The Sun. — London, England, 1848-03-21 00:00:00

i ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafford, March 18. CROWN COUItT. Walter Noake, a man of respectable appearance, surrendered to an indictment, charging him with felesiously embezzling 2401. 7s. 6d., on the Bth of April,' 1847, also for embezzling divers other sums of money, in the said month of April, the property of George Parker and others, his employers. There were five indictments against the prisoner. Evidence having been given, The jury found the prisoner Guilty ; and at a later period of the day he was brought up for judg ment, and sentenced to be transported for seven years. John Lawley, 22, was indicted for stealing, at Wolverhampton, on the 21st of February, 201., the property of Elizabeth Newall. Mr. Kettle and Mr. Wade prosecuted, and Mr. Scotland defended the prisoner, who was the steward of a friendly society at Wolverhampton, held at the house of the prosecutrix, who keeps the Pack-horse Inn in that town. On the evening of the 20th February he, as one of the stewards, locked up the box, and deliv.ned it into the care of the landlady. The next day it was dis covered that all the money which was counted into the box on the previous evening had been abstracted, except one shilling. The box was not forced, but had been unlocked and relocked again. The prisoner and the other steward, whose name was James Taylor, had each, in virtue of their office, a key of the club box during their year of stewardship. It was proved that the next day he changed a five-pound note at another inn in the same town. Some days subse quently he was taken into custody at Liverpool, and on his person was found money to the amount of 121. He said to Sheridan, the officer, " I only took two five-pound notes." He was asked if he had not taken some - gold and silver also ?--(there being three pounds-of the one and eight of the other besides the notes in the box, on the Monday of the society's meet ing.) The prisoner, lin reply to that inquiry, said, "I shall tell , no more. One of the notes was of Friar's . Bank, Wolver hampton ; and the one changed by the prisoner was of that banking establishment. The prisoner was convicted by the jury. Mr—Justice CRESSWELI: said that such societies must be protected from the acts of dishonest mem bers of them, by the unworthy ones being punished for robbing their honest, hard-working brethren. Persons in whose houses such clubs were held, and in whose custody th e funds were left, must also have security from the thieving propensities of such men as the prisoner. Sentence.—One year's imprisonment with hard labour. By great efforts the: business of these assizes was brought to a conclusion a few minutes before mid night, after a most tedious and lengthy sitting—Mr. Sergeant Allen being dispatched to Shrewsbury to open the Commission for the county of Salop. On the Nisi Prius side there was hardly a case which disclosed any matter of general interest, although 24 cases were tried out. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 18. (Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON and a Special Jury.) DOB ON THE DEM. OF TINDAL V. FURNESS AND OTHERS. This was an action of ejectment to try the validity of the will of John Park, of Spofforth. The lessor of the'plaintiff is heir-at-law of the tes tator, and the defendant's devisees under the will. That the plaintiff is heir-at law was admitted, and, there fore Mr. Martin (Mr. Cowling with him) stated the case for the defendants. After hearing much of the evidence, His LORDSHIP had several times intimated an opinion that it would be difficult to meet this case for the defendants, and it was at length arranged that the verdict should be taken for the defendants, the plaintiff only to pay 50/. tewards the defendants' costs, and thus ended a case which had occupied from nine till four o'clock. _ _ _ CIt6SVE COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron RoLFE.) Simeon Kershaw, aged 29, Andrew Savage, 36, James Kay, 42, John Child, 22, Joseph Arnold, 20, and John Thomas, 19, all labourers, two of whom only could read, were indicted for cutting and wounding William Carter, Tho.nas Gill, John Kay, and Thomas Slack, with intent to do them grievous bodily harm, &c:, at Wakefield, on the 25th of De cember last. It appeared that in February of last year, the prisoner, lierihaw, had a gun taken from him by the night-watchman of Wakefield, which the ma gistrates ordered them to keep in their custody. This greatly aggravated him and his companions, and they determined, at some convenient opportu nity, to give the watchmen a good beating, a favour able opportunity, as they thought, having presented itself on the night of Christmas-day for carrying their resolution into effect. Evidence having been give❑ to the facts, The jury retired, and alter being absent a con siderable time, they found Kershaw, Savag■9, and Kay Guilty, and Acquitted Arnold and Thomas.— Sentence deferred. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. WORSHIP-STREET. An elderly man, named John ilfortiincr, whose throat was enveloped in bandages, was charged with having made a determined attempt at self destruction. Holland, the warrant-officer, informed the Magis trate, that. the prisoner had been a repectable house holder in the district for several years, but in conse quence of the depraved conduct of his wife, who abandoned her home and family some time since, his mind became so painfully affi.cted that he was unable to devote proper attention to his business, and he was ultimately reduced to a state of destitution. He had since endured the greatest privation and wretched ness, having entirely depended for support upon the occasional assistance that had been afforded him by the parish, but there being some doubt as to his proper settlement, all his efforts to obtain a permanent asylum in the workhouse had been unsuccessful. On Wednesday last he made a final appeal to the parish. officers, and after wards proceeded to a secluded field in the neigh bourhood of Hackney, where he was found lying next morning in a state of stupor, with a frightful gash in his throat, and grasping in his hand a table knife, with whio the wound had been inflicted. A medical gentleman, named Harris, who happened fortunately to be passing near the spot, immediately dressed the wound, and directed the removal of the prisoner to the infirmary of Hackney workhouse, where he hail since remained. Mr. Ross, the relieving officer of Shoreditch, stated that when the prisoner made his last application for assistance he was at once supplied with bread, and informed that his claim should be fully investigated before the board of trustees at their next meeting. The officer also intimated that he was now perfectly ready to receive the prisoner, and pass him in the usual mode to his proper settlement. Mr. Hasoffm. expressed a hope that no further obstacle would be interposed, and ordered the man to be consigned to the care of the proper officers. BENEVOLENCE.-Mr. HAMMILL announced his receipt of letters, enclosing donations for the dis tressed widow, Sophia Barrett, and her family, whose case was brought under the magistrates' notice some days since. LAMBETH. Eight tradespeople, residing in Southampton street, Camberwell, whose shops had been broken into and plundered by the Chartist rioters on that day week, attended before Mr. Elliott, with Mr. Hooke, their solicitor, and entered into the required recog nizances to prosecute the parties in custody fur rob bery, and also went through other forms to enable them to proceed against the county of Surrey for Abeir losses. 3fargeret Revell, alias Mayall, alias Ford, with 'half a dozen other aliases, was charged with making her way into the breakfast-room of Mr. Ilackblack, .a gentleman residing at Deninark-hill, Brixton , ,for the purpose of committing a felony. From the evidence it appeared that about three ,o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the prisoner made h e r w ay through the garden and various passages i n t o t h e parlour of the prosecutor, and was in the act of col lecting the valuables together, when the carriage drove to the front door with some member of the• family, anal the servants, in attending to them, dis covered the prisoner, and gave her into custody. At the time, the prisoner said the ran into the house for the purpose of concealing herself from her husband; who she saw approach her, and who she feared would ill-use her. The prisoner was fully committed for trial. THAMES. William Elton Rainbow, an elderly man, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged'with hawking spirits without a license, by which he had rendered himself liable to a very heavy penalty. Mr. R. Oliver, officer of Excise, put in the Act of Parliament applicable to the offence, and called James Clark, a police-constable, No. 56 11, who stated that on Sunday morning, shortly before twelve o'clock, he saw the defendant in Grace's alley, Wells-greet, opposite the Sailors' Home, with four mariners near him, one of whom was quarrelling with him. The defendant lied just poured out the remains of some rum or " jig• stuff" out of a small stone bottle, into a glass, which the sailor had drank off. The prisoner pulled a bag of silver out of his pocket, and said the sailor had given him a had shilling in payment for some liquor, which the other denied. He then took the prisoner into custody. There were the remains of some rum in the stone bottle. The prisoner, in defence, said he was going to see his nephew on board ship in th e r i ver, an d h a d a small quantity of rum in a bottl e , w hi c h h e intended to treat him wi th. He met the sailors near the Home, who said they should like to Dave a . drop of liquor if they could by any means obtain it. He said, if they were dying for a drop he would let them have the contents of the bottle. There was not quite a quar tern of it, and after he had divided it among them, one of the sailors gave him a shilling, and said, " Will that satisfy you ?" He told him it would not, and that it was a counterfeit one, and while he was talking to them the policeman made his appearance. Mr. YARDLEY—WeII, this is a very trifling offence, but it is ;against the letter of the law, and lam obliged to convict him. I dare say that what he says is likely to be true. This case will be represented to the Board of Excise, no doubt. Oliver said that would be done immediately. Mr. YARDLEY—And the Commissioners will, no doubt, mitigate the penalty. Oliver—l can't say, Sir, indeed. I will report your sentiments to my superior, and it will be repre sented to the Commissioners. Mr. YARDLET—I dare say what he says is true. I will inflict a nominal heavy penalty. It will be re presented to the Commissioners o f the Excise, and no doubt the fine will be mitigate d. I convict the prisoner in the penalty of 251., or imprisonment and hard labour for three calendar months. I don't think it is the practice of the prisoner to hawk spirits. I repeat, there is some appearance of truth in what he says. Oliver promised to report what the Magistrate said to the Commissioners immediately. The prisoner, who is a tailor by trade, and acts as a kind of porter among the sailors, was then com mitted. Mr. John Barber, the registrar of coal-whippers, attended the court with fifty of that body, who wished to be sworn in as special constables, when Mr. YARDLEY observed that he and his colleague had already sworn in upwards of 1,500 of the regis tered coal•whippers, and it was understood there would be no occasion to swear in any more, unless there was likely to be a renewal of the late disgrace ful disturbances, in which no one took part but idle and disorderly persons and thieves. Now he did not think there was any probability of a renewal of the disturbances. _ _ Mr. Barber thought so too ; but it was the wish of Mr. C. Green, the chairman, and his brother com missioners appointed to carry the Coal-whippers' Act into execution, that the whole of the registered men should be sworn in as special constables. Many were necessarily absent at their employment on the river when the magistrates attended at the Coal-whippers' Office, and they wished to appear unanimous on the subject, and continue to be sworn in daily as their engagements enabled them to attend. Mr. YARDLEY said there was sufficient evidence of the unanimity before, and that the manner in which the registered coal-whippers had come forward to offer their services to protect property,: and assist in preserving, the public:peace, west highly creditable to them. He would gladly administer the oath to the coal-whippers present, if they wished to be sworn in as special constables.' The coal-whippers—lf you please, Sir, we wish to be sworn in. Mr. YARDLEY—And you came forward volun tarily and without any restraint, I hope ? The coal-whippers—Yes, Sir. Yes, all voluntarily. The coal-whippers where then sworn in to act as special constables for the parish of St. Paul, Shad well, and were all supplied with staves and armlets, with the letters R. C. W. inscribed thereon, to be worn as a distinguishing badge if their services should be called in requisition, SOUTH-EASTERN CONTINENTAL STEAM-PACKET COMPANY. At the half-yearly meeting of this company, held yes terday, at one o'clock, at the London-bridge Hotel (Mr. Macgregor in the chair), a dividend of Bs. per share out of the earnings of the half-year, free of income-tax, was declared. The total increase of traffic for the half-year over the corresponding period of last year was 1,998. Since the breaking out of the revolution in France the traffic had only diminished to the extent of 141 from Folkstone to Boulogne, which might be accounted for on other than political grounds ; whilst it had materially increased from Boulogne to Folkstone. As the Ostend boats had proved unprofitable during the winter season they had been discontinued, but wov:d be run again at the commencement of the summer season. GREAT WESTERN OF BENGAL RAILWAY. An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of this company was held yesterday, at the London Tavern, for the purpose of considering and agreeing to a Bill which has been introduced into Parliament in the present session, authorising the dissolution of the com pany and the conversion of its bhares into shares of the East Indian Railway Company, and the payment of its capital to the last-named company for purposes specified in the Bill. The chear was taken at two o'clock by D. NPLeod, Esq., chairman of the company. The CHAIRMAN stated that since the last meeting of the company it had been found necessary to complete their arrangements for the amalgamation of the com pany with the East Indian Railway Company, and as the Bill now before Parliament needed the assent of the shareholders before it would be further proceeded with, the present meeting was called. A resolution authorising the directors to proceed with the Bill was agreed to unanimously, and the meeting broke up. er LONDONDERRY and ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY COMPANY. A special general meeting of the shareholders of this com pany was held yesterday, at the Guildhall Coffee-house, for the purpose of taking into consideration the draft of a Bill now pending in Parliament, for the purpose of au thorising the abandonment of that portion of the line of the railway which lies between the towns of Omagh and En niskillen, to reduce the capital of the company, to extin guish the shares which had been declared forfeited, to divide such reduced capital into sharesof 20/.and 51. each, and to create preference shares, and also to merge and re-issue such of the divided shares as might hereafter be forfeited, and to amend the Acts relating to the railway. J. G. Frith, Esq , took the chair shortly after twelve o'clock. The draft of the proposed Bill having been read, and the solicitor of the company having shortly stated the objects it had in view; After some short discussion the draft of the Bill was agreed to, and the meeting adjourned. ELECTION COMMITTEES. DERBY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) S. Holmes said that Mr. Whittaker, clerk to Mr. Strutt's agent, instructed him to do all he could to induce voters to support Mr. Strutt, and on the night before the election he heard Mr. Hawkridge, one of the acting committee, urge many persons who attended the committee to bring up voters without reserve. On the morning of the election he saw Mr. Stansbury, jun., of Derby, and a large num ber-of the electors, drinking, at the Freeman's Arms. 11e - spoke to Stansbury, and asked him how he was going to vote, but Stansbury said he should not vote at all un less he were paid for it. On the Monday following the election, an elector named Roberts was paid 31. los. by Mr. HaWkridge, one of Mr. Strutt's most influential committeemen. On the same day he received instruc tions from the same gentleman to give notice to the freemen that the money would be paid on the following day. He gave the notice accordingly; and on Mon. day following the election the freemen waited upon Mr. Whittaker, another committeeman, who paid them in turn, taking the money from a bag lying by his side. He paid Clark, the voter already mentioned, 255. A number of 101. householders also received 255. at the seine time, and witness believed upwards of 200 electors were paid in the tame way. Most of the free men were old and poor, residing in almshouses, and this system of placing them on fictitious committees had long prevailed at Derby. The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till eleven o'clock to-morrow. THE SUN, _LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH( 21, 1846. him a question of some importance to Scotland. The House, no doubt, was aware that, formerly, the state of the law was such as to render it necessary that all professors of Scotch univer sities should be members of the Established Church, but that state of things had been in abeyance for many years, but of late it had been held necessary that all professors should be members of the Estab lished Church of Scotland. He wished, therefore, to ask the Noble and Learned Lord whether it was his intention to re-introduce his _ Bill for putting an end to this anomaly ? The LORD ADVOCATE said it was whenever the state of public business would admit of his doing so. REDUCTION OF TAXATION. Mr. HUME said, a few days ago, when the Noble Lord at the head of the Government was not in his place, he brought under the consideration of the House a motion relative to the reduction of the salaries of public officers. He wished now to ask the Noble Lord, with a view of avoiding the necessity of reviving that motion, whether Government had come to any determination that the future appointments of all public officers should be subjected to any revision or reduction Parliament might think proper to make in the salaries ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he had no hesita tion in assuring the Hon. Gentlem an th a t an y appoint ment Government might in future make, provided they could do so with justice and consistency, would be subjected to an y a lt era ti on o r reduction Parliament might think fit to make in the salaries.—(Loud cheers.) ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—§i7, - in rising to make the motion I am about to put into your hands, I am sure the House will not require any argument in its favour on my part, for the proverbial loyalty and attachment which exists in the House and the country towards the Throne convinces me that the House will at once acquiesce in any motion for congratulating her Majesty on an event of peculiar interest to her self. The strict accordance with the constitution which her Majesty has always shown in her political conduct, and the bright example which she has given to her people by pursuing a virtuous and unblemished life, will, I am sure, prove a sufficient iniucement to this House to pass the resolution, and the country to re echo its sentiment, and therefore, without further detain ing the House, I beg leave to move that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, congratulating her Majesty on the birth of a Princess.—(Loud cheers.) Sir H. PEEL—Sir, on former occasions, while holding office under the Crown, I have had the honour of proposing addresses of a similar nature to that which the Noble Lord has just proposed, and I have great pleasure in seconding the address which be has submitted for the consideration of the House. —(Loud cheers.) I cordially join with him, and I am sure, in doing so, I express the unanimous feel ing of the House—(Cheers) —in wishing a long and a happy reign to her Majesty, and that her lineal descendants, he hoped, might long occupy the throne of these realms.—(Cheers.) Every one in this House, I am sure, feels, and I think the country sympathises with the conviction, that while her Majesty has evinced an earnest zeal to promote the best interests of her people, and secure to them the rights of the constitution in a political sense, she has, at the same time, set them a brilliant example by always pursuing a virtuous and upright course in domestic life.—(Cheers.) The address was then agreed to. WAYS AND MEANS—REPORT. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER moved the order of the day for receiving the report of the Committee of Ways and Means. Viscount DUNCAN inquired if his Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer intended to oppose the motion he had on the paper, for the appoint ment of a Committee to inquire into the expenditure and management of the Woods and Forests, and othet revenues of the Crown. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER re plied that he did not intend to assent to the motion, as he believed the House had ample means of judging of the way in which the department referred to was managed. The SPEAKER having put the motion that the report be received, Mr. M'GREGOR then rose to propose the fol lowing motion, of which he had given no.ice : " That in the event of this House agreeing to the re imposing of the income-tax for three years, it is just and expedient to extend to Ireland, during the two years ending the sth day of April, 1851, the same rates of income-tax, excise duties, window duties, and other assessed taxes, which shall be at the same time levied in Great Britain." Mr. GOULBURN interrupted the Hon. Member by stating that the motion could not be made in the way be proposed it—it was uttorly impossible, accord ing to the rules of the House, to impose a tax except in a Committee of the whole House.—(Hear, hear.) He begged, therefore, to suggest to him the propriety of withdrawing his motion. He interrupted him as believed he would thus be saved the trouble of en tering into a long discussion on the subject. Mr. M'GREGOR acceded to the suggestion, and withdrew his motion. Mr. BERNAL then brought up the report. Mr. HUAIE said, after the distinct manner in which the House had assented to the imposition of the tax for another three years, it was not his inten tion to offer any further opposition to it ; he begged merely to suggest that before the Bill was passed, a Committee should be appointed to consider the best means of removing some of the anomalies shown to exist in its former working. GLIS was understood to agree with the Hon. Member. Mr. SLANEY said, as one of those who voted with her Majesty's Government, he wished to press upon the Government the absolute necessity of makin g some improve ment in the way in which the tax was imposed. He trusted, therefore, her Majesty's Government would "give ear" to the statement of the Hon. Member for Montrose, and, after due deliberation, so improve the measure as to make it acceptable to the great body of her Majesty's subjects. He believed the tax to be just in principle, as the rich were compelled to pay their full share, whilst the humbler classes perceived clearly that this was so, and that they were free from it on account of their position in life. He trusted that nothing would be left undone to remove the anomalies complained of. Sir DE LACY EVANS was of the same opinion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he could assure the House that her Majesty's Government has not been indifferent to the subject, and that their attention had been turned to the modi fication of the income-tax. Ile would not say that in some of the suggestions which had been made for that purpose, there was not something plausible at first sight, but her Majesty's Government had found that the more the object had been inquired into the less they felt able to devise any plan in which the injustice would not be still more gross and apparent than by the system at present established. All he could say was, that any plan which might be suggested would receive his most attentive consideration. At present he had come to the conclusion that no propositions had as yet been made which did not, when examined in detail, appear more objectionable than that which had invariably been adopted at all times and in all countries where an income-tax had existed.—(Hear, hear.) Dr. BO WRING thought that the Right Hon. Baronet had not answered the question of his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume). He had stated that no plan had as yet been suggested which was preferable to the present mode. He (Dr. Bowring) was, however, of opinion that, unless some great modifications of the plan were introduced, it would be impossible to collect the tax without such an amount of resistance—(Cries of "Oh, oh!") — as would prove very annoying to the Government. Ile thought that the request of his Hon. Friend was a very reasonable one, and one which ought to be acceded to. Jt would show, at all events, some desire on the part of the Government to defer to the wishes of the great majority of the people out of doors if a Committee were appointed to inquire whether some modifications could not be introduced. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he did not understand that the Hon. Member for Montrose had put way question to him upon the subject; he had •nly given notice of his intention upon some future day of bringing forward a motion on the subject. Mr. COBDEN felt bound to say one word at least upon a question of matter of fact; he understood the Right Hon. Baronet, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer to say with considerable emphasis, at the close of his first remarks, that the income-tax was levied in this country in the same manner as in all other countries. Now, a remark had been made by the Hon. Member for Glasgow (Mr. M‘Gregor) upon a former occasion, which was well founded, to the effect that in no other country in the world was there any income-tax at all. There were pro perty-taxes levied to a heavy amount in France and other places—(Hear, hear) —but in no civilised country in the world was there any instance of a tax being levied upon property. This was a fact that should be borne in mind, because the Right lion. Baronet the Chancellor of the Exchequer had stated that the tax was levied in the same mode in this country as in others.—(Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that he had made his statement upon the authority of the Hon. Member himself, who had stated that in South Carolina, in the United States, for the purposes of the State, an income-tax was levied upon profits resulting from trades and profes sions. —(Loud cheers.) Mr. HORSMAN said that it appeared to him that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was at direct issue with the public at large on the subject of the impos sibility of modifying the inequalities of the income tax. He certainly thought that it would be paying a most judicions deference to the wishes of the public if the subject were referred to a Committee. Mr. DPGREGOR concurred with his Right Hon. Friend:the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the statement he had made, that there was a great difficulty with respect to making a distinction -between different species of income ; but he thought that some difference ought to be made. It was not his intention to offer any further factious opposition to the adoption of the report. Mr. TREL AWN Y said he had given his vote on the subject after full consideration, although it had not met with the approbation of his constituents. Lord JOHN RUSSELL would not now discuss the question of the propriety of referring the subject to a Select Committee, but he felt bound to say, after what had been stated by his Hon. Friend the Member for Cockermouth, that the disapprobation of the public was universal against the tax as at present proposed, that he felt no doubt that the approbation of the public to the Hon. Mem ber for Cockermouth's proposition would not be universal.—(hear, hear.) He thought that those who were to be taxed Vd. instead of 7d. would cry out most loudly against it. Mr. S. CRAW FORD thought it his duty, on the part of hie constituents, to protest against the con tinuance of the tax. The report was then agreed to, and leave was given to bring in a Bill founded upon it. Lord DUNCAN then repeated the question he had asked of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with respect to the expenses of the Woods and Forests. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the subject was under the consideration of a Committee, and until they had made their report, he could give no other answer than he had done. After a few words from Dr. BOWRING, •The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was useless to overwhelm the Committee with more subjects than it could conveniently decide upon. Lord DUNCAN said the subject he proposed to submit to the Committee was an exceedingly simple one, but in order to save the time of the House he would give notice that, on Friday next, on going into Committee of Supply, he would make a motion for a Committee on the subject. The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Supply; Mr. Bernal in the chair. NAVY ESTIMATES. Mr. WARD, in rising to bring under the consi deration of the Committee, the naval policy which he considered was the peculiar province of the Crown and Parliament to pursue, trusted he should have the indul gence of the Committee for a few minutes, while he de tailed the number of men that would be necessary for the service of 1848.49. He could not separate from this point the whole naval policy of the coun try, because in the question of the number of men to be voted for the year was involved the whole subject of the navy estimates. He hoped they would not grudge the means that were necessary to place the navy in an efficient state. What some Honourable Members called an extravagant expenditure, he called a necessary and just one, and before he concluded he should show that this was so. He admitted that much of the moneys voted might have been better spent, if those entrusted with its expenditure had had more time to consider how this might be done. If the service was reduced some thousands it could not fail to be impaired. The number of marines had been constantly varying; but so satisfied was the House of the necessity of keeping up the proper number, that no division of the House had taken place on the subject during the last 20 years.—(Bear, hear.) The number had been always varying, and yet, although Parliament and the country had always demurred to this increasing expenditure, yet there had been no division on the number. He found that the lowest vote ever taken was for 19,000 men, in 1817. In 1819 that number was raised to 20,000 ; and in 1823 to 25,000, without any apparent necessity for the increase, In 1824 it was 29,000; in 1825, 30,000; and from 182 G to 1830 it was 27,000. In 1835 it was 26,000; and in 1836.7, 33,000; in 1837-8, 34,000; in 1840-1, 39,000; and in 1841-2, 43,000, the same as this year. He might perhaps be told there was always some political cause to be assigned for the increase being granted without a division ; such as the war in Syria or China, or that some disturbance of the peace of Europe was threatened, and that when peace was restored a re duction took place. In 1843-4 the force was 39,000 men, which in 1844-5 was reduced to 36,000 men. The force of 86,000 men was then taken as the standard of the proper peace establishment by the Right lion. Baronet (Sir J. Graham), although it exceeded by 10,000 men the standard of 1835. A single year's experience, however, was enough to prove the insuf ficiency of his vote, and in 1845.6, having reduced the force to 36,000 men, the Government increased it to 40,000 men in a time of profound peace. In 1846 a further addition of 1,500 marines was made, which was followed by a further increase of 1,500 marines in the present estimates, making the number of sea men and marines included in the present vote. Why had there been this constant increase in the naval estimates as proposed by successive Governments ? There was no abstract love of taxation in the country, but there had been a feeling that the increase did not depend upon ourselves ; that one power could not stand still while others progressed. Of all posi tions the most perilous for a country like this was, that she should have the reputation abroad of being at once wealthy and weak, that her commerce should be spreading over every sea, that her ports should be the depots of the world's produce, and yet that she should have no military or internal organisation for her defence. —(Hear.) He should perhaps be told how free trade would bind all the nations of the world together. That might be very well 100 years hence, but where was the country with which we had such relations at present as to justify the absence of all power of self defence ?—(lronical cheers from the Protectionist benches.) Where could the Hon. Member for the IVest Riding (Mr. Cobden) point to a foreign eoun try with which we were connected by such intimate commercial ties as to justify a reduction in the naval expenditure of this country?—(hear, hear.) they were told again they must look to the spread of de mocratic institutions for the preservation of peace. But if they looked to the past they found that the most democratic states had been sometimes the most ambitious and the most warlike.—(Hear, hear.) The Republics of Carthage and Rome might vie with the most despotic Governments in the wars they had carried cn, and if they looked to later times they would find the principle called "annexation " in full force.—(Bear, hear.) They were old enough to recollect the annexation of Texas ; and the war between the United States and Mexico did not inspire him with faith in the morality or peacefulness of the purest democracies.—(Cheers.) Man was man, in whatever country he was placed; and the only safety on which it was prudent for a nation to rely was upon her own resources for her self-defence, and not to trust to Utopian theories about the mutual dependence of nations.—(llear, hear.) That principle of trusting to herself alone for her own defence had been the principle adopted by all the successive Governments of this country, and it was a good, wholesome, practical principle, worth a bushel of theories. Lord Hatherton, who was a member of the Finance Committee of 1817, wrote the other,day to remind him that when Lord Castle• reagh was examined before that Committee, and asked what had been the policy of this country with regard to the defences, he said that " our policy had been to keep up a navy equal to any two navies be longing to other powers that could he brought against us." The Finance Committee of 1817 reported upon this subject : "Esteeming the naval superiority of this country as the principle on which its external power, internal safety, , Ind general prosperity, in the highest d eg r ee d e p en d, your Committee aro of opinion that the sense which they entertain of the necessity for economy, cannot, with a duo regard to the interest of the State, be allowed to in terfere with the support of such a maritime force as may be deemed necessary in time of peace—(" Hear, hear," from Mr. Hume)—nor with the preparations for its :adequate augmentation in the event of war. And as naval expenditure' in time of peace is principally connected with the purchase and preparation of materials for future exigency, there is no part of the public service in which an ill-judged temporary economy might bo ultimately productive of such considerable expense." That was wise and wholesome advice, but it had re ference to a state of the world totally different from what they saw now. The next great great epoch connected with the naval expenditure was in 1844, when the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) was in power, whose foreign policy inspired the Hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Hume) with perfect faith in the preservation of peace. lie believed there never were two men more desirous of preserving the peace of the world than the Right lion. Baronet and Lord Aberdeen. Their measures for securing that object were - crowned . with perfect success, yet they Ad opted as the basis of their policy a large increase in the means of national self-defence. The Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Ripon (Sir J. Graham), the great naval economist of 1834, concurred in all these measures, for which he was as much responsible as for the estimates of 1834, and the force of forty thousand men was established as the proper peace establishment of 1845. The Right Hon. Baronet (Sir James Graham) also concurred in a supplementary estimate of 185,0001., which was passed under the sanction of the Lords of the Tree ,.ury for preparations connected with the steant navy for that year. The three individuals to whom he had referred, men of great sagacity and public experience, had, in 1844, declared to be necessary every item of naval expenditure which Honourable Members behind him (Mr. Ward) now complained of. A large in crease of all the items of the naval expenditure took place during the administration of the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamwortb. The vote fur men in 1834 was 958,7611.; in 1845 it was AYLESBURY. (Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.) The Rev. Mr. Owen was called to prove that he neither directly nor indirectly gave orders for treating the electors. It was title he addressed a meeting of the electors against the Maynooth grant, where the parties present had some refreshment, but whose expense it was at he really could not say. Mr. Bull, however, and several of the Duke of Buckingham's tenants,.were at the meeting, and no doubt that gentle man could explain where. the refreshments came from. lie most positively denied that he Wok any voters to poll while in a state of intoxication, nor did he ever attempt to influence any of the electors of Aylesbury to control their votes except in the way of speaking publicly against the Maynooth grant. But he was not singular ►n that •teSpect, for there was a Radical baker at Ayles..' bury whO' also 'attended meetings of the electors and spoke against the maynooth grant. The t✓ommittee adjourned at four till eleven o'clock to•morrow. - DESTRUCTIVE' FIRE PIM LIC O —Lt between the hour s of eig ht and ni tia fire, a s ni ght, between t te nde d with considerable destruction o f pr the premises occupied by tr property, broke out in Grainger, pianoforte m anufacturer, carrying on business a Basin-road, Pimlico. The flames when first No. 4, West perceived had gained a firm hold of one of the workshops, filled with veneers, and goo d s partially finished. Owing to their highly inflamm able character, the fire spread with amazing rapidity, so that in the course of a few minutes the building became wrapped in one sheet of flame. Information having been dispatched to the proper quarters for assistance, with as little delay as possible the engine belong ing to Lord Robert Grosvenor's estate , arrived, f o lowed by another from Messrs. Itebinsons, the engineers, with six or eight belonging to the London brigade, and those of the West of England and County companies. There was an abun dance of water, but the flames continued to progress, and it was not until ten o'clock that the conflagration could be entirely extinguished, and not until property of the value of several hundred pounds was reduced to ashes. The origin of the fire could not be correctly as certained. Tho loss will fall on the Sun and County Fire offices. LARGE HADDocKs.---Sotne of the largest haddocks ever seen in the north of England have been caught this week on the Northumberland coast. Seven of them weighed 54ilbs., and they were nearly of an equal size. The largest weighed Silbs., and was 25i inches long. - - • IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 20. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack shortly before Five o'clock. Viscount HARDZNGJ took the oaths and his seat. The Noble Viscount was introduced by Viscount Combermere and Viscount Beresford. The Bishop of LICHFIELD took the oaths and his seat. _ . . --- Messengers from the Commons brought up certain Bills, which were read a first time. PREVENTION OF MULTIPLICITY OF ACTIONS. Lord CAMPBELL, at the request of his Learned Friend Lord Denman, brought in a Bill to prevent the multiplication of actions at law. The NOBLE LORD also presented several petitions complaining of the frauds committed by married women passing themselves off as single women, and contracting debts; and also petitions complaining of persons contracting debts in England and then going abroad to reside. ADDRESS OF CONGRATULATION TO HER MAJESTY ON TIIE BIRTH OF ANOTHEIt PRINCESS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose to move that an address of congratulation be presented to her Majesty on the birth of another Princess. At all times the House was happy to approach her Majesty to express their feelings of loyalty and attachment to her throne, but more particularly at the present moment would their Lordships rejoice to have the opportunity of expressing their sympathy and their joy at the occurrence of any event which shall add to her Majesty's domestic happiness. He concluded by moving that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, expessing the satisfaction that their Lord ships felt at the birth of a Princess, and at the lively satisfaction which was experienced by their Lord ships at the occurrence of any event which would add to the domestic happiness of her Majesty. The motion having been put by the LORD CHANCELLOR, was agreed to nensine contradieente. PETITIONS. Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from seve ral schoolmasters of Scotland, praying for an amelio ration of their situations. Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from cer tain members of an Odd Fellows' Society, praying that their society might be placed upon the same foot ing as other friendly societies. If the Government would not undertake to introduce any measure on this subject he would himself introduce a Bill to legalize these societies. On Thursday he would ask his Noble Friend if he intended to introduce any measure on this subject. NEW BISHOPS. Lord STANLEY gave notice that, on Thursday next, he should ask the Noble Marquis what were the intentions of the Government as to any increase of the number of bishops ? Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Match 20. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour. THE BEWDLEY ELECTION. Mr. WRIGHTSON brought up the report of this Committee, which stated that Mr. T. J. Ireland was not duly elected to serve in the present Parliament. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills were read a second time : Aberdare Railway Act Amendment (Lease of Line and Works to the Taff Railway Company). Cornwall Railway (Powers for the Great Western Railway Company, and other Companies, to in crease their Subscriptions). Great Western of Bengal Railway Company Disso lution, and Transfer of Capital to East Indian Rail way Company. Leisbman's Estate (Govan Glebe Feuing). Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway. North British Railway—No. 1 (Increase and Division of Capital). North British Railway—No. 2 (Junction with Leith Branch of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, &c.) North and South Western Railway (Harrow to Brentford). Royston and Hitchin Railway (Extension to Cam bridge and Branches). Waterford Wexford , Wicklow , and Dublin Railway. SELLING GAME. Colonel SIBTHORP presented a petition from Lincoln, complaining of the unlicensed sale of game, and praying for a remedy. ROME. An HON. MEMBER presented petitions from places in Somersetshire against diplomatic relations with Rome. _ _ _ Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Cavan, Mr. Law, and Mr. Goring presented petitions to the same effect. NAVIGATION LAWS. An Host. MEMBER presented a petition against the repeal of these laws. SANITARY REFORM. Mr. C. L USHINGTON presented a petition for a comprehensive Bill of Sanitary Reform. CASUAL POOR. Mr. PEARSON presented a petition, signed by 515 individuals, complaining of the treatment of casual poor in union workhouses. DIOCESAN COURT, MANCHESTER. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the Mayor and inhabitants of Manchester, praying the House not to sanction the proposed Court. THE DEFENCES OF THE COUNTRY. The Hos. MEatusz also presented a petition from the Unitarians of Manchester against any increase of the military. Mr. THORNE LY presented a petition from Haver fordwest to the same effect, and praying for a reduc tion of the expenditure of the country. TESTS (SCOTLAND). Mr. COWAN presented a petition from Elgin praying for the abolition of the tests applied to the schoolmasters of Scotland. SUNDAY TRADING. _ _ _ The How. MEMBER presented a petition from the congregation of the National Scotch Church, Regent square, praying for the adoption of measures to sup press Sunday trading. THE TEA. DUTIES. Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from the Liverpool Society for the:Abolition of the Tea Duties, praying that the duty of 2d. upon every 3d. expended by the industrious classes in tea might be either re duced or abolished, in order to place it within the reach of all, many millions of the people being pre vented from using it in consequence of its high price. DUNDALK ELECTION. Lord H. VANE brought up the report of this Committee, which stated that Mr. Charles Carroll M'Tavish had not been duly elected to serve in the present Parliament for the borough of Dundalk, and that William Torrens M'Cullagh was duly elected, and ought to have been returned. LAMBETH WATERWORKS. Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY moved that it be an instruction to the Committee on the Lambeth Water works Bill to entertain the petition of the minister, churchwardens, overseers, and inhabitants of the parish of St. Olave ' Southwark (presented against the Bill an the 17th instant), although such petition was not presented within seven clear days after the second reading of such Bill.—Agreed to. LANDLORD AND TENANT BILL. Mr. SADLEIR wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to proceed with their Landlord and Tenant Bill, or to defer the further proceedings upon it until after the Easter recess ? Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the Bill stood for a second reading on Monday next, and until that day arrived he could not state with certainty what course the Government intended to pursue with respeCt to that measure. RAIL WAY COMMISSION. Mr. BANKES gave notice of his intention, on the 28th inst., to bring under the consideration of the House the- constitution of the Railway Commission, with a view to the reduction of the public expendi ture. SLAVE TRADE. Mr. BAILEY gave notice of his intention on Friday next, or any other day, on which the House should be moved to go into a Committee, to move an address to her Majesty, that she would be graciously pleased to give orders that negotiations should be entered into with foreign Powers, for the purpose of relievink 'this country from the expenses of keeping up a squadron in the African seas for the suppression of the slave trade. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Lord DUNCAN gave notice of his intention to morrow• to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Woods and Forests whether he had any objection to state to the House the names of the Commissioners for the building of the new Houses of Parliament, and the instructions given to them. INJURY TO PROPERTY BY RIOTOUS ASSEMBLIES. Sir W. CLAY, pursuant to notice, asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in consequence of the explanation recently given by the Attorney-General on the state of the law as to remedies against the hundred or county for injury done to property by riotous assemblies, it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to in troduce any measure for the amendment of the law in that particular. Sir GEORGE GREY said that, without enter ing into the legal question, he would state to the House that he had been advised no declaratory Act was necessary ; and that the law, according to the construction put upon it by the courts of law, was perfectly clear. Sir W. CLAY then gave notice of his intention, after Easter, to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law. SCOTCH UNIVERSITIES. Mr. COWAN, seeing the Right Honourable the Lord Advocate in his place, wished to ask 1,328,0531. The vote for yard wages in 1834 was ! 348,0121.; in 1845 it %%as 649 , 1041. '1 he vote for stores in 1834 was 499,190/. ; in 1845 it was 1,273,7891., with a supplementary estimate of 185,000/., making nearly 1,500,0001. in all. In 1846-47 the vote was taken for nearly the same amount -1,694,1521. This expenditure was adopted by the Government from no thirst for war, no desire fir in creased patronage; and it met with no opposition in that House. Was it not unjust, then, to attack the present Government for the amount of this expendi ture, just because it required a little moral courage on the part of Hon. Members to tell the truth to their constituents ?—(llear, hear.) In 1834 there was a consumption of 11,551 loads of timber in the dock yards ; in 1845, 27,136 loads. In 1834 the cons gumption of hemp was 3,898 tons ; in 1845' it was 6,063 tons. The consumption of copper was 601 tons in 1834, and 1,158 tons in 1845 ; of iron, 864 tons in 1834, and 2,897 tons in 1445. An overruling necessity compelled the Government of that day to take these steps. The Hon. Baronet the Member for Southwark (Sir IV. Molesvvorth) congratulated the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Graham) on the mode rate amount of his naval estimates of 1834; but he forgot that the last estimates of the Government of which the Right Hon. Baronet was a member, and for which he was just as much responsible as for those of 1834, were the largest that this country had ever known. The Right Hon. Baronet - and the then Ad ministration saw steam navies growing up around them in France, Russia, and the United States. They saw a new element of warfare, with which sailing vessels were alone unfit to cope, and they saw that changes were indispensable. What others did, we must do also, and if we left our pace we must leave our superiority also.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Baronet (Sir IV. Molesworth) said the increase was totally uncalled for. The United States' ships were meeting us in the Mediterranean, in China, and everywhere; yet the United States were said to have a small navy, and one unable to cope with us. The Hon. Baronet forgot that Great Britain was a great colonial and commercial empire; and, although there might be " new lights" upon these points, yet the House appeared to adopt the views of his Noble. Friend (Lord John Russell), and consider our colonies an important part of our commercial strength and national pre-eminence.—(Hear, hear.) The case was different with the United States, who had no such extended colonial empire. The extent of our colonial possessions was the cause of the mul tiplicity of our stations in different parts of the world, and was the reason why we were forced to keep up such an amount of naval strength as would enable us to come into contact with the fleets of other nations which we might meet there. In 1846 there was a dispute between this country and the United States; and, until it was settled, it was necessary to keep up the amount of our naval force. Another reason for the increase in the naval estimates was the false eco • nosily R hich it was felt had been for a series of years adopted, of not obtaining a sufficient amount of stores to replace the consumption in the dockyards—of living upon their capital, in fact, and so draw ing upon the stock of timber, hemp, and other important arti cles of naval stores, that if an aggressive attack had been made we should not have been in a position to resist it. What had been the reduction of some of the principal articles of expenditure when this great economy was practised? In 1832 there were 64,023 loads of shipbuilding timber in store in the dockyards, which, in 1839, was reduced to 46,295 loads. In 1832 there were 7,527 tons of hemp, which were reduced to 4,673 tons in 1339. In 1832 there were 36,041 bolls of canvass, and only 17,427 bolts in 1839. In 1832 there were 101 sets of fitted rigging, which were reduced to 36 sets in 1839. The stores of sails, yarn, cables and cordage, and lower masts were reduced in the same way, by not making purchases each year to the full extent of what had been need. The plan followed during those years had been rightly described as " a spurious and bastard economy," and could not be permanently adopted. It might do very well to eke out the estimates of a particu lar year; but no wiser act was done by the Administra tion of the Right Hon. Baronet than the immense addi tions to our naval stores made by the late Government. Was that system to be lightly altered ? The present Government might have claimed credit and sought popu larity by abusing the naval estimates of their predeces sors as extravagant. But such a course would have been as unwise as it was unworthy; it would have been attended with ruinous consequences, and the country would hare been deprived of the benefit of all the very considerable outlay that had been made. There had been a large expenditure in all the principal dockyards at Woolwich, Chatham, and Portsmouth, and this money would have been thrown into the sea if the works had been stopped. The present Government determined to complete what their predecessors in office had begun, and to carry on those works with vigour fur another year, when they expected to reap the legitimate fruits of that expenditure, so as to be able to make a reduction in the estimates of 1849-50. He would take the largest vote of this year, 686,6001 for new works. A part of this increase was apparent, and not real, as some items having been charged under this head heretofore in cluded under others, but it was, ho admitted a lary item. Now, ho thought he could und-rtake to come to the House in 1849.50 for a vote of 473,0001., being a saving of 214,000/ in this item. When the Government pro posed an increase of the income-tax they intended to have pushed on these new works, the execution of which must now be spread over a larger number of years. He thought it would have been better economy to have finished the works at once, but the House had expressed its opinion against the increase of the income-tax, and to their opinion the Government must bow. The works at Woolwich and Chatham had been finished, and the works at Portsmouth, for which the Government took a large vote, would be completed next year. At Malta the Government had spread the expenditure over two years, instead of completing the works at once. But the item for new works would, he hoped, he reduced by 214,000/. next year, and afterwards by 60,0001. or 70,0001, until 1854, when the whole of the works begun by their pre decessors would be completed, and the expenditure would be reduced to 120,000/. or 150,0001., the mere cost of superintendence. The next item was steam machinery, one upon which there had been an im mense expenditure during the last ten years. The vote for the current year was 280,0001.; but he hoped that the vote which the Government would be able to propose for 1849 and 1850 would be only 100,0001. Not that the present amount was too large, for there were some contracts yet to be fulfilled, and machinery to be paid for; but the effect of this expenditure would be, that on the Ist of April, 1849, this country would have a steam navy of 45,000 horse power, and the naval force at the beginning of that veer would be 450 ships of dif ferent rates and classes, including 121 steamers With out pretending positively to fix the relation which the number of sailing and steam-vessels ought to bear towards each other, or that the force he had named was the proper and efficient force for the country, und er a ll circumstances, he was warranted in saying that there was a probability of a considerable reduction in the building establishments and stores after the programme for the ensuing year had been car ried out. The article of such machinery as saw-mills, &c., was very costly, and the public had a right to expect a corresponding reduction of the manual labour employed, but the Government were anxious to make such reduction in a way that should not fall heavily on the men employed in the yards. The Govern ment did not desire to swell the amount of unemployed labour, and he wished to meet the necessity for some reduction by limiting the number of apprentices to be taken, and similar precautions, rather than by having recourse to dismissals. H e had put together with great care the probable results which ho could hold out for the estimates of 1849 and 1850, and he would state them to the House; observing that he made the statement with the approbation of Lord Auckland and other mem bers of the Admiralty Board. In the new works (No. 11) there would be a saving of 214,643/. In the steam machinery (No. 10) a saving of 180,000/. ; in iron steamers, the contracts for which were complete, 25,0001 ; in ships building at Bombay, where the Government intended to discontinue the establish ment, 25,000/. ; in steam guard ships, the contracts for which were complete, 8,500/. ; and in a schooner for Bermuda, built by contract, 3,710/. ; making altogether, 456,8531. If to that sum be added the reductions under Nos. 8 and 10 for labour and stores, amounting to 150,0001., it would give a total saving upon the naval estimates for 1849-and 1850 of 606,853/. In this anticipated saving, however, an ample margin was left for all the important heads of naval expendi ture ; for there would be 100,000/. for new steam ma chinery, 135,000/ for repairs and factory wages, 473,000/ for new works, and 1,747,0151. for dockyard wages and stores. With these reductions, it was thought possible to combine a navy in a most thoroughly efficient state, and, provided that object was secured, the country had a right to expect a return for its enormous outlay during the last six years. The outlay on steam ma chinery since 1835 had been 2,689,000/. ; for iron steam-vessels, 503,7981 ; for stores, since, 1844, without steam machinery, 4,444,9381. ; and for works, also without steam machinery, 2 794 742/ , , .; making a total outlay of 10 ,432,4781. upon those four items up to the close of the year.—(Hear, hear.) Surely, after such an expenditure as that, the time had arrived when a return was to be looked for and he thought the House would be of opinion that, by persevering in the course he had stated, the Government had succeeded in placing those great establishments, upon which the security i 1 the country so much de pended, in a most efficient and available condition. About the beginning of the year England would have a steam navy of nearly 50,000 horse-power, while in 1835 she had 4,153 horse-power. Those two groat establishments at Portsmouth and Woolwich were in a perfectly effi cient state for undertaking all steam repairs. At Ports mouth, although it was not the intention of the present board to proceed with those larger plans which had been proposed by their predecessors, yet the whole space marked out had been surrounded by a sea wall, and was available at any future time, should it be required. The great steam-basin at : Portsmouth was one of the most magnificent works of modern times—(Hear, hear)—and it would open during the ensuing month. The works at Malta would be complete in the course of next year, and Bermuda, after twenty years of neglect, was now likely to become a station worthy of a great naval power. When these facts were taken into account, and when it was remembered that these works had been effected under a system begun in 1844, and perse vered in up to the present time, it, might be safely asserted that the naval establishments of the country had never been in a more efficient state, and that England was never in a better position to preserve peace in Europe, because she hid never been in a position in which s he would be more formidsble is war. --(Hear.) It now rested with the House of Commons to decide wh• ther they would b • wiging, upon the proposition of: , his Hon. Friend behind him—whatever that preposition might be—to cripple the resources of the country, .to undo all that had been done during the last ten years, and to break up a system whi9h had been created and carried out with so much labour and at so much expense; or whether they would sanction the continuance of that • system, and vote for the maintenance of these establish ments in a state worthy of the country ? Some singular observations had been put forth lately as to the service, of our naval officers on the different stations. An Hon. Gentleman appeared to imagine that the life of the . English naval officer on a foreign station was a constant scene of pleasure and repose. Let the Hon. Gentle.. man, however, only look at the papers containing, the account of our ravy on those stations, and considelc., the plain truth of the case, and the Facts would socrtleOr the colouring with which the poetical imeginition of the Honourable Gentleman had invested it. He would soon find that there was some work for the servants of a great maritime power like this, and that they had la little more to do than cultivating those passing ate joyments to which he had referred. Let the Honourable Gentleman ask the inhabitants of Palermo, or of Mese sine, or any other of those ports on the continent where British ships had lately been engaged in protecting their countrymen, whether they thought that a fleet is the Mediterranean was useless. If ever the naval power had been wisely, and economically, and usefully ad. ministered, it had been by Sir William Parker.-- (Hear, hear.) The squadron in the Pacific, consist ing of 12 ships, and 3,495 men, had operated in the midst of the disturbances in Spanish America to the protection of British merchants there. In the midst of such scenes, when were the British officers and men to find time for those luxuries of which the Honourable Member spoke? Look at the East Indies. A fleet had been stationed thereto protect our commerce; thus the whole of the East Indian Archipelago had been cleared from pirates, and a part of the same fleet had aided in the protection of our colonies in New Zealand. That squadron had been distinguished for acts of daring gal lantry, and it had discharged in a most exemplary man• ner the arduous duties entrusted to it.—(Hear, hear.) As to the fleet in the Tagus, which had been made the subject of some pointed remarks by the Hon. Gentle man, he (Mr. Ward) would venture to say that under Sir Charles Napier that squadron had been among the best naval schools that England had ever produced. —(Hear, hear.) There had never been a commander in-chief of more indefatigable spirit, who had exerted himself more to render those under his orders perfectly efficient in every branch of their calling, or who could place a finer and more able fleet before an enemy.—(Cheers.) He (Mr. Ward) wet sensible that he had developed these matters to the House very imperfectly, but it would be for them now to decide whether they would give way to the economical sugges tions, and act without regard either to the past or the future, but with reference to the present hour alone. For his own part he believed that those very constituencies who had been loudest in demanding economy would be the first to reprehend their representatives for abandon ing that system under which the establishments had bee* raised to their present state of efficiency.—.(Hear, hear.) He, for one, would sooner abandon his position than consent to forego these great results the moment they were obtained.—(Hear.) Now members, new to that House, and new to the subject of the outlay necessary for this great arm of our strength, might argue for re trenchment, but he confessed he had been astounded at the language held upon this subject from some Mem bers of older experience, and at the policy they had commended.—(Hear, hear.) It appeared to him it would be the height of impolicy to forego the results of the policy of the last ten years. England had now a posi tion which was the best, and only practical security for the peace of the world—the power to defend herself against aggression, let it come from whatever quarter it . might. He recommended Hon. Members, however. seducing these economical views might be, to pause before they resolved upon voting with the Hon. Member to cripple those resources which had lately been created. He relied upon their judgment with perfect confidence, when the matter was fairly brought to the test, and he_ • should fearlessly abide the result. The CHAIRMAN was about to put the question, " That a sum not exceeding 593,0001. be granted," when he was interrupted by Mr. HUME, who objected to the question being put. It had been understood that no money was to be voted until the Committee had reported. He had no eiljeetion to a vote being taken for the number of men, in order that the Government might bring in the Mutiny Bill, but he did object to voting money, as it would be, in fact, a breach of faith. Mr. WARD stlid that he did not propose to take more than that vote on account, but he did not know of any oiler way in which the number of men could be brought before the Committee than by voting a part of the sum required. The number of men was a question of prerogative. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that in the case of the navy there was no distinct and separate vote for the number of men, while in the case of the army the first vote in the estimates was for the num ber, and the way proposed was the only one that could be adopted. Mr. HUME wanted to know, then, how he was to eff ct his object of reduction ? He did not care about the form. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The usual form was to mo►e for a reduction in the amount of money. Mr: GLADSTONE said, that the Hon. Gentleman had treated this as a question of prerogative, inferring that all that the House of Commons had to do was to vote the money, without reference to the number of men. But how did that apply in the case of the army, when, as the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer had said, the practice was to vote the number of men as well as the money ? He found in the journals of the Jut year, 1847, page 181, that Mr. Greene reported. that the Committee of Supply had passed several resolutions, the first being that a sum not exceeding 185,000/. be granted to defray the expenses, &c.; and the second re solution being that 31,500 men be employed in the sea service for 13 lunar months, to the 31st day of March, 1848; and the third resolution being that a sum not exceeding 1,323,0001. be granted for wages of seamen. If this were a specimen of the practice of the House, it appeared that there had been a separate resolution for the number of men, and that it had been submitted to the House before the vote for the wages of those. sea . - men. Some explanation should be given of this, for it appeared but reasonable that the House should have the opportunity of discussing the number of men as well as the amount of money to be voted. Sir J. GRAHAM had not had time since the speech of the Hon. Gentleman to refer to the estimates of former years in the library, but, unless his memory failed, the practice had bean that before the vote which the Chairman had been about to put with respect to the means of paying the officers and men, there had always been an enumeration of the number of seamen; boys, and marines to be voted, signed by the responsible ad visers of the Crown.-- (Hear, hear.) He was surprised when he saw that the usual form had been deviated from in the estimates for the present year, and that the number of men required had been only printed -in very small letters. Mr. Bernal would, no doubt, be able to inform the Committee whether the estimates were not this year printed in a form different to that of preceding years. - Mr. HUME said he wanted to raise the question of the number of men, because the expenses of other departments depended upon it, and it was useless to inquire into those details if the Committee *fain were precluded from entering upon the question of the number of men. He begged to suggest that the-num ber of men be first taken, in conformity with all pre. ceding practice. After a few words from Mr. CORRY, Mr. WARD (who then handed a vote to the chairman with reference to the number of men) said that the mis take had originated entirely in an error on his part. He had prepared the proper resolution, but, by an over sight, the wrong one had been first proposed. The Earl of LINCOLN hoped the Secretary to the Admiralty and the Chancellor of the Exchequer would now withdraw the novel doctrine they had promulgated, that the number of men was determined by the preroga tive of the Crown.—(Laughter.) Mr. WARD—Oh yes, it was quite wrong. Mr. DISRAELI—Then what became of the ingenious argument of the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which, no doubt, had had such an effect upon the House?—(Renewed laughter.) Lord J. RUSSELL—His Right Hon. Friend was quite right in saying that there was a declaration every year in the Queen's Privy Council of the Crown having decreed a certain number of men for the navy. This was not the custom with the army estimates; and, in the case of the navy, of course a subsequent alteration might he made by the House. But, so far, the Crown possessed a prerogative, and, so far, the ex pl anat i on o f his Right Hon. Friend had been correct. Sir J. GRAHAM—The Queen in Council certainly did so decree; but, in consequence of that declaration, there had always been set forth, in the first vote of the House, under the name of the First Lord of the Admi ralty- and of the Board ,of Admiralty, the responsible advisers of the Crown, the precise number of men pro posed by the Government for the service; at d it *as always then open to any Member of the . House to suggest any reduction which might be thought ex pedient. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—It was quite true that the first vote put into the hands of the chairman related to the number of men, but-this never appeared, as the Right Hon. Baronet seemed to suppose, in the estimates. The Right Hon. Baronet was under a misapprehension in supposing that any document bearing the signature of the First Lord of the Admiralty was ever laid on the table of the House stat ing the number of men to be proposed. Sir J. GRAHAM—The first vote, he contended, was signed by the members of the Board of Admiralty; the vote now in the hands of the chairman was signed. The CdANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The vote was so signed, but there was no estimate of the number of men which was signed. Sir J. GRAllAM—Perhaps Mr. Bernal would tell the House what the vote now was. The CHAIRMAN—The vote was a substantive vote of 43,000 men, to be employed for the sea service. Mr. HUME observed that that was as it should be, for mistakes were made in the best regulated families. --(A laugh.) He telt it extremely difficult to grapple with his Hon. Friend the Secretary for the Admiralty, for he gloried in the expenditure for the past years, and said that the service required it. Now he knew of no state of things which demanded such an expenditure. Great events no doubt took place in ?ranee, and greater changes were taking place in Germany, but they would not affect them. All they cared for was the United States and France; but America, he believed, was net disposed for war, and as for France, a house, as they were, divided against itself, was not likely to become a dangerous foe. Now, what had occurred ia Yana?