The Sun. — London, England, 1852-03-19 00:00:00

I Zetiher strictly the Government were justified in be e 13 g any grant; but seeing that 30,0001. had already tie d voted, he felt, though sympathising as much as any of !'e n ,Nvith the sufferers, boned to oppose the motion the 11 013. Member. 1 G,.t• HERBERT t h oug ht that as the Right Hon. 3 , t n ia t have the Chancellor of the Exchequer could not , e had ti me to cons id er a ll the details of the ques ba"byr would h ave b een better if the Hon. Member for th had delayed a little bringing the question for 14rd. 1 05 , He did not deny that, in the present case , the bad arisen from the want of ability and want of 4e ° :" t Y on the part of the trustees; but it ought to ne ollected t h at the Act passe d by the House in 1844 d ti vtaken away t h e responsib ili ty of the trustees, and st il°t given any protection to the de p ositors a g ainst thc of hone s ty on the part of trustees. He admitted hui t there was no case in which depositors in savings banks lc b een compensated by the Govercment in ease of t h e ll re; but he might remind the ChancAlor of the Ex it, c llter that compensation had been granted to the suf wee" by the Exchequer-bill frauds of 1842. True, they w p rich merchants, and mot pour men. He had heard the satisfaction that the whole subject was to receive u a ttention of the Government. That being the case, ti r e W ould advise the Hon. Member for Dublin to with 6P, hie motion for the present. r e ue ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND re thraelended the Hon. Member for Dublin to withdraw :motion, and said a few words in explanation of the k4 l ' ll iens he had expressed on the question. He still re hed those opinions, and had formed them in conse teeece - - or the admissions in the report that the Commis -o._ L ets for the Reduction of the National Debt had not e ercised the powers with which they were entrusted. th tiuldit fi question was of more importance to the commun h ity ik at of savings bat,ks, and he rejoiced to knowt at ie Chancello r o f the Exchequer was about to direct I t attention t o th e su bj ec t. He hoped—indeed he bad r ealign to believe—that arrangements were in contempla 40h for putti ng those i nst i tution s on a basis which would tire that security to depositors to which they were en- Idled. Under these circumstoneea he recommended t he Honourable Member for Dublin not to press the motion to a division. HUME concurred with the Right Hon. and ,4herned Gentleman, that the loss in this case had arisen ' e e t rd the fault of the public officers. That being the 4 4 1 4 , the responsibility in his opinion fell ultimately on aid told As the Chancellor of the Exchequer ~‘rl told them that the whole question would be cousi ",e,ted, b e recommended the H on. M ember f or D u bl na to withdraw his motion. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY was one of those who bad it " , `l . !eted to the late Chancellor of the Exchequer paying T h e grant of public money on the ground of charity. b e ! Commissioners for the Reduction of the National t ut had neglected their duty in showing the bank to re deposits when they ought to have known that it was I , l s eivent, h aving a l rea d y voted 30,000 1 ., the House Iln °ll nd, he thought, to vote the rema inin g 34,0001 . ll t - ,. t uln divide with the Hun. Member f o r Duunn if rreased his motion to a division, but atter what bad gl sealbe would advise the Hun. G entl e man to with. drtw it. SCIILLy thought the motion was one which t, "'`•, not with justice be resisted. The report of the Ito a l r nittee showed that the Cuffee - street Savings Bank 14 9 in a different position from the other cases of is banks which bad failed. The grant of 30.0001. M ete was was an admission that such was the case. There it p " the same grounds now as in that year, for grant re,,,,e,°r9ensation, and if the Hon. Member divided he ) 3 1 ( 1 vote with him. It r 1 GROGAN said he had heard with much plea t 4,4, the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer full the whole question of the savings banks was to be le c t,, ➢ e °neidered by the Government, but he regretted to R krii " 3 Right Hoe. Gentleman declaring that he re - V'ed the case of the depositors in the Cuffe-street ;: 11 ,0 Bank as finally settled by the grant of 30.000/. tt been thought right to grant that sum, he was h i ll „,:" , a to conceive why the remaining 10s. in the t Au 'u Should be refused. His Hon. Colleague might 1 1 ,- brought that question prematurely before the of ',t i le, but that circumstance could not affect the justice ~,tee case. tn, q4 . W. WILLIAMS said it appeared to him to be 1' 44 desirable that the Government should without any ela Y take into their consideration the expediency of -slri rs• in •t• law with respect to it v ;,, 6, a change the existing tle,„"lu banks, in order to protect the public as well as - rete to , s. E fir, REYNOLDS replied. If the Chancellor of the tl 4 ,7equer would give him an assurance that he would, l e W a l l e g the present session of Parliament, reconsider that „ teen, en without pledging himselt to any particular p ° r; r6 e with respect to it, he (Mr. Reynolds) should not 11 his mot i on t o a division ; but without some such d 4r aLce on the part of the Right Hon. Gentl eman, he tioolild de em i t hi s duty to divide the House on the ques -4' Re found on the benches opposite seven Ho n. E mbers who had voted with him on that subject in the 4t;,41850. Among them was the Noble Lord t he Metn li,or Tyrone (Lord C. Hamilton), the Hon. and Gel b'" Colonel the Member for Portarlington (Colonel bp - K 4 ,e). the Honourable Member for the University of 11 — " e• (Mr. G. A. Hamilton), and the colleague of that li 3 l a eurable Member, the Attorney-General for Ireland. 114 latter Honourable and Learned Gentleman 4 Promised his constituents at the period of his tl; i ,.„,`"tintt that he would continue to advocate the t 0 C.' 0 1 those depositors; he had also pledged himself (fir. Reynolds) that he would second that mo c„, and like an honourable and honest man he had th k : evening redeemed his pledge. He regretted to find 4 1 3 the eloquence of the first law officer of the Crown IL "'eland appeared to have produced so little effect on t : C hancellor of the Exchequer; and he could not help li 4 r eBB tllg a hope that her Majesty's Ministers would to their Irish advisers, whenever the counsel they give should be of a benevolent character. House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... ••• .40 Againet it ••• ••• ..• Majority against the motion • -129 'ATRIAL AND PROVIDENT PAR MEE kr k SHIPS. It a • .. , LANEY, after having presented two petitions 1 1 41 Leeds and another place in favour of a measure for lap w i ng the formation of industrial and provident part iij ) Ps, proceeded to move for leave to introduce a isienr the purpose of carrying out that object. He Pe tt it was meat desirable to afford the middle and k w , classes the means of safely investing their tee Bs for their own benefit. That subject had al of ttl Y attracted on several occasions the consideration 01 k ,... e Rouse. In the course of the last session he bad of "*d a Committee which bad inquired into the law brtnership, and the obstacles which that law threw k it 0 6 way of investments by the bumbler classes , and tlist?lnmittee had recommended the removal o f t h ose Do e "'lea• Under the existing system if a nu mber of r . pot People, were to put their savings together, and if krt n ain gle person among them were to take hold of the %lii i .Z r t sbip property, there was no tribunal before kiemne could be brought to answer for his misdeed, there was no mode by which any dispute between t Parties could be decided. His object was to de vise e , Oftl;""Y for that evil. He asked that the p rovisions to thi e Friendly Society Act, the 13 th and 14 th of Vic• P 472 might be extended to the industrial and provident ijaerships among the humbler classes. lit t II the motion of an Hort. MEMBER the House was a l 6 counted • but it having been ascertained that ere , ti t were 40 Members present the sitting was con tled. to k b s gm L int, A... t N oh E e Y uill th . en concluded by moving for leave T r he n , been seconded, Mr. WALIta"" t here was on tver to allow thetesa(lno objection what , e subject , t h the detail sn Gentleman to bring in a Btu lature stage. of which could be discussed at a Leave was accordin • gL`;" g iven to bring in the Bill. PUBLIC L IBRARIES. Xr. EWART moved the re_ ano i ntmen t o f a Com eon 'ittepublic libraries, fur furtherreturnS t he purpose of print relative to p ublic libraries abroad. — greed to. E e e i R t 0 . brin g ld A N D. a ARTERIAL DRAINfAcrG 41 . 1 % FRENCH, in movingßill d the Acts rela tin g to arterial dr ainage in Ire rati amend the observed that A the system at present in ha_r operation in inisters to the . I .,_nonntry gave great dissatisfaction , the existin g litr'l.beiog at present in a state of, atA g e td the attention of her Majesty s suspension. Be of th e l a w; a nd, whet her he obtained le ave to 41 ILIII" this Bill or not, his object would be g a i ne d if tO • 4tajesty's•Govirnment would turn their atte ntion t. 4111;11119,PRANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the vei 4 ,, e " had been under the consideration of the late Go eet;46l6tit, as he had found • papers referring to it on b e „,.,"13 into office. His Right Hon. Friend the Attor ii‘vneral for Ireland was fully 0 ; 4 0 / 'the subject, and he (the Chancellor o a the Ex awareof the import %otter) could , assure the Hon. Gentleman o pposite that utter a would not fail to engage the attention of her l4 4 tY's !Meister. r • FRENCH then withdrew his motion. THE LATE ATTACK ON LAGOS. _ th q T. " . ME moved for copies of the instructions o f tqh; n rits of the Admiralty, dated the 14th day of Oc tash4, 1 ,851, to Commodore Bruce, .or the o ffi cer in corn- Af t r Of her Majesty's ships of war on the west coast of sp,'?,%. with copies or extracts of ell treaties and corre 41:1;"enee, to show the nature of the alliance with the t5,i,.._' 66 11 chief Akitoge; also copies or extracts of the bler ie tioas to Ms. Consul Beecroft, by which he assetn lihi 5 00 natives under the chief Akitoge to join her ItiellettY'llorces inahe war against Lagos; a nd co p i es of dispatches as will show the causes of the war with th e chief, Of the proclamation of war against Kosoko, he ?/f ' or king at Lagos; and an account of the num • % e , 47 and men killed and wounded in the t ;:irabtione at or near that town in December, 1851. la ,- ' 6 -Proclamation or offer of reward for the capture fr e ; ° %nko. And copies Or extracts of the dispatches Qoj,, -- the. Admiralty and Foreign - o ffice in answer to tI,W-att raodore Bruce's and Mr. Beecrott'a letters ; and %t °t the orders for hoisting the British colours gok th ib ri ; l 2 6 CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said I :4 o Zl:vaa tioobjection whatever to granting the papers for bir the lion. Gentleman. kr SIR J. BROOKE. %se t re; aaLEME moved that an humble address be pre -110 7c to her Majesty for a copy of a letter from Mr. Btirns to Lord Palmerston, dated Singapore, °bp" 4 , : 1'851 with its enclosures, complaining of the q %ta l i v aions and macourageme nts he had received to his ie st l l 6 lroial affairs in Borneo at the hands of her Ma o Commissioner and Consul - General to the Sultan itiwt tl4 aPendent chiefs of Borneo, while prosecuting his 'vtith" l ",, nornmercial proceedings in that co untr y , to g ether m a r ° o ,,,py of any answers thereto. CNRY DRUMMOND said, the Hon. Gentle tt nights ago had given notice of a motion 4) 431 7 to th e present, but that motion contained a state ..74lloa was not the fact. The name operation was ) • xi; ... 169 THE SUN, performed by the Hon. Gentleman several times last year. He kept continual motions on the paper relating to the conduct of Sir James Brooke, and upon the same principle, he supposed, that calumny, like fl ittery, should be laid on thick enough, so that some of it at last might stick, he had contrived to keep that gentleman's name be fore the House until the end of the session. The Hon. Gentleman had had the kindness and urbanity to write him a private letter to beg him to take the earliest op portunity, when this subject came before the House, to make some amend erespecting souse observations which he (Mr. Drummond) had made as ::plied to a Mr. Miles last year. He replied to the Hon. Genth-man in general terms that he would not do that justice to Mr. Miles which the Hon. Gentleman had requested him to do, but he would do that justice to Mr. Mites in his place in that House whenever an opportunity occurred. Re peatedly had he sought that opportunity, but never had he been able to get one; and be was not now going to apo logise, or extenuate, or deny one word he had said last year; on the contrary, he hsti only insinuated last year, and now he was going to assert positively—(A laugh)— that the letter of this Miles, which the Honourable Gentleman published in the papers, and which ho (Mr. Drummond) proved to the Hon. Gentleman in that House was a forgery—(" No," from Mr. Hume)—he proved it to be a forgery, for he showed from the hand. writing of that gentleman—a gentleman he would not call him—( A laugh)—of that man—that he could neither spell nor write. Nevertheless, that false testimony the Hon. Gentleman made use of, and never had he ex plained either to Sir J. Brooke or to that House why he brought forward that false testimony. He (Mr. Drummond) thought he had asserted that Miles, upon whose information the Hon, Gentleman relied, was a runaway convict. He insinuated it before; he now said it, and he said that Miles was worse—that he was a thoroughly worthless fellow—(Hear, and a laugh)— and he would now proceed to prove what he had stated. He had an affidavit by a Mr. Henry Adams, which was as follows: " We3tern Austr did, Perth. Oat. 10,1851. "I, Henry Adams, late of Adelaide, in the province of South Australia, but now of the colony of Western Aus tralia, master mariner, master and owner of the schooner Unknown, solemnly declare as follows:—That is to say, that I was in the police force in the province of South Australia for about 15 months; that a person who passed by the name of Peter Loyd kept a house of ill tame called the Scotch Thistle; that the police force always had their eyes on the said Peter Lnyd as he was considered a very bad character, and that the Scotch Thistle was frequently searched by the police for stolen goods, and for persons suspected of robberies; that I sa w a man called William Miller accuse the said Peter Loyd openly upon a race course in South Australia of having picked his pocket, when several bystan , lei a declared they had seen the theft committed by the said Peter and when I saw the said Peter I. , yd return the said William Miller the sum of 35., being tne amount all-ged to have been stolen from him on that ,ccasion by thc said Peter Loyd; that tee stores of Messrs. Murray and Gregg, of Adelaide, were robbed, and that there was very strong ground for sus pecting the robbery had been committed by the said Pe..er Loyd, aud a mail named Ring; that, accoJ ingly a reward was offered by the local Government for their apprehension, and the police were sent in search of them, but were unable to arrest them, as they rode to Cape Jervis, and sum• eded in getting on board a vessel shortly before the arrival of the police in pursuit; that I knew him, Peter Loyd, well during his residence in Ade laide, and that he there lived with a woman who passed as his wife, and who escaped with him from Cape Jervis; that I heard this woman state that he, Peter Loyd, was a runaway convict: that I did not again see the said Peter Loyd until the year 1844, when he arrived at Freemantle, in the said colony of West Australia as owner of the Buffalo, from Singapore, and passed under the name of William Henry Miles; that I at, once recog nised him, and could not be mistaken as to his identity ; that I then heard he was about to be married to a daughter of Mr. Wickstcad, who kept a public house at Freemantle, and tha t I conceived it to be my duty to, and I accordingly did, . communicate to Mr. Wickstead what I knew of the said Peter Lovd or Wil liam Henry Miles, and particularly that I bad reason to believe he was then a reamed man; that I afterwards met at Singapore several persons who informed me . that the woman whom I had formerly known the wife of the said P. Loyd, or W. H. Miles, at Adelaide,and also Mrs. Miles, the d au ghter of the said Mr. Wick.stead, whom the s a id P. Loyd or W. H. Milesmarried at Freemantle aforesaid, hod both been r esident at Singa pore together ; but. I did not on th at occasion see the said P. Loyd or W. H. Miles, as be was then at La buan, where I learned he had gone to lease or work a coal mine. (Signed) it H. E. ADAMS. " Subscribed by the abovenamed H. E. Adams in my presence, at Perth, Western Australia, this 10th day of October, 1851. (Signed) W. H. MACKIE, J.P., " Commissioner of the Civil Court of Western Australia, and Chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions." It was upon the authority of that man that the Hon. Gentleman brought forward all his charges against Sir J. Brooke last year—("No!" from Mr.Hume)—and that was the man whom the Hon. Gentleman called upon him, en the authority of a respectable London merchant to do justice to. The respectable London merchant stood godfather for the respectability of Peter Loyd, - a partner in his veracity and in his respectability. Would the Hon. Gentleman be so good as to tell the House who was that respectable English merchant ? Respectable! —yes, a man that kept a gig. —(A laugh.) Mr. HUME hoped the tion. Gentleman who had just spoken would tell the House where he had got the docu ment from which he had just read. For himself, he would say that he did not believe a word of the allega tions contained in it. He had stated to the Hon, Gen tleman, that as he had in his place calumniated Mr. Miles, he thought it was an act of justice to explain it, and be asked the Hon. Gentleman whether he bad seen the proceedings that had taken place in the court at Sin gapore for a libel, in consequence of the statement mentioned by the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. Miles's letter was given to him by a merchant on whose authority he relied, and he published it qn that authority—the autho rity ref a respectable Eoglish merchant in this country. The Honourable Gentleman had on a former occasion produced a document, and said that Mr. Miles could not write. The letter, ci•rtainly, was badly spelt; and, if that was a type of what that individual could write, he should say it was not very creditable. But, how did that letti r get into the possession of the Hon. t Genle man ? Was it stolen when the troops made the attack which had been referred to at the suggestion of Sir J. Brooke ? and dirt that Hon. Gentleman know that Mr. Miles had brought an coo in the Court of Sings pore against Sir J. Brooke or his agent ? In the opinion of the judge at Singapore the real libeller was the Hon. Member for Surrey. As to Sir James Brooke, his con duct had continued as monstrous as it bed begun. Be fore any satisfac t i on had been made f o r his previous excesses, Sir James Brooke, on the 31st of uly, had au ambush laid for 4 000 persons , whim, iJ order to create a pretext for plundering them, he chose to call pirte., hereas they were not pirates, nor anything of the sort. w Of those 4.000 persons 500 were barbarously slaughtered, and 1,500 me re or less injured. For the massacre and injuries of these poor people the Govern ment had to pay 20,7001. ; yet no inquiry was to be granted into this barbarous and disgraceful outrage. An HON. MEMBER here moved that the House be counted; and, it being found that only thirty-three Members were present, The Rome at!Eight o'clock stood adjourned till this day PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS• (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of COMM"S THURSDAY, stAncit 18. CUFFE-STREET SAVINGS BANK, DUBLIN. Motion made, and Question put, " That this House will, upon Tuesday next, resolve itself into a Conunittee, to con sider of au humble Address to be presented to her Majesty, pra ying that her Majesty may be graciously pleased to take the case of the sufferers in the late Cuffc-street Savings Bank, Dublin, into her royal consideration, and to grant them a compensation for their losses, and to assure her Ma jesty that this 'louse will make good the same." The House MINORITY—AYES, 40. Power, e N ci d i o c , i l \o i \ o n,i l el a ll i s Bunbury, William Herbert, H. A. a m Bright, John Heard, J. I. S Sal ch w ol e e Y ll Butler, P. S. Ilorsman, E. , Lord J. Hume, Joseph S hafto, R. D. Cobden,tCo Richard H u tchins, E. J. So mers, J. P. Cogan, W. 11. Johnstone, James Teninenson, E lt. J. . K. Crawford, Robt. W. Keating , Robert Tent, Foescue, Chichester M'Cullagh, W. T. Tho m p son, Colonel rreret stun, Colonel Meagher, ThonaaS Walmsley, Sir J. French, F. Go re, a Mahon, O'Gorman W illoughby, Sir H. G > nydhara Monsen, William ore. w R O• . Grace, 0. D. - Morris, Dav id TELLERS. Grogan, E. Napier Joseph Reynolds, John Hamilton, J. 11. O'Connell, Maurice Scully, Francis O'Connell, M. J. FG F Ge o ila iabr Fuller, A. e. T.M. Emi r . w. C. C. E. . Milner, MAJORITY —NOES, 169. Adderley, C. E. Alcock, Thomas . F ..,,0x, S. W. L. Mines, R. M. Bailey, Joseph . ox, w. 3 - . Halal°, H. J. Moncreiff, James Baird James Morgan, 0. Mundy, William Bankes, G. Bell, Jacob Neeld, John Bennet, Philip Goddard, A. L. Neeld, Joseph Newdegate, C. N. Headlock, Lord H. Gordon, Admiral Bere sford, William Goulburn, Henry Packe, C. W. Pakington, Sir J. Blandford, Marquis Granby, Marquis of Palmer, Robert Greene, Thomas Booker, T. W. Patten, J. W. Grey,!Sir G. Pe e l, C olonel Halford, Sir H. Pi lkingten, James Hall, Colonel Powlett, Lo r d W . "rr r Hallowell. E. G. Pugh, David B H a milton, G. A. Renton, John C. Burghley, Lord H a rdinge, C. S. Ricardo, Osman Bridges,Batci l e n i se , tr tC.S ' 11. L i r T. . B. C. V . Buller, Sir J. Y . Harris, C a ptain Rushout, Captain Carter, J. B. Harris, Richa rd Campbell, Sir A. Russell, Lord John rr tie Alexander Scobell, Captain Chandos, Marquis Ha s tie, John Seymer, Henry Ker Christopher, R. A. Hatchell, , Sidney, R. A. Clay, James Hayes, Sir E. Sotheron, T. Clay, Sir W. Headiam ' T. E. Stafford, Augastus Clive, H. B. Heneage, G. H. Stanley, Edward Collins, Thomas Henley, J. W. Stansileld, W. R. Compton, H. C. Berries, ;LW. Staunton, Sir G. Corry, Hnry Hildyard, R. C. Cotton, W.'H. t, Cowan, Charles Cowper, W . P. Craig, Sir W. G. 1 IH Hildyard i i l n l cu , L Lord , rd . Charles Stunt, IL G. Davie, Sir H. Hobhouse, T. Hodgson, W. N. T orment, Sir J. Davies, D. A. Hop e , Sir J. T. B. B. St uart, t r i c kland, Sir G,Admiral H. Thesiger, Sir F. Deedes, W. Hudson, G. Trevor, G. R. Disraeli, B. Jackson, William Trollope , Sir J. Dod, J. W. Joiliffe, Sir W. G. Tyler , Sir G. Drummond, Henry Jones, Captain Tyrell, Sir J. Drummond, Home Kershaw, James Verney, Sir R, Duckworth, Sir J. Knight, F. W. Vivian, J. E. Duncan, George Lacy, H. C. - Vivian, J. H. Duncombe, A. Langton, W H. Waddington, H. S. Duncombe, 0. Lennox, Lord A. Walpole, S. H. Duncombe, W. E. Lennox, Lord H. G. Watkins, Colonel Duncuft, John Lockhart, A. E. Wawn, J. T. Du Pre, C. G. Long, W. Welby, G. E. East, Sir J. B. Lygon, General Westhead, J. B. Edwards, Henry Mackie, John Whiteside, James Egerton, Sir P. M'Gregor, John Williams, John Estcourt, J. B. B. Manners, Lord G. Williams, W. Ewart, William Manners, Lord I. Wodehouse, Edmund Farrer,, James Masterman, John Wood, Sir Charles Fellowes, E. Maunsell, T. P. Wynn, H. W. Fergus, John Melgund, Viscount Meux, Sir Henry TILLERS. Miles, P. W. s. Mackenzie, W. F. Sir R. Miles, William Bateson, T. I Forbes,FE lcory Ferguson, r Fordyce, vJo4h.n,D D. blilligeu, Robert LONDON, THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AND TRANSPORTATION. A large deputation of mercantile and other gentlemen connected with the Amtr.tlian colonies had an interview with the Right Hon. Sir J. Ptikingtou on Wedtierday, at the Colonial office, on the subject of transportation. There were present—Sir W. Molesworth, M P., Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Adderley, M.P., and Mr. Chisholm Anstey, M.P.; i,nd the following gentlemen, represen ting the four colonies of New South Wales, Van DiP. reen's Land, Victoria, end South Australia:—Messrs. R. Brooks, C. McLachlan, E. Gore. W. Jackson, S. Ken nard, G. H. Donaldson, W. Fanning, A. Michie, W. Walker, J. A. Jackson, T. S. Atkins, J. C. King, G. Morphett—Bolton, and James Alexander. Sir W. MOLESWORTH, after introducing the gentle men present, observed that they sought this interview in consequencs of having heard that several ships containing convicts were about to sail for Hobart Town, and they would intreat Sir J. Pekington to stop the sailing of these ♦essels, and not to transport any more convicts to Van Diemen's Land in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants of that and the other Australian colonies, and in violation of the promise of the British Government that transportation to Van Die men's Land should be abolished. Sir William then referred to the particulars of that promise, the dis content its non-faifilment had produced, and the numo rous petitions received during the last five years from the bishop, archdeacons, clergy of all denominations, pa rents and guardians, women, and, in short, the vast ma jority of the inhabitants. All the other colonies sympa thised with Van Diemen's Laud; and they also knew that, is c neequence of the overstocking of Van Diemen's Land with convicts, transportation to that colony was, in fact, transporation to all the colonies. A great Austra lasian League had been formed, and was supported by leading men in all the colonies. Large meetings had been held, not only in Van Diemen's Land, but in Syd ney, Paramatta, Melbourne, Geelong, and Adelaide, at which resolutions complaining of the breach of faith of the British Government were carried by acclamation. From one of these meetings he (Sir William) had this year presented a petition to the House of Commons, signed by the Metropolitan Bishop of Sydney, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, and by 8,900 persons. He had another petition, as numerously signed, still to present. On the 29th July last a large public meeting had been held at Sydney, and an address to her Majesty was agreed to, praying the dismissal of the Secretary of State for the Colonies in consequence of his continuing to send convicts to Van Diemen's Land. Since then the Le gislature of New S , uth Wales had unanimously passed a resolution against transportation to any of the Austra lian colonies. He was informed that all the members elected to serve under the new constitution for Van Die men's Land were pledged to oppose transportation. LAstly, the few respectable persons who were in favour of the convict system had become anti-transportationists in consequence of the gold discoveries, for they consi dered it madness to send convicts to an El Dorado, and ene of the surest means of encouraging crime. He as sured Sir J. Pakington that the Australian colonies were on the eve of becoming potent States; their intim bitants were inclined to be thoroughly attached and de votedly loyal to the British Empire. They would long entertain those feelings if wisely and prudently governed; but the continuation of transportation would soon destroy those feelings of attachment and loyalty. Mr. E/YA.RT begged to remind Sir J. Pakington that he (Mr. Ewart) had attended at the Colonial-office with a highly respectable deputation of colonists, on this very subject, as far back as the year 1846, when they had the honour of urging on the then Secre tary of State a consideration of the fearful condition of Van Dieraeu's Laud, in consequence of the excess of the convict population there. That deputation he believed, had induced the then Government to suspend for two years further transportation to that colony—a measure which was generally considered to be merely prelimi nary to the total discontinuance of the system. The time, therefore, had now arrived when the subject should be definitively settled to the satisfaction of the cob nists—a result which he regretted to say had been by far too long delayed. Mr. ADDERLEY followed, urging on the Secretary of State! the paramount importance of the Government keeping faith with the colonists, and vindicating its own credit by acting up to the promise which had been made to them by Lord Grey that transportation should be discontinued. That it would not be honest to neg lect to do so. He referred to the great and ueiversal excitement among the colonists upon the subject, and to the extensive organisation by means of " the Australa sian Jfeeegne." He urged the policy of at once aban doning a course as unstatesmanlike as it would prove abortive, and further perseverance in which would only exasperate the Australian colonies, and eventually lead to an organised resistance, similar to that which had been successfully carried out by the colonists of the Cape ; and he expressed his firm belief that if the Bri tish Government buffered one other such defeat as had been sustained in the case of that colony, it would go far to destroy our colonial empire. In his opinion it was a consideration that transcended all others, and compared with which all suggestions of possible embar rassment or inconvenience to Governments sank into ab solute insignificance —that this great country should up hold its character by honestly and faithfully keeping all its engagements with every one of its dependencies. Mr. ANSTEY had also participated in the movement referred to by Mr. Ewart in 1846, and had hoped for a successful result long before this. He had every motive to induce him to co-operate on such an occasion, as he had immediate family connexions in two of the colonies. His brother had lately contested successfully the repre sentation of an important constituency in Van Diemen's Land, and corroborated the statements of Sir W, Moles words. He had last year presented a petition to the House of Commons of a very interesting character from the native born colonists of the island, and it would here after be his duty to draw the attention of the House to the important statement s it conta i ne d . H e forcibly urged the claims of the colony on the immediate atten tion of her Majesty's Government; and observed, that if the active agitation hitherto carried on against trans portation in Van Diemen's Land had of late abated, it was because the recent gold discoveries in the adjacent co l o ny of Port Philip had led to the belief that it would be wholly impossible to continue it any longer in face of such an event. Mr. MIcIUE begged to offer, as a New South Wales colonist of nine years experience, commencing in 1841, his unqualified corroboration of every statement which had been urged by Sir W. Molesworth and Mr. Adder ley. Tne attendance that day of gentlemen from almost every Australasian colony was induced by the all inipoT taut fact, that although the five ships that had been mentioned by Sir W. Molesworth were nominally dee tined tor Van Diemen's Land exclusively, the convicts carried out by those vessels would very soon be dispersed throughout New South Wales, Port Philip, and South Australia. It was matter of notoriety that for years past Van Diemen's Land had been se saturated with the felon population that a practice had for some time past pre vailed at Hobart Town (under the sanction of the Go vernment) of granting conditional pardons, permitting prisoners, very soon after their arrival from England, to proceed as free men to any of the neighbouring settle ments. The effect of this practice was merely to con vert Van Diemen'e Land into a conduit pipe through which felons were poured by hundreds into the neigh bouring colonies, and the latter consequently suf fered all the evils, without any of the mitigations which had accompanied the former direct transporta tion to New South Wales. It had not a little asto nished the colonists, generally, to find that Lord Grey had actually relied on and put forward—they trusted from misapprehension alone—one of these very evils of his own system as evidence of the groundlessness of the universal opposition to further transportation. His Lord ship bed cited the criminal statistics of the free colony of South Australia as showing the offences against the law to be there in almost, if not quite, as large propor tion as in Van Diem e n' s L an d it se lf. The fact was. as any official in the judicial establishment of South Aus tralia could inform his Lordship, at least three-fourths of the convictions in that colony were of convicts who had come over from Van Diemen's Land—and this was a fact of colonial notoriety. The same observation would equally apply to New South Wales and Port Philip. Upon the whole, therefore, the latter colonists were so all but unanimous in deprecating a recurrence to a state of things such as obtained down to the year 1840— when it was unsafe to travel alone two miles out of Syd ney—that the colonists of New South %Vales alone had petitioned, to the number of 35,000, against a resump tion of transportation, and only 525 petitions were in favour of it; these latter too—few as they were—includ ing all the dependents that some few flock masters, chiefly anxious for labour of any kind, might be able to muster. No acts of violence had as yet ensued, but it was evident to every colonist that, among the vast and mixed congregation of people making to the, gold fields of New South Wales and Port Philip, a large admix ture of convicts must inevitably lead to scenes of bloody Mr. J. A. JACKSON obser o o u u t t r t a h g e e w t o h r a l t d. would disgrace English berated the intelli gence re ceived that h e h n a a d m t e h morn ingatthrough of the elections having been r rl r a o nd mail a letter from Van Diemen's n y received L w a a n y d by , of w th s h e i y e d h O n c ey v e e f f o a r vou H r o a n b a le rt t T o in Van of "the League " president and treasurer bad thus, in the own,the a t n n toi capital, tran spo r being tatton i s n t n s Diemen's Land. The Government than the Tott members for most constitutional way, the opinion of the transportation. Mr. Jackson proceeded tosh o w colonist s ththat the coloni s t s h a d li ttle a l ternat i ve now between ruining atohne themselves or em pl o yi ng con victs; and, therefore, their hnd employment of co nv i c t s w a s not conclusive that —as been alleged—they had begun to change their minds, It transportation were at an end, their land fund would be applicable to sending out free labour; they receive back many of the free people who had been di iven out • of the Island, and the native lads, as they grew to man's estate, would be retained in the land of their birth. Mr. G. MORNIETT (brother of the first Speaker of the Assembly in South Australia) would represented that nearly all the crime committed in South Australia was _ Y perpe trated by old convi c t s; and this colony, ii 4 founded as a free colo n y, an d whose character "1 as a free colony had been recognized in different Aims of Par liament, had become in effect a receptacle for a largo am ,unt of crime. Although the coloniats had hitherto borne this infliction, and their loyalty was unimpaired, yet there was a limit to human endurance. The great extent of crime committed in South Australia by men who had been convicts had been much remarked upon by the Learned Judges of the Supreme Court in that colony. Mr. KING observed that the Noble Lord lately at the bead of the Colonist Department had, on a recent occa sion, when he had had the honour of an interview with his Lordship, observed that the criminal returns of Van em Land would bear a not very unfavourable comparison with even those of the originally free colony of South Australia. Mr. King adduced some very re markable statistics on Olio [subject, 'showing how en- FRIDAY EVENING, tirely erroneous the Noble Lord's views were with re spect to it. Sir J. PAKINGTON, in reply, expressed his gratification at listening to the statements of so many gentlemen so well qualified to express their opinions on the very im portant hunject of transportation, and wi , h which there was no perhon better acquainted than the Hon. Baronet Sir William Molesworte. He had himself devoted much attention, as a Member of Parliament, to the general subject of punishments, though not, he confessed, to transportation in particular. With respect to the report of five convict vessels being ordered for Van D.emen , Land. there was a mistake in this; four only were under orders, and this, he believed, was from an inadvertence on the part of the Noble Lord, his predecessor. He (Sir John) had already arranged for diverting one of those vessels in another direction, and he hoped to do so with another. As regarded the alleged breach of faith, it was clear he (Sir John) was not responsible on this head. He could assure the gentlemen present that the importance of the subject of transportation was duly appreciated by him, and would receive his utmost consideration. He would, however, state a few facts, as he found them on his accession to office. Western Australia petitioned for convicts, an d the settlers in Moreton Bey petitioned for them, and sought separation from New South Wales, for the purpose of receiving convicts. A. petition had been lately received from 144 landholders in Van Diemen's Land, praying the continuance of a mo difi e d sys t em of transportation. He merely stated these as facts, not denying that there was undoubtedly a very great f ee li n g of opposition to the continuance of transportation. Then he would ask whether the objection to transportation did not rather apply to the system as it existed formerly— to the "gang system?" As regarded at once meeting the wishes of the gentlemen present, he thought they would see, so recent as was his accession to office, that it would be impossible at present to do more than assure them that the subject should engage hi s ear l y attent i on, and that he was much indebted to the gentlemen present for expressing their views respecting it, Sir W. MOLESWORTH than k ed the Right Hon. Gentle man on behalf of the depu tation, fo r the courtesy of his reception, tLw aon d of; btbut n d for vi was et having shipsv nei 9g at least arrested the sailing of upon destined for V an Diemen ' s which he would beg leave to add a very f ew words. Sir J. Pakington might not be responsible for the breach of f a i th commit ted towards the colonists , but a breach t a therecono subject of faith commit ted towards the State was the breach of faith o f t h e Go vernment. The colonists k new no i n d ividuals. They Government tis hhada overnment, by pled ge d itself - t k o ne aw whomsoeverpt h a a r t t o t huel administered,a British raict tehandwas responsible f or i ts per formance. th the B The deputation then r etired, favourabl y impressed with the manner of their reception. venerable junta POLITICAL FORBEARANCE. The majority of mankind think the right of private judgment either wholly inapplicable to political ques tions, or only to be called into exerciee as a last resource. Of course, there is a species o f what may be almost f a ith on a of u r mind or oc this c.r ls present animal n distinguishedi respectable clique, whether it be that o Russell, or that of Derby, or that of Cobden, or that of some other h a e n n d one wakes poli tician leading or seeking a party. It is pleasant to have ma c l r c i o si m s f c o a r n t pin his 711);Cym(' the one's work set one, to eat, and healthy proportions, and, up, to bo told what to do. It saves a world of anxiety to tall into lino, and to know that one's conduct will be gu i ded, explained, and, if necessary, defended, by competent authority. When the guise of loyalty is thrown over this mental subserviency, the satisfaction and the it. lusion are complete. It is very true that they who drink, w resign the pains of independence may occasionally be disturbed with a disagreeable presentiment. They may find themselves approaching a rock, a shoal, or an aby ss , w i t h o ut seeinghow they ar e to ' escape ; and th e alarms o f those who don t think for thems e l ves are no t allays imaginary. As th ey say, however, that brute creatures cannot suffer any_ thing like human anguish because their anticipation s are momentary, f a i n t, and without the sense of respon sibility, w e p resume t h a t the sufferings of a thorough partisan m us t b e tempered to hie moderate capacity of endurance. Bat a ll this time we are expatiating on a happiness which can never be ours. Though we can admire our ac k now l e d ge d statesmen' of whatever school, and even our great polnical chiefs, yet we can ne v er 'eel it our vocation to-adhere without reserve to tiny one Government, h owever feeble, however intractabl©, or perverse. The British people does not; neither do we. Much is d uo to a mer it o rious party, but still more is due to tho country, and there must and do arise occa sions when a blind affection to party is little less than an abnegation of patriotism. Should matters come to that pass that no one p a rty will suffer for one day the ascendancy of another, eve n under the humblest and safest conditions, it is e vident that we are far on our road, if not to anarchy and ruin, at least to serious neg lects and disasters. If public opinion and its organs are worth anything in this country, and if they have any province at all, it surely is for them to inculcate such a mutual forbearance of parties as shall at least avert a disruption of society and a consequent shipwreck of the State. Such is the position of affairs, such the danger, and such we conceive to be eur duty at this juncture. As long as the Russell Administration was possible, we gave it our support; and, were it possible to-morrow, we should spare no pains to restore it. Could its strength be renewed by new men or new measures, with the hope of something more than a temporary relief or an illusive popularity, we should, as we have done be fore, do all in our power to give it a fresh term of ex istence. But painful and repeated experience leaves no doubt that it answers uo good purpose whatever—not even a factious purpose —to attempt the resuscitation of an effete Cabinet. You may as easily make an old men young again as impart a second youth to a Government which has exhausted its strength, its opportunities, its friendships, its measures, its ideas, its prestige without, and its resources within. The iufusion of new blood and the substitution of new limbs are metaphors which only express too aptly the utter impossibility of those fancied remedies. We can never conceive it our duty to give impracticable and useless advice, after the manner of the doctor who thinks only of his bill or his fee. Other. may, if they please, roll bread into pills, or label vials of coloured w a t er w i th cabal i st i c ter ms, but we really cannot afford to practise delusions which time must discover. We cannot honestly recommend the British public to go back to the old thing. We cannot tell them that what was dead last month will be alive next; or that the palsied Tithonus will enter at our summons a Ilyperien nr n Hyacinth. Ae little can ' ,7 e connive at the supposition that the great forms of this majestic Constitution, including the venerable palladium of Royalty, are to be invoked for the establishment of a new Administration, merely as a dodge for the imme diate reestablishment of the old one on a safer footing. We might excuse tricks upon party, for, as our new rulers have not been very nice in their warfare upon others, they deserve little favour in return; but we must protest against tricks on the Constitution and on the Crown. But lot us not be mistaken. Forbehrance, fair play, toleration, are one thing; confidence, sympathy, enthu siasm, are another. It is true that we are not go i ng to s how the new Ministers the door have been invited to enter. It is true that we do not think statesmen should disgrace themselves, the House o f Commons run mad, the worst arts of faction be re sorted to, and the country recommended to think of re volution, merely, simply, and solely for the ridiculous purpose of dragging in again the clique which only the other day went out of its own accord. But in saying that we have said nearly all. We cannot think the po sition of the new Government either very honourable, or very triumphant, or oven simpl e and clear. We cannot regard with confidence either their power or their in tentions. We can hardly trust them for having any definite policy. Still less do we think that they have the promise of that stability which, on the vulgarest considerations, we all of us requir e in a Government. In the first place, there is nothing very honourable in an appeal to thelorbearanee, whe.ther that forbearance be to the Minister or the country. That forbearance is to be exercised not only to the weakness, but still more to the character, of the party. We are to bear meekly for a Lesson with a party which is not only beholden to our forbearance, but is also in the position of a great political offender. Having for severed years obstinately refused its adhesion to a greet, beneficent, arid irrever sible act—having pursued the illustrious author of that act with insatiable malignity, and having for all that period excluded from power its own boasted Conserva tive principles merely to punish the man, it has no claims to our respect. We have to swallow not only the Government but our own feelings, and we have to swal low them voluntarily, for the sake of the common weal. And when we ask what the Government is to do for all this, or aro rather what we hope and expect it to do, the estimate of its digni'y falls still lower. It is to perform a great propiatory and peni tential act. It has to renounce that Protection for which, with some abatement latterly, it has been so long struggling. It has to recant a selfish and invete rate error. It, has to set the country free, not from the fear of Protection, but from the nuisance of a stupid and factious class opposition. That this is a substantial benefit worth some forbearance, and some violence to our na tural and honourable feelings, we do not at all question, and, as a pledge of the future, we hail with satisfaction Lord Derby's utter abandonment of the Navigation Laws last Monday evening. But all this winding -up of controversies, this confession of error, this allaying of prejudices, this surrender of long-contested positions, is more " humble and useful" than dignified; and, when it is done, adds but little in the nature of positive merits to the claims of the party; for to pardon a penitent is one thing—to admit him into our confidence is another. The forbearance which we have inculcated, and which we desire to observe, is wholly irrespective of our opi nions us to the power, or even the intentions, of the Go vernment. Both its power and its intentions are limited by the nature of its origin, and tlae very ter ms o f i ts ex istence. The pledges from which Lord Derby and his gradually emancipating themselves, colleagues have been evidently .fc to be entirely relieved, are by no now _ the blt obstacle Cl) then. power. Besides the pledges ( leaders, there are the prejudices, the passions, and the supposed i n t erests o f the followers —thing' , • ch more substantial an d o b sti- expressions, nate than any mere s, however distinct and _ _ sole m n. A large and powerful interest has been flat tered, coaxed, E xasperated t hese man y years into an extravagant conceit of it s natural ri ghts and its r 1 po litical injuries; it has been taught to rely on its own superior intelligence , and to istrust every states man who ventured to address it in the language of rea son and common sense, or to put it on a level with other interests. It now remains to be seen whether the agri culturists will readily conform to the more moderate tone and the more sensible standard of political right adopted by their Conservative chiefs. After a six years secession from the commonwealth, Call they cagily return to the MARCH 19, 1852. WEST INDIA and MEXICAN MAILS JAMAICA. The arrival or the Royal Mail Company's steamer Great Western, has placed us in possession of dates from this island to tho 19th February inclusive. The intelligence respecting tho loss of the steamer Atnarin by fire, in the Bay of Biscay, had been re ceived in Kingston by way of America, and subse quently confirnied by the arrival of the Royal Mail steamer Dee. Great anxiety was being manifested for further intelligence from England in regard thereto, as many of the passengers by that ill-fated ship were in timately connected, by family ties and otherwise, with this island. There was a rumour current in Kingston that the Orinoco would call into that port with the mails from England, and her arrival was anxiously looked for. The House of Assembly had resolved on sending home delegates to confer with her Majesty's Govern ment on the necessity of reducing or abolishing the duties on sugar, as, unless some steps are taken to re lieve the colonies, the whole of the estates at present in cultivation will have to be thrown up. The Hon. Charles M•Larty Morales, Speaker of the House of. Assembly, and Messrs. William Smith, Edward Thompson, and William Girod, members of the same branch of the Legislature, had been selected to act as the delegates. The appointment of these gentlemen had given satisfac tion, but it was not decided how the necessary expenses were to be met. The sittings of the Assembly were nearly brought to a close, and a termination of the business was anxiously looked for. In consequence of the introduction of a clause into the Poll Tax Bill, affecting the salaries of officials in the pay of the British Government, among them the Right Rev. Dr. Spencer, the Lord Bishop, it was expected that there would be a short prorogation of the house, as the Governor would not give his consent to it. This was the only measure to occupy the attention of the house. The small-pox was committing sad ravages in some of the country districts of the island, and the cholera had not even altogether disappeared. Sir F. G. Seymour, the admiral on the West India station, had left Port Royal for Bermuda. The weather was very cool and pleasant, although no rain hod fallen for some time past. duties of 'citizens? But Lord Derby's intentions are avowedly, though perhaps more avowedly than really, dependent on his power. He may possibly find next July, or next October, as the case may be, that he can command a majority for the revival of Protection, but cannot command a majority for a merely Conservative and remedial policy. In that case the blind sentiment of honour which has already seduced him into antago nism with the general interess of his country may once more lead him to an enterprise far more perilous than any he has yet attempted, for such the revival of Protection, on the strength of a Parlia mentary majority, wou ld un d ou b te d ly b e. O n " a bare majority" he has assured us he ti ll not act; and a fixed duty of a few shillings he has spoken of r.vith utter contempt. Bat he may have a decided injori , y, de manding at least some definite measure or Prot. ction. Should he attempt to comply, he will bring ruin (11 him self, degradation to his party, calamity to the State, and confusion on all who have recommended forbearance. We are persuaded that he will do no such thing; but, though we are easy on this point—viz., as to what Lord Derby will not do, we are by no means easy as to what he will do. What liberty of patriotism will his country supporters allow him? Will they permit him to do more than re-adjust their burdens, talk against democracy, and deal,with sanitary questions? It must be confessed that hitherto between Lord Derby's professions and the actual wants of the country there has been a fearful gap, which even his eloquence has not been able, to disguise; and, as long as that is the case, it is evident that, though we may forbear, it is impossible to confide.--Thnes. SOUTH-EASTERN AND CONTINENTAL STEAM-PACKET COMPANY. The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the South-Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Com pany was held yesterday, at the Bridge-house Hotel, London-bridge. James Macgregor, Esq , in the chair. The SECRETARY read the advertisement by which the meeting was convened. The common seal was then affixed to the list of share holders of the company... . The.CHAIRMAN then.read the following report of the directors for the past half-year:— " The accounts of the South-Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Company, now submitted to the proprie tors, show the gross earnings. of the half-year to be 25,1841. 4s. 10d. This amount, as compared with the corresponding half of the previous year, shows an increase of 7991. 18s. 10d.• and an addition of 17 , 701 passengers —viz., between Folkestone and Boulogne, 5,004; Dover and Calais, 12,697. Total increase, 17,701. " The proprietors will observe that the increased re ceipts are not in proportion to the additional number of passengers, which is accounted for by the fact that the receipts are solely the produce of the traffic, unaided by any contribution from the South-Eastern Railway Com pany, or the Northern of France Railway Company, whilst in the corresponding half of last year 5,7601. was received from the two railway c o m p an i es . " The agreement entered into for a daily service be tween Dover and Calais expired on the 31st July last; bat as the boats continued to run between these ports till the close of the year, the directors consider: that this company has an equitable claim on the South-Eastern Railway Company to contribute towards the expenses of that service. • " During the half-year 26,356 miles were navigated with unvarying regularity. " The directors have much pleasure in being able to report on the efficient state of the eight steam-ships be longing to the company. " After deducting the working expenses, 7,398/. 12s. 10d.; the cost of repairs and renewals, 4,6271. 6s. 5d.; and the port dues, 2,8231. ss. 6d., there remains a balance of 10,335/. Os. Id. at the disposal of the proprietors, out of which the directors recommend that a dividend be de clared at the rate of 51. per cent. per annum, free of in come-tax, which will amount to 2.861/. 12s. 10d., and that the remaining balance of 7,4731. 7s. 3J. be carried to the credit of the reserve fund. The property of the company will then be the eight steam-ships, and a re serve fund in addition of 21,6451. Bs. sd. " The directors retiring by rotation are Mr. Macgre gor, Mr. Renshaw, and Captain Warren. " The auditor retiring by rotation is Mr. Edward Wright." The following is the report of the auditors:— " Gentlemen,—We have to lay before you our report on the accounts of this company for the helf-year wading 31st January last, and to certify that the 'Jame, being duly vouched, have been passed by us in cunFormity. " We think it right to call your attention te the item following, viz.:— "In the capital account of the last four half-years the entry of coals and ship and.engiue stores has varied from 9001. to 1,7004, whereas in the present statement it ap pears as 5,150/. _ _ , " The increase is explained by the fact that the com pany have taken over from the South-Eastern Railway the machinery in the workshops and the btores in the boiler-house at Folkestone Harbour, under.the valuation of two competent persons. The amount of stores, ma chinery, and tools, so transferred, was 4,0671. 10s._5d. " Die boiler and workshops lately built by °the South- Eastern Company, and now occupied by this company, are efficient and suitable for the purpose, and, being close to the harbour, enable the company's works to be carried _ on wit effi ciency and regularity. 46 e are, gentlemen, your obedient servants, (Signed) 4 ‘ EDWD. HARDING, / Auditors." " ED WARD WRIGHT, The CHAIRMAN congratulated the proprietors on the very satisfactory state of the accounts of the company, by which it would be seen that they had a fund of 109,0001., having also reduced their original debt by 37,0001. There was one point in the report to which the attention of the proprietors would no doubt be di rected, and that was as to their relations with the Northern Of France Railway. That company required that they should run a boat, and also that there should be a train on the railway at a particular hour of the day, but the directors feeling impressed with the diffi culties attending any each arrangements with two tidal harbours, had come to the determination that they could not` do their duty if they were to accede to any such terms, as their boats were not insured, or that the voyage could be performed, day by day, with certainty from both of those porta. Mr. WRIGHT wished to ask the chairman if they could not have a higher dividend than the ene proposed with such immense earnings ? The CHAIRMAN said they were under a moral gua rantee to the South-Eastern Railway C om p any , and he thought their position would be st ren g th ene d by re taining a largo portion of their capital. Mr. WRIGHT, after adverting to the original agree ment will the South-Eastern Railway Compa n y in 1844, said ho considered some arrangement should b e entered into similar to that of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company with the Government, as a subsidy, not for the conveyance of the mails, for that was a matter of minor importance, but for demurrage and the wear and tear of their boats, and other incidental charges. They stood in precisely the same position with the South-Eastern Railway Company, for their boats were at all times under the orders of the directors of the South-Eastern Company. He found by a Parliamentary document that he held in his hand, that the Dublin Company received 10 per cent. and an occasional bonus, and such being so he would ask ought any gentlemen, having advanced their money in a speculative concern, to be satisfied with a return of 5 per cent.? The idea of such a thing was quite absurd. The chairman had talked about the moral guarantee, and he should like to know hew much longer it was to he stretched. The CHAIRMAN said this company consisted of 500 pro prietors, who were all proprietors of the South-Eastern Railway, which consisted of 5,000, and he thought they should support the board of directors in 'carrying out the guarantee with that company. A Bill was agreed to be brought into Parliament in 1849 to consolidate the two companies, and but for other subjects then on hand would have been obtained. During the year, 31i,000 persons had travelled by their boats, and therefore they must consider them as the right arm of the railway company, and the result gave an increase of 17,701, not withstanding the General Steam Navigation Company had given them the most determined opposition, by a system of reduced fares, and a farther reduction on per sons taking return tickets—which opposition was mainly promoted by the Northern of France Railway Company. He thought it would be impossible to exag gerate the advantages of the South-Eastern Steam packet Company, which were of the utmost import ance to the South-Eastern Railway Company. While he was before the general meeting he should like to know whether the shareholders would be con tent to receive back their capital, on handing over their boats to the South-Eastern Railway Company; for if the railway company met them and should say, "We will give you 132,0001., and relieve you from all liability," be did not think they could go further. A SHAREHOLDER wished to know if the railway com pany would give them a guarantee for ten years ? The CHAIRMAN considered it a fair proposition that the railway company should guarantee them 5 per cent. with an undertaking to replace their boats at any future time. After some other observations from Proprietors, It was then proposed that a dividend of 5 per cent. be declared according to the recommendations contained in the report. A SHAREHOLDER moved, as an amendment, that the dividend be six per cent., as that proposed was not one-third of the earnings of the company for that period. The CHAIRMAN said this had been a subject of consi deration with the directors, who believed the state of prosperity that the company now enjoyed would be best protected by a small dividend. No less than 317,000 persons had come to England during the last year, and a further number, he doubted not, would come year after year. It was true that they would notbut haves till the Great E x hibition during the .present year, he ex. petted a greater incre ase than had hitherto taken place. A low dividend in the present positionofthe company was the mo st safe, for by retaining a largo surplus in hand their prospects would be rendered m ore satisfactory. The question was then put, and the dividend recom mended by the directors was carried by a large majority. A conversation then took place as to the terms of set fitment between the company and Lb,: Sou,h-E,1.6t, in Railway Company, and the general opinion appeared to be infavour of a dividend of 5 per cent. in w ith an undertak in g to replaree the boats when perpetuit y worn out but no resolution was come to upon the subject. Mr . MacGregor was re-elected chairman for the ensu ing year, and the retiring directors, with Mr . Rich, nr., were elected. A vote of thanks was passed to Lieutenant Essell, the harbour - ma s t er of F o lk estone, for his services, on ' his retirement. Lieutenant Essell returned thanks for that mark of theiffavour, in addition t o the handsome teatimonal presented to him. A vote of thanks to the chairman was passed, and the meeting was dissolved, DEMERARA. The question of appealing for aid to the Home Go vernment is being vigorously agitated in British Guiana, and meetings had been held in various places, at which resolutions were passed condemnatory of the policy of the British Government to her colonies, and expressive of regret at the declining fortunes of the island. The Combined Court was to meet on the 24th February. The weather had been fine and favourable during the past fortnight. .Several fatal cases of yellow fever had occurred, bat the violence of the epidemic had to a cer tain extent abated. MEXICO. Things were quiet here at the last advises. Ihe revo lution on the northern frontier had b.en suppressed, but attempts had been made by Carvgjal to assemble some followers on the left bank of the Rio Bravo, which had been frustrated through the activity of the Americans. The General Government had issued an order at Ma tamoros for again patting in force the ancient tariff in regard to the goods that had been imported on the faith of General Avalo's tariff ; but it was believed that the authorities would not be able to carry the same into effect. . _ The law increasing the export duty on specie from 3i to 6 per cent., was to come into force on the 4th of February. On the 13th of January Vera Cruz was visited by one of the most violent storms that had been known for many years. Oat of 22 ships that were in the port, 14 were driven from their anchors end lost, together with 13 lives. The cargoes lost are of very considerable value. JAMAICA MARKETS. (From De Cordova's Mercantile Intelligencer, Feb. 13.) Flour—The market for this article, in consequence of the absence of receipts and the diminishing stock, was assuming a considerably improved appearance, and sales were of daily occurrence at 28s. per barrel; the hands, however, of holders becoming strengthened by the impo sition of the additional duty of 2s. per barrel, the price of the article immediately thereafter rose to 305., at which figure some 1,000 barrels Baltimore and Phila delphia were moved. To-day there is not any on offer at anything under 31s. _ _ Rice—We quote East India at 15s. 6d. for Bengal, no minally, and 17s. for Patna, with an almost bare market. Carolina is worth 19s. per 100ibs. Bread—All imported brands are dull' of sale. Verley and Robinson's, home-mode, is taken at 16s. for pilot and 20s. for crackers. Butter—We quote Irish at lld. / Halifax at 8&, and American at 7d. per lb, Pork—Some parcels of mess, of common quality, are on offer at 90s. Prime descriptions of mess are worth 945. to 965. per barrel. No operations in prime or prime mess are reported. _ Tobacco•LCavendish is worth 12d. to 13d. per lb. The stock is abundant, and it is presumed that prices will not advance in proportion to the increase of duty. No sales of leaf have transpired. Brandy—Martell's pale and dark have been sold at 63,61 per gallon, in bond. Rum-The late operations were 3s. 2d. to 3s. 3d. per gallon, duty paid ; proof 21. Sugar—We range our quotations at 11s. to 16s. 6d. for dark to fair. Pimento brings 31d. to 34d. per lb. Logwood has been moved at 32e. par ton. Gold—Columbian doubloons are worth 3, and Ame rican gold per cent. prem. Freights—No operations have reached us. Tonnage is abundant. EXCHANGES ON LONDON. Colonial Bank-90 days, i t per cent. premium. ~ 60 days, 1 per cent. premium. 92 30 days, 1 per cent premium. Jamaica Bank-90 days par. IP If 60 day - B,i per cent. premium.. If ft 30 days, 1 per cent. premium. Merchants' Bills, 90 days, par. ON NEW Yogi. Merchants' Bill, 60 days, 1 per cent. premium. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Captain Granville G. Loch, C. 8., commissioned the Winchester, 50, at Portsmouth yesterday, to relieve the Hastings, 72, flig-ship, in the East Indies. She is to have a complement of 450 officers and men. Arregaut, 46, screw-frigate, Captain Robinson, was taken into dock at Portsmouth yesterday, to have some of her steam water-pipes repaired, her copper cleaned, and the end of the screw shalt made good, having suf fered apparently by galvanic action. She is to form one of the Channel experimental squadron. Neptune, 120, Captain Yates, has been taken out of the Portsmouth basin, and is alongside the jetty to finish painting and receive her stores. Mr. Pearson, clerk in the office of the chief engineer at Portsmouth, has been obliged to retire from severe ill ness . Mr. Alfred Penfold has been promoted in his room, and Mr. George Edwards, son of the respected and efficient storekeeper of Portsmouth yard, has been appointed as writer, vice Penfold. An accident occurred in Portsmouth Dockyard yes terday afternoon to a painter named Threadnam. While unloading a cask of paint it slipped out of the cart and fractured his leg ; he was taken to Hasler Hospital. Commander James Poste (1845) died on the 12th inst., aged 70. He served 17 years afloat, and accepted the retirement of 1840. He entered the navy Deo. 28, 1784 ; when in the Hussar, 28, was wrecked Dec. 27 in the same year, on the ,coast of France, where he was for six months detained a prisoner of war, subject nearly the whole time to very great privations. After the ex pedition to Ferrol:we find him present, Aug. 29, 1800, at the cutting-out close to the batteries in Vigo Bay, of La Guepe, privateer of 18 guns and 161 men. He was made Lieutenant Dec. 22, 1800. He was for ceven years First Lieutenant of the Minerva frigate. While the latter ship was fitting out in January, 1806, in the River Thames, Mr. Poate had the honour of attending the funeral of Lord Nelson, on which occasion ho was present in the headmost boat, bearing the hero's flag. During the years 1807-8, he saw much boat service on the coast of France, where he contributed to the capture and destruction of 36 of the enemy's vessels, and on one occasion boarded and carried with the tau cutters, although. five miles away from the ship and e close in shore, the Epervier French letter of marqu e , o f board tis, andtheas 8 guns and 35 men. Having conducted his p r i ze to London, end rejoined the w asMinerva,gluiens, pierced on for her in September, 1808 , when she fell in down with just a s t bri g, h of Josephine somen, letter of m ov a e r r cr e e t , an o d f 8 e British frigate, after a chase of 75 miles, had arrived January, within gun-shot of her, ; barely allowing t o ab 6 1 i s B t 09, in to 16 out of her unfortunate crew. In Mr. Poste was sent With the Minerva's bo at s bringing off the wounded after the battle of Corunna. He subsequently witnessed the destruction of the French frigate Amphit r i te, and saw service in the West Indies end at Newfoundland. he invalided home f rom high testimonial of conduct from Cap Halifaxbrio a l ig n ni nHgawh h i m a Hawkins. August, kitin s. 1813, He accepted his present rank Sept. 25, 1845. PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The flag-ship Victory, the Rodney, Blenheim, and Retribution fired a royal salute to-day, at 12 o'clock , in honour of the birthday of the Princess Louisa. R "Al 4 MlRlNu s. — The court - mart ial ordered to try Royal Marin es , on charges drunke nness First Lieutenant H a ll y ,of the artillery on of the guard of Po r t smouth, and other con duct unbecoming the of drunke on the main character of an officer and a gentleman, on the 13th of February last, which charges were framed on the infor mation of Mr. William Harrison of the Hampshire Tele graph newspaper, were re-assembled this morning at Forton Barracks to hear the finding of the Court (which sat three days of last week—Tuesday, Wednes day, and Thursday), which bad been appoved by the Admiralty and Horse Guards. The Court pronounced that the prisoner was "fully acquitted" on both charges. Lieutenant Hall thereupon received his sword from Co- K H., slid returnk-d to his duty, after upwards of a month ' s suspension. PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY.—Her Majesty's steamship Avon sailed on Tuesday with seamen for Portsmouth. Tne steam -ship Desperate, having completed her coaling, steamed to her moorings on Monday. The frigate Flambe, building in No. 2 slip, is ordered to be got ready with all dispatch for launching this sum mer, when the frigate Lilly is ordered to be built on the same slip as a screw steamer. SHEERNESS, MARCH 18.—Her Majesty's steamer African left this port for Chatham on Tuesday evening. Her Majesty's ship North Star, C o mmander Pullen, having been ordered f ort h w i t h from Chatham to Dept ford to take on board her stores and provisions for the Arctic regions, left the former port early on Wednes day morning. She passed by here in tow of the Adder ! and African steamers et 8.30 A.M. of that day, Her M• jesty's screw steam-frigate Amphion, 34, is being rigged by the crew or the Horatio. A. large num ber of the dockyard artificers are employed on her. She is being coppered to the extent of three feet and a half from the line of flotation while in ordinary. Every possible dispatch is being used to get her ready by the time fixed oc. Her Majesq's ship Ganges, 84, in the dry dock, has none of the dockyard hands at work on her at present. Her Majesty's screw steam frigate Horatio, 24, Cap tain the Hon. T. T. Carnegie, has been warped to the west side of the fitting basin, under the Sheers. A new screw, as a spare one, has been mode for her. The schooner Fortune of Whitby, laden with stones, reported a few days since as being on shore on the Maplin Sand, has been got off, and has proceeded to L..) The n shipdon. Em general cargo, gniotliOnofshLoirveeropnootlhteltilb3bthY in m s zte e r a , with general the morning, and remained until 4 11.111., when she floated off and proceeded on her voyage. The brig Sceptre, of North Shields, coal laden, J . F w a es ir t in b g uoy m , a b st u e t r, gotu c: er an oe NB chore g e o t n tin t g he o lja a p g lin ain , Are nextte morning without assistance. 18 . -- Lieutenants—Richard B. OOLWICH, MARCH Pearse (1851), from the Hecate steam-sloop, and ..Tames H. Bushnell (1851), from . the Excellent gunnery-skip, to the Winchester, 50, commissioned at Portsmouth. Masters—Thomas Osmer (1847), recently serving in the Champion. ,sloap on the Pacific station, to the Vul ture, advanced paddle-wheel steam-sloop of 470-horse power, at Devonport; Daniel M'Donnell Jago (1846), to the Odin steam-sloop, at Portsmouth. Chief Engineer—George Aitchison, to the Highflyer steam-sloop, at Woolwich. Surgeon—Williara, D. Xexr, M.D. (1846), t o th e Hi gh flyer. Assistant-Snrgeons--Daniel W. Stephens, M.D. (1848), to the Highflyer; James D. Cronin (1844), to the Arrogant, 36, at Portsmouth. Assistant-Engineers--John T. Williams; Ist elan, to the Dee steam troop ship, at Woolwich; W. G. Brown, to the Victoria and Albert royal steam-yacht, at Ports mouth; Frederick Young, to the Antelope steam - sloop, at Woolwich ; Henry Fish, to the Pluto steam-vessel, for service on the coast of Africa; Thomas Anderson, James Ferguson, and George W. Siewright, to the Highflyer; George Goldsack and T. W. Hampshire, to the Arrogant. Second /Masters—E. J. Kemp, to the Highflyer; Francis Taylor (1848), to the Winchester. Master aAssistants.-.J..D. Wilshire-and--George H. Underhill, to the Winchester; Charles Pricket, to the Highflyer. Clerks—Charles A.. Goodyer (1850) and James B. M.Avoy, to the Winchester; John Truss, to the Victory flag ship, at Portsmouth. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE. TIITTIMAT. This morningbeing the birth-day ot her Royal High ness the Princess Louisa, the band of the Royal Marines were in attendance at Osborne; and played for some time under her Majesty's windows. The Queen and Prince, with the Royal Family, walked afterwards in the Gardens. At a quarter before - nine o'clock in the morning, the band of the Royal Marines performed the following selections : Overture,"Precioso".:7- - Weber. Duetto, " La Favourite" Grand Selection, " Norma" Scena e Duetto, " Medea" Walzer, " Schwarzbla's t" And again at two o'clock in the afternoon they performed the following compositions:— Sinfonia, " Gabriella di Ye: zi" Mercadante. Selection, " Stabat Mater" Polka, " The King Pippin" Duetto Finale, "Don Pasquale" Quadrille, "Ireland" ... Mr. Heywortb, M.P., had au interview with the Ear of Derby yesterday at his official residence in Downing street. Mr. Newdegate had also an interview with his Lordship yesterday. A deputation from the Mauritius had an interview with Sir John Pakirgton yesterday at the Colonial office. The deputation consisted of Mr. Guthrie (chair man), Mr. B. B. Greene, Mr. James Blyth, Mr. Samuel Baker, Mr. Edgard Chapman, Mr. John Clifford, Mr. Andrew Steele, and Mr. MacknelL Mr. llindley had an interview with Mr. Secretary Walpole yesterday, at the Home-office. Mr. Thurlow had also an interview with the Right Hon. Gentleman. A deputation from Macclesfield had an interview yes terday with the General Board of Health, et their offices, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Watts and Thomas Wardle, attended by Mr. Parrott, Town Clerk of Macclesfield. It was introduced by the Mem bers for the borough, Mr. J. Brockleharat, M.P., and Mr. John Williams, M.P. The Rev. E. Hawkins had an interview yesterday with Sir John Pakington. The Cambridge University Commission had a meet ing on Wednesday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downing-street. Present— the Bishop of Chester, the Dean of Ely, Sir John Her schel, the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, and the Rev. W. H. Bateson (Secretary). The Commission met again yes terday. Present—the Bishop of Chester, Sir John Herschel, the Master of the Rolls, the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, and the Bet W. H. Bateson (Secretary). A deputation, consisting of Mr. Sewell, Mr. Wake field, Mr. M`Geachy, and Mr. Adderley, had an inter view with Sir John Pakington yesterday at the Colonial dice. A. deputation from the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association, consisting of Mr. Edwin W. Field (Chairman), Mr. Howdy, and the Secretary, bad an in terview yesterday with Mr. Secretary Walpole at the Home-office. POOR GENTEEL WOMEN. Look aroand your own circle. You know of many cases such as this:—A seemingly prosperous man is engaged in the full tide of successful business; he drives a large trade, and counts his gains by thousands. He has a family of eons and daughters, whom he educates at boarding-schools, in all the current knowledge and trifling of the day. They are carefully tended and kept. They know no want. They are thoroughly genteel, and have a large visiting acquaintance. Their characters, such as they are, become fashioned and formed after the most approved notions. But suddenly a reverse occurs, —an unfortunate speculation, a bad season; gi eat lusses fall suddenly upon the merchant, and he finds himself a ru i n ed man. You have a gen teel family reduced at once to a state of the most galling poverty; not merely the poverty of the poor , bat the poverty of the genteel, an infinitely sadder and more intolerable thing. Or, a professional man dies suddenly, and when his affairs are wound up, it is found that he had hivedlivd fully up to his i nc ome ; that those gay parties of ad absorbed all his spare gains; and that he had not insured his life, or married, heacontracted u relatives. ild can if so, then for a veryinconsiderable amount. His w id ow an d daughters fall at once into the ranks of th e poor ge nteel. As for the sons, in such cases, they can usua ll y s hift for themselves; but how long is it before they can do tßi ey s thoef anything t the i r timeer towards tohweny, r most helping aoosht mp raon probably a h o b e o their p o o r they r female have aele got do very little to reliev e or sisters, who the straits of their o • sters, w h o quietly subside into the state of threadbare poor ge ntlewomen. —Eliza Cook's Journal. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. C M U r. l ßaron P lc s es u ' KB.) THE QUEEN ON THE PROS HOME (Be C fo I r R e V. JOH N BROOME AND OTH ERS. March 18. CIRCUIT,—Lewes, w i LLIA K mAMP In this case, which was a charge ag a inst John Broome, t a l i le fr P a b ud by chea ting and two ot her persons, of having committed chea . ting at cards, the circamstances con nected with whi c h charge have frequently been before the public, \ Mr. JOHNSON, who was instructed for the prosecution, applied to the Court to estreat the recognizances of the prosecutor lamp, snd to enlarge the recognizances of tho other witnesses to the next assizes. He said that his application was founded upon an affidavit, which was to the effect that Hamp had been called upon to give evidence before the grand jury, but he had not done so, and that diligent search bad been made for him and he could not be found. Mr. PARRY said be was instructed, on behalf of Charles Steam, one of the defendants, who was included is the indictment with Broome, and he would observe that he thought before the Court interfered, nominal) as a great many different persons had appeared y as pro secutors at various times to conduct the prosecution, that it ought to be satisfied that the prosecution was merelyreally condu ct ed p r omte by yy some private e public authority, party, any for pr oc i f e i e t d sv i n a g s of the kind suggested would of course be a complete farce. Mr. JOHNSON said he appeared on behalf of the magis trates who had sent the case for trial. Mr. PARRY said he was qu i te satisfied with the expla nation of his Learned Friend, and he wonld merely state to the Court that he held in his hand an affidavit made by the defendant for whom he appeared, in which he stated that he was most anxious to take his trial, and at the same time added that he bad never been in collu sion with Hemp, or had any communication with him, or was in any way instrumental to his absence. He was instructed that he was a man possessed of some property at Brighton, an d that he had carried on an extensive business in that town; bat the effect of such a charge hanging over him was lik el y to cause him seriouesaisnijinyrybe. He submitted that u nder these circumstances be was entitled to an acq uittal upon the present occasion, and be inconve if his presence s hould be required at any future time Ethsseidleteheatt might d a o l u th b o t u t g h h at it he could n i e nt to this de fendant to have the char ge hanging ever s him, the only cou rse he could take w ould be to order the found. there Baron w a no t a recognizanoes of Hump, and another witness who was t;nt in 6tb o d t a h r e u r witnesses e4toe'llr th Pa u t s e t d' be and enla h rged to the next reeoznizancea theof ail assites. SbMERSET HOUSII3.—The works for the contem plated " wing" at Somerset House are likely to be discop tinned, and the Inland Revenue offices, at present held in the Excise building, Old B roa d- street re moved again to Somerset H ouse, where' w ill shortly be mor e room will be obtained by the transfer of departments connected with the Navy to the Admiralty, Charing-cross. These changes re sult partly from the fact of the Dake of Northumberland having resigned the large suite of apartments, ?iways.pleeed at the disposal of the First Lord, as an official residence, leaving them available as offices. The immense pile of buildings in Broad -street, used for the ExClie , W il l b• bra& to the hammer.