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

V Noble Lord had addressed to Princo Metternich had been quoted on a recent occasion in the HouAe, and it, would appear from that document that the Noble Lord had protested as strongly against the interference o' Austria in Italy.—(Hear, hear.) The Earl of SURREY seconded the motion. Viscount PALMERSTON—Sir, I am not aware that I have any objection to make to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman, but of course he will specify the extracts of which he desires to have copies. I am sorry to say that I must bear my testimony t. the accuracy of the description which the Hon. Gentleman has given of the present state of Greece, whether that testimony be given with reference to the mode in which the financia affairs of the country are regulared, or whether it be offered with respect to the manner in which the con stitution has been worked, or whether it be even with regard to the way in which the executive powers deal with the people of the country. At present there is no abso lute necessity of speaking harshly in this House with re gard to the administration of the affairs of other countries; but, as the Hon. Gentleman has stated, this country stands with respect to Greece in a position totally dif ferent from that in which she stands towards other countries. We have not only rights, but obligations and duties in respect to Greece, which do not apply to countries in regard to which our position is altogether indifferent. —(Hear, heard) England was one of the three Powers which, by their interposition between Turkey and Greece, finally accomplished the indepen dence of the Greek nation, and the erection °f Greece into a separate kingdom. England also was one of the Powers to whom was given the choice of choosing a Sovereign to reign ,Over Greece ; and England was one of the three Powers by whose representatives was drawn up the proclamation announcing to the Greeks the selection of their Sove reign, and giving a pledge that that Sovereign should give to the Greek nation a constitutional system of 'Geo vernment.—(Hear, hear.) We, therefore, do stand in the position of parties who have undertaken certain obligations towards the people of Greece; and those obligations —as far as properly lies in our power—l am ready to we are bound in honour to see carried out. -- (Hear, hear.) There are questions connected with the present motion which would make me averse to enter into any discussion of the matter, or go into the details which the Hon. Gentleman has touched upon; I, therefore, shall only say that if he so shape his motion as to specify annie particular periods, and the copies and extracts which he chooses to produce, I can make no objection to i t; or, perhaps, he might withdraw his present motion, and then show me the motion as he would wish it to stand. We may settle it together, and I shall be happy to give him any information which it would be useful for the House to have laid before it.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. B. COCHRANE accepted the suggestion, and withdrew his motion. THE NRW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Sir R.WGLIS, in moving for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the present state of the new Houses of Parliament, entered at some length into treview of the animadversions which had fallen from Bon. Members on several occasions relative to the excess of expenditure which had occurred over the original estimate. He entered into details to show that the excess had arisen from outlays which were not anti cipated at the time the original estimate was decided !Pon, and contended that no party could be blamed for having incurred the expense in question. The outlay could not be prevented, and ought to have formed part of the original estimate. He thought that Hon. Members, in their anxiety to find fault, bad overlooked the cir cumstance that, in addition to giving employment to industrious and ingenious artisans and artists, a consi derable part of the expense was returned in the shape of duties paid upon certain portions of the materials. It had been calculated that not less than 35 per cent. of the outlay required in building a house was ab. Sorbed in duties. If, therefore, lion. Gentlemen would take that circumstance into account, they would find that deduction to some extent ought in fairness to be made from the sum expended on the works of the new Houses of Parliament. He thought that much exaggeration had prevailed on the subject of that expense. The point at issue was not so much whether the original estimate had not been exceeded, but whether the excess was not fairly, and necessarily, and unavoidably incurred. He was not one of those who blindly idolised the talents of the great architect employed. Many members of the Committee knew that he (Sir R. Inglis) held a very qualified opinion With regard to the perfect propriety of all that Mr. Barry had done, although he never doubted his extra ordinary talents and skill. Language had been used of Mr. Barry, in respect of this great work, which, he was sure, none of his friends could wish should have been un employed, inasmuch as it had produced a revulsion in his favour. In conclusion. however, he hoped that, if this Committee should bo appointed, its results would not be so unsatisfactory as former proceedings in connexion with this question seem to have been. The yori. Baronet then moved for the appointment of a " Se lect Committee on the present state of the new Palace at Westminster, with a view to the reception and accom rnodation of this House therein, and the probable expense of its completion ; and also to inquire into the present state of Westminster-bridge ; the Committee to consist of Sir R. H. Inglis, Viscount Morpeth, Sir Robert Peel, Earliof Lincoln, Mr. Herries, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Ste phenson, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Hume, Lord E. Bruce, Mr. Deering, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Tufnell, and Mr. Evelyn Denison." The motion having been seconded, Mr. OSBORNE rose to move. as an amendment, an address to the Crown, " praying her Majesty to appoint Commissioners to superintend the expenditure of the amount voted by this House for the new Houses of Par liament, with a view to make such arrangements as shall complete the building at the earliest period." His object in moving this amendment was not founded in any dis respect for the Honourable Baronet, Mr. Barry, or any one else, but in the principle that that House was the guardian of the public purse.—(Hear, hear.) When he bad last referred to this subject, the Noble Lord who replied to him spoke in a manner which seemed to infer' that this new building was necessarily a great stork, because it contained upwards of six hundred rooms, and covered such a large space of ground ; but it was no answer to himself or to the House of Commons, who desired to know who was the responsible officer to control the enormous expense connected with this building, to say that the building itself was a great work, and that Mr. Barry was a great architect.—(Hear, hear.) There appeared to have been no control exer cised either over the architect or the expenditure. The Reuretary of the Admiralty had taunted that House, the ether night, with always allowing a great expenditure in regard to the navy ; and he (Mr. Osborne) called upon them not to allow the same taunt to be hereafter applied to them in regard to this question of the new }louses of Parliament. One reason for his amendment wee, that he found that there had never been any com mittee on this subject that had not, instead of diminish -41, added to the expense of the building. Tho com mittee of 1836 increased the charge by some 60,0001. or 80,0001. for putting in all those statutes of monarchs they now saw there, but which would not be dis tinguishable in two years hence. He had himself dabbled a little in architecture, and it was his opinion, and esa in which he was fortified by others, that the design was being frittered away in details, and that in the end it would be a little better than a large metro- Pelitan asylum for birds' nests and soot.—(Hear.) In 1 841, too, what was called a Fine Arts Committee was appointed, which had been the cause of other great expenses. Against certain acts of that Committee, the very artists themselves had petitioned the House of Lords—that gorgeous gothic gewgaw, which no one would have the hardihood to assert was adapted to the purposes of a deliberative assembly.—(Hear.) The on. Gentleman then referred to the expense of the building of the new Houses, and said that, according to the return which had been laid on the table, the original estimate, which was between 700,0001. and 800,0001., had been largely exceeded, and that the money already !pent had amounted to I,ol6,oool.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman then called attention to the report o, a Committee appointed in 1828, on the motion of Sir. H. Parnell, on the subject of Parliamentary Committees, which stated that the Committee could not help re- Marking that it was most desirable that Parlia ment should at once establish a more permanent and Perfect system of revision. This was the advice a Com mittee gave in 1828, nearly twenty years ago. W,hy had it not been acted upon ? The building would have been much better attended to ; indeed, in his opinion, the whole of the business of the House was done by about thirty Members, and the rest might very well be discharged.—(A laugh.) The report added that changes in the directing body always created expense—(Cheers) —besides which he had strong authority in thus moving for the appointment of a Commission. Sir Robert Peel was of this opinion, as was shown by the questions he put to the Commission of 1836. He then asked, "If it had ever occurred to the Commissioners whether they could not make arrangements for the completion of the new Houses of Parliament ; awl whether, for that pur pose, it would not be better to appoint permanently some Board or persons to attend to it." The answer was "Yes the expenses are increased by an inefficient control of the e xecutive." Sir Robert Peel added, I think so too ;" and however they might differ from the Right l ion- Baronet on many points, he was the first ad ,Nipistrator in this country, and that answer ought to inu t :oe every Member in the House to second him (Mr. Osbor n iN to obtain this commission. Neither did he Want • or a p. t recedent, for a simila nr s amt Windsor comission was pointed t o t o atteZtl o the alteratio Castle; and as there were n complaints made, he presumed it answered well, and the expenditure was kept within the es timates.— Cheers. ifov different was the case in 12,1Pect to the new Houses of I l erliamen t ! Wh y , p eo p le "o were well acquainted with t he sub j ect, said we S hould not get out of that place for less than 4,000,0001. would ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer where t he money was to come from? Did the Ri g ht Hon. tentleman mean to take that too out of t he balances in `the Exchequer?—(Cheers, and laughter.) If the House obi f ,ec ted to his proposition, they had better at once -° "ow the recent example of the Government, and dele pto their functions to a Select Committee. If the House did not choose thus to neglect its duty, it would agree With him in moving " An address, praying her Majesty t° appoint Commissioners to superintend the expendi ture of the amount voted by this House for the new sOases of Parliament. with a view to make such arrange as shall complete the building at the earliest Period ~, alo tuey Lord MORITTH did not oppose the motion from any „e of the functions of the Board of Woods and orests. That department had endeavoured to discharge 1 ,1 4 duti es f a i t hf u ll y, b ut i t was s ometimes expected that the Commissioners were to fulfil all the duties which de volved upon a Minister of Works. He was himself e t t li °d upon to give opinions on matters which required fue education sometimes of a land steward, of a practical j r n?er, an architect, an inspector of mines, a valuer of " Ethe r, and a practical engineer. He felt that the de portment was n o t sufficiently organised to discharge all duties w hi c h wou ld proper ly d e volve upon a regularly co nstituted office of works. But neither this depart- P•IE stJN, v,x)N DON, FRIDAY the motion two years ago, for this amongst other reasons—that Westminster-bridle formed one of the chief approaches to the new pahico. The Honourahl,i Member for Nlarylellone thought it a grievance that the Committee should have ben arranged between the Hon. Member who moved it and her Majesty's Governm.-nt; hut no such Committee was ever appointed without a tall understanding and communication with the Govern ment. He would not be provoked into a discussion as to ihe great constitutional principle involved in the noznen clature of the edifice; but he could refer to high autho rities in justification of the phrase be bad applied to it. His late Majesty, in a speech from the throne, on the 24th of February, 1834, after the destruction of the two !louses of Parliament by fire, used the phrase, " the ancient palace of Westminster," and the same phrase was employed in an announcement which appeared in the Gazette a few days before Parliament met. Even the Hon. Member for Montrose had recently moved for a return respecting the " Palace at Westminster." He felt that, having consulted her Majesty's Government, and obtained the consent of the Hon. Members whom he had named, he should not do justice to either if he abandoned the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, as reference had been made to the control which he, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, exercised over the expen diture for this object, he wished the House to understand the extent of his responsibility, which was to determine the sum of money to be proposed to be voted each year. How the expenditure was to be carried on was not for him to determine, nor had he time to devote to the pur pose. The subject of the palace had been mixed up with that of Westminster-bridge, and there had been some misapprehension upon this point. Some time ago it had been found necessary to block up two arches of the bridge, and to reduce the weight of the superstructure in order to render it safe for carriages. The danger had been obviated, and he believed that the bridge was in a state of perfect safety, At the same time, it was only temporarily so, and it was impossible that the bridge could remain as it was, with two of the arches blocked up, offering an obstruction to the navigation of the river. Although be had some misgivings as to the appointment of a Commission, yet, upon the whole, he did think it might be the best course with reference to the present motion. The duty of care fully supervising the sums to be expended upon the new Houses of Parliament was one which on no account ought to be neglected, but he presumed it must be per fectly evident to the House that that was an undertaking for which the responsible advisers of the Crown could not—owing to their other engagements—command suffi cient time; probably, therefore, the result of appointing the proposed Committee would in the end be the issuing of a Commission by the Crown to see that the design was carried out, and that the sums granted for that pur pose were not misapplied; and further, to take care that there should be no deviation from the design without the consent of the Government. He did not say that such a Commission should have power to recommend any in creased expenditure, that must necessarily be left in the hands of the Treasury. The Commission should be purely a controling body. These were the views which he entertained on the subject, and if they met with the general concurrence of the House, he should take the liberty of suggesting that the best course would be that both the motion and the amendment be withdrawn; and he thought that if a Commission were issued by the Crown, appointing a very few persons for the purpose in view, the best results would be produced. Sir R. H. INGLIS would have no objection to with draw his motion if the Noble Lord at the head of the Board of Works, whose especial duty it would be to ad vise the Crown en this point, undertook that such a Commission should issue. Lord MORPETH said that, under the circumstances, he should consider it his duty to give such advice to the Crown, recommending especially that the number of Commissioners be very small indeed. Mr. OSBORNE observed that now he need not press his amendment. Motion and amendment, by leave, withdrawn. REPEAL OF 'TIE UNION. The next notice was one given by Mr. J. O'Connell, respecting a repeal of the union with Ireland, and when the Speaker, according to the usual practice, called upon that Hon. Member to move it, he did not appear. FEES IN CHANCERY. Mr. ROMILLY moved to discharge the order of the Bth day of this instant February, referring to the Com mittee on fees (courts of law and equity) all petitions which have been presented to this House praying for in quiry into the fees imposed upon the suitors in the High Court of Chancery in England, in pursuance of the powers contained in the Act 5 and 6 Vie. c. 103. The simple ground on which he brought forward this motion was, that the Committee, had bee.n.appointed for a parti; eular purpose, and he believed that the proposed inquiry was not essential to 'the real and useful purpose for which the Committee had been granted. Mr. AGLIONBY, as the Member who moved that these petitions should be referred to the Committee, said that he was no party to any understanding, and he had invariably advocated that the whole question should be referred to the Committee, to be inquired into. Sir G. GREY said that the Committee had been granted upon the express condition that the subject re ferred to by the Honourable and Learned Member for Cockermouth, should not be included in the inquiry ; and he, therefore, was of opinion that the order ought to be discharged. After a few words from Mr. IJUME, Mr. MART expressed his opinion that the Com mittee itself was a competent tribunal to judge of the extent of its powers as to the subjects of inquiry into which it might enter. Mr. STUART understood that considerable public benefit was likely to arise from the Committee, and was of opinion that it would be imprudent to mix up the questions of compensation and fees. Mr. BAINES believed that the public would not be satisfied until the subject of the compensation which had been awarded had been inquired into. The motion was agreed tu. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter to Ten o'clock. ment nor the Government wished to shrink from any responsibily which was fairly attached to either, and when his Hon. Friend asked who was responsible, the answer was the Goverierent, and particularly the Chancellor of the Exchequer, were responsible for th estimates proposed yearly to the Ilouse, and the 13oerd of Works was responsible for duly inspecting all the accounts. In the abstract, he should rather agree with his Hon. Friend who had moved the amendment than with the original motion in regard to incurrine expen diture on the ground of giving employment, but when the ancient Houses of Parliament were destroyed, and it became necessary to erect a new abode, the building should be made worthy of the high office to which it was dedicated.—(Hear, hear ) His Hon. Friend had accused him of praising the archi tect; but, when a building was attacked, that seemed the natural defence, and he had certainly referred to the manner in which Mr. Barry bad discharged his duties, in justification of the expenses the House had been willing to incur. The earlier speeches of his Hon. Friend had certainly been attacks upon Mr. Barry, but he was glad hi sHon, Friend had now recanted, for he would rather his attacks were concentrated upon him (Lord Morpeth) than upon one so little deserving of them as the architect. His Hon. Friend had not named the eminent architects who agreed with him in his dis paragement of the building; but he (Lord Morpeth: would read the opinion expressed 'by Mr. Playfair, who had so highly distinguished himself by the buildings he had erected in Scotland—(Hear, hear)—in a letter which had been placed in his (Lord Morpeth's) hands. [The Noble Lord here read the extract, which was highly eulogistic of the architectural merits of the new Houses of Parliament, and predicted an immortality of fame for Mr. Barry.] His Hon. Friend had pronounced the House of Lords a gewgaw, and many might have preferred a simpler taste, but Mr. Barry felt that as that was thej place where the Sovereign met the estates of the realm, where the representatives of Foreign Powers, and a great part of the beauty and nobility of the country congregated on solemn occa sions, that a grand and imposing structure would bo in keeping.—(dear, hear.) And every one who had witnessed the ceremony at the close of Parliament last session would admit that a nobler 4 grander scene than the House of Lords on that occasion had been seldom seen.—(Hear.) However, he had received the assurance of Mr. Barry that on coming to that part of the edifice appropriated more to matters of fact a more severe and simple style should be adopted, and a profuse expense would not be incurred. As to the disputes between Mr. Barry and Dr. Reid, when he had felt it impossible to bring those gentlemen to a good understanding he felt it his duty to prevent the time of Parliament from being frittered away, and he had insisted upon Dr. Reid put ting on paper all that he required to develop his plans; and Mr. Barry then professed his readiness to carry them' into effect. That had now been done, and he believed all that related to the ventilation of the House of Com mons and its appurtenances had been placed before Mr. Barry, and that Mr. Barry had engaged to give effect to the design. There had been some dispute relative to the height of the tower Dr. Reid required. As that was a point he (Lord Morpeth) was unable to decide, he should be glad to have it referred to a more compe tent authority; and it would be a point that might be investigated by the Committee now moved for. This was not an occasion to go into the question of the fres coes to which his Hon. Friend had given an unduly se vere character, and one not warranted in the opinion of the best judges of that branch of arts; but, as to the supposed incongruity of those frescoes with the building, he might refer to the Campo Santo at Pisa for one of the most successful specimens of fresooes in Gothic ar chitecture. He did not wish prematurely to condemn his Hon. Friend's proposal of a Royal Commission, and there had been a precedent for such a course in the case of the Windsor improvements; but it was not certain that such a Commission would succeed in working out the economical views of his Hon. Friend. He could not accede to the proposition of his Hon. Friend for a Roe al Commission, but if it were the wish of the House that a Committee should consider the whole present state of the building, and even the past expense, and to settle the basis upon which it would be best to proceed fur the future, the Government felt it their duty to accede to that wish, and he had told his Hon. Friend the Member for Oxford that he would support his motion. When that Committee was appointed, it might be a legitimate subject of inquiry by them whether the scheme of his lion. Friend for a Royal Commission should be adopted, or any other course that might be suggested for the speedy and economical completion of the building. Sir B. HALL did not think the Committee would answer its intended object. for the Government would be apt to screen themselves behind the report of that Committee, and he was especially of that opinion when he found that the Committee, had been concocted with the concurrence of the Noble Lord. But he objected even more to the names placed upon the Committee, for he thought that Lord Morpeth and Lord Lincoln, the present and into Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and Sir R. Peel, ought rather to appear as witnesses be fore the Committee than sit as members. His Hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury had also quite enough to do without being engaged upon the Commit tee. He hoped that the Noble Lurd would press for the completion of the work; he would find that, whatever might be the present expense, such a course would, in the end, prove to ho by far the most economical. He would oppose the nomination of the Committee, and if the motion were carried, he would object to several of the names. The Earl of LINCOLN deprecated the practice of that House resolving itself into a dilettanti society, and discussing matters of taste ; he did not think that by such a mode of proceeding they -would arrive at any sa tisfactory conclusion. The proper function of the House in a matter of this kind was to see that the money it had voted should be properly applied. Although ho had found that each successive Committee appointed to inquire into matters relating to the new Houses of Par• liament had resulted only in increasing the expenses of that building, he would have been prepared to vote far this Committee, in the expectation that no such conse quences would, in this case, follow, had it not been for an expression of hope on the part of the Noble Lord that the question now pending between Mr. Barry and Dr. Reid, as to the height of the central tower, would be referred to the proposed new tribunal for its decision. The Noble Lord was much more competent to pronounce an opinion on that point than any Committee would be, and, as the respon sible adviser of the Crown, he would see that not a farthing was unnecessarily expended. There might be some advantage in acceding to the proposal of the Hon. Member for Middlesex. The duties of the office of the Woods and Forests had become so enormous that it was out of the question to expect that the Noble Lord would be able to give sufficient time to the many subjects which demanded his attention, and it was undoubtedly desirable that some commission should be constituted which should have the superintendence, not only of the Houses of Parliament, but of every other great building under taken by the State. They were not, however, prepared to say to what parties they would delegate this awl°. ity, and as the house was determined to have as efficient a control as possible over the expenditure, the best way would new be to grant the Committee moved for by the Hun. Baronet, but at the same time to take care that its attention should be confined exclusively to the future outlay on the new buildings.—(Hear, hoar.) An inquiry thus limited might lead to some practical recommenda tion; but, without such a limitation, the appointment would be mischievous, and would only tend to still further expense.—(Hear.) Sir G. STRICKLAND agreed with the Noble Lord that such a Committee, unless the bounds of the inves tigaiion were marked out, would be worse than useless. He did not see why an inqairy into the state of the New Houses of Parliament should be mixed up with an in quiry into the condition of Westminster-bridge. The Committee might just as properly take evidence as to the conservation of the Thames, or the repairs required at Blackfriers-bridge, the stone of which was said to be crumbling away, and endangering the whole structure. The House might rest assured that if they empowered the Committee to interfere with Westminster-bridge, they would be called upon to pay a million, which was about the cost of Waterloo- bridge, for rebuilding. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY complained that UMW. be yond what had been voted had already been expended on the New Houses. Mr. HUME also believed that the appointment of such a Committee as that moved for would be productive of much inconvenience and additional expense. The great fault committed by the House in this matter had been in failing to throw the responsibility upon some one individual, to whom the entire control of the expen diture should have been entrusted. They found th it first one person and then another had interfered; at one time the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and again a Com mittee of Taste, and the result was, an enormous excess over the original estimates. In the present state of the finances of the country, it was the duty of the House to take every means within their power of avoiding ex pense, and he therefore hoped that the amendment of his Hon. Friend would be carried. Mr. BERNAL said it would be most ridiculous to attempt to arrive at any conclusion in matters of taste in that House, and he had never known any good to arise from the discussion of such matters in a Committee. The Committee moved for was to consider the present state of the New Palace at Westminster, and also into the present state ot Westminster-bridge. Here were objects placed in juxta-position which had nothing to do with each other. If the object of the Hon. Baronet was to have Westminster-bridge taken down and a new one built, in common fairness he ought to say so. At a time when we were seeking to reduce our expenditure, it was not fair to keep such a project in the background. They had now arrived at such a position with regard to the Houses of Parliament that they could not retreat. He was ignorant of what the Hon. Baronet meant to do in the Committee; but he thought that some department of the Government might superintend the expenditure which he thought no Committee of the House was com petent io do. The Chancellor of the Exchequer should come forward and say—°• We will undertake the in quiry, not by ourselves, but we will employ and pay competent persons to do so;" and such a proposal should have his hearty concurrence. Mr. R. YORKE said the finishing stroke had boon put to the proposed Committee by what had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman who had just spoken. He should feel gratified if the Noble Lord would agree to the pro posal of the Hon. Member for Middlesex; but if the motion for the Committee was persisted in he should make the motion of which he had given notice, namely, to leave out the names of Lord Morpeth, Sir R. Peel, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord E. Bruce, Mr. Cardwell, and Mr , Tufnell, and to insert instead the names of Mr. Bankes, Lord H. Vane, Mr. Henley, Sir 11. Willoughby, Mr. Langston, and Mr. Mitchell. Sir. R. INGLIS, in reply, said the object of his motion was the same as that of a former motion upon this subject. The reason of the juxta-position of West minster-bridge and the new palace at Westminster in the motion was their local juxta-position, which was no fault of his. The terms were the very same as THE INCOME-TAX. Yesterday a meeting of the inhabitants of Bread street Ward was held in Cordwainers' Hall to petition against the renewal of the income-tax. Mr. Deputy Bridge presided. The meeting was addressed by several influential inhabitants of the ward, And resolutions con demnatory of the income-tax were unanimously agreed to. A petition to the House of Commons founded on them was also adopted. Similar meetings were also bold yesterday of the inhabitants of St. Paul, Covent-garden; St. Mary, Whitechapel; St. Clement Danes, and other metropolitan parishes. In addition to the meetings we have mentioned on previous days, at which steps were taken to prevent the re-imposition of this tax, we find that others have been held within the last few days at Greenwich, Stroud, Kidderminster, Sherborne, Salis bury, Tewkesbury, Evesham, Tiverton, Dudley, and other places. The Chamber of Commerce at Leith and the Town Council at Edinburgh have also agreed to petitions against the renewal of this tax. A meeting of the. inhabitants of the Ward of Far ringdon Within, convened by Mr. Alderman Kelly, in compliance with a requisition, for the purpose of peti tioning, the House of Commons for the total abolition of the income-tax, was held on Wednesday at the Queen's Arms Tavern, Newgate-street. Mr. Alderman KELLY having taken the chair, briefly explained the objects of the meeting. Mr. Deputy EAGLETON proposed the first resolution, which, with those that followed, will be found in our advertising columns. Mr. RUSSELL said he objected to the resolution, be cause it was one not dissenting from the proposed in crease of the tax, but demanding the total repeal of it. lie contended that the income-tax was a fair and just impost, and was hailed with joy and surprise when Sir Robert Peel first proposed it.—(Laughter.) When this tax was put on, it should be remembered that a large sum of money was taken off in the shape of indirect taxation that pressed upon the poor man; while those only who could best afford it paid the income-tax. At all events, those who proposed its abolition should first show that it could be done without. Mr. BLAKE said that the income-tax had been im po,ed for the purpose of paying a debt whiCh had been incurred by a House of Commons that did not truly re present the people. Mr. PAINE said that this was a tax which ought to have died a natural death at the time when the country was led to expect it would. Mr. C. You - No observed that when the old income-tax of 10 per cent., or 15,000,0001., was proposed, the country refused to sanction it, and the result was that the Mi nister had to reduce his estimates; and the same course could be adopted now.—(Herr, hear.) A petition founded ea the resolutions was also adopted, and a deputation appointed to wait upon Mr. Pattison and Mr. Masterman, to request those gentle. men to present the petition to the House of Commons, and to support Its prayer. The usual votes of thanks were passed, and the pro ceedings terminated. ST. JAMES'S WESTMINSTER. Wednesday the parishioners of St. James's Westmin ster, held a public meeting on the subject of the income t•tx. The meeting had been convened by the church wardens for the purpose of taking into consideration the proposed increase of that tax, and took place, notwith standing the abandonment of the Ministerial plan. The chair was filled on the occasion by Mr. W. Geesin, churchwarden, and great unanimity prevailed in the meeting which was a very crowded one. Mr. C. Coch rane moved, and Mr. R. Osborne, M.P., seconded the first resolution, which reprobated in strong terms the proposed increase of the income-tax. Next came a reso lution condemning the tax as it at present exists, urging its repeal, and the supply of any deficiency in the revenue by extensive retrenchments. This was moved by Mr. Brett, seconded by Mr. Alexander Bidgood, and spoken to by Mr. George Thompson, M.P. General Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P., Mr. C. Lushington, M.P., and other gentlemen also addressed the weeting, which did not break up till a late hour. We subjoin the second reso lution as a fair specimen of the proceedings : " That this meeting considers that the Government was solemnly pledged to the remission of the income tax at the expiration of three years, or at the most of five years, from the period o f it s i mpos i t i on; t h at t h e time has arrived when the people will no longer submit to the continuance of such art oppressive and unequal measure, and that this meeting, therefore, calls for the entire removal of this tax; and if, after a searching in quiry into the state of public affairs, means should be found wanting of increasing the revenue beyond the enormous amount which a wise and judicious system of reduction in the various departments of the national ex penditure R ill yield, that the deficiency may be supplied by the substitution of probate duties on landed property as sd will guard be and such other descriptions of taxation only least injurious to the industry of the country, and against the extreme injustice of estimating the pre carious and transitory income of the professional man and tradesman at the same value as permanent income derived from real estate, and other accumulated pro. perty." ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClUGUlT.—Hertford, March 2. (Before I)ENMAN and a special jury.) CRIM. CON.—COOKE V. TANNER. This was an action to recover damages from the de fendant for having debauched the plaintiff's wife. The damages were laid at 5,0001. Mr. Sergeant Shee and Mr. Lush were for the plain tiff. Mr. Petersdorff was for the defendant. Mr. Sergeant SsIEE, in opening the case, said that the plaintiff in this action was a poulterer, carrying on busi ness at Holborn- bridge, and the defendant was a solicitor in New Basinghall-street. The lady who was the un fortunate subject of this inquiry was pcssessed of con siderable attractions, and at the time of her marriage was about twenty years of age. The plaintiff was six years her senior, and the match was one purely of affection, and the result was the birth of four chil dren, two of whom were alive. About six months after their marriage the plaintiff went into business, and shortly afterwards became acquainted with the defen dant, who acted for him as his legal adviser, and an in timacy of the warmest nature sprung up between them. The plaintiff, finding his business increasing, took a country residence at Muawell-hill, near to one occupied by the defendant, and it appeared that the families were in the habit of visiting each other. The defendant was also a married man, and his wife and daughter wore on very friendly terms with the plaintiff and his family. For some time after this the wife of the plaiutiff was in the habit of coming to town to assist her husband in the business, but she very soon discontinued doing so, and the plaintiff observed a great difference in her con duct towards him, and also more particularly towards her children, one of whom was imbecile and bodily afflicted. This went OR for some time, and the plaintiff discovered that the manners and demeanour of his wife appeared to become more and more estranged ; and matters continued in this state for a period of two years, until at length his suspicions became aroused, but no suspicion was entertained of the guilt of the defendant, who professed the warmest friendship. They continued to live very unhappily until the year 1846, when a deed of separation was drawn by the defendant, at the request of the plaintiff, and the plaintiff's wife left her husband's roof, and, it appeared, took up her abode with the defendant's family, and it was then that the plaintiff obtained satisfactory evidence of his dishonour. Shortly after the lady had gone to live at the defendant's house it was observed that his wife was frequently seen by the servants in tears and apparent great distress of mind, and this was no doubt occasioned by her conviction of the guilty connexion that existed between the plaintiff's wife and her hus band. It would be shown in several occasions that the parties were walking together in the grounds, he with his arm round her waist and she with hers round his, and they also frequently addressed one another as " my dear." There were also various other circumstances which would be produced in evidence that would leave no doubt, he was satisfied, in the minds of the jury of their guilt, and, when th,ey had heard all the facts, he felt assured that they would give exemplary damages. John Cooke, brother of the plaintiff; proved the mar riage, which took place on the 20th of July, 1830, at St. George's, Bloomsbury. Four children were the result of the marriage, and the plaintiff and his wife appeared to live very happily together until they removed to Muswell-hill. Mr. J. Bull proved that he had been acquainted with the plaintiff and his wife for several years after their marriage, and he said they always appeared to be on the most affectionate terms. The plaintiff's wife was an exemplary and kind mother. George Daniel, an occasional servant to the plaintiff, deposed that he first knew the defendant in consequence of his coming to his master's shop, in 1836, and he always understood him to boa friend of the family. The plaintiff used to go to market every morning, and the defendant used frequently to come to the shop at that time, and go into the parlour to Mrs. Cooke, and he had frequently seen them with their hands locked in each other, and the defendant pinching Mrs. Cooke's arm. Ile had gone into the parlour when they were so en gaged, and they both appeared very much confused. When the plaintiff was present the defendant neveracted in that manner. Joseph James Clark, another of the plaintiff's shop men, also spoke as to the familiarity that appeared to exist between the defendant and the wife of the plaintiff. James Garvin, another person in the service of plaintiff, and who was employed at the cottage at Muswell-hill, deposed that the defendant and his family were in the constant habit of visiting his master's family, but the defendant always came alone when the plaintiff was from home. Mr. Cooke was always engaged in London the whole of Saturday, and did not come home until Sunday morning ; and almost every Saturday Mrs. Cooke went out in the afternoon alone, and did not return until a late hour, and no one knew where she went. At the latter end of 1846, Mrs. Cooke left her home, and Mr. Cooke did not know where she was gone to. She returned in a few days and packed up all her music, clothes, and other articles belonging to her, and a fly was then brought to the garden gate. He recognised the horse drawing the vehicle as one belonging to the defendant, and Mrs. Cooke got into it with her luggage, and was driven away. The next day the defendant called, and saw his master, who appeared in very great trouble ; and as he was going away witness heard him say to plaintiff that he would try and coax Mrs. Cooke to come home again. Samuel Joseph Flight, gardener and groom to the plaintiff at Muawell.hill, said that upon three occasions he saw defendant at his master's house in his absence, and observed him walking with her on the grounds, playing and toying together. Upon another occasion he saw from the lawn that they were sitting together quite close, and when they observed him they pulled down the blind. On another day plaintiff's wife went out with the defendant in a chaise, and she did not re turn home till the next day. Jeremiah Crump, formerly groom to the defendant, proved that in the autumn of 1846, he went with Mr. Tanner's horse in Oly to the house of the plaintiff with the defendant. On the road defendant told him there would bo a lady awaiting his arrival at Mr. Cooke's, and ho got out about a half a mile from the house. Hs afterwards took up Mrs. Cooke and her baggage, and drove back and rejoined the defendant, who got into the fle, and he drove both to his house, and she stayed there until he left the service. During the time ho was there he frequently saw the defendant walking about the grounds with Mrs. Cooke, with their arms round each other's waists, while Mrs. , 'fanner was in the house, and they used to call each other "My dear," and they very often went out together in a chaise. Upon ono occasion, while witness was engaged in the garden, the defendant and Mrs. Cooke came up, and his master ordered him to another part of the grounds, and his suspicions being aroused ho watched their move ments, and observed Mrs. Cooke and the defendant go in different directions towards a shed in a secluded part of the grounds. He was prevented from seeing whether they entered it, but in about half an hour he saw them coming in a direction from the shed. He went in and saw a quantity of hay strewed about, and there was an appearance as though some persons had been lying upon it, and lie found a ha n dk erchief lying on the hay, marked "E. C. On several other occasions he saw the defendant and Mrs. Cooke go towards this shed, and afterwards observed the same appearances. He had frequently seen Mrs. Tanner crying while the defendant and Mrs. Cooke were walking about the lawn. One morning while Mrs. Tanner was absent, he saw Mrs. Cooke in the defendant's bed-room in her night dress, and shortly afterwards be saw the defendant dressing himself in the same room. William Gayer, another servant, gave evidence of a similar character. Some other evidence, of an immaterial character, was then adduced, and this closed the plaintiff's case. Mr. PLITERSIDORPF then addressed the jury for the defendant, and urged that it would be monstrous to convict a man of such an offence as this upon such evidence as had been adduced by the plaintiff. It was alleged that there had been a criminal intimacy subsist ing for a period of thirteen years, and that there was not an atom of direct evidence to show that such intimacy or connexion had ever taken place between the parties. lie said he should be in a position to show that although for the first five years the plaintiff and his wife had lived happily together, yet that, after that period, from an ill founded feeling of jealousy or some other cause, the plaintiff's coniuct to his wife had completely changed, of f ug b h u t t f and he constantly abused her, and on one occasion pro ceeded to personal violence, and she was at length com pelled to leave him, and a deed of separation was drawn up. With regard to her taking up her resi dence at the house of the defendant, it was not at she should have done so, all unnatural that con sidering the intimacy that subsisted between them, and all the little familiarities that had been spoken in a bill to Mr. Cooke for of were merely, as he contended, acts of good breed lorotthtoe f b a e cto as cribed to any impure motive. This action would, in all probability, anti innocent familiarity, heardbfaaravoilibaerientY, and • , portion of which had been' peofessional services, a p th r , ' ; b d a e b f i e l i i i t d y ;nt having sent in curred for consultations upon the conduct of his wife, Mr. Cooke having consulted the defendant upon the sub ject of his wife's infidelity with other persons. The Learned Counsel concluded by calling the following witnesses : Mary Duffy deposed that she was in the service of the plaintiff at Muswell-hill. He . frequently used to a b use his wife and accuse her of infidelity, and, upon one oc casion he struck her several times in the face, in the presence of witness and the children, and he also locked her in her room and fasteacd the windows. Cross-examined—She never up on any occasion saw the defendant come to the house by hi mself, or when th e plaintiff was absent. Mr. Plater, defendant's clerk, produced th e bill o f costs referred to in the speech of counsel, and said that he presented it to the plaintiff in December, 1846. The bill was subsequently taxed, and several of the it ems were struck out. The witness entered into some other details, but the evidence given was not material. Mr. Sergeant &LEE briefly replied. The Loan JuSTICS summed up, and the jury, alio- a very bhort deliberation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damsles 500/. NORT HE RIV CI R C UIT.—N ewcastle, March 1. The assizes for the county cf Northumberland com menced here this morning, the commission having been opened last night. Mr. Baron Alderson, after opening the commission, sat at the Town-hall, and disposed of a tew of the minor cases in the calendar for the town. This morning Mr. Baron Rolfe and Mr. Baron Alder son sat at the County Court. Mr. Baron Rolfe pro ceeded to try the prisoners for the county, and Mr. Baron Alderson proceeded with the cause li s t. I n t h e town calendar there are twelve prisoners for trial. There is ono case of burglary, two of robbing, and one of eut- EVEN' IN 6, MARCH 3, ;848. Ling and wounding. Against one prisoner there are three, charges of shecp stealing. In the calendar for the county there were eight prisoners for trial. There is one case of manslaughter, one of murder, and two of highway robbery. Six causes are entered for trial; five in the county, and one in the town. (Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON TAYLOR v. THE SOUTH SHIELDS FERRY CoMPANY. This was an action to recover damages for the injury done to the plaintiff's vessel, from a collision with a ste:fmtug belonging to the defendants. Mr. Knowles a n d Mr. Hugh Hill for the plaintiff ; Mr. Martin, Mr. Temple, and Mr. Heath for the de fendants. It appeared from the evidence of the witnesses for the plaintiff that the vessel injured, the Mart, had arrived at the mouth of the river about eight o'clock on the evening of the 29th of October. She was a sloop of about 60 tons burden, and was laden with a cargo of railway sleepers from Dundee. She was taken in tow by the steam-tug Brilliant, and proceeded up the river. The rope by which she was towed was about thirty six yards long. While passing between North and South Shields the men on board the Brilliant, as well as those on board the Mart, saw the tug be longing to the company leaving the station on the north bank. The ferry boat crossed the bows of the Brilliant. The ferry station on the south side lies con siderably further up the river, and in the interval there is adjoining each bank a tier of vessels. Shortly after the boat from the north shore had passed the crews of the Mart and Brilliant saw a steamer coming down the river on their larboard bow, and when sho got nearly op. posite the Brilliant she starboarded her helm, to turn her head in the direction of the ferry landing place on the north shore. She was then some sixty yards dis tant. The crews of the Mart and Brilliant called out to them to stop the engines, and this, it seemed, was quickly done, but not in sufficient time to prevent the way already on the vessel carrying her into the line of the track of the Brilliant mid the Mart. The Brilliant cast off the hawser by which the Mart was tugged, and by this means got clear, but the Mart came in contact with the ferry-boat, and was injured to a considerable extent. The amount of damages, it was agreed, should be left to be settled by one of the jurymen, in case of a verdict for the plaintiff. For the defence it was urged that the injury arose from inevitable accident. The light of the Brilliant it wa3 said was but a dim one, and when it was seen, the crew of the ferry-boat ported their helms for the pur pose of clearing her. They succeeded in doing so, but not observing she had a vessel in tow, which was not distinguishable in consequence of the tier of ♦essels behind, they were unaware of her proximity until too late to avoid the collision. A verdict was finally returnod for the defendants. (Before Mr. Baron ROLFY Richard Bird and George Wheatley, two soldiers, were charged with a robbery at Tynemouth, on the 17th of November last. Mr. Heath conducted the prosecution. The prisoners were not defended by counsel. It appeared that the prosecutrix, Ann Hornby, was walking with a young man of the name of Stonebank, adjoining the new church at Manchester, on the night in question, when they were assailed by three men, two of whom, they said, were the two prisoners. They de manded money, and one of them seised hold of the young woman and put his hand over her mouth. He pulled her some distance along the road, while the other prevented Mr. Stonebank from assisting her. Mr. Stonebank finding his endeavours to rescue her were in vain, ran a short distance along the road for assistance; and, having met a young man, they hastened to the spot, and the soldiers made off. Miss Hornby was nearly in sensible from terror, and on recovering a little, it was found that her pocket was partly turned out, and a few halfpence she had in it gone. She was unable to say, however, whether it had been taken out or lost iu the struggle. Verdict—Guilty of an assualt. The two prisoners were again indicted for a similar offence on the same evening. It appeared that they met a person of the name of Wolstonecroft walking with a young woman and de manded some money. He refused, and one of the prisoners then threatened to knock him down with his belt, on which Woistonecroft gave him a shilling. Verdict—Guilty. Bird to be imprisoned two years; Wheatley eighteen calendar months. SOUTH WALES ClRCUlT.—Swansea, March 1. (Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS.) John Lloyd, aged 25, and Richard Mahoney, aged 27, were indicted for being armed with a pistol, and feloni ously assaulting and putting Mr. Charles Bowring in bodily fear and danger of his life, and with having felo niously stolen from his person monies and bank-notes of the value of 1,0001. Evan Evans, aged 38, a weaver, and Richard Thomas, woollen spinner, aged 26, were also indicted for feloniously receiving a portion of the 1,0001., well knowing it to have been stolen. The prisoners Lloyd and Mahoney, the principals in the attack, on being arraigned, pleaded guilty. They were accordingly withdrawn, and the trial of the other two prisoners wag proceeded with. Mr. Grove conducted th© prosecution. Mr. Richards defended Evans, and Mr. Lloyd Hall appeared for Thomas. The evidence adduced in support of the prosecution showed that on the 4th of November, Mr. C. Bowring proceeded with a horse and chaise to Bridgend, for the purpose of drawing the usual amount of cash at the bankers, to pay wages at his iron works. At Bridgend he was joined by Dr. Bowring, M. P., and at about twelve o'clock at noon they proceeded to return home to Bow rington. After getting a considerable way on the road, they noticed two men walking in advance of them on each side of the road, and on coming up to them, they seized the horse's head, and each presenting a pistol at the doctor and his brother, demanded their money or their lives. Not being in a position to resist them, and it appearing evident that they were determined in their purpose, the bags which contained the amount were given up to them. The money comprised 570 sovereigns, 100 half sovereigns in a canvass bag, and 270 five pound notes, and 601. in silver in another bag; the notes being those of the National and Provincial Bank of England issued at Cardiff. Having obtained and seeured the cash about them, the prisoner Lloyd (who with Mahoney was clearly identified as being the parties who committed the robbery) deliberately pointed his pistol to the horse's head, and shot the poor beast dead on the spot, thereby preventing the doctor or his brother giving any imme diate chase of them. The highwaymen having made of? over some of the fields by the side of the wood, Dr. Bowring hastened to a neighbouring farm, and having been furnished with a horse, alarm was quickly spread throughout the district, and numerous workmen turned out to scour the country in quest of the ruffians. In the course of the afternoon, Mahoney was apprehended, and 1361. I is. 7-0. was found in his possession, but none of this money was in notes. For the other offender, Lloyd, the search was kept up with great zeal, and after some difficulty he was captured at ten o'clock at night. At the moment, however, of the officers seizing him, ho was seen to pass something over a wall, against which he was standing; and a labourer of the name of Jones who had been mainly instrumen tal in apprehending him, heard the chinking of money on the other side, and on the spot being examined, a handkerchief containing 515 sovereigns was found. Ten pounds was also found in his possession, but no not**. With reference to the case against the receivers, it appeared that a day or so after the robbery, a reward of 501. was offered for the recovery of the remainder of the property stolen; the prisoner Edwards invited a farmer's son, named David Thomas, to go out with him in search of the missing property. They went through the Maes cadro fields, and when there Evans suddenly left Thomas, and went into an adjoining wood. In a few minutes be returned to his companion and said, " Here is the bag." There was nothing in the bag; and on con tinuing the search a short time, they found a bundle of bank notes, three letters, a newspaper, and stamps. There were 34 five pound notes, amounting to 1701. (The missing notes amounted to 2701.) On finding the notes, Evans said, " Now, David, we are only two, if you like we will divide them, and no person shall ever know." David Thomas declined the pr. position, and the 34 notes were accord ingly handed to Mr. Bowring, who gave six five-pound notes to Evans as a reward. The silver had not been found. These six notes were cashed at the bank by Evans and David Thomas. A few days afterwards Evans appeared at the Union Inn at Swansea, and while there sent for the other prisoner, Richard Thomas. Several persons joined their company. Evans treated them, and they spent a. considerable sum in beer and liquor. He paid the landlord in a five-pound note of the National and Provincial Bank of England. [lt should be remembered that the six he hail got from Mr. Bowring he had previously got cashed.] In the course of conversation Evans told the landlord, Mr. Hopkins, that he was the first man who had caught one of the thieves, and that he had received as a reward 341. He also added that his grandmother had died at Birming ham, and had left him upwards of 1,000/. They frequented the house on the following day, and spent and drank freely, and Richard Thomas paid the landlord in one of the notes of the bank in question, who inquired of him how he had be come possessed of so much money. Thomas re plied, `• It's all right," and said the money had been given to him by Evans. He subsequently said that he was not such a fool as to refuse them, as he had on the night befcre. He added that he had three parcels of notes, containing Si. notes, and that Evans would never ask him for them, as it was robbery money. The bundle of notes produced were those of the -PrtAincial Bank of England. The two notes ten denid by Evans and Thomas having b:en proved to have been of the same description as those stolen from Mr: Bowring, the inspector spoke to having appre hended them. Evans expressed considerable surprise as to what had become of some money he was possessed of at the public-house. In the presence of Thomas, he said he had 16 five pound notes, 16 sovereigns, 205., and two watches, and, pointing to Thomas, said, " You know where they are." Evans was sober when he made this accusation, but Thomas was intoxicated. The counsel having addressed the jury for the prisoners, Tho Learned JUDGE summed up at some length, and thi• jury found both prisoners Guilty, but recommended Thomas to mercy. Boyd and Mahoney, with the latter two convicted oners, were then called up to receive judgment, and yd threw himself on the mercy of the Court, as he not been previously guilty of violating the law. 'he Learned JUDGE, in passing sentence, said that the rners Lloyd and Mahoney had pleaded guilty to a e of great enormity, and he could discover no miti ry circu.rstances which would warrant him in passing them any other sentence than the severest which l a.w prescribed. A very few years ago their lives lld have been forfeited. They were not in want of ey, neither were they pressed by the means of des- prig criu gate upu the woo t;tution, and he felt that he would be guilty of a a, re fiction of duty towards his country did he not inflic such a sentence as would banish them from this country for the term of their natural lives. He was willing to believe that Evans had no connexion with the original rubbery, and he also felt willing to attend to the recom mendation on behalt of Tho•nas, as his offence was corn witted under still more mitigatory circumstances. the sentence on Lloyd and Mahoney was, therefore, that they should be transported for life, Evan Evans to eighteen months' imprisonment, and Richard Thomas to six months' imprisonment. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. A man named G. W. Rowley was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with having forged a cheque for 51. upon a banking-house. The prisoner went into the shop of Mr. Trent, a hosier i❑ the Royal Exchange, on Wednesday morning, and purchased goods to the amount of 4/. 155., in pay ment of which be tendered the cheque, without having any account at the house, or being known there. It was supposed he had stolen or found the cheque-book of some customer of the banking-house. The LORD MAYOR said that two gentlemen had called at the justice-room, in the course of the morning, and described a person who appeared to be identical with the prisoner, and had played a similar trick upon a shopkeeper at the west-end of the town. By the suc cess of the scheme the impostor obtained the amount of 41. 165., in change for a cheque of Si. 12s. but the goods wire not sent. The LORD MAYOR thought it very probable that if the press noticed the system upon which, he was given to understand, much property had been thus obtained from shopkeepers, there would be more accusers than o The prisoner was accordingly remanded. HAMMER S MIT.H. William Lamb, a tall man of military appearance, was charged before Mr. Seeker, the sitting magistrate, with hawking without a license. The charge was preferred by George Humfreys, a licensed hawker, living at Hammersmith, who swore to seeing the defendant hawking brushes and brooms at Kensington and Hammersmith, and calling out " Buy a broom or a brush." He gave the defendant in custody. Defendant had no license. The defendant, in answer to the charge, said ho wag the maker of the articles he sold, and therefore entitled to hawk them without a license. Besides, ho was a discharged soldier, and discharged soldiers were entitled to hawk anything under the value of 40s. Mr. SECKEU said, with regard to the first part of the defendant's defence, though his being the maker of the articles would entitle him to hawk them in boroughs, market towns, or towns corporate, the privilege did not extend to villages. He must not, therefore, hawk in Kensington or Hammersmith without a license. In respect of the secsnd part of his defence, he was under a mistake, the law only giving him a right, as a discharged soldier, to set up any trade, and not to hawk without a license. As he had actod under a mistake, he would discharge him en his paying the complainant ss. for his expenses. Not having the money, a week was allowed him to pay it. THE CORN TRADE. The position of the trade has undergone very little change since our last; nor has any circumstance tran spired of a character calculated to lead to much altera tion. The weather has continued changeable, and a good deal of rain has fallen, by which the land has been rendered too wet to admit of out-door work being imme diately commenced; farmers are therefore likely, for some time, to have leisure for thrashing; and the de liveries from the growers, though not large, have rather increased. A decided unwillingness has, how ever, been shown to submit to any further decline in prices, holders (farmers as well as merchants) being mostly of opinion, that after the close of this month, when the free importation of foreig❑ ceases, quo tations will undergo a gradual improvement. We need not repeat what we have on former occasions said on this subject; but hitherto our views have proved tolerably correct, and we can discover no reason to warrant an expectation of any advantage of moment in the value of bread-stuffs, so long as the prospects for the next crop shall continue favour able. The arrivals from abroad have not hitherto been large, which may, however, be easily ac counted for—the opening of the navigation of the principal continental rivers having taken place too recently to allow of shipments to any extent being made with a fair prospect of the vessels reaching our shores in time to save the duty. There is probably some quantity on passage from the northern ports, kept back by the prevalence of south-west winds and the boisterous weather lately experienced. Whether these cargoes arrive previous or subse quent to the Ist of March, importers will most probably be anxious to effect sales from on board ship ; and there does not appear much chance, in the first instance, of any scarcity of foreign Wheat being experienced. Afterwards prices will, we think, give way on the continent sufficiently to admit of the pay ment of a 7s. or Bs. duty. Though business in Wheat has not been active at any of the leading provincial markets held during the week, holders have certainly manifested increased firmness, and ha some in stances they have even succeeded in establishing a trifling advance on the finer qualities This has been the case at Liverpool, where the best dry samples of new wheat were on Tuesday quoted 2d. per 701bs. higher than on that day se'nnight; and flour, which had previously been much depressed (in consequence of arrivals from Ireland), rallied Is. per sack. Later in the week a further small advance of about ld. per 701bs. was obtained for new; but old wheat was dull of sale on Friday.—Mark-lane Express. FRENCH REPUBLIC. We have received the following letter from a cor respondent, who gives his name, with an earnest re quest for its insertion : PEACE OR WAR. TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND. Fellow-countrymen,—The peace of the world is now in your hands. An humble individual, but a spectator in all the scenes of the revolution of 1848, I venture to address you a few words of earnest counsel. From my study of the great revolution of 1789, from my residence here, and my intimate acquaintance with the French people, I may not be wholly unavailing in the words which I hurriedly pen. In three days the French people have, by a gallant and desperate effort, got rid of one of the most grind ing tyrannies which ever weighed upon a generous and noble people. Louis Philippe and his satellites, encouraged by eighteen years of impunity, had brought himself, hedged behind a forest of bayonets, cannon, and forts, to consider that there was no fear of popular indignation. A Ministry more corrupt than that of any preceding time, because more en lightened and with more historic examples before them, encouraged the ex-King in his obstinacy. He and his servants have fallen before the might of the people, who have thought fit to constitute them selves into a Republic. This decision will be variously judged in England. But all party feelings must be thrown aside. The French Government have a perfect sight to adopt any form of Government they think proper. For my part, I honestly confess, I rejoice in the victory of democracy. But now comes the question. The British Government must be forced at once to recognise the Republic. I conceive their own good sense will make them do so without any popular coer cion. But should they hesitate. Recollect the wars from 1791 to 1815. Recollect the National Debt. Recollect the millions expended to restore a per fidious race to the throne of France. Recollect the mighty man who rose out of war. Recollect the blood - which was shed. By war you will cause terrible evils. You will rouse a spirit which is now dead in France, the thirst for blood. You will encourage the agents of Carlism (already trying to rouse the more ignorant and benighted of the mob to cry "Vive Henry V.") to civil war. You will cause risings in Brittany, Vendee, every. where where the royalists have influence. You will set brother against brother, father against son. For what ? i To please the remnants of a n ex p irin g aristocr acy v in en o Et ng f la r n e d ior w m ho in , fEennlg7la9nld,,toseptrFevraennetethaend Eng pacific l by the ears, and caused all the bloody scenes of re. volution. But now, people of England, free-traders, liberals, ministers of God, do your duty, prevent war, give the right hand of fellowship to this brave people of Paris, who, unarmed, have overthrown, by their enthusiastic bravery, the grinding despotism which has oppressed them for 18 years. Russia, Austria, and Prussia will no doubt endea vour to excite a league against the Republic. Be not of this unholy alliance. Let France, the United States, and England, the only three free nations on the earth, keep together, and the peace of the world will be secured. France wants not war if she be respected. She has enough to do for twenty years to consolidate the glorious work of those days. In the name of humanity, of peace, of God, and of Christianity, that pure faith which is the religio❑ of democracy, let but one voice b, heard in England. HAIL TO THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. PEACE. With many apologies for the haste and crudeness of my words, in this great crisis, I am your obedient, humble servant, PERCY B. ST. JOHN. Paris, February 2G. SHIPMENT OF SPIRITS TO AFRICA.._- The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury having had under their consideration a memorial from a firm at the port of Liverpool, praying permission to export to th e West Coast of Africa foreign spirits, in casks contain ing from 15 to 18 gallons each, their Lordships have directed their Secretary to convey to the Beard of Cus toms their Lordships' authority for a compliance with the request. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 2.—The Prince Regent, 92, Captain Martin, bent sails on Tuesday, and will go out of dock to-morrow, and out of the harbour on Monday as at present arranged. She still wants about 100 men to complete her complement. The Undine steamer h ill be ready for st rsice again to-morrow, when it is expected she will be sent to Dover to do the work of a packet which has becoma out of repair. The Sidon steam-frigate, Captain Henderson, was at Alexandria on the Bth of February, waiting to embark Viscount Hardinge, the late Governor• General of India, for England ; but it was not expected his Ex cellency would arrive at that place before the 20th of February. The President, .50, Captain Stanley, flag of Rear- Admiral Dacres, Commander-in-Chief on the Cape station, was i❑ Simon's Bay on the 14th of January, as was the Seringapatam store-ship. The Arab, 12, Com mander W. M. Morris, sailed from the bay on that day for the Mauritius. The crew of the late Snake, 16, have been removed to day from the Resistance to the Victory, on board which they will be tried by court-martial. The Sappho, 16, was removed from the Basin to-day into ordinary. The Persian, 16, Commander Coryton, sailed yesterday for Woolwich to be paid off. The troops brought home by the Resistance are ordered to be landed at this port. Wind N.N.W., fresh breezes and cloudy weather. PLYMOUTH, MARCH I.—Her Majesty's frigate Eagle, 50, Captain George B. Martin, was yesterday towed by steam-tug from the Sound to Hamoaze. In passing be tween St. Nicholas Island and the main, by the northern passage, she touched the ground in Firestone Bay, but the tide rising she was soon floated off. There is no further intelligence of the fate of the four missing mackerel boats, and in all probability they were swamped at their nets in the severe storm of Friday night. The four boats possessed a complement of about thirty men, who have thus perished while industriously employed in their dangerous occupation. The losses of those engaged here in the fishery this season will be very great. The value of the four boats and their gear is about 2,000 L, and the value of the nets lost in the gale of Friday by the other boats will considerably exceed that amount. ASCENSION, JAN. B.—ln harbour—The Tortoise, 12, Captain F. Hutton, and the freight-ship. At the Banana Islands—The Penelope steam-friate, with the broad pendant of Commodore Sir Charles Hotham; the Favourite, 16, Commander Murray; and the Mariner, 16, Commander Matthison. At Cape Mount —The Philomel, 10, Commander Wood; the Rapid, 10, Commander Dixon; and the Dart, 3, Lieutenant Glyn. The above vessels compooe the northern division, which the Commodore is now in course of inspecting. On passage to England—The Flying-fish, 12, Com mander Dyke; and the Ranger, 8, Commander Ander son. Neither the Amphitrite nor the Hecate has yet made their appearance here, but they are daily expected. They may possibly have been detained by the Commodore at Sierra Leone. In the Bights of Benin—The Albatross, 1!, Com mander Farquhar; the Bittern, 12, Commander Hope; the Kingfisher, 12, Commander Horton; the Devasta tion and Grappler steamers; and the Britomart, 8, Com mander Chamberlain. At Cape Lopes and cruising as far south as Benguela —The Hound, 8, Commander Wood; the Contest, 12, Commander Macmurdo ; the Ferret, 8, Commander Sprigg ; the Heroine, 8, Commander Edmonds ; the Siren, 16, Commander Chaloner; the Wanderer, 12, Commander Montresor; and the Styx steamer, Cam rounder Chads. The Snap steamer, Master Commander Raymond, arrived from the Bights on the 10th ult., with the pleasing intelligence that the vessels composing the division there were in excellent health, and that few slavers had been seen since August last—one cnly had been captured since that time, an empty vessel, by the Devastation. The town of Quetah was in course of arising from its ashes, the natives having made their peace with their Danish neighbours of the fort by paying a sum of some 5,000 or 6,000 dollars. The Penelope steamer, with the broad pendant of the Commodore, sailed on the 12th ult. for Cape Mount and Sierra Leone. The Snap steamer sail, d on the 22d ult., with provi sions and stores for the vessels in the Bights. The Louisa Baillie, freight-ship, Roxby master, arrived on the 3d ult., with materials for a new store• house and a convalescent hospital, about to be erected half way up the Green Mountain. She sailed ou the sth inst. for Mauritius. The Lady Sale, freight ship, Bruar master, arrived oa the 9th ult., with provisions and stores, and sailed on the 25th for Singapore. The --,freight ship, arrived on the sth inst., from England, and remains. APPOINTMNNTS. ADMIRALTY, MARCH 2.—Edward Johnson Acting Gunner, to the Excellent; W. E. Seacombe, Inspector of Shipwrights, Pembroke Docks; Thomas T. Murray, Ist class Assistant Engineer, to the Fisguard ; H. M. Moore, Clerk, to the Victory ; Kempster M. Knapp, Naval Instructor, to the Havannah ; Richard B. Howe, Chaplain, to the Ganges ; Edmund E. Tumour, Lieute nant and Commander, to the Shearwater. SOUTHAMPTON, MANCH 2.—The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Avon, Lieutenant Phillip Hest, R.N., Commander, sailed to-day, with the usual West Indian and Mexican mails. The machinery of this beautiful ship, originally constructed by Messrs. Acre man, Morgan, and Co., of Bristol, has undergone con siderable alterations and improvements, under the direc tion of Mr. Mills, the company's superintendent-engineer. The new boilers, on the principle of Mr. Mills, are on a most excellent plan for economising room and lessening consumption of fuel; their increased facilities for gene rating steam, and consequently producing greater speed, have induced the directors of the company to order that all their vessels shall in future be fitted with boilers on the same construction. The Erin, Capt. Russel, sails to-morrow for Gibraltar, Malta, and Constantinople. COMMUNICATION WITH FRANCE. BRIOHTON, TUURsDAY.—It is already known, that at the request of the Board of Admiralty, who sent down to Brighton a special messenger on Sunday, the steam-vessels of the Brighton and Continental Steam Packet Company were got in readiness for sea with the utmost dispatch, for the purpose of plying between this aid the opposite coast in order to bring away the English residents who might desire to leave the French ports. Two of the boats left Newhaven harbour on Monday. Yesterday afternoon the Brighton steamer, Captain Ryan, left Havro at three o'clock, with dispatches from the French Provisional to the English Government. She arrived at Newhaven at nine o'clock, having made the passage in six hours. Mr. Iron, secretary to the company, who was waiting the arrival of the packets, immediately started for Brighton with the dispatches which the Hon. Captain Ilotham, chairman of the company, conveyed to town by a special train. Havre was quiet, and the English residents did not feel inclined to take advantage of the means of returning home which had been provided for them by the care of the Government. The Newhaven, Cap tain Moore, arrived at Newhaven harbour to-day at one o'clock, bringing dispatches for the Government. These were handed to Mr. Iron, who immediately proceeded to Brighton, and arriving there too late for the regular trains, he was furnished with a special engine, with wittch he forthwith started for London. As stated above, the Newhaven was sent to Havre at the desire of the Lords of the Admiralty, the captain having orders to attend to the instructions of the British Consul. From that officer the captain received instructions to sail to Dieppe, the main object being, as we believe, to pick up any members of the ex Royal Family who might be waiting means of reaching the English coast. At Tre portitwas the rumouredßepublic had h been t he palace had been an d threatened by some of the badly disposed a mong t h e democracy. The Dieppe left for Havre this morning at hal!-past five. The Brighton left at eleven, with return disiatches for Havre. The Dieppe will leave Newhaven to morrow morning at four. JERSEY.—The - Reform party here are all on the move, and have determined to present a petition to the Government and Members of the States of the island. for an increase in the number of their representatives in_ the Assembly. A committee has been appointed to , carry the desire of this portion of the population of the. island into effect. The object they have in view is to increase the number of their representatives by fourteens Members, who are to be elected by the ratepayers, anti they suggest the general elections skould take place once in every three years on th e same d ay, the constituencW having the right of choosing from the whole island thor. persons whom they may think worthy of their suffrages.. " ' AXES ON HkALT II — STATE-IMPOSED AND SELF , . IMPOSED.—As to the taxes on light and air, and that De 4 less obnoxious tax on drainage in particular, and oat health and safety, as well as comfort in general, the brick tax, pressure from without must be brought to bear on theno- And now is the time, for, be it noted that the present debate on the health bill proves that powerful supporl , and seconding inside the Commons will be given to stu b. a pressure from without. The agitation against ti le. " light tax" increases in e x t en t every d a y, p u blic tuce_t - , ings are being held to protest again s t it all over tire.) country, lectures are being d e li vere d s howing its !mj u rious effects and unjust operation, and local social es are in course of organization to obtain its repeal. Thu i ono shape or the other, s a nitary reform s every who. Ns u table. r t a l literally subject ral iyg r investigationooafning under ports of meetings, pamphlets, and books , bearing on tt.se question. Nor is this excitement to be wondered at, tl tact being now established beyond a doubt that the and pi lecoofmmcommunications, 9r the pr, s. ventible waste of life and health in England, s h own izs money, exceeds in amount ten millions a year, and tht it costs more money to create disease than to prevent i there being no one structural ar rangement, chargeabl with the production of disease, which is not also in itseltf an extravagancy. Results, however, are now wautedl. • Let not !Theisscahtetraipstwsteixllybeendaohnl el ybreath to r s e a a y t h ; Talk if you like about nu i sance, But leave rule and empire to muck and to mire, 'Till King Dirt yields the throne to King Death." This is a question which belongs to all parties—to e men; and we trust that every effort will be made out )f• doors to aid Lord Morpeth in carrying his measure, an d that the only contention within the House will be as t who shall do most to improve its details.—Builier. AN UNLOOKED-FOR WITNESS.—A paper tells or "a singular occurrence attending the journey of one the witnesses in the Lyme Regis election petition. certain girl 'of the town,' who was enceinte, was unwill— ing to leave without a nurse, who, ere they arrived at: Taunton, proved to be much wanted, for on approaching: . Donyatt it was evident that the party was about V. be increased, and while in the fly, which contained per-• sons of both sexes, she was safely delivered."—Sherbottne Journal. _ • t '~.. ^f~~