The Sun. — London, England, 1848-03-29 00:00:00

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE-WEDNESDAY. The present week's arrivals of English Wheat for our market coastwise, and by land carriage, have been on t. moderate scale. To-day the show of samples was comparatively small, yet the demand for all descriptions was in a very sluggish state, at barely Monday's quota tions. Foreign Wheat moved off in retail quantities, at but little, if any, alteration in value. For most kinds t.f Barley the demand was tolerably steady, and prices were well supported. The Malt trade was inactive at late rates. In Oats next to nothing was doing, and the hcatel parcels might have been purchased at somewhat easier terms. In Beans and Peas next to nothing was dcne. The best qualities of English Flour were quite as dear. All other kinds were neglected. AIRITALS. Ea:tisk .• •• •• Irish. • •••• •• Fore±ga .. • • .. Wheat. 1 Barley. Oats. 1 Flour. 3,07 J qrs. 1 6,410 qrs. I 3,7611 qrs. 1 3,690 ski 15,220 1 -- z,see 540 I Malt, 4,940 qrs. WIIITECHAPEL. 1,76) Although the supplies of Meat here this morning were by no means extensive, the demand was in a sluggish state, yet prices were mostly supported. Beef, from 35 to 83 103; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 8d; Veal, 4s to 5.; and Pork, 3s 8d to 5s per Sibs by the carcase. SECONDARIES'.-(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Secondary POTTER.) CURIOUS CASE OF BREACH OF PROMISE OE MARRIAGE. ORANGE V. LEVY. This was action to recover damages for broach of promise of marriage. Mr. RODVELL stated the case on the part of the plaintiff. He said that the age of the parties would render it ridiculous for him to use several of the topic ire quently addressed to juries in these cases, and he should content himself by briefly stating the facts, and show the comforts of life of which the plaintiff had b. en deprived through what he must consider the wanton and cruel conduct of defendant. The plaintiff, who is about 62 years of age, is a widow, and carried on business as a furniture dealer, in Skinner-street, Bishopsgate ; and defendant, who is somewhat older, is a commercial traveller. In June last, defen dant, through a mutual friend, a Mrs. Nathan, made matrimonial overtures to the plain tiff, and on certain terms was accepted as a suitor. The courtship was carried on through July, August, and September, and defendant wrote several affectionate letters to the plaintiff, and actually fixed the day for the wedding, and gave plaintiff money to pay the registrar's fees, and plaintiff bought the wedding dress, but after that defendant broke off the connexion. After repeated applications, which he did not reply to, an action was brought, and the defendant in person put in a most singular plea, namely, that on and before the day appointed for the wedding (the 9th of November) he was afflicted, by the will of Almighty God, with a rup ture of the intestines and partial loss of eye-sight, but should Almighty God be pleased to restore his health and eye-sight he would then marry the plaintiff. This plea was, however, objected to and set aside as a nullity, and judgment was entered for want of plea. The Learned Counsel said that in submitting the question of amount of da mages to the jury, he must state that the plaintiff had been induced by the defendant's promise of mar riage, and also the promise of 1001. (without which she would not have consented to the marriage), to give up her business, and had thus lost the means of supporting herself. He, therefore, thought the 1001. and the price of the wedding dress ought to be taken into consideration. Thef;Ct7wcreProved ; and Mr. Mellor addressed the jury for the defendant, with an endeavour to show that his health was such as not to justify his entering into the marriage state, and that his income did not exceed 60L or 701. per year. The jury gave a verdict for 201. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (THIS DAY.) Edward Ginger was indicted for stealing four 51 notes of t'.e Bank ol England, the property of Miss Caroline Shiegles, from her person on the 11th of March last. The pros( eutrix was returning from the City in a Chelsea omnibus, when her pocket was picked; she, how ever, was not aware of her loss until the prisoner, ho had sat beside her from the Bank to the Strand, got out at Agar-street, when Police-constable West, 106 F, ,rho had taken a seat on the outside of the omnibus in the City for the purpose of watching the prisoner, came to the dolr and asked her whether she had lost any thing? The officer ascertaining her loss, pursued the prisoner, jumped into a cab of which the latter had taken possession, and, after a severe struggle, secured him and brought him before a magistrate in Bow-street. None of the notes were found on him. He was Ac quitted. LAMBETH.—(THIS DAY.) A deputation from the tradesmen of St. Thomas street, Kennington-common, and the adjacent district, waited upon Mr. Elliott this morning. They repre sented that it was reported that a large meeting of per sons calling themselves Chartists was intended to be held on Kennington-common on Monday next, and as the probability was that an attempt would be made by the disorderly who were likely to attend, to create dis turbances and destroy property, they, as representing the tradesmen of the neighbourhood, had called to solicit the aid of a body of police sufficiently powerful to re strain any tendency to breaking open or abstracting property by force from shops and houses. Much damage had been done and great loss occasioned during the late riots, and they were naturally anxious to prevent the recurrence of a similar state of things. Mr. ELLIOTT said that he had not heard on any cer tain authority that such a meeting was intended to be held, but in the event of such being likely to be called, the Commissioners of Police would be communicated with, and a sufficient body of men sent for the protection of the neighbourhood. NORTHAMPTON RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. Lady Wildair ,_ 1 Sylvan Ballinafad Tns KING OF HANovEa.—According to the Brussels independence, the King of Hanover is so seriously ill that his recovery is despaired of. Post-oPFICE NOTICE.—The following notice was posted at the General Post-office this morning:—" Her Majesty's Government having decided to discontinue the packet between Southampton and Alexandria, which now leaves the former port on the 3d of each month ; letters intended to be sent to India, &c., via Southamp ton, can only be forwarded, after the dispatch of the packet of the 3d May next, once in each month, namely, by the packet which sails from Southampton on the 20th of every month. The mails, however, for India, &c., via Marseilles, which leave London in the beginning of the month, will be continued, and will be dispatched, as usual, on the evening of the 7th of each month (or when the tth falls on a Sunday, on the evening of the 3th), and all letters, if-pre•paid and not specially ad dressed via Southampton, will be forwarded by the route of Marseilles." Miss Emma Lucombe, the charming vocalist, has arrived in London from France, having been obliged to quit Paris, and to give up several professional engage ments, owing to the outbreak of the revolution. DERBY ELECTION.--The Conservative party in this borough has two candidates in the field, both gentlemen of known character and influence. They are Mr. J. W. Freshfield, of the city of London, and Mr. James Lord, of Parkfield. The candidates on the side of the Liberals are Mr. Lawrence Hayworth, of Liverpool, and Mr. Bass, of Burton. REPRESENTATION OE RTE.—MT. 11. M. Curteis, who has just been unseated at Rye, is again in the field, and is at present the only candidate. We hear that ke is not likely to be opposed. MONEY-MARKET —By advices from Tiamburgh the price of gold is 4381 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3l. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.114; and the exchange at Ham burgh on London at short being 13.12, it follows that gold is 0.11 per cent. dearer in London than in Ham burgh. The course of exchange at New York on London is 110 per cent., and the par of exchange between Eng land and America being 109 23.40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is 0.43 per cent. in favour of Eng land; but the quoted exchange at New York being for bills at 60 days' sight, the interest must be added to the above difference. TnE GAME NUlSANCE.—Nottinghamshire is noto rious for game preserving (it may be called the hot-bed), and ferocious keepers and their bull-dog men using flails to beat poachers with. At the past assizes for that county a host of those gentry swore so monstrously in consistent against some men charged with night poach ing, that the judge and the jury would not give credence to their testimony. One of those worthies swore he did not know what a "flail" is! The amount of perjury which has been committed by gamekeepers and their underlings is truly shocking. To please the game mania, noblemen, squires, and gentlemen, they must have cases ; and, having got them, :swear roundly to carry conviction. Game preserving and game-laws have been the root of all this dreadful sin, and for which the promoters tl emrelves must account.—From a Corre spondent. SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY. The barque Broad Oak, Captain M‘rath, from Pernambuco, arrived off 'Cowes this morning for orders ; she has a freight of 5,600 bags of Brazilian sugar. She brings papers dated Pernambuco, the 7th of February. AmEnca.—The Ocean Monarch, Captain Mur doch, arrived at the port of Liverpool on Monday night, having lef, Boston on the evening of the 11th, up to which time Captain Murdoch states no intelligence had reached Boston of the ratification of the treaty with Mexico. . . GrdesGaw, Miami 28.—Last night a very nume rously attended meeting of the Irish residents in Glas gow, and others friendly to the cause of Irish nationality was held in the Lyceum Rooms, Nelson-street, for the purpose of oo,operating with the United Irishmen in Ireland. The meeting. was conducted in an orderly manner, and separated peaceably • THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY _EVENING, PARLI.A3IY:VL‘:ItY BUSINESS rrom the rotes anti . the 1 lduse of' Coma, .us. TUESDAY, 7 , 1APC14 23. STANDING 011DERS COMMITTEE. The following 11 , :solution was reported from the above _knumittee:— That in the ease of the York, NewcaAle, and Ber wick R►ilway (Power to subscribe to the Sunderland f)ock•) petition to deposit a petition for a Bill, the stand ing orders ought not to be dispensed with.—Report to lie on the table. THE REVOLUTION OF 1789. T. e causcs which led to the first French Revoluti , were manifold ; amorg so many it is difficult to assign to one a place of pre-eminence. First in time, aas the form of government ur der which France laboured umber the reigns of Louis XIV. and Lraiis XV. The immorality of the social lie of those reigns, and of the rege ney of Orleans, bears its part ; and the gradual but certain increase in financial difficulties, which began with the reign of Louis XIV. Another cause was the aid given by France to the American rebels, as they were called ; and yet another, and thouch last in time, yet by no means the least, the opinions of Voltaire, and the Encyclopaedists, urged the people to revenge themselves for the attempts that were constantly making to place them under the yoke of despotism. At this time the Clergy, the Nobles, and the Tiers Etat, were the three great classes:—" The Clergy were both power ful and rich; their income amounted to above 5,000,000 a year, out of which little more than one-third was apportioned among the parochial clergy. The greater part of the rest was divided among the abbeys, the majority of which were in the gift of the King. Out of 3GS abbeys and monasteries, no less than 225 were of that nature that they could be held by the so-called Abbas commendataires. These Abt 63, generally the younger sons of noble families, were in no way bound by the rules of the abbey over which they were supposed to preside, and were in all respects more laymen than eccle siastics. Such men as these were the chief loaders of those corrupt morals and laxity of discipline which dis graced the great part of the higher clergy during the reigns immediately preceding the Revolution. They had, of course, their exceptions; but, generally speaking, religion and morality were confined to the parochial clergy, whose poverty prevented them from mixing in the luxuries and debaucheries of the capital, as much as their consciences forbad them to merge their eccle siastical character in that of laymen. The clergy were subject to but one out of the many taxes—the &Time paschaline : a tax so small that every five years they granted gratuitous loans of some considerable amount to the Crown, to be paid without interest after a short lapse of time. The French noblesse were exceed ingly numerous : every 250 persons had one noble amongst them ; for the nobility of the parent in France was not confined to the heir, but descended to every son. There were above four thousand places in the kingdom, by the tenor ,of which nobility might be conferred ; and the Court was ever ready to increase the list of nobles by new creations. For the young men of the most ancient families, a colonelship-en-second in every regiment was specially reserved ; and in Louis XVl.'s reign, it was decreed that no one should be made even a sub-lieutenant who could not prove his nobility for four generations. They had thus a per fect monopoly of the Church and the army. Besides these advantages, their other privileges were enormous. One tax they were subject to—the capitation tax ; a mere trifle when compared to the other public burdens. The income-tax was also nominally paid by them as well as by the Tiers Etat ; but they contrived so to regulate their assessments as to contribute but little to this impost. Add to these privileges those which arose from feudal tenures—a list so startling as to surprise oven the most faithful adherent of that system. Lastly came the Tiers Etat, the whole population of the king dom, except the clergy and noblesse, including the rich est merchant alike with the poorest peasant. The abuses under which this class laboured were many. That of taxation was common to the whole body. Three taxes were paid by them--the taille, or land tax; the capita tion tax; and the income tax, at first a twentieth, eventually a tenth of the net income. The direct taxation previous to the Revolution produced about eight millions and a half to the Government ; out of this, above six millions were contributed by the Tiers Etat, the owners of hardly one third of the soil of France. So enormous was the burden of direct taxation on the agricultural lah,urer, in those districts where the taille and vingt'll ne were levied on a strict valuation, that only one-t elfth ef the produce of an acre of land was left to him after deducting the claims of the Crown and the landlord. Dividing the produce of an acre into twelve parts, seven-and a-half of these parts went to the Crown for direct taxes; three and-a- half accrued to the proprietor, in the shape of rent and feudal fines ; and the remaining one part was allowed to the tenant, to support life. The taxes on consumption were equally unfair on the peasant. These imposts, raising between 10,000,000 and 11,000,000, were imposed most unequally on dif ferent provinces. Some districts had obtained commu tations very much in their favour; the consequence of which was, a most unequal pressure on those less fa voured. The burdens of taxation were greatly increased by these flowing from the nature of the feudal tenure in France. The preservation of forest game was ono great source of oppression. In largo districts enclo sures were forbidden, and heards of deer and boars allowed to wander at will over the cultivated land that bordered their woods and lairs. Hoeing and weed ing ware forbidden, lest the young birds should be de stroyed ; hay must not be mown, lest the eggs should be destroyed ; or the land manured with any strong mixture, lest the flavour of the game should be injured. The fines at every change of tenure were heavy and frequent ; the corn must be ground at the landlord's mill, the grapes pressed at the landlord's press, the bread baked at the landlord's oven. The catalogue of the tenant's contributions is not yet closed. The corvees, or statute labour for the maintenance of the public roads, fell on this class alone ; a burden esti mated by Neeker at nearly a million a year. Military quarters were to be provided by them for the soldiers; tree lodging, fire, light, salt, washing, and forage for the horses of the cavalry. On them, too, fell exclu sively the compulsory military service, which drew 60,000 men a year. The indirect taxes were not less oppressive, arising from the Customs levied on goods passing from one division of France to the other, and from the monopolies of salt and tobacco. Two pound of salt smuggled across the fron tier would remunerate a man better than a day's labour. The public taxes were, in sober truth, burdensone enough; yet this burden was greatly increased by the system of farming out the indirect taxes to private indi viduals, or companies, for a certain sum, end leaving them, to reap their advantage by oppressing the people. The power of the King had long grown to be des potic ; he was the sole legislator of the kingdom, his Ministers and the States-General but his advisers, without a power of enacting or refusing. On the universal immorality of the reign of Louis XV. it is needless to enlarge; detail would be neither in structive nor necessary. No one will dream of deny ing the fact, or of doubting that it was one among other causes of the excesses of the revolution. When the people saw their King devoted to the most sensual indulgences; the highest nobles, the clergy, and every one who desired rank or station, humbly bowing at the throne of his acknowledged mistress, a woman of the lowest birth, the lowest character; when they saw that she was not deemed unworthy to associate with the King's own daughters, and that the wives of the highest in the land coveted her society, they might well believe that morality was but a bugbear to keep them in order, and religion a mere state machine for dis cipline. The immorality of the times gained half the battle for the scepticism and infidelity of the Encyclo paedists. The support given by Louis XVI. to the Ame rican insurgents, reduced into practice the theories put forward by the sect of the Encyclopaedists. Numbers of the young noblesse, by mixing with the American revolters, imbibed their principles of liberty and inde pendence, and brought back to their own country notions very little consistent with the theory and practice of its Government. By this rash step France gained a mo mentary step before her great rival. Did not all these causes put together justify the people in turning out into open revolution against their Sovereign 7— Weekly Dis patch. ODE BY BERAN GER ON THE REVOLUTION OF FEBRUARY. The Democratic Pacifigue publishes the following ode by Beranger, who is announced as one of the candidates for the deputation of the department of the Seine. It is addressed to Manuel, who dared to pro fess Republicanism even under the Restoration, but who died before 1830. BERANCER A MANUEL. 0 Manuel, la, France s'est lei 6 ! Sa libert6 n'a plus un ennemi. C'est bier ain si que nous l'avions ;6sl Peuple hint qui u'est rien a demi! Puisqu'il nous u ene a la terre promise, Dieu parmi nous aurait du to laisser. Qu'avais-tu fait pour mourir en Moise? Mon pauvre ami, je voudrais t'embrasser. Sortant vainqueur de ces luttes sublimes, Tu penserais a mon tout petit coin. C'est dans ces fours de fievres magnanimes, Quo run de l'autre on a souvent besoin. Longtemps muets, dans une 6treinte antique, r'uis, refoulant nos pleura dans un baiser, Nous nous disions: Viva la ROubliquel Mon pauvre ami, je voudrais t'embrasser. Le sait-on bien ? Depuis qu'au Jeu-de-Paume S'ouvrit l'epoque oil le peuple vainqueur, Fit of en notre beau royaume Le monde cutler, comme le sang au eceur. Du livre d'or sangltuit, sublime ou sage, Ott cheque lustre eut sa gloire a tracer, Quarante-huit est la plus belle page I Mon pauvre ami, je voudrais t'embrasser. La royaute st6rilisait I'empire, Et jetait rancre en ce sable mouvant ; Le foudre passe, et le trOne chavire, Et j'ai cherche sa trace vainement. Mais je retrouve une France fi-iond, Qu'un noble sang vient de fertiliser ; Sol genereux, qui nourrira le monde ! Mon pauvre ami, je voudrais t'embrasser. La R6publique est grand° et sera stable, Elle remplit nos vceux, mais je t'aimais; Je me souviens de ce eri lamentable: Plaignons les morts, ils dormant a jamaisl Dormir, helas! quand la France se leve, Lorsque, pour vaincre, et pour se surpasser, Elle a besoin de l'esprit et du glaive! Mon pauvre ami, je voudrais t'embrasser. Gloire rI toi, peuple, a tes succes repides! Je t'airne mieux lorsque je pense a lui ; Mes bras ouverts ne resteront pas vides; Tons les Francais sont freres aujourd'hui. Viellard courb6, quand to courais aux acmes, Comme les morts, j'ai du me reposer; Mon sang est froid, mais j'ai de chaudes larmes, Potpie Francais, je voudrais t'embrasser. Paris, le Ist Mars, 1848. MUNIFICENCE.—The late Andrew Macklew, Esq., of Poulett Lodge, Twickenham, in addition to bene volent bequests left to the various Police•courts, to be applied to the purposes of the poor-box of each court, bequeathed to the Accident Relief Society 5001., and to the Distressei Needlewomea's Society 5001. CIIARTIST MEETING. LaAt evening a numerous meeting o' Chartists, con vened nominally fur the purpose of taking measures to protect the rights of lab:.ur, but iu reality t , .) beat up lot recruits to sistll the intendod monst,r procession on the tOth pruxitno, from Kennington common to the House of Commons, on the occasion of presenting the Chartist petition, was held at the Socialist Institution, John itreet, Tottenham-court-roaxl. The building was densely crowded. A well dressed person named VERNON, who was said to be a " new" man in the political arena, was called to the chair. He began the proceedings by giving a dole ful account of a trip to Stepney-green, which he had been induced to make at two o'clock that day, in order to be present at a Chartist demonstration. He said he had walked about until nearly half-past three o'cicck, vainly endeavouring to find out the meeting, which was advertised to take place at two o'clock; at length a person whom he met by accident told him where he might find Mr. Magrath and the other concocters of the meeting; but he protested solemnly that he would rather " fight" at once than be subjected to such another trial of his patience.—(Laughter.) He considered it a mere waste of time to dwell on the points of the Charter, or even on the point which they had met to consider— the organization of labour, for until the sove reignty of the people were established, it was nonsense to suppose that they could effect the slightest amelioration in the condition of the working classes.—(Cheers.) The petition for the Charter was to be presented on the 10th of next month, on which occasion it was intended to accompany it with a procession composed of from one to three hundred thousand persons. He saw that a dinner was advertised to take place at liighbury Barn Tavern on the evening of the same day, but he hoped they would have no feasting until they had succeeded in carrying the Charter.—(Cheers.) The French carried their charter without any thoughts of dining; and as they required no speechifying on the subject of the peti tion in the House of Commons, but intended merely to ask them "yes" or " no," he hoped they would not dream of sitting down to dinner until they went back to the House of Commons, as they in tended doing next day, to see how they were getting on with it.—(Cheers.) The modes operandi was to keep moving between the House of Commons and the Tower, and the Tower and the House of Commons; and he thought that the money which they intended spending on a dinner would be far better laid out in furnishing district refreshment houses for those who had to undergo the labour and fatigue of the procession. —(Cheers.) For his part he was disgusted at the idea of presenting a petition at all ; it was all a mockery and a farce—for they knew very well that the members of the Government would never consent to grant the people's charter, and therefore he thought that they should give the House of Commons just one hour to consider whether they would grant it or not.—(Great cheering.) If they said "yes," very well; and if they said " no," instead of going to the Highbury Barn to dinner they should retire to their district meetings and decide what they were to do next day.—(Cheers.) It was a very old saying that " what was everybody's busi ness was nobody's business," and as even the army re quired a " forlorn hope," he begged that one hundred persons at that meeting. would join him in forming a compact body who would fully understand each other by signs and otherwise to conduct the business of the pro cession. —(Sensation.) As all such bodies were dis tinguished by some peculiar appellation, he thought they should call themselves the " fast boys," which would be perfectly appropriate, as their intention was to upset the " governor."—(Cheers and laughter.) After indulging at considerable length in a similar strain, Mr. Vernon concluded by saying that everything he had uttered was the result of the most honest conviction and cool rethc tion and determination. Mr. DIXON (from Manchester) took exceptions at once to the speech of the Chairman. He had heard many fiery speeches ou previous occasions, and it was all very well for them to clap their hands and huzza ; but when the " day" came, where were they ?—they were to be found in their beds fast asleep.—(No, no, and hear, hear.) Ile could never sanction any proposition that would lead the people into danger. It was madness to talk of organizing an insurrection, and demanding an answer from the House of Commons in an hour.—(Dis approbation and cries of " Quite lcng enough.") The people of this country were not in a fighting posture, and it would take far more than anything they had suffered yet to make them fight. Nothing could justify an appeal to arms until every moral means had bean exhausted. He concluded, by moving a resolution to the effect that, as labour was unquestionably a source of wealth, and the working man's only capital, it should form the first subject of Legislative care, and they should never cease their endeavour until labour was fairly represented in Parliament. A juvenile Chartist named ROBINSON seconded the re solution, and also preferred moral force to physical force, until it was fairly proved that the former was utterly ineffective. Mr. SHELTON also supported the moral force doctrine in a speech of great length, which, in order to avoid misconception or misrepresentation, he had reduced to writing. Mr. HANDLEY followed, and sneered at the moral force enthusiasts, as did also Mr. ERNEST JONES and Mr. MAGRATII, the " great guns" of the evening. Mr. dorms, during his speech, mentioned that the hostility of the military was not so much to be dreaded as was generally supposed, for eighteen of the Grenadier Guards had that week signed the Chartist petition. He had been to Northamptonshire during the week, where he had addressed tens of thousands of their fellow-men, who had determined that if a blow were struck at the prccession by the minions of the Government, they would strike again. The House of Commons had laughed at Mr. Feargus O'Connor's notice of motion which he intended bringing forward when he presented the Chartist petition ; but they would remember that a motion of Odilon Barrot's was treated in a similar way by Guizot and the French Chambers, and they all saw the result. (Cheers.) Let them follow that example, and make Lord John Russell laugh at the wrong side of his mouth .—(Cheers and laughter.) A number of resolutions carrying out the People's Charter were then adopted, and the proceedings did not terminate until near midnight —Chronicle. CITY OF LONDON COMMIS SIONERS OF SEWERS. • Yesterday a Court of Sewers was held at Guildhall, but the eminent engineers and surveyors appointed to inquire into and report on the state of the City of Lon don sewers not having yet had time to carry the objects of their appointment into effect, the proceedings were confined to the usual routine business, and nothing fur ther transpired relative to the threatened invasion of the City by the promoters of the Public Health Bill. Mr. Deputy Peacock occupied the chair. Several com plaints were entertained against various parties Air net suppressing nuisances, and Mr. Gore, tho eminent mud contractor, was fined 6L, on account of persons in his employment having swept the mud into the gratings, instead of carting it off as they were bound to do by the regulations. Mr. GODSON begged to ask the chairman whether any pains had been taken by the committee to induce gas companies to lower their prices, as he observed by the printed return of the pavements' accounts that the gas lighting for the last three quarters amounted to the vary large sum of 7,7891.--(llear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN said, the question was under the con sideration of the committee, but all the information which they could collect relative to the subject would be laid before them at their next meeting.— (Hear.) A consolidated rate of sixpence in the pound was then made, and the Court broke up. QUEEN'S THEATRE, DULL.—Much as G. V. Brooke, Esq., might have had reason to anticipate a hearty reception from his friends in Hull, owing to his previous exhibitions at this theatre, the plaudits which took place on Monday evening, on his entrée in the cha racter of Othello, must have far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. During the pericd of the last 25 years we have witnessed theatrical exhibitions, we never remember a performer receiving applause so simultaneous and enthusiastic as did Mr. Bi ooke. The house was of course a bumper, notwithstanding the at tractions of Monsieur Jullien's concert the same evening. Of Mr. Brooke's impersonation of the character of Othello we cannot speak too highly, there is not only an originality of conception, but a perfect mastery of the language of the immortal Shakspeare—in fact we never saw the beau ideal of the bard's swarthy Moor until we had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Brooke. Mr. Brooke was efficiently supported by the stock company of the theatre in their various parts, and by Miss Duet as Desdemona. Mr. Walton, as 'ago, if not all that could be wished, was certainly highly respectable. Melville Hill perhaps rather went beyond what was intended in the inebriation scene, but on the whole was above an average Cassio. Mrs. Turner, as Emilia, appeared to great advantage. The audience, during the whole of the performance, exhibited the most marked attention, and the approbation evinced was loud and long. Mr. Brooke and Miss Duret, as also Mr. Walton, were called for at the close, amidst the most hearty cheers. Miss Dickenson followed in the farce of The PI oblem, and came in for a fair share of applause. Owing to several parties having previously engaged themselves to attend Jullien's concert, and having expressed their wish to seo Mr. Brooke iu the character of Othello, he has been prevailed upon to re-enact this character this (Tuesday evening. SALFORD, MARC 11 `2B.—Last night a crowded meeting of the chartists was held in this borough, for the professed purpose of considering the best means of pomoting the defence of Messrs. Smith O'Brien, Mit chell, and Meagher against their impending prosecution, and of fraternizing with the Ultra-Repeaters of Ireland, in order to a mutual co-operation for the attainment of the objects of both. MAZE-POND YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL INSTRUCTION SOClETY.—Yesterday evening the seventh anniversary meeting of this thriving association of young men for the purpose of intellectual advancement, was held in the vestry-room of the Chapel, Maze-pond, Southwark—the Rev. Mr. Aldis in the Chair. The proceedings were commenced in the usual manner, with a repast, of which a large number of the members and their friends par took, and the report having been read by the Secretary, stating the progress of the Society, the company were addressed by several gentlemen in speeches suitable to the occasion. BIRKENHEAD.—We understand that Lord Alor pal, Baron Goldsmid, Joseph Bailey, jun , Esq., M.P.. William Jackson, Esq., M.P., and J. M. Mendel, Esq., were yesterday (Monday) at Birkenhead, for the purpose we believe, of surveying the present condition of the dock works there. No doubt the report which Lord Nlorpeth will make to Government on the subject will have a material effect on the Bill now before Parliament relating to the works.—Liverpool Standard. THE SEWERS OF LONDON. The public mind has been much occupied of late wid the question of the health of town!, and in that gnestion is involved the drainage of the metropolis. Our readers will perhaps find some amusement fron the consideration of the rise and progress of the mos: ancient of these subterraneous ks. The oldest drains in London are probably tl.e Fleet River and the Walbroolt, two natural water-courses carrying off now the accumulated drainage of a dense!) populated area, as formerly they conveyed the waters o' the river Fleet and springs falling into them down to the Thames. As long ago as the year 1290, we read of the monk: of the White and Black Friars, with the Bishop of Sans bury, whose house was situate on the site of the present Salisbury-square, in Fleet- street, complaining to KJa. Edward I. of the condition of the Fleet river. At this time it must be remembered that this river was of such size and depth that " ten or•twelve ships navies at once with merchandizes were wont to come up to 011 Bourne (Holborn) bridge;" but a few years after the above datt it was made subject of complaint that the river " had become so narrowed by the raising of wharves, but specially by the diversion of water made by them of the New Temple for their mills, outside of Baynard Castle, and by other impediments, tha t their ships could not en ter as they were wont," whereupon the mayor and tin sheriffs of London were directed to amend this. Thus from time to time this Fleet river was cleansed and repaired under the direction of the civic authorities, and in 1589 the Court of Common Council raised the sum of 1,000 marks for this purpose. This river (according to Stow) was anciently called " the River of Wells ;" and about the beginning of the 14th century, that portion of it which lay north of the city boundary was known as " Turnmill Brook," from the number of mills erected on its banks; but the lower part became gradually used as a mere sewer. After the Great Fire of London, it was cleansed and repaired by the mayor and court of al dermen ; the sides were embanked with masonry, and warehouses for coals constructed on it, banks, with a wharf of thirty-five feet width formed on either side; and at Bridewell, Fleet-street, and Holborn, handsome bridges of Portland stone were con structed, at a cost of 30,000/ The corporation have in their library at the Guildhall, a picture of the period, representing the Bridewell, the Fleet river, and the bridge over it. In 1736 it was arched over by the corporation from Holborn to Fleet-street, and the old Fleet-market formed ou its site; but it was not till after Blackf'riars bridge was built that the southern portion was arched over, and New Bridge-street formed in its present state. In 1825 Fleet-market was removed by the corporation, and the street now called Farringdon-street was formed. So much for this ancient sewer. It has long been hid den from the eye of the passenger; but the bridges re ferred to above yet exist in part, and the waters rush at times through this mighty culvert with a force and ra pidity that would alarm the inexperienced. Indeed, conveying, as it does, the bulk of the drainage of all the country round the base of Highgate-hill, Camden town, Battle-bridge, and places contiguous, this sewer almost equals the larger sewers of ancient Rome, and, we be lieve, it is the largest of our metropolitan arched sewers, and probably the largest in the world. The next watercourse in importance in the old city of London is that anciently forming the Walbrook, and of late 3 ears built over and enclosed within the limits of a modern sewer, now running from London-bridge through King William street and and Princes-street to the City boundary at Moorgate. Here is a work of the last fifteen years, constructed chiefly on the site of the ancient Walbrook—a river of great width and depth in former days, having its source about Hoxton. Few persons consider, as they travel through the streets before-mentioned, that a sewer of a size large enough for a cab to drive through runs beneath their feet, up which the Thames flows as high up as Lothbury. Such, however, is the fact ; and this wonderful work has en abled the low flat ground of Holloway to be drained of late years. Such are the main sewers of London. The old town ditch, recorded by Stow to have been two hundred feet wide, winds still in its original track round the course of the old city wall, though now limited to a sever va ryieg in sizi. But still it is an interesting relic of the olden time, and, with the other watercourses of London, form the main arteries in a system of drainage which now, within the limits of one square mile, counts at least forty-three miles lineal of public sewers within the mu nicipal division called the city of London. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NORTHAMPTON SPRING MEETING. NORTHAMPTON, TUESDAY EVENING, SIX O'CLOCK. Further Arrivals—War Eagle, Prairie Bird, Dacia, Latitat, Puffy, Farthingal filly by Cotherstone, out of Kalmia; Embrace, Sylvan, Convict, Antler, Pic colo, othersthorpe, Nina, Retail, bf by Cesar, out of Emily, Goodwood, Historian, Harlestone, 'Consuela, Multum in Parvo, Brother to Counsellor, Elimea, The Judge, The Pony, Havvkstone, br f by Touchstone, out of Chapeau d'Espagne; Sword Player, and The Fiddler. Dawson's lot expected to-night. The following is the complete entry for the Queen's Plate:—Mr. Pedley's Miss Burns, Mr. Parr's Marietta, Lord Chesterfield's Lady Wildair, Mr. Bouverie's War Eagle, Mr. Irwin's Ballinafad, Mr. T. Price's Legislator, Mr. Mostyn's Sagacity, Mr. Verity's Walmgate-bsr Without, Mr. Hussey's Embrace, Mr. Peck's Ellin Loraine. BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TUESDAY. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.-4 to 1 egg Ballinafad; 11 to 2 agst Enchanter, (t)-8 to 1 agst Walmgate Bar Without, (t)-8 to 1 agst Joc o' Sot, (t)-10 to 1 agst Joe Lovell, (t) 12 to 1 agst Lady Wildair. WINDSOR STEEPLECHASES.—TUESDAY. Hrudicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, and only 5 ft if declared, with 100 added; the second saves his stake. Four miles. (22 Subs., 9of whom declared.) Mr. Elmore's British Yeoman, Ilst Ilb (J. Mason) 1 Lord Strathmore's St.. Leger, list llb ... 2 Captain Harvey's Mushroom, lOst 3 The following also started, but were not placed:—Cap tain W. Peel's Chandler, 12st 41b—Mr. Hunter's Amea, lOst 61b—Mr. J. R. Walker's Mushroom, lOst 71b—Mr. Clifton na Young Lottery, 9st 131b—Mr. J. Anderson's Profligate, lOst—Mr. Whitfield's Gipsy Queen, 9st 91b. Betting-3 to 1 agst Chandler, 9to 2 agst St. Leger, 5 to 1 each agst Profligate and British Yeoman (taken), 8 to 1 agst Captain Harvey's Mushroom, and 10 to 1 eget Young Lottery. Won easily. The Light-weight Military Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, 5 ft; the second to save his stake. Four miles. Mr. H. Joliffe's Hornet ... ... walked over The Hack Stakes of 2 soy& each, and 12 added, list each, the second to save his stake, and the winner to be sold for 601, three miles, were won by Mr. Young's The Painter (Land), beating Mr. Hussey's Gridiron, and Mr. West's Sylvanus. 2tol on Painter, Won easily. Match-100 sovs. Two miles. Captain Somerset's Twilight, list (Mr. Berkeley) 1 Mr. Joliffe's Brunette, 12st ... 2 7t04 on Twilight. Won in a canter. Free Handicap of 5 Boys. each, and 20 added. Three miles. Lord Strathmore's Scylla, lOst 41b Mr. J. Mason's Hipbriar, list 71b Sir E. Poore's Pilgrim, list 21b The following also ran:—Mr. Coghlan's Urchin, 94 121 b, and Mr. Anderson's b g by Economist, lOst. Even on Ilipbriar, and 2to 1 agst Scylla. Won by a length. LINCOLN STEEPLE CHASE.—TUESDAY. This race, which is now established as one of the favourites, took place this day. Tho signal being given for starting, Wanderer took the lead, closely followed by the whole field; all took the first fence. On crossing near the race stand, Jenny Lind fell and lost her rider. At the fourth fence some refusals were made; Wanderer still kept the lead, and maintained it up the hill though closely watched and pushed by the Maid of Athens. Coriander fell back on rising the hill. Richard the First and Abraham Parker kept on the lurch. Forest Boy was up and at work, and all were in earnest; on reach ing the last fence, Wanderer still kept the lead, Forest Boy gaining considerably by taking the fence lower down; Richard the First here made a push, but the Maid of Athens began to look suspicious, All was anxiety for Wanderer, who led through the whole distance, but blood will do it at a push. On nearing the last flag the interest was exciting—Forest Boy, Richard, and the Maid of Athens altogether, contending with all their speed, heading Wanderer; a race began between Forest Boy and the Athenian Maid, when on reaching the win ning post the Maid of Athens won by two lengths. The following is the order in which they were placed:— Captain Barnett's b m Maid of Athens (114Donough) 1 Mr. Donaldson's b g Forest Boy, aged ... 2 Mr. J. S. Moseley's b g Richard the First ... ... 3 Mr. W. Marshah'e Wanderer, aged ... ... 4 V started. The distance, our miles, was run iu 121 minutes 3 seconds. THE HURDLE RACE.—For this race, which has now become fashionable, there were thirteen entries, but only five started ; the ground chosen was round the race course, with four flights of hurdles, over two miles ; and for a full view no better country could be fjund. On starting they all went off at full speed ; three took their first leap most admirably—the other two bruvhed the fence, and a hurdle was knocked down, all the other fences were cleverly cleared. On ascending the hill they kept well together—for although Cavendish was per mitted to have the lead, it was evident the others were politely waiting, which is a good deal to say for a " clod hopper." On nearing the last flight Clod Hopper challenged, and Dickens accepted the challenge. Fatima attempted to charm them, but they paid her no atten tion. Dickens headed at the last flight of hurdles, but was scarcely off his legs when Clod Hopper was over, Fatima:quickly on them; but it was evident the race was to bo between Clod Hopper and Dickens—and a good race it was, which ended in favour of Dickens. Whit worth never rode better than when nearing the last fence ; with a jockey less experienced, Clod Hopper would have been number one. They were placed as follows: — Mr. Snaith nd b h Dickens ... Mr. Davis's g g Clod Hopper, aged ... Mr. C. Eropson's ch m Fatima, aged The race was run in 7i minutes. —Abridged from the Lincolnshire Times. (Archer) I ... (Whitworth) ... 2 ... .. 3 Sir W. Molesworth paired off with Mr. Hudson in favour of Mr. Hume's motion fcr referring the Property tax Bill to a Select Committee. The natives of Germany, resident in Nottingham, have entered into a subscription tor•ard3 the relief of the sufferers at Berlin, and we hope this example will be fol lowed by similar demonstrations in the large manufactur ing districts. IMPORTATION OF Icr..—An importation of an en tire cargo of ice has just taken place by a vessel arrived in the river from Leer (Hanover). From the size and tonnage of the vessel, it may be computed that the quzn tity was something less than 100 tons weight in balk. This is the first arrival of ice during the present se.lson from any of the states of Europe. PARLIAMEN TARY DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) TUIZSDAY, At.h. am 23. RAILWAY COMMISSION - . Motion made, and Question proposed, " That in the opioion of this House the powers, rights, and authorities now vested by the Act 9 and 10 Vic. c. 105, in the Com misSioners of Railways, may be so regulated as to secure their efficient execution at a greatly diminished rate of charge to the public :"—Whereupon Previous Question put, " That that Question be now put." The House divided : MINORITY-AYES, 56. Adair, Hugh E. Fuller, A. E. Packe, C. W. Adderley, C. B. Gladstone, W. E. Pilkington, James Irkwright, George Goulburn, Henry Pugh, David Baldock, E. H. Graham, Sir James Renton, John C. Bennet, Philip Gwyn, Rowel Raiford, Francis Bentinck, Lord G. Heald, James Spooner. R. Berkeley, Grantley Henley, J. W. Stuart, ,J. Bolder°, Henry Henry, Alexander Sullivan, Michael Brouridge, Richard Ilerries, John C. Thesiger, Sir F. Bruce, C. L. Ilildyard, It. C. Thompson, Colonel Clay, James Hood, Sir A lexander Thompson, Ald. Clerk Sir G. Hume, Joseph Tyrrell, Sir J. Clive, Henry B. Ingestre, Viscount Vivian, J. L. Cobbold, J. C. Kershaw, James Vyse, It. 11. P.. 11. Currie, Henry Lowther, Colonel Wahusley. Sir J. Davies, D. A. Meagher, Thomas Wortley, J. S. Disraeli, B. Mahon, Viscount Duncan, Lord Napier, Joseph TELLERS. F'loyer, John Newdegate, C. N. Baukes, G. Forbes, William O'Connor, Feargus Hudson, G. MAJORITY-NOES, 75. Abdy, T. N. Fox, R. M. Pigott, Francis Aglionby, H. A. Gibson, T. M. rower, Nicholas Anson, Colonel Grace, 0. D. J. Price, Sir R. Armstrong, Sir A. Grey, Sir George Raphael, Alexander Arundel, Earl of Guest, Sir John Ricardo, Osman Baring, F. T. Hawes, Benjamin Rice, E. R. Barnard, E. G. Hayter, W. G. Sadleir, John Bellew, IL M. Heathcoat, John Shell, It. L. Boyle, Colonel Heywood, James Shelburne, Earl of Brockman, E. D. Hobbouse, T. B. Staney, R. A. Brotherton, Joseph Hodges, T. L. Somerville, Sir W. Buller, Charles Jervis, Sir Jokn Strickland, Sir G. Busfeild, W. Kepp,l, G. T. Tailored, 11. W. Campbell, W. F. Labouchere, Henry Tenison, E. K. Clifford, Henry M. Langston, J. H. Tennent, R. J. Coke, Edward K. Littleton, E. R. Thicknesse, It. A. Craig, W. G. Macnamara, Major Thornely, Thomas Dunias, Admiral M'Cullagh, W. T. Tynte, Colonel Dundas, Sir David M'Gregor, John Verney, Sir H. Dunne, Francis r. Mitchell, T. A. Ward, IL G. Ebrington, Lord Morpeth, Viscount Watkins, Colonel Elliot, John E. 3lorison, General Wilson, Matthew Fitzpatrick, JW. Nugent, re , ir Percy Wood, Sir Charles Foley, John H. O'Connell, M. J. TELLERS. Fordyce, A. D. Palmerston, Viscount Tufnell, Henry Forster, Mathew Parker, John Hlll, Lord M. ELECTION RECOGNIZANCES BILL. Order for Second Reading read; Motion made, and Ques• tion proposed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :" —Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of the Question to add the words " this day six months :"—Question put, " That the word now' stand part of the Question." The House divided : MAJORITY-AYES, 112. Acland, Sir T. Feßowes, E. O'Connor, Feargus Adderley, C. B. Floyer, John Packs, C. W. Alexander, N. Foley, J. 11. Palmer, 'Robert Ansley, Thomas Forbes, Wm. Peto, Samuel Bagge, W. Fertescue, Chichester Pigott, Francis Bagot, William Fox, Richard )1. Pilkington, James Bailey, Joseph, jun. Fuller, A. E. Power, Nicholas Bankes, George Gardner, J. D. Raphael, Alexander Barkly, Hoary Gaskell, J. M. Renton, J. C. Barrington, Viscount Gibson, T. M. Sadleir, John Bennet, Philip Gooch, E. S. Scholeticl.l, W. Beresford, William Greene, John Shell, It. L. Berkeley, If. F. Grey, Ralph W. Sibtborp, Colonel Berkeley, Grantley Grogan, Edward Simeon, John Blake, M. J. Gwyn, Vowel Smith, John Z. Bolden, 11. G. Halsey, T. I'. Smyth, J. G. Bolling, William Hamilton, Lord C. Somerville. Sir W. Boyle, Robert E. Ilcatlicoat, John Spooner, Richard Bremridge, Richard Henry, Alexander Stafford, Augustus Bright, John Hervey, Lord A. S.ephenson, Robert Brisco, If. Hildyar,l, R. C. Stuart, Henry Brockman, E. D. Hudson, George Sullivan, Michael Burroughes, 11. Ingestre, Viset. Turner, George Chichester, Lord J. Jackson, William Tyrrell, Sir J. T. Christy, Samuel Johnstone, Sir J. Verner, Sir W. Clay, James Jolltife, Sir W G. Vyse, R. H. Cobbold, John C. Kershaw, James Waddington, IL S. Cocks, '1 homas S. Knox, Colonel Walmsley, Sir J. Codrington, Sir W. Law, C. E. Westhead, J. I'. Coke, E. K. Lowther, Hon. Col. Williams, John Colvile, C. It. Mahon, O'Gorman Williams, T. P. Cripps, William Mahon, Viscount Willoughby, Sir 11. Davies,7D. A. S. Aleux, Sir henry Wilson, Matthew Devereux, J. T. Neeld, Joseph. Wyld, James Duncombe, 0. Newdegate, N. Duncuft, John Newport, Viset. TELLXIS. Edwards, Henry Newry, Viscount Wortley, J. S. Fagan, William Nugent, Slr Percy Thesiger, Sir F. Farrer, James O'ltrien, Sir Lucius MINORITY-NOES, 80. Adair, R. Shafts Greufell, Charles W. Parker, John Arkwright, G. Grey, Sir G. Patten, J. W. Armstrong, Sir A. llaggitt, F. R. Plowden, W. IL Baring, F. T. Hall, Sir Benjamin Price, Sir Robert Bellew, R. - M. Haliyburton, Lord Ricardo, Osman; Bouverie, E. P. llastie, Alexander Rice, E. R. Bowring, Dr. Hastie, Archibald Richards, Richard Bramstou, T. W. Hayter, W. G. Seymour, Lord Brotherton, J. Ileathcote, Sir W. Shelburne, Earl of Buller, Sir J. Y. Berries, J. C. Smith, J. A. Campbell, W. F. ' Heywood, James Sotheron, T. 11. Cardwell, Edward Hill, Lerd Marcus Strickland, Sir G. Carter, Jelin B. Hobhouse, T. B. Stuart, Lord Dudley Clerk Sir George Hood, Sir A. Talbot, C. R. Clive, H. B. Jervis, Sir John Tancred, 11. IV. Cowper, W. F. Langston, J. 11. Thicknesse, Ralph Craig, W. G. Lewis, George C. Thompson, Colonel Douglas, Sir C. R. Megan, W. U. Thornely, T. Duff, G. S. Marshall, W. Townley, R. G. Duncan, George Martin, C. W. Watkins, Colonel Dundas, Sir D. Mitchell, A. T. Wawu, J T. Ebrington, Viscount Morris, David Wood, Sir Charles Evans, William Mure, Colonel Wood, W. P. Ferguson, Sir R. Napier, Joseph Yorke, Henry R. Fordyce, A. D. Norreys, Lord Forster, M. O'Connell, M. J. TELLERS. Graham, Sir James Ogle, S. C. Bernal, Ralph Greene Thomas Palmer, Bounden Inglis, Sir It. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. Sir,—On Monday the 27th, Mr. Hume brought on another debate on the income-tax. Some points in it may usefully be noticed, for future use. Sir Robert Inglis made a distinct proposal for al lowing every man to deduct 1501. from his rateable in come, or, in other words, charging every man with the income-tax for the excess only of his income above 1501. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply, dwelt on the inconvenience, amounting to impracticability, which he stated to have been found, in all times and places, in levying an income-tax in any way but uni formly. But it did not appear to me that he in any degree applied himself to the proposal of Sir Robert Inglis. The objections may therefore be considered as buried for the present, in the mass of unsifted difficulties which surround the general question. As might be expected from past proceedings, the supporters of Mr. Hume were in a minority; 73 voting with him, and 284 against. On Tuesday, contrary to expectation, the Election Recognizances Bill made its appearance again. A wonderful diversity of opinions was displayed upon the subject ; no less than seven lawyers, as was remarked, to the amusement of the House, by Sir James Graham, having undertaken to enlighten the un learned public, and given almost as many different views of the question. Considerable canvassing being understood to have been made by the sitting Members, who from sonic turn of the game have dis covered they are interested in the Bill, the second reading was carried by 112 against 80. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, T. PERRONET THOMPSON. Blackheath, London, March 29, 1848. COURT CIRCULAR. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited the Queen yesterday at Buckingham rulace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, honoured the performance at Drury-lane Theatre with his presence yesterday. The Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Colonel Bouverie, were in attendance on the Royal party. Her Royal Highness the Princess llelena was taken an airing yesterday. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Ken , , and his Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia, dined with his Royal Highness Prince Albert yesterday evening at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia paid visits yesterday to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, at Clarence House, St. James's; to their Royal High nesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at Cam bridge House; and to her Royal Highness the Dmless of Gloucester, at Gloucester House. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and his Serene Highness Prince Frederick of Hesse visited the Prince of Prussia on Monday evening, at the residence of the Prussian Minister, on Carlton House-terrace. Colonel R. Cannon, K.S.F., was presented by Viscount Palmerston to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, on Wednesday, at the Levee, on being appointed a Knight Commander of Charles the Third. Mr. IN yon, of her Majesty's Mint, had an interview with Lord John Russell, at his official residence in Downing-street, on Monday. The Ecclesiastical Commissions for England had a Committee meeting yesterday, at their Office in White hall-place. ITER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen's box at her Majesty's Theatre was last evening occupied by the Earl and Countess of Granville, Viscount Sydney and party ; that of her Majesty Queen Adelaide by the Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas, Mr. Pringle and party. Amongst the general company we noticed the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo, the Marchioness of Douro, the Earl of Lonsdale, the Earl of Falmouth, the Earl of Munster, the Earl of Aboyne, the Countess of Tankerville, the Hanoverian Minister, the Swedish Minister, the Baroness Brunnow. Mademoiselle Olga de Lechner, the Sardinian Minister, the Count de Berke, M. C. de Koudriaffsky, M. Davidoff, the Viscountess Palmerston, the Viscount Anson, the Viscount Cantilupe, th 3 Viscountess Mahon, Lord Marcus Hill, Mr. and Madame Dellessert, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Elohinstone, Lord Ossulston, Lord William Lennox, Lord John Hay, Lady Webster, Sir Ralph Howard and Lady Howard, Mr. and Lady Augusta Wentworth, Sir George Milbanke and Lady Margaret Milbanke, Sir George Wotnbwell, Sir Felix Booth, Sir John Lowther, Lady Clarke, &c. MARCH 29, 1848. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ttlo('SF OF MONS. fila , ch THE EVICTIONS IN GALWAY. Sir G. GREY . said he might perhaps permitted to refer to a ease which had been mentioned on a former evening, by the Hon. M.:Daher for Stroud (Nlr. P. Serope). Ho had that morning received a private letter from Lis Not;le Friend the L•n.d-Lieutenaiit of Ireland, stating that ho had seen the notice taken of that case in the House, and expressing surprise, in which he (Sir G. Grey) participated, that his Right Hon. Friend (Sir W. Somerville) and himself should hare been ignorant that measures in reference to this case had actually been taken by the Irish Government; for it was the Noble Lord's firm c mviction that information of the pro ceedings taken by the Government had been ad dressed to the Home•office some time ago. That letter must have been accidentally boat, for it had certainly never reach:d him (Sir G. Grey); and his Right lion. Friend (Sir W. Somerville) had assured him that, until the preceding ni , 4ht, he had not received any answer to the communication ho had addressed to Mr. Redington on the subject. He felt it due to the Lord Lieutoiant, after the reproach that had been cast on the Irish Government, to state the steps that had been taken in the matter, whereby the Noble Lord would be ac quitted of any neglect, or any indifference to the outrage. At the moment he heard of the case, which was before the statements appe:tred in the newspapers, for it was first brought to the knowledge of the Poor-law Commis sioners—he determined to take those measures which it was competent to him to adopt for a thorough investiga• tion of the facts, and for the punishment, if possible, of the parties who had been guilty of the cruelties alleged. Considerable but unavoidable delay took place, owing to the circumstance of Captain Ellard, who was deputed to make the requisite inquiries, being seized with typhus fever, whi2h unfortunately terminated in his death. Major NVElie was appointed to succeed him; an inquiry was di rected to be taken upon oath; and the result was before the House. Immediately after that report has been brought under the notice of the Lord-Lieutenant he had sub mitted the whole case to the law officers; and they were of opinion that the Government could not legally insti tute a criminal prosecution against the parties. The next step which the Lord-Lieutenant took was to intimate his opinion to the Lord Chancellor—Mr. Blake lecing a magistrate—that his name should be removed from the commission of the peace.—(gear, hear.) The Lord Chancellor had not immediately acted on that sugges tion, but, adopting his invariable practice, had trans mitted a statement of the case to Mr. Blake, thus afford ing him the opportunity of explanation. For a length of time no explanation had been received from Mr. Blake, Ind when it did arrive at last it was considered unsatis t'actory, and Mr. Blake's name had been struck off the commission. Another person also implicated in the transaction, Mr. St. George, a Member of that House, but who was now abroad, had been called upon for an explanation, but no;answer had yet been received. This would convince the House that the case had not escaped the observation of the Irish Government, and that the Noble Lord had taken all the measures which it was competent to take in order to express his sense of the proceeding.—(l - lestr, hear.) ELECTION RECOGNIZANCES BILL. Mr. S: WORTLEY roso to move the second reading this Bill, but Mr. Hume and Mr. Bankes, who had ecitises on the paper, having refused to resign their right precedence, the Bill was postponed. EXPENSES OF THE RAILWAY COMMISSION. Mr. BANKES then rose to move, " That in the opinion of this House the powers, rights, and authority now vested by the Act 9 and 10 Vic., c. 105, in the Commissioners of Railways, may be so regulated as to secure their efficient execution at a greatly diminished rate of charge to the public." He complained that the Railway Commission had no duties to perform, because the Act of Parliament which was to regulate their pro eeediegs had not been proposed to the House after the Mil of the Right Honourable President of the Railway Board had been withdrawn. Under these circumstances he thought the sooner the Commission wasidone away with the better. The authority proposed to be given to them was most arbitrary and vexatious. Ile thought they had sufficient experience of the Railway Commis skin to justify them in corning to the conclusion that it was more an evil than anything else. Its con stitution was most expensive. The expenses of the railway department when it was connected with the Board of Trade did not exceed 1,972/. But in the first year of the present Commission it cost the country no ess than 17,0001. That was an amount quite dispro p wtionate to any benefit derived from the Railway Board. He thought they could easily save the country this expense in a great measure by transferring back the railway department to the Board of Trade. The Right lion. Gentleman who was appointed to the head of the Iteilwily Commission was nut a Member of that House, end he believed that it was essential for the head of that department that he should have a seat in that House. ['here was a President and Vice-President of the Beard of Trade, both of whom had seats in the House, and he believed they had sufficient time at their disposal, in consequence of the free-trade measures, to attend to the railway department. But if they had not, a small in crease mialet be made in that department which would enable them to do the business to the satisfaction of the public. lie thought the Government would do well to adopt his motion, because matters could not remain as they were. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was desirable that the utmost practical economy should be carried out in this department.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the origin of the board, the Hon. Gentleman seemed to forget that there were three reports recom mending the constitution of such a body, and the Bill for this purpose had the almost unanimous support of that House.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the ex penses, the Hon. Gentleman was in error in saying that they amounted to 17,0001. The actual expenses were only 12,0001. He regretted that his Right lion. Friend (Mr. Strutt) was not then in the House, as he would be able to give the Hon. Gentleman a more detailed ac count of the expenditure. The Hon. Gentleman seemed to forget the great services performed by the Railway Board in preparing reports for the guidance of Com mittees. The business of that board was greatly on the increase. At the present time the business transacted amounted to more than one-third the whole business done in the course of last year. His Right Honourable Friend (Mr. Strutt) had been appointed to the head of the board from his acquaintance with the private business and standing orders of the House. As soon as the report of the Derby Election Committee had been made, he placed his resignation in the hands of his Noble Friend, feeling that it was essential for the head of the railway department to have a seat in the House. His Noble Friend being of the same opinion, accepted that resignation, however reluctantly. ,The Government then had to determine whether they would fill up that place, and they came to the conclusion not to fill up the place vacated by Mr. Strutt. It was not their intention, therefore, at present to appoint any successor to that gentleman.—(Hear, heat'.) They would appoint a member of the Beard of Trade as an unpaid Commis sioner to the office; and they would then see, by experi ment, how the business of the railway department could be conducted in that way. If the Committee that was then sitting reported as advisable that it would be ex pedient still further to reduce the expenses of that department, the Government would readily ac quiesce. The Government were ready to reduce the ex penditure; but he did not see that there would be any advantage in coming to the resolution proposed by the Hon. Gentleman, in the spirit of which, however, they fully concurred. Mr. HUDSON cougratulated the House on the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman. It was not his desire to take away the super vision of the Govern ment, or to weaken the power which they possessed over different railway companies, but he thought that more economy might be practised in the railway department. As an instance of the way in which unnecessary expense was incurred, he would mention to the House that an anonymous letter having appeared in the Times, stating that Mr. Hudson had detained the train at Derby, and that an accide et had occurred, the Commissioners actually cut out the letter, and sent it to the secretary of the company to know what explanation could be given. IsLy.v tie fact alleged was perfectly untrue; but when persons were scut about on such slight grounds it was no wonder that the expenses should b. great. There was an old adage, that when persons had nothing to do, they were sure to do mischief, and that was the case with regard to the Railway Board. He believed that one man of common sense and cep, ri ence would be mere efficient than a host of intelligent aed resin stable men with salaries of 1,000/. a year each (Hear.) It had been his good fortune to he on the best terms with the Board of Trade, and it was his bounden duty to ?illy that that Board executed the business of railways far better than the existing Commission. He was sure that a large and a very important saving might be effected by the abolition of the Board. Mr. V. SMITH said the tendency of the Hon. Mem ber's speech was to get rid of all supervision and control. —(No, no.) For his part he thought supervision abso lutely necessary for the sake and safety of the public. He cared not whether it we: in the Board of Trade, or any other authority; but control, ho felt assured, was the one thing wanting. Mr. GLAI)STONE thought it necessary that, before all things, they should remember that the question now was not whether there should be some sort of control, but whether the present description of control should continue. lie sincerely wished, after what he had hoard, he could desire the withdrawal of this motion. But he thought there was some thing primarily wrong in the existing system. The Act proceeded on the supposition that Government was to exercise a very great control; but the limits of that control were not defined before the Commission was appointed. The consequence was a failure. Powers were demanded which the House re fused to give; and it was clear that, at this time, those powers would not be conceded. Then, if Parliament was not prepared to give thoso powers, they were not justi fied in maintaining the authority which was originally designed to carry them into effect. For his own part he could not at all understand why the Board of Trado should not undertake all this business. That depart ment was by no means overcharged with business. This very year it had happened that the President of the Board of Trade had conducted all the Parliamentary business of the Colonial-office i❑ the absence of the Member for Kinsale; and surely, if he had time for that, he could find time for the business of railways. The duties now divided between the President and the Vice- President of the Board of Trade, the Master of the Mint, and the Chief Commissioner of Railways, were all at one time performed by his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Dover. There was every prospect that the business would be still'easier than it was wont to be, and that it might be executed with perfect ease and satisfaction in one or two apartments of the Board of Trade. Mr. HUME said it was quite refreshing to hear such advocacy of economy. Ile hoped they should have many repetitions of the Right Hon. Gentleman's speech. He had agreed to the appointment of the Commission under the strong impression that further powers were 'requisite and ought to he givcn; but he had now ar rivA ut the :.onelu6itin tut. the d.•p might pro rerly merge in the Bov.rd of Trade. Afttr what had passed he hoped the G.,maii4siun ould be broken up as a matter if course. Mr. F. T. BARING quite concurred in the staterneLt that this board had been constituted with the expectation that a greater contril over railways should be vested in it; and if those powers were not to he given, certainly the machinery of the board was tnu:•h too intricate and c ,stly for c xisting purposes. But his impression was, that a time might come when an extension of the powers of this board might be demanded. His impression cer tainly was, that it was injudicious to vest railway busi ness in the Maid of Trade. By having the business in one office he thought it could be much more satisfac torily transacted than by resting it in a variety of rent authorities. Sir J. GRAHAM did not think that this was the fit opportunity for considering whether a new office should be created. The time had come when all needless ex penditure ought to be checked.—(llear, hear.) It was quite clear that two years ago they had created a new office without delegating to it the performance of any duties whatever. This was not the fault of Parliament or of the Government ; but the error had been detected and it was time that they should correct it. The Hon. Member for Montrose, every one would agree, was one of the most honourable and honest men in the House. During his long Parliamentary career no one could say that the Hon. Member ever sought for himself any situation of honour, place, or profit, whatKiever. But the Hon. Member had his hobbies, and the Railroad Board was one of them. Mr. LABOUCHERE said it was almost a matter of impossibility to please the House on the subject of rail way legislation. Whatever plan was proposed for the improvement of the system, some other plan was sure to be suggested. His great objection to the motion of the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire was that it prejudged a question upon which the fullest information would ere long be presented to Parliament, it being the intention of the Railway Board before or immediately after Easter to lay a detailed report before Parliament, exhibiting what the board had already done—and he thought its duties would be found to have been more arduous than was imagined—and to make the suggestions which upon mature consideration, it was prepared with as to future legislation upon the subject. He doubted very much the advantage of merging the duties of this Commission altogether in the Board of Trade. He did not shrink from any additional labour which might hence be thrown upon himself—he believed he might say he had never manifested any disposition to avoid labour in the public service, any desire to secure an easy posi tion for himself—(Hear, hear)—but he thought that such an alteration would not work well. The House might rely upon it that the class of duties in question were not to be properly performed by a few extra clerks at low salaries; they required men of great skill and of high and established reputation. He would not meet the Hon. Gentleman with a direct negative, for the motion was a fit one to be considered upon the full information which would shortly be placed before the House; but he would call upon the House to proceed to the previous question. Sir H. VERNEY urged the necessity of long notice in legislating upon this important subject. The House divided, when there appeared—' For the previous question Against it Majority PRINTING OF PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Mr. HUME moved "That it be referred to the Speaker, and the Committee for Printing of Papers, to consider and to report to the House whether any and what improvement can be made in the printing and the engrossing of Bills." Lord AtAHON, as a member of the Printing Com mittee, had no objection to the inquiry sought ; but as to the suppositio❑ that any economy would be effected by printing the Parliamentary papers in quarto instead of in folio, the expense, on the contrary, would be enhanced. Sir G. GREY regarded the motion as calculated to lead to very beneficial results. The motion was then agreed to. ELECTION RECOGNIZANCES BILL. Mr. J. S. WORTLEY moved the seeond reading of this Bill. He urged the necessity of no longer delaying to withdraw from that House the discretion as regarded legal points, which now so often lead to collisions with the courts of law. It was adruitt, d on all hands that some legislation on the subject was necessary. Doubtless whatever course might be taken would be surrounded with diffinilties, but no diilicul ties would be so great as these which pervaded the present system. The Act of 7 and S Vic. had been in one respect found defective ; the case of recognizances was altogether a casus omissus there, so that no parties proceeding in election committees, whether the petitioners or the petitioned, went upon any clear or e‘rtain princi ple. Recognizouces were not idle forms, but were pro vided as securities for the prosecution of any petition entered against any Member. The 7 and 8 Vie. did not neglect the subject of reeogniesnees, but, goisqg further than 28 Geo. 111., provided that petitions should not even be received unless recog.,nzences were previously entered into ; but the defect of this Act, which he now sought to remedy, was, that it provided no practical means of trying the validity of the recognizances so given. His proposal, differing in this respect from that of the lion. Member for Midhurat, was to give the Committee to whom the petitions were referred power to amend the recognizances, in cases which they deemed fitting. What he had to propose was, that the first clause and the schedule referred to in it be altogether omitted, inserting a clause making the Bill universal instead of temporary. His second proposition was, that instead of sending back the petitioners to enter into fresh recognizances, the Bill should give power to the Committee to entertain the pre liminary objections to the recognizances, and also to decide upon their legality; another, that if the recogni zances were found invalid, and that by the lathes of the petitioners, then that no further proceedings be gone into. But that if the recognizances were invalid owing to the fault of the examiner, then that the petitioners should have power to make them good. There would also be granted a power to the Committee to proceed to make the recognizances good forthwith. Under the present system the officer of the house passed recog nizances such as no lawyer would pronounce to be valid. The Right Honourable Baronet opposite (Sir G. Grey) had intimated, the other night, that these propositions were rejected by the Committee unani mously. Now, the Committee was not unanimous, for his lion. Friend the Member for Abingdon was absent when the division was come to. The reason alleged for rejecting the propositions was, that, if adopted, they might lead to conflicting decisions. That was a diffi culty to which all judicial bodies were liable ; but an Election Committee was the only form of judicial pro ceeding which the House was possessed of, and more over there decisions could not be conflicting, because the circumstances of no two petitions were the same. If the Bill which he submitted was agreed to, the House would hereafter avoid coming into conflict with the courts of law, and under these circumstances he begged to move that it be read a second time. Mr. BERNAL said the Committee manifested great unanimity on the propositions of his Right Hon. Friend. When he (Mr. J. S. Wortley) asserted that no conflict ing decisions could in future arise, he might be right, but he ought to recollect that every decision became a precedent, and was followed as such. He would never consent to give such a power as was contained in the proposed Bill to:a Committee of five gentlemen up stairs. The questions which would have to be decided by them were of vast importance, and as little as possible of law ought to be submitted to Election Committees. He was ready to admit that the last statute of 7 and 8 Vic., was deficient in sonic respects, but a general declaratory Act would cure that evil, and suffice to render it more stringent in respect to recognizances. Rather, therefore, than pass such a measure as that recommended by his Right Hon. Friend, he was disposed to say that a general declaratory Bill ought to be brought in by which the duties of the examiner of recogniaances would be more clearly defined. Lord MAHON expressed his intention to support the Bill of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Bute, !or it w as quite a diGrent one from that of the Hon. and Learned Member for Midhurst, which he had opposed. What the present Bill proposed to e ffect was, to give the honest petitioner an opportunity ter rendering his recog nisances valid, and this was a good and a proper object to effect. The Hon. Member for Rechester objected to granting power to Election Cornmitte , s to decide upon . legal questions, bat that objection applied to the whole system of Election Committees, and for one he had never approved of the present system. If the Hon. Member for Rochester would bring in such a Bill as he had described, he should have his (Lord Mahon's) hearty support. Sir G. GREY said that though he was quite indifl'e rent as to what decision the House might come to, he still must say a few words on the motion of the Right Hon. and Learned Member for Bute, who had taken the unprecedented course of adopting a waif, or stray Bill, and after cancelling the whole of its enact ive clauses, and insetting entirely fresh ones, had brought it forward and recommended it for the sanction of the House. It' such a course of legislation was to be permitted, he could not foresee the results. The course recommended would, if adopted, stultify their former proceedings. Why did not the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman conform to the rules of the House, and bring in a new Bill? Ile begged to say that he should vote against the motion. Sir R. INGLIS said that on a recent occasion the House was called on to divide on the word " that," but on the present occasion they were called on to vote on a sheet of blank paper, for, with the exception of the preamble (which was not an enacting part of the Bill), and the clause giving power to amend in future, the whole clauses of the Bill which he moved the House to read a second time were struck out. He objected, therefore, to the second reading of a Bill of which all but five or six lines had been struck out. He moved as an amendment that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Sir F. THESIGER found a difficulty in dealing with the question, seeing that his Right Honourable and Learned Friend the Member for Bute had told the house that his object in introducing the Bill was that a totally different measure might be framed en it. He (Sir Frederick Thesiger) was of opinion that some legislation on the subject was absolutely necessary. On a former occasion the House had decided that the best mode of proceeding was to refer the matter to a Select Committee. He believed that that was a proper course, but that the House had erred in not giving the Com mittee greater powers. It appeared to him that there were only three courses open to the House with refer ence to this subject.—(A laugh.) They might either do nothing, or have the House to net on each case, or they might legislate finally on the subject. To do nothing would, he feared, be highly dangeious, and very likely to bring the llouse into collision with courts of law on questions of privilege. The next course would be to leave those questions to be decided by the House. But the House had already decided that it was itself a most improper tribunal for their decision. It then became WI 9 1 4 3 1 ,4 51,4 Val is 4 i