The Sun. — London, England, 1867-05-31 00:00:00

INTERfiII'ARLIABIENT MOUSE OF COMaONS.-YESTERDAY. The SrsAxEn took the chair at two o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Lord R.LETESON GOWER took the oaths and his seat for Sutberlandshire in the room of Sir D. Dundas. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway, Bristol and Exeter R a ilway (Further Powers), and London and North Wes tern Railway (New Works, am.) NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY (CARLISLE DEVIA TION) BILL. Mr. DODSON called attention to the matters connected with this bill and its provisions, and explained the cir cumstances under which it was proposed to raise £1,900,000 pre-preference stock to pay off certain liabili- ties. On the consideration of the report the following amenl ',tient was moved:—" That the consideration of this re port be referred to a select committee to report as follows, viz. ; whether shareholders holding stock or shares late of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, ordinary or preferential, ought to be heard against the alleged confiscation of their pro perty if this bill be allowed to pass ; whether the amalgamation of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company with the North British Company in 1863 was procured by means of false accounts and representations ; whether the property late of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, yielding income, would be absorbed by pre-preference shareholders under this bill to the prejudice and exclusion of shareholders un der the late company ; and that all fur ther proceedings relating to this bill be delayed until the committee report." The a wendment, however, was negatived without a division, and the bill was ordered to be read a third time. NEW ZEALAND. Sir J. PAKINGTON said his predecessor had decided that it was not necessary to issue a modal to the troops employed in New Zealand, and he saw no reason to depart from that decision. ARMSTRONG GUNS. Mr. U. I3AILLIE asked for the production of the corre spondence between the War-office, the Ordnance Select Committee, the chief superintendent of the Proof Depart ment at Woolwich, and the Elswick Company, relative to the nine 64-pounder breech-loading Armstrong gun?. Sir J. PAKINGTON said he would give him a portion of the correspondence, but he could not give him the whole of it. UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. In reply to Mr. GOLDSMID, Lord J. MANNERS said he could not take upcin him self to give directions for the preparation of fresh plans, especially as a groat deal of work had been done. The whole of the subject would be raised in discussion to- morrow• FEVER IN THE MAURITIUS. Mr. J. A. SAIITII asked the Under -Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the statement which had ap peared in several of the papers in reference to the outbreak of yellow fever in the Mauritius was well founded; and, if so, whether the unusual rate of mortality reported had occurred. And, whether any steps had been taken to draw the attention of the Government to the possible extension of the disease to India ? Mr. ADDERLEY said no despatch had been re ceived. The intelligence came by private letter, but he had reason to believe the report was too true. The letter stated that 230 deaths had oc curred in Port Louis alone. Up to the date of the letter ho believed 13,000 deaths had taken place in a popu lation of 300,000. Medicines had been sent and the troops marched to a healthy situation. Yellow fever, until the present outbreak, bad never before appeared east of the Cape. The Government were in expectation of despatches every hour. Sir S. NORTHCOTE said he had telegraphed to India directing every precaution to be taken to prevent the fever spreading in that direction. VICTORIA PARK. In reply to Viscount ENFIELD, Lord J. MANNERS said 45 acres had been appropriated to building purposes, precisely in the same way as had been done in Victoria and other parks. THE VOLUNTEERS. - .. Mr. FINLAY asked the Secretary of State for War he was aware that several volunteer corps had not yet received any part of the capitation money voted to them by the house for the years 1866 and 1865, and only a por tion of the money voted for the year 1861; and whether he could state the cause of the delay, and when these corps might expect to receive the sums duo to them. Sir J. FAKINGTON said he was informed that all the money due in 1864 had been paid. £!00 of that due in 1865 was to be paid to-morrow, but with respect to that for 1866 none had been paid, because none had been ap plied for. That was the cause of the delay. THE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN. Mr. MONK asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether ho had any information confirming the report that was in circulation that Juarez had ordered the Em peror Maximilian to be shot ? Lord STANLEY said he had no such information, and with respect to the alleged capture of the Emperor all that was known was what had appeared in the newspapers, and in those reports there were two contradictory state monts. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL, The house went into committee on this bill. On clause 8 (the disfranchising clause) being proposed, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he proposed the postponement of the clause in order that he might bring up an amended one. Sir G. GREY objected to the postponement when it was clearly stated when it was to be discussed. Col. PAT TEN hoped it would be taken into considera tion before the house was called upon to consider the schedules of the bill. Mr. LIDDELL thought it was of the greatest import ance that the course to be adopted with respect to the dis franchisiug certain boroughs should be clearly known before they came to consider the distribution of seats. Mr. BRIGHT suggested that the bill should bo divided into two parts. (No, no.) That with respect to the franchise could ge forward to another place, and then they would have time to deliberately discuss that relating to the distribution of seats, which they had not yet done. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would read the addition he proposed to make to the clause. The right hon. gentleman then read a kind of preamble, which recited that, iu consequence of the reports of com missions appointed to investigate the charges of bribery made against the electors of Totnes, Great Yarmouth, Reigate, and Lancaster, he proposed to preface the clause with that introduction. The motion for postponement was withdrawn, and Mr. BAXTER moved an amendment to the clause to the effect that Lancaster and Great Yarmouth should retain one member each. Sir R. BOWYER said he had a motion on the paper for the striking out of the clause altogether, as be con sidered it a great hardship that a number of persons who wero not guilty of bribery should be punished for those who had committed that offence. Mr. GLADSTONE thought the hon. member for Dun dalk (Sir G. Bowyer) perf3ctly right that the principle of the clause is raised by the motion of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and not only as to the clause in general, but as to each town severally. For each town severally is named in the preamble, which the right hon. gentleman most properly proposes, and although it may be that the preamble would be satisfied by enacting a portion of the clause and stopping short of absolute disfranchisement, yet it implies that something of the nature of penalty is to be inflicted. He thought the arguments of the hon. member for Dun dalk are inadequate to sustain the conclusion at which ho wishes us to arrive. (Hear.) lie says this is to bo con sidered a bill of pains and penalties. No doubt, as it ex cludes from the exorcise of a public trust persons who have hitherto been in its possession, it is capable of being so stated ; but it would be a false view if the house consi dered that that was the principal aspect in which it was to bo regarded. What we have to provide for is the pure and efficient exercise of the franchise. (Hear, hear.) We are bound to take measures for that, and if so happens that in the honest and deliberate adoption of those measures we inflict inconvenience upon any one, that may be a misfor tune which we regret, but it is not to stand between us and our principal duty. (Hear.) The hon. gentleman contends that a bill of pains and penalties has always been treated by itself. (Hear, hear.) No doubt whore particular boroughs had been found guilty of :gross corruption, the Government of the day has not waited to inflict a penalty until the occasion of a Reform Bill—(laughter)—but when a case arose they dealt with it. And it happens that the case of these four towns arises at the very moment when a Reform Bill is brought before us. Ile did not say that that proved that this ought to be dealt with in this bill, but it proves that the force of precedents against this is very small. But this is no more a bill of pains and penal ties to disfranchise one of these towns than to disfranchise any of the small boroughs that appeared in Schedule A of the Reform Bill. (Cheers.) lie did not say that those boroughs were of the same importance, but he was arguing a question of principle. The hon. member says we are in flicting a great wrong on the new voters. The interests of the new voters and the old voters must be considered as second to the public and national interest. (Cheers.) Too much has been said about these new voters. It is taken for granted by many that these new voters will purify the old ones. A s the right hon. member for Caine said last year, "Yea seem to think that health is contagious as well as disease." (Laughter.) And his honourable friend seemed to think that the disease of these old voters will be neutralised and cured, and their bad morals destroyed by the introduction of the new voters. lie WAS sorry that the capital town of the county in Par liament, of which he had the honour in part to represent, is one of the towns embraced by the enactment; but he c3nld not hesitate on that account. No doubt it would have its champions, as Yarmouth has. That is quite right under the circumstances. Every town in this position ought to have its advocates who take a warm and highly celOure4 9J2 its behalf. (A. laugh.) HO inati from report of the commission that id Totnes, where the 'total number on the register was 421, there wore 158 bribers and bribed, or 38 per cent.; in Reigate, 912 on the register, and 346 bribers and bribed, or 38 per cent.; in Yarmouth, 1,647 on the register, and 528 bribers and bribed, a little less than 32 per cent. And we must bear in mind that this is not the first time Yarmouth has been before us. (Hear, hear.) On a former occasion the house passed a measure of disfranchisement of the freemen, who contribute very highly to the category of guilt on occa sions like this. In Lancaster, there were 1,498 voters on the register, and 916 bribers and bribed, or 64 per cent. But it is only fair to say that out of 980 freemen, 708 are corrupt; and out of 439 householders, nearly as many.- He could not agree in the wish these cases had been dealt with in a separate bill. In this country, in a case of this kind we generally push a good principle to excess. In the re gard for the sacredness of private rights, which is the foundation of law and order, we are sometimes apt to fol low Mere phantoms and simulacra of right which we fall down and worship, as if they corresponded substantially with that definition; and sometimes real public right is sacrificed to imaginary private right. (Hear, hear.) Ho could not agree with the hon. member for Birmingham that we are unable to deal impartially with this subject on the present occasion, for the number of seats to be had from each borough is not likely to blind our view with regard to the general question of the redistribution of seats. Ho trusted that the Government will accede to the motion of the hon. member for Wick, or some such motion with regard to the redistribution of seats. He supported this clause on this principle, that local communities must in a case of this kind be held responsible for the acts of large portions of its members. (Cheers.) And that proposi tion is strengthened when you recollect that in all these cases, besides the number of individuals whose corruption you prove, there is a further percentage of corruption which you fail to prove, and beyond and above that, be sides those who are actually tainted with bribery in com munities where it has unhappily prevailed, there are others who wink and laugh at bribery, and make light of it, and by conniving participate. (Hear, hear.) No doubt there are many honourable, upright, and perfectly cleah-handed men who are indignant at such acts, but the proportion of such innocent persons is not so large as upon an indulgent con struction of the case wo might suppose. The question in volved by this clause is a very serious one. With regard to the question of bribery, above all others, we are apt to beat about the bush. There is nothing so easy as to make speeches in favour of severe laws against those who take bribes--and there is nothing so delightful to an excited andienceas to hear denunciations of those who give bribes —but our severe penal enactments are almost wholly in sufficient for the purpose. It would be ludicrous to profess to abolish bribery by severe penal enactments against per sons in their individual capacity. Ho admitted that the plan of dealing with local communities is open to the ob jection that if they are disfranchised on evidence obtained largely from them, this may check the disposition in future to give such evidence. (Hear, hear.) But, on the other hand, the evidence is reduced to absolute inutility, if on that account, having made an investigation at the public charge, you refuse to act upon it. (Cheers.) The punishment of communties is likely effectually to check all bribery. We shall create a public opinion in these local communities adverse to bribery—(hear, hear) — and it is this, as well as the exercise of influ ence and example, to which we must chiefly look for this discouragement of bribery. (Hear, hear.) Ho could not for a moment defend any one who, in his ambition to ob tain a seat in Pa-liament, has been led to taint himself in connection with these transactions; but how does it arise? Not because the candidates have such an avidity for ex penditure that they ere determined to force bribery upon the communities—(laughter)—but because, misled by the brilliancy of their object, they fall into the operation of a system ingrained in these communities, mixed up with their local habits and practices for a length of time. (Hear, hear.) It is there the source of the evil lies, and there you must attempt to purify it by the purge of great severity, if you intend to make any serious effort to re form. (Cheers.) Therefore he was anxious this clause, or ono highly stringent in its enactments, should be passed. (Hear, hear.) He was not prepared to say he did no wish to draw distinctions between small and large communities in this matter. Large communities are at present without a check which operates upon small com munities. The latter know they will be disfranchised. Is there a man that will stand up for Totnes ? (Laughter.) But there is a latent sense of the importance of large communities which tends to weaken the operation of checks. (Hear, hear.) Consequently we must be pre pared to deal with large communities upon nearly the same principle as small communities—(cheers) —subject to this exception, that if a community, which has no title to representation except the fact that it has possessed that right, abuses that right, there is no argument remaining to be made in such a case. Ho hoped the Government will adhere to the stringent measures they had proposed. (Cheers.) He could not conceive a worse proposal than that made by the honourable member for Montrose, for taking away one of the members for a borough which has a double representation. It is perfectly clear that, whatever punishment you inflict, you must break the htbit of bribery. YOl mly do this by total dis franchisement, or by disfranchisement for a term of years; but tc adopt this proposition would be equal to saying, " You have taken bribes from two mem bers, and this is so intolerable that we can bear it no longer ; but we have no objection to your taking bribes from one member." (Laughter.) He gave the Govern ment great credit for the decisive course which they had adopted as far as this proposal is concerned, and he hoped the house would resolutely support them, and he trusted that the Government themselves will be worthy of the proposal they had made. (Cheers.) Mr. H. BAILLIE (who was unable for several seconds to obtain a hearing in consequence of the calls for Mr. Lowe, who rose about the same time) said that, inasmuch as wo were not living under a Mosaic dispensation—(loud laughter)—he did not see why we should assume the power of visiting the sins of the fathers for successive generations upon their children. (Hear, hear.) It would be more just to suspend the rights of corrupt boroughs for ten. or fifteen years—(no, no)—and this would be a more severe punishment than that proposed for Lancaster, as under the Government Reform Bill, the electors, though disfranchised for the borough, would become county electors. Mr. LOWE wished that the hon. member for Norfolk (Mr. Howes) would make the discussion more regular by moving to leave out the borough of Yarmouth from the preamble. (Hear, hear.) He wished to call to the mind of the house certain considerations which had not been brought prominently before it. Rather less than a third of the electors of Yarmouth ere proved to be guilty of corrupt practices. And if it were so, that the case stands now as it did when the offences wore committed, or when the commission reported, er the Government introduced the motion, he should have no difficulty in voting for the disfranchisement of the borough. But the case does not stand so now. Since that time we had gone through a revolution. (Cheers.) The prin ciple upon which the franchise was to bo conferred was that it wss a privilege or trust, or agency deputed to certain places which were thought fit to exercise it for a public good. The principle upon which it was now conferred, phrase it how we may, was the right of every citizen who had a settled residence in the country to be represented in Parliament—(hear, hear)—and there fore they should well consider whether the principle in respect of bribery, which was applicable in the past, could be applied to the new state of circumstances of the coun try. If they took the gross number of inhabitants in any particular borough and divided it by seven, they would arrive at what new constituencies will be. Applying that rule to Great Yarmouth, its constituency of 1,650 will be increased by something lik 4,500 voters. The right hon. gentleman the member for South Lancashire said that they should punish the innocent with tho guilty. Granted; but upon what principle ? Were they going, because of the fault of 500 voters, to prevent coming into being 4,500 electors, who otherwise would be admitted to the fran chise under the bill ? (Hear, hear.) It was said that they would contaminate the new voters ; but was it to go forth that the House had no confidence in the new constituen cies ? (Hear, hear.) Was the House prepared to admit that they were not to be entrusted with the franchise? There was another consideration. The right hon. gentle man the member for South Lancashire argued that the size of the borough had nothing to do with the question ; but if they laid down that rule, ha fancied that they would and by disfranchising all the borough constituencies in the country. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He had no par ticular sympathy with transactions such as those which took place at Great Yarmouth, but as ho was convinced that, as in America, we shall have to wink at bribery in the new constituencies, ho thought the House should act warily in the matter—not as if thoy were at the fag-end of an old system, but at the beginning of a new one. It would be of evil augury for the plan which they were e e l a i ng s t h r a which a ofi bo fr stt u h e t c a t s o per e co s e t t a tht delinquency nt w hg o eu r ye e nlse,ye r o bliged ebyasak t an absolute asked tolcommenceay drreversal in vwenr t s h ian e l the disfranchisement of Groat Yarmouth. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HOWES cont en d e d th a t a system of disfranchise ment,i if carried indiscriminately into effect, was one of the worst things that could be devised. Mr. BRIGHT said that whatever opinion hon. members might hold upon the question, they would all find that it was very unfortunate for a fair discussion and determina tion of it that the case of the four boroughs should be rought before the House on a clause in a bill of such mag nitude. He believed that since the Reform Act of 1832 Only two boroughs, Sudbury and St. Albans, had been dis franchised; but he ventured to say that if those boroughs had been of the size of Lancaster and Great Yarmouth they never would have been disfranchised. They wore dis franchised, in the first place, because they were so small that they ought not to have existed at all; and, secondly, because being so small, there was no expectation that there could be created in them any constituency of a less cor rupt and more reliable character; so that their represetlta tion in the futura would be satisfactory and creditable to the country. What was the true course in the case before them. This—to disfranchise every individual elector whose corruption had been proved. Their name, were known ; they were on the table. (Hoar.) . The proposition of the Government was that the four thousand innocent should be punished with the five hundred guilty ; but the proposition was so monstrous that he was surprised the Chancellor of the Exchequer should have put it in the bill; he was astonished that the right hon. gentleman the mem ber for South Lancashire should have supported it, and he should be amazed if it received the sanction of the house. (Hear.) His hon. friend and relative would forgive him for referring to what had taken place in Wakefield. At the general election of 1859 it was found that extensive bribery prevailed in that borough, and one of the most honourable and conscientious men living, having unfortunately come in contact with the system, had almost become inex tricably involved in it. (Loud laughter.) if there were no honourable and conscientious men who had been connected with bribery, ho could only say that he should form an unfavourable opinion of many he saw around him. (Renewed laughter.) But the committee knew what took place in the case of Wakefield. There was a commission and a full inquiry, but the borough was not disfranchised. When the next election came round his hon. friend and relative determined to have nothing more to do with it ; but the constituency having felt thatthey had suffered from what had taken place, entered into an agreement to return him without canvass and expense, and gave . a pledge at the same time not to resort to bribery. Tho result was that the borough of Wakefield was restored and bribery discon tinued as far as the party of his hon. friend was concerned. The right lion. gentleman then referred to the boroughs disfranchised in schedule A, but those boroughs wore dis franchised on the ground of general policy, because they were not in any sense a representation of the people, and that their members should be given to large towns and cities, where they would represent a considerable amount of public opinion. The right course in the present case would be what had been suggested—that the writs should be suspended. (Cries of "No, no.") There was no man in the house to whom corruption was more odious than to himself ; but he would never consent that many hundreds of innocent men should be perpetually disfranchised, and the great population of Lancaster and Yarmouth perpetu ally excluded because a small number of electors in one generation had been guilty of the offence. Viscount CRANBORNE thought there was danger of the committee being misled by the term " disfranchise ment." If they said to the people of Yarmouth that they never should have any share in the representation of the country, in that case the punishment would be out of pro portion to their guilt. Mr. H. VIVIAN said he would support the clause, as he believed there was a desire on the part of 9. large number of the respectable inhabitants of Great Yarmouth that the borough should be diefranchised; Mr. P. WYNDHAM made a few observations which were not intelligible in the gallery owing to the loud and constant cries of "Divide" on both sides of the house. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Government had not proposed the present clause without the most matey, and anxious consideration, and the conviction that it was ono which was justified by sound policy. The charge of the hon. member for Bir mingham, that the Government wore proceeding in the present course because it suited the convenience of their other arrangements, bad no foundation in justice. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, they were anxious that the clause, if carried, should be carried by the general sense and feeling of the committee; as it was only by such means that it would have the moral effect which it was desirable it should produce. The more ho considered the question of bribery and corruption the more firmly was he convinced that the practice had very little effect upon the fortuues of parties, however it might gratify the ambition and vanity of individuals who wished to force their way into a position into society. ([Lear, hear.) After a few words of explanation from Mr. Bright, the amendment to omit the words " Groat Yarmouth" was negatived without a division. The CHAIRMAN then put the preamble of the clause The committee then divided, when there were — For the preamble Against ... • Majority •.. _276 Colonel PATTENthen moved to omit Great Yarmouth and Lancaster, with a view of moving at the end of the clause that the writs for those boroughs should be sus pended for ten years. This ho submittted would be punishment enough. Mr. ACLAND suggested that the period of suspension should be 23 or 30 years, and Mr. BAXTER that it should be 15 years. Mr. GLADSTONE observed that if mercy were ex tended to any of those boroughs it ought to be extended to Reigate. If the suspension were to be continued till 1887 he should support it. Lord CRANBORNE pointed out that by suspending the writs they would not turn these electors over to the county constituency, but they would not be represented at all. The discussion was continued for some time longer, Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Cubitt, Mr. Gurney, the Solicitor-General, and Mr. Cardwell arguing in support of the clause, and Sir G. Bowyer, the Marquis of Hartingten, Mr. Gilpin, and Mr. Dillwyn supporting the amendment. Mr. Read pro tested against the constituency of East Norfolk being con taminated by that of Great Yarmouth being added to it, and Mr. Wyld suggested that instead of disfranchisement they should try the ballot. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER contended that the policy recommended by the Government was the right policy. The mere suspension of the writs would be looked upon by the country as mere trifling. Ile believed a great effect would be produced by disfranchising those boroughs. On a division the amendment was rejected by 159, to 87, and the clause as amended was agreed to. THE REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES. On clause 9, which enacts that the boroughs mentioned in Schedule A shall return one member of Parliament, Mr. MILL proposed an amendment, which he said was intended to embody a principle not yet introduced into the discussion, overlooked by the constitution, and disregarded in most theories of political reform ; yet of great impor tance. The proposal will not give a weapon of attack or defence to any party ; it is neither democratic, aristocratic, Tory, Whig, nor Radical; bat partakes somewhat of all these qualities. It is to give fair play to all opinions of all parties, so that .none may bear down another. He should assume the existence of a serious evil requiring a remedy ; and that this remedy would be practicable an efficacious. The evil is, that the electors already on the register are not represented. The representation about the extension of which the house is inquiring i ms w tu s hils h ooeti t ts t ipt i n t se aoidosrfslotioamffi prop o rtio n mieitnriemeonodr im p e rfect t tt o r iiie f nlo e se t f :h t t ct e hnhoeonorr e e nhie n l nais e t elge c i h ; n t i i o tte eh r tdh s d a e . n et yoadd at all, this duration i e ,o s b n e nobe o enuo r i n - s -ft newas s e en t l i dd e t u iw c cr t l e e i ha n o ciso c n tns iesyeaussorf insufficient ef u p w : minorities : often blotted out for an indefinite period just as much as if they were disqualified. They cannot, on the average, be less than one-third, and sometimes approxi mate to one-half of the constituencies. Even the majori ties are represented only in a rough way. Their represen tative really only represents their party. This is not enough. We want in the House of Commons not only a sufficient number of Conservatives and Liberals, but the best persons and representatives of their respective parties. The elector desires to bo represented by the person who has most of his confidence in more than party matters. How many electors in this country are represented by the persons they would most prefer? Not one. (" Oh, oh," and cheers.) Well, the only electors who are so repre sented are those who have been bribed. A candidate's suc cess is determined sometimes by his being first in the field ; sometimes by his having been defeated at a previous elec tion ; but most commonly by local leaders, who may be honest politicians, or jobbing intriguers—(no, no, and, hear, hear)—who like the gentleman who is willing to pay most money. (Loud cheers and counter cheers.) It answers best to put up some person who has no opinion but those of party, for if he has 'any others they will probably cost some votes. (Hear, hear.) Having made out a sufficient case —(laughter, and hear, hear) —of the evil to bo corrected, he would state the remedy. His proposal was that votes shall be taken in every locality for other than the local candidates ; that those electors who decline to vote for any of the three or four candidates in their locality should have the power to bestow their votes on any one who is a can didate anywhere else. (Prolonged laughter.) The natural result will be that the elector will vote for the person among the whole number of candidates who represents him best; and when a certain number of votes have been given for a candidate, he will be declared duly elected. It is objected that this plan would destroy the local character of repre sentation. (Hear, hear.) But the feelings and opinions of localities would be represented so long as these feelings existed in the minds of the electors, and as every elector must reside in a locality. But in certain districts a majority of the electors will always prefer to be represented by some one connected with them by some special tie. It will be minorities, who know they cannot obtain local representa tion, who for the most part will avail themselves of the new plan. With regard to the majority, the effect would bo to induce local leaders to bring forward the best local candidates who can be obtained, because voters having the power to carry their votes elsewhere, would demand a candidate deserving of their votes. Let every elector have the option of registering himself, either locally or generally ; lot borough elections take place on the local register, and lot those electors who register them selves as members of a national constituency have members allotted in due proportion to their numbers, and let those only be voted for on the new principle. To prevent a few popular names getting all the votes, 3,000 might be the minimum number of votes necessary to secure the election of a candidate; but all votes regis tered above this number for a certain candidate would be lost, unless each voter was permitted to put on his v)ting paper the name of a second candidate for whom his vote might be used if it were not wanted for the first candi date. This is all the voter will have to do more than at present, the only person on whom additional duty will devolve being the scrutineer. He had given a simple, true, and sufficiently full explanation of what many of you have beard about, but which very few know much about—(hear, hear, and laughter)—the plan of personal representation of his eminent friend Mr. Hare. (Hear, hear.) Is a re presentation of parties all we have a right, to demand ? Ii that were the case, it woad be as well to get up three ... 325 flags, inscribed respectively " Tory," " Whig," and "Radical," and when the electors had made their choice, let the leaders of the winning party - nominate the persons I to represent them. (Laughter.) We desire that this house should represent the opinions of the country, and this system would make it the express image of the nation. (Hear, hear.) Its principle is neither specially Liberal nor Conservative, but in a high degree both. Conserva tives chiefly deprecate any plan of parliamentary reform by which there would be danger of some class of the com munity being swamped by the others ; but by this pro posal no feeling of interest which had among its adherents several thousands of tho electors need be without a repre sentation in this House proportionately to its numbers. Minorities would have the power of being heard by the best organs they could procufe. On the other hand, he claimed the support of democrats for this proposal, as it is the only possible realisation of their political principles. The true principle of democracy is, that everybody should be represented and represented equally. Is an elector re presented by a member against whom he voted ? In the present mode of taking the suffrages nobody is represented but the majority. But this system is unjust to both the majority and the minority, and moreover affords no guarantee that the majority which seems to prevail repre sents the majority of the electors. The practical working of the plan will always be in favour of those who would otherwise be in danger of being outnumbered. (Cries of "Agreed," and "Order.") If the parties in this house would only give their minds to the comprehension—(laugh ter)—of the claims of this plan they would be convinced that it was the only perfect system. Although this was an age fertile in inventions, yet it was one. in which very great improvements in human affairs had actually taken place. It was an age iu which they had entered upon now paths, and under circumstances which were entirely un exampled in history. They should therefore be neglecting their duty if they declined to entertain a proposition be cause of its novelty. It was not the mare crotchet of an individual, for it had been many years before the world and had received the adhesion of some of the most eminent and thoughtful men in Germany, France, and the United States. (Cries of "Oh, oh.") In the Swiss Confederation there was a proposal for organising the constitution upon the basis of this scheme. With regard to the machinery with which such a plan could bo worked, neither he nor its distinguished author was pledged to any particular mode ; but if the matter were referred to a committee or commission, a proper means could be devised for carrying the principle into effect. He begged to move the amend ment which he had placed on the paper. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN having put the question, there were loud cries of "No," but, after a short pause, Viscount CRANBORNE rose amid cheers, and said that he must enter his most earnest protest against the mode in which the hon. members appeared to treat a subject be cause it happened to run out of the ordinary course. With reference to the scheme of the hon. member, they all knew that it had no chance of being adopted at present. They all knew instinctively that it had no chance of success ; but ho did not see that because the scheme was not likely to pass, it was not a fit thing for the representatives of the people to discuss, particularly when it was known that it had been supported by cultivated men out of doors, and introduced to their notice by a gentleman who held so high a position in the world of letters as the hon. member for Westminster. It appeared to him that the remedy pointed out, if practicable, would only be partial ; for the real evil was that they were in danger of drifting into a system of nomination by local political causes. Wherever the majority would be large it would destroy all special local interests, and the danger would be that power would not pass into the hands of the natural leaders of the people, but into the hands of men who would use it for their own ends. If they had to do with the philosophers they might be safe enough; but what they had to dread was that the unphilosophical mind, which had been worked to a certain point by the philosophers, would recoil from the safeguards which those philosophers deemed necessary to counter balance their schemes. Although the scheme could not possibly be tried at the present time, yet he thought the house had not done justice in not giving attention to a pro posal which was supported in a speech of no common eloquence. (Hear, hear.) Mr. MORRISON thought there were many objections to the plan. On the other hand, it carried the principles of democracy to their logical conclusion. Mr. B. HOPE objected to the measure on the ground of its impracticability. Mr. Sergeant EASEL EE said he did not know whether the hon. member wished the house to be a house of philo sophers ; if so, God help them! He hoped the house would go to serious bus!ness. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was glad the subject had been brought forward. It was one which would, no doubt, in future have the attention of Parliament; but he supposed the hon. member did not in tend to divide the house upon it. The amendment was then withdrawn, and the Chair man was ordered to report progrese. The house then went into committee on the Court of Chancery (Ireland) Bill, in which some progress was made. Tho Exchequer Bonds (.£1,700,000) Bill was read a second time. The Metropolitan Police Bill passed through committee. The Railways (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Metropolis Subways Bill was read a second time, and referred to a select committee. Mr. HUGHES obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts. Mr. MiEVOY moved to nominate the select committee on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Colonel GILPIN said if this question was pressed it would be found that the Protestant feeling of the country would be against it. Ho moved that the committee be nominated that day six months. Lord NAAS supported the motion. Mr. VANCE objected to the composition of the com mittee, and suggested that it should be nominated by the committee of selection. On a division the amendment was rejected by 69 to 42. Another division took place on the motion for the ad journment of the house, which was moved by Sir B. Brydges, and w as negatived by 70 to 39. Another motion for the adjournment of the house was then made, and, ' after some discussion, this was agreed to, and the house • adjo urned, accordingly, at ten minutes to two o'clock. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. GREAT WESTERN. 1 The committee appointed at the adjourned meet arab e l in e f attentionits a ff o ais th ,' e ' business meet ing of sharehol ders on the 29th of March last, " to consult and advis e with the boari of directors in e n to t r re f er ence to the financial position of th e com p a ny have issued the following prelimi nar y re p or t : and the organisationaiLd n m si a d n e g That t ne t s h s nteeyaruvse given entrusted to them. At the time of their appointment they found the position of the com pany the most pressing question which required their attention, and it is with no little satisfaction they are able to state that the liabilities of the com pany in respect to the floating debt have been dimi nished from the sum of £1,300,000, at which it stood on the 31st of July, 1866, by £654,000. This has been effected partly by the acceptance of the 6 per cent. stock when originally offered to the pro prietors, and partly by the application of the re venne of the company to the discharge 'of these ob ligations in lieu of the payment of dividend in the customary form. Hitherto, in spite of the panic which has affected railway securities, the greater part of the debentures which have become payable have been renewed at a moderate rate of interest, and the interest on debentures, which is now pay able at the Bank of England, has of course been re gularly met. The committee have satisfied them selves, by pursuance of the Railway Companies Secu rities Act, an inspection of the ret urn made in 1866, that the debenture issue is considerablywithin the limits of the Parliamentary powers, and they have no hesitation in stating their opinion that no safer investment can be found than the debenture stock of the company. Numerous letters approving the issue of 6 per coat. stock in payment of divi dend to meet the financial difficulties of the corn pany have been received ; and your committee, on a review of the past, are confirmed in the judgment that no better course could have been pursued. It will probably be necessary to continue a similar course for a short period, unless a restoration of confidence in railway securities, which may reasonably be anticipated, should obviate the necessity for such an exceptional practice. And the committee are of opinion that the 6 per cent. stock is undoubtedly a safe investment, and at no distant time will probably be in great request. In conference with the directors, it has been decided to seek powers in the bill now before Parliament (in accordance with the strongly expressed opinion of the shareholders) for reducing the number of direc tors, so that the board may consist of not more than 15 nor less than 12, irrespective of the owner of the Wynnstay estate, who holds a seat under legislative enactment. In the opinion of the company's solici tor, it was not considered desirable to attempt to make this change without the sanction of Parliament, which, it is expected, will be obtained without diffi culty before the close of the present session. While much remains for the committee in conference with the directors (who have given every assistance in their power) to consider in respect of the future policy of the company, this will require the most careful deliberation for its due decision, and much more information than they yet have had time to obtain. Certainly, nothing has arisen in the course of this investigrtion to shake their confidence in the future prospects of the Great Western property, although it is apparent that it is now suffering severely, and must continue for some time to suffer, from having been overloaded with unprofitable un dertakings. If, as may be hopel, the commercial activity of the country shall recover from the fear ful prostration in which the calamities of the past year have involved it, if railway traffics regain their normal state—and the wonderful elasticity of com merce gives ui reason to suppose that such will be the case—the receipts of this company in a little while will again be found steadily on the increase. It will be the duty of your committee to advise with the board, and with those of its officers most able to assist in the work, in what way the income of this company may be further developed. Edward Smith, Chairman, Thomas Brassey, Richard W. Giles, Robert Rankin, Sam. li. Thompson. THE SUN, L 024 LION, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY_ 31 1867. GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN. An extraordinary general meeting of this company was held in Glasgow on Wednesday—Sir Andrew Orr presiding—for the purpose of considering the bill now before Parliament for amalgamating the company with the Midland. The CHAIRMAN stated that the bill had passed the committee, but had not been reported to the house, so that the meeting could do nothing but ad journ till Tuesday next. lie took the opportunity to express his regret that some shareholders still objected to the amalgamation, and hoped that oppo sition would cease, as it was the company's interest to come to a speedy issue in the matter. The direc tors had received the report of the accountant authorised to examine the affairs of the Midland, and that report showed the English company to be in a thoroughly sound and correct position—in the most solvent condition that it was possible to con ceive any company to be in at the present moment. A motion for adjournment was agreed to. GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA. The adjourned half-yearly meeting of this coin. pany was held yesterday at the London Tavern Mr. E. W. Watkin, M.P., in the chair. Mr. J. M. Grant, the secretary, having read the notice of adjournment, and also the special report of the directors, an abstract of which has appeared in Ike Sun. _ _ The CHAIRMAN said the object of the proposal the directors made in that report was to increase the net profit of the undertakibg. The plant was insuffi cient to develope the traffic on the line. lie asked them to keep that point in their minds, and if the directors were right that with the present stock of engines, carriag2s, and waggons they could not materially increase the net traffic of the company, it would be requisite to devise some plan by which they could obtain the additional rolling stock and plant to enable them to increase receipts and to pay the whole of the interest on all their bonds. Every one of the bondholders in the company would be benefited by the increase of the net profits. The more the net profit was increased the better it would be for the first, second, third, and fourth bondholders, and when the profits covered the dividends on the last, the original stock- holder might EOOll expect some dividend. They had all an interest in the increase of the net profit. The postal and military bondholders had at presen nothing more than the receipts from those sources to pay interest on their bonds. He thought it was a very unwise position for the concern to be obliged to assign a part of its revenue to that purpose. It was taking the receipts so far out of their hands, and was a form of payment that ought to be got rid of. They had endeavoured to reconcile those interests with others. The postal and military bondholders had got in the past year about 4 per cent., the in crease being caused by the Fenian outrages, which had been a misfortune to the other interests in the company. The usual average interest was 3 per cent., on those. bonds, but by the scheme proposed the postal and military bondholders would get £3 123. per cent., being 12s. per cent. more than the average of preceding years, and Bs. per cent. less than they had in the past year. The Equipment Mortgage Bond clause in the Arrangements Act limited the amount of these bonds to £500,000, re deemable in 15 ye.irs, with interest at 6 per cent. per annum, having a first charge over all other pre ferences. The money was authorized to be raised for providing additional siding, rolling stock, eleva tors, &c., to develope the traffic. Ile had to ask them authorise the directors to go to Parliament for permissive powers to raise additional capital for those purposes, and towards which they would have the postal and military revenue, estimated at £40,000 or £50,000 a year. By giving the postal and military bondholder 12s. per cent. more than the average of preceding years, they would get the postal and military receipts into their own hands. There could be no doubt that those items of revenue would increase in amount in future years, and the result of the proposal would be that the postal and military bondholder wouldget7-17ths instead of the whole amount to which he would be entitled under the present arrangement. The equipment mortgage bondholder would benefit by that plan on any sum ranging between the £soo,ooo:and the £1,700,000 proposed to be raised under that head, or he would be damaged if the net profit did not increase, but this was contrary to all their experience, and with the anticipated increase of net revenue the position of the equipment mortgage bondholder must be im proved in every way to his advantage. The desire of the first preference holder would be not only to receive his own interest as soon as possible, but that the second, third, and fourth bondholders should also receive their interest, because it would enhance the security and value of his own stock. The inte rest on the present £500,000 equipment mortgage bonds omounted to £30,000, and the further amount of interest when all was paid up as proposed would require £72,000 more, making £102,000 a year, which the interest would probably amount to at the end of five years for the present equipment mort gage, the £lBO,OOO to be raised, and the postal and military bond charge. None of them would then have any ground of complaint, because it was rea sonable to suppose that the traffic receipts by that time would be greatly increased. Every additional engine to the rolling stock required to develope the traffic would earn nearly twice its cost in gross re ceipts in the year. If the engine cost £2,000 the increase in the gross traffic would be about £4,000, leaving about £2,000 net profit. They had 298 en gines on the line, and if they calculated twice their cost, it would be about the amount of their earnings in one year. An additional engine would therefore earn the whole of its cost in about 15 months, so that it would be well worth while to gradually and judiciously increase their rolling stock, as the direct effect would be to increase the net profits of the com pany. The committee of bondholders who conferred with the directors on this matter held in the aggre gate £4,000,000 of bonds. If any gentleman pre sent had a better scheme for adoption, they would adopt it instead of the directors' scheme. It was the interest of all concerned that the interest on every class of bond should be paid in cash as soon as pos sible. If the proprietors thought the scheme a good one, he asked them to adopt it, and give the directors their sanction to apply to the Canadian Parliament for permissive powers to carry it out. The proposal could not be carried until the act was obtained, nor until each class separately approved it by majorities of three-fifths of each represented at meetings specially convened for the purpose. He concluded by moving a resolution to the effect that powers be applied for in the ensuing session of the Canadian Parliament to convert the postal and military bonds, £1,200,000, to equipment mortgage bonds, at a rate equal to 60 par cent., or £720,000 of equipment mortgage bonds bearing a fixed rate of interest of 6 per cent., and to raise a further sum of £480,000 equipment bonds for the purposes of the company ; the whole issue of those equip ment mortgage bonds then being £1,700,000 payable first out of the postal and military revenue, and second, if need be, out of the general net income ; and that the act be subject to the consent of the postal and military bondholders, and to a vote of three-fifths of the bond and stockholders present at special meetings of each. Also that powers be ap plied for to change the name of the company to " The Canadian Railway Company." BARIIG, M.P, a director, seconded the motion. • Mr. VILLEBOISNET said that the chairman had immediate requirements of business. Yet the mer stated nothing to induce them to raise money for fact that three millions of souls have business in i t rolling stock. He wanted details as to the amount is sufficient to make London unlike any other place in the world. No other town is so thoroughly self of traffic at various stations on the line which they Subsistent. The bees make up the hive, an d eau were now unable to carry without additional rolling well dispense with the presence of the drones. The, stock. They should be first convinced as to the " upper ten thousand," who come to make bar " amount of additional traffic before they sanctioned work of their pleasures for three or four months in any increase in the rolling stock. He thought the y ear, enliven, indeed, but do not support, the shareholders were now too old to believe everything town. They create a pleasant stir in their own quarters, but are hardly recognised elsewh ere ; they were told. (Laughter.) Islington and Southwark know little of and care Mr. SMITH had a great objection to increase the less for them. The tide that goes down Holborn amount of the equipment mortgage bonds, or to and the Strand ebbs and flows no fuller and faster unsettle anything while the present nervous excite- on their account. We may grieve for the causes that went prevailed among shareholders in railway com- estrange the Court from the Capital, but its absence panics. He rimed an amendment to the effect that is accounted no material loss beyond the inuncdiatc. incts of the I alace And if London is indepell prec • • the ot 1,200,000 of postal and military bonds be not dent of Royal patronage, she lf is even more abov e converted into the £720,000 equipment mortgage any advantage derivable from the influx of foreign bonds as proposed. visitors. To such cities as Turin or Florence, or The amendment having been seconded, even Naples or Paris, the concourse of strangers is Mr. MOXON said he agreed with Mr. Smith that the very breath of their nostrils. Without it theY die. The beauty in which they are p e rpetual l y the proposal of the directors would unsettle the arraying themselves tip charms of their sites, their provisions of.the Arrangements Act, and therefore museun7s, their gall ' eries, and their monuments , arc thought the further consideration of the matter hardly their own. Their most eligible quarters, should be postponed until the next half-rally their Rue Rivolis, their Lung' Amos, their Chiaiast meeting. are abandoned to the thrice welcome invaders. The ir ., A long discussion ensued, in which Mr. Hankey theatres, their promenades, their social circles, ePe. l . and close with the arrival and departure of the but Mr. Conybeare, Mr. Isherwood, Mr. Fildes, M.P., terfly guests. Nay, the very Courts, on which so Mr. Newmarsh, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Adams, andc r much stress is laid, are chiefly valuable as decoys -n Captain Tyler, took part. Objections were made birds of passage. In Florence or Dresden such good to the proposed measure, but no one appeared to natured Sovereigns as King John of Saxony or the Grand Duke Leopold of Tuscany used to g i ve balls offer a better scheme. It was admitted that it might be requisite to provide additional rolling I n gale and hold levees and reviews on speculation. ~, - Christmas itself and the Holy Week would fall flat stock and other facilities for developing the traffic, with the crowds of strangers, and chiefly of here but it was not considered the right time to increase tics. But in London who ever reckons on foreigners: the capital. The proposal for changing the name or who is even aware of their presence ? In w hat s of the company was objected to by several pro- State measure, or in what act of Parliament, are the interests of our hotel and lodging-house keepers prietors. rit • ever considered? It was as a stimulus to the svn , The CHAIRMAN, in reply to observations, said of the nation, not as mere custom to the trade 0 ' that 30 of the largest stock and bondholders had the capital, that the first Crystal Palace was thrown agreed to the proposal in conference with the di- open in Hyde-park. Even in 1851, or in 1 862 ' rectors. In the past five years the traffic had in- the English aspect of our streets was not so Pe c' creased 471 per cent.—viz., from £ 17 , 000 a week tibl y altered, nor the econom y of our life so great; to £26,000 a week, and, after the most careful disturbed, by the thousands who flocked to 1 . 15 se i anticipated. Away from Leicester-sq uaes: consideration by competent persons acquainted Peopleour ears are seldom jarred by a Babel of tong with Canadian traffic, it was thought probable The ,c illustrious guests" admitted to our clubs 1133,7 that in the course of the next five years the gross be counted on a man's fingers ; all this, not bec ause traffic receipts would increase to an average of England is inhospitable, or foreign visitors unf re e £32,000 a week ; but this could not be attained quent, but simply because thousands of thens arc without a considerable addition to the rolling stock lost in the millions of our dense multitude •; bee. 3 , lis o f more idlers are absorbed in the incessant whir' and other facilities. He had asked Captain Tyler oily our uniform activity ; because England is not wh s to accompany- him to Canada next autumn, and in London as France is in Paris, nor Lon de would be glad to have his opinion on the state of wholly in Pall - mall as Paris is in the Bsulaa rd o s ; the line and other matters to which the gallant because, scattered in our various centres, and ass: t captain had referred at the last ordinary meeting of mated with our different classes, foreigners have 131 here those rendezvous, those special quarters will° the company. make their presence conspicuous elsewhere. (O c t The amendment of Mr. Smith was negatived, ins centrifugaland centripetal iv 111 forces perpetua 0 ing and the original motion was carried, it being un- conflict, with business constantly converging °, derstood that the proposed change in the name of Lombard-street, and life no less incessantly diver ge the company would not be carried out, and that ing upon every line of road and railroad, it nial_ re , opportunities would be given to the postal and said of London that it is everywhere and no wlw We have every one of us a London of our own , military bondholders, and to the first preference house , perhaps, or a shop or an office with our bondholders, to see the proposed bill before send- friends, our own acquaintance ; th'e rest i s coin ing it to Canada. paratively a blank—a wilderness of street a Captain TYLER was unanimously requested by squares, and crescents, without nothing buts bli t $ • the meeting to accompany the Chairman to Canada, number to ever y door we pass, nothing _co, physiognoraical index to every face we 11 as proposed, to inspect the line, and the proceedings It 13 less, perhaps, owing to its vastness thanr nthe terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman, to this strangeness ' • of its people to one an- 0 that London owes the effect it has the pow tha n create on the minds of its own citizens no less t,"r3, on those of its foreign visitors, whenever any elt it ordinary occurrence calls its masses together. , i 0 takes nothing less than the entrance of a T urp f s Padishah or of a Czar of All the Russias or °cur Garibaldi to reveal London to itself ; bu t, u , n o t any such cause of excitement, the awe inspire°,,,,s, by a crowd, but by a whole nation of spectatli, scarcely allows room for wonder at any object Cider bited before them. To the brighter skies and n u t he climates, to the lofty edifices which constitute this boast of other cities our own London has oulY For advantage of overwhelming numbers to oppose: -0, a first impression this is all-sufficient ; but if 3,,,•'0 of our guests will allow himself leisure to 1. 0 _1 3 little closer into the causes which assemble so ca' r, family of mankind in so small a place, he maY , ,P t e ha haps form such an opinion of the characte r, °k la institutions, of the tastes and habits of the , COP who have made London what it is, as m a Loll . him take it for what it is, and like it ai it is• the don is not the city of Cmsars ; it does not b ear r° mark of the Napoleons; but no other place I-1 le. forcibly embodies the whole genius of a P l ' ° ( l 3 o r There is no other such representative place. ce t love of work, our instincts of freedom, our resPottr for the law, our regard for our fellow -being s, r o u r exclusiveness—all of wealth and rank, our independence, 00s exclusiveness—all the lights and shades of .10 , national character are apparent in the very 0 : 1 o f ness of our rectilinear streets, in the broad 1 1 - 9 4, 00 , our footpaths, in the very railings of our a_l ery However tame and unpretending, our town is c ' c og unlike all other towns. It may be worth , oto , even when all else has been seen. And, at all ev`"thst we must set it off to the best of our abilities, ,lici our exalted guests—the Czars and the Sultans, that the the other great ones of the earth---may find, t hat the world does not end at the Channel, anu, sse s there may be something essentially different no anything in the power of Caesars or Napoleons sroduce. CALCL TTA AND SOUTH-EASTERN (LIMITED). The ordinary general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the office, Gresham-house, Old Broad-street ; Mr. J. Borradaile in the chair. The report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said he was sorry to say it contained a great deal of the old story of not being able to meet their working expenses out of the traffic. The receipts had gradually declined as he told them at the last meeting he feared they would, so that for the last half-year there had been a deficiency in the receipts of £2,430. They had during that time to depend chiefly on their local traffic. The loss of part of the jetty by the landslip had been greatly magnified, so that ships were diverted from going to the Mutlah under the belief that the company had no landing place at Canning Town. They had, however, a landing-place there, by which they could land any piece of goods or machinery weighing not more than three tons at a time. But the accident had so far xffeeted their through traffic that he con sidered he had told them the worst. They had made arrangements with local parties to lay down a short line of rails, by which they expected to get ad ditional traffic. in addition to the loss of shipping, the building operations that were being carried on last year had ceased. The question as to who were to keep the foreshore in order had been decided, and he hoped in future that the Canning Company and the railway company would work for the promotion of their mutual interests. The Canning Company had to pay a dividend upon their expenditure out of rents. The tramways and jetties would be con nected with the railway. A large rice-cleaning mill had been erected in the midst of the rice district, and he trusted there would soon be an im provement in their receipts. Mr. MARSII3IAN seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. A SHAREHOLDER thought the working expenses might be considerably reduced, and although they had run a less number of train miles the mainten ance of the permanent way had risen from £45 in 1865 to £5O per mile in 1866 ; the cost of locomo tive power had risen from £72 to £BO per mile, so that with less work they had paid more money for working. He hoped the directors would look into that matter. The CHAIRMAN said the cost of fuel had in creased, the repairs to carriages and engines were more extensive, and with the extra renewal of sleepers the expenses amounted to more than for the corresponding half of 1865. The deficiency of £2,430 in the traffic receipts to cover expenses in the past half-year would have to be paid out of future profits. lie could assure them that the ex penditure was closely watched by the Government officials. Resolutions were passed adopting the report and re-electing the retiring directors and auditors. COUNTRY MARKETS. BIRMINGHAM—TILITnSDAY. I of At to-day's market there was again a short suP lO l English wheat, but the trade was firm and quito ns ta il ar in price. Foreign neglected. Barley only taken r e o ali late prices. Oats also rather slow. Beaus saleable in limited quantities. Peas more inquired for. MANCHESTER—TuuRsDAY.. At our market this morning there was a thin atli e9ci s; ance, and Is heat mot a limited inquiry, but pric s ll be quoted at about the full currency of this day 011:1 Flour also in limited demand, but prices as before. BURY ST. EDMUNDS—WEDNESDAY . pit There was a small show of wheat at this market toc•ioto but the trade was firm at an advance of is upon Pl:„°liivg rates. Oats, beans, and peas met with a fair sa le, re ' full values. n ab' Average prices : Wheat, 63s Gd ; barley, 378 8d ° 226 Od. EDINBURGII—WEDNESDAY. Wheat on the top, 2s Od down average, •is , 2 ,, 1 i t c l if; ol. Barley on the top, is Gd down werage Os l'''' p• , gd -0 _ 4? Oats on the top, 2s Od up lverage, Os ad dor Beans on tho top, 2s Od up average, 1s v Total supply and sales. old 73 i Wheat BO6 qrs s old 2 4 ' Barley 671 qrs Oats 616 qrs Beans l2l qrs sold d 36,,, Average prices. Wheat, 62s 4d I Oats, 3ls 8 1 Barley, 36s 2d Beans 45s bu 0 :0 Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 5 5 5 0a; superfine, 53s Od ; superfine, Ms Od ; fine, 49s Od. GLASGOW—WEDNESDAY. a To-day's market was well attended. Wheat ttx' ci0 . ,.; again sold at last week's rates, but business c ol:Ail: 1° o f,i Barley, beans, and peas in favour of buyers. 03ts 5 5 P fr retail demand, and quotations were about the sa me week. 1 ,./ o • r ill [ADVERTISEMENT-1 —Holloway's Ointment an t ! (iota Unerring Precision.—When the health is bre ak fey erlie`j, from the continuance of soma weakening disc lor g; t 4c ll 4 ulcers refuse to heal, and extending mischief is thr"betti,,6 then is the time to try the potency of HollowaY? ointment and purifying pills. No treatment to t f~ ease and safely leading to a cure can be e,omparou t The ointment cleans and cools the foulest and roc'sel/illrit sores, diminishes the inflammation, reduces 0 0 2 th 1 % . prevents the growth of proud flesh, and spares 030,:tleci and danger. Hundreds testify front th e ir own Pcr i ,, perience to the unvarying success attending t; Holloway's medicaments in cases of ulce rate a larged veins, scurvy skin, and swelled ankles. Births. pder"''.4t ,ro el' KENT.—On the 31 st of Ma y, at No. 1, alp " a ro- Kensington, the wife of Charles Kent, Esq' ' ac-Law, of a sou. ,f 1), BUSHELL— On the 29th inst., at Trinity, Edinbtly., wife of Commander J. M. Bushell, R. 1 ,1., of a 6°il °ll. f . St 6 DUFFERIN-011 tho 29th inst., the Lady Dufferill, ° D 9 Marriages. cie fi r ly ALLEN--;WHITE - On the 29th inst., a t the Par-- of J':911 0 East Barnet. Mr. J. 11. Allen, o Woodgreen, itachael, second daughter of D. J. White, Jfisq"' IVaterfall, Son t hgate. Cox—Wicam—On the 29th inst., at Inu nan . tt- to 0 _ 4 ,9- 0 3 x.n t , Streatham, Henry 11. Cog, Esq., of Delc“'hill 1. only child of Edgar Wickham, Esq., of Ben l3ll— S. 13131 COLEBILOOKE—On the at Horsham, -,-)." ° 11i , 5 :1 4159' 28th Deaths. inst, Dowager Lady Colebrooke, the wife of Jas. 13'19.4rt. Esq., and relict of the late Sir J. E. Colebroolce, 3 ', _Olt Ce) I O ,, MBS —On the 28th inst., at 1, Edon Ville flig lit.° t OL N no o i r t.d s i v ieD oo 2i d i,ff , teh 3 , r l i r in . n. J st ohn Coombs, aged' 74. . all - DUFFERIN—On the 29th inst., Sydney 'rumple, 10 0 113 f Ni s i o : o l fr gf• lat , oco , . el>, Nixon, aged 51. e e I ) 1 Wlb 1 - -stT eet ' SEAnionT—On the 28th inst., at the Abbey Cottsg , Staffordshire, John B. Searight, Esq., aged 4 5 . Ott' , WHIT—On the 29th nst , Brighton, Win' 1). Esq E ., formerly of the i ofdee at of H.M.'s Woos, ,`e. ------------ ,Tryo° ~ London: Printed and Publis hed by WILLIA.III A-,,--,,,t ill., of No. 112, Strand , P rinter, at Tan Sus Offloa, " 1 0 Strand, in the Precin ct of the Savoy, in the C`).`l.l't Aliclale§es.—_-_YEilty, May 31,1507. MADRAS. The traffic receipts on the South-west line of this company for the quarter ending the 31st of March last amounted to £92,439, against £91,392 for the corresponding three months of last year. On the North-west line the receipts for the quarter were £21,109, against £15,786, on 153 miles and 119 miles open respectively. The receipts on both lines have been £113,548, against £107,178, showing an increase of £6,370 on the quarter, with an increase of 34 miles in the length of line worked over ou the North-west line. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC' JOURNALS TIMES.—It appears, after all, that Paris is not to have the monopoly of Crowned Heads for this sea son. Rather more than the crumbs from the rich feast from our neighbours will fall to our share. The Sultan is expected to visit London immediately on leaving the French capital, and there is every probability that the Emperor Alexander of Russia will also be our guest. We say, advisedly, that .these great monarchs are coining to us ; for it is on ourselves, on all of us, on the whole English nation, that the duties of hospitality will devolve. Buck ingham Palace, we understand, is to be placed at the disposal of Abdul-Aziz, but the gracious lady of the mansion will not be there to do the honours to the Sublime stranger; and, although full reli ance may be placed on the courtesy and attention with which the heir to the throne will dedicate himself to the entertainment of so exalted a per sonage, it will be London that he comes to see, and Loudon that the Prince will have to show him. Our great city will not show to the best advan tage before eyes dazzled by Parisian glitter, but, after all, there is not a little that is remarkable in this old London of ours. It is not " a Court" as Madrid is said to be ; not a capital in the sense that the term is applied to Paris. It is not by Kings or by Governments that it is made. It is the nation's direct and spontaneous produc tion. London is intensely English, yet it is by no means England ; it is hardly the home of English choice. To be a native or an inhabitant of London is no man's peculiar gratification. Nu one was ever heard to boast . of the purity of his London accent. So far as addiction to the at mosphere of a city can be accounted civilization, the English can hardly yet be said to be civilized. The Englishman's habits are rural, his genius rustic; London is to him a workshop, a bazaar, an exchange, Government offices, Houses of Parliament. Few live in Loudon except on business, or beyond the L"' , "V A lll Aft, Aft Aft, At Aft, Aft, Aft Alb London I( This It l a Sold i) T the R, I. Kina col Fun Part) Month I 1 14. R t !DV, r r e , thi ity a ditto, TA 1)1 1 G Rh i i I"tr. - 17 cerfo dent Acrot A' tk onr GT ft f it tip., Bias coot L~