear.) The SPEAKER having put the question, that the Sergeant-at• Arms be ordered to take' the Hon. and Gallant Member into custody, strangers were ordered to withdraw. In a few minutes the gallery was opened, when we found that the motion had been agreed to without a division. THE GREAT MARLOW ELECTION COM- MITTEE. The Members of this Committee were then called to the table, and Sir R. N. Price being absent, Mr. F. MAULE said Sir Robert Price, the Member for Hereford, not having attended in his place within one hour before the sitting of the Hou , e, to be sworn as one of the Members of the said Committee, he felt it his duty to move that he be taken into custody by the Sergeant at-Arms. Mr. V. SMITH said when an Hon. Member moved that the debate on the last motion be adjourned, the Speaker told him that he could not do so. If the Act was imperative with respect to the committal of a Member who did not appear, he could not see the necessity of making a motion on the subject, and was surprised that one was about to take place As the same thing might occur again he begged to ask the Hon. Gentleman to explain the law, and whether the motion must be agreed to as as a mutter of course, or whether it was open to discussion ? The SPEAKER read the 66th clause which stated that if a Member, summoned on an election com mittee, did not appear when called upon that he should be ordered to be taken into custody. By the old Act a motion was made that the Members so absenting themseelves be taken into custody; and though it was not imperative under the new regula tion, he had thought it well to adhere to the ancient mode. It might be open to discussion whether a Member could be committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms by the Speaker alone. Mr. HORSMAN said in the event of the arrest of a Member being agreed to, the Sergeant- at• Arms or his officer was compelled to follow . him even into Scotland or Ireland, and he Was liable to pay all the expenses.—(Hear, hear.) A Member might be absent from accident; end, therefore, he thought the House should take care that Members had full notice. The putting of the motion showed that it might eome to a division, and, of course, if this came on a discussion might take place, and any one might move an amendment; and the Member himself, or his friends, might be enabled to state some mitigating circumstances to entitle the absent Member to the consideration of the House. He believed that the notices were only served last night, and it was just possible that they did not reach the residences of the Members until after they might have gone off to dinner, or left town by the mail. He invariably looked at the votes every morning to see if he had been appointed a Member of any Committee; no notice, howver, ap peared in the Votes until Members were actually ap pointed; their nomination did not appear, and con sequently a Member might easily be inadvertenly absent. Mr. HUME said that no doubt, with respect to the practice of the House, the Speaker was quite correct. Lie thought, however, that by the terms of the Act it ADJOURN INIENt . OF THE HOUSE. It was ordered that the flcuse, at its ;rising, do adjourn until Monday. VAGRANT POOR. Mr. MILES wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to bring in any measure for the purpose of putting an end to the evil:. attend ing the large increase which had taken place in the numbers of the vagrant and tramping poor of this coun try. Mr. C. BULLER said that his attention had been directed to the subject ; and if it should be ne cessary to require the intervention of the House in the matter she Government would certainly not delay introducing a mc-asure calculated to meet the case. PAYMASTERS AND PURSERS. Captain PECLIELL wished to know from the Secretary of the Admiralty whether it was intended to make provision in the Estimates for completing the retired list of paymasters and pursers to the numbers recommended in the nport of the Committee of Flag Officers in 1842; and also, whether the Board of Admiralty had taken into consideration the several memorials of the Commanders and Lieutenants with regard to a retired list, and of the masters with re spect to the present anomalous rank which they hold in the service. Mr. WARD said that it was not the intention of the Crown to make any provision in the estimates for the purpose referred to by the Gallant Member. With respect to the second part of the question, he would state that the Board of Admiralty had had the memorials in question under their consideration, and had come to the conclusion that they could not ac cede to the suggestions of the memorialists. VACAN r SEE OF CANTERBURY. Mr. HOUSMAN stated that he would on Mon day next put a question to the Noble Lord at the head of the G: - wernment with a view of ascertaining whether it was his intention to introduce any mea sure similar to that which had been introduced upon the appointment of the present Bishop of Durham, the object of which would be to make the income of the Archbishop sub ject to any changes or modifications which might be made by Parliament, for the purpose of bringing the amount within the statutable limits prescribed by the Act for equalizing the incomes of the various sees. THE EXPLOSION OF THE CRICKET Mr. MUNTZ wished to ask the Right Hon. Baro net the Secretary for the Home Department, whether, in consequence of the explosion of the Cricket, it was the intention of Government to take any steps in aespect of the valves of steamers plying on the Thames. Mr. LABOUCHERE said, perhaps the llon. Member was not aware that Government already had control over these boats. All vessels that carried passengers were required to undergo an examination by an officer appointed for that purpose by the Board of Trade. COURT' OF CHANCERY. Mr. AGLIONBY moved for a return of the total number of attendable warrants granted by each of the taxing masters of the High Court of Chancery in England, on each day in Hilary Torm, 1848, and the most remote day or period at which any such warrant, granted on each and eeery of such days, is or was made aeturnable.—Agreed to. ADJOURNED DEBATE ON THE JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. On the question for reading the order of the day for the adjourned debate on the Jewish Disabilities Bill being put, a number of petitions were presented for and against the measure. On the quesion being put, Mr. C. PIIARSON rose, and was (LEFT SPEAKING.) THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) WIIITEHALL, FEB. 1. The Lord Chancellor has appointed William Jones, of Newtown, in the county of Montgomery, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WAR-OFEICE, FEB - 11, 1848. 7th Dragoon Guards—James Thomson, M.D., to ba Assistant-Surgeon, vice Lock, killed at the Cape of Good Hope, Feb. 11. _ . . . 3d Light Dragoons—Henry Fraser Dimsdale, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Campbell, promoted in the 6th Dragoon Guards, Feb. 11. 9th Light Dragoons—Alfred Eastfield Wilkinson, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Richards, pro moted, Feb. 11. 2d Regiment of Foot—Captain Lord Hamilton Francis Chichester, from half-pay 9th Foot. to be Cap tain, vice Gustavus Nigle Kingacote Anker Yonge, who exchanges ; Lieutenant George Edward Alexander Tobin to be Captain, by purchase, vice Lord H. F. Chichester, whe retires; Ensign Raymond Inglis to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Tobin; Richard Bury Russell, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Inglis, Feb. 11. 9th Foot—Lieutenant William Thomas De Wilton' from 22d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Whiteside, who exchanges, Feb. 11. 22d Foot—Lieutenant Colonel Sydney John Cotton, from 28th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Penne father, who exchanges; Lieutenant John Whiteside, from the 9th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice De Wilton, who exchanges; Feb. 11. 24th Foot—Fentleman Cadet Charles William. St. John, ft.( m the Royal Military College to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Bull, deceased, Feb. 11. 27th Font—Major General William Francis Patrick Napier, C.B. to be Colonel, vice Lieutenant General Sir John Maclean, K.C.8., deceased Feb. 5. 28th Foot—Brevet Colonel John Lysaght Pennefather, C.B. from the 22nd Y.mt, to be Lieutenant• Colonel, vice Cotton, who exchanges, Dec. 2. 40th Foot—Ensign Francis Barry Drew to be Adju tant, vice Snelling, who resigns the Adjutancy only, Feb. 11. 41st Foot—Major-General Charles Asho A'Court, C.B. to be, Colonel, vice General Sir Ralph Darling, appointed to,63ttt Foot, Feb. 5. 46th Foot—Assistant-Surgeon William smellie John stone, M.D. from 87th Foot, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Wray, who exchanges, Feb. 11. 58th Foot—Major General George Charles D'Aguilar, C. 8., to be Colonel, vice General Frederick Maitland, deceased, Feb. 5. 62d Foot—Lieutenant Lennard Barrett Tyler to be Captain, by purchase, vice Graves, who retires ; En sign William Rudman to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Tyler ; Henry Smith Adlington, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Rudman, Feb. 5. 69th Foot—General Sir Ralph Darlinf, from the 41st Foot, to be Colonel, vice General John Vincent, de ceased, Feb. 5. 7301 Foot—Captain Benjamin Brown to be Major, by purchase, vice Baker, .whose promotion has been can celled, Nov. 12; Lieutenant James Florence Murray to be Captain, without purchase, vice Baker, killed at the Cape of Good Hope, Nov. 14, 1847. Lieutenant John Richard Sherlock Fitzgerald, from half pay 62d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Murray; Assistant-Surgeon Joshua Paynter, from the Rifle Brigade, to be Surgeon, vice Campbell, killed at the Cape, Feb. 11. 75th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Robert Carter, from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign, without pur chase, vice Milles, appointed Adjutant; Ensign Thomas Milks to be Adjutant, vice Brookes, promoted, Feb. 11. ComtniF.sions by the Lord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire. Josoph Bailey, Esq., M.P., to be Deputy Lieutenant; 93d Foot—Ensign William Francis Augustus Eliott to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Shuter, who retires ; James Dalyell, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Eliot, Feb. 11. 96th Foot—Ensign John Vize O'Donnell to be Lieu tenant, by purchase, vice Campbell, who retires; Wil liam Alfred Swift, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice O'Donnell, Feb. 11. Rifle Brigagc—John Riggs Miller Lewis, M.D., to be Assistant Surgeon, vice Paynter, promoted in 73d Foot, Feb. 11, 1848. 2d West India Regiment Quartermaster Thomas Birley to be Adjutant, with the rank of Ensign, vice 111‘Donogh, deceased, Dec. 29, 1847. 8d West India Regiment—Ensign Robert Willock Davies to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Gardner, deceased, Aug. 7 ; William henry Walsh, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Davies, Feb. 11. Ceylon Rifle Regiment—Garrison Serjeant Major Thomas Miller, late 98th Foot, to he Second Lieu tenant, without purchase, vice Dixon, deceased, Feb. 11. BREVET.—Captian Lord llamilton Francis Chichester, of 2d Foot, to be Major in the Army, Nov. 9. Eauxrust in the Gazette of Nov. 12, 1847. 73d Foot—For " Lieutenant Charles LittleOlales to be Captain by purchase, vico Baker promoted," read, " vice Brown, promoted." OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, FEB. D, 1848. Corps of Royal Engineers—Brevet Major Charles Carson Alexander, to be Lieutenant- Colonel, vice Piper, retired on full pay, Feb. 2 ; Second Captain Robert Georges Hamilton to Captain, v;ce Alexander; First Lieutenant Thomas Lionel John Oallwey to be Second Captain, vice Hamilton ; Second Lieutenant Henry Schaw, to be First Lieutenant, vice Gallwev, Feb 2. 821 Fog—Quartermaster Sergeant Robert Hare to be Quar!rrmaster, vice 13e:nard Grant, who retires upon half pay. Feb. 11. 87th Foot—Assistant Surgeon Christopher Wright PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed from the returns made in the week ending_ February 8, 1848, is 265. C:l4 d. per cwt. DINNER TO PROFESSOR STAIE.—On Friday a puLlic dinner was given in the Waterloo Remus to Mr. Sy vac, professor of clinical surgery in the Universi!y of Edinburgh, on the occasion of his removal to London to fill a similar chair in connexion with the Univi rsity College. Upwards of a hundred gentlemen sat down to dinner, consisting of the leading medical practitioners in Edinburgh and throughout the country. The chair was occupied by Professor Christison, pre,ident of the Rojal College ut burgeons.—Scotsman. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. DOUSE OF COMMOAS,Fcb. 10. The Telarquis of KILDARE took the oaths and his seat for the county of Kildare. HIGHWAYS. Mr. OSBORNE asked if any measure was to be brought in on the subject of highways. Sir G. GREY said such a measure was in preparation. PUBLIC lIE aLTII. Viscount MORPETH then rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill for promoting the public health. Ills Lordship said that in rising to move this Bill !or e second time, he certainly felt no diminution of the anxiety and earnestness which attended his first c ifort, and he hoped he might say his last failure on the sub ject. Ile did not feel himself called on to enter into the subject of the proceedings which ended in that eel . at. %VILA then imbed, however, had left two feelings most iu his mind; one, of his increased respensiuility, that there should be no second failure; t:.e other, that whilst last time a great deal was said and nothing done, so this time comparatively little might be said, aid a great deal might be effected. It might be remembered that in the proceedings last year two injunctions were given to him—one to set forth in the Bid all that it was proposed to enact; the other, to bring in a Bill containing only Leo or three clauses. These injunctions were opposed to each o. her, and having to choose between them, he hed decided to comply with the first. Aiming at as much concise ness and brevity as were attainable with the efficiency of the measure—discarding many adjuncts which they would have been glad to have included—they had sought in the first Bill to lay the basis of an efficient measure of sanitary re:orm. Perhaps he could not better state the objects which such a measure should aim at than by quoting from the petition of the working classes, pre rented last session, in favour of the Health of Toe ns Bill. These were the classes, be it remembered, for whom they had to legislate. If health eluded the rich man in one place, he might pursue it in another ; but it the Parliament did not provide health for the poor they were quite unable to provide it for themselves. The petitioners he referred to prayed for seven things : for better water—better sewers—the removal of nuisances— the improvements of the dwellings of the poor—their better ventilation—the erection of public baths and washhouses—and the construction of gymnasia and pub lic places of amusement. He would now proceed to state what the Bill itself proposed. They abided by their proposition to form a general board of health, consisting of five members, of whom two should be paid, and of whom the president should be personally responsible to Parliament. He was aware that this proposition would not meet the views of those who were specially impressed with the inconvenience of what they styled centralka tion; but he was fully convinced himself that without some regulating central power, the Act could never practically be carried out. And he had reason to think that public opinion coincided with this view, and that there was a general conviction that when duties were thrown on irresponsible local bodies, they would rarely be found to fulfil those duties satisfactorily. There fore, whilst he should leave the working to local bodies representing those who were mainly inter ested, ho considered it right that there should be a general board to provide indispensable preliminaries, to suggest plans, to check abuses, and to exercise a superintending control. This brought him to state what the constitution of the local board should bs, and on that point they also adhered to the opinions ex pressed last year, that these local bodies should be more or less connected with the town councils of the different boroughs. Two objections were raised to that—first, that the machinery was cumbrous ; and, second, that the boundaries of boroughs were not well defined. They proposed to meet the first objection by providing that after e. certain number of householders had applied fot the operation of the Act, and after the report of compe tent inspectors, then the order in Council issued by the Executive Board should define the number of which the local board should be composed, and that the town council should choose that number from among their own body. With respect to the question of boundary, they proposed that the same order in Council should prescribe the number of sanitary officers to act for the outlying districts, to be chosen from among the guardians of the poor. Towns and places where no town council existed would be subject to a similar arrangement. With regard to the limits of their operations, they proposed to make no exception in England and Wales with . respect to the operation f the Act ; and hereafter, it the Bill was found to act well, they would hope to ex tt rul it to Scotland and Ireland. He had said they did not exclude any part of England and Wales , and there r ore the Haase would understand that the Bill did not pro fessedly exempt the metropolis.—(Hear, hear.) Ho did not wish to mislead the House. They had appointed a commission specially to report upon the measures re quired by the metropolis upon this subject, an d h e should.boce to bring in a Bill specially applicable to it, for Owing to the great extent of London, its large popu laden, and the number of interests involved, he must, candidly say that he elid not contemplate that it would be easy, until the supplementary Bill was ready, to apply' the. provisions of this measure to the metropolis. He now came to the question of the dudes the local com missioners would have to perform. There would of course be some localities in which certain measures would be more expedient than others; but the citifies which the local boards would have to conduct would be these:— They would be bound to have regular meetings, to appoint an inspector of nuisances, to prepare a map of their localities, to require house-drains to be made, to cleanse and water the public streets, to fill np or cover in ditches, to keep a register of : slaughter-houses and lodging-houses, and to provide sufficient water for general use. They would have permissive powers to cover sewers, alter privies, &c., whitewash and purify houses, provide buildings to be used as slaughter houses, alter public buildings improperly built, super vise their ventilation, provide public walks, and pur chase and maintain waterworks. These objects, of course, must be carried into effect by means of rating. The rating clauses will be of the simplest construction, and would admit of the rates being levied on the districts specially to be benefited. He did not like to commit him self to the question of cost, but it had been estimated that all the neeessary sanitary provisions could be de frayed at a rate of not more than 4d. a week per house. He did not mean to include any clause respecting ceme teries in the Bill, but it would enact that whenever the Board of Health found a churchyard over-crowded they might have power to prohibit its use.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the subject of ventilation, that had been put under the superintendence of a special board, and consequently, would not be comprised within the limit s of the proposed Bill. Such were the main outlives of the measure which he proposed to lay before the House; but he could not conclude without endeavouring to im press on the nous!, some of the grounds which, in his opinion, rendered it absolutely imperative that the pre sent, or some other equivalent measure, should be adopted without delay. Amongst those grounds he did not mean to lay much stress on the cholera. It that dreaded malady should arrive, the Government had already adopted all the precautions that could be devised. It might prove only a temporary visitation, and as such be met by temporary remedies, and in so tar the Govern ' ment had already done something by reviving the Cholera Act of 1832, which would admit of the speedy re-establishment of local boards of health, if they should be required. But what he more immediately sought to impress on the House was the fact, that they were not now called upon to provide temporary remedies against temporary evils, but against abiding evils of a vast ex tent, evils which were the permanent causes of by far the larger proportion of noisome ills that infested the popu lations of towns and cities, and which exceeded in their fatal ravages the bloodiest slaughter ever witnessed in the battle-field.—(Hear, hear.) Ho was not about to trouble the House with any unnecessary quotations from those statistical proofs which ri g ht-minded men had deemed it expedient to bring forward in defence and illustration of sanitary reform. There might have been errors in some of those estimates formed by enthusiastic inquirers, and in the deductions which they made &ere them, but even making a liberal allowance for those ex aggerations, there remained sufficient to appal, as vi ell as to rouse, the House to exertion. One writer in a medical review thus states his views:— " The conclusions to which our examination en' sani tary tests and estimates bas led us Are the following : 1. That the advocates of sanitary reform are justified in assundeg two per cent. as the rate to which the mor tality of all towns, and a fortiori of the country a large, may, by proper sanitary measures, be reduced. 2. That there are fair grounds for assuming for the who!e of the population a still more favourable rate of mortality. 3. That the estimated annual sacrifice of 35,000 lives in England and Wales, and of upwards of 60,000 in the United Kingdom, is not greatly exag gerated ; and that a more moderate estimate of 30,000 for England and Wales, and 51,000 fur the United Kingdom, may be very safely assumed. 4. That the estimated amount of sickness, like the estimated waste of life, expressed in yeas, has been somewhat exaggerated by the advocates of sanitary reform ; that twenty cases of unnecessary sickness to one unnecessary death, is a safer proportion to assume than twenty eight to one ; and that the total cases of unnecessary sickness will have to be 'educed accordingly." The reviewer then goes on to say:— " The annual waste of life and sacrifice of health reduced to equivalents in pounds, shillings, and pence, under the heads of sickness, funerals, and labcur lost, is represented by a grand total for England and Wales of 14,873,9311., or little less than 15,000,000/. sterling. Of this eneraaotie total the metropolis contributes very nearly 2,000,00f'/., and Lancashire upwards of 4,000,0001. The standards of cornpara3on employed in these calcu lations are the rate of mortality and average age at death in the .most lnatithy registration district of each county; the ages of the living being disregarded, and the rates of sickness to death being taken at 1 to 28. If this essential element ci age had been taken into account, if the more moderate standard of two per cent. had been substituted for the perhaps too favourable mortality of the most healthy district, and if the ratio of 1 to 28 between deaths and cases of sickness had been made to suffer some abatement, it is not impossible that these 15,000..00e/. might be reduced lb considerably lees than half. l'essdAy the total waste of money might not exceed the sum annually raised in the shape of poor rates." Discarding the higher figuros of these computations, and taking them even at one-half, he would still be jus tified in asserting it as a troth, that there were annually 30,000 lives sacritied which might be saved, and from 7,000,000/. to 8,000,0001. of unnecessary outlay, which, if not avoid' d in future, would be attributable less to the folly of the L.2gislaturo than io its criminality. In a eubacquent par:of the same mien-, the writer thus pro ccees!-- "The calculations published in the tables of the Health of Towns Association embrace only three hearts—fune rals, sickness, and labour wasted. Orphanage and widowhood, which impose a perpetual burden upon the poor-lams of about 50 000 women and children, and an annual burden, which, though not yet ascertained, can not but be considerable, are not taken into the account. Then there is another a normous item of waste or mis appropriation of money, not c. ntained in these tables— nem( ly, the sums squandered in the shape of defective and costly structural arrangements above and below ground. What all these barbarisms have cost and are costing ur, it would be difficult to say ; but that they amount to several millions a year no reasonable man can doubt. We refer our readers to the reports of the Health of Towns Commission, and the Publication of the Health of Towns Association, for particulars. If they appear ex aggerated, let tliem halve or quarter every item, and there will still remain the mr,st remarkable rapo.se ever 3ct made of municipal and national extravagance. One broad principle may be safely enunciated in respect of sanitary economics—that it costs more money to create disease than to prevent it; and that there is not a single structural arrangement chargeable with the production of disease which is not also in itself an extravagance." The return of the Registrar-General of the kingdom, for the quarter ending Dumb , r 31 last, had just been presented, and in it he found the following statement:— "The quarterly returns aro obtained from 117 dis tricts, subdivided into 582 sub-districts. 36 districts are in the metropolis, and the remaining 81 comprise, with some agricultural districts, 'the principal towns and cities of England. The population was 6,612,800 in 1841. 57,925 deaths were registered in the last quarter. The average nuwb'r of deaths deduced from the returns of the corresponding quarter of nine preceding years, and corrected for increase of population, is 46,509. There is, consequently, an excess of 11,376 deaths in the quarter. The deaths registered in the December quarters of 1845, 1846, and 1847. are 39,291- 53.093-57,925; the mortality in the first is to that of the last quarter nearly as 2 to 3. A slight increase in the mortality was noted in the returns of the June quar ter, 1846; the mortality in the following hot summer, when the potato crap failed, was excessive. Cholera and diarrhoea prevailed epidemically. In the autumn of 1846, as well as the winter and sprines quarters of 1847, the mortality was still higher. Scurvy prevailed in the beginning of the year, but in the summer the publio health appeared to be slightly improved. Epidemics of typhus arid influenza, however, set in, and have made the mortality in the last quarter of 1847, higher than in any quarter of any year since the new system of registration commenced. About 16,000 a year, multiplied by 10, the recoveries to each death, a calculation lower by 18 than Dr. Playf'air, we have yearly in England above 160,000 attacks of this loathsome disease which may be pre vented—a disease which does more to pauperise our po pulation, to till our workhouses with widows and orphans than any other, and for this reason—the typhus fever for the most part attacks men and women in the prime of life—from twenty to forty. This is the age at which the members of the working classes marry; and if the father of a family is cut off, the widow and her children are cast for support on the poor-rates. This is a painful ease of pauperism, and it becomes more so from its per manence. A widow so left with children is seldom mar ried a second time. From the books of the unions it appears to take place only in one case out of thirty. No wonder, then, the poor-law unions have to support 40,000 wirlows and 100,000 orphans year a ft er y ear . ' The evidence afforded by the medical statistics, that typhus was a result of causes that could with certainty be prevented, was overwhelming and conclusive. Dr. Hall, of Preston, speaking of the sanitary condition of tho town, said— " The deaths of infants in Preston, stated by Dr. Hall, under one year, were—well-conditioned streets, 15 deaths to leo births ; middling-conditioned streets, 21 deaths to 100 births ; ill-conditioned streets, 38 deaths to 100 births ; worst-conditioned streets, 44 deaths to 100 births. We see, then, and the remark holds good not only in Pr;ston, but also In other towns, that the mortality is in proportion to the condition of the houses in which the children lire and the streets in which they am situate, no less than 29 per cent. more of deaths taking place in the worst than in the beat conditioned streets of Preston, the mortality being 15 and 44 per cent." The condition of Leicester and of Nottingham was ex emplified in the following manner : " In the parish of St. Margaret, Leicester, the average age at death in 1840 was—well-drained streets, 23i ; partially drained streets, 17f ; and streets without drains, 13 . i." " MORTALITY OF NOTTINGHAM. Ward. Deaths to each 100. ( Byrne's Ward Worst St. Ann's IVard lin 36 ( St. liars', Wnrd Castle Ward Best Sherwood Ward. Park Ward What he (Lord Morpeth) wanted to show was, that death daily occurred from causes that the Legislature could remove. Very recently he had seen a statement in .one of the papers, which he would read to the Elousc:— " A long investigation recently took place before Mr. Baker, at the Windmill, Rosemary-lane, on view of the body of Mary White, aged two -years. The inquiry was instituted by the medical officer of the White chapel Union, in consequence of the many deaths whfch have taken place from a similar cause. Ann Briant, a married woman, said she bad lived in Hayes court about a week ; during that period there,,was scarcely a house in which some one was not ill of fever. The child, her mother said, had been labouring under a fever for two months. Witness for the last week as sisted the mother to attend the chili. It died on Tues day. Witness had no doubt that its death was caused by the impure atmosphere of the coast. Several of the jury observed that the witness seemed to be in a state of lever, and Mr. Webb, the summoning officer, said that the whole of the inhabitants of the court h a d the same appearance. Mr. John Ltddle, surgeon of Whitechapel Union, said that he was first called to see the deceased on the 20th of August, in compliance with an order. It was then suffering from fever and diarrhoea. The parent would not let him go into the room, alleging that it was offensive and dangerous, and the mother brought the child to him at the next house. He prescribed for it, but the medicines would not act as they would have done in a healthy atmosphere. Witness has now six patients in that court. The first witness stated that she knew two children in another house, one of wham was dying of the fever, another was very bad.—Coroner (to the surgeon)—Do you register this a natural death? Mr. Liddle—No; a death from the poisonous effluvia of the atmosphere from the want of drainage. It has been proved that the gas, in its pure state, ari4ing front the decomposition of animal matter, is fatal; and M. Thenard, a French chemist, has found that 1.800 of its volume will destroy a dog, and 1 volume in 230 is sufficient to destroy a horse. Some course ought to be adopted, as the whole neighbourhood was liable to be attacked with fever. The jury returned the following verdict:—' That the deceased died from diarrhoea and fever, caused by the noxious and poisonous effluvium in Hayes-court from want of drainage.' " Mr. Roche, surgeon to the Lying-in Hospital, Liver pool, gives the following account to the editor of the Journal of Public health, of a case which had come under his notice:— " On the 28th of September, 1846, I was requested to visit a young man residing at Hardwick -t errace , Prescot-street. I found him suffering from a severe at tack of dysentery; and teas not many minutes in the house when the smell all through the lower part of it became most offensive, arising from the privy and cess pool, which were situated ab ou t f our f eet f rom t h e b a ll . On making inquiry, I was informed that whenever any thing was thrown into it th e s t enc h was scarce l y to be endured through the house, even to ;he upper rooms. One disaster after another occurred in this family; the father and two younger children were attacked with dysen tery, the mother (who was near her confinement) soon became a prey to the same disease ; and then, to crown the sad catastrophe, the two eldest children were seized with typhus fever, and the father's case took on typhoid symptoms. Here, then, were seven human beings placed in jeopardy by a most unwarrantable nuisance ; and it is to be feared that this is only one instance among many in this town. The mother and youngest child with the infiv.t died ; all the others were spared, but their recoveries were very tedious, until I had them re moved to another house in the neighbourhood, when in twenty-four Lours the change in the father's case was most remarkable, and all the children got rapidly better, but the pecuniary resources of the family were entirely A