The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-09 00:00:00

Vb 9,Zbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock„ IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The 6PBAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords' amendments to the West of England and South Wales Land Draining Incorporation Bill wore considered and agreed to. The London (City) Small Debts Bill was read a third time and passed. The Sandbach Charity Estate Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. The Weld Blundell's Estate Bill was read a second dine and ordered to be committed. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that it be an instruction to the Comthittee of Selection to appoint the Committee on.the Sandbach Charity Estate Bill to sit and proceed forthwith.—Agreed to. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills be allowed to sit and proceed on the Virgin Mary Hospital (Nee - castle-uvon-Tyne) Estate Bill to-morrow, provided one day's notice thereof be given in the Private Bill-office. Agreed to. Sir THOMAS BIRCH moved that it be an instruc tion to the Committee of Selection to appoint the Com• mittee on the . Weld Blundell's Estate Bill to meet on Monday if they think fit.—Agreed to. PETITIONS. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition against the Poor-law Union Charges Bill. Mr. LOCKHART presented a petition from Chester to the same effect. Mr. BOUVEItIE presented a petition from a place in Scotland against the Marriages Registration (Scotland) Bill. Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from Silver dale, in Lancashire, against the Highway Bill. SMOKE PROHIBITION BILL. Mr. BROTHERTON moved that the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill be read for the pur pose of being discharged. Lord MORPETH presumed the Hon. Gentleman bad the assent of the Hon. Member who had charge of the Bill to this motion. Mr. BROTHERTON said he had. Lord MORPETH said, under these circumstances, be would not oppose the motion, but he begged to state that he was prepared to , approve of the principle of the Bill by voting for the second reading, and he therefore trusted the Bill would be revived next session. The motion was then agreed to. PIRACY BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. On clause 1, Mr. MACGREGOR explained that the object of the clause was to relieve parties from the penalties of the piracy-laws who took charge of a vessel to carry her to the nearest port. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the clause pro vided no such penalties, and the effect of it would be that the whole mercantile navy would be under the con trol of subordinate parties. Mr. HENLEY said the proposal was most monstrous, and he was surprised the Bill had gone so far. Mr. BERNAL admitted that some alteration was ne cessary in the present piracy-laws, but he could not agree to the alteration proposed by the Bill. Mr. HUME said the provisions of the Bill were ex ceedingly indefinite, and he must object to give the mer cantile navy of the country the large powers which the lion. Gentleman proposed to place in their hands. Mr. Cowart and Mr. DUNCAN solicited the Honour able Gentleman to withdraw the. Bill. Mr. MACGREGOR. seeing that the sense of the Committee was against him, would accede to the request of the two Honourable Gentlemen. The Chairman was accordingly ordered to report progress. The House having resumed, the Chairman reported, without asking for leave to sit again. BANKRUPTCY BILL. Mr. BOUVERIE, in moving the second reading of this Bill, complained that he had not been treated fairly by the Government in reference to this measure, for two years ago he withdrew a similar Bill upon an intimation from the Secretary of State for the Home Department that the Lord Chancellor had the subject of the bank ruptcy laws under his consideration, with the view to their amendment. No alterations had, however, been proposed either in that or the other House of Parlia ment, and he thought it was highly important that the House should no longer delay the passing of this Bill. Nothing could be more necessary fur the stability of the trade and commerce of the country than that the bank ruptcy-laws should always be efficient and easy of ad ministration. That the present bankruptcy and insol veney-laws of the country were defective there could be no doubt. There was no line of demarcation drawn between the honest and dishonest bankrupt, and until some change were made to recognise that distinction the laws must be ever open to fraud and evasion. Now it was to remedy the defect that had induced him to revive,tbe Bill, and if the House were ready to show its discountenance of fraud and rascality, they would not refuse to acknowledge the principle of this Bill. For the last five-and-twenty years the bankruptcy laws had been subjected to changes, and he felt that it was high time that these laws were purged of their glaring defects. One provision of this Bill gave power to a Court of Bankruptcy to order the arrest of a fraudulent debtor 03 mesne process. The other provisions smply consolidated the existing bank ruptcy laws, and the only other new provisions in the Bill gave the Bahkruptce Court power to withhold its protection from , the fraudulent debtor, and the creditor liberty to arrest him so long as the protection was withheld. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he for one did not deny that the present bankruptcy laws were open to amendment, and as this Bill simply affirmed that principle, while it consolidated the existing bankruptcy laws, he was not prepared to offer any opposition to the second reading of the Bill. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed. REMEDIES AGAINST THE HUNDRED BILL. Sir W. CLAY, in moving the second reading of this Bill, for the purpose of being discharged, said, as the alteration which it.proposed to make in the present law involved an important principle, it would be advisable to leave it in the hands of the Government, who would act under the advice of the Attorney-General. He therefore thought he would best discharge his duty by placing it in the care of the Government, if the Secre tary of State for the Home Department would assure hied, seeing that there was a very general concurrence in the House with respect to an alteration of the ex isting law, that he would, during the recess, give the subject his consideration with the view of proposing some a lteration. Sir GEORGE GREY was ready to admit that the law was not in .a very satisfactory state, but the subject bad been under the consideration of the Attorney- General. He did not agree with the Hon. Gentleman that the law was generally defective, because he thought that the only detect in the law was the mode in which it was required that a party should prove his claim to compensation from the hundred. So far as that defect was concerned, he was prepared,i in conjunction with his Learned Friend the Attorney-General to give the subject his best considera tion with the view of applying a remedy. Mr. CARDWELL said the difficulty, as far as legis lativgineastires was concerned, was a very small one, and might tie settled in a very short Bill. Instead of thinking that this was an inapt period to introduce a Bill on the subject, he was of opinion that so important a matter should be settled at once, in order that people might know what remedy they had when their property was injured. If he, himself, took the Bill out of the llon. Gentleman's hands, he would have no chance at that late period of the session of pro ceeding with it, and he would, therefore, not divide the House on the question. However, ho thought the course taken by the Honourable Member was more friendly to the Government, than to those whose property had been or might be injured. Sir GEORGE GREY said, when he brought in the Bill, he stated that he did nut think there was any nece3sity for a change of the law, but he was not prepared to say that some additional powers were not required with respect to obtaining compensation. Be had, however, received very few complaints as to the operation of the law, and with regard to Liverpool, which the Hon. Member (Mr. Cardwell) represented, every proceeding had been taken by the Government and the authorities to protect the property of the inhabitants. He did not think that the people in large towns would be much injured by allowing the existing law to remain unaltered until he was prepared to bring in som• measure to obviate the complaints to which it at present gave rise. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed that when the Bill was introduced his Right Hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Department consulted him, and he then stated that as the law bad been r ec ently altered, it was his opinion that it Id not be again altered unless some very strong grouads we re shown for doing so. He had promised to take the subject into consideration, for the purpose of settling upon some expedient to emend the law; and, although certainly several cases of hardship had recently been experienced by the inhabitants of London, he did not think the law would in the meantime press severely upon persons. After a few words from Captain Peehell, Mr. Drum mond, and Sir W. Clay, the motion was agreed to, and the order discharged. STOCK-IN-TRADE EXEMPTION BILL. Mr. BERNAL brought up the report on this Bill, which was read and agreed to, and ordered to be rend a" third time to-morrow. PROVIDENT ASSOCIATION FRAUD PREVEN- TION BILL. Lord DUDLEY STUART moved the second reading of this Bill. Tbe ATTORNEY -GENERAL said, as the Bill no stood be bad no ob j ection to it, but if it was underst ood to legalize societies, such as the Odd Fellows' Society, which hod secret signs, he must give it his oppositio n . Lord D. STUART said those societies were ready when required to make their signs known to a magis trate or a justice of the peace, and allow access to their lodges at all times. • The Bill was read:a second time and ordered to be committed on Monday next. COURT- OF -kIttiSTICIARY (SCOTLAND) BILL. This Bill plased through Committee. CRIMINAL LAW. ADMINISTRATION AMEND- lIENT BILL. The House wont into Committee on this Bill, and the clauses, after several verbal amendments proposed by Mr. NAPIER, were agreed to, THE SVN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9, 1848. The House then resumed. REGISTER OF SASINES (SCOTLAND). This Bill passed through Committee.—Report to morrow, at twelve. MONEY ORDER DEPARTMENT (POST-OFFICE) BILL. On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill, Mr. BROWN said that the Post-office would secure much better officers if their appointment was left to the Post-office, the Treasury having a veto with respect to such appointments, should the exercise of that right he deemed necessary. The House then went into Committee, and the various clauses were agreed to.—Report on Friday. The House resumed. FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL. The House went into Committee on this Bill, all th• clauses in which were agreed to, with several verbal amendments, after some considerable discussion. The report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. CHURCHES' BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. PROCLAMATION ON FINES (COURT OF COM MON PLEAS) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. POOR-LAW UNION CHARGES BILL. The third reading of this Bill was postponed. EXCHANGE OF ADVOWSONS (WARWICK AND STAFFORD) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. The House at Half-past Three adjourned to a Quvrter past Five o'clock. The House re s umed at a Quarter past Five o'clock. Mr. M. J. O'C',ONNELL presented a petition from the ratepayers of a place in the county of Clare, com plaining of the operation of the Irish poor-law. Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR presented a petition from the Metropolitan Sewage Manure Company, com plaining of the proceedings of the Metropolitan Sewer age Commission. Lord G. BENTINCK moved that the petition of the shipowners, manufacturers, merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of the port of Shields, presented yesterday, and complaining of the Customs regulations of that port, be printed with the votes. The petitioners, he said, alleged that the ports of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead were placed on a more favourable footing by their Customs regulations than Shields, because these two ports were represented by Whig Members and were governed by Whig corporations. Mr. THORNELY said he felt it to be his duty as Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions to state that this petition was before that Committee this morn ing, which they had ordered to be printed, and no doubt it would be in the hands of Honourable Members by to-morrow evening. Mr. HUTT denied that any undue partiality had been shown towards the ports of Newcastle and Gateshead; but at all events he could assure the House that the Member for Gateshead was in no way concerned in the Customs regulations of that port.' Mr. LABOUCHERE could assure, the Noble Lord, that the regulations in torte at Newcastle and Gates head were ordered by him from a sense of public duty, and in opposition to the expressed wishes of the Mem bers for these places.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. THORNELY said the petition had been placed in the hands of the printer by the Committee on Pea. tions, and would be in the possession of the House in a few days. Under those circumstances he would, there fore, oppose the motion of the Noble Lord. After a short discussion, The SPEAKER, in answer to Mr. M. Gibson, stated that the rule of the House was, that no Member could move that a petition be printed with the votes unless he intended to make a substantive motion upon it. Mr. HUTT inquired of the Speaker, whether a Mem ber who moved that a petition be printed was not merely obliged to confine himself to the facts alleged in the petition, but was able to express his opinion upon those facts? The SPEAKER replied that it was not regular for a Member to do more than state the substance of the petition. Thu motion was then withdrawn. COUNTY COURTS—SALARIES OF JUDGES. Dr. BOWRING said the Secretary of State for the Home Department had stated in reply to a question of his some time ago that his attention would be directed to the salaries of the Judges of County Courts, and also to the subject of fees levied in those tribunals. Ho now begged leave to inquire whether any thing had yet been done with reference to those two subjects; and also whether the Right Hon. Baronet was aware of the cause of the delay which had occurred in laying tne returns which had beeu ordered in the month of March last before the House? _ - _ Sir G. GREY said he was not aware that those re turns had not been laid before the House, but he would make inquiries respecting them. With regard to the re muneration of the judges, an order in council had been passed to pay them by salaries, and that order would be published in a short period. As to the payment of the clerks and other officials, greater diffi culty would arise, and as yet no decision had been come to upon that point. VOTE BY BALLOT• Mr. H. F. BERKELEY said—l beg to give no tice that early next session—(Laughter)--I shall bring in a Bill—(Cries of " No, no.)—then I shall ask leave to bring in a Bill that the votes of electors for Members of Parliament may be taken by way of ballot.--(Hear, bear, and chpers.) JAMAICA. Lord G. BENTINCK asked if the Government had received any intormaticn of xesolutions in favour of pro tection having been passed by influential meetings in the colony. Mr. HAWES said he had heard of such meetings taking place, but he had no authentic information with respect to them. NAPLES AND SICILY. Mr. URQUHART asked whether, in the event of a collision in the Mediterranean between the forces of the King of Naples and any late or present subjects of that Crown, it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to employ the naval force of this country on behalf of either the one side or the other? Lord J. RUSSELL—I beg to decline giving a reply to the quesion. STATE OF IRELAND. _ Mr. GROGAN referred to a correspondence in the newspapers with respect—to repealers being allowed to be sworn as special constables, and aiked if it was cor rect that the Lord Lieutonant had stated that repealers were eligible. Sir W. SOMERVILLE had no reason to believe that the correspondence was not authentic, not having re ceived any official communication, he could not reply to the question upon authority. REPEAL OF THE UNION. Mr. GROGAN inquired, considering the state of Irelaud, and the expressed opinion of several statesmen, that there was nu diffeience between the repeal of the union and civil war, what was the opinion of the Go vernment with respect to the proceedings of those who advocated the repeal of the union? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, an association for the purpose of effecting the repeal of the union by other than constitutional means was undoubtedly illegal; but if it was an associatiion strictly confined to asking the House for a repeal of the Act of Union by petitioning Parliament. The House had already received petitions ith that prayer; there was nothing illegal in associ ating for the purpose of petitioning the House for a repeal of the Union. - INSURRECTION IN SINGAPORE. Mr. HUTT wished to know from the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he had received any information relative to the insurrection, or the reported insurrection, of the slave population of Singapore. Mr. HAWES had received no official information on the subject. SEPARATE IMPRISONMENT. Lord NUGEN seeing the Right lion. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his place, wiThed to know whether he had in contemplation any measure of amendment of the gaol discipline principle, particularly with a Tie w to the modification of the sepa- rate system of confinement. Sir G. GREY said that he had not any measure in contemplation on the subject. Lord NUGENT said, that such being the case, he would himself move for leave, early next session, to bring in a Bill on the subject. CONVICT SYSTEM. Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Government were preparing any measures with respect to convicts ? ;,) Sir - G. GREY said that some preparations were making on that subject. SUPPLY—ARMY ESTIMATES. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, and; Mr. FOX MAULE moved a vote of 123,800 L to de fray the charge of the embodied militia in Ireland. After a short discussion the vote was agreed to. • . NAVY ESTIMATES. Mr. WARD then •rose to bring the navy estimates under the consideration of the Committee, and was (LEFT EirEAKING.) RAILWAY COMMITTEES (THIS DAY.) lIOUSE OF LORDS. GROUP No. 1 1.— MANCHESTER. BUXTON, MATLOCK, ♦ND MIDLANDS RAILWAY (Deviations and Branch). — Case for the promoters and opposition of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company further considered After which the room was cleared, and the Committee haring consulted together for a short while, came to the decision that the preamble of the Bill was proved. The clauses were then agreed to; and the Chairman having been instructed to report the Bill, th© labours of the Committee terminated. ELECTION COMMITTEE. (THIS DAY.) DUBLIN. The scrutiny into the validity of Mr. Reynolds' ma jority was resumed, but the petitioners did not succeed Ln striking off any additional votes. The first witness called was Miss Sarah Page, who . stated she was a milliner, and resided at No. 18, John- I street, Oxford-street. On the 20th of April last the pri goner came to her shop and wished to purchase a bonnet and cap for a lady who was in the country. There was a bonnet in the window which he approved of, but there was no cap with it. Witness's shopwoman said she could make him a cap that would suit him. He said very well, that would do, and then asked witness if she would give him change for a 201. note ho would paygor the ar ticles then. Witness told him that she could not give him change, but she would send out and get it for him. The prisoner declined her offer, and said he would call and pay for the articles in the evening. He then re quested that the trimmings on the bonnet should be al tered. Witness's shopwoman replied, " I have done so already, sir." The prisoner said, "Do not call me sir, I am Lord Alfred Hervey, M.P. for Brigh ton." He then left the shop, and in the evening he called again for the cap. After talking with her for some time, he said he would pay for the bonnet and cap if she would give him change for a 501. note, at the same time producing what appeared to witness a note for that amount. Witness said she could not give him change. He then said he would send his servant for them on the following day, with the amount of the bilL He was then leaving the shop, and just as he got to the door he saw a cab and returned to the shop in a hur ried manner, and asked witness to give him some change to pay the cab. Witness felt in her pocket and said she had only a shilling. The prisoner said, "Oh 1 that is not enough—that will not do." She then took a sovereign and gave it to the prisoner, believing him to be Lord Allred Hervey. He then went away, and she saw nothing more of him till he was taken into custody last night. She subsequently wrote to Lord Alfred Hervey, who called upon her, and told her she had been imposed upon. Inspector Whall said from information be received he went last night, with Sergeant Gray, to Park•lane, and at the corner of Great Stanhope street he saw the prisoner in conversation with a female. Witness crossed over to him, and asked him if he was Lord Alfred Hervey. The prisoner said, " No, lam not." Witness then told him who he was, and took him into custody. Last witness, who was present at the time, im mediately identified the prisoner as the per son who had obtained money from her. The prisoner had a plain r signet-ring "with au embossed shank, which he threw away. Witness picked it up, and, with the assistance of Sergeant Gray, took the prisoner to the station, where he was searched, and two sealed letters found upon him. Witness also found a memorandum, by which it appeared that the prisoner had appointed to meet three ladies, at different times the same evening, at the same place, where witness took him into custody. He also found a flash note for 50L, and the letter produced, of which the following is a copy:— " Belgrave-square, Aug. 9. " Effie,—Providing it is consistent with your con- , venience to speak to a gentleman in the firsi instance this evening, at half-past nine b'cicck, in Great Stan hope-street, probably you may hear something to suit you. " P.S.—Bring this note in your hand, that the gentle man may know you. Should the weather prove unpro pitious, come in a cab and wait there. " To Effie, Haynes's Library, Frith-street, Soho?' Witness added that this letter was an answer to an ad vertisement which appeared in the Times, and he had as certained the prisoner was in the habit of answering ad vertisements where ladies applied for situations. If pri soner was remanded, Lord Hervey would be in attend ance to give evidence against him. The prisoner was then remanded for a week. MALTA. In consequence of the rapid approach of cholera the following regulations have been issued by the Health Office of this island, as to the duration of quarantine on vessels from Egypt, Syria, Constantinople, the Dardanelles, Smyrna, and all other Ottoman ports or islands : 1. All ships, without distinction, must perform a qua rantine of fifteen days in port, and be obliged to dis charge non-susceptible goods into the Lazaretto. 2. Passengers from any of the above•named ports or places will perform twelve days' quarantine. 3. Susceptible goods must be dhchargtd into the Laza retto, and subjected to purification for twenty days. 4. Any vessel arriving under graver circumstances will be dealt with according to the deliberation of the Sanitary Council of November 8, 1847. NEW SOUTH WALES. We have received files of papers from Sydney, from March 9th to April 10th. On Tuesday the 22d March, the Legislative Council was opened by a commission consisting of the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney- General, and the Colonial Treasurer, the Governor's attendance being prevented from the recent loss suffered in his family. _ _ The address of his Excellency is a document pf public importance. The addresi is as follows: " Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Legislative Council—l have called you together at this early pe riod of the year, in consequence of the approaching dissolution of the Council. I am happy, therefore, to believe that, whilst this arrangement will allow ample time for the business of the session, it will equally suit your convenience. "It is consolatory to reflect that, notwithstanding the commercial depression which prevails to so great an extent in the mother country, and the consequent low prices of colonial produce iu that market, the chief resources of this colony have continued to in crease in a manner alike rapid and surprising. The exports of wool, its main staple, reached in the past year the large quantity of upwards of twenty two millions of pounds, of the official %slue of 1,260,0001. being an increase on the previous year, exceeding five millions seven hundred thousand pounds in weight, and equal to the whole export of that article in the year 1838. The export of tallow in 1847 was 65,000 cwt., ut the official value of 107,0001, being an increase on the pre vious year of 49,000 cwt. "It is our privilege to continue to enjoy, under the blessing of Divine Providence, a great superabundance of all the necessaries of life, of the best quality, and pro curable at very moderate prices. " Although the advanced, and still rising price of agricultural and pastoral labour, _consequent on its scarcity, has lately pressed so severely on the employers, it has, on the other hand, been the source of highly-re munerative employment to the working classes; but as no community in the aggregate can long continue to be prosperous when the fair profits of' the-capitalists are liable to be absorbed in the payment of an excessive, or a disproportionate rate of wages, I have endeavoured by seeking fresh supplies of labour from the mother coun try, 'to restore that equilibrium, the maintenance of which between the two classes is so essential to the ge neral, as well as to their mutual welfare. " The anticipations which 1 entertained in my last opening address to the council have, I am glad to say, been fully realized. " The whole of the land and emigration debentures have been paid off, and; the territorial revenue has exhibited so prosperous a state as to enable me to request her Majesty's - Government to-send out to the colony an addition to the 5,000 statute adults already promised, and of whom the two first ship loads lately arrived in the Hyderabad and Lady Peel, an equal number in the ensuing season. There is every prospect that the whole of this immigration may be effected without the necessity of incurring any debt. The territorial revenue will thus remain available as a security for,raising any addi tional labour which circumstances may render expedient. The emigrants now in progress of arriving are to be selected equally from the three great divisions of the United Kingdom. " They are also to be equally divided between the Sydney and Port Philip districts, and the expense charged according, so that each district will receive the number for which it pays. I will cause to have im mediately laid before you the correspondence which has taken place on the subject with her Majesty's Government and the Land and Emigration Commis sioners. " Connected with the supply of labour to the colony, I will also cause to be laid before you a dispatch from the Right Hon. Earl Grey, setting forth the terms on which her Majesty's Government will be disposed to send out exiles and ticket.of-leave holders, to be subse quently followed by their wives and families, and by a number of free emigrants. equal to the number of such exiles and ticket-of-leave holders, at the expense of the British Treasury. This proposal is made subject to the concurrence of the Legislative Council, and I accord ingly recommend it to . your early and attentive consi deration. " Immediately on receipt of Earl Grey's dispatch, No. 203, of 31st July, 1847, I considered it my duty to cause it to be published for general information. It communi cates the important decision at which her Majesty's Go vernment have arrived, of proposing to Parliament the erection of the district of Port Philip into a separate colony, under the designation of Victoria. It also com municates the intention of her Majesty's Government with respect to some important alterations in the consti tution of this and the neighbouring colonies. "The usual abstracts of receipt and expenditure for the past year will be forthwith laid before you. " lam happy to be able to say that the revenue con tinues in a very prosperous state. The collections in 1847 show a considerable increase on the previous year, particularly in the district of Port Philip. The estimates are in course of preparation, and will be presented to you on as early a day as possible. "In conformity with my previous expressed inten tions, I have appointed a board to superintend the temporal regulation of the denominational schools, sup ported in whole or in part from the public funds, leav ing.. as heretofore. the religious instruction of the children in these schools entirely under the direction of the clergymen of the different denominations to which they respectively belong; I have also appointed a sepa rate board- to superintend the schools to be established on Lord Stanley's national system. I confidently ex pect that the appointment of these boards may be at tended with beneficial results as regards the general education of the people; but I am fully aware that much is required )et to be done in this respect beyond the settled districts, and it is my intention, therefore, on submitting the estimates, to propose to you an appro priation for this purpose from the produce of the revenue arising from the assessment on stock in these localities. " I have received a dispatch from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State on the subject of establishing steam communication between England and this colony, by way of the Cape of Good Hope, and by means of vessels fitted with auxiliary screw propellers. This dispatch will also be laid before you. The great importance of a speedy introduction of any means to effect a certain and rapid postal communication with England is so obvious, that it is only requisite for me to recommend the subject to your further attentive consideration, and to repeat the expression of my willingness to co-operate with you to the utmost of my power in devising the means of speedily accomplishing this most desirable object. "I will also cause to be laid before you a dispatch from the Secretary of State conveying to me the authority of her Majesty's Government to introduce a measure autho rising the employment of the funds of the savings' bank, in the prosecution of any public works of general utility. This will place at the disposal of the Government a fund which, so soon as the state of the labour market will allow, may be very usefully employed in facilitating the means of communication between the different parts of the colony, and will enable the depositors in the sav ings' bank to enjoy a moderate rate of interest on their earnings. A Bill for this purpose will be presented to you on an early day. " It will be my further duty to place before you some of the dispatches on subjects of interest to the colony, which I have received from her Majesty's Principal Se cretary of State for the Colonial Department. Among them is one transmitting a aeries of reports relating to the project of constructing a railway .from Halifax to Quebec. His Lordship directs particular attention to one of these reports on the result of experience in the United States of America with regard to wooden rail ways, and points out the great importance of establishing such means of communication at the earliest possible period in this colony. " I shall avail myself from time to dine of the usual medium of conferring with you by message on any other subjects of importance, which it ma y be necessary to communicate to you. "CHAS. A. FITZ ROY. " Sydney, 21st March, The Adelphi company continues its extraordinary career of success at the flavmarket Theatre. The ink of rank and fashion Right patronize the performances which are justly so popular. The Flowers of the Forest and Timing the Tartar have been the attractions this week, and we under stand Mr. Webster intends to extend the original period of 24 nights to 12 nights more. Mr. Webster performs at Birmingham on Friday in Lavater the Physiognomist, and Who's Your Friend?— at Leamington on Saturday in Used Up and The Maid of Croissy. THE CLEIMENVELL Muanan.—Yesterday evening the jury empannelled in this ease proceeded to view the body of the deceased Amelia Merrick, which lies at present at St. Luke's Hospital, City•road. The in quiry has been adjourned until this afternoon, to give time for the post mortens examination. The prisoner has been remanded for a week until the coroner's inquest is over. On Friday a sleeper was thrown — across a part of the railway near Cashel, by some evil disposed person.. It smashed the protectors of the train which drove up, but for tunately no other injury was sustained. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Axgust e. LEGACY DUTIES. Mr. RAPHAEL then rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to exempt from legacy duties all charitable bequests, not to private individuals, but to public bodies. His main object in coming into Parliament was to introduce this Bill, and if it should be carried he would then accept the Chiltern Hun dreds.—(Laughter.) He implored her Majesty's Govern ment, on his trended knees, to pass this measure. He could assure the Noble Lord that in doing so he would immorta lise himself. The sam at present raised from the duty on legacies to charities did not exceed 15,0001. per annum, and he asked the Government, if for such a paltry sum as that a country like Great Britain ought to maintain such an impost ? Lord R. GROSVENOR, in seconding the motion, called upon the Government to allow the Bill to pass. The legacy duties in a great many instances were the means of pre venting the full d eve l o p ment o f some o f our finest insti tutions. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that if he consented to the remission of one duty because it was small, he would be called upon to give up others on the same ground. He had already this year given up the copper duty. He highly a pp rec i a t e d hi s Honourable Friend's mo tives in bringing the subject forward, but he could not con sent to the concession that was demanded. He doubted it his Hon. Friend had not underrated the amount when he fixed it at 15,000/., but whether the sum was small or large, ' while the income was less than the expenditure it was not a time to ask him to forego any revenue whatever. After all, a very large portion of these charities were of a vet) , absurd character, and those parties who left money to them could also easily leave money to pay the legacy duty. Some of the char./lies were not only ridiculous in themselves, but, perhaps, were prejudicial to the public interest He would nut object to his Hon. Friend laying his Pill on t he table, but it must not be inferred from that he would at all support it, His Hon. Friend had given one very strong reason for the oppo sition of the Government to the Bill, and that was his an nouncement respecting the Chiltern Hundreds. On that account he should oppose the Bill, rather than run the risk at losing his Honourable Friend's supi,ort to the Govern ment.—(Laughter.) Mr. DUNCAN regretted the decision of the Right Hon. Gentleman. The Dundee Infirmary, some time ago, had almost suspjnded its operation, and would have done so but for the timely assistance of a Noble Lord. Since that time a legacy of 10,000/. had been left by a Dundee merchant to the institution ; and ont of that nearly 1,0101. had to be paid for duty. At the time the institution was greatly in want of funds, and a memorial was sent to the Treasury on the subject, but without effect. Lord G. BENTINCK would take leave to ask the Chan cellor of the Exchequer whether he did not think that 50,0001. a year would have been better bestowed, had it been spred in order to relieve cl.ariies from a tax im posed upon them, than 50,0001. flung away upon the re mission of the copper duties, or i i that of the corn cluties whilst Parliament was sitting? The tax evidently operated as a discouragement to thus:: who wished to benefit cha ritable instituiions. Sir DE LACY EVANS supported the Bill. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer night as well go to the hospitals and turn away one or two hundred persons, requiring them to hand over the proceeds of their subscriptions to Government, as persist in levying this tax. Mr. HUME said that in Scotland there was a strong feel ing in favour of this Bill. :No money was better devoted than that which was applied to the maintenance of institutions for the relief of those overtaken by disease or violent injury, against which they c,aild not guard, and he thought it was but a heartless proceeding in the Government to snatch at the income of such institutions. 1% by should the devisee of land pass without a tax, whilst legacies of money or other prope, ty were subjected to one ? He trusted that the com mon sense and feeling of justice of the people would ere long lead them to see the inequality and injustice of the law, and that the odious wrong would be redressed.— (Hear.) After a few wards from Sir C. BURRELL, Mr. W. P. WOOD thought the provisions of the law as applied to bequests needed revision. He saw no reason why ' unlimited sums of money should be perinitted to be be quea•hed to charitable institutions, whilst persons were pre vented from devising a single acre of land by the statutes of rnortmain. He did not see, however, that this particular Bill was called for, as he thought it danger'ous to carry the facilities for bequests now allowed any further. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL thought a better plan plan might be to devote the sum received from the tax to the support of such charities as might be considered most bene ficial to the country. If the Bill were pressed to a division he should fad it his duty to vote against it. Sir It. PEEL would not, by supporting this Bill, commit himselt to the principle that they should encourage parties to neglect the claims of their families in favour of public charities. The first duty of a man was to provide for his own family. He did'not say that there might not be cir cumstances in which it might be proper fur an individual to slight those claims and prefer those of public charity ; but, speaking generally, the provision a man made for his own family was a very unostentatious and unobtrusive thing, and lie did not often get much credit for it; but it might gra tify his vanity to be advertised in the public newspapers as a person who had given 10,0001. to a public charity. (Hear, hear.) If these were his motives, he (Sir R. Peel) should not encourage him in them. He hoped they should not be committed to this principle, by acquiescing in the first read ing of this Bill. Why, he had known public institutions lett money by will, and he had seen the descendants of those who left them receiving 1001. from the royal bounty, be cause their parents thought to gratify their vanity by presenting to the public what should have constituted the sources of their subsistence.—(Hear, hear.) He had seen the descendants of such men come to the public treasury, saying that they hoped the royal bounty would be exercised in their favour, as they had been ruined by the misplaced generosity of their own relatives.— ( Hear, hear.) After a few words from several other Hon. Members, leave was given to bring in the Bill. NATIONAL LAND COMPANY. Mr. J. WILLIAMS gave notice that on Friday he would ask the Hon. and Learned MeMber for Nottingham (Mr. F. O'Connor) whether he meant to proceed with the Friendly Societies Bill, and the plan tor the registration of the National Land Company. THE BALLOT. Mr. F. H. BERKELEY, in rising to bring this subject under the notice of the House, referred to the progress of opinion on political subjects since the Reform Act, and hoped that as they had seen the Right Honourable Baronet who so long opposed the repeal of the corn-laws, and the Noble Lord who so ably championed a fixed duty, agreeing to abjure their errors upon that question, and admit corn free of any duty at all, they might also witness a similar change of opinion on this question. Hon. Members were no doubt aware that the ballot had been carried by that House in the year 1710, and rejected in the other House by Godolphin, and that it was contemplated by the Cabinet at the time of the Reform Bill. The objections generally made to the ballot were, that it was an innovation, that it would prevent neither bribety nor intimidation. It was pretended, also, that the ballot was not necessarily secret voting, whilst stress was laid on the unmanliness of secret voting, and its un-English and cowardly character. The ballot-box was denounced as likely to injure the due influence of property, and as having a tendency to promote immorality, lying, and disgrace. The answer to the first objection was, that when the franchise was first established as the law of the land, it was free and uncontrolled in its exercise ; but when the rich and powerful began to grasp at political power, they attempted to influence the opinions of those placed within the sphere of their influence. They who advocated the measure wished not to make any inno • vation on the electoral system, but to enact a measure for its protection—a strictly Couservative measure. By grant ing the ballot they would conserve to the people a great national privilege, which they only possessed in name, the nominal possession of which was to thousands a source of mortification, loss, and disgrace. You now gave them a mere nominis umbra, like the equivocating fiend of the poet— you kept the promise to the ear and broke it to the hope. It was a great privilege to choose such persons as were to make laws to bind a man's life and property, a privilege not to be deputed to another. These were the words of ►'oke; it was to conserve this privilege that lie asked the House to give the electors the privilege of the ballot. Next, as to the assertion that bribery would not be prevented by it. Would any man in his senses pay for an article the delivery of which was uncertain? Would he purchase a bale of goods of a shopkeeper, without a fair prospect that it would be sent home? Would sums of money be invested in an uncertainty? In Great Yarmouth they had found the candidates or their agents expending great sums, the voters entering at one door, receiving a sum of money, and going out at an opposite door, to vote for value received. But should he be told that any speculator in the votes of electors would go down to Great Yarmouth if the ballot were the law of the land? Would the Duke of Richmond send down Lord Arthur Lennox to engage in such a transaction? Would the great colossal speculator, Mr. Ittwood, go to Harwich or Lyme Regis in the hope of making a profitable stroke of business under such a system? But it was said that boroughs would be rented wholesale after the return of the Members. His reply was, without admitting or denying the fact, that if it were so, the evil existing in small boroughs would be fully compensated by the good effected in counties and large towns. Ile came now to the argument (bat the ballot-box did not ensure secret voting. Did it not ensure secrecy in clubs?—(Hear) —and i so, why should it not also ensure it at borough elections? It was said that in America, where the ballot existed, it was always well known how men voted, but he insisted that that was no argument against the efficacy of the institution. His Hon. di'was last satisfactorilygooey objection r w fo h r en the used Friend of the the discussion. He had stated what e ver y one knew to be the Middlesexa fact, that the Americans had no object in keeping their votes secret.—(Hear, hear.) In America there was no oc casion for a man's concealing his vote. He had no object to and in explanation of that tact, he (Mr. Berkeley) would take l eave wh ich serve ww i n undeniable, n s d o e nab doing. le, to add another fact, namely. that the Americans were cot blessed with the law of entail, or honoured with the law of primogeniture, and the consequence being, that property was diffuse and tyranny scarce, that was another reason why the Americans had no motive to conceal their votes. The thing was as obvious as the sun at noon-day. The fact was simply this, that in America they had the ballot, and they wanted it not ; whereas in England they had it not, but needed it most grievously.—(Hear.) The next objection te the ballot was that which had reference to its alleged unmanliness, and its un-English and cowardly character. A reference to the clubs was a direct answer to that objec tion. The analogy between the club and borough practices had been repeatedly asserted by the friends of tiie ballot, and as repeatedly denied by its adversaries. It was trodden ground, but he begged to be allowed to pass over it once again, in order to show that, let the antagonists of the mea sure say what they might, the analogy was complete. In those splendid mansions now so rapidly increasing in this great metropolis—the clubs—were congregated together va lour, learning, birth, and wealth, add all alike sought pro tection in the ballot. From what did they seek protection? From ill-will, hostility, and animosity, which very possibly might lead to bloodshed. No man would accuse the members of those clubs of unmanliness. Those clubs were composed of English gentlemen, and scores of Members of both Houses of Parliament belonged to them, and one and all sought protection in the ballot. From what did they seek protec tion ? From the bully of society, from the Sir Lucius O'Triggers of society, who, if you were to refuse to admit them to your companionship, would consider it " a very pretty quarrel as it stood," and would be very likely to make . you personally answerable for it; but did it never occur to lion. Members that there was such a character as a bully in politics? —(Hear, hear.) Most assuredly there was such a character, and he was much more obnoxious and far more dangerous to have anything to do with than the bully of society. The latter met you on equal terms. If be pat your life in danger, • he at all events gave you the satisfaction of knowing that he at the same time emperilled his own—be gave you equal weapons and equal chances; but the political bully acted quite differently. He sedulously eschewed an equal contest. No risk did he run. His victim recorded his vote, and with it recorded his ruin. —(Hear, hear.) The political bully destroyed not life but the means of life, and where was the difference? You take my house, when you do take the prop That cloth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live." —(Cheers.) If the victi m of the p olitical bull y be a trades man, let him look for the w ithdrawal of credit and custom— if a tenant, let him expect summary ejection—it a servant, let him hope for nothing but discharge.—(Hear, hear.) H e ( Mr. Berkeley) did not accuse Honourable Members of that House, who were also members of clubs, of unmanliness for pro t ec ting themselves from the machinations of persons of evil dispositions, but he did charge them with it when they denied to their less fortunate and less opulent fellow -country men the same safeguard which they insisted on for them selves.—( Hear, hear.) He would next turn to the objection that the ballot-box would destroy the legitimate influence of property. He could not better dispose of that assertion than by quoting what had been said upon it by Mr. Grote.— [The Honourable Member read a passage front the speech of Mr. Grote on the ballot in 1836.] Very few men would have the hardihood to assert, either in that House or on the hustings, that those who were gifted with poser, station, and wealth, would be justified in dictating to a freeborn man in what manner he should discharge a s lemn duty which he owed to God and to his country, and which be was bound to discharge conscientiously and to the best of his ability. Few men would dare to hold such language, whatever they might think. There were in stances, however, in which such language had been held, and in which the sentiment, however unconstitutional, had been boldly avowed.—(Hear, Bear.) Before proceeding further, he might here, by way of parenthe•ae, observe on another of the fashionable shifts or evasions (for he could not call them arguments) which were had recourse to by the enemies of the ballot; namely, that Ole statements respecting the depth of demoralization in which the con stituencies of England were plunged by the system of open voting which now prevailed' were very much exagge rated. He would defy any Honourable Member to come to any such conclusion who had read the evidence adduced be fore the Committee which was appointed in the year 1835 to examine respecting the intimidation and bribery supposed MARLBRO'-STREET-(THIS DAY. A well-dressed man, who gave the name of John 'S'mith, was placed before Mr. Hardwick, charged with having obtained from Miss Page, milliner, No. 18, John street, Oxford• street, the sum of 20s. by false pretences. Inspector Whall informed the magistrate that the prisoner was the person who for this last eighteen months had been living upon the public by repre senting himself as Lord Alfred Hervey, son of the Marquis of Bristol. He • (Inspector Whall) had been after him for some mouths but could not succeed iu apprehending him till last night. He had witnesses present, who would give such evidence as would authorise him in begging for a remand. FRAN CE. _ The report of M. STOURM, in the name of the Committee of Regulations, on M. MORTIMET.TER. rtaux ' s proposition, that the Constitution should not be definitively voted until after three readings, was distributed yesterday. The Committee proposes the following enactment on the subject : •" After the vote of the articles, the draft of the consti tution shall be sent back to the Committee on the Con stution, to which shall be added, with deliberate voice, the fifteen delegates of the bureaux. Within a delay of five days, the committee shall make to the Assembly a report, in which it will propose such modifications as the report appears to it susceptible of. The discussion can refer only to the propositions of the committee. After the vote on these propositions, the definite vote on the ensemble of the draft shall be proceeded to." The bureaux of the National Assembly yesterday examined the Bill 'authorising the purchase of the Lyons Railway. MM. LEON FAUCHER and DES. JOBRRT defended the principle of execution by the companies, and the latter observed that he thought it preferable for the Treasury to advance six teen millions demanded by the Bill, to entering on an enterprise which would cost the State from 200 to 300 millions. The majority pronounced in favour of the purchase. M. BOUDET, who• is in favour of the Bill, demanded that the question of the passage through Lyons should be reserved, as there was a difference of 25 to 30 millions in the expense of the two routes proposed. LOMBARDY. The Ventidue Marro, of the 3d instant, announces the arrival at Milan on the 2d, of Lieutenant- General Olivieri, who was charged by King CHARLES ALBERT with the internal administration of Lom bardy, in conjunction with Dr. STRIGELLI and the Marquis MASSIMO MONTEZEMOLO. The Provisional Government being thus superseded in its functions, became an extraordinary council, having a deliberating voice in the stipulation of political and commercial treaties, and in the exercise of the Legislative power. " This incorporation, de facto, of the two countries," says that journal, " must produce favourable results both in the eyes of the enemy and of Europe. At 3 o'clock P.M. General Olivieri appeared at the balcony of the Governor's palace, and addressed a few words to the people on the functions entruited to him at such a momentous juncture. He stated that the Italian army was approaching Milan to protect our city in danger. The army is full of ardour, completely re-organized, and the panic that had manifested itself in a few corps had totally ceased." On the 3d, the General issued a proclamation, an nouncing the composition of the Administrative Council. General OLIVIERI was to take charge of the affairs of war and, public security; M. MONTE - zsmoLo of financial matters, and M. STRIGELLI of administrative policy. The commissions established in the provinces were to continue in function, and to assist the Administrative Council. The Committee of Defence had decreed a levy en masse of all the civil population capable of bearing arms for the defence of the line of the Adda. Another decree of the said Committee says.:— " Whereas important works of fortification have been undertaken at Milan, which require a considerable num ber of bands; whereas the city of Milan has already mobilized five battalions of National Guards for the Italian war, and that it is indispensable that the capital should dispose of a reserve, the Committee of Public Defence decrees—The levy, en masse, of the city of Milan, and of its sacred corps, is not at present called to march to the Adda." All the able-bwiied citizens were invited to work at the fortifications. King CHARLES ALBERT arrived at the gates of Milan during the night of the 3d, coming from Malegrano, and established his head quarters at St. George, beyond the Porta Romana. The moment it became known that his MAJESTY was in the neighbourhood the whole city was illuminated. The Austrian army was endeavouring to cross the Po, at Piacenza, which was defended by the Italians. The Milan Gazette of the Ist contains the follow ing .‘ We are assured that the English Minister at Turin has addressed, in the name of the Government, an ex traordinary message to the belligerent parties, inviting them to suspend hostilities, until Austria and Sardinia should agree to conditions of peace. I❑ case Radetzky should refuse, and Austria not accept the mediation offered by England and France, those two powers would, it is said, declare war against her." The operations of defence around Milan were being energetically carried on with the aid of skilful engi neers. The Garibaldi column arrived at Bergamo on the morning of the Ist, and was lodged in the Semi nary. The Committee of Public Defence are making every provision for the transport of tr oo p s t o Milan, not doubting that the French would respond to their summons for assistance. ROME. The Piedmontesc Gazette of the 4th has the follow ing from Rume, dated the 29th ult., at three P.M.:-- " Minister MemiANl mounted the tribune in the Council of Deputies, and declared that the Ministerial crisis had ceased ; that the Ministry assumes the most unlimited responsibility, and that some modifica tions will take place as soon as possible in the Cabinet. He conclud e d by reading a paper written by the POPE'S own hand, as was asserted by a person who had seen it, to the following purpose : Ist, The PONTIFF gives full powers to the Minister to defend the State by all possible means. 2dly, fie orders that the Minister conclude immediately and publish the league with the Italian Princes. adly, He gives full powers to the Minister to place the Pontifical troops under the dependence of CHARLES Theseh e regu lated declarations ALBERT, that the a ff a i rs concern i ng th e war ma y according were to receivedth e orders withof that vehement e h Prince. applause." TUSCANY. The IVessibile of Florence announces the resig nation of the Tuscan Ministry on the 30th ult. It was resolved by the Chamber to send large rein forcements to the Italian army. WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA We learn from Jassy of the 24th that the Russians were leaving. They bad been there for fifteen days. For some weeks they had do n e nothing on the lower Danube at the frontier of Wallachia, and had not passed the river. Orders to withdraw had been sud denly received by them, and they were to be replaced by the Turks, 5,000 of whom were expected at Jassy. The cholera was diminishing. A letter from Bucharest states that, on the 18th ult., letters were received there from Constantinople apnouncing that the Porte had recognized the new constitution of Wallachia, and that the Ambassadors of France and England had given their adhesion to this decision. The Porte had protested against the intervention of the Russians. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—There has been no sensible change in the state of our market during the last three days. Perhaps, on the whole, less business has been done for the home trade, which has been rather un favourably influenced by the state of the weather. Prices, however,' have been perfectly firm, and, on some descriptions of 40-inch cloth, thedemands of the manufac turers have been more readily acceded to, though no actual advance can be quoted. This afternoon, some little ex citement was created amongst the German merchants, by a telegraphic announcement of a notice alleged to have been issued by the Danish Government fur a strict blockade of the principal German ports and rivers, in cluding the Elbe and the Weser, to commence on the 15th instant. As it is understood that this blockade would apply to neutral as well as to German vessels, and would, consequently, put a stop the further transmission of English gouda to Germany, the notice is calculated to interfere seriously with the execution of the orders which are understood to be nom in the hands of the agents here on German account ; and, if the block ade should continue, it must ultimately drive the trade into indirect and very inconvenient channels, We trust, however, that the absurd and aimless con test out of which it his grown, will be very shortly determined by an arrangement, for which both parties must now he sincerely desirous. It is hoped, also, that the combined and powerful mediation of England and France may have the' effect of putting a atop to the further prosecution of the war in Upper Italy. The settlement of these t*blnestions would, no doubt, exercise a very' beneficial influence upon our market. Another failure at Glasgow, wising out of the suspension or Dunlop and Itowand, was tinnounced here yesterday. The parties are Furguson and Co., 'manufacturers by power. Their engagements are stated to be about 12,0001.; of which 2,500/. to.n,oooL is said to be owing in Manchester. It is'gen ea lly un d ers t oo d th a t n o serio us loss will result from their failure. . ROCHDALE, Mostreer.--There was a very fair demand for flannels to-day, at the 'prices of last week. Dyed goods have been'much inquired for, and many have been sold. The demand for kersey has been slack, and the sales limited. There is little change in the wool market; prices continue firm, and the demand moderate. HUDDERSFIELD. TUESDAY.—The Cloth Hall to day was very thinly supplied with goods, and what pur chases have.heen made, bete been on an improvement upon last week's prices. It may be safely said, that business, throughoet the' whole of this district, is brisker hen it has been for some months past. HAurex, SATURDAY.—We cannot report any amend ment in the state of trade in our Piece Hall. Scarcely any goods have changed hands to day. For plain goods there is literally no inquiry, and the demand for fancy goods is very languid. In yarns, there is no alteration. Wool remains about the same, and not much doing. LEEDS, TUESDAY.—We have no new feature to re port about our this day's mat ket. Trade continues fair, and thus maintains the improved condition of all its ' branches. Prices remain without any change, nor is it desirable they should show a tendency to rise, which, we fear, would soon c h ec k t h e progress of the hitherto satisfactory s t a t e o f b us i ness . —Manchester Guardian. day eTening,B A A ug N . 3 7 18 0 48. F ; iF RAN CE. The following wa s the situation of the Bank on Thurs. A ASZTS. Cash in coin and ingots Ditto in branch banks f. 95,802,851 09 79,275,798 00 Bills past due ..• 2,046,545 27 Billb becoming due in Paris ••• ... 92,554 307 59 Bills in the branch banks •.• ... 140,253,130 87 Advances on coins and ingots... ... 16,612.200 00 Ditto on French pUblic securities ... 37,876,496 65 Ditto by branch banks••• •.• ... 1,360.255 00 Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor•.. 50,000,000 00 Advance to the State on the lean of 150,000,000 f. ••• 25,000,000 00 Reserve RentEs ••• ... 10,000,000 00 Rentes, disposable funds ... 11,217,860 71 Investments of the new branch bankain the public funds ... Hotel and furniture of the bank ... Real property and branch banks ... Interest in the branch bank at Algiers... Interest in National Discutint Bank Ditto branch banks ••• ••• •• • Bills Protested in the Bank ... Ditto in the branches ... ..• Expenses of administratiOn of the bank Ditto at branches Miscellaneous ... ••• 12,806,741 39 4,000,000 00 2,523,241 00 1,000,000 00 200,000 00 230,000 00 21,774,505 40 10,915,342 00 136,111 58 58,355 00 1,256,598 05 LIAI3ILITIE3. f 616,930,339 60 Capital ... • • 7. ... ... 67,900,000 00 Ditto of the new Branch Banks ... 23,350,000 00 Reserve fund ... ••• ... ... 10,000,000 00 Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 2,980,650 14 Rk•serve• immobil!ere. .... ... ... 4,000,000 00 612,055 00 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 306,540.400 00 Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 67,507,990 00 Treasury .. ... 21,660,091 14 D v .t‘ ca i t cr t oi o ouu t n o st .a o cc r uc d ro e ru r e In(i accounts (gust-bills) i s c iu t t - rh b r i en .. . .. . 72,991,941 24 Ditto in branches ••• ... ... 24,228,263 00 Bills payable at sight ... ... ... 2,157,500 00 Ditto at branches ... ... .. 1,713,660 00 Bills of the branch banks payable by the Bank ... ... ... ... 4,146,726 86 Ditto of the Bank payable by branches,. 1,809.654 00 Dividends payable ... . . ... 1,089,262 75 Branch Batik of Algiers, sum not yet employed in Treasury Bo n d s Discounts, diverse interests, &c. Ditto branch batik.... Re discounts of the last' ix months Ditto in branch banks .. Miscellaneous ... 1,109,638 19 ... 770,620 70 ... 889,585 00 ... 422,932 27 ... 642.105 00 ... 407.436 31 616,930,339 60 Certificate confirmed, The Governor. of the Bank, D'ARGOUT. THE INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. From this measure it is expect e d t h a t th e land now so inconveniently tied up in a few hands that cannot use it, will be opened to the enterpri se o f h un d re d s or t h ousan d s of little capitalists, anxious to become the owners of small estates secured by a Parliamentary title. The great fact set forth is, that the nominal owners of the land in Ireland are not th e rea l owners ; an d t h a t thi s Bill, if cskrried into a law, will convert nominal into real owners, and leave all the conflicting interests of the ex isting inciambrancs unintertered with. This great and effectual change is to be made in the most expeditious and cheapest manner known to the law; sad the change of ownership will at the same time to some extent bring about, or even compel, a division of the land. The 8.000 owners may be expected to be indefinitely multi plied; and each of the new owners, all of whom are sure to buy the land with a view of making a profit by cul tivating it, will b . e an employ e r o f labour. What the effect of this will be was well explained by Mr. C. P. Villiers. " When Captain Kennedy (he said) took the management of the Devon estate, he found the popula tion on it redundant to excess; but he set to work drain ing and inclosing. and carrying on the other improve ments familiar to English agriculturists. He then found that, so far front having a redundant population of labourers, he had not a man too many." Now this measure is calculated to plant a Capt. Kennedy, if peace he preserved, on every one or two hundred acres of Ireland, and thus be the means of employing the bulk of the Irish in the only labour in which they are proficient. We have shown in another article, with reference to other countries, that prosperity and peace go hand in hand. There can be no doubt whatever that the check which in later years has been given to the progress of population in Ireland, previously stimulated into exces sive activity, is at the bottom of all the unquietness, in surrections, and rebellions , o n which dema g o g ues have thriven. A measure, therefore,, which promises to em ploy the people, and provide means for . employing an in creasing number, which beginning, with the improve ment of land, then extends to the arts in the towns that supply the immediate wants of the agriculturists, thus encouraging . enterprise to explore th e mines and fisheries, for which unenterprising agricultural population supplies the means and the market for the produce, is precisely that which is most requisite for Ireland, and most within the . compass of ordinary legislation. It is quite pos sible that a more sweeping measure of dealing with the land might have been more efficacious; but it is equally certain, as the opposition given to this measure shows, that no Government could now pass a more sweeping measure. The Incumbered Estates Bill seems exactly adapted to the times and circumstances of Ireland; it promises to be the most efficacious, economical measure ever passed for th a t country; a nd we see, with deep re gret, that the promise of improvement it h olds out for the people is likely to be marred by turbulent agitators, who, pretending to be their f r iends, are their worst ene mies.—Economist. HURRICANE.—On Thursday the Banffshire coast was visited by a severe hurricane. The herring boats, all out, made for the nearest ports, and entered in safety. Next morning a pilot observed a small boat floating east wards, and put out, when ho found a man, his wile, and another woman. helpless from fatigue. A cooper of the name of John Urquhart, who has left a widow and eight children, was washed overboard on the previous morning. —Glasgow Examiner. The Great Britain steam•ship is advertised for sale by auction in this town in September.—Liverpool .Standard. A SIMPLE ANSWER TO A POLITE QUESTION.—. " Can I shw you anything more today, Sir?" asked the civil gentleman behind the counter of his worthy customer. " Yes," was the reply, " will you be good enough to sho w m e t he silk umbrella I left here three weeks ago?" . liings, near Stourport, have just been discovered The ancient r eg i s ters of the church and parish of Areley after being lost for very many years. They are from 1533 to 1703. to prevail amongst those constituencies. That Committee had performed its duty admirably, and had let in light on all those who did not think proper to remain in darkness. (Laughter.) The Noble Lord at the head of the Govern t, the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Ripon, and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Northampton, had professed to be sceptics as to the extent of the evil ; but in order that there might not be any further repetition of that evasive and erratic mode of meeting the question, he would make a statement from a clever breviate ut the proceedings before the Committee, and would show by a reference to many instances, which were of very modern occurrence, that the evils which were proved to have existed in the year 1835 were to be found flourishing in rank luxuriance in the year 1818, and that whatever remedies the Legislature might have applied had been total failures.—(Hear.) All their legislation on the subject of bribery had been addressed, not to the prevention of bribery or tJ the counteracting of its secret influences, but to the prevention of bribery when discovered—(A laugh)—and it appeared to hien that they had carried their law of agency to such an extravagant pitch, that it was difficult for any Honourable Member to hold his seat, or avoid a petition. They had strained in an unnatural manner, as it appeared to him, the law of agency, and the grand evil they had left entirely untouched. In calling attention to the evidence adduced before the Com mittee of 1835, he would commence by a reference to the testimony of Mr. Alexander Edward. Cockburn, a gentleman whose forensic abilities commanded admiration even then, and fore-shadowed the eminence he had since attained. Being questioned on this matter by the Committee, he gave it as the result of his experience that the public and the Legislature had no conception to what extent bribery at elections was carried.—(Hear, hear.) Being asked whether the great difficulty in. detecting it did not arise from the imperfect state of the law et' evidence, his reply was this—" I can conceive no case, except a case of actual infatu:tion, in which, if bribery be. tolerably well ma naged, conviction would be possible."—( Hear, hear.) He had reason to believe that the opinions upon this point of the ilonourable and Learned Gentleman, who he was happy to observe was now a Member of that House, had not undergone any change whatever since he gave that evidence before the Committee. The next testimony to which he should allude was that of a number of most respectable wit nesses, and it had reference to the borough of Westminster. He took their testimony in the aggregate—premising that there could not anywhere be selected witnesses who were more competent to speak upon s uc h a subject, and he found that their joint testimony was to the effect th a t i n the borough of Westminster great influence was exercised by Government officers and persons of rank, wealth, and station, and that the whole current of the evidence want to show that the instances were numerous where considerations of self-in terest influenced a class of tradesmen to vote in a particular way, or to abstain altogether from voting, who could not be directly bribed like more venal classes. In attestation of the truth of this assertion. reference was made to these fads, that two-thirds of the electors, in order not to offend any party, did not vote at all, and that many of them did not even register. There were 13,000 on the register, but not more than 4,500 went to the poll. Such was the state of things that existed in 1837. In the year 1841 the election at Westminster was of a strong political character, as Honourable Members would, no doubt, remember; it was when the question of free • trade flourished luxuriantly ; the Protectionists worked heaven and earth to return a Member to support the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth, who at that time was the champion of protection.—(A laugh.) Extraor dinary exertions were made by the aristocracy to support Captain Rous. The Gallant Gentleman's cause was espe cially favoured by the ladies, of whom large bodies turned out— (Laughter)—and canvassed in his behalf with as much earnestness and vehemence as any paid canvassers could have done. He would select two cases out of in numerable ones which had come to his knowledge, and the authenticity of which he could himself attest. He should state them just as they had been detailed to him by the tradesmen themselves. The first case was that of a man at the west end of the town, who had very strong opinions on the subject of free trade. He had been all his life a liberal, and was anxious to vote for the Honourable and Gallant Gentleman opposite (Sir De L Evans). In the course of the day before the election, six carriages drew up to his door, each bearing a coronet on the panels. 'rite fair occupants of these carriages entered the trudge, man's shop, and there was no cajoling or threat to which they had net recourse, in order to extract from him a promise that he would vote for Captain Rous. In a word, they worried the unfortunate man to that extent not only by menacing to withdraw their own custom, but by threatening to denounce him to others of their acquaintance who would do the same, that although he could not be intimidated to vote against his conscience he was induced to promise not to vote at all.—(Hear.) He (Mr. Berkeisy) had the curiosity to call the following year on that man to ask him whether he had succeeded in pleasing his customers, but he assured him that he had not.—(Laughter.) Of thesix families represented by the six coronets, four, with all their connexions, never set foot again within his threshold be cause he had refused to vote.—(Hear, hear.) The man, who was a most respectable trader, had requested that his name, should not be mentioned in the House, but h e (M r . B er k e l e y) would take any Member aside and satisfy him as to the per fect authenticity of the statement. The tradesman estimated the loss to which he was subjected by that scandalous exer cise of tyranny as amounting on the whole to not less than 601. per annum.—(Hear, hear.) The case was certainly one to point a moral, if not to adorn a tale.—(Laughter.) But the beauty of it was, that a few months after Captain Rous turned round, followed his leaders, and, throwing completely overboard the persons who suffered all that wear and tear of conscience in his service, voted for free trade.—(Laughter.) How well might the ladies who coerced the unhappy trades men exclaim, " What shadows we are—what shadows we pursue !"—(Laughter.) The other case to which he wished to call attention was that of an unhappy publican. His case bad a double aspect. It exemplified evil effects as well of democratic as of aristocratic interference. Here the aristocracy and the democracy were both united in doing the wrong thing. The publican was waited upon by a lady of high rank, who, having called at his house and sent for him to her carriage, made a strange overture to him. "You serve my house with beer," she said. The publican replied in the affirmative. "I understand that my servants also use your house." The publican assented. " Well, continued the lady, "I have called upon you to inform you, that if you . . dou't vote as I wish, not only shall you lose my custom, but say servant of mine who hereafter sets his foot within your door I shall immediately discharge —vote as I wish, and you shall always have our custom, and I will see what I can do for your son in the Custom House." Frightened by the threat or allured by the promise, the publican got up very early in the morning and voted for Captain Roue, but he did not gain much by either on the score of peace of mind er in any other sense. It so happened that there were twelve or thirteen tailors who held their Saturday night orgies at his house —(Laughter.) They were very formidable tailors, quite of the Cuffey school.—(Laughter.) Tremendous fel lows.—(Laughter.) One of them being very enthusiastic in the cause, went to the poll at a very early hour, and having discovered that his host had voted for Captain Rous, he lost no time in communicating the fact to his comrades. The upshot was, that on the next Saturday night they called for their bill, abused the unfortunate man in round set terms, told him that he was not only a publican but a sinner—(Gr. at laughter}-and gave him to understand that they would drink no more of his beer, but denounce him to the whole trade.—(Great laughter.) These two cases be had selected from fifty or sixty which had come to his knowledge. He seriously put it to the House whether it was to be tolerated that such a state of things should con tinue. Were they not bound in justice and in mercy to give to the victim of such tyranny the protection of secret voting 2—(Hear, hear.) In 1847 he was Chairmin of &Com mittee appointed to carry out the election of the Noble Lord , now at the head of the Government, and other Liberal mein , hers. The Committee sat at the west-end of the town. and the object was to enlist the suffrages of west-end trades-men who had votes in the city. The result of his experience ' on that Committee, was the conviction that the evils . com plained so much of in 1835, existed in an aggravated form ' in 1847, and that the instances were numerous, ot trades• men disfranchising themselves, rather than be subjected to the terrors and horrors of the worrying system.—(Hear, hear.) A common reply to those who asked a tradesman for his vote was, "Thank God, I have no vote • when I was, a younger man I had one, but I have suffe red too much from the exercise of it of late, and I have become a wiser man—l will never vete again." In nine cases out of ten, they added this saving clause, " unless you get the ballot for us " (Hear, hear.) The same system prevailed all over the country. Mr. Philipps, a Conservative witness, examined before the Committee of 1835, attributed the loss of Mr. Spooner's election to the int.midation of the opposite party. and on being asked if he would not advocate the ballot, he only replied that he was " too much a Tory for that."- -- ( Hear, hear.) He would not weary the House by mention ing many similar cases to those which he had cited, which had occurred in various parts of the country, but he would beg the House to remember that if the ballot was neeessarf for Engla , d, it was eoubly so for Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) There the intimidation of landlords and the intimidation of priests vied with one another. The evidence taken before the Committee, io 1835, disclosed some strange facts en this point. We have the testimony of Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Wilcox—both magistrates of the county Tipperary. Those gentlemen took a very singular view of matters; for, while they entertained no kind of objection to landlords making their tenants vote as they (the landlords) thought fit, but, on the contrary, praised them for it, they denounced in the strongest manner the interference of the priests.—(Laughter.) What they felt to be a crime in the ..e. priest, they regarded as a virtue in the landlord. The 0 4 ' dence ot Mr. Wilcox in particular was extraordinary. That gentleman did not scruple to advance such a doctrine so this, that if he were kind to a tenant who lived under him, he had, in the event of his ambitioning the honour of becoming a Member of Parliament, a right to command that tenant' vote, " and," he added, " if he refuses to gratify me in that honour, I think all ties are severed between us."—(Loud laughter.) Colonel Bruin advocated a similar doctrine. S e roundly maintained the right of l an dl or d s t o di sc h arge their tenants or servants for not voting as they pleased, and men tioned instances where he had exercised that power for the punishment of the refractory. But not to dwell further on that point, he now came to the last accusation against, the ballot—namely, that it was productive of lying and de' ceit. If the ballot were objected to on that account, wolf there ought to be something in the present mode of taking votes remarkable for the encouragement it gave to truth. He would meet the assertion by a counter-assertion. Th e present elective system, and especially the system of taking votes, was ono vast lie, branching out into all the rassifiq; tions of deceit, delusion, equivocation, and quibble. Di" they not show the example of deceit in their sessional orders with respect to the non-interference of peers at elections ?' (Hear.) In order to show how those orders were eludea and set at nought, his Hon. Friend the Member for Mop' trose, when his motion was under discussion a few nig h ts since, referred to a certain gentleman, Mr. Dodd, who wr ote a certain book, " the Parliamentary Companion," fr o m _: which it appeared that the cases of interference by Reel,: were exceedingly numerous. If, in the teeth of the ff . ; which lie bad himself collected, Mr. Dodd . were o n, enough to assert that non-interference was p r roV i ' d * and virtue encouraged by the present system, BI ought to be summoned to the bar of that House.—(L augh - od d s book, andlle ( b it e ' r.B founde Berkeley) ) that f r h n a m d a n himself analysis consulted o the Mfa fa c t s ter collected, this deduction might be extracted, nalne.fY,.: l9 9 there were in England and Wales 12 boroughs wit h ti o _ a kind—thatelectors. returning n 9 e al s e M b e o m rn b n e g r h s s all we were e n u d n e d r influenceunder o influence n o r f om_. 2:J oef hoe Government t n i e c t r l a t c o si ? tahn,,d day. In five ln w f u s r 3 e 7, ur 2 id 9 er w t e h r e s in c ti nn u t e er e ed t ; l a futile it, was for any independent gentleman Gt l i rl o 44 evme , rr4 l only. The gradual and steady increase showed startsi a them fore them, be candidate fur whata n3 a , of those rce it woe to put h the th t s h a t e o s e s e ioa in i es touching non - interference with elections ! In pu tting forth they coul e scarcely be supposed to have any . _u_ r v a r c 'r er tention but that ot damning their own, C ha racter t ier Sur sincerity, and they could not surely tr o e w wel l selves from the charge of deceit. andidste to House? The nut unfrequeut custom was for ac fully go down to some borough at a generi election, and ' oral orders, te , did the candidate follow the example thusbsuett him by tbat g horn presQed with the true character of these sess ional that they were "free and inaependent electors , while that Eng at the Barns publish among his collate trews his manifes t o , men never would consent to be slaves," and time he was issuing this address, he and ___ elect i o ns thing e r Ling in force every screw and artiflcolulhoisrusag'nts were an ord4 bights them Pray er to d o and h a —he ii l onger aster thougi Me tio h (Mr. throt te Would th e i n Yelp t h ( t raucial at th e /G m ' the el votes Col to foil verno l being whiel • They aulatf avo w joicin bed , the p anyti etron, • been, • Now, • non. been fessio Whe tope what by all 't( Nor medi ;I one RIOM Soldi then. • ballc towl • bout Mon l-, his con s and ' , ►he cher oft Own ' by Co t prE pri 'To . tai