The Sun. — London, England, 1848-08-17 00:00:00

THE O'CONNOR LAND SCHEME. (From the Examiner.) The whole of the evidence taken by the Committee on the Nationsil Land. Company being now published, we aye in a condition-to state the results of its ope rations as exactly as its strangely-kept accounts permit. Nineteen thousand subscribers have paid their shares in full, and are entitled to stand the ballot for the pur poses of being located. Fifty thousand six hundred and sixty-nine have paid in part (the average of their payment is 2s. 2d. each individual). Two hundred and thirty have been located. On the land already acquired, five hundred and forty-six, or one-thirty-fifth of th lo e num ber entitled to stand the ballot, may or can be cated. On the most favourable calculation, the whole of the subscribers to the scheme cannot possibly be lo cated in less time than a period intermediate between 150 and 225 years. Even this result can only be anticipated on the as sumption that every person placed upon the land suc ceeds in obtaining from it the very high returns of produce held out by Mr. O'Connor, and that the land scheme and the banking scheme are in full operation. The estimated produce appears, from the evidence of a practical agriculturist, to be in ex cess of what can possibly be obtained by at least one half. A vast majority of the subscribers have to begin their apprenticeship to the trade of agriculture. In or der to enable the bank to play its part effectively, a ca pital of 1,638,342/. would be absolutely necessary. But the bank has only 16,000/. in deposit, and its only ap parent capital is the property of the Land Company. This is a fair and tolerably exact statement of what has been gained by the subscribers, and of what pros pects they have of further gain. Let us now see what they have actually paid, and what liabilities they have incurred, as the price of these advantages. Mr. O'Connor, who is sole agent of the company, and sole manager of the bank, has received in all 108,0151. Is. id. Of this sum 850/. accrued from the profit on the re-sale of a purchased farm-an irregular and acci dental gain-a windfall; 346/. 9s. 3d. from the sale of the rules of the society; 4,2221. 7s. 2d. from a tax imposed upon the subscribers to defray the expense of management; and 6,3911. Os. 2d. as a loan from the Land Bank (i. e., from the company to the company, out of the monies of its depositors). In short, the apparent funds of the company have been irregu larly swelled by a sum of 11,8091. 16s. 7d., to mend ap pearances. The actual receipts of a fair business cha racter are-Subscriptions, 90,714/. 18s. Id.; from the operations of the Lands' Purchase department, 1,148/. 10s.; sales of farm produce. 2,845/. 1 Is. ld.; interest and profits on Exchequer-bills, 1,1711. 75.; interest on Bank balances, 324/. 18s. 4d. But for windfalls and extra contributions, the money available for the com pany's purposes would only have been 96,104/. 14s. ld. The expenditure of the Land Company, when Mr. O'Connor has been paid 3,298/. ss. 3d. of his own money expended in its name, and when the Land Bank has been repaid its loan with interest, will leave on hand only 2421. is. I Id. All the rest of its money has been spent. We shall now recount the assets of which it has come into possession in return for this outlay. In the first place, 1,618 acres of land, for which 36,672/. of purchase-money has been paid, and in bringing which into condition, in stocking and in setting the occupants at work upon them, 90,3314 16s. sd. has been expended. The land and its stock have cost the company this sum; but they cannot expect to sell it for nearly so much. The land is not worth to them the money it has cost. In the second place, of 6,1751. held by Mr. O'Connor in Exchequer-bills, 2,876/. 14s. 9d. appears to be the property of the company. The company has further about 500/. in small remittances; 965/. 16s. in hand at the Gloucester Bank; and 18/. 18s. 2d. at the London Joint-Stock Bank. Now, the company's land and stock, at a large valuation, would not at this moment bring 60,000/. in the market; the utmost value of its assets, therefore, is 64,3611. Bs. 11d. Upon this sum there are the following liabilities :-Sum required to complete the purchase money of 500 acres, 13.545/. ; mortgage on 297 acres, 5,0001. ; mortgage on 268 acres, 5,800/. ; two life annuities on 103 acres, 400/. ; cost of completing purchase of the 500 acres, 3501. The liabilities of the land are 25,0951., and by so much the value of the assets to the partners must be reduced. The company has in:point offact only 39,266/. Bs. 11d. worth of property. Out of this it owes, in principal and interest, 6,853/. 10s. 2d. to the Land Bank ; and the whole assets of the corn• pany are liable for the payment of the 16,000/. of deposits in the bank. De facto, the company possesses property worth, to it, 32,412/. 18s. 9d., and this property is liable for any short-comings of the bank in the re payment of •16,000/. This is all that the subscribers have got to show in return for 90,714/. 18s. ld. of sub scriptions, and 4,2221. 7s. 2d. of extra contributions to wards expenses of management! And the property is so invested, that had Mr. O'Connor died suddenly any time within the last year or two, his personal creditors might have seized the whole of it ! Assuming that Mr. O'Connor deceived himself at the outset by his own estimates and calculations, this is not sufficient to exonerate him from a large amount of culpability for leading so many poor men into such a wretchedly bad bargain. Common prudence re quired that before commencing operations he should have taken the opinioris of experienced practical agri culturists and skilful actuaries on the feasibility of his scheme; and had he done so, they would have told him that nothing could come of it but what has come of it. He has shown culpable rashness, to say the least, in vest iug air" toottey of tho poor upon a desperate hazard-in inducing men with families, by flattering promises, to quit their employments on a desperate chanc,. , of bettering their condition. Mr. O'Connor, moreover, has profited by the game he has been playing. He holds Exchequer-bills for the money ho is said to have paid out on account of the company over and above what he received. His printing establishment has had jobs to the value of upwards of 1,000/. from the company. The sale of his newspaper and its profits have been in creased by being made the channel of communication to the subscribers. He was in every way benefited by the management of a concern which he established and puffed in the most reckless manner, and which turns out to be a gross.delusion. He is in the exact position of /he empiric who makes money by putting and vending a medicine, of which he cannot even say with confidence that "if it does no good, it can du no harm" FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF TUESDAY. DIVIDEND. In the Country. G. D. Carey, Basford, Nottinghamshire, hat manufac turer, Sept. 8, at eleven, at the Gone, Birmingham. PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS. N. Batho, Manchester, machine maker and iron and brass founder, 45., on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and Oct. 15, and every followir , Tuesday. between the hours of ten and one, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. C. I. Roberts and H. P. Freeman, Manchester, and New York, merchants, ld. and 31-64ths of a penny, on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and Oct. 10, and every following Tuesday. between the hours of ten and one, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. W. Edmond , Edmond, and R. M'Kay, Liverpool and Bombay, merchants, Is. 3d., on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and Oct. 10, and every following Tuesday, between the hours of ten and one, at the office of Nr. Hobson. Manchester. S. Stocks and M. L. Tait, Manchester, and Heaton Mersey, Lancashire, bleachers and finishers, and mer chants, 2s. 5d., on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and Oct. 10, and every following Tuesday. between the hours of ten and one, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. R. Smith. Baxenden, and M. Smith, Manchester, Lan cashire, calico printers and bleachers, 4s. 6d., on Tues day, Aug. 15 and Oct. 10, and every following Tuesday, between the hours of ten and one, at the office of Mr. Hobson, Manchester. F. H. Aar, New Windsor, Berkshire, grocer, 3s. 6d., on Wednesday, Aug. 16, or any Wednesday after Oct. 7. between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Graham, Coleman-street. J. Adams, Finsbury-square, surgeon and apothecary, Is. 4d., on Wednesday, Aug. 16, or any Wednesday after Oct. 7, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Graham, Coleman-street. G. Morgan, Warminster, Wiltshire, maltster and hair manufacturer, 2s. 9d., on Saturday, Aug. 12, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Green, Ald , rmanbury. IV. Hughes, jun., Chatham and Stoke, Kent, grocer and cheesemonger, 2s. 10d., on Saturday, Aug. 12, be tween the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Green, Aldermanbury. R. Cole, Oxford-street, cheesemonger, Is., on Saturday, Aug. 12, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Green, Aldermanburv. E. D. Holditch, Bankside, Southwark, cider merchant, 205., on Saturday, Aug. 12, between the hours of eleven, and two, at the office of Mr. Green, Alder manbury. G. Holditch, Bankside, Southwark, cider merchant, ls, Bd., on Saturday, Aug. 12, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Green, Alder manbury. J. F. Holditch, Bankside, Southwark, cider merchant, 165., any Saturday, between the hours of eleven and two, at the office of Mr. Green, Aldermanbury. Paterson, Walker, Boydell, and Roper, Kingswinford, Staffordshire, ironfounders, 165., any day after this date until the 14th inst., at the office of Mr. Richard Valpy, Birmingham, Hobs, Newport, Isle of Wight, draper and tailor, nn Wednesday, Aug. 16, and the three last Wednes days is October, between the hours of ten and two on each day, at the office of Mr. Turquand, Guildhall chambers. A. Bal • dwm, Bulstrode-street, St. Marylebone, licensed victualler, 45., on Wednesday , Aug. 16, an d th ree l ast Wednesdays in October, between the hours of ten and two on each day, at the office of Mr. Turquand, Guild hall-chambers. H. M. Low, W. M. Westermann, and C. A. Canter, Calcutta, merchants and agents , 17 per cent., on Wed nesday, Aug. 16, and the eal asdt Wednesdays in Oc clundhaitiwo on each day, at tober, between the hours of ten a a and -anthers. the office of Mr. Turquand Aug.Ntildenhall, Suf . T. Woods, Cambridge, Barnwell, 16, and the folk, draper, 2s. 2d., on Wednesday three last Wednesdays in October, between the hours of ten and two, at the office of Mr. Turquand,Guildhall chambers. J. F. Cork, New Bond-street, coach build er , 9 6d on Wednesday, Aug . 16, and three last W ednesdays i October, between the hours of ten and two, a t the office of Mr. TurqUand, Guildhall-chambers. NOTICES OF CERTIFICATES. At the Court, Basinghall-street. F. Coker, Shipdbam, Norfolk, timber dealer, Sept 5, at one—S. Gaward, Holland-street, Christ Church, victualler, Sept. 8, at half-past eleven—J. Robertson, eomerset-place, Kennington-common, baker, Sept. 8, at twelve. • In the Country. J. Lovely, Cheltenham, librarian, Sept. 7, at eleven, at the Court, Bristol—T. Boddington Salford, bak e r, ept. 6, tit twelve, at the Court, Manchester—J. Broad bent and J. Hughes, Walmersley•cum-Shuttleworth, Lancashire, paper makers, Sept. 6, at twelve., at the Court, Manchester—R. Jones, Tot tington Higherend, Lancashire, cotton spinner, Sept. T, at eleven, at the Court. Manchester—W. H. Spurr, Liverpool, builder, Sept. 12, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—R. Hard ing, Bridgwater, draper, Sept. 7, at one, at the Court, Exeter—F. O'Hanlon, St. Thomas the Apostle, Devon shire, linen draper, Sept. 7. at one, at the Court, Exeter —C. Morgan, Leeds, tea dealer, Sept. 8, at eleven, at the Court, Leeds—W. Cole, jun., Calverley, Yorkshire, consulting engineer, Sept. 8, at ten, at the Court, Leeds—J. Carden, Birkenhead, auctioneer, Sept. 5, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—R. Hughes, Liverpool, laceman, Sept. 5, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—J. R. Duncan, Liverpool, woollen draper, Sept. 5, at eleven, at the Court, Liverpool—T. Kemp, Birmingham, builder, Sept. 12, at half-past ten, at the Court, Birming ham—J. Baker, Staunton-upon-Wye, Herefordshire, victualler, Sept. 12, at half-past ten, at the Court, Bir mingham. At the Court of Review, Sept. 1. R. Knight, Lewes, Sussex, butcher—J. W. Braddick, Silverton, Devonshire, brick and tile maker—T. Southall, Tipton, Staffordshire, iron master—Catherine Barclay, Birkenhead, confectioner—T. J. Fenton. Falcon-square, City, wine merchant—G. D. Deveroux, Leominster, He reford, innkeeper—C. J. Edwards, Great Sutton-street, Clerkenwell, currier—J. Waters, Great Wild-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, baker—N. T. Hawke, Penzance, Cornwall, grocer—A. Ball, Wells, Somersetshire, inn keeper—A. Harrison, Bootle-cum-Linacre, Lancashire, joiner and builder—W. Prythercb, Llantrisant, Angle sey, cattle dealer—Elizabeth Green, Almondbury, Yorkshire, common brewer—George Oddy, jun., Brad ford, Yorkshire, innkeeper—E. Phillips, Shrewsbury, confectioner—C. C. Coils, High-street, Poplar, draper— R. Abram, Liverpool, wine merchant. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. Driver and W. C. Watts, Liverpool, wine merchants —W. Starkey and J. Hey, Batley, Yorkshire, rag mer chants—J. Rostron, junr., and W. Houghton, Manches ter, makers up and packers—S. Cooper and F. Bennett, Holland-street, Brixton-road, soda water manufacturers —Betty Barnes, H. Barnes, E. Barnes, and W. Barnes, Whitebirk, Lancashire, bleachers (so far as regards H. Barnes)—W. Lindsay and A Thompson, Liverpool, merchants—F. White and J. Hammond, Princess-street, Great Garden-street, Whiteehapel, blacking manufac turers—Arabella Klugh, Ellen Klugh, and Mary Ann Klugh, Manchester-street, Manchester-square, milliners and dress makers—C. Barnes and J. Sims, Curtain-road, Shorediteh, timber merchants—J. Watson, J. Turnbull, and J. Proud, Ouseburn, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, block and mast makers (so far as regards J. Watson) —J. Clerk, I. Powell, Elizabeth Pickard, and Mercy Rhodes, Manningham, Yorkshire, stone merchants—C. Earith, H. Earith and A. Earith, Goswell-street, St. Luke's, dyers and fringers (so far as regards A. Earith)—T. Lang and J. Foster, Ilminster and Bridgewater, Sol:per setshire, corn factors—J. Longdin and S. Haslam, Sad dleworth, Yorkshire, railway contractors—T. Eyre, E. Pinkess, G. Jordan, and R. J. Linnington, paint, colour, and varnish manufacturers (so far as regards I'. Eyre) —C. Bailey, S. Pegg, and W. Bailey, Bankside, South. wark, iron merchants (so far as regards C. Bailey.) INSOLVENT PETITIONERS. • George Oakley, Birmingham, builder. William Garnham, Ipswich. Samuel Gartside, Manchester, warehouseman. George Calver, Stanton, Suffolk, blacksmith. Thomas Francis, Neath, Glamorganshire, butcher. Mary Anne Powle, Maidenhead, Berkshire, school. mistress. Matthew Marshall, Sheffield, table-knife grinder. Robert Marshall, Sheffield, table-knife grinder. Sylvester Parkin, Sheffield, steel roller maker. John Norman, Nottingham, assistant-surgeon. Frederick Walter Green, Sheffield, engineer's draughts man. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. A. Aitken, Edinburgh, baker, to meet within Dowell's Rooms, Edinburgh, Aug. 21 and Sept. 11, at one. A. Young. Glasgow, writer, to meet within the Black Bull Inn, Glasgow, Aug. 23 and Sept. 13, at two. J. Couper, Dundee, baker, to meet within the Royal Hotel, Dundee, Aug. 24 and Sept. 11, at one. T. Craig, Glasgow, coach proprietor, to meet within the Globe Hotel, Glasgow, Aug. 22 and Sept. 12, at one. ELECTION COMMITTEES. (YESTERDAY.) CHELTENHAM. This Committee was engaged the whole day with evi dence of bribery and treating on the part of the sitting Member, Mr. Craven Berkeley. HORSHAM. This Committee was also engaged the whole day with evidence of bribery and treating on the part of the sit• Ling Member, Mr. Fitzgerald. THE SUN, LONDON, DUBLIN. The Committee was occupied the whole day with legal arguments upon the insufficiency of the sitting Member's qualification. ARREST OF CHARTIST AND CONFEDERATE LEADERS. (From the Manchester Courier of Wednesday.) We are enabled exclusively to state that last night a decisive blow was struck at the hotbeds of Chartism and Repeal i❑ this city, by the arrest of a number of those persons who have figured as the leaders in the re bellious movements of the last few months. Between ten and eleven o'clock a simultaneous move ment of an imposing force of armed police and military, both cavalry and infantry, was made upon the clubs, and nine of the leaders were at once arrested before the alarm could be given. On Monday night simultaneous meetings were held throughout the manufacturing districts, and it was ex pected that another would take place last night. The authorities therefore issued warrants for the apprehen sion of several persons, and the police were ordered to concentrate at the Oldham-road station. Captain Willis and Mr. Beswick went up about ten o'clock, and soon after, the force, comprising about 300 men, were marched off in five divisions, one under the com tnand of Captain Willis, Mr. Beswick, and Mr. Leary; another under the command of Mr. Sawley; a third under Mr. Taylor, a fourth under Mr. Sayner, and the fifth under Inspector M'Mullen. So well were the times arranged, that each party arrived at its ground within a minute or so of the others, and several clubs were swept. Amongst others that held at Whit taker's Temperance Hotel, Ancoats-street. About the time the search commenced two troops of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons, under the command of Colonel Chatterton, and two companies of the 30th Regiment, arrived at the Ancoats end of Port -street, there to be in reserve for the support of the police, were their ser vices needed. So quietly, however, was the whole con ducted, and so imposing the display of force, that not the slightest resistance was offered by any party, and the police succeeded in capturing the following indivi duals:— James Leach, printer, Rockdale-road. Thomas Whitaker, Temperance Hotel, Great Ancoats. Henry Ellis, driller, cellar, Great Jersey-street. Daniel Donovan, weaver, Back Osborne-street, Oldham• road. John Joseph Finnigan, weaver, Meadow-street, Roch dale- road. Patrick Devlin, glazier, German -street, Oldham-road. Michael Carrigan, groom, Cheetham-hill. Geo. Rodgers, nail maker, Narrow Marshes, Nottingham, Thomas Rankin, engraver, Newton. „ Joshua Lemon, weaver, Gas-street. Henry Williams, wool-comber, Great Ancoats. George Webber, labourer, no residence, supposed to be from Bradford, Yorkshire. George White, editor of pamphlet, but really a wool comber, Bradford. Joseph Dowlan, labourer, Longsight. Having made these captures, the police concentrated in Ancoats-street, and escorted their prisoners to the Town•hall, where descriptions were taken. White at first denied his name, but afterwards admitted it. At the Town-hall the military formed across the streets, and remained until the whole of the prisoners were rafely lodged. The magistrates accompa nying the troops were, Mr. Joseph Peel, Mr. Daniel Lee, and Mr. M. Kennedy. The prisoners appeared much chop• fallen at finding themselves so summarily made captive. The magistrates were meeting at the Town-hall at the moment they were brought in. There were present the Mayor, Mr. Maude, Mr. Trafford, Mr. Murray, Mr. F. Hodgson, and Mr. D. Price. Mr. Higson, clerk to the justices, was also in conference with them, and Captain Sheppard, of the county constabulary, was in attendance with a number of his men to lend assistance were it necessary. The duties of the magistrates are at present exceed ingly harassing. Since Saturday they have been in readiness both night and day. - In addition to our information as to home, we may add that a meeting of the Oldham Chartists was held in their room last night, when about 100 attended. They dispersed peaceably about half-past ten o'clock, and at eleven last night there was no appearance of any dis turbance. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, TUESDAT.—There bas been, upon the whole, a better feeling in the market to-day ; an d though the extent of business has not been great, prices have been very firmly supported, with a tendency to advance in the lower counts of yarn, which, as we have previously stated, are relatively scarce. In the higher counts of yarn no advance can be noted; but the rates paid previously to the commencement of the trou bles in Ireland, and the temporary breaking off of the negotiation between Germany and Denmark, have been more readily obtained than at any time during the last fortnight. In goods there is no sensible change of price; the market is perfectly steady, prices firm, and the stocks generally reduced to so low a point as to give great con fidence to the manufacturers. _ Some apprehensions have been expressed lest the in creased imports of food, which may be expected from the apprehensions respecting the potato disease, and from the recent advance of prices in this country, should cause a large export of the precious metals. It seems probable, however, that any moderato import which may be expected under existing circumstances, will not draw specie from England as on former occasions. For some months past, strong efforts have been making in various parts of Europe to send specie to this country, not s o much f or t h e purpose o f b alancing mercan t P ileo p er ationsin the ex ortand import of merchandise, as with the for view of providing funds here to meet bills dra the Purpose of maki ng p a y men t s alas have arr Wived fromithin a tow days past, l a r ge sums i n go ld can su ppose necessary , nobody ppose to be Russia and Turkey, especially w hich wlliett,have previously after the large imports an excess of exports wken place, to pay any b a l ance due on from this country. For some months past, merchants have found great difficulty in negotiating bills drawn, as heretofore, on Paris, Frankfort, or Vienna, whilst good English bills have been readily negotiable in all parts of the Continent. We have no doubt that the efforts making to place funds] in England will continue for some time ;to come; and we therefore think it highly probable that a considerable number of bills may be drawn against grain purchased in the ports of the Baltic, the Black Sea, or the Mediterranean, without sensibly influencing the amount of bullion in the Bank of England, as the proceeds of the bills, when due, will most probably be held here for the credit of the foreign bankers who send them over here for col lection. ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—We have had another good market to-day. There has been a fair demand for prices, and many have been sold, but without much change in prices. In tho wool market there is very little to report; prices are firm, but there is very little business going on. HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—The market to-day has been attended by several buyers, and a considerable amount of goods has changed hands. There is a great scarcity of better kinds of woollens, which are princi pally sought after. In low fancy goods there is not much doing. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—The improvement which is reported to have been experienced in the worsted trade has not yet manifested itself in our Piece Hall, being more in the light fancy goods peculiar to the Bradford market, than in the heavier goods of this district. Scarcely any business has been done in the Hall to-day, but there is more doing in the warehouses, and some of the larger manufacturers are now workin t , 4 411 time. Yarn is in rather better demand, and the spinners ~re more fully employed, but the quantity produced is much below the power of production, and prices have not advanced. Rather more doing in wool, at late rates, and the staplers complain of its being harder to buy in the country. LEEDS, TUESDAY.—OUT market to-day has been with out any alteration ; the paucity of stock exhibited at the Cloth Halls limits the extent of purchases, but con tinues to keep our mills well employed to order. —Man• cheater Guardian.. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, AUGUST 15.—Admiral the Hon. Sir Thomas Bladen Capel, K.C.8., will succeed Sir Charles Ogle as Commander-in-Chief of this:port, should his no mination be approved by her Majesty, in which case Captain Charles Eden, of the Victory, will remain flag captain. Mr. Richard Haig, the highly respected and indefatigable secretary to Admirals Sir Charles Rowley and Sir Charles Ogle, will be secretary to Sir Thomas Capel. The Commander-in-Chief entertained the fol lowing distinguished guests at his hospitable table this evening: —Admiral, Mrs. and Miss Prescott, Admiral and Miss Douglas, Captain Eden, Captain Halliday, R.M., Colonel Gibsone, R.M.A., Captain Ogle, of the Victory, Captain A. Lowe, Dr. Rolph, Mr. James Hos kins, Flag-Lieutenant Cochrane, Mr. E. Ogle, Mrs. Ogle, Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. H. Ogle, Mrs. Lowe, Mrs. Gibsone, &c. • The Cyclops steam-frigate, Captain the Hon. G. Hastings, was paid off to-day. Wind S. by E.; light airs and cloudy. WooLwlcu, AUGUST 15.—The Persian gun-brig and the Teazer screw steam-vessel, have been towed from Woolwich to Deptford by the Monkey and Charon steam-vessels, to be brought forward at that dockyard. The Spiteful steam-sloop was taken out of the basin to-day, and will proceed down the river to-morrow to try her machinery, and if found perfect she will not re turn to this port, but hold on to Sheerness, where she is to be stationed as an advanced war steamer until com missioned. The Niger steam sloop, fitted with a screw propeller, was taken out of dock today, and if found perfect on trial down the river, she will proceed to Sheerness and remain there as an advanced war steamer. The Princess Alice, Dover mail steam packet, Lieut. Striven, arrived from Dover on Saturday last to have some repairs effected, which will be completed in the course of the present week. The Medina steam-vessel was taken into the dock to day, which was vacated by the Niger. The Medina is intended to serve as a packet on the Mediterranean sta tion, where the Merlin, a sister vessel, is already em ployed. The Basilisk steam-vessel, building in this dockyard, is ordered to be launched on the 26th inst., and she is to be fitted with engines of 400-horse power. The Ariel steam-vessel, fitting with smoke-consuming apparatus by Mr. Haig, is nearly ready for trial. The inventor appears to have made great improvement in his mode of attaining an object so desirable on beard steam-vessels, and the whole of the new works are under deck instead of above, as in the first trial. The result is anxiously looked for, as, in the event of the plan being thoroughly successful, steam-vessels consuming their smoke will be of great importance even during peace, when engaged in the pursuit of slave vessels. The Marine Society's ship Iphigenia is ordered from Deptford to Woolwich, and the boys to be transferred to the Venus ; and the latter ship will be moored of Charl ton-pier as her proper station. The Sinbad lighter, Mr. Follett, master, has arrived from the western yards with stores for Woolwich and Deptford. A large quantity of mud, accumulated in the outer basin, is ordered to be removed by contract. The quan tity amounts to some thousands of cubic yards. Twenty-eight of the engineers and engine fitters re cently employed in the factory at Woolwich Dockyard left this place on Thursday last to solicit employment on the London and North-Western Railway, and on pro ducing a certificate of their previous employment were immediately engaged in preference to hundreds of other engineers applying from all parts of the country. The places of the engineers who have resigned on that line are nearly all filled up with careful and skilful men well able to perform the duties they have undertaken, com pletely masters of their profession, and capable of re medying any disarrangement of the engines entrusted to their charge. UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONEY.—Mr. Woodhead has given notice to Captain H. Chads and the officers and crew of the Styx, steam-sloop, recently paid off from the coast of Africa, who were actually on board and entitled to share in the proceeds arising from the capture of the slave-vessel Rolla, on the 17th day of September, 1846, that the distribution will be made on the 6th day of September next, at No. 1, James-street, Adelphi, and where the list will be re-called every Wed nesday and Friday, for three months : Commander (captain) £123 10 3: 4 1 Third class (lieutenants) ... 16 9 4i Fourth class (surgeons, p ursers , & c . ) ... 8 4 81 Fifth class (warrant-officers) ... 7 8 21 Sixth class (midshipmen, &c.) ... 4 18 9 Seventh class (petty officers, Ist class) ... 4 2 4 Eighth class ditto 3 5 10i Ninth class (ditto 2d class) ... 2 9 41 Tenth class (A.B.'s, marines, &c.) 1 12 11-1 Eleventh class (landsm en , & c .) 1 4 8-4- Twelfth class (boys, Ist class) ... . 016 5i Thirteenth class (boys, 2d class) 0 12 4 The new and unjust regu l at i ons f or t h e unequal dis tribution of prize money are now coming into operation. We truly hope that the Admiralty will see the justice of procuring an Order in Cou nc il, cance lli ng t hi s most unfair and unintelligible system. The lieutenant has ten times as much as the able seaman, and twice as much as the officer next in rank to him (the mate, purser, surgeon, second master, lieutenant of marines, &c.), but the commander has seven times and a half as much as the officer next in rank to himself, and nearly 70 times as much as the A. B. The commander has indeed the lion's share in every capture; not so th e li eutenant, f or he may be sent away in a prize, and thus lose the oppor tunity! of sharing in any captur es ma d e i n his absence. rho commander seizes vicariously and gets seven times and a half as much for his share as the lieutenant, or master, who does the work. H ow can t h e Admiralty expect lieutenants and subordinate officers to serve on the coast of Africa when there is such an unequal, and therefore unjust distribution of th e rewards for' such I hazardous services?—.Herald. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM AND THE WEATHER. During the last four or five days the extensive parish of St. Pancras has been placarded with bills, issued by the vestry at the instigation of the " St. Pancras Complete Suffrage Association," convening a meeting, to be held on Tuesday at two o'clock, at the New Vestry Rooms, for the purpose of giving expression to the opinions of the ratepayers as to the necessity of an extensive Parlia mentary reform. It was announced the borough Mem bers were to attend. Shortly after two o'clock, the Members for the borough, Sir Benjamin Hall and Lord Dudley Stuart, as also three or four hundred of the parishioners, were in attendance, but, to their surprise, a written notice was posted at the door, announcing that in consequence of the unsettled state of the weather, there would be no meeting. The people, the borough Members, and the vestry clerk, however, proceeded to the vestry-room, when Lord Dudley Stuart stated that himself and Hon. Colleague had attended, at great in convenience, and they as much regretted as any one that the committee of the vestry was not there to receive them, and that there were no resolutions to propose.-- (Loud cries of " Shame.") Sir Benjamin Hall stated that he had, at very short notice, travelled 310 miles to attend the meting. IMMEDIATE MEETING OF THE IRISH BISHOPS.— Rumours have reached us of the probable intentions of the Government in reference to the State prisoners. It is thought that marked leniency will characterise their acts, now that they have practically succeeded in assert ing their authority, and extinguishing insurrection. It is mbayndthat the Archbishop pr M in u ci r p r a ay i also said that th e C at h o li c Bi shops of Ireland are sum ,obtjoect of meet th a e t ir oncein Dublin ;and ;imme diate assembling is to petition the Queen, through the Lord-Lieutenant, for the pardon of those engaged in the late movement. It is believed that their petition will not be altogether disregarded. At any rate, we understand that the Catholic Bishop of Cork has received a summons, and has gone to Dublin. Rumour also has it that another subject will come under the discussion of the hierarchy —namely, the pro bable intention of the Whigs to propose some provision for the Catholic clergy. What may be the decision:of their Lordships on this subject, of course, it would be presumptuous to speculate ; but while they will un doubtedly repudiate pensioning and State connexion, it is probable that the attaching of a house and glebe land to each parish, as a permanent endowment, may, meet with their approval.—Cork Examiner. LAUNCH or A SHIP.—On Thursday next a ship, named the British Tar, of 367 tons, will be launched from 's ship-yard, at the Cligi She is a noble Ilr. . vessel, Y and le is the largest that has been built at this port for many years. Excursion trains are adver tised, in order that persons from a distance may witness the interesting sight. We understand there will be other attractions, but we have not been fayourea with a detail of them.--Ipswich Express. SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at the offices in Southampton, on Tuesday—Colonel Barlow in the chair. The SECRETARY read the minutes of the last meeting, and the following report:—" Notwithstanding the general depression of trade and commercial enterprise, the busi ness of the company is still progressive. The earnings for the half-year to the 30th of June, 1848, have been 9,3511. 10s. 7d., those to the 30th of June, 1847, were 7,6261. 1 le. 11d. ; being an increase of 1,7241. Bs. Bd. in the earnings of the half-year to the 30th of June, 1848, as compared with the earnings of the corresponding half year of 1847. The accounts exhibit a balance, after the payment of expenses, of 3,1801. 13s. 11d.; and the di rectors are, consequently, enabled to recommend a di vidend, clear of income-tax, of 1/. per cent. for the half year (ten shillings per share'), being at the rate of 21. per cent. per annum. The directors have the satisfac tion to report that they have concluded an arrangement with Mr.. Joseph White, of East Cowes, for the establish. went on the company's land, contiguous to the dry docks, of a yard for building ships of the largest class ; and that the necessary workshops and offices have been already erected. This arrangement will ensure at all times every possible facility for the repair of ships in the company's dry docks. The directors have been much disappointed by the rejection, by the Committee of the House of Lords, of a Bill which had passed the House of Commons, for the construction of seven miles of railway between Harrow and Brentford, which would have connected Southampton with the North-Western, the Great Northern, and all the narrow gauge railways in the kingdom, and would have afforded to the docks an unbroken narrow gauge communication with the whole of the manufacturing districts. This connecting link is on every account so important to the interests of the country at large, as well as those of the port and the docks of Southampton, that the directors feel satisfied that its construction must be sanctioned in the next ses sion of Parliament; and as the works can then be exe cuted in less than a year, that they may still rely at no very distant period upon the means, without change of carriage and break of gauge, of distributing imports to all parts of the country, and of bringing down from the north to the ship's side in the docks return cargoes, which are alone wanting to ensure a vast increase of trade, and to render Southampton one of the first ports in the kingdom. In the meantime, the best must be made of the accommodation which is about to be afforded by the opening of the Great Western line from Reading to Basingstoke." Comparative statement of earnings for the half years ending respectively 30th June, 1844 £9sB 13 4 30th June, 1845 . 3,862 2 11 30th June, 1846 4,800 18 0 30th June, 1847 30th June, 1848 9,351 10 7 31st December, 1844 3,059 14 1 31st December, 1845 5,115 8 1 31st December, 1846 8,402 3 5 31st December, 1847 9,707 2 8 The CHAIRMAN then briefly addressed the meeting, observing that he would not detain them long, but should be most happy to answer any question that might b e put to him. H e t h en d rew attenti on t o th e sat i s f actory increase in the income of the company and the decrease in the working expenses; but in works of this character there were expenses to be met, whether the concern was profitable or not. At present the great object was to have a direct communication with the north of England, and to get ships for the East and West Indies, America, and all parts of the world. No port in England was so well adapted for the purpose as the port of Southampton. Mr. LANKESTER believed that every inhabitant of the town was desirous of procuring a railway to the north ern parts of England, and trusted that every exertion would be made to procure a narrow gauge to the north. The CHAIRMAN said that if the North-Western as well as the South-Western Railway Company took up the line, there would be a perfect unanimity in the question; and with their support, the shipping . interest, and the in habitants along the line, any opposition they may meet with in the next session of Parliament would be over• come, and the Bill triumphantly carried. He then pro posed that the report be printed and circulated, which he was the more happy to do a,s it declared a dividend. It was then proposed by the CHAIRMAN that a divi dend of 24 per cent. be declared, which was seconded by Mr. Stow, and carried unanimously. In reply to a question from one of the shareholders, the CHAIRMAN said that their dry docks would take in the longest steamer ever built without difficulty, or even the Great Britain; and he was quite sure that they were sufficiently capable enough for an 120 gun ship. Votes of thanks were then passed to the auditors, the chairman, and directors, and the meeting broke up. THE POTATO DISEASE. TO THE EDITOR OE THE " EXAMINER." Sir,—Whatever you may hear with respect to the potato blight, I con report it as a fact that in this county it is universal, and much worse than any previous year. The plant at the beginning of last week looked re markably healthy, and, in my walks, I was admiring its unusually healthy appearance, but by the end of the week the plants were exactly as though fire had been applied to them, and the rapidity of the destruction is the worst feature about it. Potato cul tivators have generally lost about one-third of the pro duces of their fields. Should the amount of loss much exceed that, it will no longer be worth while to plant it. I should say, indeed, the loss of this vegetable is now quite certain. Having for some years planted potatoes and carefully watched the causes of this strange destruction of what appeared to be so hardy a plant, I can confidently offer it as a fact that the loss of this root is to be attributed entirely to the abuse of it in cultivation. The potato is decidedly a perennial plant. transformed into an annual by the wants and luxuries of man. In its native woods and savannahs, the potato continually throws out its roots and tubers, which latter, being on the surface of the ground, and remaining there the whole year, are hardy and healthy, and in a fit con dition for throwing out stems, flowers, and pods of seed. In its state of cultivation it is more abused than any other plant. Whereas, with other vegetables and roots the very finest spLeimens are taken for seed, the potato is planted from the smallest and most worthless tubers—" it will du for seed," is constantly said—why I know not ; but, for my own part, having always chosen the healthiest tubers for seed, I have been more fortunate than others. If it is intended to save the root for the purpose of food, I wish to suggest two plans, otherwise its loss to this country is sealed. One is the planting of beds of potatoes, and allowing them to remain three years, because, as I before observed, the support of a succession of tubers is requi site for the production of a healthy one fit for seed. It is not from the roots of a potato that a healthy potato will prooceed, it is from a parent tuber, the proof being, that the instant a tuber reaches its full size, it will throw out a short string, at the end of which another potato will begin to grow, and which, if left to itself, would be the edible root, arriving at perfection the following year, the parent throwing out the stem, leaves, and flowers, and exhausting itself naturally. The tubers having, by cultivation as an an nual plant, become enfeebled and delicate, now rot, and become a mass of filth: this has rotted the entire plant, extending to the leaves. The fact proves itself; because a tuber planted for seed, if healthy, will remain so, and may actually be boiled and eaten, though from its sub stance stem and leaves have extended themselves above the ground, and potatoes formed below. No potatoes now can be dug with this original tuber in a sound con dition. The second suggestion I have to make is that we should return to the original wild plant again, if such can be met with. It would be worth the trouble to em ploy one of her Majesty's ships on such a service, with a competent botanical officer, so that we might have a fresh stock to work upon, and avoid the past errors in its cultivation. Some have declared the disease to be caused by an insect, others by certain winds, &c. I assure you these are not the causes. All plants have their peculiar and incidental insects, particularly if not in a healthy state, and winds of an injurious nature can hardly have re turned so exactly and perseveringly at the very time the potato is ripening.—l remain your obedient servant, Hertfordshire, Aug. 10. W. T. CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE. —PREFERMENTS.-The following appointments have taken place :—The Rev. Geo. H. Fell, . M.A., Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge, to the incumbency of All Saints Church, King's-cross, London, rendered vacant by the death of the Rev. F. Colman Wilson, M.A., on the nomination of the Rev. H. Hunter Fell, M.A., incumbent of All Saints, Islington ; the Rev. Richard Sleeman, M.A., to the rectory of W hitchurch, Devonshire, ren dered vacant by. the death of the Rev. P. Sleeman, M.A., on the nomination of the representatives of the late incumbent ; the Rev. William Brown, M.A., Fellow of St, John's College, Cambridge, to be principal of the Huddersfield Collegiate . School, Yorkshire ; the Rev. John Davis, of St. David's College, Lampeter, to the vicarage of Lien deloi, Pembrokeshire, with the vicarage of Llanhowel annexed, rendered vacant by the cession of the Rev. John Davis, on the nomination of the Very Rev. L. Llewellin, D.C.L., Dean of St. David's, and the Chapter of the Cathedral Church; the Rev. John V. Lloyd, 8.A., perpetual curate of Llandeilo Grabun, Radnorshire, to the vicarage of Hope, Flintshire, with the perpetual curacy of Llanfynyd, rendered vacant by the cession of the Rev. John Meredith, on the presentation of the Bishop of St. Asaph; the Rev. C. Car, M.A., to the incumbency of Whitworth, Dur ham, on the nomination of the Very Rev. Dr. Wadding ton, Dean of Durham, and the Chapter of the Cathedral Church; the Rev. William Thickens, M.A., to the in cumbency of Keresley, near Coventry, on the nomina tion of the Lord Bishop of Worcester; the Rev. Edward John Owen, curate of Cy ffylliog, near Ruthin, to the vicarage of Llanfair Dyffryn-Clwyd, Denbighshire, on the nomination of the Bishop of Sr. Asaph; the Rev. George Lemon Church, M.A., curate of Kenwyn, Cornwall, to the perpetual curacy of Chasewater in the same county, on the nomination of the Rev. G. J. Cor nish, M.A., Vicar of Kenwyn ; the Rev. J. J. Evans, 8.A., to the chaplaincy of the Training Schools, Gray's lan-road, London ; the Rev. G. J. Sayre, M.A., to the perpetual curacy of Slapton, Devonshire, rendered vacant by the cession of the Rev. 11. J. Bowden, M.A.; the Rsv. Dr. Stansbnry, chaplain of liingston Gaul, to the head mastership of Pantile Grammar School. Lieutenant Munro was on Tuesday liberated from Newgate. Before his release an application was made to Mr. Baron Alderson at chambers for a summons to be directed to the Governor of Newgate, to show why he refused to give up the prisoner to certain sheriff.' officers who held an execution against him, but the Learned J u d ge re f u sed the application, and the debt was subseque n tly se t t l e d. SOUT HAMPTON , AUGUST 16.—The steam- s hi p Tiger, Captain Bingham, arrived here this morn i ng from Oporto, with a cargo of very fine e pp, which aro g being landed for sale in the docks. THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 11, lB4B . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 16. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) THE GRANT TO SIR CHARLES TREVELYAN. Mr. SPOONER then rose to call the attention of the House to the grant of 2,500/. to this gentleman. He wished to know whether any opposition would be given by her Majesty's Government to an expression of opinion by the House, that it was unc3nstitutionat to make such a grant out of the civil contingencies without a pre vious application to Parliament? He trusted that the Hon. Member (Mr. Osborne) would propose a vote of censure, if some means were not afforded of getting that money returned. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he was of opinion that the Government were perfectly justified in giving a gratuity to Sir Charles Trevelyan for the extraordinary services he had rendered, and he believed the sense of the House was in favour of it. Sir Charles Trevelyan had, however, expressed a desire to repay the whole amount into the Exchequer. The sum of 100,0001. was set apart annually for civil contingencies, and he did not see that the Government had acted un constitutionally in offering a portion of it in the way they had done, but he begged to say that the Government were prepared to meet any vote of censure that might be proposed. Mr. OS BORNE said he intended to propose in Supply that the whole vote should not be allowed. SLAVE TRADE. Mr. URQUHART said it was not his intention to bring forward in the Committee of Supply the following motion, of which he had given notice : —That from the cor respondence laid upon the table of this House in refe rence to the suppression of the sLive trade in Mussulman countries, it appears that her Majesty's servants have adopted proceedings calculated to aggravate the horrors of the traffic, and to alienate from this country the good will of the Governments and nations so interfered with. The House then went into Committee. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.—ITALIAN POLICY. On the vote of 57,0001., to complete the sum necessary to defray the salaries and expenses at the office of her Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs being proposed, Mr. DISRAELI rose and spoke as follows:—Mr. Ber nal : Sir, whatever may be the justice of some of the complaints which we have heard from her Majesty's Mi nisters, as to the time of this House being occupied with too much discussion—complaints which I, for one, can not admit to be founded in fact—there certainly is one member of her Majesty's Government who, I think, has no right whatever to join in these complaints. I think the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Af fairs, so far as his department is concerned, cannot for one moment pretend that any criticism upon the policy which he has recommended, or any remarks upon the transactions which have occurred with regard to foreign subjects have given rise during this momentous session to any very frequent or very lengthened discussions. Sir, although this year has witnessed throughout Europe events more important than probably have occured in the recollection of the vast majority of the House, cannot at this moment remember more than two occa sions on which the attention of the House of Commons has been called to anything connected with our external relations. For one of those occasions I confess I am my self responsible, but I think that in that instance I was warranted in calling the attention of the House of Com mons to this circumstance—that an ancient ally had claimed the fulfilment of a guarantee from England— (Hear, hear)—and the sympathy expressed by the House, when I ventured to make the observations I did upon the position of England and Denmark, at least showed that however imperfect my advocacy of that subject was, it was not considered by the House of Commons as being intrusive.—(Hear, hear.) There was one other in stance of our attention being called to a foreign subject, but I shall be surprised if any Member of her Majesty's Government can for a moment pretend that the discus sion which originated in that instance was an unneces sary one. It is in the recollection of every Gentleman that a very remarkable incident occurred at the capital of one of her Majesty's allies. A Minister, who might be styled virtually the representative of the Queen of England, was expelled the capital of one of her Majesty's allies.—(Hear, hear.) Surely, Sir, neither the House, nor our constituents, nor her Majesty's Ministers, can for a moment maintain that some observations upon an event so remarkable—an event which I may almost characterise as unequalled—partook of the nature of surplusage discussion.—(Hear.) And, Sir, in both these cases the discussions, as far as the Government was concerned, were conducted in any other spirit than that of party acerbity.—(Hear.) Notwithstanding the important events which have occurred—notwithstanding the favourable opportunities which have been offered to the Opposition—opportunities which at another time, and in another age, would have been very readily seized —there have only been those two occasions on which subjects connected with our external relations have been brought under the consideration of the House; and cer tainly, in both these instances, her Majesty's Govern ment have no right whatever to complain either of the spirit in which the observations were made, or the ob jects which the discussions were intended to attain.— (Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I feel it to be my duty to call the attention of the Committee to a branch of our foreign relations—in itself of the utmost importance— and also because I think I shall be able to show the Committee that it is incumbent upon them, as the re presentatives of their constituents, to make themselves acquainted with the exact state of affairs which, in this respect, at the present moment exists. The subject to which I wish to call the attention of the Committee is the state of Italian politics, and our relations at this moment with the Italian states. It had, Sir, been my intention, on looking over the various items brought before us on the votes for the miscellaneous estimates, to have called the attention of the Com mittee to the subject upon the vote to one of the Minis ters of the Crown, namely, the vote to the Lord Privy Seal.—(Hear, hear.) I thought it was an appropriate occasion on which to introduce this very interesting sub ject, because the Lord Privy Seal is the individual who has recently figured in a very conspicuous manner in the transactions to which I am about to allude, and be cause it would be impossible to place the subject fairly before the consideration of the Committee without ad verting to the recent exploits of the noble personage in question.—(Hear, hear.) But on more mature con sideration, Sir, it appeared to me that the adoption of such a course would tend to give to the observations, which I wish fairly to put before the country, too per sonal and invidious a character. The Government are responsible for all that the Lord Privy Seal did, and it seemed to me that it would not be an unfair occasion— on the vote for the maintenance of the Foreign-office— to bring the matter under the consideration of the House. At the same time, it is totally impossible, how ever brief and condensed my observations on the subject may be—it is totally impossible to forget the operations of the Lord Privy Seal in Italy.—(Hear, hear.) They commenced before those important events in which their interest has been in a great degree absorbed. But all the transactions in which the Lord Privy Seal was con cerned are intimately connected and even involved in anything which has since happened.—(Hear, hear.) The Lord Privy Seal—it is in the recollection of the Com mittee—went last autumn upon a very peculiar and a somewhat roving mission; he went, Sir, I believe, to teach politics to the country in which Machiavelli was born.—(A laugh.) It seemed that the princes of Italy were so ignorant of their own interests that they required counsel ; and, in fact, that it was necessary to take a position with respect to those sovereigns which was not adopted in our communications with other po tentates. We had several Ministers Plenipotentiary in Italy, and some other diplomatic agents of inferior note, but it was thought necessary to communicate with the sovereigns of Italy by no less a personage than a member of the British Cabinet—one who woul d not wait for in structions in order to guide him on an occasion of emer gency; but who, himself, should to a certaindegree,.be a portion of that original inspira tion which is to guide the conduct of our foreign dipl omac y —one perfectly fa miliar with the whole scope and scheme of her Majesty's Ministers on these subjects, and who, therefore, with a large—l might say illimitable discretion—might prevent the recurrence of many untoward circumstances in that country, and lay the foundation of a future state of acknowledged prosperity in the Italian Peninsula.— (Hear, hear.) Sir, it is really a curious thing to put be fore the House, in the very roundabout way, the princi pal objects of this important and peculiar mission—it is a curious thing to put before the House its objects, and to compare with those objects its results.—(Hear, hear.) Lord Minto had a very important object to achieve in the north of Italy; there was great uneasiness in Italy, there was great apprehension on the part of her Majesty's Ministers that Austria, for example, actuated by unnecessary fear, should invade Sardinia; and the first object of Lord Minto was to induce the Austrians not to invade Sardinia. Well, Sir, so far as that object went the Noble Lord wa s perfectly successful, the only unp l easant thing which happened having been, that instead of the Austrians invading Sardinia, the Sardinians invaded Austria.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Well, Sir, cross ing the Appenines—having achieved complete success in the north of Italy—Lord Minto found himself in the -centre of Italy, engaged in a delicate and peculiar nego tiation with a potentate whose name, in deference to my Hon. Friend near me (Mr. Spooner) I will not mention. —(A laugh.) It was certainly a considerable object to solve a difficulty which had perplexed the Cabinets of England from the days of Elizabeth to the days of Vic toria. How to establish a diplomatic communication with his Holiness was an object worthy of the mission even of a Cabinet Minister, and involvea a question, the solution of which would necessarily offer very great claims to the applause and the confidence of his colleagues. Sir, in this instance, also, Lord Minto appears to have suc ceeded. At the commencement of the session, no less a personage than the Lord President of the Council, with breathless haste, informed the House of Lords that he must immediately introduce a Bill to establish diploma tic relations between the Court of St. James's and his Holiness the Pope. I believe that the usual forms of the House of Lords were not observed on that occa sion. I believe that the Bill was absolutely brought in without notice, 'and that the usual lapse of time which is permitted to occur between the first and second read ings was waived, on account of the urgency and the exigency of the case.—(Hear, hear.) What was the result ? The Bill did not pursue its course with the rapidity with which it was at first intimated was abso lutely necessary, and for this reason—that at the very moment when, under the successful management of the Lord Privy Seal, England had resolved to revive its diplomatic communications with the Pope, it seemed that the Pope, as a temporal prince, ceased to exist.— (Hear, hear.) I suppose, however, that by some of the last bulletins there ,is a chanc e of his Holiness yet exercising some doubtful authority, since at the end of the session, this Bill, which was brought into the House of Lords with breathless haste in the month of Fe: bruary, has, now that August is waning, stolen into a i little legislative life, and will, we are informed, have a i chance of being yet introduced to our notice.—(Hear, ' hear.) Observe, Sir, how eminently Lord Minto suc ceeded in the north of Italy in preventing the invasion of Sardinia by Austria; and observe, teo, how successful he was in the centre of Italy in establishing diplomatic 1 relations with a potentate weo has no longer any diplo macy at his command.—(Hear, hear.) There remains, then, but a third portion of Italy, the extreme south, in which the labours, the unparalleled labours, of this eminent diplomatist could also be employed, and that is the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It has been said, Sir, in a high place—a place of authority—that Lord Minto was invited by the King of the Two Sicilies to favour him with his counsel, and to interfere in the management of his Majesty's dominions. Sir, it is very possible. The Noble Lord, like other celebrated performers, was ",starring it" throughout the Italian States—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—and having been so successful at Milan, and so distinguished at Rome, there came an invitation that he should exhibit at Naples.—(ltenewed laughter.) Now the result of his Lordship's performance in the south of Italy was not less successful than in the north and in the centre. Called in by the King of the Two Sicilies to remove some misconceptions which existed between his two kingdoms, the Noble Lord laboured hard to support the legislative union between Naples and Sicily; and his labours resulted not only in the severance of their legislative union, but in the repeal of their political connexion. —(Hear, hear, and laughter.) I feel that it would be wrong for me to offer any thing but the most friendly criticism on the defunct career of this most eminent diplomatist. I only wish to have it understood that the present Go vernment are not new hands at conducting diplomatic interference, and that they cannot now tell us that in consequence of important events which had oc curred, they were obliged on a sudden, and without that consideration and experience which are generally de manded in those cases—that they were obliged on a sud den to undertake the diplomatic interference in Italy. They had been trying their hands for a considerable timebefore the great revolution occurred; and the results have been not more interesting than successful.—(Hear, hear.) But now, Sir, I understand that the Noble Lord the Foreign Secretary—not profiting by what has already occurred—is about again to open a new cam paign in Italy, that he is about to mediate in Italy in canjunction with another country, and I think it is a very legitimate subject of inquiry, and that I am per farming my duty to my constituents and to this House, if I take this opportunity of inviting the Government to give us some information is to the objects and as to the motives of their policy. The Noble Lord informed us the other night, and it has since been announced in every organ of public opinion, that England and France are going to mediate in the affairs of Northern Italy. Now I think I am but making legitimate inquiries of the Noble Lord when I ask him to inform the Committee—first, what is to be the princi ple of this mediation; secondly, what is to be the nature of this mediation ; and, thirdly, what is the end pro- posed to be attained by this mediation?—(Hear.) These appear to me to be three inquiries which it is our duty to invite her Majesty's Ministers to respond to.—(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, first with regard to the principle of mediation. The principle of mediation may be of a political character; there may be a desire to prevent the effusion of blood which has been occasioned by a very prolonged and hopeless contest ; or there may be a de sire to put an end to a state of things which has incon venienced the merchants of this country. The interests of commerce, and those interests of humanity which enter into all the relations between nations, may prompt the Noble Lord to interfere in a particular case, and he may wish on a political principle to mediate. But as re gards,the north of Italy,there is no effusion of blood to stop, there are no commercial interests of ours there which require defence, or which are suffering from any circum stances which are occurring there ; so that if the Noble Lord has to mediate in that country between the Ein e peror of Austria and the King of Sardinia, or between the Emperor of Austria and the Emperor of Austria's subjects, why then, Sir, the Noble Lord—mediating on a political principle—will have a very easy task. The means are as obvious as the result is clear. The Noble Lord, mediating on a political principle, will be guided by the doctrines of the law of nations, and by the stipue lations of existing treaties. Ile will take down Vette], he will look at the treaties of Paris and Vienna, and when he finds that the Emperor of Austria is in posses sion, in peaceable possession, of the dominions which these treaties secured to him, and when he finds that the King of Sardinia is also in pessession of the do minions which those treaties secured to him ; why, Sir, when he finds that such is the case—when he finds that, as regards these Powers, there is no question of public law which is at all in controversy, why, then, the Noble Lord may shut his book—his mediation is annihilated.—(Hear, hear.) He will find that he has nothing to do, and the House will be in formed that the mere offer of his interference has af forded a conclusion, satisfactory, no doubt, to Europe, but which would probably have occurred if the Noble Lord had never opened his mouth.—(Hear, hear.) But, Sir, we can hardly conceive that a statesman so able and experienced as the Noble Lord should announce to the Parliament of his country that he is going to mediate in the affairs of Northern Italy, merely that he may af terwards announce to us that he has done nothing ; and therefore, I apprehend that the Noble Lord, instead of mediating on a political priciple, is perhaps going to mediate on that dangerous principle with which he has sometimes played, and which I have ere this had the honour of calling "the sentimental principle." The senti mental principle in the management of the affairs of fo reign nations at the present day recognizes the principle of nationality. The Noble Lurd is going perhaps to mediate in the affairs of Italy on the sentimental principle of nationality.—(A laugh.) Now, I beg the Committee to remark into what an inextricable difficulty and danger the encouragement of such a course on the part of the Noble Lord may lead this country; and that is the rea son—that is, one principal reason, why I now bring the state of Italian satin's before the notice of the Com mittee. If it be necessary, on the sentimental principle, that Lombardy should only be in the possession of the Lombards, and that the person of an Austrian should not be tolerated there, on what ground can you justify the arrangement by which the Austrians are to retain the whole of Venicia? If the Noble Lord is a disciple of the principle of nationality—if, on that principle, he is going to advise the Emperor of Austria to relinquish his dominions in Lombardy, on what grounds can he refuse to completely develop time idea by recommending his Imperial Majesty to relinquish his hold on the Venetian territory? I want to know how can the Noble Lord be a preacher of nationality in Lombardy, when, in the north of Europe he is, as he is bound to do, defending the interests of Holland and Denmark against the invasion founded on this very same principle ? I want to know how the Noble Lord intends to act as far as the sentimental principle is concerned in case an ap plication should be made from a most powerful and in teresting kingdom, which, four months ago, it was pub licly announced, did probably intend to call on England to mediate—l mean Hungary. In the kingdom of Hun gary there are four races, the Magyars, the Sclavoniuns, the Germans, and the Wahles. Now, I want to know whether three of these races should quit Hungary, and leave it to the predominant power of the fourth ? If the Committee do not take the earliest opportunity—if the House of Commons du not take the earliest opportunity of discouraging the sentimental prin ciple in settling the affairs of nations, I am convinced that this country, will be involved in a dif ficulty which it is impossible to contemplate without dismay, and that you will be supporting a policy which, should it be fully developed, will resolve Europe into its original elements, and not leave any social or political system in existence in the forms which it now assumes. And now for the principle of that mediation of which we have heard so much, and which has been so ostentatiously announced—the mediation of England and France in the affairs of the north of Italy, I wish to know from her Majesty's Government whether the principle of the me diation—whether that political principle is founded on the law of nations and the stability of treaties, or whe ther it is a modern new-f'angled principle of nationality, which will leas): to inextricable confusion, and difficulty, and danger.. I want to know what are the means by which you intend to mediate. Is it to be an armed me diation? Because if it is to be an armed mediation, the Emperor of Austria, being in possession of his estates, and the King of Sardinia being in possession of his estates, war at this moment, as I am informed, not being waged between those sovereigns, that armed mediation of England and France is an invasion, and, therefore, you would seem to say that the best way to secure peace is by commencing war. If it is not an armed mediation, is it a mediation only of good offices? If that be so, I leave it to the Committee to decide what prospect we have of success with our good offices, when we go to the Emperor of Austria as friends merely, iand as friends recommend him to relinquish those dominions which he has gained by great sacrifices, by the display of great valour in his troops, and which have been held tor three centuries, and perhaps never with a firmer grasp than at the present moment. In the first place, then, as regards the means of mediation, an armed interference is an in vasion—is war, and an interference of good offices is a nullity. So much as to the principle cf mediation—so much as to the means by which Ithe mediation is to he carried into effect. Now, then, I ask litr Majesty's Ministers what do they intend to do with Loin bardy should their ancient ally, in deference to their kind offices, relinquish his'dominious? Do they mean to swell the territories of the King of Sardinia with the possessions of that duchy? Is the return fur that noc turnal attack which he made upon his neighbours to be an increase of authority and power? Why, Sir, if the King of Sardinia had not made war without even the declaration of war, you would hesitate as to that coarse. But when you remember the circumstances of the case —when you remember that the King of Sardinia made war without declaring war against Austria, and was at the very time in friendly confidence and communication with the Austrian Cabinet—when we know th it in con sequence of that conduct he is receiving most, signal pu nishment and discomfiture at this morneet, and that he i s only, in deference to the feelings of Europe on the part of Austria for existing treaties, allowed to remain in possession of his own capital, I can't imagine that any Minister not even a Minister at Frankfort would recommend Austria to relinquish Sar dinia. It is a proposition I can't for a mo ment imagine that any Minister in any country will now contemplate. What will be done with Milan? Will you establish by this mediation that you have an nounced, an independent Government? and make the states in the north of Italy a source of public dis quietude contiguous to two powerful military neigh bours, perpetually quarrelling and perpetually calling for foreign interference. What form do you mean to establish in the announced mediation for these free and independent . states? Of course it must be republican. You cannot have a King of Lombardy. It is for the in terests of England and of Europe that you should diplo matically establish a republic. If a republic, then what sort would her Majesty's ,Government recommend?— I (Laughter.) Is it to be a revolutionary republic or a Conservative republic—a red republic or a white re pubtic—a republic with a red cap, or a republic with a white feather?—(Great laughter.) That is a question upon which, of course, the country will receive some intimation. These are threw points upon which the Committee ought to require information from the Government.—(Hear, hear.) The Government, let me remind the Committee, have announced a media tion— a joint mediation of England and France in the affairs of Northern Italy. I think the Government are bound to tell us the principles upon which that me diation is founded, the means by which that mediation is to be carried into effect, and the end which it is pro posed to attain by that mediation. Now, Sir, there is an object for this mediation, as I am informed, which her Majesty's Government will not announce. It is the secret object of many transactions which is so perplex ing to the public eye. The object of the joint mediation in the affairs of Northern Italy—where there is nobody to mediate between, and where there is nothing to settle —the object of the joint mediation is to prevent the in vasion of Italy by France. I have no hesitation in say ing that the invasion of Northern Italy by France would be much to be deprecated ; and if her Ma jesty's Government, with all the advantages of the recent experience of the Lord Privy Seal, can de vise a means by which such result can be prevented, they, no doubt, will have cause to plume themselves as statesmen.—(Hear.) But the Committee will recol lect that France has no right whatever to interfere in Italy. It would be a violation of every principle of pub lic law, and of every treaty which exists with retererce to the Italian States. I am of opinion, myself, that France will not invade Italy. Ido not think it would be for the interest or for the honour of France to do so. I very much deprecate even an inference as to the contin gency so highly disastrous to the world, and most un justifiable on the part of France. As regards Italy, as regards Europe, France has not the colour of a case in this respect. I wish I could say, with regard to Eng land, France was in the same position. I admit I can not. I admit that the conduct of our Government in Italy affords a precedent for France. It does not justify France in violating the law of nations—it does not justify France in violating treaties—it does not justify Farce to Italy and Europe, but it does, un fortunately, justify France to England. Should the Noble Lord, for example, put himself in commu nication with the representative of that country at this Court, if he were to make an appeal to the French Minister on the subject, he might refer to a circumstance which gives a colour of pretext of precedent to France. That is our conduct at Naples. Let me remind the House of the ultimate result of the cordial co-operation between the Lord Privy Seal and the King of the Two Sicilies. As far as I can obtain information, it is the following, namely—the King of the Two Sicilies having prepared a powerful army to chastise his rebellious sub jects, exactly as Austria has done, he finds suddenly, in the Bay of Naples, an English fleet, and it is announced to him that his rights as Sovereign of Sicily have ceased to be acknowledged by the English Govern ment. The English Government, it appears, animated by that principle which governed the motions of the Earl of Minto—animated by an extreme desire to consolidate the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, put an end to all misconception between the subjects of his Majesty, and were so kind as to approve of the nomination of an independent sovereign, who was to go vern Sicily in violation of the rights of Naples. The Government —the servants of her Majesty the Queen of England—commenced with communicating with the re bellious subjects of the King of Naples, and finally they sent a fleet to prevent the King of the Two Sicilies from asserting his sovereign rights. France, in possession of these facts, would have a very good cause to invade Italy. Lord PALMERSTON—They are not facts. Mr. DISRAELI—These are not facts, says the Noble Lord; but I ask, why are they allowed to be supposed to be true? It is at all events true, that when asked for information upon the subject—when asked whether instructions had been given to our fleet in the Mediterranean to prevent the Neapolitans invading Sicily, the Noble Lord refused to give an answer to the question. The Lord President of the Council, in another place, refused to give an answer to a similar question; and these facts were admitted by the chief Minister in another place, that we did interfere in the affairs of Sicily as far as thus, indicating to that people the terms on which Sicily should be independent, the form of go vernment they should choose, the manner in which the choice should be made, and the individual of whom England would approve as sovereign. The Noble Lord will not say that those are not facts. The interference was complete on our part, and what answer should we have to give to France, if a French invasion of Northern Italy should take place? lam quite prepared to make this admission to her Majesty's Government —. l do not believe that, injurious as the precedent is, our conduct with respect to Naples will bo made it precedent for the invasion of -Northern Italy by France. and for this reason—simple and satisfactory—that I do not believe there is the slightest wish at this moment on the part of France to make such an invasion. But still, Sir, I think it necessary to enter my protest against any such precedent being made. All the French Government desire is, to avail themselves of this forced occasion of giving to Europe and the world an idea that there is cordial cooperation be tween the Cabinet of Paris and the Cabinet of St. James's. Now, it may be asked, what is the harm done by the French Government availing themselves of this forced occasion? The harm is, that these forced occasions, these made opportunities, have never, on any occasion, been used by the Governments of the two countries but at the expense of the rights of some third independent Sovereign.—(Hear, hear.) Upon this oc casion, Sir, I do not wish that my opinion should be misapprehended—of an alliance with France, a cordial understanding with France, or whatever phrase may be used—that the great events which periodically and gra dually occur in the world should be managed by two of the leading nations, by a wise spirit of concession and compromise, followed by a cordial co-operation between the two countries—if you mean by that an alliance with France, or a cordial understanding with France, of that principle and that system I shall ever be a feeble but warm supporter. It is not a new principle in the history of this country, although of late years it has been announced in this House as if it were some novel discovery in politics. If you take a general view of modern history, of our country , and of Europe—l mean that modern history of those times during which the great events have occurred you will find that hostilities with France have been the exception, and not the rule. For the last two centuries and a half more than two -thirds of the time was spent in a warm and close intimacy between the Government of this country and that of France. That was the prin' ciple which was acted upon by the Cabinet of Elisabeth , who managed the affairs of the world in co-operation with one of the most eminent of the Bourbon princes' It was brought forward as a charge against the pan , ' of the Protector that he was of the same opinion es Elizabeth on the subject—l think most unjustly. Batt at any rate, approved of by the sagacity of those men , and by the wisdom and prudence of Cromwell, surely it is a policy that cannot be wholly erroneous. I nee': scarcely remind the House of the policy of England on a subsequent occasion, conducted as it was by IW O of the most eminent statesmen of the last century- It is well known that two most eminent men—wh° never agreed on any oth e r su bj ec t, w h o were constantr i v ais in all things—l mean Lord Bolingbroke and Sir Robert Walpole—were both supporters of a warm and cordial alliance with France as the basis of our policy. Lord Bolingbroke became the victim of the negotiation et Utrecht; and no sooner was the great Whig party power, than Sir R. Walpole commenced the principles and for twenty years secured the peace of the world as -li se prosperity of England by his cordial understanding with France and with Cardinal Fleury. The Noble Lord only the other night told us that the peace of the world was to be maintained by a co-operation of the, powerful Governm en t s o f R uss i a, o f E ng l and, an d o f France. Now, I believe that the present Governmen t of France is a powe r f u l G overnment; b ut let me rem ind the Noble Lord that he has not yet informed Pallas ment that he has recognised its existence. But it is I , s , strong Government, for thi s s i mp l e reason, that t he/ have transferred the government of Algeria to th e streets of Paris. That Government may be performing its duty. The great Lord Protector of equality has letteli executed a monster razzia again s t th e f raterna l mu l t itude of Paris. General Cavaignac or hi s successors ma y have to repeat, probably will have to repeat, those exploit s ,' but if the Noble Lard enters the plea of a cordial under standing with the Government of Fr ance , an d under that plea is going to repeat the steps which, unfortu nately, preceding Governments under similar circuit?: stances have adopted, and which have always ended. 1 ! disappointment and discomfiture, then I trust this Sou se will interfere. A natural a lli ance an d a cordial genella understanding on the basi s o f mutua l co-operat i on en" conduct is no doubt a great good; but an understandi n g only founded on forced occasions and forced opPor tu a . nities—occasions unfounded, and opportunities devise , in order to show the world that there is co operation h i e s, tween the two Governments—will produce great ev l . 4 and cause the greatest disasters. The Noble Le ss 'a tried this system in 1830 and 1832, and then be ha circumstances much more favourable to deal with that a t present. Then we were in alliance and co-operatiLis with a Sovereign who, whatever may have been , e _ s , fault,, had, fora period of 17 years, succeeded in brid.lo the Jacobin tiger; yet what did the system end, l of It planted the tri-coloured flag upon the Wat' s Ancona and of Antwerp—it l e d t o i nter f erenc e in SP si o, in Portugal, and in Greece—it troubled our cornate_ r 4 i in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, and was the 7 11 , cause of the disturbances which have taken P lace Tt; waters of La Plate. Sir, I protest against this syst e m ' I protest against any mediation in Northern r of ,- where nothing exists to mediate, but merely to SP__,,a that a cordiarunderstanding exists between Franet England. lam convinced that if the House of us , C o'7i n talons sanctions that policy, you will found distc s !_ fi d every quarter and discord in every state—that . n te _ of the alliance between France and England bet g, se ding. P r "' security of peace, that alliance, that understan ev .. ss ie it as you will, that future concert, will lead inev i table in the end to war.—(Hear, hear.) And, Sir, w h at s_ ar s.ou you doing this for? You are doing it becatiu:lnJely, have created a bugbear of your own , Fra nce. the impending invasion of Italy by France. ~..s oce, I repeat it, has no right to invade Italy. . 71 -r' ssin g I say, has no interest at this moment in u . 1..7,`.`" b y Italy. Hon. Gentlemen talk of the invasion _ a f i_tti e L o •i France ns if it were an incident which might hPP ! I teleg re P" . any summer day upon an order sent by t he to g iee What is an invasion of Italy by France? Ev en . _. of France a chance of success in the present po? t a red__ Italy she must cross the Alps with at least at n u a - n lis thousand men. She must do much more than h l l 4 l , e d thousand r v k e m ry st d o ay t h t me t n i e a bn t a sn s ikl h es e mofu st th crossed eR advance h th i n e e Ataolnpsa meetr ruwithy thereu u h t e r the less uf,oduloget; nant spirit of Germany, forgetting then,. i° ,, a . s in f er w s7ear An its nebulous mysticism of nationality wv