The Sun. — London, England, 1848-03-14 00:00:00

4r% fr _1;1171' * t 0 —4,sed I- SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. ELECTION COMMITTEES. (THIS DAY.) HAR WICH. The HarwichElectlOn Committee re-assembled at the usual hour thin morning; Mr. Stuart Wortley in th© chair. Mr. AxnnEws having addressed the Committee at some length on behalf of the sitting Member, the room was cleared, and the Committee having consulted toge ther for a considerable time, strangers were re admitted, when The CRAIRMAN announced that the Committee had unanimously come to the following resolutions : "That John Attwood, Esq., is -not duly elected a Member to serve in Parliament for the borough of Harwich. " That the said John Attwood, Esq., was by his agents guilty of bribery. "That the last election for the borough of Harwich, BO far as regards the return of John Attwood, Esq., is a void election. " That it was proved to this Committee that Edward Joxley Was bribed to vote for John Attwood, Esq., by an advance of money to the amount of 411. and upwards, for the purpose of discharginc , a debt due from him and releasing his vessel, which ha d 6 been seized as a security kr such debt. But it was not prOved to this Committee that this bribery was committed with the knowledge or Cement of the said John Attwood, Esq 111 was proved to this Committee that John Harleck received 201., and James Knight received 161., under the pretenCe of loss of time, and damurrage in the detention of themselves and vessels during the election,: but it was not proved to the Com mittee that such sums.of money were paid to procure or influelice their votes for John Attwood, Esq. "That it was proved to . this Committee that there was treating to some extent at the late ele ction for Harwich, but it was not proved by whose order or authority it W 9.3 supplied." • This closed the labours of the Committee. AYLESBURY. The - Aylesbury Elebtion Committee re-assembled at the usual hour this morning, (Mr. Palmer in the chair,) when the evidence of treating was resumed. George Sheriff proved that during the last election he, and a number of other voters, were supplied with sup pers, dinners, and as much ale and porter, punch, brandy, and gin, as they chose to drink. These entertainments were given at the Chandos Arms, where • Mr. Bedford, an agent of the sitting Member, usually took - the chair. Oil one occasion Mr. Bedford told them that Mr: Deering bad determined to spend 10,000/. upon the election. The entertainments were given to them upon the understanding that they would support Mr. Deering;_ but he wes surprised to find that many of those who bad been eating and drinking at his expense. voted against him. . . William Friar, a shoe-maker, and elector of Ayles bury, gave similar evidence: Mrs. -Wheeler, of-the - White Lion, at Aylesbury, proved - that Mr. Deering's supporters had refreshments at her"2louse;•for which the bill amounted to 111. odd. The — Committee ddjourned at the usual huur till 11 o'clock to-morrow. I3EWDLEY. The Bewdley Election Committee met again this morning; Mr. Wrightscn in the chair. The whole of the day was taken up is ith general evi dence relating to treating-at Bewdley. The case as re gards-Bewdley was closed - , and to-morrow the case re specting Stamford will be' opened. The Committee adjourncd till to morrow. SOITTII,WESTERN RAILWAY. • (THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the shareholders of this company was this day held at the Nine Elms' Station, for th'e" purorso of haying submitted to them the drafts of several Bills intended to be presented by the company in the,present session of Parliament. Tne notice convening the meeting having been read, The Chairman, Mr. CHAPLIN, M.P., stated the objects of the meeting. Mr. HotsE wished to know whether any arrange ment- woul I be made in the Bills about to be introduced to secure to the company the services of gentlemen as directors, who held other property in the company be•• sides the guaranteed stock? Mr. 0 APLix said that no person could be a director who was not a holder of shares in the capital stock of the company. Mr. BUItCHELL, the solicitor to the company, then proceeded to read the short titles and abstract of the Bills. Mr. HOEES wished to know whether it was the inten tion of the company to proceed with the extensio❑ of the line to London-bridge? • The Crum!tax said that the company intended to prosecute the work as rapidly as possible. At present the directors thought that the better course to adopt would be to defer any proceedings on that extension until they had become acquainted with the working of that portion of the extension to Waterloo-bridge. Resolutions were unanimously agreed to, autho rising the directors to proceed with Bills now pending in Parliament for enabling the London and South-Western Railway Company to effect certain ex tensions and deviations at Godalming, Cosham, London bridge, Southampton, and Poole, - and certain arrange ments respecting steam-packets, arid for other purposes. A Bill for amaig.imatinz the 4uthampton and Dor chester Railway Company with the London and South- Western Railway Company. A Bill for enabling the Windsor, Staines, and South- Western (Richmond to Windsor) Railway Company to make deviations in tho main line of their railway, and an extension tt:e:efrom to join the Great Western Rail way at Slough; and A Bill to amend the Acts relating to the Exeter and Exmouth Railway Company._ Other resolutions, authorising the directors to proceed with the following B:114, were also agreed to, there being but two dissentients, Mr. Hues and another share holder, from the resolutions:— A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to make a railway from Salisbury to Yeovil, with branches to Shaftesbury and Wincanton, and to j'iin the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester, and Vilte, Somerset, and Weymouth E.:always, near Yeovil; and to purchase or lease the said Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway. A Bill for making a railway from Exeter::_to Yeovil, - witii branches and extensions therefrom, to be called the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester hallway. A Bill to enable the Taw Vale Railway and Dock Company to !ewe their undertaking to the London arid south-Western Railway Company. A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail way Company to make a railway from the Queen street road, Exeter, to join the Exeter and Crediton Railway at Cowley-bridge, near Exeter. A Bill for authorising the sale or lease to the London and South-Wertern Railway Company of the Exeter and Crechton Railway aid the Bodmin and Walebridge, Railway, and the carrying into effect of certain arrange ments between tie same coiurriny add tha 'raw Vale Rail way and Dock Company. A vote of thanks was then given to tha Chairman, and the meeting broke up. SOUTHAMPTON andDo RC NESTER • RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) A special general nit eting of the shareholders of this company was this day held at the Nine Elms' Stition, at two o'clock, forthe purpose of apprO);ing of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament for the amalgamation of the Southampton. and. Dorchester Railway with the South- Western Railway. Resolutions •to that effect were unanimously agreed upon, and the meeting broke up. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. lFroin the London New Price Current of March 14.) Sumia.—To-day prices were further depressed for both free and slave-labour Sugar, as there was a turther diminution in the home demand, and shipping orders concluded were trivial. The supply continues to be good, especially of East India and Mauritius. Although the rtttcs'accepted for . West India Muscovado exhibit a reduction of 6d per cwt; still the home trade operated with reluctance in all sorts. The private purchases did not exceed 30d hhds and trca. The l üblic sales to-day consisted of Bengal. REFINED.—'['u-day the home trade were induced to operate more freely in refined goods, in consequence of easier rates being accepted. We quote brown grocery lumps at 525 to 525 tid, :and standard lumps at 53s to 53s 6d per cwt., at which many parcels were sold; mit there is a larger quantity on offer, especially of low and middling sorts. The market tor bonded cruAted Sugar js in a dull state. MAURITIUS. — This afternoon there was no public sale of Mauritius Sugar, and privateiy all sorts were dealt in with caution. althou:h b•'lders were sellers at prices rather under thosoof Friday. There are several parcels on offer, especially - of the better sorts. —Thin afternoon the ima:rekeetpwaracselpsle:t EAST INDIA. fully supplied with Bengal Sugar.. amounting to 6,262 bags submitted to public sale, arid submitted to a merchants were wilting sellers, fur ther reduction in the nine of 6d to is per cwt. but the whole sold FOREIGN.—To-day there was no public sale of any kind of Foreign, and the amount of business done pre vately, was limited for all purposes, whilst tho progress of prices is yet downwards. Coffee is small. None has been offered at pubic sale since this day week, and the stock is yet on the decrease. This afternoon native Ceylon was dealt in %%it'll cArtion in the private market, and the rates taken were 325. to 325, 6d. for good oniinary. The market is quiet for Plantation, and 535 bags at auction went 33. per cwt. cheaper. Of E , rcign none was offered at public sale, and the purchases made were trifling. TEA.--There are further arrivals, and the quantity advertised for auction is large, reaching to 35,000 pkgs The market has become more inactive fur Cungou of all descriptions, and there are sellers rather under previous rates, as the market is well suppli , nd, and other arrivals near at hand—low and common cell be procured at 7d to 71d, good ordinary sound 83 to Sid, but middling and middling 84;1 to 10d, strong blackish loaf 10id to is 2d, fine is 3d to is sd, and Pekoe flavour is 61 to Is 94. Souchong hss been dealt in cautiously —common and middling at 9 ! to is 2d, and good to' fine is 3d to 2s 2d, Poushong finds a dull sale at 6d to 9d. The supply is ir.creasiug of all kinds of Green, an d holders are i nc li ne d to accent rasher lower rates, yet tine town and country trade purchase re. luctaptly. BAIL—To-day East India Rice wad not in better THE SIT St, LONDO', TUESDAY EVE ING, % MARCH 14, 1818. request, and of 2,132 bags of Bengal at auction, not above half sold at rather low rates—good bold white goodoolour went at 12s, and llamaged 7s to lls 6d, good bold sound dingy white was taken in at lls per cwt. SPIRITS.—To- day Easf India Rum met with less at tention, still proof of good quality could not be obtained under is 9d. The market for Leeward Island is quiet, hut holders insist upon is 10d to 10Id for proof. Ja maica was operated in with caution for all purposes, and 4s is the value of fair quality 30 per cent. over proof. INDIGO.—To-day there were sellers of East India ludigo at a reduction on last sales rates of 2d per lb, still there was scarcely any business concluded, and the market closes with much flatness. Cocoa.—Holders of West India manifest firmness, and supply the market sparingly with all sorts, but buyers are less inclined to operate. By private treaty the sales made have been trifling, and of 157 bags of Trinidad offered at public sale, only one lot sold at 505. COCHINRAL.—The demand has further fallen off for all kinds of this article, and the supply having . been upon a large scale, prices have suffered a depression of 2,1 to 3d per lb. Of the parcels offered at public sale a very small part only sold. Srices.—For Cassia Lignea the market is in a quiet state, Arrivals are near at hand, and lower rates are expected to prevail. Black Pepper cannot be purchased on lower terms as the supply is small, but the demand has become limited by private treaty for all sorts. White is wanted, and realised full rates. Of Pod Pepper 448 bags were only partly sold at 70s to 90s, and inferior at 4os to 60s, which are lower rates. Pimento is less required, and former prices cannot be ootained ; none has been offered at auction, and privately only small pa-eels have been sold at to 4id per lb. blaee met with little attention, and prices are on the d ec li ne , a l t h oug h th ere i s only a limited supply at mark e t. Cl oves h ave b een dealt in with caution, and there is a desire to sell. The purchases made in Nutmegs him been limited by private treaty, and rather lower rates are accepted. Jamaica Ginger is wanted, and holders will not make a concession in the value. East India is little required, and must be called rather cheaper. Of African 240 bags at auction were sold. Cinnamon is offered at easier prices. MOLASSES.—The Market for West India has been in a very dull state, and prices are on the decline. We quote low to fine quality 155 to 19s per cwt, and the stock is large. TALLOW. To-day for fine P. Y. C. holders asked 50s 6d on the spot; buyers, however, were cautious in their proceedings. The market is firm at 46s for de livery in the last three months of the year. OlLS.—There has been no public sale of Fish Oil since our last report, but 10 tuns of Sperm, 80 tuns of Southern, and 30 tuns of Seal are announced for Fri day. Of all sorts arrivals continue small, yet there is no improvement in the position of the market, and the consumption is not so good as of late. There are sellers of Seal upon rather lower terms, yet buyers operate with caution in all sort. The market for southern has a dull appearance, and holders are willing to accept 261 to 281 for low and middling, and 281 lOs to 301 for good and fine, which are again lower rates. Cod is held for 25/ to 251 10s, but the purchases made are of little moment, and the market is well supplied. The dealings in Sperm have been to a limited extent only, yet holders do not appear inclined to press sales. In the worth of Linseed Oil there is little improvement to make known, but the home trade made many purchases, and the ex port orders concluded are upon a more extended scale. For Rape-seed prices are still declining, as the demand is limited, and th e su pply y et on t h e increase. Cocoa Nut is little wanted, and must be quoted cheaper. In Palm the sales mad e to a sma ll e xt e nt only, and prices are on the decline. Olive is held with firmness, as the d , liveries yet exceed the arrivals, but only a limited business has been concluded since our last re port. Lard Oil finds a dull sale at 471 to 50/, and Gaound Nut Oil at 385 to 32s per cwt. POST-OFFICE NOTICE. General Post-office, March 14, 1848. During the ensuing summer, mails will be transmitted between Liverpool and North America once a week, by the British contract mail packets, which will leave Liver pool for Boston and New York, alternately, on every Saturday, and will be dispatched from Boston and New York, alternately, on their return voyage, every Wed nesday. This weekly service will commence with the outward packets in April, and with the homeward packets in MAy, and will continue until the end of November, af: er which time, and during the following four months, mails will be conveyed to Boston and New York only once a fortnight instead of weekly. The following will show the dates upon which the first six packets will be dispatched during the summer, both to and from North America, and will form a guide for the remainder of the year: — The packets will leave Liverpool for Boston on Sa turday the Bth of April, Saturday the 22d of April, and Saturday the 6th of May. For New York on Saturday the 15th of April, Satur day the 29th of April, and Saturday the 13th of May. The packets will leave Boston for Liverpool on Wed nesday the sth April, Wednesday the 3d May, and Wednesday the 17th May. The packets will leave New York for Liverpool on Wednesday the 19th April, Wednesday the 10th May, and Wednesday the 24th may. The branch packet for Newfoundland will be dis patched from Halifax on the arrival at the latter port of the homeward packet from Boston, and the branch packet for Bermuda will be dispatched on the arrival at Halifax of the outward packet for Boston. COURSE EXCH &NGE.--(THIS DAY.) if braltar.. • • Leghorn ........ ••.. • • 31 64 Tealce.• ...... • • Naples ...... • • .... Palerazio, per's— Oporto.. .......... 1. I ki [ Rio Jaaelre ........ liseries Ayres ...... •. New Tort, 21 days'slgkt rkiladelphla ..... Amsterdam .. 12 6 Lit -9, at sight 12 1 aettcrdaln •.. • • 12 7 Antwerp.......... •... liana burgh ......111.1t • It Paris, 3 days' sight .... 26 Ditto, • • •.•••• • • • • • Marseilles • . .......... rlourdeaux ... • • • • Frankfort ea Maine .... Petersburgh, Sl'. Itble.. • • • • • • • • Vienna, etTec. flo • • • . • • Trieste, ditto.... • • .... Madrid 46 Cadiz ............. 4S PAICE/1 ICLLIOM, rag oa. Foreign Gold la bars.. XII 17 9 New Dollars .... •• 0 rortugal Geld Celn .. 0 0 0 Spaalsk Doableeas .. 0 0 0 Aver in liars ...... • • 0 0 3i1ba0........ • • ...... Barcelona • • •• •• .. IMPERIA L PA RLIAM ENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from certain clergymen complaining that the funds of many f )undations which had been left for parochial eccle siastical !purposes had been divested from them, and pra) ing for an inquiry into the conduct of the Ecclesias tical Commissioners. Lord STANLEY presented a petition from cer tlin of the clergy in Ireland, complaining of the manner in which eccle,iiistical property was assessed fur pour ratec in Ireland. Westminster, and various other places, and by Mr. Williams from Finsbury. NAVIGATION-LAWS. Lord G. BENTINCK presented a petition from Cardigan, praying the House not to abolish the navi gation-laws. SOLICITORS' CERTIFICATE DUTT. Mr. HEALD presented a petition from solicitors prac tising in the town of Stockport, praying the House to repeal the duty upon the annual certificates of solicitors. argument against the abolition of the punishment, tha the recent examples in Ireland had produced in the public mind a strong opinion in favour of maintaining the punishment of death. He believed that such was not the case. Ho would ask the House whether the exe cutions which recently took place at Clonmel were of such a nature as to produce that effect upon the public mind. Tho Honourable Gentleman then proceeded to relate the circum stances attending the recent execution at Clonmell, and asked the house whether such scenes were calcu lated to produce any moral effect upon the people. He had been told, indeed, that the effect of such executions had been to increase the crime of murder, and he held in his hands letters from various parts of Ireland, which strongly confirmed such an impression. He had been put in possession of a remark able instance of the inefficacy of capital punishments, where a man, whosegrandfather and father were executed, ultimately came to the gallows himself. Now in former sessions, in bringing forward this question, it had been his duty to refer to the statistical returns which had been laid before the house on the subject, but he had always been met with, the statement that statis tical returns were not to be relied upon. No doubt they were not always criterions to go by; for the returns themselves proved the fact, that in times of scarcity and distress, crime of all kinds increased. There [could, however, be no question ;about it, that crimes which were formally capital, had greatly diminished since they had been taken out of that category. The second kind of documentary evidence upon which he relied was a most important report which was presented to the House of Lords in the last session of Parliament. It would probably be in the recollection of the House that Lord Brougham moved for a Committee of Inquiry into the state of the criminal law, and before that Committee a large number of witnesses were examined, including some of the leading judges of England, Scotland, and Ireland; ose of the subjects embraced by the Committee was capital punishment, and the report the Committee came to contained statements which strongly sup ported the motion he was bringing forward. Mr. Charles Phillips was entirely in favour of the abolishment of the punishment of death; and Mr. Commissioner Bullock was of the same opinion. Mr. Rushton, the Liverpool magistrate, and a man of great legal experience, said, in rep!) , to a question, that the punishmenet might be safely dispensed with, adding that the public infliction of the punishment possessed no salutary effect upon those who beheld it. But he would refer to higher authorities still, namely, the judges of the land.—(Hear, hear.) Lord Denman, when applied to declined to give any opinion ; but he (Mr. Ewart) be lieved he was justified in asserting that that Noble and Learned Lord was favourable to the abolition of the punishment, while Justice Erle supported its infliction, on the ground that the people were reluctant to inflict it, and that it would never be carried out except in the most extreme cases. Mr. Justice Maule gave no opinion, whilst Mr. Justice Wilde, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, admitted the objections against the punishment were very great. Mr. Justice Coltman entertained the opinion that imprisonment forlife, without any hope of its remission, might be substituted without inconvenience for capital punishment, stating, at the same time, that he did not think the punishment operated much on the minds of the people. Mr. Justice Wightman was of opinion that secondary punishment might be rendered so severe as to be made equivalent to the punishment of death, provided it was inflexibly carried out, according to certain fixed rules, leaving no discretiion to the judge, but to pass the sentence.—(Hear, hear.) Looking to Ireland, he found that Mr. Justice Perrin was in favour of its abolition, and the substitution of secondary punish ment ; whilst the Chief Baron of Ireland was against public executions, thinking that transportation of the severest kind might be safely substituted. He said hanging was a most cruel death, and ought, in con • sE quence, to be abolished. Such were the opinions of the Judges of the llnd; and it could not be denied that they offered strong testimonials against the continuance of the shedding of blood by the executioner. On former occasims he had referred t o former times and to other countries. In the 454th year of Rome capital punishment was abolished and they had the evidence of historians that the laws were never better obeyed, or adnainisterged with greater profit to the people. In Russia it had been virtually abolished almost for a century. (LEFT SPEAKING.) THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING) WHITEHALL, MARCH 11, 1848. The Queen has been pleased to order a cone d'elire to pass the Great Seal, empowering tne Dean and Chapter of the cathedral church of Chester to elect a Bishop of that see, the same being void by the trans lation of the Most Reverend Father in God John Bird Sumner, late Bishop thereof, to the see of Canterbury ; and her Majesty has also been pleased to recommend to the said Dean and Chapter Jobn Graham, Doctor in Divinity, to be by them elected Bishop of the said see of Chester. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane; Nicholson and Parker. Lime-street, City. William Penny, brewer, Newport, Monmouthshire, March 30, at eleven, and May 2, at one, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Phippen and Craven, Bristol. Weetman Dickinson, miller, Clayton West, Yorkshire, March 27, and April 17, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Bristol; Bower, Token house-yard, London; Sykes, Wakefield. John Hartley, machine maker, Bury, Lancashire, March 30, and April 15, at eleven, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manch ster; Johnson, Son, and Weathcrall, Temple, London; Blair, _Manchester. Thomas Tattersall, corn merchant, Liverpool. Benjamin Barber, dealer in lace, Nottingham. Jonathan Beckett, ironm.nger, Liverpool. Frederick Francis, ironmonger, Folkstone. Jacob Ordoyno, broom maker, Swan place, Old Kent road. William Fuller, carman, Hoxton Old-town. William Dyne, corn dealer, High -street, Stoke New ington. LATEST PRICES OF SHALLEs, IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, AND OTHER COM PANIES' STOCK. From the Official List, PUBLISIIED EVERY TIJEDAT AND FRIDAY EVENING. LONDON. TUESDAY, MARCH 14. JOINT-STOCK BANKS. Dividend Amount NMI, of Company. par of Paid. Price Annum. Share. - s. d. s. d. Australasia 40 9 0 40 9 e - .tritshlsorth American 51. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 - Ceylon ••••..•• • • • • •• 6/. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 - .lonsmercial of London 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 - '2 , olonial - Gloucestershire • • •• • • 115 l per cent. lonian •••• • • •••• .• 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 11 0 Login and Westminstr 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 22 3 4 13 0 0 - London Joint-Stock ... 61. per tent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 - Provincialof Ireland.. 81. per cent. 100 0 0 25 0 0 - Ditto, New.• ••••• •• 81. per cent. 10 0 0 10 9 0 - National of Ireland •• 51. per cent. SO 0 0 22 10 0 - Nat. Provncial of Eng. 61. per cent. 100 0 0 34 0 0 - Ditto. New... ••• • •• 51. per cent. 20 0 0 10 0 0 - South Australia •• • ... 22 10 0 - Union of Australia.... 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 - Ditto 210 0 - 17ni•a of L0nd0n..... 61. per cent. 50 9 0 10 0 0 - Union of Madrid ..... 10 0 0 40 0 0 INSURANCE COMPANIES. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price Annum. Share. X s. 1. d. X d. Iblon •• •• .• •••• • • • • V. 10e. 500 0 0 50 0 0 75 Alliance Brit. and For. 6 per cent. 100 0 0 11 0 0 17% bitt, Marine.• ••• • • 61. per cent, 100 0 41 5 0 I - Atlas 134.6 d. pr eh. 50 I 0 5 9 8 14% Britisii Commercial •• 7e. per share 50 0 0 5 0 9 b 7, Clericl,Med.& Uen.Life 51. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 20 31. 100 0 0 II 0 0 - 13s. 50 0 0 5 0 • 11 Slagle ••• • • • ...... •• • • 6s. 50 0 0 b 0 0 syi Eng.& Scot. Law •• •• 51. per cent. 50 0 0 212 6 - European Life ••• • • • 534, per cent. 20 0 0 All paid. I - FandlyEndownwt Soe. 41. & its. 4 0 0 4 0 0 - Freemasons' .• • . bl. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 - Giobe Guardian •• ••• • • • 51. per cent. 100 0 0 36 10 0 45 !mperial Fire •••• • • • • 12 per cent. 500 0 0 50 0 0 220 imperial Life •••• •• •• 12s. 100 0 0 10 I I 14% Indemnity Marine •• • • 11. sh. & be. 100 0 0 11 13 1 - Law Fire .. ••• . • • 100 0 0 2 10 0 - LAW 1 ife •... • ••• • .. 11. be. 100 0 0 10 0 0 45 Legal and General Life 50 I I 2 0 0 - Londcn Fire •••• • • • • 10e. 25 0 0 12 10 0 13% London Ship • ••• •• •• 105. 22 0 0 12 10 9 13% 100 0 0 15 0 0 sled. Invlid&Gen.Life 4%1. per ct. 50 0 0 2 0 I 239 National Lean Fund.. 51. per cent. 20 0 0 210 0 - National Life.- 81. per cent. 100 0 0 5 0 0 - Palladium Li 10...... • • 51. per cent. 50 0 0 2 0 0 - Pelican . • •• •• •• 83 Pn teal x ....... 3/. p. ct. & bs. - .'lotector Life ••.. • .. Si. per cent. 20 0 0 1 0 0 - r6vident .. 11. ss. 100 0 0 10 0 0 - Kock Life............ 4s. 5 0 0 010 0 4% ltoyal Exchan7e Si. per cent. Stock. - 1 - Snn Fire. i,itte Lite . • • •• • • . •• ii. Is. - - Universal Life.....• •• 10%1. pr ant. 100 0 I 810 0 - Vi..tturia Life . . - DOCKS. Dividend Amount Name of Company. per of Paid. Price. Annum. Share. - - Commercial . East and West India 6l. pr cent. itock. 110 East Country L mdc, , n . itltto Bonds ..... •• . 4/. per cent. 9t.liatharine .... • ... 5 per cent. Stock. 77% Ditto 80nd5........ 4%1. pr cent. - Seuthampton •• 21. per cent. 50 0 I SO 0 0 1 22 WATER-WORKS. Dividend Amount Name of Company. j per of Paid. Price Annum. Share. X e. d. X a. d. Birmingham. ••••• • •• I Its. 25 0025 0 0- emit London.. ••••• • • i 31. 100 0 0 175 Grand Junction •• • • 2/. 10s. 41 13 4 92 31. 100 54 Jew Itivr Lndu Brdge j 21. 10e. 55 rauxball ........... ; 100 0 0 104 West Middlesex . . . 151.15a.prcnt. 63 12 9 118 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LOU OS, March 13. The Earl of FALMOUTH presented petitions from Newtown, in Hampshire; Penley, in Shrop shire; and Ruan, in Cornwall, against the admission of Jews into Parliament. IRISH POOR- L AW. The Earl of LUCAN rose, according to notice, to draw the attention of the House to the state of the Irish poor-law as regards the rating of lessors. The Noble Earl contended that nothing could be more unjust than the present Irish poor-law was to the landed proprietors of Ireland, and he was surprised that any Government should have proposed or should consent to administer such a measure. The rate should be levied on the occupier and not on the lessor. The law was a monstrous law, and he was at a loss to conceive what defence of it could be made by the Government. The Noble Earl then went into a long detail of the proceedings adopted by the Government is relation to a beard of guardians with which he himself was connected, to enforce the payment of the poor-rates, which proceedings he denounced as grossly unjust. The Earl of ST. GERMAN'S defended the con duct of the late Government in introducing and carrying this law. It had been found absolutely impossible to collect the rates from the occupiers of small holdings, and yet it would be most unjust to exempt this description of property from contributing to the poor-rates, and therefore it was determined that the lessor should be assessed to the rates instead of the occupier, and the Act provided that the rates should be recovered from the lessors. The lessor, in fact, was placed in precisely the same position as the other ratepayers. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the paid guardians of the union to which the Noble Earl (Lucan) had alluded, had been obliged to adopt legal measures to enforce the levying of the rate, Inasmuch as when they were appointed to succeed the unpaid guardians they found the union absolutely without funds. They had no alternative but to levy a rate as they had done, inasmuch as they had been refused access to the valuation of the parish, and if the Noble Earl felt himself aggrieved he had the right of appeal. Lord STANLEY understood that there was a practical difficulty in obtaining a remedy if a person found him se lf un j us tl y set d own upon the rate -b oo k asimmediate lessor. He had, within a limited pe riod, to find out the parties who were really liable, and to give them notice. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE observed, that if the lessors were dissatisfied, they had the power of appeal. The Earl of LUCAN believed that no instance had occurred in Ireland, or at least in Mayo, of a lessor having. appealed. Earl FITZWILLIAM considered that the landed proprietors of Ireland should have the largest share in the administration of the poor-law in that country. He was sorry to say, that during the last few years observations had been made in public and by the press —he wished he could say such remarks had never been made in either House of Parliament, which were calculated to weaken the influence of the landed pro prietors of Ireland, and to lower them in the esti mation of their countrymen. The Government and the Legislature seemed to consider that, having passed a poor-law for Ireland, they had done all that was necessary ; but he contended, looking not to the rate payers alone, but to the thousands who were to be the recipients of relief, that neither the Legislature nor the Executive Government had—so far as the poor-law was concerned—done their duty to the sister country. He expressed an apprehension that the distress in Ireland would be as great this year as in the last, if not greater ; and he should, therefore, wish to see large national works established, and an extensive system of emigration carried out. After a few words from the Earl of LUCAN in reply, the motion was agreed to. On the motion of Earl FITZWILLIAM, there was ordered a return of the number of able-bodied male adults receiving relief in the several unions of Ireland on the Ist of December, 1847, and on the Ist days of January, February, and March, 1848, The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Match 13. WAYS AND MEANS. On the order of the day for resuming the adjourned debate on going into a Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. HUME suggested that the debate on the in come-tax ought to be brought to a close as soon as possible. Mr. BANKES said the Honourable Member should specially direct his remarks to the Right Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth. Sir H. PEEL said the Hon. Member ought rather to blame the Hon. Member for the city of Warwick and the Hon. Member for Stamford, for they it was who really commenced the debate.—(Laughter.) The House then went into Committee. On the question being put, Mr. MACGREGOR said it might be presumptive and rash in him in presenting himself to the Com mittee at that early period of the evening, but, as he had had many opportunities of collecting information on the subject, which, if he were hot very stupid, ought to enable him to give the House an opinion upon it, he trusted the Committee would allow him to say a word or two before the debate proceeded further. —(Hear.) No subject could be of more importance or could be more entitled to the calm attention and scrutiny of the House, than the one now under dis cussion ; and however painful it might be to him to oppose the administration of his Noble Friend the First Lord of the Treasury, he could not conscien tiously support the continuance of a tax for three years, which he considered to be not only unequal but unconstitutional.—(Hear, hear.) But before he went into the question of the tax itself, perhaps the House would indulge him for a few mo ments, whilst he attempted to clear up some misrepresentations which the House had been put in possession of with reference to himself. Ha felt it to be his duty to declare that he fully concurred in the wisdom of the policy which the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Temwor h pursued from the day he entered office in 1841 till the time he left it; and whatever might be stated to the contrary, he must be allowed to expess his belief that the measures he introduced were his own, and the public were indebted to him alone for the benefit which they had conferred upon the country.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the extract read from the Glasgow paper the other night, it was, he supposed, in the report of a meeting at which upwards of 6,000 were present, and where five or six Chartists catne forward, one of whom he believed began the riots the other day at Glasgow to get up a disturbance.—(llear, hear, and laughter.) One of them asked him if he did not pre pare Sir Robert Peel's tariff, but he declined to an swer him, and thereupon a monsterous uproar took place.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) In order to quell the noise he stated that he would endeavour to give him an answer, and he distinctly stated that had the Right lion. Baronet or himself been in office he would not have given an answer to it, because he considered it an impertinent question.— (Hear, and laughter.) He, however, stated to the fellow who asked the question, that at the time to which reference had been made, he was Secretary to the Board of Trade, and that the Right Hon. Baro net, who was then Vice-President, directed him to prepare skeleton schedules for the new tariff ; and that the Right Honourable Gentleman himself, and a young gentleman who was at the time his own private secretary, were all who had access to these schedules.—(Hear, hear.) That was what he did say at the meeting, and he regretted to state that the only two Glasgow papers that told the truth in reference to the meeting were the two opposed to him.—(Hear and laughter.) He objected to the tax because it was unequal, unpopular, and oppressive in its operation. He thought this country and Scotland had great right to complain unless the tax was extended to Ireland.—(Hear.) Ile considered that the expenditure of the country was excesssive, and required alteration and reduction. He thought it would be one of the greatest calamities that the country could endure if the Chancellor of the Exchequer was unable to pay the dividends on the public debt; but he had no doubt such a calamity might be avoided by a proper economy in the ex penditure. if history was to be taken as the teacher of national policy, it would be found en a reference to her pages, that prosperity depended upon a sound system of finance. Frederick the Great, who found the Prussian Exchequer in a miserable state when he succeeded to the throne, succeeded, r: otwithstanding all the expenses of his wars in Silesia and elsewhere, to put it on a footing which enabled him to pay off all the debts of the country, and to leave a large sum at his death in the Exchequer. On the other hand Austria, a country equally fertile and productive, if not more so, than Prussia, was never placed under any sound system of finance, and from the days of Maria Theresa down to the present time nothing but difficulty and distress pre veiled in that country. Maria Theresa herself had to beg money of her people, to hold correspondence with Madame Pompadour and another royal para mour, to melt down the silver plate in her chapel, and to resort to other expedients ill becoming the dignity of a great queen of a large kingdom. The failures which took place in Austria in 1811 and 1813, af forded an example to all the countries in the world which wished to maintain its independence. The Hon. Member quoted Schiller's " Hietory , of Bohe mia" in proof of his assertion, and contended that every nation, from the Roman empire downwards, had owed its prosperity or fall to the sound or un sound condition of its system of finance. It was the undoubted right of the House of Commons—for the Constitution had wisely and justly entrusted it with the initiative in all questions of taxation—to act in the most unrestricted manner with respect to proposi tions of this nature. Ile trusted the House would never adopt a policy of mere expediency, but go at once into the question of our expenditure, rather than continue in a three per cent. income-tax, which could not possibly meet the emergencies of the Exchequer, for three years. He would say that the best policy would be to grant a three per cent., or a fire per cent. tax, or more if necessary, for one year, and to enter at once on the whole question of taxation.—(Cheers.) He considered it his duty to make this appeal to the House, because he considered that such a course would be in accordance with public opinion —not a❑ ignorant, a noisy, and a riotous public opinion, but the opinion of the enlightened and the intelligent, as represented by an unanimous public press, with only three solitary exceptions that he could learn. li e should, therefore, vote for the motion of the Hon. Member for Montrose. Mr. Alderman SIDNEY considered it due to the com mercial and working classes of this country that he should give expression to his opinions on the question before the House. With the working classes he had mixed much, and he could assure the House that the) felt strongly on the subject. lie considered that the tax would not be at all needed had proper economy been resorted to in the expenditure of the country ; and he, therefore, thought it to be his duty to give his vote for the proposition of the Honourable Member for Montrose. The Honourable Member went into a statement, show• ing how heavily the shopkeepers suffered from the enormous amount of taxation to which the country was subjected, including poor rates, and instanced Norwich and Leeds, as cases that had, amongst others, come under his own knowledge. In Leeds, the rate for the poor in the present year, was as high as ss. 4d. in the pound ; and four out of every five who commenced business had failed. The Honourable Member here entered into a statement of the failures that had oc curred in London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and other great cities and towns in the latter part of 1847, am, concluded by stating, with respect to the defences of the country, that the best guarantee for those th,fenc s, if required, would be found in a reduction of the tax ation from which trade and industry were so much suffering. Mr. HEADLAM felt that he would not be adequately discharging his duty to his constituents or the cues try if he did not state the grounds on which he meant t, give his vote on the question before the House. Ths Hon. Member then addressed himself to the arguments which had been advanced by the Noble Lord (Lord George Bentinck) and o th er H on . M em b ers o f th e House in favour of a return to indirect taxation, and to that system which would tax to the consumers in this country the produce o f f ore i gn coun t r i es . Th a t was th e first argument which had been advanced in the House against the renewal of the tax. The second argument was that the tax was unjust, unequal in its operation, and oppressive; and the third was that the expenditure of the country was increasing to an alarming extent for the last few years, and ought to be reduced. Ha would address himself to those arguments. Her Majesty's Government thought that the tax was best as it was, and held out no hope of alteration, therefore they must not rely upon them. He approved of the substitu tion of direct for indirect taxation, although when it was imposed it was denounced as inquisitorial, and vexatious, and arbitrary. Upon the inequalities of the tax many of her Majesty's present Ministers enlarged, and he thought that the present proposition, equally unjust and equally unequal, came with a peculiarly bad grace from them.—(Hear.) There was another subject of alarm, namely, the extent to which these estimates had in creased of late years.—(Hear.) The apprehension of war was the alleged reason o f this. The interests of the working classes were most affected by the evils of war. They s hould be taught to understand that tr u th, and to aid with the nation at large in the p eace move ment. At the same time, considering the state of the country, and the elements of disorder which were at the present moment scattered around them, he felt it to be his duty not to oppose the present proposition of her Majesty's Government.—(Hear.) Mr. SANDARS said that he was sure the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) did not know the feeling of the country,. or he would not h ave propose d t h e re i mpos i t i on of this tax in its present form. The way in which that tax was imposed uppri the industry of the country was most unjust. It should not be imposed upon the pro duce of industry in the same way as on realised pro perty.—(Hear.) The time had arrived when there should be a complete revision of the system of taxation. (Hear.) The time had arrived for economy and re trenchment. The tax of 5 per cent. on the assessed taxes ought to be repealed, and also the window tax. It the tax was continued on probate and legacy duty, it should also be imposed upon the descent of real property. He did not see upon what principles of justice Ireland was to be exempt from the income-tax. They were now told that this tax was to be a permanent tax; therefore, he said, that it behoved the House and the country to see that it was placed on a sound basis.—(Hear.) He be lieved that none of the evils predicted would follow from the rejection of this tax. The Hon. Member for West bury (Mr. Wilson) had defended the free-trade policy i n corn, but he differed with him on that subject. Ile al so dilated upon the inequalities of the income-tax, but he was greatly surprised when he expressed his intention to vote for them. Although ho could not recommend a reduction of the army in the present posture of affairs, he thought that greater .ccinurny was possible, and th a t the Hon. Member for Montrose should have appended to his motion a proposition f, l. a committee of inquiry on this subject. In Canada the feeling of the failure of the free trade system was Tory geueral, kle thought RAILWAY AUDIT ACCOUNTS BILL. Lord MONTF.:AGLE, in moving the Committee on the Railway Audit Account Bill. said he proposed intr o dueing aomc amendments into the Bill. One of these was that persons seeking for an audit should deposit a ,uin of 2001. with the Commissioners, out of which sum the expences of the audit should be defrayed if the Com missioners shduld be of opinion that such application for an audit was frivolous, but if not the expences were to be defrayed by the company, and the deposit returned to the applicants. He also proposed to introduce clauses imposing penalties on the officers of the company who should wilfully withhold any information from the creditors which they might require. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that in the absence of the Earl of Shaftesbury, the chair should be taken by the Earl of Devon. The motion was agreed to, and their Lordships re solved themsulvos into Committee, the Earl of Devon in the chair. _ _ _ • After a short conversation, in which Lord Ashburton, the Earl of Fitzvvilliam, and Lord Redesdalc, took part, Lord BEAUMONT suggested that it would be advisable that the report of the auditors should be made public, inasmuch as if the knowledge of it wore confined to the shareholders, they would, if it were unfavourable, not make the report public, but get rid of their shares as speedily as possible. The public had an interest in the subject, and for their protection they ought to have an opportunity of obtaining access to these reports. Lord MONTEAGLE said the report of the auditors isould be made iu duplicate, and report to be laid before the shareholders, and the other to be transmitted to the r,il way commissioners. The latter was a public (It cement, and there would be no objection to having it printed and laid before Parliament. lle should like to see a general audit instituted every 3 ear of the accounts of all companies, in order to guard against falsifications of accounts, and the declaration of dividends out of capital, instead of out of profits, as was too frequently the case at present. He was convinced the same system of independent audit of railway accounts was necessary for the protection of the share holders and of the public. The amendments proposed were agreed to; the Bill passed through Committee, and the House resumed. PASSENGERS' BILL. Earl GREY rose to move the second reading of the Passengers' Bill, and was (LEFT SPEAKING.) ROUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. RAILWAYS COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. STRUTT mo ve d t h e further consideration' of the report of the Railways Committee. Lord 1-1. VANE was of opinion that the Committees of the House would have considerable difficulty in car rying out the recommendation s o f t h e report. After a few words in reply from Mr. W. PATTEN and Mr. STRUTT, the report was agreed to. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME . Petitions against, the Bill for establishing diplomatic relations! with the Court of Rome wero presented by Sir 11. Verney, and by Mr. Tollemache from the diocese of Chester. ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL. The • Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY presented petitions from Melton Mowbrey, and other pla ces , in favour of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. Petitions, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death, were presented by Mr. Heald, from Stockport, by Mr. Mtv:gregor, from, the city of London, signed by upwards of 1,000 persons, and from the City of West minster; by Mr. Fagan from Maidstone and Ports mouth; by Colonel Thompson from the city„ . of London, INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS. Mr. WOOD presented a petition from Stamford, corn planting of the exercise of undue influence by the Marquis of Exeter in the recent election for a Member to serve in Parliament for the borough of Stamford. The petitioners prayed the House either to adopt some measure to repress this system of interference, or to relieve them from the burden of the elective fran chise. The Honourable and Learned Member gave notice, that ho would to-morrow move that the petition should be printed with the votes, in order that he might found a motion thereon. ULSTER TENANT RIGHT. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Down, from Ballynaerna, and other places, against the Landlord and Tenant Bill introduced by the Government, and prayed the House to pass the tenant right, similar in its provisions, to the prevailing system in the province of Ulster. THE CASE OF JOHN SHELLEY. Mr. F. O'CONNOR presented a petition from Mr. Shelley, setting forth that ho had served for a number of years in the 68th Regiment of Foot, and had been engaged in eleven different actions; that he had made unsuccessful applications to the Commander-in-Chief for some gratuity or reward for his services, and he prayed the House to take his case into its consideration. BANK ACT. Captain FORDYCE presented a petition from Aber deen, praying the House to repeal the injurious restric tions of the Bank Act of 1845. Mr. BROTHERTON presented several petitions praying for the abolition of capital punishment. Mr. CARDWELL presented a petition from the Health of Towns Association, in favour of the Health of Towns Bill before the House. Mr. AGLIONBY presented a petition from Cocker mouth, praying for the abolition of punishment of death. Sir W. CLAY presented petitions in favour of the Jewish Disabilities Bill. Mr. LUSIIINGTON presented a petition from the inhabitants of Westminster, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death. Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from the inhabitants of St. Ann's, Soho, against intramural burials. HARWICH ELECTION. Mr. S. WORTLEY brought up the report of the Har wich Election Committee, declaring Mr. Attwood to have been unduly elected. DUNDALK ELECTION. The Members of this Committee were called to the table and sworn. The followit g is the list:—Colonel Peel, Sir J. East, Mr. E. Denison, Lord W. Pane, and 111 r. J. Duncan. _ INCOME-TAX. Mr. HUME presented a petition from a builder, the proprietor of several houses in Paddington, complaining that the income-tax was levied upon him in consequence of these houses, in cases where the tenants had mate rially injured his property, and left without paying up their rent. Sir G. GREY presented a petition from several occupiers of land in Northumberland, complaining of the operation of the income-tax, and praying that it might be levied upon actual profits alone. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. Sir B. HALL presented a petition from Marylebone, praying for the abolition of the punishment of death. LOWTHERSTOWN UNION. Captain ARCHDALL inquired of the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for Ireland why the correspon dence relating to a complaint which he had to make against the guardians of the above union had not been produced ? Sir W. SOMERVILLE replied that he had been led to believe that the Gallant Member intended to bring on his motion irrespective of the production of the cor respondence. Besides, he thought enough of the corre spondence was before the House to enable it to come to a decision on the matter. When the Gallant Member brought on his motion he should be ready to enter into its discussion. Captain ARCHDALL then postponed the following motion for a week, in order that the correspondence re ferred to, and for which he had moved, might be produced—namely, to bring under the consideration of the House the allegations contained in the two petitions of the undersigned persons, late the poor-law guardians of the Luwtheratown Union, in the counties of Ferma nagh and Tyrone, and the undersigned ratepayers of the Clonelly District of the Lowtherstown Union in Ire land (presented February 28). THE RECENT RIOTS IN THE METROPOLIS. Sir W. CLAY said, seeing the Attorney-General in his place, he wished to put a question to him which was of considerable importance not only to his constituents, hut to the inhabitants of other portions of the metro polis—ho alluded to" the damage done to property by the recent riots. Window-breaking was carried to a great extent ; and as the glass broken was g‘tnerally that in shop windows, the damage ?erpetrated amounted to a considerable sum. He wished to ask—first, whether the persons whose pro perty had been thus destroyed possessed any claim fur compensation upon the county or elsewhere, and if so, what was the proper legal course to adopt to recover the amount? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that before the Act of the 7th and Bth of George IV., remedies were given in cases of the injury to property by riot or otherwise; but by the provisions of that Act, no remedy was now given except in the case where the house was feloniously demolished, pulled down or destroyed. The oases that had been referred to did not constitute the actual demolishing of the premises, and ho was therefore satisfied that the parties had no remedy either against the county or the hundred. The party themselves, however, were crimi. nally responsible, and subject to severe punishment. KAFIR WAR. Mr. 0. SMITH wished to know from the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he would be able to lay on the table of the House the return of the expenses of the Kafir war ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that as: soon as he receired the report of Sir H. Pottin ger, the returns should be laid on the table. PORTUGAL. Mr. HUME wished to know when a return in detail would be laid on the table of the House of the ex penses incurred by this country at Lisbon during the late civil war. . _ _ Lord PALMERSTON said that the re could be no objection to furnish the House with returns of any offi cial expenses that had been incurred on the subject al luded to by the Hon. .Member. Any returns that had been received should be immediately laid on the table of the House. ENGLAND AND PRUSSIA. Mr. lIINDLEY wished to know from the Noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Department whether this country had entered into any treaty offensive and defensive with Prussia ? Lord PALMERSTON said there was no truth in the report that such a treaty had been signed between this country and Prussia; and the only foundation that could exist for the report, he thought, was the statement that the Prussian Government had determined to pursue the same line of policy with respect to France that had been determined on in this country, AGRICULTURAf,STATISTICS. Mr. LABOUCHERE, in answer to the question of an Hon. Member, stated that it was not the intention of the Government during the present session to introduce any measure with respect to agricultural statistics. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. Mr. EWART presented a great uumber of petitions from different places, praying for the repeal of the punishment of death. Mr. COBDEN presented several petitions to the same effect. Mr. ENVART then rose for the purpose of moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the total abolition of the punishment of death. Although the mass of informa tion which had reached him upon the subject was very large, he should endeavour to make his statement, as was consistent with the tenor of that informtion and the gravity of the subject. It might be asked why he ventured to do so at the present time. He could assure the House that he should not have adopted the present time' were it not that he felt an increase in the conviction which he had felt for years that capital punishment ought to be also abolished, and that that conviction had been increased in the minds of the people of this country,—(Hear, hear.) He felt convinced that there was a vast and increasing amount of conviction in the public mind of the inexpe diency of capital punishment. A short time since he could scarcely find a single clergyman in favour of the repeal of the punishment of death, he was bappy to say that there were now a great number of great learning and blameless life—men whom he respected, and to whom he was deeply attached, who were now numbered among those who were the most strenuous advocates for the repeal of that punishment. Many of the magistrates of the country were also of the same opinion, and, lastly, it now appeared solemnly recorded by the reports of a Committee of the House of Lords that there were several Judges of the land who were favouracle to the repeal of capital punishment, and who bad thrown the vast weight of their authority into the scale of justice and humanity. Again he found that juries were less inclined than ever to find per sons guilty of those crimes which involved the penalty of death.—(Hear.) The juries had latterly found out the means of absolving their con sciences from their oaths by acquitting the prisoners on the ground of insanity. The Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department had recently ad mitted that fact to a certain extent. Many medical men of great authority in this country and on the continent, had now admitted within the category of insanity that which is called " moral misapprehension," and this made it a matter of extreme difficulty for any jury to find persons guilty of capital offences in cases where a medical man could be found to speak to that subject in behalf of tho accused, and it was therefore, sentenceo f t h death e u p t i o m n e s u w c a h s p: o r w s o f n a s s . equally diff icu l t f or t h e l earne d j u d ges t o pass Govern t aHrrei vn felt g c o w n h v e i n n a t e t e , ment and the Legislature of this country would feel it to be their duty totally to repeal the punishment of death.—(Hear.) It had been brought forward as an WHITEHALL, Mlncn 11. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Carr Alderson, Royal Engineers, to be one :of the Commissioners of Railways, in the room of Captain Henry Rowland Brandreth, deceased. WHITEHALL, MARCH 14. • The Queen has been pleased to nominate and appoint the Honourable Charles Edward Pepya to be Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, in the room of Leonard Ed. munds, Esq., resigned. FOREIGN-OFFICE, Mutat 13. _ Tho Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Thomas H. H) att. as Consul at Belfast for tho United States of America. DOWNING-STREET, MAncn 13. The Queen has been pleased to appoint Thomas B. Winter, Esq., to be Assistant Receiver- General of Ber. bice, in the colony of British Guiana. CROWN-OFFICE, MAncu 13, 1848. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Borough of Lane lster.—ltobert Baynes Armstrong, o Chester-place, Westminster, Esq., in the room of Satnue] Gregson, Esq., whose election has been declared void. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Durham. John Eden, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, March 4, Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Captain Peter Page, 8.N., to be Deputy Lieutenant March 7. Commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant of Caithness. shire . The Right Hon. Jamet Lord Berridale to be Deputy- Lieutenant; David Henderson, Esq. to be Deputy- Lieutenant ; John Sinclair, Esq. jun., to be Deputy- Lieutenant; James Horne, Lq. jun., to be Deputy- Lieutenant, March 3. WHITEHALL, MARCH 1. The Lord Chancellor has appointed John Fish Stens field of Accrington, in the county palatine of Lancaster, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Chur` of Chancery. BANKRUPTS. George Armfield, jun., and Robert Wright Barber, coach builders, Croydon, to surrender, March 24, and April 29, at half past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street; May, Queen-square, Bloomsbury. Charles Minors Collett, baker, Mill-street, Lambeth, March 24, at half-past twelve, and April 28, at one. at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall street; Low, Chancery -lane. Joseph Hosken, builder, Southampton, March 24, at twelve, and April 28, at eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Carman, official assignee, Birchin-lane; Green, Walbrook, London. James Baker, tailor, George-street, Hanover - square , March 22, at two, and April 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee; Gladaden and Flower, Furnival's Inn, Holborn. Francis Clementson, earthenware manufacturer, Shel ton, Staffordshire, March 22, and April 20, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Stevenson, Hanley. Edward Thompson, hosier, Kingston. upon-Hull, March 29, and April 19, at half-pas: ten, at the Leeds District Court Hope, official assignee, Leeds; Tilson and Co., Coleman-street, Londors; Wells and Smith, Hull. Christopher Morgan, tea dealer, Leeds, March 30, and April 27, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leeds; Sudlow and Co., Bed ford-row; Naylor, Leeds. John Porter, cheese factor, Wormwood-street, City, March 23, at one, and April 22, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, officiul assignee, Sambrook court Basinghall-street; Wilde and Co., College-hill. William Inwards, straw plait merchant, Luton, Bed fordshire, March 28, at halt•past two, and April 25, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry; Lawranc and Flews, Old Jewry Chambers. William Benjamin Jones, hatter, Liverpool, March 21 and April 18, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Turner, official assignee, Liverpool ; Smith and Co., Bedford-row, London ; Greatley, Liverpool. John Smith, roller maker, Little Bolton, Lancashire, April 3 and 17, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Pott, official assignee. Manchester; Atkinson, Saunders, and Atkinson, Manchester; Abbott, Lin coln's Inn-fields, London. John Hope, grocer, Tunbridge-wells, March 23, at eleven, and May 2, at half-past eleven, at the Court o f Bankrupt c y. T urquan d, official assignee, Guildhall chambers; Becke, Bedford row. John Mullett, tailor, Shaftesbury, Dorset, March 30 at one, and April 24, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman -street; Yenning and Co., Tokenhouse-yard. Robert Pye, butcher, Weston-under-Penyard, Here fordshire, March 25, at twelve, and April 18, at eleven, at the Birmiugham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham; Hall and Minett, Ross; Reece, Birmingham. Riehare Taylor, soap manufacturer, Liverpool, March 31 and April 18, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool ; Keightley and Chance r y -l ane , L on don; Holden , Liverpoot. Edward G ooc h e H on e, licenced victual l e r, Li ve rpool , March 28 an d A pr il 18, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Termer, official assignee, Liverpool ; Johnson and Co., Temple, London ; Dewhurst, Liver pool. John Sinclair, tailor, Liverpool, March 31 and April IS, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Bird, official assignee, Liverpool ; Gregory and Co., Bedford row; Payne, Liverpool. John Neaves, plumber, Coles-terrace, Islington, March 23, at half-past one, and May 6, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury; Conquest, Moorgate-street. John Parker, b rewer , Oxford, March 28, at twelve, and April 25, at eleven, at . the Court of Bankruptcy. that now, N% hether right or wrong, they were committed - to the policy of free trade. Ile was d:sposed to give it a fall and a fair trial. He did not wish to detract from the aristocracy, but there was a middle power. The middle classes were the safety and the glory of the country, and if this tax bore hardly and unjustly upon them, their interests ought first and chiefly to be consulted.— (Hear.) Mr. RICE said, that if the proposition of Ministers was rejected, they could not give a greater blow to the credit of the country. At the same time he thought that there should be a lull inquiry into, and revision of the existing system of taxation. But that could not be done in one year. Sufficient time was required fur that pur pose. He contended that the strength of their nary was the best security not only tor the defence of the empire, but the general interests of commerce. With regard to what had been said by the Hun. Member for Cockermouth respe:Aing the inequalities of the income tax, he could assure the House it bore as hard on the lauded interest as on any other. He knew a case in which the rent received did not amount to SOW. a year, yet the income-tax and other rates were 1,3.50/. The parties affected did not complain of that ; and he only mentioned it to show that all classes in the country suffered from the inequality. He wished on that ac count to see the general system of taxation reviewed, but at the same time he was convinced the credit of the country required a continuance of the income-tax for three years, and he should, therefore, support the propo sition of her Majesty's Government. Mr. L. BUCK condemned the tax as the most re volting to the country that could be suggested. It had been said that it emanated from his (the Opposition) side of the House—(Hear)—but the House ought to recol lect that it was proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth, for the purpose of carrying the measures which 'he afterwards proposed to the House. He believed that nothing on earth could be more injurious at that moment than an income-tax. Let them look at their manufacturing districts, and the cow' munity at large, and although they had not heard the same complaints from the agricultural districts they were in the habit of hearing, yet there was no doubt their position was exceedingly precarious. Therefore, although he was not in the habit of supporting any motion of his Hon. Friend opposite (Mr. Hume), yet be should on that occasion do so, and vote for his proposi tion, in preference to the measure brought forward by her Majesty's Government to continue the income-tax for three years. He was, however, convinced her Ma jesty's Government would do their endeavours to lessen the general expenditure of the country, and on that account, whenever they brought forward a general ro vision of the system of taxation of the country they should receive his support. Mr. LENNARD confessed that he looked upon the income-tax as being the most odious that could be levied or imposed, but he could not, at the same time, help recollecting the precarious position in which the country was placed. He voted the other night for the motion of the Hon. ibieniber for Cockermouth, because he was ~ convinced that some inquiry ought to bo instituted, with a view to make it as equal as possible on the whole cora !nullity. He had listened with great satisfaction to the able speeches made during the debate, but he considered them as totally irrelevant, for there could be no doubt that measures of free trade had become irrevocable, and that no chance existed of their retracing their steps- Had he been in the House he would have voted against those measnres, but now that they were carried, he was willing to give them every facility in his power. The only question before the House was, whether they should give the income-tax for three years or support the motion of the Hon. Member for Montrose, which limited it to one year. It was a sort of vote of confidence or censure on the Government, and he was not prepared to incur the responsibility of turning the Government out of office, and on that account he should support the propo sition of her Majesty's Ministers. Lord DRUMLANRIG had heard enough to convince !lim that the inequality of the tax was, if not altogether fabulous, at least very fabulous in many of the state ments put forward. He could not understand how any HoDourable Member, who voted for the repeal of the corn- laws, could now come forward and vote against the income-tax. He had not the honour of a seat ill that House when free-trade measures were passed, but considering the position in which the country was then placed with regard to its credit, he certainly felt bound to vote for the measure brought in by the Go vernment to continue the income-tax for three years longer. Mr. E. B. ROCHE could not, as an Irishman, give silent vote on the question then before the House. The people of England were at that moment suffering from the infliction of an unjust tax, and representing as he did the largest constituency in Ireland, he was anxious it should be understood that he was not actuated by any base, corrupt, or selfish motives in the vote he was about to give. It he for a moment doubted what course he ought to pursue, the speech of the Honourable Member for Westbury would remove that doubt, for he admitted the impost was most unfair and unjust ; and the speech of the Honourable—though not very secure —Member for Liverpool—(A laugh)—and last of all, the excuse of the Right Hun. Baronet, the father of the impost, for its continuance, by a comparison with se unjust law, which shut out from the working classes air and the light of heaven, left him no alternative. Looking at these tbinge, and recollecting the feeling which ex isted against the measure in London, Manchester, Liver pool, and all the great towns of England, all of which had declared against it, he was bound as a representative of the people, to vote for the motion of his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose. Ile should next turn to an other important question, namely, how he, as an Irish• man, as well as the other Irish Members, ought to vote. lle should say, that. he read with the greatest pain * speech said to have been made by his Hon. and Gal lant Friend the Member for Westminster, and the Hon. Baronet the Member for Marylebone, in which they alleged that the Irish Members were about to support the Government on that question. He would take the liberty of saying how they ought to act. What! sup port the Government, the individual at the head of which had said that he would rather see the people of Ireland dyed in bl oo d, t h an grant j ust i ce to them ? What ! support a Government who had sent a Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland, who was now reviewing his troops in the presence of the people, to prevent them. from expressing their opinions upon a question of deep consideration to them ? What ! go in to the lobby with the Hon. Member for Louth, as the loyal Swiss of the Minister, to do as he .desired ? He trusted that the popular representatives of Ireland would act in no such manner, but that they would act in such a way as would contribute to the weakness of the Government ot the country. Mr. HENLEY said that the lion. Member for Cork had introduced another element of discord into this dis cussion, for he suggested as a reason why the proposi tion of the Government should not be supported, that they had taken means to prevent the dismemberment of the empire —(Bear.) The Hon. Member then proceeded to contend that the measures of 1842 and 1845 had not tended to produce financial prosperity in the country; on the contrary, they led to the present difficulties. He also argued that the tree-trade policy had operated in a man ner not at all calculated to allay the fears of the country as to its results hereafter. He must also object to the observations of the Hon. Member for Westbury, in re ierence to the colonies; for he looked upon the welfare of the colonies to be identical with the prosperity of the the State, and therefore they ought not to be lightly dealt with. The Right Honourable Member for Oxford University (Mr. Gladstone) entered into a statement it figures to show that the silk trade was not injured by the operation of free trade. Now, what was the fact? Why, that the figures showed an increase of 80 percent. in respect to the importation of that class of silk whitish interfered with the silk weavers of Spitalfields. The operation of the present system was calculated to benefit the manufacturers, at the expense of the working men. I'hey ought not to sacrifice one class for the benefit of another. He did not complain of Hon. Gentlemen giving the people cheap food, because, as they were going to run the people in a race of difficulty, they ought at least to reduce the pressure upon them in respect to the ne cessaries of lite. But the whole system showed that the Government not only knew nothing of the financial con cerns of the country, but that they were equally unac quainted with the temper of the country. He believed the Government had not taken a safe course in respect to the finances of the country, yet he should not feel himself justified, in the present state of affairs, to limit the income-tax to one year.—(Hear, hear.) He should, therefore, support the proposition of the Govern. meat. He agreed with the Honourable Member for the town ot Newcastle, that instead of Honourable Gentlemen objecting to the income-tax, on the ground of the inequality, they ought to show how an equal amount of income could be raised by other means with less inconvenience to the people. In supporting the Government propositions, he did not mean to identify himself with that policy of the Government which brought about the present state of affairs. Mr. MOWATT said, as a Liberal Member, he would oppose the Government snd support the motion of the Hon. Member for Montrose. He should be ashamed o himself if he was considered to bo a supporter of the financial policy of the Government. He, however, thought the present Government had entirely failed to fulfil the expectations of the country. So far from being progressive, they adopted a retrograde policy. Ile had hoped they would have brought forward it plan of their own. The truth was, they were too aristocratic, and took their plans from a clique. Why did they not apply the probate duties to land? —(Blear, hear.) There had been levied between seventy and eighty millions of money upon move able property from that source, while not a farthing was imposed upon the land. He wished to know why the same duty was not imposed upon both ? The country was in a crisis, and they had a deficient revenue, be cause the expenditure was greater than the income. In this season of depression the Government demanded three millions and a half. Was this the course for middle-class Government to pursue ?—(Bear, hear.) They were represented to be a middle-class Govern ment, and if they were not that, they were no Govern ment at all. Why not revert to forest lands ; if they were sold they would meet the deficiency. The trade and commerce of the country was in a state of paraly sis. --(Protectionists' cheers.) That was not attributable to free trade.—(Hear, hear.) He scouted such a no tion—it was not worth while to refute it. The duty on corn at the present moment was seven shillings a quarter. It was stated that they wanted to remove taxation from themselves, and to impose it on others. They desired no such thing. All they wanted was to distribute the burthen the country had to bear equally on all. The Government showed great incapacity in making such a demand in the depressed state of the country—a demand for three millions, which they failed altogether to justify. Instead of retrenching, they asked for an increased expenditure of 600,000/. He . _ made great allowarces for them in consequence of the demands made upon them to increase the defences of the country; but that was a reason why they should have reduced thu expenditure. Whatrrer might be the V