The Sun. — London, England, 1849-07-24 00:00:00

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Noawicrr, JULY 20.—The great dinner of the society took place yesterday at four o'clock in St. Andrew's hall, which was filled with a large assemblage of the landed interest, and of those who took an in ierest in the pursuits of agriculture. The Earl of Chichester occupied the chair, the Marquis of Down shire was vice-president, and among the company pre sent were the Duke of Richmond, Sir G. Anson, Lord Bayning, Mr. Burroughes, M.P., Colonel Buckley, Earl of Cadogan, Hon. E. Coke, M.P., Mr. Currie, Hon. Captain Cust, Marquis of Douro, Hon. Captain Dun combe, M.P., Sir F. Ffolkes, Colonel Fitzroy, Lord For rester, Hon. F. de Grey, Mr. B. Gordon, Rev. Philip Gurdon, Mr. Gurdon Rebon, Mr. Gooch, NI.P., Mr. Adam Gordon, Mr. Guenon, Sir Robert Harvey, Lord Hastings, Lord Roanicker, Earl of Leicester, Vis count Lilford, Walter Long, M.P., Baron Merleaus, Sir H. Meux, Mr. C. Neame, Mr. F. name, .Mr. G. Neame, the Mayor of Norwich, the late Mayor, the Bishop of Norwich, the Dean of Norwich, the Canon Resideatiary, the Earl of Orford, Lord W. Powlett, Ad miral Sir Beauchant Proctor, Mr. Beauchant Proctor, Viscount Ranelagh, Rev. Professor Sedgwick, M. le Comte Serainecourt, the High Sheriff of Cambridge shire, the High Sheriff of Norfolk, the Mayor of Lynn Regis, Lord Sondes, Viscount Sydney, Colonel Smyth, Lord St. John, ,Honourable F. Walpole, the Dean of Westminster, Honourable H. W. Wilson, General Sir John Wilson, Mr. Wodehouse, M.P., Lord Wodehouse, Mr. Ark wright, High Sheriff of Staffordshire ; Major Beresford, M.P., Mr. Cobbold, Chairman of the Eastern Union Railway Company ; Dr. Daubeny, Mr. Bucknall Estcourt, Colonel Fitzroy, Mr. Garnett, Rev. A. Huxtahle, Captain Ives, Mr. Langston, M.P., Cap %tin Moody, late Governor of the Falkland Islands ; Mr. Parkes, C.E., Hon. Manners Sutton, Professor Way, Mr. Mark Phillips, Rev. E. Sidney, Professor Simonds, Sir R. Price, Colonel Silwell, &c. The hall during the proceedings had a very animated appearance, and the ar rangements were a decided improvement on thoso of the Council dinner on the previous day. The CHAIRMAN on the removal of the cloth gave the usual loyal toasts, which were of course received by the company with great enthusiasm. He then called on the Earl of Orford to propose a toast. The Earl of ORFORD said, he had been asked by the Council to propose "Health and Success to the Royal Agricultural Society of England." After such an an nouncement ho would neither waste their time nor his own exertions in making any lengthened excuses for the deficiences of the advocate of such a cause. This was the 11th anniversary of the institution. He remembered that at the first show there were but 23 different imple ments exhibited, and that the number of stock of all kinds was but 249. He remembered well that at the beginning of this institution there was much ridicule cast upon it, and much obloquy was incurred by its projectors in consequence of certain malicious intentions being at tributed to them.—(Cheers.) But the agriculturists of England did wisely and well in answering these taunts with silence—(Cheers)--and they did better in preserving the even tenor of their way with energy—(Cheers.) Such had been their success, that after 10 years the number of stock exhibited in 1848 was 724 ; that of implements, I,soo.—(Loud cheers.) To what could they attribute this increase, notwithstanding the ridicule and burlesque with which at first they bad been overwhelmed? It was to the wise method tak en in conductin g the affairs of the society; the prizes were thrown open to the com petition of all mankind. All subjects except one (and that one was most reasonably excluded) were open to its discussions; they did most wisely in discarding and casting off, for ever, party politics.—(Loud cheering.) But while the rules prevented him and his Noble Friend the President from displaying, not the acrimony of poll fleet hostility, but the warmth with which each might probably maintain his own opinions, they threw open their gates in other respects to the whole world. They enticed here, as it were, by their prizes and their com mendations, all classes and all parties, to further the great and useful objects of the association. It was in consequence of the competition thus engendered that they had had that day one of the most brilliant exhibi tions that had ever adorned the anniversaries of the so • ciety. It was in consequence of this competition that they had the whole country searching after and intriguing for, and he might say, bribing the society to reside three or four days annually amongst them. It was that compe tition which brought together the agricultural heptarchy of England, from north, south, east, and west, many of them, perhaps, being ignorant of each other's modes of cultivation, and year by year increased their stock of knowledge, and stimulated their desires after excel lence, until the county of Norfolk, for instance, which at the first exhibition could hardly bring forth anything worth showing, had, at the end of 10 years, found the decisions of the judges yesterday greatly in its favour.— (Loud cheers.) It was the object of this competition that had no doubt induced his friend, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, to throw down the gauntlet to England and the world. He was sure that Mr. Hobbs used every effort to secure success, but when that gauntlet of defiance was thrown down, there was the glistening of many an eager eye and the itching of many an open palm to grasp it. That gauntlet would be taken up, and, however gallant the assault, the resistance would be as stout and undaunted. His friend Mr. Hobbs would find that he had got into a scrape.—(Laughter.) His Noble Friend in the chair, and the Gallant Nobleman whom he saw at the centre table (the Duke of Richmond), would not allow, without the most strenuous resistance, the honours of downy Sussex to be won by the clays of Essex.—(Cheers.) It was this spirit of competition which had brought before them that day all those magnificent animals, those ingenious implements, which they had seen ; and let them not think that the effect of these exertions was restricted to the narrow boundary of this land. No—our machinery, with every step towards perfection which it made year by year, was eagerly sou ght after by fereign agriculturists. Its effects were even felt in torpidi Asia—(Cheers);—for, in Constan tinople there had been recently formed an agricultural society, and translations of the journals of the Royal Agricultural Society.—(Cheers.) There was one topic on which he must make some remarks. They had thrown to the winds, now and for ever, the idea that im provements in agricultural machinery would diminish the amount of labour.—(Cheers.) That idea had once a strong hold on the minds of the peasantry of this country, but now they were taught better.- It had been satisfac torily proved that the aid of machinery had resulted in an immense increase in the demand for human labour in stead of diminishing it, and that their combined efforts multiplied in an amazing degree the products of the land.—(Loud cheers.) This antiquated notion was fast disappearing in Germany, in France, in Belgium, and oven in Russia, for the agriculturists of those countries were constantly sending here for our new implements, and inquiring after our improved modes of culture -and, therefore, if we did not by such societies as this foster and direct the spirit of improvement and competi tion, we should soon be left behind by other nations.— (Cheers.) It only remained for him to offer to their eathusiastic reception the toast which had been entrusted to him, "Success to the Royal Agricultural Society of England."—(Prolonged cheering.) The toast having been drunk amidst the loudest ap plause, Mr. WODEHOUSE proposed " Agriculture, Manufac tures, and Commerce," and, in doing so, said, that it was an alarming toast to give—an alarming toast, also, to listen to; but he could calm their fears under the as surance that he intended to be very brief. He had served a long apprenticeship in public life, and had been brought to the conviction that we none of us could go alone. In the early part of his life his constituency ex tended further than now. He might then go to the mouth of the Humber, and claim among his constituents those strange beings, the remains of which Professor Sedgwick yesterday described his having found there, some thousand feet below the surface; and with refe• rence to which ho would say, " God rest their souls if they have any, and their ashes too."—(Laughter.) It was not necessary for him to make any excuses whatever for saying, as representative for Norfolk, " God speed the plough, God speed the shuttle, and God speed the sail."—(Cheers.) This doctrine of mutual dependence on each other was most true; but when they were told that it was originally decreed by Heaven that man was dependent upon man, then came the early qugr rel between Cain and Abel, and "the whole reaAn ing was absurd.—(Laughter and dissent.) In making this remark he did not mean to give offence to any one, but it was not long ago that within the walls of Parham, nt he heard the doctrine of mutual dependence beautifully illustrated by a reference to the reciprocity doings between a tailor and a shoemaker. " 'Tis true, 'tin pity; but pity 'tie 'tis true." Here came in one person who in tee spirit of the constitution must always bs considered by himself— here came in that broker, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to disturb the harmony.— Let them not suppose tnat he (11r. Wodehouse) was about to render himself so unworthy of their esteem as to debase himself to the utterance of any party feelings. When he alluded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer he spoke of one for whom he entertained the sincerest re g ard, of one whom he considered a thorough gentle man, but who, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, at all times, and in all places, was generally considered to be a fine cookshy.—(A laugh.) He alluded to him on the present occasion, therefore, , because a short time since, is his place in the House of Commons, that Hon. Gen tleman quoted certain ex tracts from a pamphlet upon Now there was one the subject of high iermi n g . passage in that pamphlet to which he (Mr. Wode house) begged to call their particular attention. It was Muted that the common practice was to put up a farm to private auction, and choose as a tenant tie bidder that offered the highest rent, and accepted the lowest sum of outlay in improvements. God forbid that that should ever be the practice in England. —(Cheers.) God torbid that there should ever exist even sin.approximation to it in thin country.—(Loud cheers 7.) Let them give reciprocity to the winds in ever)• other respect ; but, for Heaven's sake, let there be reciprocity butwe.n landlord and tenant —(Renewe d cheers.) The p am phl et to „Itwa which he had alluded also cantuiiied tins ouserv a ti on — said with respect to agriculture that the physician who s to okaway , the crutch might, after all, prove not to be a bad doctor." The phy sician who took away the crutch was o ne Wodehouse, assured them that he was no w spe e lik t . n M g r : no t only in the eyes of the county of Norfolk, b u t in the eyes of all England, and, perhaps, of Europe, as well as of the indiviAials thus alluded to)—the physician who took away the crutch, he repeated, was one with whom, though he believed he was in error, and in grievous error, t he good of the country was ever his pole star. To whom, the n, did he allude? To Sir R. Peel?—(At the mention of this name the political r passions of the meeting were at o nce awaeened. The Protectionists groaned and hissed, the-Fre.e-Trade party cheered and applauded lustily, and, judging from , the volume of sound which either party emitted, the latter had the best of it. Mr. Wodehouse, who raised the storm, looked exceed ingly perplexed, and, as it lasted for several minutes, fears began to be entertained that awkward consequences to the peace of the company would ensue. In the midst of the prevailing excitement,) The OKAIIISI4N rose, and order having, not without some difficulty, been restored, he said he could assure the Hon. Gentleman, and the whole of the assembly, that he interfered with great regret, but he felt called on; by a sense of the duty he owed to the society, earnestly to request him and any other of his friends who might address the meeting scrupulously to avoid any allusion to party politics—(Loud and general cheer ing)—or to what was going on in either House of Par liament—(Continued cheering)— and, still more, to avoid naming any person distinguished in party and political warfare.—(Great cheering.) He was sure the sense of the meeting would be with him in this require ment.—(Cheers.) It was owing to the strict exclusion of such topics that his predecessors in the chair, sup ported by the feeling of the great majority of the mem bers, had been able to maintain that peace and harmony which had been so ably and happily alluded to by his Noble Friend (Lord Orford). He would now call on the Hon. Gentleman whom he had interrupted, not for anything he had actually said, but because he was touching upon dangerous ground to resume his speech, with the request that he would confine himself strictly to the topics laid down in the toast, and, as the lawyers had it, " not to travel out of the record."—(Cheers.) Mr. WODEEIOUSE again rose and said, that he ought to apologize for his seeming transgression against the rules of good breeding, but he trusted the Noble Earl in the chair and the company would give him some considera tion, as the toast entrusted to him was one which ren t dered it difficult to abstain altogether from such allusions as those ho had made.—(Hear, hear.) He had spoken in perfect sincerity when he talked of the respect which he bore to Sir Robert Peel; but could he conceal from them the struggle which was then going on—a struggle in which the whole prosperity of the country was at is sue?—(Hear, hear.) He would, however, humbly obey the chair, and without any further remark would give the toast as it stood on the paper—" Agriculture, manu factures, and commerce," and might it please God to send a blessing on all of them.—(Cheers.) The Duke of RICHMOND on rising was received with the most vehement applause, the whole company rising repeatedly, and waving handkerchiefs, glasses, and iu the absence of these, their hands above their heads. His Grace, who sat among the farmers in the centre of the hall, mounted aloft on the table, and when the cheering had subsided, said, that in obedience to the call of his Noble Friend, the President, he rose to propose for their adoption the next toast on the list. He did so with great pleasure, because he was well aware that the members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England were very anxious to pay honour where honour was due, and to show respect to the con stituted authorities of the land. They were all much obliged to the mayor and the magistrates, and, he might cn be permitted to say, to the inhabitants, whthenthyerwienreri.m. circumstances or in poor. To the former thedeb in debted society,fo r tli f co I.their hospitality e exertions t w i o i with iwhichpromoting they h received comfort andtheclasses for the interest meeting,convni a c n e d o t f o th t e h m e apnoyortehrousands whohad attended they had shown and the kindness they had evinced.— (Cheers.) Among the necessary advantages which, in his humble judgment, had resulted from the formation of the Royal Agricultural Society, was to be included, not only that it had opened the eyes of landlord and tenant to the absolute necessity of improvement, but from holding its annual meetings in large and populous towns, the landowners and occupiers from every part of Eng land had an opportunity of attending these meetings, of becoming butter acq ua i n t e d w i t h eac other, and also of getting acquainted with those engaged in commercial and manufacturing pursuits.—(Cheers.) The mass of the population of the city of Norwich would, on the fol lowing day, when they considered the events of the week, feel that the agricultural interest was one of para• mount importance to them.—(Loud cheers.) He trusted also that this meeting, and a mutual interchange of civilities in the show-yard and in that hall, would instil into all their minds kind and friendly feelings for each other; and he must congratulate the members of the society on the splendid exhibition which they had wit nessed on that and the previous day.—(Cheers) That exhibition was most creditable to the scientific men who had undertaken the construction of the implements dis played, and the only difficulty was, that they improved so rapidly year by year, that the farmers never knew when to purchase.—(Cheers and laughter.) As to cattle, sheep, horses and pigs, he thought the exhibition highly creditable, and that the exhibitors had main tained their high character; and, he might be permitted to say so, that the occupiers of this and the adjacent counties had well sustained their reputation as good practical farmers,—(Cheers.) They might think that if he spoke of sheep, he was touching on a tender subject, because ho unfortunately was not a successful competitor, and it was, therefore, his direct interest to say that never were there such good sheep shown.—(Laughter.) An Essex friend of his at the council dinner, had challenged the whole world to compete with him; but if he beat Sussex and Norfolk he would have triumph enough. He the Duke of Richmond) had often been beaten, but he had English blood enough in his veins, and if he was THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 24 1849 beaten back he would not show the white feather. (Cheers.) He felt that he ought not to trespass on so large a meeting at greater length; but it was impos sible for him to resume his seat without expressing his thanks at the kind manner in which the meeting had received him that evening.—(Cheers.) He had been in the habit of attending these meetings, because he felt the importance of that great branch of industry—the agriculture of the country, and that it was worthy his best exertions.—(Loud cheers.) He never felt more at home than when he was surrounded by the tenant farmers of the country, to whom he owed a deep debt of obligation, which no words of his could ,express, and ' which no exertions of his could ever repay. He had been in many of the counties ,of England—he had at tended many agricultural meetings, and at all times he had received acts of kindness and affection which to his dying day he would never forget.—(Loud cheers.) With every wish for the health of them and theirs, and that they might enjoy all the happiness which this world could bestow, he thanked them from his heart, and asked them to give the mayor and corporation of this ancient and interesting city, those cheers to which their reception of the society so well entitled them.—(Pro tracted cheering.) The toast having been drunk, Mr. S. BIGNALL, the Mayor of Norwich, returned thanks in a brief but very appropriate manner. The Bishop of Noßwion then proposed the health of his Noble Friend the Earl of Chichester, whose Chris tian zeal in behalf of many excellent and benevolent societies in London he warmly eulogised. The Rev. Prelate, in a highly characteristic speech, traced the connexion between the Church and the land, and con cluded by calling on the company to drink their Chair man's health with three times three. The toast having been very heartily responded to, The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and having explained that business or indisposition had prevented three or four of the foreign Ministers from being present, he no ticed in a complimentary manner that the society was honoured with the presence of many gentlemen from other countries. He did not formally propose their healths as a toast, but he was only expressing the feel ings of the farmers of England when he told them that they were heartily welcome.—(Loud cheers.) Referring to the next toast on the list, there could be no difference of opinion as to the value of that class whose health ho was about to propose. Whatever the difference of their views might be as to questions of Government and legislation, no one could doubt that it was the luty and interest of every one among them to promote to the utmost of his power the comfort and wellbeing of the labouring classes.—(Loud cheers.) It would be too much to say for the Agricul tural Society of England that it had attempted by any important direct means to improve the condition of that great class—(Hear, hear)—but they had never forgotten it, they had always drunk their health—(Cheers, and a laugh)—and on many occasions when the toast had fallen into better and abler hands than his, sound opinions had been stated, and many valuable suggestions had been made, which he trusted had not been without their effect. --(Cheers.) But, although no direct steps had been taken to improve the condition of the agricultural la bourer, the society conferred on that class a very im portant benefit indirectly, by promoting scientific farm • ing, for, in proportion to the improvement effected in the science and skill of the farmer, in that very proportion would the labourer be raised in his position in society.—(Loud cheers.) Ho said so confidently, because he knew that many who then heard him were farmers of that description, and who knew what he meant. But besides drinking the health of the labouring classes, and promoting those improvemenis which were likely to render them more intelligent, su perior, and happier men, the society had, on two occa sions, offered premiums on subjects likely to conduce to their comfort.—(Cheers.) At the last meeting a prize was awarded for the best stove for a cottage, and this year a prize had been offered for the best essay on cot tages. He rejoiced to observe that with the progress of tho society a growing interest was manifested in the wants and sufferings, and increased attempts were made to promote the comfort and moral improvement of their poorer brethren.—(Cheers.) He did not claim for the society any share in that movement, but when he saw that the same men who took a lead therein were also the warmest and staunchest friends of agricultural improve ment, he could not but believe that they were nutter the same blessing, and that they were likely to grow together to a measure of success which he anticipated and be lieved would be attended with the greatest advantage to the country at large.—(Cheers.) In proposing the health of the labouring classes, he need not remind the company that in the toast were included all the classes who earned their bread by the sweat of their brow. Whether labouring in the cellar, in the factory, or at the plough, they well deserved the care of the society and goodwill. If they were duly attended to, and received a moral and religious education, they would become sound and useful members of the community.—(Cheers.) The toast was very cordially responded to. Mr. BURROUGUES, M.P., proposed, " The judges of stock and the judges of implements." Mr. TAYLOR returned thanks in a very sensible speech. The Earl of LEICESTER then rose, and was received by the company with the greatest enthusiasm. He said, that the toast he had the honour to propose was, " The o Highland and Agricultural Socie t y of Scotflaiarde,laanndd.,!_he Royal Agricultural Improvement S ociet y (Cheers.) H He would not trespass n d th i e r i a r bl t e im s e oc b ie y ti d e e s: scanting upon the excellence ofthese and the advantages they conferred on the community , because h e was aware th a t th e nobleman who, as the on programme of the proceedings announced, was to re spond to the toast (the Duke of Richmond) was far better able than him to do justice to their merits. But, as a native of the county of Norfolk, he must express the great satisfaction which he felt in proposing such a toast in the city of Norwich.—(Loud cheers.) There could be no doubt that the present meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society would confer great benefit on the district. He was delighted to find that his native county had been far more successful in the trying com petition to which they had been subjected than the nature and quality of the soil entitled them to expect.—. (Cheers.) He was confident also that a spur had been given to the agriculturists surrounding that ancient cit.y which would enable them still more successfully than heretofore to compete with the more fertile districts of England.—(Cheers.) The society, it should be remem bered, had always done more than encourage the breed ing of stock. From the outset it had evinced a great interest in the cultivation of the soil, and it was to the high position held by Norfolk in this respect that its in habitants were indebted fur the honour of the present visit.—(Loud cheers.) No doubt, too, that high reputa tion had helped to attract many of the visitors who had come from remote districts, and ho trusted that they would not leave the county until they had examined the mode in which the Norfolk farmers cultivated their land. —(Loud cheers.) They might be assured that they would derive much benefit from such an inspection; and if any member of the Royal Agricultural Society found his way to the neighbourhood of Holkham, he would be most heartily welcome at Holkham-hall, and he (the Earl of Leicester) would do all his power to assist him in an examination of the modes of culture practised in Norfolk.—(The Noble Earl resumed his seat amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the company.) The Duke of RICHMOND responded to the toast, and in doing so paid a graceful compliment to the memory of the late Earl of Leicester, to the great encouragement which he gave to agricultural improvement in Norfolk, and to his excellent qualities as a landlord. Colonel CHALLONER proposed the health of the " Mar quis of Downshire," the President of the Society for the ensuing year. The Marquis of DowNsuIRE shortly returned thanks, and stated that one of his principal motives in accepting the office of president was out of respect to the memory of his revered parent, who had always felt the warmest interest in the cause of agricultural improvement, and had looked forward to the honour of one day filling the office which now devolved upon him. The Noble Mar quis concluded by proposing as a toast, " The railway companies, and thanks to them for the facilities they have afforded to the society." This toast was warmly responded to by the company, who separated immediately afterwards. This morning at ten o'clock the proceedings of the society at Norwich terminated with the usual general meeting of its members in the Guildhall at ten o'clock, when the formalities customary on similar occasions were duly complied with. Some idea may be formed of the numbers attracted to Norwich during the week, and of the success which has attended the exhibition, from the fact that upwards of 40,000 persons arrived there by railway between Slon day and Thursday, and that more than 20,000 persons visited the society's yard on the last day of the show. The transport of this body of people was effected by the authorities of the Eastern Counties Railway without the occurrence of a single accident; undertheir skilful manage • ment, and the excellent arrangements of the secretary, Mr. Honey, the fullest accommodation has been af forded to this vast accession of travellers, Mr. Betts, the newly elected chairman of the company, attended by a party ce the directors, was present in Norwich during the two days of the show, for the purpose of seeing that on so important an occasion proper accommodation was provided for passengers along the main line of the com pany and its branches. It would be unfair to terminate this narrative of the Royal Agricultural meeting at Norwich without stating that, as on former occasions, its success has been greatly promoted by the zealous services of its excellent secretary, Mr. Hudson. The admirable ar rangements of the show-yard were under the direction of Mr. Brandreth Gibbs. THE VACANT JUDGESHIP. On considering the claims of the various leading counsel at the Common Law Bar to fill the seat on the bench vacant by the death of Mr. Justice Coltman, it is impossible not to be struck with the fact, that there are some half-dozen who stand pretty nearly on the same line in point of professional pretensions. It is no doubt the duty of a Minister to bestow high judicial posts which involve no political functions, and cannot in any way in fluence the future prospects of his party, on pre-eminent merit, even if such merit should exist alone in the ranks of his political opponents. But as the case stands just now between the Whig Government and the leading counsel at the Common Law Bar, there exists no diffi culty of this kind. From amongst the lawyers who have adhered throughout the course of their career to the Conservative party, and those who have remained staunch to the cause of progression, it would be easy to name three or four on either side who might be appointed to the vacant judgeship with perfect propriety. Ceteris paribus, then, we may pre sume that the choice will fall on a barrister who has through life belonged to the party of the Ministry actually in power. Now, of the gentle men who fall under this category there is no one whose appointment would give greater satisfaction to the country, or meet with a readier acquiescence in West minster-hall, than that of Mr. Sergeant Talfourd. The first point, no doubt, for consideration in such a case as this, is that of professional qualification. We feel per fectly justified in the assertion that Mr. sergeant Tal fourd is to the full as sound and careful a lawyer as any one of the other gentlemen who are talked of for the post. He has been in the practice of his profession for very many years in the presence of the public and the bar, and the best test that can be given of his legal ability is, that he has during that time had a good share of business in Westminster-hall, and has invariably transacted it with signal success. As a Crown lawyer his knowledge and qualifications are in disputable, and the records of the Common Pleas will show how frequently and how well he has borne his part in civil cases, and that before the judgment -seat of so pre.eminent a magistrate as the late lamented Chief Justice Tindal, and in the presence of so sound a lawyer as Mr. Justice Maule, and of one so acute as Mr. Justice Cresswell. Of Sergeant Talfourd's legal qualifications there can be no question. They have been too long and too shrewdly tested to admit of hesitation or doubt. If we turn to other scenes, we shall find Mr. Sergeant Talfourd to have come before the public in a manner that removes Min from the category of " mere lawyers." In the Senate and on the stage his name is as well known as in Westminster-hall. We, cannot see why the mental qualifications which have enabled a man to attain honourable distinction as an orator and a poet should stand in the way of any other claims he may derive from a long, laborious, and successful professional career. It may be, on the other hand, that these distinctions afford something like a guarantee that a man will bring to the bench the inspirations of an enlarged and cultivated mind. Even a legal judgment is none the worse for being derived from such a source. We do not say that as a lawyer Mr. Sergeant Talfourd has any pretension to stand en the same line with the great Lord Mansfield; but we cannot forget that this first of English judges was distinguished for his exquisite taste and great attain ments in literature as for that splendid series of judg ments which has inspired the lawyers who have suc ceeded him in Westminster-hall with an almost super stitious reverence for his name. In a word, we feel it will be a great disgrace to the country if the author of lon stands in the way of Mr. Sergeant Talfourd. Tho appointment of this learned gentleman to the vacant judgeship would be felt as the well-deserved reward of a successful professional career, and as an honour suitably bestowed upon a very distinguished man.—Tirnes. [We most cordially agree in every word of the above well-merited, and not more merited than just, tribute to a good man, as well as a sound and constitutional lawyer. —ED. Sun.] COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, MONDAY. The Queen and Prince were prevented by tho rain from enjoying their usual early walk this morning. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Nemours took leave of her Majesty and his Royal High ness, and left Osborne at twelve o'clock, on their return to St. Leonard's. There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yes terday. Lord and Lady Bloomfield and the Baroness de Speth are expected at Osborne this afternoon, on a visit to the Queen and Prince. Ills Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yester day, at Glouester House. Mr. John Lee had the honour of submitting to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge yesterday, at Cambridge House, his new patent improved carriage wheels, of double action, to run efficiently without the axle trees. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, and the Princess Mary, left town yesterday for Kew. Mr. Cobbold, M.P., and Mr. Beresford, M.P., had an interview with the Commissioners of Railways yester day, at their Office in the Board of Trade, respecting the Esstern Union Railway Company. Dispatches from the Governors of the West India Colonies were received yesterday at the Colonial office. Dispatches were also received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of New Zealand. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Mary Wood returned to town yesterday from a visit to Mr. Jones Loyd, at Wickham Park, Kent. THE TEA TRADE, JULY 23.—The deliveries of tea last week from the London warehouses were larger than for some time;past, amounting to 618,4231 b. The consumption of the article is good. EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF CIIOLERA.—One of the most extraordinary cases of cholera that has been heard of in the metropolis occurred at No. 1, Smith's-place, Devonshire•street, Kennington-lane. On Friday after- I noon, at 4 o'clock, Mr. Morse, surgeon, of Kennington lane, was sent for to attend a woman of the name of Roberts, the wife of a bricklayer. He found the woman surrounded by her family, suffering from Asiati c c h o l era inits worst form. The usual remedies were prescribed, but she cent:uued to get worse, and about 1 o'clock the next morning Mr. Morse r ece i ve d a message to attend again immediately, Ls Mrs. Roberts was supposed to be dying. Having some other patients to attend he did not reach the house till half an hour after the messenger arrived. He was then told by the mother of the woman that he had arrived too late, as her daughter was dead, and had been laid out 25 minutes. Knowing th a t h e would have to give a certificate before the funeral could take place, Mr. Morse informed the mother that ha would see the body at once. He was conducted to one of the rooms where the woman was laid out and covered with a sheet. Upon drawing away the sheet and feelin g the body, he found it quite cold, pulse imperceptible, the fingers blue and so contracted that it was impossible fur him to open the hand. Tho surgeon next applied his ear to the chest, and found that the heart had not f e r n o t m ire h ly is p ce o a c s k ed et, opened beat. pene dthe M y r. ein M i o n r t s h e e d ar r m ew , fr h o l m s w l a h n i c c e h t three or four ounces of blood flowed freely, when to the astonishment of all present, the woman cried out " What are you doing to me?" Other remedies having beeen applied, the poor woman so far recovered as to be able to eat a meat dinner yesterday (Sunday). IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, July 20. Their Lordships assemblel at Five o'clock. Messengers from the Commons requested a conference on the Incumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill. The Earl of ROSSE presented several petitions from the Irish clergy, praying fur an increase in the number of Irish bishops. Lord BItOUGHAM presented a petition from Mr. Romington Mills, complaining that although he resided in the county of Surrey he had been chosen as sheriff of London and Middlesex, and had been obliged to pay the fine. He should move an amendment to except persons in this situation in the Corporations Bill. _ HUNGARY. The NOBLE and LEARNED LORD then asked if there was any intention of recognising Kossuth and the Hun garian rebels. A Noble Friend of his had said he thought the Hungarian insurrection not unj us tifi a bl e . He thought a ny innovation unjustifiable, and six years ago he had given an opinion contrary to the Hungarian Constitution. The Noble and Learned Lord then read the opinion, in which he denounced the Hungarian constitution in most ener getic language. The Noble and Learned Lord concluded by saying that Prince Metternich had introd uce d suc h improvements in the constitution as to entitle him to the character of a great reformer. The Marquis of LANSDO WNE answered in such a low tone that not one single word that he uttered was audible in the gallery, and therefore it is impossible even to guess at the purport of the answer. INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. Lord CAMPBELL reported from the conference that the Commons agreed to all their Lordship s ' amen d men t s e xcept two; for disagreeing to which they had given their reasons. He moved that the amendment and the reasons be printed, and that the subject be taken into considPration on Thursday next.—Agreed to. EDINBURGH AND_NORTHERN RAILWAY BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. LUNACY. Lord MONTEAGLE drew the attention of the House to the dictum of the Lord Chief Baron, that no keeper of a lunatic asylum was authorised in keeping any per son in custody who was not dangerous to himself or to others. The great majority of th ose p ersons who were detained to themselves or to others ono whit more than their Lordships themselves were dangerous to themselves or to others.—(A laugh.) Great confusion (had resulted from this dictum, many parishes had given notice that they would no longer keep paupers in lunatic asylums, and many speculative solicitors would institute actions which would lead to most painful results. He hoped that the letter of the Commissioners of Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor on this subject would be laid before the House. Lord BROUGHAM considered the subject as one of great interest. It was quite clear that if the Learned Judge did say what was represented a motion for a new trial was inevitable, and their Lordships might be called upon to decide judicially, and therefore it would be improper for their Lordships to give an opinion on the question; but he would advise no :speculative attorney to bring an action, because he would most probably be saddled with the costs, but nothing could be done until next Michaelmas term. SLAVE TRADE. Earl NELSON presented a report from the Committee on the slave-trade. PETITIONS. The Duke of NEWCASTLE presented several pet tions complaining of agricultural distress. STOCK IN TRADE BILL. The Earl of GRANVILLE moved the second read ing of the Stock in Trade Bill. The Earl of Al ALMESBURY opposed the Bill, on the ground that it pressed unequally on the landed in terest. Earl GRANVILLE said that this Bill was of very great importance to the public at large, and assured the Noble Duke that the subjecting stock in trade to an assessment for the poor-rates would be of very trifling advantage to the agriculturist, and that it would also create great agitation in the manufacturing towns. The Duke of RICHMOND said that his motive in opposing the Bill was, that he did not see any necessity for it, as the present Act would not expire until the middle of next session. After a few words from Lord MALMESDURT and Earl GRANVILLE, Lord STANLEY said that he considered that Go vernment should take the initiative step to obviate the necessity of the Bill. Lord CAMPBELL said that as the present Act would expire next year, he considered that the Government should anticipate that event particularly, in order that the country should know their intentions relative to this measure, and more especially, as notices had been circu lated throughout all the parishes in England respect ing it. The Bill was then read a second time. WAR MEDALS. The Duke of RICHMOND said that be wished to ask if the Government would consent to extend the general orders of the Admiralty and Army, by adding actions both by sea and land, and to which war medals shall be granted. The Noble Duke then entered into the particulars of the several actions that the army and navy of this country had been engaged in, and which re flected high honour on this empire i.n the eyes of the surrounding nations, such as that of Egypt under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and others. He, therefore, hoped that Government would confer medals on these brave and meritorious soldiers and sitilois. Earl GREY said that the question had long been un der the consideration of the Government, and that from all the evidence they had heard, they had come to the decision that great discrimination should be observed in the case of conferring medals, particularly as that this discrimination tended to set a great value on them. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that the complaint of the soldiers who had fought in the East Indies, and on the Peninsula, was, that medals w ere denied to them, while they were granted to the men engaged at Water loo; but to that he should say, that the Committee who bad sat on that matter, and most of the naval and mili tary officers he had conversed with on it, were of opinion that the nicest discrimination should be exercised, and that the great honour conferred by th ose medals was not through their coming from Parliamen t, but as being dis tinguished honour conferred by their Sovereign, which should not be abused by being made ;Indiscriminate. It was for that reason that theywere appreciated so highly, while the orders of other nations we re considered in a very insignificant light. H e did not k now how they could be brought under the notice of her Majesty's Go vernment to be recommended to the Crown for distinc tion, excepting for some general seri rice performed by th e m, or by the general rule of their Lordships' House of 1847. Lord COLCFIESTER said that some line of distinc tion ought to be drawn with regard to the persons who were to be considered worthy of thos.o honours. Ho thought it might be admitted that, as the question of an extension of the rule regulating this. matter had been entertained, the individuals who had ret:eived the thanks of both Houses of Parliament were the proper persons in favour of whom that extension shouted be made. The men, for instance, who were present and distinguished themselves at such actions as the capture of Monte Video, or the second expedition to Copenhagen, under the Earl of Cathcart and Lord Gambier, ought surely to be admitted to this description of reward, and he would suggest to tilf Government that this ;should be the ex tension of the rule. The Dude of RICIIMOND said that there was a great deal of difference between orders and medals, An order might be given to a Secretary of the Treasury for performing his duty in a politic manner, but a medal could only be given to a man for risking his life in the service of his country. He wished there were more medals, and that the mere thanks of Parliament was not a sufficient reward for valour and bravtiry. If they al lowed the colours of a regiment to be, emblazoned with the scenes of its actions, it was clear that they thought those actions worthy of being recorded. Extending orders, he thought, was mischievous, but not medals. Indeed, he was not sure whether any man who was in the company ought not to have a medial. It would be extending the rule too far to do so, aitd he thought he could prove it if ho had the papers. The Marquis of SALISBURY, seeing that the High. way Rates Bill was down on the paperr for Committee, asked the Noble Lord who had charge of it, whether it was the intention of the Governm ent to bring in a Highway Rate Bill distinct from any on Turnpike Trusts. Lord GRANVILLE said he could not give any po sitive pledge on the subject, but most probably such a Bill would be introduced next year. The Small Debts Act Amendment Bill was read a se cond time and ordered to be committed, on the motion of Lord CAMPBELL. _ _ Lord STANLEY observed that at this advanced stage of the session, as it was the case last year, they were discussing hurriedly Bills of a most impc.rtant character. The paper of the day contained no few er than 22 dif ferent Bills at various stages, which had only just come up from the other House. It was imp4ossible that they could now receive the attention which they deserved, and he must again protest against the hasty way in which the Bills of great col:sequence were pazsed through their Lordships' House. Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading of the County Rates Bill, which was agreed to after a short discussion, in which Lord Redesdale complained of the Bill having been considered, at each of its stages in the House of Commons, after twelve o'clock at night. The Petty Bag Office Indemnity Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on the motion of Lord Campbell. TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL. Lord CAMPBELL moved that the House should go into Committee on the Titles of Religious Congregations (Scotland) Bill, which he said had been approved by all religious classes in Scotland, including the Episcopalians. Lord REDESDALE opposed the motion, on the ground that there was not time to discuss its provisions this session. The Earl of ABERDEEN said that the Bill ought to be more considered in Scotland than time could have permitted as yet. When they were legislating for Scot land, the law of which country was different to that of England, they ought to be doubly particular on this point. The Noble Lord concluded by saying that ho had no amendments to make, and by moving that the Noble Lord report the Bill, and that it be read a third time to morrow. _ _ _ Lord REDESDALE, amid much laughter,moved that the Bill be reported this day six months. Lord SHAFTESBURY said the Noble Lord was out of order; he could not so move while he (Lord Shaftes• bury) Was in the chair ; he would, however, leave the chair, and the Noble Lord might then do what ho liked with the Bid.—(Much laughter, amidst which the Noble Lord left the @hair.) Lord REDESDALE then moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be read a third time this day three months. Their Lordship then divided when there appeared— For the amendment ... 23 For the motion Majority against the motion ... The Bill was ac2ordingly throtNn out. The Inland Post (Colonies) Bill was read a second time. The Military Ballot (Suspension) Bill, after a few words from Lord ELLENBOROUGU and the Marquis of CLANRICAIIDE, was real a third time. On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, the Commons Inclosure (No. 2) Bill passed through the Committee. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion that the report on the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill be brought up, a discussion ensued as to the admission of amendments, in which several Noble Lords took part, and The Earl of WIC.KLOW moved that clause 8 be struck out of the Bill, which was agreed to. Atter a desultory conversation on an additional clause proposed by Lord Nlonteagle, and opposed by Lord Beaumont, the Marquis 01 Lans lowne, the Earl 'of Wicklow, and the ,Marquis of Clanricarde, the clause was agreed to. Lord MONTEAGLE then moved other clauses, to enforce the audits of the accounts of the union, to pre vent sub-letting of tenements, and to recover the rates in the superior courts, in pursuance of the recommendation of the Irish Poor-law Committee. The first two clauses were agreed to. On the third clause the Noble Lord contended that this provision for recovering the rates i❑ a superior court was absolutely necessary iu law, and having been re commended by the Committee, after a careful considera tion of the point, he could see no reason why it should not be incorporated with the Bill. Lord CAMPBELL said that the remedy by a supe rior court should only be resorted to in very urgent cases, and this general power would, in his opinion, be productive frequently of much hardship, or even injustice. After some discussion, the clause was agreed to in a modified form. The Earl of LUCAN moved a clause to remove the liability of the landlord for the arrears of the tenant. Lord CAMPBELL said that the great inconvenience that would arise from exempting the landlord from this liability, was the placing the burden of the arrears of rates on the shoulders of the rate-payers. That was an opinion held only by some; but however it might be, the clause of the Noble Earl did not meet the difficulty, be cause it only prevented an action from being brought. The Earl of LUCAN said that his object was not that the arrears should be given up, but that the proprietor should b 3 exonerated from the liability that he would otherwise be subject to in case the tenant went away, which would be the case if this clause were not introduced into the Bill. The clause was then adopted, with a verbal omission. The Earl of LUCAN then proposed another clause, which was also agreed to. Lord MONTEAGLE proposed, that in the event of the new unions, it would be advisable that they should be smaller; and also, that in the intended arrangement of boundaries, that they should be made conterminous with the property. Lord LUCAN proposed that the landlord should have power to eject any tenant who should be in arrear of one year's rates, because the proprietor, without this clause, would be subject to rates for which he should not be held responsible, unless ho had some such power as this. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE and the Marquis of CLANRICARDE opposed this clause, on the grounds that it would be giving the landlord an arbitrary power. Lord STANLEY said that the landlord should be protected against the dishonesty of his tenants, who, particulary at the present time, when they were fleeing the country, would subject the landlords to be com pletely ruined. The clause was then agreed to, on the proviso that the landlord should pay the rate before he ejected the tenant. The report, after some discussion, was agreed to. On the motion of the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, the Summary Convictions and Indictable Offences (Ire land) Bills were read a third time and passed. Their Lordships then adjourned at half-past ten o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 21. (Continued from our Afternoo❑ Edition of yesterday.) SUNDAY TRADING (METROPOLIS) BILL. On the motion that this Bill be read a second time, Mr. Hindley, Sir W. Hall, Lord Robert Grosvenor, and several other Members, presented petitions from Finsbury, Islington, Marylebone, and several other por tions of the metropolis, in favour of the Bill. One of these especially Mr. Hindley wished to draw attention to. It was numerously signed by the shopmen of Lambeth, and stated that they had time neither for recreation or improvement, or for attending upon Divine worship. Sir G. GREY trusted that the Hon. Member would not, at this period of the session press this Bill upon the House, as it was evident that there was a perfect impossibility of its passing through the House this session, and the debate upon it would in all probability prevent the discussion upon those Bills which might possibly become law at the end of the session. Mr. HINDLEY said, that on the 12th of July last year he had agreed to postpone the details of his Bill till the present session, the principle having already been affirmed, and the Right lion. Baronet having stated that he would speak to Mr. Waddington on the subject. When he ...me to town at the begiaaing of the present session, he had called at the Home-office, but could get no decisive determination from the Government, or the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir G. Grey), on whose support he was aware he must rely. He found that the Right Hon. Baronet had not spoken to Mr. Waddington at all. He had himself written to the Right Hon. Baro net on three subjects. On two of these he got replies, but none upon this. He had been desirous to bring in the Bill as early as possible ; but the Hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Locke) had a Bill of a somewhat antago nistic nature upon the paper, and as ho wished each of the Bills to be discussed upon its own merits, he had, therefore, postponed his own Bill. Sir G. GREY said that he was by no means unfriendly to the principle of the Bill; but the peculiarity was that all the difficulty lay in the details, and if the Hon. Member would postpone the Bill and bring it on early in the next session, he would give it his best con sideration. Mr. AGLIONBY said that he thought the responsi bility of withdrawing this Bill ought not to lay upon the Right Hon. Baronet, or even upon the Government, for the matter was more the business of the House than theirs. Lord Dudley Stuart, Lord Robert Grosvenor. Sir W. Clay, and Mr. Disraeli, severally made appeals to the Hon. Member to withdraw the Bill. Mr. LAW thought that it would be better to divide at once than have a discussion which led to nothing. Mr. BARING WALL then moved that the debate be adjourned till Wednesday week. After some hesitation the House divided, when there appeared For the adjournment of the debate 56 Agaits t it 25 Majority The Bill is consequently lost, as it is understood that the House will be adjourned on the day specified, or on the day before it. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. The House then went into Committee on the Cruelty to Animals Bill, when considerable discussion ensued upon the legal effect of much of the phraseology of the Bill, during which the Attorney-General suggested so veral verbal alterations. After some objections as to the difficulty of wording the third clause, it was struck out. On the motion of Mr. HENRY, the following clause was introduced, a conversation having ensued as to the amount of the penalty to be levied, and it was ultimately reduced from ten to five pounds:— " And be it enacted, that if at any time after the passing of this Act any person shall ride, or, being the owner, shall permit any other person to ride, any animal in any steeple-chase, or other race in which any hedges, fences, walls, hurdles, or other erec tions, or any ditches, dykes, streams, brooks, or rivers, are intended to be leap e d or j umpe d over by the animal 3 engaged in such steeple-chase or other race as aforesaid, then and in every such case, if any damage or injury shall occur or be occasioned to such animal whilst engaged in such steeple-chase or other race as aforesaid, every such person shall be deemed to have wantonly and cruelly used such animal, and for every such offence shall forfeit and pay a penalty of five pounds."... On clause 8, which proposed some regulations for se curing the cleanliness of cattle being put, it was sug gested that its continuance was only calculated to throw ridicule upon the Bill, and it was accordingly withdrawn. On clause 11, which instituted a penalty of 101. for cruelty committed in slaughtering cattle, being put, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL suggested that it should be five pounds instead of ten. Tho alteration was adopted. On clause 15 being put, the object of which is to re gulate the carriage of cattle and sheep by railway, Mr Alderman COPELAND said that there could be no greater cruelty inflicted than that which might b: market, and he hoped that a clause would be introduced witnessed daily in the carriage of calves to Smithfield market, to meet the case. Sir G. GREY said that he believed the o ffence was covered by the provision of the seventh clause. To this Mr. Ellis, Sir W. Molesworth , Mr . P a l mer , and other Members objected; the House was cl eared for a division, as to whether the clause should be retained in its present shape, but the objections were withdrawn, and the clause agreed to. On the interpretation clause being put, in consequence of an observation made by the Attorney-General, n the that consideration three. four fourths s the o Mr. STUART suggested that the description of ani mals intended to be included under the protection of the ma gistrate. Itthe difficulties which were experienced from Acts of Parlia ment arose from these interpretation clauses, and he was, therefore, anxious that this clause should be left out Bill might be wa s s af w el e y ll le k f n t o t w o altogether. After observations from the ATTORNEY-GENERAL and the Marquis of WORCESTER, the clause was agreed to. Sir G. CLERK then rose to move that the operation of this Bill should not extend to Scotland. He said that there would be some doubt from the term United King dom being used as to whether the Bill extended into Scotland .or not. He was happy to say that they did not need a special statute on this subject in that country, and if the Bill were to be extended to it there would be a necessity to alter the phraseology of the Bill from first to last. The ATTORNEY•GENERAL said that the Bill was not formally expressed as being extended to Scotland, but that the fines would be leviable in that country as well as in this. In consequenco of the observation of nu Hem MEM -. WEB, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said ho was not aware that there was any peculiar cruelty practised in Scot land. If the Hon. Member knew of such, he was bound, as a Scotch Member, to bring in a Bill to amend the evil. Mr. BROWN then read a letter from Scotland which st•)ted seveal instances of cruelty is that country, and adduced legal opinions to show that the law there was perfectly inefficient for the, repression of that crimi nality. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the machiaery of the Bill would not work in Scotland. Mr. W. BROWN then withdrew his opposition to the further progress of the Bill, and said that in a future session he would bring in a Bill with respect to Scotland. Mr. HENRY then moved, at tho end of the third clause to insert the following :—" And be it enacted, that if at any time after the passing of this Act any person shall ride, or being the owner, shall permit any other person to ride, any animal in any steeple chase or other race in which any hedges, fences, walls, hurdles, or other erections; or any ditches, dykes, streams, brooks, or rivers, are intended to be leaped or jumped over by the animals engaged in such steeple-chase or other race as aforesaid, then, and in every such case, if any damage or injury shall occur or be oc casioned to such animal whilst engaged in such steeple-chase or other race as aforesaid, every such person shall be deemed to have wantonly and cruelly used such animal, and for every offence shall forfeit and pay a penalty of 1001. The lion. Member denounced steeple-chasing as cruel and unfeeling, and said that it should be put a stop to by a heavy penalty. Sir C. BURRELL thought that cases in which horses were backed to perform unusual feats on the high road should be included in the clause. He greatly approved of the clause. Mr. MACKINNON had introduced no less than twelve years ago a Bill to prevent cruelty to animals; and such being the case, it could not be said of him that he would advocate that which was cruel. He thought, however, that this clause would injure the Bill altogether; for it would be said if steeple-chasing was cruel, so also was horse racing and hunting. In fact, if that clause was adopted, persons would be afraid of galloping in the Park.—(Hear, hear.) He should, therefore, divide the House upon the clause. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, though he did not approve of the clause in its preseat shape, for it did not make as it ought to do steeple chasing illegal, would vote for it if the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Lymington divided the House against it. He thought it better to declare by the clause that every person engaged in steeple-chasing should be deemed guilty .of cruelty to animals. Mr. ELLIS supported the clause, and deprecated the practiceofsteeple-chasing.. Mr. R. PALMER thought that steeple-chasing ought to be put a stop to, but he was much afraid the clause ai it stood would interfere with gentlemen racing with their horses in an open meadow. Mr. F. FRENCH could not see the cruelty of steeple chasing, for the horse was often as much excited as his rider.—(L au gh ter.) Mr. LAW thought that steeplechasing ought to be put down, and suggested that the words " cruelly over riding" would meet the views of the lion. Member. Colonel THOMPSON remarked that the words over driving included, in his opinion, over-riding. He thought it better to leave the propriety of steeple-chasing to pub lic opinion. —(Hear, hear.) Mr. NE WDEG ATE thought steeple-chasing a low sport, and the sooner it was put a stop to the better. He thought if it was left to the decree of public opinion, it would soon become obsolete. Mr. HENRY said he would adopt the amendment suggested by the Attorney-General. Mr. W. EVANS thought the sport of steeple-chasing anything but manly. It they did not put it down it might be said that they legislated in that House against the poor and for the rich. Mr. B. DENISON had an utter contempt for steeple chasing, but ho doubted the policy of legislating to put it down. The Marquis of WORCESTER opposed the clause, as likely to endanger the Bill, though he by no means approved of steeple-chasing. _ After some observation's' from Mr. Mackinnon, Mr. Stuart Wortley, and Mr. Heywood, Mr.?. PI YSE said he had ridden many steeple-chases, and could not agree that it was a cruel sport. After a few words from Mr. LAW and Mr. ELLIOTT, strangers were ordered to withdraw. The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the clause.:. 50 Against it ... 58 Majority against the clause ... 8 The clause was consequently lost. The other clauses Were then agreed to, the Bill passed through Committee, and the report was ordered to be received tomorrow. The House then resumed. PROTECTION OF WOMEN BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Mr. R. SPOONER proposed several amendments, which, with several alterations, were agreed to, and the Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered to be reported to-morrow. MARRIAGE BILL Mr. STUART WORTLEY moved that this Bill, as amended, should be further considered. Mr. GOULBURN wished to know what course his Right Honourable Friend who had the carriage of the Bill _intended to pursue with respect to the Bill? If he persisted in the third reading of the Bill, he should adopt every measure that the forms of the /louse would allow to prevent its third rending. lie should not, however' object to its passing the present stage, provided his Ri g ht H on . F r i en d did not press the third reading. Mr. STUART WORTLEY would have persevered with the Bill if he had seen any chance of its passing this session, but as he saw no hope of that, he would ask the House to enable him to perfect the Bill by passing it through its present stage. The Bill as amended was then considered and agreed to. CHATTELS PARTITION AND SALE BILL. This Bill passed through Committee. COMPOUND HOUSEHOLDERS BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow at twelve o'clock. POOR-LAW UNION CHARGES ACT AMEND MENT BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. COLLECTION OF RATES (DUBLIN) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL. The SOLICIROR-GENERAL appeared at the bar, and stated that the House of Lords desired a conference with the House of Commons with respect to the altera tions that had been made in the amendment of the Lords to the Bill. The Members appointed to conduct the conference then proceeded to the Lords, and on their return The SOLICITOR-GENERAL informed the House that they had delivered their reasons to the House of Lords for disagreeing with the amendments of their Lordships, and left the Bill and amendments with them. DUBLIN IMPROVEMENT (No. 2) BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed, after a short discussion. NEW FOREST AND WALTHAM FOREST BILL. This Bill went through Committee and was ordered to be reported to-morrow. ROYAL PAVILION (BRIGHTON) BILL. This Bill as amended was considered and agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time at twelve o'clock to-morrow. PILOTAGE BILL. This Bill passed through Committee. THE GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. This Bill passed through Committee. AUDIT OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS BILL. The second reading of this Bill was postponed to this day three months on the motion of Mr. LIAYTER, The other orders of the day appointed for twelve o'clock were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-past Six to Eight o'clock. -•- - The House re -assembled at eight o'clock. . Mr. E WART moved for the following returns, which were ordered:—" Return, showing what examinations, or tests of qualification, are required on admission into, or on promotion of officers in, the Navy and Marines. The same return as to the Artillery and Engineers. Return, showing what examinations, or tests of qualifiation, are required on admission of o andida,tes fur appointment, or on the promotion of officers, by the different Boards of Revenue." "Viscount EBRI'NGTON moved the second reading of the Metropolitan Sewers Bill, and expressed his in tention of proposing the omission of several clauses, and adding others, when the Bill went into Committee. The Marriages in Foreign Countries Facilitating Bill consideration of Lords Amendments, was postponed unti to• morrow. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. HORSEMAN, pursuant to notice, brought for ward the following motion:—" That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying her to take into her gracious consideration the unhappy state of Ireland, representing that a crisis of unparalleled magnitude is afflicting that most wretched country; that the chief food of her population and the main product of her agri culture has failed to a most disastrous extent for several years; that thereby all classes of her Majesty's subjects in Irealand have been involved in ruin; that much of its soil has gone out of cultivation; that the moral and physical condition of the people is lamentably degraded, and in spite of unexampled aid from England, vast num bers of our fellow -subjects have actually perished from want. That it is the conviction of this House that the very vastness of the calamity furnishes a well founded hope that a wise legislation, apprehending the peculiar opportunity hereby offered and skilfully avail ing itself of the elements now set free for tho reconstruc tion of agricultural relations in Ireland, might lay the foundation of a prosperity hitherto unknown to that country. That the House is confirmed in that convic tion by the evidence given before Parliament by wit nesses of the highest intelligence and of the pro foundest knowledge, of the actual state and undeveloped resources of Ireland. That on a review of that evidence, this House is constrained painfully to acknowledge that while the Acts specially framed for the relief of distress since the commencement of the famine have not realised the benevolent intentions of Parliament, neither have those of a more permanent nature been characterised by a true discernment of the peculiar features of the present crisis, and the establishment of any comprehensive policy adequate to the emergency. That this House humbly prays her Majesty to direct the special and careful attention of her Majesty's Government to the evidence which has been laid before Parliament, feeling assured that the ability, information, and practical sug gestions therein displayed, furnish ample materials for a legislation at once solid, profound, and regenerative." The session was now drawing to a close, and the ques tion might fairly be asked, what had they done for Ireland ? Legislation had been active, without pro ducing corresponding ia , nnericial results. When the House mat in Febru -ay Ireland was in a state of de' spair; was it one of hops now that they were bring' ing their legislatorial labours to a close ? When they met the condition of Ireland was one of in increasing difficulty, suffering under the aggravated trials of a - fourth year's famine. Sixty per cent, of the peen"' non was receiving relief, and according to the evidence of Mr. Thisle ton, Mr. O'Sullivan, Colonel Clarke, and others, the people were in the lowest state of social de gradation, and committing crimes of a character hitherto unknown—death, desolation, and despair everywher e , abounded. It was not famine, but careless and crimina" legislation that was the cause of this state of things, and the poor-law, which Committees and Commissions ba condemned, was the principle in magnifying the lament' able destitution that pervaded the land. There wagon° among other exaggerations which he wished to correct —namely, that they had given so much to the starving Irish, and that notwithstanding they were ungrateful. -- (Hear, hear.) He denied that the outcry in this as; was founded on fact, Four millions, as we understood the Hon. Member to say, had been advanced in 1846 to meet the pressure which famine had created, and fa t which Ireland paid interest; and yet, while such an out' cry was raised on that subject, they had given authority for 260 millions to be raised for the making of railway's. —(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Then came their legisir tion of 1847. It was owing to the impatience and irr i ' tability created in the public mind of this country', through the shameful waste of the relief fund, that in 1847, the people being weary of the subject of Ireittn u e that House was induced to retract the decision it hs" come to, with reference to a poor-law. The Act" the Relief Act—making Ireland responsible for ~, maintenance of its poor, under the awful circumstan ces in which she was placed, was then passed— an Act whie h e was brought in to satisfy the clamours of the press--.....t" gratify English prejudices and English selfi s hness. a (Hear, hear.) Throughout the injustice which h a il marked the conduct of England towards Ireland, tber was nothing in the history of the two countries so ini r rious to Ireland as the Act of 1847—(Hear, hear)--; making, as it did, a p oor -l aw , i n t h e fi rst i nstance , tb means of supporting famine.---(Hear, hear.) Notbing could be more unjust and more ca l cu l ate d to i ncreas e t he misery of the country—and y e t th ey procee d e d, in the 0 face of all experience, to make a p oor -l aw app li c able td famine I Mr. Nicholls, their own oracle, said -he ha always felt it impolitic to attempt, by means of a Pee; law, to meet a famine. That was com mon sens e. Ther e was no reason, in such a case, w hy a p ro p r i e t o r on spot should be taxed any more than a proprietor distance.—(Hear, hear.) A national rate would certain 4 1 be the fairest. To tell a proprietor at such a moment 4 support pauperism, was t o re d uce hi m to the con di t ion" a pauper himself. Their law of '47 was their first init i n c tice. Their next was, making a p rov i s i on o f ou t-el ° , relief at such a time, when they had di scar d e d t h e pr ciple in England. The Honourabl e M em b er h ere que";,, the opinion of Lord Althorp, in 1834, con d e munte i l t of the operation of the poor-laws then re f England, observing that the system of out-door condemned by Lord Althorp, under the old poor-lel ee r England, differed in no way from the system of outesc o relief afforded in Ireland. He next quot e d the spin et s. of the Lord Chancellor (Lord Brougham), equally c e , he demnatory with Lord Althorp, of the o peration of to poor-laws in England. Now let the House hear is 9 g , Mr. Senior said. He said that if th e y ex t en d e d the slo t tern of out-door relief in Ireland, it would work as t ie mischief in Ireland in ten ye a r s as it h a d wor k e d i n P"T i . land in 300 years, and he added that it would ultimat e lead to the confiscation of the l an d. M r . Gulsoice, '-' pressed himself to a similar eff ec t. Th e renta l o f s' land, previous to the famine, was a b ou t s i x milliol l e j e; and when they found that th e p oor - ra t e co llect ,A amounted to about a fourth o f th e ren t a l concert,' in better times, they might see how nearly it had inflic;, o , the evil which the witnesses he had alluded to had Po it dieted. He thought he had shown that the famine , , n g not the cause of the evils which Ir e land was suffer'ir from, although it had been the pretext for unfair la r d lation. They proceeded to apply to Ireland rilee a , o o o which had been altogether dis car d e d i n Englanot o r the principle of sending dam age d wares t o an inf e r el market.—(Hear, hear.) The H on . M em b er th e n rei ' er , to to the union of Balling , and read ret urns an d evidetie.`o show the ruined condition of th a t un i on . I t wa s ob 0 1 0 , that these evils could not be got rid of without th e apt troduction of fresh proprietors and of capital, ar.d be se statements they heard given ofimprovements having f ee effected without new proprietors, and the i n fusion. - n, pital, were only delusive and fallacious. Banana- vi v ell sample of the other unions in Ireland. It bad pot stated that the security of person and pr o p er ty cow. ,`,, t ion, co-exist with general destitution, an d genera l desseb'es o was the condition of Ireland. Imperfect agricultur at eti a reliance upon the pot a to h a d b een one o f the , ' to ot causes of Ireland's misery—th e p easant was tango i d to look to wages, but to the land for his supeor t _ ; fro o ; while the British statesm an t urne d away i n despali fot e the contemplation of a state of things which be ' t ie° himself unable to cope with, a famine occurred, might possibly lead to changes, and point to rest je It for the sad evils Ireland had so long suffered uncle.% in was admitted by Mr. Nicholl s th a t t h e populs6t ° many parts of Ireland was excessive, and that no , s P pe ltr law would remedy that state of thi ng s. The Pw o gre' tion must be reduced either by death or et l ot tion, or it must ruin the country. The process was at present going on in Ireland- si a t er , Nicholls had pointed o ut th e nec essity the of increasing the demand for labour by gas' introduction of more capit a l, or b y re d uc i ng t h e nitssbese of the population by emigration. It was found , for . ever, that the r.oiliriee given during last se ssil 3 , p -,,ia enabling the landlords and landed proprietors to loans of capital were inoperative, as until those li A - i t if lities were limited no intelli gent l an dl ord wouli•- tte e out capital upon impro vemen t s. E very Conara l sr • since 1832—and there h a d b een a l most ever y r.,d e d Committee on the state of I re l an d—h a d r econirnefo i r emigration. That question was not, however, 7 0 0, sively an Irish question ; it came t o th e ir own ) 3 'o, from the uncommon influx of I r i s h l a bourers, vi of according to Mr. Nicholls, t en d e d t o l owe r the ra te t of wages, and reduce the le ve l o f t h e E ng lish to te' do et the Irish labourer. In Irela n d th ey had a recl iz e c o population, and in their colonies th e y had a vast field profitable employment for all th e labourers that c the' possibly be sent there. With all these motives, ortoilf grounds of policy, economy, an d h umanity, England al persevered in her blind an d short-sighted po lici : in spite of her vast we a lth and resources, in elwelf the vast sums of money she had squandered ur n e land, she was compell e d to see that country rui ne„ a f t all its classes and a s acr ifi ce o f l i fe unexampled, 0-i„ er in the case of famine. Was there ever such folly, a try and crime? It was in e vid ence t h at the preprieter'4l4l'' Ireland were ready to i m it ate and assist in a al e - ctlf matic emigration from th e i r es t ates—t h ey were re-er to lay out their capit a l i n suc h a scheme ; but t-b(,/ again they demand e d a li m i te d li a b ility. And : e t 11 would only get a limit by a healthy state of Ec' e n l- t ea and a reduction of pauperism. What was w a ; in Ireland was the English poor-law as it w as re ' amended. England had double the ulation el l , en land, yet the pauperism of Ireland was td in England, while the rateable property of the de d was eight times that of Ireland, and she had no tea t be manufactures. A small area had been adopted as ,10 basis of the poor-law in England ;on it depeli de w great security of a good administration of the la w ' ;9 l' then refuse the same system to Ireland, where it Iv - es , much more wanted? It • tho 0 0 was said that reducing , greater itati in Ireland would tend to increase evictions--th at fe e the only plausible argumen t put f orth aga i ns t the,. 0 , duction of the areas, but th e ev id ence on the tab le to the House proved that evictions augmented accord ing js o the size of the union. A n d it naturally was so, bec a ; the responsibility of th e proprietor was less in al e 0 0 than it would be in a small area. As the posetoe s p d been the ruin of Ireland, so he believed they would regeneration only in limiting th e di s t r i cts for th © 0 ' ministration of the poor-law. The ordinary s tate s g, things in Ireland was most lamentable and distress e of From the time of the Union she had been in a st el ; turbulence—assassinations were committed in open ,or i and the murderers were screened by the people. IT AO reotion Acts and Arms Acta were passed c ontinually u c ear to 1829. Then e manc i pat i on was granted, b ut no t a Y je f passed without a Coercion Bill and Arms Act, until ti ei arrived at the suspension of the constitution of last p iof What might they economise by a wise administratie l j o f the law in Ireland? He asked whether the conditi o ' t his Ireland was not a scandal and a reproach to s 0 country, and a disgrace to the age ? There we lot great responsibility upon the Irish Members; it was r OO them to relieve a starving nation from suffering u nde efe o accumulation of misery. Her sufferings hav e orc B lightened her sins—her peasant no longer puts in f be g' the wild justice of revenge, and her a r i s tocracy was 1 tee gared.' The one thing that Ireland needed was eta men; she wanted eyes to see the remedy for her wa erg' and wisdom to apply it. It was by the Irish Merah the laying aside party differences, to protest against . 1 10 system of inaction followed by the Government, gag fo r ask the Minister of the Crown whether all his policy le a the relief of Irish distress was exhausted. lie apPea to the financial reformers in that House if this was 11( case which required their support, and whether the ors ation of property in I re l an d would not be much ' o r beneficial than any surveys they could effect. He or pealed to the commercial party in that House for err port. Would not the loss even of Lancashire and Y . 01 shire be a smaller evil than this prostration of a coo A pe and an entire people, and the consequent expatril ato of labour and capital to foreign fields. He appeale elP' the representatives of the agricultural interests for eel s port, and he asked them from whence the cry of dial fie came in a more agonising manner than f rom Ireland- eitd appealed to the Irish representatives in a peculiar 00 especial degree. A heavy responsibility re sted u to them. He admitted that they h a d groat difficulties f' contend with, and that th ere h a d b een something Li , " es e ' indisposition to discuss I r i s h quest i ons i n t h e SC l 0 '; but still they were the re as t h e representat i ves an' 0' vocates of a nation whose distress and destitution hose unparalleled in history, whose soil was waste, w pre' productive energies were paralysed, and which sented one howling and hopeless waste of penil e! ea': Ireland call e d upon them to relieve her from t his ec he r tion—to develope her resources, and give play to 'ally' energies. He had, in opening this question, caret avoided touchin g u p on quest i ons on w hi c h the A , eon - Members were di v id e d.—(H ear , hear.) lie h ad fined himself to the social evils of Ireland Bien 1 (Hear.) He knew there were other causes of evi ibi s that country—(Hear, bear)—but he wished upon . occasion that the Irish Members should act unti e s 01, Above all, he appealed to higher motives than any' P a 0 . ; or partisan sympathy—to the honour and hun;nref, ,p d the empire.—(Hear, hear.) The condition of or, was a disgrace to the Government and the Lefirr s which permitted it to exist. He knew it would n_u_ the that his motion was intended to cast censure tiri,°"_ et er' Government, but he did not so intend it. It had ref , ra t ence to the policy of the previous as well as ato aPf (.4 Government, and therefore could not be take assed th to them exclusively. He said the measures P. tr of " 1 session were not adequate for the wants -- the Press