The Sun. — London, England, 1852-04-02 00:00:00

existing law of the land, and: as to whom the British Government might take steps. But it was not like other subsequent communications fro Yt the Governments of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, or Ole Germanic Confedera tion-an application to do more tha a the law would enable the Government to do.-(Hear.) I think it right and just to the French Government to explain the nature and intent of that communication. Now, Sic, when these representa tions were made to me I stated that the French Go vernment had at different tin ies possessed powers granted by Alien Acts, 'but than; these powers never went to the object to which they wished the action of the British Government to the directed-(Hear, hear)- that England took care of her own. tranquillity. and never pretended to look after that of oth'sr countries-( Hear, hear) -that they would look after th e i r omen interest, and that the pee/er given by former Ali en A c t s: wou ld b e this-that the Government was enabled to send, out of the country any foreigners whose pre s en ce i n th e emun t r y wa s dangerousli - to this country, and det r i men t a l t o its internal tranquillity-.. (Hear, hear)-and that it was in vain for them to ask us to do that which not only the p resen t. l aw did n ot enable us to do, but to diseuable us to do that, f ur which no further Act • could he asked f r om Parliament, a rid no Parliament would consent to give.-( Hear.) But. Sir, I took the liberty of stating, further, that I thought there was g reat exaggeration Sir, there is of the dangers which could arise to , any foreign .... c . ortry from the 'presern!o' here of any' foreign .which opinion goes so far nothin, it seems to . roe, upon any from welch they have beyond fact as in the idea that refugees can, which con siderable mnehief in the country By exciting discontent other incentive 3 to insurrection. The fled. Why, how are they to do it? through letters or effect of a cause depends not only on the cause itself, b ut very much on the condition. of the thing o n w hi c h that cause is to operate. a slight . spark may bl ow up powder magazine; while a blazuig torch Will burn out harmless on a turnpike-road.-(Oheers and la ug ht er .) If a country be in a state ofinternal, or suppressed discontent, slight indications may augment it, and produce an explo sion; but if the country be well governed, and if the people be satisfied and contented, little 'proclamations and commu nications which may be received from refugees will be as harmless as waste paper.-(11( tar, hear.) I endeavoured with great deference to impress that idea on foreign Govern ments, who then represented that perhaps these refugees might send money 1 Why, good, heavens, Sir l-the money which these unhappy refugees have, who are living in lodgings in back alleys, many of them even of the lowest class, and can hardly pay for their subsistence-(Hear, hear) -is there any danger likely to arise to foreign Governments from money sent by such persons?-(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Then, Sir, I was told, " .See, here are notes issued by Mazzini, for 50 francs each, in return for money depo sited, and to be repaid when an Italian Unitive Republic shall be established."- (Laughter.) Why, Sir, I did not think that danger from this source was very imminent.- (Hear, hear.) Then, again, it was said that a banker had received an application from soma of those parties to open an account with him. But, Sir, up to that time not a farthing had been paid to that account. • (Laughter.) Then it was said that if money could not be went arms might go. And no doubt one did hear of some 200 muskets destined for these purposes. But how are the refugees to get arms (in any formidable quantity) unless they can get money?-(Hear.) And I do not think that notes payable on such an eventuality as I have described are likely to send arms in quantities at all considerable into foreign countries.- (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Besides, the arms are articles which it is ex tremely difficult to smuggle; and any country is, of coarse, bound to look after its own interests, and to give orders to prevent the arms from being imported.-( Hear, hear.) Well, then, if their letters will not produce revolution; if their money is not forthcoming; and if their arms are next to nothing, it is said they may send men. But the moment any foreigner begins to enrol men in this country for the purpose of military occupations in another, we have a law to prevent those practices.-(Hear.) They cannot be concealed; you are enabled by the law (a law which nu doubt the Go vernment would execute) to put down such proceedings against a friendly power..-(Hear, hear.) And, Sir, I felt it my duty to point out to those foreign Governments that al though it was not entirely unnatural, considering the dif ferent organization of continental countries from ours, that they should feel these apprehensions, that, besides our not being able to relieve them, there was not so much foundation for them as they appeared to imagine; and that, however, there had been granted (as was stated in 1848) a consider able number of passports by the British consuls or diplomatic agents to persons not British subjects, I thought it was right to do so. It was done in a time of great commotion in Europe; and the passports were given to persons of all states -to Royalists of France, Republicans at Rome, and Hunga rians in the east of Europe; to every man, in fact, who was eying from imminent danger, and wishing to withdraw him self from that country in which his presence might create disturbance-( Hear, hear)-and they were assisted by the British Government, not only as an act of great charity to the individuals themselves., but as contributing much to the tranquillity of the countries in which it was dune. - (Hear, hear.) As to Rome, for instance, a case much commented upon, especially by continental governments, the British consul there, and the French consul gave passports which enabled two thousand men to quit Rome, who, if they had remained there, must either have been' a source of great disturbance, or must have been supported by the charity of the city, and the authorities of Rome not only desired that it should be done, but urged the consuls to assist them in get ting rid of these persona, although it was afterwards made a frequent subject of reproach, especially to the consul of this country. it was an act done not upon his own respon sibility, but on the desire of the authorities; it was perfectly justifiable, and I felt it my duty to approve of it.-(Cheery from the Liberals.) At the same time, it is true that the Austrian Government might think that some of the pass ports might get into other hands, or that some persons to whom they were given might seek to return under cover of them. I was not disposed to find fault with the Austrian Government for establishing, with regard to passports, this general regulation, that foreigners wish ing to enter into the Austrian dominions should have passports granted by the authorities of their own countries' countersigned by some represent a ti ve o f t h e Austrian Government.- (Hear, hear.) I think that every Government is entitled to make such regulations as to the admission of foreigners as it may think consistent with its own security, if those regulations are liberally enforced without vexatious severity; and I think that other coun tries are bound to acquiesce in them.-(Hear.) There was an attempt made indeed to compel the British Government to establish in regard to our passports those picturesque de scriptions which some of the foreign passports contain-(A laugh) -a deline a ti on o f t h e features or figure which the in dividual who bears a passport may boast of-(Laughter) - but I declined to follow that example, and said that, although it was im ag i ne d t h at we were fond of sitting for our portraits it was to painters, and not to passport-drawers; and so, Sir, I did not comply with the wishes of foreign govern ments in this respect. But, Sir, it appears from the papers which have been laid before the House that there was at one time a determined intention, on the part especially of the Austrian Government, to retaliate on British travellers with undue severity in regard to passports of admission into Austrian territories -to retaliate on the British Govern ment for not doing that which foreign Governments must know it cannot do by law, and never could get a law to enable it to do.-(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, I think that was a perfectly proper thing for mention in this House.-; Hear, hear.) I think my Hon. Friend was right in calling the se rious attention of Parliament to a menace which I think it was so unbecoming a foreign Government to make, and as unfitting for the British Government to receive. Sir, upon this subject, there are parts of these papers, especially the conclusion, on which I would make a few remarks. I am alluding to that amicable and .Arcadian dialogue-( Laughter) -which has passed, it appears, between the Austrian Go vernment and the present Ministry since their accession to olice.-(" Hear, hear," and l aug h ter f rom the Liberals.) Sir, it is delightful and worthy of Virgil to see the beautiful compliments and amiable feelings interchanged between the two parties.- (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Sir, I must say I could not read those dispatches without a smile.- Meer, hear.) And there were circumstances which took Place when the present Government was formed which did not l a diminish in my mi n d th e di sposition to smile.-( Hear, nd laughter.) I a ll u d e to the joy which the Austrian Sir, it Gove rn mentcoun expressed at the t o t a l c h ange o f men and of wwhich then took place.-(H ear , hear, and laughter.) No 4:every amusing, many things considered. [The and the ii ° o u tl et, as he said these words, laughed heartily, But there ee se cordially participated in his merriment.] Which was, Istl:pother point which struck me as to a word for diving into thnk, written hastily ; and without opportunity , depths of Rymer and consulting our an cient treaties. e Though I have great respect for Austria, and do not wish to undervelue the utility of her alliance to Eng tleanadt_or, to_ detract from the antiquity of that alliance (exe f arte etg s, t think, as far back as 1689 -I cannot carry it ee-(Hear)--ae ali pp ",T ra l th h er te the application of the words " oldest ally" inadvertently from the pen of the Government sive, with pi:ailing I think that that we had a treaty, offensive and defen be eel as earl yas the year 1378.-(Hear.) And be, Portu ga l can we g yer ancient an alliance with Austria may that hers extends so far back as that early enod, and 4 :7 an alliance defensive, Only vras there a treaty binding us to s e ir, force to Portugal to assist her in the acted upon by n ut in two years afterwards it was war with Castilla. sure that we should not pass by our early and faithtul 4 :11 1 1 laugh)-and althongh Austri r a the Court of Portugal-(A ehas been very valuable to us, of the instances , independent of yet on many occasions, from the iLuAustrian Government, it the will and inclinations e e of the last war coin was at different times in I; and laughter rnerenits she had under- Ursine the Liberals.) taken. to break away Elora the engage -(sarcastic chee Now then, Sir, I think that Chet r_egard to th e Speech in Right Hon. t tin t ent :cvh w ic a h s PePi nts resolutioni th e Pa tai points Gentleman the Secretary . for the Rome not quite so satiefactory especially the resolution of my Hon. Friend upon the disposition of the Govternment. The my Hon. Friend points distinctly (I mayo almost say exc i u ! sively) to the intentions of foreign Gvneernments, and the reply of the Right Hon. Gentleman tells on what d. are the m e tentions of the British Government, and a differe nt p o i nt to accept the state ment the first referring to English travellers, the other to foreign refugees. Still, however, lam willing - now there is a ment of the Right Host. Gentleman, .even more largely than the words of it appear to go, believing that to Sarcastic cheers Government which appears, in the opinion Of Austria, - sympathise more fully with her principles-( from th e O ppos i t i on) - than the late Adm i n i stra t io n did. Aa it appears th at now, at least, am i ca bl e relations have been restored whi c h we were to l d h a d not ex isted in the preceding five years (I can say this more freely now because it appears no w t h at it dates not from December b ut from February) -as it appears that now there is such a friendly feeling -such a mutual confidence established between the English and Austrian Governments-(Sarcastic cheers and tlaughter) -so that there is now no danger for British ravellers in Austrian dominions. I venture to "suggest ° lele" Honourable Friend ( Sir. Milnes) that he may . and, therefore tptipkosetshiies bringingdiscussion has sufficiently accomplished his th4eit' his motion forward-( Hear, hear)- view to the Government think it better, with a must be the test . c onsiderations, of which the Government adopted, -if le ejaelddges' that this resolution should not e be meet as a rebuke fo be considered by the Austrian Govern that it would render offences that have ceased to exist, and the two Governm ents ess satisfact ory t h e relations between Bh that if the Government anti suggest to my Hon. Friend e motionb tte to presume,m ovethe o of course, previous question than to agree to th that they would not attemt ontocegative it, since it con tains a statement which no n deny), -if they should think fit to move the previous on, I should really recommend to my Hon. Friend noittioesgttoho a division, but (Chveeery proper and acquiesce in that mode of disposing ot useful motion he has brought forward. - Sir J. WALSH hoped that the Hon, le lembe r r s, t o ) r Ponte fract would adopt the suggestion of the NobleHe was sorry that the motion had been brought Lord.forwa was not n so had only caused speeches and a discussion which veould a p s it regard to duce irritation and interrupt the friendly relations existircg between this country and foreign nations. He certain that foreign countries had not some grounds for the demands they had so perseveringly pressed with refugees. As the state of things abroad was now more seta tied, perhaps that was the reason that these demands'evere not so strongly pressed,, and he rejoiced to see that a subject which might have afforded reasoriaele grounds for a case of war with England bad bran c. ,, usidered by foreign powers with reference to the laws of England and public opinion here, and they had not pressed demands which might have Pr9T9cl jac°ll Y eilieu ; 19 P. N 9 ringlialwan vivuld refuge an t countrf Dpes that amicable utting It ressed at on. Gen what the. e line of is speech tisfactiott alculated existed :h Prince Met said, universal sct them , n powe rs maintain be icicle. eir rigbt internal ie policl to regret patch of .uicatioor rring to 0 tendon! g hospl offence ging and rant any >spitalitf heir oval Lty from the lei iall have liinistera ia which and the actuated dtv , ,hick ivelf bees hick i ce le o f nose thi 6 n ot dis verf ,sure TIIE asylum to refugees fleeing from the effects of political cone vulsions, and would not be ready to defend their right,to afford that hospitality. But that was_ not the whole case. They were not satietied with merely seeking an asylum here, but they used the protection of England as a means of adopting acts of hostility against and to disturb the tran quillity of foreign countries. That was the strong point taken by those foreign powers. Those were the points which our law 'did not meet as regarded foreigners. But if any foreigner or Englishman were to be guilty of similar acts against England, he would be guilty of treason or sedition, so that they were, in fact, carrying out sedition and treason against their own Governments. This was an anomaly of which foreign Governments had a right to complain. He (SirJ. Walsh) was not prepared to enact laws to meet this case, but he was of opinion that there was a stronger prima facie case on theesart of foreign powers than Gentlemen op posite,were ready to admit. There was a gross abuse of the hospitality of this country on the part of refugees, and their sense of propriety ought to induce them to abstain from acts which involved the chance ,of periling fiiendly relations between their own countries and that which had given them shelter. He had no sympathy with most of those refugees who had done much by their acts to put an end to Constitu tional monarchy all over Europe, and if this country afforded them an asylum, it was not necessary also to airerd them its sympathy. Mr. V. SMITH concurred with the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Walpole), and with the Noble Lord (Palmerston), that if an angry discussion on this subject had been brought= to a satisfactory close, it was unwise to revive it.—(Hear, hear.) The motion of the Hon. Member for Pontefract, however, was intended to elicit a Late information from the Government, and he . (Mr. V. Smith) desired to extract a little more. What he wanted to know was, whether British subjects had been subjected to any additional incon venience in consequence of non-compliance on the part of our Government with the demands made upon them? With regard to the Austrian correspondence, he must say 'he thought it rather an unusual practice to compliment a new Government upon its accession to office. Prince Schwarzen berg, hoivever, seemed to think otherwise; and he (Mr. V. SMith) supposed that " Dear Derby," and not "Ce cher Aberdeen," would henceforward be the formal ex pression of that statesman when addressing dispatches to this country.—(A laugh.) Mr. B. COCHRANE said that it appeared that the Aus trian Government had only placed British travellers under the same regulations as those of other countries. He com plained of the tone and language adopted by several Hon. Members in the present debate, and contended that such a manner of discussing foreign affairs was calculated to do serious injury to our relations with foreign powers. He con tended that the dispatch of the Austrian Minister, which was said to contain a "menace," was written just after a speech dslivered by M. Mazzini, in which lie spoke " of establishing an organisation, to spread through England the facts relating to the struggles and sufferings of Italy, and so that she might receive a moral assistance iu those struggles." Aus ria had cause to be alarmed, if she supposed suca an organisation was on foot. He thought that the conduct of Englishmen to General Hayeau, conduct which was at once cowardly and inhospitable, was quite parallel with the con duct of the Austrian troops in Tuscane .—( Hear, hear.) He was astonished at this motion proceeding from his Hon. Friend, who had always been received most hospitably at the Courts which he now took upon himself to attack. Sir H. VERNLY was understood to say that the whole English nation ought to be grateful to the Noble Lord, the Member for Tiverton, mainly in consequence of whose con duct it was that the cases mentioned that evening, of in juries and insults to British subjects abroad, were exceptions and not the rule. The Noble Lord was competent above all men to give advice on such a subject as this; and he (Sir H. Verney) hoped that the Ron. Member for Pontefract would act upon the suggestion which had been offered him. —(Hear, hear.) Mr. HENLEY, after some Preliminary observations, said he believed that any Government existing in this country must always act upon the principle that British subjects, in any part of the world, must be carefully protected. The Noble Lord (Lord Palmereton) had referred, in humourous terms, to the Austrian dispatch, in which complimentary language was used in respect to Lord Derby's Goverruneet ; but that dispatch must be read in reference to the declara tion of the present Government as to their foreign policy, and not in reference to the preference of the Austrian Go vernment of any one set of gentlemen over any other set of Gentlemen sitting as Ministers.—(Hear.) As regarded the dispatch upon which the Hon. Member for Pontefract had laid so much stress, as conveying a menace, he (Mr. Henley) considered that it applied not to British subjects proper, but to persons travelling abroad with English pass ports; and, so mar as he knew, he believed that no incon venience had arisen to any one British subject in conse quence of the intimation of the Austrian Government. He had only, in conclusion, to say that the best way of dealing with the motion, would be as suggested by the Noble Lord, the Member for Tiverton ; and he therefore begged to move the previous question. Mr. M. 1411LNES replied, consenting to obey the direc tion of,the Noble Lord, and to comply with what appeared to be the general wish of the House. In reply to the re-. marks of the Hon. Member for Bridport (Mr. B. Cochrane), he had to observe that the Hoe. Member was somewhat in error as to the hospitedity which he (Mr. Al. Milnes) had received from foreign courts, for on his last visit to the continent he had , been stopped and prevented entering the Austrian dominions. That circumstance had, of course, however, nothing to do with his political conduct on this oceasiou. Tne previous question was then put and agreed to. HARWICH. Sir D. L. EVANS, pursuant w notice, moved for leave to introduce a Bill, with a view to the appointment of, a Com mission to inquire into the existence of bribery in the bo rough of Harwich. The Bill would be word tor word, with a change of names, with the Bill passed last session in refer ence to St. Albans. The case of Harwich, he was prepared to show , was even a more flagitious case than that of St. Albans, and there was this difference that proofs existed in this case which had nut existed in the St. Albans case when the Bill was passed, demonstrating the practice of bribery. Harwich, indeed, was even in a "uric position than was occutied by any of the other suspected buroughs. When he had last brought this subject before the House, which was immediately upon the -accession of the present Government to office, the Hon. Member for the Uni- Versity of Oxford (Sir R. Inglis) had charged him and his Mends with a mere factious desire to annoy and impede the new Ministry. It was sufficient to say, in reply to the charge, that he had moved in the mat ter last year, and had then sought what he was seeking now. The Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Judge Advocate had fist called attention to Harwich; and upon the motion of that Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman tor a Committee he (Sir De L. Evans) had suggested an amend meat extending the inquiry to toe circumstances of all the electioua fur iktembers for Harwich to the present Parlia ment. If, therefore, there was ..ny imputation in tots busi ness, it applied not to him, but to the Eight Hun. and Learned Gentleman who, probably in consequence of his onerous official duties, nu longer took an interest in it.—( a. laugh.) In regard to Harwich corruption, the evidence was. so copious, that; like NW*. e's hero. he suffered from an " embarres des richesses." He would, however, not go farther back than ten years. In 1842 occurred tae "compro mise," w..ich led to the celebrated' Compromise Committee" of the Hon. and Learned Member ter Sheffield (Mr. Roe buck). In 1848 there was an election and a petition. Early in 1851 there was an election and a petition ; and again, in May, 185 there was another election and another petition. The population had decreased from 183 t to -1841 by 411 persons; but, strange to say, the number of the voters had increased. This borough had been convicted of bribery twice within ten years, which had happened to no other borough. In the Committee of 1842, Mr. Attwood, then a Mem ber of the House, was examined, and he stated that Mr. Curran came to him, and said he should want 2,000/. to carry out the arrangement entered into on the compro mise. "I thought it an extraordinary proposal," said Mr. Attwood, " but I gave him the 2,0001., and there the matter rested." He went on to say, that the petition was to be withdrawn, and that Major Beresford was to vacate ; and on being asked if he had any knowledge that electors were bribed to vote for him and Major Berestord, he said he had no knowledge of it, except through • the money paid. He had no doubt whatever, it was notorious that this sort of thing was carried on. The next election was in 1847, and he would observe, that at the time these things were going on at Harwich, Mr. Attwood was carrying on similar opera tions at Lyme Regis. A great deal had been said about Alr. Edwards and Mr. Blagg, and their doings at St. Albans, but they were mere pigmies compared with Mr. Moss, the agent of Mr. Attwood. Mr. Moss was not merely a giver of bribes to a great extent, but an exponent of the political opinions of his candidates. Mr. Moss arrived at Harwich on the 15th of Juue, 1847, and he imme diately published an address, in which he stated that Mr. Attwood and another gentleman would seek their suf frages, "who would support their trade, reduce their church-rates, and establish au intercourse between the port and. north of Europe." When questioned in the Com mittee, Mr. Moss said before he published the address he had held out a hope to a few individuals the hope that their church-rates would be paid for them. At page 25 of the " Bluebook," Mr. Curran stated that he had a list of 33 electors, to whom he paid more than 3,0001. for their votes. This, therefore, was a much more monstrous case than St. Albans, where the electors got some 2/., 31., or Si. each. Here they averaged more than 1001. each. That was the election of 1842. Then, with regard to the election of 1847, the Committee reported, "That the last election, so far as regarded .the election of John Attwood, .Esq., was void. Resolved, that the said John Attwood, Esq., was by his agents guilty of bribery at the said election." The evi dence went to show that about 9,090/. was spent on that oc casion. Since then there had been two or three elections for Harwich ; but the cases of bribery were not gone into, the Members being unseated without. He had shown that the grossest corruption prevailed at St. Albans; that it had been twice convicted of bribery within tWo years. He ap further pealed to the House to allow him to introduce this Bill, and he thought that every one who had the morality and good g"ernment of the people at heart would join in granting hi m,„ r t . h . _e permission that he asked. eleetioen, second prwould excuse him if he endeavoured to stop the Mr. Hp KIER SEYMER hoped the Hon. and Gallant meat of its two Members? After the now in zress of his measure. Why was not Harwich Year, the j u d ce _tolle two Members, which took place last —was entrusted s Right Hon, Friend the Judge Advocate practices, but ot rate a petition, complaining not of corrupt her Majesty's lat,:tjrrference and intimidating practices by Lion for a Con ernittee ° , verunle ut , and he gave notice of m - Government did not o _which be was bound - to say the a %- but it did nothing h i P P7 , e. The Committee was appointed, at erseion. The Commi tte c e n on e uence of the lateness of the the honour of presiding, „teredetisession, over which he had if briberibry bad been practised, it I.toea careful scrutiny, and h ot have known led, it tat they elections took place without bribery eyed that avert few such an extent as to jusiify disfran e h i r m u e r u ring, but not to suppose that he was a friend to bribery and co , t• But do not was nothing conservative in bribery and c„rruroPtion. here Was influence derived from local connexi on ,P a t u ln. f 'rher e just and impartial exertise of magisterial duties , . the legitimate influence, but it was at the mercy o e hm „,:tn n is was was sent down by the Reform Club with a beg of ' t :, u ve e re .Whe He believed, however, that Mr. Coppock ever-estimated his power of corruption. Itt the Committee it appeared there was considerable influence exercised, but there did not ap pear such a case of bribery as to call for the notice of the House. One voter was proved to have been corrupted, and his vote was struck off. He would now state, as far as he could, as the Hon. Member fore Kent was not present, what took place in the other Committee. It seemed there was a foolish custom at Harwich to destroy the pollirg booths as soon as the polling was over, and on that occasion they were so anxious to commence their work of destruction that they were five minutes too soon, and they invalidated the election. That was all the case they had before the Com mittee. It was said that it was a small borough. Caine was a small borough, and Caine'was under influence. Arundel was a small borough, and Arundel was under in fluence; and there were many more. lie could name some that belonged to those who sat on his side of the Noble Lord, the I Fi r o minio..er, .Jl` ' • rAtt.i what 1.1; tont eye Lord saw no reason why Hshou l d be treated arwich differ ently from other boroughs, nor did he. Were they prepared to do towards otter boriPgll4what they wohed to do to.. LON DON, SUN, wards Harwich? He had stated that if the Hon. and Gal laut Member succeeded in his motion, he would make a similar motion respecting the borough of Leicester; but the Ho Member for that borough assured him that no bribery took place at the last election, and he believed him. None took place at the last election for Harwich; and if they did not bear unjustly upon Harwich, he would not make his motion respecting Leicester. Mr. CLAY said it mattered little to him whether the cor ruption at Harwich was promoted by the late Government, or by any individual. He hoped for the credit of all admi nistrations that they would join in putting an end to such disgraceful doings In a matter of this kind notoriety was all they required to induce them to act. He had it on the authority of a gentleman intimately acquainted with the place, that in 1841 two men, father and son, re ceived between them 1,0001. They. bought large barges with the money, and were audacious enough to name one of them The Attwood. The other he did not know the name of, but it might be The Plumper. In other cases voters were made so drunk that they never got sober again, bat died drunk. He believed that by issuing Commissions to inquire into boroughs, where it was believed that britery had been practised, would do more good to promote purity of election than anything they had done to effect that object during the i last century.. Mr. BAGSHAW observed that what he had said were his genuine convictions 2 and though the Hon. and Gallant Geu e tleraan had raised alauells at his expense, his words would he found to be true. The best course which the House could pursue would be to issue the writ for Harwich at the next general election, and let the borough be tried by its conduct then.. If the constituency were wise people they would know how to act.— (Loud laughter,) Mr. Secretary. WALPOLE opposed the motion. What was asked for was, that the House should issue a Commis dos, with enormous and unconstitutional powers, which in many reepeets.would supersede the law of the laud.— (Hear, hear.) Such a Commission, he thought, ought never to be granted except in a clear case of corruption recently and distinctly 'alleged.—(Cheers.) If they agreed, to the motion they would give to a majority of that House a power to deal with boroughs and counties that might be opposed to their views, to which be could never consent.—(Cheers.) The authorities upon which this case rested were those of Sudbury and St. Albans, but he begged the House to bear in mind how greatly both these precedents differed from the case before them. In Sudbury the bribery was so great , that out of the 276 electors who polled for Mr. Dyce Sombre, no fewer than 200 were proved to have been bribed; and the commissioners reported that they believed the bribery must have been carried to a much greater extent, because, at the rate of 71. per head, that would not have accounted for the 3,0001. which had been sent to the borough for the purpose of corrupting the voters. The case of St. Albans was still stronger. Accord ing to Mr. Coppock to bribe or to "bleed" was the general practice, and Alderman Carden'said the political opinions of most of the constituents were in their breeches' pockets.— (Laughter.) The Commissioners in this case also reported that the, practice was not occasional or partial, but general and systematic. Out of 290 voters who polled for ooe of the candidates, only 30 were supposed to have been un• bribed ; and out of 276 who had voted on the other side, 186 were clearly bribed. In' both cases there was thus shown to be universal corruption, and it was proved to have occurred at the election which had just taken place; but in the case of Harwich, the Honourable and Gallant Member had gone back as far as 1842, and had only come down as late as 1847 or 1848. There might have been bribery in both cases, but then there was bribery at Leicester, in the case of which the Committee reported that the system carried on had been such as to demand the attention of the House. But would it be just and fair to the Hon. Members for Lei cester, because bribery had been proved in 1847, to issue a commission with enormous and unconstitutional powers, and then to dispossess them of their seats, and disfranchise the borough? Where bribery had taken place, it ought imme diately to be inquired into; but in the case of Harwich, two elections had occurred since 1847, on both of which peti tions had been issued, the first of which alleged only a want of qualification, and the second only intimidation.— (Hear, hear.) He wanted . to know then on w h at pr i nc i p l e t h ey could issue a commission to inquire into this case, without also inquiring into all other places where Hon. Gentlemen could get .up and say that notorious bribery had been practised.—(Hear, - hear.) The duty of the House was to protect the minority—(Laughter) —and therefore he pro tested against a course which might lead to the results which' he bad already pointed out.--( Hear, hear.) Besides, there was also this anomaly. They had disfranchised one borough (St. Albans), of which the Hon. Member still kept his seat ; and,now they were asking for a parliamentary in quiry into another, where no corrupt practices had been proved. They were keeping open that seat for more than 12 months; but surely the inhabitants of that town were as much entitled to have a representative in the House as any other . borough.---(Hear, hear.) He considered—first, that they Were not entitled at all to institute an inquiry into any alleged corrupt practices, unless such corruption were recent; and, secondly, that such inquiries -ought to be pro ceeded with immediately, otherwise they might deprive the country for one or two years of its proper number of repre aintativee.—(Hear, hear.) In the present case, however, as the seat had been kept open 12 month s , an d as a gene ra l election was so ne ar at hand— (Obeers)--he did not think it would be right to move for a new writ.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. J. BELL thought that the case of St: Albans was bad enough, without making it any worse than it 'was.— (Laughter.) He thought it was very severe to exaggerate the amount of its corruption. According to the figures of f the Commission ers ' report , there were 2:10 voters against whom there was no allegation of bribery or corruption, and therefore the corruption was not universal. With respect to the present motion he Was in a somewhat difficult position. It he voted for the proposed Bill, he should vote in opposi tion to the argument he had used in favour of St. Albans-- (Laughter).- and if he voted against it he should be appa rently voting in favour of corruption.—(Laughter.) Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL objected to the animadversions which the Hon. Member (Mr. Clay) had cast , upon the Election Committee. He (Mr. O'Connell) had sat upon two Committees, in both of which the Members were un seated—in one of them (the Lincoln 'case) upon the very smallest possible amount of evidence that could be considered sufficient. Of course they were bound to see that the case was proved according to the law of the land.—(Hear.) Mr. CLAY had certainly no intention to censure the Com mittee, but he did think that they were not the best tribunals for sitting evidence, as he thought had been confessed by the issuing of commissions. —(Hear.) Mr. T. DUNCOMBE protested against the idea that the supposed approach of a general election was any reason why a new writ should not be issued. The reason why it had not been moved for in this case was, because the inquiry had been pending. How would the evidence of Mr. Coppock have been obtained but for the St. Albans Commission; and if the Commission now asked fur were issued no doubt they would be able to get the evidence of Mr. Attwood, which would in duce the House to pass a Bill for the disfranchisement of Harwich. At all events, if the Commission did not issue, he (Mr. Duncombe) should certainly move for the new writ, because he thought an injustice would be done, if they any, longer suspended it, to a very immaculate and honest bo rough.— (Laugh ter.) Mr. WALPOLE explained that under the circumstances he should not move for the writ himself.—(Hear, hear. ) Mr. BANKES explained that the petition to the House, alleging that three of the five voters who constituted the majority at the last Harwich election had been intimidated by the late Government, had been placed in his hands by persons whom he believed to be respectable; but he had no further interest in the matter whatever. At the beginning of the present session there had been no petition praying for a renewal of the inquiry, and therefore, although the same Government was then in office, he had not thought it his duty to press the subject. It was quite true that he had moved for a Committee, but that was a very different thing from a Commission.:- (Hear, hear.) With regard to the case of St. Albans, there had been a technical difficulty as to the adjournment of the Committee, and that had vitiated their whole proceedings. So far was he from wishing to stretch the power of the Constitution, that he had voted against that Commission, thinkin g that its powers should be intrusted to Members of that House; and he wished they had been so. The House would have stood higher had that inquiry been con ducted by its membari3. That Commission had shaken their jurisdiction, and had tended to invalidate the, decisions of their Committees. At present he saw no ground for the pro posed Commission. Had a Committee been proposed sup ported by such a petition as he had presented, he would have voted for it. If the Hon. Member for Finsbury would move the issue of the writ for Harwich, he would vote with him. Mr. DEEDES said he had acted as chairman of the second Harwich Election Committee. No evidence as to bribery wee laid before them, nor was any conclusion come to on that subject. The Committee's decision was founded entirely on a point of law, as Co whethe r th e p o ll was k e pt open the proper time—whether it had been interrupted by improper violence—and whether the returning officer had taken the steps he ought to have taken. The Committee thought he had not done so, and consequently deemed it a void election. It had been said, if the borough was so im maculate why should it object to an inquiry? That might be made an argument for a Commission in any case where there was no complaint whatever. He could not help think ing that Harwich was rather hardly dealt with, and he saw no reason why a writ should not issue. It was altogether an unfair proceeding. Sir DE LACY EVANS, in reply, said he was not aware that the minority had any such peculiar claims to consider ation as had been urged by •the. Home Secretary; he had always understood that the majority 'decided everything. He justified the appointment of the Comraission by reference to the case of St. Albans, and contended that great benefit had resulted therefrom. Mr. ROEBUCK thought the proposal for a Commission came rather too late. The inquiry at St. Albans had been instituted merely to enable the House to arrive at the facts ; and upon these facts the Bill brought in by the Noble Lord (Russell), and taken up by the present Government was founded. He could not vote in favour of this Commission; and he thought they ought not to allow that night to pass without issuing the writ. He would have voted for this mo tion had it been made a year ago. Now, the best thing they could do was to let Harwich have another trial to save itself froin condemnation. He hadno doubt it was a corrupt place a year ago; but the motion came too late. T he House then divided when there appeared— For the motion Against it ...... ..... Majority against the motion... Mr. T. DUNCOSIBE said, as it had been decided that• no inquiry should take place, the House had no right to dis franchise the borough, either for a week, for two weeks, or a month. He therefore moved that the Speaker should issue his warrant to the clerk of the crown, directing a writ to issue for the borough of Harwich, in the room of Mr. Crawford. Mr. BRIGHT said this motion seemed to follow somewhat naturally from the course taken by the Government, but there was no necessity that it should • . ollow so immediately. A former attempt had been made to move this writ, and the House had thought that it should be suspended forsome time longer, for some cause not very clearly explained ; but there Was an understanding that notice should be given before the and notice given of . writ was•moved. After a debate which was not suppo,ed to have any special reference to the motion, and after the pre vious discussion and understanding, it would not be fair that that motion should be consented to. Considering the suddenness of the proposition, and that many Members had left the House, having no idea whatever that any such mo tion would be submitted, he hoped it would be withdrawn, a nd it for a future day. put it off till It would be better ' ~_, the debate after the holidays lie moved, as an amend ment,Sir J. TyRIVAS seconded the amendment. Sir 'Zi,!__ebate should be adjourned. Hon. Gentleman% instance of th e u LL ` said that was another most unfortunate Manchester school !)ecifesirli' i a to r : y ut. e a r t n n d i improper neato h av interference a fi ng finger r in every. e r t 3 17 . itihEeßruinderrshtoaPnding that ' - It appeared to him that the thing. lie hoped the me? would not accede to the dicta • morositio Oh, oh," and tion of the broandeubrriintrithe the House would not act in laughter) - or co d tion Hoff m without duo notice.---(Hear, hear.) no virit was to issue Mr. 10EWDEGATE said that the 01 : ) l o r s . it B io R n O t • o r :,,,1,, (vote liberal party having just joined in an lir , , ~ ~. as far as Harwich was.con -01,:1,,,2, the ;t om l\L , .Tiloer .^„ linibury now fuoved ftat the writ do issue, although he had just now de clared that it was not fit to return a Member. — Hear, h ear. , . J The Hon. Mem ber for Manchester, however, was pil l ow, f or he FRIDAY EVENING, moved that the issuing of the writ be postponed for ften days. What he should suggest was that the writ be moved for to morrow (this day).—(" Hear, hear," and cries of ' ° divide.") Mr. BRIGHT sa i d that h i s motion was that t h e d e b ate b e adjourned. Mr. DUNCOMBE said that he should be the lest person ' to ask the House to break through any understanding ; but the understanding was, that the writ should not be issued without inquiry. The Hon. Member for Westminster had moved for an inquiry, and the House having decided upon that point, he bowed to the opinion of the majority ; but the natural consequence of that decision was, that the elec tors of Harwich should not be deprived of their rights.-- (Hear, hear.) He believed the House was compett int to de cide the question that night, but if it thought otherwise he had no objection to postpone the motion till to 'morrow (this day).— (Hear.) . Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that it was of the greatest importance that the House'should not decide upon t his ques tion hastily and without deliberation. As there could be no election before the Easter recess, he thought the sugges tion of the Hon. Member for Manchester would meet; the ne cessity of the case. Me. WALPOLE said that when he gave his reraona for thinking that the writ ought net to be issued, heomieted one reason, for it might be suppose 1 if he moved for the writ, that he did so in order to endeavour to obtaie an ad:cvantage to the Go vernment. --(Hear, hear.) He had that oviniou in his own mind, though he did not express it. But having already stated his reasons why he thought the writ should be issued, h e s h ou l d prefer that the motion should be made after notice given.----( Hear.) The motion an d amendment was then withdrawn, .end - Mr. DUNCOM BE gave notice that he would miove the issuing of the writ to-morrow. CHURCH-RATES. Mr. TRE LAWNY - then rose to bring on Um motiote which he had on the _paper reepeeting church-rates, but Sir R. INGLIs interfered, aid said that he appealed not _ so much,to the Hon. (;gentle man as to the clock.—(A laugh.) It was now ten minutes past eleven o'clock, and he asked the Hon. Member whether .there was any chance of so helper tent a question as that of church-rates being satisfactorily discussed at that hour? The Hon. Member himself might , be able to secure the attention of the House, but what chance was there for those who might follow him ?—(Hear, /eear.) Mr. TRELAW N y said i f it was the general feeling of the House he was willing to postpone the motion.—(Hear.) Motion accordingly postponed. POOR -LAW COMMISSION. Sir J. TROLLOPE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to continue the Poor -law Commission for a limited time. Sir G. PECHELL complained, at same length, of the con duct of the Poor-law Conamissien in its attempt to sibolisk the Gilbert unions throughout the country, and particularly blamed the Commissioners for the course which they had pursued with reference .to the parish of Alverstoke with Gosport. The Hon. Baronet, after having commented at some length on that c ase, concluded by express i ng his belief that there was nothing t o justify the con duct of the Poor law Commissioners in the matter. In reply to a Question f rom Lord D. STUART, Sir J. TROLLOPE thought his Hon. and Gallant Friend (Sir G. Pechell) ought to have deferred his motion for copies of the reoort Mr. Hawley made to the Poor-law Commis sioners until he (Sir J. T ro l lope) had introduced h i s Bill f or con tinuing the Poor-la w C ommission for a limited p e r i o d . As for the Bill, he only So ug h t by it to continue t h e Poor law Commission for two years, and he should now venture to ask the House to allow him to introduce his Bill. Leave was given to introduce the Bill. Sir J. TROLLOPE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to continue an Act of the fifteenth year of her Majesty, for charging the maintenance of certain poor persons iu unions in England and Wales upon the common fund. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY inquired whether it was the intention of the Hon Member (Sir J. Trollope) to wind up the Commission at the end of two years? Sir J. TROLLOPE replied, the matter did not rest with him. He now only asked for leave to bring in his Bill. The Bill was then brought in. Sir G. PECHELL moved for copies of the report made to the Poor-law Board by Mr. Hawley, poor-law inspector, dated the 20th day of October, 1851, re l at i ng to the par i sh ' of Alverstoke with Gosport, incorporated under Gilbert's Act, with .a copy of the order issued by the Poor-law Board to the visitor and guardians of the said parish, dated the 28th day of February, 18 52, with th e copy of the letter that accompanied the same, dated the 9th day of March, 1852; together with the copies of ell correspondence which has taken place since the last - mentioned date oetween the Poor law Board and the guardians of the poor of the said parish, and other parties, on the subject of such order. And, of the several reports .made on the inspection of Alverstoke workhouse, by Messrs. Campbell and Gaskell, on the 21st day of December, 1849 ; by , Viscount Courtenay, on the Ist day of August, 1850: by Mr. Redduck, on the 9th day of April, 1351; and by Mr. Hawley, on the sth day of June, 1851. Sir J. TROLLOPE objected to the latter part of the motion. Sir G. PECHELL must 'insist on having it. Sir J. TB,OLLOPE could not comply, as the papers were not in possession of the Poor-law Board. Sir G. PECHELL withdrew the latter part of the motion, and the amended motion was agreed to. Sir G. PECHELL moved for a return of the amount of freight-money received by the treasurer of Greenwich Hos pital, in each year, since the year 1819, stat i ng i n what pro portion the freighl-money for the conveyance of specie is divided betweeen the royal hospital, the captains and com manders where the treasure was pe, and the admirals and commodoresmanders o h f e r t h e M s s e j v e e s r ty a i s embarked. The motion was agreed to. The O'GORMAN MAHON obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Acts for lighting towns in Ireland, and for promoting trade, commerce, and public revenue by drain age and navigation, so far as relates to Ennis and the River Fergus. MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACTS AMENDMENT BILL The House having gone into Committee on the Bill, Mr. HEADLAM moved, as an amendment, the addition of the following words at the end of section 1:—" or in any banking company which may have had, or may hereafter have, dealings or transactions with any such councillors, commissioners, or trustees of such borough." The ATTORNEY-GENERAL having objected to the amendment, The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ... ... Against ... ... - Majority against ... The clause was then agreed to. After some observations from Mr. H. EDWARDS, The remaining clauses of the Bill were then agreed to, and the House resumed. The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were se verally read a third time, and passed; and The House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'clock. Rear-Admini l 3 37 -24 imiral Berkeley, C. 8., paired off for, with Mr. Colville, against, Mr. Berkeley's motion on the ballot. Mr. 'George Thompson paired in favour of Mr. Tre. lawny's motio n on church-rates, with Mr. 1:1. C. Lacy. _. WESTAIINSIER- BRIDGE. The followiu4 is the report • of the Westminster' bridge Commission of 1851: " TO THE LORDS CoNXISsIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S • " We, th e TREASURY. direct ion s contain e d i n a letter from your Lord- Commissioners appointed under the bhips dated the 20th of May, 1851, nominating us to b 9 ...Conitn i saiOnera for the purpose of ' 4 con- - sidering the • best and most convenient site for 0 , - new bridg e at , . vv es tminster and, at the same time, what will be the b es t mo d e of ' construction with re ference both to the t ra ffi c over i t a n d to t h e p ur p oses of navigation,' having examined witnesses, and taken the opinion of several most eminent engineers and architects eu these points, be— g- to submit the following report:— subject of t he, rebuilding of Westminster-bridge h a s already a oecupii -eu, t h e attention of three Committees of 1850. e House of C ommons in ' the years 1844, 1846, and _ , ,resolveodf report of in the year 1 844, it the first of these Committees, made new bridge Would is stated to be their opinion that a mended certain notalterations be required; but they recom and strengthe n i ng ' th elions for the purpose of improving - "In the e present structure. e The committee 1846 took a different view of the subject, and bridge should be unanimously that the present taken down and that a new bridge should be constru cted. Commi t t ee , 1850, concurring in this opinion, r should be taken by Act of Perlis structure, in c ase nu p e c i ) i rary bridge adjoining the present m ad e v n i t se t d o e th re a e t t a a p teeze ('` cessary; and th ey ' a work should be rendered ne should be made for further recommended than an inquiry bridge[beam"This not having been commenced, the expediency of Em u ' Parliament in the " be e t? under the power conferred by ration. 'en of 1850 is open for reconside " The subject of our i erenae to the question of 4 site' reference divides inteelf into two portions—one havin g for the new bridge, and the other as to its ' mode of con. struction.' suggested for our consideration:- 1. e " 1. That the new bridg© In the evidence we have eiiri t i u t re. taken several sites were built t at some distance , from the rd be on the site of the he river ; and present bridge. adjoining, or as near as "2. That in should be pres 3 e . nt T b o r a id t g it e, an lo o w o e ld r d he ow n possible to, the present erectedsue ald Ste of the present bridge,' be provided without addi '"lhlriedagdo v a a h n o t n a 1 1 h o f f 3 o t h n t he _ of those plans, 'that the inadequat® to the requirements new the approaches vio tioeal expense ; but, on th e et geeeee eque e ntly her hand we consider that these approaches are inae e )orary bridge; and we are of the present daily increa 4 mq inconvenience and danger. f h traffic, and occasion both old piers would present involve the erection of a tem s plan would necessarily before necessitate the entire informed that the site of the d ii i t tu e l ,, t o ie r s se in w e o o n n ld st , r m uc o t r i e n n g v( , r b ,e foundationalso of new piers. occasion delay and oul_d ia not be overlooked. A the new one could be o re o m m o rn v e a e l o of d she and ol w d o b o r l i d d period of time which inc ,, rep o se eo t n h a e id c e o r s i t n o g l t t h h i i s s r p em la u ne, 4 1 .119 the completion of tuborought into use in less would necessarily be occupi e d temporary bridge. We these fucceesive siructures sho d t t n ern an p7 B ra m ry on b t r n id s g t e ro e m eu t l t d a n e o oni t for the new permanent structure ement, and the works del e ay of a temporary ent structure could not be canalcom eced till the opening ot pe th rtee so informed that the T n ent bridge could not be constructed in two years. Toe temporary bridge is n ou th ld e d m e e la a y nt t i h m e e p t e e rm a e l n i inconvenientd substitute. For tese reasons we cannot recommen the adoption of the resent sil3 ti 3 the best Suited f or site new bridge, and we deem it desirable to select a which may enable Us to avoid the expense and th e bridge. " With respect to the second plan_ bridge should be built at some distance That the new We here from the present bridge, lower down the river,' renewed the in quiry at V various times been proposed for a bridge . in 'lieu of the existing Westmin ster-bridge, and which are r ef erte o d o to th i . n the reports of the Parliamentary Committees expense and additional : 1 3 subject.artilesrrace, the India, 'l'ile following oit,.i A sites tl t., : o a have more mc.re pearrtlice: y attracted our attention:—Chariue-eross, Richinond ijable to the sumo i dtl , ay t-ti Lira, namely, securing a permanent c ommunication mots the river. an increase of APRIL 1852 " With regard to a site near Charing-cross, we aro in clined to concur in the opinion of Mr. Pennethorne, who observes, that if, with reference to the Houses of Par liament, or for any other reason, the site of the present bridge must be moved, then it would, as respects the general traffic, be most advisable to convert the present bridge in a light iron foot bridge only, and build two other bridges at a distance, as it would be more advantageous to the public generally to incur at once tile greater cost of building two bridges in connexion with the new streets contemplated f.;r the improvement of Southwark and Lambeth, than to expend a large sum in forming approaches not so convenient as the existing ones, and which possibly afterwards it would be neces sary to extend.' " Tim sites near Richmond- terrace and the India Board are • more favourably circumstanced; and if the block of houses which now separates Parliament-street from King -street were removed, eitber of these situa tions might be preferable to the one which we have selected. But it is obvious that much additional time would be lost, and a large additional expense incurred, hifore either of these could be rendered fit for the con struction of a permanent bridge with its requ;site ap proaelies. " Property of centiderahln value must ho acquired both on the Middlesex and Surrey sides of the river be- Lore convenient accesses could be made to a new bridge at either of there points. The time required for there purchases delay the opening of the' new bridge; and even when cenaideted, althotrizh it might give au opportunity for architectural display, it seems doubtful whether the change of site would be regarded nu af fording any general convenience commensurate with its cost. Having thus stated our ohj, , ctions to the above mentioned rep .-t we pr o c ee d to rert our opinion on the advantages which would ensue if the third and last plan were carried into effect—vz , That the new bridge should be constructed adjoining, or as near as possible, o the present bridge, either on the north or south side.' " A new bridge on the south side of the present structure would be objectionable on account of its proxi mity to the Houses of Parliament. This objection would be increased if the bridge were constructed with a heigut of headway of twenty-five feet above Trinity datum. The erection of this bridge would, moreover, necessitate the immediate purchase of the entire south aide of Bridge-street, which consists of 27 houses, none of which are the property of the Bridge Commissioners. The purchase of these houses, inclu ding the interests of the tenants, compensation for good wili, removal, &c., would very far exceed the cost of acquiring any property on the north side of Bridge street winch might be required for the approaches to the new bridge, it it were placed to the north of the exist ing bridge. " The property on the north side of Bridge-street consists of a block of nine houses, extending westward as far as Caunon-row, and one house westward of Can non-row, all of which are the property of the Bridge Commission. On the west of the last-named house is a a Mull block extending to Parliament -street, which is not ihe property of the Bridge Commissioners. The leases of these houses are either expired or have but a short time to run. " So much inconvenience and danger are at present experienced from the confined approaches and very sharp tura from Bridge-street into Parliament -street, that it will be necessary to make the accesses to any new bridge considerauly wider than they are at the present time. " Some information upon the comparative cost of constructing a bridge with the requisite app roac h es upon the sites above-mentioned will be found in th e Appendix, as well as in the evidence of Mr. Hardwick and of Mr. Pennethorne. The question of cost has no; been specially referred to our consideration, nor would it be possible to add a satisfactory opinion on this matter without a . minute inquiry into the value of property, which may be variously estimated. We believe, however, that the north side of the present structure will be the most convenient and eco nomical size ior the new bridge; the most convenient, be cause the work could be immediately commenced, and its erection will therefore be attended with the least ob struction to the traffic; and the most economical, both on account of the smaller expense which would be required for the acquisition of property necessary for the enlarge us ent of the appr o a c h es , a nd because it a voids tho neces sity of a temporary bridge. " Having thus stated the grounds of our opinion as to the most advantageous site for the new bridge, we proceed to report to your Lordships our views as to the best mode of construction, the width, the height of head way above Trinity datum, the number of arches, and the material to be used fur its formation. " And, first,Wiiii — respeCitothe width necessary in the construction of the now bridge. The opening of the new line of street celled Victoria-street, which forms a direct and convenient communication between Chelsea, the Borough, nod the City, the formation of the south. Western Railway terminus in the vicinity of the bridge, and the increase of the metropolis on both aides of the river, render it necessary to afford greater facilities for the traffic over the new West rainstbr-bridge, the width of the present bridge, 42 feet, being found to be totally insufficient. We are of opinion, therefore, that 60 feet, including the footways, should be the minimum width to meet the requirements of the increasing traffice and the comfort and safety of the public. " The width of the other metropolitan bridges over the Thames is stated to be as follows ; via Feet. ... 54 ... 42 ... 43 ... 36 " The Committees of 1846 and of 1850 both recommended that a Bill should be brought into Parliament for Transfer_ ring the estates and property of the Bridge Commissioners to the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, &c., due con sideration being bad to the claims of the officers of the bridge estates, in the event of their serv'ces being discontinued. We concur in the views of the Parliamentary Committees as expressed in these reports. " SEYMOUR. " LONSDALE. " SUDELEY. " R. GROSVENOR. " ROBERT HARRY INGLIS. " C. T. D'EYNCOURT. " J. HUMPHERY." PARLIAMEN TAR Y DIVISIONS, .From the Votes and c cccccccccccc of the Home of Commons, THURSDAY, APRIL 1. HARWICH BOROUGH. Motion Made, and Question put, " That leave be given "„o bring in a Bill for appointing C)mmissioners to inquire !Ito the existence of Bribery in the Borough of Harwich." Ile House divided: MINORITY—AYES, 95. Adair, Hugh E. Greene, John Ricardo, Osman Adair, It. shatto Hall, Sir B. Hominy, Colonel Alcock, Thomas liardcastle, J. A. Salwey, Colonel Anderson, Arthur Tlarris, Richard Scholeffeld, William Baines, M. I' Haste, Alexander Scol,cll, Captain Butiverie, E. P. Hervey, Lord A. Smith, Vernon Doyle, Colonel Heywood, James Smith, M. Tucker Bright., John IlieginF., G. G. Stanton, W H. lirockletifirst, J. Hindley Charles Strickland, Sir G. Brotherton, J. Hobhouse, T. B. Stant, E. Bunhury, E. H. Howard, C. W. G. Stewart, Admiral Carter, J. B. Humphery, Aid. Stuart, Lord D. Cavendish, C. C. Hutt, William Talbot, C. it. Childers, J. W. Kershaw, James 'raiment, R. J. Clay, Sir W. King, P. J. Thompson, Colonel Clifford, H. M. Langston, J. H. Thornely, Thomas Cockburn, Sir A. Martin, J. Townsheud, Captain Cowan, Charles Matheson, Colonel Trelawny, J. S. Davie, Sir IL Milligan, Hobert Verney Sir H. Dawes, Edwar Milner, W. M. Wakley, Thomas D'Eyncourt, C. T. Moffatt, George' Walmsley, Sir J. Duff, George S. Molesworth, Sir W. Wawn, J. T. Duff; James Morris, David Willcox, Brodie Duke, Sir J. Mowatt, Francis Williams, John Duncan, George Norreys, Lord Williams, W. Duncombe, T. O'Flaherty, Anthony Willyams, H. Ellis, John Ogle, S. C. Williamson, Sir H. Enfield, Viscount Osborne, Ralph Wilson, Matthew Evans, William Pechell, Sir G. Wyvill, Marataduke Ewart, William Peto, Samuel M. Foley, J. H. Pilkingtou, James Geach, Charles Price, Sir R. Glyn, G. C. Ricardo, John L. TELLERS. Evans, Sir De Lacy Clay, James MAJOR! TY—NOES, 137. Acland, Sir T. Dkye East, Sir J. B. Maxwell. Hon. J. P. Adderley, C. B. Edwards, Henry Miles, William Archdall, Captain Egerton, Sir P. Mitchell, T. A. Arkwright, George Estcourt, J. B. B. Morgan, 0. Bagot, William Farrer, James Mullings, J. R. BaiMe, H. J. Filmier, Sir E. Naas, Lord Baldwin, Barry Forester, G..C. Napier, Joseph Bankes, G. Freshileld, J. W. Newdegate, C. N. Baring, Thomas Fuller, A. E. Newport, Viscount Barrow, W. U. Gallwey, Sir W. P. Noel, Gerald J. Bennet, Philip Galway, Viscount O'Brien, Sir Lucius Mantilla, Lord H. Goulburn, Henry Ossulston, Lord Beresford, William Gore, W. 0. Packe, C. W. Blandford, Marquis Greene, Thomas Palmer, Robert Boldcro, 11. G. Grogan, Edward Portal, Melville Bowles, Admiral Gwyn, Howel Reid, General Bramston, T. W. Hale, R. B. Renton, John C. nreturidge, Richard Halford, Sir Henry Repton, G. W. Bridges, Sir B. Hallewell, E. G. Rushout, Captain Brooke, Sir A. B. Hamilton, G. A. St. George, Chris. Bruce, C. L. C. Hamilton, Lord C. Seyiner, H. K. Buck, Lewis W. Harris, Captain Smollett, A. Buller, Sir J. Y. Heald, James Somerton, Viscount Burrell, Sir C. Heneage, G. H. W. Sotheron, T. 11. Cabbeli, B. B. Henley, J. W. Spooner, Richard Carew, W. P. Hildyard, R. C. Stafford, Augustus Chandos, Marquis Hill, Lord E. Sutton, J. 11. Child, *math Hope, Sir J. Taylor, Cu;onel Christopher, R. A. Hope, IL T. Tennent, Sir J. Christy, sainuel Ilotharn, Lord Thesiger, Sir F. Clerk Sir G. Hughes, W. B. Trevor, G. R. Clive, R. H. Inglis, Sir R. IL Trollope, Sir J. Clive, H. B. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Tyler, Sir G. Cobbold, J. C. Jones, Captain Tyrell, Sir J. Codrington,:Sir W. Knox, W. S. Vesey, Thomas Collins, Thomas Lewisham, Viscount W l W 'i h a il l i f t p e e o r s s l i e ' d , e Langton, W, H. SpencerJames Viscount Compton, H. C. Cotton, W. 11. Cubitt, William Lindsay, Colonel Wigram, Loftus Davies, D. A. Lockhart, W. Willoughby, Sir H. Deedes, W. Long, W. Wodehouse, Edmund Dick,:Qui ntin Lygon, General Wynn H. W. Dod, J. W. Manners, Lord C. Yorke, , E. T. Duckworth, Sir J. Manners, Lord J. Duncombe, W. E. March, Earl of TELLRS. Dunne, Colonel Masterman, John Rateson, T h omas —Du Pre, C. G. Maunsell, T. P. Lennox, Lord 11. G. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Clause 1 (Proprietors of Newspapers not to be deemed Contractors by reason of Advertisements) :---Amendment proposed, in page 2, line 15, to add the words, " or in a n y Banking Company which may have had or may hereafter have dealings or transactions with auy such Council, Com missioners, or Trustees of such Borough :"—Question put, " That those words be there added." The Committee divided MINORITY—AYES, 13. Anstey, Thomas C. Hindley, C. Thompson, Colonel Barrow, W. H. Hobhouse, T. B. Bell, Jacob Mußings, J. R. TELLEI44. Carter, John B. Pllkington, James Ileadlam,;T. E. Greene, Joint Scholefleld, William Butt, William Rallewell, E. G. Tennent, R. J. MAJORITY-NOES, 87. Arkwright, G. Gwyn, Rowel Smollett, A. Bernie, H. J. Hamilton, G. A. Spooner, Richard Bankes, G. Hamilton, Lord C. Stafford, AugastuS Beresford, William lienley, J. W. Tennent, Sir J. Brotherton, Joseph Hili, Lord E. Thesiger, Sir F. Bruce, C. L. C. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. Trollope, Sir J. Chandos, Marq. of Knox. W. S. Vyse, It. H. R. H. Chichester, Lord J. Lennox, Lord H. G. Walpole, S. H Christy, S. Mahon, O'Gorman Willoughby, Sir H. Cotton, W. S. Naas, Lord Duckworth, Sir J. Napier, Joseph TELLERS. Dunne, Colonel Newport, Viscount Bateson, T. Edwards, Henry Packs, C. W. Bunbury, Edward Grogan, Edward St. George, Chris. THE uUktICENC Y. THE QUESTION « WHAT IS A POUND ?" ANSWERED. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—The recent discoveries in Caliturnia and Australia render it extremely probable that we shall have to suffer the evils of a depreciated currency, if gold long continue to be the standard of value. It is, therefore, advisable to consider whether or not some substitute cannot be found which will be more perfect as a standard. In the first place, then, it may be remarked that there is no more absolute necessity for the standard of value to possess intrinsic worth than for the standard of weight or measure; and in the next, that the experience of the last few years has shown thaf, however abundant may be the amount of money at the source of issue, the active circulation of the country cannot be materially inert ased beyond a certai❑ amount, however low the rate of discount, or however strenuous the efforts to force it. Money, like other commodities, is governed by ' supply and demand; and, like them, if supplied in too great a quantity, or if not required as the instrument of exchange, lowers in price, and becomes a drug in the hands of the owners or possessors. If gold, then, ought not to be the standard, what ought ? and what ought to be the mode of issue? _ As regards the standard, instead of making the pound sterling to represent " a certain amount of gold, of a certain fineness;" that is to say, instead of making it to represent the exact RESULT of a certain quantity of labour, I would make it the representative, or money value, or money expression of that certain quantity o 1 labour itself, instead of the representative of the rest that labour; and thus avoid the necessity of sele c t i ngs one description of commodity from the rest, nap its price, and making it the exponent of value for A all. vERAGII To illustrate:—Let us suppose that mine of adult male labour throughout to the day. , th t e he ki n gdom is two shillings per day, twelve hours' labourre presentative of ten days' The pound sterling would then be the aue or money expression, of the overage t n v shillings would - expression, of five days' adult male labour; and consequently be the representative, or money a exp liy; sixpence, of u q t a h a e r p te o r u o n f a labour; one shilling, of hal e f f Dn a hour; a penny, o f and a halfpenn y. bt i s principle of a standard quarter of a day; twopence, an st e: hour,lin g half au hour; &c., &c.; and, therefore, if Baying o t f ha a t were adopted, instead of asatity of gold,of a certain represented " a certain quantity that it fineness," we should then , _ represented "the _ ertau , quantlty of labour;" and thus averagevalue 01 a u d of representing the exact RESULT the " pound," instaa f labour, wo ld of a certain amount 0 of u then represent the ble value that exact amount of labour average exchan ge seuntY• gold could then be left, like itself, and, van! -to find . other commoditteo. i . its own proper level in price ..1 operaaons of supply and demand. by the natural eats the mode Now, t as tb r e e rf be a of issue. I would pro pose that bank be the national bank established; and, that this only bank of issue, and that it be a bank of issue only, whose notes, of one po . und and upwards should be founded upon the principle above stated —its first issues to be i ss ued in simple exchange for the gold . coin and bul lon now in circulation and in the banks, The notes thus issued should form the nucleus or body of the new . circ ulation, or curr ency. Al l i ssues above these to be issued upon approved solid security only— at a fixed and uniform rate of int e rest, or discount, and for limited periods solely. The Bank of Issue,. how ever, ought to have nothing at all to do with ! banking," in the general acceptation of the term. All banking operations, with the exception of issuing, ought to be left as at present, viz,, to individual compe tition and exertion. We should thus have a perfectly sate and legitimate system of currency—fixed and steady in its nature—and peculiarly adapted to all the varied requirements of trade and commerce. No one commo dity would tun have a preference over another, in re ferenee to fixing its price or making it the exponent of the rest; but all would be placed exactly alike, and upon precisely the same footieg. Part of the proceeds of the gold thus liberated might be applied in pa) leg off the debt owing to the Bank of Enz. lsnd, and the ressainder to national purposes. The yearly profits of the National Bank of Issue might also be appropriated to diminishing the national burthens. And lastly, there would be no loss from wear and tear of gold, in coinage or circulation—nor any disturbance of existing money contracts laud engagements by the change in the standard, whilst the discoveries of Cali fornia and Australia might then go on ad infinitum with out in the least affectieg the value, steadiness, or sta bility of our currency.—l am, Sir, &c., C. E. ROCS._ I' This, I believe, is suniewhere near the truth; but the principle above laid down would not be at all less cttective were the exact fact only assumed. Nor do I see why the same, or a similar principle, might not be adopted by other nations, and thus a sort of foliversal standard be established. ------ MISCHIEF BRawniG.—Sir Jsrnes Graham, the expeetaut Premier, and his Secretary-at• War, Mr. Cobden, were observed last night, in the House of Commons, in close and earnest conference for some considerable thne...- Ronda. and we have it in evidence that, if the work were com menced early in the ensuing year, the bridge might be open to the public in less than two years from the period of its commencement. " London-bridge ... thavkfriars- bridge ... Waterloo bridge Vauxha;l•bridga " With respect to the height of headway of the centre arch of the new bridge, we have considered the conve nience of the navigation, the proper inclination of the road for the purposes of traffic, and the effect which the structure might have on the architectural appearance of the New Palace. " In his evidence, given before the Commitve of 1850, Mr. Barry stated certain conditions which he d:emed indispensable if the bridge were to be retained iu its present situation; these were— . That the roadway of the bridge should be level from shore to shore; that the width of the roadway should not be less than 100 feet; that the height of the roadway of the bridge above Tri nity wandard should not exceed 20 feet.' " Thus last condition, if complied with, would leave for the purposes of navigation a headway of only 16 feet if the bridge were of, iron, and of only 12 feet 6 inches if the arches were constructed of stone. Such a bridge as Mr. Barry recommends would undoubtedly improve the relieving that building from the e ff ects o f the low situation in N./filch it is placed, and, if o th er oon.iderations did not interfere, we should agree with Mr. Barry that the proposed lowness of the bridge would be an advantage , and that a w idth w hi c h wou ld give it the character of a terrace, or, as Mr. Barry says, grand promenade, would be in itself an ornament to the metropolis, and a convenience for the communica tion across the river. " A briJgo of this limited height and of this ex tended width would, however, we believe, be a serious ()Wade to the passage of vessels, while the increase of the metropolis to the westward renders it important that every encouragcnsmt should be given to the navigation of the river. The height of the centre arch of Westminster-bridge is 26 feet. " It has been stated that the largest vessel navigating the Thames above London-bridge is of 300 tons, and also that a vessel of that tonnage could pass under an arch of 25 feet 6 inches of Trinity datum, without any inconvenience, provided that the arch be of sufficient span. _ _ We are informed that it would be an advantage to the coal trade and to consumers, if facilities were af forded for the passage of larger vessels, which might then possibly supersede the smaller craft now employed in the coal trade of the river. Regarding, therefore, the interests of the navigation, we are of opinion that the height of a headway should be limited only by the easy inclination required for the roadway over the bridge, and we recommend that the height of headway of the centre arch should not be less than 25 feet 6 inches above Trinity dation. _ _ " We subjoin the height of headway of the other bridges across tho Thames : _ . _ feet. inches. "London-bridge Blackfriars-bridge Waterloo-bridge 27 6 Vauxhall-bridge... " The width of the arch, for the purposes of navigation, is as important as the headway. " In an arch of a large span the extent of the headway is not confined to the exact centre of the arch, but extends over a wider space, and thereby facilitates the passage of the vessels. " The fewer the number of arches adopted, the less will be the resistance to the current of the stream, and, conse quently, there will be the less pressure against the piers 03f the bridge. The fewer the piers the less also will be the ob struction to the navigation. The number of piers li thean. present bridge contributes to the formation of e ddies shoals in the river. We would, therefore, recommend that , in constructing the new bridge it should not cons ist o f more than five arches. " In our choice of materials we have been guideodf by m the oney following considerations :—Economy of time and in the completion of the bridge, and converneuee for the traffic traffic over the bridge, as well as for the have pre tion. Under different circumstances "that such a bridge ferred a bridge of stone; but consideri o na tlen pumrpigov of naeiga.. would be attended with an increased t, and would re tina further, that its quire a third more time . to construed. adoption would necessitate an ad ttional rise of 3 feet no 6 inches for the roadway over the bbrriiddggee, w eb () efueeldl nobe hes ai tl tatiun in recommending that be iron structure resting on stone piers. so much lighter than one ofstone An iron arch being th A te ere g w re i n fib r e a spanless pressure from from the superincu m b en t weight. can be obtained in iron t wthoaunld:bne s r t e o ci n u e i . red for ethnetycornmnultehtsioins of id the iron bridge, and t hree years the period for the erection of a stone structure. ',l n acco rdance with the views here expressed, we sub mit the following resolutions, which were unanimously agreed to :- 1. That the present bridge should be used as a tempo rary bridge until a new bridge shall have been constructed. 2. That a new bridge should be constructed adjoining or as near as possible, to the present bridge on th e north side, that is, lower down the river. " 3. That the new bridge should not be less than 60 feet in width, including the footways. 4. That it be constructed of iron, with stone piers. 5. That it consist of no more than five arches. 6. That the height of headway of the centre arch above Trinity datum be not less than 2 5ft. Gin. "7. That it is desirable that no time should be lost in making preparation for the commencement of the work. " We beg, in conclusion, with reference to the 7th reso lution submitted by us, to state that the dilapidated state of the present bridge, the uncertain expense of maintaining it, evee as a I,a,l"r'lly structure, and the inconvenience of this bridge, both to the fluid and river traffic, render it , highly desirable that the p ermanent b r id ge s h ou ld b e commenced and 411 4 1 44 With As little delay as Pali*. LITERATURE. HISTORY OF PHYSICAL ASTRONOMY. By Robert Grunt, F.B.A.S. Baldwin. A comprehensive work like the present, embracing in its range a complet e narrative of the most sublime of all the sciences, from the moment of its rise to the period of its latest development, has long been desired by the more earnest among the students of Physical Astronomy. It must be manifest that the realisation of some such tb c ha whichetd telescope, d e s , but,rah anti oi enterprise was absolutely requisite before there could be thena possibility of systematising in the minds of more a select few the whole of those apparently oomph rienituri he e ca a ai i al p ty thinieig m vo: o taoh s pi t eehd s } i7 ian p i l d e tehd a e n ibr d y , beurt symmetr ical e y v a el n a d ti o t revelations their grandeur as regulatin g the movements of the celestial phenomena of their organi zation. Without some assistance Pee that we have indicated, tha generality of inquirers, unless they consented to dedicate their intellects almost exciwively to the consideration of astronomy, were doomed ebtiously enough to the acquisition of knowledge . either very confuted or very enpfrficial. Thanks to the laborious compil er of the volume here submitted to our examination, the intelligent public will at len;th be eneb4el to appreciate the majesty of the seieneo imfoidieg the meehenisin of the heavens, and to comprehend without any remarkable exertion in the way of ressercii the ceneec4ve stages, of its develop ment-4mm the earliest ages, extending back even to the If:nits of the bielical records, down to the most recent discoveries made iu the middle of this nineteenth century. The volume before us compreheeds, indeed, according to the suggestive intimation of the /cry title-page, a de detailea description of the establishment by Sir Isaac Newton of the:theory of gravitation, as well as of its illus tration by several succeeding philosophers, together with an account of the progress made in the researches of man kind among all the other departments of the study of celestial physics. So minute is the exposition of the theory of gravitation by Mr. Grant in the very outset of his highly meritorious enterprise, that be has (not by any means injudiciously) extended it from the commence ment of the first chapter to the close cf the thirteenth. Among the profoundly interesting subjects treated of in this particular division of his History of the Celestial Mechanism, Mr. Grant enumerates prominently and explains with considerable lucidity —the law of the areas, the motion of a body in an elliptic orbit, its motion in as orbit of variable curvature, the attraction of a spherical mass of particles, the general effects of pertur bation, the computation of the moon's inequalities, the aid afforded by the infinitesimal calculus, the attraction of spheroids, the precession of the equinoxes —and all the other marvellous and suggestive themes pointed out to the scrutiny of men by the immortal " Principia." It were difficult to decide upen this matter whether our author flies sue o-eded beet in his exquisite account of Newton's inductive ascent to the principle of gravitation, or in his masterly record of the development of its almost innumerable consequences. Having specified the reasons impeding the early acceptance of the Newtonian theory, he goes on to show the precise nature of its reception, first in England and subsequently on the continent, enumera ting in addition to the foregoing facts those researches in analysis and mechanics which subsequently exercised such a remarkable influence on physical astronomy. Thereupon are particularized the problem of three bo dies, the motion of the lunar apogee, the secular varia tions of the planets, the invariability of their mean distances, the oscillations of their eccen tricities and inclinations, and the sublime de monstration of the stability of the whole planetary system—a demonstration begun by the hypo thesis of Lagrange, but triumphantly completed and es tablished by the elegant and ingenious theorem of La place. By such advances as these does the compiler of the present history adventure upon the revelation of the loftier and übstruser mysteries of physical astronomy. Setting out with the divine. researches of Newton he estimates the extent to which the world of science is iadebted to the prior, the contemporaneous, or subse qaent labours of Huygens, Leibnitz, Clairaut, Mayer, Euler, Lagrange, Laplace, Lambert, Halley, Dunthorne, Maclaurin, D'Alembert, Legendre, Bradley, Galileo, flevelius, Cassini, Hodierna, Borelli, Walmsley, Bailly, Delawbre, Dikiel, Poisson, Burchardt, Binet, Damoisesu, Airy, Carlini, Labbock, Hansen, Herschel, Bouvard, Bessel, and a multiplicity of others, going as far back as Tycho Brahe and Kepler, and coming as far forwards as Adams and Leverrier, beginning with the Chaldeans and ending with the Astronomer Royal. A variety of enthralling problems, as might be felt certain, before turning over a single page of the volume are considered in the course of its investigations, and that with a caution which inspires confidence, and a clearness that commands attention. Not the least interesting among these curious topics is the one having reference to the solution of the great problem of the longitude. Fasci nating as all these very accurate accounts necessarily must be, furnishing us with the actual results of the re. searches, many by various geometers, perhaps among the most fascinating will be found that chapter in which Mr. Grant describes the manner in which the sagacity of Laplace led to the detection of the physical cause of the gradual acceleration perceived in the moon's angular velocity round the earth—an accelera tion first hinted at by the comparison of the records of certain eclipses seen at Babylon nearly 700 B. a, with others, observed about the tenth century by the Arabian astronomers. Especial mention is wade by the nuttier of the present history of the luminous powers and the premature death of Horrocks, who is gracefully spoken of by him as the morning star of that galaxy of men of genius who continued for nearly a century to adorn the annals of these islands by their contributions to the sciences, both physical and mathe matical—such men as Gascoigne, Brouncker, Barrow, Wallis, Wren, Gregory, Hooke, Taylor, Bradley, Simp son, Maclaurin; but above all and beyond all, Isaac New ton. The narrative gis es, in the twentieth chapter of the volume, the earliest intimation made of the knowledge of the principle of the telescope, as revealed in Roger Bacon's Opus Majus, in Digges' Pantometria, is Doe's edition of Euclid in Ports's Mayie Nat e ralia, and in the posthumous work De Radzie Visas of Antonio de Dominis. This portion of the work describes the improvements made in the most wonderful of optical instruments, from the'first rude tube in the hands of Galileo to the colossal reflective telescope 'Tenure. Due reference is made be fore the close of of Lord R. ease, with a foc a l len g th cf 54 feet and a six feetblem of the nebalee, and of' all the more remarkable pro this extraordinary production, of the solution olthe facts connected with the discovery o f the planet Neptune, by M. Leverrier. hi s Throughout the whole of under taking—anthe u ndertaking, bewildering difficulties of dete a r so r udF ed ical a c n u y la m te a d n v o e f iy or m di a n t a e r r y ial e l n y e t r o advance the inffoprhmilsotsioopnboyf gies from a ttempting its realization — dr. Grant has re vealedwh ich g ammetersht have his subject, emiaently honourable tO him as an astronomer , in that sublime department m Hereby h e h as at once ocon trived to forward th e interests of popular e d ucat i on b y contr ibuting to the science of th e ce l est i al mechanism : the intellig ent a work capable of adorning the national literature. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The p u ke of Northumberland has desired a notice to be put up at the Admiralty, at Whitehall, that he will lee flag officers on Wednesdays, from half-past twelve to two o'clock p.m ., instead of the regular levee days. The above arrangement will allow of longer interviews of the ranks junior to flag officers with the First Lord at his levees, which are held on Tuesdays. Commander William Worsfold (1841) has been appointed to the Neptune, 1 . 20, as commander of Portsmouth ordinary, vice Rathias, who has resigned on account of. ill-health. Vixen steam-sloop, Commander Barnard, was taken into the angle dock at Portsmouth yesterday morning to have her bottom scrubbed down. T7___. Hecate, 6, steam-sloop, Commander. Hand, returned to the moorings in Barnpool on Tuesday afternoon, from a cruise in the chops of the Channel to relieve the homeward lasund vessels detained by the easterly winds. Potassium', THURSDAY.—The Antelope steam-vessel, Lieutenant -Commander Young, has been got off the Ledge of Bainbridge. She had the assistance of the large boats of the whole of the squadron at Spithead, as well as the Sprightly steam-vessel, Mr. George Allen Acting-Master commanding, and the Drake lighter. The Antelope was lightened of all her dead weight—a gun, anchors, and such like, but which the Sprightly afterwards recovered. The lat ter vessel also lightened her of her coals, &c. She went ashore at a quarter past 6 o'clock yesterday morning. All hands set to work to try their utmost to get her off, which appearing to fail, assistance was sent for. The Sprightly lightened her about 18 inches. She found her on the inner part of Bembridge-ledge, with her head lying west, with n o t above 15 inches of water under her fore foot. Mr. Davy„ Assistant-Master Attendant of this dockyard, and Mr. Luke, foreman of shipwrights, with a party of the latter corps, went out to render assistance, and the boat of the latter gentleman, with five men in her, was swamped in the service, but we are happy to add no lives were lost. About 25 minutespast 6 o'clock last evening the Antelope floated off the ledge, and came into this harbour without assistance, under steam. She is reported not bilged or hurt. The Sprightly cams into harbour after her, at about half-past 10 o'clock last night, with the gun the Antelope threw overboard, the anchors, chain cable, and heavy gear. The latter 'has been docked to-day, and found to have sustained no injury. Simoom iron . screw-frigate, Captain Kingcome, having had her engines put to rights by taking something from the air-pump of the Sanspareil, she took on board supernume raries for the eastward on Wednesday afternoon, and then got up her steam and went outside the Breakwater, where she steamed about some little time to prove the is ch work in her engine; meanwhile the Avon tender, took the supernumeraries to the Sitnoom; took the water„ Vulcan iron-screw frigate, Master-Commander Penn , in tA I Simms to mishit where she will give her in charge to the Sim at 5 r.st., was going out to the west end of the.Breakw her to Portsmouth. Sp thud. been paid advance to-day, and went'out.to c. 8., flag of A 4. The Victory, 104, Captain G. B. Martin, The Pluto steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander West,hu to-day, in order that iet has been transferred to the west shore her moorings may be examinedilegent, miral Sir Thomas Briggs, G.C.lll.6},C o m man . der-in ."C"' 90 , Rodn ey, At Spithead—The P 56, mE ri me n t c ra t i : bduetiro.nii: ~ c , B . 92 Simoom, 16, and S P u lu p t e o r , b mt.—Major-General • POIITSMOUTH GARR'S Simpson, ap ,4.80, Hogue, command of this garrison, , a a n s d relieved Lieut.- pointed toLieut.-Governor of Portsmouth and Co _ Co m mander-in-Chief of the South- Western General D'Aguilar, C. 8., who has beEn doing the duty of the the post as Actn2g.lieutenant-Governor since the departure District, arrived here this da of Lord Frederick Fitzclarence. APPOINTMENTS. SHEERNESS, APRIL 1.--Ca G ptain G. R. Mundy to the London, 90. Captain ,. the Hon. Mo n t ague Stopford to the Waterloo,'l2o as Flag-Captain to Vice -Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy, comma: der-in-Chief at the Nore. Commander J. B. Marsh (1814), late of the Heroine, to the Waterloo, 120 f Her Lta . for general service. jesty s shi London, 90, Captain the Hon. Monta gue Stopford, sent down her jury topgallant masts yesterday, preparatory to their being by her sea-going ones. G. R . replaced Mundy, Esq., at present Flag-Captain of the Waterloo, succeeds Captain the Hon. Montague Stopford to-day in the command of the London. The ward-room officers of her Majesty's ship Waterloo 120, gay s a farewell dinner y es terday on bola gall 'hip; Din t or) 0 8, 3 of ritil )vf"