The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, August 4. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upJla the Woo'sack at Five o'clock. NAVIGATION-LAWS. The Earl of HARDWICKE brought up the report of the Committee on the Navigation-laws. The NOBLE EARL lilt:wise presented several petitions against the repeal of those laws. SALMON FISHERIES. The Severn Salmon Breed Preservation Bill was read a second time. PETITIONS. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Lan caster in favour of secular education; also a petition from an individual named Hardy, complaining of the evils arising from the existence of grand juries, who found bills on ex parte evidence, which were afterwards used for the purpose of extorting money, the indict ments thus found never being prosecuted. SICILIAN AFFAIRS. The NOBLE Loa- also asked if Mr. Fagan, an attache to the British Embassy, had gone in a British steam-fri gate to Palermo, and had signified to the Sicilian Pro visional Government, in opposition, his instructions, as he was bound to suppose, that if they did not choose the Duke of Genoa for King of Sicily, the countenance of the British Government should be withdrawn from them. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was understood to say that there was no foundation for the report to which the Noble and Learned Lord alluded. IRELAND. Lord BROUGHAM hoped that the Government would take measures for punishing that portion of the press which spread false reports with regard to Ireland. Some newspapers had Wen propagating most false re ports with regard to the rebellion in Ireland— reports calculated to produce an outbreak. Fie was willing to take all his share of the un popularity of any measure which might be proposed to suppress such false reports. The press knew that so long as it was kept within the bounds of truth there was no firmer or more sincere friend of the liberty of the press than he was. MILITIA. Lord WHARNCLIFFE asked if the Government in tended to propose any measure for calling out the mi litia force of the country, and for re-organizing it? Earl GREY said it had been th._ intention of the Go vernment to propose a measure for the re-organization of the militia force, but at present they were compelled, in consequence of the state of the finances, to abandon the hope of bringing forward any measure on the sub ject during the present session of Parliament. After a short conversation the subject dropped. THE SLAVE TRADE. Lord BROUGHAM said he had seen with surprise that a Committee of the other House was sitting on the question of reviving the slave trade, by withdrawing the British squadron from the coast of Africa. He used the term " reviving the slave trade," because no consequence was ever clearer than that such an act would inevitably engender the renewal and extension of the slave trade. Nothing was more contemptible than the argument that money could be saved by withdrawing the squadron, while an impetus would be given to the traffic in slaves. It was true the squadron might not be able to extermi nate the slave trade, but it could not be denied that it kept down the trade very considerably. He understood that the Committee had been considerably influenced by the evidence of one person, but who was that person ? Why, an American slaveowner, who wanted five hun dred more slaves for his plantations—a man who, al though he had committed no specific act of murder, was )et as much a murderer as if he had the brand of Cain on his forehead. Ha would move for the returns of the number of saves imported into the Brazils during the last two years. Earl GREY said that all the information on the sub ject received at the Foreign-office was on the table of the House already. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH thought it desirable that a message should be sent to the House t..;f Commons for copies of the evidence taken before that Committee. Sever al naval officers must have been examined; and, if their representations agreed with those he had heard from many naval officers, he thought he should be able to show his Noble and Learncd Friend cause materially to change his opinions, and to satisfy their Lorch.hips that, to prevent the trade, by means of a squadron on the co . ast, was practically impossible, a nd that a conse quence of . its presence was, that the slave trade was cond uc t e d with a degree of cruelty which far surpassed anything stated by the Noble and Learned Lord. The motion was then understood to be withdrawn. CASE OF LORD ABBUTHNOT. Lord BROUGHAM said he felt it to be his duty to avail himself of the earliest opportunity of calling their Lordships' attention to a fact connected with the case of a Noble Lord who stands accused of an offence which has thrown his family into great anxiety and distress. He had ascertained that a memorial had been drawn up by the grand jury who found the bills, that the Noble Lord was afflicted with a disease which affected his mind, and to which the act might be traced. He had the fact from Mr. John Bayley, the clerk of the arraigns. He had known the Noble Lord for sixteen years, and considered him a most amiable man. He wished to have this memorial produced. The LORD CHANCELLOR said the grand jury had gone beyond their provincel in agreeing to the memorial in question. It was the duty of the grand jury to take evidence only for the Crown, and were precluded from taking for the defence. Their Lordships' House was not the place to obtain the document. Lord CAMPBELL said the case of the Noble Lord was calculated to excite their sympathy, but that House had no jurisdiction in the case. They were acting under the sanction of an Act of Parliament. The fact, as it stood at present, was, that the Usher of the Black Rod had been ordered to take the party into custody, but the return was non est int•entus. He wonid not, at the pre sent, enter into the case, and would abstain from further remarks, and would merely observe that they would all be glad to return a verdict of " Not guilty upon their honour." PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND) BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the se cond reading of the Public Works (Ireland) No. 2 Bill. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that the events which had recently taken place in Ireland would not in duce him to abstain from doing what might be advan tageous to Ireland. This Bill was of an important character. It provided that the money which had been advanced to Ireland should be repaid, !but that as it was collected it should be appropriated exclusively to Irish purposes. In that principle he en tirely concurred. The sum so to be appropriated was four millions and a half. He acquiesced in the prin ciple, but it did not follow that the objects to which it was to be applied by the Bill were the most advan tageous. The improvement of the soil was most impor tant, but was not the most necessary. The object to which they should direct their attention was the im provement of the social condition of the country. Un less that was effected they could expect no good result. It was at present a scandal to this country and to the age. —(Hear, hear.) There was no country, in this respect, in so bad a state, that pretended to civilisation. He re collected the observation of Lord Eldon, that there were two Irelands—Protestant and,Catholic Ireland. There was not in the north of Ireland that disorganization which prevailed in the south. It was this difference of religion which was the source of the evil. He did not mean to say there was anything in the Catholic religion which would of necessity cause this state of things. There were many other countries in which that religion prevailed where no such evils existed, and which were remarkable for the excellence of their social condition. It was not because it was a conquered coun try, not because there had been confi , cations of property, not because there had been religious persecutions—for there were other countries which had passed through all these phases, and yet everywhere else the conquerors and the conquered were found living together in unity and prosperity under the same laws. Having conceded the Catholic claims, it was evident there must be some pecu liarity in the state of that country to cause this state of things. That peculiarity was to be found in the fact that the religion of the great body of the people was re pudiated by the State. What remedy then should be applied ? Not that which bad been recommended by some. Not the taking away the funds of the Establishment for the endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy. The Act which would so alienate the property of the Church would also alienate the Protestants of Ireland, who might be considered the national garrison of the country. The remedy con sisted in making the Roman Catholic clergy the stipe diaries of the State and subject to its patronage. The money to be repaid under the provisions of this Bill should be applied to the purchase of glebes and the building of glebe houses for the Roman Catholic clergy, and attached to the cure, leaving things in other respects as they were at present. This was no new opinion of his, it was one which he had long entertained. The late Lord Castlereagh, whose love for Ireland was sur passed by no one, had always appreciated in his mind with the emancipation of the Catholics the endowment of the clergy, and often expressed a wish that he might live to see that measure effected. He wished at the pre sent crisis to state his opinion. A time of difficulty was the period at which those who were members of a legis lative assembly should come forward and state their opinions to the country, and that they were determined to do their duty. If he had not at the present moment stated his opinion he should consider himself unworthy of the station he occupied.—(Hear, hear.) Lord MONTEAGLE said, from the interest he took in what concerned Ireland, he could not but declare that the Noble Earl was entitled to the thanks of every liberal man in the country for the opinions he had expressed. He had never heard the matter put forward with more ability, for he had often heard it put unfairly, inpro posals to endow th e Rotnan Catholic - clergy f romthe funds of the Church. The condition of the Catholic clergy was most unfortunate, fur they were often driven will, to political agitation a ga i nst their by the people, under the threat of starvation, withdraw ing fromt t b a em: the means of support.—(H ear, hear.) H e would take that opportunity of reminding the House that his late stro ngly Majesty King George the Third, however h e m ight have been opposed to the R oman Catholic claims ai in other respects , w as favourable to th e endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy. And they might de. pend upon it, from the discussions now taking place on that subject, and occupy . the position it was b eg i nn i ng to in public estimat i on, that great boon must ultimately be c o nceded. If the subject were examined into, the ob jections to such concession was not so strong as some be lieved, for if they severed that peculiar class of objec tions urged by those opposed to all endowments of reli gion by the State, they would find the remaining class was neither numerous nor formidable.—(Hear.) Lord STANLEY said he could not but express his re gret that his Noble Friend (Ellenhorough) should have entered into a discussion and given expression to certain speculative views entertained by him upon a subject which was not before the House. The measure before the House was for the purpose of authorising the re-issue of the money repaid by Ireland to the Imperial Trottlvy 1 for the same or similar purposes for which they had been originally made. They were not now called upon to I discuss the policy or the expediency of laying out large sums for the purpose of endowing the Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland from the Imperial Treasury. That way not a question to be discussed incidentally in the course of a debate originated in a Bill authorising the re-issue of a few hundred thousand pounds to pro mote public works. They should not then argue the question at all. With no inconsiderable share of asto nishment had he heard the Noble Lord state the oil visability, in his judgment, of paying four millions and a half out of the imperial funds for building glebes and the endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy. Such a proposition involved questions of policy as well as of principle—questions for the consideration of a large portion of the population of the country. It was with many a question of religious feeling and religious prin ciple. With him it was one of state policy, though he admitted that was not the light in which it was viewed by the majority of the Protestant population. As a question of policy, he admitted the Roman Catholic clergy were too much under the control of their flocks. But he was not satisfied with the doctrine already laid down, that it was expedient to place that clergy on a footing of perfect: independence of their; flocks by means of endowments taken from the Imperial Treasury, without at the same time connecting them, as a matter of policy, or rather of police, with the Government. Before he assented to any State provision being made for the clergy, he should like to know the quid pro quo, as well as the condition on which the grants were to be allowed. While he made this ad mission, ho entirely deprecated the discussion inci dentally of so important a subject, and the hasty expres• sion of opinion upon a question which did not come then legitimately under the consideration of their Lordships. If such a measure were to be brought forward at all, he trusted it would be brought forward on the responsibility of Government, with a clear and explicit indication of the funds from which the endowment was to proceed— the purposes for which it was made, and the principles on which the Catholic clergy were to be allowed to benefit by the endowment. There was, at all events, one source from which it should not be taken, namely, the funds of the Established Church. If any such step were sanctioned, then, in his opinion, the charge ought to be a local and not an imperial charge, and no endowment could, with consistency or justice, be made from the im perial funds. Lord BEAU biONT complained that whenever the question of endowing the Roman Catholic clergy was raised, it was invariably confounded with the question of the continuance or non-continuance of the Irish Church Establishment, although it was in no way what eve' connected with, or dependent on it. The Irish Church Establishment might be an anomaly, but it was not a grievance, and it was considered in Ireland merely as a question of property, and not as an interference with the Catholic religion. He believed they would cause considerable division among the Catholic clergy if they were to connect them with the State ; and in his opinion the connexion of the clergy of two churches with the State instead of one only, would be even a greater anomaly than now existed. He should like to find the Catholic clery of Ireland remunerated by the Government, and made to feel that they formed a portion of, and bad an interest in this great empire. It was also his wish, as a step towards improving the social condi tion of Ireland, that larger grants should be expended in promoting the education of the people, and in strength ening the hands of the Commissioners of National Edu cation, who, he regretted to say, had received opposition from a sectarian section of clergy in Ireland, whom he could not otherwise regard but as bigots. The Bill was then read a third time, and ordered to be committed. CHARITY TRUSTS REGULATION BILL. The order of the day having been read fur going into Committee on this Bill, Lord STANLEY objected to the measure being pro ceeded with at this late period of the session. The Bill was one of great importance, involving new and objectionable principles, and he did not think it was right, in the absence of four-fifths of their Lordships, and nearly the entire bench of Bishops, that the Go vernment should persevere with the measure. Besides, lie had not heard any reason whatever assigned—not even the shadow of au excuse advanced—why the Bill was not brought forward at the commencement of the present session, when it was undeniable, from the pro. posed Bill of last session, that the Government had made up their minds upon the subject. Although it was pretended that it was not meant to interfere by means of this measure with charities belonging to edu cational purposes, yet on referring to the clauses of the Bill he found that it proposed to deal with every charity in the country, whatever was its amount or object. It was proposed that the County Courts were to be the tribunals which were to have jurisdiction over those charities, at all events those of comparatively of small amount ; but when he considered the fees chargeable by those tribunals, he thought that the consigning those charities to the jurisdiction of such tribunals would be an injustice. From returns of the amount of fees charged by them, he found that in the Home Circuit in the course , of one year, while the plaints made before the legal tribunals as regarded charities, involved charities" to the amount of 22,0001., of which 11,0001. was decided by those courts, out of that 18,0001. no less a SLIM than 4,0091. was paid in the shape of fees. And what made the case worse, from the decision of those courts there was no appeal ; and it was not right to put it in the power of one individual in a parish to put charities under the control of those courts, thereby involving them in large sums of expenses. It was true, that notice was given of the scheme proposed to be adopted with any particular charity, and there was a provision inserted in the Bill for giving an opportunity for bear ing any objections which might be urged to it; but should such notice not meet with attention, it was sanc tioned by the judge, carried into effect, and the decision being final and conclusive, no appeal could be taken from it. Considering, therefore, the importance of the mea sure, and the magnitude of the interests it affected, he did not think that on the 4th of August he was asking too much when he requested that th further considera tion of the measure should be postponed until next ses sion. He appealed to the House whether, in the present state of public business, and considering the mass of business still before the House of Commons—so large that they were compelled to sit from twelve o'clock in the day until two and three o'clock the following morn ing to get through it—it would be right or proper to pass a measure through Committee on August 4, have it read a third time, and sent down to the House of CUMMOUS, in order to increase the difficulties with which that House was already beset in getting through the large amount of business before it.—(Hear, hear.) Ile admitted that the principle of the measure was a valuable one, but at the present period of the session it could not receive that consideration which it deserved. And in all the cir cumstances of the case, he considered himself justified in moving, as an amendment, that the House go into Committee on the Bill that day three months. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, as the Nellie Lord did not object to the principle of the measure, and as that principle had been affirmed on the second reading of the measure, he saw no good grounds for preventing the House going into Committee upon it. It was true the Bill contained some clauses which were not of press ing importance at the present time, but it con tained others which it was of the greatest im portance to the public should become law at as early a period as possible. The most prominent points of the measure had for a long period been under the consi deration, not only of the Government, but of Parliament, and while he did not think that in one Bill all the plans and objects which the various charities of the country had in view could be united, yet the present measure was so framed as to include those which itwas conceived were most in want of the protection of such a measure, and to whose efficiency such a measure would tend. The Noble Lord had gone over several clauses of the Bill, but be had not taken:noticc of the evils which the mea sure was intended to remedy. As regarded large charities, a remedy could be found for any abuses that might arise in regard to them in the Court of Chancery, but there were ethers of less magnitude, in regard to which it was not considered worth the while to be at the expense of going to the Court of Chancery to have these abuses remedied, and, in consequence. these were allowed to remain, and the charities afterwards became useless. Now, he confessed, he found great diffi culty in finding a tribunal fitted for the purpose of in vestigating into the abuses of these, and applying a remedy; but after due consideration he found that a local tribunal would best suit the purpose, and .the County Courts at once presented themselves as the [nest applicable to it. The Noble Lord had complained of the expense of them, and no doubt it was considerable ; but as these courts had not been long established, and it was impossible to know what the expenses of them would be until they had been some time in operation, that complaint, in regard to the expense, could be re moved. These courts had been most successful. Th e fees recived by them had amounted to a large sum, double the amount of the salaries, in fact, allowed to the judges of them; and as the salaries of those judges were about to be fixed at a certain amount, an im important opportunity would be afforded of reducing those fees by one-halt the amount, so that the expense attending procedure before these courts would be con siderably less. In regard, then, to those charities, should the trustees who had the management of them die, there were no means at present of appointing new ones except by application to the Court of Chancery ; and the consequence was, that out of the 48,000 chari ties in the country, a considerable number had no trustee at all, and were consequently inoperative. The passing then the of the present measure was therefore of the g reate st oim portance to those b charities jected t to,he themselves—and w se lv e o s urd and as stat e prin ciple of it was not wh at alterations he proposed in several of its clauses. The clause which seemed to create the greatest alarm was that which, in consequence of the difficulties in the way of instituting efficient local investigation , gave the power of removing them to London, and of bringing up the witnesses here ; but he could assur e t heir Lordshi p s that then nobody need be alarmed as t o the abuse of that power, if it were granted, and if any better mode of attaining the object in view could be devised, he would be happy to give it his support. If their Lordships went into Committee, he would pro pose some amendments which would remove many of the objections which had been made to tho measure, and he trusted that the Noble Lord, instead of persisting in his motion, would allow the Bill to go into Committee, and if it was not such as to meet his views, take the sense of their Lordships upon it at some future stage. At present, if it was rejected, it would he in the dark. The question was, whether the public should be punished because he had not sooner brought in the Bill. Their Lordships were asked to decide, not whether he might have brought it in sooner, but whether the Bill, as it now stood, was one which would secure the object in stew. Besides, when it was objected that there had not been sufficient time fur its consideration, he would re mind their Lordships that the Bill had been before them for throe weeks, and he was not aware that eitherduring that period, or now , their Lordships had been ovorbur- dened with business.—(Hear, hear.) There had been ample time fur consideration in that House, at least with respect to the other House of Parliament he did u.ot an ticipate any difficulty. The principal business was now nearly disposed of, and there would be nothing to pre vent the measure from passing this session. Ile trusted, therefore, that the Bill would ba permitted to go into Committee. Lord REDESDALE said the complaints against the delay in bringing forward this Bill were not answered by the statement that it had been three weeks before the House. When they remembered that the session bad commenced in November, and that they were now in August, he considered there was great cause for com plaint that such a measure should not have been brought in at a time when their Lordships were actually crying out for work. —(liear, hear.) It was well understood that no business should be brought before their Lord ships at this period of the session when it was almost im possible to secure a proper attendance unless it vk as of the most pressing character. He did not concur in the Bill, and he believed the amendments intended to be pro posed by the Noble and Learned Lord would not remove his objections. For these reasons he thought their Lord ships would be justified in delaying the passing of such a measure. The Bidtop of OXFORD said that as he should feel bound to vote for the motion of the Noble Lord against going into Committee, he was desirous of briefly ex plaining why he did so. He admitted the greatness of the evil which it was sought to remedy; but that was no reason why be should take the first random measure proposed on the subject without duo consideration—the very magnitude of the evil was a reason fur greater care in applying a remedy.—(Hear, hear.) This was essen tially a parochial measure, and the charities affected by it being of a very old foundation, it was the more ne cessary to give time for mastering the details of the Bill. The Noble and Learned Lord had argued that the Bill was before the House last year, but all the objectionable parts of the present measure were not in the Bill of last year, they were entirely new. The Bill gave large powers to the judges of the County Courts, who were not necessarily men of high legal standing or attainments. It was not even necessary for them to be barristers; yet to these judges it was pro posed to entrust the power of changing the management of trust property and of altering wills.—(Hear, hear.) By the Bill any shrewd Dissenting attorney might draw up a scheme, get it passed by such judges, and transfer the property of the Church to persons not members of it.—(Hear, hear.) He objected, at such a period of the session, to the introduction of a principle which was alien to the whole of their previous legislation with re spect to trust property. lie was firmly convinced that, unless the Bill was referred to a Select Committee, and time given for full consideration, it would neither be sa tisfactory to their Lordships nor to the country. Their Lordships then divided, when there appeared- For going into Committee, Contents 21 Non-contents Majority —2 • Their Lordships then went into Committee on the Bii. The Bishop of OXFORD objected to that pert of the first clause (as we understood) which gave the judges of the County Courts the power of extending their own jurisdic ion to trust property not exceeding 30!. It was true that by a subsequent clause there was an appeal to the Lord Chancellor, but the Lord Chancellor had the power of deciding whether the appeal should be beard or not, so that practically it gave the judges of the County Courts the pow e r h e s t a t e d. Thi s w as, in his opinion, altogether contrary to the principles of the English law. The Lord CHANCELLOR replied in a tone which rendered him almost inaudible in the gallery. We understood him to say that in dealing with such small sums such a regulation was necessary. There were no funds to support protracted and expensive litigation. The Bishop of OXFORD then proposed an amend ment to the effect that the judges of the local courts who would have to adjudicate upon charities with incomes not exceeding 301., should be sergeants•at-law, or barristers-at-law of ten years' standing. After some further conversation, several verbal amend ments were agreed to, and the Committee divided, whe❑ there appeared— Cunte►:ts Non-content..; Majority in favour of the clause The clause was then agreed to, as were clauses 2 and 3. Clauses 3,4, and 5, with some unimportant verba amendments, were passed. O❑ clause 6 being read, Lord STANLEY objected that the power of the Court of Chancery should be assigned to a judge of the County Court, with the view of exercising jurisdiction over charities not otherwise subject to his jurisdiction. The entire clause was objectionable, and he should move that it be expunged. After a short conversation, in which the Lord Chan cellor, Lord Campbell, and Lord Radesdale took part, the clause was amended and ordered to stand part of theßill. On clause 7 being proposed, The Bishop of OXFORD moved an amendment, that the trustees named by the judges of County Courts for the purposes of the Act, should be members of the Church of England. The clause was agreed to with verbal amendments. Clauses 8 to 18 were agreed to inclusive, with a few ♦erbal amendments. The remaining clauses were agreed to with the excep tion of clause 22, which was postponed; and the House having resumed, the other Bills on the table were for warded a stage, and their Lordships adjourned at a Quarter to Twelve o'clock. THE SUN, LONDON, _SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 6, 1848. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 4. POOR-LAW UNION CHARGES (No. 2) BILL. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) Mr. P. SCROPE considered that vagrancy bad been increased by the non-administration of the law which had been passed to punish undeserving persons. It the sug gestion ho made was carried out, and some one was ap pointed whose bounden duty it was to punish such offenders, mendicancy would be got rid of, and relief ensured to every destitute and really deserving person. Mr. HUME considered that, unless it was the duty of some person to bring vagrants before a magistrate, the law which had been passed for punishing them would be altog ether inoperative. Mr. CHARLES BULLER said, the reason why the penal law against vagrants had not been applied was that every person who applied to the workhouse for relief was virtually a vagrant. So far, however, from the gaol being any terror to them, in many cases where they were refused relief by the vagrant ward, they took up a stone and broke a window in order that they might be sent to prison. But if it was the &Are of the House to increase the punishment of vagrants, ho thought the subject would require a good deal of consideration, and that the intro duction of a measure to put a stop to the increase of vagrancy ought to be deferred until another session. In his opinion the best expedient that could be adopted for the relief of vagrants would be to leave it altogether in the hands of the police, and ho considered that it would be better, ultimately, for Parliament to deal with the matter in that way. Mr. Austin, one of the sub-commissioners, was of opinion that the relief of vagrants ou;ht to be thrown over the whole union, because the union was better able to cope with the diffi culties which presented themselves in dealing with va grancy. All he now wished for was such an alteration of the law as would throw the burden of vagrancy upon the union ; and although he could not pledge himself that the evils which had been accumulating for the last ten years would be got rid of, he considered that the pre sent measure, together with others which he had pro posed, would be the beginning of an amendment of the poor-law, and he trusted in that spirit that it would re ceive the sanction of the House. Mr. NEWDEGATE said, although he did not mean to state that some provision for the effectual punishment of practised vagrants would be a panacea for the evils complained of, yet the introduction of such a provision would be productive of much good. Mr. E. DENISON agreed in the statement that vagrants had no fear of confinement in a gaol ; and stated, that in the county of Norfolk they were much better off when in the House of Correction, as far as the question of food went, than when in the workhouse, and that their maintenance cost one-fourth more than it did when chargeable to the parish. Mr.. HENLEY believed that the statement of the Hon. Member was perfectly true; but when vagrants were sent to gaol they were subject to discipline, and in many cases to hard labour, which persons of their de sultory habits did not relish. The great difficulty of dealing with vagrants was that a great portion of them did not commit the act of vagrancy in the particular union or parish in which they applied for relief. Captain PECHELL said they could not deal with vagrants as they wished under the machinery at present in use. The ielievitig officer in many cases had 20 or more parishes to attend to, and frequently from the large sphere of his duties was not obtainable when vagrants were required to be dealt with. Many vagrants were strong, healthy, hulking fel lows, who spent their nights in poaching, and their time in roaming about the country, and were, therefore, a class of persons far from easy to deal with. Mr. P. SCROPE observed that it appeared by the Bill that vagrants were to be punished, if found com mitting acts of vagrancy, with a fortnight's imprisonment. Surely frauds by vagrants upon public charity should be as summarily punished ac frauds upon private charity. Clauses 1 and 9 were then agreed to. On clause 3 being proposed, Mr. SPOONER observed that under it great injus tice would be inflicted upon many parishes, inasmuch as a person, who had committed an offence might proceed some distance off, and be taken, convicted, and im prisoned in another parish, in which he was an entire stranger; his wife and children would then become chargeable to that parish. One parish with which he was acquainted was put to an expense of from 14s. to 15s. weekly for the maintenance of a family, simply because the father was taken, convicted, and imprisoned in the parish. Would the Right Hon. Gentleman have any objection to introduce a Bill to remedy this obvious defect in the law? Mr. C. BULLER said the matter in question was a clear oversight in the Puor-law Act. The signification of the words in the clause were too large. They stated that a family should nut be removable whilst its head was irremovable. The object and real meaning of the Act was, that whilst the head of the family enjoyed the privilege of irremovability, that his family should also enjoy the same privilege, , is order that th ey m i ght be taken together. he oversight was one which should be remedied, and he should be prepared to agree to a clause to remedy it; and if it could not, according to the formwould agree, a Bl he should theH be n happy to accede to o, forms of the House, be introd uce d into the Bill in the shape of a clausetoiwt in which h the of he Gentleman should think proper to in t roduc e one. The clause was then agreed to. On clause 4 being proposed, Mr, FLOYER said the clause stated that cases were to Ira submitted to the Right Honourable Gentleman for his. opinion. Under the old system oaths might be ad ministered by a magistrate, but in inquiries before magis trates, oaths cu,' not be administered. How did the Right Hon. Gentleman propose to act? Mr. C. BULLER. said the facts of each case he had no doubt would be carefully sifted by boards of guar dians, though not accompanied by the solemnity of an oath. The cases submitted to him would be mere matters of fact, not matters of law, relating to the removability of paupers, which must come before the proper tribunal Mr. HENLEY considered the clause a most valuable one, and was sure that many parties would be happy to avail themselves of the aisistance of his Right Hon. Friend. The clause was then agreed to, as were also clauses up to 8. Col. THOMPSON then moved a substantive clause in these terms:—" That the guardians of any union or pa rish may, with the order of the said Commissioners, and in conformity with such regulations as they shall direct, procure or assist in procuring the emigration of any poor person chargeable, or'who would, it' relieved, he charge able upon the common fund of such union, or in the case of any parish not comprised in a union, who may, though not settled therein, be exempt from liability to removal therefrom; and such guardians shall, in the case of a union, charge the costs and expenses incurred in such emigration upon the common fund; and in the case of a parish not in a union, upon the moneys in their hands for the relief of the poor." Mr. C. BULLER remarked that in the present state of the law certain funds were applicable to the purposes of emigration. Where numbers of persons in places like Bradford could not get employed, and wished to emi grate, it was hard indeed that their parishes should be burdened with their cost, seeing that they wished to earn a profitable subsistence else where. He had his own opinions upon emi gration, but occupying the position he did, he did not wish to express any opinion on the matter exci-pa this, that the provisions of the Act should be extended to some of those who were irremovable, and who wished to seek a living elsewhere. It was for these reasons that he had consented to the introduction of the clause of the Hon. Member. The clause was read a first time, and ordered to be proceeded with when the report was brought up. Sir W. JOLLIFFE moved the insertion of the following clause :—( Paupers not removablefrom any Poor-law union in which they shall have resided five years.) And be it enacted, that from and after the passing of this Act, ❑o warrant of removal shall be granted for any person from the union in which such person shall have resided fur five years next before the application for such warrant. Mr. C. BULLER recommended the Hun. Baronet to withdraw the clause, as he considered it too important to be introduced in a tempO'rary Bill. Sir. W. JOLLIFFE then withdrew the clause. The other clauses of the Bill were then agreed to, and the report was ordered to be received to morrow. PAROCHIAL DEBT AND AUDIT BILL. The committal of this Bill was postponed to Thursday. POOR-LAW UNION DISTRICT SCHOOLS BILL. The committal of this Bill was postponed to Thursday. RENEWABLE LEASEHOLD CONVERSION (IRELAND) BILL. The committal of this Bill was postponed. PAYMASTERS' OFFICES CONSOLIDATION BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. HIGHWAY RATES BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. TURNPIKE ACTS CONTINUANCE BILL. This Bill was r ea d 'a second time and ordered to be committed. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT BILL. The report on this Bill was brought up, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. CLERK OF THE PEACE (DUBLIN) BILL. The Committee of this Bill was postponed to Monday, at twelve. CHURCHES' BILL. The Committee on this Bill was postponed to Monday, at twelve. WINDSOR CASTLE AND TOWN APPROACHES IMPROVEMENT BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. The House then adjourned to a Quarter past Five o'clock. The House resumed at a Quarter past Five o'clock. Sir C. LEMON presented a petitio❑ from Cornwall against the Bill for altering the duties on copper ore. Lord DUDLEY STUART presented a petition from a number of orders of Odd Fellows, praying that the Benefit Societies' Act might be extended to their body. The Noble Lord also presented a petition from the late printer of the House, complaining that he had been hardly dealt with in being dismissed from his situation, and praying for the establishment of a national printing establishment in preference to having the public printing executed by contract. Lord COURTENAY presented a petition praying for an amendment of the laws 'elating to vagrancy. Mr. T. EGERTON presented several petitions pray ing the House to adopt measures to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Sabbath•day he trusted that although minor matters might not be agreed upon in detail, the great object in view might ne vertheless be practically obtained. DISEASED SHEEP. Mr. F. O'CONNOR inquired of the Right Hon. Gen tleman the President of the Board of Trade whether a rumour had reached him to the effect that 1,500 diseased sheep had been brought to Smithfield-market? elr. LABOUCHERE said that, though he had reason to believe that diseased sheep were sometimes brought to Smithfield for sale, the rumour in question had not reached him. When sheep of that description were brought to the market, it became the duty of the au thorities of the market to take care to prevent them from being brought into consumption, in a manner cal- culated to injure the public. SUPPLY. Colonel SIBTHORY wished to know from the Noble Lord at the head of the Government when he proposed to go into Committee of Supply. Lurd JOHN RUSSELL said he proposed to take the Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill first, and then he should wove that the House go into Committee of Supply. FACTORY BILL. Mr. M. GIBSON, seeing the Right Hon. Gentleman the-Secretary of State for the Howe Department in his place, wished to put to him a question concerning the operation of the Factory Bill. Several convictions had lately taken place under the Act, in which the construc tion of the statute had been disputed. In some cases where a young person or a female had been found in a factory, it was at once presumed that he had been there from the time of opening the factory, and although he might not have been there ter more than an hour, he was taken to have been at work over the ten hours, and the master was made liable to conviction. Now, if the construction of the Act were capable ut bearing an in terpretation to justify a conviction under the absurd cir cumstances, it was moat desirable that it should be re considered and amended. Sir G. GREY said he was aware of the point to which the lion. Gentleman had alluded, and that he should give it his best consideration. There were also soii.e other doubtful points that had arisen under the Act, but they were in no way connected with the class of cases which the Hon. Member had mentioned. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS BILL. On the motion that the order of the day be read for going into Committee on the Corrupt Practices at Elec tions Bill, Sir DE LACY EVANS called the attention of the Noble Lord at the head of. the Government to the im perfect state of the law respecting treating at elections. lle had been on the Committee appointed to inquire into the validity of the return of the lion. Member for North Cheshire, and although numerous eases of treating were brought before the Committee, still none of them were proved against either the sitting Member or his agents, and the Committee were unable to act. Ile thought in the cases of boroughs that the law had been pressed with considerable severity on this point, and he believed it it were so stringently pressed iu county elections, that there were few county Members ;that would be able to retain their seats iu that House. He should be glad to know from the Noble Lord what the state of the law really was in such a state of things, and whether such cases as he had described were of a character to dis qualify the sitting Member. Lord J. RUSSELL explained, that where cases of corrupt treating were nut brought home to a sitting Member or his agents, the law was not intended to operate to his prejudice. Teem were some cases which could hardly bo said to constitute treating ; but where treating was upeuly and systematically carried on by the issue of tickets for voters, it was quite clear that the law, as proposed cow, was the same as it had always been, and that it would be operative against the Mem ber in whose behalf such a state of things might be proved. It was quite certain that the law should be made to operate strictly where corruption, through the medium of treating, was proved to the satisfaction of a Committee. Lord COURTENAY considered that the notice of the House ought to be especially directed to the ques tion of refreshments. The extent to which the system went was such that the Commi tee IMIIIO sat upon the election more immediately under consideration felt that they would not be discharging their duty if they failed to bring the matter before the House. lie, therefore, moved that the evidence be printed that it might be formally brought under the notice of the House. Mr. VERNON SMITH said he believed it was very well understood that in every case where an election was about to take place, a candidate was called upon, and asked what he meant to expend on the contest, and it was expected that he would at least keep to his engage ment in that respect, and if not prepared to do so he would have very little chance of his seat. He thought, in some particular cases, refreshments ought to be given, and, as lung as hospitality existed in this country, he hoped it would be so. lie thought that he could not deny to the constituent in a county what he gave to the postboy, and ho thought that the Noble Lord ought to lay down the law distinc ly as to what was and what was not bribery. Mr. STUART WORTLEY admitted that the Noble Lord had clearly stated what the law was—to give to a pour voter, who came from a distance to the poll, necessary refreshment, ought nut, undoubtedly, to be regarded as bribery. Mr. BRIGHT said if he understood the ll.m. Mem ber (Mr. Vernon Smith) rightly, the Hon. Member said that there might be treating without corrupt voting. The Noble Lord had stated that there were 2,000 cases where corrupt votes were proved in this way. If he octrise were to be allowed that hosp:telities were to be exercised towards voters, it would throw the counties into the heeds of the most a ealthy, and it was not hos pitality at all. Candidates did not dispense their hospi tality in that way to their antagonists.—(hear, and laughter.) He thought that the law which was dealt out to borough voters ought also, to be dealt out to count voters.—(He r.) Colo. el SIBTHORP would, for his part, support Christian charity.—(Hear, and a laugh.) If a poor voter were to call upon him, say a Reverend Gentle man, and he should ask him to tale a glass of wine, was that to be considered " corrupt treating?"—(Laughter.) He must, however, say that he considered the Noble Lord's Bill was a partial Bill, and if the Noble Lord had dealt in the Bill with the county Members as he was dealing with the borough Members, the benches would be filled with county Members. Mr. SPOONER believed if there had been any county proved guilty of corrupt bribery that county would be put into the schedule, iu the same way as the boroughs. He, therefore, thought that the distinction sought to be made as between counties and boroughs, by the Hon. and Gallant Member (Sir De Lacy Evans), was not quite correct. Mr. HOBIIOUSE should be glad to hear what the opinion of the Right Hon. Baronet (the Member for Tainwortb) was as to the law upon this subject. Sir R. PEEL said that the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had most correctly, in his opinion, stated what the law was on the point under consideration; and what it was, it was 150 years ago. He apprehended the law to be that if any treating should be proved as having taken place after the first day of the writ of summons, it might be supposed to constitute corrupt treating; but mere innocent treating had been allowed under the law for the last 150 years. Mr. HENLEY thought that the law had been most correctly laid down, both by the Right Hon. Gentlemen the Member for Bute and the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth ; but according to some Hon. Members any hospitality might be considered corrupt. Now, what was said by the Hon. Gentleman the Chair man of the Committee? He said that neither the sitting Member nor his agent had been guilty of the corrupt treating which prevailed. What, then, was the House to do ? If a rich man met a poor voter on the road, and took him into his carriage, would that constitute bribery? He believed, w h a t h e had long believed, that the House would be driven. to legislate on this subject.— (Hear.) If, for instance, in counties where poor voters live ten or more miles off from the place of polling, as sistance were not given to them to come up, they would be disfranchised.—(Heur.) He thought that there were cases wherein assistance ought to be given to the poor voter in this way.—(Hear, hear.) The House then resolved itself into Committee, and the fifth clause was proposed. Mr. 110BHOUSE saw that by this clause the Com missioners to be appointed under the Bill were to re ceive their appointments from the Judges. Now he was anxious to record his opinion against the appoint ment of Commissioners by the Judges, for be thought it most objectionable to mix the Judges up in any way with political appointments, and that to do so was in in opposition to the spirit of the constitution. He took the Bill to be a Bill of pains and penalties—he took it 'to be a Bill of disfranchisement—(Hear, hear)—and that being the case, he put it to the House in what situation would the Judges be placed. He thought that the seat of justice should be kept not merely pure, but " above suspicion." He must also express his opinion that appointments conferred, as those were intended to be conferred, upon the bar, would take away from the bar its independence, and make it subservient to the Judges. He happened to know something of the bar, and he wished to see it independent, and, above all, independent of the Judges. Indeed, the Judges now on the bench, in almost all cases, obtained their ele vation by the distinction which they achieved in connexion with some remarkable case, which forced them into notice while members of the bar. He con sidered that the patronage, under all circumstances, oug ht not to be in their h an d s, and that the hands i n which it ought to be w ere t h ose of the Virat Lord of the Treasury, who should app o i nt t h e Commissioners, and be responsible fur th e appo i ntments. It mig t be said that the Government had too much patronage; but he was of opinion that they had not too much patronage, and that they ought not to eschew it. The Speaker was are impartial person, and he would rather see the appoint ments vested in him than in the Judges. His own idea would be, that the first Minister of the Crown should ac cept the patronage, but, as ho thought he should not ob tain support i n th at proposition, he should move the omission of th e wor d s ho objected to. The SOLICITOR-GENER AL sa id t h at ho thought the Judges m i g h t b e safely trusted with these appoint ments. He hoped the House would allow the Bill to pass. Mr. HENLEY said that it was must desirable to keep the Judgrs free from political imputation. It was, how ever, difficult to say iu whom the appointment should rest. He thought it would be better to name parties in the Bill, and renew them from session to session as it might be desirable. Mr. EWAItT said that he concurred in the impro priety of giving these political appointments to the Judges. Ile th oug h t t h e S pea k er s h ou ld h ave th e ap pointment. Colonel SIBTEIORP said he should be prepared to give every opposition to this clause and the Bill gene rally. Mr. HUDSON objected to the remuneration allowed by the Bill to the barristers who may be appointed, for iu his opinion they ought to have the assistance of the best men at the bar. lie objected, therefore, to give thew such power, because he thought they were not the men who. should be entrusted with them. He hoped also ' the Mute would not vest the appointment in the Judges, for in his opinion it would produce a very bad effect in the public mind in regard to those high and learned functionaries. Mr. SPOONER was of opinion that it would be much better to vest the power in the Judges, for if they were to have the best men at the bar to act as Commissioners at all it was better to leave the appointment to the Judges, who had daily opportunities of witne.sing the qualifications of those who practised before them. Pro testing, however, against the Bill altogether on prin ciple, he should support the clause now under the consideration of the House, which vested the appoint ment in the Judges. Mr. HERRIES, believing that no imputation could by possibility rest on the Judges, should support the clause as it originally stood. After a few words from Mr. Mailings, Mr. Urquhart, and Mr. Newdegate, The amendment, which went to invest the power in the Speaker, was negatived without a division. Mr. HENLEY suggested that one barrister would conduct the inquiry as well as two, and perhaps the lion. and Learned Gentleman the Solicitor-General uould consent to alter the clause to that effect. Tbe SOLICITOR. GENERAL had no objection to the suggestion made, and was therefore ready to adopt it, as he believed one barrister would conduct the inquiry as wellus two. .„ After a few words from Colonel SIBTUOM) and Mr. MULLINGS, the clause was amended as suggested, and agreed to. Clause 7 was struck out of the Bill. Clause 8 being proposed, M. 110BHOUSE wished to know why it was the power was given to barristers to hold their courts within tin miles of the town or borough. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said a power of ad journment was given to the barristsr, in order to accom modate parties who may live at a distance, or to prevent the possibility of a riot occuring while the inquiry was going on. Atter a few words from Colonel SIIMIORP, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL consented to strike out the words, "or within ten miles of any city or bo rough." Clause 8, as amended, was agreed to. On clause 9 being proposed, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in reply to Mr.' Hodgson, said that the inquiry before the Commis sioners was to be limited to the last election for the bo rough, and was not to extend to previous elections. Col. SIBTHORP suggested that the Bill should be made applicable to all boroughs and cities, and not to be 'limited to the boroughs mentioned in the schedule. The clause was then agreed to. On clause 10 being proposed, Mr. HENLEY suggested that the time should be limited within which the Commission should report to her Majesty. This ought to be done to prevent the sus picion that any other head or hand had been connected with the report than those of the Commissioners. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL consented to consider this suggestion. Mr. HENLEY was desirous to know whether a pro fessional man might be examined upon a subject having reference to professional confidence, and also whether the lath clause provided that payment was to be given to witnesses preparatory to giving their testimony. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that witnesses would be entitled to their expenses in the same manner that witnesses were when summoned before a superior court ; and, with regard to the other question, he con sidered that professional confidence must not be expected, as the solicitor would be bound to answer any question which his client (the Member) would put. Mr. HENLEY thought that the indemnity ought to be extended to the agent as well as to the Member. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the Member was not to be examined, and this constituted the diffi culty. Mr. HUDSON was desirous to know whether the documents produced in court were to be made public. If so, he apprehended that the course would prove ruinous to many persons. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the Com missioners would exercise their discretion, and make such extracts from documents as they might consider necessary. Colonel SIBTHORP was desirous to know, in the event of a Commissioner exceeding his authority, what penalty would he be subjected to ? If the Com missioner should deal with him in an improper manner he would take him by "the scruff of his neck," and kick him out of doors.—(Laughter.) Ile (Colonel Sibthorpe) thought that many instances of undue authority would be exercised under this most tyrannical and oppressive Bill. The clause, as amended, was ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses up to 14 were agreed to. On clause 15 being proposed, Mr. HORNBY proposed that it be omitted, on the ground that it had a tendency to encourage informers of that description. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL supported it, and after some conversation, The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the clause ll7 Against it Majority —9B The clause, as amended, was agreed to, and ordered to stand part of the Bill. The other clauses were disposed of. On the motion that the schedule be agreed to, Mr. HODGSON moved to exclude Carlisle from the schedule. Mr. P. HOWARD said that the greater portion of the respectable inhabitants of Carlisle were in favour of a searching inquiry into the practices which had taken place at the last election for that borough. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL cited the report of the El, ction Committee on the Carlisle petition in justifica tion of including Carlisle in the schedule. After a few words from Mr. Berkeley, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Haywood, Mr. Hildyard, Colonel Sibthorp, Mr. Bouverie, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. Wyld, each in defence of his own particular borough, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL proposed to pat three or four other boroughs into the Bill, including Bothnia. Mr. HILDYARD said that he did not think it fair in the Hon. and Learned Gentleman to propose the inser tion of those boroughs, and particularly the borough of Bodmin, without first giving due notice. Mr. ARMSTRONG said he was a rare instance of a Member whose return had been petitioned against, with out cause, but let "bygones be bygones." —(Laughter.) After a few words from Sir E. COLEBROOKE, Mr. WYLD said that the Solicitor-General had al luded to the borough of Bodmin, as a borough that be intended to place in the Bill. Now, he must say, than the borough of Bodmin there was not a more pure borough. He had no objection, he might add, to the borough being inserted in the schedule, but he had very strong objections to its being placed in such bad com pany as the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was disposed to put it in.—(Laughter.) Mr. HUDSON expressed a hope that a Bill would be brought in the next year for the counties.—(Laughter.) Dr. BOWRING defended Bolton from the charge of corruption, and said if-there had been any practised in it, or if there had been any bribery in treating, he would be the first to move for its disfranchisement. Sir ROBERT PRICE said the question before the House was, whether the borough of Carlisle stand par of the Bill. Mr. HODGSON said ho would withdraw his motion, and the borough of Carlisle was then ordered to stand part of the Bill. The CLUIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Monday next. SUPPLY. The House having resumed, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved a Committee of Supply fur the purpose of obtaining a vote for the British Museum. He believed there would be no objection whatever to that vote. Colonel SIBTHORP wished to know when the Chan cellor of the Exchequer meant to make his financial statement? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would make a statement when the votes of supply should be taken. The House having then resolved into a Committee of Supply, Sir R. PEEL rose to move a vote for the service of the British Museum. The Right Hon. Baronet said he believed he would best consult the convenience and wishes of the House by abstaining from any detailed observations with reference to the British Museum estimates. In point of fact, the fullest information was given on the subject in the report which had already been laid before the House. The original estimate had been 53,0001., but the trustees of the Museum had revised that estimate, and had effected a saving in the present year to the extent of 5,0001. The esti mate, therefore, was 48,0001., of which 20,0001. had al. ready been granted on account; so that he had then only to move for a sum of 28,445/. Ho was sure that the House would allow him to take that opportunity of re ferring for a moment to the magnificent bequest made to the Museum by the late Mr. Grenville. That gentleman having collected one of the finest libraries which had ever bee❑ possessed by a private individual, had during his lifetime liberally thrown it open to men of literature and science, and had at his death made it over to the public. The library consisted of no less than 20,000 volumes, which had cost Mr. Grenville 54,0001. But its value could not be estimated by the mere number of the volumes, and their pecuniary worth. The collection was one of the most extraordinary ever known, in respect of the rarity and the importance of the books. lie was glad that he had been allowed that opportunity of re cording his gratitude—and the gratitude, he felt sure, of the House and the country—for the bequest of Mr. Grenville, as well as his respect for the memory of that most distinguished statesman and friend of literature an d science. —(Hear.) In conclusion, he had to move that a sum of 28,4451. be granted, to defray the expenses of the British Museum. An Hox. AlEsismx asked what progress had been made by the Commission appointed to inquire into the state of the Museum ? The LORD•ADVOCATE said the Commission had collected a good deal of evidence on the subject of their inquiries ; but ho believed there was no chance of their being able to present their report this year. Dr. BOWRING wished to know what progress had been made in the completion of the new catalogue of the works in the Museum? The LORD-ADVOCATE said that the completion of the new catalogue would be proceeded with as ra pidly as possible. But he should observe, that by means of the existing catalogue every book in the Museum was at present easily accessible to the public. The vote was then agreed to, and the House resumed. The Turnpike Roads (Ireland) Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered to be reported on Monday next. On tho motion of Mr. HAWES, the Canada Govern- .iq METROPOLITAN POLICE. • Sir B. HALL gave notice that he would take the earliest opportunity next session of moving for a return of the cost of maintaining the metropolitan police. SARDINIA AND AUSTRIA. Mr. P. HOWARD gave notice that on Monday next he would ask the Secretary . of of State for Foreign Affairs, whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government, either singly, or in concert with her allies, to mediate between Sardinia and Austria, for the paci fication of the North of Italy. CRIMINAL LAW IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. Dr. BO WRING put a question to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Commis sion appointed to inquire into the state of the criminal law in the Ch: nnel Islands had made their report on the subject, and whether it was his intention to propose any changes in that law, or any modification of it. Sir G. GREY was understood to state that the report had been made, and that an order in Council was in pre paration for the purpose of carrying into effect the re commendation of the Commissioners. REPUDIATION OF THE TREATY OF 1839 BY THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION. Mr. DISRAELI put a question to the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs relative to the treaty of 1839, by which the duchies of Luxembourg and Lim burg were conceded to the kingdom of the Netherlands, and to which Great Britain was a party. That treaty, by a decree recently issued by the German Confedera tion sitting at Frankfort, had been entirely repudiated, and that Assembly had announced that it could not sanction the regulations of that solemn and salutary treaty.—(llear.). If that treaty was not observed, the same state of things that had occurred in Schleswig and Holstein would take place there, if they had not already commenced. lie wished to ask whether he had any communication on this important subject to make to the House. Lord PALMERSTON said the Hon. Gentleman had stated correctly the nature of the treaty made in 1839; by that treaty a portion of Luxembourg was ceded to the kingdom of Belgium, and the House was probably aware that that territory formed part of the German Confede ration, of which the Grand Duke was a member. He had a right to inquire from the Government of the Netherlands what had passed between the King of the Netherlands and the German Confederation in respect of the annexation referred to.—(Hear, hear.) He had not yet received a reply, and therefore he could not state whether the Government of this country considered itself entitled to interfere; and if so, in what way, as asked by the lion. Gentleman? AMERICAN POSTAGE. Mr. CARDWELL inquired w h et h er th e p a p ers postage qu es ti on wou ld b e l a id on the a g ble parties were suffering from the present system it was t lilth b e ef Americanorethe close of the ses s io n . As many most desirable that the earliest and fullest information should be given on the subject. Lord PALMERSTON said the negotiations were con ducted by other departments, and he would reply to the question on Monday. THE EASTERN ARcIIIPELAGO COMPANY. Mr. BOUVERIE asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the Eastern Archipelago Company hare paid up the portion of their proposed capital required by the charter, and, if not, whether tho charter has been avoided. Mr. LABOUCHERE replied that the Queen had power to determine the charter, if its provisions were not complied with within a year. The charter was not completed until nearly a year had expired. and as this did not arise through any 'aches of the com pany, the Board of Trade had not thought it advisable to recommend her Majesty to void the charter. 'ions El AM—THE ATTORNEY- GENERAL. Mr. ANSTEY, referring to a paragraph in the news papers of this morning with respect to the alleged action against the Attorney-General for penalties, and stating that the record of the action against him had been withdrawn, inquired if this was so? The AT rORNEY-GENERAL—I am much obliged to the lion. and Learned Gentleman for asking the question. It is perfectly true that an action has been instituted • it is also perfectly true that I have done my best to bring the cause on for trial. I assert, upon my honour, that the case has not been compromised.—(Hear.) ARMED POLICE. Lord DUDLEY STUART wished to know whe her it was true that certain portions of the po lice had been armed with swords, having saws at the back, and if they had, whether it was done by the sanction and recommendation of the Right lion. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and whether it was his intention that they should be habitually so armed? Sir G. GREY could assure the Noble Lord that it was not his wish or intention that the police should be habitually armed with swords. It had, however, been the practice when disturbances were apprehended, to arm the police, and certain portions of the police in London, Manchester, and Liverpool bad, with bis sanction, been armed with swords, considering it necessary, in conse quence of the threatened disturbances in the country. The swords had been formerly used iu bivouacking, and for that purpose a portion of the backs of them were ser rated, or indented like a s iw. They should be returned to the Tower as soon as the occasion which had called for them should have passed away. DENMARK. Mr. CHRISTY Inquired of the Noble Lord the Secre tary for Foreign Affairs whether there was any imme diate prospect of a friendly settlement of the differences that had so long prevailed between Germany and Den mark, to the great inconvenience of the trade with those countries? Lord PALMERSTON said he believed that the com mercial inconvenience arising from that state of things had been much greater on the continent than it had been in this country, It was ground for great disappointment that the proposed armistice had not been concluded, but .ter-~:.--_.__:._ _-~-_ mcnt was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday. The Metropolitan COmmissioners of Sewers BilL was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Thnn,cisy. • The Militia Ballot Suspension Bill pssied through Committee. Leave was given to bring in a Bill to prohibit thei im portaticn c►f cattle when they were suspected of lieitg infected. On the motion that the Farmers' Estate Fooiety (Ire land) Bill be read a third time, • Colonel DUNNE opposed the motion. After a short conversation, Colonel DUNNE moved that the Bill be read a third time on Monday next. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no divi sion subsequently took place. The Bill was then read a third time. Mr. STAFFORD brought up the following clause:— " That in case any tenant shall be in the occupation of any land purchased by the company at the time of such occupation by the company for the purpose - of carrying this Act into execution, every such tenant shall be en titled to such compensation as he would by law be now entitled to receive, in case the company were a railwuy company requiring pobsession of his land : provided alway s, that in no case shall any tenant evicted for non payment of rent, or for the breach of non• performance of any covenant or agreement, or for any waste or in jury done to the laud or any tenement thereon, be en titled to receive any compensation whatsoever from the company." Colonel DUNNE moved a verbal amendment to the clause, but subsequently withdrew it, and opposed the clause itself. Mr. BRIGHT was disposed to move the postpone ment of the question that the Bill do pass until they were informed whether_ the law officers had examined the Bill. Mr. MONSELL said the promoters of the Bill had consulted the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-Gene ral for Ireland ou the subject. Colonel THOMPSON believed the real gist' of the Bill to be against small tenants. It went to take away the property of the poor, and was nothing, in his opi nion, but the other side of Communism. Mr. REYNOLDS approved of the principle of the Bill, but objected to some of its details, particularly that part of them which prohibited the company selling a smaller quantity of land than 30 acres. A division then took place, when there appeared— For the clause 39 Against it l3 Majority -26 On the motion of Mr. PARKER it was agreed that the House should, at its rising, adjourn to Monday next. SUGAR DUTIES BILL. Upon bringing up the report on this Bill, Lord G. BEN TINCK remarked that the calculations in this Bill were wrong, even on the basis of the Hon. Member for Westbury. Both the Hon. Gentleman and the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be laughed at in the City for their mistakes. There was not a clerk in the City who would not, after such a Bill as this, think he was fitted to be Chancellor of the Exchequer. The report was then brought up. Lord G. BENTINCK gave notice that he would move that British refiners be allowed to refine in bond. The report was agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Monday. The other orders of the day were then agreed to, and the House adjourned at Two o'clock. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Auei. 4. STOCK EXCHANGIL—The sales are—Lancashire and York- , shire Halves, 6 dis.—Ditt o , 10/. P re f erence, 16s. 3d. p.— London and North-Western, I26—Ditto, New Quarters, lAi p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 60—Ditto, 101. Preference, 10 Stock, 102 1 ,4—Ditto, New Halves, 6 '/ dis.— North Staffordshire, 2% dis.—North Union (B), 141—Scottish Central, 22. MANCHESTER, AUG. 4. STOCK Exciter/Gm—The sales are—Birkenhead. Lanca shire, and Cheshire Junction, 311. Shares, 71,4 di,— Lancashire and Yorkshire, Preference, 6 per cent., 11-16 p. —London and North-VVestern Quarters (C), 2% p.— Mancherter, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 5 1 A South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 2)1 c. dis. BIRMINGHAM, Aro. 4. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian, Prefe rence, Bs 9d. p.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 5% di& —Ditto (B), 33. 9d. dis.—Shropshire Union, 58s. 9d. dis.— South Statford6hire, 68s. 9d. dis. SALE OF THE PEMBROKE COLLECTION OF COINS. —THIRD DAY.—The sale of this important collection of coins was continued on Thursday by Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson, the following being worthy of notice:—A pattern of Louis XIII. of France for a coin called Quadruple Ecu, struck in 1643, sold for 12 guineas. English medals: one by Thomas Simon, struck on the death of Robert Earl of Essex, Commander of the Par liamentary Forces, bearing date September 14, 1646, in a fine state of preservation and very rare, sold for 51.15 e; a medal by the same artist, having on the obverse the bust of Cromwell in armour, above the head in large letters " The Lord of Hosts," and on the reverse, the " Long Parliament Sitting ; " thi s so ld f or 11/. 10s . Two medals in copper of Oliver Cromwell and Sir Andrew Fontaine, warden to the Mint, very rare, sold for 174 A gold chased medal, by Simon, of General Monk, ex tremely rare, and in perfect condition, sold for 15 guinea.. The above concluded the collection of English coins and medals. Among the Greek series, autonomous and im perial, the following were deserving attention :—An un certain Samnite coin, in gold, weighing 72 grains, sup posed to belong to Carthage, and considered unique, sold for 204 10z. A gold coin of Tarentum in Calabria, having on the obverse the head of Hercules, covered with a lion skin, extremely rare, and in fine condition, sold for 22/. ss. Roman series: A curious coin, 6# inches long, and 3# of an inch wid e , we i g hi ng 41b s. 9uz., an d calld a Quadrassis, brass, of great rarity, sold for 221. 10s. Roman Families, in gold, Cornelia, having on the obverse a helmeted head of Rome or Pallas, and on the reverse Sylla on horseback, a coin in perfect condition, sold for 191. 10s. Domitia obverse, portrait of Cneius Domitius, an extremely rare coin, sold for 221. 10e. Lie Vinci.; on the obverse, the head of the Prtetor Lucius Regulus, Asc., a coin of the highest degree of rarity, sold for 254 Gold coins struck between the dates of the battles of Pharsalia and Actium. Marcus Junius Brutus; having on the obverse, " Brutos Imp." bare head of Brutus, to the right within a wreath of laurel, and on the reverse, " Cases Longes," a coin of the utmost rarity, sold for 424 Another coin of the same personage, but of a different type, having on the reverse the head of Lucius Brutus, very rare, sold for 264 A fine coin, having on the observe "C. Cassi Imp.," and a female head laureated, sold for 13/. 5e.; a most rare and beau tiful coin, having on the obverse the bare head of Sextus Pompeius, within a wreath of oak, and the reverse bare heads of Porapey the Great and his son, Cueing Pompey, sold for 33/. ; gold coins of the Second Triumvirate, n.c. 43, Marcus .iEtuilius Lepidus, a coin of the greatest ia riety, having on one side the head of Lepidus, and on the other the head of Marc Antony, sold for 284 10s.; two other coins of the same triumvirate, but of different type., sold respectively for 254 and 241. 10s,; Marcus Antonini, on the obverse "M. Antonious lIL, vir. R.P.C.," with bare head of Antony, reverse, "C. Caesar 111., vir. P.P.C.," with head of Octavius, very rare, sold for 131. ss. HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES or THE CHEST, Buoiarrox. - -Ildlle. Jenny Lind yesterday visited the several wards and offices of the above institu tion. The accomplished lady was accompanied by Mrs. S. Carter Hall, the hon. secretary, Philip Rose, Esq., Dr. Forbes, and other gentlemen connected with the institution. The committee of management met in the evening, and, after the usual business had been trans acted, it was stated that the building fund of the hos pital had by the recent benefit given at her Majesty's Teatre been increased by upwards of 1,700/. [ADVERTISEMENT.)—A most singular C ure o f $ bad Leg by H o ll owa y s Pills and Ointment.—Mrs. Eli sabeth Hartrer of Willunga, Adelaide, had been suffer ing for nearly thirty years with an ulcerated bad leg produced by a blow, and which was thought incurable as it had defied the skill of several practitioners both in England and the colony. At last, recourse was had to Holloway's Ointment and Pills and by their efficacy the leg has been perfectly healed, presenting scarcely the trace of a wound. This case has excited so much asto nishment in the colony that the agent for South Aus tralia has published it in the Adelaide Observer of the 12th February, 1848. These surprising medicines are sold by all Druggists and at Professor Holloway's Esta blishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRTHS. On the let inst., at Brighton, the lady of Horatio J. Mon.- tetiore, Esq., of a daughter. On the 2inst., at Horsham, the wife of the Rev. J. Ken riek, of a daughter. On the 2d inst., at Hastings, Mrs. C. Burfield, jun., of a daughter. On the 3d inst., the wife of Mr. J. Argent, of the Strand, of a son. On the Ist inst., at Kingston, Lisle, the lady of E. Martin Atkins, Esq., of a son. Oa the Ist inst., at Oakfield, Clapham New-park, Mrs. G. Coles, of a daughter. On the let inst., at Berners-street, Oxford-street. Mrs. W. Nagar of a son. On the Ist inst., a t St. Nicholas JIARRIED , Brighton, the Rev. I. R. Turner, 8.A., of St. Peter's Co:lege, Cambridge, to Ilarriot, fourth daughter of the late John liebbell, Esq., of Stroud green-house. Rochford, Essex. On the 3d inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, the Rev. Charles E. Thomas, son of the late Freeman Thomas, Es q-. of Ratton' Sussex, to Georgian a M ary , t hi rd daughter of Colonel the Hon. and Mrs. Hely Hutchinson, of Westoar Northamptonshire. On the 3d inst., at Trinity Church, St. Marylebone, E. Grasett, Esq., of Henrietta -street, Cavendish-square, to Juliana Clarke, third daughter of Mrs. Guilled, W est-tield• house, Montpellier -place, Brighten. On the 3d inst., at St. Mary's, Bryanston-square, Charles M. Smith, Esq., of Middle Temple, London, to Georgians Fanny, youngest daughter of R. Ibbetson, Esq., of Montagu square, formerly Governor of Penang. DIED. On Thursday, the 3d inst., aged 74, Edward Baines, Esq•► • of Leeds, formerly Member of Parliament fur that borough in three successive Parliaments, and senicr proprietor of the Leeds Mercury, of which he had been proprietor more than forty-seven years. Mr. Baines was a magistrate of the West Riding and of the borough of Leeds, end was father of 'l'. Baines, Esq., M.P. for Hull. At British Accra, on the 4th of May, John Edward Dring► Esq., late Paymaster and Purser, aged 37. On the 30th ult., at Gravesend, Maria, youngest daughter of Mr. W. 'AI tiller, of Crown-row, Mile-end-road, aged 5 years. On the 2d just , at Stranraer-place, Hugh Biers, Etq• aged b 9. Suddenly, on the 3d inst., at North-lodge, Brighton, Fanny Ann, relict of Mr. Edward Bell, late of Thorney-street► Bloomsbury. London : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, st. No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The San (Mee, No. 1131 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the multi 01 11/iddleeex, Saturday, August 5, 1848. . ptym Lac, Lace. Rke, vieWe tilt Si • Tuba( Satur • . itnttl T4STI I natiet bre C • can b in the by tbi • loguei Than wilTtb Tha or th e tunic* they COX 7 eitirnit " Ten! ,linuit letter 7rltla t alttoun Pl *gains Water the ettl 1445), Twi( at hi, or i n Deere< T in one ' titer b . rnah4 APPI RCA CIAL enjaye, JE 41, ;ut and Sc e rnigra You a, Th ey ., Th en Cul 3 ., When Yo u w tut or. You% When Oh! y With i A. 114 .. Olt ! if They , All y o , That t Aye. t N.ll, stnt and th, sal ap derate obs l I Ire. ./ne3 E. 3 rt At e , L wu t ,. 111 4. gs Our D:thu. lik e i t has T b 4t rk ey %al th or It , Not et ter '.:loci OST ] *ICUIt p, The, fOrvc B~yi, A • ett ana etizi eg, Sqfkr e Atitty At , "Itch • e tch with 1 4 tb, q4 ctilr e4rres