The Sun. — London, England, 1852-05-04 00:00:00

FRANCE. DEATH OF ARTHUR O'CONNOR. General Arthur O'Connor expired at his residence near Montargis, on the 25th ult., aged 89. He was an Iris!anima by birth, and in early life was a Member of the Irish Parliament. He belonged to the United Irish men, and fee'm,ed one of the five members of the Direc tory which wae-to put in movement that vast association. In 1796, the United Irishmen aiming openly at throwing off the rule of England, General Hoche's expedition was decided on. It, however, failed signally, and Arthur O'Connor and another member of the Irish Directory came over to the continent, and had an inter view with General Hoche at Frankfort, but it was not that general who attempted the second descent. General Humbert landed on August 22, 1798, at Killala with 1,500 men, but the second French division not having followed from want of funds, Humbert and all his men were obliged to lay down their arms on September 8 following. Arthur O'Connor meanwhile had been arrested at Margate, and all his papers seized. This brought to light the correspondence of the United Irish men with the French Directory, and several of the Irish leaders were arrested. O'Connor, before the day fixed for his trial had arrived, succeeded in escaping to France, and was well reecived by the First Consul, who gave him the title of general of division in the French army. He afterwards married Mdlle. de Condorcet, and was intimate with all the persons who used to meet at the house ef Mine. Helvetius, and afterwards at M. do Tracy's. He published an edition of Condorcet's works, end some pamphlets on the political position of Great Britain and Ireland. Of late years he has lived on his estate at 13ignon, near Montargis, where he died. His only son, M. Daniel O'Connor, preceded him to the tomb about two years back. THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. By the ship Agincourt we have received intelligence from the Cape to the 10th of March. There is no men tion of the Megmra or the Hydra. The Legislative Council had voted 5001. towards the relief of the sufferers from the loss of the Birkenhead. Sir Harry Smith was to have taken the field on the Bth inst. in person. A considerable number of Burghers •were expected to join. He had heard of his removal, but it had not altered his plans. Lady Smith was making every preparation to leave on the arrival of the new governor. By the last frontier post there was nothing new. The troops were preparing for the campaign of the Bth of March. The following Government notice had been published by command:— " Icing William's Town, Feb. 27, 1852. " Reports have been received from Mr. Cole, Civil Commissioner of Albert, dated the 17th instant. They state that the Burgher force under his direction had swept the whole, of Tyopo's and Madoor's country, the Indwee river and its kloofs, the neighbourhood of the Bolota, the whole of the Zuurberg range, and both banks of the T'Some. Twenty-five Rafts and eleven Hotten tots had been slain; among the latter the notorious Dirk Rabi; and 1,000 bead of cattle, 300 goats, 40 horses, and I'2 stand of arms had been taken. " Reports from Lieutenant-Colonel Michel extend up to the 22d instant. Oa the 20th, notwithstanding the ircessant rain, his troops were 'vigorously employed in -devastating the crops in and adjacent to the Wolf's Den, the property of Sanditli. On the 21st he burned from 80 to 100 Hottentot huts, and some regularly built houses of wattl e an d d au b , i n an d a b ove t h e Ama tole Basin. He then moved back by the very difficult ground of the Wolf River to his camp in the valley of the Lenya, destroying many crops on the march. Col. Michel reports that • nothing could be more complete than the destruction of the Hottentot strongholds, or of the crops in the Den.' " Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre's reports reach to the 231 instant. Early on the morning of the 21st he moved in two divisions on the Gulu mountain—the range which separates the Wolf Valley from the tributaries of the Gulu River—and completely surprised the enemy, cap turing 54 head of cattle on the summit of the heights, and burning large numbers of huts in the very heart ot the dense bush. The enemy, Kars and Hottentots, fled everywhere as the Wore., advanced. Immense quan tities of cultivation at the sources of the Upper Keis kamma, &c., were destroyed on the 21st and two follow ing days. Rockets had been used with great effect, spreading terror among the enemy. " From the heights of the Gulu, Colonel Eyre had observed Colonel Michel operating in the Wolf Talley below. The co-operation of these two officers, therefore, has been perfect and most successful. " Reports to the 22d instant have been received from Major Kyle, up to which date the quantity of corn de stroyed by his column was computed at about 10,000 maids. Ile had met with no opposition. " Major-General Somerset reports. that he has de stroyed the whole of the crops ot the treacherous Soga, the murderer of the military villagers, and those of others, in tho valley of the Chumie, as well as very many on that side of tho Amatola, " Major General Somerset has moved to the old Konap Post, prepararory to the grand movement of ex pulsion from the Waterkloof to the Kei. The troops of the second division, having completed their labour of devastation, are all ordered to head-quarters to re-equip for the field. "Mr. Robert Ainslie reports the spirited repulse of an attack wade by some marauders on his farm, Spring Grove, on the morning of tho 19th instant. A number of aheep, and goats were, in the first instance, driven off; the greater part, however, of the former, and the whol'o of the later were recaptured, and in the skirmish , which took place between the small party of 13 Burghers and the enemy, 14 of the latter wero slain, and 20 korses and several guns and assegais taken. Mr. Ains lie states, that the enemy did nut fight with that spirit of determination which has been hitherto shown by them, but seemed more intent on getting off with their booty.' Very little ammunition was found in the pouches of the slain." THE LOSS OF THE BIRKENHEAD. (From the Portsmouth Tires and Naval Gazette.) By the arrival of toe survivors of this awful calamity we are pub in possession of some highly interesting de tails not before made public, and sorry we are that in these gatherings we should have to record so cold hearted and ungentlemanly a reminiscence of Commo dore Wyvill towards the master of the schooner Lioness as that given in our " latest particulars" of the wreck. We were inclined to doubt the information we received in relation to that transaction, but the conduct attributed to Commodore Wyvill is supported by such respectable evidence that we cannot but believe he has acted in the way imputed to him; nor is the treatmsat of the merchant Captain of the Lioness all that may justly be complained of in Commodore Wyviti's behaviour during the awe -striking period succeeding; the loss of the Birkenhead at the Cape. His dispatches to the Admi ralty have not been framed with that coolness and re gard for rigid aecuracy which such official information should do in a matter so vital to numerous members of the community in England. He said in his dispatch to the home authorities that it did not appear either Mr. Sal aloud (the master commanding the Birkenhead) or Mr. Brodie, the second master, had been on deck from ten w o'clo c k to the time the ship struc k. H ow infor mation was gleaned we are at a loss to thiskno' as both the naval and military cffieers of the watch are Par, drowned, and the offi , ers of the ship who are saved, comp r i sing, Mr. 'Renwick ' Richards, master's assistant ; , engineer; Mr. Archbold, gunner; Mr. Cul bane ,assistant su rgeon ; Mr. Hire, clerk, and Mr. Braber, assistant engeeee in the time Vie ship struck, and hat ; ,were all bed at , not one of theseten o clock and °mea been so from , Wyvill whether either mr.wsere asked by Commodore on deck from ten o'clock I Theslmond or Mr. Brodie were helms man saved did not go o n leadsmen and "fetch till twelve o' l k and c oc , eir.n only speak to what took l p ace from that time to two o'clock. Again Commodore Wyvill said the rocks off Point Danger extended only l a dale more than mile, the Birkenhead, when sho struck a and that , could not h 80 far off the shore as the surviving officers- had have been sented. Now this looks very mach like • repre best testimony he could presume to judgeimpugningthe very uneourteous doubt of ocular evidence than' and • a now) betterspared by the was waves. Now which —ow in contra riittinction to the Commodore's hasty opinion we have ec,nversed with a gentleman who was shown by Captain Z iamsden, of the Liones s, a chart, of much a later date thaw any in the possession of the Admiralty' whereon the rocks off Point Danger are seem u to extend about a mile and ,a quarter from t h e shore, whereas he, Captain Ramsd ene who has the Cape coast f or 24, y ears navigated the waters oa i and upwards, knows the ree f at p ontDanger extends fully four miles out! and that the Birkenhead was fully three miles from the shore when s he struck; and in hi s opinion the authorised charts issued w ere useless to steer by. Then, as to th e compasses of the Birken head—we showed in a recent art i c l e ( on t h e 10th ult.) that her com passes were entirely untrustworthy, and in support of this we have now a further corroboratory opinion of some value. The master of the Lioness when et Cape Town after the wreck, was told by the commander of the Propontis iron (screw) mail packet, on the latter's hearing of the wreck, he was not surprised, immediately assigning the cause to have been the failure of the compasses, as Ms own vessel, t h e same night on which the Birkenhead was lost, and about the same time, was in danger, from the attraction of her compasses from atmospheric in fluence, the compasses of the Propontia having on that night gone entirely round the circle, and kept fluctu ating round and round, rendering steering by them useless ! After this who can wonder at the loss of the Birkem head ? We have other information in our possession relative to the conduct of parties saved, but we will not prejudge them in the eyes of the world by publishing it now, feel ing assured that before sue'n a court-martial as will next Week assemble to investigate the cause o£ the wreck, t he amplest explanations will be searched out and made known. LITREp ooL , SATIJILDAY.—ThR screw sfeatn- lhi p Ureat Britain, Mathews commander, sailed from the N v York, amidst the M r er B eY at 9 10 A. 31. to-dav for , cuesrs ot.thousands of person; assembled on the pier-beads to While's!' her departure. She took out 180 passengers, and, hereinro the rate at which she steamed to Holy head, no doubt she will make a very fine run out. Sbe was oft' the Ormshead, distant about 33 miles from the Hock Lighthouse, in two hours and 50 minutes; and passed 7clolyhead, a distance ot co miles, in 5 hours and 60 minutes, and that, too, with aNA V wind. The Royal Mail steam ship Canada, Lang commander, sailed from the Mersey at 430 P. 31. to-day for Halifax and Boston, with the usual mail?, 50 passengers, and about B,o oor. in gold. The United States Mail steam-ship_ Atlantic, w est commander, will ship City of Manchester, sail from this port for .New York on W e d nesday the mails, &c. The screw steam- Leitch commander, will also sail on We dnesday neat for Philadelphia, THE POST-OFFICE NOTICE. Oa and from the Ist May next, printed books, maga zines, reviews, and pamphlets (whether British, Colo nial, or Foreign), may be transmitted by the post be tween the United Kingdom and Heligoland, by packet viii Hamburgh, at the following reduced rates of postage, viz.:— s, d. For each packet not exceedin ,, 1 lb. in weig'zt ... 0 6 Of exceeding I lb. and not exceeding 1 lb. 1 0 17 exc eeding llb. and not exceeding 2 lbs. 2 0 If exceeding 2tbs. and not exceeding 3 lbs. 3 0 and so on, increasing one shilling for every additional pound or fraction of a pound. Provided, however, that the following conditions be carefully observed ;- Ist. Every such packet must be sent without a cover, or in a cover, open at the ends or sides. 2d. It must contain a single volume only (whether printed book, magazine, review or pamphlet), the several sheets, or parts thereof, when there are more than one, being sewed or bound together. 3,1. It must not exceed two feet in length, breadth, width, or depth. 4th. It must have no writing or marks upon the cover, or its contents, son to whom it may be sent. except the name and address o f the per -sth. The postage must be pre-paid in full, by affixing outside the packet, or its cover, the proper number of stamps. If any of the above conditions be violated, the pac ket must be charged as a letter, and treated as such in all respects. To prevent any obstacles to the regular transmission of letters, any officer of the Post-office may delay the transmission of any such packet, for a time not exceeding twenty-four hours, from the time at which the same would otherwise have been forwarded by him. These instructions are not to extend to or interfere with the transmission of printed votes and proceedings of Parliament, or of printed papers allowed to pass by the post, under the newspaper privilege, all of which will continue subject to the existing regulations. KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON. The annual meeting* and distribution of prizes of this college took place on Friday afternoon, in the large hall of the institution, in the presence of a very numerous assemblage. Earl Howe took the chair, supported by the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Radstock, Mr. Justice Coleridge, the Right Hon. W. Gladstone. Sir G. Staunton, Sir W. Riddell, Sir B. Brodie, the Rev. Dr. Jelf, D.D., principal of the college, and other gentlemen. The report of the council, which gave a very favour able review of the condition of the college having been t ead, The following gentlemen received prizes for profi ciency in the various subjects mentioned : Senior Scholar—Francis Nottidge Macnamara. Second Year Scholar—Edward Dowsou. Junior Scholars — Thomas Buzzard, Charles Nottidge Macnamara, Samuel Dougan Bird. Divinity—Fourth year, John Kent Spender; third year, Alfred Payne; second year, William John Palmer; first year, James Howard Thornton. Warneford Endow ment—First prize, Francis Nottidge Macnamara; second prize, William Edward Masfen. Laathe's Endowment— Edward Liveing. Anatomy—John William Palmer. Second year—Ri chard Burford Searle, John Withington Roe, Ephraim Matthews Oridge. First year—John Propert, Henry Cayley, William Woodward. Physiology—Maxwell Tylden Masters. Second year —Geo. Kirkwood Curme, John W. V. Blackburn, John Craske Webb, Charles Stone. First year—John For , tuom Straker, John Lumsdaine Propert, William Wood ward, and Vaughan H. A. Hoiberten, equal. Chemistry—William John Palmer. First year— Christopher Heath, William Woodward, Henry Cayley. Practical Chemistry—John Whittaker Halke, Edward Livoing. Materia Medics—Edward William Alexander, Max well Tylden Masters, Richard Burford Searle, William Henry Dodge. Surgery—John Whitaker Hulke, Maurice Davie, Henry William Dodge, Edmund M. H. Rendle. Medicine—Mauric"e Davis, Thomas Henry Cheatle, William Pearl, Edward William Major. Midwifery—William Edward Masten, Charles Julian Jackson, Edward Liddon, John Whitaker Hulk. Botany—Maxwell Tylden Masters, Edward Dawson. Forensic Medicine—John Whitaker Hulke, Henry William Lewer. Comparative An:aomy—Samuel Bowen Partridge. Medical Clinical (Winter)—Thomas bury Cheatle. Medical Clinical (Summer)—Francis Nottidge Mac• namara, Maurice Davie. Surgical Clinical (Winter)—Maurice Davis, John Kent Spender, Edward Atkinson. Surgical Clinical (Summer) —Samuel B. Partridge. Medical Society's Prize—Alfred Playne. Associates—Thomas Bridgewater, Thomas Chaytor Beale, James Balfour Cockburn, George Elen, Alex ander M. Edwards, Edward A. H. Head, Thomas F. Hardwick, Frederick W. Headland, William Hoar, James Henry Lakin, Edward Liddon, Francis N. Mac marara, Henry T. L. Rooke, George R. Skinner, John Kent Spender, Albert Daniel Smith. SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT OF POSTAL REGULATIONS. The irregularities and delays in the forwarding of mails from London aad other places to Manchester have been the subject of frequent representations addressed to the Post-office by the Manchester Com mercial Association. At a meeting of the directors of that association held last week, it was resolved to send a deputation to London to bring these mat ters more particularly under the attention of the Postmaster-General in detail than it was convenient to do by correspondence. An interview was fixed for Thursday, and on that day Mr. Malcolm Ross, vice president of the Association, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Leo pold Reiss, Mr. Leo Schuster, and Mr. W. Gibb, were introduced to Lord Hard wicke and Colonel Maberley, and were favoured with en audience which lasted upwards of an hour. The late arrival of the day mail in Manchester from London was the first subject to which attention was called. At present it is dispatched at 10 &x., arrives in Manchester at 5, and letters are delivered from 6 to half-past 6 in the evening. It was suggested that if these bags were dispatched by the express train now leaving Euston-square at 9.30 AM. they would arrive at 2.40 P. 31 , and be de livered by 4 o'clock, which would be an important saving of two hours to commercial men. The next sub ject was with reference to the dispatch of mails from Manchester and Liverpool to Glasgow. At present let ters have to be posted in Manchester by 3.15 P.M., and reach Glasgow at 1.30 ax., so that they remain in the post-office there six hours before delivery. The deputation urged the necessity of altering the time for receiving letters to a later hour, so as to admit of all the business in the day being em braced in them, which could be done so as to still lean time for their early delivery next morning. The third subject was the detention of foreign letters in South ampton, the letters there being frequently twenty four hours before reaching Manchester. The fourth subject had reference to the inequality of the Brazilian portages, the nearer ports paying 2s. 9i. while the further ones are only 13. Fifthly, the deputation urged the propriety of a mail steam communication between Hongkong and Shanghai —the present mail-steamers stopping at Hongkong. The deputation complained, sixthly, of the unnecessary detention of the Ame rican maila for Manchester at Liverpool, these letters being frequently delayed twenty to twenty-four hours after the arrival of the American mail steamers, although the distance is only thirty miles to Manchester. The 7th object was to urge the desirability, where new lines of steamers aro likely to Le fitted up and competition established, of attempting to secure more rapid communication and reduction of ex penditure. The Earl of Hardwicko listened with much attention to the subject of the first suggestion, and, although Colonel Maberly started some objections, the Noble Lord appeared favourably impressed with the reasonableness of it, and promised that it abould receive early attention. As to the mails from Manchester to Glat , gow, his Lordship also appeared disposed to order the change. On the third and sixth subjects the Noble L )rd required further information, and the copy of a return which the deputation had read. The de putation were informed that matters were in progress for accomplishing the change required in the fourth proposition, and it was expected the arrangements would be immediately completed, but, as regarded the steam communication to Shanghai, no immediate hopes ceuld he held out. Lord Hardwick° said the seventh suggestion of the deputation should receive every at teution. SEABORNE MAILS. Ds' idgnities that the malls are sent Prom the General POSt - oftlee .7 the nlght—an al by the morning (11spatch.] When made np is ! Frem what krAiko L wh en General Post-onc e port die- duel - r.E London, I patched. Amo dea(hYßrit_ •-- 1 1 America (by t - P,LION May 7 •. .. Liverpool .. May 10 A mer i ca y .d.P.....) Hi May 4 .. .. Liverpool .• May 12 Africa m eat __lliat.)M May 14 .. .. ,Sonthanipt. May 7 ~,,, o w*n .. ).• 14 14th of the month ;Plymouth May 3 T e r g -ic u i-- .. . ... lil 1911 a & 30th of mo. , Dover .. May 18 I Brazil .. .: l ,ll l 9 Dt hallY_ •• ... .. I Dover .. Daily Buenos Ayres .. ~, , s _ of the month Sonthampt. May 16 c a lifornbotsch ur 4'l l .9,0 f the month ;Sonthampt. May 16 Cape of Good Hope ' ..., ria 17th ef month,Sontlsanipt. May 5 Constantinople* .... ; .7 4 ... t h. of month Plymouth.. May 3 Central America ~ 10;r4 7 ,1 ) . 2 7thef mo Dover .. May 10 Channel Wel .. ,„ an , j_th of men. iSonthampt. May 5 Chili •• •"' ' • M 17th VC. &,Senthampt. Tn. Th.Bll France •• " M 1; 117 -1, 7,17.7 -- .1 1.a ., 11 . -.‘" t me . i ;_ nth ..1 1 Do 13°n y tham er P ! . . 21 Twi ray eedstily qr ana ceo b e* ,h • • •••• 7 . s .,, aes • ci , ... a Itn_.f.rno , Dever .. May 10 tonan,.4 .. ..: .. 3112.1r7ettidia:i L f zit * j a l iz a t ty . .London .. Tues. Sat.- . I ,Londoa .. 31en.Thar liondtt. as • • ~ m& N I Twice fail oath.. ii So o n ly th h am ead p . t.. T M wi ay ceda4 2o Ml2oth of the • Ireland • • 143finolaic(virraan2tean:au:v1P.a.: m 120th Of the Maloon th nthi l i B ::ti v tr r amp . t. M Ma a y y 1 2 6 0 dia(viaMarseilles) lii sth& 24th efrcionth , D e Pt• M a y 20 S:tthatrn. 1 Mediteri Jane= (Via 1 ic Btb & 24th of month!Dover Marseilles) • • • • ~ m ld of the month, - • • 'MeV 16 Mexico •• .. 24 9th of the month . a,...... am Pt• Ma y Madeira •". .- c 17th,17th,19th,27th —"-/ : lam° ' ; Ma y 16 N M: p lt les a 4 4, l' . .... .. I sth3lostthho2sf thmoonfthmeD_j o:v t le v r: ) .. t., '3' l m i ra a a y y: 6 9 1 : h7,4lllsth2sthefmo Dover .. li a •, ; Papal States* •• •• -! . 2- m 7th 17.13 Ithof mo Sonthampt. May - Peninsular.. • • • • Mll7th of the month Sn Penn --• • „ sth 15th 25 th ofrao Dove r .. ;M ay 2 Wes Tuscany* .. .. • • ,-' 1' West, Ind:es .. .. 3f 17th of the month Southampt. ]ilay 20 'bover. •• • • i th 15t• 25th of mo Do ver N ap i e e g I th 15th 25 th (Imo Papal States* 7th 17th 37th of mo Sonthamp . t. 34117th of the month ISonthamnt. Tuscany* N sth 15 th sth ofmoiDover We /rAllas M 17th of the moath 'Southampt. Went Indies (except 'ld of t Uavanna Nassau) M Le month.. • The mails to those c ountrics thec mar' Fer , nch packet vl Marscilla. r goathaaipt.;May 5 cad (*) are co:.-foyed by THE LEIPSIC Boos FAIR. —The catalogue of the Faster Book Fair at Leipsic contains 4,527 works as pub.. lished, and 1,163 to be published. This is an increase of 700 volumes compared with the Michaelmas fair, and of 800 more than the last Easter fair. The number of publishers by whom the works have been biought out iB 903. One house at Vienna has produced 113, And the Dies3ieure. Brock h ans, 95. —LiteraixGazette. SUN, LOND THE MARRIAGES,: BIRTHS, AND DEATHS IN ENGLAND. The quarterly return of marriages, births, and deaths was betted on Saturday. The general results of the return are satisfactory; the marriae es exceed the average number, the births are above, the - deaths are below the average of the kingdom. , 90,936 persons were married in the last quarter of the year ending Decembor 31st, 1851. In England the greatest proportion of marriages is always celebrated in the months of September, October, November, after harvest; and the numbers in the last season not only ex ceeded the marriages in the previous quarters of 1851, bat those in the corresponding quarters of previous years. Allowing for increase of population, the proportion of marriages was slightly less than in the autumns of 1845 and 1850, bat greater than in any other autumn since 1342. One in 58 of the persons living was married in 1851; or there was one marriage to every 117 persons living. The marriages increased chiefly in London, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwick shire, Rutlandshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, and North Wales. They declined in the southern, south midland, and eastern counties ; in Wiltshire and Devonshire, Camberland, Westmorland, and Mon mouthshire. The increase was most striking in Rei gate, Croydon, Maidstone, East Ashford, Faversham, Brighton, Falmouth, Taunton, Bristol. Gloucester, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Derby, Pre:ton, Hull, Durham. The rate of marriage was high, but sta tionary or slightly declining, in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, end Sheffield. The births of 161,776 children, born alive, wore re gistered in the months of January, February, and March, 1852. The number greatly exceeds the average of the season, which is generally the most prolific of the year. So many births were never registered before in the same time. London, the West Midland counties, Yorkshire, and the northern counties exhibit the great est excess over their ordinary average. As the births registered were 161,776, the deaths 106,682 an addition is made to the population in three months of 55,094 persons. This is the natu ral increase. During the same period an army of 57,874 emigrants sailed from the ports of the United Kingdom at which there are Government emigration officers; 51,999 of them sailed from three English ports-8,438 from London, 1,798 from Ply mouth, and 41,763, comprising an indefinite number of the Irish people, from Liverpool. 1,399 emigrants sailed from Glasgow and Greenock; 4,476 from Irish ports. The average price of wheat during the three months was 40s. 10d., or 4s. higher than it was in the last three months of 1851, when more wheat was sold. The quanti ties of wheat and wheat flour entered for home con sumption at the chief ports of Great Britain rapidly di minished in the three last periods from 91,040 to 47,986 and 27,540 quarters weekly. The price of potatoes at the waterside market, Southwark, was 70s. a ton, and ranged from 3s. to 4s. a hundred weight. The average price of mutton by the carcase ranged from 34d. to 54(1.; and has scarcely varied for nine months. The price of the inferior beef rose from 3d. to 31d. The average price of Consols was 971. The mortality of England is highest in the winter quarter. Notwithstanding the peculiarities of the weather, the mortality in the past winter has been considerably below the average of tho season. The annual rate of mortality in the winter quarter of 1852 was 2.364 per cent., which is less by 0.111 than the mean annual rate of mortality in the ten previous winters. To every 22 deaths in previous winters, after allowing for increase of population, there were 21 deaths in the past winter, during which, as Mr. Glaisher has shown in his valuable account of the meteorology, the temperature was 3 deg. above the average. The health of the districts comprising chiefly small towns and country parishes was considerably above the average standard; the towns exhibited less improvement, and lost a fourth part more of the population by death than the country districts. In London 14,592 deaths were registered in the three months of January, February, and March; 14,481 in the thirteen weeks ending March 27. Small-pox, scarlatina, and hooping-couah prevailed to a considerable extent. Influenza, bronchitis, and pneumonia were fatal to 40, 1,422, and 908 persons; whereas the deaths in the pre vious winter of 1851 from the same diseases were 205, 1,612, and 1,244. Consumption, on the other hand, was more fatal in the two last than it was in the two previ ous winters. Scurvy and purpura were only fatal to 10 persons. 527 persons died in the thirteen weeks of typhus. 62 women died of metric or puerperal fever, and 62 of other diseases incidental to child-bearing. 120 cases of erysipelas are recorded. Cancer is an example of great regularity in the mortality some diseases cause; in the five last winters the deaths from cancer were 222, 231, 213, 236, and 231. Deaths from diseases of the nervous system remained very uniformly the same. Diseases of the heart are returned in increasing numbers; to that cause 425 deaths were referred in 1848, and 603 in 1852. The increase is probably due to the advancement and diffusion of medical know ledge; for many of these deaths would in former years have been referred to dropsy. Nephria, or Bright's disease, has increased from the same mum. One of the most sin gular facts in the return is the increase of deaths by car buncle; which from an average of about 2 rose to 17 in the quarter, 19 deaths were directly ascribed to intem perance, 29 to delirium tremens, 12 to privation, 64 to the want of breast milk, 4 to cold, 23 to poison, 88 to burns and scalds, 76 to hanging and suffocation, 72 to drowning, 161 to fractures and contusions, 35 to wounds, and 11 to other violence. THE CAUSES OF THE DEFEAT AT WATERLOO. The battle of Waterloo was lost not by the army, I which was never more indefatigable, more devoted, and more brave, but by the commission of four faults—the tardiness of Ney on the evening of the 16th in occupying Quatre-Bras ; the indecision of Grouchy in not marching towards the cannon of the battle, and neglecting Wavres; the too great distance left by Napoleon between his army and his right wing commanded by Grouchy; finally, and above all, the loss of seven hours of daylight by Na poleon on the morning of the 18th, in front of Welling ton: fatal hours, which gave time to the Prussians to ar rive on the field of battle, and to the French army a se cond enemy upon its flanks, before it had vanquished the first. Of these four errors two must be ascribed to Napoleon's generals, and two to himself, none to the troops. Neither his genius nor his resolution are recog nind in separating himself from one-tkird of his army, by an immense and unknown space on his right, without even verbal communication with this wing; nor when he hesitated till 11 o'clock in the forenoon before he ad vanced to storm Mont Saint Jean, and to deprive Welling ton of the hope of being joined by the Prussians, already in sight on the horizon, but still three hours march from the field of battle. He left Ney, half a victor upon the reverse of Mont Saint Jean, to wait for three hours the mass of the army and the Imperial Guard, instead of profiting by the breach opened by the Marshal in the English army, to hurl upon it his centre and his reserve, and to sweep Wellington, scarcely resisting, from the field, before Blucher should be in a position to prevent the defeat of the English. Finally, his decisive impulse amidst the fire of battle could not be recognized in his ten hours' immobility on the plateau of Rossomme, and in his passive inertness behind the hillock' at Mont Saint Jean, whilst his army was totally sacrificing itself by mounting to the breach opened by Ney, and waiting for nothing but the presence and example of its Emperor to rise above itself and superior to destiny. One of these faults alone was sufficient to rain an ordinary army, but all combined destroyed that of France. Let us add, in order to be just, that Wellington and his army equalled by their intrepidity the first generals and the best soldiers in France. The English general possessed the true genius adapted for desperate struggles, the determination not to be conquered. His troops possessed the real genius of defence, passive obe dience unto death. The Scotch regiments covered, without yielding an inch, the spot on which they were ordered to die.—Lamartine's History of the Restoration of Monarchy in France. G. ALYANIC CHAINS.—We find in a Belgian medical journal the following curious case, related by M. Henrotay, a military surgeon. It tuns as follows :—Geerairts, 38 years of age, keeper of ordnance stores at the camp of Beverloo, in Belgium, was in the habit of wearing, on account of old rheumatic pains, a galvanic chain, which was fastened to his chest. Being, the last summer, close to a spot which was struck by lightning, he was suddenly seized with a fit of dyspncea, which lasted frilly a quarter of an hour. As he was no worse for that attack, he soon forgot the circumstance, when, on the Ist of May, 1851, whilst reading the paper in his room, the window of which was open, he was aroused by a violent clap of thunder. Immediately upon this, the man had vertigo, he staggered about, was obliged to hold by the furniture, and was all at once completely deprived of sight. He had at the time the galvanic chain around his neck. When seen by the surgeon, there was a great anxiety in the patient's countenance, the eyes were open and almost mo tionless, the pupils dilated and hardly acting, &c. The man complained of severe headache and giddiness, the pulse was slow, feeble, and compressible, and a bellows murmur was heard in the cardiac region. The patient was very thirsty, and there were nausea, anorexia, and slight pain on pressure in the epigastrium. Leeches were applied behind the ears, s i n apisms to the legs, and low diet enforced. As there was no improvement two days after the accident, a large blister w as put on the nape of the neck, some amelioration took place, and sight was quite restored on the sixth day.—Lancet. HOW TO COOS AN EGG.—An egg should not be boiled ; it should only be scalded—eu/90, coddled. Immerse your egg in, or, which is better, pour upon your egg boiling water. For time ; proportion your time to the size and num ber of your eggs, and the collateral accidents. If you cook your eggs upon your breakfast-table more time will be re quired. But if you station your apparatus on a good whole some bob, where there is a fire, and so the radiation of heat is less positive, less time will suffice. The latter way is mine, winter and summer, and the differences of the surrounding circumstances equalize, or nearly so, the time. I keep one egg under water 9 minutes; two, 9} ; three, 10 ; and four nearly 11 minutes. The yolk first owns the power of the caloric, and will be even firmly set, while the white will be milky, or at most tremulously gelatinous. The flavour, superior to anything which a plover ever deposited, will be that which the egg of the gallinaceous domestic was intended to have; the substance, that which is delectable to the palate, and facile of digestion. There is perfect absence of that gutta percha quality, in the white especially, at once the result and the source of dyspepsy. I believe that eggs would be much more patronised and much more wholesome, if boiling were discarded.— Cottage Gardener. ALARMING OCCURRENCE AT THE ROYAL ACS' DEMY.—About mid-day on Saturday a very alarming acci dent, which might have been attended with the most diast rous consequences, occurred in the apartments occupied by the Royal Academy in the National Gallery. It appears that among the preparations for the banquet that evening was the arrangement of a large number of gas jets near the roof of the saloon where the dinner took place. Beneath these jets a large sheet of strained canvas was extended in order to shut out the glare from the pictures on the walls. The man in charge of the gas was in the act of test in g its canvas, fragile and i f n ram an e action when a small quantity of ignited spirit of win o fell upon Happily, the the inaestdanthte canvas were w w e lsumed, a nd, beyond th e m i schief occasioned by t h e destruc tion of th e t a bl e - c l o th s an d part of d i nn er paraphernalia where glee slibris fa; lag ditraligQ * the Pella blaze. ee re soon in a n TUESDAY EVENING, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 3. The Royal Assent was given this afternoon, by com missioe, to the following Bills. The Royal Commis sioners were the Earl of Lonsdale, the Marquis of Salis bury, and the Duke of Montrose:— Exchequer Bills (17,742,8001.). St. Albans Disfranchisement. Sheep, &c., Contagious Disorders Prevention. Mansfield Gas. Liverpool Museum and Library. Wolverhampton Gas. Yaxley Drak age Patent Solid Sewage Manure Company. East London Waterworks. Scarborough Market and Approaches. Their Lordships then adjourned, during pleasure. At Five o'clock Lord REDESDALE took his seat on the Woolsack, in the absence of the Lord Chancellor. LAW OF EVIDENCE. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the Royal Burghs of Scotland, iu convention assembled, in favour of the Law of Evidence (Scotland) Bill. His Lordship added that he concurred in the prayer of the petition, and born testimony td the moat successful working of the measure relating to England passed on this subject last session. Lord LYNDHURST gave notice that with reference to this Bill he should, when it came into Committee, move to strike out certain words fur the purpose of making it more extensive and more beneficial. BEER HOUSES. Tho Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition pray ing for the better regulation of beer houses. MAYNOOTH. The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions from Chichester, from a place in Aberdeenshire, and also from other places in Scotland, against the Maynooth grant. IRISH DRAINAGE. The Earl of ROSSE rose to move for the appoint ment of a Select Committee to inquire into tho operation of the Act relating to the drainage of land in Ireland, as administered by the Board of Works. The Noble Lard entered into a long statement of the different operations undertaken by the Board of Works, contending that in numerous instances the Board had grossly exceeded the estimates originally drawn up, and had frequently left the works un finished, after having spent the original sum. There had been on the part of this Board a great dereliction of duty and it had expended great 811131 i of money without hav ing a dequately benefited th e country . I t was t o i nqu ire into this conduct of theirs that ho desired the present investigation. The Earl of DERBY said that he had no intention of opposing the appointment o f t hi s C omm i ttee , though by so doing he disclaimed any idea of coming to any pre judged opinion on the Board of Works for not having at tained results which might frequently have been beyond their control. Considerable powers had been given to this board to carry out the objects confided to them to be executed, and he was by no means prepared to say that its proceedings Ought not to be watched with great vigilance. A very voluminous correspondence on this subject would speedily be laid before the two Houses of Parliament, and he thought until that correspondence were laid before them the Committee would do better to abstain from any active operations. The motion was then agreed to, and the Committee appointed. On the motion of Lord COLCHESTER, the Linen, &c., Bill Manufactures (Ireland) POOR RELIEF ACT CONTINUANCE BILL. This Bill was also read a second time. LOAN SOCIETIES BILL. This Bill was also read a second time. TRANSATLANTIC PACKET STATION. Earl GRANVILLE rose to inquire whether it was the intention of the Government to take any measure to re move the Transatlantic packet station from Liverpool to any one of the southern or western ports of Ireland? He had given notice of this question the other day in consequence of seei ng an extract f rom a Dublin paper, giving an account of a deputation which waited on the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland for the purpose of soliciting a grant of public money for the purpose of improving Galway harbour. The Lord-Lieutenant was reported to have expressed a hope that the whole of the traffic between this country and the United States might pass through Ireland; but that he did not pledge himself to anything, as much must depend on the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and that he would communicate with the Government on the subject. The commission over which he (Earl Granville) presided collected a great mass of evidence in respect to this matter, and, having anxiously considered it, they cam e to the conclusion that it would not be consistent with their duty to recommend the re moval of the Transatlantic packet station from Liver pool to one of the Irish ports. Now, he thought that it was very natural that any one in the position of Laid- Lieutenant of Ireland should feel anxious to consider any question likely to be of advantage to Ireland, and which its geographical position might seem to entitle it to. On the other hand, it was not unlikely that the ac count in the newspaper to which he referred might not be correct, for very few persons in official life were un aware that in the case of deputations, the person who received them frequently found himself, on seeing the account given of them, very mach like the lion in the fable when he found himself represented by the sculptor. As many false alarms might be excited by any misapprehension on this subject, ho thought the matter of sufficient importance to justify him in asking whether the hope expressed by the Lord-Lieutenant was such as described in the report he had alluded to; if so, whether the Government concurred in it, and whether they intended to take any steps for the removal of the Transatlantic packet station to any harbour in Ireland? The Earl of DERBY said the Noble Lord had re- furred to the reports of deputations, and he might also . observe that such of their Lordships fri(tlo as had official ex. perience well knew that they w receivedith respect letters reminding them of somo promis l eg t n i t yt en appointment, and on referring promised to put the applicant down on found they had a n the list, at the same limo telling him there wer e tar great many before him, but that when it C31:113 to his should be coneidered. be r i ned into a posi- Thie was c eista his application 'eying that there live promise; and he could not help had been, not from any wish to misrepres ent but from an over sanguine view of the case, some • , m lion in the present instence, In consequence mresent , o of the notice which had been g iven b y the I\.b Earl of the q uestion he had just put , the Lord-Lie le utenant of Ire land wrote to him (Lord Derby), stating that he saw to aid d hd been consider his great surprise that what he the ably misrepresented, and that the 1 40 a d of Dublin bad called on him next day to regret at the misrepresentation. w e b xpress his great ea he mentioned the answer which the Lord-Lieutenant had given to the deputation, he felt sure tha a t s t t il a a t iLordships would agree that it was just such Lieutenant ought to have m a d e ou e na ts ent as the Lord stated that he felt a dt,ep interest et tue occasion. Ho the welfare and prosperity of Ireland, and that he Was personally anxious to .see the whole trade, not of E ng ! ' but that anyand only, but of all Europe, pass throug h Ireland to America, good wishes that he might entertain not only could not obtain the establis hment of a Transatlantic station in Ire land, but could not even obtain the theb granting of the re quest of the deputation for of a pier in Galway harbour. That was the °n; li a d n i s n w g er the Lord- Lieutenant gave, with the exception that he would transmit the representations of an assurance tation to the Government. In of the depu question put by the Noble reference to the Derby) replied that Government Eerl, he (Lord reason to come to any decision had , not seen adverse to the conclusion at which the commissio 113 n referred to by the Noble Earl had arrived, and, eense n Govern ment, as at present advised, had no intention the intention of remov ing the Transatlantic packet staotritosn from Liverpool, and establishing it in any o f the p °i Ireland. But, at the same time, he must observe, that the subject was open to inquiry , a nd there we re many motives, more especially the subm arine tele graph between ngland and Ireland, if it should bo cu rried might render it des irable that snob a packet station d into effect, which had b ee n alluded to should b© at as some future time esta blished, and that every encouragement should bo given to the improvement of those s plendid harbour, in which mere the west coast of Ire l and especially abounded. Nevertheless, he would not, e n th ment, desire to hold out any ea , C part of the Govern the pre sen t, that the Trausatla-nerlation, at all events for be established on the west coast of packet station would preference was intended to bo'°F Ireland, or that any port over another, more „ ne shown in favour of one ports which had been ci allY as between the two Lime rick and Galway. prominently put forward, Lime theTlh.eordA!Lariequutiesnonnf Lieuten a nt of A Ir N ei ll/ CARDE was sorry that he had been represented to h a nd had nut said as much as in the report of the Comm. ave said. It was admitted nica.tion was concerned, m i ssion that, so far as comuiti the establishment of a vantages would be gained by Tr Galway, but that those Einsatluntic packet station at mensurate with the cost. advantages would not be corn whether the expense wa The question, however, as to gained, was ono which ought worth the advantage to be by the Government of tL ught to be kept in sight both ticularly by the u°United States and more par port of the Government Commission of this country. The re• Holy head as the point o f d _ distinctly recommended Holy- When he was at the Yost -office and arrival for the mails. ter, and the t-office he considered that mat rities, in which he joined recommendation of the Post-office autho rities, should be was that that part of the re abused in Ireland, fee oat, For this he had been duty wiehout regard t when a public man fulfilled his groat deal, he Was ° the country to which he owed a free to admit that consideredthe unpatriotic; but ho was service of the mails adoption of Holyhead fur the mately led to the would, in his opinion, have ulti would have led to :mention (m of a port in Ireland, as it and roof in the system of naviga tion mendution of th a 'etl°n• no hoped that the recom• adoption of u port it : (l Port, which was adverse to the After a few words Ireland, would be reconsidered. were not distinctly from the Earl of CA WDOR, which Lord heardN.ONTE Acii in the gallery, on the will or E said he did nut intend to reflect thought . that the impartialityr of the Commission, but he wry No doubt, whatev'eAl was in ono respect incomplete. area good s for r a mi ght be done in lreland, manufac turesfrom thea most favourable trading would he sent out directly and the question 55 r trading port ill this country; itself ceclusively esPected Ireland, therefore, resolved though he did not intomean one of vestal conainunication, passenger t an to say th 1.47, a consideration with regard eu be involved to it. _raffle might not, to a certain extent, mission had greatlyile thought the report of the Corn that might arise underrated the possible benefits from a wi. adward rout communication with America P o rt; and it appeared from the evidence of an emit sent engineer that if a vessel were exclusively built for °sc 'eflLe and p assen ger purposes , and stationed at a windecard 6 40 0 ~, Purl, the voyage from Ir eland to Halifax, Nova '", might be made in rai days. Ile believed that the whole postal communication of Northern Europe with America would inevitably flee , into this line. As had boeu pointed out—une wars Galway, and the other a pert en the Shannon. Ho hoped his Noble Friend would institute a local investigation into the actual eir cumitances of these two ports, and in the meantime he wauld take the liberty of moving that the memorials ad dressed to the Treasury on the whole of this subject be laid on the table of the House. Earl GRANVILLE supposed there would be no ob jection to the production of these memorials; and, after they were laid on the table, perhaps the House could go further into the subject.—(Hear, bear.) Lord CAMPBELL said, their Lordships would per haps be surprised that he should rise to take part in a debate of this kind; but, as ho had lately had the honour thrust upon him of becoming an Irish pro prietor—(& laugh)—and as he had been requested, if an opportunity presented itself, to put in a good word on this subject, and particularly in favour of the port of Galway, he wished to make one or two obser vations. Ho was much afraid that nothing could be expected to be done in this matter in favour of Ireland or of Galway; but, as the Noble Lord (Lord Derby) had told thorn that the completion of the 'submarine telegraph might alter the state of affairs, and as they had seen sudden revolutions on other sub jects of late years, it might be that they would expe rience a sudden revolution in this matter also.—(Hear, hear.) Ho had been informed that the submarine tele graph would be almost immediately put in operation, and then communications would take place between Lon don and Dublin in the course of a few s conds. When that was once done, he hoped they would see the very desirable object carried out of a packet station at Gal way.—(Bear, hear.) With reference to the condition of property in that part of the country, he might mention that ho know an estate which used to produce 3,0001. a-year that for the last five years had not yielded enough to pay the rates. The motion for the production of the memorials was then agreed to. The Copyright Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 3. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. Sir FITZROY KELLY took the oaths and his seat for East Suffolk; Mr. CARTER took the oaths and his seat for Tavistock. ROYAL COMMISSION. Mr. PULMAN, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, appeared at the table and summoned the House to at tend at the bar of the House of Peers, to hear the Royal assent given by commission to several public and private Acts (for which see Lords' report). lIA.RWIC EI ELECTION. The SPEAKER informed the House that he had re ceived a !otter from the p:3titionors in this case suiting that they did not intend to proceed with the petition. PRIVATE BUSINESS. 'The following Bills were read a third time and passed:— Kelvin Bridge (Glasgow) and other Works. London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway. Porthdinllaen and Nanthwynant Roads. Southam to Kineton Road. South-Eastern and Reading, Guildford, and Reigate R Always. The following Bills were considered and agreed to: — Bedford and Kirnbolton Road. Romsey, Broughton Srockbride, and Wallop Roads. Shillingwortb, Wallingford, and Reading Road, and Shilling worth Bridge. Wakefield and Denby Dale Road. Lembart's Estate Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. PETITIONS. _ _ . Several petitions were presented against the Maynooth grant, and a great number against the Militia Bill. Lord DUNCAN presented a petition to that effect from 3,000 of the inhabitants of Bath. Mr. THORNELY presented a petition from the Uni versity of London, praying to be exempted from the ()potations of the Charitable Trusts Bill. Mr. REYNOLDS presented several petitions from various parts of Ireland in favour of tenant right. Mr. HEY WORTH presented a petition from Derby against the Militia Bill. Mr. COBDEN presented several similar petitions from various parts of the West Riding. Mr. JAMES CLAY presented a petition from the attorneys of Hull against the certificate duty. Mr. TUFNELL presented a petition from the Daven port Young Men's Christian Association against the Militia Bill. Mr. HEYWOOD presented several similar petitions from places in Lancashire, Lord HARRY VANE presented petitions to the same effect from Hartlepool. Mr. SLANEY presented a petition in favour of the Industrial Partnerships Bill. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. HAMILTON a new writ was ordered for Harwich, in the room of Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who had accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty's Manor of Helpholme, in_Yorkshire. . _ _ FIE CRYSTAL PALACE. Mr. THORNELY brought up the report of tho Ge neral Committee of Petitions, in which it was stated that the name of an Honourablo Member of the House had boon forged to one of the petitions presented in favour of the retention of the Crystal Palace.—The re. port was ordered to lie on the table. OATHS. Mr. REYNOLDS gate notice that, on Thursday next, he should usk the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to bring in a Bill to alter the law relating to the oaths taken by Members. WEST INDIA MAIL. Sir A. COCKBURN wit.hed to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies a question rektive to a statement which had appeared in a public print supposed to be in the con fidence of the Government. It was there stated to be the intention of Government to remove the West India mail packet station from Southampton to Plymouth, and ho should be glad to know if there was any foundation for the statement. Sir JOHN PAK[NGTON said the subject did not come within his department, but he had made inquiries about it of the Secret a ry to the Admiralty, lty, and wasin formed that no sueh intention as that mentioned had ever existed.—(hear, hear.) THE ARMY. Mr. DUPRE, on behalf of Colonel Reid, who was absent through indisposition. wished to ask the Secretary at-War whether her Nlt,j :sty's Government had any in tention of proposing to Parliament toincrease . the strength of our regular troops serving in Great Britain and Ireland? Major BERESFORD said Government bad no pre sent intention of proposing any incre , ar in the army. SMITHF IELD MARh.L r. Sir BENJAMIN HALL wished to ask the Secre tary of State for the Home Department, whether any steps had been taken by t he Corporation of the city o f London for the removal of Smithfield-market, and whe ther any site had been fixed upon for the new market? Mr. WALPOLE said the Corporation of the city of London had given notice w ithin the specified time of their intention to undertake the carrying out of the Act, and the Honourable . Baronet was 13 1ar . lagetnent of the pro bably aware that the Secretary of State had nothing Commissioners,—([lsar, hear.) further to do with the matter except to approve of the site, unless the Corporation should fail to select the site is,and to the i n , hear.) Since, however, the Honourable Baronet w A i e t t h c in ou e l i d g h b te e e nn transferred °ntl had given notice . of his question he had made inquiries respecting the matter, an d ho was informed that twenty-four new sites had been suggested to the Corporation, which they had now under their consideration, and they hoped in a short tim e t o b e a b le t o submit a proper site for the approval of the Home office,—(Hear, hear.) GLASGOW POST-OFFICE. Mr. MACGRECIOR wished to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures had been taken by her Nl,jesty'g Governm , ent, in order to carry int o e ff ect t h e ere ction of a new 1 ost-oplee on the ground p urc h ase d f o r that purpose in the city of Glasgow? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the estimate of the architect had only just been received, but the subject should command CLUBShis immediate attention. RIFLE . Mr. EVELYN wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home llopartinttut, whether it was the intention of the Government to advise her Majesty to accept the services of corps . of ritle volunteers, to be raised and maintained at their own expense? Mr. WALPOLE said if it should become necessary and proper, Government would not hesitate to sanction the formation of rifle corps, but ho was unable to say whether Government would accept of their services until ho saw what progr.ss the Militia Bill made.—(Hear.) BISHOP OF COLOMBO. In reply to Mr. TUFNELL, Sir J. PAKINGTON said a very painful and per sonal correspondence had been received at the Co lonial-Alice relating to the Bishop of Colombo, and although he did not think it would be prudent to pro duce it now ho could state that Government would lose no time in taking such steps as the correspondence had rendered necessary.—(Cheers.) NEW ZEALAND. The passage in the Queen's Speech relating to Nve Zealand having been read on the motion of Sir J . Paltington, colonyin S u ir ß j i A r N l w iN granting z G e li la a N nd r . ose w representative t o h a n i' h f o o c ro firstnleave constitution ( m t m o o tobringi n th t o e of ocifffiN"ewitZweaalsanhdi,stoinmteonvteionthalotokthineg coantsttituetioctointdoititohne colony be suspended fora )o,unr the subject j b ec u t t f a r f o t , e n r preercseoinvs ing repeated representations interested in the welfare of New Zealand, ho at length, wi;li the concurrence of his colleagues, determined to submit a new constitution for their approval. Though a most interesting colony, it was one of the most recently acquired dependencies of the British Crown. The first advance of civilization in the colony was made by those pioneers of civilization—the mission aries o f tau Este. Wished Churchil and:or ry twh ee o rp f eu fl o ,op t ic h i)os e ew r se r od e f l b i t t edt us el 1808. They p e rseasion: ;ie it t i .c t i lLy ts ey r l i tbeur but r th i' o in v i lsits of these persons led to the cornmi.sion of crime in the colony. In 1832 a Bill passed the House of c o remens for the prevention of crime committed in Now Zealand and other islands in the Pacific. Intercourse with the colony continual to increase, and at length a consul was sent our, who was to assume the Government as soon as he obtained from the natives a cession of the colony to the Crown. In 1836 the first step was taken to make New Zealand a possession of Great Britain, therefore only twelve years had elapsed since it became attached to this country. The progress. of the colony had been retarded by various ca uses, and among others by the tete:Alen of the natives in 1845. It, 1346 Earl Grey gave the c,lony a representative insti tution, but in 1848, in cons, quence of events which then happened, it was suspended for a period of five years. The five years expires on the Ist March, 1853, there fore it was absolutely necessary to do semething in the present session, because the Act of 1846 would of itself come into operation next year. Daring the inteeeel the colony had progressed greatly, both as reeeraed the population and the extent of commerce carried on. Its 1848 the population was about 17,000; in the present year it had increased to 26.000 or 27,000. The value of goods exported was in 1848, 44,2151., and in 1850, 115,4151. There had also been an incease in the reve nue of the colony—in 1848 it was 48,589/., and in 1845, 57,7421. Sir G. Grey, the governor, in one of his dis patches, spoke highly of the intellectual superiority of the natives, whom be considered might be well in trusted with those privileges of self-government which Earl Grey gave them in 1846, but which, under special circumstances, were afterwards withheld. There were three peculiarities which rendered New Zealand distinct from any other of the British dependeu- Cio3,—lst, the geographical situation of the colony ; 2d, the mode of settlement adopted; and, lastly, the high natural qualities and intellect of the natives. The centre of the two islands was occupied by lofty mountain ridges, which were unfit for cultivation, and consequently all cultivation was confined to the planes. Then in regard to the mode of settlement adopted; the people did not, as in other colonies, congregate around one centre, but took up their residences in different parts of the island, and they wore now spread over a length of country of between 800 or 900 miles. As ho had already stared, the character of the natives was of a very high order. They had been converted to Christia nit y , they were attached to agriculture, fond of the sea, and made good sailors, and they were ambitious to become skill& d in European arts and customs. They wore great adepts in warfare, and some were even better equipped than our own regular troops. Some of the chiefs had acquired considerable property by their industry, and had several thousand pounds invested in the Govern meet funds. In arranging a local government for these colonies there would be some difference of opinion, but ho apprehended no opposition to the proposition that the right of separate government should bo given to the detached dependencies, There would, however, be a difference of opinion us to whether these detached pot Lions should be dealt with as independent colonies, or only as portions of a colony having a local government. of their own, but under a general federation, as in the United States. The Government, after the best con sideration, thought that the dependency ought to be treated as one colony, and that the detached portions should be dealt with as small but not as independent colo nies. In order to carry out this plan they would establish local legislatures and a general legislature for governing the whole. Earl Grey proposed, in 1846, to form live different provinces. It was now the intention of the Government to increase the number to six, viz., Welling ton, New Plymouth, Auckland, Nelson, Canterbury, and Natal. It was proposed to have a governing officer for each province, called a superintendent, who should be appointed at a salary of 500/. by the Governor of the colony, and not by the Colonial-office. Below the superintendent there would be a legislative council. It appeared to the Government that, looking to the small population which existed in these districts, it was not advisable that there should be two chambers, nor was it advisable that the one chamber should be composed principally of nominee members. That system had already failed in New Zealand, and it was therefore proposed teat these provisional council should be wholly elective.—(Bear, hear.) Then came the question of the franchise. And here, looking at the ignorance which necessarily prevailed at this distance from the colony upon its local affairs, it was thought by the Government that there was no alterna tive open to them but to adopt the franchise recommended by the Governor, Sir G. Grey, which was that every man possessing a house worth 501., or occupying a house iu a town at 10/. a year, _or 5/. a year in the county, should be entitled to vote. — (Hear, hear.) The franchise should be enjoyed alike by the native as the European, while the question of payment to members would be left for the decision of the provincial councils themselves. It was proposes by the Bill that on the first day of meeting those mem bers who resided ten miles beyond their respective councils should be allowed a sum for expenses. But a matter of this detail he thought it much better to leave to themselves to settle, as they, of course, must bo the best judges of what is must conducive to their own in terests. lie now came to a very important point in refe rence to the arrangement of the Provincial Councils — namely, those subjects upon which it was prop 'Ned to restrict them from legislating. He proposed 14 subjects upon which the Provincial Coucils were to be prohibited from legislating upon: and here again there was one very important difference between the plan recommended by the present Government and that of Lord Grey. But he might observe that the plan of the present Govern ment was supported by Governor Grey. It was pro posed that they should not interfere by legislation with Crown land; because the Government apprehended that if they were to have that power in all probability there would be one principle adopted by one of these councils, and another by another. It was, therefore, deemed much more desirable to leave this great question to be dealt with by a higher and separate authority. Well, thee, these restrictions were to be as follow, viz.:— First, they were not to legislate upon the imposition or regulation of duties of customs. Second, they were not to legislate in reference to the establishment of any civil or criminal court, except for the purposes of trying offences now punishable by law in New Zealand. Third, they were not to determine the extent of juris diction or course of proceeding in the Supreme Court. Fourth, they were not to regulate the currency of coin issued in the colony. Fifth, they were not to interfere or determiae the weights and measures. Sixth, they were not to regulate the post office or the carriage of letters. Seventh, they were not to legislate in reference to the establishment of laws in cases of bankruptcy and insolvency. Eighth, they were not to interfere in refe rence to the erection of beacons and lighthouses. Ninth, they were not to legislate in reference to the imposition of duties and other charges upon ships. Tenth, they were not to interfere for the regulation of marria g es. Eleventh, they were not to int e rf e r e by l eg i s l at i on in re ference to Crown lands, or lands in respect to which the titles of the aborigines had not been determined. Twelfth, they were not to interfere in respect to disabi lities or restrictions affecting persons of the native race, to which Europeans were not subject. Thirteenth, they were restricted from altering any way the criminal law of New Zealand. Fourteenth, they were not to interfere for the regulation of the course of inheritance in respect to real or personal property. He ought to ob serve that these restrictions were identical with what were proposed by Lord Grey, and recommended by Sir G. Grey, the governor, excepting that ono relating to the Crown lands. There was one other point upon which the present Government ven tured to differ from Lord Grey —lie meant the mode in which the Acts passed by.the Provincial Legislatures of the colony were to receive the Royal assent. It was proposed by Lord Grey that the Acts passed by the Provincial Legislatures should bo ultimately sent to this country for the assent of her Majesty—in fact, that they should follow the course now adopted in regard to the Acts of the other colonial Legislatures. But looking to the number of restrictions which it was intended by the Government measure to impose, and the limited power of the Legislature, it seemed to the Government more advisable that these matters should be at once settled without the delay which the necessity of sending them home fur the assent of her Majesty would necessarily occasion ; it was therefore proposed that the Governor in-Chief should have the power giving to these Acts the final assent of her Majesty.—(Hear, hear.) But at the same time he was disposed to think it would be better, subject to general instructions in case of any special re quirement in respect to a particular Act, that it should be referred home for the assent of the Crown.—(Hear.) That, however, was a matter open for the consideration of Parliament. With the permission of the House he would now describe the way in which it was proposed to constitute the Central Legislature. They proposed that the Governotein-Chief should of course be the head of the central Government, and that the central Legislature should consist of the Governor-in-Chief, of a Legislative Council, and of a f a irly chosen Assembly. The first question of difficulty that presented itself was, how the Legislative Council was to be constituted. This was the most important point upon which the present Government had ventured to differ from Lord Grey in reference to this measure. It was the intention of Lord Grey that the Upper Chamber of the Central Legislature should be an elective body; but it was proposed to make them elective in a very peculiar manner, for which they had no precedent—namely, those of the Provincial Legislatures should send three persons each, who were to constitute themselves the Legislative Council of the Government House of Legislature. He thought he would be borne out in the fact when be said that ther e was no precedent in her Majesty's dominions for an elective Upper Chamber. Even in the provinces of Ca nada, where the power of self-government and the freedom of British institutions had been carried fur ther than in any of the dependencies of the Crown, not only was there not an elective Upper Chamber, but as far as he knew there had never existed any desire to have such. He believed he was correct in saying it had been intimated to th a t province that they might express their opinions upon the question whether or not they would regard an elective Upper Chamber as desirable, notwithstanding which they had never shown any indication of such a wish. There was one instance of such a proposition, but he could not regard that as a precedent, because it was one that was yet under consideration—he meant the coned , tution that Was under consideration for the Cape of Good Hope. For that proposed constitution the late Government had decided in favour of AD elective Utile r Chamber. The pi cultarity, however, of that place was this—the franchise and elections for the Upper Chamber were to be precis e ly the same as those for the Lower Chamber, but the difference was this—the m e mbers of the Lower Chamber were to be elected i elec tors within the electoral districts; but in reference b Yn certai to the Upper Chamber they were to be elected y the . il votes of the the whole body under certain modificat ions bound to say, while upon this point, of fiatahoe hood d ba H d orpee "wed c°l"'"i"ti°"B fronitho ca there we're very coast . which led him to suppose that t de of consti- wed derable objections i n the colony o thi tuting the Upper Chamber, that part of the tied that s mo they vie ure with much apprehension. In providing mnesatsitution for New Zealand, h e , t h ere f or e, confessed constitution sedhe had no inclination of following the precedent of that p proposed for the Cape of Good Hope; but the m ode of electing the Upper Chamber es recommended by Governor Grey was wholly difftrent— namely, by a doubl e elective system. Th ose who were already chosen as members of the Provincial Councils should be authorised to elect the members of the Central Chamber of Legislation. Ile would not pretend to say that t h at wag a good piou. Iu MO of tbig tatigniwdo and impertance he confessed on his own part he did not thiek that this wil3 au exteeirieest. in which the Govern would be prepered to ereliark. They tho u ght it much better to follow the precedent, which Exisimi in every other colony of the British Crown.—(fleete, hear.) In rospeat to this Central Legislature loeitteg to that teipport which the Governor would require from it, and the importunce which it must assume as the colony in creased in prosperity, the Government thought it much better to follow the precedent of other colonies. They, therefore, proposed that the Upper Chamber should be as it was elsewhere, a nominee Upper Chamber, com posed of persons appointed by the Crown to hold their offices during pleasure. They proposed that the dura tion of this Parliament of Central Legislation should be five years. He had forgotten to mention, in speaking of the Provincial Legislatures, that din Governor recommended that they should last for two years; but the present Government agreed with Lord Grey, that this period would be much too short, and that it should rather be for tour years. Tho Pro vincial Councils they proposed should not consist in any case of less then nine members. The numbers of the Upper Chamber of the Central Legislature they pro posed should boat the discretion of the Governor, with this understanding . , that it should not be lees than tee, nor more than 15, Members. Tho Elective Assembly, should not be less more 25 ror more than 40, Members. The nets of the Provincial Legislature must not be alto gether dependent where the acts of the Central Legis lature overrode them. They then proposed that there shall be a civil list reserve. Upon this point they also differed from Lord Grey. The House was probably aware that the present civil list was 30,000/. a year. They proposed to retain such a civil list. They did not propose to increase it; but they proposed to abolish some of the judges us altogetoer unnecessary, and by this means they would, be enabled to provide salaries for the superintendents of provinces without resorting to the necessity of increasing the civil list. — (Hear, hear.) There was another important point sanctioned by the Governor. They meant to recommend that a sum of 7,0001. should be reserved for what were called native purposes. Where the natives were resident within the limits of the province they would have the right of voting for the Members of the Provin- offal Legi.slalures, and — would possessthe - satee el* etive franchise as others; hut tho House was aware that there was a vast number of intelligent natives who contributed la. gely to the revenue by the consumption of imported goods, and who would be obliged to contribute to the re venue in other ways, who would not at present have a voice in the representation. They, therefore, proposed that 7,0001. a year should be reset vt:d for the benefit of these native tribes, such money to be appropriated to the construction and maintenance of hospitals and of schools —for the payment, too, of resident masters—for the making of Presents to native chiefs for services ren dered, and generally for other purpozes Leading to promote the prosperity and happiness of the native race.—(Hear, hear.) He trusts d after what he had stated in respect to the progress of the natives in happiness and prosperity, and looking to tho large A • • •• consumption 01 the goods imported into the 00104, that there would be no objection offered to the appro priation of this sum. On the contrary, he was disposed to think that there would be evinced a disposition to increase the grant to a large amount. There was another power' proposed to t,e reserved to the Cen tral Legislature, which Lord Grey proposed to confer . . upon the provincial Legislatures-6e meant the manage ment of the Crown lands. He (Sir J. Pakingtoe) did not mein to interfere with the present system of dealing with the natives for their land; but after the purchase from the natives was effected, they proposed that all. ar rangements regarding those Crown lands should be placed in the hands of the general legislative body. They proposed the adoption of this plan from the belief that that body would be better able to deal with them, and knew hotter what was for the interest of all parties concerned, then the Provincial Legislature. The House must be well aware of the complicated nature of the eX • isting arrangements in regard to these lands. The claims of the New Zealand Company, for instance, and the peculiar powers granted by Parliament to that aB5O. ciatioto The Canterbury rights were guaranteed by Act of Parliament, as well as the New Zealand claims. These were matters which tended to complicate the aub ject of land in the colony, and with which the Central Legislature would be most competent to deal. He would not enter further upon this subject; but in respect to this measure, it was their intention to preserve exist ing rights, and not to allow them to be overriden. There only remained one more subject, which, however, he felt to be one of the greatest importance. lie thought that the House must feel, after the explanation he had given them, that in some respects they must re gard this constitution us an experiment. They must, at all events, look forward to the gradual increase of the colony in population, and an advance iu prosperity. They could not hope, in shadowing out a scheme of this kind, that such a system w as t o b e looked at as a perma nent and final settlement of this difficult question, as to what manner the residents of a distant colony upon the other side of the globe could best govern themselves and conduct their own affairs.—(Hear, hear.) It was, there fore, the intention of the Government to introduce into the measure clauses to enable the legislature of New Zealand to propose and enact such changes in their in stitutions as they thought right.—(Hear, hear.) As regarded the Provincial Legislatures, it, as the popula tion increased, they preferred two Chambers to one, let them enact it—in the seine way as regarded the consti 'ution of the Central Legislature, and in regard to all the arrangements he had that day attempted to describe , they proposed that the colony, through their Legisla tures, should have full power to deal with these matter!, only stipulating, that in referent's, to any of the 00 011. tutional changes he had alluded to, none should be ere sorted to without obtaining uhimstely th e em the Crown. of ' Crown. Ho had to thank the House for the patit' l f e , with which they had listened to his statement, and "" had °ley to hope that he had made himselt intelligible in sketching out the plan of a measure ho was t hen ask ing the leave of the House to introduce. He would thes redeem the pledge he had given to those who said, and with some reason, that there ought to be no further delay in carrying this measure forward. It remained, then, for the House to decide, and he would not shrink from boldly putting forth this question—namely, whether, after this explanation, this a measure which fai rl y and reasonably might be consider. d as coming within the category of necessary measures to which her Majesty's Government were pledged to confine fur the present their legislation?—(Hear, hear.) He submitted that ausstion fairly and frankly for the consideration of the be aid the come judgment within House. His own opinion was t such category. If, however , it sh th o a uld it of the House that it di d not, he would readil y bow to that decision.—(Hear, hear.) But on one point he wished particularly ne t to be misunderstood. All who take an interest in th e colony should bear in mind that the alternative will be either of passing this measure with such amendments as the House might think fit to make in it, or of passing an Act for prolonging for another year the existing state of affairs.—(Hear, hear.) He bad received a strong protest from a number of gentlemen in New Zealand requesting the G overn ment —so great was their anxiety on the subjeet--not L delay the granting to the colony free institutions; 141% preyed that even the Act of 1846 sh ou ld b e revil rather than that there should be any further delay ' n the passing of this measure. He, however, must say frankly, that her Majesty's Government were not willing to consent to the revival of the Aot of 1846 under any circumstances. He thought that there were serious objections to allowing the revival of that Act and he was sure that the House would feel that the Government was the more justified in express ing this opinion when they were fortified by the opinion of Lord Grey himself who had introduced that measure of 1846. In a dispatch written by the Noble Laid to the governor shortly before he left office he bad ex' pressed himself of that opinion. He ought to mention that the Government did not intend that this Act abould„ interfere with those municipal institutions which ba d been recommended by Lord Grey, and which formed . 8 part of, the measure of 1846, although not included la that Act. They thought it most desirable that OW municipal institutions should be extended in the colon,' of New Zsaland.—(llear.) On the part of the Govern ment he had thus endeavoured to do his duty by pro posing a measure which would cower upon the inhabi' tants of the colony those institutions and rights which they were naturally so anxious to obtain.—(Hear.) lle was sanguine enough to hope that the measure not meet with any serious opposition. It it shou ld be passed by the H ouse, it would only remain for him to express his gr at it u d e f or the honour they wou ld be thus conferring e n him.would Ho believed it was a measure which would be the foundation of great advantages nists, who h a v e b een naturally y desirous of onjoYi n g t ha e constitutional freedom which they had so long enjeu in this their f at h er l an d.—(Ch eers .) to the colo o -t ' The SPEAKER having put the question, le- Sir R. INGLIS said that the Right that t n G man had hely raised upon this subject. (S should be miniature England. lll.ll.ature met all the expecrtatioHns. ItugalioLandaenibetueln. ways contended that every colors), England. The colonists should have every social and d in mother country; out, it blessing of heir reli civil right they possess tit to the Ri I t rs would . i not g 0 . . above o u s all, they institutions, ould have the fn to reserve a certain Gentleman whether he ought proportion of the funderhaaismedbry, it t h w e arsevaenue subjectin worthy Lb co lony for the purpose of religion. In respect to the con stitution of the Upp er Chamber, of consideration whether the members ought to be elected for life. Mr. GLADSTONE said he was one of those who urged upon the Government the propriety of confining themselves during the present session to the introduction of measures of the most urgent ne cessity. Be felt it no more than just on the pre sent occasion, then, to state that he thought the Government had only done their duty in bringing for • ward the present measure—(Hear, hear)—notwi ha ond.. ing the state of the Perlianuent and the great issue that was to be shortly tried at home.—(Hear, hear.) il e would be deeply grieved t h at the differences oftpinion which exiqua among themselves in regard to the pal" cater kind of constitution which ought to conferred upon New Zealand should stand in the way of conferring upo n the colonists at mace the benefit of free institutions. For his part, so desirous was he that no further delay shook' • take place in the passing of such a measure as the pro rent, he would be ready to lend the Right Hon. Gentle man every lissistance in his power in forwarding ibis • Bill.—(llner. hear.) Although there were many pies' tions which at other gullet( might be asked, he felt tbat, at the present time, the only one that they could re . e: "nahly put was thi s — was the Bill before them, on th e _ whole, a b oon to t h e co l on i es , an d s uch as it was wort: while for th em to rece i ve ? He could not have the slightest hesitation in saying that it was, and he w: _ d support the principle of it with all his heart, reserving the consideration of its details to another o pp ortu. nity.—(ilear, hear.) not on the Bill, for h e was taken b y sur p rises Al:.. V. SMITH said he should offer but a few obser vationshaving ex p ec ted that tho Aighs lUDs Crontlenitin woo :Q 'i. is