The Sun. — London, England, 1841-01-30 00:00:00

_MORNING EDITION hands of the Commissioners, or in the statute books of the realm ? If ever a law was to be well understood it was ;that, and assuredly those who were to administer it could understand the principles laid down for their guidance by the statutes, referring to the law. But Lanced of that, it was now to be an appeal from the cruel tendencies of the guardians to the Commission ers at Somerset-house. They were to carry into ope ration whatever law they might think necessary. If that was a constitutional mode of governing the coun try, the sooner they got rid of it the better. It was the creation of a despotic authority at Somerset-house —greater than that House, or any other, could exer cise. He held in his hand a small book which he had obtained a short time since from Somerset-house—it was entitled " An Amendment of the Workhouse Rules." Heaven only knew what the rules were which those to which he referred were intended to amend. But what was the nature of the discipline ? No severer punish ment could be inflicted than the silent system. Crimi nals complained of being harshly and unjustly treated by the operation of the silent system, and yet the law enables the Commissioners to carry out that silent system. He believed that there was a provision in the Poor-law Act which required, that before any general rule be adopted, it should be submitted to the Secretary of State ; it could then only obtain the force of law. But in order to avoid the responsibility and incon venience which that would occasion, a particular rule was in every institution made for each particular Union, and thus no general rule was submitted to the Secretary of State. But what did one of the rules state? It stated that all paupers in the workhouse, except the sick, and the paupers of the fourth, fifth, and seventh classes, should rise and leave off work at a time to be intimated by the ringing of a bell, and that during the time of meals silence shall be main tained. They were to be kept working at all other hours bet at meal-time, and in the workhouse silence was to be maintained. Was this system, which was re garded as the most severe punishment that could be inflicted on a criminal, to be inflicted upon the unfortu nate being who stretched out his hand for charity ? Was it to enforce regulations of this kind the Poor-law Commission was to be continued ? If not, he asked, why was the country to be burdened with such a bur densome charge ? He could see no necessity for the continuance of that Commission.—( Hear, hear.) If he could, he would be one of the first to support it, because nothing was more desirable than due adminis tration of the laws relating to the poor. But ashen it was proposed to inflict on them the same species of punishment as that inflicted on the worst of criminals, he said that such a law wanted humanity in principle, and discretion for its guidance.—( Hear, hear.) In the office he had the honour to hold he had ample opportu nity of witnessing the operation of this law, and of knowing what were the feelings of the middle classes of society in relation to it. (Hear, hear, hear.) He met these classes in large numbers, almost every day of his life, and he had scarcely found one man out of ten who approved of the operation of this law—(Hear, hear)—on the contrary the feeling against it was universal,—it was increasing in force, — it was deep rooted,--it was not to be shaken ; one and all contended there was no necessity for such a law.— ( Hear, hear.) They asked why such a law enacted, unless it was to drive people from making any applica tion at the workhouse for relief ? All of them enter tained the opinion that they were making the workhouse a house of torture, to prevent the poor applying for relief. In one week he had known two persons in the parish of Chelsea, who preferred death to going into the Union Workhouse. They declared they would rather die than be separated from their children, in the manner provided by the law, and they did die, rather than go into the workhous. And what was the humane system with regard to the classification of the poor ? The parish of Chelsea, consisting of 40,000 inhabitants, was not large enough to form one local government, but was incorporated in an Union, consisting of 120,000 persons, and thus the peer had sometimes to travel mi!es to apply for relief from Kensall Green to Ken sington. There was no workhouse in the parish of Pad dington. He knew an instance of a chid of 12 years of age which had been exposed at a door in the Edge ware.road, when found by a policeman it was lively, and when taken to the station-house stretched forth its hand to play with a dog, and was capable of laughing. The policeman took it to Ken sington Workhouse. It was a very thick foe, and in consequence he was two hours going there. The child died shortly after, and the surgeon deposed that it had died of cold, and a verdict of murder was returned against the mother who deserted it. Here was an in stance of the evil of having to travel far for relief. Those who supposed the English mind would bear such things, were altogether deceived as to the English character —( Hear, hear.) He entreated the House to pause before they gave permission to introduce a Bill continuing a Commission that opereted in this way—in a manner which violated all the feelings of humanity. How, he asked, were the poor classified? In the Ken sington Union, the separation system was carried out with a vengeance. 'rho fathers of families were kept at Kensington, the mothers were seat off to another house at Chelsea ; the daughters were placed at a house at Fulham, and the sons at another house at Hammersmith. Thus father and soother, boys and girls, were located in four separate houses, in four different parishes.—(Hear, hear.) Now, if the House gave its consent to introduce a 1311 to continue the Com mission, he thought the Noble Lord ought in jus tice to state to the House, for the satisfaction of the public, whether the authority of the Com missioners was in future to be exercised in a manner similar to that in which it had been already exercised. He wanted to know whether a softening hand had been applied to the new Bill, or whether it exhtsited all the harsh and un- English features of the existing law, Place I as he was, it was not in his power to oppose the motion by dividing the House, because ha was most anxious to see the existing law amended ; but at the same time no person could be more opposed to the continuance of the Commission, and be assured the Noble Lord that if he introduced that portion in the intended Bill for the amendment of the law, it was his (Mr. Wakley's) s incere hope that even that Bill would not be passed into a law. If, however, the first Bill was one that contained some provisions for softening the severities of the existing law, it should have his support. If, on the other hand, the Commissioners were conti tinued in the full exercise of their authority, and made the soaps-goats of all the Guardians of the country who desired to act with cruelty to the poor, he would oppose the introduction of such a 8,11, and not only would he oppose its introduction, but he would oppose it to the utmost of his power at every stage.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. H. HI NDE fully concurred in the observations of the Hon. Member who had just sat down, that be fore the Noble Lord called on the House to continue to these Commissioners the power hitherto entrusted to them, he shoulcfj have laid before the House some reasons why the future administration of the New Poor-law Act could not be safely entrusted to persons locally interested. He thought the proper course would have been to appoint a Committee of the House to examine the rules and regulations of the Poor-law Commissioners, to continue those which might be ap proved of, and to place them on the statute book ; and to have the others which might be disapproved of, ex punged. He trusted the Noble Lord would explain to the House his reasons for grantinc , these extraordinary powers. He wished also to know from the Noble Lord, whether it was his intention to continue only the power of the Commissioners at Somerset House, or whether he also intended to continue the vast and ex tensive machinery of Sub-Commissioners ? He under stood the object of these Sub-Commissioners was to divide the country into unions, and if that had not vet been done, he had no objection to continue these for a further time, but to extend their powers for ten years was nothing short of perpetuating them. Captain 'ECHELL did not field fault with the Noble Lord for having omitted to enter into details, 'because he had stated quite enough to alarm him ; he objected principally to the provision for extinguishing the Gilbert unions and the other local Acts, and he un derstood that arose from the Poor-law Commissioners complaining that these unions formed a blank upon their map. He would not oppose the measure, but he sin cerely hoped the Noble Lord would leave out the clause relative to the Gilbert unions. Mr. DARBY was not quite sure that the Noble Lord would join his two Bills, and he very much feared that he would endeavour to carry the Tenure Bill, and leave out the amendments. He hoped, however, the Noble Lord would give notice when the second reading of the Bill would come on, because it was quite clear front the present tone of the House, that there would be some discussion on the subject. Sir GEORGE GREY conceived the present Bil had worked great good by preventing the insisting upon relief where it was not necessary, and by opposing a barrier to the invasion of property which was threatened under the pretence of pauperism by innumerable de mandants. He did not believe the Commissioners in any instance had intended to make regulations that were inconsistent with the spirit of the Act, to act with severity that went at all beyond it. He thought the pre sent system well suited for all except those who might be called a meritorious class of paupers. He entirely agreed with the Hon. Member for Finsbury that there were in the manufacturing districts hundreds and thou sands who were reduced, without any fault of their own, to a state of destitution by a mere fluctuation of trade. Could those who were connected with the agt icultural districts deny that they had themselves expressed sur. prise how the very labourers who tilled their estates and raised their rents were enabled to provide for their families ?—( Hear, hear.) They stood on the verge of destitution, mad teas it becoming. any Christian count r y t o sa y t o the meritorious pauper, the only protection you shall have extended to you is to be carried into a workhouse, in which the whole of your family shall be separated into four divisions, and each division have a separate habitation ?—(Hear, hear.) That circumstance was a greater atil coon to a man than the degradatien of entering the poor-house. — (Hear, hear.) If the Noble Lord brought in a Bill to prolong the present system, without making any altera tion.; in it, he should vote for it, because he thought the , -- "I system worked well, and ought not to be put down. There ought, however, to be some provision made for the industrious and meritorious pauper, a nd if such pro vision were brought forward by the Government, he would hail it with joy. He had no intention, not pos sessing sufficient influence, of bringing forward any such measure himself, but he thought a supplementary power might, with great benefit and advantage, be given to vestry or parochial meetings, to afford relief in cases that were deserving of it. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT would not trespass long upon the House, especially as the present discus sion might in some degree be considered premature. At the same time he begged to state that he had always objected to the Bill, believing it to be founded on erro neous principles on any point of view, highly unconsti tutional, and altogether repugnant to the customs, habits, and feelings of the people of this country. He also thought that it undermined the best moral feelings of the poor ; and at the time it was first introduced he felt it to be a most dangerous and rash experiment. Ile thought the Poor-law Amendment Act wasfundamen tally erroneous, to such a degree that it would not be in the power of the Noble Lord so to frame the mea sure as to cause it to be permanently adopted by this country. He (Sir Francis) entirely concurred in the feelings which had been expressed by the Hon. Mem ber for Finsbury, and if it were in that Hon. Mem ber's power to move that the Bill should then be thrown out and a new system altogether adopted he would have been prepared to support it.—(Hear.) He thought the first thing to be got rid of was the tri bunal in Somerset House.—(Hear.) It was impossi ble to frame any system of regulations which could apply to every particular case. He thought the system of centralisation was the most dangerous that could be in troduced into this country. The experiment had been a total failure, and the more any new system departed from it, and was opposed to if, the more likely would it be to succeed. M. HUME, as one of those who supported the New Poor-law when first introduced, could not allow the Hon. Baronet to say that it had been productive of mischief and suffering to the poor. It was impossible to prevent hardships ; but Gentlemen ought not to be unjust to those who passed a measure to remedy still greater evils and more intolerable hardships. It was impossible for any man who had attended to the evi dence given before that House to deny that the mea sure was loudly called for. He admitted that there were abuses even now, and no man could be more anxious than he was to correct them. He re gretted with his Honourable Friend (Mr. %Vakley) that there were evils in the present system ; but he hoped that the Bill now about to be brought in would remedy them. It was most desirable to make the law as agreeable as possible to those who were to be subject to it ; but he did not see the necessity for con tinuing the Commissioners ten years.—( Hear.) The object of the Bill was not to benefit the middle classes, but the poor themselves, and those who paid the rates, and whose property was wasted by the old system, with out any advantage to the really poor. He would be glad to see some provision introduced into this Bill to ameliorai.e the condition of those whose misfortune it might be to become inmat es of the workhouse. Mr. A. W HITE said in the part of the country with which he was connected, the new Poor-law had operated well, and had given general satisfaction. The orders issued from time to time the Commissioners had been attended with the best effects. before considered idle and careless, earning their wages in a fair and proper manner. Besides relief was given to those only to whom it ought to begi‘ en, the really destitute. He differed with those who thought that the Board of Guardians should make a distinction in the relief of in dividual cases. He believed that the only safe course was to adhere to that wise and good principle of the Act of Elizabeth, namely, that no poor person in this country should be allowed to starve, but that all per sons reduced to a state of destitution should receive food and shelter, and that persons should be relieved because they were destitute, and not because they were idle, and preferred Poor-law relief to wages. He believed that the proper mode of relief was that which had been afterwards confirmed by the Act of George 1., which had been most unfortunately altered by the law of 1797. There would, however, always remain, even supposing that there were considerable employment in the country, and supposing that they gave relief to the desti• tute, there would always remain enough to employ private beneficence. He was not certainly one of those who, when the amendment was originated, thought that they were about to suppress the necessity for private cha rity. He felt, however, that charity ought to be spon taneous, and ought not to take the character of State relief. It might, he thought, be safely left in the hands of those who had ample means of relieving their poorer neighbours, and who had likewise that kindness of feel ing, which, while it prompted them to:relieve the destitute, conferred its own reward.—(He ar , hear.) In order to carry the principles of the amended law, which were so efficient, he thought it was necessary to maintain the establishment of Guardians, and of Commissioners gene rally superintending the whole of the Act. With regard to the Assistant-Commissioners, he had stated last year, and he still felt, that he did not think it ne cessary that they should always have such a number as at present, but he believed they could not at anytime be reduced to less than twelve. He differed from the Hon. Gentleman who had said that Lord Althorp had stated that, at the end of five years, the Act was to cease. The original intention of the Government was, that there should be no specific term—that the powers of the Act should be given, without any limitation as to time. When, however, it bad been stated in the House that the Act was a great and perilous experi. ment, Lord Althorp consented that a period of fire years should be fixed fur its trial, in or : der that Parliament might have time to be come informed on the subject, when it came again under their consideration. He (Lord John Russell) believed that they had now had the neces sary information, and he trusted that the House would maintain the principle of the Act. He would acknow ledge, under those circumstances, that he would be de ceiving the House if he were to hold out a prospect of any considerable relaxation of the law, or anything like a return to the old system ; and for his part, as he felt the necessity of the main principles of the Act, they should always have his support and approval.—(Hear.) Leave given. FACTORIES' COMMITTEE. On the motion of Lord ASHLEY, the Committee of last Session, on Mills and Factories, was re-appoint ed, for the purpose of considering their Report, and making it to the House. Mr. LIDDELL said, if such had been the expe rience of the Hon. Member for Sutherland ( Mr. White) it was quite contrary to his (Mr. L.'s) experi ence of the operation of the Bill in the North of England. He thought the adjudication as to the relief to be af forded would be much better left to the Boards of Guardians than to the Commissioners of Somerset House. Ile was sick of hearing of relief afforded on just principles—these just principles led to most unjust practices.—(hear, hear:) He would gladly support the Hon. Member for Finsbury in any attempt for the improvement or the amendment of the law ; but not only would he not support a proposition for the conti nuance of the powers of the Commissioners for ten years, but he would not with his good-will continue their power for two years or even for one year. To that portion of the Bill, therefore, he should give his most decided opposition ; as to the other portions of the Bill, he should reserve his opinion on those until the Bill was before the House. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the motion which he had submitted to the House was for leave to bring in a Bill for continuing the powers of the Commissioners for a time limited, and for the amendment of the laws re lating to the poor. He had thought it right to state to the House the period to it was proposed that the powers of the Commissioners should be extended, and it would be for the House to decide whether that pe riod should be for one or for ten years, or for any other period on which, in their discretion, they might decide ; that was not of course contained in the motiou now be fore the House. He did not think it necessary either to go into the present state of the Poor-laws, or into the consideration of any of the defects which might be ex isting in them, in making this motion, not only because a similar Bill had been introduced last year, but because on rio subject had a greater mass of information been laid before the House and the country than on the subject of the Poor-laws. Before the introduc tion of the original measure the inquiries of the Commissioners appointed to investigate the subject, and the results of those inquiries, had been circulated throughout the country ; since then annual reports had been presented by the Commissioners to the Secretary of State, and by him laid before Parliament. Beth Houses of Parliament had also instituted their own inquiries by means of their own Committees, which had sat during more than one session. With regard to the Bill now brought in, a volume of special reports of the Commissioners during the last year was in pos session of the House, so that it appeared, besides the individual experience of many Honourable Members as Chairmen, and members of Boards of Guardians, the House had every thing that could be required to enable Parliament to come to a tolerable conclusion as to the general bearing and merits of the question, For his ow❑ part, he could say that although it might have been easy to allow the powers of the Poor-law Commissioners to expire, leaving to the Boards of Guardians the management of their local concerns, and leaving to them the odium of any refusals of relief they might have to make, yet, believing as he did the powers of the Commissioners to be useful and necessary after the neglect which had so long existed on this subject, and after the abuses which were the consequences of that neglect had taken such deep root—(Cheers)—he felt that he should not be doing his duty if he did not move for a continuance of those powers.—(Cheers.) In 1819 he had thought the matter was one which called for the attention of the Government, And he had asked the Government of that day if they were prepared to bring forward any measure for an effective amendment of the Poor-laws. Mr. Canning had said in reply that the question was so complicated, so large, and so intricate, that it could not be matter of blame to any Government that it did not take it up. Now, the year before 1819, the sum raised in England for the re lief of the poor amounted to eight millions for that single year alone. But the Government in 1835 had under taken the task, and as the Hon. Member had said at that time the abuses were so great that there was a general disposition in favour of some amendment of the principles on which those laws were administered.-- (Cheers.) If the House would allow him he would state in whit he considered the vicious principle of the former administration of these laws consisted, and what were the just principles on which their am eadment had been undertaken. The labour ing classes depended upon three sources of subsistence ; Ist, on wages ; on public relief in CIFCS of destitution ; and, 3d, on public charity. New the great fault of the old administration of the law was, that it attempted to confound all these three sources together. Vestries gave parish relief to per sons who were in the receipt of wages.—(Cheers.) This had a tendency to lower the rate of wages, and to degrade the labourer—(Loud cheers)—for it put the honest and industrious labourer who was ready to live upon his wlges, in a disadvantageous situation, as com pared with the idle and dissolute one who was placed on the same footing, or perhaps in a better situation, by this abuse of obtaining parish relief.—(Loud cheers.) It likewise pretended to do that which could only be done by private charity, by pretending to give that. support which only a charitable and wealthy neighbour might with propriety afford in cases of sud den misfortune, such fur instance as a case in which a poor family nigh: have all the furniture of their cot tage destroyed by fire ; in that case wealthy and chari table neighbours could restore these unfortunate persons to their rank in society, by furnishing them with the means of replacing their property so destroyed. But the administration of the Poor-law attempted to do this. It was easy charity for a Vestry and Overseers to give away money which did not belong to them, and to say they would be extremely charitable in the parti cular case of A., 8., or C. But charity was not pro perly admistered in that way ; there could be no dis crimination in such an administration of charity ; it was not true charity ; and by attempting to distribute charity in that way, they perverted the charity of the country by squandering immense sums of money upon unworthy ob jects. It oppearad manifest to him that the old system proceeded on mistaken principles ; sums, for instance, being granted to a daughter for tending a mother when ill, and to a father that took care of his child, while the nearest relations, were thus taught to look for a reward in the discharge of the most natural duties. He was, therefore, of opinion, that the amendment of the law proceeded on a principle which was just—namely, that wages should be the result of a fair contract between the employer and the labourer. The employer gave his money for what he considered a fair day's work, according es he might require it. The labourer was raised by this change in the law—he felt that what he gained was the value of his work, and he did not feel degraded by the acceptance of it. It was observed in the first report of the Commissioners, that after the amendment in the laws many improvident labourers suddenly became industrious, and that several of the Verniers felt sure rised at seeing labourers whom they had THE SUN, LONDON', SATURDAY, JANUARY o. iSti COURT OF SEWERS-WEST- NIINSTE R. The Special Court of Sewers was this day held at the office of the Commissioners, in Greek-street, Soho, for the purpose of trying the traverses made to the pro sentcnts of the Jury, in the cases of Chelsea Hospital and of the church of St. Luke, Chelsea. Mr. Bicknell attended on behalf of the Hospital, and Mr. Bodkin on behalf of the church. After sonic discussion it was agreed to adjourn the con sideration of the question of Chelsea Church until twe o'clock. A Jury was then sworn to try the traverse in regard to Chelsea Hospital. J. L. DON ALMON, Esq., the Chairman, was supported by Mr. Ogle, as assessor. A discussion having taken place as to who was to begin, On the question being referred to the Assessor, he decided that those who appeared for the district, and in support of the presentment of the former Jury, were to begin. The SOLICITOR to the Court then addressed the Jury, and explained the law of Sewers at great length, from the Ist Act relating to Sewers, passed in the year 1427, down to the present time, drawing their particular attention to the Act of Henry VIII., which was, in fact, the law under which they were now acting, and by which Act the lands of the Sovereign were as expressly bound as the lands of any other per son. It bad formerly been the practice only to assess such ;persons to the B...were-rate as were assessed to the Poor-rate; but the Commission ers were of opinion that much property which was not liable to the Poor-rate was liable to the Sewers' -rate, and accordingly had determined to present it to the Jury. Among that property:which it was now sought to assess for the first time was this portion of Chelsea Hospital, and al though it had never yet been assessed to the Sewers' -rate, yet if they were of opinion that it was legally liable, it ought now to be assessed. Now, he contended that under the statutes to which he had before alluded, all lands of every description were liable without exception, and conse quently that Chelsea Hospital ought to be assessed. The Leal ned Gentleman concluded by quoting an immense number of authorities in support of his argument. Mr. Herts,let, the Clerk to the Commission, being sworn, proved the presentment of the former Jury, found on 27th November last, which was put in, and that portion of it relating to Chelsea Hospital read. Mr. John Dowling, the Surveyor of Sewers for the Ra nelagh district, explained the situation of the Hospital with regard to the sewers under the jurisdiction of the Court, for the purpose of showing the benefit derived by the Hos pital therefrom. He was cross-examined by Mr. BICKNELL, the Solicitor to the Hospital, who put in two letters, one an application from the Commissioners of Sewers, in 1826, relating to the turning the private drain in theßanelagis ground, into a public sewer; and the ether the opinion of Sir John Soane, that the turning such drain into a public sewer would be detrimental 'o the Hospital. Witness also stated that the present Ranelagh sewer had been formerly a common ditch, into which the hospital sewer opened; that the hospital sewer appeared to have been an ancient sewer, and:that the western sewer of the Hospital opened into a creek communicating with the Thames, until such communication was cut off by the works erected by the Commissioners of Sewers. Witness believed what was called the western sewer, to be a public sewer. Before the Commissioners made the alterations, the sewer was sufficient to take away . ..the waste water of the Hospital. Does not know of any public sewer under the building of the Hospital. Re-examined.—The Commissioners had no jurisdiction over these sewers until 1807. The alterations made by them had materially benefited Chelsea Hospital. By one of the Jury.—Did not know whether, if these alterations had not been made by the Commissioners, the Hospital Commissioners must have made them at pre sent, but they must have done so at some future time. Mr. R. SIBLEY, surveyor, had made the valuation of Chelsea Hospital. Mr. MULLINS thought the going into an examination as to the value was a waste of the time of the Court, as the real question was, whether the Hospital was liable, and whether it derived any benefit ? Mr. ADEY thought the objection a most proper one. Mr. DYER thought the opinion of the Assessor ought to be taken on the subject, and abided by. The AssESSOR thought there were three questions to be submitted to the Jury. Ist, Was the Hospital liable ? Was the proper person asseved ? And, 3d, Was it asses sed in the proper sum ? There had been therefore, as he considered, no waste of time. Mr. MULLINS was about:to enter into a further discussion, when he was interrupted by the Chairman, who said that the Assessor having given his opinion, he considered that he must take the opinion of the Court as to whether there should be any further discussion on the subject. The CHAIRMAN said that it having been arranged that the question of Chelsea Chapel having been adjourned to two o'clock, it was for the Court to decide to what day they should adjourn it, as it would be really impossible to go into it to-day. Mr. LESLIE said that he thought they ought not to fix a day in the absence of Mr. Bodkin, who was counsel for the appellants, and who promised to be there by two o'clock. Mr. DYER thought the Chairman had better take the advice of the Assessor as to the power of adjourning the Chelsea Chapel case, and rule accordingly. The ASSESSOR thought the difficulty as to the power was got rid of by the consent of Mr, Bodkin and. his client, and therefore he should suggest to adjourn to ten o'clock to-morrow, The Seneierroa to Chelsea Church could consent to nothing in the absence of Mr. Bodkin, who he knew could not attend at ten o'clock to-morrow. Mr. LESLIE thought it by no means certain that the present case would be finished by ten o'clock to-morrow. Mr. ADEY would move that the further proceedings of the case in regard to Chelsea Church be adjourned to this day fortnight. Mr. Meisel:is seconded it. The CHAIRMAN, acting (older the advice of the Asses sor, decided that the question could not be put. Mr. Deere said it .was always the practice, in every Court, to state, when questioned, whether they would take a certain cause on that day or not. He wished to have the opinion of the Assessor as to their power to adjourn beyond day to da, in the trial of these traverses. The ASSESSOR was of opinion, that if they adjourned at all, they ought to adjourn trona day to day ; if they wished to adjourn to a longer period, they ought to obtain the consent of the parties concerned. The SOLICITOR to the Church of St. Luke's, Chelsea, then applied to adjourn the case to Friday week, pledg ing himself not to take any advantage of any technicality. After some discussion it was decided that the applica tion must be made in writing. The examination of Mr. Sibley was then resumed as to the proper assessment of the Hospital. He valued fourteen acres of buildings at 1001. an acre, and thirty-six acres of pleasure-ground at 101. an acre. The Ranelagh Sewer was of much importance to the Royal Hospital, as it pre vented the gardens from being inundated. Cross-examined—Mr. Hall occupied the hall, and chapel, and grounds, only in the same manner as the secretary or any other officer of the establishment. JOHN HENRY TAYLOR, another surveyor, corroborated the evidence given by Mr. Sibley. A written application wars put in from the solicitors for the Chelsea Church, chapel, and workhouse, for an ad journment of the OW of their traverse till that day fort night, sshich was agreed to by an unanimous vote, and the Jury was discharged accordingly. The SOLICITOR for the Hospital then addecssed the Jury, assessed, was not a n o ffic er o f th e and contelided that the pre sentment cou ld not stan d , be servant of the Board of Works a t. t eH a a c ou h ssi e e) i d tiall i nb ;h uw e t h% H voa o s s w p thea i t s a ; he occupied premises in the Hos pital for which he was rated to the poor and to the sewer rate, but he was not in possession in any way of either the wards or chapel, or one foot of ground around the Hospi tal; he did not pretend, for one moment, that he was a man in possession of property to the amount of 7,0001 ; he was not in possession, and according to all the cases he could not be assessed. He contended that the premises assessed in this presentment belonged to the Coroner, and if the Jury would only find that it would greatly relieve him, for then the duty of defending the case would devolve upon the Attorney or Solicitor-General. However, he con tended that Richard Hall was not charged to the Poor rate for the premises he was now assessed to, therefore he could not be liable for tue Sewers'-rate ; he was not in possession, and therefore.he was not assessable ; and if his goods, or those of any other person, were taken for the rate, he or the owner would have good ground for an ac tion. If the Commissioners were determined to assess some parsons for the premises they must go against the pensioners, and he would prose that although they were the only beneficial occupants the Judges had de cided they were not liable to the Poor -rate, and therefore they could not be liable to the Sewei s'. rate. He further contended that the Hospital was not as sessable, because before the Commission took-their private sewers they had a perfect drainage. After going at great length into the history of the Hospital, and citing many cases to show that as a public Hospital it was not liable to the Poor -rate, and, consequently, was not liable to the Sewers-rate, he called John Fessor, the chief clerk in the Secretary's office of ChelscaHospital, who stated that there were 539 pensioners and 26 nurses in the Hospital, who were lodged, fed, and washed for at the public expense. They all met in the common hall at stated hours to get their meals, arid all slept in wards, and had fires in common. Richard Hall was not a pensioner of the Hospital, nor was he an officer of it at all. He was placed in his situation by the Board of Works. He did not occupy any land in the Hospital, nor had he anything to do with the chapel except to attend to its repairs. The hospital was Crown property, and was taken care of by the Commissioners. The sewerage was perfectly sufficient for the purposes of the hospital before the Commissioners of Sewers took possession of their ditch. Cross-examined—The public sewer was certainly of ad vantage to the hospital, because it kept the approaches in good order. Re-examined—The Seljeant-major was as much an oc cupier of the wards and the chapel as Mr. Hall, and lied the same access to them. The Vestry Clerk of Chelsea produced the rate-books, in which neither the wards or the chapel were inserted. Stephen Maythorn was called to prove the sufficiency of the drainage, previous to the making of the sewer by the Commissioners. This closed the traverser's case. Mr. SNIITII, the Solicitor to the Commission, then replied, The Learned ATSESSOE summed up, and left it to the Jury to say whether the Hospital derived any benefit from the Sewerage, because, if so, he was of opinion the build. ing was liable to the rate. The Jury retired to a private room, and after an abssrce of a quarter of an hour, returned with a verdict confirming the presentment. The case occupied the Court upwards of ten hours. At eight o'clock the Court was adjourned. It is expected that Lord Aberdeen and the Duke of Richmond will, early in the Session, introduce a Bill into the House of Lords for settling the Scotch Church question.w/Vorning Paper. PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND. An extraordinary general meeting of the Proprietors of the above Bank was, on Thursday, held at their es tablishment in Broad -street, for the purpose of electing a Director in the place of John Wright, Esq., who had resigned. 0. FARBER, Esq., being called to the Chair, The SECRETARY of the Bank read the advertise ments which convened the meeting, and which also stated its objects. The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, you have heard the advertisement. We are now here assembled for the purpose of electing a Director in the room of Mr. John Wright, who has retired. There is but one candidate to fill the situation ; I will, therefore, put his name to the vote. "Is it your pleasure, Gentlemen, that James Helme, Esq., be elected a Director ?" it was unani mously carried. FREDERICK READ, Esq.—l believe I shall now be in order if I refer to a subject which appears to affect the character of this establishment. It arises from a letter which, in common with the other Proprietors, I have received . from Mr. Baldwin, who has been a candidate for the vacant Directorehip, but who has now with drawn. Yet he may again become a candidate when another vacancy takes place.—( Hear, hear, hear.) I have been struck with the manner in which that letter is couched, and I wish to call the particular atten tion of the meeting to two points in it —( Hear.) The first applies to what may occur at a future elec tion, and reflects upon the mode in which elections are conducted. Mr. B.'s statement implies, that any re commendation coming from the Board in favour of a candidate, as being best qualified to fill the situa tion, will be sure to secure his election. I believe we passed a resolution binding ourselves to support the best qualified candidate. If that resolution is proposed to be rescinded, I would oppose it with the same warmth which I showed in its favour, when it was first proposed to the Proprietors. The resolution re ferred to is as follows—" that in future elections it would conduce to the good management of the Bank's affairs, if a recommendation should he made by the Directors to the Proprietors in favour of those candi dates whom, alter due inquiry, they shall find to be best qualified to fill the situation."—( Hear, hear.) The next question is one or more importance, which, with your permission, I will read. The paragraph in the letter to which I refer, and of which I most complain, runs as follows :—" The manifest disposition of dis couraging Irish gentlemen who come forward on simi lar occasions, is a subject which has for some time occupied the attention and attracted the notice of my countrymen, and is worthy of your mature considera tion, for it has engendered a strong spirit of jealousy, which, though slowly, is working deeply to the injury of your establishment. It is a fact which cannot be denied, that this feeling mainly gave rise to a power ful opposition bank—more powerful than wealthy, on account of its national influence—the effects of which have been severely felt on more than one oc casion. The hest proof I can give of what I assert is, that this was one of the chief arguments used by the promoters of that Institution, when they applied to me and other friends to co-operate with them in forming the establishment." This has been sent forth in a general circular, which I consider is calculated to injure the present establishment ; an establishment standing at present high in public estimation—( Hear, hear, hear)—and upon which I should be sorry there should be cast any imputation whatever. I therefore rise on this occasion to give the Court of Directors an opportunity to refute or explain what the worthy Pro prietor refers to in his circular ; and if he should be present he will explain why he has cast upon the Court of Directors a reflection which they do not deserve.—Cheers.) I have no knowledge of the gentleman, but this I know, that the same number of Irish gentlemen continue at our Board, or indeed more than were there when we were first established —(Hear, hear.) I believe the whole Board of Direc tors to have displayed so much zeal, ability, and cour tesy in the general management of our affairs, that they do not merit the imputation that has been by such a course attached to them.—(Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN—I am extremely sorry my friend, Mr. Baldwin, is not present, which I presume he is not, as I do not see him, and this will prevent my saying many things which I should otherwise do.—( Hear, hear.) From the way in which this question has been asked, I shall feel it my duty to answer it. But ever since this letter has been circulated we have felt our selves placed in a difficult situation, having to suffer under a serious charge, which, if c o rrec t, we s h ou ld not deserve that which we have always received, the entire confidence of the Proprietors.—(Hear.) If we had not considered that a contest was about to take place, we would have sought an earlier opportunity to rescue ourselves from this charge ; but we felt that if we did so, it might militate against one of the candidates.— (Cheers.) I ern thankful to Mr. Reed for giving me an opportunity to speak to the question ; at the same tone, I am sorry that my friend Mr. Baldwin did not first investigate the facts, which he might have learnt upon both these points. I must think he was la bouring under sonic misapprehension.—( Hear.) I will not criticise his words, however hard they may appear to bear on the Beard of Directors, for we can throw ourselves upon the Proprietors, who, I feel satisfied, will not deprive us of their confidence.—( Hear, hear.) But Mr. Baldwin is under a mistake when he states the Court of Directors recommend a candidate to you. Yet I will distinctly state, in answer to what appears in that letter, that your Directors feel that your inte rests and the interests of the establishment both require they should not flinch from so doing, whether such a resolution had passed or not, for we do feel that as Di rectors of this establishment we are bound to uphold the general interest of the establishment—(Chems)— whether we receive the entire approbation of every individual Proprietor or not—(Cheers)—for we conceive your interests demand it. We do not hesitate in saying the statement has given us very great pain, for we must remember that the parties to which it is addressed are, many of them, residing in Ireland, who have warm hearts, generous spirits, but a quick sensitiveness, and they may consider, 49 a body, that they arc slighted by the Directors.— ( Hear, hear.) I do not conceive that any proposition could be put forward against the Directors of this establishment, that would have a more prejudicial effect, than that Irish gentlemen were discouraged from coming forward as candidates for offices in it, and that in consequence it was gradually sinking in their esti mation, and, if true, deservedly so.—( Hear, hear.) Since that establishment had been formed there has been but one instance where an Irish gentleman came forward as a candiiiate and was not elected ; and what was remarkable, the two candidates on that occasion were both Irishmen, and of course we could not elect the two to fill one vacancy,—(Hear, hear, and laugh ter.) This could not be considered rejecting an Irish gentleman ; I am sure you have reason for rejoicing in your choice, when I state to you that the gen tleman elected was Mr. Young, Member for Cavan. —(Cheers.) The other gentleman withdrew his name prior to the election, and as he did not reside in Eng land, and did not again offer himself, you could net therefore elect him. On another cceasion an Irish Nobleman wished to become a areetor, but he died be fore a vacancy took place. You will, therefore, see that every Irish gentleman who has been proposed has been elected. This will relieve the Directors from the charge that they have discouraged Irish gentlemen from coming forward as candidates for offices in this esta blishment.—( Hear, hear.) We are told by Mr. Bald win that we are losing ground in Ireland. We had naturally expected that Mr. B. would have pointed out where, for we do not find it among the Shareholders in Ireland ; to prove which I will take their number at. Christmas for the last three years. In 1838 they were 355. In 1839, they amounted to 393 ; and in 1840 they rose to 440—( Hear, hear)—being an increase of 95 upon the three years, Timis does not indicate any strong decline of confidence in this establishment. Last year three-fourths o: the shares disposed of in London were sent to Ireland—(Cheers) —this is also satisfactory, giving us a stronger hold upon the good opinion and affections of the Irish peo ple. If this establishment were so sinking in the esti matinn of the Irish public, would it not be felt among the Grand Juries of Ireland ? but have we not been appointed receivers by them ? Where the poison has been dispersed, I wish the antidote to find its way.— (Cheers.) But I have my doubts wilt: they we can pre vent the mischief which this letter may have done, as it has gone to every Proprietor. Und er a l ate A ct of Parliament the Grand Jury of each county were di rected to select a banker for county treasurer. It then became a matter of competition among the Banks to obtain the county treasurer's accounts ; yet out of 23 which are within the exclusive circle of the Bank of Ireland, we have 14, and 9 are left for all the other Banks in Ireland, in the south and west, as well as in the north, where the local banks have numerous branches, and partners intimately connected with gentlemen who form the Grand Juries. This does not indicate a decline of confidence in us. If we refer to the Boards of Guardians of the Poor law Unions, of which there are many yet to be formed, we find that thirty-four of them have preferred this esta blishment, which has so sunk in public estimation.-- (Cheers.) I wish my friend Mr. Baldwin had taken the trouble to inquire, before he brought forward his statement, and it would have been much better for him not to have said one word against the Directors to any Proprietor, or any one intimately acquainted with this establishment. Yet he hes done so ; and notwithstand ing this he becomes a candidate, from which, though late in the day, he has retired. He perhaps thought his circular would have secured him a few votes, but I imagine he has been disappointed, or he would not have withdrawn himself. I felt it was right you should know so much. There is another fact I wish to state to you ; you are aware that this was the first Joint-stock Bank introduced into Ireland, to be carried out on the principles of Scotch banking. It was, there fore, necessary to obtain men who were acquainted with that system ; we therefore sought for persons from that country, where the system bad been so beneficially carried out. We employed Scotch and COPYRIGHT BILL. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD brought in the Copy right Bill, which was read a first and ordered to be road a second time thnt day week. POOR-LAW COMMISSION BILL. Lord JOHN RUSSELL brought in the Poor-Law Commission Bill, which was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday the Bth of Feb. The House adjourned at half past seven o'clock. PARLIAMEN'FARY DIVISIONS. (From the Pates and Proceedings of Me House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27. PUBLIC BUSINESS. Motion made, and Question put, " That no new business, which shall be objected to by five Members, be brought on after twelve o'clock at night."—( Mr. Brotherton. )—The House divided : Aglionby, H. A. Baines, E. Blake, M. J. Blakemore, R. Briscoe, J. 1. Corbally, M. B. I)ashwood, G. H. Hector, C. J. Home, J. NORITY-AYES, 31. O'Brien, W. Smith Style, Sir Charles O'Connell, D. Turner, William O'Coitinell, J. Wak ley, Thomas O'Connell, M. J. Walker, R. O'Connor Don White, A. Palmer, George Wilbraham, G. Pluniptre, J. I'. I Williams, W. Pryme, G. l'ate, J. A. Salwey, Colonel I Staunton, Sir G. T. Strickland, Sir G. Jackson, Serjeant James, William Morris, David TELLERS. Brotherton, J. Ewart, W. Ainsworth,'Pe`er Baring, F. Baring, H. B. Barnard, E. G. Berkeley, Hon. C. wes, I'. Blackburne, I. Blake, NV. J. Bothell, Beriah Bowes, J. Broadley, H. Broadwood, Henry Brownrigg, J. S. Bruges, V. 11. L. Buck, L. NV. Buller, Sir J. Y. Burroughes, H. Busftild, William • arew, NV. Clay, W. Clements, Lord Clive, E. B. Clive, Robert Cochrane, Sir 'l'. Compton, H. C. Courtenay, Philip Cowper, Hon. W. F. Dalrymple, Sir A. D'Eyncourt, C.'l'. Benjamin Divett, Duncan, Viscount Duncombe, 'l'. S. Easthope, John Eliot, Lord Elliot, Hon. J. E. Estcourt, T. G. B. Evans, W. Feilden, NV. Fitzroy, Hon. H. Fort, John Fremantle, Sir T. Freshrleld, J. %V. Gaskell, James Milaes Gisborne, 'l'. .JORITY-NOES, Gordon, Robert Goulburn, Henry Gr,.ham, Sir James Greene, T. Grey Sir G. Grimsditch, Thomas Hastie, A. Hawes, B. Hawkes, T. Henesgc, G NV. Henniker, Lord Herbert, Hon. S. Herries, John C. Ilindr, J. H. Hobhouse, T. B. Hodges, T. L. Hodgson, Frederick Hodgson, Richard [lope, von. C. Hoskins, K. Howard, E. G. 1-1,,0k, Lord Hughes, W. B. Hurt, Francis Inglis, Sir R. H. Irton, S. Irving, John Kemble, Henry Knatchbull, Sir L. Kiughtley, Sir C. Labouchcrc, H. Lasceles, W. S. Lefroy, 1) . T. Lincoln, Earl of Lushington, C. Mackinnon, W. A. Macnamara, W. Mahon, Lord Illelgu3d, Lord 'Ailness Richard Monypenny T, Muntz, G. F. Ord, W. Packe, C. NV 130. IPalmerston, Visa. Parke, J Parker, Montague I'attison, J. Peel, Hon. Sir IL Perceval, Colonel AI. Planta, J. Pollock, Sir F. Praeil, W. T. Pringle, A. II edington, T. N. Richards, R. Round, John Russell, Lord John Searlett, J. Y. Seale, Sir J. H. Seymour, Lord Shaw, Frederick Shelburne, Earl of Sheppard, T. Somerset, Lord G. Sotheron, 'l'. E. Stanley. Lord Stanley, Hon. W. Stanstield, W. It. C Stewart, James Strutt, Edward Stuart, Villiers Talfourd, 'l'. Noon Tancred, 11. W. Thornely, Thomas Trotter J. "I:ufnell, 11. , Villiers. Lord Vivian, Major C. Waddington, I-I. S. Wilshere, W. , Winnington, Sir T. ‘Votlehouse ' Young, John TELLERS. Stanley. E. J. Smith, R. Vernon PRIVATE BILL COMMITTEES. Motion made, and Question put, " That it is expedient that Committees on Private Bills should be approximated more nearly than they now are to judicial tribunals, and exempted as much a 3 possible frora all motives of local and personal in torest."--(Mr. Ewart. )--The House divided : Aglionby, H. A. Berkeley, C. Bewei, Blake, M. J. Brotherton, J. Bulwer, Sir L. Greer., T. G. Heathcoat, John :NORITY-AYES, Hector, C. J. Hume, Joseph Muntz, G. E. Salwcy, Colonel Stanstield, W. It. Stewart, James Strickland, Sir G. Strutt, Edward Baldwin, C. Barry Barnard, E. G. Briscoe, J. JORI T Y-NOES, Freshfield, J. VV. Gordon, IL. Goulburn, H. Hinde, J. H. Hodges, T. L. Labouchere, H. Morris, David Noel, C. G. O'Brien, NV. S. Broadle . y, Henry Bruges, W. H. 1.. Buller, Sir J. B. Y. Busn Oil, W. Courtellay, T. /' Elliot, Hon J. E. 22. 'Talfourti, Serjeant Tancred, H. W. White, Andrew Willialus, W. Yates, John A. TELLERS. Ewart, W. Warburton, H. Packe, C. W. Phillpotts, John 1, Pringle, A. Prynit (-'. Rice, E. B. Richards, Richard TELLERS. Cirey, Sir 0. Estcoutt, T. G. B. WALSALL ELECTION. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Since I last had the pleasure of communicating with you, the electors of Walsall have had a visit from Mr. Charles Wilkins, of Manchester, who has been addressing them in the George Hotel Assembly-room these two last nights, on behalf of the Corn-laws, monopolies, and Conser vative principles. His audience has been composed almost entirely of Tories, great pains being taken to exclude those who were likely to oppose him ; few or none of the non-electors are admitted on any terms, Meantime both candidates are incessantly at work amongst the " doubtful" or unpledged voters, and using other means to secure the election. A few " gents." have arrived from the Carlton Club to " assist" Mr. Gladstone. The " writ" having arrived yesterday forenoon, the Mayor (a Catholic) announced by placard that the nomi nation would take place on Monday morning at nine o'clock, and the election is fixed for the day following. PHENOMENA OF SOUND.—In the arctic re gions, persons can converse at more than a mile distant, when the thermometer is below zero. In air, sound tra vels from 1,130 to 1,142 feet per second. In water sound passes at the rate of 4,708 feet per second. Sound travels, in air, about 900 feet for every pulsation of a healthy person, at 75 in a minute. A bell sounded under water, may be heard under water at 1,200 feet distance, Sounds are distinct at twice the distance on water that they ce on land. In a balloon, the barking of dogs on the ground may be heard at an elevation of three or four miles. On Table Mountain, a mile above Cape Town, every noise in it, and even words, may be beard distinctly. The fire of the English, on landing in Egypt, was distinctly heard 130 miles on the sea. Dr. Jamison says, in calm weather he heard every word of a sermon at the distance of two miles ! ! Water is a better con ductor of sound than air. Wood is also a powerful conductor of sound, and so is flannel or ribbon. Sound affects particles of dust in a sunbeam; cobwebs and water in musical glasses ; it shakes small pieces of paper off a string in concord. Deaf persons may converse through deal rods held between the teeth, or held to the throat or breast. Echoes are formed by elliptical surfaces combined by surrounding surfaces, or by such of them as fall into the respective distances of the surface of an ellipse, and are therefore directed to the other focus of the ellipse. For all the distances from both foci to such surface are equal, and hence there is a concentration of sounds at those points, direct from one focus, and reflected back again from the ocher focus. An echo ret urns a monosyl lale at 70 feet distance, and another syllable at every 40 feet additional. The echo of artillery is increased or created by a cloud or clouds. Miners distinguish the sub. stance bored by the sound ; and physicians distinguish the action of the heart by a listening tube. Gamblers and pie men can distinguish, in tossing money, which side is undermost, though covered by the hand. CASTLE HOWARD.—The Earl of Burlington and family, who have been visiting the Earl and Countess of Carlisle, left on Wednesday f r Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, from whence the Noble Earl would proceed to Holkar Hall. Mr. and Lady Fanny Howard left, on Tuesday last, for the metropolis. The Earl and Countess of Carlisle and Lady Mary Howard take their departure next week for Grosvenor place. On Sunday last the theatre at Oldham was opened for a Sunday school by a religious party who had seceded from the ministration of St. Peter's Chapel.-- Manchester Grtardian, English gentlemen, because Irish gentlemen had to be taught the system, but never intended to xcltCe the talent of Ireland. I will name to you the number of each country engaged in this establishment : 127 Irish, 51 Scotch, and 14 English.—(Hear, hear.) In addi tion to this there are 56 local Directors in Ireland. Of these two are Scotch gentlemen, who have been long settled in Ireland. This shows we do not want to ex clude Irish talent in the working of this establishment. —(hear, hear.) I will now, Gentlemen, conclude by asking you whether you consider the Directors deserve the reflections and charges brought against them by Mr. Baldwin ?—(Cheers.) Mr. F. REED--. 1. am sorry Mr. Baldwin is not in the room, but I am sure you must all feel rejoiced at hearing so triumphant a refutation of the charges made in that letter.—(Cheers.) I feel any further observations would only lessen the force of those which have fallen from the Chairman.—(Cheers.) I also feel that when this g .es forward to the world it w ill g i ve an i ncrease d confidence in the establishment, and that what Mr. B. has done will do us no injury. I feel that, after the manner in which the Chairman has explained, it will do us much good. I will therefore move " that the most cordial thanks of this meeting be tendered to the Chair. man and the Court of Directors, for the complete and triumphant refutation which has this day been given to the statements conveyed by the letter of a Proprietor addressed to the Shareholders at large, with refetence to the administration of this establishment, which state ment, however, this meeting is disposed to believe must have been made under misapprehension or misinforma tion on the subject." Capt. PoaTEß—You speak, Mr. Chairman, of the number of Irishmen employed. lam a younger brother, and I have also a younger brother, who arc not either of us residents in Ireland : we may be said to be transported here ; and you may have one of our services, if you please.—( Hear, hear.) Allow me the honour of seconding that resolution. It was put and carried with acclamation. The CHAIRMAN-11l the name of my brother Di rectors and myself, I thank you ; and we will still en deavour to promote the interest of this establishment, as we have hitherto done. I believe we cannot say any more.—(Cheers.) EAST SURREY ELECTION. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) The most active measures arc going on through the county, and, notwithstanding that the Liberal candi date was rather late in the field, the Reformers arc san guine of success. The assistance of Mr. Robert Rus sell, a very active and influential gentleman of Croy don, has been engaged in their behalf as their agent, and most active steps are being taken for a severe strug gle, and it is expected that there will be the most se vere contest that has ever taken place in this county. The declaration of Mr Alcock, himself a I..reat landed proprietor, in favour of a repeal of the Corn-laws, has operated wonderfully in his favour, and many farmers have been induced in consequence to give him their support ; and the universal respect in which he is held, and his high connections and station in the county, are also very much in favour of his pretensions to repre sent East Surrey in Parliament. Mr. Alcock has made a personal canvas of a considerable portion of the oounty within the last two or three days, and his reception has been most flattering. Many of the moderate Conser vatives, who would have supported a man of known cha racter and infl Bence, decline to vote for Mr. Antrobus an account of his youth and inexperience, and unfitness to represent such an important county in the Legisla• ture ; and it is probable that a great number will not vote at all on this account. While on this head, it may be remarked that at the time the Hon. Locke King, the present High Sheriff of the county, stood forward with Mr. Angerstein to oppose Mr. Kemble and Captain Alsager, that a great outcry was made by the Torlcs about a " boy " being put forward to represent East Surrey ; but the " boy" in question was, at the time, at least seven or eight years older than the present idol of their affections, who has only just attained his majority. S 3 ►much for the consistency of the Tories It has been already stated that the Liberals are very sanguine of success, and they ground their opinion upon the fact, that at the last contest, when the Reform can didates were very late in the field, and the arrangements on their behalf were badly organized and most ineffec tis c—that they were only defeated by a majority of some two hundred votes out of seven thousand electors; and they consider that now they have a fair start and have organized all their resources, that they are sure of success. The Tory party, of course, arc not idle. Their agents work untiringly, and no expense is spared, and there is therefore no doubt that there will be a sharp contest. The returning dicer has fixed Monday the Bth of February, for the day of nomination, and Wednesday and Thursday following for the days of polling. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The Tories arc quite astonished at the state of affairs in this county. They had calculated upon walking over the course without any opposition, and they now find that all chance of that has vanished, and they are constrained to admit that there is no doubt the contest will he a very se vere one, although, of course, they say their man, or rather "boy," is sure to come in, It would be unfair to dispa rage the ch4racter or status of Sir Edward Antrobus in the county; and if he had stood forward, there is every reason to believe that he must have commanded very general support; but the putting forward his son, a young man of about twenty.one years of age, fresh from college, and naturally in want of experience, and every other quality necessary for a member of the Legislature, especially in times like the present, is considered by a very great number of the electors as an insult to the county ; and it is well known that many of the sturdy yeomen of the county, who profess what arc called Conservative principles, have said that they could not bring themselves to vote for the election of such an indi vidual as Mr. Antrobus, as they did not consider him at all qualified to represent such a wealthy and important county as Surrey ; and that although they would not vote against him, still they could not conscientiously give him their support. This will, of course, tell in favour of the Liberal candidate, and the friends of Mr. Alcock are very sanguine as to his being returned; indeed, some of them go so far as to say they arc sure of it. It will be very great folly on the part of the Liberal party, however, to underrate their opponents, for they may he assured that every ingenuity will be employed, and that no expense will be spared, to in ing in the Tory candidate, and the Liberals must strain every nerve or they dill be defeated. They must not forget that there are a great number of Tory landlords in the county, whose tenants are bound to vote according to their opinions, and that the Tories, as a party, are most indefatigable in attaining their objects. If, however, the Liberal party exert themselves, it is to Le hoped that the Turn s will be ly,:aten. STATE OF TRADE. DISTRESS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. —The Nottingham Review of yesterday describes the trade in that town as being unprecedentully depressed, and states, as a necessary consequence, that the working classes are sufFering dreadfully. The warp silk blonde trade is still in a very unsettled state, roost of the hands contemplating to leave a manufacture that does not afford remunerative wages for subsistence. The warp tatting lace branch is in a most deplorable state; many of the workmen being stinted to short work, which, with the abatement of the wages, makes their situath. n truly wretched. The fancy bobbin-net trade is not by any means improved, though the workmen arc inde fatigable in producing new patterns. Power nets are in good demand; wages are low, but profits are good. The fancy hosiery trade in Nottingham, Hucknall, Sutton, Mansfield, and Derby, has been long in a stagnant state, but a new trade is revived, not much to the advantage of the county of Nottingham. The silk cut-up trade is rapidly extending ; many of the frames is the neighbour ing villages make three hose at once. The practice is also extending in the silk glove trade, and, of course, employment is decreasing,. The most fatal effects to the intele , ts of this town must ensue, if the practice be per severed in. The silk knotted hands are yet in a very de pressed condition for want of employment. The cut-up imitation warp silk knots have wholly failed. Full frame rent is much complained of in this and other branches, when the workmen have only half work. NEW \VA R STEAMERS.—Of the five new war-steamers of a large class which have been built in her Majesty's dockyards, and are to be immediately fitted for active service, the first has arrived in the river, and is now lying at the Isle of DJgs, n here on Wednesday her boilers were put on board. She is a most majestic vessel, of the same class as the Cyclops and Gorgon, lately found so effective in active service. She is to be fitted with two engines of 140-horse power each, and her tonnage is about 1,400. She is named the Driver, and is already commissioned, a great part of the crew bring now on board assisting towards her completion. her engines are furnished with all the recent improvements, espe cially that importaant one which will enable her to connect or disconnect either one of her paddles in an instant, and thereby change her position with equal celerity It is said that she will be furnished with two long 98-pound guns on her upper deck, working en sw lye's, besides other guns of a large calibre on her lower deck. It will be observed that the steam power of the Driver is 20 horse power each engine less than the Cyclops and the Gorgon ; but the peculiar build cf the vessel and the improvements in the engines will, it is stated, place her on a perfect equality with those war-steamers. The Driver will be completed in three months, and the four others, two of which are named the Styx and the Vixen, will also be fitted with boilers ,and engines in the course of the year, the machinery for that purpose being already in a very advanced state. . . BARLEY WATER —A country practitioner who had attended a wealthy farmer in e. serious illness, thought it necessary to restrict him to very low diet. One evening he c'llcd in quite unexpectedly, and found his patient very busy discussing a large tankard of strong home-brewed ale, and v.hat . was worse, evidently affected by his previ ous " potations. How arc you, doctor ?" said the farmer. " How arc Sou, I should rather inquire ?" replied thr medical man ; is this adhering to the regimen I prescril,ed. did not I tell you that you must drink nothing but barley water ?" I know you did," replied the patient, " and I've followed your directions, for vi hat is ale I should like to know but barley water."_ BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET,rJAN. 27.—We have had an excellent demand for all descriptions of sugar and every desirable lot for either grocery or refining pur poses has been cleared off the market at extreme prices. The stocks in first hands is reduced to a very small quan tity, particulnly for fine descriptions. Refined goods have aLo been in good request, and prices have improved. —.Bristol Ga.:cite. MORN ING ED [VON TITHE COMMUTATION EXPENSES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU N ' Sra—May I be permitted to lay before the f; through your columns, a statement of the grievance), fl'cted on a large body of persons by the Tit he mutation Act ? f. The class of persons to whom I allude are teninit i l e life, who, in the majority of cases, are so situat.ciii, they cannot derive any benefit from the Act, anci.lo,o small minority of cases, as they derive only aP:icily: advantage during their lives, ought to pay' anion tot annual charge as would be their fair proportion 0 1,ii permanent benefit conferred on the property' r° they have only a life interest. . n ors The Act, after empowering the Comm to id employ surveyors and valuers, and order tion i „ l o' paid, &c., gives by th e 76th c l a u s e, power of dis tr i ;:a the goods of any p ar ty no t p a ying his eltare of t perg er d i penses, thus rendering the tenant for liable for expenses incurred for the permitnentil the estate, and the only redress he takes is IT e , tbi t 77th clause, which enables parties posse , " je,so a fee simple interest in lands or tithes to eh a , r t, • n try proportions of the expenees of commutation n'tchiel, est at four per cent. upon the said lands commuted, but so that such charge shall be e s ' c riti every following year by one twentieth part of ta e nal sum. The following grievances a ff ec t every tenant kir ri de Ist. He is bound (by th e 74th c lause) to P re ld the :share of the expenses chargeable on th! power of & s t ress on hi s goo d s b e i ng g iven by i t " c o o clause ; and h e i s th us ren d ere d p ers onallY,". a all the ch a r ges i ncurre d b y t h e es t a te in te t e ofit'' benefit, and c onsequen tly f or t h e b ene fit of his I %(fei probably a -4,1-anger, while be himself has ',age or otherwi se ) on ly a s h or t en j o y m ent of t he - 00 01'; and, moreover, no p r e s p ec t o f b e nefit from t he c or l ! tation, if the farms be let for terms not likely t° during his lifetime. t he As no persons can be found to adva nce to oel cessary sums required to pay the expenses t° e n ? forof beinglife at repaid rate id b y dr named ibi i t n s the annually A in thee and e n c° , prescribed ; the t enants f or lif e b e i ng persons il l i ai o . and compelled to provide payment for the co n by e ' expenses, &c., is obliged to borrow the money si t!. of annuity, or on some ot h er extrava gant te r-t el ler): difference of expenses between doing s o, and t ile hei r " he can make on th e p ro p erty b ecom i n g thus:, 1001 burden on him, without deriving any hetr h . the measure a, pointed out in the last pareg reP ie to il , 3;l. Supposing the original charge on an °I A A he'r i g . I 500!., and that the tenant for life even ee nl A " c e t h " . l the money on the terms prescribed by the . ,`La whole amount of payments to be made d u e te n twenty years would be 7101., of which, if t , be t for life lived ten years, lie will have to paY out deriving any benefit (as before stated) ; successor, the tenant in fee or in tail, wool 'oar the first ten years of his possession, have) ti or e I° , to ply, and will have been exempted i r t , trouble attending the commutation and from nal 1i ability for the expenses, and from the le; tages of raising the money a t th e hi g her, an j , c eA the State therewith at th e l ower ra t e o f inter ei "f t er, having at the end of the ten years the estate fre e , o re,; expenses and enjoying th e b ene fit s o f the in e i : o f t ° the new leases and leting, - s that he may 111°e property. iai rt3 sel It must be assumed that the Legislatur e jr hi the measure as a benefit to a ll parties intern' one it is shown above th a t a manifest injustice rs 001 it to persons possessing less th a n a fee-simP i f ite in property, by burdening th e m p erso n a lly (ae n ;0 6 ,1 5 , 4 that the succeeding tenant in fee or in °I; cr. almost scot free. The following ease la te ' Y r o $ l. under my notice :—A gentleman, many l u e i t o glit tf o l devised an estate of 100/. a-year to his „; o lif ;) , 1 r and on her death, without issue, to v cr) .3;‘'i l relation. The daughter, who h as n ever m erric odo obliged from unforeseen events to raise money estate, and for this purpose sunk 501. a Yea r ',„ per,, now an income of 501. a y ear , an d i s re quired `",, t bt r share of expense s i n commu ti ng th e tithes oll e t : C ° e tate of 100/. a y ear . Th e sum requ i r ed by tlr' d 10 ° ;; missioners for this purpose is 251.—half the °' ot ° v income ; this she cannot r a i s e under 10 Pe r ce e tt° ' ! ) ,‘ king a deduction from her income of 2/. 105' 400'1 besides the one-twentieth of the 25/., that is 11.5 s ',e in all 3/. 15s. a-year out of her 501., and the es te bot leased fora term not likely to expire i n p time, she is totally precluded from any b en e per , 5 0 the act in any reletting ; the sum of 3/. 155', to num may appear trifling, but it is a heavY l o e oi / o who can scarcely make the two .ends nacet 0 10i 4 e aggravated by the reflection that she is ears ore for the benefit of a strsnger, whose Inc e° el ample that he will not feel the benefit of it ' e slie;ll I would, therefore, sugge s t that such an I .o l 'o of the Act may be made next Session as t 035, this grievance ; and of the several modes Ib- beb&l pointed out, the most simple would, perhaps , A pr t lif pealing the 77th clause of the present Act, 30 " e g i'll . et tenants for life to fix the expenses required toe") Tithe Commutation Act into operation, as a P e ti t e; tt ,o charge on the property benefited by the ille e to s e ea ; per cent, interest until redeemed, as the 9 „" - r tr charged should be redeemable at any time at l ) ",..;11 vet Already in communication with parties u u° ;',iell rested in this question, I shall be happy j° P , c he ci er e tal' from any other parties so interested, with ' tee Il concerting measures for bringing the ma t ' Parliament early in the approaching Session. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 01 % JOHN 11 ,, A 4 1 24, Holles-street, Cavendish-square, .W l . l.- f o , t e , NORWAY.—(Froma Correspondent.);:i.psde;e day being the birth-day of the venerable P;isti ,t , t King of Sweden and Norway, a party of Norn' e 7 e clillal tlenien, resident in London, met in the City, s e % b e ,":o' f a preconcerted arrangement, and dined togeth er j ed / "t°' pledg, toot of their beloved monarch. After having selves with every expression of enthusiasm to 0 ; 0 .0' 0 3 the evening—the health of their King, and a t f !,, c ieO ne ,:t' the Crown Prince—the healths of Queen ;1 . - t , Prince Albert were drank with feelings of g re i - on An excellent band was engaged for the oce° 6 ,, - JO n . o l responded to these sentiments by striking tiP t" - n ireVr Anthems of both countries, and appropriat e iviolr;ied many patriotic toasts of the evening, thereby goeol,o' tional zest to the enjoyments of the meeting , Ai stoi l bo in which the play assembled was decorated s' l ` re ee° l ,o' did transparent representation of the King , ° do hi! upper part of which was inscribed, in the Nor W. p y 1 5 d, guage, the enviable motto—" May he be as i ri s re: O f people are ;" and below, " His people's love is SWITZERLAND.—The Gazette rte f 1 ; 1 the 22d instant states, that all the convents °Bogeir have been declared the property of the St a n() 111 , 7 , the proceeds of their sale would be apo°" : „, s i o.l o' tabl ish men t of churches, schools, and charitable ''' o t n elgot The monks, however, are to be paid yearly P ee „ s. o3 t e the abbot, 2,000 f. ; a friar upwards of 80 y ear s 1,400 f., under GO, 1,200 f. ; al2y brother 60 ),°' f oro l 'oot 500 f., under 60, 400 f. The Government 19'4,14'01 decided that a sum of I,oooooof. should be r % e ertf' of the proceeds of the sale of monastic Pre,rbool,..s',sr one half thereof given to the Catholic district T he I the other to the poor of that persuasion• jee e l le ° cil of State of Fribu rg , b e ing the p ro t e ctor of ` e ", - o sl of the Swiss C on f e d erac y, i n v i r t ue o f the F e ,e — o vel li° ,o l ' " 1815, addressed an o ffi c i a l a ppli ca ti on to the " iss d of Argau on the 18th inst., d e m an di n g if it decreed the suppression of the convents situatedo 0 0 , 1 0 jurisdiction. The reply of the latter will gn! 4 0 0 11 i vernment of Friburg in the course which it leo . 0 ° puteue in this circumstance. The resolution e' en lst ; or cil of State has filled with joy the entire P°f c i s th e Friburg, who feel the greatest sympathy tows r m. s , s s l pressed Catholics of Argau.—Gazette de lias,rwo coy( DISASTROUS COLLISION AND ). . o g€l ll %,t, tens LOST AT SEA. —On Thursday afternoon eo s ' was received in the City of the total loss of th e 0 ; 000 Goole, Captain Redman, master, and the Hu u l e .;6 , Ye dcrland, a trader, with a cargo on board value , '",,aoe c oy which occurred on the night of Sunday last , , a. d , o'clock, in the North Sea, by th e ves sels C O lision. This disaster took place near the inn % 0 3 : 4 01 Sand, some distance f rom B r idli ng ton BAY' i c ela o o" situated in E as t Y or k s hi re . F rom t h e few fl ar e - , tlie eel e , ceived it appears that at the time of the R elief; o ifV b eil; was blowing a gale from the westward, and t'—aeelr,ol7 tremely dark. The Hunter, which was st in tileatei vessel, lef. the river Thames for Sunderlan d ' pf 0 8 1 , tg e , part of the week, and was bearing under 1) 1 ' 5 '00 .01 i ' wards her destination. The other unfortun‘t e d e in 9 0 15 ' Robert, was on her voyage from Goole to 1 -1„ill is stated there was a good look out kept onnitti and that each other was not perceive d st,e l " about two hundred yards, and the ere!' y csr s dcf every nerve to avoid collision, although t i ' r e i oe , °, contact with tremendous force. The c,„ ° ,: scribed to have been most awful. . 1 "" 0 0 t nlie; were be for e ,: both vessels were smashed in, and they wedged together that several minutes elapseLtisAttioi" could be extricated, when it was discovered tP t - t be tl e ,lo, e ' sinking. Many of the crew were asleep ne their berths. The long-boats were, as nuiel t `c vib it i er e d lowered into the sea, upon which the crews thre.rds property could be saved into them, and aftergoi he addeo into them themselves. The masters wer e tb°,. o lit i t board. Captain Redman, of the Robert , 9 ' B l tb" tb i he got into the 100 boat the water had coeere olobold' deck ; and Captain Smithson, of the Huale!.; when he left his vessel the water was six like 6 f e re' and was coming in on the staroard bow bea e lsC Within ten minutes after both vebssels went down logvi;, Most into deep water. The crews kep t elel'eby tbi',eo! and in the course of the night were picked °P r, o b 0 :01 -0 ; Halifax, from Newhaven, Captain Jones magt%iv pol to 0 treating them will the greatest humanity..:a _J c. ,,,,tlu . on shore at 13ridlington. The total loss r..:,0 upwards of 12,000/. The vessels and the eo , Dec' posed to be insured. lias' e t ° r ' NEW POSTAGE STAMP.— voured with a sight of a new p;)stage sta w r n aese rir i issued for envelopes in lieu of the present IWrovesTifi_oft duction. The new stamp is a manifest iniP it on ly e c ite in appearance and convenience; -for, while it reeisoi about the same space as the penny label, t do f 'h ee d', tinetive mark is- a 'well executed raised bea one jesty, s urrounded by. the_sVords, postage per g ed also in raiS . ed.work. ,All .the raised or-.ollb to bag w hite, the ground being pink, and the whe neat effect,— Wolverhauipton Chronicle. . St 1; p 11 1) s 4 %. 11 ti 34h . ' 24 ' 11 0 ~w , iS d I d 1' t ,