The Sun. — London, England, 1848-02-04 00:00:00

A CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. Daniel Cruclgington, 33, shoemaker, and Joshua Kemp, 24, cabinet - make r, were i nd icted for the manslaughter of William Ives. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clerk conducted the prosecu tion for the Treasury ; Mr. Payne defended Crudg iagton. From the evidence of the witnesses it appeared that on the 24th of December the deceased, who was a poor labouring wan, was engsged in sweeping the road at Hackney, when the prisoners ran a ga i ns t hi m , and, on his inquiring their reason for such conduct, they abused him, and eventually made a most brutal a ttack upon him, the result of which was that four of his ribs were broken. He was taken to his house, where, it appeared, he was subsequently attacked by small-pox, that disease being latent in his system at the time the attack was made upon him, but he re covered from that malady, and ultimately died from the effects of the former injury. The jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for one )ear William Pollard surrendered to take his trial upon an indictment charging him with cutting and wound ing James Berry. This case was also prosecuted by Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clerk on behalf of the Treasury. Mr. Parnell appeared for the prisoner. From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner was the mate of a vessel called the Constance, which, on the day mentioned in the indictment , was unloadin g deals in a dock at Rotherhithe. The prosecutor and several other men were in the hold, engaged in put ting the deals through a port-hole on to the quay, and the prisoner, it appeared , had nailed a piece of board under the port-hole to prevent the edge from being torn by the deals. T his piece of board was knocked down by the deals passing over it, and the prisoner nailed it up, and repeated the operation three times, when it was again knocked down, and upon this it seemed that in a violent fit of passion h e threw the hammer into the bold with great violence, and it struck the prosecutor on the eye, and knocked it completely out of his head. The prisoner, it ap• peared, expressed his sorrow for the occurrence im mediately afterwards, and desired to make compensa tion to the prosecutor for the injury he had sustained. The jury found him Guilty of a common assault. Mr. PARNELL, on behalf of the prisoner, said he was instructed to repeat his expression of regret at the unfortunate result of his imprudent conduct, and he begged to inform the Court that 51. had already been given to the prosecutor, and a further sum of 101. would be raised for him by the prisoner's friends. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE said that was very small compensation for the loss of an eye. The prisoner was then sentenced to be imprisoned for six months, but the Learned Judge at the same time gave him an intimation that if he paid a fine of 401., which sum measures would be taken to have handed over to the prosecutor , t he sentence of im prisonment would be remitted. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Edward Wrixen, secretary to the Art Union, Suffolk-street, was brought before Mr. Hardwick, charged with having embezzled the sum of 61. 15s. belonging to the society, under these circumstances : Mr. Winter, of 205, OxforWstreet, stated that he obtained a 251. prize in the Art Union last year. Pre ferring another picture at 35 guineas, he paid the balance, 111. 1.5,, and on giving up his prize he be came possessed of the picture. Mr. George Stevens, treasurer, proved that the only amount he received from the prisoner in respect of this transaction was Si. In defence the prisoner said, he had authority from the artist to dispose of the picture The solicitor on behalf of the society said he could prove that the artist was dissatisfied with the transac tion. It would be shown at the next examination that the prisoner had embezzled money to a con siderable amount in a similar way. The prisoner was remanded till Wednesday next. WORSHIP-STREET. A well-dressed youth, named Thomas George Bass, was placed at the bar, charged under the following singular and suspicious circumstances : Kelly, a constable of the H division, stated, that while on duty in Great Garden-street, Spitalfields, between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, his atten tion was attracted to the prisoner, who had just got out of a cab, and was conversing with a woman in such a state of intoxication that he could scarcely stand. The prisoner was trying to get some money out of a purse, and at last succeeded by jerking out a number of sovereigns and half sovereigns, which rolled along the pavement. Witness picked up the money, amounting to 91., and retaining possession of it, took it and the prisoner to the station, where he was searched, and, in addition to another purse, nearly filled with silver, a valuable watch and chain, a pair of lady's kid gloves, and other articles, were found upon him. On recovering sobriety sufficiently to be able to comprehend anything, he was questioned by Inspector Ellis as to his possession of the property, and having stated that he was in the service Mrs. Mary Anne Howes, a draper in Whitechapel, said that the gloves, which were quite new, and other articles, were his own, and that the meney com prised his salary, which he had just been paid, and various presents he had received as Christmas-boxes from wholesale houses his mistress dealt with, and of which she herself had presented him with 10s. Mr. W. Sinter, foreman to Mrs. Howes, entirely contradicted this statement (the making of which by the accused was also deposed to by Inspector Ellis), and said, that so far from the prisoner receiving any thing like the amount of money found upon him for salary he was only an apprentice to Mrs. Howes, and was not to receive any money at all until the end of the first twelvemonth, of which only 10 months had expired. The prisoner had been suspected for some time past of dishonesty, in consequence of a lady informing Mrs. Howes that she had seen him place some money she had paid him for a purchase in his pocket instead of the till, and a watch was, therefore, kept upon his actions, but nothing resulted from it. The pair of 1 idy's gloves produced by the police, however, he could p. , sitively identify as his mis tress's property, as he had missed them a few days before, and on asking about them was told by the pri soner that he had sold them in regular course across the counter. Mrs. Howes ci•rohorated the last witness's evi dence, and -tested th,t t,lou. : h she had at various times green the prisoner trltilng suns, the whale did not amount to more than ioe or lls.; and she had not, as he had stated. presented him with any money for a Christmas-box. She also had suspected him for a long time of defrauding her, as a sovereign had been missed from a desk to which he had access, and, although a close inquiry was made after it, it was never recovered. She could likewise identify the gloves without hesitation as hers, she having pur chased them of a wh Jessie house in Wool-street, and, the leather having been imperfectly dressed, she had noticed a trifling defect in them while offering them to a customer, who had refused them on that ac count. A woman named Cooke, in whose company the prisoner was found at the time he was taken care of by the police, deposed to accidentally meeting the prisoner, who escorted her to the theatre, and then to a saloon, where he paid for wine and other refresh ments for both with get at liberality, and afterwards called a cab, while hunting for the hire of which he rolled out the gold as before described. Mr. Ashley addressed the magistrate on behalf of the accused, pointing out the defectiveness of the evi fence produced in fixing his client with any dis honesty, and considered that it might be taken that e s he had honestly pu rc h ased th gloves, which consti tuted the only suspoicwio4serc,ir.wcuamosftance against him. Mr. ARNOLD, however, and considering the appropriati on eoa different opinion, of the gloves, at all e vents, clearly established, order e d the prisoner to be com mitted for trial for steali ng them. The n, father, there a very respectable-locking man, exhibited the greatest affliction wpasrisone present,r's at his son's position. SOUTHWARK. ht beforee o f r Catherine Boyle , a y o u n g w o man, the da ug hte r a harness - maker in Kent-street, was brought Mr. Seeker, cha r g ed with creatin g a disturbance in front of her father's house. The complainant, a well.dressed man in comparison to his daughter, who was miserably clad, stated, that on the previous night she cattle to his house, and i n consequence of his refusal to give her some money, which he was not in a situation to do, she made a great noise, abused him, collected a crowd, and he was compelled to give her into custody. The daughter (crying) said, that her father closed his doors against her, and that as she had nowhere else to go she went to his house to beg of him to give her as much as would get a lodging, but he refu-ed, and she admitt e d th a t she trade a noise on his refusa l. Mr. SECKER. asked the father why he did not let the girl into his house instead of allowing her to re - main in the streets? The father, in reply, • said that he had two other children to maintain, 1 - at_he was in very bad circum stances, stances, and could tiie c ic o t )t rn a p t l f a o i rd t t , o , s?pport the daughter who 1‘ i had r . sE , made K a i t told the father I., t 4 h i a n t s t h3 h i his house ho ha hm d i; Ikt admit his daughterinto p r l e a f e u e s d a 1 her e t o r for he must be well in a most dangerous posit': aware of the hazard of penunniit. a young girl like weatheronndon her to perambulate,the streets oTff, at night, i n . dependently of the s: , ver.• The father said that she could workhouse, and lie reiterated that he '' ha , v , w prev . albe g . "PPiied to the ' to support her. WE , quite u na bl e ; The girl said that she did apply for admission to :i t iEsp,.. the workhouse, but was refused, " and where else," 4- 1 ,-- - .7-7 - - added she, ." bad I to go, but my father's house ?" c• 1- 4 ._ Mr. Sscazz severely censured the father's cond uc t -.- _.. . li , -,r,PA 41. ,,- .., - ; , :f1 r'" • t $ I s THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY ETENING, FEBRUARY 4 1848. on the occasion,`and said his excuse of not being able to support her was of no avail, for he was bound as a parent to share with her, and at least shelter her until he obtained some situation for her. The magis trate added, that if the father still persevered in not finding a home for his daughter, she must again apply at the workhouse, describe the circumstances under which she was kept from her home, and he had no doubt she would be relieved, and the parochial autho rities would take special care that whatever expenses they might be put to on her account they would make her father reimburse them. lie then discharged the girl, much to the astonishment of the father, who intimated that he fully expected the magistrate would have placed her in such a situation that she would not call again at his house to annoy him, ATTACHING A DWELLING-HOUSE ARMED.-Pa trick Rourke, Daniel Tierney, John Gorman, John Smith, and Edward Hogan—all young men under 25 years of age—were indicted for attacking the habita tion of Wm. Ralph, at Coolbawn, in this county, in the month of November last. Evidence having been given, The jury convicted the prisoners, who were sen tenced to eighteen months' imprisonment each. THE COERCION BILL.—John Kennedy, a young man about twenty-five years of age, was indicted for a breach of the late Act of Parliament, by having a pistol in his possession, in a proclaimed district, he not being duly authorised to carry arms; The prisoner pleaded guilty, and put in documents to show that he was ignorant of the law. His Lordship sentenced the prisoner to a fortnight's imprisonment. ATTACKING A HOUSE ARMED.—Thomas Cleary, Thomas Magrath, John Bryan, and Daniel Ryan, all young men, were indicted for attacking the dwelling house of Patrick Ryan, at Lieduff, in this county, on the 10th of December last, and stealing arms and money, his daughter's property. Evidence was given to prove the charge, and Mr. Rolleston having been beard for the defence, ex amined witnesses to prove an alibi for the prisoner Magrath. The CHIEF JUSTICE then charged the jury, who were in consultation at post hour. The Court will finally rise to-night; and it is ex pected that the Commission will, at its rising, be ad journed to the 15th of next month. The Chief Baron is still confined to his bed from a severs attack of influenza. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. ARRIVAL OF SIR H. SMITH. We have received Cape of Good Hope papers to the 4th Deeember inclusive, which bring us the gratify ing intelligence of the safe arrival of Sir Harry Smith, the new Governor, and suite, in the Vernon. on the Ist of that month. He appeared in excellent health and spirits, and met with a cordial reception from all ranks and classes of the people. Sir Harry at once proceeded to the Government House, where he was duly installed into office. In the evening Cape Town was brilliantly illuminated, when the streets were filled with moving columns of decent, orderly people, highly delighted with all they saw and beard, The frontier journals inform us that Col. Somerset had succeeded in effecting the passage of the Kye,— an important fact in this stage of the Kafir war. The chief Pato, in his difficulty, had expected to have received shelter from Krell, which, however, the latter refused; the former, therefore, recrossed the Kye. Information of that fact was immediately communicated to Captain M'Lean, the British Com missioner, and no doubt existed but Pato would either be captured by the British troops, who were in close pursuit of him, or that he would be com pelled to surrender. We annex extracts : (From the Zuid Afrihaan of Dec. 2.) Sir Harry Smith, our new Governor, his lady and staff, arrived here yesterday in the Vernon. His Excellency and suite landed about a quarter to twelve o'clock at the north jetty, and proceeded from thence, amidst loud cheers from the populace, to Government House, where about one o'clock the' usual oaths were administered to his Excellency. The whole town was last night brilliantly illuminated as a mark of the respect of the inhabitants towards the distinguished individual whom they had the honour to welcome as their Governor. Addresses from the Cape Town municipality and the mercantile body were presented to Sir Harry after he had been sworn in. (From the Graham's Town Journal of Nov. 27.) The Kafirland mail which came in yesterday an nounces the important fact of Colonel Somerset having, with about 900 men, effected the passage of the Kye at the Bridle Drift. This force consists of the Cape Mounted Rifles, and Hogg's Levies, all in light marching order, having supplies only for about five days. The general,: with the main body of the troops, were to move towards Fort Warden, ready to improve any advantage which might arise from this forward movement, or to afford, in case of need, support to Colonel Somerset. The mail from Kafirland brings intelligence up to the 23d inst. By this opportunity we learn that Krcli has refused to afford shelter to Pato, and that the latter has in consequence recrossed the Kye. It seems that Colonel Somerset, after crossing that river, very soon got on the spoor of the retreating enemy. But finding that . Pato had doubled upon him, he detached Captain Hogg with his levy, and Captain O'Reilly with one hundred men in pur suit, and who found that the enemy bad turned sharp round, and re-crossed the Kye towards the country occupied by the Chief Umhala. The cattle driven in this direction were estimated to amount to 1,500 head, all apparently oxen. The Kafirs in charge of these were mounted, Ln i moved forward, notwithstanding their encum brance, so rapidly that all attempts to overtake them proved fruitless, arising partly, however, from the fact of their having, on fording the Kye, divided the cattle into several droves, and gone off with them in different directions. Part of them seemed to take the direction of the very centre of the territory allotted to Umhala, in consequence - cf which an express was immediately dispatched to Captain APLean, British Commissioner, acquainting him with the circumstance. We understand that he has since called upon Umhala to explain this circumstance, and hopes are entertained that the enemy will be caught in the toils which are spread for him, though considerable doubt exists as to whether Pato himself is actually west of the Kye, as has been confidently stated. Should such be the fact, then there is every reason to expect he will sur render ere long to the British troops. About 400 head of cattle were taken in the course of these operations ; but we regret to say that Ensign Green, C.M.R., son of the Deputy Commissary General, in charge at this place, was severely wounded. It appears that while riding in the rear of the column on the march, four or five Kafirs fired on him from an ambuscade, a ball striking him on the thigh and pas sing through the muscular part of it. The wound, we are glad to say, is not considered dangerous. The accounts before us speak of this pursuit as a most laborious affair, the men having to subsist for four days on meat alone—neither, bread, biscuit, or spirits to be had, and their only cover from the wea ther the clothes on their buck, and the shelter of the bush. (From the Frontier Times of Nov. 23.) Private intelligence has been received here from some farmers residing near Mooi River, detailing the melancholy intelligence of the murder of Miehil Combrink, and one or two of his sons, by a party of Corannas, who it appears attacked and butchered them without any warning. The emigrants in the neigh • bourhood, immediately on the alarm being spread, collected together and defeated the Corannas, killing the captain and many of his followers. Some of the emigrants are said to have been wounded. The whole part of th a t c oun t r y i s re p resen t e d as b e i ng in a very great state of excitement in consequence of the murder of Combrink and his two sons, and the Corannas, no less daunted, vow vengeance against the emigrants for the loss of their captain. It is fully expected that a large Commando of Boers will be made to repulse the marauding Corannas. LONDON AND COUNTY BANK. The annual general meeting of the proprietors of the London and County Bank was held yesterday afternoon at the London Tavern ; Mr. Frith, chairman of the board of the directors, in the chair. _ _ The report stated that the financial statement showed a reduction in the amount of customers' balances, yet the increased current rate of interest had enabled the directors to report a profit nearly equal to that of last year. The directors therefore would recommend that a dividend at the rate of six per cent. per annum, free of income-tax, he declared for the past year. After paying that dividend and providing for bad debts there would still be a surplus of 8641. 17s. 3d. which would be carried to the reserved fund, which, with this addi tion, would amount to 25,6161. It appeared from the balance-sheet that the capital amounted to 200,6001.—the customers, balances to 1,225,1201. ls., and the net profit for the half year, after paying 9,7811. 15s. for interest to customers, to 6,8821. lls. 3d. On the other side of the account there appeared an item of 265,822/. Bs. 10d. for cash in hand ; 1,140,889/. 7s. 3d. for securities, discounted bills, &c., and lastly, 18,814/. 14s. ld. for preliminary expenses. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, and the dividend having been declared pay able on Monday, the 14th of February, some routine business was gone through, and the meeting termi nated with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. THE HIGH-PRESSURE STYLE.—Expansion and con densation are always busy abuat a newspaper, the former amplifying upon local news, the latter sifting intellt?-calec from abroad. If a doghouse burn down in the city, the distressing intelligence should occupy a column. But if the details of terrific calamities out of the city fall in the way of the scissors they must be compressed into a paragraph. Things are valuable in proportion to their scarcity. Brevity makes queer work sometimes, as for instance:—Suicide, James Dodd, 23, soap-boiler, wife, one boy, two girls, jealous, poor, boiling fat, jumped in, died.—Boston Chronctype. Cu K r li ng RIHICNITuIb, LL c O o r bi„ —Four rinks ripnlaykseorfs, metthe a K n i rekg ual c reservoirs h belongin g num ber of the Mil ton of Campsie Curling Club, on one of the to the Llilyburn Print Works, on Saturday last, from halt -past Ito half-past 4 o'clock P.M. to play a friendly match. The ice was in splendid con diton, and after a very k een game, the Miltonians came of victors by 36 shots. HYDRAULIC TELEGRAPH. We lately inspected a new species of telegraph, produced from the action of water, patented by Mr. Jowett, which appears to us very simple and ingenious, and is likely to excite some attention, both from its own merits and from the interest which is taken in this means of communication at present. The idea of using water as a medium by which to communicate from place to place arose from its well-known incom pressibility, and we find Mr. Jowett quoting, in his prospectus, from Dr. Lardner, the following passage, which conveys the leading feature of his invention : " A pressure excited on the liquid at one end of the tube will be communicated to any surface in contact with the liquid at the other end, whether the tube between the two extremities be straight, curved, or angular, or whether it pass upwards, downwards, or in an oblique or horizontal direction. It may be carried through the walls of a building, through the course of a river, under, over, or around any obstruc tion or impediment, or, in fact, according to any course or direction whatsoever. "If a tube, filled with water, extended from London to York, a pressure excited on the liquid at the extremity in London would be instantaneously transmitted to the extremity at York." There is, perhaps, a limit to this doctrine, where curves and undulations are to be overcome, and also from the cohesive power of the particles of water to that with which they are in contact. The model now exhibiting consists of a small tube with a piston and indicator at each end. An up right plate contains the letters of the alphabet, the first letter being at the top of the plate at one sta tion, and at the bottom of the plate at the other. Thus, if a telegraph of this description were laid down from London to York, the indicator, if pointing to the letter A, would be at the top of the plate at the former place, and at the bottom at the latter. As the one piston descends, the other, from the pressure of the water, ascends in exact proportion, each indicator pointing to the same letter. In the model, as we have stated, the plates containing the letters are placed upright; but it will be easily seen that a horizontal dial can also be used, by means of a rack upon the piston and toothed pinion to guide the indicating hand. This dial may contain two or more circles, into which contracted sentences on any number of subjects can be inserted, the indicator being shortened so as to meet each circle. If it were wanted to communicate any in telligence upon railways, as an example, suppose the contracted sentences relating to this subject were in the inner circle, the first intimation would be to shorten the indicator, so that its point would ex actly touch the words which are to be commu nicated. If a line of pipes were laid flown from any given distance, each intermediate station would be com municated with by means of branch pipes. To each piston a bell is attached, and the first motion would sound this, putting every one on the qui the. If the communication were intended for the first station, the bell would strike one, and so on for the others. Without passing any strong opinion as to the merits of this invention, we must say that its ex treme simplicity struck us as an advantage of great importance. The difficulties which may at first sight strike the observer, such as getting over heights above the level of the stations, are what upon con sideration it will be seen can be got over by local ap pliances. Perhaps the most serious would arise from the fact that the pipes will require to be placed under ground so far as to keep them from atmospheric in fluence, for in the event of any breakage taking place, it would be difficult indeed to tell the precise locality of the accident. In the case of wires as used at pre sent, any damage they may sustain is easily found out, and can be as easily remedied; but in the case of underground pipes filled with water, unless, indeed, this agent be in sufficient body to force itself to the" surface, we do not see how an accident can occur without causing much labour and cost. The inventor claims for his plan over the present electric telegraph greater economy in construction to 9 the extent of two-thirds, no expense whatever after the first outlay, and the impossibility of any physical impediment interfering with its work ing. Giving Mr. Jowett every credit for his inge nuity in bringing into practical operation a great principle in natural philosophy, we must demur to the conclusions he has come to. All things are liable to destruction, and must be replaced ; height, depth, sinuosity, and distance are impediments which, even in the case of water, and notwithstanding its in elasticity, must he got over, and these cannot be ac complished without outlay. We admit, however, that his plan would be less expensive in every way than tije electric telegraph, and is certainly not liable to the objection that the agent used is apt to lose its power, thus rendering constant superintendence ne cessary. The plan, whether generally adopted or not, is certainly well worthy of consideration, and Tu• one can examine the model without being struck with the principle which it so beautifully illustrates. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 3. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. JEWISH DISABILITIES. The Earl of ST. GERMANS presented two peti tions from places in Cornwall against the removal of the disabilities complained of by the Jews. HIGHWAYS (SCOTLAND). Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from the town council of Cupar, in Fife, complaining of the present defective condition of the management of the highways in Scotland. The petitioners stated that the cost of collection was equal to 50 per cent. upon the amount realised, and prayed for remedial measures. SUPERANNUATION TO POOR-LAW OFFICERS. _ _ The Duke of Ricumortn and Lord MONT.. EAGLE presented petitions, praying that a measure might be passel to effect this object. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Lord PORTMAN presented two petitions from Van Diemen's Land, signed by a large number of the inhabitants, praying that transportation might be abolished, that free emigration might be promoted (the very existence of the colony, they stated, de pending upon such emigrants), and for a local assembly. The Noble Lord dwelt upon the import ance of such a body, and instanced the presentation of the petition respecting transportation after it had been abolished as a strong evidence in favour of granting the prayer of the petition. JEWISH EMANCIPATION. The Marquis of WESTMINSTER presented several petitions in favour of the emancipation of the Jews. Earl FITZHARDINGE presented several peti tions to the same effect. DENUNCIATIONS FROM THE ALTAR. Lord STANLEY , presented a petition from some place in Durham, praying their Lordships to adopt some measure to prevent denunciations by Catholic priests in Ireland from the altar. NATIONAL DEFENCES. The Earl of HARD WICKE asked whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Ministers to bring for ward the question of the national defences, on which subject he (the Noble Earl) had a motion on the paper in this House of Parliament? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE (who was almost inaudible in the gallery) was understood to say that the subject would be first of all brought forward in the other House of Parliament. Their Lordships then adjourned. ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 3. The House of Commons resumed its sittings to-day, after the Christmas recess. The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock. NEW MEMBERS. Mr. Hayter, for Wells, Mr. Matheson, for Ross, Mr. Edward Ellice, jun., for St. Andrew's, the Earl of Shflburne, for Calne, Mr. Ormsby Gore, for Shrop shire, Mi. Locke, for Honiton, Mr. Charles Goring, for Shoreham, and Mr. Henry, for South Lancashire, took the oaths and their seats. PRIVATE AND RAILWAY BILLS. Petitions were presented for leave to bring in Bills by Mr. James Clay, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Cripps, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. George Thompson, and Mr. Alderman Thompson. Among the Bills for which leave was asked to be brought in by the peti tioners were the Londonderry and Enniskillen Rail way, the Blackwall Railway, the Dundee and Ar broath Railway, the Dundee and Perth Railwa', and the Aberdeen Railway. CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. The SPEAKER informed the House that he had received information from the Examiner of Petitions, that the recognieances of the petitioners, complaining of undue elections in the borough of Dundalk, Scar borough, the county of Monmouth, the city of Dublin, the counties of Longford and Sligo, had been found to be unobjectionable; that the petition com plaining of undue election in the borough of Athlone had been found to be objectionable. He also informed the House that the petitions complaining of the re turn to the boroughs of Drogheda, Hythe, and Staf ford, had been withdrawn. BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY LAWS. Mr. BAINES presented a petition from the mer chants and shipowners of Hull, praying for an Alteration in the present Bankruptcy and Insolvency laws. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Sir R. INGLIS presented saveral petitions against the removal of the civil and religious disabilities of the Jews ; also against the Catholic Relief, and Catholic Charities Bills. INTRAMURAL INTERMENTS. Mr. C. LUSHINGTON presented a petition nu merously signed by the inhabitants of Westminster, praying the House to adopt some measure for the prevention of intramural interments. SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS. Mr BROTHERTON presented a pe ion from Salford, praying the House to adopt spec and effec tual measures with respect to the .. sanitary question. there were any documents of an official nature on the sulject alluded to by the Honourable Member that could be laid before the House. He had stated on a former occasion that he should take an opportunity of stating generally what had been done both by the present and former Governments in this country, and he begged now to state that when he made his finan cial statement, of which he had given notice, he would bring forward that subject. THE NAVIGATION LAWS.-THE UNITED STATES. Mr. ROBINSON wished to know from the Noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any correspondence had taken place between the Government of this country and the Government of the United States respecting the navigation laws ; and, if so, whether he intended to lay copies of the correspondence on the table ?—(Hear, hear.) Lord PA LME RSTON Correspondence has taken place between the American Minister and myself on the subject to which the Honourable Member refers. The American Minister ex plained to me the position in which the Govern ment of the United States stood with reference to these laws, and stated that that Government would go hand in hand with the Government of this country with respect to any alteration which the Government of this country might deem advisable in these laws.—(Cheers) The answer I returned expressed the satisfaction which the Government had derived from the communication, at the same time stating that it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to make a proposition to Parliament with respect to the navigation laws. I have no objection to lay copies of the communications before Parliament. THE WEST INDIAN INTEREST. Sir R. 11. INGLIS wished to know if it was the intention of the Noble Lord (Lord G. Bentinck) to bring forward the motion which stood in his name on the paper (No. 5) respecting the West Indian in terests, as he had a petition to present on the subject from Antigua ? Lord G. BENTINCK—Not anticipating any op position, it is my intention, with permission of the House, to bring forward the motion at any hour of the night at which I may be afforded an opportunity of so doing. Sir It. H. INGLIS then presented the petition to which he referred. It w a s fr om A n ti gua , complaining of the injury to which colonial landowners were subjected from the admission of slave-grown sugar into this country, and praying the House to devise a speedy and effectual remedy. Mr. Hume presented a petition from the Council of the island •f Nevis to the same effect, and another with a similar prayer, from the associations of Nest Indian merchants in London and the city of Glasgow; as also did Mr. Goulburn, from Bermuda; Mr. Ellis, from Tobago; Mr. Macgregor, from a number of places, praying that a duty of 153. might be levied upon all foreign sugar above the duty levied upon British ; and by Sir E. N. Buxton, from the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Association, stat ing that the Sugar Bill of 1846 had led to an increased demand for slaves, and praying the House to use its utmost exertions to repress the horrible traffic. As a preliminary step the peti tioners prayed the House to institute an inquiry into the Act, as far as it bore upon the slave trade, and to substitute a measure which would wholly exclude slave grown sugar from the home market. ENCUMBERED ESTATES BILL In answer to a question put by Mr. B. Osborne, Lord J. RUSSELL stated that it was the intention of the Government to, bring forward the Encumbered Estates Bill in the course of a few days in the House of Lords. NEW ZEALAND BILL. Mr. LABOUCHERE stated, in answer to a question put by Lord Lincoln, that it was the in tention of the Government to proceed with the New Zealand Bill to-morrow it possible. MISCONDUCT OF OMNIBUS DRIVERS. Colonel SIB mom) stated that in consequence of the gross misconduct of the omnibus drivers, there was great danger to aged and infirm persons who were in the habit of travelling in the metropolis. lie had himself, upon several occasions, very narrowly escaped receiving serious injuries, and he trusted that the Secretary of State for the Home Department would adopt some measure to put down the nuisance. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL rose for the pur pose of obtaining leave to bring in four Bills to facilitate the performance of the duties of justices of the peace. It would not be necessary for him to interpose between the House and the motion of the Noble Lord (Lord George Bentinek), by entering at any great length into the details of his measures. Although there might be differences of opinion in that House with respect to the quantity of power to be given to the magistrates, still there could be no doubt that it was the duty of the house to protect those persons in the due discharge of their duties.—(Hear, hear.) It was at present very difficalt for the magistrates to discharge their duties without being subject to many vexations actions. — lie thought that he should be able, by means of these four Bills, to combine the provisions of the numerous acts now in existence relative to the subject. In three of the present acts he had introduced othiog new ; his object had been to se lect and embody together the various enact ments and decisions which regulated the conduct and performance of the duties of magistrates. One of the present Bills contained a provision for enabling magistrates to hold special sessions in a more fitting and appropriate manner than they were at present held, by causing suitable buildings, when required, to be erected for the purpose, instead of holding their ses sions, as they were now frequently compelled to do, in public-houses ; also a provision for the payment of ma gistrates' clerks by salary instead of by fees. The Bill would also contain a proviso for equalising the fees in all parts of the country. The power of receiving the fees was to be accounted for to the country. The other was a Bill to facilitate the performance of the duties of the justices of peace out of sessions within England and Wales, with respect to persons charged with indictable offences. The third Bill was one to facilitate the performance of the duties of justices of the peace out of sessions within England and Wales, with respect to summary convictions and orders. The last of the measures was to make the whole sub ject coeiplete, and wss calculated to afford adequate protection to the magistrates in the discharge of their duties. Should the House agree with him upon the prin ciple of the measures, and afford them a second reading, he should be quite content to allow the next session to intervene before they proceeded to Committee upon the Bilis. Numerous improvements mi g ht , no doubt, be made in the course of the discus• sion upon the Bills ; and he should be most happy to receive the assistance of lion. Members on either side of the House. The subject was a very large one, and although the present measure might not be perfect, still he thought that it was a step in the right direction. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON would follow the example of his Learned Friend the Attorney-General, and refrain from making any extended observations on the sketch which his Learned Friend had given of the Bills. He c on f esse d , h owever, that he h a d li stene d with some anxiety to hear what the intentions of his Hon. and Learned Friend upon this subject were, and he could not help briefly expressing his thanks for the admirable, though concise, sketch which he had given of the measures. The object his Hon. and Learned Friend had in view was certainly most praiseworthy, and he for one sincerely trusted he would he able to accomplish it. He entirely concurred with his Honourable and Learned Friend that any arrangement that could be made for prevent ing the holding of petty sessions, was of the greatest importance ; but he was afraid the expense of such a change would be found a great difficulty in the way of accomplishing it.—(Hear, hear.) h Mr. CRIPPS wishe d to know whether the Bills would limit the power of the judges of the local courts with regard to actions Tor limited damages. Ile did not know whether the Honourable and Learned Gentleman had heard any complaints upon that point, but he could assure the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that they were exceedingly common, for actions for damages, wi'h the view of harassing magistrates, were daily being brought in these local courts. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the Bills did not embrace the point alluded to by the Honourable Member; but, of course, if the Committee and the House determined that the Bill should take cognizance of this matter, he could have no objection to it. Mr. lIUME hoped, if the publie,were not to have the protection of the law against the improper proceedings of justices of the peace, Government would adopt some rule, providing that no indi vidual should be appointed a magistrate, until he was fit and duly qualified for the office. For his part, however, he was opposed to all unpaid services. Such an opinion, coming from him, might seem strange; but upon taking a list of the public departments, he had generally found from the highest to the lowest cffices , that were unpaid hey services appeared, it invariably happened had to he paid for indirectly, or m e so ed some improper mode.—(Hear, hear.) He, therefore, held that they were in error, in having so many unpaid magistrates. Leave was then given to bring in the Bills. IRISH SPECIAL COMMISSION. (From Saunders's News Letter of Wednesday.) CLoNmEL, TUESDAY, FED. I.—The Lord Chief Justice sat this morning at half past ten o'clock. I regret to say the Chief Baron is still confined to the house. CAPITAL CONVICTIONS.—SENTENCES UPON FIVE CoNvicrs.—The several prisoners convicted in the course of last week of capital offences, having been placed at the bar to receive sentence, The Clerk of the Crown (Henry Peddar, Esq.), asked them if they had anything to say why sentence of death and execution should not be pronounced upon them ? - All the prisoners remained perfectly silent but two, John Lonergan, who said—" A long day, my Lord" —and Henry Cody, who in speaking of his brother and himself, replied that they were not guilty. The CHIEF JUSTICE then put on the black cap and addressed them as follows :---- John Lonergan, you have been indicted and found guilty of the wilful and deliberate murder of Mr. William Roe. Henry and Philip Cody, you have both been in dicted and found guilty of the wilful murder of Edward Madden. Terence Corboy, you have been found guilty of a like crime, of the murder of Patrick Gleeson ; and you, John Daly, of a malicious assault upon Mr. Richard Uniacke Bailly, with intent to murder him. In point of fact you are all murderers, for although the life of Mr. Bailly has been, by the mercy of God, preserved, you John Daly have been found guilty of having made an attack on him which endangered his life—an attack with intent to murder; you are there fore a murderer in intention, although by the mercy of God not in act. I feel it impossible to conceive a more awful or heartrending spectacle than you all now represent. Five men in the prime of life—in the vigour of manhood—stand at that bar to hear a sentence by which their days will be numbered and their lives cut short. I would that in the conside ration of any of your cases I could discover one mitigating fact—one gleam of humanity ; but I am bound to say j,hat the cases of one and all of you present instances of crime of the most atro cious charade* instigated by a vindictive and sanguinary 1 s 'tit. In every one of your cases there was d " p premeditation, and a long in terval betwee the formation and execution of your murderous designs—an interval, God knows, long enough to have awakened in you some sense of pity or compassion—some degree of compunction or remorse—but all- f iii iled ; you went forward to your fell and deadly purpose—that purpose accomplished by means so desperate—so incorrigibly wicked was the hearts of those who plotted and executed these atrocious deeds. The whole course of your crimes have been marked by unrelenting cruelty, and by that cowardice which is always attendant on a cruelly vindictive spirit. You armed yourselves with deadly weapons —you lay in wait for your victims—you took them when they were not prepared—when they were defenceless ; when they were incapable of resisting ; when they expected no danger, you sent them with all their sins on their heads into the presence of Almighty (lod. Yes, in the cue of one and all of you, you stand there convicted, not of murder, caused by any sudden resentment or excitement, or infirmity of our nature, but you stand there convicted of the worst species of crime—of the crime of assassi nation, of the worst form of murder, in the most hateful shape which that horrible crime can assume. There you are in the prime of manhood, branded with the character of assassins, a disgrace to your country, and a disgrace to human nature. Oh, that the spectacle which now presents itself to the world may work out the great ends of reformation, and the prevention of crime that those who are pursuing the course which has led to your destruction, oh ! that they may see in your fate the fate that surely awaits them if they will not be warned and deterred. If there be no other material—no other means by which such men can be reformed—at least let them know that the course of law—although it is slow—is sure, and that sooner or later murder will be tracked, discovered, and brought to condign punishment. If I were to review in detail the proceedings on every one of your trials, I could point out instance upon instance that prove the power of Almighty God in prociucing accidents, and bringing accident of the most trifling character to bear upon the one great end—that of bringing mur derers to justice—that of revealing and establish ing the truth. There are other classes who ought to take a lesson of warning from your fate. There are those who have taught you to avenge your own wrongs—who have justified, palliated, and excused your crimes, and who must be respon sible for the consequences—the consequences exhi bited in your dreadful cases--such doctrines, and such teaching has, as far as any effect can be produced, been the case. . There is another class to whom I must advert, and my wonder is that all that has occurred has made no impression on them. Some of you have wives—some have pa rents—some have children—all have friends and relatives. Have they done their duty ? Have they warned you against the crimes that have brought you to destruction ? Have they known your designs ? and have they warned you against the perpetration of them ? Have they endeavoured to prevent you ? Have they endeavoured by their influence to save you ? Sorry am Ito say, from what I have observed, that friends and relatives—those to whom you ought to be true, and your protection ought to be the first object—have actively concurred in bringing you to the place where you now stand ; because if they did not prevent they have in some degree caused those crimes which brought you here. Let your fate be a warning to them, and whatever may be the ca lamity end fllictiou which your death visits on friends and relatives, let it be to others a warning in crimi nal cases actively to interfere, and when they can, by their influence save from destruction those who are going in the same path. Think not that when I have used such strong terms of reprobation that I am actuated by any vindictive spirit, or a desire to insult you, nothing could be more abhorrent to my feelings, more foreign to my duty ; but if I could command language ten thousand times stronger, I would use it fur the purpose of indelibly impressing on your minds abhorrence for your crimes and abhorrence for yourselves. I wouN do so, because that abhorrence and self condemnation is the only sure ground of sincere repentance—is your only title to salvation through the merits of our blessed Lord and Saviour. This is language you will hear from those to whose spiritual care you will be confided, and of whose care I implore you to avail yourselves, for remember the rest of your lives are only spared to you that you may be prepared to die. lam now about to pro nounce the dreadful sentence of the law, which consigns you all to an ignominious death and which consigns you, as convicted mur derers, to an ignominious burial; your remains —the law says—must be buried, and your graves must be " within the precincts of a gaol." There you will lie, side by side with murderers, and your ashes will moulder and mingle with theirs until the final day of judgment, " when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised." Upon you it depends whether that trumpet shall summon you to hear a sentence of forgiveness and of mercy, or a sentence of everlasting misery ; use, therefore, that time which yet remains to you to " prepare to meet your God." Short as it is, a sincere repentance for your past sins will be sufficient to effect a reconciliation with your offended Maker. His Lordship in con clusion sentenced the five prisoners to be hanged— John Lonc rgan, Henry Cody, and Philip Cody, on the Ist of March, and John Daly and Terence Cor yOn the 4th of the same month—all the convicts n b T e lho b es u s r o i r ed lif w e. ithin the precincts of the gaol in which a syllabi they were confined since their conviction, with the exce ption of Daly , whose crime did not terminate in t? th uttering they appeared wildly round, than has been display e d g b y a larly placed durin g the e ss able fact, that in these tried in Limerick and Clare, received in solemn silence unfortunate men were then removed without to e . to the Court, or to one another— they stupified arid stared _g n r o e t ater degree of terror any of the parties sitri casmesission. It is a remark ninnesthietc, capital csses a an s u h o ri un k cem . announcem ent was a w g i t v h e e n or . f a tear shed—although in some insta nces in others the father or mother, and in others t ime children of the convicts, listening to the sentence of the law which was to consign those nearest and dearest to them to a premature and disgraceful death. ADJOURNMENT OF THE COMMISSION.—The Hon. Mr. PRITTIE (foreman of the grand jury) having come into court and asked if there were more bills to be sent before them, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied in the negative ; but stated that tie pro, osed moving an adjournment of the Commis-ion before his Lordship rose. The ( ni..r JusTice—Then, Gentlemen, for the p se r r e v s zts ya a e g ye ain r exe e u g se u d ired fr , om yo a u tte w nd il i l ng g . et I p f r y op ou er r notice. The grand jury here retired. - J _ - • . MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECKS A correspondent from Lerwick has sent us the fol lowing account of two distressing shipwrecks which occurred off the south coast of Shetland on the 213: and 22d of January, by which several lives have been lost : " All this week it has blown furiously from the south and south-west. It is most distressing to hear of the wrecks that are still taking place. A large Dutch, or rather a Prussian ship, has been wrecked on Noss on Thursday last, and out of twelve only two saved. She was in ballast, but had a great deal of money on board, which she had received for her cargo. It is one of the most melancholy shipwrecks that has happened here yet, as it was ten o'clock in the morning, and near the shore, and plenty of people witnessing it; and still no assistance could be rendered the drown ing men for the fearful sea that was running . It is a curious thing that all the men could swim but the two that were saved, and still they were all drowned but these two. The captain and mate, after putting a great deal of money on their persons, jumped overboard, expecting to swim to land, when they were soon dashed to pieces by the broken wreck and rocks; six were on the mainmast when it broke, an all were lost ; the two saved got on a piece of the deck, and with the greatest difficulty were saved by the people throwing a rope with wood and stones attached to it, and then were pulled ashore, much crushed and bruised; one of them is not able to be out of bed yet. It seems they were quite close to their own place, when the storm arose and drifted them off to here. On Thursday morning they saw Sumbury Head, and one of the sea men, who had been a fisherman, and in Shetland before, volunteered to the captain to take them into Lerwick harbour, and so the charge of the vessel was given over to him, and he had mistaken Noss Sound for Bressay Sound, and the conse quences have been what I have described. Poor creatures ! when the accident happened, they had only one biscuit on board, and been living for some days on oranges. Next day (Friday) there was another most distressing thing occurred : it was a fearful gale and sea at the time, when a huge ship was seen close in to the point of Bressay, .showing signals of distress, but no boat could put off to her; one Bressay boat attempted it, but had to desist for their lives, so on she went to her destruction, it is supposed ; for it is believed she will never be heard of, or then wrecked on the' Skerries. The Giffords, the pilot-men , went to the itony-hill, and with their glass saw her passing on just on the' Skerries.' She is supposed to have lost her rudder, and drifting at the mercy of the wind. I believe the vessel was a foreigner." —.Edinburgh Advertiser. DISTRESS IN PAISLEY.—A. meeting of Noblemen, Commissioners of Supply, Justices of the Peace, and Magistrates of towns, in the county of Renfrew, was held in Paisley on Tuesday, to take into consideration the distress prevailing among the operative population of Paisley and neighbourhood. The Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow officiated as chairman. A very distress ing account was given by various speakers of the poverty and want prevailing in Paisley, and of the inability of the rate-payers to provide the funds requisite for their relief. Mr. Farquharson stated that of 7,800 residenters in the town liable to be assessed, there were 5,000 under 5/. of yearly rent ; and while the Parochial Board required the sum of 3,0001. for the ordinary poor this year the assessment levied was 8,0001, of which only 1,0531. had been raised. For his own part he believed of the town, so that it was morally imposs ibl e f or the that 7,5001. would not cover the expenditu re for the poor collector to get the assessment. A letter was read from Provost Murray, stating that he had an interview with Sir George Grey and other officials, with the view of interceding for Government interference in the case, but that he had been unsuccessful, Fir George stating that the responsibility rested with the Parochial Boards. Several g entlemen entered into details re g ardin g t he expense of maintaining the unemployed, and as to the condition of the poor. There were 6,000 persons on the list depending on public charity, and though each re ceived only at the rate of Is. per week, the relief com mittee were 8001. in debt. Paisley, one of the speakers remarked, was differently circumstanced from any other town in Britain, the rental was so very low, and there was such a wide disparity between the rich and the poor inhabitants. The state of the poor was such as very few had any correct comprehension of. On consulting with a distric!. surgeon on the matter. he informed him that he bad found 300 dwellings in which there was neither furniture, fire, nor cooking utensils, and he b hat elieved there were other 600 in the same situation ; tunless something was done to get money—unless the Govern ment gave the power of an extended assessment —they would never be able to support the poor of the town. It was ultimately agreed that a voluntary assessment of 3d. per pound should be raised on the real rental of the county, with a recommendation that the Abbey Parish pay id. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting broke up. The Eeclesiaitical Commissioners for England had a general meeting yesterday, at their office in Whitehall place. JEWISH bISABILITIES. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition from Lan cashire; numerously signed, in favour of the removal of the civil and religious disabilites of the Jews. NATION -11, DEFENCES. The HON, MEMBER also presented a petition from the same place against any increase in the naval and military estimates. CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. Mr. GOULBURN presented a petition horn Lord G. Somerset, complaining of an omission in the petition against the return of the Noble Lord for the county of Monmouth. The Right Hon. Gentleman moved that the petition be printed with the votes to-morrow, with the view of founding a motion upon it on Monday next. Mr. OSBORNE - presented a petition from Mr. James Wyld, the Member for Bodmin, complaining that the recognizances which had been entered into for prosecuting the petition presented against his return were informal, and praying the House to quash the petition. The Hun. Gentlemen also pre sented a petition signed by 400 burgesses of the borough of Cheltenham, complaining of bribery and corruption at the recent election. The petition and the prayer were so short, and still of so much im portance, that he moved that the petition be read by the Clerk at the table, and printed to-morrow with the votes. Mr. ANSTEY presented a petition from Mr. Rey nolds, the Member for the city of Dublin, complaining that one of the sureties for prosecuting the petition against his return had not given his proper name, and praying the House to proceed no further with the petition. NOTICES OF MOTION. LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT. Sir IV. SOMERVILLE gave notice that on Friday, the 11th instant, he should move for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland. THE ARMY. Mr. HUME gave notice that to-morrow he should move for certain returns relating to the army, in continuation of those before the Finance Committee of 1829. BRITISH CAPTIVES IN MADEIRA. Mr. DISRAELI gave notice that on a future day he should call the attention of the House to the case of certain British captives in Madeira. ORDNANCE SURVEY. Mr. WYLD gave notice that on an early day he should move fur a return of the number of Ordnance surveys that had been made of towns a nd cities exclu sive of London, and the expense o f making them. The Hon. Gentleman also gave notice that on a future day he would call the attention of the House to an infraction of the treaties existing between Great Britain and Holland. THE BALLOT. Mr. H. BERKELEY gave notice of his intention, on an early day, to move that in all future elections the vote should be taken by ballot. BRIBERY. Sir J. PAKINGTON gave notice of his inten tion on an early day to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the prevention of bribery and corruption at elections. COMMERCIAL LEAGUE. Dr. BOWRING gave notice of his intention, on the 14th of the present month, to move for papers relative to the Commercial League in Italy. WINE TRADE. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON moved for returns relative to the exportation and importation of foreign FINANCIAL o atthsethe state should o h uld r state positively the wines from and into tliis country.—Agree d to. to Mr. SCULLY, in the absence of Colonel Dunne, moved, pursuant to notice, tha t the p etition of John Sadler, Esq., Member for the b orou g h of Carlow, be printed-with the votes. Lord J. RUSSELL said that it might, perhaps, thatb t e ni l ai convenient etiawwi would su 1 d his statement;t i f o ionrtel the n i o t i Hon. he day, eithercould , but lie would give noti ce o f Members,not n that i a 18th of the present month, to bring forward the that on a future day. NATIONAL DEFENCES. Noble with l Mr. r l e l Ls U po er A cd i t Ea nxious e t ti headot n o a put u f t defences. t a h e q ue G s t o i v o t o the en It tnm he an had a t wasto theth of late been stated that the defences of this country had been greatly neglected by different Governments, although representations had been made to them to that effect, and the consequence was that great alarm had taken place on the subject. He was anxious tq know whether there would be any objection on the part of the Government to laying before the House a copy of the different statements on the subject that had been forwarded to the Go vernment? Lord JOHN RUSSELL did not think that WEST INDIES. Lord G. BENTINCK. then rose, pursuant to notice, to more for a Select Committee to inquire into the present condition and prospects of the inte rests connected with, and dependent on, sugar and coffee planting in her Majesty's East and West In dian possessions and the Mauritius and to consider whether any and what m easures can be adopted by Parliament for their relief. If he had consulted his own convenience and wishes, as he was aware that no opposition Was intended to be offered to his motion, he should have merely moved it, and made no statement at all with respect to it ; but he believed he should not consult the wishes of the House or the wishes of those who were interested in the growth of the sugar-cane, if he made the present motion without: some statement. It had been repre sented to him by many who were interested in her Majesty's colonies in the East and West Indies, that the course he was proposing now to take was not consistent with the necessities of the case, and that there was something pusillanimous in the motion which he was going to propose to the House, and that, in fact, the East and West India interests, which had already been so severely attacked, would perish while the subject was being discused in a Committee of the House. They had told him that a Committee of Inquiry would be to them— " Like cordials after death, come too late !" for that before a Committee had reported the West India interest would be past re covery.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") It became him, therefore, to consider whether he could obtain any special relief from a direct vote of that House ; and when he recollected that in the year 1846 he had made a motion in that respect, and obtained only 130 gentlemen to support him, while 265 votes had been tendered against him, and in favour of her Majesty's Government, admitting slave grown sugar, he felt that it was hope less for him to adopt any other course than the one he intended now to pursue, more especially when he recollected that upon that occasion he had but five gentlemen connected with the West India interest who had recorded their votes in his favour. Such being the case, he thought the West India interest had nothing to say against him for taking the course he had re solved to adopt on the present occasion. Those who voted with him in 1846 did not require a Committee to convince them that re medial measures were required. They were of the same opinion now ; but at the same time he felt bound to say, if remedial measures were brought in likely to meet the wants of the colony, he and the petitionerswould support them, irrespective of those by whom they might be brought in. Holding a petition in his hand, signed by 48 heads of houses in London, Liverpool, and elsewhere, whose liabilities amounted to 6,300,0001., he felt that he was justified in calling upon the House to grant the committee for which he was moving, and to state, with confidence, that he believed he should be enabled to per suade the Committee to suggest new and salutary measures. The Right Hon. Gentle- . man the Vice-President of the Board of Trade had stated elsewhere that he considered the ac count of the home country and the colonies closed in 1833, when emancipation and millions of . money were given to them; hut he was in a condition to show that the colonies had not derived much benefit from the millions thus paid. Both the money and the emancipation of slavery were pressed upon them. They derived no advantage from either; and the cry of virtuous indignation against slavery had materially subsided ; even at the last election so much had the cry for cheap sugar and free instead of slave labour died away, that the subject was scarcely mooted. He retained his opinion that by the treaty of Utrecht they might have entirely substituted free for slave labour sugar. He should not moot the question now. He would not, therefore, whatever might be his opinion, prt pose that this principle should be upheld, as the refusal to admit thirty thousand or forty thousand of slave-grown sugar might, by renewing the agitation, not only prevent the salutary measures which he looked forward to, but endanger the stability of any Government that might be in power. With respect to the repeal of the navigation-laws he could not go along with those who advocated a repeal of those laws. At the same time he thought it inconsistent that the West Indians should ask for any protection for themselves, which they wished to deny to others. He agreed with the Noble Lord at the head of the Government, that the system of protection went in a circle, and he thought that it could not therefore be confined to the West Indians. Letters had appeared in one of the journals signed by five commissioners, which stated that the - large amount of difference of freight to several of the West India islands was owing to the navigation laws. He did net see how the repeal of the navigation-laws, affecting the question of freight between Jamaica and Demerara and the other West India islands with England, could affect the question of the West India interests, because any alteration in those laws would equally cheapen freights as between Brazil and Cuba, Java or the East Indies and this country. The freights of slave-grown sugar would be equally cheapened with the free-labour sugar of the colonies. The West Indians in their petitions asked for several things; they asked for the exclusion of slave grown s,gar, for differential duties, for the fn e admission of molasses into the breweries and distilleries of this country, for the admission of rum on an equality with British spirits, for the repeal of the navigation-laws, and for access to the coast of Africa and other places, in order that they might obtain free labourers in any way they pleased. It was necessary he should state at ence that he could not concur with the ♦iews of the colonists with respect to the navigation-laws ; and fur ther, he must take leave to say, that it was most incon sistent on the part of the West Indian and East Indian interest, whilst asking for protection to themselves, to seek to deprive other interests of the protection which they enjoyed.—(hear.) He recollected that the Noble Lord, on introducing the measure for the alteration of the sugar duties, said that protection must travel in a vicious circle, and that protection to the West India interest was a psrt of that circle which he was disposed to break through. The Noble Lord was right. Protection must go on in a circle, and it was irreconcileable with the har monious working of the system to take protection from one interest and give it to another. But, so far as the West India interests are concerned, ho was at a loss to understand how they could expect to derive any benefit from the repeal of the navigation-laws. He was aware that, a letter had been written under the name of "Jacob Otanium," by a gentleman who had recently thrown off his disguise, so that there was hope that the Committee would have the advantage of his evidence, and in that letter it was stated, that whilst freights from St. Croix were only 31. las., freights from Demerara were 61. Assume that the difference existed, why suppose that it wa s owing to the navigation-laws? Then how would it benefit the West India interest to repeal the navigation laws, unless they meant to say that they were to be repealed only as far as themselves were concerned, and :o continue in force against all the rest of the world ? Suppose that the repeal of the navigation-laws could reduce freights from Jamaica and Demerara to Great Britain from 61. to 31., would not the same cause operate to cause a proportional reduction in the freights between Cuba and the 13razils and this country ? Six-sevenths of the whole trade between Cuba and the Brazils and this country were carried on in British bottoms. 'I o all intents and purposes, as far as the navigation-laws were concerned, that was as much close trade, as much a monopoly, as the trade with a❑y British colony. It was indisputable that if the repeal of the navigation-laws would reduce freights for free-labour sugar it would (pally reduce them for slave-grown sugar. As to the freights from Demerara, however, they were not 61., as -. Jacob Ominum" said, and never had been except when the- times were out of joint. They were more often 21. lOs., and that lie believed was the rate at the present moment. He understood from those who were best qua lified to give information upon the subject, that the freights from Jamaica at the early part of the year were from 31. lOs to 4/. 45., and from Demerara not 64, but 21. 10s. to 31. ; whilst from the smaller islands, such as Barbadoes and Trinidad, they were from 31.10,5, to 31. 15s. The last mail from Pernambuco and Bahia brought advice, that British ships were carrying freights at the lowest rates. The Cuba freights were always lower than the Jamaica freights ; but it ought to be recollected that this was in consequence of there being no draggerage charge at the former place. It was the custom of the country at Jamaica to unship goods in small boats, and the ship owners had 0, pay draggerage. At Demerara, there was no draggerage, a circumstance which perhaps was attributable to •its having been originally a Dutch colony. The freights from Demerara were generally as lo w as from any sugar growing country in the world. Having disposed of the navigation-laws, be came to the question of the admission of rum on an equality with British spirits. On this point he retained the opinion which he held last year—namely, that if the West Indians could show that they were in equity and justice entitled to be placed on an equality with the manufac turers of British spirits, their claim ought at onee to be acceded to. He thought, however, that when the subject should come to be investigated the British distiller would be able to show that as long as he remained under the restrictions at present imposed upon him, justice demanded that the differential duty should be oontinued.—(Hear.) That was his present opinion, but he would go into the Committee w an honest desire to come to a just deci sion on the question. As to the admission ot molasses into breweries and distilleries, it appeared to be a ques tion which might properly be left to the decision of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; but he did not think the West Indian interest could derive much benefit from a compliance with their wishes in that respect. He now came to the great question of immigratiou. Some ot the West Indian proprietors who lived in the thinly peopled colonies, Demerara, Essequibo, Berbice, and Trinidad, imagined that if the free immigration of la bourers were assured to them they would be able to compete with all the world. Fer one, lie was not dis posed to object to the British planter colonists enjoying every facility for the immigration of labourers providing only that it did not verge upon slave trading. If, however, the immigration of 150,000 Africans would, as was alleged, enable those colonies to produce 400,000 tons of sugar yearly, the effect of the proceeding would be altogether to swamp the old colonies of the Crown. But whilst he thought that no unfair advantage should be given to one colony over another, he very much doubted whether any amount of free labour would enable the planters to compete with rivals who had it in their power to extort from slaves all the energies of their bodies. If the case were not so, how happened it that in Barbadoes—which was more densely populated than China, which contained 750 persons to the square mile—whioh bad a population R f !~ :r H. Y r M j `~l st;' I