The Sun. — London, England, 1852-03-19 00:00:00

re' of ale ol f ern' s 'or I the o ir? id.ll° Kith o 13/11° tile ° le 00 4 ip r 0 e b id c i . ji ti Abt ° ,l g"' so idf ; ev el _ ort io e, V o lo° %s et re 5 Der V 0 ii . 0° $ De a eo d it 0 0 r.) 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 :: tntt fl" r e l 00 Pt s c air ° ' dOavr t - whether strictly the Government were justified in Malting any grant; but eeein.: that 30,0001. had already been voted, he telt, though sympathising as much as any Member with the sufferers, bound to oppose the motion of the Hon. Member. Mr. HERBERT thought that as the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer could no: yet have h :d time to consider all the details of the ques tion, it would have been better if the Hon. Member for Dublin' bad delayed a little bridging um question for ward. Ile did not deny thet , in the present case, the loss had arisen from the want of ability and want of honesty on the part of the trustees; but it ought to to recollected that the Act passed by the House in 1844 bad taken away the responsibility of the trustees, and had not given any protection to the depositors against Want of none,ty on the part of trustees. He admitted that there was no case in which depositors in savings banks had b ee n compensated by the Government in case of failure; but he might remind the Chancellor of the Ex chequer that compensation had been granted to the suf ferers by the Exchequer - bill frauds of 1842. True, they were rich merchants, and not poor men. He had heard with satisfaction that the whole subject was to receive the attention of the Government. That being the case, he would advise the Hon. Member for Dublin to with drew his motion for the present. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND re commended' the Hon. M mber for Dublin to withdraw the motion, and said a few words in explanation of the Opinions he had expressed on the question. He still re tained those opinions, and had formed them in conse quence,of the admissions iu the report that the Commis' stoners for the Reduction of the National Debt had not exercised the powers with which they were entrusted. No question was of mote importance to the community than that of savings barks, and ho rejoiced to know that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was about to direct his attention to the subject. Be hoped-indeed he had reason to believe—that arrangements were in contempla tion for ptitting those institutions on a basis which would give that security to depositors to which they were en titled. Under these circumstances he recommended the Honourable Member for Dublin not to press the motion to a division. Mr. feljelE concurred with the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman, that the loss in this case had arisen from the fault of the public officers. That being the case, the responsibility in his opinion fell ultimately on the Government. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer had told them that the whole question would be consi dered, he recommended the Hen, Member for Dublin to Withdraw his motion. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY was one of those who had objected to the late Chancellor of the Exchequer posing any, grant of Public money on the ground of charity. The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt had neglected their duty in allowing the bank to re ceive deposits when they ought to have known that it was insolvent. Having already voted 30,0001., the Howe • Was bound, he thought, to vole the remaining 34,000/. Ile would divide with the Hon. Member for Dublin if 'he essed his motion to a division, but after what had been said he would advise the Hon. Gentleman to with. draw' it. Mr. SCULLY thought the motion was one which could not with justice be resisted. The report of the Committee showed that the Cuffec-street Savings Bank Stood in a different position from the other cases of savings banks which bad failed. The grant of 30 000/. in 1850 'was an admission that such was the case. There Were the same grounds now as in that year, for grant ing compensation, and if the Hon. Member divided he Should vote with Mtn. Mr. GROGAN said he had heard with much plea- Sure the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the whole question of the savings banks was to friesconsidered be by the Government, but he regretted to find the Right Huts. Gentleman declaring that be re garded the case of the depositors in the Cuffe-street Savings Bank as finally settled by the grant of 30,0001. If it had been thought right to grant that sum, tie was •at a loss to conceive why the remaining 10s. in the pound should be refused. His Hun. Colleague might have brought that question prematurely before the House. but that circumstance could not effect the justice Of the case. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said it appeared to him to be moat desirable that the Government should without any delay take into their consideraaion the expediency of milking a change in the existing law with respect to • laving* banks, in order to protect the public as well as depositors. Mr. REYNOLDS replied. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer would give him an assurance that he would, during the present session of Parliament, reconsider that question without pledging himself to any particular course with respect to it, be (Mr. Reynolds) should not Press his motion to a division; but without some such assurance on the part of the Night Hon. Gentleman, he should deem it his duty to divide the House on the ques tion. He found on the benches opposite seven Hon. Members who had voted with him on that subject in the )rear 1850. Among them was the Noble Lord the Mere- Der for Tyrone (Lord C. Hamilton), the Hon. and Gal lant Colonel the Member for Portarlington (Colonel Dunne), the Honourable Member for the University of Dublin (Mr. G. A. Hamilton), and the colleague of that Honourable Member, the Attorney-General for Ireland. The latter Honourable and Learned Gentleman had promised his constituents at the period of his re-election that be would continue to advocate the claim of those depositors; he had also pledged himself to him (Mr. Reynolds) that he would second that mo tion, and like an honourable and honest man he had that evening redeemed his pledge. He regretted to find that the eloquence of the first law officer of the Crown in Ireland appeared to have produced so little effect on the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and he could not help expressing a hope that her Msjesty's Ministers would listen to their Irish advisers, whenever the counsel they might give should be of a benevolent character. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... ..• ... 40 Against it • Majority against the motion —129 INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT PARTNER SHIPS. Mr. SLANEY, after having presented two petitions 'froni'Leeds and another place in favour of a messure for legalising the formation of industrial and provident part nerships, proceeded to move for leave to introduce a .Eill for the purpose of carrying out that object. He laid it was mest desirable to afford the middle and ,poorer classes the means of safely investing their savings for their own benefit. That subject had al ready attracted on several occasions the consideration of the House. In the course of the last session he bad obtained a Committee which had inquired into the law of partnership, and the obstacles which that law threw in the way of investments by the humbler classes, and that Committee had recommended the removal of those obstacles. Under the existing system if a number of Poor people were to put their savings together, and if any single person among them were to take hold of the Partnership property, there was no tribunal before which he could be brought to answer for his misdeed, and there was no mode by which any dispute between the parties could be decided. His object was to devise a remedy for that evil. He asked that the provisions of the Friendly Society Act, the 13th and 14th of Vic toria, might be extended to the industrial and provident partnerships among the bumbler clss'es. • On the motion of an Hose MEMBER the House was here counted ; but it having been ascertained that there were 40 Members present the sitting 'Was con- tinned: • Mr. SLANEY then concluded by moving for leave to bring in the Bill. The motion having been seconded, ever to ' allo Mr. WA.LPOLE said there was no ob j ection what ' 6 he itiblr W the Hon. Gentleman to brin g in a Bill on t t, the details of which c ould be discussed at a future 1402'9E3 I Z . 5 Iteenrclingly given to bring in the Bill. Mr. EwAit ,,UBLIC LIBRARIES. mittee on putdi e red the re-appointment of a Com ing further returns r ibraries, for the purpose of print ing to public libraries abroad. — agreed to. ARTERIAL DRAINAGE—IRELAND. Cdr. FRENCH , in M movi ng fur leave to bring in a Bill to amend the A cts relat ing to pite arterial drainage in Ire land, observ ed that the s ' at present in operation in that country gave great dissatisfaction , preenu t i n " ateo half the existing suspension. . He works being at L llttinisters to the would leavo to begged the attention of her Diaj es t s , state of the law; and, whether h t e w bring in this Bill or not, his object her Majesty's Government would turn b e gained if choir attention to it. L OR of the EXCHEQUER said th e The CHANCE t he of the subject had been under the consideration :vernment, as he had found papers referring to at l ate t on Corning i n to o ffi ce. His R i g ht Hon. Friend the Attor ney-General for Ireland was fully aware of the import • ance of the subject, and b e ( the Chancellor of the Ez_ Chequer) could assu re the Hon. G entleman opposite that th e ma tt er would not fail to engage the attention of her Majesty's Ministers. Mr. FRENCH then withdrew his motion. _ THE LATE ATTAC K ON LAGOS. Mr. HUME moved for c o p ies of t h e instructions Of M the Lords of the A dmiralt y , dated the 14th day of Oc tober, 1851, to Commodore Bruce, or the officer in com mand of her Majesty's ships of war on the west coast of Africa, with copies or extracts of all treaties and corre spondence, to show the nature of the alliance with the African,chief Akitoge; also copies or extracts of the instructions to Mr. Consul BPecroft, by which he assem bled 500 natives under the chief Akitoge to join her Majesty's forces in the war against Lagos; and copies of such dispatches as will show the causes of the war with that chief. Of the proclamation of war against Kosoko, the chief or king at Lagos; and an account of the num• ber o f officers and men killed and wounded in the several actions at or near that town in December, 1851. Of the proclamation or offer of reward for tbo capture of Kosoko. And copies or extracts of the dispatches from the Admiralty and Foreign-office in answer to Commodore Bruce's and Mr. B ,ecrott's letters ; and also of the orders for hoisting the British colours at Lagos. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there was no objection whatever to granting the papers moved for by the Hon. Gentleman. SIR J. BROOKE. Mr. HUME moved that an humble address be pre thlted to her Majesty for a copy of a letter from Mr. .... - Lobert Burns to Lord Palme rston, dated Singapore, June 28 1851, with its enclosu res, com p laining of the obstructions and discouragements he had received to his commercial affairs in Borneo at the bands of her Ma jesty's Commissioner and Consul-General to the Sultan snd independent chiefs of Borneo, while prosecuting his lawful commercial proceedings in that country, together With a copy of any answers thereto. Mr. HENRY DRUMMOND said, the Hon. Gentle tclan a few nights ago had g iven notice of a motion himilar to the present, but that motio n contained a state nOi , the fact, .The,egme opentio vas ..~.:~ .~ THE performed by the Hon. Gentleman several timer last year. He kept continual motions on the paper relating to the conduct of Sir James Bro,ke, 'and upon the same principle, he supposed, that calumny, like flattery, should be laid on thick enough, so that some of it at last might stick, he had con trived to keep that gentleman's name be fore the House until the end of the session. The Hon. Gentleman had had the kindness and urbanity to write him a private letter to beg him to take the earliest op portunity, when this stfrj.ct came before the House, to make some amend erespeoting some observations which he (Mr. Drummond) had made t,:s applied to a Mr. Miles last year. He replied to the lion. Gentleman in general terms that be would not do that justice to Mr. Miles which the Hon. Gentleman had requested him to do, but he would do that justice to Mr. Miles in his place in that House whenever an opportunity occurred, Re peatedly bad he sought that opportunity, but never had he been Ghle to get one; and be was not now going to apo logise, or extenuate, or deny one word he bad said last year; on the contrary, he had only insinuated last year, and now he was going to assert positively-0. laugh)— that the letter of this Miles, which the Elonourable Gentleman published in the papers, and which he (Mr. Drummond) proved to the Hon. Gentleman in that House was a forgerys--(" No," from Mr. flume)—he proved it to be a forgery, for he showed from the hand writing of that gentleman—a gentleman ho would not call him-(A laugh)—of that man—that he could neither spell nor write. Nevertheless, that false testimony the Hon. Gentleman made use of, and never had he ex plained either to Sir J. Brooke or to that House why he brought forward that false testimony. He (Mr. Drummond) thought he had asserted that Miles, upon whose information the lion, Gentleman relied, was a runaway convict. He insinuated it before; he now said it and he said that Miles was worse—that he was a thoroughly worthless fellow—(Hear, and . a laugh)— and he would now proceed to prove what he had stated. He had an affidavit by a Mr. Henry Adams, which was as follows: "Western Austraia, Perth, Oct. 10, 1851. "I, Henry Adams, late of Adelaide, in the province of South Australia, but now of the colony of Western Aus tralia, master mariner, master and owner of the schoOner Unknown, solemnly &Oar@ as follows:—That is to say, that I was, in the police force in the province of. South Australia for about 15 months; that a perscn who passed by the name of Peter Loyd kept a house of ill fame called the Scotch Thistle; that the police force always had their eyes on the said Peter Loyd as he was coesidered livery bad character, and that the Scotch Thistle was frequently searched by the police for stolen goods, and for persona suspected of robberies; that I saw a man called William Miller accuse the said Peter Loyd openly upon a race cuurse in South Australia of having picked his pocket, when several bystanders declared they had seen the theft committed by the said Peter Loyd, and when I saw the said Peter Loyd return the said William Miller the sum of 35., being the amount alleged to have been stolen from him on that occasion by the said Peter Loyd; that the stores of Messrs. Murray and Gregg, of Adelaide, were robbed, and that there was very strong grouted for sus pecting the robbery had been committed by the said Peer Loyd, acid a man named Ring; that, accord ingly a reward was offered by the local Government for their apprehension, and the p dice were sent in search of them, but were un.ble to arrest them, as they rode to Cape Jervis, and suco eded in getting on board a vessel shortly before the arrival of the police in pursuit; that I knew him, Peter Loyd, well during his residence in Ade laide, and that he there lived with a woman who passed as his wife, and who escafed with him from Cape Jervis; that I heard this woman state that he, Peter Loyd, was a runaway convict: that did not again see the said Peter Loyd until the year 1844, when he arrived at Freemantle, in the said colony of West Australia as owner of the Buffalo, from Singapore, and passed under the name of William Henry Miles; that I at once recog nised him, and could not be mistaken as to his identity ; that I than heard be was about to be married to a daughter of Mr. Wickstsad, who kept a public house at Fremantle, and that I conceived it to be my duty to, and I accordingly did, communicate to Mr. Wickatead what I knew of the said Peter Loyd or Wil liam Henry Miles, and particularly that I had reason to believe he was then a rationed man; that I afterwards met at Singapore several persona who informed me that the woman whom I had formerly known as the wife of the said P. Loyd, or W. H. Miles, at Adelaide, and also Mrs, Miles, the daughter of the said M Wicks r.ead, whom the said P. Loyd or W. H. Miles d at Freemantle aforesaid, hod both been resident at Singa pore together; but I did not on that occasion see the said P. Loyd or W. 11. Miles, as he was then at La buan, where I learned he had gone to lease or work a coal mine. (Signed) "H. E. ADAMS. " Subscribed by the abov.natned H. E. Adams in my presence, 1851. at. Perth, Western A ustralia, this 10th day of October, (Si gne d) W. H. Mecxre , J.P., " Commissioner of the Civil Court of Western Australia, and Chairman o f the Court of Quarter Sessions." It was upon the authority of that man that the Hon. Gentleman brought forward all his charges against Sir J. Brooke last year—(" No!" from Mr.liume) — and that was the man whom the Hon. Gentleman called upon him, on the authority of a respectable London merchant to do justice to. The respectable London merchant stood godfather for the respectability of Peter Loyd, a partner in his veracity and in his respectability. Would the Hon. Gentleman be so good as to tell the House who was that respectable English merchant? Respectable! —yes, a man that kept a gig. —(A laugh.) Mr. HUME hoped the non. Gentleman who had just spoken would tell the House where he had got the docu ment from which he had just read. For himself, he would say that he did not believe a word of the allega tions contained in it. He had stated to the hap. Gen tleman, that as be had in his place calumniaa d Mr. Miles, he thought it was an act of justice to explain it, and he asked the lion. Gentleman whether he had seen the proceedings that had taken place in the court at Sin gapore for a libel, in consequence of the statement mentioned by the Hon. Gentleman. Mr. Miles's letter was given to him by a merchant on whose authdrity he relied, and he published it on that authority—the autho rity of a respectable English merchant in this country. ,The Honourable Gentleman had on a former occasion produced a document, and said that Mr. Miles could not write. The letter, c:rtainly, was badly spelt; and, if that was a type of what that individual could write, he should say it was not very creditable. But, how did that letter get into the possession of the Hon. Gentle man ? Was it stolen when the troops made the attack which had been referred to at the suggestion of Sir J. Brooke ? end did that Hon. Gentleman know that Mr. Miles had brought an action in the Court of Singapore against Sir J. Brooke or his agent ? In the opinion of the judge at Singapore the real libeller was the Hon. Member for Surrey. As ti Sir James Brooke, his con duct bad continued as monstrous as it had begun. Be fore any satisfaction had been made for his previous excesses, Sir James Brooke, on the 31st of July, had an ambush laid for 4 000 persons, whim, in order to create a pretext for plundering them, be chose to call pirate, whereas they were not pirates, nor anything of the ,ort. 01 those 4.000 persons 500 were barbarously slaughtered, and 1,500 to re or less injured. oFoorvetrhne mits,;acre and injuries of these poor pe o p le the meat had to pay 20,700/. ; yet no inquiry was to be granted into this barbel us and disgraceful outrage. An HON. MEMBER here moved that the House be counted; and, it being fouud that only thirty-three Members were present, The Howe atiEight o'clock stood adjourned till this day SUN, THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES AND TRANSPORTATION, A large deputation of mercantile rnd other gentlemen gentlemen connected with the Australian colonies had an interview with the Right Hon. Sir J. Pskington on Wednesday, - at the . Colonial-cffice, on the subject of transportation. There wore present—Sir W. Molesworth, M P., Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Adderley, M,P., and Mr. Chishohn Anstey, M.P.; and the following gentlemen, represen ting the four colonies of New South: Wales, Van Die men's Land, Victoria, and South Australia:—Meieffs. R. Brooke, C. McLachlan, E. Gore, W. Jackson, S. Ken nard, G. H. Denaldson, W. Fanning, A. .Michie, W. Walker, J. A. Jackson, T. S. Atkine, J. C. King, G. Morphett—Bolton, and James Alexander. Sir W. MOLESWORTII, after introducing the gentle men present, observed that they sought this interview in coast queues of having heard that several ships containing convicts were about to sail for Hobart Town, and they would intrent Sir J. Pekin gton to stop the sailing of these vessels, and not to transport any more convicts to Van Diecneu's Lend in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants of that and the other Australian colonies, a:td in violation of the promise of the British Government that transportation to Van Die men's Land should be abolished. Sir. William then referred to the particulars of that promise, the dis content its non-fulfilment had produced, and the nume rous petitions received during the last five years from the bishop, archdeacons, clergy of all deno minations, pa rents and guardians, women', and, in short, the vast ma jority of the inhabitants. All the other colonies sympa thised with Van Diemen's Land; and they also knew that, in c. nsequence of the overstocking of Van Dieinen's Land with convicts, transportation to that colony was, in fact, transporation to all the colonies. A great Austra lasian League had been formed, and was supported by leading men in all the colonies. Large Meetings had been held, not only in Van Diemen's Land, but in Syde any, Paramatta, Melbourne, Geelong, and Adelaide, at which resolutions complaining of the breach of faith of the British Government were carried by acclamation. FfOtri one of these meetings ho (Sir William),had this year presented a 'petition to the House of Commons, signed by the Metropolitan Bishop of Sydney, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, and by 8,900 persons. He had another petition, as numerously sinned, still to present. On the 29th July last a large public meeting bad been held at Sydney, and an addreie to her Majesty was agreed to, praying the dismissal of the Secretary of St ate for the Colonies in consequence of his continuing to send convicts to Van Diemen's Land. Since then the L - gishsture of New South Wales had unanimously passed a resolution against transportation to any of the Austra lian colonies. He was informed that all the members elected to serve under the now constitution for Van Die men's Land were pledged to oppose transpcirtation. Lastly, the few respectable persons who were in favour of the convict system had become anti-trinsportationists in consequence of the gold discoveries, for they consi dered it madness to send convicts to an El Dorado, and one of the surest means of encouraging crime. He as sured Sir J. Pakington that the Australian colonies were on the eve of becoming , potent States; their inha bitants were inclined to be thoroughly attached and de votedly loyal to the British Empire. They would long entertain those feelings if wisely and prudently governed; but the continuation of transportation would soon destroy those feelings of attachment and loyalty. Mr. EWART begged to remind Sir J. Pakington that he (Mr. Ewart) had attended at the Colonial-Office with a highly respectable deputation of colonists, on this very subject, as far back as the year 1846, when they had the honour of urging on the then Secre tary of State a consideration of the fearful condition- of Van Diemen's Lsnd,in conseqaenee of the excess of the convict population there. Tnat deputetion he believed, had induced the then Government to suspend for two years further transportation to that colony—a measure which was generally considered to be merely prelimi nary to the total discontinuance of the system. The time, therefore, had now arrived when the subject. should be definitively settled to the satisfaction of the colonists—a result which he regretted to say had been by far too long delayed. Mr. AnnEneEr followed, urging on the Secretary of State: the paramount importance of the Government keeping faith with the colonists, and vindicating its own credit by acting up to the promise which had been made to them by Lord Grey that transportation should be discontinued. That it would not be honest to neg lect to do so. He referred to the great and universal excitement among the colonists upon die Subject, and to the extensive organisation by means of " the Australa sian League." Ho urged the policy of at once Owl doning a course as unstatesmanlike as it would prove abortive, and further perseverance in which would only exasperate the Australian colonies, and eventually lead to an organised resistance, similar to that which had been successfully carried out by the colonists of the Cape ; and he expressed his firm belief that if the Bri tish Government - suffered one other such defeat as had been sustained in the cese of that colony, it would go far to destroy our colonial empire. In his opinion it was a consideration that transcended all others, and compared with which all suggestions of possible embar rassment or inconvenience to Governments sank into ab solute insignificance—that this great country should up hold its character by honestly and faithfully keeping all its engagements with every one of its dependencies. Mr. ANSTEY had also participated in the movement referred to by Mr. Ewart in 1846, and had hoped for a successful result long before this. He had every motive to induce him to co-operate on such an occasion, as he had immediate family connexions in two of the colonies. His brother had lately contested successfully the repre sentation of an important constituency in Van Diemen's Land, and corroborated the statements of Sir W. Moles worth. He had last year presented a petition to the House of Commons of a very interesting character from the native born colonists of the island, and it would here after be his duty to draw the attention of the House to the important statements it contained. He forcibly urged the claims of the colony on the immediate atten tion of her Majesty's Government; and observed, that if the active agitation hitherto carried on against trans portation in Van Diemen's Land had of late abated, it was because the recent gold discoveries in the adjacent colony of Port Philip bad led to the belief that it would be wholly impossible to continue it any longer.in face of such an event. _ _ Mr. WICRIE begged to o ff er , a s a New SoUth Wales colonist of nine ye a r.' exper i ence , com mencing in 1841, his unqualified corroboration of every statement which had been urged by Si r W. M o l eswort h and Mr. Adder ley. Tne attendance that day of gentlemen from almost every Australasian colony was induced by the all impor tant fact, that although the five ships that had been montioncd by Sir W. Molesworth were nominally des tined tor Van Diemen's Land exclusively, the convicts carried out by those vessels would very soon be dispersed throughout New South Wales, Port Philip, and South Australia. It was matter of notoriety that for years past Van Dlernen's Land had been so saturated with the felon population that a practice had for some time past pre vailed at Hobart Town (under the sanction of the Go vernment) of granting conditional pardons, permitting prisoners, very soon after their arrival from England, to proceed as free men to any of the neighbouring settle ments. The effect of this practice was merely to con vert Van Diemen's Land into a conduit pipe through . which felons were poured by hundreds into the neigh bAiring colonies, and the latter consequently suf fered all the evils, without any of the mitigations which had accompanied the former direct transporta tion to New South Wales. It had not a little asto nished the colonists, generally, to find that Lord Grey had actually relied on and put forward—they trusted from nsibapprehension alone—one of these very evils of his own system as evidence of the groundlessness of the universal opposition to further transportation. His Lord ship had cited the criminal statistics of the free colony of South Australia as showing the offences against the law to be there in almost, it not quite, as large propor tion as in Van Diemen's Land itself. The fact was, as any official in the judicial establishment of South Aus tralia could inform his Lordship, at least three-fourths of the convictions in that colony were of convicts who had come over from Van Diemen's Laud—and this was a fact of colonial notoriety. The same observation would equally apply to New South Wales and Port Philip. Upon the whole, therefore, the latter colonists were so all but unanimous in deprecating a recurrence to a state of things such as obtained down to the year 1840— when it was unsafe to travel alone two miles out of Syd ney—that the colonists of New South Wales alone had petitioned, to the number of 35,000, against a resump tion of transportation, and only 525 petitions were in favour of it; these latter too—few as they were—includ ing all the dependents that some few flock masters, chiefly anxious for labour of any kind, might be able to muster. No acts of violence had as yet ensued, but.it was evident to every colonist that, among the vast and mixed congregation of people making to the gold fields of New SOuth Wales and Port Philip, a large admix ture of convicts must inevitably lead to scenes of bloody outrage that would disgrace the English name through out the world. Mr. J. A. JACKSON observed that_ he had that morn, mg received by the Overland mail a letter from Van Di-men's Land, which corroborated the intelligence•re- ceived by way of Sydney, of the elections having beep favourable to the anti-transportationists—the members for Hobart Town, the capital, being no other than the president and treasurer of " the League" in Vim Diemen'd Land. The Government had thus, in the most constitutional way, the opinion of the colonists on transportation. .Mr. Jackson proceeded to show that-the colonists had little alternative now between ruining themselves or employing convicts; and, therefore, their employment of convicts was not conclusive that—tishad grew . to man's estate, been alleged—they had begun to change their minds, L transportation were at an end, their land fund would be applicable to sending out free labour; they would minty in South A w us o t u . r receive hick many of the free people who had been driven out of the island, and the native lads, as they all the crime committed their birth. [ trated Mr. G. A ue ~. MORPH ETT (brother of the first Speaker of the 1 n l a d i Australia rep retained resented in the that l land nearly free colony had been r had become South Australia was perpe meieneognieed in different Acts of Par founthel as a free by old convicts ; colony, and whose character as a effect a receptacle for a largo and this colony, originally a ii e7u eli nt t 'o b t • Although th e colonists had hitherto borne this infliction, and th e i r loyalty, yet there was a limit to hu man was unimpaired, extent of crime committed in South Australia by men endurance. The great who had been convicts had bee n much •by the Learned Judges of the Supreme remarked upon pretne Court in that colony. Mr. KING observed that the Noble Lord lately at the head of the Colonial Department had, on sion, when he had had the honour of an interviewrecent Qua - his Lordship, observed that the criminal returns rn with Van a" Diemen's Land would bear a not very nut' 8 of urabl co mparison with even those of the originally free colony of 8 mat Australia. Mr. King adduced some vary r i a ., maditibie 114tiitiCIS on this 14 t LI btk 9 0 1 PhOlYillg bQW en. . . . ' tirelyrerrcrneons the Noble Lord's views Were With re spect to.it., : Sir J. PAKINGTON,iII reply, expressed his gratification at listening to the statements of.so: many gentlemen so well qualified to express their COM - A& on the very im portant subject-of transportation, and with which there was n'o 'person better acquainted than the Hon. Baronet Sir. William,Molesworth. He had himself devoted much attentioiVas a Member of Parliament, to the general subject _ef punishments, though not, he confessed, to transportation in particular. With respect to the report of five convict vessels being ordered for Van aensen'a Land. there was a mistake in this; four only were under orders, and this, he believed, was from an inadvertence on the part ofthe'Noble Lord,' his predecessor.' He (Sir John) had alresdy arranged for diverting one of those vessels in-nnether direction, and he hoped to do so with another. As regarded the alleged breach of faith, it was clear he,'(Sir John) wasp not responsible on this head. He could assure the gentlemen present that the importance of the subject of transportation was duly appreCiated ' by him, and would receive his utmost consideration. He would, h owever , s tate (slew facts, as he. found them on his access i on t o office. Western Australia petitioned f or conv i cts , an d the settlers in Moreton Bsy - petitioned for them, and sought. separation from New South Wales, for the purpose of receiving convicts. A p e ti t i on h a d been lately received from 144 landholder s in Van Diemen's Land, praying the continu ance of a modified system of transportation. He mere l y state d t h ese as facts, not denying that . there was nndotahtedly a very great feeling of oppoeition fe the continuance of transportation. Then he would ask whether the objection to transportation did not rather apply to the system as it existed formerly— to the ",gang system?" As regarded at once _meeting the wishes of the gentlenken present, he thought they would see; so recent as was his accession• to office, that it aiotild be impossible at present to do more than assure, them that thensubject should engage his early attention , 'find that heave & much iodebted to t h e gent l em en present, for expressing.their - views respecting it. Sir W. M9nEstworeris thanked th e Ri g ht Hon. Gentle man on behalf of .the deputation, for the courtesy of his ' reception, and for baying at least arrested the sailieg of two of Abe convict' ships destined for Van Diemen ' a Land; but there was one subject upon which he wou ld beg leave to add very few 'w or d s. S i r J. P a kington Mightuot.be responsible for the breach of faith commit ted towards the colonists, but a br eac h o f f a ith commit ted towards the Sta te was the breach of faith of t he Go vernment. The colonists knew no individuals. They knew that the British Government had pledged itself to a particular act, and the British Government, by , w h emeae meadaiinistered, was responsible for its per formancee . The deputation then retired, favourably impressed with the rnarinerpf their reception. it be that of The majority of mankind think the right 'of private judgment either „wholly inapplicable to political ques tions, or only to be called into exercise as a last recourse. Of course, there is a species of what 10els,TCE - . may be almost respectable some peeta b d l i e si c i l n i drink, It steep in natural the man who at crisisnthalilsepdraenseinaatalon a superior mind or name. u ° ,: l p s p o y me venerable junta Russell, or that of Derby, or that of Cobden, or that of some h l' ot er po o• tician leading or seeking a party. a t is one's work set one, to eat , pleasant to have comforte i p n i pin leaninghi s fai t h and healthy proportions, and, when one wakes .ne, p to ci gu ue is , be w d hether be told what to do. It saves a world of anxiety to fall into line, and to know that one's conduct will be guided, explained, and; if necessary, defended, by competent authority. When the guisaof loyalty is thrown over this mental subserviency, the satisfaction and the il lusion are complete. It is h very true that they who resign the pains of 'independence may occasionally be disturbed with a disagreeable presentiment. They may find themselves approaching a 'rock, a s h oa l, or aet. - abyss, without seeing hobo the y are to -escape e 'and the alarms of, those who don't think for themselves ate nut always imaginary. A s they say, however, that brace creatures cannot suffer _ any thing like h uman anguish because their anticipations are momentary, faint, and without the sense of respon sibility, we presume that the sufferings of a thorough partisan must be te mpered to his moderate capacity of endurance. But all this time we are expatiating on a happiness : which .can never bo ours. Though we can admire our acknOwledged statesmen, of whatever school, and even ouregiettapolitical chiefs, yet we can never feel it our vocation to adhere without reserve to any one Government, hnwever feeble, however intractable, or perverse. • The British people does not; neither do we. Much is,due to _a meritorious party, but still more i s due to the country, and there mast and do arise occa sions when a blind affection to party is little less than an Abnegation of .patriotism. Should matters come to that pass that no one party will suffer for one day the ascendan c y o f another, even tinder the humblest and safest - cottlittotts;-it is evidefit that we are far on oar road, if not to atititrchy and ruin, at least to serious neg lects and disasters. .If,public opinion and its organs are worth anything in this country, and if they have any province' at all, it surely is for them to inculcate such a mutual forbearance of parties as shall at least avert a disruption of society and a consequent shipwreck of the State. such is the position of affairs, such the danger, and such we conceive to be cur duty at this juncture. As long as the Russell Administration was possible, we gave it our support; and, were it possible to-morrow, we should spare no pains to restore it. Could its strength be renewed by new men or new measures, with the hope of something more than a temporary relief or an illusive popularity, we should, as we have done be fore, do all in our power to give it a fresh term of ex istence.. But painful and repeated experience leaves no doubt that it answers: no good purpose whatever—not even a factious ,purpose—to attempt the resuscitation of an effete Cabinet. You may as easily make an old man young again as impart a second youth to a Government which has exhausted its strength, its opportunities, its friendshipe, its measures, its ideas, its prestige without, and its resources • within. The infusion of new blood and the Substitution of new limbs are metaphors which only express too aptly the utter iteposeibitity of those fancied remedies. W e never conceive it oar duty to give: 'impracticable can l s advice, after the manner of the doctor who at' use es only of his bill or his fee. Others may; ifitim thinks l bread into pills, or please, rot label vials of. coloured w Y cabalistic terms, but ater with we really cannot afforddelusions which time to practise l must discover. We c recommend the British public to go basic annot hOnbat y . r We cannot tell them that what was e to d th l e old th it t h n g w . ill be alive next; or that the palaiediTithaoantuar will enter at our summons a Hyperion or a Hyacinth. As little can we connive at the suppositio n that the g reat forms of this meiestic Constitution;; including the es venerable palladium of Royalty, are t o he lier ee d for the ta bli s hmeet of a new Administration, for the imme diate re- estebli h a ment of the old (me on a safer footing. We might excuse tricks upon party, for, as our new rulers have not been nice is their warfare upon others, they deserve Tittle favour return; but we must in .. protest against tricks and on the Constitution on the 'Crown. • ': B let us But Forbearance, fair play, toleration, are one thin t ' ti enthu siasm, are another. It "cadence ' sYce e P n a ot Y' going to show the tow Ministera the e rue that we a 3 r nt after they have been' In to enter. door the in , - that we do not think statesmen should d' lt is h true s l s, the House ne C ommons veil mad the isgrace teem•e ve sorted to, a atle'the country worst arts of faction be re d to think of re volution, merely; simply, f t the ridiculoua purpose t 4 dragging t ry , and solely or a . gain the clique which only the other day - went out of But ins •i itsown accord. that WO htive said nearly cannot thiek the ) ng po sition of the new Government al l ., We nment either veryhonourable, or very triunipha,ut i or even simple and clear. We cannot regard wikh confid e/10 tensions. We can hardly either their power or their in definite parley. Brill less trust them for having any t do we think that they have the promise of that ?dies. which, on the vulgarest considerations, we all In the first place, there us require in a Government. ere is nothing very honourable in an appeal to the forbearance, w h e ther that forbearance bo to the Minister or the country. That forbearance is only to be exercised not to the weakness, but still more to the character, of the t Party. We are to bear meekl y _Y which is not only beholden to our forbearance, but is offender. also in the position of a great Having for several years obstinately refused its adhesion to a great, beneficent, sad irrever sible act—laving pursued the illustrious author of that act with insatiable malignity , and having for all t hat power period excluded from its own boasted Conserva tive principles merely t o e P i t i mish the man, it ha s no w claims to our respect. to swallow not only the Government but our own feelings, :g i lt and we have to swal low them voluntarily, for the eof the common weal. And when we ask what the. G oa vernme n t i s to do for all this, or ake rather what we to do, the estimate of its hope and expect it dignity falls still lower. It is to perform a great rcP iatory and peni tential act. It has to renounce that Protection far which, with some abatement latterly,it has been so long strug a ling. 'lt has to rec ant selfish and invete rate error.e. itehas ta , set the country free, not from the fear t ot Vroteetiiin;' but from' the nif faetiatisielass oakositione That this tsanee of a stupid and t 4 a substantial benefit worth some forhe d aran, and som e do not to our na tural and honourable feelings, we d h not at all question, and, as a teledeOf the future, we T 1 with satisfaction Lord • Derby'rttier abandonment the Navigation Laws last Monday eveuing. - But all this winding-up of controversies, this confession of errore this allaying of prejudices, this surrender of long.contested positions, is . more " humble and useful" than dignified; and, when it is done,, adds but little in the nature of, to the Claims of, the party; for to pardon po s iti v e merits a penitent is one thing-Lto admit him into our confluence is another. The ferbearance which we have inculcated , and which we desire to observe, is wholly irrespective opi nions as to the power, or even the intentions, of our ions ' of the Go vernment. Bottt its power and its int ent i on limited by the nature of its or i g in, an d the very terms of its ex istence. The pledges fione which Lord Derby and his celleagues have been gradually emancipating themselves, and from which they now evidently wish to be entirely relieved, are by no means the chief obstacle to their power. Besides the pledges of the leaders, there are the ithe passions, and the suppose • pre j u di ce s, d interests of tho followers —things much more substantial and &est!. nit() than any me re expressions', however distinct and so l em n. A. large and powerful interest has been flat tered, coaxed, exasperated•these many . years into an f its net • extravagant conceit e .ural rights and its po litical -initial"; it has been . taught to rely on its own superior intelligence, and to distrust every states man who Ventuecd to address it in the language of rev soneend eoinmota sense, ta• to put it on a level with other ' interests:' ;It nOtv remains to be seeia whether the 'agri culturists will readily conform to the more moderate tone "and-the more senOble standard of political right adoPted by their Conservative chiefs. After a six yearsseoession • from the ommenwelvithi! op they easily puss to, the. blob br ed ~, of pr the 90 0 id be f ,tbe or.) , PARLIAMENTAity DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of THURSDAY, MAI:CH 18. CUFFE-STREET SAVINGS BANK, DUBLIN. Motion made, and Question put, " That this House will, upon Tuesday next, resolve itself into a Committee, to con sider of au humble Address to be pre sented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty may be graciously pleased to take the case of the sufferers in the late Cutfe-street Savings Bank, Dublin, into her royal consideration, and to • grant them a compensation for their losses, and to assure her Ma jesty that this House will make good the same." The House divided:— 'oinmons MINORITY—AYES, 40. Bright, John Heard, J I. Power, Nicholas Bunbury, William Herbert, H. A. Salme.Y, Colonel Butler, P. S. Horsman, E. Scholefield, William Chichester, Lord J. Hume, Joseph Shafto, R. D. Cobden, Richard Hutchins, E. J. Somers, J. P. Cogan, W. O. Johnstone, James Tenison, E. K. Crawford, Robt. W. Keating, Robert Teunent, R. J. Fortescue, Chichester M'Cullagh, W. T. Thompson, Colonel Ircestun, Colonel Meagher, Thomas Walmsley, Sir i. French, F. Mahon, O'Gorman Willoughby, Sir H. Gor e d, Wnydham Monsell, William Gore, W. R. 0. Morris, David TELLEN.B. Grace, 0. D. Napier Joseph Reynolds, John Hamilton, J. H. O'Connell, Grogan, E. Ist. J. Scully, Francis BUJ 0 RIT Y —NOES, 169. Forester, G. C. Milner, W. M. Fox, S. Milnes, R. M. W. L. Fox, W. J. Moncreiff, James Fuller, A. E. Morgan, 0. Gallwey, Sir W. Mundy, winiana Gibson, T. M. - Neeld, John. Gladstone, W. E. :. Neeld, Joseph Goddard, A. L. Newdegate, C. N. Gordon, Admiral P ac k e , C. W. Goulharn, He nr y Pak i ngton , Sir J. Granby, Margin* o f Palmer, Raiford, Sir H. peel , Robert Greene, Thomas R Pi t l e iti: edc: gt: n o , sm J a a m n. ell Hall, rey ' Sir Colonel : ' - po u Nwl tt, Lord W. Hallewell. E. G. p, gh, David Renton John C , en dol j o . n W el . H li t ar tmi di l ii t g o e n :c G . . B A.. . I•larris, Captain . Rushout, Captain Harris, Richard ' Russell. Lord J Haste, Alexander S oo b ell, Captain Hatchell, John Seymer, Henry Iter Hayes, Sir E. Blaney, IL A. , Headlam, T. E. Sotheron,-T. ' Heneage, G. IL , Stafford, Augustus Henley, J. }V. Stanley, Edward Herries,..J.T. Stanstleid, W. R. Hildyard, R. C. Staimton, Sir G. Stewart, Admi ral lli% Lord E. . Hildyard. T. B. • Strickland , •Sir G. ll i n dl e y Charlet Stuart, H. Tennent, Sir J. Hodgson, W. N. Sturt, IL G. Thesiger, Sir F. Trevor, G. R. Jackson , William G Hudson, G. Trollope, Sir J. Sir G. Tyler, Jolllffe, Sir "W. 0. Tyrell, Sir J. Ilmoobpeh,ouss F. ir e, J . B. J ones , Captain Kershaw. Jornea Verney, Sir 11 , Vii i E. Knight, F. W. an, J. Lacy, H. C. Vi v ian, J. H. Langton, WH. Waddington, H. S. Lennox, Lord A. W a lpole, S. H. Lennox, Lord H. G. Watkins, Colonel _ Lockhart, A. E. `yawn, J. T. Long, W. Welby , G. E. Lygon, General Westhead , J. B. Mackie, John Whiteside, James IX Gregor, John Williams, John Manners, Lord G. Williams, W. Manners, Lord J.. WodeliotiSe,Edninna Masternian, John Wood. Slr Charles Mannsell, T. P. Wynn, H. W. Melgund, Viscount Mena, Sir Henry Miles, F. W. S. Miles, Williaro PPiligf 44.14 Adderley, C. B Alcock, Th omas . Bailey, Joseph Baillie, H. J. Baird James Bankes, G. - Bell, Jacob Bennet, Philip Bentinck, Lord H. Beresford, William 131andford, Marquis Booker, T. W. Bramston, T. W. Bridgts, Sir B. Brotherton, J. B ur ghley, Lord BBruce,ouer, C s i . r L j .. C. Chandos, MarquisßS! A. Carter, Campbell,j . Christopher, E. A. Clay, J ame B Clay, Sir W. Clive, 11. B. Collins, ThoinaS Compton, H. C. Corry, Henry Cotton, W. H. Cowan, Charles Cowper, W. P. Craig, Sir W. G. Davie, Sir H. Davies, D. A. • Deedes, W. Disraeli, B. Dod, J. W. Drummond, Henry Drummond, Home Duckworth, Sir J. Duncan, George Dancombe, A. Duncombe, 0. Duncombe, W. E. Duncutt, John Du Pre, C. G. East, Sir J. B. Edwards, Henry Egerton, Sir P. Estcourt, J. B. B. Ewart, William Farrer, James Fellowes, E. Fergus, John Ferguson, Sir R. Floyer, John Forbes, W. 1:440.1 4!_P, TELLSItg. Mackenzie, W. F. DAteson, T. LONDON, FRIDA EVENING, MARCH 19, 1852. duties of citizsns? But Lord Derby's intentions are avowedly, though perhaps: more avowedly than really, dependent on his power. He may possibly find next July, or next October, as the case may be, that ho can command a majority for Cap revival of Protection, but cannot command a majority for a merely Conservative and remedial policy. In that case the blind sentiment of honour which has already seduced him into antago nism with the general interests of his country may once more lead him to an enterprise far more perilous than any he has yet attempted, for such the revival of Protection, on the strength of a Parlia mentary majority, would undoubtedly be. On "a bare majority" he has assured us he will not act; and a fixed duty of a few shillings he has spoken of with utter contempt. But he may have a decided majority, de manding,at least some definite measure of Protection. Should he attempt to comply, be will bring ruin on him self, degradation to his party, calamity to the State, and Confusion on all who have recommended forbearance. We are persuaded • that he will do nn such thing; but, though we are easy on this point—vz., as to what Lord Derby will not do, we are by no means easy as to what he will do. What liberty of patriotism will his country supporters allow him? Will they permit him to do more than re-adjust their burdens. talk against democracy, and deal with sanitary questions? It must be confessed that hitherto between Lord Derby's professions and the actual wants of the country there has been a fearful gap, which even his eloquence has not been able to disguise; and, as long as that is the case, it is evident that, tho ug h we may forear, it is impossible to confide.— Times. SOUTE-BASTERN AND CONTINENTAL STEAM-PACKET COMPANY. The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the South-Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Com pany. was held yesterday, at the Bridge-house Hotel, London-bridge, James Aracgregor, Esq , in the chair. The SECRETARY read the advertisement by which the meeting was convened. The common seal was then, affixed to the list of share holders of the company. The CHAIRMAN then read the following report of the directors for the past half-year:— "The accounts of the South-Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Company, now submitted to the proprie tors, show the gross earnings of the half-year to be 25,1841. 4s. 100. This amount, as compared vrith the corresponding half of the previous year, shows an increase of 7991. 18s. 10d.; and an addition of 17,701 passengers —viz., between Folkestone and Boulogne, 5,004; Dover and Calais, 12,697. Total increase, 17,701. " The proprietors will observe that the increased re ceipts are not in proportion to the additional number of passengers, which is accounted for by the fact that the receipts are solely the produce of the traffic, unaided by any contribution from the South-Eastern Railway Com pany, or the Northern of France Railway Company, whilst in the corresponding half of last year 5,7601. was received from the two railway companies. " The agreement entered into for a daily service be tween Doverhnd Calais expired on the 31st July last; but as the boats continued to run between these ports till the close of the year, the directors consider that this company has an equitable claim on the South-Eastern Railway Company to contribute towards the expenses of that service. " During the half year 26,356 miles were navigated with unvarying regularity. " The directors have much pleasure in being able to report on the efficient state of the eight steam-ships be longing to the company. " Atter deducting the working expenses, 7.3981. 12s. 10d.; the cost of repairs and renewals, .4,627/, 6s. 5d.; and the port dues, 2,8231. ss. 6d., there remains a balance of 10,3351. Os. id. at the disposal of the proprietors, out of which the directors recommend that a dividend be de clared at the rate of 5/. per cent. per annum, free of in come-tax, which will amount to 2,8611. 12e. 10d., and that the remaining balance of 7,473/. 7s. 3d, be carried to the credit of the reserve fund. The property of the company will then be the eight steam-ships, and a re serve fund in addition of 21,645/. Bs. sd. " The directors retiring by rotation are Mr. Macgre gor, Mr. Renshaw, and Captain Warren. " The auditor retiring by rotation is Mr. Edward Wright?' The following is the report of the auditors:— " Gentlemen, —We have to lay before you our report on the accounts of this company for the half-year ending 31st January last, and to certify that the same, being duly vouched, have been passed by us in conformity. We think it right to call your attention to the item following, viz.:— "In the capital account of the last four half-years the entry of coals and ship and engine stores has varied from 900/. to 1,7001., whereas in the present statement it ap pears as 5,150/, " The increase is explained by the fact that the com pany have taken over from the South-Eastern Railway the machinery in the work-Jeeps and the stores in the boiler-house at Folkestone flerbour, under the valuation of two competent persons. The amount of stores, ma chinery, and tools so transferred, was 4,067/. 10s. sd. " The boiler and workshops lately built by the South- Eastern Company, and now occupied by this company, are efficient and suitable for the purpose, and, being close to the harbour, enable the company's works to be carried on with efficiency and regularity. " We are, gentlemen, your obedient servants, (Signed) " EDWD. HARDING, " Auditors. " EDWARD WRIGHT, The CHAIRMAN congratulated the proprietors on the very satisfactory state of the accounts of the company, by which it would be seen that they had a fund of 109,0001., having also reduced their original debt by 37,0001. There was one point in the report to which the attention of the proprietors would no doubt be di rected, and that was as to their relations with the Northern of France Railway. That company required that they should run a boat, and also that there should be a train on the railway at a particular hour of the day, but the directors feeling impressed with the diffi culties attending any such arrangements with two tidal harbours, had come to the determination that they could not do their duty if they were to accede to any such terms, as their boats were not insured, or that the voyage could be performed, day by day, with certainty front both of those ports. Mr. WRIGHT wished to ask the chairman if they could not have a higher dividend than the one proposed with such immense earnings ? The CHAIRDIAN said they were under a moral gna rantee to the South-Eastern Railway Company, and he thought their position would be strengthened by re taining a large portion of their capital. Mr. WRIGHT, after adverting to the original agree ment wigh the South-Eastern Railway Company in 1644, said he considered some arrangement should be entered into similar to that of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company with the Government, as a subsidy, not for the conveyance of the mails, for that was a matter of minor importance, but fur demurrage and the wear and tear of their boats, and other incidental charges. They stood in precisely the same position with the South-Eastern Railway Company, for their boats were at all times under the orders of the directors of the South-Eastern Company. He found by a Parliamentary document that he held in his hand, that the Dublin Company received 10 per cent. and an occasional bonus, and such being so he would ask ought any gentlemen, having advanced their money in a speculative concern, to be satisfied with a return of 5 per cent.? The idea of such a thing was quite absurd. The chairman had talked about the moral guarantee, and he should like to know how much longer it was to be stretched. The CHAIRMAN said this company consisted of 500 pro prietors, who were all proprietors of the South-Eastern Railway, which consisted of 5,000, and he thought they should support the board of directors in carrying out the guarantee with that company. A Bill was agreed to be brought into Parliament in 1849 to consolidate the two companies, and but for other subjects then on hand would have been obtained. During the year, 317,000 persons had travelled by their boats, and therefore they must consider them as the right arm of the railway company, and the result gave an increase of 17,701, not withstanding the General Steam Navigation Company bad given them the most determined opposition, by a system of reduced fares, and a further reduction on per sons taking i eturn tickets—which opposition was mainly promoted by the Northern of France Railway Company. He thought it would be impossible to exag gerate the advantages of the South-Eastern Steam packet Company, wbich were of the utmost import ance to the South-Eastern Railway Company. While he was before the general meeting he should like to know whether the shareholders would be con tent to receive back their capital, on handing over their boats to the South-Eastern Railway Company; for if the railway company met them and should say, " We will give you 132,0001., and relieve you from all liability." be did not think they could go further. A SHAREHOLDER wished to know if the railway com pany would give them a guarantee for ten years ? The CHAIRMAN considered it a fair proposition that the railway company should guarantee them 5 per cent. with an undertaking to replace their boats at any future time. After some other observations from Proprietors, t. be It was then proposed th at a dividend of 5 per cen declared according to the recommendations contained in the report. A SHAREHOLDER moved, as an amendment, that the dividend be six per cent., as that prop . osed was not one-third of the earning s of the company for that period. The CHAIRMAN said this bad been a'subject of consi deration with the directors, who believec c l i the l st b a e te b of 317 o e o s o t prosperity that the companydnow_ protected by a small dividend. u ls: e . o nj l o e y s_ e s t_ w ha o n u ing the last year, and persons had come to Englan a further number, he doubted not, would come year -after year'. It was true that they would not have the Great Exhibition during . the present year, but still he ex , pected a greater increase than had hitherto . taken for by retainiug lar place. A low dividend in the present position of the ge company was the mast safe, surplus in hand their prospects would be rendered more satisfactory. The question was then put, and the dividend recom mended by the directors was carried by a large majority. A conversation then took place as to the terms of set tlement between the company and the South-Eastern and the general opinion appeared to R a ilway Compa n y , be in favour of a dividend of 5 per cent. in perpetuity with an undertaking to replace the boats when worn out but no resolution was come to upon the subject. Mr. MacGregor was re-elected chairman for the ensu ing, year, and tho retiring directors, with Mr. Rich, ) 1 p„ were elected. A vote of thanks was passed to Lieutenant Essell, the harbour -master of Folkestone, for his services, on his retirement. Lieutenant Essell returned thanks for that mark of their favour, in addition to the handsome testimonal presented to him. A vote of thanks to the chairman was passed , and t he meeting was dissolved. WEST INDIA and MEXICAN MAILS JAMAICA. The arrival of the Royal Mail Company's steamer Great Western, has placed us i n p ossess i on o f d a tes from this island to the 19th February inclusive. The intelli:ence respecting the loss of the steamer Amazon by fire, in the Bay of Biscay, had been re ceived in Kingston .by way of America, and subse quently confirmed by the arrival of the Royal Mail steamer Der. Great anxiety was being manifested for further intelligence from England in regard thereto, as many of the passengers by that ill-fated ship were in timately connected, by family ties and otherwise, with this island. There was a rumour current in Kingston that the Orinoco would call into that port with the mails from England, and her arrival was anxiously looked for. The House of Assembly had resolved on sending homo delegates to confer with her Majesty's Govern ment on the necessity of reducing or abolishing the duties on sugar, as, unless some steps are taken to re lieve the colonies, the whole of the estates at present in cultivation will have to be thrown up. The Hon. Charles M•La:ty Moraler, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and Messrs. William Smith, Edward Thompson, and William Girod, members of the same branch of the Legislature, had been selected to act as the delegates. The appointment of these gentlemen had given satisfac tion, but it was not decided how the necessary expenses were to bo met. The sittings of the Assembly were nearly brought to a close, and a termination of the business was anxiously looked for. In consequence of the introduction - of a clause into the Poll Tax Bill, affecting the salaries of officials in the pay of the British Government, among them the Ri,.lht Rev. Dr. Spencer, the Lord Bishop, it was expected that there would be a short prorogation of the house, as the Governor would not give his consent to it. This was the only measure to occupy the attention of the house. The small-pox was committing sad ravages in some of the cJuntry districts of the island, and the cholera had not even altogether disappeared. Sir F. G. Seymour, the admiral on the West India station, had left Port Royal for Bermuda. The weather was very cool and pleasant, although no rain had fallen for some time past. DEMERARA. The question of appealing for aid to the Home Go vernment is being vigorously agitated in British Guiana, and meetings had been held in various places, at which resolutions were passed condemnatory of the policy of the British Government to her colonies, and expressive of regret at the declining fortunes of the island. The Combined Court was to meet on the 24th February. The weather had been fine and favourable during the past fortnight. Several fatal cases of yellow fever had occurred, but the violence of the epidemic bad to a cer tain extent abated. MEXICO. Things were quiet here at the last advice!. The revo lution on the northern frontier had been supprc.se3, but attempts had been made by Carvajal to assemble some followers on the left bank of the Rio Bravo, which had been frustrated through the activity of the Americans. Tho General Government had issued an order at Ma tamoras for again potting in force the ancient tariff in regard to the goods that had been imported on the faith of General Avalo's tariff ; but it was believed that the authorities would not be able to carry the same into effect. The law increasing the export duty on specie from 3i to 6 per cent., was to come into force on the 4th of February. On the 13th of January Vera Cruz was visited by one of the most violent storms that had been known for many years. Out of 22 ships that were in the port, 14 were driven from their anchors and lost, together with 13 lives. The cargoes lost are of very considerable value. JAMAICA MARKETS. (From De CorilovaTiercantile Intelligencer, Feb. 13.) Flour—The market for this article, in consequence of the absence of receipts and the diminishing stock, was assuming a considerably improved appearance, and sales were of daily occurrence at 28s. per barrel; the hands, however, of holders becoming strengthened by the impo sition of the additional duty of 2s. per barrel, the price of the article immediately thereafter rose to 305., at which figure some 1,000 barrels Baltimore and Phila delphia were moved. To-day there is not any on offer at anything under 31s. Rice—We quote. East India at 15s. 6d. for Bengal, no minally, and 17s. for Patna, with an almost bare market. Carolina is worth 193. per 100 lbs. Bread—All imported brands are dull of sale. Verley and Robinson's, home-made, is taken at 16s. for pilot and 20s. for crackers. Butter—We quote Irish at 11d., Halifax at Bd., and American at 7d. per lb. Pork—Some parcels of mess, of common quality, are on offor at 903. Prime descriptions of mess are worth 913. to 965. per barrel. No operations in prime or prime mess are reported. Tobacco—Cavendish is worth 12d. to 13d. par lb. The stock is abundant, and it is presumed that prices will not advance in proportion to the increase of duty. No sales of leaf have transpired. Brandy—Martell's pale and dark have been sold at Gs. 61 per gallon, in bond. Rum—The late operations were 3s. 2d. to 3s. 3d. per gallon, duty paid ; proof 21. Sugar—We range our quotations at lls. to 16s. 6d. for dark to fair. Pimento brings 30. to 3A-d. per lb. Logwood has b-en moved at 32.. per ton. Gold—Columbian doubloons are worth 3, and Ame rican gold per cent. prem. Freights—No operation:, have reached us. Tonnage is abundant. EXCHANGES ON LONDON. Colonial Bank-90 (Jays, i per cent. premium. PP It 60 days, 1 per cent. premium. if ft 30 days, li per cent premium. Jamaica Ba-ilt-90 days par. I, f , 60 days, i per cent. premium. II ~ 30 days, 1 per cent. premium. Merchants' Bills, 90 days, par. ON NEW YORK. Merchants' Bill, 60 days, 1 per cent. premium. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Captain Granville G. Loch, C. 8., commissioned the Winchester, 50, at Portsmouth yesterday, to relieve the Hastings, 72, flig-ship, in the East Indies. She is to have a complement of 450 officers and men. Arrogant, 46, screw-frigate, Captain Robinson, was taken iuto dock at Portsmouth yesterday, to have some of her steam water-pipes repaired, her copper cleaned, and the end of the screw shaft made good, having suf fered apparently by galvanic action. She is to form one of the Channel experimental squadron. Neptune, 120, Captain Yates, has been taken out of the Portsmouth basin, and is alongside the jetty to finish painting end receive her stores. Mr. Pearson, clerk in the officio of the chief engineer at Portsmouth, has been obliged to retire from severe illness. Mr. Alfred Penfold has been promoted in his room, and Mr. George Edwards, son of the respected and efficient storekeeper of Portsmouth yard, has been appointed as writer, vice Penfold. An accident occurred in Portsmouth Dockyard yes terday afternoon to a painter named Threadnam. `'Voile unloading a cask of paint it slipped out of the cart and fractured his leg • he was taken to Hasler Hospital. Commander Jamesf Poste (1845) died on the 12th inst., aged 70. lle served 17 years afloat, and accepted the retirement of 1840. He entered the navy Dec. 28, 1784 ; when in tho Hussar, 28, was wrecked Dec. 27 in the same year, on the ;coast of France, where be was for six months detained a prisoner of war, subject nearly the whole time to very great privations. After the ex pedition to Ferrol:we find him present, Aug. 29, 1800, at the cutting-out close to the batterie s in Vi g o Bay, of Le Guepe, privateer of 18 guns and 161 men. He was made Lieutenant Dec. 22, 1800. He was for seven years First Lieutenant of the Minerva frigate. While the latter ship was fitting out in January, 1806, in t River Thames, Mr. Poste had the honour of attending the funeral of Lord Nelson, on which occasion he was present in the headmost boat, bearing the hero's flag. During the years 1807-8, he saw much boat service on the coast of France, where he contributed to the capture and destruction of 36 of the enemy's veisele, and on one occasion boarded and carried with the two cutters, although five miles away from the ship and close in shore, the Epervier French letterposi pierced on nead board o qu orr e , of 8 guns and 35 men. Hav in g cond ucted his prize to London, and rejoined the Minerva , g h n e ns w , a her in September, 1808, when sh w ef n e t li d in ow w n brig,ithtt thet the 18, J an o d sep s h o in m a en le , t w te h r ic o h f m ov a e r r r e e t , an o d f 8 e British frigate, after a chase of 75 miles, had justas arrived within gun-shot of her,: barely allowingln January, for rescue tes battle u t a o r a y s ,lB t o i 9 n , to Mr.l6 p Poste of w her c a r e n U t I w t t r h t u t n h a e t ° mi crew. nery bringing off the wounded after the of Corunna. He subsequent d l m y eat w frN it o n eln e w s f s o s t c t a ndl th French frigate Amphitritue,aliafnadnedsaw destruction of the he r eiantvlan dies l a h n o high testimonial of conduct s bringing servicewwith h. in ht i t_h se e In August, 1813, PORTSMOUTH, THURSDA.e:P.o_tin.a2: accepted his present rank atanplBtflatiaseg.-lishaiwpkin. Victory,fl the Rodney, salute to-day, at Blenheim l2 odo c a k l a , of the Princess Louisa. d in ß h e o t n r o ib u u r ti: f n t fi h r e e d b r t royal Rover. MARI NES. —Th e cour t-martial ordered to tr y First Lieutenant Hail, of the artillery companies of the Royal Marines, guard of Ports mou th, an d other conduct unbecomin g the on charges of drunken ness on the main character of an officer and a gentlemen, on the 13th of February last, which charges were framed on the infor mation of Mr. William Harrison of the Hampshire Tele graph newspaper, were re-assembled this morning at Forton Barracks to hear the finding of the Court (which sat three days of last week—Tuesday, Wednes day, and Thursday), which had been appoveiti by- the Admiralty . and Horse Guards. The Court pronounced that the prisoner was "fully acquitted" on both charges. Lieutenant Hall thereupon received his sword from Co lonel-Commandant Meuzies, K.a., and returned to his duty, after upwards of a month's suspension. PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY.—Her Majesty's steam=ship Avon sailed on Tuesday with seamen for Portsmouth. The steam -ship Desperate, having completed her coaling, steamed to her moorings on Monday.. The frigate Phcebe, building in No. 2 slip, is ordevs d to bo got reedy with all dispatch for launching this sum mer, when the frigate Liffy is ordered to be built on the sameSHEE slip as a screw steamer. RNESS, MARCH 18.—Her Majesty's steam er African left this pert for Chatham on Tu esda y evening. Her Majesty's ship North Star, C ommander Palkn, having been ordered forthwith from Chatham to Dept ford to take on board her stores scud „provisions for the Arctic regions, e f t t h e f or mer port early on WetilleS• day morning. She passed by here in tow of the Adder and African steamers at 8.30 A.ar. of that day. Her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Amphion, 34, is being rigged by the crew of the Horatio. A large num ber of the dockyard artificers are employed on her. She is being coppered to the extent of three feet and a half from the line of flotation while in ordinary. Every possible dispatch is being used to get her ready by the time fixed on. Her Majesty's ship Ganges, 84, in the dry dock, hey none of the dockyard hands at work on her at present. Her Majesty's screw steem frigate Horatio, 24, Cap tain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, has been warped to the west side of the fitting basin, under the Sheers. A new screw, as a spare one, has been made for her. The schooner Fortune of Whitby, laden with ,stones, reported a few days since as being on shore on the Maplin Sand, has been got off, and has proceeded to London. The Ehip Emma, of Liverpool, Ribby master, with general cargo, got on shore on the 13 th inst., early in the mornin g , an d r e mained until 4 P.M , when she floated off and pr ocee d e d on h er v oyage. The brig Pairin g master, got on shore on the Maplin, near the Sceptre, of North Shields, coal laden, J . „ west buoy, but succeeded in getting off again the next morning without assistance. APPOINTMENTS. WCOLWICFI, MARCH 18,—Lieutenants—Richard B. Pearse (185!), from the Hecate steam-sloop, and James 11. Bushnell (1851), from the Excellent gunnery-ship, to the Winchester, 50, commissioned at Portsmouth. Masters—Thomas Omer (1847), recently serving in the Champion sloop on the Pacific station, to the Vul ture, advanced paddle-wheel steam-slobp of 470-horse power, at Davonport; Daniel M'Donnell Jago (1846), to the Odin steam-sloop, at Portsmouth. Chief Engineer—George Aitchison, to the Highflyer M.D. (18 4 6) , to t h e Hi g h stesaum rgseloonetwatirhaomolwpi.oh rr, flyer. Assistant-Surgeons—Daniel W. Stephens, M.D. (1848), to the Highflyer; James D. C ronin (1844), to the Am:gent, 36, at Portsmouth. ' Assistaut-Engineers — John T. Williams, Ist glass, to the Dea steam troop ship , at Woolwich; W'. G. D rown , to e An royal steam-yacht, a t Ports mouth;telope steam-sloop, at Woolwich; Henry Fisb, to the Pluto steam-vessel, f or the V Frederick riacknd Young, Albert t o th service on the coast of Africa; Thomas Anderson, James Ferguson, and George W. Siewright, to th e Highflyer ; George Goldsack and I . " W. Hampshire, to the Arrogant. Second Masters—E. J. Kemp, to the Highflyer; Francis Tay] IT (1848), to the Winchester. Master's Assistants—J. D. Wilshire and George a Underhill, to the Winchester; Charles Pricket, to the Highflyer. Clerks—Charles A. Goodyer (1850) and James B. M'Avoy, to the. Winchester; John Truss, to the Victory flsg•ship, at Portsmouth. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, THUIASDAT. Thia morning being the birth-day of her Royal High ness the Princess Louisa, the band of the Royal Marines were in attendance at Osborne, and played for some time under her Majesty's windows. The Queen and Prince, with the Royal Family, walked after Wards in the Gardens. At a quarter before nine o'clock in the morning, the band of the Royal Marines performed the following selections:— Overture, "Precio50"... Duetto, " La Favourite" Grand Selection, " Norma" Scene, a Duetto, " Medea" Walzer, " Sch warzblat t" And again at two o'clock in the afternoon they performed the following compositions:— Sinfonia, " Gabriella di Verzi" Mercadante. Selection, " Stabat Mater" Polka, " The King Pippin" Duetto Finale, "Don Pasquale" Quadrille, "Ireland" ... Mr. Heyworth, M.P., had an interview with the Ear of Derby yesterday at his official residence in Downing street. Mr. Newdegate had also an interview with his Lordship yesterday. A deputation from the Mauritius had an interview with Sir John Pakington yesterday at the Colonial office. The deputation consisted of Mr. Guthrie (chair man), Mr. B. B. Greene, Mr. James Blyth, Mr. Samuel Baker, Mr. Edward Chapman, Mr. John Clifford, Me, Andrew Steele, and Mr. Macknell. Mr. Ilindley had an interview with Mr. Secretary Walpole yesterday, at the Home-office. Mr. Thurlow had also an interview with the Right Hon. Gentleman. A deputation from Macclesfield had an interview yes terday with the General Board of Health, at their offices, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Watts and Thomas Wardle, attended by Mr. Parrott, Town Clerk of Macclesfield. It was introduced by the Mem here for the borough, Mr. J. Broekleharst, M.P., and Mr. John Williams, M.P. The 11ev. E. Hawkins had an interview yesterday with Sir John Pakington. The Cambridge University Commission had a meet ing en Wednesday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, in Downingq:tr , et. Present— the Bishop of Chester, the Dean of Ely, Sir John Her schel, the Rev. Professor Sedgwiek, and the Rev. W. 11. Bateson (Secretary). The Commission met again yes terday. Pia. sent—the Bishop of Chester, Sir John Herschel, the Maste7 of the Rolle, the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, and the Rev. W. H. Meson (Secretary). A deputation, consisting cf Mr. Sewell, Mr. Wake fielf+, Mr. 11.‘Geachy, and Mr. Adderley, had an inter vii w with Sir John Pakington yesterday at the Colonial office. A deputation from the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association, consisting of Mr. Edwin W. Field (Chairman), Mr. Kenedy, and the Secretary , had an in. terview ve,terday with Mr. Secretary Walpole at the Homo•offlce. POOR GENTEEL WOMEN. Look around your own circle. You know of many Cases such as this:--A seemingly prosperous man is engaged in the full tide of successful business; he drives a largo trade, and counts his gains by thousands. Ho has a family of sons and daughters, whom he educates at boarding-schools ' in all the current knowledge and trifling of the day. They are carefully tended and kept. Th©y know no want. They are thoroughly genteel, and have a large visiting acquaintance. Their characters, such as they are, become fashioned and formed after the most approved notions. But suddenly a reverse occurs, --an unfortunate speculation, a bad season; great losses fall suddenly upon the merchant, and he finds himself a ruined man. You have a genteel family reduced at once to a state of the most galling poverty; not merely th e poverty of the poor; but the poverty of the genteel, an infinitely sadder and more intolerable thing. Or, a professional man dies suddenly, and when his effairs are wound up, it is found that he had livedivd fully up to hia income; that thos e gay parties of h ad absorbed all his spare gains; and that he had not insured his life, or if so, then for a very inconsiderable amount. His widow and daughters fall at once into the ranks of the poor genteel. As for the sons, in such cares, they can usually shift f.ir themselves; but how long is it before they ca n do anything towards helping their poor female relatives. By the time they reaei manhood they have contracted prehably got married, an d ti e s of their own, most do very little to re lieve t he straits of their can poor sisters, who quietly subside into the state cif threadbare poor g entlewomen. —Eliza Cooh's Journal. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIRCUIT.—Lewes, March 18. (More Mr. 1-1. eroll PARKE.) THE QUEEN ON THE PROSECUTION OF vILLIAN HADIP V. JOHN BROoi r - AND OTHERS. In this case, which w as a charge against John Broome, the pugilist, and two other persons, of having committed a fraud by cheating at cards, the circumstances con nected with which charge have frequently been before the public, Mr. JOHNSON, who was instructed for the prosecution, applied to the Court to estreat the recognizances of the prosecutor Hemp, and to enlarge the recognizances of tie other witnesses to the next ObbiZES. He said that his application was founded upon an affidavit, which was to the effect that 'lamp had been called upon to give evidence before the grand jury, but he had not done so, and that diligent search bad been made for him and he could not be round. Mr. PARRY said he was instructed, on behalf of Charles Staden, one of the defendants, who was included in the indictment with Broome, and he would observe that he thought before the Court interfered, inasmuch as a great many different persons had appeared nominal'y as pro secutors at various times to conduct the prosecution, t h at it o ught to be satisfied that the prosecution was really conducted by some public authority, for proceeding of the kind suggested would of course be a complete farce. Mr. JOHNSON said he appeared on behalf of the magis trates who bad sent the case for trial. Mr. PARRY said he was quite satisfied with the expla nation of his Learned Friend, and he would merely state to the Court that he hold in his hand an affidavit made by the defendant for whom he appeared, in which he stated that he was most anxious to take his trial, and at the same time added that he had never been in collu sion with Hamp, or had any communication with him, or was in any way instrumental to his absence. He was instructed that he was a man possessed of some property At Brighton, and that he had carried on an extensive business in that town; but the effect of such a charge hanging over him was likely to cause him serious injury. He submitted that under these circumstances be was en titled to an sequ ittd upon the present occasion, and if his presence -should be required at any future time there was not the least doubt that he could easily be found. Baron PARSE said that although it might be inconve nient to this defendant heto have the charge B order the ir over him, then oly co urse could take would be to recognizances of Ilamp, and another witness who was not in attendance, to be estreated, and the recognizances of all the other witnesses must be enlarged to the next assizes. SOMERSET Hour.- Tho works for the contem plated " wing" at Somerset House are likely to be discon tinued, and the Inland Revenue offices, at present held in the Excise building; (Yd Broad-street, Hill shortly be re moved again to Somerset House, where more room will be obtained by the transfer of departments coauected with the Navy to the Admiralty, Charing-cross. These changes re sult partly from the t ac t o f the Duke of Northumberland having resigned the large suite of apartments, always placed at the disposal of the First Lord, as an official residence, leaving them available as offices. The immense pile of buildings in Broad -street, used for the Excise, will be brougb to the hammer.